C2 Proficiency cheat sheet

Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze): 8 gaps, 4 options each; test collocation, idiom, phrasal verbs, and precise lexical meaning rather than grammar alone.

Part 2 (Open cloze): 8 gaps, one word per gap; typical answers are articles, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, and quantifiers; only one word is allowed even if a contraction seems natural.

Part 3 (Word formation): 8 gaps; the base word must be changed to fit the grammatical slot; watch for negative prefixes, noun/adjective suffixes, and internal spelling changes (e.g., 'long' → 'length').

Part 4 (Key word transformation): 6 items, 2 marks each; the second sentence must mean the same as the first, use the given key word unchanged, and contain 2–5 words including the key word; contractions count as two words.

Part 5 (Multiple choice): 6 questions on a long text; questions follow text order; correct answer paraphrases the text, while distractors recycle wording from the text.

Part 6 (Gapped text): 6 paragraphs removed from a text; cohesion clues include pronouns, demonstratives, lexical chains, time markers, and contrast/consequence linkers across sentence boundaries.

Part 7 (Multiple matching): 10 questions matched to 4–6 short texts or sections; each section may be used more than once; scan for paraphrase rather than exact word matches.

Timing: 1 hour 30 minutes for the whole paper; Parts 1–4 (Use of English) are worth 28 marks and Parts 5–7 (Reading) are worth 22 marks; allocate roughly 45 minutes to Use of English and 45 minutes to Reading.

Marking: Parts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 award 1 mark per correct answer; Part 4 awards 2 marks per item, with 1 mark if half the transformation is correct.

Format: two tasks in 1 hour 30 minutes; Part 1 is compulsory (an essay based on two of three short input texts), Part 2 offers a choice of four tasks (article, letter/email, report, review, or story).

Word count: each task requires 220–260 words; answers under 220 words may lose marks for content, and answers far over 260 words may lose marks for organization and language control.

Part 1 essay: must integrate the ideas from two of the three input texts, develop a clear position, and add a relevant idea of your own; do not simply summarize the inputs.

Part 2 task types: article (engage a general readership, may use a title and subheadings), letter/email (formal or informal register according to the prompt), report (headings, factual tone, recommendations), review (describe and evaluate for a specified audience), story (narrative with a given title or opening sentence).

Register and audience: the prompt specifies the target reader; formal letters/reports avoid contractions and colloquialisms, while informal letters/emails and articles may use a conversational tone.

Assessment criteria: four subscales - Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation, Language - each scored 0–5 per task; Content checks task fulfilment and reader awareness; Organisation covers paragraphing, linking, and coherence.

Language subscale: rewards range of vocabulary and grammar, sophistication, and accuracy; errors are tolerated only when they do not impede communication.

Planning rule: spend about 10 minutes planning, 35 minutes writing, and 5 minutes checking each task; leave time to proofread for agreement, tense consistency, and spelling.

Format: four parts, 30 questions, about 40 minutes including 6 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet; each recording is heard twice.

Part 1 (Multiple choice): 6 short unrelated recordings (monologues or dialogues), one 3-option question each; focus on gist, purpose, attitude, or detail.

Part 2 (Sentence completion): 8 gaps in a monologue or interview; answers are 1–3 words taken from the recording; spelling must be correct and the word limit must not be exceeded.

Part 3 (Multiple choice): 6 questions on a discussion among 2–3 speakers; questions test opinion, agreement, disagreement, and attitude rather than factual recall alone.

Part 4 (Multiple matching): 10 questions matched to 5 short monologues on a related theme; each speaker may be chosen more than once; identify the speaker's main point or attitude.

Distractor pattern: in Parts 1 and 3, all three options are usually mentioned or implied in the recording; the correct option matches the speaker's final or overall meaning, not a single word heard.

Part 2 spelling: answers must be grammatically and orthographically correct; do not change word forms (e.g., if the recording says 'improved', write 'improved', not 'improve').

Transfer time: 6 minutes at the end to copy answers; write in capital letters on the answer sheet to avoid ambiguity.

Format: about 16 minutes, two candidates and two examiners (one interlocutor, one assessor); the test has four parts.

Part 1 (Interview): about 2 minutes; questions about personal background, interests, and daily life; answers should be extended to 2–3 sentences, not one-word responses.

Part 2 (Long turn): each candidate speaks for 1 minute about two photographs, then the partner answers a short question about the same photos for about 30 seconds; the candidate must compare, contrast, and speculate, not merely describe.

Part 3 (Collaborative task): about 4 minutes; candidates discuss a mind-map or set of options together, then reach a decision; language of negotiation, suggestion, and agreement/disagreement is expected.

Part 4 (Discussion): about 4 minutes; questions develop the Part 3 topic in a more abstract direction; candidates should link to the earlier discussion and give reasons and examples.

Assessment criteria: four subscales - Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication - each scored 0–5 by the assessor; the interlocutor gives a holistic score.

Interactive Communication: turn-taking, initiating, responding, and maintaining the interaction without dominating or leaving long silences; both candidates are assessed individually.

Discourse Management: coherence, cohesion, and relevance; use a range of connectives and discourse markers, and avoid repetitive or memorized responses.

Pronunciation: assessed on intelligibility, stress, rhythm, and intonation; individual sounds matter less than overall clarity and appropriate pausing.