Skills for English C1 flashcards
Skills for English C1 · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Skimming
- Reading quickly for the main idea or gist of a passage, ignoring detail. At C1 it is used to answer global questions before targeted scanning.
- Scanning
- Searching a text rapidly for specific information such as names, dates, or figures without reading every word. Used after reading the question stem.
- Inference question
- A reading item asking what the text suggests or implies rather than states. The correct answer follows logically from the text but is not written verbatim.
- Distractor by paraphrase
- An incorrect option that repeats exact words from the passage while the correct option paraphrases the same idea. Exact-word matching is a warning sign.
- Cohesion in gapped text
- The grammatical and lexical links between sentences, such as pronouns, determiners, and linking adverbials, that show which sentence fits a gap.
- Overgeneralisation distractor
- An option using absolute words like all, always, never, or every that the passage does not support. The text usually makes a more limited claim.
- Attitude markers
- Words showing a writer's stance, such as boosters (clearly), hedges (arguably), and concessives (admittedly). They reveal opinion in C1 reading tasks.
- Hedging language
- Words that soften a claim, such as may, might, seem, tend to, and arguably. At C1, hedged statements are usually more accurate than absolute ones.
- Paraphrase recognition in listening
- Identifying when a recording's phrase and an option express the same meaning in different words, such as 'cut down on' and 'reduce'.
- Signposting expressions
- Spoken phrases that flag important information, such as 'the thing is', 'what matters most', or 'to be honest', often introducing the answer in a recording.
- Self-correction trap
- A listening pattern where a speaker states one option then corrects it. The final stated version, not the first, is the answer.
- Connected speech
- How words blend in natural speech through elision and weak forms, such as 'gonna' for 'going to'. C1 listeners must decode this fluently.
- Speaker-turn tracking
- Following who says what in a multi-speaker recording. Each speaker usually corresponds to one matching option, so confusion arises without tracking.
- Prediction before listening
- Anticipating the answer type, such as a number, reason, or opinion, from the question stem before the audio plays. It focuses attention during a single play.
- Note-taking shorthand
- Using symbols, abbreviations, and initials instead of full sentences while listening. It saves time during a single play and preserves key details.
- Number correction
- A listening feature where a speaker revises a figure mid-sentence, for example '£40 - sorry, £14'. Write the last version heard.
- Fluency markers
- Natural spoken fillers and discourse markers such as 'well', 'I mean', and 'to be fair' that maintain flow without long pauses at C1.
- Lexical resource
- The range and precision of vocabulary used, shown at C1 by accurate collocations and appropriate idioms rather than rare words inserted for effect.
- Cleft sentence
- A structure that front-loads information for emphasis, such as 'What surprised me was…'. It demonstrates grammatical range in C1 speaking and writing.
- Modal hedging
- Using modals like might, could, and may to soften statements. At C1 it shows nuanced opinion rather than uncertainty or weakness.
- Turn-taking
- Managing the exchange in interaction by responding to the other speaker before adding your own point, for example 'That's true, though I'd add…'.
- Circumlocution
- Paraphrasing around a missing word, such as 'the thing you use to…'. It is a repair strategy that keeps speech fluent instead of silent.
- Word stress accuracy
- Placing stress on the correct syllable, for example phoTOgraphy versus PHOtograph. At C1 it affects intelligibility more than individual sounds.
- Long-turn structure
- Organising a 1–2 minute spoken answer as position, two reasons with examples, then a conclusion. It prevents rambling and shows coherence.
- Task achievement
- A writing criterion measuring whether the response fully addresses the prompt, covers all required points, and meets the word-count requirement.
- Coherence and cohesion
- A writing criterion covering logical paragraph order and linking devices such as referencing words and adverbials like consequently and nevertheless.
- Register control
- Choosing formal or informal language to suit the task. Formal essays avoid contractions and slang; informal letters may include them.
- Topic sentence
- The first sentence of a paragraph stating its central idea. It guides the reader and is followed by evidence, examples, and a link onward.
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- A writing criterion rewarding varied structures, such as conditionals, passives, and relative clauses, used correctly rather than long but broken sentences.
- Report structure
- A formal writing format with a purpose statement, headed sections, and recommendations. It is used for proposals and reports in C1 writing tasks.
- Evaluation language
- Adjectives and phrases expressing judgement, such as 'a compelling read' or 'falls flat'. They are essential in C1 reviews.
- Editing pass
- A final 3–5 minute check of subject–verb agreement, articles, preposition collocations, and tense consistency before submitting a C1 writing task.