How to get top marks: B2 First Part 7 Reading and Use of English

Congratulations – you’ve made it to the B2 First Reading and Use of English Part 7! Yet, before we get too excited, we’ve still got to get through this part of the exam. And with 10 marks up for grabs, it’s an important section.

This short guide is here to give you advice to get the best mark possible. Read on to find out how to do Part 7, as well as some extra tips and resources for passing the B2 First.

What’s in Reading and Use of English Part 7?

Also known as ‘multiple matching’, Part 7 of the B2 First requires you to read a text that has been split up into a number of shorter passages. You will have 10 questions to answer that are based on each of the passages.

Your job is to choose which passage – usually labelled A, B, C and D – best suits each of the questions.

You may use each text more than once to answer the questions. One mark is awarded for every correct answer.

Cambridge B2 First past paper (zip)

Cambridge B2 First past paper (zip)

What are they testing me on in Part 7?

In this part of the test, you’re being tested on your general reading comprehension, as well as your ability to understand details, opinions and attitudes in English.

Ideas will be presented using synonyms, paraphrasing and other expressions to convey the same information in the questions and text. Therefore, it’s essential that you familiarise yourself with this type of activity before going into the exam.

How do I answer the questions?

Not sure how to tackle this part of the exam? Follow these 5 simple steps.

1. Read the questions and underline

Firstly, read over the ten questions and underline the key words in the questions. There should be around two or three important words in each question. By underlining them, you’ll be focusing on the information that you need to search for in the main text.

2. Skim read the passages

Next, quickly skim read the passages to get a general idea of what each one is about. Spend roughly 20 seconds to read each one at this point.

3. Read section A in more detail

Now you’ve got the gist of the passages, go back to text A and read it more carefully. While doing this, look back at the key words you underlined in the questions to see if any of them connect to what is discussed in this text. Keep an eye out for synonyms or similar expressions.

Here in passage A, ‘disbelief’ is the reaction you have when you can’t believe some information is true. Duncan describes problems at the beginning of his football career, even before he became professional.

4. Write ‘A’ next to relevant questions

When you think you know which questions relate to passage A, write ‘A’ in the answer box corresponding to the question. It’s a good idea to underline the part of the text that you think relates to the specific question you’re connecting it to. This way, you can read over it at the end to check if it makes sense.

Looking at the parts underlined in step 3, we see a match for the first question. The information about problems early in Duncan’s career surprised the writer, who couldn’t believe what they heard was true.

Check the other questions to see if they mention information from text A, and underline similar words and phrases.

5. Repeat for each passage

Finally, repeat these steps for the other passages and make sure you have only one letter written for each question.

Don’t forget to spend a couple of minutes at the end reading through and checking. Here it will be easier and faster if you have previously underlined key information in both the questions and the passages.

Cambridge English tips

Study synonyms: As this part of the exam tests your ability to understand different vocabulary, it’s a great idea to make a note of synonyms for words that you come across. This way, you’ll spot them quicker in the main text.

Read as much as possible: One of the most beneficial activities that you can do to prepare for Part 7 is reading as many texts as you can. Whether it’s books, newspaper articles or blog posts, it’ll help improve your general English reading skills.

Try paraphrasing: Pick out some sentences from an article and write them down. Then, try rewording them so that they have the same meaning as the original sentence. This will help you catch sight of synonyms and paraphrased sentences in the exam text.

Don’t leave any questions unanswered: Make sure you put an answer down for every question – you never know, you might just get the answer right!

Resources and similar articles

If you’d like to practise this part of the exam, download these two free B2 First sample tests from Cambridge English.

You can also find more online resources for practising the Cambridge English exams.

If you’re interested in learning how to get top marks in the other Reading and Use of English sections, check out these posts:

Reading and Use of English Part 1

Reading and Use of English Part 2

Reading and Use of English Part 3

Reading and Use of English Part 4

Reading and Use of English Part 5

Reading and Use of English Part 6

Looking for further support?

If you’re interested in preparing for the B2 First exam but don’t know where to start, get in touch with us today! We offer specific courses that are designed especially to help you get ready for the exam. Sign up now!

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

up for grabs (exp): something that is available.

split up (pv): to separate something.

to tackle (v): make efforts to deal with a problem or task.

roughly (adv): approximately.

keep an eye out (exp): look for something carefully.

pick out (pv): distinguish something from a group.

catch sight of (exp): to notice something.

Key

exp = expression

v = verb

pv = phrasal verb

adv = adverb

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