It’s normal to have mixed feelings about Part 7 of the Cambridge C2 Proficiency Reading and Use of English test. While you’re relieved to get to the final section, you might find the task challenging. You have to read several texts and keep track of disparate ideas.

Understanding what to do and learning some effective techniques can help you get ready. That’s why we’ve covered everything you need to know about Part 7 in this guide.

 

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

 

Part 7 is the final of the three reading tasks in the Cambridge C2 Proficiency Reading and Use of English test.

On the first page, you will find the instructions and a series of ten questions posed as statements. They might look something like this:

On the second page, you’ll find the text. It’s usually either one long text divided into sections or several short texts. Each one will be clearly marked with a letter. Here’s a condensed version of what you might see:

All the ideas in the paragraphs correspond to different statements. In our example, A matches with question 44 as they both mention how travel is no longer a novel experience.

How should I answer the questions?

 

You must match the questions on the first page with the paragraphs on the second. As the instructions say, there are more questions than paragraphs.

Questions may relate to the overall gist of a section or specific details in the text. They may use similar language to convey the same ideas, but the words and phrases will be generally different. You must rely on your understanding of the text to make matches.

Once you’ve figured out an answer, you can write the paragraph letter next to the corresponding question number on the answer sheet.

 

What are they testing me on in Part 7?

 

Part 7 tests your ability to read for both gist and detail. More specifically, it looks at how well you can:

 

  • understand different perspectives

  • identify different ideas, opinions and arguments

  • infer meaning

  • make connections between texts
    •
 

The aim is to see how well you can deal with complex texts and process information from different sources. You’re likely to need this skill in real-world situations. For example, when researching for academic reports, you have to read various papers and choose what to include.

 

Strategies for getting the answer right

 

Here are some fast ways to match the question items and texts in Part 7:

Skim-read the texts for gist

 

Start by reading all the questions and texts quickly. Your brain should automatically begin making connections between the ideas in them. All you have to do then is check whether you were correct on the next read-through.

Even if you’re still unsure, you can still grasp the main theme of each text. You should find it easier to find the specific details that lead you to the answer.

Identify key words and phrases

 

Read each question carefully and decide which words and phrases are most important. Some provide clues to the answer and others may be distracting. For example:

Why have we underlined these three words?

 

  • ‘Don’t need’ indicates there’s a choice. The speaker thinks you can find meaningful experiences both nearby and far away.

  • ‘Far’ is key to the answer. If you miss this word, you might think the speaker is suggesting you don’t have to travel whatsoever.

  • ‘Meaningful’ is likely to have synonyms in the text like ‘significant’, ‘important’ or ‘memorable’.
    •
 

These words can help us understand the specific idea and find the closest match in the texts.

Match content, not text

 

Although you should identify keywords, you should focus on meaning over language. That means you shouldn’t spend too much time hunting for synonyms. Only look at what jumps out on a quick read.

In fact, two texts might have the same or similar words but completely different meanings.

For example:

  • I’m always mindful of my diet.

  • I don’t mind eating junk food.
    •
 

While ‘mindful’ means you pay attention to something, ‘don’t mind’ means it doesn’t bother you. The first person eats healthily whereas the second doesn’t always.

 

Top tips for preparation

 

Here’s how to prepare yourself in the weeks and months leading up to your Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam:

 

  • Look at time management: If you spend too long on Part 5 and Part 6, you might not leave yourself with enough time.

  • Read a variety of authentic texts: This part of the exam looks at short texts you might encounter in real-world situations. Practise by reading lots of articles, guides and leaflets.

  • Do practice papers: Look at samples of Part 7 to familiarise yourself with the format and see what type of questions to expect.

  • Study synonyms: Learn clusters of words and phrases in English with close meanings. Study their differences as well as their similarities.
    •
 

Closing thoughts

 

Finishing Part 7 of the C2 Proficiency Reading and Use of English can be a race against time if you’re underprepared. You end up spending too much time on insignificant details and miss the bigger picture.

Just by practising for a few hours each week, you can vastly improve your chances. Try making time in your schedule for each part of the exam.

Think you need help preparing for your test? Explore the exam courses at Oxford House.

Glossary for Language Learners

 

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

Disparate (adj): all different from each other.

Condensed (adj): made smaller or shorter by removing parts.

Correspond (v): to match.

Infer (v) to guess something based on clues or evidence.

Read-through (n): the act of reading something through from start to finish, often to check.

Jump out (pv): to be immediately obvious.

Mindful (adj): paying close attention to something.

A race against time (phr): needing to do a task urgently before a deadline.

Key

adj = adjective

v = verb

n = noun

pv = phrasal verb

phr = phrase

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