{"id":47237,"date":"2021-07-07T12:41:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T10:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/?p=47237"},"modified":"2021-07-07T16:36:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T14:36:52","slug":"passing-cambridge-c1-advanced-part-6-reading-and-use-of-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/passing-cambridge-c1-advanced-part-6-reading-and-use-of-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Passing Cambridge C1 Advanced Part 6: Reading and Use of English"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well done you! You\u2019ve made it to Part 6 of the Cambridge English C1 Advanced<\/a> Reading and Use of English exam. Not long to go now \u2013 just three more reading sections. And it will all be worth it in the end, we promise.<\/p>\n

Part 6 of the exam is quite tricky<\/strong><\/span><\/em> and requires some patience and strategy. The text is very long, and each of the segments (A, B, C and D) seem really similar. This is intentional as they all focus on the same topic, but they are written by different authors, and the attitudes and opinions are all different.<\/p>\n

To help you get the marks you deserve, we\u2019ve put together this handy guide on how to answer Reading and Use of English Part 6. So, without further ado<\/strong><\/span><\/em> \u2013 let\u2019s get reading!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What\u2019s in Part 6?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The first thing you\u2019ll see is a page of four different texts on a related theme (A, B, C and D). Here\u2019s an example of extract A from a C1 Advanced sample paper.<\/p>\n

\"Whats<\/p>\n

Cambridge English C1 Advanced Sample Paper 1 (zip)<\/a><\/p>\n

Next, you\u2019ll be given a list of four questions. This might seem like very few, but they are all worth two marks. So, there\u2019s a total of eight marks up for grabs<\/strong><\/span><\/em> on this paper alone.<\/p>\n

\"C1
\nWhat are they testing me on in Part 6?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This part of the exam is called the cross-text multiple matching task. It\u2019s named this way because you need to match the attitudes and opinions of four different people. They may agree on some ideas, but disagree on others \u2013 it\u2019s your job to identify these different opinions.<\/p>\n

There are two ways the examiners might frame<\/strong><\/span><\/em> the question. They might ask you to identify an opinion, and then find which other text shares or contradicts this opinion.<\/p>\n

e.g. Which reviewer shares A\u2019s opinion<\/strong> whether architects should take note of de Botton’s ideas?<\/em><\/p>\n

On the other hand, they may ask you to identify which text differs from the three other texts in terms of opinion.<\/p>\n

e.g. Which reviewer has a different opinion from the others<\/strong> on the confidence with which de Botton discusses architecture?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How should I answer the questions?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you get ahead of yourself<\/strong><\/span><\/em>, this particular Reading requires a bit of planning. The questions are worded in a particular way that\u2019s designed to confuse you. And without the right strategy, it\u2019s easy to get tangled up<\/strong><\/span><\/em> in all the different texts. Here are the steps you should follow in order to guarantee success:<\/p>\n

1. Read the title and the rubric first<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The title is there to help you \u2013 it\u2019ll give you the topic and give you an idea of what\u2019s to come. In this, the title and theme is The Architecture of Happiness<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This will be followed by the rubric, which will give you further information about the topic: \u201cFour reviewers comment on philosopher Alain de Botton\u2019s book<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, you know you\u2019re dealing with four book reviews, all about the same book, written by a philosopher, on the topic of architecture. Or maybe happiness. Or both.<\/p>\n

2. Skim read the main text<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

It is recommended you do this with all the Cambridge English exam Readings. But what\u2019s the point? Well, it\u2019s called \u201creading for gist.\u201d It means getting all the main ideas and information of a text without focusing on the details.<\/p>\n

This step is particularly important for Part 6 of the exam, as you\u2019ll get a sense<\/strong><\/span><\/em> of whether the author has overall positive or negative attitudes towards the topic. Be careful though! They also have mixed opinions too.<\/p>\n

3. Start with the easiest questions first<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unlike other parts of the Reading and Use of English paper, it\u2019s not necessary to complete the questions in order. So, you should always start with the easiest questions first. Take a look at these examples:<\/p>\n

\"C1<\/p>\n

The first question (37) is the most difficult. Why? Because you would have to read all four texts to identify the correct answer. The others, on the other hand, give you a clear starting point by asking you to compare with either A, B or C\u2019s opinions. Therefore, you should leave question 37 until last, and focus on the other questions first.<\/p>\n

4. Identify A\u2019s opinion <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Imagine you decide to start with question 38. First you need to identify reviewer A\u2019s opinion on \u201cwhether architects should take note of de Botton\u2019s ideas<\/em>\u201d. Underline this in the question to help you remember what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

Now, start reading A and find their attitude. Read it carefully, and when you think you\u2019ve found the answer, stop and underline it.<\/p>\n

5. Now compare it with the other texts<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Now\u2019s where the detective work comes in. Remember, you want to find which other author shares A\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\n

Start by reading text B and try to identify the part where they comment on the topic. Once you\u2019ve found it, underline it. And decide if it agrees or disagrees with A\u2019s attitude. If it agrees, then great \u2013 you\u2019ve found the correct answer!<\/p>\n

If it disagrees, move on<\/strong><\/span><\/em> to text C (and then D).<\/p>\n

*Just in case, you might want to check with the other two remaining texts even if you think you\u2019ve found the one that agrees. Like we said, the attitudes are often very similar. And sometimes it\u2019s difficult to identify which two are the same.<\/p>\n

6. Repeat the steps for the remaining questions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Now, you should go back to step 4 and repeat the process for the rest of the questions. Remember to leave question 37 until last. That way, you will have already read the four texts a few times, and have more of an understanding of everyone’s opinions and attitudes to answer the question.<\/p>\n

7. Check your answers<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t forget to leave a couple of minutes at the end to check your answers. But be careful of changing them at the last minute. You\u2019re more likely to change a right answer to a wrong answer if you\u2019re feeling rushed<\/strong><\/span><\/em>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tips for studying and resources<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n