Reading and Use of English

Shows you can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests your use of English with tasks that show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary. 

Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes 

Number of parts: 7

Number of questions: 52

Marks: 40% of total

Length of texts: About 2,200 words to read in total.

Texts may be from: Newspapers and magazines, journals, books (fiction and non-fiction), promotional and informational material.

What do I have to practise? Grammar and Vocabulary – idioms, collocations, shades of meaning, phrasal verbs, fixed phrases etc; reading for detail, opinion, tone, purpose, main idea, implication, attitude; how to understand the structure and development of a text; reading for specific information, detail, opinion and attitude.

"Teacher, I really want a grammar book that I can use as a reference. Can you recommend one?" 

Dear students, I don't think you need to buy a grammar book just for the FCE, but if you really wish to use one, here are some books I recommend for B2 level:

• English Grammar in Use Book With Answers - Raymond Murphy

• MacMillan English Grammar in Context - Michael Vince

• Oxford English Grammar Course: Intermediate - Michael Swan, Catherine Walter

• Oxford Practice Grammar: Intermediate - John Eastwood

• English Idioms in Use Intermediate Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice - Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell

• English Collocations in Use Intermediate Book with Answers: How Words Work Together for Fluent and Natural English - Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell

• English Phrasal Verbs in Use Intermediate Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice - Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell

Useful links to practice Reading:

• https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/learning-lessons-ell 

• https://www.theguardian.com/education/series/learning-english 

• https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/magazine 

• http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading 

• https://www.commonlit.org/ 

• https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/