CPE · Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · Tamil Nadu, India
Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text for the CPE Exam — Tamil Nadu candidates
10% of the CPE test plan. Rebuilding a longer text by inserting 7 removed paragraphs, testing advanced understanding of textual cohesion. Calibrated for Tamil candidates.
If you have already studied this content from a textbook, you know the material. The question this page answers is whether you can apply it under exam conditions. Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge Proficiency (C2) content distribution — CPE Reading Part 2 uses a longer text (approximately 700 words) with 7 removed paragraphs and 8 options (one extra). At C2 level, the textual cohesion that candidates must track is highly sophisticated: lexical chains, pronoun reference across multiple sentences, and logical development of complex arguments. Pass rates for the CPE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Tamil Nadu candidates preparing for CPE, the calibration of study to local context matters: Tamil Nadu uses 7.5% NEET government-school reservation and runs separate state-quota counselling. JEE Main and GATE candidate volumes are second only to Maharashtra.
Common failure modes
These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.
- !Placing paragraphs based on topical overlap without checking the reference chains
- !Not confirming that the extra (unused) paragraph is genuinely incompatible with all gaps
- !Ignoring discourse markers that signal the expected paragraph type
Study tips
- 1Underline pronouns, demonstratives, and topic noun phrases at paragraph boundaries — these are the cohesion anchors.
- 2Read the base text first without the options to understand the overall argument structure.
- 3Check the extra paragraph against every gap systematically — being certain about the extra paragraph confirms other answers.
- 4NEET-UG is offered in Tamil (தமிழ்) at all TN centres. Many state-board students prefer Tamil-medium for biology questions but English-medium for physics and chemistry — you must choose one medium for the entire paper.
- 5For TN MBBS admission: register on TN Health website for the 7.5% government-school reservation if eligible — separate from MCC counselling.
- 6GATE Chennai and Coimbatore centres fill fastest; submit your GATE application within 72 hours of opening to secure your preferred centre.
Sample CPE Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text questions
These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real CPE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.
- 1
In CPE Reading Part 2, a gap is followed in the text by: "This, in itself, was remarkable." The inserted paragraph most likely ends with:
- AA factual statistic with no evaluative comment
- BA description of a surprising or notable event or achievementCorrect
- CA counter-argument to the main thesis
- DA general background statement
Why this answer?
"This, in itself, was remarkable" refers backward (anaphoric reference) to something that the previous paragraph described as noteworthy. The demonstrative "this" + evaluative "remarkable" requires a paragraph that described something worth noting — typically a specific surprising achievement or outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How is CPE Reading Part 2 different from CAE Part 6?
What is the CPE pass rate for Tamil candidates?
How long should Tamil candidates study Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text for the CPE?
Practice Cambridge CPE (C2) free with Koydo.
Proficiency — the highest CEFR English credential.
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- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text for CPE — Indian candidatesSame Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text topic, different locale framing