FCE · Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze · Tamil Nadu, India
Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze for the FCE Exam — Tamil Nadu candidates
8% of the FCE test plan. Selecting the correct word from four options to fill gaps in a text, testing vocabulary and collocation. Calibrated for Tamil candidates.
High-stakes exams reward two skills equally: knowledge and test-craft. This page focuses on both for one of the most failure-prone areas. Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze sits at roughly 8% of the Cambridge First Certificate (B2) content distribution — Part 1 has 8 gaps in a text, each with four vocabulary/collocation options. This tests lexical knowledge: the ability to select words that fit grammatically AND collocate correctly with the surrounding text. A strong performance here is a reliable indicator of broad B2 vocabulary. Pass rates for the FCE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Tamil Nadu candidates preparing for FCE, 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.
- !Selecting a word that is grammatically possible but collocates incorrectly with the context
- !Ignoring the surrounding text and selecting based on single-word recognition alone
- !Confusing near-synonyms: affect/influence, raise/rise, do/make, say/tell
Study tips
- 1Learn vocabulary in collocational frames: "make a decision" not "do a decision"; "heavy traffic" not "strong traffic".
- 2Read each gap sentence twice — once alone, once in the paragraph context — before choosing.
- 3Build a list of commonly confused word pairs from FCE practice tests and learn the distinction.
- 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 FCE Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze questions
These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real FCE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.
- 1
The new policy had a significant _____ on employee satisfaction.
- Aaffect
- Beffect
- CimpactCorrect
- Dconsequence
Why this answer?
"Impact" and "effect" are both possible, but "significant impact on" is the most idiomatic collocation in formal English. "Affect" is a verb, not a noun. "Consequence" implies a result of something negative and typically takes "of" not "on".
- 2
She _____ the opportunity to speak to the director.
- Adid
- Bgot
- CtookCorrect
- Dhad
Why this answer?
"Took the opportunity" is the correct fixed collocation. "Got an opportunity" is possible informally, but "took the opportunity" is the standard idiomatic form for deliberately using a chance.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in FCE Reading and Use of English?
What is the FCE pass rate for Tamil candidates?
How long should Tamil candidates study Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze for the FCE?
Practice Cambridge FCE (B2) free with Koydo.
B2 First — Use of English, Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking.
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