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FCE · Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze · United Kingdom

Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze for the FCE Exam — UK 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 British 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 & 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 UK candidates preparing for FCE, the calibration of study to local context matters: UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track.

Pass rates for FCE (United Kingdom) are published periodically by the awarding body.

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.
  • 4In the UK, FCE schedules and reschedules align with state holiday calendars and post-Brexit fee adjustments — confirm pricing on the awarding body's site before booking.

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. 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. 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?
FCE Reading and Use of English has 52 questions across 7 parts (Parts 1–7), taking 1 hour 15 minutes. Part 1 has 8 multiple-choice cloze questions; Parts 2–6 test different grammar, vocabulary, and reading skills; Part 7 tests gist reading.
What is the FCE pass rate for British candidates?
Pass rates for FCE candidates in United Kingdom are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should British candidates study Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze for the FCE?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. UK candidates often take exams for both domestic licensure (NMC, GMC) and migration purposes. IELTS UKVI is a separate, higher-stakes track. Combine Reading & Use of English Part 1 — Multiple-Choice Cloze study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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