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FCE · Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open Cloze · California, USA

Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open Cloze for the FCE Exam — California candidates

8% of the FCE test plan. Writing one word to fill each of 8 gaps in a text, testing grammatical and lexical knowledge. Calibrated for Californian 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 2 — Open Cloze sits at roughly 8% of the Cambridge First Certificate (B2) content distribution — Part 2 tests grammar words (prepositions, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions, articles, pronouns, relative pronouns) in context. Unlike Part 1, there are no options — the candidate must supply the word independently. Functional words that are hard to produce without grammar automaticity cause the most errors. Pass rates for the FCE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For California candidates preparing for FCE, the calibration of study to local context matters: California is the largest U.S. testing market for NCLEX, MCAT, SAT, and ACT. The CA Board of Registered Nursing has notoriously long endorsement timelines (8–14 weeks).

Pass rates for FCE (California, USA) 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.

  • !Writing a content word when a function word is needed
  • !Forgetting auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses (had, has, been)
  • !Missing the fixed preposition in set phrases: "in spite of", "as a result of", "on behalf of"

Study tips

  • 1Study the top 20 fixed preposition phrases that appear in FCE Part 2 practice papers.
  • 2Practice identifying which gaps are likely grammar words (G) vs vocabulary words (V) — Part 2 is predominantly G.
  • 3Review subordinating conjunctions: although, despite, in case, provided that, as long as.
  • 4For NCLEX-RN: the California Board of Registered Nursing requires LiveScan fingerprinting before ATT release; book early because LiveScan vendors fill 2–3 weeks out.
  • 5For MCAT/SAT/ACT: California universities are test-blind for SAT/ACT undergraduate admission as of 2024; verify whether your target medical/grad programs still require MCAT/GRE.
  • 6For CDL: California has its own "California Special Requirements" addendum on top of FMCSA; review the CA Commercial Driver Handbook before sitting the written test.

Sample FCE Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open 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

    She succeeded _____ spite of the many challenges she faced.

    • AinCorrect
    • Bon
    • Cat
    • Dby
    Why this answer?

    "In spite of" is the fixed prepositional phrase meaning "despite." The preposition is always "in" — not "on," "at," or "by." FCE Part 2 frequently tests these fixed phrases because the correct preposition cannot be guessed from context alone.

Frequently asked questions

Is Part 2 grammar or vocabulary?
FCE Part 2 is primarily a grammar test (prepositions, auxiliaries, conjunctions, determiners, relative pronouns) though some questions test vocabulary (fixed phrases). The key distinction from Part 1 is that you must produce the word, not select it from options.
What is the FCE pass rate for Californian candidates?
Pass rates for FCE candidates in California, USA 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 Californian candidates study Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open Cloze for the FCE?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open Cloze requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. California is the largest U.S. testing market for NCLEX, MCAT, SAT, and ACT. The CA Board of Registered Nursing has notoriously long endorsement timelines (8–14 weeks). Combine Reading & Use of English Part 2 — Open Cloze study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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