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FCE · Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation · Spain

Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation for the FCE Exam — Spanish candidates

8% of the FCE test plan. Transforming a given base word into the correct form (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) to fill a gap. Calibrated for Spanish 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 3 — Word Formation sits at roughly 8% of the Cambridge First Certificate (B2) content distribution — Part 3 tests word formation: the ability to derive the correct form of a word using prefixes and suffixes. Each of the 8 gaps provides the base form of a word in capitals; candidates must determine whether to form a noun, adjective, verb, adverb, negative, or compound form. Pass rates for the FCE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Spanish candidates preparing for FCE, the calibration of study to local context matters: Selectividad gates Spanish university admission. DELE certifies Spanish proficiency for non-natives; English certifications (Cambridge, IELTS) are widely tested.

Pass rates for FCE (Spain) 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.

  • !Choosing the wrong word class (using an adjective when a noun is needed)
  • !Forgetting negative prefixes: un-, dis-, ir-, im-, in-, il-
  • !Missing double consonants in derived forms: prefer → preferring (double r), not prefering

Study tips

  • 1Build word families for the 200 most common FCE word formation roots: CREATE → creation/creative/creatively/creativity/uncreative.
  • 2Learn which word positions in sentences require which word class: verb position, subject/object position, modifier position.
  • 3Study negative prefix patterns: un- (unhappy), dis- (dishonest), ir- (irregular), im- (impossible), in- (independent), il- (illegal).
  • 4Los candidatos españoles que se preparan para el FCE pueden aprovechar la similitud léxica entre español e inglés — concéntrate en los falsos amigos y los matices gramaticales que más penalizan.

Sample FCE Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation 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 _____ of the new bridge was celebrated by the whole city. (BASE WORD: OPEN)

    • AopeningCorrect
    • Bopened
    • Copenly
    • Dopener
    Why this answer?

    The gap requires a noun (subject of "was celebrated"). "Opening" (gerund/noun form of OPEN) is the correct word. "Opened" is a past tense verb; "openly" is an adverb; "opener" is a tool noun — neither fits the sentence structure.

Frequently asked questions

How many word family forms should I know for FCE Part 3?
For each important word, know at least 4 forms: noun (person or thing), noun (concept/quality), adjective, and adverb. Example: employ → employer, employment, employed/employable, efficiently. A list of 200 high-frequency word families covers the vast majority of FCE Part 3 questions.
What is the FCE pass rate for Spanish candidates?
Pass rates for FCE candidates in Spain 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 Spanish candidates study Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation for the FCE?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. Selectividad gates Spanish university admission. DELE certifies Spanish proficiency for non-natives; English certifications (Cambridge, IELTS) are widely tested. Combine Reading & Use of English Part 3 — Word Formation study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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