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FCE · Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation · South Korea

Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation for the FCE Exam — Korean candidates

10% of the FCE test plan. Rewriting a sentence to have the same meaning using a given key word, testing grammar and vocabulary. Calibrated for Korean 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 4 — Key Word Transformation sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge First Certificate (B2) content distribution — Part 4 (key word transformation) is the most grammar-intensive part of FCE Reading and Use of English. Each question presents a complete sentence and a key word; candidates rewrite the gapped second sentence using the key word so that both sentences have the same meaning. Worth 2 marks each — the highest per-question value in Reading/Use of English. Pass rates for the FCE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Korean candidates preparing for FCE, the calibration of study to local context matters: TOEIC and TOEFL are the dominant English credentials. TOPIK (Korean proficiency) and CSAT (Suneung) gate domestic outcomes.

Pass rates for FCE (South Korea) 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.

  • !Changing the meaning of the original sentence while using the key word correctly
  • !Writing more than 5 words in the gap (the limit is 2–5 words)
  • !Forgetting to include the key word unchanged in the gap

Study tips

  • 1Study the 15 most common grammatical transformations in FCE Part 4: passive voice, reported speech, conditionals, comparatives, causative have/get, modals, so/such, too/enough.
  • 2After writing your answer, verify: (1) same meaning? (2) key word used unchanged? (3) 2–5 words in gap?
  • 3Practice with the FCE Use of English Part 4 transformer exercise books — the patterns repeat.
  • 4한국 응시자에게 FCE 대비의 핵심은 독해 속도와 듣기 정확도입니다 — 한국식 시험 문화와 다른 출제 패턴에 익숙해지세요.

Sample FCE Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation 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

    ORIGINAL: "It was so cold that we couldn't stay outside." KEY WORD: TOO. REWRITE: "It was _____ outside."

    • Atoo cold to stayCorrect
    • Bso cold staying
    • Cvery cold for staying
    • Dcold enough to stay
    Why this answer?

    "Too + adjective + to + infinitive" expresses the same meaning as "so + adjective + that + clause." "Too cold to stay" correctly uses "too" as the key word and preserves the meaning of impossibility due to the cold.

Frequently asked questions

How many words can I write in FCE Part 4 gaps?
Each Part 4 gap must be filled with between 2 and 5 words, including the key word. Writing 1 word or 6+ words results in no marks, even if the answer is otherwise correct. Contractions (don't, it's) count as two words.
What is the FCE pass rate for Korean candidates?
Pass rates for FCE candidates in South Korea 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 Korean candidates study Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation for the FCE?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. TOEIC and TOEFL are the dominant English credentials. TOPIK (Korean proficiency) and CSAT (Suneung) gate domestic outcomes. Combine Reading & Use of English Part 4 — Key Word Transformation study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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