Cambridge English Reading and Writing Test Practice

​Cambridge English
Reading & Writing


Test Practice

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Understanding the Essay Prompt

• Read the prompt carefully: Pay attention to the instructions and requirements.

• Identify the key words: Highlight important terms that guide your essay.

• Break down the prompt: Analyze the prompt to understand its structure and purpose.

• Brainstorm ideas: Generate relevant ideas and arguments based on the prompt.

• Plan your essay: Create an outline to organize your thoughts and structure your essay effectively.

Breaking Down Prompts

To understand the structure of the prompt, it is important to break it down. This helps in generating relevant ideas and arguments, organizing thoughts, and effectively structuring the essay. Additionally, breaking down the prompt helps highlight important terms that guide the essay.

Essay Writing: Brainstorming & Organizing

• Brainstorm: Generate ideas using mind maps or lists
• Organize: Create an outline with clear introduction, body, and conclusion
• Support: Use evidence and examples to back up your points
• Structure: Use paragraphs and cohesive devices for smooth flow
• Revise: Edit for clarity, coherence, and grammar

Essay Writing Process

Trivia: The step in the essay writing process that involves creating an outline with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion is Organize. This step helps to structure the essay and ensure a logical flow of ideas. It acts as a roadmap for the writer, making the writing process more efficient and organized.

Writing Strong Introductions

• Hook the reader: Start with an attention-grabbing opening sentence or question.
• Provide context: Give background information to set the stage for your essay.
• State your thesis: Clearly state your main argument or position.
• Outline your essay: Briefly mention the main points you will discuss.
• Keep it concise: Aim for a clear and concise introduction, around 3-4 sentences.

The Purpose of Introduction

• To hook the reader: The introduction grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to continue reading.
• To provide context: It sets the stage by giving background information and establishing the topic's relevance.
• To state the thesis: The introduction presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.
• To outline the essay: It gives a brief overview of the main points that will be discussed in the essay.

Developing Coherent Body Paragraphs

• Start each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence
• Provide evidence and examples to support your main idea
• Use transition words to connect your ideas and create flow
• Ensure each paragraph focuses on one main point
• Conclude each paragraph by summarizing your main argument

Body Paragraphs:

Start each body paragraph in an essay with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. Use transition words to create a smooth flow between paragraphs. Providing evidence and examples supports your arguments. In the conclusion, summarize the main points and restate the thesis statement.

Effective Transitions

• Transitions help create a smooth flow in your essay
• Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas and paragraphs
• Examples of transitional words: however, in addition, on the other hand
• Transitions improve coherence and make your essay more organized

Transitional Words

Trivia: Transitional words and phrases are used in essays to improve coherence and organization. They help connect ideas and paragraphs, creating a smooth flow in the essay. By using these words, writers can make their essays more interesting and engaging.

• Examples of transitional words: however, therefore, in addition, furthermore

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of breaking down the prompt?

• To understand the structure of the prompt

• To generate relevant ideas and arguments

• To organize thoughts and structure the essay effectively

• To highlight important terms that guide the essay

Multiple Choice

To ... up, immediate action is required.

• aims

• sum

• consider

• course

• short

Multiple Choice

My... is that visitors should always book ahead.

• purpose

• recommending

• aims

• recommend

• recommendation

Multiple Choice

Which step in the essay writing process involves creating an outline with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion?

• Brainstorm

• Organize

• Support

• Structure

Multiple Choice

One possible ... would be to impose strict parking regulations.

• balance

• purpose

• solution

• outlines

• short

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the introduction in an essay?

• To hook the reader

• To provide context

• To state the thesis

• To outline the essay

Multiple Choice

The .... of this report is to assess the town's sports facilities.

• course

• purpose

• solution

• balance

• outlines

Multiple Choice

On ..., our overall reaction to the proposals is positive.

• sum

• aims

• recommend

• purpose

• balance

Multiple Choice

What are some tips for writing effective body paragraphs in an essay?

• How can you start each body paragraph in an essay?

• What is the purpose of using transition words in an essay?

• Why is it important to provide evidence and examples in an essay?

• What should be included in the conclusion of each body paragraph in an essay?

Multiple Choice

This report ... the range of job opportunities available.

• recommendation

• recommending

• outlines

• aims

• sum

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of using transitional words and phrases in an essay?

• To create a smooth flow in the essay

• To improve coherence and organization in the essay

• To connect ideas and paragraphs in the essay

• To make the essay more interesting and engaging

Multiple Choice

I strongly ... that further research be carried out.

• consider

• recommend

• recommendation

• recommending

• purpose

Multiple Choice

In ... we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the resort.

• short

• purpose

• solution

• outlines

• sum

Multiple Choice

The organisers should ... improving facilities for the disabled.

• recommendation

• outlines

• consider

• balance

• aims

Multiple Choice

The best ... of action would be to lower the admission fees.

• course

• solution

• sum

• recommending

• short

Multiple Choice

This report ... to provide an overview of the current situation.

• consider

• recommend

• course

• outlines

• aims

Multiple Choice

I have no hesitation in ... this superb historic site to travellers.

• consider

• recommendation

• purpose

• recommend

• recommending