C1 Advanced Exam Guide: Multiple Matching
Reading & Use of English Paper
Contents
Overview
Context: Part 8 of the Reading & Use of English paper involves one or two sets of questions, followed by either a single continuous text, divided sections, or a collection of short texts. The task features ten questions, each with four to six answer options.
Task: Candidates must match each question with the relevant information in the text, focusing on understanding details, attitudes, opinions, and ensuring accuracy in matching. The questions may require candidates to locate specific details or interpret the attitude or opinion expressed in a particular section of the text.
Objective: To assess the candidate's ability to locate specific information and understand detailed content within a text or across multiple short texts.
Scoring & Marks: The ten questions are worth ten points, so one point for each. There are 78 points available for the whole Reading & Use of English paper.
How to Approach
- Skimming and Scanning: Candidates should practise skimming texts for general understanding and scanning for specific details relevant to the questions.
- Question Analysis: Read and analyse the questions carefully, underlining key words and phrases that will guide you to the relevant sections of the text.
- Holistic Understanding: Look beyond surface-level word matches and understand the broader context to find accurate answers.
- Dealing with Ambiguity: Ensure you understand and find evidence for the entire question, not just a segment of it.
Assessment Focus
This part emphasises the candidate's skill in extracting specific information, understanding detail, opinion, and attitude from a text or a series of short texts.
Tips
- Develop skills in quickly identifying relevant information and key details within texts.
- Try to read diverse materials, including articles and reviews, to build familiarity with different writing styles and viewpoints.
- Practise with texts that require detailed reading and analysis, emphasising the importance of understanding the full context rather than focusing on individual words.
How It Looks
Difference From Part 6
In the C1 Advanced Reading and Use of English paper, both Part 6 and Part 8 are multiple matching tasks, but they have distinct structures and objectives.
Part 6 - Cross Text Multiple Matching
- Consists of four short texts related by a common theme.
- Includes multiple-matching prompts with four questions.
- Tests the ability to read across texts and understand detailed information, opinions, and attitudes.
- Requires candidates to identify which text shares or contradicts an opinion expressed in another text or to determine which text differs in opinion from the others.
Example: Four reviewers give their opinions on a film. The questions all begin: 'Which review...?'
Part 8 - Multiple Matching:
- Involves one or two sets of questions followed by a single page of text, which may be continuous, divided into sections, or consist of a group of short texts.
- Includes ten questions with four to six options.
Example: An article about modern architecture. Each question begin: 'Which section...?'
In summary, while both parts involve matching elements from texts to questions, Part 6 centres on comparing opinions and attitudes across multiple texts related by a theme, whereas Part 8 requires locating specific information or viewpoints within a longer text or a collection of short texts.
Student Suggestion
"Reading a variety of texts, especially those expressing different viewpoints, and practising matching exercises significantly improved my performance in this part of the exam." - Laura Nguyen
