CAE Reading Overview teachers notes

Description This overview activity asks 10 True/False questions about the CAE Reading paper. It helps teachers and students become familiar with the content of the Reading paper. Time required: Additional materials required: Aims: 15 minutes CAE Handbook (or OHT of CAE Handbook page 7)

to familiarise teachers and students with the format, content and task types of the CAE Reading paper.

Procedure 1. Divide students into groups or pairs and tell them they are going to look at true/false statements about the CAE Reading paper. 2. Give each group or pair enough copies of the worksheet so that everyone can see it. 3. Ask students to decide if the statements are true or false by looking at the information in the CAE Handbook, Paper 1, Reading. 4. Set a time limit, about 8 10 minutes. 5. Check the answers with the whole class. One way is to ask the students for all the false statements, write them on the board and then ask them to correct them. 6. Ask if anyone has any other questions about the Reading paper.

Suggested follow-up activity Ask pairs or groups of students to write three facts about the CAE Reading paper. Some of them should be true and some should be false. Students then pass their statements to another pair or group who decide if they are true or false. Discuss answers as a whole class.

UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo

CAE Reading Overview teachers notes

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CAE Reading Overview answer keys

Key to Students worksheet 1. There will be 34 questions in the Reading Paper, though each part may not have the same number of questions. True - There will be 34 questions. The number of questions per Part is different; Parts 1 and 2 have 6 questions, Part 3 has 7 and Part 4 has 15. 2. In Part 1 there are 3 texts all on different themes. False The 3 texts are thematically linked. 3. Not all the texts are the same length. There are shorter and longer texts. True. 4. Parts 1 and 3 have the same task type. True They both have multiple-choice questions with 4 options but Part 1 has 3 shorter thematically linked texts and Part 3 has one longer text. 5. In the gapped text task, candidates will have to place sentences in their correct place in the text. False - They have to place paragraphs. 6. The multiple-matching task involves matching questions which are written before the text with relevant information in the text. True. The questions require candidates to locate specific information in the text. The text may be one continuous text or several shorter texts. 7. Some tasks will involve understanding opinions expressed in the text. True - This is a general reading skill that is expected throughout the CAE Reading test. 8. In Part 2, candidates need to be able to understand the development of the theme of the text and the text structure in order to do the task. True. In order to place the paragraphs in to the correct gaps students have to look at the text before and after the gap. They then choose a paragraph that fits logically in terms of the development of the theme and fits grammatically according to reference words, linkers etc. 9. All questions are worth 1 mark each. False In Parts 1, 2 and 3 questions are worth 2 marks each. In Part 4 questions are worth 1 mark each. 10. Candidates' answers should be transferred to the answer sheets at the end of the test. False - The answers should be transferred during the test as there is no extra time for answer transfer.

UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo

CAE Reading Overview teachers notes

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CAE Reading Overview Students Worksheet

Are these statements about the CAE Reading paper true or false? Can you correct the false ones? Hint: There are 4 false statements.

There are 34 questions in the Reading Paper, though each part may not have the same number of questions. In Part 1 there are 3 texts all on different themes. Not all the texts are the same length. There could be shorter and longer texts. Parts 1 and 3 have the same task type. In the gapped text task, candidates have to place sentences in their correct place in the text. The multiple-matching task involves matching questions which are written before the text with relevant information in the text. Some tasks will involve understanding opinions expressed in the text.

2 3 4 5

In Part 2, candidates need to be able to understand the development of the theme of the text and the text structure in order to do the task. All questions are worth 1 mark each. Candidates' answers should be transferred to the answer sheets at the end of the test.

9 10

UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo

CAE Reading Overview teachers notes

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