B2 key word transformations (FCE Use of English Part 4)
A key word transformation gives you a sentence, a key word and a second sentence with a gap. You complete the second sentence in two to five words, including the key word, so that it means the same as the first. Each of the six items in FCE Use of English Part 4 is worth up to two marks.
- Questions
- 6 (Q25–30)
- Marks
- Up to 2 each
- Words
- 2–5, key word included
- Counts towards
- Use of English
What FCE key word transformations test
Part 4 has six separate items (questions 25–30) and an example. Each item gives you a complete sentence, a key word in capital letters, and a second sentence with a gap in the middle. You must complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the key word.
The rules are strict:
- use between two and five words, including the key word;
- do not change the key word in any way (SAID cannot become says);
- contractions count as two words (didn't = did not), except can't, which counts as one because cannot is one word;
- keep every piece of information from the first sentence: tense, negatives, words such as still or ever.
Items test grammar and vocabulary together: passives and reporting verbs, reported speech, conditionals, wish, modals of deduction, comparisons, too and enough, phrasal verbs, verb patterns and fixed expressions.
How it is marked: each answer is divided into two halves, and each half is worth one mark, so a partly correct answer can still earn 1 of the 2 marks. Part 4 is worth 12 marks, the largest share of the 28 Use of English marks, which makes it the most valuable part to practise for that score. Spelling must be correct, and you write only the missing words, including the key word. If you give two alternative answers and one is wrong, the item scores zero.
Three key word transformations at B2 level
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
25 I'm sure Kate didn't see the message, or she would have replied.
HAVE
Kate (25) the message, or she would have replied.
26 The organisers cancelled the match because of the heavy rain.
CALLED
The organisers (26) because of the heavy rain.
27 People say that the castle was built in the twelfth century.
SAID
The castle (27) built in the twelfth century.
Show the answer and explanation
25 can't / cannot / couldn't have seen. I'm sure … didn't is a negative deduction about the past, so you need can't have + past participle. Marks: can't / cannot / couldn't (1) + have seen (1). Can't have seen counts as three words, because can't is counted as cannot; couldn't have seen counts as four. Both are inside the limit.
26 called off the match / called the match off. Call off means cancel. Marks: called off (1) + the match (1). Writing called the match without off loses the first mark because the meaning is lost.
27 is said to have been. The passive reporting structure: subject + is said + perfect infinitive for an earlier action. Marks: is said (1) + to have been (1). Is said to be earns only 1 mark: the building happened in the past, so the perfect infinitive is needed.
Two more sets of B2 key word transformations
Each set has six items, numbered 25–30 as in the exam. Check the word count and the key word before you look at the answers.
Practice set 2
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
25 Somebody stole Carla's bike while she was in the library.
HAD
Carla (25) while she was in the library.
26 'Don't forget to send me the photos,' Lucy said to me.
REMINDED
Lucy (26) her the photos.
27 I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the change of plan.
WISH
I (27) you about the change of plan.
28 It isn't worth repairing this old printer.
POINT
There is (28) this old printer.
29 'Why don't we have a picnic by the river?' said Emma.
SUGGESTED
Emma (29) a picnic by the river.
30 The match was so exciting that nobody left early.
SUCH
It was (30) that nobody left early.
Show the answers and explanations
25 had her bike stolen (also had her bicycle stolen). The causative passive have something done describes something done to you by someone else. Marks: had her bike (1) + stolen (1).
26 reminded me to send. Remind someone to do something. Marks: reminded me (1) + to send (1).
27 wish I had told (also wish I'd told, wish that I had told). A regret about the past: wish + past perfect. Marks: wish I had (1) + told (1).
28 no point (in) repairing. There is no point (in) doing something means it is not worth doing. Marks: no point (in) (1) + repairing (1).
29 suggested having (also suggested going for, suggested (that) we (should) have). Suggest takes an -ing form or a that clause, never suggest to do. Marks: suggested (1) + the rest (1).
30 such an exciting match (also such an exciting game). Such + a/an + adjective + noun + that. Marks: such an (1) + exciting match (1). Such exciting match without an loses the first mark.
Practice set 3
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
25 I'm sure Daniel left his keys at the office.
MUST
Daniel (25) his keys at the office.
26 The shop had sold all its bread by ten o'clock.
RUN
The shop (26) bread by ten o'clock.
27 It took me two hours to write the essay.
SPENT
I (27) the essay.
28 Jack is not tall enough to reach the top shelf.
TOO
Jack (28) reach the top shelf.
29 It's ages since I last went swimming.
FOR
I (29) ages.
30 I refused Tom's offer to help.
DOWN
I (30) to help.
Show the answers and explanations
25 must have left. I'm sure + past = a confident deduction about the past: must have + past participle. Marks: must have (1) + left (1).
26 had run out of. Run out of means to have none left, and the past perfect keeps by ten o'clock. Marks: had run (1) + out of (1). Ran out of is wrong: the key word must be RUN exactly, and by ten o'clock needs the past perfect anyway.
27 spent two hours writing (also spent two hours on). Spend + time + -ing, or + on + noun. Marks: spent two hours (1) + writing / on (1).
28 is too short to (also is too small to). Not tall enough becomes too + the opposite adjective + to. Marks: is too short (1) + to (1).
29 have not been swimming for (also haven't been swimming for, haven't gone swimming for, haven't swum for). It's ages since I last… becomes a negative present perfect with for. Five words, the limit: haven't counts as two. Marks: have not been (1) + swimming for (1).
30 turned down Tom's offer (also turned Tom's offer down). Turn down means refuse. Keep Tom's: turned down his offer loses the name, which the second sentence needs. Marks: turned down (1) + Tom's offer (1).
How to do sentence transformations at B2, step by step
- 01
Read the first sentence and say to yourself exactly what it means: who does what, when, and whether it is positive or negative.
- 02
Look at the key word and ask which structure it belongs to. SAID usually means a passive reporting verb; UNLESS a conditional; WISH a past tense after it; SUCH a noun phrase.
- 03
Read the words before and after the gap in the second sentence. They fix the subject, the tense and what can follow, and they often tell you which half of the structure is missing.
- 04
Write your answer, then count the words, remembering that contractions count as two (except can't), and check that the key word is exactly as printed.
- 05
Compare the two sentences one last time for lost information. If the first sentence has still, ever or not, your version must keep it.
- 06
Never leave an item blank. Each half earns a mark independently, so a reasonable attempt can save one point even when you are unsure of the whole answer.
Key word transformation mistakes that lose marks
Changing the key word. HAVE becomes has, SAID becomes say. This scores zero, however good the rest of the answer is.
Going over five words. Six words is wrong even if the grammar is perfect. Contractions are the usual cause: wouldn't have been able to counts as six words (would not have been able to).
Losing information. Turning I still haven't finished into I haven't finished, or a past meaning into a present one. The meaning must match, not just the topic.
Writing the whole sentence on the answer sheet. On paper you write only the missing words. Copying the full sentence wastes time and makes it unclear which words are your answer.
How the two marks are split in Part 4
Every key word transformation answer has two halves. Here is how different answers to question 25 above would be marked.
| Answer written | Marks | Why |
|---|---|---|
| can't have seen | 2 | Both halves correct (three words: can't counts as cannot) |
| cannot have saw | 1 | Modal correct; past participle wrong |
| mustn't have seen | 1 | Have seen correct; mustn't does not express a negative deduction |
| can't has seen | 0 | The key word HAVE has been changed |
| didn't see | 0 | The key word is not used |
Structures that come up in FCE key word transformations
- Passives and reporting verbs: is said to be, was thought to have, had the car repaired.
- Reported speech and reporting verbs: suggested going, denied taking, accused him of lying, asked me whether.
- Conditionals: unless, as long as, if it hadn't been for, otherwise.
- Wishes and regrets: I wish I had, if only, would rather, it's time we.
- Modals of deduction and obligation: must have left, can't have known, didn't need to, needn't have.
- Comparisons: not as … as, the more … the, by far the, much less.
- Too, enough, so, such: too tired to, not old enough, such a good.
- Phrasal verbs and verb patterns: put off, run out of, look forward to, succeed in, prevented us from, used to, is used to.
Practise Part 4 in full FCE Reading and Use of English tests
Each FCE Reading and Use of English test on this site has its own Part 4, timed with the whole paper and marked as soon as you submit, with an explanation for every answer.
- Test 1: key words PUT, WISH, ENOUGH, SINCE, REMINDED, NEVER
- Test 2: key words RATHER, NEED, WHETHER, BEING, UNTIL, SPITE
- Test 3: key words ADVISED, TOO, AWARE, HAVE, BEEN, SOON
- Test 4: key words FORWARD, MUST, SUCCEEDED, FLUENTLY, LET, UNTIL
- Test 5: key words MUST, MIGHT, PERMISSION, ARRANGED, STILL, POINT
- Test 6: key words GIVE, WORTH, NEVER, UNLESS, BEEN, HAVE
FCE key word transformation questions
How many words can I use in FCE key word transformations?
Between two and five words, including the key word. Contractions count as two words, so couldn't have seen is four words. The exception is can't, which counts as one word (cannot).
Can I get half marks in FCE Use of English Part 4?
Yes. Each answer is split into two parts worth one mark each, so you can score 1 out of 2 if one half of your answer is correct.
Is a sentence transformation the same as a key word transformation?
In B2 First, yes. Teachers and books often call Part 4 sentence transformation; the task is the same: rewrite the idea in two to five words using a given key word.
Can there be more than one correct answer?
Often. Many items accept several answers, as long as they keep the meaning, use the key word unchanged and stay within five words. In the examples above, both called off the match and called the match off are correct.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 7–8, 13
- B2 First exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
- B2 First preparation materials: Cambridge's own sample tests
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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