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CAE Reading and Use of English · Part 4

C1 key word transformations (CAE Use of English Part 4)

C1 key word transformations are CAE Use of English Part 4: six sentences you rewrite using a given word, in three to six words. They carry two marks each, so they are the most valuable Use of English questions, and a partly correct answer can still earn one mark.

Take CAE Reading and Use of English Test 1See an example
Questions
6 (25–30)
Marks
Up to 2 each
Answer
3–6 words
Counts towards
Use of English

Updated · Checked against the C1 Advanced Handbook for Teachers · Sources

What it tests

What CAE Use of English Part 4 tests

Part 4 has six separate items, numbered 25–30, plus 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 complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using between three and six words, including the key word.

The rules are strict. You must use the key word, and you must not change it in any way: no plural, no past tense, no different form. More than six words scores zero. Contractions count as two words, and Cambridge asks for full forms, so write did not rather than didn't. Spelling must be correct. You write only the missing words, not the whole sentence.

Each answer is worth up to 2 marks: the examiner splits the correct answer into two parts and gives one mark for each, so a half-right answer can still earn a mark. With six items that makes 12 marks, almost half of the 28 Use of English marks. Cambridge describes the focus as grammar, vocabulary and collocation, and at C1 most items test both at once: a structural change, such as a passive or an inversion, combined with a fixed phrase or an expression with a particular preposition.

Example

Try three C1 key word transformations

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 three and six words, including the word given.

25 I'm sure the manager didn't know about the problem until this morning.
AWARE
The manager (25) the problem until this morning.

26 There are rumours that the singer is planning a farewell tour.
RUMOURED
The singer (26) a farewell tour.

27 The new director made no attempt to hide her disapproval of the plan.
SECRET
The new director (27) her disapproval of the plan.

Show the answer and explanation

25 cannot have been | aware of (5 words; could not have been aware of, 6 words, is also correct). One mark for the past modal of deduction cannot have been, one for aware of. Writing can't is risky: it counts as two words and Cambridge asks for full forms.

26 is rumoured | to be planning (5 words). One mark for the passive reporting verb is rumoured, one for the continuous infinitive to be planning, which shows the planning is going on now. The verb rumour is normally passive (be rumoured to, it is rumoured that), which is why the key word points to this structure. Is rumoured to plan loses the second mark.

27 made no secret | of (4 words). The fixed phrase make no secret of something means "not hide it". One mark for made no secret, one for the preposition of. Writing did not keep secret changes the structure and does not fit before her disapproval.

More practice

Two more sets of C1 key word transformations

Each set has six items, numbered 25–30 as in the exam. Write full forms and count the words, three to six including the key word.

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 three and six words, including the word given.

25 I only realised how serious the problem was when I read the report.
UNTIL
It was (25) the report that I realised how serious the problem was.

26 Everyone was surprised when Jake won the competition.
SURPRISE
Jake's victory in the competition (26) everyone.

27 I'm sure someone inside the building helped the burglars.
MUST
The burglars (27) someone inside the building.

28 It was wrong of you to criticise him in public.
OUGHT
You (28) him in public.

29 We were not told that the meeting had been cancelled.
INFORMED
Nobody (29) of the meeting.

30 Apart from Sarah, nobody had read the instructions.
EXCEPTION
Nobody, (30), had read the instructions.

Show the answers and explanations

25 not until I read (also not until I had read). It was not until … that stresses when something finally happened. Marks: not until (1) + I (had) read (1).

26 came as a surprise to (also was a surprise to, came as a complete surprise to). Come as a surprise to someone. Marks: came as (1) + a surprise to (1). An intensifier such as complete or total keeps the meaning and is normally accepted; watch the word limit (three to six words).

27 must have been helped by (also must have had help from, must have received help from, must have got help from). A deduction about the past in the passive. Marks: must have been (1) + helped by (1).

28 ought not to have criticised. Ought not to have + past participle criticises a past action. Marks: ought not to have (1) + criticised (1). Five words.

29 informed us of the cancellation (also had informed us of the cancellation, informed us about the cancellation). The verb cancel becomes the noun cancellation, and inform someone of something. Marks: informed us (1) + of the cancellation (1).

30 with the exception of Sarah. With the exception of means "apart from". Marks: with the exception (1) + of Sarah (1).

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 three and six words, including the word given.

25 There's no way I'll lend him money again.
CIRCUMSTANCES
Under (25) lend him money again.

26 The demand for tickets was so high that the theatre added extra performances.
GREAT
So (26) that the theatre added extra performances.

27 It's quite likely that the parcel was sent to the wrong address.
WELL
The parcel (27) to the wrong address.

28 I didn't intend to offend anyone.
INTENTION
It was (28) anyone.

29 They postponed the match because the pitch was waterlogged.
ACCOUNT
The match (29) the waterlogged pitch.

30 The exam was much easier than I had expected.
NEARLY
The exam was (30) I had expected.

Show the answers and explanations

25 no circumstances will I (also no circumstances would I). A negative phrase at the start of the sentence needs inversion: auxiliary before subject. Marks: no circumstances (1) + will I (1).

26 great was the demand for tickets (also great was demand for tickets). So + adjective at the start of the sentence, then inversion: So great was the demand…. Six words, the limit. Marks: great was (1) + the demand for tickets (1).

27 may well have been sent (also might well have been sent, could well have been sent). May well means "it is quite likely". Marks: may well (1) + have been sent (1).

28 not my intention to offend (also never my intention to offend). Marks: not my intention (1) + to offend (1).

29 was postponed on account of (also was put off on account of). On account of means "because of" and is followed by a noun. Marks: was postponed (1) + on account of (1).

30 not nearly as difficult as (also not nearly as hard as, not nearly so difficult as). Not nearly as … as means "much less … than". Marks: not nearly as (1) + difficult as (1).

Strategy

How to answer key word transformations at C1

  1. 01

    Read both sentences and identify exactly what has to be kept: the time reference, whether the sentence is negative, who does what, and how certain or strong it is. The meaning must match, not just the topic.

  2. 02

    Look at the key word and ask which structure it usually belongs to. SAID suggests a passive reporting structure, SECRET suggests make no secret of, SOONER suggests no sooner … than.

  3. 03

    Look at the words straight after the gap. They often force a preposition (of), a verb form (an -ing form or infinitive) or the second half of a structure (than).

  4. 04

    Write your answer in full forms (did not, not didn't), then count the words: three to six, including the key word. The C1 handbook says contracted forms are not accepted here. Our practice tests accept a contraction and count it as two words, but the real exam does not accept it, so practise with full forms.

  5. 05

    Check the key word letter by letter. If you have added -s, -ed or -ing, the answer scores zero, however good the rest is.

  6. 06

    If you cannot find the whole answer, write the part you are sure of. Because the marks are split, a partly correct answer often earns one mark. Never leave a blank.

Common mistakes

Mistakes that cost marks

Changing the key word. Using saying when the word given is SAID, or secrets instead of SECRET, scores zero.

Going over six words. Could not possibly have been aware of is seven words, so it earns nothing, even though the grammar is perfect.

Changing the meaning. Adding very, dropping a negative or changing the tense makes the second sentence say something different. Check certainty too: I'm sure … didn't needs cannot have, not might not have.

Repeating words already in the sentence. If the second sentence continues with the problem, writing aware of the problem in the gap repeats it and makes the sentence wrong.

Structures

Structures C1 key word transformations test again and again

Use this list when you do key word transformation exercises for C1. Most items combine one structure from the first five groups with a phrase from the last.

  • Passive reporting: It is believed that he left → He is believed to have left.
  • Inversion: not until, no sooner (… than), hardly (… when), under no circumstances, only when, little did, at no time.
  • Past modals of deduction: must have, cannot have, might well have, need not have (done).
  • Wishes and preferences: wish / if only + past perfect, would rather + past simple, it's (high) time + past simple.
  • Conditionals and alternatives: but for, had it not been for, provided that, on condition that, otherwise.
  • Comparison: nowhere near as … as, by far the, the more … the more, no longer, not nearly as.
  • Fixed phrases and collocations: take into account, make no secret of, come as no surprise, at short notice, have no intention of, be on the verge of, there is no point in, get round to.
Practise

Practise Part 4 in full CAE Reading and Use of English tests

Each CAE 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.

Take CAE Reading and Use of English Test 1All CAE Reading and Use of English tests
FAQ

CAE key word transformation: questions

How many words can I use in a C1 key word transformation?

Between three and six words, including the key word. An answer of more than six words scores zero. Write full forms: the C1 handbook says contracted forms are not accepted, and a contraction would count as two words anyway. Our practice tests accept contractions, but the real exam does not.

How is CAE Use of English Part 4 marked?

Each of the six items is worth up to 2 marks. The answer is split into two parts and each correct part earns one mark, so the part is worth 12 marks of the 28 for Use of English.

Can I change the key word in a CAE key word transformation?

No. You must use the word exactly as it is given. If you change its form in any way, for example by adding -s or -ed, the answer scores zero.

What is the difference between sentence transformation at C1 and B2?

At B2 the answer is two to five words; at C1 it is three to six. C1 items also lean more on inversion, passive reporting structures and idiomatic phrases, and usually test two changes in one answer.

Sources

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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