CAE Reading Part 8: multiple matching
CAE Reading Part 8 is multiple matching: ten questions that you match to the sections of a text, or to several short texts. It is the last task in the paper, so the challenge is as much about time as about reading.
- Questions
- 10 (47–56)
- Marks
- 1 each
- Options
- 4–6 sections
- Counts towards
- Reading
What CAE multiple matching tests
Part 8 fits on one page: either a continuous text divided into sections, or several short texts by different people, around 650 words in all. The ten questions, numbered 47–56, come before the text. Each one describes an idea, an opinion or a piece of information, and you decide which section or text it matches. There are between four and six options, usually labelled with letters, and an option can be the answer to more than one question. Some sections are used three or four times; others only once.
Cambridge's focus is detail, opinion, attitude and specific information. What makes it hard is paraphrase: the question never uses the words of the text. "Had a career decision confirmed by the experience" might match "I came away more certain than ever". Several sections usually touch on the same theme, so you have to match the exact idea, not just the topic.
Each correct answer earns 1 mark, so the part is worth 10 of the 50 Reading marks. The reading itself is often less dense than in Parts 5–7. The real risk is the clock: Part 8 is the last task, and candidates who overrun earlier in the paper leave answers blank here.
Try a CAE multiple matching task
Four volunteers describe a summer on a conservation project. For questions 47–51, choose from the volunteers A–D. The volunteers may be chosen more than once.
A summer on the river
A Marta I signed up mainly because I needed something on my CV, and I will admit I was fairly cynical about the whole thing. The work itself, clearing invasive plants from the riverbanks, was repetitive, but by the second week I found it oddly calming. What I had not expected was how much I would learn from the local farmers, who knew far more about the river than any of the scientists did.
B Joel I had done similar projects before, so the physical side held no surprises. What did surprise me was how badly organised the first few days were: nobody seemed to know who was supposed to be doing what. To be fair, the coordinators listened when we complained, and things improved within a couple of days. I would go back, though I would probably choose a shorter placement.
C Priya My main reason for going was to find out whether a career in ecology was really for me. Six weeks of counting dragonflies in the rain was the perfect test, and I came away more certain than ever. The highlight was a talk by a visiting researcher who had spent thirty years monitoring the same stretch of coast; her patience was inspiring.
D Tom Living with twelve strangers in a converted barn sounded like a nightmare, and I almost did not apply because of it. In fact, the evenings together turned out to be the best part. I am not sure we achieved much for the environment in six weeks, but I have stayed in touch with nearly everyone.
Which volunteer
47 was worried beforehand about the living arrangements?
48 gained knowledge from an unexpected source?
49 mentions that a problem was dealt with effectively?
50 had a career decision confirmed by the experience?
51 doubts whether the project made a real difference?
Show the answer and explanation
47 D. Living with twelve strangers … sounded like a nightmare. Marta (A) was also negative beforehand, but about the value of the project, not where she would live.
48 A. She learnt from the local farmers, who knew far more … than any of the scientists. Priya (C) learnt from a researcher, which is an expected source.
49 B. The organisation was poor, but the coordinators listened … and things improved within a couple of days.
50 C. Find out whether a career in ecology was really for me … I came away more certain than ever.
51 D. I am not sure we achieved much for the environment. Tom is the answer twice, which is normal in Part 8.
How to do CAE Reading Part 8, step by step
- 01
Read the ten questions first and underline the key idea in each. Think about how it might be paraphrased: "worried beforehand" could appear as "sounded like a nightmare" or "I almost did not apply".
- 02
Read the first section at normal speed, then go through all ten questions and mark any that match it. Repeat for each section. This is faster than searching the whole text for each question in turn.
- 03
When a question seems to match two sections, compare them carefully against every word of the question. In the example, both A and D were negative beforehand, but only D was worried about the living arrangements.
- 04
Remember that options can be used more than once. Do not cross out a section because you have already chosen it.
- 05
Allow about 13 minutes. If time is running out, make a quick decision for every remaining question: a blank always scores zero.
Mistakes that cost marks
Word spotting. The word "researcher" appears in Priya's text, but the unexpected source of knowledge is Marta's farmers.
Reading every section in full for every question. Ten questions times five sections is too much reading. Read each section once, carefully, and match as you go.
Expecting each section to be used equally. The answers are rarely spread evenly. One volunteer may be the answer three or four times.
Running out of time. Part 8 comes last. If you have spent too long on Part 7, you will be guessing here; keep to your time plan from the start of the paper.
A time plan for the whole CAE Reading and Use of English paper
The paper lasts 90 minutes, and all your answers have to be recorded within that time: there is no separate transfer time at the end. This plan gives the most time to the parts worth the most marks and leaves a few minutes to check.
| Part | Task | Marks | Suggested minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple-choice cloze | 8 | 7 |
| 2 | Open cloze | 8 | 7 |
| 3 | Word formation | 8 | 7 |
| 4 | Key word transformations | 12 | 10 |
| 5 | Multiple choice | 12 | 15 |
| 6 | Cross-text multiple matching | 8 | 12 |
| 7 | Gapped text | 12 | 16 |
| 8 | Multiple matching | 10 | 13 |
| Final check | 3 |
Some candidates prefer to start with the reading parts and finish with Parts 1–4, which are quicker to complete under pressure. Either order works if you practise it in timed mocks first.
Practise Part 8 in full CAE Reading and Use of English tests
Each CAE Reading and Use of English test on this site has its own Part 8, timed with the whole paper and marked as soon as you submit, with an explanation for every answer.
CAE multiple matching: questions
How many questions are in CAE Reading Part 8?
Ten, numbered 47 to 56, each worth one mark. Together they make up 10 of the 50 marks for Reading.
Can an option be used more than once in CAE multiple matching?
Yes. Each section or text can be the answer to several questions, and the answers are rarely spread evenly across the sections.
How long should I spend on C1 Reading Part 8?
About 13 minutes. Because it is the last part of the paper, decide your timings for Parts 1 to 7 in advance so that you reach Part 8 with enough time left.
Is CAE Reading Part 8 harder than the other reading parts?
Not usually in terms of language: the texts are often easier than Parts 5 to 7. The difficulty is matching paraphrased ideas quickly and keeping enough time for the part at the end of the paper.
Sources
- C1 Advanced Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 7, 17
- C1 Advanced exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
- C1 Advanced 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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