CAE Reading and Use of English Test 3: scale models, translation and overnight journeys
CAE Reading and Use of English Test 3 is a free C1 Advanced practice paper: 56 questions in eight parts, timed at 90 minutes, with 3,328 words of text. You read about scale models, spoken explanations and tree records, then read about translation, neighbourhood preservation, packaging prototypes and overnight travel.
- Free, no sign-up to start
- Layout modelled on the computer-based exam
- Estimated Cambridge English Scale score
What is in CAE Reading and Use of English Test 3
| Part | Task | Questions | What you read | Words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multiple-choice cloze | 1–8 | “Thinking with a model” | 156 |
| 2 | Open cloze | 9–16 | “Explaining the problem” | 168 |
| 3 | Word formation | 17–24 | “A calendar written in leaves” | 142 |
| 4 | Key word transformations | 25–30 | Six sentences to rewrite, 3–6 words each | — |
| 5 | Multiple choice | 31–36 | “A voice in another language”: an extract from a novel about a translator at work. Nara is completing a translation of a guide to a craftsperson’s town. | 743 |
| 6 | Cross-text multiple matching | 37–40 | “What makes a neighbourhood itself?”: four extracts from articles about preserving the character of changing neighbourhoods. By Maya Ferris, Jonas Malik, Clara Evett and Daniel Okoro. | 611 |
| 7 | Gapped text | 41–46 | “The work behind a simple package”: an article about redesigning packaging. A designer follows an idea from folded paper to repeated production. | 841 |
| 8 | Multiple matching | 47–56 | “Between evening and arrival”: an article in which four people describe unusual overnight journeys. Mina (a ferry crossing), Ruben (a night train), Elif (an overnight coach), Jon (a journey across a plateau). | 667 |
| Total | Within Cambridge’s 3,000–3,500 words (questions not counted) | 3,328 | ||
How the long texts begin
- Part 5: “Could you just make it sound natural?” The editor’s message arrived as Nara was comparing two versions of a sentence, neither of which she particularly liked. She smiled at the word “just”.
- Part 7: The first brief for the new packaging seemed simple: protect a reusable glass jar, use less material and make the result easy to open. Designer Saskia Bell put those three ambitions at the top of her notebook.
Examples (0), shown answered in the test
Part 1
Scale models are (0) associated with completed designs, but they can be useful at a much earlier (1) of a project.
- closely
- narrowly
- nearly
- tightly
Answer: A, closely
Part 2
Explaining a difficult problem (0) another person sometimes changes it before they have offered any advice.
Answer: to
Part 3
A project recording (0) changes in trees depends on a network of local (17). SEASON
Answer: seasonal
Part 4
The journey was easier than we had expected. DIFFICULT
The journey was not (0) we had expected.
Answer: as difficult as (3 words)
How it is marked
CAE Reading and Use of English marking
Reading (Parts 1, 5–8) is out of 50 and Use of English (Parts 2–4) out of 28; Part 4 gives up to 2 marks per question and spelling must be correct. 32/50 Reading is about 180. Scores are estimates.
More CAE Reading and Use of English tests
CAE Reading and Use of English practice tests · CAE Mock Test 3 · Updated 15 November 2026
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