Reading Archives - Breakout English

Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 3 is a multiple-choice task that tests your ability to understand details, opinions, and implied meanings in short texts. A key feature of this task is the use of distractors — incorrect answer options designed to look right at first glance. Learning to spot and avoid these distractors is essential to

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Everything you need to know about the new 2025 PAU English exam in Andalusia

Blog / John Hayward

I’ve guided several groups through Selectividad English, and each year brings fresh challenges and surprises. This year, the powers that be have changed the Selectividad English exam for Spanish Bachillerato students in Andalusia. These upcoming Selectividad changes in 2025 feel more relevant than ever, changing how students approach reading, grammar, and writing. Officially known as

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How to do IELTS True, False, Not Given

B2, C1, IELTS / John Hayward

The IELTS Reading section tests comprehension and analytical skills, especially in the IELTS True, False, Not Given questions, a key component of both the Academic and General Training modules. These questions demand a deep understanding of the text. You have to detect explicit content, implications, and unstated information. These skills are essential for academic and

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B1 fixed phrases, dependent prepositions and collocations

B1, IELTS, ISE I, Preliminary (PET) / John Hayward

Often the difference between a pass and a fail in B1 exams is the minor details such as choosing the right words in B1 fixed phrases, dependent prepositions and collocations. These can be challenging because you have to notice the individual words. You may understand the phrase perfectly when reading or listening, but when it

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How to do First (FCE) Reading Part 6 – Gapped text

B2, First (FCE) / John Hayward

The gapped text task from Cambridge First (FCE) Reading part 6 can be tricky. I’ve always found students can swing from getting a full 12 points (2 points per question) or only getting 2 or 4 points. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground because once you get one gap wrong, you’re likely to

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How to do C1 Advanced CAE Reading Part 6 – Cross-text multiple matching

Advanced (CAE), C1 / John Hayward

When Cambridge updated the CAE exam in 2015, they included a new task type called cross-text multiple matching, which became the new Reading and Use of English Part 6 for the updated exam. This is a reading task with only 4 questions, but a surprising amount of text to wade through in order to answer

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Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 6 – Open Cloze

B1, Preliminary (PET) / John Hayward

Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 6 is primarily a grammar test that focusses on B1 level structures, fixed phrases or even phrasal verbs. The gapped text has eight spaces which need to be completed with a single word. The key to success with this task is mastering the essential B1 level grammatical structures which often come

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Why should advanced learners use Radio 4 in Four?

Advanced (CAE), Blog, C1, IELTS, ISE III / John Hayward

Radio 4 in Four is a fantastic resource for language learners, especially for those who are taking an exam, because it’s ideal for listening practice and reading practice. Often with exam courses, teachers focus so much on the content of the exam that we forget about language. At the same time, we often focus on

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How to do Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 2

1 Comment / B1, Preliminary (PET) / John Hayward

Preliminary (PET) Reading Part 2 is a matching task. You are given 5 people who have to be matched to 8 different descriptions. Generally, these people are looking for an activity or product (e.g. they want to buy a book, they want to join a club etc). The activity or product will always be within

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