Duration: 45 minutes
Total questions: 32 across Parts 1–6
Once you click Start, the timer begins. The exam will auto-submit when time runs out.
The people below are all looking for something to read. There are eight books (A–H). Choose the most suitable book for each person. There are three books you do not need.
Four people wrote about their experience of learning to drive. For questions 6–10, choose from the learner drivers (A–D). The learner drivers may be chosen more than once.
Read the article and answer questions 11–15. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
Sleeping Your Way to Success
Most people know that getting enough sleep is important, but new research suggests that the relationship between sleep and performance is even more powerful than previously thought. A recent study at the University of Bristol found that students who slept for at least eight hours before an exam scored, on average, 15% higher than those who stayed up late to revise.
Dr Amina Rashid, who led the study, says the findings surprised even her team. "We expected sleep to make a small difference, but not this significant," she explains. "What we found is that the brain uses sleep to organise and store the information it has been given during the day. Without adequate sleep, much of what you have studied simply fails to be retained."
This presents a challenge for the many students who believe that revising until late into the night is the most effective way to prepare for an exam. Dr Rashid argues that this approach is "fundamentally wrong." She recommends instead that students finish studying by 9 pm, spend some time doing something relaxing, and be in bed by 10:30 pm at the latest.
Not everyone is convinced by the study's conclusions. Professor James Hartley of Cambridge University points out that the study only examined students aged 16–18 and that the results may not apply to older learners or professional settings. He also notes that some people simply function better with less sleep and that it is important not to apply a single rule to all individuals.
Despite these criticisms, Dr Rashid believes the study sends a clear message. Schools, she suggests, should teach students about the science of sleep as part of their general education. "If young people understood what happens to their brain when they sleep," she says, "they would make much better choices about how they spend their evenings."
Read the article. Choose the correct sentence (A–H) for each gap. There are three sentences you do not need.
My Year Without Flying
Two years ago, I made a decision that most of my friends thought was strange: I would not fly for an entire year. [Gap 16] My job requires a lot of travel, and I was curious to find out whether I could manage everything by train, bus, and boat.
The first real test came in February, when I had to travel from London to a conference in Madrid. [Gap 17] The journey took 26 hours in total — far longer than a two-hour flight. But the experience was extraordinary. I watched the French countryside roll past and had time to read, think, and simply relax.
Not every journey was so enjoyable. A trip to a colleague's wedding in northern Sweden in December involved three trains, a ferry, and a bus in extreme cold. [Gap 18] But when I finally arrived, the sense of achievement made up for it.
The year changed how I think about distance. [Gap 19] Flying makes the world feel small and fast. Travelling overland reminds you that the earth is actually vast and varied.
I started flying again the following January, but much less frequently than before. [Gap 20] I now plan my journeys differently, choosing the train whenever the journey takes less than eight hours.
For questions 21–26, read the text and think of the word that best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.
For questions 27–32, read the text and think of the word that best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.
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