Exercise Library · C1–C2

C1–C2 Practice Bank

Original advanced practice in grammar, lexical precision, inference, register, synthesis, critical reading, writing and speaking.

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Advanced Use of English

1. Invert: We rarely see such a rapid change.
Answer

Rarely do we see such a rapid change.

2. Cleft: The timing caused the problem.
Answer

It was the timing that caused the problem. / What caused the problem was the timing.

3. Nominalise: The team failed to respond promptly.
Answer

The team's failure to respond promptly…

4. Rewrite formally without if: If you require assistance, contact reception.
Answer

Should you require assistance, contact reception.

5. Complete: Had I known, I ___ differently.
Answer

would have acted

6. Hedge: “The policy causes unemployment.”
Answer

The policy may contribute to unemployment. / The policy appears to be associated with higher unemployment in some contexts.

7. Choose the natural collocation: compelling / powerful / heavy evidence.
Answer

compelling evidence (strong evidence is also natural).

8. Explain the implication: “He's not exactly known for punctuality.”
Answer

An understated/ironic criticism implying he is often late.

9. Transform: Only after the audit we realised the scale of the problem.
Answer

Only after the audit did we realise the scale of the problem.

10. Correct the dangling participle: Driving to work, the rain started.
Answer

While I was driving to work, it started to rain. / Driving to work, I noticed that it had started to rain.

11. Replace vague wording: “The thing had a big effect on the situation.”
Answer

Possible: “The change had a substantial impact on the outcome.” Context determines the best wording.

12. Distinguish: economic vs economical.
Answer

economic = relating to the economy; economical = cost-efficient/not wasteful.

13. Rewrite concisely: “The reason why the plan failed was because…”
Answer

The plan failed because…

14. Identify presupposition: “When did the company stop ignoring the warnings?”
Answer

It presupposes the company had been ignoring the warnings.

15. Improve register: “Lots of people think the idea is bad.”
Answer

There is considerable opposition to the proposal. / Many stakeholders have expressed concerns about the proposal.

16. Choose: The findings raise / rise questions about validity.
Answer

raise

17. Explain the difference: must be vs is likely to be.
Answer

must be expresses stronger speaker inference/commitment; is likely to be expresses high probability but less certainty.

18. Complete the discourse move: “I agree with the objective; ___, I am less convinced by the proposed mechanism.”
Answer

however / nevertheless

19. Rewrite with fall-back nuance: “The project was not a complete failure.”
Answer

Possible: “The project fell short of its objectives, though it did produce some useful outcomes.”

20. Synthesis prompt: Source A says remote work improves productivity; Source B says effects depend on task type. Write one sentence combining them.
Answer

While Source A reports productivity gains from remote work, Source B qualifies this conclusion by arguing that the effect varies according to task type.

Critical reading

Text: “The reform was described as transformative, yet most operational procedures remained intact. The principal change was rhetorical: the organisation began describing existing practices in the vocabulary of innovation.”

Tasks: Identify the writer's stance, explain the role of yet, and interpret rhetorical in context.
Model

The writer is sceptical of claims of transformation; yet introduces contradiction; rhetorical means the change was mainly in language/framing rather than substance.

Writing

C1: Write 260–300 words evaluating two approaches to reducing workplace burnout.
C2: Write 320–380 words: “Efficiency can undermine resilience.” Discuss critically, distinguishing short-term and long-term effects.

Speaking

C1: Should public institutions prioritise efficiency or accessibility?
C2: Does expertise become more or less important when information is abundant?

Source note

All questions, texts, prompts and answer explanations are original Corrigan School material. They are designed to practise CEFR-level language functions without reproducing copyrighted coursebook or exam content.