5.1 Part 4 Rules: Word Limits, Exact Stems & Dual-Point Scoring

5.1 Part 4 Rules: Word Limits, Exact Stems & Dual-Point Scoring

Quick Answer: Reading & Use of English Part 4 consists of 6 discrete items (Questions 25–30, plus Example 0). For each item, you are given a complete lead-in sentence, a single key word printed in bold capital letters, and a second sentence with a central gap. You must complete the gap using between two and five words (inclusive), one of which must be the key word completely unchanged, so that the second sentence has an identical meaning to the first. Each question is worth 2 raw marks (12 marks total), split into two independent scoring units [Mark 1 | Mark 2]. This means you can earn 2, 1, or 0 marks per item. Always write full, uncontracted words (did not rather than didn't) because contractions count as two words — the one handbook exception being can't, which counts as cannot, that is, one word.

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Architecture and Mechanics of Part 4

Part 4 represents the pinnacle of grammatical and lexical manipulation on the Cambridge B2 First examination. While Parts 1, 2, and 3 test vocabulary in context, closed-class grammatical function words, and morphological word formation respectively, Part 4 synthesizes all these linguistic faculties into structural paraphrasing.

Key Structural Parameters

In Part 4, candidates do not read an extended continuous passage. Instead, each question stands alone as an independent syntactic puzzle. The prompt requires candidates to express the exact semantic proposition of the lead-in sentence using completely different grammatical architecture and lexical collocations centered around the invariant stem.

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The Strict Word Count Constraint (2 to 5 Words)

Cambridge regulations regarding word count are mathematically absolute. There is zero examiner discretion or leniency:

• 1 word: 0 marks (automatically disqualified for being under-length).
• 2, 3, 4, or 5 words: eligible for full or partial credit (1 or 2 marks).
• 6 or more words: 0 marks (automatically disqualified for being over-length, even if the phrasing is semantically flawless and natural).

The Contraction Trap

One of the most frequent causes of lost marks among intermediate candidates is the careless use of contracted verb forms. Under official Cambridge assessment criteria, contractions count as two words, reflecting their constituent lexical parts:

• didn't = did not = 2 words
• haven't = have not = 2 words
• she's = she is or she has = 2 words
• they'd = they would or they had = 2 words
• wasn't = was not = 2 words

The One Documented Exception: Can't

The B2 First handbook spells this out for Parts 2 and 4: candidates "must count contracted words (with the exception of can't = cannot) as the full form (e.g. didn't = two words did not)". So can't is the single contraction Cambridge treats as one word, because its uncontracted equivalent cannot is itself written as one word. Every other contraction counts as two. Even so, writing cannot rather than can't removes any doubt when you are operating near the 5-word boundary.

Hyphenated Words

A hyphenated compound that standard English orthography genuinely requires (well-known, first-class, twenty-five) is normally treated as one word. Cambridge does not publish a rule for hyphens in Part 4, so do not build an answer that only fits inside the 5-word limit because of a hyphen: rephrase so the count is unambiguous.

The Golden Exam Rule: NEVER use contractions in Part 4. Always write out full, uncontracted grammatical forms (did not, would have, could not, is not). Writing uncontracted forms prevents counting miscalculations, guarantees clarity on your answer sheet, and ensures your tally matches the official marking key.

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The Invariant Key Word Rule

The word printed in bold capital letters between the two sentences is the key word (or stem). It is completely immutable:

1. Do NOT change the part of speech: Changing the noun DECISION into the verb decide results in an immediate score of zero marks.
2. Do NOT alter verb tense or inflection: Changing SEE into saw, seen, or seeing scores zero marks.
3. Do NOT add prefixes or suffixes: Changing LIKE into dislike or likely scores zero marks.
4. Do NOT change singular to plural or vice versa: Changing SUGGESTION into suggestions scores zero marks.
5. Do NOT alter spelling: Any misspelling of the key word invalidates the entire response.

If you modify the key word by even a single letter, your response receives 0 marks for both halves of the item, regardless of whether the rest of your sentence is grammatically sublime.

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The Dual-Point Marking Scheme: Unlocking Partial Credit

Unlike Parts 1, 2, and 3—where each gap yields either 1 mark or 0 marks—Part 4 awards up to 2 marks per question. Cambridge assessment guidelines divide every official answer key into two distinct scoring segments separated by a vertical bar:

$\mathbf{[\text{Mark 1}\ |\ \text{Mark 2}]}$

• Segment 1 (Mark 1): Typically tests a specific lexical chunk, phrasal verb particle, dependent preposition, or fixed idiom.
• Segment 2 (Mark 2): Typically tests grammatical agreement, auxiliary verb selection, clause connector, or non-finite verb pattern (gerund or infinitive).

Because each segment is marked independently, candidate performance on each item falls into one of three tiers:

• 2 marks (Full Credit): Both Segment 1 and Segment 2 are 100% grammatically and orthographically accurate.
• 1 mark (Partial Credit): One segment is entirely correct, while the other segment contains an error (such as a wrong preposition, incorrect tense, or missing particle).
• 0 marks (Zero Credit): Both segments are incorrect, the word count is violated (<2 or >5), or the invariant key word was modified.

Worked Exemplar: Deconstructing Cambridge Partial Credit

To understand how examiners assign marks in real testing conditions, analyze this standard B2 First item:

• Lead-in Sentence: I haven't seen Mark for nearly five years.
• Key Word: LAST
• Target Sentence: It ____________________________________ I saw Mark.
• Model Marking Split (worked example, not a published Cambridge key): is almost five years | since OR has been almost five years | since
  • Mark 1: is almost five years / has been almost five years [1 mark]
  • Mark 2: since [1 mark]

Let us evaluate five authentic student submissions against this benchmark:

1. Candidate A writes: is nearly five years since (5 words)

   • Segment 1 (is nearly five years): Completely correct semantic transfer and tense agreement. Awarded 1 mark.
   • Segment 2 (since): Completely correct temporal connective. Awarded 1 mark.
   • Total Score: 2 marks (Full credit).

2. Candidate B writes: is nearly five years when (5 words)

   • Segment 1 (is nearly five years): Correct. Awarded 1 mark.
   • Segment 2 (when instead of since): Incorrect temporal conjunction. Awarded 0 marks.
   • Total Score: 1 mark (Partial credit awarded for mastering the main clause structure!).

3. Candidate C writes: has been nearly five years that (6 words)

   • Total word count is 6 words, violating the strict 5-word ceiling.
   • Total Score: 0 marks (Disqualified automatically, regardless of segment accuracy).

4. Candidate D writes: was five years since (4 words)

   • Segment 1 (was five years): Incorrect (wrong copular tense was and omits the vital adverbial meaning of nearly/almost). Awarded 0 marks.
   • Segment 2 (since): Correct temporal connector. Awarded 1 mark.
   • Total Score: 1 mark (Partial credit salvaged by supplying the correct linker!).

5. Candidate E writes: is nearly five years lasting (5 words)

   • Modified the invariant key word LAST into the participle lasting.
   • Total Score: 0 marks (Immediate invalidation of the entire item).

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The 5-Step Transformation Solving Protocol

To eliminate erratic guessing and secure consistent 2-mark scores, apply this systematic 5-step operational protocol to every Part 4 question:

1. Step 1: Scan & Compare: Read the lead-in sentence and the target frame side by side. Mentally cross out or identify all information already expressed in the second sentence. Isolate the exact semantic kernel that is missing.
2. Step 2: Analyze the Key Word: Determine the part of speech of the key word. Activate its associated collocations, dependent prepositions, or grammatical patterns (e.g., if the key word is PREVENT, activate the structural template prevent + object + FROM + -ing).
3. Step 3: Synthesize the Target Bridge: Construct the grammatical transformation around the key word. Ensure that the tense, aspect, and voice of the second sentence faithfully match the temporal reality of the prompt.
4. Step 4: Audit Word Count: Count the words in your draft answer individually on your fingers. Expand all contractions into full words (did not, would rather). Confirm that the total word count is strictly between 2 and 5 words inclusive.
5. Step 5: Meaning & Orthography Check: Read the completed second sentence aloud in your head. Does it mean EXACTLY the same as the first sentence? Is the spelling 100% correct? Did you keep the key word completely unchanged? If yes, transfer your answer in clear capital letters.