TCF Reading Part A gives you 15 minutes to answer 20 questions about four short texts on a single healthcare topic. It tests expeditious reading: finding information quickly, not reading every word. Part A is collected when the 15 minutes end, so the skill that matters most is knowing where to look.
Part A at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Time | 15 minutes, separate from Parts B and C |
| Texts | 4 short texts on one topic, such as a table, a guideline, dosage information or a case summary |
| Questions | 20 |
| Question types | Matching, short answer, sentence completion |
| Answers | Words and numbers copied from the texts, spelt correctly |
The three question types
- Matching: "Which text tells you about side effects?" Answer with the letter of the text (A, B, C or D).
- Short answer: "What is the maximum daily dose for adults?" Answer with a word, phrase or number from the text.
- Sentence completion: "Patients should be reviewed after ___." Complete it with words from the text that fit grammatically.
A 15-minute plan
- Minute 0 to 1, map the texts. Read only the titles and the first line of each text, and note what each one is for, such as "A: dosage table, B: contraindications, C: case, D: monitoring".
- Minutes 1 to 4, matching questions. Answer them from your map. Most can be answered without reading the full texts.
- Minutes 4 to 14, short answer and completion. Use the key word in each question to go to the right text, then scan for that word or a synonym.
- Last minute, check spelling. Make sure every answer is copied exactly and every gap has an answer.
Common mistakes in Part A
- Reading texts in full. There is not enough time. Scan for the information, not the meaning of every sentence.
- Answers that do not fit the sentence. In sentence completion, the words must fit the grammar of the sentence.
- Paraphrasing. Short answers should use the words in the text, not your own.
- Getting stuck. If one question takes more than 45 seconds, guess, mark it, and come back only if time remains.
How to practise Part A
Always practise with a 15-minute timer, from your very first attempt. After each set, note which text type slowed you down, tables or long prose, and drill that type. The Exam Hero question bank times Part A exactly as the real test does.
