TCF Reading Part C has two long texts, each around 800 words, on topics of interest to healthcare professionals. Each text has eight multiple-choice questions with four options, 16 in total. Questions test detail, the writer's opinion, and the meaning of words and references in context. Budget about 15 minutes per text within the 45 minutes shared with Part B.
Part C at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Texts | 2 long texts, such as a feature article or a research discussion |
| Questions | 16 (8 per text), four options each |
| Time | Shared 45 minutes with Part B, about 15 minutes per text |
| Order | The questions follow the order of the text |
Question types in Part C
- Detail: "What does the writer say about the first trial?"
- Opinion or attitude: "How does the writer feel about the new guidelines?"
- Vocabulary in context: "The word 'robust' in paragraph 3 suggests the evidence is..."
- Reference: "What does 'this approach' in paragraph 5 refer to?"
- Purpose: "Why does the writer mention the Canadian study?"
A method for Part C
- Skim the whole text in two minutes. Get the topic of each paragraph and the writer's overall position.
- Find the paragraph for each question. Questions follow the order of the text, usually about one per paragraph.
- Read that paragraph closely, including the sentences before and after the key phrase.
- Eliminate before choosing. Cross out options that are wrong, too extreme or not stated. Choose from what remains.
Distractors to expect
- Too strong: the text says a treatment "may help some patients", and the option says it "is effective".
- Someone else's view: the text reports a critic's opinion, and the option gives it as the writer's.
- Right detail, wrong paragraph: a statement that is true somewhere in the text but does not answer this question.
How to practise Part C
- Read long-form health journalism and research commentary, and write the writer's opinion of each paragraph in a few words.
- Learn stance vocabulary such as tentative, dismissive, qualified, unequivocal, which often appears in the options.
- Practise Parts B and C together under one 45-minute timer so your time split becomes automatic.
Full Reading papers timed like the real test are included in every Exam Hero TCF mock test.
