From January 2022
Before you start any preparation, make sure you know the format of the exam:
- the number of exercises
- what you are expected to do in each
- the time allowed.
Candidates may also find it useful to check the areas of law that they are tested on during the exam. These are all provided on the Boost your Legal English platform.
- IMPORTANT: There is NO Listening section.
- The exam consists of one written Part.
- The time allowed is the same: 90 minutes.
- The maximum score is 100 points.
- There are more exercises to complete – 10 Sections (previously 6)
- Section Six introduces reading comprehension (True/ False)
- Sections Seven – Ten focus solely on the language of contracts.
▸ Section One
There are 10 separate sentences with gaps. You need to choose the correct answer from 4 given. This is a typical multiple choice exercise.
When preparing for this make sure you know your phrases well and no synonym or close synonym can distract or confuse you.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Collocations which draw your attention to the proper legal combinations.
▸ Section Two
There are 15 words missing in part of a conversation between a lawyer and his client. You need to choose the correct words from a list of 15 to complete the conversation.
This Section is similar to the previous one, but the type of the text differs. It may be a less formal, more colloquial style. However, you still need to know your collocations well and the context in which they are used.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Collocations which draw your attention to the proper legal combinations.
▸ Section Three
There are 10 gaps in part of a seminar given by a law firm. You need to choose the correct words from a list of 10 provided.
The type of the text changes again. This time you need to understand the written language and grammar concepts that make the text accurate, e.g. linking words, relative clauses with ‘which / that’, prepositional phrases.
▸ Section Four
There are 10 sentences with a missing preposition. You need to choose the correct preposition from a list of 4 provided.
These sentences check your knowledge of business, financial and legal prepositional phrases.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Prepositions where you can test your knowledge and prepare better for this Section.
Alternatively, you can practise more legal prepositions on the Legal Prepositions Boost platform.
▸ Section Five
There are 10 gaps in a professional email. You must choose the correct words and phrases from a list of 4 provided.
This Section checks your understanding of correspondence language. The missing parts will also be collocations or more grammar-related phrases, e.g. linking words. The email may describe any legal problem or be connected with areas of law as presented on the Legal English Boost platform.
▸ Section Six – NEW
There is a conversation between a client and a lawyer. You need to answer 10 true or false questions.
This is a new type of exercise checking your reading comprehension. Additionally, you need to know a more spoken variety of professional language, natural phrases or idioms.
Starting with Section Seven a greater emphasis is placed on the language of contracts.
▸ Section Seven
There is a contract clause with 10 missing words. You need to choose the correct words from a list of 10 given.
This Section is a typical multiple choice exercise. However, you need to know your legal phrases in contracts well. All of them form parts of collocations.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Collocations which draw your attention to the proper legal combinations.
▸ Section Eight
There is a contract clause with 5 missing prepositions. You need to choose the correct prepositions from a list of 5 given.
This task checks your understanding of the contractual phrases and their proper form.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Collocations, especially in the Contract law unit, as well as Prepositions where you can practise the proper legal combinations. Additionally, even more exercises are found on the Legal Prepositions Boost platform.
▸ Section Nine
There is a contract clause with 10 missing words. You need to choose the correct word from a list of 3 given.
This task checks your understanding of the contractual phrases and their proper form.
On the Legal English Boost platform there are exercises called Collocations, especially in the Contract law Unit, where you can practise the proper legal combinations.
▸ Section Ten
There is a contract clause with 5 missing phrases. You need to choose the correct phrase from a list of 5 given.
This Section once again focuses on the contractual phrases giving you multiple choice.
To be successful in this Section, the more contract provisions you read, the better you can memorise their proper form.
All the collocations needed from each area of law are collected on the Legal English Boost platform.