C2 Mixed Proficiency Test – 30 Questions
This C2-level mixed test assesses your ability to use English with precision, nuance, and stylistic control.
Choose the option that best fits native-level academic or professional English.
RESULTS
#1. Rarely ___ such a carefully reasoned argument.
#2. The study’s conclusions are necessarily ___.
#3. The proposal was rejected, ___ insufficient empirical support.
#4. The results are ___ consistent with previous findings.
#5. It would be ___ to assume causation at this stage.
#6. The data ___ suggest a shift in consumer behaviour.
#7. The committee ___ concerns regarding methodological bias.
#8. She speaks as though she ___ firsthand experience of the issue.
#9. The argument, though ___ presented, fails to convince.
#10. The author ___ the limitations of the study. a) admits
#11. The policy change had ___ implications for the sector.
#12. He denied ___ any prior knowledge of the decision.
#13. Only after extensive review ___ the flaws become apparent.
#14. The report provides a ___ overview of recent developments.
#15. The findings should be interpreted ___ caution.
#16. The speaker made a ___ observation about data reliability.
#17. The evidence is insufficient to ___ such a claim.
#18. The organisation faces ___ pressure to modernise.
#19. No sooner ___ the report published than criticism emerged.
#20. Her analysis is ___ convincing, though not definitive.
#21. The theory is based on ___ evidence.
#22. The issue was resolved ___ arbitration.
#23. What he implied was subtle, ___ unmistakable.
#24. The model ___ fails to account for social variables.
#25. The study reached ___ conclusions pending further research.
#26. The results are ___ aligned with the proposed framework.
#27. She demonstrated ___ awareness of ethical implications.
#28. Had the data been more robust, the outcome ___ different.
#29. The paper was ___ criticised for its narrow scope.
#30. The proposal merits ___ further consideration.
📘 C2 Mixed Proficiency Test
Answer Key with In-Depth Explanations
1. Rarely have I encountered…
Correct answer: b) have I encountered
Explanation:
“Rarely” is a negative adverb. When it begins a sentence, inversion is mandatory.
Normal word order (I have encountered) is grammatically correct but stylistically invalid at C2.
2. tentative
Correct answer: c) tentative
Explanation:
Academic conclusions are often provisional, not absolute.
Tentative signals epistemic caution.
careful → vague
cautious → describes attitude, not conclusions
3. citing insufficient empirical support
Correct answer: a) citing
Explanation:
This is a participle clause expressing reason.
“Citing” efficiently links the cause to the action without repetition.
4. highly consistent
Correct answer: b) highly
Explanation:
Highly is the preferred intensifier with evaluative adjectives (consistent, plausible, significant).
deeply → emotional
strongly → less idiomatic here
5. premature
Correct answer: b) premature
Explanation:
In academic stance, premature warns against early causal claims.
It’s stronger and more precise than risky or unsafe.
6. may suggest
Correct answer: c) may
Explanation:
Hedging is essential at C2.
May indicates probability, not certainty, aligning with academic caution.
7. raised concerns
Correct answer: b) raised
Explanation:
Raise concerns is a fixed academic collocation.
brought up → conversational
pointed → incomplete
8. as though she had firsthand experience
Correct answer: b) had
Explanation:
“As though” + past simple expresses an unreal present situation.
She does not actually have the experience.
9. forcefully presented
Correct answer: a) forcefully
Explanation:
Forcefully describes delivery style, not strength of argument.
powerfully → emotional
strongly → vague
10. acknowledges
Correct answer: b) acknowledges
Explanation:
Acknowledge signals measured acceptance, common in academic writing.
admits → implies fault
states → neutral, no stance
11. far-reaching implications
Correct answer: c) far-reaching
Explanation:
This collocation means wide and long-term impact.
Standard academic/reporting phrase.
12. denied having any prior knowledge
Correct answer: b) having
Explanation:
Deny + perfect gerund refers to a completed past action.
13. did the flaws become apparent
Correct answer: b) did the flaws
Explanation:
“Only after…” triggers inversion for emphasis and formality.
14. broad overview
Correct answer: b) broad
Explanation:
Broad overview = general, non-detailed coverage.
wide → less idiomatic
large → incorrect
15. with caution
Correct answer: c) with
Explanation:
Fixed academic collocation warning against overinterpretation.
16. sharp observation
Correct answer: a) sharp
Explanation:
A sharp observation implies insight and precision.
cutting → negative tone
hard → unnatural
17. support such a claim
Correct answer: b) support
Explanation:
Support is the standard academic verb for evidential backing.
back up → informal
stand → incorrect
18. growing pressure
Correct answer: b) growing
Explanation:
Growing pressure suggests increasing over time, widely used in reports.
19. No sooner was the report published…
Correct answer: a) was
Explanation:
“No sooner” requires inversion + past simple passive.
20. reasonably convincing
Correct answer: a) reasonably
Explanation:
Balances approval with reservation — classic C2 evaluative stance.
21. strong evidence
Correct answer: b) strong
Explanation:
Most natural academic collocation.
powerful / forceful → stylistically wrong
22. by means of arbitration
Correct answer: b) by means of
Explanation:
Formal expression of method or mechanism, common in legal/academic texts.
23. yet unmistakable
Correct answer: c) yet
Explanation:
Yet creates rhetorical contrast while reinforcing the second clause.
24. somewhat fails
Correct answer: b) somewhat
Explanation:
Mitigates criticism, avoiding absolute judgment — key academic skill.
25. tentative conclusions
Correct answer: b) tentative
Explanation:
Signals provisional findings and openness to revision.
26. broadly aligned
Correct answer: a) broadly
Explanation:
Allows for general agreement without claiming perfect match.
27. keen awareness
Correct answer: c) keen
Explanation:
Keen awareness implies perceptive, sensitive understanding.
28. would have been different
Correct answer: b) would have been
Explanation:
Third conditional → unreal past result.
29. widely criticised
Correct answer: c) widely
Explanation:
Indicates criticism from many sources, not degree of negativity.
30. merits being given further consideration
Correct answer: a) being given
Explanation:
Merit + gerund (passive) is the correct C2 structure.
