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FCE phrasal verbs practice: a spaced-repetition trainer

This free trainer gives you FCE phrasal verbs practice in short sessions, using example sentences and spaced repetition so that the verbs you find difficult come back more often. A few minutes a day is enough. It is one of our free FCE tools.

By Eleanor BennettLast updated:

Phrasal verbs appear across B2 First: in Reading and Use of English, in Listening and in your own Speaking and Writing. They are hard to remember from a list, because the meaning often has little to do with the two parts. Regular, short review in context is what works.

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How to use it

  1. Start a session. You see a prompt with a phrasal verb or its meaning, together with an example sentence.
  2. Try to recall the answer before you look. The effort of remembering is what helps the word stay in your memory.
  3. Check and be honest. Tell the trainer if you knew it or not.
  4. Read the example sentence and notice the grammar: is the verb separable? Does it take an object?
  5. Come back tomorrow. Items you got wrong will come back soon; items you know well will wait longer.

Try to make your own sentence with each new phrasal verb, especially about your own life. That makes it much easier to use in Speaking and Writing.

How it works

The trainer uses spaced repetition. Each item has its own review schedule:

  • When you get an item wrong, it comes back soon.
  • When you get it right, the gap before the next review gets longer.
  • Over time, you spend most of your practice on the verbs you find difficult, not on the ones you already know.

All items and example sentences are written by our team for B2 learners. For explanations, common particles and grouped lists, read our guide to FCE phrasal verbs. For the other big vocabulary skill in Use of English, try the word formation trainer, and add both trainers to your weekly routine with the study planner.

Example: getting the most from one item

The task

Prompt: to start doing a new activity or hobby. Example sentence: “After moving to the coast, she ___ surfing.”

  1. 1.

    Try to recall the answer before you reveal it. Even a wrong guess helps, because your brain then pays more attention to the correct answer.

  2. 2.

    Check the answer: took up. Notice the tense: the sentence is about the past, so take becomes took.

  3. 3.

    Notice the object: you take up something (surfing, the guitar, yoga).

  4. 4.

    Make your own sentence: “Last year I took up running with my brother.” Now the verb is connected to your life, which makes it easier to remember.

Answer

took up

How to learn phrasal verbs that stick

  1. 1

    Little and often

    Five to ten minutes on most days is better than one long session a week.

  2. 2

    Learn the whole sentence

    Remember the verb with its object and a typical context, for example take up a new hobby.

  3. 3

    Group by topic, not by verb

    Verbs about relationships, travel or work are easier to remember together than every meaning of get.

  4. 4

    Use them in Speaking practice

    Choose two new phrasal verbs before each Speaking session and try to use them naturally. See FCE collocations for more vocabulary that works the same way.

Common mistakes with phrasal verbs

  • Trap: Learning long alphabetical lists of phrasal verbs.

    Fix: Lists are hard to remember. Learn a few verbs at a time, in example sentences, and review them regularly.

  • Trap: Guessing the meaning from the two parts.

    Fix: Put up with has little to do with put or up. Learn each phrasal verb as a new piece of vocabulary.

  • Trap: Ignoring word order with objects.

    Fix: Some phrasal verbs can be separated (turn the music down) and some cannot (look after your sister). Notice this in the example sentences.

  • Trap: Overusing phrasal verbs in formal writing.

    Fix: Phrasal verbs are natural in conversation and informal writing. In a formal report, a single-word verb is sometimes more suitable.

Frequently asked questions

How many phrasal verbs do I need for FCE?

There is no official list. Focus on common phrasal verbs for everyday topics, learn them in context and keep adding verbs you meet in your reading and listening.

Where do phrasal verbs appear in B2 First?

They can appear in Reading and Use of English, especially the multiple-choice cloze, open cloze and key word transformations, and they are useful in your own Speaking and Writing.

What is spaced repetition?

It is a review method where you see difficult items more often and easy items less often, with longer gaps each time you remember correctly. It helps you remember more with less study time.

Is the phrasal verb trainer free?

Yes. The trainer is free to use, like all our tools.

How long should I practise each day?

A short session of a few minutes on most days is ideal. Consistency matters much more than session length.