MHE FIRST

The MHE FIRST site is where you will find the tools you need to be successful in the exam: the key grammar, the key vocabulary (yep, phrasal verbs), and all the exam practice exercises you’ll ever need.

As always on the site, we focus on understanding AND using. This way, students not only gain the skills needed for the exam but also interiorise new constructions and vocabulary in order to make a real and lasting improvement.

You'll review and practice all the key grammar and vocabulary in the context of real exam exercises. These exercises lead to a high pass rate among students (especially for the Use of English paper, which is particularly difficult for many).

In a little more detail, here’s what you’ll find on the site:

FIRST VOCABULARY

The FIRST PHRASAL VERBS course is a major feature of the site as phrasal verbs are a major part of the exam. I've designed this course for users to overcome what for many is the most challenging part of the First: understanding and using phrasal verbs.

Similarly, I’ve developed the FIRST IDIOMS WITH VERBS course (idioms with verbs are ‘take into consideration’, ‘come to an agreement’, etc.) and the FIRST IDIOMS WITH PREPOSITIONS course (these idioms are those like ‘In the event of’, ‘under pressure’, etc.). Completing these courses means you’ll have the key vocabulary at your fingertips.

FIRST GRAMMAR

The FIRST GRAMMAR GUIDES review the key grammar for the exam. I explain the grammar then provide lots of exercises to interiorise the relevant structures. There are several areas of grammar that you need to master to be effective at B2+ level. These areas are exactly what we focus on.

WEEKLY FIRST EXERCISES

Every week I post three exercises aimed at strengthening the key grammar and vocabulary.

The first is the WEEKLY GRAMMAR REVIEW where you’ll review key structures like modal verbs, conditionals, connectors, etc.

The second is the WEEKLY VOCABULARY REVIEW where you’ll practice the key vocabulary you’ve learned on the site, such as phrasal verbs, idioms with verbs, and idioms with prepositions.

Finally, the WEEKLY GRAMMAR + VOCABULARY REVIEW brings together everything you’ve learned on the site.

EXAM GUIDES

You'll also find guides to the four speaking parts of the exam. These guides explain how to approach each exercise, suggest grammar and vocabulary you can use in each part, and provide practice exercises.