Exercise Bank

Page owner: Training director

What is the Exercise Bank?

  • The Exercise Bank is a collection of individual exercises, each of which can be purchased separately
  • The collection covers proofreading, copyediting and English grammar
  • Exercises are based on real pieces of work for real clients, contributed by our members with the permission of the client
  • The aim is to provide practice in support of our core training courses.

Show me the exercises

How hard are the exercises?

Exercises are categorised as easier (level 1), intermediate (level 2) and more advanced (level 3):

  • Level 1: reasonably straightforward, no complex elements
  • Level 2: more complex; may include simple figures/illustrations, tables and/or references
  • Level 3: complex, detailed exercises; may include complex figures/graphs/illustrations and/or references or other elements.

What does each exercise include?

Each exercise includes:

  • a set of learning points
  • some background about the publication
  • a brief
  • a style sheet or an extract from it (depending on the exercise)
  • the exercise
  • a model answer, with changes tracked
  • a list of author/client queries (depending on the exercise)
  • a commentary on the exercise
  • details of further resources.

You will receive a .zip file that includes all you need to complete the exercise.

Show me the exercises

How much do the exercises cost?

Each exercise costs £28 (£17 for CIEP members).

Are you a CIEP member?

CIEP members can purchase exercises at a reduced rate. One proofreading exercise has been made freely available to members as an introduction to the Bank.

Could you produce an exercise?

We always need more exercises! If you are an Advanced Professional or a Professional Member of the CIEP, you could produce an exercise for the Bank. For details, please contact the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Copyediting exercises

CE0001 Depression: A Guide to Recovery (Level 2)

Jane Hammett

Copyediting Exercise CE0001

This exercise is an extract from the references section of a self-published non-fiction book on depression.

It provides practice in:

  • checking copy in a reference list
  • ensuring accuracy and consistency in a text
  • following a house style
  • using Track Changes in Word.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

CE0002 Harper's Finale (Level 2)

Jane Hammett

Copyediting Exercise CE0002

This exercise is an extract from a self-published novel aimed at women.

It provides practice in:

  • editing while retaining the author's voice
  • ensuring consistency
  • improving style and flow
  • deciding whether to change text or query it
  • creating a style sheet for a novel.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

CE0003 The hidden curriculum and its implications for surgical specialties (Level 2)

Jane Moody

Copyediting Exercise CE00031

This exercise is an article about what deters doctors from continuing with their surgical training, submitted to a non-clinical medical journal.

It provides practice in:

  • editing a journal article with a short list of references
  • ensuring consistency and improving style and flow
  • deciding whether to change text or query it
  • using a publisher's style sheet.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

CE0004 Current trends in hernia surgery in NHS England (Level 3)

Jane Moody

Copyediting Exercise CE0004

This exercise is a report of the results of a survey of surgeons. It includes figures, tables, statistics and an appendix.

It provides practice in:

  • editing an article with figures, tables and a list of references
  • ensuring consistency and improving style and flow
  • deciding whether to change text or query it
  • using a publisher's style sheet.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

CE0005 A Gypsy Secret (Level 2)

Jane Hammett

Copyediting Exercise CE0005

This exercise is an extract from a self-published middle-grade novel aimed at children aged 8–11 years.

It provides practice in:

  • editing children's fiction
  • improving style and flow while retaining the author's voice
  • ensuring consistency
  • deciding whether to change text or query it
  • creating a style sheet for a novel.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

Content note
The CIEP recognises that the word 'Gypsy' is considered offensive by some communities and in some countries. However, it is also a term by which many traveller communities in the UK self-identify. The novel from which this extract is taken is set in Britain and the word is used as a neutral term for a community that uses it of themselves. The CIEP believes that self-ascription should be the decisive factor in determining the terms used for any identity community, as to 'sanitise' such a choice would be to marginalise and deny voice to them.

CE0006 You and Your Anaesthetic (Level 1)

Jane Moody

Copyediting Exercise CE0006

This exercise is a patient information leaflet published by a medical royal college.

It provides practice in:

  • copyediting a text extracted from a PDF file
  • ensuring consistency and clarity of meaning
  • using a light touch when editing a previously published document.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

CE0007 RCS Senior Clinical Fellowship Survey (Level 3)

Jane Moody

Copyediting Exercise CE0007

This exercise is a journal article published by a medical royal college that includes figures, tables, statistics and an appendix.

It provides practice in:

  • editing to house style
  • ensuring consistency and improving style and flow
  • deciding whether to change text or query it
  • using a publisher's style sheet.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

Grammar exercises

GR0001 Relative clauses (Level 1–3)

Gerard Hill

Grammar Exercise GR0001

This grammar exercise includes 20 questions on the topic of relative clauses (which/that/who).

It provides practice in:

  • identifying and editing relative clauses

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

GR0002 Agreement (or concord) (Level 1–3)

Gerard Hill

Grammar Exercise GR0002

This grammar exercise includes 20 questions on the topic of agreement.

It provides practice in:

  • identifying and editing agreement

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

GR0003 May or might (Level 1–3)

Gerard Hill

Grammar Exercise GR0003

This grammar exercise includes 20 questions on the topic of the use of may or might.

It provides practice in:

  • identifying and editing uses of may/might

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

Proofreading exercises

PR0001 BMS Programme (Level 3)

Jane Moody

Proofreading Exercise PR0001

This exercise is a detailed conference brochure produced in colour.

It provides practice in:

  • checking text in a highly coloured brochure
  • ensuring accuracy and consistency in a text
  • following a house style
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools and/or PDF stamps.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0002 Harper's Finale (Level 2)

Jane Hammett

Proofreading Exercise PR0002

This exercise is an extract from a novel that is being self-published.

It provides practice in:

  • checking text in a self-published fiction text
  • ensuring consistency
  • retaining the author's voice
  • compiling a proofreader’s style sheet
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0003 How to be a Productivity Ninja (Level 1)

Petra Bryce

Proofreading Exercise PR0003

This exercise is an extract from a general non-fiction book on management and productivity.

It provides practice in:

  • checking stylistic elements in a table
  • considering when intervention is justified (and when not)
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools and/or PDF stamps.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0004 Stan and the Dragon (Level 2)

Jane Hammett

Proofreading Exercise PR0004

This exercise is a story published in a magazine aimed at young children.

It provides practice in:

  • proofreading a highly illustrated text
  • checking illustrations
  • checking layout
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Member download (free)

PR0005 The Future of Print Finishing Markets to 2023 (Level 3)

Helen White

Proofreading Exercise PR0005

This exercise is the executive summary of a report on printing.

It provides practice in:

  • proofreading non-fiction
  • checking tables and figures
  • dealing with lists and other layout issues
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0006 Arachne the Spiderwoman (Level 1)

Jane Hammett

Proofreading Exercise PR0006

This exercise is a story published in a magazine aimed at young children.

It provides practice in:

  • checking text in a highly illustrated magazine
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0007 The Squabbling Siblings (Level 1)

Jane Hammett

Proofreading Exercise PR0007

This exercise is a story published in a magazine aimed at young children.

It provides practice in:

  • checking text in a highly illustrated magazine
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0008 Ninja Email (Level 3)

Petra Bryce

Proofreading Exercise PR0008

This exercise is an extract from a revised and updated edition of a general non-fiction book on management and productivity.

It provides practice in:

  • proofreading non-fiction
  • checking the logic behind a heading hierarchy
  • checking consistency issues across a longer text
  • considering whether intervention is justified
  • identifying and composing appropriate queries for the author and the desk editor
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0009 The Way of the Productivity Ninja (Level 2)

Petra Bryce

Proofreading Exercise PR0009

This exercise is an extract from a revised and updated edition of a general non-fiction book on management and productivity.

It provides practice in:

  • proofreading non-fiction
  • following a publisher’s house style
  • checking consistency issues across a longer text
  • considering whether intervention is justified
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0010 Glendale Brochure (Level 1)

Helen White

Proofreading Exercise PR0010

This exercise is an extract from the brochure of a leading grounds maintenance and landscape contractor.

It provides practice in:

  • checking text in an illustrated brochure
  • ensuring accuracy and consistency in a text
  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools
  • working with non-publishers who don’t have a house style.

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)

PR0011 You got data chips in my elixir (Level 2)

Katherine Kirk

Proofreading Exercise PR0011

This exercise is an article published in a magazine aimed at people who enjoy playing tabletop role-playing games, especially Mutant Crawl Classics.

It provides practice in:

  • using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC commenting/mark-up tools
  • proofreading a text that is rich in pop culture references
  • checking for errors introduced during layout
  • proofreading a text that has not been professionally copyedited
  • using commenting tools in a PDF file
  • paying attention to the house style sheet’s quirks
  • proofreading US English
  • adjusting scope for a client’s needs (proof-editing).

Buy exercise (£28.00) Buy exercise – member (£17.00)