Oxford preparation and practice b2 first for schools answer key

Part 3 p16 0 photographer The noun form referring to a person’s job is needed following I’m.. 179 words Examiner’s commentary Content The candidate answers the question very competentl

PREPARATION ANSWER KEY

Reading and Use of English

Part 1 p9

1 act suspiciously bitterly cold computer screen

draw the curtains drive dangerously eat healthily

fully aware heart attack heavy traffic mutual friend

picture frame seat belt seriously injured

shake hands soft drink strong coffee tell the truth

virtually impossible walk briskly watch television

accuse someone of something

congratulate someone on something

lend something to someone

rely on someone to do something

share something with someone

b nouns

feel anger about something

show curiosity about something

show enthusiasm for something

express an interest in something

show kindness to someone

be sorry for someone about something

4 a I’ve always got on well with my sister We’ve never been

jealous of each other.

b You shouldn’t accuse someone of something if you

e The manager congratulated the team on winning the

cup for the second year

1 Words in brackets are above B2 level

a REAL Adjective: real, realistic

Noun: reality (realism) (realist) Verb: realize

Adverb: really (realistically)

b CREATE Adjective: creative

Noun: creation (creator) Verb: create

Adverb: creatively

c EXCITE Adjective: exciting, excited

Noun: excitement Verb: excite Adverb: excitedly (excitingly)

d USE Adjective: useful, useless

Noun: use, user Verb: use, abuse (misuse) Adverb: usefully (uselessly)

e SUCCEED Adjective: successful, unsuccessful

Noun: success Verb: succeed Adverb: successfully

f ATTRACT Adjective: attractive

Noun: attraction Verb: attract Adverb: attractively

g PRODUCE Adjective: productive

Noun: product, producer, production

(produce) (productivity)

Verb: produce Adverb: productively

h KNOW Adjective: (knowing) (knowledgeable)

Noun: knowledge Verb: know Adverb: (knowingly) (knowledgeably)

i ACT Adjective: active (inactive)

Noun: action, act, actor Verb: act

Adverb: actively

j PERFECT Adjective: perfect (imperfect)

Noun: (perfection) Verb: perfect Adverb: perfectly (imperfectly)

b wishes he had not / hadn’t left

c cannot / can’t afford to

d have / ’ve never seen such a

e time we had / time for us to have

f wanted to know where Gemma

g looking forward to going

2 a comparatives and superlatives

b verb patterns

c lexical patterns

d lexical patterns

e past tense with ‘unreal’ meaning

f direct and reported speech

g phrasal verbs

3 a were you, I would / I’d

b cut down on

c is being built

d if she had / she’d seen his

e was easier than Tom had

f if he does not / doesn’t spend

g could you lend

h is believed to have caused

Part 5 p20

1 Paragraph 1: introducing the duo

Paragraph 2: reasons for success

2 1 C 2 A

3 1 two years

2 They live near to each other and they are friends who

like the same music

3 Alexis and Tom are used to playing jazz.

4 All of them write songs for the quartet.

4 1 B neck of the woods means a particular area

2 C by our own efforts means without anyone’s help

2 a After that / Next / Then

b At the same time (as this) / In addition to this

c Because of this

d For example / For instance

e She

f In addition to this / Then

3 More information about how plants manage to live

grateful = wanting to say ‘Thank you’

group of people of the same age = generationmanage to continue = survive

participant = someone who takes partrefugee = someone forced to leave their countrysightseeing = visiting attractions

someone I share accommodation with = flatmatesomeone who believes good things will happen = optimist

Things to write about

1 the importance of learning a second language

2 the best age to start

3 my experience

2 Students’ own answers

3 Plan 2 is best

Paragraph 1 introduces the subject; paragraphs 2 and

3 consider both sides of the argument Paragraph 4 expresses the writer’s own opinion

Plan 1 has no logical structure It moves from one subject

to the other in a random way and has no conclusion

Plan 3 only considers the writer’s opinion and just lists reasons for this opinion Also, it has no conclusion

4 Paragraph C is the best because it introduces the subject briefly and outlines two possible lines of argument It also includes the issues raised in the notes given in the question It does not give away the writer’s opinion too early

Paragraph A launches straight into some of the issues implied in the question in an unstructured way This writer seems to be writing ideas as they come into their head without linking them in any way

Paragraph B starts with the writer’s personal account

of learning a second language rather than introducing the topic in an objective, non-personal way There is no indication in this paragraph that the writer is going to consider the two sides of the argument before reaching a considered conclusion

b quite informal – you can use contracted verb forms.

c name the most popular kind of food; say whether this

food is modern or traditional; how it is made and how it

is eaten; whether you like it yourself

2 Possible paragraph plan with approximate number of

words:

Para 1 Introduction: Start with a friendly greeting (20–25

words)Para 2 Name and describe the most popular kind of food

and say if it is traditional or modern (45–60 words)Para 3 Say how this food is usually made and eaten

(45–60 words)Para 4 Conclusion: Say whether you like the food and give

a reason Wish your friend well (20–35 words)

3 Comments on the answer:

• Content – The writer covers most of the points but

describes the food as ‘old-fashioned’ rather than

‘traditional’

• Communicative achievement – Communication is

hampered by the lack of overall organization It is quite

interesting, but probably frustrating to read for the

person who asked for the information

Spelling – two errors:

definately instead of definitely

old-fashoned instead of old-fashioned

Style – inconsistent Sometimes too formal:

It was good to receive your email (Better It was good to

hear from you or Thank you for your email.)

the majority of the population (Better: most people)

it’s usually accompanied by tomato sauce (Better: it’s

usually with tomato sauce)

• Organization – Poor There is no paragraphing (apart

from the last signing-off paragraph) Sentences do not

follow on logically from each other The underlined

part of this section interrupts the flow: Your project

on popular food in different countries sounds really

interesting I’d like to know more about that subject

myself The most popular food in …

• Language – Grammar is generally accurate, though

there are a few slips:

everyone I know like it instead of likes it

it’s quite hard when you’re buying it from the shops

instead of you buy it

keep on touch instead of keep in touch

Lack of variety: Overuse of the adverb quite

Poor sentence construction, for example And it’s

c reasons why new students don’t feel relaxed; how it

shows; ways in which this situation could be improved

5 Possible paragraph plan with approximate number of words:

Para 1 Introduction: Say that, from your own experience, you understand the problem and that you appreciate being asked for suggestions

(20–25 words)Para 2 Give one or two reasons why new students may not feel relaxed and say how this shows (45–60 words)

Para 3 Suggest something the school could do to make new students feel less worried (45–60 words)Para 4 Ending: Say that you hope your suggestions will help to improve the situation for new students (20–35 words)

There are a lot of kinds of food which are popular

in my country, but I’d say the most popular of all

is pasta Many people eat it every day, once or sometimes twice It is a traditional food which everyone can afford This is why it is so popular (50)

Pasta can be eaten hot or cold but first it has to

be boiled in water until it is soft We usually eat

it with a simple sauce made of tomato, meat or cheese – sometimes all three! If people eat it cold

it is often used in salads (48)

I have eaten pasta since I was little and I love it

I hope this helps with your project Let me know how it goes (25)

Your friend …

1 a People who are roughly the same age as you.

b Your opinion of family holidays; a description of a past

family holiday

c to entertain readers

d quite informal; conversational in parts

2 Suggested best title: B – you want to know what was so

bad about it

By comparison, A and C sound boring – you can guess the

kind of thing the article will be about

3 Suggested best first paragraph: A – the question involves

readers immediately, encouraging them to think about

their own family holidays

Although paragraph B starts with a question, it continues

with a self-evident statement that no one could disagree

with, and ends with what sounds like the most boring kind

of holiday anyone could imagine

Paragraph C also includes unoriginal thoughts and ideas

The last sentence moves away from family holidays If the

rest of the article moves straight on to an ideal holiday,

the writer will not have described a past family holiday

4 Possible opening questions:

My favourite season of the year

Is there anyone who does not prefer summer to all the

other seasons?

Would you think I was mad if I said winter was my

favourite season?

My interesting hobby

Do you really think I have time for a hobby?

What would you say if I told you my hobby involved

a snake?

Caring for the environment

When was the last time your breathed fresh air in

5 Agreement: Absolutely! Exactly! That’s true

You’re right there

Disagreement: I can’t go along with that I don’t think so

That’s not the way I see it

Doubt: Do you really think so? I’m not sure about that

Speaker 3 A Speaker 4 F

Speaker 5 D

Part 4 p49

1 1 What is Matt doing now?

A He is in his last year at school

B He has just finished full-time education

C He is a part-time student

2 What reason does Matt give for studying his three

subjects?

A They are his favourite subjects

B They are the choice of his parents

C They are the subjects he is most successful in

3 What would Matt’s parents like him to do?

A They want him to go to university

B They want him to start work

C They want him to do what makes him happy

4 What does Matt say about physics?

A It is his favourite subject

B He finds it rather boring

C It would help him to find work

5 What does Matt say about being a music teacher?

A He doesn’t like working with children

B He knows music is not a popular subject in school

C He doesn’t feel sufficiently qualified

6 Why does Matt feel he needs to talk to his parents

again?

A He will need money from them in the future

B He values their advice and assistance

C He wants to show them that his is the right choice

7 What attracts Matt to working as a volunteer?

A It will help prepare him for the world of work

B It will give him more time to decide his future

C It will provide him with a source of income

3 1 A 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 B 6 A 7 B

Speaking

Part 1 p51

c I usually go by bus, but if I’m late my father takes me in

the car

d I really like maths, probably because I’m quite good at it.

e Yes, I would, but I haven’t decided which university to

i Yes, I have two sisters and two brothers I’m the

youngest in the family

j I really enjoy it when we have meals together –

especially if we can eat outside

3 Best answers to examiner’s questions

Candidate 2’s answer is too short, lacking enough detail

Candidate 3 doesn’t answer the question

4 3

Candidate 1 avoids the question

Candidate 2’s answer is too short, lacking enough detail

5 2

Candidate 1’s answer is too detailed and rambling

Candidate 3 doesn’t answer the question

a Ben only mentions differences between the

photographs, not the similarities

b Ben talks for less than a minute and seems to be

struggling to keep talking towards the end

c No, they don’t answer the actual question, which asks

them to discuss what is best for teenagers rather than

what they do personally to keep fit

d They talk for about the same length of time.

e Yes, usually.

3 Phrases used to express an opinion: none They only talk

about personal experiences, not what their opinions are

Phrases used to invite a partner’s response: What about

you? / Do you do that? / How about you? / … don’t you

agree? / What about you?

Part 4 p55

1 Possible notes on the examiner’s questions

2 everyday jobs – practical?

3 lot of exercise – bad?

4 exercise – regular or occasional?

5 diet or exercise – more important?

6 exercise must be painful?

2 Students’ own answers

3 Students’ own answers

4 In the first conversation, both candidates give explanations using these phrases:

because team sports … / Let me explain /

My point is, … / That’s because …

In the second conversation, Monica gives explanations using these phrases:

For one thing, … / I mean, …

Jonathan implies but does not state reasons or explanations

5 Students’ own answers

Reading and Use of English

b ins and outs

c law and order

d loud and clear

e neat and tidy

f odds and ends

g peace and quiet

h sick and tired

i ups and downs

j wear and tear

4 1 granted

2 any

3 loud

4 on

1 A nouns: -ness / -ship / - ion / -hood / -ance / -ment

B adjectives: -able / -ible / -ish / -ful / -less / -ant

C verbs: -ize / -ify / -ate / -en

2 (Words in bold have had spelling changes.)

appearANCE childHOOD/childISH/childLESS

friendSHIP/friendLESS goodNESS governMENT

hesitatION/hesitANCE/hesitANT boyHOOD/boyISH

breakABLE horrIBLE painFUL/painLESS pleasANT

useFUL/useLESS activATE electrIFY realIZE

shortNESS/shortISH/shortEN

3 dis- disable disadvantage dishonest

il- illegal illogical

im- impatient improbable

in- inconvenient informal

ir- irregular irrelevant

mis- misspell misunderstand

un- unable unnecessary

d go out until he had

e better singer than anyone

Even is only used with though, not although Although

means the same as even though.

3 a

Best is a superlative and needs to be used with the

definite article, the.

4 a

Be likely to + infinitive refers to the future but is

normally used with a present simple verb

5 a

The verb form to have something done means to get or

ask someone to do something for you

I have cut my hair means I have cut it myself and makes

no sense with I pay someone.

6 b

The first answer includes two negatives: doesn’t and no

With no the construction is: I have no objection to…

With doesn’t the construction is:

John doesn’t have any objection to working late

John doesn’t have any objection to me / my working

late.

Writing

Part 2 Review p75

2 a It’s only been open for about six months, but all my

friends buy things there

They always have a selection of the latest fashions

b They serve a great range of coffees

It’s on the ground floor of our local supermarket

c You can book Internet access in advance

They have a fantastic reference section

d I found several really useful sites

The site is easy to use – you just type your question into the search box

e The opening scene is an exciting car chase

The characters were very convincing

f It’s not like a huge stadium or arena – it’s more like a

medium-sized club

Their programme includes everything from punk to jazz

3 and 4

Facts

a Everyone in the audience found it very funny

f It took me over two days to play.

g It’s north of the river, not far from the park entrance.

h It’s on the top floor of the building, and the day I went

the lift wasn’t working

j The changing rooms are very small

l The whole place is clean and tidy

Opinions (with Positive (P) or Negative (N))

b I found the whole experience disappointing N

c I know it’s very popular, but it isn’t really my idea of

value for money N

d I must admit, it was much better than I had

expected P

e I’d say it’s fairly expensive – especially for students N

i One of the best games I’ve played for a long time P

k The service is excellent P

m I’d thoroughly recommend this to everyone I know P

5 Suggested paragraph plan:

Para 1 Introduction: Name and appearance of the website / What subjects it covers

Para 2 Describe how easy it is to use Are there any special points to be aware of?

Para 3 A brief description of what you have referred to

it for

Para 4 Conclusion: Your recommendation – include negative and positive points

Part 2 Set text p77

2 Possible paragraph plans for the three questions:

A Para 1 Introduction: Name the characters Give reasons

for your choice

Para 2 Describe the characters and say what the main

differences between them are

Para 3 Say how their relationship starts, changes and

ends

Para 4 Conclusion: Say how the change in the

relationship affects the plot of the novel

Para 3 Say whether the theme is still relevant today.

Para 4 Conclusion: Summarize main ideas Make a

general comment about why we still study dead writers

long-C Para 1 Introduction: Events you have chosen Why are

they are important in the story

Para 2 Describe the events and say how they are linked

Para 3 Describe how the events affect the main

characters

Para 4 Conclusion: Describe how you reacted

personally to the events

3 A Essay

The first event I’ve chosen is Mike’s discovery of the gold

coins This happens early in the book and is a shock to

everyone At first they’re very happy because the family

is very poor Their discovery means they’ll be able to sell

the coins and buy things they need The moment when

the family realize that the coins are fake is my second key

event

B Essay

I imagine that everyone in the world knows something

about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet They probably

believe that the main theme is love My view is a little

different In my opinion the most important theme is fate

We know from the beginning of the play that fate controls

their lives and their future

C Article

As far as I’m concerned, the most interesting characters in

this novel are Laura and Matt This is mainly because they

seem so perfect for each other when they meet They

have similar interests but quite different personalities

Laura is rather shy whereas Matt is outgoing, the sort of

person who loves parties

0 B familiar Familiar takes the preposition with

Conscious and aware take of Knowledgeable takes the

preposition about.

1 C played To play a part means to act a role in a film or

play Perform and appear are used with a play: to perform

(in)/appear in a play.

2 A interested be interested + in something The other

adjectives are followed by different prepositions: inspired

by; attracted to; enthusiastic about.

3 D role A professional role means a part in a play for

which she was paid Task is a specific skill or job Career is

a person’s sequence of jobs lasting many years Character

is a person in a book, film or play In this context, the

character is Hermione, not Emma Watson

4 B over The correct phrase is all over the world.

5 C up Give up means to stop doing something None

of the alternatives make any sense followed by her

education: give in + to means to surrender or agree

to something you don’t believe in; give out means to

distribute; give off means to produce a smell, heat or light.

6 A leaving The correct phrase, to leave school, means

to come to the end of school education Abandon has a

more negative meaning of leave, for example to abandon

a child/house/sinking ship, etc.

7 D continued Continue is followed by to + infinitive

Keep has a similar meaning, but is followed by -ing or

on + -ing.

8 C involved Be involved is followed by in and means to

take part in/be part of (neutral meaning) Be implicated is

also followed by in, but has a more negative meaning For

example, be implicated in a crime.

Part 2 p13

0 are The plural verb are is needed here as the subject of

the relative clause is which, referring back to the plural

noun phrase Harlequin shrimps.

9 from / to From or to are the correct prepositions after

the adjective different (different + than is American

English)

10 with With is the correct preposition in phrases like these

Other examples: a shirt with red stripes; a room with blue

walls.

11 both Both here refers to the left and right sides of the

shrimp’s body

12 have Have is used with physical characteristics Other

examples: he has long legs; she has short hair.

13 which The relative pronoun which refers back to the

word claw and completes this non-defining relative clause.

14 They The subject pronoun They refers to the topic of the

whole text: harlequin shrimps

15 of The preposition of is used to show the relationship

between a general category and the thing which is part of

this category

16 because Because of is a prepositional phrase, which

introduces a reason and is usually followed by a noun or noun phrase

Part 3 p16

0 photographer The noun form referring to a person’s job

is needed following I’m.

17 basic The adjective form is needed to describe a box

camera (a simple type of camera).

18 simply An adverb is needed to describe how you pointed

the camera

19 disappointed An adjective is needed to describe how the

writer felt about some of the photos

20 unclear An adjective with a negative meaning is needed

The prefix un- gives this meaning.

21 comparison A noun is needed to complete the common

phrase: in comparison with.

22 effective An adjective is needed to describe the process.

23 successful An adjective is needed is describe ones,

referring to some of the photos

24 satisfying An adjective is needed to complete the phrase

as … as, describing the experience of taking photos

Part 4 p19

0 can’t get used to The phrase get used to means become

accustomed to/adjust to The negative form can’t is

needed to convey the meaning of the phrase in the first

sentence: impossible to adjust to

25 have not/haven’t seen you since The simple past saw

in The last time I saw becomes the negative form of the present perfect following the word since in the second

sentence

26 such a boring film So boring in the first sentence follows

the noun it refers to (film) When such precedes a singular noun, it is followed by the indefinite article a/an.

27 wish I had not/hadn’t When referring to a past regret

(regret + -ing), the verb wish is followed by a negative past

perfect form of the verb

28 was unexpectedly cold The comparative form colder in

the first sentence is unnecessary in the second sentence

because of the adverb unexpectedly

29 advised Ben not to leave/against leaving The use of if

I were you in the first sentence indicates that the speaker

is giving a piece of advice The verb advise is followed by

someone (not) to do something or someone against doing something.

30 have just been informed (that) The second sentence is

a passive form, starting with I (the person referred to as

me in the first sentence) Informed is the past participle,

which carries the meaning of told in the first sentence

Part 5 p22

31 B Paragraph 1

The writer states: they would rather stay at home and

do things indoors than go out and experience real-life adventures The phrase would rather shows preference,

and at home is contrasted with go out

A The fact that parents support their choice (encourage

in the first paragraph) is true, but is additional information

C This answer is too extreme The text does not say

teenagers have no interest

D This answer may also be true, but is another additional

point and only applies to some teenagers (more than half

were actually afraid of trying new experiences).

32 D Paragraph 2

Apparently usually precedes a statement expressing some

uncertainty This may be because you doubt the truth of

something or you are passing on information you have not

discovered for yourself

A The speaker may be surprised, but the word apparently

does not convey this

B The word knows expresses certainty, whereas

apparently implies lack of certainty.

C Apparently indicates that this is not something which

the writer believes

33 A Paragraph 3

The writer states: To members of older generations, these

findings are worrying because it means that young people

increasingly rely on virtual reality The phrasal verb rely

on means the same as dependent on; virtual reality is a

synonym for things that are unreal.

B There is no information given about how the older

generations perceive young people enjoying their real-life

experiences

C The phrase increasingly rely on suggests that interests

are changing, but that young people are not only

interested in virtual reality

D Rock climbing is just one example of an outdoor activity

which some teenagers might enjoy

34 B Paragraph 4

The writer states: Forty or fifty years ago, children were

expected to spend more of their free time outside –

often engaged in activities of which their parents were

completely ignorant The phrase completely ignorant

means to not know what someone is doing

A The text says they spent more of their free time outside,

not all of their time.

C The text only says today’s teenagers have many more

indoor activities, not that there were no indoor activities

in the past

D The existence of new technology does not explain

this difference (It would be easy to blame technological

advances for this development.)

35 A Paragraph 5

The writer states: Many of the adults surveyed said they

thought today’s youth were more protected than they were

when they were growing up He supports this statement

with evidence of parental control

B The writer states that many young people would be …

prepared to try real experiences if they could watch videos

… but does not say that videos are the reason why they

stay indoors

C The writer states: It is not clear whether adults believe

the world is more dangerous than it used to be There is no

reference to this being without doubt

D The writer states: It is not clear … whether they do not

trust today’s youngsters to look after themselves The

phrase not clear means that the idea is not necessarily

true

36 B Final paragraph

Dr Aaron Balik states: There is nothing in the digital world,

even virtual reality, that can match the complex and

multi-sensory experiences of a real-life situation.

A This is the opposite of what Dr Balik says

C Dr Balik makes no reference to the enjoyment of either

digital or real-life experiences

D The phrase nothing can match, meaning something

doesn’t compare to another thing, shows that there is not equal value in the experiences

Part 6 p26

37 G This sentence expands on the previous sentence

in paragraph 2 The following sentence, starting with

Similarly, adds another point of comparison.

38 C The first sentence of paragraph 3 focuses on plastic

Sentence C, starting with However, points out that it is

not only plastic – the chemicals added to most plastics are

also dangerous.

39 E Most of this refers back to packaging of foodstuffs,

drinks and other consumer goods in the previous sentence

The following sentence, In fact, there are well-publicized

solutions, which would go some way towards solving the problem, continues the idea introduced in sentence E: we cannot go on indefinitely with this practice.

40 B Good examples of this refers back to most plastic

packaging in the previous sentence of the text In the

following sentence of the text, refunds on returned plastic

bottles, and many supermarkets now charge shoppers for plastic bags refers back to drinks bottles and plastic shopping bags.

41 A Campaigns to encourage green behaviour refers

back to the work of Environmental organizations in the

previous sentence The sentence following the gap says

what more needs to happen: We also need to convince

governments and businesses to reduce the production and use of plastics for superficial applications.

42 F Secondly, shows sequencing of ideas and relates to

Firstly, in the sentence before the gap.

Part 7 p30

43 C Kadir says: The course organizers and managers were

fantastic – they couldn’t have done more to make us feel at home.

44 D Bogdana says: all the lectures and discussion sessions

were in English.

45 A Ambroos says: I didn’t get much sleep while I was there

– I arrived home very tired!

46 E Pirkko says: I love the outdoor life, so I spent some of my

free time swimming in the lake and walking.

47 D Bogdana refers to the charming city with narrow streets

and a romantic castle.

48 A Ambroos says: In addition to the course itself, which

consisted of lectures and discussions on politics and economics, there were many optional activities to choose from.

49 E Pirkko says: I would definitely suggest this programme

of study would be ideal for other students who have never left their own country before.

50 C Kadir says the course enabled him to discover a new

culture.

51 B Branca says: I … just looked around the city taking in the

sights.

52 B Branca says: you make strong friendships that will

hopefully last for ever.

The answer should address these points:

Content The essay should give reasons to support the

viewpoint that young people do not get enough exercise The

essay should consider a variety of reasons for the situation,

including those given in the notes

Communicative achievement The answer should be in essay

format, using neutral or formal register

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language There should be level-appropriate vocabulary and

use of functional language to express opinion, give reasons,

make additional points, evaluate, and conclude

Sample answer

In an increasingly busy world, health and fitness is more

important than ever, particularly for young people However,

modern lifestyles often make it difficult for them to get as

much exercise as they need The purpose of this essay is to

explain why this is the case

Firstly, there is more pressure on young people today to

study Students spend a significant amount of time sitting

down, rather than moving around Also, academic subjects are

often prioritized over physical education

Another factor is that when young people have free time,

they enjoy playing computer games Not only does this mean

that they are mostly sitting down, but it may also make going

outside to exercise less appealing

Finally, many towns and cities lack safe and clean spaces to

play games outside This means that parents may be unwilling

to let their teenagers go out alone after school

To conclude, young people’s lifestyles often prevent them

from getting enough physical exercise It is essential that all

members of society work together to prioritise health and

fitness in young people’s lives

(179 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate answers the question very

competently, detailing a variety of reasons why young people

do not get enough exercise

The target reader would be fully informed regarding the

writer’s views and subject matter

Communicative achievement The essay is well written, using

the conventions of the task to communicate straightforward

ideas clearly The language remains formal throughout the

essay The topic is addressed directly and in an appropriate

way

Organization The candidate uses a variety of linking words

and phrases to connect the ideas of the essay and to help it

to flow (however …, firstly …, not only …, but also …, this means

that …)

Language There is a wide range of grammatical phrases and

vocabulary used with a good degree of control (e.g spend

a significant amount of time …, are often prioritized over …,

unwilling to let …)

Part 2 p41

Question 2

Content The story should begin with the sentence

provided in the rubric It should also include a tent and a

misunderstanding

Communicative achievement The task should be written in

a story format, using neutral language

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Narrative tenses and descriptive language should

be used

Sample answer

Peter picked up his heavy backpack and set off towards the forest He was meeting his friends at four o’clock, and they were going to camp overnight He waited impatiently at the entrance to the forest His mobile phone had no signal, and there was no sign of his friends He was sure they had said to meet here

It was getting dark and cold All he can do was try to put up his tent He’d never put up a tent before, so he tied some rope between two trees, and tried to hang the tent over it.The wind grew stronger and it started to rain Meanwhile, Peter was starting to feel fed up He lay down on the wet ground, and somehow fell asleep

He woke to bright sunlight and the sound of his friends’ voices ‘Peter, what are you doing here? We were calling you all evening!’ said Andrew It turns out that he was suppose to meet them at Andrew’s house In the end, the weather had put them off, and so they had decided to camp out in the living room!

(187 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content This is a very competent attempt at writing

a story The candidate uses the sentence provided and

is able to create a convincing story from it They have successfully incorporated the elements briefed: a tent and a misunderstanding

Communicative achievement The register is consistent

with a story The target reader’s attention would be held throughout

Organization The candidate has organized the story into

clear paragraphs and made use of some linking words

(meanwhile …, in the end …)

Language The candidate has used a range of vocabulary and

grammatical structures with good control There are a couple

of non-impeding errors (all he can do was …, he was suppose

to …); however, this do not affect communication

Question 3 Content The email should respond to the friend’s question

regarding a place to visit for a day trip It should give information about what there is to do at the chosen attraction

Communicative achievement The task should be written in

email format, with informal language

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Making a suggestion, giving opinions, making

recommendations, giving details

Sample answer

Hi Anna,Thanks for your email I’m looking forward to seeing you too! There are quite a few good places nearby for your day trip, but the most interesting is the Grand Palace It’s on the edges

of the city, and there is a regular bus service there from the centre You can buy a day ticket which lets you go to the palace as well as the gardens

The palace is really magnificent! I highly recommend paying for

a guided tour, as you learn so much about the history of the

building When I visited, our guide also pointed out the famous

artworks and told us tales of the people who lived there

After you saw the palace, you must explore the beautiful

gardens If the weather’s nice, you should take a picnic and

hire a boat on the lake

If you have time at the end of the day, don’t miss the

fireworks The best place is watch them is from the bridge

You can see the display with the palace lit up

See you soon

From, (Name)

(180 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate follows the instructions and gives the

target reader a full description of the recommended day trip

All the content is relevant to the task

Communicative achievement The register is consistently

appropriate for an email to a friend The email would leave a

positive impression on the target reader

Organization The email is organized into paragraphs and is

coherent Cohesive devices (when, if) are used to link ideas in

the email

Language The candidate uses a wide range of vocabulary

and grammatical structures with a good degree of control

They also successfully use functional language to make

suggestions/recommendations (You can …, I highly

recommend …, you must …) There are some errors (on the

edges of the city …, After you saw …), but these do not impede

communication

Question 4

Content The review should begin with a brief description of

the film, mentioning information such as the setting, subject

and characters The candidate should then relate the film to

an issue affecting young people It should end with a summary

of why the candidate recommends the film to young people

Communicative achievement Neutral or informal style

Target readers are newspaper readers

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Describing, recommending, giving opinions, giving

reasons

Sample answer

One of my favourite films is an animation called ‘Not Long

Ago’ It is the story of a lady in her twenties called Fumi who

is working in an office in the city, and is generally dissatisfied

with her life She decides to go to stay with her family in the

countryside, who run a farm Being back in nature and with her

relatives reminds her of her childhood She recalls both happy

and sad memories from when she was ten years old, which

causes her to think about what is truly important to her

Although the story is quite simple and not very dramatic, it is

still a very moving film

I felt that this film is particularly relevant to young people

as it explores the difficulty many of us have in leaving behind

our childhood and beginning our adult lives It also shows the

importance of our childhood dreams and how they influence

us even when we become adults For me, it summed up the

feeling that me and many of my friends feel as we approach

our graduation from school

(183 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate has followed the instructions and

fully informed the reader of their film choice and reasoning

Communicative achievement The candidate uses the

conventions of the task with considerable flexibility and style

The target reader’s attention is held throughout

Organization The text is well organized into paragraphs and

is consistently coherent A range of linking words and cohesive

devices is employed (although, it also …, for me …)

Language The candidate uses a range of vocabulary

effectively and precisely They use a range of simple and also complex grammatical forms with control and flexibility

Question 5 Content The article should be based on the set text that the

candidate has studied It should focus on first impressions of one of the characters in their set text

Communicative achievement The answer should be in

article format, using neutral or formal register

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language There should be level-appropriate vocabulary and

use of functional language to express opinion, give reasons, make additional points, evaluate and conclude

Sample answer

The issue of first impressions is particularly relevant to the novel Pride and Prejudice One of the main developments in the story is how Elizabeth Bennet’s opinion of a rich gentleman,

Mr Darcy, changes over time In this article, I will discuss my impressions of Elizabeth

When we are first introduced to Elizabeth, it is clear that she

is witty and intelligent She is not afraid to say how she feels, even when it causes others to have a bad opinion of her; for example, she refuses to dance with Mr Darcy Although she realizes that the Bingley sisters are insulting her and her family, it does not bother her

As the story continues, Elizabeth’s actions in the story only seem to support my initial beliefs about her The fact that she rejects Mr Collins’ offer of marriage demonstrates the strength of her belief that a woman should marry for love

This is even more impressive when we take the customs and traditions of the time into account I believe it was Jane Austen’s aim to give her readers this example of a strong woman

(185 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate has followed the instructions and

fully answered the question about the first impressions of one

of the characters The article expands on the ideas, giving examples from the book

Communicative achievement The candidate uses the

conventions of the task with considerable flexibility and style

The target reader’s attention is held throughout

Organization The text is coherent and is well organized into

paragraphs A range of linking words and cohesive devices is

employed (The fact that …, This …)

Language The candidate uses a range of vocabulary and

grammatical forms with a good degree of control Functional

language to express opinions is employed effectively (it is

clear that …, this is even more impressive …, I believe …).

1 A The boy says I thought the American was faster and

more powerful, and the girl says That’s true.

B The girl thinks it was bad luck that the player slipped,

while the boy disagrees: I can see why you think that, but it

was still a mistake

C The boy thinks the American deserved to win, but the

girl disagrees

2 A The girl says: Recordings are great.

B The girl says that the concert she attended was loud,

and that you can turn the volume up at home She doesn’t

make any critical comments about the volume

C The girl says recordings can be exciting but can’t match

the thrill of the real thing.

3 B The reporter says hunting threatens the tiger still more

[than the destruction of their habitat, and explains: In

some places, parts of the tiger are used to make medicines

…

A The reporter says hunting threatens the tiger still more

[than the destruction of their habitat]

C The reporter says that tiger hunting is dangerous He

doesn’t mention this as a reason people kill tigers

4 C The teacher says the best way to do that [to make an

essay interesting] is to note down your ideas before you

put pen to paper.

A The teacher talks about putting events in order, and

says this is the easiest thing, but recommends changing

the order to make the essay more interesting

B The teacher says you might begin by describing … how

you felt at the end of the day, but he doesn’t advise doing

this The modal might suggests possibility

5 B The brother says I really need eight hours’ sleep and

later says We all need the same amount [of sleep].

A The boy doesn’t mention if he would feel better or not

on less sleep

C It’s the boy’s sister who says that girls just don’t need

as much sleep as boys The boy disagrees, saying That’s

stupid

6 B The boy says: but now I think I’d find it boring to lie

around on the beach every day.

A The boy talks enthusiastically about the things he did

because of the rain, but does not say he liked the rain

itself

C The boy says that just ordering a coffee helped me feel

more confident, but not that his French improved a lot.

7 C The newsreader says: They could only ask their

neighbours to … tell them if she turned up If something

turns up, then it is found

A There is no mention of neighbours looking after the

cat

B The family move to a new home, but the cat didn’t go

with them There is no mention of finding the cat a new

home

8 A The pianist says that his own music teacher was good,

but he tried too hard Most music teachers do Better to let

the music speak for itself.

B The pianist thought of playing music as a hobby, and

didn’t expect to be making money from it

C The pianist mentions being forced to do art, but makes

no mention of compulsory music lessons

Part 2 p46

9 bread The sentence requires a noun as its object Jason

says that he first thought of bread but he decided it was

just too boring.

10 alert The use of the verb felt and adverb less shows we

need an adjective Jason says that on his way to school, he

wasn’t as alert as usual.

11 dad The possessive suggests a noun will follow Jason

says: my dad doesn’t sleep well if he drinks it late at night.

12 milk The sentence requires an indirect object Jason

says: The most basic choice we make is between white and

black … I usually prefer white coffee Usually and most of the time are synonyms.

13 depression A noun is required to complete the phrase

the risk of Jason says: some recent studies say that if you drink coffee, you might be less likely to suffer from depression.

14 physical As the gap is before a noun, an adjective is

required Jason says: I’m not sure if coffee increases my

physical energy.

15 Yemen The name of a country is required Jason says: it

seems to have been in Yemen … that people began to roast and brew coffee beans in the way we do today The phrase

it seems means probably

16 monk The indefinite article indicates that a noun is

required Jason talks of a monk to whom he [the farmer]

passed on the news [about coffee beans], and says: it was

he who first boiled the dried berries to make a drink from them.

17 1652 A date is required Jason says: England’s first coffee

house opened in 1652.

18 relax A verb is required to complete the structure in order

to, which means for the purpose of doing something

Jason says that King Charles II argued that people went to coffee houses in order to relax

Part 3 p48

19 D The speaker says: But me, I love visiting new places

New places is a synonym for somewhere you have never

been before

20 A The speaker says: as far as I’m concerned, the weather

can do what it likes If something does what it likes, you

are not bothered or concerned by it

21 C The speaker says: I know most people love going away,

but I always find more interesting things to do at home.

22 H The speaker says: the best part of the holiday was the

return journey The return journey is a synonym for on the way home

23 F The speaker says: I like to see them [the sights] through

my own eyes, without having a guidebook to tell me what

to do.

B, D and G are not used

Part 4 p50

24 B Sophie says: What got me into it was seeing chess

problems in the newspaper.

A Sophie mentions starting a chess club at school, but

says: that wasn’t where I started, either

C Sophie talks about learning the rules of chess online

25 A Sophie says My suspicion is that some people, when

they’re losing, look for help on the computer There are websites which recommend moves for you.

B Sophie mentions being overconfident, but she doesn’t

really think this was the reason she lost

C Sophie mentions that opponents may not have been

concentrating at first, but she doesn’t really think this was

the reason she lost

26 C Sophie says: I lost some of my early [face-to-face]

games – against people I really should have beaten –

because I just wasn’t used to it.

A Sophie mentions the clock making a difference, but not

that it distracted her

B Sophie doesn’t comment on what her opponent looked

like or whether it distracted her

27 A Sophie says: just as I was on the verge of victory, I made

a stupid move, … the game is drawn.

B Sophie mentions her opponent being shocked that she

was better than him, not that she was amazed

C Sophie says that her opponent was lucky because she

made a poor move, not that he made a lucky move

28 C Sophie says that, when she started secondary school,

not many of the students even knew the rules and, at first,

there was very little interest.

A Sophie says there was very little interest, meaning

nobody was eager to learn the game

B Sophie says that our numbers have increased a lot but

this does not refer to when Sophie started secondary

school

29 B Sophie says: It’s easy to weaken one player slightly in

order to make the game more competitive.

A Sophie says not many in school would want to play me

on equal terms, but doesn’t say that no one will

C Sophie mentions that she doesn’t do it to show off,

meaning that she isn’t boasting about her ability

30 A Sophie says (of becoming a grandmaster): Of course,

that would be very difficult, but I think it could happen.

B Sophie says: I’m still way short of the ability of the best

in the world This means that top players are much better

0 D fact The correct phrase is a fact of life, which means

something accepted as true about the world The other

options do not make recognizable phrases

1 C quality The collocation air quality means how good or

bad the air is for breathing The other options would work

with the structure the … of the air

2 A check Check a forecast means listen to it and think

about what it means Assess and test make no sense in this

context, as they mean to evaluate Listen must be followed

by the preposition to.

3 D attention The correct phrase is pay attention to

meaning to take notice of

4 B unlikely If something is unlikely to happen, it means it

is improbable that it will happen The other options have

similar meanings, but are not followed by infinitives of

purpose

5 C predict To predict something means to say what you

think will happen in the future Guess is too informal in

this context Decide would suggest the experts cause the

pollution

6 D avoid In this context, avoid means not do Block and

escape have a stronger, often negative meaning

Prevent is used about other people, not yourself I avoid doing something (myself), but I prevented him from doing something.

7 A harmful A harmful level of something is the level that

causes a physical problem Hurtful and destructive are

often used with behaviour

8 B traffic An uncountable noun is required here after

high volumes of Traffic means the same as vehicles,

but the correct phrase would be number of vehicles In English, circulation usually relates to blood.

Part 2 p62

0 the The name of the planet Earth is normally preceded

by the definite article the The uncountable noun earth

means soil – the substance that plants grow in

9 been Been completes the present perfect passive form of

the verb visit.

10 of The preposition of is used to show the relationship

between a general category and the thing which is part of this category

11 a The indefinite article is needed here The space inside

the International Space Station (ISS) is just one of many restricted living spaces

12 go The phrase to go wrong means to fail, stop working,

break down

13 is The singular verb is follows the noun cooperation

earlier in the sentence, and is needed before the adjective

14 through The phrase to go through a process such as

training means to undergo or experience

15 with To cope with something means to deal with

something successfully

16 where The relative pronoun where introduces the relative

clause which finishes the text and refers back to an

isolated room.

Part 3 p64

0 famous The adjective form is needed to describe painters

in the superlative phrase, the most famous painters.

17 twentieth The adjective form is needed to describe

which century is being referred to

18 variety The noun form is needed to follow the adjective

wide.

19 illness The noun form is needed as the subject of this

sentence

20 creative The adjective form is needed to describe ideas.

21 original The adjective form is needed to describe works

of art.

22 exhibition The noun form is needed, following the

indefinite article an.

23 collections The plural noun form is needed, following the

adjectives public and private.

24 visitors The plural noun form is needed, following half a

million and preceding the relative pronoun who.

Part 4 p67

0 not looking forward to going If someone is not looking

forward to doing something, it means they don’t want to

do it The phrasal verb: to look forward to is followed by the -ing form.

25 would rather you did not/didn’t Would rather someone

+ verb in the simple past form means the same as prefer

someone not to do something.

26 even though I had not/hadn’t/I’d not The participle

phrase despite not having had changes to even though +

a clause in the past perfect negative: even though I hadn’t

had.

27 is too young The negative phrase not old enough

changes to the affirmative too young.

28 I remind her of Remind someone of someone means to

make someone think of someone because they are similar

in some way

29 need not/needn’t have taken The past modal form

needn’t have taken means you did something, but it wasn’t

necessary

30 had to get home by To get somewhere by a time means

to be there at or before that time

Part 5 p68

31 B Paragraph 1

To be set free is often used about people or animals being

released from captivity It is appropriate here, because the

girls would probably have felt they were in captivity for

most of their stay in Paris

A This option suggests a decision has been made by

someone else

C This option implies that the students were being forced

rather than permitted to go somewhere

D There is no mention of whether this is true or not

32 D Paragraph 2

The writer states that the girls were not used to the noise

and bustle of city life They’d spent the odd day in London

or Manchester before, but always with their parents

Therefore they had been supervised

A The writer states that the girls had been given a street

plan, so they knew where to go

B The writer states: they knew enough about the ticket

system and the different lines and their directions.

C The writer says the girls were not used to the noise and

bustle, not that it was too noisy for them.

33 C Paragraph 3

The writer states: They were slightly surprised when the

waiter replied in fluent English, but they weren’t upset

Slightly surprised suggests it wasn’t too important

A The waiter answered in English, so he must have

understood them

B The girls weren’t upset, suggesting that they weren’t

offended by the waiter’s behaviour

D They were only slightly surprised Astonished means

very surprised

34 A Paragraph 4

The writer states that the girls went to the department

store to choose presents to buy for their mothers, fathers,

brothers and sisters.

B The girls bought tourist T-shirts rather than fashion

items

C The girls are described as buying presents for others,

not themselves

D Alexis says Let’s do our shopping now This suggests

that their focus was on buying, not just looking

35 C Paragraph 5

The writer states: they didn’t want to spend any more

money, suggesting they had already spent enough

A We don’t know whether they could afford it, only that

they didn’t want to spend more money

B There is no mention of what the time was at this point.

D The writer states: Jo didn’t have a head for heights,

meaning she was afraid of high places, but this isn’t the reason they didn’t go

36 B Paragraph 6

Becky says: I think we’re going the wrong way.

A The girls didn’t travel on the wrong line – they took the

right line in the wrong direction

C The girls caught a train, but one going in the wrong

direction,

D The main problem was that they were travelling in the

wrong direction; we are not told that the train didn’t stop

at their station

Part 6 p70

37 E This develops the idea expressed in the previous

sentence The sentence which follows says more about

why girls feel these pressures: There is also evidence

that parents demand higher standards of behaviour and performance from their daughters than from their sons.

38 A The idea of competition between girls occurs in the

sentence before the gap The sentence which follows

mentions examples of bullying: cruel treatment they

receive online.

39 G This understanding refers back to the word understand

in the previous sentence The six … characteristics

mentioned at the end of sentence G are listed in the

sentence which follows: the need for independence, the

desire to rebel, close friendships, planning for the future, emotional disturbance, and taking responsibility for themselves.

40 D Not only this builds on the idea expressed in the

previous sentence: The psychologist reassures parents by

telling them that their daughters’ difficult behaviour is completely normal.

41 C She refers back to the psychologist in the previous

sentence The sentence which follows the gap gives a particular example of a parent–teenage girl relationship

42 F They refers back to Most experts, the subject of the

previous sentence The word this in the sentence after the

gap refers to the suggestion that parents should try to keep track of their daughters’ online activity

Part 7 p72

43 B Paul says: I had no idea whether I’d enjoy it or not, so I

bought an inexpensive machine.

44 C Ed says: As a young boy, I remember reading a story

about a robbery that took place in our town … As soon as I got my first metal detector, I hunted in this place.

45 D Sally says: My dad had told me that one day I would find

a precious gold coin Well, amazingly, not only did I find one, but I found more: three gold coins, five silver ones and various other old artefacts.

46 C Ed says: … several townspeople suggested a particular

site where the box might have been buried.

47 A Megan says: I certainly won’t stop hunting; perhaps I’ll

be luckier next time.

48 C Ed says: The thief was arrested … he’d buried the cash

box and wouldn’t say where it was … As soon as I got my first metal detector, I hunted in this place …

49 D Sally says: You can be sure I’ll go on hunting there.

51 B Paul refers to metal detecting as a profitable hobby.

52 A Megan says she found some bottle tops buried in the

sand, and a tent pole These are worthless objects.

Writing

Part 1 p74

The answer should address these points:

Content The essay should give an opinion on whether it is a

good or a bad idea for robots to do many of the jobs currently

done by humans The essay should consider a variety of

reasons for the situation, including those given in the notes

Communicative achievement The answer should be in an

essay format with neutral or formal language The target

reader is a class teacher

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

The essay should either provide an opinion in paragraph 1 and

then present arguments to support this opinion OR consider

both sides of the argument before giving an opinion in the

final paragraph

Language There should be level-appropriate vocabulary and

use of functional language to describe, express opinion, give

reasons, express contrast, make additional points, evaluate,

and conclude

Sample answer

We hear the word ‘robot’ more than we used to In the

past, robots were machines that looked like small humans

Commentators now think that robots will soon do many of the

jobs done by humans

Robots have done some jobs for many years, for example in car

factories They are now starting to do other jobs, for example,

in hospitals where they can check patients and even decide

their treatment In future, it is likely that robots will do more

everyday jobs, for example in food production and building

The public is reacting in different ways to this development

Some think that it would be good for robots to do more jobs

because this will give humans more free time There are others,

however, who believe that it could be dangerous if robots start

thinking for themselves

I am sure that robots will do more human jobs, but I believe

they should only do unpleasant or difficult work They must not

make too many people redundant or start to control humans

(172 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate answers the question very

competently All the content points are addressed and

fully expanded Register and language use is consistently

appropriate

Communicative achievement The essay is very well written,

using the conventions of the task effectively to hold the

target reader’s attention The language is neutral throughout

and the topic is treated in an appropriate way Balanced views

and opinions are given in a well-argued manner

Interesting ideas – for example, the danger of robots

controlling humans – are mentioned briefly

Organization The text is well organized, and a range of

simple cohesive devices is used Paragraphing is appropriate,

although the final paragraph where the writer expresses their

own opinion is a little brief

Language Language is well controlled, and a range of

structures and vocabulary is used Some awareness of less

common lexical items is evident – for example, reacting,

redundant.

Part 2 p79

Question 2 Content The email should be about a song or piece of music

that the writer likes or dislikes, with reasons given for their choice

Communicative achievement Informal language Email

format Suitable for an English-speaking penfriend

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Describing, explaining, giving reasons.

Sample answer

Hi Sam,Good to hear from you Your class project sounds great! I’m sure you’ll get some really interesting replies

I’ve decided to tell you about a piece of music that I really love It’s called The Stranger from Limoise and it’s a kind of slow French folk tune that I first heard when I was on holiday in France Since then, I’ve managed to find a recording of it

So, why do I like it? There are several reasons, but the main one is the melody which is sad and happy at the same time

Secondly, whenever I hear it it reminds me of that fantastic French holiday and takes me back to the square in a sleepy little village in the middle of the French countryside, when we saw people dancing to this tune It was a magic sight which I’ll never forget

Good luck with your project

Keep in touch(153 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content All points are addressed The piece of music is

described briefly, and the candidate provides some clear reasons for their choice

Communicative achievement Register is consistently

appropriate: informal email language is used throughout

Organization The writing has a natural flow, and a range of

cohesive devices is used to good effect The writing is well organized, and each paragraph has a clear focus

Language A range of relevant vocabulary is used, including a

number of less common lexical items, e.g melody, magic sight.

Question 3 Content The review should give a description of a reality TV

show and offer a recommendation, with reasons, to other people

Communicative achievement Neutral language Review

format Suitable for readers of an international magazine for teenagers

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Describing, explaining, giving reasons,

recommending

Sample answer

Maybe you’re tired of reality TV shows because they are so similar to each other Last night, however, I watched one I’d never heard of before It was called Parent Swap, and was quite different from the others

Two families with teenage children meet and spend a few days

together in a hotel to get to know each other When they leave,

the teenagers swap families In other words, one teenager

from each family goes and lives with the other family

This sounds quite a simple idea, doesn’t it? But what makes

it interesting is that the producers choose very different

families In last night’s programme one family was rich and

lived in a large country house, while the other was poor and

lived in a small inner city flat

Personally, I enjoyed seeing how the teenagers involved

adjusted to life in a family very different from their own Most

of them coped very well If you’re my age, I think you’ll enjoy

Parent Swap Try it at least once

(170 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content All parts of the question are addressed There is a

clear description of the programme and sufficient information

to enable the reader to decide whether or not to take up the

writer’s recommendation

Communicative achievement Register is consistently

appropriate throughout The conventions of a review are, on

the whole, followed The style is appropriate for a teenage

audience, and the writer speaks directly to the reader on a

number of occasions

Organization The structure of the text is well organized and

coherent There is a good introduction to the topic and the

final closing sentence suggests people watch the programme

‘at least once’

Language A range of everyday vocabulary specific to the

topic is used appropriately

Question 4

The answer should address all the points listed in the question

and include the first given line of the story, and mention a

thunderstorm and a stranger

Content The story should follow on from the given prompt

and is a submission for an English-language magazine for

young people

Communicative achievement Neutral language Story format.

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language Narrative tenses, discourse markers, direct or

reported speech

Sample answer

Jo was an hour from home when she noticed that her bicycle

had a flat tyre She’d been playing football in a neighbouring

town and was cycling home At first, she just thought the

road was rather bumpy, but when she looked she saw that

there was no air in her tyre

She couldn’t ride any further without damaging the wheel, so

she decided to mend the tyre She got off her bike, walked to

the edge of the road and turned her bike upside down Then

she heard thunder and felt a few spots of rain She ran with

her bike to shelter under a tree

‘That was bad luck,’ said a voice, ‘getting a flat tyre in a storm.’

Jo turned round and saw an old woman

‘I don’t mind getting wet,’ said Jo ‘But I still have a half-hour

bike ride home.’

‘I could give you a lift,’ said the old woman

‘That’s very kind, said Jo, ‘but you don’t have a car.’

‘You’re right,’ said the old woman, smiling, ‘but my son does

He’s coming to pick me up.’

(183 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The story follows on from the prompt in an

appropriate way and includes mention of a thunderstorm and

a stranger

Communicative achievement The narrative is easy to follow

and has a satisfying conclusion

Organization The organization is clear, and the story holds

together very well

Language There is an appropriate range of vocabulary A

number of less common lexical items are used with some skill

(neighbouring, bumpy), and there is evidence of knowledge of some idiomatic language (a few spots of rain, give you a lift) A

variety of structures is used, and direct speech and narrative prose combine appropriately

Question 5 Content The article should be based on the set text that the

candidate has studied It should briefly outline the story The second paragraph should describe the ending and show how this follows on from what has gone before In the third and final paragraph the candidate should say how effective they find the ending and, if relevant, provide a different, better alternative

Communicative achievement The answer should be in

article format, using neutral or formal register

Organization Clear organization and paragraphing, with use

of linking words where appropriate

Language There should be level-appropriate vocabulary and

use of functional language to describe a story, give opinions, and give reasons

Sample answer

The plot of [title of set text] is quite complicated, and involves a lot of different characters As the story progresses, we see how these characters know one another, and how their actions impact on each others

At the end of the story the six different people meet in a small hotel on an island off the west coast of Scotland This

is where they must face a dark secret that has affected all their lives At the very end, Dr Johnstone reveals that when the characters were newborn babies, he swapped them, to see how their lives would be different if they were brought

on by another parent Hearing this news, Katy attacks the doctor, and accidently kills him The others all agree to keep their secret, and burn the hotel down

In my opinion the ending is a bit too dramatic I didn’t feel

it was effective because it was hard to believe a caring character like Katy would do something so terrible I would have preferred if the six decided to tell the world what the doctor had done This would be more realistic

(187 words)

Examiner’s commentary

Content The candidate has followed the instructions and

fully answered the question about the ending of the story The article expands on the ideas, giving examples from the book

Communicative achievement The candidate uses the

conventions of the task with some flexibility and style The target reader’s attention is held throughout

Organization The text is coherent and well organized into

paragraphs A range of linking words and cohesive devices is

employed (At the end of the story …, In my opinion …)

Language The candidate uses a range of vocabulary and

grammatical forms with a good degree of control Functional

language to express opinions is employed effectively (I didn’t

feel …, I would have preferred if …).

1 B The speaker says: I used to get annoyed, because it

seemed that Helena could get away with doing things that

I’d never been allowed to do – it didn’t seem fair to me This

suggests that their parents were less strict with her sister

A The speaker says that she was more sociable than her

sister, but doesn’t mention how often they went out

C The speaker mentions going to university next

September

2 A The speaker says: We’re launching it [new album] here

in London two weeks today I’m really excited!

B The speaker says that she flew to the States to perform

This means she has been to America recently

C The speaker mentions that the album launch is in two

weeks, but doesn’t say whether she will stay in London for

that time

3 C One of the speakers says: It always feels more of an

occasion in the evening, doesn’t it?

A The woman says she would prefer the evening, but this

is before they decide which film to see

B The woman says she would prefer the evening, but

doesn’t mention if she is busy during the afternoon

4 B The speaker says: Your passport ran out three weeks

ago Run out means expired, or out of date, in this context

A The speaker mentions having the passport with him at

the time

C The man has just got off a plane, but there is no

suggestion that he was on the wrong plane

5 A The teacher says: In the end, it’s up to you, Shaun To

make up your own mind means to decide on something.

B Shaun only says that his parents disagree with his

choice of optional subjects: my parents think they

wouldn’t be very useful … in the future.

C The teacher does not tell Shaun which subjects to

choose

6 B The speaker says: In the first half, very little happened …

But, after half time, it all suddenly came to life.

A The reporter says it wasn’t the most thrilling game I’ve

ever seen, although it became more exciting as the game

progressed

C The speaker mentions the game getting better after

half time, when it all suddenly came to life.

7 C The speaker says: amazingly, they [the parents] were in

bed and still fast asleep.

A The speaker says the window broke, indicating that

there was damage to the house

B The speaker mentions his sister looking very scared.

8 B The speaker says: My father had been scared of dogs

ever since he was bitten on the arm as a small boy So I

guess that’s where my phobia came from.

A The speaker’s father was bitten, but the speaker doesn’t

mention a similar incident

C The speaker mentions avoiding visiting people who

owned dogs, but not that he was attacked by one

Part 2 p81

9 understand The auxiliary verb don’t is followed by a verb

The speaker says: Lots of us are frightened of lightning

and its almost strange power, perhaps because we don’t

understand it.

10 strikes The adverb never needs to be followed by a verb

The speaker says: Perhaps the most well known of these is

that lightning never strikes twice.

11 location The adjective physical needs to be followed by

a noun The speaker says: some places are more likely than

others to be struck by lightning This is usually to do with their physical location Location means place

12 the open The speaker says: And as for people, I read

about a Canadian park worker who spent a lot of his time working in the open and was actually struck seven times.

The phrase in the open means outside.

13 downwards An adverb is required to describe the

direction of travel The speaker says: Another common

belief is that lightning only comes from the sky and in a downward direction.

14 weather conditions The definite article indicates that

a noun phrase is required The speaker says lightning

is associated in most of our minds with certain weather conditions – particularly rainstorms or changes in temperature.

15 Photographic An adjective is required before the noun,

evidence The speaker says: There is plenty of photographic evidence that shows lightning accompanying eruptions.

16 large orange The indefinite article indicates that a noun

phrase is required The speaker says: Glowing balls about

the size of a large orange and of many different colours seem to float slowly in the air.

17 outside activities The definite article indicates that a

noun phrase is required The speaker says: The first thing

to do is to avoid outside activities, particularly open-air sports, like golf and fishing.

18 electrical devices A noun phrase is required This

should describe a set which includes the examples The

speaker says: You should also unplug electrical devices like

computers and televisions, because they can be damaged

by the sudden increases in electrical power …

Part 3 p82

19 D The speaker says: In my experience, the arrival of spring

affects people, too Everyone seems to walk around with a smile on their face.

20 F The speaker says: … autumn is the best season for

several reasons … maybe because my birthday is in the middle of September, actually the day before my father’s birthday These are all examples of personal connections

21 B The speaker says: It hasn’t always been like this; until I

was about twelve, I loved spring as much as anyone else, but then suddenly one year, it all changed This indicates

that a contrast, and therefore a difference in feeling

22 H The speaker says: For me, the only thing I didn’t like

about the summer was getting bitten by insects Only one

[bad] thing and one disadvantage are synonyms

23 E The speaker says: It’s the time of year when my mother

cooked some of my favourite meals and we’d all sit round the table eating and chatting

A, C, and G are not used

Part 4 p83

24 B Ruby says: I’m just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl

who lives a normal life at home with my family.

A The interviewer mentions that Ruby is making an

international name for herself, meaning becoming famous

worldwide, but Ruby doesn’t describe herself in such terms

C The interviewer mentions Ruby’s ability, but Ruby

describes herself as an ordinary seventeen-year-old

25 A Ruby says: To be honest, I don’t remember much about

those early lessons.

B Ruby says: I certainly never made a fuss about going to

lessons

C Ruby says: I think I enjoyed them, so is unclear on this.

26 A Ruby says: One day my music teacher came round

to our house and spent an hour talking to my parents

Afterwards, they told me that my teacher wanted to put

me in for a national competition for under-ten-year-olds

That really made me want to go on doing it.

B Ruby mentions passing exams before other children,

but not that this made her decide to take the violin more

seriously

C Ruby mentions watching TV with friends as being just a

thing she did, not an influence on her future

27 C Ruby says: They stressed that I couldn’t have any

time off school and that I’d have to keep up with all my

schoolwork But I didn’t mind that.

A Ruby says she wasn’t allowed to take any time off

school

B Ruby mentions the other children, but not whether she

would discuss the competition with them

28 C Ruby says: … by the time the competition came, I was

exhausted.

A Ruby says it was a little scary, but doesn’t suggest she

was very nervous

B Ruby says it was a little scary, which suggests she

wasn’t relaxed

29 A Ruby says: I really enjoyed the day and it was such an

honour to take part in the competition

B Ruby says: I didn’t mind not winning.

C Ruby says: playing the violin was something I enjoyed so

much that I wanted to go on doing it for the rest of my life

30 B Ruby says: I’m lucky enough to be able to do what I like

doing.

A Ruby says she performs as a soloist because that’s what

other people want

C Ruby says: for the most time, I’m still an ordinary girl

who goes to school and lives with her family This is a

normal situation, though, and not one that she feels

fortunate to be in

Practice Test 3

Reading and Use of English

Part 1 p86

0 A aim An aim is an ambition or goal

1 A caught The correct expression here is something

catches your attention You give someone or something

your attention Pay attention to something means focus

your mind on something

2 D take The correct expression is take … interest in

something Create interest means make something

interesting to other people Gain interest means people

become interested in you

3 C connection A connection with someone/something

is an understanding of, or relationship with, a person or

thing

4 C choice The expression is have no choice but … meaning

have no other option except the one named.

5 A advantage The expression take advantage of means

use something that is available You take the opportunity

to do something.

6 D therefore Therefore means for this reason Although

and however express contrast, while moreover introduces

supporting information

7 C keeping The phrasal verb keep up means to continue

or maintain something at the same level; get up means

rise, while set up means start something new.

8 B assist Assist someone in doing something means help

someone do something Allow and permit are followed by

a full infinitive and let by an infinitive without to.

Part 2 p87

0 one To give a single example of something, we use one of.

9 was The simple past of the passive (was known) is used

because once indicates past time

10 in After a superlative (the largest fruit and vegetable

market), we use the preposition in to describe the

category in which it is the largest, here in the country.

11 which The relative pronoun which refers back to the

famous square and completes the non-defining relative

clause

12 up The phrasal verb be made up of means consist of

13 than The structure more than is used with a number

or an amount to show comparison, meaning a greater

number than (200).

14 can/will A modal verb of possibility (can) or probability

(will) is needed before the infinitive find

15 at The preposition at is used with times.

16 over/around The phrases all over/around the world

mean all parts of the world

Part 3 p88

0 fitness The use of the possessive pronoun your indicates

that the noun form is needed

17 daily The adverb daily, meaning every day, is needed to

indicate how often the activity should be done

18 strength The use of the possessive pronoun their

indicates that the noun form is needed

19 performance The possessive pronoun your and adjective

mental indicate that the noun form is needed

20 harmful An adjective form is needed since the gap is

preceded by the and followed by a noun.

21 gradually An adverb is needed to follow the phrasal verb

build up

22 choice The indefinite article a followed by the adjective

careful indicates that the noun form is needed.

23 protection The structure is offer someone something, so

the noun form is needed here

24 heat The noun form is needed here after the verb keep

in, and body is used here as an adjective.

Part 4 p89

0 looking forward to hearing The phrase be keen to is

replaced by look forward to and is followed by the -ing form of the verb hear.

25 had/took a close look The passive construction changes

to active, and the phrase had/took a close look replaces

examined closely