getting ready for fce

7/21/2019 Getting Ready for Fce

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GETTING READY FOR FCEExam study tips

Before the exam:Notes

Keep your notes tidy and complete. If you miss a class, get the notes from a friend or askyour teacher what you missed.

your notes into different sections e.g. vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation,

speaking, reading, listening, writing etc. This will make it easier to find the section you needto revise for the exam.

ore the exam.

things you have to learn.

Write short summaries on small cards that you can carry around with you and read them on

the bus or when you have some free time.


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I.

L istening exams:A. Before you listen:

In most listening tests you hear the text more than once.

The first time you should listen for general understanding and the second time for

more specific information.

If you listen more than once, don't worry if you don't hear all the answers the first

time. Keep calm and listen for the answers the second time.

If you don't hear an answer, don't panic. Sometimes key information is repeated later

in the audio.

If you only listen once and don't hear all the answers, think about the context and

choose/write an answer that makes sense. Use your common sense and guess you

might be right.

Reading is also very important in listening tests. Use any extra time before you listen

to the text to read the questions.

Always read the questions carefully. Underline the key information in the question. If

there are options, read all the options carefully. If the questions or options have

numbers, dates or key words, say them to yourself. This will help you think about the

way they sound. If the options are pictures, look carefully at them and think about

words to describe them in English. This will prepare you for words you might hear.

Understand the task

There are lots of different types of listening exam tasks so you must make sure you

understand the instructions for the task before the test begins.

What exactly do you have to do? Tick the correct answers? Put the pictures in order?

Complete the gaps? If you don't understand the task, ask your teacher before you

listen.

While you listen, all your attention should be on listening, not working out what to

do.

What do you already know? Predict

If the listening test is about a topic that you know something about, you can use thisinformation to help you.

Look at the questions. What do you know about the topic? Anything you know about

the topic, even in your own language, will help you.

Look at the pictures or headings. What information do they give you about the topic?


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What vocabulary do you know about the topic? Predict which words might be in the

listening. Any ideas you have before you listen in English, or even in your own

language, will help you understand.

Always look for clues to help you predict before you listen. Predict as much as

possible and listen to confirm your predictions.

Speakers

Knowing how many different voices you are going to hear will help you prepare

before you listen to the text. There is sometimes information in the question which

will give you an idea of who is speaking, and you can start to imagine the scenario.

How many speakers are there? Look at the instructions. Is it a dialogue? A

monologue?

Is it an interview? If so, the interviewer's questions may be the same as your

questions. This will help you listen for the answer.

A.

While you listen:Which words do I need to understand?

While you are listening to the text you won't understand every word, and you don't

need to. That's a fact! But it is important to know which words you need to

understand so that you can complete the tasks.

You don't have to understand every word. Don't panic if you don't understand

everything!

The first time you listen, just listen for the general idea or gist.

The important, key words or ideas will be stressed. They are usually said louder and

slower than other words.

The words that are not stressed are not usually as important as the words that are

stressed.

In general, listen for the important, key words. Even native speakers don't listen to

every word!

I dont understand an important word:

What can you do while you're listening and you don't understand an important word?

These tips will help you.

If you hear a word that you don't understand, but you think it's important, think about

the context. Does it sound like another word that makes sense in that context? Don't think about the word for too long. Continue listening to the rest of the text.

It's important to continue listening to the rest of the text so that you don't miss any

more important information.

Sometimes key words or ideas are repeated later in the audio, so listen out for the

word or idea again.


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Sometimes you might hear a word you know, but you don't recognise the

pronunciation. Use the context to help you work out the word and remember that

when people speak quickly they often use weak sounds, or drop sounds from a word.

Don't stop listening! If you don't understand part of the listening, don't panic!

Continue listening to the next part. This is a very important skill when listening.

Learn to move on and continue listening!

Context

The context is the situation of the listening text. So this will give you a lot of extra

information to help you in the test. The more you know about the situation, the easier

it is to help you imagine the scene.

The context can help you think about what the speakers are saying. What do you

know about the context?

If you hear a word you don't know, think about how it might relate to the context.

If you are not sure about an answer, use your common sense. What makes sense in thecontext?

Where are the speakers? Does the background noise give you any extra information?

Spelling, numbers, dates and times

You often have to spell words, understand numbers, dates and times in listening tests.

These are things you can prepare for before the test.

Do you know the alphabet in English? Practise spelling words in English.

Do you know how to say different types of numbers in English? Learn how to say

phone numbers, big numbers, fractions, etc.

Do you know how to say dates in English? Practise saying the date.

Do you know how to tell the time in English? Learn different ways of telling the time.

Contractions

Being aware of words that use contracted or short forms will help you in listening

tests.

We use a lot of contractions in spoken English. Listen carefully for contractions, e.g.

'd, 's, 'll, 've, etc.

It's amazing how much one sound can change the meaning of something. For

example, compare 'I'll go' (the speaker will go) and 'I'd go' (the speaker is advising

someone else to go).

Usually the context helps you work out which contraction is appropriate. For

example, when talking about hopes and dreams, the contraction 'd (would) is

common.

Check the question carefully for contractions.


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Ask your teacher for extra practice to listen and compare sentences with and without

contractions.

Opinions

Listening tests often ask questions about the speakers opinions. Listening for certain

expressions will help you in this area.

Listen for language of opinions, e.g. In my view..., I believe..., I think..., I disagree

that..., I can't stand..., I'm keen on...

Listen for reactions to help understand opinions, e.g. You're absolutely right! You're

wrong! How awful! That's fantastic! etc. They are often said with a high voice.

Types of listening tasks

1. True or false

Before you listen predict if the sentence is true or false. Listen to confirm.

information. For example:

True or False:Cassie likes extreme sports.Change the sentence into a question: Does Cassie

like extreme sports? Yes or No? Then listen for key information to confirm answers.

rs? If not, always answer all the questions,

even if you guess. You have a 50% chance of being right!

the correct sentence after you listen. Check the grammar, spelling and punctuation carefully

after you listen, not while you listen.

2.

Multiple choice

Multiple choice answers is a popular type of task for listening exams. Multilple choice can

be tricky, as there are often two possible answers that are quite similar.

Read all the options carefully before you listen and underline key words.

If the options have numbers or dates, say them to yourself to think about the way they

sound before you listen.

Use your common sense to eliminate any options that are not possible.

If the A,B,C options are confusing, think about how you would answer the question in

your own words. Then look again at the options. Which option is similar to your idea?

Listen for key information to confirm your answers. Key information is usually

stressed.

Sometimes the speakers talk about all the options. Listen to all the audio before

choosing the correct option. Don't choose the first option you hear.

Read the options again after you listen. Eliminate options you are certain are wrong.


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Do you get negative points for wrong answers? If not, always answer all the

questions, even if you guess.

3. Open answers

Read the questions and underline the important information you need to listen for.

Write the numbers for the questions before you listen. Write notes next to the right

number as you listen.

Just write down key words. Don't try and write complete, perfect sentences while you

listen.

Write the key words quickly, even if they are incomplete.

Write abbreviations, not complete words, e.g. info (not information), Eng (not

English), etc.

Don't worry about spelling while you listen. You can correct spelling later.

Listening time is to concentrate on what you can hear, not on your writing.

4. Complete the notes

Look at the notes before you listen. What information is missing? A noun? A verb? A

number? A date? A name?

Predict what information you need and listen to confirm.

Just write down key words while you listen, not all words.

Just write notes while you listen, not complete, perfect sentences.

Write the key words quickly. Write abbreviations, not complete words, e.g. info (not

information), Eng (not English), etc.

Don't worry about spelling while you listen. You can correct spelling later.


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II. Reading examsA.

Before you read:

Time

As with all exams, planning your time is very important. Theres nothing worse than failing an exam

because you run out of time to answer all the questions. So, make sure you know exactly how long

you have to do the exam.

How much time do you have for the test?

How many texts do you have to read?

Work out how much time you can spend on each text.

Leave a few minutes at the end to check your answers.

Answers

Knowing in advance how you have to present your answers in an exam is very important. So, always

ask yourself these questions before you begin.

Where do you write the answers?

Do you write the answers on the question paper?

Do you write the answers on an answer sheet? If so, leave enough time to copy the answers

onto the answer sheet.

Points

Understanding the system for giving points in an exam is important as there may be some sections

that are worth a lot more points than others. You should consider this when you are planning how

much time to spend on each section.

How many points are given for each answer?

Spend more time on the answers worth more points.

Dont spend a lot of time on answers worth very few points.

In multiple choice exercises do you get negative points for wrong answers? If not, always

answer all the questions, even if you guess.

Read the questions carefully

Dont rush when you are reading the instructions and the questions. Take your time to make sure you

understand exactly what you have to do.

Always read the questions carefully.

Underline the key information in the question that you need to answer.

Check you have answered the question correctly.

Think before you read

Use everything on the page to help you in reading exams. Sometimes there are clues in pictures,

headlines or paragraph headings.


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Predict what the text is about. What do you already know about the topic or subject? Your

background knowledge will help you understand the text.

Look at the title, headline or pictures to help you understand the text.

Identify the type of text. Is the text a newspaper article, a web page, an advert or a story?

Knowing the type of text will help you understand it.

B.

While you readHow to read the text

How you read the text will depend on whether you are reading it for the first, second or even third

time. These techniques will help you.

Skimming:The first time you read a text, read it quickly to get a general idea. Your eyes follow the

text from start to finish. Skim the introduction to get an idea of what the text is about.

Scanning: The first time you read a text, scan it quickly to find specific information. Your eyes

move quickly all over the text; from left to right, up or down. Scan to find names, places, numbers or

dates. As you read the text, circle the numbers, dates, names, etc.

Reading for detail / specific information: The second time you read the text you will be looking for

detail and specific information. Read slowly and carefully. Read parts of the text again and again.

Difficult questions

There are always one or two tricky questions in exams so dont panic if there is a question you dont

understand or cant find the answer to. Is there a difficult question you cant answer?

Leave it and come back at the end.

Dont waste a lot of time on difficult questions you cant answer.

Find the answer

Finding the answer is the main objective in a reading exam. Use these tips to help you.

Usually, questions refer to information in the text in chronological order, i.e. the first

question refers to information at the beginning of the text, the second question refers toinformation in the next part of the text, etc.

Find the paragraph in the text that is connected to the question. Read the question again and

then return to the text to find the answer.

Underline, or highlight, the parts of the text that help you focus and find exactly the right

answers.

Difficult vocabulary

There will usually be some words in the text that you dont understand. The important thing is to be

able to read around the unknown words. These tips will help you learn how to do this.

Dont worry about difficult vocabulary.


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Use the context to help you understand the meaning. Read the whole sentence and the

sentences before and after.

What type of word is it? A noun? A verb? An adjective? An adverb?

Does the word have a positive or negative meaning?

Look for synonyms in the text. Well written texts use synonyms rather than repeating the

same word. If you dont know the word, it may be a synonym of another word in the text.

Think about the topic. Which words do you know related to the topic?

Is the word similar to another word you know? E.g. birth is similar to birthday.

Is the word similar to a word in your language?

Types of reading tasks

1.

Match the headings with the paragraphs

In order to do this type of task well you must understand the gist, or main ideas, of each paragraph.These tips will help you do this task well.

First read all of the headings. Then read the paragraphs carefully and match the ones you are sure about.

If you are not sure about one, leave it and move on to the next one. You may be able to match

up ones you are not sure about by elimination at the end.

Be careful with extra options, e.g. six headings to match with four paragraphs. There will be

two headings you dont need.

2.

True or false

True or false tasks can be a bit tricky, but these tips will help you do well in the exam.

Read the sentences in the exercise carefully. Use what you know to work out if the sentences

are true or false before you read the text. Read the text to confirm what you think.

Underline the part of the text that has the information. Find evidence from the text that tells

you if the sentence is true or false.

Dont leave a true or false question unanswered. You have a 50% chance of answering

correctly.

Do you have to correct the false sentences? Sometimes you have to answer true, false or

doesnt say. Doesnt say options are usually more difficult, but less frequent.

3.

Multiple choice

Multiple choice questions can be more difficult than they first appear as often two of the options are

quite similar. These tips will help you to do well in multiple choice questions.

Read all the options carefully. If possible, use what you know already to work out anyoptions that are not possible.

Eliminate options you are certain are wrong. Find the part of the text with the information.


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Find key words in the text that tell you which option is correct.

Look out for words such as always, never, might, may or could. They can help you decide if

an option is correct or not.

4.

Open-ended questions

You have to think about your writing for this type of question. Find out if your spelling and grammar

has to be perfect in your answers in order to get top marks. Sometimes, bad writing can lose youmarks in this part of a reading exam.

Read the questions carefully.

Find the part of the text that answers the question.

Refer to information in the text and write your answer in a complete sentence.

Write short, clear sentences that are easy to understand.

Always use information from the text to answer, not just your opinion.

Dont copy from the text. Use your own words. Rewrite the information in another way that

means the same.

5. Put the paragraphs into the correct order

To order paragraphs of a text, you have to work like a detective and look for clues to help you. Thesetips will show you how.

Read all the paragraphs before deciding on the correct order.

Look for linking words and discourse markers that express :a.

the same idea: too, also, furthermore, in addition, whats more, etc.b.

a different idea: however, but, nevertheless, on the other hand, then again,while, whereas, etc.

c. reason and result: so, as a result, consequently, for this reason, since, as,

because of this, due to, etc.d. sequence or order: firstly, first of all, initially, then, secondly, finally,

eventually, in the end, etc. Look for connections between paragraphs. Reference words link backwards to things

earlier in the text or forwards to things later in the text. Pronouns are typical reference

words, for example:a.

personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)b. possessive pronouns (my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours,

their, theirs)c.

demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those)

6.

Missing sentences

Read all the sentences taken out of the text.

Read the text and match the sentences with the gaps you are sure about. Read the sentences before and after the gap carefully. There will always be a link between

these sentences and the missing sentence.

Look for reference words. What do they refer to? Typical reference words include:


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personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)

possessive pronouns (my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs)

demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those)

Look for discourse markers such as in addition, however, as a result, then, etc.

If you are not sure which sentence goes in the gap, leave it and move on to the next.

If you think there are two possible sentences for one gap, write down both answers and checkagain later.

Write down all the possibilities for each gap. If you make the wrong choice at the beginning,this may affect the rest of your answers.

You dont have to read the text in order. You can move backwards and forwards to differentparagraphs.

There may be extra sentences you dont need. But remember, there will always be a linkbetween the correct missing sentence and the text.

7.

Complete the sentences

Completing sentences about a text can be tricky, but these tips will help you. Look at this example

activity first, then read the tips.

Read the text and complete the sentences in your own words.

The next day the psychiatrist told her to put the spider in her living room. My friend put it on top ofthe television. At first she thought the spider was watching her, and she felt afraid. Then she toldherself that it was only a plastic spider.

My friend felt frightened when ______ (Answer) she first put the plastic spider on top of thetelevision.

Find the part of the text that refers to the sentence. Always use information from the text to answer, not your own opinions or ideas.

Dont copy sentences straight from the text. You may need to change the part of speech, for

example, use a verb when there is a noun in the text.

Include all the necessary information to complete the sentence.

Is your sentence correct? Check grammar, parts of speech, spelling and punctuation.

8.

Vocabulary in a text

Sometimes, reading exams have a section which focuses on vocabulary. These tips will help you getgood marks in this section.

Possible questions could include:

Find the word in the text that means... (You are given a definition)

Choose the correct definition of the word X. (You are given some definitions to choose from)

What does X mean? (You write your own definition)

Read the whole sentence with the word and the sentences before and after. Use the context tounderstand the meaning of the word.

What is the topic of the text? Is the word related to the subject of the text?

What part of speech is the word? Noun? Verb? Adjective? Adverb?


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Does it have a prefix? E.g. the prefixes un- , in- or dis- make a word negative, the prefix re-means again, etc.

Does it have a suffix? The suffixes -tion, -sion or -ment are used in nouns, -ive, -able or -fulare used in adjectives, etc.

Is the word similar to another word you know? E.g. birth is similar to bi rthday.

Is the word similar to a word in your language? Circuit is similar to circuito in Spanish.

Is there another word in the text that means the same? We often use synonyms in a text so wedont repeat words.

Check that your definition or answer is the same part of speech as the original word.

When you learn a new word, write down other words in the same family, e.g. possible:possibility (n), impossible (prefix), possibly (adv).

9. The writers opinion or the readers response

At higher levels you may be asked to consider the writers opinion or to give your opinion about a

text.

Does the type of text help you understand the writers aim? E.g. a story is to entertain, a leafletto advise or a report to inform.

Look for language in the text that indicates t he writers intention. E.g. We should use...,Experts warn us that... to advise.

Look for language in the text that indicates the writers opinion. E.g. In my view.., I refuseto believe that... etc.

To give your opinion use language such as In my view..., I believe..., etc.

Do you agree or disagree with things in the text? Explain why with your own words. I agreethat...because....


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I I I .

Speaking exams:

This section is going to help you to prepare for speaking exams, which for many learners are

the exam that is most feared! This section will give you lots of tips and advice so you can do

as well as possible in any speaking test. Remember that everyone gets nervous in exams,especially oral exams. So, dont worry, our tips will help you feel more confident in a

speaking exam.

songs, podcasts, films, TV series or video clips will help you to feel more confident about

speaking.nglish in class as possible. If you speak English regularly in class, you

will find it easier to speak in an exam.

a little slower than normal.know is correct. Use words and expressions you have used before.

word expensive, but cant remember the word cheap, you could say: Its not expensive.

Its a good price.

Its not a lot of money.

make mistakes and correct them all the time.

understand you? If not, say it again with different words.

repeat that, please?

son.

Say Yes, I agree because....

to talk about something you know.

afriend at home. Stand at opposite ends of a room and speak to each other in English. Or

speak to each other in English on your computers.

personal information. Prepare what to say at home and practise with a friend, in front of amirror or record yourself on your phone or computer.

hello and goodbye to both examiners, but during the exam, focus on the examiner who talksto you.

and pronunciation.

Remember that everyone feels nervous in exams. So, take some deep breaths before the examand try to relax.

Finally, remember that the examiners are normal human beings, not aliens!


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A. Communication strategies:

This section offers you practical advice and language for you to prepare for your speakingexams. The examiner or teacher wont expect your speaking to be perfect, or for you to know

every single word that you need to do the task. However, if you dont kno w all the words you

need you should have a plan for what you are going to say to help you in this situation.When you dont know an exact wordIf you dont know or cant remember an exact word dont worry! There are lots of things

you can do to communicate without saying the exact word. These are very useful strategies

that even native speakers use.

General words If you cant remember the word surgeon, you could say a more general

word like doctor.

Examples If you dont know the word cutlery, you could give examples such as knife,

fork and spoon.

Relative clauses to give adescription(Its a person who ... / thing that ... / place where ... )

If you dont know the word briefcase, you could say Its a thing that people use to carry

papers to work.Describe the purpose or function(Its used to + infinitive / for + -ing)

If you dont know the word scissors, you could say They are used to cut paper or They

are used for cutting paper. This strategy works well with objects that have a clear use or

function.

Synonyms (words that mean the same) If you dont know the word tiny, you could say

very small. This strategy works well with nouns and adjectives.

Antonyms(opposite words) If you dont know the word weak, you could say not strong.This strategy works well with adjectives.

Approximations(Its a kind of ... / Its a sort of ...) If you dont know the word bungalow,

you could say Its a kind of house or Its a sort of house.

OpinionsHere are some expressions you can use to give your opinion and ask for your partners

opinion. You will need to use these expressions in a discussion activity.

Giving your opinionI think... / I dont think ...

I believe... / I dont believe ...

In my opinion,For me, Personally,

I think ...

Asking for someones opinion

Do you agree?What do you think?

What do you think about ... (this)?

Do you think thats right?Whats your view?

Are you OK with that

Agreeing or disagreeing

Here are some expressions you can use to agree and disagree. You will need to use theseexpressions in adiscussion activity.
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/exams/exam-speaking/discussionhttp://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/exams/exam-speaking/discussion


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Agreeing

Thats right!

Absolutely!

Exactly!

Me too!Yes, I agree!

I totally agree!

I couldnt agree more! I see exactly what you mean!You're right. That's a good point.

Disagreeing

I dont agree!

I totally disagree!

Absolutely not!Thats not right!

Im not sure about that.

Partly agreeing

I agree up to a point, but ...

I see your point, but ...Thats partly true, but ...

I'm not so sure about that.

It is always a good idea to justify your opinions. Dont just say I agree, but say I agreebecause I think that ... (explain your reason).

B. Accuracy and fluency

1. Accuracy

Speaking with a high level of accuracy means making very few mistakes. This is easier

said than done. So, what can you do to improve your level of accuracy when you speak

English?

Even native speakers make mistakes when they speak in their own language, but

they are always listening to themselves and correct themselves. Here are some tips

to help you speak correctly. Dont worry about making mistakes, its normal, but...

Listen to your English when you speak and if you notice a mistake, correct it. If

you dont notice any mistakes, dont worry.

Make a my typical mistakes page in your notebook. Write down mistakes youoften make and when you speak, listen out for those mistakes. If you always say I

must to go, then write it down next to the correct version I must go and listenout for this mistake when you speak.

Use grammar you know. If you use new grammar you dont know for the firsttime in an exam, you will make more mistakes and find it more difficult to correct

yourself.

Use words you know. Revise the vocabulary you learn in class and try to use newwords again to help you remember them. If you dont know an exact word, use adifferent word that you know.

Record yourself speaking and listen to yourself. Correct your mistakes andremember the good language to use again.


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Take your time and think when you speak! If you speak too fast and dont thinkabout your language, you will make mistakes. However, dont speak too slowly

you dont want to sound like a robot.

2. FluencyFluency in a language means speaking easily, reasonably quickly and without having to

stop and pause a lot. Becoming fluent in a language can take many years, but here aresome tips to help you sound as natural as possible in speaking exams.

Good speakers communicate and get their message across smoothly, even though

they may make mistakes. Communication is the most important part of speaking

and it is important to communicate your ideas as naturally as possible. Here are

some tips to help you speak more fluently.

Use every opportunity in class to speak English.

Speak to your classmates and your teacher in English. The more English you

speak, the easier you will find speaking. Be confident about speaking in English.

You do know a lot of Englishuse your English and show the examiner what you

know!

Be very clear about the message you want to communicate. That is your goal. Dont worry about making mistakes. The important thing is to communicate what

you want to say.

Practise at home with a speaking game. Speak for one minute without stoppingabout.... Choose a topic, e.g. video games, and talk in English for one minuteabout video games without stopping.

Use little expressions like Er or Erm to fill the gaps while you are thinkingabout what to say.

Use communication strategies to make your English sound more natural.

Types of speaking tasks:

1. Talk about yourself

Do:

Think about the types of topics and questions you may be asked before the exam.School, family, free time, daily routines and future plans are common topics.

Practise answering simple questions about yourself. Work with a friend to practise or

record yourself and listen to the recording.

Listen carefully to the questions. If you dont understand the question, ask your teacherto repeat it.

Give complete answers in full sentences.

Look at the examiner. His/her face may tell you when youve said enough and he/she is

ready for the next question.

Dont:

Memorise your answers. Its good to have ideas ready, but its better not to memorise

long replies to typical questions.

Just reply with yes or no.


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Panic if you are asked an unexpected question. Take a few seconds to think before you

answer it.

Here are some examples of things you can say about yourself:

My names ...Im from .../ I live in ...

I was born in ...

Im ... years old. I go to ... school.

I like ... because ...

I dont like ... because ...

In my free time / After school, I ...My best friends are ... because ...

My favourite (school subject, actor,

pop group, sport) is ... because ...I have ... brothers and sisters.

In the future, Id like to ... because

...

2. Describe a photo or picture

Do:

Look at your picture carefully and take a few moments to think before you start

talking.

Talk for all the time you are given. If you have one minute to do the task, use everysecond.

Practise the useful language below so you can explain which part of the picture you are

talking about.

Dont:

Panic if you dont know the words for all the things in the picture. You dontneed to

know all the words for everything in the picture if you know what to saywhen youdont know an exact word.

Get distracted and start talking about something else. Focus on the photo or picture.

Panic if your mind goes blank. Take a deep breath, look at the picture and start again.

If you are asked to describe a photo or a picture in the exam, here is some language you can

use:

What is in the picture?

In the picture I can see ...

Theres / There are ...There isnt a ... / There arent any ...

Say what is happening with the present

continuous

The man is ...ing

The people are ...ingIts raining.

Where in the picture?

At the top/bottom of the picture ...In the middle of the picture ...

On the left/right of the picture ...

next toin front of

behind

near
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on top of

underIf something isnt clear

It looks like a ...

It might be a ...

He could be ...ingMaybe its a ...

3. Discussion

Do:

Think about your opinion before the discussion starts.

Say what you really think about the topic and explain why you think that.

Listen to what your partner says and say if you agree or disagree.

Make sure you know thelanguage for agreeing and disagreeing.

Be polite if you disagree. Ask your partner what he/she thinks.

Use every second you are given to do the task.

Finish the discussion by summarizing what you have spoken about.

Dont:

Only give your own opinion but also respond to your partner.

Worry if you don't agree with your partner. That's fine!

Talk about things that are not relevant to the topic.

Let the discussion stop. Keep it going!

There are many suggestions of language you can use in discussions toagree and disagree in

the section calledCommunication strategies.

Example discussion topics

You will probably be given a topic that has pros and cons, or advantages and disadvantages.Here are some example topics:

The internet is the best way to do your shopping.

Young people under 15 shouldnt use mobile phones.

All young people should stay at school until they are 18. There shouldnt be any advertising on TV during childrens programmes.

Famous celebrities shouldnt complain if the paparazzi take photos of them every day.

It is the childrens responsibility to look after their parents when they get old.

Dogs should be banned from cities.
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4. Information gap activityInformation gap activities can be difficult, but we have lots of tips to help you get top marks

in this type of speaking exam. Watch the video first and then read the tips below.

If you have a speaking exam with another student, you may be asked to do an information

gap activity. This means you look at some information and your partner looks at differentinformation and then you talk and exchange the information.

Here are our top tips for information gap activities.

Do:

Listen carefully to the instructions.

Ask your teacher to repeat if you dont understand exactly what you have to do.

Look at your partner and check that he/she understands you when you speak.

Be ready to repeat or explain things if he/she doesnt understand you. Listen to your partners answers carefully andshow interest in what your partner

says.

Take turns with your partner.

Dont:

Talk a lot more than your partner.

Ignore what your partner says.

Worry if you and your partner have different levels of English.

Look at your partners worksheet and copy the answers!

Examples of information gap activities

Example 1: information exchangeStudent A: Look at the information about films at the local cinema. Listen to your partners

questions and use the information to answer them.Student B: Look at the information about films at the local cinema and ask your partner

questions to find out more about the films.

Example 2: picture differenceStudents A and B: Look at your picture. Describe it to your partner. Listen to your partner

talking about his/her picture. Find five differences between the pictures.

Example 3: role playLook at the information on your role card and talk to your partner. Find a solution to the

problem.

Student A: You are a guest staying at a hotel. The hotel website says it is a luxury hotel, butin your room the sheets and towels are dirty, the bathroom is too small, the street outside is

very noisy and ... (you decide two more problems). You want to change to a better room and
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you want a discount. Talk to the receptionist and solve the problem.

Student B: You are a hotel receptionist. There is a guest staying at the hotel who complains

about everything, even when there isnt a problem. You can move a gu est to a differentroom, but you cant change the price of a room. Talk to the guest and solve the problem.

5.

Tell a story or a personal anecdoteIn some speaking exams you may have to tell a story that you make up or a true story aboutsomething that happened to you. This is sometimes called a personal anecdote.

Here are our top tips for telling a good story or anecdote.

Do:

Take time to think about the question and the story before you start talking.

Use narrative tensespast simple, past continuous and past perfect.

Use adjectives and adverbs to make the story interesting.

Use sequencing words: first of all, then, after that, later on, finally, in the end ...

Give your story an introduction. Say briefly what your story is about. Give the background to your story. Say when and where it took place and what you

were doing at that time.

Say what happened step by step. Use words like so, because and although to connect

the actions until you reach the end of the story.

Keep the action moving!

Finish your story or anecdote by saying why it is important to you or why you

remember it.

Look at your listeners.

Dont:

Take too long telling the story or your listeners will get bored.

Use a flat or bored voice.

Look down or look around the room.

Examples of storytelling tasks

Tell me about a holiday you had.

Tell me about a difficult journey you had.

Tell me about a perfect day youve had.

Tell me about a special event in your life.

Tell me about a birthday you remember.

Tell me about a time when you lost something important. Tell me about a time when you gave someone a surprise.

6.

Oral presentation

Do:

Use the planning time to prepare what youre going to say.


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If you are allowed to have a note card, write short notes in point form.

Use more formal language.

Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly. Pause from time to time and dont speak too quickly. This allows the listener to understand

your ideas. Include a short pause after each idea.

Speak clearly and at the right volume.

Have your notes ready in case you forget anything. Practise your presentation. If possible record yourself and listen to your presentation. If you

cant record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend understand you?

Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions togive your opinion.

Look at the people who are listening to you.

Dont:

Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart.

Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.

Use very informal language. Only look at your note card. Its important to look up at your listeners when you are speaking.

Useful language for presentations

Explain what your presentation is about at

the beginning:

Im going to talk about ...

Id like to talk about ...The main focus of this presentation is ...

Use these expressions to order your ideas:

First of all, ...Firstly, ...Then, ...Secondly, ...

Next, .. .Finally, ...Lastly, ...

To sum up, ...In conclusion, ...

Use these expressions to add more ideas

from the same point of view:

In addition, ...Whats more, ...

Also, ...Added to this, ...

To introduce the opposite point of view you

can use these words and expressions:

However, ...On the other hand, ...Then again, ...

Example presentation topics

Violent computer games should be banned. The sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.

Homework should be limited to just two nights a week.

Should school students be required to wear a school uniform?

How to become the most popular teen in school.

Dogs should be banned from cities.
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I V.

Grammar and vocabulary exams:

This section offers you lots of advice about how to prepare for grammar and vocabulary

exams or tests. We offer you lots of tips on how to learn new words and new grammarstructures and will also give you specific advice for different types of exams and tests. You

also have the chance to practice for grammar and vocabulary exams with the practice

exercises in this section. So, what are you waiting for? Start working through the section andyou'll get top marks in your next grammar or vocabulary exam! Good luck! :)

A. Learning new grammar

Are you the kind of person that loves studying new grammar rules? Or do you hate doing

grammar exercises? Love it or hate it, learning and practising grammar will help you

improve your spoken and written English. Using grammar correctly is always veryimpressive and it's also very useful for passing exams! Here are our top tips for learning

grammar:

Dont worry about making mistakes. Every time someone corrects you, you learn

something new.

Do you know which mistakes you make most, and which mistakes are common forspeakers of your language? Make a list of your common mistakes and pay special

attention to them.

Be patient. Maybe you can do the practice exercises, but when youre speaking you

dont have time to think about the correct grammar. Dont worry, thats completelynormal! If someone explained to you exactly how to swim, could you just get in the

water and swim without practising? Of course not! Its just the same with grammar.The more you practise, the better youll be.

Read and listen to English as much as possible. Think about grammar when youre

reading and listening. Do you know why they used that particular structure? Do you

notice any differences between your language and English? Noticing which structuresare used and knowing what the differences are will you help get English grammar

right.

Use theGrammar snacks section on LearnEnglish Teens to revise grammar. Watch the

videos, read the snack and then do the exercises.

Practise, practise, practise! Try to use the new grammar you have learnt

immediately. When you can do the practice exercises, try writing a sentence of your

own, and use that grammar next time youre speaking. This will help you remembernew grammar really well. If youregister on LearnEnglish Teens you can writecomments on the site and put your English into practice every day by communicating

with other users and our team of moderators.

B. Grammar exercise types

B.1. Write words to complete a text:
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You have to write the correct word(s) to complete a text.

Read the whole text. Its important to understand what the text is about.

Read the whole sentence before and after the gap.

Before you look at the options do you know what type of word is missing? Is it a

noun? A verb? A preposition? etc. Read the whole sentence with your word. Does your word make sense in the

sentence?

Check that your word is grammatically correct in the sentence.

If you dont know an answer, guess. You may be right!

Check your answers carefully when you finish.

Missing words are often auxiliary verbs, pronouns, relative pronouns, articles,quantifiers, prepositions, phrasal verbs, modals and linking words ...

B.2. Choose the correct option:

You have to choose the correct option to fill the gap in a sentence. To do this well inan exam, follow our advice:

Read the whole sentence with all options before you choose.

When you choose an option, do you know why it is right? This can help youdecide.

When you choose an option, do you know why the other options are wrong?This can help you decide.

Eliminate an option that you know is not correct.

If youre not sure which option to choose, use your instinct. Which optionsounds better?

If you dont know the answer, guess. You may be right!


Options will often test you on similar or easily confused words, linking words,phrasal verbs, and collocations.

B.3. Complete the gaps:

In this type of exam, you have to change the form of a word (in brackets) to complete the

sentence. For example:

My dad _____ (work) in a shop.My sister _____ (not like) swimming.

This song is much _____ (good) than that one.

Read the whole sentence. It is important to understand the whole sentence before you begin.


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The word is often a verb. Answer these

questions for a verb:

Does it refer to the present, past or

future?

Do you need a simple or continuousform?

Do you need an auxiliary verb?

Do you need to add an s to the

verb?

Is it an irregular verb?

Do you need a passive form? (be +

past participle)

Sometimes the word is an adjective.

Answer these questions for an adjective:

Do you need the comparative form?

Is it a regular or irregular form?

Do you need the superlative form?

Is it a regular or irregular form?

Remember! There is no plural

adjective form. e.g. Your shoes are

nice. (NOT Your shoes are nices)

Sometimes the word is an adverb. Answer

these questions for an adverb.

Whats the adjective form?

Do you add ly to the adjective? e.g.slow + ly = slowly

Is it irregular? e.g.fast, hard

Finally, remember these tips to get topmarks in this type of test.

If you dont know an answer, guess.

You may be right! Always check your spelling

carefully.

Check your answers carefully when

you finish.

B.4. Word formation:

In a sentence or text you have to change the form of a word, e.g. from a noun to an adjective,

or from a verb to a noun. For example:

The _____ was very nervous. (sing)

You have to complete the sentence with the person noun (singer). You change the verb (sing)

into the person noun (singer).

Look at the word you have to change. Which words do you know that are in the

same word family?

The beginning of the word is often the same and the end of the word changes.

What form is the new word? A verb? A noun? An adjective? An adverb?

Nouns often end: -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity.

People nouns often end: -er, -or, -ist, -ian.

Adjectives often end: -able, -ible, -ive, -al, -ic, -ed, -ing.

Some verbs end: -ise, -ate, -en.

Adverbs often end: -ly.

Is the new word negative? If so, you may need a prefix, e.g. un- (unhappy), im-

(impolite), in- (inexperienced), dis- (dishonest), etc.

If you dont know the new word, guess. You may be right!



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B.5. Sentence transformation:

In this type of test, you have two sentences. Sentence one is complete. Sentence two isincomplete. You have to complete sentence two so that it means the same as sentence one.

For example: Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park.Jurassic Park _________ Steven Spielberg.

Answer: Jurassic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Read the instructions carefully.

Are you given a word to include in sentence two? If so, dont change this word.

How many words are you allowed to write to complete sentence two? Sometimes theinstructions will tell you that there is a maximum word limit.

Read sentences one and two slowly and carefully.

Which part of sentence one is tested in sentence two?

What grammar do you need to use?

If you dont know an answer, guess. You may be right! Check your spelling carefully.


Sentence transformations often test direct and indirect speech, comparative and

superlative forms, active and passive forms, quantifiers, conditionals and verbpatterns.

C. Learning new words:

Here are some tips to help you remember vocabulary:

Keep an organised vocabulary notebook.

Look at the words again after 24 hours, after one week and after one month.

Read, read, read. The more times you see a word the more easily you willremember it.

Use the new words. You need to use a new word about ten times before you

remember it!

Do word puzzles and games like crosswords, anagrams and wordsearches.

Make word cards and take them with you. Read them on the bus or when you arewaiting for your friends.

Learn words with a friend. It can be more fun and easier to learn with someone else.

Learn how to use a dictionary. What information is next to a word in the dictionary?

Do you know the different types of dictionary?

Learn a few words but not too many. About eight new words a day is a good number.

Use an app likeMy Wordbookto help you learn new words.

D. Vocabulary exercise types:

1. Complete the gaps

In this exercise you have to put the right word in the gaps. Follow these tips to get top marks.
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Read the text carefully before and after the gap to help you choose the right word.

The words are often in a box. Careful! Sometimes there are more words than gaps.

If the words arent in a box, be careful with your spelling.

Start with the words you know and tick them off so you know which ones you've used.

If you dont know an answer, write a word. You may be right!

If you write a word in the wrong gap, then another word in the exercise may be wrongtoo.

Check your answers carefully when you finish. Read the whole text to see what it

sounds like.

2. Match the words and the pictures

In this exercise you have to match the words with the pictures. Easy! But follow these

tips to make sure you get 100% in the test.

Check the instructions.

Do you have to draw a line from the word to the picture? Draw clear lines. Do you have to write the word under the picture? Copy the word correctly and

check your spelling.

Start with the words you know.

If you dont know a word, guess. You may be right!


Use our Vocabulary exercises section to improve your English vocabulary.

3. Match the words with the definitions

In this exercise you have to match each word with a definition. Here are some tips to helpyou.

Read the definitions carefully.

Start with the words you know.

Are any words similar? If so, make sure you match the word with the right definition.

If you dont know, guess. You may be right!


4. Choose the correct word

In this type of exercise you have to choose the correct word from two or three possible

answers. Follow our advice:

Read the sentence carefully before and after the word.

Think carefully about the meaning of the text.

Choose the words you know are right.

Eliminate any words that you know are wrong.

Some words are similar in meaning but there is a difference. Do you know the

difference betweensayand tell? makeand do? robandsteal?funandfunny?


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Sometimes the options are wrong because the spelling is wrong.

If you dont know an answer, choose a word. You maybe right!


5. Categories

Sometimes you have to put words into different groups or categories. This is usually one of

the easier types of vocabulary exercise, so don't panic and follow these tips:

Read the words in the box and the categories.

Write the words you understand in the correct category.

Do you know how many words are in each category? If so, count the words carefully.

If you dont know a word, guess the category. You may be right!


6. Odd one out

You have to choose the word that is different from three or four words.

Read all the words carefully.

Find a connection before you choose the word which is different.

If you dont understand a word in the group, it may be connected to the other words.

Dont choose a word because you dont understand it. Find a connection first.

Sometimes you have to explain why it is different. Check the instructions. If you dont know the word which is different, guess. You ma y be right!


7.

Word building

You read a sentence or text and have to change the form of a word from a noun to anadjective, or from a verb to a noun.

For example: The _____ was very nervous. (sing)

You have to complete the sentence with the person noun (singer). You change the verb

(sing) into the person noun (singer).

Look at the word you have to change. Which words do you know that are in the

same word family? The beginning of the word is often the same and the end of the word changes.

What form is the new word? A verb? A noun? An adjective? An adverb?

Nouns often end: -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity.

People nouns often end: -er, -or, -ist, -ian.

Adjectives often end: -able, -ible, -ive, -al, -ic, -ed, -ing.

Some verbs end: -ise, -ate, -en.


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Adverbs often end: -ly.

When you record vocabulary make a table with word families.

If you dont know the new word, guess. You may be right!


8. Words that go together

In this type of exam, you have to match the two words that go together. When there are two groups of words you put together one word from each group.

Sometimes you make collocations, e.g. verb + noun: make + friends, do + yourhomework, etc.

Sometimes you make compound nouns, e.g. extreme sports: snow + boarding,wind + surfing, mountain + biking, etc.

Sometimes you put a verb or adjective with a preposition, e.g. listen + to, look +at, agree + with, good + at, interested + in, etc.

Always start with the words you know go together.

If you dont know which words go together, guess. You may be right!


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