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APTIS TEST PRE-EXAM WORKBOOK WITH AUDIO & KEY E. Mason & F. Martin LISTENING TESTS HERE: http://cort.as/-I5C7

EXAMS BY EXAMINERS

CONTENTS ABOUT THE APTIS EXAM ................................................................................................................. 2 GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY SECTION ............................................................................................ 3 PRACTICE TEST 1 ............................................................................................................................ 4 GRAMMAR ................................................................................................................................... 4 VOCABULARY.............................................................................................................................. 6 PRACTICE TEST 2 ............................................................................................................................ 8 GRAMMAR ................................................................................................................................... 8 VOCABULARY............................................................................................................................ 10 PRACTICE TEST 3 .......................................................................................................................... 12 GRAMMAR ................................................................................................................................. 12 VOCABULARY............................................................................................................................ 14 READING SECTION ........................................................................................................................ 16 READING PRACTICE TASKS .................................................................................................... 17 FULL READING PRACTICE TEST ............................................................................................. 30 LISTENING SECTION ...................................................................................................................... 34 LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 1 ................................................................................................ 35 LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 2 ................................................................................................ 39 LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 3 ................................................................................................ 43 SPEAKING SECTION ...................................................................................................................... 47 WRITING SECTION ......................................................................................................................... 71 FULL WRITING PRACTICE TEST .............................................................................................. 87 EXTRAS ........................................................................................................................................... 91

EXAMS BY EXAMINERS NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Exams by Examiners Press or as expressly permitted by law. This book, or audio files must not be circulated in any other form and you must impose the same condition on any acquirer. Links to third party websites are provided in good faith and for information only. EXAMS BY EXAMINERS disclaims any responsibility for the materials contained in any third party website referenced in this work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors and publisher are grateful to those who have given their kind permission to reproduce photographs from https://www.pexels.com/. Texts: CC-BY-SA licensed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honev bee The authors would like to thank the following people for their support in this work: Charlotte, Krystle, Robbie, Marie, Alexia, Mathew, Simon, Richard and Karen. APTIS TEST: PRE-EXAM WORKBOOK (A1-C) WITH AUDIO & KEY

ABOUT THE APTIS EXAM The APTIS General test is a British Council English exam which has gained popularity as a practical and accurate assessment of the English level of individuals in line with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) scales A1, A2, B1, B2 & C. The test is computer based, which means that all sections of the test are taken with a computer and headphones, including the speaking section. Thanks to this, APTIS is an economical way to test your English, and your results are made quickly available. The APTIS test includes the four main skills: READING, WRITING, SPEAKING and LISTENING - plus the compulsory GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY section. APTIS is used by many organisations, institutions and companies as a way to assess the English level of their students or workforce. Upon completion of the test you will be awarded a CEFR scale for the four main skills, a numerical score for each skill 0-50 and an overall level A1-C. EXAMPLE SCORECARD SKILL READING WRITING SPEAKING LISTENING FINAL SCORE GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY

SCORE 39/50 47/50 41/50 35/50 156/200 42/50

CEFR B2 C B2 B2 B2

NOTE This book is designed to prepare students for the APTIS General test. If you need to certify a higher level (i.e. C1 or C2) you should take the APTIS Advanced version of the exam. More information on this is available on the British Council website. www.aptistrainer.com You can download you listening tests in the following url: http://cort.as/-I5C7

GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY SECTION

50 QUESTIONS

25 MINUTES

The CORE Grammar and Vocabulary test includes two sections. In the first half of the test, you will need to answer 25 questions which test your knowledge of formal written English and some fixed expressions. All the questions require you to choose from three possible answers in multiple-choice format. The second half of this section focuses on vocabulary and you will have to answer 25 questions. These are presented in sets of five words (the words being tested) with ten options from which to choose. There are a number of possible question types: Word matching: find a word with a similar meaning to the target word. Climb = ascend Word definition: match a definition to the target word. To climb is to = ascend Word usage: complete a sentence by choosing the correct word to fit the expression. She is very ambitious. She wants to climb the career ladder. Word combinations: match the target word to one that it is commonly used with it. Steep climb

Study the answers to each of the activities in this section of the hook carefully and wake sure you understand WHY an answer is correct or incorrect. If you aren't familiar with the grammar point he sure to study it online or ask your teacher to explain the rule to yow. Keep a notebook especially for this section and create your own sentences using the grammar point correctly to help you memorise the rules and vocabulary collocations. I found the grammar section to be easier than the vocabulary section, which included many words that I hadn't learnt before. I read a lot of books and magazines in English to improve my vocabulary before the test"

PRACTICE TEST 1 GRAMMAR

1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13. 14.

There were ..... than ten people at the party. A less B fewer C lesser A. I love British desserts! Especially hot chocolate fudge cake with ice-cream. B . So ...... I! A is B am C do I was wondering if you ...... like to go out for dinner with me this evening? A are B would C will If you were nicer to him, he ..... probably help you more at work. A would B will C has I am going to the cinema tonight with my friend. We .... at the station at 7pm. A will meet B meet C are meeting If I .... you, I would tell her how you feel. A am B were C be I ..... down the street, when I bumped into Susan. A was walking B walked C am walking Would you mind ...... me with the housework? A helping B to help C help A. ..... visited the British Museum? B. Yes. It was really interesting to see all the exhibitions. A Did you ever B Have you ever C Are you ever I'm afraid that I can't work tomorrow morning. I ...... a doctor‟s appointment. A will have B am having C have When I was a young child, my mother ..... bake cakes and biscuits with us every Sunday afternoon. A use to B would C will Jamie is ..... person I have ever met. A smartest B most smarter C the smartest He is a comedian, ..... he is quite serious when he isn't performing. A and B because C but Go to the end of the road and turn ... left at the train station. A to B on C -

15. The meeting ..... finished when we arrived at the office. A has already B had already C hadn't already 16. A wolf is an animal ...... walks on four legs. A that B who C what 17. The show starts ..... 7pm. A in B at C on 18. I don't think it's right ..... parents to give unhealthy food to young children. A that B for C so 19. Excuse me, I can't find the bread aisle. ..... you help me? A Should B Could C Shall 20. I ....... run very often, but now I go every morning. A wouldn't B didn't use to C didn't used to 21. You ..... have worn a suit, as we have a relaxed dress code in this office. A needn't B ought to C wouldn't 22. How much ..... a flight to New York cost? A is B does C do 23. That man acts very suspiciously. ..... him. A Honestly, I wouldn't trust B I wouldn't honestly trust C I wouldn't trust honestly 24. I had a bath, ..... I went to bed. A after B then C while 25. If I ..... to London, I wouldn't have met my boyfriend. A didn't move B haven't moved C hadn't moved

VOCABULARY

TASK 1 Write the letter (a-k) of the word that is most similar in meaning to a word, Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k) on the left (1-5). 1. vital 2. perk 3. old 4. smart 5. discount

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

obscene benefit sneaky antiquated clever reduction essential sharp absent wasteful new

TASK 2 Complete each definition (6-10) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k). 6. A group of people who work together in the same place are.... 7. An accessory to keep your neck warm is a/an.... 8. A very tall building in a city is called a/an.... 9. A kitchen utensil for cutting food is a/an.... 10. A group of politicians form a/an....

a. police b. scarf c. spoon d. director e. government f. colleagues g. outlaws h. finger i. skyscraper j. submarine k. knife

TASK 3 Complete each sentence (11-15) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word once. a. bag 11. The ..... was easily able to identify the suspect. b. ends 12. The ship loaded its cargo and left the .... . c. trick 13. Since I lost my job I have found it difficult to make ... meet. d. pillow 14. The judge threw the case out of court due to a lack of .... . e. wallet 15. Men usually keep their money in a .... . f. witness g. cottage h. port i. evidence j. eyelash k. cliffs

TASK 4 Finish each sentence (16-20) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k). 16. My parents are going to ..... me the money to buy a new car. 17. Astronomers ..... the stars at night through a telescope. 18. The taxi driver tried to ..... me off by taking the long way home. 19. All my co-workers are my friends. We .... on very well with each other. 20. My bag was stolen. Fortunately I had remembered to .... my things.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

borrow project put rip insure lend look observe claim get sue

TASK 5 Write the word on the right (a-k) that is most often used with a word on the left (21-25). You will not need to use all the words (a-k). Use each word only once. 21. standing 22. bitter 23. sole 24. vicious 25. sly

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

end thumb grin excuse survivor bomb trip circle ovation cushion ring

VOCABULARY

PRACTICE TEST 2 GRAMMAR

1.

The exam was ..... than I thought. A more difficult B most difficult C difficult 2. Amanda ..... the guitar in a rock band. A is playing B plays C play 3. Hello James, ..... you call my mobile? Sorry, but I was on the train and couldn't answer it. A have B did C do 4. You ...... ever do that again! I'm very angry with you. A mustn't B must C should 5. How long ..... in Dublin? A have you lived B has you lived C have you live 6. Only a few things were stolen, so the thief ..... been disturbed. A mustn't have B shouldn't have C must have 7. Don't forget to turn ..... the oven when you've finished cooking dinner. A on B off C out 8. I tried phoning you yesterday. I had a problem and I ....... to ask your opinion. A was needing B needed C need 9. Todd is very good-looking, ..... he? A wasn't B isn't C hasn't 10. Where ...... you come from? A do B does C are

11. The crime was committed ...... the 23rd of March. A in B at C on 12. Could you please tell me what ...... to do here? A I am meant B am I meant C ought I 13. We ..... go to France every summer when I was young. A use to B should C used to 14. The suitcase was a ...... than it looked. A lot more light B lighter C lot lighter 15. James doesn't like ...... up early in the morning. A get B getting C to getting 16. As this phone has a good camera, it was ..... than my old one. A more expensive B expensive C most expensive 17. I watched a great film ...... TV last night. A on B in C for 18. A. When did you get married? B. We got married way back ...... 1966. A in B at C on 19. The weather is ...... hot for this time of year. A surprising B surprise C surprisingly 20. My sister is an ..... cook. A nice B fantastic C amazing 21. She ...... the job when her boss asked her to work faster. A had already finished B has already finished C was already finished 22. Barcelona ...... the Olympic Games in 1996. A hosts B has hosted C hosted 23. The documentary was very controversial and some people were .... by the content. A offensive B offended C offending 24. I didn't know you were going to be on TV last night. Why ..... you tell anyone? A don't B doesn't C didn't 25. Bambi is the ...... film that I watched as a child. A most sad B saddest C sadly

VOCABULARY

TASK 1 Write the letter (a-k) of the word that is similar in meaning to a word on the left (1-5). Use each word once only. You will not need five of the words (a-k). 1. help 2. decide 3. worry 4. rule 5. focus

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

care concentrate age aid sip reign fret choose share step chew

TASK 2 Complete each definition (6-10) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k). 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

To authenticate is to.... To jump on one leg is to.... To beg is to.... To excite is to.... To seize is to....

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

grab lift validate direct stimulate plead kneel worry hop raise graduate

TASK 3 Finish each sentence (11-15) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word only once. You will not need all of the words (a-k).

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

There's no point waiting in ..... for the rain to stop. It is thought that ..... children are more independent. To win the race she would have to face ..... competition. He removed his shirt and hung it in the ..... . The dog lay on the ....... in front of the fireplace.

a. sane b. vain c. cupboard d. board e. rug f. ceiling g. fierce h. sole i. wardrobe j. eyelash k. only

TASK 4 Choose a word from the list (a-k) which matches each definition (16-20). Use each word only once. You will not need all of the words (a-k).

16. Difficult to believe. 17. Emotional and sentimental. 18. Gained or obtained fairly. 19. Suitable for the purpose or use. 20. Absurd and laughable.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

narrow honest implausible large uneasy moving chaotic appropriate useless shy ridiculous

TASK 5 Write the letter of the word on the right (a-k) that is used with a word on the left (21-25). You will not need to use all the words (a-k). Use each word only once.

21. final 22. bushy 23. briefly 24. due 25. soul

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

mate shoulders peer draw draft date trip circle ovation eyebrows summarise

PRACTICE TEST 3 GRAMMAR

1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

6. 7.

8.

9. 10.

11. 12.

13.

14. 15.

She has ..... to Italy on a business trip. She'll be back on Friday. A went B gone C been If it weren't ...... this bad weather, I would go out for a walk. A to B until C for She ...... be ill as I have just seen her in my aerobics class at the gym. A must B can't C mustn‟t A. Oh, I don't believe it. My car has broken down again. B. Why can't you .... take it back to the garage? A just B simple C only A. We saw a shocking documentary on TV last night, ....... we Steven? B. Yes, it was awful! I had no idea that was happening to the polar ice caps. A didn't B had C did I remember ....... the door, I just don't remember what I did with the key. A locking B to lock C locked We were having a picnic in the park when suddenly it .... to rain. A was starting B had started C started We can both cook pretty well, but ..... of us wants to do it this Friday night as we'd prefer to eat out. A one B neither C none Would you mind if I ..... this chair? A take B took C will take A. Where are you going to now? B. We are going for a drink and something to eat ....... the theatre show has been cancelled. A as B before C so She really ..... to clean her bedroom herself. After all, she's nearly an adult now. A must B should C ought A. Can you help me move house tomorrow? B. ...... ! What time shall I come to your house? A Surely B Of course C Certain I am sorry you're not keen on your hotel room, but there is very ...... we can do about it I am afraid as we are fully booked. A few B much C little I grew up in a small village ..... is about 20 miles from Manchester. A it B where C which I play ...... chess as a hobby. A Ba C the

16. A. I have bought you a small gift to say thank you for your help yesterday. B. Oh, you shouldn't ........ ! A do B buy C have 17. A. Where can I buy some coffee at this time of night? B. You ....... try the local shop at the end of the street. A must B could C will 18. I can't stand ........ in traffic jams. A to wait B waiting C wait 19. It wasn't the most ...... place that I have visited. A interesting B interest C interested 20. If it ...... on Saturday, we will cancel the barbecue. A will rain B rains C rained 21. She offered to help me finish my homework, but I said ....... . A not B no C null 22. Now that I've found her, I can't imagine life ..... her. A without B excluding C since 23. I have a lot of work to do over the ..... month. Could we postpone the holiday until after New Year? A next B future C coming 24. I do understand your opinion. ...... , I still don't think it is the best option. A However B Moreover C Therefore 25. I feel so relaxed and rested! It's amazing ...... a weekend in the mountains can do for your health. A what B which C that

VOCABULARY

TASK 1 Write the letter (a-k) of the word that is most similar in meaning to a word on the left (1-5). Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k). a. have 1. conceal b. twist 2. drink c. hide 3. walk d. flap 4. possess e. tell 5. say f. propose g. sip h. stroll i. type j. smell k. eat TASK 2 a. Complete each definition (6-10) using a word from the list (a-k). b. Use each word once only. You will not need all of the words (a-k). c. d. 6. To suffer is to.... e. 7. To lift is to.... f. 8. To fix or correct is to.... g. 9. To prepare or plan is to.... h. 10. To move closer is to.... i. j. k. TASK 3 Finish each sentence (11-15) using a word from the list (a-k). Use each word only once. You will not need all of the words (a-k). 11. Some people spend a period .... working for their company. 12. Pilots need to be ...... when flying an aeroplane. 13. The museum has many ... artefacts and interesting exhibitions. 14. She got into bed and lay her head on the ...... . 15. It's a very ...... animal, which will fight for a mate.

smell like endure direct divide accept approach wrap arrange raise adjust a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

happy forces ancient abroad sensitive aggressive pillow h. alert crazy floor frame

TASK 4 Choose a word from the list (a-k)-which matches each definition (16-20). Use each word only once. You will not need all of the words (a-k). a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

16. Completely confused or disordered. 17. Aware of, and responsive to the feelings of others. 18. Sticky to the touch, adhesive. 19. Without meaning or relevance. 20. Bright or glossy in appearance.

shiny dry pointless huge tacky sensible chaotic h. sensitive dangerous cute joyful

TASK 5 Write the letter of the word on the right (a-k) that is most often used with a word on the left (21-25). You will not need to use all the words (a-k). Use each word only once.

21. record 22. rapid 23. healthy 24. bumpy 25. lost

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

luggage appetite progress pizza flight date coffee breaker colleague sound summary

READING SECTION TASKS 1 - 4 30 MINUTES THE READING SECTION: TIPS & STRATEGIES You will have 30 minutes to complete four different tasks (25 questions) which become more difficult as the test progresses. TASK 1: INFORMAL EMAIL In this task, you must choose a word from three options to complete sentences in an email. There are five sentences to complete. Each sentence in the text is free-standing which means that it is not necessary to understand all of the sentences to complete individual sentences. Try to identify what part of speech each word is (noun, verb, adjective, auxiliary, preposition) and then look carefully at the words before and after the space. Identifying the tense and main subject of a sentence can also help you to wake the correct choice. "I tried not to spend too much time on this section because the more difficult reading tasks take longer, and we only have half an hour to complete them all!" TASK 2: SEQUENCING In this task, you will see seven sentences. They belong to a single story that has been mixed up. There is only one correct sequence to form the story and your objective is to order the sentences correctly. You are looking for clues in each sentence that reveal how it links to sentences before and after it. It’s usually quite easy to identify the first and last sentences in the sequence so do these first. Then use the sequencing words (next, after that, finally and then) to help you work out the order of the other sentences. "I find it helps to read the whole story carefully after I finish, to wake sure it wakes sense before moving on to the next part." TASK 3: GAP-FILLS In this part you will need to read a text of about 150 words. The objective is to complete the text by selecting the appropriate words from a list to fill in the gaps. To complete all of the text you need to understand more than just a sentence, so it is really testing your ability to understand the meaning of short texts. The strategy for this part of the exam is to identify the form of the words (i.e. verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs etc) then choose the one that fits grammatically according to the words and ideas before and after the space in the text. "I found this section the most difficult - even more than the last task (which is supposed to be harder). I found it helped me to read the text two times before starting to choose the answers to make sure I understood the main idea." TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS This task consists of a longer text of about 750 words with a series of headings. The objective is to match the headings to paragraphs in the text. There is always an extra heading that does not fit with any paragraph which is designed to trick you. This part is designed to test your ability to read and understand a long text. In addition, you need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the headings reflect the key ideas in the paragraphs. The strategy for this task is to only read the first two sentences and the final sentence of each paragraph — and ignore the words you don't understand. Then, look for synonyms and similar ideas in order to match up the more obvious answers, finally, read the remaining paragraphs in more detail to match up the remaining headings. "I followed my teacher's strategy and found I could do this section quite well. It's important not to get nervous when you see a lot of technical words that you don't know - as you really don't need them to do this task well."

READING PRACTICE TASKS READING TASK 1: INFORMAL EMAIL Choose one word (A, B, C) for each space. The first one (0) has been done for you.

SUMMER HOLIDAY Dear Andrew, Many thanks for your email offering to help me (0) ... B ... information about English courses in Edinburgh this summer. Firstly, my idea is to come to Scotland for 6 weeks from the (1) ..... of June to study English in an academy there. Do you know of any language schools in the city centre which run intensive courses during the summer? (2) ..... , I'd love to go on a (3) ..... somewhere together and explore the Scottish countryside. I'd prefer to go to the north as I have heard that it is more wild and adventurous than other areas. Finally, thank you for (4) ..... to help me organise accommodation in Edinburgh. I would really like to share a flat with your friends, as this would give me an (5) ..... to make some friends myself and practise my English skills outside the classroom. Many thanks for everything, Robbie C. arrange 0. A. encounter B. find 1. A. end B. final C. ending 2. A. Next B. Secondly C. After 3. A. journey B. travel C. trip 4. A. offer B. offering C. suggesting 5. A. chance B. try C. opportunity POSTCARD FROM INDIA Dear Mum, Hello from hot and (0) ... C ... Goa! Jake and I are (1) ..... a fantastic time here on the west coast of India. Every day we go to the beach and swim in the sea. Every evening we watch the sun (2) ..... over the ocean, which is very beautiful. We are (3) ..... all the different types of seafood and curry (4) ..... we are here. Jake has done a scuba-diving course, but unfortunately he injured himself playing beach volleyball so he is resting for a few days. But don't worry as he is happy relaxing with a book in the shade of the palm trees. See you both (5) ..... Friday when we are flying home. Love, Alys B. sunshine 0. A. sun C. sunny 1. A. having B. making C. spending 2. A. set B. fall C. drop 3. A. try B. trying C. taking 4. A. while B. during C. when 5. A. in B. at C. on

READING TASK 1: INFORMAL EMAIL BARBECUE INVITATION Choose one word (A, B, C) for each space and write the letter on the paper. The first one (0) has been done for you with the answer marked C in the example below. Dear Amelia, Thanks so much for (0) ... C ... us to your barbecue party last weekend. We really (1) ..... ourselves and the food was delicious! I especially enjoyed the lamb and Jamaican recipe chicken you (2) ..... . We (3) ..... very lucky with the weather as the day was sunny and warm. The girls had a wonderful time playing in the paddling pool with your children. In fact, Alex and I were thinking about throwing a party ourselves for Halloween and we (4) ..... like to invite you all to join us. The party will be (5) ..... the 31st October at 7pm. Let us know if you can make it and we will start making arrangements and buying food and drinks. Hope to hear from you soon and thanks again, Julian B. welcoming C. inviting 0. A. having B. happy C. liked 1. A. enjoyed 2. 3. 4. 5.

A. ate A. were A. will

B. prepared B. are B. shall

C. assembled C. was C. would

A. in

B. at

C. on

READING TASK 2: SEQUENCING A DELICIOUS DINNER Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story by sequencing the events. Write your answers below (2-7). The first sentence of the story (A) is given to you as an example. 1. A A 2. ........... B 3. ........... C 4. ........... D 5. ........... E 6. ........... F 7. ........... G

Margo decided to make a tasty dinner for her family. She then fried the chicken in a pan and added the onions and carrots before mixing in the chopped tomato and herbs. She then called her family to sit at the prepared table. Finally, she served the food and she and her family enjoyed a delicious meal together. After this, she took out a knife and a chopping board and began to chop the onions and carrots. Following this she laid the table with plates, knives, forks and glasses. First, Margo entered the kitchen and turned on the lights and the oven and put on her apron.

READING TASK 2: SEQUENCING THE LAST DAY OF MY HOLIDAY Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story by sequencing the events. Write your answers below (2-7). The first sentence (A) is given to you as an example. A

The last day of my summer holiday was filled with a mixture of sadness that it was over, and excitement about going back to work to see my friends and colleagues.

B

In the end, instead of returning to work with a nice tan, I returned as red as a tomato.

C

I spent the morning reading my novel and swimming to cool down. After a few hours somebody left, and I got a sun lounger and fell asleep under the blazing sun.

D

But when I arrived at the pool I realised that I was too late, as the queue to enter stretched all the way up the road.

E

I decided to spend my final day by the pool, relaxing and sunbathing.

F

By the time I entered the pool, all the deck chairs and sun loungers had been occupied, and the only place left was in the shade of a large tree.

G

When I woke up I was totally red and burned and felt very sorry for myself. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

A ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........

READING TASK 2: SEQUENCING

AT THE BANK Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story by sequencing the events. Write your answers below (2-7). The first sentence (A) is given to you as an example. 1. ... A ... A 2. ........... B 3. ........... C 4. ........... D 5. ........... E 6. ........... F 7. ........... G

Tony passed through the revolving doors and entered the bank. When he returned he saw his number flashing on a large screen on the wall. Finally, Tony sat down and told the bank employee that he would like to open a new account at the bank. Tony sat down and picked up a car magazine from the coffee table and began to read. After waiting for a long while, Tony was bored and decided to go and smoke a cigarette outside. It instructed him to go to desk number 3. He talked to the clerk who gave him ticket No. 023 and asked him to take a seat and wait to be called.

READING TASK 3: GAP-FILLS Choose from the word list below (A - K) to complete the text. The first word (C) is given as an example. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor, widely (1) ... C ... as both the greatest (2) .......... in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His (3) .......... works, including collaborations, consist of (4) .......... 39 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every major living (5) .......... and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. (6) .......... the 20th and 21st centuries, Shakespeare's works have been continually adapted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain (7) .......... popular and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts (8) .......... over the world.

A

LANGUAGE

B

EXTREMELY

C

REGARDED

D

ADDITION

E

THE

F

APPROXIMATELY

G

WRITER

H

COMPLETE

I

THROUGHOUT

J

ALL

K

ALWAYS

READING TASK 3: GAP-FILLS Choose from the word list below (A - K) to complete the text. The first word (A) is given as an example. MARS Mars is the (1) ... D ... planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar (2) ........ after Mercury. In English, Mars carries the name of the Roman god of war and is (3) ...... referred to as the "Red Planet" because the reddish iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance that is distinctive (4) ....... the astronomical bodies visible to the naked eye. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the valleys, deserts and Polar ice caps of Earth. Mars can (5) ..... be seen from Earth with the naked eye, as can its reddish coloring. Its apparent magnitude reaches -2.91, (6) ..... is surpassed only by Jupiter, Venus, the Moon and the Sun. Optical ground-based telescopes are typically limited to (7) ..... features about 300 kilometres (190 mi) across when Earth and Mars are closest because (8) ........ Earth's atmosphere.

A.

OFTEN

B.

OF

C.

SYSTEM

D.

FOURTH

E.

EARTH

F.

AMONG

G.

EASILY

H.

WHICH

I.

OBSERVING

J.

IN

K.

PLANET

READING TASK 3: GAP-FILLS Choose from the word list below (A - K) to complete the text. The first word (B) is given as an example. THE GIANT PANDA The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) also (1) ... B ... as panda bear, is a bear native to south central China. It is easily (2) ....... by the large, distinctive black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and across its round (3)...... . The name "giant panda" is sometimes used to distinguish it from the (4) ....... red panda. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the giant panda's (5) ....... is over 99% bamboo. Giant pandas in the wild will occasionally eat other grasses, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents, or carrion. In captivity, they may be fed honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, or bananas (6) ....... with specially prepared food. The giant panda lives in a few mountain (7) ....... in central China, mainly in Sichuan, but also in neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu. Sadly, as a result of farming and deforestation the giant panda has been (8) ....... out of the lowland areas where it once lived and is regarded as an endangered species.

A

ALONG

B

KNOWN

C

BODY

D

CONSUME

E

DRIVEN

F

UNRELATED

G

DIET

H

RANGES

I

RECOGNIZED

J

OVER

K

SPECIES

TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS - PRACTICE STRATEGY 1. 2.

Read the instructions and the title of the article to get an idea of the context. Read each heading carefully and identify the key words and ideas, noticing the difference between them. Read the example (0) paragraph and the heading that it matches to. Now read the first two sentences and the final sentence of the first paragraph, and match up the heading that contains the same idea by focussing on the key words and ideas. If you are not sure leave it and move to the next paragraph. Repeat this tactic until the end. Go back and read in detail any paragraphs you have missed and match them up with one of the remaining headings.

3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

EXAMPLE B

1. Trees are vitally important ecologically as they sustain numerous other species. They provide protection for many animals and their trunks and branches can become mini ecosystems, covered with vines, ferns, mosses, fungi and microscopic organisms. With their tall canopies basking in the sun, they capture huge amounts of energy through photosynthesis. For this reason, they sustain much of the animal life in woodlands, forests and jungles around the world.

C

2. Very few species of trees have the genetic capacity to grow really tall. The most impressive are native to Northern America, but big trees grow all over the globe. To achieve giant stature, a tree needs three key conditions: nutrient-rich soil in which to establish its seedling, plenty of light and water, and to be undisturbed for many years by either human or natural intervention. If any of these conditions are lacking, the biggest trees may not survive.

A.

The harm caused by other plants in the forest

B.

How wildlife benefits from tall trees

C.

Crucial factors fostering the growth of tall trees

Notice how кеч words in the first two sentences and the final sentence ^wide чей to the correct answer without needing to read the whole paragraph in detail- or know the meaning of all the words.

READING TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS THE HONEY BEE You are going to read an article about bees. Choose from the list (A-I) the heading that best summarizes each paragraph (1-7). There is one extra sentence that you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

C

A.

The hierarchy of the bee colony

B.

The importance to farming worldwide

C.

The origins of the name

D.

The life cycle of an individual

E.

Harvesting honey

F.

Domesticating the bee

G.

The distribution and habitat of bees

H.

Usefulness in research

I.

Protein and liquid consumption

0. The western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common of the 7-12 species of honey bee worldwide. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera is the Latin for "honey-bearing", referring to the species' production of honey for the winter. 1. Human beings have been collecting honey from bees for thousands of years, with evidence in the form of rock art found in France and Spain, dating to around 7000 BC. The honey bee is one of the few invertebrate animals to have been domesticated. Humans collected wild honey in the Palaeolithic or Mesolithic periods, with evidence from rock art from France and Spain around 8,000 years old. Bees were likely first domesticated in ancient Egypt, where tomb paintings depict bee-keeping. Europeans brought bees to North America in 1622. 2. Similar to all honey bees, the western honey bee is eusocial, creating colonies with a single fertile female (or "queen"), many normally non-reproductive females or "workers," and a small proportion of fertile males or "drones." Individual colonies can house tens of thousands of bees. Colony activities are organised by complex communication between individuals, through both pheromones and the dance language.

3. Interestingly, the honey bee was one of the first domesticated insects, and it is the primary species maintained by beekeepers to this day for both its honey production and pollination activities. With human assistance, the western honey bee now occupies every continent except Antarctica. Because of its wide cultivation, this species is the single most important pollinator for agriculture globally. 4. The western honey bee can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The species is believed to have originated in Africa or Asia, and spread naturally through Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Humans are responsible for its considerable additional range, introducing European subspecies into North America (early 1600s), South America, Australia, New Zealand, and East Asia. 5. Western honey bees are an important model organism in scientific studies, particularly in the fields of social evolution, learning, and memory. They are also used in studies of pesticide toxicity to assess non-target impacts of commercial pesticides. 6. Like other insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, the western honey bee has four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The complex social structure of honey bee hives means that all of these life stages occur simultaneously throughout much of the year. The queen deposits a single egg into each cell prepared by worker bees. The egg hatches into a legless, eyeless larva fed by "nurse" bees (worker bees who maintain the interior of the colony). After about a week, the larva is sealed in its cell by the nurse bees and begins its pupal stage. After another week, it emerges as an adult bee. 7. Honey bees obtain all of their nutritional requirements from a diverse combination of pollen and nectar. Pollen is the only natural protein source for honey bees. Adult worker honey bees consume 3.4-4.3 mg of pollen per day to meet a dry matter requirement of 66-74% protein. Honey bees require water to maintain osmotic homeostasis, prepare liquid brood food, and to cool the hive through evaporation - colony's water needs can generally be met by nectar foraging as it has high water content. Occasionally on hot days or when nectar is limited, foragers will collect water from streams or ponds to meet the needs of the hive.

READING TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN You are going to read an article about a festival. Choose from the list (A-I) the heading that best summarizes each paragraph (1-7). There is one extra sentence that you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. B

A religious or a secular celebration? Halloween on the Gregorian calendar Naughty children and spooky adults Spread by immigrants and accepted by locals The etymology of the name Typically differing views on its origin A global festival thanks to the US Sugary, fruity treats Ghosts, ghouls and pumpkins

0. Halloween or Hallowe'en, is a celebration observed in many countries worldwide on the 31st of October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. 1. The name Halloween or Hallowe'en dates to the mid 1700s and is of Christian origin. The word "Hallowe'en" means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening". It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day). In Scots, the word "eve" is even, and this is contracted to e'en or een. Over time, the name evolved into Hallowe'en. Although the phrase "All Hallows'" is found in Old English „All Hallows' Eve‟ is itself not seen until 1556. 2. It is widely accepted that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain and therefore that the festival may have pagan roots. Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain. Historian Nicholas Jones, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which comes from the Old Irish for 'summer's end'.

3. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although in the UK and USA it is now a more commercial and secular celebration. 4. Trick-or-treating is a traditional celebration for children on Halloween. They go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?". The word "trick" implies a "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming. Mumming, practiced in Germany, Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, involved masked persons in fancy dress who paraded the streets and entered houses to dance or play dice in silence. 5. Anglican and Catholic colonists in America recognized All Hallow's Eve in their church calendars, although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the holiday, along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church, including Christmas. It was not until mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in North America. Confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds. 6. On All Hallows' Eve, many Western Christian denominations encourage abstinence from meat, giving rise to a variety of vegetarian foods associated with this day. Because in the Northern Hemisphere Halloween comes in the wake of the yea' y apple harvest, toffee apple, caramel apples or taffy apples are common Halloween treats made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup, sometimes followed by rolling them in nuts. 7. The practices and significance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it. However, the mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in many nations. This larger North American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended around the world, and back to Europe and from where it once came

READING TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS THE CITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND You are going to read an article about London. Choose from the list (A-I) the heading that best summarizes each paragraph (1-7). There is one extra sentence that you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. C

A multicultural megacity An undeserved notoriety for showers From ancient beginnings An urban oasis The scope of the city From palaces to skyscrapers Is London the global culture capital? A prodigious offering for visitors Global markets and international finance

0. London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south east of the island of Great Britain, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. It was founded by the Romans, who named it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1.12-square-mile medieval boundaries. 1. London, also referred to as Greater London, is one of nine regions of England and the top-level subdivision covering most of the city's metropolis. The small ancient City of London at its core once comprised the whole settlement, but as its urban area grew, the Corporation of London resisted attempts to amalgamate the city with its suburbs, causing "London” to be defined in a number of ways for different purposes. Forty per cent of Greater London is covered by the London post town, within which 'LONDON' forms part of postal addresses. The Greater London boundary has been aligned to the M25 motorway in places. 2. London is one of the leading global cities in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transportation. London is often regarded as a world cultural capital. It is the world's most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and it is the world's leading investment destination, hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city. In 2012, London became the first city to have hosted the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.

3. London has a diverse range of people and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region. Its estimated mid-2016 municipal population (corresponding to Greater London) was 8,787,892, accounting for 13.4% of the UK population. The city's metropolitan area is the most populous in the EU with 14,040,163 inhabitants in 2016, while the Greater London Authority states the population of the city-region (covering a large part of the south east) as 22.7 million. London was the world's most populous city from around 1831 to 1925. 4. London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church. Other landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and the Shard. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, British Library and West End theatres. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. 5. London's largest industry is finance, and its financial exports make it a large contributor to the UK's balance of payments. London has over 480 overseas banks, more than any other city in the world. It is also the world's biggest currency trading centre, accounting for some 37 percent of the $5.1 trillion average daily volume, according to the BIS. Over half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the FTSE 100) and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies have their headquarters in central London. 6. London has a temperate oceanic climate, similar to all of southern England. Despite Its reputation as being a rainy city, London receives less precipitation in a year than Rome, Bordeaux, Lisbon, Naples, Sydney and New York City. Temperature extremes for all sites in the London area range from 38.1 °C at Kew during August 2003 down to -16.1 °C (3.0 °F) at Northolt during January 1962. 7. The London Natural History Society suggests that London is "one of the World's Greenest Cities" with more than 40 percent green space or open water. They indicate that 2000 species of flowering plant have been found growing there and that the tidal Thames supports 120 species of fish. London's wetland areas support nationally important populations of many water birds. London has 38 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), two National Nature Reserves and 76 Local Nature Reserves.

READING

FULL READING PRACTICE TEST 30 MINUTES 25 QUESTIONS

READING TASK 1: INFORMAL EMAIL JOB ADVICE Choose one word (A, B, C) for each space and write the letter on the paper. The first one (0) has been done for you with the answer marked C in the example. Dear Cousin, How (0) ... C ... you? We haven't seen each other in ages and so much has (1) ....... in the past year. My mum said that you were applying for a job in a hotel in Spain, so she asked me to write and give you some tips and advice based on my (2) ....... . Firstly, it's important to show the manager how (3) ....... you speak English and Spanish because you will need (4) ....... languages to work on the reception desk. Secondly, you (5) ....... show them how organised you are as you will be making bookings and doing many other tasks at the same time. Finally, to be a good receptionist you need to be friendly and helpful, so demonstrate this in the interview. Good luck and I hope you get the job! Matilda

Example 0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

A. is A. changed A. opportunities A. well A. neither A. shall

B. were B. altered B. evidence B. good B. either B. should

C. are C. different C. experiences C. better C. both C. will

READING TASK 2: SEQUENCING MY TERRIBLE FIRST DAY Order the sentences (B-G) below to make a story by sequencing the events. Write your answers below (2-7). The first sentence (A) is given to you as an example. 1 A

A My first day at work didn't go very well.

2

B

3

C

4

D

5

E

6

F

7

G

I got into my car, started the engine and set off in the direction of my new offices. I spent the rest of my first day trying to show her that I was a hard worker and a model employee. When I finally arrived my new boss immediately called me into her office. The first thing to go wrong was that my alarm didn't go off and so I had to rush out of the door without having any breakfast. I immediately ran into a huge traffic jam. I sat in my car sweating and panicking about the bad impression I was going to make. She angrily told me that employees were expected to be punctual and warned me not to be late again.

READING TASK 3: GAP-FILLS Choose from the word list below (A - K) to complete the text. The first word (I) is given as an example. CALIFORNIA California is a US state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.5 million (0) ... I ... , California is the most populous state in the United States and the third (1) ... by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and fifth-most (2) ..... urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents (3) ...... . Los Angeles is California‟s most populous city, and the country's second-most populous, after New York City. California's $2.8 trillion (4) ...... is larger than that of any other state. If it were a country, California would be the 5th largest economy in the world (larger than the UK or France), and the 36th most populous as of 2017. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and third-largest urban economies ($1.2 trillion and $821 (5) ..... respectively as of 2016), after the New York City (6) ..... area. The San Francisco Bay area is home to four of the world's ten largest (7) ..... by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people. A. B. C. D. E. F.

COMPANIES LARGEST ECONOMY POPULOUS RESPECTIVELY BILLION

G. H. I. J. K.

METROPOLITAN WEALTH RESIDENTS AMERICAN HOLLYWOOD

READING TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS QUINOA: A SUPERFOOD? You are going to read an article about quinoa. Choose from the list (A-I) the heading that best summarizes each paragraph (1-6). There is one extra sentence that you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A

A.

Quinoa and its relatives

B.

Climatic requirements for its production

C.

The complexities of its harvesting

D.

Effects on growers of rising demand

E.

The importance of the crop to ancient tribes

F.

An increasingly profitable alternative to other grains

G.

The characteristics and botany of the plant

H.

A healthy superfood

I.

A possible replacement for prohibited grains

0. The name 'Quinoa' comes from the Quechua word kinwa or kinuwa and is a flowering plant from the amaranth family. It is a herbaceous annual plant grown as a grain crop primarily for its edible seeds. Quinoa is not a grass, but rather a pseudocereal which is botanically related to spinach and amaranth. 1. The plant was first domesticated by the Andean peoples around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. It has been an important staple in the Andean cultures where the plant is indigenous but relatively obscure to the rest of the world. The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to it as chisoya mama or "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using "golden implements". 2. Quinoa is a dicotyledonous annual plant, and is approximately 1-2 m high. It has broad, generally powdery, hairy, lobed leaves, normally arranged alternately. The woody central stem is branched and depending on the variety it may be green, red or purple. The flowering panicles arise from the top of the plant or from leaf axils along the stem. The green flowers are generally self-fertilizing. The fruits (seeds) are about 2 mm in diameter and of various colours—from white to red or black, depending on the variety.

3. The growth of the plant is variable due to the number of different subspecies and varieties. However, it is generally undemanding and altitude-hardy; it is grown from coastal regions to over 4,000 m in the Andes near the equator, with most of the cultivars being grown between 2,500 m and 4,000m. Generally, optimal growing condition are in coastal regions with temperatures that vary between -4 °C during the night to near 35 °C during the heat of the day. 4. Throughout the ages, quinoa grain has been hand-picked, and only rarely by machine, because the extreme variability of the maturity period of most Quinoa cultivars complicates mechanization. Harvest needs to be precisely timed to avoid high seed losses as different panicles on the same plant mature at different times of the year. The crop yield in the Andean region is comparable to wheat yields. In the West, varieties have been selected for uniformity of maturity and are mechanically harvested using conventional small grain combines. 5. From the early 21st century to today the crop values has risen, mainly due to quinoa becoming more commonly consumed in North America, Europe, and Australasia where it was not typically grown. Indeed, between 2006 and 2013, quinoa crop prices tripled. In 2011, the average price was US $3,115 per tonne with some varieties selling as high as $8,000 per tonne. This compares with wheat prices of $9 per bushel (about US $340 per tonne), making wheat about 10% of the value of quinoa. 6. Inflating quinoa prices over the period 2006 to 2017 may have reduced affordability of traditional consumers to eat quinoa themselves. Attempts are being made in some areas to distribute quinoa more widely and ensure that farming and poorer populations not only have access to it but have an understanding of its nutritional importance. Efforts are being made to include the grain in free school breakfasts and government provisions distributed to pregnant and nursing women in need. 7. Quinoa is used in the Jewish community as a substitute for the leavened grains that are forbidden during the Passover holiday. Several kosher certification organizations refuse to certify it as being kosher for Passover, citing reasons including its resemblance to prohibited grains or fear of cross-contamination of the product from nearby fields of prohibited grain or during packaging. However, in December 2013 the Orthodox Union, the world's largest kosher certification agency, announced it would begin certifying quinoa as kosher for Passover.

LISTENING SECTION

25 QUESTIONS

55 MINUTES

LISTENING TESTS HERE: http://cort.as/-I5C7

THE LISTENING SECTION: TIPS & STRATEGIES The listening section of the exam lasts for up to 55 minutes. You will listen to 25 short audios and choose the correct option from a choice of four possible answers. The questions increase in difficulty, so the final questions are more difficult than those at the beginning. You can play each audio twice. TIPS Although you can listen to each audio twice, you may want to go through the first 5-6 questions quickly if you think the answer is clear. This way you will have more time to think about your answers when the questions become more difficult. You should try to eliminate the answers you know are wrong, as well as trying to identify the correct answer. This way, if you're not sure, your guess will only be between two possible choices and you will have a 50% chance of guessing it correctly. The transcripts at the back of this book contain many of the expressions and words you can expect to hear in the real exam. Study them carefully to make sure you understand everything and know how the words are pronounced. This way, you will recognise them if you hear them again. It’ s difficult to improve your English listening skills in a short time. In addition to studying the transcripts in this hook, you should do as man^ listening activities as you can from other English exams such as Cambridge TET, TCE or the other British Council test, IELTS. You can find many links to websites if you search the Internet for 'Cambridge TET listening practice', 'FCE listening practice' or 'IELTS listening practice'. When I did the test I found that I didn't have enough time to study the harder questions and think about my response, because I had listened to the easy recordings twice - even though I was sure of the answer. If I took the exam again, I would only listen once to the easy questions in the beginning to give myself more time at the end."

LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 1

Example:

Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? A The train is late B There's an emergency C She's not feeling well D She's busy

1.

Listen to the call from your friend to make lunch plans. What class does she have on Thursday afternoons? A A Pilates class B An art class C A dance class D A music class

2.

Your classmate calls to say where the class will be. Where is room 205? A On the left of the hall B On the ground floor C After the vending machine D In the main hall

3.

Listen to a message that Sonia left you about looking after her son Eric. What does he usually have for dinner on Fridays? A Cereals B Fish C Vegetables D Meat

4.

Listen to a message from your colleague Sally. What is the problem? A The budget B The calculations C The recommendations about making cuts D The investments

5.

Listen to the message. What is Liz's phone number? A 01557424224 B 01557424221 C 01575424212 D 01557424212

6.

You overhear two friends discussing their plans for the evening. What are they planning to do? A Go for a long walk B Go to the gardens C Go to the beach D Go to the pool

7.

Listen to Sam talking about his plans after leaving school. What does he want to do? A Go straight to university B Go travelling C Get a job D Stay with his family

8.

Where do a man and a woman decide to go for their holidays? A A friend's house B Morocco C Spain or Portugal D Their usual holiday

9.

Listen to a birthday announcement on the radio. Who has a birthday today? A Pete B Harry C Ringo D Katie

10. Listen to two friends speaking about the man's new job. What does he find challenging about it? A The responsibility B The long hours C The daily commute D Working with other staff members 11. Listen to the airport announcement. What time will the plane now depart? A. 06:30 B. 10:00 C. 11:00 D. 12:00 12. You hear an announcement about promotions in a large department store. Which items have the best discount at the moment? A Kitchen appliances B TVs & DVDs C Sports shoes D Beauty products

13. Listen to a book review on the radio. What is the critic's opinion of the book? A Inspirational B Awful C Uncomplicated D Unbelievable 14. You hear a message about an event. What type of event is it this year? A An art exhibition B A music festival C A folk festival D A costume festival 15. You hear information about a sporting event. Where and when will the ladies' event start? A The Boathouse at 2 o'clock B The Main gate at 8:30 C The South Gate at 8:30 D The Main gate at 10 o'clock 16. You can hear a paragliding instructor give instructions. Which route is the safest? A As high as possible B Along the mountains C Away from the mountains D As low as possible 17. Listen to a radio show. What's the most important advice given? A Think about your objectives B Create a plan C Act on feedback D Study the market 18. You hear news report on the radio about a robbery. What did the thieves steal? A A bank B Money C Documents D A car 19. You can hear two friends speaking about a book. What do they think of it? A Disappointing B Dull C Convoluted D Outdated

20. Listen to a radio programme about a man living in the country. What does he think about the country? A He's really happy about getting a VISA B He's really sad about going to university C He loves everything D He feels discouraged by bureaucracy 21. Listen to the recorded message. What is Julie Knight's telephone number? A 07789678876 B 07789788876 C 07798678876 D 07789788886 22. Listen to two friends discussing a theatrical play. What does Mike think of it? A Emotional B Difficult to follow C Educational D Boring 23. Listen to two friends talking about films. What type of films does James' friend recommend? A Unpredictable B Unforgettable C Thrilling D Emotional 24. Listen to a conversation between Safia and Lee. What does Safia want to buy for Lorna? A A book B A scarf C A belt D A cinema voucher 25. Listen to two friends discussing a film. What's the woman's view of it? A Improbable B Unoriginal C Entertaining D Passionate

LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 2

EXAMPLE:

Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? A The train is late B There's an emergency C She's not feeling well D She's busy

1.

James calls his friend. When does he want his friend to go to his house? A For lunch B After 3 pm C After lunch D In the morning

2.

Your old friend Ali calls to meet for lunch. What day does he suggest meeting up? A Wednesday B Thursday C Saturday D Monday

3.

Your boss calls you to arrange an evaluation meeting. What time does he want to meet? A 12:00 pm B 10:30 am C 11:00 am D 11:30 am

4.

Gemma calls you to cancel the party. What day will the party now be on? A Saturday B Thursday C Friday D Tuesday

5.

Listen to the message from your aunt. What do you need to buy? A A present B Drinks C Dessert D A starter

6.

Listen to two friends speaking about their plans for the weekend. What are they going to do? A Go to a music festival B Go to the beach C Do the same as last weekend D Go to a restaurant

7.

You overhear a woman in a furniture shop. What type of table does she want to buy? A An antique table B A glass-topped table C An expensive table D A large table

8.

A girl is leaving a message for a friend. What is the purpose of her message? A To arrange a party B To arrange to meet up C To say goodbye to him D To say that she's sorry

9.

Listen to two friends speaking about the man's job. Where did he used to work? A a factory B a shopping centre C a school D an insurance company

10. Listen to Stephanie talking to her Personal Assistant. When is the car going to pick her up? A 11:30 B 10:45 C 1 o'clock D 3 o'clock 11. You hear a conversation between two friends about the new French teacher. What is the best word to describe her? A Fair B Strict C Unfair D Funny

12. You hear a Health Centre advertisement. When are the cross-training classes? A Every day B Monday to Friday C Tuesdays and Thursdays D Mondays and Wednesdays 13. Listen to a new store announcement and answer the question. What type of customers will like this store? A Enjoy sweet treats B Love good deals C Like to play games D Like new technology 14. Listen to a radio program about journalism. What does the speaker say about news stories? A That the stories are recent B That the stories are deceptive C That the stories are newsworthy D That the stories are interesting 15. Listen to the staff announcement at Baltimore School. What is happening on Wednesday? A A school inspection B A charity event C A staff meeting D A school assembly 16. Listen to the information given by your bus tour guide. Where will you stop for lunch? A The old castle B The woods C The ancient bridge D The museum 17. A teacher recalls his first day at school. What was he frightened of? A Not making any friends B His classmates C The older students D The teacher's severity 18. Amelia's friend gives her some advice about health treatments. What's the best treatment for injuries? A A sports massage B A healthy diet C Stretching after exercise D Taking magnesium tablets

19. Listen to the message that Adi left for Samantha. Why is Adi calling? A Say sorry B Say thank you C Say goodbye D Say hi 20. Ahmed is speaking with his colleague about his holiday. Did he enjoy it? A Wasn't the best he's had B Can't wait to go back C Doesn't have an opinion D A bit frustrating at times 21. Listen to a man describing his holidays. How is he going to get there? A By train B By car C By using different transport D By bus 22. Listen to the information about meeting arrangements. Where is Marie going to meet Abdul? A At the station B In the square C At a concert D At Marie's sister's house 23. You can hear a radio interview. What is the main problem for charities nowadays? A Lack of donors B Lack of media support C Unhelpful politicians D Lack of volunteers 24. A couple of friends are planning a birthday party. What are they quite concerned about? A The food B The cake C The invitations D How many people will come 25. Listen to the team manager Jessica speaking about Fernando. Why doesn't she want to offer him the promotion? A He isn't efficient enough B He doesn't have enough experience C He is indecisive and unsure of himself D He is unpopular with others

LISTENING: PRACTICE TEST 3

EXAMPLE:

Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? A The train is late B There's an emergency C She's not feeling well D She's busy

1.

You are going to pick somebody up from the airport. What sort of suitcase will she have? A Brown and big B Big and blue C Small and blue D Small and black

2.

Joe leaves a message for his friend to suggest ways of getting to his house. How do most people usually get there? A Boat B Car C Train D Taxi

3.

Your assistant James calls to tell you about a business trip. What time does the train leave? A 11:05am B 5:00pm C 09:14am D 09:40am

4.

Shaun invites his brother to go to the shopping centre. What does he want to buy? A A suit B A frame C Music D Clothes

5.

Listen to the message that Brad left for his friend Fiona. What can't he find? A Bag B Keys C Wallet D Charger

6.

You overhear a couple deciding what to have for dinner. What type of takeaway food are they going to order tonight? A Turkish food B Italian food C Keralan food D Thai food

7.

A customer is speaking to a waiter. What does she order for her main course? A Steak B Fish and salad C Fish and chips D Steak and salad

8.

You overhear a person speaking about a car. What isn't she keen on? A The doors B The seats C The windows D The colour

9.

You hear a recorded phone message to Andy. What does Rachel want him to get? A Some biscuits B Some bread C Some drinks D Some milk

10. Listen to two friends discussing the best city to visit. Which city does Jane think is the best? A York B Manchester C London D Birmingham 11. You overhear friends speaking about the man's job. What does he find difficult? A Working with the bosses B Getting on with his colleagues C Working long hours D Working at the weekend 12. You can hear a woman talking about her experience in a hotel. What did she like the most about where she stayed? A The luxury spa B Her view from the balcony C That it was all-inclusive D The fantastic weather

13. Listen to the advertisement. What does Gilmore University offer to students this summer? A English language classes B Summer courses C Discounted courses D Host Family stays 14. You call the theatre information line. Which show is not suitable for children? A Billy Ellis B Albion C Chicago D Cats 15. You can hear a hotel guest complaining to his travel agency. What does the man say was the only thing the travel agency advertised truthfully in the brochure? A Extra fees B Relaxing ambience C Comfortable beds D Enjoyable experience 16. Nick leaves a message for his friend Nathan. What time are the two meeting? A 5:00pm B 4:00pm C 2:00pm D After dinner 17. You overhear a message recorded by Stephen's friend. What does his friend recommend Stephen to do for his weekend trip? A Buy a new car B Hire a car C Borrow a car from his friend D Use his father's car 18. You can hear a man talking about his studies. What did he find frustrating? A Chess club B French C Sports D Social science

19. Listen to some information about a school trip to a wildlife park. Where can they see the tigers' A Close to the monkeys B In the savannah C By the entrance D Next to the toilets 20. Listen to the information about a holiday apartment rental. When can you rent the apartment? A This Friday B Next Monday C Next Sunday D This Sunday 21. A TV presenter is talking about the radio news. What improvement does he recommend? A Have more international stories B Be more interesting C Include more across-the-country news D Be less serious 22. Monica is talking to a friend about a job interview. How did she feel after it? A Disappointed B Relieved C Concerned D Overwhelmed 23. Listen to the conversation between Maya and her boss. What reason does Maya give for not finishing her project? A She forgot about the deadline B She's feeling ill C She's going for lunch D She has to update it 24. Listen to two university students talking about an event. What is the special event? A The end of school party B A visit to a museum C A visit to a theme park D A school presentation 25. You hear a man and a woman speaking. Where are they? A A designer outlet B A TV store C A coffee shop D A nightclub

SPEAKING SECTION

TASKS 1 - 4 12 MINUTES THE SPEAKING SECTION: TIPS & STRATEGIES The speaking section consists of four tasks and takes about 12 minutes to complete. As in all the sections of the APTIS exam, the tasks become more challenging as the tests progresses. You should practise all the exam tasks in this book again and again to improve your fluency and confidence. You should record yourself speaking on your smartphone or tablet and listen back to yourself. This way you will hear mistakes and hesitation clearly and it will really help you to improve. On the day of the exam there are often many people taking the speaking exam in the same room. This can be distracting, so practise closing your eyes and covering your ears to block out background noise. This will help you concentrate better on the day of the exam. TASK 1: PERSONAL QUESTIONS (30 SECONDS PER RESPONSE) This is the first section of the exam, so just relax and try to get used to speaking to a computer. You will be asked three questions and will have to speak for 30 seconds about your hobbies, life, work etc. The 'Just 30 Seconds' activity included in this section is perfect practice for this. Cut out the cards and place them face down. Set your mobile phone timer to 30 seconds, turn over a card and start talking. TASK 2: DESCRIBE A PICTURE (45 SECONDS PER RESPONSE) In this task you will be shown a photograph and asked three questions. You will have to speak for 45 seconds for each question. The first question asks you to describe what you can see, the second question usually asks you to talk about a memory, and the final question asks you to give your opinion on a topic. Use the useful expressions included in this chapter of the book to help you to develop a structure when answering the three questions in Task 2. TASK 3: COMPARE DIFFERENT PICTURES (45 SECONDS PER RESPONSE] In this task you will be shown two photographs and asked three questions. You will have to speak for 45 seconds for each response. The first question usually asks you to compare the pictures, the second asks you to speculate about the topic, and the third asks you to make a choice and justify it. Use the useful expressions included in this chapter of the book to help you to develop a structure — when comparing pictures, speculating and justifying your opinion about a topic. TASK 4: LONG-TURN (2 MINUTES) In this section you are shown a photograph with three topic-related questions. You will be given 1 minute to prepare your response and then you will have to speak for 2 minutes. You must answer all three questions in the time given. Although you will be shown a photograph in this task you are not asked to talk about it this time. Instead, you must talk about your own personal experiences and how they relate to the topical photograph. "To get a B2 or C grade in the APTIS speaking exam you need to do this task well. I practised with the fixed expressions and the structure my teacher gave me so that I wouldn't be nervous or hesitate too much on the day of the exam."

SPEAKING TASK I JUST 30 SECONDS ACTIVITY COMMON TOPICS

Tell me about your family

Tell me about your town

Tell me about your last holiday

Tell me about your work or studies

What's the weather like today?

What are you wearing today?

Tell me about your favourite book

What did you do last night?

Describe your journey here today

Tell me about your best friend

What do you like doing at the weekend?

What was your favourite toy as a child?

Describe your home

Tell me about your favourite film

What's the food like in your country?

What do you like doing in your free time?

Tell me about your favourite food

What is your favourite item of clothing?

Describe the room you are in now

Tell me about your favourite animal

What is your What is your favourite time of typical day like? the year?

What's your favourite city?

Tell me about your last holiday

JUST 30 SECONDS: INSTRUCTIONS Activity:

Group work: speaking

Aim:

To practise APTIS speaking part 1

Preparation:

Make one copy of the sheet for each group of four students, and cut it up into cards.

Time:

20-25 minutes

PROCEDURE Organise into groups of four. Divide the cut-up cards equally between the group. Use a timer on your phone to time 30 seconds for each answer Keep repeating this game and swapping cards until your answers are without hesitation HOW TO GIVE A GOOD ANSWER -

Avoid hesitation by beginning with a natural filler such as: Well, So, .... Keep speaking until you hear the beep. Many students try to finish exactly on the beep, but this isn't necessary - just keep talking! Remember to talk in full sentences with a subject + verb + clause. Try to avoid saying simple phrases such as 'I like playing football'. I'm pretty keen on playing football so I play most Fridays with my brother. I'm really into playing football and I'm in a local team. I love playing football with my friends. In fact, we play most evenings after work. Pay attention to the verb tense of the question and make sure your answer reflects this. USEFUL PHRASES: I love many types of food, but above all I love Pizza. My last holiday was to Italy. My favourite (book, film, food) of all time has to be... .(Avatar) I have been working in (an office) since I finished university in 2016

SPEAKING TASK 2: USEFUL EXPRESSIONS & STRUCTURES

QUESTION 1: PLEASE DESCRIBE THIS PICTURE

(45 SECONDS)

„In this picture we can see ... a man running along a road in the mountains.‟ DESCRIBING PEOPLE: “The mm is about 40 years old and he has short hair.” “He seems to be quite tall.” “He is wearing a blue t-shirt, shorts and a pair of running trainers.” SPATIAL EXPRESSIONS: In the background there are some mountains and a beautiful, blue lake and in the foreground there is a concrete road. TIME, SEASON, PLACE: It seems like spring or summer time because the sun is shining and he seems quite hot. Maybe it‟s in the afternoon because I see long shadows on the road. I guess this picture was taken in the USA or Canada because it reminds me of films I have seen from those countries.

QUESTION 2:

(45 SECONDS)

WHAT TYPE OF SPORT DO PEOPLE LIKE DOING IN YOUR COUNTRY? In my country people like doing many types of sport, such as playing football, going to the gym and running - like the man in the photograph. Recently cycling has also become very popular because there is a famous man from my country who won the Tour de France, which is a famous race, and so many people have taken up cycling as a sport. In the past people used to go for walks or do jobs that were very physically active, but nowadays they do sport for fun and leisure and they have more sedentary jobs. Many people also like watching sports like football on the television. In fact I think more people watch football than actually play football.

QUESTION 3: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE?

(45 SECONDS)

The main reason that doing sport is important is for our heath. Everybody knows that we need to be active to be healthy. Another reason is that doing sport helps us to relax after a busy day, when we are doing exercise we have time to think about our problems and the things that are happening in our lives. I usually go for a run on a Monday morning as it helps me to be prepared for the week ahead. Finally, many sports are team games and so we can make friends and meet new people. In my opinion it‟s very important to spend time with my friends so if I play football with my friends I can enjoy myself and stay healthy at the same time.

TIPS Read the question carefully, but don't waste time repeating the question as you will not get any marks for reading it again. If you need time to think, use natural fillers such as "Well...", So..." or "Hmm let me see.." If you don't know the word for something or your mind goes blank don't panic! Just do what English people do and say "Anyway...." and start a new sentence.

SPEAKING TASK 2

THE GIFT

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. WHEN DO PEOPLE USUALLY GIVE GIFTS IN YOUR COUNTRY? 3. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE GIVING AND RECEIVING GIFTS?

BEING OUTDOORS

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. TELL ME ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN YOUR COUNTRY. 3. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE SPENDING TIME IN NATURE?

SPEAKING TASK 2

DANCING

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. WHEN DO PEOPLE USUALLY DANCE IN YOUR COUNTRY? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ENJOY DANCING?

EATING TOGETHER

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. WHEN DO PEOPLE USUALLY EAT TOGETHER IN YOUR COUNTRY? 3. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO EAT TOGETHER?

SPEAKING TASK 2

MUSEUMS

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. WHAT WAS THE LAST MUSEUM OR GALLERY YOU VISITED? 3. WHY ARE MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IMPORTANT?

MOBILE PHONES

1. DESCRIBE THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. HOW IMPORTANT ARE MOBILE PHONES IN YOUR COUNTRY? 3. DO YOU THINK THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE GIVEN MOBILE PHONES AT A YOUNG AGE?

SPEAKING TASK 2

CELEBRATIONS

1. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. TELL ME ABOUT A SPECIAL CELEBRATION IN YOUR CULTURE. 3. WHY ARE FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS IMPORTANT?

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. TELL ME ABOUT A POPULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN YOUR COUNTRY. 3. WHY ARE HOLIDAYS IMPORTANT?

SPEAKING TASK 3: USEFUL EXPRESSIONS & STRUCTURES QUESTION 1 Use this structure to answer this question and to keep speaking for the full 45 seconds. Both pictures show ... Mention the connection you can see between the two pictures. Do they both show a building? Or are the people in the image doing the same thing? In the first picture we can see ... Now focus your description of the first picture. Are there any people in the picture? If so, what are they doing? Where was the picture taken? What objects or features can you see and describe? Is there anything in the foreground or the background of the picture? Whereas, in the second picture we can see... Now focus your description on the second picture. Are there any people in the picture? If so, what are they doing? Where was the picture taken? What objects or features can you describe? Is there anything in the foreground or the background of the picture? QUESTION 2 The second question often asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of concepts represented in the photos. Try to paraphrase this by using 'pros & cons' or 'benefits and drawbacks'. This way yon will show that you can use a range of vocabulary by not just repeating the words used in the question. Other questions may ask you to discuss 'why is ..... important?'. Again, try to use words such as 'vital' 'crucial' 'essential' 'necessary' or 'valuable' to avoid repeating the words used in the question. QUESTION 3 Question 3 usually asks you to make a choice between the two photos. A good structure to use here is a second conditional. "Well, I like both of the photos, but if I to choose, I'd go for the 1st picture as it reminds me of when I lived in London".

EXAMPLE ANSWER COMPETITION

1.

TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS.

Well, both pictures show people competing in different ways. In the first picture we can see a man playing American football. He is holding the ball and seems to be running very fast while somebody is trying to tackle him. There are some more men in the background - perhaps they are the team‟s trainers or the coaches. Whereas, in the second picture we can see two men playing chess, which is an ancient Indian game of strategy. Unlike the man in the first picture, these men are indoors and drinking coffee at a table. 2.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COMPETING IN THESE TWO SITUATIONS?

I imagine that the benefits of playing sports like the man in the first picture are that you compete with other members of a team, so you can share all the wins and losses together and support each other. What‟s more, you stay fit and healthy. However, as it's a very physically demanding sport you probably have to retire in tour 30s, or you might get an injury - that could be a big drawback. Оn the other hand, the men in the second picture can compete in this way until they are very old. One pro might be that playing chess keeps уоur mind active and уоu learn how to use strategies to improve уоur memory. Although , as уоu only have to sit down and not move for many hours а соn might be that уоu aren't very active. 3.

WHICH OF THE TWO ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU PREFER TO COMPETE IN? WHY?

"I personally like both physically and mentally challenging activities, but if I had to choose, I'd probably choose the second picture. I have played chess a few times and this picture reminds me of when I used to play chess on holiday with my dad as a child. He taught me how to play many games and I always liked chess. That said, I don't think that I am very good at it so I would like to learn the strategies and tactics. Maybe by learning them it could help me in other areas of my life.”

SPEAKING TASK 3

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHAT ASPECTS OF BOTH JOBS COULO BE DIFFICULT? 3. WHICH ENVIRONMENT WOULD YOU PREFER TO WORK IN? WHY?

OLD AND NEW

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO LIVE IN THESE TWO PLACES? 3. WHICH PLACE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT? WHY?

SPEAKING TASK 3

LEARNING

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF LEARNING IN THESE TWO ENVIRONMENTS? 3. WHICH ENVIRONMENT WOULD YOU PREFER TO LEARN IN? WHY?

SKILLS

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHAT SKILLS ARE NEEDED TO PERFORM EACH OF THE TASKS? 3. WHAT SKILLS OR ABILITIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? WHY?

SPEAKING TASK 3

CULTURE

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE? 3. WHICH OF THE TWO CULTURES WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT? WHY?

LANDSCAPES

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE NATURAL PLACES? 3. WHICH NATURAL PLACE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT? WHY?

SPEAKING TASK 3

FAMILIES

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF GROWING UP IN THESE FAMILIES? 3. WHICH FAMILY WOULD YOU PREFER TO GROW UP IN? WHY?

WEATHER

1. TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TWO PHOTOGRAPHS. 2. HOW COULD THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE? 3. WHICH OF THE TWO WEATHER CONDITIONS DO YOU THINK WOULD AFFECT THE COUNTRY THE MOST? WHY?

SPEAKING TASK 4: USEFUL EXPRESSIONS & STRUCTURES In the final part of the speaking exam you will be shown a picture but you will not be asked to describe it as in previous tasks. You will be asked three questions and given 1 minute to prepare your response. You will then have to speak for 2 minutes and answer all three questions. This section of the test is designed to differentiate between B2 and C level test-takers, and those with a lower level than this will find this task challenging. QUESTION 1: The first question often asks you to recall a memory or talk about a past experience you have had. Think of one example and expand on the details. You should talk about this for about 1 minute. QUESTION 2: The second question usually asks you about your feelings or how you did something. You should talk about this for about 30 seconds. QUESTION 3: The final question often asks you to speculate about the topic in a general sense, for example 'Why do people like to dress in different ways'. You should talk for about 30 seconds to answer this question. NOTE-TAKING You have a minute to prepare the task so take full advantage by writing down quickly any vocabulary or expressions you want to incorporate into your answer. Don't worry about waking fall sentences, as there is no time. Just write down phrasal verbs, collocations and expressions related to the topic that could help you when you start speaking. STRUCTURE To get top marks for this section of the exam you need to 'signpost' your answer in same way you would if you were giving an oral presentation. This means you should structure your response in a way that makes it clear to the listener (i.e. the examiner) which question you are answering. Regarding the first question...

(Answer Q1)

Moving on to the second question... (Answer Q2) Finally, I think that...

(Answer Q3)

EXAMPLE TASK: STRESS AND PRESSURE

1. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO WORK UNDER PRESSURE. 2. HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY? 3. DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WORK BETTER UNDER PRESSURE? NOTES (1 MIN) Q1: University final project presentation Degree in Sociology & Criminology Had problems with the printer Had to ask: for an extension Worried / stressed out / no sleep / lots of coffee Q2: Made a schedule and printed out Did sport and had breaks / energy levels No motivation after 8 pm / can't work late Q3: Yes, because no choice Thinking about deadline No deadline means things don't get done EXAMPLE RESPONSE So regarding the first question, a time when I had to work under pressure was last year when I was doing my final dissertation project at university - I did a degree in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Liverpool. Anyway, the issue was that the day before it was due I had big problems with the printer and whatever I did, I just couldn't make it work. I was very stressed out and didn't sleep at all the night before. Moving on to the second question, when I was writing my project I organised my time by making a schedule and printing it out to put on my wall. What‟s more, I made sure I included lots of breaks and did sport to keep up my energy levels. The thing is, after 8 pm I have no more energy so I have to stop. Finally, do I think that people work better under pressure? I'd probably say - yes. At least it's definitely true for me! I can't work well unless I know I have a deadline to work to. I guess that many other people are like me too and to have to be under a bit of pressure to do things well and ... (beep)

SPEAKING TASK 4

BIG CITIES

1. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU VISITED A BIG CITY. 2. HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WERE THERE? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY PEOPLE LIVE TOGETHER IN BIG CITIES? NOTES

FASHION

1. TELL ME ABOUT THE TYPE OF CLOTHES YOU LIKE TO WEAR. 2. HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR YOUR BEST CLOTHES? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK FASHION IS IMPORTANT TO SOME PEOPLE? NOTES

BOOKS & FILMS

1. TELL ME ABOUT A BOOK YOU HAVE READ RECENTLY. 2. HOW DID THE BOOK MAKE YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WERE READING IT? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE PREFER WATCHING FILMS TO READING BOOKS? NOTES

BEING ALONE

1. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU WERE ALONE. 2. HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING BY YOURSELF? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO SPEND TIME ON THEIR OWN? NOTES

TRAVELLING

1. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU TRAVELLED SOMEWHERE INTERESTING. 2. WHO DID YOU TRAVEL WITH? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO VISIT NEW PLACES? NOTES

PHOTOGRAPHY

1. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPH. 2. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT? 3. WHY DO YOU THINK PHOTOGRAPHY HAS BECOME SO POPULAR NOWADAYS? NOTES

MONEY

1. TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU MADE A BIG PURCHASE. 2. HOW EASY DO YOU FIND IT TO SAVE MONEY? 3. DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS? NOTES

WRITING SECTION TASKS 1-4

50 MINUTES

THE WRITING SECTION: TIPS & STRATEGIES You will have 50 minutes to complete four different tasks which are all based on the same theme, for example 'you are a member of an online shopping website' or 'you are a member of a sports club'. All four tasks relate to the same theme and become more complex as the test progresses. You should practise completing the task in the given time, because on the day of the exam you need to be able to finish the first three tasks quickly to leave you enough time to write both the emails. TASK 1: SHORT ANSWERS (3 MINUTES] In this task you must respond to five short questions. You should use a maximum of five words per response. TASK 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION (7 MINUTES) In this task you must respond to a question about yourself which is related to the theme by writing in sentences. You should write 25-30 words. TASK 3: SOCIAL MEDIA CHAT (10 MINUTES) In this task you have to respond to questions in an online chat room using informal English. You should write 30-40 words per response. ‘Include tag questions (don't you think? don't you reckon?) at the end of your responses. Using a variety of adverbs at the beginning of sentences (actually, surprisingly, well) can make your responses sound like a real social media ’chat’. TASK 4: FORMAL 8 INFORMAL EMAIL [30 MINUTES] In this task you have to produce two emails. One email is to a friend using an informal style, and the second is a formal email which is related to the same theme. You should write 50 words for the informal email and 120 -150 words for the formal email task. The task types are commonly: complaining about an unfair change in services, suggesting alternatives to a new club policy, requesting information or offering your help or assistance. ‘You should leave spaces between your paragraphs to wake your writing clear for the examiner to grade. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and poor punctuation will all negatively affect your marks in this section of the exam. Be very careful to answer both parts of the question in the task. I chose expressions from the useful expressions (p102-103) in this book and memorised them so that I could use the same expressions and structures on the day of the exam, -ay doing this, I could focus more on the content of my emails.’

WRITING TASK 1: SHORT ANSWERS In this part of the writing section of the APTIS exam, you will be asked to respond to five short questions. Read the question carefully, then write your answer in a maximum of five words. You should aim to complete this essay section as quickly as possible to leave more time for the harder tasks. That said, check your spelling carefully before moving on to the next task. HISTORY CLUB You have joined a history club. You have 5 messages from another club member. Write short answers and respond to each questions (1-5 words) How are you? ...................................................................... What's the weather like today? ...................................................................... What's your favourite time of the year? ...................................................................... What's your favourite colour? ...................................................................... What are you wearing today? ...................................................................... CHECKLIST Have you read and understood the questions? Check that your answer is no more that 5 words. Check that your spelling, use of capital letters and punctuation are correct. SPORTS CLUB You have joined a sports club. You have 5 messages from another club member. Write short answers to respond to each message (1-5 words). What's your favourite sport? What are you wearing today? What's your favourite colour? Do you have any brothers or sisters? What did you do yesterday?

...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ......................................................................

LANGUAGE CLUB You have joined a language club. You have 5 messages from another club member. Write short answers to respond to each message (1-5 words). A Do you have a job? ...................................................................... B What's your favorite hobby? ...................................................................... C Where are you from? ...................................................................... D What's your favorite film? ...................................................................... E Who is your best friend? ......................................................................

WRITING TASK 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION Read the practice task and the student's response. Identify the mistakes in the response by using the checklist and write your corrected version below. Check your answers on page 155.

You are a new member of a book club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your favourite book and why you have joined the book club. ..................................................................................................................................... CHECKLIST Check your spelling carefully. Use capital letters for names, places, days, months etc. Avoid starting sentences with: and, because, so. Use capital letters to start sentences. Extend your sentences by giving reasons: EXAMPLE: I like football because I'm good at it and I play in a local team with my friends. Use adjective ending -ED for people's feelings and -ING for things that produce the feelings. EXAMPLE: The film was so boring that everyone in the cinema was bored. Reflect the same verb tense used in the question EXAMPLE: Why have you joined this sports club? I have joined this sports club because I want to get fit. Check that you have used the correct prepositions (in, at on) Rewrite your corrected version here. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

LANGUAGE CLUB You are a new member of a language club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your hobbies and when you usually do them.

TRAVEL CLUB You are a new member of a travel club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your favourite place, and tell us why you have joined the club.

SPORTS CLUB You are a new member of a sports club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about the different sports you like doing and what days you would like to use the sports club and gym. CINEMA CLUB You are a new member of a cinema club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your favourite film and tell us why you have joined the cinema club. FASHION ONLINE You are a new member of a clothes shopping website called www.fashiononline.com. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your favourite clothes and tell us why you have joined www.fashiononline.com. PROPERTY WEBSITE You are a new member of a property website to find new homes called www.myhome.com. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your family and tell us what type of new home you are looking for.

WRITING TASK 3: SOCIAL MEDIA CHAT FASHION ONLINE You are a new member of www.fashiononline.com. You are chatting to Sammy in the online customer chat room. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hi! I see that you are a new member. I have been a member since I moved out of the city as there aren't many shops in my village. Mind sharing why you have joined the site? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Do you like the service so far? Have you bought anything nice? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... They recently changed the website. Do you like the new design? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

SPORTS CLUB You are a new member of a sports club. You are chatting to another member in the online chat room. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hi, I see you are new to the sports club. I've been a member for a year now because I need to be fit for my job. Why did you choose this sports club? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Which activities or classes are you going to join? How many times a week are you planning on going? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Really? What do you think about the membership fee and the price of the classes? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

PROPERTY WEBSITE You are a new member of a property website to find a new homes called www.myhome.com. You are chatting to Ringo23 in the online chat room where you can talk to people who live in the neighbourhood. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hi! I see that you are interested in moving to my area of the city. What would you like to know about the zone? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... I really like this area of town. Who will you be living with? What activities do you like doing? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... That's nice. What are your house and neighbourhood like where you live now? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

CINEMA CLUB You are a new member of a cinema club. You are chatting to Indi_Jones in the online fan room. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hi there! I see that you are a film fan too. Why have you joined this club? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

That's cool. I love cinema too. What's your favourite film and why? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

It's great to chat with another cinema fan. Did you hear that the club is going to offer special international film nights? What do you think of this idea? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

TRAVEL CLUB You are a new member of a travel club. You are chatting to Paris333 in the online chat room. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hello! Welcome to the chat room. In the club we learn about different places around the world from other members who have been there. Have you visited anywhere interesting? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Wow! That sounds amazing! Do you prefer city holidays, activity holidays or beach holidays? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Me too! Where would you like to go on your next holiday? Why there? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

TASK 4: INFORMAL EMAIL USEFUL EXPRESSIUNS GREETINGS Hi Sara, Hello Jon, FIRST LINE How's it going? Long time no see! How are things with you? INTRODUCING THE TOPIC Hey, did you hear about...? Have you heard the news about...? REACTING TO BAD NEWS I can't tell you how... (annoyed / furious / disappointed)... I am about... I'm so ... (annoyed / furious / disappointed)... about MAKING SUGGESTIONS Don't you reckon they should...? Why don't they..? I think they should ... don't you? ENDING THE EMAIL Anyway, I should get going as I have a busy day. Well, I'd better be going. LAST LINES Don't forget to drop me a line soon! Take care of yourself. Get in touch soon and we'll organise a meet up. SIGNING OFF All my love, All the best,

TASK 4: FORMAL EMAIL USEFUL EXPRESSIONS OPENING Dear Sir or Madam, / To whom it may concern / Dear Loan Services I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with... I feel compelled to write to you in order to describe the... I am contacting you regarding... LISTING PROBLEMS First of all / another point is.. / finally On top of that... Moreover / additionally / furthermore Not only (+inversion) but... COMPLAINING EXPRESSIONS The..(service / food)..was not up to the expected standard. The..(customer service)... failed to live up to my expectations. I was left bitterly disappointed by...(the proposed changes) The quality of the., (customer service)... has been woefully inadequate. REQUESTING ACTION It seems only fair that you should... (offer a full refund) I would appreciate it if you... I would be grateful if you... I was wondering if you would be so kind as to (give me some information on).. MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS I strongly recommend that your organisation... It would be advisable to... I suggest re-evaluating your procedures regarding... In the interests of offering a fair service to your customers, might I suggest that you... SIGNING OFF I look forward to receiving your reply. I would appreciate a prompt reply to this letter. Yours faithfully, (if you don't have the name of the person) Your sincerely, (if you are writing to a specific person 'Dear Mr. Jones')

WRITING TASK 4: INFORMAL & FORMAL EMAIL FASHION ONLINE You are a memberofwww.fashiononline.com and you have received this email from the customer service team. Dear Customer, We are writing to inform you that from next month we will be introducing delivery charges on all purchases from the website. This is due to the recent increase in fuel prices, which make delivery more costly for our company. We apologise for this and thank you for your understanding. The Customer Service Team www.fashiononline.com PART 1: Write an email to your friend, who is also a customer, explaining your feelings about the changes and suggesting possible alternatives for the company to consider. You should use informal English and write 40-50 words. You have 10 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... PART 2: Now respond to the company by writing a formal email. You should include your feelings about the situation and suggest possible alternatives for them to consider. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

SPORTS CLUB You are a member of a sports club and you have received this email from the manager. Dear Member, I am writing to inform you that all aerobics classes next week will be cancelled because the instructor is going away on holiday. Extra classes will be offered upon his return. I apologise for any inconvenience caused. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a refund for these classes. The Manager Go Fitness Sports Club & Spa

PART 1: Write an email to your friend, who is also a member of the sports club, explaining your feelings about the changes and what you think the club should do about the situation. You should use informal English and write 40-50 words. You have 10 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... PART 2: Now respond to the manager by writing a formal email. You should include your feelings about the situation, and what you think the club should do about the situation. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

PROPERTY WEBSITE You are a member of a property website called www.myhome.com. You have found a house that you like, but you're not completely sure about it.

PART 1: Write an email to your friend, who is also looking for a new house, and tell them about the house you have found. You should use informal English and write 40- 50 words. You have 10 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

PART 2: Now write to www.mynewhome.com to request more information about the house and to arrange a viewing to see. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

CINEMA CLUB You are a member of a cinema club and you have received this email from the secretary. Dear Member, We are writing to inform you that the International Film night has been cancelled due to lack of interest from members. Any member who has purchased a ticket will be refunded 50% of the cost. We cannot refund the full price of the ticket as this is a late cancellation. We apologise for this situation and appreciate your understanding. The Club Secretary PART 1: Write an email to your friend, who has also purchased a ticket to the event, explaining your feelings about the changes and what you think the club should do about the situation. You should use informal English and write 40-50 words. You have 10 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

PART 2: Now respond to the club secretary by writing a formal email. You should include your feelings about the changes, and what you think the club should do about the situation. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

TRAVEL CLUB You are a member of a travel club in which the members give presentations on the places they have visited to the other club members. You received this email from the club secretary. Dear Members, As you know, our club asks its members to share their trips and vacations so we can all learn about different places around the world. Therefore, we are asking for a volunteer to give a presentation on an interesting destination at our next meeting. If you think you could give an interesting presentation to the group, please contact me. The Club Secretary PART 1: Write an email to your friend, who is also a member of the club, explaining which destination you would like to talk about and ask their opinion. You should use informal English and write 40-50 words. You have 10 minutes.

...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... PART 2: Now write to the club secretary offering to give the next presentation. You should include which destination you would like to present, and say why you think it would be interesting for other members. Write 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

WRITING FULL WRITING PRACTICE TEST

55 MINUTES

TASK 1: SHORT ANSWERS You have joined a cooking dub. You have 5 messages from another club member. Write short answers to respond to each message (1 -5 words). You have 3 minutes to complete this task. What are your hobbies?

..............................................................................

What did you do last night?

..............................................................................

What's your favourite place?

..............................................................................

Where were you born?

..............................................................................

Do you work or study?

..............................................................................

TASK 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION You are a new member of a cooking club. Complete the information by writing in full sentences using 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes to complete this task. Please write about your favourite food and which dishes you like to cook. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

TASK 3: SOCIAL MEDIA CHAT You are a new member of a cooking club. You are chatting to Pizza34 in the online chat room. Respond to the messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response. You have 10 minutes to complete the task. Hello! I see you're new to the cooking club. I love international cuisine! What kind of food is popular in your country? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Wow! That sounds delicious. What kind of food do you like to cook when you have a family event or a party? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... I hear that the club is planning to organise international food parties for all the members. What do you think of the idea? ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

TASK 4: INFORMAL & FORMAL EMAILS You are a member of a cooking club and you received this message from the club secretary. Dear member, I am writing to inform you that the International Food Party planned for tomorrow night will be cancelled, because we cannot use the kitchens at the local school as we had arranged. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a refund on the tickets you have purchased, but we will try to organise another event in the future. The Club Secretary Yum Yum Cooking Club

PART 1: INFORMAL Write an email to your friend, who is also a member of the cooking club, explaining your feelings about the changes and what you think the club should do about the situation. You should use informal English and write 40-50 words. You have 10 minutes. ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

PART 2: FORMAL EMAIL Now respond to the club secretary by writing a formal email. You should include your feelings about the changes, and what you think the club should do about the situation. You have 20 minutes.

...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................

EXTRAS

ANSWER KEY AUDIO TRANSCRIPTS SAMPLE ANSWERS

ANSWER KEY

CORE GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY SECTION TEST 1 GRAMMAR SECTION 1. B 2.C 3. B 4. A 5.C 6.B 7. A 8. A 9.B 10. C 11.B 12. C 13. C 14. C 15. B 16. A 17. B 18. B 19. B 20. B 21. A 22. B 23. A 24. B 25. C VOCABULARY SECTION 1. G 2. B 3. D 4. E 5. F 6. F 7. B 8. I 9.K 10. E 11.F 12. H 13. B 14. I 15. E 16. F 17. H 18. D 19. J 20. E 21.1 22. A 23. E 24. H 25. C

TEST 2 GRAMMAR SECTION 1. A 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. A 6.C 7. B 8. B 9.B 10. A 11.C 12. A 13. C 14. C 15. B 16. A 17. A 18. A 19. C 20. C 21. A 22. C 23. B 24. C 25. B VOCABULARY SECTION 1. D 2. H 3. G 13. G 14. I 15. E

4. F

5. B

6.C

7. I

8. F

9. E 10. A 11.B

16. C 17. F 18. B 19. H 20. K 21. E 22. J

12. K

23. K 24. F

25. A

TEST 3 GRAMMAR SECTION 1. B 2. C 3.B 4. A 5. A 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. A 11. C 12. B 13. C 14. C 15. A 16. C 17. B 18. B 19. A 20. B 21. B 22. A 23. C 24. A 25. A VOCABULARY SECTION 1. C 2. G 3. H 4. A 5. E 6. C 7. J 8. K 9. I 10. G 11. D 12. H 13. C 14. G 15. F 16. G 17. H 18. E 19. C 20. A 21. H 22. C 23. B 24. E 25. A

ANSWER KEY

READING SECTION READING TASK 1: INFORMAL EMAIL SUMMER HOLIDAY 1.A 2.B 3.C 4. B 5.C POSTCARD FROM INDIA 1. A 2. A 3.B 4. A 5.C BARBECUE INVITATION 1. A 2.B 3. A 4.C 5.C READING TASK 2: SEQUENCING A DELICIOUS DINNER 1. A 2.G 3.E 4. B 5. F 6.C 7.D THE LAST DAY OF MY HOLIDAYS 1.A 2.E 3.D 4. F 5.C 6.G 7.B AT THE BANK 1. A 2.G 3.D 4. E 5. B 6.F 7.C READING TASK 3: GAP FILLS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 1.C 2.G 3.H 4. F 5. A 6.I 7.B 8.J MARS 1.D 2.C 3. A 4. F 5.G 6.H 7. I 8.B THE GIANT PANDA 1.B 2. I 3.C 4. F 5.G 6. A 7.H 8.E READING TASK 4: MATCHING HEADINGS THE HONEY BEE 1.F 2. A 3.B 4.G 5.H 6.D 7. I THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN 1.E 2. F 3. A 4.C 5. D 6.H 7.G THE CITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND 1.E 2. G 3. A 4.H 5.1 6.B 7. D FULL READING PRACTICE TEST JOB ADVICE 1.A 2.C 3. A 4.C 5.B MY TERRIBLE FIRST DAY 1. A 2.E 3.B 4. F 5. D 6.G 7.C CALIFORNIA 1.B 2. D 3.E 4.C 5. F 6.G 7.A QUINOA: A SUPERFOOD? 1.E 2.G 3.B 4.C 5. F 6. D 7.I

AUDIO TRANSCRIPTS

In the following section you will find the transcripts of the listening practice tests.

The audio files are available at: www.aptistrainer.com

LISTENING TEST 1 LISTENING TEST 2 LISTENING TEST 3

LISTENING TEST 1 EXAMPLE: Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? Hi Amy, it's Jane. I tried calling your mobile, but you didn't pick up so I'm leaving this message. I'm just on the train and will be arriving at my station soon. Sorry, but I can't make the cinema tonight after all. I've had so many things to do today that I am very tired and I have a bad headache and I generally don't feel very well. I hope that's ok. Shall we meet up this Saturday instead? Bye. Why can't she meet her? A The train is late B There's an emergency C She's not feeling well D She's busy

1.

Listen to the call from your friend to make lunch plans. What class does she have on Thursday afternoons?

Hello there. This is Aisha. I hope your job interview went well yesterday? I just got your text message about meeting for lunch on Thursday. I'm afraid I can't do that day as I have my art class. But I'll see you anyway that evening for our Pilates class, right? We can talk then about arranging lunch for another day. Speak soon. On Thursday afternoons your friend has... A. A Pilates class B. An art class C. A dance class D. A music class 2.

Your classmate calls to say where the class will be. Where is room 205?

Hi John. It's Mike. I'm just calling to let you know about tomorrow's class. The class will be in room 205, it's the same as last year. In case you've forgotten, when you come into the main building entrance, walk down the main hall and turn left. Walk down the corridor and room 205 is on your right after you pass the vending machine. See you there at 10. Room 205 is... A. On the left of the hall B. On the ground floor C. After the vending machine D. In the main hall

3.

Listen to a message that Sonia left you about looking after her son Eric. What does he usually have for dinner on Fridays?

Thanks for offering to look after Eric next Friday while I'm on my business trip. Just to let you know, in the morning he always gets up at 7 o'clock sharp and usually has cereals. At lunch, we normally give him something light. For dinner he likes most things except for meat, as you remember that he doesn't eat it! We often prepare fish which is his favourite Oh, and he needs to go to bed by ten o'clock if possible. Anyway, thanks again. Talk soon. Eric often has... A. Cereals B. Fish C. Vegetables D. Meat 4.

Listen to a message from your colleague Sally. What is the problem?

Hi. This is Sally calling from head office. Sorry to call you on your afternoon off but one of your clients called about an issue, and nobody here knows much about the case. Apparently, the calculations didn't add up and he wants you to run the numbers again. He was happy with your budget recommendations and your suggestion about making cuts, but he want to make sure the figures are correct before proceeding with the investments. The problem the client has is with... A. The budget B. The calculations C. The recommendations about making cuts D. The investments 5.

Listen to the message. What is Liz's phone number?

Hello there. It's Liz. I'm calling you to say I have an emergency appointment at the doctor as my daughter isn't feeling well today. So, unfortunately I won't be able to meet you at 5 as we'd agreed. Can you call me at home, please? Ah by the way, yesterday I saw your brother working in that fancy restaurant, he looked very happy. Speak to you soon. In case you forgot, my home number is 01557 424 221. Liz's phone number is... A. 01557424224 B. 01557424221 C. 01575424212 D. 01557424212

6.

You overhear two friends discussing their plans for the evening. What are they planning to do?

Man: So, what shall we do? It's such a nice weather. We should be out in the sun. Would you like to go to the beach? Woman: Mmm, not really. I spent the whole day there yesterday...sorry. It would be nice to get out of the house though? Man: That's fine, let's go for a swim in the pool then? Woman: That could be nice, but it's quite far away. Let's go sit in the castle gardens instead. Man: All right then. The friends decide to... A. Go for a long walk B. Go to the gardens 7.

C. Go to the beach D. Go to the pool

Listen to Sam talking about his plans after leaving school. What does he want to do?

I've been weighing up my options. V. father wants me to go straight to university, but I'm not sure what want to study and so I am thinking about going travelling for a year around Nepal instead. I think it would help me to decide if Information Technology is really the right degree for me. Another option would be to get a job as a waiter and get some work experience, but that would mean staying in my home town and I want the adventure of experiencing life in another country. I just hope my family will support my decision as I will be far away from them for a whole year. When he finishes school, Sam wants :: A. Go straight to university C. Get a job B. Go travelling D. Stay with his family 8.

You hear a man and a woman discussing their holiday plans. Where do they decide to go?

Woman: Mike, I was thinking whether to go to a different place or not this holiday. What about going to Spain? It's always warm, nice and sunny weather. Man: Well, we've been there before. Shouldn't we be trying somewhere different for a change? Perhaps Pete's home in Portugal? I know it's not Spain, but it‟s still warm and sunny. Woman: Not sure about that. What about Morocco? That's hot and sunny too, and cheaper. Man: Well, you've got a point there All right then. They decide to go to... A. A friend's house B. Morocco

C. Spain or Portugal D. Their usual holiday

9.

Listen to a birthday announcement on the radio. Who has a birthday today?

DJ: And now a request for some music from the 1960s. The Beatles, well, Ringo actually, singing 'Here Comes the Sun' - What a fantastic record! It's from Paul and Katie and family for their brother Harry, a very happy birthday to him. He's 35 today. Everyone at radio Atlantic 252 hopes you have a great day. Who has a birthday today? A. Pete B. Harry C. Ringo D. Katie 10. Listen to two friends speaking about the man's new job. What does he find challenging about it? Woman: How are you finding your new job at the high school? Man: It's going well, thank you. Although obviously there are some aspects that I still find challenging. Working with young people can be difficult sometimes as it's a lot of responsibility. Fortunately, my colleagues are very supportive and we make a good team. Woman: That's important. And I bet you don't miss the commute you had to do every day in your old job? Man: Definitely! It's just around the corner from my house so I don't get home as late as before. What does the man find challenging? A. The responsibility B. The long hours C. The daily commute D. Working with the other staff members

11. Listen to the airport announcement. What time will the plane now depart? This is an announcement for passengers or flight AZ232 to New York. Although the flight was scheduled for 10:00, this flight w be 1 hour late due to bad weather conditions. It will now leave at 11 o'clock and is due to arrive at 06:30. Please can al passengers from this flight go to gate 10? We apologize for the delay to your journe; The plane will now leave at... A. 06:30 B. 10:00 C. 11:00 D. 12:00

12. You hear an announcement about promotions in a large department store. Which items have the best discount at the moment? Welcome to Frazer's department store. We'd like to remind all customers that there are a number of special promotions this week. Come to the fifth floor to enjoy fantastic savings on electrical appliances. Get up to 40% off TVs and DVD players this week. On the third floor, we have special offers on kitchen utensils and crockerybuy one get one half price. In our clothing department get a huge 60% off all brands of trainers plus a 30% discount or all other sports clothing. On the ground floor, save as much as 50% on beauty products. Finally, as an extra bonus, all customers who use their store cards this weekend can earn triple points. Remember the promotions end Friday. The biggest discounts can be found on... A. Kitchen appliances C. Sports shoes B. TVs & DVDs D. Beauty products 13. Listen to a book review on the radio. What is the critic's opinion of the book? I must admit that this has been a difficult book to review subjectively, as the true story it's based on is so terrible. I find myself not wanting to be critical in any way. However, as a professional I must muddle on so here it is. The book painted a picture of the horrors of the events so vividly that it transports the reader to those times. I felt incredibly encouraged by the strength and resilience of the main characters. What happened to the man was heartbreaking, and his chances of survival so low, that it was so difficult to believe at times - but being based on a true story meant that I had to. The only downside of the book was the sometimes awkward signs that the author is no professional writer, but that in no way affects the uplifting effect the book will have on readers The critic believes the book is... A. Inspirational C. Uncomplicated B. Awful D. Unbelievable 14. You hear a message about an event. What type of event is it this year? Next month Boston Town Hall is hosting a special event on Native American Indian culture. On Friday evening, there will be a display of traditional American Indian dress. On Saturday, you can listen to some of the traditions music they used to play which was linked to their making arts and crafts. Although this event is mainly focused or their outfits and headdresses, next year we will offer a folk festival themed on American Indians folk traditions. There will be typical traditional dishes that visitors can taste. We hope you‟ll enjoy this year‟s festival and come back next year. This year's event is... A. An art exhibition C. A folk festival B. A music festival D. A costume festival

15. You hear information about a sporting event. Where and when will the ladies' event start? Welcome everyone to the annual Lake See Cycle Race. We have races today in the men's, women's and children's categories. All races will finish by 2 o'clock today when we will all meet for the awards ceremony at the Boathouse Cafe. The men's race w start from the main gates in a few minutes at 8 o'clock with the women's race starting half an hour later from the Seagate. The kids' race will start at the later time of 10 o'clock, again from the main gate. Good luck everyone and see you at the cafe for a well-earned free drink. Where and when will the ladies event start? A. The Boathouse at 2 o‟clock C. The South Gate at 8:30 B. The Main gate at 8:30 D. The Main gate at 10 o'clock 16. You can hear a paragliding instructor give instructions. Which route is the safest? Let me see. I don't think I was very clear, so I'll just go over it one more time. Remember that paragliding is a safe leisure activity if you follow the correct procedures. People can paraglide in many different ways but most of us do it close to mountains. One might think that being away from the mountains or trying to stay close to the ground might be a safer option but it couldn‟t be further from the truth, as wind currents are unpredictable and you might lose control. So if you want to avoid that, you must go along the mountains as the currents there are quite predictable and you have the cover from the slopes. Are there any questions? The safest route is... A. As high as possible B. Along the mountains

C. Away from the mountains D. As low as possible

17. Listen to a radio show. What's the most important advice given? Welcome to today's programme. On today's show we're going to give you some tips on how to find a job. Employers say that there's big competition in every career, as there are simply too many people applying for the same jobs. Obviously, this can be challenging for applicants. That's why thinking about your career objectives first is vital. There are other important aspects too. Experts say that to study the market: you want to apply in, is a secondary step one must do before creating a plan of action. Once you've done this. You must act on the feedback you get from your applications. There must be something you're missing that you can certainly improve on in the future. The most important thing is to... A. Think about your objectives C. Act on feedback B. Create a plan D. Study the market

18. You hear news report on the radio about a robbery. What did the thieves steal? Two women were arrested yesterday for theft following an incident at a bank on Belgrave Street. Witnesses saw the perpetrators leaving the bank with a pile of papers, before entering a black car which was parked outside the cash machine on the corner of the street. Police believe the women were involved in an identity theft criminal network, and were planning to use the stolen information to access money in the accounts of the clients of the bank. The thieves stole... A. A bank B. Money C. Documents D. A car 19. You can hear two friends speaking about a book. What do they think of it? M: Did you read the last book by Sir Richard? W: Yeah, it's a best seller - everyone has. M: Well, I found it a bit boring to be honest. W: Really? I think it's really easy to read, modern, and well, it's a best seller so I'm sure that no-one is really disappointed with it. M: Of course not, I think it was all right in the beginning, but half way through? it was quite predictable and it was really slow moving. W: Yeah, I think it went a little bit like that I guess. You might be right I guess, it's certainly not as interesting as his other works. M: It's definitely a bore. They think that the book is... A. Disappointing B. Dull C. Convoluted D. Outdated 20. Listen to a radio programme about a man living in the country. What does he think about the country? Presenter: So today's programme is about the living experiences of foreigners in the country. How do they find it? We'll find out today with Malik. Hi Malik, a big welcome to the programme today. Malik: Thank you for inviting me. Presenter: Can you tell us about when you came to this country? Malik: Well, I came here as a refugee 10 years ago. I love it so far as I have loads of friends and I really feel attached to this country. Presenter: That's great. I bet you're really content. How about your plans for the future?

Malik: Well, I was planning on going to university like my friends at college, but I feel a bit disheartened to be honest. Presenter: Really? Could you tell the listeners why that is? Malik: Well, they accepted me in the university I applied to, but I have some issues. I need to get a stamp on my VISA. It's one of those 'red tape' problems - you know? Presenter: Ah I see. We've all had those - I'm sure it'll be fine. Malik: I'm hoping so. I've my fingers crossed that my refugee status won't stop me from studying to become a Human Rights Lawyer. What does he think about the country? A. He's really happy about getting a VISA B. He's really sad about going to university C. He loves everything D. He feels discouraged by bureaucracy 21. Listen to the recorded message. What is Julie Knight's telephone number? Hello Mr. Mason. My name is Julie Knight, I‟m calling from the post office where you recently left a parcel for posting. I'm afraid the address you have written isn't very clear and so we need to confirm it again with you. You can come here yourself or alternatively you can call me back on 07789 788 876. Thank you. What is Miss Knight's telephone number? A. 07789678876 B. 07789788876 C. 07798678876 D. 07789788886 22. Listen to two friends discussing a theatrical play. What does Mike think of it? Man: That was alright, wasn't it Mike? Mike: Yeah, it was I guess, very informative about the history behind it. Man: It certainly was yes, although I thought it was going to be more emotional, but the director leaves it to your imagination I guess. Mike: Yeah, I found that too. Man: Did you think it was confusing at times? Mike: Not really. On the contrary I found it really easy to follow. Man: The end was a bit boring, wasn't it? Mike: Not at all, that twist at the end saved the play for me. Man: Well, we agree to disagree on that one I guess. Mike thinks I the play was... A. Emotional B. Difficult to follow C. Educational D. Boring

23. Listen to two friends talking about films. What type of films does James' friend recommend? Friend: Hi James. Have you seen the new Roberto Zucchini films? They are stunning! James: Really? To tell the truth I've never been interested in his movies. I thought they were quite predictable, even Joe says they're rather forgettable. Friend: No way. They're the most interesting films ever! You must see them. James: But, what is it that you're really keen on? Friend: Well, they are so moving. I can't get enough of them! James: You know what. You might be right. I do enjoy a bit of drama in a film. I might give them another chance. Friend: You won't regret it, honestly. James' friend is recommending films which are... A. Unpredictable C. Thrilling B. Unforgettable D. Emotional

24. Listen to a conversation between Safia and Lee. What does Safia want to buy for Lorna? Lee: Hey Safia. It's Lorna's birthday this Friday, isn't it? Are you going to her party? Safia: Yeah of course! I'm looking forward to it but I'm not sure what to get her for a gift - she's difficult to buy for. Lee: Er, well, I've got her a cookery book as she's into that. What about an accessory like a belt or a scarf? Safia: I got her a belt last year but I like the scarf idea. What did Anna get her? Lee: Oh, yeah, actually, thinking about it. Anna might've got her one of those already... Safia: Ah, pity. She likes films so I might just get her a voucher so she can take a friend to see something - hopefully she'll take me. Ha ha. Lee: Good thinking Safia decides to buy Lorna... A. A book C. A belt B. A scarf D. A cinema voucher

25. Listen to two friends discussing a film. What's the woman's view of it? M: That was a good film, wasn't it? W: I'm not sure we see eye to eye on this one M: Didn't you like it? W: I just found it pretty unbelievable, didn't you? I mean, half the stuff we saw was physically impossible. M: What about those moving scenes? W: You mean when the man wanted to loss the woman but couldn't do it as he neede: to show the rest that he didn't fancy her. M: Yeah, that was quite entertaining to watch, wasn't it? W: Sure. I enjoyed those moments, but overall I wasn't fond of the film as most scenes simply weren't credible. The woman thought it was... A. Improbable C. Entertaining B. Unoriginal D. Passionate

LISTENING TEST 2 EXAMPLE: Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? Hi Amy it's Jane. I tried calling your mobile, but you didn't pick up so I'm leaving this message. I'm just on the train and will be arriving at my station soon. Sorry, but I can't make the cinema tonight after all. I've had so many things to do today that I am very tired and I have a bad headache, and I generally don't feel very well. I hope that‟s ok. Shall we meet up this Saturday instead? Bye. Why can't she meet her? A. The train is late B. There's an emergency C. She's not feeling well D. She's busy

1.

James calls his friend. When does he want his friend to go to his house?

Hi. It's James. Thanks so much for the birthday present. It was really nice of you to remember that I love history books. Do you still want to come over tomorrow, as we arranged? I don't mind when you come, but I have a work colleague coming for a late lunch at 2pm. So in the morning is best. Fancy coming for breakfast? Then we can have a walk before lunch. Let me know, ok? Bye. James wants his friend to visit... A. For lunch B. After 3 pm C. After lunch D. In the morning 2.

Your old friend Ali calls to meet for lunch. What day does he suggest meeting up?

Hi mate, this is Ali. It was lovely to meet up with you and your wife last Monday. We had a great time. We were wondering if you might like to join us for lunch this week. We often go to a place in town that serves very good Turkish food at a very reasonable price. If you are free on Wednesday, and would like to come, please send me a message and I'll book a table for the four of us. What day does he suggest? A. Wednesday B. Thursday C. Saturday D. Monday

3.

Your boss calls you to arrange an evaluation meeting. What time does he want to meet?

Hello there. I've been thinking about when to meet up for tomorrow's evaluation. I'm aware that the scheduled time we agreed to meet was at 12 noon, but I'm afraid I just can‟t make it then. I‟ve got another meeting at that time. To tell the truth, it's an emergency board meeting so it's affecting everyone I'm afraid. Sorry about that. So could we meet an hour before that? Say, at 11? I hope that‟s ok with you. Please let me know. Your boss wants to meet you at... A. 12:00 pm B. 10:30 am C. 11:00 am D. 11:30 am 4.

Gemma calls you to cancel the party. What day will the party now be on?

Hello. Oh, this is Gemma. It's about my birthday next week. Well, I just found out this morning I have to go away all next week for work. I don't mind though because it's to Madrid and I can have a birthday drink with my colleagues on the Thursday. Anyway, I get back on Friday and so we'll change the party for then instead. Hope you can still come? See you next week. Gemma's party will be on... A. Saturday B. Thursday C. Friday D. Tuesday 5.

Listen to the message from your aunt. What do you need to buy?

Hi. It's your aunt Josie here. I hope you're having a good day. Don't forget that your grandparents are coming for dinner tonight to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary with us. We need a few things. So on your way home, please could you call in the shop and buy something special for dessert? I already have the drinks and something nice for a starter and main course, but you know how much they like sweet treats. Don't worry about the price as I'll pay you back. I'm sure you have a good idea about what they like. Anyway thanks a lot. See you later darling. You need to buy... A. A present B. Drinks C. Dessert D. A starter

6.

Listen to two friends speaking about their plans for the weekend. What are they going to do?

Man: Woman: Man: Woman: Man: Woman: Man: Woman:

This weekend is going to be fantastic. We've no plans yet but I've just checked the weather and it's going to be splendid. Really? That's great, isn't it? What shall we do then? I'm not sure. What about going to the coast? That'd be great but I don't fancy a long journey, I'm a bit tired from the week. Ok. Shall we maybe go to have dinner somewhere nice? Well, we did that last weekend. So I'm really keen on doing something different I've got it. Let's go to that music festival they are putting on in the plaza. There are loads of groups and I bet it'll be great fun. Cool, all right then. The friends decide to... A. Go to a music festival B. Go to the beach

7.

C. Do the same as last weekend D. Go to a restaurant

You overhear a woman in a furniture shop. What type of table does she want to buy?

Assistant: Hello there. Can I help you? Woman: Yes, I'm interested in buying a tab e but I'm not sure which type to get. Nothing too expensive mind. It's for a holiday home so I won't use it much. Assistant: Perhaps a modern table. This glass topped one is on special offer. Woman: That's too fancy. It's only for the family when we all go on vacation there. So don't need an antique one like this either and it needs to be large enough for 10 people. Do you have anything that big? Assistant: Certainly, this way please. The woman wants to buy... A. An antique table B. A glass-topped table

C. An expensive table D. A large table

8. A girl is leaving a message for a friend. What is the purpose of her message? Hello Pedro. I'm leaving a message as I won't have any phone signal for a while as I'm boarding the plane to Dubai. I just wanted to apologize for last night. I was just so tired that I wasn't very good company and you'd gone to such an effort to throw me such a fantastic leaving party. I feel a bit bad about it so that's why I wanted to drop you a line. I must go now as we're boarding soon. I'll call you soon to tell you how I'm getting on in New Zealand! Why is she leaving Pedro the message? A. To arrange a party C. To say goodbye to him B. To arrange to meet up D. To say that she's sorry

9.

Listen to two friends speaking about the man's job. Where did he used to work?

W: How are you getting on with work? M: I'm fine thanks. There are some things I still struggle with in my new job. Working in an insurance company is not easy. Everyone at the office is friendly but you only talk about clients and it can get really boring. I also find quite difficult working with numbers all day. That is what I miss about working in a school, it was so nice talking to people all day long. W: Well, you're right, but I'm sure it's better man working in a factory, right? M: Yeah, and it's probably less stressful than working in a shop. I wouldn't want to do your job. He used to work in... A. a factory B. a shopping centre C. a school D. an insurance company 10. Listen to Stephanie talking to her Personal Assistant. When is the car going to pick her up? Woman: Hi. This is Stephanie. I was just checking what time you booked my airport car for tomorrow. I have it in my diary for 10:45. Man: Oh yes, the driver was going to get you then but the trip's been delayed so he's picking you up at 11:30 now from your office. The plane leaves at 1 o'clock and arrives in Vienna around 3 o'clock. Woman: Ok. That's fine. Bye. What time is the car getting her? A. 11:30 C. 1 o'clock B. 10:45 D. 3 o'clock 11. You hear a conversation between two friends about the new French teacher. What is the best word to describe her? Woman: Man: Woman: Man: Woman: Man:

What's your new French teacher like? Is she as entertaining as the last one? I wouldn't say she is as funny. She gives us extra work to take home every day, but she works very hard correcting all our homework for us. That sounds fair to me. Yeah, I guess that's true. My teacher is very strict with homework and sometimes she doesn't mark it which isn't fair. Well, fortunately my new French teacher isn't like that. The new French teacher is described as... A. Fair C. Unfair B. Strict D. Funny

12. You hear a Health Centre advertisement. When are the cross-training classes? This summer enjoy our brand new fitness activities. There is a wide range of exciting classes. Join our daily Aquagym classes to train for your favourite sport. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we have our new and challenging cross-training classes. They used to be on Mondays and Wednesdays but this summer we offer cross-fit on those days instead. From Monday to Friday, we have the most popular lessons which are swimming. Special activities will only run at the weekend this year, as we know that our customers have more free time during the summer holidays. Don't delay - join your favourite class today. The cross-training classes are... A. Every day B. Monday to Friday

C. Tuesdays and Thursdays D. Mondays and Wednesdays

13. Listen to a new store announcement and answer the question. What type of customers will like this store? Welcome shoppers to Dollar Dealz - The bargain hunter's superstore. If you are looking for value for money and amazing bargains - this is the place for you. Each week will feature all the latest cut price items. If you have a sweet tooth, check out our sweet treats aisle. Looking for a family game to keep the kids off their video games - come to our games sections and get 2-4-1 on all our special recommendations. Also, check out our 60% off book collection. Next week's promotions feature a range of electrical appliances for those who love the latest gadgets. We hope you have a wonderful time shopping and save a fortune. The new store is for shoppers who... A. Enjoy sweet treats C. Like to play games B. Love good deals D. Like new technology 14. Listen to a radio program about journalism. What does the speaker say about news stories? The nation is subjected to journalistic reporting on a daily basis and most pick up their free copy of the newspaper on the tube, or buy their favourite Sunday paper and just accept the stories as a reflection of what is happening in the world today. Boring interviews with stars discussing their supposedly interesting lives fill our papers - as do trivial events hardly worth reporting. One anonymous journalist even told me how old, forgotten stories that didn't make the paper are suddenly rediscovered to fill empty pages. All this just goes to show that the truthfulness and honesty of the stories are certainly not guaranteed and one should always check one's sources before sharing them with colleagues over morning coffee. We'll be exploring this more in next month's special report on the media industry's influence on voting patterns in recent elections. What does the speaker say about news stories? A. That the stories are recent C. That the stories are newsworthy B. That the stories are deceptive D. That the stories are interesting

15. Listen to the staff announcement at Baltimore School. What is happening on Wednesday? This is an important announcement for staff as this week we are hosting special events. Our main event this week is 'Save the Children'. This charity organization has made a real difference by helping children in developing countries. On Monday, we will be welcoming the charity staff members with drinks and snacks for everyone. The scheduled school inspection on Wednesday will be rescheduled for next week as we received a call from inspectors. Instead there will be a special staff meeting to evaluate actions to be taken for next week's inspection. We will be moving the school assembly which was happening this Thursday to next Wednesday. Finally, on Friday we will be having goodbye drinks for our charity event of the week. All events will require attendance by all staff. On Wednesday, there will be... A. A school inspection B. A charity event

C. A staff meeting D. A school assembly

16. Listen to the information given by your bus tour guide. Where will you stop for lunch? Castle Tours is happy to have you aboard today for this special Halloween tour. Before we start, let's run through our itinerary today. We will begin our tour with a drive over the ancient bridge before entering the museum where we have live actors retelling scary stories from our town's history. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits here. After this, we'll head to the woods to see our special outdoor witches and wizards exhibition and we have a picnic lunch, before ending our tour at the old castle. A candlelit dinner will be held here later after returning to your hotel to freshen up. Where will you eat lunch today? A. The old castle C. The ancient bridge B. The woods D. The museum 17. A teacher recalls his first day at school. What was he frightened of? Well, having had the introductions, let's see. On Monday it's the first day of school year. I don't have particularly good memories from my first day. I'd ridden my bike there with my brother and I was jolly enough to begin with. Neither the teacher nor my classmates were any trouble, but the teacher was quite strict and some of the children were really scared. It wasn't my case, but I was concerned about not making any friends. Fortunately, the older students weren't as scary as everyone had said they would be - which was a relief. He was frightened about... A. Not making any friends C. The older students B. His classmates D. The teacher's severity

18. Amelia's friend gives her some advice about health treatments. What's the best treatment for injuries? Amelia: Tom: Amelia:

Amelia: Tom:

Amelia:

Hello Tom. How're you doing? Great thanks. How about you? Well, to tell the truth I'm not feeling very well today. Yesterday, I injured myself while I was running. My leg is really painful. Tom: Really? My cousin is a sports physiotherapist. He says that to prevent injuries it's good to take magnesium as it helps your body when doing exercise. No way. I thought that having a healthy diet could help you avoid injuries. Well, I suppose it could, but he told me that taking magnesium and stretching after exercise will help prevent injuries. That said, after sports injury, he reckons that the best treatment is a good massage. All right. I'm going to give him a call then. I can't continue running with this pain. The best treatment for injuries is... A. A sports massage B. A healthy diet C. Stretching after exercise D. Taking magnesium tablets

19. Listen to the message that Adi left for Samantha. Why is Adi calling? Hi Samantha. It's Adi. I just wanted to thank you for the lovely barbecue you hosted. It was a really nice afternoon. The boys had fun and it was so good for them to see you all again and play football with Josh and Andy - they were sorry to leave. We'll do it at our house next time. Speak soon. Adi called Samantha to... A. Say sorry B. Say thank you

C. Say goodbye D. Say hi

20. Ahmed is speaking with his colleague about his holiday. Did he enjoy it? M: Hi Ahmed. Welcome back to work! How was your holiday? Ahmed: Oh well, it was okay I guess. Everything is completely different from here - the buildings, the language, the cuisine and especially the customs. There were so many things I didn't understand but I was all right with it though. That said, I wouldn't really recommend it to you to be honest. I think it's one of those places you only need to go to once, if you know what I mean. There are so many other ones I've been to that I'd go back to again over this place. Did he enjoy it? A. Wasn't the best he had B. Can‟t wait to go back C. Doesn't have an opinion D. A bit frustrating at times

21. Listen to a man describing his holidays. How is he going to get there? I usually go to Spain on holiday but this year we wanted something different. My wife loves going places by train so we were thinking about going to Sandy Island. I said to her that the advantage of driving there is that you can change plans and improvise easily, while with the train you need a bit of planning ahead. The bus is always an option, but then you must think about connecting to different modes of transport and it's not that convenient. So I would agree with my wife and go with her preferences in this case. We're both looking forward to it. He's going to get there... A. By train B. By car

C. By using different transports D. By bus

22. Listen to the information about meeting arrangements. Where is Marie going to meet Abdul? Hello Abdul. It's Marie here. What are you up to this evening? Any plans? My sister is going to a concert called Parklife at the Town Hall tonight with some friends and asked if we wanted to go? I said we did, so let's meet at the station at 7:30 and walk from there. It‟s in the square. Let me know. Bye. Marie wants to meet Abdul... A. At the station C. At a concert B. In the square D. At Marie's sister's house 23. You can hear a radio interview. What is the main problem for charities nowadays? Presenter: Today we have Sir Richard McArthur. CEO from Red Velvet, a charity in Africa. Tell us please Sir Richard. What are the main problems you have to deal with over there? Sir Richard: Well, people say that politicians never support charities, but in my experience I find that they all are willing to meet and listen to different ways of doing things. Presenter: Do you also find support from the media? Sir Richard: Well, it could be much better to be honest but most media is quite open nowadays. In the past, we were really struggling so that's been a good change. Presenter: What can you tell me about donations? Sir Richard: Donors are a bit reluctant at first, but thanks to social media nowadays we can get to them more easily than in the past and eventually we get what we need. I tell you what though, although in the past was very common to find people to join us out there and do the groundwork with us. But now it's becoming an issue. I guess we live busy lives and people simply can't find the time to help out. The charity's main problem is... A. Lack of donors B. Lack of media support

C. Unhelpful politicians D. Lack of volunteers

24. A couple of friends are planning a birthday party. What are they quite concerned about? Woman: Mmm I don't know but it seems all right, doesn't it? Man: Hold on a second, wasn't it the last birthday party we had in a hotel? It was really crowded, wasn't it? Woman: Oh yeah. But we won't have that many coming this time. Man: All right. Then, let's think about food. Shall we bring more bites as starters or focus on the mains. What do you think? Woman: Hmmm, I'm not sure, but I'm sure we can find a good mix of things. Man: What about the cake? That's a bit stressful, isn't it? Woman: Well, it's quite tough to find a cake that's to everyone's taste. So that's definitely something we need to look into first. Man: How many people do you think will come? We should definitely consider that, ....

What are they quite concerned about? A The food B The cake C The invitations D How many people will come

25. Listen to the team manager Jessica speaking about Fernando. Why doesn't she want to offer him the promotion? A He isn't efficient enough B He doesn't have enough experience C He is indecisive and unsure of himself D He is unpopular with others

LISTENING TEST 3 EXAMPLE: Jane is cancelling her plans with her friend. Why can't she meet her? Hi Amy it's Jane. I tried calling your mobile, but you didn't pick up so I'm leaving this message. I'm just on the train and will be arriving at my station soon. Sorry, but I can't make the cinema tonight after all. I've had so many things to do today that I am very tired and I have a bad headache and I generally don't feel very well. I hope that's ok. Shall we meet up this Saturday instead? Bye. Why can't she meet her? A. The train is late B. There's an emergency C. She's not feeling well D. She's busy 1.

You are going to pick somebody up from the airport. What sort of suitcase will she have?

Hi. This is Margaret. I'd like to thank you for offering to collect my mum from the airport. I think it's better if I describe her so you know who to look for. She's got short, brown hair and she's quite tall. She will have a small blue suitcase, so it'd be easy for you to identify who she is. Her flight arrives at 6pm. Thanks again. Her mum will have a suitcase which is... A. Brown and big B. Big and blue C. Small and blue D. Small and black 2.

Joe leaves a message for his friend to suggest ways of getting to his house. How do most people usually get there?

Hi there. We're really looking forward to your visit next month, although our house can be difficult to travel to in the winter months. Some visitors take the train, but sometimes it doesn't run if there's snow. It takes about 6 hours. You can take a plane, but it's very expensive. The roads are usually the best option as they clear them of snow regularly, so most people hire a 4x4 vehicle and drive up. It takes about 8 hours. Call me if you have any problems. Most visitors to Joe's house get there by... A. Boat B. Car C. Train D. Taxi

3.

Your assistant James calls to tell you about a business trip. What time does the train leave?

Hello. This is James calling from the office Just to let you know that I have reserved our return tickets to London for tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, the first class section was fully booked, so we are in Standard Coach B on the 09:40 service from Central Station. Fortunately, it's the high speed train so we will arrive into King's Cross at 11:05. Please call me back on 987 654 321 to confirm that you'll still be travelling on that day. I'll be in the office until 5 today. What time does the train leave? A. 11:05 am B. 05:00 pm C. 09:14 am D. 09:40 am 4.

Shaun invites his brother to go to the shopping centre. What does he want to buy?

Hi. It's Shaun. Do you wanna come to the shopping centre with me on Saturday? I need to get some warm clothing for camping next month. I also want to buy a suitcase for my holidays. I bet you can help me with that as you're really good with that stuff. Let's meet by the main entrance before lunch? I'll be sitting on the benches as usual. See you there. Shaun wants to buy... A. A suit B. A frame C. Music D. Clothes 5.

Listen to the message that Brad left for his friend Fiona. What can't he find?

Hi Fiona. It's Brad. Thanks so much for dinner last night. It was great to see you and everyone from university again. The thing is... I looked in my bag at home and I had my keys and my money, but my charger wasn't in my bag. Is it still plugged in at your house? Maybe it's in the kitchen? Could you check? Thanks, bye. Brad has lost his... A. Bag B. Keys C. Wallet D. Charger

6.

You overhear a couple deciding what to have for dinner. What type of takeaway food are they going to order tonight?

Man:

Woman:

Man: Woman:

Man: Woman:

Listen darling, I've had a difficult day today and don't feel like cooking. Shall we go out for an Indian curry to the restaurant on the corner of our street? You know how much we love Keralan cuisine. Well, I agree that we shouldn't cook, but what about ordering something in? We could watch a film and relax tonight. But the thing is that I had Indian for lunch today, so I wouldn't mind something else. What about Thai food? We could get a takeaway? Actually, I was thinking we could try that new Italian pizza place that has opened in town. They're offering free delivery as a special opening offer. Sounds good to me! I'll grab a menu on my way home. It's next to the Turkish takeaway, isn't it? That's the one. The couple decide to eat... A. Turkish food B. Italian food C. Keralan food D. Thai food

7.

A customer is speaking to a waiter. What does she order for her main course?

Waiter: Hello. What can I get for you today? Customer: Oh, let me have a look on the menu. Waiter: May I suggest the steak special; it's proving to be very popular with customers? Customer: Well, I do really like steak but I'm not that hungry today. Waiter: Would you like to have fish instead? Customer: Oh yes! Does it come with chips or salad? Waiter: Either really. It depends on how hungry you are. Customer: Hmm what do you recommend? Waiter: Well, our chips are pretty famous. Customer: But it might be a bit too heavy for me today. I think I’ll have it with the salad then. Waiter: Good choice. The customer decides to have... A. Steak B. Fish and salad C. Fish and chips D. Steak and salad

8. You overhear a person speaking about a car. What isn't she keen on? We bought a new car last week and I'm generally happy with it. The seats are so comfortable. Not like the ones in our old car, and I love the windows because you can see everything around you. The colour isn't what I wanted though but they only had it in black, which I'm not too keen on. The woman isn't keen on... A. The doors B. The seats C. The windows D. The colour 9.

You hear a recorded phone message to Andy. What does Rachel want Andy to get? Hey Andy, it's Rachel. I need you to get something on the way home. We're OK for milk as I bought some this morning. I forgot the bread for lunch but I'll go buy that this afternoon. We do really need drinks if you could grab a couple of bottles please? They are too heavy for me to carry and you have the car. I thought about getting some biscuits too but decided against it as they're full of sugar. Thanks. Andy needs to get... A. Some biscuits B. Some bread C. Some drinks D. Some milk 10. Listen to two friends discussing the best city to visit. Which city does Jane think is the best? Man: What do you think is the best city to visit in England? Woman: Well, let me see. London comes into mind but I'm not sure about that one as it's too big and pricey. Man: What about Birmingham? It's definitely the second biggest in the UK but cheaper - I guess? Woman: Yeah, that's right but it's crowded with people. What about Manchester? That's all right, isn't it? Man: Yes, for sure it's one of the best places to visit. Woman: Well, I'm having second thoughts as the weather is not that great. Man: I suppose you're right. Hold on, York's quite special, isn't it? Harry Potter was filmed there, wasn't it? Woman: Actually, it was. That's got to be the best place in the country! Jane thinks that the best place to visit is... A. York B. Manchester C. London D. Birmingham

11. You overhear two friends speaking about the man's job. What does he find difficult? Woman: Man:

Woman: Man:

So, do you like working at the airport, Nick? Well, yes I do. The other members of staff are very helpful and most of the bosses aren't too bad either. It's just the long hours I don't like. I have to get to work at 9 in the morning and sometimes I don't finish till 9 at night. Yeah, that sounds tough. At least I don't have to work at the weekend like in my previous job. Now that was difficult!

What makes the job difficult? A. Working with the bosses B. Getting on with his colleagues C. Working long hours D. Working at the weekend 12. You can hear a woman talking about her experience in a hotel. What did she like the most about where she stayed? When I arrived I couldn't believe my eyes, as the views from the balcony were so beautiful! The weather was warm and the sun was shining. Oh, and my room was perfect with a huge king-sized bed and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom - total luxury. The hotel had a large restaurant which served the most delicious food I've ever eaten. Amazingly, my whole stay was all-inclusive so I didn't have to spend a cent during my whole stay - definitely the best thing about my whole trip! Oh, and not to forget the spa and sauna in the hotel gym where I spent most mornings. It was absolute heaven. The best thing about her hotel was... A. The luxury spa C. That it was all-inclusive B. Her view from the balcony D. The fantastic weather 13. Listen to the advertisement. What does Gilmore University offer to students this summer? If you are planning on coming to England to study at Gilmore University, we understand that improving your language skills can be challenging. That's why we recommend you improve your English before starting the academic year. Gilmore University of Sciences, located in Leeds, offers a wide variety of different courses throughout the academic year that you can choose from. We have offers this year on many courses, as we know that coming from a different country is a big investment for our students. We pride ourselves on offering the quality of courses in the city. Even though our summer courses are not taking place this year, you can stay with a host family which will definitely help you to learn to speak in a natural way and learn lots about the culture here. This summer, Gilmore University offers you... A. English language classes C. Discounted courses B. Summer courses D. Host Family stays

14. You call the theatre information line. Which show is not suitable for children? Thank you for calling the Albion Theatre. Here are our listings for the show times this week. The following information is from the 20 th to the 26th of August. The popular musical Chicago is on every night this week at 7 pm. Remember, that this is unsuitable for minors due to the violent nature of some of the scenes. The family favourite The Lion King is replacing the long-running Cats on Saturday night, and Billy Ellis will be running every morning at 11am. Kids go for free to both these shows with two paying adults. Bookings can be made online or by telephone. Which show is not suitable for children? A. Billy Ellis B. Albion C. Chicago D. Cats 15. You can hear a hotel guest complaining to his travel agency. What does the man say was the only thing the travel agency advertised truthfully in the brochure? Listen, I'm going to go through it again so you can fully understand. Your organisation advertised the hotel where I stayed as a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable experience. If I'm not mistaken that would mean the place had really comfortable beds and a relaxing ambience so you could enjoy it fully, right? Far from the truth! The beds were not comfortable at all and I couldn't sleep most nights, and there were road works that you could hear from everywhere in the hotel. Oh yeah, one thing your brochure didn't get wrong was the extra charges to enter the pool. That wasn't enjoyable, was it? Now, do you understand why we want compensation? The travel agency advertised correctly the... A. Extra fees C. Comfortable beds B. Relaxing ambience D. Enjoyable experience 16. Nick leaves a message for his friend Nathan. What time are the two meeting? Hi Nathan. Nick here. This weekend is going to be a fantastic one. I booked the hotel and the flights were very cheap. So everything is sorted buddy. I'm so looking forward to it. By the way, about dinner tonight, I'm afraid I can't make it but I think we could meet before that. I have a meeting at 2pm with my friend John, and later I have to pick up the kids from school by 4pm. So let's make it at 5pm, all right? We'll have enough time to talk about this weekend and finalise the details. We're going to have a great time - you'll see! See you later. The two friends are meeting at... A. 5pm B. 4pm C. 2pm D. After dinner

17. You overhear a message recorded by Stephen's friend. What does his friend recommend Stephen to do for his weekend trip? Hi, Stephen. I heard you are after some advice about getting a car for your weekend trip to the mountains, as I know a lot about this type of thing. You'll need to get an all-terrain 4x4 vehicle with the best tyres you can, since the weather can be bad and the roads aren't good. It's a pity your father's car is at the mechanic as his is the best mine just isn't prepared for mountain roads or I'd lend you it for sure. Your best bet would be to use the rental company I used over Christmas - they'll have the ideal vehicle for this kind of trip. I know that buying one isn't an option as they cost a fortune. Send me some pictures as you know how much I love the mountains at this time of year. Bye. His friend advises Stephen to... A. Buy a new car B. Hire a car C. Borrow a car from his friend D. Use his father's car 18. You can hear a man talking about his studies. What did he find frustrating? I went to grammar school, which my parents believed to be the best option to prepare me for my future career. We had the usual subjects such as English, art, all the sciences which I really loved, foreign languages, sports and the after school clubs. I've always been keen on sports, but one thing I couldn't stand was my French teacher. It's not the subject matter I objected to, but I couldn't achieve the same results as the rest, so I guess I kind of gave up on it. I tell you what, the after schools clubs were the best for me. I really did enjoy them. He felt really frustrated with... A.Chess club C. Sports B. French D. Social Science. 19. Listen to some information about a school trip to a wildlife park. Where can they see the tigers? Welcome to Tiger Paw Wildlife Park. Our wildlife park is unique, as it has different enclosures for every animal which have been specially designed to replicate their natural habitats. You will board our cable car which will take you through all the different animal enclosures. Firstly, you will visit the monkey^ enclosure. We have many different types of monkeys living together. Next, you will see the elephants and the giraffes co-habiting in the savannah environment. Then, we'll stop for lunch and drinks - you can go to the toilet here. For our last tour, we will return to monkey wood to visit the nearby tiger enclosure. Tigers can be seen... A. Close to the monkeys C. By the entrance B. In the savannah D. Next to the toilets

20. Listen to the information about a holiday apartment rental. When can you rent the apartment? Hello Ruth. It's Adam here. You wanted to know more about our beach apartment. Well, it's very close to the beach - just a 5-minute walk. The address is 245 Sea View Road. There are guests staying there at the moment, but they are leaving this Friday. We need to clean it on Saturday, and there's nobody around on Sunday so we can't give you the keys. But if you want to let it from next Monday the 5 th that should be fine. It's 950€ a week and has 5 bedrooms and a large terrace and swimming pool. There's also a barbecue in the garden you can use. Call me back to reserve it on 07768 765 5364. The apartment is available from... A. This Friday B. Next Monday C. Next Sunday D. This Sunday 21. A TV presenter is talking about the radio news. What improvement does he recommend? What do I think about the news on the radio? No doubt it's rather dull. Not much to stimulate your intellect in today's ever changing world. I guess that the news on TV is less factual and tells different stories, not only from around the country but also international stories. Radio news is completely different, but to be fair they have many different channels to choose from, mostly for locals. But having said that, they should be more focussed on interesting happenings. No-one really cares about the local council building a new road. He recommends the radio news to... A. Have more international stories B. Be more interesting C. Include more across-the-country news D. Be less serious 22. Monica is talking to a friend about a job interview. How did she feel after it? You won't believe the interview I had the other day. It was at that very fancy clothing shop in town. Well, you know how I always get a bit overwhelmed beforehand, especially when I've got to think about my skills as I'm not very sure of myself, I always look a bit concerned. Luckily, this time wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. So I felt great by the time I got home. Can you believe it? How does she feel after the interview? A. Disappointed B. Relieved C. Concerned D. Overwhelmed

23. Listen to the conversation between Maya and her boss. What reason does Maya give for not finishing her project? Boss: Maya: Boss: Maya:

Hi Maya. How are you? Actually, I‟m not feeling very well today. I've got a terrible cold and couldn't eat my lunch so I'm really hungry. Sorry to hear that, but you have finished the project I asked you to do, right? The deadline is this afternoon. No, I‟m really sorry, but I haven't. I was about to hand it in when the accounting department called to change some of the data. I'm trying to make the alterations but it's taking a long time. Could you perhaps give me an extension until tomorrow?

Maya hasn't finished her project because... A. She forgot about the deadline B. She's feeling ill C. She's going for lunch D. She has to update it 24. Listen to two university students talking about an event. What is the special event? Man: How many days do we have left? Woman: I think it's just three. Man: I can't believe it - we're almost there. Woman: Yeah, I'm excited too. I'll be doing the intro right? About museums? Man: Yes, but I was thinking that we should cut out the section about theme parks or it'll be too long. Plus, I'm looking forward to the refreshments after we're finished. Woman: Me too. Well, back to the project. You are in charge of the visuals and I'll do the speech. We need to practise this evening. Man: Ok. Let's meet in the lecture room as it's always empty.

The special event is... A. The end of school party B. A visit to a museum

C. A visit to a theme park D. A school presentation

25. You hear a man and a woman speaking. Where are they? Woman: Man: Woman: Man: Woman: Man: Woman: Man:

What do you think about it? It has loads of room, hasn't it? Well, it does. Look at all the posh clothes; they've got all the top brands I especially love the chairs. They look comfy, don't they? Yeah definitely. It looks like a shopping centre. All full of TV's. Well, you must have some visuals if you want to sell expensive clothes. I'm getting a bit dizzy with so many lights - and this techno music. In that case, let's go for a coffee then and relax. Yeah, I really need a coffee first.

They are in... A. A designer outlet B. A TV store

C. A coffee shop D. A nightclub

EXAMPLE ANSWERS WRITING TASK 1: SHORT ANSWERS A. B. C. D. E.

How are you? What's the weather like today What's your favourite time of year? What's your favourite colour? What are you wearing today?

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HISTORY CLUB

I'm fine, thank you. It's warm and sunny. I prefer the summer. Definitely green. Jeans and a T-shirt.

EXAMINERS COMMENTS All answers are on-topic, no spelling or punctuation errors Score: Above A2 Level WRITING TASK 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION BOOK CLUB Please write about your favourite book and why you have joined the book club. My favourite book is Oliver Twist, because it is interesting and exerting. I have joined the club in order to discover new authors and different genres. (26 words) EXAMINERS COMMENTS On-topic Uses simple grammatical structures to produce writing at sentence level. Accurate spelling and punctuation. Vocabulary is more than sufficient to answer the question. Evidence of linking devices to connect ideas together Score: Above B1 Level WRITING TASK 3: SOCIAL MEDIA CHAT FASHION ONLINE Hi! I see that you are a new member. I have been a member since I moved out of the city as there aren't many shops in my village. Mind sharing why you have joined the site? Hello Sammy! I just joined the site as I've broken my leg and I want to buy some new things to kill some time during my recovery - it's much more convenient than going into town as you can imagine! (40 words) Do you like the service so far? Have you bought anything nice? Well, I've only bought a few items so far, but I am very happy with my purchases. I especially love the fantastic bargains уоu can find, which are much better than other similar sites I've used before. Don't you think? (40 words) They recently changed the website. Do you like the new design? Actually, it's really user-friendly. It's easy to search for things and I particularly like the recommendations it gives me based on my searches. The design is also really trendy - just like the website of my favourite Italian fashion designer. (40 words) EXAMINERS COMMENTS Responses to all three questions are on-topic and show the following features: Control of simple and complex grammatical structures. Punctuation and spelling in accurate. Vocabulary is more than sufficient to respond to the task. Uses linking devices to connect ideas together. Score: Above B2 Level ... I look forward to receiving your response to suggestions. Yours faithfully Miss Helen Walters ... (140 words) FINAL SCORE: C

FULL PRACTICE TEST: WRITING

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SAMPLE RESPONSES

TASK 1 A. What are your hobbies? B. What did you do last night? C. What's your favourite place? D. Where were you born? E. Do you work or study?

Cooking and sailing. I watched a film. Definitely Spain. I was born in England. I work as a chef.

TASK 2 I'm a real foodie and I love cooking, Above all, my favourite dishes are probably lasagne and a British roast dinner. I like preparing both these dishes for my friends on Sundays.

TASK 3 Hello! I see you're new to the cooking club. I love international cuisine! What kind of food is popular in your country? Hi there! I also love foods from around the world! In my country we have a lot of fusion foods because of our colonial history, but the British classics are stews, hot pies and slow-roast meat. Wow! That sounds delicious. What kind of food do you like to cook when you have a family event or party? Well, for big events or parties, the best is something cooked in one pot as it's easier to feed many people, for my birthday last week I made a meat lasagne and a veggie lasagne, with hot garlic bread. I hear that the club is planning to organise international food parties for all the members. What do you think of the idea? Actually, I think is a fantastic idea, as I've always wondered how to make delicious Asian food using fresh spices. I hope the club throws a party with an Asian theme so I can learn how to make it myself.

TASK 4: INFORMAL EMAIL Hi J, How's it going? Hey, have you heard they've cancelled the party? I'm so disappointed because I've already made the dishes I was going to take. They really should have found an alternative kitchen, shouldn't they? Let me know what you decide to do - and otherwise we can go out clubbing instead! Sammy

TASK 4: FORMAL EMAIL Dear Secretary, As a keen member of the cooking club, I wish to express my disappointment with the cancellation of the International food party. Not only have I already prepared my contribution, but I have also been looking forward to sharing and tasting foods from other members. I know that many members feel rather let down by the last minute notice we have been given. It seems only fair that you should try and find an alternative location to host the event. Might I suggest contacting another school and explaining the situation? They may agree to lend us their kitchen in exchange for our members assisting them with their festive preparations at Christmastime. In the event that it proves impossible to find another location, I would appreciate a full refund of the money I have paid for a ticket. I look forward to receiving your reply. Yours faithfully, Samuel Lennon

APTIS TEST PRE-EXAM WORKBOOK