Examinations are one of the most common methods of measuring learning in education systems throughout the world. At virtually every stage of the learning process, exams are used to verify that the learner is ready to move on to the next stage. However, many people believe that the role of examinations should be reconsidered.
There are clearly certain advantages to exams. They help to ensure fairness by imposing the same conditions on all exam candidates. They are also relatively versatile; different types of exam questions, for example, multiple-choice questions and essay tasks, can test different sorts of reasoning ability. However, exams also have clear drawbacks. Test-wise candidates can often perform well on exams without having good underlying knowledge or skills. On the other hand, some test-takers perform poorly in exams simply because of anxiety. Some teachers and learners focus only on those aspects of the curriculum that are likely to be tested, thus narrowing the educational experience for all.
A number of measures should be taken to address these concerns. Wherever possible, exams should match the content and activities of the learning environment. Exam tasks should be varied to give fair opportunities to candidates with different types of skills. Other types of assessment should also be considered; assignment writing, for example, to assess independent learning and research skills, or group projects, to measure teamwork ability.
Exams clearly have a role to play in ensuring proper, objective assessment of achievement. However, exams need to be carefully designed and supplemented with other forms of assessment if they are to be a truly useful component of the educational system.
Some people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace many jobs in the future, while others think it will create new opportunities for workers. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
In the future all cars, uses and trucks will be dirverless. This only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. do you think the advatages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
Your grandparents are planning a family gathering. They want to have a fun weekend somewhere. You know a perfect place to have the event. Write them an email and include the following things: • Tell them about the place you have in mind. • Talk about your experiences at the place. • Describe what the family can do there.
Nowadays, women, as well as men, work full-time. Therefore, women and men should share household tasks equally. (e.g. cleaning and looking after children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The following diagrams show how a pellet stove and a pellet boiler work to heat a house
LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE TO SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS PRATICAL PROBLEMS. TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THIS STATEMEMT.
You have recently changed your job and started working for a new company.
Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter:
• explain why you changed your previous job
• describe your new job
• tell him/her your other news
During a recent plane journey, you sat next to a businessman who owns a chain of restaurants. You talked to him and he suggested that you should contact him about a possible job in one of his restaurants.
Write a letter to this businessman. In your letter
-Remind him when and where you met
-Tell him what kind of job you are interested in
-Say why you think you would be suitable for the job
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic
You will move to a new city for work. You know some people who live there.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:
- Ask them for help finding accommodation
- Tell them where you would like to live
- Tell them the type of place you are looking for
You have decided to leave your current employment. Write a letter to your employer. Include the following in your letter:
– Explain why you are writing
– Explain why you have decided to leave the company
– Tell your employer what you plan to do after leaving your present employment
The first chart bellow shows how energy is used in average Australian household. The second chart shows the greenhouse gas emissions which result from this energy use.
Living a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause seious social problems, as well as as pratical problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.
You've been asked to do a presentation and will need help setting up the equipment for it. Write a letter to your colleague.
In your letter
let him/her know when and where the presentation will take place
tell him/her what equipment you will need
explain how he/she can help you.
A friend told you recently that he/she had gone to an excellent restaurant. You wonder if this restaurant will be suitable for your birthday party next week.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
tell your friend about your planned party
ask what the restaurant is called and for directions to get there
ask what kind of food it serves and if your friend has any particular recommendations from the menu
Some people think that sports involving violence such as boxing and martial arts should be banned from TV as well as from international sports competition. what is your opinion?
Nowadays technology is increasingly being used to monitor what people are doing and saying.(for example,through cellphone tracking and securing camers).In many cases ,the people being monitored are unaware that this is happening.Do you think the advantages of this development overweight the disadvantages
Since university funding benefits both university students and society as a
whole, both parties should bear some of the cost of university educations.
University students gain both personal and economic benefits by attending
university; however, society also benefits by having a more educated
population. In addition, it is important that all members of society have the
opportunity to attend university regardless of wealth. In this essay the various
models of funding for university places will be discussed.
There is little doubt that people who attend university usually benefit through
higher salaries and greater opportunities. It is therefore reasonable that society
expects students to make some contribution to the cost of their education.
However, expecting students to fully fund their own education may cause
students to avoid courses that lead to less well-paying jobs such as the sciences,
nursing and teaching.
Society as a whole also benefits from having a more educated community and
should support people who make an effort to become educated. It is therefore
reasonable that governments also provide money for university places,
particularly when the cost of doing a course or the return for students
discourages them from completing a course that is needed by society.
The funding model that is used for university placements is also very important
as governments have a responsibility to provide an opportunity for all
members of society to attend university. Deferred repayment of fees through
low cost loans and the partial subsidising of university courses by government
are effective methods of ensuring fairer access to university education since
they allow people to pay for their education when they are best able to afford
to.
In summary, university education benefits both individuals and society and
both governments and individuals who receive a university education should
make a contribution to the costs of tertiary education. In addition, it is
important that appropriate loan schemes are in place to ensure that access to
university is available to all members of society.
Some people think that arts (for example music or painting) don’t directly improve people’s wellbeing and therefore the government should spend money on other things. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
With the help of the internet, many people have now started to communicate with others online comfortably rather than confronting them face to face. According to you, what are the advantages as well as disadvantages of communicating online?
Last year you met someone on holidays and become friends. He/she has informed you that they will be near to your home town on business in a few months’ time.
Write a letter to your friend inviting them to stay with you. In your letter
•Say how pleased you are to hear from them.
•Invite them to stay with you.
•Tell them about your ideas of how you could spend the time together.
You do not need to write any addresses.
n the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers. Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think that shops should not be allowed to sell food or drinks that are scientifically proven to be bad for people’s health. Do you agree or disagree?x
In many countries, paying for thing using mobile phone (cellphone) is becoming increasingly common. Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?
Your neighbour keeps an animal in his / her garden and that is causing problem for you. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter:
say what the problem is and how it is affecting you
suggest how the problem could be solved
tell your neighbour what action you might take if the problem is not solved
You have recently read a book about a city you know well and found some incorrect information. Write a letter to the author. ▪️Yell him/her of the incorrect information ▪️Give him/her the correct information Explain why they should correct it.
The chart below shows the average cost of a monthly contract for four different mobiles (cell phones) in a European country from January to September2002, measuredin euro.
The use of smartphone is decreasing our collective intelligence because we are reliant on the technology and not our own minds. To what extent do you agree or disagree.
User Some people think the manufacturers and shopping malls should sell fewer packaged products while others argue that people have the responsibility to buy products with less packaging. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people point that experiential learning can work well in formal education. However, others think a traditional form of teaching is the best. Do you think experiential learning can work well in high schools or colleges?
One of your friends in a foreign country is starting an import-export business, and he has asked you to recommend a product from your country to him.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
say what product you want to recommend to him
tell him where he/she can get this product
explain why you want to recommend this product
being a celebrity such as a famous star or sport personality brings problems as well as benefits. do you think being a celebrity has more benefits or more problems?
ome people argue that teaching children of different abilities together benefits all of them. Others believe that intelligent children should be taught separately and given special treatment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion
The use of software makes it unnecessary for people to know
how to spell words correctly these days.’ Is this a statement that
you agree with? To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The graphs below show the number of hours people spent on social media per day from 2010 to 2016 as well as the reasons why they used them. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Every weekend you and a few close friends meet to play a team sport. Last week one of your friends had an accident and was hospitalised. Since he was not able to make it you decide to write a letter to him, telling him about the match.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,
Travellers and business people often come into contact with other cultures briefly. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of doing so?
Telling the truth all the time is not essential. On some occasions it is necessary to tell lies, and it is wrong to tell the truth. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Many students now work whilst they are studying in college or university. This often results in them having les time to concentrate on their as well as feelingunder pressure. what are some of the causes of this ? what solutions could you suggest?
The chart shows the main methods of transportation for people travelling to a university for work or study in 2004 and 2009. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons wherever relevant.
The organizer of the annual festival is going to organize a festival in your place. Write a letter to the organizer giving feedback for last year and suggestions for this year.
In your letter, you should:
give your feedback for the last festival
tell him/her what you can do for the new festival
suggestions about the new festival.
Some people think the manufacturers and shopping malls should sell fewer packaged products while others argue that people have the responsibility to buy products with less packaging. Discuss both views and give ypur opinion.
More and more people are travelling internationally for their holidays but it is expensive and bad for the environment. Do the advantages of international travel for the individual outweigh the disadvantages?
A construction project has recently begun near your home. There are loud noises coming from the construction site all day. In the last few days, the workers have been working until midnight. You are having trouble sleeping with the loud noise, and you have to wake up at 6:00 a.m. for work. Write an email to your local government and do the following things: • Tell them where you live. • Explain what the problem is. • Ask them to limit the time in which the workers can operate heavy machinery.
Some people believe that the development of artificial intelligence will make human labors obsolete, others think that work performed by humans will always be important. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Many people say that universities should only be offered to young students with high marks,others say that they should accept people of all ages,even if they did not do well.Discuss both views and give your opinion.
‘Some think the best way to motivate and encourage people to work hard is to pay them based on how much they produce and sell. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Some people think that it is fine for professional sportsmen and sportswomen to misbehave on or off the field, as long as they are playing well. Do you agree or disagree wih this statement?
■ Write a letter to a sports club. Tell them you are not satisfied with the service and have already let them know about this. Write
▪What exactly wrong with their service
▪What happened after you complained the first time
▪What you want the club to do after your letter
You travelled by a long distance bus recently and your suitcase was damaged.
Write a letter to the bus company. In your letter
•Inform the bus company of when and to where you travelled
•Describe your suitcase and what happened to it
• Explain why the company should pay for a new suitcase