Speaking Reminders

1. If you don't understand, you can say so.

Example, if the examiner asks, "Have you ever traveled abroad?" and you don't understand abroad, you can say: 

• I'm sorry. I don't understand "abroad".
• What does "abroad" mean?
• What is "abroad"?

2. The clock is always ticking, so keep talking. Show that you understand the question and know the vocabulary.

Examples: 

If you can't remember what the weather was like or what you wore yesterday,  a true answer is not important.  

• It was cold and rainy / It was warm and sunny. / It rained in the morning, but it was sunny in the afternoon.
• I wore a new pair of trousers and a black sweater with a white blouse.

3.  In part 2, keep the cards on the table so both of you can see them.
if your partner can't find the answer, you can indicate it with your finger.

4. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE and CORRECT. 
Do not give more information than you should.  
Do not change the questions or the information on the cards. 

5. Review the speaking posts

Speaking - part 2 - TV Programs + ways to travel

(5 - 6 minutes) 
In this part, you will talk with your partner. Here are some pictures that show different television programs. Do you like these different types of television programs?  Say why or why not. Now talk together.

Things to think about for your discussion: 

• What people, places, and things do you see in the pictures?  
• Do you like action films?
• Do you think that the news on TV is sad/interesting?
• Do you think watching football on TV is fun/exciting?
• What do you think about history programs?

Be descriptive to show the vocabulary you know.  Ask your partner questions so you speak together.

After 1-2 minutes, the examiner will then ask each candidate a question, such as:
Do you think ...

• watching action films on TV is exciting?
• watching the news on TV is sad?
• watching football matches on TV is interesting?
• watching singing on TV is fun?
• watching programs about history on TV is boring?

So Candidate A, which of these programs do you like best? And Candidate B, which do you like best? 
(Then you return the pictures)

Then he or she will ask you both some questions about the topic. (up to 2 min.)
Examples:

• Do you prefer watching television alone or with other people, Candidate B? Why? And what about you, Candidate A? 
• How much time do you spend watching television on different days of the week? Why?

That is the end of the test.

Do you think traveling by train is interesting?
Do you think traveling by plane is dangerous?
                              by boat is fun?

                              by bus is nice?
                              by camper is comfortable?
Which way of traveling is best?
Which way of traveling do you like best? 
Do you prefer traveling with family or friends? 
Do you prefer staying at home on your holidays or traveling? Why?

Speaking Part 2: Let's talk about hobbies + sports

Look at the pictures and compare hobbies.
Do you like these different hobbies? (Why or why not?)

Do you think …

1. … playing football is fun?
2. … playing an instrument is difficult?
3. … playing computer games is boring?
4. … reading is interesting?
5. … painting/drawing is easy?

Which of these hobbies do you like best?

Do you do any sport? (Br)
Do you play any sports? (more common in Am Eng)
*remember the use of the verbs play / go / do

Every Sunday I play volleyball with my friends. 
NOT practice
BUT you can use practice when it means to train
The team is practicing/training for the big game. (VERB-AM)
The team are in training for the big match. 
I have football practice three days a week. (practice is a NOUN)
I practice the piano every day. (VERB)

Which is more fun, playing sports or watching sports? (Why?)

What do you think about playing video games/football/an instrument/reading/drawing/?

What do you think about the people who do these things? 

Are you good at drawing / sports / playing any instrument? 

Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people? (Why?)
How much time do you spend drawing / reading / playing video games?

When do you play video games / rugby / the piano?
When did you .....?
How much time did you spend drawing / practicing the piano...?

Do you ever draw animals?
Do you like drawing landscapes? 

What are you drawing now?

What kind of books do you like to read?
What are you reading now? 

Part 7

 

Stop + to vs. stop + -ing

 

What's the difference between: 
stopped + -ing  and stopped to    

CONSIDER: 

They stopped eating.  vs They stopped to eat.

 

 

 

Vocabulary and Phrasal Verbs

Choose the correct word:

Other phrasal verbs you should know:

sit down                 put on / take off              look out / watch out                look for
write down            turn on / turn off             go out                                           look after
lie down                 get on / get off                 fill in / fill out                             look at
                                  hold on                             find out
stand up
look up
wake up
get up
grow up
wash up
pick up
 
How are these phrases different: get up, get down, get in, get out ?

NOTE the position of pronouns:
Turn off the lights.  OR   Turn the lights off.
BUT
Turn them off.   NOT   Turn off them. 

NEW DIGITAL VERSION of KEY for SCHOOLS

 

MISTAKES on the Mock Test

NB: La maggior parte degli errori sono dovuti alla disattenzione in classe.
Many of you did not use the ANSWER SHEETS correctly.  

1. Write BIG and DARK, so the examiner can read what you wrote!  
2. Follow the INSTRUCTIONS! In listening part 2 and R+W Part 5,  you MUST write the words in CAPITAL LETTERS.  
3. Listening:  Use the 10-15-20 seconds given to read the information! It helps to know what they will be talking about. 
4. You must transfer ALL of your answers to the answer sheets.  Be sure to copy correctly from the booklet to your answer sheet.  Do not leave anything blank. Guess! You might be correct.  
5. You must ERASE well.  Leave only one answer on each line.  Do not write anything other than your aswers in the correct spaces or write in the areas it says not to. Be careful when you erase. If necessary letters are missing [scarf(scarf)],  the word will be considered misspelled and a mistake. 
6. You have 6 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet in the listening. You must stop writing and put your pencil down when the time is up. There is one hour for the R+W INCLUDING the transfer time, so remember to give yourself enough to transfer your answers.
7. The circles must be filled in well.Stay within the circle. Make sure they are DARK and SHINY.   DO NOT cross them out.  

COMMON MISTAKES

1.  Write only 1 word in Listening Part 2 and R+W Part 5.
2.  Know the Alphabet! In Listening part 2  and in Writing part 5,  you must spell correctly.   Do not misspell words like Hi,  days of the week, with, because, snack, jacket, which, what, together
3.  Use capitals appropriately: at the beginning of a sentence, for names (Chris), days of the week, months. If you do not, the answer will be counted as incorrect. I (NOT i) !
4.  PUNCTUATION is important!  Sentences end with full stops / periods (.), exclamation marks (!), or question marks (?) ,  not commas ( , ).
5. You come last:  My friends and I   not Me and my friends.
6. You go TO town  / we went to a concert
7. House is the building; Home is used in a more personal way:
             Can you come over to my house this weekend?
             I have to be home before midnight. 
8.  It is best to write the story in the past tense. You can use the simple past and the past continuous:  Bob and Mary were walking in the park when they saw a huge tree with a big hole in it. 
   If you use the present tense, use the continuous to make it better: 
   Bob and Mary are walking in the park when they see a huge tree with a hole in it.  Know the difference between the present perfect and simple past. Be sure to write about all 3 pictures. It is a story, so they need to have a connection.
9. . You can practice with the exercises in HELPFUL LINKS. 

• PART 6- EMAIL.  DOVETE:
  • Leggere le istruzioni con attenzione, capire le 3 quisiti e a chi rispondere. 
  • Iniziare con  Hi / Hello" + Nome seguito da , della persona alla quale va indirizzata. 
  • Andare a capo e iniziare la prima parola con Lettera MAISUCOLA.
  • Rispondere alle tre quesiti. 
  • Chiudere con una frase adatta. 
  • Firmare tuo nome.
  • Contare le parole scritte.  Non scrivere meno di quanto richiesto. 
    SEE EMAIL POSTS
    

Simple Present vs Present Perfect

 

Phrasal Verbs

 

MOCK EXAM; classes 2025: READ THIS POST CAREFULLY!

The Mock Test (READING, WRITING, and LISTENING) will be on 

 Monday, February 24

Wednesday, February 26

Thursday, February 27.

Write in CAPITAL letters in Part 2

PLEASE BE ON TIME.  

Remember that you will use special answer sheets, so you must have  2 (#2hb) PENCILS and an ERASER.  Cell phones must be turned off or silenced. 

Write in CAPITAL LETTERS

  TAKE NOTE:

1. 
   Be careful to transfer your answers correctly. Stay inside the circles. Make sure they are dark and shiny.   Fate attenzione quando trasferite le risposte all' answer sheet e riempite bene gli spazi in maniera precisa, lucida e scura.   
    
2. ERASE well. Do NOT leave two answers on one line. Non lasciate traccia di cancellatura.
   
   
3. Answer ALL the questions. If you aren't sure, GUESS! NON lasciate nulla in bianco. Se non siete sicuri, indovinate! 
   
   
4.   If you have bad handwriting, use CAPITAL LETTERS for your email and story.  You MUST write in CAPITAL letters for part 2 of the Listening and Part 5 of the Reading.  Scrivete più leggibile possibile. Se non avete una buona scrittura, scrivete in STAMPATELLO MAIUSCOLO.  
   NOTA BENE: E' obbligatorio scrivere in STAMPATELLO in Part 2 del Listening e in Part 5 del Reading. 
   
   
5. Copy correctly! Spelling counts! Copiate perfettamente le risposte. Conta anche lo spelling!  
   
   
6. Part 6: Iniziate la lettera con Dear / Hi / Hello e il nome della persona a cui stai scrivendo, seguito dalla vergola. Andate a capo e iniziate la prima parola con una lettera MAIUSCOLA. Rispondete ai tre quesiti. È necessario leggere le istruzioni della lettera con attenzione e rispondere alle domande.
   Chiudete con frasi come From, / Love, / Your friend, /See you soon. / Bye for now, e firmate.  Do NOT close with Bye bye.
   
   
7. Remember to count and write the number of words. You must write at least 25.  Do not count the opening (Hi Mary,) or your name.
   Scrivete il numero di parole (un minimo di 25). Sarete penalizzate se scrivete meno di 25. Non contate l'apertura (Hi Mary,) o vostro nome. 
   
   
8. Fate attenzioni agli errori di ortografia. Dovete sapere come scrivere le parole della Vocabulary List.  I giorni della settimana iniziano con la lettera maiuscola, come la parola (io) "I" e la prima parola di ogni frase.
   
   
9. STUDY the vocabulary lists on this blog.
   
   
   

2) Speaking part 2: School subjects + Shopping + Fun activities

 Be sure you have read through the other SPEAKING POSTS.

 PHRASES to use:

• In my opinion      
  
• What's your opinion?
• I personally think/feel
• I really think/believe that 
• What do you think? 
• I prefer 
• Which/What do you prefer?
• I don't really care for

 Do you like these school subjects? 

Do you think:

• maths is important?
  
• geography is useful?
• history is interesting?
• science is fun?
• art is easy?
  

Which of these subjects do you like best?

Do you like learning alone or with a teacher?

What sort of homework do you prefer; reading something or writing something? (Why?)

1) Speaking Part 2: Different things to wear + places to eat + places in a town + outdoor activities

Watch the videos of the speaking exam.

Expressions to use:

• What do you think? 
• What about you? 
• I think… 
• I agree. / I don't agree. / I disagree.
• I love … 
• I prefer … 
• Yes, I think so too. 
• I don’t think so. 
• Maybe but I … 
• I don’t.
• I don't really like...
• That's an interesting question.
  
• I need to think about that for a moment. / I'll have to think about that...

In this part of the test, you are going to talk together. Here are some pictures that show different things to wear. Do you like these different things to wear? Say why or why not.  Now talk together.
 

After 1-2 minutes, the examiner will then ask each candidate a question, such as:
Do you think ...

• wearing jeans is boring?
• wearing sunglasses is important?
• wearing trainers is cool?
• wearing a cap in the sun is a good idea?
• wearing a watch is useful?

So, A, which of these things to wear do you like best? And B, which of these do you like best?

Do you prefer wearing a watch or using your phone to tell the time, B?  And what about you, A?

What kind of jewelry can you wear at school? Why?

**Give different answers or reasons than your partner.**

Part 6: EMAIL PRACTICE

Practice writing the emails below. Be sure to answer all 3 questions in each email. Write 25 words or more.  

1) Read a note from your friend Sarah.

Thank you for asking your brother to meet me at the bus station tomorrow. What does he look like? What clothes will he wear? Where will he wait for me?

See you soon!

Sarah

2)  Hi,
      It’s great that you’re free to meet me this weekend. I have a few questions.   Where is the best place in your town to meet? What would you like to do?   Shall I bring anything?     
      Write soon!
      Francis     

3)  You are planning a party. Write an email to your English friend Malcolm. In your email: 

 Tell Malcolm about your party.
 Ask if Malcolm wants to come.
Suggest what Malcom should bring.

PARTS 6 + 7

  Some NOTES on parts 6 and 7   

• Be careful about writing too much or too little. "How are you?" is not necessary to begin your email. 
• You will lose points if you do not include all 3 parts of the email or write about all three pictures for the story. 
• Proper nouns (names, days of the week, months, cities, etc.) and I MUST be capitalized: Saturday, February, Rome, I (NOT i ) 
• my friends and I   NOT   me and my friends   
• be careful to use the correct verb tense 
• PUNCTUATION. Sentences end with a period ( . full stop) or an exclamation mark (!) Questions need a ?
• Titles of books should be underlined: The Hunger Games.
• TIME: 6 o'clock /  6 p.m. / 4:30 / 4
• Use words you know how to spell correctly. Some common misspellings: which (not witch); together, with, sandwich, picnic, a lot (2 words)
• MEET: We can meet at the station. (incontrare) BUT "It's nice to meet you." (conoscere)

 PART 6 
Question 31
You are going shopping with your English friend Pat tomorrow. Write an email to Pat.
Say:

• where you want to meet
• what time you want to meet
• what you want to buy

Write 25 words or more.

Here are two examples:

Hi Pat,
I want to meet you at the shopping center tomorrow at 10 a..m.  I want to buy a watch and a pair of basketball shoes. 
See you then.
Mary

(26 words)

--------------------------

Hi Pat,

I am so happy to go shopping tomorrow because I would like to buy a necklace for my mom's birthday. Why don't we meet at the cafeteria outside the shopping center at 2 p.m.?
See you tomorrow.
Mary
(35 words)

 ********************************** 

 PART 7 

Examples:
1)  Yesterday my friends and I put food in my bag for a picnic. We went to the park and ate our lunch by the lake. It was warm, so after lunch, two friends went swimming.
(35words)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

2)  Last weekend my friends and I decided to have a picnic. First, we made sandwiches and filled my bag with fruit and some drinks. Then we went to the park where we ate our lunch on a blanket by the lake.  Later, Bob and Mary went swimming, while Peter and I talked. 
(52 words)

For more help with writing, click on a category under LABELS.

Writing Part 6- The email

Writing Part 6:  

For more posts on part 6, click on Part 6, Writing, or Emails under Labels.

• You must write a message of 25 words or more.  Do not count your name or the opening salutation.
• Use GOOD handwriting. You will not be penalized if you write in CAPITAL LETTERS. 
• ***Remember: you can always respond, even when you don't know what all the words mean.  

HOW TO WRITE your message:  
1.  Use the same format you see on the test. Begin with a salutation: Hello / Hi + name of the person you are writing to, followed by a comma:  Hi Bob, 
2. Start a new paragraph and begin with a CAPITAL letter.
3. Answer all 3 parts. 

4. End your letter with: See you soon. / See you later. / Let me know. / Talk to you soon. / Your friend, / Love, / Bye for now,
5. Sign your name 
6. Count the words (excluding the beginning salutation and your name).

Here is an example of an email with ideas of what to write:

You need to choose a friend to do your school project with. Write an email to your school friend Tim. 

• ask Tim to do the project with you;
• say when you can meet
• tell Tim what to bring

Hi Tim,

Would you like to do the school project with me? (10 words)
Can you do the school project with me? (8 words)
Will you do the school project with me? (8 words)

We can meet at my house after basketball practice. (9 words)
We can meet after school in the library. (8 words)
We can meet at 5 p.m.      (5 words)

Why don't we meet....?
Let's meet....

How about meeting....?
I would like to meet...

Please bring your computer and your dad's digital camera. (9 words)
Bring a notebook and your mobile phone. (7 words)

Let me know.  (3 words)
See you soon.
Write me soon.
Bye for now.
Your friend,    (2 words)

Sign your name     

Now it's your turn. Try answering this email from your English friend Joe. Remember, you must write at least 25 words.
1

Write an email to Joe and answer the questions.
Write 25 words or more.
Write the email on your answer sheet.

2   Answer this email from your friend Liam. Remember, you must write at least 25 words.

Hi,

I'm going to be in your town next week. Could you tell me about a good place to eat? What's the food like? Where is it?

Thanks,

Liam

For help with LIKE, click HERE
3 Write an email to Sam and answer the questions. Write 25 words or more. 

Hi,
I want to ask you something. I'm really bored. Can I borrow something to read from you? What do you think I will enjoy? And when would you like it back? 
I hope it's OK. Cheers!
Sam

Try this Listening test

 PART 1 

REMEMBER: You will hear something about all 3 pictures, so pay attention to the questions and listen for specific information. Are the verbs in the present, past, or future? 

PART 1

Questions 1-5. You will hear five short conversations. You will hear each conversation twice. There is one question for each conversation. For each question, choose the correct picture (A, B, or C).