1 Big dreams

READING

TOPIC
image and fashion

READING FOCUS
dealing with unfamiliar
vocabulary
Exam task
Reading, Part 5:
multiple choice

WRITING FOCUS
using informal and more
formal language in emails
Exam task
Writing, Part 2: email
TOPIC 1 Look at the pictures. Discuss these questions in pairs.
lifestyle • What do you think these people might wish to achieve?
• What would you like to achieve in the near future?
READING FOCUS • What would help you achieve this ambition?
how to approach reading The Reading and Use of English test includes different types of texts.
texts; reading techniques These may be a mixture of fiction and non-fiction.
Exam task 2a Look at the text types in the box. Decide whether each is fiction or
Reading and Use of English, non-fiction.
Parts 5–7
a news article | a diary | a professional journal | a job advert | a book review |
a brochure | a reference book | a novel | an autobiography | a magazine article
WRITING FOCUS
how to approach the essay
2b How often do you read each text type in your everyday life?
question
Exam task 3 Read Mac’s post. What advice would you give him?
Writing, Part 1
18 comments

Mac
Hey, everyone! I’m taking the First exam soon and I never do very
well in the Reading test. Any ideas how to improve my reading skills
in English? Cheers, Mac.
Reply | Like | Posted April 21st at 3.00pm

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 1 Big dreams

4 Look at these ways of improving reading skills in English. Tick the things you already do.
Which would you consider trying?
• Read articles which are written at a level slightly above your current level of English.
• Read the title of an article and predict what the article might be about before you read it.
• Ignore any words you don’t know – read for the main message of a text.
• Read things in English that you enjoy in your own language, e.g. magazines, comics.
• Practise summarising what a text is about to a friend or member of your family.
• Work with a friend and choose an article that you both enjoy reading. Write questions 
about the article to test each other’s understanding.

5a Predicting, skimming, scanning and reading for detail are all reading techniques you can use in the
Reading and Use of English test. Match the techniques (1–4) with their definitions (a–d).
1 predicting a reading very carefully to grasp specific meaning
2 skimming b looking through a text quickly to find particular information
3 scanning c thinking about what information a text might include
4 reading for detail d reading the whole text quickly to get a general impression

5b When would you use each technique? Look at the stages and
discuss your ideas in pairs. (More than one technique may be
appropriate for each stage.)
a the test instructions
b the title and sub-heading
c finding out what the text is about in general
d the question and options
e finding a name, number or other word / phrase
Answer every question.
f locating a particular idea in the text If there are any you
g checking your answer is correct aren’t sure about, go
back and check them at
6 Work in pairs. Read the Smash It! list. Which of the techniques will the end.
you try to use?

6 WAYS to
smash!

reading techniques
Reading & Use of English, Parts 5–7:

1 Read the instructions carefully to find out what you have to do. It may include information about
the content of the text.
2 Read the title and any sub-headings and consider what the text might be about. Don’t spend
long on this!
3 Read the whole text quickly to give you an idea of the overall message.
4 Read each question and the answer options carefully.
5 Locate the section where each question is answered in the text.
6 Read the relevant section of the text in detail and choose or write your answer.
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 EXAM PRACTICE
1a Read the instructions for a Reading and Use of English, Part 5 task. What kind of text are you going
to read? What is it about? What do you have to do?
You are going to read a magazine article about achieving goals. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (A,
B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
1b Readthe title of the article and the text in italics. What additional information have you found out?
What kind of information do you think will be included in the text?
2a Read
the article and answer these questions.
a 
What is Jade’s ambition?  b  Who is going to help her achieve it? c Who is her favourite sportsperson?

Extreme goal ‘If Jade wants to represent her country in

swimming, she’ll have to get serious,’ says her

makeover! life coach Ailish Campbell. ‘One way in which she

can do this is to focus on one or two swimming
strokes and devote her time and effort to getting
Our professional life coach them right. With the help of her trainer, Jade
helped one teen turn her big should design a one-hour strength-training
dream into an achievable action regime tailored to these strokes, which she’ll put
plan. Read how they did it. into practice twice a week.’

Of course you want this school year to be A+ and Jade also needs to be more consistent in her
awesome. But it won’t happen unless you make eating and sleeping habits by getting 8–9 hours
it happen! To prove that achieving your goals is of rest per night and consuming lots of lean
totally doable, we’ve taken a teen and her dream protein and carbs at every meal. In addition, Jade
and paired her with a coach who fine-tuned her has to work on building a winning mindset. Her
objectives and action plan. The result: a new path favourite Olympian of all time is Missy Franklin;
to success that seems clear, not overwhelming. So Missy reminds Jade that anything is possible. So
steal their secrets – then go for it! Jade could find photographs of Missy winning gold
and put them up in her sports locker and bedroom
Jade Raynor wants to represent her country as a
to help her visualise success.
professional swimmer. As a naturally competitive
high school student, Jade’s always worked hard,
but now she’s at a crossroads and will really have
to focus if she wants to be a pro swimmer.

2b Now answer this multiple-choice question.

What does Ailish Campbell think Jade needs to do?

A ask her coach to show her some new techniques

B focus more on swimming than schoolwork

C increase the number of practice sessions

D re-think her approach to training

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 1 Big dreams

WRITING
1a Work in pairs. Read Lydia’s post. What do you know about the essay
question?

5 comments

Lydia
First Writing has always got an essay question, is that right? I’m not
sure what this is like. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Reply | Like | Posted April 30th at 2.10pm
WRITING FOCUS
how to approach the
1b Read the Q&A page that Big_ears recommends to check your ideas. essay question
Exam task
6 comments
Writing, Part 1
Big_ears
I found this Q & A page about the essay really helpful!
Reply | Like | Posted April 30th at 2.25pm

Part 1: the Essay

Q: Do we HAVE to do the essay question, or is there a choice?
A: The essay question is compulsory.
Q: How is the essay question usually phrased?
A: There are 3 parts!
•  a set-up, e.g. In your class you’ve been talking about money.
• an essay question, e.g. Is it better to save money or spend it?
• 1three points to include: two are given to you and
enjoy
one you need to come up with, e.g.
ment 2 security 3 (your own idea)

Q: If we have to write about three points, together with an introduction

makes five paragraphs, is that right? and a conclusion, then that

A: It’s true that there should be an introduction and a conclusion but some
two points into one paragraph. times you can combine

Q: Is there a right or wrong answer to the essay question?

A: No, just your own ideas and opinions.
Q: If we don’t write about all the points, do we lose marks?
A: Yes, sorry! You have to include all the information the question asks
for.
Q: Is it important to keep to the word limit?
A: Try to stay as close to the limit – between 140 and 190 words – as you
shorter isn’t going to be a problem. But if can. A little longer or
you write TOO little, you probably haven’t
everything. And if you write TOO much you’v covered
e probably included some irrelevant point
s! 9

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 1 Big dreams
2 Work in pairs. Do you know these people? What skills did they need to get where they are?
Who would you prefer to be? Why?

3a Read the essay question. In your pairs, discuss what you could say about points 1 and 2, and then
think of some ideas for point 3.

In your English class you have been talking about high achievers and the consequences of success. Now, your English

teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Is staying at the top more difficult than reaching it?

Notes

Write about:

1. people’s expectations

2. motivation

3. ………………………….. (your own idea)

3b Read a candidate’s answer on page 94 and compare your ideas.

4 Read the essay on page 94 again. Find and underline the following:
a a statement to introduce the topic
b a phrase that is used to sum up in the conclusion
c examples of a range of different grammatical structures
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 8 WAYS to
smash!

the essay
Writing, Part 1:

1 Read the question carefully and include all the points in your answer.
2 Divide your essay into several paragraphs that follow logically.
3 Always give a brief introduction and conclusion.
4 Stay on the topic and don’t write about irrelevant things.
5 Give examples, where appropriate, to clarify your points.
6 Make a plan and note down points for each paragraph before you write.
7 Use a variety of structures and vocabulary.
8 Always read through your essay afterwards and check your grammar, spelling and punctuation.

EXAM PRACTICE
1a Read the two exam tasks and discuss what you could include for the third point each time.

In your English class you have been talking about becoming famous. Now,

your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Fame can bring more problems than benefits. Do you agree?

Notes
In your English class you have been talking about celebrity. Now, your
Write about:
English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
1. lifestyle
Write an essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
2. privacy
Anyone can become famous if they really want to and work hard. Do you
3. ……………………. (your own idea)
agree?

Notes

Write about:

1. talent

2. opportunity

3. ……………………. (your own idea)

1b Read the Smash It! list above. Then choose one of the tasks and write your essay in 140–190 words.

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