OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Reading and Writing • Part 1   1 hour for this paper

Questions 1–6

For each question, choose the correct answer.

SPECIAL OFFER! A If you buy three books, you will pay half
the price.
BUY TWO BOOKS, B You will only pay less if you buy more than
GET 50% DISCOUNT two books.
ON A THIRD BOOK. C Every book in the shop costs 50% less now.

Dinner is in the fridge. A The dinner is already cooked.

You can eat it cold. B Anna has to make her own dinner.
C There is no food in the fridge.
Leave some for Anna.

A You can become a member between 4 pm

POOL CLOSED and 7 pm.
4 pm–7 pm today B Anyone can swim in the pool from 4 pm to
7 pm.
Members of swimming team
C Only the swimming team can use the pool
are training between 4 pm and 7 pm.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx
4 • Part 1   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
From: Fred
Xxxxxxxxx To: Jack
A Jack should go to the stadium without Fred.

Band practice finishes at 16:30 so B Fred cannot go to the stadium because he

has got band practice.
don’t wait for me at the train station XxxxxC Fred will meet Jack at the train station.
tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the
Xxxxxxxx stadium instead.

(6)     Xxxxxx

1 A  Xxx
5 B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

38 The c Who is this information for?

A parents
You may choose your seat
when you book online or B airport staff
at the airport. C passengers

6
From: Dad
To: Lucy
A Adam does not want to go to the party
with Lucy.
Adam called. He made a
B Lucy cannot go to the party on that day.
mistake – the party is on the
C The party will be on a different day.
14th, not the 13th.
Let him know if you can still go.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Reading and Writing • Part 2

Questions 7–13

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Kate Emma Lisa

7 Who doesn’t do her sport anymore? A B C

8 Who did another sport before starting her sport? A B C

9 Who plays in a winning team? A B C

10 Who thinks more people like her should do her sport? A B C

11 Who talks about practising with a team? A B C

12 Who didn’t do well the first time she tried her sport? A B C

13 Who wasn’t taught by a coach when she was young? A B C

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx • Part 1   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Young sport players
Xxxxxxxxx
Kate
I played in a volleyball team until I hurt my arm. We practised three
times a week after school and we had matches at the weekend.
Xxxxx
Sometimes our practices were hard and we were really tired
afterwards. When we lost our games, we felt terrible, but our coach
Xxxxxxxx told us not to worry. She said, ‘It’s only a game. It’s more important
that you learn to play as a team.’ We knew she was right, but we still
(6)     Xxxxxx felt bad!

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  

Xxx D  
Xxx
Emma
Football is really popular and now many girls play it too. My team is
38 The c
really good and we win most of our matches. My dad is a football
fan and when I was five, he showed me how to run with the ball and
kick it. Some people think it’s strange for girls to play football, but
I think it’s strange that more girls don’t play! I’m not interested in
making football my job – I just want to enjoy playing it.

Lisa
I remember watching the Winter Olympics on TV a few years ago.
The snowboarding races were so exciting! I thought the athletes
were really cool and I knew I wanted to try the sport. First, I practised
on a skateboard at the skatepark near my house. I became really
good at skateboarding. That winter I asked my parents if I could try
snowboarding. Well, I fell over a lot the first time, but my teacher
helped me to become better and now I’m a snowboarder!

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Reading and Writing • Part 3

Questions 14–18

For each question, choose the correct answer.

A message in a bottle
By Jack Wood, age 13

People leave all sorts of things on the beach, from shoes to jewellery and even sunglasses. People
often lose money on the beach too. But have you ever found a message in a bottle?

One day in 2011, that’s what happened to Daniil Korotkikh, a 13-year-old Russian boy, who was
walking along the beach with his parents. It was a sunny day and he saw something interesting
in the sand.

It was a glass bottle. It looked old and there was something inside it. Daniil opened the bottle and
found a piece of paper that was covered in plastic to protect it. Through the plastic, Daniil saw
some writing, but he couldn’t understand the writing because it was written in German.

Daniil’s father, who knew a little German, read it. It said, ‘My name is Frank and I’m five years old.
My dad and I are travelling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this, please write back to me and I will
write back to you.’ The message included Frank’s address in Germany and the date 1987.

Could Frank still live at the same address after 24 years? Daniil didn’t think so, but he sent him a
letter anyway. Surprisingly, Frank received the letter and later that year the two spoke in a video call
where Daniil showed Frank the bottle and the letter.

Was the bottle in the sea for 24 years? Daniil doesn’t think so. He believes it was probably hidden
under the sand exactly where he found it.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx • Part 1
14 What things are unusual to find on a beach?
  1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
A things from home
Xxxxxxxxx
B a bottle with a note in it

C money

Xxxxx
15 What was interesting about the bottle Daniil found?
Xxxxxxxx
A It wasn’t empty.
(6)     Xxxxxx
B It still had paper on the outside.

C It had plastic around it.

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

38 The c
16 Why did Frank write the message?

A He wanted to make friends in Denmark.

B He and his dad were lost while travelling by ship.

C He hoped to receive a letter back from someone.

17 What was Daniil not sure about?

A that Frank still lived in the same house

B that Frank could remember sending the bottle

C that Frank wanted to get a letter

18 What does Daniil think happened to the bottle?

A It spent many years in the sea.

B It was on the beach for many years.

C Someone hid it.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Reading and Writing • Part 4

Questions 19–24

For each question, choose the correct answer.

Sia
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler is a singer. You probably know her by her first name – Sia. In 2014, her
song Chandelier made her well known around the world. However, (19)     , she doesn’t want
to be famous at all. She’s very shy. That’s one (20)     why she covers her face with her hair.
In fact, she’s (21)     shy that she even covers her face during television interviews.

Sia doesn’t only sing songs – she also writes them for herself and other (22)     . She’s the
writer of Rihanna’s big hit, Diamonds. Although Sia has been famous since 2014, she’s been a
singer for a lot longer than that. You may be (23)     to learn that her singing career began over
20 years ago. She made her (24)     album in 1997 and she still makes great music today.

19 A  actually B  certainly C  especially

20 A  way B  reason C  example

21 A  so B  very C  quite

22 A  actors B  writers C  singers

23 A  surprised B  pleased C  excited

24 A  next B  last C  first

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Xxxxxx • and
PartWriting
1 • Part 5   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
Questions
Xxxxxxxxx 25–30

For each question, write the correct answer.

Write one word for each gap.

Example:  0 for Xxxxx

Xxxxxxxx

From: Alice
(6)     Xxxxxx
To: Tom

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C   Xxx D  

Xxx
Thanks (0)     your email. I’m glad you’re enjoying your
new school.
38 The c

I (25)     got some exciting news! I’m going to be in

(26)     music video. Don’t worry, I’m (27)    
singing – I know my voice is terrible! I’m going to dance
in the video. The son of (28)     of the teachers at
my dance school is a singer in a band. She asked me
(29)     I’d like to be in the band’s new video. I said yes!
They’re going to film it next week. I’ll send you the video
(30)     it is ready.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Reading and Writing • Part 6

Question 31

You are going to the cinema on Saturday with your English friend Alex.
Write an email to Alex.

In your email:

• say where you want to meet

• tell Alex what time you want to meet
• ask Alex to do something afterwards.

Write 25 words or more.

Write the email on your answer sheet.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Reading
Xxxxxx • and
PartWriting
1 • Part 7   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
Question
Xxxxxxxxx32

Look at the three pictures.

Write the story shown in the pictures.
Write 35 words or more.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx

(6)     Xxxxxx

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  

Xxx D  
Xxx

38 The c

Write the story on your answer sheet.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Listening • Part 1   Approximately 35 minutes (including 6 minutes’ transfer time)

Questions 1–5

01  For each question, choose the correct picture.

1 Which is the most popular activity?

A B C

2 When is the next train?

A B C

3 What is the weather like now?

A B C

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx • Part 1
4 Where is the bookshop?
  1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
Xxxxxxxxx

Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx

(6)     Xxxxxx

A B C
1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx
5 How much is the T-shirt?
38 The c

£1
0 £15 £ 2 0
A B C

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Listening • Part 2
Questions 6–10

02  For each question, write the correct answer in the gap. Write one word or a number or a date
or a time.

You will hear a recorded message about a museum.

History museum
Open from: 10 o’clock

Saturdays and Sundays closes at: (6)           pm

Closed on: (7)          

Information desk: (8)           floor

Tours last: (9)           minutes

Bus parking in: (10)           Street

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Listening • Part
Xxxxxx • Part 1 3   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
Questions
Xxxxxxxxx 11–15

03  For each question, choose the correct answer.

Xxxxx
You will hear Sam talking to his friend Emma about a music festival.

11 Sam entered the competition

Xxxxxxxx
A online.
(6)    
B onXxxxxx
the radio.
C on TV.
1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

12 They will go to the festival on

38 The c
A Friday.
B Saturday.
C Sunday.

13 Emma should meet Sam at

A three o’clock
B four o’clock
C five o’clock

14 Sam will meet Emma

A at the park.
B at a cafe.
C at the bus stop.

15 Sam thinks the new song

A is better than some songs by other bands.
B isn’t better than the band’s other songs.
C is the band’s best song.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Listening • Part 4
Questions 16–20

04  For each question, choose the correct answer.

16 You will hear a girl talking about her new hobby.

What does she enjoy most about her hobby?
A meeting new people
B spending more time outside
C trying something difficult

17 You will hear two friends talking about a youth club.

Why is Leo talking to Sophie about it?
A He wants information.
B He wants some advice.
C He’s looking for a new hobby.

18 You will hear a teacher talking to one of his students called Jill.
Why is the teacher talking to her?
A to tell her she must work harder
B to ask her if he can use her work as an example
C to say his other students aren’t good

19 You will hear a girl talking to her father.

What is she doing?
A studying
B cooking
C shopping

20 You will hear two friends talking.

Where are they?
A at the cinema
B at a museum
C in a bookshop

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Listening • Part
Xxxxxx • Part 1 5   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper
Questions
Xxxxxxxxx 21–25

05  For each question, choose the correct answer.

Xxxxx
You will hear Lily talking to a friend about different activities.
Which activity will each person do?
Xxxxxxxx
Example:
(6)    
0 Maya Xxxxxx H

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C   Xxx D  

Xxx
People Activities
38 The c
21 Pam A baseball

22 Chris B basketball

23 Martin C rock-climbing

24 Stella D photography

25 Dave E horse-riding

F skateboarding

G cycling

H tennis

You now have 6 minutes to write your answers on the answer sheet.

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Speaking • Part 1   3–4 minutes

The examiner will ask each student some questions.

The examiner has a general conversation with each of the candidates. The candidates answer the
examiner’s questions directly – they do not talk to each other.

Phase 1

Back-up questions
What’s your name?

Where do you come from? Are you from … (e.g. Spain, etc.)?

Where do you live? Do you live in … (e.g. name of

district / town, etc.)?

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx • Part 1   1 hour and 15 minutes for this paper

Phase 2
Now, let’s talk about watching television.
Xxxxxxxxx

To student A: Back-up questions

How often do you watch TV?

Xxxxx Do you watch TV in the evening?

How many hours of TV do you watch every day? Do you watch TV for more than two
hours every day?
Xxxxxxxx
To student B:
(6)     Xxxxxx
What kind of TV shows do you like to watch? Do you like comedies?

Who do you usually watch TV with? Do you like to watch TV with

1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx your family? D   Xxx

Now, student A, please tell me something about Do you watch your favourite TV show
38 your The c
favourite TV show. on TV or on your computer/laptop?

Did you watch your favourite TV

show this week/weekend?

Do you ever download you favourite

TV show? (Why?/Why not?)

Now, let’s talk about free-time.

To student B: Back-up questions

What hobbies do you have? Do you belong to any clubs?

What do you like to do with your friends? Do you like to go to museums?

To student A:

What sports do you play? Do you play badminton at school?

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you like rock music?

Now, student B, please tell me what activities Do you visit family at the weekends?
you do at the weekend.
Did you play video games last
weekend?

Do you like to go on picnics? (Why?/

Why not?)

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST A2

Speaking • Part 2   5–6 minutes

The examiner gives the candidates 5 pictures to look at on a specific topic. The candidates talk to
each other and discuss the pictures. The examiner extends the conversation by asking each candidate
questions related to the pictures.

Phase 1

Now, in this part of the test you are going to talk together.

Here are some pictures that show different free-time activities.

Do you like these different free-time activities? Say why or why not. I’ll say that again.

Do you like these different free-time activities? Say why or why not.

All right? Now, talk together.

  Students look at the pictures for 1 minute (maximum of 2 minutes) before answering the questions above.
Do you like these different free-time activities?

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OPTI M I S E PRACTICE TEST

Xxxxxx • Part
Speaking • Part
1 2   Allow a minimum  1ofhour
1 minute
and 15
(maximum
minutes for
of 2this
minutes)
paper
before moving on to the following questions.

Xxxxxxxxx
Do you think …

… having a barbecue is fun?

Xxxxx
… going camping is boring?
Xxxxxxxx
… buying clothes is interesting?
Optional question
(6) …
    Xxxxxx
playing the guitar is difficult?
Why?/Why not?
… painting is relaxing?
1 A  Xxx B  Xxx C  
Xxx D  
Xxx

To
38both The
students
c A and B:

Which of these free-time activities do you like best?

Thank you.

Phase 2    Up to 2 minutes
The examiner has a discussion with the candidates on the same topic discussed in Phase 1.

Do you prefer doing free-time activities alone or with your friends? (Why?)

Which is more fun, doing free-time activities outside or doing free-time activities at home? (Why?)

Thank you. That is the end of the test.

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