1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

Listening
1 PT Track 1  Listen to each dialogue and 2 PT Track 1  You will hear people talking in
write the missing word(s). Then decide five different situations. For questions 1–5,
whether the speakers agree or disagree. choose the best answer (A, B or C).
Write A (agree) or D (disagree) in the 1 You hear a boy discussing a problem with
spaces provided. a friend.
1 The first thing you should do is go to the police. What is the problem?
I              point.      A He’s committed a crime.
2 Let’s go for it! B He’s lost some money.
I really              want to take the C One of his possessions has been stolen.
risk.      2 You hear two friends talking about taking part in
3 He’s so quiet and shy. a TV programme.
I              mean.      What do they agree to do?
4 Dyslexic people just have a different type of A contact the other members of the band
brain from other people. B make a decision about it later
That’s             .      C apply now for the auditions
5 I couldn’t wait for that film to finish! 3 You hear two friends talking about someone
Me             !      they know.
How do they feel about his success?
A delighted
B surprised
C unimpressed
4 You hear part of an interview with someone who
has a learning disability called dyslexia.
What does his website contain?
A advice for children with dyslexia
B some interviews with famous people
C a list of books for dyslexic children
5 You hear two friends talking about a film they
have just seen.
What didn’t they like about it?
A the actors
B the action scenes
C the trailers

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 1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

Reading

Write to Freedom
Caspar Walsh knows a lot about youth crime. He spent his own youth committing offences such as fraud and
robbery and was in and out of institutions for young offenders during his teens. At the age of 18, he decided that
he didn’t want to end up spending the rest of his life in prison. He turned away from the life he used to lead, finding
comfort in writing about his experiences. Now over a decade later, he is dedicating his life to helping other young
people in a similar situation through a project which encourages self-expression through the written word and
through connecting with nature.
The Write to Freedom charity, which began in 2007, runs a ‘wilderness and writing’ course created by Caspar
during which young men in prison spend four weekends camping out in Dartmoor National Park. Caspar believes
that through spending time in nature, troubled youngsters will have the opportunity to reflect on their lives. Putting
their feelings down on paper will help this process. The hope is that, with the support of mentors to guide them,
they will be able to make positive changes to their lives. After completing the course, students can apply to become
mentors on the same project.
But how do angry young men react when they suddenly find themselves surrounded by nature after spending
most of their lives in an urban environment? Fear and mistrust are often the first feelings. Some of them want to
challenge the new set of rules that they aren’t used to, refusing to switch off their mobile phones, for example,
when asked to. However, after spending the weekend walking in the fresh air, making fires, and sleeping under
the stars, these feelings are usually replaced by more positive ones. While some participants simply appreciate
the chance to get away from prison life, others feel they acquire some useful life skills and learn more about
themselves during the course.
Writing is an unfamiliar activity for the students, many of whom have limited literacy skills as a result of missing
classes and a general lack of interest in school. However, they are often surprised to find that once they start
writing, whether about themselves, their own dreams, or fictional stories, they find it enjoyable and rewarding.
Putting their ideas and thoughts down on paper gives them the feeling that they are capable of achieving their aims.
Organisations like Write to Freedom are growing in number, but many more are needed. Apart from the huge
financial cost of imprisoning a young person, which is about £55,000 a year in the UK, prison is often not the
answer for young offenders. In many cases, young people who have committed crimes are, with the right help
and guidance, capable of living productive lives in society. The Write to Freedom project is one small step towards
making that happen.

3 Find these words and phrases (1–8) in the article above. Then choose a synonym (A–H)
for each one.
1 decade      A an organisation that raises money to help people
2 charity      B strange
3 wilderness      C 10 years
4 mentors      D people who help or teach others
5 unfamiliar      E the ability to read and write
6 literacy      F nature, far from where people live
7 rewarding      G useful
8 productive H satisfying

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 1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

4 Read the article again. For questions 1–6, Use of English

choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you 5 Choose the correct word or phrase to fill
think fits best according to the text. each gap.
1 What caused Caspar Walsh to stop committing Spelling gets worse
crimes?
A recent survey has shown that many British
A writing about his experiences adults find English spelling difficult. The words
B the thought of what his future might be that people find the (1)     to spell include
C taking part in a project for young offenders ‘accommodate’, ‘occasionally’ and ‘necessary’.
Researchers found that over half of the 2,000
D his love of nature
people they questioned (2)     problems
2 What does ‘these feelings’ in paragraph 3 refer spelling these and other frequently used words.
to? What’s more, (3)     them said that a spelling
A the challenge of being alone mistake had caused them embarrassment at
B the appreciation of freedom work on at least one occasion.
C the fear and mistrust learnt in urban life Many people blame technology for their bad
spelling skills, saying that having a spellchecker
D the peacefulness found in nature
on their computer makes them lazy. Others say
3 The main purpose of the ‘wilderness and writing’ they (4)     how to spell because they hardly
course is to ever write things by hand anymore. As one
A give teenage prisoners a holiday. participant in the survey commented, ‘If you
B provide jobs for young men who have been in (5)     it, you lose it.’  The fact that many
prison. schoolchildren now do nearly all their writing
on a screen means it is likely the problem
C help young criminals understand themselves
(6)     even worse in the future.
better.
D improve young prisoners’ writing skills.
1 A difficult B more difficult
4 How do the participants feel during the course?
C most difficult D much difficult
A angry, then grateful
2 A has B had
B uninterested, then appreciative
C having D are having
C scared, then relaxed
3 A a number of B an amount of
D troubled, then useful
C any of D all
5 Why do many of the prisoners lack literacy
4 A forgot B have forgotten
skills?
C had forgotten D are forgetting
A They weren’t interested in learning and
missed classes. 5 A aren’t using B not use
B They didn’t have a supportive mentor at C won’t use D don’t use
school. 6 A is getting B gets
C They were unable to write about their C will get D going to get
negative feelings.
D They didn’t use to believe writing was a useful
skill.
6 The writer believes that
A giving prisons more money is not the best way
to help young offenders.
B young offenders need more programmes to
help them turn away from crime.
C the Write to Freedom project’s success has
been too small.
D Projects like Write to Freedom are effective,
but often costly.

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 1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

6 Write a form of the word in capitals to complete the text.

Fiction or Reality?
What is it that makes science fiction so (1)             ? It isn’t just EXCITE
the fact that it is highly (2)             , but in many ways it allows IMAGINE
us to see into the future. In a world that is experiencing rapid
(3)              advances, it makes us wonder whether what it TECHNOLOGY
describes could ever become (4)             . Some things, which REAL
once seemed (5)             , already have. Credit cards and video BELIEVE
chatting, for example, all made their first (6)              in science APPEAR
fiction long before becoming part of our real lives. Artificial intelligence and
trips into space also (7)              in this kind of literature. ORIGIN

7 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Do not change
the word given. Use two to five words, including the word given.
1 I really enjoyed myself at the party last night.
GOOD
I had                  at the party last night.
2 Simon has been trying hard in maths lessons recently.
EFFORT
Simon has                  in maths lessons recently.
3 Give me your phone number because I might need to call you.
IN
Give me your phone number                  to call you.
4 How did you think of such a brilliant idea?
WITH
How did you                  such a brilliant idea?
5 Jim said I could borrow the book if I remembered to give it back.
LONG
Jim said I could borrow the book                  to give it back.
6 Would you like to participate in the charity run?
PART
Would you like to                  the charity run?
7 It took us a long time to find the answer.
FIGURE
It took us a long time to                  the answer.

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 1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

Writing
8 Write an answer to one of the following questions 1–2 below. Write your answer in 140–190 words
in an appropriate style.
1 In your English class, you have been talking about the school curriculum. Now your English teacher has
asked you to write an essay.
Write your essay using all your notes and give reasons for your point of view.

‘Many of the subjects that young people have to study are not very useful.’
Do you agree?

Notes:
Write about:

1 academic subjects (such as maths, sciences and languages)

2 practical subjects (such as cookery and art)
3             (your own idea)

• Paragraph 1: Introduce the subject: e.g. I would argue that … Give your opinion e.g. In my view … List some
subjects that you will talk about.
• Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4: Give your opinion (e.g. I agree / disagree with) about the advantages and
disadvantages of learning different subjects and give your own idea, e.g. It’s a good idea to …
• Paragraph 5: Conclude with a summary of your opinion, e.g. To sum up …
Don’t repeat the same words too often. Try to find different ways of expressing the same idea. e.g. One of the
main drawbacks is … / One disadvantage is …

Write your essay.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

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 1–4 PROGRESS TEST 1 | Standard B2

2 You see this notice in an English-language magazine for teenagers.

Articles Wanted!
We are planning a special feature on world languages and we need your help! What advice would you
give someone who wanted to learn your language? What is difficult about it and what is easy? How could
they make the quickest progress? The best articles will be published next month.

• Write a title for the article.

• Decide which language you are going to talk about and introduce it in an interesting way.
• For each main paragraph: say what’s difficult/easy about it and why, and give some advice about how to
learn it effectively
• Finish your article in an interesting way, summing up the points you have made and adding a final
comment.
• Talk directly to the reader by using the imperative. (e.g. Don’t worry about …)
• Ask your readers questions. (e.g. Have you ever thought about …?)

Write your article.

                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

Speaking
9 Interview: In pairs, ask and answer these questions.
1 How often do you go to the cinema?
2 What kind of films do you prefer?
3 Who’s your favourite actor?
4 Do you enjoy reading?
5 Tell me about a good book you’ve read.
6 Can you play an instrument?
7 What kind of music do you listen to?

Remember:
Don’t answer a question with only yes, no or a very short answer, say something extra.
Extend your answer by:
• giving reasons e.g. I don’t often / ever because …
• giving examples e.g. In an average / a normal week I …
• If you haven’t understood a question, you can ask the examiner to repeat it by saying:
‘Sorry, I didn’t catch that,’ or ‘Could you repeat the question, please?’

Total score

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