4 Model answer
It is widely accepted that sport benefits people. We
all know that it is good for our physical health, but it
also helps us in less obvious ways, in terms of our
mental health and in creating healthy communities by
building up a community spirit.
With regards to our mental health, sports often
require a focus on an activity, for example hitting a
ball or finding a foot hole in a rock face. This focus
means we have to forget about whatever problems or
emotions have been troubling us and concentrate on
the activity we’re involved in. It is hard to remember
your negative emotions when you have to return
a serve.
The focus on activity also helps us in team sports.
Winning as a team is more important than how you
feel about your fellow teammates. However, the
value to building community spirit is usually because
local people support their local teams. They feel
inspired by local action. The team doesn’t have to
be professional for this to happen. In fact, it doesn’t
have to be a team sport. Local fun runs in aid of
the local hospital or dads versus children football
matches all bring people together.
Both aspects are important benefits of sport, but I
think that probably community involvement provides
the greatest benefit because it helps everyone not
just those who are good at sports.
writing Part 1:2
1a 1 case 5 fact
2 opinion/view 6 As
3 seems 7 deny
4 knowledge 8 opinion/view
1b Possible answers
1 It seems to be the case that in poorer areas,
many students drop out of school for
financial reasons.
2 In my opinion/view, many of the subjects we
study at school do not prepare us for the
real world.
3 It seems to me that students are given far too
much homework. They end up going to bed
extremely late.
4 It is common knowledge that many teachers
struggle with new technologies and do not
feel confident enough to use them in the
classroom.
5 The fact is that there is a sizeable shortage
of skilled workers as fewer and fewer school
leavers take up a trade.
6 As I see it, having a good teacher who
inspires you can make all the difference to
your success later in life.
7 Few people would deny that a good education
can set you up for life.
8 In my opinion/view, everyone should be made to
learn to speak at least one foreign language.
2 Possible answers
1 Whenever you decide to learn something new,
make sure you are aware of how much time
and dedication it will take.
2 Getting into university can be tough, yet it is
worth the effort.
3 Whichever subject you study, a degree will provide
useful skills and knowledge for the future.
4 However much you hate exams, they are an
unavoidable part of the education system.
5 Stress is bad for us, yet at the same time, can be
positive if experienced for just a short period.
6 No matter how much money you may make, if
you don’t feel fulfilled in your job, you won’t
be happy.
7 Whatever happens at work, try and not let it
interfere with your personal life.
8 Wherever you end up working, make sure you
try and connect with the people around you.
3 Model answer
We spend around eight hours a day in our
workplaces, so having environments that are people
friendly is very important for our health and well-
being. Unfortunately, offices are too often harsh
environments, with florescent lights, bare walls and
unattractive views from the windows. However, there
are things that can be done to improve things.
One of the easiest things to do is improve the way
offices are decorated. Humans react to colours in
either positive or negative ways, so painting the walls
in colours that improve our mood and help make us
feel cheerful towards others would be a great help. In
addition, paintings or murals can make the walls look
more interesting and reduce the bleakness of large
areas of wall space.
In addition to improving the decoration, tackling
poor light and ventilation helps people feel better. In
gloomy offices where there is little fresh air, people
often get frequent headaches and generally feel ill, so
going to work becomes detrimental to their health.
Day-light balanced bulbs and improved air circulation
not only reduce these problems, but also increase
workers’ productivity.
Although improving all three factors is important, I
think improving the light and ventilation are probably
the most important, because the detrimental effect
of poor light and poor air is more significant than the
effect of looking at boring walls all day.
writing Part 1:3
Possible answers (adverbs can go at front or end
position)
1 1 Apparently, some thieves broke into the village
shop last night.
ANSwER kEy 129
 2 Coincidentally, the police were doing their rounds
when the break-in took place.
3 Fortunately, they were able to stop the robbers
from stealing anything from the store.
4 Regrettably, a police officer was slightly injured
when making the arrest.
5 Thankfully, her injuries are not thought to be
serious.
6 Consequently, she is expected to be released from
hospital later today.
7 Incredibly, the shop owners, who were sleeping
upstairs, did not hear anything.
8 Understandably, the incident has unsettled local
residents, many of whom have been victims of
petty crime themselves in the past.
2 1 take part in f 5 have come together b
2 worked together d 6 make (it) possible h
3 declined g 7 approved c
4 divided a 8 annoy/anger e
3 Children’s playground: encourage exercise,
encourage outdoor play, increased social contact,
positive for health
More bike lanes: encourage exercise, less pollution
More street seating: increased social contact,
meeting places, positive for health, reduces fear
of falling
4 Model answer
This essay looks at the question of what to do with
old buildings that have lost their use, for example old
churches that no one goes to or banks which have
closed. There is a range of options, and to some
extent the ideal solution will depend on the building
in question, but two of the main possibilities are to
demolish them or convert them into flats.
Looking at demolition first, it is easy to see that if
buildings are demolished, the space they leave can
be redeveloped into anything: an attractive square
with a garden, where people can meet and enjoy
local open space, or a new building for a new activity
the area and community needs. With regards to the
latter, this could be housing or a business use.
On the other hand, converting old buildings into flats
is also an attractive proposition. Much of our history
is contained in buildings and we can learn about our
neighbourhood’s past from learning about the former
use of buildings. Furthermore, old buildings often
have more character than new builds and create
more attractive, people-friendly spaces. The down-
side is they are often expensive to refurbish and the
layout of something like a church or office block may
not be easily adapted into flats.
From my point of view, I think conserving old
buildings is the most effective way of using
public buildings, as long as the building itself is
attractive. Old buildings embody the history of the
130 ANSwER kEy
area in contrast to new builds are often bland and
characterless.
Get it right!
In some places it’s happening more quickly and in some
places more slowly.
writing Part 2:1
1a Positive: absorbing, electric, emotionally charged,
family-friendly, original, refreshing, riveting, talented,
thought-provoking, touching
Negative: contrived, disjointed, implausible,
mediocre, obvious, overrated, stereotypical,
superficial, tasteless, unconvincing, wooden
1b Possible answers
An actor’s implausible, mediocre,
performance overrated, stereotypical,
talented, unconvincing, wooden
The development absorbing, contrived,
of the story or plot, disjointed, electric, obvious,
treatment of the topic riveting
The concept/ emotionally charged, family-
approach friendly, highly original,
refreshing, stereotypical,
superficial, tasteless, thought-
provoking
2a 1 in addition to 5 Moreover
2 Besides 6 Furthermore
3 Not only 7 What’s more
4 but 8 along with
2b Likes: the clever interweaving of multiple stories,
witty comments and sharp insights into the
characters’ actions and decisions, novel starts off
well and has an initial buzz
Dislikes: new characters don’t add anything special
and are given too much importance, too many trivial
anecdotes which distract
3 Model answer
There are so many great film moments. However,
for me one of the best candidates for the Fantastic
films website is the scene from Singing in the Rain
where Gene Kelly sings the title song, ‘Singing in
the Rain’. I know lots of people think the scene final
dance scene in Dirty Dancing where ‘Johnny’ played
by Patrick Swayze and ‘Baby’ (Jennifer Grey) dance to
‘The time of my life’ is the most iconic dance scene
of all time, but I disagree, and would go so far as to
suggest it’s not included.
In the Singing in the Rain scene, Don Lockwood
played by Gene Kelly breaks into song to express his
love for Kathy (Debbie Reynolds). He sings moving
from pavement to a road full of puddles. Gene Kelly’s
dancing is fantastic and entertaining. The audience
can also feel his happiness and can identify with his
expression of newly found love.