Online Practice Tests First For Schools FullTest A

Cambridge English: First for Schools
Practice Test A
Practice Test X6 BOOK.indb 1
06/10/2014 15:31
Contents
Paper 1 Reading and Use of English
Paper 2 Writing
13
Paper 3 Listening
15
Paper 4 Speaking
20
Answer key and recording script
27
Acknowledgements 32
2
06/10/2014 15:31
Reading and Use of English Part 1

For questions 18, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is
an example at the beginning (0).
Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
0 A ideally
B perfectly
C suitably
D appropriately
Kites
Kites are flown all around the world. Apart from a kite, all you need is some wind and (0)
a beach where you can stand. Kiting is an interest that (1)
back thousands of years. The first kites
were flown in Asia and by the year 1000 they played a significant (2)
instance, they were sometimes flown over a house to (3)
a hill or
in many different cultures. For
the arrival of a new baby. In some places
people even thought kite-flying could encourage the winds to blow away the rain clouds and (4)
the crops from flooding. Eventually, however, scientists and inventors began to be (5)
potential of kites. (6)
then, large kites have been developed which can pull people and vehicles and lift
equipment up into the air. But kite-flying (7)

doesnt (8)
a sport which can be enjoyed by people of all ages and it
a fortune.
1 Agets
Bgoes
Cstands
Dcomes
2 Apurpose
Bfunction
Cposition
Drole
3 Aannounce
Btell
Cadvise
Dinform
4 Amaintain
Bprevent
Csupport
Davoid
5 Aattentive
Bsensitive
Cfamiliar
Daware
6 A After
BFollowing
CSince
DLater
7 Aremains
Bstays
Ccontinues
Dkeeps
8 Acharge
Bspend
Cpay
Dcost
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS | TEST A
of the full
This page may be photocopied

Cambridge University Press 2014
06/10/2014 15:31

For questions 916, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word
in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
T O
The London Mini Marathon

Children aged between 11 and 17 come from all over Great Britain (0)
London every year. It is such (9)
take part in a mini marathon in
popular event that they have to be selected; Great Britain is divided
into regions, and team managers choose (10)
children will represent each region. After (11)
selected, the children are expected to attend training sessions. Teams consist (12)
different age groups and each age group has a slightly different start time (13)
runners from three

that they are not all
running at the same time. There is one thing about the London Mini Marathon that makes (14)
compared to other mini races for kids. It is (15)
unique
only run on the same day as the main London Marathon
race for adults but it is also run on part of the same course. This is (16)
makes it especially exciting for
the participants.
cambridge english: first for schools | test A


For questions 1724, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to
form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
Example:
F A M O U S
One man and his robots

Wu Yulu, who lives on the outskirts of Beijing, is (0)
the robots he builds. In his (17)
for
people are used to seeing
FAME
NEIGHBOUR
him being pulled along in a cart by a robot which also has the
(18)
to jump, paint and drink, among other things.
Wu Yulus (19)
with robots began when he was a child.
He made his first robot when he was 11 but, (20)
, it
ABLE
OBSESS
FORTUNE
was unable to move. He continued to experiment, increasing his

technical (21)
, until he finally managed to make one with
KNOW
arms and legs.

Since then, he has made over 40 robots and has been recognised
worldwide for these (22)
which can be of (23)
(24)
. His aim is to make robots

to humans with all the many
tasks they need to perform in their daily lives, like
INVENT
ASSIST
PRACTICE
chopping vegetables. His robots are like children to him and he gives
each one his family name.

06/10/2014 15:31

For questions 2530, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words,
including the word given. Here is an example (0).
Example:
0
There was such a big crowd waiting outside the stadium that I couldnt find my friends.
SO
There
find my friends.
people waiting outside the stadium that I couldnt
The gap can be filled by the words were so many, so you write:
Example:
WERE SO MANY
Write only the missing words IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.
25
Despite having plenty of money, Josh decided not to buy the football boots.
EVEN
Josh decided not to buy the football boots
26
The dance class was cancelled because of a lack of interest among the students.
ENOUGH
The dance class was cancelled because not
27
I know I didnt leave my bag at school because I took my phone out on the bus.
CANT
I took my phone out on the bus, so
28
My grandfather was 70 when he started running.
TAKE
My grandfather
29
We need to walk faster or the shops will be closed when we get there.
UNLESS
The shops will be closed when we get there
30
Everyone will get a free drink at the beginning of the race.
GIVEN
Free drinks
plenty of money.
interested.
my bag at school.
until he was 70.
faster.
everyone at the beginning of the race.

06/10/2014 15:31

You are going to read an extract from a book about how people succeed in sport. For questions 3136,
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Path to the top

Matthew Syed talks about how he became a table
tennis star
At the age of 24, I became the British number-one
table tennis player for the very first time. Table
tennis is a pretty big sport in the UK, with 2.4 million
participants, thousands of teams, and serious riches
for those who do well. But what made me special?
What had marked me out for sporting greatness?
I came up with a number of factors: speed,
determination, mental strength, adaptability, agility
and reflexes. I had no particular advantages, having
been born into a family in an ordinary suburb of an
ordinary town. Mine was a triumph of individuality; a
personal journey of success against the odds. This,
of course, is the way that many who have reached
the top in sport, or indeed in any other field, choose
to tell their stories. Many of us live in a culture that
encourages this kind of individualism. The film world
of Hollywood is full of such narratives, often sugarcoated with emotion. But while these stories are
inspirational, and compulsively entertaining, are they
true? Here is my story in table tennis.
When I was eight years old my parents, for reasons
they are still unable to explain (neither of them plays
table tennis), decided to buy a table tennis table and
to put it in our large garage. I dont know the exact
percentage, but you can imagine that there were not
many youngsters of my age in my home town who
possessed a full-size, tournament-specification table.
Fewer still had a garage in which it could be housed
full-time. This was my first bit of good fortune.
My second piece of good fortune was having an
older brother called Andrew who came to love table
tennis as much as I did. We would play for hours in
the garage after school: duelling, battling, testing

each others reflexes, experimenting with new spins,
investigating new bats, inviting over friends who,
although often more able in other sports, were
surprised to see just how far we had advanced in
table tennis. Without knowing it, we were happily
acquiring thousands of hours of practice.
Mr Charters was a teacher at the local primary
school, Aldryngton. He was the coach of almost all
the after-school sporting clubs, the manager of the
school football team, the caretaker of the badminton
equipment and the organiser of school sports day.
But Charters cared about one thing above all: table
tennis. He was the nations top coach and a senior
figure in the English Table Tennis Association. The
other sports were just a front, an opportunity to
search out sporting talent wherever it emerged so he
could focus it determinedly and exclusively upon
table tennis.
line 49
line 50
For a period, the streets around Silverdale Road,

where the school was situated, produced more
outstanding table tennis players than the rest of the
nation combined. It seemed to go against explanation
or belief. Had something spread genetically
throughout the local neighbourhood without touching
the surrounding roads or villages? Of course not: the
success of Silverdale Road was about the coming
together of factors of a similar kind to those that
have, from time to time, happened in other parts
of the world. In particular, all of the sporting talent
was focused entirely on table tennis, and all of the
potential players were encouraged by an outstanding
coach. And as for me, with a table in the garage and
a brother as passionate about table tennis as myself,
I had a head start before I even got to Aldryngton
School.

31
Why does the writer compare his story to those told in films?
A to illustrate the interest in stories of people succeeding through their own talents
B to suggest that the stories of real people can be made into good films
C to complain that film-makers are not so interested in the stories of sports people
D to show the importance of realising that everybody has a unique story to tell
32
The writer refers to the purchase of the table tennis table as good fortune because
A his parents only bought it because they recognised his talents.
B it was not a logical item for his parents to spend their money on.
C the garage was only just big enough for it to fit in.
D it was an unusual hobby for a boy to have at the time.
33
Why did the brothers spend so much time playing table tennis together?
A
B They wanted to show their friends how good they were.
C They knew they werent good at other sports.
D They were inspired to compete against each other.
34
What is meant by the other sports were just a front in lines 4950?
A The children didnt appreciate Mr Charters efforts to improve their table tennis.
B Mr Charters got annoyed that he had to spend time on sports other than table tennis.
C Mr Charters used other sports to find children who might be good at table tennis.
D Other sports Mr Charters taught were less popular with the children than table tennis.
35
What point is the writer making in the last paragraph?
A The fact that Silverdale Road produced so many table tennis players can be explained.
B Similar circumstances in other parts of the world have not had the same results.
C It became clear that the success of Silverdale Road could only continue for a short time.
D The people in surrounding villages wished they had the same sporting facilities.
36
What do we find out about the writer in this text?
He wishes he had had the chance to try other sports too.
He is grateful for the opportunities which came his way by chance.
C He is aware that success can take some of the pleasure out of a sport.
D He realises the importance of not getting emotional about a sport.
They knew by practising a lot they would do well later.


You are going to read an article about dinosaurs. Six sentences have been removed from the article.
Choose from the sentences AG the one which fits each gap (3742). There is one extra sentence which
you do not need to use.
How much do we really know about dinosaurs?

Palaeontologists study fossils, the remains of
animals that lived in prehistoric times. Fossils can
be between several thousand and hundreds of
millions of years old and new technology enables
researchers to discover more and more about
them. Recently, palaeontologists from Manchester
University have found that dinosaurs, usually
shown as enormous, earth-shaking monsters, may
have been much lighter than previously thought.
Dinosaurs have fascinated people in Britain since
the first fragments of their bones emerged from
the stone quarries of southern England in the
early 1800s, but the scientists working on their
remains at the time were faced with a difficult
task. 37
And of course there were no obvious
living equivalents.
Nearly 200 years after these initial discoveries,
palaeontologists are still trying to resolve the issue
This
of what dinosaurs really looked like. 38
is due to new finds and technologies beyond the
wildest imaginings of those early scholars who,
working by candlelight, eagerly chipped away at
their latest discoveries with hammer and chisel.
Initially, dinosaurs were considered to be
iguanas (a kind of lizard) on a much larger scale.
Nineteenth-century scientists worked out that if
dinosaurs had the same proportions as iguanas,
then monsters over 60 metres long once existed
Nonetheless, this point of view
in Britain. 39
remained popular until the first complete dinosaur
skeletons were found, first in Europe and then in
huge quantities in the American west.
The discoveries of whole skeletons during the
second half of the nineteenth century had a lasting
effect on all subsequent impressions of dinosaur
appearance, revealing for the first time a set of

animals that were to become familiar from movies
and museum displays, including Stegosaurus,
Allosaurus and Diplodocus. It became clear that
dinosaurs possessed an amazing variety of body
shapes and sizes, from flexible, two-legged meateaters to long-necked grass-eating herbivores.
40
From this time, dinosaurs were therefore
no longer reconstructed as giant lizards. However,
the biology of the new dinosaurs was still
compared to that of known living reptiles, and they
were still reconstructed as large clumsy beasts.
For much of the 20th century, this impression
dominated scientific and public imaginations and
they were viewed as the ultimate example of a
failed species which became extinct. But we now
know that they were in fact highly successful
social beings and we now have fossils showing
that dinosaurs were the first creatures to have
feathers. These discoveries come from the work
of palaeontologists in the 1970s, which brought
about a revolution in our understanding of
dinosaurs.These advances mean that we can now
work out how well some dinosaurs could hear or
Because of all this extra knowledge,
smell. 41
mammals and birds are now viewed as more
appropriate models for dinosaur biology, which
offers many new insights into their evolution and
behaviour.
42
How exactly did they die out? Why did
some of them thrive while others were shortlived? What were the functions of certain bizarre
features? And which factors led to their runaway
evolutionary success? There are still plenty of
things we know nothing about and scientists
shouldnt be afraid to say so.

A But none of these resembled the massive,

nightmarish visions imagined only a few
years earlier.
B Some things have become much easier,
however.
C In addition, we even have an idea of what
some of the original colours of dinosaurs
might have been.
E We are still in the dark, however, when it

comes to some aspects of dinosaur life.
F Because of this, they were able to analyse
old bones in much greater detail than ever
before.
G It was not clear to them how to reconstruct
the appearance and behaviour of animals
that had been dead for hundreds of millions
of years.
D They based their calculations on individual

bones alone, so they were extremely
inaccurate.
10

06/10/2014 15:31

You are going to read some magazine reviews of video games. For questions 4352, choose from
the reviews (AD). The reviews may be chosen more than once.
Which reviewer says
11
there is a need for the user to be patient at certain points in the game?
43
the game has a storyline which is adequate rather than outstanding?
44
the faults in the way the game sometimes worked have been fixed?
45
the game has similarities to some films with a particular actor in them?
46
their expectations of the game were too pessimistic?
47
the game might not attract more users despite better graphics?
48
the poor quality of the graphics in some circumstances is understandable?
49
some of the games fans have recently been lost to competing games?
50
a vital part is played by the graphics in maintaining the users interest during the game?
51
the game will provide new competition for best-selling games?
52

06/10/2014 15:31
Reviews of the latest video games by our teenage readers

A Baseball X2 reviewed by Liam, aged 14
I always thought Baseball X1 was the coolest sports
simulation game that I had ever come across. This
version, Baseball X2, is an update and has taken
everything that I adored and made it even better! It
has also put right some of the little things that went
wrong during the game. Sports games that have got
a much larger share of the market had better look out
because this game is going to be big! The graphics
were fairly advanced on the earlier version except it
was difficult to tell some of the players apart and they
looked a bit like aliens, but now they are so realistic
you know immediately who they are.
B Speedy Track 008 reviewed by Leila, aged 16
Speedy Track was a very successful racing game
when the first version came out. However, the last
version was pretty poor quality, and serious gamers
have been moving over to the Big Prize and Monaco
series instead. So will this new version bring them
back? Well, the graphics have improved the roads
and scenery are now more detailed. But Big Prize and
Monaco have perfectly good graphics themselves,
so the debate is open as to which game will appeal
most. The game concentrates on a race through the
mountains that is filled with crashes and explosions.
The idea of this kind of cross-country race is very
interesting and has never been properly explored in
a video game before, as far as I know. Tom Sapori
appeared in an advertising trailer for this game and I
can see why. The game has the same kind of action
that is in most of his movies. Something about the
craziness just draws you in.
12
CDragon reviewed by Kurt, aged 15

The plot isnt what you would call prize-winning, but it
gets you involved immediately and finishes off without
any loose ends. A month ago I was afraid that what
we might get was another disappointing addition to
the series, but after playing on this new version I cant
wait to see what will come next. The graphics in the
game take your breath away. Its a good thing too,
since you spend a lot of time travelling in the game
and it would be tiring to have a dull background which
was repeated all the time. The music is almost too
good as it distracts you from what youre doing. The
characters movements are smooth and the controls
are so easy to use.
D White City reviewed by Georgia, aged 14
The games main downside is its graphics. They arent
awful, but theyre certainly not the best Ive seen.
However, the reduced detail isnt surprising due to the
fact that at times you can be looking at an entire town
from thousands of metres in the air, and then you are
immediately down on the ground. The characters are
well done, though they all have unique qualities and
you feel as if you can actually talk to them. There is
one thing gamers will not enjoy. After completing a
level, the home screen appears. These dull moments
might ruin your concentration, but you just need to
put up with them as they only last about a minute,
although they feel much longer.

Writing Part 1
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 140190 words in an
appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
1 In your English class you have been talking about the importance of sport. Now your
English teacher has asked you to write an essay for homework.

Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
Is it a good idea for all young people to do sport?
Notes
Write about:
1. getting fit
2. having fun
3. (your own idea)
13

06/10/2014 15:31
Writing Part 2
Write an answer to one of the questions 25 in this part. Write your answer in 140190 words in an
appropriate style on the separate answer sheet. Put the question number in the box at the top of the
answer sheet.
2 You have seen this announcement in an English-language magazine for schools.
Stories wanted
We are looking for stories to appear in our magazine. Your story
must begin with this sentence:
As soon as Joanna saw the woman at the back of the room, she
realized her life was about to change.
Your story must include:
some news
a journey
Write your story.
3 You have received this email from your English friend, Alex.
Guess what! Im coming to your town on an exchange visit next

year with my class. Can you tell me about your local town?
Could you tell me whats special about it, what there is for young
people to do there, and whether you think Ill like it?
Thanks, Alex

Write your email.
4 You have seen this announcement on an international website.

Reviews wanted
The Best TV Series Ever!
Do you have a favourite TV series that you watch regularly?

Write us a review telling us what it is about, why you like it and whether
other young people would enjoy watching it.
The best reviews will be posted on the website next week.
Write your review.
5 Answer the following question based on the title below.
14
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
our English class has had a discussion about what happens in Touching the Void. Now your teacher has
Y
given you this essay for homework:
How did Joe Simpson manage to survive in Touching the Void?
Write your essay.

06/10/2014 15:31
Listening Part 1
Questions 18
01 You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 18, choose the best
answer (A, B or C).
1 You hear two students discussing a TV programme they have just watched.

What did they both like about the programme?
A the main character
B the unusual plot
C the background music
2 You hear a boy telling a friend about a sailing course he has just done.

What is the boys opinion of the course?
A It was more difficult than he expected.
B It was badly affected by the weather conditions.
C It was designed for very young students.
3 You hear a teacher telling her students about a project they are going to do.

What does she warn them about?
A using internet material
B making spelling mistakes
C writing too much
4 You hear a girl talking on the radio about her favourite band.
15
She is attracted to their songs because
A they sing about familiar things.
B they play unusual instruments.
C they come from her area.

06/10/2014 15:31
5 You hear two students talking about what happened in an art class at school.

What problem did the boy have in his class?
A He chose the wrong person to draw.
B He selected an unsuitable paint colour.
C He spilled something on his drawing.
6 You hear a girl talking on the phone about a shopping trip.

What pleased her about the trip?
A She bought a dress for a special occasion.
B She got a bargain in the sales.
C She found a new shop she liked.
7 You hear two students talking about a castle in Scotland.

The boy thinks the castle would be a good setting for
A a ghost film.
B a documentary.
C a childrens story.
8 You hear a sports presenter talking about a running race.
16
What does he say about the winner of the race?
A She shouldnt have competed yesterday.
B She has just recovered from injury.
C She was ahead of the others from the start.

06/10/2014 15:31
Listening Part 2
Questions 918
02 You will hear a young chef called Tom Neilson talking about the cookery competition he has just won.
For questions 918, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Young Chef Competition

The competition, which is arranged by a group of (9)
began ten years ago.
Tom says that teenagers compare top chefs with (10)
Competitors only have to cook a (11)

for the first stage of the competition.
Tom thinks that calculating the precise (12)

of the meal you make in the local final is difficult.
In the local final you are also tested on various things such as (13)

in the kitchen.
A professional chef gives (14)
to the people who reach the regional finals.
In the regional final, the (15)

you do for the meal is considered very important.
Tom feels that competing in the national final is challenging because the

(16)
you have to work with are chosen for you.
In the national final you are assessed on the (17)
17
of your food as well as your cooking skills.
Tom knows he will receive some (18)
as a reward for reaching the final.

06/10/2014 15:31
Listening Part 3
Questions 1923
03 You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about school visits to places of interest. For
questions 1923, choose from the list (AH) what each speaker says. Use the letters only once. There are
three extra letters which you do not need to use.
A It helped me to decide on a career.
B I enjoyed doing a team-based activity.
C It enabled me to learn a new skill.
Speaker 1
19
Speaker 2
20
Speaker 3
21
Speaker 4
22
Speaker 5
23
D It was good being shown around by a guide.
E It made me change my opinion of a subject.
F There were some really unusual exhibits.
G I was surprised it was so interactive.
H I appreciated listening to an expert.
18

06/10/2014 15:31
Listening Part 4
Questions 2430
04 You will hear an interview with an American girl who sings in a choir. For questions 2430, choose
the best answer (A, B or C).
24 What does Gina say about the members of her choir?

A They come from schools specialising in music.
B They have previous experience of singing.
C They have formal qualifications in music.
25 What has belonging to a choir enabled Gina to do?

A change the way she sings
B become more self-critical
C gain confidence in herself
26 Gina feels that through mixing with people in the choir, she has learnt

A how to understand different cultures.
B how to make new friends.
C how to get people to agree.
27 What is Ginas attitude to the music she sings?

A She would like to perform a wider range of songs.
B She is looking forward to leaning some jazz songs.
C She appreciates being able to suggest songs for the choir.
28 What does Gina say about expressing emotion through music?

A It is something everyone in the choir manages to do.
B It is easier to express happiness than sadness.
C It is hard to convey emotion to other people.
29 How does Gina feel about performing in public?

A a little frightened
B slightly stressed
C ready to be criticised
30 According to Gina, what is the choir directors main strength?
19
A his personality
B his musical ability
C his conducting skills

06/10/2014 15:31
Speaking
About the Speaking test
The Speaking test lasts for about 14 minutes. You take the test with another candidate (called your
partner). There are two examiners one will speak to you and your partner, the other will only listen.
Both examiners will award marks. The listening examiner gives five different marks: grammar and
vocabulary, discourse management, pronunciation and interactive communication. The speaking
examiner awards one mark for overall performance.
Part 1 (2 minutes)
The examiner will ask you and your partner questions about yourselves. You may be asked
questions about everyday topics such as your family, how you spend your free time and your career
plans.
Part 2 (4 minutes: a 1-minute long turn for each candidate and 30 seconds for a response from the
second candidate)
In this part of the Speaking test, the examiner will show you two photographs and will ask you to talk
about them for one minute. Your partner will then be asked a question about your photographs.
Then the examiner will show your partner two different photographs. Your partner will talk about
these photographs for one minute. This time the examiner will ask you a question about your
partners photographs.
Part 3 (4 minutes)
Now the examiner will ask you and your partner to talk together. The examiner will give you a piece
of paper with a question written on it and some ideas to help you. You and your partner talk together
about the question, listening and responding to each others ideas, agreeing and disagreeing. You
should both take turns so that you speak for the same amount of time. The examiner will then ask a
further question to encourage you to summarise your discussion.
Part 4 (4 minutes)
The examiner will ask some further questions related to the Part 3 topic. The idea is to have a
discussion in a little more depth about the topic. The examiner may ask you to answer questions on
your own, or may encourage you to discuss questions with your partner.
20

06/10/2014 15:31
Speaking Part 1
2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of three)
The interlocutor introduces him/herself and asks you and your partner your names as below:
Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is
and this is my colleague
And your names are?

Can I have your mark sheets, please?
Thank you.
Where are you from, (Candidate A)?
And you, (Candidate B)?
The examiner will ask each of you questions about everyday life. Here are some example topics and
questions:
First wed like to know something about you.
Everyday life
Do you live near the school?
(How do you get to school?)
When do you usually do your homework?
(Why?)
What things do you enjoy doing at home in the evening?

Does your family have a meal together in the evening?
(What do you like to eat?)
What are you going to do this weekend?

School
What is your favourite subject? (Why do you like it?)
What is the best thing about your school? (Why?)
Tell us about one of your school friends.
What would you like to do when you finish school? (Why?)
21

06/10/2014 15:31
Speaking Part 2
1 Getting exercise
2 Holidays

In this part of the test, Im going to give each of you two photographs. Id like you to talk about your
photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a question about your partners
photographs.
(Candidate A), its your turn first. Here are your photographs (page 23). They show young people doing
different kinds of exercise.
Id like you to compare the photographs, and say what the benefits of doing these kinds of exercise
are.
When Student A has finished, the examiner asks Student B a question.
(Candidate B), how do you keep fit? ... (Why?)
Now, (Candidate B), here are your photographs (page 24). They show different kinds of holidays.
Id like you to compare the photographs and say what you think the young people are enjoying
about these different types of holiday.
When Student B has finished, the examiner asks Student A a question.
(Candidate A), what kind of holiday do you enjoy most? ... (Why?)
22

06/10/2014 15:31
What are the benefits of doing these kinds of exercise?
23

06/10/2014 15:31
What are the people enjoying about these different types of holiday?
24

06/10/2014 15:31
Speaking Part 3
Now, Id like you to talk about something together for two minutes.
Id like you to imagine that a secondary school has some money to spend on improving
the facilities. Here are some things your school could spend some money on and
a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to look at the task.
[15 seconds]
Now, talk to each other about why these things might be useful for most students.
The examiner then asks you to decide something together.
Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which two things you
would not spend the money on.
Speaking Part 4
The examiner asks you some questions related to the activity in Part 3.
Here are some examples of questions you might have:
25
Some people say students spend too much time studying and not enough time doing other things.
What do you think?
Should schools provide sports facilities or should children do sport outside school?
Do you think schools should have an orchestra? Why? / Why not?
Which activities do you do outside school? Which do you enjoy the most?
Do you think drama is an important subject to include at school? Why? / Why not?
ome people say that practical subjects like design and technology and art are as important as
S
academic subjects. What do you think?

06/10/2014 15:31
computer room
drama studio
Which of these facilities

would be useful for
most students?
school bus
music room
tennis courts
26

06/10/2014 15:31
Cambridge English: First for Schools

Test A key and recording script
Reading and Use of English
Part 1
1 B 2 D 3 A 4 B 5 D 6 C 7 A 8 D
Part 2
9 a 10 which 11 being 12 of 13 so 14 it 15 not
16 what
Part 3
17 neighbourhood 18 ability 19 obsession
20 unfortunately 21 knowledge 22 inventions
23 assistance 24 practical
Part 4
25 even though he had
26 enough (of the) students were
27 I cant have left
28 didnt take up running
29 unless we walk
30 will be given to
Part 5
31 A 32 B 33 D 34 C 35 A 36 B
Part 6
37 G 38 B 39 D 40 A 41 C 42 E
Part 7
43 D 44 C 45 A 46 B 47 C 48 B 49 D 50 B
51 C 52 A
Writing
Part 1 Answer guidelines
1
Style
The essay is always written for the teacher so it needs
to be written in a formal style; without contractions, for
example. In your answer you need to show that you can
give your opinion, with reasons. For this task you are free
to agree or disagree with the idea that it is good for all
young people to do sport. To do this well you will need to
be able to communicate your ideas clearly, give examples
and present advantages and disadvantages.
Content
You need to answer to the essay question by writing about
both of the content points given on the question paper, and
by providing one content point of your own. Whether you
agree or disagree with the essay question, it is important
that you argue from your own point of view. You many feel
there are a number of disadvantages to doing sport, or that
not all sports are equally suitable for young people because
they are too aggressive or dangerous.
Organisation
Plan your essay before you begin to write in order to
present your ideas in a logical way. You will need to decide
what each paragraph is about. In the first paragraph, you
27
might want to mention the advantage of getting fit but

balance it with the disadvantage of getting injured. If you
do this kind of advantages/disadvantages essay you will
need to balance the second and third point. For example,
to address the second point you could say that you can
have fun doing sport with your friends but if it is too
competitive you might get anxious or worried. The third
paragraph needs to be your own idea, for example: how
doing sport is a good way to make friends and get a social
life. Your final paragraph could then be your conclusion:
whether overall you think it is a good idea for young
people to do sport or not.
Part 2 Answer guidelines
2
Style
The story should be neutral or formal in style as it is for
publication in an English-language magazine. In this case
it should be written in the third person (Joanna/she). To
tell the story well you will need to use a range of narrative
tenses, including the past simple, past continuous and past
perfect. By adding direct speech and some suspense or fast
action you can make your story more interesting.
Content
You need to continue the story from the given sentence.
In this case during the course of the story you will need
to make it clear what kind of room Joanna was in (for
example, a classroom, a restaurant, a doctors waiting
room, etc.), who the woman was and whether Joannas life
was going to change in a good or bad way. The story also
has to include the two points given some news and a
journey. They should be included as important elements of
your story and not just incidental details.
Organisation
Before you start to write, you will need to plan your story
and think about how you are going to include the two
points and how the story is going to end. You might also
want to give your story a title. Linking words will help
you to show the sequence of events in your story and cause
and effect. You will also need to be able to use the correct
punctuation for direct speech.
3
Style
The email should be informal as it is to a friend; however,
you will need to use a range of structures and vocabulary
to describe your town and to give suggestions for what
young people might like to do there.
Content
The content of the email needs to be relevant to Alexs
request for information about your town and the things you
can do there. Do not change the topic of the letter and start
writing about your recent holiday or family news! Offering
to meet up with Alex when he visits and suggesting that
you show him around your town would be acceptable
additions to your letter as they are related to the topic.
PRACTICE TEST KEY AND RECORDING SCRIPT
06/10/2014 15:31
Organisation
Plan what you want to say in each paragraph of your email.
You might want to start by showing excitement at Alexs
visit (Thats fantastic news!). Your first paragraph could
give factual details about the town (size, location and so
on) then the second paragraph could focus on the towns
special qualities: is it relaxing, friendly, busy, etc.? You
might want to deal with the last two questions together
(what young people can do and whether Alex would like it)
as it would be natural to do so. The final paragraph could
then be an offer to show Alex around.
4
Style
The review should be neutral but to keep the reader
interested you will need to use lively language and full
sentences when you describe your favourite TV series. Do
not use bullet points or subheadings. Remember, you want
the reader to choose your review to be put on the website
next week.
Content
Think of a TV series you want to write about you might
want to use that as the title of your review. You will need
to give the reader a summary of the storyline of the series
and descriptions of the main characters. You should use
a range of narrative tenses, including present and past.
Explain clearly why you like the series: is it the quality of
the dialogue, the relationships between the characters or
perhaps how funny or dramatic it is? Is there a particular
episode that you can talk about that highlights the things
you like about the series? Although this is your favourite
TV series you are reviewing, it is fine if you want to
include a couple of things that you dont like so much or
that you hope improve as you continue to watch. End by
recommending the series. If you think that not all young
people would like it, only those with a particular interest,
then that would be good to include.
Organisation
Before you start to write, plan what each paragraph of
your review is going to be about. Each of your paragraphs
should answer the separate questions asked in the task
(what it is about / why you like it / whether other young
people would enjoy watching it). Avoid just writing a list
of all the things you like about the show. Instead, focus on
the two or three main things that you like and write fully
about them.
5
Style
The essay should be neutral or formal as you are writing
it for your teacher to read. You will need to use a range of
past tenses to explain what happened in the story and how
Joe managed to survive.
Content
You will need to present the main parts of the story that
lead to Joes survival. You might also want to talk about
his personality, as his courage and mental strength also
helped him to survive. You will need to have a good
knowledge of the main details of the story to answer this
question.
28
Organisation
You will need to plan what you want to write and
think about what the focus of each paragraph is going
to be. For example, in your first paragraph you could
start with a brief description of Joe as an individual,
his strengths and qualities. Each of the following
paragraphs could then focus on an event in his journey
down the mountain and you could relate the decisions
he made and the way he coped with problems to the
personal qualities you mentioned in the first paragraph.
Listening
Part 1
1 B 2 A 3 B 4 A 5 A 6 C 7 C 8 B
Part 2
9 hotels
10 pop stars
11 main course
12 cost
13 safety
14 advice
15 timetable
16 ingredients
17 presentation
18 (kitchen) knives
Part 3
19 E 20 C 21 A 22 H 23 G
Part 4
24 B 25 C 26 C 27 C 28 A 29 B 30 A
Recording script
Part 1
You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For
questions 18, choose the best answer, A, B or C.
Question 1. You hear two students discussing a TV
programme they have just watched.
Girl:
id you see that new detective show

D
yesterday? I loved the female police officer
who starred in it, she was really cool
Boy:
eah, well I really liked, it too. I wasnt

Y
so keen on her, I thought she was a bit
too good to be true. I thought the music
in the background really added to the
atmosphere though nice tracks
And the twists and turns in the storyline
were amazing, werent they. You had to
concentrate to keep up. I havent seen
anything quite like that before
Girl:
e neither, that was the best bit. I didnt

M
find the music that good actually, but Ill
watch it again
Boy:
Me too.
Question 2. You hear a boy telling a friend about a sailing

course he has just done.
Girl:
h hi, Adam. Did you enjoy the sailing

O
course you did at the weekend?
06/10/2014 15:31
Boy:
Girl:
I did. We were really lucky, cos there was

sunshine and a good breeze The forecast
said thered be storms, but there werent
I was one of the youngest students
there but that didnt worry me. Id enrolled
on an advanced course, and I didnt
think thered be many other people with
as much experience as me but there
certainly were. I wasnt prepared for the
fact that I found it hard to keep up with the
others. Some of them were much bigger
and stronger. But I learnt a lot.
Question 6. You hear a girl talking on the phone about a

shopping trip.
Girl:
Great.
Question 3. You hear a teacher telling her students about a

project they are going to do.
Teacher:
K everyone, for your project on a writer,

O
choose someone who wrote in English
from any country you like. The word length
is 1,200 words, although you can go
above that slightly if you have to. Ill help
you with grammar if necessary; its your
responsibility to check how complicated
words are spelled though. Remember
youll get marked down if there are lots
of errors. Write a short biography of the
writer, and then talk about their ideas.
Youll have to find some information to
start with, so try the Internet Im sure you
know how to avoid inaccurate sources or
books in the school library Now, any
questions ?
Question 4. You hear a girl talking on the radio about her

favourite band.
Girl:
Yeah well, I love this band called One Mind.

Ive bought all the albums theyve made.
They come from the same part of the city
as me, just a few blocks down from where
I live, not that Ive ever met any of them! I
can really identify with their songs because
they sing about being young, growing up
and so on. And their guitar playing is great,
and the keyboard player manages to make
some really interesting sounds yeah, Im
really keen on them and Id love to play
the drums like Tim does
Question 5. You hear two students talking about what

happened in an art class at school.
29
Girl:
How did you get on in art today, Daniel?
Boy:
ell, first of all Christopher tipped some

W
water over the paper I was working on
it was a complete accident, but it wasnt
a good start. And then I didnt realise we
were supposed to be doing a sketch of
someone else in the class I brought in a
photo of my little brother to work from
Girl:
eah, I drew Hannah as I always sit next to

Y
her
Boy:
nce I started to work with paints though,

O
I did better Im pleased with the colours
I chose and I think Ive done something
Mr Jones will like
Girl:
Great!
Success! Yeah, I got exactly what I wanted

Mum, not in the sales there were
some great reductions though Yeah,
it was new stock, just in. I had enough
money for some shoes the same colour
as the top so theyll look great with my
new white trousers Yeah, yeah, thats
what Im wearing to the wedding Im
really glad I went to that new store you
suggested. Its a nice place, I hadnt been
there before and Ill certainly go there
again. I couldnt find anything in the shop
in the centre I usually go to . OK, see
you soon, bye.
Question 7. You hear two students talking about a castle in

Scotland.
Girl: It was a great trip, wasnt it, Peter? I thought
the Scottish countryside was magic all those
mountains and misty mornings.
Boy: Yeah it was, and as for the castle we went to
yesterday, there was so much mist about it
was the perfect place for a fairy tale, you know,
princess and dragon stuff
Girl: Mmm, little kids would love it, wouldnt they?
That place certainly had a fantastic atmosphere
I think you could make a ghost story there, too.
Boy: Mmm, not sure about that. Somebody said
theyre going to make a documentary series
there though, about the history of Scottish
families. It might be a bit dull. There wont be any
battles and swords and stuff.
Girl: Right.
Question 8. You hear a sports presenter talking about a
running race.
Presenter: and I have to say that Julie Barker put in the
performance of her life yesterday in the 400
metres. She was competing in her first race
since she recently sprained her ankle badly, and
had to take several weeks off. And yet she was
in fantastic form, and although she didnt start
well, she quickly pulled out in front and seemed
to just fly across the finishing line it certainly
wasnt too soon for a big race, though her coach
said it wasnt wise. If she maintains this standard
throughout the season, Im sure shell be
considered for the Olympics soon. Shes a great
competitor.
Part 2
You will hear a young chef called Tom Neilson talking about
the cookery competition he has just won. For questions
918, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Well, Im going to talk about a cookery competition Ive
been taking part in called Young Chef, and actually Im really
pleased, cos Ive got a place in the national final!
So, Young Chef is a competition for students aged 1416
who are studying catering. I actually found quite a few
competitions you can enter, and theyre usually run by the
food industry. This one is different though, its organised
by a chain of (9) hotels. It was first started about ten
years ago, and I discovered it was because they wanted
to attract more young people into working for them as
chefs. Apparently some research had shown that very few
teenagers considered a career as a chef, even though they
admired the top chefs like Jim Marsh in the same way they
do famous (10) pop stars. That really surprised me!
06/10/2014 15:31
Now, about the competition itself. There are four stages

and you start with a competition at the school you attend.
For the first stage you just have to cook a (11) main course,
theres no need to cook a dessert. The food is judged by
teachers at the school, and the three winning pupils go on
to represent their school in the second stage, which is called
the local final.
In that, you have to work out the exact (12) cost of the twocourse meal you cook, which can be quite hard if youre
using just a small quantity of certain stuff like herbs and
spices! The local final is held at a college, and judged by
professional chefs, who also test you on a range of things
about working in a kitchen, like (13) safety. They expect you
to know the names of well-known French and Italian dishes
too, but you dont get a formal test on that. The winner then
goes on to participate in one of the twelve regional finals,
and before you take part in those, you get (14) advice from
a professional chef. Jane Spelling, the chef who helped me,
was great. I learnt so much from her.
At the regional final, you have to cook a meal to a fixed
budget, and the most important thing thats tested is the
(15) timetable you draw up for your meal. You have to list
every step of your food preparation and how long it will take
to do. And once youve done that, you have to stick to it!
Believe me, thats really tough. I had to practise a lot before I
got it right. And if you survive all that and get through to the
national final as I have, then the pressure is really on
Why? Well, you have to plan and cook a meal for four
people within two hours, and the trickiest thing is that they
give you the (16) ingredients, so you have to work out what
to make with them. Everyone gets the same, and youre not
allowed to look at any recipes at all. That means you have to
have good basic cookery knowledge. And youre judged not
just on your cooking skills, but on the (17) presentation of
your dishes. I know that the standard is very high, so Ill be
trying a lot of things out before the Big Day!
And if I win? Well, there are some really awesome prizes.
The first prize is a chance to spend two weeks working in a
restaurant belonging to a top chef, which is fantastic. The
second prize is also good though, because you get some
top quality stainless steel cooking pans and Id really love
those too. And theres actually a set of (18) kitchen knives
for everyone who gets as far as the national final, so Im
certain to get those! Ill be taking part in the National Final
on 30th March, so wish me luck. Its not long now
Part 3
You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking
about school visits to places of interest. For questions
1923, choose from the list (AH) what each speaker says.
Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which
you do not need to use.
Speaker 3
We went to a place called Dinosaur Island last month on a
school visit. At the visitor centre we did a lot of interactive
stuff like weighing fossils. It was fascinating. Ive always
loved that kind of stuff, and I decided while I was there that
Im going to work in science when I finish school. I really
enjoyed going on a walk along the beach too, to collect
fossils. Our teacher thought wed have an expert guide
with us but in the end there was just us and it was more fun
really. Hes really nice and he didnt give us any worksheets
or anything
Speaker 4
We went on a school visit to the Eden Project as part of
our biology course on the environment. Its a huge place! I
couldnt believe my eyes when I got there. We spent a day
learning about the rainforest and had a talk from someone
whos spent his whole career studying it. It was so inspiring
to hear about his experiences. We found out about the links
between the UK and the rainforest too, you know, through
things like the plants we get medicines from. And at the end
of the day we went into the souvenir shop, which had some
fantastic stuff.
Speaker 5
Im doing media studies this year, and we got a great visit
to a film studio as part of our course. I couldnt believe how
hands on it was! I knew we were going on a sort of behind
the scenes walking tour, and I thought wed just have a
guide to show us round and talk to us. But we walked round
the sets, tried on costumes, and were shown how to do
special make-up. And the best thing of all was the special
effects show at the end. I loved it! Id recommend the visit to
anyone
Part 4
You will hear an interview with an American girl who sings in
a choir. For questions 2430, choose the best answer (A, B
or C).
Interviewer:
And today in the studio we welcome Gina

Genoza, whos 14 and in grade 8 at High
School. Shes going to talk to us about her
experience of singing in a choir. Welcome,
Gina.
Gina:
Hi
Interviewer:
Tell us a bit about the choir you sing in.
Gina:
ell, I started off in my school choir. But

W
for the last two years Ive been singing in
a youth choir, which takes young people
from schools all over the county and
encourages them to perform in front of an
audience whenever possible. You have to
be really keen, and (24) you have to be at
a high standard before you join, so that
means youve put in a lot of time and effort
already and you have to keep right on
doing that
Interviewer:
I see. And the choir is important to you?
Gina:
Oh yes!
Interviewer:
Why is that?
Gina:
ell, the choir is a place where no-one

W
judges you. A lot of different people are
accepted into the choir, and singing
unites a wide range of musical styles into
something real special. And if someone
messes up, no one worries about it you
just move on (25) it gives you belief in
yourself, makes you willing to try things.
Speaker 1
I went on a visit to London this year with my school, and
this time we went to the British Museum. Our teacher said
thered be lots of hands-on stuff and there was. And really,
I had the best time ever. We had a worksheet to fill in in
some of the galleries, and you could learn a lot doing that.
The visit made history feel well, alive to me. I used to think
it was really dull. Not any more though. What I really loved
was that everything was bright and colourful in the exhibits
we went to.
Speaker 2
Our school visit was to an outdoor activity centre this year. I
wasnt keen on the idea at first. I was hoping for a trip to the
science museum, like last year. They said it was going to be
all team challenges and climbing trees and mud and stuff,
which didnt sound like my scene at all. When we got there,
though, the activity leader let us choose which activities
we did. I decided to try rock climbing, so I spent a morning
being taught the basics, and then doing an easy climb. Id
never done anything like it before, and it was great!
30
06/10/2014 15:31
31
Interviewer:
o is one of the reasons you enjoy the

S
choir that you mix with other people?
Gina:
bsolutely. Every choir rehearsal is a

A
social event, I expected to make a lot of
new friends and I have! Everyone there is
a friend now. (26) You also find out how
to persuade people to reach agreement
by talking things through and asking the
right questions Thats something I didnt
really get before I do now though And
of course, Ive met people from different
backgrounds too, Hispanic, Chinese
Interviewer:
nd how do you feel about the music you

A
sing?
Gina:
ell, we do a variety, mostly modern pop

W
songs n stuff, but also classical. And I
think we may try some jazz arrangements
soon, although Im not sure Ill like those
so much. (27) As a choir we always get
to select a lot of our own music, though,
which I really like. And as our director
shows us things we would never have
come up with on our own, the range of
music we sing is broad
Interviewer:
Is singing a good way for people to

express themselves?
Gina:
It certainly is. Being in the choir means

learning how to express yourself musically
of course, and through the songs you get
to express emotions. (28) Even people
who are normally quite shy and quiet really
get into it. And you can pass things onto
other people too. You can show them how
much joy you feel in the music, or how sad
the lyrics of a certain song make you feel.
Thats cool.
Interviewer:
I know your choir performs a lot for the

public. How do you find that?
Gina:
ell, the first two or three performances

W
with an audience were a bit scary for me,
but I was allowed to stand at the back.
And its fine now. Were all there together,
our families are usually in the audience and
they all really want to see what we can do.
Theyre normally on our side, rather than
being there to criticise. (29) Some people
still feel under pressure, but I dont really.
Well, not much anyway!
Interviewer:
nd finally, the choir has a musical

A
director, John Greenbaum. What does he
contribute?
Gina:
h gosh, well of course he has a fairly

O
nice voice himself, so he can demonstrate
what he wants, and as a good conductor,
hes clear. And when were performing,
if we start to go wrong, he can sort of
pull us through with the (30) force of his
enthusiasm! Thats vital, his best quality in
fact. Hes a very dynamic person. He holds
us together
Interviewer:
hats wonderful. Gina, thanks for talking

T
to us today.
Gina:
Thank you.
06/10/2014 15:31
Acknowledgements
The authors and publishers acknowledge the following sources of copyright
material and are grateful for the permissions granted. While every effort
has been made, it has not always been possible to identify the sources
of all the material used, or to trace all copyright holders. If any omissions
are brought to our notice, we will be happy to include the appropriate
acknowledgements on reprinting.
Photos
Key: T=Top; B=Below
p.23T: Mark Herreid / Shutterstock; p.23B: Nik Taylor / Alamy; p.24T:
bikeriderlondon / Shutterstock; p.24B: franckreporter pxcm / Getty.
32
06/10/2014 15:31

Online Practice Tests First For Schools FullTest A

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Online Practice Tests First For Schools FullTest A

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cambridge English: First for Schools

Practice Test X6 BOOK.indb 1

Answer key and recording script

Reading and Use of English Part 1

back thousands of years. The first kites

in many different cultures. For

the arrival of a new baby. In some places

equipment up into the air. But kite-flying (7)

a sport which can be enjoyed by people of all ages and it

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS | TEST A

Practice Test X6 BOOK.indb 3

This page may be photocopied

Reading and Use of English Part 2

The London Mini Marathon

take part in a mini marathon in

popular event that they have to be selected; Great Britain is divided

into regions, and team managers choose (10)

children will represent each region. After (11)

runners from three

only run on the same day as the main London Marathon

makes it especially exciting for

cambridge english: first for schools | test A

This page may be photocopied

Reading and Use of English Part 3

One man and his robots

people are used to seeing

to jump, paint and drink, among other things.

with robots began when he was a child.

He made his first robot when he was 11 but, (20)

was unable to move. He continued to experiment, increasing his

, until he finally managed to make one with

arms and legs.

. His aim is to make robots

tasks they need to perform in their daily lives, like

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS | TEST A

Practice Test X6 BOOK.indb 5

This page may be photocopied

Reading and Use of English Part 4

people waiting outside the stadium that I couldnt

Josh decided not to buy the football boots

The dance class was cancelled because not

I took my phone out on the bus, so

My grandfather was 70 when he started running.

The shops will be closed when we get there

Everyone will get a free drink at the beginning of the race.

until he was 70.

everyone at the beginning of the race.

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST FOR SCHOOLS | TEST A

Practice Test X6 BOOK.indb 6

This page may be photocopied

Reading and Use of English Part 5

Path to the top

the garage after school: duelling, battling, testing

For a period, the streets around Silverdale Road,

cambridge english: first for schools | test A

This page may be photocopied

A his parents only bought it because they recognised his talents.

D it was an unusual hobby for a boy to have at the time.

B They wanted to show their friends how good they were.

C They knew they werent good at other sports.

D They were inspired to compete against each other.

What point is the writer making in the last paragraph?

What do we find out about the writer in this text?

A his parents only bought it because they recognised his talents.

D it was an unusual hobby for a boy to have at the time.

B They wanted to show their friends how good they were.

D They were inspired to compete against each other.

A But none of these resembled the massive,

E We are still in the dark, however, when it

D They based their calculations on individual

5 Answer the following question based on the title below.