Unit 1 Exam

Training

The Distance Delta

©International House London and the British Council

Summary
In this first Exam Training we will be looking at Task 5b from Paper 1. We will be examining this task
in some detail, and in doing so focusing on the level of depth required in the analysis of language,
depth that is also necessary for other parts Paper 1 Task 5. Then you will have the opportunity to try
the task for yourself before checking your answers.

Objectives
By the end of this section you should:

 have an understanding of the requirements of Paper 1 Task 5 (b – d).

 feel more confident about tackling these tasks.

 know what depth of language analysis is needed.

 know how to organise your answers in the exam.

Contents
1. Introduction to Paper 1 Task 5
2. Focus on Paper 1 Task Five (Part b)
3. Level of Analysis
4. Range of Use and Meaning
5. Exam Practice
1. Introduction to Paper 1 Task 5
Paper 1 Task 5 is always based on an authentic text. This could be a leaflet, a magazine or newspaper
article, a webpage, an extract from a piece of literature or any other form of written text. It will be a
text type which you could use with a class of language learners and that you might expect to find
reproduced in a General English coursebook. This task focuses on your awareness of features of
different written genres, as well as knowledge and awareness of language systems (grammar, lexis,
discourse and phonology). Sometimes it will also require you to demonstrate your ability to identify
potential problems learners may have with those language systems.

This is one of the key tasks in the exam and there are 50 marks available for it. That is half of the
total marks available in Paper 1 and a quarter of those available in the whole exam. There are five
marks available for the first part of the task (a) where you identify five features which are typical of
the genre, and 45 for parts (b – d), where you will be analysing short extracts from the text, and
commenting on the meaning / use, form and/or pronunciation of language items.

There are no stipulated timings in the Module 1 exam but you should allocate your time according to
the number of marks available for each task. In the case of Paper 1 Task 5, there are 50 marks out of
a total of 100. As it carries 50% of the marks for the paper, around 50% of the total time available for
the paper (90 minutes) should be spent on it, we recommend 40- 45 minutes.

You may also be asked to comment on potential difficulties for the learner related to one or more of
these language items. You will find that working on this type of question is excellent for sharpening
your language analysis skills, especially for understanding how real language works in authentic
contexts. It should also help you feel more confident about using authentic materials in class.

2. Focus on Paper 1 Task Five (Part b)

In this first Exam Training we are just going to focus on one part of Paper 1 Task 5, part b. The
language analysis skills required in this part is similar to those in parts c and d. As with those exam
tasks, it is a case of making as many points as you can in the time available. Given that you have
around 45 minutes for the whole of Paper 1 Task 5, which contains three other parts, you should not
spend much more than 10 to 15 minutes on part b. As with all parts of Paper 1 Task 5, you get one
mark for each correct point identified and you are not penalised for making incorrect points.

In terms of approach, bear in mind the following:

 Only analyse the language in bold or that is underlined. However, in some cases it may refer to
other language or important information in the extract e.g. ‘Taking the letter off the table, Jake
tore it into tiny pieces’. ‘It’ in this case is referring to ‘the letter’, which is mentioned earlier in
the extract and not in bold or underlined. It can be a similar case with time phrases. If we are
analysing the present continuous section of the sentence ‘I’m meeting John on Sunday’ although
the time phrase is not in bold, it is difficult to talk about the meaning and use of the tense form
with mentioning time. In this case, there is future meaning indicated by the ‘on Sunday’ time
adverbial.
 Be precise and accurate with terminology e.g. do not just write ‘noun’ but write ‘singular
countable noun’, write ‘present perfect simple’ not just ‘present perfect’ and if a word like an
adjective modifies another word, say exactly what it is modifying.
 Spell key terms correctly e.g. ‘auxiliary’, ‘participle’ etc.
 Organise your answer: use bullet points and sub-headings (see Task 2).
 Do not be afraid of making ‘obvious’ points. These can often score marks and can also
accumulate, making a significant contribution to the overall mark.

Task 1: Focus on Meaning versus Use and Focus on Form (10mins)

Part 1
In Paper 1 Task 5 (parts b – d) you are asked to sometimes analyse the ‘meaning’ of an item of
language, sometimes the ‘use’ of an item and sometimes both. It is essential you understand the
difference between these two terms, ‘meaning’ and ‘use’.

Look at the example sentences below what is the difference between the meaning and the use of
the two relative clauses indicated in bold?

1. My sister, who lives in Australia, is coming to visit.

2. My sister who lives in Australia is coming to visit.

Part 2
Also in Paper 1 Task 5 (parts b – d) you are usually asked to comment on the form. ‘Form’ refers to
the category labels we use for the building blocks of language and covers everything from the
word classes of individual words to names for different types of phrase and clause. Using the two
sentences above, what can you say about the form?

For example, ‘the first sentence is a non-defining relative clause.’

See Appendix 1 for answers

In the past exam question below (taken from the June 2006 exam paper and adapted to reflect the
latest exam specifications), there is a question which focuses on present perfect. The four extracts
are taken from a human interest story text published in a broadsheet newspaper (see below). In the
question you are asked to comment on the form and meaning / use.

Past Exam Question

b Look at the following sentences taken from the text, all of which contain examples of the
present perfect. Comment on the form and meaning / use as it is used in each extract.
 In that time, the self-styled Running Man has made it across the Himalayas. (line21)

 Until now the record for the longest distance ever run has been held by an American. (line 42)

 During the last 65 months he has run anything from 25 to 125 miles in a day. (line 61)

 So this is the first time I’ve ever achieved something.’ (line 68)
3. Level of Analysis

For the marking of your exam and the marking of your exam practice on this course, the Cambridge
markers and the Course Tutors will be using Cambridge Guideline Answers. The points you make can
only be awarded marks if they are included in these official answers, even though they may
technically be correct. It may be the case that you have written was considered too obvious to be
included, though often ‘obvious’ points are included. Or, it may be the case that what you wrote was
considered marginal or unimportant. Although it is not always possible to predict which points will
be included and therefore what points you make will score marks, as a rule of thumb, precise and
thorough analysis will always score well, even if not every point made scores a mark. The following
task is designed to get you thinking about the level of depth required in the exam but also the
precision and accuracy needed.

Task 2: Analysing Language in Depth and with Accuracy (10 mins)

Look below at the first extract you need to analyse (taken from the Past Exam Question) and then
look at the handwritten answer. Tick any points in the candidate’s answer that you think are
correct. Mark anything you think is wrong with a cross.

 In that time, the self-styled Running Man has made it across the Himalayas. (line21)

Has made
Form
 Auxiliary ‘has’ ✓
 Third person ‘has’
 ‘Made’ is past of ‘make’
 ‘Make’ is intransitive
 Irregular verb ‘made’

Meaning / Use
 Repeated action
 Single completed action
 Happened sometime / an unspecified time in the past
 Happened in the recent past
 Timeframe ‘in that time’
 Timeframe sometime from October 1997 to present / Timeframe
unclear.
 Focus not on when he made it
 Focus on now completed

See Appendix 2
4. Range of Use and Meaning
Although the language focused on in the past exam question is broadly similar i.e. it is all based on
present perfect simple examples (this is made explicit in the rubric), there is likely to be significant
difference in use and meaning. So whilst there is clearly a unifying thread in the language you have
to analyse, the examples are likely to represent a range of features within that area. For example, if
you are analysing relative clauses there are likely to be defining and non-defining examples as well
as reduced ones and perhaps ‘object’ and ‘subject defining’ variants. If you are analysing articles, it is
likely you will need to analyse definite, indefinite and zero articles with a range of different uses e.g.
referring to a previously mentioned item, referring to something unique, being used with a
superlative etc. Therefore, you are not only being tested on how deeply you analyse language but
also your breadth of knowledge within a given area. This will also be the case for Paper 1 Task 5c and
d.

Task 3: Guided Practice (20 mins)

Part 1

As mentioned above, there is range of uses found in the present perfect simple extracts in the
three remaining examples from the past exam question. Before you complete the task, think about
what you know about how present perfect is used. Try and add at least five other things to the list
below.

E.g.

 Can be used to emphasise completed events

 Can be used for experience






Part 2

Drawing on your ideas for Part 1, look at the other three present perfect simple extracts from the
past exam question. As with Task 2 above you need to Comment on the form and meaning / use as
it is used in each extract.

 Until now the record for the longest distance ever run has been held by an American. (line 42)

 During the last 65 months he has run anything from 25 to 125 miles in a day. (line 61)

 So this is the first time I’ve ever achieved something.’ (line 68)

See Appendix 3
5. Exam Practice
After the Exam Training in every unit, you need to do the unit’s Exam Practice. These practice tasks
can be found in the Library / Resources and are taken from previous Cambridge Delta exam papers.
You will also need the Exam Practice templates for your answers. These can be found in ‘My Files’
which is accessed from your Dashboard (Homepage). There is one template for each unit and once
complete should be submitted by the deadline in the Course Calendar. With the exception of Unit 1,
your work is then marked by your Course Tutor and returned to you within seven days with a
feedback report. For Units 1 to 7 you will be focussing on just a few tasks but for Unit 8 you will be
taking a whole Mock Exam.
Appendices

Appendix 1:

Task 1: Focus on Meaning versus Use and Focus on Form

Part 1
The basic difference between use and meaning is the former describes the purpose something serves
in the text and the second what it actually means. However, in your answer you are not required to
distinguish between the two, you only need to make relevant points.

Therefore:
1. My sister, who lives in Australia, is coming to visit.

Use: used to give, additional, non-essential information about the subject (‘my sister’).

Meaning: the speaker only has one sister or it is clear to listener which sister is under discussion.

2. My sister who lives in Australia is coming to visit.

Use: used to give essential information which identifies /specifies the subject (‘my sister’).

Meaning: the speaker has more than one sister and is helping the listener by defining which one i.e.
it is not the sister that lives in Canada.

Part 2
As you can see, there is overlap in terms of the analysis of the form. In this particular task, repeating
correct points still results in marks being awarded.

1. My sister, who lives in Australia, is coming to visit.

 Non-defining relative clause

 Use of commas
 Relative pronoun ‘who’ (for people)
 Regular verb ‘live’ in third person singular
 ‘Live’ is in the present simple

2. My sister who lives in Australia is coming to visit.

 Defining relative clause

 No commas
 Relative pronoun ‘who’ (for people)
 Regular verb ‘live’ in third person singular
 ‘Live’ is in the present simple

Appendix 2

Task 2: Analysing Language in Depth and with Accuracy

Form
 Auxiliary ‘has’ ✓
 Third person ‘has’ ✓
 ‘Made’ is past of ‘make’ X (‘Made’ is a past participle not a simple past verb and simply
saying ‘past’ is not specific enough to get a mark)
 ‘Make’ is intransitive X (It’s an transitive verb i.e. it has an object)
 Irregular verb ‘made’ ✓

Meaning / Use
 Repeated action X (As it says below, it is a single completed action)
 Single completed action ✓
 Happened sometime / an unspecified time in the past ✓
 Happened in the recent past X (This may be the case but there is more of an emphasis on
completion than this event just happening a short time ago)
 Timeframe ‘in that time’ ✓ (Even though this is not underlined, the underlined part of the
extract is referring directly to the time frame so it is valid to comment on this)
 Timeframe sometime from October 1997 to present / Timeframe unclear. (see
previous comment)
 Focus not on when he made it ✓
 Focus on now completed ✓

Appendix 3

Suggested answers:

Until now, the record for the longest distance ever run has been held by an American. (line 42)

Form
 Third person
 Auxiliary ‘have’ (has)
 Auxiliary ‘be’ (been)
 Irregular past participle ‘been’ of the verb ‘be’
 Passive (voice)

Meaning / Use
 Started at unknown point in the past and continued up to the present / the time of writing the
article / now
 Not told when the period started.
 Writer is reporting a fact / Unimportant who holds the record.
 ‘Hold’ is a stative verb (expresses possession)
 Follows a reduced relative clause / Ellipsis of ‘which has’ (ever been run)
 Creates sense of immediacy / Used instead of ‘Until then’, ‘the record was’ / ‘had been held’

During the last 65 months he has run anything from 25 to 125 miles in a day. (line 61)

Form
 Third person singular
 Auxiliary ‘have’
 Irregular past participle from the verb ‘run’

Meaning / Use
 Repeated action / habit which occurred more than once during the timeframe / the last 65
months which leads up to the present / the time of writing the article / now
 (Implied) Action is still continuing / unfinished / will probably continue

‘So this is the first time I’ve ever achieved something.’ (line 68)

Form
 First person singular pronoun
 Contraction of ‘have’
 Auxiliary ‘have’
 Regular past participle ‘achieved’
 ‘Ever’ is adverb

Meaning Use
 Describes the action / experience has just been completed / is relevant now
 The timeframe is his whole life
 Happened sometime / an unspecified time in the past
 ‘Ever’ adds emphasis