END OF YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY

Speaking

Teacher’s notes
Task1
The students each have two photos.
Student A prompt: Your photographs show different kinds of crimes. I’d like you to compare the
photographs and say what effect you think these crimes might have on the people who suffer from
them.
Student B prompt: Your photographs show different kinds of crimes. I’d like to you compare the
photographs and say which crime you think is more serious, and why.

Task 2
Students discuss the options in pairs.
Prompt: Now I’d like you to talk about something together. I’d like you to look at the different ways
in which young people who commit crimes can be punished or helped. Which of these ideas might be
the most useful for the young people?

Task 3
Students discuss the questions in pairs. Select any of the following questions, as appropriate.
1 What happens to young people who commit crimes in your country?

2 Some people say that young people who commit crimes should always go to prison. Do you agree? Why? / Why not?

3 What can schools do to help prevent young people becoming involved in crimes?

4 What facilities can towns and cities provide to help young people?

5 In some countries, parents are considered responsible if their children commit crimes. Do you think this is a good idea?
Why? / Why not?

Prompts: Select any of the following prompts, as appropriate, to encourage both students to
participate:
• What do you think?

• Do you agree?

• And you?

Sample answers and mark schemes

Task 1
Can describe what is happening in a picture and make simple speculations.
Can justify and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.

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Speaking

Student A
The photographs are similar because they both show crimes. In the first photograph, someone has
written or drawn on the walls of a building. I think it’s in a big city because it doesn’t look like the
countryside, and I think these kinds of crimes are more common in cities. I suppose a young person
might have done this because they were bored. The second photograph shows someone stealing a
mobile phone. I think this person is probably committing this crime to get money. They’re probably
going to sell the phone to someone else. The person whose phone is being stolen hasn’t noticed yet but
when they find out I expect they will be shocked. I think I would be very shocked if this happened to
me. One difference between the photographs is that vandalism isn’t a crime against a person. It is
damage to a building or other place, whereas stealing something is a crime against a person. I think
that stealing someone’s phone would have a much bigger effect on a person because it would be
annoying to lose your phone, and it would also cost money to replace it. So, this crime perhaps has
more effect. On the other hand, vandalism has an effect on a lot of people because it makes the city
look unpleasant, so then people won’t want to live there. Also, no one will clean it off, so it will
probably be there for a long time. I think it could make people feel depressed if they see this every day.

Student B
The photographs both show crimes, and I think they are both crimes that young people might commit.
In the first photograph, someone is stealing a pair of jeans from a shop – they are hiding them under
their jacket. I think probably a lot of young people do this, and they don’t think it’s a very serious
crime. I guess perhaps they’re doing it for fun, or to have a laugh. They probably think that the shop
has plenty of money. But I think it is quite serious because if a lot of people steal things from shops,
the prices will increase. The second photograph shows vandalism. The bus stop has been damaged, so
now people won’t be able to use it properly. I think that’s really annoying. I guess it was probably
done by young people, maybe because they had nothing to do. They probably didn’t think about the
effects of what they were doing. In my opinion, both these crimes are serious. Stealing is always bad,
and I think people have to learn that if they want something they should buy it – they can’t just take it.
On the other hand, damaging things is a really mean crime because it prevents a lot of people from
using things that have been provided for them or from enjoying a place in their neighbourhood.

Task 2
Can justify a viewpoint on a topical issue by discussing pros and cons of various options.

Students A and B
A I think that young people who commit crimes definitely need help. What do you think?

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B Yes, I agree with you. I think maybe they commit crimes because they’ve got problems, so I don’t
think that prison will really help them much. Do you agree?
A Yes, I do. Prison would take them away from their school and their family, and I don’t think that
would help them to learn. I think education is a really good idea.
B Yes, I agree. If young people are educated, they can get a good job and then they won’t need to
commit crimes. I’m not sure about a job, though. If they don’t have any qualifications, it wouldn’t be a
very interesting job, so they might get bored and commit more crimes. What do you think?
A Yes, but on the other hand they would have money so they wouldn’t have to steal things.
B Yes, that’s true. What do you think about meeting their victims? Do you think that could be
useful?
A Yes, sometimes. For example, if someone has stolen something from someone, it could be good
for them to meet the victim and understand how upsetting it was for them. For example, maybe they
stole some jewellery that was important to the person.
A Yes, that’s true. It could help them to understand the effects of their crime. And what about
emotional support?
B Yes, I think that probably a lot of young people who commit crimes have problems, for example
maybe they don’t have parents who understand them.
A I think you’re right. I think that it can really help to have someone to talk to and discuss your
problems with. So, which do you think is the most useful idea? For me, I think probably it’s education
or emotional support.
B I agree that they’re both useful, but I think probably education is the most useful because it can
give young people opportunities for their whole life.
A Yes, I agree.

Task3
Can express opinions as regards possible solutions, giving brief reasons and explanations.
Can develop an argument well enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time.

Students A and B
1 What happens to young people who commit crimes in your country?

Young people who commit crimes in my country don’t usually go to prison. Sometimes they might have to do some work
in the community, for example cleaning or helping at a youth centre. If it’s a serious crime, they might go to a special
school. I think that’s a good idea for serious crimes, but I think for minor crimes it’s best for them to do something in the
community, maybe to help the victims of their crime.

2 Some people say that young people who commit crimes should always go to prison. Do you agree? Why? / Why not?

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Speaking

Well, on the one hand it’s important to punish young people who commit crimes, so that they learn it’s wrong and they
won’t do it again. On the other hand, I don’t think prison is a good idea. If young people are in prison, they can’t go to
school so they can’t get a good education. Then they will be more likely to commit more crimes in the future. I think it’s
best to punish young people in the community.

3 What can schools do to help prevent young people becoming involved in crimes?

I think schools can discuss crimes with young people, so they can understand why crimes are wrong. For example, some
teenagers might think it’s fun to steal from shops, and they might not think about the effects of their crimes. Schools can
discuss this. Also, schools can help to give young people interests and hobbies, so they don’t get bored and commit
crimes because they have nothing to do.

4 What facilities can towns and cities provide to help young people?

I think towns and cities can provide youth clubs for young people. These are a great place for young people to meet their
friends and have fun. Also, it’s important to have places outside where young people can go, like parks and sports
centres. Maybe cities could make things like cinemas cheaper for young people, because often young people don’t have
much money. That would be good.

5 In some countries, parents are considered responsible if their children commit crimes. Do you think this is a good
idea? Why? / Why not?

No, in my opinion this isn’t a good idea. I think that young people need to accept that if they do something wrong, it’s their
responsibility. Of course, parents have a duty to educate their children and teach them how to behave, but I think that
teenagers are old enough to make decisions for themselves. So, if they do something wrong, they should be punished.

The tasks together are worth 20 marks. Award up to 4 marks for each section of the mark scheme,
according to the descriptions below.

Mark Task Spoken Spoken Range Accuracy

s achievement production and interaction
fluency
0-1 Completes Hesitates a lot Does not Uses only very Lots of errors even
none of the and does not engage with basic in basic language,
task, or only seem confident. the listener, vocabulary and which impede
a small part Is not easy to and makes grammar, with communication.
of the task. understand. very little a lot of errors.
effort to
communicat
e.
2-3 Completes Speaks with Engages Uses simple Generally accurate,

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Speaking

most parts of some confidence with the vocabulary and but with some errors,
the task. and is listener to basic grammar especially in more
comprehensible. some extent, structures advanced language.
Some hesitation, and makes accurately.
but not enough an effort to Uses some
to impede communicat more advanced
communication. e effectively. vocabulary and
Asks grammar
questions structures with
and errors.
responds
when
working in
pairs.

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 END OF YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

4 Completes all Speaks with Engages Uses a wide A few mistakes in

parts of the fluency, with fully with range of more advanced
task. very little the listener, vocabulary language structures,
hesitation. Is using appropriately, but generally very
clear and gestures and and uses a accurate.
comprehensible. intonation to wide range of
Uses some help express grammar
intonation to add meaning. structures
emphasis. Interacts accurately and
very well by appropriately.
asking
questions
and
responding
when
working in
pairs.

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