END-OF-YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY

Speaking

Teacher’s notes
Task 1
The students each have two photos.
Student A prompt: Your photographs show people benefiting from modern technology in different ways. I’d
like you to compare the photographs and say in what ways the people are benefiting.
Student B prompt: Your photographs show people benefiting from modern technology in different ways. I’d
like you to compare the photographs and say in what ways the people are benefiting.

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 scientific
disciplines. Which of these scientific disciplines should we focus on developing the most in the future?

Task 3
Students discuss the questions in pairs. Select any of the following questions, as appropriate.
1 In what ways do you use technology in your everyday life?
2 Some people say that computers and the Internet are making us less sociable. Do you agree? Why?/Why
not?
3 In what ways can technology benefit older people?
4 Do you think technology reduces or increases stress in people’s daily lives? In what ways?
5 Some parents would like to pull the plug on technology in the home. 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.

Student A
In both photographs people’s lives are being improved by modern technology. In the first photograph, the
person is wearing a special device to monitor their body while they are doing exercise. It probably monitors
their heart rate and perhaps the amount of activity they do each day. I think you can also use devices like this
to record how much you eat, so it can help you to regulate your weight. Technology like this can bring a lot of
benefits, by allowing people to measure how fit they are and keep themselves healthy. In the second
photograph, two people are talking to each other online. I think maybe they’re friends, and they might live in
different countries. They both look very happy. This is a different kind of benefit because communication
technology can allow people to keep in touch more easily than before. In the past, if people lived in different
parts of the world, they had very little contact with each other, but now it’s much easier to stay connected
with friends and family members. I think both these examples of modern technology are very beneficial to
people. The first one can improve people’s physical health, and the second one can help them in their social
and family lives.

© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)

 END-OF-YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

Student B
Both these photographs show how modern technology can help to make life easier for people. In the first
photo, a woman is travelling in a driverless car. She looks relaxed and is able to read while she travels. I think
she probably has to be aware of what the car is doing, but most of the hard work is done by the car. The
second photo shows a person using GPS, which is a more familiar piece of technology. This person is using the
GPS in their car to find their way around a city, probably a city they don’t know very well. This technology is
not as new as the driverless car, and in fact we all take it for granted now. It is also very reliable, whereas the
driverless car is still being developed. I think the first photo shows an example of what we may have in the
future, but in the second picture we see someone feeling very relaxed because they are familiar with the
technology. Both these types of technology make life much easier for people. When cars drive themselves,
people will be able to work or sleep in the car, and there will be fewer accidents. However, I think GPS is
especially useful for the emergency services, if they need to find someone who is injured or in danger, it can
save lives.

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

Students A and B
A: So, what do you think of these scientific disciplines? Shall we start with archaeology?
B: Yes, even though archeology is about the past, I think it’s very important that we develop this in the future.
When we look at how people lived in the past, and their successes and failures, it can help us live better in
the present.
A: Yes, I see what you mean, but I think there are other disciplines which will have a greater impact on the
future. For example biology. When people study bacteria, they can learn how to cure diseases, so that is
vital.
B: Yes, that’s true. We can’t live without biology. What about physics? Do you think that is useful for the
future?
A: Well, I’m not an expert and I find physics lessons difficult, but I think it’s important. In fact, it’s the best way
we can learn about the world around us. When we understand small things like atoms, we can start to
understand much bigger things like the entire universe.
B: I agree with you. What do you think about astronomy?
A: I’m not so sure. If we are talking about discovering new stars and planets then it is interesting, but I’m not
sure it will help us in the future.
B: I think you’re right, although perhaps astronomy can help us to understand global warming and the effect
the Sun has on the Earth. In that way it’s very important. Also, some people believe that we might be able
to live on other planets in the future, but I don’t think it’s true. What about geology?
A: Well, I think that might be useful because it can help us to predict natural disasters such as volcano
eruptions and earthquakes. However, there isn’t much we can do to stop these things.
B: Yes, I agree with you. We need to study these things and also come up with technology to avoid them. But
at least if we can predict a disaster, we could try to prevent the negative consequences it would have.
A: Yes, you’re right about that. So which one do you think is the most important?
B: It’s a difficult question, but I think for me biology is the most important one. There are many terrible
diseases and it would be great to find a way to cure them.
A: I agree. Let’s go for that.

Task 3
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 In what ways do you use technology in your everyday life?
I think this is an interesting question because actually I use technology all the time. For example, I use the
alarm on my phone to wake me up in the morning, then I use the phone to check my emails and social

© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)

 END-OF-YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

media. I use my laptop to do my homework and projects for school. I also use it to watch movies and TV.
I use my phone as a watch, to tell me the time, and of course I use it to text my friends and call them
sometimes. I would say that I have technology with me all the time. It’s almost like a part of me.

2 Some people say that computers and the Internet are making us less sociable. Do you agree? Why?/Why
not?
Well, I can understand why people might say that because I think we spend a lot of time nowadays on
computers, tablets and phones. We use them for playing games, chatting and for finding information.
I guess in the past people maybe spent more time talking to each other face-to-face. But on the other
hand, in the past people probably only had a few friends, whereas now you can keep in touch with lots of
people online, and have more friends, so in some ways it’s made us more sociable.

3 In what ways can technology benefit older people?

I think technology can benefit older people in lots of different ways. For example, they can use the Internet
to chat to their family and friends, who might live a long way away. They can also use the Internet to order
things online, so they don’t have to go out to the shops. There are also lots of interesting things you can do
online, like studying or learning about things. My grandmother, for example, loves learning about history,
so she reads a lot online. I think that’s great.

4 Do you think technology reduces or increases stress in people’s daily lives? In what ways?
I think technology can both increase and reduce stress. When it works well, then it definitely makes our
lives easier. For example, if you’re late for a meeting and you’re lost then there are many apps which will
help you find public transport or a good route to where you want to go. But when things go wrong with
technology, it can really raise stress levels. When your computer crashes or your printer won’t work, it’s
very difficult to stay calm.

5 Some parents would like to pull the plug on technology in the home. Do you think this is a good idea?
Why?/Why not?
No, I don’t think this is a good idea. I know that a lot of parents think their children spend too much time on
computers and phones, but I don’t believe that pulling the plug on technology is the best solution. I think
that in families it’s important to make time for each other, to chat or maybe watch a film together, but I
think it’s possible to do this and still use technology too. I think it’s better to live with technology rather
than living without it.

The tasks together are worth 20 marks. Award up to 4 marks for each section of the mark scheme, according
to the descriptions below.
Marks Task Spoken production Spoken Range Accuracy
achievement and fluency interaction
0-1 Completes none Hesitates a lot and Does not engage Uses only very basic Lots of errors
of the task, or does not seem with the listener, vocabulary and even in basic
only a small part confident. Is not and makes very grammar, with a lot language, which
of the task. easy to little effort to of errors. impede
understand. communicate. communication.
2-3 Completes most Speaks with some Engages with the Uses simple Generally
parts of the confidence and is listener to some vocabulary and basic accurate, but
task. comprehensible. extent, and grammar structures with some errors,
Some hesitation, makes an effort accurately. Uses some especially in more
but not enough to to communicate more advanced advanced
impede effectively. Asks vocabulary and language.
communication. questions and grammar structures
responds when with errors.
working in pairs.

© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)

 END-OF-YEAR TEST● ANSWER KEY
Speaking

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

© Pearson 2020 PHOTOCOPIABLE Focus 4 SECOND EDITION (B2/B2+)