SECTION A: LISTENING (5.

0 points)
Part 1: For questions from 1-5, listen to a piece of news about the reasons why some World
Heritage sites are at risk, and decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F)
or Not Given (NG). Write T, F or NG in the corresponding numbered boxes. (1.0 point)
1. NG 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. NG

Part 2. You will hear a marine wildlife photographer called Bruce Hind talking about his work.
Answer the questions with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for
each question. (1.0 point)
6. forward planning 7. the appropriate equipment
8. official permission 9. sudden storms
10. plastic food container

Part 3. For questions 11–15, you will hear two sports commentators called Heidi Stokes and
Rob Aslett taking part in a discussion on the subject of gyms. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D)
which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes. (1.0 point)
11. C 12. A 13. C 14. D 15. B
Part 4: For question 16-25 you will hear a piece of news on gun violence in the USA. Listen to
the recording and complete the following sentences. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
taken from the recording for each blank. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes. (2.0 points)
16. tougher gun laws 17. two people dead
18. gun ownership 19. gun restrictions
20. outrage 21. assault rifles
22. criminal penalties 23. advanced school security
24. law-biding citizens 25. mental health problem

SECTION B: LEXICO – GRAMMAR (3.0 points)

Part I. Choose the correct answer to complete each of the sentences. Write A, B, C or D in the
corresponding numbered boxes. (2.0 points)
1. C 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. D
6. B 7. D 8. D 9. B 10. D
11. D 12. C 13. A 14. B 15. D
16. B 17. D 18. A 19. B 20. D
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1. C. code - code: a set of rules, or principles that tell people how to behave
Code of conduct/ behavior/ ethics/ practice
A dress code
2. D. a blessing in disguise a blessing in disguise: sth that seems to be bad or unlucky at first,
but which you later realize is good or lucky
3. B. qualms Qualm (n) (usually plural): a feeling of slight worry or doubt
because you are not sure that what you are doing is right.
4. C. languishing Languish # flourish
5. D. beans Spill the beans: tell sth that someone else wanted you to keep a secret.
6. B. wind Wind sth down: to gradually reduce the work of a business or
organization so that it can be closed down completely
7. D. in the pecking order pecking order: a social system within a group of people or animals
in which each member knows who has a higher or lower rank than
themselves
8. D. puppy Puppy fat: fat on a child’s body that disappears as they get older
9. B. paper Paper over the cracks: to try to hide disagreements or difficulties
10. D. unfettered Unfettered (adj): not restricted by laws or rules
11. D. wears the trousers wears the trousers/ pants = to be the person in a family who makes
decisions
12. C. done the rounds Do/ make/ go the rounds = be passed on from one person to …
13. A. abode the right of abode = the right to live in a country
14. B. stiff Scared stiff = extremely frightened
15. D. sniped at Snipe at sb = criticize sb in a nasty way
16. B. surgically enhanced
celebrities
17. D. grow out of If someone grows out of sth, they stop doing it as they get older
18. A. in that
19. B. wits’ Be at your wits’ end: to be very upset and not know what to do, because
you have tried everything possible to solve a problem
20. D. intellectually

Part II. Give the correct form of the words in brackets. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (1.0 point)
1. uphill 2. assimilated

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3. outsider 4. dispirited
5. downmarket 6. engulfed
7. ennoble 8. forebears
9. fortuitous 10. water-borne

SECTION C: READING COMPREHENSION (7.0 points)

Part I. Read the following passage and fill in each blank with ONE suitable word. (2.0 points)
1. occupied/ covered 2. though 3. where 4. minimal 5. extreme
6. from 7. managed 8. cycles 9. make 10. drought-resistant

Part II. Read the following passage and choose the best answers to the questions. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (2.0 points)
1. A 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. B 6. D 7. A 8. C 9. A 10. B

Part III. In the passage below, five paragraphs have been removed. For questions 1-5, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-F the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
box provided. (1.0 point)
1. D 2. C 3. F 4. A 5. E

Part IV. Read the following passage and answer the questions from 1 to 10. (1.0 point)
1. viii 2. iv 3. ix 4. vi 5. x
6. NG 7. No 8. Yes 9. NG 10. Y

Part V. You are going to read an article about the design of new stations on the London
Underground railway system. For questions 1-10, choose from the sections of the article (A-D).
The sections may be chosen more than once. (1.0 point)
1. C 2.B 3.E 4.B 5.E
6.E 7.D 8.A 9.D 10.A

SECTION D: WRITING (3.0 points)

Write an essay of about 300 words on the following topic:
Some educators believe that competency-based test paper used for university entrance in Vietnam
may place more pressure on students, whereas other argue that it can motivate students to develop
their full potential.

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Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Contents (2.5 points)
- Introduction is presented with clear thesis statement (0,25 point)
- Body paragraphs (2 points): They are written with unity, coherence and cohesion. Each body
paragraph must have a topic sentence and supporting details and example when necessary (1 point for
each paragraph)
- Conclusion: 0,25
SUGGESTED IDEAS
More pressure caused by competency-based test paper
+ the amount of knowledge, 6 subjects instead of three as usual
+ cramming for test
+ setting high target (beyond Ss’ ability)

Motivation to develop students’ full potential

+ ensure quality as it depends on comprehensive assessment
+ encourage students to study hard
+ allow students to independently take the test when they are ready
Language use: Punctuation, spelling and handwriting (0.5)
 Demonstrate a variety of topic-related vocabulary
 Excellent use and control of grammatical structures
 Correct punctuation and no spelling mistakes
 Legible handwriting

THE END.

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