Training test 1 – Writing part 1 (Answer key)

Focus: Understanding the task

Exercise 1
You should ask yourselves these questions whenever you begin a Part 1 task in the Cambridge
exam.
Answers in this case (task 1 on page 30):
2 a day out at the seaside
3 they comment on various points in the email
4 an email in reply
5 about 100

Exercise 2
1b 2a 3f 4e 5c 6g 7d

Exercise 3

This is just an ideas stage, so you don’t need to write full sentences yet. You can make brief notes
if you wish, as the ones below:

1 can’t wait, looking forward to

2 not able to, could…?
3 not keen on, would rather/prefer
4 how about, let’s, why don’t

Exercise 4

You will need to refer to days and times in the test. Remember to use the correct prepositions of
time.

1 at 2 in 3 in 4 on 5 at 6 In 7 on 8 at

Exercise 5

!! The email task will often include making suggestions. Suggestions often start with “Why don’t
you/we (go)…?”, “How about (going)…?”, “Let’s (go)…”.
 Answers could be, for example, “Yes, that’s a good idea”, or if you don’t like the idea: “I think
I’d prefer to… / I’d rather…”.

1 Why don’t we 2 How about 3 Let’s 4 Let’s

Exercise 6
Sample answers (there are other answers possible, of course).
2 Why don’t you take off your jumper?
3 Let’s go for a bike ride! / Let’s play tennis!
4 Why don’t we go indoors until the rain stops?
5 How about asking somebody?

Exam Practice
Please, those who haven’t yet, hand me in your emails in the next class.
Training test 1 – Writing part 2 (Answer key)

Focus: Understanding the task

Exercise 1
1 an article
2 the publishers of/the people who run a website
3 learning and the internet
4 about 100

Exercise 2
1 Yes – he’s mentioned that he thinks the internet is the best place to find things, talks about his
parents using the internet and mentions both the library and teachers as other ways of finding
information. He’s expressed his opinions and given examples correctly. He could improve his
answer by giving reasons why the internet is best – you can find lots of different information very
quickly, you can do your research from home, etc.
2 for instance, such as, like
3 In my opinion, I don’t believe, in my experience (keen on is used about someone else’s opinion).
4 A lot of the vocabulary in the answer is taken from the question itself and is repeated frequently.
He needs to use a wider range of vocabulary.

Exercise 3
In the exam, you may get better marks if you use your own words in your article, rather than copy
those in the question.

1 try to find 5 goes online

2 teenagers 6 details
3 searching for 7 find out about
4 make 8 willing

 Try to use all these words and phrases when you write your article.

Exercise 4
1 for 2 as 3 like 4 instance

Exercise 6
1 interested in 5 In my opinion
2 love 6 Personally, I think
3 hate 7 That’s true
4 To be honest 8 Suppose