UNIT 2 READING TEST

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________

Read the essay. Then answer the questions.

A comparison of part-time and full-time study

1
Why would somebody choose to study part-time? At school, most pupils who plan to go on to study at university
expect that they will do so full-time. The number of people studying full-time is rising fast all over the world, as
most students seem to consider it the best option. In many countries, however, part-time university education is
also increasing. It is a better option for many people who want to go to work during the day and then go to
university in the evening. For some people, part-time study may be a more attractive way to attend university, or
it may simply be the only way that works for them.
2
Full-time and part-time students do not have the same experience of university life. The most obvious difference
is that part-time students spend a lower number of hours per week at university. This may be because they have
already started working and do not want to give up their job, or because they have other responsibilities that
take up much of their time. While they will spend less time per week studying, their degree will clearly take more
years to achieve. In addition, working during the day and studying in the evening can be exhausting and requires
a high level of motivation. Compared with young high school graduates, part-time students are likely to be older,
have more life experience and have a clearer idea of what they want to study and why. For many young students
who are just finishing secondary school, it can be harder to have clear ambitions when they start university.
3
Of course, full-time and part-time study are the same in many ways, too. Part-time students who actually go to a
university will meet lecturers, tutors and other students in the same way as full-time learners do. They may not
be able to spend as much time with other students, but they still experience the benefits of finding friends with
common academic interests. Similarly, the face-to-face contact that part-time students have with tutors will be
the same quality as it is for full-time ones. For part-time students who choose ‘distance learning’, this contact can
also happen through an online university, but the experience will be slightly different.
4
Overall, it is fair to say that the benefits of part-time study compared with full-time study are equal, although a
part-time student’s timetable might look very different to a full-time student’s. Whether a student chooses one
or the other will probably depend on his or her own life circumstances and their financial situation. Older
students who have already started their working life are more likely to study part-time, even if some may actually
prefer the idea of being free to study all the time. People have to do what works best for them. Nowadays, many
younger students could also benefit from starting to work and study at the same time. However, they really need
to consider how challenging this option can be.

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PART A KEY SKILL
MAKING INFERENCES
1 Read the essay. Circle the correct answers.
1 Paragraph 2 refers to ‘other responsibilities’ that a person might have. What could they be?
a A person might have children or other people who need their care.
b A person might have a hobby that they spend time doing.
2 Why is it harder for young people to have clear ambitions? (paragraph 2)
a Their brains are not yet fully developed, and it is hard for them to make plans.
b They don’t have as much experience of life outside of school and may not know what they will enjoy doing.
3 What do you think the writer means by ‘the benefits of finding friends with common academic interests’? (paragraph 3)
a The friends will be able to plan weekends or holidays together.
b The friends can chat about their subjects, which is enjoyable and helpful for their studies.
4 How would a person’s financial situation influence their decision on whether to study full-time or part-time ? (paragraph 4)
a A person may study part-time if they need to earn money to pay for their studies.
b A rich person may decide that studying full-time does not give them enough time for fun.

PART B ADDITIONAL SKILLS

READING FOR MAIN IDEAS
2 Read the essay again. Match the paragraphs (1–4) to the descriptions (a–d).
1 Paragraph 1 a Similarities between full-time and part-time study
2 Paragraph 2 b Differences between full-time and part-time study
3 Paragraph 3 c General summary and conclusions
4 Paragraph 4 d Reasons for choosing a way to study

READING FOR DETAIL

3 Are the statements about full-time study, part-time study or both? Tick the correct column.
full-time part-time both
1 More people are getting this type of education, almost everywhere.
2 This type of education is not increasing in all countries.
3 People who choose this option might be older.
4 Students will usually need more than three years to get their degree.
5 Students will get to know lecturers, tutors and many other students.
6 Many people who choose this option don’t have the chance to study
in the way they would most enjoy.

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UNIT2 3LANGUAGE
UNIT LANGUAGE TEST
TEST

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________

PART A KEY VOCABULARY

1 Complete the text with the correct form of the words in the box.

concrete discipline evolve gender gap launch oriented pursue under-represented

Obviously, many students would like to ____________ their studies at a top university. They know it will be easier to
(1)

____________ a successful career after studying their chosen ____________ at a university with an excellent
(2) (3)

reputation. However, low-income students are still ____________ at the world’s best education institutions. Many
(4)

universities have taken ____________ action to try to correct this, for example, by financing low-income students who
(5)

achieve excellent exam results at school. They have also tried to close the ____________ by actively looking for
(6)

talented girls to attend courses in universities that are more ____________ towards science. As education
(7)

____________ , it will be interesting to see if we can offer a place to all the people who could become excellent
(8)

students at these top universities.

2 Complete the sentences with a word from box A and a word from box B.

A core credible distance modern online significant technological virtual

B advances alternative classroom degree difference learning phenomenon principles

1 Studying for a(n) ____________ ____________ gives you the flexibility to complete your coursework in the evenings or
at weekends.
2 It is now possible to attend classes at home using a ____________ ____________ rather than travelling to a school or
university.
3 This is a(n) ____________ ____________ , and more traditional teachers often prefer the old ways of learning.
4 ____________ ____________ was possible even before we had the internet, using telephones and post, but it is much
easier now that we can communicate online.
5 ____________ ____________ , especially in the field of communication, have opened up new education possibilities.
6 I don’t think that there is a(n) ____________ ____________ between what you can learn online and what you can learn
face to face.
7 The ____________ ____________ of online and traditional universities are the same.
8 What I want is a(n) ____________ ____________ to a traditional degree, which is valued in the same way.

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PART B LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION VOCABULARY
3 Match the words in the box to the definitions. There are three extra words.

assignment degree dissertation examination journal lecturer

plagiarism semester seminar term tutor

1 one part of an academic year, when it is divided into two: ____________
2 one part of an academic year, when it is divided into three: ____________
3 a written task, usually an essay, which a student must hand in: ____________
4 using text from a source as if it were your own work: ____________
5 a teacher at a university: ____________
6 someone who teaches one person or a very small group of people: ____________
7 a collection of research papers read by other students and lecturers: ____________
8 a very long essay on one subject: ____________

ACADEMIC WORDS
4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in the box.

alternative aspect establishment motivation principle specific

1 The ____________ of a university in my town would be a very positive development.

2 It’s hard to find the ____________ to study hard if you don’t love your subject.
3 Meeting people with the same academic interests as you is one positive ____________ of going to university.
4 You need to learn a lot of detail at university and also understand the key ____________ of your discipline.
5 It is hard for teachers with large classes to understand each student’s ____________ needs.
6 There are plenty of things you can do after leaving school as a(n) ____________ to studying at a university.

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UNIT 2 WRITING TEST

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________________

PART A GRAMMAR FOR WRITING

TRANSITIONS TO SHOW COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
1 Circle the correct answer.
1 Studying at university can be even harder work than learning at high school. In the same way / On the other hand, you
have more freedom to decide when and how you study.
2 School friends often remain important to each other as they get older. Likewise / However, people you meet at university
can become good friends for life.
3 Tutors help individual students. Similarly / Conversely, lectures usually speak to large groups of students who they may
not know personally.
4 Students need days or sometimes weeks to complete written assignments. In the same way / In contrast, they have to be
able to write an essay very quickly in an examination.

ADVERB CLAUSES OF CONTRAST

2 Put the words in order to make a sentence.
1 university / travel / students / whereas / at a virtual / at home, / Students / university / can study / at a traditional /
may need to / every day
________________________________________________________________________________
2 students / while / have one / usually / students / have / Full-time / don’t / a job, / part-time / often
________________________________________________________________________________
3 divided into / a university year / three terms, / divided into / Whereas / is often / two / a school year / is usually /
semesters
________________________________________________________________________________
4 very / a / or long, / essay / long / is / short / dissertation / An / can be / always / whereas
________________________________________________________________________________
5 STEM subjects / more / languages, / want / men / While / to study / still attract / many women
________________________________________________________________________________
6 leads to / whereas / career path / could / studying Medicine / types of job, / Studying History / for different / prepare you /
a clearer
________________________________________________________________________________

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