Model Answers By Topic
10. Hopes & Dreams
SPEAKING
PART 1
1. Where would you most like to live?
I’m still young so I would prefer to live in a vibrant and lively city with lots of cultural events and nightlife.
2. Would you like to have a large house?
Having a large house is not a top priority for me at this stage in life, as I prefer to focus on building my career, and enjoying my social life. So, it makes more sense to live in an apartment nearer the city centre. I might want one in the future though, when I start a family.
3. What is your ideal job?
One of my main aspirations is to move abroad so I’d love to be able to work remotely and travel as I work. I’d also jump at the chance to work in an English speaking country so I could perfect my English skills.
4. Do you want to earn a lot of money in the future?
Of course, who wouldn’t want to? But, it’s not the only important factor in job satisfaction. I also prioritise finding a job that really interests me, and ideally has a positive impact on the world too.
5. Would you like to work abroad?
Working abroad would be really exciting, and I think it would give me the chance to develop both my career and personally. However, I realise there would be some sacrifices too, such as being away from family and friends for a long time.
6. What would you most like to do on holiday?
Well, some of the places on my bucket list are Bali, Peru, Costa Rica, and Japan. I’d be thrilled to spend some time in any of these destinations.
7. Would you like to travel first class on a plane?
I’ve never set myself the goal and to be honest it seems like a waste of money. I’d rather travel business class and save my money for more important things.
8. What would you do if you were given a large amount of money by a relative?
If I was lucky enough to receive or inherit a large amount of money from a relative, I think I’d invest it, either in property or in the stock market, depending on how much money it was.
Listen to Speaking Part 1 Model Answers:
PART 2
Describe an aim or goal that you hope to achieve in the future.
You should say
what the aim is
when you hope to achieve it
what you need to do to reach your goal
and why this goal is important to you
Model Answer:
My major goal right now is to get a visa and emigrate to Canada. My vision for the future is living in Canada, finding a well paid job and making a life there. I have always been drawn to Canada and I hope to get there in the next few years, ideally before I’m 30.
It’s going to be a struggle to do this, and I realise that I’ll need to make some sacrifices. Firstly, I’ve got to perfect my English skills. My field of work involves a lot of communication, so excellent language skills are crucial. Secondly, I need to keep on developing my professional skills, as I’ll have more chances of finding a good job over there if I’m highly qualified.
I’ve been chasing this dream for several years now. I first set my mind on moving to Canada when I stayed there as part of my school language programme. I really liked the positive mindset of people over there and the outdoor culture really appeals to me too. I hope my dream comes true!
Listen to Speaking Part 2 Model Answers:
PART 3
1. Do you think it's important to have dreams?
Yes, I believe it is. Dreams provide us with a sense of purpose and drive in life. They give us something to strive for and help us set goals. If you have something to aim for, you can work harder, be more creative, and take risks to achieve what you desire. All in all, they’re very important for giving us the drive and motivation to do more in life and achieve bigger goals.
2. Why do some people dream about having a huge house?
I think there are several reasons why people chase this dream. Firstly, owning a large house is often associated with financial success - it can symbolise achievement and status in society. Secondly, a big house offers more space and can provide a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle for the whole family and even visiting relatives and friends. Finally, some people may also value the privacy that a large house can provide.
3. What makes some people successful?
I think, firstly, having clear goals and a strong sense of purpose plays a significant role. If you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, it really helps. Secondly, hard work, dedication, and perseverance are crucial because success often requires making an effort over a long period of time, and overcoming many obstacles along the way. A positive mindset, resilience, and the ability to learn from failures are vital to this too.
4. Does money make people happy?
I think money can really help. Not only does money provide security and help you overcome difficulties in life, but it gives you the chance to enjoy many nice luxuries too. However, once you’re wealthy, I don’t think extra money makes you happier. Other factors such as relationships, health, and personal fulfilment become much more important. That’s why you should never sacrifice your friends, family or passions in order to get rich.
5. Why do some people love to travel?
People have different motivations for loving to travel. Some people love it because it allows them to explore and experience new cultures, traditions, and perspectives. It allows them to broaden their horizons and see how people in other places live. For others, travel offers a chance to disconnect from their stressful daily lives and unwind. Some people love nothing better than to sunbathe on a tropical beach and totally unplug.
6. What are the advantages of working abroad?
Working abroad has several different advantages. On the one hand, international experience looks great on your resume. It shows you know how to handle working in different cultures and work environments. It means you probably have good communication skills, and can overcome challenges and obstacles. On the other hand, working abroad gives people an opportunity for personal growth. You can expand your horizons, experience different ways of life and build connections with people you would otherwise never meet.
Listen to Speaking Part 3 Model Answers:
WRITING
GENERAL TEST WRITING TASK 1
Your college has a programme for a small number of students to study abroad for a year. Write a letter to the programme organiser to express your interest in participating.
In your letter you should:
say why you want to study abroad
describe some of the difficulties you will face and how you will deal with them
and express your thanks for considering your application
Model Answer:
Dear Mr McElliot,
I am writing to express my keen interest in participating in the study abroad programme offered by our college.
Studying abroad has been an aspiration of mine for many years. I believe it offers a fantastic opportunity for both personal and academic growth. In fact, I prioritised learning a foreign language in order to make this dream come true.
I understand that there will be several obstacles involved in living and studying abroad. I will need to adapt to a different culture, with different expectations and norms, as well as handle studying in a foreign language. Nevertheless, I’m confident I can cope with these difficulties thanks to my positive mindset, and due to being strongly driven to make the most of the opportunity.
I would like to express my gratitude for considering my application for this programme. I am excited to make the most of this experience and to positively represent our college abroad.
I eagerly await further information regarding the application process.
Sincerely,
Chris Mackleson
WRITING TASK 2
Model Answer:
While some people make a lot of effort to realise their dreams, others are satisfied with their present situation. I strongly believe that setting big goals and having aspirations is an important part of a fulfilling life. Having a dream motivates us to work harder and if we can achieve them, we feel a great sense of satisfaction.
Dreams give us the motivation and drive that push us to be more successful. They give us something to set our minds on, and encourage a person to strive to achieve his or her goals. As a result of this dedication, a person is much more likely to enjoy eventual success. Furthermore, having a dream helps us to maintain a positive mindset, which allows us to overcome greater challenges and obstacles. For example, many great entrepreneurs were able to deal with repeated business failures because they set a goal and then stayed focused on it. Their dreams gave them the strength they needed to persevere and get through the hard times.
In addition, while chasing dreams involves sacrifice, achieving dreams is ultimately very fulfilling. To make a dream come true, a person often has to give up a lot of their free time, and make sacrifices in their personal lives. For instance, successful business people like Elon Musk, Bill Gates or Jack Ma famously work extremely long hours and have little time left over for other hobbies or activities. However, achieving their visions and making their dreams a reality, no doubt gives them a deep sense of achievement. I believe that this feeling of accomplishment is an important ingredient in contentment and satisfaction in life.
To summarise, although striving to make dreams come true can involve giving up other passions and interests, it will likely lead to greater success in life and a deeper feeling of achievement and contentment. Chasing our dreams should therefore be encouraged.
Some people work very hard to make their dreams come true, while others are happy with what they already have.
Do you think people should chase their dreams?
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
appeal (verb):
Definition: Something that makes people like or want something.
Example: The colourful toys had a strong appeal to the kids.
aspiration (noun [c]):
Definition: A strong desire or hope to achieve something.
Example: Her aspiration is to become a successful entrepreneur.
bucket list (noun [c]):
Definition: A list of experiences or achievements that a person wishes to have during their lifetime.
Example: Skydiving is on my bucket list of things to do before I die.
chase a dream (verb phrase):
Definition: To try to achieve a very big personal goal.
Example: He decided to chase his dreams and left his job to start up his own business.
dedication (noun [u]):
Definition: Being committed and putting in effort to reach a goal.
Example: The athlete's dedication to daily training paid off with a gold medal.
draw (verb):
Definition: To attract or make someone interested in something or someone.
Example: The beautiful artwork drew people's attention at the gallery.
drive (noun [u]):
Definition: The push that makes you work hard and get things done.
Example: She was driven to become CEO.
ideally (adverb):
Definition: How things would be just right, in a perfect world.
Example: Ideally, we'd have sunny weather for our picnic.
make a dream come true (verb phrase):
Definition: To turn your hopes and wishes into something that you can actually do or have.
Example: With determination and hard work, you can make your dream of becoming a published author come true.
motivation (noun [u]):
Definition: The reason that makes you want to do something.
Example: The thought of winning the game was his motivation to practise every day.
obstacle (noun [c]):
Definition: Something that gets in the way or causes difficulty.
Example: The heavy traffic was a major obstacle on his way to work.
perfect (verb):
Definition: To try to improve your performance to the point where you make no mistakes.
Example: He worked hard to perfect his negotiation skills.
positive mindset (noun phrase):
Definition: Thinking optimistically and focusing on solutions.
Example: Having a positive mindset helps you see opportunities in challenges.
prioritise (verb):
Definition: To choose something as the most important or urgent thing to focus on or achieve.
Example: He prioritised success in his career over everything else in his life.
sacrifice (noun [c]):
Definition: Refers to giving up something valuable or important in order to achieve a greater goal or benefit.
Example: Many athletes sacrifice their personal time and social life in order to train and compete at a high level.
set a goal (verb phrase):
Definition: To decide what you want to achieve.
Example: She set a goal to read ten books this summer.
set your mind on sth. (idiom):
Definition: To really focus on one thing and want it a lot.
Example: He set his mind on becoming a chef and practised cooking every chance he got.
strive (verb):
Definition: Working hard and making an effort to achieve something.
Example: She will strive to improve her grades by studying harder.
struggle (noun [c]):
Definition: A difficult or challenging experience.
Example: It was a struggle to overcome the language barrier while studying abroad.
vision (noun [u]):
Definition: An idea or image of something that you want to achieve in the future.
Example: The company's vision is to create an affordable electric vehicle.
