Model Answers By Topic
17. Studying
SPEAKING
PART 1
1. Do you work or study?
Currently, I work as a software developer for a tech company. I graduated several years ago.
2. What subject do/ did you study?
I did a computer science degree.
3. Did you enjoy studying it?
Yes, I definitely enjoyed studying it, although at times I felt like the syllabus could have been more practical. It would have been more useful to study the latest types of code and spend less time on theory and maths. It was challenging though. I certainly can’t say I breezed through the course.
4. If you had the chance, would you study something else?
I think I found my calling in computer science, so I don’t want to change fields, but it could help me to brush up on some of the things I learned previously, and there’s always something new to learn in IT too.
5. Do you plan to work in the same field as your subject?
Absolutely, I already work in the field of computer science. To be honest, when I was at university I was hoping to get into game development, and that didn’t happen, but I’m still happy working in my current area.
6. Did you get along with the other students on your course?
Yes, I had pretty good relationships with my coursemates. We had a lot of shared interests so it was easy to make friends. Unfortunately, several of my best friends on the course couldn’t manage the workload and dropped out. We stayed in touch though.
7. Why did you choose your university?
I went for my university because it has a strong reputation in the field of computer science. Importantly, I was able to get a scholarship to study there too as I had passed my school finals with flying colours. That really helped lower the tuition fees.
8. Would you like to do a master’s degree or PhD in the future?
Yes, actually I am thinking about doing a master's degree as it could open doors, especially if I want to emigrate. However, I’m a bit nervous about coping with full time work as well as needing to submit university assignments, especially the dissertation.
Listen to Speaking Part 1 Model Answers:
PART 2
Talk about a subject you studied.
You should say:
what you studied
what the subject is about
and explain why you chose to study it
Model Answer:
My favourite subject at school was history so I’ll tell you about that. This subject is concerned with studying important people and events in the past. The aim of this subject is to better understand the past, but also to practise active reading, critical thinking and research skills. There’s also a lot of memorisation involved, as you have to deal with lots of names and dates.
The history curriculum at my school was quite focused on European and North American history and the syllabus included a lot about British history in particular. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to study Chinese or Asian history, and I never learned much about South America or Russia either.
In fact, I elected to do a history A level, which is the highest level before university in the UK, because
I really enjoyed history, and I had always breezed through history tests in earlier grades. I was also very lucky to have had several excellent history teachers who gave absorbing lectures and interesting assignments, as well as lots of positive feedback. I guess I’m naturally inclined towards the humanities too, and find writing essays much easier than doing algebra or dealing with formulas. What’s more, I can learn dates and facts by heart relatively easily so the subject suited me.
Listen to Speaking Part 2 Model Answers:
PART 3
1. What are the characteristics of a good student?
As I see it, a good student is conscientious, and works hard every day. It’s also important to read as much as possible, and spend a lot of time thinking about your subject. It also depends a bit on the subject being studied. For some subjects critical thinking is really important whereas for others memorisation of facts is more crucial.
2. What are the benefits of getting a university degree?
I guess that the main benefit is that it helps in your career. If you have a degree from a good university it can really help you find a job. And a postgraduate degree like a master’s degree or a PhD can help you get the highest paid jobs, or progress more quickly up the career ladder. Apart from that, higher education teaches you critical thinking skills which can be useful whatever you choose to do later in life.
3. Do you think distance learning is effective?
I’m not convinced that distance learning is as effective as actually attending a university in person. I think it’s easier for students to concentrate when they are on campus, in a lecture theatre, or when they’re in a seminar room with other students and a professor. I think it’s probably harder to stay motivated when learning remotely, so it requires students to be more disciplined and self-motivated. I imagine more students drop out of distance learning courses as a result of this difficulty. Finally, distance learning requires computer skills from the teaching faculty which they may not have. As a result, providing effective online courses can be a big challenge.
4. Are there advantages to studying in another country?
Yes, I’m sure that there are advantages to studying abroad. Students may get the chance to learn another language. It also offers opportunities for cultural experiences you wouldn’t get at home, and gives students a chance to make foreign friends. For example, one of my best friends at university was from France, and I was able to see how his English really improved while he was studying.
5. Should university education be free?
Well, in the UK higher education used to be free, but nowadays it’s not free and students have to pay quite large tuition fees every year. I wish it were still free as I think it would make it easier for students from poorer backgrounds to enrol. A lot of students get help from their parents, but students from poor families have to support themselves. In my opinion, university places should be given to the most able students, not just those who can afford them.
6. How do you think education will change in the future?
I imagine that more and more things will happen online. As internet communication technology improves, it will become easier and easier to learn online. Right now, there are still drawbacks to distance learning, but as virtual reality improves, learning virtually will be more or less the same as learning in a bricks and mortar institution. I guess that means that universities won’t have a big campus anymore. Everything will happen in the virtual world.
Listen to Speaking Part 3 Model Answers:
WRITING
GENERAL TEST WRITING TASK 1
You are currently taking a course at a university but you will need to take a week off. Write a letter to the university Principal.
In your letter:
say what course you are on
explain why you have to take a week off
and say what you would like the Principal to do
Model Answer:
Dear Principal Atkins,
Please could I inform you that I will not be able to attend university lectures and seminars next week. I am an undergraduate student in the second year of the law course, and am currently studying modules on international law and commercial law.
Unfortunately, I need to have an operation urgently. I began to feel ill a few days ago so I visited my doctor who sent me to see a specialist. The specialist found a serious problem and made an appointment for surgery next Monday. Following the operation, I am going to need several days to recover.
Please could you make the faculty members running my course aware that it won’t be possible for me to attend their lectures next week, and if possible, could they send me any materials and lecture notes for the lectures I will miss. In addition, I would appreciate an extension on the assignments due to be submitted at the end of next week, as I will be incapacitated and unable to work on them during this period.
Thank-you for your help and understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Christina Lacalle
WRITING TASK 2
Model Answer:
While in some countries higher education is extremely costly for students, in others education at universities is heavily subsidised by the state or even free to those who study. In my view, high tuition fees unfairly disadvantage the poor and although public funding for universities can lead to problems, governments must find a way to make it accessible to more people.
To begin with, a university education opens many doors, and restricting access to the wealthy through high fees unfairly holds back the poor. Due to high fees, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds may not be able to study at all, and if they do, are more likely to drop out because of the financial pressures. Without a degree, they will not be able to enter certain fields of work, nor climb the career ladder so quickly. This will have a significant negative effect on social mobility. Furthermore, limiting access to higher education could result in a shortage of professionals with the critical thinking skills or knowledge that can drive economic growth. A good example of this is the lack of qualified IT specialists in many countries. It would therefore benefit a country’s economy to make higher education possible for as many of its citizens as possible.
On the other hand, providing high quality and free education to everyone can place a large burden on the government. Free education will lead to a large number of students, which means large funding requirements. If the country is very wealthy, this may not be a problem, but if not, universities may suffer from underfunding. This can be seen in Argentina, where state universities offering free education often lack the funds they need to maintain top level facilities while adequately paying staff and the teaching faculty. Nonetheless, it may be possible to balance government and private funding. For instance, the state could offer scholarships to students who pass their school finals with flying colours. In this way, access to higher education would be ensured for the best students, no matter their financial situation.
To conclude, it is highly beneficial for a society to ensure that all members of society have the chance to access higher education. This promotes social mobility and increases the pool of skilled professionals in the economy. However, we must recognise the financial constraints some governments face and perhaps offering help to talented students rather than fully funding higher education for all is the answer.
In some countries university education is provided free of charge to students while in others students are required to pay large fees.
In your opinion, is it better to charge students for higher education?
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
assignment (noun [c]):
Definition: A task or project given by a teacher or employer to complete within a certain time frame.
Example: My English teacher gave us an assignment to write a five-page essay on our favourite book.
breeze through (phrasal verb):
Definition: To complete something easily or effortlessly.
Example: She breezed through the maths exam in record time.
brush up on (phrasal verb):
Definition: To review or refresh one's knowledge or skills in a particular subject.
Example: I need to brush up on my Spanish before our trip to Mexico.
calling (noun [c]):
Definition: A strong feeling of personal conviction or passion towards a particular career or path in life.
Example: After volunteering in a hospital, she realised that helping people was her true calling.
campus (noun [c]):
Definition: The grounds and buildings of a university, college, or school.
Example: The university has a beautiful campus with lots of green spaces.
critical thinking (noun phrase):
Definition: The ability to analyse information and evaluate ideas in a logical and thoughtful way.
Example: In science class, we use critical thinking skills to analyse data and draw conclusions from experiments.
dissertation (noun [c]):
Definition: A long written work, often required for a higher degree.
Example: She spent months researching and writing her dissertation on ancient Roman architecture.
drop out (phrasal verb):
Definition: To leave a course or program of study before completing it.
Example: Unfortunately, he decided to drop out of college after just one semester.
enrol (verb):
Definition: To officially register or join a course or program of study.
Example: I plan to enrol in the photography course next semester.
faculty (noun [c]):
Definition: The teaching staff of a school, college, or university.
Example: The faculty members at the university are highly respected in their fields.
finals (noun [pl]):
Definition: The last set of examinations or assessments at the end of a term or academic year.
Example: The finals are next week, so I need to study.
higher education (noun phrase):
Definition: Education beyond high school, typically provided by universities.
Example: Pursuing higher education can open up many career opportunities.
learn by heart (idiom):
Definition: To memorise something thoroughly.
Example: She learned the poem by heart and recited it flawlessly.
memorisation (noun [u]):
Definition: The process of learning and retaining information in one's memory.
Example: Acting involves the memorisation of lines.
open doors (idiom):
Definition: To create opportunities or provide access to new possibilities.
Example: Pursuing higher education can open doors to new career paths and opportunities for personal growth.
pass with flying colours (idiom):
Definition: To pass a test or examination with a very high score or outstanding performance.
Example: She studied hard and passed the test with flying colours.
scholarship (noun [c]):
Definition: Financial aid or grant awarded to a student for academic achievement or other criteria.
Example: She was awarded a scholarship based on her excellent exam results.
submit (verb):
Definition: To hand in or give something for evaluation or consideration.
Example: Please submit your assignment by the end of the week.
syllabus (noun [c]):
Definition: An outline or summary of the topics and assignments covered in a course.
Example: The teacher gave us a syllabus that lists all the books we need to read, and assignments which we will have this year.
tuition (noun [u]):
Definition: Teaching, especially in one to one classes or at universities.
Example: The quality of the tuition is very high at this university.
