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writings

ARTICLE

Task Type: Article

Question
You have been asked to write an article for Job Prospects magazine, a publication for 18-30 year olds, on the
following topic:

How taking a gap year*can enhance your career prospects.

*A gap year is a break usually taken between leaving school/college and starting
university, and is seen as a valuable way to gain work experience and life skills.

You should focus on the types of job and leisure opportunities for young people taking a gap year in your country
(or a country that you know well), the types of skills that can be gained and the likely value of these to potential
employers.
Write the article for the readers of the magazine. (around 280 - 320 words)

Makeover: Mathieu
Read Mathieu's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking
codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready,
click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Taking a gap year: a personal experience and a career accelerator?

The trend of taking a gap year out from your current job or studies has vastly
grownWW/WO since the 1990s. How come that more and more people make the leap:
what jobs do they go for and what benefits do they reap?

Waiters or cashiers in fast-food restaurants are common jobs picked for a gap year. It
is a real opportunity to gain customer-facing experience, to learn to work under
pressure and of course to save money for future projects. A young and a flexible
workforce appeals to employers which T, WW expect a high turnover in that sort of job.
The experience can prove hard though, as working conditions including a sustained
pace and regular late shifts may be poor. Eventually, the range of skills developed will
certainly help you to stand out when applying for jobs in the service industry.

Volunteering for a charity, hospital or care home is another option for those looking for
a more compassionate experience. It can be personally very rewarding as you may
learn a great deal about yourself in helping others in need. If you intend to pursue a
career in healthcare, it is also a real way of demonstrating your motivation when
applying to school or university. The drawback is on the financial side since
volunteering work is by definition not paid.

If a thirst for adventure is close to your heart, you might want to consider travelling. It
doesnt have to be far, we sometimes forget the travel experience can be right on
your doorstep so it fits the bill for tight budgets. Going for an abroad option means an
extra financial effort but you can get to know a different country, meet different
people, improve your language skills and also more broadly learn how to get by in life.
And most recruiters certainly appreciate candidates able to speak a foreign
language.

All options have their pro and cons, but at WW the end the best advisor is
unmistakably yourself. Ultimately, you probably wont regret taking a gap year simply
because you will not only enhance your CV but also gain maturity and many other
useful life skills.

Task Type: Report

Question
Your local community group is interested in the views that local people hold about crime in your area. You have
been asked to write a report for the chairman of the community group. You should address the following points:

What crimes are the most worrying for young people?

What steps can be taken to make young people feel less afraid?

Write your report for the chairman. (around 280 - 320 words)

Makeover: Kate
Read Kate's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking
codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready,
click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Maryland Heights Crime Situation

As requested, this is a report about crime rates in Maryland Heights and young
people's attitude to the problem. 200 young people aged 18-25 were asked to share
their opinion on the current crime situation. The results of the survey are presented
below together with recommendations on how to solve existing problems.

Mugging and assault

Physical violence is the most frequent crime being committed in the area. 20% of
those questioned reported having been either assaulted or mugged. Young people
complain of certain areas to be WF particularly dangerous due to the absence of
proper lighting and reliable security. Therefore, it is advised that additional street
lamps and surveillance cameras should be installed and police patrolling the streets
should be organized.

Drug dealing and gangs

Another problem that the community is facing is that of drug dealing. It is rooted most
likely in the gang activity in the town. The members of the gang choose their targets
among schoolchildren and students 10% of the latter confirmed either being offered
drugs or having seen others being offered (/\) WM To stop it, we suggest monitoring
the gang more closely and making arrests whenever drug dealing is suspected to
take WF place. Besides (/\) WM creating comfortable conditions for people to be able to
report drug dealing safely and anonymously could also help in eradicating the danger.
Conclusion

The survey showed that on the whole young people are reluctant to consider the area
safe, which means that high crime rates and their causes should be investigated
further for more sufficient details. Meanwhile, (/\) WM safety measures suggested
above could be implemented to change the situation for the better as quickly as
possible. We hope that this report will receive your serious consideration and
necessary steps will be taken in the near future.

Writing Class: Review

Task Type: Review

Question
A magazine that you subscribe to is interested in reader reviews based on the following topic:

"What websites could you not live without?"

Write a detailed review of two or three websites that you use on a regular basis. You should explain the reasons
why you visit the websites and comment on what you like (and dislike) about them.

Write the review for the magazine editor. (around 280 - 320 words)

Makeover: Irina
Read Irina's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking
codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready,
click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Time management is one of my priorities. Sometimes I have to try hard

to save time for just a quiet evening with a good book. I dont like
traditional shopping very much, for me its generally a waste of time
and a fight with vendors who try to impose something on you. Thank
goodness we have such life-hack websites as Ozon.ru and Bonprix.

Ozon used to be an Internet bookstore, but now its more of a mega

mall where you can buy almost everything. Apart from books, CDs and
DVDs there are shoes, clothes, cosmetics, food and whatnot. When I
needed a new drill and a screwdriver, they delivered them to my door
for free, because I am a loyal customer. A week ago I bought a healthy
snack bar in the gym, which was quite expensive, but then I found the
same kind T, WW on Ozon.ru. It was a real bargain and I bought two
boxes! Once I took a risk and bought an item of clothing - the result was
perfect. The shirt fitted, the colour suited, and I decided to take the
next step.

Bonprix is the website for clothes shopping. Some might consider

buying clothes online too strange, but I can assure (/\) WM - you just
need some experience. For me, the problem was to find plain, basic
clothes. The necessity to deal with vendors who are not much
interested in your needs made me sick, and I took the plunge. Now I just
go to (/\) WM Bonprix website, browse and pick. Sizes are correct most of
thetimes WF but you can always return or exchange a piece of clothing if
something is wrong. I myself never tried WT to do so though, didnt have
to WT

Both the websites provide a delivery to a PickPoint postal machine.

Those machines are everywhere, and you can collect your order when
convenient. So, I would encourage everyone to use those two websites.

Feedback
A very well-written review which answered the question fully and was written in very natural, advanced English.
The tone is suitably neutral. You could have considered using more in the way of contractions to create an
informal tone, but this is a matter of choice rather than a problem. Most of the suggestions I have made are just
that: suggestions. There were very few mistakes as such. Well done!

Writing Class: Article

Task Type: Article

Question
A newspaper that you read regularly is conducting a campaign to encourage schools to teach more relevant
subjects, or 'life' skills. Its editor has asked readers to write short articles based on the following question:

What essential topics do you wish had been included in the school
curriculum when you were a pupil?

Write the article or the editor of the newspaper. (around 280 - 320 words)

Makeover: Jenny
Read Jenny's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking
codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready,
click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.
Back in the day when I was in high school the curriculum was clear cut;
it ranged from languages to economics and mathmatics S with some
sport activities in the middle. All were supposed to prepare you for
what was to come after graduation; grown up life. But did they really?
Who of you was truly ready for social interaction or handling their
personal finance, not me I can tell you! No, if I would have had WF a say
in it, the subjects under discussion in the classroom they - would have
been much closer to life.

One thing I was not prepared for but which proved to be a vital part of
my entire adult life was how to handle my personal finance. Some bits
and pieces were touched upon during economics class but none of the
teachers really explained the pitfalls of abankloan WF or a credit card,
how to balance income and expenses each month and what the effect
of a variable interest rate is on your morgage S .

Another worldly subject which schools should spend more time on is

social interaction. At school you are surrounded by peers and teachers
but that does not prepare you for things like your first job application. I
still have vivid memories of mine; I was totally under-dressed, way to
cocky and not nearly respectful enough to the person conducting the
interview. Needless to say I did not get the job! For this reason alone
social behaviour should be much higher on the agenda of schools Pbut
don't forget the other social events we have to deal with over and over
again like parties, business events, etc. Who wouldn't want to be the
centre of attention at a party? If only some lessons in small talk would
have WF prepared us.

A final matter, and maybe the most important one, is our health. We
have all read the global reports on overweight children, adults dying of
cardiac failure, the list goes on and on. So why is there no focus on a
healthy lifestyle at school already? Not only could it save thousands of
lives but it would also save millions in healthcare annually. Just teaching
kids to pay attention to their intake of fat, sugar, salt, additives, etc.
would mean a world of difference. In combination with sports this could
hugely improve the lives of future generations, and who knows, we
might actually finally be able to become 150 years old! All thanks to a
new and improved curriculum.

Feedback
This is an excellent article, Jenny. You have answered the question fully, organised your ideas very clearly, and
presented your views in an interesting, engaging way. Your use of English is very natural and almost error free.
Excellent choices of vocabulary throughout and some very good sentence structures.
Who in Who of you was truly ready is a little old-fashioned. I think most people would now say which.
However, using which suggests there IS one person who was ready. Thats why I havent corrected it
because Im not sure which one to use! However, you could re-write this as: Is there any (one) of you who was
truly ready

Remember we dont often find would in both clauses in conditional sentences, so the statement should be 'if I
had had a say in it the subjects under discussion in the classroom they would have been much closer to life.'
Also. in the sentence above there was a problem with the use a subject twice: they and the subjects, which is
why I deleted they.

If only is usually followed by had + past participle. Would is generally used to show irritation. For
example:If only he would listen to me.

Well done!

Writing Class: Essay

Task Type: Essay

Question
Read the two texts below.
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as
far as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

The Financial Costs of Stress

Research carried out by the Health and Safety Council estimates that
stress and mental illness continues to be neglected by many businesses,
both small and large. And the economic impact of this is huge, costing
employers around 26bn a year. Stress at work can lead to a lack of
concentration, fatigue and low motivation, all of which will cost the
company in terms of low productivity, customer satisfaction and the
very reputation of the company itself. Employers are being urged to
become more "emotionally intelligent" and to improve the way they
deal with stress and mental illness.

Speak up about Stress

Many people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, particularly if
we're feeling weak or vulnerable. However, when suffering from stress
its vital you seek help. It's important to feel you can talk honestly with a
close friend, a loved one, a work colleague or doctor about whats going
on. Stress is easily diagnosed and there is plenty you can do to
successfully treat and manage stress. One of the most effective of these
is to share your feelings with those you trust. Remember that accepting
help and support is not a sign of weakness. Close relationships are vital
to helping you get through this tough time.

Write the essay. (around 240 - 280 words)

Makeover: Mathieu
Read Mathieu's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking
codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready,
click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Both texts discuss the topic of stress at work. This essay aims to
summarise and evaluate the impact of stress at work at both company
and individual levels. Gd!

The first text focuses on the consequences of stress at work from a

companys perspective. It stresses the financial impact, which at 26bn
a year is enormous. It does mention that stressed employees have a
direct, negative impact on /\companys productivity, customer
satisfaction and market perception. It is also said that employers must
urgently take the necessary actions to increase their awareness of
employees well-being and tackle seriously the topic of stress and
mental illness at work. However, nothing is mentioned about how to do
so. For instance, involving individuals in stress management workshops
could efficiently address this issue.

The second text deals with the importance for individuals to talk when
they suffer from stress. The main concern here is the well-being of
individuals rather than the financial considerations of the first text. It
is said to ask for help in WW talk with a family member or a trustworthy
professional, which seems a - sensible advice. The text also made a point
about the many ways to cope with stress once it has been diagnosed
and that accepting help and support to go WW through a difficult time
must not be seen as sign of weakness. I completely agree with that and
think we all need at some point in our lives WO external support and
recognising this can only make things easier.

To sum up, I think stress at work should be tackled at the root i.e. at an
individual level first. To do so, effective training on how to deal with
stress such as workshops could certainly help. Once a trustworthy
atmosphere allowing people to speak up about stress at work is
created, then come the time where PE companies reap the benefits of
taking care of their employees.

Feedback
A very good piece of work Mathieu. Youve answered the question fully and thoughtfully, your ideas are clearly
organised and eloquently expressed and you show a very good command of both vocabulary and grammar. An
excellent command of the conventions of an essay is demonstrated. The style adopted is very natural and
appropriately neutral and academic throughout. Well done!

1 Please, feel free to begin your meal.

tuck down
tuck up
tuck in

2 The man was sent to prison for armed robbery.

sent away
sent down
sent off

3 I think I'm going to go to bed now as I'm really tired.

turn in
turn over
turn down

4 She's only got to see his face on TV and she starts laughing.
cracks through
cracks up
cracks in

5 Sarah hates babysitting their children as they always misbehave.

play off
play down
play up

6 I was really deceived by his 'hard-luck' stories and felt so sorry for
him.
taken over
taken up
taken in
 7 I was very surprised to see how much my nephew had grown when
we last saw him.
couldn't get over
couldn't get round
couldn't get through

8 Don't you just hate the way Steve's always criticising people?
running people over
running people down
running people through

Instructions
For questions 1-13 read the following guidelines about visits to places of
historical interest. Use the information in the guidelines to complete the
numbered gaps in the memo to teachers which follows. Use no more than two
words for each gap. The words you need do not occur in the guidelines.

Admissions policy and other information

Thank you for your interest in bringing your students on an educational
excursion to one of our historic properties. Please read the following
information carefully before completing the application form.
1. Free admission is granted to educational establishments providing that it can
be shown they are not commercial organisations. Language schools do not
qualify for the free permit but we are glad to offer a 20% discount for groups of
15 or more students, with free admission for the accompanying group leader.
2. Excursions must be pre-booked to avoid disappointment. Upon confirmation
of your booking we will give you an arrival time. If for any reason you are
unavoidably detained please telephone the office as soon as possible.
Otherwise it may not be possible to admit your group.
3. Some of the sites are unstaffed during lunchtimes. If you are having lunch off-
site please remember to retain entry tickets as proof of payment/re-entry.
4. Historical sites, whilst of educational value, can be dangerous. Young people
under the age of 16 must be closely supervised at all times.
5. Please complete the application form overleaf and send it to arrive at least 14
days before the proposed excursion.