Presentation

⏩ Exam Preparation ⏪

Writing a review on your favourite film

What was the last film you enjoyed like?

Read the dialogue, report what they said

 A Pelican at Blandings, by P.G. Wodehouse

'Empress of Blandings,' he said proudly, 'has won the silver medal three years in succession in the Fat Pigs event at the Shropshire Agricultural Show.'

'You're kidding!'

'I can show you the medals. It was an unparalleled feat.'

'To what did she owe her success?'

'Careful feeding.'

'I thought as much.'

'Some pig owners are guided by other authorities and for all I know,' said Lord Emsworth generously, 'get quite good results, but I have always pinned my faith on Wolff-Lehman. According to the Wolff-Lehman feeding standards a pig must consume daily nourishment amounting to fifty-seven thousand calories, proteins four pounds five ounces, carbohydrates twenty-five pounds.'

'Exclusive, of course, of the last thing at night raid on the ice box?'

'These calories to consist of barley meal, maize meal, linseed meal and separated buttermilk. I occasionally add on my own initiative a banana or a potato . . .''

Reading in English Survey

 

1. When did you last read something in English?
   
2. What English text did you read last?
3. What was it about?
4. How did you read the text?       Online reader, Printed text, Downloadable PDFs, Other
5. What main ideas and key facts can you recall from the text?
6. Do you believe all the information in the text? Do you think about the reliability of reading texts?
7. Are you interested in that text's topic?
8. Would you read more about it, and if so in paper or digital format?

                       Adapted from the Oxford University site, the British Council site

Exam Preparation 10-Step Strategy

What is the best strategy for you?                     

1. Give yourself enough time to study

Don't leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute 'cramming',  for most of us this is not the best way to approach an exam. Set out a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.

 2. Organize your study space

Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight?

Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence; for others, background music helps. Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

3. Use flow charts and diagrams

Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. For a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about it - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can then help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.

4. Practice demo-versions and past papers            

One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section. 

5. Explain your answers to others

Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time! Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.

6. Organize study groups with friends

Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.

7. Take regular breaks

You may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible,  but this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day! So, studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.

Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening.

Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain!

8. Snack on 'brain food'

You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt, and blueberries. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but it won't help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.

9. Plan your exam day

Make sure you get everything ready well in advance. Check all the rules and requirements.

You could  make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they're likely to be punctual! 

10. Drink plenty of water

As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.

"Know thyself… by writing your first comment

💬No matter how well you plan your answer beforehand, it is in the act of writing itself that the best ideas usually present themselves 😏

Holidays

 Why does even not so perfect holiday still matter?

For most people holidays are the best time of their life, at least it is so when they imagine going on holidays. Thanks to advertising, we all know how amazing it could be to spend a month on an exotic island with your nearest and dearest.

Not only can you enjoy all the pleasures of a paradise, but also change your attitudes towards something important in your life. You can have a bird's-eye view on your everyday problems, which can make you calmer and happier. For example, some of your friends seemed a bit annoying last time you went out with them, but now you miss them and understand how comfortable your home was in comparison with the hotel.

In addition to that, one needs a lot of free time to improve one's mind through different recreational activities. You can read all those books you have been buying but never had a chance to read, or learn some useful skills, or just relax and take it easy.

On the other hand, not many of us have ever really experienced perfect peace and quiet while far from home. There are many reasons for that. I remember the time I was at a Turkish resort with my husband. Everything that could go wrong did so, unfortunately. We lost our camera, the weather was too hot and humid, the service was unbearable, the food was tasteless and so on. It should have been planned better, no doubt, but I believe, disappointing holidays are not very rare even for people who can plan better. Still, even if I haven't got any images of it, I remember some awesome things back there, one of the best in my life, probably.

To sum up, holidays are very important for everyone because they give us a break to think about important things and spend time with people we love, especially when holidays are properly planned. In order to make the best of you free time, you should be positive about unexpected things that could happen to you. After all, new experiences and reflections refine our emotions.

Write an essay and give your opinion about the importance of holidays