Graded Examinations in Spoken English

Topic Form Grade 6

Title of topic:

The information on this form must be presented to the examiner during the exam.
Please note that some Topic Forms might include the candidate number and name pre-printed on
the form, and others may not. Both types of form are acceptable.
 Trinity GESE Grade 7: Conversation Phase
NATIONAL AND LOCAL RECYCLING AND
EDUCATION EARLY MEMORIES VILLAGE AND CITY LIFE NATIONAL CUSTOMS
PRODUCE/ PRODUCTS POLLUTION
If you started an If you were the If you could change If you could live If you were the
If I went to a Spanish
SECOND export business what Minister of Education, anything from your anywhere in Spain President how would
festival what would I
CONDITIONAL local products would what changes would childhood what where would you you protect the
you make? would you change? see?
you sell? live? environment?
Extra
questions:
What activities What type of Whats measures are
What are drunken How are children were organised for entertainment is taken to reduce
PASSIVE Whats a siesta?
cakes? taught in Spain? children when you provided in Spanish pollution and recycle
were young? villages? in your city?
Extra
questions:
Do Spanish people
Did your grandma use How has education Do more people live How have Spanish
What did you use worry more about the
USED TO to cook you any changed over the in the city nowadays customs changed over
to do as a child? environment
typical Spanish dishes? years? than they used to? the years?
nowadays?
Extra
questions:
Tell me about the Tel me about your Whats being done in
RELATIVE Whats life in
What are torrijas? subjects offered in favourite toy as a Whats a Pea? Guadalajara to help
CLAUSES Guadalajara like?
schools. child. the environment?
Extra
questions:
Do you think its
Are there any Spanish Do you think that Do you think Spanish Are there any Spanish
possible to What will be done in
products that wont there will be more people will start to customs that are in
POSSIBILITY remember the future to protect
be produced in the cuts in Spanish move back to the danger of
anything before the environment?
future? Education? country? disappearing?
the age of 4?
Extra
questions:
 Trinity GESE Grade 7: Conversation Phase
NATIONAL AND LOCAL VILLAGE AND CITY RECYCLING AND
EDUCATION EARLY MEMORIES NATIONAL CUSTOMS
PRODUCE/ PRODUCTS LIFE POLLUTION
I want my daughter to I want to move to
GIVING ADVICE/ How can I integrate
What local dish would study in Spain? Which How should parents Spain. Where would What should we do to
MAKING with the Spanish
you recommend? is the best school raise children? be the best place to reduce pollution?
SUGGESTIONS around here? people?
live?
Extra questions:
I think the restaurants
Do you think that Im not sure if Spanish
in Asturias are better Do you agree that I think village life is There are too many
AGREEING AND grandparents people are doing
than the restaurants Spain should employ boring. What about festivals in Spain if
DISAGREEING should help to enough to help the
in Madrid. How about more teachers? you? you ask me.
bring up children? environment.
you?
Extra questions:
ADVANTAGE / What are the Should children Should one parent
DIADVANTAGES/ advantages and learn languages stay at home to Is it better to live in Is it good to have a Should recycling be
DISCOURSE disadvantages of when theyre very bring up the a village or a city? siesta? compulsory in Spain?
CONNECTORS buying local products? young? children?
Extra questions:
ELICITING
FURTHER
INFORMATION:
Questions for
the examiner
GRADE 7
QUESTIONS

Format

Total time: 15 minutes

The examination consists of 3 assessed phases:

- Candidate-led discussion of a topic prepared by the candidate (up to 5minutes)

- Interactive task (up to 4 minutes)

- Conversation on 2 subject areas selected by the examiner (up to 5 minutes)

Candidate performance

In performing the required tasks, the candidate is expected to demonstrate the following
communicative skills and use the language items listed below.

Communicative skills

In the topic phase

- Show understanding by responding appropiately to the examiner

- Communicative variety of facts, ideas and opinions, and account for these, about a chosen
topic across a series of extended turns

- Engage the examiner in discussion of the topic

- Handle interruptions or requests for clarification throughout the discussion of the topic

In the interactive task phase

- Initiate the discourse

- Maintain the discourse by asking for information

- Help the discussion along by inviting comment from the examiner

- Take and give up turns when appropriate to do so

- Where appropriate to the individual task, make use of the functions listed below

Two subject areas for conversation will be selected by the examiner from the list below:

- Education
- National customs

- Village and city life

- National and local produce and products

- Early memories

- Pollution and recycling

Functions

- Giving advice and highlighting advantages and disadvantages

- Making suggestions

- Describing past habits

- Expressing possibility and uncertainty

- Eliciting futher information and expansion of ideas and opinions

- Expressing agreement and disagreement

GRAMMAR

- Open conditional
"If you turn on the lights, you can see better"

(If:clause:present simple) (present simple)

- First conditional
"If you study hard, you will pass your exams

(present simple) (future simple)

"When you study harder, you will pass your exams"

(present simple) (future simple)

- Second conditional
"If you had studied harder, you would have passed your exams"

(past perfect) (perfect conditional)

"If you had passed all your exams, you would have gone on holidays"

(past perfect) (perfect conditional)

To talk about unlikely or imaginary present or future situations and their present or future
consequences, we use the second conditional:

If + past tense + would + infinitive

We use "would" when we feel sure about the consequence:

"If they reopened the school, it would be great"

We can use "could" to talk about ability = "would be able to"

"If I had more money, I could buy a house in the village"

We can also use "might" when we are not sure about the consequence; its a possibility

"If she lived in the country, she might not be able to find a job"

When speaking, and in a informal writing, we used instead of "would"



"If there was a cinema in the village, Id go there every night!"

To make a question using the second conditional:

Question word + would / could + infinitive + if + past tense

How often would you see a film if you lived in a village?

We can also make a question in this way:

If + past tense+ (question word) + would/could + infinitive

If you had lots of money, would you buy a big house?

If you didnt have to work tomorrow, where would you go?

2. - Simple passive
Structure: verb to be (present/past) + past participle

"The exam is done by the students"

verb to be (present) + past participle

"Don Quijote was written by MIguel de Cervantes"

Verb to be (past) + past participle

3.- Used to
Used to (past habits) = sola...

"When i was younger, I used to play football everyday"

= cuando era ms joven, yo sola jugar al futbol todos los dias.

4. - Relatives clauses

We use relative clauses in sentences to give information about the noun (or noun phrase) in
the preceding clause. We connect the clauses using relative pronouns
(that,which,who,when,where).

Who= for people

Which= for animals or things

That= for people, animals or things (only in defininf relative clauses)

When= for time

Where= for places

There are two types of relative clauses:

"Defining and non- defining relative clauses"

1. - Defining relative clauses

These are used to give essential information. Without this information, the sentence would be
meaningless, or mean something different.

"Shes the friend who that lived abroad for years"

"For holidays, I like the kind of place where I can just lie on the beach and relax"

"Can you tell us about some of the customs that/which you found difficult at first?

2.- Non defining relative clauses

These are used to add extra, non-essential information. Without this information, the sentence
would still make sense.

"Coming from Britain, where its normal practice t have dinner much earlier, I found this a bit
difficult at first"

"I went to the carnival celebration in Venetia, which is very famous in Italy"

Attention!

We can use "that" in non-defining relative clauses.

5. - Modals and phrases used to give advice and make suggestions e.g. should/ought to,
could, youd better

Giving advice

There are many words and expressions we can use to give advice. This is the most common:

Should/should + not + infinitive without "to"

"You should see your tutor"

"Should we ask the teacher first?"

In speaking and informal writing we use contractions (shouldnt)

"You shouldnt leave your work to the last minute, just before the exams"

We often introduce a question with "should" with the phrase: "Do you think...?"

"Do you think I should take a course this year?"

To give strong advice we can use "ought to" + infinitive without "to"

"You really ought to study hard"

Other ways we can offer advice and suggestions:

It is (not) a good idea + infinitive with "to"

"Its a good idea to go to the cinema now"

"Its not a very good idea to watch television now"

"Do you think its a good idea to do homework now?"

Giving advice and makin suggestions

There are many ways we can give advice and make suggestios in English:

- The modal verb "could"

Could+ infinitive without "to"

"You could go and put it in the recycling bin"

- To make the suggestion sound less strong, we can add "perhaps":

"Perhaps you could ask them if they have done the exam"

-"Youd better"=giving advice and making suggestions

"Youd better go and see the doctor=es mejor que vayas y veas al mdico"

6.- Modals and phrases used to express possibility and uncertainty may,
might, Im not sure

Possibility: may and might

May=poder

Might=podra

"It may be possible that the exam of English is tomorrow"= Puede ser posible que el exmen
de ingls sea maana

"It might be true"=podria ser verdad

Uncertainty: " Im not sure"

"Im not sure that the exam is tomorrow"=No estoy seguro de que el exmen sea maana

7.- Discourse connectors because of, due to (conectores del discurso)

Because of=due to=debido a...

"Because of/due to the bad weather conditions, they could not play the football match"

TRINITY EXAM: LANGUAGE FOR GRADE 7
Education

Pupils alumnos

Go to school ir al colegio

Leave school marcharse del colegio

Get a job conseguir un trabajo

Go to university ir a la universidad

Subjects asignaturas

English Ingls

History historia

Geography geografa

Art arte/dibujo

Music msica

Maths matemticas

Physics fsica

Chemistry qumica

Biology biologa

Physical education (P.E) educacin fsica

Staffroom-sala de profesores

Library-biblioteca

Primary school/high school-primaria/secundaria

State school-escuela publica

Public school-colegio privado

A boarding school-un internado

Term-trimestre

A degree- carrera/licenciatura

A lecturer-profesor universitario

Timetable horario

The school day is divided into 6-7 lessons in different subjects, with a break in the morning
and in the afternoon.

There is also a one-hour lunch break

The school year is usually divided into three terms (=periods of study). Each term is about 13
weeks, and each week pupils do (=study) about ten subjects.

At the end of the school year they do/take an exam in each subject. After the holidays, pupils
go back (=return) to school.

Success and failure

Success Failure
I passed my exam I failed my exam
I did very well I did very badly
I got nine out of ten I got three out of ten
I got a very high mark I got a very low mark
I got a good grade I got a very low grade
Im good at English Im hopeless at Maths

National customs

The most important National Customs that we celebrate in Spain are: Christmas and The Holy
Week.

- Christmas: Christmas day/ New Years Day/ Father Christmas/The Three Wise Men

En el mundo Anglosajn no se celebra el da de Reyes de la misma manera que en Espaa. El

calendario religioso es el mismo, pero no es tradicional recibir los regalos ese da, sino el da de
Navidad.

Para explicar nuestra tradicin: The Three Kings bring people presents on January 6th, the day
when the Three Wise Men brought gifts for baby Jesus.

- Holy week/ Easter: easter holiday (vacaciones de semana santa)

Subject Area Vocabulary:

1. Where is it the custom to eat fish for dinner on Christmas Eve (24th Dec)?
2. Where is it the custom to eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Years Eve(31st Dec)
3. Where is it normal to have dinner at 9 or 10 pm?
4. In which country do people normally have to leave bars and pubs at 11pm?

Example:

In Britain, we dont have the custom of eating fish on Christmas Eve. In fact, there isnt a
custom of eating anything in particular on 24th December, but on Christmas Day, lots of
 people eat a traditional Christmas dinner, which is usually turkey, with roast potatoes,
vegetables, stuffing..and for dessert Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.

City life

Buildings and places

Here are some of the things you will find in most towns and cities.

- Commercial centre (=area with lots of banks and company offices)

- Shopping centre (=place with many shops, either indoors or out)
- Car parks
- Factories (=buildings where you make/manufacture things e.g. cars)
- Skyscrapers /high-rise buildings (=building with many floors)
- Libraries (=places where you can borrow books or sit and read)
- Suburbs (=area outside the centre of town where people live)

People on the move

For many people, the worst time of the day is the rush hour (=the time when people travel to
and from work, e.g. 7-9 in the morning).

At this time of day the public transport system (=trains and buses) has to cope with (=manage
something which is difficult) the people who live in the city, and also commuters (=people who
live in the country but travel into the city for work).

The roads get congested (=busy and full of cars) and people are always in a hurry (=want to
get to another place very quickly)

For many, this is very stressful (=makes you nervous and anxious).

Going out (=going to places for social reasons)

I live and work in the suburbs, but I usually go into town (=the town centre) two or three times
a week.

In the evening, it is pretty lively (=lots of people and lots of things happening), and theres
plenty to do (=lots of possibilities, e.g. bars, discos, etc.)

One problem is that theres nowhere to park in the centre, so I usually get/take a bus into
town and take/get a taxi home if Im late.)

There are many common phrases using the construction: theres plenty to do; theres nothing
to so; theres plenty to see; theres nowhere to go; theres nowhere to park, etc.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The best thing about living in a city is that.

- Theres good nightlife. (=places to go at night, e.g. bars, discos, cinemas..)

- Theres a wide range of shops.(=many shops selling different things)
- You can get whatever you want.(=buy anything and everything you want)
- There are lots of cultural activities. (e.g. concerts, museums)
- Its cosmopolitan.(=full of people from many different countries and cultures)
- There are more job opportunities.(=easier to find work)

The worst thing about living in a city is that

- Its very crowded.(=full of people)

- People are more aggressive. (=seen angry and very unfriendly)
- It can be noisy (opposite:quiet) and dangerous.(opposite:safe)
- The streets are often dirty (opposite: clean) and its polluted (=dirty air)
- Theres traffic congestion (=too many cars) and parking is difficult.
- Theres a high crime rate. (e.g. houses and more expensive, so is transport)

LIFE IN THE COUNTRY

Surrounded by nature

I grew up (=spent my childhood) in a rural area (=an area in the country; opposite: an urban
area). It was quite a remote area (=an area far from towns). I loved being in the country.

Working in the country

A lot of land in the country/countryside (both words are used) is used for agriculture/farming.
Some farms grow crops (e.g. wheat, apples and potatoes) and some keep animals (e.g. cows,
sheep and pigs). When I was younger, I worked on a farm during my school holidays.

Advantages and disadvantages

The best thing about living in the country is that

- You get peace and quiet. ( a common phrase to describe a place that is quiet and calm)
- You get fresh air. (=air outside a building or town which is clean)
- Youre surrounded by lovely scenery and you can walk in the countryside)
- The pace of life (=the amount of activity in life) is slower and more relaxed.

The worst thing about living in the country is that

- There isnt much nightlife.

- Public transport (=buses and trains) is hopeless (=terrible)
- You dont get many shops.
- There isnt much privacy (=private life) because everyone knows what you are doing.

Early memories
Preparar la narracin de las primeras memorias que t tienes..por ejemplo, cuando tu
hermano naci, la celebracin de un cumpleaosetc.

Con un solo ejemplo ser suficiente. Preparar.

Remember-recordar

Clearly-claramente

Vaguely-muy poco claro, vagamente

Forget-olvidar

Memorise-memorizar

National and local produce and product

Examples of typical products/produce in Spain, what we export to other countries,
etc.(MELONS, WATERMELONS, ORANGES, LEMONS.)

Fresh-fresco

Cheap-barato

Market-mercadillo

Supermarket-supermercado

Bakery-panaderia

Butcher-carniceria

Greengrocers-lugar donde comprar fruta y verdure

Pharmacy/drugstore-farmacia

- What food items are produced in your area? Are these products exported to other
regions and/or abroad?
- Which local food products do you/your family buy?
- Is it possible to buy out-of-season food products where you live?

Pollution and recycling

The environment (=air, water and land around us)

Many people believe we are destroying the environment. If you destroy something, you
damage it so badly it does not exist anymore. Fro example:

- Cars and factories pollute the air. (=make the air dirty)
- We continue to cut down rainforests and increase the dangers of global warming.(=an
increase in temperature because of increased carbon dioxide around the earth).

How can the planet (earth) survive? (=continue to exist)

- We must save/conserve (=use less and use well) natural resources (e.g. water, oil and
gas). We mustnt waste them. (=use them badly).
- We must protect animals and plants. (=keep them safe from human damage)
- We mustnt throw away bottles and cans. We must recycle them. (=use them again)

Many of the verbs above form common nouns:

Verb Noun Verb Noun

Destroy Destruction Pollute pollution
Survive Survival Protect protection
Waste Waste Recycle Recycling

Environmental problems in the world today

There are many environmental problems in the world today.

The air, rivers and seas are all polluted, especially in over-populated and heavily industrialized
regions. Poor waste disposal is the cause of much of this pollution.

Overfishing has depleted the numbers of fish in the oceans.

The destruction of the ozone layer is leading to climatic changes and what is known as the
greenhouse effect.( efecto invernadero)

The destruction of the rainforests is causing widespread ecological problems.

Battery farming provides large amounts of food but it involves keeping animals in crowded
and unnatural conditions.

Pollution and recycling

Suggestions to help you reduce, reuse and recycle.

Reduce:

- But loose food rather than packaged food.

- Cancel the delivery of any unwanted newspapers.(read the newspaper on the internet)
- Grow your own vegetables.
- Take a packed lunch to school or to work in a reusable plastic container.

Reuse:

- reuse plastic carrier bags from the supermarket.

- use scrap paper for writing notes.

- reuse envelopes, stick labels over the address.

- buy rechargeable items instead of disposable ones.

Recycle:

- Choose products in packaging that you know can be recycled.

- Separate your rubbish and use recycling bins provided in your town.
- Compost your food scraps from the kitchen your plants will love it.
- Buy products made from recycled material.

Answer the following questions:

How many types of organic food can you think of? I can think of
How many ways can you think of saving energy? In order to save energy I can think of..
How many types of product can be recycled? Types of product that can be recycled
are..
How many products can you think of that could be refillable? I can think of
Do you recycle at home? What? Yes I do. I recycle/ No, I dont.
Do you recycle at school? What?
Say the name of products or things that can be recycled? Cans of coke, bottles of
plastic, batteries, newspapers, old books, old fashioned magazines..
What are the advantages of recycling? If we recycle, we will pollute lessand the
entire world wins.

 ATTENTION WITH THES MISTAKES
a) Cuando uses el verbo LIKE, si quieres usar otro verbo detrs, por ejemplo Me
gusta jugar al ftbol, el verbo en Ingls debe terminar en ING: I like playing
football.
b) No te olvides de usar bien los posesivos
c) Recuerda que el presente continuo se usa para lo que est ocurriendo en este
momento. No se te puede olvidar usar el presente del verbo TO BE y el verbo
terminado en ING (She is dancing=ella est bailando)
d) Recuerda que los adjetivos van siempre delante del nombre: a grey sweater, a big
house.
e) No confundas nunca el verbo HAVE (tener) con el verbo TO BE (ser y estar).
f) No te olvides de usar DONT y DOESNT en las negativas de presente simple.
g) Con las fechas se usan los nmeros ordinales, no los cardinales.
h) Recuerda que cuando entre en la sala de examen, tienes que saludar (Good
afternoon, good evening) y cuando termines tienes que despedirte (Goodbye)
i) No te quedes callado. Si te hacen una pregunta y no la entiendes, pregunta
Sorry? o Can you repeat, please? si finalmente no la entiendes, debes
decirlo:I dont know, I dont understand
j) No utilices ninguna palabra en espaol.
k) Si haces alguna referencia a algo con un nombre espaol (una ciudad, una
festividad, un artista, un equipo, una pelcula,..) tienes que explicar lo que es. Por
ejemplo: I like La Feria. La feria in April is a festivity in Seville. People eat, drink,
ride horses, go for a walk, get on attractions and many people wear special clothes
for the occasion
l) Atento a las partculas interrogativas. Son esenciales para entender la pregunta.
m) Y LO ESENCIAL: LA EXAMINADORA CUENTA LOS SEGUNDOS, TENEIS QUE
APROVECHAR EL TIEMPO AL MXIMO

INTERVIEW EXAMPLES

Q. And what are you going to talk about today?

A. Today Id like to talk about Dolphins. I have been interested in dolphins since I was
eleven.

Q. A friend of mine has asked me to lend him a large amount of money.

A. Why does he want to borrow this money?

Attention: Ask to the examiner (interactive fase)

Q. I think I have lost something very important.

A. Oh dear! What exactly have you lost (interactive fase)

Q. If you were me what would you do?

A. If I were you, Id probably go to the police (second conditional)

Q. I am thinking of moving from the UK to live in Spain.

A. Well, one advantage is the weather but the disadvantages might be

(Grammar structure: modal verb might to speak about possibility)

Q. Who do you think should be responsible for recycling?

A. I think its mainly the governments responsibility but we should all take part. And you, what
do you think? (interactive task)

(Grammar structure: should=giving advice/vocabulary: pollution and recycling)

Q. I used to hate green vegetables when I was small.

A. So did I - but my mother used to make me eat them

(expressing agreement) (structure used to speak about past habits)

Did you like fruit? (intereactive task)

Q. Tell me about some of the marriage customs in your country?

A. Well, the ceremony is usually held in a church and the bride is dressed all in white.

(passive structure: verb to be + past participle)

(Grammar structure: simple passive/ vocabulary: national customs)