1 – 12 END OF YEAR TEST | Standard B2

Listening
1 EOY Track 1  You will hear an interview
with Dr Brooks about the English language.
2 EOY Track 1  Listen again and complete the
Complete the extract with the words you sentences with a word or short phrase.
hear. Then choose a similar meaning 1 Dr Brooks has done a lot of
(a or b).              on reading and
writing skills.
1 ‘a lot of people are very        of the way
English is used’ 2 Dr Brooks doesn’t believe young
people              their ability
a) surprised about to communicate in written language.
b) negative about
3 According to Dr Brooks, it’s OK to use
2 ‘but it seems that just isn’t        ’ abbreviations in             .
a) the reason 4 Language is something that is always
b) the truth              .
3 ‘the idea is to        your 5 Some short forms of words are already
message        quickly’              of the English language.
a) send 6 English from different countries will
b) communicate              to become similar
4 ‘another        in British English in the because of the influence of media.
last two decades’ 7 ‘See you later!’ probably comes from popular
a) something fewer people are doing usage in             .
b) something more people are doing
5 ‘we have also seen the        of Australian
English        British English’
a) effect … on
b) difference … between
6 ‘which is thought to be        the
popularity of Australian soap operas’
a) connected with
b) the cause of

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 1 – 12 END OF YEAR TEST | Standard
Reading
Four teenagers tell us about the places they would most like to visit and why.
A George
My dad is originally from the Greek island of Naxos,
but moved to New York, where I was born, when he
was 18. It was his descriptions of growing up in a
close-knit community surrounded by stunning scenery
that inspired my desire to go to Naxos. Not only are
there lots of beautiful beaches, but the warm climate
means you can swim in the sea nearly all year round.
The local people have a very relaxed lifestyle too,
staying up late at night and getting up late, which
would definitely suit me! It sounds like the kind of
place where you can lose track of time. As perfect as
it might sound, though, I suppose I might get fed up
with being in such a remote place after a while and
miss city life.
B Sophia
My friends love chilling out on a beach and getting
a suntan on holiday, but personally I find that really
tedious. What I want are the kind of experiences I’d
never have at home in England. That’s why Norway
appeals to me and, in particular, a town called Tromso,
which is a cold and windswept place two hundred
miles north of the Arctic Circle. I saw a nature
documentary about it recently and I’d really love to
visit it in January when temperatures are below zero
and there is hardly any sunlight. I’m not a huge fan of
the cold and the dark, but apparently this is the best
time for whale-watching. There are boat trips you can
do from a little island near Tromso which give you the
chance to get close to these awesome creatures. I
think the sight of them in their natural environment
would be truly spectacular.
3 Read the phrases below and find similar
phrases in the article. Decide if the writers’
attitudes are positive (P) or negative (N).
1 ‘I might get bored being away from the city.’
P/N
                                                     
2 ‘I don’t like winter weather and lack of light.’
P/N
3 ‘I can’t wait to eat some local food.’
P/N
4 ‘The only bad thing about visiting Holland might
be …’
P/N

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B2
C Hans
I’m saving up at the moment to go to Seoul, the
capital of South Korea. My love of Korean cinema has
given me an insight into Korean culture so I think I
would feel at home there. You get the impression that
the city is super modern because it’s dominated by
huge skyscrapers and shopping malls, but apparently
you can also find areas where traditional Korean
buildings have been preserved. It’s this diversity
which really appeals to me. Apart from sightseeing,
I’m looking forward to trying some of the street food,
which sounds delicious, and going shopping. Young
South Koreans are aware of all the latest trends and
since it’s a relatively cheap city, I’m determined to get
some bargains!
D Daphne
When most people think of Holland, they think of
Amsterdam, which I’m sure is a beautiful city if you
don’t mind the hordes of visitors it attracts. I’m drawn
towards less obvious destinations and given the
chance, the place I’d choose to visit is Rotterdam.
Rotterdam has been called the ‘city of the future’
because of its striking modern architecture. It’s also
a truly green city with unusual features such as a
floating park made from recycled rubbish which people
have thrown into the river! If you’re a keen surfer,
like I am, you’ll be impressed to learn that Rotterdam
has got the world’s only surfing centre to be built
in the middle of a city on a canal! The only potential
disadvantage about visiting Holland is that I don’t
speak Dutch, but fortunately English is widely spoken
there.
4 For questions 1–8, choose from the four
people (A–D). The people may be chosen
more than once.
Which person …
1 could pursue his/her hobby in the place he/she
describes?     
2 intends to spend some money in his/her chosen
place?     
3 is attracted to the way of life in his/her chosen
place?     
4 doesn’t like going to popular places?     
5 likes doing unusual things on holiday?     
6 is planning a trip to this place?     
7 was inspired to visit this place by a TV
programme?     
8 wouldn’t want to stay in this place too long?     
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 1 – 12 END OF YEAR TEST | Standard B2

Use of English
5 Choose the correct word or phrase for each gap.
A Beginner’s Guide to Bivvying
If you really love camping, why don’t you try bivvying? Bivvying is the (1)     trend for fans of outdoor
activities. It’s similar to camping, but instead of a tent, you use a bivvy bag, (2)     is simply a waterproof
sack that you sleep in. A bivvy bag fits easily into a rucksack and is much lighter than a tent. (3)     I love
most about bivvying, though, is that you don’t have to find a big, flat space for a tent and can spend the night
almost anywhere you want – in a cave, for example, or even on top of a mountain! Once you decide
(4)     your preferred location, you just get into your sleeping bag inside your bivvy bag and go to sleep!
As long as you find a place that is (5)     from the wind and the rain, it is just as comfortable as camping.
(6)     tried both activities, I have to admit that bivvying offers much more freedom and excitement. I’m
already (7)     forward to my next trip!

1 a) late b) later c) lately d) latest

2 a) that b) which c) who d) it
3 a) Where b) Why c) What d) This
4 a) at b) to c) on d) of
5 a) protection b) protecting c) being protected d) protected
6 a) Had b) Having c) Have d) To have
7 a) looking b) seeing c) viewing d) thinking

6 Write one word in each gap. 2 Somebody is painting Ivan’s bedroom next week.
Taxis that drive themselves! PAINTED
Singapore has recently become the first city in Ivan                  next week.
the world (1)        introduce driverless 3 Those two photos look exactly the same to me.
taxis onto the roads. At the moment, there are
DIFFERENCE
only a few of them and they are still
(2)        tested. However, it is hoped that I can’t                  those two
by 2018, they (3)        have replaced all photos.
the taxis that now have drivers, helping to reduce 4 Reading the Harry Potter books made me want to
the amount of traffic in the city. The reason become an author.
(4)        Singapore was chosen by the INSPIRED
company ‘Nutonomy’ as the location for the first
I                  an author by
taxi service of this kind is that it offers safer
reading the Harry Potter books.
conditions for driving (5)        most other
big cities. (6)        completing these tests 5 Do you think we should continue to walk in this
successfully, Nutonomy is planning to introduce direction?
similar services in other parts of Asia, the US ON
and Europe over the next few years. Do you think we should                 
in this direction?
6 You’re too inexperienced to go climbing on your
 own.
ENOUGH
7 Complete the second sentence so that it
has a similar meaning to the first. Do not You                  to go
climbing on your own.
change the word given. Use two to five
words, including the word given. 7 The judges tasted many cakes and gave first
prize to Sophia.
1 Could you help me with my homework, please?
GIVE
BIT
Only after tasting many cakes                
Could you                  help
Sophia first prize.
with my homework, please?

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 1 – 12 END OF YEAR TEST | Standard B2

Writing
8 Write an answer to one of the following questions 1–2 below. Write your answer in 140–190 words
in an appropriate style.
1 You’ve received this email from your friend, Ella.

From: Ella
Subject: Music
Where do you listen to music? Can you tell me if you play an instrument or sing? Do you go to
concerts at school or in your city? Write and tell me!

Write your email.

• Remember to use informal language in your email.
• Use phrases that show you know the reader (e.g. Hey Ella!, Nice to hear from you again.)
• Be sure to answer the questions and give detail in your descriptions and opinions.
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

2 You see this advert online.

Reviews Wanted!
Is there a shop you love in your town or city? It can be a clothes shop, a book shop or any other
kind of shop. Write a review of it, saying what you like about it, anything you don’t like about it
and if you would recommend it to other people. The best reviews will appear on our website!

Write your review.

• Give some general information about the shop (It is open … and it sells …)
• Include one or two things you like about it (What I love most about the shop is …)
• Say something you don’t like about it (On the downside, …)
• End with a summary of your opinion (Overall, I highly recommend visiting …)
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     

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 1 – 12 END OF YEAR TEST | Standard B2

Speaking
9 Work in pairs. Here are some ideas for after-school clubs which might encourage students
to learn new skills. Talk to each other about why students might want to attend these clubs.
(2 minutes)

Art Film

What clubs could a

school offer?

Computer
Gymnastics Cookery
coding

• Give and justify your opinion, (e.g. I think the school should offer … because …)
• Agree or disagree with your partner.
• Invite your partner to speak, (e.g. What do you think about …)

Decide together which two clubs would be most enjoyable and interest the most students.
(1 minute)
• Make a decision together and give reasons.
• Keep talking for one minute by comparing your choice with the other options, (e.g. I think more students
might want to attend . . . than . . . because …) or by explaining some benefit, (e.g. If students attended the
cookery club, they would be able to …)

Discuss the following questions in pairs. (4 minutes)

1 Do you think after-school clubs like these are useful? Why/why not?
2 What kind of things do students enjoy doing after school in your country? Why?
3 How important do you think it is for students to have hobbies?
4 What kind of things can you learn from doing a sport?
5 Do you prefer doing indoor or outdoor activities? Why?
6 If you had the chance, what new skill would you like to learn? Why?

Total score

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