ala. SONY AN tela WANES step-by-oteP ie TOA INU) @. I us a Successtul ~ rajeduently Academic asic) _fcademi = T'[PTETUTORIALS.COMAbout the Author Mr. Malcolm Kalwachwala is a computer engineer by qualification, an ex-banker by profession, an entrepreneur by nature, and a motivator by heart. He is an IDP certified IELTS trainer, and a PEARSON certified PTE Academic trainer. He has been fortunate to be associated with Aussizz Group, as a Master Faculty since a long time, and has trained innumerable people in IELTS as well as PTE Academic throughout the world. He gets immense pleasure in guiding his students to achieve their desired results in English proficiency tests, and also guiding them in their careers. He himself has taken the PTE Academic test, and has achieved an overall score of 90/90 and a BAND 9 score in all PTE Academic Modules. PTE Academic Test Taker Score Report MALCOLM NOZER KALWACHWALA Test Taker Registration 1D: Test Date: ‘Test Centre Country: ‘Test Centre 1D: First-Time Test Taker: Report Issue Date: Scores Valid Until: ‘Tha Oveat Sear for tha PE Acadam is based on tho fst kr prfrmanco onal ems nthe tet. The sno fr Communist Sills and Enatng Sis oe based onthe test takers performance on on tase ems tat pertain to these ‘computes directly fom the Communtetive Sl sores o ftom the Enetiing Skit scores, The graph Below Incates this test ‘en comparing the Overa Score andthe scores for Communicate Skis an Enabling Sl lass be aware that har is Somme mares I all measurement depending en vet of facts. Fr more mation a llerprtng PTE Academie Scores, lese refer to Interpreting the PTE Academic Score Report wich salable st sora earorote cm/pescacemi/ ares Skills Profile ‘Communicative Sil ‘Overall Score Listening Reading Speaking eee8 Wetng ‘©disclaimer No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author. SceneryWrite Essay Write Essay or essay writing is the second task in the Writing module of the PTE Academic test. You'll be given an essay topic on which you'll have to write an essay in 20 minutes Yes, itis a timed task. In the test, you'll get either ONE or TWO essays. If you get one essay, you'll have to finish it in 20 minutes, and if you get two essays, you'll have to finish them in maximum 40 minutes. Let's have alook at the instruction you'll get in the question. “You'll have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organise your ideas, present supporting details and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200 to 300 words.” Since you'll be given 20 minutes per essay, you can understand that it's a very important task, as such a lot of time is being given for a single topic by PTE Academic, and if you get two essays, you'll be given 40 minutes for both essays. So obviously, WRITE ESSAY is a high-weight task. If you're not able to finish your essay-typing in 20 minutes, the next question will come automatically on your screen even if you don't click NEXT. Vice-versa, if you're able to complete your essay before the allotted 20 minutes, and you're still left with some time, then you should NOT click on NEXT immediately. Instead, you should check your essay. You should checkit for the multiple parameters which I'llbe discussing below. In short, consume the entire duration of 20 minutes in essay writing and checking. Checking your essay is as important as writing itPTEuses a number of parameters to score you on essay writing. There are7 main parameters on which your scores will be based. These are: 1. Content 2. Form 3. Vocabulary 4. Spelling 5. Grammar 6. Development, structure and coherence 7. General linguistic range Points 6 and 7 together make the Enabling Skill of WRITTEN DISCOURSE. So, the 4 Enabling Skills of Vocabulary, Spelling, Grammar and Written Discourse are scored along with Content and Form, Let's have a look at a mock PTE Academic Score Card. Per Cees Sree Pe Acar Aten ot sors prt om ee. eres Perera eraser ate ‘ett takes’ s perfrmce on ly thse as tha pert Pe ‘state ‘Pum tne Cnrenanecave Stal scaves 7 Mur lve Eaain Sel scores The ra ow incest Ss Lt lahat’ Conmuncative Skits and Enating Slats retve ea cr tar Overol Scare han compar Overt Scne ard te scares for Commute Sits and rating Skis, peas be re tat rare Sore ergreceios i af oeasrervent penny On 4 vary of factors or Cre ivermstas an sara Sore, See 1S empreing te 71 Arab Sars apart wh uae a Bare) Communicative Skills Uitering * peaeing ° speaking © oi Enabling kl oral ruency 37 Pronincnion a? Ext o =o 14 L i =Write Essay: Parameters and Scoring The 1“ parameter on which your essay will be scored is the CONTENT. Youll be scored out of 3 points in content. If your essay deals adequately with the content, and your entire promptis tothe point, you'll get 3 out of 3 points for content. If you cover the major points, and omit, or miss out a minor point according to PTE Academic, then you'll be given 2 out of 3 points. If you have included only 1 or a few minor points dealing with the essay topic and omit and miss the MAIN POINT, then you'll get only 1 point in content out of 3 points. Andlastly, if you are writing off topic, if you're not writing to the point, you'll get 0 out of 3 in content. So mind you, CONTENT is a very important parameter if you want to get a good score in essay writing part. The parameter CONTENT is very similar to the parameter TASK RESPONSE or TASK ACTIVITY which is there in IELTS Writing, which means, you need to write your essay to the point, and not off topic. You need to be very clear in understanding the topic and writing in the correct flow according to the given topic. The 2™ parameter on which your essay will be judgedis FORM. What is FORM? Form is nothing but the number of words you use to write the essay. Inthe instruction itself, PTE mentions very clearly that your essay should be written between 200 and 300 words, which means, you should never write less than 200 words, and you should never write more than 300 words. If your essay is between 200 to 300 words, you'll get 2 important points for FORM. If your essay is between 120 and 199 words, or if it's between 301 and 380 words, you'll get just 1 point for FORM. If your essay is less than 120 words, or if it's more than 380 words, you'll get 0 for FORM. So, why take a chance? It's simple. Write your essay between 200 and 300 words. Try to write an essay of at least 225 words. The 3“ parameter on which you'll be graded in your essay writing is your VOCABULARY. If you have an extensive repertoire of vocabulary, including words and phrases and idioms, you'll get a good score in the VOCABULARY parameter. Maximum score you can get for vocabulary is 2 points out of 2. if you have a limited range to express general academic topics, then you'll get 1 out of 2 points in vocabulary, Lastly, if you repeat the words often inan essay, orif you don’t have enough range, or use irrelevant words, though they may be of high vocabulary, you'll get 0 out of 2 for vocabulary. Vocabulary is a very important parameter if you want to get a good score in WRITING in PTEAcademic.The 4” parameter on which your essay will be graded is SPELLING. Spelling is one of the most important things you need to be careful about when it comes to essay writing. You may ask yourself, or you may think that spelling is such an innocuous thing. You couldn't be more mistaken! To make you understand the importance of spelling, let me explainit in a very easy way. If all the spellings of all the words you've used in the essay are correct, you'll get a maximum of 2 out of 2 points in spelling in Write Essay task. Even if there is a single mistake in spelling, you'll get 1 out of 2 points in spelling. If there are more than 2 spelling errors, you'll get 0 out of 2 in spelling. You CANNOT afford to make mistakes in ‘spelling. When it comes to spelling, let me also clarify one more important point. In its writing guideline, PTE Academic mentions that you can use either of the two ENGLISH. The two main types of English which people use in writing today are: the BRITISH ENGLISH and the AMERICAN ENGLISH. For example, the word colour can be spelt as COLOR, as well as COLOUR. It will be spelt as COLOR in American English, and COLOUR in the British English. Similarly, a word such as ORGANISATION can be spelt with an’s’ ora 'Z’. Itwillbe spelt with an‘s’ in British English, whereas it will be spelt with a'‘z’ in American English. So, one should be very careful that throughout the entire WRITING in all the writing tasks in PTE Academic, one uses either of these, either the British, or the American English. But, | would suggest that you go with the British English. Why you may ask? Because Australia is under the Commonwealth nations, and all the nations which are under the Commonwealth ideally follow British English. That's why, throughout your entire WRITING, you should follow British English, and not follow American English ideally. The 5" parameter on which your essay will be graded is your GRAMMAR. Grammaris very important for any written task. Be it PTE Academic, or be it IELTS, it’s very important. If you use the correct grammatical range and accuracy, which is ERROR-FREE, and rare to sight, then you'll get 2 points for grammar. if you use a sufficient range of grammar, but there are few mistakes here-and-there, you'll get 1 out 2 maximum points in grammar. Lastly, if you use poor grammar, and your range or accuracy is inadequate or insufficient, you'll get 0 out of 2. So be careful about your grammar. You CANNOT afford to make mistakes in grammar.The 6" parameter on which your essay will be scored is the DEVELOPMENT, STRUCTURE & COHERENCE in the essay, or which we can also call as a part of WRITTEN DISCOURSE. Written discourse is very similar to COHERENCE & COHESION which IELTS uses to score your essay. It simply means that your essay should be in the proper form and lucidly written. It should be logically structured and go point-by-point, and not in a haphazard manner. If your essay is well structured, it means it's coherent. And if you're using the proper linkers to form a good flow in the essay, it means that you have used proper cohesive techniques. If coherence and cohesion are proper, you'll get 2 out of 2 points. If the coherence is proper, but the flow is missing, that is proper cohesive words and linkers have not been used, you'll get 1 out of 2 points. Lastly, if your essay lacks proper form, structure and flow, you'll get 0 out of 2 in DEVELOPMENT, STRUCTURE AND COHERENCE. The 7* and last parameter on which your essay will be scored is called GENERAL LINGUISTIC RANGE. It mainly deals with communication. PTE Academic sees how well you're able to communicate an idea. If according to PTE Academic, you use a wide range of communication blocks to express your ideas, to develop arguments significantly and form good links between arguments and your points, then you'll get 2 points in general linguistic range. If you use the proper words to put across your points, but they're limited in range, then you'll get 1 point in the general linguistic range. Lastly, if you're using just the basic points, and are not able to develop ideas and arguments cohesively, then you'll get in general linguistic range The points 6 and 7 together form the WRITTEN DISCOURSE enabling skill. To understand how the above mentioned 7 parameters affect the Writing score, let’s have a look at the diagram below.Cn Pam ued) SAU Cm Cc) Barca Se Trey + Grammar PTET RC) wre Ta pra) chars STIs + Development, structure and coherence BCU Ure ell e eT TT eet = Total item score a Writing Overall Score (* The above image is from the official PTE Academic Score Guide.) Lastly, let's have a look at a good structure to write an essay. If you will keep this structure in mind, you will be able to write any PTE Academic essay well Let's start with the key point of PARAGRAPHING. It's very important that you have a few paragraphs in your essay. Ideally, you should have 4 or 5 paragraphs. Writing only 3 paragraphs is not a wise idea, and if you write more than 5 paragraphs, your writing almost becomes likea list rather than an essay. There are 3 main paragraph types in any essay, which are: +Introduction “Body Paragraphs (TWO or THREE) “ConclusionEssays are of various types. The popular essay categories are: + Narrative Essays + Descriptive Essays + Expository Essays + Persuasive Essays Generally, the 4” category of essays is very popular in the PTE Academic test, which we can also call Opinion Essays. in such essays, at the end of the essay topic, an opinion is generally sought from the user. Let's have alook at a sample essay question Do you agree or disagree?" The text in yellow, which has the essay topic is called the Topic Statement, and the text in grey, whichis asking for the user's opinionis called the Instruction Statement. Itis very easy to locate the theme of the essay in the Topic Statement. Few of the popular essay themes are’ +Education “Environment “Sports *Science & Technology +Relations “Travel *Media & Communication *Governance/Politics *HumanitiesYou'll generally come to know the theme of the essay immediately upon reading the Topic Statement. Now let's come back to the essay structure. An essay is like a funnel. You start with a broad introduction. As the essay progresses, the content gets more detailed and narrow, and lastly, you reach the conclusion. _--777 BROAD TOPIC } INTRODUCTION SUPPORTING BODY OO PARAGRAPHS }concwusion THE ESSAY FUNNEL LCCC ccc ccc ccc ccc se veinHow to write an INTRODUCTION Introduction is the most important paragraph in any essay, and a lot depends on how one writes the introduction of an essay. An introduction paragraph should be concise and to- the-point. It should neither be very short, nor very long. To write an introduction is very easy. You just need to paraphrase the given essay topic in your own words in the first two sentences. You should start your essay with the main theme or the background sentence, You can followit up using a detailed background sentence. Also, try to include your opinion in your introductory paragraph. It is also known as Thesis. Lastly, the Thesis or Opinion should be supported by an outline or a justification, which links the introduction to the supporting Body Paragraphs. Introduction: “Background Sentence “Detailed Background Sentence ‘Opinion “Justification/Outline Proving your Thesis - Body Paragraphs 1&2 Supporting or Body Paragraphs should be there to prove your thesis using examples, and should generally be of 4to 6 sentences. Body Paragraphs should start with a Topic sentence, After that, you can directly introduce an example. After that, you should justify and discuss the example, and lastly, you should end it with a supporting conclusion. Examples are very good tools to prove your opinion, and more importantly, they will help you tofill words, Using one or two examples in your essay will easily consume 20to 50 words. Also, use of ‘Linkers’ - link words, to begin body paragraphs is very important. Always rememberto put acomma() after the linkers.Body paragraphs can be started with good link words such as: 1“ body paragraph: Firstly, / First and foremost, /To being with, / On the one hand, 2" body paragraph: Positive Linkers: Secondly, / Moreover, / Furthermore, / In addition to the above, Negative/Tone changing Linkers: However, / On the contrary, / On the other hand, / On the other side, Body Paragraph “Topic Sentence + Example + Discussion/Justification *Conclusion Putting it all together - How to write a CONCLUSION paragraph Writing the conclusion is the easiest task in the entire essay writing process, as you just need to repeat the information presented in the introduction and supporting paragraphs, but paraphrased Its structure is very simple and 3 sentences are apt for a conclusion.You should start writing it with a short summary sentence. In the 2” sentence, you should restate your thesis, but in different words. You can end an essay with a prediction or arecommendation. It's a good way to end an essay. Conclusion: *Summary *Restate opinion Prediction or RecommendationThis structure can be shown as: (20 MINUTES ) 200-300 WORDS your own words: improvements is as important as writing a good essay. Happy Writing f kk ok ——— ESSAY STRUCTURE INTRODUCTION BP] —————> BP2/ BP3 ——> CONCLUSION «# Backyound Sentence eojeseunce A — e Detaled Background “@ Example @ Restate Opinion on one ee # rein © Justification / Outi ‘© Supporting Conclusion ee Recommendation Always remember that this is just an essay structure, and NOT a template. Ideally, one should not cram templates for the exam, as one puts enormous pressure on oneself in remembering entire essays. Instead, use the above structure and write any essay well in Lastly, to recollect, Write Essay is a timed task of 20 minutes. You should practice writing as many complete essays as possible before you sit for the actual test. Try to finish the essay in around 15 to 17 minutes, so that there is enough time left to check your essay! Writing a good essay is one part, and checking it is another. Checking your essay for mistakes andTelevision has two roles: to inform and to entertain. Explain which of these roles WOU see as more important. To what eotent d0 you think that TV today performs each of these roles in an effective way? Support your point of view with details from your own experience, observations or reading. As the famous saying goes, "Technology is a good slave but a bad master’, The same applies to television or the ‘Idiot Box’, as it's popularly known as. Watching television can be a boon or a bane depending on its user, and thus, it becomes imperative to maintain good judgment and jurisprudence while viewing programs oniit. To begin with, television changed the course of mankind since the day it was invented. Earlier, people used to have cognizance about what's happening in the world by reading newspapers or listening to radio. With the advent of television sets, things changed overnight. For example, people sitting in their homes in a small town in Europe could watch the news and come to know about a volcanic eruption in Fukushima, Japan. This would have never been possible without the invention of television. Furthermore, there was a paradigm shift in the entertainment industry when television sets became popular in our day-to-day lives. Just like the rainbow, shows of all types and genres began to be telecast by the content creators, began to be readily accepted, and were eventually embraced by the viewers. For instance, shows like The Tonight Show or The Oprah Winfrey Show changed the dynamics of the television world forever, and people became spellbound and glued to their television sets. In today's times, television channels and producers focus more on tabloid like features, which has made spending time watching television more like a routine activity. Inessence, television has both, its merits and drawbacks. In my opinion, caution needs tobe exercised by the viewer, as all types of items are going to be aired on television sets, informative as well as entertaining. Lastly, every coin has two sides, and thus, the viewer is king while watching television.Violence portrayed on TV and in the movies leads to an increase in crime in our society. People who watch violent movies are likely to become criminals, Do you agree or disagree? "Television is a good slave, but a terrible master’. This adage is true for anything or any condition exacerbating when consumed or done in excess. It is generally believed that television has a negative impact on children who have a free gateway to watch any program without adult supervision. A balance should be kept and morality and ethics should be adhered to when viewing televised content Since their advent, television sets have proliferated and have become ubiquitous all around the world. Many child rights proponents are of the view that the depiction of violence on television sets has a detrimental effect on the mind of a young child. For instance, according to arecent survey in Mexico city, twenty-seven out of every hundred children were found to be leading a life of crime due to easy access to television content which was rife with violence, On the other hand, television programs cater to people of all age groups around the globe. Shows of different genres are aired on various channels, through which people educate and entertain themselves after a tiring day at work. In today’s world, where everyone is working at a frenetic pace, people hardly have the time and energy to pursue personal hobbies or interests after their office time. When they return home, they just want to relax and watch a good movie, or maybe catch up on all the latest happenings of the day by viewing news channels. In anutshell, television can be a boon or a bane depending on personal usage. In my view, there are many factors which can be attributed to a person's criminal nature. Thus, a balance should be maintained before blaming televisions for a person's doings. OCSIn some countries around the world, voting is compulsory. Do you agree with the notion of compulsory voting? If voting is compulsory in a democracy, what are some conclusions we can dvaw about the nature of democracy? Of the people, by the people, for the people” is the motto of a true democracy. Voting is quintessential in bringing a good government to power. If people wince and crib about governments being in power, they should use enfranchisement when the opportunity knocks Firstly, suffrage or the right to vote is a blessing which most countries of the world have today. Still, there are many nations where voting is not allowed and dictatorships and communist powers are calling the shots. For instance, North Korea is ruled by Kim Jong, a dynastic ruler, whose forefathers have been ruling North Korea since three generations. Conversely, there are countries like Poland where voting is mandatory by law. If a native of Poland doesn't vote during assembly or state elections, the state has the right to jail the citizen and penalise him with a hefty fine Moreover, there are many countries in Africa which are run by autocrats and dictators, where the 'rule of the gun’ is the only law, People living in these nations are deprived of their basic right to live freely. If enfranchisement is made compulsory in a nation, it can cast many positive effects. Many times, denizens become fed up with the incumbent party which is ruling and feel lazy to go out and vote on the election day, A recent example which comes to mindis that of the recently held presidential elections in the United States of America, where Donald Trump won the popular vote as the voters wanted a change from the ruling Democratic party which led America for eight long tumultuous years. To conclude, voting is the most powerful tool with the citizens of any country. Furthermore, voting should be made compulsory-by-law in all democracies. A single vote can change the course of anation 00 WordsIt is important for school children to study music, art and sport as it is for them to become literate and numerate. How far 00 you agree with this statement? Support your point of view with reasons and/or examples from your own experience. As the great philosopher Aristotle once rightly said, "Without passion or interests, a life is worthless", Similarly, if school-going children are not exposed to arts, music or sports at a young age, they will miss the bus as it’s said and could be very dull or staid individuals when they grow up. First and foremost, education is the cornerstone of every child's life. But, along with it, exposure to sports or music at a tender age will make the child's altround development complete and will sharpen his mind like a sandpaper sharpens a knife. An example which comes to mind is that of Pablo Picasso, who is the most celebrated modernist artist of all time but had a troubled childhood due to dyslexia. He had an avid interest in painting and sculpting right from his childhood, Had he not been allowed to pursue his dreams, the world would have lost one of its crowning jewels. Moreover, callisthenics along with casual sports is equally important for children when they're growing up. Education is very important, but not everything in life. We have the very inspiring example of Babe Ruth, probably the most famous professional baseball player ever. Babe really struggled with his academics as a child, but due to the constant motivation of his coach, he carved aname for himselfin the annals of history. To sum up, it wouldn't be incorrect to say that an uneducated man is a half-man, but a man without passion has just survived, not lived. Furthermore, in my opinion, a child should pursue any craft from a tender age for his holistic development. Lastly, it would only be fitting to end with what Pablo Picasso once said, "Pursuing any form of art will open your mind's eye and make you complete”. ASDo you think that extreme sports such as parasailing, skydiving and skiing have become very popular? Also, should eactreme sports be banned? Nowadays, adventure sports have become very popular among the youth throughout the world. The adrenaline rush that these events giveis unparalleled and people have the time of their life while pursuing these. Nonetheless, these sports are like a double-edged sword and should be practised with caution. In earlier times, there were hardly any avenues to pass one's time, People did not have the frenetic lives which they lead today. But since the last few years, extreme sports such as bungee jumping and parasailing take the user to just another world, being highly exhilarating. Forinstance, every year, the Red Bull Flying Challenge is held in Germany, where trained fighter pilots fly their customised superjets in a bid to win the coveted ‘Pilot of the year'title. They try to outdo each other, by manoeuvring their planes at mind-numbing angles and altitudes. Although a lot of safety measures are taken in such events, there have been cases of peoplelosing theirlives, asitis so easy to err. Moreover, every day, new sports such as white water rafting and desert biking are being pursued by hobbyists, as they get a heart-pounding experience. For instance, there is a special obstacle race held in Lithuania every year, where the participants have to drive a sledge through a tunnel, riddled with obstacles at each turn. One wrong turn could costa life, Still, people indulgein these so-called sports to get goosebumps. Whether these events should be held or not is always a predicament for the authorities. However, the organisers can ensure that all safeguards are taken while hosting such events Lastly, "Precaution is better than cure”, and so, extreme sports should be held under strict supervision, where everyone enjoys, the participants as well as the spectators. EESSome educational experts think that the new digital teaching techniques like online teaching will make human teachers in classrooms redundant. Do you agree or disagree? As Benjamin Franklin once said, "An investment in education pays the best interest” Education is one of the most important pillars of any society, on which the future of its children rests. Nowadays, computerised teaching and testing methods have become very effective for classroom teaching. It is widely believed that this new teaching, aided by technological innovations, will replace the orthodox blackboard teaching style in the near future Earlier, all type of education was delivered by human teachers, who used the chalk-and-talk style of teaching, Since the last few years, this has changed and there has been a metamorphosis in the teaching patterns, curricula as well as evaluation. For instance, now there are tests for English proficiency testing such as PTE and GRE, which are completely automated, and have no human intervention in the entire testing ecosystem. This makes the evaluation and scoring completely objective; moreover, the checking time is reduced drastically, along with the elimination of evaluation errors. Furthermore, a test such as IELTS is a paper-pen test, whereas tests such as PTE and TOEFL are not. So, a lot of paper is saved by opting for the latter. Also, by harnessing the power of the internet, a teacher sitting in Japan can teach students sitting in Mexico, India and Cuba, all at the same time, using video group-conferencing, This was unimaginable few decades ago Some proponents of the blackboard teaching system still feel that a physical teacher is needed in the class as he can have an emotional connect with his pupils. But we are not far from the day when computerised systems will deal with students at an emotional level as well. To end, | will only say that, "Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers willbe transformational”Many people think that the native region affects a successful person. What is your opinion about the effect of people's native region on their success? The world we live in is replete with innumerable examples of people who have been uber- successful, Many times, the achievements of a person are linked to his birthplace, the traits he learnt from his childhood surroundings, and how he was affected by his native roots, But whether we should couple a person's success with the place where he is born is a debatable issue, to say the least. History has been witness to numerous success stories, which involved extraordinary individuals, who were born in testing circumstances, the odds being stacked against them, and still, they rose from the ashes like a phoenix. They went on to change the course of mankind. A telling example which comes to mind is that of the Greek financial magnate, Sir George Soros. Being born to very poor Syrian refugees who migrated to America when Soros was just two years old, he grew up to be one of the most prolific investment bankers of his generation Moreover, success depends a lot on a person's willpower. Failure is just a stepping stone to success, and victory tasted after many defeats is the sweetest. We have the case of Barack Obama, the first African-American president, who is of a Kenyan descent, and spent is childhood in Africa. Who would have guessed that he would go on to become the president of the United States for two successful terms despite his African roots! Lastly, it all boils down to an individual's innate capacity to fight the odds against him. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Similarly, a determined person who is dogged to achieve his goals with tenacious persistence will persevere and succeed, no matter what, no matter where! PEEThe environment we are living in is in Danger due to various problems. Who do you think should be responsible to solve it? Is it the governments, organisations or each individual? Man is nothing without the environment he lives in". The above adage was made famous by Norman Borlaug, the "Father of the Green Revolution”. Due to man's insatiable hunger for infrastructural progress, there are hardly any pristine pockets of natural beauty left in the world today. It is up to us, the torchbearers of this current generation, whether to enjoy life now, and cause the downfall of our kin, or to pull up our socks and preserve whatis left of our surroundings. The dice started rolling with the advent of the industrial revolution. Development had never been witnessed at such a rapid pace worldwide, and the environmental ramifications it began to cast were appalling. Subsequently, the greed of man knew no bounds, and he wanted to inhabit every walking inch on the planet. Construction activity grew by leaps and bounds, and before anything much could be done to counterits damage, the improvementin technology made this man-made behemoth insurmountable Moreover, the advertisement industry started to flourish, and this made people desire more than their mouths could chew. This led to a massive manufacturing drive, the ill-effects of which were a depletion of the ozone layer because of the release of hazardous gases by these enormous production units, and their poisonous effluents being discharged into rivers or seabeds. In anutshell, despite many efforts such as the Kyoto Protocol to counter pollution hazards, the daily carbon dioxide emission levels in the world are increasing daily. The governments alone can't to much to curtail this growing problem of ever increasing carbon footprints. If citizens don't become cognizant and take conscientious steps to preserve the environment along with the support of local municipal bodies, we are not far from the day when welll be livingin concrete jungles. PACInthe past 100 years, there have been many inventions such as antibiotics, air planes and computers. What d0 you think is the most important invention of them? why? One of the greatest inventions of the nineteenth century was the invention of the method of invention’, The above quote sums up how the last two hundred years have been when it comes to innovations which have changed the course of history. There have been many contraptions devised to serve mankind as well as to satiate personal gains, but none have had the power as widespread and as life-altering as that of a computer. To begin with, the concept of a computer - or a computing device was first brought to the fore by the English mathematician Charles Babbage, and the first computer which was built weighed almost fifty tonnes! We have come a long way from there, where nowadays, computers are so minuscule that they can fit in a palm, and have computing powers so enormous, that a typical smartphone these days has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed on the moon Computers are so ubiquitous and are used in everything, right from the most complex jobs like the manufacturing of aeroplanes, to the simplest of jobs like multiplication of digits. Even assembly-line production of antibiotic medicines and vehicles is impossible to think of today without the help of highly sophisticated computerised systems Moreover, with the seamless integration of artificial intelligence in computerised processing, we have reached a stage where computerised devices can sense human emotions and defeat human beings at mental games such as ‘go’ and ‘chess’ requiring superior cognitive skills, Just last year, the program AlphaGo defeated the reigning ‘go’ champion of the world at an event in South Korea, This shows how far computers have come. To end with a quote from Albert Einstein, "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination”.Is travel a necessary component of education or not? will a scholar sitting at home have more knowledge than one who travels? Discuss. As the famous saying goes, "A life without travel is a life half-lived” The same can be said about education as well. It is undeniable that the exposure which travelling brings to learning is invaluable in teaching life lessons. However, it comes at an expense, and most people would not disagree that education related peregrination will be more helpful than classroom based teachings. Firstly, pursuing a foreign education isn't everyone's cup of tea. Not only is it prohibitively expensive, but many students get homesick living far away from their homes and are not able to cope with the cultural differences in their new surroundings. Moreover, one gets to meet people from so many countries, with myriad backgrounds and extraordinary life stories, which would be impossible had they not migrated abroad for a better future. Also, moving to anew country will improve one’s language skills. To exemplify, almost all universities around the world need their candidates to clear English proficiency tests such as the Pearson test of English, or IELTS, thus indirectly helping them to improve their communicative skills. Also, while studying in a foreign land, most students work part-time to repay the loans which they have borrowed at high interest rates. This transforms them into independent and responsible adults, instilling in them the values and cultures of their adopted home country. To sum up, there are numerous examples of people who have never stepped out of their country of birth, but due to their never ending curiosity, have gathered unquantifiable knowledge. However, a person with worldly experience and exposure to different teaching styles predominantly due to his overseas education will be highly sagacious, Lastly, what education teaches, travel can; but what travel teaches, education never will PEATFormal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student’s performance. Continual assessment techniques such as course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to do this. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this Statement? Any evaluation is a means of understanding whether the method employed while delivering education is effective or not. The two most popular assessment methods used all over the world are the formal assessment method and the continual assessment method. Which of the two is more effective is an area of contention. In my opinion, a combination of the two may be used to get the most desired result. To begin with, there are still many countries in the world which follow the formal written assessment method. School curricula comprise different subjects taught in classes, and at the end of each day, home tasks are given to be submitted the next day. Many surveys have found this method of teaching to be putting a lot of pressure on the children, and their parents as well. This impedes the creative thinking of the young mind and promotes rote learning, as their entire result depends on the grades in the examinations. On the contrary, there are countries like Finland where the practice of giving home tasks has been abolished, and pupils are taught using out-of-the-box techniques like in-class projects, which help in developing the cognitive skills and push the creative thinking limits of the mind. These countries use the continual assessment approach, where students are tested on various parameters, employing a value-based teaching system. It is also found that students respect their teachers more in these nations. To conclude, it would be unfair to take a one-sided view on this very crucial subject of evaluation. In my opinion, it would be best suited that a combination of both these systems is used, by taking away the vital key points from both. Eventually, the future of the coming generations rests on these techniques, and maybe the ‘continuo-formal’ approach is the best way ahead.Some people argue that laws change human behavior whereas some disagree. Do you agree with it? As Aristotle once said, “Athis best, manis the noblest of all animals. Separated from law and justice, he is the worst’. Similarly, having laws is one thing, but following them is another, However, the ideal state of affairs proposes that both go handin-hand, and it is debatable whether laws can actually change human behaviour or not Laws are the strongest tools to maintain propriety in a well-functioning democracy. Without them, a society may become chaotic and it doesn't take long before it becomes a banana republic. There are many countries in the world where the ‘rule of the gun’ is the norm, and dictators have wreaked havoc with their nation's economy. For instance, terrorist attacks are rife by the group Boko Haram in Nigeria. Also, there is the case of Somalia, whichis the world epicentre of seapiracy attacks. Had these countries stricter law enforcement, the people of these regions wouldn't be involved in such barbaric activities. On the other hand, there are countries such as Singapore, where citizens are indoctrinated with a respect for the laws since a very young age. The people there have an inherent respect for the existing regulations along with jurisprudence. Also, the fine for law-breaking is so severe, that out of fear, denizens wouldn't risk circumventing or subverting them. This can also be taken as a demerit of a society with such austere statutes. Natives should be guided bylaws, not dominated. To sum up, it is up to the legislature, executive and judiciary powers of any mature democracy to shape the laws. Moreover, pro-active citizen groups should work with the authorities to frame rules which don't impinge on the free-will of the society. Lastly, a society with good laws is advisable; a society with bad laws will be catastrophic.Mass media has become an indispensable part of our fives. Discuss its pros and cons. In the last few decades, mass media has been the biggest propaganda tool used by countries, governments and people alike. It is used to share news, propagate views and is also used to malign identities by spewing hatred about them. Using mass media as a boon or a bane depends on its transmitter. In this essay, we will shed light on both the pros and cons of this man-made monster, which we call mass media. To begin with, mass media encapsulates all the major mediums of communication, including newspapers, television and the internet, Each of these has its own set of users and reach. But in the last few years, undoubtedly, the internet has been the most ubiquitous source of information. There is hardly any place in the world today where the internet is not present because of the proliferation of smartphones. Also, television is the most common household device. News channels these days have become a conduit for powerful business conglomerates to spread their messages to people sitting in the comfort of theirhomes. Moreover, so many mobile applications or ‘apps’ have burgeoned these days, which have made people social media addicts. People are glued to their smartphones for so many hours, and spend time on various apps such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter, which are very powerful mass communication channels. A recent example of the impact social media has is how the American president Donald Trump used Twitter almost every day during his presidential campaign despite overwhelming odds against him becoming president. People were almost hypnotised by his tweets - messages on Twitter, so much so, that America saw the most massive voter turnout in its history. Lastly, people should use their judgment while using social media, as whoever controls the media, controls the mindIt is argued that getting married before finishing school or getting a job is not a good choice. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Matrimony is a bond best served by people of a certain maturity. Consequently, marriage is everything about timing. Many people believe that a couple should be man and wife only at the opportune moment, after having gained a proper education, and preferably after beginning one's financial innings, A wedlock out of hurry often leads to many conjugal issues, which are often realised only after matrimony, Firstly, completing schooling and gaining further education gives one a certain confidence in life. In today's times, education is the most important qualification a man needs. And higher education, more so. It is almost impossible to land a good job without passing out from a school of repute. Now add to this the responsibility of a marriage, and it would be a complete disaster for the newlyweds. Financial instability is a crime in today's day and age, and without a regular income, it becomes very difficult to lead a happy life. For instance, basic commodities for daily household chores have become prohibitively expensive and buying them needs monthly budgeting. Moreover, many times people get married at a very young age, without pondering the challenges which life may throw at them post-marriage. Generally, the wife moves to a new environment, which may be very challenging at a young age. Many times, being in a relationship in one's adolescent years comes with a lot of stress, and if children are born early, then it may be very difficult and taxing for young parents to deal with the demands of parenthood. Furthermore, the few years post-marriage is usually the time the couple gets to spend together. Early parenthood without a steady income can lead to disharmony in marital bliss. Lastly, itis better to wait a while than torush and have things fall apart.Some people could stay effective in their lives by doing the repetitive routine, such as eating the same diet. Do you think it can apply to everyone? As the famous saying goes, "The secret to one's life is concealed in the daily routine”. A well planned and scheduled day makes one more efficient, enhances productivity and removes lethargy, whereas leading an erratic life will only lead to chaos. But the same cannot be said about everyone, as one's lifestyle depends majorly on one’s occupation. On the one hand, there are many professions which require a very disciplined and regimented approach, without which, success in one's field cannot be achieved. For example, the life of an Olympic sprinter or swimmer demands daily practice for years before the actual event. There have been instances of the Chinese government picking up children as young as six ears for certain sports categories. These children undergo rigorous training and are fed on a high-protein diet of special herbs every day! Sowe could say thatit is their fixed routine which is making them as strong as forged iron On the other hand, there are creative crafts like painting and sculpting, which demand a creative bent of mind, There have been many famous actors as well, who are known for their method acting skills. The doyen of method actors, Robert De Niro practised his craft so religiously, that once to play the role of a taxi driver, he actually drove taxis for twelve-hour shifts in New York for months! Such an eccentric approach will not follow any preset schedule for doing things, and will still marvel us by its outcome. Ina nutshell, it all boils down to what one wants from life. To some, the routine is a way of living; to others, outright distraction. Lastly, it can be said that repetition without a mental application will make one dull, while a well charted day will keep one agile.should the practice of companies providing discounts on their products continue? Irrespective of age, ethnicity, or economic classification, the word ‘discount’ simply brings a big smile on anyone's face. Whether it is considered as a reward or simply a ‘gimmick’ to allure customers, discounts have been practiced since the day businesses were invented. If the banner reads ‘Discounts are available’, people would swarm in and purchase goods at the drop of ahat. This essay will discuss why discounts are loved by everyone and should be continued by companies. On the one hand, there is a mass that doesn't favour discounts offered by companies on their products. According to them, such a practice can ruin the market as large-sized companies can afford to give away hefty discounts, but small vendors from the same town or city cannot make it. Therefore, It is apparent that there is a section of society which is against such discount offerings. On the other hand, discounts must be offered by companies. After all, it is an irresistible word and also a cheerful event that each one of us loves and celebrates. Without discounts, festivals will lose their spark, and the streets would be empty. Furthermore, those who cannot afford products and wait for discounts to appear may never be able to buy them. So, though it’s a hard nut to crack for small vendors, they should find some solution to it and jump on the bandwagon of discounts. To conclude, although it's a controversial topic, discounts create a sense of excitement in the minds of the buyers, | espouse the notion of continuing the practice of discounts on products by companies or manufacturers. It creates a win-win situation for both, the producers, and the consumers. ny PecanIs Increase in tourism beneficial or harmful to the local culture? Itis scientifically proven that humans need a break from their tiring tasks and tedious work. It is for this reason, most of us plan getaways to escape from our busy professional lives. Furthermore, a trip to other countries or places away from our hometowns can fill us with a new joy, and we are then ready to work with boost again. This essay will discuss why an increase in tourism has more merits than drawback to the ethnicity of the indigenous cultures around the world. On the one hand, there are some who take tourism as a cultural harm to their societies or cultures. According to them, tourists who visit their places may influence the locals with their attire and lifestyles, which in turn, may have negative effects. For instance, in the Middle East region, western culture is not widely accepted, and thus, the local governments take utter precautions in preserving their ethnic values. On the other hand, there are many staunch proponents of tourism and travelling because it makes the world smaller and acquainted. Local rites and rituals should not be that weak that they are blown away by a small wind of influence. Tourism provides the gamut of economic and humanitarian benefits as we know each other. It is needless to say how advantageous the bonds between tourists and locals can prove to spread multiculturalism in the world In anutshell, tourists should always be welcomed by any country or region whose economy depends on tourism. Moreover, in my opinion, an increase in tourism shall bring more benefits than harms. And thus, | am in total favor of tourism spreading all over the world.Scientific research should be restricted to provide education and personal knowledge — d0 you agree? Knowledge never goes in vain. If you have learned something, you will reap its benefits sooner of later. The argument of restricting scientific research only for personal knowledge enhancement or providing education seems to be baseless. It is because of scientific researches that many legacy systems have been supplanted by contemporary tools making ourlives easier than ever before First of all, people of the opinion that scientific research should fall within the ambit of the predefined fields should have a second thought and broaden their views. Research of any kind in such a way would be purely self-centered. Studies done be reputed universities and scientists are more in the interest of public or society rather than aimed at some person. For instance, all the scientific researches done by NASA - the American space research organisation, have greatly contributed to humanity, as the outcomes of its research have had a massive positive impact on all human lives around the world, Had it not been for such scientific research, many poor countries would still be in doldrums. Moreover, not only do scientific research help improve human health, but it also addresses the well-being of animals and the mother nature. A myriad of fields such as agriculture, astronomy, social science, archaeology, technology, literature, education and many more are open for scientific experiments and have great scope of improvements. To sum up, the intense research done by scholars and scientists in the right direction can help us all in numerous ways. |, thus, strongly back that scientific researches should be conducted without any boundary, and not for just personal enhancement. If science will not save the world, what will? Rampant progress in science and technology will be the only panacea to all the problems which plague mother earthMany species in the world are on the verge of extinction, how do you see it? The ‘time’ does not always favour each one of us; inevitably, some species, for instance, dinosaurs, got extinct. However, for such an extinction, humans had the least role to play. Natural calamities and extra-terrestrial objects were the ones that destroyed many lives on the earth. Or, in other cases, vicissitudes of their lives might have taken a heavy toll on their existence. But here, the questionis a little bit different. Today, we have many species on the verge of extinction because of human interference. While saving the species from the natural calamities is a tough row to hoe, we can certainly curb unethical practices of hunting down animals, birds, marine lives, and insects. For instance, the great African White Horn Rhino has become almost extinct because of the unquenchable human greed for its horn. Many superstitious people believe that if the particles of the hom are crushed and consumed, it increases the longevity of the human life Not only are such practices illegal, but also have they eliminated one of the most majestic creatures to have walked the surface of the earth. Saving species doesn't come through banning hunts only. All the factors that affect one's living, for example, global warming, should be taken care of as well. Deforestation is the quintessence of another human deed that has brought many jungle lives under threat. Whether to boost skills or have any monetary gain, hunting will surely affect those innocent lives. To recapitulate, we cannot change the past, but we can certainly turn over a new leaf by making laws and orders stricter, and top of all by making people understand the importance of saving life’ irrespective of the species we are concerned of.“Actions speak louder than words”. Do you agree or disagree? What or how we speak is a very important part of who we are. Sometimes there are people who are loquacious, whereas few people are reserved and let their actions do the talking This essay will discuss why the latter ones have the qualities which deserve more attention First and foremost, words are the first thing in a person's repertoire which impress the listeners, Words can either make or break a person's confidence. For example, during elections, itis very common to see politicians making false promises in their speeches. Even the people who attend their rallies know that all those are hollow words. Not only do the people know that these words don't mean a thing, but also are they aware of the inherent fickle nature of the politicians, On the other hand, there are many people in the world who do their work regularly and don't feel the need to shout out to the whole world about their deeds. For them, their work speaks louder than words, which can be true or untrue. To exemplify, we have been blessed with so. many noble souls in the past like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and innumerable others, who made a big difference to the people around them by their actions. Therefore, it is apparent that gestures matter more than mere utterances In a nutshell, what we do is far more important than what we comment. Moreover, in my opinion, itis safe to conclude that we should be careful while choosing our words as well, as our words have the power to change situations. Lastly, it will be right to say that actions make the world go roundCompany Top level Authorities should or should not take employees’ suggestions or ideas to take any decisions. Discuss. Decision-making is an important process on which the success of any company depends. It is a vital part in achieving the desired organisation goals. Whether the company leaders should include their employees’ ideas or suggestions prior to making a decision or not, is a debatable subject. This essay will explain the advantages and drawbacks of allowing the employees to take part in the decision-making process of aan organisation. To begin with, there are a myriad of reasons why employees should be a part of the decision- making process of any institution. One of the preponderant reasons is that it builds confidence in their staff members. In addition, it makes them feel like they are treasured by the company, for their voices are heard by their superiors. Moreover, it strengthens the teamwork of a company and makes everyone work as a homogeneous unit. Therefore, it prevents absenteeism in a company and helps in promoting a long-term relationship between the company and the employees. However, there are also drawbacks in accepting the employees’ suggestions and ideas while making a company's decision. For instance, the company bosses are more knowledgeable and skilled about running a business, since they have years of decision- making experience under their belt, Thus, not all of the ideas and propositions made by these employees are best for the company. In anutshell, decision-making is a very crucial aspect of success for any company. In my opinion, even though employees’ suggestions and proposals are important, any decisions should be only made by the top level authorities of a company. After all, the buck has to stop somewhere, and ideally should with the top management. After all, as the famous saying goes- the ship that will not obey the helm, will obey the rocks erreur eet) El