REVIEW TEST 1 ● ANSWER KEY

Writing

Can write a structured text clearly signalling main points and supporting details.

Sample answer
Exams – the key ingredients for success
Exams are approaching, and you want to do well. Being an average student, you look at the brainy students with envy.
Surely it’s easy for them to succeed? Well, not necessarily.
Of course, people who are very intelligent can often soak up information effortlessly. If you have an analytic mind, you don’t
find difficult concepts challenging. But you also need other qualities to achieve the best results. Firstly, you need to be well-
organised. However brainy you are, you won’t do well in all your exams unless you draw up a detailed revision timetable and
make sure you cover all the topics you need to learn about.
Having drawn up your revision timetable, you need to stick to it, and this is where another quality comes in – being self-
motivated. Even the brightest students can fail exams if they can’t make themselves sit down and revise regularly. The key
is little and often, over a long period of time, rather than a concentrated effort in the last few days before the exam. If you
follow this principle, you’ll have a much better chance of success.
There are also qualities that are a disadvantage at exam time. Being sociable and gregarious is great most of the time, but
at exam time you really need to forget about parties, become single-minded and focus just on your studies.
The key to success is being determined to do well, and being prepared to put your social life on hold for a while. Good luck!
(248 words)

Mark scheme
The task is worth 30 marks. Award up to 6 marks for each section of the mark scheme, according to the descriptions below.

Marks Content Task achievement Organisation and Range Accuracy

structure

1-2 Content is difficult Completes only one Structure provided Uses only very Lots of errors even in
to understand. or two aspects of the not followed. basic vocabulary basic language,
Ideas are basic task. May not use the and grammar, with which impede
and not developed, correct genre and a lot of errors. communication.
and no opinions only covers one or
are expressed. two of the points
specified in the task.

3-4 Content is Completes the Structure provided Uses simple Generally accurate,
comprehensible. majority of the task. partially followed. vocabulary and but with some errors,
Ideas are fairly Uses the correct Some paragraphs basic grammar especially in more
simple but well genre and covers the may only have one structures advanced language.
expressed. Some majority, but not all, of or two sentences. accurately. Uses
ideas are the points specified in some more
developed by the task. advanced
giving reasons or vocabulary, and
examples. Some uses some more
details are added, advanced grammar
and some opinions structures with
are expressed. errors. Uses some
linking devices.

© 2016 Pearson FOCUS 4 PHOTOCOPIABLE 1

 REVIEW TEST 1 ● ANSWER KEY
Writing

5-6 Content is Completes all parts of Divided into Uses a wide range A few mistakes in
comprehensible the task fully, paragraphs, of vocabulary more advanced
and interesting. including the correct following the appropriately, and language structures,
Ideas are genre and all the structure provided. uses a wide range but generally very
developed with points specified in the Each paragraph has of grammar accurate.
reasons, examples task. a clear purpose. structures
etc. Details are accurately and
added and appropriately,
opinions including more
expressed, giving advanced
the text a lively vocabulary and
feel. grammar structures.
Uses a range of
linking devices
accurately.

© 2016 Pearson FOCUS 4 PHOTOCOPIABLE 2