Model Compositions for Tests 1-10

Practice Test 1
1. 
Write an email to your friend inviting him/ given me a new green leather purse with an ethnic
her to spend a week at your house. Tell your pattern on it, and I loved it.
friend what you will do, where you will go, I put the purse inside my rucksack, together
what the weather will be like and any other with my homework and school books. When
useful information. lunchtime came, I took my rucksack to the
cafeteria and looked for my purse to get some
coins to buy a drink. But it was gone! Someone
Dear Jenny, had stolen it! Then I turned around and saw
Sandra, the girl I dislike the most in my class,
How are you? I have some great news. My holding my purse! I went up to her and demanded
parents suggested I invite you to our country she give it back.
house for a week, in August. I really hope you can ‘It’s not your purse, it’s mine! I’m not a thief!’
come! We’ll have an amazing time! she shouted at me. I was so angry that I took my
stuff and went running back to the classroom.
Our house is by the sea, on a large island called And that’s when I saw it – my green leather purse
Evia. So bring your swimsuit, of course, because was on my desk. Sandra hadn’t stolen it and I felt
we’ll be doing a lot of swimming! I know that your awful.
skin is quite sensitive, so make sure you also pack I apologised to Sandra but she’s still angry
sunscreen. It can get very hot in Greece – up to with me. That’s the day I learned never to accuse
40 degrees Celsius! However, the evenings are anyone unless you are completely certain.
quite cool so you should bring a light jacket and
some long sleeve tops. You don’t need to bring
any equipment for the sea, as we have everything
under the sun, like goggles, flippers and masks. 3. 
Human beings have done a lot of harm to the
environment. What can each one of us do to
Besides swimming, we’ll also be going out a lot, be environmentally friendly? Write an essay
so consider bringing a few outfits that are smarter. giving your views.
Nothing too fancy, but some nice tops and maybe
a skirt would be great. And definitely bring a pair of
jeans for our casual outings. Nowadays, we are constantly hearing about
how the environment is in trouble and that we
I’m so excited about your visit! You’re going to must all take better care of it. But how can each of
meet all my friends and we’re going to have the us do this?
best time! To begin with, we must try to use fewer
Model Compo
materials that harm the environment, and when
I’ve got to do some homework now, but we’ll talk we do, we must recycle. For example, we should
soon. try to repair things that are broken, and not always
buy new ones. We should also reduce our use of
Love, plastic items, as they are not biodegradable. My
Mariana family always uses reusable shopping bags when
we go to the supermarket, and we have stopped
using plastic bottles and straws. I also return glass
bottles to the supermarket.
2. 
Write a story that begins with ‘I woke up that Finally, I use my bicycle as much as possible
morning feeling like something bad was going so that my parents do not have to drive me
to happen.’ Continue the story. everywhere. Fumes from cars are one of the
biggest sources of air pollution and we should all
try to leave our cars at home and cycle, walk or
I woke up that morning feeling like something use public transport instead.
bad was going to happen, even though it was a To sum up, to be more environmentally friendly,
normal school day like any other. In fact, I should we should use less plastic, recycle as much as
have been very happy because my parents had possible and avoid using cars whenever we can.

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Practice Test 2

1. 
Write an email to your friend telling him/ from time to time. But then we heard a strange
her about a wonderful party you went to last noise at our door, like someone trying to break in.
weekend. Say whose party it was, what you I’ve watched enough police series to know that if
did there and what was so enjoyable about it. someone wants to break into your house, they cut
the power first.
My father motioned to me not to make a sound.
Hi Mario, I was terrified, and my mother put her arms
around me and held me tight. Then my father
How are you? I haven’t seen you around for a few whispered, ‘Where’s your mobile phone, Helen?’
days and I heard you had the flu. You missed an He needed my phone because his was at the
amazing party at Christine’s house on Saturday. shop being repaired and my mum doesn’t have
She told me that she had invited you but that you one.
were sick. I pointed to my room, and my dad got up
slowly. He quietly tiptoed to my room. I was so
The party was great because, first of all, all of our scared because I didn’t want him to leave us, but
friends were there. Christine even invited John I knew there was no other way. Then suddenly,
and Paul from our old school. It’s ages since we the lights came back on, and our neighbour’s dog
all got together like that, and we really missed started barking! He was the one scratching at the
you! Remember how much fun we used to have in door! We laugh about the story now, but, believe
primary school together? me, we were really terrified when it happened!

Then we played Monopoly, a new version which is

really complicated. I’ve never laughed so much in
my life. John kept getting confused and it was so 3. 
Write an essay saying what you like about
funny. your school, and suggest things that could
be done to improve it.
Finally, best of all was the food. You know what a
great cook Christine’s mum is! She made so many
different things that I can’t remember all of them. My school, Henley High School, is a school
There were cupcakes, pizza, spaghetti, steaks, like many others, with some positive features and
chips, a fantastic cake and a lot of other things some aspects that need to be improved.
too. What I like most about my school is the staff.
The headmistress is very strict but she always has
I’ll show you some pictures we took as soon as time to talk to the students if they have a problem.
you come back to school. Hope you feel better I also really appreciate what my teachers do. Most
soon. of them are very knowledgeable and they teach us
very well. Even when the lessons are demanding,
Bye for now! I know they are doing their best to help us
understand the lessons.
Jimmy The aspects that definitely need improvement
are the school playground and school equipment.
The playground is in terrible shape, and there are
lots of areas where there are holes in the ground.
2. 
Write a story that begins with ‘My parents This is dangerous because when we are playing
and I were watching TV one evening when basketball, for example, it is easy to trip and fall. I
suddenly the lights went out.’ Continue the also feel that the school needs more computers.
story. Whenever we have a computer lesson, five
students have to share one computer, and it
makes the lesson go very slowly.
My parents and I were watching TV one These are the main things I like and dislike
evening when suddenly the lights went out. At first, about my school and I hope that improvements
we thought it was a power cut; they do happen can be made to it soon.

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Practice Test 3
1. 
Write an email to your friend suggesting you At first we thought it was a hoax, but then we
go on holiday together this summer. Tell your started to look at the pictures that accompanied it.
friend where you think you should go, where When we examined some Egyptian sculptures,
you should stay, what you want to do there, they did seem to have heads shaped like aliens.
and any other useful information. The article also said that the pyramids are built
on a line that leads exactly to the North Pole. It is
impossible for people of that time to have known
Hi Terry, such a thing.
My friend, John, and I got so interested in this
How’s your weekend going? I had a great idea idea, that we started looking up other strange
and I wanted to let you know as soon as possible. ancient structures, like Stonehenge and even the
Remember how we were talking about going Acropolis in Athens. We saw that there were many
somewhere abroad this summer? Why don’t we other mysteries that could not be explained. How
go to London together? I think it’d be brilliant! did people lift such heavy rocks or know such
things about construction?
I went online and looked for package deals. It’d We spent a few hours on the Internet and John
be a lot easier if we went with a group, don’t you is coming over next weekend as well. Maybe we
think? The prices are actually quite affordable and will never solve these mysteries, but I am very
include airfare, transfers and the hotel, as well interested in learning more about them.
as a tour. The hotel is in a central area, near an
underground station, so it’ll be very convenient.
It’s not that luxurious, but I don’t imagine we’ll be
spending a lot of time indoors! 3. 
Today, many countries spend money on their
military forces. Do you think this is necessary?
Besides the tour of the main sights, I’d also like Should the money be spent on something
to visit the Natural History Museum. It’s got some else? Write an essay giving your views.
interesting dinosaur exhibits and rock collections.

I also want to eat fish and chips, a typical English Nowadays, we are constantly hearing about
dish. I looked it up and there’s a great fish and wars all over the world, so it seems natural that
chips place near the museum, so we could go many countries spend vast sums of money on
there afterwards. building armies. However, I think the money would
be better spent on education and health.
So ask your parents and let me know what you To begin with, when one country builds up a
think! I’ll send you the link with the tour package strong army, other countries see this and start
Model Compo
details. making their own armies stronger. This is a
vicious circle which just makes poor countries
See you tomorrow! poorer and wealthy countries wealthier. Weapons
are incredibly expensive, and the countries that
Jim manufacture them are wealthy and powerful.
Instead of spending money on the military, I
strongly believe that it should be spent on making
society healthier and improving the lives of
2. 
Write a story that begins with ‘My best friend citizens. For instance, there should be modernised
and I were surfing the Internet when we came hospitals for better health care, and improved
across a very strange article’…Continue the education for children. Hospitals are important to
story. make sure the quality of life is high and citizens
are taken care of, and if people are well-educated,
they will realise that war is never a solution to any
My best friend and I were surfing the Internet problem.
when we came across a very strange article. It These are the reasons I am against money
was in an English online newspaper and it said being spent on military forces. I hope that one day
that there was evidence that aliens had built the soon, war will become a thing of the past.
Egyptian pyramids and other ancient things, too.

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Practice Test 4

1. 
Write an email to your friend describing a somewhere at school, but in fact I know exactly
recent family celebration. Explain what the where it is.
occasion was, who came and what you liked I love debating and I’ve been in the debating
about it. club for two years. I’m really good at it, and so
is another boy, Alex. Last week, there was a
competition and Alex and I ended up being in the
Hi Georgia! finals. I won, and the prize was the expensive pen.
But afterwards, I saw that Alex was really upset.
How are things? Did you have a good weekend? When I asked him what was wrong, he said that
I didn’t go out this weekend because it was my his dad would be really angry with him because he
grandmother’s 80th birthday and we had a big hadn’t won the competition. That made me very
party for her on Saturday evening. My cousins cross, because his father hadn’t even come to the
came from London and stayed overnight at our competition to watch his son!
house. We had a wonderful time! So after some thought, I gave the pen to Alex
and told him to say that he had won. He was
My grandmother is an incredibly sweet woman. so grateful that he hugged me. My parents are
You’ve met her, haven’t you? She’s such an active already proud of me, and that’s the only prize I
and intelligent person that I can’t believe she’s 80 need.
years old! My mum and my two aunts cooked all
day on Friday and most of Saturday to prepare the
dinner. You can’t imagine how much food there
was! All kinds of savoury pies, grilled lamb, baked 3. 
Is going to university more important today
potatoes, chips, pasta…and more! There were than it was in the past? Do you want to go to
also lots of pastries and cakes that other relatives university? Why or why not? Write an essay
brought. You should come over after school giving your views.
tomorrow and help me eat them!

I loved the evening because I got to see all my In the past, not as many people went to
relatives from all over the country. Besides my university as they do today. Personally, I would
cousins, other relatives came from Northern like to attend university as I feel that nowadays a
Greece and my favourite uncle is here from degree is a very important qualification.
America. We haven’t been together like this for On the one hand, if a person wants to do a
a long time! We laughed and talked all night simple job that does not require a college degree,
long. then of course it is not necessary to get one just
for the sake of having it. Sadly, many people see a
I’ve got to go now. See you soon, university degree as a status symbol, and this is a
great waste of time and money.
Irene. On the other hand, most of the higher-paid jobs
in today’s world require a university degree, such
as teaching, law and engineering. I would like to
be a doctor and it is impossible to become one
2. 
Write a story about losing something without a university education.
very valuable. Begin the story with the Another point to consider is that life has
line: ‘I usually take very good care of my become more competitive. Employers are
possessions.’ Continue the story. demanding more qualifications from prospective
employees, so we must do everything we can to
be well-educated and well-qualified.
I usually take very good care of my possessions, These are the reasons why I personally believe
so everyone was surprised when I lost an it is crucial to get a university education today,
expensive pen that I won at a debating especially if you want a well-paid career with
competition. I told everyone that I had lost it future prospects.

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Practice Test 5
1. 
Write an email to your friend offering advice ‘We have your son here. There has been an
about how to improve his/her marks. Suggest accident,’ a strange voice answered. But I don’t
ways that will help your friend revise and have any children and I said so. The speaker
concentrate better, as well as any other useful immediately hung up. I felt really strange and
ideas. could not go to sleep. Who was the speaker trying
to call? Why had he called my number? Was it a
sick joke or was somebody really in trouble? Since
Hi Kelly, there was nothing I could do, I eventually fell
asleep but I had terrible dreams.
Sorry I haven’t written in such a long time. In your The next morning, I called my mother. What
last email, you asked me for some tips about how she told me explained everything. It seems there
to get better marks. I thought of a few suggestions was a gang of criminals trying to get money from
that I want to share with you. people by telling them that their children were in
accidents. It was all a lie. It’s shocking that people
First of all, I think the key is to pay attention in could try to scare others for money. Since that
class. Actually, if you really listen to the teacher night, I take my grandmother’s advice and don’t
and understand the lesson, half of your studying answer late-night calls.
is done! I think that too many students don’t
concentrate in class or do their homework well,
and then they expect to catch up before a test.
Not only is this more difficult, it is also not very 3. 
Write an essay about the advantages of
effective. I study less for tests by listening in class social media websites like Facebook. Do
and actually do really well in them. they help people to make more friends?

Another tip is to rewrite your notes when you

revise for a test. I always summarise my notes Social media websites like Facebook and
in another notebook. That way, I study while Instagram are popular with people all over the
I’m writing them, AND I have all my notes in world, but do they really help people make more
condensed form. This makes them easier to read friends?
over instead of dozens of pages of notes. Many people have thousands of friends on
Facebook, and they connect with them all the
I hope these ideas help you. Please say hi to your time. They feel it is the only way to communicate
sister for me, and write back to tell me how things are. with so many people quickly and easily. Social
media websites also allow young people to keep Model Compo
Your friend, up with events happening around them. Through
them, we know about parties or concerts and we
Sandra can invite each other. Finally, through social media
websites, we can make new friends easily by
seeing who has similar interests to us. If someone
likes similar posts to you, you know you have
2. 
Write a story that begins with ‘I was just things in common.
about to go to bed when the phone rang, and However, too many people spend their time
I wondered who could be calling me at that online chatting with their virtual friends, rather than
hour.’ Continue the story. going out and meeting people. But the interaction
they have is superficial and these people are not
their real friends. If you had a problem, how many
I was just about to go to bed when the phone of these so-called friends would actually help you?
rang, and I wondered who could be calling me at We do not really know them at all.
that hour. It was almost midnight on a Friday night In conclusion, it is time we left our electronic
and my grandmother always says that a phone devices at home and went out to connect with
call late at night is bad news. people in person. It is the only way to make true
‘Hello?’ I answered hesitantly. I have Caller ID, friends.
but the screen was blank.

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Practice Test 6

1. W
 rite an email to your friend describing a too afraid to do so. He liked the security of getting
funny television series that you watch. paid regularly and never being nervous about the
Describe the characters, the plot and why future. But what he didn’t know was that life always
you find this series so humorous. has surprises for us, regardless of our plans.
That morning his boss walked into the office
and told him that their company was being bought
Hi Danny, by a larger company and some of the employees
would be fired. Tom was one of them. He couldn’t
How are you? I want to tell you about my believe his ears! He had been at that company for
favourite comedy series, Modern Family. It’s fifteen years and he thought he would retire there!
quite complicated, because there are three very Tom was shattered. His whole life was being
different families. One is a couple, Claire and Phil, turned upside down. He had a family to support.
who have three children. The second family is How would he manage? Then he decided it was
Claire’s father’s family, with Gloria, and her son. time to take a risk and open his own office.
The third family is Claire’s brother, Mitch, who has Now, five years later, Tom has a successful
adopted a little girl with Cam. company of his own, and his life is wonderful.
Sometimes we can only get true happiness by
The main reason I love this show so much is that taking risks.
it is really funny. I laugh my head off during every
episode. Their situations may have nothing to do
with my life, but the humour and the jokes are
universal. 3. 
Write an essay about why diet and exercise
are very important for young people. How
The second reason is because the acting is can young people today get into shape and
excellent. The characters may be ridiculous stay healthy?
sometimes, but you believe that they are real.
Their relationships with one another also seem
very convincing. There is no denying that today’s youth spend
too much time at the computer and eat too much
Finally, I enjoy this series because the plot is junk food. This is very detrimental to their health,
always complicated but everything works out in and there are many things they should do to get
the end and love conquers all. There are always into shape.
heartwarming messages in every episode. First of all, they should understand that diet
and exercise are incredibly important. Processed
These are the reasons why I highly recommend foods make people fat and do not give them
Modern Family. If you watch it, I’m sure it’ll soon the nutrients they need. This leads to frequent
be your favourite comedy as well! sickness and generally feeling weak. If young
people do not get exercise, they put on weight
Bye for now! and have low energy levels. As adults, they will
face even more serious problems and be prone to
Jerry heart disease and diabetes.
This is why it is essential that teenagers play
sports and eat healthily. They could play a team
sport or do a martial art. This will also help them
2. 
Write a story that begins with ‘Tom thought it have more energy for the rest of their school
would be an average day, but he was in for a obligations. Additionally, they should eat a lot of
surprise.’ Continue the story. fruit and vegetables and avoid snacking on sweet,
artificial foods or going to fast food restaurants.
They could also take cooking lessons to get more
Tom thought it would be an average day, interested in their diet.
but he was in for a surprise. It was a Friday in It is very important for young people to eat well
September and he was at work as usual. Tom was and get exercise, not just so they can study better
an accountant at a small firm. Although he had but for their future.
always dreamed of opening his own office, he was

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Practice Test 7
1. Write an email to your friend complaining great personalities. In fact, the only flaw each of
about a problem you have at home. Explain them had was that they hated one another!
what caused the problem and what you Then something terrible happened to Bill. As he
intend to do to solve it. was walking down the stairs, he slipped and fell.
He ended up breaking his leg and was not allowed
to play football for that season.
Hi Ben, When Steve found out the news, he felt terrible.
The coach told him that he would be the captain
How are you doing? In your last email, you said of the football team, but this made him feel even
you were arguing a lot with your parents. I have worse. He realised that, in reality, he actually liked
the same problem now and I wanted to tell you Bill and that their competitiveness was silly. He
about it, since I know you’ll understand. went and apologised to him for his bad behaviour,
and said that he would take the position of
My parents are really strict about my iPhone. They captain, but only until next season. Then, Bill
only let me have it for half an hour a day; that’s would be captain.
just not enough! I need to communicate with my Now Bill and Steve are best friends, and Steve
friends from my old school. Since I’m too busy to is helping Bill recover. With two great players
meet up with most of them, I want to be able to like this, it’s certain that their team will win the
chat to them. championship!

So I’ve decided to have a talk with them. I’m 16

years old now, and responsible enough to know
when to use my phone and when not to. I’m 3. 
Some parents decide to have lots of children
going to ask them to have more trust in me. I will while others only want one. What are the
promise to have finished my homework before I advantages of having a large family? Do
use the phone, but when I am finished, I would like you think it is a good idea to have lots of
it for one hour every day. children? Write an essay giving your views.

I’m also going to ask them to help me meet up

with my friends more, so that I won’t need to chat Raising a child nowadays is very expensive, so
to them so much. many parents are deciding to only have one child.
In my opinion, it is more beneficial for both the
What do you think? Do you have any advice to parents and children if families are bigger.
offer me? To begin with, when a family only has oneModel
child, Compo
it is very easy for this child to be spoiled. He or
Write back soon, she will not be used to sharing toys and will not
have siblings to share problems with. I am an only
Sammy child and I often feel lonely.
In addition, when a family has lots of children,
they all help each other. This is important when
the children are young, but also when they grow
2. 
Write a story about a friendship. Begin the up. Everyone knows how difficult life has become,
story with the line: ‘Bill and Steve are best so it is important to have family members who
friends now, but when they first met, they will support you and be there for you if you have
didn’t get along at all.’ Continue the story. problems.
Finally, many parents are afraid of the expense
of raising a large family. I believe that the love a
Bill and Steve are best friends now, but when family offers is much more important than material
they first met, they didn’t get along at all. They goods. Children do not have to have the most
were both skilled footballers, and each of them expensive toys or go to private schools.
wanted to be captain of the school football team. This is why I am in favour of larger families, as
The coach didn’t know what to do, because they long as parents raise their children with love and
were equally good players, and they both had understanding.

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Practice Test 8

1. W
 rite an email to your friend telling him/her high salary. All her friends were from work. Tania
what you want to do after you finish high did not have any friends from school, because
school. Tell your friend why you want to do this. when she was younger, she had worn glasses and
braces and the other students had made fun of
her. There was one girl in particular, Nancy, who
Hi Jake! had made her life very difficult. Nancy was the
most popular girl in the school and was unkind to
Remember the other day when we were talking people that she considered inferior to her.
about what everyone wanted to do after they finish As Tania entered an expensive clothing shop
high school? I really hadn’t thought about it until in the mall, she was very surprised when the sales
then, but now I have some ideas I want to share assistant turned out to be Nancy. She hadn’t seen
with you. her for over ten years! Nancy was also shocked and
avoided looking at her. After buying two expensive
I know everyone wants to go to university, and suits, Tania smiled at Nancy and thanked her. It was
some of our friends even want to go abroad for then that she realised that the mean things people
their studies, but I don’t. After all that studying, I’d had said to her when she was young didn’t matter at
like to take a gap year to work and travel. all anymore. She had become a strong, successful
person and she was happy.
My dad has a convenience shop and he always
needs help. I’d love to work there so as to help
him and to make some money. I’d probably do this
for 5 months. I think this will help me to appreciate 3. 
Famous athletes earn very high salaries.
what working means, and I can save some of the Do you think they deserve so much money?
money for university. Write an essay giving your views.

But I’d also like to travel around Europe. I’ve heard

about train passes you can get that are quite We all know that nowadays famous athletes,
cheap, and allow you travel anywhere you want. especially footballers, are paid vast sums of
It’d be so exciting to go to different countries in money. Personally, I believe they deserve the
Europe, like England, France and Spain. money that they make for various reasons.
To begin with, being an athlete is incredibly
These are my plans. What do you think? You’re difficult. It demands years of dedication and hard
welcome to join me! work. Most athletes start training at a very young
age and do nothing else in their free time. They
See you at school! need a great deal of discipline and, on top of
that, to be very talented. Very few people in this
Bye for now, world have the talent to become a superstar like
Ronaldo or Messi.
Peter Secondly, famous athletes have tough
lives. They are always at risk of being injured,
sometimes seriously. In addition, they never get
any privacy since people are constantly following
2. 
Write a story about a day when something them around and writing about them.
very surprising happened. Begin the story Finally, famous athletes brighten our lives.
decided to go to the shopping mall alone.’ Many people enjoy watching them and cheering
Continue the story. for them, especially when their teams win. Since
these athletes have so many fans, a large number
of tickets are sold when they play. Essentially, they
Tania was feeling bored, so she decided to go are earning the money they make, because it is
to the shopping mall alone. She had received a the sponsors and fans who are paying them.
promotion at work, and needed to buy some new These are the reasons why I think that
clothes, but none of her friends were free. athletes deserve the money they earn, although,
Tania was an executive at a large company. personally, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.
She loved her job, worked hard and received a

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Practice Test 9
1. Write an email to your friend describing your party at the end of the month, I just assumed I’d
favourite hobby. Tell your friend when you do remember it.
this hobby, why you started doing it and why But two weeks is a long time, and I forgot about
you like it. it. It was a busy time at school as I had been
elected President of the School Council and I
had a lot of responsibilities. So on the night of the
Dear Mandy, party, I was at home, watching TV. I had my phone
on silent.
How are you? The last time we talked, you asked Before going to bed, I turned my phone
me if I had any hobbies. I wanted to tell you about back on; I saw fifty missed calls from Sandra. I
a hobby I’ve had since I was five – playing the remembered her party and I felt so awful, that I
piano. Most people don’t know that I play because went straight to her house, even though it was
I don’t like playing in public. late. When I got there, I saw a huge sign that
said ‘Congratulations to the new School Council
I started playing the piano because my sister was President!’. Sandra had thrown a surprise party
taking lessons and I was jealous of her. I thought for me but I was the only guest who hadn’t come.
she sounded so wonderful when she played. The I felt so terrible that, from then on, I always write
funny thing is she doesn’t play anymore, but I still things down so as not to forget them.
do. I practise for an hour every day after school,
and for about four hours at the weekend. My
teacher is always nagging me, saying that I need
to practise more, but with so much homework, it’s 3. 
Many experts say that schoolwork should
impossible. only be done at school, and that there
should be no homework. Do you agree?
I love playing the piano because it transports me Write an essay about the advantages and
to another world. I mostly play classical music, but disadvantages of giving students homework.
I’m also learning some modern pieces which are
really relaxing and enjoyable. You know, with all the
stress of studying for exams, playing the piano is like Most students complain about the amount
a break from all of that pressure. But at the same of homework they have, saying that it is
time, I think I’ve become a better student because of unnecessary. My opinion is that homework is
playing the piano, as I concentrate better. necessary, but it should not take the place of
learning at school.
That’s all for now. If lessons are well taught and students pay
attention in class, homework is just a review
Model Compo
Write back soon. of what they have learned. In this case, it is
necessary, because it is useful for children to
Jane go over their lessons, to make sure they have
understood everything. It is beneficial, because
it reinforces what they have learned in class, and
gives them a chance to go over it on their own.
2. 
Write a story about how forgetting something However, there are disadvantages to
created a serious problem. Begin the story homework, especially if there is too much of it.
with the line: ‘They say you should always Some teachers, for various reasons, are not able
write things down if you don’t want to forget to finish teaching their students their lessons, and
them, and now I know why.’ Continue the demand that they do the work on their own. This is
story. unacceptable. When students have more than two
hours of homework to do every night, they do not
have time to do other activities, such as sports,
They say you should always write things down and cannot relax.
if you don’t want to forget them, and now I know In conclusion, I believe that, although some
why. I usually have an excellent memory, so I don’t homework is positive, too much homework can
write down appointments or social events. That’s make students dislike school instead of learn
why, when my friend Sandra invited me to her from it.

Model Compositions u 177

ESB-L1-Writing [Link] 177 3/15/18 10:58

 Model Compositions for Tests 1-10
Practice Test 10

1. W
 rite an email to your friend asking him/her to It all started when she was at the mall with her
help you plan a school party. Tell your friend friends. A man told them that he was looking for
what arrangements you have already made models for his agency, and that they were very
and how you think he/she could help you. pretty. The man said his name was Steve, and the
modelling agency was called Allure. He told the
girls to meet him the next day to arrange for them
Hi Jerry! to be photographed. It would cost 200 pounds
each, but they’d certainly make back the money
As you know, the end-of-year party is only a on their first job. Sandra had 200 pounds in her
month away, and I’m on the committee to plan piggy bank and decided to use it.
it. The thing is, we are behind schedule and we Then, it occurred to her to look up Allure on
could really use your help. Google, to see what it said about it. Imagine her
shock when she saw posts saying that it was all a
So far, we have decided on the venue, which lie, and to beware of anyone inviting them to be a
will be the school gym. I know it’s not the most model.
glamorous place, but since we won’t have to pay From that day on, Sandra realised that she
anything for it, it’ll leave more money for the live should not trust strangers, no matter what they
band. Last year, they hired a DJ, and it just wasn’t promise you, and that she should always talk to
as fun. her parents about important matters.

Here’s where we really need your help. We

booked a band over a month ago, but they just
rang me up and cancelled. The problem is, I don’t 3. 
Some people say that travel is the best
know where I can get another group at such short education. What do they mean by this? Write
notice. Then I remembered that your brother is in an essay about the importance of travelling.
a band, and they’ve got a really good reputation.
Could you possibly ask them if they’d play for us?
Although we learn many important lessons
We also need your computer skills in figuring at school, I feel that travelling the world teaches
out how to send out electronic invitations to us much more and helps us to grow as human
everyone and record their answers. It’d be great beings.
if they could pay for their tickets online as well. To begin with, the lessons we learn at school
And finally, any other suggestions would be really are theoretical. In order to put them into practice,
helpful. we need to have experiences and meet other
people. When we travel, we do both of these, and
What do you think? more importantly, we meet people who can offer
us different ideas from other cultures. Moreover,
Bye for now, when we travel, we realise that there are many
ways to see things, and we should respect other
Cindy ways as well. This is one of life’s most important
lessons.
In addition, travelling also helps us to
understand our own strengths and weaknesses.
2. 
Write a story that begins with: ‘Sandra had When you are in a foreign country where
never felt so excited in her life, but she knew everything is unfamiliar, then you start to use your
she had to keep everything a secret.’ own skills to make friends, to survive, and to keep
Continue the story. on travelling. Travelling gives us the opportunity
to see ourselves away from our homes, schools,
family and friends, and to realise who we really
Sandra had never felt so excited in her life, are.
but she knew she had to keep everything a These are the reasons why I believe that travel
secret. Otherwise, she’d miss the opportunity of a is the best school. I hope that when I grow up, I
lifetime. She had always wanted to model, but her will be able to attend this amazing school and go
parents didn’t want her to. to different countries around the world.

178 t ESB LEVEL 1 PRACTICE TESTS

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