compulsory state administered exam conscientiously
multi-discipline (= many subjects) test-preparation
taxing (=difficult) pass mark certificate of great consequence
Grammar Point
Use a variety of past tenses:
Around that time I was studying in a local middle school.
I had been preparing quite conscientiously for quite a while.
I was quite surprised that I had passed because I had found it quite taxing.
The news arrived by post; it was delivered while I was sitting down to breakfast.
Experience 12: Some important family news
Describe some important family news.
You should say:
What the news was
How you heard about this news
Whether it was important
How you felt when you heard this news.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Experience 11: Some important news.
Experience 13: An important letter you received
Describe an important letter you received.
You should say:
When you received this letter
What the letter was about
How you felt when you read it
Why it was important.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Experience 11: Some important news.
Experience 14: An important letter you sent
Describe an important letter you sent.
You should say:
When you seen it
What if was about
Why it was important
Whether it influenced you.
Suggestion
This is quite an easy topic. There are many options to choose from. However, the best option is probably a letter of complaint about a product or service. (If you choose a "product", then you can use the same content for another topic later in this chapter.)
not up to scratch (= unacceptable) get one's money back
Grammar
Use a variety of past tenses:
I originally sent the letter last month because I had previously bought a... (product)
When I first bought this... (product) the proprietor had initially told me that...
At first the... (product) had been quite satisfactory, but later I noticed that...
Experience 15: An interesting trip you have been on
Describe an interesting trip you have been on.
You should say:
Where / When you went
What you did there
Why it was important
Whether it influenced you.
Suggestion
Use exactly the same content and language as Place 19: A city / town / village you have visited. Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling.
Experience 16: The best holiday you have been on
Describe the best holiday you have been on.
You should say:
Where / When you went
How travelled there
Why you choose to go to this place
What you liked most about this holiday.
Suggestion
Use exactly the same content and language as Place 19: A city / town / village you have visited. Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling.
Experience 17: Some long distance travel you would like to do
Describe some long distance travel you would like to do.
You should say:
Where you would go
How you would get there
Why you would choose this place
Whether the trip would be expensive.
Suggestion
This topic is not actually an experience because the card states "would like to do". It has been included in this section because the actual vocabulary and content can be exactly the same as Experience 15: An interesting trip you have been on; Experience 16: The best holiday you have been on. Remember to use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling.
Grammar Point
You must use conditional tense:
If I had the option to travel to any destination, I would probably pick...
The reason why I would select this is because I would love to...and I might be able to...
Use a present perfect past simple tense:
Ever since I was a kid I have always had a real burning desire to visit this place.
Experience 18: An activity in an English lesson
Describe an activity in an England lesson that you enjoyed.
You should say:
Where you would go
How you would get there
Why you would choose this place
Whether the trip would be expensive.
Suggestion
Talk about a play or performance that your English class produced.