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BTHE B LEVEL (B1&B2)EXAM IN ENGLISH

EXAM PREPARATION IN SCHOOLTHE B LEVEL (B1&B2) EXAM IN ENGLISHTEACHER’S BOOK

Practice Tests Teacher’s BookThis is one of a series of three practice test books written and designed for EFL teachers preparingtheir students for the national foreign language exams in English, leading to the state certificateof language proficiency (KPG). Work for this series has been carried out within the framework ofthe project entitled “Differentiated and Graded National Foreign Language Exams” (Greek acronymDiaPEG), which is co-financed by the European Union and Greece, with the purpose to support andfurther develop the national foreign language exam system of Greece. More specifically, it has beencarried out as a deliverable of subproject 10, entitled “Linking foreign language education in schoolwith the national language exams,” on the basis of which a similar series will be produced for theGerman and Spanish exams.ISBN: 978-960-98961-4-6 RCeL, 2012EditorsBessie Dendrinos & Bessie MitsikopoulouTest task writersMembers of the RCeL test development team(with contributions from Antigone Bratsoli)General editorial assistantsAthina Harami & Margarita LeontiReading test editorial assistantVirginia BlaniWriting test editorial assistantsMargarita Leonti & Maria StathopoulouListening test editorial assistantElisabeth ApostolouAudio text speakersSophie Athanasiadis, Georgia Brazioti, Cindy Camatsos, Mary Drosou, Mark Hoy, Marcia Israilidis, NadiaKougkli, Jane Mandalios, Susan Moutsouroufi, Luke Prodromou, Ian Robertson & Vasilios ZorbasTechnical supportDimitris ParasBook cover design and interior layoutChristina FrantzeskakiPractice tests designChristina Frantzeskaki & Anna Maragkoudaki

Editors: Bessie Dendrinos & Bessie MitsikopoulouEXAM PREPARATION IN SCHOOLTHE B LEVEL (B1&B2) EXAM IN ENGLISHTEACHER’S BOOKAthens, RCeL publications

This publication book was co-funded by the European Social Fund and the GreekNational State – (NSRF), under the project of the National and Kapodistrian Universityof Athens entitled “Differentiated and Graded National Foreign Language Exams”,MIS Code 299908MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, CULTURE & SPORTS

Teacher’s BookContentsPrologue 8Test paper answers 10Practice Test 1 11Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 111215Practice Test 2 16Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 161720Practice Test 3 21Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 212225Practice Test 4 26Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 262730Practice Test 5 31Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 313235Practice Test 6 36Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 363740Practice Test 7 41Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 414245B LEVEL - English in school6

Teacher’s BookPractice Test 8 46Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 464750Examiner questions for Module 4 51Practice Test 1 Practice Test 2 Practice Test 3 Practice Test 4 Practice Test 5 Practice Test 6 Practice Test 7 Practice Test 8 5255586165687174Sample Answer Sheets 77Module 1 Module 3 7879Tapescripts for Module 3 80Practice Test 1 Practice Test 2 Practice Test 3 Practice Test 4 Practice Test 5 Practice Test 6 Practice Test 7 Practice Test 8 818487909497101105Appendix 1081. Κριτήρια αξιολόγησης προφορικού και γραπτού λόγου 2. Η προφορική εξέταση για το επίπεδο B B LEVEL - English in school1081097

Teacher’s BookPrologueThe B level practice test book has been designed for instructional purposes, and it can be usedwith classes that can afford curricular or extra-curricular time at school to be prepared for theKPG exams in English. All the test papers included in the student’s book have been tested out:past papers have been used with real time candidates and new papers have been piloted by theRCeL team.Though the student’s book is intended for use in the school classroom, it can also be used inother instructional or self-directed learning situations. Moreover, it is offered to interested partiesfree of charge. All one has to do is to download it from the KPG e-school website, where analternative way of accessing the test tasks is offered: through an e-repository which operateson the basis of a task directory, from which interested teachers or students can search for tasksthey need by doing a single or multiple search. They can select tasks by level, task type, aim,task topic, etc.The teacher’s book that accompanies the student’s B level practice test book contains:For Module 1: the answer key for each of the reading comprehension practice testsFor Module 2: sample scripts and comments regarding task achievement (on the basis of theKPG writing evaluation criteria)For Module 3: the answer key for each of the listening comprehension practice tests and thetapescripts for each aural text. The recorded text can be downloaded from the KPG e-schoolwebsite.For Module 4: Examiner questions for each type of task and how the speaking test is carriedout in the exam situation.There is much more information available on the KPG e-school website for those EFL teachersthat would like to find out more about the KPG exams and English test papers in particular. Thegreater the teacher’s understanding of how the rationale behind the test papers and test tasksthe more s/he will be able to help his or her B level students in many different ways.Even if no other information is accessed, the teacher who wants to help and prepare his or herstudents should know the basic profile of the B1 and the B2 level student, which is the following:The B-level candidate is an independent user of English. More specifically, according to theCEFR:The B1 level candidate can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiarmatters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. He or she can also deal with mostsituations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken and canproduce simple connected texts on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Finally,the B1 level candidate can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitionsand briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.B LEVEL - English in school8

Teacher’s BookThe B2 level candidate can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concreteand abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. He or shecan also interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction withnative speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Finally, the B2 level candidatecan produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on atopical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.Bessie Dendrinos & Bessie MitsikopoulouAthens, 2012B LEVEL - English in school9

Teacher’s Book

Practice Test 1 Module A53ADMIT24C54INVALUABLE / C58INTEREST29C59BRIGHT30B60CLUBB LEVEL - English in school - Test paper answers11

Practice Test 1 Module 2ACTIVITY 1.1Sunday, November 7, 2011My favourite children’s story is Cinderella. This story is about a young woman, who triesto survive after her father’s death. Her step-mother and her two step-sisters try to makeher life very difficult by doing all the housework. But, suddenly, a prince falls in love withCinderella and she invites her to a ceremony. Her secret witch turns her into a beautiful girlwith an amazing dress and shoes made from glass. I love this children’s story because Ican see two lovers who try to be together and win Cinderella’s step mother. It’s very niceto see that true love can do everything.COMMENTS:TASK COMPLETION - LANGUAGE PERFORMANCEThis script clearly responds to the task. The text produced is a message to be posted on a blogwhere people write about their favourite forms of entertainment and is similar to the given onein terms of register and style, as expected. The communicative purpose has been fully achievedas the plot of the story has been described and the reason why it is the writer’s favourite storyhas been given in the end. The text grammar is appropriate for the text type and the ideasare generally cohesively and coherently linked. In terms of sentence grammar, the choice ofvocabulary and grammar is conducive to the communicative purpose of the text. There arehardly any lexicogrammatical errors (e.g., “shoes made from glass”) and few errors of usageand use, locally interfering with intended meaning (e.g., “make her life very difficult by doingall the housework” , “a prince falls in love with Cinderella and she invites her” and “and winCinderella’s step mother”).ACTIVITY 2.1In a few days the famous author Giannis Makrygiannis will come in our city. In the 5thSeptember at 6:30 pm the famous author will appear at the local theatre to present us hisnew children’s story. Also, many activities will take place such as songs from our schoolband and a performing from students. After the presentating you will have the chance totake photos with the author if you want.This is an opportunity which must nobody lose. Don’t miss it! Come and have a great time!COMMENTS:TASK COMPLETION - LANGUAGE PERFORMANCEThis script is fully satisfactory in terms of content, communicative purpose and genre, asthe text produced is an announcement for a school paper which informs readers about theB LEVEL - English in school - Sample answers12

Practice Test 1 Module 2upcoming event and urges them to attend. Also, the style of the text is appropriate and its toneis direct, as expected. Moreover, the script is coherent and the ideas flow smoothly. In terms oflexicogrammar, there is an error in the use of prepositions (e.g., “will come in our city”), errors ofuse (e.g., “After the presentating”), as well as an error in syntax (e.g., “an opportunity which mustnobody lose”), which however do not seriously interfere with intelligibility. Finally, the script is abit too short.ACTIVITY 1.2Dear Antonio,How are you? I hoe you are well. I am sending you this email because I know you use yourmobile phone very frequently, almost 10 hours the day. I have just read an artice whichgives tips about how we should use the mobile phone to avoid health problems.First of all, you should avoid speaking on the phone and having it close to your ear. Youcould use your hands free because it is healthies and it dramatically reduces the danger.What is more, try to send messages instead of speaking. This way, you keep the phoneaway from your head. You mustn’t use your mobile as an alarm clock. Having it close to yourhead all night long may be harmful to your health. Finally, avoid putting it in your pockets.Mobile phones are a good way of communication but they harm us as wall. Try to considerthe above tips and you will be fine! I look forward to your reply.Yours NickyCOMMENTS:TASK COMPLETION - LANGUAGE PERFORMANCEThe script is fully satisfactory though it is too long (more than double the size of the requestedmessage and therefore the overall mark given is reduced by one point). The script fully respondsto the mediation task in terms of text type (i.e., email), register and style (i.e., personal andinformal), achieving the required communicative purpose (i.e., to give tips). Also, this is a wellorganized text, with an appropriate opening and an informal closing, it is quite coherent and usesappropriate cohesive devices (e.g., First of all, What is more). In terms of sentence grammar, itmakes good use of sentence structure and the selected vocabulary is appropriate for the topicand the communicative purpose in question. There are a few spelling mistakes, but they are thesort of oversights that are usually made and do not impact on the communication of the intendedmeaning.B LEVEL - English in school - Sample answers13