FOR

1. Passing

an exam or an
examination shows that the
candidate can handle problems
and communicate effectively;
these are important qualities
required in the workplace.

2. Exams

value your memories and your skills

and ability to understand what you are
studying. They make you prepare before
hand. They also force you to be specific and
focused, as time is limited in most exams.

3. Examinations have changed a lot in the past

20 years; most include coursework they
help to test an important range of skills.

4. The

mental effort of preparation for

examinations is valuable; no harm is done to
anyone.
Without
the
discipline
of
examinations, teachers could fail to cover
some important topics.

5. Modern

examination
boards
have
sophisticated "moderation" systems for
ensuring that marking is done fairly. In
addition, most examinations include orals,
so a students result does not depend
completely on written work.

AGAINST
1. Examinations

test only a limited range of

skills; they favour people who have a good

memory and good "exam techniques" even
though they may not be very original or
imaginative.

2. They are stressful and useless.

3. Exams

should be abolished, they cause too

much stress which some people can't handle.

Because of this many people fail their exam.

4. Examinations

depress students and deaden

their initiative.

5. Teachers

can become less creative when

they are forced to "teach to the exam".

6. Examinations

are set as if all children have

reached the same mental level at the same

age.

However,

psychologists

and

educationalists

agree that this is not so.

7. Research

has

proven

that

different

examiners grade student papers differently.

Even, the same examiner will often give
different marks to the same paper after a
few months.

Teacher's extras :

To fail (EXAMINATION ) /fel/ = to be unsuccessful in a test or

examination
I passed in history but failed in chemistry.
A lot of people fail their driving test the first time.
He failed because he didn't answer enough questions.

To succeed (ACHIEVE SOMETHING ) /sksid/ = to achieve something

that you have been aiming for, and if a plan or piece of work
succeeds, it has the results that you wanted
She's been trying to pass her driving test for six years and she's finally succeeded.
You need to be pretty tough to succeed in the property world.
The campaign has certainly succeeded in raising public awareness of the issue.
Borderline adjective not good enough to definitely pass an examination
Candidate noun someone who is taking an examination
Certificate noun an official document stating that you have passed an examination, successfully
completed a course, or achieved the necessary qualifications to work in a particular profession
Crib noun a sheet of paper or piece of work containing information that a student uses for cheating in
an examination
Exam noun an important test of your knowledge, especially one that you take at school or university
Examiner noun someone whose job is to test peoples knowledge or ability
exam paper noun the list of questions that someone must answer during an examination / the paper
that you write your answers on in an examination
Mock adjective a mock test, interview etc is one that you do in order to practise for a real one / an
examination that you take for practice before an important examination
Moderate verb to check that the marks given in an examination are fair and correct
Moderator noun someone whose job is to check that the marks given in an examination are fair and
correct
Multiple-choice adjective giving you several answers from which you have to choose the one that
you think is correct
Test noun a set of written or spoken questions used for finding out how much someone knows about a
subject. A test is less formal than an exam
Testing noun the activity of giving someone or something an examination, or of checking something
to find out if it works

Maximizing Success: How to Take Exams

1. Review. The final exam is basically a test on everything you have learned. Look at old test, notes,
and attempt to remember what your teacher taught you.
2. On the night before the exam, get a fair amount of sleep. If possible, try to get 8 hours.
3. On the morning of the exam, eat a healthy breakfast.
4. Have all materials needed for the exam
5. Make sure you get to the exam on time. Also make sure you dress appropriately. Be sure that
you have something to write with. Usually, a pencil will not be provided for you.
6. Sit down, relax, and follow the instructions the teacher gives you.
7. During the exam, try to remember what you studied, and what you were taught. If you're
stuck on one, go to the next one. Then come back when you have the time. No cheating.
8. Use all the given time. If you're done, check it. If you checked it, then check it again.
9. Don't forget to check your work.

10.When the teacher says time is up, hand in your test paper when the teacher instructs to
do so.

Study Tips
1. Study with a friend if you hate studying alone.
2. You should start your studies at least 3 days before the exam.
3. Ask the teacher if they have any practice test that might help you.
4. Have confidence. You can do it.

1. to order a sequence of arguments

Firstly - secondly - finally
To begin/start with - then/next - finally/eventually
First of all - and also
Let me begin by pointing out - and besides / in addition to this /
furthermore / moreover / what is more
Essentially, the problem is ...
Basically / Actually

3. to state something as a fact

There can be no doubt that
It is a fact that
Everyone knows that
Indeed / actually

2. to express one's personal opinion

In my opinion / view
To my mind
It seems to me that
I feel / think / believe that
I have the feeling / the impression that
I rather think that
I am sure that
I am convinced that
certainly / surely / possibly / absolutely / entirely

4. to express and emphasize a point

That is a very important point.
I couldn't agree more.
That seems reasonable.
This can only / not be accepted if / on condition that / in case / unless

5. complete agreement
I agree.
I agree completely / entirely.
I think you're quite right.
I think so, too.
I don't think so, either.
That's exactly what I think.
That's just what I was thinking.
Yes, definitively.
That's right.

6. partial agreement
Maybe / perhaps (not)
That seems reasonable.
To a certain degree
Yes, up to a point
That seems obvions.

7. to express disagreement
I don't quite agree here.
I cannot accept your view that
I cannot share this view.

8. Partial disagreement
Do you really think so?
I wouldn't say so.
I don't know.
I'm not quite so sure.
Although
Nevertheless / still
Even so
Yet
However

11. summarizing
To conclude
In conclusion
To sum up
So
Therefore

9. complete disagreement
I don't think so.
I don't agree with you.
I can't agree, I'm afraid.
That's not how I see it.
I disagree completely.
I don't agree at all.

10. To discuss the pros and cons

12. Giving reasons
15. Remember :
On the one hand - on the other hand
The reason for this is that
"I beg
pardon"
and would
other
person to
Some
peopleyour
think
while othersmeans
say that you haven't understood
Therelike
is nothe
reason
why
14. to apologize
repeat.
However / yet / but
I am terribly / awfully / veryBecause
/ really sorry that
13.
to interrupt
someone
Since
"Excuse
me!"
is not a true apology but a polite
remark
enabling
you
make
I sincerely
apologize
for (not)
to
+ Ving
/ nouna request or
If I could just make a point here.
As
cover up a slight disturbance.
I hope you will excuse / forgive me for (not) + Ving / noun
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd just like to say that
accept my foot.
apologies.
"Sorry" is a true apology, i.e. when stepping onPlease,
someone's