The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Students at an English university are angry about their economics exam. The students have signed an online petition saying the exam questions were 'impossible' to answer. Nearly all the 100 students complained and signed the petition. They want the university to help them. The students say the exam had questions on topics that were not in their course. They say there were questions with a lot of difficult maths that they had not been taught. One student said he was told he would only need 'simple' maths. The students are worried that they will get lower test scores and a poorer degree.

The head of the department, professor Andy Dickerson, said the exam was fair. He said the level of maths in the exams was the same as the level taught to the students. Professor Dickerson also said the questions were on topics the students had studied. He said: "All questions were based on topics taught in the course and for which further reading was provided." He said there was one question that used a new term, but this was no problem because the question explained the meaning of the term. The university says it will look carefully at the results.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/university-of-sheffield-students-demand-investigation-over-highly-unfair-exam-10014553.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/education-31057005


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

The students have signed an

a.

not been taught

2.

Nearly all the 100 students

b.

worried

3.

They want the university

c.

complained

4.

questions on topics that were not

d.

test scores

5.

a lot of difficult maths that they had

e.

to help them

6.

he would only need

f.

online petition

7.

The students are

g.

'simple' maths

8.

they will get lower

h.

in their course



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The head of the

a.

a new term

2.

the exam was

b.

in the exams

3.

the level of maths

c.

students had studied

4.

the same as the level taught

d.

department

5.

the questions were on topics the

e.

provided

6.

further reading was

f.

carefully at the results

7.

there was one question that used

g.

fair

8.

it will look

h.

to the students

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Students at an English university (1) ___________________ their economics exam. The students (2) ___________________ petition saying the exam questions were (3) ___________________. Nearly all the 100 students complained and signed the petition. They want the university to help them. The students say the exam had (4) ___________________ that were not in their course. They say there were questions (5) ___________________ difficult maths that they had not been taught. One student said he was told he would only need 'simple' maths. The students are worried that they will (6) ___________________ and a poorer degree.

The head of the department, professor Andy Dickerson, said the    (7) ___________________. He said the level of maths in the exams was the (8) ___________________ taught to the students. Professor Dickerson also said the questions (9) ___________________ the students had studied. He said: "All questions were based on topics taught in the course and for which (10) ___________________ provided." He said there was one question that used a new term, but (11) ___________________ because the question explained the meaning of the term. The university says (12) ___________________ at the results.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

StudentsatanEnglishuniversityareangryabouttheireconomicsexam.
Thestudentshavesignedanonlinepetitionsayingtheexamquestionsw
ere'impossible'toanswer.Nearlyallthe100studentscomplainedandsi
gnedthepetition.Theywanttheuniversitytohelpthem.Thestudentssa
ytheexamhadquestionsontopicsthatwerenotintheircourse.Theysayt
herewerequestionswithalotofdifficultmathsthattheyhadnotbeentau
ght.Onestudentsaidhewastoldhewouldonlyneed'simple'maths.Thes
tudentsareworriedthattheywillgetlowertestscoresandapoorerdegre
e.Theheadofthedepartment,professorAndyDickerson,saidtheexam
wasfair.Hesaidthelevelofmathsintheexamswasthesameasthelevelt
aughttothestudents.ProfessorDickersonalsosaidthequestionswereo
ntopicsthestudentshadstudied.Hesaid:"Allquestionswerebasedonto
picstaughtinthecourseandforwhichfurtherreadingwasprovided."Hes
aidtherewasonequestionthatusedanewterm,butthiswasnoproblemb
ecausethequestionexplainedthemeaningoftheterm.Theuniversitysa
ysitwilllookcarefullyattheresults.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

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b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

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b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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WRITING

Write about exams for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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