The Reading / Listening - Level 0

University students are angry about their economics exam. They signed a petition saying the questions were 'impossible' to answer because the topics were not in their course. They say some questions had difficult maths. They are worried about lower test scores and a poorer degree. They want the university to help.

The university said the exam was fair. He said the level of maths was at the students' level. He said the students knew the topics: "All questions were based on topics taught in the course." He said one question used a new idea, but the question explained its meaning. The university will look carefully at the results.

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    Level 1,  Level 2   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.

students are angry about their

a.

difficult maths

2.

They signed a

b.

scores

3.

questions were 'impossible'

c.

economics exam

4.

topics were not

d.

to help

5.

some questions had

e.

worried

6.

They are

f.

to answer

7.

lower test

g.

in their course

8.

They want the university

h.

petition


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The university said the exam

a.

taught in the course

2.

the level

b.

level

3.

at the students'

c.

meaning

4.

the students knew

d.

was fair

5.

based on topics

e.

a new idea

6.

one question used

f.

at the results

7.

explained its

g.

of maths

8.

look carefully

h.

the topics

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

University students (1) ___________________ their economics exam. They signed a petition (2) ___________________ were 'impossible' (3) ___________________ the topics were not in their course. They (4) ___________________ had difficult maths. They (5) ___________________ lower test scores and a poorer degree. They want the (6) ___________________.

The university said (7) ___________________. It said the level (8) ___________________ the students' level. It said the students (9) ___________________: "All questions were based on topics taught in the course." It (10) ___________________ used a new idea, but the (11) ___________________ its meaning. The university will look carefully (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Universitystudentsareangryabouttheireconomicsexam.Theysigned
apetitionsayingthequestionswere'impossible'toanswerbecausethet
opicswerenotintheircourse.Theysaysomequestionshaddifficultmath
s.Theyareworriedaboutlowertestscoresandapoorerdegree.Theywa
nttheuniversitytohelp.Theuniversitysaidtheexamwasfair.Itsaidthe
levelofmathswasatthestudents'level.Itsaidthestudentsknewtheto
pics:"Allquestionswerebasedontopicstaughtinthecourse."Itsaidon
equestionusedanewidea,butthequestionexplaineditsmeaning.Theu
niversitywilllookcarefullyattheresults.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about exams for 10 minutes. Read and talk about your partner's paper.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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