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May the exams be with you!

In May, many students in Spain and Portugal take Cambridge English exams, which is why we will be

focussing this month´s activities on exam preparation.

We have created a selection of varied activities that you can work with in the ELT classroom in

preparation for Cambridge English exams.

Have fun, good luck and take it easy! We´re sure that your hard work will bring excellent results!

Contents

1. Cambridge English: Starters – A1 Vocabulary ..................................................................................... 2

2. Cambridge English: Movers – A1 Reading .......................................................................................... 3

3. Key for Schools – A2 Reading and Writing .......................................................................................... 4

4. Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools – Writing challenge ....................................................... 5

5. Cambridge English: First – Speaking Part 2 ......................................................................................... 6

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1. Cambridge English: Starters – A1 Vocabulary

Unjumble the words below so that they are spelt correctly!

wco khicnec

rgof odg

figrfea rtgie

suoem ksnea

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Who am I?

In the sentences from 1-5, the animals from the activity above have described themselves. Can you

guess who they are?

1. I am very small, and I have round ears and long whiskers. I eat cheese and biscuits. Who am I?

2. I am a very big cat and I live in the forests of India. I am orange with black stripes. Who am I?

3. I am yellow with brown spots and have a long neck. Who am I?

4. I have no legs and I eat mice! Who am I?

5. I am small, green, and I jump up and down Who am I?

2. Cambridge English: Movers – A1 Reading

Read the text below and choose the correct answer:

Example:

Mum: What would you like to do?

Nancy: A. On the table.

B. Go for a walk.

C. I would like a cup of tea.

Questions:

1. Mum: Good morning, Nancy. What would you like for breakfast?

Nancy: A. Good, thank you. And you?

B. Yes, please.

C. Can I have some bacon and eggs, please?

2. Mum: Sure. What do you want to do today after school?

Nancy: A. No, I don´t.

B. I want to play football with Mario and Ana.

C. I like listening to music.

3. Mum: Good idea! Would you like me to pick you up from school?

Nancy: A. In the morning.

B. Tomorrow.

C. Yes please, at six o’ clock.

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3. Key for Schools – A2 Reading and Writing

In this activity, you can practise Part 6 from the Key for Schools Reading and Writing Paper but first,

it might be useful to teach your students how to describe nouns in English, as this skill is key to

successfully completing Part 6.

Ask your students to work together in pairs. Prepare flashcards from a vocabulary topic you are

currently working on in the classroom, e.g. travel and transport. Read out the first word aloud and

show them the picture on the flashcard. Then, give them approximately 3 minutes to write down an

appropriate definition of the word.

Turning this activity into an oral exercise could also be very productive. Read a word out loud, give

your students a couple of minutes to think, and then ask them to try and define the noun.

This way, you are not only preparing your students for the exam, but also teaching them to think in

English, which is a key ability in bilingual education.

After practising with your students the skill of quickly describing key words, see if they can do the

below activity. Ask them to try and guess the word based on its description:

Example:

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Questions:

1 If you need to cross a big river or a lake, you will need to use this vehicle.

b_ _ _

2 You cannot drive this vehicle until you are 18 years old. c_ _

3 This is an underground train you might travel in if you live in a big city.

m_ _ _ _

4 This vehicle can quickly take you to places which are thousands of kilometres away.

p_ _ _ _

5 You can use this vehicle as a means of transport, but also for leisure, as well as exercise.

b_ _ _ _ _ _

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4. Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools – Writing challenge

Your friend from Australia is coming to visit you in June, but unfortunately, you can´t pick her up

from the airport. Write her an email in which you:

Say how happy you are to be able to see her again this year

Give her the directions from the airport to where you live

Tell her about a few things you want to do together

Use the expressions from the table as well as the word bank to help you with this exercise. You can

also illustrate your letter with a map of where your friend needs to go!

Useful expressions

Go straight on (at the lights/at the roundabout) Take the first/second road on the right/left

Go along Madison Avenue… Cross Bridge Street

Go on for 100 metres and turn left/right Turn right/left at the corner of Church Lane and

Queen Road

Turn right/left when you get to Chester Road Go towards … (the library, the pet shop, the

traffic lights, etc.)

At the end/beginning of Park Avenue, you´ll see … (a pharmacy, a church, railway station, etc.)

Go down North Street

Go through the tunnel Go over the bridge

Follow Albert Road until you get to the bank Take the train/bus/tram to Kingsway

Word bank

Pharmacy Bridge

Railway station Traffic lights

Bus stop Roundabout

Bank Supermarket

Bookshop Library

Street/Road/Path/Lane Pedestrian crossing

Zebra crossing Crossroads

Signpost Taxi rank

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5. Cambridge English: First – Speaking Part 2

Why have these children chosen to do these activities?

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How do these children benefit from their hobbies?