Advanced 1 - feedback

Many of the students who have had problems have had an irregular attendance, missing contents, explanations and practice done in class or even homework that they should have done/handed in.

If it is your case, the first thing I would recommend to you would be constancy & hard work. It’s essential to evolve at an advanced level.

I would also like to point out that there have been excellent exams too that have shown hard work and effort behind! GOOD JOB & CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Reading: The results have been very good and you have successfully done the activities with the headings and the gaps. Congratulations! Keep practising and reading! How many books have you read this year? Try to read in summertime. Why don’t you read the books I have recommended you throughout the year?

Listening: In general, you have mostly failed the activity including gaps. This means that you understand information in general but you have problems understanding very specific chunks of information. I recommend you underline the key words of the activities and take notes trying to get as much information as possible not losing thread. You should practise regularly. Remember that watching films/series from time to time is not enough since you are not checking comprehension. I recommend you the activities on the blog or the ones on the Internet, specially dictations or activities including gaps. Look for level B2/Advanced.

Writing: The first point to consider is the task: what type of text / genre do you have to write? We have studied several types and you should know the structure & register of them. In the exam, you had to write a discursive essay in which you needed to include arguments in favour and against, and many people just gave their opinion not having structure into consideration. You should also pay attention to the grammar structures, linkers, vocabulary, idioms that you are using in the text. Some people’s texts were too basic and not adequate for the level. Some people didn’t use a single word/structure studied this year having a really poor text as a result. Of course, don’t forget to take into account the number of words and proofread your text once you have finished. Intermediate/ basic grammar mistakes should be corrected if found.

Speaking: In the speaking exam you have to show fluency. Remember that you have to speak for 4 minutes about a topic studied in class and your speech should be well-organised, coherent (you need to use linkers for this), complete and, at the end of it, you should include a conclusion to wrap it up. Some people just spoke about the topic but not in an organised/coherent way: repeating ideas & vocabulary and showing no resources. In addition, your speech should be grammatically adequate for the level and should include advanced structures/vocabulary. Otherwise, it will be very poor to access an Advanced II level. Finally, remember that correction is essential. Some mistakes are not allowed at this level. If you realise them, please correct yourselves!

Let's learn from mistakes!!! 

You'll do a great job in September!