Exam Techniques

What will I need in order to study for the exam?

You must have:

A good English/English dictionary and a reliable modern reference grammar of English. There are
excellent dictionaries and grammar reference books available which are specially written for students
of English as a foreign language. We recommend:
o Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary 8th Edition
o Oxford Phrasal Verbs Dictionary for Learners of English
o Oxford Idioms Dictionary for Learners of English
o Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
o Oxford Learners Thesaurus
o Oxford Practice Grammar Advanced (George Yule)
o Oxford Practical English Usage 3rd Edition (Michael Swan)
o Oxford English Grammar Course Advanced (Michael Swan, Catherine Walter)
o Cambridge Advanced Grammar in Use 2nd Edition (Martin Hewings)
o Macmillan Advanced Language Practice (Michael Vince)
o Longman Advanced Learners Grammar (Mark Foley, Diane Hall)
A CD player / computer to play the audio files. You can also buy audio books read by famous actors.

You will find useful:

An Internet connection to listen to English-language programmes. There are many websites offering
listening exercises or multimedia resources that can help you improve your listening skills. We
recommend:
o http://www.youtube.com
o http://learningenglish.voanews.com
o http://australianetwork.com/studyenglish
o http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish
o http://www.bbc.co.uk/vietnamese/english
o http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org
o http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews/index.html
o http://www.esl-lab.com
o http://www.tuoitrenews.vn
o http://www.thanhniennews.com
Ask about programmes aimed at people studying English, as well as the usual programmes. It may also
be possible to hear American or Australian radio stations on the Internet. Go to the local library or ask
your teachers to find out. Facebook is also a useful resource to study English. Getting access to English
groups or fan pages will have you gain more experience and tips on learning English.

A video recorder / computer so that you can watch English language films.
Friends to study in groups. Studying with friends whose goal is the same as yours is a good way to
have more motivation, experience and fun. Taking advantages of it will help you get the best results.
Magazines, newspapers and stories in English if you can find them. We recommend:
o Sunflower (Lao Dong Publishing House)
o Special English (Thong Tan Publishing House)
o Special News (Thong Tan Publishing House)
o Saigon Times

There are also series of simplified readers specially written for foreign learners which will help you
improve your reading and vocabulary.

How should I organize my studying?

Be realistic. Dont plan to do more than you can, you will only disappoint yourself.
Don't plan to give up all your free time to studying. Studying hard for one hour four times a week can
be very effective. In fact, short sessions are best, because your memory won't get tired, and so you will
remember what you study.
Try to study in a quiet place so that you can concentrate well.
Be organised. Write out a timetable and follow it. Spend a few minutes of each study period revising
what you did last time.

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 1

Exam Techniques

How to prepare for Listening Test

The best preparation for the Listening Test is exposure to, and engagement with a wide variety of
spoken English, including a range of voices, accents and styles of delivery. News broadcasts,
documentaries and discussions all provide exposure to suitable texts, as do some form of light
entertainment and drama broadcast in English. Classroom discussion activities also provide an
invaluable source of listening practice. You should listen to English as often as you can, in any form
available, both in school and outside. If you are not in an English-speaking country, try to get
information about English language broadcasts on the radio, television or the Internet. You should also
look out for recorded material such as audio CDs of songs and videos of films in English.
Remember that these Practice Items in this course are at the level of difficulty of the exam. Do not start
using them too early, or you may be discouraged because they seem difficult. Wait until you have had
lots of listening practice with other materials and then use these Practice Items to help you get to know
what it is like to do the Listening Test.
When you are using these Practice Items, it is better to practise as if you were in an exam. Do not
keep stopping and rewinding the tape while you are trying to answer the questions. Get used to doing
each whole test without interruptions because this is what you will have to do in the exam. After youve
completed and marked your test using the Answer Key, then is the time to listen again, and look at the
transcript if you like, to help with the questions that gave you problems.
You should familiarise yourselves with the format of the task types. It is valuable to work through a
sample test before the examination takes place and to have practice in completing the answer sheets.
At the end of the test you have some minutes to copy your answers onto the answer sheet. It is very
important to do this carefully, checking that you do not put any answers next to the wrong question
number. Also be sure you do not leave any blanks. You cannot score marks for a blank space, but a
guess may be correct.

What is tested in Use of English?

MODEL 1

Multiple-choice
Grammar &
Vocabulary

Candidates choose the best answer that completes the sentences,

or is CLOSEST or OPPOSITE in meaning with the underlined part.
Aspects of English tested are:
Grammar and Structures
Phrasal Verbs
Idioms
Collocations
Word Usage

Gap-filling Word
Form

Candidates fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words
given in brackets to complete the sentences / a passage.
Candidates fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words
randomly given in the box to complete a passage. There are more
words than needed.

Multiple-choice
Cloze

Candidates choose the best answer to complete a passage.

Open Cloze
Error Correction
Key Word
Transformation

Candidates fill in each blank with ONE suitable word to complete

the passages. There are 2 passages to read.
Candidates read a passage, then find and correct 10 mistakes.
Candidates complete the second sentence so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. In no way can
candidates change the word given.
TOTAL: 95 questions in 100 minutes

4
4
4
4
4
10
10
15
20
10
10

MODEL 2
Multiple-choice
Grammar &
Vocabulary

Candidates choose the best answer that completes the sentences,

or is CLOSEST or OPPOSITE in meaning with the underlined part.
Aspects of English tested are:
Grammar and Structures

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 2

Exam Techniques

Gap-filling Word
Form
Multiple-choice
Cloze
Open Cloze
Error Correction
Key Word
Transformation

Phrasal Verbs
Idioms
Collocations
Word Usage
Candidates fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words
given in brackets to complete the sentences / a passage.
Candidates fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words
randomly given in the box to complete a passage. There are more
words than needed.
Candidates choose the best answer to complete a passage.
Candidates fill in each blank with ONE suitable word to complete a
passage.
Candidates read a passage, then find and correct 10 mistakes.
Candidates complete the second sentence so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. In no way can
candidates change the word given.
TOTAL: 95 questions in 100 minutes

5
5
5
5
10
10
15
15
10
10

Timing and Exam Technique

Remember that the total time includes the time you need to transfer your answers to the answer sheets
at the end of the test. Allow about 5 minutes for this.
Allow roughly the same proportion of time for each part of the test as the marks that are allocated to it.
This will leave you 5 minutes for checking and transferring your answers at the end.

No. of questions
Time allowed
Multiple-choice Grammar & Vocabulary
20 / 25
15 minutes
Gap-filling Word Form
20
20 minutes
Multiple-choice Cloze
15
10 minutes
Open Cloze
20 / 15
20 minutes
Error Correction
10
10 minutes
Key Word Transformation
10
20 minutes
TOTAL
100
95 minutes
Do the parts that you find the easiest first.
Dont waste time struggling over a question that is giving you difficulty. Dont spend more than 1.5
minutes for each question. Leave it, move on to the next question or part of the test and come back to
the troublesome questions in any spare time you have at the end of the test.
If two questions from different parts of the test are tricky, spend more time on the one thats worth more
marks.
Don't write two alternative answers a question even if one is correct, they will be both marked wrong.
Dont leave any of the questions unanswered even a guess might turn out to be lucky!

Strategy Building
Part 1: Multiple-choice Grammar & Vocabulary (Sentence Completion)
1| Sentence completions test command of lexico-grammar and your ability to use the information found in
complex, but incomplete, sentences in order to correctly complete the sentences. Sentence completions
test two separate aspects of your verbal skills: your vocabulary and your ability to follow the internal logic of
sentences. These sentences are often quite complex. Fortunately, there are some strategies that will
greatly increase your score on these questions. Each of these questions has one blank (or, on some tests,
two blanks) within a single sentence. Often the sentences are long and difficult to follow, but with practice
you can learn to master them.
When it comes to sentence completions, the word that does not appear is the key to the meaning of the
sentence. The words that do appear offer clues to the missing word. If you can find out how the words that
appear are connected, you can find the correct answer. This means that you must know more than just the

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 3

Exam Techniques

meaning of the words involved. You must also understand the logic of the sentence. Here is a sampling of
strategies:

Read the entire sentence saying blank for the blank(s). This gives you an overall sense of the
meaning of the sentence and helps you figure out how the parts of the sentence relate to each other. If
an answer occurs to you before you even look at the choices, you may have a synonym for the answer
or the answer itself.
Pay special attention to introductory and transitional words but, although, however, yet, even though
because they are key to forming the logical structure of the sentence.
Be sure your choice is both logical and grammatically correct.
If you dont know some words, use elimination and educated guessing, which means you are able to
eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely wrong; or guessing from context when you know a
related word.

As you practice sentence completions, you may discover signal words and phrases clues that help you
choose the correct answer. Here are common signal words for each kind of question:

Restatement: namely, in other words, in fact, that is

Comparison: likewise, similarly, and, just as, as as, for example, as shown, as illustrated by
Contrast: though, although, however, despite, but, yet; on the other hand, but, however, despite, on the
contrary
Cause and effect: thus, therefore, consequently, because and phrases such as due to, as a result, leads
to

Example:
1. The city council formed a committee to simplify several dozen ______ city ordinances that were
unnecessarily complicated and out-of-date.
A. feckless
B. empirical
C. byzantine
D. slovenly
The answer is choice C, byzantine, an adjective that means highly complicated and intricate. Here,
you are looking for a restatement of the clue words complicated and out-of-date, and for something that
needs simplifying.
2. Researchers found that identical twins, who share the same genes, tended to have the same levels of
musical ability. _____, non-identical twins, who share just 50% of the same genes were less likely to
have the same level of musical talent.
A. In addition
B. Otherwise
C. However
D. Especially
The answer is choice C. From reading the chunk of text, it becomes clear that a link is needed that
contrasts the abilities of the identical and non-identical twins.

2|

Sometimes you come across synonym and antonym questions. These questions ask test takers to
identify the word that is most similar or dissimilar to another word, effectively testing their knowledge of two
words.
Example:
Healthcare has created a range of great vitamin supplements to match your
outstanding products are only available by post, and were offering them to our
prices.
Choose the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning to outstanding.
B. excellent
A. noticeable
C. invaluable
Choose the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in meaning to unbeatable.
A. can be improved
B. competitive
C. conquerable

nutritional needs. These

customers at unbeatable

D. valueless
D. can be defeated

The questions in this book can help you prepare for your test in many ways. First, completing these
practice exercises will make you familiar with the question format. They will also get you thinking of words
in terms of other words with similar or opposite meanings. In the test-taking environment it can be difficult to
switch gears from synonym questions to antonym questions; completing these exercises will make these
mental gymnastics more comfortable.
Second, your performance on these questions will help you assess your vocabulary level. For example, a
word may be familiar to you you may have seen it in print and have a general sense of what it means
but when tested, you may discover that you do not know the words precise meaning. These exercises will

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 4

Exam Techniques

help you pinpoint those familiar words for which you need to learn the exact definition. In addition, you will
probably encounter words that are totally unfamiliar. By memorizing their definitions, you can add these
words to your vocabulary and call upon them at test time to improve your score.
Third, many of the questions in this book, and on assessment exams, test your ability to discern nuance of
meaning. The question may ask you to identify the synonym for a secondary definition of a common word
for example, inclination or natural ability is a secondary definition of the word bent. Also, the direction for
these exercises usually ask you to identify the word that is most similar or most dissimilar in meaning to
the word in the question. This means that you may be asked to pick between degrees of meaning. For
example, atrocious means utterly revolting; in this case, revolting would be a more accurate synonym
than unpleasant.
Each question is fully explained at the end of the chapter. The answer keys give you not only the right
answer but also the definitions of the word in the question and the correct answer. Use your performance to
create a study guide. For example, make a list of all the words that you missed and their definitions. Then
study this list as a quick and concentrated method to improve your vocabulary. In some cases, you will also
benefit from looking up the definitions of the words that you selected incorrectly to ensure that you know the
precise meaning of these words. Then add these words to your study list as well.

Part 2: Word Formation

SAMPLE TASK
Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word
that fits in the space in the same line.
ISABELLA BIRD
Life in Victorian Britain was (1) __________ dull for many women
and a few reacted against its (2) __________ by seeking freedom and
adventure in travel. Although she had an otherwise conventional
(3) __________, Isabella Bird (1831 1904) learnt two skills in
childhood which proved to be (4) __________ when she grew up. As
she was a frail child, a doctor recommended frequent excursions
(5) __________ so Isabella learnt to ride and her clergyman father
took her with him on trips round his parish. On these rides he taught
her to be (6) __________ and exact in her description of name and
people, attributes which made her later travel writings successful.

STIFLE
RESTRICT
BRING
VALUE
DOOR
OBSERVE

At the age of 18 Isabella travelled to the Scottish Highlands to aid

her recovery from an operation. From then on, her life followed a
pattern of periods at home plagued by back pain, headaches, and
(7) __________ interspersed with periods of adventurous travel to SLEEP
(8) __________ remote and exotic locations.
INCREASE
The books in which she (9) __________ her journeys met with COUNT
success and the (10) __________ from these supplemented a modest COME
inheritance from her mother and allowed her to finance further travels.
Her achievements were (11) __________ recognised in 1892 when OFFICE
she and fourteen other ladies were the first women to be invited to join
the Royal Geographical Society.

1| Always read the whole text before your start filling any gaps.
This will help you to get an overall understanding of its main arguments. In addition, as with the cloze
passage, some gaps may test not only your understanding of a sentence, but of the whole text.

2| Identify the part of speech needed to fill each gap.

Look at the words immediately before and after each gap to guide you. For example in the Sample Task
above:

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 5

Exam Techniques

Gap 2 is preceded by the possessive pronoun its, therefore the word you need in the gap must be a
noun.
Gap 4 is preceded by the verb be and there is no article, therefore the word you need in the gap must
be an adjective.
Gap 8 precedes and qualifies the adjective remote, therefore the word you need in the gap must be an
adverb.

3| Read the surrounding text carefully for clues to the meaning of the word that must be fitted in
the gap.
For example, gap 7 in the text about Isabella Bird could be filled either with the noun sleepiness or
sleeplessness. However, the word plagued, in the same sentence implies that this was a recurrent and
unwanted problem, rather than a temporary state, therefore sleeplessness would be the more appropriate
choice.

3| Be aware that more than one transformation may be needed.

For example, the stem chant could be transformed up to four times.
1.
2.
3.
4.

By adding a verb prefix enchant

By adding a negative prefix disenchant
By adding a noun suffix or adjective suffix disenchantment / disenchanted
By adding an adverb suffix disenchantedly

Now complete the Sample Task. For advanced points of Word Formation, please refer to other parts of this
book.

Part 3: Multiple-choice Cloze (Guided Cloze)

SAMPLE TASK
Read the text below and then decide which word (A, B, C or D) best its each space.
AUNT MARGARETS KITCHEN
The kitchen was quite dark because the blinds were (1) _____. There was a smell of (1) _____
cigarette smoke and some unwashed cups were (3) _____ neatly in the sink, but the room was ferociously
clean. It was quite a big room. There was a (4) _____ dresser, painted dark brown, loaded with (5) _____, a
flour jar, a bread-bin. There was a larder you could walk into. Melanie experimentally walked into it and (6)
_____ the door to on herself in a cool smell of cheese and mildew. What did they (7) _____? Tins of things:
they seemed particularly (8) _____ of tinned peaches, there was a whole pile of tins of peaches. Tinned
beans, tinned sardines. Aunt Margaret must buy tins in (9) _____. There were a number of cake tins and
Melanie opened one and found last night's currant cake. She took a ready-cut (10) _____ of it and ate it. It
made her feel more at (11) _____, already, to steal something from the larder. She went back into the
kitchen, (12) _____ crumbs.
There was a long table of (13) _____ pine with a tablecloth (splashed with russet chrysanthemums, the
sort of tablecloth you see through the windows of other people's houses as you walk by at teatime) (14)
_____ back to cover crockery (15) _____ out ready for breakfast, perhaps to (16) _____ mice from dirtying
the cups.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.

installed
stale
erected
built-up
accessories
took
consume
crazy
lots
slice
comfort

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

tied
rancid
stacked
cornered
crockery
pulled
eat
loving
gross
rasher
place

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

drawn
ancient
ordered
walled
implements
made
devour
fond
mass
shaving
home

D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

retracted
musty
ranked
built-in
tools
put
use
likeable
bulk
remnant
rest

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 6

Exam Techniques

12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

A.
A.
A.
A.
A.

sprinkling
grazed
folded
sorted
have

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

shedding
scraped
bent
set
ensure

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

sowing
bruised
opened
done
keep

D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

scattering
scrubbed
tilted
let
save

1| The focus of this type of question is on vocabulary, so you have to think about the meaning of the word.
You also have to check whether the word its the grammatical context of the sentence and the text as a
whole.

2| Here are some examples of the types of words that are tested in this part.
Expressions
I _____ sight of an old friend of mine when I went to the bank yesterday.
A. saw
B. caught
C. set
D. gained
B is the correct answer. The expression is to catch sight of someone or something.
Collocations
All that was left for breakfast were some _____ rolls and tea.
A. stale
B. rotten
C. sour
D. rancid
A is the correct answer. We say stale bread, rotten fruit, vegetables or meat, sour milk and rancid butter.
Phrasal verbs
With all his experience he intends to _____ up a computer business with his brother.
A. put
B. lay
C. get
D. set
D is the correct answer. The phrasal verb is to set up meaning to establish a company or business.
Linking words
He decided to go _____ his family begged him not to.
A. although
B. despite
C. otherwise
D. if
A is the correct answer. Despite would require the construction despite his family begging him not to or
despite the fact that his family begged him not to. Otherwise means or else and if does not make sense
here.
Vocabulary
The child fell down and _____ her knee.
A. skimmed
B. grazed
C. rubbed
D. scrubbed
B is the correct answer. Graze means to break the surface of the skin by rubbing against something rough.
Skim means to move quickly just above (a surface) without, or only occasionally, touching it. Rub means to
press or be pressed against (something) with a circular or up and down repeated movement. Scrub means
to rub something hard in order to clean it.

3| Tips

Read the title because it will help you predict the main topic of the text.
Always read the whole text first to understand the gist of it.
Read carefully not only the sentence where the gap is but also the sentence before and after the gap.
Make sure that the word you write makes sense in the context of the text as a whole.
Consider each alternative carefully, dismissing those which do not it.
Read through what you have written and see if it sounds right.

Now complete the Sample Task. For advanced points of Collocations, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Prepositons
etc. please refer to other parts of this book.

Part 4: Open Cloze

SAMPLE TASK
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space.
English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 7

Exam Techniques

EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION
Scientist were able to warn governments (1) __________ an impending earthquake, even if only a few
hours (2) __________ advance, lives might be saved and international rescue workers could be at the
scene of the disaster by the time it happened, instead of heading (3) __________ their local airports
several hours after the event.
(4) __________ it is, seismologists have long been able to predict roughly where earthquakes will
happen, but they are still (5) __________ from knowing how to forecast exactly when (6) __________ may
strike. The one and (7) __________ successful prediction in recorded history was for the 1975 earthquake
in Haicheng, China. In the months preceding the earthquake changes (8) __________ land elevation and
ground water levels, widespread reports of peculiar animal behaviour, and many foreshocks had (9)
__________ to a low-level warning. As a (10) __________ of an increase in foreshock activity, an
evacuation was (11) __________ the day before a magnitude 7.3 earthquake. Unfortunately, in (12)
__________ of their success in 1975, the Chinese failed to predict the Tangshan earthquake the following
year, which (13) __________ an appalling 250,000 fatalities.
Since (14) __________ completely reliable method of prediction has been found, most government now
focus (15) __________ mitigating the effects of earthquakes once they make (16) __________ than
attempting to forecast them.

1| Always read the whole text before you start filling any gaps.
This will help you to get an overall understanding of its main arguments. In addition, some gaps may test
not only your understanding of a sentence, but of the whole text. For example, the phrase in respects
could be commenting on a whole text and you may not know until youve read it all which of the choices
some, many or all are all possible would be the most appropriate to fill this gap.

2| Always study the text before and after each gap carefully.
Knowing how the gaps relate to the surrounding text can help you guess what kind of word you need to
write. For example, among other possibilities, the gap might:
1. form part of a phrasal verb.
The company was set up ten years ago.
We set off early in the morning.
2. Test your knowledge of dependent prepositions.
a sharp decline in sales; insisted on being
3. form part of a set phrase.
first and foremost; above all; on the whole
4. connect two ideas.
The French enjoy this while to the British it is
on the other hand
5. refer to earlier or later parts of the text.
such examples are; which is considered to be
these are not; it is likely that
In case of reference words, the gap may relate to an idea expressed one or more sentences earlier.
6. test your knowledge of collocation (which words are naturally used together).
they reached the conclusion that; place an order for
Now complete the Sample Task. For advanced points of Collocations, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Prepositions
etc. please refer to other parts of this book.

Part 5: Error Correction

This type of question presents a sentence, four parts of which is underlined, or a passage containing a
number of mistakes. This question tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. In choosing your
answer, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of
words, and sentence construction. Choose the underlined part that makes the sentence unclear and
inexact or involving awkwardness, ambiguity, redundancy, or grammatical error.

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 8

Exam Techniques

Read the original sentence carefully. The parts which are not underlined will help you to identify the
errors.
Glance at underlined parts. Try to determine what the pivotal grammar issue is and if the pivotal issue
falls under one of the big six grammar categories:
o subject-verb agreement
o noun and adverbial modifiers
o pronoun usage
o structural and logical parallelism
o comparisons
o verb tenses & voice
o idioms, quantity, and more.
Choose the part which makes the sentence grammatically incorrect, idiomatically incorrect, and
ineffective in terms of style.

Example:
1. Unaccustomed to being spontaneous, Jill couldnt decide whether she should be spending her bonus
A
B
[whether to spend] C
on a new computer.
D
2. The reclusive playwright has been known as declining invitations to speak at college from forums
A
B [to decline]
C
across the country.
D

Part 6: Key Word Transformation

1| Follow the instructions carefully.

This part consists of 10 questions. Each question is made up of a prompt sentence, a key word and a
gapped sentence of which only the beginning is given.
You must complete the gapped sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the prompt sentence. You
must include the key word in your sentence and you must not change it in any way.
Sometimes the end of the prompt sentence is given, and you are required to fill in the gap with between
THREE and FIVE / EIGHT words (depending on the test makers), including the key word. If so,
contractions e.g. wouldnt counts as two words.
You may make notes on the question sheet but all answers must be transferred to the answer sheet
before you hand the papers in.

TASK
Two sample answers to Part 6 questions are given below. Each is grammatically correct, but would
not be awarded the full marks available. Identify what is wrong with each of the sample answers.
1. If my cooker's working again by then, I'll have you over to dinner on Friday.
REPAIRED
Provided that I've finished repairing the cooker by then, I'll have you over to dinner on Friday.
2. The product launch is unlikely to be successful unless it is planned in great detail.
ESSENTIAL
Detailed planning is absolutely essential to ensure the success of the product launch.

2| Be aware that more than one change to the prompt sentence may be needed.
For example, the correct answer to question 1 above involves:

Changing verb tense and voice.

is working again has been repaired
Identifying a synonymous word/phrase. If Provided that

This results in the correct answer:

Provided that the cooker has been repaired by then, Ill have you over to dinner on Friday.
The correct answer to question 2 above involves:

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 9

Exam Techniques

Changing a verb to a noun.

Changing an adjective to a noun.
Identifying two dependent prepositions.

planned planning
successful success
essential to and success of

This results in the correct answer:

Detailed planning is essential to the success of the product launch.
Now complete the Sample Task. For advanced points of Collocations, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Prepositions
etc. please refer to other parts of this book.
SAMPLE TASK
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given. Do NOT change the word given.
1. The companys profits appear to be improving significantly this year.

EVIDENCE

The companys ...

2. Shes forever warning her husband about driving too fast, but he pays no attention.

OFTEN

No ......................
3. She emigrated immediately after gaining her degree.

GRADUATED

No ......................
4. Phil stopped being so unrealistic when he lost his job.

EARTH

The .....................
5. She got her licence because her father helped her learn to drive.

ASSISTANCE

But
6. It wasnt Susans fault that the dog chewed your slipper.

BLAME

Susans ..............
7. You must not enter this area unless you are wearing protective clothing.

STRICTLY

Entry ...................
8. My father persuaded me to learn another foreign language.

TALKED

It was ..................
9. Shed only just got dressed when the first of the guests arrived.

DRESSING

No ............

English Training Course for the Gifted (Grade 9) 2013 | thanhtrungup@gmail.com | Page 10