Past Exam Prompts: 2000-2012

Posted on Feb 22, 2025 in English

June 2000: The Bermuda Islands

  1. What would your daily life be like if you were the first and only inhabitant on an island?
  2. Describe any sea adventure you have read or been told about.

June 2001: Abuse of Antibiotics

  1. How different would life in a world without antibiotics be from life today? Explain.
  2. Should antibiotics be available without a doctor’s prescription? Discuss and support your arguments.

June 2002: Pointing the Finger

  1. The integration of children with learning difficulties at school. Discuss.
  2. Living with a serious illness: how would life be every day?

June 2003

  1. If you had a letter from your favorite artist, what would you do with it? Give reasons.
  2. What do you think of the fans’ attitude towards famous people? Discuss.

June 2004: Coetzee Wins Nobel Prize

  1. What is the last book you have read? Give reasons why you did or did not like it.
  2. How can winning a prize affect people’s lives?

June 2005: Too Much Television

  1. Which are your favorite TV programs? Describe them and explain why you like them.
  2. Do you think the government should control TV programs? Discuss.

June 2006: Skin Art

  1. Why do many young people get tattooed today? Give reasons.
  2. Are tattooed people fully accepted in our present society? Discuss.

June 2007: Mobile Phones in Social Life

  1. Some people believe that children under the age of 13 should not have mobile phones. What do you think? Discuss.
  2. Describe an unusual personal experience you have had that involved a mobile phone.

June 2008: Compulsive Shopping

  1. Do you ever buy things that you don’t need? Why?
  2. The Compulsive Buying Disorder has become worse with the arrival of online shopping and television programs devoted to buying goods 24 hours a day. Discuss.

2009 (June): Recycling in Kamikatsu

  1. Do you think it is important to recycle? Defend your point of view.
  2. Write the story of a broken mirror you found in the rubbish.

2010 (June)

Option A: The Truth About Bears

  • Pets in city flats? Argue for or against.

Option B: India’s Economic Revival

  • What distant or exotic country would you like to visit? Give reasons for your choice.

June 2012

Option B: Diamonds

  • How important is a brand name for people your age when they go shopping?

Model 2004: A Relative Difference

  1. Have you ever had a pet? Write about the experience.
  2. There is no important difference between animals and humans, and this means that the use of animals for food, research, or exhibition should be prohibited. Discuss.

Model 2005: I’m Working from Home

  1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages you find in homeworking.
  2. Have you ever had a job? Describe your experience.

Model 2006: State Control of Food and Drink

  1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian.
  2. Do you think that the State should promote or forbid some kinds of food?

Model 2007: Where Does Dracula Come From?

  1. Do you believe in vampires, ghosts, or other supernatural forces? Why or why not?
  2. Write about a ghost story you are familiar with.

Model 2008: The Travels of Marco Polo

  1. If you could choose a historical period to live in, which one would you choose and why?
  2. Are travel books popular with modern readers? Give reasons for your answer.

Model (Year not specified): Do You Sleep Enough?

  1. Do entertainment gadgets, such as iPods and game consoles, prevent young people from getting enough sleep? Discuss.
  2. What things keep you awake, and why do they worry you?