This is the blog post for the intensive exam preparation course for the #Cambridgeproficiency exam. It's where you will find all the information that you need about the course.
Course dates
Saturday 5th March - 9.00 - 10.30
Saturday 12th March - 9.00 - 10.30
Sunday 20th March - 10.30 - 12.00
Tuesday 29th March - 18.30 - 20.00
Saturday 2 April - 9.00 - 10.30
Course plan
Week 1 - speaking part
Week 2 - writing part
Week 3 - reading and use of English Parts 1-4
Week 4 - reading and use of English Parts 5-7
Week 5 - exam strategies and any follow up questions including a brief overview of the listening paper and reading part 5
Homework
Ongoing
Use Destination to improve your grammar and expand your vocabulary. You won't be able to learn everything in the book, so don't try! I recommend that you focus on the green review pages. Do the questions first. If you get something wrong or don't know the answer you should be able to find an explanation in the preceding units. If you still don't understand something, then you can ask me for help at the following lesson.
Practice the listening test in exam conditions. We won't have time to do this in detail in the course but it is essential that you practice it at home.
Join in with the second conditional challenge. Write 5 sentences every day using the second conditional - see my latest Instagram post for more information.
Week 5
Keep practising for the exam by doing the sample past papers. Do the papers together so that you can share tips and ideas about effective exam strategies.
Read the grammar blog posts on my website and let me know if there is a grammar topic you would like me to cover in a blog post.
Week 4
Practice parts 5 - 7 as much as possible by doing the other tests in the book.
Keep talking to each other to exchange tips, revise vocabulary and practice your English. Try to only talk to each other in English until the exam!!
Let me know if there is anything you want me to talk about in the final lesson.
Do the writing task I have sent you.
Week 3
Practice parts 1 - 4 as much as possible by doing the other tests in the book and the exercises in Destination - see the green pages.
Do some writing and submit it to me for feedback.
Reflect on the grammar and vocabulary you learned in today's lesson, adding notes to your personal exam guide.
Do some research on the words we discussed in today's lesson using a good dictionary or a corpus tool such as Skell.
Reflect on the strategies which you learned today.
Week 2
Write your answer to the part 1 essay question on page 20.
Next week we'll be looking at Reading and Use of English, parts 1 - 4. Do practice test 1 before the lesson (pages 8 - 13). If you want to do more practice, use Destination. You can also create your own part 2 exercises based upon authentic articles.
Week 1
Practice the speaking test with each other, giving each other constructive feedback and supporting each other. Remember that the speaking part is intended to test the communication skills you use in real life so you can also practice it in your first language. This will help you to think of ideas and will give you an insight into relevant skills you need such as agreeing your disagreeing.
Next week we will look at the writing paper. Try to read some of the teacher's handbook before then, especially
Page 23 - task types
Page 27 - assessment criteria
Pages 30 - 36 - model answers and examiner's comments
Resources
Click here to read the blog post with tips for the Cambridge Proficiency exam.