The exam will be performed in pairs (groups of two students), will last 6 minutes and be a spoken discussion of a topic. Students need to prepare all 20 topics as in the exam the teacher will choose the topic randomly. Written material, prepared notes, books etc, will not be allowed in the exam. Students should be careful to split the time evenly between each student in the pair. If one student speaks much less than the other, then the other student who speaks more will get higher marks. When preparing, students should try to remember and focus on and the ideas of each topic rather than writing and reciting a script. This exam is worth 50 marks of students’ Oral English class. The groups will be decided by student numbers, for example student 1 and student 2 together, student 3 and student 4 together. If there is one student left, the final group will have 3 students and that group will need to speak for 9 minutes in total.

The exam will take place in students own classroom. The class should wait outside the classroom while a pair is being tested inside. Students will not know which topic they will discuss until they enter the classroom, at which point the teacher will choose the topic randomly. This means that students might receive the same topic as groups before them. When students have finished their exam, they may leave and do their own thing.

Marking Guide

Topics

1. Should people use the Internet for romance?
2. Where is your dream home? Describe the location and what the house is like.
3. Should college students devote all their time and energy to academic life?
4. Should college students do a part-time job?
5. Is it wrong for the media to invade the privacy of star athletes?
6. Should Chinese people celebrate western festivals?
7. Why is introducing western ideas into the Chinese wedding ceremony a good or a bad thing?
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an only child?
9. Do you think that young people living together before marriage is a good or bad thing?
10. Sport was invented by men for men, is sport sexist towards women?
11. In western countries children from an early age are taught to be independent, do you think that this part of western culture is good or bad?
12. In a world where fashion is so important, do you as a student feel under pressure to keep up with the fashion? Why or why not?
13. Do you think confidence is an important quality when making new friends? Why or why not?
14. To be a student union representative you need to have certain personal qualities, in your opinion what are they and why?
15. What job would you most like to have if social and cultural boundaries did not apply?
16. Is China becoming a consumer nation? If not already, will consumerism increase in the future?
17. Would you marry someone of a different nationality? What would be the advantages/ disadvantages of an international marriage?
18. In what ways have Chinese people’s eating habits changed over the years?
19. Are family relationships changing in China? If so, in what ways are they changing?
20. Which qualities make for a stronger and happier society; Independence and self sufficiency or mutual reliance and support?