VOCABULARY
A Choose the correct definition for the words below.
a An applicant b A candidate c Marks d An NGO e A CV f Training g A degree | 1 Teachers give these to students after assessing their work. They are usually a percentage, or a grade like A, B or C. 2 A person who enters an exam. 3 Organisations like Greenpeace, The Red Cross or Oxfam. 4 The kind of education which is geared towards the world of work. 5 A document which gives personal information about a person to give to a prospective employer. 6 A course that you follow at university to obtain a graduate qualifi cation. 7 A person who applies for a job or a place on a course. |
READING
B Match the words in column A with the words in column B to form logical
collocations.
A school degree A-level huge public economic work voluntary distance job | B deficit market leavers work grades spending course course climate experience |
Now read through the following text and find these collocations.
This year more than 150,000 school leavers in the UK failed to find a place on a
degree course at university. By the end of August, 184,488 applicants were still
without a place, chasing approximately 18,000 remaining places. Some of these
applicants have top A-level grades and expected to get onto their preferred degree
course easily. So what has caused this huge defi cit in university places?
There are two main factors which have led to the lack of places. Firstly, there has
been a record number of university applicants after record-breaking national A-level
results. 2010 saw 97.6% of exam candidates obtain a pass mark (A-E), and 27% got
A grades. 8% of the candidates got the A* grade, which requires marks of 90% or more
in second year exams.
The second reason is the recession and cuts in public spending. The government has
funded 9,000 more places in Science and Maths this year, but this increase has been
cancelled out by the reduction of places on other courses. Universities are anxious
not to over-recruit in the present economic climate.
For those school leavers who have ended up without a place, there has
been no shortage of suggestions: unpaid work experience, NGO work, a gap-year
travelling around the world, training, etc. Aaron Porter, president of the National
Union of Students, had comforting words for students failing to fi nd a place on a
course: “Don’t panic. There are still lots of training, volunteering and work
opportunities out there.” The Universities Minister, David Willets, has urged students
without a place to take up voluntary work to enhance their CVs. He described
the present economic climate as “intensely competitive for young people” and
urged school-leavers to “look at the extras you can put on your CV”.
Another option for school leavers determined to get a degree is to do a distance
course at the Open University, perhaps working part-time too. Yet another option –
for those with the money – is to pay for a private degree course.
But, whatever the options are, with more university applicants every year, the
prospect of a long recession and the consequent pressure on the job market,
expectations will only get higher and competition for university places fi ercer.
It’s going to be a diffi cult time for school-leavers in the next few years.
C In your own words and based on the ideas of the text, answer the
following questions.
1 What are the two main reasons for the lack of university places in the UK this
year?
2 What sort of things can unsuccessful university applicants do?
D Find the words in the text that mean:
● Favourite:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
● A year between school and university:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
● Choices:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E Write a synonym, a definition or a sentence for the meaning of these
words:
● Record-breaking:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
● Over-recruit:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
● Enhance:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GRAMMAR
F Circle at least 10 verbs in the text above. What tense are they?
G Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first one:
1 The government has funded 9,000 extra places in Maths and Science.
9,000 extra places . . .
2 The increase in places for Maths and Science has been cancelled out by the
reduction of places on other courses.
The reduction in places on other courses . . .
3 There are two main factors which have caused the lack of places.
The lack of places . . .
4 You won’t get a place unless you get very good A-level results.
If you don’t . . .
5 More than 97% of candidates obtained a pass mark.
A pass mark . . .
H Choose the correct verb.
1 More students passed/have passed their A-levels in 2010 than in 2009.
2 George studied/has studied at this university since 2008.
3 My brother usually studies in London, but at the moment he studies/is studying
abroad.
4 Jane worked/was working for an NGO when she met her boyfriend.
5 By the time I applied for the course, all the places have been taken/had been
taken.
I Rewrite the sentences correctly:
1 I study on this degree course since 2008.
2 I have fi nished my degree in 2004.
3 ”The teacher can’t give class today. She’s been breaking her leg in a skiing
accident.”
4 At the moment John does a distance course with the Open University.
5 I’ve read that book you gave me this morning, but I haven’t finished it yet.
WRITING
J Write about 100 to 150 words on the following topic:
What can you do to enhance your CV as the Universities Minister suggests in the text?
Write your composition:
● An introductory paragraph about the importance of having a varied, interesting CV
(no more than 30 words)
● Two paragraphs with your ideas (approx 30 words per paragraph).
● A concluding paragraph summarizing what you have said.
Linking words First of all, … As well as that … … because … … so that … In short, … In conclusion, … | Useful phrases It is important to … One of the best ways to … Another thing you can do is … As I mentioned before, … It’s a good idea to … |
