Examination Topics
1. Some people think that school years are the happiest days in people’s
lives. Can you say that you have been happy at school? Why?
School is the traditional place for acculturating children into our
national life. In the modern age, the role assigned to our schools is to
prepare children for the literate public culture. Some students like
school, others don’t; but they all study for eleven years and gain
knowledge by doing different tasks. For students who are doing well in most
subjects and who want to get higher education, school is an attractive
place. But those who are not successful at school, and who are always
pressed by teachers and their parents, school is boring and uninteresting.
I think that the most important role of school is giving knowledge. I can
say that my school gives such knowledge, and that’s why I’m happy at
school. Most of my teachers have a lot of teaching experience; they
understand very well the difficulties of the learning process. They help us
to learn all subjects well. They also guide us and advise us on all aspects
of our study and life. They share their knowledge and experience with us,
and we respond with love.
If you want to study well, you must feel relaxed and happy with your
family, school and your social life. Your parents should understand you and
help you when you need their help. My parents usually help and support me
when I need it. We have our school psychologist who also helps us to
overcome difficulties and cope with our problems. The main purpose of our
school is to create a supportive and caring atmosphere for students.
The standard of education in our school is very high. I’m a rather good
student really. I don’t have many problems with the work; but I usually get
into trouble for talking, especially when I speak at the same time as the
teacher.
However I think that sometimes we have too much homework. Teachers and
parents insist that doing homework develops the student’s ability to work
without assistance, or that additional work could help us complete our
education successfully. But I believe, in many subjects, homework is
totally unnecessary, because it doesn’t do me any good. I think it’s really
stupid to copy from a textbook, and there is no point in duplicating the
textbook. And if we could get rid of unnecessary homework, we would have
more time to take up hobbies and interests.
School is not only a place of education; it is a place where we develop our
relationships, increasing tolerance and respect to each other. At school we
can enjoy different activities and demonstrate our individual talents.
Everyone has an opportunity to take part in different performances at a
school or class party, or to take part in different sport competitions.
These activities help us with our education and relationships among our
classmates. We want to have harmony in our class and among our classmates,
but it is rather difficult to achieve. Of course, we try our best to do it,
and in many cases we overcome our problems and solve them. And only
sensitive teachers can help us, because boys and girls are not passive
lumps of clay; they are living, pulsating, developing, mysterious beings
who must be studied and understood before they can be taught in the true
sense.
So a teacher plays an important role in our education, and when we remember
our school years we usually remember our teachers, if they were fair and
intelligent or not. I think that I’m a lucky person – almost all my
teachers are very interesting and intelligent. When our teachers criticize
us, they follow such rules: they try to correct a student’s action, not
him; they do not impress upon him that he has no abilities; they try to
contribute to the minds and souls of their students; they try to be a path
for their students to go through a dark forest of school rules. But I can’t
judge all teachers, because there are as many opinions how to treat a child
as there are people. Teachers must choose their methods themselves, but
they should remember that they influence and shape the student’s opinion
about their school. As for me, I think that in our school almost all
teachers understand the students and become like parents to us. They
support us and care for us. I’m happy at my school and so are my
classmates.
2. If you want to continue your education, what kinds of institution will
you attends? Explain your choice.
At the age of fifteen, students in Russia have to make some important
decisions. Will they continue on at school? Or will they enter a lyceum or
a gymnasium? Of course, it’s not easy to make the right choice. In our
country a nine-year education is compulsory and after the ninth form
students have an opportunity to choose. To enter a university or a college
it is necessary to study two more years, and take five examinations on
finishing the eleventh form. To get a professional education, students have
to enter a technical college or a vocational school and study for three
years. Finally, they may finish their education, leave school, and get a
job. The choice depends on their likes and dislikes.
When choosing a place for future studies, it’s a good idea to consider a
number of factors. First of all, we should take into account our own
preferences and find out what our talents are. We can do this through
aptitude tests, interviews with specialities, and consulting reference
books on the subjects that interest us. Different types of schools, for
example lyceums and gymnasiums, often specialise in various fields. They
can offer a good choice of subjects that will be useful in a future
profession. Most of them are affiliated with universities and colleges and
help pupils to prepare for their entrance examinations.
I am not sure what I am going to do when I leave school. By the time I
finish school I will have already formed a much better idea of what I’d
like to do. But the problem is we have to decide which subjects to study
for university or college two years before we finish school.
It’s not easy to make the right choice. There are a number of things we
could do. For some of the most interesting professions, like medicine, you
have to be very good at chemistry, and I am not much of a chemist. Although
my parents are doctors, I don’t seem to be very interested in caring for
others and helping them with their problems. I don’t think it’s the best
decision to follow in the footsteps of a parent or a relative if you are
not interested in this profession.
I have always wanted to be something like a computer programmer, because I
like computers and I am interested in knowing how computer programmes work.
Besides, I have an aptitude for working with figures and solving
mathematical problems. Maths is my favourite subject, and I am really good
at it. So I think I can work in a scientific or computational field. As far
as my personal qualities are concerned, I can say that I’m creative and
hard-working; I have good logical-reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Besides, I’m rather communicative and like to work in a team. So I feel I
can become a good specialist in programming.
To my mind the profession of a programmer has a lot of advantages. It is a
highly paid job, and it can offer many opportunities. I will be able to
work on the full range of development activities, such as analysis, design,
coding, testing and implementation. Computers are the most rapidly changing
sphere of modern technology. The next generation of computers will be able
to talk and even to think. We are living in the age of information. And I
think that the future will be just filled with computers. Today, in the USA
people work, go shopping, or even go on dates, sitting at their computers.
But to become a good specialist in computing, you should know a lot of
programming languages and application programmes. So after finishing school
it is necessary for me to enter a university or a college and to study
computer science. I’ll have to take three entrance examinations: in Maths,
Physics and Literary composition. If I am lucky, I’ll have the chance to
study interesting sciences, and to listen to the lectures of famous
professors.
However, it’s very difficult to pass entrance examinations. The school I am
now studying in is a comprehensive school with a standard curriculum.
Though the teachers here are very knowledgeable and experienced, my school
only offers general education. So after finishing the ninth form, I would
like to leave it and to enter a lyceum of information technologies. It
gives its pupils profound knowledge in Maths, Physics and other academic
subjects. Besides, pupils are offered a wide choice of elective subjects
connected with computers. They study different programming languages and
learn how to write programmes. The teachers there are friendly and well-
qualified. The lyceum is known for its academic excellence.
I hope my education at the lyceum will form a basis for my future
occupation. But it goes without saying that I’ll need some extra knowledge
to pass my entrance exams at the university or college. That is why I’ll
have to take preparatory courses in Maths and Physics. Anyway, I have to
get down to some hard work now, if I want to achieve my aims.
3. Choosing a profession is not an easy matter. What do you think can help
you to make the right choice?
What do you want to be when you grow up? We have heard this question many
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