Топик: 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 times during our school years. Perhaps, it was difficult for us to give a definite answer earlier. But now we understand that the time to choose our future profession has come. Finishing school is the beginning of an independent life for millions of school-leavers. Many roads are open before us: technical schools, colleges and universities.

Centuries ago there were only a few jobs: people were farmers, bakers, butchers or carpenters. Today there are thousands of different kinds of jobs, and new ones are constantly appearing. No wonder that it is not an easy thing to make the right choice.

When choosing a future career, we should consider different factors. In my opinion, money is one of the most important factors when you make a choice. There are highly paid jobs and low-paid jobs. For example, a businessman, a president or a film star, are highly paid jobs. A worker, a doctor or an engineer, are low-paid jobs. I think everybody wants to earn as much money as possible. Training, promotional prospects and conditions should be also taken into account.

On the other hand, it’s good when you get satisfaction from your job. It is very important to choose a profession that suits your interests. In my opinion, a job should be interesting and socially important. Some jobs are considered to be more suitable for men and others for women. For example, the professions of secretary or nurse are more suitable for women. A lifeguard or a pilot are more likely the jobs for men. You should also decide whether you want to work indoors or outdoors.

To make the right choice, you should take into account your traits of character. It goes without saying that to become a good doctor you must be patient, caring and kind. Teacher’s work requires love for children, profound knowledge of subjects, and the ability to explain. A secretary has to be efficient and careful in order to do her work quickly and accurately. Salespeople need to be friendly and persuasive, to get people buy their products.

There are so many people who influence us in choosing our occupation. Parents and friends play a very important role in our choices.

My father works is a bisnessman. It is a highly paid job and it offers a lot of opportunities. You can travel abroad and meet different people. My father is a friendly person and he is easy to talk to. He thinks that I must choose my future profession according to my taste and preferences. I respect him but I want to become a programmer.

I have always been interested in computers. I’m rather communicative and have good social skills. I have good analytical abilities and I am good at problem-solving. Besides, I am good at English. English has become the standard language for all kinds of international programs. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every programmer.

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.

4. There are different ways of learning about the world: through the mass media, books, travelling, visiting museums, meeting other people, etc. Which ways do you prefer to learn about the world?

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