KEY COMPETENCES Test 1 Name:

TEST 1: READING
Competences:
• Linguistic Communication
• Learning to Learn

1 Read the text.

HOMESCHOOLING
Jane Wilson gets up at half past four every morning, has a quick breakfast and leaves the house. Why so early?
This 14-year-old girl has her first swimming practice at half past five in the morning. Jane is a talented swimmer and she
hopes to represent the USA in the next Olympics. That means two visits to the swimming pool a day for hours of practice in
the morning and hours of practice in the afternoon.
It isn’t easy to train for the Olympics and go to school like other students. That’s why Jane doesn’t go to school. She’s
a “homeschooler” – she learns at home and while she’s travelling to swimming competitions.
More and more athletes in the USA are leaving school to become homeschoolers. Homeschooling is more flexible than
traditional schooling, so athletes can train hard at their sport and also get a good education in other subjects. Often, the
athlete’s mother or father is their teacher, and special homeschooling academies provide learning materials, teaching help
and advice.
So how does Jane feel about her homeschooling experience? “It’s fantastic,” she says. “In the past, I was always tired. I
ran from swimming practice to school to swimming practice. I didn’t have much time for homework or friends. Now, my
mum and I decide when to have lessons and we know how much time I need for each subject. When I’m tired, I can have
a rest and study later. Also, homework isn’t a problem because my lessons are homework.”
And what about friends? “Well, of course I don’t see friends at school,” Jane explains, “but I’ve got more free time in the
evenings and at the weekends. I have a great social life!”

2 Tick (✓) the sentences (T) true or (F) false. Then correct the false sentences.
T F
1. Jane has swimming practice early in the morning.

2. Jane always studies in her house.

3. Homeschooled athletes only learn about their sport.

4. Homeschoolers’ mothers must write their own learning materials.

5. Jane likes being a homeschooler.

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 KEY COMPETENCES: Test 1

3 Answer the questions.

1. Why does Jane often have swimming practice?

2. Why is Jane a homeschooler?

3. How is homeschooling different from traditional schooling?

4. How can a homeschooling academy help parents?

5. What do Jane and her mother make decisions about together?

6. When does Jane see her friends?

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 KEY COMPETENCES: Test 1

TEST 1: WRITING
Competences:
• Linguistic Communication
• Digital Competence
• Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship

Read the advert for a homeschooling academy. Then write a paragraph about the academy.

The best
homeschooling
Worldlink Homeschool Academy academy
San Diego, California, USA for you!

We offer
• Learning programmes for students from kindergarten to the end of high school
• Personal flexible study plan for each and every student
• Expert advice
• Optional Internet-based lessons

What our students say

Colin Diane
Sarah
13 18
8

I really enjoy learning now. Because of the flexible Thank you, Worldlink,
study plan, I’ve got time for four great years of
for everything! Internet-based lessons.

Call today: 123-456789

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 KEY COMPETENCES: Test 1

2
TEST 1: LISTENING
01
0
20
2 Competences:
• Linguistic Communication
• Social and Civic Competence

1 Listen and choose the correct answer.

1. Greg Ryan works for .
a. a radio station
b. a TV channel
c. a homeschooling academy
2. Rachel’s teacher is her .
a. brother
b. mother
c. friend
3. Harry homeschooling.
a. didn’t like
b. loved
c. didn’t try
4. Last year, Harry wanted to talk about with his friends.
a. homeschooling
b. his parents
c. his schoolwork
5. At the end of the programme, Greg wants to talk to some .
a. teachers
b. parents
c. students

2 Listen again and tick (✓) Rachel, Harry or both..

Who … ? Rachel Harry
1. is a homeschooler now
2. was a homeschooler last year
3. has got a brother
4. doesn’t study with a sister
5. sees friends during school hours
6. does online lessons

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 KEY COMPETENCES: Test 1

TEST 1: SPEAKING
Competences:
• Linguistic Communication
• Social and Civic Competence
• Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship

Student A
1 Imagine you’re the teenager below. Tell your partner your opinion of the schooling you get.

Name: Alex
My schooling: traditional school
General opinion of schooling: very good

• learning with friends

Advantages: • excellent science laboratory
• different teachers for different subjects (more interesting)

• many students in each class

Disadvantages: • no free time in morning or early afternoon
• no responsibility for own timetable

Useful Language
I go to …
In my opinion, …
An advantage of traditional schooling is …
A disadvantage of traditional schooling is …

2 Now imagine your partner gets different schooling from you. Listen to his / her opinion of the schooling and
complete the chart.

My partner’s schooling:
Partner’s opinion of schooling:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

3 What do you think is the biggest advantage of each type of schooling? Tell your partner.

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 KEY COMPETENCES: Test 1

TEST 1: SPEAKING
Competences:
• Linguistic Communication
• Social and Civic Competence
• Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship

Student B
1 Imagine your partner gets different schooling from you. Listen to his / her opinion of the schooling and complete
the chart.

My partner’s schooling:
Partner’s opinion of schooling:

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

2 Now imagine you’re the teenager below. Tell your partner your opinion of the schooling you get.

Name: Sam
My schooling: homeschool
General opinion of schooling: very good
• getting personal attention
Advantages: • flexible study time
• helping parents decide which subjects to learn and when to learn them
• always studying with adults, not other students
Disadvantages: • most lessons in the living room
• parents not experts on all subjects

Useful Language
I am a …
In my opinion, …
An advantage of homeschooling is …
A disadvantage of homeschooling is …

3 What do you think is the biggest advantage of each type of schooling? Tell your partner.

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