Key Features

Aligned with the NSS English Language curriculum and the latest exam requirements

Written with close reference to the latest exam formats and styles in Practice Papers and the 2012 HKDSE English Language Exam Papers

Up-to-date topics and most common question types included

Current and popular topics covered to prepare students for tackling contexts that will most likely appear in the 2013 HKDSE English Language Exam.

Most common question types and text types included to best familiarize students with the exam requirements.

Analysis and Answering Strategies Provide detailed steps or breakdown on tackling questions.

Give Me FiveGive students advice on how to attain Level 5 performance.

Functional phrases / expressions and Useful vocabulary Help students construct sentences with useful phrases / expressions and vocabulary. This helps build up students’ vocabulary bank too.

Hot Tip Give students handy tips on answering questions.

Comprehensive answer support

Question analysis, Planning and organization, Other useful ideasHelp students build up each paragraph of the writing task through the breakdown of question and thorough planning. Other relevant ideas are also provided.

Paper 1

Paper 2

Marking scheme and writing modelsProvide suggested answers and marking schemes in line with the newest format and include advanced writing models.

Performance analysis Provide a thorough analysis of the performance of a level 5 –5** candidate illustrated in the model group discussion.

Exam technique Give reminder to students on what they should include in or how to tackle the task.

Scoring tips Provide tips on how to excel in group discussion and individual response.

Paper 3

Paper 4

Paper 1 Exam Practices

Set Part Theme Text type

1

A • PaparazziinHongKong • Article

B1 • ViewsonLadyGaga• Tipsforconcertgoers

• Webpostings• Article

B2 • Genderstereotypinginthemedia• Pride and Prejudice

• Article• Storyexcerpt

2

A • Theeffectsoftourism • ArticleB1 • TravellinginBrazil • Article

B2 • Medicaltourism• Childe Harolds Pilgrimage: Canto the Fourth

• Article• Poemexcerpt

3

A • ThePost-80sgeneration • Article

B1 • Arehabilitationprogrammeonsubstanceabuse• Viewsontheproblemsofraisingteens

• Leaflet• Webpostings

B2 • Materialistickids• The Great Gatsby

• Article• Storyexcerpt

4

A • Theneedforhealthcarereform • ArticleB1 • Viewsonstress • Webpostings

B2 • TheproblemofAIDSinChina• Wuthering Heights

• Article• Storyexcerpt

Paper 2 Exam Practices

Set Part Purpose of writing Text type

1

A • Applyingtobeavolunteer • Letterofapplication

B

Q2: Sports communication• Summarizinganinterviewwithafamoussportsperson

• Article

Q3: Drama• Reviewingadramaperformance

• Review

Q4: Poems and songs• Commentingonafriend’spoem

• Letterofadvice

Q5: Debating• Evaluatingyourdebateteam’sperformanceinacompetition

• Report

Q6: Popular culture • Reviewingasinger

• Blogentry

Q7: Short stories• Writingabouttheexperienceofbecominganendangered

animal

• Shortstory

Q8: Workplace communication• Sharingyourexperienceonworkingcloselywitha

professional

• Magazinearticle

Q9: Social issues• Describingandexplainingcomplaintsfromtourists

• Report

2

A • AskingschoolmatestovoteforyouasthePresidentoftheStudentUnion

• Article

B

Q2: Sports communication• IntroducingSportsWeek

• Speech

Q3: Drama• DescribingyourexperienceasadirectorinDramaSociety

• Speech

Q4: Poems and songs• ExplainingthedeclineoftheCantopopmarket

• Article

Q5: Debating• Arguingfororagainstthemotion‘Socialnetworking

enhanceshumanrelationships’

• Debatespeech

Q6: Popular culture• Discussingthenegativeimpactofsexyphotosofteenmodels

inmagazines

• Lettertotheeditor

Q7: Short stories• Suggestingandexplaininganactivitytoenhancestudents’

storywritingskills

• Shortstory

Q8: Workplace communication• Discussingyourviewonwhetherpart-timejobsare

beneficialtostudents

• Essay

Q9: Social issues• Statingyourviewsonkeepingendangeredcreaturesinzoos

• Speech

3

A • Describinganexchangeprogramme • Essay

B

Q2: Sports communication• ArguingfororagainstpromotingextremesportsinHongKong

• Webposting

Q3: Drama• Reviewingadramaperformance

• Lettertotheeditor

Q4: Poems and songs• Arguingfororagainstincorporatingpoemsandsongsinto

lessons

• Essay

Q5: Debating• Givingadviceonpreparingforadebate

• Letterofadvice

Q6: Popular culture• Explainingyourlikesanddislikesofasocialnetworkingsite

• Email

Q7: Short stories• Describingwhathappenedinanearthquake

• Shortstory

Q8: Workplace communication• Describingandreflectingonyourinterviewperformance

• Diaryentry

Q9: Social issues• Statingyourviewonsmallclassteaching

• Formalletter

4

A • Describingyourexperienceofbeingapopsinger • Magazinearticle

B

Q2: Sports communication• Statingyourviewonspendinghugeamountsofmoneyon

organizinginternationalsportscompetitions

• Magazinearticle

Q3: Drama• Reviewingandevaluatingadramaperformance

• Diaryentry

Q4: Poems and songs• Summarizinganinterviewwithacomposerandalyricswriter

• Article

Q5: Debating• Sharingyourexperienceinjoininginthedebatingteam

• Blogentry

Q6: Popular culture• Describingtheelementsofafilmrelatingtoteenagers

• Proposal

Q7: Short stories• Explaininghowtowriteaninterestingandeffectivestory

• Speech

Q8: Workplace communication• Describingandreflectingonyourexperienceinhelpingin

yourschool’sstallintheLunarNewYearmarket

• Article

Q9: Social issues• ExplainingyourviewonlivinginHongKong

• Essay

Paper 3 Exam Practices

Set Part Theme Task type

1

A Volunteeringinhelpingyoungdrugaddicts• Completeaninformationsheet• Completeafactsheet• Completeanotesheet

B1

Drugprevention

• Writealeaflet• Writeafeaturearticle• Writealettertotheeditor

B2• Writeapressrelease• Writeanemailtoteachers• Writeanopeningspeech

2

A TheatreinLearning

• Completeaninformationsheet• Completeascriptanda

brochure• Completeachecklist• Completeasummary

B1

Englishenhancement

• Writealeaflet• Writeareplyemail• Writeadescriptionfora

website

B2

• Writealeaflet• Writeanadvicepagefora

website• Writeanewsletterarticle

3

A Servingasaninterninanairline• Completeaninformationsheet• Completeachecklist• Completeasummary

B1

Youthemployment

• Writealeaflet• Writeareplyemail• Writeadescriptionforawebsite

B2• Writeapressrelease• Writeanadvicepageforawebsite• Writeafeaturearticle

4

A

healthenhancement

• Completeaninformationsheet• Completeacasereportform• Completeanotesheet

B1• Writealeaflet• Writeareplyemail• Writeadescriptionforawebsite

B2• Writealettertotheeditor• Writeafactsheetforawebsite• Writeafeaturearticle

Paper 4 Exam Practices

Set Theme Tasks

1 Cyberbulling• Readingtext:Report

Part A Group DiscussionPrepareforapresentation• Giveexamplesofcyberbulling• Discusstheeffectsorconsequencesofcyberbulling• DiscusswhatthevictimscandoPart B Individual Response• Respondtooneofthe10individualresponsequestionsbasedonPartA

2 Cosplay• Readingtext:Report

Part A Group DiscussionPrepareforaschoolmagazinearticle• Explainthereasonswhysomeyoungpeoplelikecosplay• Discussthedisadvantagesofengagingincosplay• DiscusswhethercosplayispopularinHongKongPart B Individual Response• Respondtooneofthe10individualresponsequestionsbasedonPartA

3 Streettreats• Readingtext:Report

Part A Group DiscussionPrepareforaschoolmagazinearticle• Discusswhatstreetfoodispopular• Suggestwhatyouneedtopayattentiontowhenpreparingstreetfood• DiscusswhatstudentscanlearnfromthisactivityPart B Individual Response• Respondtooneofthe10individualresponsequestionsbasedonPartA

4 Graffiti• Readingtext:Webpostings

Part A Group DiscussionDiscusstheArtBureau’splantosetupa‘GraffitiZone’.• Discussyourgeneralopinionaboutgraffiti• DiscusswhetheryouthinktheGraffitiZoneisapracticalidea• SuggestwaystodealwiththegraffitiissueinHongKongPart B Individual Response• Respondtooneofthe10individualresponsequestionsbasedonPartA