Year 12 Final English Exam 2018


Part 1. Reading (10 points)

Read the text and fill the gaps with the words in the box. Gap one has been done as an example.

( )economic ( )earnings ( )disagreed ( )applications
( )employee ( )profitable (1)advertising ( )resignation
( )qualified ( )unemployed ( )retirement

Leaving a job

I recently left my job in an (1) ........ advertising ............ agency after a disagreement with my boss. She accepted my (2) ............ but warned me that because of the (3) ............... situation, I might have to get used to the idea of being (4) ............... for a while. I thought that she was trying to make a point, but after I had made over fifty (5)............... to other companies, I realised that she was right. Although I am a (6) ............... designer, I didn’t receive any offers of a job. After that I tried working from home, but it was not very (7) ........... Then I became an (8)............ in a fast-food restaurant, even though my (9) ............ were extremely low. I wish I had accepted early (10) ............... from my old job. That is what I (11) ............... with my boss about!


Part 2. Grammar (15 points)

There are four answers after each statement. Only one answer is correct. Choose the correct letter a, b, c, or d.

The first one was done as an example for you.

Example: We saw ...... b ......... children in the park.

a- any b- some c- much d- a

1- We haven‘t got .............. money to buy a new car yet.

a- quite b- too much c- too many d- enough

2- The person .............. my hair usually does a very good job.

a- who he cuts b- who cuts c- cuts d- cuts it

3- We .............. to the baseball game when it started to rain.

a- are driving b- drives c- driven d- were driving

4- The new bridge ............... before the end of next month.

a- will be completed b- will complete c- is completed d- completes

S- Their marriage wouldn‘t be so good if they.............. so well with each other.

a- Communicated b- didn’t communicate c- don’t communicate d- communicate


Part 3. Vocabulary (15 points)

There are four answers after each statement. Only one answer is correct. Choose the correct letter a, b, c, or d.

The first one was done as an example for you.

Example: - What are you going to do when you ...... d ...... school?

a- conclude b- end c- complete d- leave

1- I saw a nasty................. between two cars this morning.

a- damage b- danger c- accident d- happening

2- All medicines should be kept out of............. of children.

a- hand b- touch c- contact d- reach

3- Everything in the sale has been ............. to half price.

a- reduced b- decreased c- bargained d- lowered

4- At work. Vuthy always arrives on time. he’s so ..............

a- timeless b- punctual c- boring d- careful

S- It‘ll take you over an hour to get to the city centre in .............. hour.

a- rush b- busy c- run d- crowded


Part 4. Writing (10 points) write an essay. “Role of women in modern Cambodian society" at least 80 words.

- End -


The students were given one hour to do this exam.

My thoughts

My first reaction is, there are not enough questions.

Students who speak English quite well may not know some of these answers, and fail the exam, or get a low score.

Because of the multiple choice, students with little understanding of English may get lucky and get a good score.

I think it would be fairer if there were more questions, even if they give students more time. I know this may create more stress. But it would reduce the likelihood of students who speak English well getting low scores.

In particular, look at part 3. This makes up 30% of the total mark. Many students who speak English well may not know the answers to many of these questions. Some of these are concepts I have never heard used in Cambodia.

One student took a copy of this exam to her English class and suggested the teacher may like to discuss it. The teacher made up an excuse and refused to discuss it. I believe the teacher did not know the answers to some of the questions.

I believe many Cambodian English teachers do not know the answers to some of these questions. How can the students know?

If there are any Cambodians on this forum, who have never lived in an English speaking country, tell us which of these questions you know the answers to, and which you dont know.

explorer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:39 am


Part 4. Writing (10 points) write an essay. “Role of women in modern Cambodian society" at least 80 words.

Marks were deducted for writing "getting your tits out on Facebook".

cautious colin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:03 am 3- Everything in the sale has been ............. to half price.

a- reduced b- decreased c- bargained d- lowered
Technically it has been lowered & reduced.

Most Cambodians think that 'sale' means 'for sale.' It is quite rare you see a sale in Cambodia. So they are answering the question with that understanding.

If a student got all of them right and learnt how to speak English properly , would it help them get a job in a clothing factory ?. That's where the jobs are .

cautious colin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:03 am

explorer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:40 am Many students who speak English well may not know the answers to many of these questions. Some of these are concepts I have never heard used in Cambodia.

I agree, this one:

3- Everything in the sale has been ............. to half price.

a- reduced b- decreased c- bargained d- lowered

Technically it has been lowered & reduced.

4- The new bridge ............... before the end of next month.

a- will be completed b- will complete c- is completed d- completes

This is quite ambiguous

4- At work. Vuthy always arrives on time. he’s so ..............

a- timeless b- punctual c- boring d- careful

This one could be b,d or (hopefully) c

At the risk of being a grammar Nazi, do you want a teacher's response to this? Genuine question.

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 6:26 pm At the risk of being a grammar Nazi, do you want a teacher's response to this? Genuine question.

Yes

It might be a good idea to hold off with the correct answers until more people have commented.

I would also like responses from Cambodians who have never lived in an English speaking country.

Responses from all perspectives are good.

I think most people who speak English as a first language would get 100% or very close to it.

If you spend time with Cambodian high school students, I think most of them would struggle with some questions.

The few who go to private schools with English speaking teachers should do well.

explorer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 6:50 pm

StroppyChops wrote: ↑Wed Sep 26, 2018 6:26 pm At the risk of being a grammar Nazi, do you want a teacher's response to this? Genuine question.

Yes

I would also like responses from Cambodians who have never lived in an English speaking country.

Responses from all perspectives are good.

I think most people who speak English as a first language would get 100% or very close to it.

If you spend time with Cambodian high school students, I think most of them would struggle with some questions.

The few who go to private schools with English speaking teachers should do well.

Okay. The aim here is for the student to provide the "most correct" answers, based on an anticipated context.

3. Everything in the sale has been reduced to half price.
Decrease - to make less than, and a non-native speaker could infer that indicates the price has been made less but the sentence refers to "Everything in the sale", not the price. This applies, although to a lesser degree, to lowered. Has everything in the sale been placed at a physically lower level? Bargained just creates an invalid sentence.

4. The new bridge will be completed before the end of next month.
None of the other answers are correct as they use the wrong tense.

4. At work, Vuthy always arrives on time. He's so punctual.
Boring and careful will give structurally correct sentences, but the focus is on arriving on time, so - punctual is the only correct answer.

Edit: sorry, missed your comment on not providing the correct answers.