Aptis Writing and Speaking practice

In Valencia, near the beach.

Blue and white.

On Sunday mornings.

About five hours.

Pasta with tomato sauce.

I joined the club because I want to meet people who love cycling. I enjoy long rides in the countryside, especially on Sunday mornings when the roads are quiet.

Hi Lena! What I like most is the feeling of freedom. When I'm on my bike, I forget about work and enjoy the fresh air. It's also a cheap way to keep fit.

I usually prefer riding in a group, Marco. It's safer on busy roads, and the time passes more quickly when you can chat. On my own, I sometimes give up when I see a big hill!

Great idea, Aisha! I think we should go to the lakes in the mountains. The roads are quiet, the views are beautiful, and there's a small hotel where we could all stay on Saturday night.

Hi Sam,

Have you seen the club's email? The Saturday ride is moving to Sunday at seven in the morning! I'm not a morning person, so I'm not happy about that. And the fee is going up to sixty euros. Are you going to stay in the club?

Cheers,

Lucía

Dear Committee members,

I am writing about the changes announced in your recent email. I have been a member of the club for two years, and I am concerned about both decisions.

Firstly, moving the group ride to seven o'clock on Sunday morning will make it very difficult for members who work late on Saturdays or have young children. I understand that the roads are busy on Saturday afternoons, but perhaps the ride could start at ten on Sunday instead, when traffic is still light.

Secondly, a fifty per cent increase in the membership fee seems very high. Would it be possible to share the cost of the van with another club, or to ask local businesses for sponsorship?

I would be grateful if you could consider these suggestions at the next meeting.

Yours faithfully,

Lucía Martín

Examiner: Please tell me about your family.

Candidate: There are four of us: my parents, my younger brother and me. My father is a bus driver and my mother works in a pharmacy. My brother is still at school. We get on really well, and we always have lunch together on Sundays.

Examiner: What do you usually do at the weekend?

Candidate: On Saturday mornings I go cycling with some friends from work. In the afternoon I usually relax at home or go to the cinema. On Sundays I visit my grandmother, who lives in a village nearby.

Examiner: Describe the place where you live.

Candidate: I live in a flat in the centre of Zaragoza. It's quite small, but it's bright and it has a balcony. The area is lively, with lots of shops and cafés, although it can be a bit noisy at night.

Examiner: Describe this picture.

Candidate: In this picture I can see a family in a park on a sunny day. The parents are sitting on a blue blanket with some food and drinks, and two children are playing with a ball on the grass. In the background there are some trees. Everyone looks relaxed and happy.

Examiner: Tell me about the last time you ate outdoors.

Candidate: The last time was two weeks ago. My friends and I took some sandwiches and fruit to the beach and had lunch there. The weather was perfect, and afterwards we went for a swim. It was much nicer than eating inside.

Examiner: Why do you think people enjoy spending time in parks?

Candidate: I think parks give people a break from the noise and stress of the city. Many people live in flats without a garden, so a park is a place where children can run and adults can meet friends. It's also free, which is important for families.

Examiner: Tell me what you see in the two pictures.

Candidate: Both pictures show people buying food, but the places are very different. The first one is an outdoor market. It's crowded and colourful, and the sellers are talking to their customers. The second picture shows a big supermarket. It looks much quieter, and the woman is shopping on her own.

Examiner: Which place would you prefer to shop in? Why?

Candidate: I'd prefer the market, because the fruit and vegetables are usually fresher and you can ask the sellers for advice. However, if I'm in a hurry after work, a supermarket is more practical, because everything is in one place and it's open later.

Examiner: Do you think small markets will disappear in the future? Why or why not?

Candidate: I don't think they will disappear completely. More people might shop online, but many people enjoy the atmosphere of a market and want to support local farmers. Perhaps markets will become smaller, or they might sell more special products that supermarkets don't have.

I'd like to talk about the day I passed my driving test. It was my third attempt, so it was quite a big deal for me. The first two times I was so nervous that I made silly mistakes, so before the third test I took extra lessons and practised on the motorway with my uncle.

When the examiner told me I had passed, I felt incredibly relieved, and then really proud, because I hadn't given up. I remember phoning my mother from the car park and almost crying.

As for whether we should reward effort or results, I think both matter, but in different situations. At school, I believe teachers should reward effort, because it encourages students who find a subject difficult. On the other hand, in some jobs, such as surgery or flying a plane, results are what really count, because mistakes can be dangerous. So overall, I'd say effort should be rewarded while people are learning, and results once they are experts.