Integrated Skills in English

ISE 1

Name:
 Exam Format and Timings

Reading & Writing - 2 hours

● 2 x Reading tasks:
○ Long reading (You read 1 text, about 400 words long and answer to
15 questions)
○ Multi-text reading (You read 4 short texts and answer to 15
questions)
● 2 x Writing tasks:
○ Reading into writing task (based on the multi-text reading)
○ Extended writing

Speaking & Listening - 20 minutes

● 2 x Speaking tasks:
○ Topic discussion task (chosen by you)
○ Conversation task ( Rules and regulations - Health and fitness -
Learning a foreign language - Travel - Money - Fashion)
● 2 x Independent listening tasks
○ Task 1: You listen to a recording (1 minute) twice and take some
notes. The examiner asks you six questions about facts in the
recording.
○ Task 2: You listen to a recording (1 minute 15 seconds) twice. You
have to identify the main idea of the talk and then tell the examiner
six facts you heard in the recording. After this, the examiner asks
you four questions about the recording.

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 How to prepare for ISE I

Reading & Writing

● Practise reading in English by, for example, reading English websites,

newspapers or magazines — look for subjects in English that interest you
and subjects that you are studying in school or college.
● Use graded readers, which are books specially written for B1 level learners
of English.
● Try to understand the meaning of words you don’t know. Look at the whole
sentence, the paragraph and the context and try to think of possible
meanings of the word. After you finish reading the paragraph or the whole
text, check the meanings of the words in the dictionary.
● Practise highlighting words or phrases that you think are important for
your answer. You can use a highlighter pen to highlight parts of the texts or
questions in the exam, if you want to.
● Look at the questions carefully (How many different ideas are there in the
question? How many ideas do you have to write in your answer?).
● Practise writing in three stages: – plan what you want to write – write your
answer – check your writing/answer.
● Check your work to see if it is organised (Have you used paragraphs?
Does it have a conclusion?)
● Check your work to see if it is appropriate (Have you answered the
question? Have you thought about who will read your writing?)
● Check your work to see if it is accurate (Is your spelling correct? Have you
used capital letters and full stops?)
● Practise doing sample exams from the Trinity website
trinitycollege.com/ISEI

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 ● Practise writing in English outside class — for example, write reviews of
films or books you have enjoyed, take part in discussions on the internet in
English or write emails or messages to friends in English.

Speaking & Listening

● Choose a topic that interests you and that you can spend up to four
minutes talking about.
● Try to think of a topic that includes lots of language of ISE I. For example,
a topic that helps you to give reasons and opinions and discuss the past
and the future.
● Think of the language you will need and the questions the examiner might
ask you.
● Think of questions you can ask the examiner about your topic.
● You are tested on your interactive listening skills (how well you follow the
conversation), so practise having conversations in English.
● Don’t choose a technical topic — it’s difficult to remember technical
vocabulary in the exam.
● Don’t memorise a script — you can plan ideas and phrases for your topic,
but remember that the topic is a discussion and it is important to be
natural.
● Practise listening to recorded English — you are tested on listening to
recordings, so watch films and videos in English, listen to English
podcasts or news programmes, practise in class.
● Practise taking notes while you listen — try to only write the most
important information like dates, names, places and facts.
● Don’t try to write down everything you hear — you don’t need 100% of the
information

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 What is the examiner assessing in ISE I?

Language functions

● Describing past actions in the indefinite and recent past

● Describing the future, informing and expressing intention
● Predicting and expressing certainty and uncertainty
● Giving reasons, opinions and preferences
● Expressing obligation
● Asking for information and opinions

Grammar

● Connecting clauses using because, so, but, etc.

● Present continuous tense for future use
● Will referring to the future for informing and predicting
● Past continuous tense
● Present perfect tense including use with for, since, ever, never, just
● Adjectives and adverbials of quantity, eg a lot (of), not very much, many
● Expressions of preference, eg I prefer, I’d rather
● Zero and first conditionals, using if and when
● Modals connected to the functions listed above, eg must, need to, might,
don’t have to
● Infinitive of purpose

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 Sample Topic Form

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 Possible Topics
● What are you passionate about?
● Do you have any hobbies?
● How do you spend your free time?
● What are you good at?
● Can you think of a memorable trip, gift or experience?

Write some of the topics you would like to discuss with the examiner:

1. ___________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________

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 WRITING GENRES

Article (magazine or online) - Descriptive and Discursive essays - Review - Informal

email or letter - Formal email or letter

ARTICLES
➔ Include a title which gives a clear idea of the topic.
➔ Divide your text into 3 paragraphs (Introduction-Body-Conclusion).
➔ Use quotes or questions to catch the reader. Eg. Did you know…? Have you ever
wondered…?
➔ Use colloquial language (contractions, exclamation marks, phrasal verbs, etc)

ESSAYS
➔ Use a title that describes the content clearly
➔ Divide your text into 3 paragraphs (Introduction-Body-Conclusion)
➔ Conclude with a summary and your opinion.
➔ Use formal language (no contractions or exclamation marks)

REVIEWS
➔ Use a title that either describes the content or catches the reader’s attention.
➔ Divide your text into 3 or 4 paragraphs
● Description of the book/film/restaurant
● Description of the positive and negative aspects and your opinion
● Summary of the information and your recommendation
➔ Include the following expressions: What I liked the most / The worst thing was, I was
particularly pleased with / I was disappointed by…/ ...I would definitely recommend
seeing/visiting/reading/watching this...!
➔ Use colloquial language (contractions, exclamation marks, phrasal verbs, etc)

INFORMAL EMAIL

➔ Include the following parts:

● Greetings (Hi, Hello or Dear…)

● Opening paragraph (Hope you are doing well. /How’s it going? /How are you
(doing)?)
● Main paragraph 1 and 2
● Closing paragraph ( Anyway, I have to go now. / I really hope to hear from you
soon. / I hope you write back soon.)

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 ● Goodbye and signature (Best wishes,/ Sincerely, /Take care, / Love,/ See you
soon,) and your name.

➔ Use a friendly, chatty style.

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

● INTRODUCTIONS: Have you ever wondered….? Did you know that….? Let me
begin by explaining …

● CONCLUSIONS: To sum up... In conclusion... To conclude... In summary… In a

nutshell,

● ADDING: Also,... In addition,... Besides,... Moreover,...

● SEQUENCING: Firstly, …. Secondly, … Finally…. Or

First, …Next, …Then, …Last, …

● CONTRASTING: However… In contrast… Although… In spite of this…

On the one hand,_____________________.On the other hand, ________________

● RESULT: So... As a result… Therefore… Due to this fact… Consequently...

● GIVING OPINION: I think that… Personally, I believe that… From my point of view …
In my opinion,... As I see it …

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 Possible Questions for the Conversation

TRAVEL

1. Have you ever been abroad? Where have you been? How many countries have
you been to?
2. Have you ever taken a package tour?
3. Are you planning on going anywhere for your next holiday?
If so, where? Who with? How long will you stay?
4. What countries would you like to visit? Why? Do you think you will ever go there?
5. Why do you travel? Why do people travel?
6. Where are you going to go the next time you travel?
When are you going to go? Who are you going to go with? How long are you
going to go for?
7. What are you going to do there? What kind of things do you think you will buy?
8. Where did you go on your last holidays? Your summer holidays?
How did you go? Who did you go with? Would you like to go back to the
same place?
9. What was your best/ worst trip?
10. Do you prefer summer holidays or winter holidays? Why?
11.Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?
12. Which is better, a package tour or a tour you organize and book yourself?
13. What are some things that you always take with you on a trip?
14. What do you need before you can travel to another country?
15. Do you prefer active or relaxing holidays? Why?
16. What was the most interesting place you have ever visited? And the most
beautiful one?
17. Would you like to take a cruise? Where to? With who?
18. Would you prefer to stay at a hotel or camp?
19. What are popular tourist destinations in your country? Have you been to any of
them?
Which would you recommend? Why?
20. Do you travel with a lot of luggage or do you like to travel light?

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 MONEY

1. What does the expression “money doesn’t grow on trees” mean? What would life be
like if it did?
2. Who and why might someone ask, “Do you think I’m made of money” Have you ever
asked this?
3. How would the world be different if all the money in the world was shared out equally
among all people?
4. What’s the best way of making a lot of money?
5. Have you ever raised money for charity?
6. Is money really the root of all evil?
7. Can money buy happiness?
8. Do you worry about money?
9. What’s the largest amount of money you’ve ever had in your wallet/purse?
10. Does having a lot of money make someone more attractive?
11. Have you ever lost a lot of money?
12. How much pocket money should a 13 ­year­old get?
13. Do you ever run out of money?
14. How do you usually spend your money?
15. Are you saving money to buy something?
16. Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
17. What is more expensive? Eating at home or eating out?
18. Have you ever spent money on inviting friends out?
19. What is cheaper? Buying online or in a shop?
20. How much is the cheapest …..?

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 FASHION

1. Do you consider yourself a fashionable / stylish person?

2. What kind of clothes would you wear to a special event like a wedding?
3. Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
4. Do you wear different clothes in summer and in winter?
5. What is the most expensive item of clothing in your closet?
6. What is your opinion about tattoos?
7. Do you ever follow fashion profiles? What about Instagramers, Ticktockers?
8. When was the last time you went shopping for clothes? What did you buy?
9. Have you ever bought something and never worn it?
10. Do you often buy clothes for people as presents? Why / Why not?
11. What kind of clothes do you normally wear?
12. Do you have to wear special clothes for school/work?
13. How often do you go shopping for clothes?
14. Have you got a distinctive personal style?
15. What is your opinion about designer clothes?
16. If you had to wear the same outfit everyday for the rest of your life, what would you
wear?
17. Is it necessary to spend a lot of money to be a fashionable person?
18. Do you worry about where your clothes were produced? What’s “in” today?
19. What item of clothing that you own do you wear the most?
20. Who is the most fashionable person you know?

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 RULES and REGULATIONS

1. Are there too many rules and regulations at school? Which rules do you agree or
disagree with?
2. What school rule would you change if you were in charge?
3. If you could, what law would you change?
4. What are the most important rules in your English lessons?
5. Are/Were your parents strict about rules?
6. Why are there so many regulations in sports?
7. Is it ok to use a mobile phone in class?
8. What is your opinion on school uniforms?
9. Are rules and regulations necessary in life?
10. What do you think about the police? Do they do a good job enforcing the law?
11. What rules and regulations do you know about that are different in other countries?
12. Have you ever broken a rule? Why / Why not?
13. What is the most important rule to teach to children when they are very young?
14. Why do you think people need rules and regulations?
15. Do you find it easy or difficult to obey rules?
16. What might happen if you break a rule at home?And if you break a rule at school?
17. What is the craziest / strictest rule you have to follow?
18. Do you find it easy or difficult to obey rules?
19. Why do you think people need rules and regulations?
20. Consider at what age you think people should be able to:
Get married – Drink alcohol -Vote - Drive - Smoke

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 LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

1. Have you ever spoken English to a native speaker?

2. Do you think English is an easy language to learn?
3. Is it better to learn a language alone or with a group of people?
4. Do you think learning a language is fun? Why / Why not?
5. Will you continue to study English in the future?
6. What is more important, vocabulary or grammar?
7. If you travel abroad, how might you communicate?
8. Is it a good idea to learn more than one foreign language?
9. Other than English, what language would you like to learn?
10. What language do you think is very difficult to learn?
11. Do a lot of people learn English in your country?
12. Has your English improved recently?
13. Is it a good idea to learn a language through music and films?
14. What is your favourite word in English?
15. What is more difficult, reading or listening?
16. Do you think pronunciation is important?
17. Why do more people learn foreign languages today compared to the past?
18. What foreign language do you think you will never learn?
19. Do you think it would be a good idea if everyone in the world spoke the same
language?
20. At what age should people start learning a language?

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 HEALTH AND FITNESS

1. Do you consider yourself a healthy person?

2. What type of exercise do you like doing?
3. Is all exercise good for you?
4. Are you careful about the food that you eat?
5. Have your fitness habits changed a lot throughout your life?
6. Are you going to play any sports this weekend?
7. What exercise would you do when the weather is bad?
8. Other than diet and exercise, what do we need to consider to be healthy?
9. In general, do you think people in your country have a good diet?
10. How often do you go to the doctor for a check-up?
11. What do you do to stay fit and healthy?
12. How often should people do exercise to be healthy?
13. What types of food are really good for your health?
14. Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or a vegan?
15. Do you want to change your fitness habits in the future?
16. What food do you eat that you think you should cut down on?
17. What is more important, diet or exercise?
18. Some people are worried that children don't have healthy habits. What do you
think?
19. Do you have any sports facilities in the area where you live?
20. What should older people do to stay active?

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 USEFUL VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS

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 MY NOTES

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