Before you start — what this text type needs
State your opinion clearly. Present ideas from both sources, including points on both sides. Use modal verbs (can / could / should / might). End with a recommendation. Note: in both tasks the reading and the listening disagree — your job is to weigh them, not to pick one and ignore the other.
Teacher’s notes — Part 5: Extra writing tasks (Opinion, integrated)
These two tasks extend Unit 8 and are the hardest in the booklet. In both, the reading argues one way and the listening pushes back — so unlike Parts 3 and 4, the sources disagree. This is the closest thing here to a real integrated exam question.
Both model answers reach a third position rather than siding with one source: gradual reduction in task 1, means-tested grants in task 2. This is a genuinely more advanced move than the “state your opinion and defend it” pattern taught in Unit 2, and stronger students should be shown it explicitly.
Weaker students will summarise the reading, summarise the listening, and stop. The giveaway is a paragraph with no however, although or taking both into account anywhere in it. Both models signal the weighing in the topic sentence — point that out before students write.
Modal verbs are a marking criterion here as in Unit 8. Note how the models use could and might to hedge a claim they are reporting rather than asserting — a useful distinction to teach alongside can.
Students do not have the listening transcripts. They are behind the reveal buttons in this copy only.
Should more people follow a plant-based diet?
Opinion · integratedThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingWhy I Think We Should Eat Less Meat
In my opinion, more people should consider moving towards a plant-based diet, and I say this from personal experience. When I reduced my meat consumption two years ago, I noticed a real difference in how I felt. I had more energy, my digestion improved, and my doctor was pleased with my blood test results. There is also strong scientific evidence that eating more plants and less meat reduces the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and type two diabetes. I believe the health case is very clear. When it comes to the environment, I feel we all have a responsibility to think about the impact of our food choices. The meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and it uses enormous amounts of water and land. In my view, reducing meat consumption is one of the most practical things ordinary people can do for the planet. I understand that changing your diet can feel difficult, especially if meat has always been central to your culture and family life. However, I think small changes — eating plant-based meals a few times a week, for example — can make a real difference without requiring a complete lifestyle change. In conclusion, I strongly believe that eating less meat is good for our health and good for the environment.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningMy Experience Trying to Eat More Plants
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
TranscriptMy Experience Trying to Eat More Plants
Two years ago, I decided to try eating a plant-based diet, and my experience taught me some important lessons. Let me say first that the health benefits are real: after a few months I had more energy and generally felt better. However, it was not as simple as I expected. When I cut out meat completely at the beginning, I quickly developed a deficiency in iron and protein, and my doctor told me I needed to learn much more about nutrition before making such a big change. I also agree that our food choices matter for the environment — but in my view, the biggest problems come from industrial farming and government policy, not from what one individual puts on their plate. And there is the social side: refusing meat at family dinners and in restaurants was genuinely difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable. So what would I recommend? Do not cut meat out of your life overnight. Reduce it gradually, learn about nutrition, and find a balance that works for your health, your family, and your culture.
Take notes One box for each source.
Health benefits and personal experience
Environmental impact of food choices
Practical challenges and overall recommendation
Plan and write
Do you think more people should follow a plant-based diet? Use your notes from the reading and the listening to write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Model plan and answer For modelling and for calibrating your marking.
| Topic sentence | I believe that more people should consider reducing their meat consumption, as both sources suggest this could benefit personal health and the environment. |
| Body idea 1 | Health benefits supported by both sources; caution about nutritional knowledge (listening). |
| Body idea 2 | Environmental argument (reading); acknowledge the limits of individual action (listening). |
| Concluding sentence | Recommendation: gradual reduction is more realistic and sustainable than a complete change. |
Model answer · 190 words
I believe that more people should consider reducing their meat consumption, as evidence from both sources suggests that this could have real benefits for both personal health and the environment. In terms of health, the reading makes a strong case: the author reports improved energy levels and better medical results after reducing meat intake, and points to scientific evidence that a more plant-based diet could reduce the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and type two diabetes. The listening broadly agrees, though it adds an important caution — cutting out meat completely without nutritional guidance can lead to deficiencies in iron and protein. When it comes to the environment, both sources acknowledge that our food choices can have a significant impact, though the listening suggests that the largest environmental improvements might require changes at the industrial and governmental level, rather than individual action alone. Taking both perspectives into account, I would recommend a gradual approach — reducing meat consumption several times a week — which the listening describes as more realistic and socially manageable. This moderate strategy could make a meaningful difference without requiring a complete and potentially unsustainable lifestyle change.
Should university education be free for all students?
Opinion · integratedThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingWhy I Support Free University Education
In my view, university education should be free for all students, and I feel strongly that this is a question of basic fairness. At the moment, many talented young people from low-income families choose not to go to university because they are afraid of the debt they would have to take on. I think this is deeply unfair and a serious waste of human potential. Everyone who has the ability and desire to study at university should be able to do so, regardless of their family’s financial situation. I also believe that the financial argument against free education is often exaggerated. Countries such as Germany, Norway, and Finland have free or heavily subsidised higher education, and they have strong economies and highly skilled workforces. This shows, in my opinion, that free education is not just a nice idea — it is a practical investment. I accept that someone has to pay, and that means slightly higher taxes. But I think this is a fair trade. When more people are educated, crime rates fall, productivity rises, and innovation increases — society as a whole benefits. In conclusion, I strongly feel that making university free is both the right thing to do and a smart long-term investment in people.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningMy Doubts About Making University Free
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
TranscriptMy Doubts About Making University Free
Free university education sounds like a wonderful idea, but I have some serious doubts about it. First, consider the evidence from countries that already have free tuition: wealthier students are still over-represented at university. This tells us that money is not the only barrier — the quality of a student’s school, their confidence, and the support they receive from their family all matter enormously. Second, we have to be honest about the cost. If students do not pay, the government must, and there is a real risk that universities will not receive enough funding. The result could be larger classes, fewer courses, and lower academic standards — which would harm exactly the students the policy is trying to help. In my view, there is a fairer and more effective alternative: targeted grants and scholarships for students who genuinely need financial help. That way, public money goes to the people who need it most, and universities keep the funding they need to offer a high-quality education.
Take notes One box for each source.
Access, fairness, and equal opportunity
Costs, funding, and who pays
Effect on quality and overall recommendation
Plan and write
Do you think university education should be free for all students? Use your notes from the reading and the listening to write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Model plan and answer For modelling and for calibrating your marking.
| Topic sentence | The question of whether university education should be free is complex, and both sources present important arguments that must be carefully weighed. |
| Body idea 1 | Arguments for: fairness, human potential, evidence from Germany, Norway and Finland (reading). |
| Body idea 2 | Arguments against: risk of underfunding, persistent inequality, targeted support as an alternative (listening). |
| Concluding sentence | Recommendation: a combination of means-tested grants and subsidised fees may be the most effective approach. |
Model answer · 188 words
The question of whether university education should be free for all students is complex, and both sources present important arguments that must be carefully considered. The reading makes a compelling case for free university education on the grounds of fairness: many talented young people from lower-income families currently choose not to study because they fear debt, which represents a serious waste of human potential. The author also points to countries such as Germany and Norway, which demonstrate that free higher education can coexist with strong economies and highly skilled workforces. However, the listening raises some genuine concerns. The author notes that in countries with free tuition, wealthier students are still over-represented, suggesting that financial barriers are not the only obstacle. There is also a risk that without sufficient funding, universities might face larger class sizes and lower academic standards, which could ultimately harm the students the policy aims to help. Taking both perspectives into account, I believe that a combination of means-tested grants, scholarships, and subsidised fees might be a more targeted and sustainable solution than making university entirely free for all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.