Time allowed: Approximately 30 minutes Total tasks: 2
Part 1: Summarize Written Text
Read the passage below and summarize it using one sentence. You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the key points in the passage.
Word limit: 5-75 words
Passage 1
Ocean plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most visible and concerning environmental problems of our time. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter the world's oceans, where currents concentrate debris into vast accumulation zones and waves break larger items into microplastics that permeate marine environments. This pollution threatens marine life at every level, from microscopic plankton that ingest plastic particles to large mammals that become entangled in abandoned fishing gear or mistake plastic debris for food.
The sources of ocean plastic are diverse but largely traceable to failures in waste management systems. In many developing countries, inadequate collection and disposal infrastructure means that significant amounts of plastic waste are dumped directly into waterways or left in environments where they can be transported to the sea. Even in countries with developed waste systems, littering and illegal dumping contribute to the problem. A substantial portion of ocean plastic consists of fishing industry waste, including nets, lines, and traps that are lost or deliberately discarded at sea.
Addressing ocean plastic requires action on multiple fronts. Improving waste management infrastructure, particularly in rapidly developing regions, is essential to prevent plastic from entering waterways. Reducing overall plastic consumption through alternatives and redesigned products can decrease the volume requiring management. Beach cleanups and ocean collection efforts, while valuable for awareness and removing some debris, cannot solve the problem at its current scale. Extended producer responsibility policies that make manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products show promise in driving systemic change.
Your summary (5-75 words, ONE sentence only):
Part 2: Write Essay
You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
Essay Topic
Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Support your point of view with reasons and examples from your own experience or observations.
Your essay (200-300 words):