A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 2 Test – School & Hobbies 3

School Chess Club

Lucas

I joined the school chess club last year. Before that, I always did things too quickly. Chess teaches me to be patient. I have to wait and think carefully before I touch a piece. I also try to guess what my friend will do next. This helps me plan my moves early. In the club, we use a special timer. It rings when we take too long! It is hard, but it makes my brain work faster.

Emma

Our chess club meets every Wednesday after school. I usually play against teenagers in the older classes. They are very clever, and I have to remember many different ways to move my pieces. This practice is great for my memory. Actually, playing chess makes my school work easier now. When I have a big math test, I can remember the numbers much better. I do not win every game, but I always have a lot of fun.

Dan

I started playing chess in the school library. It is always silent there, which is perfect for me because I need to think hard. Some people feel angry when they lose a game of chess. I do not feel like that. When I lose, I can see my mistakes and understand how to play better next time. Chess teaches me to find different answers to problems. My dad wants to learn chess now, so I teach him at the weekend.

School Talent Show

The Music Stage

Do you love playing the guitar or singing? The Music Stage is the perfect place for you! You can sing your favourite pop song or play classical music. If you want to play a guitar or keyboard, you must bring it from home. The school only has a piano. Next week, our music teacher can listen to your song and help you practice. Remember to sign up on the school website by Friday. We want to hear your beautiful voices!

The Dance Stage

Are you good at moving to music or doing amazing magic tricks? Join the Dance Stage! You can dance in a large group or do a special trick alone. The teachers will watch everyone, and the best performers will get a great prize! If you need music for your dance, you must send the song to Mr. Smith on a computer a week before the show. Please wear sports clothes and soft shoes so you can jump safely.

The Comedy Stage

Do you enjoy telling jokes and making people smile? If you are a funny person, the Comedy Stage is for you! For this show, you cannot be on stage alone. You must work with at least one other student to do a short play or tell a funny story. You have exactly three minutes for your act. You must not talk for longer than this! We have lots of funny hats and big coats you can wear. Come and make us laugh!

Writing for the school magazine

Leo

I love writing funny stories for the school magazine. I usually get my best ideas from my parents and my brother. We always laugh a lot at dinner, and I write down the funny things they say! I want to write for a newspaper when I am older, so this is good practice for me. My biggest problem is the last page. It is always hard to find a good way to close the story. My friend Maya draws great pictures, but I am terrible at art!

Maya

I write stories about space and the future. I always read my stories to my friends, and they give me new ideas. Because I love art, I always draw colourful images to put next to my writing in the magazine. I am not very good at spelling, so I always type my stories on my laptop. It finds all my mistakes quickly! Our teacher, Mr. Jones, reads all the stories before we print the magazine, but he never changes my work.

Toby

I usually write about animals. I like to keep my writing quite short. If a story is too long, people get bored! Before I give my stories to the magazine, I always show them to my English teacher. She gives me great advice and shows me how to improve. Sometimes, I feel a bit worried when the magazine comes out. I always think my classmates will not like my stories. But they usually say really nice things about them!