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Model Exam 2: Gap Years - Reading + Use of English + Writing

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EVAU Ingles - Modelo de Examen 2

EXAMEN TIPO EVAU

Comunidad de Madrid - Duration: 90 minutes - Máximum score: 10 points

READING COMPREHENSION

For decades, gap years were considered a luxury reserved for wealthy students who could afford to travel the world before starting university. Today, however, taking a year off between secondary school and higher education has become increasingly mainstream, with growing evidence that it can be genuinely beneficial for personal development and academic performance.

Research from Harvard University suggests that students who take a gap year tend to have higher GPAs at university and are more likely to graduate on time. The reasons are not hard to understand: after twelve or more years of continuous schooling, many young people feel burned out. A gap year allows them to recharge, gain real-world experience, and return to education with a clearer sense of purpose. Whether they volunteer abroad, take on internships, or simply work to save money, the experience of independence and responsibility can be transformative.

Critics argue that a gap year delays entry into the workforce and that students may lose academic momentum. There is also the risk that some students never return to their studies at all. Nevertheless, supporters maintain that the maturity and self-awareness gained during a gap year far outweigh these risks, especially in a world where employers increasingly value soft skills like adaptability, communication, and cross-cultural understanding alongside formal qualifications.

BLOCK I: READING COMPREHENSION (3 points)

Question 1 (1 point). TRUE or FALSE? Justify with evidence from the text.

a) Gap years have always been popular among all social classes.

b) Students who take a gap year generally perform worse at university.

c) Employers are starting to appreciate skills beyond academic degrees.

Question 2 (2 points). Answer in your own words.

a) Why do many young people feel the need for a gap year? (1 point)

b) What arguments do critics use against gap years? (1 point)

BLOCK II: USE OF ENGLISH (4 points)

Question 3 (1.5 points). Find words in the text that mean:

a) common, widely accepted (paragraph 1)

b) exhausted from overwork (paragraph 2)

c) be more important than (paragraph 3)

Question 4 (2.5 points). Rewrite without changing meaning.

a) "Students who take a gap year tend to have higher GPAs," the researchers said. (Reported speech)
The researchers said that...

b) Many young people feel burned out after continuous schooling. (Due to)
Due to...

c) They volunteer abroad to gain real-world experience. (So that)
They volunteer abroad so that...

d) Some students never return to their studies. (Negative - Give up)
Some students...

e) Gap years were only for wealthy students. Now they are mainstream. (Used to)
Gap years used to...

BLOCK III: WRITING (3 points)

Question 5 (3 points). Write 120-150 words on ONE topic:

a) Would you consider taking a gap year? Why or why not?

b) What is more important for success: academic qualifications or personal experience? Discuss.

SOLUCIÓN

ANSWER KEY - MODEL EXAM 2

Question 1 (1 point)

  • a) FALSE. "Gap years were considered a luxury reserved for wealthy students." They were not popular among all social classes.
  • b) FALSE. "Students who take a gap year tend to have higher GPAs at university and are more likely to graduate on time."
  • c) TRUE. "Employers increasingly value soft skills like adaptability, communication, and cross-cultural understanding alongside formal qualifications."

Question 2 (2 points)

  • a) After spending twelve or more years in continuous education, many young people feel mentally exhausted and drained. A gap year gives them the opportunity to rest, acquire practical experience in the real world, and come back to their studies with a better understanding of what they want to achieve.
  • b) Critics claim that a gap year postpones the moment when students join the job market and that they might lose their study habits and academic focus. Additionally, there is a danger that certain students might decide not to continue their education at all.

Question 3 (1.5 points)

  • a) mainstream
  • b) burned out
  • c) outweigh

Question 4 (2.5 points)

  • a) The researchers said that students who took a gap year tended to have higher GPAs.
  • b) Due to continuous schooling, many young people feel burned out.
  • c) They volunteer abroad so that they can gain real-world experience.
  • d) Some students give up their studies (and never go back). / Some students give up on returning to their studies.
  • e) Gap years used to be only for wealthy students, but now they are mainstream.

Question 5 (3 points)

Marking criteria: Content/argumentation (1pt), Organisation/cohesión (1pt), Language accuracy/range (1pt). 120-150 words.

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