What the examiner sees
Photograph description
The photograph shows a busy road outside a primary school at dismissal time. A crossing guard in a bright orange vest is holding up a 'STOP' sign on the left of the zebra crossing. Four students in school uniform are walking across the crossing onto the pavement. On the pavement on the right, one of the girls is looking down at her phone as she walks. Cars and a yellow school bus are stopped at the crossing, waiting for the children to pass.
Three questions the examiner might ask
What is happening in this photograph? What are the different people doing?
How do you stay safe when walking to or from school? Tell me about the safety rules you follow.
Do you think students should be allowed to use their phones while walking near roads? Why or why not?
Q1 tests what you see in the photograph. Q2 tests a personal experience. Q3 tests your opinion — the hardest of the three since 2025.
A model opinion answer (P.E.E.L.)
Point
I partly agree that schools should sell only healthy food.
Explain
Healthy options make the right choice easier for tired 12-year-olds, but banning unhealthy food completely can backfire.
Example
At my school, the canteen introduced brown rice sets last term. I ordered them on most days, but I still had a fried noodle treat once a week. That small balance made me stick with the healthy choice most of the time.
Link
So healthy food should be the default, but a small amount of variety helps students build long-term habits rather than just obeying a rule.
Swap in your own example — the structure stays the same. Examiners reward concrete detail over polished phrasing.
Common mistakes on this topic
- Saying you only eat healthy food. Examiners know students enjoy chicken rice and bubble tea — be honest and talk about moderation.
- Treating the opinion question as a slogan. 'Schools must be healthy!' is not an answer; explain why, then acknowledge the trade-off.
- Skipping the picture. Q1 always needs a clear description of what the student in the photo is doing.
Vocabulary that works for this topic
balanced— with the right mix
“I try to eat a balanced diet.”
nutritious— full of nutrients
“Fruits and vegetables are nutritious.”
moderation— not too much
“Sweets are fine in moderation.”
routine— regular activities
“Sleeping by 10pm is part of my routine.”
well-being— overall health
“Exercise improves my well-being.”
energetic— full of energy
“A good breakfast makes me feel energetic.”
For parents
During lunch, ask your child what a healthier version of their meal would look like — and what they'd give up to get there. That's the exact trade-off reasoning Q3 rewards.
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