What the examiner sees
Photograph description
The photograph shows two students working in a school science laboratory. Both are wearing clear plastic safety goggles. A boy in a white school shirt is writing on a worksheet on the bench. Beside him, a girl in a blue pinafore is also writing, next to a glass beaker of water held in a metal stand with a thermometer clamped above it. A man in a dark blue polo shirt leans in from the left and watches what they are doing. There is a sink built into the bench, wooden stools, and cupboards of science equipment behind them. Other students are working at another bench in the background.
Three questions the examiner might ask
Look at the photograph. What are these students doing? Why do you think they are wearing goggles?
Tell me about an experiment or activity you have done in your science lessons.
Some people say students learn better by doing experiments than by reading about them. Do you agree? Why?
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 think working in a group is more useful than working alone, but only when the group is well-organised.
Explain
A good group is faster and brings more ideas, but a messy group slows everyone down.
Example
During our last science project, our team split the work — one person researched, one built the model, and two of us wrote the script. We finished in two sessions instead of five.
Link
So the benefit of group work isn't automatic — it depends on how clearly the group divides the work.
Swap in your own example — the structure stays the same. Examiners reward concrete detail over polished phrasing.
Common mistakes on this topic
- 'Group work is always great.' It isn't. Admit the hard parts — different paces, disagreements — and show how you handled them.
- Claiming to do all the work yourself in group projects. Humility scores higher than bragging.
- Giving textbook definitions. Describe a real class or real project you were in.
Vocabulary that works for this topic
collaborate— to work together
“We collaborate on the science project every week.”
perspective— a way of seeing things
“Group work brings different perspectives.”
responsibility— what you're accountable for
“Each of us has a clear responsibility.”
disagreement— when people don't share a view
“Our disagreement helped us find a better idea.”
contribution— what you give to the group
“Her contribution was the best design.”
engaged— fully focused
“The students were engaged in the activity.”
For parents
After school, ask 'What was the hardest part of group work today — and what did you do about it?'. That question triggers the exact kind of concrete story that Q3 loves.
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More topics in School & Education
Teamwork in School
Almost every student will say group work is great. The ones who score higher admit the hard parts — different paces, disagreements — and describe how they handled them.
Reading and Books
Reading-and-books Q3 often pushes on print vs digital. A crisp preference plus a real example wins over 'both have pros and cons'.
Outdoor Learning
Learning-journey photographs reward observation. Name three things you see — a teacher gesture, a student activity, the setting — before the examiner prompts you.
Morning Assembly
Students at a school morning assembly on an outdoor parade square.