What the examiner sees
Photograph description
The photograph shows a classroom during a lesson. A girl in school uniform stands just inside the doorway, holding the straps of her backpack with both hands. Her expression is serious and uncertain. Beside her, a woman in a white blouse smiles and holds out one hand towards the class, as if introducing her. The students seated at their desks have turned around to look at the girl. One boy near the front is smiling widely and raising his hand in a small wave. A noticeboard with brightly coloured paper hangs on the wall at the back of the classroom.
Three questions the examiner might ask
Look at the photograph. Who do you think the girl in the doorway is? How can you tell how she is feeling?
Tell me about a time you were somewhere new and did not know anyone there.
Do you think it is a class's responsibility to make a new student feel welcome? 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 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.