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Module 10 · Unit 10 — Society, Globalisation & You
Personal Development & Final Essay Practice
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Lesson 4 of 5

Personal Development & Final Essay Practice

Core 60 min
Pathway

Lesson 10.4 is a full Task 2 essay under 40-minute timing on personal development, followed by structured self-assessment against the four criteria.

What you'll be able to do
  • Plan and write a 250-word essay in 40 minutes
  • Self-assess against Task Response, Coherence, Lexis and Grammar
  • Identify your top-two priorities for essay practice
Listening Skills

Listening Skills — A Tutorial on Reflective Learning and Essay Planning

Before you listen

You will hear a study skills tutor discussing personal development and reflective learning with a student ahead of a final essay. Preview the questions before listening.

  • Read each question and predict a short answer of no more than three words.
  • Listen for the tutor listing steps in a process.
  • Note any deadlines or word counts mentioned.
  • Watch for the tutor correcting or rephrasing advice.
Example · British English · A study skills tutor and a student

Listen first — the transcript stays hidden so this works like the real exam.

Listening audio

Tap play to generate and listen.

0:00--:--
Instruction

Answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

  1. Whose model of experiential learning does Marcus plan to use?
  2. What is the corrected minimum number of academic sources Marcus must reference?
  3. What is the maximum word count for the essay, excluding references?
  4. On what date is the essay due?
  5. What must the introduction do instead of including an abstract?
  6. How long does a writing centre appointment last?
Check

Answer key

Writing Task

Writing · 40-minute pacing plan

How the 40 minutes should feel
Min 0–5: Analyse prompt + plan. Never skip — costs 2–3 marks.
Min 5–13: Introduction + Body 1.
Min 13–25: Body 2.
Min 25–36: Conclusion + finish writing.
Min 36–40: Proofread — tense, article, singular/plural.
Writing Task

Full essay practice

Prompt (write in 40 minutes)

Some people believe that personal development at work is the responsibility of the individual employee, while others think it should be provided by employers. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Self-assessment checklist (do this AFTER writing)
01
Task Response
Did you cover BOTH views AND give your own opinion? Is your position clear from the introduction?
02
Coherence & Cohesion
One clear idea per paragraph? Do your linkers actually signal the right relationship?
03
Lexical Resource
Did you use at least 3 Band 7-level phrases from Unit 9–10 vocab lists?
04
Grammar
Did you use at least one conditional AND one complex sentence with subordination — accurately?
Focus

Pathway focus · Academic register in personal development

Prefer 'professional development' over 'growing at work', 'a structured learning pathway' over 'a plan to learn stuff'.

Exam Strategy

Exam Strategy

  • Exam Tip

    Plan on paper before writing — always. 5 minutes here saves 10 minutes of rewriting.

Independent Practice

Independent Practice

Rewrite

Rewrite ONLY the weakest paragraph of your essay, targeting the checklist criterion you scored lowest on.

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

Remember
  • Full-timing practice is how essay grammar actually improves.
  • Self-assessment turns one essay into three learning moments.
Need more practice?
Extra Practice — practise this exam skill
All Extra Practice

Optional — this doesn't affect your lesson or course progress.

When you're done, mark this lesson complete.
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