Maturita topic · English oral & written exam

ENVIRONMENT

Everything you need to own this maturita topic — vocabulary, the four speaking tasks, plus reading, listening and writing. Work alone or in a small group. Most activities mark themselves and tell you why.

Level · B1–B2 Skills · Speaking · Reading · Listening · Writing Self-scoring · instant feedback Time · 45–60 min
1

Warm up your words

Start with the Vocabulary lab. You can't talk about the environment without the language for it.

2

Train all four skills

Speak, read, listen and write — exactly like the real exam, in any order you like.

3

Check & learn

Press Check on any task for instant marking and a short reason for every answer.

4

Collect your receipt

Your scores add up into a final “receipt” at the bottom with a level estimate and advice.

01 · Vocabulary lab

Green talk: the words you'll need

Match the key terms, then test yourself. These are the words examiners love to hear in the speaking exam — and the ones that come up in reading and listening texts.

Open the word bank (40+ environment words & phrases)

Problems: pollution, air / water pollution, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, deforestation, waste, litter, smog, drought, flood, endangered species.

Solutions: recycle, reuse, reduce, renewable energy, solar / wind power, public transport, energy-efficient, sustainable, conserve, save energy / water, plant trees.

Verbs & phrases: protect the environment, cut down on, switch off, throw away, pick up litter, go green, raise awareness, take action.

Describing: eco-friendly, green, sustainable, organic, biodegradable, single-use, disposable, harmful, carbon footprint, natural resources, wildlife, habitat.

A

Match the word to its meaning

Tap a word, then tap its definition · then press Check
B

Choose the best word

Multiple choice · 8 questions
C

Complete the collocation

Type one word in each gap
02 · Oral exam trainer

The speaking exam, part by part

The maturita oral exam has four parts. This trainer takes you through each one with real questions, model language and timers. Practise alone (record yourself) or with a partner who plays the examiner.

How the oral exam works: ~15 minutes, after 15–20 minutes of preparation with a worksheet. Level B1 minimum. You're marked on completing the task, fluency, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation — not on having a “perfect” opinion.
1

Warm-up questions

~2 min · introduce yourself & chat

The examiner starts with easy questions to settle your nerves. Answer in full sentences — never just “yes” or “no”. Add a reason or example every time.

“My name's… and my worksheet number is…”
“I'd describe myself as someone who…”
“In my free time I usually…, for example…”
“What I enjoy most about… is that…”
See warm-up questions to practise
  • Can you tell me a little about yourself?
  • What do you usually do at the weekend?
  • Where do you live, and do you like it there?
  • What are your plans after the maturita?
2

Topic questions: The Environment

~5 min · speak for 30–60 sec per answer

This is the heart of the exam. Draw a question, then speak for at least 30 seconds. Use the timer. Reveal the useful language only if you get stuck.

Question 1 / 10
Loading…
Speak for 1:00
Aim: keep talking until the timer ends
Useful language for environment answers
Frequency: “I tend to… / I hardly ever… / Once or twice a month I…”
Preference: “I'd much rather… because… / I'm not really into…”
Compare: “Whereas online shopping is…, the high street is…”
Opinion: “If you ask me… / In my experience… / Personally, I think…”
Examples: “For instance, last week I… / A good example is…”
Generalise: “People my age tend to… / It's becoming more common to…”
See all 10 topic questions
    3

    Describe & compare two pictures

    ~4 min · describe, then compare

    You get two photos on the same theme. First describe them, then compare them and give your opinion. Here are two contrasting environmental scenes — practise out loud.

    Picture A
    Picture B

    Tick each step as you say it out loud:

    • Say what each picture shows in general (“Both pictures show our effect on the planet…”).
    • Decide: is each picture a problem or a solution?
    • Describe the people and what they're doing.
    • Describe the atmosphere (busy, relaxed, crowded…).
    • Compare: one similarity and one difference.
    • Give your opinion: which would you prefer, and why?
    Describe + compare 2:00
    Language for describing & comparing pictures
    Overview: “The first picture shows… while the second one shows…”
    Position: “In the foreground / background… / On the left / right…”
    Guessing: “It looks like… / They seem to be… / It might be…”
    Similarity: “Both… / They're similar in that…”
    Difference: “The main difference is… / Whereas A…, B…”
    Opinion: “I'd prefer A because… / Personally, I find B more…”
    4

    Roleplay: environment situations

    ~3 min · solve a situation with a partner

    In pairs, take a role each — A and B. Draw a card and act it out. Working alone? Read both roles, then reveal a model dialogue.

    03 · Reading

    Read & understand: Generation Green

    Read the text, then answer the questions — just like the didactic test. Press Check for instant marking and the line in the text that proves each answer.

    Comprehension questions

    04 · Listening

    Listen & answer

    Two short recordings, just like the listening paper. Play each clip (twice if you need to), answer the questions, then check. Transcripts are hidden until you've tried.

    1

    Cutting waste at school

    Dialogue · 4 questions
    Recording 1 — Cutting waste at school
    Show transcript
    2

    Going green: Eva

    Monologue · 5 questions
    Recording 2 — Going green
    Show transcript
    05 · Writing

    Write it up

    A maturita-style writing task. Plan it, write it, count your words, then compare with a model answer and mark your own work against the official-style criteria.

    TASK · short article · 120–150 words

    Your school website has a 'Go Green' page and has asked students to contribute. Write a short article. In your article:

    explain why protecting the environment matters suggest two things students could do at school mention one thing your school already does well encourage readers to take action
    Plan before you write (paragraph map)
    • Title: a short, catchy heading (e.g. “Small steps, big change”).
    • Opening: grab attention — “We hear about climate change every day, but…”
    • Para 1: why it matters + two things students could do.
    • Para 2: something the school already does well.
    • Closing: a call to action — “Let's go green!”
    Useful phrases for an article
    Open: “We all know that… / It is no secret that…”
    Why it matters: “If we don't act now, … / Our planet is…”
    Suggest: “We should… / One simple thing we can do is…”
    Add: “What's more, … / On top of that, …”
    Praise: “Our school already… , which is a great start.”
    Call to action: “Let's… / Together, we can…”
    Words: 0 · aim for 120–150
    Mark your own work (official-style criteria)

    Tick each box honestly. In the real exam these four areas each score points.

    • Task & content: I covered all four points clearly.
    • Organisation: paragraphs, a greeting and a sign-off, with linking words.
    • Vocabulary: varied, topic-specific environment words (not just “nice/good”).
    • Grammar & accuracy: a range of tenses; I checked for slips.
    • Register & length: a clear tone suitable for an article, 120–150 words.
    Reveal a model answer
    Going for B2? Try the harder version: write a short opinion piece (180–200 words) on “Individuals, not governments, are responsible for protecting the environment. Do you agree?” Use the phrase bank below for opinion language.
    06 · Phrase bank & exam tips

    Your cheat sheet

    Print this or keep it open. These are the phrases and tactics that turn a B1 answer into a B2 one.

    Environment phrases

    “We need to take action before it's too late.”
    “Small changes can make a big difference.”
    “We should cut down on single-use plastic.”
    “It's everyone's responsibility to…”
    “If we don't act now, …”
    “Both governments and individuals need to…”
    “One simple thing we can do is…”
    “We must protect the planet for future generations.”

    Opinion & comparison phrases

    “As far as I'm concerned…”
    “There are pros and cons. On the one hand… on the other hand…”
    “I'd argue that…”
    “…whereas / while… , … by contrast…”
    “One major advantage / drawback is…”
    “It depends on…”
    “To sum up, … / All in all, …”
    “I couldn't agree more / I see your point, but…”

    5 exam tips that actually help

    • Never give one-word answers. Add a reason, an example, or a comparison every time.
    • Buy yourself time with fillers: “That's a good question… / Let me think…”. Silence costs more marks than a pause word.
    • Correct yourself naturally — “…he go— sorry, he goes…”. Self-correction shows control, not weakness.
    • Use the picture's details. Don't list objects — talk about atmosphere, guesses (“they might be…”) and your reaction.
    • Learn 6 “upgrade” phrases from this page by heart and force them into every answer.
    07 · Your results

    Your eco report

    Complete the self-scoring activities above and your points print here. It's an estimate to guide your practice — not an official maturita grade.

    ENGLISH REFRESHER
    ECO REPORT · TOPIC: ENVIRONMENT · EVERY ACTION COUNTS
    Vocabulary — Matching— / 8
    Vocabulary — Word choice— / 8
    Vocabulary — Collocations— / 6
    Reading comprehension— / 6
    Listening 1 — In the shop— / 4
    Listening 2 — Tereza— / 5
    TOTAL0 / 37
    NOT YET SCORED
    Press Check on the activities above to fill in your receipt.
    * * * KEEP PRACTISING — YOU'VE GOT THIS * * *