2006.
Sample Essay
Task
The academic year is about to come to an end and many university students are making holiday plans. You have
been asked to write an article for the ‘Travel Log’ section of the university magazine.
Write your article describing a travel experience you have had in approximately 300 words.
Sample Answer
A couple of years ago, I decided that I wanted to travel alone. On my previous
trips, I had always travelled with either family or friends. But this time I felt I
needed to get away from it all. I was craving for independence. Being a sports fan,
I came to the conclusion that a diving holiday would be the perfect thing to do on
my own. My next step was to choose my destination, which turned out to be Sharm
el-Sheikh in the Red Sea in Egypt. I read about it in a magazine and decided it was
the place to go.
When I stepped off the plane, a sense of insecurity took hold of me. What was I
doing alone in Egypt, a place whose language and customs I knew nothing about? I
wondered if I had made the wrong decision. It wasn't long before I realized that
I hadn't. The magazine article said Sharm el-Sheikh was the best place to dive.
And it was.
Once at the hotel, I realized that many people had come on their own, some to
dive, some to snorkel, and others to simply relax in a cosmopolitan resort. Camel
Hotel is a beautiful hotel with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It has a diving
centre - Camel Dive Club - just next to it.
My first days were taken up by my diving course, which was a good way to start my
first holiday on my own. The course kept me busy and gave me a chance to meet
new people. After a couple of days, lots of faces became familiar, and before I
realized it, I had several new friends.
As soon as I gained enough confidence, I went diving in the Red Sea. I discovered
that diving is simply extraordinary. Fish, anemones, coral reefs, and canyons - they
all make diving a unique experience. I loved every minute of...