IB Mandarin ab initio Practice: Paper 1 Writing, Paper 2 Listening and Reading, and the Oral

By the end you can

• Know what each part of the exam asks. Paper 1 (1 hour, 25%) is two writing tasks, Paper 2 (50%) is listening and reading, and the individual oral (25%) starts from a picture. Every task sits on one of the five themes.
  我觉得很有意思，因为我喜欢运动。 · Wǒ juéde hěn yǒu yìsi, yīnwèi wǒ xǐhuan yùndòng. · I think it's interesting because I like sport.
• Give each text type the frame it needs. Openings, layouts and endings for an email, a diary entry, a blog post, a notice and a leaflet, and how to choose the text type by its reader.
  有空给我回信吧！ · Yǒu kòng gěi wǒ huíxìn ba! · Write back when you're free!
• Write a blog post about a healthy change. Plan with 以前, 现在 and 因为, then write about 100 to 150 characters with a title, a reason, how you feel and a question for readers. Compare with the model answer.
• Write a diary entry and a school notice. Tell your first day at a school in China in order with 先, 然后 and 最后, then announce a used-book sale with 时间, 地点 and 参加, adding a reason with 而且.
  我先认识了老师，然后和同学吃午饭，最后去打篮球了。 · Wǒ xiān rènshi le lǎoshī, ránhòu hé tóngxué chī wǔfàn, zuìhòu qù dǎ lánqiú le. · First I met my teacher, then I had lunch with classmates, and finally I went to play basketball.
• Read a notice and a blog post in the Paper 2 question styles. A weekend bike ride notice and a blog post about Grandma's new phone, each with short answers in Chinese, true or false with a correction, and matching.
  星期日早上我们一起去骑车吧！ · Xīngqīrì zǎoshang wǒmen yìqǐ qù qí chē ba! · Let's go cycling together on Sunday morning!
• Catch numbers, places, reasons and changes when you listen. Two listening pages: choosing a birthday gift, a train announcement, holiday plans and a school announcement about a changed date, answered in a few words or true or false.
• Talk about a picture and answer follow-up questions. A sample oral on a park clean-up: say what you see, give your view with 因为, add an experience of your own, then answer general questions in two sentences each.
  我觉得这个活动很重要，因为公园是大家的。 · Wǒ juéde zhège huódòng hěn zhòngyào, yīnwèi gōngyuán shì dàjiā de. · I think this activity matters because the park belongs to everyone.

What’s inside

• The course: Mandarin ab initio in One Page
• Writing: Text Types and Their Frames · Task 1: Identities · Task 2: Experiences · Task 3: Social Organization
• Reading: Reading 1: A Weekend Bike Ride · Reading 2: Grandma's New Phone
• Listening: Listening 1: A Gift and a Train · Listening 2: Holidays and a Change
• Oral: One Picture, One Short Talk
• Plan: Eight Weeks to the May Exams

How to use this book

One focused step a week for eight weeks, following the book's plan on page 13. Say five lines from the book out loud every day, and check each page with the key, the model answers and the audio script at the back.

1. Weeks 1-2: Paper 1 writing. Learn the openings and endings on page 4, then write Tasks 1 to 3. Read each model answer aloud with the free audio.
2. Weeks 3-4: Paper 2 reading and listening. Do the two reading pages against the clock and list ten new words. Do the two listening pages, listen twice, then read the audio script in the key.
3. Week 5: Timed writing. Write two tasks in one hour on Human Ingenuity and Sharing the Planet, the two themes the tasks in the book don't cover.
4. Weeks 6-7: The oral. Describe one new photo a day out loud with a phone timer, from three short notes. Answer ten general questions aloud, record yourself and listen back. Move these weeks to fit your oral date.
5. Week 8: Before the papers. Reread your models and word lists. Talk with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor, about your weekend, giving a reason with 因为 each time.

Who it’s for

IB Diploma students taking Mandarin ab initio, and their teachers who want writing, reading, listening and oral practice with model answers and audio.

Before you start: About a year or more of ab initio Mandarin, around HSK 2 to 3. The book uses Simplified characters; phrases and model answers print pinyin.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cover every part of the ab initio exam?

Yes, one page at a time: three Paper 1 writing tasks, two reading and two listening pages in the Paper 2 question styles, and a sample individual oral. SayMei wrote every prompt, text and question, so it is practice for IB Mandarin ab initio and works alongside your course and your teacher's materials.

Which text types does it practise?

Email, diary entry, blog post, notice and leaflet. The frames page shows how each one opens and ends, and each writing task asks you to choose the text type that fits the reader before you plan.

Where is the listening audio?

Free on this book's page on saymei.app. The listening texts are heard, not printed, and every other Chinese line is recorded with a pause to say it back. The audio script is in the key at the back.

Is this workbook free?

Yes. The whole 20-page PDF is free, and you can look through its pages here before you download. There's no card and nothing to pay.

Do I need a SayMei account?

Yes, to download the PDF, and the account is free: sign up with Google, Apple or your email address. With it we email you a copy of the workbook, keep every workbook you download on your account on all your devices, save your place in the free online practice, and you can practise speaking with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor.

How do I print it?

The PDF is US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose "Fit to page" (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog so nothing is cut off. Print the whole workbook or only the pages you need; colour looks best, and black and white works too.

Can I print copies for my class?

Yes. Print as many copies as you like for your own class or family. To share it, send this page: everyone can download their own copy.

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