Part 2
Read the article below on taking a gap year and answer questions 11–25.
How to fund a gap year
A gap year is simply a year, or even less, taken out of formal education. For example, this may
occur during the transition from secondary school to sixth form or college, before starting a
university course, or before beginning a postgraduate programme. It could even be taken after
completing all formal education but before entering the world of work. Regardless of when it
occurs, there are many options that include travel, work or volunteering.
Every year around one million people in the UK say they would be interested in taking a gap
year, but only a fraction end up taking one. A large proportion give up because they think they
cannot cover the costs but experts say the cost of a gap year need not stop anyone. “One of the
most frustrating things is hearing people say they can’t afford a gap year, when I see thousands
of people every year doing it,” said Tony Williams, founder of a company that specialises in
organising gap years.
A “year out” usually costs between £3,000 and £4,000 depending on whether you travel,
volunteer or work or do any of these in combination. This can be a menacing amount for
students who may already be snowed under with loans, or school leavers without much
vocational experience. However, it is rare for people to finish their year out with greater debt
than when they started. Choosing a gap year which includes work as well as travel gives you the
added luxury of not having to cover all your costs before you go – you can top up your funds by
working during the year.
Lynn Black, an English Literature student at the University of Exeter, spent six months working
on a community project in Thailand. “I worked in England for a few months and saved enough
money to buy a ticket to go there, with about £500 spare,” she explained. “As a volunteer you get
board and lodging and a meagre wage, but you don’t need much to live quite comfortably.”
There are countless examples of students using their initiative to think up ideas to raise the
necessary funds to go on a gap year. They range from the physically challenging, like swimming
the distance of the English Channel or running a half marathon, to the ridiculous, like the girl
who sat in a bath of cat food for an hour and managed to raise £1,200.
But the gains of fundraising for a gap year extend beyond the short-term advantages. “It looks
amazing on your CV, and it’s a brilliant thing to do,” Williams said. “If you go for an interview and
it comes down to two people, the fundraiser will stand out.”
Raising money in small amounts can seem demoralising, but it does build up. For example, a car
washing business which cleans ten cars a week at £3 a time makes £120 a month, over £1,500 in
a year. “The secret is not to try and get full funding from large multi-national companies, but to
get £100 here, £100 there, and build it up slowly,” Williams explained. “You need only ten friends
to sponsor you £10 for shaving your head and you have £100.”
Mike Henry, a journalism student at Bournemouth University, spent some of his gap year in
Belize, after raising over £4,000. He worked full-time in a department store for three and a half
months and also used his initiative to organise some events. “I tried to think of some original
things to do. I know someone who owns a restaurant, so I asked him whether he could help me
do a cheese-tasting night. We did it and he let me keep the £600 profits,” Henry said.
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Gap years can cost as much or as little as you want. The opportunities to raise the money you will
need are there, so do not take out a loan for your travels. Student money worries are big enough
without adding further debts into the mix. A gap year is feasible for all students – all you need is
the determination to raise the money.
Questions 11–15
Read the statements below. Decide whether they are TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN
according to the text.
Mark a cross for the correct answers. If you change your mind, put a line through
the box and then indicate your new answer with a cross .
True False Not Given
11 Students usually take a gap year between university and
full-time employment.
12 People with job experience are more likely to take a gap year.
13 You are not paid if you work as a volunteer.
14 It is a good idea to fund your gap year from a variety of sources.
15 Borrowing money to fund a gap year is not recommended.
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Questions 16–25
Complete the following sentences. Write no more than TWO words and/or numbers
taken from the text.
16 Tony Williams thinks that it is ............................................................................................. that so many people
decide against a gap year.
17 A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................................................... is another expression for a gap year.
18 A gap year may be a ............................................................................................. of several activities.
19 Lynn Black raised money for her gap year by working in
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................................... beforehand.
20 Although some students raise money in crazy ways, others do more
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................................... activities.
21 There may be . ............................................................................................ for fundraisers long after they have
raised money for their gap years.
22 Mike Henry was employed in a ............................................................................................. before going on his
gap year.
23 Mike Henry arranged a number of ...................................................................................... . . . . . . . to fund his gap
year.
24 Students usually have enough ............................................................................................. without the added
stress of getting into debt.
25 The article advises students to show ............................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . when finding
ways to fund a gap year.
(Total for Part 2 = 15 marks)
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