INTERVIEW

Some tips.

1. Don’t ask too many questions.

2. Only use the three bullet points or three questions that your interviewer will ask which is
mentioned in the question.
3. Don’t have your interviewer making up extra questions for that person to ask because that's
going to take you off topic and then you won't get as many reading marks.
4. Use ‘you’ to speak to the interviewer.
5. Use a script format.
6. Use dialogues.
7. Use a range of punctuation marks.
8. Use spoken language.
9. Take 3 or 4 highlighters into the exam so you can pick out key pieces of information easily.
10. For each bullet point you are looking for 5 pieces of information
11. Make sure you have a total of 15 points highlighted which cover the whole text.

Question 1

After your experience sky-diving, a reporter for a publication called Extreme Sports Magazine
interviewed you and asked you the following three questions:

• What made you choose sky-diving as an activity?

• What were your thoughts and feelings about the experience?
• What are your opinions on people engaging in extreme sports such as sky-diving?

Write the words of the interview

Base your interview on what you have read in text A, but be careful to use your own words. Address
each of the three bullet points.

Begin your interview with the first question.

Write about 250-350 words.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 10 marks for the quality
of your writing

• Green = first bullet point, ‘Why did you choose sky-diving as an activity’?
• Yellow = second bullet point, ‘What were your thoughts/feelings about the experience?’
• Pink = third bullet point, ‘What are your opinions on people engaging in extreme sports such
as sky-diving?’
 Text A

Phil Bruff recounts his experience of sky-diving for the first time.

Nothing can match the adrenaline buzz that you feel the first time you leap out of a plane. Hurtling two miles
towards the ground is unbelievable. I haven’t felt anything like it before or since. Nothing else exists, just you
and the sky.

The build up is the most terrifying aspect: the waiting, the explanation of risk factors, the suit. All of these delays
really serve to heighten the tension. Did I want my jump videoed? Was it wrong that my first thought was about
how my family would have a record of my last moments if anything went wrong? I decided that yes, I would like
a video; I also decided that I would give my mum a quick ring, just to check how she was...

I have always been attracted to extreme sports. I love heights and used to enjoy climbing as a child, but as I
progressed to adult walls my shorter-than-average limbs struggled to reach the next hold and eventually I decided
I just wasn’t built to be a climber. Skiing is fun but it is very expensive and requires travel and correct conditions
to get that buzz. Also, I have always been keen to push boundaries and pursue the next adventure so sky-diving
seemed a logical next step. I think we should all push ourselves in life; it can be so rewarding. I also planned to
make some money for a local charity while I was at it.

The walk to the plane was over too quickly. With great efficiency I was strapped in and sat between my instructor
Neil’s legs. I tried not to think about the awkwardness of the situation. My mind went back to when I was sat on
my comfy sofa, reading articles about people who had done this and survived, I tried to recall the headlines but
my mind went blank as the propellers whirred...

As the plane climbed I steeled myself. Statistically this was supposed to be safer than the drive up the motorway.
My mind was in turmoil but that didn’t matter as the big moment had arrived. I was to go first! There was nobody
ahead of me to watch and take comfort from; I was to be the pathfinder for the anxious faces I knew were seated
behind me. Those others who had also abandoned the comfy sofas we all inhabit too regularly to fling themselves
out of a plane! Those who were also raising money for a variety of good causes, I remembered the various names
I’d seen emblazoned across their T shirts. It was time...

I scooted over to the edge and had a brief moment to marvel at what was before me. The clouds, fluffy as fleece
but fragile as gossamer puffed around the plane. The ground below opened up, a yawning chasm into which I was
about to fling myself. The countdown began... Three! Two! One! And out we went, tumbling, deafened by the
wind.

The free fall was only a few seconds long but was completely exhilarating. The initial moments when my senses
were bombarded almost to the point of numbness, were quickly exchanged for a mesmerising peace when the
chute opened. The deafening roar of the wind became a brief scream, and then the wind merely whispered as we
glided... I found a kind of inner-peace and relished the tranquillity of the flight I had left.

The landing was similar to one you might experience after a long zipwire at the end of a high-wire course. My
heels slid across the grass as we came to a bumpy halt. Relief flooded over me as I brushed myself off and turned
around to return Neil’s high-five. My time sky- diving was certainly memorable; I now feel almost like part of an
elite club of extreme sports enthusiasts. I have a funny feeling it won’t be my last trip plummeting to Earth from
a plane...
ANSWER.

Interviewer: What made you choose sky-diving as an activity?

Interviewee: Well, I have always enjoyed sports which push you mentally and physically. I used to be a
keen skier and have tried climbing too. I was looking for a new challenge, one that would really test me
and one that would send those feel-good chemicals flooding to my brain again there’s nothing like a
natural high, brought on my endorphins! I love the sensation of being up high and my aim was to
combine all this with an opportunity to be able to donate to one of my local charities through
sponsorship. So sky-diving seemed the perfect choice of activity for me.

Interviewer: What were your thoughts and feelings about the experience?

Interviewee: Surprisingly it was actually the build-up that was more frightening than the jump itself. All
the preparations made me really nervous! I telephoned my mum, pretending it was just a courtesy call
to check how she was but really it was to make sure I could tell her that I loved her before risking my
life!

I felt really uncomfortable on the plane as I was sat between my instructor’s legs. He was very business-
like about it all though which helped. During the flight I tried to think about articles I’d read about sky-
diving to try and maintain a positive frame of mind, but it was really tricky to keep focused. I had to be
brave as I was the first one to go; I knew the other people jumping that day were probably just as nervous
as me so I tried to be strong.

As we were about to jump I finally saw the view and was in awe. The clouds were so soft and fragile
and the ground seemed to open up below me. The free fall was breath-taking and this was followed by
a peaceful soar down to Earth once the parachute had opened. I was thankful to be in one piece as we
landed but I would happily do it all over again!

Interviewer: What are your opinions on people engaging in extreme sports such as sky-diving?

Interviewee: I think people should test themselves to the limit every now and again as it can be so
rewarding when you achieve something like this. My experience was very positive. I felt very safe both
due to the statistics and because of my excellent instructor. People are often keen to sponsor these kinds
of activities so it can be a great way of providing your favourite charity with some much-needed funding.
At the end you feel a sense of belonging through the experience you have shared with others who have
dared to risk it all for the thrills and to do some good. Overall, I highly recommend it!