Download Spotlight on Advanced, Spotlight on First PDF Resources (B2 / C1)

Name	Price	Buy
Spotlight on Advanced 2nd Edition (PDFs, Resources)	$4	Spotlight on Advanced 2nd Edition (PDFs, Resources) quantity Add to cart
Spotlight on First 2nd Edition (PDFs, Resources)	$4	Spotlight on First 2nd Edition (PDFs, Resources) quantity Add to cart

 

 

Overview of the “Spotlight on Advanced Second Edition” by NGL

✅ Coursebook:	Spotlight on Advanced Second Edition, Spotlight on First Second Edition
✅ Publisher:	National Geographic Learning
✅ English type:	British English
✅ For:	Exam
✅ Levels:	B2, C1
✅ Publication year:	2015

“Spotlight on Advanced Second Edition” (National Geographic Learning) is a comprehensive C1-level course designed specifically to prepare students for the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) exam, updated to match the 2015 exam specifications. It targets older teenagers and adults who are moving from strong B2 into C1 and want systematic, step-by-step training in every paper of the exam while also developing real-world academic and professional English.

Overall course concept

The Student’s Book is built around 16 thematically rich units that cover contemporary topics (technology, social issues, culture, environment, work, etc.), using authentic-style texts and tasks that mirror the exam. Each unit integrates Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking, so learners repeatedly practise the exact task types they will face in the exam, but in a way that also builds general fluency and confidence.

A distinctive feature is the Exam Spotlight boxes. These short strategy sections appear throughout the book and highlight typical exam traps, timing tips, and best ways to approach each task type. Many are “active”: students do a mini-task or reflection that forces them to apply the strategy immediately rather than just read it. This helps learners gradually build their own toolkit of exam techniques instead of cramming at the last minute.

Skills, language development, and “Ideas Generator”

Each unit has a Language Development focus which goes beyond simple word lists. Students work on:

• Phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions common at C1 level
• Collocations and word formation (crucial for Reading & Use of English Paper)
• A “key word” feature that explores one very frequent word in depth, showing different patterns and meanings
• Grammar sections that revise upper-intermediate structures and then push them to a more advanced level, with links to a detailed Grammar Reference at the back of the book for further practice and explanation.

For Writing and Speaking, the course places strong emphasis on idea generation, not just language. The Second Edition introduces an Ideas Generator syllabus using National Geographic video lessons. These videos cover eight common exam topics; after each one, students learn techniques such as mind-mapping, looking from another person’s perspective, asking “wh-” questions, and making connections. By the end of each video lesson, they have a bank of ideas, vocabulary, and functional phrases ready to use in both the Writing and Speaking papers.

Every unit includes a two-page Writing section that systematically covers all CAE writing tasks (essay, report, review, letter/email, proposal, etc.). Learners are guided through analysing the question, planning ideas, organising paragraphs, and using appropriate style and register. The Writing Guide at the back of the book provides full model texts, useful expressions, and extra practice prompts so students can see what a high-band answer looks like and imitate its features.

 

Spotlight on Advanced 2nd Edition Student’s Book

 

Exam practice and review structure

The course design ensures regular consolidation:

• After every two units, there is a Review section that recycles vocabulary and grammar through authentic exam-style tasks, giving additional practice in Reading & Use of English and other papers.
• The book includes at least one complete practice test mirroring the full CAE exam, so learners can experience the exam sequence and timing conditions.

In Listening, all four parts of the exam are practised multiple times, with tasks that build sub-skills such as identifying attitude, following argument structure, and dealing with fast, authentic speech. In Speaking, each unit includes targeted work on a different part of the Speaking test, plus functional language (expressing opinions, speculating, comparing, agreeing/disagreeing, etc.), supported by Speaking Reference Files with extra phrases and sample prompts.

Who it’s for and how it’s used

“Spotlight on Advanced Second Edition” is ideal for:

• Students aged 16+ aiming for Cambridge C1 Advanced, either in language schools or upper-secondary/university settings.
• Learners who already have a strong B2 level and want a structured pathway to C1.
• Classes that value high-impact visuals, real-world topics, and integrated exam strategies rather than purely mechanical practice.

Because of its clear exam focus, rich skills work, and extensive reference sections, the course works well as a main coursebook over one or two academic terms, but can also be used as an intensive exam-prep course in schools or self-study (with Teacher/Exam Booster support) for motivated candidates.

 

Overview of the “Spotlight on First Second Edition” by NGL

“Spotlight on First Second Edition” (National Geographic Learning) is an intensive B2 / Upper-Intermediate exam course designed specifically for the Cambridge English: First (FCE) exam, fully updated to match the January 2015 exam specifications. It prepares older teenagers and adults who already have strong intermediate English and want systematic training in every part of the exam while still developing real, communicative language skills.

Overall course concept and structure

The Student’s Book + DVD-ROM is organised into 15 topic-based exam units. Each unit centres on themes that commonly appear in FCE (friends and family, jobs and work, sport and free time, nature and animals, books and films, transport and travel, inventions and technology, crime and social issues, food, shopping, media, fashion, etc.).

Every unit integrates:

• Reading tasks closely modelled on FCE Paper 1 (multiple choice, gapped text, multiple matching)
• Use of English tasks covering all FCE formats (multiple-choice cloze, open cloze, word formation, key word transformations)
• Listening practice for Paper 3 (multiple choice, sentence completion, multiple matching)
• Speaking training for Paper 4 (interview, long turn, collaborative task, and discussion)
• Writing work on all Paper 2 task types (article, email/letter, review, report, essay/story in the schools version)

The book opens with a “Map of the book” and an overview of the exam, breaking down the revised format and explaining how each unit contributes to specific skills and papers. There are regular review sections after every two units that recycle key vocabulary and grammar and provide additional exam-style practice, so students continuously consolidate rather than only revising at the end of the course.

Language development: grammar, vocabulary and exam lexis

A key strength of “Spotlight on First” is its systematic language development syllabus. Each unit includes:

• High-frequency FCE vocabulary: topic vocabulary (e.g. relationships, work, sports, travel, crime), collocations, and word families.
• “Key word” focus: one common word (e.g. time, look, get, as) is explored in depth through multiple collocations and patterns so learners can use it flexibly in the exam.
• Phrasal verbs and idioms: each unit targets a particular set of phrasal verbs relevant to the theme (e.g. travel phrasal verbs, verbs of relationships, jobs, crime), with careful work on meaning and form.
• Advanced grammar revision: tense systems, narrative tenses, future forms, modal verbs, relative clauses, conditionals, gerunds/infinitives, comparatives, determiners, countable/uncountable nouns, and more—always practised directly through FCE-style tasks so students see how grammar is tested.

At the back of the Student’s Book there is a full Grammar Reference, giving clear explanations and extra examples for every major point covered in the units, plus tables of irregular verbs. This makes the course suitable not only for class work but also for structured self-study and revision.

 

Spotlight on First 2nd Edition Student’s Book

 

Skills, strategies and the “Ideas Generator”

Like the Advanced level, “Spotlight on First Second Edition” aims to train exam strategies rather than just drill exercises. Throughout the units you find short strategy boxes that:

• Explain how to approach each task type (e.g. how to scan for key information in multiple matching, how to predict answers in listening, how to handle key word transformations).
• Warn about common mistakes, such as missing reference words in gapped texts or ignoring word formation clues.
• Encourage reflection, asking students to notice why distractors are wrong or how the correct answer is signalled.

A distinctive feature of the Second Edition is the “Ideas Generator” syllabus. This responds to a real challenge in FCE: students often have enough grammar and vocabulary, but they cannot quickly think of ideas for Speaking and Writing tasks.

The Ideas Generator:

• Uses National Geographic video and visual content on common exam topics.
• Guides students through brainstorming techniques, mind maps and question prompts, helping them produce opinions, examples and arguments.
• Links directly to exam tasks: after working with the video, students immediately use their new ideas in a speaking activity (e.g. comparing photos, collaborative tasks) or in a writing task (e.g. article or review).

By the end of the course, learners not only know what to say in the exam, but also how to structure and support their ideas.

Writing and Speaking support

“Spotlight on First” gives very strong support for the productive skills:

• In the units, each writing section:
  • Analyses a sample task and model answer.
  • Highlights organisation (paragraphing, linking, introductions and conclusions).
  • Focuses on suitable tone and register.
  • Provides controlled practice in useful phrases and then freer writing tasks.
• At the back of the book there is a dedicated Writing Guide with:
  • Model texts for all FCE task types.
  • Functional language and typical phrasing (e.g. for giving opinions, recommending, narrating, describing).
  • Extra planning tips and checklists (content, organisation, language, accuracy).

For Speaking, the book includes Speaking Files and “Useful Expressions” pages that:

• Break down each part of the Speaking exam.
• Provide phrases for comparing photos, expressing agreement/disagreement, speculating, describing feelings, and developing answers.
• Offer exam-style tasks with timing so students practise under realistic conditions.

This combination of language + functional phrases + clear models makes it easier for learners to sound natural and confident during the test.

Exam practice, revision and test-style experience

Exam preparation is carefully layered:

• Tasks in every unit mirror the exact formats used in the FCE papers, giving students multiple exposures to each question type.
• Review sections after every two units recycle key vocabulary and grammar through additional exam-style tasks.
• The course also offers additional practice material and tests through the Exam Booster and Teacher’s resources, ensuring classes can simulate realistic exam conditions.

Students finish the course with a very clear sense of timing, task demands and their own strengths and weaknesses in each paper.

Who “Spotlight on First” is for and how it’s typically used

“Spotlight on First Second Edition” is ideal for:

• Learners aged 16+ with a solid B1+/B2 level who want to pass Cambridge English: First with confidence.
• Students in language schools, upper-secondary programmes, foundation courses, or university pre-sessional classes where an FCE certificate is valued.
• Teachers who want a clear, fully mapped exam course with integrated skills work, strong strategy training, and plenty of support materials.

Because the book combines a full language syllabus with exam preparation, it can be used either as:

• A main coursebook over one or two academic terms (around 80–120 hours), or
• An intensive exam-prep course supplemented by the Exam Booster and extra practice tests for candidates approaching their exam date.

In short, “Spotlight on First Second Edition” offers a structured, visually engaging and strategy-rich pathway from upper-intermediate English to exam success at Cambridge B2 First, with all the tools students and teachers need in one coherent package.

 

eltebook.com