News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
Sofia Demetriades Wins BBC Young Musician
How to use these two pages
Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.
Student worksheetA simple 15–20-minute lesson
- Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
- Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 3 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
- Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.
Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.
Answers to the 3 questions
The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.
Which piece did Demetriades perform?
Correct answer: B — Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto
Why: The opening paragraph names Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.
Clue in the story: Violinist Sofia Demetriades has been named the winner of BBC Young Musician 2026. The 18-year-old performed Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
What did The Guardian say was unusual about the final?
Correct answer: A — All the finalists were women for the first time.
Why: The second paragraph identifies the competition's first all-female final.
Clue in the story: The other finalists were recorder player Alma Nunez Debretzeni and saxophonist Kezia Colton. The Guardian reported that it was the first final with only female musicians in the competition's 48-year history.
When did the result become public?
Correct answer: C — November 1
Why: The final paragraph says the result became public when the final was broadcast on November 1.
Clue in the story: The concert was recorded at Bristol Beacon on October 15. It was broadcast on November 1, when the result became public. Demetriades is the first violinist to win the competition since 2004.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Explain the difference between the recording date and the date the result became public.
One possible answer: The final was recorded at Bristol Beacon on October 15. It was broadcast and the result became public on November 1.
This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.