IELTS test in Vietnam – August 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Vietnam – August 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 30 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Vietnam (thanks, P!) shared the following topics and questions he remembered after a recent exam:

Listening test

• Section 1. A man wanted to join a race and was having a conversation with a representative who works there.
• Section 2. A radio advertisement about a healthcare centre.
• Section 3. A student was asking for advice on his presentation.
• Section 4. About an architectural aspect of school buildings all over the world.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About an eco-tourism resort in Australia.
• Passage 2. About technology being used in shops and malls to help the owners know more about customer’s ideas, profiles and other patterns.
• Passage 3. About online training and companies using computers to train their employees. The passage was about advantages and disadvantages of this new way of training.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two line graphs showing the number of train passengers on a particular route and the percentage of trains arriving on time, along with the target they had between 2000-2009.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Restoration of old buildings in major cities involves enormous government expenditure. Some say this money should be used to build new housing and roads instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Tell me about holidays and festivals in your country.

Cue Card

Talk about a party that you would like to give to your family and friends.

Discussion

• - What festivals are there in your country?
• - How do people celebrate them?

IELTS test in Australia – August 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in Australia – August 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 29 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Australia (thanks C!) shared the topics from a recent exam, below:

Listening test

• Section 1. A conversation between a representative and a client regarding concert performances.
• Section 2. About bike shops and what each shop offers.
• Section 3. A conversation between two students about the university’s satisfaction survey.
• Section 4. A talk about the new building that will be built in London.

Reading test

• Passage 1. University parking guidelines and procedures.
• Passage 2. A list of different art exhibition centres and galleries.
• Passage 3. An article about paper origins – who and where has first developed it, who and when started paper mills.
• Passage 4. Don’t remember.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Invite a friend to join you for your next vacation. Please say

• - What are your plans?
• - Why do you want to travel with him/her?
• - Why do you think he/she will like it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Public places are noisy. What are the causes of this and what do you think should be done about it?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What do you do at work?
• - Does your name have a meaning?
• - Is your name popular in your country?
• - What are the common names in your country?

Cue Card

Talk about your experiences with public transport. Please say

• - Where did you use it?
• - Why did you take the public transport?
• - Describe your experience.

Discussion

• - Do you think people should use public transport more often?
• - What should the government do to encourage people to use public transport?
• - What environmentally-friendly public transport solutions should the government invest in?
• - What should the government do to discourage people from buying private cars?

IELTS test in the UK – July 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in the UK – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:40 AM PDT

The IELTS exam update below was shared by R who recently took the test in the UK.

Listening test

• Section 1. A conversation between two neighbors regarding the nearby swimming pool facility.
• Section 2. A conversation between two class mates about preparation for a presentation.
• Section 3. An announcement by the head of the department to the pupils regarding their course outline, followed by the introduction of faculty members and their roles during the course.
• Section 4. A customer was talking to a travel agent about car hire companies, public transport and currency in Ghana.

Reading test

• Passage 1. A story about the Olympic torch.
• Passage 2. About sleep and who needs it more. How long should people and animals sleep, different sleep patterns and their effects.
• Passage 3. Different teaching methods for children in different countries. A type of research topic with many experts and experiments with people’s thoughts.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a chart showing the percentages of nine most popular household items in the years 2001 and 2008.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

There is an increasing trend of antisocial behavior by individuals and in most cases it is blamed on the society. What needs to be done about such individuals? Who should take care of them?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?

Cue Card

Describe a library that you visit. Please say:

• - Where is the library located?
• - When did you go there?
• - Why do you visit this library?

Discussion

Don’t remember.

IELTS Speaking test in Canada – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Canada – July 2013
Posted: 27 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Canada (thanks, S!) shared his Speaking questions:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What do you do after work?
• - Do you use public transport?
• - What type of transport do use most often?
• - How can the city transport system be improved?

Cue Card

Talk about online shopping. Please say

• - What did you buy online recently?
• - Why did you buy online?
• - Were you happy with the product?

Discussion

• - Do you see a difference between restaurants here and in your home country?
• - Would you like to be a news reporter?
• - What qualities should you have to become a news reporter?
• - Do you watch local or world news mostly?
• - Do you prefer to read news in a newspaper or online? Why?
• - Do you share news with your co-workers or friends?

IELTS test in the USA – July 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in the USA – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

The details of an IELTS test in the USA were shared by N, who remembered the following:

Listening test

• Section 1. About buying concert tickets.
• Section 2. Two teachers were discussing an article on technology in schools.
• Section 3, 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

• Don’t remember.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two maps showing a radio station 10 years ago and today, which we had to compare.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think the main benefit of international cooperation is in protection of the environment, while others think that the main benefit is in the worldwide business. Discuss both views and include your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you prefer international or local news?
• - Would you like to become a news reporter?
• - Do you discuss news with your friends?

Cue Card

Talk about an old person whom you know. Please say

• - How did you meet him/her?
• - Why is he/she important to you?
• - What personality does this person have?

Discussion

• - Why are elderly people important for us?
• - Is it better to care for the elderly at home or in a nursing home?
• - What qualities should one have to take care of the elderly?
• - What can the elderly teach young people?

IELTS test in Australia and New Zealand – July 2013 (Academic Module)

IELTS test in Australia and New Zealand – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 23 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Below are the details of IELTS exams in Australia and New Zealand (thanks to E and K for sharing!):

Reading test

• Passage 1. About the construction of a bridge in Australia.
• Passage 2. Emotion recognition in babies.
• Passage 3. About the first migration to Patagonia.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a table showing the percentages of business, maths and science students who received a good rating after their first year. There were also figures for study aids they used (course resources, tutor, library, online research and so on).

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Humans tend to copy one another, especially in fashion, choice of clothes and consumer goods. Do you agree or disagree? Provide your view and examples from your own experience.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What was your favorite toy as a child?
• - Why did you like it so much?
• - Do you still have it?
• - Would you buy the same toy for your children?

Cue Card

Describe your favorite street in the city/town where you live. Please say:

• - Where is it?
• - What do you like about it?
• - How often do you go there?

Discussion

• - What do you know about internet shopping?
• - Do you shop online? - Do you find it useful?
• - What are the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping?
• - How often do you shop online?

IELTS Speaking test in India – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in India – July 2013
Posted: 22 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our Indian friend (thanks I!) shared the questions she was asked in her Speaking test:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - When is your most productive part of the day?
• - Why can’t you maintain the same level of energy during other parts of the day?
• - Why don’t you like mornings?
• - Do you like to walk in the forest or bush?
• - Do you like hanging out with your friends a lot?

Cue Card

Describe a country that you would like to visit (other then your own country). Please say

• - Where is it?
• - What do you know about it?
• - How did you become interested in this country?
• - What is the most interesting thing about this country?

Discussion

• - Should countries spend money on international tourism?
• - What are the benefits of international tourism?
• - Why do people travel to foreign countries for holidays?
• - What damages can be done to a country by international tourism?
• - Why do you think so?

IELTS-Blog::IELTS preparation tips from Sridhar, Band 8.0 achiever

IELTS-Blog IELTS-Blog::IELTS preparation tips from Sridhar, Band 8.0 achiever IELTS preparation tips from Sridhar, Band 8.0 achiever Posted: 21 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT Sridhar is an IELTS test taker from Bangalore, India, who took the exam in June and got a great overall score of 8.0. He wrote to us and wanted to share his tips for successful exam preparation with the readers of IELTS-Blog.com. Sridhar says: “I began preparing from the standard Cambridge book as well as a few other test prep. books such as Barrons. Once I understood the format, I was interested in polishing my technique, speed, efficiency, etc. This is exactly where IELTS blog helped me a lot. Thanks to the blog and all the tips, contributions, samples, etc. I owe some credit to IELTS Blog and Simone Braverman for my success. My score was 8.0 overall: Listening 8.5, Reading 8.0, Writing 7.5, and Speaking 7.0. I would advise all readers to read the IELTS General Training / Academic Module – How to Maximize Your Score. It’s really worth it. One needs a good level of English, which is a good foundation to start. You can polish this by reading, listening as well as speaking in daily situations. But beyond your English skills you also need to be familiar with the format, flow, how to tackle each section, etc. The required techniques/tips are found all over this blog. Listening: The tip on focusing on the specific questions and drawing a line after the last question in the current group is very important. This might sound trivial, but you will realize the importance of this during the test. Your eyes or mind might drift to the next section by mistake when the conversation is on and you may miss something. Writing: The format recommended on this site is quite simple. However, one has to be creative and add more examples, flavor, points, etc. Since most of us are used to using a computer our writing and editing may not be as good when we write manually. You don’t have a spellchecker, grammar correction, etc tools and you cannot easily go back and forth changing words or sentences (as in MS word or Word Pro software). Just try to make up your mind on what you want to write and minimize your editing. In my case bad handwriting was also an issue and I had to go slow and write neatly, which required some practice. You might be good at typing on a PC, but writing manually can be challenging for people who left school/college long ago. Reading: You will find more tips in this blog, so I’ll be brief. But one tip is to learn how to read and skim fast – its not wise to read each and every word and sentence. However, when you look for something specific – read in detail. Before reading fully, go and see what types of questions exist and look for that as well. Some sure-shot questions can be cracked while your reading is in progress. Remember the aim here is to find answers, not to study the material in detail.” Related posts: 10 great IELTS tips from a Band 8.5 achiever Today I am delighted to share with you the tips... IELTS preparation tips that helped Bahar get Band 8.5 (Reading) These IELTS Reading tips were shared by Bahar, who received... IELTS preparation tips that helped Bahar get Band 8.5 (Speaking) Bahar Ranjbaran is a 17-year old Iranian lady who took... Student success: how Alicia got IELTS Band 7 after just one day of preparation Alicia is a young lady whose first language is Indonesian... Exam preparation tips from Roopa (IELTS veteran) A winner of IELTS results competition, Roopa Siju Haridas from... You are subscribed to email updates from IELTS-Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

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August 22, 2013 at 05:49AM

IELTS test in Singapore – July 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Singapore – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 20 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friends D and C shared the topics from the IELTS exam they had in Singapore:

Listening test

• Section 1. University students were discussing their new semester tasks.
• Section 2. Description of various rental properties. Questions: match property type to the list of features provided.
• Section 3, 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

• Passage 1. Descriptions of different modules of a university course.
• Passage 2. Article about doodling and handwriting. * Doodling is unconscious drawing made while a person’s thoughts are somewhere else.
• Passage 3. Don’t remember.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a graph showing the actual and proposed population figures in three different cities for the years 1990 and 2000.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that secondary school children should study international news while others think that it is waste of valuable school time. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you like music?
• - What music do you like the most?

Cue Card

Describe the most polite person that you know. Please say

• - Who is this person?
• - How did you meet him/her?
• - Do you enjoy his/her company?

Discussion

• - Do people behave politely were you live?
• - Is it in the culture of your country?
• - Is there a difference between your own and other countries in that respect?

IELTS test in Australia – July 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in Australia – July 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 19 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Australia (thanks C!) shared the topics from the Writing and Speaking parts of a recent exam:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write complaint letter to the airline manager regarding the behaviour of one of staff members on your flight. In your letter

• - Give full details of your flight.
• - Say what the problem with the staff member was.
• - What would you like the manager to do regarding this matter?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

In some countries teenagers are allowed to work part time jobs. Some people say it is a good thing, but others disagree. Discuss both views. Give your own opinion and support it with examples.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What kind of buildings do you have in your country?
• - Are there more ancient or modern buildings?
• - Describe one of the buildings’ designs in your country.
• - Describe the building you live in.
• - Is it important for you to relax?
• - What do you do to relax?
• - Why do we need to relax?

Cue Card

Describe an old friend that you have met recently. Please say

• - Who is he/she?
• - Where did you meet him/her?
• - How did you meet in the first place?

Discussion

• - Is there a difference in friendship with people you meet occasionally and friends you made in school or university?
• - Are you still in contact with your friends from school/university?
• - On what occasions do we usually meet new friends?
• - In your country, where do usually children meet new friends?

IELTS-Blog::How Philip got Band 7.5 in IELTS using just free resources

IELTS-Blog IELTS-Blog::How Philip got Band 7.5 in IELTS using just free resources How Philip got Band 7.5 in IELTS using just free resources Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT Today we’d like to share with you the story of a young man from Malaysia who prepared for IELTS and got Band 7.5 using nothing but free resources, mainly those on IELTS-Blog.com. Philip is one of our results competition winners in July, he took the test in Melbourne and did very well, scoring 8.5 in Listening, 7.0 in Reading and Writing, and 8.0 in Speaking. Here is what Philip said about his exam experience: “I’ve recently completed my IELTS exam here in Melbourne and I’m happy with my results. During my preparation, I stumbled upon your website and I found the information here very relevant and practical. As I did not go for any classes, I was relying heavily on my own revision and I have to say, your website did make my journey easier. I’ve used the sample writing topics to practice my writing skills and I’ve also found useful topics to talk about in my speaking section. Your website is a savior for many of us around the world and I would like to thank you for that.” Once declared a winner in the competition, Philip prepared a summary of exam tips and advice to share with our readers: “I did what many would do, refer to past examination questions. The resources online at your website was helpful in terms of writing and speaking. I did not focus much on listening or reading as I felt I could get by without much revision.

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August 17, 2013 at 05:43AM

IELTS Speaking test in Dublin, Ireland – July 2013

IELTS Speaking test in Dublin, Ireland – July 2013
Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend S who took the IELTS test in Ireland was asked the following questions in Speaking:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Where do you live?
• - Do you write a lot?
• - Did you write a lot when you were at school?
• - What did you write most of the time?
• - Describe your dream home.

Cue Card

Talk about an incident when you were late for something. Please say

• - What and when was it?
• - How did you manage it?
• - How did you feel about it later?

Discussion

• - How important is it for people to be punctual, nowadays?
• - What is the difference in time management between the young generation and older people?
• - People in some countries are more punctual than in others, why?

IELTS test in the UAE – July 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in the UAE – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 14 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from the UAE (thanks S!) shared the following information about his recent exam:

Listening test

• Section 1. A phone conversation between a hotel representative and a lady.
• Section 2. A conversation between two students and a lecturer on debates.
• Section 3. Don’t remember.
• Section 4. The history of cocoa growing and cultivation.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About the island of Tikopia.
• Passage 2. About the link between philosophy and logic.
• Passage 3. Rights of Apes.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two graphs. One was showing the duration of residency of immigrants in the UK for periods of 2 years, 2-4 years, 4 years and beyond. The other graph was showing different reasons for immigration to the UK.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that robots are very important nowadays, but others are worried about the trend of robotisation. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you have friends at your work place?

Cue Card

Talk about cooking at your home. Please say

• - Who usually cooks in your home?
• - What did you cook in your first time?
• - Do people watch cooking programs in your country? Why?

Discussion

• - Tell me about a place in the seaside of a country that you would like to visit.
• - What do people do there?
• - Who told you about this place?
• - Have you ever traveled by ship?
• - What are the benefits of traveling by ship?

IELTS Speaking test in Singapore – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Singapore – July 2013
Posted: 13 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend C shared the Speaking questions from a recent IELTS exam in Singapore:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What do you do in your spare time?
• - Do you like traditional performances, shows or dances?
• - Do you watch news on TV or prefer to read it online?
• - Are you interested more in international or local news?

Cue Card

Talk about a TV program or a show that you saw lately. Please say

• - What was it?
• - How did you feel about it?
• - Would you recommend it to others?

Discussion

• - Are there many performances in your country?
• - Do you think young people like to watch traditional performances?
• - How can the government support local artists?

IELTS test in the USA – July 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in the USA – July 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 12 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

A test taker from the USA (thank you V!) shared the Writing and Speaking questions of his recent IELTS exam:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

There is a public event coming up in your town. Write a letter to your friend who you think would be interested to take part in it. In your letter - Describe the event.

• - Say why you think he/she would be interested.
• - Suggest an arrangement to meet there with him/her.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many students prefer to take part-time rather than full-time courses. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method for the students?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What do you do ?
• - What do you do around the house?
• - Did you do any household work as a child?
• - Did you find it difficult? Why?
• - Do you think children should help around the house?

Cue Card

Describe a situation when you were late. Please say

• - What was the occasion?
• - What was your reason for being late?
• - How did you feel after that?

Discussion

• - What happens when somebody comes late to the office ?
• - How do you manage your time on a daily basis?
• - How do you think technology can help in time management?
• - Do people actually benefit from using this technology?
• - What do you usually do after coming home from work?
• - What time do you usually wake up in the morning?
• - Would you say your sleeping time varies?
• - How does workload affect people’s lives?
• - How are relationships affected by it?

IELTS test in India and Sri Lanka – July 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in India and Sri Lanka – July 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 09 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

IELTS test takers from India and Sri Lanka (thank you, K and S!) shared the topics and questions from their recent exam:

Listening test

• Section 1. Lifeguard application form.
• Section 2. About an international festival day celebration.
• Section 3. Two students were getting advice in the college, what subjects to pursue for further studies.
• Section 4. A research on how to reduce days of absence at work.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About a special type of birds.
• Passage 2. A canal found in Egypt and a further research about it.
• Passage 3. About the energy in human body and its impact on the body, mind and health.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a diagram showing recycling of used cans and how its done; we had to describe the diagram.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that travel helps gaining knowledge, but others think that TV and internet play an important role in gaining knowledge. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you live in the countryside or town?
• - How is the countryside different from town?
• - How has life changed over time in the countryside?

Cue Card

Describe a game (not a sport) which you liked to play in your childhood. Please say

• - Why did you like it?
• - Whom were you playing with?
• - Where and when were you playing it?

Discussion

• - How have these games changed today?
• - Do you think children nowadays still like to play those games?
• - Has technology affected their playing habits, in your view?
• - What games do adults play nowadays at parties?
• - How has technology affected their choice of games?

IELTS Results competition winners in July 2013

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IELTS Results competition winners in July 2013
Posted: 08 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Today we’re happy to announce the 13 winners of our monthly IELTS results competition in July. These hard-working people managed to get very impressive scores, including Band 9(!) – have a look:

Academic Module – 1st place

• Dharani Devi Salitoray from Malaysia, Overall Band 9

Academic Module – 2nd place

• Nipaporn Asawaphat from Thailand, Overall Band 8.5
• Rujuta Shirish Yande from India, Overall Band 8.5

Academic Module – 3rd place

• Bukhosi Robi from Zimbabwe, Overall Band 8
• Xue Yen Daphne Choo from Singapore, Overall Band 8
• Jovelyn Tan from the Philippines, Overall Band 8

General Training Module – 1st place

• Amit Purohit from India, Overall Band 8
• Alka Arora from India, Overall Band 8
• Ravinder Jeet Singh from India, Overall Band 8
• Sheila Emmanuel from India, Overall Band 8
• Bagmi Sahoo from India, Overall Band 8

General Training Module – 2nd place

• Sathiyaseelan Velayutham from India, Overall Band 7.5

General Training Module – 3rd place

• Emmanuel Bobby Joseph from India, Overall Band 7

Congratulations to the winners – such scores are definitely a reason for a celebration! To mark this special occasion we are sending your certificates of achievement to your emails, and your IELTS results will be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame.

We, of course, would love to learn what helped these lovely people in their exam preparation – so please share your stories. Tell us how you prepared and studied, and what helped you achieve success in IELTS. Anything you can share will be posted on IELTS-Blog without delay, so everyone can learn from you and get a better score in their own exam this month.

P.S. IELTS results competition runs every month, and everyone is welcome to participate. Learn how to enroll here.

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Australia – July 2013
Posted: 07 Aug 2013 04:41 AM PDT

Thanks to C who took the IELTS test in Australia we have these Speaking questions:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Do you work or do you study?
• - What do you do at work?
• - Does your name have a meaning?
• - Is your name popular in your country?
• - What are the common names in your country?

Cue card

Talk about one of the occasions when you used public transport. Please say:

• - Where did you go?
• - Why did you use public transport?
• - Describe your experience.

Discussion

• - Do you think people should use public transport more often than driving their own car?
• - What do you think the government should do to encourage people to take public transport more often?
• - What environmentally-friendly public transport solutions do you think the government should invest in?
• - What do you think the government should do to discourage people from buying private cars?

IELTS tests in India, Saudi Arabia and Iran – July 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS tests in India, Saudi Arabia and Iran – July 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 06 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Thanks to the efforts of IELTS test takers P, J, S and V we know this much about the recent exams in India, Saudi Arabia and Iran:

Listening test

• Section 1. A conversation about joining the fitness club, a person was asking for details.
• Section 2, 3. Don’t remember.
• Section 4. A study about two types of dolphins in Australia.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About a water supply company. Questions: filling in blanks.
• Passage 2. About a library in New Zealand. Questions: True/False/Not Given.
• Passage 3. Reading a map. Questions: map labeling, locating 4 positions on the map.
• Passage 4. About the Inca Empire. Questions: filling in blanks.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to your English speaking friend about a movie that you are planning to watch. Please say

• - What is special about this movie?
• - How is it related to your friend?
• - Suggest an arrangement to see this movie together.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people prefer to be in the same kind of job their entire life, but others like to change their jobs frequently. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What kind of home would you prefer?
• - Why don’t you like living in a flat?

Cue Card

Talk about a country that you would like to visit. Please say

• - What country is it?
• - Why do you want to go there?
• - What would you be doing there?

Discussion

• - What are the advantages of global tourism?
• - How does tourism help the economy of a country?
• - What are the disadvantages of tourism?
• - Do you agree that cultural differences of tourists may affect locals?

IELTS Speaking tests in Iran and India – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking tests in Iran and India – July 2013
Posted: 05 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Two IELTS test takers from Iran and India (thank you, S and V!) remembered the following Speaking questions:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - How close are you to your friends?
• - Did your parents choose your clothes for you when you were young?
• - What kind of clothes do you prefer now?
• - Did you ever have to choose clothes for anyone?

Cue Card 1

Talk about an interesting advertisement that you saw. Please say

• - What was it?
• - When and where did you see it?
• - How did it affect you?

Discussion 1

• - What forms of advertisements are popular?
• - Did you ever have a boat trip?
• - Is it popular in your country?
• - Do you enjoy spending time on a boat?

Cue Card 2

Describe a book that you are interested in. Please say

• - What is the book about?
• - Why are you interested in it?
• - How did you know about that book?

Discussion 2

• - Can reading books be a hobby for everyone?
• - What kind of books are famous in your home country?
• - Why do people prefer to buy old books?
• - What kind of books were read in the past?
• - What do you think about e-leanring?

IELTS test in Canada – June 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Canada – June 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 02 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friend P who took the IELTS test in Canada remembered the following topics and questions:

Listening test

• Section 1. A phone conversation between a travel agent and a client.
• Section 2. Instructions for employees of a new shopping mall.
• Section 3. Two students were talking about African lions.
• Section 4. A lecture on shipwrecks.

Reading test

• Passage 1. A biography of a certain shipbuilder.
• Passage 2. An article about environmental issues in Florida’s Everglades.
• Passage 3. A story about children’s books author from New Zealand.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a graph showing the percentage of self-employed workers in five different countries in 1998 and 2000.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Do advantages of having your own car outweigh the environmental issues caused by pollution? Discuss, and include your own opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you live in a house or a condo? Why?
• - Which part of your daily routine would you like to change?
• - How is your daily routine different now from when you were a child?

Cue Card

Talk about a foreign language (except English) that you would like to learn. Please say

• - What language would you learn?
• - Why would you learn it?
• - How would you learn it?
• - How would you use it?

Discussion

• - Do you think it’s possible to learn a country’s culture without speaking the language?
• - Do you think children learn foreign languages faster than adults?

IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – July 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – July 2013
Posted: 01 Aug 2013 03:30 AM PDT

The speaking questions below were shared by C (thank you!), whose IELTS exam was in Nigeria:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Where do you live?
• - Is it your own house or rented?
• - What is your favorite place in your house? Why?
• - What form of advertisement do you prefer: newspaper, radio or TV?
• - What do you think about such a rapid development of mobile phones?
• - Would you buy the latest mobile phone available? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about a comedy movie that you have watched recently and that made you laugh. Please say

• - What movie was it?
• - Why was it so funny?
• - Would you recommend it to others?

Discussion

• - What is your opinion about humour?
• - How important is it in life?
• - Do you think it is important to use humour when teaching children in school?
• - Do you think it is important to learn other people’s culture to be able to understand foreign comedy/humour?
• - Do you think it is important to introduce humour in international business?