IELTS test in Canada – October 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Canada – October 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 31 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friend L who took the IELTS exam in Canada remembered the following questions from the Writing and Speaking tests:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two charts. One compared the performance of students who had TV in their rooms and those who didn’t, in maths, writing and spelling. The second chart compared performance of students who had computers against those who didn’t, in maths, spelling and writing.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

More and more people these days work harder and longer hours and have no time for family life and friends. What are the causes in your opinion? How is it affecting family life and the society as a whole? Use relevant examples to support your view.

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 work do you do?
• - Would you continue doing this job in the future?
• - Do you like to walk? And how often?
• - Would you prefer walking in the city or in the countryside?

Cue Card

Talk about the type of clothes that you wear for special occasions. Please say

• - Do people like it?
• - Where did you get your clothes?
• - How do you feel while wearing them?

Discussion

• - Do you like taking photographs?
• - Do you think people dress more formally these days than before?
• - In what circumstances do people wear formal clothes?
• - Do you think globalization affects the clothing industry? How?
• - Does people’s taste affect the clothing industry?

Tips for IELTS Band 8 from Akshay Deep (competition winner)

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Tips for IELTS Band 8 from Akshay Deep (competition winner)
Posted: 30 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Akshay Deep is one of the best scorers in September, who received Band 8 in a General Training IELTS exam. He found IELTS-Blog.com helpful in his exam preparation, and wanted to help other test takers in our international family – so here are his tips:

Magic Mantra – Practice, Practice and Practice!

The secret behind my good scoring in Listening (8.5) and Reading (8.0) was that I had taken more than 35 Practice Papers over the course of my 2 month IELTS Exam Preparation. These practice tests gave me the confidence to do well in the main exam.

My Tips / Strategies for Listening and Reading:

• 1. If your handwriting is bad (like mine), it will be better to answer all the questions in CAPITAL LETTERS. This strategy will also come in handy in situations where you are not sure whether they should be starting with CAPS or not. Please note you need to practice this strategy many times before you are comfortable about using it in a real exam.
• 2. Make it a habit to write your answers to all practice papers on the actual IELTS Exam Answer Sheet. Click here for the Listening answer sheet, and here for the Reading answer sheet.
• 3. In your real exam use the same pencil and eraser that you use in the practice exams. It made me comfortable in the real exam.
• 4. Read instructions very carefully before you answer the questions (especially for questions where they state that answers should not be more than 2 words, 3 words, etc.)
• 5. Always make sure you have some time left in the end (say 6-8 min) for revision. Use this time to check your spelling mistakes.
• 6. For the Listening Section, be careful while transferring answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. Needless to say, only the answers on the answer sheet count.

My Tips / Strategies for Writing:

• 1. Make it a habit to read English newspapers, English magazines. This habit will go a long way in improving your writing.
• 2. Practice writing Task 1 and Task 2 in 55 minutes flat! Last 5 minutes should be left for proofreading (checking your spelling and punctuation). I did not do this enough. That’s why I got only 6.5 in Writing!
• 3. Practice your writing tasks also on the actual IELTS Exam Answer Sheets. This will help you check your word-count also in practice. Needless to say, you have to write 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2.

My Tips / Strategies for Speaking:

• 1. At least till the time you take the IELTS Exam, make it a point to speak in English as much as possible in your daily routine. This will improve your fluency.
• 2. As most of you use smart phones, use the voice recorder app to practice the 2-min monologue. Listening to what you said can help you identify common errors. For instance, I never realised how many times I use the word “like” in my speaking!
• 3. More than grammar, intonation, etc, I feel CONFIDENCE is the KEY!!! Practice speaking confidently. This rubs off positively on the examiner.
• 4. Speaking Test is like a Personal Interview. Dress well. Present yourself well and be courteous & polite to the examiner. Learn using common salutations in the beginning and the end – things like asking permission to enter the room, to sit down, thanking the examiner for their time, etc.
  
  Finally, take this journey of IELTS Exam Preparation actually as an opportunity to ‘really’ improve your English. Aren’t we taking this exam to settle in an English-speaking country?
  
  Hope my input has helped! All the very best for IELTS Exam Preparation.

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – October 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Australia – October 2013
Posted: 29 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Australia (thanks, A!) shared these 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 job do you do?
• - What do you do at your work?
• - Do you like your job? Why?
• - Whom do you like to celebrate your birthdays with?
• - How did you like to celebrate your birthdays as a child?
• - What birthdays do you consider more important?
• - Do you think walking in the countryside is better than in the city? Why?
• - Do you walk? - Why do you consider walking important (or why not)?
• - What could be done to improve walking in the city?
• - Do you think you will keep walking as a part of your routine in the future?

Cue Card

Talk about a season or a time of the year that you enjoy the most. Please say

• - What do you do during this season?
• - Describe what the weather is like.
• - Why do you like it more than other seasons?

Discussion

• - What is more important in your view: summer or winter?
• - Do people enjoy more summer or winter? Why?
• - What are the disadvantages of working in extreme cold or hot weather?

IELTS test in Hong Kong and Singapore – September 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in Hong Kong and Singapore – September 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 28 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friends from Hong Kong and Singapore say their IELTS exams were the same – here is what they remembered:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have been advised by the manager to conduct a short session in school and share your work experience with the students. Write a letter to the headmaster of the school and say

• - Who are you and what kind of job do you do?
• - What are you planning to talk about?
• - What equipment will you need to use?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe money is a less important factor than free time for quality of life. What do you think about it? What other factors are necessary to live a good quality of lifestyle?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Do you think that decision making is a difficult process?
• - Does your organization rely on you to make decisions frequently?
• - What was the most important decision that you have made in your life?
• - Did it take you long to make it?
• - What do you think about it now?
• - Why is media more important in lives of the younger generation compared to the past?
• - Do you read newspapers? Why?
• - What kind of news is the most interesting to you? Why?
• - When did you start using a mobile phone?
• - Did you climb trees as a child?
• - Would you like to stay in places with lots of trees? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about a very old person that you know and respect. Please say

• - How and when did you meet?
• - Who is this person?
• - Why do you respect him/her?

Discussion

• - What do you think about sending an old person to an age care facility?
• - What can young people learn from old people?
• - What can old people learn from the younger generation?

IELTS test in Italy – September 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Italy – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 25 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

An IELTS test taker from Italy (thanks, J!) shared the questions he remembered from the Writing and Speaking tests.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two bar charts, one showing the average cost of room per night in 3, 4 and 5 star Australian hotels in one month of 2009. The second was showing percentages of capacity to which these hotels were occupied.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think parents should read or tell stories to their children, others say it is not important and can be replaced by watching TV and movies instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

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

Cue Card

Talk about a particular subject you learned and why it was important. Please say

• - when you started learning it
• - what was taught in it
• - what you like and dislike about it.

Discussion

• Don’t remember.

IELTS Speaking test in India and Australia – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in India and Australia – September 2013
Posted: 24 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

IELTS test takers S and M shared the questions they were asked in the Speaking test:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - How do you celebrate your birthday?
• - How are birthday parties celebrated in your country?
• - What birthdays are very special in your culture?
• - Describe your city.
• - What are the main landmarks of the city?

Cue Card

Describe an interesting conversation that you had with someone you didn’t know. Please say

• - Who was that person?
• - When and where did you meet him/her?
• - What did you talk about?
• - Why was it interesting for you?

Discussion

• - What is the difference between chatting and gossiping?
• - What is the difference between personal, telephone or online conversations?
• - What are the disadvantages of online conversations?
• - How do you listen to news, on the radio or online?
• - Why is getting news important?
• - What news are the most interesting for you?
• - Do you think young people are more interested in news than the elderly?
• - Do you think women like to chat more than men? Why?

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

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IELTS test in the USA – September 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 23 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

The IELTS exam details below were shared by K from the USA:

Listening test

• Section 1. An inquiry about special festivals held in the city for children.
• Section 2. A discussion of two university students about essays and deadlines.
• Section 3. Don’t remember.
• Section 4. Narration about famous buildings in London.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About art museums in different countries.
  Questions: match headings to paragraphs.
• Section 2. About some famous picnic spots.
  Questions: True/False/Not Given.
• Section 3. About holiday and vacation planning for employees.
  Questions: filling in blanks.
• Section 4. Life-time achievement of Dr. Harwass in Egyptology.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to a friend in a foreign country who has invited you to their wedding and say:

• - Why can’t you attend the wedding?
• - Tell them about the gift you are sending.
• - Suggest how you can meet after the wedding.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Scientists point out that our world is experiencing a lot of environmental problems. Some say the government should take preventive steps to avoid them. Others say that the change should be made on an individual’s level, perhaps by changing people’s lifestyle. Discuss and give your opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What toys did you play with as a child?
• - Do you still have them?
• - What kind of toys do kids play with these days?

Cue Card

Talk about a radio program which you like and listen to regularly. Please say

• - What is the program about?
• - How does it benefit you?
• - How long do you listen to it?

Discussion

• - Do you think the radio can be replaced with some new technology?
• - Would you still listen to the radio if you were charged for it?
• - How safe is it to share personal views on the radio?
• - Can you recommend a radio program to younger generation?

IELTS Speaking test in Kazakhstan – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Kazakhstan – September 2013
Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friend I who took the IELTS test in Kazakhstan shared the Speaking questions below:

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 study?
• - Do you like this subject? Why?
• - Do you like riding a bicycle?
• - Is it popular in your country?
• - What are your predictions about bicycle culture in Kazakhstan?
• - Do you like plants?
• - Would you find a plant interesting as a gift?
• - Have you ever grown plants?

Cue Card

Describe a person with whom you like to spend time. Please say

• - When did you meet him/her?
• - What kind of person is he/she?
• - What do you do together?
• - Why do you like spending time with this person?

Discussion

• - Who else do you like to spend time with?
• - Why is it important to you?
• - What kind of relationship should be between managers and employees?

IELTS test in Vietnam – September 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Vietnam – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 21 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend T shared the IELTS exam in Vietnam:

Listening test

• Section 1: A reserve / park famous for poppies.
• Section 2: About a global travel service to provide career for graduates.
• Section 3: Two students discussed their courses at the university.
• Section 4: Three different senses that animals use for hunting.

Reading test

• Passage 1: The effects of global warming on tourism in some countries.
• Passage 2: Don’t remember.
• Passage 3: About the competition for students studying business, sponsored by local entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a table showing the percentage of the total workforce employed in 6 industries in Australia in 1997 and 2007.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that we can use as much fresh water as we want. Others think that fresh water supply should be controlled strictly by governments as the sources are limited. Discuss both views and give your 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 an apartment or a house?
• - Which room do you like the most? Why?
• - Do you like writing emails?
• - Whom do you often receive emails from?

Cue Card

Talk about a public transport that you have used recently. Please say

• - When did you use it?
• - What kind of public transport have you used?
• - Describe your journey.
• - How did you feel after the trip?

Discussion

• - Do people in your country use cars to demonstrate a social status? Why?
• - What kind of transport do you think will be available in the future?
• - What can the government do to reduce the use of cars in your country?

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

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IELTS test in the USA – September 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 18 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend S shared the questions he remembered from the Writing and Speaking sections of his exam in the USA:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a complaint letter to the manager of a sports complex about a problem with the staff (non-action of staff in spite of repeated complaints).

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some say good teachers are important for successful education, while others say the attitude of a student is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Who usually cooks in your home?
• - Have you ever cooked?
• - How was it?
• - Do people in your country watch cooking shows?

Cue Card

Talk about a country that you find interesting (except your own). Please say

• - Why is it interesting to you?
• - What would you like to do in this country?
• - When do you plan to visit this country?

Discussion

• - Do you think promotion of tourism is good for economy?
• - What is the bad side of tourism in your opinion?
• - Do you think it is important to maintain peaceful relations with the neighbouring countries?

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Australia – September 2013
Posted: 17 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

These Speaking questions were shared by Z who took the IELTS test in Australia recently:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Did you like to play as a child?
• - What was your favourite toy? Why?
• - Do you still have it?
• - Do you think toys should be passed on to other kids? Why?

Cue Card

Describe a recent event in you life that made you very happy. Please say

• - What was the event?
• - When did it happen and who was there with you?
• - Why did it make you happy?

Discussion

• - Do you think money is important in life? Why?
• - Do you think money makes people happy?
• - Do you think people with a lot of money are happy?
• - What makes people really happy?
• - Does having money equate to being happy?

Here’s how Kalpaka practiced to get IELTS Band 8.5

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Here’s how Kalpaka practiced to get IELTS Band 8.5
Posted: 16 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Kalpaka is a 20-something, bright lady whose efforts resulted in IELTS Band 8.5, with a perfect 9 in Listening. No, she isn’t a native English speaker – her first language is Tamil and she comes from India. Kalpaka won the first place (GT) in our August IELTS results competition, and when we asked what tips she would have for other test takers, Kalpaka said:

Listening

I was using headphones for practising listening exercises. However, the day before my exam, I realised that the passages would be played aloud in the examination hall. I strongly recommend avoiding the use of headphones while practising. The key to scoring high in this section is to read the questions in the allotted time before each passage is played. Once you know what the passage is about and what needs to be answered, you just have to pay attention to the passage. For more complex passages, there is plenty of information to listen to and process. In such cases, it might be helpful to make some notes while the audio is played. Later you can use these hints to choose the right answer.

Writing

I found the sample essays on this blog very helpful in preparing for the writing test. The key to scoring well in writing is to answer all parts of the question. If it’s an argument, both sides need to be discussed before an opinion/conclusion is provided. There’s a word limit on both the writing tasks. So making some notes or writing a rough draft would be helpful before setting out to answer each question. Time management is also very important. If you are in IT like me and have not written with pen/pencil for long, I recommend trying to write down some sample essays to avoid writer’s cramps during the exam. Use of a good vocabulary could boost the scores on top of answering the question appropriately.

Speaking

This section is probably the easiest to score well if you are comfortable conversing in English. Remember that the examiner is trying to help you score while trying to converse with you. Making the conversation interesting and informative will help score well in this test.

Reading

It would be really helpful to practice academic reading passages if you are taking up the General Training test because of the higher levels of difficulty in the academic exercises. Again, the key is to read the questions first and skim the passage for answers. Reading entire passages could mean running out of time. Personally, the trickiest questions are the ones where you choose true/false/not given. Assuming something is true or false based on personal knowledge will affect the scores adversely. See what the passage says about the subject in question before choosing the right option.

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

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IELTS test in the UAE – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 15 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

This update from the IELTS exam in the UAE was shared by E, who remembered the Writing and Speaking questions:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given three bar charts showing water and air temperature of 3 different lakes. We had to summarize and compare information where relevant.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Modern technology has an influence on schools today. Do you think teachers will still have a role in 2050 or the study process will be completely computerised?

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What subject are you studying?
• - Why do you think people choose such a subject in your country?
• - Do you like reading books?
• - What type of books do you read?
• - Are you reading a book presently?
• - Would you like to write a book in the future?

Cue Card

Talk about a nice place (school, office, or club) that you know well. Please say

• - Why is the place so distinct?
• - With whom did you go there?
• - What did you experience there?

Discussion

• - Do you think that unpaid jobs affect the community?
• - What is your opinion about people who work from home?
• - Would you do it yourself?

IELTS Speaking test in Australia and Vietnam – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Australia and Vietnam – September 2013
Posted: 14 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friends H and L who took the IELTS in Australia and Vietnam shared the questions they were asked in the Speaking test:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What city are you from?
• - Where is it located exactly?
• - Do you like living there?
• - Tell me some interesting facts about it.
• - Are there many large cities in your country?

Cue Card

Describe the thing that you cannot live without (except phone and internet). Please say

• - What is it?
• - Why can’t you manage without it?
• - How long do you have it for?
• - How did you feel without it?

Discussion 1

• - Did you take photos recently?
• - Talk about a photograph or a theme you couldn’t take.
• - Do you like to take pictures of yourself? Why?
• - Do you think media can influence people to buy or like things they see?

Discussion 2

• - Why do teenagers want to have the latest devices such as iPhone 5?
• - Why do they often buy a new one even though they already have one?
• - What do they do with the old one after buying a new one?
• - How hard is it for parents to convince their children not to buy an expensive phone?

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

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IELTS test in the UAE – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 11 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend T shared this IELTS update from the UAE.

Listening test

• Section 1. A conversation between a client and party organizer.
• Section 2. A journalist was interviewing an Eco tourism company owner.
• Section 3. A conversation between two friends about their future study plans.
• Section 4. A lecture about farming. Reading test Don’t remember.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a few bar charts showing the percentage of boys and girls in elementary and high schools in developed and developing countries in 2008.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Modern communication systems benefit many people yet there are some that oppose to them. 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?
• - What kind of job do you have?
• - Does your name have a meaning?
• - What is it?
• - What are the most common names in your culture? Why?

Cue Card

Describe a party that you would like to give to someone. Please say

• - Who is that person?
• - Whom will you invite to the party?
• - Why would you give this party?
• - When are you planning to do it? Why?

Discussion

• - Tell me about family parties in your country.
• - Do you feel under pressure while preparing a party?
• - Do you prefer to be busy all the time or not ? Why?
• - Do you feel under pressure when you have lots of tasks to do?

IELTS test in India – September 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in India – September 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 10 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friend N who took the IELTS test in India shared these Writing and Speaking questions:

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have recently bought a toy over the internet. When it was delivered you have found some problems with it. Write a letter to the toy company manager and say

• - Give details of the purchase.
• - Describe the problem.
• - What do you expect the company to do about it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that cars should be banned from city centres, others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Use any relevant examples from your experience.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Describe your job.
• - What is your working day like?
• - When is the most productive time during the day for you?
• - What do you like/dislike about your job?
• - Would you recommend this job to anyone?

Cue Card

Talk about a book that someone recommended that you read. Please say

• - Who recommended it?
• - Why did he/she recommend it?
• - What do you think about this book?

Discussion

• - What kinds of books are famous in your country? Why?
• - What are the benefits of reading books, in your opinion?
• - Do you think people will continue to read printed books in the future? Why?
• - What is your opinion about e-books?
• - Aren’t they cheaper and easily portable?
• - What are the drawbacks of e-books?
• - Are you able to imagine the world without printed books?
• - What other possibilities do you see?
• - Do you think young people like to read books?
• - Some say old people are good at reading. Do you agree or disagree?

IELTS test in the USA and India – September 2013 (General Training)

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IELTS test in the USA and India – September 2013 (General Training)
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our friends H and G took their IELTS tests in the USA and India, and shared the Writing and Speaking questions (it was all they remembered).

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to your friend and invite him/her to a special event that you are organising. Please say

• - Why do you organize this event?
• - Why do you think he/she should come?
• - Suggest accommodation arrangements for him/her.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Elderly people think that the way they spent their life was simpler and better than today. Do you agree or disagree? Provide you reasons and real life examples.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - What type of people are living in your city?
• - What does ‘being polite’ mean to you?
• - Who taught you about it?
• - When do you need to be polite?

Cue Card

Talk about a special meal that you would like to have. Please say

• - What is it?
• - Where and with whom would you like to have it?
• - What other food would you like to try?

Discussion

• - What type of food do people like in your country?
• - What is more important: quality or price of the food?
• - Should parents stop their children from eating junk food?
• - What should the government do about this?
• - Do you like home made food better than restaurant food?

IELTS Results competition winners in September 2013

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IELTS Results competition winners in September 2013
Posted: 08 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Today we’re proud to present and celebrate the 14 winners, who received the best scores ranging from 7.5 to 8.5 and entered in our monthly IELTS results competition. It’s a true pleasure to give you the dedicated, hardworking people whose efforts paid off, who can finally relax and look back with satisfaction, because they made it!

Academic Module – 1st place

• Sakshi Agarwal from India, Band 8.5 (with 9 in Speaking)

Academic Module – 2nd place

• Ashwini Rani Mahadev from India, Band 8 (with 9 in Listening)
• Mahamudul Hasan Rabbi from Bangladesh, Band 8
• Abe Thejo Thomas from India, Band 8

Academic Module – 3rd place

• Shruthi Shama from India, Band 7.5
• Nagakannan Pandian from India, Band 7.5

General Training Module – 1st place

• Mansoor Ahmed from Pakistan, Band 8.5
• Vijayan Rathinaswamy from India, Band 8.5 (with Band 9 in Reading)

General Training Module – 2nd place

• Payman Haydarnia from Iran, Band 8 (with Band 9 in Reading)
• Akshay Deep Davanam Ramanan from India, Band 8
• Mahesh Kotian from India, Band 8

General Training Module – 3rd place

• Adarsh Pal Singh from India, Band 7.5
• Herath Jayawardana from India, Band 7.5
• Navinesh Chad from Fiji, Band 7.5

Congratulations to the winners! You have so much to celebrate, and to mark this day we are sending your certificates of achievement to your emails. Your IELTS results will be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – please feel free to show off to your friends!

We should really find out how these lovely people were able to score so well. All we know at the moment is that Mansoor Ahmed and Navinesh Chad were studying by the book “Ace the IELTS”, and Herath Jayawardana (Band 7.5 ) was using our book “Target Band 7″. But we definitely need to know more!

We look forward to hearing from the winners their stories of how they prepared and studied, and what helped them achieve success in IELTS. Anything they wish to share will be posted on IELTS-Blog without delay, so everyone can use the same technique and get a better score in their own exam this month.

IELTS Speaking test in Sri Lanka – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Sri Lanka – September 2013
Posted: 07 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

These Speaking questions were shared by H who took the IELTS test in Sri Lanka

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - How do you get to the office?
• - What do you think about the transportation system in your country?

Cue Card

Describe a recent change in your life. Please say

• - When did it happen?
• - What was the change?
• - What difference did it make to your daily routine?

Discussion

• - What do you think about the changes in people’s lives?
• - What kind of changes did you notice in your town recently?
• - Do you think people like changes?
• - Why are most older people reluctant to make changes?

IELTS test in Argentina – September 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Argentina – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

This update from a recent IELTS exam in Argentina was shared by S – thanks a lot!

Listening test

• Section 1. A woman was asking for a temporary extension of car insurance for her brother.
• Section 2. A discussion of facilities provided by different hotels.
• Section 3. Two students were discussing their future dissertations with their tutor.
• Section 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

• Passage 1. The history of the Olympic torch.
• Passage 2. The importance of sleep for animals and human beings.
• Passage 3. Don’t remember.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a table showing the usage of different roads by vehicles, in a particular country in two different years.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some say that it is more important for employers to consider academic qualifications rather than personal life experience and values when hiring an employee. Do you agree or disagree? What are positive and negative aspects of the issue?

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 an interesting person that you have recently met. Please say

• - Where did you meet her/him?
• - Why was she/he interesting to you?
• - What is she/he like?

Discussion

• - What is the role of parents in the development of children´s character?
• - Are they more important than friends and the surrounding environment?
• - What is the influence of technology on human relationships today?
• - Do you think it has a positive or a negative effect on the society? Why?

IELTS Speaking test in Bucharest, Romania – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in Bucharest, Romania – September 2013
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend V shared the Speaking questions from a recent IELTS test in Romania:

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID? - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study? - Does your name have a meaning?
• - Is your name popular in your country?
• - When is the most productive part of the day for you?

Cue Card

Talk about something that happened to you recently and made you happy. Please say

• - Where was it?
• - How did you feel at that moment?
• - Whom were you with?

Discussion

• - What is more important for you: happiness or money?
• - Can money bring happiness?

IELTS test in Taiwan – September 2013 (Academic Module)

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IELTS test in Taiwan – September 2013 (Academic Module)
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Thanks to J from Taiwan we know this much about a recent IELTS exam there:

Listening test

• Section 1. Booking a party over the phone, including the school name, address, contact number, how many people and special requirements.
• Section 2. An advertisement about a marathon race for families.
• Section 3. A conversation between two students and a teacher about their marketing research project.
• Section 4. A lecture about gastropods.

Reading test

• Passage 1. About conservation of bamboo.
• Passage 2. Addiction to TV.
• Passage 3. About language with focus on a specific research.

Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a bar chart showing the carbon emissions from three different fossil fuel types used in the UK from 1977 till 2000.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that increasing working hours leads to economic success, but there are also some disadvantages to it. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this point of view?

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 an apartment?
• - Which room do you like the most in your house?
• - Are you going to move in the future?
• - Are there any painting or drawing classes in your school?
• - Why do people have paintings on their homes?
• - Would you buy a painting?

Cue Card

Describe an activity that you do to stay in good health and shape. Please say

• - What is it and when do you do it?
• - How often do you do it?
• - How is it helping you to stay healthy and in good shape?

Discussion

• - What do most people do to stay healthy?
• - Do you think the sports equipment in parks is useful?
• - Is there any difference between men and women in terms of which exercises they should do to stay healthy?

IELTS Speaking test in the UK – September 2013

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IELTS Speaking test in the UK – September 2013
Posted: 01 Oct 2013 03:30 AM PDT

Our kind friend H shared the Speaking questions from a recent IELTS exam in the UK.

Speaking test
Interview

• - What is your full name?
• - Can I see your ID?
• - Where are you from?
• - Do you work or study?
• - Which part of your country is more populated?
• - How easy is it to travel around in your country?
• - Did the country change a lot since you were a child?

Cue Card

Describe a festival that is important in your country. Please say

• - When does the festival start?
• - What do you do during the festival?
• - What do you like or dislike about it?
• - Why is this festival important?