Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 128

IELTS Results competition winners in February 2020

Prepare to be inspired, as we introduce to you the winners of IELTS Results competition in February 2020. Eight people from four countries (Australia, India, Iran and Zimbabwe) achieved the highest IELTS scores in the competition, ranging from Band 7.5 to 8.5. There were also some 9’s in the individual sub-tests!

On behalf of the entire IELTS-Blog.com community, we would like to congratulate the following winners:

Academic Module – 1st place

Heeru Ahuja from India, Band 8.5

Academic Module – 2nd place

Navid Farazmandnia from Iran, Band 8
Prajina Urva from India, Band 8

Academic Module – 3rd place

Convictions S Samunyaka from Zimbabwe, Band 7.5
Tahera Sultana from Australia, Band 7.5

General Training Module – 1st place

Ishita Dhada from India, Band 8
Murali Bomma from India, Band 8
Jhansi Kona from India, Band 8

Congratulations on doing so well in your exams! As a token of our appreciation we are sending your certificates of achievement to your emails. Winning IELTS results will be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so if you won, please feel free to show them off to your friends!

How did they score so well?

We’re very happy to report that two of the winners (Heeru Ahuja, Band 8.5 and Ishita Dhada, Band 8) used our IELTS practice tests to prepare for the exam. Dr. Dhada found the practice tests instrumental in her study, and said

“I am happy to share that this time I have received the required score. I have got an overall 8.0 band score ( L-9, R-8, W-7, S-7 ).

I am really grateful to you for all your help. The papers that you have designed always kept me a step ahead to face IELTS with more confidence. Moreover, I must say that IELTS-Blog.com has also played a profound role in terms of providing me with the latest writing and speaking questions to go through.”

Tahera Sultana (Band 7.5) used our writing correction service while preparing for her exam, and Jhansi Kona (Band 8) signed up for our free daily emails with latest IELTS questions, tips, materials and advice.

As for the rest of the winners, we’d love to find out what IELTS books they used, 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.

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

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IELTS was nothing like Omar imagined – but he got Band 8.5 (here is how)

Omar considers English to be his first language, and even though he originally is from Jamaica, he’s been living in the US for quite a while. As someone who uses English daily and has experience with public Speaking (!), Omar didn’t think IELTS would be hard to pass, but the more he researched it, the more comments he read online, the more worried he grew. His IELTS story has a lot for you to learn from, and a happy ending – so have a read, make some notes, and use them to your own advantage!

Omar said:

“This was my first time taking the exam. I registered for the January 11th exam on December 6th. My band goal was 9 overall. I thought I could just walk in and take the exam without any major time investment because I viewed it as another typical standardized exam.

It wasn’t until December 18th while researching the format of the exam, that I saw where people were complaining about its difficulty and numerous repeated low band scores (even for native English speakers). This made me panic a bit; therefore, I went on a deep discovery of how that could be.

I quickly learned that the exam was nothing like I “imagined”. With that being said, I ordered 3 books to help me, asked specific questions that I was uncertain of regarding the exam designs, and psyched myself that I will find out what could cause the phenomenon of low band scores.

As of December 20th, I made it my duty to do at least 1 complete Listening and Reading practice test per day, with one rest day. I separated the sections of the tests (because I realized that they progressively went from easier to harder as you completed questions 1-40). I tracked the sections that I struggled with most and noticed that there were certain sections that I repeatedly struggled with (sections 2 and 3) as well as the T/F/NG or No/Yes/NG. I then understood I was good at the hardest and easiest questions (4th and 1st section, respectively).

What I did after learning from my mistakes and the trend of why I was struggling on those sections and questions, was that I decided to complete those parts first in the reading test and spend more time on them, than the other parts. This strategy can’t work with the listening, so I forced myself to listen more keenly in those areas for any traps and specific details.

For the Writing and Speaking tests, I barely did any practice. It wasn’t until near the end (after the Christmas holiday) that I decided that I should not neglect those areas because I think I’m good enough. With the speaking, I just learned what the components are and what they’re looking for and how to convey uninterrupted speech dialogue. Please note, I do have experience with public speaking. But I also learned that IELTS had a different style and I had to revamp what I was taught as a professional. I still never exercised any practical speaking in preparation. Advice: practice speaking English in EVERY SITUATION. No matter how casual or with non-speakers. It’s better to then translate.

For the writing, I read model essays that were considered/labeled as Band 8 and Band 9. Then I asked what’s different from theirs and mine. I started to write one task 2 essay each day for 5 days and sought feedback on 2 of them in Facebook and WhatsApp groups. The limited feedback were vague and did little to help me see necessary changes for improvement. One person even responded and said that one of my essay at most was band 5 and gave no reason why. I knew that wasn’t true because I had reviewed the IELTS Task 2 rubric and knew my basic writing was at least a band 7, but with some errors could be a band 6. What I realized was that with every essay, the writer had a certain style and that’s something you cannot replicate. I stuck to my writing style and just learned what were some recommended things to pay attention to. Advice: Know and understand the components of the rubric and the descriptors.

On the day of the exam:

I wrote in ALL CAPS on the answer sheet for listening and reading.

I completed the second and third section of the reading first. I still made mistake of writing words instead of letters for a few of the answers (why I got an 8), even though I read the instructions clearly. Advice: It’s best to write your answer on the reading answer sheet immediately in the essence of time. This will help you remember if you need to write words or answer choices (A, 1, i etc.) as answers for each section. You may be able to come back and make corrections. Otherwise, if you did like me and make a mistake when transferring the answers from booklet to answer sheet you may mess up following the SPECIFIC instructions for answer format. A costly mistake.

For the writing, I did task 2 first and truthfully went in with a plan of how to approach each type of essay question. I quickly looked at the type of question. It was a “to what extent do you agree or disagree with this…”

I jotted down a plan:

1st paragraph – General intro sentence. Rephrased the prompt. Thesis statement with my answer.

2nd paragraph – 1st point to support stance. Explain it. Give example or illustration.

3rd paragraphed – 2nd point to support stance. Explain it. Give example or illustration.

4th paragraph – conclusion to tie in the two points and say how they strongly support the thesis statement without repeating verbatim what was already said.

Truth be told, I spent so much time deciding on two clear and separate points, that by the time I decided to start writing, time was already slipping away. Therefore, I just started writing and almost threw the whole plan out the window. What came to my mind as I write, is what I wrote.

I did pay attention to make sure I had great transitions, using connectors, mix of simple, complex, and compound sentences, and paid attention to my punctuation. I did not pay much attention to vocabulary or grammar while writing. It was in the editing/reviewing phase that I did that. I made sure not to repeat words and used appropriate synonyms to replace most. However, I did not try to remember those “advanced IELTS words” that were suggested. I wanted to keep my individual (personal) voice and writing style to make sure the points were easy to follow, thoughts flowed, and that they were concise.

I did task 1 next and I literally just wrote as if I was writing/speaking to a friend. I did not use any plan or fancy vocabulary. I just made sure I covered what they asked for in the task: “Invite a friend to a concert, tell them why they would like it, when and where will it be, and how do I think it will be.”

With time against me, I quickly reread it and only made punctuation edits.

The speaking test felt like the easiest. The examiner’s disposition was so sweet and positive. It made for a pleasant conversation. I watched her body language as cue to when I’ve said enough and when I should keep talking. I just spoke naturally, avoided long pauses, and stayed positive. It was so quick and I was surprised when it was over because I was genuinely enjoying the “talk”. That’s what it felt like. My advice here is do not overthink or get in your head to try and give “perfect” responses. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Just be you and give it your best shot of holding a conversation. If I was to receive a 9, this is where I thought I deserved it most.

My advice

Know what level of English mastery is required of you to realistically obtain the band score you need.
Master the English language first before trying to master the art of tricks and tips. The exam is designed in so many ways to prove your proficiency level is that or lower than it really is. It is very hard to fool or trick it.
Don’t waste your money if you know you are not ready. Like any art, you need to be at a certain level to soar.
Review the rubric for writing tasks and make sure you are unbiased about your writing.
Do not try to copy someone else’s writing style. It will come off as disingenuous and robotic.
Practice, practice, practice and note your weaknesses and strengths. Then strategize how to improve by learning why you got what you got wrong; especially for the objective sections (Listening and Reading).

Note: if you are constantly getting the same range of raw score for reading and listening during the practice test, that’s the best estimate of your band score. Try to improve your English more first.

Use the time that you may worry or search for tricks to practice instead. The only way to get better at anything is to take action. Example: simply thinking about losing weight or researching how to lose weight won’t result in you losing weight.

Don’t be confused by the plethora of experts with conflicting views for what is required by IELTS. Take some of those advice with caution, as you may end up confusing yourself with too many different styles and varied recommendations.

Have confidence. But do not be cocky or biased about your English language aptitude.

PS: Although I prepped in 3 weeks, please remember that your situation will be different from mine, because we are all different. For that reason, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

Best of luck in your endeavors and may your results truly reflect your investment.”

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IELTS Speaking Band 6 Full Test Video with Examiner’s Feedback

It’s not too hard to estimate your IELTS score in Listening or Reading – all you need to do is take a practice test and count how many correct answers you had. But how do you find out your score in Speaking? Here’s a hint: you need to get someone to help you, which is exactly what Arun in this video is doing. And it’s a good thing he got an early Speaking assessment, because his Speaking score turned out to be Band 6, which is lower than the score he needs. So this experience saved Arun from taking the IELTS test too early and wasting his money, and he also received a list of things to work on, plus suggestions how to deal with his weaknesses and increase his score.

In the video you’re about to watch Arun, an IELTS test taker from India, is answering typical IELTS Speaking questions. You can see the breakdown of his score by 4 IELTS criteria (Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation) at the end of the video, and also in his evaluation report here.

The questions are shown on the screen while Arun answers them. You will see that every question has a number (Q1, Q2, etc) and the examiner in his evaluation report is referring to Arun’s little mistakes in every question. It’s great to watch the entire video first, and then go back to the specific questions as you read the evaluation report. It will help you understand what exactly the examiner means when he says something like

Q7 – ‘as well as’ not used correctly: ‘we can go by bus, as well as we can go by car’ should be: ‘we can go by bus as well as by car’’; ‘why I like this restaurant’ should be followed by the verb ‘to be’ – ‘why I like this restaurant IS because’.

Download Arun’s speaking evaluation report here

It would be a good exercise for you to make a list of any mistakes or inaccuracies you hear while watching this video, and then compare your notes to the examiner’s feedback. What would you do better? What vocabulary could you use instead?

Try and answer the same questions in your own words, and perhaps even record yourself. It will provide an opportunity to listen to your pronunciation and see what needs work.

If you’d like to get your Speaking evaluated just like Arun did, you can – go here to learn how.

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IELTS essay, topic: Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with the police or the military, while others disagree (opinion)

Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with the police or the military. Others think that women are less suitable for this kind of job. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample Essay

In recent years gender equality in employment has been the topic of heated debate. While some may argue that women are less suited for certain jobs such as with the police or the military, I believe that female candidates should be treated the same as their male counterparts.

Those who consider women to be unsuited for some kinds of jobs including the police or the military often hold that opinion because such jobs are extremely physically demanding. As the female body has smaller muscles and less physical strength compared to male body, women may have difficulty engaging in strenuous activity which can be exhausting even for men. In military service, female soldiers are more likely to struggle while defending themselves than their male peers when they are forced to move around carrying heavy firearms in the battle, which can increase their risk of mission failure. Because of the hazards and extreme conditions they may encounter, some people advocate that women are not suitable for work in these fields.

Nevertheless, I believe that female applicants should be considered for police or military placements without a gender bias, because women are more suited to certain tasks. In the police service, female officers can perform important roles on some occasions such as a body search where male officers are restricted from touching female convicts. In the military service, female nursing staff are more likely to care better for injured soldiers since maternal instinct makes them dedicated and heart-warming professionals. Furthermore, for the sake of fairness to all, job seekers should have an equal opportunity to choose their jobs freely, regardless of gender. Many women have the desire to work in the police and the military and some of them have relevant expertise and qualifications. Therefore, they should not be discriminated against in employment opportunities for these jobs.

In conclusion, although some say that women are incompatible with police and military duties because of the high physical demands, I believe that they should be treated as equal to men. This is because there are certain roles with the police and the military that are more suitable for women than men, and therefore both genders should have equal employment opportunities.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8

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Top 8 English Pronunciation Problems for Japanese Speakers (and how to fix them!)

If you are a native Japanese Speaker, you may be facing a frustrating issue on a daily basis. You say something to someone, and they say…

– ‘I beg your pardon?’

– ‘Say that again?’

– ‘Pardon?’

– ‘Sorry?’

Or they just stand there staring at you. If this situation is familiar, then your pronunciation might need some work.

The Top 8 English Pronunciation Problems for Japanese Speakers

There are some sounds in English that are more difficult for Japanese Speakers to pronounce properly. Here are some typical pronunciation errors Japanese Speakers tend to make.

1. Confusing consonants ‘l’ & ‘r’

Sometimes native Japanese speakers say ‘r’ instead of ‘l’.

Check: do you say ‘comprete’ instead of ‘complete’?

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

2. Pronouncing consonants ‘f’ and ‘v’ incorrectly

Sometimes Japanese speakers say ‘p’ instead of ‘f’, such as ‘preper’ instead of ‘prefer’.

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

Another common issue is using ‘b’ instead of ‘v’, for instance saying ‘bideo’ instead of ‘video’.

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

3. Pronouncing the consonant ‘th’ incorrectly

Sometimes speakers of Japanese might say ‘sink’ instead of ‘think’, or ‘sick’ instead of ‘thick’. That changes the meaning of the word entirely and the listener would struggle to understand them.

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

4. Vowel /oʊ/ like in ‘note’

If you pronounce ‘note’ more like ‘not’, that’s incorrect – it needs to be pronounced like ‘nowt’.

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

The word ‘most’ has the same sound /oʊ/.

Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

5. Vowel ‘er’ /ɜː/ like in ‘hurt’

If your ‘hurt’ sounds more like ‘heart’, and ‘firm’ more like ‘farm’, that is incorrect.

Listen here to both incorrect and correct pronunciation, and fix your own, if you need to (scroll down to the blue box to listen).

6. Vowel /æ/ like in ‘hat’

If you say ‘hat’ but it sounds like ‘hut’, or ‘back’ sounds like ‘buck’, that is another problem.

Go here to listen to the correct and incorrect pronunciation, and you will see the difference (scroll down to the blue box to listen).

7. Word stress

Each multi-syllable word in English has one stressed syllable. In the word ‘rePORT’ the stress is on ‘PORT’, so you should say it in higher pitch and put more emphasis on it. When you don’t, it makes your word stress and rhythm flatter than a native speaker’s.

8. Weak vowels

Japanese speakers pronounce every vowel in English the same way – but some vowels should be pronounced differently. A good example of a weak vowel is ‘o’ in ‘today’ – it should be pronounced more like ‘uh’ rather than ‘o’. Listen to the correct pronunciation here.

How to fix Japanese Speakers’ pronunciation problems

One thing I learnt from Georgie Harding, the founder of SpeechActive and experienced speech pathologist, is this:

“Your journey to a better pronunciation starts with awareness.”

You need to become aware of problems in your pronunciation first, and then you can start fixing them. Georgie has worked with hundreds of Japanese speakers and created a very useful resource to help you achieve improvement quickly and easily.

What you need to do is:

1. Go here and read through the pronunciation problems checklist.

2. Scroll down to grey and blue boxes.

3. Read about the problem and how to fix it in a grey box.

4. Listen to the Japanese speaker in the blue box. Do you hear the problem sound?

5. Listen to the native English speaker in the blue box. Do you notice the difference in pronunciation?

6. Record your speech using the voice recorder on the web page, and play to listen. Are you making the sound correctly?

These are the steps that will help you fix your pronunciation. The problem sounds may be there now, but you will learn to hear them, and to make them correctly. Regular practice will help you get very close to a native English speaker’s pronunciation.

If you need help with your pronunciation, Georgie is the best person to talk to (and you can contact her here). She worked with so many Japanese professionals and students, living in the UK, the US, Australia and of course Japan, and she has a pronunciation course designed specifically for Japanese speakers. So if you need some English pronunciation training, or accent reduction, Georgie will definitely help you speak English more clearly. Read more about her pronunciation course for Japanese speakers here.

Special offer for IELTS-Blog.com visitors

If you decide to enrol in any of Georgie’s pronunciation courses, we got you a special 30% discount, available exclusively from IELTS-Blog.com:

IELTSblogsave30%

Just to clarify – this discount is for ALL our readers to enjoy (not just Japanese Speakers), and will work for any pronunciation courses on SpeechActive website.

Enter this code at checkout on SpeechActive website, and use the savings to reward yourself for making a very, very smart decision today!

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How dedication and consistency can get you Band 8 in IELTS

So, what does it take to get Band 8 in IELTS?

Aye Chan and Moshaddak say, “Dedication and consistency”, and we can trust their experience because they received IELTS Overall Band Scores of 8 and 7.5 respectively in their recent exams. As winners of our monthly results competition they were invited to share their tips and advice, and here is what they said:

Aye Chan, the owner of IELTS Overall Band Score of 8.0, said:

“Hello everyone,

I would like to advise you guys to keep in mind that IELTS scores are hugely influenced by your English language level. After all, it is a standardized language test. As for me, I prepared for IELTS for 2 months with a daily study routine of 3 hours. I cannot stress enough how important your English skills are. However, if you are someone with weak foundation like me, there are very good resources out there for you.

First, you have to decide between Computer-based and Paper-based IELTS, because it will largely affect how you prepare. For me, I took the Computer-based exam. The one thing that I used were online mock tests. It was very helpful; I got two reading paragraphs with different questions from mock tests in the actual exam. Another thing is that I read IELTS-Blog.com posts every day for up-to-date recent questions and tips for all four skills. They are fantastic, especially the writing tips and stand out among others. In addition to this, the recent questions are very useful in preparation for the Speaking test as you can build your ideas bank from it. Last but not least, I would like to say thanks to my local IELTS coaches (Teacher May Pyae Phyo Thu and Teacher Eaintme) for guidance.

That is pretty much all I did. One more thing to keep in mind is that you really need to have a strong dedication and consistency during exam preparation. Do not take the test for granted, but think of passing it as your dream. This was a crucial aspect, at least for me. I wish all the best to my fellow IELTS Warriors. Cheers!”

Moshaddak, the owner of IELTS Overall Band Score of 7.5, said:

“Thanks for choosing me a winner.

I would like to suggest candidates to make a study plan and remain patient until they obtain the desired score. Generally, I used to listen on the radio to a variety of English conversations to develop my listening skills. For reading, I would advise to read texts on a wide range of topics, and focus on skimming and scanning techniques. Also, students need to write every day to develop their writing skill. Here, they should take advice from experts and find out ways to overcome their weakness. In my case, I used writing correction service from IELTS-BLOG.com which supported me in a great way, and especially helped to improve my grammar, lexical resource, and ability to write complex sentences.

For speaking, I would suggest to find a partner and practice regularly – but everyone should evaluate their speaking to find out their weaknesses.

Overall, my experience with IELTS-BLOG.com is overwhelming and I thank them for their support.”

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IELTS essay, topic: In many countries young people start living on their own after high school, is this a positive or negative development?

In many countries around the world young people decide to leave their parents’ home once they finish school. They start living on their own or sharing a house with friends. Is this a positive or a negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples.

Sample Essay

Nowadays it is becoming increasingly common for youngsters to start their independent life by moving out of their parents’ home after graduation from school. This trend has positive effects on the society and the reasons behind it will be discussed next in this essay.

There are various benefits for both young people and their parents when individuals start living independently after finishing school. Young adults, in this way, have to take care of their daily needs, from house chores, cooking or cleaning to financial independence. Thus, instead of wasting time on childish activities, they are motivated to learn skills and work part-time or full-time in order to cover their living expenses. Although it might seem challenging for them to live on their own at first, it would give them valuable experience, helping them to become mature, responsible adults. Parents would also be pleased with this practice since they can enjoy their own lives by having more time for themselves. Not only would they have more financial flexibility due to independence of their children, but they also don’t have to change their habits in order to adapt to the new generation’s lifestyle. For instance, it allows many people to travel around the world, which would be impossible if their children were to stay with them after finishing high school.

Admittedly, there might be some challenges involved in this way of life. In some cases and especially under the influence of new friends or housemates, youngsters might choose to get involved in dangerous activities that involve drugs or petty crimes. However, instead of keeping their children close through adulthood, parents should prepare in advance and raise their children to distinguish between right and wrong and teach them to take responsibility for their actions.

In conclusion, although there might be some adverse consequences to this relatively new practice, I believe that the advantages of young people leaving family home outweigh its drawbacks, for both children and parents.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8

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Latest IELTS Test Questions and Topics Worldwide – February to March 2020

Welcome to our new latest IELTS exam questions page! Here you will find the most recent IELTS questions that test takers remembered and shared, updated daily in real time. Test questions are organised by country of origin, with countries in alphabetical order. Identical questions that appeared in two or more countries on the same day posted only once (no duplicates). The NEW label indicates most recently added questions.

Click below to jump to latest IELTS questions from your country:

Latest IELTS exam questions from Australia

Latest IELTS exam questions from Azerbaijan

Latest IELTS exam questions from Bangladesh

Latest IELTS exam questions from Canada

Latest IELTS exam questions from China

Latest IELTS exam questions from Ghana

Latest IELTS exam questions from India

Latest IELTS exam questions from Iran

Latest IELTS exam questions from Italy

Latest IELTS exam questions from the Netherlands – NEW!

Latest IELTS exam questions from Nigeria

Latest IELTS exam questions from Taiwan

Latest IELTS questions from Australia

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by D.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two diagrams showing Darwin city waterfront in 2009 and after 2014 reconstruction. We had to compare and describe both of them.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Nowadays online shopping is extremely popular. Discuss the impact of it on the environment and on people, who lost their jobs because of it.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you like cakes and sweets?

– Do you like spending time by yourself?

– Do you like your house? Why?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a uniform that you wore in the past. Please say

– Describe it.

– Where and when was it?

– How did you feel about wearing a uniform?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Who bought it for you?

– Why is it important to wear a uniform?

– Does the fashion industry influence the dressing style of younger people?

– Is children’s dressing style influenced by their peers?

IELTS test paper #2 (Speaking)

Shared by T.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you prefer working in the morning or afternoon?

– Has your job changed recently?

– Do you go to parks?

– What do you usually do at the park?

– Did you play in a park as a child?

– Do you laugh a lot?

– Do you make people laugh?

– How do you do it?

– When was the last time you laughed?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about an important journey that was delayed for some reason. Please say

– Describe the journey.

– Why was it delayed?

– How did you feel about it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Let’s talk about travel.

– Do you like to travel?

– Do you do it often?

– What mode of transport do you use?

– What is the difference between modern transport and the old transport?

– What impact does it have on people and the environment?

– Do you prefer using your own car or public transport?

– What is the importance of traveling?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Azerbaijan

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by V.

Listening test

Part 1. A phone conversation with a travel agency.

Part 2. A Map description of a new library including books’ locations.

Part 3. A discussion about some presentation.

Part 4. A science study about dolphins.

Reading test

Passage 1. About bovid (cloven-hoofed mammals) and their natural habitats.

Passage 2. About fibers in clothing.

Passage 3. An article about English as an international language.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given one pie chart and one triple-line graph. The pie chart showed the distribution of workforce in 2003. There were three groups of people – born in Australia, English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries. The line graph compared the unemployment rates of those groups between 1993 and 2003.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that restoration of old buildings costs too much; we should demolish them and build new ones instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Bangladesh

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by M.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given one line graph showing three household appliances used in three countries within three years’ time.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Nowadays celebrities earn more money than politicians. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development?

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you like your work?

– What are your responsibilities there?

– Would you like to work there in the future?

– Does your job require full concentration?

– What do you mean by concentration?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about advice you received from someone that was very helpful. Please say

– What was the advice?

– Who gave it to you?

– Why was it helpful?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Do you often get advice from older people?

– Do you like to give advice to others?

– Why don’t many people follow good advice?

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Latest IELTS questions from Canada

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Listening test

Part 1. A hotel venue booking for a party.

Questions: filling in blanks, short-answer questions (no more than 2 words).

Part 2. Historical buildings map description.

Questions: filling in blanks.

Part 3. Don’t remember.

Part 4. About new ways to overcome flood problems.

Reading test

Passage 1. About a recycling process.

Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice.

Passage 2. Description of detergents or soap making.

Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice.

Passage 3. About the process of textile cotton production.

Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

We were given a chart showing health care distribution in three different countries in Europe. We had to summarize the data and draw a conclusion.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with police or the military. Others think women are less suitable for this kind of job. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS test paper #2 (Speaking)

Shared by R.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you like your job?

– Where do you stay now?

– Do you live in an apartment or a house?

– How long did you live there?

– Describe your favorite room.

– Why is it your favorite place?

– Do you think people smile a lot nowadays?

– Are their smiles artificial or genuine mostly?

– When do you usually smile?

– Why is that?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a person who came up with a new idea or invention, whom you know well. Please say

– Who is that person?

– Where and when did you meet?

– What was his/her idea or invention?

Follow up question: Why did you appreciate it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– How can people innovate or make new discoveries?

– How do they come up with these innovations?

– At what age do children learn to form their own opinions and make decisions?

– Who helps them?

– Why do they start having their own opinions at a certain age?

– Do you think their opinions are likely to be similar to their parents’ opinions?

– Why is that?

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Latest IELTS questions from China

IELTS test paper #1 (General)

Shared by M.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You want to improve your knowledge of foreign language which can help you at work. Write a letter to a foreign language teacher and say

– Where did you hear about the teacher?

– Why do you want to learn the foreign language?

– Ask some questions about the course.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that it is fine for professional sportsmen and sportswomen to misbehave on or off the field, as long as they are playing well. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Speaking test

Part 1 (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?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a situation where you had to tell a lie to your friend. Please say

– What was the lie?

– When and where did you lie?

– Why did you do it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Are you a patient person in your life?

– When did you get impatient recently?

– Why did it happen?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Ghana

IELTS test paper #1 (Speaking)

Shared by R.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you enjoy your job?

– Do you prefer to work in the morning or in the afternoon?

– Do you like to watch movies?

– What genre of films do you like?

– Do you like to watch comedies?

– When did you watch a good comedy?

– Do you think you and your friends will laugh at the same things?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a sports or work team where you participate. Please say

– What is it?

– When and why did you join it?

– Can you give a brief description of the team members?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Explain why you were chosen to be part of this team.

– What is the importance of international teamwork?

– Can you give examples of teamwork among children?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from India

IELTS test paper #1 (Speaking)

Shared by R.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Do you like your job?

– Where do you live now?

– Describe your hometown.

– What don’t you like about it?

– Why is that?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an interesting person that you have met. Please say

– Who is he/she?

– Where and when did you meet?

– Explain why he/she was interesting.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What topics do men and women usually discuss together?

– Would you like to change the colour of your hair? Why?

– Why do most people lack confidence while doing public presentations?

IELTS test paper #2 (General)

Shared by P.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have recently been invited to talk about your country at the American academy. Write a letter to the administrator and say

– Accept the invitation and suggest possible dates.

– What topics would you like to talk about?

– What will you need for your talk?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people suggest that bringing up children by the whole family including uncles, aunts and grandparents is better, rather than only by parents. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and examples.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Where do you live now?

– What is the most interesting place to visit in your hometown?

– Do many tourists visit your country?

– Do you like long or short holidays?

– Where do you like to go on holidays?

– Do you prefer beach holidays or city holidays?

– Do you have close friends?

– What do you value the most in your friends?

– Do you meet often with your friends?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a new public building you want to visit. Please say

– What is the building?

– Where and when was it build?

– Why do you want to visit it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What types of buildings are there in your hometown?

– Is it a good trend to have skyscrapers in the city?

– Do you think buildings’ shapes and structures will change in the future?

– Would you like to live in a different-shaped building, round or triangular?

– Why is that?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Iran

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by N.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given three pie charts showing vehicle exports by a particular company. We had to summarize and compare all three categories: cars, motorcycles and trucks.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Many people think that every individual is responsible for their happiness, but some people believe there are other external factors that influence us. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you study?

– Why did you choose this course?

– What are some drawbacks of using social media?

– Do you use more social media now compared to the past?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a singer or a music band which you listen to frequently. Please say

– Who are they?

– When and where did you hear them for the first time?

– Why do you listen to them?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What other music or band do you like?

– Why do you think people listen to music?

– Would you like to sing or play yourself?

IELTS test paper #2 (Speaking)

Shared by M.

Speaking test

Part 1 (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 like about your work?

– Does the type of your work change from time to time?

– Do people in your city like to go to parks?

– Do you like to go to parks?

– What do you do there?

– Did you use to go to parks as a child?

– What is your favorite park?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an interesting event you have participated in recently. Please say

– When and where was it?

– What was the event?

– Why was it interesting for you?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What are some social events in your country?

– What benefits do sponsors get from social events?

– What are the advantages and disadvantages of international events?

– Why do you think so?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Italy

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by G. and L.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two pie charts showing and comparing the difference between the proportion of children under 18 years old that play a musical instrument in 1996 and 2016. There was also a bar chart showing the changes in their contribution to different musical genres.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Scientific researches should be the responsibility of governments rather than commercial organizations. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Speaking test

Part 1 (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?

– Let’s talk about numbers.

– Can you memorize phone numbers easily?

– Did you like studying math at school?

– Why is that?

– Are numbers important for your current studies?

– Why or why not?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a teacher that influenced you in high school. Please say

– Describe him/her.

– When and where was it?

– How did he/she influence you?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What are the main skills needed to be a good learner?

– Do you think it’s easier to study when you are young?

– Is it more efficient to study in class or by yourself, in your opinion?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from the Netherlands

IELTS test paper #1 (Academic)

Shared by P.

Listening test

Part 1. Summer camp application form.

Questions: filling in blanks, short-answer questions (no more than 2 words).

Part 2. A map description.

Questions: multiple choice, map labeling.

Part 3. A conversation between a university student and his professor.

Questions: multiple choice.

Part 4. About rural areas and environment in general.

Questions: filling in blanks, short-answer questions (no more than 1 word).

Reading test

Passage 1. About deep sea bioluminescent fish and other sea creatures.

Questions: filling in blanks, short-answer questions (no more than 1 word), True/False/Not Given.

Passage 2. Don’t remember.

Passage 3. A research conducted at a workplace of both managers and general workers.

Questions: multiple choice, True/False/Not Given.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two maps showing an old museum and a renovated/new museum. We had to summarize and compare the changes.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Many people believe that big businesses in addition to generating profits should be involved in and responsible for the social life of the community. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Nigeria

IELTS test paper #1 (General)

Shared by A.

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have recently visited a local school in your community. It needs people who can help renovate the building and also help with some activities. Write a letter to the principal of the school and say

– How would you be able to help?

– When and why would you do it?

– Who will help you to do it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many parents complain about violence promoted to their children through video games, TV programs and other media. Why is it happening? What can be the solution for it?

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Where do you live now?

– What do you do for entertainment there?

– What music do you listen to?

– Do you like to listen to music alone or with friends?

– Do you wear jeans?

– What is your opinion about people who wear jeans?

– Why do you think so?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a recent celebration that you were invited to. Please say

– What were you celebrating?

– Who did you celebrate it with?

– Why did you celebrate it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Let’s talk about convocations.

– What are the main reasons for them?

– Did you take part in any graduations?

– How is naming ceremony celebrated?

– Explain about church marriages in your country.

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Taiwan

IELTS test paper #1 (Speaking)

Shared by B.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Where do you live now?

– Describe the house you live in now.

– Do you have a good view from your house?

– Do you take photos of it?

– Are there any shops around your house?

– Do you do a lot of writing?

– Do you prefer to use a pen or a pencil? Why?

– Did anyone buy a pen for you?

– How would you feel if you received a pen as a gift?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a famous person that you would like to meet. Please say

– Who is that person?

– What is he/she famous for?

– Why would you like to meet this person?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Let’s talk about news.

– Why are famous people often on the news?

– What is more important, international or national news?

– Why do you think so?

– Why are local news important to many people?

– Do you think news are always trustworthy?

Go to top

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IELTS Results competition winners in January 2020

A new year is a new beginning, a chance to change things, start fresh, and take a different path in life. I am sure many of us intended to start a new life in 2020, and we can be certain that for the 7 people you are about to meet, this … is… happening!

Let’s put our hands together for the owners of best IELTS Results in January 2020:

Academic Module – 1st place

Mozhdeh Jafaridoulabi from Iran, Band 8
Aye Chan Kyaw from Myanmar, Band 8

Academic Module – 2nd place

Waleed Tayyb Buttar from Pakistan, Band 7.5

General Training Module – 1st place

Omar Brown from Jamaica, Band 8.5

General Training Module – 2nd place

Durga Priya Namdevsingh from India, Band 7.5
Moshaddak Hossain from Bangladesh, Band 7.5
Sejal Paresh Shah from India, Band 7.5

Congratulations to our winners! As a token of our appreciation we are sending your certificates of achievement to your emails. Winning IELTS results will be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so if you won, please feel free to show them off to your friends!

How did they score so well?

We’re always interested to find out from the winners how they did it. Some of them are our students (Moshaddak and Durga used our writing correction service), as for the others we just know they subscribed to our daily IELTS emails. I’d like to ask all the winners – please be kind to the other test takers who are still preparing for their IELTS exams. Do share your stories and tell us how you studied, and what helped you achieve success in IELTS. Any useful tips will be shared on IELTS-Blog.com, so everyone can use the same technique and get a better score in their own exam this month.

We are expecting responses from our winners and as soon as we get their tips, we will post them on IELTS-Blog.com. The first IELTS results competition we held 11 (!) years ago was our very first step towards connecting successful test takers with everyone else. Winners have obviously done a lot of things right, and by sharing their tips, ‘secrets’ and advice they are helping thousands of others achieve great results in IELTS. IELTS-Blog.com is proud to be the channel for the experience and wisdom of high scorers to reach every IELTS test taker in the world!

So if YOU got a high score in IELTS, no matter when – this month, last month, a few months ago – we want to hear from you! We would like to extend our warm invitation to everyone who is happy with their IELTS score. Take part in our IELTS results competition today, and share your IELTS tips when you win!

Learn how to enroll here.

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Latest IELTS Test Questions and Topics Worldwide – February 2020

Welcome to our new latest IELTS exam questions page! Here you will find the most recent IELTS questions that test takers remembered and shared, updated daily in real time. Test questions are organised by country of origin, with countries in alphabetical order. Identical questions that appeared in two or more countries on the same day posted only once (no duplicates).

Click below to jump to latest IELTS questions from your country:

Latest IELTS exam questions from Iran

Latest IELTS exam questions from Nigeria

Latest IELTS questions from Iran

IELTS test paper #1

Shared by N.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given three pie charts showing vehicle exports by a particular company. We had to summarize and compare all three categories: cars, motorcycles and trucks.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Many people think that every individual is responsible for their happiness, but some people believe there are other external factors that influence us. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you study?

– Why did you choose this course?

– What are some drawbacks of using social media?

– Do you use more social media now compared to the past?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a singer or a music band which you listen to frequently. Please say

– Who are they?

– When and where did you hear them for the first time?

– Why do you listen to them?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What other music or band do you like?

– Why do you think people listen to music?

– Would you like to sing or play yourself?

IELTS test paper #2

Shared by M.

Speaking test

Part 1 (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 like about your work?

– Does the type of your work change from time to time?

– Do people in your city like to go to parks?

– Do you like to go to parks?

– What do you do there?

– Did you use to go to parks as a child?

– What is your favorite park?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an interesting event you have participated in recently. Please say

– When and where was it?

– What was the event?

– Why was it interesting for you?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What are some social events in your country?

– What benefits do sponsors get from social events?

– What are the advantages and disadvantages of international events?

– Why do you think so?

Go to top

Latest IELTS questions from Nigeria

IELTS test paper #1

Shared by A.

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have recently visited a local school in your community. It needs people who can help renovate the building and also help with some activities. Write a letter to the principal of the school and say

– How would you be able to help?

– When and why would you do it?

– Who will help you to do it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many parents complain about violence promoted to their children through video games, TV programs and other media. Why is it happening? What can be the solution for it?

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Where do you live now?

– What do you do for entertainment there?

– What music do you listen to?

– Do you like to listen to music alone or with friends?

– Do you wear jeans?

– What is your opinion about people who wear jeans?

– Why do you think so?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a recent celebration that you were invited to. Please say

– What were you celebrating?

– Who did you celebrate it with?

– Why did you celebrate it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Let’s talk about convocations.

– What are the main reasons for them?

– Did you take part in any graduations?

– How is naming ceremony celebrated?

– Explain about church marriages in your country.

Go to top

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Questions and topics from recent IELTS exams This is a small list of topics and questions I’ve...
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