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Latest IELTS Speaking questions from the UAE – May 2025

Our generous subscriber OS recently took the IELTS test in Dubai, UAE. Here are the Speaking questions he remembered:

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– Do you work or are you a student?
– What do you enjoy most about your work or studies?
– What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
– Can you describe your hometown?
– What do you like most about your hometown?
– Is your hometown a good place for young people?
– Do you enjoy reading or listening to stories?
– What kinds of stories did you enjoy as a child?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an advertisement you found particularly memorable. You should say:

– what the advertisement was about
– where and when you saw it
– what you liked or disliked about it

and explain what made it memorable.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– What are the most common types of advertisements in your country?
– Do advertisements influence what people buy?
– Why do some people dislike advertisements?
– Should children be exposed to advertising?
– How has advertising changed in recent years?
– Do you think advertising will always be important in business?

The post Latest IELTS Speaking questions from the UAE – May 2025 first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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From Disappointment to Band 8: How Victoria Did It

Some journeys to IELTS success are paved with discipline, hope – and a lot of late nights.

This is the story of one student who couldn’t afford a tutor, failed her first attempt, and still made it all the way to Band 8.

Her story moved me deeply – not just because of the result, but because it shows what’s possible when someone combines faith, strategy, and consistency. She told me:

“It was a journey of faith, patience and determination…”

Let me walk you through what made the difference for her – and how you can follow in her footsteps.

What Went Wrong the First Time?

She first took the IELTS in May last year, and here’s how she scored:

Listening: 7.5Reading: 6.5Writing: 7.0Speaking: 7.5Overall: Band 7

A strong result – but short of her target. Many students stop here. But not her.

Instead, she prepared her mind, took a breath, and started over.

How She Changed Her Approach

Here’s what she did differently the second time around:

Started with the hardest skill (Reading)Studied 3 hours a day, 5 days a weekRead model answers to past questions dailyDidn’t avoid any module – worked on all four skillsUsed my blog and email materials to sharpen Speaking and Writing

“I subscribed to your emails, and I can say it’s one thing that greatly helped me with my speaking and writing.”

And when her test date was unexpectedly delayed by 3 weeks? She didn’t give up. She stayed focused and kept preparing.

The Result?

She passed – with Band 8.

This time, she booked after two months of focused, structured preparation. And when her score came in, she sent me a message that I’ll never forget.

In Her Own Words (Full Story)

“It was a journey of faith, patience and determination. I’m a returning test taker, so I had to be on my A-game to make it work this time. It was quite devastating when my first result came in with a Band 7 in May 2024 (Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.5). I had to prepare my mind first – I allowed myself to get through the past failure, then focused on going for it again.

2025 came in and I set a goal for 3 months. I started preparing actively in February. First and foremost, I read about what the test entails from the official website. This gave me the knowledge of each module and helped me understand what I needed to get my required Band score. Though having to start reading for the test all over again was difficult, I saw myself doing it.

The second thing I did was read the success stories of others who made high band scores, so I set out on the journey to achieving my goal.

Furthermore, I came across your site online while searching randomly for pages where I could get questions and model answers. I subscribed to receiving your emails, and I can say it’s one thing that greatly helped me with my Speaking and Writing.

I made sure that I practiced for at least 3 hours, 5 days each week. I attempted several past questions, not leaving any module behind. Reading was where I got a 6.5 in my first attempt, so I started with it – that was the hardest part for me. My scores were very low in the beginning for like some weeks, but I didn’t give up.

Conclusively, the test cannot be written in haste. I booked after two months of intensive study. One thing that was about to pull me back was when my test date was changed. My hopes were high that I was already at the end of the journey, alas, 3 more weeks were added. I got discouraged when I received the email, but I continued in the energy-and now I am here today as a Band 8 test taker.

I will also like to thank you once more. May you find help in time of need, you will not be stranded of divine wisdom and strength. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding shall continue to abide with you now and forever more.

It cost me an arm and a leg to register for the test. I would have loved to get a tutor, but I couldn’t afford it. But your blog was of immense help to me. I look forward to seeing your academy very great and top of the list in the nearest time to come. Really, my heart prays for you, and I will always remember you on this journey.”

What Can You Learn From This?You don’t have to be perfect at the start (her Reading scores were low!)Faith and resilience matter just as much as practice techniquesYou need strategy + practice – not just motivationWant the Tools for Success?

If you’re preparing for IELTS on your own – whether it’s your first, second, or final attempt – these are the resources that make REAL difference:

Strategy BooksWeekly Model Answers + Feedback in the VIP ClubFree Study Emails – Join Here

The post From Disappointment to Band 8: How Victoria Did It first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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Latest IELTS questions from Australia – May 2025 (Academic Module)

Our lovely student TK took the IELTS test in Australia and remembered the following writing questions:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The bar chart below shows the types of music sold in the USA in 2010, by age group.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original chart given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

In many countries, modern buildings are changing the character and appearance of towns and cities. Some people believe that countries should protect their cultural identity by insisting that all new buildings are built in a traditional style.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The post Latest IELTS questions from Australia – May 2025 (Academic Module) first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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New IELTS Speaking questions from India – May 2025

Our generous subscriber MS recently took the IELTS test in India. Here are the Speaking questions she remembered:

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– Where do you currently live?
– What do you like most about the place where you live?
– What do you usually do in your leisure time?
– Have your free time activities changed over the years?
– Do you prefer spending your free time alone or with others?
– Have you ever lost your keys?
– What do you do to make sure you don’t lose your keys?
– Do you think keys will be replaced with technology in the future?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe some good news you heard from someone close to you. You should say:

– what the news was
– who shared it with you
– when and how you heard it

and explain how you felt after hearing the news.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– How do people usually get news these days?
– Do you think people trust the news they hear from others? Why or why not?
– Is local news more important than international news?
– How has technology changed the way we receive news?
– Should children be encouraged to follow the news?
– What role does social media play in spreading news?

The post New IELTS Speaking questions from India – May 2025 first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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New IELTS questions from Oman – May 2025 (Academic Module)

Thanks to an amazing IELTS trainer, here are the writing tasks his students got in a recent IELTS test in Oman:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The graph below shows the percentages of people visiting gym once a month or more between 1984 and 2003 by age group.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original graph given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that universities should focus on preparing students for success in their personal lives and self-awareness, while others think their main role is to prepare students for success in the workforce.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The post New IELTS questions from Oman – May 2025 (Academic Module) first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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New IELTS questions from Canada – May 2025 (Academic Module)

Our student DM took the IELTS test in Canada and remembered the following writing questions:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The diagrams below show how an office building looks at present and the plan for its future development.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original diagram given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that schools should only teach students subjects that are beneficial to their future careers, and therefore subjects such as music and sports are not important.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The post New IELTS questions from Canada – May 2025 (Academic Module) first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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IELTS essay, topic: Young people increasingly spend their free time in shopping centres (positive/negative)

In many countries, young people increasingly spend their free time in shopping centres instead of engaging in traditional leisure activities such as sports or music. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Spending time at shopping centres has become a common pastime for many young people around the world, often replacing more active or creative leisure pursuits like playing sports or learning music. I believe this is a largely negative trend, as it not only promotes consumerism and sedentary lifestyles, but also reduces opportunities for personal growth and skill development that more meaningful hobbies can provide.

There are several reasons why this shift in leisure preferences is concerning. First, shopping centres encourage a culture of spending, often leading young people to equate happiness with material possessions. This can foster poor financial habits from an early age and create long-term issues such as debt or dissatisfaction. Moreover, shopping is typically a passive activity that lacks the physical or mental engagement found in sports or musical training. Over time, this sedentary behaviour can contribute to health problems such as obesity, anxiety, or low energy levels.

In contrast, traditional hobbies like sports or music are not only enriching but also help develop essential life skills. For instance, playing team sports fosters cooperation, discipline, and resilience, while learning a musical instrument enhances focus and emotional expression. These activities also provide a sense of achievement and identity, which are crucial for young people’s self-esteem and mental wellbeing. Choosing shopping over these pursuits, young people may miss out on such valuable developmental benefits.

In conclusion, while visiting shopping centres occasionally is not inherently harmful, the growing trend of replacing enriching activities with consumer-focused ones is a negative development. I believe that encouraging young people to engage in sports, music, or other skill-based leisure activities is far more beneficial for their long-term personal and social development.

Teacher’s feedback:

This is a well-developed and clearly argued essay that would likely score around Band 8.

Task Response: Band 8

You fully address the task and present a clear position throughout: that the shift toward shopping centres as a form of leisure is a negative development. Your opinion is well-supported with relevant and thoughtful reasons, including the impacts on health, personal development, and consumer culture. The explanation of how traditional activities benefit young people is particularly strong. To push even higher, you might briefly acknowledge specific reasons why shopping centres have become popular, to show deeper insight into the causes behind the trend.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
Your essay is well-organised, with smooth progression from one idea to the next. Topic sentences clearly signal each paragraph’s focus, and logical connectors (e.g. “in contrast,” “moreover,” “while”) are used effectively. The final sentence of your conclusion restates your view well, though adding a brief summary of your main points would make it feel more rounded and final. Otherwise, cohesion is strong and natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 8

Your vocabulary is precise and varied, showing a good command of academic and topic-specific language. Phrases like “culture of spending,” “consumer-focused,” and “personal growth and skill development” are excellent. There’s good use of collocations and abstract nouns to express complex ideas clearly. To hit Band 9, you could take a few more lexical risks with idiomatic or metaphorical language, where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8

Your grammar is consistently accurate, with a wide range of structures used flexibly and appropriately. Complex sentences are handled with ease, and punctuation is well controlled. One sentence — “Choosing shopping over these pursuits, young people may miss out…” — is slightly awkward in structure; rephrasing it (e.g. “By choosing shopping over these pursuits, young people may miss out…”) would improve fluency. This is a minor issue, though, in an otherwise strong grammatical performance.

Submit your essay for correction and find out how to improve your Writing score.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8

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New IELTS questions from Japan – May 2025 (Academic Module)

Thanks to our generous subscriber YN, here is what we know about the writing questions from the recent IELTS exam in Japan:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The graph below describes how vehicle type and speed affect the level of nitrogen oxide emissions.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original graph given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that it is best that children learn about a healthy diet at school, while others believe that parents should be the ones to teach their children about healthy eating.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The post New IELTS questions from Japan – May 2025 (Academic Module) first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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New IELTS Speaking questions from Germany – May 2025

Our lovely student FN recently took the IELTS test in Germany. Here are the Speaking questions he remembered:

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your name?
– Where are you from?
– Do you enjoy taking photographs?
– What do you usually take photos of?
– Do you prefer taking pictures of people or places? Why?
– Do you like looking at old photographs?
– Have you ever taken a photography class?
– Do you enjoy watching movies at home or in the cinema? Why?
– What kind of movies do you like best?
– Do you often go to the cinema with your friends or family?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a person you know who helps the environment. You should say:

– who this person is
– how you met him/her
– what he/she does to help the environment

and explain how you feel about the actions of this person.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Why do you think some people care about the environment while others don’t?
– What are some practical ways individuals can protect the environment?
– Do you think schools should teach students how to help the environment?
– What role should governments play in environmental protection?
– Are large companies doing enough to protect the environment?
– How can media influence people’s awareness about environmental issues?

The post New IELTS Speaking questions from Germany – May 2025 first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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New IELTS questions from the UAE – May 2025 (Academic Module)

Our lovely student AM remembered and shared the following writing tasks after taking his IELTS exam in the UAE:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

The pie charts below show student enrolments in different courses in 1984, 1994 and 2004.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

* Note: this is not the original chart given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that protecting the environment should be the responsibility of politicians, since individuals are too limited to make a significant difference.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The post New IELTS questions from the UAE – May 2025 (Academic Module) first appeared on IELTS-Blog.

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