Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 132

IELTS test in Cairo, Egypt – December 2019 (General Training)

S took the IELTS test in Cairo, Egypt and remembered the following Writing and Speaking questions:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You recently broke your leg and your colleagues from work sent you get well cards and presents. Write a letter to them and say

– Thank them for supporting you.

– Describe how you spend your time.

– Explain about your recovery process.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

The trend of increasing tourism causes environmental problems in many parts of the world. What are the main causes of pollution it creates? What can be done to reduce 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?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about someone you know well who is very good at what he/she does. Please say

– Who is this person?

– What does he/she do?

– Why is he/she good at it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– How can people and companies adapt to change?

– Give an example of a company that failed or succeeded at adapting to change.

– How do you adapt to change?

– Are you a quick learner? Why?

Related posts:
IELTS test in Alexandria, Egypt – January 2019 (General Training) S took the IELTS test in Egypt and remembered the...
IELTS test in Egypt – December 2017 (General Training) A test taker from Egypt (thanks, M!) remembered the following...
IELTS Speaking test in Cairo, Egypt – July 2011 The speaking questions below were shared by our kind friend...
IELTS test in Egypt – August 2017 (General Training) A kind IELTS test taker from Egypt remembered the following...
IELTS test in Egypt and the UK – July 2016 (General Training) Two IELTS test takers from Egypt and the UK told...

Hillary got Band 8 in IELTS – here is how YOU can, too

Today we are sharing exam preparation tips from Hillary – a winner of IELTS results competition with an Overall Band Score of 8.0.

Hillary lives in Nigeria and, as you may have guessed, English isn’t his first language, so his experience studying for IELTS and the problems he faced could be similar to yours. Have a read through Hillary’s advice and recommendations and make sure to apply at least some of them to your own study.

Hillary said: “IELTS is one test that is seen by many as an obstacle to their progress, but I made sure that I took it as a means to an end and not an obstruction.

In tackling the IELTS, you need to have the positive mindset first of all. You need to believe that you can ace it and ensure that you utilise the resources available to you in making this happen.

Two criteria that are often overlooked while preparing and taking the IELTS are Vocabulary (Lexical Resource) and Grammar (Grammatical Range and Accuracy). Also, some attempt to increase their range of vocabulary and grammar while sidestepping accuracy.

There is therefore a need to ensure that one has a wide range of these two criteria while ensuring that the word choice is as accurate as possible. Do not use a word that you do not know its usage in terms of context, meaning, synonyms etc. It is best to avoid using an advanced word if you are unsure of its accurate usage. Use a simpler one instead that you feel confident about.

There is no gainsaying that one needs to prepare adequately and consistently. Ample time has to be set aside for preparation. When you have successfully aced the IELTS you can always return to your normal routine as it was before the test.

Make an effort to read, listen, speak and write in the English language regularly especially if the English language is not your first language as is the case with most of the candidates. This helps to sharpen your skills and make it easier for you on the test days. Podcasts, documentaries, newspapers, novels etc also help in making this fun.

You can also make use of some helpful books while preparing. You do not need to be exposed to an excessive amount of them, just the ones that can really help you in achieving your aim of hurdling over IELTS. Personally, I made use of ‘IELTS Success Formula General: The Complete Practical Guide to a Top IELTS Score’ by Simone Braverman and Stephen Slater. This book was really helpful in making preparation less stressful for me and easier to ace. I also found the Fitness Activities and Writing Doctor section in it very helpful. Another book I also made use of was a free trial version of ‘Ace the IELTS: IELTS General Module’ by Simone Braverman.

Another point of note is to ensure that while practicing for the Listening and Speaking tests, you look for your weak areas and work on those areas. These areas may be Map section, Multiple choice questions or T/F/NG. Find out what you are doing wrong in these areas and fix it. By doing that, there will be an improvement in your Listening and Reading scores.

For your Speaking test, you can simply practice with a partner who is also taking the test or find a friend or family member that can act as the interviewer after you must have put them through the process. If all these are not possible, you can record your responses with your mobile phone and analyse each criterion of the Speaking Test.

My advice with the Writing test is to read up on effective strategies and structures. You should ensure that you not only read Model Band 9 Letters and Essays, but also write. This helps to note what your typical task lengths are, to avoid writing responses short of the word limits. It also builds up your confidence level and you don’t get thrown off balance on test day.

I also recommend that you plan your essay before writing, have a list of synonyms for words from your question prompt that will likely be commonly used throughout your writings to avoid repetition and build your Lexical Resource score. For paragraphing use the block style while leaving a blank line between paragraphs rather than the indent style. Based on my proficiency with the English language, I didn’t see a need for any writing correction service but if you have a dire need of it, I will advise that you engage the Writing Correction Service as it will very likely help you.

I will also need to chip in that just as you must have familiarized yourself with the Band scores’ calculation for the Listening and Writing tests, ensure that you also download and make use of the Public Band Descriptors for the Writing and Speaking tests as they will help in guiding you.”

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! Take part in our IELTS results competition today, and share your IELTS tips when you win!

Learn how to enroll here.

Related posts:
Here’s how Kalpaka practiced to get IELTS Band 8.5 Kalpaka is a 20-something, bright lady whose efforts resulted in...
Didier Got IELTS Band 8 Using These Simple Tips Today it is our pleasure to share the IELTS tips...
Practical IELTS tips from Angie, Band 8.5 Many non-native English speakers think they would easily get Band...
Heta and Natasha reveal how they achieved Band 8.5 in IELTS This post is dedicated to success of two IELTS test...
Need IELTS Band 7? Here’s what Pedro did to get it: Pedro Echenique is a young man from Mexico who speaks...

IELTS test in Thailand – December 2019 (Academic Module)

Our friend N took the IELTS test in Thailand, and remembered the following Writing and Speaking questions:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given two tables. The first table was showing the amount of potatoes consumed per capita in six different countries of the world in 2009 in kilograms, and the second table was showing production figures of potatoes in each of these regions in tonnes per year.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

The Internet provides us with information about life and cultures of different countries, and some people say it is not necessary to visit these countries to learn about them. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and relevant 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 subject are you studying?

– Why did you choose it?

– Is it a popular subject?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about your favourite clothes. Please say

– What are they?

– When and where did you get them?

– Why do you like them so much?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– How often do you wear them?

– Let’s talk about fashion.

– Do you follow fashion trends? Why?

– Do you always like these new trends?

– Are fashionable clothes comfortable to wear?

– Why does fashion change so quickly, in your opinion?

Related posts:
IELTS test in Australia and Thailand – April 2014 (Academic Module) IELTS test takers M, P and T from Australia and...
IELTS test in Thailand – October 2015 (Academic Module) An IELTS test taker from Thailand (thanks, P!) remembered the...
IELTS test in Canada – December 2019 (Academic Module) V took IELTS in Canada and remembered the following topics...
IELTS test in Thailand – May 2013 (Academic Module) The IELTS test taker from Thailand (thanks N!) shared this...
IELTS test in Thailand – May 2015 (Academic Module) Thanks to our friend A who took the IELTS test...

IELTS test in Canada – December 2019 (Academic Module)

V took IELTS in Canada and remembered the following topics and questions (thank you V for sharing!):

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a diagram showing the process of water filtering to make it potable (safe to drink).

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some think that developing a successful career is more important than spending time with family and friends, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give our own 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 did you study? Why?

– Do you think people have enough patience in your country?

– Are you a patient person?

– How patient are you while waiting for a bus?

– What do you do during this time?

– Did somebody teach you how to be patient?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a school you went to as a child. Please say

– What school was it?

– Who was your teacher?

– What have you learnt there?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Why do you still remember all these details?

– What type of schools are there in your country?

– Can everyone afford to go to private schools?

– How has the education system changed in recent years?

– What are the main differences in the education system now compared to the past?

– Are school teachers strict enough today?

Related posts:
IELTS test in Canada – March 2019 (Academic Module) When R took IELTS in Canada, the following topics and...
IELTS test in Canada – December 2018 (Academic Module) When J took IELTS in Canada, the following questions appeared...
IELTS test in Canada – December 2014 (Academic Module) Two IELTS test takers from Canada (thank you A and...
IELTS test in Canada – December 2017 (Academic Module) Our friend M took the IELTS test in Canada and...
IELTS test in India – October 2019 (Academic Module) Our friend S took an Academic IELTS test in India...

IELTS Speaking Band 8 Sample Test with Examiner’s Feedback

Do you know what score you would get in the IELTS Speaking test? Many people don’t; it’s hard to guess, especially taking the IELTS for the very first time. So here is a way – if you can speak like Rafael in the video below, your score is likely to be close to his (Overall Band 8).

In this video Rafael, an IELTS test taker from Brazil, is answering typical IELTS Speaking questions. His goal is to estimate his current IELTS score, and learn how to increase it. The breakdown of Rafael’s score by 4 IELTS criteria is revealed by the examiner at the end of this video (Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation).

The questions are appearing on the screen as Rafael answers them. Note that every question has a number (Q1, Q2, etc) and the examiner in his evaluation report is referring to Rafael’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

Q4 – plural ‘cinema’ should be ‘cinemas’ as you are talking in general.

Download Rafael’s speaking evaluation report here

Listen to the way Rafael approaches every question, how he discusses the issues the examiner asks about, what points he makes, what vocabulary he uses, and see how your own speaking compares to his.

This can also be a great exercise for you – what would YOU say in response to these questions? Try and answer them, pretending you’re in the examination room with your Speaking assessor.

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

Related posts:
IELTS Speaking Band 8.5 Full Test with Examiner’s Feedback The video you are about to watch features a Swedish...
Full IELTS Speaking Test, Free Sample #1 (with Examiner’s Commentary) Today we’re happy to share a resource that so many...
Full IELTS Speaking Test, Free Sample #2 (with Examiner’s Commentary) Speaking Test Sample #1 became a very popular resource as...
The IELTS Speaking test video Many people feel insecure about the IELTS Speaking test, they...
IELTS Sample Reports of Band 7 Here you can find IELTS Sample Reports of Band 7,...

IELTS Speaking test in India – November 2019

Below are the Speaking questions that A. remembered and shared, after a recent IELTS Speaking test in India:

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 kind of job do you do?

– Do you like it?

– Do you like music?

– What kind of music do you listen to?

– When do you listen to music?

– Do you like the same kind of music as in your childhood?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Talk about a movie you recently watched that you would like to recommend. Please say

– What was the movie?

– When and where did you watch it?

– What did you like or dislike about it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– Did you watch it by yourself or with friends?

– What kind of movies are popular among the younger generation in your country?

– Are there many successful actors in your country?

– Why is that?

– What do you think about actors?

– Do you think they are paid too much? Why?

– Why do many people want to know everything about their favourite actors?

Related posts:
IELTS Speaking questions from India – October 2009 IELTS test in India was remembered and shared by V....
IELTS Speaking test in Australia – December 2010 The speaking questions below were shared by M who took...
IELTS Speaking test in the UAE – September 2011 Yet another speaking test was shared by one of our...
IELTS Speaking test in Nepal – September 2018 The IELTS test questions below were shared by S who...
IELTS Speaking test in Qatar – November 2015 An IELTS test taker from Qatar (thanks, M!) remembered the...

IELTS Results competition winners in November 2019

November was a very good month for many test takers, and in particular for 12 high scorers who won in our IELTS results competition. They received band scores ranging from 7.5 to 8.5 – what a reason for celebration!

Congratulations to:

Academic Module – 1st place

Lucie Olivova from Czech Republic, Band 8.5

Academic Module – 2nd place

Guzal Fayzieva from Uzbekistan, Band 8
Zeynep Isik from Turkey, Band 8
Ellen Thomassen from Belgium, Band 8

Academic Module – 3rd place

Reshal Dsouza from India, Band 7.5
Ayisha Kader from India, Band 7.5
Nikita Gaga from India, Band 7.5
Ruman Khader from India, Band 7.5

General Training Module – 1st place

Hillary Onyeanakwe from Nigeria, Band 8
Kenil Kotak from India, Band 8

General Training Module – 2nd place

Mohammed Imran Ali from India, Band 7.5
Ishita Dhada from India, Band 7.5

Now your lives are not on hold any more, and you are one step closer to your dreams. These great IELTS scores mean you are free to study or work in a country you have chosen, and give yourselves and your families a better future. To mark this happy occasion we are sending your certificates of achievement to your email addresses. 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 trying to find out from the winners how they did it. I’d like to ask 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. In the meanwhile, we are delighted to share that Kenil Kotak (Overall Band 8) used our writing correction service, and that Ishita Dhada (Overall Band 7.5) used our IELTS practice tests in her exam preparation.

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.

Related posts:
IELTS Results competition winners in November 2016 November was a very good month for many test takers,...
IELTS Results competition winners in November 2018 November was a very good month for many test takers,...
IELTS Results competition winners in March 2019 What a great feeling it is to finally reveal the...
IELTS Results competition winners in November 2014 November was a very good month for many test takers,...
IELTS Results competition winners in November 2012 The winners of the monthly IELTS results competition never cease...

IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – November 2019

When N took IELTS in Nigeria, he was asked the following questions in the Speaking test:

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– What do you do?

– Where do you live?

– What don’t you like about that place?

– What are the qualities of a good team captain, in your opinion?

Cue Card

Describe an indoor game or sport that you played or know well. Please say

– Who did you play with?

– How did you learn it?

– What other types of indoor games do you know?

Discussion

– Do you approve of children playing games on their smartphones/tablets?

– Do children prefer indoor or outdoor games? Why?

– Would you encourage children to play more games while studying?

– Why is that?

Related posts:
IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – June 2017 Our friend T took the IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria...
IELTS test in Nigeria – September 2019 (General Training) Our friend A. remembered the following IELTS Writing and Speaking...
IELTS test in Nigeria – November 2019 (General Training) Our friend M. remembered the following questions from a recent...
IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – February 2019 O remembered the following IELTS Speaking questions from a recent...
IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – August 2019 Our friend O. remembered the following IELTS Speaking questions from...

IELTS test in Malaysia – November 2019 (General Training)

Our friend P. took the IELTS test in Malaysia and remembered the following questions from the Writing and Speaking tests:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You received an invitation from a friend to go out for a day and accepted, but you were unable to go as promised. Write an apology letter to your friend and say

– Why couldn’t you make it?

– How did you try to reach him/her?

– Suggest how you will make up for it another time.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many people think that money is the best gift to give a teenager, but others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion including relevant examples.

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?

– Can I see your ID?

– Where are you from?

– Do you work or study?

– What do you do?

– Describe the house where you live.

– What are the main features of your house?

– How long have you been living in this place?

– What room is your favourite?

– Do you like perfume?

– Do you use perfume often? Why?

– Did you give someone perfume as a gift?

– Would you like to spend more on perfume? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about someone who encouraged you or has been an example for you in the past. You should say

– Who was it?

– What did you do thanks to him/her?

– What was the result of it?

Discussion

– Were you happy with the result?

– Can children be motivated or encouraged?

– How can it be done?

– Do you think money is the only means of encouragement? Why?

– Is competition a negative or a positive thing in life? Why?

– How can an employer motivate workers for better results at work?

– Do you think people are always happy when someone else is doing what they are doing?

Related posts:
IELTS test in Australia – November 2019 (General Training) R. and S. took the IELTS test in Australia and...
IELTS test in India – October 2019 (General Training) Our friend C. took a General Training IELTS test in...
IELTS test in Malaysia – October 2019 (General Training) Our friend N. took the IELTS test in Malaysia and...
IELTS test in Malaysia – October 2019 (General Training) Our friend V. took the IELTS test in Malaysia and...
IELTS test in Malaysia – August 2019 (General Training) Our friend B. took the IELTS test in Malaysia and...

IELTS test in Nigeria – November 2019 (General Training)

Our friend M. remembered the following questions from a recent IELTS test in Nigeria:

Listening test

Section 1. Health and fitness club membership information, including application guide, fees, dates and level fitness.

Section 2. About volunteering work for university students who are interested an additional work to keep busy.

Section 3. Don’t remember.

Section 4. About the history of hei-tiki sculptures. The signs, symbolic meaning and traditional implications.

Reading test

Passage 1. About technical assistant work in the UK.

Passage 2. Don’t remember.

Passage 3. The history and work of the archaeologist J. Giddio.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have received a letter about winning a prize in a competition organised by the media house, but didn’t receive that prize. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about it and say

– Describe the competition and prize in details.

– How do you feel about it?

– What do you expect the editor to do about it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some parents and teachers agree that the behaviour of children should be strictly controlled. Others, however, believe that children should be allowed to do anything and experiment freely. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Related posts:
IELTS test in Nigeria – January 2019 (General Training) Our friend O remembered the following IELTS questions after taking...
IELTS test in Nigeria – January 2019 (General Training) Thanks to L who remembered the recent IELTS Writing and...
IELTS test in Nigeria – March 2019 (General Training) O remembered the following IELTS Speaking questions from a recent...
IELTS test in Nigeria – April 2019 (General Training) Our friend Y remembered the following IELTS Writing and Speaking...
IELTS test in Nigeria – June 2019 (General Training) Our friend B remembered the following IELTS Writing and Speaking...