Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 67
February 21, 2023
IELTS test in the UK – February 2023 (Academic Module)
Our friend took IELTS in the UK a few days ago and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The graphs below give information about male and female prisoners in a European country between 1911 and 2001.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: these aren’t the actual graphs given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some say that university students should pay the full cost of their studies because higher education only benefits the students and not the society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
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February 20, 2023
IELTS Online – everything you need to know
There is a new way to take IELTS: it is called IELTS online and you take the test from the privacy of your home. At the moment you can only take an Academic IELTS test online (not General Training), and your IELTS certificate isn’t acceptable for immigration purposes.
Many people are curious about this convenient option, but also a little bit cautious because it is very new. It is only human to fear the unknown, and the best antidote is to get some information – which is why we have interviewed a student who took IELTS online very recently.
Francesco took IELTS online from his home in Italy, and here is what he said about his experience:
Before taking the test, Francesco downloaded a special software that locks your computer down to the IELTS test and doesn’t let you visit any other websites. It shuts down all the processes running in the background on your computer.
Before the test started, Francesco showed his passport to the proctor who took some time to verify the document. Who is a proctor? It is an IELTS invigilator who monitors your Listening, Reading, and Writing tests online.
The check-in process is very thorough as the proctor asks you to show every single angle of the room. Also, they don’t want you to move your head nor your lips when you read (and they interrupt you during the exam if you are doing so).
Once the identification process is over and the test begins, you don’t see the proctor anymore, but if they think there is something wrong with the way you behave (you are moving your lips, etc), they will block you and then you will see their face as they talk to you.
To take a bathroom break, you need to get the proctor’s attention by raising your hand and waiting until they respond to you. You can’t leave your desk without their permission. Only one 5-minute bathroom break is allowed and you must take it between test sections (after the Listening test and before the Reading test, or after the Reading test and before the Writing test). When you come back from the break, you need to go through the whole check in process again, grab your laptop and do another 360 degree check of the room (ceiling and floor included).
The order of the sub-tests is Listening, Reading and Writing. Each sub-test has a fixed duration, and the software takes you through them automatically, so you don’t need to do anything to go from Listening to Reading or from Reading to Writing. It is important to know that you can only change your answers while you’re in the same sub-test. For example, if the Listening test has finished and you were taken to the Reading test, you won’t be able to go back and change your Listening answers. The Speaking test is usually taken a day or two before the other 3 sections and you do it via a video call with the examiner.
Francesco’s first impression of the Listening test was that it seemed easier than the practice tests he did previously. In the first two parts, instead of filling in the blanks with his own words, there were alternatives presented that he could choose from. However, they didn’t spell two personal names on the recording so he couldn’t grasp them. He wasn’t allowed to use scratch paper in the Listening test to take notes, but it was possible to type notes on screen. You just need to right click on any part of the text, and then you’ll be able to type notes.
In the Speaking test, in Parts 1 and 3 the examiner asked the questions on a video call. In Part 2 they showed a cue card on the screen and then gave Francesco 1 minute to think and write down notes on the IELTS software. Francesco liked the attitude of the examiner who asked follow-up questions based on his responses, so that was really nice.
So, if you are interested in taking IELTS Online, here is the list of countries where it is currently available:
Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
If you intend to take IELTS Online (or the computer-delivered IELTS), the best way to prepare is on a computer, and we have developed a website with an interface very similar to the one you will see in your IELTS exam. Visit our IELTS Online Prep Platform today and make the most of your preparation by signing up for the free trial. You will be able to do a complete IELTS test (with or without time limits), see your score, check your answers and get help with understanding why these answers are correct. To continue practicing you can unlock more practice tests for a minimal fee – we intentionally made it extremely affordable for our students.
Do you have questions about IELTS online? You can ask them in comments.
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IELTS Results competition winners in January 2023
What would IELTS Band 7 mean to you, would it make you happy? How about Band 8, would you be jumping up and down with joy? Today we are celebrating 11 test takers whose hard work was rewarded with an awesome start to the New Year!
The people in this diverse group come from Italy, India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Romania and Turkey, so it looks like the entire globe will be sparkling with happiness today! Put your hands together and give them a round of applause.
IELTS results competition winners of January 2023Academic Module
1st place – Loris Zevrain from Italy, Band 81st place – Ridhima Chawla from India, Band 81st place – Sai Krishna Gupta from India, Band 81st place – Anhad Dhiman from India, Band 81st place – Precious Omobolaji Oluboyede from Nigeria, Band 81st place – Kasthuri Kanagarah from Sri Lanka, Band 82nd place – Amirshox Axmedov from Uzbekistan, Band 7.52nd place – Preetraj Singh Gujral from India, Band 7.53rd place – Iuliana Daraba from Romania, Band 7General Training Module
1st place – Juliet Mamu-Igbuwe from Nigeria, Band 7.51st place – Mustafa Basaran Bozbiyik from Turkey, Band 7These are some impressive scores! To mark this happy day we are sending our winners their certificates of achievement via email. We are also adding the winning IELTS results to the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so please feel free to show them off to your friends!
How did they score so well?It feels amazing to see our student take the first place!
Loris used the book Target Band 7 and our practice tests in his exam preparation and loved them so much that he wrote a 5-star review for every book. After receiving his IELTS score he certainly wasn’t disappointed – this email says it all:
“I’ve already taken the test and got an 8.0! I’m so happy about that, I didn’t expect that result. Thank you so much again for helping me.”
Another student of ours, Amirshox, took IELTS on computer and prepared for it on our IELTS Online Prep platform, because it provides a very close simulation of the computer-based IELTS, in terms of look and feel, functions, task types and difficulty level. Amirshox was thrilled when he received his IELTS results – Band 7.5 was exactly what he needed!
As for the other winners – we would love to hear from you, because when you share your stories and tell us how you studied, you are helping thousands of test takers, preparing for their exams right now. Any useful tips will be posted on IELTS-Blog.com, so that everyone can use the same technique and get a better score in their own exam this month.
Did you know? IELTS results competition runs every month, and everyone is welcome to participate. Learn how to enroll here.
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IELTS Speaking Test, Part 2 question with model answer (Describe something that you lost and found)
Here is a high-scoring Speaking Test Part 2 model answer for the cue card that was shared by a student from Nigeria. The answer shows a good way to respond to this question.
Speaking test
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe something that you lost and found. You should say
– what it was
– when you lost it
– how you found it
– and explain how you felt about it.
Answer
I recently lost and found my wallet, which was a huge relief. It had all my identification cards, debit and credit cards, as well as some cash inside, so it was quite a valuable possession to me.
I lost it about two weeks ago when I was shopping at the mall. I usually keep my wallet in my back pocket but for some reason, I must have forgotten to put it back that day. So, naturally, when I got home from the mall in the afternoon, I realised my wallet wasn’t there and immediately started searching everywhere for it.
Luckily though, after a few days of looking around and asking people if they had seen my wallet, it turned up again! Apparently, someone who worked in the mall saw me leave it behind in the dressing room and decided to turn it in to the shop’s customer service counter instead of keeping it for themselves.
When I heard this news, it filled me with immense joy – firstly because all my personal belongings were still safe and sound inside the wallet; and secondly because there are still honest people in this world who don’t just mindlessly go around stealing things that don’t belong to them. Looking back on this incident has made me realise how much these kinds of small gestures can mean to people, when they are vulnerable and in need of help or assistance. This experience highlighted to me how important human kindness is.
Read more model answers on the VIP Club website
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IELTS Speaking test in Senegal – February 2023
Thanks to our kind friend M, today we are sharing these IELTS Speaking questions from a recent test in Senegal:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your name?
– Do you work or study?
– Where do you live, in a house or an apartment?
– What are the things that used to make you happy when you were a child?
– What makes you feel happy now?
– Do you feel happy often?
– Is it important to be happy?
– Can someone stay happy all the time?
– Do you think money can make people happy?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a time when you had an unusual meal. You should say:
– when it was
– who was there with you
– what you did
– and explain why that meal was unusual.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Is fast food popular in your country? Why/why not?
– What is the most common food in your country? Why?
– How is this particular food cooked?
– Do people in your country still eat the same food as in the past, or has it changed? In what way?
– Are there many vegetarians in your country?
– Are there benefits to eating a vegetarian diet? What are they?
– Are there disadvantages to the vegetarian diet? What are they?
February 14, 2023
IELTS test in Nigeria – February 2023 (Academic Module)
Our friend took IELTS in Nigeria a few days ago and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The chart below provides information on the use of the Internet in the UK by different age groups, between 2013 and 2018.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: this isn’t the actual chart given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In many countries, city planners locate offices, schools, homes and shops in certain areas so that they are separated by distance. Do you think the advantages of this practice outweigh the disadvantages?
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IELTS Report, topic: Four pie charts describing sectors of employment in two towns, in 2009 and 2020
This is a model answer for an Academic Writing Task 1 from the IELTS exam in India and Nepal, shared recently. This response is likely to get Band 8 or 8.5 in IELTS.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The charts below describe 4 sectors of employment, in 2009 and 2020, in two towns. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
* Note: these aren’t the actual charts given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Band 8.5 Model Answer
The two pie charts show information about employment in Manufacturing, Hospitality, Engineering and Teaching in 2 towns in the years 2009 and 2020.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that there was a significant increase in the number of people employed in Manufacturing in Town A, while Town B experienced a substantial decline in the same sector.
Taking a closer look at Town A, the amount of people employed in the Manufacturing sector tripled from 20% in 2009 to 60% in 2020, while the Engineering sector experienced a sharp decrease during the same period, from 60% to 17%, in an inverse pattern to Manufacturing sector’s figures. The changes to Hospitality and Teaching sectors’ employment were quite minor in both years, with Hospitality slightly increasing from 11% to 15% and Teaching staff numbers shrinking from 9% to 8%.
Moving on to Town B, Hospitality and Teaching experienced growth of similar proportions, with Teaching increasing twofold from 10% in 2009 to 20% in 2020 and Hospitality slightly less, from 15% in 2009 to 20% in 2020. The Manufacturing sector witnessed a large reduction in figures, from 40% to 25%, while Engineering had no changes.
Click here to see more IELTS reports of band 8
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IELTS test in Canada – January 2023 (General Training)
Our friends D.K. and L.A. took their IELTS exams in Canada and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
A cafe near your home put some chairs and tables on the pavement for customers. This creates a problem for you. Write a letter to the manager of the cafe to complain about this matter. In your letter,
– Describe the problem
– Explain how it affects you
– Say what you will do if this matter is not resolved
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people think that TV advertisements can be useful for viewers, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I see your ID?
– What is your name?
– Do you live in a house or an apartment?
– What is your favourite part of the house?
– What item in your house do you care about the most?
– Do you have any common property that you share with your family?
– Which skills did you inherit from your parents?
– Which skills did you learn at school?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a time when you were very busy. You should say
– when it was
– why you were busy
– what you did
– and explain how you felt about it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Why do people work long hours?
– In what ways can employers compensate people for working long hours?
– Do you think incentives are a good way to compensate for long workdays?
– What do you think about pressure at work? Is it good to have?
– Do you think employees work best under pressure?
– How important are entertainment activities at workplaces?
February 9, 2023
IELTS test in Italy – January 2023 (Academic Module)
Thanks to our friends who took IELTS in Italy, we are sharing these questions today:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The charts below provide information about the unemployment rate amongst men and women over the age of 60 in Belgium, USA, Japan and Australia, in the years 1980 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: these aren’t the actual charts given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people believe that using taxpayer funds to look for life on other planets is important. Others, however, think that it is a waste of public money because there are much more important issues requiring funding on our own planet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your name?
– Are you currently working or studying?
– Do you like wearing T-shirts?
– Do you like T-shirts with pictures or prints?
– Have you ever bought anyone a T-shirt as a gift?
– Do you think older people should wear T-shirts?
– If you saw a T-shirt that doesn’t look good on someone, would you tell them?
– Can children give fashion tips to their parents?
– Should older people wear younger people’s fashion?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe an interesting old person you know. You should say
– who the person is
– how you met him/her
– where you met him/her
– and explain why you find this person interesting.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Is it common for people in your country to live together with their grandparents?
– Can older and younger people share the same interests?
– What can old people teach the youth?
– What can young people teach the old?
– What are the advantages of living together with an elderly person?
– Do you think the attitude of young people towards old people has changed in the recent 10 years?
February 8, 2023
IELTS Speaking Test, Part 1 questions with model answers (Sports + Skills)
Here are some high-scoring Part 1 model answers for the Speaking Test that was shared by a student from Nigeria. The answers show a good way to respond to these questions.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
1. What type of house do you live in?
I live in a two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment located in the heart of the city. My place is on the third floor of the building, and I have an amazing view of the city from my balcony.
2. What do you like about your house?
I love my home because of its location and size; it’s close to all the places that I frequent, such as my favourite cafe, park, and record store. Additionally, it’s just the right size for me – not too big or too small – as it has enough space for me to remain comfortable without being overwhelming. The two bedrooms provide me with enough space to work and relax, while also giving me room to accommodate friends and family if they come over for a visit.
3. Where’s your favourite place in the house?
My favourite place in my home is definitely the living room; it has always been the hub of my activities whether I’m reading a book or catching up with friends over dinner. It’s where I can kick back and relax after a long day of work. The large windows allow for plenty of natural light, which helps to brighten up the entire room even on cloudy days. On rainy days I like listening to the soft sound of raindrops outside because it creates a peaceful ambience in my home.
4. Do you like any sports?
Yes! I’ve always been interested in various sports since childhood; soccer was one sport that was prominent throughout my life growing up due to its popularity among my friends. As I got older, my interests expanded into other sports including basketball and volleyball, both of which require immense coordination between teammates – something that really attracted me towards them!
5. What sports did you like when you were a child?
As a child, I had always been an active and energetic person, so it came as no surprise that I loved sports. As I said before, I used to love playing soccer, especially with my friends in the neighbourhood during the summer months when we would have all-day pickup games outside. During the fall and spring seasons, I would join our local recreational leagues and compete against other teams in our area. It was a great way to stay active while also making friends and having fun.
6. Did you play any sport regularly when you were young?
Yes, I played both soccer and basketball growing up. Soccer was my main focus throughout my childhood; although I really enjoyed playing basketball too. I played either one or both of these sports every chance I got – whether it was during recess at school or after school in the neighbourhood.
7. What good practical skills do you have?
I think one of my best practical skills is my ability to problem-solve quickly and efficiently in high-pressure situations. Over the years, this has been something that has helped me overcome some difficult challenges related to projects or tasks at work or even personal life at home. Additionally, another skill that I’ve developed over time is being able to effectively multitask which can be extremely helpful when faced with multiple deadlines or tasks simultaneously as it allows me to manage my time more efficiently by prioritising tasks based on their importance or urgency level.
8. Did you learn this skill from someone?
Yes, while some of these skills come naturally to me through experience, most of them have been acquired through mentorship from others along the way – particularly family members who showed me how important it is to be able to think on your feet under pressure and how crucial organization is when tackling multiple tasks at once without neglecting anything else going on around you at the same time.
9. How can a skill influence your profession?
The skills that we acquire throughout life are essential tools for success in any profession, because they help us operate more efficiently within our chosen fields of expertise. Mastering a skill can help us achieve better results for ourselves as well as those around us, people who depend on us for guidance or assistance in various ways, like customers or clients.
Read more model answers on the VIP Club website
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