Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 72
December 18, 2022
IELTS test in Ghana – November 2022 (Academic Module)
The questions below were received from our lovely friend who recently took IELTS in Ghana:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The table below shows some historical data about family budgets in a European country.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: this isn’t the actual table given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In the recent decades wildlife populations and plant species have suffered a global decline. What are the reasons for this? What are some possible solutions?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your name?
– Where do you live?
– Do you know your neighbours?
– What kind of relationship do you have with your neighbours?
– Do you check the weather forecast, why or why not?
– Tell me about the kind of weather (hot or cold) you like, and why.
– What is the weather in your country like?
– Has it changed over the years?
– Do you like word or number puzzles, and why?
– Did you do puzzles as a child?
– Who do you think does puzzles more, children or adults?
– Would you bring a puzzle with you when you travel?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe an outdoor activity that you recently did. You should say
– what it was
– who you did it with
– what you did
– and explain how you felt after doing this activity.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What do people in your country like to do when they go out?
– Is it good to go out?
– Between adults and young people, who goes out more?
– Do people consider pollution when doing outdoor activities?
– Why do you think people do risky behaviours / dangerous sports?
– Does being a parent reduce chances of taking risks?
December 15, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in the USA, with answers – November 2022
Here are some high-scoring Part 1 model answers for Speaking Test that was shared by a test taker from the USA. The answers show a good way to respond to these questions. You can find Part 2 (cue card) and Part 3 answers on the VIP Club website.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
1. Did you learn geography as a child?
Yes, this was one of the subjects that we all had to study in primary school, but I chose not to continue with it in high school. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
2. Would you visit a country just because of its geographical location?
No, I know that a lot of people do take this into consideration, but I have a greater interest in the history and culture of the places I visit. I tend not to visit any sort of natural landmarks and choose historically significant sites instead.
3. Did you solve puzzles as a child?
Yes, this was something that my dad thought was fun to do as a family. He would often bring home different sets of puzzles, especially ones that involved fitting shapes together in a clever sort of way.
4. What kind, word or number puzzles?
Like I said before, my father encouraged us to fiddle around with many different types of puzzles, but I always enjoyed the ones that involved numbers.
5. Do you think elderly people should be encouraged to solve puzzles?
Yes, I am a firm believer that our minds need mental exercise just as much as our body needs physical activity. From my own experience, the elderly members of our family who still do things like solving crosswords or Sudoku are better at staying sharp.
6. Do you solve number puzzles while commuting?
Heavens no! I wish I had the time to do things like that. When I am on the road, I am almost always late, and mentally trying to prepare myself for a tough day at work or if I am on my way home, I am trying to figure out what to make for dinner that will satisfy my picky kids.
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a photo you took that you are proud of. You should say
– When you took it
– Why you took it
– What is on the photo
– And explain why you are proud of this photo.
Read a model answer on the VIP Club website
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you take selfies? Why?
– Is it a good way to capture some magical moments?
– Why do people take photos?
– Do you think old photos help us learn about history?
– Do you think that pictures from ancient time-periods would be helpful enough to learn about the past?
– What would be more helpful, pictures or written eyewitness accounts, and why?
Read model answers on the VIP Club website
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IELTS Speaking test in Algeria – November 2022
Thanks to our lovely friend N.B. from Algeria, today we are sharing these Speaking questions from her recent IELTS exam:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Where do you live?
– What do you like about the area you live in?
– Do you know people who live in the same area?
– Are there common names in your country?
– Is there a name that you like, and why?
– Does this name have a meaning and what is it?
– What weather do you prefer, and why?
– Is there a place that you would want to move to, because it has the type of weather that you like?
– How has the weather in your country changed in the past few years?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a photo that you have in your house. You should say
– what kind of photo it is
– when it was taken
– who took the photo
– and explain what this photo means to you.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– How has photography changed in the past few years?
– Why do people like taking pictures?
– What was the effect of digital photography on the pictures that people take?
– Do you think social media has an effect on photography?
– Now that anyone can take a high quality photo with their mobile phone, is there a difference between an amateur photographer and a professional?
– Are professional photography courses still necessary these days?
December 13, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Despite the benefits of walking, very few people walk nowadays (reasons and solutions)
This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in the USA.
Even though experts believe that walking is a great way to improve one’s health, very few people walk nowadays. Why aren’t people walking? What can be done to encourage them to walk more?
Sample Band 8 Essay
The benefits of walking are numerous, and experts recommend it as a good way to keep healthy and fit. Despite this, the number of people who walk on a daily basis is on the decline. The reasons for this are manifold, but there are also several solutions that may help people walk more.
Lack of time is the most common reason people cite for not engaging in any form of physical activity. These days most people have hectic schedules that involve juggling their work and home responsibilities. As a result, they are often too exhausted or pressed for time and therefore opt for faster and more comfortable forms of transport, such as cars, bikes or public transport. Another major reason for the reduced number of pedestrians on the roads is a lack of safety. Most full-time workers are not free to walk during the day, and will skip it in the evenings or early morning hours, if they do not feel safe enough to do so.
Fortunately, there are quite a few solutions to this issue. One is making walkers safe, which means the government should ensure that there are enough sidewalks and streetlights available in every suburb, so that pedestrians can walk or jog safely whenever time allows. Another useful option is to create special walking tracks and parks in neighbourhoods where people can get some much-needed exercise in the evenings. The added benefit of promoting the healthy lifestyle and walking in the community makes this solution even more attractive.
To conclude, the pressures of daily life and lack of safely while walking reduce the popularity of this healthy practice. Governments can reverse this trend by creating more green spaces for people to walk in and addressing their safety concerns.
Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8
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IELTS test in Algeria – November 2022 (Academic Module)
The questions below were received from our lovely friend N.B. who recently took IELTS in Algeria:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The charts below show the proportions of male and female students getting top grades in 1960 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)
Many people try to achieve a work-life balance but fail. Why is this happening? What can be done to help people overcome this problem?
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IELTS Report, topic: Bar charts describing the hours worked by men and women in 3 countries
This is a model answer for an Academic Writing Task 1 from the IELTS exam in the USA, 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 show the average hours worked last year by full time and part time employees in 3 countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words
Band 8.5 Model Answer
The bar charts show the average number of hours that full-time and part-time employees worked in the Netherlands, the UK and Greece in the previous year.
Overall, what immediately stands out is the fact that the number of hours worked by male and female workers was relatively equal for both types of work, and that full-time employees worked almost twice as much as part-time employees.
Taking a closer look at the numbers for full-time positions, the figures for both men and women ranged between 35 to 40 hours per week. Male workers in the UK were the only ones to exceed 40 hours a week. The figures for the Netherlands were the lowest for both genders, at around 35 hours weekly.
Moving on to part-time employment, the difference between the number of hours worked by men and women is more apparent in this chart. People from the Netherlands worked the fewest hours with men spending 10 hours, and women – roughly 15 hours per week at work. The UK had almost equal figures for both genders, around 17 hours a week, while the figures for Greece were slightly higher; the male workers there did around 20 hours per week and female – a touch above 20.
Click here to see more IELTS reports of band 8
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IELTS test in Oman, Iran and Sri Lanka – November 2022 (Academic Module)
Three test takers remembered their questions and it turns out they had the same exam in Oman, Iran and Sri Lanka. Special thank-you to N. from Iran for the maps!
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The diagrams below describe the floor plan of a café 10 years ago, 5 years ago and at present.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: these aren’t the actual plans given in the test, they were recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people think that educational qualifications are important to success in life. Others believe that this is not the only way to become successful. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you study or work?
– Do you prefer to do your work in the morning or evening? Why?
– What do you do in your free time in the evening?
– Who do you prefer to spend your free time with?
– Do you think spending leisure time at weekends should be different from weekdays?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe one of your neighbours who you think is interesting. You should say
– who he/she is
– how long you have known him/her
– what relationship you have with him/her
– and explain why you think he/she is interesting.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you think people these days know their neighbours?
– Do you think in urban areas people usually don’t know their neighbours as well as people in rural areas?
– What does national identity mean to you?
– Is wearing some specific clothes or eating some types of food related to national identity?
– Why do you think some people cannot benefit from belonging to a nation?
December 7, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Saudi Arabia, with answers – November 2022
The questions below were shared by S. who took the IELTS test in Saudi Arabia.
Here are some high-scoring model answers for Speaking Test Part 1, to give you an idea how to respond to those questions. You can find Part 2 (cue card) and Part 3 answers on the VIP Club website.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I currently live in a cosy one-bedroom apartment in a high-rise building on the waterfront. It has an open-plan kitchen and a small living room. It’s a bit cramped, but we have managed to make good use of the small amount of space we have. As a matter of fact, my neighbourhood is quite pricey, so I consider myself lucky to have found some reasonably priced accommodation, even if space is tight.
2. Do you have a favourite room?
Well, technically it’s not really a room, but I have always loved spending time on our little enclosed patio. I am not one for fancy decorations, you could say that I am more of a minimalist by nature. So, this space can only fit a small table and chairs, and I also use it to grow a few herbs and some flowering plants.
3. Why is this room your favourite?
In the afternoons, the sun hits the balcony at just the right angle and it becomes the perfect place to unwind with a good book and a cup of tea. I have a few planters there, which makes this room special because it’s the closest I can get to nature in the city. I love the vibrant colours and calming scents of the flowers in spring. I guess it’s because it reminds me a lot of the garden in my childhood home.
4. Have you ever visited old buildings or monuments?
Yes, quite a few times. As a child, my family and I would often travel to different parts of the country to take a look at historical buildings or ancient ruins. More recently, we visited an ancient Buddhist monastery which is also a world heritage site, and it was quite enlightening.
5. Would you like to visit any old buildings/monuments in the future?
Yes, of course. I will continue our family tradition in the future, and it’s always been one of my dreams to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza. I am fascinated by ancient Egyptian history. As a kid, I would devour any book on the topic that I could get my hands on, and I always imagined what it would be like to see those majestic structures in real life.
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a famous person from your country. You should say
– who the person is
– what he/she does
– what the person is famous for
– and explain how you feel about this person.
Read model answer on the VIP Club website
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do famous people have an influence on public opinion?
– How do influencers affect public opinion?
– What is the difference between influence and power?
– Do you feel it is important to be popular among colleagues at work?
– Do you think popularity at work is a good thing?
– Are promotions based on influence or skills?
Read model answer on the VIP Club website
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IELTS test in India – November 2022 (Academic Module)
The questions below were shared by the kind-hearted J.E. who recently took IELTS in India:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The graph below describes oil consumption of 4 countries/regions from 1965 to 2015, in million barrel per day.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: this isn’t the actual graph given in the test, it was recreated for the purpose of demonstration.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In many workplaces online communication has overtaken face to face meetings. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Where do you live?
– Do you work or are you a student?
– What is your favourite subject to study?
– You said that you are interested in technology, were you passionate about it from a young age?
– What do you prefer to use, a tablet or a computer, and why?
– When did you start using computers?
– Do you think spending a lot of time on a computer is useful?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a time when you used your mobile phone for some important work. You should say
– what you did
– when you did it
– why you had to use your mobile phone
– and explain how you felt about this experience.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Who spends more time on the phone, older or younger people?
– What do younger people use their phones for?
– What do older people use their phones for?
– Do you think people are using their phones more now compared to the past?
– In the future, will people be using their phones more or less, and why?
December 5, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: In many countries a lot of food is wasted (reasons and solutions)
This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in South Korea
In many countries, a lot of food is wasted. Why do people waste food? How can we reduce the amount of food waste?
Sample Band 8 Essay
Despite the fact that millions of people in the world go hungry every day, a surprisingly large amount of food gets wasted daily in certain parts of the world. In my opinion, the main reason for this is that people in the first-world countries tend to only buy food that is aesthetically pleasing, and fortunately, there are some ways to tackle this issue.
It is shockingly sad to know that large amounts of perfectly edible food in the form of fresh produce get sent to landfills, and the main reason for this is that these foods do not meet the standards of perfection set for fruits and vegetables by consumers and grocery stores. For example, veggies and fruit that are misshapen or have a few spots on them are still good enough to eat, yet they are often left on shelves to rot in favour of something that looks less damaged. In addition, a lot of customers confuse the ‘best by’ and ‘use by’ dates, thinking that foods that have passed their ‘best by’ dates are no longer fit to eat. Another major reason for food wastage is that people often overestimate the amount of produce they require on a weekly or monthly basis, and most of it ends up getting thrown out instead of being used.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of food being wasted, and I think one of the best ideas is to increase people’s awareness of just how much good food is disposed of, only because of our superficial biases as to how food should look. Raising the awareness of the staggering number of people that go hungry in third-world countries would make it harder to throw away an apple just because it is a little bruised. Also, teaching people how to better plan their monthly food requirements would help them not to overspend on food that they do not need; it would be great for the environment and their budget. The role of the government in this endeavour is indispensable as such task would be too great for any smaller organisation.
To conclude, the wasting food is a serious issue that merits increased awareness from both people and the leaders of the world. It is unacceptable to discard any food when there are so many people who are starving, and hopefully our joint effort can help improve the current situation.
Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8
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