Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 75
October 31, 2022
IELTS test in India – October 2022 (Academic Module)
Our kind friend S.R. took IELTS in India very recently and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The table below gives information about international tourism to 8 different countries in 2009 and 2010.
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 is provided for demonstration purposes.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Newspapers have a significant influence on people’s ideas and opinions. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative situation?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Where do you live?
– Do you work or study?
– Do you like the subjects you are studying?
– Do you like sports?
– What do you like more, watching or playing sports?
– With whom do you usually watch or play ports?
– Is there a sport you would like to play in the future?
– Do you keep things instead of throwing them away?
– Which items do you usually keep? Why?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe something that helps you concentrate. You should say
– what it is
– when you do it
– how it helps you
– and explain why you need it to concentrate.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Why is concentration required?
– Which professions require more concentration than others?
– Do children need to concentrate?
– Why do people struggle with concentration these days?
– How can people improve it?
– What can companies do to improve their workers’ concentration?
October 30, 2022
The lessons Saroj learnt on his IELTS journey to Band 7.5
You may remember Saroj as one of our IELTS Results competition winners, whose success we celebrated earlier this month. Saroj is a young man from Nepal who recently took an Academic IELTS test and got Band 7.5.
According to our tradition, Saroj was invited to share his experience preparing for the test, and you will find that the lessons he learnt in his preparation for IELTS can be useful to anyone studying for the test. Bonus tip: take note of the things he skipped but wished he had done, because YOU still have time to include them in your preparation sessions!
“I am writing to thank you for this website which has helped me immensely in my preparation for IELTS academic test which I have just completed and haven gotten back the results. Honestly, I used free resources from your website and others, and am genuinely in disbelief still that I did well.
Basically, the way I prepared was to practice the materials available on the website as much as possible. For writing, I would try to actually write an essay before reading the sample answer for that essay question or at least to have brainstormed ideas prior.
For reading, I would read through the questions first before actually reading the passages, in anticipation of the possible matching of the themes of the passage to a question.
I honestly feel I was inadequately prepared for the speaking section as I did not prepare for it much, but speaking out loud my answers prior to looking at the answers would be helpful.
The same strategy for the writing task 1 so generally, practising and testing ourselves prior to looking at the answers as compared to simply looking at the model answers would definitely make a difference. I suppose practising under time constraints would have helped me further in my preparation.”
Thank you very much, Saroj, for sharing your advice, and we wish you only the very best!
October 27, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Pakistan – October 2022
Our friend K.C. took IELTS in Pakistan and remembered the Speaking questions we’re sharing today:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Do you study or work?
– Where do you study?
– What type of shoes do you wear?
– What is your favourite color for shoes?
– Do you often buy shoes in this colour?
– How often do you buy new shoes?
– When did you last buy a pair of shoes?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a language that you think will become an international language in the future. You should say
– what the language is
– where the language is spoken
– when you think it will happen
– and explain why you think it will become an international language.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Why do people choose to learn a new language?
– What problems are often associated with learning a new language?
– Why do you think learning a new language is easier for some people, but harder for others?
– Do you think people visiting a country as tourists should learn its language?
October 26, 2022
IELTS Report, topic: Two bar graphs showing how often people exercised in Europe in 2016
This is a model answer for an Academic Writing Task 1 from the IELTS exam in Taiwan, shared yesterday. This response is likely to get Band 8 or 8.5 in IELTS.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The graphs below show how often people exercised in Europe in 2016, by age group and gender. 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 graphs describe the frequency with which men and women in Europe engaged in physical activity in 2016. The participants are split into 4 age groups (15-24, 25-30, 40-54 and 55+ years old) and the data is presented in percentages.
It can be clearly seen that for both men and women regularity of exercise dropped with age, and the percentage of people who never engaged in physical activity increased, peaking in the oldest age group.
Taking a closer look at men, the highest percentage (60%) of the youngest men aged 15-24 exercised semi-regularly and the rest were split into almost equal shares, with 12% exercising regularly, 13% seldom and 15% never. In the other age groups, regular exercise was the least common at roughly 7%. Exercising semi-regularly was the dominant proportion in the 25-39 year old group at 43%, and the shares of people who seldom or never exercised were quite close at 20% and 27% respectively. Most of the 40-54 year olds either exercised semi-regularly (36%) or not at all (39%). In the oldest age group only 21% exercised semi-regularly and the vast majority (nearly 60%) didn’t train at all.
Compared to men, women engaged in physical activity less, with only about 37% of the youngest age group doing semi-regular exercise and 27% avoiding physical activity. It was rare for women of all ages to exercise regularly, as only 2%-4% did it. In the 25-39 year old cohort the proportions of women doing sports semi-regularly and never were very close, at 37% and 45% respectively. Half of the 45-54 year olds never exercised and only 26% trained semi-regularly. The 55+ year old women were most likely to never exercise (63%) and just about 18% being physically active semi-regularly.
Click here to see more IELTS reports of band 8
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IELTS test in Taiwan – October 2022 (Academic Module)
Our kind friend I.L. took IELTS in Taiwan very recently and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The graphs below show how often people exercised in Europe in 2016, by age group and gender.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
* Note: these are not the actual graphs that were given in the test, they were recreated for demonstration purposes.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people believe that the best way to solve environmental problems is to increase the price of fuel. Do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Tell me about where you live.
– What is the weather like in your city?
– Do you like the city you live in? Why/why not?
– Why do you like the place where you live?
– What do you usually do in the evening?
– How often do you use social media? Why?
– Do you help with some house chores? What kind of chores?
– What is your least favourite type of housework? Why?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a friend from your childhood. You should say
– who this person is
– when you met
– what you did together
– and explain why this person was important to you.
Follow-up question: Do you still meet with your childhood friend now? Why/why not?
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Let’s talk about friendship.
– What are the benefits of having a childhood friend?
– Do you think is it important to keep childhood friends?
– What do you think is better for teenagers, to connect with friends online or to meet in person?
– Why do people lose their childhood friends?
October 23, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Nepal – October 2022
Today we are sharing the questions from a recent IELTS Speaking test in Nepal that our friend S.T. remembered:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you study?
– Is there more pressure to do well at school nowadays?
– How do you celebrate your birthday?
– What do you do on your birthday?
– What do you think is the most important birthday to celebrate, 16th, 18th or 21st?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a problem you faced while buying in-store or online. You should say
– what you bought
– when and where you bought it
– what the problem was
– and explain how you felt about that problem.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What kind of services do customers need?
– Do you think shops provide good customer service nowadays?
– How do you think shops should deal with issues that customers complain about?
– Do you think expensive products have superior quality?
October 20, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Who should discipline the children, parents or the government? (discuss + opinion)
This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in Kenya
Discipline is a growing problem in modern schools. Some people think that parents should discipline their own children, while others think it should be the responsibility of the government. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Sample Band 8 Essay
While some people argue that parents should take sole responsibility for disciplining their children, others take the view that the government should be in charge of such matters. In my opinion, the young generation should be primarily guided by their parents where rules of behavior and moral principles are concerned. However, in some instances government intervention is necessary.
On one side of the argument, there are people who hold the opinion that the responsibility of disciplining a child falls squarely on parents’ shoulders, since they are their first educators, and it is their duty to equip their children with good manners and morals even before their first day at school. In addition, every family has a unique understanding of what a suitable form of discipline entails. Therefore, some parents are concerned that any form of punishment meted out at school might be too harsh. To overcome this issue, they believe that parents should be informed by the school of their child’s wrongdoing so that they could decide an appropriate consequence for their behavior at home.
Unfortunately, not all parents are objective enough to make the right decisions when it comes to the upbringing of their children. Some may lack information or sound moral background to discipline their children in a meaningful way. Therefore, the state should shoulder some of the responsibility by implementing a strict set of guidelines and policies on how to discipline children at school. I believe that such policies result in children who flourish and are more likely to become productive citizens that actively contribute to a prosperous nation. Also, this would help both parents and teachers understand which punishments are suitable for minor infractions like missing an assignment or major incidents like bullying or skipping school.
In conclusion, while both views are commonly held in society, I believe that the government must be actively involved in the policies related to discipline at schools as this would ensure the well-being and successful development of the youth.
Teacher’s comment: The writer has addressed all parts of the task in their response. The ideas are relevant and clear, sufficiently developed and supported. Substitution and referencing assist the writer in maintaining coherence throughout the essay. The correct use of paragraphing and sequencing of information help the writer to keep their ideas and arguments organised. The range of vocabulary includes uncommon lexical items. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the writer has used a variety of sentence structures. This essay is likely to get Band 8 – 8.5 in IELTS.
Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8
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IELTS Speaking test in Pakistan – October 2022
Today we are sharing the questions from a recent IELTS Speaking test in Pakistan that our friend T.B. remembered:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Can I see your ID?
– Do you study or work?
– Do you feel pressure when you work?
– What kind of things do you write on daily basis?
– Do you think your writing style will change in future?
– Do you prefer handwriting or typing?
– What is your favourite weather?
– Would you like to live in a place where the weather is different from your country’s weather?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a person you know who dresses well. You should say:
– who the person is
– what he/she does
– what kind of clothes he/she wears
– and explain why you think he/she dresses well.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Where do you buy your clothes?
– Do you prefer to buy clothes online?
– What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online and offline?
– Why do some people like fashion but others don’t?
– Do you think people can appear stylish without buying branded things?
– Why do some middle-aged women like fashion?
– Do you think online shopping is going to replace market or street shopping in the future?
October 18, 2022
IELTS Writing Task 1 – How to Write a Band 9 IELTS Letter
Imagine for a minute that on your test day, this Writing Task 1 topic lands on your desk:
You recently received a letter from your bank that should have contained a new credit card. Unfortunately, the card was not in the letter. Write a letter to your bank manager.
In your letter,
– explain what has happened
– suggest the credit card should be cancelled for security reasons
– ask when a new credit card can be sent to you.
How do you write a high-scoring response? Here is what’s important:
1. Write about ALL the bullet pointsIn the task prompt you’re being asked to explain what happened, suggest that the card should be cancelled and ask for a new card. If you were to forget to ask for a new card in your letter, you would never get a high score for it, even if everything else was perfect. A mistake like that would drop your score for Task Achievement to Band 5, and even with Band 7 for the other criteria, your overall score would be just Band 6.5.
2. Choose the right tone – and maintain itTo know what the right tone is, you need to understand whether this letter should be formal or informal. A formal letter is one that you’re writing to a person you don’t know, or don’t know well. A good example of a person you don’t know would be a manager of a company you never met, an employee at the bank or a newsletter editor. A person you don’t know well can be your landlord – you know their name, but you haven’t met more than a couple of times. It can also be your less-than-friendly neighbour, your boss or your travel agent. A letter to such person should have a formal tone, whereas a letter to a friend should be informal.
What makes the difference between a formal and an informal letter? The main thing is the vocabulary you use. Some words or expressions that you would use in a letter to a friend aren’t appropriate to use in a letter to your boss – makes sense, right? Compare the two sentences below:
Informal: “My workmate was so cross with me, he wouldn’t even speak to me.”
Formal: “My colleague was frustrated with my behaviour to the extent that all communication between us stopped”.
Another important rule is to maintain the right tone throughout the entire letter. It is enough to accidentally slip a few informal words into a formal letter to ruin the right tone, and that reveals to the examiner that you don’t really know the difference between formal and informal vocabulary.
3. Use paragraphingBy using paragraphing you’re doing yourself a favour just as much as pleasing the examiner. With paragraphing is it easier to avoid off-topic pieces of content. Since every paragraph should only have ONE main idea, by dedicating a separate paragraph to every bullet point you are making sure you covered them all, and it’s easier for you to stay on the same topic for the duration of that paragraph.
According to the Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors, it is impossible to get Band 8 for Coherence and Cohesion if you’re not using paragraphing correctly, so if you’re aiming at Band 8+, paragraphing is a must.
4. Sign off correctlyThe way you sign off on your letter matters. A letter to a friend can be signed off with “Love, Richard”, “Hugs, Jennifer” or “Take care, Tom”. A letter to someone you don’t know should be signed off with “Yours faithfully” and a letter to someone whose name you know should be signed off with “Yours sincerely”.
Are you ready for the model response? Here it comes:
Model AnswerDear Sir / Madam,
I recently requested a new credit card, as my old one was stolen during a holiday abroad. Even though the letter usually containing the credit card and its respective access information arrived on time, the credit card was missing and I would like to report this to you.
When the letter arrived, no visible signs were evident that the letter had been opened, but when I inspected the letterhead closely, there were small scratches that could indicate tampering. I believe that for security reasons this newly requested credit card should be cancelled immediately in order to avoid any criminal use. It may have been a technical issue, but it is also possible that a thief was responsible.
Lastly, I would like to know when a new credit card will be sent to me, as I will be going on a business trip in the near future and need it urgently.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Bolton
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IELTS test in Kenya – October 2022 (General Training)
Thanks to the kind H.N. from Kenya today we are sharing the questions from her recent IELTS test:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You lost an item while travelling on a bus. An employee of the bus company assisted you in recovering your lost item. Write a letter to the company manager to thank the employee. In your letter,
– Describe what you lost and how the employee helped you find it
– Say how you felt after recovering it
– Explain why it was important to you
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Discipline is a growing problem in modern schools. Some people think that parents should discipline their own children, while others think it should be the responsibility of the government. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Tell me about where you live.
– Who do you live with?
– Why do you like the place where you live?
– What is your favourite room?
– What do you usually do in the evening?
– Do you do the same thing at weekends?
– Have you ever visited an old building?
– Do you think the government should preserve them?
– Are you planning to visit an old building in the future?
– Do you think it is important to celebrate public holidays?
– How do people celebrate them?
– Do you think it is important for the government to spend money on these celebrations or it is a waste of taxpayers’ money?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about the best event that you attended. Please say
– what kind of event it was
– when it happened
– who was there with you
– and explain why you consider this to be the best event.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Let’s talk about sports events.
– Do you think sports events are important?
– How do they benefit the host country?
– What are the disadvantages of hosting a major sports event for the host country?
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