Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 77
September 28, 2022
IELTS test in Oman – September 2022 (Academic Module)
Our friends T. and B. took IELTS in Oman very recently and remembered the following questions:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given line graphs showing the number of people employed in Australia versus the number of people working in the manufacturing sector.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people believe that electronic games are improving the skills of young people. Others think that it is a complete waste of time. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Do you work or are you a student?
– Is your work tiring?
– Do you celebrate birthdays in your culture?
– What did you do on your birthday when you were young?
– Are birthdays important? In what way?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a person who inspires you. You should say
– who the person is
– how you know him/her
– why he/she inspires you
– and explain what effect he/she has on your life.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you think today’s children need inspiration?
– Who inspires them more, parents or teachers?
– Do you feel that children are more inspired by celebrities these days?
September 26, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in South Africa – September 2022
Thanks to our lovely friend E.O. today we are sharing the questions he remembered from a recent IELTS Speaking test in South Africa:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where do you live?
– How many years have you been living there?
– Do you use public transport?
– Did you use public transport when you were a child?
– Will you use it in the future?
– Is it very popular in your country?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a novel or a story that you have read recently. You should say
– what kind of novel/story it is
– who wrote it
– what it is about
– and explain whether or not you enjoyed reading it and why.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you prefer paper books or online books? Why?
– Do you think people have the same opinion about a book?
– In your opinion, can we learn about other countries from books?
– If the book describes the traditions and customs of a country, does it help you to be aware of them when you are visiting there?
September 25, 2022
IELTS test in Kuwait – September 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to A. who took IELTS in Kuwait, today we are sharing the questions from his recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a line graph describing the percentages of people in a European country who owned one car, two cars, three cars or more, and no car.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
New research has shown that overeating has become a bigger problem in the world than hunger. What are the reasons for this problem? How can it be solved?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Do you work or are you a student?
– Do you use public transport to get to work? Why / why not?
– Is there a type of public transport that you prefer?
– How good is the public transport system in your country?
– Should people use public transport more? Why?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a place to visit in your country that you would recommend to others. You should say
– what the place is
– where the place is located
– what people can do there
– and explain why you would recommend this place.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Are there any other activities that people can do there?
– How can you understand from people that the place is worth a visit?
– What is your opinion about online reviews of places?
– Are all the reviews reliable? Why/why not?
September 22, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Some people like to own their home while others prefer to rent it (discuss)
This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.
Set 6 Academic book, Practice Test 30
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people like to own the place where they live, but other people like to rent where they live. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Band 9 Essay
The debate over whether it is better to own or rent the property in which one lives is one that has strong supporters on each side. There are persuasive arguments for both points of view.
One of the main advantages of renting a property is flexibility. Usually, a tenant only has to give a month’s notice before changing where he or she lives. If a property is owned and a change is needed, the property must be put onto the market and it is frequently a long and stressful process to get a sale completed. Sometimes, the wrong time of year or a bad market can mean that a sale is not possible. Another advantage of renting is that a large amount of a family’s capital is not tied up in the property. Property can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and often a lot more. If one rents, this money can be spent on other things to help improve the family’s quality of life. If the property is on a mortgage, then the deposit, also often very large, is tied up in the property and the pressure of having to make substantial payments every month can cause a lot of stress.
Owning a property does have various advantages, though. Even though people usually have to service a mortgage every month with payments, this money is then built up with the property. With renting, the money is lost to the landlord, but at the end of the term of the mortgage, the whole property is owned by the family. This makes the process of living in a property a type of investment. In addition, the property’s value often goes up after time, frequently creating a substantial profit. Owning the property where one lives can also create a sense of well-being and self-actualisation.
The decision to whether one rents or owns the property in which one lives really boils down to individual preference. My opinion is that it is much more preferable to own a property, mainly because it creates a valuable asset for the family.
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays
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IELTS test in India – September 2022 (General Training)
Thanks to our kind friend from India we are sharing the questions from his recent IELTS test:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You visit a cafe every day. Write a letter to the manager of the cafe. In your letter
– Say what you like about the cafe
– Suggest an improvement to the cafe
– Explain the benefits of your suggestion.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some say that modern technology is giving people more free time, while others think it is making them busier. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you work or study?
– Do you live in a flat or a house?
– What is your favourite room? Why?
– What would you like to change in your flat?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a time when you helped a child. You should say
– when and where it happened
– who the child was
– how you helped him/her
– and explain how you felt about helping the child.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– How can neighbors help each other?
– Were neighbors helping each other more in the past?
– Do you think it is important to participate in any voluntary work?
– Do you help anyone regularly?
– Do you think people generally like to help each other? Why?
– Do you think people who help others expect something in return?
– When helping others, what is considered more valuable, time or money? Why?
September 19, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in the Philippines – September 2022
Thanks to our lovely friend K., today we are sharing the questions she remembered from her IELTS Speaking test in the Philippines:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Can I see your ID?
– Did you study about the history of your hometown in school?
– Do you use a mobile phone often?
– Do you like texting?
– When was the first time you got a mobile phone?
– Do you like looking at yourself in the mirror?
– How often do you use mirrors?
– Have you ever bought a mirror?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a gift you would like to give to someone. You should say
– what gift it would be
– who you would give it to
– why you would like to give him/her this gift
– and explain why you chose this gift for him/her.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you like giving gifts?
– What kind of things should we consider when choosing a gift?
– On what occasions do people in your country give gifts?
– Why is it sometimes difficult to choose a gift for someone?
– Why do some people consider the brand/price when giving gifts?
– Do parents in your country give many gifts to their children?
September 18, 2022
IELTS test in Iran – September 2022 (General Training)
Thanks to the lovely S.E. we are sharing the questions from her recent IELTS test in Iran:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You have recently read a book about a city which you know well, and found some incorrect information in the book. Write a letter to the author. In your letter
– Inform him/her of the incorrect information
– Give him/her the correct information
– Explain why he/she should correct it.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
These days world leaders of all kinds are younger than in the past. What are the reasons? Is this a negative or a positive trend?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– May I see your ID?
– Tell me about your hometown.
– What is it famous for?
– What sport do you like to watch? Why?
– Do you like to watch your favorite sport on TV or in a stadium? Why?
– What sport do you like to watch live? Why?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a piece of clothing that you like very much. You should say
– where you got it
– what it is like
– when and where you wear it
– and explain why you like wearing it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Have you ever given somebody a piece of clothing?
– Why is it important to wear uniforms?
– Does fashion influence people?
September 15, 2022
IELTS Results competition winners in August 2022
Queen Elizabeth II, who sadly is no longer with us, famously said, “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
We couldn’t think of a better description for the 5 people we are about to celebrate today. Look what they have achieved by refusing to give up:
IELTS results competition winners of August 2022Academic Module
1st place – Roshni Haye from Pakistan, Band 8.52nd place – Nor from Malaysia, Band 83rd place – Sandra Ifeoma Anyanwu from Nigeria, Band 7.5General Training Module
1st place – Rayan Zeineddine from Lebanon, Band 92nd place – Mohit Kumar from Canada, Band 7.5Well done, Roshni, Nor, Sandra and Mohit! What an amazing score, Rayan, a Band 9?! To mark this happy occasion we are sending certificates of achievement to your email addresses. 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 SO good to see our student win! Rayan from Lebanon used our book ‘Ace the IELTS’ and credited his success to it. In his own words, “Ace the IELTS is the book that came to me at the right time. I had one month to prepare and I wanted straightforward, guaranteed tips and tricks to achieve the results I need. I ended up scoring a 9 overall! Thank you Simone for the time and effort you put into this book. There’s a reason why this book is a best-seller!”
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 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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This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.
Set 4 Academic book, Practice Test 17
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the average length of stay last year (in days) for serious injuries for different age groups in private and public hospitals in Queensland, Australia.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
Last Year’s Average Length of Stay at Private and Public Hospitals for Serious Injuries – Queensland, Australia
The graph provides two sets of statistics regarding the differing lengths of stays last year for patients with serious injuries in private and public hospitals in Queensland, Australia. The information is given for age groups for every four years of age.
Overall, it is clear that last year public hospitals stays were longer than stays at private hospitals across all age groups, with only one exception. The average lengths of stay were, however, very similar in trend in terms of how the stays rose and dropped.
The figures for public hospitals begin for the age group zero to four years. The lengths of stay go up very sharply and steadily from this age group, starting at around four days up to just under sixty days for the age group twenty-five to twenty-nine. There is then a sharp and steady drop to just over forty days to the age group thirty-five to thirty-nine. There is a more sharp increase to approximately fifty-seven days for the next age group and then there is a decrease in the length of hospital stays. This drop is sharp to start with, but slows down from the age group fifty to fifty-four years (around twenty-seven days) to eighty-five years plus (around eighteen days).
The figures for private hospitals follow a similar trend. The figures begin with the age group fifteen to nineteen years. They show a rise to a peak at the age group twenty-five to twenty-nine, the same peak age group for public hospitals. There is then a mostly steady drop in the length of hospital stay until the eighty-five years age group, where the length of stay is the same as the stay at public hospitals (around eighteen days). This is the only average length of stay that is the same for the public and private hospitals. The average length of stay is always larger in the age groups at public hospitals.
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Reports
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IELTS test in Australia – September 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to S. who took IELTS in Australia, today we are sharing the questions from her recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 2 (an essay)
These days, many young people are not spending their weekends and holidays doing outdoor activities such as hiking or mountaineering. Why is that? How can they be encouraged to spend more time in the natural environment?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– What kind of job do you have?
– Now let’s talk about household chores.
– Do you cook?
– When you were young, were you asked to do chores?
– What are your least favourite chores?
– Did you study geography?
– Do you like geography?
– When you are choosing a country to visit, are you trying to learn more about its geography?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a time you missed an important meeting, such as a medical appointment or a meeting with a friend. You should say
– what the meeting was
– who you were meeting
– why you missed it
– and explain how you felt about it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you feel that people value the importance of a work appointment more than a casual meeting with friends?
– What do you think of people who have photographic memory?
– Is it important to have a good memory?
– Do you think a person with a good memory can perform better in exams?
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