Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 78
September 11, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in India – September 2022
Thanks to our lovely friend P., today we are sharing the questions she remembered from her IELTS Speaking test in India:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I have your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– Is your job hard?
– What exactly do you do?
– Do you make up early in the morning?
– Is your morning routine different from when you were younger?
– Why are you waking up later in the morning now?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a time you saw a movie that you would like to see again. You should say
– when it was
– where it was
– what the movie was about
– and explain why you would like to see it again.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you think fewer people go to the movies nowadays? Why?
– Every age group prefers to watch different movies. Why do you think that is?
– Where do people go to watch movies?
September 9, 2022
IELTS test in Taiwan – September 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to A. who took IELTS in Taiwan, today we are sharing the questions from her recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Nowadays in many countries most shops and products are the same. Some people feel this is a positive development, while others disagree. Discuss both views and state your opinion.
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Do you work or study?
– Do you like your work?
– What do you usually do in the evenings?
– Do you spend your time doing same thing on weekdays and at the weekend? Why?
– What don’t you like to do in the evening? Why?
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)
– Do you think everyone in the community should do some volunteering? Why?
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IELTS test in India – August 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to N.K. who took IELTS in India, today we are sharing the questions from her recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a line graph describing the monthly expenditure of an average Australian family.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Nowadays it is more difficult for children to concentrate or pay attention in school. What could be the reasons for this? What solutions can you suggest?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you study?
– Why did you choose those subjects?
– Why do you feel that science is an interesting field of study?
– Do you plan to continue studying these subjects?
– Do you think you have learnt enough?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about an activity you do to keep fit. You should say
– what it is
– who you do it with
– how it helps you
– and explain how you feel about it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What do older people in your country do to keep fit?
– How can we spread awareness among older people about exercise?
– What can be done in order to keep children healthy?
September 5, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: People today find their lives more and more dominated by their jobs (agree/disagree)
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 General Training book, Practice Test 29
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
People today find their lives more and more dominated by their jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
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
It is certainly true that many people around the world find their lives dominated by the work that they have to do. This is shown when you realise how people’s work, and how much time, effort and resources they devote to it, is often the subject of conversation.
Most people depend on their jobs to generate an income to pay for their lives’ necessities and luxuries, and so work can naturally become a dominating focus. As this is an important part of nearly everyone’s everyday life, it can seem that people’s lives are indeed becoming more influenced by their jobs. Whether this emphasis on work is more significant now than in previous years is debatable. In many developed countries around the world, there are procedures in place to help people with finding work, providing unemployment benefits, ensuring education, and offering pension payments. In times past, these provisions were not in place and a job or business was required to provide the necessary income.
Therefore, in spite of increases in the cost of living in many places around the world, it can be argued there is actually less pressure than in previous years to keep one’s job and perform well at it. This, in turn, would lead to people’s lives being less influenced by their jobs today. It is also true that in the past, people were as responsible and focused on doing well in their responsibilities as today and so, in this respect, the people of the past would be equally dedicated to their work as people are today.
While I agree that people’s lives today are often dominated by their jobs, I feel that the current situation is not necessarily worse than before. In fact, it may be more positive, due to the fewer pressures to earn money in many countries.
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays
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Thanks to our anonymous friend, today we are sharing the questions he remembered from his IELTS Speaking test in Malaysia:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I have your ID?
– Do you work or study?
– Where do you live?
– What is your hometown like?
– Do you work or study?
– What is your daily working schedule?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a long walk that you went on. You should say
– where you went
– when you went
– who you walked with
– and explain what you saw on the long walk.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Is it important to have leisure activities?
– What are the common leisure activities in your country?
– What is the purpose of leisure activities for people in the younger age group?
– How about the older age group?
– Why do you think leisure activities are important for all the generations?
September 1, 2022
IELTS test in Japan – August 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to S.M. who took IELTS in Japan, today we are sharing the questions from her recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a bar graph describing how much people spend on health in Japan, France, the United States, Russia and the UK. There were 3 spending categories: total health, public health and private health.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
The best way to understand different cultures is by working at a multinational organization. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– Do you work or study?
– Do you have a watch?
– Which do you live in now, an apartment or a house?
– Do you have a favourite room, and why?
– How can we make a house more comfortable?
– Why do you think people in your country buy a house?
– Do you read more now than when you were younger? Why?
– Have you ever watched a movie first before reading its book, and why?
– Do you buy books often?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a change you recently made that positively affected you. You should say
– what the change was
– who helped you make it
– why you made it
– and explain how you feel about this change.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Which do you think is better, changing jobs frequently or working at the same place for a long time?
– Is it always good for people to change their job frequently?
– Do you think it is good to change your daily routine regularly?
– Who do you think is more likely to change their routine, a younger person or an older person?
August 31, 2022
IELTS test in Canada – August 2022 (General Training)
Our friends from Canada shared the questions they remembered from a recent IELTS exam in Toronto:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You recently read an article in the local newspaper about your city, and you found that some of the facts were incorrect. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In your letter
– Say what article you are writing about
– Explain which facts were incorrect
– Suggest how to correct them.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In many countries, the numbers of juvenile crimes are increasing. What are the causes? How can parents and teachers help prevent youth crime?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you work or study?
– Do you like your work?
– Let’s talk about advertisements.
– What do you do when you see an advertisement on TV or on social media?
– Do you find advertisements helpful?
– Have you ever seen a bad advertisement?
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 past than now?
– Do you have a special talent?
– Does anyone in your family have the same talent as you?
– Would you like to develop a talent you have in the future?
– Do you think this talent will help you in your work?
– Do you think it is important to participate in any voluntary work?
August 29, 2022
Innocent shares his best tips for Band 8 in IELTS
Some people feel that learning best comes from one’s own mistakes; however, we at IELTS-Blog.com strongly believe that learning best comes from other people’s experiences.
If you’ve been reading the blog for the past few weeks, you probably remember Innocent from Zimbabwe, who got Band 8.0 in IELTS and won in the monthly results competition. We are fortunate to be able to share his top advice today.
Innocent said,
“I am elated to have won the July 2022 competition, hats off to all of you who were part of my IELTS journey, especially the people at IELTS-blog.com. It certainly would have been a lot tougher and my score wouldn’t have been as high as 8. Yet, I only utilized a small fraction of what the blog had on offer.
I would like to promptly acknowledge the fact that to most IELTS examination candidates the test represents a formidable hurdle in that dream career path. Understandably, it induces anxiety because of its importance. This is why test takers desperately need reliable educational material and support which you readily provide. Thank you!
My recommendations to other candidates? Practice, practice and more supervised practice. Practice is indispensable in this test. It gives the candidate a sense of preparedness which significantly lowers anxiety and makes the test a little more predictable and enjoyable, as opposed to being feared. This builds a positive mindset and gives one a feeling of being in control which I consider vital for any candidate. We can’t afford to be defeated mentally.
Undeniably, practice is even better when there is feedback, because you get confirmation of your progress and make necessary adjustments. This ultimately raises your band score.
I also implore those preparing for the exam to use a holistic approach. What do I mean? We all know that the test comprises of 4 skills (Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading). Instead of viewing the four as separate and practicing them individually, I found it incredibly beneficial to use one part of the test to improve my skills in other parts of the test. For example, after a reading exercise I would use it to enrich my vocabulary pool and improve my writing by analyzing and copying the style in the reading text. It saves time and ensures that all the categories of the test are improved simultaneously. Similarly, a listening exercise can be used to further skills in speaking and other areas. Remember, there is a great deal of paraphrasing and the use of synonyms in IELTS.
To conclude, I believe practice, a holistic approach and positivity are the keys to success. You can do it!”
August 28, 2022
IELTS test in India – August 2022 (General Training)
Thanks to PS, today we are sharing the questions he remembered from his recent IELTS exam in India:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You had to cancel a meeting with a friend. Write a letter to him/her, in your letter
– Apologise for cancelling the meeting
– Explain why you couldn’t be there
– Suggest an alternative day when you could meet
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Nowadays children spend more time on their phones. Some people think it is a good idea while others disagree. What is your opinion?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you work or study?
– What is a day at work like for you?
– How do you manage your time at work?
– Who helps you the most at work?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a gift you would like to give to a friend. You should say
– who the friend is
– how long you have known him/her
– what the gift is
– and explain how you think he/she would feel about it.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you often give gifts to your friends?
– What is important when choosing gifts for people?
– Do you think age and gender matter when choosing gifts?
– Is it difficult to find gifts for certain people?
– What other types of gifts do people you know give others?
– Did you enjoy car trips when you were a child?
– What kind of car would you like to buy?
– Does colour matter when buying a car?
August 25, 2022
IELTS Letter, topic: Describing your visit to the museum
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 General Training book, Practice Test 18
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently visited a museum in your local town and you had a mixed experience. Write a letter to the museum’s manager.
In your letter,
– explain when you visited and what you saw
– explain the positive parts of your experience and what you liked
– explain the negative parts of your experience and give some advice for improvements.
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir / Dear Madam,
Sample Band 9 Letter
Dear Sir,
My name is Peter Jones and last weekend on the twenty-third of May I visited your American History Museum. Being a history enthusiast, I was looking forward very much to learning about the important events that your museum covers and looking at the displays. In general, the exhibits were well-presented and interesting. I was also impressed with the recreation of various American Revolution events that were acted out by your staff.
However, there were certain aspects of my visit that were quite unsatisfactory and I would suggest that these be improved as soon as possible. I heard that several of the tour guides I passed were giving incorrect information regarding dates, people, events and the impact of certain events. I also found the order of exhibits, though detailed, difficult to follow, for many were not in chronological order. Some exhibits had their information missing and so it was impossible to understand what I was looking at. I would also suggest improving the lighting, for it is quite harsh and creates an unwelcome atmosphere.
Your museum is very interesting, and I hope you can act on my advice to create a more worthwhile experience. I look forward to visiting again soon.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Jones
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Letters
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