Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 80
August 10, 2022
IELTS Letter, topic: Applying for a job at a shop
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 17
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have heard that there is a part-time job available in a nearby shop. Write a letter to the shop’s manager, applying for the job.
In your letter,
– specify what job you are applying for
– write about your experience and skills and why you should get an interview
– ask about the hours required for the job and give your preferred hours
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 Suzanne Dunning and I am writing to apply for the part-time position in your clothing shop.
I feel I would be an ideal candidate for the position and have much to offer your business. I have quite a lot of experience working in previous stores and so I am familiar with tasks such as moving boxes, unpacking, stocking and register work. I have a keen interest in and knowledge of fashion; I would be able to create stylish clothing combinations for the mannequins, appealing to your desired demographic that your shop targets. I have also experience at helping customers find the right clothing that suits them. In addition to my experience and knowledge, I am a friendly and hard-working employee who can deal with any situation and I would bring energy and enthusiasm to your shop.
With regards to working hours, I am currently a student and I have classes in the mornings. If I were to receive the position, I would therefore be available to work any afternoons, evenings and weekends. Would this be acceptable?
I hope you have found my details interesting and that you will consider asking me to an interview.
Yours faithfully,
Suzanne Dunning
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Letters
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August 9, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Iran – August 2022
Our anonymous friend from Iran wrote after the test to share the following questions from the Speaking part:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I see your ID?
– Do you work or study?
– How do you spend your time at work?
– Do you like watching sport on TV?
– Have you ever been to a sports match in person?
– Are you good at painting?
– Do you like visiting art galleries?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe a house that you would enjoy living in. You should say
– what it would look like
– where it would be located
– how big it would be
– and explain why you would enjoy living in that house.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Can people in your country buy a house easily?
– What is the difference between homes in city and villages?
– What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a home?
– Does climate affect the interior design of a home?
August 8, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Some think that hosting an international sporting event is beneficial for a country while others disagree (advantages / disadvantages)
This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in Italy
Some people think that hosting an international sporting event is beneficial for a country, while others disagree. Do the advantages of hosting a major sporting event outweigh its disadvantages?
Sample Band 8 Essay
International sporting events are well-known for attracting a high level of attention because they give many people something to look forward to. Understandably, there are advantages and disadvantages for the host country, and careful consideration is required to determine whether a nation will benefit or lose from hosting a major sports championship.
Worryingly, the new infrastructure required for hosting a major sporting event often comes at the expense of local people. Their lives get disrupted by construction works and at times residents have even been evicted from their homes for stadiums to be built. Worse still, practice shows the expensive, gigantic buildings constructed for the sports event aren’t being used afterwards and fall into disrepair, leaving the country with high maintenance bills. The financial burden from hosting the Olympic Games, for example, is staggering and can run into tens of billions. Still, the question remains whether or not the pros outnumber the cons.
It is hard to underestimate the amount of influence on the country’s global status and prestige that comes with becoming a home to an international sporting event. New trade opportunities appear on the horizon, as it happened for many countries that hosted the Olympic Games. There is also a welcome increase in tourism, which gives the local economy a boost, injecting billions of dollars into the national budget. Construction of new stadiums, hotels and infrastructure such as new roads and rail links creates new jobs, further improving the country’s economy. Less tangible but still important is the aspect of national pride and the feel-good factor associated with hosting an international sports event.
All in all, it seems to me that an international sporting event can bring more good than harm to a country, especially if its potential dangers can be avoided or minimised. Hosting a World Championship is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a country and an immense source of pride for its citizens.
Teacher’s comment: The writer provided a complete response to the task prompt and offered elaborated and convincing ideas that fully meet the task’s requirements. He/she maintained coherence throughout the essay, logically organised the ideas and arguments, and made effective use of paragraphing. The vocabulary is diverse and uncommon lexical items have been used appropriately, with almost no errors in word choice or collocation. The bulk of the sentences are error-free, and the writer has used a variety of linguistic constructions. These components work together flawlessly and make Band 8 – 8.5 very likely for this essay.
Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8
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IELTS Speaking test in Brazil – July 2022
Our friend I.F. took IELTS in Brazil and remembered the following questions from the Speaking test:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Describe the house/apartment you are living in.
– Do you have a favourite room?
– What room is your favourite and why?
– Are there any old buildings in your hometown?
– Can you describe any old building in your hometown?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about someone you follow on social media. Please say
– who the person is
– why you follow him/her
– what content he/she posts on social media
– and explain why you find him/her interesting.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Is social media important? Why?
– Where do people get more information from nowadays?
– Do older people get information from different sources?
August 3, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Japan – July 2022
Thanks to K.U. from Japan, today we are sharing the latest questions from her IELTS exam:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– What is your city famous for?
– Do you use a mobile phone?
– When did you get your first mobile phone?
– Do you enjoy watching sports?
– Have you ever been to a live sporting event?
– Is it better to watch it with friends or on your own?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Describe something that surprised you. You should say
– what it was
– how you found out about it
– what you did
– and explain how it made you feel.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you like surprises? Why or why not?
– Do you think doing things spontaneously is a good idea? Why?
– How do unexpected situations make people feel?
– Why do some people feel stressed when things don’t go to plan?
August 2, 2022
IELTS test in Italy – July 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to S.V. who took IELTS in Italy, today we are sharing the questions she remembered from a recent exam:
Listening test
Part 1. A phone call about booking a campsite.
Part 2. A monologue regarding a hotel.
Part 3. A discussion between two students about an assignment.
Part 4. A university lecture about the first people to inhabit Asia.
Reading test
Passage 1. The history of steamboats.
Passage 2. The game theory and AI.
Passage 3. The evolution of space houses.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a diagram describing the production process of a chocolate bar, from the cultivation of the cocoa beans to the packaging of the final product.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people think that hosting an international sporting event is beneficial for a country, while others disagree. Do the advantages of hosting a major sporting event outweigh the disadvantages?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can I have your full name, please?
– May I see your ID?
– Where is your hometown?
– What is your hometown famous for?
– Did you learn about the history of your hometown in school?
– Does colour matter to you when you buy a new car?
– Do you go to the cinema sometimes?
– What type of movies do you like to watch?
– What did you enjoy watching when you were young?
– Has watching films changed nowadays, compared to the past?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a free item or service you received. Please say:
– what item or service it was
– why it was free
– what you did to receive it
– and explain how you felt about receiving this item or service.
Follow-up question: Did you tell about this item to anyone?
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do people value free things less, compared to the items they purchase? Why?
– Is there anything more valuable than money?
– What other things do people value more than money?
August 1, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: People should follow the customs and traditions of their new country (agree/disagree)
This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in India
People should follow the local customs and traditions, when they come to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Band 8 Essay
The globalised world these days makes it simpler than ever before for people to relocate and start building a life in a new country. As everyone comes from their own cultural background, a question arises of whether or not people should be expected to follow the customs of their host country. I completely agree with the view that while learning about the local customs may require some time and effort, it is valuable and will aid the integration of the newcomers into society.
In many cultures following the local customs means showing respect, which is an important moral value in nearly every culture. The opposite is also true: disregarding traditions is often seen as a sign of disrespect. In order to establish good neighbourly relationships and feel welcome in the new place, it is important to demonstrate the effort to become part of the community. By expressing an interest in learning traditions, new arrivals gain a chance to interact with their neighbours and colleagues, get to know them and build some connections in the new country.
Another positive aspect is the enhanced feeling of belonging that people get from participating in activities others around them are doing. When a national festival is in full swing, standing on the sidelines might make people feel excluded and perhaps even homesick, whereas joining others opens up opportunities to attend special events together, go to parties, meet new people and feel part of the celebrations. In Australia, for example, Easter is a very special time of the year and some of the traditional activities include Easter egg decoration and gifting, and baking hot cross buns; sharing your designs and recipes with others is an excellent conversation starter.
In conclusion, learning the customs and traditions of one’s new country doesn’t mean a loss of their own culture. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of cultural connections and should be embraced as a positive experience.
Teacher’s comment: The writer gave a thoughtful response to the task prompt, including relevant, expanded, and supported ideas that completely satisfy the requirements of the task. He/she properly handled all cohesion issues, logically organised the information and thoughts, and used paragraphing appropriately and effectively. A broad range of vocabulary is evident. There are essentially no errors in the word choice or collocation; uncommon lexical items have been used appropriately throughout the entire essay. The writer has used a range of language structures, while ensuring that the majority of the sentences are error-free. These elements work together very well and make an IELTS Band 8 or 8.5 for this essay quite likely.
Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8
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IELTS test in India – July 2022 (Academic Module)
Thanks to S.R. from India, today we are sharing the questions he remembered from his recent exam:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given a chart describing the levels of carbon emissions in the United Kingdom between the years 1990 and 2009. There were 3 sources of carbon emissions: gas, coal and one more that I forgot.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
People should follow the local customs and traditions, when they come to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Where are you from?
– What do you do, work or study? (I’ve answered ‘work’, so the examiner started asking questions related to work.)
– How do you feel at work?
– What do you usually do at your workplace?
– Do you prefer to call a colleague on the phone or send them an email?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a lesson that you remember well. You should say
– when and where it was
– who taught you the lesson
– what you learnt
– and explain why you remember the lesson well.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What do you prefer to use to communicate, words or images?
– What things should people need to remember?
– How can people remember information better?
– How can people improve their memory?
July 29, 2022
IELTS Report, topic: Pie charts of greenhouse gas emissions (from IELTS High Scorer’s Choice series, Academic Set 4)
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 16
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The pie charts below show the greenhouse gas emissions for last year by sector for Australia and New Zealand.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
The two pie charts give statistical information on the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and New Zealand for last year.
Overall, it is interesting to note that in both Australia and New Zealand, various areas of agriculture were responsible for the most significant production of greenhouse gases last year.
The top three sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia were agricultural methane (29%), transport (25%) and electricity generation (19%). The first two were also the principal sources in New Zealand, although agricultural methane was slightly higher at 32% and transport was slightly lower at 19%.
The other four sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia were agricultural nitrous oxide, other energy, industrial processes and solvents and waste at 11%, 7%, 5% and 4% respectively. New Zealand was similar, though agricultural nitrous oxide (15%) was higher than electricity generation (10%). Other energy, industrial processes and solvents and waste followed in the same order as Australia, at 16%, 6% and 2% respectively.
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Reports
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IELTS test in Toronto, Canada – July 2022 (General Training)
Thanks to KT, today we are sharing the questions he remembered from his recent IELTS exam in Toronto, Canada:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
You are going on a short trip to another country, where one of your friends lives. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,
– Give the details of your trip
– Tel him/her about your plans
– Ask him/her some questions.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people think that school children need to learn practical skills such as car maintenance or bank account management along with the academic subjects at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– Do you work or study?
– How do you manage your work?
– Who helps you at work?
– Do you go to the cinema often?
– Have you been to the cinema as a child?
– Do you like movies from the past? Why?
– Have you ever found things that other people lost?
– What kind of things do people usually lose? Why?
– Have you ever lost anything?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about someone you have recently met and liked. You should say:
– who the person is
– when and where you met
– what he/she does
– and explain why you liked him/her.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do people become friends because they have a similar personality?
– How do people in your country behave to a new person when they meet for the first time?
– How can we make people feel comfortable the first time we meet them?
– How do people maintain social contact with co-workers or colleagues?
– Do you think it is a good idea for companies to give breaks to their employees?
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