Simone Braverman's Blog: IELTS-Blog.com, page 84
May 30, 2022
IELTS Report, topic: Flow charts of circles of poverty (from IELTS High Scorer’s Choice series, Academic Set 3)
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 3 Academic book, Practice Test 15
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The flow charts below show the vicious circles of poverty at the institutional and individual levels.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.
The two flow charts describe circles of poverty, however, they look at them from different perspectives. The first flow chart looks at poverty from an institutional level, while the second looks at it from the perspective of an individual.
Overall, it can be seen that at both levels, individual and institutional, poverty perpetuates itself.
The first flow chart explains how poverty results in the lack of a critical mass for service and infrastructure, which can lead to lower business creation. This in turn leads to fewer jobs and the moving away of workers, so they can find a job elsewhere. If workers begin to move away, then the population density of the cities decreases, which then again influences the lack of a mass needed for the infrastructure. And so the circle continues.
The second flow chart looks at the more personal hardships of poverty, starting with low income, low assets and low education in an individual. Low education leads to a lack of skills and a lack of capital, which makes it even harder for an individual to generate income. This provides an individual with only a low security against economic and health risks and can lead to debt and a further loss of income.
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May 26, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in Nigeria – May 2022
Our lovely friend M.C. took IELTS in Nigeria very recently and shared the questions from her Speaking test below:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your name?
– Where are you from?
– What is your hometown like?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about an opinion you gave someone. You should say
– who asked for your opinion
– why he/she asked for your opinion
– what the opinion was about
– and explain whether the person benefited from your opinion and why.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Does an advertisement make you purchase a product?
– What kind of advertisement would influence you to purchase something?
– Would you like to be in an advertisement?
– What do you think an advertisement does for a product?
– Can you describe an advertisement that you didn’t like?
– Do you think people prefer face to face reviews or online reviews?
– What impact do global leaders have on things like the weather?
– Should global leaders assemble to discuss issues of international concern?
May 25, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Is fashion a significant part of society, or a waste of time and money (opinion)?
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 27
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people feel that fashion is like art and a significant part of society, while others feel that fashion is a waste of time and money.
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 fashion industry today is an important component of society and people’s lives. It is true that many people care little for clothes and scorn the importance that others attach to them; however, this does not mean that the significance that people give to fashion is a waste of time and money.
When one considers that areas of the world suffer from poverty, disease and inadequate access to food and clean water, the emphasis attached to fashion by the developed world can seem out of proportion. Many people would contend that the resources put into developing and creating fashion would be more ethically spent on creating some level of equality in terms of the right to live a healthy and happy life. This point is hard to argue with. However, it is also true that people in the developed world cannot be expected to send all their spending money to people in need and that wanting to look good is an unalterable human trait.
The fashion industry contributes to the society much like most other industries. It provides jobs and income to millions of people around the world and the money that changes hands generates taxes that contribute to the fabric of society. There is more to fashion than trying to look better than others and excessive luxury. The high level of fashion is indeed a kind of art form and, like other art forms, there will always be people who appreciate it, want to create it and want to spend money on it. It is part of the development of civilisation and this is not likely to change.
I therefore feel that, although the gap between the rich and the poor sometimes makes it seem that fashion is a waste of time and money and an unethical use of resources, fashion is an important part of today’s society and economic output. This leads me to believe that trying to strike a balance between selfish greed and a more altruistic way of living should be an individual choice.
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May 24, 2022
IELTS test in Iran – May 2022 (Academic Module)
A lovely IELTS test taker from Iran shared the questions she remembered, below:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We had a bar chart describing the numbers of male and female students, studying different subjects in one university in 2012. There were with six subjects on the chart (Science, Human Science, Technology, Engineering, Health, Agriculture) and the numbers of students were shown in millions.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Nowadays, people in most countries decide to have children later in life. Why do they do so? Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can you tell me your full name, please?
– Where are you from?
– Where did you grow up?
– Did you go to a park when you were a child?
– Do you prefer spending your time in a public park or in a private garden?
– Why do you enjoy going to a public park?
– Did you like science in school?
– What are the benefits of science in daily life?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a book you read and found exciting. Please say
– what book it was
– when you read it
– what the book was about
– and explain why you found it exciting.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– What books are popular in your country?
– Why do you think these books are popular?
– What are the advantages of this type of books?
– Are there any disadvantages?
– Do girls read more than boys?
– What books do younger people prefer?
– How about older people, what type of books do they like?
– Why is there a difference in book choices between younger and older readers?
May 23, 2022
IELTS test in Japan – May 2022 (Academic Module)
Our friend M.O. took IELTS UKVI in Japan very recently. She emailed us and said, “I really appreciate your invaluable information. I practiced writing and speaking on your website. I hope I can help all IELTS test takers by sharing the following questions.”
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
I was given two maps of an Australian zoo to compare, in 1990 and at present.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In some countries, there is an increase in number of parents choosing home education for their children. Do the advantages of home education outweigh its disadvantages?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can you tell me your full name, please?
– Do you work or study?
– Who helps you the most at work?
– What is your typical day at work like?
– Do you remember your dreams after waking up?
– Are you interested in other people’s dreams?
– Do you think dreams have meaning?
– Would you like to study dreams?
– Have you ever found a lost item?
– Have you ever returned the lost item you found to its owner?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a house or an apartment you would like to live in, in the future. You should say
– where it would be
– what it would look like
– why you would like to live there
– and explain how you would feel living there.
Follow-up question: Have you ever been to a house similar to your ideal house?
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do younger and older people have different preferences for everyday living?
– Why do younger people want to live in the city?
May 19, 2022
IELTS test in Indonesia – May 2022 (Academic Module)
Our friend S used IELTS-Blog.com to prepare for her exam in Indonesia. She said, “I did practice all the tests you and your team shared so far, and I found them really helpful.” . After the test she shared the questions below to help other test takers keep up with the latest topics:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given two different plans of students’ accommodation to compare.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In many countries the number of people aged 15 and younger is increasing. What are the present effects of this trend? How will it affect the world in the future?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your full name?
– What can I call you?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you usually do at work?
– Is there anyone who helps you when you are working?
– What do you think about mirrors?
– Have you ever bought a mirror?
– Why did you need to buy a mirror?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a topic that you recently discussed with a friend of yours. You should say
– what the topic was
– who you discussed it with
– why you discussed it
– what the result of the discussion was.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Let’s talk about communication skills.
– Why do people need communication skills?
– What job do you think requires people to have communication skills?
– What other jobs require good communication skills?
May 18, 2022
IELTS Speaking test in India – May 2022
Thanks to D.S. from India we are sharing the questions she remembered from a recent IELTS Speaking test:
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– What is your name?
– Do you work or study?
– What type of work do you do?
– Did you always want this job?
– Is it an interesting job?
– Do you use a computer/laptop?
– What do you do with it?
– When did you first start using it?
– What happens if people stop using computers/mobile phones?
– Is it difficult to use them?
– Where do you usually meet your friends?
– Do you prefer to meet them alone or in a group?
– Have the meeting places changed since you were younger?
– What are the places where people usually meet with friends?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a time when you helped a child. Please say
– who it was
– when and where it happened
– how you helped him/her
– and explain how you felt after helping him/her.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you think people should participate in volunteer work?
– Is spending time helping others more important than donating money?
– Do you do it? How?
– Do you tell people about it?
– How much time should people spend on such work?
– Who do you think benefits more, people who are helping or people who are receiving help?
– Should developed countries help developing countries? How?
– Do you think providing skills is a good way to help?
May 16, 2022
IELTS test in Japan – May 2022 (Academic Module)
Our friend S.K. used IELTS-Blog.com to prepare for his exam in Japan. After the test he shared the questions below to give back to the IELTS community:
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
We were given three pie charts showing the percentages of social media users (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) by several age groups in 2011.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people say that spending the national budget on space exploration is a waste of resources. They insist that those funds should be spent on people living on Earth. Do you agree or disagree?
Speaking test
Part 1 (Interview)
– Can you tell me your full name, please?
– Do you work or study?
– What is your typical day at work like?
– What kind of daily routine do you have?
– Do you like using a smartphone?
Part 2 (Cue Card)
Talk about a person who does a job that helps the society. Please say
– who this person is
– what he/she does
– why his/her job helps the society
– and explain what skills he/she needs to do that job.
Part 3 (Discussion)
– Do you think the way in which many people work has changed in the past few years?
– Why do you think that happened?
– What factors do you think have changed people’s needs or demands?
May 15, 2022
IELTS Results competition winners in April 2022
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, used to say, ‘Hard work creates luck’. Looking at today’s list of ‘lucky’ winners who got these remarkable IELTS scores, we couldn’t agree more!
These people worked really hard to pass IELTS, and today is a great day to show them our appreciation!
IELTS results competition winners of April 2022Academic Module
1st place – Anugrahita Nirmala from Indonesia, Band 82nd place – Afkar Ahmed Seyed Ahmed from Sri Lanka, Band 7.52nd place – Aghogho Aguigwo from Nigeria, Band 7.52nd place – Sarah Zia from Pakistan, Band 7.53rd place – Yu Tsen Yeh from Taiwan, Band 73rd place – Shiroshi Jayathilake from Sri Lanka, Band 7General Training Module
1st place – Neha Mehta from India, Band 7Congratulations to the winners! To mark this happy occasion we are sending certificates of achievement to the winners’ email addresses. Winning IELTS results will also be displayed in the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so if you won, please feel free to show them off to your friends!
How did they score so well?When someone gets a great score in IELTS, it’s never by accident! That is why we’re always trying to find out from the winners how they did it. It feels amazing to see our students win! Anugrahita Nirmala (Band 8) and Yu Tsen Yeh (Band 7) used our writing correction service to find out how to increase their Writing scores. Shiroshi Jayathilake (Band 7) prepared by doing our online practice tests to improve her IELTS skills. Helping them succeed in IELTS was a privilege for us!
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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May 13, 2022
IELTS essay, topic: Is studying at university better than getting a job straight after school (opinion)?
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 27
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many people believe that studying at university is the best way to develop oneself, learn new skills and find a well-paid job. Other people believe that more is learned from getting a job straight away after school and learning whilst working.
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
There are many ways to learn new knowledge and skills. Traditional educational routes, such as school followed by college or university is one route that is generally accepted and respected by today’s society. It can be argued, however, that this is not always the best way. A more vocational route can be more appropriate for certain people and for particular jobs.
Universities generally have deference given to them and, due to this, most schools tailor their programs to help students get university admission. Universities usually have respected and highly qualified teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to take their students to very high levels of knowledge and expertise. The very difficulty of gaining admission, getting through the duration of the course and passing final exams ensures to employers that graduates have the necessary self-discipline, intelligence and ability to get through the courses.
Universities are also particularly well suited to the teaching of various subjects, for example, medicine, law and literature and these subjects need students’ full-time attention in order to do well. Although vocational experience is necessary, a certain grounding in basic concepts to a high-level is important. Once this knowledge has been acquired, students can then integrate their knowledge with practical understanding.
This, however, is not the case for all areas of learning, especially ones where the quantity of high level knowledge is not required or is possible to be learned whilst working at the same time. Young people studying to be an electrician or a plumber are good examples. To do this work well requires a lot of experience, yet also a sound understanding of theory. The learning here can be and is done working and studying at the same time, often through apprenticeships and vocational courses involving significant amounts of work experience.
Therefore, in my opinion, there are more ways than one to acquire a profession. Whether learning should take place at university alone or whilst working depends on the course and the end job.
Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays
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