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October 2009

IELTS in Darwin, Australia – October 2009 (Academic Module)

Our friend P. has shared a very good description of his IELTS exam in Darwin, Australia. Here is what he remembered:

Listening test

Section 1: A person wanted to send an urgent parcel via U.S.P.

Questions: Form filling types of questions, asking about the sender’s name, the recipient’s details, the weight, the total price, the type of courier service, the insurance charges, etc.

Section 2: Orientation at the library and the facilities available.

Questions: Filling in the gaps and multiple choice questions.

Section 3: A discussion between two students about their assignments.

Questions: Multiple choice questions.

Section 4: About the history of map making and atlases.

Reading test

Passage 1: Don’t remember the topic.

Questions: Matching statements from the passage to a paragraph number, filling in the gaps.

Passage 2: About the history of the climate change and it’s effects on humans.

Questions: Matching headings to paragraphs, short answer questions (using one word for an answer).

Passage 3: A medical topic about cosmetic neurology, difficult with lots of information from the media regarding brain functions, studies and implications.

Questions: True/False, filling in the blanks, Matching headings to paragraphs, what’s the writer’s view (two questions).

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (a report)
A chart showing three-stage process of recycling of glass.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Some students prefer to go abroad for work or travel rather than continue studies. Some prefer to do it immediately after school. Which way is better? Discuss, what is your opinion?

Speaking test

Interview
– General questions regarding name, work, etc.
– Do you like flowers?
– On what occasions in your country you give flowers?
– Do you like birthday celebrations?
– People in what age group in particular like them most? Why?

Cue card
Talk about a vehicle that you would like to buy in future.
– Describe the vehicle.
– Why you want that vehicle?
– When and where did you see it first?
– Do you think you will be able to buy it?

Discussion
– Describe types of private vehicles popular in your country.
– What measures need to be taken to improve public transportation?
– What would be a good way to decrease traffic congestion problems?

IELTS in South Africa – September 2009 (General Training)

Thanks to N. from South Africa, we know a lot about the IELTS exam there:

Listening test

Section 1: It was about a burglary, an inspector was talking to a woman who owned the home (not rented). The entrance was made through the back door as nothing was opened or broken at the front. The PC was stolen and the inspector asked the woman for the serial number. Money was stolen as well.

Questions: How long have you lived here? Write down the serial number of the PC. What type of purse it was and its colour or type of fabric (in my test it was silver).

Section 2: A lady calls a reception to advise that there is no hot water in her room and and the receptionist tells her how to turn the hot water on.

Questions: Which knobs to turn for hot/cold water – fill these details in the blanks, then we had a diagram labeling.

Section 3: A continuation of Section 2. Regarding spare keys and where they are kept, light bulbs and where to find them.

Section 4: Organic vegetables.

Reading test

Passage 1: Three articles regarding 3 tours in and around the city.
Questions: True / False questions, short answer questions (one word).

Passage 2: Cannot remember.

Passage 3: An article about a person who went to other countries to get native plants and bring them back to England. Each section was broken into pieces and marked A to H.
Questions: Information matching, such as “Which paragraph did he almost die and lose all of his seedlings in?”

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)
Write a letter to your friend overseas, invite them to a party and explain how to get to your home.

Writing task 2 (an essay)
Many parents use TV and computer games as ‘baby sitters’ (allow children to watch too much TV and or play computer games for too long). What are the reasons for this situation? What are the effects of watching too much TV or playing computer games on children?

Speaking test

Interview
– Your full name.
– Where do you live?
– What type of work do you do?
– Do you like working alone or with other people?

Cue card
Think of an advertisement you liked and say:
– Why you liked the advertisement.
– What in it would make you want to buy the product.

Discussion
– Why do you think the advertisement worked?
– What types of advertisements work?
– What types of advertisements have you seen on the street corners?
– What type of advertising is more effective, on TV or on the radio?