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November 2011

IELTS Speaking test in Saudi Arabia – October 2011

Below are the questions shared by our friend A, after his IELTS exam in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking test IELTS test in Saudi Arabia

Interview

– Can you tell me your full name, please?
– Where do you come from?
– Do you live in a town, a city or a village?
– Can you describe it?
– Do you like living in a big city? Why?
– What advice would you give to the government to improve the city?
– If you had a chance to live in a different city, what would it be? Why?

Cue Card

Describe a book that you want to read for a second time. Please say

– What is the name of the book?
– Why would you read it again?
– What message does the book send?

Discussion

– Do you encourage your children to read? Why?
– What type of books do your children prefer?
– Why do you think reading is important?
– What kinds of books do you prefer? Why?
– Do you think the method of reading will change in the future? Why?

Victor’s tips for Band 8 in IELTS

Today we are happy to share the tips received from Victor Jivanescu, who took the first place in our IELTS results competition in October. When we asked Victor what his advice would be for other test takers, here’s what he said:

Band 8 in IELTS “I am thrilled to hear that I won this competition as I was looking at the prior winners before taking my IELTS exam. I can only emphasize the fact that the IELTS Blog is the most useful resource available for practice test and tips and advice. I used it for my two month preparation that finally proved to be successful.

I can only recommend all of you who are about to sit the test to look on all pages of the IELTS Blog and go relaxed at the test center. I didn’t prepare too much, only about an hour a day for 6 weeks prior to the test. However, I suggest you should identify your weaknesses and practice them harder.

Have a friend sit a mock interview with you and let somebody who is better at English than you check your writing. For Reading and Listening take as many practice tests as you can and, very important, under real time-constraint conditions.

All in all you shouldn’t be to worried about the test, it is just a test and with the right attitude you will definitely succeed. One last advice: don’t practice long hours, practice smart and goal oriented.

I am in the middle of my Oxford application process with the interview ahead so I could only produce this short answer. Hope it will help somebody, just as other posts helped me.”