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October 2012

IELTS test in the USA – October 2012 (Academic Module)

The following topics showed up in the recent IELTS exam in the USA, reports our friend M:

Listening testIELTS test in the USA

Section 1. A family from the Netherlands was booking a vacation and making hotel reservations with their Canadian in-laws.
Sections 2, 3, 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

Passage 1. About farming in South Africa.
Passage 2. Collection of Fossils.
Passage 3. Company employees’ innovation.
Passage 4. A behavioral research study of Chimpanzees.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a bar chart showing salaries in four job categories: metro train driver, police officer, firefighter and nurse in the UK in 2001.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Do the advantages of private means of transportation such as cars and motorbikes outweigh the disadvantages, compared to public transport (trains, buses and taxis)? Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own experience.

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID, please?
– Where are you from?
– Do you like to dance?
– How did you learn to dance?
– What kind of dances are popular in your country?
– What do you like more: being a student or your job?
– What are the things you do not like at your job?
– Is this kind of jobs popular among your friends?
– What are the benefits of the Internet?
– How did you learn to use the Internet?
– How often do you use it?
– What are the things that you don’t like about the Internet?

Cue Card

Talk about a vehicle that you would like to have in the future. Please say

– What car would it be?
– Where would you drive it?
– How can you get it?

Discussion

– What do you think about vehicles or transportation these days?
– Are you satisfied with vehicles as they are at present?
– What are the benefits of vehicles?
– Do you think it is the government’s responsibility to pay for people’s transportation?
– Are you for or against new infrastructure development?
– How do you convince people to choose public transportation over cars?
– How can the public transportation be improved?

IELTS test in China – October 2012 (Academic Module)

Our friend A kindly shared the topics from a recent IELTS exam in China:

Listening testIELTS test in China

Section 1. A woman who wanted to move home was calling a relocation agency.
Questions: filling in blanks.

Section 2. A monologue about volunteering.
Questions: multiple choice, matching statements to paragraphs.

Section 3. Two students were talking about a history project.
Questions: multiple choice, matching statements to paragraphs.

Section 4. A talk on the effects of pollution on buildings.
Questions: filling in blanks.

Reading test

Passage 1. About Australian beaches. A talk about the development of Bondi beach.

Passage 2. Failures are a part of the learning process. An example of how Socrates taught a slave boy geometry.

Passage 3. Neanderthals and their living environment. Where they lived, in what kind of caves/tents, etc.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a floor plan of a community centre as it is now and a plan of future renovation that will be done there.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Nowadays traveling abroad is more convenient and cheap than ever. Do you think this is a good or a bad development?

Speaking test

Interview

– Please state your full name.
– Do you work or study?
– What is the hardest part of your job?
– Would you recommend this job to others?
– Do you use the Internet?
– Does everyone in your family use the Internet?
– Do you like to take pictures?
– What was the last picture you took?
– Do you think nowadays people take too many pictures?
– Is there a special family portrait that you like a lot?

Cue Card

Describe a piece of equipment (not a computer) that you use a lot and that you find very convenient.

Discussion

– Is design taught in schools?
– Should it be taught in schools in your opinion? Why?
– Do you think this will change in the future?
– Do you think the government should do more to encourage innovation?
– Do you think there should be a lot of testing before new products are launched? Why?
– Have there been any big issues with new products?