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January 2013

IELTS test in the Netherlands – January 2013 (Academic Module)

The IELTS exam below was shared by our friend E (thanks!) from the Netherlands.

Listening testIELTS test in Holland

Section 1. A radio program about fruits, vegetables and flowers (about their presentation, quality and prices).

Section 2. A student was discussing the first version of a dissertation with their professor.

Section 3, 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

Passage 1. Don’t remember.

Passage 2. How perfume manufacturers invent and extract smells.

Passage 3. About technical nomads and their ‘oases’.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given one graph that showed the expenditure in three categories (holidays, electrical equipment and clothes) in four different age groups.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Most countries develop their economies to improve living standards. Some people are afraid that it will cause degradation of important social values. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Where do you live?
– What do you like to read?
– What are your hobbies?
– Which types of transport do you use the most?
– How do you think public transport could be improved?

Cue Card

Describe a room you spend the most time in. Please say

– What does it look like?
– What do you do there?
– Why do you spend so much time in there?

Discussion

– Why do you think people prefer small rooms to big rooms?
– Why do you think there are so many differences between houses in different countries?

IELTS essay, topic: The advantages and disadvantages of studying in another country

Every year an increasing number of students choose to go to another country for their higher education. Do you think the benefits of this development outweigh the problems associated with it?

The past twenty years have seen a dramatic change the number of students who go abroad . In this essay, I will explore the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.

On the one hand, both students and their country can benefit from this trend. First, students can choose more suitable methods for themselves because there are more options. The and teaching methods are quite different . According to foreign experts, Secondly, people can improve their foreign language, they can contact with when they are in a foreign country, and they quickly master the foreign language. Thirdly, it helps to promote the mutual understanding between their mother land and their destination countries. These students exchange information with the locals. Students can get better understanding of the countries. People in their home country will get more vivid information about other countries . Similarly, the locals also can get more clear recognition about other countries.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages too. Firstly, it costs people a lot of money to begin college in foreign countries. Many families have to take out all their savings to support their children abroad. Secondly, some students cannot stand the big difference the new environment, they quit their study and come back home.

To conclude, given the fact that in foreign countries helps students with their studies and promotes the mutual understanding countries, even if there are some drawbacks, I think the benefits outweigh the problems.

All the parts of the task were covered, although some were covered better than others. The writer’s position is relevant to task prompt, although the conclusions are somewhat repetitive.The information is presented coherently, it is evident that the writer progresses from one idea to another. The linking words and phrases are used, however at times they seem repetitive or forced (not natural). There are some attempts to use more sophisticated words, not all are accurate. Even though there are some errors in grammar and punctuation, they don’t make the meaning much harder to understand. Overall, this essay seems worthy of Band 6.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of band 6

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to study
educational
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abroad from those in China
the standard of higher education in China is much lower compared to other countries, especially the US and European Union.
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native language speakers
may
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the meaning is unclear here
delete this
in
may
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