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May 2009

IELTS exam in Australia – April 2009 (General Training)

Thanks to E, IELTS candidate from Australia, we know this much about the topics and the questions:

Listening test

Section 1: Complete forms & M.C. about cleaning services and areas to clean.
Section 2: A professor was talking about the school assignment’s structure and the due day.
Section 3: Something about a special center of some sort.
Section 4: About the waste of water and how to reuse water, the questions were gap-fills.

Reading test

Passage 1: There were 5 walking tours in the pictures and we had to match what activities are included
and what views can be seen during the tour to the pictures.

Passage 2: A text about people that have driving licenses in their own countries, whether they need to take a driving test test during their stay in Britain.

Passage 3: Passage about the facilities offered at school, how to enroll and the procedures.

Passage 4: Passage about the progressing of costumes in the ancient Egypt and 4 other
different periods, and about the development of cotton and linen.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (letter)

A woman left some important item on a plane, write about:
– what was her destination,
– what kind of item she lost,
– why it is important.

Writing task 2 (essay)
Some countries’ schools open at before or after the normal class sessions when parents are working. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Speaking test

Interview
– Do you study or work?
– What do you study?
– Do you think it is better to study with a group of students or individually?
– Do you like to travel?
– When and where did you travel last time?
– Why did you like the place?

Cue card
Describe the music that you learned in your childhood and remember until now.
– What music was that?
– Why it left such an impression on you?

Discussion
– Do you think people of different age will like different music in your country?
– What are the different music kinds and what are the age of these people?
– Do you think music has a good effect on children, why?
– Why people like music?
– Can music have a bad effect on people?

By the way, today one of my colleagues was asked to describe a cultural costume of a special event in his country, which was a bit hard.

IELTS exam in Ireland – April 2009 (General Training)

This report came from Ireland where J had an IELTS exam and was very depressed and disappointed with it. Here are the topics and the questions:

Listening test

Section 1: Online shopping
Section 2: Information about a new library.
Section 3: Advantages and disadvantages of SUV (sport utility vehicles)
Section 4: Exporting fruit from Indonesia (this section was quite difficult, I could not get any question right and normally I score 7 or higher in the Listening test).

Reading test
Passage 1: About different library services provided to students, the questions were of matching information type.
Passage 2: About various means of public transportation in London, the questions: gap-filling.
Passage 3: About the history of pen, questions: matching and T/F/NG
Passage 4: About different driving directions to college, including motorway and national roads, the questions: matching and T/F/NG.

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (letter)
You should write a letter to your friend who is coming to stay in your home while you are away for holidays. In that letter:
– give necessary instructions
– explain where he or she can get help if there is a problem.

Writing Task 2 (essay)
People should change their job at least once in their life time instead having just one, do you agree or disagree. (I saw this topic in a practice book before I went for the test, sadly, I forgot everything. What a day.)

Speaking test

In the interview there were some questions about a bicycle.

Cue card
Describe an item you would like to buy, you should say:
– What does it look like?
– How long have this purchase been planned?

Discussion
The questions were about advertisement on TV, what are its positive and negative features.
From business’ or consumer’s point of view, what will they do in future about advertising?