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June 2011

IELTS test in Australia – June 2011 (General Training)

Our kind friend A has shared the writing and speaking sections of his IELTS exam in Australia. Here is what he remembered:

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to the manager of your local bus service. They have recently made some changes to the bus services, which create an inconvenience for you. In your letter explain

– What are the changes?
– What are the problems you are facing?
– What would you like to change in this service?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

In the past people wore their traditional clothes and followed their culture. These days most people wear similar clothes and therefore look very similar to one another. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Speaking test

Interview

– What do you do?
– Are you a student?
– How much time do you spend with your family and friends?
– What do you like about computers?
– What do you do in your free time?
– Why do people still prefer to go on long journeys?
– How do you feel about having a chance to travel in space?
– In the future what kind of transport would people prefer to use when they are traveling?

Cue Card

Talk about a planed holiday you were on, which you have extended for some reason. Please say

– When did it happen?
– With whom were you traveling?
– What was the reason for extension?

Discussion

Don’t remember.

IELTS Writing – Model Answer for an essay (from a recent exam in the UK)

The topic below was seen in the Academic IELTS exam in the UK, March 2011.

General Training Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

The costs of international travel are decreasing and tourism is growing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of increasing tourism activity in different countries?

You should write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

Tourism is often touted as an industry that will never shrink in size. In other words, as the world develops, more and more people will be able to travel. Although many may see this as a positive phenomenon, it is not a trend without drawbacks. Both the advantages and disadvantages of this topic will be analyzed before a reasoned conclusion is reached.

On the one hand, the reduction in travel fare and the increasing of global tourism can be seen as a positive event as it promotes intercultural understanding and global harmony. For example, many Middle Eastern states have opened their doors and embraced tourism over the last twenty years and this has helped shed prejudiced views internationally that all Middle Eastern countries are dangerous. This development clearly shows the benefits of an increasing international tourism industry.

In addition to this, tourism creates new opportunities for trade. For example, many Chinese tourists are bringing back products from foreign countries that are currently unavailable in China. These new trade ties are great for the health of the entire global economy and can be seen as yet another positive ramification resulting from increased tourism.

On the other hand, the international tourism industry does pose some disadvantages. For one, money travelling into countries through tourism can lead to the establishment of some morally questionable activity. To name a few, tourist hotspots in developing countries are often rife with theft problems, maimed beggars and prostitution. The inflaming of these issues as a result of increased tourism is an obvious disadvantage to the growing global travel industry.

Following this analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and the falling travel prices that are making it more possible, it is felt tourism has more benefits than drawbacks. It is hoped the growth in global intercultural understanding continues uninterrupted as tourism increases.

This model answer was written for IELTS-Blog.com visitors by Ryan Higgins, an online IELTS instructor, blogger and author. For more of his free IELTS resources, visit his blog.