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October 2012

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

Our friend A from the USA shared the topics and questions from his recent IELTS test:

Listening testIELTS test in the USA

Section 1. A conversation about rubbish collection (what should go in which bin) between a lady and a man who recently moved to the area.

Section 2. A radio broadcast about fruits available and which are healthier and better for nutrition.

Section 3. A talk between a student and a teacher about writing a dissertation / bibliography; and so on.

Section 4. A lecture about chimpanzees, the way scientists studied their behavior (by studying videos about them), and how these animals behave and communicate.

Reading test

Passage 1. Otters.

Passage 2. A bridge problem in the United Kingdom. In 2000, Pad Dawdler (a bridge engineer) dealt with the vibrations and the movement of the bridge from side to side.

Passage 3. A man who traded towels has been trying to sell them to hotels and conducted a research into how to improve sales.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given several pie charts about the population changes in age structure of a European country. We were required to show what is presented in these pie charts and compare the values.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that children should do organized activities in their free time while others believe that children should be free to choose what they want to do in their free time. Do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Do you study or work?
– Is there anyone else in your family with the same name as yours?
– Does your name have a meaning?
– What is it?
– What do you prefer: winter or summer?
– What are the temperatures of the each of four seasons in your country?
– Do you think your country is now hotter than before? Why?
– Do you like to play sports or watch sports on TV?
– Who is your hero player in your country?

Cue Card

Describe a sporting event that you saw either in person at the stadium or on TV, please say:

– What was the event?
– When was it?
– How was it?

Discussion

– What changes will happen in sports in the future, in your opinion?
– Do you think TV stations will make any changes in broadcasting of different sports in the future?

IELTS Letter, topic: Booking a hotel room

You and your family are planning to spend a weekend at a seaside hotel.

Task: Write a letter to the hotel making the arrangements. Let them know when you will be arriving and leaving, what type of rooms you would like, and ask them how much the weekend will cost. Also enquire about activities and places of interest near the hotel.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to make arrangements for the stay during the weekend at your hotel and to get more information on the places of interest and different activities nearby.

I will be arriving with my parents and wife to celebrate my wedding anniversary on the 4th of July which will be on Saturday morning, and leaving on the 7th of July afternoon. I am looking to book double-rooms with the attached bathroom for more privacy and convenience. I would love to have at least one bedroom with balcony or seaside view for my parents. I would also appreciate if you could provide me with the list of activities that we can take part in during our stay for more fun and adventure. I prefer the locations to be nearby the hotel as we are not familiar with the place. Furthermore, I would also like to know if there are any historical sites or nearby where we can explore more about the history and local culture.

the detailed information through email or fax no later than the 4th of July with the total cost of stay during the weekend.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
A.G.

The student has addressed all the parts of the task statement fairly well. The information is organized nicely and conveyed coherently. The grammar and sentence formation are mostly fine, with only minor improvements needed. The range of vocabulary is adequate for the requirements of the task response. Overall, this letter is a very good one, and seems worthy of Band 8.

Click here to see more IELTS letters of band 8

parents’ (don’t forget the apostrophe)
a
a market
avoid repeating the same word, use a synonym instead
I would like to receive / I require