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October 2014

IELTS test in Saudi Arabia and India – September 2014 (General Training)

Our friends A and P took their IELTS exams in Saudi Arabia and India, and shared the following information:

Listening testIELTS test in Saudi Arabia

Section 1. A client and a real estate agent were discussing a house for rent in New Zealand.
Questions: filling in blanks.

Section 2. A student was talking to his professor about his broken finger and asking for suggestions.
Questions: multiple choice.

Section 3. A student was talking about his research on pine trees in Canada.
Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice.

Section 4. Two students were discussing all the pros and cons of living in dormitory.
Questions: filling in blanks, match headings to paragraphs.

Reading test

Passage 1. About scientific discoveries in a museum.
Questions: match headings to paragraphs.

Passage 2. About the pension system for retirees in the UK.
Questions: True/False/Not Given.

Passage 3. About the structure of dental care system in the UK.
Questions: filling in blanks.

Passage 4. How to join the Civil Voluntary system in Canada.
Questions: filling in blanks, match headings to paragraphs.

Passage 5. A successes story of a certain Norwegian music band.
Questions: filling in blanks, short-answer questions.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have recently enrolled in an evening school course. Write a letter to the director about something you’re not happy with.

– Give details of the course.
– Explain what the problem is.
– What do you expect the school to do?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many nations nowadays are competing for the right to host international sport events, however some people think it is not a good idea. Discuss both views and mention your own opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– Why did you choose this job?
– What kind of weather do you like?
– Do you prefer to spend a vacation in a hot or a cold place?
– Do some weather conditions provoke certain feelings? Why?
– Do you discuss weather with your friends?

Cue Card

Talk about a person that you know from school. Please say

– Who is this person?
– What does he/she look like?
– What do you have in common?
– Why did you choose him/her as a friend?

Discussion

– What should the qualities of a friend be?
– Is it better to have few close friends than many just friends?
– Is honesty important in friendship? Why?
– Should parents interfere in choosing their children’s friends?
– What is more important, friends or family?
– If a friend confessed to you something illegal that he/she has done, what would you do?
– How can you keep a long term friendship?

Erica shares her tips after scoring 8.5 in IELTS

Erica, a lovely lady from Nigeria, has won in our IELTS Results competition in May, and no wonder – her Overall Band Score is 8.5 with a perfect 9 in Listening. When we asked Erica how she did it, and what she would recommend that other test takers do to prepare well for IELTS, here is what she said:

BEFORE THE TEST

Band 8.5 in IELTS– I made enquiries to find out when I can take the exam, how many modules there will be, and how each module affects the overall score.

– I started my preparation as soon as I decided to take the test.

– I purchased the official IELTS practice materials, read all the tips and studied the booklet. I also attempted all the practice questions for the four modules and watched the DVD.

– I attempted all the sample questions on the official IELTS website and in search of more practice materials I discovered www.IELTS-Blog.com .

– I visited IELTS-Blog regularly and attempted a lot of sample questions. More importantly I read through all the exam preparation tips on the website and those posted by candidates who took the test.

DURING THE TEST

– Read all instructions carefully especially during the listening test.

– Remember to allocate your time proportionally, especially during the writing test.

– Work through the easiest part first during the reading test as lingering on the more challenging questions may rob you of valuable time.

– When answering speaking questions, try to relax and be as honest as possible as this would ensure a free flow of conversation. Remember, the test is mostly about your English ability and not about who or what you are. Do not feel intimidated in any way, the examiners are professionals and I believe are well trained.

AFTER THE TEST

Do not worry if you found the test challenging, because most people probably did as well.

Good luck everyone!