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Recent IELTS exams

Real students tell about their recent IELTS exams: IELTS questions, topics, tasks, answers.

IELTS exam in the USA – January 2010 (General Training)

IELTS in the USA was described by M. (thanks a lot!), who shared the following information:

Listening test

Section 1: Tourism company representative was talking to a customer.
Questions: Filling in the blanks using two or three words.

Section 2: A student was asking her colleague about how to write a thesis.
Questions: Filling in the blanks using two or three words.

Section 3: History of a Shipping company.
Questions: Filling in the blanks and Multiple choice.

Section 4: Don’t remember.

Reading test

Passage 1: Public speaking, presentation skills.
Questions: True, False and Not Given.

Passage 2: Art Collection galleries in your area.
Questions: Match the paragraphs and True/False/Not given.

Passage 3: About Roaring Camp, California.
Questions: Match the heading to the paragraph and True/False/Not Given.

4. About the Ice Man.
Questions: Match the heading to the paragraph and True/False/Not Given.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)
Train service in your area is reduced. Write a letter to the train company, including the following:
– Explain how it affects you,
– Describe your situation,
– Tell the train company what you would like them to do.

Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some people believe that teenagers should spend their free time helping the local community without payment. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss and provide real life examples from your experience.

Speaking test

Interview
– What is your name?
– How should I call you?
– Where do you work?
– Why did you choose this profession?
– Tell me about seasons, and which season you like.
– Tell me about seasons in your country, how many are there?
– Do you prefer to stay in a place that has just one season that lasts the whole year or a place with many seasons?

Cue card
Talk about some exiting news that you’ve received by phone or email, please say
– What news it was,
– How you felt after getting that news,
– What you did when you heard the news.

Discussion
– Communication between peoples, how important is it?
– Can communication be taught, or is it in the nature of a person?
– How people can be taught to communicate?
– What types of communication can be there?
– Is it different in other countries?

IELTS exam in Australia – January 2010 (General Training)

IELTS exam in Australia was kindly shared by T. and L. (thank you!), who collectively remembered the following details:

Listening test

Section 1: An interview in the airport.
Questions: about personal information of the interviewer, such as how often he flies, etc.

Section 2: An introduction about a motor show.
Questions: Compare the show this year and last year and find differences, for example the duration of the motor show, etc.

Section 3: A student was asking for information about a course.
Questions: Whether or not the course was compulsory, was it a seminar or not, etc.

Section 4: The history and development of bicycle.

Reading test

Can only remember the last part, an article about a study of taste prepared by some scientists.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)
Your telephone company made a mistake about sending your bill to a wrong address. Write a letter to the account manager to complain and explain what problems were caused by this and what you would like them to do.

Writing task 2 (an essay)
Many people are moving in to the big cities. Why would you think this occur? Is it a positive trend?

Speaking test

Interview
– Where do you live in your country?
– Where is it located?
– What places would you suggest that people come and visit in you country?
– How long has your family been there?
– Is it a good place to grow up?
– Do you like reading? Why?
– Do you like traveling? Why?
– Where do you travel often to?
– Where would you like to travel the most?
– Have you ever been to a long trip?

Cue card
Describe a modern building which you have seen, you should say:
– What building it was,
– Where it was located,
– Why it is interesting.

Discussion
– Are the buildings these days different to the ones constructed in the past?
– What are the disadvantages and advantages of living in modern building?
– Why people destroy historic buildings?
– Should historic buildings be protected?
– Should civic buildings be built to look good? Why?
– Should a building be built in a nice looking way or rather be more practical? Why?