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recent ielts exam

IELTS test in Canada – November 2012 (General Training)

The information below was shared by Z (thanks!) who recently took the IELTS test in Canada. Z didn’t remember the Listening or the Reading sections, but had a good recollection of the questions in the Writing and Speaking sections:

Writing testIELTS test in Canada

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have borrowed something from your friend for a party, but it was damaged during the party. Write a letter to your friend and say

– What was it?
– How was it damaged?
– What will you do about it?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many people these days travel far for work or spend more hours working. Does this trend have more advantages or disadvantages? What do you think about work-life balance?

Speaking test

Interview

– Do you work or study?
– When did you decide you wanted to work in your profession?
– What do you want to do in the future?
– Did you spend more time with your relatives than your friends as a child?
– How often do you see your relatives now?
– Do you think you’ll see them more or less, in the future?
– Who is the most important relative to you?
– Do you like flowers?

Cue Card

Talk about your childhood friend whom you haven’t seen for a long time and want to meet again. Please say

– Who is that person?
– Where did you meet last time?
– What was he/she doing that time?
– Why do you want to see him/her again?

Discussion

Don’t remember.

IELTS test in Bulgaria – November 2012 (Academic Module)

The IELTS exam below was shared by S from Bulgaria (thank you!)

Listening testIELTS test in Bulgaria

Section 1. A man was calling an insurance company.
Questions: filling in blanks (there was a form). We had to write the person’s name, policy number, date of birth and some other information on what was the problem and how it happened.

Section 2. A table describing festival activities.
Questions: table completion – we had to write dates, activities and souvenirs.

Section 3. Two person talked about their research on running shoes. The supervisor gave them advice on how to improve their report.
Questions: multiple choice, matching each line of advice to paragraphs.

Section 4. A lecturer talked about natural fibers and their effect on the environment.
Questions: multiple choice, matching statements to paragraphs.

Reading test

Passage 1. About the life of a man who created technology for seeding the land and improving agriculture.
Questions: short-answer questions (no more than 2 words), True/False/Not Given, diagram/map labeling.

Passage 2. About violins.
Questions: True/False/Not Given, matching headings to paragraphs.

Passage 3. About the Voynich manuscript.
Questions: matching people to statements.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We had a chart showing the attendance of people in different age groups at three types of music events in Australia in 2006.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think that politicians have the greatest influence on the world. Others, however, believe that scientists have the greatest influence. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

– Where do you live?
– Is it a nice place to live? Why?
– Do you intend to leave your hometown in the future?
– Do you visit museums often?
– Do you think it is important for children to visit museums? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about an unusual job you would like to do. Please say

– What is it?
– How did you know about it?
– Why do you think you can do it?
– Why do you like this job?

Discussion

– How do young people in your country learn about having their first job?
– Do you think that governments should provide financial help for the unemployed?
– What do you think of a compulsory retirement age?