استاد آیلتس

What helped Dona get Band 8.5 in IELTS

Today I am happy to share the tips we received from Dona, a Sri-Lankan IELTS candidate, who got an amazing Band 8.5 (her Reading and Listening were both Band 9!)

 “Just a few tips I would like to share.

For reading, I found it very helpful to read practice articles, those in past papers or even from other sources such as newspapers and textbooks. A lot of consistent reading and understanding any given articles goes a long way.

For listening, I think it is helpful to listen to a few recordings to practice and get into the flow and speed of the speaker. Keep an ear out for key words in the questions that would help you identify the answer.

For speaking, the most helpful thing to do is to keep speaking and interacting with people in English. Try to speak in a consistent flow, adding more complex words often. Try not to break your sentences and pause to think or hesitate. Keep speaking.

For writing, try to plan your essay. Allocate a certain number of words to each paragraph you plan on writing and have an idea of what the main idea of each paragraph will be.”

Our friends K and A who took IELTS exams in Armenia and Spain reported very similar topics:

Listening test

Section 1. A phone conversation about house rent.

Section 2. About diving in Great Britain.

Section 3. About a building and it’s cooling and warming systems.

Section 4. About a company that was created by women in Africa.

Reading test

Passage 1. Fish species found around New Zealand.

Passage 2. Archeological findings in Africa.

Passage 3. About what makes us happy.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a bar chart, a line chart and a pie chart showing the number of students at university in years 1991 to 2001 in the UK, as well as government spending per student and the family budget of students in 2001.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some animal species such as dinosaurs and dodos become extinct because of natural processes. So, it is not necessary to try and prevent this from happening. Do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test

Interview

- Can you tell me your full name?
- Do you work or study?
- Would you recommend that job to others?
- What places of entertainment have you visited lately?
- What entertainment facilities are there in your city?
- What other places would you like there to be?
- Do you always take a bag with you when you go out?
- Do you always take the same bag, even to different occasions?
- What is important to you when you choose a bag?

Cue Card

Talk about a book you have read and would like to read again. Please say

- What book is it?
- What is it about?
- What did you learn from it?
- Explain why would you like to read it again?

Discussion

- Do you think that men and women like to read the same type of books?
- Do you think that reading a book is more challenging than watching a movie based on the book?
- Why do you think some books become internationally popular?
- Do you think it is easy to create a movie based on a book?

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – October 2011

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – October 2011

The Speaking questions below were shared by Y who recently took an IELTS exam in Australia:

Speaking test

Interview

- Where do you live?
- What parts of the house do you like the most?
- Which part of the house would you like to change?
- What are the benefits of computers?
- How do they help in our daily lives?
- What more would you like to learn about computers?

Cue Card

Describe something interesting/unusual that you did in your free time. Please say

- What did you do?
- Who was there with you?
- Why did you do it?
- What is the interesting/unusual part about it?

Discussion

- What is the relationship between leisure and economy?
- How does economy benefit from people’s leisure activities?
- Do men and women enjoy the same type of leisure activities?

The IELTS questions below were shared by our kind friend V who took the exam in Western Australia.

Listening test

Section 1. Form filling for a buffet booking.

Section 2. About wind usage in Esperance, WA.

Section 3. A conversation of a student and a tutor.

Section 4. An introduction to a health centre.

Reading test

Passage 1. A blockbuster phenomenon in museums.

Passage 2. Parents’ involvement in their children’s education.

Passage 3. The connection between talent and practice.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a graph comparing the spending on clothing, entertainment, transport, housing and food in the years 1995 – 2000 – 2005.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

A country’s future is depending on its young people. Therefore, a country should invest heavily in its youth. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Our kind friend S from Dubai, UAE has shared the speaking questions from her recent IELTS exam:

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you work or study?
- Do you like you job?
- Why do you like it?
- Did you have difficulty getting your current job?

Cue Card

Describe a leader in your life who impressed you the most. Please say

- What were his/her qualities?
- Where have you met him/her?
- How do you know him/her?

Discussion

- Would you like to be a leader?
- What are the most important qualities for a leader?
- Is it good to have a leader in your life?
- Some believe people you shouldn’t follow a leader, what is your view?

The questions and topics below were shared by our kind friend M who recently took his IELTS exam in Melbourne, Australia.

Listening test

Section 1. Arrangement of a birthday party on the hotel premises for 60 people.

Sections 2 and 3. Don’t remember.

Section 4. History of energy industry in Western Australia since 1884.

Reading test

Passage 1. About bus and train services.
Questions: True / False / Not Given, matching headings to paragraphs.

Passage 2. About singers.

Passage 3. Essential information for starting a new business including safety requirements.
Questions: filling in blanks.

Passage 4. About the coastal line and how length measurements had been done in the old days.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You are about to move from one place to another. Write a letter to your friend and say

- Why are you moving?
- When will you move?
- How can he/she help you?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Most children spend a lot of time watching TV shows and playing computer games. Should parents limit the time spent in front of the TV or PC for them? Give your own opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Which country are you from?
- Where did you live in your country: in a small town or a city?

Cue Card

Talk about a positive change that you made in your life recently. Please say

- Why did you do it?
- What happened next?
- How do you feel about that change now?

Discussion

- Will you make more changes in the future?
- Should people change their lifestyles?
- Is there a big change in our work compared to the past

To complete the IELTS exam in Algeria posted on Friday, here comes its Speaking section:

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you study or work?
- What are the main tasks in your job?
- Do you like doing sport exercises?
- What is the impact of exercising on health?
- Do you like going on holidays?
- Describe a place you like to go to during your holidays.
- What is the most interesting place you wish to visit on your holidays?

Cue Card

Talk about a TV program you have watched. Please say

- What is this program?
- When did you watch it?
- What did you learn from it?

Discussion

- Let’s talk about celebrities and famous people.
- What do TV program makers gain from famous people?
- How can you describe famous people’s life?
- What are the problems that famous people may face?