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2019

IELTS test in Nigeria – January 2019 (General Training)

Our friend O remembered the following IELTS questions after taking his test in Nigeria:

Writing testIELTS test in the UAE

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You work a part-time job in a company and the company posted an advert seeking a person for a full-time position. Write a letter to your manager requesting to apply for the advertised position. In your letter say

– Why do you want to apply?
– What are your future goals?
– Why would it be beneficial for the company?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many people believe that learning a foreign language is a very difficult task. What are the most difficult things about learning a foreign language? What is the best way to overcome them? Explain and include your personal experience or knowledge of these problems.

Speaking test

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you do?
– What do you like about your job?
– What would you improve for better work experience?
– Do people drink coffee or tea in your country?
– Why do you think it is?
– What do you prefer, personally?

Cue Card

Talk about something you own, but don’t use often. Please say

– What is it?
– Where and when did you buy it?
– Why don’t you use it much?

Discussion

– What do you think about recycling?
– Is recycling done in your country?
– Do you think recycling is important?
– What things can be recycled, in your opinion?
– How can the government encourage people to recycle?
– Let’s talk about magazines and TV ads.
– What do you prefer?
– Why is that?
– Did you buy anything that you saw advertised?

IELTS essay, topic: Obesity is becoming common among children, give reasons and solutions (from Target Band 7 book)

This essay was written on a topic from “Target Band 7” book (page 54, reprinted with permission).

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task

Obesity was once considered a disease of adults; however, it is becoming increasingly common among children. Why do you think this is happening? What can be done to help children stay healthy?

Write at least 250 words

For many years obesity was perceived as a condition occurring only in adult life. However, in recent years the number of children suffering from obesity has grown significantly. There are several causes and numerous solutions which can be used to tackle this worrying phenomenon, and this essay will present a couple of them.

While some reasons for childhood obesity are genetic, others include poor food choices exacerbated by easy availability of fast food, insufficient physical activity and a history of family members being overweight. Unlike the former, the latter factors can be changed, if the adults in the child’s life gain awareness and are willing to take action.

To begin with, health is a complex matter which requires a balanced approach. In other words, there isn’t a single solution to maintain health, on the contrary, it is rather a mixture of multiple factors, such as and regular physical activity. For this reason, increasing the awareness of healthy habits among children is a responsibility of utmost importance. What is more, it can be easily achieved through the education system.

On the other hand, children’s education might to stop the situation from worsening. Along with well designed health education schemes, we should also try to stop food companies from overusing sugar in products the young ones. It has been proven that more than 70% of the products available in an average supermarket contain dangerously high levels of white sugar. Sugar rich diet not only causes a significant weight gain, but also contributes to diseases, such as diabetes in young population.

To summarize, emphasis put on the awareness of healthy living among children is invaluable. Furthermore, combining healthy habits with stopping food companies from in products which are easily children can be effectively implemented by the governments. Positive outcomes of such measures taken today will definitely have a long lasting effect on the future generations.

This is a well developed response to the question. Relevant key points are included in the answer. Appropriate examples are also used to corroborate the writer’s point of view. Paragraphing is skillfully managed, information and ideas are logically sequenced. A wide range of vocabulary is used to allow certain flexibility and precision. Also, a variety of sentence structures is used. Accuracy of expression needs some attention (see corrections underlined in blue). Overall, the essay could achieve Band 8 in IELTS.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8

‘a healthy diet’ is the right expression here
‘not be sufficient’ is the right way to say this
‘intended for’ is the right expression here
‘using too much sugar’ is the right expression here
‘available to’ is a better way to say this