Skip to content

Simone Braverman

Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and the author of several renowned IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005, Simone has been committed to making IELTS preparation accessible and effective through her books and online resources. Her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.

IELTS in Australia – November 2009 (General Training)

I have to interrupt the sequence of IELTS tips we were so lucky to get from Debashis, our Band 9 achiever, to update you on the latest IELTS topics people are sharing with me. All credits for today’s report go to S. from Australia, who remembered this much about her exam:

Listening Test

The only thing S. remembered was many questions of “fill in the blanks” type, using one – three words, and a few of multiple choice questions.

Reading Test

Passage 1: A tour package.

Passage 2: Medical policy for university students.

Passage 3: Studies about differences between men & women throughout history.

Questions: Filling in the gaps (one,two or three words), Multiple choices (a,b or c), Matching headings to paragraphs.

Writing Test

Writing task 1 (a letter)
Write a letter to the head of the department of education to show your appreciation of a course you attended. In you letter
– explain about the course,
– how have the course benefited you in your life/work.

Writing task 2 (an essay)
Machines have taken over domestic jobs that used to be done by hand. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? Give examples from your own experience.

strong>Speaking Test

Interview
– What is your name?
– May I see your ID?
– Where do you live?
– Why did you choose to live there?

Cue Card
Talk about the climate in your country, you should say:
– How hot or cold is the climate?
– How much rain do you get?

Discussion
– Do you think your friends will like the weather here, in Australia?
– Compare the Australian weather to the one of your home country.
– What kind of weather do you like and why?
– How do you think weather affects economy?

IELTS advice from Band 9 achiever – Part 5, Writing tips.

Today I am sharing with you some good tips that Debashis used in his IELTS Writing exam. There is one clarification though, before we move on – not many IELTS test centers allow using pencils for the Writing tasks. The one Debashis took his test in, in the UK, obviously did allow pencils, however in my experience the majority of test centers make people use pens in the Writing section.

IELTS Writing – General tips.

Key points – Write in pencil if possible (easier to erase for corrections), and carry a good stock of words to avoid constant sharpening. Use a good stock of words, and minimise spelling mistakes.

1. I carried a red pen with me for annotation, but decided to WRITE THE LETTER AND ESSAY IN PENCIL, as it is easier to erase a line. Carry a good supply of pencils and erasers to avoid having to sharpen them. I took the ones with ‘press-down tips’, basically a long piece of graphite inside a plastic coating, which is clicked to enable a nib to emerge each time it erodes.

2. Needless to say, have a good stock of words and minimise spelling mistakes (click here to read how).

3. What are the factors that make a person look beautiful? These will be the same elements that will make your letter and essay appear beautiful. The four components are :

(a) skeleton (structure)

(b) muscles / fat (content)

(c) skin (wrapping)

(d) balance (harmony)

If any one factor weakens, the overall appeal falls. Someone with lustrous skin may lose attraction if they are too thin or large. A muscular person will have less charm with sagging skin.

Finally, individually beautiful parts that fail to integrate will make your construction appear piece-meal, like a Picasso painting, or someone with flawless Nordic skin on one half of her face and beautiful Mediterranean skin on the other!!