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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 exam in Brazil – April 2009 (Academic Module)

This update came from Brazil, where M just had her IELTS exam. She shares the questions and topics while they are still fresh in her memory:

Listening test

Section 1: A guy was trying to buy a Barbecue. The sales woman explained to him the models, advantages, disadvantages and prices.
Section 2: Specific characteristics of a Barbecue that the man had chosen and complements he should buy.
Section 3: Students gathering information about a project he needs to work on.
Section 4: The history of the development of bicycles.

Reading test

Passage 1: Text about “Pearls – a jewel from the sea”. There were 2 pages and 6 paragraphs, the questions were to match main idea of each paragraph to a statement, or to complete sentences with words given.

Passage 2: “The development of emotions in babies”. The questions were to match main ideas of some paragraphs to statements and about the research data.

Passage 3: “Foreign Language – How it is managed in the business environment”. It was the most difficult one in my opinion because it asked for to many details on the last part of Reading . We had to complete a long paragraph with words given, to identify the main idea of the text and to complete sentences with words from the original text.

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (report)
A table with 4 different types of housing in 3 residential areas, the information was provided in percentages.

Writing Task 2 (essay)
People say that watching television is bad for children. What do you think? Develop both arguments, positive and negative, and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Interview
The examiner asked me:
– My full name
– Whether I work or study.
– Which tools am I using to study?
– Where is the closest swimming pool to my house.
– Do people in my country like to swim? Why?

Cue card
A stage in my life I liked the most.
– When was it
– Where I was living
– Why it was important

Discussion
– Talk about marriage. What are special stages in my country. Why do I think they are important?
– If there was a particular stage or age at which people are considered adults in my country. What do I think about it.

IELTS exam in Taipei, Taiwan – April 2009 (Academic Module)

Thanks to C who took Academic IELTS exam in Taiwan we know this much about the topics and the questions:

Listening test

Note: this is no mistake, the Listening is the same as in Australia.

Section 1 – a girl was looking for a part-time job.
Section 2 – a student-tutor conversation.
Section 3 – it was about a museum (with multiple choice questions A,B,C)
Section 4 – about graduates and employees, can’t remember exactly, but wasn’t hard at all.

Reading test

Passage 1 – a water extraction system used on an island, Stavo, in the Mediterrean, the questions were of “true or false” kind.

Passage 2 – about medical science, very difficult, even though the title was easy “Follow Your Nose”. I just know the word, hippocampus, a part of our brain, used for short term memory. The passage describes the nose function that associated with the brain, and quotes several experts’ researches.The questions were T/F/NG and multiple choice.

Passage 3 – about astronomy, also very difficult. It mentioned the orbits of gas, dust, and planets(Jupiter, Mars, etc.) I know the planets, but it didn’t help me. There were too many professional words. Ridiculous! The questions were T/F/N G and multiple choice.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (report)
We had a bar chart “Rates of Adult Literacy by Region”. There also was a comparison of males and females in these regions (Latin America, Arab states, Central Asia, etc.), average percentage of the world.

Writing task 2 (essay)
There are many products, but only some of them meet the people’s need. Even without advertising, they will sell well. What is your opinion?

Speaking test

Interview
– Please tell me your Chinese full name.
– What’s your occupation?

Cue card
– What’s your favorite part of your town?
– Where is it located?
– What do you do there?

Follow up questions
– Would you describe your home town?
– Which part do you think is most important?