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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 Speaking test in Algeria – November 2022

Thanks to our lovely friend N.B. from Algeria, today we are sharing these Speaking questions from her recent IELTS exam:

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– Where do you live?
– What do you like about the area you live in?
– Do you know people who live in the same area?
– Are there common names in your country?
– Is there a name that you like, and why?
– Does this name have a meaning and what is it?
– What weather do you prefer, and why?
– Is there a place that you would want to move to, because it has the type of weather that you like?
– How has the weather in your country changed in the past few years?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a photo that you have in your house. You should say
– what kind of photo it is
– when it was taken
– who took the photo
– and explain what this photo means to you.

Part 3 (Discussion)

– How has photography changed in the past few years?
– Why do people like taking pictures?
– What was the effect of digital photography on the pictures that people take?
– Do you think social media has an effect on photography?
– Now that anyone can take a high quality photo with their mobile phone, is there a difference between an amateur photographer and a professional?
– Are professional photography courses still necessary these days?

IELTS essay, topic: Despite the benefits of walking, very few people walk nowadays (reasons and solutions)

This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test in the USA.

Even though experts believe that walking is a great way to improve one’s health, very few people walk nowadays. Why aren’t people walking? What can be done to encourage them to walk more?

Sample Band 8 Essay

The benefits of walking are numerous, and experts recommend it as a good way to keep healthy and fit. Despite this, the number of people who walk on a daily basis is on the decline. The reasons for this are manifold, but there are also several solutions that may help people walk more.

Lack of time is the most common reason people cite for not engaging in any form of physical activity. These days most people have hectic schedules that involve juggling their work and home responsibilities. As a result, they are often too exhausted or pressed for time and therefore opt for faster and more comfortable forms of transport, such as cars, bikes or public transport. Another major reason for the reduced number of pedestrians on the roads is a lack of safety. Most full-time workers are not free to walk during the day, and will skip it in the evenings or early morning hours, if they do not feel safe enough to do so.

Fortunately, there are quite a few solutions to this issue. One is making walkers safe, which means the government should ensure that there are enough sidewalks and streetlights available in every suburb, so that pedestrians can walk or jog safely whenever time allows. Another useful option is to create special walking tracks and parks in neighbourhoods where people can get some much-needed exercise in the evenings. The added benefit of promoting the healthy lifestyle and walking in the community makes this solution even more attractive.

To conclude, the pressures of daily life and lack of safely while walking reduce the popularity of this healthy practice. Governments can reverse this trend by creating more green spaces for people to walk in and addressing their safety concerns.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8