Recent IELTS exams

Our Chinese friend S. is telling about a recent Academic IELTS exam:

Listening test

Section one was about someone booking an accommodation for a family trip, he talked about his requirements.
Section two was about an announcement of a photography competition and introducing the judges.
Section three was about a comparison between a new car and an old car.
Section four was about a special sense that both animals and humans have.

Reading test

The tasks seemed difficult to me, there were many True/False/Not Given questions.
Passage one was about an innovative marketing.
Passage two was about e-books and online reading.
Passage three was about water movement.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (report)
The graphs showed population density in 6 countries and the increasing rate of urban population.

Writing task 2 (essay)
Consumer goods become cheaper now, do you think advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

Speaking test

Cue card

Talk about the last book you read, you should say
– What was that book about
– What you liked in that book
– What you didn’t like in that book

Discussion
– What are the advantages of reading?
– Why do people read?
– What are your favorite topics in books? Why?

Our Chinese friend is reporting about his Academic IELTS exam, thanks Z!

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (report)
We had a table on employment of the students who graduated from the UK in the first year. It showed rates of permanent employment, temporary employment, overseas employment and total employment. Countries of employment were England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Writing Task 2 (essay)
In some countries nowadays more people prefer to live alone than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Speaking test

Interview
– What is your name?
– What kind of job do you have?
– How do you interact with your colleagues?

Cue card
Describe a garden you visited, you should say:
– Where it is
– What people do there
– Why it is important to visit gardens.

Discussion
Do you think people in your country like gardening?
Do you think people in your country prefer growing flowers or veggies in their gardens?

My friend had another cue card, here are his questions:
Talk about some news that you recently heard, you should say
– What was happening
– Why was it happening
– Why you found this news interesting

And there was a different topic for the discussion:
– Should health education be included in our kids education system?
– How Health education in this country is different from your country?
– Did you involve your friends in your fitness exercises?
– Role of Advertisements in keeping people healthy.