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Recent IELTS exams

Real students tell about their recent IELTS exams: IELTS questions, topics, tasks, answers.

IELTS exam in China – March 2009 (General Training)

This update is about IELTS exam in China, our friend Z is telling us what topics and questions they had in a General Training module.

Listening test

Part 2 had a map of the interior of a house. Easy, but I have poor sense of direction, and couldn’t follow exactly.
The last part was about the car development in Australia from 1940s to 1990s, blanks filling.
The whole set was quite easy, if only I didn’t feel so nervous in the first part (thus missing four questions).

Reading test

The last reading article was about the development process of a plane, the questions were matching the statements with the paragraphs and 4 multiple choices.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (letter)
It is reported that a group of people was engaged in some unpaid work to help elderly people (not sure in what country). Write a letter to tell:
1. Who you are.
2. Why do you think they are doing an important job
3. Ask what type of unpaid work can you apply to do

Writing task 2 (essay)
The cost of air flights has reduced sharply nowadays. Do you think it is a positive or a negative development, give your reasons.

Speaking test

Interview
– Do you work or are you a student?.
– Do you like cooking?
– Who cooks in your home?
– Do you like traveling?
– What is your favorite place and why?

Cue card
Decribe a piece of music you heard in childhood. You should say:
– What music was it
– When did you hear it
– How did you feel

Discussion
– Where can you hear music?
– Is it good to have music played in public places or better to keep them silent?
– Do you think there is a purpose to playing music?

The whole process lasted only about 10 minutes.

IELTS exam in UAE – March 2009 (Academic Module)

A friend from UAE is telling about his Academic IELTS exam. Thanks, M!

Reading test

The three passages were easy to read and understand but the questions were very difficult and it was hard to extract the answers. Most questions were filling gaps and multiple choice. Around ten questions were about people’s opinions.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (report)
There were two tables, the first one was about the percentage of different groups of people who are interested in reading real books. The other table was about the same groups but interested in electronic reading.

Writing Task 2 (essay)
Every year many animal species disappear. Some people say that it is important to save them, others say that we must solve the problems of humans instead. Discuss.

Speaking test

First the examiner asked me about my house and about travel, then he moved to the second section.

Cue card
Talk about a speech you heard by a famous person. You should say:
– When was it
– Where was it
– What was said

Discussion
The third section was a bit difficult. The questions were related to the second section but they were difficult to understand.