Skip to content

Recent IELTS exams

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

Update from an Academic IELTS exam, Vietnam

For this report we thank Thoai – good job, pal!

Listening test

Section 1. A simple form for students’ work placement (including the address, background, previous experiences, etc).
Section 2. Don’t remember.
Section 3. Time management.
The recording was very clear and slow. All the questions were multiple choice.
Section 4. Don’t remember.

Reading test

Passage 1. The effects of Mozart’s music on our brains, pros and cons.
Passage 2. Science researchers using data collected by amateurs.
Passage 3. About the effects that the development of modern technologies has caused.

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (a report)

We were given a table about the percentage of population that lives in cities in 5 countries and worldwide in 1975, 2002 and 2015 (predicted).

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

In most countries, the number of plant and animal species is declining. What is causing this? What can we do to correct the situation?

Speaking test

Interview

– A simple introduction & some questions about the place where I live.

Cue card

Talk about a website that you found useful.

Discussion

– Talk about the role of the Internet in today’s society.

Update from a General Training IELTS exam, Poland

Thanks a lot for sharing this, Tom!

Reading test

Passage 1. 3 Vodafone telephone plans, prices per minute, extra minutes and more related to a mobile phone plan.
Questions: Matching a statement to one of the plans.

Passage 2. A camping place ad.
Questions: True/False/NG .

Passage 3. Student’s hotel and accommodation.
Questions: True/False/NG.

Passage 4. A letter describing college courses.
Questions: Fill in the gaps.

Passage 5. Sailing and navigation, a review of progress with navigation – from early sailors up to Columbus. It mentioned the Vikings, Greeks, Italian, Egiptian and Chinese sailors and time from navigating with moon up to developing aids such as compass, etc.

Questions: matching sentences with sailors’ nationalities, matching headings to paragraphs.

Writing test

Writing Task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to the local newspaper editor, to inform him that an article about city/town you know very well that contains some incorrect information. In your letter
– write how you know that city
– what incorrect information the article contains
– what they should do about it

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Nowadays children are less fit and healthy than they were in the past. Why is this happening? How can this problem be solved?

Speaking test

Interview

– Describe the place you live in, is it good for families?
– Describe the means of transport in your city.
– How to improve public means of transport?
– Talk about the favorite newspapers/ type of newspapers in your country.

Cue Card

Describe a cafe or a restaurant you enjoy the most. Please say
– where it is
– what kind of food they serve
– why you like this cafe/restaurant

Discussion

– What kind of cafe/restaurants are there in your country?
– Talk about the social benefits of eating in a restaurant.
– What kind of factors can improve restaurants?