Introduction .
Qualifying for IELTS , SAT ,
TOEFLE and English learning courses generally depends on upgrading the standard
. What is different is the access , assignment and assessment technique . What
is different also the vocational objective . For example , English courses
differ ; some concentrate on conversation and dialogue so as to be able to deal
with clients or customers in a certain career and others on language as a whole
. SAT objective is different from IELTS ; as IELTS is one of the requirements
of migration to Canada , Australia etc. , while SAT is studied to qualify
students to join the university . TOEFLE is one of the requirements to get a
certain job and so on .
Cambridge
University Exams
The Cambridge University has
developed a wide range of English tests. The most important among them are
IELTS, FCE and CAE. You will find a variety of questions on these tests. You
will also hear a variety of accents, but they tend towards British English.
Which English Test Should you Take?
If your goal is to pursue higher education in an English speaking
country, take the TOEFL or IELTS. The IELTS has two versions. For academic
purposes, you need to take the Academic versions of the IELTS test.
TOEFL or IELTS?
Several universities around the world now accept either of these
tests. There are some important differences, too. Universities in the US and
Canada prefer the TOEFL test. Universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand
prefer the IELTS test.
The FCE and CAE are more general in nature. These tests are often
requested by universities in the European region.
Study for Career
If you are taking an English test to enhance your career prospects,
you need to take the TOEIC or the IELTS general test. These tests are designed
to assess a candidate’s understanding of English as used in the workplace. The
FCE and CAE tests are also good for developing overall English language skills
in a range of areas.
General English Improvement
If you are taking an English test to improve your overall English
skills, I would highly recommend the FCE (First Certificate in English). More
advanced learners can take the CAE (Certificate in Advanced English).
Business English
The BULATS test administered by the University of Cambridge is not
as popular as the IELTS or CAE tests, but it is your best choice if you want to
improve your business English skills.
IELTS.
IELTS stand for the International English Language Testing System .
It is accepted for study , work and migration in more countries than any other
test . More than 7,000 universities , employers , professional registration
bodies and governments around the world accept IELTS as evidence of your
English proficiency . IELTS is designed to assess the language ability of candidates
who want to study or work where English is the language of communication . Foe
a list of organizations that accept IELTS scores , visit
http://bandscore.ielts.org
IELTS is internationally focused in its content . For example , a
range of native-speaker accents ( North America , Australian , New Zealand ,
and British ) is used in the Listening test , and all standard varieties of
English are accepted in candidates’ responses in all parts of the test . IELTS
has been developed by some of the world’s leading experts in language
assessment , and is supported by an extensive program of research , validation
and test development .
How
To Score Well On The IELTS Test
Scoring well on
a standardized test like IELTS isn’t easy. Of course, it is possible, but you
will have to put in a lot of hard work. Here are some tips to raise your score.
Make an honest assessment of your capabilities
Yes that is absolutely necessary. Before you start preparing for
the exam, make an honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses. Attempt a
mock test. It will give you a general idea about what the test demands and
where you stand.
Work on your weaknesses. Take practice tests regularly. If you find
a section particularly hard to score, work on it. Ask an IELTS trainer or
someone who has already taken the test to give you guidance. Don’t ignore the
sections where you already score well. You need to prepare for them as well.
Give clear and concise answers to the questions on the speaking
test. Don’t speak too fast or too slow. Remember that good English is spoken at
the same overall pace. Practice answering questions that are regularly asked.
On the speaking test you will usually be asked some general questions about
yourself.
On the writing test, try to give well-structured answers. Never
write less than the specified number of words. It will lower your score. Read
the topic carefully before you start writing.
Familiarize yourself with various English accents
Familiarize yourself with the various accents with which English is
spoken. Pay particular attention to the British accent – that is what you are
more likely to hear on the IELTS listening test. Read the instructions
carefully.
IELTS
Success Tips
The IELTS tests your proficiency in all areas of English language.
Needless to say, to get a good band score you need to have excellent reading,
listening, speaking and writing skills. Here are some tips for scoring well on
the test.
Make English a part of your everyday life
Cultivate the habit of thinking in English. It can work wonders. An
advantage of using this method is that you can practice it even when you are
alone. Many ESL students can write well in English, but they cannot speak
fluently. To get around this problem, you need to make English a part of your
life. If you can find a native English speaker or someone fluent in the
language, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation with them. You are going
to make some mistakes in the beginning, but you will eventually learn to speak
with confidence. Practice answering those speaking questions that are asked on
recent IELTS tests. They can repeat.
Read academic texts
Read standard newspapers and magazines. The IELTS reading materials
are usually taken from well-known magazines, journals and academic text books.
While preparing for the reading module, pay special attention to texts academic
in nature.
Familiarize yourself with British English accents
The listening module requires special practice. You can hear a
variety of accents on the listening test, but the most important among them is
undoubtedly the British accent. If you aren’t already familiar with it, you
should start listening to British radio and television channels. The BBC has
some excellent materials for improving your listening skills.
Practice writing essays
IELTS essays and letters often repeat. Many test takers can write a
good essay if they get time, but unfortunately on a test like IELTS, you have
to deal with time constraints. Practice writing as many essays as possible
before you attempt the exam. Find out the essay topics that were asked on
recent tests and try writing them on your own. Although you can find model
essays on many IELTS blogs, don’t memorize them. Remember that examiners are
trained to distinguish between a learned answer and one that you actually write
on your own.
The Level of the Test
|
The
IELTS Band Score Scale
|
|
9
|
Expert
user
|
|
8
|
Very
good user
|
|
7
|
Good
user
|
|
6
|
Competent
user
|
|
5
|
Modest
user
|
|
4
|
Limited
user
|
|
3
|
Extremely
limited user
|
|
2
|
Intermittent
user
|
|
1
|
Non
user
|
|
0
|
Did
not attempt the test
|
IELTS is designed to assess English language skills at all levels .
There is no such thing as a pass or fail in IELTS . Results are reported as
band scores on a scale from 1 ( the lowest ) to 9 ( the highest ) .
Preparing to Take IELTS
It is important to familiarize yourself with the format of the test
. For information on the content of the test can be found at www.ielts.org/teachers.aspx
You may find it helpful to do a practice test . More samples of
IELTS test material and information about the test are available from the
following websites
IELTS
Speaking: How Is Your Band Score Calculated?
If you know how the IELTS
speaking band score is calculated, you can avoid many mistakes. This post gives
you a brief outline of the grading criteria.
The four factors that are taken into account while grading your
speaking samples are:
Fluency
Pronunciation
Range of vocabulary
Range of grammar
Fluency
Fluency is your ability to speak clearly and without hesitation.
Examiners are interested in testing whether you are able to express your ideas
clearly and coherently. If you pause too often or take longer to give your
answers, you might be penalized.
Pronunciation
Your pronunciation skills are equally important. The examiner
should have no difficulty understanding your speech. This doesn’t necessarily
mean that you have to sound like a native English speaker. Instead, what
matters is your ability to pronounce words correctly. You must also be able to
stress the right words in a sentence. Don’t worry about your accent because it
is not considered while grading your answers.
Vocabulary
Examiners will try to assess how accurate and varied your
vocabulary is. Don’t repeat the same words.
Instead, demonstrate your range of vocabulary by using a variety of
words and structures.
Grammatical accuracy
Your grammatical accuracy is another factor that examiners take into
account while grading your answers. You have to give your answers in
grammatically correct English. Failure to do so will result in a low band
score.
Bottom line
Speak as naturally as possible, but pay attention to your grammar
and vocabulary. Note that in the speaking module, there are no right or wrong
answers. All answers are correct and will earn marks as long as you say them in
good English.
IELTS
Test In Japan (Academic Module)
The following questions were asked in an IELTS test (Academic
Module) held in Japan in November 2012.
Listening test
The first section of the Listening Tape was about renting a place.
The second section was a conversation about the location of a rental property.
Questions were of the multiple choice type.
The third section of the Listening test was about the different
payment methods and the problems associated with each of them. The fourth
section was about marketing.
Reading test
Passage 1
The first reading passage was about the typical characteristics of
a certain kind of birds.
Passage 2
The test taker who shared these questions with ielts-blog.com
doesn’t remember what the second passage was about.
Passage 3
The third passage was about Leo Tolstoy and included a definition
of art.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
The first writing task was to prepare a report based on information
given in a graph.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
In the recent years, there has been a steady rise in the number of
organizations that allow their staff to work from home. What are the advantages
and disadvantages of this trend?
Speaking test
Interview
Can you tell me your name?
Are you working or studying?
How do you keep yourself healthy?
What have you learned about health in school?
Cue Card
Talk about a vehicle that you would like to own. Please say
What vehicle is it?
Why do you like it?
How will you get one?
Discussion
The discussion was about the public transportation system.
How can we improve the public transportation system?
You don’t have to attend a preparation course , but many candidates
find that doing so helps them improve their performance . If you would like
assistance with test preparation , ILTS centers and language schools around the
world offer IELTS preparation courses .
How To Know The IELTS Rules And Regulations
It is important to familiarize yourself with the IELTS rules and
regulations . These are laid out in the ‘Notice to Candidates’ which is
included with the application form . When you sign the application form
declaration , you are confirming that you have read and understood the IELTS
rules and regulations and agree to abide by them .
The Test Components .
1- ]Listening
- Each recording in the Listening test is heard once only .
- You will be given time to read through the questions before you
listen .
- As you listen , write your answers on the question paper . At the
end of the test , you will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the
answer sheet . It is essential that you transfer your answers to the answer
sheet as nothing you write on the question paper will be marked .
- You must write your answers in pencil .
- An example of a completed Listening answer sheet is given on the
next page .
- Completion Question Types ( e.g. note completion ) :
A- ] Pay attention to the word limit . For example if you are asked
to complete a sentence using ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS’ , and the correct answer
is ‘leather coat’ , the answer ‘coat made of leather’ would be incorrect .
B- ] Transfer only the missing word(s) to the answer sheet . For
example , if you have to complete the note ‘in the……’ , and the correct answer
is ‘morning’ , the answer ‘in the morning’ would be incorrect .
C- ] You will hear the word(s) you need to use in the recording .
You will not need to change the form of the word you hear .
D- ] Pay attention to
spelling and grammar : you will lose marks for mistakes .
E- ] You may write your answers in lower case or in capitals .
2- ]Reading
-You may write your answers directly on the answer sheet or may
write them on the question paper and transfer them to the answer sheet before
the end of the test . You will not be given extra time to transfer answers at
the end of the test . Nothing you write on the question paper will be marked .
- You must write your
answers in pencil .
- An example of a completed Reading answer sheet is given on the
next page .
- The word(s) you see must be taken from the Reading text . You
must not change the form of the word(s) in the text .
3- ] Writing
- You may write your answers in pencil or pen .
- Pay attention to the number of words required for each task . You
will lose marks if you do not write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least
250 words for Task 2 .
- You should spend approximately 20 minutes in Task 1 and
approximately 40 minutes on Task 2 .
- You must write your answers in full ; answers written in bullet
points will lose marks .
- Pay attention to spelling , grammar and punctuation ; you will
lose marks for mistakes .
- You may write your answers entirely in capitals if you wish .
- You may make notes on the question paper but nothing you write on
the question paper will be marked .
Examples Of Test Components .
1- ] Listening
Time : Approximately 30 minutes ( plus 10
minutes’ transfer time )
Questions : There are 40 questions .
A variety of question types is used , chosen from the following :
multiple choice , matching , plan / map / diagram labelling , form completion ,
note completion , table completion ,
flow-chart completion , sentence
completion , short-answer questions .
Test Parts There are 4 sections .
Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday
social context ( e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency )
Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context ( e.g. a
speech about local facilities or a talk about
the arrangements for meals during a conference )
Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an
educational or training context ( e.g. a university tutor and a student
discussing an assignment , or a group of students planning a research project )
Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject ( e.g. a university
lecture )
Each section is heard once only .
A variety of voices and native-speaker accents is used .
Skills assessed
A wide range of listening skills is assessed including
understanding of main ideas and specific factual information ; recognizing
opinions , attitudes and purpose of a speaker , and following the development
of an argument .
Marking
Each correct answer receives 1 mark .
Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale .
Scores are reported in the whole and half bands .
2- ] Reading
Timing : 60 minutes ( no extra transfer time )
Questions There are 40 questions .
A variety of question types is used , chosen from the following :
multiple choice , identifying information ( True/ False/ Not Given ) ,
identifying writer’s views / claims(
Yes/ No / Not Given ) , matching information , matching headings ,
matching features , matching sentence endings ,sentence completion , summary
completion , note completion , table completion , flow-chart completion ,
diagram label completion , short-answer questions .
Test Parts There are three sections .
The total text length is 2,150 – 2,750 words
A- ]Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text . Texts are authentic and are
taken from books , journals , magazines
and newspapers . They have been written for a non-specialized audience
and are on academic topics of general interest . Texts are appropriate to and
accessible to candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or
seeking professional registration . Texts range from the descriptive and
factual to the discursive and analytical /Texts may contain non-verbal
materials such as diagrams , graphs or illustrations .If texts contain
technical terms , then a simple glossary is provided .
B- ] General Training Reading
Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts , one of which may
be composite ( consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic , e.g. hotel
advertisement . Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking
country .
Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related
issues ( e.g. applying or jobs , company policies pay and conditions ,
workplace facilities , staff development and training )
Section 3 contains one longer , more complex text on a topic of
general interest .
Texts are authentic and are taken from notices , advertisements ,
company handbooks , official documents , books , magazines and newspapers .
Skills assessed
A wide range of reading skills is assessed , including reading for
gist , reading for main ideas , reading for detail , understanding inferences
and implied meaning , recognizing a writer’s opinions , attitudes and purpose ,
and following the development of an argument .
Marking Each correct answer receives I mark .
Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale .
Scores are reported in whole and half bands .
3- Writing
Timing : 60 minutes .
Tasks : There are two tasks
Academic Writing
In Task 1 candidates are presented with a graph , table , chart or
diagram and are asked to describe , summarize or explain the information in
their own words . They may be asked to describe and explain data , describe the
stages of a process , how something works or describe an object or event .
In Task 2 candidates are asked to write an essay in response to a
point of view , argument or problem .
The issues raised are of general interest to , suitable for and
easily understood by candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies
or seeking professional registration .
Responses to Task 1and Task 2 should be written in a formal style .
General Training Writing
In Task 1 candidates are presented with a situation and are asked
to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation . The
letter may be personal , semi-formal or formal in style .
In Task 2 candidates are asked to write an essay in response to a
point of view , argument or problem . The essay can be slightly more personal
in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay .
Topics are of general interest .
Skills assessed : In both tasks , candidates are assessed on their
ability to write a response which is appropriate in terms of content , the
organization of ideas , and the accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar .
Academic Writing
In Task I , depending on the task type , candidates are assessed on
their ability to organize , present and possibly compare data , to describe the
stages of a process or procedure , to describe an object or event or sequence
of events , to explain how something works .
In Task 2 , depending on the task type , candidates are assessed on
their ability to present a solution to a problem , to present and justify an
opinion , to compare and contrast evidence , opinions and implications ; to evaluate
and challenge ideas , evidence or an argument .
General Training Writing
In Task 1 , depending on the task type , candidates are assessed on
their ability to engage in personal correspondence in order to elicit and
provide general factual information , express needs , wants , likes and
dislikes , express opinions ( views , complaints etc. )
In Task 2 , candidates are assessed on their ability to provide
general factual information , to outline a problem and present a solution , to
present and possibly justify an opinion , to evaluate and challenge ideas ,
evidence or an argument .
Marketing
Candidates are assessed on their performance on each task by
certificated IELTS examiners according to the four criteria of the IELTS
Writing Test Band Descriptions ( task achievement / response , coherence and
cohension , lexical resource , grammatical range and accuracy ) . The public
version of the band descriptions can be found at .
IELTS
Writing Sample Questions
The IELTS writing consists
of two tasks. The writing tasks are different for the Academic and General
Training modules. In the General Training module, the first task is always a
letter. In the Academic module, the first task is usually a report.
In both modules, the second task is an essay.
IELTS writing questions can repeat and hence it is a good idea to
familiarize yourself with the questions asked in recent tests.
IELTS writing sample questions
The following questions were asked in recent IELTS tests held in
the UK and Australia.
Writing Task 1 (a report)
You have to complete this task in 20 minutes.
The test takers were given a bar chart comparing the bed time
activities of children of three different age groups (1-3 years, 4-9 years,
9-13 years). The activities that were being compared were reading, watching TV,
eating and brushing. The task was to write a report of at least 150 words based
on the chart.
Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Test takers were asked to write an essay on the following topic.
In the past, lectures were used to teach large numbers of students.
Now they are being replaced by new technology. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this development?
Students can spend up to 40 minutes on the essay. They have to
write at least 250 words.
IELTS
Writing: Sample Report
The chart shows the division
of household tasks by gender in Great Britain.
Write a report for a university lecture describing the information
shown below.
You should write at least 150 words. You can spend 20 minutes on this
task.
Source: Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Controller
of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
Model Answer
The chart given above shows the average number of minutes per day
British men and women spend in doing domestic tasks. In short, women spend
about four hours in doing household tasks while men spend less than two and
half hours.
The tasks that are more likely to be done by women than men include
cooking, cleaning, washing and child care. While women spend 74 minutes in
doing tasks like cooking, baking and washing up, men spend just 30 minutes.
Women are also far more active than men when it comes to doing tasks like
cleaning and house tidying (58 minutes per day for women as opposed to just 13
minutes for men). The areas where men are more active than women are gardening,
pet care and odd maintenance jobs around the house. On an average, men spend
49.5 minutes per day in gardening and pet care whereas women spend 21 minutes
on these tasks.
Women spend twice as much time as men on childcare. They also
account for nearly all the time spend on tasks like washing, ironing and sewing
(25 minutes for women as opposed to just 2 minutes for men).
Overall, the chart shows that routine domestic chores are mainly
done by women, while men prefer doing tasks like household maintenance,
gardening and pet care.
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score .
Scores are reported in whole and half bands .
4- Speaking
Timing: 11 – 14 minutes .
Tasks : The Speaking test is a 3-part
face-to-face oral interview with an examiner .
The Speaking test is recorded .
Test Parts There are 3 parts .
Part 1 introduction and interview ( 4- 5 minutes )
The examiner introduces him / herself and asks the candidate to
introduce him/herself and confirm his / her identity . The examiner asks the
candidate general questions on familiar topics , e.g. home , family , work ,
studies and interests .
Part 2 Individual long turn ( 3 – 4 minutes )
The examiner gives the candidates a task card which asks the
candidate to talk about a particular topic and which includes points which the
candidate can cover in their talk . The candidate is given 1 minute to prepare
their talk and is given a pencil and paper to make notes . The candidate talks
for 1 – 2 minutes on the topic . The examiner then asks the candidate one or
two questions on the same topic .
Part 3 Two-way discussion ( 4 – 5 minutes )
The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the
topic of Part2 . These questions give the candidate an opportunity to discuss
more abstract issues and ideas .
Skills assessed
A wide range of speaking skills is assessed , including the ability
to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common
experiences and situations by answering a range of questions : the ability to
speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language and organizing ideas
coherently , and the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyze ,
discuss and speculate about issues .
Marketing
Candidates are assessed on their performance throughout the test by
certificated IELTS examiners according to the four criteria of the IELTS
Speaking Test Band Descriptions ( fluency and coherence , lexical resource ,
grammatical range and accuracy , pronunciation)
The public version of the band descriptions can be found at .
IELTS
Speaking Strategies
The IELTS
speaking test takes about 15 minutes. There are three tasks: a personal
interview, a little speech and a discussion.
In the speaking test, you should try to give full answers. Avoid
answers like ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Remember that during the speaking test, the
examiner is trying to assess your speaking skills. If all of your answers are
short, he or she doesn’t get an opportunity to do that. That said, you are not
supposed to speak just for the sake of speaking. All the answers you provide
should be relevant to the question. You must also stay on the topic.
Study the three sample responses to the same question.
Examiner: Do you enjoy reading?
Candidate 1: Yes, I do.
Candidate 2: Yes, I enjoy reading. I especially like reading
biographies because there are a lot of things that we can learn from the lives
of great men and women.
Candidate 3: Yes, I enjoy reading. I also like singing and dancing.
In fact, I have been learning dance and music since I was a child.
Analysis of the answers
Candidate 1 has given a very short answer for which he or she will
not receive high marks.
Candidate 2 has given a descriptive answer that also stays on the
topic. He will receive good marks.
Candidate 3, too, has given a descriptive answer but he has also
added information that is not relevant to the topic. Although he has proved
that he is capable of speaking English, his inability to keep to the original
topic will lower his score .
ELTS
Speaking Module
The IELTS is taken by
international students who want to pursue higher education in an English
speaking country. And hence the purpose of the IELTS speaking module is to
assess a non-native student’s ability to engage in effective oral communication
with other speakers of English in educational and social contexts. Each
candidate is assessed individually by a trained examiner.
The highest band score you can receive in the speaking module is 9
and the lowest is 1.
During the speaking test, the examiner uses the following criteria
to assess your speaking skills.
Fluency and coherence
Candidates who are capable of speaking clearly and coherently
without difficulty or hesitation will receive high marks.
Range of vocabulary
While giving answers, you have to use appropriate vocabulary. You
answers must also demonstrate your range of vocabulary.
Grammatical range and accuracy
You have to give your answers in grammatically correct English. Of
course, part of your answers can consist of fragments, but you must also speak
grammatically correct complete sentences. While marking your answers, the
examiner will consider the number of grammatical errors you have made. The
fewer the mistakes the higher your score.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is equally important. The examiner should be able to
understand what you are saying without any difficulty. You must also be able to
use stress and intonation correctly. Don’t worry about your accent. It is not
taken into consideration.
ELTS
Speaking Test Questions
The IELTS speaking test takes about 15 minutes. It has three parts:
an interview, a little speech and a discussion. The questions asked in the
Speaking test are general in nature. You don’t require any specialized
knowledge to answer them. And because Speaking questions often repeat, you
should familiarize yourself with the questions asked in recent IELTS tests.
The following questions were asked in an IELTS speaking test held
in Malaysia recently.
Interview
What is your full name?
What should I call you?
Can I have a look at your identity card?
What are you doing?
Where are you coming from?
Do you enjoy reading?
Do you think children should cultivate the habit of reading?
In your opinion what are the advantages of reading?
Do you know how to use a computer?
Do you think computers are useful?
What do you like to learn about computers?
Cue card for speech
Test takers were asked to talk about the kind of clothes they like
to wear. They had to say:
Where they buy their clothes from
How often they buy new clothes
Why they like to buy clothes
Discussion
The topic for discussion was related to clothes. The questions
were:
Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
Do you think people judge others by their clothes?
What is your opinion about fashion?
What are the positive and negative sides of fashion?
IELTS
Speaking Test Questions
The questions asked during IELTS speaking tests often repeat. It is
therefore essential that you learn how to answer them. The following questions
were asked during an IELTS speaking test held in Vietnam recently.
Interview
What is your full name?
Are you living in a big city?
What do you like about your house?
Is there anything you don’t like about your house?
Is there anything you would like to change about your house?
Do you like your name?
Have you ever wanted to change your name?
Speech
The second part of the IELTS speaking test is a speech. Test takers
were asked to speak about their regular walks. A cue card was given with the
following questions.
Where do you go for a walk?
Who do you walk with?
Describe what you see on the way
Why do you regularly go for a walk?
Discussion
The topic for discussion was related to the topic for speech. The
following questions were discussed during the test.
Why walking makes people healthier?
Why do people like to go for a walk in the morning?
Do you think people of different ages exercise in different ways?
What activities are better than walking for staying healthy?
ELTS
Speaking Sample Questions
The following questions were asked in an IELTS speaking test held
in Sri Lanka in July 2011.
Interview
Are you working or studying?
Tell me something about your job?
Do you like your job?
Were you good at science subjects? Did you like your science
classes at school?
Is there anything you didn’t like about your science classes?
What is the importance of science in our day-to-day life?
Do you like to go to musical concerts? Why?
Do you think concerts are the best for enjoying music?
What about other options?
Speech
Test takers were asked to talk about an apartment or a house they
would like to live in.
A cue card was given with the following questions.
Describe that house / apartment in a few sentences
Say why you like it
Say where the house /apartment should be
Discussion
The topic for discussion was related to the topic for speech. The
following questions were discussed.
Where would you like to live – in a city or in a rural area?
What are the differences between life in a village and life in a
city?
What will be the future trends in lifestyle?
Do you think that governments will eventually ban large cities?
What are the advantages of living in a city?
What are the advantages of living in a village?
IELTS Speaking sample questions
The IELTS speaking test
takes about 15 minutes. There are three tasks – an interview, a short speech
and a discussion. You will usually be asked questions about yourself, your
work/studies, friends, family, interests and beliefs. It doesn’t require a lot of
efforts to do well in the IELTS speaking test. All that you need to do is to
familiarize yourself with the kind of questions that could be asked.
Here are some questions that were asked in an IELTS test held
recently.
Interview
What is your full name?
Are you working or studying?
Do you like your job?
Why do you like your job?
Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?
Where do you study?
Which is your favorite subject?
Do you like science subjects?
How do you travel to your college?
Is it a good college?
Do you like pets?
Do you think pets are important in our life? Why?
Do you think people should protect animals? Why?
Cue Card
Talk about a neighbor you know very well. Please say:
Who he / she is?
What do you like about him / her?
How did you meet him / her?
Discussion
The topic for discussion was related to neighbors. The points that
needed to be discussed were:
1. Why do we need neighbors?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having neighbors?
3. How often do you meet your neighbors?
IELTS
Speaking Test
The IELTS speaking test takes about 15 minutes. It has three parts:
an interview, a little speech and a discussion. The questions asked in the
Speaking test often repeat. That means before attempting the test, you must be
familiar with them.
The following questions were asked on an IELTS held in Sri Lanka.
While answering these questions you have to give descriptive answers.
Interview
What is your name?
What are you doing?
What are your responsibilities at work?
Please tell me something about yourself.
Please tell me something about your city.
Have you ever been to the opera?
Do you watch TV?
What are your favorite programs on the television?
What do you do in your free time?
Speech
During the second part of the IELTS speaking test you will have to
give a short speech. You will be given a cue card with 3 – 4 questions. Your
speech should answer all of those questions.
Cue card
Talk about a situation when you helped somebody. You have to say:
Who is the person?
When it took place?
How did you help the person?
Discussion
The topic for discussion is usually related to the topic for
speech: The questions were:
Do you know any family that needs help?
Does the government in your country help families that need help?
What about non-government organizations? Do you think they can help
families in trouble?
ELTS
Speaking Test
The first section of the IELTS Speaking test takes 4-5 minutes. It
gives the interviewer a chance to find out a little more about you. You will
usually be asked questions about your family, your friends, your hobbies and
the town you live in.
Example questions are:
Can you tell me your full name?
Can you tell me something about the town / city you live in?
Please tell me something about your apartment?
Do you have a hobby?
Have you got many friends?
Do you like the city you live in?
What do you like about your city?
Is there anything you don’t like about your city?
Do you like your name?
Have you ever wanted to change your name?
Do you enjoy studying English?
Why are you taking your IELTS exam?
While answering avoid monosyllabic answers like ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Instead give full answers.
Examples are:
Question: Tell me a little about where you come from?
Answer: I am from Mumbai. It is a port city situated on the western
coast of India. Mumbai is the financial capital of India. It is also known for
its busy streets and cultural monuments.
Question: Do you enjoy studying English?
Answer: Oh yes! My knowledge of English helps me communicate with
people all over the world. And knowing English also means that I have access to
all the information on the internet. I also enjoy watching English films.
IELTS
Speaking: Sample Interview
The IELTS speaking test takes about 15 minutes. It has three parts:
an interview, a little speech and a discussion.
During the interview you will be asked general questions about
yourself. Here is a sample interview.
Examiner: Hello, my name is Sunny Abraham. Can you tell me your
name, please?
Student: My name is Raj Kiran.
Examiner: Can you show me your ID, please?
Student: Yes, here you are.
Examiner: Thank you. Now let’s begin. First I would like to ask you
a few general questions about yourself. Where do you live?
Student: I live in Mumbai. It’s a coastal city lying on the west
coast of Maharashtra.
Examiner: Where you born there?
Student: No, I was born and brought up in Pune. It is a
fast-growing city near Mumbai.
Examiner: Are you living on your own or with your family?
Students: I’m living on my own. I have rented a small apartment in
Mumbai. My parents and sister still live in Pune.
Examiner: Do you enjoy your stay in Mumbai?
Student: Yes, of course. I like Mumbai. It is home to people from
all over the world and I absolutely like its cosmopolitan nature. What’s more,
I have got numerous friends here.
Examiner: How often do you visit your parents?
Student: Well, I visit them almost every month. Pune is only three
hours’ drive from Mumbai. So I don’t usually miss any opportunity to visit
them.
Examiner: What are you studying?
Student: I have been studying electrical engineering for the last
two years and hope to graduate in two years time.
Examiner: Great. Good luck to you and thank you.
IELTS Speaking Test In Australia
The IELTS speaking test takes only
about 15 minutes. During those 15 minutes you have to impress the examiner with
your speaking skills. Your performance is rated on the basis of your fluency
and pronunciation skills. Accent isn’t very important so don’t worry about it.
You don’t require any special practice to do well in the speaking test. The
questions are general in nature. You just need to give descriptive answers.
Avoid one-word answers at any cost.
The IELTS speaking test questions often repeat . So it is always a good
idea to find out which questions were asked in recent IELTS tests.
The following questions were asked in an IELTS speaking test recently
held in Australia.
Interview
What is your name?
Could you tell me what your full name is?
Do you like your name?
Have you ever wanted to change your name?
What are you doing?
Do you like your job?
Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?
Have you wanted to change jobs?
Who names babies in your country?
Could you tell me something about the naming ceremony in your country?
Speech
The test takers were asked to talk about a day off. A cue card was given
with the following questions:
Where would you like to go?
What would you like to do?
Whom would you like to go with?
How do you usually feel at the end of a holiday?
Discussion
The topic for discussion was related to the topic for speech. The
questions that were discussed were the following:
Would you rather have a single long holiday or many short holidays in a
year? Why?
Do you think that men and women like to engage in different activities
during their holidays? Why?
IELTS Writing and Speaking Questions
The following questions were asked
on an IELTS test recently held in Russia.
IELTS Writing
The first task was to write a report based on a given diagram. Students
had to write at least 150 words in less than 20 minutes.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
While some secondary schools provide general education in a range of
traditional subjects, others offer specialized training in a few subjects. Which
approach is better for children and why?
Speaking test
The following questions were asked on an IELTS speaking test recently
held in Russia.
Interview
Where are you coming from?
Are you coming from a rural or an urban area?
What do you like or dislike about your place of living?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of living in that area?
Do you like dancing?
Have ever wanted to learn dancing? Why?
What languages do you speak?
What languages would you like to learn? Why?
Cue Card
Test takers were asked to speak about their favorite TV program. A cue
card was given with the following questions.
When do you watch that program?
Why do you watch it?
What do you find interesting about that program?
Discussion
Do you think people spend a lot of time watching TV?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV programs?
What do you think about famous TV personalities?
Do you think they are really talented or just popular?
IELTS Writing and Speaking Questions
The following questions were asked
on an IELTS test recently held in Russia.
IELTS Writing
The first task was to write a report based on a given diagram. Students
had to write at least 150 words in less than 20 minutes.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
While some secondary schools provide general education in a range of
traditional subjects, others offer specialized training in a few subjects.
Which approach is better for children and why?
Speaking test
The following questions were asked on an IELTS speaking test recently
held in Russia.
Interview
Where are you coming from?
Are you coming from a rural or an urban area?
What do you like or dislike about your place of living?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of living in that area?
Do you like dancing?
Have ever wanted to learn dancing? Why?
What languages do you speak?
What languages would you like to learn? Why?
Cue Card
Test takers were asked to speak about their favorite TV program. A cue
card was given with the following questions.
When do you watch that program?
Why do you watch it?
What do you find interesting about that program?
Discussion
Do you think people spend a lot of time watching TV?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV programs?
What do you think about famous TV personalities?
Do you think they are really talented or just popular?
IELTS Speaking And Writing Questions
The following questions were asked in an IELTS test held in Australia in
July.
Writing
The IELTS writing test has two tasks – Task 1 is to write a letter or a
report of 150 words. Task 2 is to write an essay of 250 words.
Task 1
You are moving to another city to pursue a short term course. Write a
letter to a friend asking him to do the same course with you.
In your letter you should say:
Why you want your friend to do the course
What the benefits of the course are
How joining the course will improve the career prospects of your friend
Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Many historical buildings around the world have been destroyed or
damaged. What are the reasons for this? How can you prevent this?
Speaking test
The Speaking test takes about 15 minutes. It has three parts – an
interview, a short speech and a discussion.
The following questions were asked during the interview.
What is your name?
What is your full name?
Are you working or studying?
Do you enjoy your work?
Is there anything you don’t like about your work?
Do you want to change jobs?
Do you like your name?
Who names children in your country?
Speech
A cue card was given with the following questions:
How would you spend a day off?
Where would you like to go?
What would you like to do?
Whom would you like to go with?
IELTS Speaking And Writing Task Questions
Writing test
The following questions were asked in an IELTS test held recently.
IELTS writing tasks
There are two tasks. The first task is to write a letter of 150 words.
The second task is to write an essay of at least 250 words.
Task 1 (Letter)
Subject
You are not happy with the course you are currently pursuing and
therefore you would like to change to a different course of study. Your letter
should mention:
What course you are currently pursuing
Why you aren’t happy with the course
Which course you would like to change to
Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Topic
In some countries people get married and have children at a later age.
What are the positive and negative aspects of this trend?
Speaking test
The speaking test takes only about 15 minutes. It has three parts.
Interview
What is your name?
Are you working or studying?
Are you happy with your job? Would you like to stay in this job for a
long time?
Speech
Students were asked to speak about a country or city they would like to
visit. A cue card was given with the following questions:
Which country / town is it?
Whom would you like to go with?
Why do you want to visit that country / city?
How would you reach there?
Discussion
Do you think people will be travelling more in the future? If your answer
is yes, say why? If your answer is no, say why not? How has technology improved
travelling?
IELTS Sample Letter
The IELTS Writing test takes 1
hour. There are two tasks. You have to write a letter or report in 20 minutes
and an essay in 40 minutes.
Here is a sample letter.
Topic
Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper on reckless driving. In your
letter you have to explain why reckless driving poses great danger to lives and
property.
Model answer
The Editor
The Times of India
Dear Sir or Madam
For the last two or three months there has been not a single day on which
road accidents have not occurred in Mumbai. Most of these accidents were caused
by reckless driving. Truck drivers and those who drink and drive are notorious
for rash driving.
The other day I was horrified to witness a dreadful accident. A young
biker and his wife were crushed to death when a speeding truck that came from
behind ran over them. They died on the spot itself. I am sure that it was not
an isolated incident. Countless innocent lives are lost on the roads, thanks to
rash driving.
The concern with reckless driving is that it poses a significant risk to
the people in the surrounding area as well as the driver. Reckless drivers
could kill children, animals and pedestrians. A car that spins out of control
can harm other vehicles on the road. In addition, reckless driving can cause
significant damage to property. Thus, it goes without saying that reckless
driving is a public safety issue that must be properly addressed.
Yours faithfully
Scores are reported in whole and half bands .
IELTS Free Online Resources
Official British Council /IELTS web sites
takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ielts
learnenglish.britsishcouncil.org/ar/ielts
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ielts-practice/ielts-study-tips-and-skills
Other Websites :
englishsolutionsco.blogspot.
efllecturer.blogspot.com
writfix.com/ www.ieltstips.com/ielts-test-tips/reading-test-tips/reading-test-tips.htm
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