Jamie – AB51 English School

Upgrading Language Exercises

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:30:40 +0000

Avoiding ‘childish’ English is important in good writing; these examples and exercises show how to use better language and add more details.

My Family
At the Zoo

IELTS Writing – Task 2

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:35:49 +0000

In Task 2, students must write an argumentative essay of around 250 words based on a provided question. Students are expected to consider both sides of the argument, choose a position, and provide evidence or arguments for this position. Students have 1 hour to complete Task 1 and Task 2, and it is recommended students give 40 minutes to Task 2.

How to Improve Your Grade

How to improve IELTS Writing – Task 2

Sample Questions and Answers

Example 1: Violence in entertainment	Example 12: Effects of less face-to-face time
Example 2: Learn foreign languages as children	Example 13: Ban food advertising
Example 3: Designated calendar days	Example 14: Shopping because of peer pressure
Example 4: Art affects culture	Example 15: Children should be obedient
Example 5: Economic development vs social values	Example 16: Schools should concentrate on useful subjects
Example 6: Tackling anti-social behaviour	Example 17: Families are becoming less close
Example 7: Thinking about the future	Example 18: Public money is for services, not celebrations
Example 8: Technology lowers writing skills	Example 19: Local film industries need help
Example 9: Young people can be leaders	Example 20: Robots could be harmful
Example 10: Ban the sale of unhealthy food	Example 21: Advantages and disadvantages of globalisation
Example 11: Language class sizes	Example 22: Technology can fix environmental problems

Scoring Guide

IELTS Writing – Task 1

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:34:15 +0000

Task 1 of the academic IELTS writing paper asks students to summarise data, a process, or a map in around 150 words. Although students have 1 hour to finish Task 1 and Task 2, it is recommended to spend only about 20 minutes on Task 1. To successfully complete this short essay, students should look for trends and main points (not merely list what they see), and only use information presented rather than opinions or possible reasons.

Sample Questions and Answers

Backpacker Destinations	Theme Park Layout
Government Income and Spending	Top 5 Industries
Refund System	Town Centre Proposal
School Lunches	TV Schedule Changes
Subway Expansion Plan	Water Contamination
Tax Spending	Water Filtration

Scoring Guide

IELTS Reading – Section 3

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:25:10 +0000

Unlike the listening test, the reading test does not have set styles for each section. Students can assume that the passages get more difficult as the sections progress; however, this does not mean that the questions become more difficult.

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 3

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Sample Reading 5
Sample Reading 6

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 3
Test 2, Section 3
Test 3, Section 3
Test 4, Section 3
Test 5, Section 3

IELTS Reading – Section 2

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:23:44 +0000

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 2

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Sample Reading 3
Sample Reading 4

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 2
Test 2, Section 2
Test 3, Section 2
Test 4, Section 2
Test 5, Section 2

IELTS Reading – Section 1

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:21:32 +0000

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 1

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Sample Reading 1
Sample Reading 2

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 1
Test 2, Section 1
Test 3, Section 1
Test 4, Section 1
Test 5, Section 1

IELTS Reading – Question Formats

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:20:13 +0000

The IELTS reading test asks students to read 3 different passages and answer 40 questions. However, the questions may be presented in different ways:

Chart Completion

A chart completion task asks students to use information from the article to fill in the missing spaces in a chart.

An example of a chart completion task is here, with answers here.

Identifying Information

When asked to identify information, students are given statements about the passage and must answer whether they are ‘true’, ‘false’, or the answer is ‘not given’.

An example of an identifying information task is here, with answers here.

Identifying Writer’s Claims

An identifying writer’s claims task is similar to an identifying information task. In this task students are asked whether a statement agrees with what the writer has said, and can answer ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘not given’.

An example of an identifying writer’s claims task is here.

Labelling a Diagram

Similar to a chart completion task, labelling a diagram asks students to use information from the article to fill in the missing spaces on a diagram.

An example of a labelling a diagram task is questions 3-6 here.

Matching Features

A matching features task gives students a list of ideas, and must match them to the right paragraph, person etc.. For example, students must match each of five ideas with the scientist who talked about them in the passage.

An example of a matching features task is here.

Matching Headings

In a matching headings task, students are given a list of headings that could summarise each paragraph. The students must match the heading that best suits each paragraph.

An example of a matching headings task is here, with answers here.

Matching Information

A matching information task is a simple task in which students are given some information and must find the place in the passage it was written. This usually involves choosing which paragraph the information is in.

An example of a matching information task is questions 1-8 here.

Matching Sentence Endings

Matching sentence endings tasks gives students a set of incomplete sentences, and a set of sentence endings. Students must choose the endings that best complete each sentence.

An example of a matching sentence endings task is questions 1-6 here.

Multiple Choice

In a multiple choice task, students are given a list and must choose the one (or ones) which answer the question.

An example of a multiple choice task is here, with answers here.

Sentence Completion

Sentence completion tasks are similar to matching sentence endings tasks, except the student is not given a set of possible choices. Instead the student must write an answer, usually limited to 2 or 3 words. It is normal that these words are directly taken from the passage (i.e. students don’t need to think of new words).

An example of a sentence completion task is questions 9-13 here.

Short Answers

A short answer task is a simple idea, but can be difficult. Students are given a question, and a blank space to write a short answer usually limited to 2 or 3 words. These answers are generally directly taken from the passage (i.e. students don’t need to think of new words).

An example of a short answer task is here.

Summary Completion

In a summary completion task, the students are given a short passage summarising the article but with some words removed. The students must write in the missing words. Sometimes students can choose their answers from a given list, but other times they must find the answer in the text.

An example of a summary completion task is here, with answers here.

IELTS Listening – Section 4

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 13:55:57 +0000

The final section of the listening test, Section 4, requires students to listen to a long talk given by one person. Again, students must listen and fill in the correct answers. The topic of the talk is an academic subject, meaning some high level vocabulary. As well as some information to confuse students, the talk will use synonyms for words in the questions – for instance, the question may ask about ‘luck’ but the speaker talk about ‘fortune’. This is the most difficult listening part of the test – although sometimes the answers can be guessed – so students should not expect to know every answer.

– The recording is played only once.
– Students are highly encouraged to make notes of any information that sounds useful while they listen. This means they can think about answers later and not miss any of the talk.
– Note that before listening students are given some time to look at the questions. Students should use this time to understand what answers they are listening for.
– When the recording is finished, students are also given a short time to write their answers. This is when notes to think about difficult questions are useful.
– The entire listening test, of 4 sections, lasts 40 minutes (30 minutes of recordings, and 10 minutes for writing answers) and has 40 questions. Section 4 will last around 8-10 minutes and usually contains 8-10 questions.

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 4

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Test 2, Section 4
Test 3, Section 4
Test 4, Section 4

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 4
Test 2, Section 4
Test 3, Section 4
Test 4, Section 4
Test 5, Section 4

IELTS Listening – Section 3

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 13:54:23 +0000

In Listening Section 3, students must listen to a conversation involving 2-4 people. The conversation is in a formal or academic situation, meaning the vocabulary will be more difficult than in the earlier sections. Students should also be aware that the recording will include numerous pieces of information designed to confuse the student, such as comparing the past and the present, or stating something is not true and something is true. Students must therefore be careful to pick the correct information. In some cases the speakers may also use synonyms for words in the questions: for instance, the question says ‘advantages’ but the speakers talk about ‘benefits’.

– The recording is played only once.
– Students are highly encouraged to make notes while they listen. This means they can think about answers later and not miss any information.
– Note that before listening students are given some time to look at the questions. Students should use this time to understand what answers they are listening for.
– When the recording is finished, students are also given a short time to write their answers. This is when notes to think about difficult questions are useful.
– The entire listening test, of 4 sections, lasts 40 minutes (30 minutes of recordings, and 10 minutes for writing answers) and has 40 questions. Section 3 will last around 8-10 minutes and usually contains 8-10 questions.

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 3

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Test 2, Section 3
Test 3, Section 3
Test 4, Section 3

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 3
Test 2, Section 3
Test 3, Section 3
Test 4, Section 3
Test 5, Section 3

IELTS Listening – Section 2

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 13:52:01 +0000

Section 2 asks students to listen to one person talking about an everyday situation, such as describing a map or what a course will be about. Students are asked to fill in answers related to this monologue. Unlike in Section 1, Section 2 may include information designed to confuse – such as giving two numbers from which the students have to understand which is the correct answer.

– The recording is played only once.
– Students are encouraged to make notes while they listen. This means they can think about answers later and not miss any information.
– Note that before listening students are given some time to look at the questions. Students should use this time to understand what answers they are listening for.
– When the recording is finished, students are also given a short time to write their answers. This is when notes to think about difficult questions are useful.
– The entire listening test, of 4 sections, lasts 40 minutes (30 minutes of recordings, and 10 minutes for writing answers) and has 40 questions. Section 2 will last around 6-7 minutes and usually contains 8-10 questions.

Sample Questions and Answers

britishcouncil.org
Practice Test, Section 2

www.ieltsbuddy.com
Test 2, Section 2
Test 3, Section 2
Test 4, Section 2

ielts-up.com
Test 1, Section 2
Test 2, Section 2
Test 3, Section 2
Test 4, Section 2
Test 5, Section 2