how not to fear ielts

TARGET BAND

How Not to Fear IELTS

A Complete Practical Guide

Evaluation Edition 2012

SAZZAD A CHOWDHURY

http://www.facebook.com/ieltsband8

[email protected]

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Is it Easy to Score Band 8?

Yes, it is easy. Why? Because, you need to correct only 35 out of 40 questions to get 8 in the Reading and Listening section. Don`t you think that`s a big error margin?...........5 answers can be remained incorrect!!! But, millions of candidates are sitting for the IELTS every year and a very few can ever score 8. Why? Because, nobody is out there to tell them the secret way that can bring them that high score. Tons of books/CDs and thousands of training centers are devoted to help the candidates but most of them are loaded with only Sample Questions or Mob Tests or list of tips. So, is there any practical guide to get that higher band?

TARGET BAND

Speaking section....What makes you score better?

• Avoid simple traps of examiner that my hinder you to score high

• Motivate the examiner to questions that you already prepared in your home

• Use some universal techniques to sound your conversation as natural as possible

• Know some trips/secrets to score 7+ in this section following some styles of speaking

You are here to find so!!! Prepare you for the Reading section at Band 9 Level

• Make plenty of time (within allotted 60 minutes) by following a tricky technique.

• NO MORE FEAR for the HEADINGS MACHING tasks.

• Answer True/False/Not Given questions within a minute.

• Master to art of scan, skim and speed reading.

Score 9 in the Listening section!!! How?

• Predict what the speaker will say in the recording in advance

• Avoid different accent trap in the audio recordings

• Skillfully handle monologues and dialogues of the recordings

• Know the test takers tricks that can baffle you during the test

. Writing section is not hard anymore!!! How?

• Know some common frames to answer the Task-1 questions

• Practice with words usage that will boost your score

• Careful about the words and types of sentence that can decrease the score.

• Write about almost anything in Task type-2 by following some simple structure

H O W N O T T O F E A R I E L T S

Table of Contents

Reading Section .................................... .......................................................... 1 Match Headings .................................................................................................................. 1 True/False/Not Given ……………………………..…………………………………………….13 Gap fill task ……………………………………………………………………………...……….22 Sentence Completion ……………………………………………………………...…………...31 Table/Chart/Diagram Filling ……………………………………...…………………………… 40 Multiple Choices ………………………………………………………………………………...52 Short Answers …………………………………………………………………………………...65 Classification …………………………………………………………………………………….76

Writing Section ................................... ............................................................ 1 Table ................................................................................................................................... 1 Graph ………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Chart …………………………………………………………………..………………………… 15 Diagram …………………………………………………………………………………………..22 Problem and Solution ………………………………………………………………...………...31 Cause and Effect ………………………………………………………………………………..42 Advantage and Disadvantage ……………………………………...………………………… 48 Argument ………………………………………………………………………………………...55

Listening Section ................................. ........................................................... 1

Numbers & Letters .............................................................................................................. 2 Dates…………………… …………………………………………………………………………3 Spelling Letters…………………………………………………...…..………………………… ..4 Signpost Words……………………………………………………………………………………5 Handle Multiple Speaker…… ……………..………………………………………...………...,.8 Predict Earlier ……………………………………………………………………………….…. 12 Accent Trap ……………………………………………………………………………………...15 Different types of Questions……………………………………………………………………18

Speaking Section .................................. .......................................................... 1 Part 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2 Part 2: Individual Long Run…………………… ……..…………………………………………9 Part 3: Two Way Discussion ………………………………..………………………………….18 Common Framework to speak………………………………………………………...……… 23 Avoiding common traps ………………………………………………………………………...30


1

Eight Types of Questions

in the Reading Section

here are 8 basic types of IELTS reading question tasks.

Each type of questions requires a certain strategy or approach in order to make the best use of your time. You should be flexible enough to use all these different approaches that suit the question

task. In this guide, you will not only find the strategies to approach all these eight types of tasks, but also practical demonstration of each.

Match Headings

This task is pretty straight forward; you are given a set of paragraphs without their headings, you are to select the right paragraph heading from a given list. For every test takers this is a pretty labour-intensive type of question, and the strategy shown in this guide will certainly make you appreciate how easy it is.

How to solve match headings Step 1: Classify the Headings according to “organizing words” Step2: Catch the tone of Paragraphs by skimming 1st, 2nd, 3rd and last line Step3: Match paragraphs with headings by organizing words Step4: Skim for the best answer

Reading

T READING TASKS

1. MATCH HEADINGS 5. TABLE/CHART/DIAGRAM FILLING

2. TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN 6. MULTIPLE CHOICES

3. GAP FILL TASK 7. SHORT ANSWERS

4. SENTENCE COMPLETION 8. CLASSIFICATION TASKS


2

Organizing Words

Title of headings can be grouped together under some common organizing words. Like you can group these three title---“Environmental effect”, “The financial cost of recent technological improvements”, “Irrigation systems fall into disuse”----under the organizing word “Effect”

Example of Organizing Word

Fact, Description, Problems, Effects, Causes, Purpose, Process etc.

Tone of the paragraphs in the reading passage

Each paragraph in the reading passage can be identified under a organizing word. You can do it by identifying the tone of a paragraph. A paragraph stating, “The consequences of our water policies..jeopardising human health. Tens of millions of people have been forced to move from their homes.....” can be identified as Effect

paragraph.

Practical Exercise

It is the time to look at the aforementioned strategies in action and discover how easy it is to answer match headings questions. Cambridge

IELTS practice book is used on this regard, because it is the only official practice test book in the market. You can open the hard copy book if you already bought it. Otherwise, follow the passage cited below from the Cambridge IELTS 7.

Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, A—H Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A and C—H from the list of headings below Write the correct number; i—xi, in boxes on your answer sheet.

1. Paragraph A

Passage Source pages 20 - 24 in Cambridge IELTS 7.

List of Headings

I Scientists’ call for a revision of policy

ii An explanation for reduced water use

iii How a global challenge was met

iv Irrigation systems fall into disuse

v Environmental effects

vi The financial cost of recent technological improvements

vii The relevance to health

viii Addressing the concern over increasing populations

ix A surprising downward trend in demand for water

x The need to raise standards

xi A description of ancient water supplies

Example Answer

1 Paragraph A

Paragraph B iii

2. Paragraph C

3. Paragraph D

4. Paragraph E

5. Paragraph F

6. Paragraph G

7. Paragraph H


3

MAKING EVERY DROP COUNT

A The history of human civilization is entwined with the history of the ways we have learned to manipulate water resources. As towns gradually expanded, water was brought from increasingly remote sources, leading to sophisticated engineering efforts such as dams and aqueducts. At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today. B During the industrial revolution and population explosion of the 19th and 20th centuries, the demand for water rose dramatically. Unprecedented construction of tens of thousands of monumental engineering projects designed to control floods, protect clean water supplies, and provide water for irrigation and hydropower brought great benefits to hundreds of millions of people. Food production has kept pace with soaring populations mainly because of the expansion of artificial irrigation systems that make possible the growth of 40% of the world’s food, Nearly one fifth of all the electricity generated worldwide is produced by turbines spun by the power of falling water. C Yet there is a dark side to this picture: despite our progress, half of the world’s population still suffers, with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans. As the United Nations report on access to water reiterated in November 2001, more than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water; some two and a half billion do not have adequate sanitation services. Preventable water—related diseases kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 children every day, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in efforts to solve these problems. D The consequences of our water policies extend beyond jeopardizing human health. Tens of millions of people have been forced to move from their homes — often with little warning or compensation — to make way for the reservoirs behind dams. More than 20 % of all freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain irrigation practices degrade soil quality and reduce agricultural productivity. Groundwater aquifers* are being pumped down faster than they are naturally replenished in parts of India, China, the USA and elsewhere. And disputes over shared water resources have led to violence and continue to raise local, national and even international tensions. E At the outset of the new millennium, however, the way resource planners think about water is beginning to change. The focus is slowly shifting back to the provision of basic human and environmental needs as top priority — ensuring ‘some for all`, instead of ‘more for some'. Some water experts are now demanding that existing infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not first, resort. This shift in philosophy has not been universally accepted, and it comes with strong opposition from some established water organizations. Nevertheless, it may be the only way to address successfully the pressing problems of providing everyone with clean water to drink, adequate water to grow food and a life free from preventable water-related illness. F Fortunately — and unexpectedly — the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as some predicted. As a result, the pressure to build new water infrastructures has diminished over the past two decades. Although population, industrial output and economic productivity have continued to soar in developed nations, the rate at which people withdraw water from aquifers, rivers and lakes has slowed. And in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen. G What explains this remarkable turn of events? Two factors: people have figured out how to use water more efficiently, and communities are rethinking their priorities for water use. Throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century, the quantity of freshwater consumed per person doubled on average; in the USA, water withdrawals increased tenfold while the population quadrupled. But since 1980, the amount of water consumed per person has actually decreased, thanks to a range of new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and industry. In 1965, for instance, Japan used approximately 13 million gallons of water to produce $1 million of commercial output; by 1989 this had dropped to 3.5 million gallons (even accounting for inflation)- almost a quadrupling of water productivity. In the USA, water withdrawals have fallen by more than 20 % from their peak in 1980. H On the other hand, dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still have to be built, particularly in developing countries where basic human needs have not been met. But such projects must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their environment than in the past. And even in regions where new projects seem warranted, we must find ways to meet demands with fewer resources, respecting ecological criteria and to a smaller budget.


4

Step 1: Classification of Headings

There are 11 headings listed for the passage and number iii is given as examples. So there are total 10 headings need to be categorized according to some organizing word. By glancing at these 10 headings we can guess that the

passage would be about environment. So, there would be Problems and their Effects and moreover we can expect the article will offer some solution. Let`s Categorize these headings on these categories. Notice the bold words in headings that helped to categorize them.

Organizing Word Headings

Problem iv Irrigation systems fall into disuse

V Environmental effects

vi The financial cost of recent technological improvements

vii The relevance to health (problem)

viii Addressing the concern over increasing populations

Fact ix A surprising downward trend in demand for water

Description ii An explanation for reduced water use

xi A description of ancient water supplies

Solution I Scientists’ call for a revision of policy

x The need to raise standards

Step 2: Identify Each Paragraph with a Organizing Word

So far you have listed paragraph headings under some organising words. Now, it`s the time to look at paragraphs in the reading passage and determine whether they can fall under those organising words. To do this, you can skim

1st, 2nd, 3rd and last line of each paragraph. In most of the cases, you don`t need to go through 3rd or last line of the passage; 1st and last line would be enough to identify them.


5

How to Identify the Tone of a Paragraph

To get an idea of the tone/subject matter/topic of paragraph, you can skim though the 1st,, 2nd and last line of each Paragraph. The intention would be to get the tone (ex. Problem, description, solution etc) of it under previous “organizing words” of headings classification. See the illustrated example

below and note the Red Coloured words which helps to get the tone of paragraph.

Paragraph A

The history of human civilization is entwined with the history of the ways we have learned to

manipulate water resources. As towns gradually expanded, water was brought from

increasingly remote sources, leading to sophisticated engineering efforts such as dams and

aqueducts. At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative

layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water

per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today.

This last line describes water

supply system of the Roman

Empire. So, Paragraph A falls

under organizing word

“description”

Paragraph C

Yet there is a dark side to this picture: despite our progress, half of the world’s population

still suffers, with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and

Romans. As the United Nations report on access to water reiterated in November 2001, more

than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water; some two and a half billion do not

have adequate sanitation services. Preventable water—related diseases kill an estimated 10,000

to 20,000 children every day, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in

efforts to solve these problems.

This first line tells us about

problems. So, Paragraph C

falls under organizing word

“Problem”


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Paragraph E

At the outset of the new millennium, however, the way resource planners think about water is

beginning to change. The focus is slowly shifting back to the provision of basic human and

environmental needs as top priority — ensuring ‘some for all`, instead of ‘more for some'. Some

water experts are now demanding that existing infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather

than building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not first, resort.

This shift in philosophy has not been universally accepted, and it comes with strong opposition

from some established water organizations. Nevertheless, it may be the only way to address

successfully the pressing problems of providing everyone with clean water to drink, adequate

water to grow food and a life free from preventable water-related illness.

This last line tells us about

Solutions. So, “Paragraph E”


“Solution”

This second line tells us

about problems. So,

“Paragraph D” falls under

organizing word “Problem”

Paragraph D

The consequences of our water policies extend beyond jeopardizing human health. Tens of

millions of people have been forced to move from their homes — often with little warning

or compensation — to make way for the reservoirs behind dams. More than 20 % of all

freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water

withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain

irrigation practices degrade soil quality and reduce agricultural productivity. Groundwater

aquifers* are being pumped down faster than they are naturally replenished in parts of India,

China, the USA and elsewhere. And disputes over shared water resources have led to violence

and continue to raise local, national and even international tensions.


7

This 1st line tells us about a

fact (a practical situation).

So, Paragraph F falls under

organizing word Fact

Paragraph F

Fortunately — and unexpectedly — the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as some

predicted. As a result, the pressure to build new water infrastructures has diminished over the

past two decades. Although population, industrial output and economic productivity have

continued to soar in developed nations, the rate at which people withdraw water from aquifers,

rivers and lakes has slowed. And in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen.

Paragraph G

What explains this remarkable turn of events? Two factors: people have figured out how to

use water more efficiently, and communities are rethinking their priorities for water use.

Throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century, the quantity of freshwater consumed

per person doubled on average; in the USA, water withdrawals increased tenfold while the

population quadrupled. But since 1980, the amount of water consumed per person has actually

decreased, thanks to a range of new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and

industry. In 1965, for instance, Japan used approximately 13 million gallons of water to produce

$1 million of commercial output; by 1989 this had dropped to 3.5 million gallons (even

accounting for inflation)- almost a quadrupling of water productivity. In the USA, water

withdrawals have fallen by more than 20 % from their peak in 1980.

This 1st line gives the

description (explanation) of

two factors. So, Paragraph

G falls under organizing

word “Description”


8

Step 3: Matching Paragraphs & Headings by Organizing Words

So far you have listed paragraphs under some organising words. Now, it`s the time to comparatively look at our findings/research. You can see the outcome of our observation in the table below.

Organizing Words Paragraph Headings

Problem C & D iv / v / vi / vii / viii

Fact F ix

Description A & G ii / xi

Solution E & H i / x

Things are Getting Easy Now!

After matching the headings with paragraph numbers as it is shown in the table above, don’t you think it is getting easy now to answer the questions? The answer for Paragraph F is found ix. There is a 50/50 possibility in

answering Description & Solution Paragraphs. Only you need to eliminate 3 headings for the Problem Category. Let do this in the next step.

This 1st line tells us about

solution. So, Paragraph H


‘Solution”

Paragraph H

On the other hand, dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still have to be built,

particularly in developing countries where basic human needs have not been met. But such projects

must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their

environment than in the past. And even in regions where new projects seem warranted, we must find

ways to meet demands with fewer resources, respecting ecological criteria and to a smaller budget


9

Step 4: Skim Paragraphs for the Best Answer

After the end of step 2, it is clear that several headings need to be eliminated to find the best match. In this step you need to skim each paragraph to find the best answer. This process is illustrated below. Note the Red Coloured words that help to determine the best answers

Organizing Word: Problem Paragraph C

Yet there is a dark side to this picture: despite our progress, half of the world’s population still suffers, with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans. As the United Nations report on access to water reiterated in November 2001, more than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water; some two and a half billion do not have adequate sanitation services. Preventable water—related diseases kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 children every day, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in efforts to solve these problems.

Possible Choices:

× iv Irrigation systems fall into disuse (It does not say anything about irrigation)

× v Environmental effects (It does not say anything about environment)

× vi The financial cost of recent technological improvements (There is no mention of cost)

�� vii The relevance to health (I does say about disease or health problem)

× viii Addressing the concern over increasing populations (There is no mention about increasing population)

Paragraph D

The consequences of our water policies extend beyond jeopardizing human health. Tens of millions of people have been forced to move from their homes — often with little warning or compensation — to make way for the reservoirs behind dams. More than 20 % of all freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain irrigation practices degrade soil quality and reduce agricultural productivity. Groundwater aquifers are being pumped down faster than they are naturally replenished in parts of India, China, the USA and elsewhere. And disputes over shared water resources have led to violence and continue to raise local, national and even international tensions.

× iv Irrigation systems fall into disuse (It does not say anything about irrigation)

�� v Environmental effects (It does not say about environment/Ecosystem/Soil Quality)

× vi The financial cost of recent technological improvements (There is no mention of cost)

× viii Addressing the concern over increasing populations (There is no mention about increasing population)


10

Organizing Word: Description Paragraph A

The history of human civilization is entwined with the history of the ways we have learned to manipulate water resources. As towns gradually expanded, water was brought from increasingly remote sources, leading to sophisticated engineering efforts such as dams and aqueducts. At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today.

Possible Choices:

× ii An explanation for reduced water use (There is no mention about reduced water use)

�� xi A description of ancient water supplies (There is mention of a ancient/ Roman water supply system)

Paragraph G

As there are two possible answer choices and one is just fixed for Paragraph A, the answer is

�� ii An explanation for reduced water use

Organizing Word: Solution Paragraph E

At the outset of the new millennium, however, the way resource planners think about water is beginning to change. The focus is slowly shifting back to the provision of basic human and environmental needs as top priority — ensuring ‘some for all`, instead of ‘more for some'. Some water experts are now demanding that existing infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not first, resort. This shift in philosophy has not been universally accepted, and it comes with strong opposition from some established water organizations. Nevertheless, it may be the only way to address successfully the pressing problems of providing everyone with clean water to drink, adequate water to grow food and a life free from preventable water-related illness. Possible Choices:

�� i Scientists’ call for a revision of policy (There is mention for experts/scientists demand)

× x The need to raise standards. (There is no mention of standards)

Paragraph H

There are 2 answer choices for solution category and one is just fixed for Paragraph E, so Para-H is

�� x The need to raise standards


11

True/ False/ Not Given or Yes/ No/ Not Given

This is part of the reading test where most of the students get worried about. Most candidates’ dot not understands the difference between No or False and Not Given. Let

us clear this controversy, “No/False” means there is something in the

passage with is just opposite/against the statement. “Not

Given” means there is nothing in the reading passage to

support or contradict with the question statement. The golden

rule for reading part in the IELTS is not to follow your own idea

but to follow the idea stated in the text.

Let`s test your capability of reading by simply testing the above paragraph in IELTS style.

Test: Do the statements agree with the information given in the paragraph?

Write: True if the statement agrees with the information

False if the statement contradicts the information

Not given if there is no information on this

1. ‘No’ and ‘false’ represents the same thing

2. Many IELTS candidates score comparatively lower band in this part of the test.

3. ‘Not given’ means that you should use your own ideas.

Answers to exercise above

1. True (Because, No and False are joined with “and” in the text)

2. Not Given (There is no mention of getting lower band score in the text)

3. False (It is stated in the text that students should not follow their own ideas)

How to solve True/False/Not Given

Step 1: Identify key words in the question Step2: Scan reading passage to find the keyword Step3: Read the passage line which contains the keyword Step4: Determine whether it is same, opposite or out of context


12

Some Pages are Not Available in this Evaluation Copy


1

Two Types of Questions

in the Writing Section

here are 2 basic types of IELTS writing question tasks.

Each type of questions requires a certain strategy or approach in order to make the best use of your time. You should be flexible enough to use all these different approaches that suit the question

task. In this guide, you will not only find the strategies to approach all these eight types of tasks, but also practical demonstration of each.

Task 1: Table

A table will be presented to you and you must write out approximately a 150 word discussion on it within approximately 20 minutes. You must evaluate the table, organize your ideas, and develop them into a cohesive and coherent explanation.

How to write about a table Paragraph 1 Write a descriptive introduction Paragraph 2 Write a overview Paragraph 3 & 4... Describe key information

Writing

T WRITING TASKS

TASK1: DATA OR PROCESS (150W/20M) TASK 2: AN ESSAY OR REPORT (250W/40M)

� TABLE �� PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

� GRAPH �� CAUSE AND EFFECT

� CHART �� ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE

�� DIAGRAM OF A PROCEDURE �� ARGUMENT


2

Practical Exercise

It is the time to look at the aforesaid strategies in action and discover how easy it is to write about a Table. Cambridge IELTS practice book is

used on this regard, because it is the only official practice test book in the market. You can open the hard copy book if you already bought it. Otherwise, follow the table cited below from the Cambridge IELTS 2.

The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in Britain from 1972 to 1983.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.

You should write at least 150 words

Consumer durables 1972 1974 1976 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983

Percentage of households with:

Central heating 31 43 48 52 55 59 60 64

Television 93 95 96 96 97 97 97 98

Video 18

Vacuum cleaner 87 89 92 92 93 94 95

Refrigerator 73 81 88 91 92 93 93 94

Washing machine 66 68 71 75 74 78 79 60

Dishwasher 3 3 4 4 5

Telephone 42 50 54 60 67 75 76 77

Paragraph 1: Write a descriptive introduction

You should write total 3 sentences in the first paragraph. First sentence would be introductory sentence by paraphrasing the question statement because writing the exact question statement will cut down your score. The second &

third sentence would be overview sentence about the table.

Table Source pages 28 in Cambridge IELTS 2.


3

How to Paraphrase the Question Statement

As it is stated above, you should write a introductory sentence in the first paragraph. Some students spend a lot of time writing an introduction. Here is a quick way to write an introduction. The very first step to paraphrase the question statement is to change the reporting verb of the question

statement. In the question statement you will find something like: "The table below shows the....” The most commonly used reporting verbs for this purpose tend to be "shows". However, this is not the only verb use to refer the data of table or graph. To, paraphrase the question statement; you can choose from the following list of reference verbs:

Example of Reporting Verbs

Provide The table provides information about...

Represent The table represents statistics on....

Indicate The table indicates the number of......

Just after changing the reporting verb, you can write about what the data represents in the table in your own words. Check whether the table presents total volume or percentage. Next to this just write the time duration showed in the table. So, the shortcut formula would be:

Changing the reporting verb >> Write what is the data about >>

Time duration

Example of Introductory Sentence

The table provides percentage of households in Britain using different consumer durables from 1972 to 1983

The table represents the percentages of household possess a range of consumer durables in eight different years.

The table indicates the household statistics using consumer durables in British households from 1972 to 1983.

Now, it is the time to write overview sentences. In the first sentence you can write the general trend of the table. In the second sentence you can write any contrast or compare visible in the table. Sounds difficult? Just follow the sentence format presented in the next page and you will find it easy.


4

Overview Format for Writing 2 Sentences

1. Overall, _____increased/decreased between____.(General trend)

In particular___________ while_______________(Contrast)

2. It is clear from the figures that________________(General trend)

Nearly__, with a little differentiation in case of_____(Contrast)

3. Not surprisingly,________________________(General trend)

However, ___slightly fewer/less/more than ____ did. (Compare)

Now let`s put these sentence structure format for writing overview for the above table.

Example of Overview Sentences

Overall, the household ownership of consumer durables in Britain increased between 1972 and 1983. In particular, the percentage of households with central heating rose, while the number of households with a washing machine fell.

It is clear from the figures that there is an increasing use of consumer durables in Britain from 1972 to 1983. Nearly, all products usage showed an upward trend with a little differentiation in case of washing machine.

Not surprisingly, the ownership of consumer durables rose in Britain over the years. However, the usage central heating increased slightly more than dishwasher did.

Paragraph 3 & 4: Describe Key Information

To describe key information in a table you should describe the important data in the table. You can`t write about every column and row, so look for the:-

� The biggest and smallest number in columns or rows

� The biggest change in numbers over the time period

� The closest similarity, dissimilarity and exceptions among categories of data


5

The Biggest and Smallest Number in columns or rows

Looking at the table, we can see that the biggest number in rows goes to

television (93 ...98.) category and the smallest number goes to dishwasher

(3...5) category.

Central heating 31 43 48 52 55 59 60 64

Television 93 95 96 96 97 97 97 98

Video 18

Vacuum cleaner 87 89 92 92 93 94 95

Refrigerator 73 81 88 91 92 93 93 94

Washing machine 66 68 71 75 74 78 79 60


Telephone 42 50 54 60 67 75 76 77

The Biggest and Smallest Number Format for Writing

It is interesting to see that the majority of____________. In contrast, the lowest percentage/number of______________________________________________.

Now let`s put these sentence structure format for the above table.

Example

It is interesting to see that the majority of households owned Television in 1972 and the figure has risen to 98% from 93% by 1983. In contrast, the lowest percentage of households used dishwasher and the figure rose from only 3% in 1978 to just 5% by 1983.

Notice the use of quantifiers (ex. “the majority of” for countable noun “households”) in writing table. You should be careful in using them with countable and uncountable forms.

Only with uncountable nouns

With uncountable and countable nouns

Only with countable nouns

a little no/none a few

a bit (of) not any a number (of) - some (any) several a great deal of a lot of a large number of a large amount of plenty of a great number of

- lots of The majority of


6

Therefore, while describing the above table, you can alternatively write like:

It is interesting to see that the majority of/a large number of/a great number of/ households owned Television in 1972 and the figure has risen to 98% from 93% by 1983.

Notice the use of connective words (ex. “in contrast”) in writing table. Following list contain other connective words you can use describing this type of comparison or contrast.

On the contrary Alternatively On the other hand

However Whereas -

So, you can write... On the contrary/ Alternatively/ On the other hand/ However/ Whereas/ In contrast, the lowest percentage of households used dishwasher and the figure rose from only 3% in 1978 to just 5% by 1983.

The Biggest Changes in Numbers over the Time Period

Looking at the table, we can see that the biggest change in numbers from 1972 to

1983 goes to Telephone (77-42=35) and next is Central heating (64-31=33)

Central heating 31 43 48 52 55 59 60 64

Television 93 95 96 96 97 97 97 98

Video 18

Vacuum cleaner 87 89 92 92 93 94 95

Refrigerator 73 81 88 91 92 93 93 94

Washing machine 66 68 71 75 74 78 79 60


Telephone 42 50 54 60 67 75 76 77

The Biggest Changes in Number Format for Writing

The greatest increase was in _________________________rising from________________. Next came to _________(category with second biggest change), rising from__________________________________________________.


7


Example

The greatest increase was in telephone ownership, rising from 42% in 1972 to 77% in 1983. Next came central heating ownership, rising from 37% of households in 1972 to 64% in 1983.

The Closest Similarity, Dissimilarity and Exceptions among

Categories of data

Looking at the table, we can see that video category is a exception as it

has data available only for 1983 and washing machine shows dissimilarity

because from 1983 to 1972 all data shows a increase but the households

percentage with washing machine comes down to 60 from 66 in 2983.

Consumer durables

1972 1974 1976 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983

Percentage of households with:

Central heating 31 43 48 52 55 59 60 64

Television 93 95 96 96 97 97 97 98

Video 18

Vacuum cleaner 87 89 92 92 93 94 95

Refrigerator 73 81 88 91 92 93 93 94

Washing machine 66 68 71 75 74 78 79 60


Telephone 42 50 54 60 67 75 76 77


8

The closest similarity. dissimilarity and exceptions writing format

Finally, it is worth noting that ___________________________, meanwhile _______________________________________________.


Example

Finally, it is worth noting that ownership of washing machine actually fell by 19% between1982 & 1983, meanwhile the video reorder just got introduced into the market in 1983.

The Final Writing (160 words in 20 Minutes)

Adding up all the examples of writing different parts of a table, let̀ see what

comes up finally.

The table provides percentage of households in Britain using

different consumer durables from 1972 to 1983.

Overall, the household ownership of consumer durables in Britain

increased between 1972 and 1983. In particular, the percentage of

households with central heating rose, while the number of

households with a washing machine fell.

It is interesting to see that the majority of households owned

Television in 1972 and the figure has risen to 98% from 93% by

1983. In contrast, the lowest percentage of households used

dishwasher and the figure rose from only 3% in 1978 to just 5% by

1983.

The greatest increase was in telephone ownership, rising from 42%

in 1972 to 77% in 1983. Next come central heating ownership,

rising from 37% of households in 1972 to 64% in 1983.

Finally, it is worth noting that ownership of washing machine

actually fell by 19% between1982 & 1983, meanwhile the video

reorder for consumer just got introduced into the market in 1983.


9



1

Seven Types of Questions

in the Listening Section

There are 7 basic types of IELTS writing question tasks.

Four Parts in the Listening Section

Listening test is the 1st test you will be doing on the test day. You will write answer on question paper as you listen and at the end of audio listening you will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet. Listening answer sheet can be downloaded here.

Typical IELTS Listening Test Situation Part Topics

Social Needs Section 1 � Discussion on TV Program

� Someone making complaint/booking

� Someone asking for information

Section 2 � Someone describing rules and regulations about a restaurant/hotel

� Procedure you need to follow to get a driving license or to make a complaint

Education & Training Section 3 � Students discussing lecture or planning assignment/thesis/talking to college or university authority

Section 4 � An expert/professor/researcher talking about something.

Listening

LISTENING TASKS

� MULTIPLE CHOICE �� LABELING A MAP

� SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS �� SUMMARY COMPLETION

� SENTENCE COMPLETION �� CLASSIFICATION

�� DIAGRAM /TABLE/FLOW-CHART COMPLETION


2

How to Prepare for Listening Section

The only way to do well at listening section is Practice. But, you don`t need to practice tons of exercises. In this book, I am going to compartmentalize the practice lession for IELTS listening module.

Number & Letters

Practice listening for numbers. They can occur in an y section of the listening test. You may be required to listen out for a telephone number, some one’s height or weight, the number of a bank account, a sports score, the cost of a gift, the di mensions of an object and others.

A common problem with the listening test is that yo u may have trouble distinguishing what the number is. Is it 15 or 50, 17 or 70? Remember cod es, reference numbers and policy numbers are quite often written with numbers and capital letter s. They should be written like this, “W3E1R6”.

Download Section

Click on the link to download the audio file and answer the following questions. https://www.opendrive.com/files?MF8yOTE1OTEyX29TZ1Y0

Number and Letters

It is a very good listening practice for section 1. keep in mind that 'reference number', 'flight number',

'passport number' and ' post number' are all combinations of letters and numbers.

1. Flight number: _____ 2. Flight number: _____ 3. Reference number: _____ 4. Reference number: _____ 5. Surname: _____ 6. Surname: _____ 7. Address: _____ _____ 8. Address: _____ _____ 9. Telephone number: _____ 10. Telephone number: _____


3

Dates

The most significance about writing dates in IELTS listening module is never to write dates like 12/07 /2010. If you have written so, an American person will int erpret it to be the 7th December 2010. However, a B ritish citizen will read the same date to be the 12th July 2010. You must write dates in IELTS listening as 1 2 July 2010 instead of 12/07/2010. Otherwise, you can also write July 12, 2010. 12th July 2010 and July 12th, 2010 are also correct.

Similarly, days and months must also be written in full spelling. For example, you should write Saturd ay instead of Sat. One more thing is the capitalizatio n of the first letter. Writing 'december' or 'satur day' will be considered spelling errors. So, you must write mont hs and days with first letters capitalized like 'De cember' and 'Saturday'.

Download Section

Click on the link to download the audio file and answer the following questions. https://www.opendrive.com/files?MF8yOTI4Mjg0XzVMN3I3

Dates

It is a very good listening practice for section 1. Keep in mind that dates should be written like: 12

July 2012

1. Lincolns’ Birthday: _____ 2. Valentine’s Day: _____ 3. Washington`s Birthday: _____ 4. April Fool Day: _____ 5. Easter Date: _____ 6. Mothers Day: _____ 7. Memorial Day: _____ 8. Fathers Day: _____ 9. Independence Day: _____ 10. Friendship Day: _____ 11. Halloween Day: _____ 12. Thanks Giving Day: _____


4

Spelling Letters

Do you know a British Native can speak A-E-I, G and J, B and V in a very close tone, so that it become difficult to distinguish them. Here is an Example Exe rcise for you to Practice

Download Section

Click on the link to download the audio file and answer the following questions.

https://www.opendrive.com/files?MF8yOTI4MzM3X3JzbTJ z

Spelling Letters

Listen to the downloaded audio file and listen to a women speaking to a bank manager about opening

a bank account and answer the following questions.

1. Customer Name: _____ 2. Adresss: _____ 3. Mother’s Maiden Name: _____ 4. Living Before: _____ 5. Road Address: _____ 6. Reference Number: _____

To Practice more Listening Letters Download an Excellent Software at

http://engspell.sourceforge.net/

To Practice most frequent misspelt words in the IELTS Test Click at

http://www.cambridge.org/servlet/file/store7/item621097/version1/VocabForI

ELTS_WLM_FrequentlyMisspeltWords.pdf

Complete Exercise

Now, you may have practice enough and achieve excel lent listening skills to hear numbers and letter in English conversation. It is the time to go for a test comprising both number and letters.

Download Section

Click on the link to download the audio file and answer the following questions. https://www.opendrive.com/files?MF8yOTI4Mzc0Xzh4TTFC

1. Irene 2. Walker 3. 27 Scythe Close 4. Gibson 5. Inglewood

6. 21 Yeovil Road 7. XK4625QV


5

Complete Exercise

Listen to the downloaded audio file and listen to a man speaking to a customer service female

representative for reporting a problem about a credit card account and answer the following

questions.

Example

Identification and security check: Platinum Card Service

1. Card number:

2. Name:

3. Postcode:

4. Address:

5. Date of birth:

6. Mother`s maiden name:

Signpost Words

To recognize signpost words and anticipate what the speaker would say are importing skills for the listener listening module. Signpost indicates direction where to go, for exampl e when you drive you see road signs saying turning left, right or giving you information where the read leads to. Signpost words conjunctions used for result, contrast, comparison, illustration /example, reasons and addition. Some examples of signposts are:

To introduce a new point: “ right, Okay, good, now, well”

To list points: “ first, first of all, for a start, second, another, also, then, next, finally, last”

To explain: “ In other words, that is, I mean, look at it this wa y”

To signal important points: “the important/central point, I would like to stre ss, You have to remember that, the fact is that, so you see that, in fact, w hat I am saying is that”

To express result: “ so, therefore, as a result”

To give an example: “ for instance, for example, take the case of , imagi ne, like, such as, let`s look”

1. 6992 3443 1147 8921 2. Carlos da Silva 3. SE1 8PB 4. 43 Vauxhall

Close, London 5. 13 July 1963/'63 6. Moore


6

To show contrast: “but, however, on the other side”

To sum up at the end: “In conclusion, In short, In brief, summing up, so you see , the result is that”

Download Section

Click on the link to download the audio file and answer the following questions. https://www.opendrive.com/files?MF8yOTI4NDkwX0lKc0NY

Signpost Word Exercise

Listen to the downloaded audio file and listen to an expert speaking about personal saving practices

in the USA and answer the following questions.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

1. According to George Bernard Shaw, men are supposed to understand ................... economics and finance.

2. However, women are more prepared to .................................about them

3. Women tend to save for ............................... and a house

4. Men tend to save for ................................and for retirement.

5. Women who are left alone may have to pay for .......................when they are old.

Do You Find it Difficult? Just follow the Answer

discussion below and see how easy it is to answer t hese questions using Signpost Words.

First listen for George Bernard Show Highlight the keyword George Bernard Shaw and wait for the speaker to say the word "George Bernard Shaw"

1. According to George Bernard Shaw, men are supposed to understand ...................

economics and finance.

Next, listen to the signpost word "He also said" (he also said a women having fewer pretensions is far more willing to learn)

2. However, women are more prepared to .................................about them


7

Secondly, wait for the Change of Direction There were 2 questions about "George Bernard Show". We already answered them. So, wait for listening next signpost word to answer the next questions. After taking about George Bernard show, speaker is changing the direction of his speech by saying the signpost word "Let’s look (what man and women actually save for)". Highlight the keyword "Women" & "save for " and wait to listen these keywords and you can hear " Research studies of women in North America have found that women are far more likely to save for their children education and they are also more likely to save up in order to buy a house one day

3. Women tend to save for ............................... and a house

Next, highlight the keyword “Men” & “save for”. Listen the speaker is saying the

signpost word "on the other hand" (The same studies have found that man on the other

hand tend to save for car). Notice, how interesting it is that answer arrives just after the

signpost word.

4. Men tend to save for ................................and for retirement.

To answer question no.5, highlight keywords "women" "have to pay for (what?)". You will hear "Since women are likely to be the ones left without a partner in old age, they may therefore have to pay for nursing care".

5. Women who are left alone may have to pay for .......................when they are old

Women prepared for _________ (What?) Women save for ____________ (What?) Men save for _______________ (What?) Women have to pay for _______ (What?)

T H E O R Y O F H I G H L I G H T I N G

K E Y W O R D S

A S K T H E Q U E S T I O N

W H A T ? W H E R E ? H O W ?


8



1

Three Types of Interview

in the Speaking Section

There are 3 basic pats of IELTS speaking task.

Scenario in the Speaking Section

Speaking test is the last test you will be doing before or after the test day. You will be sitting in front of an examiner and your interview will be recorded on a audio player, so that after the result get published if you complain about your score; your test can be re-examined. You will have 11-14 minutes to complete

the test counting from your entrance to the examiner`s room to the end of farewell conversation.

Most common IELTS Speaking Topic Round Interview Type Topics

1 Introduction � Your living

� Your interests

� Your Hobby

2 Individual Long Run

� People who influences you

� Your clothing/thought of fashion

� Favorite book, film, music or TV program

� Your memorable travel/journey

� A special day of your life

� Skills you have learned

Speaking

SPEAKING TEST

� INTRODUCTION

� INDIVIDUAL LONG RUN (PICKING CUE CARD)

� TWO WAY DISCUSSION


2

� Precious Person re Object in personal life

3 Two Way Discussion

� Free conversation between the examiner and candidate link to the subject from round-2

How to Prepare for the Speaking Test

You already get the list of topics of IELTS speaking. Do not take it lightly, because it took me years to broadly categorize the speaking test topics in these narrow lists and you will be happy to know that almost

99.99% test questions covers these topics. So, I guess you already figure it out. Preparing to speak all these listed topics will make you tension free during the interview. In the third round, the examiner enjoys cent percent freedom to ask you any question related to the topic you spoke in part-2. So, it seems there is nothing to prepare for that round. Bu, in this book I will discuss some common question framework usually asked in part-3.

Part-1: Introduction

During this first round the examiner will introduce him/her and ask you to show your Photo ID. He will have a quick check on your ID and ask you a personal question stating your name from the ID…Like so Mr. Paul, do you work or study??

Remember, students generally get a low score in this

section because of short or one word answers.

If the student only gives short answers, even if it is during part one, they should not expect a good score. This is due to the fact that this is a test and in an English speaking test students should be showing off their English speaking ability rather than giving short answers or worse, repeating the question in the answer. At least 3 sentences are recommended for even part 1 answers. So, answer of “Do you work or study?” can be

Actually … I am studying medicine. It was not somet hing I always wanted to do although both my parents are doctors. That might so und surprising, but I really loved

to be a musician. As I grew up, however, I saw the work my parents did and was really impressed by how much they helped people so I decided I would follow in their

footsteps and study medicine too.”

Or,

Well… I’m an engineer, in fact, I am civil engineer . Although, for a time when I was young, I really wanted to study science, I found th at engineering was really a fascinating field. Civil engineering in particular attracted me because it is so

important for society – bridges, dams, roads … thin gs people need everyday … civil engineers play a role in all of these.


3

Many successful candidates stated that they were asked

questions in the speaking section which they were prepared

in home. It helps them to score high. But, remember that

your speaking should not sound like you are speaking

memorised answers. For that you need to develop to speak

clearly in academic tone. Let`s remind that you do not need

to demonstrate accent or speed in this test rather you need

to show accuracy and fluency where accuracy means

speaking with minimal grammatical error and fluency doesn’t means speaking

quickly, but to avoid pause like hmm...(silence)..I mean.. (silence). This is an

oral test; you have to speak something than remain silent.

I am going to list speaking questions of part-1 from official IELTS tests held on different months in 2012 in different parts of the world. There is no specific best answer for each question; you can try your own to speak about these questions. But, I am going to give a Band 8 answer of all these questions. Have a look at these answers. Get some idea, so that you will not lost yourself in answering these questions in the real test.

Your Interest

Do you like sports?

At this time Cricket is the most popular sports in our country. Because, we have a gorgeous national cricket team use to play in the World Cup and they have done quite well with some of the best all-rounder ranking at top of the world.

I am a big Cricket fan, even though I am not very good at playing cricket myself. I love to watch the sport on TV. I have played Cricket whenever I get a chance since I studied in the middle school.

I think any kind of sports activity not only refreshes the body but also makes mentally alert and ready and eager to engage in the work of the day. In addition, a reasonable amount of sports activity prepares the body for a good night's sleep. However, over-indulgence in physical exercise can do

more harm than good. Because, it can make you too tired to stay awake during the work.

Oh. Off course, I like to play tennis because most of friends are inclined towards tennis recently. The place where I live offer a nice facility but the problem is it is bit expensive. I am looking forward to afford it in the near future.

N O T I C E ,

H O W

S P E A K I N G

E N G L I S H

D I F F E R

F R O M

W R I T T E N

E N G L I S H

Q: Describe the

kind of sports

people do in your

country. Why?

Q: Have you ever

tried any sport?

Q: Do you think

sport affects the

person doing it?

Q: Is there any

other sport you

would like to try in

future?


4

Do you like flowers?

I love all types of flowers, they're just amazing. My top favorite flowers are Roses, Daisy and Sunflowers. But the best one I like is rose. I like flowers because, they bloom from buds and offer hope, many of them smell

heavenly, especially the Jasmine, the petals are soft and velvety, the colors can brighten my day, they signal Spring time...and often are symbolic of love

I`ve sent flowers a couple of times although not on valentine’s day but on the birthday of my close friends. I think flowers are good gift to express the emotion for someone in a quite modest way. For me, it was both kind of orthodox but pretty cool. If, I deserve any gift from someone, I'd expect

rather expect flowers from my well-wishers’.

Do you like Computer?

Every day, but so much in the weekends . I need my PC a lot for studying, but in the weekends I'm mostly get busy in social networks. It help me to learn many new things each day and get connected some interesting people

so far .

I find computer as a big factor to education because it is helping teachers, students and parents communicate. Online search engines and libraries help make learning a lot easier and faster. I really think the use of computers will change the method of education from 'paper book' to '

monitor based'.

On the contrary, I find computer are can severely affect the concentration of a working person by distractions like unnecessarily listening music, online chatting and watching videos. Again, there is lot of controversies going around like a computer can`t deliver information like a teacher and that computers are just a distraction to students just like video games.

Did you like toys as a child?

I liked mildly dangerous and gender appropriate toys. Cap guns/Barbie ( choose according to your gender) were my favorite. And my dad's stereo. I just loved pushing the buttons, flipping switches and turning the dials. I'd have to say rather than toys. I mostly played with our pets, cats, dogs,

lizards, turtles, etc. We had a pond in our backyard and would catch them. That was by far more fun than actual toys.

Q: Do you like

flowers? Why?

Q: Have you ever

given flowers to

anybody?

How often do you

use a computer?

What do you

like/don’t like

about it?

What toys did you

usually play with

as child?


5

I think toys make me to learn how to make life engaging. To make the life successful it is very important how effectively one engage with it Moreover, toys fosters my imagination and creativity, it stimulated my thoughts

patterns and problem solving abilities.

I would prefer educational toys like puzzle box, jigsaws. I found that educational toys are very helpful for a child to learn to think, to make decisions, to be creative, to develop their communication skills, and build their self confidence. They will also learn skills like hand-eye coordination,

memory retention, reading skills and motor skills. And these are just a few skills, there is so much more they will learn.

Did you like your school?

It was a small school in the vicinity of my home covers from grade 1 to 5 classes. I enjoyed the playing in the school yard with my friends, most of them were from my neighborhood. Most of all, teachers were really friendly and I found myself comfortable to study there.

Things have changed so far. Last year I have visited the school for the time I left it. It is the first time I’ve been in my old school during class time. and I felt like a combination airline passenger and criminal while entering the

building. First you empty your pockets and go through a metal detector. I had to show my identification twice and finally sat in a chair while they took my photo. I guess, safety and security have been tightened with the advancement of technology But it is the sign of the times.

Social interaction, wonderful teachers and friendships..i had some wonderful friends in high school. I had some wonderful teachers. I have remembered them almost every day of my life. I hope for their well being and happiness. I hope they think of me often as well.

I miss my friends. Over the years, most of us have moved away, started families, made new friends and just lost touch. I'm fortunate to still see some of my friends every now and then, but it's usually at a quick lunch or a drink after work.

Your favorite holiday destination

Well, it's hard for me to categorize myself as one of it. I like to go to the beach and I also enjoy to go to mountain. Each place has its different appeal. But, it would be enjoyable for me to visit a place that offers both

How did these toys

influence your life?

What types of toys

would you give as

a gift to children?

Tell me about the

elementary school

you went to.

Did you visit your

school recently?

What do you miss

from your school

days?

Are you in contact

with your school

friends?

What holiday

destination do you

wish to visit?


6

mountain tracking and sea beach. So, I prefer to visit Greece. Greece is the perfect place whether you want to enjoy mountainous landscapes, long sandy beach and more.

Lots of times. Every time is better than the last time. There is always more to explore spots of infinite beauty and amazement.

Greece would be my lifetime favorite holiday destination. Food and weather was great. I didn`t find anything objectionable about this place.

Your Hobby

Your Weekend

To my mind every day off needs some special planning. Time passes quickly and if you have no plans you can be sure to get no results, as you may find spend your whole day doing nothing. I usually have some prefixed plans like visiting some amusing public places with my family.

Otherwise, weather permitting I usually can be found on the golf course. However I`ve recently taken up photography so I am hoping to spend some time on that!

Reading Book

Yes I do. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I believe that all of us should read a lot. For example, when you read you acquire new knowledge, which in turn will broaden your views on important

matters. In addition I also like reading Crazy English in the web. The topics are interesting and short, and the translations ensure that I Don`t waste time looking up unfamiliar words.

I like to read historical books. I have recently read a book about the history of South Africa. It is called The Covenant, and was written by a famous American author called James Mitchener. It describes the history from the very first days, up to the present. It covers all aspects of the country, but

focuses on the people of the country. For example, he looks at the political situation over the past fifty years, which was based on racial discrimination and had become known to the world as apartheid.

Have you already

been there?

Would you go

there again and

why?

How do you

usually spend your

days off?

Do you like reading

books?

What kind of books

do you like to

read?


7

Your Living

Your Job

Well, off course. What I mean is that I am very happy in my present job. In addition, in my present job I get along well with my colleagues.

Being part of a breakthrough team is an experience I'd love to repeat. This job is a good fit for what I've been interested in throughout my career. It offers a nice mix of short- and long-term activities. My short-term achievements keep me cranked up and the long-term accomplishments

make me feel like a billion bucks.

I have no plan do so. However, I might not find such nice people to work with and could be very unhappy. Lastly, I believe I will be able to develop my career here. For instance, if I keep up the good work that I am presently doing, I could be promoted in two years time and so become the

head of a department.

Your Living Place

I grew up in North Queensland, Australia and still live there but I was

born in Philippines. My mom moved here when I was four because she

wanted me to get a good education.

It's been wonderful. I suppose you could say the town is medium-sized.

It's completely safe to walk around the town with friends and hang out

at the movies or shopping centres. It's got beaches, beautiful parks, bush and the most

awesome swimming hole; and within only a few hours drive you can hit lakes, mountain

ranges and rainforests! And the people are all pretty friendly, unlike the 'big city'

mentality I see when we go on holidays, with people pushing in, being impatient and

simply rude. I love this kind of lifestyle and once I have kids cannot see myself settling

down in a town any larger than this.

Well, I can say traffic is a big problem. Public buses are not frequent

enough and there are places that do not have road access. Along with

transportation scarcity, there are pretty reckless drivers with road-rage are not too far

from the edge. Apart from these, I love living here with the love of my family!

Do you like your

job?

What part

particularly do you

like about it?

Would you like to

do the same job in

the future?

Where did you

grow up?

Do you like this

place?

What don’t you like

about this place?


8

Your House

Certainly. We are a normal Indian family. It consists of my father, my mother, and me. I am the only child, so I don`t have any brothers or sisters. My grandparents passed away when I was still very young, so I did not have the privilege of knowing them. My father was one of four children, and my mother has a brother, so I have a number of uncles

and aunts, and many cousins.

I am living in a house in a nice neighbourhood. It feels so comfortable of me to

be in that a caring, loving, inviting home.

We are not that fortunate to own that house, although you have a plan to buy a

house in the same neighbourhood in future.

As I have already told you I like to live there because of space., for the first

time I have a home with lots of room. I also like the breeze. I'm on a hill so

looking out my back windows all I see are rooftops. This means opening my windows pulls through

an awesome breeze.

Your Transportation

Here the public transportation are mainly buses and trains. People own

motorcycles and bikes for transportations. Motorcycles are very popular and

convenient. More and more people have private cars. Because of the prevalence

of those, environmental pollution is a very serious problem here

I don`t own any private car. So, most of the time I use public transport.

In my opinion, one of the biggest problems of transportation is traffic jams in the

city. In view of the seriousness of this problem, effective measures must be taken

before things get worse. On the one hand, the government should invest more

money in the building of new roads and the repairing and maintenance of old

ones, particularly those in busy areas of the cities. On the other hand, the number

of private cars in urban areas should be limited while the number of public buses should be

increased. At the same time, it is essential that stricter, traffic rules and regulations be issued to

strengthen traffic control.

Could you tell me

something about

your family?

Do you live in a

house or an

apartment?

Do you rent or

own it?

Do you like living

in there? Why?

What type of

transport people

use in your

country, mostly?

Do you use it as

well?

What

improvements can

be made in your

city’s public

transport system?


9


how not to fear ielts

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