http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.

org/en/quick-grammar

Marking the Speaking test

Listen to Rob talking about how the Speaking test is marked.

Fluency and coherence:

This describes how fluent and connected your English sounds. Do you speak without much
hesitation and do you use a range of different ways to connect your ideas?

Lexical resource:
This describes how wide your vocabulary is. Can you talk accurately about any topic and use
idiomatic language?

Grammatical range and accuracy:

This describes both the range of different grammatical structures you can use and how well
you use them.

Pronunciation:
Can you be easily understood at all times?

Tell us in the comments below which of these four marking criteria would cause most
difficulty for you.

the examiner will be marking you on four things-- fluency and coherence, lexical
resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. In each of those areas,
you'll get a Band Score from 1-- the lowest-- to 9-- the highest.

The average of those four scores will be your final Band Score for the speaking paper.

Some practice interviews - Part 1

Good morning. Good morning. My name is Chris [NAME] Can you tell me your full name,
please? My full name is [NAME]. Thank you. And what shall I call you? You can call me
Nancy. And can you tell me where you're from? I'm from Shenzhen, and I'm from a city
called Shenzhen. It's a city near Hong Kong. It's a very developed city. Can I see your
identification, please? Yes.

0:35Skip to 0 minutes and 35 secondsThank you. That's fine.

0:39Skip to 0 minutes and 39 secondsNow, in this first part, I'd like to ask you some
questions about yourself. Let's talk about what you do. Do you work, or are you a student?
Yeah, actually I'm a student in Manchester now, and I'm taking foundation year. So what do
you study? I'm studying business. It's about politics, economics, and maths. And do you think
your subject is popular? Yeah, it's quite popular among Chinese. Chinese always, are always
interested in business, and this is very popular subject also in China.

1:23Skip to 1 minute and 23 secondsWill you stay in touch with the people you're studying
with, in the future? Yeah, for sure. Because people I met here, they are all from different
countries and provinces in China. And I think it's quite good opportunity for me to get in
touch with them. It's also very good for my future development.

1:49Skip to 1 minute and 49 secondsGood morning. Good morning. My name is Chris

[NAME] Can you tell me your full name, please? My name is Anita [NAME]. And can you
tell me where you're from? I'm from Indonesia. Can I see your identification, please? Thank
you, that's fine. Now, in this first part, I'd like to ask you some questions about yourself. Let's
talk about what you do. Do you work, or are you a student? I work. I'm working as a
kindergarten teacher. I teach children age four to five years old. Do you like your work? I like
it-- well, probably, I love it. But there's always a bit of downside and upside in every work.
But yeah, I enjoy it.

2:43Skip to 2 minutes and 43 secondsAnd do you plan to keep this job for a long time? Yes, I
think if I can, yes. I think it's quite a stable job. There is not much of office politics going on
there. And I think working with children is good for me, make me feel a bit more patient.
And lots of people say that will keep you young, so yes, I'll keep the job.

3:16Skip to 3 minutes and 16 secondsNow in this first part, I'd like to ask you some questions
about yourself. Let's talk about activities. What was your favourite activity when you were a
child? My favourite activity. I think it-- I like to go swimming with my parents, and to go to
the seaside. And I like the beach, and waves. Why? It looks good, and very peaceful. And,
like it-- because I live in the centre-- central city, you know, very crowded and noisy. But
when you go driving to someone else, very far away from the city, you feel something
different. And then the seaside also very good. And did you prefer doing indoor or outdoor
activities when you were younger? I think I prefer outdoor activities.

4:16Skip to 4 minutes and 16 secondsIt feels more free, like freedom. Are children these days
more active than previous generations? I don't think so, because many distractions like phone
and computers are created. Like more, more social media distracts children. So they tend to
stay at home rather than going out. What activities would you encourage a young person to
do?

4:54Skip to 4 minutes and 54 secondsHiking. Why? Because it's very challenging for
children. And I think when you achieve, when you hike to the peak, you will feel like you
achieved your goals. And I think it's also very good for your personality development.

5:21Skip to 5 minutes and 21 secondsLet's talk about books. Did you enjoy reading books as
a child? Yes. I think I remember, when I was about six or seven years old, I have my own
library, and I loaned some of my books to my other friends. And I actually asked them to pay
for it, so I can get more books.
5:46Skip to 5 minutes and 46 secondsWhat type of book interests you most? I like something
a bit light, either more like crime, thriller, that kind of thing, or something detective story.

6:04Skip to 6 minutes and 4 secondsIs the role of books changing in your country? Yes. I
think Indonesians, they don't really use to read books. It's not part of our culture. I think lots
of children now, they tend to just watch telly. But I think it starts changing by an easier
access to get books. And books are a lot cheaper now. But we don't have many libraries. And
there is no library in each city. They might have, but I don't think there's many good books
available there. Do you think people will still read books in the future? Yes. I think, though,
now you can read books in many different kind of forms, more digital kind of forms.

6:55Skip to 6 minutes and 55 seconds But I think there's still something exciting flicking
through pages, and putting a book mark on each page. I think I quite like to do that, though
I'm enjoying reading something online too. But I think getting a new book and flicking
through pages is always fun.

Educator Simon Carrie gives his tips for Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test.

Part 1 lasts between four and five minutes. The examiner will introduce him/herself and asks
you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner will ask you some simple
getting-to-know-you questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, studies and
interests. These questions will help the examiner find out a little bit about you and help put
you at ease.

Look at these tips:

Explain your answers by giving reasons for what you say.

I like my job because its varied and it gives me the opportunity to travel.

Ask for clarification if necessary.

Im sorry, could you repeat the question, please?

Develop your answers. Give full, relevant answers to the examiners questions. This
will help get the interview off to a good start.

Q: Where are you from?

A: Im from Buenos Aires. (Dont stop there!) Its the capital city of Argentina and is also the
largest city in the country. It has a lot of history and is famous for having a rich culture. I
really like living there.

Express your opinions; the examiner is assessing your ability to communicate.

Q: Do you prefer reading or watching TV?

A: I prefer watching TV. When I come home from work Im usually quite tired so I feel like
relaxing. I find sitting with my family in the living-room watching TV is relaxing because we
watch TV and chat together. For me, this is a great way to unwind.
 Always expand your answers to simple, yes or no closed questions. (Questions
beginning Are you, Do you , etc).

Q: Do you like listening to music?

A: Yes. I listen to music everyday on my way to work. I like lots of types of music but my
favourite is rock music. Im a big fan of U2. I really like Bonos singing voice.

Talk as fluently as possible and be spontaneous.

Speak more than the examiner.
Relax, be confident and enjoy using your English!

Always expand your answers to simple, yes or no closed questions. (Questions beginning
Are you, Do you , etc).

Think about how you would expand your answers to these questions:

Do you like your job?

Do you hope to do this job for a long time?
Do you still live in the town where you grew up?
Do you think it has changed since you were young?
Do you like reading?
Do you think people will continue to read books in the future?

Tips for the Speaking test - part 2

Here are some tips for Part 2 of the Speaking test.

Part 2 of the Speaking test is the individual long turn where you have to speak on your own
for up to two minutes. This part of the test lasts for between three and four minutes. The
examiner will give you a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. It will include
the key points you should cover in your talk. You are given one minute to prepare your talk,
and also a pencil and paper to make short notes. You then have to talk for one to two minutes
on the topic, after which the examiner will ask you one or two questions on the topic.

Look at these tips:

Always use your one minute preparation time - make notes of the points youd like to
talk about, ideally three points for each question on the task card. Practice making
notes quickly with example questions, until you can do this easily.
Use the task card to structure what you want to say. It will provide you with a simple
beginning, middle and end structure.
Begin by telling the examiner what youre going to talk about, so that they know what
to expect.

e.g. If the task card asks you to talk about a special place you might begin: Im going to talk
about a place that is special for me. This place is where my family come from

Try to imagine the topic of your talk in your head when youre preparing. Always try
to talk about a real experience, as this is much easier than trying to invent something.
 Dont forget to give the examiner some detail about your topic. This will also help
you to have enough to talk about for two minutes.
The last point on the task card often asks you to express your opinion. Make sure you
answer this question as itll help you to talk for the full two minutes.
This is a chance for you to talk about something that is familiar to you. Make sure you
show off your vocabulary!
Practise. Prepare by practising speaking with a friend or by recording yourself. Do
this a few times until youre happy you can speak easily for two minutes.

Look at this list of topics that could come up in Part 2:

- Describe a restaurant you enjoyed visiting.
- Describe a meal you remember.
- Describe a teacher who had an influence on you.
- Describe a film you have seen which left a strong impression on you.
- Describe a friend you have had for a long time.
- Describe an event from your childhood that you remember well.

In the comments below, say which of these topics you would find it easy to talk about and
which would be more difficult to talk about? Why? What would you do if you were given a
topic you thought was very difficult to talk about?

In Part 2 of the Speaking test you have one minute to make some notes about the topic you
have to speak about.

Look at the two example topic cards below and make some notes about what you would say:

Describe a wild animal that can be found in your country.

You should say:

what it looks like

where it lives
what you like/dont like about it

Explain how people in your country generally feel about it.

Describe a family celebration you have been to.

You should say:

what the celebration was for

where it took place
who was there with you

Explain what you enjoyed about the event.

How did you get on? Use the comments below to share your notes.
There is no correct way to make notes - everybody has their own preferences. Look at the
different ways of taking notes in the PDF in the Downloads below. Then make your own
notes about one of the Part 2 topics on this step and share your notes in the comments.

Tips for the Speaking test - part 3

Here are some tips for Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test.

In Part 3 of the Speaking test the examiner will ask further questions which are connected to
the topic discussed in Part 2. This part of the test is designed to give you the opportunity to
talk about more abstract issues and ideas. It is a two-way discussion with the examiner, and
will last four to five minutes. Because Part 3 is a discussion youll be expected to give more
detailed answers than in Part 1. Its therefore good to have a strategy to help you give longer
answers.

Look at these tips:

1. Answer the examiners question

2. Give some reasons why
3. Provide examples
4. Offer an alternative opinion

Q: Do you think advertising influences what people buy?

A: I think advertising affects the things that people buy, whether they are aware of it or not.
(Why) The reason for this is that everywhere we go we see advertisements on the street or on
the side of buses. Even when we are at home we see adverts on the TV or on the Internet.
(Second reason) Also, the amount of things that people buy nowadays has increased as
society has become more consumerist. (Example) Take, for example, mobile phones. Almost
everyone has a mobile phone that works but many people still want to upgrade their phone to
get the newest or latest model. I think this is because advertising encourages us to buy.
(Alternative) Despite this, I still think we have the choice to decide what to buy or whether to
buy. Advertising can influence us, but it cant control us.

: Which qualities do you think are most important in a friend?

I believe that qualities that are most important in a friend are honesty and trustworty. This is
because we come across a lot of people on every day basis but we only share our secrets or feelings
with the closest ones which are our friends. For example we speak to people at work about our
general life or how was our weekend but we wouldn't talk to our boss about our broken heart or
financial difficulties. This are the subjects that are better discussed with the person that we trust
who can support us with thei honest opinion and advice. It also keep our secrets to themselves. On
the other hand it is possible that strangers can be found easier to talk to than people we consider as
friends so sometimes it all depends on our needs and feelings at a time.

See more at British Council Learn English

First, talk as much as you can in a natural way. The examiner needs to hear your
English to be able to give you a good band score. Of course, you want your English to be
as accurate as possible, but don't let that stop you being fluent. Next, don't prepare your
answers before the interview.

0:33Skip to 0 minutes and 33 seconds By that, I mean don't try to memorise a particular
answer to use in the interview. It won't sound natural. And the examiner will notice it,
which won't make things easier. You can practise the sort of things you want to say,
especially in part 1, but don't memorise set answers. Finally, relax. Be confident. And
try to enjoy yourself. And you won't feel as nervous in Exams. That's normal. But
examiners are human, too. They're not monsters and there's no need to be scared of
them.

Fluency and coherence: Is willing to speak at length although there is some repetition. Uses
a range of spoken discourse markers and other cohesive features.

Lexical resource: She has enough lexical resource to discuss the topic at length but there are
not many less common lexical items. Although vocabulary use is sometimes inappropriate,
meaning is generally clear.

Grammatical range and accuracy: A limited range of complex structures is used and they
nearly always contain errors. Basic sentence forms are fairly well controlled for accuracy. It
would need to be assessed as to whether the impact of the errors on communication is
impeding more than rarely as at a band 6 and whether a wider range is demonstrated in the
remaining parts.

Pronunciation: Stress and intonation are used to good effect but there are problems with the
rhythm of speech. Some words are mispronounced which means that sometimes effort is
needed to understand what is being said.

Nancy
Fluency and coherence: Keeps going for the long turn but there is some repetition which
sometimes affects coherence. Uses a range of discourse markers.

Lexical resource: Has enough lexical resource to discuss the topic. Doesnt use a lot of less
common items. The meaning is generally clear even where the vocabulary is inappropriate.

Grammatical range and accuracy: Basic sentence forms are accurate but more complex
sentences usually contain errors.

Pronunciation: Some good use of stress and intonation but not at all times. Although there is
some mispronunciation it doesnt take much effort to understand what is being said.

What can I do to improve my speaking?

Listen to Rob talking about things you can do to improve your speaking skills.

Add your own ideas in the comments below.

Here are links to some online resources to help with some of the areas Rob mentioned:

Pronunciation
The Phonemic Chart - hear the sounds of English by clicking on the symbols, then hear
sample words including the sounds and try practice activities.

Pronunciation activities to practise problem sounds.

The Sounds of English from the BBC.

Sentence stress - activities to help you understand and practise how sentence stress can affect
meaning.

Record yourself
Vocaroo is one of the easiest ways to record yourself online and share recordings with others.
You will have a chance to try this out later this week.

Test advice
These Exam speaking videos from LearnEnglish Teens give useful tips, vocabulary and
practice in a range of tasks.

Our IELTS Interview Skills videos take a lighthearted look at some of the common problems
and mistakes people make during the interview.

IELTS Practice Speaking Test

Educator Karen Waterston looks back at some of the main talking points of this week in a
short video.

Karen talked about speaking and mentioned ways to improve your pronunciation in English.
You can practise the different sounds of English with this British Council web site and read
about how to communicate with confidence and competence in English in this blog: 33 ways
to speak better English without taking classes. Forvo is an online pronunciation reference,
for individual words and names that you might find useful.

She also mentioned some great advice that weve seen this week including tips from Mariela
Gonzalez on talking to yourself in front of a mirror. Elena Movenkos motivating comment
describes her positive experience of talking to native speakers.

Quite a few of you, including Neha Ahuja, have asked about what to do if you dont know
about the topic in the speaking exam. The educators discussed this in Thursdays Facebook
live event. Thanks to everyone who joined us on Facebook for this exciting event - we hope
you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Finally, you can use these videos and activities to improve your speaking and read about 10
dos and 10 dont for the IELTS Speaking test. Find out more about the IELTS Speaking test
in general with this video.

The Listening test :

Section 1 - Conversation in an everyday social context

Section 2 - Monologue in an everyday social context

Section 3 - Conversation in an educational context

Section 4 - Monologue in an educational context
You've seen and heard some useful tips for the different question types in the listening
test. I'm going to give you some final tips, then ask you to share your own advice with
other learners. So the first tip sounds obvious, but it's listen carefully. Use all the
information you get to help you answer the questions. The introduction to each
section gives you useful information that can help you think about the speakers and
what they'll talk about. In the test you have time at the beginning of each section to
look at the task. Read it carefully and think about the topics and what sort of
information you might hear.
0:40Skip to 0 minutes and 40 seconds You might want to underline key words in the
question to help you think about words with similar meanings to those in those
questions. How does the speaker sound? The intonation might help you decide your
answer. Finally, be careful when you copy your answers on to the answer sheet. Write
your answers clearly, and don't copy any extra words. There are more links on this
page to help you, and you can share your own advice in the comments.

Practice test:

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/free-ielts-practice-tests/listening-practice-
test-1?utm_source=futurelearn&utm_medium=listening_link&utm_content=week-
3&utm_campaign=ieltsmooc6-2017

IELTS lISTENING PRACTICE TEST

A free practice Listening test

The Listen & Watch section of our website has lots of activities to practise online or to download as
MP3 files. You can find our Professionals Podcasts here and a huge selection of BBC podcasts on a
wide variety of topics here.

Try this complete IELTS Listening Practice Test to help you prepare.
You can also try these two online practice tests with instant marking and band score
calculator, and a selection of sample IELTS Listening tasks.

Finally, you can practise listening to and writing down short dictations, including names and
numbers here.

Writing - General Training

Whether you're taking the academic writing or the general training writing, the test is 60
minutes long and has two parts. The second part, task two, is worth twice as much as the
first part, task one. So you should spend about 20 minutes on task one and about 40
minutes on task two. In the first part, task one, you have to write a letter asking for
information or explaining a situation. So for example, you might have to write a letter to a
friend explaining what you want them to do for you, something like that. You have to write at
least 150 words for task one.

0:41Skip to 0 minutes and 41 seconds In task two, you write an essay in response to a point
of view, an argument or problem. So you might be asked to give your opinion about
something and explain the advantages and disadvantages of whatever the topic is. You have
to write at least 250 words for task two. The writing test is your chance to show how well you
can communicate in written English, how well you can use a range of grammar, how wide
your vocabulary is, and how well you can organise your thoughts in writing. Later this week,
we'll take a closer look at the marking criteria for the written papers.

Tips for the Writing test - Task 1

In Part 1 of the General Training Writing test you are presented with a situation and you have
to write a letter asking for information or explaining the situation.

Read these tips to help you answer question 1.

Make sure you answer the question completely.

In the question there will be keywords like explain, suggest, say describe.
Make sure you do everything the question asks you to do.

Look at the keywords in this question:

You have a new job and can no longer attend your regular English class.

Write a letter to the English school. In your letter:

- describe the situation
- explain the problem
- say what you would like to happen now that you cannot attend the lesson.

How would you answer this question? What are the key points to cover?
Why not try the task for yourself in the Comments section below? The educators will be
looking at your answers and commenting but we wont be able to correct your work or give
you a band score.

More Task 1 tips - formal and informal

writing
In Task 1 you will be asked to write a letter. Depending on who you are writing to, you need
to decide whether to write in a more formal or a more informal style.

Most everyday written communication in English uses a semi-formal style, where the tone is
quite friendly, but some more formal expressions are used. However, we use a more formal
style when were writing for professional reasons or to people we dont know. We use an
informal style with people we know well, for example, family members, relatives, friends or
colleagues.

There are a number of differences between formal and informal English. For example,
sentences are generally longer and more complex in formal writing. Language is often more
impersonal, sometimes using passive voice. Vocabulary is often different too, with more
words of Latin or French origin and fewer phrasal verbs. We dont use contractions in formal
writing, whereas in informal writing, we use them all the time. Here are some features of both
styles of writing:

Formal Informal
Dear Sir or Madam Dear Mala / Hi Mala beginning
I am writing with regard to Im writing about purpose
I would like to invite you Why dont you come to inviting
I would like to request Do you have? requesting
Please deliver the parcel to It would be great if you could send it to instruction
I would like to suggest that I think you should suggesting
I am / we are / did not Im / were / didnt contractions
Therefore / However So / Anyway linking
I look forward to hearing from you. Hope to hear from you soon! closing
Yours faithfully Best wishes / See you soon ending

Always begin by deciding who you are writing to. Should it be a formal or informal style?
Never mix the two styles.

too formal for a letter to a friend:-

The inversion should you need to is formal. Informally it would be written if you need to.

If, however, it is an urgent matter, you may contact me by mobile phone. This uses more
sophisticated vocabulary such as matter and more formal modal verbs, such as you may.
The cat requires to be fed twice daily, each morning and evening. (and not) Ive written the numbers
on a sticky note which Ive left on the fridge(informal style) This is too formal and uses passive voice
(to be fed).

Please ensure that an appropriate amount of dried cat food is placed in his dish. This uses the formal
verb ensure, as well as passive voice.

It is essential that you check throughout the day to ensure there is a sufficient supply. Again this is
too formal, with a commanding tone and more sophisticated vocabulary, such as sufficient supply
rather than enough water

(formal)Regarding my house plants, under no circumstances should you forget to water them
regularly. This is extremely formal and reads more like a firm instruction from a person in authority
than a request from a friend.

(infromal)You only need to water the indoor ones in the lounge every few days but you need to
water the plants on the balcony every day (unless it rains).

I look forward to seeing you upon my return. The closing I look forward to is too formal for use
with a friend. Also upon my return is a very formal way to say when I get back. (informal)One last
thing - please empty the mail box every day and keep the outside lights on at night to keep burglars
away.

Tips for the Writing test - Task 2

In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or
problem. You can use a fairly personal (informal) style. The question may ask you to say why
you agree or disagree with the statement in the question or ask you to outline the advantages
or disadvantages to a general statement.

Its best to approach this task with a method to ensure you answer the question correctly,
structure it appropriately and have enough time to write well.

Here are some tips to approach the task:

Planning and Organising

Read the question carefully and underline the key words

Decide what structure to use. Most Task 2 questions will ask you to discuss or analyse
an issue in terms of advantages/disadvantages and/or take a position by agreeing or
disagreeing. This means you can almost always use a four paragraph structure, for
example:
Advantages/disadvantages question
- Introduction: paraphrase the question and give a general answer
that will summarise your opinion
- Main paragraph 1: what are the advantages
- Main paragraph 2: what are the disadvantages
- Conclusion: paraphrase your argument and highlight or restate your personal
opinion or position on the issue.
 Agree / disagree question
- Introduction: paraphrase the question and give a general answer
that will summarise your opinion
- Main paragraph 1: I agree/disagree because + supporting reasons
- Main paragraph 2: Another reason I agree / disagree is
- Conclusion: paraphrase your argument and sum up.

Make sure you note down examples and supporting details for each paragraph. Your
arguments should also clearly link back to the position you stated in the introduction.

Spend some time thinking of good vocabulary related to your topic. Note it down.

Writing

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence i.e. the general topic of the paragraph.
Develop your ideas in each paragraph by giving reasons for your answer and include
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Keep your examples fairly short. Dont go into too much detail; make sure you stay
on topic.
Try using linking words like firstly, secondly, finally to connect your ideas within
each of your main paragraphs. This will help your writing to flow.

What tips do you have for presenting an argument well in a Task 2 General Training
essay? Share your thoughts with other learners below.

Question 1

Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life. To what extent do you
agree?

Question 2

Disruptive school students have a negative influence on others. Students who are noisy and
disobedient should be grouped together and taught separately. Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer.

Question 3

Some people think that computers are more of a hindrance than a help in todays society.
Others believe that they are such indispensable tools that they would not be able to live or
work without them. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.

You've seen some useful writing tips for task one and task two. I'm going to give you some
general tips about writing. Then you're going to share your ideas with each other. We've
mentioned it already, but I'll remind you again of the importance of time management and
knowing exactly what you have to do. Make sure you write the correct number of words, at
least 150 for task one and at least 250 for task two. Do you know what 150 words looks like
in your handwriting? That can save you the time of counting words in the actual test if you
have a good idea of what 150 and 250 words looks like.
0:43Skip to 0 minutes and 43 seconds The other important things to mention are that it's vital
to plan before you start writing, and it's equally important to check at the end. Have you
answered the question completely? Have you included everything you were asked? What
other advice do you have? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Writing - the marking criteria

When your writing is marked, the examiners are looking for four things. First is task
achievement for task one, or task response for task two. This means how well you do
everything the questions ask you to do. In part one, do you successfully do everything the
question asked? In task two, do give a full answer to the question with well-supported ideas?
The next thing you're judged on is coherence and cohesion. This looks at the way your
writing is organised. Are your ideas organised logically into paragraphs with a clear
progression through the piece of writing? The other two categories are lexical resource. Do
use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical range and accuracy?

0:53Skip to 0 minutes and 53 seconds Do you use a wide range of structures, different tenses
and so on?

In this video Rob talks about what the examiner is looking for in the Writing test.

Listen to what he says and make notes. These are the criteria he mentions:

Task achievement / Task response

Coherence and cohesion
Lexical resource
Grammatical range and accuracy

In this step well look at an answer to a Task 1 question.

For this task, students were asked to write a letter to a friend to tell him/her about a new flat
move. They need to say why theyve moved, what the new flat is like and to invite their
friend to visit.

Heres the answer:

Dear Raul

How are you? I hope your doing fine. I have heard that you already have a new job. That
must be the reason why I have not seen you lately. I would like to inform you that we have
already moved to a new apartment. We are now near the city business district, about 15
minutes by train. You already know that my wife, Ana, is always complaining about the long
hours spent in commuting from her work. That is the reason why we had to move.

Our new apartment is now bigger that what we have before. It has four bedrooms and two
comfort rooms. I also installed a new state-of-the-art air conditioning system. I know you are
concerned about this subject because it is your expertise. Please do not worry my friend
because I paid the contractor with a hefty amount. We painted the interior with a white color
and my wife loves it. We also bought some furnitures that will match the color with the
interior.

With all these in mind, I would like to invite you and your family to dinner party here in our
new apartment this Sunday. You can also contact me in my new telephone number 88-2277

I hope you can come and see you soon.

Regard
Michael

RESPONSE: I think this letter accomplishes pretty well the first marking criteria: the student
successfully responds to every instruction he had received: communicates his friend about his new
flat-move, explains the reasons for his decision, describes the new flat and invites him to visit it. I
also consider that the writing is coherent: the ideas are logically organised with a clear progression
and all in them is consistent. I would only object that the language is sometimes too formal for a
friend. The students never uses contractions, which is common in informal language. Except for the
initial repetition of the word "already" in the first, third and fifth lines of paragraph 1, the
vocabulary is diverse, suitable for the topic. I also consider that the student uses a wide range of
grammatical structures and different tenses with just a few mistakes: "I hope your doing fine"
instead "I hope you're doing fine" and the error in the use of the simple past in "Our new apartment
is now bigger that what we have before" in place of "Our new apartment is now bigger that what we
had before".

I like how it fully addresses the task. Coherence is also good since I do not see any distracting
phrase or sentence that I think doesn't fit. I don't see any complex words either, but since the
letter is addressed to a friend, there are some points that I find not appropriate in this letter.
Like how it sounds a little more formal than how it should be. I remember a few activities
from this one, we have been taught of the difference of a formal and an informal letter. This
one, as an example, is supposed to be an informal letter but has catered few formal phrases
like, "I would like to inform you" instead of a more common, "I want you to know" and "I
would like to invite you" instead of "I hope you can come...", but overall I think it did great
on catering a good lexical resource. For the sentence structure, I guess there are some misses
on the grammar, for instance, "Our new apartment is now bigger that what we have before"
that should have been than. There are also some parts where punctuation should have been
appropriate but is not there. Overall, it is a good letter.

A Task 2 example
Now look at an answer to a Task 2 question. In this question learners were asked to discuss
why people travel more these days and to think about the benefits of travel.

Heres one students answer:

Most people today would like travel in different places. A few decades ago, only the rich can
afford to travel since they can spend more. There are several reasons why the number of
travellers have been increasing.
First, there is a healthy competition in the transport industry. Long ago, there are only few
airline companies so they control and monopolize the industry. Today there are a lot of
airline companies and this is the reason why the price of airfare became affordable. Airline
companies, nowadays, have their own websites so that it can entice new customers to use
their services. They also lowered the ticket prices by developing promotional fares which is
beneficial for the customers. Another reason is convenience. People today can use the
internet to search their preferred tourist destination. They can also view the best route to
maximize the cost of travel and time. Electronic maps are also available in the internet.

There are several benefits that a traveller can get through travelling. Initially, the traveller
can eat some exotic foods and see new sights. The individual can also experience new culture
and traditions. These new experiences can give the traveller new insights on life and the
environment.

In my own experience, visiting Thailand with my mother was such a wonderful experience. I
was hesitant at first because I knew beforehand that ticket prices for that destination are
pricey. I changed my mind when I saw the promotional fare of Cebu Pacific in their website.
After we booked the flight, I then searched the internet for our hotel accomodations. We
really enjoyed the trip when we visited some Buddhist temple.

To sum it up, more people would like to travel because of its advantages. Furthermore, the
trend will keep on increasing in the future.

It is advantages/disadvantages question. I do think the essay has answered the question asked.
However, this essay only covers the advantages of travel. Main paragraph 2 should list the
disadvantages of travel. Other than that, it lacks in the coherence and cohesion of the
paragraphs. It should have used the linking verbs such as first, second, and finally. In the
essay, it only has 'first'. It seems that there is only one advantages of travel. In addition, in a
response essay, it would be better not to use personal pronoun such as I or we. The essay
should be general information, not a narrative text.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

give contact details for when you are away

give instructions about how to care for your pet
describe other household duties

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ,

What can I do to improve my writing?

Well, just as I said that listening a lot is a great way to help your speaking skills, reading a lot will
definitely help you with writing. What kind of writing do you need or want to do? If you need to
write emails for work, look at other people's emails. What features do they have in common? It's
easy to find examples of every kind of writing. We've mentioned the importance of planning. It's the
key to any successful writing. Time spent thinking about what you want to say and how you want to
organise it is always time well spent. There's also a huge range of materials to help you practise and
develop your writing skills.

An informal email - a look at the conventions and language in informal correspondence.

A more formal email - a look at the structure and language of more formal correspondence.
Writing a formal letter - an introduction to writing formal letters.
Try this complete IELTS writing Practice Test to help you prepare.
A for and against essay
Sample Task 1 and Task 2 writing questions with sample answers and examiner comments to
help you prepare.

English for Emails

POWER Writing for IELTS Task Two Essay Map - a simple, interactive tool to help you get used to
planning essays
Compare & Contrast Map - a tool for planning essays to compare two or more things

Finally, he recommends the LearnEnglish Teens website for help with pronunciation and spelling as
well as for exam tips.

Writing Academic:
Where the academic module is different from the general training module is in the type of
task you're asked to do. In task one, you see a graph, or a diagram, or chart, and you have to
summarise the information presented in the diagram in your own words. You might be asked
to identify the main features or describe the stages of a process. Like with the general
training, you have to write at least 150 words for this.

0:38Skip to 0 minutes and 38 seconds The second task is to write an essay in response to a
point of view, argument or problem. The topics will be the sort of thing that will be suitable
for people at university level, and you have to write in an academic, semi-formal or neutral
style. You need to rise at least 250 words here.

Task 1 often asks you to summarise and identify the main features of a chart or graph.

Remember that Task 2 is worth more than Task 1. Task 2 might ask you to give your opinion on a
topic. Task 2 Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.

Writing test - Task 1

In Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Paper you will be asked to describe a graph, chart, table,
diagram or map. You need to write at least 150 words. Its best to spend 20 minutes on Task
1 to leave yourself enough time for Task 2 (remember Task 2 is worth more marks).
Here are some tips to help you with the task:

Read the question carefully and make sure you understand the graph, chart, table,
diagram or map. Be clear about what you are describing.
Write a short introduction by paraphrasing the question (i.e. rewrite the question in
your own words).
Be sure to give a summary (i.e. look at the big picture whats happening overall.
Theres no need to mention any numbers in this part.)
Try to use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary.
Separate your paragraphs.
Choose the key information to describe or compare.
Make comparisons where you can. Avoid simply stating what is in the question.
Describe specific details. Use the numbers in the chart, table or graph to help you
describe the key points.
Divide your main description into 2 paragraphs. This will help you to have a clear
structure and organisation; especially important when the question has two separate
diagrams, tables or maps.

A couple of things to avoid:

Describing every single detail there are usually a lot of numbers. You dont need to
mention them all.
Dont Giving reasons or sharing your opinions - the question will not ask you to do
this.

Giving an overview: The overall trend of the graph shows that there are _____ women than
men studying engineering. More/fewer

Introducing the main details: Starting with Table 1 it can be seen that a _____ number of cars
were driven by people in the USA than in Brazil.higher

Comparing two details using numbers: In the year 2006, the number of road users in the USA
and Switzerland were 153 million and 7 million _____. Respectively

Giving contrasting data: It is noticeable that the 60-75 age group read more than 3 times the
amount per day than the 20-30 age group. _____, the 20-30 age group spend 4 times more
time than the 60-75 age group on the internet. In contrast/by contrast and not however

Describing a major trend: A major point of interest is that walking was _____ than cycling.
More popular and not just popular

Moving on to another point: Turning to transport, it can be seen that the _____ popular mode
of transport out of all those shown in the pie chart was buses. least

Noting a significant detail: The year 2013 has _____ the highest amount of rainfall. By far

Comparing maps: In 2009, considerable changes took place in the park with a(n) _____
number of tennis courts than before. Greater/larger and not increase
Academic Writing Task 2 - question types
and essay formats
In the Academic Task 2 essay you may be asked from a range of questions. Whatever the
question, its good to have an essay structure in mind. A four-paragraph structure is the most
common, and the easiest to adapt to different questions.

Before you take the test, practice using the structure so you can plan your essay quickly on
the day of the test.

Here are some possible question types and four-paragraph structures to match:

Agree or Disagree
Many children these days have an unhealthy diet. Both schools and parents are equally
responsible for solving this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion (how much you agree or disagree)
2. Main paragraph 1: Why you agree
3. Main paragraph 2: Why you disagree
4. Conclusion: summarise your argument

Note: when the question asks to what extent, you can agree or disagree in both main
paragraphs.

Advantages or Disadvantages outweigh each other

In some countries, governments are encouraging people to use their cars less and to take
public transport instead. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion (more advantages or disadvantages?)

2. Main paragraph 1: Advantages
3. Main paragraph 2: Disadvantages
4. Conclusion: summarise your opinion in a different way from the introduction

Problem and Solution

Crime rates tend to be higher in cities than in smaller towns. Explain some possible reasons
for this problem and suggest some solutions.

1. Introduction: topic and general answer to question

 2. Main paragraph 1: Give reasons for problem
3. Main paragraph 2: Offer some solutions
4. Conclusion: summarise (and paraphrase) your argument

Discuss two views plus your opinion

Some people say children use technology too much these days. Others believe that using
technology now will help them in the future. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

1. Introduction: topic and give your opinion

2. Main paragraph 1: Discuss one view
3. Main paragraph 2: Discuss second view
4. Conclusion: summarise (and paraphrase) your opinion

Two-part questions
Some people think that history as a subject at school is not useful and should be replaced with
a more practical subject. (1)Why do you think it is important to learn about history? (2)What
would be the effect if children were not taught history?

1. Introduction: topic and give an overall answer to both questions

2. Main paragraph 1: Answer first question
3. Main paragraph 2: Answer second question
4. Conclusion: summarise both answers

One or two general points:

Introduce the topic by paraphrasing the question
Try to give two or three ideas in each paragraph
Always support your ideas with examples
Make sure examples are quite general not personal examples
Conclude by summarising your opinion in a different way from the intro (paraphrase)

Youll remember that the examiners are looking for:

Task achievement / Task response

Coherence and cohesion
Lexical resource
Grammatical range and accuracy
For this task, students looked at a bar chart showing changes in average house prices
in a number of cities over time. They were asked to summarise the information and
make comparisons.
 Heres the answer:
The illustration presents data on shifts in average home worths between 1990 and
2002 in five various cities. It is contrasted with the average house prices in 1989. It is
clear that there is an erratic pattern of variation between these periods.
On the average, there is a negative deflection of prices from 1990 to 1995. Sixty
percent of the five cities shows a lower than zero percentage change from the 1989
prices. The involved areas are New York, London and Tokyo. On the positive side,
Madrid and Frankfurt gained an above zero change.
From 1996 to 2002, most of the cities have an average house price above zero. The
peak percentage change was reached with more than ten percent of the marks. Tokyo
was the only city with a negative deflection in this time period.
Among the five places, two cities showed a consistent positive change in the average
house prices. On the other hand, Tokyo remained below negative in a twelve year
period. This comprises 10% of the total areas.
In conclusion, the average house prices in the period for 1990 to 2002 is varied. The
percentage changes also differ in comparison from the 1989 prices.

A Task 2 example
Now look at an answer to a Task 2 question. In this question learners were asked to
talk about job satisfaction. What does job satisfaction mean to the individual and what
does it mean in a wider context?
Heres one students answer:
As adults, many people find they have less time on their hands to spend on
themselves. This usually occurs in adulthood because people tend to spend
most of their time on working on their career. With all the hours put into
building a career, it is important to have a job that can cater to a persons
needs.
There are several factors that contribute to job satisfaction. First and
foremost, it is important that there is a healthy work place environment. This
is essential for keeping a person in a good state of mind and body. It is also
vital for a person to love his or her job, whether it is writing for a newspaper
or walking on the moon. When people are passionate about what they do, they
will not have to work a day in their lives. However, it is important to keep in
mind that money does matter. Though it would be idial to have a wonderful
job and high salary, it is not always the case. It is important for these two
elements to meet in the middle to have a truly satisfying job.
Having job satisfaction can easily be achieved if a person remembers those
three ideas. As long as a person has the right credentials, there will always be
an opportunity to find a job he or she will love. Reaching job satisfaction is
not impossible if a person shows great interest in his or her work, receives a
good salary and has a good environment having a satisfying job is easy to do.
Try this complete IELTS Writing Practice Test to help you prepare.
Writing Skills Practice contains a number of excellent introductory activities for both
Academic tasks at B2 level.
Our Writing for a Purpose academic writing resources and vocabulary exercises have
a large number of activities for advanced learners.
Try sample Task 1a, 1b and Task 2a and 2b writing questions,then compare your
answers with these sample answers and examiner comments.
This British Council worksheet has a range of practice exercises and vocabulary to
help you prepare for Task 1.
The format of the Reading test

0:01Skip to 0 minutes and 1 secondThe reading test takes 60 minutes and you have to answer
40 questions. The test is divided into three sections with a total of around 2,500 words. There
are several different question types. You might have to answer multiple choice questions or
you might have to match headings or something else to the right place in the text. Or you
might have to write short answers. As we've said, there are some differences between the
general training and the academic modules. In the academic modules, there's just one reading
text in each of the three sections of the test. These are taken from books, newspapers,
magazines, and so on. And they're on academic topics of general interest.

0:49Skip to 0 minutes and 49 secondsThere might be diagrams or graphs or things like that.
In the general training module, the sections might contain more than one shorter text. So in
section one, you might see several short texts that are about the same topic. In section two,
you'll see two texts about a work-related topic and in section three you'll see one longer text.
You need to be able to read for gist, a general understanding of the text, and you also need to
be able to find particular details and follow an argument or theme in the texts.

Tips for the Reading test - part 1

In the Reading test youll see a number of different question types. Lets look at some of
those question types and talk about the best way to approach them.

Multiple choice

Youve seen this type of question on this course. Read the question carefully. Sometimes you
have to choose one correct answer, sometimes you have to choose more than one answer
from a list. Usually, all the choices of answer will be mentioned somewhere in the text. Read
carefully to eliminate the answers until you have the correct one.

Look at this example:

Heres a paragraph from the text:

The average urban resident, for example, rouses at the eye-blearing time of 6.04 a.m., which
researchers believe to be far too early. One study found that even rising at 7.00 a.m. has
deleterious effects on health unless exercise is performed for 30 minutes afterward. The
optimum moment has been whittled down to 7.22 a.m.; muscle aches, headaches and
moodiness were reported to be lowest by participants in the study who awoke then.

And heres the question:

What did researchers identify as the ideal time to wake up in the morning?
B 7.00
C 7.22
D 7.30
From the text we know that 6:04 is far too early. 7:00 has deleterious effects on health - a
negative impact. 7:22 is the optimum moment and 7:30 isnt mentioned - although 30
minutes of exercise is. So the answer is C - the optimum moment

True / False / Not given

For many students, the difficulty here is spotting the difference between False and Not
given. Sometimes this means ignoring what you think and just concentrating on what the
text actually tells you. Look at these examples:

Heres the text:

Bookkeeping
This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of bookkeeping and a
great deal of hands-on experience.
Code B/ED020
19th April 9am2.30pm (one session only so advance bookings essential)
Cost $250

And here are the questions:

Q Bookkeeping has no practical component.

Q Bookkeeping is intended for advanced students only.

The first sentence is FALSE because we know that the course has hands-on experience. The
second sentence is NOT GIVEN because nothing in the text tells us about the level of the
course.

Yes / No / Not given

This is similar to True/False/Not given you have to identify the views of the writer. Look at
an example:

This is the text:

Helium is even cheerfully derided as a loner element since it does not adhere to other
molecules like its cousin, hydrogen. According to Dr. Lee Sobotka, helium is the most noble
of gases, meaning its very stable and non-reactive for the most part it has a closed
electronic 12 configuration, a very tightly bound atom. It is this coveting of its own electrons
that prevents combination with other elements. Another important attribute is heliums
unique boiling point, which is lower than that for any other element.

And here are the questions:

Q Helium chooses to be on its own.

Q Helium is a very cold substance.

For the first sentence, we know that helium is a loner so, YES, the author thinks helium
likes to be on its own. We learn too that helium has a low boiling point but we dont know
whether or not its very cold so the answer is NOT GIVEN.
More tips for the Reading test
A look at more of the question types from the Reading test.

Matching information

This type of question tests your scanning ability looking at the text quickly to find a
particular piece of information. Youll be given a list of pieces of information and the
paragraphs of the text will have letters but not every paragraph will necessarily be used. Read
the pieces of information first then scan the paragraphs to find a match.

Look at this example:

Heres a paragraph from the text:

In recent years we have all been exposed to dire media reports concerning the impending
demise of global coal and oil reserves, but the depletion of another key non-renewable
resource continues without receiving much press at all. Helium an inert, odourless,
monatomic element known to lay people as the substance that makes balloons float and
voices squeak when inhaled could be gone from this planet within a generation.

Which of these pieces of information is in the paragraph?

A a use for helium which makes an activity safer

B the possibility of creating an alternative to helium
C a term which describes the process of how helium is taken out of the ground
D a reason why users of helium do not make efforts to conserve it
E a contrast between heliums chemical properties and how non-scientists think about it

Matching Headings

This type of question asks you to identify the main idea of a paragraph. Its different from
matching information questions where youre looking for specific information.

Look at this example:

Here are two paragraphs from the text:

A Sensible work practices are an important factor in the prevention of muscular fatigue;
discomfort or pain in the arms, neck, hands or back; or eye strain which can be associated
with constant or regular work at a keyboard and visual display unit (VDU).
B It is vital that the employer pays attention to the physical setting such as workplace design,
the office environment, and placement of monitors as well as the organisation of the work
and individual work habits. Operators must be able to recognise work-related health
problems and be given the opportunity to participate in the management of these. Operators
should take note of and follow the preventive measures outlined below.

And here are some possible headings:

List of Headings
i What makes a good seat?
ii What are the common health problems?
iii What is the best kind of lighting to have?
iv What are the roles of management and workers?
v Why does a VDU create eye fatigue?
vi Where should I place the documents?

What answers match A and B and why?

Sentence completion

In this type of question you have to fill in gaps using words from the text. Read the question
carefully as there will be a word limit and youll lose marks for writing too many words. In
this example, you must choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text.

Firstly, you should be given an improvement note. This will explain the problem, outline any
necessary changes and offer some assistance in correcting the situation. Then, if your
employer does not think your performance has improved, you may be given a written
warning. The last step is called a final written warning which will inform you that you will be
dismissed unless there are improvements in performance. If there is no improvement, your
employer can begin the dismissal procedure.

Q If an employee receives a .. , this means he will lose his job if his work does
not get better.

The words are in the passage. Which words would you choose?

In this activity youve looked at some of the different question types youll find in the IELTS
Reading Test.

Multiple choice
True / False / Not given
Matching information
Matching headings
Sentence completion

As well as these, there are other question types. You can find more information about all the
question types on this page.

British Council reading resources

Try this complete IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test or this IELTS General Training
Reading Practice Test to help you prepare.
LearnEnglish Magazine has a wide selection of articles from intermediate to advanced levels,
all with audio and language practice activities.
Reading Skills Practice has a range of general reading activities at B2 level.
LearnEnglish Teens Magazine has lots of short, interesting articles on general topics.
EducationUK The Magazine is full of interesting articles for students aiming to study in the
UK.
Our Voices blog is an excellent source for articles on education, arts, cultural relations,
science and more.
Cubed magazine has an excellent selection of articles on science and technology, many of
which also include language activities.

Reading practice
This reading passage is taken from an Academic reading paper, part 1. Answer the questions
on a piece of paper. Youll find the answer key below.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 113 , which are based on Reading Passage
1 below.

Chronobiology might sound a little futuristic like something from a science fiction novel,
perhaps but its actually a field of study that concerns one of the oldest processes life on
this planet has ever known: short-term rhythms of time and their effect on flora and fauna.

This can take many forms. Marine life, for example, is influenced by tidal patterns. Animals
tend to be active or inactive depending on the position of the sun or moon. Numerous
creatures, humans included, are largely diurnal that is, they like to come out during the
hours of sunlight. Nocturnal animals, such as bats and possums, prefer to forage by night. A
third group are known as crepuscular: they thrive in the low-light of dawn and dusk and
remain inactive at other hours.

When it comes to humans, chronobiologists are interested in what is known as the circadian
rhythm. This is the complete cycle our bodies are naturally geared to undergo within the
passage of a twenty-four hour day. Aside from sleeping at night and waking during the day,
each cycle involves many other factors such as changes in blood pressure and body
temperature. Not everyone has an identical circadian rhythm. Night people, for example,
often describe how they find it very hard to operate during the morning, but become alert and
focused by evening. This is a benign variation within circadian rhythms known as a
chronotype.

Scientists have limited abilities to create durable modifications of chronobiological demands.

Recent therapeutic developments for humans such as artificial light machines and melatonin
administration can reset our circadian rhythms, for example, but our bodies can tell the
difference and health suffers when we breach these natural rhythms for extended periods of
time. Plants appear no more malleable in this respect; studies demonstrate that vegetables
grown in season and ripened on the tree are far higher in essential nutrients than those grown
in greenhouses and ripened by laser.

Knowledge of chronobiological patterns can have many pragmatic implications for our day-
to-day lives. While contemporary living can sometimes appear to subjugate biology after
all, who needs circadian rhythms when we have caffeine pills, energy drinks, shift work and
cities that never sleep? keeping in synch with our body clock is important.

The average urban resident, for example,rouses at the eye-blearing time of 6.04a.m., which
researchers believe to be far too early. One study found that even rising at 7.00 a.m. has
deleterious effects on health unless exercise is performed for 30 minutes afterward. The
optimum moment has been whittled down to 7.22 a.m.; muscle aches, headaches and
moodiness were reported to be lowest by participants in the study who awoke then.

Once youre up and ready to go, what then? If youre trying to shed some extra pounds,
dieticians are adamant: never skip breakfast. This disorients your circadian rhythm and puts
your body in starvation mode. The recommended course of action is to follow an intense
workout with a carbohydrate-rich breakfast; the other way round and weight loss results are
not as pronounced.

Morning is also great for breaking out the vitamins. Supplement absorption by the body is not
temporal-dependent, but naturopath Pam Stone notes that the extra boost at breakfast helps us
get energised for the day ahead. For improved absorption, Stone suggests pairing
supplements with a food in which they are soluble and steering clear of caffeinated
beverages. Finally, Stone warns to take care with storage; high potency is best for absorption,
and warmth and humidity are known to deplete the potency of a supplement.

After-dinner espressos are becoming more of a tradition we have the Italians to thank for
that but to prepare for a good nights sleep we are better off putting the brakes on caffeine
consumption as early as 3 p.m. With a seven hour half-life, a cup of coffee containing 90 mg
of caffeine taken at this hour could still leave 45 mg of caffeine in your nervous system at ten
oclock that evening. It is essential that, by the time you are ready to sleep, your body is rid of
all traces.

Evenings are important for winding down before sleep; however, dietician Geraldine
Georgeou warns that an after-five carbohydrate-fast is more cultural myth than
chronobiological demand. This will deprive your body of vital energy needs. Overloading
your gut could lead to indigestion, though. Our digestive tracts do not shut down for the night
entirely, but their work slows to a crawl as our bodies prepare for sleep. Consuming a modest
snack should be entirely sufficient.

Questions 17

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? In boxes
17 on your answer sheet, 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. Chronobiology is the study of how living things have evolved over time.
2. The rise and fall of sea levels affects how sea creatures behave.
3. Most animals are active during the daytime.
4. Circadian rhythms identify how we do different things on different days.
5. A night person can still have a healthy circadian rhythm.
6. New therapies can permanently change circadian rhythms without causing harm.
7. Naturally-produced vegetables have more nutritional value.

Questions 813

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter for questions 813 on
your answer paper.
 8. What did researchers identify as the ideal time to wake up in the morning?
A 6.04
B 7.00
C 7.22
D 7.30
9. In order to lose weight, we should
A avoid eating breakfast
B eat a low carbohydrate breakfast
C exercise before breakfast
D exercise after breakfast
10. Which is NOT mentioned as a way to improve supplement absorption?
A avoiding drinks containing caffeine while taking supplements
B taking supplements at breakfast
C taking supplements with foods that can dissolve them
D storing supplements in a cool, dry environment
11. The best time to stop drinking coffee is
A mid-afternoon
B 10 p.m.
C only when feeling anxious
D after dinner
12. In the evening, we should
A stay away from carbohydrates
B stop exercising
C eat as much as possible
D eat a light meal
13. Which of the following phrases best describes the main aim of Reading Passage 1?
A to suggest healthier ways of eating, sleeping and exercising
B to describe how modern life has made chronobiology largely irrelevant
C to introduce chronobiology and describe some practical applications
D to plan a daily schedule that can alter our natural chronobiological rhythms

Practice test - Academic

Practice test - General

1. look out for the title, headings and any special features such as capital letters, underlining,
italics, figures, graphs and tables
2. make sure that you understand the questions and follow instructions carefully
3. pay attention to timing; do not spend too long on one passage or question
4. do not try and read every word; remember, you are reading for a purpose
5. if you do not know the answer to a question, attempt it but do not waste time; move
quickly onto the next one
6. do not panic if you do not know anything about the subject of the text; all the answers can
be found in the text
7. the word(s) you use must be taken from the Reading text; you must not change the form of
the word(s) in the text
8. do not worry if there is a word that you do not understand you may not need to use it
9. check your spelling
Always read the questions first and underline key words in order to find synonyms or
pharaphrase in the text.
- Manage your time, for me that means leaving the true/false/not given and paragraphs
heading questions for the end of each passage.
- Remember to transfer your anwsers every time you finish one of the passages, otherwise
time may go against you.

Dont expect to understand every word.

2. Practice your reading skills NOT your IELTS skills.
3. Read the instructions VERY carefully.
4. Dont panic.
5. Its really a vocabulary test.
6. Timing is crucial.
7. Ignore anything you already know about the topic.
8. Practice slow and fast.
9. Be careful when transferring your answers.
10. Leave no blanks.

One thing I have also noticed is just because you spot to vocabulary in the text that matches
that of the question, do not assume the answer is therefore "true". Check for negative wording
in the question and sentence too. Good luck!