Tuesday, 7 January 2020

IELTS Band 9 essay, topic: Many people nowadays travel abroad for their university education (discuss)

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.

Set 1 General Training book, Practice Test 5

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people nowadays travel abroad for their university education.

Why do people do this? Would you consider doing this yourself and why?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Answer

In recent years it has become normal for high school graduates to travel abroad for their university education. There are numerous positive aspects to studying in a foreign country, such as the discovery of new cultures, the possibility of learning more about oneself and the chance of learning a new language.

By travelling to a foreign country, it is certain that one will be confronted with foreign customs and traditions. Experiencing and understanding these customs and their origins provides students with an interesting chance to develop a more open-minded attitude towards others. Additionally, it is also extremely stimulating to learn more about the reasons behind certain traditions and practices.

A prime reason for students studying abroad is the prospect of finding oneself and growing as an individual. When living in a foreign country, students have to become increasingly independent and they are confronted with their strengths and weaknesses. Typically students develop increased self-esteem and also acquire or improve upon their skills of housekeeping and cooking, which are important for living independently later on in life.

When living in a foreign country students are exposed to a new language and in most cases attempt to learn it. If they already possess some knowledge about the language, they have the possibility of advancing and improving upon these skills with the native population. The ability to speak multiple languages offers students a higher chance of being successful on the international job market, which makes studying abroad an attractive choice.

Personally, I would like to study abroad in either Scotland or France, because I would like to experience the life and customs in these countries. Additionally, I would like to become more fluent in French, as I believe this will be beneficial for me later in life.

In conclusion, studying abroad offers the possibility for students to grow and develop as individuals and to acquire valuable skills that will be useful in adult life.

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays



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Monday, 6 January 2020

IELTS test in Sri Lanka – December 2019 (General Training)

Our friend P. shared the following IELTS test questions after a recent exam in Sri Lanka:

Writing testIELTS test in Sri Lanka

Writing task 1 (a letter)

You have participated in a party at your friend’s home last week. You may have forgotten your watch there. Write a letter to your friend and say

– Thank him/her for the party.
– Ask to look for the watch.
– Suggest what he/she should do about it.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that young people should follow older generation’s example. Others, however, disagree and believe that it’s good to challenge older people’s opinions and thoughts. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking test

Part 1 (Interview)

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you do?
– Do you like it?
– What do you think about your voice?
– Are there similarities between your voice and your family members’?
– Do you like to listen to your recorded voice?
– Why is that?

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a place where you like to read or write, which is not at your house. Please say

– What is the place?
– How frequently do you visit it?
– Why do you like it?

Part 3 (Discussion)

– When did you discover this place?
– Did you tell your friends about it?
– What places are more popular for reading in your country?
– What factors should you consider when selecting such a place?
– Is reading a good habit for children?
– Why do you think so?
– What are the benefits of reading?



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Friday, 3 January 2020

IELTS Speaking test in Vietnam – December 2019

The IELTS Speaking questions below were remembered and shared by B. from Vietnam after a recent test that he took:

Speaking testIELTS test in Vietnam

Interview

– What is your full name?
– Can I see your ID?
– Where are you from?
– Do you work or study?
– What do you do?
– Describe your home.
– Do you live in a house or an apartment?
– Do you like it there?
– How long did you live there?
– Let’s talk about childhood.
– Do you remember your childhood well?
– What games did you like in your childhood?
– Why is that?
– Do you play indoor or outdoor games?
– Why do you prefer indoor or outdoor games?

Cue Card

Describe an occasion when you invited friends or relatives to your house or a restaurant. Please say

– What was the occasion?
– Whom did you invite?
– How did they feel about it?

Discussion

– Did you like that celebration?
– Would you do it again?
– Do people like to eat at home or at restaurants in your country?
– What are advantages and disadvantages of restaurant food?
– Do you prefer to order food or cook it yourself? Why?
– Do you like to cook?
– Why do you like it?



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Thursday, 2 January 2020

Muhammad’s journey to IELTS Band 7.5

Hi everyone, and welcome to 2020! Starting the year off right is incredibly important, and inspiration can help with that – so today we would like you to meet Muhammad, who has an inspiring story to tell.

But it’s not just Muhammad’s IELTS tips that you can grab here. He said something deep that can be considered a principle to live by: “I was not afraid of making mistakes at all because the English language is not my mother language; therefore, it is inevitable that I would make mistakes.”

Don’t let the fear of making mistakes stop you. Make ALL the mistakes you can, but learn from them, and use every single one as an opportunity to improve!

Muhammad Band 7.5 in IELTSMuhammad was born in Pakistan and his first language is Urdu. Now he lives in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. His main problem was writing and it took him 2 years of trying many things (one-on-one lessons with English teachers, online IELTS courses, etc) until he finally found a solution that worked. Read his story below – it may save you a lot of time, if you, too, are struggling with the same issues.

Muhammad said:

“I was struggling to obtain 7.5 band in writing for the past two years. After consulting three native English teachers (face-to-face), and one online web portal, still, I was unable to get there.

In June I took an essay correction package on IELTS-Blog.com, which was the right step towards my goal, as IELTS-Blog teachers identified my weak areas and helped me to improve. Although in August I acquired Band 7 in writing, unfortunately, I missed in gaining the required score in listening – Band 8. Therefore, I practised again, and in October I got my desired results: Listening 8, Reading 7, Writing 7.5, Speaking 7.5. I believe the key to success is to practice and expert and reliable source, like IELTS-Blog.com.

I would like to share my study schedule with other students to reach this milestone.

1. I made it my habit to listen to an English podcast every day for at least 1 hour (anyone can do this during a travelling to office etc., all you need is headphones).

2. I was reading at least two pages of the English articles (news, opinion, general topics, The Guardian newspaper is the best one), and I was highlighting articles (a, an, the) as well as new words to enhance my vocabulary. In fact, I have a vocabulary book. I was trying to understanding why the articles (a, an, the) are there or not there. Reading also enabled me to understand the writing structure in general. I was doing it only for half an hour.

3. I was completing a listening test almost every day. It helped me to understand the pace of listening, which is crucial for the actual exam.

4. I was writing an essay every day five days a week, and two days I was taking time off for my family and relaxation. After receiving my corrections from IELTS-Blog.com, I was spending time to understand what mistakes I had made, which is essential to avoid those mistakes. This action is compulsory to boost your writing skill. This is the most important task to reach another level.

5. “1200-commonly-repeated-words-in-ielts-listening-test” is a document available online which has lots of vocabulary words. I have attempted many IELTS mock tests, and it is my personal experience that most of the words in the listening test are there in this document.

The most important thing, I implemented English learning in my daily routine, whether it is email writing or a test message. I always try to write in formal English with all the necessary punctuation, articles and so on. I was not afraid of making mistakes at all because the English language is not my mother language; therefore, it is inevitable that I would make mistakes. The compelling aspect is that we should enjoy learning it, instead of feeling the pressure. Don’t learn English only for the sake of obtaining a good score in IELTS, but learn it as a language, which is essential for your career and future.

All the best for all the students out there!”

Band 7.5 in IELTS



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