IELTS Focusing on Michael Clutterbuck Philip Gould Second edition General Training Practice Tests v Contents How to use this book vii Acknowledgments viii Listening 1 What is in the listening module? 2 Question types 3 Tips for doing the Listening Test 3 Listening Test 1 4 Listening Test 2 10 Listening Test 3 18 Listening Test 4 24 Listening answer sheet 31 Reading 33 What is in the reading module? 34 Question types 35 Tips for doing the Reading Test 36 Reading Test 1 37 Reading Test 2 50 Reading Test 3 62 Reading Test 4 74 Reading answer sheet 84 Writing 85 What is in the writing module? 86 Tips for doing the Writing Test 87 Writing Test 1 90 Writing Test 2 92 Writing Test 3 94 Writing Test 4 96 Speaking 99 What is in the speaking module? 100 Tips for doing the Speaking Test 101 Sample speaking tests 103 Speaking Test 1 118 Speaking Test 2 120 Speaking Test 3 122 Speaking Test 4 124 Speaking Test 5 126 Speaking Test 6 128 Transcripts 131 Listening Test 1 132 Listening Test 2 138 Listening Test 3 145 Listening Test 4 152 Answer key 159 Listening 160 Reading 162 Writing 166 Speaking 171 vii How to use this book There are no magic formulas or secret keys that guarantee a good score in the IELTS test. The best way to prepare for the exam is to gradually improve your overall English listening, reading, writing and speaking abilities. It is useful to train for the kinds of texts and questions you will face in the IELTS exam. Focusing on IELTS: General Training Practice Tests contains complete Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking practice tests for you to try out. Each test in this book is identical in format to the General Training IELTS tests themselves. You should work through these under test conditions, which means working in a room where you won’t be disturbed and only spending an hour on each Reading and Writing Test. There are sample answer sheets at the end of the Listening and Reading units for you to photocopy and use each time you do a practice Listening or Reading Test. This book also contains three recorded sample Speaking Tests for you to listen to. You can read the transcripts of these Sample Tests, along with an analysis of each of the three candidates’ performances. At the back of the book, there are transcripts for the Listening Tests and an answer key for the Listening and Reading Tests. There are sample answers for the Writing Tests. You can use this book individually as an independent study guide to prepare for the General Training IELTS test or as practice materials for an IELTS preparation course with a teacher. You may also want to work more intensively on the skills needed in the different sections of the test. For this reason Focusing on IELTS: General Training Practice Tests has been written to accompany Focusing on IELTS: Reading and Writing Skills by Jeremy Lindeck, Jannette Greenwood and Kerry O’Sullivan (Macmillan 2011) and Focusing on IELTS: Listening and Speaking Skills by Steven Thurlow and Kerry O’Sullivan (Macmillan 2011). These two books thoroughly examine the skills you need and teach useful strategies to help you perform well in the test. Focusing on IELTS General Training Practice Tests 4 Listening Test 1 TIME ALLOWED: APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, PLUS 10 MINUTES TO TRANSFER ANSWERS NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: 40 This test has been written to simulate the IELTS test in its style, format, level of difficulty, question types and length. You should do this test under IELTS test conditions. This means playing the recording only once without pausing or stopping. Instructions You will hear four different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions before the recording is played. You will also have the opportunity to check your answers. The recording will be played ONCE only. The test is in four sections. Write your answers on the question sheet as you listen. At the end of Section 4 you have 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet, which is on page 31. When you finish, check the answer key at the back of the book. Now turn to Section 1 on the next page. CD 1 • Track 1 L I S T E N I N G Listening 5 SECTION 1 Questions 1–10 Questions 1–5 Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. Change of address Customer number: Example: ……………...…………………………...….. Name: 1 ……………...…………………………...…………….. Date of birth: 2 ……………...…………………………...…………….. New address: 18 King Street, 3 ………...………………...….……… New telephone number: 4 ……………...…………………………...…………….. Billing period: 5 ……………...…………………………...…………….. Questions 6–10 Choose the correct letter, A, B or C. 6 The contract the customer has now is A Economy Saver. B Flexible Bundle. C Home Plus. 7 The contract the customer will have in the future is A Economy Saver. B Home Plus. C Three-In-One. 8 There are no limits on Internet downloads in the period from A 10 pm to 6 am. B 1 am to 6 am. C 11 pm to 2 am. 9 Most of the phone calls this customer makes are A to friends. B to relatives. C for work. 10 Overall, the customer finds that the service of the telephone company is A satisfactory. B excellent. C very good. CD 1 • Track 2 L I S T E N I N G 5062 7840 Reading 37 Reading Test 1 ALL ANSWERS MUST BE WRITTEN ON THE ANSWER SHEET. The test is divided as follows: Section 1 Questions 1 to 14 Section 2 Questions 15 to 28 Section 3 Questions 29 to 40 Start at the beginning of the test and work through it. You should answer all the questions. If you cannot do a particular question leave it and go on to the next one. You can return to it later. TIME ALLOWED: 60 MINUTES NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: 40 Focusing on IELTS General Training Practice Tests 42 SECTION 2 Questions 15–28 Read the job advertisement below and answer questions 15–21. Project Officer 12 months full-time contract (possibility of extension, subject to funding) (Part-time will be considered.) $59,700 – $65,100 plus superannuation WellFare provides excellent community-based services to the elderly and infirm, young disabled people and others with complex support needs in the northern suburbs. WellFare is based in Aldheim in the City of Fraser. Primary tasks: ▼ maintain client information and welfare administration (including all associated paperwork and budget) ▼ attend weekly internal meetings and represent WellFare at external meetings as required ▼ advise and assist carers ▼ supervise carer-focused practices ▼ help our elderly and disabled clients integrate into society. Research and contribution to policy will also form part of the role – the successful applicant will be required to assist with reviewing and developing further initiatives as part of WellFare’s strategic plan. To be considered for this position you will need to have: ▼ a degree in a relevant discipline ▼ demonstrated experience working in a caring profession ▼ experience in record-keeping to meet legislative requirements ▼ a Class C driver’s licence. Personal requirements: ▼ a supportive and caring nature ▼ a willingness to accept responsibility ▼ good communication skills ▼ the ability to work as part of a team. Conditions include four weeks’ annual holiday, with arrangements to be made in conjunction with colleagues and with the approval of the Project Manager. A requirement of this position is a satisfactory police records check. Applications close Wednesday, 23 July. For more information please call Celine Reeves on 8856 5126. Reading 43 Questions 15–21 Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes 15–21 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 15 The position will definitely finish in one year. 16 The successful applicant may have to work with aged people. 17 The successful applicant will help decide the organisation’s plan for the future. 18 The job particularly involves helping people who have impaired vision. 19 People who have never studied will be considered for this position. 20 Payment will include two weeks’ sick leave. 21 The employers want to know if the applicant has broken the law. Focusing on IELTS General Training Practice Tests 94 Writing Test 3 Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You are going to travel abroad for two months and while you are away a friend would like to live in your apartment. Write to the owner of the apartment explaining the situation. In your letter: • explain that you are going to travel abroad • describe your friend and say why he/she would be a good tenant • ask whether the owner will agree to this. Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir/Madam, Focusing on IELTS General Training Practice Tests 118 Speaking Test 1 When you listen to the recording, after you hear each question you should press ‘pause’ and answer the question before going on to the next question. Part 1 Introduction and interview Hello. Could you say your full name, please? And can I see your passport? Thank you. Now, in the first part of the test, I’d like to ask you some questions about yourself. Let’s talk about your work. What job do you do? When did you first think about doing this kind of work? What do you like about your job? Do you think you’ll be working in this field in ten years’ time? Now let’s talk about music. What type of music did you like when you were a teenager? Have you ever been to a live music concert? At what times of day do you prefer to listen to music? Do you often hear other people play music you don’t like? Next I’d like to talk about eating lunch. What did you often eat for lunch when you were a school pupil? Do you think lunch should be the main meal of the day? Is it a good idea for people to have a rest after lunch? Do you sometimes not have enough time for lunch? Part 2 Individual long turn Now we have the second part of the Speaking Test. I’m going to give you a card about a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you start, you can have one minute to think about what you are going to say. If you want to, you can make some notes. Do you understand? Here’s some paper and a pencil for making notes and here’s your topic. I’d like you to describe a time when you complained about something you had paid for (for example, a restaurant meal, a product in a shop). CD 3 • Track 5 S P E A K I N G