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How to Master the IELTS

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How to Master the IELTS

Over 400 practice questions for all parts of the International English Language Testing System

Chris Tyreman

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Publisher’s note

Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate at the time of going to press, and the publishers and author cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the editor, the publisher or the author.

First published in Great Britain and the United States in 2012 by Kogan Page Limited

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or tran­ smitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned addresses:

The right of Chris Tyreman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Tyreman, C. J.

How to master the IELTS : over 400 practice questions for all parts of the International English Language

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Contents

Introduction  1

TEST 1  11

Listening (1)  12

1.Student accommodation/homestay provision  12

2.Campus plan for the Open Day  14

3.Numeracy week  15

4.Tropical storms/naming hurricanes  17

Reading (1)  18

1.Shedding light on it  18

2.Taking soundings  21

3.Oxbridge  24

Writing (1)  28

1.Fuel usage 1800 to 2000 (graph)  28

2.Electronic calculator use  29

Speaking (1)  30

1.Hobbies  30

2.Food you like  30

3.Convenience food  31

TEST 2  33

Listening (2)  33

1.Walking tour/revised booking  33

2.Field trip/timetable  35

3.Poster presentation  37

4.History of diagrams/flow charts  39

vi CONTENTS

Reading (2)  41

1.Rosetta Stone  41

2.Tickled Pink  44

3.Bubbly and burgers  47

Writing (2)  51

1.Housing owned and rented in the UK (pie chart)  51

2.Unemployment  52

Speaking (2)  53

1.Travelling to work  53

2.Where you live  53

3.Choosing where to live  54

TEST 3  55

Listening (3)  56

1.Camping and caravan park  56

2.Volunteers weekend  57

3.Work placements  58

4.Darwin/Galapagos Islands  60

Reading (3)  61

1.Recalling it  61

2.Home-schooling  65

3.Bio-fuels backlash  69

Writing (3)  74

1.Internet activities by age group (table)  74

2.Obesity  75

Speaking (3)  76

1.Pets  76

2.Memorable holiday/vacation  76

3.Work and play  77

TEST 4  79

Listening (4)  80

1.Library registration/library policy  80

2.Travelling by train  82

CONTENTS vii

3.Home composting  84

4.Academic essays  86

Reading (4)  87

1.Hacked off  87

2.Highlands and islands/map of the Western Isles  90

3.Dummy pills  95

Writing (4)  99

1.Waste disposal in four towns (bar chart)  99

2.Success in life  100

Speaking (4)  101

1.Educational achievements  101

2.Describe a book  101

3.Reading books  102

General Reading and Writing Test A  103

General Training Reading Test A  103

1.Check-in procedure at Stanza airport/You’re fired!  104

2.Newview Hotel terms and conditions/a proper brew  108

3.Vertical transport  112

General Training Writing Test A  115

1.Letter to a friend  115

2.Advantages/disadvantages of a gap year  116

General Reading and Writing Test B  117

General Training Reading Test B  117

1.Use the right type of fire extinguisher!/contract of employment  117

2.How to create a blog/print, copy and scan  122

3.Old dogs and new tricks  126

General Training Writing Test B  130

1.Email letter of complaint  130

2.Should children wear a school uniform?  130

Audio-Scripts for the Listening Tests  131

viii CONTENTS

Answers  167

Marking scheme  167

Test 1  168

Test 2  174

Test 3  180

Test 4  186

General Training Test A  192

Test B  196

Reading section expanded answers  201

APPENDIX 1  Reading section vocabulary  227

APPENDIX 2  British and American spellings  239

MP3 files for these tests can be downloaded for free at www.koganpage.com/editions/how-to-master-the-ielts/9780749456368