General Training Writing

Test A

Writing task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

An English-speaking friend has written to you to ask you how your IELTS studies are going.

Write a letter telling your friend how you are preparing for the test.

In your letter:

●●say what progress you are making

●●explain how you are preparing for the test

●●say which section you are finding the most difficult.

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any address. Begin your e-mail as follows:

Dear

116 How to Master the IELTS

Writing task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Opinions vary on whether students should take a gap year before going into higher education. Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of taking a year out.

Do you believe that taking a gap year is a good idea?

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

Write at least 250 words.

117

General Reading

and Writing Test B

General Training Reading

Test B

Section 1

Questions 361 to 374

Read the text and answer Questions 361 to 367.

118 How to Master the IELTS

USE THE RIGHT TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER!

Fire extinguishers come in different types depending on the material combusted.

The five main types of fire extinguisher are described below.

Pressurized water

Used for Class A fires only.

Carbon-dioxide

Used for Class E fires because it does not damage electrical equipment such as computers. Limited use for Class B fires because there is a risk of re-ignition due to a lack of cooling.

Foam-filled

Used for Class B fires. Also used for Class A fires, though not in confined spaces. They are NOT for electrical equipment fires or cooking oil.

Dry powder

Used for Class A, B, C and E fires, with specialist powders for Class D fires.

Smothers the fire but does not cool it or penetrate very well so there is a risk of re-ignition.

Wet chemical

Used for Class F fires, especially high temperature deep fat fryers.

There are six classifications of combustible material as shown below.

Class A: flammable organic solids (eg wood, paper, coal, plastics, textiles)

Class B: flammable liquids (eg gasoline, spirits) but not cooking oil

Class C: flammable gas (eg propane, butane)

Class D: combustible metals (eg magnesium, lithium)

Class E: electrical equipment (eg computers, photocopiers)

Class F: cooking oil and fat

The above classifications apply to Europe and Australia.

Questions 361 to 367

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? 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.

361Class A fires can be tackled with three types of extinguisher.

362A gasoline fire extinguished with carbon-dioxide might ignite again.

363Flammable liquids are more likely to reignite than flammable solids.

364Foam-filled extinguishers can be used on fires involving plastics.

365Foam-filled extinguishers should NOT be used outdoors.

366Cooking oil fires should only be tackled with Class F fire extinguishers.

367Only one type of fire extinguisher is suitable for a lithium battery fire.

120 How to Master the IELTS

Read the text below and answer Questions 368 to 374.

CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

A Macleods is a soft fruit farm, situated approximately 20 km east of Dundee near the village of Muirdrum. The farm is off the Arbroath Road and clearly signposted. Please see the website for a map and travel details.

B You must bring all essential paperwork, including your letter of acceptance, your passport, National ID card, and a work permit if you are not an EU citizen. If you are a student please bring proof of this. Two passport photographs are required.

C You can stay in our modern and clean caravans. They have two bedrooms, each with a single bed, a fully equipped kitchen, a shower and toilet. There is a fee of £4 per day, which includes gas, electric and laundry use. A breakages deposit of £50 is required which will be returned to you in full when you leave, provided that nothing has been damaged.

D The farm consists of 40 hectares of strawberries and 2 hectares of other soft fruits under the cover of polythene tunnels. We use the table-top system so all the fruit is picked at waist level rather than on the ground.

E This means that you are paid harvest-worker piece rates. You will earn a fixed amount

per kilogram of fruit picked, so the more you pick, the more you earn. A good picker can earn upwards of £300 per week. You will receive your wages in cash at the end of the week together with a payslip.

F Our polythene tunnels provide protection from the weather but we can still have problems linked to insects, plant diseases or changes in customer demand, meaning that we cannot promise you any work.

G We reserve the legal right to dismiss any employee who is guilty of serious misconduct or who fails to adhere to our health and safety procedures.

Questions 368 to 374

The text has seven sections, A to G.

Choose the correct heading for the sections A, B, C, D, E, F and G from the list of headings below.

List of headings

i.Accommodation and charges

ii.No guarantee of employment

iii.Bad weather

iv.Sheltered picking

v.Documents

vi.Contract terminated

vii.Hours of work

viii.Location

ix.Piece work

x.Travel information

368Section A

369Section B

370Section C

371Section D

372Section E

373Section F

374Section G