186 How to Master the IELTS

Test 4

Listening section

Section 1, Questions 241 to 250.

241residence

242lease agreement

2434 digit number

244new titles

245bar code

24650

2472 weeks

2481 week (or 7 days)

2495 days

250(wireless) laptops

Section 2, Questions 251 to 260.

251C

252B

253B

254C

255A

256B

257C

258meals

259dinner and drinks

260(continental) breakfast

Answers 187

Section 3, Questions 261 to 270.

261B

262C

263A

264C

265B

266wood

2679

268lid

269leaves

270newspaper

Section 4, Questions 271 to 280.

271template

272reading

273handwritten

274number

275read

276source

277facts

278first

279list

280last

188 How to Master the IELTS

Academic reading

Reading Passage 10, Questions 281 to 292. Hacked off

281TRUE

282FALSE

283TRUE

284NOT GIVEN

285TRUE

286FALSE

287FALSE

288A

289C

290B

291C

292C

Reading Passage 11, Questions 293 to 306. Highlands and Islands

293TRUE

294FALSE

295NOT GIVEN

296TRUE

297FALSE

298TRUE

299FALSE

Answers 189

300A

301D

302B

303A vii) Location

304B iv) Landscape

305C ii) Language and culture

306D v) Population and economic activity

Reading Passage 12, Questions 307 to 320.

Dummy pills

307C

308B

309A

310D

311TRUE

312TRUE

313FALSE

314TRUE

315NOT GIVEN

316NOT GIVEN

317H

318A

319F

320J

190 How to Master the IELTS

Academic writing

The following writing task answers have been written by the author. The method used is explained at the end of each task. There are no right or wrong answers but you must cover all parts of the question. Marks are lost for mistakes in grammar, punctuation and spelling, as well as repetition of words. A higher mark is awarded for well-constructed sentences that communicate a clear message using sufficient vocabulary.

Writing task 1

The bar chart depicts four types of waste disposal in four towns.

Landfill was the most popular method of waste disposal in towns A and D. Town A used landfill for disposing of about three-quarters of its waste with the remaining quarter split between incineration, recycling and composting. Town D used landfill for disposing of almost half of its waste with most of the rest being incinerated.

Incineration was the most popular method of waste disposal in towns B and C. Town C disposed of more than half its waste by incineration with less than onequarter going for recycling and even less still going for landfill and composting.

Recycling was the second least popular method of waste disposal. No town disposed of more than 25% of its waste by recycling and in the case of town A, it was less than 10%.

Composting was the least common method of waste disposal. No town dis­ posed of more than 10% of its waste by compositing and town D hardly did any composting.

Method

The first sentence introduces the chart without copying from the question. The second paragraph deals with landfill because the longest bar is found under landfill. The third paragraph deals with incineration. The fourth paragraph deals with recycling. The fifth paragraph deals with composting.

Answers 191

Writing task 2

I do not believe that academic achievement equates with a successful life. Obtaining good grades at school is a separate issue from making the most of your life. How­ ever, it is hard to see how a person can have a rewarding career without a sound education and appropriate qualifications; for example, a degree.

Well-educated and well-qualified people have more opportunities in the workplace and are more likely to find a well-paid job or be promoted. The result is often more job satisfaction and a better lifestyle compared with people who lack qualifications. On the downside there can also be more responsibility and stress.

It is still possible to do well in life without good qualifications. Not everybody is academically inclined. Many successful people left school at an early age and went on to achieve great things, often in the world of business. What is clear, though, is that most people had to work hard to achieve success, so failure to do well at school is not a good sign if it means that you were lazy.

There is more to life than work and money, so it is important to strike an appro­ priate work–life balance. Too much time spent working can harm people’s social lives and relationships. Young people can lose out if they spend too much time studying rather than engaging in social activities and acquiring life skills.

I am not certain that by studying hard I will definitely improve my chances in life, but I am sure that I need to study if I am serious about wanting to improve myself. Good results in my examination alone will not bring success. I will have to make the most of my education and any opportunities that present themselves if I am to succeed.

Method

The author starts with his own opinion, whilst being careful to mention the other side of the argument so as not to appear biased (balanced view). The second paragraph looks at the advantages of having a good education (second part of the question) and also mentions a downside. The third paragraph explains that qualifica­ tions are not always needed to achieve success. The fourth paragraph explains some disadvantages of working too hard. The fifth paragraph deals with the last part of the question, pulling together strands from earlier paragraphs to provide a well thought out conclusion.