This document provides guidance for IELTS exam tasks. It summarizes listening, reading, writing and speaking sections. For listening, it advises preparing for questions and multiple choice answers. For reading, it outlines a multiple choice question format. Writing involves a 180-220 word letter responding to input notes. Speaking involves answering questions about life, interests, activities and background in pairs. The document aims to help candidates understand exam formats and strategies.

1. Our people
UNIT 1

2. LISTENING Part 4
Before you listen:
• Read both tasks, underlining key ideas in
each option.
While you listen:
• Listen for words or phrases which mean the
same as the key idea you have underlined.
• Listen for the answers to both tasks. One at a
time!
EXAM ADVICE
p. 9

3. 1. First associate these phrases with
the jobs:
• A few of his recordings
• Complete dedication to his / her craft
• Perform a new trick
• His underwater adventures
• Out in all weathers
• The first person to set foot in a place
• What it would be like tomorrow
• Digging at some excavation or other

4. 2. Look at the qualities (A – H) in Task
Two. What do the qualities mean?
Explain.
A a positive outlook on life
B ability to anticipate problems
C an enquiring mind
D attention to detail
E calmness under pressure
F readiness to explain things
G kindness to children
H originality and inventiveness

5. You will hear five
short extracts in
which people are
talking about a
member of their
family who they
admire.

6. KEY
1
2
3
4
5
B
G
D
A
E
6 E
7 F
8 D
9
10
G
A

7. READING Part 1
In Reading Part 1, you
• read three short texts on the same theme
• answer two multiple-choice questions, each
with four options, about each text.
You have approximately 18 minutes for this
part.
EXAM INFORMATION
p. 11

8. Which text comes from…
The subject of a book
Starting a conversation
My choice of career
a novel?
a biography?
an autobiography?

9. The subject of a book
1 In line 11, what does the writer want
to show by using the phrase a history
book on two feet?
2 What do we understand from the
writer’s use of the word unrestrained?

10. Starting a conversation
3 What particularly upset the
writer?
4 What impression do we have of
the writer from reading this text?

11. My choice of career
5 How did the writer’s parents feel
about her becoming a fisherman?
6 How did she become captain of
the Walter Leeman?

12. KEY
1
2
3
4
5
D
A
D
C
C
6 C

13. Although the advice they …………..
was well intentioned, my parents
never dreamed that it might come
back to haunt them…
A made B gave C said D expressed
VOCABULARY
p. 14
gave

14. COLLOCATIONS
make
do
give

15. 1 My friends gave me a really
…………. welcome when I got
back from holiday.
Take a …………... coat if you’re
going out tonight because it’s
absolutely freezing outside.
Cindy decided to decorate the
hallway using ……………. colours
to make it feel friendlier.
warm
warm
warm

16. Use of English Part 4
In Use of English Part 4 there are 5
questions. Each question consists of three
sentences, each with a gap. You have to think of
ONE WORD which fits the gaps in all three
sentences. The word will:
• be the same type of word, e.g. noun, verb,
etc., and have the same form in all three
gaps.
• have a different meaning in each sentence.
EXAM INFORMATION

17. 2 It’s a good…………..the police
didn’t see you driving so fast!
Paola’s desperate to work, but
unfortunately she never manages
to hold down a …………..for long.
They didn’t make a very good
…………..of printing out the leaflet,
did they?
job
job
job

18. 1 I entirely agree with the
government’s……..………..on free
medicine for pensioners.
I’m feeling very stiff because I slept
in a really uncomfortable
………………..last night.
Najib has applied for
the……………….in our company
that was advertised in the paper.
position
position
position

19. 2Stella has been……..…………the
business almost single-handed
since her assistant left.
I never knew you were interested
in politics and now I see
you’re………………..for parliament!
We’d better stop at a filling station
soon as we’re ……………….out of
petrol.
running
running
running

20. 3If you think you need a bit more
exercise, why don’t you ……..
……… up tennis?
If you find the gadget doesn’t suit
your needs, ……………it back to
the shop.
I ……………it you’ll be at the
meeting tomorrow – it’s really vital
that you are.
take
take
take

21. 4The place where I study has a very
……..……… policy towards time-
keeping and you can’t be late for
class.
Candela is a .. …………vegetarian
and refuses to eat meat or poultry.
We need a very …………..translation of
the report so as to avoid any
misunderstandings.
strict
strict
strict

22. 5 I wasn’t enjoying studying law at
university, so I ……..………..to
history at the end of the first year..
I found his speech very boring so
I’m afraid I ………………..off
before the end.
The weather has been so mild that
we haven’t ……………….on yet
this winter.
swtiched
switched
switched

23. Speaking Part 1
You do Speaking Part 1 in pairs. The
examiner will ask you questions about:
• Your life
• Your interests
• Your activities
• Your experiences
• Your background, etc.
EXAM INFORMATION
3
minutes

24. 1. Work in pairs. How would you answer each question?
A What do you most enjoy doing with your friends?
B Have ever had the opportunity to really help a friend?
How?
C Would you prefer to spend your holidays with your family
or your friends?
D What’s the best way for people visiting your country to
make friends?
E Who do you think has had the most influence on your life
so far? Why?
F What’s your happiest childhood memory?
G Who is the best teacher you’ve ever had?
H Tell me about a friend of yours and how you got to know
him or her.

25. Writing Part 1 – A letter
In Writing Part 1 there is one task you MUST do.
• The task may be an article, letter, report or proposal.
• You are given some input material (e.g. a letter, an
advertisement, an article, etc.) and notes you have
made about it. You must deal, with all the points in the
notes.
• You will also have to express opinions, evaluate
options and persuade the reader.
• Write between 180 and 220 words.
EXAM INFORMATION
45
minute
s