Table of Contents
Important IELTS Writing Task & Speaking Topics, 18th April
Academic Writing Task 1:-
Chart 1 below shows the normal price of a tablet computer in different stores (in US dollars), and the % discount offered by these stores when the products are sold on promotion. Chart 2 shows the % increase in volume sales when the discount promotions are happening, and Chart 3 shows funds (in 000 US dollars) spent on TV advertising during these promotions.
Write a report summarising the information. Select and describe the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Sample Answer:-
The charts show average prices, promotional discounts, sales uplifts and advertising budgets for 7 stores selling tablet computers.
4 of these stores have a normal price of around $300 per item (Slaker, Jones, Scots and Fraser.) 2 stores (Lewis and Nova) have a much higher price at $460 and $565 respectively. The lowest price ($180) is seen in Smith. We see a similar grouping in the promotional discounts offered, with the 4 mid-priced stores offering 10% off, the two higher-priced stores giving 20% (Lewis) and 25% (Nova), and Smith offering only 5% discount.
Lewis and Nova also see the highest rate of uplift in sales volumes on promotion (at 21% and 23% respectively), while Slaker, Jones, Scots and Fraser are again similarly grouped with around a 12% increase each. Smith has the lowest sales increase with below 5%.
Turning to TV advertising, Slaker, Jones, Scots and Fraser have roughly similar funds of between $63,000 and $70,000. Lewis and Nova have much lower spends at $18,000 and $21,000, while Smith does not spend money at all.
In summary, the 4 mid-price stores spend the most on advertising and achieve similar uplifts with their 10% discounts. Lewis and Nova spend about one third of these levels, but achieve roughly double the uplift by offering approximately double the level of discount. Smith, with its lower normal price, is barely active on promotions.
General Writing Task 1:-
A friend has invited you to a party but you will not be able to attend. Write to your friend. In your letter
- Tell your friend you can’t come
- Explain why you are unable to attend
- Arrange another time to meet
Sample Answer:
Dear Anna,
I just wanted to say thanks for the invite – I would have loved to come, but I’m not going to be in town next weekend. You remember my cousin Jason? Well, he’s getting married and the wedding is in London, so I’ll be away for three days.
Perhaps we could catch up when I get back? We could go to that new restaurant that’s just opened on Queen St. – one of the people I work with went there a few weeks ago and says it’s really good. It’s about time we caught up – it must be at least 6 months since I saw you and I have some exciting news to tell you about my job!
Anyway, hope you have a good party – I’m sure you will as your parties are always good fun! I remember the New Years Eve party at your house three years ago – it was one of the best parties I’ve been to!
All the best,
Mary
Writing Task 2 (AC+GT):-
Many people today are worried about ‘cybercrime ’such as hacking and identity theft. What problems does ‘cybercrime’ cause, and what solutions can you suggest for ordinary people and businesses to take?
Give reasons for your answer, and provide ideas and examples from your own experience.
Sample Answer:-
Cyber crime is a cause of widespread concern today, as so many people use technology to store and transmit sensitive data. There are a number of problems that people suffer as a result of these crimes, but also some straightforward measures we can take to protect ourselves.
Perhaps the worst problem stemming from this is the financial impact. If someone has his or her bank account emptied, or has false credit lines created under their name, they are potentially liable for large sums of money. Even if they can avoid the consequences, their bank or finance company has to cover the losses, which can damage their performance. A further problem is the way in which these stolen funds are used to subsidize other crimes, such as drug distribution or even terrorism. Once the money enters the criminal networks, we have no way of knowing how it will be used. Finally, there is the problem of anxiety and stress caused to the innocent victims of these crimes. The initial shock is often followed by months or years or legal wrangling, paperwork and a sense of insecurity.
Turning to possible solutions, probably the most effective measure is to improve personal security, ranging from passwords to the shredding of documents. This denies the criminals the raw materials to work with. Secondly, we should raise awareness of the risks among the elderly or the very young – two groups who are often specifically targeted – via publicity and public education. Ultimately, however, it is the financial companies who can make the greatest contribution, by increasing their security and detection systems – ideally in partnership with the police.
Overall, the problems caused are both financial and social, and the solutions should involve coordinated action by individuals, corporations and the state.
IELTS Speaking Full Interview:-
PART – 1 Intro Part
What is your full name?
My name is Gurfateh Singh.
How may I address you?
Well, you may call me Gurfateh instead of calling by my full name.
What is the name of your home town?
I am a dweller of rural area named as Mahesari.
Are you working or student?
I am a student as I have recently completed my senior secondary education.
Let’s tall about Introductory Part
Your Introductory part will be based upon “FILMS”
Do you like watch films?
Absolutely! They are an excellent way to unwind (relax; free your mind). Moreover, my friends are re-allot into films, so it’s a fun, relaxing way to spend time together. Afterwards, we discuss and debate the film that we have just watched. Apart from just relaxing and enjoying the film, I like to delve deeper (get to the deeper meaning) to discover the subliminal messages.
What kinds of movies do you like best? Well, I would say I’m still a kid at heart (a person who still feels like a child in their heart), so I really enjoy watching kids’ movies. Although they seem simple and innocent, there are often many life lessons packed into these films. Moreover, I’m really into drama and historical movies. When I watch these, I feel that I can more deeply understand human emotions and re-live historical moments, like the Vietnam-America War or World War II.
Do you prefer foreign films or films made in your country? Since my country doesn’t have a huge film industry, I’ve always been really into American films. Not to knock (to insult; discredit) other film industries, but American ones are incredibly entertaining and well-made; the evolution of film continues to amaze me. Moreover, I only watch films in English so it helps me to learn new slang and expressions.
How often do you watch films? Well, I am quite a busy bee (a busy person), but I manage to see about one or two films a week at home. After a long day of studying, I love snuggling up (getting comfortable with blankets) on the sofa and watching a film to unwind. I tend to do this on Friday and Sunday evenings with my friends.
How often do you go to a cinema to watch a movie? Not too often actually. As the prices in my country are quite high, I usually opt to (choose) watch a movie at home instead to save on costs. Actually, I think it’s kind of a waste of money to see a movie at a cinema when you can watch it from the comfort of your living room. I only go when a friend invites me, which is maybe 4 times a year.
Do people in your country like to go to a cinema to watch a film? I would say so. Since people like to go out with their families on the weekends, this is often an activity that they would choose. Moreover, teenagers enjoy this activity as a way to get out of the house. Furthermore, it’s often a popular date option for many people!
What was the first film that you watched? Hmm it’s hard to say the first, but I think it was the Lion King. I know it first came out in the early 90’s when I was a child. It was my absolute favorite- I used to watch it repeatedly until my parents were really tired of it! I even built “pride rock” out of rocks that I found when we would go to visit my relatives who have a garden.
Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends? Both! On one hand, I find it extremely relaxing to chill out and fall asleep to a film by myself, but it’s also enjoyable to have company. So, all in all, I prefer films with friends, since they are also into film. Afterwards, we can discuss the meaning and carry on inside jokes (jokes among friends) from quotes from the film later on!
Would you like to be in a movie?
Not one bit! As I have stage fright (fear of being on stage), I would never have the guts (never be brave enough to) to do it. Secondly, I feel awkward when I try to act and I have the memory of a goldfish (short memory) so I know I could never memorize my lines! All in all, acting is simply not my thing.
PART – 2 Cue Card
Describe a tall building in your hometown you like or dislike
You should say
- Where this building is
- What it looks like
- What it is used for
- And explain why you like or dislike
BAND 9.0 SAMPLE ANSWER
I’m going to describe a high-rise building in my neighborhood. It’s called Paradise Green City, located in Canada.
Unlike other modern blocks, which are usually huge glass towers, the building is painted yellow, although it’s named Green City. The structure of Green City is not dissimilar to that of most buildings in Canada nowadays, with the bottom half used as a shopping center and the top half occupied by apartments.
One feature that makes the building unique is that its trade center offers Canadian products only, with a view to promoting domestic products to Hanoi people and also to supporting national manufacturers. At the entrance of the building, if you look to the right, you can easily find a store named Master chef bread, which serves traditional bread to people who just do not have enough time to go inside, so they line up waiting to pay.
In spite of its prime location, however, Paradise Green City offers a reasonable price for its apartments, which are affordable for many middle-income families. From the building, we can enjoy the breathtaking scenery. So, if you are planning to find a place with a beautiful and peaceful view, or simply want to buy something traditional, Paradise Green City may be a good choice.
(Dislike) What I don’t like about Paradise Green City, however, is that its design is neither eye-catching nor original. In fact, I personally find that it resembles ABC, a modern building nearby. Moreover, the paint color doesn’t match its modern structures, which makes the building somehow old-fashioned. And, the quality, as well as diversity of products on sale do not meet the expectations of most customers. So, I guess it’s the reason why the building doesn’t attract as much attention from the public as expected.
PART – 3 Discussion
How do people in your country feel about old buildings? Indian culture is tradition oriented, which obviously means Indian people have a respectful attitude toward architecture built to last for ages. This can be seen through not only many famous old structures that are still preserved today, but also in interesting folktales about their construction.
Do old people and young people in your country have the same attitudes towards old buildings? In my opinion, there is certainly a difference between the perspective of elderly people and that of young people on old buildings due to the generation gap. Elders are more respectful of old architecture compared with youngsters. They enjoy the atmosphere created by old places where they recall the old times / their own history while the young generation finds it uninteresting.
Is it important to preserve old buildings? Yes, I strongly support the idea of preserving old buildings. One reason for this is that the buildings represent both cultural and historical values, which could be viewed as precious artifacts worth retaining. The second reason is to create a sense of nostalgia which helps people to meditate (away from their city lives).
What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect? In terms of the cultural aspect of old buildings, they represent the religion and lifestyle of the time. The majority of the old buildings are associated with Buddhist architecture such as the pagoda, temple and shrine. Apart from religious design, old structures also reflect the lifestyle of people relating to the tradition of agricultural work. This can be commonly seen in the countryside where there are spacious old houses with private fields and gardens.
How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place? There are two cases. If there are dilapidated buildings in the area, it will not only make for a gloomy sight but also is a waste of land. In contrast, well designed and well maintained old buildings are visually attractive and add a touch of elegance to a location, which results in it becoming a tourist attraction.
What benefits can people get from old buildings? There are several advantages brought by old buildings. Besides the peaceful atmosphere they provide, old/traditional architecture plays an essential role as both cultural and historical artifacts for us to study about our ancestors. Therefore, when they attract a considerable number of visitors, local people can benefit from tourism.
Would you say buildings in the past were better than those of today, or those of today are better than those in the past? In general, today’s construction techniques have developed hugely, which makes modern towers more solid than those built a long time ago. However, there are magnificently extraordinary ancient structures that not only get admiration from people today but also remain mysterious such as the Great Pyramid in Egypt.
Do you think it’s worth the money to preserve old buildings? Although I appreciate the value of old buildings, I think that the government should allocate a sensible budget to preserve them in good condition. As the population is sharply increasing and the polar ice is melting, the problem of insufficient living land has become more serious than ever. Therefore, antiquated buildings which are less valuable should be demolished to facilitate urbanization.
How have buildings changed in the past few years? During recent years, there has been a tendency to construct tower blocks and skyscrapers as engineering techniques have considerably developed. Compared with finicky designs of old architecture, modern buildings are simpler and more uniform due to the construction materials changing from stone, wood and bamboo to concrete, steel and glass.
