Cambridge IELTS 2

1 Cambridge IELTS 2 Examination papers from theUniversity of CambridgeLocal Examinations Syndicatepublished by the press syndicate of the university of cambridgeThe Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge , United Kingdomcambridge university pressThe Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011 4211, Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, AustraliaRuiz de Alarc n 13, 28014 Madrid, Spain Cambridge University Press 2000 This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exceptionand to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,no reproduction of any part may take place withoutthe written permission of Cambridge University published 2000 Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, CambridgeTypeset in Monotype Times New Roman in QuarkXPress [se]ISBN 0 521 77531 0 Student s BookISBN 0 521 77530 2 Cassette SetContentsThanks and acknowledgementsivIntroduction1 Test 17 Test 230 Test 354 Test 476 General Training: Reading and Writing Test A98 General Training.

2 Reading and Writing Test B112 Tapescripts126 Answer key146 Model and sample answers for writing tasks156 Sample answer sheets168iiiIntroductionThe International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ) is widely recognised as areliable means of assessing whether candidates are ready to study or train in the medium ofEnglish. IELTS is owned by three partners, The University of Cambridge LocalExaminations Syndicate, the British Council and IDP Education Australia (through itssubsidiary company IELTS Australia Pty Limited). The main purpose of this book ofPractice tests is to give future IELTS candidates an idea of whether their English is at therequired level. Further information on IELTS can be found in the IELTS Handbookavailable free of charge from IELTS IS THE TEST FORMAT?

3 IELTS consists of six modules. All candidates take the same Listening and SpeakingModules. There is a choice of Reading and Writing Modules according to whether acandidate is taking the academic or General Training version of the test modules are taken in the following candidates taking the test for entry toundergraduate or postgraduate studies orfor professional reasonsGeneral TrainingFor candidates taking the test for entry tovocational or training programmes not atdegree level, for admission to secondaryschools and for immigration purposesListening4 sections, 40 items30 minutesAcademic ReadingGeneral Training Reading3 sections, 40 itemsor3 sections, 40 items60 minutes60 minutesAcademic WritingGeneral Training Writing2 tasksor2 tasks60 minutes60 minutesSpeaking10 to 15 minutesTotal test time2 hours 45 minutesListeningThis is in four sections, each with 10 questions.

4 The first two sections are concerned withsocial needs. There is a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue. The finaltwo sections are concerned with situations related to educational or training contexts. Thereis a conversation between up to four people and then a variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions,sentence completion, notes/chart/table completion, labelling a diagram, classification, hear the recording once only and answer the questions as they listen. Tenminutes are allowed at the end to transfer answers to the answer ReadingThere are three reading passages, of increasing difficulty, on topics of general interest andcandidates have to answer 40 questions.

5 The passages are taken from magazines, journals,books and newspapers. At least one text contains detailed logical variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions,sentence completion, notes/chart/table completion, labelling a diagram, classification,matching lists/phrases, choosing suitable paragraph headings from a list, identification ofwriter s views/attitudes yes, no, not Training ReadingCandidates have to answer 40 questions. There are three sections of increasing difficulty,containing texts taken from notices, advertisements, leaflets, newspapers, instructionmanuals, books and magazines. The first section contains texts relevant to basic linguisticsurvival in English, with tasks mainly concerned with providing factual information.

6 Thesecond section focuses on the training context and involves texts of more complex third section involves reading more extended texts, with a more complex structure, butwith the emphasis on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, short-answer questions,sentence completion, notes/chart/table completion, labelling a diagram, classification,matching lists/phrases, choosing suitable paragraph headings from a list, identification ofwriter s views/attitudes yes, no, not given, or true, false, not WritingThere are two tasks and it is suggested that candidates spend about 20 minutes on Task 1,which requires them to write at least 150 words and 40 minutes on Task 2 250 words.

7 Theassessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task Task 1 candidates are asked to look at a diagram or table and to present theinformation in their own words. They are assessed on their ability to organise, present andpossibly compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or event, explainhow something Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They areassessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, present and justify an opinion,compare and contrast evidence and opinions, evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence are also judged on their ability to write in an appropriate Training WritingThere are two tasks and it is suggested that candidates spend about 20 minutes on Task 1,which requires them to write at least 150 words and 40 minutes on Task 2 250 words.

8 Theassessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task Task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given problem with a letter requestinginformation or explaining a situation. They are assessed on their ability to engage inpersonal correspondence, elicit and provide general factual information, express needs,wants, likes and dislikes, express opinions, complaints, Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They areassessed on their ability to provide general factual information, outline a problem andpresent a solution, present and justify an opinion, evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence are also judged on their ability to write in an appropriate consists of a conversation between the candidate and an examiner and takes between 10and 15 minutes.

9 There are five sections:1 IntroductionThe examiner and candidate introduce themselves and the candidate is encouraged to talkbriefly about their life, home, work and discourseThe candidate is encouraged to speak at length about some familiar topic of generalinterest or of relevance to their culture, place of living or country of origin. This willinvolve explanation, description or candidate is given a task card with some information on it and is encouraged to takethe initiative and ask questions either to elicit information or to solve a and AttitudesThe candidate is encouraged to talk about their future plans and proposed course ofstudy. Alternatively the examiner may choose to return to a topic raised interview is are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively with native speakers ofEnglish.

10 The assessment takes into account evidence of communicative strategies andappropriate use of grammar and IS IELTS SCORED? IELTS results are reported on a nine-band scale. In addition to the score for overall languageability IELTS provides a score, in the form of a profile, for each of the four skills (Listening,Reading, Writing and Speaking). These scores are also reported on a nine-band scale. Allscores are recorded on the Test Report Form along with details of the candidate snationality, first language and date of birth. Each Overall Band Score corresponds to adescriptive statement which gives a summary of the English language ability of a candidateclassified at that level.