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Change in IELTS General Reading

Bakhtiyor — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 09:49:48 GMT

Attention! A change in the IELTS Reading Paper (General Training)

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The IELTS official website announced a change they are making in the General Training Reading from 1 May 2009.

At the moment Passage 2 of the Reading paper is focusing on training content (university, courses, etc). From 1 May it will be focusing on work context (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development etc).

The reason for this small change is that now more employers, professional associations and immigration authorities recognize the IELTS test. This change will ensure that the module will be adapted to real life situations and because of it will more closely meet the needs of candidates who take the IELTS test for employment or immigration purposes.

Nothing else will be changed, the rest of the passages remain as they were.

And here is an example of the new General Training Reading passage:

Click here to view.

There is even an answer key!

Posted in Reading tips | View Comments (0) »

The IELTS Reading test: 9 free resources to help you get a better score

What do you do to get a higher score in the IELTS Reading test? Increase your speed by reading more texts, that’s right. But not just any texts – there is a certain kind of reading passages you will find in the IELTS test more often.

Many of you were asking me: “What should I read?” and here’s the answer: reading passages in the past IELTS tests came from the following sources:

1. The Economist – a weekly newspaper focusing on international politics and business news and opinions.

2. The Economist Technology quarterly

3. New Scientist – a weekly science and technology news magazine, considered by some to be the world’s best, with diverse subject matter.

4. American Scientist – an illustrated bimonthly magazine of science and technology.

5. The Geographical Journal – publishers of original research and scholarship in physical and human geography.

6. Interscience – online editions of scientific, technical, medical and professional journals

7. Australian geographic – an entertaining and fact-filled reference for anyone who loves and is fascinated by Australia and all things Australian.

8. The British museum – online publications.

9. Illustrated London News – a pictorial example of a historic social record of British and world events up to the present day.

In all of these websites there are articles you can read online (no need to subscribe, they are free) . This way you will get familiar with the style and level of articles you are likely to see in a real IELTS exam. Practice in reading using these resources and you will kill two birds with one stone, improve your reading speed and expand your vocabulary. Those of you taking the IELTS test to study in England will find this page interesting.

And now it’s your turn – do you know of other free sources of IELTS-like reading passages? Please, share!

Sentence writing

Bakhtiyor — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 07:03:13 GMT

a. The dramatic increase in the number of cars on motorways is producing a negative/dreadful impact on environment.

b. People will go on relying on their vehicles until comfortable and cheap transports won’t be provided. /means of public transport won’t be introduced.

c. The increase in numbers of households with more than 2 automobiles has deteriorated the situation.

d. The idea/novelty of sharing the car by several people for travelling didn’t prove to be efficient/effective.

e. Although the amount of poisonous elements in petrol/gasoline was decreased, as parallel/in the same time it still makes a serious harm.

f. The measures taken by the government to regulate the amount of emissions from the used cars proved to be insufficient.

g. Moreover, the growing air contamination has damaged the health of people.

G#2: Furthermore air pollution resulted in bad impact on humans health .

G#3: However, the increase of air and environment pollution caused negative consequences in the health of the humanity. J

h. Main problems within inner-cities are became as a result of respiratory diseases .

The number of respiratory diseases in urban areas increased significantly . /There is a substantial growth in numbers of respiratory diseases in urban areas.

i. The by-products of unleaded goods are effecting to innate/inborn diseases.

j. People will reject public transport while the car still remains the symbol of independence and unique personality. /…the car is still considered to be the symbol of …

Sentence writing

Bakhtiyor — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 07:01:52 GMT