Taking the IELTS Today

I took the ielts test today. It didn't went as I expected. Listening was the easiest part while reading was terrible to me.In fact, I did a lot of reading practice and they were not that bad. I have never thought that the reading test was so confused and difficult like that. I just couldn't understand properly the text in passage 2 and 3. Maybe I will get a bad score for this, although, I need to hope until I get the result.

The writing topic also was not of interest to me. The question is that some people think that companies and private individuals, not the government, should pay for cleaning up pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I spent 25 minutes on task 1 (which included 2 tables, quite difficult because there were a lot of figures), so 35 minutes left were not enough for me to plan and write well. I just had no ideas when writing. I disagree with the statement but just give two reasons: large amount of money required to do that and the government have the responsibility to ensure a good environment for their citizens to live. I tried to write more than 250 words, but the vocabulary was not wide enough. I didn't have time to do proofreading. This may leave some mistakes in the essay. I don't know whether they are serious or not for certain.

Another thing is that I was shocked when seeing the schedule for speaking module. I had to take it in the afternoon after 3 long hours doing 3 first modules. That was so stressful for me. My examiner was so friendly and I didn't got nervous through the speaking test. However, I did not perform myself well too! In the end, I am so disappointed about my test today.
Anyway, I can do nothing to change it now, instead, just sitting and relaxing and waiting for the result. I hope it will not be too bad...

Thank you for all supports in the past few days!

Well how do you feel? There are many directions you can go with such a vague topic. For example you could argue "I think they should pay for the pollution they cause" and argue their responsibility and accountability etc...

You're very welcome!


Even if the result is not what you'd hoped, the test-taking experience will be useful for you in the future. Either way, you did something important today and should feel good about that. Relax! Celebrate that you completed the test, whatever the score turns out to be. Take a break and think about other things for a couple of days. Then return to your English studies refreshed and ready for the next stage, whatever it may be.

Hi tanqguynh. Wher did you take the Ielts . I had the same problem with reading and writing same as you did. I had the same topic by the way.

In the meantime, why not write an essay answering this prompt that you can post here? Regardless of how you did on the test, practicing your writing skills is a good idea, and I am curious as to what you have to say about the topic.

Air pullution is an issue threatening the enviorement in many different ways such as causing holes in the ozone and affecting global heating in the nagitve way. I believe that more reponsibilities should put on private individuals and companies such as paying to clean up air pollution.

First, in most industrialised countries, there is a number of companies that holds heavy factories in their constitutions. The waste products and harmful gases produced by these factories cause a significant amount of air pollution. While these companies make a huge amount of money from their bussinesses, most of them are not considering to take precautions to reduce the amount of air pollution. If these companies were obliged to pay to clean up the air pollution, they would at least make an effort to reduce the amount of air pollution they cause.

Second, private individuals cause air pollution in several ways such as inessential use of cars and house heating. As house heating is a major need in the winter time, some households do not consider to use filters to reduce the amount of pollution that the heating causes. Instead of this, some expensive wehicles cause a huge amount of pollution. In my opinion, by charging private indiviuals for causing air pollution, that will at least contribute to reduce the amount of the pollution.

On the other hand, I believe that governments should restrict the use of products that cause air pollution for both individuals and companies. Governments also should use an amount of money from their budgets to clean up the air, instead of putting all the responsibility to companies and private individuals.

In conclusion, due to the fact that governments are responsible to provide a healthy enviorement for their inhabitants and they should be responsible from cleaning up the air pollution, both companies and private individuals should take the main part to clean up the air pollution.


I wrote and essay giving the same arguments that is given in my essay above. I especially struggled with writing task 1. It was a good experience even though I don't think that I will achieve to have a good mark.

Thank you everyone!
I will post my essay next time because I am so busy today, preparing for my younger sister to go to Australia.
Orlando, I took the test in Vietnam. And you?
I think you did a good job, writing like that in the exam. I truly didn't write as well as you did. I am sure about this. However, I think you should not introduce solutions in the last 2 part of your essay body, but leave it for the conclusion. In addition, pollution can happen to water too. But overall, far better than me. I hope you will get a good score for this part. By the way, task 1 was terribly difficult... Maybe I lose my marks here

I took the exam in NZ. I think they give the same topic in every country. Oh that means I should have had a look on this web site coz I probably took the exam after you because of time difference :). I did a terrible job in writing task 1, I could not finish the the task. That is why I do not have any hope. I was given 2 drawbacks of different age groups. I was actually expecting line graph or pie chart which I am good at describing the trends way better than drawbacks. I found reading too difficult as well. I think it is a very limited time to handle such difficult reading and writing tasks. I will start getting prepared for the next exam : )

By the way you are right there is water pollution too. I should have read the topic 2 times. In the exam I read it as air pollutin and did not mention other type of pollutions.

I got confused with the time zone. I was definately the first in the world took the exam on 11th July :)

Oh, I definitely forgot that. But anyway, it was over. I just wonder what you meant by saying drawbacks??? I got 2 tables which were really complicated. I expected to face line graphs or pie charts too. In fact, tables always make us confused and take us a lot of time. Last time, my friend took the test and she just had to encounter 4 pie charts. She got 8 overall, however, only 6.5 in writing. We were so shocked because she is very good at writing, having won a trip to Korea in a writing contest of Korean Embassy. What score do you need or in other words, what are you doing with your Ielts? I am planning to study in the UK next year. So I need at least 6.5. But, actually I expected more than that. Now that I did so badly, I don't know if I should take another test. How about you? Where are you from? I mean your home country?

I got 2 tables as well. I mean there was a list of age groups' responses to a questionairre about range of books and non-printed items in a local library. I have to do postgraduate and I need an overall 6.5 from each task. In writing task 1, I think I should have focussed on main features and ignore the rest of information instead of making few comparisons not to make it complicated. I think there will no other option for me but taking the exam again. Somehow, I have to prove that my English is good enough to be able to study at university. By the way, my hometown is Turkey.

I saw your new essay in Essay writing feedback. It seems that you have improved a lot in terms of structure and vocab and you are trying and ready to take it once a again. So, when do you take the next test?
I wonder what area you will study in your postgraduate studies? I am going to study master in international business in the UK. Do you think of applying for any scholarship? Actually,I do. But I do not have an excellent academic grade.Thus, maybe there is just a very little chance for me. I tried to obtain a good Ielts score instead, but, as you know, I failed. I don't know if I should take it again. After this, I am going to prepare for some documents and a personal statement. Writing an impressive personal statement is always hard and requires strenuous efforts. I am think about ideas that I am going to write. Do you suggest any idea? A hard time ahead, right? How about you?

I am thinking to take the exam on 8th of August. Hopefully, I will do postgraduate in law. I hope you can achieve to recieve scholarship. I am sure you will achieve to write an impressive personal statement by the help people in here. You should at least try it, even if there is a little chance to achieve. I definitely will make comments on your statement if you post it here.

I'm going to be taking something similar as well. Hope its not to tough.

Well, it is not too hard but it is easy to lose concentration because of limited time. It is not same as writing an essay in your room while having your coffee. Time goes faster than it normally does when you are under pressure. I am sure you will do well if you have previous experiences. Good luck

Hi, I am going to take IELTS test for the first time next month, i saw some website say the same essay question will be repeated for 3 months, is that true? I doubt it.

Only 5 days left to know my score. I just have not slept a wink these days, being worried too much. I have tried not to do so, but I can't. I just did as one of our moderator said: smile and say: I prepared well and I can do this. I actually felt better when I did that in the test. BUT...
I am not sure if the same essay question is repeated for 3 months as you wrote. But it is certain that the questions might be the same from country to country on the same day of the test. Orlando and I saw this situation. He took the test about 4 hours before me. And tell you what? we had to do exactly the same questions in all 4 modules. Thus, my advice is that,if possible, you should find someone who takes the test in a different hour zone, but the same day as you so that you can exchange the questions. However, the key to success lies in your preparation. You should not expect too much from what I mentioned above because if you do not practice as much as you can or prepare properly, you can not get the score you want
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR COMING TEST!

Good luck with the exam boonwah!

I hope we get a good mark trangquynh. I am just worried about the time passing. I mean I will have to delay everything to few months later if cannot pass the exam. Plus cost

i am a new member here... so plzzz can any one guide me what to do???

Start a new thread with your questions or with a draft of your work. The FAQ forum should contain descriptions of how to do that.

can u chek my story as well?

Yes. Just post it in its own thread.

thanks for guiding me.

I got 6(overall) out of 9 from Ielts as I needed 6.5. Grr.. was so close :P. It seems like I will have to bother moderators for another month with my essays : )

I want to thank everyone who made effort to help me.

Trangquynh, I am looking forward to hear good news about your exam results.

I was so disappointed with my result, especially with the writing score. I'd rather not to say. I just got 6.5 overall. I cannot imagine that listening could be that bad. I made stupid mistakes in Reading module (Yes No and Not given question. I wrote Y, N, NG). As the result, I lost my point. Actually, I hope to achieve 7. overall. However as you know...Although it is enough to apply for the university that I intend to study in the UK, I have decided to retake the test on August 22 because I want to reassure if I can get higher score.

This time, I've registered at British Council, trying the difference between 2 centers responsible for holding the Ielts test. Last time at IDP, I did not satisfy with the way they organised the test. I have to do 3 modules in the morning. Only until I went to the test center did I know I had to do speaking test in the afternoon in the same day. I was so tired all the morning. Thus, I could not focus on the last part. In fact, I know that my result reflexes my level of English and I do not blame them for that, it is just my opinion as a client. Today, I asked the receptionist whether I have to face the same situation or not when taking the test at BC. She answered me: absolutely not. And I feel so happy about that.

How about you? I remember you have set to take another test on August 8.
Just as you have to bother everybody here, I really need their helps to improve my writing. So, from now on, we should do our best and help each other, right.

Here we go again!

I'm sorry you both are disappointed. Those are respectable scores which will certainly improve as you continue to work, individually and together, on your writing skills.

Yea, there is another test on 8th aug. I am just not sure if I should take that one or study for another month and take the one in sept(5). I really dont want to risk it this time.

You are right. We all do not need to do that. Do what you really believe!