Some people believe that the fittest and strongest individuals and teams always success in sports. Others think that success in sports depends on mental attitudes. Discuss both views and give your opinions.

Intro: ( this is a discuss essay, so you can give a general statement about the two opinions)

Paragraph 1: Give examples of games where fitness and strength is very important for success – rugby, soccer, wrestling, volley ball.

Paragraph 2: Give examples of games where players can succeed with positive mental attitude and good game plan. Cricket – Indian player Sachin Tendulkar is very short, yet he can do wonders with his bat. Anil Kumble is one of the best bowlers in the game of cricket. He can read the mind of the batsman opposite him and that’s why he could take 10 wickets in one match. In Hockey too, winning depends on teamwork, attitude and co-operation.

Paragraph 3: Give other examples where players have reached pinnacles of sports career inspite of severe physical limitation. Swimmer Amy Dyken suffered from asthma but went on to win 4 gold medals in Olympics. Jeff Blatnick suffered from cancer, but won gold medal in Roman wrestling in 1984. Simon Keith had a heart transplant but still he plays soccer.

Conclusion: No doubt physical fitness and strength have a role but mental attitude is also very important.

IELTS Interview dated 25-10-2009

1.    What is your full name?

2.    May I see your identification?

3.    Where do you come from?

4.    Do you live in an apartment or a house?

5.    Which is your favourite room in your house?

6.    What would you like to change in your accommodation?

7.    Do you prefer big shops or small shops?

8.    What do you dislike about shopping?

9.    What time do you like for shopping?

10.Who does the cooking in your home?

11.What is your favourite dish?

12.Do you think children should learn cooking at schools?

13.Did you learn cooking in childhood?

Talk about any childhood activity

-       Where did you do it

-       With whom did you do it

1.   Should social responsibilities be taught to children in schools?

2.   Which social responsibility should be taught to children?

3.   Is it important to know your neighbour?

4.   What are the qualities of a good neighbour?

5.   What is the importance of being in groups?

6.   What do you learn from groups?

7.   What is the difference between working in groups and alone?

1.    

Some countries have an ever-increasing proportion of population who are aged 15 and younger. What is your opinion of the current and future effects it may have in those countries?

Intro: ( in introduction, you can list some reasons for this situation).

-          Illiteracy and poverty

-          Wars – Iraq & US war

-          Diseases like AIDS – Africa

Paragraph 1: Current effects

- illiteracy and poverty increasing further.

-          Lack of experienced people --- no one to guide children

Crime – juvenile delinquency increasing

Paragraph 2: More burden on government as this age group is dependent. More investment needed in educational institutes

Paragraph 3: Future effects

-          Unemployment

-          Crime

-          Terrorism – this age group is vulnerable enough to be lured towards terrorism

-          Other countries will invade

Conclusion: 

Some people think that schools should select pupils according to their academic abilities, while others believe that it is better to have pupils with different abilities study together. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Introduction: Different schools have different approach. Both approaches have their own merits and demerits.

Paragraph 1: advantages of grouping students according to ability ( advantages of teaching separately)

-          It helps to maintain discipline

-          All students can work at the same pace. They are not forced to wait or rush. Teachers can work more intently on those who need more help. In this way the good students will not suffer and the weak students will also get more attention.

Paragraph 2: why students should be taught together.

-          Students learn from each other

-          Once students are grouped they generally stay at the same level.

Inferiority complex develops in the mind of weak students. There is labelling, both in the mind of the teacher and student.

Paragraph 3: In my opinion teaching all students together approach. If this approach causes disorder in the class room then it is better to study the cause of disruption. Sometimes overintelligent students cause indiscipline because they grasp things quickly and then disturb others. Teachers can keep them involved in some work. Some students may have medical problems like dyslexia or family problems. Teachers should diagnose the problem and find appropriate solution.

Conclusion: It is better to teach students together.

IELTS Interview dated 13-10-2009

1.    What is your full name?

2.    How shall I call you?

3.    May I see your identification?

4.    Which town or city do you live?

5.    Why did you choose this town or city?

6.    Do you want to change this town in the future?

7.    Are people’s birthday’s very important in India?

8.    How do Indian people celebrate their birthdays?

9.    How did you celebrate your last birthday?

10.Do you watch TV?

11.Which type of programmes do you watch?

12.Do you like advertisements?

Talk about a memorable photograph

-       Why was it taken

-       Who took it

-       What is shown in the photograph

1.   Do you think photographs are very important for you?

2.   Why do people take photographs?

3.   Do you think people need special training before capturing photographs?

4.   Do you think people need special needs for photography?

IELTS Interview dated 11-10-2009

1.   What is your name?

2.   How should I call you?

3.   Where do you come from?

4.   Why do you live here?

5.   If you select another city what would it be and why?

6.   Do you face traffic problems?

7.   Do you have any problems in local transportation?

8.   Did you buy anything from big shops?

Cue card

A book you read recently and would like to read again

1.   When you read this book did you feel pleasure?

2.   Should children read other books apart from text books?

3.   What kind of books do men and women like?

4.   What did you learn from this book?

5.   What kind of books children like and why?

6.   I India do people feel pleasure while reading books?

IELTS Interview dated 25-09-2009 (2)

1.   What is your full name?

2.   How may I call you?

3.   Do you work or study?

4.   Why did you choose this course?

5.   When do you get up?

6.   Why do you get up at that time?

7.   What would you like to change in your daily routine? Why?

8.   What is your favourite time of the day?

9.   Do you drive?

Talk about a time when you got stuck in a traffic jam

1.   What effect do traffic jams have on the environment?

2.   Do you think that traffic jams are increasing because the use of public transport is decreasing?

3.   Government is making roads and bridges. Does it help to solve the traffic problem?

4.   What is better in traffic – bus or car?

5.   Is it the government’s duty to solve the traffic or is it our responsibility also?

6.   Will traffic decrease in future?

In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. For today’s world which system is appropriate?

Intro: Both systems have their own merits. The answer depends on the students’ interests and the goals of their studies.

Paragraph 1: Advantages of a broad range of subjects

-          Well rounded education

-          Students can find out what their interests really are as they will be exposed to a variety of fields of study

Ideal for those students who have many interests.

Who don’t know what their real interests are

They will pursue education for education sake and not just learn a trade

-          When they try to find out job after graduation, their versatility will allow them to apply for a wider range of jobs

Paragraph 2: Advantages of narrow range

-          Easy to find a job in their specific field of study. Naturally, companies will be more interested in job applicants who have superior knowledge and so can make better contributions

-          Allows students to focus on their interest and the subject relevant to them. A physics or chemistry student may feel out of place if he has to study ancient poetry or western literature

-          Less burden and so more time for hobbies

Conclusion: both systems have their own merits. So it depends on students choice and need of the country.

Some school leavers travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to the university. What are the advantages and disadvantages.

Introduction: (you can give definition of gap year. A gap year is a year after high school when a student (18 years old) takes time to explore his or her interests, which usually entails some type of travelling. After the gap year is over, the student begins his or her career. It has both pros and cons which I’ll discuss in this essay.

Paragraph 1: Advantages

1.  The student can explore his / her interests before deciding on a major. A student may also find something he has never considered studying before.

2.  Save money to finance education ( ease burden on parents )

3.  Meet different people and experience cultures. – personality develops.

4.  A well planned gap year is attractive to some admissions tutors and to future employers.

Paragraph 2: Disadvantages

1.  You may find it difficult to get back to study. If you start earning enough, education may seem unimportant.

2.  Lack of motivation and progress later on.

3.  If you don’t plan it properly, it may end up as a wasted year.

Conclusion: Sum up.

( Similar essay – (12-09-2009 India )When students leave school and enter into university or college. The time in between leaving school and entering college, the experience of work is more important than travelling. To what extent do you agree or disagree?)

Some people believe they should keep all the money they have earned and should not pay tax to the state. Do you agree or disagree?

Intro: Disagree. The government runs the country from the taxes it collects. Taxes are collected only from those who earn above a certain minimum limit. It is our moral duty to pay taxes.

Paragraph 1: Govt. spends on

-          Defence

-          Basic health

-          Basic education

-          Infrastructure

a.  Roads

b.  Rails

-          Unemployed

-          Elderly

-          Disabled

Paragraph 2: How and why people avoid taxes - greed

-          Shift money to foreign banks

-          Save money in the name of children

Paragraph 3: It is a mindset

From time to time, the govt introduces schemes to make people pay taxes. – VDS ( voluntary disclosure schemes )

Advantages to tax payers – entitled for loans – home loan, car loan

Conclusion – prestigious to pay taxes

Some people think the increasing business and cultural contact between countries brings many positive effects. Others say it causes the loss of national identities. Discuss on both sides and give your opinion.

Introduction: Globalisation results in more business and cultural contacts. It has both pros and cons.

Paragraph 1: benefits of globalisation

1.  More jobs because of globalisation

2.  More efficient trade between different countries around the globe thereby improving the economies of developing countries.

3.  More opportunities to travel

4.  More choices of products

5.  Awareness of other cultures

     Paragraph 2: Why people say that global diversity of cultural identities is being lost –

-          We eat the same food

-          Watch the same TV programmes

-          Listen to the same music

-          Wear the same clothes

Paragraph 3: However, I feel that this is a very narrow definition of culture and cultural differences are as present as ever. Cultural identity is based on far more than just the films we watch or the clothes we wear – for e.g. take my own culture of India and compare it to the west. We may wear any clothes, but we never take the names of elders and call them with respect. In the west, it is quite OK to call anyone by name – in fact they appreciate it more. So, some very deep rooted cultural differences will always be there.

Conclusion: Pros more than cons