Cambridge IELTS practice |Official™

2021-05-09 12:47:29 Official Cambridge IELTS series (1-18)

3 different formats:
pdf only
audios only
pdf + Audios

Cambridge 1 Cambridge 10
Cambridge 2 Cambridge 11
Cambridge 3 Cambridge 12
Cambridge 4 Cambridge 13
Cambridge 5 Cambridge 14
Cambridge 6 Cambridge 15
Cambridge 7 Cambridge 16
Cambridge 8 Cambridge 17
Cambridge 9 Cambridge 18


Academic General Training IELTS

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Bonus materials
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Official IELTS Answer Sheets
Cambridge 1-16 series Reading Answers Explained
Full pack (Cambridge IELTS Series 1-16)
IELTS Speaking and Writing Band descriptors


@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-04-13 03:25:39 Examiners talking about speaking Tests

#CambridgeEnglishLanguageAssessment

What makes a good Speaking test candidate? In this video three examiners give their advice and tips for the Cambridge English: First and Cambridge English: Advanced Speaking tests. We think you'll find it useful, no matter which exam you teach.

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-04-04 18:05:06 Here's why this performance was given a Band 6:

"This test taker is able to keep going and is willing to give long answers, but coherence is occasionally lost through hesitation while she searches for words and ideas.

She uses a good range of connecting words and markers (actually; in this way; I think the most important reason;
as an example; as we know).

Vocabulary is the strongest feature of her performance. She is able to discuss topics at length and demonstrates some awareness of style and collocation (contemporary society; casual activities; temporarily forget; a moment just for yourself; time and resources). While she does make errors, these do not interfere with communication
(for your healthy)...

Her grammatical control is less strong, although she does produce some complex structures, such as subordinate clauses, accurately. Her control of verb tenses is variable and she has recurring difficulty with subject/verb agreement (you shouldn’t to be too addict; they’re too focusing on; he need to). Despite these errors, her meaning is usually clear.

She uses a range of pronunciation features but with variable control. Her rhythm is at times affected by syllable-timing but stress and intonation are used to some good effect (our life is not just for working – we should enjoy our lives as well). Some individual words and sounds are mispronounced, particularly ‘th’, but this has no significant impact on intelligibility and she can generally be understood without effort.

This test taker’s vocabulary is a slightly stronger feature but this is not enough to lift her score above Band 6."

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-04-03 16:58:07 Watch this Speaking test sample, where Li from China talks about 'Hobbies'.

What score would you give to her performance?

P.S. Carefully watch the video before assessing his speaking performance.
Use speaking band descriptor

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-04-03 13:13:29 How are overall IELTS band scores calculated?

Part 2

#Pauline_Cullen
#Cambridge_English_Assistant

0:02 How does the examiner decide the overall score of speaking test ? Yeah. Well, a specially-trained examiner, as we saw in Week 2, uses four separate criteria to arrive at your band score for the Speaking test. And the Speaking tests are recorded so that the score can be checked at any time if it's necessary.

0:24 What about the Writing test ? Well, as we also saw earlier in the course, again, there are four separate writing criteria that a trained examiner will use to assess your writing. you're given a score for each of the two tasks, and those two tasks - those two scores, are then converted into one overall score that gives extra weight to Writing Task 2. So it's important to remember that Writing Task 2 is worth double the marks of Writing Task 1.

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-04-02 23:46:24 #interview
How are overall IELTS band scores calculated?

Interview with #Pauline_Cullen - Cambridge English Consultant

We're going to talk about band scores. I know that IELTS band scores go from 1 to 9, and I also know there are half-scores, like 5.5, 6.5. But that's all about I know.

0:19 So, Pauline, to begin, can you tell us how the IELTS Academic Reading and Listening test are scored?

0:55 And what about the Speaking test? How does the examiner decide the overall score of it?

1:17 What about the Writing test?

1:50 So how is the overall IELTS score calculated then?

2:30 In the Listening and Reading test, can I just write my answers on the question paper?

2:59 And what is the most common question you are asked about writing down answers?

3:43 So what about if I make a spelling mistake on the answer sheet in Reading or Listening? Will I get half mark then?

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-03-04 09:12:44 The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which has been developed for tourism.

It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the introduction of tourism, and six new features can be seen in the second diagram. The main developments are that the island is accessible and visitors have somewhere to stay.

Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that small huts have been built to accommodate visitors to the island.
The other physical structures that have been added are a reception building, in the middle of the island, and a restaurant to the north of the reception. Before these developments, the island was completely bare apart from a few trees.

As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on the island include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a short road linking the pier with the reception and restaurant, and footpaths connect the huts. Finally, there is a designated swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western tip of the island.

(175 words, band 9)

source: [Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 1]

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-03-04 09:12:32 Sample answer for
IELTS Writing Task 1 MAP

(source: Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 1)

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment

2021-03-03 16:00:56 ​​IELTS Speaking: is accent important?

People often ask whether their accent will affect their IELTS score. The simple answer is no. Your score for pronunciation depends on how clearly you speak and how intelligible (easy to understand) you are.

So if accent is not important, what are the factors that affect pronunciation? I really like the explanation on this page from the Warwick University website. They look at 5 key elements of pronunciation: (picture below )

There are some great tips about improving your pronunciation near the bottom of the page, but my favourites are: work on your mistakes, copy good models of speech, record yourself, slow down, and try to sound interesting / interested!

@cambridgematerials Open / Comment