How to Master the ielts

186
Test 
4
Listening section
Section 1, Questions 241 to 250.
241 
residence
242 
lease agreement
243 
4 digit number
244 
new titles
245 
bar code
246 
50
247 
2 weeks
248 
1 week (or 7 days)
249 
5 days
250 
(wireless) laptops
Section 2, Questions 251 to 260.
251 
C
252 
B
253 
B
254 
C
255 
A
256 
B
257 
C
258 
meals
259 
dinner and drinks
260 
(continental) breakfast

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ANSWERS
187
Section 3, Questions 261 to 270.
261 
B
262 
C
263 
A
264 
C
265 
B
266 
wood
267 
9
268 
lid
269 
leaves
270 
newspaper
Section 4, Questions 271 to 280.
271 
template
272 
reading
273 
handwritten
274 
number
275 
read
276 
source
277 
facts
278 
first
279 
list
280 
last

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HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS
188
Academic reading
Reading Passage 10, Questions 281 to 292.
Hacked off
281 
TRUE
282 
FALSE
283 
TRUE
284 
NOT GIVEN
285 
TRUE
286 
FALSE
287 
FALSE
288 
A
289 
C
290 
B
291 
C
292 
C
Reading Passage 11, Questions 293 to 306.
Highlands and Islands
293 
TRUE
294 
FALSE
295 
NOT GIVEN
296 
TRUE
297 
FALSE
298 
TRUE
299 
FALSE

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ANSWERS
189
300 
A
301 
D
302 
B
303 
A vii) Location
304 
B iv) Landscape
305 
C ii) Language and culture
306 
D v) Population and economic activity
Reading Passage 12, Questions 307 to 320.
Dummy pills
307 
C
308 
B
309 
A
310 
D
311 
TRUE
312 
TRUE
313 
FALSE
314 
TRUE
315 
NOT GIVEN
316 
NOT GIVEN
317 
H
318 
A
319 
F
320 
J

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HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS
190
Academic writing
The following writing task answers have been written by the author. The method
used is explained at the end of each task. There are no right or wrong answers but 
you must cover all parts of the question. Marks are lost for mistakes in grammar, 
punctuation and spelling, as well as repetition of words. A higher mark is awarded
for well­constructed sentences that communicate a clear message using sufficient 
vocabulary.
Writing task 
1
The bar chart depicts four types of waste disposal in four towns.
Landfill was the most popular method of waste disposal in towns A and D. Town 
A used landfill for disposing of about three­quarters of its waste with the remaining 
quarter split between incineration, recycling and composting. Town D used landfill 
for disposing of almost half of its waste with most of the rest being incinerated.
Incineration was the most popular method of waste disposal in towns B and C. 
Town C disposed of more than half its waste by incineration with less than one­
quarter going for recycling and even less still going for landfill and composting.
Recycling was the second least popular method of waste disposal. No town
disposed of more than 25% of its waste by recycling and in the case of town A, it was 
less than 10%.
Composting was the least common method of waste disposal. No town dis­
posed of more than 10% of its waste by compositing and town D hardly did any 
composting.
Method
The first sentence introduces the chart without copying from the question. The
second paragraph deals with landfill because the longest bar is found under landfill. 
The third paragraph deals with incineration. The fourth paragraph deals with recycling. 
The fifth paragraph deals with composting.

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ANSWERS
191
Writing task 
2
I do not believe that academic achievement equates with a successful life. Obtaining 
good grades at school is a separate issue from making the most of your life. How­
ever, it is hard to see how a person can have a rewarding career without a sound 
education and appropriate qualifications; for example, a degree.
Well­educated and well­qualified people have more opportunities in the workplace 
and are more likely to find a well­paid job or be promoted. The result is often more 
job satisfaction and a better lifestyle compared with people who lack qualifications. 
On the downside there can also be more responsibility and stress.
It is still possible to do well in life without good qualifications. Not everybody is 
academically inclined. Many successful people left school at an early age and went 
on to achieve great things, often in the world of business. What is clear, though, is 
that most people had to work hard to achieve success, so failure to do well at school 
is not a good sign if it means that you were lazy.
There is more to life than work and money, so it is important to strike an appro­
priate work–life balance. Too much time spent working can harm people’s social 
lives and relationships. Young people can lose out if they spend too much time
studying rather than engaging in social activities and acquiring life skills.
I am not certain that by studying hard I will definitely improve my chances in life, 
but I am sure that I need to study if I am serious about wanting to improve myself. 
Good results in my examination alone will not bring success. I will have to make
the most of my education and any opportunities that present themselves if I am to 
succeed.
Method
The author starts with his own opinion, whilst being careful to mention the other
side of the argument so as not to appear biased (balanced view). The second
paragraph looks at the advantages of having a good education (second part of the 
question) and also mentions a downside. The third paragraph explains that qualifica­
tions are not always needed to achieve success. The fourth paragraph explains 
some disadvantages of working too hard. The fifth paragraph deals with the last part 
of the question, pulling together strands from earlier paragraphs to provide a well 
thought out conclusion.

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HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS