Cambridge IELTS 16 General Writing Practice Test 1

IELTS Cambridge Book 16 General Training Writing Practice Test 1 with Sample Answers and Free PDF Download.

IELTS 16 General Training Writing Practice Test 1, Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Mrs Barrett, an English-speaking woman who lives in your town, has advertised for someone to help her in her home for a few hours a day next summer.

Write a letter to Mrs Barrett. In your letter

• suggest how you could help her in her home
• say why you would like to do this work
• explain when you will and will not be available

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mrs Barrett,

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 5.5 score.

Good morning Mrs Barrett. My name is Alfonso Jose Suaza I’m from Colombia. I saw your advertised that you are looking for someone to help you in your home for a few hours a day next summer. Also I’m really interested to get this opportunity. A few years ago I was working as a cook in a Hotel, so I can help you in domestic task in your house and made your meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Forthemore I enjoyed to work in the hospitality and the cookery is my passion I love making food for everyone this make me happy. Actually l’m am international student, so 1 go to the school in southport at the afternoon Monday to Friday from 1:30 till 5:30, and free on the weekend, I’m able in the mornings and weekends. Thanks for your time

Kind regrets,

Dear Mrs Barrett

Examiner’s Comments:

The writer has addressed each of the bullet points, although more details could have been given, as they only mention cooking and no other ways to help. However, there is a clear progression which follows the order of the bullet points in the question. We can see the format is appropriate for a letter but there are errors at the close [Kind regrets | Dear Mrs Barrett).

Vocabulary is generally adequate for the task [opportunity | cookery is my passion | make me happy] although some is taken from the question and there are errors in word choice [able / available | regrets / regards]. There are some attempts at complex structures (using relative pronouns) but the range is limited. The Band Score could be improved if spelling and word choice were more accurate and if there was more variety of sentence structures.

IELTS 16 General Training Writing Practice Test 1, Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment.

What damage does plastic do to the environment?

What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.0 score.

Nowadays, our environment suffers from plastic packaging and plastic bags, plastic does a great damage to the planet. In this essay, the actions how to solve the plastic problem will be mentioned and what can be done to lower the use of plastic packaging will be discussed.

Firstly, plastic products are usually thrown under the ground, so that it is able to cause ground pollution, the soil becomes poor. It is one of the reasons why trees and plants do not grow as they used to fifty years ago. Secondly, production of plastic causes air pollution. Factories that produce plastic bags, packaging and other plastic products emmit exhaust fumes to the atmosphere. All of the facts mentioned can prove that plastic pollution plays the leading role in the list of environmental problems.

What pollution abutement can be done to lower the risk of Earth damaging? First, plastic bags can be changed to bags made of natural materials like clothes of wood. To realize this, factories should lower the production of plastic bags and change them to more natural products. Moreover, the problem of ground pollution because of plastic production should be discussed in social media to let people know the scope of plastic problem. Second, already used plastic can be recycled in other products. There is a Russian programm of recycling plastic into T-shirts, caps and even balls for football and basketball.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, nowadays, people appear as the main reason of environmental problems, the manufacturing of plastic products increases the risk of the further Earth life. Everything should be done to lower the risk of destroying the planet.

Examiner’s Comments:

This is a strong response which addresses all parts of the task. It has an introduction to the topic, refers to ground and air pollution and presents solutions to address the problems identified. To score more highly, there could be a clearer outline of what ‘governments’ and ‘individuals’ can do. Ideas are logically organised into four paragraphs, including an introduction and a conclusion. Within the paragraphs, we can see sequencing [Firstly | Secondly] and other cohesive devices [Moreover | In conclusion], as well as some effective referencing [All of the facts mentioned | change them].

There is a wide range of vocabulary and evidence of the ability to convey precise meanings [exhaust fumes | leading role | scope | risk of destroying the planet). There are occasional errors in spelling [emmit / emit | abutement / abatement | programm / programme] but generally good control over word choice.

The writing also shows a variety of complex grammatical structures with frequent error-free sentences. We can see a range of tenses, including modal forms [can prove that | should be done]. There are a few errors remaining, e.g., with articles [plastic does a great damage | scope of plastic problem] and prepositions [main reason of / main reason for].