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 well-constructed 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 three-quarters 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.
Well-educated and well-qualified people have more opportunities in the workplace 
and are more likely to find a well-paid 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.