Site Changes 2013

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

SITE CHANGES (Page 7, 2013)

To Page 1 (2006 & 2007), To Page 2 (2008), To Page 3 (2009), To Page 4 (2010), To Page 5 (2011), To Page 6 (2012), To Page 8 (2014)

How To See the Exact Changes to this Website (This service is rarely used nowadays.)

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Don't forget to use the "refresh button" for updated pages, including this page. In Internet Explorer, the Refresh button looks like this . In Firefox, it looks like this .

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December 30, 2013

The pages PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm & PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm were updated with several new questions.

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Predictions for the January, 2014 Topic Changes

[Note that these predictions are for Mainland China. I think other parts of the the world are usually about the same as in China but I am not sure about this. I think that after some topics are retired in China, they continue to be used for another 4 months or more in some places.]

Here are a few predictions concerning the change of topics that will take place in January. Note that some predictions are little more than educated guesses. A clearer picture of the retired topics and of the details of the new topics will only emerge in about mid-February.

Parts 2/3

The current topics, both Part 1 and Parts 2/3, will probably be used in the first test of 2014 and possibly in either the second or third test, as well, but not in all three. Then between 1/3 and 1/2 of them will be retired, to be replaced by an equal number of new or "returning" topics. "Returning" topics are topics that have been used before. There might be 10 to 15 of these returning topics for Part 2/3.

At the same time, some of the new topics will start to be introduced in the first test of January, although probably only some of the new topics will be used in the first test, while other new ones will be introduced in the second test and possibly some more new ones will not be introduced until the third test of 2014.

I think Topics 475, 476, 487 and 525 will be retired.

Probably the majority of the topics 481-503 (23 topics) will also be (temporarily) retired, but not all of them. Possibly 3 to 5 of them will stay in the test. Topic 504 (Equipment) will probably stay in the test.

There will probably be a Part 2 topic about A Book, A Film, Food and Music. This means that Topics 488, 492, 494 and 496 are less likely to be retired but if they are retired, they will probably be replaced with similar topics.

The topic of "An Interesting Animal" (See Topic 134) or "A Wild Animal" (See Topic 353) might return.

Probably none of the topics 505-528 (except 525) will be retired but a small number of them (less than 5) might be retired.

Overall, probably between 15 and 25 Part 2/3 topics will be retired and replaced by an equal number of new or "returning" topics.

Part 1

The topic of "Work/Studies" will definitely continue to be used, with many of the current questions (from Sep-Dec 2013) continuing, plus a few new questions.

Almost certainly, both the topics "Home" and "Hometown" will continue to be used, with many of the questions for these topics from Sep-Dec 2013 continuing, plus a few new questions.

I predict that most of the topics that were "new" in Sep-Dec 2013 will continue until the end of April, 2014. Those are the topics marked with N. But I am guessing that Topic 31 (Mobile Phones) will be retired.

I am guessing that the Friendship topic will continue in the test.

I am guessing that most, but not all of the other topics from Sep-Dec 2013 will be temporarily retired, especially Relatives, Art, Names, Family, Writing and News.

There will probably be a few (3 to 6) new topics that have never used before (or not been used since the end of 2005, which is when the records for this website start.)

Probably 10 to 15 topics will be returning topics from the past two or three years, possibly with a few extra questions added. For these returning topics, I am guessing that the following have the greatest chance of coming back into the test, (but not all of them will return), with the most recent being the most likely to return – From May, 2013 [Sleep, Music, Boats, Buildings, Concentrating, Housework, Parks, The Countryside, Daily Routine]; From September, 2012 [Entertainment, Cards, Museums, Bags, The Weather]; From May, 2012 [Time Management, Weddings, Cars & driving]; From January 2012 [Visitors, Neighbours, Parks & Gardens, Noise], From September, 2011 [Happiness]; From May 2011 [Birds]; From January 2011 [Concerts, Science]

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December 29, 2013

The following pages were updated:

Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm & QUESTION_NOTES_PAGE_8.htm.

December 22, 2013

I updated the information about online dictionaries and online pronunciation guides (recordings) on the page INTERNET_ENGLISH_STUDY.htm

The following pages were updated with more word stress examples –

TYPE_4_Page_1.htm, TYPE_4_Page_2.htm, TYPE_4_Page_3.htm, TYPE_4_Page_4.htm & TYPE_4_Page_5.htm (The topic here is rather advanced.)

The file 2013_TOPIC_USAGE.mdb.zip was updated (up to Dec 7)

I corrected an error on the page WRITING_BLOG_15.htm, where I had previously written, "histogram" when I should have used, "bar graph". I also added some useful notes on the difference between "histogram" and "bar graph" (= bar chart) at the bottom of that page.

December 19, 2013

The following pages of Model Task 1 essays were modified again! (I found a few errors, especially some mathematical errors on the page WRITING_BLOG_12.htm)

WRITING_BLOG_10.htm, WRITING_BLOG_12.htm, WRITING_BLOG_13.htm, WRITING_BLOG_14.htm and WRITING_BLOG_15.htm.

December 18, 2013

I have added another two model Task 1 answers and, quite importantly, I have modified four of the previous "model" answers, mostly because they were too long. I think that any Task 1 answer, even a so-called Band 9 standard model answer, should not be much more than 220 words long.

The new model answers are on the pages WRITING_BLOG_14.htm and WRITING_BLOG_15.htm. The second of those two pages has some interesting notes concerning the question of writing an "introduction" in a Task 1 essay.

The four modified model answers are on the pages WRITING_BLOG_13.htm, WRITING_BLOG_12.htm, WRITING_BLOG_10.htm and WRITING_BLOG_9.htm. The page, IELTS_WRITING.htm has also been changed. (This is the index page for the other pages about IELTS writing.)

December 13, 2013

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the Dec. 7 test.

The topic of "Cooking" on the page vocabulary_lists_2.htm was updated with links for pronunciation and a link to an excellent website with pictures.

December 10, 2013

Two of the pages about "How to Speak in Part 2" were updated. The page HOW_TO_SPEAK_IN_PART_2_P6.htm, which is about "How to Start Talking in Part 2", had several extra points added to it, including a few common mistakes that people make. And the page, HOW_TO_SPEAK_IN_PART_2_P7.htm, which is about "How to Finish Talking in Part 2", had one mistake added (i.e., the mistake of saying, "Thanks for listening" when you finish).

Some changes were made to PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm and questions added (All for Topic 501).

December 08, 2013

The page that previously existed as, "A_Task_1_Model_Answer.htm" has been renamed, WRITING_BLOG_6.htm. (But the contents of the page have not been changed)

A new page was written with information about online examples of reports or documents that contain information suitable to study to help you improve your ability to write Academic Task 1 essays. This is most useful for people who are already at Band 6.5 level or above but want to get a better score for (Academic) IELTS Writing. The title of the contents on that page is, Good Internet Sources of Materials to Study for Academic Task 1 but the page name is simply, WRITING_BLOG_7.htm. So far, I only have one internet link listed on that page.

Six more 'model' Academic Task 1 essays have been added to the website, at WRITING_BLOG_8.htm, WRITING_BLOG_9.htm, WRITING_BLOG_10.htm, WRITING_BLOG_11.htm, WRITING_BLOG_12.htm, and WRITING_BLOG_13.htm.

The page, IELTS_WRITING.htm has been changed. (This is the index page for the other pages about IELTS writing.)

December 06, 2013

The vocabulary list for the topic of "toys" was moved from the page vocabulary_lists_3.htm to the page vocabulary_lists_4.htm. As well as that, several pictures were added to the toy vocabulary list.

December 04, 2013

A few small changes were again made to the page vocabulary_lists_4.htm.
A few extra questions were added to Topic 516 on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm.
Some extra questions were added to Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm.
The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the Nov. 30 test.

December 02, 2013

A small number of extra questions were added to each of these pages –

PARTS_2_and_3_P95.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P96.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm.

I changed my note for Topic 511, A Group, on Page 103. I have no idea which version is more likely to be the correct one, Version A or B.
(I haven't looked at the reported questions for the Nov. 30 test yet.)

December 01, 2013

The page vocabulary_lists_4.htm was slightly modified in a few places.

November 30, 2013

The page vocabulary_lists_2.htm was changed with the addition of vocabulary connected with cooking.
The page vocabulary_lists_3.htm was changed with the addition of vocabulary connected with toys.
A new page was started at vocabulary_lists_4.htm, with some vocabulary associated with trees and forests.
Some new questions were added to PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm & PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm.

November 29, 2013

Some extra questions were added and a few other changes were made to:

PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm.

November 26, 2013

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated with some extra topics that were used recently, especially on November 9/10.
A note and some extra questions were written for Topic 520 on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm.
A few (not many) extra questions were added to Part 1 at Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm.
A few minor changes & additions were made to PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm & PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm.

November 25, 2013

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the Nov. 21 test.
The wording for Topic 486 on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm was changed and on the page PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm.
An extra note was written for Topic 504 on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm.

November 23, 2013

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the Nov. 9 & 16 tests.

November 5, 2013

A small number of additions were made to each of the following pages:

Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm.

November 4, 2013

The wording of Topic 495 has been greatly changed from simply, "an interesting country" to, "a foreign country you are interested in visiting".

Along with this change, Topic 518, "A Place you would like to visit" has been deleted.

Furthermore, a new topic, "A Tourist Attraction You Visited" has been added as Topic 528 on Page 106. Previously, that topic existed as "Version B" for Topic 518.

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm has been adjusted to the reflect these changes.

Other changed pages were:

PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm

October 29, 2013

The new url of the renren IELTS page has been found - http://page.renren.com/601139348/note

Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm was "tidied up" and a couple of extra questions were added.

Topic 476, "A Language You Would Like to Learn" has been changed to, "Something that Helped You Learn a Foreign Language", which was used in 2008-9. (But I suggest you be prepared for both topics.)

Topic 500, which was previously, "An Interesting Person" has been changed to, "An Interesting Conversation".

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the October 26 test.

A few extra Part 3 questions will be added to some pages soon.

October 27, 2013

An Appeal for Help to my Chinese Readers

As you might know, my main source of information for updating the current topics is renren,com. For example, the page, "2013年10月19日雅思考试真题回忆（笔试和口试)". But now I cannot get that page or the new page for the October 26 test. I have successfully registered with renren but, because my Chinese reading ability is not strong, I am still finding it too complex to find the page I want. I tried to contact renren.com for help but I think I was not successful at doing that. Can someone tell me how to get the 雅思日志 page after I log on? (I have not given my mobile phone number to renren because I am in Australia now. Is this really needed?)

I do not have much time to add information about the IELTS Writing test to this website but I recently wrote a "model" Task 1 essay for a student using my essay service. This is for Task 1, Test 1, Cambridge Practice IELTS Tests Book 8. That book has a model answer for that Task 1 at the back of the book but, with all due respect to the author of that answer, I think my answer is better. See A_Task_1_Model_Answer.htm

October 23, 2013

The wording of the following Part 2 topics has been changed: Topic 497, A Shopping Street; Topic 495, An Interesting Country; and Topic 502, A Party.

Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm was updated.

A possible new Part 2 topic was added at Topic 527, An Important Festival in Your Country.

Changes were made to the following pages:

PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P95.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P96.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm

October 22, 2013

The wording of Topic 511, A Group on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm has been drastically changed.

Topic 474, A Cafe has been given the label (Probably no longer used).

A new Topic, A Time When Someone Helped You has been added as Topic 526 on the new page, PARTS_2_and_3_P106.htm.

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated following the October 19 test, and a new copy of the zip file showing all Part 2 topic usage in 2013 was uploaded to here.

The following other pages were updated: PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm and all the Part 2/3 pages from 95 to 105 except 100.

October 15, 2013

Following the test of October 12, changes were made to what Part 2 topics are currently in use. Topic 457 to 473 and 477 to 480 were given the label, (Probably no longer used). This includes Topic 470, A Good Parent.

As a result of these changes, the following pages were changed:

PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P92.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P93.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P94.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P95.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P96.htm.

Topic 451, An Occasion When Someone Taught You a Useful Skill, was moved to Topic 525. Any additions to that topic will be made at Topic 525. This resulted in changes to PARTS_2_and_3_P91.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm.

The page, TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was updated.

The page GRADING_CRITERIA.htm was changed in a few minor ways.

No new questions have been added yet.

October 5, 2013

A small number of extra questions, notes etc. were added to the following pages:

PARTS_2_and_3_P89.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm & QUESTION_NOTES_PAGE_8.htm.

Some extra questions and extra topics were added to Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm.

October 1, 2013

A new part 2 topic, Topic 524, A Seaside Place You Would Like to Visit, has been added to PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm and Topic 456, A Seaside Leisure Activity, has been given the red label.

The topics 457 to 469, 471 to 473, and 477 to 480 have been given the label, Possibly no longer used. This is not quite as confident as the red label. If those topics that are not used in the next test they will be given the red label, (Probably no longer used).

Topic 470, A Good Parent, might also be among that group – I'm a bit confused about that topic. I'm also confused about Topic 451, An Occasion When Someone Taught You a Useful Skill, which seems to have been in use for more than 12 months.

Topic 476, A Foreign Language You Would Like to Learn, might have been replaced by the old topic, Topic171, Something that Helped You Learn a Language. (This was reported by one person only.)

The page Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm was updated with a small number of new questions. Note that the topic of "Art" has returned to Part 1.

A new copy of the zip file showing all Part 2 topic usage in 2013 was uploaded to here.

The following other pages were updated: All the Part 2/3 pages from Page 92 to Page 105, and TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm.

A new zip file containing all the Part 2/3 pages (from Page 1 to Page 105), plus the Part 2 index pages and notes pages was uploaded as, ALL_PART_2_and_3_at_Oct_1_2013.zip . (The similar file created on August 9 has been deleted.)

September 27, 2013 - 2pm

The updating of the current topics is more or less complete. Approximately 20 new Part 2 topics were introduced into the test in September. So we can expect about 20 of the older current topics to be retired but it won't be clear which topics these are until mid or late October.
A new Part 2 topic was added, Topic 523, A Move to a New School or Home.
The following pages have been updated since earlier today:

TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm

September 27, 2013

The updating of the current topics is still not complete but the following pages have been changed since yesterday:

QUESTION_NOTES_PAGE_8.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P91.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P94.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm.

Note that the wording of Topic 501, "An Outdoor Activity", on Page 101, has been drastically changed.

September 26, 2013

The updating of the current topics is still not complete but the following pages have been changed since yesterday:

Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm, QUESTION_NOTES_PART_1_PAGE_4.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P96.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm

Note that the list of current Part 2/3 topics has changed since yesterday but I have not yet updated the page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm to reflect these changes.

September 25, 2013

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P3.htm was written to include the Sep. 7, 12 and 21 tests, although very little information was available for the Sept. 12 test.

Several new Part 2/3 topics have been identified and listed on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm and on the new pages, PARTS_2_and_3_P103.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P104.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P105.htm. The page PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm was also changed. However, besides the names of the new Part 2 topics, Pages 103, 104 & 105 contain little information at the moment.

The title of Topic 451, (on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P91.htm) has been changed to, "An Occasion When Someone Taught You a Useful Skill".

The Part 1 page, Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm, was updated.

September 12, 2013

Following the Sep. 7 test, six new Part 2/3 topics have been added to PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm and to the pages PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P102.htm. There will probably be a further 6 to 9 new topics appearing in the Sep. 12 and Sep 21 tests.

A note was also added to Topic 451 (on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P91.htm), where I previously had overlooked the possibility that Topic 451 is a repeat of Topic 375, "A person who taught you a useful skill."

September 11, 2013

A new page, Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm, was started.

August 31, 2013

The Topic Usage page has not yet been updated following the August 29/30 test in China, but no new topics were introduced in that test. That includes no new Part 1 topics. Expect some new topics in the tests of September 7 and September 12.

A small number of extra questions were added to all seven of the Part 2/3 pages, from PARTS_2_and_3_P95.htm to PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, but not for every topic on those pages.

The unconfirmed topic of 'Books' was deleted from the page Part_1_Questions_MAY_to_AUG_2013.htm.

August 29, 2013

The page, TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P2.htm was updated following the test of August 24. A couple of omissions on previous copies of that page (for previous test dates)were added

August 26, 2013

Topic 420, "A Piece of Modern Equipment" has been given the label, (Probably no longer used) and Topic 504, "Recently Bought Home Equipment" has been added to PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm.

August 22, 2013

Some major changes were made to the wording of Part 2 Topic 420, including changes to the notes, and some extra Part 3 questions were added for that topic. I have also renamed that topic from, "A Piece of Electronic Equipment" to, "A Piece of Modern Equipment".

The page, TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P2.htm was updated following the test of August 17.

Except for Topic 487, no new questions have yet been added to Parts 1, 2 or 3 following the August 17 test.

A zip file showing all Part 2 topic usage in 2013 was uploaded to here.

An updated zip file showing all Part 2 topic usage in 2012 was uploaded to here.

August 21, 2013

A major change was made by the addition of Topic 487, "A Special Meal". Yes, I know this is not really a new topic but this addition is a correction of an error that I had on the website previously, where I thought that Topic 450 was still in use. This is explained on the new page, NOTES_ABOUT_CURRENT_PART_2_TOPICS-2013.htm.

I also suspect that Topic 420, "A Piece of Electronic Equipment" was been retired, and was replaced by a similar topic sometime in 2013. However, I haven't finished analyzing this topic so, in the meantime, I am leaving Topic 420 as "Still in Use".

A few typographical errors were corrected on some other pages, especially the current Part 1 page, along with some other minor changes.

August 14, 2013

Essay Grading Service is now back.

No new questions or information to help you improve your English has been added. But I have changed the page ESSAY_GRADING_SERVICE.htm to announce that I am now ready to accept your essays for my grading, correction and advice.

August 9, 2013

The questions for the three topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm were written.

I have created a zip file of the Part 2/3 pages, from Page 1 to 101, as they exist today. This zip file includes the index pages and the pages of notes. Of course, some of these pages will change over time. PARTS 2 & 3 AUGUST 9 2013.zip

August 8, 2013

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm were written.

August 7, 2013

Topic 493 has been changed from, "A Television or Radio Program" to "A Radio Program".

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm were written.

August 6, 2013

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P97.htm and the questions for PARTS_2_and_3_P98.htm were written.

The following other pages were also added to:

QUESTION_NOTES_PAGE_8.htm, QUESTION_NOTES_PART_1_PAGE_3.htm & Notes_for_Parts_2_and_3_Start_Page.htm

August 5, 2013

Topic 496 was changed from "A Picnic" to "A Picnic or Outdoor Meal".

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P2.htm was updated to show the topic usage for the test of August 3.

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P96.htm were written.

August 4, 2013 (8.30 pm)

Topic 450, A Meal, on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P90.htm has been changed substantially. I now believe that it is, indeed, "A Special Meal".

August 4, 2013

Three errors have been corrected: Topic 418, A Vehicle, Topic 439, A Home You Like and Topic 423, A Gift were retired on May 11.

A new topic was added to PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm, Topic 503, A Trip by Public Transport.

The page TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P2.htm was updated to show the four items above, as well as the topic usage for the test on July 27.

August 3, 2013

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P95.htm were written.

August 2, 2013

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P94.htm were written.

July 30, 2013

The questions for the five topics on the page, PARTS_2_and_3_P93.htm were written.

July 29, 2013

Some extra questions were added to PARTS_2_and_3_P91.htm and questions were added for the five topics on the page PARTS_2_and_3_P92.htm, which had no questions previously.

July 28, 2013

Several changes were made and I will probably not remember to list exactly every change.

The Part 2/3 index page, PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P5.htm, was split and a new page, PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P6.htm was started. This new index starts at PARTS_2_and_3_P84.htm. All the topics on Index Page 5 are now retired.

Several topics were given the label, (Probably no longer used).

TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P1.htm, showing the Part 2/3 topic usage for Jan-Apr 2013 was rewritten, with a few minor changes.

A new page, TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P2.htm, showing the Part 2/3 topic usage for May-Aug 2013 was started. This shows which topics were retired.

Most of the Part 2/3 pages between P.71 and P.101 were changed in minor ways, but no new questions yet.

A couple of topics (topics with no data) were moved to new numbers. For example, A Science Lesson was moved.

A few topics that were listed before have now been cancelled. These were "Communication", "A Busy Time" and "A Radio Program".

I am not sure yet but I suspect that what a couple of people have said was the topic, "A Radio Program" is actually, "A Television or Radio Program", at Topic 493.

No new questions have been added yet to the Part 2/3 pages.

July 27, 2013

A new page, Part_1_Questions_MAY_to_AUG_2013.htm was written.

July 24, 2013

Some minor changes were made to the pages PARTS_2_and_3_P99.htm, PARTS_2_and_3_P100.htm and PARTS_2_and_3_P101.htm. This includes the addition of a new topic, "A Radio Program". No new questions have been added yet.

July 22, 2013

A new page, Part_1_Questions_JAN_to_APR_2013.htm was written. This brings the Part 1 updating up to the end of April. Next will be the Part 1 from May to now.

A zip file, containing copies of all this website's Part 1 contents, current up to today, was uploaded.

This is at http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/All_PART_1_CONTENTS July 22 2013.zip. Of course, these contents will be added to, once I have included Part 1 May to now.

Other pages that were updated are:

Part_1.htm, Part_1(zhongwen).htm, QUESTION_NOTES_PART_1_PAGE_3.htm, PREVIOUS_PART_1_QUESTIONS.htm, and PAST_PART_ONE_TOPIC_INDEX.htm

July 20, 2013

Two new pages were written: TOPIC_USAGE_2013.htm and TOPIC_USAGE_2013_P1.htm. The second page shows the Part 2 topic usage in the Jan-Apr. period of 2013. The topic usage for the period May to Now will be written soon.

A new page was written - JOKE_PART_1.htm

A more serious note was added to PARTS_2_and_3_P93.htm, Part 3, Topic 461 and to QUESTION_NOTES_PAGE_7.htm.

A zip file, containing copies of all my Part 2/3 pages, was uploaded. This is at http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/All_P2_at_July_20_2013.zip. The contents here will soon change, of course, when I update those topics introduced after January this year.

July 19, 2013

The page, "Answering Questions that Contain the Word, 'Would' " was updated with some examples.

July 17, 2013

I have returned from my long holiday but I am still in Sydney, not Beijing. You will find some updated information about the changes to the Speaking test since January at PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P5.htm. However, as you will see, I've only just started this updating – it will take me a several more days to fill in the details.

The following Part 2/3 pages have been updated or created:

71, 72, 73, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90 - 101

Note that the wording for Topic 499 has been drastically changed from what might have been written there previously.

A new page, "Answering Questions that Contain the Word, 'Would' " was added.

A link to some excellent IELTS Speaking test videos at http://page.renren.com/600009371/note/899512132 was added to the page, http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/GENERAL_IELTS_LINKS.htm

A schedule of the IELTS test in China for 2013 was written here: 2013_TEST_DATES_CHINA.htm

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January 20, 2013

The Current Speaking Test Questions are no Longer being Updated on This Website because I am taking a long holiday away from the website. I might return to updating this website at some time in the future but this is not certain.

[Note inserted July 20, 2013: The current speaking test questions will be updated over the next few days]

Of course, many of the topics and questions that were being used up to the end of 2012 will continue to be used in the January - April, 2013 testing period, along with the several new topics and questions. This is true for both Part 1 and Parts 2/3. Similarly, a smaller number of the topics & questions from September - December 2012 will still be in use in the May - August 2013 testing period, and an even smaller number of the Sep-Dec 2012 topics will still be current in the Sep - Dec 2013 period.

So you will need to go to some other website to read the most up-to-date information about the current topics and questions.

I think one of the best websites for reading what candidates write after each test is renren.com. The page for this, for the candidates' information after the January 19 test, is http://page.renren.com/600009371/note/892940421. If you cannot read Chinese, use a translation service such as google translate or http://www.bing.com/translator/. You can return to this same page after each test and you will see the link for the most recent test information at the first link in the box on the right-hand side.

I think the Xindongfang pages are also pretty good but the last time I looked at that website it seemed like they had copied from renren. (Or maybe renren had copied from Xindongfang.) Xindongfang is at http://ielts.xdf.cn/.

http://www.51ielts.com/ also has similar information.

And http://www.ielts-blog.com/category/recent-ielts-exams/ has information from all over the world.

If you recognize that any of the new topics in the test are actually "returning topics" from previous years (both Part 1 & Parts 2/3) but not listed in the September - December 2012 lists, then this website will be a useful resource. But be careful because:

a) A "returning Part 2 topic" might look similar to a previously used Part 2 topic but it might actually have been changed in some key ways or,

b) My original version of a Part 2 topic might have been wrong in some key ways or,

c) The Part 3 questions that go with a returning Part 2 topic might have been changed in some key ways even when the Part 2 is exactly the same as it was when it was used before.

Previous Parts 2/3 can be found here:

Page 1 to see the Part 2/3 topics that were introduced into the test in late 2005, in 2006 and in early 2007.

Page 2 to see the topics that were introduced into the test in late 2007 and in 2008.

Page 3 to see the topics that were introduced in 2009.

Page 4 to see the topics that were introduced in late 2009, 2010 and in early 2011.

Page 5 to see the topics that were introduced after mid-2011 and in 2012.

Lists of previous Part 1 topics and questions can be found here: http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/PAST_PART_ONE_TOPIC_INDEX.htm. (This page was updated on January 20, 2012.)

The pages, ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS.htm and ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS-PAGE_2.htm contain lists of Part 1 questions sorted into topics. These pages are useful but note that they were not updated after May 6, 2011. So any new topics and questions that entered the test in May 2011 and after that date have not been added to these lists.