IELTS Question of the Day - Free IELTS Practice Questions

Question 1

Examiner: "Let's talk about food. Do you prefer eating at home, perhaps cooking yourself, or do you generally choose to eat out at restaurants? Could you tell me why?"

If you prefer eating at home, a strong reason to give, demonstrating appropriate vocabulary, could be that it allows for more control over your diet and is often more _______ than eating out.

Accepted Answer

economical. The correct answer is 'economical'. When discussing reasons for preferring to eat at home versus eating out, 'economical' is a highly appropriate and common adjective to describe the cost-saving aspect of home cooking. It effectively explains a practical preference and aligns with the expected lexical range for IELTS Band 6.0-7.5, demonstrating good vocabulary for expressing reasons.'Expensive' is incorrect because the sentence structure implies a positive attribute of eating at home compared to eating out. Home cooking is generally less expensive, not more. 'Delicious' is a plausible quality of home-cooked food, but restaurants can also be delicious, and it doesn't represent a strong contrasting reason compared to eating out in the same way 'economical' does regarding cost. 'Convenient' can sometimes apply to eating at home (no travel, flexible timing), but eating out is often chosen for its convenience (no cooking, no washing up), making it a less universally strong or differentiating reason in this comparative context than 'economical'.

Question 2

Welcome to the Willow Creek Community Hub!We offer a wide range of activities and services for all ages, fostering a vibrant community spirit. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays and all New Zealand public holidays.Adult Classes (Term 2 Schedule): Yoga for Beginners: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Starts April 15) NZ Cookery Workshop: Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Starts April 10) Digital Skills for Seniors: Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Starts April 7)Booking & Membership Information:Membership is not required for most drop-in activities. However, pre-booking is essential for all term-based classes and workshops due to limited spaces. Please visit our reception desk or website to register. Payment for these classes is due at the time of booking.According to the information provided, what must a person do to attend a scheduled class such as 'Yoga for Beginners' at the Willow Creek Community Hub?

Accepted Answer

Register and pay before the class begins.. The correct answer is 'Register and pay before the class begins.' The section 'Booking & Membership Information' states: 'pre-booking is essential for all term-based classes and workshops' and 'Payment for these classes is due at the time of booking.' Since 'Yoga for Beginners' is listed under 'Adult Classes (Term 2 Schedule)', it is a term-based class, requiring both pre-booking (registration) and payment upfront.Distractor 1: 'Become a member before attending any class.' This is incorrect. The text explicitly states: 'Membership is not required for most drop-in activities.' While classes are 'term-based' rather than 'drop-in', the primary requirements mentioned for classes are booking and payment, not membership. Distractor 2: 'Simply arrive at the Hub at the scheduled class time.' This is incorrect. The text clearly states 'pre-booking is essential for all term-based classes and workshops', directly contradicting the idea of simply arriving without prior arrangements. Distractor 3: 'Pay for the class after the first session.' This is incorrect. The text specifies that 'Payment for these classes is due at the time of booking,' meaning payment must be made before the class commences, not after attending a session.

Question 3

Read the passage below, which discusses a general interest topic relevant to community development, and then evaluate the statement that follows. In a real IELTS General Training Writing Task 2, you would write an essay on a similar topic. However, for this practice question, you will determine if the statement agrees with the information in the passage.

In many urban and suburban areas, community centres are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Once seen as merely venues for meetings or basic recreational activities, these centres are increasingly becoming vital hubs for local residents. They offer a diverse range of programs, from adult education classes and fitness workshops to youth clubs and cultural events, catering to all age groups and interests. This multifaceted approach aims to foster a stronger sense of belonging and provide accessible opportunities for personal development and social interaction. Critics sometimes argue that online platforms or private facilities can offer similar services, but proponents highlight the unique value of a physical, shared space in strengthening community bonds.

The success of these centres often depends on adequate funding and active participation from local volunteers. Without consistent engagement and financial support from the municipality or public grants, maintaining a wide variety of high-quality programs becomes challenging. Furthermore, ensuring that the programs truly reflect the diverse needs of the community requires ongoing consultation and flexibility in programming schedules.

Do the following statement agree with the information given in the passage?

Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

Write FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

Write NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Statement: Community centres now provide a wider array of services than they did traditionally.

Accepted Answer

TRUE. The statement 'Community centres now provide a wider array of services than they did traditionally' is TRUE. The passage explicitly supports this with the sentence: 'Once seen as merely venues for meetings or basic recreational activities, these centres are increasingly becoming vital hubs for local residents. They offer a diverse range of programs, from adult education classes and fitness workshops to youth clubs and cultural events...' This directly indicates an expansion in the types of services and activities offered compared to their traditional roles, thereby confirming the statement.The options 'FALSE' and 'NOT GIVEN' are incorrect because the passage provides clear and direct evidence that community centres have indeed expanded their range of services beyond traditional activities. The text's contrast between 'once seen as merely venues' and 'offer a diverse range of programs' leaves no ambiguity regarding the truth of the statement.

Question 4

Following a recent review of internal operational efficiencies at 'Global Solutions Inc.', the Q4 report for Project Zenith has been released. The project team adopted a new agile workflow at the start of Q2, aimed at streamlining development cycles and enhancing collaboration. The report highlights a sustained improvement in client satisfaction, directly attributed to more responsive feedback integration, a core tenet of the agile methodology. However, initial concerns about increased internal communication overhead were also noted. Despite these, management expressed overall optimism regarding project outcomes and future implementation across other departments, citing reduced overall project delays and enhanced productivity.

Table 1: Project Zenith Key Performance Indicators (Q1-Q4)

Indicator	Q1 (Baseline)	Q2	Q3	Q4
Client Satisfaction Score (out of 10)	7.2	7.5	7.7	7.9
Average Project Completion Time (days)	58	55	49	51
Average Weekly Team Meeting Hours	3.5	4.2	5.0	5.8

Choose the correct option to complete the note below, based on the information in the passage and Table 1.

While the Q4 report claims 'reduced overall project delays', the data in Table 1 indicates that the average project completion time in Q4 was _________ compared to Q3.

Accepted Answer

higher. The question requires cross-referencing a claim made in the passage with specific numerical data from Table 1. The passage states that management cited 'reduced overall project delays'. While comparing Q1 (58 days) to Q4 (51 days) generally supports a reduction in delays, the question specifically asks about the completion time in Q4 compared to Q3. Looking at Table 1, the 'Average Project Completion Time (days)' for Q3 was 49 days, and for Q4 it was 51 days. Therefore, the completion time in Q4 was higher than in Q3. This shows a nuance or partial contradiction to the general claim of 'reduced overall project delays' as it implies a slight increase in delays towards the end of the period, contrary to a continuous reduction.The distractors are incorrect because: 'lower': This contradicts the data, as 51 days (Q4) is not lower than 49 days (Q3).'unchanged': This is incorrect, as 51 days is clearly different from 49 days.'significantly lower': This is a strong contradiction to the data, as the Q4 time was actually higher, not significantly lower.

Question 5

Read the passage below and complete the summary. Choose ONE word from the box for each answer. Note that there are more words than you will need.

Urban Gardening Initiatives

Urban gardening initiatives have steadily gained traction in cities worldwide, transforming neglected public spaces into vibrant green havens. Beyond the obvious aesthetic improvements, these projects foster significant social and psychological benefits for participants. They often serve as crucial community hubs, encouraging intergenerational interaction and strengthening neighbourhood bonds as individuals collaborate on shared goals. Research indicates that engagement in urban gardening can significantly reduce stress levels and improve mental well-being, providing a therapeutic escape from the pressures of city life. Furthermore, these initiatives contribute to local food security and biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices and educating residents about ecological principles. The collective effort involved in growing food and nurturing green spaces cultivates a profound sense of shared ownership and local pride, enhancing the overall social fabric of urban environments.

Summary

Urban gardening initiatives provide several benefits beyond just improving a city's __________________ (i). These projects function as vital community __________________ (ii), where people collaborate, fostering stronger bonds and encouraging interaction across generations. Furthermore, participating in these activities has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental __________________ (iii), simultaneously advancing local food security and ecological awareness.

Word Box:
well-being centres aesthetics connectivity hubs community prosperity appearances

Which word from the box correctly completes blank (ii) in the summary above?

Accepted Answer

hubs. The passage states that urban gardening projects "often serve as crucial community hubs". The summary refers to these projects functioning as "vital community ______________ (ii)". Therefore, 'hubs' is the word directly from the passage that fits perfectly into the blank, aligning with the meaning and context.'Centres' is a plausible distractor as it is a synonym for 'hubs', but the passage specifically uses 'hubs', making it the most accurate choice for a summary completion question that often prioritises direct textual evidence or very close synonyms. 'Connectivity' is incorrect because while these projects promote connectivity, the blank refers to the *function* or *role* of the projects themselves as a specific type of place, not the outcome. 'Community' is too broad; while the projects involve the community, the blank requires a word that describes what kind of *place* or *entity* they are within the community structure (i.e., 'community hubs').