IELTS PLACEMENT TEST

Time allowed: 45 minutes

Instructions:
• This test consists of 4 parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• The listening, reading and writing parts last 38 minutes.
• The speaking tests last about 7 minutes and there will be an examiner asking you several questions in this part.
• All your answers must be written in the answer sheet.
• DO NOT write anything on this material.

Part 1 - Listening
8 minutes

Questions 1-10
Complete the information below
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer

Questions 1-8
THE BOND ART CENTER
ACTIVITIES

Activity Time What to Fee Themes

bring

1……………... Flexible 2.………………… 3. $ …………………. for booking at least Fixed

2 days beforehand
Participants choose one
of 4.……………………………..

themes

To Connect Weekends An old $ 18 Changed on a fortnightly

basis
Not open on 6. ………………...

5.……………………

7.…………………. Fridays & $ 20 8.…………………………………

Saturdays

Questions 9-10
CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: 9.………………………………………. Street

Chief Consultant: David Green
Phone number: 10.……………………
Part 2 – Reading
15 minutes
The history of the Electric Car
Emerging for the first time over 100 years ago, nowadays electric vehicles are enjoying a growth spurt in popularity for the
same reason they came into existence in the first place.

Section A

Similar to the invention of motion pictures, it is a challenge to point out exactly where the first electric car was assembled
and by whom. In fact, it is not a single engineer but the contribution of multiple breakthroughs, from the battery to the
electric motor, that opened a path for electric cars in the 1800s.

In the early 19th century, the concept of a battery-powered vehicle was experimented by certain innovators, engineers, and
mechanics in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States. Thus, some of the first small-scale electric cars also
emerged during this time. It was also around this time when Robert Anderson, a British inventor, was credited with
developing the first crude electric carriage. However, only until the late 19th century did some French and English inventors
successfully build some of the first practical electric cars.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, in Des Moines, Iowa, a chemist named William Morrison successfully debuted
his first electric car in 1890. Reaching a maximum velocity of 22 kilometers an hour, this so-called electric car was more
of an electrified wagon, but it helped spark interest in electric vehicles. A few years later, different American automobile
manufacturers began introducing their own version of the electric car. In New York City alone, there was a fleet of more
than 60 taxis running on electricity. The year 1900 was the start of the heyday of electric vehicles, with more than one third
of all vehicles on the road powered by electric motors.

Questions 1-4

1. According to the writer, the birth of electric cars in 3. What are we told about William Morrison's work?
the 1800s was a result of
A. It was the very first practical electric car.
A. the combination of various inventions
B. It was more a failure than an actual success.
B. the film industry
C. It was credited for raising interest in a new type of
C. the birth of battery automobile.

D. the birth of electric motors D. It was an inspiration for many car manufacturers
afterwards.

2. In the beginning of 19th century, some innovative 4. The writer mentioned the taxis in New York city as an
minds from Hungary, Netherlands, and the United example to illustrate that
States
A. manufacturers had some hesitation in entering a
A. introduced the first compact electric car. new market segment.

B. developed a simple form of electricity-powered B. the early 20th century was the age when electric
carriage. cars dominated America’s streets.

C. successfully commercialized electric cars. C. electric cars were most welcomed in the taxi
service industry in such a city.
D. examined the idea of a brand-new type of car.
D. William Morrison’s invention was successfully put
into mass production.
Section B

As Americans became wealthier and had more disposable income, their preferences gradually moved from conventionally
horse-drawn carriages to the newly invented motorized vehicles which utilize steam, gasoline, and electricity to power
themselves.

People had long thought of putting a steam engine into a moving machine. Some of the first self-propelled vehicles in the
late 1700s relied on steam; yet it was not until the 1870s when automobiles made use of this new technology. This late
adaptation could be attributed to steam’s impracticality, since this kind of engine takes up to 45 minutes to start up and
requires water refilling. As a result, the steam engine has a limited range.

In the 1800s, with the improvements done to the internal combustion engine, a new type of vehicle - the gasoline-powered
car - became widely adopted by the public, despite its multiple flaws. For one, driving a petrol car requires a certain degree
of physical exertion -- shifting gears was complicated and cumbersome, and gas engines needed to be started with a
hand crank, making them difficult for some to operate. The noise and smoke generated by gas-powered cars are also
prominent problems affecting the users’ experience that manufacturers struggled with.

Electric cars didn’t suffer from the drawbacks associated with steam or gasoline. They generate little to no noise and do
not emit pollutants and have lower skill requirements. Electric cars quickly became popular with urban residents --
especially women. As infrastructure for electricity spread throughout America in the 1910s, it became easier to charge
electric cars, adding to their popularity with all walks of life.

Questions 5-8
5. According to the writer, the thrive of new types 7. The writer mentioned the noise and smoke from gasoline-
of personal vehicles was a result of powered cars to illustrate that

A. the rise in living standards of Americans. A. their environmental impacts were undoubtedly
detrimental.
B. the need to improve the power and speed
of transportation. B. such emissions made the driving experience
unpleasant.
C. the drawbacks of using conventional types
of vehicles. C. their shortcomings affect both customers and
businesses.
D. the discoveries of new sources of energy
for transportation. D. such vehicles need further investments and
innovations.

6. What is the writer’s view on steam-powered 8. What is the main idea of section B?
automobiles?
A. Why electric cars were created
A. They were put into practice as soon as the
18th century. B. Advantages of early electric cars over other kinds of
automobiles
B. They only operated over a short distance
due to multiple flaws. C. The rise in popularity of steam-powered cars

C. They were the slowest type of vehicle to D. Pros and cons of different types of vehicles
start operating.

D. They were only thought about around the

late 19th century.
Section C
It was the introduction of the Toyota Prius that heralded the era of mass-produced hybrid electric vehicles. Since then,
consumers’ concerns about carbon output and increasing fuel price have helped cement the Prius’s position as the best-
selling hybrid worldwide during the past decade. However, electric vehicles were economical in nature, and most brands
built them to a budget, that is until the announcement of a luxury electric sports car by Tesla Motors, a small Silicon Valley
startup. Since then, Tesla has won world-wide acclaim and recognition for its cars and has become the largest auto
industry employer in California.

At the same time, new battery technology began hitting the market, which in part contributes to better range and lower
costs. In addition to the battery technology in nearly all of the first generation hybrids, the development of lithium-ion
batteries has allowed for a more durable cell that can hold a larger charge, as well as costing only half as much as
traditional batteries. This in turn has helped lower the costs of electric vehicles, making them more affordable for
consumers.

Consumers now have more choices than ever when it comes to buying an electric vehicle. Today, there are 23 plug-in
electric and 36 hybrid models available in a variety of sizes -- from the two-passenger Smart ED to the midsized Ford C-
Max Energi to the BMW i3 luxury SUV. As gasoline prices continue to rise and the prices on electric vehicles continue to
drop, electric vehicles are gaining in popularity -- with more than 234,000 plug-in electric vehicles and 3.3 million hybrids
on the road in the U.S. today.

Questions 9-12

9. According to the writer, the success of hybrid 11. The writer mentioned BMW i3 to prove that
vehicles was a result of
A. BMW offered a higher-end line of electric vehicles
A. customers’ concerns about noise pollution. compared to other manufacturers.

B. the Prius’s new features and advantages. B. this was the only sport-oriented vehicle that runs
on electricity.
C. people’s desire to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. C. potential customers had more options regarding
electric car models
D. the inconvenience of gas-powered cars.
D. such a vehicle was the answer to the gasoline
problem

10. What is the writer’s view on new battery 12. Which of the following best serve as a headline for
technology? Paragraph C?

A. all types of electric vehicle should use lithium- A. A bright prospect for electric cars
ion batteries
B. Trailblazer of EV industry
B. new batteries require longer charging periods
C. New solutions to battery technology
C. traditional batteries cost half what lithium-ion
batteries do D. Huge market for electric cars

D. developments in battery technology made

electric cars more accessible
Part 3 – Writing
15 minutes

A. Rewrite the following sentences as complex sentences using the cue words.

1. Many fresh graduates have limited experience. They agree to work with a low salary.
→ Many fresh graduates .......................................................................................................................................................

2. Thanks to the nice weather, we were able to finish the race as planned.
→ Because ............................................................................................................................................................................

3. Although the government has adopted measures to reduce pollution levels, the environment has not been improved
much.
→ Despite .............................................................................................................................................................................

B. The following paragraph is the first body of an essay discussing the benefits of studying with a native teacher. For
each gap 4-8, choose the correct option A-F from the texts in the box below.

A. In addition
B. Consequently
C. On the other hand
D. To begin with
E. Because
F. Therefore

It is true that language learners can gain significant benefits from studying with the help of a native teacher. (4)...............,
native teachers have a much better understanding of the nature of the language. (5)..............., they have a clear advantage
over their non-native counterparts in teaching students how to use a word naturally and precisely. (6)..............., learning a
foreign language with a native speaker also gives students opportunities to enhance listening and speaking skills. This is
(7)............... learners can imitate their native teacher’s accent and receive useful feedback on how to improve their
pronunciation. (8)..............., this learning method also helps language learners to feel less anxious and more confident
when they engage in real-life conversations with foreigners.

C. Write 3-4 sentences that give explanations AND examples for the ideas below.

9. Life in cities can be extremely stressful.

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10. Creating art is not something unique to those with talents and instead is what everyone can do.
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