Comparing and contrasting ideas (Practice Test)

1. What is the key purpose of comparison in IELTS Speaking?
(A) To show you know complex vocabulary
(B) To demonstrate analytical thinking by highlighting similarities
(C) To avoid giving direct answers
(D) To fill time when unsure

2. Which phrase best introduces a contrast?
(A) “In identical fashion…”
(B) “On the contrary…”
(C) “As shown before…”
(D) “To summarize…”

3. How should you structure a compare/contrast response?
(A) State one side → Then the other → Show connections
(B) Only describe differences
(C) List random facts
(D) Repeat the same point

4. What makes a strong comparison example?
(A) Vague statements (“They’re kinda similar”)
(B) Specific criteria (“Both need teamwork but differ in required skills”)
(C) Personal feelings only
(D) Quoting unrelated proverbs

5. Which response shows effective contrasting?
(A) “Cities have traffic”
(B) “While cities offer convenience, villages provide cleaner air”
(C) “I don’t like either”
(D) “Maybe places exist”

6. What transition word indicates similarity?
(A) “However”
(B) “Similarly”
(C) “Conversely”
(D) “Despite this”

7. How to practice comparison skills?
(A) Memorize word lists
(B) Analyze “versus” articles (e.g., “Books vs. Movies”)
(C) Avoid opinion questions
(D) Only speak about one topic

8. Which comparison structure is weakest?
(A) Criterion-by-criterion analysis
(B) Random alternating points
(C) Balanced pros and cons
(D) Clear transitional phrases

9. What vocabulary shows nuanced comparison?
(A) Absolute terms (“always better”)
(B) Qualified phrases (“generally… whereas occasionally…”)
(C) Slang (“way cooler”)
(D) Fillers (“you know… like…”)

10. When comparing data, you should:
(A) Make up statistics
(B) Highlight trends vs. exceptions
(C) Only describe one dataset
(D) Ignore numbers