(model answer for IELTS test takers from Ukraine) I’m gonna tell you about a traditional Ukrainian folk tale called Ivasyk-Telesyk. It’s about a boy whose parents couldn’t have children, so his mother carved a little boy out of wood, and somehow he magically came to life.

One day, he went fishing by the river. A witch disguised herself as his mother, tricked him, and kidnapped him. She wanted to cook him in the oven. But Ivasyk wasn’t just a helpless kid. He was really clever. He pretended he didn’t know how to get into the oven and asked the witch to show him first. When she tried, he pushed her inside and escaped. On his way back, he asked a goose (or in some versions a swan) to carry him across the river to his parents. In the end, he made it home safe and sound, and the family was reunited.

I first heard this story when I was a kid. My parents used to read it to me at bedtime, and later on we studied it at school as part of Ukrainian folklore.

When I first heard it, I remember feeling a bit scared because of the witch, but I was also impressed by how smart Ivasyk was. It kind of taught me that being clever can sometimes matter more than being strong.

So the moral of the story is pretty clear: courage and intelligence can help you survive even in dangerous situations, and sometimes the weak can actually defeat the strong.

(model answer for IELTS test takers from Kazakhstan) I wanna tell you about a Kazakh folk tale called Why the Swallow’s Tail is Forked.

So, the story goes that once there was an evil three-headed dragon. He was getting old and really wanted to get his youth back. To do that, he started collecting special herbs and all sorts of magical things to make a potion for himself. But while he was busy with this, a swallow happened to see what he was doing. She started interfering with his plans… basically messing things up so he couldn’t finish the potion. Of course, the dragon got furious and tried to catch her, but the swallow was just too quick and too clever for him.

During the fight, though, the dragon managed to bite her tail, and it split into two parts. That’s why, ever since, swallows have had forked tails as a kind of reminder of that battle.

I first came across this story when I was a kid, because it’s a classic in Kazakh folklore, and there’s even a cartoon version of it. When I heard it for the first time, I remember being a bit scared of the dragon, but also really impressed by how brave such a small bird could be.

The moral is pretty simple: even if you’re small, you can still be brave and clever enough to stand up to something much stronger.

(model answer for IELTS test takers from Azerbaijan) In Azerbaijan, everyone knows the story of Jirtdan. It’s one of those tales kids hear from a really young age, and I’d like to tell you about it.

The word jirtdan actually means ‘tiny,’ and that’s exactly what the main character is… a very small boy. In the story, he and his friends run into a huge giant, known as a Div in Azerbaijani folklore. The giant is terrifying and strong, and everyone is scared of him… except Jirtdan.

Even though he’s the smallest one, Jirtdan is also the bravest. He doesn’t try to fight the giant with strength. Instead, he uses his brain. He plays tricks, talks cleverly, and in the end he outsmarts the giant and escapes. In some versions he even saves his friends, which makes him a real hero.

I first heard this tale from my parents when I was little, and later we read it again in school. It’s just one of those stories every Azerbaijani child grows up with.

When I first heard it, I remember being a bit scared of the giant, but also really impressed by Jirtdan. It made me feel that being clever and brave can sometimes matter more than being big and strong.

So the moral is simple: you don’t need size or power to win. Sometimes intelligence and courage are the most important things you can have.

(model answer for IELTS test takers from Uzbekistan) I wanna tell you about a very famous Uzbek folk tale called Zarlik and Munglik. It’s about twins, a boy named Zarlik and a girl named Munglik, who were born to the youngest wife of a king. The other wives got extremely jealous and decided to get rid of the babies. They ordered that the children be taken deep into the forest and left there, hoping wild animals would eat them.

But the twins survived. In some versions of the story, a deer nursed them and kept them alive; in others, an old man found them and raised them as his own. Either way, they grew up strong and brave. As they got older, they discovered the truth about who they really were and what had happened to their mother.

Eventually, they returned to the palace. They reunited with their mother, cleared her name, and restored justice in the family. The jealous co-wives were punished, and peace was finally brought back to the king’s household.

I first heard this story as a kid. I think it was at school, though later I also read a book version of it. It’s one of those tales that everyone in Uzbekistan knows from childhood.

When I first heard it, I remember being both shocked and fascinated. Shocked by how cruel the jealous wives were, but fascinated by how the children managed to survive against all odds. It really left me with the idea that truth and justice eventually come out, no matter how unfair things may look at first.

So the moral of the story is pretty simple: even in the darkest times, courage and resilience can help you overcome injustice, and the good side will win in the end.