Updated Dec. 20, 2009

Predictions for Part 2/3 Topics from January to April, 2010

• The information on this page is mostly for those candidates who plan to do the test in January, 2010. After January, we should be able to see what most of the new topics are. If you are going to do the test in February, March or April, I suggest you just concentrate for the moment on the 28 known topics listed below and not worry about the predictions for the unknown new topics. As the new topics become clearer, you will be able to concentrate on them at that time.

• About 15 of the oldest Part 2/3 topics are usually "retired" at the end of December and replaced by about 15 "new" topics at the first test of January. (The word is written as, "new" here because sometimes old, previously retired topics are brought back into the test as "new" topics.)

• Usually, there is a total of 45 Part 2/3 topics in the test at any one time.

• Sometimes new topics are introduced into the test early. So it is possible that some new topics will be introduced into the test on December 12 or December 19.

• If the test managers follow the usual practice, most or all of the Part 2 Topics numbered 183 to 196 and 213 will be retired at the end of December, 2009. But the last time some topics were due for retirement, at the end of August this year, the topics that were due for retirement continued in the test for another month!!  This might happen again in January. 小心 !

It will not be clear what is happening until towards the end of January or the beginning of February.

• A few of the topics numbered 183 to 196 and 213 might return to the test. See the third and fourth columns of the table below.

• We can be quite confident that the following topics will stay in the test in January 2010:

198 to 212 (15 topics)

216 (1 topic)

229 to 237 (9 topics)

240 to 242 (3 topics)

Total: 28 topics

• Since there are usually about 45 topics being used at any one time, this means there will be another 17 topics introduced in the first test of January, 2010. One way to predict these 17 topics is to look at the general topics that are usually (or, often) in the test. The table below lists some of these general topics that are usually in the test.

Notes about the table

The topics (highlighted in green) listed in the third and fourth columns might return to the test the same as before or a similar topic, with a few changes, might be used. You should also read the Part 3 questions for those topics, especially any FQ questions.

Topics with a number lower than #95 can be found by going to the following page: http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P1.htm

Topics numbered #96 and above can by found by going to: http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/PARTS_2_and_3_INDEX_P2.htm

 

Topics usually in the test	Is this topic already in the test? If yes, what topic numbers?	If this topic is not yet in the test, what past topic numbers should I look at?	If this topic is already in the test, should I also look at other old topics?
A Book	Yes. 229, 237
A Film	Yes. 200
A Friend	No.	8, 30, 44, 91, 123, 133,  177, and 223.
Sport	Yes. 209
Arts/Handicrafts	Yes. 234		Yes. 10, 11, 81, 118, 167
A Photograph	No.	33, 110, 161 and 219
Music	No.	81, 136, 186
Clothes	No.	67, 165
Shopping	Yes. 216
Business/Work	Yes. 201		Yes. 37 and 98 (the same topic), 79, 127 and 150.
Science/Technology	Yes. 199, 208
Leisure/Hobbies	Yes. 202
Food	Yes. 205, 231
Education	Yes. 230		Yes. 224, 239
The Future	No. (Possibly 202)	22, 97, 192, 194, 217

• The predictions from the table above will probably give us 4 to 7 new topics. This means there will be another 10 to 13 topics to make a total of about 17 "new" topics.

• I am predicting (guessing) that some of the topics shown below will either return to the test or similar new topics will be introduced. So, in addition to the topics highlighted in green in the table, I suggest you at least (quickly) read the following topics (both Part 2 and Part 3):

Topics 214, 215, 217 to 228, and Topic 238;

Topic 17 (A Practical Skill); Topic 139 (A Person who is Good at his/her Job);

Topic 39, (A Wild Animal); Topic 134, (An Interesting Animal); Topic 180, (A Polluted City);

Topic 95 (Favourite Weather); Topic 164 (Your Favourite Season);

Topic 47, (A Positive Change);

Topic 2 (An Important Decision); Topic 60 (A Leader);

Topic 160 (A Gift);

Topics 49, 115 and 171 (Language);

Topic 114 (A Website);

Topic 102 (An Ideal Park); Topic 142 (A Garden);

and our old favourite, Topic 152 (A Good Law).

• Summary

a) The following topics will almost certainly be in the test from the beginning of January:

198 to 212 (15 topics)

216 (1 topic)

229 to 237 (9 topics)

240 to 242 (3 topics)

b) Probably (很可能) the following topics will continue to be used during the month of January before finally being retired in early February:

                        183 to 196 and 213               

c) Probably (很可能) about 5 of the following topics will return to the test the same as before or very similar to before:

8, 10, 11, 22, 30, 33, 44, 67,

79, 81, 91, 97, 98, 110, 118,

123, 127, 133, 136, 150, 161, 165, 167,

177, 186, 192, and 194

d) Possibly (可能) 2 or 3 of the following will return to the test the same as before or very similar to before:

2, 17, 39, 47, 49, 60, 95, 102,

114, 115, 134, 139, 142, 152, 160, 164,

171, 180, 217, 238, and 239

e) There is a small chance that some or even all of the following topics will return to the test:

                        214, 215, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, and 228

f) There will be several new topics that have not been seen since January 2006.

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