ielts-yasi.englishlab.net                                                                                                       

Updated Jun. 12, 2007

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions 

Page 1　

1.       An Important Letter   (May 20, 2006)   (Probably no longer used)

2.       An Important Decision (Probably no longer used)

3.       An Adventurous Person (Probably no longer used)

4.       A Busy Time (Probably no longer used)

5.       Receiving a Large Sum of Money  (Probably no longer used)  

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

***************************************              

Part 2

1.  An Important Letter   (May 20, 2006)   (Probably no longer used)

Describe an important letter that you received.

        You should say:

                    who wrote it
                    what the letter was about
                    how you felt about the letter

        and explain why it was important. *

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Possible follow-up question:

• Do you write many letters?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

Letters

• What are the different kinds of things that the post office delivers to people’s letter boxes? FQ

• Why do some people write letters to newspapers? FQ

•  What can people do if they receive unwanted advertising in the mail? FQ

• Do you think it is better to apply for a job by letter or by email? (Why?/Why not?) FQ

• What is the most difficult kind of letter or email to write?

•  How has modern science and technology changed letter writing? FQ

• Do you think these changes are good or bad? (= What are the advantages and disadvantages of these changes?)

 Emails

•  Do many people in China write emails? (What proportion of Chinese people use emails?) FQ

•  What kinds of people use emails?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of emails, compared to handwritten letters? FQ

•  Do old people in China write emails? (Why?/Why not?)

•  What effects, if any, do you think the use of emails might have on traditional Chinese culture?

•  Do you think handwriting will still be an important skill in the future? FQ

Communication

• Besides letters and emails, what other ways are there for people to communicate with others who are far away?

• How will communication (with people who are away from you) change in the future?

******************************************************************

Part 2

2.  An Important Decision  (Probably no longer used)

Describe an important decision that you made.

 You should say:

            what the decision was

            how you made your decision

            what the results of the decision were  

 and explain why it was important. 

                    Or

Explain the impact that this decision had on your life. (= the result of this decision)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

 Decision-making

• What do you think are the most important decisions that people make in their lives? FQ

• What skills are necessary when making decisions? FQ

• How can people improve their decision-making skills? FQ

• How do you think computers will change the way people make decisions? FQ

Decision-making & young people (or children)

Note: If you answer a question about 'children' and parents, it's a good idea to say whether you mean young adult children or children aged, say, under 18.

• Do parents in China allow their children to make important decisions about the future? FQ

• Is there any difference between parents and grandparents in this area?

• Do parents in the countryside differ from parents in the urban areas on this question of choice?

•  Do you think that parents should make important decisions for their children? (Why?) FQ

• Are there times when parents should let children make their own decisions? (When? Why?)* = When can children make their own decisions?

• How can older people (parents) help young people (their children) make their own decisions wisely? FQ

• How can young people get help when they need to make an important decision?

• What advice would you give young people when they are making important decisions on their own? 

• Are children influenced in the same way by parents and by grandparents?

• Do you think the educational system in China is good or does it need some improvements? 

Leadership

• What do you think are the qualities of a good leader (or, a good decision maker)? FQ

• Do you think it’s important for parents to encourage the development of leadership abilities in their children? (Why?/Why not?) FQ

• In what ways can parents encourage their children to develop leadership abilities? FQ

******************************************************************

Part 2

3.  An Adventurous Person  (Probably no longer used)  

Describe an adventurous person who you know. (Possibly: "or who you have heard about.")

         You should say:

               who the person is

                how you know this person

                what this person does that is adventurous

    and explain why you think this person likes to take risks.*

    (or, explain how you feel about the risks this person takes.)*

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Part 3

Challenging Activities

• Are adventurous activities popular in China? (Why?/Why not?)
• Why do you think some people like adventurous activities? *
• What kind of person is 'adventurous'? = Describe the characteristics of an adventurous person. *
• Should the government pay for the cost of rescuing adventurous people who find themselves in need of help?
• What do you think are the advantages and possible disadvantages of facing challenges?

 Children’s development: Challenges

• How do you think parents could bring up their children to be more independent?

• Do children have more freedom today to do what they want than before?

• Do children today face more challenges than before? *

******************************************************************

Part 2

4.  A Busy Time  (Probably no longer used)  

Describe a time when you are very busy.

        You should say:

               when this time is

               what you do at this time

               how you arrange your time

   and explain how you feel after this busy time is over. * (Or, Explain how you feel during this busy time.) *

IMPORTANT NOTE

It is possible that this question is 'Describe a time when you were very busy'. If it is like this, you choose a particular time in the past and use the past tense in your answer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

Everyday Time Usage

• Do you think a routine job where you do the same thing all the time is good or bad? Why?

Time Management

•  Do you manage your time effectively? (Or, 'efficiently')
•  Do you think it's important to live an organized life?
•  How do you think highly efficient people manage their time?
•  (Similar to above) What are the differences between efficient and inefficient people?
•  Do you think modern technology helps people to be more efficient (with their time)? (How?)
•  What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using a timetable? FQ
•   If you had a timetable, what would it be like?
•  Do you like drawing up plans? (= making detailed plans) FQ
•  What are the advantages of making plans?
•  Do you use any special tools, such as a computer, to help you draw up plans?
•  Do you keep a diary?

Leisure Time

• Do you prefer quiet or active leisure time?
• How do people in China usually relax?
• What do you do to relax?
• Compare the way old people and young people spend their leisure time.
• Do people today have more leisure time than before?
• Do you think leisure time is important? (Why?)
• How have leisure activities changed in China in the past few years?
• How do you think leisure-time activities will change in the future?

******************************************************************

Part 2

5.  Receiving a Large Sum of Money  (Probably no longer used)  

 Describe what you would do if you received a very large amount of money.

            You should say:

                        who you would share it with

                        what you would buy

                        what else you would do

             and explain how you would feel about getting so much money. *

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

 Money

• Is money important to you? (= How important is money to you?) FQ
• What role does money play in your life?
• Do you think there are any differences between the ways men and women spend money? *
• What do you think of credit cards? *
• How do you think shopping in China will change in the future? *

Money & Work

• Is pay the most important factor in deciding whether or not to accept a job? FQ
• Can you give me some examples of how different jobs have different salaries? (Give both high-paying & low-paying examples) FQ
• The income gap between the highest paid people and the lowest paid is widening. What do you think of this? FQ
• (As above) Do you think these income differences are appropriate? FQ
• In your opinion, what kind of people should (or do) receive the highest salaries (or incomes)? FQ
• In China, do men and women receive the same pay for doing the same work? FQ
• What are the most popular university courses in China at the moment?
• What jobs will be the most highly paid in the future? FQ
• Do you think people should be paid extra money when they work overtime? (Why?)
• In China, when people decide what work (career) they want to do, is their decision based more on interest or on money?

Children, Young People & Money

• Do you think children are given too much pocket money in China? (How much money is appropriate?) FQ
• Do you think it is good for a child to have a lot of pocket money to spend?
• What would be the result if you didn't give a child any pocket money at all?
• What do children in China do with their pocket money? FQ
• How much pocket money do you think children should get? (How much money is appropriate?)
• Should all children be given pocket money?
• What are the benefits of giving pocket money to children? FQ
• How do you think parents could teach the value of money to their children? FQ
• What would be the result if parents didn't teach their children how to manage money?
• How much money should parents give to their children who are young people, about 20 years old and not working?
• What do these young people spend their money on?

(Local) Government Finances

• In China, how does local government get its money? FQ
• How do you think this money should best be spent? Or, How is this money spent? FQ

******************************************************************