Updated Sep. 3, 2007
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 10
46. Some Recent News (Date unsure)
47. A Positive Change (Probably no longer used)
48. Something You Saved For (September 2, 2006) (Probably no longer used)
49. Someone Who Spoke A Different Language (September 2, 2006) (Probably no longer used)
50. Your Work (June 17, 2006)
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Describe some interesting news (新闻) that you recently read about or heard about. *
Do Chinese people change jobs very often? (Why?)
Do you think changing jobs is good?
What do employers think about people who change jobs often?
What are some reasons why some people continue working at the same job for a long time?
What are some of the problems a person experiences when they change their job?
What problems can people have when they change jobs frequently?
Do you think people should stay in the same jobs all their lives (or long term)? (Why?/Why not?)
How do you think employers could encourage people not to change jobs?
Why do so many people in China move to a different city or even go overseas to study or work?
What do you think are the major challenges of working or studying in another country?
Besides language difficulties, what do you think are the major challenges of working or studying in another country?
Why do so many Chinese people want to work or study overseas?
Do you think it's good for young people aged about 16 or 17 to go overseas to study?
What do you think are the major challenges of working or studying in another part of China ( = moving from your hometown)?
Do you like change? (Why?/Why not?)
Do your family members (parents) support you when you make changes to your life?
What do you think are the good and the bad points about being a teenager/young person in China?
Are young people in China today more mature than in the past?
How much time do young people in China spend with their parents?
What can young people learn from older people?
Do you think young people can adapt to changes easier than old people? (Why?)
Do you
think China has gone through a lot of changes in recent years?
What changes has new technology brought to people?
What are
the most positive changes?
Do you think there will be more changes in the future? (What changes?)
How
important is money in your life? (How important is money to you?)
Do you save money? (Why?/Why not?)
Did you save when you were a child?
Nowadays many young people don't save much. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Some people are crazy shoppers and never save money. Why do you think they do this? FQ
(Similar to above) Why do you think people like spending money? (= like buying things) FQ
Do you think people who don't save are good or bad?
Is saving money in the city and in rural areas the same or different?
How is the way people save today different to the way people used to save, years ago?
How do you think saving will change in the future? *
How has the way people use their money (spend their money) changed in China in recent years? FQ
(Similar to above) Do people spend more money nowadays than they used to? (Why) FQ
What are some good ways to manage and save money?
What kinds of things should you not spend money on if you want to save?
What do you think are the main factors to consider when measuring the 'standard of living' of a place/country? DIFFICULT QUESTION
Do you think people who have a high standard of living also enjoy a high quality of life? FQ Many people find this question difficult!
(The question might be worded a little differently to the question above but the meaning will be about the same.)
'Standard of living' means something like 'level of wealth'. People who can buy a new car and a new apartment and pay for the best of services, such as the best medical care, have a 'high standard of living'. 'Quality of life' refers to the good and important things in life, such as love and friendship, good health, good food, good services such as medical care, a safe, clean and attractive living environment, good educational, cultural and recreational facilities etc. Money can allow a person to have material things but it doesn't necessarily improve all the aspects that make up 'quality of life'.
HINTS: 1) McDonalds food is expensive in China but is it better than everyday Chinese food? 2) Almost all the wealthy people in China live in cities. Is the quality of the living environment in cities better than in the countryside (for example, in mountainous areas)? Some rural areas are beautiful and have very fresh air! 3) Some wealthy people (and the children of wealthy people) are not very happy, for different reasons. For example, money-making might be more important to some people than spending time with the family. 4) Overall, money can buy certain material things & services that improve the quality of one's life. And poverty, of course, does result in a lower quality of life in many aspects (poor food, poor living conditions, poor health care & educational opportunities etc.) but many people who are somewhat poor (not desperately poor) still have a reasonably good quality of life.
What's the present standard of living in China?
Many people today have more money than they did before. Has this made them happier?
Do you think people's standard of living will continue to rise forever?
Should children be given a lot of money?
What do you think about parents controlling how their children spend money?
Should parents buy their children everything their children want? FQx2
Is it important for children to learn how to manage (or, save) money? (Why?)
How can children be taught to manage money? (= taught how to spend and taught how to save) FQ
What is the best age to start teaching children how to manage money?
Do you think advertising influences young people's spending habits? (How?) (Young people = 15 to 25-year-olds) FQ
Do you think the government should control what advertisements young children see on television? FQ
Why do many (young) people (women) like to go shopping? FQ
Why do some people like to buy things even when these things are not useful?
Are there any differences in the ways men and women do their shopping?
Do children like to go shopping?
Are there any differences between shopping in rural areas and shopping in urban areas? FQx2
(As above) Are there any differences between the way people in rural areas and people in urban areas spend money? (Compare the income and consumption levels of urban and rural people.)
How do you think shopping in both of these areas will change in the future? (Hint: more large supermarkets; e-commerce)
In China, how have people's shopping habits changed, compared to years ago?
Do advertisements on TV & the radio influence what people buy? (If so, how?) FQ
Do advertisements persuade people (or, children) to buy things? How? FQ
Describe the work that you do.
You should say:
what you do
where you work *
what problems, if any, you have with your work
and explain what personal qualities (attributes) are most important for your job. *
or
and explain what qualifications you need for this job, for example, education and/or experience. *