Updated June 10, 2014
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 105
524.
A Seaside Place You
Would Like to Visit
FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably in the examiner's question book
* = my guess at a question
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Describe a plan you have for the future (but not related to work or study).
You should say:
what it is
why you have this plan
how you made this plan
what the first step in your plan is *
what you will need to do in order to make the plan work (= be successful)
and explain how you think you will feel after/if you achieve this plan (= succeed with this plan). *
Describe a plan you have for the future (but not related to work or study).
You should say:
what it is
when you plan to do it
how you plan to do it
and why this plan is important to you. *
Notes
I am not 100% sure that this is Topic 441 returning to the test but that is my best guess at the moment.
The word "success" might be used in the wording.
See notes on some suitable verbs to use.
See also the Part3 questions for
The Plans of Individuals
Notes: I suggest that, for this topic and other topics, including Task 2 writing topics, you have a clear idea in your mind of what "success" means. (Basically, "success" = "reaching a goal".)
Remember, there are "short-term plans", "medium-term plans" and "long-term plans".
What plans do most people (in your country) normally make during their
lives?
In what ways are the plans of young people and those of old(er) people different? FQx2
Do you think it's more important for old people to make plans, or young people?
Are there any differences between the ways that young and old people make plans? (= how they make plans)
What is the difference between a "plan" and a "dream"?
What do young people in your country usually plan to do after they have finished their education?
Do most young people plan to get married?
Some people fail to achieve their plans (goals). Can you suggest why?
Can people learn anything from their failed plans?
Why do you think some people have absolutely no plans
for the future?
(Similar to above) Why do you think some people don't
like to make plans for the future?
(
What do you think are the results of having no plans?
How would you describe those people who have no plans
at all?
What would you say are the benefits of having plans?
Do you think personal plans are best made by the individuals alone or made in consultation with others?
Who do you think is suitable for consulting about one's plans, family or friends?
What plans do people make for retirement?
How do you think young people can prepare for retirement?
Do you think it's easier to make plans today than it was in the past?
The Plans of Governments, Companies and Similar Organizations
What are some examples of the different types of plans (or planning) that exist in society?
What are some examples of the different types of plans (or planning) that governments make?
Children and Planning
Who do you think should teach children how to make
plans?
(Similar to above)
Do you think sticking to a routine is more important for children (or young people) than it is for adults?
Describe a thing you cannot live without, (besides a mobile phone and a computer).
You should say:
what it is
how long you have had it (or, when you got it)
what you use it for *
and explain why you think you cannot live without this thing.
See also any related Part 3 questions from Topics 51, 149, 199, 268, 420 & 504
Shopping and Advertising
Do people today have more choices on where to buy things than people had in the past?
Why do you think there is more produce available in supermarkets and shops today?
(Different to above)
Would you agree that many young people like to buy things?
Why do you think many people are crazy about buying things?
Do you always (or, only) buy things that you really need?
Can you suggest why (some)
people buy unnecessary things?
Possessions
Hi-Tech Devices
Who do you think is impressed more by modern hi-tech products, young people or old(er) people?
(Similar to above) Why do young people like to
own the latest high-tech products, such as an iPhone 5?
Why do many of them buy a new one even though they already have one?
What do they do with the old one after buying a new one?
Are there any features on your mobile phone that you don't need?
Do you think many people just buy the latest device as a status symbol?
Do you think there's too
much peer pressure in society today?
(Similar to above)
Do you think it's good for children to play computer games?
Toys Frequent Sub-topic
In general, why do
children like toys?
What toys did you have when you were a child?
Do you think children today prefer traditional toys or hi-tech toys?
Sometimes we see a young child constantly holding a toy. What kinds of toys are these usually? FQx2
Why do you think these
children constantly hold on to that toy?
Tools
What are some examples of useful tools that people often have in the house?
Disposal of Possessions
Why do people throw away old things?
(Similar to above)
Do you think it's always necessary to throw away old or unwanted things?
What alternatives are there, besides throwing away unwanted things?
Sometimes, people don't
want to throw away something, even when they don't need need it anymore. Can
you suggest why might they feel that way?
(Similar to above) Some
people find it hard to throw away things that they no longer need. Can you
suggest why they might feel that way?
Do you think there are ever any dangers from throwing away things?
Describe a time when you moved to a new school or home
You should say:
when you moved
where you moved from and to
why you moved
and explain how you felt about this move
See also the Part 3 questions for the previous
topics related to "change":
Change
Who do you think can adapt better to change in their lives, children or adults?
Do you think change is always sudden or is it sometimes gradual?
Which do you think is better, sudden change or gradual change?
Moving House
What are some of the
various reasons why people move to a new home?
(Similar to above)
What are the benefits and
the downsides of moving house?
(Similar to above) What do you think are the
benefits, and disadvantages, of living in the same house for a long time
(such as a lifetime)?
What effects does moving have on people?
Do people generally welcome new neighbours?
What are some good ways to make contact with (get to know/ meet) new neighbours?
Do you think most people are willing to knock on their neighbour's door to introduce themselves?
Do you think people today communicate more with their neighbours than in the past, or less?
Why do you think some people don't want to move?
Who do you think can
better adapt after a move, children or adults?
Do you think elderly
people can easily adapt to a new environment?
Do you think that, in the future, people will be moving home more often than they do now, or less often?
Do you think home ownership decreases, or increases, the frequency of people moving? *
In general, which do you think is better for people, fast change or slow change?
Changing Jobs
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of changing jobs?
In what situations does changing jobs improve one's family's quality of life?
The Effects of Change on Children
Do you think children like change in their lives?
Do you think children benefit more from change or from stability in their lives?
Do you think it is suitable to go abroad to live when one has young children?
Describe a seaside place that you would like to visit.
You should say:
where it is
what you would like to do there (or, what people do there)
who you would like to go with *
and explain why you would like to go there.
Notes
This seems to be a different topic to
So far, I think this new topic started in September, 2013 but it might have started in May.
See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 407 and Topic 456.
Seaside Activities/Tourism
A "beach" generally has sand. The "seaside" can be any place on the coast, including a cliff or a rocky coastline.
Is the seaside (or, the beach, or a coastal city) a popular place for people in your country to go to?
What do people do at the
beach (or, the seaside)?
Do you think the seaside
is a good place for a holiday?
Is the seaside a fun place
more for children or for adults?
Why do children usually
like going to a beach?
Do you have any good memories of a trip to the seaside when you were a child?
Do you think that what people do at the seaside today is different to what people used to do in the past? (e.g., several decades ago)
Do you think a beach is a good place for a party?
Are there any risks associated with seaside activities?
Do you think the seaside
will always be a popular place for a holiday?
(Similar to above)
What situations might make the seaside less popular in the future?
Do you think seaside
places are in danger of being polluted? (Or, are being polluted now)
In what ways do you think a river bank is different to the seaside (or, the coast)?
Water Transport (Boats/Ships)
What are the benefits of traveling by boat?
How would you say
traveling by ship (boat) today is different to traveling by ship in the
past?
Would you like to take a long sea voyage?
Would you like to go on a holiday cruise?
Do you think ships have any effect on the environment?
How do you think sea travel might be different in the future?
Describe a useful skill someone taught you.
You should say:
what it was
who you learned it from (= who taught it to you)
how you learned it
and explain why you think it is useful.
Notes
This topic was moved to here from Topic 451 on Oct. 15, 2013. Any new Part 3 questions will be added here, not at Topic 451.
This might be a repeat of Topic 375, "A person who taught you a useful skill."
Most people are not including "from a member of your family" when they report this topic. But the topic of "parents" is included in many of the Part 3 questions.
Some people are reporting the words, "a useful skill" instead of the more general wording, "something useful". They mean the same.
The most common "useful" things are practical skills that are needed for everyday life such as how to cook. But it could be an idea or a piece of theoretical knowledge that you learned. Just make sure you can explain why it is useful in, more or less, daily activities or everyday life. How to swim, how to ride a bicycle, how to play majiang, how to bargain for a lower price when buying things in a market, .... all these would be suitable. The choice is almost endless.
Learning Things (esp. in the family)
Do you think learning (new) things is good?
Do you think there is any age limit for learning new things?
Do you think there should be such an age limit?
In general, what do parents usually teach their children? FQx2
(Similar to above)
What sorts of skills do (pre-school) children learn from their
parents?
What skills do children learn from their parents before
they start school?
(Similar to above)
Can you suggest what parents should teach their children to prepare the children to start school?
Do you think what children learn in the home is important?
Do parents teach the same things to children of different ages?
(Similar to above) Do you think children of different
ages learn different things?
In general, do you think teaching teenagers is different to teaching little kids?
(Similar to above) Do you think children learn anything when they play
games with their parents (or, a parent)?
Do children learn the same sorts of things from their parents as they learn from their friends?
Which do you think is more important for children, learning things at home or learning things at school?
Which do you think is more important for children, to learn social skills or learn academic things?
(Similar to above)
How important (or useful) are books for learning practical knowledge?
Do you think grandparents can teach anything to their
grandchildren?
Do you think it's a good idea for parents to start teaching academic skills to their pre-school children?
Which parent do you think is better for teaching skills to their children?
(Similar to above) Do you think mothers are usually better than fathers at teaching things to their children?
Do you think fathers can (or, do) teach different things to what
mothers can teach?
(Similar to above but slightly different)
Parenting
Which do you think is
better, for parents to be strict with their children or to be lenient?
What would you say are the roles of a mother and a father in a family? Are their roles the same?
Do you agree that children need adult role models when they are growing up?
Skills Learned at School
Which do you think is more important for children, learning things at home or learning things at school?
What useful skills do you think children learn at school?
What useful skills do children learn in a kindergarten?