Updated Oct. 5, 2014
IELTS Part 2 and
Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 107
531. A Restaurant
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
532. A Building
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
533. Something You
Forgot
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
534. An
Intelligent Person
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
535.
Something You
Saved For
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
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
***********************************************************************
531. A
Restaurant
(Jan 9, 2014) (Probably no longer used)
Describe a restaurant you like *
You should say:
where it is *
how often you go there *
what food it has *.
and explain why you like it. *
Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
See also the Part 3 of Topics
361,
226 &
117
Eating Out / Restaurants
-
(In your country) Have there been any
changes in people's eating habits in the past few decades?
-
Do many people in your
country eat out (= eat in restaurants)?
FQ
-
Why do people sometimes eat out?
-
(Similar to above)
Why do people like to eat in a restaurant? FQx2
-
Does it give people more status to eat in a restaurant rather than eating at
home?
-
Have there been any
changes in people's choices about eating out in the past few decades?
-
Do people go to restaurants now more often than they did before?
-
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of eating at home
compared to eating out? FQx2
-
Do you think bigger restaurants tend to be better than
small ones?
FQ
-
Do you think expensive ("fancy") restaurants are always
better than cheaper restaurants?
FQ
-
Do you think small (independent) restaurants are better
than chain restaurants (= franchised restaurants)?
FQ
-
(Similar to above) Do people (in your country)
generally prefer to an independent (or, local) restaurant or to a chain
restaurant?
FQ
-
(Similar to above) What are the differences between famous fast food
restaurants and independent restaurants?
-
In what ways are
restaurants that serve foreign dishes different to restaurants that serve
only food from your country?
-
What factors make a restaurant a good one
(or, a successful business)? FQx2
-
Besides the food, what
other attributes (qualities) can make a restaurant attractive to people?
-
Which do you think people
place more importance on when they go to a restaurant, the quality or the
price of the food?
-
Which do you think is more important in a restaurant,
price and service or the location of a restaurant? *
-
Is food safety ever a problem in your country?
See
Note
-
What food safety problems occur in restaurants
sometimes?
-
What do you suggest could be done about those problems?
-
How do customers in
restaurants ask for help?
Diet
-
What food (and/or dishes) do people in your country
eat?
-
Do you think people will still be eating
the same food in
the future?
FQ
-
Do you think adults and children generally like to eat
the same foods?
FQ
-
In your country, would you say people's eating habits
(mostly = what they eat) have changed in the past few decades?
FQx2
-
Which food do you think is
healthier, restaurant food or home-cooked food?
-
Why do people sometimes eat "fast food"? FQ
-
(Similar to above) Why is fast food
(or junk food) so popular?
FQ
-
Are there any differences between foreign fast food
restaurants and fast food restaurants that serve dishes from your country?
-
Some people say fast food is "junk food". Do you
agree?
-
Do you think the popularity of this type of
food is creating any problems?
-
Why do you suggest could
be done about this problem?
-
Do you think the government should do something to
reduce the consumption of fast food?
-
Do you think people generally have good knowledge about
nutrition?
-
Do you think governments
should interfere in the dietary choices of people?
***********************************************************************
532. A Building
(Jan 9, 2014)
(Probably no longer used)
Describe an important building in your hometown
or city.
You should say:
where it is *
what it looks like *
what it is used for *
and explain why you think it is important. *
Notes
-
An "important" building is not necessarily a
well-known building.
-
"What it looks like" would mainly (or totally)
refer to the outside of the building.
-
* = my guess at the wording.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
See also the Part 3 for Topics
383,
327,
243,
314,
71,
35 &
13
Make sure you know the meaning of "architecture". It does
not mean the same as "a building".
Building Design
-
In what ways do you think modern buildings are
different to those of the past (e.g., 30 to 100 years ago)?
-
Which do you think are better, high-rise buildings or
buildings that are not very tall? FQ
-
What factors do you think are important in the design
of a building?
-
How is the site for a new building chosen (= what
factors)*
-
Who do you think prefers a multi-storey building, young
people or old people?
Old / Historic Buildings
Frequent sub-topic
(Not all old buildings are suitable to be called "historic
buildings")
Note that the words "preserve" and "protect" are not
exactly the same in meaning.
-
What buildings do people in your country think are the
most important?
-
What do people in your country think of old buildings?
-
Do you think (all) old buildings should be preserved?
-
How are some old buildings designated as "historic buildings"? (Who decides? On
what basis?)
-
(Similar to above) What makes some old buildings "historic"?
-
(Similar to above) What makes some old buildings "famous"?
-
Do you think historic buildings should be preserved (or, protected)?
FQ
-
What's the purpose in preserving (or, protecting)
historic buildings?
-
(Similar to above) What benefits do we get from
preserving (or protecting) historic buildings?
-
Have people's attitudes towards old buildings changed
in recent years?
-
Do you think young people and old people have the same
attitudes (or feelings) about old buildings?
-
What can we learn (about history) from an old building?
FQ
-
How are these buildings preserved (or protected)?
-
Which do you think is more important; the government
spending money on preserving historic buildings, or the government spending
money on the constructions of schools and hospitals? See
Note
-
Do you think buildings that have historic value are
adequately protected in your country?
-
In your country, what is the general attitude that
people have about protecting (or preserving) old buildings?
Homes
-
What would you say are the basic requirements for
people's homes?
-
What type of home would you like to live in?
-
Are people's homes (in your country) today the same as
people's homes were in the past (e.g. 30 to 60 years ago)?
FQx2
-
How do you think people's homes will change in the future?
***********************************************************************
533.
Something You Forgot
(Jan 9, 2014) (Probably no longer used)
Describe something important that you once forgot to do.
You should say:
what you forgot to do
when this happened
where it happened
and explain what the result of your forgetting was. *
or
and explain how you felt about it later. *
Notes
-
This seems to be a completely new topic, i.e., one that has never been used
before.
-
Of course, there is only one "and explain" line in the real test.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
Memory
Hint - Learn the meaning of the verb, "to
associate" when used in connection with memory
See also some vocabulary -
Memory
The Importance of Memory
-
Do you think memory is
important? FQ (Here, "memory" =
the ability to remember)
-
(Similar to above)
Do you think it's
important to have a good memory? FQ (Here, "a
good memory" = a good ability to remember)
-
What are some of the
benefits of having a good memory? FQ
-
Are there any things that
are especially important for people to remember? See
Note
-
Are there any things that
are especially important for people to memorize?
-
Do you think having a good
memory is important for students?
-
Can you suggest any
types of work (or professions) that require having a good memory?
FQx2
-
Do you think doctors and
teachers need to have a good memory?
-
What are the possible
negative results of having a poor memory?
Forgetting
-
What are some reasons why
people forget things (or, have a bad memory)?
FQ
-
(Similar to above) Why do
some people remember things better than other people?
-
What kinds of people are most likely to forget
things?
-
Do you think having a bad memory can affect
one's performance at work?
-
What do you think are the most important things
to remember?
-
What sorts of things do
people tend to remember best?
-
(Similar to above but a
bit different) What sorts of things are easiest to remember (or, easiest to
forget)?
FQ
-
Do you think a person's
memory changes over time (over their lifetime)?
-
How do children remember things?
-
Do you think adults remember their children experiences very well?
-
What is the impact of childhood memories on an adult?
Memory Aids /
Memory Improvement
-
Do you believe a person's
memory can be improved?
-
Can you suggest any
methods or skills people could use to improve their memory?
FQ
-
(Similar to above but
different)
Can you suggest what a person could do to help
them not forget something (= to remind them of something)?
FQ
-
Do you use any system to help you memorize
(or, remember) things?
-
Have there been any
scientific inventions to help people improve their memory?
-
(Similar to above, but
different!) Are
there any inventions/tools to help people
not forget something?
-
(Similar to above) Is there any modern technology that people can use to
help them not forget something?
FQ
-
Do you think these
inventions tend to make people lazy?
-
Do you think electronic devices such as smart phones
(and computer chips) might one day be used to take the place of a person's memory? FQ
-
(Similar to above) Do you think
technology will one day replace human memory?
FQ
***********************************************************************
534. An
Intelligent Person
(Jan 9, 2014) (Probably no longer used)
Copy of
Topic 214
Describe a (very)
intelligent person
you know.
You
should say:
who this person
is
when
and where you (first) met them (him or her)
what this person does in life (e.g., work/ study) *
and explain why you think this person is
intelligent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
See also the Part 3 for
Topic 214
Note: The meanings of the two words, "wise" and "intelligent" are
different, although there are some connections between the two.
(Highly) Intelligent People
-
(Possible question) Besides the qualities that you just
described, what other ways do people use to judge someone's intelligence? *
-
Do you think the intelligence of a person is important?
-
Do you think it's good to be more intelligent than
average people?
-
Do you think that there are any things that highly
intelligent cannot do easily?
FQ
-
(Similar to above)
Do you think there is
anything that intelligent people tend not to be good at?
FQ
-
(Similar to above)
Do you think there is anything that intelligent
people find difficult to do?
FQ
-
Do you like being with an intelligent person?
-
Do you think that much older people are more
intelligent than young people?
-
Do you think high intelligence is related to
one's degree of happiness?
-
(Similar to above)
Do you think there is a relationship between the amount of knowledge a
person has and his or her happiness?
-
Do you think (highly) intelligent people tend to be
happier than average people?
FQx2
-
(A possible question) Which would you prefer to
be, someone who is happy but has low intelligence, or someone who is not so
happy but is highly intelligent? *
-
Do you think that most
intelligent people are good people (= have good moral values)?
-
Do you think that
intelligent people tend to be more selfish than other people?
FQx2
-
Do you think highly
intelligent people are less affectionate than people with average
intelligence?
FQ
-
Do you think it's good to
be (highly) intelligent?
-
Are highly intelligent
people valued in your culture?
-
Do you think it's possible
to be "too intelligent" (= "overly intelligent" or "excessively
intelligent")?
-
What do you think is the
difference between "an intelligent person" and "a genius"?
-
Why do we use this word,
"genius"?
Teachers
If the examiner uses the word "education", it mostly
(but not totally) means "academic education", not education in such things as
learning how to be polite or learning the value of helping others. But
you can adapt your answer, after answering the question as it is
asked.
-
Who do you think has the greater influence on a child's
education (or learning) , the child's teachers or the parents?
FQx2
-
In connection with a child's education, what do you
think is the role of teachers and that of the parents?
FQ
-
(Slightly different to the first question) Who do you
think is better able to educate a child, the teachers at school or the
child's parents?
-
Do you think a teacher can actually influence a child's
intelligence?
-
Do you think parents and teachers should be patient
with children?
-
Do you think anyone (or, everyone) can be a teacher?
-
Who do you think are better suited to be teachers, men
or women?
FQ
-
What qualities do you think a good teacher should have
(or, has)?
FQ
-
Do you think a good
teacher needs to be a patient person?
-
Can you suggest why some
school children don't like going to school?
-
Do you think teachers
should use entertaining teaching methods?
-
How can a teacher
encourage an enthusiasm for (or interest in or, a love of) learning among his or her
students?
-
Do you think playing games
in the classroom can be a good way to teach young kids?
-
Which do you think is more
important, teaching (or learning about) the arts or teaching (or learning
about) the sciences?
-
How can an interest in the
arts be cultivated (in a child)?
The Development
of Intelligence in a Child
-
In your opinion, how do some people become more
intelligent than others?
-
(Similar to above)
In your opinion, why are some people more intelligent than others?
-
(Possible question) Do you
think a person's intelligence is more an in-born quality or is it more the
result of the early childhood environment? *
-
Do you think the way parents and teachers treat a
child can influence how intelligent that child becomes?
-
How do you think the development of intelligence in
a child can be encouraged/stimulated? FQ
-
Do you think encouraging a "love of learning" is
important in the development of a child's intelligence?
-
How do you suggest a parent (or a teacher) could
encourage the development of a love of learning in a child?
-
What do you think are the differences between the
role that teachers play in developing a child's intelligence and the role that
parents play? FQ
-
Who do you think is more important in the
intellectual development of a child, the parents or the child's
teachers? FQ
-
Do you think that a person who had a close
relationship with his or her grandparents
(in the pre-school years)
might grow up to be more intelligent than a person
who never had a close relationship with his or her grandparents?
***********************************************************************
535.
Something You Saved For
(Jan 9, 2014) (Probably no longer used)
Copy of
Topic 48
Notes
-
This seems to be a repeat of
Topic 48
-
It is not certain that it must be a "thing" but it probably does say that.
So if you want to talk about saving for an event such as a holiday trip, the "thing you
bought" could be the plane ticket. (We don't normally say, "buy a
holiday" - we usually say, "pay for a holiday". But we can say, "buy a
package holiday".) All Part 2 topics want you to talk about
one thing so you cannot really include such things as the hotel costs etc.
if you have said the thing you bought was a plane ticket. But you can mention them as extra information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
See also the Part 3 questions for Topics
283,
216, &
48.
Saving Money
-
Do you think it's easy for (young) people to save money?
-
Do young people nowadays believe in saving money?
-
In your opinion, why do many people derive pleasure
from spending money?
-
How important do you think it is to save some money?
-
Do you think money can bring happiness?
-
What do (young) people in your country save money for?
FQ
-
Who do you think places more importance on saving money, men or women?
FQx2
-
Who do you think saves money easier (or better, or
more), males or females? FQx2
-
In general, in your culture, who controls the household
finances more, the husband or the wife?
-
Why do some people find it hard to save?
-
Which do you think is better for the economy of a
country or area, people saving money or people spending money?
FQ
-
Do you think fashion designers are creating new fashion
trends on purpose?
-
How do you think the increase in online shopping is
affecting society?
Credit Cards
-
Are credit cards used very much in your country?
-
Which is better for saving money, using a credit card or using cash?
See
Note
-
What changes have resulted from the use of credit
cards?
Young People's Expenditure
It's possible either the words "young people" or "children"
are used for these questions. "Young people" = teenagers and people in their
twenties; "children" = people under the age of 13."
-
How can (or, how do) young people learn to manage their financial
affairs?
FQ
-
Do parents in your country think it's important for
their children to save money?
-
(Similar to above) How do parents in your country view
the issue of their children saving money?
-
What do young people spend their money on?
-
Do parents think their children spend too much money (or waste money)? *
-
Would you say parents in your country are strict
concerning their children's expenditure?
-
Do you think schools should have courses about
finances?
-
What are the differences between buying something
online and buying it in a shop?
***********************************************************************