Updated Sep. 27, 2015
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 122
606.
Some Good News from TV
or the Internet (January,
2015)
607.
Friendly to a Person You
Didn't Like (January, 2015)
608.
Something
Interesting Learned on the Internet
(January, 2015)
609.
An Ambition Not Yet Achieved (January,
2015)
610.
Something You Would Like to Buy (in the Future)
(January, 2015)
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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606. Some
Good News from TV or the Internet
(January, 2015)
Notes
It might say, "Describe some good news" instead of "Describe a piece of good news". These two mean the same. Definitely do not say, "a news" because "news" is non-countable.
People's News Interests
Are you interested in the news?
What type(s) of news are
you most interested in?
Are people more interested in national (domestic) and local news, or international news? FQ
(Different question)
(Similar to above) Do you think it is important for people to have updated information about what is happening in the world (or, in society)?
What type of person is (or, types of people are) most interested in the news?
What age group do you think is most interested in the news?
Would you say that
different types of people are interested in different types of news?
("different types" = different topics)
Are young people and old
people interested in the same news?
Are young people interested in news about politics?
How do you think young people could be encouraged to be more interested in political news?
Is everyone interested in news about finance and the economy?
Are old(er) people very interested in news about entertainment?
Who do you think is more interested in the news, men or women?
Are men and women interested in the same news stories?
News Media
How do you usually get
your news?
Do you think there's too much negative news on TV?
What news would you like to see on TV?
Do you think the way we
get our news might change in the future?
(Similar to above) What new methods of receiving the news do you think might exist in the future?
(Possible question) Do you think the news in the future
will improve?
Do you think schools should make the news available (at school) for students?
The Reliability of the News
Do you think we can trust the news that we hear and read?
Do you think modern technology has had an effect on the amount of unreliable news that is available?
(Similar to above) Do you think modern technology results in more fake news or less fake news than we had before?
Do you think news on social media is always reliable?
News on the Internet
In what ways do you think the news on the internet is the same and different to the news on TV?
Do you think the news on the internet is as reliable as the news on TV or in newspapers?
How can we identify news
on the internet that is unreliable (fake news)?
Do you think the government should do something to control fake news that appears on the internet?
Journalism
What do most people think of journalists (reporters)?
Do you think being a journalist would be a good job?
How could school students be encouraged to become interested in a career in journalism?
Children and the News
Do children generally are interested in the news?
Do you think children should be concerned about what's in the news? (concerned about = interested in)
Do you think children
should watch the news on TV?
Do you think parents should watch the news with their children?
Friendliness
In your opinion, why do some people seem to be friendly and other not?
In general, in what situations is it easier to be friendly towards others?
What types of people are you (or, people in general) most friendly towards?
Some people can make others believe that they are charming when, in fact, they are not sincere. How do they achieve that?
How do some people give a stronger appearance of being friendly than other people (when, in fact, they might not be friendlier at all)?
Would you say people in your country are friendly towards foreigners?
Communication
Do you agree that there are times when we need to speak
directly?
Do you think it's possible to communicate without words?
Do people in your culture use body language very much?
What are some examples of body language that people in your country use?
Good Manners
What jobs especially require people to always be friendly or polite towards others?
Can you suggest why some people, who are not very nice, act in a friendly way towards others?
What's
the difference between being friendly and being polite?
Do you know of any differences between politeness in your country. and politeness in (English-speaking) Western cultures?
Who do you think has the "friendlier" culture, your country or those Western countries?
In your judgment, why do people sometimes lose their patience with other people?
Do you think someone is
more likely, or less likely, to get what they want if they show impatience?
(Similar to above) Do you
think a person will be better treated if they are not polite when dealing
with others?
Are there times when we need to speak directly (less politely) with others?
How should parents teach good manners to their children?
Notes
It might say, "learned from the internet" instead of "learned on the internet".
Possibly "learnt" is used instead of "learned". Both are correct in British English.
We do not say, "in the internet" and the word "the" is always used before "internet" except for compound nouns such as "internet advertising".
For "what you learned" you need to state at least one clear, specific fact. In fact, it is best to state what you learned in terms of one thing because the question asks, "something you learned" not, "some things you learned". For example, "I learned (the fact) that ......." Certainly, don't just say, "I learned about ...."
Understand that "interesting" means that it
appealed to the intellect much more than it appealed to the emotions. A
piece of information that is "cool", "exciting", "heart-warming" etc. does
not qualify as "interesting". However, something that is "surprising" or
"strange" does apply both to the intellect and the emotions because both
Getting Information
What other things have you learned on the internet?
(Similar to above)
Do you think we can always trust the information that
is on the internet?
Do people prefer to use the internet to get
information, instead of using a library (or books)?
Do you think the internet is a better source of
information than libraries (or books)?
(Similar to above) What are the advantages and
disadvantages of learning from books, as opposed to learning from the
internet
What are the benefits of "online libraries"?
Do you think internet libraries will ever (completely)
replace traditional libraries (or books) as a source of information?
Do you think textbooks in the form of e-books will one day replace traditional paper textbooks?
Would you feel happy if books disappeared one day?
How useful is the internet to you?
What do most people in your country use the internet for?
Do people in your country prefer to surf the internet or do things online, rather than do other things?
What kinds of website are most popular in your country?
Are
there any negatives associated with internet use?
Do you
think the internet is good for children?
Should
children spend more time on the internet than they do now?
What can children learn from the internet?
In your country, do students learn how to use the internet in school?
In what ways do you think the introduction of the internet has changed your country?
In what ways do you think people who do not use the internet are disadvantaged?
(Similar to above) Has the
internet improved the quality of people's lives?
Has the internet changed the way people do business?
Would you agree that society today relies on the internet to accomplish many everyday things?
What do you think would happen if the internet suddenly stopped working?
Would
you say that the internet (in general, not just social media) has more of a
positive effect on people's friendships, or more of a negative effect?
Do you think we (people) are in danger of becoming too dependant on computers (or, the internet)? (too = overly)
Social Media
Can you
suggest why social media (social network) websites such as Facebook and
Twitter, or instant messaging services, are so popular (among young people)?
How do these social media websites affect society?
Would you say that information on Twitter (and similar websites) is reliable (or, accurate)?
What do
you think are the benefits and the possible negative results of using social
media?
Does using social media have an
affect on people's friendships?
Do you think that you will one day meet some of the friends you have made on the internet?
Do you think people are ever harmed by these social media websites?
Do you think social media websites respect people's privacy?
Learning / Education, especially on the Internet
In general, would you say that the internet is a good
source of information for students?
(Similar to above)
In the future, what role do you think the internet will play in education?
Do you think it's important for people to continue learning throughout their lives?
Do you think the government should provide money for elderly people to continue learning?
609. An Ambition Not
Yet Achieved (January, 2015)
An "ambition" is similar to a "goal". See previous notes about goals in topics concerning success.
See also any relevant Part 3 question in the following topics that relate to
"success":
571,
Personal Goals (Ambitions)
Why do people have ambitions?
Do you
think it's good (a positive thing / important) to have ambitions?
Do you think ambitions are always connected to money?
Is it good to have ambitions concerning one's work?
Why do you think some adults are full of ambition while others are not?
Are there any disadvantages from having ambitions?
Do you think ambitious people are being selfish?
(Similar to above)
Is it possible to be too ambitious?
What is
the importance of ambitions?
Do you think the ambitions of people in the past affect us today?
What do you think the most important aspects of a young person's ambitions should be? See Note 3
Expectations on Young People
Would you say that young people experience a lot of pressure to achieve?
What effects does this pressure have on young people?
How do you think society (or, the community) can help young people to achieve their goals?
Ambition and Children
Do you
think children should have ambitions?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's good for children to be strongly
ambitious?
What ambitions did you have as a child?
What do you think are some good ambitions for children to have?
How can we help children to have ambitions?
What are some examples of ambitions that children have?
Do you think parents should guide their children to not have ambitions that are too big?
What would happen if all the parents in your country let their children follow their own hearts, concerning what plans to have in life?
What do you think are the sources of a young person's ambitions? See Note 4
Ambition and Power
Do you think parents should have control over their children?
How do people in your country rise to positions of power within a company?
Do you think everyone at work should be given the opportunity to "get into power"?
Notes
Most people in China are reporting that the words, "in the future" are included on the card. However, it's possible that this is a mistake and people are simply repeating something that is in some IELTS blog. Some learners of English think that the words, "would like" only and always apply to the future but this is untrue – English speakers often use "would like" to talk about "a different present situation". For example, "I would like to be a better student" means, "I would like to be a better student now (better than the student I am now)." In other words, I think there's a strong chance that you can talk about something you would like to buy now (if you could). At the same time, you can also interpret the words on the card to be referring to the future. See notes on the word "would" and "would like" HERE.
It is probably not suitable to say, "will buy" here because the word "will" refers to an almost certain future event, which is not the situation of this topic wording. However, if you can explain in your answer that you almost certainly will buy it, then it might be suitable to use, "will buy". For example, if you have the money and you plan to buy it next week, then "will buy" might be suitable.
Possibly the words, "where you would like to buy it" are not included. one or two people have reported that the words, "how long you have wanted to buy it" are used instead of "where you would buy it".
Possibly one of the points following "You should say" is, "how much it would cost". This means, "how much it would cost if you bought it" or, "how much it will cost if you buy it". The meaning for these two is almost the same in this situation. Just make sure you don't incorrectly make the sentence. Even if this point is not written on the card, it is logical to mention cost in your answer. If it is written on the card, answer using the same sentence structure as on the card ("would buy" or "will buy").
For
Advertising see also the Part 3 of
Shopping
When was the last time you went shopping?
Would you say that everyone loves shopping?
What sorts of things do young people in your country mostly buy?
In general, do males and females feel the same about shopping?
How much time do most people spend on shopping?
(Similar to above, but different) How often do most people go shopping?
Where do most people in your country do their shopping?
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping locally (= in the shops around where you live)?
Do you think it is useful to spend a lot of time when shopping for something? (E.g., is it good to buy shoes and clothes in a hurry?)
Can you suggest how one could save time when buying something? *
How is
shopping today different to shopping several decades ago?
How do
you think people's consumption (buying) habits have changed in the past few
decades?
What
are the pluses and minuses of online shopping, as compared to shopping in
"real" shops?
Advertising
What
are the main forms of advertising in your country?
(Similar to above) What types of adverting are most common in your country? (See Note 1)
What types of advertisements do you find most interesting (or, most useful)?
What is the importance of advertising
Would you say that advertising is effective?
(Similar to above)
How do advertisements influence people?
Would you say advertising has a greater influence on young people's shopping habits or a greater influence on old(er) people's shopping habits?
Some people don't like advertisements (e.g., on TV). Can you suggest why?
Do you think some companies spend too much money on advertising?
Consumerism
What do you think is the relationship between advertising and "the consumer society"?
Do you think "consumerism" has a positive effect on society? ("consumerism" = a society in which people buy a lot of things)
Is consumerism good for the economy?
What effects do you think a large amount of consumerism has on the environment?
What do you think is the effect of consumerism on the environment?
Make sure you know the difference between "common" and "popular". Almost certainly, the word "common" is used in this question, not "popular".
This question is unclear. It might be, "How do you think the quality of news broadcasts could be improved?" Alternatively, it might be referring to the opposite of "bad news" so that the question means, "Do you think there will be more good news (or, news that is not as bad as now) in the future?" I think the latter is more likely.
Here they want you to talk about the "values" that should be most important in guiding one's life (in your opinion).
From a psychoanalytical point of view, we humans are really a kind of programmed robot. Yes, there still are a few aspects of our bahaviour that are genetic in origin, such as the baby's ability to say "mama" without being taught (a trait that all babies, all over the world possess). But almost all of our higher-level, decision-based actions are preprogrammed into us via our personal life's experience - our education, our family, our traditional culture & religion, our media, the values of the national government, our peers, our relationships ...
So where did your ambition to be a film-maker come from? It probably came from your love of watching films (videos)!
Where did your ambition to be "rich" come from? Probably a combination of all those sources listed above, including especially the personal experience of growing up poor.
An Answer to the Question that Does Not Include Values or the "Pre-programmed" Idea
But there is another source that is part of one's life experience that is not listed above. That is, what one's interests are, .which might have led to "hobbies and interests" in childhood and adolescence, which in turn might have led to career or life ambitions. This especially applies to the world of science and technology, and to the realm of traditional culture. How do people become interested in certain hobbies? Usually they are introduced to the hobby by someone they know, including school teachers, or they read about it, saw it on TV etc. Some parents allow children to "discover" what interests them, and then the parents fully encourage the child to develop this interest. One example might be an interest in insects, or an apparent interest in playing a musical instrument. Obviously, what interests a child "discovers" is limited by the environment that he or she is living in and what opportunities the child had had to experience a range of possible interests.