Updated Sep. 27, 2015
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 126
626.
A Place Near Water
(January, 2015)
627.
A Famous Person Who You Like
(January,
2015)
628.
A Film You Would Like to
Watch Again (January, 2015)
629.
A Pleasant Surprise
(January, 2015)
630.
A Place You Would Like to
Visit Again (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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Notes
Leisure Activities Near (or on) Water
Do many people in your country like to go to a place with water for a vacation or for leisure?
Which activity is more popular in your country, going to the seaside or climbing a mountain?
D
The Importance of Water / Water Pollution / Water Shortages
How important is water (to human society)?
Is water used in the same ways in both urban and rural areas?
Do you think the water quality in the cities of your country has changed over the past few decades? FQ See Note 1
How important do you think it is to have clean drinking water coming out of people's taps in their homes?
How does water become polluted?
So, what do you think should not be located near to bodies of water?
Is the government (or governments) in your country doing anything to tackle the problem of water pollution?
Do you think the demand for water will change in the future?
In
general,
In your opinion, are humans doing anything that is damaging the world's oceans?
Swimming
See also the questions about swimming at Topic 84
Do you think children should be allowed to play in or near deep water?
Are there any dangers from letting children do that?
Do you know how to swim?
Do many people n your country know how to swim?
Do you
think it's important to know how to swim?
Do you
think schools should have
Do any people in your country ever go swimming in the winter?
Notes
Previously, I reported that there was a topic
that asked you to "Describe a famous person
who you would like to meet."
Now, for this current topic, many or most people are reporting it as "Describe
a famous person who you like". It is quite possible that the
previous topic was accurately reported but the wording has now been changed.
One reason why the topic might have been changed is that, in a topic that says,
One person has reported that "
The questions below seem to be very much like the questions that were used previously.
Virtually all of the questions below have been reported by more than one person.
So virtually all of these questions are "
Famous People
What kinds of people are famous in your country?
How is it decided who is "famous"?
In general, what personal qualities do famous people usually possess?
Do you think there's much
difference between famous people today and people who were famous in the past?
(Similar to above but possibly different) Would you like to be famous?
What do you think are the
advantages and disadvantages of being famous?
Do you think we should respect the privacy of famous people?
Do you
think we should ignore the bad behaviour of famous people?
How
should famous people be treated when they do something bad?
What are some reasons why some famous people lose their fame (become less well-known)?
(Similar to above)
Do you think famous people should do product endorsements (advertisements endorsing a product)?
The Children of Famous People
What do
you think life is like for the children of famous people?
Notes
The first point after "you should say" probably only says, "where you watched it" because: a) all past tense topics automatically require you to say when it happened and, b) there is usually only one thing written for each point, not two.
Of course, a documentary film is possible here.
See WOULD.htm
A large variety of questions are being asked in this Part 3. Most of these questions are "old" IELTS Speaking test questions. See the topics above in order to see which questions and topics are most frequently used.
Films Preferences in Your Country
In general, why do people like to watch films?
What types of films do people in your country prefer to watch?
Do you think people of different ages prefer different types of films?
Do men and women prefer to watch the same types of films?
What kinds of films do old(er) people like to watch?
Do people in your country prefer to watch domestically-made films or foreign films?
Foreign Films
Which do you prefer, to watch a foreign film with sub-titles or to watch it after it has been dubbed into your own language?
What are the benefits of watching foreign films?
Do you think watching films in English can improve a person's English?
Where to Watch Films
There is more than one way to watch a film. Can you tell me some of those ways?
Do you (or do young people in your country) prefer to
watch films in a cinema or to watch them at home?
What do you think are the benefits of watching a film
at home?
What are the advantages and the disadvantages of watching a film in the cinema?
Can you suggest why, in some places, fewer and fewer people are going to the cinema to watch films?
How do you think cinemas (or the cinema-going
experience) could be improved?
Do you think the price of cinema tickets is reasonable?
In your country, are there any age restrictions on who can watch certain films in a cinema?
Do you think people in the future will continue going to cinemas to watch films?
Do you think that many people are turning away from watching films in any place and are engaging in other forms of entertainment?
The Quality of Films
What do you think makes a film successful?
Do you think that the lead actor in a film determines
how successful the film is?
If you have good film with a bad actor or a bad film with a good actor, do you think the film is still likely to be successful?
How much does having a big-name star in a movie contribute towards the success of a movie?
Which do you think is more important for the success of a film, the actors or the plot of the film?
Besides the actors, what other factors contribute to the quality of a film?
Why are some movies advertised by showing a picture of a female in a sexy pose?
If those movies didn't use such a picture, do you think they would be equally as successful?
Do you think the use of special effects is very important in the making of (successful) films?
When they give awards for films, such as the Academy awards, are you usually more interested in the award for the best movie, or the award for the best actor?
The Influence of Films
What do you think is the impact of films on society?
Do you think films have a big influence on children (and young people)?
In general, do you think films have more of a negative influence on children (or young people), or more of a positive influence?
Do you think children's films are usually good for children?
If you watch a film that is based on a book, do you generally prefer the book or the film?
Do you think films based on history are usually historically accurate?
New Technology and Films
How are films today different to films of the past?
Which do you think is more important, the ideas in the film or the technology behind the film?
Is new technology changing the way people view films today?
Is new technology improving the quality of the films people watch?
Film Stars
Do you want to be a movie star?
Notes
"A surprise you have had" = "a surprise you have experienced".
It seems that two different Part 2 topics involving the word, "surprise" are in use at the moment. The other topic asks about a pleasant surprise you had in meeting a friend unexpectedly, and was introduced into the test in May, 2015. That topic is Topic 655, A Surprise Meeting with A Friend, on Page 131.
In English we often have the word combination, "a pleasant surprise". Actually, most surprises are pleasant, or at least not unpleasant. An unpleasant surprise is usually called a "shock", especially if it is very unpleasant. Some people have reported that the word "happy" is used instead of "pleasant". That is possible because the test writers try to make the Part 2 wording rather simple. The meaning is about the same – a surprise that "made you happy", a "happy surprise" and a "pleasant surprise" all mean the same thing.
This seems to be a new topic, or at least a topic that hasn't been used in the past 9 years (since 2006).
probably the most common examples for this Part 2 would be a surprise gift that was given to you, or a surprise party that was organized for you. But maybe when someone told you, "I love you" was also a pleasant surprise you have had!
Happiness
What do people in your country feel most happy doing? See Note 15
How do people in your
country express (or, show) happiness?
(Similar to above) If you see a happy person, how do you know he or she is happy?
If you met an unhappy person, what would you do?
Are there any differences between old people and young people in how they show happiness?
Do you think people like to share their happiness? See Note 5
Would you say that people in your country are, in general, happy?
How can a person be happy (= achieve happiness)?
Would you say that happiness is very important to the very rich? See Note 7
Some
people say that attitude is an important factor in being happy. Do you
agree?
Are there any things that a person can do to make themselves feel happier?
What do
you think are the most important sources of happiness for people?
What are some times, or occasions, when people are most likely to be happy?
Do
holidays make people happy?
Does
shopping make people happy?
Do you
think happiness tends to promote good health?
Do you think that happier people tend to gain more success (and wealth) in life than those who are not very happy?
Do you think people who live long lives are more likely to have been happy in their lives?
What can people (adults) do to make children happy?
Do you think some people are born happier than others?
Surprises
Do people in your country usually like surprises (like to be surprised)? FQ
In what ways do people in your country like to surprise others? * See Note 9
Wealth
What do people in your country think about money?
(Similar to above) Do you think that having (or gaining) a lot of lot makes
people happy?
Do you think that people who are truly happy are very concerned about money?
Do you think that people who are truly happy are very concerned about shopping? See Note 8
Do you think poor people
are very happy? (or, can be very happy)
Do you think that governments should focus more on the happiness of citizens, or on economic matters?
Notes
The word "short" is referring to the length of time you spent at this place, not the length of time you spent travelling there. I think that, for this topic, the actual time spent traveling to the place is not important to the topic. It is possible to spend a long time travelling to a place, only to spend a short time at that place.
In this topic, "short" is a relative term. For example, if you visited a country only for one day, you could say that your visit was very short, but a whole day spent visiting a museum is usually quite a long visit, for most people.
See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 658, on Page 132, especially the sub-topic of "Business Travel".
Repeated Visits to a Place
Why do people sometimes revisit a place that they have already been to before?
Don't you think it would be boring to go to the same place repeatedly?
What kinds of places do people most commonly visit repeatedly?
Short-term and Long-term Visits to a Place
When people have a vacation (holiday) from work or school/university, they often choose to go somewhere. Why do they choose to do that?
Other people prefer to stay at home when they have time off from work or their studies. Can you suggest why they might prefer to do that?
Do you think people prefer several short-term visits, or one long-term visit to tourist locations?
What are some reasons why people just stay for a short
period at a place, or a long time at a place?
What are some examples of types of places that
most people visit (only) for a short period?
(Similar to above)
Would you like to go to these places yourself?
Which do people in your country prefer, short holidays or long holidays? See Note 12
What types of people are more suited for short visits to a place?
And what
Do you think one can really get to know a place during a short-term visit?
Why do people sometimes want to revisit a place that they have been to before? FQ
Travel Destinations
What
tourist locations do people from your country like to visit?
Do people in your country generally prefer to visit historical places or places with beautiful natural scenery?
(Different to above.
When foreigners visit your country, what do they usually want to see (and do)?
What are some examples of holiday destinations that are suitable for families (with children)?
Do you think touring (traveling) around a certain country or location is suitable if you have very young children?
Some people say that one should first explore his or her own country before exploring an a location abroad. Do you agree with that?
Traveling
How do
you think a person should prepare before going on a trip overseas?
(Similar to above) What does a person need to do before going on a trip overseas?
How important do you think it is to first learn something about the culture of a foreign place before you visit that place?
What
are the pros and cons of sometimes making a phone call (or using Skype etc.)
instead of making a business trip?
If the examiner does not say so, this question typically refers to the water that comes out of the taps in people's homes. But the question could also refer to lakes and rivers near cities, especially those lakes and rivers that supply the city with drinking water. ("Tap" is the usual British English word. Americans usually use the word, "faucet" for the same thing.)
This questions and the one following it basically might mean the same thing, but do not always mean the same thing. The important thing is to answer according to the grammar that was used in the question. See previously written notes on this, especially WOULD.htm.
Previously, there were always several questions about the influence of certain famous people (such as pop stars) on young people. Those questions are probably still being asked now but they have not been reported yet.
In American English, although the word "actress" is used, the tendency is to use the word "actor" for both males and females. In British English, the tendency is to use the word "actress" for females but "actor" is also sometimes used for both genders.
The meaning of this is that happiness does not seem so good if you are alone or if you do not tell others how happy you are.
Possibly this question is, "Is happiness very important to you?"
"the very rich" = "very rich people". The question probably means, "Is happiness just as important to those who are extremely rich as it is to average people?" Some people have the impression that extremely wealthy people are much more preoccupied with gaining and keeping their wealth than anything else in life. Look on the internet for references to "Scrooge", a famous fictional character who was very rich but seemed to be a bitter, miserable person who never showed happiness, or never showed warmth or consideration towards other people. In other words, his selfishness and miserliness destroyed his ability to be happy. Look up the words, "miser", "greedy" and "stingy".
The implication behind this question is that many people, mainly females, who are "shopaholics" (addicted to shopping) are unhappy people who are seeking happiness and fulfillment in shopping.
I have not yet seen this question reported but I think it is a likely question.
Here, "travelling" means the same as "touring". "Traveling" can also mean to "move from A to B", for example, "I traveled to New York on business last year." That's not 'touring" or "being a tourist".
To "travel" as a tourist usually means to visit more than one location in order to see what is there, take photographs etc. For example, "I traveled through Europe" means "I visited several places in several European countries". If you just went to one place, such as Paris, you would not call it "traveling" but simply say, "I visited Paris" or, "I went to Paris". Yes, you had to fly from your home country to get to Paris i.e., you had to "travel there" but that trip was not what really interested you. In fact, maybe you slept most of the time on the plane. And when you were in Paris, you probably "toured the city", meaning you traveled around the city to see different things there so, in that sense, you were a tourist in Paris.
Some people might mistakenly think that going to a place on vacation (on holiday) is always the same as "being a tourist" but that is not correct. For example, if you go to a beach resort in Thailand for 1 or 2 weeks, and you don't travel around Thailand or even don't travel far from the beach resort, then you are not really a "tourist" in Thailand. You are a "holiday maker" or a "vacationer" in Thailand. However, the more you move around, explore and take photos, for example in the local marketplace in the beach resort town, then the more you could also be called "a tourist", not simply "a holiday maker".
The
question, "
After looking at just a few of the questions that have been reported for this Part 3, it seems to me that this Part 3 is testing your ability to communicate with the examiner more than the usual Part 3 does. There are several words, and several questions, that could have different interpretations so a strong candidate should show the ability to ask the examiner, "Do you mean ...?" or to sometimes begin your answer by saying, "If you mean ...., then ....". For example, as I explained above, "travel" has more than one meaning or usage. In addition, a "short trip" could mean "a short time spent traveling" to a certain location or it could mean, "a short time spent traveling time to a place plus the time spent at the destination", i.e. the total length of time spent away from home - this is the usual meaning of, "a short trip". A "visitor" can sometimes mean the same as a "tourist" but sometimes it doesn't really mean that. For example, as mentioned above, a "holiday maker" to the beach resort in Thailand, and a person visiting a country on business are both "visitors to the country" without being "tourists". And the words, "short" and "long' could refer to time or they could refer to distance, which are not always the same thing - a train journey of 500 kilometers is quite long (in terms of time) but the same 500-kilometer trip in a plane might take just one hour. A "long journey" means "it takes a long time to get there".
Overall, you need to strengthen your vocabulary as much as you can for the topics discussed here and you also will need to be willing to seek clarification, if needed, when the examiner asks questions. As well as that, you will need to clearly state what you mean at times, such as whether "long" or "short" are in terms of time or in terms of distance.
If you get a question that is worded like that, "trip" means "a trip for leisure" not a business trip.
Sometimes in English we say, "I went there for business" =, "I went there on business" and, in contrast, "I went there for pleasure". "For business" or "on business" here simply means "for work" - you don't have to be a businessperson or "doing business" such as buying and selling. "For pleasure" means "for enjoyment" or, "for fun", not working.
This is another example of a word having two meanings or usages. In British English, "holiday" and "holidays" can mean, "time spent away from home for pleasure" or, alternatively, it can simply mean, "an extended time (more than 1 day) away from work or studies", such as "annual holidays" of 3 weeks that company employees might get. In American English, "vacation" is most often used for both of those meanings.
So the question about short or long holidays could mean either a) short or long periods of time spent away from home for pleasure or, b) short or long breaks from work or studies, regardless of whether someone travels away from home during these breaks.
In both British and American English, a "public holiday" is usually one or perhaps two or three days off work, for example, to commemorate the birth of the nation or for religious reasons, such as Christmas.
A question like that, which includes the word, "journey", is referring to the time spend traveling to a place, regardless of the time spend at that place.
"Famous people in the past" - when examiners say, the past", they normally mean within the past few decades. But if the examiner doesn't specifically say that, then there's nothing wrong with talking about famous people from hundreds of years ago.
The question might use the word "activities", allowing you to give several examples.