IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 131
651.
A Successful Small Business
(May, 2015)
652.
A Disagreement with a Friend
653.
654. An Activity You
Do that Keeps You Fit
655.
A Surprise Encounter with
Someone You Know
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
***********************************************************************
Notes
"
Some people report that this is a "family business" but not all small businesses involve a family – it could be a "single operator" business, run by one person.
Some people report this as a small "company" but not all businesses are in the form of companies. A "company" is a legal concept, involving the payment of company registration fees for a business licence etc. Someone might have quite a "successful" business selling fruit on the street but you don't need to be a company to do that. In many places it is illegal to do that without a licence, but even having a licence to sell on the street is not the same as having a company.
The term, "successful" is relative. For
example, a small shop that makes enough money for a single, unmarried owner
to live might not make enough money to support a married person with several
kids.
See also any relevant questions in the Part 3 of Topics
Businesses / Companies in General
What
kinds of businesses (or, companies) are there in your hometown?
(Similar to above)
Do you
know of any new kinds of (or models of) companies?
Do you think there has been a
recent change in the types of new companies that are started?
Do you think that future industrial (or, technical) development will lead to more people working for themselves?
Do you think that will be a good thing?
In your country, what sorts of companies (or businesses) do new university graduates prefer to work in?
Success and Failure in a Small Business
Would you prefer to work for a company or work for yourself?
Is it
easy to (start and) run a small business in your country?
(Similar to above)
What does a person need to have before starting a small business?
What qualities does one need to run a business?
Do you think that having certain relationships with other people is important when running (or starting) a small business?
What attributes does a successful company (or business) usually have?
What factors determine whether a business succeeds or fails? FQx2
Why do some businesses not last long?
Do you
think technology (the internet/computers) has any effect on the success or failure of businesses?
In the future, do you think technology will become more important for the success of a small business?
In the future, do you think online shopping will replace real shops and shopping malls?
Family Businesses
Do you think it's a good idea to have a family business?
Employees & Employers
What
qualities should a good employee (or, a good "boss") have?
Would you prefer to be a business owner or an employee?
Do you think a good employee needs to have all the expertise (or skills) that a company uses to run its business?
What are the benefits of hiring older employees? See Note 2
Notes
Obviously, if you still call this person a "friend" then the disagreement was not a major disagreement, i.e., so big that it destroyed the friendship.
The word, "resolved" is probably not used but the last line might have that meaning.
It seems that this is a past tense topic, not
"A disagreement you have with a friend". It could have
been a disagreement in the form of a differing opinion about politics
or something like that. Or it might be an opinion about something as simple
as a disagreement about which pop singer is the best in your country etc.
You and your friend might still have differing opinions on such a matter of
opinion but it would still be a suitable example for a past tense answer if
you focus on a particular discussion (or argument) that the two of you
had once about this matter at some time in the past. With this
kind of example, you should not say that you have this discussion or
argument frequently, or even more than once, because then it would be more
suitable to describe it as "a disagreement that you have". However,
if the last line really is, "
Another type of example would be to describe a disagreement that the two of you had once but is no longer discussed because the disagreement was resolved in some way. For example, maybe the two of you once went to a nearby city together but you disagreed which would be the best form of transport to take, train or bus. The two of you ended up taking the bus because it was a little cheaper but the bus trip turned out to be not so good, for example, because the bus broke down. After that happened, the two of you agreed that the train would have been the better choice, after all.
Conflict Resolution / Avoidance of Conflict
How do you usually feel when others have a disagreement (or argument) with you?
Do you like to hear different opinions to your own?
If you see two people arguing (or even fighting), do you think it is a good idea to intervene?
Can you suggest why many (or most) adults avoid conflict with other adults?
How should young people communicate with old people?
In your culture, what are some things that people do (or say) in order to have harmonious relations (or interactions) with others?
Do you think (ways of showing) politeness is an important part of one's culture?
Do you think being polite helps when doing business?
In your culture (or, country), do regular employees at work ever have disagreements with their supervisors (or managers)?
How are such disagreements usually settled?
How or where do people learn to have constructive discussions with others (such as debates) when there are disagreements?
Do you think that two people who have differing opinions on some questions can become friends? FQ
If one
is having a discussion with someone who disagrees with you, what are some
techniques that could be used to reason with this person (in order to
persuade them to agree with you or to see your point of view)? (Difficult
question)
Children, Young People and Disagreements
What kinds of people tend to get along well with children?
Do you think that makes these people suitable to be parents?
How can parents teach their children to get along with others?
If the parents of a child frequently quarrel in front of the child, do you think that the child will become a more quarrelsome person, or a person who gets along well with others?
What sorts of disagreements do children most commonly have with other children? FQx2
What
Do you think young people always think differently to older people?
Do you think that as these young people grow older, they will have more disagreements with their parents, or fewer disagreements?
Can you suggest how parents and their children (including teenagers and people in their twenties) can best get along with each other?
Some people say that young people (such as teenagers) only think about themselves and not others. Do you agree?
Friends
Do most people have just a small number of friends, or many friends?
How do
most people make new friends in your country?
Do you think people’s abilities or intelligence is a factor when people (choose to) become friends?
What qualities do you think a good friend should have?
Do you think it’s possible to determine how sincere a person is the first time you meet him or her?
Notes
Enough people have reported this topic to confirm that it exists but very few details have been reported so far, at July 15. All they have written is "change to local area", "improve" and "improvement". This gives two possible choices - 1) A past change that has resulted in an improvement or 2) A change that would improve the local area if this change were implemented. I am guessing that it is Number 2 and all the wording is, so far. my guess.
This topic is setting a trap for you. The trap is to see if you say "will improve" instead of "would improve". Using the word "will" is saying that this change certainly or definitely will occur in the future. That does not seem likely as the wording for this Part 2 because it is unlikely that we can predict the future so accurately - you can say what you think "might happen", or "probably will happen" but not simply, "will happen" because using "will" with no adverb such as "possibly" or "probably" means "definitely will". See WOULD.htm and, if you have time (it's quite a long document), have a look at TALKING_ABOUT_THE_FUTURE.htm but remember, this topic is (almost certainly) not about the future but about a "different now" or a "different present", if some change could be made NOW.
What is your "local area"? That's for you to
explain or define in your answer. One's "local area" in a big city is
usually the same as one's "neighbourhood", which is usually anywhere within
say, 1 to 3 kilometers from your home. But it could be as close as within a
radius of 200
meters from your home. On the other hand, "local area" could be defined more
broadly if you live in a small town or village. In this case, it could be
the whole town or village, or your county (县). It could even be defined as your county
On the topic of "community" see also the Part 3 of Topic 455.
On the topic of "change"
Change in General
Do you think change is important?
In general, do you think that people like change in their lives?
Why is it difficult for some people to make a change in their lives?
Do you think people find it difficult to get used to living in a new place?
What suggestion would you have for those people?
Are there any changes you want to make this year?
Why do people change their car (after a few years)?
Can you suggest why some people change their jobs?
Changes in Neighbourhoods
This sub-topic is more about changes in physical neighbourhoods than about changes in inter-personal relations.
Don't forget, a "neighbourhood" is a place and a "neighbour" is a person.
Are there any other problems in your local area? (Other than your Part 2 example)
Would you say the government is doing enough to provide better services to people in your country?
What else can be done to improve the standard of living in your country?
What are some examples of how communities (or, local areas, neighbourhoods etc) are being changed? FQ
(Similar to above) In your country, how have local communities changed in
the past few decades?
Would you say that these changes have all been "improvements"? (= changes for the better)
Do you think governments should spend more money in making cities more attractive?
Why are these changes made?
Do you think most people agree with the changes that take place in their local areas?
Who benefits from these changes?
Changes in Communities (= Changes in Relationships between Neighbours)
This sub-topic is more about changes
What do you think are the benefits (and possible disadvantages) in having neighbours?
In what ways do you think neighbourhood relations have changed in the past few decades?
Has modern technology changed people's ideas about community? See Note 4
Do you think young people in your country today
interact with elderly people as much as they did several decades ago?
What caused that change?
In your opinion, how does science and technology influence people's perception of "the community"? See Note 5
Would you say these changes (that have resulted from the use of modern technology) are changes for the better? * See Note 6
Where do (or, where can) people meet each other in your local community (or town)?
Where do you and your friends usually meet?
Do you prefer being among people that you know?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing things with people you know?
What are the disadvantages of people knowing each other in a small village?
654. An
Activity You Do that Keeps You Fit
Notes
What does "fit" mean? (Or, what is physical fitness?)
What is the difference between "healthy" and "fit"? The word, "fit" emphasizes physical fitness, i.e., the ability of the body to do things, whereas "health" refers more to the inside of your body, although the meanings of "fit" and "healthy" do overlap to some extent. For example, if you can walk up, say, ten flights of stairs in a tall building without the need to sit down and take a break part-way through this walking, then you are quite fit. Endurance (stamina) is probably the most important aspect of physical fitness but strength and suppleness are also important aspects. The speed at which you can run, swim or do other physical acts are also measures of fitness but speed is actually related to muscular strength.
Make sure you know the differences between the two words, "sport" and "exercise".
The Importance of Physical Fitness
It seems that more and more people are becoming overweight nowadays. Why do you think this is happening?
Do you have any suggestions on how a person who does not like sport could keep fit?
What exercise do you think is most suitable for losing weight?
What do old people in your country do to keep fit?
Do you
think encouraging people to keep fit is, or should be, one of the
responsibilities of government?
How could people be encouraged to exercise more?
Sports and Physical Exercise
What (kinds of) sports are popular in your country?
Is sport for important for you?
Do men and women generally do the same things to keep fit?
Why don't people do more exercise?
Do you think adults have enough time for exercise?
Do you think people of different ages should do the same sports and the same forms of exercise?
(Similar to above) What are some examples of sports and exercises that
people of different ages do?
Why are the elderly so sedentary?
Do you think elderly people need to exercise?
Can you think of some ideas for encouraging the elderly to do more exercise?
Should (young) children play sports? (e.g., under 8 years of age)
Which ones?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for (young) children to
exercise?
Do you think public sports facilities such as basketball courts should be free of cost for people to use?
If the government provided more funding for the physical fitness of the citizens, do you think this situation would improve? FQ
Do you think young people should engage in (or, play) dangerous sports?
Physical Fitness and Schools
What sports, and other forms of exercise do school students in your country take part in?
In
general, how much time do school students in your country spend on physical
exercise?
Do you think they should spend more time on exercising?
Was (is) sport very important in the schools you went to?
(Similar to above)
Do you think that the responsibilities of schools should include the physical fitness of their students?
Typically, what facilities and equipment do schools in your country typically have for sport and other forms of physical exercise?
Do you think that children should play sport every day?
Do you
think that children should exercise every day?
What
can parents do to encourage their children to like sports (or, play more
sport)?
Do you think that the sport that children play in school (or the exercise that they do at school) will encourage them to play sport (or to exercise) when they are adults?
Notes
It seems that this is a separate topic to Topic 629, "A Pleasant Surprise". This can be seen by the fact that the reported Part 3 for the two topics are completely different.
I have named this, "A Surprise Encounter with Someone You Know" but it is unlikely that the real wording includes the word "encounter" because the IELTS writers like to keep the Part 2 wording rather simple. But the word "encounter" conveys the idea of a "chance meeting" or an unplanned meeting better than simply the word, "met".
The words,
See also the Part 3 of
Friends
Who do you like to be friends with?
Do you think it's necessary to hang out with friends regularly (or, often)?
Where do people sometimes start a conversation with new people?
Do you think it is easier to make new friends today than it was in the past?
Do people generally go to these same places with their old friends (= friends that have had for a while)?
In what situations are people most likely to start a friendship?
Do you think one can judge another person based on his or her appearance?
Would
you say it's easier to make friends today than it was several decades ago,
or more difficult?
Some
people feel that they need to have an introduction (by someone else) before
they can make friends with someone. How do you feel about that?
Do you think it's realistic
to try to make new friends on the internet?
Do you think a person can get to know another person on the internet?
Would you be willing to actually meet someone face-to-face after first making contact with them on the internet?
What do you think is the most important aspect of a friendship?
Which
do you think is better, to have many "everyday friends" or just a few "close
friends"?
Who
counts as a "close friend"?
(Similar to above) What are the qualities of a "close friend"?
Foreign Friends
Do you think it's good to have friends from foreign countries (or cultures)?
Is it
easy to make foreign friends?
(Similar to above) How can a person make friends with a foreigner?
In general, how can a person get along with people from a different culture?
What would you say is the most important thing when trying to get along with foreigners (or, with people from a different culture)?
What
problems occur when people try to make foreign friends?
Would you like to travel to another country to see a different culture?
When someone travels to a foreign country, which do you think presents more difficulties, a different culture or a different language?
International Relations
Do you
think it's important for nations to form friendly relations with other
nations?
How do nations come together?
(Similar to above) What brings nations closer together?
Where do they come together?
What could be done to improve relations between nations?
How important do you think it is today for people to preserve a national identity?
Are online businesses new or old models of doing business?
This question would be related to the topic of "experienced employees" or "employees with expertise". So, although it may not be absolutely necessary to state an age, it would be a good idea. Probably employees over the age of, say, 35 or 40 could be called "older employees" for this question.
I am not exactly sure what the wordings of these "difficult questions" are - these are my best guesses, based what Chinese candidates have written (in Chinese). But you can get the general idea of what the discussion is about here.
This question is referring to the internet when the term, "modern technology" is used. The internet has allowed people to feel that they belong to different groups or "communities", besides the old meaning of "community". The old meaning was, "that group of people who live around you" and / or "that group of people who you feel you are part of". Now people join online groups, not so much based on where they live but on common interests. This is resulting in a better, and more specialized, exchange of information between people.
This is an obvious reference to "online communities".
There are two useful expressions in English: a) a change (or changes) "for the better" and, b) a change (or changes) "for the worse".
This question is probably asking you more about the sport you played than about your general interest in sport, for example, your interest in certain famous basketball or football teams. But you could include that second idea in your answer.
Since the
topic is about schools, the question is most likely to be, "
Of course, most primary school kids run around quite a lot during their recess and lunch breaks, in addition to any exercise they might do in actual planned classes.
In this type of question, you will give a better impression and score more points if you include the names of at least one team sport and one individual sport in your answer.