ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Aug 1, 2017

 

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 133

 

661.  A Foreign Country You Would Like to Go To  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

662.  A Success You Have Had  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

663.  An Artistic Activity You Did at School  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

664.  An Important Conversation  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

665.  A Long Car Trip  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

 

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

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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661.  A Foreign Country You Would Like to Go To  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a foreign country you would like to go to. ( A country you have not been to yet)

               You should say:

what country it is (including where it is in the world)

what this country is like

what you would do in this country

and explain why you would like to go to this country.

    

Notes

  • I suspect that the words in the first line are, "would like to go to" not, "would like to visit". "Go to" includes visiting, migrating, or living temporarily in a country as a student.

  • Make sure you can pronounce the English name of this country correctly.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 of Topic 573 and Topic 495

Going Abroad

  • Do you like travelling abroad?  See Note 11

  • Can you suggest why some people are not interested in (or, dislike) travelling abroad?

  • What are the main reasons why people from your country travel (or, go) abroad? FQx2

  • (Similar to above) What are the main reasons why people from your country visit foreign countries? FQ

  • What benefits can a person get from travelling abroad? FQx2

  • Do people in your country prefer to visit (as tourists) places within your country, or visit places abroad? FQ

  • (Similar to above) How would you compare being a tourist in your own country and being a tourist in a foreign country? FQ

  • (For Chinese candidates) Why do you think more and more Chinese people are travelling abroad?

  • What foreign countries are most popular for people from your country to visit, and why do people choose those countries? FQx2

  • What do people from your country usually do when they travel abroad (as tourists or holiday makers)?

  • In what ways is travelling abroad different to travelling within one's own country?  See Note 10

  • Why do some people stay abroad for a long time?

  • Why do many people want to study abroad?

  • (Similar to above) What are the differences between studying in your home country and studying abroad? FQ

  • In what ways is working abroad different to travelling abroad (as a tourist)? FQx2

  • In what ways is studying abroad different to travelling abroad (as a tourist)? FQ

  • (Possibly) What do you think are the differences between studying in a foreign country and working in a foreign country?

  • Do you think globalization is resulting in more people travelling abroad?

  • In addition to actually going to another country, what other ways can people use to learn about a foreign country?

  • What do you think are the main differences between the culture of your country and that of other countries (or, and that of the West)?

Problems When Travelling Abroad

  • What sorts of problems do people sometimes encounter when they travel abroad?

  • Can you suggest why some people cannot (or don't want to) accept cultural differences when they travel abroad?

The Tourism Industry

  • Concerning your country, in what ways do you think tourism today is different to tourism a few decades ago?  FQ

  • Do many foreign tourists visit your country?

  • Why do foreign tourists come to your country? FQ

  • Are more foreign tourists coming to your country today compared with previously, or are fewer foreign tourists coming?

  • How do these foreign tourists travel in your country?

  • Where do they go and what do they see? *

  • Why do you think more and more people are travelling abroad nowadays? FQ

  • Why do (some) people today go abroad for shopping?

  • Would you like to travel all around the world?

  • Do you think there are any negative impacts from people travelling abroad? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Do you think there are any negative impacts from tourism? FQ

  • What effects can (or does) long-distance travel have on the environment? FQ  See Note 6

  • (Similar to the question above, but not exactly the same) How do you think the increase in tourism is affecting (or, will affect) the environment? FQ

  • What benefits does tourism bring to a country (or, to a particular location)? FQ

  • What changes has tourism brought to your country?

  • In what ways do you think foreign tourists coming to your country is influencing (or affecting) your country?

  • Do you think tourism is having any negative impact on your country?

  • What do you think could be done to make touring your country more convenient for (foreign) tourists? FQ

  • What do you suggest could be done to attract more tourists to your country? FQ

  • Would you say the tourism industry is well-developed in your country?

  • How would you compare the tourist facilities in your country today with those (the tourist facilities) in the past? FQ

  • Would you say the tourist facilities in your country are getting better all the time?

  • In what ways do you think tourist facilities in your country will develop in the next few years?

  • Why do you think the tourism industry is better developed in some places (or, some countries) than in other places (or countries)?  FQ

  • What do you suggest could be done to improve the tourism industry in your country?

  • Do you think the internet could be used (or, is being used) to help improve the tourism industry in your country?

  • Are there any major differences in facilities for tourists in big cities, compared to smaller places? FQ

  • What sorts of places do you think should be included in a tour (an organized tour) of a city?

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662.  A Success You Have Had  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)  

Modified copy of Topic 379

Described a success you have had in your life. *

                        or

Described something you succeeded in doing. *

               You should say:

                               what it was

                               how you achieved it

                               what others thought about your success

                and explain how you felt about this success. *

                                        or

                and explain how this success affected you. *

                                        or

                and explain how this success influenced your life. *

 

Notes

  • This might be a repetition of either Topic 379 or Topic 173.

  • "Describe a success you have had in your life" = "Describe a goal that you have achieved". See Note 7

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do you think it would be hard to learn that?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of Topics 43, 109, 173, 296, 344, 379, 595 & 571

Success

  • How do you think people can succeed in life?

  • Do you think success is only a matter of luck?

  • Would you say people's success comes from within themselves or from outside themselves?

  • How would you define "success", as applied to a person? FQ

  • (Similar to above) How do people judge (or, measure) someone else's success? FQ

  • Do you think the way we judge success (or, measure or define success) has changed, compared to the way it was judged in the past? FQx2

  • Would you say the way people gain (or achieve) success has changed, compared to several decades ago?

  • Do you think being wealthy (rich) is the same as being "successful"? FQ

  • Do you think that everyone (or, almost everyone) has the opportunity to become successful in life?

  • What can ordinary people do in order to be successful or, feel successful?

  • What rewards (or, benefits) does success bring to people?

  • Do you think that people who are successful in one area could also be successful in other areas?

  • Why do you think some people succeed while others fail?

  • What personal qualities do successful people tend to have? FQx2

  • (Similar to above) What personal qualities do you think people need to have in order to be successful? FQx2

  • Do you think success always brings happiness to people? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Do you think all "successful" people feel happy about their lives? FQ

  • How would you describe (or define) a "successful parent"?

  • (Possibly) What do you think parents should do in order to maximize the chances that their son or daughter is successful when they grow up? *

  • Do you think one's level of education is closely connected to one's "success"?

  • In what ways do you think personal success and the success of a company are the same, or different?

  • Would you like to run a successful home enterprise (= a business run from home)?

Failure

  • What's the most difficult thing that you have ever (tried to) do but failed to do?

  • How do you feel when you fail to achieve something?

  • Do you think failure is necessary (or, useful) in people's lives?

  • Can you suggest why people sometimes fail to achieve what they want to achieve?

Success in the Workplace

  • How do people assess someone as being "successful" in their work / at the workplace? *

  • How do (or, how can) people become successful in their work?

  • (Similar to above) What factors determine how successful a person is in their work? FQ

  • If someone becomes especially successful in their work, do you think their colleagues will become jealous?

  • Would you say that a person's social network is important for determining success in their work?

  • Do you think people who like their work are more likely to be "successful" in that job?

  • Do you think people who are successful in their work should be rewarded?  See Note 14

  • In your country, how are people who are successful at work rewarded? FQx2

  • (Slightly different to above) How should people who are successful at work be rewarded? FQx2

  • How would you like to be rewarded for doing a good job?

  • Why do you think many people do not enjoy doing their work? FQx2

  • (Similar to above) What do you think are the main reasons why some people don't like their job? FQx2

  • How important do you think it is for a working person to feel interested in their work (in order to be successful at work)?

  • What do you think a person should do if they don't like their job? FQ

  • Do you think a person should quit their job if they don't like it?

  • Do you think it's possible for all working people to feel successful in their work?

  • How do (or, how can) employers (or managers) motivate their employees to feel successful at work?

  • In addition to work, what other ways can a person be "successful"?

  • Please compare "personal success" with "the success of a company".

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663.  An Artistic Activity You Did at School  (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)   

Describe an art or craft activity that you did at school.

               You should say:

what activity it was

how you did it *

who you did it with *

and explain how you felt about this activity (after you had finished it, and / or while you were doing it).

 

 

Notes

  • So far, the wording is not very clear. If the wording is similar to above, then you have the choice of describing a general activity you did during your school years such as painting, or describing a specific activity you did once such as helping to paint a picture on a wall when you were in 5th grade.

  • "Crafts" refer to such activities as basket-making. Crafts usually involve creating a practical product that also has some artistic value. "Handicraft" means the same as "craft" in this context. If the word "craft" is really included in the wording, as I think it is, then even making a stool or a bookcase in woodworking class would satisfy the requirements of this topic.

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Did you find that difficult to do?

  • Do you still have it?

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Part 3

Traditional Arts & Handicrafts

Handmade Gifts

Art Education

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664.  An Important Conversation  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)   

Describe an important conversation that you had with someone.

               You should say:

when you had this conversation *

who you had the conversation with

what the conversation was about

and explain how this conversation influenced you. *

                            or

and explain why this conversation was important. *

    

Notes

  • The point, "when you had this conversation" might not be on the cue card because whenever you use the past tense, the time when it happened should automatically be included, whether you are told to say that or not.

  • Several of the Part 3 questions seem to be very similar to those used in the Part 3 of Topic 500, An Interesting Conversation. This new topic definitely uses the word, "important", not "interesting" but it is possible that Topic 500 was mistakenly reported as using the word "interesting" when, in fact, it might have also used the word, "important".

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do you often have important conversations with XX (that person)?

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Part 3

See also Part 3 of Topic 500, An Interesting Conversation.

See Note 2

Spoken Communication

Conversations

Talking to Strangers

Internet Privacy (from Topic 684, possible topic)

  • What do you know about data privacy?

  • Do you think sharing information on the internet is a good idea?

  • Why do researchers share information online?

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665.  A Long Car Trip  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)   

Describe a long car trip (or, journey) you went on.

               You should say:

where you went

why you went there

who you travelled with

what you saw on the trip (on the way). *

and explain why you went by car. *

                or

and explain what you did on this trip. *

    

 

Notes

  • This is possibly a repetition of Topic 601, Page 121 and/or Topic 275, although no-one ever reported the word, "car" being used for that topic.

  • Although many people have reported the current question as a car trip, the question might actually be more general, e.g., "Describe a long journey you went on", which would allow you to chose any form of transportation.

  • For a car trip, you can, of course, choose going on this trip as a passenger in a car, or as the driver.

  • "Long" can be measured in time or distance and is a relative term. For many people, a taxi trip of 40 minutes within a big city like Beijing might be considered to be, "long". You should mention why (by what logic) you consider your trip to be "long".

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do you often go on car trips?

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 602 and Topic 275.

Long Car Trips

Cars

Buying a Car

Business Trips

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Note 1

If that is the wording of the question, then it does not necessarily mean a gift that you made by hand - it could be an example of traditional handicraft that you bought as a souvenir after visiting the area where people traditionally make such things.

Note 2

It is not certain that two separate sub-topics, "Communication" and "Conversations" are used but different people have reported both words as used. Of course, "communication" can be done via writing, via body language, by touch or even via artistic expression such as music. A conversation is extended talking between two or more people, which is just one example of communication, although it is the main way we communicate.

Note 4

To answer any questions about the future, first think if the internet or simply computers themselves will likely be part of the future of this particular topic. For example, answers about the future of education or shopping should include something about the internet.

Note 5

This question can be interpreted in two ways - shops that sell supplies and equipment for people who engage in traditional arts & crafts, and shops that sell the finished products.

Note 6

What effects can (or does) long-distance travel have on the environment?

I think most IELTS candidates would not know what this question is referring to without some background information. This question is mainly referring to air travel and the CO2 that planes emit as they burn their fuel.

I suggest you make an effort to watch the film, "The Great Global Warming Swindle" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-m09lKtYT4. In China, the film can be seen, with Chinese subtitles, at http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTgyMDA4MDY4.html?from=s1.8-1-1.2. That film is a very intelligent look at this question. Or try to at least watch the first few minutes of it. At about 1.20 in the film the narrator say that man-made global warming is the "defining moral and political force of our age". For this Speaking Test question, it is the moral aspect that we are concerned about. Then at 3.00, the narrator says, "Global warming has gone beyond politics - it is a new kind of morality." As an example of this new kind of morality (new quasi-religion), the BBC newsreader then says, "Now the Prime Minister's back from his holidays. He's unembarrassed and unrepentant about yet another long-haul destination."

My personal opinion on (the unproven theory of) "man-made global warming" and the idea that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a "pollutant" are outlined here. But don't spend too much time reading about this one topic. And be careful how you speak or write about his topic in the IELTS test because, for some examiners, it is truly a new kind of religion for them! I suggest you speak and write objectively, stating what "some people believe" but keeping your personal opinion to yourself (or state that you have no opinion about this issue, or are undecided).

Note 7

"Success" and, "achieving (or reaching) a goal" are closely linked, if not identical. It's difficult to say that one has "succeeded" in doing something if one never had the goal, intention or the desire to do that. For example, achieving the goal of quitting smoking or losing weight are personal successes but if you lose weight without intending to do it, it is unlikely you would describe it as a "success". Even scoring a goal in a soccer match is, obviously, a (minor) success! Have you ever passed an exam? Of course you have - you didn't fail every exam you sat for! I wrote extensive notes about success for some of the previously used topics about success.

Note 8  

Do you think business trips are really necessary nowadays, (now that we have the video conferencing on the internet, e.g., Skype & Wechat)?  

This is another question seeking to direct the discussion towards the topic of man-made global warming and the production of CO2 by transportation.

Note 9

If the words, "want to have" are used in this question, and you choose to say "Yes" then understand that "want to have" refers to a specific, clear and rather strong goal of owning a car, and you should speak in those terms. On the other hand, if the words, "would like to have" are used, then it is possible to answer "Yes" even if it is not a current goal that you have. For example, if someone asked me if I would like to travel to the moon, I would say, "Yes" even though it is not a goal that I have. That is, I would like to travel to the moon if the opportunity presented itself, which is extremely unlikely to happen.

Note 10

Here, "travelling" means travelling as a tourist.

Note 11

This question is only applicable if you have already travelled abroad at least once.

Note 12

This question might actually be, "Are long car trips very common in your country?" Since the word "popular" involves a sense of liking something, the question using the word "popular" would be more suited for talking about long car trips that people might make for pleasure, such as a sightseeing trip on a Sunday. The question using the word, "common" would be more suited for talking about long car trips that people make out of necessity because that is the only or the best means of transport in some places.

Note 13

"New" can be within the past 5 years or even 10 years if the examiner is old.

Note 14

In recent years, a few Chinese billionaire company owners have given their whole staff paid overseas holidays, with the staff all traveling together. One famous example was the hundreds of employees of one company who went on a company-paid trip to Paris.

Of course, in the East Asian countries such as China, Japan & Korea, many companies give their employees, all as one group, a short holiday at some camp or tourist attraction in their country. These seem to be more for the purpose of "binding employees together" or helping employees get to know other employees who they don't usually meet at work, than for the purpose of actually "rewarding" employees. This is because these camps are usually nothing special, something that ordinary people can afford to do, and something that involves experiences or activities that are not particularly special to most people.

Note 15

Would you say it's more convenient to buy a car than to use public transport?

It might be that question or it might be: "Would you say it's more convenient to have (or use) a car than to use public transport?"