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Updated Aug 1, 2017

 

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 138

686.  A Difficult Decision  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

687.  A Polluted Place  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

688.  A Product You Were Happy With  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

689.  An Older Person Who You Admire  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

690.  An Interesting Story on TV  (Jan. 2016) (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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686.  A Difficult Decision  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a difficult decision (or choice) that you made.

               You should say:

what decision it was

                                 what difficulties you faced

                                 how you made the decision *

                                 what the results of your decision were

and explain what the results of your decision were

 

Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do you think you made the right decision? = Would you make the same decision today?

  • (Possible question if the real Part 2 wording is Version A)  Did it take you a long time to make that decision?

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Part 3

See also relevant questions in the Part 3 of Topic 2, Topic 445, 509

See also any relevant questions related to "decision making", which is a leadership skill, at the following topics:  60, Topic 323 & 371

Everyday Decisions

  • What are some of the typical, everyday decisions that people have to makeFQ

  • Besides your example from Part 2, what other difficult decisions are many people faced with at times in their lives?  FQ

  • What determines people's daily plans? (For example - What will I do tomorrow/)

  • (Similar to above) When people make their plans for the day, what factors do they consider when they make these plans?

How to Make a Decision

  • Do you prefer to shop at many different shops or just a few?  FQ

  • Do you prefer to shop in big shops or in small ones?  FQx2

  • How do you (or, people) decide which one to shop at? ?  FQx2   See Note 5

  • When shopping in a shopping mall or a big department store, do you think it's easy to decide what to buy?

  • How do people decide what to buy when faced with many choices of the same thing, such as clothes?

  • When buying clothes, do you prefer to go to a shop with a wide selection of choices, or to a shop that has a small number of choices?

  • How do you (or, people) decide what clothes to wear?

  • Can you explain what makes a decision a "difficult" decision?  FQ

  • In general, do you think it's easier to make a decision when you have few choices, or many choices?

  • Do you think teachers should help students make decisions?

  • What (sorts of) factors do people consider when they make decisions?

  • How can one choose what is the most important factor when making a decision?

  • Can you suggest why people sometimes make a quick decision?

  • (Unreported but possible question) How can someone know that they have made the right decision? *

  • In the future, do you think people will find it easier to make decisions than they do today, or will they find it harder?   See Question 3, below

Decisions Throughout Life

  • What do you think are the most important decisions that people have to make in their lifetimes?

  • Do you think children and adults usually have the same decisions to make?  FQx2

  • (Similar to above) Do you think children and adults have the same choices in life?  See Note 8

  • Do you think children and adults make choices (or, decisions) in the same way that adults do?

  • Who do you think has a harder time making decisions, children or adults?  FQx2

  • (Similar to above) Do you think the decisions that children make are more difficult (for them) than the decisions that adults have to make?  FQx2

  • Do you think it's a good idea to get the advice of other people when making a decision (or choice)?

  • Who do you think we should ask for advice?

  • Do you think children should make their own decisions, or should they follow the advice of adults?  FQ  See Questions 4 & 5, below.

  • (Similar to above) Do you think parents should make decisions for their children?  FQ

  • What sorts of decisions do young people have to makeFQ   See Question 6, below.

  • Do you think parents can help young people decide what subject to study at university?

  • What decisions about the future do people have to make FQ 

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The following are questions that I have not seen reported since this topic came into use in January 2016, but which are listed on an IELTS website for this current topic. (I believe most of these questions are taken from my work when a similar topic was used before). Possibly some of these questions will be used again this time.

  1. What skills are necessary when making decisions?

  2. How can people improve their decision-making skills?

  3. How do you think computers will change the way people make decisions?

  4. Do parents in your country allow their children to make important decisions about the future?

  5. Do you think that parents should make important decisions for the children?

  6. How can older people help young people make their own decisions wisely?

  7. What do you think of the qualities of a good leader or a good decision-maker?

  8. Do you think it is important for parents to encourage the development of leadership abilities in their children?

  9. In what ways can parents encourage their children develop leadership abilities?

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687.  A Polluted Place  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a place you have visited that has been affected by pollution.

               You should say:

what place it was

why you went there

how it was affected by pollution / what kind of pollution had affected this place *

and explain how you felt about this situation. *

 

Notes

  • If the real wording says, "a place" then it is possible to describe an area in or near your own city or town.

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do the people living there think (or feel) the same as you about this situation?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of Topic 180 and Topic 299

Pollution in Your Country

  • Besides your example from Part 2, what other examples of pollution are there in your hometown (or your country/ or around where you live)?  FQ

  • Is this situation the same as before?

  • What are the reasons for (or the sources of) these kinds of pollution?

  • How do suggest this problem should be tackled? FQ

  • In general, would you say there is more (rubbish and) pollution today than several decades ago?  FQx2  See Note 14

  • What do you think could (or, can) be done about this problem?  FQ

  • Do you think pollution near or alongside waterways is very important?

  • Can you suggest why some people do things such as throw rubbish into a lake?

  • What can we do to reduce pollution?  FQ

  • If no-one had the money to buy a car, do you think everyone would then travel on the subway?

  • Do you think we should start by educating the locals about protecting the environment?

  • What should the government do?  FQ

  • (Similar to above) How much do you think government is responsible for doing something about pollution, and how much do you think it is an individual responsibility for everyone?  FQx2

  • Who do you think has more responsibility for handling pollution problems, individuals or companies?  FQ

  • What can individuals do?  FQx2

  • What do you think is the relationship between pollution and the economy?  FQ  See Note 2

  • Is there any pollution problem (or, environmental problem) that is world-wide?  See Note 10

  • Do you think the pollution situation in your country will change in the future?  FQx2

  • Do you think the pollution situation will get worse in the future, or better?  FQx2

  • Do you think the food you are buying (or eating) is contaminated?

  • (If Yes to the above question) Then why are people buying that food?

Noise Pollution

  • Have you ever heard loud, unpleasant noise?
  • Did it last for a long time?
  • Nowadays some people say that noise pollution is more dangerous than even air or water pollution. Do you agree?
  • What are the effects on people of noise pollution in public places?
  • What can be done to decrease noise pollution?

Perceptions about Pollution

  • In general, would you say that most people in your country are concerned about the environment? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Would you say that most people (in your country) care about environmental pollution? FQ

  • Do you think different people have different perceptions about (or, of) pollution?

  • (Similar to above) Do you think different people have a different understanding of the word, "pollution"?

  • Can you explain why some people are concerned about pollution while others are not?  FQx2

  • Can you suggest why some people are not interested in (the topic of) protecting the environment?

  • Why do some people think they can do nothing to protect the environment?

  • Would you say that children and young people today are more aware of pollution than the older generations?  See Note 13

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688.  A Product You Were Happy With  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a product you bought that you were (or, are) happy with.

               You should say:

what you bought

how you bought it

why you bought it

and explain why you were (or are) happy with it.

 

Notes

  • All past tense topics need you to say "when", whether it is stated on the question card or not.

  • One person (in India) reported this as, "a product you were unhappy with". That topic was used before as Topic 9 and Topic 438. However, be aware that the test question writers sometimes do take a previous topic and create a new topic that is opposite in meaning. So, "a product you were happy with" is probably correct, especially since more than one candidate has reported this wording.

  • The meaning of "happy" for this topic is similar to "satisfied". This means that the product fulfilled the expectations that you had for the product when you bought it. The whole topic is related to product quality.

  • If you still have the product, it would be more suitable to describe it as "a product that you are happy with".

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also any related questions from the Part 3 of Topic 9, Topic 386, Topic 438, 541 & Topic 575

Shopping

  • Do you like shopping?

  • (If you do the test away from your home country) Is there much difference between shopping in your home country and in this country?

  • What are some of the various ways that people buy things?  FQ

  • Do you like shopping in shopping malls?  See Note 4

  • Do you prefer to go shopping in shopping malls, or in small shops around your home?

  • Can you explain why so many people choose to do their shopping in big shops such as big supermarkets and department stores?

  • How does that compare with the ways people bought things in the past?

  • How (or, where) do most people in your country buy things?  FQ

  • What would you say are the major differences between online shopping and shopping in typical shops FQx2

  • Can you explain why online shopping is so popular today?

  • Why are goods online generally cheaper than those in typical shops?  FQ

  • What would you do if you were disappointed with something you had bought on the internet?  FQ

  • (Similar to above) How do people deal with problems when they buy something online?  FQ

  • What effect do you think this is having (or, will have) on the typical shops that people used before the internet age?

  • Do you think online shopping tends to make people lazy?

  • Do you think online shopping will (eventually) replace shopping in real shops?

  • How often do people in your country go shopping?

  • When do people usually go shopping?

  • Do you think people spend too much time on shopping?  FQ

  • Would you say that, in general, people like shopping?  FQ

  • Who usually enjoys shopping more, males or females?

  • Who usually does more shopping, men or women?

  • (Similar to the 2 questions above) What are the differences between men and women when it comes to shopping?  FQ

  • What would you say are the differences between your shopping habits and those of your mother?

  • Do you know anyone who could be described as a "shopaholic"?   See Note 12

  • Do you think many people buy things that they don't really need? (Why?)  FQ

  • (Similar to above) Do you think many people make rash purchases? (Why?)  FQ

  • Have you ever had a bad shopping experience?

  • What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using a credit card when buying things, as opposed to paying cash?

The Quality and Price of Products

  • Which is more important to you, the price of a product, or the quality?

  • Do you think there is a relationship between the brand of a product and the quality of that product?

  • Do you think expensive products are always high in quality?  FQ

  • What makes a product a "high quality" product?

  • Do you agree that companies have a responsibility to advise customers on the quality of the products they sell?

  • How do you (or, how can a person) compare prices?  FQ

  • (Similar to above) How can people find the best prices for a product or service?  FQ

  • In your country, is bargaining very common when shopping?  FQx2  See Note 7

  • Why (or, when) do some people bargain?

  • Can you suggest why most Westerners don't like to bargain?

  • Can you explain why some places have cheaper prices than other places? *

  • How can (or, how do) people find out the lowest prices for goods (products)?

  • (Similar to above) How can (or, how do) people buy the cheapest-priced goods (products)?

Second-hand Goods

  • Do people in your country ever buy second-hand goods? FQ (If yes, what? Why do they buy something that is second-hand?)

  • Why do people sell second-hand goods by advertising them on the Internet?

  • Do you think some people get cheated (tricked) by these advertisements?

Marketing

  • Nowadays some people buy things they don’t need. Can you suggest why that is?

  • Why are some shopping centres in your country crowded?

  • Why do some people like to buy expensive things (= luxury products)?

  • What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of buying luxury products?

  • Do you think marketing is important?

  • How much do you think the brand of a product influences people?

  • How does marketing help?

  • What types (or methods) of marketing are there? FQ

  • Do you think all products need to be marketed (need marketing)?

  • Do you think the advertising of harmful products, such as tobacco, show be allowed?

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689.  An Older Person Who You Admire  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person (you know), much older than you, who you admire. *

               You should say:

who this person is

how you know this person

how this person has influenced you *

and explain why you admire this person.

 

Notes

  • Although no-one has yet reported the words, "a person you know", it is likely that those words are included and therefore it is safest to prepare an answer about someone who you personally know, someone you have at least spoken to. Don't talk about a movie star or sports star, someone you see regularly on TV, or someone who was in the news last month, for example.

  • A similar topic, "Describe an old person who you admire" has been used several times in the past. This time, several candidates have stressed that the new wording is now, "much older than you". This change of wording might be because some candidates don't know any "old" people, i.e., people over the age of about 60. With this new wording, you could either talk about an old person or you could talk about a middle-aged person (35 to about 55 years old). If you talk about one of your parents, be careful not to sound like you are repeating a "speech" or essay about one of your parents that many students have to do in English class at school. Examiners don't want to hear an obviously rehearsed answer. Those answers also often include too many superfluous statements, statements that are not closely related to the topic that you are asked to talk about, such as "my mother is a very beautiful woman".

  • Make sure you understand the meaning of "admire". It means a mixture of "like" and "respect", with more emphasis on respecting than liking. Sometimes "admire" can even include a touch of "envy", in a positive sense (unlike "jealousy", which is more negative).

  • It's possible that the first line is, "Describe a person (you know), much older than you, who you respect".

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of  Topic 597, Topic 547, Topic 482 & Topic 157. Topic 271 has many questions on the topic of "People we admire".

When the words, "young people" and "older people" are both used in the same sentence, "older people" means, "older than the young people", which could include anyone over the age of about 30 for most IELTS candidates.

Generational Differences

  • In your view, what is "an old person"?

  • How do you know when you are looking at an old person? For example, do all old people have white hair?

  • Do you think there an increasing proportion of old people in the population today, compared to the past, or a decreasing proportion?

  • What would you say are the main differences between "young people" and "old people"?

  • Do you think the media today is more focused on young people, or on old people?

  • Do you think young people would have difficulty living with old people?

  • Do you think young people and old people have difficulty communicating with each other? FQ

  • Do you think there is such a thing as, "the generation gap"?

  • What do you and X (the person you spoke about in Part 2) have in common?

  • How is this generation gap formed?

  • In what ways is the thinking of young people and that of old people different?

  • Which group do you think spends more money shopping, old people or young people?

  • What sources of income do old people in your country have?

  • In general do young people in your country respect old people? FQ

  • Do you think the young people and older people (or, old people) can learn anything (or, learn much) from each other? FQx2

  • Do most old people know how to use modern electronic products?

  • Can you suggest why many elderly people are not interested in learning how to use modern technology such as using the internet?

  • What do you think young people can learn from older people (or, old people)? FQ

  • What do you think young people should learn from older people (or, old people)? FQ

  • Why do young people sometimes ask older people about the past?  See Note 1

  • Can you explain why young people ask older people for advice?

The Lives of Elderly People Today

  • What sorts of things do old people like to do with their time? FQx2

  • (Similar to above) What sorts of leisure activities do old people like to do? FQx2

  • Do elderly men and elderly women like to do the same things? FQ

  • Do you think old people today do different activities than old people did in the past? FQ

  • If you were an old person, what would you do with your time?

  • Do old people like to go on long trips?

  • What sorts of outdoor activities do old people like to do?

  • Do they like to do outdoor exercise (or sports)?

  • Do they use any particular exercise equipment?

  • Do they prefer to watch films at home, or in a cinema?

  • How would you compare the lives of old people in your country with the lives of old people in other countries?

  • Would you say that old people today have better lives (e.g. better living conditions; happier lives) than old people had in the past? FQx2

  • Do you think old people in the past were more optimistic than old people are today?

  • In what ways do you think the lives of old people today could be improved?

  • How do you think young people could help old people?

  • In many parts of the world, people are living longer than they did in the past. Can you suggest why that is happening?

  • Would you say modern technology has improved the lives of old people, compared to the past?

  • Do you think old people need to know how to use modern technology?

  • In your country, how are the medical costs of old people paid?

  • In your country, is there much media coverage of elderly people?

  • In general, what is the attitude towards old people expressed in the media?

  • Do you think there are benefits for some old people to delay retirement?

  • Can you suggest why many old people like to talk about the past?

  • Many old people talk about the "good old days". What do you think they mean? *

  • Do you think old people only remember the good things from their past? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Many old people feel their life was better when they were younger. Why do you think they feel that way? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Why do you think (old) people tend to remember the good things from the past and tend to forget what was not so good? FQx2

  • When old people talk about their past to their grandchildren, do you think they always speak accurately?

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690.  An Interesting Story on TV  (Jan. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

Version A

Describe an interesting story you saw on television.

               You should say:

what program it was on *

what the story was about *

what happened in this story *

and explain why you think it was interesting *

 

Version B

Describe a television program that you like to watch.

               You should say:

what program it is

what the program is about

how often you watch it* (or, when you watch it *)

and explain why you like watching this program.

 

Notes

  • (Note written March 17, 2016) It seems to be confirmed that it is Version A. However, I still suggest you spend just a few minutes thinking about how you would answer Version B, in case there is a mistake about this confirmation.

  • Version A is mainly testing the candidate's ability to summarize.

It also tests whether the candidate understands that "interesting" refers more to using one's rational mind than to feelings, such as being moved or finding something cute. Definitely don't confuse "interesting" with "fun" or "exciting", although things that are fun or exciting are certainly not boring. I wrote some notes about the word, "interesting" here, regarding the topic, "An Interesting Animal".

Is something humorous (= funny) also "interesting"? That's an interesting question. Funny things are, again, certainly not boring. Psychologists say that we often find something to be funny because the mind tells us that there is something illogical about the situation, which is a usage of the rational mind. (Psychologists also say that we sometimes laugh about jokes concerning issues that we feel insecure about or embarrassed about, such as sex or fear.) However, I think many (but perhaps not all) examiners would not agree that describing a funny story is the same as describing an interesting story.

Overall, I think the safest answer is to choose to talk about a story that had some unusual or strange aspect, and / or a story that aroused your curiosity and / or a story that you learned something from. In other words, a story that made you think. Mystery or detective tales ("who dunnitt?" stories) fit that description.

For grammar, besides obviously testing the past tense, some candidates might need to use Reported Speech (间接引语 in Chinese). That's Band 7 level grammar if you get it right.

  • I have not seen any reports on the full wording on the card but I imagine it is similar to what is shown above. One key point to understand is that "story", in this context, is not always the same as "fiction". Depending on the exact wording on the card, you might be able to talk about something you saw in a documentary program such as, "the story of how the American colonies gained independence from Britain in 1776".  Or, you could say, "I saw an interesting news story about ...". That would be on the News Program. In this usage, "news story" more or less means the same as, "news report".

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Would you like to meet the star of that program?

  • Have you told anyone else about that interesting story?

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Part 3

See also any relevant or related Part 3 questions at the following Topics: 594, 636, 520, Topic 494, 429, Topic 372, 274, 263, Topic 254, Topic 213, Topic 178 and 87

Television in General (in your country)

  • How often do you watch TV?

  • Do you think you will be watching more TV in the future than you do now, or less?

  • Do you think people watch too much TV? *

  • What kinds of TV programs are popular in your countryFQ

  • Have people's preferences in TV programs changed much in the past few decades?

  • Can you suggest (or, explain) why people like to watch television? FQ

  • Do most people prefer to watch TV rather than read a newspaper?

  • Can you suggest why some people choose not to watch TV?

  • Can you think of anything about (watching) television that's not good? FQ

  • Do people generally watch TV alone, or with others?

  • Do young people today spend more time watching TV, or using the internet?

  • Please compare watching television on a device such as a smart-phone and watching it on a traditional TV set.

  • In the future, do you think television will continue to exist as it is now, or will we see some changes? FQ

  • Do you think people in the future will be watching more television than now, or less?

Television and Family

  • What effects do you think television has on family relations? FQ  See Note 6

  • Do you think (the invention of) television has changed family relationships?

  • How does television influence / effect people?

  • How important do you think it is for a family to watch TV together? FQ

  • How does that benefit a family?

  • Do you think a family watching television together leads to stronger family ties?

  • Which is better for a family to watch together, TV on the internet, or TV on a traditional TV set?

  • What about watching a debate on TV?  Do you think that always promotes harmony in a family?

  • Do you think it's good for a family to watch TV while they are having a meal together?

  • Do you think watching TV together promotes communication in a family?

  • What do people generally do at home when they are not watching TV?

  • What did people in families do before the age of television?

Television and Education

  • Do you think television helps people to study?

  • Which do you think is more fun, watching TV or reading?

  • (Most likely the question above is really this) Which do you think is more interesting, watching TV or reading?

  • Which do you think has more educational value, watching TV or reading?

  • Do you think a person can learn a language by watching films in that language?

  • Which do you think is better for learning a language, using the internet or using television?

  • Are mobile phones useful for learning a language?

  • Which do you think has more educational value for children, using a computer, or watching TV?

  • Do school children learn about (or, learn to use) computers in school?

  • What relationship do you think television and education have with each other? *

  • Do you think school children should watch TV in the classroom (or, at school)?  FQ

  • Do you think TV could be used as an educational tool? *

  • Do teachers in your country ever use television in the classroom?

  • Which do you think is better as an educational tool in a classroom, a television, or a computer (+ projection screen)?

  • In the future, what role do you think multimedia (including television) will play in education?

  • Do you think these multimedia will one day replace the books that are used for education today (i.e., textbooks)?

Television and Children

  • What types of TV programs do children like to watch?   See Note 11

  • In your opinion, do children get more benefits than harm from watching TV, (or more harm than good)?

  • Do you think it's good for school children to watch TV at home?

  • What influence do you think (watching) TV has on a child's education? FQ

  • Do you think children watch too much TV?

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Note 1

Of course, "the past" here means "the past that this person has personally experienced". Your answer should emphasize the personal experience (and personal opinions) of the older person concerning this past time, (the past that these older people have lived through).

Young people can learn about the past by reading but this might not include a lot of the information, and personal impressions that someone who has lived through it could give to other people.

Note 2

Of course, the strongest relationship is often (but not always) between the local economy and the place where the pollution occurs, not just the national economy.

Industrial activity is also related to employment in that local area, and employment is an aspect of the economy.

Note 3

Here's a suggestion for those who are not too strong at spoken English. "I had difficulty deciding whether or not to attend this speaking test today." :) Yes, it's a joke suggestion but, in reality, it would be perfectly acceptable as an answer!

Note 4

A "shopping mall" is a particular type of shopping centre. In a shopping mall, many shops are (usually) inside one big building, situated along rather wide corridors, which people walk along while looking into the front windows of the shops.

There are also "shopping malls" where the shops are not within one building and people walk along an open outside area (often a road that has been closed to traffic, called a "pedestrian mall"). Pedestrian malls usually have seats for people to sit on and possibly some trees. If they are quite wide, they might include activities such as street performers playing musical instruments.

Note 5

It would be a good idea to include the word, "factors" when answering this and similar questions.

Possibly the following more general question will be asked - "

Note 6

A question worded as, "What effects do you think television has on family relations?" can have two possible interpretations:

1) = "What effects do you think watching television has on family relations?"

or

2) = "What effects do you think the contents of television programs have on family relations?"

For example, do people generally see good examples of family relations on TV, such as good child-parent or husband-wife relationships? Or do some TV programs have examples, or ideas or behaviour that are not conducive to good family relations?

Note 7

Make sure you check the meaning of the verb, "bargain" in a dictionary. This question is obviously testing vocabulary and if you mistakenly think it refers to the noun, "a bargain" (a product that is cheaper than usual, or a good deal for the price) then your vocabulary score might be reduced.

On the other hand, for some candidates, showing knowledge of the correct meaning of this one word might cause the examiner to add one whole point to the candidate's vocabulary score. For example, an examiner might think you are very close to being 7 for vocabulary but he's not sure and wants to hear more good vocabulary from you. Showing knowledge of just one less commonly used word or expression such as, "to bargain" might be enough to tip the scales in this case and allow you to get a 7.

Note 8

The question, "Do you think children and adults have the same choices in life?" was probably mistakenly reported when the examiner actually asked, "Do you think children and adults have the same decisions to make in life?" But it is still a possible question.

If a question is about "choices" rather than "decisions" then you need to understand that the word, "choices" can sometimes refer to "potential choices", not the "real choices" that people have at the time when they have to "make a decision" = "make a choice" = "choose one of the choices". That is, "potential choices" only become "real choices" at those times when a person has to make a decision.

In other words, the wording of the question, "Do you think children and adults have the same choices in life?" makes it a general question asking about the "potential choices" that children have. The wording is not about whether children need to actually exercise these choices (= make a decision).

Obviously, in general, the range of choices that children have are limited, compared to the range of choices that adults have. Among other factors that limit the choices of children, their choices are limited by the fact that they have less money than adults, and by the fact that the law imposes certain limits on children, for example, children cannot legally drive a car. Children also have less knowledge or awareness of the world than adults, and along with less awareness comes fewer choices. So, for example, if a child and an adult both have a free day and both have to decide what to do, the adult has more choices available than the child.

If the question was worded as, "Do you think children and adults have the same (range of) choices when they have to make a decision?" then it becomes much more specific. The answer to that question is that it depends on the situation. In some situations, there are no limitations on children's choices, compared to adults. For example, if there are both apples and oranges in the fridge and both a child and an adult have to decide which one to eat as a snack, then the child and the adult have the same range of choices.

Note 10

Obviously this is an attempt to start a discussion about, "man-made global warming" and the notion that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a "pollutant".

Note 11

Try to say more than just the one word, "cartoons".  Examiners hear that answer all the time.

Note 12

"Shopaholic" is a relatively new word, or expression that may not be in some dictionaries. "An alcoholic" is a person who is addicted to alcohol --> "a shopaholic" is a person who seems to be addicted to shopping, someone who has trouble controlling the urge to buy things, even things they don't really need.

Note 13

It is likely that some examiners are expanding on the theme of "awareness", although only one questions seems to have been reported using that word. That is, they are probably asking several more questions about, "awareness of pollution".

The topic might even extend to being aware of the difference between "carbon" and "carbon-dioxide", but that would mainly be a question for candidates who are Band 7.5 & above.

Note 14

This question might be asked using the word, "litter" or "trash" instead of "rubbish".