Updated Jul. 25, 2017
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
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716. A Computer Program or App (May 2016) (Probably no longer used)
717. An Activity You Do for Health or Fitness (May 2016) (Probably no longer used)
718. An Old Thing in Your Family (May 2016) (Probably no longer used)
719. A
Mistake You Made
(May 2016) (Probably no longer used)
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
This might be a return of
The Information Age
Where do you get the information that you want or need?
Smartphone Apps & Internet Websites
Do you have any (or, many) apps on your cellphone (or, smartphone)
(If yes, to the above question) What kinds of apps do you have?
What content do you see on News apps?
Do you think it's safe to make payments
online and
What do you think are the differences between using social media and communicating with people face to face?
Do you often look for new apps, or are you content to use the ones that you already have?
Do you prefer free apps, or ones that you have to pay for?
What are the most popular apps in your country
What do people use apps for
Can you explain why some people use apps
and computer programs while other people don't use them
Would you say there is much difference between the app
usage of young people, and that of old(er) (or elderly) people
Why do you think old(er) people use apps a lot less than young people?
The Influence of Apps and the Internet
(Similar to above) What would you say are both the
positive aspects and any possible negative aspects of (using) apps
Would you say the privacy of app users is protected?
Do you think it is always to good thing to have access to a lot of information (by using apps & the internet)?
What do you think are the effects on children of using apps and the internet?
Do you think parents should control the amount of time their children spend on the internet (or, using apps on their smartphone)? FQ
Do you think parents should teach their children how to use apps (and the internet in general)?
Notes
So far (May 21, 2016), it is not certain that the choice, "health or fitness" is written on the card. It might be just one of those words.
See note on the word, "fit".
See note on the pronunciation of "health".
It might say, "Describe something you do for your health or fitness". That is more general than, "an activity".
For example, "something you do" can include, "avoiding sugary drinks such as Coca Cola". To "avoid" is to "do something" but is hardly "an activity". But to say, "I never drink sugary drinks such as Coca Cola" is not very suitable because, if you express it that way (i.e., negatively) as your introductory statement, that is really expressing it as something that you do not do.
See also the Part 3 of
Exercise and Exercise Facilities
(If you did not answer this in Part 2) What forms of exercise do you do?
Is that a very popular way to exercise in your country?
What sports (or forms of exercise) are popular among
young people in your country
Is there any difference between what young people,
Is it easy (in your hometown) to find places to exercise?
What facilities are there in your hometown (or, around
where you live) that (old) people can use for exercise
Would you say there are enough of these
facilities in your hometown
What forms of exercise do you think are suitable for elderly people to do?
Are there fitness-related facilities for people of different aged groups?
What can (or do) people do at a gym?
Do you like walking?
(For non-Western IELTS candidates) Would you say there are any differences between attitudes towards exercise in your culture and in the West?
What would be the benefits of a whole family exercising (or playing a sport) together?
Sport and Exercise in School
Do you think school children should do more exercise
than they do now
(Similar to above)
Would you say that school students in your country today do more exercise than their parents did at the same age, or less?
Do you think it's necessary for them to do exercise at school?
If you were a school principal (headmaster/headmistress), how would you organize sport and exercise for the students?
If you were a teacher, how would you teach your students to swim?
Do you think it's better for parents to teach their children to swim, or to leave it to the schools to teach this?
How could parents encourage their children to exercise more (or, to play more sport)?
(Similar to above)
Do you think the government could do
anything to encourage children to exercise more
Health
What would you say are some of the biggest health problems in your country? *
Would you say that obesity is a serious health problem?
How can people keep their weight under control?
Do you have any suggestions for treating adolescent obesity?
Besides exercise, what else can people do in order to
maintain their health
Do people in your country like to go to parks?
What do most people in your country do when they go to a park?
Would you say the typical person's diet in your country is healthy?
How can children learn to have a healthy lifestyle
How do you think the government could (further) promote
the importance of health to the people
Do you think the advertising of "junk food" should be allowed?
Would you say modern science and technology has more of a positive, or a negative influence on people's health?
Describe an antique or some other old thing that your family has kept for a long time. *
You should say:
what it is
what it looks like
how (or when) your family first got this thing *
how long your family has kept it
and explain why this thing is important to your family. *
or
See also the Part 3 of
Keeping Things
Is it good to keep things like that? (your P2 example)
Do you like to keep things for a long time?
Are people concerned about spending money to buy new things?
Do you think this is good?
In general, which do you think are better, old things or new things?
What sorts of things do people in your country like to
keep for a long time
What is the value (or, the importance, the
significance) of keeping some things in a family for a long time
Most people keep old photographs. Do you think photos can help people strengthen their family ties?
What sorts of things do people like to pass down from generation to generation?
Do you think young people and older people keep the same sorts of things? FQ
History
Do you think it's important to recall the past (or, to not forget history)?
Museums
Do you think museums are good places to visit?
(Similar to above) What do
you think is the value (or, importance) of keeping old things in museums
(Similar to above) How can people better understand history by seeing things in
display in a museum
Do you think there should be more museums?
In general, which group do you think likes going to museums more, children or adults?
Can you explain why a lot of
kids don't like to visit museums
What do you suggest could be
done to change their feelings about museums
Do you think we will see more museums in the future and, if so, what forces will be driving this trend?
Do you think videos of museum displays could take the place of actual museums?
(Similar to above)
How do you think the museums of the future will be different to those of today?
719. A Mistake You Made (May 2016) (Probably no longer used)
Describe a time when you made a mistake.
You should say:
where you were
what you were doing
what mistake you made
or
See also the Part 3 of
Mistake-Making, in General
Do you think the mistakes that people make can help them become successful?
What can someone do to help avoid making mistakes?
When someone makes a mistake, do you think others should tell that person that he or she has made a mistake? See Note 1
Do you think we should forgive people when they make a mistake?
Are there any mistakes that cannot be forgiven
Children Making Mistakes / School Students
Would you say that children often make mistakes
What are some examples of mistakes that children make
Should children be punished for their mistakes?
How do you think parents should treat their children
when the children make a mistake
Do you think parents make mistakes too?
What sorts of mistakes do school children make at
school
Do you think teachers should treat the children harshly when they make these mistakes?
What do you think teachers should do when their students make mistakes?
Do you think they should be allowed to make mistakes?
Do you think teachers should explain why something is a
mistake
Can you think of any ways that school
children could use to reduce the mistakes they make
(Similar to above)
Are there any disadvantages from using a calculator?
Do you think it's possible for someone to become too reliant (or, dependant) on calculators?
Do you think students should be allowed to use dictionaries when they are doing a test such as in English class? *
Do you think speaking dictionaries help people make fewer mistakes, or do they actually increase the number of mistakes they make?
Mistakes at Work
What sorts of mistakes do people make at work?
How should a supervisor (or manager) deal with the
mistakes
Would you agree that some mistakes in the workplace are much more important than others? *
or
You should say:
the name of this company *
what this company does
where this company is
how you know about the company
and explain why you are interested in working in this company. *
or
For the first and last lines, Version B has been reported several times, so it is a distinct possibility. This version can apply to a big company that you are interested in purely from a theoretical or scholarly viewpoint, not because you would like to work in that company. It could even be a company that you hate!
See also the Part 3 of
Comparing Big and Small Companies
Are there many big companies in your country
What are some well-known big companies in your country
What are the differences between big companies and
small ones
Why do some people like to buy handmade products?
What industries (or activities, or products) do big (and small)
companies tend to concentrate on
Do you think a company can become too big
Would you agree that the quality of a company's products tend to deteriorate when the company becomes big?
How can (or, how does) a small company become a big company?
Can you explain why big companies need to have a manager?
How do these managers manage these big companies?
What issues (or problems) do companies face as they become bigger?
What does a company have to pay attention to, in order to be successful?
Do you think government should ( = has a responsibility to) support big companies?
What can governments do to support big companies?
Working in Big and Small Companies
What are the advantages and the disadvantages of working in a big company, compared to working in a small one? FQx2
Would you be willing to work in a large company?
Do most people in your country prefer to work in a big company or a small one?
Do you think the same kind of atmosphere exists in both big and small companies?
Do you think salaries are higher in larger companies?
Can you suggest why some big companies
pay their top management very high salaries
Which type of company has better communication between employees, small companies or big companies?
Do you think a company manager should be paid according to the size of the company he or she manages?
Would you say big companies value their managers more than they value their lower-level employees?
In the future, which do you think we will more of, big companies or small ones?
Big Companies (Corporations) as Part of Society
Do you think big companies have "a social responsibility",
such as the responsibility to donate money to worthy causes (or, charities) in society
Would you say that big companies have a responsibility towards protecting the environment?
Do you think companies should be accountable to the public for the decisions they (the companies) make?
How can the public influence the decision-making of companies?
Do you think big companies are punished enough when they break the law?
Can you suggest why the CEOs of big
companies are paid such large salaries
Do you think it's fair that they receive such large salaries?
Foreign Investment in Your Country
Is there much foreign investment in companies in your country? *
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of foreign investment in your country? *
= bring it (the mistake) to their attention