736.  A Busy Time  (Sep. 2016)  (Probably no longer used)

737.  An Interesting Song  (Sep. 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

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Are you often busy?

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Pressure on Children (Children's Education)

• Would you say children are too busy nowadays?  See Note 2

• (Similar to above) Would you say children are under too much pressure nowadays? FQ

• Do you think they are under more pressure, or less pressure than children in the past?

• Are they under pressure from their parents, or from their teachers?

• Some people say that children should be learning many things in their childhood. But if they are under too much pressure to learn things, don't you think they will become tired to learn things?

• Do you think children are give too much homework to do?

• Do you think children need longer holidays than they have now? How long is suitable? FQ

• How much time do you think children should spend on holiday? FQ

• Should young children spend more time studying, or playing?

• Do you think kindergarten children should spend more time playing, or learning?

• Do you think children learn from playing in class?

Pressure (stress) on People

• Do you think students (or, children) in your country are under too much stress? FQ

• Do students in your country have to do a lot of homework?

• Do you think high stress makes students unhappy?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of pressure at work? FQx2

• Do you think that modern technology reduces the pressure at work nowadays?

• How do you deal with pressure?

Part 3

See also the Part 3 of Topic 622, Topic 452, Topic 330 and Topic 186

Songs and Singing

• Can you suggest why people like listening to songs?

• What kinds of songs are most popular in your country?

• Do young people and older people like the same kinds of sings?

• (For IELTS candidates in China) Would you say teenagers prefer songs from Korea and Japan while middle-aged people prefer songs from Hong Kong?

• What would you say is more important in a song, the lyrics or the melody (the music)?  FQ

• Do you like to watch singing competitions on TV?

• (Similar to above) Are singing competitions popular in your country?  FQ

Music

• What kind of music do you listen to?

• What kinds of music do middle-aged and elderly people listen to?

• Is music important in your country (or, your culture)?

• What kinds of music are most popular in your country?

• Are there any differences between the favourite music of young and old people?  FQ

• Can you suggest some reasons for the differences between the music young and old people listen to?

• Do young people in your country prefer European, or American music?

• When people get older, do you think they prefer to listen to soft music?

• Have you ever been to a concert?

• Can you explain why some people prefer to listen to music at a concert rather than listening to a recording of the same music?  FQ

• (Similar to above) What do you think are the differences between listening to live music (at a concert), and listening to pre-recorded music?

• What do you think are the differences between listening to live music, and listening to background music on TV?

• What do you think is the purpose of background music in films and on TV?  FQ

• Do you think humans are the only living creatures who make music?

Traditional Music

• What kind of music do people listen to in your country?

• On what occasions do you listen to traditional music?

• Where do children and adults learn about traditional music?

• Do both the young and older generations like to listen to traditional music?

Music and Children

• Why kinds of lyrics and music do young children like to listen to (or sing)?

• Do you remember any nursery rhymes you heard when you were a child?

• Can you suggest why some parents take their children to concerts?

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Would you do the same thing again?

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Describe a piece of equipment in your home that you often use.

        You should say:

what it is

how often you use it

how long you have had it *

what you use it for *

        and explain why you choose to use it.             .

           .