Page 156

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Updated May 24, 2018

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 156

776. A Day in the Countryside (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

777. A Polite Person (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

778. An Interesting Talk or Speech (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

779. A Popular Place for Swimming (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

780. A Holiday You Would Like (Jan. 2017) (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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776. A Day in the Countryside (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an enjoyable day you had in the countryside.

You should say:

when and where you went

who you went with

what you did there

and explain why you think it was enjoyable.

Notes

A "day in the countryside" does not simply mean a day away from the city. It means a day out of a city, a town or even a village, a day that is usually spent in the open air (unless you are in a car or other vehicle). It could be on a farm, climbing a mountain, fishing from a boat on a lake, hiking in a forest or even driving along a road in the countryside. But a day at the beach or on the coast is not usually expressed as, "in the countryside".

English speakers sometimes use, "in the country" to mean, "in the countryside". This usage of "country" is a short form of "countryside"; it does not mean, "nation".

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you often go to the countryside?

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Part 3

See also any relevant or similar questions (only some questions are relevant for this topic) in the Part 3 of the following topics: 713, 667, 653, 620, 570, 567, 528, 422, 409, 403, 394, 387, 313, 266, 246, 243, 235, 122, 195, 180, 174 & 24

The Countryside in Your Country

What are the differences between rural and urban areas? FQ
Have there been any changes in the countryside in recent years? FQ
What are the differences between the countryside now and in the past? FQ
How do you think the countryside should be developed?
Do you think should (or needs to) do something to protect the natural environment of the countryside?

Living in the Countryside

Do most people in your country live in cities or in the countryside? FQ

Was this the same situation several decades ago? FQ

What caused this change? FQ

Do you (or, would you) prefer to live in the countryside, or in the city? FQ

(Similar to above) In your opinion, is it better to live in the countryside or in the city? FQ

(Similar to above) What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside? FQ

(Similar to above) What are the differences between rural and urban life? FQ

Do you think it’s good for people to live in the countryside?

Do you think people like living in the countryside?

Do you think rural life is difficult?

Why do some people think it’s harder to live in the countryside?

Why do people move from the countryside (to cities and towns)? FQ
In the future, will people prefer to live in the city or countryside? FQ
What effects will there be if more people move to the countryside?

Age Groups Living in the Countryside or the City

What groups of people are more likely to live in the countryside?
Do you think the countryside is a suitable place to live for people of all ages? FQ
Do young people want to live in the countryside? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think many young people living in the countryside would prefer to live in the city? FQ
Some people think cities have better educational facilities (or opportunities) than the countryside. Do you agree?
Do you think there are advantages for elderly people to live in the countryside? FQ
What do you think are the differences between medical services in the city and in the countryside?

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777. A Polite Person (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a polite person you know.

You should say:

who it is

how you know this person

when you knew this person

and explain why this person is polite.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of Topics 472 and 405

Politeness in General

Would you say people in your country are polite? FQ
Do you think politeness is important?
What are some examples of politeness (in your country / culture)? FQ
(Similar to above) How do people in your country show politeness? FQ
Can you give any examples of impoliteness? FQ
Are there differences in politeness between people from the countryside and those from the city? FQ
Can you explain why some people from cities think that people from the countryside are impolite (or less polite than city people)?
Would you say people are more polite today than in the past? FQ See Note 2
How do people in your country show politeness towards old people?

Politeness and Children

Do you think young children are more polite than adults?
How do people (first) learn how to be polite?

International Politeness

Do you think people becoming are becoming more polite as a result of foreign influences?

Would you say respect for others is important?

Do you try your best to respect others? (How?)

If somebody disrespects you, will you still respect them? See Note 1

How can there be respect between people of different cultures?

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778. An Interesting Talk or Speech (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an interesting talk or speech you heard.

You should say:

who gave the speech

where it was

what it was about

and explain why you thought (or, think) it was interesting. *

Notes

The word, "speech" as a non-count noun is different to "speech" as a countable noun. It is a countable noun in this Part 2.

The last line is most likely "thought", not "think". In your answer, use whatever verb tense is written on the card.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of Topics 473 and 185. Especially read any notes that accompany those two sets of questions.

Note: Know the differences in meaning between, "a speech", "a talk" and, "a lecture".

When We Hear Speeches

Do you listen to (or, hear) many speeches in your everyday life?

Who usually gives speeches for the public? FQ

(Similar to above) What kind of people usually give talks (or speeches) in public? FQ

(Similar to above) What kinds of prominent people give speeches? FQ

Why do people give speeches?

Do you think it’s useful to attend speeches?

What kind of people enjoy going to speeches? See Note 5

Are many international conferences held in your country?

When (on what occasions) do people have conferences?

Do you think (international) conferences are important? FQ

Do you think leadership meetings (or training) are necessary?

Speeches and Talks Given to Children

What types of speeches do children listen to? FQ
(Similar to above) What kind of speeches do children have to attend? FQ
Do you think it's beneficial for students to listen to speeches?
Do you think it's necessary for schoolchildren to listen to speeches?

Besides speeches, what are some other methods schoolchildren can learn? See Note 3

Would you say most adults find it difficult to talk in front of a group of children? FQ

What is the difference between speaking in front of children and adults?

Do you think all speeches are appropriate for all age groups?

What types of speech are appropriate for all age groups?

How can people choose suitable topics when preparing a speech for children?

How can people speak in a suitable way when speaking to a group of children? FQ

(Similar to above) In what ways do you think public speaking to an audience of children is different to public speaking in front of adults? FQ

What can a speech-giver do to make children more receptive to (or, interested in) listening to a speech?

Do schools in your country ever invite visitors to give a talk to their students?

Do you think it's useful to invite guests to give a talk (or, a speech) to children at school? FQ See Note 6

Is it suitable for visitors or advisors to give a speech in front of schoolchildren?

Is it better to have a teacher make a speech for school children, or someone else, like parents?

What kinds of visitors give talks at schools? See Note 4

Do you think it's good for students to listen to speeches given by criminals? See Note 7

Speech-Giving Skills

Would you say it's important for a person to be able to speak publicly?
Do you think anyone can learn how to speak publicly (= in front of a large group)?
What do you think are the common features of good public speakers?
Do people need to prepare for speeches before giving them to the public?
Some people believe that over-preparing is not beneficial for a speech. Do you agree?
Have you ever given a speech?
Did you feel nervous before you spoke (or, while you were speaking)? *
Can you explain why people feel nervous when giving speeches? FQ
Can you suggest any ways to avoid being nervous during a speech? FQ
What kinds of speeches are most interesting for the audience to listen to?
What do you think about using some multimedia features during a speech, such as PowerPoint slides or videos?

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779. A Popular Place for Swimming (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a popular place for people to go swimming.

You should say:

where it is

what it is like

who likes to swim there

and explain why it is popular for swimming.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 of the following topics that are similar to this Part 2 topic: 390 & Topic 84

Swimming

Do you think swimming is important?

What are the benefits of swimming? FQ

(Similar to above) What are the benefits of swimming, compared to other forms of exercise? FQ

How can swimming help the body?

Which groups of people enjoy swimming?

Is swimming better for children, or for adults? FQ

What are some factors people should consider when choosing a place to swim?

How can we prevent people from drowning?

In general, do people in your country know how to swim?

Do you think it's necessary (or important) to learn how to swim?

Do you think children should learn to swim?

How can people learn how to swim? FQ

(Similar to above) What do you think is the best way to learn how to swim? FQ

Do you think people can learn to swim from a book?
Do you think swimming lessons are necessary?
Who is most suitable for teaching children to swim? FQ
Do you think swimming classes should be compulsory in schools?
If students don’t want to learn in swimming classes, should they abandon the classes?
Should people who are scared of water continue to learn how to swim?
Do you think government should improve swimming facilities?
Should swimming pools be free?
Do you think the government should help university campuses build swimming pools?

Sports (and exercise) Facilities

Would you say more people participate in outdoor activities today than in the past?
What influence do you think modern technology is having on the amount of time children spend outdoors nowadays?
What sports facilities does (or, did) your high school have?
Does you city (or, hometown) have many sports facilities? FQ
Should there be more athletic facilities? FQ
Do you think a city needs to have a lot of sports facilities?
Would you say some sports facilities are more important than others?
Why do you think some types of sports facilities are more popular than others? FQ
Do you think new sports facilities are better than old ones?
Can government policies affect sports facilities?
What can the government do to improve sport facilities?
Do you think the demand for leisure and cultural facilities varies for different age groups?
Should sports facilities be free or discounted for some people?
Do many people in your country go to gyms? FQ

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780. A Holiday You Would Like (Jan. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Version A

Describe a holiday you want to go on in the future.

You should say:

where it will be

who you will go with

what you will do

and explain why you want to go there.

Version B

Describe a holiday you would like to go on in the future.

You should say:

where it would be

who you would go with

what you would do

and explain why you would like to go there.

Notes

I think Version B is the more likely real version, but either version is possible.

Your answer should be expressed in the same grammar as the question, whichever grammatical form is used. Never use "would" to answer a "will" question, and never use "will" to answer a "would" question.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you think you will travel soon?

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Part 3

See also any similar or related questions to those questions below in the Part 3 of the following topics: 711, Topic 658, 466. 399, 206, Topic 112, 90, 78, 66, & 32

Having (taking) a Holiday

See Note 8

Why do people want (or need) holidays? FQ
(Similar to above) Why should people have holidays? FQ

Going on a Holiday / Being a Tourist

What are some places that people in your country like to go to for a holiday?

What are some popular tourist attractions in your country? FQ

What makes a good holiday destination? FQ

(Similar to above) How (by what criteria) does a person choose a holiday destination? FQ

(Similar to above) What is the most important aspect when visiting a tourist attraction? FQ

Do people in your country prefer to travel to a city or to the countryside?

Why do people choose certain places for travel?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling?

Why do some people prefer to travel alone while others like to travel in a group?

Are famous places crowded?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living near to tourist attractions? FQ

(Similar to above) What are the advantages and disadvantages of having tourists come to your country (or area)? FQ

(Similar to above) Do you think most people would be happy if their city or town became a tourist destination? FQ

Travelling Abroad

What are some problems that people might experience when travelling abroad? FQ
How can people communicate with local citizens if they can’t speak English (or, your language)?
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a child with you when travelling (or holidaying) abroad?
What do you think is the best age for a child to travel abroad for the first time? FQ
At what age do you think it’s appropriate to travel abroad alone?

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Note 1

If somebody disrespects you, will you still respect them?

This question might be asked using the following grammar: If somebody disrespected you, would you still respect them?

Your answer should be expressed in the same grammar as the question, whichever grammatical form is used. Never use "would" to answer a "will" question, and never use "will" to answer a "would" question.

Note 2

Would you say people are more polite today than in the past?

Some native English speakers use, "politer" and "the politest" but most people use, "more polite" and "the most polite". I suggest you also use those two-word forms because some examiners might consider the one-word forms to be incorrect English.

Note 3

"Besides speeches, what are some other methods schoolchildren can learn?" That is how this question was reported. Here, "learn" means, "learn the lesson that the speech-giver was trying to convey", or "receive the message the speech-giver was trying to convey to the audience".

Note 4

What kinds of visitors give speeches at schools?

This is what was reported as a question. Obviously that question would only be suitable if you had previously answered "Yes" to the question, "Do schools in your country ever invite visitors to give a talk to their students?" If you had answered "No" or "I don't know" then a more suitable wording for the question would be, "What kinds of visitors do you think would be suitable to give speeches at schools?"

Note 5

What kind of people enjoy going to speeches?

This is what was reported as a question. But the word, "enjoy" is not very suitable in this situation because speeches are usually serious, not "joyous" or "giving people great joy or happiness". The real question is more likely to be simply, "What kind of people go to listen to speeches?" or, "What kind of people attend speeches?"

Note 6

Do you think it's useful to invite guests to give a talk (or, a speech) to children at school?

This question was reported as, "Do you think it's useful to invite guests to give speeches to children at school?" but I have changed the wording. I changed the wording because, in most cases, I think the examiner will actually use, "a talk", not "a speech" in this question.

In order to give good-quality answers to the questions under this topic, it is vital for you to know the difference between a speech and a talk. Schoolchildren, especially primary school children but even senior high school students, quickly become bored by listening to "speeches" and are much more receptive to listening to "a talk". If the examiner uses the word, "speech" or "speeches" in this question then he or she might be testing you to see if you know the difference between "a speech" and "a talk".

Note 7

Do you think it's good for students to listen to speeches given by criminals?

This is the wording that was reported as a question, and it is possible that the examiner actually used those words. But the real meaning here is "given by reformed criminals" or "given by former criminals", i.e., people who are no longer criminals.

In some Western countries, people who have served gaol (jail) terms for their crimes are sometimes invited to visit schools where the students are in danger of becoming criminals, such as schools in high crime-rate areas of cities. These former criminals then warn the students not to make the same mistakes that they made.

Note 8

Although I have grouped the questions for this Part 3 into three sub-topics, it is possible for an examiner to mix some of these questions under these topics.

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Let's look at some definitions.

The word, "holiday" could be replaced by the word, "vacation" for any of these questions. British English tends to use, "have a holiday" which means the same as the more American English, "take a vacation". However, some British English speakers and some American English speakers do use either form.

A "holiday" is similar to "a break" taken from work or school attendance, besides the usual two weekend days, which are not classified as "holidays". A "holiday" can even be a one-day public holiday. This break can be spent at home, without travelling anywhere.

To "go on holiday" means to spend your holiday away from home. There are two main forms of "going on a holiday".

One type of holiday spent away from home would be if you spend your holiday at one place such as a beach, either in your home country or abroad, without especially looking at new or different sights. You simply spend your time enjoying the new environment, swimming in the ocean etc.

The other type of holiday spent away from home involves a lot of travelling, as a "tourist". A tourist visits at least one place that is new or different in order to look at these different sights, and usually take some photographs. Some tourists might spend a whole month overseas travelling to various locations, for example visiting various parts of Europe. Essentially, they spend their holiday "travelling".

But it is also possible to be a tourist even when you are not on holiday. For example, if you spend just a Sunday or a weekend visiting another place in your home country (or abroad) as a tourist, then that one or two-day period is not really a "holiday", as I have already mentioned above. It's simply (time spent on) a short trip away from home for pleasure.