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Updated Jul 17, 2018

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 162

806. A TV Program (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

807. Something You Want to Do (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

808. A Sport You Like to Watch (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

809. A Website (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

810. A School Rule (Sep. 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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806. A TV Program (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a TV series or program you like to watch.

You should say:

what it is about

who the main characters are

when you first watched it

and explain why you like it

Notes

The words, "TV program" can mean, a) one episode of a program, such as the program that was shown on Tuesday, 29 May, 2018 or it can mean, b) the name of the program, such as "World of Wild Animals" that appears every Saturday night. For this Part 2 question the usage of the word, "series" indicates that the word "program" here means b), not one particular episode of a program.

A "series" is a "string" of things that are alike. A program "series" means a program that is shown for example every Sunday night for a period such as 6 months or longer.

It doesn't have to be a "drama" (or soap opera) series, or a program that continues a story line from program to program. That type of program with a continuing story-line is sometimes called a "serial", which is not the same as a "series". With a serial, if you miss one episode, you might not fully understand what is happening in the next episode.

I doubt that the words, "drama series" are written on the card. I think the words, "drama series" is an adaptation from the Chinese language but in English "drama" is just one type of program. Dramas are by definition, dramatic, are serious (unlike comedy shows), and are nearly always fictional. "Dramatic" means that the viewer's emotions are heightened, emotions such as excitement, fear and intrigue, strongly liking a character (e.g., the "good guy" or the hero) or strongly disliking another character, etc. Dramas include such genres as soap operas, police dramas, fictional (or semi-fictional) war programs, and fictional (or semi-fictional) historical dramas.

Any TV program that appears regularly (i.e., a series) would be suitable as your example here. It could be a drama series, a talk show, a comedy show, a documentary program, a news or business discussion program, a cooking program etc..

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also any relevant Part 3 questions at Topics 690, 594, 636, 520, Topic 494, 429, Topic 372, 274, 263, Topic 254, Topic 213, Topic 178 and 87

Television in Your Country
What kinds of programs do you have on TV in your country? FQ
What types of programs are the most popular?
Do young people and elderly people like to watch the same types of TV shows? FQ
Do young people today like watching educational programs?
Do you think many young people watch TV nowadays?
What do they like to watch?
Do you think computers might one day replace television sets?
Can you suggest why watching TV is a popular pastime all over the world? FQ
Would you say there are any negative aspects of watching TV?
Have TV programs in your country changed much over the past 20 or 30 years? FQ
(Not exactly the same as above) Has the television industry in your country changed much over the past 20 or 30 years? FQ
Why do TV programs change?
Are "reality" TV shows very popular in your country?
Are there any foreign TV programs that are popular in your country?
In what ways are foreign TV shows different to those made in your country?
(For Chinese candidates) Why are Korean soap operas (on TV) so popular in China? FQ
Who prefers watching soap operas, men or women?
Can you explain why some TV programs such as certain soap operas are popular all over the world? FQ
Do you like to watch shows that feature parent-child relationships?
What do you think of advertisements on TV?

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807. Something You Want to Do (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe something you want to do but have not done yet. (Not related to your study or work)*

You should say:

what it is

how long you have wanted to do it

how easy or difficult it will be to do it

and explain why you want to do this.

Notes

The first line might be, "Describe something you have always wanted to do but have not done yet." or, "Describe something you have long wanted to do but have not done yet."
Not many people have reported the words, "Not related to your study or work" but I think those words are probably included.
Topics 380, 609 & 344 are very close to this topic.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you believe you will do it one day?

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Part 3

See also any relevant Part 3 questions at Topics 380, 609, 344,

See also the Part 3 of Topic 22, Topic 97, Topic 217, Topic 360, Topic 441 & Topic 521

See also any relevant Part 3 question in the following topics that relate to "success": 571, 43, 109, 173, 296, 344, 379 & 595

Personal Goals

Do you think many young people today have a plan or gaols for their future?
Do you think it's important for young people to set (or, have) goals (or plans) for themselves? FQ
Are there any differences between the typical goals of young men and those of young women? FQ
What are some typical gaols that young people in your country have?
Do you agree that many young people attach too much importance to wealth when they set their goals?
Is making (a large amount of) money really that important?
How ambitious do you think young people should be?
Do you think a person can be successful without having any goals?
Do you think it's good for a young person to (frequently) change his or her goals? FQ
How do young people's goals change?
Do you think people's goals change as they grow older?
Can you suggest how parents could encourage their children to set goals? FQ
(Similar to above) Can you suggest how parents could help their children set goals? FQ
(Different to above) Can you suggest how parents could support their children in achieving their goals? FQ
Is it common in your country that young people ignore their parents' advice?
Do you think some parents tend to project their own goals on to their children without giving enough consideration to the needs and desires of their children?
What would you say are the differences between the goals of young people and the goals of old people? FQ See Note 1
Do you think the goals of modern people are more or less the same as the gaols that people had many years ago, or are there some major differences?

Ideas for Improving Society

In addition to having personal goals, how important is it for the younger generation to have goals (or plans or ideas) concerning the improvement of society?
What steps do you think the government should take in reducing poverty?
Should the government focus more on reducing poverty or on improving the literacy rate? See Note 2

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808. A Sport You Like to Watch (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a sport you enjoy watching.

You should say:

what it is

where you watch it

who you watch it with

and explain why you like watching it

Notes

It is best to talk about a sport that you watch quite frequently, not just a sport you like to watch when the Olympic Games, or similar events are broadcast on TV. However, if the Part 2 wording above is accurate, just describing your favourite Olympic Games sport would not be wrong.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Previous sports topics were:

757, 693, 611, 599, 572, 516, Topic 395, Topic 343, 265, Topic 209, 176, 144, 128, Topic 64 & Topic 6

Previous topics related to health and fitness: 717, 668, Topic 654, Topic 585, Topic 485, Topic 433, Topic 350, Topic 309, Topic 262 & Topic 184

Spectator Sports in Your Country

Would you say sport is important?
What are the benefits of sport?
What sports are most popular in your country? FQ
Why are those sports so popular?
Can you suggest why some people are not interested in watching sport?
Some people actually get upset by some sports. Can you suggest what sports they are?
Some people say that it's a waste of money for the government to builds sports stadiums . Do you agree?
Do people mostly go to a stadium or sportsground to watch the games, or do they mostly watch the games at home on TV and on the internet? FQ
In general, do older people like (to watch) the same sports as young people?
Some professional athletes receive enormous incomes. Do you think this is reasonable?
Would you agree that sport has become over-commercialized?

Sport and Exercise

Do you play any sports?

Did you like sport at school?

Would you say sport is important?

What are the benefits of sport

Would you say people in your country are good at sport?

What would you say are the main differences between indoor and outdoor sports?

What's the difference between men's and women's sports?

What's the difference between team sports and individual sports?

Do you do much exercise?

What are the benefits that people get from doing exercise?

Do people in your country like to exercise?

Can you suggest how the government could encourage people to exercise more? FQ

Sport and Children

Are children in your country very interested in sport?
What sports do they like?
Do parents in your country encourage their children to play a sport?

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809. A Website (May. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a useful website you have used.

You should say:

what it is about

when you first started using it

how easy it is to use (or, how you use it)

and explain why it is useful to you.

Notes

In the last line, the word, "helpful" might be used instead of "useful". They both mean the same thing, more or less.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Does your family also find that website to be useful?
Have you recommended that website to others?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 760, Topic 716, Topic 593, 475, 385 & 269, 114

Leisure-time Internet Usage

What do people do on the internet in their leisure time?
Would you say that different age groups tend to use the internet for different reasons (or, in different ways)?
Is the internet used much for entertainment?
Would you say the internet is mainly used for entertainment?
What do children do on the internet?
What are the benefits of children using the internet? FQ
Do you think children should use the internet for a long time?
Do you think it's good or bad for children to use the internet?
Does (or can) using the internet have any negative effects (or influences) on children?
Do you think parents should control (or, supervise) what their children do on the internet?
Do elderly people use the internet very much? *
Do you think more elderly people are using the internet today compared to, say 15 years ago?

Education Via the Internet

How do students learn (or, study) using the internet?
Do you think the internet is useful for educating children?
Do you think schools and teachers (as we know them today) will one day be replaced by the internet? FQ
What would you say are the benefits of studying in a school?
What are the advantages of "e-learning" or studying on the internet?
Do you think the internet is good for "distance education", when children live far away from a real school?
Do you think paper books will one day be replaced by e-books? FQ

Technology

How do you view people who don't use the internet (or don't use a computer) at all?
Can you suggest why they don't use the internet (or don't use a computer)?
What disadvantages do you think these people suffer as a result of not using he internet (or not using a computer)?
What developments in science and technology do you imagine occurring over the next few years?

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810. A School Rule (Sep. 2017) (Probably no longer used)

Copy of Topic 481

Describe a school rule that you have (or had) at your school.

You should say:

        what the rule is (or was)

        why this rule exists (or existed)

        if you agree or disagree with the rule

and explain what will happen if someone breaks the rule.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Is this rule still in use?
Do (or, did) your classmates feel the same as you about that rule?

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Part 3

See also 481. A School Rule. It looks like the Part 3 questions are more or less a repetition of those used previously.

Rules in General

What are some typical examples in your country of rules in the home?

School Rules

What are some other rules that (high) schools in your country have?
Do you think any of those rules are unreasonable (or, unsuitable)?
Can you explain why schools have rules? FQ
Do you think it's necessary for schools to have rules?
Do you think it's necessary for schools to have strict rules? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think some rules are too strict? FQ
Do you think schools should have more rules, or fewer rules than they have now? FQ
In general, would you say students like their school rules? FQ
Do the students' parents like the schools to have rules?
(Similar to above) Would you say school students and their parents have the same attitudes about school rules?
As far as you know, do different schools have different school rules?
(Similar to above) Are the same school rules used (or applied) in every school? See Note 3

What are some differences between rules in high school and in primary school? FQ

(Similar to above) What are some differences between rules in senior high school and in junior high school?

(Similar to above) What are some differences between rules in primary school and in university?

Is there a curfew for students who live in a dorm?

What rules should schools have for 16-18-year old students?

Can you explain why there are different rules for students of different ages? FQ

Do you think it's fair to have different rules for students of different ages?

In your opinion, how should rules in high school and in primary school be different?
Do you think the students should be involved when school rules are being formulated? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think schools should ask students their opinions before creating rules? FQ
What benefits would result from allowing students to be involved in formulating school rules? FQ
Are school rules today the same as school rules 20 or 30 years ago?
What's your opinion of those school students who break the rules?
What happens when students break rules (or, when students misbehave)? FQ
In your opinion, how should students be punished when they break a school rule?
Can you explain why some students don't like to follow school rules?
Can you suggest how school rules might change in the future?

Workplace Rules

Should companies (or, workplaces) have rules?
What kinds of rules should companies( or, workplaces) have?
In general, do workplaces have fixed times for the work day, or flexible work hours? FQ
Do you think workplace working hours should be fixed, or should they be flexible?
How do you suggest flexible working hours could be arranged?
(Similar to above) Who do you think should decide on (flexible) working hours, the company or the employees?
Should companies compel employees to work overtime? FQ
Can you suggest why some people like working overtime?
Do you think there should be a rule about the maximum number of hours employees work (per day, or per week)?
Do most workplaces (in your country) have a dress code?
What's your opinion of companies requiring their employees to wear a uniform? FQ

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Note 1

Pay careful attention to the examiner's exact words. If the examiner says, "old people" in this question, he or she means "people over about 60". If the examiner says, "older people" then the meaning is, "people who are no longer young", which is probably people over the age of about 30. You can clarify your answer yourself by quickly mentioning what age range you are talking about.

This question is most likely asking you to compare "young" and "old" because the contrast between those two is greater than between "young" and "older".

Note 2

All of the world's countries have a problem with poverty in society, some more than others. It is possible examiners vary that question for candidates from countries that have an almost 100% literacy rate. For example, the word, "education" might be used instead of "literacy". A question asking about literacy seems to be more suited for a candidate from a developing country, where literacy rates are not very high.

Note 3

Of course, some school rules in an all-girls high school would not be used in an all-boys high school, and vice versa.