Updated May 1, 2020
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
986.
An Achievement You Celebrated
987.
A School
You Attended
988.
A Gift That
Took a Long Time to Choose
989.
A Picture or
Photograph at Home
990.
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
In the first line, even if the words, "of yours" are not included, it does mean your achievement, not someone else's.
It could be an achievement that that you jointly made, with others, as a member of group.
Although people do celebrate achievements (wins) when the football team etc. that they support wins a match, it's not a suitable example in the Part 2 because you did not contribute to the achievement, even if you feel the team, or sports cub is a group that you are a member of.
What are some of the major reasons why people celebrate?
Do they spend a lot of money on these celebrations?
Do people spend a lot of money celebrating (their own or their friends') birthdays?
In your opinion, is it necessary to spend money in order to make friends (or, maintain a friendship)?
Do people in your country spend much money celebrating birthdays?
Family Celebrations
How do people in your country celebrate family events?
Do you think that's
Can you explain why people in most countries celebrate some form of 'National Day'?
Do children and adults celebrate their birthdays the same way?
(Similar to above) Are birthday celebrations for children the same as those for adults?
Celebrating Achievements of Sports Teams (or clubs)
Can you explain why sports fan celebrate when their favourite team wins a game? FQ
Which do you think is more difficult, to compete in a team sport, or to compete in an individual sport?
Would you say most people
(Similar to above) Which do you think is more important,
personal achievements or achievements as a team
Describe a school that you attended during your childhood.
Notes
Westerners do not usually classify kindergartens as examples of "schools", even though modern kindergartens do strive to be educational places for the kids. Instead, kindergartens are still thought of more as "child minding centres".
If the card includes the word, "childhood" or "when you were a child", then strictly speaking a high school would also not be a suitable example because people are only "children" until about the age of 12 or 13. That leaves your primary school as the most obvious example to use.
However, it is possible to talk about an "after school school". Although most of these places are referred to as "training centres" in China, if such a place has classes of groups o students for such things as learning English, learning to play a musical instrument, learning ballet, learning a martial art such as judo or wushu, or if it is a 'coaching college" to help students with school subjects such as mathematics, it would probably be suitable to call it a "school". But you should say a few words to the examiner explaining why you consider it to be a "school".
An "online school" would probably not be suitable because you didn't physically "attend" the schhol.
See also Topic 555
Vocab and http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/vocabulary_lists_6.htm#89.%20Teachers
Schools in Your Country
What type of schools are there in your country?
Can everyone afford to go to private schools?
How has the education system in your country changed in recent years (or, the past 2 or 3 decades)? FQ
(Similar to above) What are the main differences in the education system now compared to the past?
Do you think studying online is a good development?
Teachers
Do you think
Do you think teachers should be serious?
Do you think
"fun" teachers are more helpful
What kinds of preparation do you think teachers might need to do before teaching a class?
Do you think teachers need to be trained in a professional way?
Computers at School
Do you think
Which do you use more, the internet or the library?
School Students
See also the many previous topics about a gift at Part 2 Complete List, especially Topic 637
Gifts
In your country, why do people give gifts to others?
(Similar to above)
Do you think the value of a gift is important? See Note 3
Do you think people prefer receiving practical gifts, or other kinds of gifts?
Do young and old people generally give the same kinds of gifts to others?
Can you explain why chocolates are such a popular gift?
On what occasions do people give chocolates as a gift?
See also
Topic 644 and previous topics about photos or pictures
Painting and Drawing
Do you think it’s useful for school children to have painting lessons in primary school or high school?
Do you think there are any benefits for adults to learn to paint or draw?
What (do you think) are the (most) famous (or most successful) artists drawing (or, painting) today?
(Possible question) What do you think an artist could draw/paint in order to become famous (or successful) today?
Photographs
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of taking photos using a mobile phone? FQ
(Similar to above)
Cameras
How would you compare modern cameras (or, today's cameras) with those of the past?
Do you think people will still be buying cameras in the future?
How do you think cameras will (or, might) develop in the future?
Notes
See the Part 1 topic,
The Sky
that was used from January to the end of September, 2019. Y
The word, "sky" is normally a non-count noun so, "a beautiful sky" sounds strange. But I will leave it as the topic title because it could be used in poetic language. Normally, it is, "the sky".
It is possible that the word, "beautiful' is not used in this Part 2 wording. Instead, it might be some other adjective such as "impressive" or "memorable." In fact, the wording might be something like, "Describe a time when you looked up in the sky and saw something special". If that is the wording, you could describe a spectacular flock of birds flying in the sky, which is actually describing something that is in the sky, not the sky itself.
In English we don't "watch" the sky because we "watch" moving things and the sky does not move (although clouds move). Instead, we say, look at" for things that are not moving.
The Stars and Planets
Can you explain why some people study the sky? See Note 2
(Similar to above)
Do you prefer to look at stars, or planets? See Note 1
Do you think it’s necessary for children to learn about the stars and/or planets?
Can you suggest why some people enjoy going to the cinema to watch films related to the stars or planets?
How much influence do you think the stars and planets have on people’s lives?
Most of the time, stars and planets
appear the same in the sky but skilled "sky-watchers" and, of course,
astronomers, know the difference.
The question might actually be, "Which are you more interested in, the stars or the planets?"
You could answer that you prefer to look at the moon, which is not a star or planet.
For a question that is worded that way, you could name and talk about climatology, meteorology, astrophysics and astronomy. There is also astronomy, which is not a science but the superstitious study of the stars and how it is claimed that the stars influence our lives.
When an English speaker says, "the value" of something, they usually mean, "the financial value" or "cost". But, when it concerns a gift, if the words, "financial value" are not specifically used, you could mention the "sentimental value" of a gift. Other kinds of "value" are "cultural value", "historical value", "educational value", "practical value" (= usefulness).