Updated July 25, 2020
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 209
1051.
A Chance Meeting
1052. A
Mistake
1055.
Wasted Time
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
Describe a time when you were surprised to meet someone you know, such as a friend.
You should say:
where it was
what you were doing at the time (or, why you went there)
who you met
and explain
Notes
Some of the Part 3 questions here look like they are from Topic 1024. A Missed Appointment, hinting at the possibility that this is not a real, current Part 2 topic but was simply part of Part 3 for topic 1024.
Meeting by Chance
What are some other places where a person is likely to meet a friend by chance?
Setting a Time & Place to Meet See Note 1
Why is it best for people to contact each other in advance when they want to meet with a friend (or friends)?
Can you think of any situations when it is inconvenient for a person to visit a friend unannounced (= without giving notice that they are coming)?
Can you explain why people sometimes show up late for appointments (or, pre-arranged meetings)?
How do you prefer to contact friends, by a phone call or by sending a text message?
In what kind of situation do you think a person can be forgiven for being late for a meeting?
Describe a time when you made a mistake and you learnt from it.
You should say:
where it was
what you were doing
what mistake you made
and explain
Notes
As with all past tense Part 2 topics, you MUST include when it was. Therefore, it is unlikely that the words, "when it was" are written on the card.
Possibly this is a repeat of Topic 719
Mistakes in Childhood
What are the common mistakes that children make in their schoolwork?
Do you think these mistakes will disappear as they grow older, or will they continue throughout life, as habits?
What should parents do in response to these problems?
Mistakes in the Workplace
What should employers do when employees made mistakes?
Do you think employees should be penalized for their mistakes at work?
Do you think people who use technical devices (e.g., calculators) make mistakes less often than those who do things by hand?
Do you think people will be making fewer mistakes in the future?
Describe an elderly person who you find interesting to be with.
You should say:
who this person is
how you know them (= him/her )
what this person did when he/she was young
and explain why you find it interesting to be with the person.
Notes
Among several other reasons to find an old person interesting is the fact that old people can give you first-hand information about events and life in general in recent history (e.g., 30 to 70 years ago), information that might not be available in books or other kinds of records.
What kinds of things do you think old people can learn from teenagers?
What can children learn from their grandparents?
Do you think elderly people are happy being with their families?
What are the benefits of children spending time with their grandparents?
Would you say it’s hard for old people to communicate with young people?
How do you think the young and the elderly can get along with each other?
Why do you think young people who have jobs to do still need to communicate with (or, spend time with) the elderly people in their family?
Describe a person you are happy to know.
You should say:
who this person is
how long have known this person
what you usually do with this person
and explain why you are happy to know this person.
Happiness in General
What do you think are some of the differences between adults’ happiness and children’s happiness?
Happiness in the Workplace
Would you prefer to do a job with a low salary but one that brings you lots of happiness, or a boring job but with a high salary?
Can you suggest how a boss could make his or her employees happy (as happy as possible) at work？
Describe an occasion when you wasted your time.
You should say:
what you did
how much time you spent doing it
why you did it
and explain why you think it was a waste of time.
Saving & Wasting Time
Do you think pondering on something (= thinking deeply about something) is a waste of time?
A more formal way to say, "set a time and place to meet" is, "to make an appointment". The word, "appointment" is more suitable in a work setting, such as an appointment to see your doctor or an appointment for a job interview. When agreeing to meet a friend, "a meeting" is a more suitable word and "a date" is suitable when talking about meeting someone of the opposite sex when trying to establish a romantic relationship.