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Describe a piece of work you did quickly. *

        You should say:

                what work it was

                why you did it quickly

                how easy or difficult it was *

        and explain what the result was. *

Notes

• The wording might be, "Describe a piece of work you finished quickly".

• People do a task quickly for three reasons: a) they are in a hurry (because they are late); b) they are so good at doing the job (from practice) that they can do it fast; c) it is a situation that requires fast action, such as a life-threatening emergency. Or, it could be a combination of those.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic #4 and Topic #63

See some vocabulary

Working Fast

• What are some examples of work that needs to be done quickly?

• (Similar to above) What kinds of jobs need to be done quickly?

• What machines or equipment help people work faster?

• Do you think computers help people to work faster?

• Do you like working to a deadline?

• Do you think modern people are becoming stressed by the fast pace of modern life?

Efficiency

• Why do you think some people are more efficient than other people when they do a task?

• Can you suggest any methods (or ways) that a person could use to become more efficient?

Punctuality and Time Management

Punctuality

• Do you think punctuality is important?

• What are some examples of occasions when it's important to be on time?

• How would you feel if the person you were waiting to meet with was not on time (i.e., was late)?

• Do you think older people and younger people both have the same attitudes towards punctuality?

Time Management

• Do you think time management is important?

• Do you think it's necessary for people to manage their time well?

• Do you have any suggestions (or ideas) on how people can better manage their time? FQ

• (Similar to above) What method do you think is the most efficient for time management? FQ

• Do you think parents should try to teach their children about time management? (If yes, how?)

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229.  A Book You Read When You Were a Child (2) (Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a book you enjoyed reading when you were a child.

      You should say:

what book it was

what the book was about

who gave you this book

and explain why you enjoyed this book.

Notes

• This might be Topic 88 returning to the test, exactly the same as it was before. Alternatively, there might be some changes from Topic 88.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Did you read that book yourself or did someone read it to you?

• Do you still have that book?

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 88.

The questions below are those reported after Nov. 14, 2009.

Reading Tastes

• What are the attributes (the qualities) of people who especially like to read?

• Different kinds of people like to read different kinds of books. Can you give some examples of that? FQ

• Do people of different age groups all read the same things? FQ

• Do people of different age groups all use the same way to read things? (Computer/internet)

• What kinds of books do you like to read? FQ

• Do you think you will still like to read the same kinds of things when you are much older?

• What sorts of things do teenagers like to read?

• What sorts of things do elderly people like to read?

• Do you think people read more as they get older, or less?

• Why do adults read books for enjoyment?

• Why do men and women (often) choose to read different types of books?
• How could people be encouraged to read more?
• Have you ever read a book in English?
• Do you think reading books in English can help people learn the language?
• What do you think are the differences between reading a real book and reading a book online (or, an 'e-book')?

Libraries

• Do you think libraries are important?

• Does your hometown have a public library?

• What kinds of people use the public library?

• Do students in your country borrow books?

• Do you think the government should provide libraries for everyone to use, free of cost? FQ

• What do you think is the future of libraries now that we have the internet?

Children's Books

• As well as typical (academic) school books, do you think children should also read books simply for entertainment (or, enjoyment)?
• Are there many children's books written in China?
• If you were buying a book for a child, how would you choose what book to buy?
• What kind of books (or, what kinds of stories) are most popular with children in China?
• (Similar to above) What kind of books (or, what kinds of stories) do children like?
• (Similar to above) What kinds of books are (young) children most attracted to? FQx2
• What books did you like in your childhood?

• How do books influence children?

• Why do you think children like books?

• Which do you think is better, to give a child a book to read or to read the book to him or her?  FQ

• What are the benefits of parents reading bed-time stories to their children? FQ

Children Learning to Read

• Do you think children nowadays like to read?

• Do you think it is necessary for children to read?

• What benefits can reading bring to children?

• Do you think reading can help children develop their imagination?

• What role (what importance) does reading play in the lives of children?

• (Similar to above) What effects do you think childhood reading will have on the future of that child? FQ

• Do you think we should force children to read?
• Do you think we should encourage children to read?
• Do you think it's a good idea for children to start learning how to read before they start school?
• Do you think parents are capable of teaching their pre-school children how to read?

• What do you think is a suitable age for children to start to learn to read? FQx2

• At what age do children in China start to learn to read?

• Do parents in China encourage their children to read?

• Do you think children themselves choose to read things, (without any suggestions or encouragement from their parents)?

• How do you think children could be encouraged to read more?  FQx2

• (Similar to above) Can you think of any ways to motivate (or, stimulate) children to read more? FQx2

• Do you think children who like computers could be encouraged to read on the computer?

The Future of Books

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230.  Your Favourite Subject at School (2) (Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Version A

Describe your favourite subject at school. *

                            You should say:

                                           what the subject was *

                                           how long you liked (or studied) this subject *

                                           how the teacher taught this subject

                            and explain why you liked it.

Version B

Describe your favourite subject at school. *

                            You should say:

                                           what the subject is (or, was) *

                                           how long you have liked (or studied) this subject *

                                           how the teacher teaches (or, taught) this subject

                            and explain why you like (or liked) it.

Notes:

• This means a "high school" subject. In British English, university is not called "school", although Americans sometimes say that.

• Possibly the card says, "at school or university", but I don't think so.

• Most people report this as a past tense question. Having a choice such as "is (or, was)" seems a little too complex for Part 2 wording. (The test writers try to make the Part 2 wording rather simple.) So, I think Version A is the most likely wording and this card is probably only given to candidates who have already finished high school.

• This might be Topic 18 or Topic 36 returning to the test exactly as before or there might be some changes compared to before.

• The verb tense is probably flexible, allowing for both current high school students and those who have finished high school to speak on this topic.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you still like this subject? (Or: Are you still interested in this subject?)

• Did your friends also like that subject?

• Is that a popular subject in your country?

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See also Part 3 for Topic 18, Topic 36 (and Topic 89).

The questions below are those questions reported after Nov. 14, 2009

Part 3

School Subjects

• What subjects are most popular in high school in your country? (Why?) FQx2

• Do you think it's better for high school students to specialize in one area or to study a broad range of subjects?

• Do boys and girls like the same subjects?

• Why do you think boys and girls seem to prefer different subjects?

• Who do you think are more intelligent, boys or girls?

• (Following from the question above) So why do you think the majority of company managers are men?

Education in Your Country

• What's your opinion about (high school) education nowadays?

• How are the educational facilities in your country (in high schools)?

• Do you think the facilities are adequate?

• How has education in your country changed in the past few years (e.g., 10 to 30 years)? FQ

• (Similar to above) Have there been any changes in teaching equipment (or teaching methods) in schools in the past few decades? FQ

• Would you prefer teachers to use modern technology such as computers and the internet in a classroom setting or on the internet?

• What are some differences between university education and high school education? FQx2

• What factors do people consider when they are choosing which university to attend (= to go to)? FQx2

• (Similar to above) How do people (in your country) decide what university to go to?

• What are the different sources of knowledge that people can use for learning new things?

• After finishing high school, how do you think a person could best prepare him or herself for university?

Teachers

See note

• What do you think of teaching, as a profession (or, as a job)? FQ

• In general what would you say are the functions of a teacher?

• Do you think teaching is a difficult job?

• Do teachers have very high social status in your country?

• Are there any differences between male and female teachers?

• Who do you think are better, young teachers or old teachers?

• How does a teacher become a specialist in his or her subject?

• What's the best thing you remember about your teachers?

• How do you think a teacher should deal with low-achieving students?

• Can you suggest any ways a teacher could help a student to study a subject that they are not very interested in?

• What sort of relationship do you think teachers and students should have?

Good and Bad Teachers

• What do you think a teacher should pay attention to, in order to improve the quality of the students' learning?

• What do you think teachers could do to make their classes more interesting?

• What is the relationship between a teacher and his or her students?

• What are the qualities of (= characteristics of) a good teacher?  FQx2

• How can we judge what is a bad teacher?

• Compare the qualities of a good teacher with the qualities of a bad teacher. FQ

• In what ways does a good teacher have an effect on the students? FQ

• In what ways does a bad teacher have an effect on the students? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What are some of the possible effects (results) a bad teacher might have on his or her students? FQx2

• What can students do if they have a bad teacher?

Study Methods and Styles; Learning for Different Age Groups

Notes:

- It is not clear if the word, "learn" or the word, "study" is used for some of the following questions.

- See here for the difference between "learn" and "study"

• What do you think are the characteristics of a good learner (a good student)?

• How can we judge who is a bad student?

• In what ways do you think high school and university study are different?

• How do people choose what to study in university? (what factors?) FQ

• Do you think it's a good idea for high school students to be given guidance on what careers to choose after school (or, on what to study in university)?

• How do you think university education could be improved?

• Do you think critical thinking is an important part of learning?

• Do you think schools should teach (or, promote) critical thinking? 

• Do you think people are born to be good or bad at learning, or do you think people can be taught how to learn?

• Why do you think different people have different learning styles?

• Which do you think is better, studying alone or studying in a group? (Why?) FQx2

• (Similar to above) Why do some people like to study in a group, while other people prefer to study alone? FQ

• What do you think are the pros and cons of studying in a class (or school) compared to self-studying at home?

• Do you think that very intelligent students and students who are not very intelligent should study together (= should be in the same class)?

Age and Learning

• Do you think students (at school) of different ages should all study the same things?

• Do people of different ages all learn the same things? FQ

• (Similar to above) In general, do children and adults learn the same things?

• Do you think people of different ages learn in the same way? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think young people and older people learn in the same way? FQ See Note

• (Similar to above) Do you think young people learn better than old people? FQ

• Do you think there is any age limit to learning?

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