Updated Oct. 25, 2010
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 47
231. A Special Meal (2) (Oct 31, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
232. An Old Person You Know (Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
233. A Person who Visited your Home (2) (Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
234. Something You Made Yourself (2) (Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
235. A City you have Visited or Lived In (2) (Oct 31, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably in the examiner's question book
***********************************************************************
Describe a special (or, memorable) meal or dinner you had.
You should say:
what you ate
where you had this meal
who you ate with
and explain why this was a special meal to you.
Notes
This looks like Topic 80, returning to the test. But there might be some changes between this new topic and Topic 80.
Even if the task card does not tell you to say when you had this meal, you must say when you had it because it is a past tense question, requiring a past tense answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible follow-up questions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
See also Part 3 for Topic 80
The questions below are those reported after Nov. 14, 2009
Cooking & Eating
Eating
What do people in China usually eat?
(Similar to above) What would you say is the "national food" of China?
Have there been any changes in the eating habits of Chinese people in the past 20 or 30 years?
Do people in your country generally choose to cook at home or to eat in restaurants?
How important do you think it is for families (family members) to eat together? FQ
Do you think the fact that people today eat together as a family less than they used to has any results on society as a whole?
(Similar to above) What do you think are (or, might be) the results of people not eating together as a family very often?
Cooking
Do you think cooking is important? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think knowing how to cook is important? FQ
How do people learn to cook?
Do you think it's good for children (or, young people) to know/to learn how to cook? (Why?/Why not?) FQ
If you were a parent, would you encourage your child to learn to cook?
If you were teaching a child how to cook, what would be the most important thing for you to pat attention to?
What do you think is the most suitable age for school students (or, people) to learn how to cook?
Do you think there should be cooking classes in school? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think schools should teach skills such as cooking and sewing?
What do you think would be the advantages of having cooking classes in school? FQ
If fewer and fewer people learned how to cook, what do you the effects on society would be (or, might be)?
Buying Food
In general, what food do people in China buy when they go shopping for food?
Where do people buy this food?
(Similar to above) What are the different places where people can go to buy food? FQ
Do people in China go shopping for food every day?
What are the differences between supermarkets and traditional food markets in China?
Why do some people prefer to buy their food in small shops?
Who prefers (what kinds of people prefer) to shop in supermarkets?
Why do you think supermarkets are becoming more popular in China? FQ
When did supermarkets start to become popular in China? FQ
Do you think there is anything negative about supermarkets (or, about the growth in the number of supermarkets)? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think the growing number of supermarkets will have any negative effects on society? FQx2
What do you think will happen to the small food shops if a supermarket opens nearby?
Learning about Nutrition
What do you think the government could (or, can )do to educate people about healthy eating? FQ
(Similar to above) What do you think the government could (or, can ) do to encourage people to eat healthy food? FQ
Do you think it's important for children to learn about nutrition?
***********************************************************************
Describe an old person you know (or have known in the past).
You should say
who this person is
how you know this person (or, when you first met him or her)
what influence this person has had on you *
what sort of person he or she is *
and explain how you feel about this person.
Notes
The words, "you know" mean, "someone who you personally know", i.e., someone who you have personally spoken to.
Possibly the wording is "Describe an old person you know who has influenced you" and, "explain how this person influenced you".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible follow-up questions:
Do you often see him/her?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
Notes
As an approximation, I would say "old people" are 60 years old and above. "Older people" = "not young people" = people aged about 30 to 60 but could also include "old people". "Young people" = people aged 13 to 30. "Children" = 3 to 12 years old.
It might be a good idea for you to specify what ages you mean when you talk about "old people".
Also see the Part 3 questions for Topic 34, Topic 83 and Topic 157.
The questions below are those that have been reported after Nov. 14, 2009.
Attitudes Towards Old People
Do you often meet old people in your daily life?
Nowadays, what role do old people play in the family? FQx2
What would you say is the status of old people today in China?
Do people in China respect the elderly very much?
When the old people in your family have something to say, do you listen to them?
Are the attitudes of young people today towards old people the same as the way young people's attitudes in the past? FQx2
(Similar to above) Has the status of the elderly (or the respect for the elderly) in China changed at all in the past few decades? FQ
(Similar to above) Do young people (or, children) today have the same degree of respect for the elderly as young people did in the past? FQ
Why do you think some people don't respect old people today as much as people did before?
In the past few years (20 or 30 years), have there been any changes in the way people view living with older family members? (i.e., parents/grandparents)
Do you think there is a "generation gap" between young people and older people? (Why does this gap exist?)
In what ways have people's attitudes towards old people not changed?
Do you think the status of old people will change in the future? (See note)
Work and Retirement for Old People Frequent Topic
Work
Do old people in your country need to work? FQ
Do you think old people should work? FQ
Do you think it's good for old people to work?
Do you think it's easy for old people, after they have retired, to find work again if they want to?
What difficulties do old people have when they try to find work?
In your country, is there any discrimination against old people if they are applying for a job?
What are the benefits (both for the employee and the employer) of hiring older (or old) people for some jobs? FQ
(Similar to above) What are the benefits for society of having older (or old) people for some jobs? FQ
Are there any disadvantages to having old people working?
What are the advantages of hiring a young person for a job?
What work do you think is suitable for old people to do?
Can you suggest how old people could find work (that is suitable for them)? FQ
Retirement
At what age do people in your country retire from work?
Do you think that is a suitable age for retirement?
Do you think there should be a set age at which people must retire from work? FQx2
Do you think there would be any advantages to extending the retirement age? (I.e., allowing people to work longer than they do now.)
After retirement, how do you think life for old people is different to life for younger people? FQ
(Similar to above) After retirement, how do you think life for old people changes? FQ
The Social and Economic Impact of Old People in the Community
Do you think old people are important (or, useful; or valuable) to society?
Some old people feel that they are not much use to society after they retire. Can you suggest any ways to help these old people feel that they are not useless?
What do you think are the results on society of having many old people in the community? FQ
(Similar to above) What is (or, what will be) the effect of the growing number of old people in society? FQ
What is the economic impact on society of (having many) old people? FQ
(Similar to above) If society had more retired old people than people of working age, how would that affect (the economy of) society?
Do you think old people are still capable of contributing towards the economy?
Who do you think should take care of old people, families or the government?
In what ways do old people need help?
How can we help them?
Some old people are very lonely. Can you suggest any ways to help them feel less lonely?
233. A Person
who Visited your Home (2)
(Nov 14, 2009) (Probably no longer used)
***********************************************************************
You should say:
who the person was
why they visited your home
what you and this visitor did together
and explain why you enjoyed the visit.
Notes
Whenever you use the past tense, you must say when it happened.
This topic is probably Topic 138 (which is shown above), returning to the test, the same as it was before or with some changes.
Someone has reported the topic as, "Describe a pleasant visit by a person to your home" and, "explain why this was a pleasant visit".
Another person has reported that the wording is, "Describe a person who recently visited you." "Recently" can mean within the past few months, not just within the past few days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible follow-up questions:
Are you going to invite this person to visit again?
Would you like to visit him/her at his/her home?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
Also see the Part 3 questions for Topic 138 and Topic 44.
The questions below are those that have been reported after Nov. 14, 2009.
Visiting Customs in Your Country
How do people in China welcome visitors to their homes? FQx2
(Similar to above) How do people in China make visitors to their home feel welcome? FQx2
(Similar to above) How do people in China make visitors to their home feel comfortable? FQx2
(Similar to above) If a friend was (or, were) visiting you at home, how would you make them feel comfortable? FQx2
In China, when someone is a guest in another person's house, in what ways should he or she express their respect to the host?
Should the guest offer help to the host?
In China, when you have visitors, do you usually eat at home or outside the home (at a restaurant)?
How do people entertain guests at home?
In China, what do people generally do when they visit each other?
What do they talk about?
(Similar to above) What do you talk about when you visit someone?
In China, when people invite someone to visit, what preparations do they do before the guest arrives (or, guests arrive)?
At Spring Festival time, do parents ever go to see their children at the children's home or do the children always go to the parents' home? (Why?)
Differences
Do people in China treat different kinds of visitors in different ways? FQ
(Similar to above) Is there much difference when a friend visits compared to when another guest, who is not a close friend, visits? FQ
Is there much difference between having relatives visit and having friends visit? FQx2
(Similar to above) Is there much difference between visiting relatives and visiting friends? FQx2
Do you prefer to visit young people or older (or, old) people?
Similar to above) Would you prefer to visit young people or older (or, old) people?
Gifts When Visiting Someone
In your country, when people visit others, do they usually bring anything (as a gift) to give to their host? FQx2
What sorts of things do they bring as gifts?
If a guest doesn't bring a gift, will they be treated differently by the person they are visiting?
Are there any gifts that have special significance in your culture?
Can you think of anything that people in your culture should not bring as a gift when they visit someone?
What would you take as a gift if you were visiting someone?
What sort of gift would you like someone to bring if they were visiting you?
When people visit their parents at Spring Festival time, do they bring gifts for their parents?
Do you think it's (always) necessary to bring a gift when you are a guest?
Foreign Visitors
How would you welcome a foreigner who was visiting your home (or, who was visiting China)? FQx2
What sorts of things do you need to pay attention to if you have foreigners visiting your home?
And what do you think a foreign guest needs to pay attention to when visiting someone's home in your country? FQ
(Similar to above) What would you suggest foreigners do if they want to understand the culture of your country? FQ
Do you think knowing cultural differences is important?
Do people in China feel that having a foreign guest in their home is special?
In general, what sorts of places do visitors to a foreign country (i.e., tourists) like to go to?
What sorts of places do visitors to China (i.e., tourists) like to go to?
What are the benefits of doing abroad to study?
Why do you think international events such as the Olympics are held?
***********************************************************************
Describe something you made yourself (either alone or with others) *
You should say:
what it was
where (and when) you made it
how you made it *
what you needed to make it (e.g.,
and explain why you made it yourself. *
or
Notes
This is probably Topic 76 (shown above) returning to the test, the same as it was before or with some changes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible follow-up questions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3
Also see the Part 3 questions for Topic 76.
The questions below are those that have been reported after Nov. 14, 2009.
Making/Doing Things Yourself
Nowadays, do many people make things themselves? (Why not?)
(Similar to above) In China, do many people make things themselves? (This means make things at home, not in a factory) FQ
(Similar to above) In China, do many people do things themselves, such as repairs to the home, painting the walls of their home etc.?
What sorts of things do people (in China) like to make themselves?
What sorts of people make things for themselves, rather than buy these things?
What are some reasons why (some) people make things themselves? FQx2
(Similar to above) Why do many people prefer to have something that they have made themselves? FQx2
(Similar to above but different!) What are the reasons why (some) people make handicrafts? FQx2
(Similar to above) Why do some people like doing arts and crafts? FQx2
(Similar to above, but different) Why do some people make things themselves, instead of buy them? (Not necessarily making "handicrafts" but possibly making everyday items such as furniture or clothes.)
What kinds of people like to make things themselves? (= what personality types)
In order to make something, what qualities (and skills) does a person need to have? FQx2 See Note
Where (or, how) do people learn these skills?
Which group do you think prefers to make (or, do) things using their hands, men or women? FQ
(Similar to above) Which group is better at making things by hand, men or women? FQx2
Can you think of any examples of things that almost everybody makes themselves?
Can you think of any examples of things that almost everybody does by hand?
When you are old (or, "older" = middle-aged), do you think you will be making your own things more than you do now, or less?
For old people, what are the benefits of making things yourself?
Hand-Made and Factory-Made Products
In general, do people prefer to buy hand-made or factory-made things?
Where can (or, do) people buy hand-made products?
Would you like to buy a hand-made product?
Who do you think buys hand-made products?
What are some differences between hand-made things and things made by machine? FQx2 See Note
(Similar to above) What are some differences between personally hand-made things (= something the owner of the item made himself or herself) and mass-produced things? FQx2
Do you think there are any differences concerning the quality of hand-made and factory-made products? FQx2
Why do you think hand-made things and mass-produced things are different?
Why do people tend to buy mass-produced products more than hand-made products?
In what circumstances are hand-made items more popular than factory-made items?
Which do you think is a better gift, something hand-made or something bought in a shop?
Mass Production (industrial production)
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of mass production?
Do you think globalization has influenced mass production (in your country)? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think globalization has affected industry (in your country)? FQ
What do you think are the effects on people's lives (or, the effects on society) of the mass production of products ?
What do you think are some of the results of modern factories using high technology? (Hint: less employment)
Traditional Handicrafts
What are some examples of traditional handicrafts in your country?
Do you think it's important to preserve the skills of making traditional handicrafts?
Can you suggest any ways to encourage more people to take an interest in making traditional Chinese handicrafts?
Arts and Crafts
(These questions seem similar to the questions for the "hobby" topic, Topic 276.)
Tell me about artists and arts and crafts in your country.
Why do people find hobbies interesting?
What benefits do they get from these hobbies?
What skills are needed when someone engages in a hobby?
***********************************************************************
Describe a city you visited or
lived in.
You should say:
when you visited
(or lived) there
why you went there (or why you lived there)
what interesting places
this city or town had
which time of the year is best for visiting this place
and explain how you felt in that city. Notes This seems similar to, or
exactly the same as
It is not certain that the word "interesting" is
included in the wording. Obviously, this does not include
your hometown because it is more appropriate to say you "grew up" in your
hometown, not simply "lived in" your hometown.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possible follow-up questions:
Was that a very expensive trip?
Would you like to return to and settle in that
city?
Would you prefer to live there, rather than
where you are living now?
Do many people live in that city?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3 Also
see the Part 3 questions for
The
questions below are those that have been reported after Nov. 14, 2009.
City Living
Living in Large Cities
Among all the cities you've been to, which is your favourite?
Which one do you think would be the best place to live in?
Do you think it's expensive to live in a big city?
FQ
Why do many people want to live in a big city?
What's the difference between living in a city and living in the
countryside?
FQ
(Similar to above)
Which place do you think is the more livable place to live, the city or the
countryside?
FQ
(Similar to above)
Compare the lifestyle of living in a city with that of living in the
countryside?
FQ
Are there any advantages to living in the countryside?
Which place is more beautiful, a city or the countryside?
Do you think a city could ever be more beautiful than the countryside?
Which do you think is the more relaxing place to live, the city or the
countryside?
What are the most important things that make a city worth living in?
FQx2
(Similar to above) What makes a city a comfortable place for people to live in?
FQx2
Do you think the facilities in the city are important?
What recreational facilities do you think are important for a city to have?
FQx2
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a large
city?
FQ
Compare living in a large city to living in a village.
FQ
The People
Are the people who live in small places the same as the people who live in
big cities?
Do people who live in big cities and people who live in smaller communities
have the same kinds of interpersonal relations with others?
FQ
Compare how people who live in cities, as opposed
to how people who live in a rural environment, entertain themselves.
Health and other Problems with City Living
Do you think cities are healthy places to live in?
FQx2
(Similar to above)
Do you think there are any possible health problems that could arise from
living in a large city?
FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think people who are living in big cities are
living a healthy life?
FQx2
What should (or could) governments do to reduce the air pollution in big
cities?
What should (or could) governments do to reduce the number of cars in big
cities?
How do suggest people who live in big cities can stay healthy?
Why do you think some cities are so crowded?
What do you suggest could be done to help alleviate this problem? If you were planning a new city, what factors would you consider? (Similar to above) If you were planning a new city, what ideas would you
include in your plan?
Age and City Living
Do you think it's good for a child to live in a city?
Do you think cities are the best places to live for people of all ages?
What do you think is the best time of one's life (the best age) to live in a city? (Why?)
FQx2 What kinds of places do young people prefer to live in?
(E.g., city or rural environment?)
Noises/Sounds
Would you say that cities are noisy places?
Compare the sounds that you hear in the city with what you can hear in the
countryside. FQ
Can you suggest any ways that we could reduce the noise in the cities?
Cultural Facilities in Cities
Does your city have any museums?
How are these museums financed?
Do you think it's very important for a city to have such facilities as
museums and exhibitions?
Entertainment Facilities What entertainment facilities does your (town or) city have?
Facilities for Relaxing (or leisure) What facilities does your (town or) city have
for relaxing (or leisure)?
Traveling / Tourism
What kind of
things should a city have to make visitors feel more comfortable?
What is it
that makes you feel at home when you’re away from home?
Which do you think is better, to travel alone or with a friend?
***********************************************************************