Page 60

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Aug. 3, 2011

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

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296. A Successful Person (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

297. An Advertisement (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

298. A Gift You Gave (4) (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

299. A Small Thing to Protect the Environment (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

300. A Broken Piece of Equipment (Sept. 4, 2010) (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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296. A Successful Person (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person you know who you think is successful. *

You should say:

who he or she is (or, who they are)

what they did (or, what they do)

how you know this person (or, how you know about this person) *

and explain why you think he or she is successful *

Notes

I think the first line includes the words, "you know". This means someone who you know personally, someone you have spoken to. Even if the first line doesn't say that, it would be safest to prepare for this. [In English, when we say, "I know Yao Ming" it can mean either, a) "I know him personally" or, b) "I know about Yao Ming" = "I know of Yao Ming".]
Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

Would you like to be as successful as him/her?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 77, Someone Who Does Something Well and Part 3 for Topic 271.

The Nature of Success

What do think the word, "success" means? FQ
(Similar to above) What does "success" mean to you? FQ
Why do people want to be successful? FQ
How do you think success can be measured (or judged; or confirmed)? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think a rich person is the same as a "successful" person? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think it's only associated with material success ( = money)? FQ
Do you think the criteria for (defining or judging) success might change in the future?
Do you think everyone who works hard will become a "success"?

Career versus Family Life

Why do some parents pressure their children to gain success?
Which do you think is more important, success in one's career or a happy family life?

Do you think career success can ever cause problems in one's personal life? (See Note)

Do you think it's important to have a balance between one's career and one's family life (or, personal life)?
How do you think a person could achieve a balance between (spending time on) success in their career and a happy family life? FQx2

Role Models

Why do you think people are interested in successful people?

(Similar to above) Why do you think people like to follow (be like, emulate) successful people?

What kinds of achievement are most admired in your country?

What kinds of personality (or, character) are most admired by people in your country?

Do you think it's important for children (and young people) to have role models?

Do young people and older people generally have the same role models? (See Note)

If someone has a role model who is from another country, do you think that affects their attitudes towards that country?

Celebrities/Famous People

What kinds of people are (or become) famous? FQ
(Similar to above) How (or why) do some people become famous?
Why do people idolize (or, why are people especially interested in/or, why are people so concerned about) these famous people? FQx2
Do you think that celebrities are happy?
Do you think that celebrities deserve to have their privacy? FQ (See Note)
How could a famous person (help) protect (or, maintain) their privacy?

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297. An Advertisement (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an advertisement that you think is successful. *

You should say:

what is advertised

what the advertisement contains (the contents of this advertisement) *

what kinds of people would be (or, are) interested in (or attracted to) this advertisement

and explain why you think this advertisement works well.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 65, Topic 121, Topic 170 and Topic 190.

The Nature of Advertising

What are some examples of places where we often see advertisements? FQx2
(Similar to above) Besides television, where we do people most often see advertisements?
(Similar to above) What types of advertisements do you have in your country?
What are some differences between these different types of advertisements?
In which of those places will the advertisements be seen by the largest number of people?
Do you think there are too many advertisements today?
Do you think advertisements are good or bad?
How do people feel about advertisements on television?
If so many people find television advertisements annoying, why do companies create them?
Why do companies spend so much money on advertising?
What do you think is the purpose of advertising?
What sorts of advertisements do people pay most attention to?
In what kind of medium do you think advertisements reach the largest number of people?
What do you think are the characteristics of all 'good' advertisements? (See Note)
Do you think advertisements really influence people's buying decisions?
Do you think it's fair that advertisements influence people this way?

Influence of Advertising on the Environment

Do you think advertisements (or, advertising) can ever have an impact on the environment?
What effects does excessive packaging and printed advertising have on the environment?

Celebrities in Advertisements Frequent Sub-Topic

Why do celebrities sometimes appear in advertisements?
Do you think advertisements that show celebrities are effective?
Do they get well-paid for doing that work? Do you think this (getting so well-paid) is reasonable?

Good-Looking People in Advertisements

Do you think it's important to make advertisements attractive to look at?
How about using attractive people in advertisements? Do you think that's a good idea?
(Similar to above) Why do you think many (most) advertisements use good-looking people (to promote the product or service)? FQx2
Do you think it's a positive thing for (almost all) advertisements to only show good-looking people?
Do you think these good-looking people (in the advertisements) actually use those products (or services) themselves?

Children and Advertising

Do you think it's good to have advertisements aimed at young children?
Do you think it's good (or, suitable) to have young children appearing in advertisements? FQ
What do you think is the result of using children in advertisements? *

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298. A Gift You Gave (4) (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a gift you gave to someone. *

You should say:

what the gift was

who you gave it to

why you gave it

and explain whether this person liked the gift or not.

Notes

Possibly the wording is, "Describe a gift you gave to a friend or a family member". But this is not confirmed. It might just say, "a gift you gave to someone" If that is the case, talking about a gift you gave to a family member is suitable. However, whenever a Part 2 specifies only the word, "friend" (and does not say, "friend or family member"), I suggest you never talk about a family member. If you use a family member as an example of a "friend", many examiners will think you are speaking a prepared (or memorized) answer.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you often give gifts?

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Part 3

See also Part 3 of Topic 221, Topic 233, Topic 160, Topic 85 and Topic 54

Gift Giving in Your Country

Do you think gift giving is important? FQ
Why do people give presents to other people?

What kinds of things do people give as gifts in your country?

What are the occasions (or, the circumstances) when people in your country give gifts? FQx2

(Similar to above) In your country, when do you usually give gifts? FQ

In your country, do people give special gifts on festive occasions (festivals)?

Do you think people should only give gifts on these special occasions?
(Similar to above) Do people only give gifts on these special occasions?
What do you think is better, giving or receiving a gift? FQx2
Where do people buy things to give as gifts?
Do they often buy gifts on the internet?
Are gifts from the internet of high quality?
Have you ever given someone a gift that you made yourself?
How do you think gift-giving might change in the future?

Choosing a Gift

Do you think it's difficult to choose gifts for people? FQx2
Why is it sometimes difficult to give people gifts?
For you, is it easier to give a gift or to receive a gift?
How do you choose a gift for someone? FQ
(Similar to above) How would you choose a gift for someone?
How would you choose a gift if you didn't know much about what the other person likes?
Do you think it’s easier to choose (or, buy) gifts for men or for women?
Do you think gifts for boys and girls (men and women) are (or, should be) different? FQ

Buying Gifts (esp. online)

Where do people usually buy gifts?
Do you think the internet is helpful for people when they want to buy a gift?
Do many people in your country buy gifts on the internet (= online)? FQ
What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of shopping online? FQ
Which do you think is easier, searching for a gift on the internet or in a shop?
How is the quality of the products that people buy on the internet?
How can people know the quality of what they are buying on the internet? FQ
(Similar to above) How can people be sure that of quality of what they buy on the internet? FQx2

Money and Gifts

Was that gift you gave (in your Part 2 answer) expensive?
Do you think it's important that gifts be expensive? FQ
Do you think that when someone receives a gift from a friend, they care about the financial value (the cost) of that gift? FQ
Do you think that the more expensive the gift, the better it is?
Which do you think is better, to give a gift or to give money and allow the other person to buy a gift for themselves?
How would you feel if you were given money as a gift, instead of a thing?
Is it a good idea (or, appropriate) just to give money to people (and let them choose to buy a gift for themselves)? FQx2
Why do people in China give money at the Spring Festival and at weddings?
Why do parents buy gifts for their children?
Do you think that sometimes parents buy gifts for their children to try to make up for not spending enough time with their children?

Charity

What do you think of charities?
Do people in your country place much importance on charities? *
Why do people donate money to charities? FQx2
Do you think people should [= have an obligation (or, responsibility) to] donate money to charities? FQ
Do you think a lack of financial accountability might be one reason why some people don't give to charities?
Do you agree that rich people should donate part of their wealth to charity?
Do you think the more developed countries have an obligation to (financially) help the less developed countries?
Have you ever donated to a charity? FQ
If you had a lot of money, what charity would you donate to? *
Do you think we will see more charities in the future, or fewer than we have now? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think there will be a greater need charities in the future? FQ

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299. A Small Thing to Protect the Environment (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a small thing that you, as an individual, could do to help the environment.

You should say:

what it would be

why you want to help the environment *

how you know about this *

how difficult or easy it would be *

and explain how you think this would help the environment. *

and explain how you would do it. *

Notes

The wording means, "Describe something that you don't do now, but that you could do, if you decided to do something to help the environment."
Someone has reported that the topic is, "Describe something that you usually do to help the environment." This is quite different to what is written above. I suggest you prepare for both possibilities.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 111 and Topic 180

See here for some notes on my personal opinion concerning the idea that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a dangerous pollutant that is causing global warming, which will become catastrophic in the future if humans continue to add carbon dioxide to the environment. I believe sulpher dioxide (SO2) is a much more dangerous pollutant. (Also spelt as "sulfur dioxide".) It is true that burning carbon-based fossil fuels produces pollution but I believe it is the other products of this burning (besides the CO2) , i.e., the particulates and the sulpher dioxide that are dangerous to our health. But, there are no "right" and "wrong" answers in this test - it's just a test of your English ability!

See also internet links here and some vocabulary here.

Environmental Problems

Do you think the environment today is different to the environment in the past? (E.g., 20 to 50 years ago or even 100 years ago.)

Do you think humans have damaged (or, are damaging) the environment?

In what ways do you think humans have harmed (or, are harming) the environment? FQ

What are the different kinds of pollution that exist in our environment?

Who do you think should bear most of the responsibility for improving the environment, government or individuals?

(Similar to above) Who is responsible for (causing) pollution of the environment? How did they cause this pollution? FQ

Is the (your) government in your country doing anything to try to improve the environment?

Can you give any other examples of how people (or governments) could improve the environment?

Do you feel protecting the environment should be a personal thing or should it be an issue that is best handled by the government?

Do you think you are doing enough to protect the environment?

Have you ever been involved with (group) activities to protect the environment?

Do you think people's attitudes towards protecting the environment will change in the future (e.g., 10 to 30 years)?

What do you think companies could do to improve the environment?

Wildlife (See Note)

Some examiners are using some of the questions from Topic 244 about the protection of wild animals.

In what ways do you think humans have harmed (or, are harming) the earth's wildlife?
Do you think the survival of some forms of wildlife is threatened?
Do you think we need to (or, should) protect wildlife?
Are wild animals protected (by law) in your country?
(Similar to above) Is wildlife protected (by law) in your country?
(Similar to above) What do people in your country do to protect wildlife?
What do you think the government should do to help protect wildlife? FQ
(Similar to above) What laws do you think should exist to protect wildlife? FQ
Are the attitudes of young people today towards this question different to attitudes in the past?
Do you think we humans will eventually be able to live in harmony with the wildlife ( = not cause the extinction of some wildlife)?

People's Lifestyles and the Environment

Do you think people really want to protect the environment (or, are really willing to protect the environment)?
What action are people willing to take in order to protect the environment?
Do you think there is any relationship between people's lifestyles and the environment? *
Do you think the lifestyles of individual people can have an effect on climate change?
Do you think that if people changed their lifestyles it would help improve the environment?
Do you think it is easy for people to change their lifestyle?
Do you think personal over-consumption van lead to harm to the environment?
Do you think people will change their lifestyles in the future (in response to the needs of the environment)?
What do you think are the chances that this will, in fact, happen?
Do you think (if the government wanted to change people's habits) it would be easy for people to change their lifestyles, such as using public transport instead of driving their own cars? FQ
How do you suggest this difficulty could be overcome?

Environmental Awareness

Do young people today and old(er) people have the same level of awareness (or, understanding) about environmental problems? FQ
How do you think awareness among older people could be increased?
Some people think that, as individuals, there's nothing much we can do. (They think that this is a problem for governments to tackle.) Do you agree?
How would you (or, how could a person) increase environmental awareness in a friend? FQ

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300. A Broken Thing at Home (Sept. 4, 2010) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an occasion when something at home broke down or stopped working. *

You should say:

what the equipment was

how badly it was broken (Or: how it was broken) *

how this affected your life

and explain how you handled this situation. *

and explain how you felt about this situation. *

Notes

Previously I wrote that the first line says, "Describe an occasion when a piece of equipment at home broke down or stopped working." I now believe it is more likely that the word "equipment" is not used but the best example of something breaking down is a piece of equipment. It is possible (but not certain) that the wording is, "Describe an occasion when a home appliance broke down or stopped working." "Home appliances" are electrically powered pieces of equipment and machines. If it just says, "piece of equipment", you don't have to choose electrical equipment.
Possibly it says, "at home or school".
I don't think a broken light bulb would be suitable but who knows, maybe it would be accepted by the examiner as a suitable example of equipment (but not an example of a home appliance).
See vocabulary lists here and here.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Have you ever repaired anything at home?

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Part 3

The Quality of Products

What are some examples of equipment (or, things) at home that most easily break (or, stop working)? FQx2
What are some of the reasons why (some) things break down?
Do you think that it is not so much a question of poor quality goods but a question of poor quality human input in the manufacturing process?
Do you think the quality of products (in your country) has improved, compared to the past, or has it deteriorated? (What are the reasons?) FQ
Can you give any examples of that?
Which would you prefer to buy, something that was cheap but not high quality or something that was high quality but expensive?

Second-hand Goods

Have you ever bought any second-hand things? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you ever buy second-hand things? FQ
Where can (or, do) people buy second-hand things?
Would you ever buy a second-hand car? FQ
How do you feel about buying second-hand things?
Is it common for people to buy second-hand things in your country? FQ
What are some examples of equipment (or, goods) that people can buy second-hand in your country? *
Why do some people buy second-hand things? FQx2
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of buying second-hand goods?

Buying Things Online Frequent sub-topic

How do you feel about buying things online?
Do you think the internet is useful when people want to sell something?
Why do you think people sell and buy second-hand goods on the internet? FQ
Do you think any of these sellers are cheating people?
How can you be sure of the quality of things you buy online?

Broken Things

How do people in your country deal with broken things at home? Do they just throw them away?
What would you do if something at home was broken?
What do you think is better when you have a broken electrical appliance, to throw it away or to give it to someone who will recycle it?
If you had something that was broken, would you prefer to fix it (or, get it fixed by someone) or to throw it way and buy a new one?

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