Page 63

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Oct. 24, 2011

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 63

311. A Child You Know (2) (Jan. 22, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

312. A Place Near Water (3) (Jan. 8, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

313. A Peaceful Place (Jan. 8, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

314. A School or University Building (Feb. 12, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

315. The Oldest Person You Know (2) (Jan. 8, 2011) (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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311. A Child You Know (2) (Jan. 22, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a child you know.

You should say:

how you know him or her (or, how long you have known him/her)

what he or she likes to do

what he or she looks like

what kind of person he/she is (= what his/her personality is like)

and explain how you feel about this child. *

and explain what relationship you have with this child. *

Notes

This topic seems similar to Topic 40.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you spend much time with him/her?
Do you know other children of that age?
Do you often spend time with children?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 40

Children's Play - Indoors and Outdoors

"Children" = 4 to 12 years of age

For this topic, "young people" = 13 to about 20 years of age

Is there any difference between the way children play today and the way children used to play, in the past?
Which do you think is better (for the development of) children, indoor activities or outdoor activities? FQx2
(Similar to above) Which do you think is better for children, to spend time indoors or spend time outdoors? FQx2
What benefits are there for children (and/or young people) in playing sport?
Do you think children today should do more more physical exercise?
What sports do you think are most suitable for children?
How do you think indoor games affect the development of children?
What about outdoor activities (or, games)? How do they affect the development of children?
How important do you think it is that young children's play allows them to get some physical exercise (such as running around outside)?

Do you think computer games (and/or hand-held electronic games and /or online computer games) are good for children? FQx2

Do you think watching TV is good for children?

Do you think it's important for children to learn to co-operate with other children?

Family Life

Which do you think is better, having (or being part of) a big family or a small family? FQx2
Please compare the benefits of the nuclear family as opposed to an extended family?
Do you think family planning is good?
Do you think it would be a good idea to have classes that parents could attend to learn how to be good parents?

Old People Taking Care of Children

What role do grandparents (old people) play in the family nowadays?
In your country, do grandparents play much of a role in the education of their grandchildren?
In China today has the role of parents changed, compared to the past?
(Similar to above) In China today is the way parents bring up their young children different to the past?
Do you think it's good for old people to look after young children (their grandchildren)? FQx2

(Similar to above) Do you think it's a good idea for old people to take care of (young) children?

Do you think old people should have to (= have a duty to) take care of their young grandchildren?

(Similar to above) Is it fair to ask old people to do that? FQ

What are some reasons why old people sometimes (have to) take care of young children?

In what ways are grandparents different to the parents when they look after their grandchildren?

Why does someone need to look after young children?

Children's Education

Which do you think is most important for a child's education, family, friends or school?
(Similar to above) Where do you think children learn more, at home or at school? FQ
What types of books do children like?
Do you think parents should read adult books to their children?

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312. A Place Near Water (3) (Jan. 8, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a place near water (such as a river, a lake or the ocean) that you enjoyed visiting when you were a child.

You should say:

where this place was

what you did at this place

who you went there with

and explain why you liked this place. *

and explain what you liked or disliked about this place. *

See also, Notes

This topic seems similar to Topics 140 and 207 (which were the same, I think) but this new topic seems to emphasize "when you were a child". (A "child" is under 13 years old.)

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Possible follow-up questions:

Would you like to go there again?
(Similar but different) Would you go there again? ( = Would you go there again if you had the chance to do so?)

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topics 140 and 207

The Ocean

Do you think oceans are important? FQ
What benefits do the oceans bring to people?
What is the importance of the ocean to your country?
Do you think the oceans should be protected? (Why?) FQ
How do you think we could protect the ocean environment? FQ
Do you think the world should work together to protect the oceans? FQ
How do you suggest that could be done?
Do you think it's important to have international treaties protecting the oceans? (Why?)

Living Near Water

What rivers do you have in your country?
In general, do you think people like to live near water? (Why?) FQx2
(Similar to above) Why do some people like to live near water? FQx2
What benefits do they get from living near water?
(Similar to above) Would you like to live near water, for example, near a river or the ocean?
Do you think it's safe to live near water?
What activities do people do when they go to places with a lot of water?
What's the difference between swimming in a swimming pool and swimming at the beach?
Do you enjoy being close to the ocean?
(Similar to above) Would you like to live near the ocean? FQ
(Similar to above) Would you like to live in a coastal city?
Are there any (possible) disadvantages (or dangers) to living at the seaside? FQx2
(Similar to above) Are there any possible disadvantages to living in a coastal city? FQ
Do you think climate change will have an effect on people's desire to live at the seaside?
(Similar to above) How do you think climate change (or, global warming) will effect oceans?

Water Usage

Do you think water is very important? FQ

What do humans use water for? FQ (See Note)

(Similar to above) How is water used in cities?
What are the sources of pollution in rivers, lakes and the ocean?
What sorts of work do people who live near water do? (work connected with the water)

Water Transportation (incl. Shipping Cargo)

In general, what do people use ships and different forms of boats (i.e., water transportation) for? FQ

Traveling Across Water

Do you travel very much over water?
In general, how do people travel across water? FQ
Do you think people like travelling on ships (or boats)?
(Similar to above) Do many people in your country today like traveling on ships (or boats)? FQ
(Similar to above) Do many people in your country often travel on ships (or boats)?
Did people in the past use water transport more than today, or did they use it less?
Is water transportation today the same as it used to be in the past? FQ
Do you think it's safe to travel across water (or, travel on a ship/on a boat)? FQx2

(Similar to above) Do you think it's safer to travel on a ship/on a boat than to use some other form of transport? FQx2

What do you imagine the future of water transport might be like?
Which do you think is better, to travel by ship or by plane? FQ
(Similar to above) What are the differences between traveling by boat (or ship) and traveling by plane? FQ
Some people choose to travel by ship. Can you suggest any reasons why they make that choice?

Shipping Cargo

Why is cargo sometimes transported by ship (for example, internationally) and not by plane (or some other means)? FQ
(Similar to above) When shipping goods internationally, which do you think is better, to send the goods by ship or by plane? FQ
Which do you think is better when transporting goods on land, to send the goods by ship or to use a train or truck? FQ

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313. A Peaceful Place (Jan. 8, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a peaceful (= quiet) place that you like to go to.

You should say:

where it is

how often you go there

what you do there

and explain why you like this place.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Would you recommend that place to other people? *
(Or) Have you recommended that place to other people? *

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 282

Noise in Cities

Is there much noise around your home? FQx2
Does this noise effect you in any way? FQx2
What are the sources of noise in (large) cities?
Do you think living in a quiet place is good for people?
What are the problems that might result from living in a noisy place? FQx2
(Similar to above) How (or why) does noise sometimes upset people? FQ
Do you think everyone feels comfortable with the same level of noise?
How do you think noise in cities could be reduced? FQx2
What would you do if your neighbours were making too much noise, late at night?
Do you it should be illegal to make excessive noise? FQ
Do you think installing insulation in the home is a good way to reduce noise?

Being Alone

Note: "Alone" and "lonely" are not exactly the same.

Do you think it's important for people to be alone sometimes? FQ

When do you (most) like being alone?

(Similar to above) When (in what circumstances) do people prefer to be alone?
(Similar to above) Why do people sometimes prefer to be alone? FQx2
(Similar to above) Why do people sometimes need to be alone? FQ
(Similar to above) In what circumstances do people want to be alone?
In your country, how hard is it for people to be alone?
How can a person be alone in a big city?
(Similar to above) Where can a person find a place to be alone (in a big city)? FQ
Do you think children should be alone sometimes?
Do you think being alone as a child is different to being alone as a teenager?
What about old people – do you think it's better for them to stay inside the home or to go outside sometimes?

Living Alone

Why do some people live alone? FQ

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314. A School or University Building (Feb. 12, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a building in a school or university that you attended.

You should say:

where it was

what it looked like *

what it was used for *

and explain what facilities it had. *

and explain how you felt (or feel) about this building. *

This seems to be close to Topic 35. In fact, the words above are from Topic 35 because no-one has supplied a detailed description of the wording.
For this, it seems that you must use past tense (although there might be some way for people to describe a building in their current school or university). Therefore, if you are still attending a high school now, you should choose to talk about an earlier school (e.g., junior high school or primary school) that you attended and, if you are attending university now, you should choose to talk about your previous senior high school, junior high school or primary school.
Someone has reported this as "A building in your school or city". That might be possible but it would be safest to prepare to talk about a building in your (past) school.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

School Buildings and Facilities

What are some differences between schools (or, school buildings) in the countryside and city schools? FQx2
Do you think the design of school buildings is important?
How are schools for young children (i.e., primary schools) different to schools for teenagers (i.e., high schools)? FQx2
(Similar to above) How are the buildings in schools for young children (i.e., primary schools) different to schools for teenagers (i.e., high schools)? FQx2
(Similar to above) How is the environment in schools for young children (i.e., primary schools) different to the environment in schools for teenagers (i.e., high schools)? FQ
Do you think it's important for a school to have a playground? (see Note)
How do you think school buildings could be improved? FQ
(Possibly the question above is this) How do you think schools could be improved (not just the buildings)? *
Is there anything dangerous about the construction of (some) schools in your country?
How do you think school buildings in the future might be different to school buildings that we have today? FQ
(Similar to above) How do you think the interior of school buildings in the future might be different to what we have today? (Not the outside appearance) FQ

Factors to Consider When Choosing a School or University

What school or university do you plan to (or, hope to) attend?
What factors do people need to consider when deciding on what school or university to attend?
Before applying (for admittance) to a school or university, what steps do people need to do?
Do you think it's good to live at a school or university?

Scholarships

Do many people in your country get scholarships to help them go to university (or high school)?
What kinds of people get these scholarships?
How much money do they get?
Do you think there should be more scholarships awarded to university students?
Do you think that everybody should get a scholarship? * (= tuition-free university, with a living allowance)

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315. The Oldest Person You Know (2) (Jan. 8, 2011) (Probably no longer used)

Describe the oldest person that you know.

You should say:

who this person is

how old they are (= how old he or she is)

how you know this person (what relationship you have with this person)

and explain what kind of life he or she is living now. *

Notes

So far, this is an exact copy of Topic 34

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Possible follow-up questions:

Have you seen (or spoken to) this person recently? *

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 34

The Role of Old People in the Family & in Society / Attitudes Towards Old People

In your country, how are old people treated?
Do you think the way old people are treated in your country is good?
Do you think people's attitudes towards (e.g., respect towards) old people have changed in recent years? (e.g., the past 30 years) (If yes, how and why?) FQx2
Do you think the way old people are treated (or, attitudes towards old people) will change in the future? FQ
What do you think is the role of old people in the family today?
Has this role changed, compared to the past?
How are the views of old people different to what young people today think? *

Taking Care of Old People

What is life like for old people today, compared to 20 or 30 years ago?
Do you think there are any new problems resulting from the fact that many countries now have an aging population?
What do you think life will be like for old people 20 or 30 years in the future?
Besides financial help, in what ways do old people need help?
Who do you think should be responsible for looking after old people, the government or the family?
Do you think young people have a responsibility to look after old people?
Do you think the government has a responsibility to look after old people?
In your culture (your country), do old people usually live with their children? FQ
Do you think this is good?
Do you think this might change in the future?
How do you think taking care of old people could be improved?

Old People Taking Care of Young Children (their grandchildren)

Do you think old people should have to take care of (young) children?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's a good idea for old people to take care of (young) children?
Do you think it's fair for old people (if they have to do that)?
What are some reasons why old people sometimes (have to) take care of young children?

Retirement/Leisure

In your country, at what age do people usually retire from work? FQ
Is this retirement age a law or is it just the custom in your country?
Do you think this is a suitable age to retire? *
Do you think many old people would like to continue working after they retire?

In your country, what do old people do after they retire? FQ

Has this changed in the past few years (e.g., 30 years)?

(Similar to above) How do old people relax?

(Similar to above) What do old people (in your country) do at home?

What do old people do for exercise?

Are there any recreational or entertainment facilities in your hometown especially for old people?

Would you say that old people in your country are happy? (= Do they have any problems?)

What government services are there for old people in your country? *

Are the old people happy with these services?

In many countries, the proportion of old people in society is increasing. How do you think society will (or, might) change in the future as a result of this trend?

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