Updated June 20, 2011
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 66
326.
A Leisure Centre (Jan.
27, 2011)
327.
A Historic Building
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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Describe a popular leisure centre in your area (such as a cinema or sports centre) that you have visited.
You
should say:
where it is
what it is like (or, what facilities it has / what amenities it offers)
what people do there (or, what you do there)
how often you go there
and explain why (you think) this place is so popular.
See Notes
See also the Part 3 questions for
Leisure & Entertainment in Your Country/Your Hometown
Leisure Activities
Do you think everyone should do some leisure activities?
What factors influence the leisure activities people do?
What are the common leisure activities in your country?
What leisure activities do teenagers do in your country?
Is there any difference between the leisure activities of young people and older people?
Do you think it's important for students or work colleagues to sometimes go out to relax together?
In your country, do the different members of a family all do the same things for leisure?
Do family members in your country often go out and do leisure activities together?
Leisure Centres
In general, why do people like to go to a leisure centre of some kind?
Do you think it's good to have leisure centres in the community?
What are the effects on a community of having leisure centres?
What leisure centres and places for entertainment are there in your hometown (or, near where you live)?
(Similar to above) What leisure centres and places for entertainment are there in your hometown (or, near where you live) for young people? FQ
Are these facilities only used by young people or are they used by all age groups?
How is it good for young people?
What's the difference between these places and leisure centres and places for entertainment for the whole family? FQ
If there were no leisure facilities (in a certain place), what could people do in their spare time?
What are the differences between recreational facilities in big cities and in the countryside (i.e., in villages and small towns)?
(Similar to above) What are the differences between people's leisure activities in big cities and in the countryside?
Do you think leisure centres have much effect on the economy?
Companies and the Leisure Activities of their Employees
Do you think people feel pressure at work?
Can you suggest any ways for people to deal with this pressure?
Do you think companies (or, work units) should provide leisure facilities for their employees? FQ (See Note)
(Similar to above) Do you think companies should organize leisure activities for their employees? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think companies (or, work units such as government departments) should encourage more outdoor recreational activities for their employees?
Do you think companies should provide a gym for their employees?
Do you think the effects of a gym in a company would be good or bad?
Do you think most people (or, you) prefer to engage in leisure activities with friends or with work colleagues?
Sports / Sports Facilities
Do you think people need to spend more time (than they do now) on keeping fit?
(Similar to above) Do you think people need to spend more time (than they do now) on exercising?
Is sport popular with all age groups in your community?
What do people in your community (your hometown) think about leisure sports?
What types of sport do you think is better, team sports or individual sports? FQ
What kinds of sports facilities are there in your hometown? (See Note)
(Similar to question about leisure centres) Do you think companies (or, work units such as government departments) should spend money on fitness facilities for their employees? FQ
Version A
Describe a historic place that you visited.
You
should say:
what buildings were there
when you went there
why you went there
and explain how you felt about this place.
Version B
Describe a historic building that you visited.
You should say:
where it was
what people do (or, were doing) there
why you went there
and explain how you felt about this building. *
Notes
The word used might be "historical", not "historic".
Most people are reporting that they got Version B.
See also Notes
See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 188
Historic Places
Why do people visit historical places?
Do you think reading about a historical place has any advantages over actually visiting it?
What types of historic places do people in your country most often visit?
How do you promote historical places in your country?
Historic Buildings
Do many people in your country visit historical buildings? FQ
In general, what types of historical buildings do most people visit?
Why do they visit these buildings? FQ
What do people learn from visiting these buildings?
What gives people the idea of visiting a historical building? (Or: Where do they get information about historical buildings?)
What kinds of people (e.g., ages) like to visit historic buildings?
What do you think are the differences between actually visiting a historic place and reading about it in a book (or seeing pictures of it on the internet)? FQx2
Do you think people should have to pay to visit these historic buildings?
Do you think these historic buildings should be preserved (or, reparations should be made to these buildings)? FQx2
Paying for the Maintenance of Historic Buildings
Who do you think should pay for these reparations (or, to preserve these buildings)? FQ
(Similar to above) Who do you think should be responsible for the maintenance and repair of historic buildings?
Do you think the government should pay for (= has a responsibility to pay for) the maintenance and repair of historic buildings? FQ (See Note)
Do you think the government (i.e., everyone, via taxes) should pay for this or should the visitors pay for it? FQ
Which do you think is better, having the government own and pay for the maintenance of historic buildings or having private investors owning the buildings and paying for for the maintenance? FQ
Studying History
Why do students study history in school?
(Similar to above) We should people learn about (or, study) history? FQ
Do you think learning about history has any benefits for children (or, young people)? FQ
How do you think teachers could make history lessons more interesting?
Describe a good part of your personality or character. *
You should say:
what it is
how it affects your life or work
and explain why you think it is good.
See Notes
Personal Traits (or, Personality Traits)
Different Traits
What traits do you think are most important for a person, as a member of society, to have?
How are these traits important in interpersonal relations?
Which character traits do your parents think are the most important?
What effects do you think someone's personality (or character) will have on that person's life?
Do you think it's easy for a person to change their personality?
In general, do you think men and women have (innately) different personality traits? FQ
In the future, do you think the differences between men's and women's personality traits will continue to be the same as today?
National Traits
What personality (or character) traits are most important (or, most valued) in your country? FQ
What would you say are the most distinct personality/character traits of the people in your country? FQ
(Similar to above) What would you say are the most interesting personality/character traits of the people in your country? (Why are they interesting?)
Do you think that people from different countries have "national" personality traits?
Do you think the culture of a country affects the personality of the people in that country (or is it vice-versa)?
How do these two (culture and 'national personality traits') affect each other?
Friends
Do you think people generally choose to make friends with others with similar personality traits, or with people who are different? FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think people with same personalities easily get along together? FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for friends to share the same, or similar, personality traits? FQx2
If you were considering whether to be friends with someone, (including girlfriend/boyfriend), what personal traits would be important for you? FQ
Do you think that members of a team should all have the same (or similar) personalities?
The Character Traits (and, Personality Traits) of Successful People
Also read these important notes about "success"
What personal characteristics do you think most successful people (need to) have? FQx2
Do you think that all successful people have good character traits?
Do you think that honesty is an important trait to have in order to be successful? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think that all successful people are honest?
Some people say that "success" is simply what others believe to be success. Do you agree? (See Note)
Do you think success equals happiness? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think success and happiness are related? FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think all successful people are happy? FQ
Happiness
Do you think happiness is important?
Would you say that, in general, people in your country are happy?
Compared to other countries, do you think people in your country are happier or less happy?
What do you think is the secret of happiness?
Do you think money is important for happiness?
In your opinion, can money ever take the place of happiness?
Describe an enjoyable conversation you (recently) had with someone by phone.
You
should say:
who you spoke to
what you spoke about
how long you spoke
and explain why this conversation was enjoyable.
Notes
If it says "recent" then any time within the past few months, up to a year ago, would be suitable.
It might say, "mobile phone" (or "cell phone"). Or might just say "telephone" or "phone", which would include mobile phones.
See also Part 3 of Topic 193 & Topic 256
Communication
Do you prefer face-to-face conversations or conversations by phone?
(Similar to above) What are the differences between (or, advantages of) face-to-face conversations compared to phone conversations? FQx2
When would you prefer to have a face-to-face conversation?
If you had to tell some bad news to someone, which do you think would be more suitable, a phone call or a face-to-face conversation?
What effect do you think those "social network" internet websites have on people?
Cell Phones (= Mobile Phones)
In general, why do people make phone calls?
(Similar to above) In general, what are the various reasons for people to make a phone call?
Do many people in your country use cell-phones?
Why do people like using cell-phones?
Would you say that cell phones are important in today's society? FQ
What do people do with their mobile phones?
Do rural people use cell-phones as much as city people?
Are cell phones in your country equally as popular among both young and old people? FQ
Do young people and old people use cell phones in the same way? FQx2
Do you think it's good for children to use cell-phones?
What are the benefits of mobile phones?
How do mobile phones compare to (the old-style) fixed-line phones?
Do you think fixed-line phones will disappear in the future?
What are the differences between writing a letter and writing a text message on a cell phone? FQx2
Which do you think is better? *
Problems
Many people think mobile phones can be annoying at times. Can you give any examples of that? FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think cell phones ever cause problems for people?
Do you think problems can occur when someone uses a cell-phone in a public place?
Some people think there are times when (or places where) the usage of cell-phones should be banned. Do you agree?
Do you think people should turn their cell phones off (or turn them to "silent ringing") when they are in a cinema or similar place?
Version A
Describe a song that you remember from your childhood.
You should say:
where you (first) heard this song
how old you were when you first heard it *
what the song is about
and explain why you still remember this song.*
or
Version B
Describe a song that reminds you of something from the past. *
You should say:
what song it is *
what the song is about *
how you feel when you hear it *
See also the Part 3 questions for
Topic 186,
Topic 270,
Singing in General
Do you think music is an important part of people's lives?
Do you think everybody likes to sing? (Why?)
Do people (or, do you) prefer to sing alone or in a group?
(Similar to above) Do people (or, do you) prefer to sing together with just a few people or with a large group of people?
Where do people usually sing?
What do people get from singing?
Do you think it's important to know how to sing well in order to fully feel the meaning of a song?
Do you think it's important for someone to have a good voice when they sing? FQ
Do you think people are born as good (or bad) singers or is it something that can be learned?
Singing in Your Country
Do you sing very often?
Is singing very popular in your country? FQx2
In what situations do people sing in your country? FQx2 (See note)
(Similar to above) On what occasions do people sing in your country? FQx2
Are there any differences between young people singing and old people singing?
Are there any songs that both young people and old(er) people can sing together?
Are there any differences between a woman singing and a man singing?
Are the times (or circumstances) when men sing and the times when women sing the same?
Do people in your country like to sing at parties?
Why do some people like go to KTVs (karaoke bars)?
Do both men and women like to go to karaoke bars?
Do your friends sing well?
Do you mind if your friends are not good singers?
Songs
Which do you think is better, music without lyrics, or songs?
(Similar to above, but different) For a song, which do you think is more important, the lyrics (= the words) or the music? FQx2
Do you think the music that accompanies songs was more rhythmic in the past than it is today?
Age Preferences
Does everybody in your country like the same kinds of songs?
What sorts of songs do young people (e.g., 15 to 30) like to sing? FQ
Do you think rock music can ever affect a person's health? (See Note)
Do older people also like (to sing) the same songs that young people do? FQ
When you are older (middle aged and above), do you think you will still like to listen to and sing the same songs that you do now?
Why (do you think) some songs seem to stay popular for a long time while other songs are only popular for a short time? FQ
International Songs
What effects do you think international singers have on your culture?
Do you think many people in your country understand songs from English-speaking countries?
Who likes to listen to foreign songs more, young people or older people?
Technology and Music
Has the internet had any effect on what songs people listen to?
Do you think CDs (or recorded music) will one day take the place of live music?
Children and Singing
Do you think it is important for children to sing?
For children, what are the benefits of singing? FQ
What kinds of songs do children (e.g., primary school aged children) like to sing (or, listen to)? FQ
What kinds of songs are most suitable for little children, for example, children aged 3 or 4 years old? FQ
Do little children like to dance (or move their bodies) when they sing a song? (Why?)
Do you think there is any educational value in children's songs?
How important do you think it is for children to learn some of the traditional songs from your culture? FQ