Updated Sep. 6, 2011
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 74
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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Copy of Topic 55
Notes
This looks
like
See also the Part 3 questions for
Family Life
Have there been any changes to family life in your country in the past 20 or 30 years (the past generation)? FQx2
(Similar to above) Do you think modern families are the
same as families in the past?
What effects do you think this might have in the future?
How do you think family life might evolve in the
future?
Compared to 20 or 30 years ago, do people today spend more time together as a family, or less time?
Would you say (one's) family is important to most people?
Do young people like to spend time with their parents?
For young people, which are more important, their
friends or their parents?
Do you think the role of women (wife/mother) in the family has changed in the past few decades?
Which do you think is better, to have a small family or a big family? (I.e., the number of children)
Have family values changed much in the past few decades?
Do you think it's good for older members of the family
(grandparents) to live with their sons or daughters?
(Similar to above) Do you think there are any benefits
from having older members of the family living with (grandparents) the
younger members?
The Influence of Friends & Family
How do people choose their friends?
Are you very similar to your friends?
Do most people make friends with others who are similar to themselves, or different to themselves? (Why?)
Who do you think has the greater influence on children (and young people), their families or their friends?
What influence do parents have on the behaviour and attitudes of their children?
How do parents (in your culture) try to correct bad behaviour in the children (and teach good behaviour)?
Copy of Topic 292
Note
So far, this looks like
See also the Part 3 questions for
Outdoor Activities
(Note: An "activity" can include outdoor work - it's not just a recreational activity.)
When was the last time you did an outdoor activity?
Do people in your country like to do outdoor activities? (What activities?)
(Similar to above)
What outdoor activities do people do in your country?
What do you think are the benefits of doing outdoor activities?
Are there any possible disadvantages from engaging in outdoor activities?
Do you think modern people spend more time outdoors
than people in the past, or less?
Do young and old people do the same outdoor
activities? (Why not?)
Do you think outdoor games are good forms of outdoor activity?
What outdoor activities do you think are most suitable for old people?
Sport & Exercise
Electronic Games Frequent Sub-topic
These questions might use either the word "children" (aged 4 to 12) or "young people" (aged 13 to 25 or 30). This is not clear. Some English speakers even use "young people" to refer to all people aged from about 7 to 25.
Describe a situation that made you a little angry.
You should say:
what it was that made you angry *
where you were when this happened *
what you were doing at the time *
who you were with
and explain how you handled
this situation. *
or
Notes
The first line might be, "
Expressing Emotions
Do you think everyone has the same feelings about things?
Do you think it's good to show your feelings to others or is it better to hide your feelings?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for
people to show their emotions?
What are some of the ways in which human beings express their
feelings (= emotions)?
Male/female Differences
Do men and women express their emotions in the same way?
Who do you think is better at expressing emotions such as tenderness and love, men or women? (Why?)
Anger
What kind of person is most likely to show (to express) anger?
What kinds of people make others feel angry?
Physical Health & Emotions
Do you think it's good to cry?
What effect do you think it might have on the health of a person if they stop themselves from expressing their emotions?
Do you think it's good for a person's health to express anger when they feel angry?
What effects on a person health do positive emotions
and, on the other hand, negative emotions have?
Your 'National Character'
Would you say people in your country are good at expressing their feelings (or, their emotions)?
(Similar to above) Do people in your country express
their emotions very much? (If yes, how?)
Do you think that might change in the future?
Instinct or Learned Reactions
Do you think the way people express their feelings is more instinctive (inborn) or is it learned behaviour?
How do people learn the manner in which they express their feelings?
Do you think modern (city) life has any relationship with the feelings people have or with the way they express their feelings?
Do you think people can be trained to deal with their own emotions?
Empathy/Sensitivity/Reading Others' Emotions
Do you think some people can read (or detect) other people's emotions better than others? (If yes, how?)
What kinds of people are these? (What characteristics do they have?)
Are there any particular times when it's important to pay close attention to the emotions of others?
Can you think of occupations which require people to pay close attention to the feelings/emotions of other people?
Who do you think is better at detecting other people's
feelings, men or women? (Why?)
Do you think it's a skill to be able to detect other
people's feelings?
Do you think it's important to have this skill?
(Similar to above) Do you think this is a good skill to
have?
Do you think people can be trained to understand other people's feelings? (If yes, how?)
Are there any professions in society that are especially trained in this skill?
How can children be taught to be sensitive to the
feelings of others?
Do other people express their feelings to you very much?
Getting Along With Others
Do you think it's important for people to get along with others? *
Describe an old person who you like to talk to. *
You should say:
who this person is *
how you know them (him or her) *
what you usually talk about
and explain why you like to talk to him
or her. *
The Role of Old People in the Family & in Society / Attitudes Towards Old People
Attitudes
Do you think it's important to speak with 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 the way old people are treated (or,
attitudes towards old people) will change in the future?
How are the views of old people different to what young people today think? *
Old People Living with Their Families Frequent sub-topic
What do you think is the role of old people in the family today?
Has this role changed, compared to the past?
Do you think that old people should live with their
children (and grandchildren)?
What are the benefits of this?
(Similar to above) What can old people do within the family that is helpful?
Why do many old people help to take care of their grandchildren?
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?
What can children (grandchildren) learn from old people?
And is there anything that young people can teach old people?
Do you think old people generally get along with young people?
Are children generally willing to accept advice from old people?
Are young people (e.g., teenagers and people in their
twenties)
Problems
What problems do (some) old people have?
Do you have any suggestions on how this problem could be addressed? *
What government services are there for old people in your country? *
Are the old people happy with these services?
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?
B
Do you think young people have a responsibility to look after old people?
Do you think this is good?
How do you think taking care of old people could be improved?
An Aging Society
How could a place that doesn't have enough young people attract more young people to move there (or not to leave there)?
Retirement/Leisure
Why do companies usually not hire old people for work?
In your country, at what age do people usually retire
from work?
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?
(Similar to above) Do you think old people want to
retire?
(Similar to above) Why do you think a lot of old people
want to keep working?
What problems do you imagine some old people have as a result of retiring from work?
Why do some employers think that hiring old people has
advantages?
Old People's Activities
In your country, what do old people do after they retire? FQ
Has this changed in the past few years (e.g., 30 years)?
What do old people do for exercise?
Are there any recreational or entertainment facilities in your hometown especially for old people?
Do you think it's important for old people to continue learning new things?
Version A
Describe an interesting public place in your hometown or city that people visit. *
You should say:
what place this is
who usually goes there
why people go there
Version B
Describe an interesting public place in your hometown or city that you have visited. *
You should say:
what place this is
who usually goes there
why people go there
and explain why you think it
was an interesting place to visit. *
Notes
It is not clear whether Version A or Version B is closer to correct. It might be a mixture of Versions A & B.
Public Places ( Public Facilities)
Notes:
- A 'public' place does not necessarily mean a place that costs nothing to enter. And the definition of "a public place" could possibly include a place that is open for the public to use but is privately owned. For example, although cinemas are privately owned, they are open to the public but you have to pay to go in. Some public places such as museums or national parks are owned by the public (= owned by the government) but are not free of charge to enter.
- Some people have only reported the words, "public buildings" but I think some of those questions were probably about "public facilities" or "public places", not necessarily buildings. For example, a park is a public facility but it is not a building.
Besides the example you just gave in Part 2, in general, what public places do most towns and cities in your country have?
(Similar to above)
What kinds of people go to these places?
What are the purposes of these public places?
Do you think we really need these places?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important to have these public facilities?
What public facilities are used by people in their free time (i.e., for recreation or entertainment)?
Is there much difference between public buildings facilities today and those in the past (e.g., 30 to 50 years ago)?
Are there any differences between the usage of public facilities today and in the past?
Are public buildings (or public places) for everyone or just some people?
Are all public places free of charge to enter?
Do you think some (or all) publicly owned places should
be free of charge to enter (or use)?
What public places do young people prefer to go to?
Public Buildings
What are some examples of public buildings in your
hometown?
What is the purpose of these buildings? (= How are
these buildings used?)
Is there much difference between public buildings today and those in the past (e.g., 30 to 50 years ago)?
Do modern public buildings have the same visual effect on people as those built several decades ago?
Are there any differences between the usage of public buildings today and in the past?
Are public buildings (or public places) for everyone or just some people?
What public buildings are young people more interested
in going to?
Are government buildings open to the public?
What is the purpose of government buildings?
Laws & Regulations in Public Buildings / Behaviour in Public Places
Are there any public places where you can't take your
pet dog?
Do you think it's suitable for people to take their dog
(or, a pet) to a public place?
City Life and Small Town Life
See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 24
What are the differences between living in a village or small town and living in a big city?
Are there any differences between the two concerning education?
Do you think family life is different in cities and in small towns and villages?
How is people's work different in cities and in small towns and villages?
Why do many people want to leave the smaller places and go to live in a city?