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ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated July 23, 2012

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

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376. An Important Letter You Received (3) (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

377. A Job You Wanted to Do (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

378. A Small Business You Would Like to Own (3) (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

379. A Success You Have Had (2) (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

380. Something You Hope to Do (Jan 7, 2012) (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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376. An Important Letter You Received (3) (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an important letter (that) you received.

        You should say:

                    who wrote it
                    what the letter was about
                    how you felt about the letter

        and explain why it was important.

Notes

This is probably the same as Topic 1 & Topic 105 so I have copied the wording for Topic 1. The Part 3 is also probably the same as for Topic 1 & Topic 105 but there might be some changes.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 1 & Topic 105.

What are the most common (or, the most popular) forms of long-distance communication in your country?
What are some examples of different types of letters that people receive nowadays?
Do people in your country often write letters?
What do you think are the benefits and the shortcomings of writing letters? See Note
What do you think about people who write letters to newspapers? FQ
Do you think businesses should be allowed to send advertising materials to people in the mail? (i.e., junk mail)
(Similar to above) Do you think businesses should be allowed to put advertising materials in people's letter boxes?

Letters Compared to Emails

Which do you prefer, letters or emails?

Do you think sending a formal letter by e-mail is better than sending it via regular post? (Why?)

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377. A Job You Wanted to Do (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a job you wanted to do when you were younger.

You should say:

what job it was

what you knew about this type of work *

how you heard about this job

whether you still want to do this type of work

and explain why you thought this would be a good job. *

Notes

(June 20, 2012) I think this topic is very possibly no longer in use. In fact, the topic possibly never really existed but was always a mistaken version of Topic 360 and I will give this the red label if it is not reported in the next two tests. I have transferred all of the part 3 questions below to Topic 360.
Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you think you really will do this work one day?

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Part 3

The questions reported seem to be the same as for Topic 360. See also the Part 3 questions for other related topics such as Topic 306.

Note (Written June 20, 2012) The questions below have been transferred to Topic 360.

What kinds of work (what jobs) are most popular (as career choices) among young people today in your country? (Why?) FQx2
Are government jobs very popular in your country?
At what age do people in your country generally start their careers?
Do you think a high salary always makes a person happy in their job?
Which do you think is more important, job satisfaction or salary? FQ
How can (or, how do) people achieve job satisfaction?
Which do you think is better, working for others (as an employee) or working for yourself?

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378. A Small Business You Would Like to Own (3) (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

(Copy of Topic 98)

Describe a small business that you would like to open, (or, start or own or have) if you had the chance.

        You should say:

                what this business would be

                where it would be located

                where you got the idea for this business from *

                what people you would hire as employees

                (or, what people you would need to help you set up this business)

        and explain why you would like to open/own/have this small business.

Notes

This looks like Topic 98, returning to the test. The same topic was also used as Topic 37
The real meaning of the first line is this: "If you were to start a small business, what business would it be?"

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 37, Topic 98 and Topic 306.

What are some of the differences between working in your own company and working (as an employee) in someone else's company?
Which do you think is better, to work as an employee in a small business or a large company?
What skills does a person need to have in order to run his or her own business?
How do people learn these skills?
Are any of these skills taught in normal high school classes in your country?
Do you think some of these skills should be included in high school classes?
(Similar to above) Do you think there should be more practical courses (or practical skills) taught in school than what is taught now?
Do you think the government should encourage more people to start their own small businesses? (If yes, how?)
What do you think the government should and shouldn't do to help businesses (both small and big)?

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379. A Success You Have Had (2) (Jan. 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a goal that you have achieved.

You should say:

what it was

how you achieved it

what others thought about your success

and explain how this success affected you. *

and explain how this success influenced your life. *

Notes

(Written June 20, 2012) The red label above means, "This is no longer being used as Topic 379" but I think think it is still being used as Topic 416.
All the Part 3 questions shown below have been transferred to Topic 416.
Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

Have other people (you know) had this success?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions from Topics 344, 173, 109 and 43.

Competition

In a competition of some sort between people (or groups of people), what factors determine who becomes the winner?
In sports competitions, which do you think is more important, talent or physical strength?

Celebrating Success

In your country, what are some ways that people celebrate success in your your country? FQ
Do you think it's important to celebrate success? *
Can celebrating success ever lead to any problems? *

Motivation and Encouragement

What challenges do young people face today?
What (do you think) motivates people to develop themselves? FQ

(Similar to above) What (do you think) motivates people to strive for some achievement? FQ
(Similar to above) Where does the sense of 'motivation' come from? FQ
Why do you think some people are more motivated than others?
In your culture (or, country), what are some of the ways that people show (or, give) encouragement to other people?
Why do we need encouragement?
(Similar to above) Do you think encouragement is important?

Ambition

What ambitions do most young people have today?
Do you think it's good to be ambitious?
Some people who are highly ambitious never let anything stop them from reaching their goal, even if it includes hurting other people in order to achieve this goal. Do you think that is good?

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380. Something You Hope to Do (Jan 7, 2012) (Probably no longer used)

Describe something you hope to do. *

You should say:

what it is

how you got the idea to do this

what would be required to do it

and explain why you hope to do this. *

Notes

(Written May 25) It is possible that the card doesn't use the word "hope" but simply says, "Describe something you would like to do in the future". (Here, "you would like to do" = "you want to do". That is, talk about a real goal, plan or strong desire you have, not fantasy such as "walk on the moon".)
Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

How do you think you will feel when (or if) you achieve that goal?

Goals and Future Plans

Do you think it's important to have some goals in life?
What dreams (or goals) do most (young) people in your country have?
How do people realize their dreams?
What (material) things do most people aspire to buying (or owning)?
Some people have some goals but they still have trouble making a plan for the future. Why do you think that happens?
(Similar to above) Why is it sometimes difficult to make decisions about one's plans for the future?
In your country, do universities or schools do anything to help students plan for the future? (Including the goal of deciding on what kind of work to do as a career.)
How do (or, how can) people develop long-term plans?
Do you think future changes in technology might affect your (long-term) plans? See Note
Would you say the majority of young people (in your country) are optimistic or pessimistic about their personal futures? (Why?)
How important do you think it is for businesses to have long-term plans?

Choosing a Career

How do people in your country decide on what future career to choose?

What are some of the factors that influence young people's decisions about choosing a career?

Which of those factors have the greatest influence on a young person's final decision about what career to follow?

In your country, do universities or schools do anything to help students decide on a future career?

What are some of the factors that can influence how one's career progresses?

International Problems *

(This is not yet a confirmed sub-topic. But there are some hints that this is a sub-topic.)

What problems do you think the world, as a whole, will face in the future?
How do you think these problems should be addressed?

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