Updated Dec. 12, 2012
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 77
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 foreign culture that you are interested in.
You should say:
what this culture is
what you know about this culture
how you learned about this culture
and explain why you feel this culture is interesting.
Notes
The topic might be, "Describe something interesting from another culture". If it is that, you have to focus on one thing (one aspect of a foreign culture).
This is probably a repeat of Topic 29. However, some of the Part 3 questions might have changed.
For this Part 2, I have copied the wording from Topic 29.
Also see these Notes.
See also the Part 3 questions for
The Influence of Foreign Cultures / Learning About Foreign Cultures
Are there many ways in your country for people to learn about foreign cultures?
Do you think it's easier to learn about foreign cultures today than it was in the past? FQx2
How much do you think the internet is giving people more exposure to foreign cultures?
Do you think this exposure is always positive? *
What are the benefits of
knowing about a foreign culture?
Do you think learning about foreign cultures can help people better understand their own culture?
If a person want to absorb a foreign culture, how can they do it?
Do you think it's useful
to actually travel to another place if one wants to learn about the culture
of that place?
Do you think foreign visitors to a country (for example, your country) can influence the culture of that country?
How different or how similar is the culture you just spoke about (in Part 2) to your own culture?
Do you think it's important for people to preserve their own culture (or is it better for everybody to influence each other's culture?) See Note
What do you think the result will be, in the future, as people learn more about other cultures?
Foreign Languages
Do you think it's necessary to learn the language of a place when you learn about the culture of that place?
What is the value of learning foreign languages?
How can a person learn a foreign language?
Do you think understanding a foreign culture helps a person to learn the language of that place?
(Similar to above)
Museums (and Other Cultural Facilities)
(This is a possible sub-topic here; unconfirmed.)
Do you think people can learn much about other cultures by visiting museums? *
Do you think museums should be free to enter?
Describe a useful piece of furniture in your home. *
You should say:
what it is
where it is
what it looks like (or, what it is made of)
and explain why it is useful. *
or
and explain how you use this piece of furniture. *
A
potty chair
Notes
This is probably a repeat of Topic 16. However, some of the Part 3 questions might have changed.
I have copied the wording from Topic 16, with minor changes.
* = I am not sure of the wording for the first and last lines.
Note: "Furniture" represents a type of thing, and types are non-countable. We say, "a piece of furniture", never "a furniture".
In your country, where do people buy the furniture for their homes?
For a married couple, who usually makes the decisions
about what furniture to buy, the husband or the wife?
What factors do people need to consider when buying furniture for the home?
Do you think furniture in the home is only for
practical use or does it play a role in the decoration of the home?
(Similar to above) Do you think the style (the artistic value
/ the attractiveness) of
furniture is important?
Is there much difference between home furniture and office furniture?
Is the material that furniture is made from today different to the material that was used in the past for furniture?
How do you imagine furniture might change in the future?
Describe an important building (or monument) in your country. *
You should say:
where it is
who visits this building or monument
why it is historically important
and explain how you feel about this building or monument. *
Notes
I think this is a present tense topic. Nobody has mentioned the point, "how you know about this building or monument", but it might be included in the wording. And nobody has clearly reported what the last line is - what I wrote above is my guess.
I suggest you avoid describing a monument - this might be a mistake, or it might only be in Part 3, not in Part 2.
Understand the meaning of the word, "structure". A structure is something that has been built, including a building, a bridge or a wall (such as the Great Wall in China.) But this Part 2 topic does not ask you to describe a "structure", it asks you only to describe a "building". And remember, the Forbidden City in Beijing is not a single building - it consists of many buildings, so that's an unsuitable choice. However, if you choose to describe one of the buildings in the Forbidden City, it would be suitable.
Many people will need to prepare a small number of key words for this, describing the building. In other words, many people don't have a broad enough vocabulary to describe a building very well. Just make sure that you don't make it too obvious to the examiner that you had especially prepared some vocabulary for this. You are not supposed to know this topic is in the test and if the examiner is sure you had prepared your answer before the test, he or she might reduce your score instead of reward you for your good vocabulary!
On the other hand, if the wording above is more or less correct, you won't need to spend a lot of time actually describing the building, although you might need some words to describe the building when you talk about your feelings about it.
When trying to describe a shape, hand language is especially useful for good communication.
The words, "explain how you felt" don't necessarily mean you have to explain your feelings. It would be more suitable to explain your impression of or opinion about this building.
Buildings in Your Country
What are some of the differences between old buildings
and modern buildings in your country?
(Similar to above, but different)
Is there much difference between buildings in cold parts of your country and buildings in warm parts of your country? (north and south)
Old Buildings
Do you think old buildings are important?
Do you think old buildings are are safe as modern buildings?
Do people prefer to live in old buildings or modern ones?
Interest in Old Buildings
Which type of buildings do you like more, old ones or modern ones?
Which type of buildings do you find more interesting, old ones or modern ones?
Who do you think is more interested in old buildings, old people or young people?
Preserving Old Buildings
Do you think the government should spend money on preserving (some) old buildings?
How do you suggest old buildings could be protected (or, preserved)?
(Similar to above)
Do you think it's possible to use modern styles of construction to renovate old buildings?
National Monuments
History
Do young people feel that history is very important?
Why do you think that some people who are interested in science and technology are not very interested in history? FQ
What is the value of knowing (or, learning about) history?
Describe a time when you lost something.
You should say
what you lost
when and where and you lost it
what you were doing at the time
and explain how you felt after you lost it.
Notes
This is probably a repeat of Topic 93. However, some of the Part 3 questions might have changed.
I have copied the wording from Topic 93.
Losing Things
(In general), what kinds of things do people most often
lose?
Why do people sometimes forget (to take) things?
When people lose something, are there ever any ways to get it back?
What should you do if you find something that someone has lost?
(Similar to above)
How would you try to find the owner?
Do you think most people return other people's lost things?
Possessions
Why (do you think) people like to have possessions?
Do you think people sometimes "become overly attached to" their possessions? ("Become attached to" = feel that something is so important that you live without it / become very fond of something.)
(Similar to above) Do you think some people today are overly dependant on their possessions?
In your country, have there been any changes concerning
people's possessions in the past few decades?
(Similar to above)
Protecting Possessions (against Theft)
Would you say that crime, especially theft, has
decreased in your country in recent years, or decreased? (Why?)
What are some examples of ways that people can protect
their property against theft?
Describe a useful website that helps you do something.
You should say:
what this website helps you to do
what the contents of the website are (or, were)
how (and when) you first found (or found out about) this website *
how
often you go to this website *
and explain how (or, why) this website
helps you.
It seems that most of this topic requires you to use the present tense (the 'habit' tense), except for the part that asks you to say how you first found the site, or found out about it.
Even if the card does not ask you to say when you first found this website, you must give some information to set the time whenever you use the past tense. Whenever you use the past tense, the reader or listener must know 'when', even if the time is rather general such as "when I was young", "a long time ago", "not long ago" or even "once" or "one day". But for this topic, I think you should be more specific than that.
The Impact of the Internet on Society
(Similar to above) What impact has the internet had on
modern people's lives?
What do you think are the good and bad aspects of the internet?
In the future, how much do you think the internet will replace the older forms of media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines)?
The Internet and Children
Would you say the internet is good for children?
(Similar to above) What are the pros and cons of
children using the internet?
How do you think children could be encouraged to (or,
taught to) use the internet in positive ways?
Education and The Internet
Do you think online education is good?
Do you think the internet (or, computers) will ever replace teachers? FQ
(Similar to above)
What do you think children (i.e., people 4 to 12 years old) can learn from the internet?
What can young people (i.e., people 13 to 25 years old) learn from the internet?
Online Entertainment
In what ways is the internet used for entertainment?
Do different age groups use it for entertainment in different ways?