Updated Apr. 22, 2007
IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 9
41. A Radio Program (Probably no longer used)
42. Leisure Time (Probably no longer used)
43. Success (May 20, 2006) (Probably no longer used)
44. A Person You Visited (Probably no longer used)
45. Your Childhood Home (May 13, 2006) (Probably no longer used)
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41. A Radio Program (Probably no longer used)
Note: This topic is most likely in the present tense but it could be in the past tense. If it is in the present tense, it means a radio program that you listen to habitually (even if only a few times a year.) If it is past tense, it probably means a single time that you heard this program.
Present Tense
Describe a radio program that you find interesting.
You should say:
what this program is
when and where you listen to this program
what the contents of the program are
and explain why you like this program. *
or
and explain how you benefit from listening to this program. *
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Past Tense
Describe a radio program that you found interesting.
You should say:
what this program was
when and where you listened to this program
what the contents of the program were
and explain why you liked this program. *
or
and explain how you benefited from listening to this program. *
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Part 3
Note: Some of the questions below are guesses at possible questions. There is little information available on the Part 3 questions for this topic.
Radio
Is listening to the radio popular in China? (Why? Why not?)*
Compare the impact of local radio stations with that of national radio stations.
Do young people and old people like listening to to same kind of radio programs? *
How have radio programs changed in the recent past? *
How do you think radio programs will change in the future? *
Compare listening to the radio to watching TV. (What are the differences and advantages of each?)
Do you think radio is outdated, now that we have television?
Which do you think is better for advertising, radio or TV?
What skills or personal qualities does a person need to work at a radio station (maybe = to work as a radio announcer)?
Media in General *
Compare radio and TV as a source of news.
42. Leisure Time (Probably no longer used)
Describe what you usually do in your leisure time.
You should say:
who you do this with
where you do it *
how you do it *
and explain why you (choose to) spend your free time this way.
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Possible alternative:
Describe what you usually do in your leisure time.
You should say:
what it is
where you learned to do this
how often you do it
and explain why you like doing this.
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Part 3
Children's leisure time
(Note that, in the real test, the word 'children' might not be used. Instead, the phrase 'young people' might be used. 'Children' are aged between about 5 and 13 years old; 'young people' are aged between about 15 and 25. You should think of answers for both 'children' and 'young people'.)
What do you feel that children should do in their leisure time?
Do you think that children use their free time efficiently (or, effectively) or do you think they waste a lot of time?
What do you think are the affects on children of (playing) computer games?
Compare how men (or boys) usually spend their leisure time with how women (or girls) usually spend their leisure time.
Young people living with parents
Many young people continue to live with their parents past the age when they could move out of the family home and live alone. What are some of the reasons why some people choose to continue living with their parents?
Do you think this is a good thing? (What are the advantages of living with parents?)
Are there any laws stating what age a young person can leave home?
In the west, many young people choose to leave home almost as soon as they can. Can you think of any advantages to doing that?
Unusual leisure time activities
Do you ever do anything unusual in your leisure time?
Can you think of any examples of unusual activities that some people do in their free time?
Do you think there are any benefits of doing unusual things in your leisure time? *
How do you think the way people spend their leisure time will change in the future?
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43. Success (May 20, 2006) (Probably no longer used)
Describe something that you would like to succeed in doing in the near future.
You should say:
what it is
how difficult you think it will be
what you should do to prepare for this
and explain why you want to succeed in doing this.
Important Note!
It is possible that this is a past tense question, asking you to talk about a success you have had. Pay attention to the tense of the question!
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Part 3
Ambitions
Are you very confident that you will reach the goal that you just spoke about (in Part 2)? FQ
What successes have you had in your life?
How would you define the word, 'success'?
Do you think that failure is always a bad thing?
What are the factors that lead to success?
(As above) What are the qualities that successful people have that led to their success? FQx2
Why do some people not succeed?
How do you think parents can encourage their children to be successful in life?
Do you think most people want to succeed in life? (Why do they feel this way?)
When do people most want to be successful? (At what stage in their lives?) FQx2
At what age is it most possible to become successful?
In what ways do people want to be successful? (What kind of success is most important to Chinese people? Why?) = Different people have different goals at different times in their lives. Can you give some examples of this and what is your opinion of these goals?
If a person suddenly becomes very successful, how do you think this could affect his or her life? (If 'success' = achieving financial wealth)
Do you think that successful people are always happier than unsuccessful people?
What do Chinese parents mean when they say their son or daughter is "successful"?
What are the benefits of success?
Are there any negative results of success? (Hint: The envy of others.)
Has the great financial success of some famous people ever made you feel envious? (Who? Why?)
How should parents reward their children for success, for example, for doing very well in exams at school? FQ
Do you think this kind of reward is very effective? FQ
Do you think rewards such as that are important ( = necessary)? FQx2
How do teachers in China reward students for doing well? (What do you think is the best way for teachers to reward students?) FQ
Do you think teachers should praise children when the children do well in school?
How would you ( = how do you) define a successful teacher?
Who has the greater influence on children, teachers or parents?
How do bosses in China reward employees for a job well done? FQ
Do you think financial rewards at work are the only or the best way for companies to reward employees? FQx2
Competition Versus Co-operation
Which do you think is a better attitude (for children) to have: a strong spirit of competition or a strong spirit of co-operation with others? FQx2
Do you think that too much competition could damage the spirit of co-operation in society?
Do you competition between friends is good?
Some people say that 'success' means being 'number one' and that being 'number two' has no value. What do you think? FQx2
Note
Some examiners might ask you questions concerning traditional Chinese value systems & religions such as Buddhism, Daoism, & Confucianism and how these compare to the Westernized ideas of competition. If you have time, try to prepare something to say about traditional Chinese value systems.
Describe a person you visited recently (for example, a friend or family member)
You should say:
who this person was
why you visited them
where you visited them *
and explain how you passed the time together
Describe the place that you lived in when you were a child.
You should say:
how many rooms it had
what the (outside) surroundings of your house were like (looked like)
what the arrangement of the rooms was
and explain what kind of building it was. *
or
and explain how you felt about this house. *
Possible follow-up question:
Do you ever go (have you ever gone) back to see your old house?
Do you still have any photographs of that house?
Houses
What different kind of houses do Chinese people live in? FQ
How do people choose what kind of house to live in? (What factors do they consider when choosing a house?) FQ
Why do some people live in a big house and others live in a small house? FQ
Compare the houses in the Chinese countryside and those in the cities. FQx2
How have houses in your hometown changed in recent years? FQ
(As above) How are houses (or apartments) today different to those of the past?
What factors should be considered when designing a house?
In China, who designs the houses that people live in?
What personal skills and characteristics does a good architect need to have?
What are the responsibilities of an architect?
How do you think houses will change in the future? (Do you think any new kinds of housing will appear in the future? [e.g. 20 -100 years]) FQ
Do people today spend more time at home or at work? (Why?)
Children's Development
Compare the leisure-time activities of children when you were a child with the leisure activities of children today.
Would you say children in China today are healthier than children in the past?
(Similar to above) Do children in China today have better nutrition than children in the past?
How are the attitudes of today's parents towards their children different to attitudes of parents in the past? FQ
(From question above) Why did these changes occur?
Is it important that children be given clear rules on what they can and cannot do? Why?
How do you think parents make rules for their children? FQx2
What kinds of rules will you have for your child - will you allow him or her to draw on the walls, for example?
(As above) What kinds of rules should children have to follow (at home)? FQx2
What things should parents pay attention to concerning the growth (= the development) of their children?
How are the behaviour patterns of children different to those of teenagers (or adults)?
What responsibilities do you think children should have in the home, besides doing their homework? (For example, feeding the family's pet dog every day.) (= What share of the housework should children do?) FQx2
(Similar to above) Besides studying, do you think children should help with the housework? (What are the benefits of this?) FQx2
Family Structure