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ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Oct. 15, 2013

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

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451. A Skill You Learned from a Family Member (Sep. 1, 2012) Moved to Topic 525 on Oct 15, 2013

452. A Meaningful Song (Sep. 1, 2012) Probably no longer used)

453. An Unusual Job (Sep. 1, 2012) Probably no longer used)

454. An Old Photograph (Sep. 1, 2012 ?) (Probably no longer used)

455. A Good Neighbour (Sep. 6, 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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451. A Skill You Learned from a Family Member (Sep. 1, 2012) Moved to Topic 525 on Oct 15, 2013

Describe something useful you learned from a member of your family.

You should say:

        what it was

        who you learned it from

        how you learned it

and explain why you think it is useful.

Notes

This might be a repeat of Topic 375, "A person who taught you a useful skill."
Some people are not including "from a member of your family" when they report this topic.
Some people are reporting the words, "a useful skill" instead of the more general wording, "something useful".
The most common "useful" things are practical skills that are needed for everyday life such as how to cook. But it could be an idea or a piece of theoretical knowledge that you learned. Just make sure you can explain why it is useful in, more or less, daily activities or everyday life. How to swim, how to ride a bicycle, how to play majiang, how to bargain for a lower price when buying things in a market, .... all these would be suitable. The choice is almost endless.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Learning Things (esp. skills) in the Home

In general, what do parents usually teach their children? FQ
What sorts of skills do children learn from their parents? FQ
(Similar to above) What sorts of skills do you think children should learn from their parents? FQ
Do you think what children learn in the home is important?
Do parents teach the same things to children of different ages?
Do you think it is useful for kids to learn how to play games at home? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think children learn anything when they play games with their parents (or, a parent)? FQ
Do children learn the same sorts of things from their parents as they learn from their friends?
Which do you think is more important for children, learning things at home or learning things at school?
Which do you think is more important for children, to learn social skills or learn academic things?
(Similar to above) Which do you think is more important for children, to participate in social activities or to study at home?
Do you think grandparents can teach anything to their grandchildren? FQ
Do you think it's a good idea for parents to start teaching academic skills to their pre-school children?

Parenting

Which do you think is better, for parents to be strict with their children or to be lenient? FQ
What would you say are the roles of a mother and a father in a family? Are their roles the same?
Do you agree that children need adult role models when they are growing up?
Which parent do you think is better for teaching skills to their children?
(Similar to above) Do you think mothers are usually better than fathers at teaching things to their children?
Do you think fathers can teach different things to what mothers can teach?

Skills Learned at School

Which do you think is more important for children, learning things at home or learning things at school?

What useful skills do you think children learn at school?

What useful skills do children learn in a kindergarten?

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452. A Meaningful Song (Sep. 1, 2012) Probably no longer used)

Describe a song that has (special) meaning for you. *

You should say:

        what song it is

        when you first heard it

        what the song is about *

and explain why this song has special meaning for you.

Notes

A song can have "special meaning" for you for several different reasons. For example, possibly the words of the song really touch you for some reason; possibly you gained some great philosophical insight from the words of the song; possibly it's a song that both you and your boyfriend or girlfriend really like (when the two of you usually have different tastes in songs); possibly it reminds you of some special memory or experience you have had, .....

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Possible follow-up questions:

Have you heard (or, listen to) this song recently?

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Part 3

Also see all the previous Part 3 questions about music.

Music in Your Country

What kinds of music are popular in your country? FQx2
Do people of different ages like the same kinds of music?
What kinds of music do young people prefer?
What's the difference between the music that young people like and what old(er) people like?
Why don't older people like pop music as much as young people?
Do you think people can ever be changed by listening to music? (changed/influenced - these two go together)
Is the music that people like in your country today the same as the music that people liked several decades ago? FQ
Do you think music education should be included in schools?

Musical Instruments

What do you think are the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument?
Do you think the playing of musical instruments is beneficial to mankind?
Do you think everyone (or, any ordinary person) can learn to play a musical instrument (or does it require some inborn talent)? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think everyone (or, any ordinary person) can be a good musician (or does it require some inborn talent)? FQ

Listening to Music

Which do you think is better, to listen to music by attending a live concert or to listen to music by listening to a recording? *
Do you think attending a concert can ever be dangerous?
How has modern technology changed the way people listen to music today (compared to a few decades ago)?

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453. An Unusual Job (Sep. 1, 2012) Probably no longer used)

Describe an unusual job you would (like to) do, if you had the opportunity.*

You should say:

        what job it would be *

        what you would do in that job

        why this job is unusual *

and explain why you would like to do that job. *

Notes

So far, no-one has written a clear description of the actual words for this topic besides, "an unusual job". I am guessing the wording is something like that shown above. It might be, "Describe an unusual job you would (like to) do, if you could.".

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 360

Choosing a Career

What careers (or jobs) are popular (with young people) in your country?
Do you think there's any difference between males and females when it comes to choosing a future career? FQ
What factors do males (young men) men consider and what factors do females (young women) consider when they are making this choice? FQ
(Similar to above) What factors do people need to consider when choosing a career? FQx2
Do you think money (the salary) is the most important factor to consider?
What kind of work environment do most people prefer to work in?
Which do you think is more important, to choose to do work that interests you or to choose work that pays well?
Do you think parents should let their children make their own choices about a future career or should the parents make this choice?
Are there any other ways in which young people can get some guidance on what career to choose? FQ

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454. An Old Photograph (Sep. 1, 2012 ?) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an old photograph that you like. *

You should say:

who took the photo

when it was taken

where it was taken

and explain why you like it. *

Notes

Most people refer to this topic as "An old photograph" but at one person has said it was, "An old family photograph". I think it is unlikely to be Topic 393 continuing in the test but several of the Part 3 questions look similar to the some questions from Part 3 of Topic 393.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 393.

Personal Photography in Your Country

Is photography very popular in your country?
(Similar to above) Do people in your country often take photographs? (Why?)
What people (or, what kinds of people) especially like to take a lot of photos? FQ
When and where do people take photos?
Why do people take photographs?
Why do people keep photographs for a long time? FQ
On what occasions are people most likely to take family photographs?
Do you think family photos are important? FQ
Does everyone like taking photos?
Do you think people need to be trained to take photos? FQ
Why do some people not like having their picture taken?
What do you think makes a "good" photograph?

Photographic Technology

How have digital cameras changed the way people take photographs?
What do you think are the advantages of having digital cameras built into mobile phones?
Are there any possible disadvantages? *
How do people share photos online?

Photographs Used in News Reports

Do you think photographs play an important role in the news media?
Do you think there are any news photographs that can have a negative effect on children? FQ
People say, "A picture is worth a thousand words". What do you think that means?
Do you think we can always trust a photograph (to accurately show what really existed)?
Do you think it's possible for news photos to be misleading?
(Similar to above) Some people say that photographs in the news are sometimes used for positive reasons and sometimes used for negative reasons. Do you agree?
Do you think photos taken during a period of war can serve a useful purpose?

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455. A Good Neighbour (Sept 6, 2012) Probably no longer used)

Modified Copy of Topic 27

Describe a good neighbour of yours.

You should say:

how long you have known this neighbour

what sort of person they are

how often you see them

and explain why you consider this person to be a good neighbour. *

Notes

If the wording above is more or less correct, "what sort of person they are" is asking you to describe if it's a man or woman, old or young, married or single, what job they do etc. This information is separate from the last line.

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topics 27 and 334. (The questions below look similar to those used previously.)

Good Neighbourly Relations

Do you know many of your neighbours?
What factors help neighbours to have good relations with each other?
What qualities do you think a good neighbour should have?
Do you think people's relations with their neighbours today are better than they were in the past?
How do you think people could improve their relations with their neighbours?
Some people seem to be more interested in watching TV than in interacting with (or getting to know) their neighbours. Do you think that's a good thing? FQx2
Why do you think they are like that? *

Community/ Neighbourhood

"community" = "neighbourhood" = the immediate area around one's home + the people there. The word, "neighbourhood" usually refers much more to the physical structures, facilities, etc. around where one lives. The word "community" refers mostly to the people.

In your opinion, what makes a community a good one to live in?
(Similar to above but different) In your opinion, what makes a neighbourhood a good one to live in?
How do you think a good community atmosphere could be produced? (= a good sense of community)
Why do people tend to become attached to the neighbourhood in which they live?
(Similar to above) Why do people tend to identify with the neighbourhood in which they live?
Do you think it's good to feel proud of your neighbourhood?
In your opinion, what kind of a community (or, a neighbourhood or a living environment) is good for children? FQx2
What sorts of facilities do you think a community should have for children? FQ

International Relations

Which do you think is more important, international law or local law? ("local" can mean "domestic" or "national")

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