Part 1 Jan-Apr 2011 Page 2 of 3

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Updated Jun 25, 2011

Part 1 Topics and Questions

For The IELTS Speaking Tests, January - April, 2011

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1. Your Work or Your Studies C

Do you work or are you a student? C

1a) Your Work C

General Description of Your Job

What job (or, what work) do you do? C
What is the nature of that work? NC
(Similar to above) What do you do in that job? NC
Why did you choose to do that job (or, that kind of work)?
Is that a popular choice of career in your country?
What skills do you need for that job?
(Similar to above) What qualities do people need to have to do that job? N
Would you say your job (or, your work) is very important? NC (See Note)
(Similar to above) Is your job (or, your work) very important in your country? N (See Note)

Finding a Job

How did you get that job?
Was it easy to get that job?
Is it easy (for other people in your country) to find work doing your job? C
(Similar to above) Is it easy to get such a job?
(Similar to above) In your country, is it easy for people to find a job?
Where do people get information about jobs, from newspaper or from TV?
Are there other ways for people to get information about jobs?

Feelings about the Job

Do you like (or, enjoy) your job (or, your work)? C
(Similar to above) How do you like your current job?
Do you often meet new people in your job? N
Which do you enjoy more, communicating with people at work, or the work itself? N
(Perhaps the question above is this) Which is more important to you, co-operating with others at work, or the work itself? N
(Similar to above) Which is more important to you, the work you do or your colleagues (the people you work with/ your workmates)? NC (See Note)
Which do you enjoy more, working or studying?
What do you like about your work?
(Similar to above) What's the best thing about your job?
Do you think it's very important for people to do a job that they like (or, a job that they are interested in)?
Is your work very easy to do? C
What's the most difficult part of your job? N
Would you like to change your job? (See Note)
What other job do you think you would enjoy, apart from your present job?
(Similar to above) If you had a choice, what would be your ideal job?
(Similar to above) If you had to change your career, what other job would you choose?

Interesting

Is your work very interesting? NC
What's the most interesting aspect of your work? NC
(Possibly) What's the most interesting thing about your work? N

1b) Your Studies C

Note: For high school students or recent high school graduates who have not yet started university, the word "school" or the words, "high school" or "secondary school" will be used instead of "university". If you are no longer a student now and have not yet started to work, the questions will be about the last time you were a student, either high school or university, and the questions will be asked in the past tense.

General Description of Your Studies

What subject(s) are you studying? (Plural for high school students) C
Why did you choose to study that subject? C
(For high school) Why did you choose those subjects?
Do you like ______ (your subject)? C
Is that a popular subject (to study) in your country? C
Would you say your subject is important? (How important?) NC (See Note)
(Similar to above) Is your subject very important in your country? N (See Note)
How do you think this subject is useful? N
How do you think your subject will help you (or, benefit you) in the future? N
(Similar to above) Do you think this subject has good prospects for the future? C

Liking Your Subject

Do you like your subject? (Why?/Why not?) NC
What do you like most about it? N
(For High school students) What subject (or, subjects) do you like the most? NC

Easy/Difficult

Would you say that's an easy subject to study? N

Interesting

Is your subject interesting? (Why?/Why not?)

(Similar to above) What's the most interesting part of your subject?

(Similar to above) What's the most interesting part of your studies?

(Similar to above) For you, what's the most interesting part (or subject or class) of your course? C

(Similar to above) For you, what's the best part (or subject or class) of your course? N

(For high school) What's the most interesting of your subjects at school?

Do you think it's important to choose a subject you are interested in (or, a subject you like)? (Why?/Why not?) C

Future Work

What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)
(Similar to above) What do you plan (or, do you want) to do after you finish your course?
(Similar to above) What work would you like to do after you finish your studies?
Do you think what you are studying now will be very useful (or, relevant or, important) for this type of work?
Do you think you will be able to easily find work in the future after studying _______ (your subject)? NC
How will you (or, how do you plan to) get the job you want?
Do you think it will be easy to find that kind of work?
(Similar to above) Do you think it will be easy to find that kind of work (without help)?
(Similar to above) Do you think it will be easy to find work (or, find a job) after you graduate?
(Similar to above) Is it easy to find a job with this major?

Being a Student

Do you like school/university life? N
What do you like most about your studies? N
(Possibly the question above is) Do you enjoy studying that (your subject)? --> What's the most enjoyable thing about it? N
(In a classroom,) who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher? NC (See Note)
(Similar to above) (In your class, your course or, your studies) who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher? NC
(Similar to above) (In your class, your course or, your studies) who is more important to you, the students or the teacher? NC
Who gives you more help, the teachers or other students? NC
What do you get from your teachers? N

First Day

How was your first day of university? N (Only reported once. Possibly a mistake.)

2. Your Hometown C

Notes:

– Your 'hometown' is the place where you grew up, not necessarily the place where you were born or your ancestral family location.

– Don’t say your hometown is “Henan” or some other province. That is your home province, not your home town.

– Sometimes the questions below are used not for your hometown but for the place where you are living now, even if the word, "hometown" is used in a question below.

– Several questions here are similar because there is more than one set of questions for the topic, "Your Hometown".

The Place

Where do you come from? C
(Similar to above) Where is your hometown? C
Where do you live at the moment? C
How long have you been living there/here? C
(Similar to above) How long have you lived there? C
(If you are living in a different place to where you come from) Why did you move there/here? N
Is that a big city or a small place (or, a small town)? NC
Which do you prefer, to live in a big city or a small place? N
(Similar to above) Do you like living in a big city/small place (whichever you said in your previous answer)? NC
What are the advantages (or, benefits) of living in a big city/small place? NC
Is it an interesting place to live? N
Do you think living in a big city is more interesting than living in a small place? N
Would you say your hometown is more suitable for young people to live in, or old people? NC

Famous

Is your hometown famous for anything? C (See Note)
(If you answer no) How could it become famous?

The History of Your Hometown

Do you know much about the history of your hometown? C (See Note)
Did you learn (or, have you learned) much about the history of your hometown in school? (See Note)

Transport

What form of transport do you prefer to use in your hometown?

House or Flat

Do you live in a house or a flat? N

Free Time Activities in Your Hometown

What do people in your hometown do in their free time?
(Similar to above) What do you do in your hometown in your leisure time?
What place(s) in your hometown do you go to in your leisure time? C (Why? Include what you do there.)
(Similar to above) What places does your hometown have where people can go to enjoy themselves? NC
(Similar to above) What places does your hometown have where people can engage in leisure activities? N
(Similar to above) What "fun" places are there in your hometown? N
Are there any places that are suitable for foreigners to visit in your hometown? NC
(Perhaps the question above is this) Are there any places in your hometown that you would recommend to foreigners as good places to visit? N
(Similar to above) What can a visitor to your hometown do there? N

Your Feelings about the Place

Do you like living here/there? C
Would you say it's a good place to grow up (in)? (See Note)
What do you like (most or, best) about (living in) your hometown (or, about living where you are living now)? C
(Similar to above) What's your favourite part of your hometown? N
Is there anything in your hometown that (you think) needs to be improved? C

3. Your Home (Your Accommodation)

No questions yet. The topic has not been reported yet.

4. Flying C (= 坐飞机,乘飞机) = "Air Travel"

Have you ever traveled by (= flown in a) plane? (If yes, when, where did you go?) C

(Similar to above) Do you often travel by aeroplane? C

(Similar to above) Do you often travel by air? (To where?) C

When was the last time you traveled by air? N

Did you like it (like flying)? C (Possibly "Do you like it?" if you say you often fly.)

(Similar to above) Do you think it's a good way to travel? N

(Similar to above) What are the advantages of traveling by air? NC

How does flying compare to other forms of transport?

Would you like to travel by plane again?

Do people travel by air more today than in the past? N

Do you think there will be more people traveling by air in the future?

(Similar to above) Do you think air travel will become more popular in the future? C

Do you think you will fly (or, be flying) less, or more, in the future? N

Do you have any plans to travel by air in the future? (If yes: Where will you be going?) N (See Note)

If you travel by plane again, where do you think you will go (or, you will be going)?

(Similar to above) In the future, where would you like to travel to by plane? C

5. Museums C

Do you like to go to museums? N
Do you often visit a museum? C
What kinds of museums are there in your country? C
(Possibly) What kinds of museums are most popular in your country? N (See Note)
Did you go to any museums when you were a child? C
(Possible question) Did you ever go to any museums as part of a class at school? N
When was the last time you visited a museum? C
Do you think museums are important? C
(Similar to above) What do you think are the benefits of visiting museums? N
Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown/country?
Do you think it's good (or, suitable) for museums to sell things to visitors? C
(Similar to above) Do you think museums should sell things to visitors?
Do you think people should have to pay to enter museums? N

6. News C

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 10. Dance

Do you like dancing? C
When was the last time you danced? C
(Similar to above) When was the last time you went dancing (出去跳舞)?

(Similar to above) When was the last time you went to a party where people danced?

Where can we see people dancing? N
(Similar to above) What are some of the various places where we can see people dancing?
Do you like to watch dance performances? C
(Similar to above) How do you feel when you watch dance performances on TV?
When was the last time you watched a dance performance? NC
Have you ever learned to dance? C
Why do some people learn dancing? N

Why do you think some (or, many) people like dancing?
Is dancing important to young people? N
Why do young people like dancing?
(Similar to above) Do you think there are any advantages for young people to go dancing?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's good for children (or, young people) to learn to dance? N

8. Books & Reading C

Do you like reading (books)? (Why?/Why not?) C (See note)
What (kinds of ) books do you like to read? C
(Similar to above) What (kinds of ) books do you (like to) read for pleasure (or, enjoyment)? C
Are you reading any books at the moment? N
Did you read much when you were a child?
(Similar to above) Did you like reading when you were a child? N
What (kinds of) books did you like reading when you were a child? C
Do (young) children like reading books?
For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading? C
(Possible) What do you think are the benefits of reading to children? (= someone else reading while the child listens)
Do you think children should learn to read at an earlier age than they do now?
Is reading books important for you now?
(Similar to above) Do you read a lot nowadays?
Do you like to collect books? N
Do you know how to write a book? N
Would you like to write a book? C
Do you like receiving a book as a gift? C
(Perhaps the above question is this) Would you like to receive a book as a gift?
(Perhaps the above question is this) How would you feel if someone gave you a book as a gift?
Do you think it's important to have public libraries?
Do you think the government has a responsibility to provide public libraries for everyone? *

9. The Ocean (大海) C

Have you ever been to the seaside?
How many times have you been to the seaside?
(Similar to above) How often do you go to the seaside? N
(Similar to above) Do you spend a lot of time at the seaside? N
Did you like the ocean (or, it)? (or, like the sea; or, like the seaside) C
(Similar to above) Do you like the ocean (the sea)?
What (benefits) did you get from going there?
What do people in China do when they go to the beach? C
(Similar to above) What do people (in China) do when they go to the seaside (or, near the sea)? N
(Similar to above) What would you enjoy doing if you were at the seaside?
(Similar to above) What interests you most about the beach?
Would you like to live in a house near the ocean? C

10. Meeting People C

Note 1: The word, "meet" can mean "meet someone for the first time" or alternatively, "get together with someone such as a friend or congregate with a group". It is possible that both of these different meanings are used here, in different questions. For example, "Where did you meet your friends?" means "Where and how did you first meet them?" but "Where do you meet your friends?" means, "Where do you usually (or habitually) get together with your friends?" So, some of the questions here might be wrong. For example, "Where do you go to meet (or make) new friends?" does not seem correct because most people don't habitually or frequently go somewhere in order to find new friends. (If they did, it would mean that they can't find or can't keep friends!) But if the emphasis is just on meeting people, not on making new friends, then the question, "Where do you meet new people?" (= "Where do you come across new people?) is logical.

It is not too clear what some of these questions are, so pay close attention to the exact words of the examiner.

Note 2: Just because most of these questions here do not have a C after them does not mean that these questions are no good. It just means that almost everyone who reports these questions on the internet is confused! I believe the questions below are the most likely real questions for this topic. My full collection of (sometimes confused) reported questions for this topic is HERE.

In the questions below, "meet" means, "come together with". Sometimes we say, "meet with someone" = "meet someone". The second question here, "Where do young people in your country meet (= meet with each other)?" includes the idea that these places provide an opportunity for young people to make friends if many young people go to these places, but the question is not specifically asking about making new friends.

Do you like to meet with other people? N
(Similar to above, but different) Do you like to meet new people? N
Where do young people in your country meet (= meet with each other)? N
(Similar to above, but different) In general, where do young people in your country make new friends? N
What do they do there?
Are these places where young people meet today the same as where young people used to meet in the past (e.g., 20 or 30 years ago)? N
Where do you meet (with) your friends? N
(Possibly) Where did you (first) meet your friends?
Are there any differences between the places where older people meet and where young people meet? N
(In your country), where can you meet people from other countries? N

11. Your Daily Routine C

What do you do on a typical day? NC
(Similar to above) How do you spend most of your time?
What do you do mainly do with your time?
(Similar to above) What do you do in your daily life?
What is the best part of the day for you? (Why?)
(Similar to above) What time of the day do you like best? C
(Similar to above) What part (or time) of the day do you feel most active (or, feel your best)? (Why?)
When do you do most of your study? C
(Similar to above) In what part of the day are you most efficient at studying? N
(Similar to above) For you, what's the best time (of the day) to study? N
How do you think your daily routine could be improved?
(Similar to above) Would you like to change your daily routine (in any way)? C
(Similar to above) Is there anything you would you like to change about your daily routine?
How much time do you think people should spend working per week? N

12. Emails and Letters C

Do you write many letters or emails?
Which do you more often write, emails or letters?
How often do you write an email or a letter? NC
What are the differences between emails and letters?
(Similar to above) Which do you prefer to receive, an email or a letter? N
What do you usually write about?
Who do you usually write to? NC
Is it hard to think of what to write?
What kind(s) of letter/email do you think is (are) the hardest to write? C
(Similar to above) What topics do you think (are) the hardest to write about?
How do you feel when you receive a letter or email? N
What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel happy (or, "excited"? C

13. Animals C

Although the topic of "Animals" was used before January 2011, it seems that several of the questions being used now were new after January.

Do you like animals?
What's your favourite animal? (Why?) C
Are people in your country fond of animals? C
(Similar to above) Do many people in your country keep animals at home (or, keep a pet)?
(Similar to above) Do people in your country like to raise animals? N (See Note)
What kinds of animals do people in your country keep? N
(Similar to above) What kinds of animals as a pet do the people have in your country? NC
Compared with the past, have there been any changes concerning pets in your country/hometown? N
Do you think pets are important? N
Do you think cities are suitable places for keeping a pet?
Do children like animals?
(Similar to above) What animals do children like?
What was your favourite animal when you were a child?
Did you have any pets when you were a child? C
(Similar to above) Have you ever raised (or, had) a pet?

What do you think are the benefits of a child having a pet?
(Possibly the question above is this) What benefits did you get from having a pet?
If you have children in the future, will you allow them to raise a pet?
(Similar to above, but different!) If you were a parent, would you let your children raise a pet?

Farm Animals and Wild Animals

What farm animals do you have in your country? NC
Do you think farm animals are important? N
How are these animals used? N
(Similar to above) In what ways are animals used in agriculture in your country? NC (See Note)
(Possible question) Do you think raising farm animals is important?
What's the most famous wild animal from your country? N
What's your favourite wild animal (from your country)? NC (See Note)

14. Leisure Time C

How much free time (or time to relax) do you have (per week)? C
How do you relax?
What do you do in your spare time (= free time)? C
Do you have any hobbies (or interests)? N
What benefits do you get from this (these) hobby (hobbies)? N
What do you do on weekends?
(In the evenings), do you prefer to relax at home and watch TV or go out with your friends? C
(Similar to above) Would you prefer to relax at home and watch TV or go out with your friends?
(Similar to above) Would you prefer to relax at home and watch TV or go shopping?
Do you think it's important to (have time to) relax? C
In your country, what leisure activities do people do? N
Do men and women relax ( = spend their free time) in the same way? C
What do you usually do with your family?
Do you think modern people like to do things with others, in a group?
Do you often do things in a group?
Do you prefer to do things in a family group or in a group of friends? C
How do you usually spend your holidays? N
How did you spend your last holidays (vacation)? C

15. Sport C

Are you interested in sport?
(Similar to above) Do you like sport?
What sports do you like? (Why?) C
(Similar to above) What sports do you usually play?
Do most people in your country like sport?
(Similar to above) What sports do people in your country like to play? C
Do men and women feel the same about sport?
Do men and women (like to) play the same sports? C
(Possibly the question above is) (In your country,) what are the differences between boys' sports and girls' sports? C
(Possibly the question above is) Do you think nowadays boys and girls can play the same sport? N (See Note)
What sports do girls like in your country? N
What benefits do you think sport can bring us?
Do (did) you often play sport at school? (What sport?) (Past tense if you have finished school.)
(Similar to above) Did you like (to play) sport when you were a child? N
What sport(s) did you play when you were a child? C
Did you like (to play) that sport? N
What are the benefits of playing sport?
Do you think we should encourage children to play sport in school?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for children to play sports?
If you have children in the future, will you let them take part in any sport? C
(Similar to above) If you had children, would you let them play sport?
(Similar to above) If you had children, would you encourage them to play sport?

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