Part 1 Jan-Apr 2011

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Jun. 25, 2011

Part 1 Topics and Questions

For The IELTS Speaking Tests, January - April, 2011

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16. Numbers NC

In your country, do any numbers have special meaning? NC
What's your favourite number? N
Are there any numbers or dates that you think are (especially) important to remember? NC
(Similar to above) What important numbers have you memorized? N
How often do you need to memorize a number? N
Which do you think are easier to remember, names or numbers? NC

(Similar to above) Which do you think are easier to memorize, names or numbers? ("Memorize" and "remember" are different in meaning.)

How do you remember a number (or, numbers)? NC

17. Time Management NC

See some vocabulary about time

How do you manage (or, organize) your time? NC

Would you say you are good at managing (or, organizing) your time? NC
(Similar to above) Do you find it hard to manage your time? N
Where did you learn how to organize your time? NC
What do you think you would gain if you were better at managing your time? N
Are you ever late for anything? N
If you had more time, what would you do with the extra time? NC

18. Painting and Drawing NC

See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 49. Art

Some questions might be about painting and others about drawing. "Painting" is wet; "drawing" is dry.

Do you like painting? (Why / Why not?) C (See Note)

(Similar to above) Do you ever paint pictures? * N

Did you do any painting when you were a child? NC

(Similar to above) Did you like painting when you were a child? N

(Similar to above) Have you ever painted pictures? * N
How about now? Do you still paint pictures? NC (See Note)
Do you think you will paint any pictures in the future? N
What do you think are the benefits of painting (or art) for children? NC
(Similar to above) Do you think painting is good for (or useful for) children? NC
Do you think painting (or drawing) is important (or, useful) for adults? (Unclear wording.) NC
(Possibly) Does drawing have much meaning for adults?

See also these questions from Part 1, Jan-Apr 2010

Do you like drawing / painting? (Why / Why not?)
Why do some people like to draw (or paint)?
Have you ever taken a class in (drawing or) painting?
(Similar to above) Have you ever taken an art class?
When you were a child, did you have art classes at school?
(Similar to above) Did you learn to paint when you were a child?
Have you kept any of your drawings or paintings (from when you were a child)?
Do you think children should learn drawing / painting (from a young age)?
(Similar to above) Do you think children should have art classes in school?
(Similar to above) Do you think it’s necessary to teach children to draw?
Do you think art is necessary (or, important) in society?
Why do you think people buy paintings?
Why do you think people like to have a painting (or other artwork) in their homes?
Why do you think people like to put paintings (or other artwork) on the walls of their homes?
Do you ever buy paintings (or, have you ever bought a painting)?
(Similar to above) Would you consider buying a painting yourself?
(Similar to above) Would you (ever) buy a painting?

19. Concerts NC

The exact words for these questions are not clear. Listen carefully to the exact words of the examiner because a single change of word can completely change a meaning. For example, to "listen to a concert" can be done by watching it on TV, by listening to a CD or by actually going to the concert and listening to it live. But if the questions asks if if you have ever attended (= been to) a concert, it is asking you about listening to a live concert.

Have you ever been to a live concert? * N (See Note)
(Probably if you say no to the question above) Would you like to go to (or watch) a concert in the future? N
What sorts of concerts do you have in your country? N
Are concerts ever held in your hometown? N
When was the last time you attended a concert? NC
(Similar to above) What was the last concert you attended or saw on TV? NC
What's the difference between attending a concert and hearing it on a CD? NC
Which would you prefer, to attend a concert of your favourite artist or to buy a CD of this artist? NC

20. Collecting C

Did you collect anything (such as stamps or CD's) when you were a child? C
Do you still collect them now? C
Do you collect anything as a hobby now? C
Why do you like collecting things?
Do people in your country like to collect things?
Why do you think people like collecting things? C
What are some examples of things that some people (in your country) collect (as a hobby)? C See Note
Do you think you will collect anything in the future?
If you had a lot of money, what would you like to collect? C See Note
(Similar to above) If you had a lot of money, what would you collect? (Don't use, "will".) C See Note
Would you collect something that you think will have value in the future?

21. Films C

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 13. Films

Do you like to watch films?
How often do you watch a film? C
(Similar to above) How often do you go to the cinema?
Where do you prefer to watch films?
Do you like to watch films in a cinema? (Why?/Why not?)
Do you prefer to watch films at home or in a cinema? (Why?) C
Do you prefer to watch films alone or with others (or, with friends)? NC
Do you prefer to watch films or read books? N
(Possibly the question above is this) Do you prefer to read a story in a book or to watch the same story in a film? N
What types of films do you like? C
Do you ever watch foreign films?
Are there any types of films that you dislike?
What kinds of films did you like to watch when you were a child? C
Do you still like the same kind(s) of films now? N
What are the differences between the films that children like to watch and the films that adults like to watch? N
Are films very important? N
Some people say watching films is a waste of time. What do you think? N
Why do you think people like to watch films? N

22. Languages C

See Notes

What foreign languages have you studied (or, learned)?
(Similar to above) How many languages can you speak? C
Why did you choose to study that language?
How did you learn that language? C
(Similar to above) How did you learn (to speak) English? C See Note
How long have you been learning that language (or, learning English)? C
Would you say it's a difficult language to learn? (Why?) See Note
(Similar to above) Compared to other languages, would you say English is difficult? (Why?/Why not?)
(Similar to above) Is that language hard for you?
How do you practice your English? NC
How do you study English? N
Do people in your country have many chances to practice oral English?
Do you think it's important to know more than one language?
What do you think the benefits would be if a person mastered a foreign language? N
If you had the chance, would you be willing to learn another language?
(Similar to above) What other language would you like to learn, (if you had the opportunity)? (Why?) C
(Similar to above) Would you like to learn another language in the future? (If yes, what language.)

23. Traveling C

Almost certainly, this means traveling to places as a tourist away from your hometown, not travelling (commuting) to work or school in your city or town.

The emphasis of this topic seems to be on tourism, although the word "travel" can apply to simply going somewhere, not necessarily as a tourist. For example, you might sometimes make long trips to go from your hometown to another city where you attend university.

It looks like there might be two different sets of "travelling" questions.

Do you like travelling? C
Where do you like to go when you go traveling? C
(Similar to above) What places have you traveled to?
Have you ever traveled for a long time? = Have you (ever) been on any long trips? C
Do you like long trips? C
What's (or, when was) the longest journey you've been on? C
How do you feel when you travel? C
What form of transport do you prefer to use when you travel?
What was the last place you traveled to?
Which city (or place) that you have been to did you like the most? (Why?)
Have you ever been to any unusual (or, strange) places?
Have you ever travelled alone?
Do you prefer to travel alone or with other people? N
Where (which country or place) would you like to travel to (in the future)? C
What makes a place attractive for visitors (or, tourists)?
What places in China are (or, would be) attractive for foreigners to travel to?
(Similar to above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or suggest) foreigners travel to?
Why do you think traveling is so popular nowadays?
Do you think finding out about other people's culture is important? (Why?)

24. Science NC

Do you like science? NC
(Possibly the question above is this) Are you very interested in science? N
What science have you studied (or learned)? N
(For working people) Is your work related to science? N
What science subject do you like the most? (Why?) N
What's the most interesting (part of) science to you? NC
Is there anything about science that you dislike? N (See Note)
What are your sources of information about science? N
How do you (or, how did you) study science? NC
(Similar to above) How is science taught in school in your country? N
(Similar to above) How do students in your country study science? N
What's the most difficult part of studying science? N
What science do students study at school in your country? N
How has the science that you have studied helped you? / How does the science you have studied help you? / How do you think the science you have studied will help you? (One of those) N

25. Holidays N

This meaning of "holiday" is 节日, similar to "festival".

(The other meaning is the same as, "vacation" or 假期. This is usually used in the plural form such as, "my summer holidays" = "my summer vacation". But this just means your "break from work or from school". If, during your "summer holidays" you go for a two-week trip to the seaside, that trip and that experience is usually spoken as "my summer holiday" not "my summer holidays". In other words, a special trip made for the purpose of relaxation or recreation is also called a "holiday".)

What public holidays do you have in your country? *
Which public holidays do you like the most? N
(Similar to above) What's your favourite public holiday? N (See Note)
What did you do in the last public holiday? NC
Do you prefer doing things indoors or outdoors on a holiday? NC
In your country, do old people usually do the same things as young people during a holiday? N
What family holidays do you (or, does your family) usually celebrate? N (See Note)
Do you think it's important to have public holidays? N
Do you think there should be more public holidays in your country? N

26. Flowers C

Do you like flowers? C
What flowers do you like? (Why?) C
(Similar to above) What's your favourite flower? (Why?)
Do any flowers have any special meaning in your country? NC
In your country, do people (ever) give flowers as a gift? NC
On what occasions do people in your country give flowers to other people? C
(Possibly) Which flower do you think best represents you? N

See also these Part 1 questions on Flowers from May-Aug, 2010

See Note on the word, "send"

Do you like flowers?
What flowers do you like? (Why?)
Do you think flowers are important?
(Similar to above) Are flowers important in your culture? (Give examples)
On what occasions are flowers important?
(Similar to above) On what occasions do people in your country give flowers to other people?
When was the last time you gave flowers to someone?
(Similar to above) When was the last time you bought flowers?
(Similar to above) When was the last time you yourself bought flowers?
(Possibly the question above is this:) When was the last time you bought flowers for yourself?
Do you like to have flowers in your home?
Do you (ever) grow flowers at home? (Give details)
(Similar to above) Have you ever grown flowers at home? (Give details)
Do many people in your country grow flowers at home?

27. Housework NC

See some vocabulary here

Do people in your country do much housework? N
In your home, who does (most of) the housework? N
Do you do much (or, any) housework? (If yes, what? Why?/Why not?) NC
What housework do you like to do? NC
What housework did you do when you were a child? NC
Do you think children should (learn to) do housework? (Why?/Why not?) NC
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for children to do housework? N
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important for young people to help do the family housework? N
Do people in your country spend much time doing housework? N
(Similar to above) How much time do people in your country spend doing housework? N
Do you feel people in your country have enough time to do housework? N
Do you think people like doing housework by themselves? N (See Note)
(Possibly the question above is this) Do you think people like doing housework themselves? N

28. Gifts N

Do you ever give people gifts? N
Do you ever receive gifts? N
Do you prefer receiving a gift or giving a gift? NC
(Similar to above) Which do you think is better, to receive a gift or to give a gift? N
Who did you last give a gift to? N
When was the last time you received a gift? N
Do you think it's difficult to choose what gift to give to people? NC

See also these questions from Part 1, Sep-Dec 2009

See Note on the word, "send"

Do people in China like to give gifts (to other people)?
On what occasions do people in China give gifts?
What kinds of things do people (in China) give each other as gifts?
Do you and your friends or family members give each other gifts?
(Similar to above) Do you often buy gifts for friends or family members?
What sorts of gifts do you give to your friends?
(Similar to above) What sorts of gifts have you given to your friends?
Have your friends ever given you gifts?
Do you think it's difficult to choose what gifts to give people?
Do you think gift-giving is very important?
Would you say it's necessary to buy expensive gifts for people?
Have you ever given a gift that you made yourself?

29. Outdoor Activities NC

Do you like outdoor activities? NC
How much time do you have for outdoor activities? N
What outdoor activities do you (most) like to do? NC
What outdoor sports do you like? N
(Similar to above, but different) What kinds of outdoor activities do you do in your everyday life? N
How often do you do that? NC
Do people in your country prefer to spend time indoors or outdoors? N (See Note)
What (types of) outdoor activities are popular in your country? NC
Do people in your country have enough time to spend on outdoor activities? N

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