Notes

• For some of these topics, there might be two sets of different but similar questions, for example, the "Sport" topic. Certainly the "Work/Studies" and the "Hometown" questions exist in different sets.

• N = a new topic or question. (Actually, some of these "new" topics seem to be repeats of previous topics that were used months or years ago.)

• Many of the questions have the words, "(Why?/Why not?)" written in the examiner's question book after the question. I have not always shown that here but you should include this information when you answer any questions about your preferences, opinions, likes and dislikes or any other answer that obviously needs you to state a reason for a complete, coherent answer. If you do not, the examiner will ask you "Why?" or, "Why not?". If the examiner is forced to ask that several times, you will be losing valuable time and you will not give a good impression.

• * = A question that I have guessed is in the test OR a question that seems to exist but which has not been reported clearly so I have guessed the wording

• Some of these questions appear to belong to more than one topic. For example, some of the questions in the "Weekends" topic, the "Holidays" and the "Leisure Time" topic seem similar. The same applies to the "Computers" topic and "The Internet" topic. Don't worry about this – the most important thing is to aware of what questions are possible in your test, even if the topics are a little different to what I have here. It is also possible that the examiners are sometimes using the same question in more than one topic.

• Make sure you read HOW_TO_SPEAK_IN_PART_1.htm

• See also Some General Notes for the Part 1 Questions Page.

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0. The four I.D. checking questions.   (Not really part of Part 1)

1.  Your Work or Your Studies  

2.  Your Hometown 

3.  Your Home (Your Accommodation)  

One of the three topics above is a compulsory topic and you will be asked about 4 questions on this topic. You will then be asked questions on two of the topics from below. (Again, about 4 questions per topic). (There's a 50% chance that you will get Topic 1, a 25% chance that you will get Topic 2 and a 25% chance of getting Topic 3.

1.  Your Work or Your Studies  

• What work do you do?

• Why did you choose to do that kind of work (or, that job)?

• Is that a very popular job in your country?

• Is you work very interesting?

• Do you like your work/job?

• Is there anything you dislike about your job? N

• Is your work very challenging (or, difficult)? N

• What do you do when you have a problem (or difficulty) with your work? N

• Do you plan to continue doing this type of work (or, this job)?

• What subject(s) are you studying?

• Why did you choose to study that? / Why did you choose to study those subjects?

• Is that a very popular subject to study in your country?

• Do you like that subject?

• Is there anything you dislike about your subject? * N

• What's your favourite class?

• Is your subject very challenging (or difficult) to study? N

• What do you do when you have a problem (or difficulty) with your studies? N

• What school/university do you go to?

• Why did you choose to go to that school/university?

• What do you plan to do after you finish your studies?

• Is it easy to find a job (doing that) in your country? N

2.  Your Hometown 

See also the Hometown questions from May-August. Some of those questions are probably still being used.

  See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 3. Your Hometown

     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".

See also the Home questions from May-August. Some of those questions are probably still being used.

4.  Noise N

     Also see All Part 1 Questions 26. Noise

     See Note on the meaning and usage of the word, "noise".

Previously Used Questions

• Do you prefer a quiet environment or an environment with some sounds?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer a quiet environment or a noisy environment?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to study (or work ) in a quiet environment or an environment with some noise (or, sounds)?

• (Possibly the question above is this) Would you prefer to study (or work ) in a quiet environment or an environment with some noise (or, sounds)?

• Does your school have any quiet places for studying?

• What are some places where there is a lot of noise?

• What natural sound do you like (the most)? (Why?)

• What sounds do you dislike? (Why?)

• (Possibly the question above is worded this way:) Are there any sounds that you dislike? (Why?)

-------------------------------------------------

Questions After Sep. 3

• Are you ever bothered by noise? N

• Where can you hear loud noise?

• (Similar to above) Where are some noisy places that you have been to? N  (Unclear)

• (Similar to above) Do you think there's too much noise in modern society? N

• (Possibly the question above is this) What noisy places are there in your hometown (or, where you are living)?

• Do you think that cities will become noisier in the future? N

• What sounds do you like? N

• What sounds do you dislike? N

• (Possibly) Are there any particular sounds that you like or dislike?

• What sounds remind you of your childhood?

5.  Driving a Car N

   See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 39. Transport

(Most of this list of questions are those questions that were used last time this topic was used.)

Having/Driving a Car

• Do you or your family have a car?

• Do you know how to drive a car (or, drive it)?

• (If you know how to drive) Do you prefer to drive or to be a passenger? N

• (If you know how to drive) Do you prefer long trips in your car, or short trips? N

Driver's License

For the words, "get (or have) a driver's license" the words, "know how to drive" or "learn to drive" might be used.

• Do you (know how to) drive a car? 

• (Similar to above) Do you have a driver's license? (Why?/Why not?) (U.S. = a "driving license") 

• (Possible question, if you do not yet have a driver's license) Do you plan to get a driver's license? (Why? When?)

• (If you already have a driver's license) Why did you want to get a driver's license? N

• When did you get your driver's license? 

• (Possible question) How did you get your driver's license? *

• (Possible question) Was it easy to get your driver's license? *

• Do you think it's important to get (or, to have) a driver's license?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's necessary to learn to drive?

Driving Skills / Safety

• Do you think it's important to pay attention to safety when driving?

• Do you think it's important (for everyone who drives) to drive well? 

• (Similar to above) How important do you think it is for drivers to have good driving skills? 

• What advice would you give people about safe driving?

Age

• Do you think children should be allowed to drive a car (= to get a driver's license)? (Why?/Why not?)

• The question above might be this: Do you think all young people should learn how to drive? *

• What do you think is the most suitable (minimum) age for a young person to get a driver's license?

• (Similar to above) At what age do you think young people should be allowed to get a driver's license?

• (Similar to above) In the future, when you have a child, at what age will you allow him or her to get a driver's license?

High School Driving Classes

• Do high schools in your country have driving classes? (Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) Did (or, do) you have driving classes at high school? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think it's important to have driving classes at school?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it would be a good idea to have driving classes at school?

6.  Mobile Phones N

    See also All Part 1 Questions 37. Telephones

• Do you have a mobile phone (= "a cell phone")? * 

• (Similar to above) Do you use a cell phone?

• Is your cell phone important (or, useful) for you in your daily life?

• What do you use it for? 

• When do you use it? N

• How often do you use it?

• When did you get it?  

• (Similar to above) When did you get your first mobile phone? 

• How did you get your first mobile phone?

• How did you feel when you got your first mobile phone?

• Have mobile phones developed (or changed) in the past few years? N

• What feature (or, function) of your cell phone do you like the best?

• Is there anything you dislike about using cell phones?

• Have you ever had any problems using your your mobile phone while traveling? N

• Do you usually use your mobile phone to call people or to send text messages? N

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to use your mobile phone to call people or to send text messages? N

• Who do you usually call/send text messages to? N

• Do you think you will be using your mobile phone more often (than you use it now) in the future? N

• How do you think mobile phones will develop (or change) in the future? N

7.  Dancing N

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 10. Dance

• Do you like dancing?

• When was the last time you danced?

• (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?

• (Similar to above) What are some of the various places where we can see people dancing?

• On what occasions do people in your country dance? N

• Do you like to watch dance performances?

• (Similar to above) How do you feel when you watch dance performances on TV?

• When was the last time you watched a dance performance?

• Have you ever learned to dance?

• Why do some people learn dancing?

• Why do you think some (or, many) people like dancing?

• Is dancing important to young people?

• 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?

• Did you like dancing when you were a child? N

• What do you think about dancing for old people? N

8.  Birthdays N

• Do you like birthdays?

• Do people in China celebrate birthdays?

• (Similar to above) Are people's birthdays very important in China?

• Are any birthdays ( = reaching a certain age) especially important in your country? N

• How do Chinese people celebrate birthdays?

• (Similar to above) Do people in China do anything special to celebrate birthdays?  

• (Similar to above) Nowadays, how do young people in China celebrate their birthday?

• How do you like to celebrate your birthday?  

• (Similar to above) Do you usually do anything special on your birthdays?

• Do people in China have birthday parties? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you prefer birthday parties with your friends or with your family? N

• What did you do on your last birthday? See note

• Do you think it's important for people to celebrate birthdays?  

• (Possibly the above question is this:) Do you think it's important to remember people's birthdays?

• Do you think it's important to give a (special) gift to someone on their birthday?

• Are birthdays more important for children or for adults?  

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's more important for children to celebrate birthdays than adults?

• Do children and adults celebrate birthdays the same way?

• What do children do when they have a birthday party? N

9.  The Internet N

Notes:

- Possibly this topic is not a separate topic from the "Computer" topic, and some questions about both the internet and computers are asked.

- Of course, you should know that "the internet" and "computers" are not exactly the same topic. "The internet" is simply one usage of computers.

Questions from Sep-Dec 2011

• When was the first time you used the internet?

• (Similar to above) How long have you been using the internet?

• Is the internet very important (or, useful) to you?

• Do think you can live without the internet?

• (Similar to above) Do you think you could live or work as well as you do now if you didn't use the internet?

• Do you often (or, do you ever) buy things on the internet?

• What can you (= people) learn from the internet?

• Do you think information on the internet is very reliable?

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Previously Used Questions

Some of these might be in use now.

Your Internet Usage

• Do you ever use the internet? (= access the internet = go onto the internet = log onto the internet)  

• How (or, where) do you go onto the internet?  (At school? At home? At an internet cafe?)  

• What do you do on the internet?

• Have you ever bought anything on the internet?

• Do you often buy things on the internet?

First Time

• When did you start using (or first learn to use) the internet?

• How did you learn to use the internet?  

• Where did you learn to use the internet? 

Good and Bad

• Do you think the internet is a good thing?  

• Is there anything that's not so good about (or, on) the internet?

• What are the good and bad points about the internet?  

• (Similar to above) Is there anything you don't like about the internet?

• Do you think the use of the internet needs to be controlled?  

• Do you think people can trust (or, rely on) the information they read on the internet? N

The Impact of the Internet

• In general, what impact does the internet have on people's lives? 

• (Similar to above) How has the internet changed people's lives? 

• (Similar to above) How has the internet changed your life?  See Note 

People's Usage of the Internet, in general

• Is the internet very popular in China?

• What kinds of people (= what groups or what categories of people) most often use the internet?

• (Similar to above) What kinds of people most often use the internet for work?

• How can people best make use of the internet?

Learning + the Internet

• Is there anything you don't understand about the internet?  

• What do you think is the best way to learn about (or learn how to use) the internet?

• How can people learn things on the internet?

• (Possible question) What is the best way people can learn from the internet? * (= What is best way to use this tool for learning.)

• What sorts of things can people learn on the internet?

• What do you think are the benefits of "e-learning"? (= studying online)  

10.  Languages (learning languages) N

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 20. Languages

    See Notes

• What foreign languages have you studied (or, learned)?
• (Similar to above) How many languages can you speak?
• Why did you choose to study that language?
• How did you learn that language?
• (Similar to above) How did you learn (to speak) English?  See Note
• How long have you been learning that language (or, learning English)?
• 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?
• (Similar to above but different) What difficulties do people have when they try to learn another language? N
• How do you practice your English?
• How do you study English?
• 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?
• 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?)
• (Similar to above) Would you like to learn another language in the future? (If yes, what language.)
• What do you think is the fastest way to learn a language? N

11.  Emails and Letters N

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 22. Letters and Emails

• Do you write many letters or emails?

• Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?

• Which do you more often write, emails or letters?

• How often do you write an email or a letter?

• What are the differences between emails and letters?

• (Similar to above) Which do you prefer to receive, an email or a letter?

• What do you usually write about?

• Who do you usually write to?

• Is it hard to think of what to write?

• What kind(s) of letter/email do you think is (are) the hardest to write?

• (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?

• What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel happy (or, "excited"?

• Do you think people will still write letters in the future?

12. Children N

• Do you often come into contact with children? (Where? When?) N

• What do you do when you are with these children? N

• Do you get along well with children? N

• How often do you play with children? N

• What kind of child were you (when you were little)? N

• What did you like to do when you were a child? N

• (Similar to above) What did you like to do for play when you were a child? N

• (Similar to above) What activities did you like to do when you were a child? N

• Do you think children today are the same as (or, different to) those in the past? N

• (Similar to above) Do children today like to do the same things when they play?

• How do you think children in the future will play?

• Do you think children today benefit from modern technology? N

13. Sport & Exercise N

• Do you like sport?

• Did you play any sport when you were a child? N

• What sports do young people (or, children) like to do? N

• (Similar to above) What sports do you think are suitable for children to play? N

• (Possible question) Do old people and young people like to do (or, play) the same sports? N

• What sports do old people like to do? N

• Is there any sport that you have never played that you would like to try (or, to learn)? N

• Do you ever do any exercise to keep fit or healthy? N

• Do you think everybody should do some exercise? (Why?) N

• What do you think are the benefits of exercise? N

14.  Leisure Time  N

• What do you usually do in your free time? *

• In your country, do men and women usually do the same kinds of things in their free time? N

• If you had a holiday, where would you choose to go? N

• Would you prefer to go to just one place or several places? N

• Who would you choose to go with? N

15.  Birds

16.  Colours  

17.  Names  

18.  Hand-made Things  

19.  Photographs  

20.  Schools

Notes: 

For the question about  'your first school', it would be acceptable to talk about kindergarten (if you can remember much about it) and if you did learn things there. However, some Westerners don't think of kindergarten as an example of a "school". Instead, they think of it as more like a "day care centre" or a "pre-school centre".

21.  Computers  

        See also All Part One Questions 8. Computers

        See also All Part One Questions 51. The Internet

• Do you often use computers?

• When did you start using computers?

• What do you use computers for?

• Would you say computers are important?

• (Similar to above) Would you say computers are important in your life?

• (Similar to above) How important are computers to you?

• (Possible) Do computers have much impact on your life?

• What effect do computers have on children?

• How do you think parents could minimize (or avoid) the negative effects of computers on their children?

• What computer skill(s) would you like to learn?  (See note)

22.  Weekends  

        See also All Part One Questions 42. Weekends 

        Possibly this topic is simply, "Leisure Time".

        Make sure you know the difference in meaning between "a weekend" and "a holiday".

• What do you do in your spare time?

• (Similar to above) What do you do for entertainment?

• When do you spend time with your family?

• What do you usually do on weekends? (See Note)

• What did you do last weekend?

• What do other people in your hometown (or, in your country) usually do on weekends?

• What are you going to do next weekend? (See Note)

• (Similar to above) What do you plan to do next weekend?

• (Similar to above) What do you think you might do next weekend?

• Do you think it is important to make the most of your weekend? N

• Do you feel that weekends now are more important to you than when you were a child? N

23.  Meals 

          See also the questions about eating places at All Part One Questions 15. Food/Cooking and All Part One Questions 23. Meals

• What food do people where you live (or, in your country) usually eat?

• Do you know how to cook?

• Where do people in your country usually eat their meals?

• (Similar to above) Where do you usually eat your meals?

• What do you think are the advantages of home cooking? N (See Note)

• Do people in your country prefer to eat alone or with other people? N

• When do people in your country eat with others? N

• Do you usually eat your meals together with your family?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to sit together with your family for a meal, or to eat separately?

• What are the benefits of (or, what is the importance of) eating with the family?

24.  Weather and Seasons 

        See  also All Part 1 Questions 41, Weather and All Part 1 Questions 46, Seasons

          Make sure you know the difference in meaning between "season" and "weather".

• What's the weather usually like in your country (or, your hometown)?

• (If you are doing the test away from your home country) How is the weather here different to the weather in your home country?

• (Possibly) Would you say the weather in your hometown is suitable for working (or studying)?

• Would you like to move to a place with different weather? N

• (Possibly) What sort of weather do you like the most?  (See note)

• What season do you like best?

• What do you do in that season?

• What season (or weather) do you think is most suitable for work and/or study?

• Has the weather in your country (or, hometown) changed much in the past few years?

• Do you prefer hot or cold weather? N

• Do you (usually) pay attention to the weather forecasts? N

25.  Happiness

26.  Swimming

27.  Family and Friends

• Do you live with your family?

• Do you think family members should live together? (Why?/Why not?)

• When do you spend time with your family?

• What do you do together?

• Do you often go out with your friends?

• (Similar to above) How often do you see your friends? N

• What do you usually do when you are with your friends?

• Do you prefer to spend time with your family or with your friends? (Why?)

• Which do you think is more important, your family or your friends? (Why?)

• Are there any times when you prefer to be alone? N

28.  Television

• Do you like watching television?

• (Similar to above) Do you watch much television?

• How much television do you watch?

• (Similar to above) How often do you watch TV?

• What kinds of programs do you like to watch?

• (Possibly) What's your favourite TV program? (Why?)

• Do you prefer to watch TV alone or with others (or with friends/family)? (Why?)

• Do you feel you watch too much TV?

• Did you like to watch TV when you were a child? (If yes, include what programs you liked to watch.)

• Do you think you watched too much TV when you were a child?

29. Numbers