Notes

• N = a new topic or question. "New topic". This means it wasn't used (or was never reported) in the previous 4-month period. (Some of these "new" topics seem to be repeats of previous topics that were used months or years ago.)

• Topics without N are topics that are continuing from the set of Part 1 topics in the previous 4-month period. Usually the questions will be the same as in the previous period but I might find some new questions.

• I don't label the topic of Work/Studies as new because it is always in the test. Some of the questions continue from the previous 4-month testing period but you can assume that there will also be some new questions at each test change time (January, May & September).

• Similar to the Work/Studies topic, either one of the topics Hometown and Home is always in the test. Usually both are in the test at the same time but there have been rare times when only one of them is used for a 4-month testing period. Some of the questions continue from the previous 4-month testing period but you can assume that there will also be some new questions introduced at each test change time (January, May & September)

• Many of the questions have the words, "(Why?/Why not?)" written in the examiner's question book after the question. I have not often 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 (= must 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.

• "Similar to above" means the wording of the question is not clear or different people have reported slightly different questions. You might get one of those questions from any group that includes the original question and those labeled, "Similar to above" but probably not more than one of them.

• Where the question says, "in your country", the examiner usually uses the name of the country, for example, "China".

• For all the topics listed below, it's a good idea to also look at any past questions that were used for those or similar topics. You can find those past questions on the website at ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS.htm and ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS-PAGE_2.htm. I sometimes include a direct link to these past questions ( following the words, "See also") for the topics listed below, but I don't always do that. 

The pages PAST_PART_ONE_TOPIC_INDEX.htm is also useful as a guide to when different topics were used in the past. That page is connected to PREVIOUS_PART_1_QUESTIONS.htm.

I don't always keep those four pages up-to-date so you might also need to specifically look at Part 1 pages that have not yet been added to the Past Part One Topic Index or the "All Part 1 Questions" pages. See "Older Materials" for that. This applies just to the past couple of years.

• 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 ID 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 3 to 5 questions on this topic. You will then be asked questions on two of the topics from below. (Again, 3 to 5 questions per topic).   See Note 69

4.  Transportation 

5.  Your Previous School 

6.  Fruit  

7.  Neighbours 

8.  Magazines 

9.  Emails 

10.  Sunshine 

11.  Birthdays 

12.  Jewellery

13.  History

14.  Politeness

15.  Advertisements

16.  Your Daily Routine

17.  Pop Stars

18.  Family Activities  N

19.  Teenagers  N

20.  Names  N

21.  Rainy Days  N

22.  The News  N

23.  Boats  N

24.  Computers  N

25.  Punctuality  N

26.  Meals  N

27.  Leisure-time Activities  N

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1.  Your Work or Your Studies  

• Do you work or are you a student?

1a) Your Work

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 1b. Your Work

     Other Similar Questions

• Would you say sunshine is important?

      Other Similar Questions

• What historical places would you like to visit?

• What do you think is the value in studying (or, learning about) history?

• Why do we (or, why do people) study history?   See Note 77

• Would you say we can predict the future from learning about history (or, from learning about the past)?

• Do you think people should have to pay to enter a history museum?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it should be free to enter a history museum?

• Do you think it's useful to research (or know about) one's family history? (= ancestry, genealogy)

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Note 1

The wording is unclear but I think the question is something like that. It might be, "Has your family lived in many other apartments/houses?" or, "Has your family moved often to different living places?" In that question, "family" means your parents & siblings but it could possibly include earlier generations of your family living in the same house, for example, 100 years ago. 

Note that the examiner is most likely to use the British form, "have your family", not the American form, "has your family". The British consider family as "them" or plural while Americans consider it as one group, "it". When you speak or write, both are correct.

Note 2

The word, "boat" is a general word that can be used to refer to yachts, one-man sailing boats, canoes, dinghies (= rowing boats), launches, ferries, barges, and big ships. However, although there is no strict rule about this, the word, "boat" tends to be used more when talking about smaller vessels that carry people on water, especially one-man vessels such as rowing boats. The word "ship" is only used for big vessels.

A medium-sized vessel, such as one that carries 200 people, might be called a "boat" by some people, while others might call it a "ship", especially if it is similar in design to the big, ocean-going ships that can carry 1,000 or more people.

Note the word, "ferry", which is a vessel for transporting people a relatively short distance, such as across a river, a bay, a harbour or to a nearby island. A ferry is like a bus traveling on water. Some of them also carry cars. The ones that only carry people do not usually have high sides, i.e., they sit low in the water because they usually don't travel on the open sea. Sydney Harbour, Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York City are some places where you can see this type of ferry.

  A ferry

Note 3

Do you think you will receive (any or more) training in the future?

Although the words "any" and "more" are not really necessary in the question, if you said you have not received any training, the question might be, "Do you think you will receive any training in the future?"

If you said you have received training, the question might be. "Do you think you will receive more training in the future?"

Note 4

What's your favourite meal?

If you get this question, there are two possible types of answer because "meal" can mean: a) breakfast, lunch or dinner or, b) a dish. The best answer would be to choose one of breakfast, lunch or dinner. The examiners want to know if you have those words in your vocabulary.

Note 5

This question (and the others about using fruit in your cooking) might be testing to see if you know the word, "raw" (= uncooked) as in, "I prefer to eat raw fruit" or, "I prefer to eat my fruit raw". For example, must of us eat raw oranges.

The question, "Do you ever cook fruit?" doesn't always mean adding fruit to the food you are cooking. Instead, it might mean to cook fruit alone.

Tomatoes are classified as a fruit and many people cook tomatoes or add them to other foods that are being cooked. As well as that, apples and other fruits are often cooked (with added sugar) and then used as a filling for sweet desserts such as apple pies or cakes. The fruit can also be cooked when the pie is baked in an oven.

Note 6

If you are living in a dormitory at the moment, it is perfectly suitable to say that.

Note 7

You need to have a clear understanding of the difference between a "game" and a "sport". Although most, but not all, sports are also games, only a minority of games are also sports. In other words, the majority of games are not sports.

Although most children's outdoor games involve physical activity, such as running, that does not mean they are "sports". For example, a common kids' game that is played outdoors is "Hide and Seek". It is (usually) played outdoors and the kids run away quickly and hide. Another common kids' outdoor game is "Tag', which is a kind of "chasing game".

Boys play marbles on the ground outside (although it could also be played indoors) but this game requires skill more than physical exercise.

Girls play several physical and skill-based outdoor games, such as Hopscotch and various games involving a long skipping rope.

Can you include in your answer a sport that is also a game? Certainly. For example, many children play soccer and some play tennis. But I doubt if basketball is a good choice. People usually only start playing basketball when they are teenagers and, don't forget, a teenager is no longer a child.

Some primary school children have to engage in relay races (or competitions) in their Physical Education (PE) class. These are team competitions but it is not very suitable to call such an activity a "sport". It is also not very suitable to call a relay competition a "game".

See also Games and Sports Facilities

Note 8

That question might be, "What's your neighbourhood like?"  Your "neighbourhood is the area around your home, perhaps to a radius of 1 km.

Note 9

Obviously you should say why this person is important (to your country, or to you personally)

Note 10

The questions here depends on whether or not you are living in your hometown now.

Note 11

This is probably mostly for high school students but it is possible university students will also be asked about other subjects.

Note 12

Do you prefer (to read about) world (or foreign) news, or news from your country?

Instead of "news from your country", the examiner might say, "national news", "local news" or "domestic news".

Note 13

Although this is not a "hard and fast rule", when an English-speaker talks about a "boat trip", they are usually talking about traveling on a boat as a tourist (sightseer) or just for fun, not traveling on the boat as a means of transport, for example, from home to work.

If the question is, Is boating very popular in your country? then the question definitely means "doing a leisure-time or fun activity with a boat". (A couple of people have reported that question.) "Popular" means many people like it.

If the question is, Is traveling on a boat very common in your country? then it is a more general question that includes both traveling on a boat just for transportation, as well as traveling on a boat for pleasure. The word, "common" just means "often seen" or "often done", and unlike "popular", is not connected to what people like. Since "common" is used in that question, it would be more suitable to focus more on traveling by boat for transportation.

Note 14

This question might be, What pages (or sections) do you usually read first in newspapers?

Note 15

Is your routine different on weekends and on holidays?

This question, using that wording, is asking you if your routine (not on weekends and/or holidays) is different to your routine on weekends and/or holidays. In other words, the question really means, Is your usual Monday to Friday routine different to your routine on weekends and on holidays?

Note 16

Is there anything special (or, famous) about your hometown?

If the wording is "about your hometown" then it means that many people in your country (or in the world) know about this special or famous thing.

If the wording is "in your hometown" then it most likely means that many people in your hometown know about this special or famous thing but it might not necessarily be well-known to people outside your hometown.

Note 17

The question, "In the future, what type of home would you like to live in?" (= "What type of home would you like to live in, in the future?) has a similar  meaning to, "What type of home do you want to live in, in the future?"

So why would, "Would like to" be used instead of, "want to"? Firstly, "want to" is more emphatic and similar to "plan to" but most people simply have "hopes" about where they will live. Secondly, "would like to" is used because it sounds gentler i.e., it is less emphatic or less aggressive sounding – it is more "genteel" or more "polite" sounding.

Note 18

Note 32

This question was reported by one candidate so it might not be in the examiners' question book. (Examiners only use questions from the question book in Part 1.)

Note 37

This is an important question and you have a 50% chance of getting this question. See some important notes here, on the website. Those notes are about the question, "Why did you choose to study that?" The question, "Why did you choose that type of work (or, that job)?" is grammatically the same.

Note 39

Which is more important for you at school, the teachers or the other students?

Possibly the question is asked in general terms like that. Alternatively, the question might emphasize your study, i.e., "In your studies, which is more important for you, the teachers or the other students?" The first question could possibly be answered in terms of your social life, your friends at school.

Note 42

Possibly the word, "hoped" is used instead of "imagined".

Note 45

For high school students, the examiner might choose to ask this question about one of the subjects that you said you are studying (or studied). For example, "Is physics very difficult to study?" [Or, "Do you like physics?" for the question, "Do you like ...?"]

Note 55

If you have already completed your studies (either high school or university), this question will probably be, "What did you learn from studying that subject?" For high school students, the examiner will probably choose one of the several subjects that you say you are studying or studied, if you have finished high school. Basically, the examiner wants a summary of what you learned or the contents of the subject, possibly with a few specific examples of what you learned.

Note 56

Below is a copy of an email I sent to someone about the topic of "computers".

Question:

I've seen a question in the IELTS question pool, which is in the topic of 'computer'. It is like 'In what ways do people use computers in China?' I'm not sure whether this refers to how people use computers (e.g. use computers to watch TV or documents' editing) or it means how to make computers work ( e.g. Connect to wifi) 

My Reply

On the topic of Computers (plural) in Part 1, that sort of question is referring to the various purposes of using computers, not the various technical ways of using computers. Anyway, there are not many different technical ways of using a computer – most computers work the same way.

Your question also seems to indicate that you are confusing the two different words, "computers" and "the internet". These are two distinctly different things, although they are connected in some but not all cases. For example, people today can connect to the internet by using a mobile phone, which is not classified as a "computer".

If the question is, "In what ways do people use the internet?" then, again, the question is USUALLY referring to the purpose of using the internet rather than the variety of technical ways of using it, especially if it is a Part 1 question. If the question is about the different ways of connecting to the internet, then the word "connect" or "go onto" would most likely be used, not just the word, "use".

Different purposes i.e.,  usages of the internet are: 1) Entertainment especially viewing entertainment videos, listening to music audio files, connecting to real-time TV and radio broadcasts, reading entertainment articles such as gossip articles, and playing online games etc. 2) Personal Communication such as using emails, text message exchange services, direct streaming audio-video services such as Wechat, and expressing personal opinions on message boards 3) Getting information such as the news, which includes using non-entertainment audio-visual files & by reading webpages 4) Studying, either private study by researching information on the internet or more formal study such as taking an online university course, which might involve sending assignments by email or face-to-face discussion with a tutor via a service such as Wechat 5) Making financial or business transactions such as internet banking, buying & selling shares on the stock market, online shopping, making online hotel or airline reservations etc. 6) Exchanging computer files and data with others, including photos, audio-visual files, software, e-books, and data (such as my Updates service) etc. The internet is also used by governments & companies for sending and receiving real-time data such as the direct streaming of the data from surveillance cameras.

Of course, computers themselves can be used for various purposes without being connected to the internet. One of the most common uses of computers is writing documents, including letters that are printed out and mailed by regular mail ("snail mail"). Other common usages are the printing-out of documents or previously downloaded webpages, using a scanner to photocopy a document, a page from a book or a photograph, play computer games, watch movies (on CDs), listen to music CDs, edit photos, audio and video files, and use software for specialized purposes such as engineering and accounting software.

Your question was a good one, especially since it illustrates the confusion that some people have between the two words, "computer" and "internet".

Note 61

The wording, "Would you like to change where you live?" can have two different meanings: a) "Would you like to make some changes to the place that you are living in?" or, b) "Would you like to change your address?" = "Would you like to move to a different place?"  Meaning a) is the meaning that most people report. But a question about moving to a different place has also been reported.

Note 69

In previous years, the 'rule' or custom was that one of Topics 1 to 3 is compulsory, and that only one of them is used for each candidate. But since 2016 I have seen several people reporting, in detail, two of these topics in their test. So it is possible that this rule is no longer being strictly applied.

Note 70

To "study" and to "learn" or "learn about" are not always perfects synonyms. "Studying" is an activity that is consciously done with the aim of "learning". "Learning" can be imagined as, "changing something in the brain". Even babies and animals learn. Especially the young learn a lot in a few short years. But you won't see a baby or a dog sitting at a desk studying! Everyone who studies, learns. But not all learning is a result of studying.

Note 71

Question: What's the difference between a and b here?

a) What part of high school did you like the most (or, the best)?

b) What part of your high school did you like the most (or, the best)?

The first refers to your overall high school experience. The second refers to either the building or the institution.

Note 72

This refers to the act of studying at home or in a library etc.

Examples: listening to music; eating snack foods; chewing gum ...

Note 73

Possibly this is a hint at the possibility of privatizing public transport.

Note 74

Which part of your studies do you like the most?

Wording like this is referring to your whole experience of being a student, including where you live, the people you meet, how much free time you have etc.  For example, maybe the part that you like best is the fact you don't have to go to work!

Of course, you can also answer by referring to a particular subject or topic that you are studying that you especially like.

Note 75

Here, "take" = "travel by", "travel on", "go by" etc

Note 76

Here, "recent" does not have to be within the past month or year. It could be within the past 5 years or so.

One recent change in many jobs is the change that better electronic communication (e.g., the internet) has brought in the past few years. Other technological changes (advancements) have also changed some jobs.

Note 77

This is asking about the value or importance of studying (or knowing) history.

Note 78

The question, "Where do you study?" can have two different meanings.

a) It can mean, "What school or university do you attend?"

Or it can mean,

b) "Where do you sit to write essays, prepare for exams etc? Do you sit at a desk in your bedroom or do you usually study in the university library?"

Note 81

Most native English speakers think of the word, "a suburb" as meaning, "an area, or section of a metropolitan area". A "metropolitan area" is called a "city" - "city" does not just mean the downtown area. An "outer suburb", which is far from the centre of a city, is in contrast to "an inner suburb", "the inner city", or "downtown". In cities with a metropolitan railway system, each suburb usually has a railway station. In other words, a "suburb" is still part of a city. Most English speakers do not use, "suburb" to mean a village or town that is just outside a metropolitan area.

Note 82

So many different questions have been reported with the two words, "study" and "hard" in the question. The question, "Do you study hard?" is just one of those questions.

To "study hard" means to put a lot of time, attention and effort into study. It's similar to "do a good job at studying". It doesn't necessarily mean that your subject is "hard" (= difficult).  Most people seemed to report questions about your subject being hard (= difficult) but possibly they misunderstood the question. Whatever the case, a question about studying hard, as well as a question asking whether your subject is difficult are both possible in the same test.