ielts-yasi.englishlab.net  

Updated  Jan 3, 2011

 

Part 1 Topics and Questions

For The IELTS Speaking Tests in Mainland China, September - December, 2010

 

Notes

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

1.  Your Work or Your Studies C

2Your Hometown   C

One of the two 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 and a 50% chance that you will get Topic 2.)

3.  Animals  C

4.  Colours  C

5.  Food  C

6.  Mobile Phones  C

7.  Leisure Time  C

8.  Sport  C

9.  Sounds (Noises)  C

10.  Collecting  C

11Languages  C

12.  Weather & Seasons  C

13.  Films  C

14 Clothes and Fashion C

15.  Shopping C

16.  Flying NC

17.  Museums NC

18.  News and Newspapers NC

19.  Holidays NC

20.  Travelling C

21.  Cooking C

22.  Dancing NC

23.  Books & Reading NC

24.  The Ocean NC

25.  Meeting other People NC

26.  Daily Routine NC

27.  Emails and Letters NC

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1. Your Work or Your Studies C

1a) Your Work  C

 See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 1b. Your Work

General Description of Your Job

Finding a Job N

Feelings about the Job

Future

Your First Day at Work 

 

1b) Your Studies C

 See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 1a. Your Studies

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

Family Support for Your Choice

School/University 

Liking/Disliking Your Studies     

Interesting 

Future    

Future Work

Further Studies

Your First Day at University (or high school)

(The word, "university" is probably replaced by the words, "high school" or "secondary school" if you have not been to university yet.)

 

2.  Your Hometown C

        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.

– 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

Your Family

Attractions

Famous NC

The History of Your Hometown NC

Change NC

    (The wording of this question is unclear. At present (Sept. 20) it is just known that a question about "change" exists.)

Transport N

Free Time Activities in Your Hometown

Your Feelings about the Place

Future Plans

 

3.  Animals  C

         "Do you like me?"

 

4.  Colours  C

        See also All Part 1 Questions: The Colour of Clothes

 

5.  Food  C

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 15. Food and Cooking

 

6.  Mobile Phones  C

    See also All Part 1 Questions 37. Telephones

 

7.  Leisure Time  C

    See also All Part 1 Questions 21. Leisure Time & Relaxing

 

8.  Sport  C

        See also All Part 1 Questions 35. Sport/Exercise

 

9.  Sounds (Noises)  C

     Also see All Part 1 Questions 26. Noise

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

  

10.  Collecting  C

     See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 7. Collecting

 

11.  Languages C

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 20. Languages

    See Notes

 

12.  Weather & Seasons C

       See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 41. Weather

       See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 46. Seasons

 

13. Films  C

      See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 13. Films

 

14.  Clothes and Fashion  C

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 6. Clothes

Shopping for Clothes

Wearing Clothes

Fashion

 

15.  Shopping  C

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 34. Shopping

 

16.  Flying NC (= 坐飞机,乘飞机)

          = "Air Travel"

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

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

  • (Similar to above) Do you often travel by air? NC

  • Do you like it (like flying)? NC

  • (Similar to above) What do you think about traveling by plane? N

  • How does flying compare to other forms of transport? NC

  • (Similar to above) What are the advantages of flying?  N

  • Would you like to travel by plane again? N

  • (Similar to above) Do you think you will be using aircraft more in the future? N

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

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

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

 

17.  Museums NC

  • Are there many (or, any) museums in your hometown? N

  • (Similar to above) Are there many museums in your country? N

  • (Similar to above) Are there any famous museums in your country? N

  • Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown/country? N

  • Do you often visit a museum? N

  • Did you go to any museums when you were a child? N

  • When was the last time you visited a museum? NC

  • Do you think museums are important? N

  • Do you think it's suitable for museums to sell things to visitors? NC

  • (Similar to above) Do you think museums should sell things to visitors? N

 

18.  News and Newspapers NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 55. News

  • Do you read newspapers? N

  • What sections of the newspaper do you usually read?  N

  • Do you prefer to read newspapers or watch TV to get your news? NC

  • What news topics are you most interested in watching/reading about? NC

  • (Similar to above) What types of news stories are you most interested in? NC

  • Do you ever get your news from the internet? NC

  • How important do you think the news is? N

  • (Similar to above) Do you think it's important to keep up with the news? N

 

19.  Holidays NC (= vacations = 假期)

If the wording to a question is, "go on a holiday" or "go on holidays" it means to travel somewhere for pleasure during your holidays.

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 59. Holidays

  • What do you usually do when you have holidays? NC

  • What did you do in your last holidays? NC

  • Would you like to go to the seaside for a holiday? N

  • Why do you think people who don't live near the ocean like going to the seaside for a holiday? N

  • Do you think holidays are important? NC

  • (Similar to above) Do you think it's important (for people) to have holidays? NC  See Note

  • Is there anything you dislike doing during holidays?

  • Do you prefer spending holidays alone or with other people? NC

  • (Similar to above) Do you prefer to go on holidays alone or with other people? NC

  • (Similar to above) Would you prefer to spend a holiday alone or with other people? N

  • Do you think we have enough holiday time (or should people's holidays be longer)?

  • (Similar to above) Do you think people in China need more holidays (vacation time)?

 

20.  Travelling C

          See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 40. Travel

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? NC

  • (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? NC

  • 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? N

  • Have you ever travelled alone?

  • 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?) 

 

21.  Cooking  C

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 15. Food and Cooking

  • Who usually does the cooking in your family (or, in your home)? C

  • Do you know how to cook? C

  • Would you like to (learn to) cook in the future? C (If you say you don't know how to cook.)

  • (Similar to above) Do you think you will learn to cook in the future? N

  • What (food/dishes) would you like to (learn to) cook in the future? C (If you say you don't know how to cook.)

  • Do you like cooking? C

  • When did you learn how to cook? 

  • (Similar to above) Did you learn how to cook when you were younger (or, when you were a child)? C

  • (Similar to above) Did you ever cook (or, make a meal) when you were a child? 

  • Who taught you how to cook?

  • When was the last time you did some cooking?

  • Can you see yourself cooking more in the (near) future? Why?

  • (Similar to above) In the future, do you think you will be cooking more than you do now, or less? (Why?) C

 

22.  Dancing NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 10. Dance

  • Do you like dancing? NC

  • Have you ever learned to dance? NC

  • When was the last time you danced? NC

  • (Similar to above) When was the last time you went dancing (出去跳舞)? N

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

  • Do you like to watch dance performances? N

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

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

  • (Similar to above) Why do young people like dancing? N

  • Do you think there are any advantages for young people to go dancing? N

 

23.  Books & Reading NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 32. Reading

  • Do you like reading (books)? (Why?/Why not?) NC  See note

  • What (kinds of ) books do you like to read? NC

  • (Similar to above) What (kinds of ) books do read for enjoyment? N

  • Did you read much when you were a child? N

  • What (kinds of) books did you like reading when you were a child? N

  • (Similar to above) When you were young, what books (or, what kinds of books) made the greatest impression on you? N

  • Do (young) children like reading books? N

  • For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading? N

  • (Possible) What do you think are the benefits of reading to children? (= someone else reading while the child listens)  N

  • Do you think children should learn to read at an earlier age than they do now?  N

  • Is reading books important for you now? N

  • (Similar to above) Do you read a lot nowadays? N

  • Would you like to write a book? N

  • Do you like receiving a book as a gift? N

  • (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? N

  • Do you think the government has a responsibility to provide public libraries for everyone? * N

 

24.  The Ocean NC (大海)

  • Have you ever been to the seaside? NC

  • How many times have you been to the seaside? N

  • Did you like the ocean it? (or, like the sea; or, like the seaside) NC

  • What (benefits) did you get from going there? N

  • What do people in China do when they go to the beach? N

  • (Similar to above) What would you enjoy doing if you were at the seaside? N

  • (Similar to above) What interests you most about the beach? N

  • Would you like to live in a house near the ocean? NC

 

25.  Meeting People NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 16. Friends

Note: The word, "meet" can mean "meet someone for the first time" or, "get together with someone such as a friend". 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!) It is not too clear what some of these questions are, so pay close attention to the exact words of the examiner.

  • Do you have many friends? N

  • What do you usually do with your friends? N

  • Where did you (first) meet your friends? NC

  • Do you often make new friends? N

  • Where do you go to make new friends? N

  • Do you often meet people who you do not know? (If yes, where & what sorts of people?) N

  • How do young people meet others in order to make new friends? NC

  • (Similar to above) Where do young people go to make new friends? N

  • What do they do there? N

  • Where do old people go to meet others (other old people)? N

  • Where do children (i.e., aged 4 to 12) make new friends? NC

  • Do you ever meet any foreigners where you live? N

  • Where can you (go to) speak to foreigners in your country? NC

 

26.  Daily Routine NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 9. Daily Routine

  • What do you do mainly do with your time? N

  • (Similar to above) What do you do in your daily life? N

  • What is the best part of the day for you? (Why?) C

  • (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?) NC

  • When do you do most of your study? N

  • How do you think your daily routine could be improved? N

  • (Similar to above) Would you like to change your daily routine (in any way)? NC

  • (Similar to above) Is there anything you would you like to change about your daily routine? NC

 

27.  Emails and Letters NC

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 22. Letters and Emails

  • Do you write many letters or emails? N

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

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

  • What are the differences between emails and letters? N

  • What do you usually write about? N

  • Is it hard to think of what to write? NC

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

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

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