Written Jul. 16, 2010

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 51

251. A Person you Have Lived With (Jan. 9, 2010)

FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably in the examiner's question book

Describe a person you have lived with. *

         You should say:

                    who this person was

                    what kind of person he or she was (= what his or personality was like) *

                    how long you lived with him or her

                    what the two of you did together

and explain how you felt about living with this person.              

                        where it was

                        what the classrooms were like

                        what the other students were like 

                        what the teachers were like 

and explain what you enjoyed during your time at this school. *

                         or

and explain why you enjoyed this school. *             

                         or

and explain how you felt about this school. *

Notes

• The word "enjoyed" is possibly not used. If that is the case, the last line is probably, "and explain how you felt about this school."

• See note about the number of points on the card.

• See other Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Are there still children attending that school?

• Do you ever go back to visit that school? (Or: Have you been back to visit that school?)

• Are you in contact with any of those students? [Or: Have you kept in contact with any of your former classmates?]

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 230

• What are the different factors that affect (or influence) how well a school student (= pupil) learns?

Big and Small Classes (or, Schools)

(For some questions, the word "class" might be used or the word "school" might be used.)

• In what ways do you think the school a student goes to has an effect on the future of that student?

• Which do you think is better, students studying in big classes or studying in small classes? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of children studying in big classes, compared to small classes? FQx2

• What do you think are the benefits of studying in a large school? FQ

• (Similar to above but different) What do you think are the benefits of studying in a large class?

• For children these days, do you think it’s easier to make friends in a small school or a large school? FQ

• Do you think it's easier for kids to make friends when they are in primary school or in high school? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's easier to make friends in university than in primary school?

Social Education vrs. Academic Education

Note: There are possibly two different things under this sub-topic – "social skills" and "social values".

• What do you think is the function (or, the purpose) of educating children (in schools)?

Social Skills

• What skills do you think students should learn in school?
• Do you think it's important for schools to include music and sport in their teaching programs?
• Do you thinks schools have a responsibility to teach social skills to children? FQ
• (Similar to above, but different) Do you think it's important to teach children about society?
• What do you think are the differences between learning academic skills and learning social skills?
• How do you think a school could help the pupils develop good social skills?
• How does this benefit children?
• What do you think is the function of (the purpose of) academic education?

Social Values

• Besides academic knowledge, what social values did you learn from school?
• How can the school influence the social values that a child learns?
• Who teaches the students more about values, parents or school, and why?

Teachers

• Who do you think is the better teacher of a child, the parents or a school teacher? FQ
• Some people want to be teachers. Why do you think they want to do that job?  FQ
• (Similar to above) Some people want to be teachers of young children. Why do you think they want to do that job?  FQ
• (Similar to above) Why do you think many people prefer to teach young children rather than older students?  FQ
• (Similar to above) What benefits do teachers get from teaching young children, as opposed to teaching older children or young adults?  FQ
• Do you think teaching young children (e.g., early primary school age) is important? (Why?/Why not?) FQx2
• Do you think everybody is suitable for becoming a teacher?
• What are the qualities of a good teacher? FQx2
• Do you think all teachers have these qualities?
• Which of those qualities do you think is most important?
• Do you think it's necessary for a teacher to be strict in order to be a good teacher?
• What knowledge and what skills does a good teacher need to have?
• Some people think a good teacher needs to be very strict and needs to punish the children at times. Is it possible to be a good teacher and never punish the children?
• Is it good if a teacher spends time with the students after school?

The Education System in China

• In recent years, have there been any changes to the educational methods that are used in schools in China?
• Why do you think these changes have taken place?
• How do you think the education system in China could be improved? FQ
• In China, are there any differences between schools in the cities and schools in rural areas? FQ
• Do you think it's a good idea to put the strong students in separate classes to those students who are not so good at learning?

Other Places for Learning, Besides Schools

• Besides schools, what other places can people can learn something from? FQx2
• Which do you think is more important, the education that children can receive in the home or the education they receive at school?
• Which do you think is better, individual study or learning something in a group situation?
• Do you think there are any situations where self-study is more suitable than attending classes?

Educating Young Children (E.g., Kindergarten kids)

• How important do you think pre-school education is?

• Why do you think some people like teaching little kids?

• And why do you think some people don't like teaching little kids? (What difficulties are there?)

• What do you think are the features of (the qualities of) a good teacher for young kids?

• What effects does going to a kindergarten have on the development of children?

Academic Pressure on School Students  FQ

• Do you think there was much pressure on you (to do well at school) when you were a school student (= pupil)?
• What about today? Is it the same?
• (Similar to above) Do you think there's too much pressure on school students nowadays to do well at school? (Why?/Why not?) FQ
• (Similar to above) Do you think teachers give too much work (or, homework) to school students? (Why do have that opinion?) FQ
• Do you think it's a good thing for children to be under such pressure?
• Do you agree that even very young children are under much more pressure than before to do well at school?
• (Similar to above) Do you think that some young children are actually damaged by the experience of receiving an education?
• What could be done to help alleviate this pressure?

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253. A Walk with a Friend (Jan. 23, 2010)

Describe a walk with a friend that you remember.

You should say:

when it was

who you walked with

where you walked

[what you talked about *]

what happened during the walk

and explain why you remember it.

Note

• It is not clear if the wording is "with a friend", "with some friends" or "with one or more friends". Ask the examiner if it's ok to talk about a walk with a group of friends, if you really want to talk about that. Just try to focus on one of those friends in your answer.

• Possibly the word, "recent" is in the wording.

• If the word, "friend" is used in the wording, it would be unsuitable to describe a walk with one of your parents or another relative. However, if you clearly explain that your relationship with your parent or relative is just like a relationship with a friend, then it might be ok.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 20

Walking

• Do people in China like walking?

• (Similar to above) Do people in China walk very much? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do people today walk more than people used to in the past?  FQx2

• (Similar to above) In previous years, did people used to walk more than today, or less? FQx2

• How do you think people could be encouraged to walk more? FQx2

• How do you think people could be encouraged to walk to work?

• Do you think the government has a responsibility to (= should) encourage people to walk more?

• What are the benefits of walking? FQx2

• Do you think exercise is important? (Why?) FQ

• As different  ways to get exercise, how do you think riding a bicycle compares to walking? 

• Why do some people like to walk fast?

• Which do you think is better, a slow walk or a fast walk?

• What do you think are the advantages of walking or jogging with a friend?

• What sorts of places are good for walking?

• Would you say your hometown is suitable for walking in?

• Where do people usually walk?

• What do you think are the benefits of hiking?

• Do you think computers have influenced the amount of walking that people do? (hint: internet, working from home) FQ

• Do you think people will walk more than they do now in the future? FQ

The Pace of Life

• Why do most people take the bus or drive to work instead of walk to work?

• Why do some people drive their car even when they are just going a short distance? (Not necessarily referring to going to work)

• Why do you think people are in such a hurry when they are going to work each day?

• Do you think it's good to live life like that?

• What effects do you think this has on people?

• What do people lose when they live life at a pace that is very fast?

• What are the benefits and disadvantages of having a slow pace of life?

• Why do you think the past of life nowadays is so fast? (= what are the causes)

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254. A TV Program that You Didn't Like (Jan. 9, 2010) 

Describe a TV program that you watched but didn't like.

You should say:

what program it was

when you saw it

what it was about

and explain why you didn't like it.

See important Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Is that program (that you just talked about) very popular in China?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 213, Topic 263 and Topic 178.

Television Tastes

• What types of TV programs do you like?

• Is that program (that you just talked about) very popular in China?

• In general, what types of TV programs are most popular in China? FQ

• Do people in different parts of China all prefer the same kinds of programs? (e.g., urban vrs. rural)

• What are the different types of TV programs that can be seen at different times of the day?

• Have TV programs changed in the past few years? (If yes, how?) FQ

• Do you think these changes have been for the better or for the worse?

• What do you think are the features (characteristics) of a good quality TV program?

• Do you think that nowadays the quality of TV programs is lower than it used to be?

• How do you think television programs (or, what we see on television) could be improved?

• What choices of TV programs are there for children?

• Do you think (all) TV programs should be educational?

• Do you like educational programs?

• Do you think there should be more educational TV programs? FQ

• How do you think television will develop (or change) in the future? FQ

• Do you think people should have to pay money to watch television?

The Effects/Influence of Television

• In your opinion, how does watching TV affect (or influence) people? (= what are the results)

• What do you think are the benefits, and the drawbacks, of watching television?

• What do you think can be the result if a person watches too much TV? FQ

• What effects do you think watching television has on the education of children and young people? (See Note)

• Do you think it's good to have foreign TV programs in your country?

• How do you think foreign TV programs influence young people?

• Do you think the government should impose any limits or controls on what is shown on TV?

TV Celebrities

See Note

• Do you want to be a TV celebrity (or, "star")? (See Note written for the question, "Do you want to be famous?")

• Do you think TV celebrities are good role models for children? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Television and film stars are often role models for young people. What do you think of that? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's good that TV celebrities are often role models for young people? FQx2

• In your opinion, what qualities does someone need to have to become a TV celebrity? FQ

• (Similar to above) What skills and abilities does a person need to be a TV celebrity? FQ

• Many TV stars have an income that is very high. Do you think this is reasonable? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think that the pay that TV stars receive is fair? FQx2
• (Similar to above) Do you think it's reasonable that TV celebrities get paid much more than people such as doctors and teachers? FQx2
• Do you think that TV celebrities have any responsibilities towards society?

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255. A Well-known Story from Your Country (Jan. 9, 2010)

Describe a well-known story from your country.

You should say:

who told you the story

when you (first) heard it

what it was about

and explain how you felt when you heard this story. *                        

                         or

and explain what you learned from this story. *

• I don't think the word "traditional" is used in the wording. But many stories that are well-known are traditional stories in your culture.

• Today, most people hear traditional stories when they are children but those stories might not have originally been "children's" stories but rather, folk tales (pronounced with stress on the first word).

• Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Children's Stories

• Why do you think (little) kids like listening to stories? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think (young) children prefer to be read a story or to read a story themselves? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Parents often read bedtime stories to their children. Why do you think children like that? FQx2

• What sorts of stories do children like?

• Do you think it's good to tell fairy tales to children?

• What alternatives are there if you don't want to use traditional stories?

• Do you think stories for children are written for all children, both boys and girls, or are some of these stories written especially for boys and others written especially for girls?

• Do you think this is a good thing? *

• Compare the role of pictures in children's books with the role of written text.

• Do you agree that all children's stories should have some "educational value"?

Traditional Children's Stories

• Please compare kids' stories today with kids' stories in the past.

• (Similar to above) Do kids prefer to listen to traditional stories or modern stories?

• Are traditional (children's) stories still popular in China?

• How do children hear about traditional stories?

• Do you think it's important for children to experience hearing (or reading) traditional stories?

• What can kids learn from traditional stories?

• Do you think (traditional) stories are an important part of one's culture?

• Do you think modern technology and the introduction of foreign entertainment is good for preserving the national culture of places such as China?

• In what ways has modern technology affected the popularity of traditional culture?

• How could traditional stories be made more popular today?

• In the future, how do you think traditional stories will be passed on to the next generation?

Writing Stories

• Have you ever tried to write (or create) your own stories? (If yes, what were they about? What did you write about?)

• Do you think everyone is capable of writing a story?

• What are some characteristics of people who write their own stories (or, books)?

• Why do you think some people like to put themselves into stories that they write?

• (Similar to above) Why do many people like to write autobiographical books? (See also autobiography)

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