IELTS Speaking - Part 2 & 3 (first)

Here are some Topic Clue questions for the Monologue section of the IELTS exam. Prepare them in advance. You can expect similar questions in your Speaking test.


BEAUTIFUL PLACES
Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country. You should say,
                where it is
                how to get there
                what there is to do when you are there
And explain why you recommend this place

Part 3
Attitudes to tourism
Why do you think people like to travel to different places in their free time?
How do you see tourism changing in your country in the future?
Conserving the countryside
Why is it important to protect the countryside?
In what ways is the countryside in danger in your country?
Historic buildings and monuments
Why are historic buildings and monuments important to a city?
Is it better to keep old buildings or build new modern ones?

* * * * *

FAMILY 

Describe the person in your family who you most admire. You should say,
                What their relationship is to you
                what they have done in their life (to you or themselves)
                what they do now
And explain why you admire them so much.

Part 3
Attitudes to family
In what ways have families in your country changed in recent years?
Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?
Family or friends
Which is more important to you: your family or your friends?
What conflicts can arise between a person’s family and a person’s friends?
Family responsibilities
What responsibilities do parents have towards their children?
What responsibilities do children have towards their parents?

* * * * *

SHOPPING

Describe your favourite shop. You should say:
                Where it is
                what things it sells
                what sort of people are its customers
And explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3
Things to buy
What typical things can visitors to your country buy?
What things do young people like to buy in your country?

Money
Is it a good idea to save money? Why (not)?
Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?
Shopping
What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers?
Do you think that in the future people will do most of their shopping using the Internet? Why?/ Why not?

* * * * *

EATING AND FOOD 

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal. You should say:
                What the occasion was
                who was at the meal
                what you ate
And explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Part 3
Attitudes to food
What do you think a healthy diet consists of?
Which do people in your country prefer: traditional food or fast food such as hamburgers or pizzas?
Learning about food
Do you think children should be taught about healthy diets and cooking at school? Why (not)?
At what age do you think children should be taught to cook?
Food aid
What can be done to prevent poor people in the world going hungry?
Should rich countries help poor countries with more than just food?

* * * * *

TRAVELLING 

Describe a memorable journey you have made. You should say:
                Where you were going
                how you were travelling
                why you were making the journey
And explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3
Travelling and learning
What do people learn from travelling?
Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?
Tourism and culture
How has tourism changed the way people live in your country?
How should tourists behave when they visit your country?
Ways of travelling
What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about your country?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by plane?

* * * * *

SCHOOL
Describe a school which you went to. You should say:
                When you went there
                how many people studied there
                how long you spent there
And explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3
Attitudes to education
How has education changed in your country in the last ten years?
Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?
The focus of education
How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life?
Do you think schools should teach subjects like art, music and dancing? Why (not)?

Education and technology
How important is it for schools to have computers for their students?
Is the Internet a valuable educational tool?

* * * * *

ADVENTURE
Describe an exciting experience in your life. You should say:
                When the experience took place
                where the experience took place
                what happened exactly
And explain why the experience was so exciting.

Part 3
Safety and danger
In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more dangerous?
Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?
Taking risks
What risks should people try to avoid?
Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?
Adventure
How important is it to have adventure in our lives?
What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?

* * * * *

NEWSPAPERS 

Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy reading. You should say:
                What kind of newspaper or magazine it is, e.g. fashion
                how often you buy it
                what articles and information it contains
And explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3
Attitudes to newspapers
In what ways are newspapers better for learning about the news than listening to the radio or watching television?
Do you think newspapers should be completely free to say whatever they want?
Tastes in reading
What do people enjoy reading in your country?
Do you think it is important for people to read a lot? Why (not)?
Public and private lives
What sort of stories do newspapers and magazines publish about well-known or famous people in your country?
Do you think the media should be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of public figures?

* * * * *

WORK/COLLEGE

Describe an idea you had for improving something at work or college. You should say:
                when and where you had your idea
                what your idea was
                who you told about your idea
and explain why you thought your idea would make an improvement.
               

Part 3.
IDEAS AND EDUCATION
Some people think that education should be about memorising the important ideas of the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Should education encourage students to have their own new ideas? Why?
How do you think teachers could help students to develop and share their own ideas?
IDEAS IN THE WORKPLACE
Should employers encourage their workers to have new ideas about improving the company? Why?
Do you think people sometimes dislike ideas just because they are new? Why?
What is more difficult: having new ideas or putting them into practice? Which is more important for a successful company?