IELTS Speaking Part (3) Discussion Topics
Question Set (1)
Development in Education
How has education changed in your country in the last 10 years?
What changes do you foresee in the next 50 years?
A National Education System
How do the expectations of today’s school leavers compare with those of the previous generation?
What role do you think extracurricular activities play in education?
Different Style/Methods of Teaching and Learning
What method of learning works best for you?
How beneficial do you think it is to group students according to their level of ability?
Question Set (2)
People’s cinema-going habits nowadays
Do you think the cinema has increased or decreased in popularity in recent years?
In your opinion, will this trend continue into the future?
Making a film or TV drama of real/fictional events
What are the advantages and disadvantages of making films of real-life events?
How important do you think it is for a film-maker to remain true to the original story?
Censorship and the freedom of the film-maker/TV producer
Should films and television be censored or should we be free to choose what we see?
How do you think censorship laws will change in the next 20 years?
Question Set (3)
The role of ceremony in our lives
How important are ceremonies in our lives?
Do you see the role of private and public ceremonies changing in the future?
Attitudes to marriage in your country
Have attitudes to marriage changed in recent years?
In what ways do men and women feel differently about marriage, in your opinion?
Events of national/global significance
What sort of national events make headlines in your country?
Does the media in your country pay more attention to global or national events?
Question Set (4)
How values can change
What kind of possessions show status in your country?
Do you think it was different for your grandparents?
The consumer society
Modern society is often called “materialistic.” Why do you think this is?
Do you think consumerism is a positive or negative development?
The consumer market
What is the role of advertising?
How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?
Question Set (5)
Looking after historic places
How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings?
Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic place locally? In what way?
What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the future? Why?
The teaching of history at school
How were you taught history when you were at school?
Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at school? How?
Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?
Question Set (6)
The social benefits of hobbies
Do you think having hobby is good for people’s social life? In what way?
Are there any negative effects of a person spending too much time on their hobby? What are they?
Why do you think people need to have an interest or hobby?
Leisure time
In your country, how much time do people spend on work and how much time on leisure? Is this a good balance, do you think?
Would you say the amount of free time has changed much in the last fifty years?
Do you think people will have more or less time in the future? Why?
Question Set (7)
Water-based leisure activities
What do people enjoy doing when they visit rivers, lakes or the sea? Why do think these activities are popular?
What benefits do you think people get from the activities they enjoy in the water?
What are the different advantages of going to the sea or to a swimming pool to enjoy yourself? What do you think the disadvantages are?
The economic importance of rivers, lakes and the sea
How does water transport, like boats and ships, compare with other kinds? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of water transport?
How important is it for a town or city to be located near a river or the sea? Why?
Have there been any changes in the number of jobs available in fishing and water transport industries, do you think? Why do you think this is?
Question Set (8)
The internet and communication
What effect has the internet had on the way people generally communicate with each other?
Why do you think the internet is being used more and more for communication?
How reliable do you think information from the internet is? Why? What about the news on the internet?
The internet and shopping
Why do you think some people use the internet for shopping? Why doesn’t everyone use it in this way?
What kinds of things are easy to buy and sell online? Can you give me some examples?
Do you think shopping on the internet will be more or less popular in the future? Why?
Question Set (9)
Famous people in your country
What kind of people become famous people these days?
Is this different from the kind of achievement that made people famous in the past? In what way?
How do you think people will become famous in the future?
Being in the public eye
What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
How does the media in your country treat famous people?
Why do you think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people?
Question Set (10)
Music and young people
What kinds of music are popular with young people in your culture?
What do you think influences a young person’s taste in music?
How has technology affected the kinds of music popular with young people?
Music and society
Tell me about any traditional music in your culture.
How important is it for a culture to have musical traditions?
Why do you think countries have national anthems or songs?
Question Set (11)
Qualities of friends
What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?
Which are more important to people, their family or their friends? Why?
What do you think causes friendships to break up?
Other relationships
What other types of relationship, apart from friends and family, are important in people’s lives today?
Have relationships with neighours where you live changed in recent years? How?
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone? Why/ why not?
Question Set (12)
Purpose of festivals and celebrations
Why do you think festivals are important events in the working year?
Would you agree that the original significance of festivals is often lost today? Is it good or bad, do you think?
Do you think that new festivals will be introduced in the future? What kind?
Festivals and the media
What role does the media play in festivals, do you think?
Do you think it’s good or bad to watch festivals on TV? Why?
How may globalization affect different festivals around the world?
Question Set (13)
Family similarities
In what ways can people in a family be similar to each other?
Do you think that daughters are always more similar to mothers than to male relatives? What about sons and fathers?
In terms of personality, are people more influenced by their family or by their friends? In what ways?
Genetic research
Where can people in your country get information about genetic research?
How do people in your country feel about genetic research?
Should this research be funded by governments or private companies? Why?
Question Set (14)
Keeping fit and healthy
What do most people do to keep fit in your country?
How important is it for people to do some regular physical exercise?
Health and modern lifestyles
Why do some people think that modern lifestyles are not healthy?
Why do some people choose to lead unhealthy lives?
Should individuals or governments be responsible for making people’s lifestyle healthy?
What could be done to encourage people to live in a healthy way?
Question Set (15)
Children’s games
How have games changed from the time when you were a child?
Do you think this has been a positive change? Why?
Why do you think children like playing games?
Games and competition
Do you think competitive games are good or bad for children? In what ways?
How can games sometimes help to unite people?
Why is competition often seen as important in today’s society?
Question Set (16)
Important choices
What are the typical choices people make at different stages of their lives?
Should important choices be made by parents rather than by young adults?
Why do some people like to discuss choices with other people?
Choices in everyday life
What kind of choices do people have to make in their everyday life?
Why do some people choose to do the same things every day? Are there any disadvantages in this?
Do you think that people today have more choices to make today than in the past?
Question Set (17)
Family parties
What are the main reasons why people organize family parties in your country?
In some places people spend a lot of money on parties that celebrate special family events. Is this ever true in your country? Do you think this is a good trend or a bad trend?
Are there many differences between family parties and parties given by friends? Why do you think this is?
National celebrations
What kinds of national celebration do you have in your country?
Who tends to enjoy national celebrations more: young people or old people? Why?
Why do you think some people think that national celebrations are a waste of government money? Would you agree or disagree with this view? Why?
Question Set (18)
Ideas and education
Some people think that education should be about memorizing 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 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?
Question Set (19)
Competitions in school
Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?
Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less competitive since you were that age? Why?
Sporting competitions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of intensive training for young sportspeople?
Some people think that competition leads to a better performance from sports stars. Others think it just makes players fell insecure. What is your opinion?
Do you think that it is possible to become too competitive in sport? In what way?
Question Set (20)
Technology and housework
What kinds of machine are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
Technology in the workplace
What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices today?
How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?
Question Set (21)
Asking questions
What kinds of organization want to find out about people’s opinions?
Do you think that questionnaires or surveys are good ways of finding out people’s opinions?
What reasons might people have for not wanting to give their opinions?
Questionnaires in school
Do you think it would be a good idea for schools to ask students their opinions about lessons?
What would the advantages for schools be if they asked students their opinions?
Would there be any disadvantages in asking students’ opinions?
Question Set (22)
Restaurants
Why do you think people go to restaurants when they want to celebrate something?
Which are more popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional restaurants? Why do you think that is?
Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than food in a cheap restaurant – would you agree?
Producing food
Do you think there will be a greater choice of food available in shops in the future, or will there be less choice?
What effects has modern technology had on the way food is produced?
How important is it for a country to be able to grow all the food it needs, without importing any from any countires?
Question Set (23)
Going to meetings
What are the different types of meeting that people often go to?
Some people say that no one likes to go to meetings – what do you think?
Why can it sometimes be important to go to meetings?
International meetings
Why do you think world leaders often have meetings together?
What possible difficulties might be involved in organizing meetings between world leaders?
Do you think that meetings between international leaders will become more frequent in the future? Or will there be less need for world leaders to meet?
Question Set (24)
Friendship
What do you think makes someone a good friend to a whole family?
Do you think we meet different kinds of friend at different stages of our lives? In what ways are these types of friend different?
How easy is it to make friends with people from a different age group?
Influence of friends
Do you think it is possible to be friends with someone if you never meet them in person? Is this real friendship?
What kind of influence can friends have on our lives?
How important would you say it is to have friends from different cultures?
Question Set (25)
Shopping at markets
Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
Do you think markets are some suitable places for selling certain types of things? Which ones? Why do you think this is?
Do you think young people feel the same about shopping at markets as older people? Why is that?
Shopping in general
What do you think are the advantages of buying things from shops rather than markets?
How does advertising influence what people choose to buy? Is this true for everyone?
Do you think that any recent changes in the way people live have affected general shopping habits? Why is this?
Question Set (26)
Doing new things
Why do you think some people like doing new things?
What problems can people have when they try new activities for the first time?
Do you think it’s best to do new things on your own or with other people? Why?
Learning new things
What kinds of things do children learn to do when they are very young? How important are these things?
Do you think children and adults learn to do new things in the same way? How is their learning style different?
Some people say that it is more important to be able to learn new things now than it was in the past. Do you agree or disagree with that? Why?
Question Set (27)
Reasons for daily travel
Why do people need to travel every day?
What problems can people have when they are on their daily journey, for example to work or school? Why is this?
Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Benefits of international travel
What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
Can travel make a positive difference to the economy of a country? How?
Do you think a society can benefit if its members have experience of travelling to other countries? In what ways?
Question Set (28)
Helping other people in the community
What are some of the ways people can help others in the community? Which is most important?
Why do you think some people like to help other people?
Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did in the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Community services
What types of services, such as libraries or health centres, are available to the people who live in your areas? Do you think there are enough of them?
Which groups of people generally need most support in a community? Why?
Who do you think should pay for the services that are available to the people in a community? Should it be government or individual people?
Question Set (29)
Skills and abilities
What skills and abilities do people most want to have today? Why?
Which skills should children learn at school? Are there any skills which they should learn at home? What are they?
Which skills do you think will be important in the future? Why?
Salaries for skilled people
Which kinds of jobs have the highest salaries in your country? Why is this?
Are there any other jobs that you think should have high salaries? Why do you think that?
Some people say it would be better for society if everyone got the same salary. What do you think about that? Why?
Question Set (30)
Local business
What types of local business are there in your neighourhood? Are there any restaurants, shops or dentists for example?
Do you think local businesses are important for a neighourhood? In what way?
How do large shopping malls and commercial centres affect small local businesses? Why do you think that is?
People and business
Why do some people want to start their own business?
Are there any disadvantages to running a business? Which is the most serious?
What are the most important qualities that a good business person needs? Why is that?
Question Set (31)
Relationship between parents and children
How much time do children spend with their parents in your country? Do you think that is enough?
How important do you think spending time together is for the relationships between parents and children? Why?
Have relationships between parents and children changed in recent years? Why do you think that is?
Children’s free-time activities
What are the most popular free-time activities with children today?
Do you think the free-time activities children do today are good for their health? Why is that?
How do you think children’s activities will change in the future? Will this be a positive change?
Question Set (32)
Owning things
What types of things do young people in your country most want to own today? Why is this?
Why do some people feel they need to own things?
Do you think that owning lots of things makes people happy? Why?
Possessions
Do you think television and films can make people want to get new possessions? Why do they have this effect?
Are there any benefits to society of people wanting to get new possessions? Why do you think this is?
Do you think people will consider that having lots of possessions is a sign of success in the future? Why?
Question Set (33)
Different types of home
What kinds of home are most popular in your country? Why is this?
What do you think are the advantages of living in a house rather than an apartment?
Do you think that everyone would like to live in a larger home? Why is that?
Finding a place to live
How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
Do you think it’s better to rent or to buy a place to live in? Why?
Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents? Why is that?
Question Set (34)
Reading and children
What kinds of books are most popular with children in your country? Why do you think that is?
Why do you think some children do not read books very often?
How do you think children can be encouraged to read more?
Reading for different purposes
Are there any occasions when reading at speed is a useful skill to have? What are they?
Are there any jobs where people need to read a lot? What are they?
Do you think that reading novels is more interesting than reading factual books? Why is that?
Question Set (35)
Types of weather
What types of weather do people in your country dislike most? Why is that?
What jobs can be affected by different weather conditions? Why?
Are there any important festivals in your country that celebrate a season or types of weather?
Weather forecasts
How important do you think it is for everyone to check what the next day’s weather will be? Why?
What is the best way to get accurate information about weather?
How easy or difficult is it to predict the weather in your country? Why is that?
Question Set (36)
Different types of TV programmes
What are the most popular kinds of TV programmes in your country? Why is this?
Do you think there are too many game shows on TV nowadays? Why?
Do you think TV is the main way for people to get the news in your country? What other ways are thee?
TV advertising
What types of products are advertised most often on TV?
Do you think that people pay attention to adverts on TV? Why do you think that is?
How important are regulations on TV advertising?
Question Set (37)
Arriving early
In what kinds of situations should people always arrive early?
How important it is to arrive early in your country?
How can modern technology help people to arrive early?
Being patient
What kinds of jobs require the most patience?
Is it always better to be patient in work (or studies)?
Do you agree or disagree that the older people are, the more patient they are?
Question Set (38)
Watching films/movies
What are the most popular types of films in your country?
What is the difference between watching a film in the cinema and watching a film at home?
Do you think cinemas will close in the future?
Theatre
How important is the theatre in your country’s history?
How strong a tradition is it today in your country to go to the theatre?
Do you think the theatre should be run as a business or as a public service?
Question Set (39)
Money and young people
Why do some parents give their children money to spend each week?
Do you agree that schools should teach children how to manage money?
Do you think it is a good idea for students to earn money while studying?
Money and society
Do you think it is true that in today’s society money cannot buy happiness?
What disadvantages are there in a society where the gap between rich and poor is very large?
Do you think richer countries have a responsibility to help poorer countries?
Question Set (40)
Different kinds of workplaces
What things make an office comfortable to work in?
Why do some people prefer to work outdoors?
Do you agree that the building people work in is more important than the colleagues they work with?
The importance of work
What would life be like if people didn’t have to work?
Are all jobs of equal importance?
Why do some people become workaholic?
The above mentioned questions are from Cambridge IELTS books (3 to 12). In this part 3 of the speaking test, you will have to talk at length and give examples. You are marked on grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation. You will not be marked on your ideas.
Tips for Speaking Part 3:
- Paraphrase the questions.
- Give your opinions.
- Give reasons and details.
- Give examples.
- Use linking words.
- Ask for clarification if necessary.
- talk as fluently as possible and be spontaneous
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B.S.I Learning Academy
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