This
is the complete list of the Writing Topics from the
TOEFL Information Bulletin
2001 - 2002
(No changes in 2003)
- People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career
preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- Nowadays, food has become easier
to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
- It has been said, “Not
everything that is learned is contained in books.” Compare and contrast
knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your
opinion, which source is more important? Why?
- A company has
announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your
community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.
- If you could change
one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your answer.
- How do movies or
television influence people ’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to
support your answer.
- Do you agree or
disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication
among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
- Some people prefer
to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would
you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- “When people
succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.” Do
you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and
examples to explain your position.
- Do you agree or
disagree with the following statement? Universities should give the same amount
of money to their students’ sports activities as they give to their university
libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- Many people visit museums when
they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Some people prefer
to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat
food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
- Some people believe
that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe
that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do
you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
- Neighbors are the people who
live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use
specific details and examples in your answer.
- It has recently been
announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighborhood. Do you
support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
- Some people think that they
can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is
always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to
develop your essay.
- What are some important
qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to
explain why these qualities are important.
- Should governments spend more
money on improving roads and highways, or should governments spend more money on
improving public transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific
reasons and details to develop your essay.
- It is better for children to
grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or disagree? Use
specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
- In general, people are living
longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and
details to develop your essay.
- We all work or will work in
our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some
important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use
reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are
important.
- In some countries,
teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good
idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.
- A person you know is planning
to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and
dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details
to develop your essay.
- It has recently been
announced that a large shopping center may be built in your neighborhood. Do you
support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
- It has recently been
announced that a new movie theater may be built in your neighborhood. Do you
support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? People should sometimes do things that they do
not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay
too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures
and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.
- Some people believe that the
Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human
activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- It has recently been
announced that a new high school may be built in your community. Do you support
or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details in your answer.
- Some people spend their
entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives,
looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. Which do you
prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons
and specific examples to support your opinion.
- Is it better to enjoy your
money when you earn it or is it better to
save your money for some time in the future? Use specific reasons
and examples to support your opinion.
- You have received
a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a piece of jewelry you like
or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you buy? Use specific
reasons and details to support your answer.
- Businesses should
hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Attending a live
performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more
enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your opinion.
- Choose one of the following
transportation vehicles and explain why
you think it has changed people’s lives.
• automobiles
• bicycles
• airplanes
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree that
progress is always good? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
(Tip: before you give the answer to the
question, explain what you think "progress" is.)
- Learning about the past has
no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it
more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- The expression “Never, never
give up” means to keep trying and
never stop working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Some people think that human
needs for farmland, housing, and industry
are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you
agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
- What is a very important
skill a person should learn in order to be
successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific
reasons and examples to support your choice.
- Why do you think some people
are attracted to dangerous sports or other
dangerous activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Some people like to travel
with a companion. Other people prefer to
travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your choice.
- Some people prefer to get up
early in the morning and start the day's work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
- What are the important
qualities of a good son or daughter? Have
these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Some people prefer to work
for a large company. Others prefer to work
for a small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and
details to support your choice.
- People work because they need
money to live. What are some other
reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use
specific examples and details to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Face-to-face
communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters,
email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
- Some people like to do only
what they already do well. Other people
prefer to try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
- Some people believe that
success in life comes from taking risks or chances. Others believe that success results from careful
planning. In your opinion, what does success come from? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
- What change would make your
hometown more appealing to people
your age? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? The most
important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? One should
never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons
and details to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? A person should
never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- A company is going to give
some money either to support the arts or
to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Some movies are serious,
designed to make the audience think. Other
movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of
movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Businesses
should do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your position.
- Some people are always in a
hurry to go places and get things done. Other
people prefer to take their time and live life at a slower pace. Which do
you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Games are
as important for adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Parents or other
adult relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18-year-old) teenage children. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your opinion.
- What do you want most in a
friend — someone who is intelligent, or
someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable?
Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use
reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Most experiences
in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for
the future. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
- Some people prefer to work
for themselves or own a business.
Others prefer to work for an employer. Would you rather be self- employed, work for someone
else, or own a business? Use specific
reasons to explain your choice.
- Should a city try to preserve
its old, historic buildings or destroy them and
replace them with modern buildings? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Classmates
are a more important influence than parents on a child’s success in school.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- If you were an employer,
which
kind of worker would you prefer to hire:
an inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a
higher salary? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- Many teachers assign homework
to students every day. Do you think
that daily homework is necessary for students? Use specific reasons
and details to support your answer.
- If you could study a subject
that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose? Explain your
choice, using specific reasons
and details.
- Some people think that the
automobile has improved modern life.
Others think that the automobile has caused serious problems. What
is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Which would you choose: a
high-paying job with long hours that would
give you little time with family and friends or a lower-paying job with
shorter hours that would give you more time with family and friends?
Explain your choice using specific reasons and details.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Grades
(marks) encourage students to learn. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
- Some people say that
computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex
and stressful. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? The best way
to travel is in a group led by a tour guide. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- Some universities require
students to take classes in many subjects. Other
universities require students to specialize in one subject. Which is better?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Children
should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Boys and girls
should attend separate schools. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- Is it more important to be
able to work with a group of people on a
team or to work independently? Use reasons and specific examples to
support your answer.
- Your city has decided to
build a statue or monument to honor a famous
person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific
examples to support your choice.
- Describe a custom from your
country that you would like people
from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice using specific
reasons and examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Technology has
made the world a better place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Advertising
can tell you a lot about a country. Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Modern
technology is creating a single world culture. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
- Some people say that the
Internet provides people with a lot of
valuable information. Others think access to so much information
creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- A foreign visitor has only
one day to spend in your country. Where
should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details
to support your choice.
- If you could go back to some
time and place in the past, when and
where would you go? Why? Use specific reasons and details to
support your choice.
- What discovery in the last
100 years has been most beneficial for people
in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Telephones
and email have made communication between people less personal. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
- If you could travel back in
time to meet a famous person from history,
what person would you like to meet? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your choice.
- If you could meet a famous
entertainer or athlete, who would that be and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
- If you could ask a famous
person one question, what would you ask? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- Some people prefer to live in
places that have the same weather or
climate all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather
changes several times a year. Which do you prefer? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your choice.
- Many students have to live
with roommates while going to school or university. What are some of the important qualities of a good
roommate? Use specific reasons and examples to explain why these
qualities are important.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Dancing
plays an important role in a culture. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- Some people think governments
should spend as much money as
possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the Moon and to
other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should
spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two
opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
- People have different ways of
escaping the stress and difficulties of
modern life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress?
Use specific details and examples in your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Teachers should
be paid according to how much their students learn. Give specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- If you were asked to send one
thing representing your country to
an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use
specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
- You have been told that
dormitory rooms at your university must be
shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a
student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate?
Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
- Some people think that
governments should spend as much money
as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other
people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more
basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use
specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- Some people like doing work
by hand. Others prefer using machines.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Schools should ask students
to evaluate their teachers. Do you agree
or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- In your opinion, what is the
most important characteristic (for example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of
humor) that a person can have to be
successful in life? Use specific reasons and examples from your
experience to explain your answer. When you write your answer, you are
not limited to the examples listed in the question.
- It is generally agreed that
society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the
contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do
you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to
support your answer.
- Students at universities
often have a choice of places to live. They may
choose to live in university dormitories, or they may choose to live in
apartments in the community. Compare the advantages of living in
university housing with the advantages of living in an apartment in the
community. Where would you prefer to live? Give reasons for your
preference.
- You need to travel from your
home to a place 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. Compare the different kinds of transportation you
could use. Tell which method of travel you would choose. Give
specific reasons for your choice.
- Some people believe that a
college or university education should be
available to all students. Others believe that higher education should be
available only to good students. Discuss these views. Which view do you
agree with? Explain why.
- Some people believe that the
best way of learning about life is by
listening to the advice of family and friends. Other people believe
that the best way of learning about life is through personal experience. Compare the advantages of these two different ways of
learning about life. Which do you think is preferable? Use specific
examples to support your preference.
- When people move to another
country, some of them decide to follow the
customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs.
Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your
answer with specific details.
- Some people prefer to spend
most of their time alone. Others like
to be with friends most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your
time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your
answer.
- Some people prefer to spend
time with one or two close friends. Others
choose to spend time with a large number of friends. Compare the
advantages of each choice. Which of these two ways of spending time do
you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your answer.
- Some people think that
children should begin their formal
education at a very early age and should spend most of their time on
school studies. Others believe that young children should spend
most of their time playing. Compare these two views. Which view
do you agree with? Why?
- Some people think that your
community would be a good place to locate
the university. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of establishing
a new university in your community. Use specific details in your
discussion.
- Some people think that the
family is the most important influence
on young adults. Other people think that friends are the most
important influence on young adults. Which view do you agree with? Use examples to support your position.
- Some people prefer to plan
activities for their free time very carefully.
Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare
the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not
making plans. Which do you prefer — planning or not planning for your
leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
- People learn in different
ways. Some people learn by doing things;
other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening
to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is
best for you? Use specific examples to support your choice.
- Some people choose friends
who are different from themselves. Others
choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of
having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having
friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself?
Why?
- Some people enjoy change, and
they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same,
and they do
not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you
prefer? Explain why.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? People behave
differently when they wear different clothes. Do you agree that different
clothes influence the way people behave? Use specific examples to
support your answer.
- Decisions can be made
quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. Use
reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
- Some people trust their first
impressions about a person’s character
because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people
do not judge a person’s character quickly because they believe first
impressions are often wrong. Compare these two attitudes. Which
attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific examples.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? People are
never satisfied with what they have; they always want something
more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your
answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? People should
read only those books that are about real events, real people, and
established facts. Use specific reasons and details to support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? It is more
important for students to study history and literature than it is for
them to study science and mathematics. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? All students
should be required to study art and music in secondary school. Use
specific reasons to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? There is
nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your position.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Reading fiction
(such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies.
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
- Some people say that physical
exercise should be a required part of
every school day. Other people believe that students should spend
the whole school day on academic studies. Which opinion do you
agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- A university plans to develop
a new research center in your country. Some
people want a center for business research. Other people want a center
for research in agriculture (farming). Which of these two kinds of research
centers do you recommend for your country? Use specific reasons in your
recommendation.
- Some young children spend a
great amount of their time practicing sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
this. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Only people who
earn a lot of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- If you could invent something
new what product would you develop? Use specific details to explain why this invention is needed.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person ’s
childhood years (the time from birth to twelve years of age) are the most
important years of a person’s life. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Children
should be required to help with household tasks as soon as they are
able to do so. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Some high schools require all
students to wear school uniforms. Other
high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of
these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Playing a
game is fun only when you win. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? High schools
should allow students to study the courses that students want to study. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? It is better
to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- What do you consider to be
the most important room in a house? Why is
this room more important to you than any other room? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- Some items (such as clothes
or furniture) can be made by hand or by machine. Which do you prefer — items made by hand or items
made by machine? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your
choice.
- If you could make one
important change in a school that you attended,
what change would you make? Use reasons and specific examples to
support your answer.
- A gift (such as a camera, a
soccer ball, or an animal) can contribute
to a child’s development. What gift would you give to help a child develop?
Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your
choice.
- Some people believe that
students should be given one long vacation each year. Others believe that students should have several short vacations
throughout the year. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your choice.
- Would you prefer to
live in a traditional house or in a modern apartment building? Use specific
reasons and details to support your choice.
- Some people say
that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say
that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which
viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Some people prefer to spend
their free time outdoors. Other people
prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be
outside or would you prefer to be inside for your leisure activities?
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
- Your school has received a
gift of money. What do you think is the best
way for your school to spend this money? Use specific reasons and details
to support your choice.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Playing
games teaches us about life. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- Imagine that you have
received some land to use as you wish. How would
you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? Watching
television is bad for children. Use specific details and examples to
support your answer.
- What is the most important
animal in your country? Why is the animal important? Use reasons and specific details to explain your answer.
- Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such
as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is
disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- Do you agree or disagree with
the following statement? A zoo has no useful purpose. Use specific reasons and
examples to explain your answer.
- In some countries,
people are no longer allowed to smoke in many public places and office
buildings. Do you think this is a good rule or a bad rule? Use specific reasons
and details to support your position.
- Plants can provide food,
shelter, clothing, or medicine. What is one kind of
plant that is important to you or the people in your country? Use specific
reasons and details to explain your choice.
- You have the opportunity to
visit a foreign country for two weeks.
Which country would you like to visit? Use specific reasons and
details to explain your choice.
- In the future, students may
have the choice of studying at home by using
technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional
schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to
explain your choice.
- When famous people such as
actors, athletes and rock stars give
their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay
attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
- The twentieth century saw
great change. In your opinion, what is one
change that should be remembered about the twentieth century? Use
specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
- When people need to complain
about a product or poor service,
some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person.
Which way do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- People remember special gifts
or presents that they have received. Why?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Some famous athletes and
entertainers earn millions of dollars every year. Do you think these people deserve such high
salaries? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
- Is the ability to read and
write more important today than in the past?
Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- People do many different
things to stay healthy. What do you do for
good health? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- You have decided to give
several hours of your time each month to
improve the community where you live. What is one thing you will do to
improve your community? Why? Use specific reasons and details to
explain your choice.
- People recognize a difference
between children and adults. What
events (experiences or ceremonies) make a person an adult? Use
specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.
- Your school has enough money
to purchase either computers for students
or books for the library. Which should your school choose to buy —
computers or books? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
recommendation.
- Many students choose to
attend schools or universities outside their
home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific
reasons and details to explain your answer.
- People listen to music for
different reasons and at different times. Why is
music important to many people? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your choice.
- Groups or organizations are
an important part of some people’s lives.
Why are groups or organizations important to people? Use specific
reasons and examples to explain your answer.
- Imagine that you are
preparing for a trip. You plan to be away from your
home for a year. In addition to clothing and personal care items, you can
take one additional thing. What would you take and why? Use specific
reasons and details to support your choice.
- When students move to a new
school, they sometimes face problems. How can schools help these students with their problems?
Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.
- It is sometimes said that
borrowing money from a friend can harm or
damage the friendship. Do you agree? Why or why not? Use reasons and
specific examples to explain your answer.
- Every generation of people is
different in important ways. How is
your generation different from your parents’ generation? Use
specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.
- Some students like classes
where teachers lecture (do all of the talking) in class. Other students prefer classes where the students do some of the
talking. Which type of class do you prefer? Give specific reasons and
details to support your choice.
- Holidays honor people or
events. If you could create a new holiday,
what person or event would it honor and how would you want
people to celebrate it? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
- A friend of yours has
received some money and plans to use all of it either
• to go on vacation
• to buy a car
Your friend has asked you for advice. Compare your friend’s two choices
and explain which one you think your friend should choose. Use specific
reasons and details to support your choice.
- The 21st century has begun.
What changes do you think this new
century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer.
- What are some of the
qualities of a good parent? Use specific details and
examples to explain your answer.
- Movies are popular all over
the world. Explain why movies are so popular. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
- In your country, is there more
need for land to be left in its natural
condition or is there more need for land to be developed for housing and
industry? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Many people have a close
relationship with their pets. These people
treat their birds, cats, or other animals as members of their family. In
your opinion, are such relationships good? Why or why not? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
- Films can tell us a lot about
the country where they were made. What
have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific
examples and details to support your response.
- Some students prefer to study
alone. Others prefer to study with a
group of students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
- You have enough money to
purchase either a house or a business. Which
would you choose to buy? Give specific reasons to explain your choice.
Especially for the Independent Speaking Part
1.
Who is your best friend? Describe this person and
say why he/she is your best friend.
2.
What is your favorite place to visit on weekends?
Describe it and explain why it is your favorite place to go.
3.
What is your happiest childhood memory? Describe it
and give reasons to explain why it is your happiest memory.
4.
What is your most important possession? Describe it
and say why it is so important.
5.
Talk about a person in your life who has inspired
you. Describe the person and explain why you found him/her inspirational.
6.
Where do most like to go to eat out? Describe this
place and say why you like it most.
7.
Talk about an important national holiday in your
home country. Describe it and explain why it is important.
8.
What is your favorite book or movie? Describe it
and say why it is your favorite.
9.
Who do you feel close to in your family (or
extended family)? Describe this person and say why you feel close to him/her.
10.
Where is a good place to have fun in your city or
town? Describe this place and explain why it is fun.
11.
Talk about an experience in your life that made you
feel embarrassed. Describe it and say why it was embarrassing.
12.
What was your favorite subject at school? Describe
it and explain why this subject was your favorite one.
13.
Who is an important person in your country?
Describe this person and explain why he/she is important.
14.
Talk about an interesting tourist attraction you
have been to. Describe it and say why it was interesting.
15.
Talk about a time when you experienced success.
Describe the experience and say why it was a success for you.
16.
What is your favorite style of clothing? Describe
it and explain why it is your favorite.
17.
Name a person whom you truly admire. Describe the
person and say why you admire him/her.
18.
Think of a place that makes you feel relaxed and
peaceful. Describe it and explain why it is relaxing and peaceful for you.
19.
Talk about a difficulty you have overcome in your
life. Describe the experience and say why it was difficult to overcome.
20.
What is your most useful study aid? Describe it and
explain why it is useful in helping you to study.
21.
Talk about a teacher who had a positive influence
on you. Describe this person and explain why he/she was so influential to you.
22.
Where is your favorite place to study? Describe
this place and say why it is a good place for you to study.
23.
Talk about a positive experience with learning or
using English. Describe the experience and say why it was a positive one.
24.
What is your favorite kind of food? Describe it and
explain why it is your favorite.
25.
Name a famous or influential figure who has
inspired you. Describe this person and say why he/she has been inspirational to
you.
26.
Which place has fond memories for you? Describe
this place and explain why it is memorable to you.
27.
When have you been happily surprised by something?
Describe the experience and say why the surprise was a happy one for you.
28.
Describe a resource that helped you to do something
better than before. Describe it and explain why it was helpful to you.
29.
Describe a person from your country’s history. Why
do you think this person was important?
30.
Where would you like to go to spend a vacation?
Describe this place and say why you would like to holiday there.
31.
Talk about something you and your family enjoy
doing together. Describe it and explain why you all enjoy it.
32.
What is your favorite recreational activity?
Describe it and say why you enjoy doing it.
33.
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
Describe the person and say why you think he/she is intelligent.
34.
Where would you most like to live? Describe this
place and explain why you would like to live there.
35.
What is your favorite season of the year? Describe
the season and explain why you like it so much.
36.
What custom from your home country are you most
fond of? Describe the custom and explain why you are fond of it.
37.
Which person are you most likely to go to with a
personal problem? Describe this person and say why you would go to him/her in
particular.
38.
Name a place in your country you would recommend
others to visit. Describe this place and explain why you would recommend it.
39.
Talk about an event from the past that you would
like to relive. Describe the original event and say why you would like to relive
it.
40.
What is your favorite way of getting around?
Describe it and explain why it is your favorite means of transportation.
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28 January 2014
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