# data[].attributes.headline
How to (seriously) read a scientific paper

# data[].attributes.subject
How to (seriously) read a scientific paper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adam Ruben's tongue-in-cheek column about the common difficulties and frustrations of reading a scientific paper broadly resonated among Science Careers readers. Many of you have come to us asking for more (and more serious) advice on how to make sense of the scientific literature, so we've asked a dozen scientists at different career stages and in a broad range of fields to tell us how they do it. Although it is clear that reading scientific papers becomes easier with experience, the stumbling blocks are real, and it is up to each scientist to identify and apply the techniques that work best for them. The responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

How do you approach reading a paper?

I start by reading the abstract. Then, I skim the introduction and flip through the article to look at the figures. I try to identify the most prominent one or two figures, and I really make sure I understand what's going on in them. Then, I read the conclusion/summary. Only when I have done that will I go back into the technical details to clarify any questions I might have.
-Jesse Shanahan, master's candidate in astronomy at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut

More from our How-To series

I first get a general idea by reading the abstract and conclusions. The conclusions help me understand if the goal summarized in the abstract has been reached, and if the described work can be of interest for my own study. I also always look at plots/figures, as they help me get a first impression of a paper. Then I usually read the entire article from beginning to end, going through the sections in the order they appear so that I can follow the flow of work that the authors want to communicate.

If you want to make it a productive exercise, you need to have a clear idea of which kind of information you need to get in the first place, and then focus on that aspect. It could be to compare your results with the ones presented by the authors, put your own analysis into context, or extend it using the newly published data. Citation lists can help you decide why the paper may be most relevant to you by giving you a first impression of how colleagues that do similar research as you do may have used the paper.
-Cecilia Tubiana, scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen, Germany

If I'm aiming to just get the main points, I'll read the abstract, hop to the figures, and scan the discussion for important points. I think the figures are the most important part of the paper, because the abstract and body of the paper can be manipulated and shaped to tell a compelling story. Then anything I'm unclear about, I head to the methodology.

If I want to delve deeper into the paper, I typically read it in its entirety and then also read a few of the previous papers from that group or other articles on the same topic. If there is a reference after a statement that I find particularly interesting or controversial, I also look it up. Should I need more detail, I access any provided data repositories or supplemental information.

Then, if the authors' research is similar to my own, I see if their relevant data match our findings or if there are any inconsistencies. If there are, I think about what could be causing them. Additionally, I think about what would happen in our model if we used the same methods as they did and what we could learn from that. Sometimes, it is also important to pay attention to why the authors decided to conduct an experiment in a certain way. Did the authors use an obscure test instead of a routine assay, and why would they do this?
-Jeremy C. Borniger, doctoral candidate in neuroscience at Ohio State University, Columbus

I always start with title and abstract. That tells me whether or not it's an article I'm interested in and whether I'll actually be able to understand it-both scientifically and linguistically. I then read the introduction so that I can understand the question being framed, and jump right to the figures and tables so I can get a feel for the data. I then read the discussion to get an idea of how the paper fits into the general body of knowledge.

I pay attention to acknowledgement of limitations and proper inference of data. Some people stretch their claims more than others, and that can be a red flag for me. I also put on my epidemiologist hat so that I can try to make sure the study design is adequate to actually test the hypotheses being examined.

My reading strategy depends on the paper. Sometimes I start by skimming through to see how much might be relevant. If it is directly applicable to my current topic, I'll read the paper closely, apart from the introduction that is probably already familiar. But I always try to figure out if there are particular places or figures that I need to pay close attention to, and then I go and read the related information in the results and discussion.

When reading papers, it helps me to have a writing task so that I am being an active reader instead of letting my eyes glaze over mountains of text only to forget everything I just read. So for example, when I read for background information, I will save informative sentences from each article about a specific topic in a Word document. I'll write comments along the way about new ideas I got or questions I need to explore further. Then, in the future, I'll only need to read this document instead of re-reading all the individual papers.

I usually start with the abstract, which gives me a brief snapshot of what the study is all about. Then I read the entire article, leaving the methods to the end unless I can't make sense of the results or I'm unfamiliar with the experiments.

The results and methods sections allow you to pull apart a paper to ensure it stands up to scientific rigor. Always think about the type of experiments performed, and whether these are the most appropriate to address the question proposed. Ensure that the authors have included relevant and sufficient numbers of controls. Often, conclusions can also be based on a limited number of samples, which limits their significance.

I like to print out the paper and highlight the most relevant information, so on a quick rescan I can be reminded of the major points. Most relevant points would be things that change your thinking about your research topic or give you new ideas and directions.
-Lachlan Gray, deputy head of the HIV Neuropathogenesis Lab at the Burnet Institute and adjunct research fellow in the Department of Infectious Disease at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia

What I choose to read is based on relation to my research areas and things that are generating lots of interest and discussion because they are driving the way we do psychology, or science more widely, in new directions. Most often, what I am trying to get out of the papers is issues of methodology, experimental design, and statistical analysis. And so for me, the most important section is first what the authors did (methods) and second what they found (results).

First I read very fast: The point of the first reading is simply to see whether the paper is interesting for me. If it is I read it a second time, slower and with more attention to detail.

I nearly always read the abstract first and only continue on to the paper if the abstract indicates that the paper will be of value to me. Then, if the topic of the paper is one I know well, I generally skim the introduction, reading its last paragraph to make sure I know the specific question being addressed in the paper. Then I look at the figures and tables, either read or skim the results, and lastly skim or read the discussion.

If the topic is not one I know well, I usually read the introduction much more carefully so that the study is placed into context for me. Then I skim the figures and tables and read the results.
-Charles W. Fox, professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington

As editor-in-chief of Science, I have to read and comprehend papers outside of my field all the time. Generally, I start with the corresponding editors' summaries, which are meant for someone like me: a science generalist who is interested in everything but dives deeply only into one field. Next, I check to see if someone wrote a News article on the paper. Third, I check to see if there is a Perspective by another scientist. The main goal of a Perspective is to broaden the message of the paper, but often the authors do a great job of extracting the essence of the article for non-specialists at the same time.

What do you do when there is something you don't understand?

I like to read online so that I can easily cut and paste words I don't know into a browser to check what they mean.
- McNutt

If it's only a few things in the article, I'll make a note to look them up later. If I am really struggling to proceed through the paper, I try to look up a review article or a textbook chapter to give me the necessary background to proceed, which I generally find much more efficient.

There are a lot of acronyms and jargon that can be subfield-specific, so I usually don't wade through the details unless it's for my own research. But I always try to take my time to really understand the methods being used.
- Shanahan

I will typically pause immediately to look up things I don't understand. The rest of the reading may not make sense if I don't understand a key phrase or jargon. This can backfire a bit, though, as I often go down never-ending rabbit holes after looking something up (What is X? Oh, X influences Y. ... So what's Y? etc...). This can be sort of fun as you learn how everything is connected, but if you're crunched for time this can pull your attention away from the task at hand.

Sometimes, all the jargon in a paper can cloud the whole point of the experiments in the first place. In such cases, it helps to ask yourself, "What question were the authors trying to answer?" Then you can determine whether they succeeded or failed.
- Borniger

It depends on how much the non-understandable bits prevent me from following the main ideas. I usually do not try to understand all the details in all the sections the first time I read a paper. If non-understandable parts appear important for my research, I try to ask colleagues or even contact the lead author directly. Going back to the original references to get all the background information is the last resort, because time can be limited and collaborations and personal contacts can be much more efficient in solving specific problems.
- Tubiana

Sometimes, you can just read through a paper and any terms you're not familiar with will become clearer by the end. If it is very heavy going, then stopping and seeking additional information is usually the way to go. I do a quick Google search on the topic, theme, method, jargon, etc. If it is a very dense article, sometimes it will require a few read-throughs before it all starts to make sense.
- Gray

The question I ask myself is, "Do I need to understand what that means in order to get what I need from this paper?" I now read articles in research areas well outside of my expertise, and I often don't need more than superficial knowledge of the substantive content. If I can't do anything with the paper unless I don't understand that depth, then I do more background research.
- Nosek

Lately, I have had to read a number of papers outside my area of expertise with a lot of unfamiliar jargon. In some cases, I am able to directly extract the information I need from the results or figures and tables. In other cases, I use Google searches to define terms and concepts in the paper or read the cited references to better understand the points being made. Occasionally, papers are so incomprehensible (to me, at least) that I don't bother reading them.
- Fox

Do you ever feel overwhelmed reading papers, and how do you deal with that?

All the time. If the paper is relevant to a problem I am trying to solve, you can be sure that there are key things in the paper that I do not understand. That confusion is not a threat; it is an opportunity. I am ignorant; I need to become less ignorant. This paper may help me.

Simultaneously, some papers are written terribly and are not worth the effort. Someone else has surely written about the concepts more clearly so that I can keep my confusion focused on understanding substance rather than poor grammar.
- Nosek

I especially get overwhelmed if it's not in my subfield, if it's long, and if it's full of technical jargon. When this happens, I break it down into chunks and will read it over the course of a few days, if possible. For really difficult papers, it also helps to sit down and work through it with a colleague.
- Shanahan

Yes, many times. This is why I developed my own reading strategies, by talking to other scientists and by trial and error. I also have thrown up my hands in frustration and tossed the offending papers away, never to read them again.
- Boehnke

Yes, and in these cases you have to realize that some papers are the result of years of work by dozens of scientists. Expecting to digest and understand everything in it in one afternoon is a far-fetched idea.
- Borniger

I have often felt overwhelmed! But certain sections might not need as deep an understanding as others. You also need to know your own limits: Are there some parts of the paper that you would like to emulate but are not part of your expertise and might become "accessible" through collaborations?
- Tubiana

If I feel the paper is very important to what I'm doing, I'll leave it a while and go back to it again a couple of times. But if it's too overwhelming, then I have to leave it aside, unless someone among the colleagues I have contacted has been able to interpret it.
- McDowell

Do you have any other tips you'd like to share?

If there is a seminal paper I want to thoroughly understand, I find some way to give a journal club-style presentation about it. Speaking about a particular paper and answering questions is the best way for me to learn the material.

Also, get a good reference manager. Mendeley helps me do my research, read literature, and write papers.
- Colucci

At the beginning, new academic readers find it slow because they have no frame of reference for what they are reading. But there are ways to use reading as a system of creating a mental library, and after a few years, it becomes easy to slot papers onto your mental shelves. Then you can quickly skim a paper to know its contribution.
- Wilkes

Be patient. Don't be afraid or ashamed to use Wikipedia or other, more lay-audience sources like blog posts to get a feel for your topic. Ask many, many questions. If you can't get a clear understanding of the paper, talk with people in your circle. If you are still confused and it's really important to understand the concepts, email the authors.
- Boehnke

Don't hesitate to talk to more experienced scientists. You will be doing THEM a favor by having them explain to you in terms you understand what a complex paper means. All scientists need more experience translating complex concepts into common terms.
- McNutt

If at all possible, read often. Try to keep a bibliography file with a summary of the article, any important points, even a figure or two, along with citation information. Pay attention to different ways of structuring an article, and pay attention to different styles of writing. This will help you develop a style that is effective and also unique.
- Shanahan

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to (seriously) read a scientific paper

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adam Ruben's tongue-in-cheek column about the common difficulties and frustrations of reading a scientific paper broadly resonated among Science Careers readers. Many of you have come to us asking for more (and more serious) advice on how to make sense of the scientific literature, so we've asked a dozen scientists at different career stages and in a broad range of fields to tell us how they do it.

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Read, Take Notes On and Understand Journal Articles | Essay Tips

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Read, Take Notes On and Understand Journal Articles | Essay Tips

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Read, Take Notes On and Understand Journal Articles | Essay Tips

# data[].attributes.headline
Reading comprehension for students with Dyslexia

# data[].attributes.subject
Reading comprehension for students with Dyslexia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dyslexia Conference Recording | Reading Comprehension Strategies for Students with Dyslexia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Mock Test 2022 January | IELTS Online Tests

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IELTS Mock Test 2022 January is one of the best most wanted IELTS simulation test books. Its practice tests was taken based on real, past exam papers which submitted by students and IELTS certified teachers. Each practice test contains 4 modules IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Homeowners should always take precautions to protect their places from burglars and theft. In addition to home alarm systems, what are two other things that people can do to protect their homes from crime?

" get (all) worked up" = become upset or emotional
" My mom got worked up when she found out that someone broke into her car and stole her purse."

" pull the wool over someone's eyes" = deceive or trick someone
" Don't let that used car salesman pull the wool over your eyes. Be sure you get a detailed report on that car's history."

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

What are three things you do to protect your apartment or home from burglary? Use the Internet to find two other ideas on how to make your place safer. Are there certain crime-prevention methods that you might see in one culture, but you wouldn't see them in other countries? You might need to talk to other students to answer this question.

Finding the ideal home security system for your place can take some research. Do you need a full-scale system including motion detectors to protect your dwelling, or is there a similar solution like a watch dog? Use the Internet to review two companies and their products and review the advantages and disadvantages of these solutions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Home Security | Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Homeowners should always take precautions to protect their places from burglars and theft. In addition to home alarm systems, what are two other things that people can do to protect their homes from crime? " get (all) worked up" = become upset or emotional" My mom got worked up when she found out that someone broke into her car and stole her purse."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
IELTS listening tips and practice lessons for success in your IELTS listening test. Develop your skills, learn about the test, get useful tips and much more. This page has everything you need to do well in your test.

On this page, you will find:

IELTS Listening Test Information

IELTS Listening Essential Tips Video

Extra IELTS Listening Videos

Practice Listening Lessons for IELTS Preparation

Information and tips for the other sections of the test, can be accessed through the RED BAR at the top of the website.

There is only one listening test for all IELTS candidates. That means Academic and GT candidates will take the same listening test with the same scoring.

1. The IELTS listening test lasted for a total of 40 mins.

2. The IELTS listening recording will last for 30 mins.

3. There are four parts to the IELTS Listening test:

1. Conversation between 2 people: social context

2. A speech or talk with just one person: social context

3. Conversation between up to four people: educational or training context

4. A talk by one person on an academic subject

5. Please note again that all IELTS candidates take the same listening test. The GT candidates take the same listening test.

4. For the paper based listening test, you must listen and write your answers on the questions paper at the same time. After the recording ends, you will be given an extra 10 mins to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet.

5. For the computer delivered IELTS listening test, put your answers directly into the computer. You are NOT given 10 mins to transfer answers because the answers are already in the computer. Instead you have 2 mins to review your answers and change anything you need to. This is the only difference between the paper and computer listening test.

6. For each set of questions there will be a word count limit - you need to pay close attention to the limit and how it changes for the next set of questions.

1. For example: write no more than two words and/or a number - you can write one word, two words OR a combination of one or two words with a number OR just a number on its own. Always notice if it allows "a number" or "numbers".

2. You can learn how words are counted for IELTS listening on this page: Counting Words

7. You will have time to read the questions before the recording starts.

8. If the word is spelled wrong, it will be marked wrong.

9. COMPUTER DELIVERED IELTS. Click here to read about the Pros & Cons of Computer Based IELTS

10. To see the listening scores, click here: IELTS Band Scores.

11. Using brackets for answers - can you do this in your test? Click here: Using brackets in listening answers

12. For more test information, see this page: IELTS FAQ

Essential tips for success in your IELTS listening test. A MUST watch for all IELTS students.

Notice about Using capital letters: this tip has been updated and listed on this page: 25 Essential Tips Listed for Listening
To get a list of tips from this video, please visit this page: 25 Listening Tips
Free Video Lessons for IELTS listening with both practice lessons and tips. More videos will be added over time.

Some practice listening exercises to help you develop the skills needed for IELTS listening. The lessons vary in level to give all students a chance to practise. I've listed the type of listening question with each lesson to help you focus on different IELTS question types. I hope you find my lessons useful 🙂

1. The Future of Libraries: Sentence Completion

2. Listening for Diagrams Practice & Tips

3. Turtles: Multiple Choice Questions & Tips

4. Blue Footed Birds: Gap Fill

5. Mammoths: Multiple Choice Pictures

6. Nadiya Hussein: Short Answer Qs & Sentence Completion

7. Sports Festival: Summary & Sentence Completion

8. Fireworks: Sentence Completion

9. Sponsored Walk: Short Answer & Sentence Completion

10. Listening for Addresses

11. Listening for City Names

12. Listening for Letters: Alphabet Practice

13. Brain Drain: Multiple Choice & Sentence Completion

14. New Year in Vietnam: Sentence Completion

15. Dealing with Natural Disasters: Dictation Practice

16. Buckingham Palace: Summary Completion

17. Taj Mahal: Map Completion & Tips

18. Dinner Invitation: Multiple Choice

19. London Attractions: Table Completion

20. Dolphin Intelligence: Short Answer Questions & Section 4 Tips

21. Dashford Study Center: Multiple Choice

22. Festivals: Sentence Completion

23. Bedford Surgery: Map Completion

24. Oxford Summer Course: Form Completion

25. Terracotta Army: Summary Completion

26. Sports Center: Short Answer Questions

27. Comet Landing: Sentence Completion

28. Species of the British Isles: Table Completion

29. Museum Visit: Multiple Choice

30. Superbugs: Short Answer Questions

................
Subscribe to Receive New Posts by Email

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Listening Tips, Lessons and Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IELTS listening tips and practice lessons for success in your IELTS listening test. Develop your skills, learn about the test, get useful tips and much more. This page has everything you need to do well in your test.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here you can find full IELTS Reading Test Samples (both General and Academic) for IELTS reading practice. All tests are constantly being renewed and correspond to the real exam sections.

To get your IELTS Reading score calculated, just follow this procedure:

1. Choose one of the practice tests below and click on the first section of it.

2. Read the text and answer the questions. Then press "check" and you will see the correct and wrong answers, and get your result.

3. Now you can go on to the next section and do the same.

4. After you finish the third section, press "Get result!".

Learn more about IELTS Reading

IELTS Academic Reading test 1 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 2 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 3 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 4 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 5 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 6 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 7 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 8 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 9 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 10 (40 questions)

IELTS Academic Reading test 11 (40 questions)

IELTS General Reading test 1 (40 questions)

IELTS General Reading test 2 (40 questions)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You can find here plenty of free IELTS Reading test samples to help you in IELTS Reading practice. You can take the test online and get your score when you finish.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Letter Writing - Band 9 Semi-formal Letter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Full IELTS Writing Task 2 essay | STRUCTURE, TASK, SAMPLE ANSWER (Part 1 - Task Response)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Writing Task 1: How to describe a process

# data[].attributes.headline
Academic writing task 2 overview and sample.

# data[].attributes.subject
Academic writing task 2 overview and sample.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Writing Task 2 - Super Strategy! with Alex

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Writing Task 2 | TWO ESSENTIAL PARAGRAPH STRUCTURES with Jay!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You are here: / IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions

A list of common topics and questions for IELTS speaking part 2. Speaking part 2 is called:
"The Talk"
A face to face to talk to the examiner (3-4 minutes)

You will be given a topic card. You will have 1 minute to prepare your talk and then you will need to speak for 1-2 minutes. Start preparing as soon as you are given the card, paper and pen. The examiner will let you know when to start talking. Keep talking as long as you can. Most topics are stories about yourself or something that happened in your life. The common topics are: an object (thing), a person, a place, an event (occasion) or an activity. See the examples below to help you prepare.
Communication (event) Exercise (activity) Journey (event) Music (object) Photograph (object) Unexpected (event)
Describe an unexpected event.

You should say:

Water (place)
More IELTS Speaking Topics

Topics and questions for speaking part 1 and speaking part 2.
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics & Questions
Recommend for IELTS Speaking

............
Free Subscribe to Receive my New Posts by Email

error: Content is protected !!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You are here: / IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions A list of common topics and questions for IELTS speaking part 2. Speaking part 2 is called: "The Talk" A face to face to talk to the examiner (3-4 minutes) You will be given a topic card.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
IELTS speaking part 1 topics and questions. Prepare for your test by developing ideas for topics and practicing answering questions. There is a download link at the bottom of the page for the list of topics. These topics will be used most years and most are currently in use in 2023.

A face to face interview with the examiner (4-5 minutes)
12 Questions based on 3 Topics

Questions about yourself, your life and your country

Below is a list of topics and questions that the examiner can ask you in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test. You should prepare ideas for these topics but not memorise whole answers. Your answers should be natural when you speak in the test. Prepare your daily life, your recent memories, your childhood memories, your opinions, popular things in your country etc. Remember - part 1 is all about you and your country.

These four topics are the most common in IELTS speaking part 1. You should prepare ideas and practice answering these questions. You are VERY LIKELY to get one of these four for your first topic.

What is your job?
Where do you work?
Why did you choose that job?
Is it a popular job in your country?
Do you like your job?
Do you get on well with your colleagues?
What was your first day like?
What responsibilities do you have at work?
If you had the chance, would you change your job?
Do you plan to continue with your job in the future?

What do you study?
Where do you study that?
Why did you choose that subject?
Is it a popular subject in your country?
Do you like that subject?
Do you get on with your colleagues?
What was your first day like?
What are the main aspects of your subject?
If you had the chance, would you change subject?
Do you plan to get a job in the same field as your subject?

Where is your hometown?
Do you like your hometown?
Do you often visit your hometown?
What is your hometown like?
What is the oldest place in your hometown?
What is there for a foreigner to do or see in your hometown?
How could your hometown be improved?
Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?
Is there good public transportation in your hometown?
Do you think your hometown is a good place to bring up children?

Where is your home?
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Who do you live with?
Are there many rooms in your home?
What is your favourite room?
How are the walls decorated?
What would you change about your home?
Do you plan to live there in the future?
What facilities are there near your home?
What is your neighbourhood like?
Do most people live in houses in your country?

Do you usually celebrate your birthdays?
How did you celebrate your last birthday?
Which birthdays are the most important ones in your country?
Do you think children should celebrate their birthdays with a party?

How many foreign languages do you speak?
When did you start learning your first foreign language?
How many foreign languages do children in your country learn at school?
Do you think it is important to learn a foreign language?

Patience
Are you a patient person?
Do you ever get impatient?
When was the last time you lost your patience?
Which person in your family is the most patient?

Download a free pfd copy of most of the topics and questions on this page: IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

More IELTS Speaking Topics

Topics and questions for speaking part 1 and speaking part 2.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics & Questions
Recommend

.............
Free Subscribe to Get my New Lessons by Email

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IELTS speaking part 1 topics and questions. Prepare for your test by developing ideas for topics and practicing answering questions. There is a download link at the bottom of the page for the list of topics. These topics will be used most years and most are currently in use in 2023.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Below is a list of common topics in IELTS speaking part 3 which are still relevant for 2023.

Speaking part 3 is:

A discussion with the examiner (4-5 minutes)

In speaking part 3, the examiner will ask a broader range of questions based on the topic that you had in speaking part 2. The questions require you to expand your answers further with explanation and examples of the world in general. The examiner will strictly control the time.

For example, if your topic in part 2 was "A time you were late to meet someone", your part 3 questions will be either about Punctuality, Friends or Socialising. The questions will be about the world in general, not about you personally so make sure you don't refer to yourself or your friends or family in this part of the test.

How does someone become a celebrity?

Are all celebrities actors or singers?

Do you think a person needs to be talented to be a celebrity?

Are all celebrities good role models?

What do you think about celebrities who behave badly in public?

Do you think children should learn from celebrities?

How do celebrities have a positive impact on the world?

Are there any downsides to fame?

Do you think famous people have the right to privacy?

Are modern celebrities different to celebrities a few decades ago?

What popular traditions do you have in your country?

Do you think it's important to keep these traditions alive?

Are young people less interested in traditions these days?

Do you think foreign culture is influencing the culture of your country?

How has your country's culture changed over the last few decades?

What can be done to keep culture alive?

What kinds of traditional foods are there in your country?

When do people wear traditional clothing in your country?

What popular festivals are typical of your country's culture?

Is family important in your country?

How has the size of the family changed in the last few decades in your country?

How do you think the family will change in the future?

What role do grandparents play in the family in your country?

Who do you think should be responsible for the care of the elderly, the family or the government?

Is going to the cinema to watch a movie popular in your country?

What kinds of films are popular in your country?

Do many people enjoy watching foreign films in your country?

Do you think it's better to have subtitles or dubbing in a foreign film?

What does it take for a film to become successful?

Which do you think are more important to the success of a film: the director or the stars?

Are drama series popular in your country?

Do you think people prefer watching films at home or in the cinema?

Are there any films which are not suitable for children to watch?

Do you think films about real life events should be 100% true to the actual facts?

What are the main environmental problems in your country?

Why should people be concerned about the environment?

How can people protect the environment?

Do you think money should be spent on protecting animals?

Do you think more should be done to protect natural beauty spots in your country?

Do many people like taking photos in your country?

Which device do they usually use to take photos?

What types of photos do people like to take?

What do you think of selfies?

Do you think it's ok to share photos online without people's permission?

What makes a good photo?

How does a photo differ from a painting?

Is it true that a photo can tell no lies?

What does it take to be a good photographer?

How do most people travel around cities in your country?

How do most people travel around your country?

What do you think of the public transportation in your country?

How could the public transportation be improved?

How has transport changed over the last few decades?

Do you think trains are better than buses?

What do you think of budget air travel?

Do you think all transport will one day be run on green energy?

Do you think people should walk more rather than use cars?

Why do some people prefer to travel abroad rather than in their own country?

Do you think traveling to another country can change the way people think?

Do you think it is good for children to experience life in a foreign country?

How have holidays changed over the past few decades?

Do you think it is safer to travel now than in the past?

How many seasons are there in your country?

Does your country ever have extreme weather?

Does weather ever disrupt things in your country?

Why do you think some people enjoy living in a hot climate?

What types of activities can people do in cold climates?

What do you think it must be like to live in a country with only one type of weather all year round?

Is the weather easy to predict in your country?

Do you think weather influences people's moods?

Do you think the world's climate is changing?

What do you think is affecting the world's climate?

Do you think individuals should take responsibility for the world's global climate?

More IELTS Speaking Topics

Topics and questions for speaking part 1 and speaking part 2.
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics & Questions
Recommended for IELTS Speaking

.............
Free Subscribe to Receive my New Posts by Email

error: Content is protected !!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Below is a list of common topics in IELTS speaking part 3 which are still relevant for 2023. Speaking part 3 is: A discussion with the examiner (4-5 minutes) In speaking part 3, the examiner will ask a broader range of questions based on the topic that you had in speaking part 2.