HOT TOPIC ONE Education
　　Education was one of the most "hot" topics in 2009. Examiners would like to know the different situations of the education in one's country and how it differs from the others. Good education is one of the most important right a citizen should have .Therefore; examiners would like to hear different views and opinions towards this topic. Without adequate knowledge about this topic, candidates will have a difficult time answering these questions.

　　1. Why parents would prefer to home school their children?

　　Parents prefer to home school their children because it has been observed that children who are home schooled tend to be able to make it to international universities. Most people would be concerned about the child having an abnormal social life as he will not have any classmates when he is home schooled. Surprisingly, home schooled children seemed to be well rounded as compared to children who go to the traditional schooling. Parents can pay particular attention on the weakness of the child and focus on how to improve this when home schooling.

　　2. What are the advantages of Chinese education that you think should be passed on to the next generation?

　　Chinese characters seem to be complicated, yet very interesting because each stroke and character has a meaning of its own. When a character is combined with another character, the meaning becomes different already. Chinese history is very rich in culture and values which are essential in one's character and lifestyle. Sadly, not all the Chinese are lucky enough to be able to learn all these things.

　　3. Do you think that having a 9 year-compulsory schooling is enough to have a bright future?

　　I am not convinced about the idea that a 9-year compulsory schooling is enough to have a bright future. It would really depend on the child's emotional maturity, character, capacity, intellect and resilience to be able to have a bright future. Most of the tycoons that we know did not come from well to do backgrounds, thus some of them were not able to finish even the elementary level. A bright future is not only gauged on material gains, but on how much this individual has contributed for the benefit of those around him.
　　HOT TOPIC TWO Media
　　Media—Magazine, Newspaper, Radio, Television and Advertisement are all parts of Media. In the IELTS speaking test, there are a variety of questions comparing these different media types because it is considered to be the most powerful source of information that can straightly affect and influence people. Media is widely spread all over different places and countries. Most of the time it can change people's way of life and way of thinking, so examiners would like to know how you think and feel about it. Here are some examples of questions related to media in the IELTS speaking test.

　　1. Do you think that we should have censorship in TV programs?

　　Yes, I think that we should definitely have censorship in TV programs. I speak not only for the children but for the adults as well. What we see on TV do affect our subconscious level more than we are actually aware of. X rated films and violent programs are major factors why crime and violence are very rampant in the world we are living in.
　　2. Why some people are willing to spend a lot of money in purchasing magazines?

　　Magazines can be source of leisure yet can be informative as well that is why some people do not hesitate to splurge their money on these things. Through magazines, we can read about the life of some of our favorite celebrities. We get to also learn about practical tips about budgeting, fashion, improving our homes, etc. It is a source of entertainment where learning is fun and not forced.

　　3. What kind of influence can advertisement give to people?

　　Advertisement either compels people to buy or refrain them from buying certain things or from doing certain actions without their conscious awareness. It is a very powerful tool to influence the mindset of people both young and old. All types of advertisement seem to have this kind of impact whether they are found on the billboards on the trains, buses and roads, whether they are found in the magazines or newspapers, and whether they are seen on TV. Advertisement has great power to boost or break a particular brand.

　　HOT TOPIC THREE Science and Technology

　　Science and technology—This is one of those things that is changing rapidly in the society. Computers, MP 4, appliances are all part of the development of Science and technology. Any kind of change about these things usually has a very strong impact on us, some positive and some negative. Questions about pros and cons about this topic are often asked by the examiners during the exam. And anything about science and technology can become a question in IELTS speaking test. Here are some example questions candidates should know.