Describe a job one of your grandparents did.
This test has appeared in 3 seasons · 1 reported by test takers
- Sep–Dec/2025
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Work or study
- Do you work, or are you a student? (Why?)
- Why did you choose that job or that subject? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you enjoy most about it? (Why?)
- Is there anything you would like to change about it? (Why?)
Machines
- Which machine do you use most in your daily life? (Tell me more about that.)
- What machine at home would be hardest to live without? (Tell me more about that.)
- Was there a machine you were afraid of as a child? (Why is that?)
- Do you think machines make our lives too easy? (Why is that?)
Computers and tablets
- Do you use a computer or a tablet more often? (Why is that?)
- What do you usually use it for? (Tell me more about that.)
- When did you first start using a computer? (Tell me more about that.)
- Would you find it difficult to live without one? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a job one of your grandparents did.
You should say:
- which grandparent it was
- what the job involved
- how long they did it
and explain what you think about this job.
Follow-up question after your talk: Would you like to do the same job? / How did you learn about this job?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
work in the past
- Can you describe the kinds of work most people in your country did fifty years ago?
- Can you explain why many traditional jobs have disappeared?
- How would you compare working life in the past with working life today?
changes in working life
- Can you explain why people now change jobs more often than their grandparents did?
- In general, what do people today expect from a job besides money?
- Can you speculate on how working life will be different for children born today?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.