IELTS Arts and Entertainment: What Thai Test Takers Say in 2025

For many Thai learners, the IELTS exam is more than just a test—it’s a gateway to university admission, scholarships, and new opportunities abroad. Among the wide range of topics in the exam, Arts and Entertainment has stood out as one of the most memorable themes in 2025. Thai students preparing with ILC in Hua Hin and across Thailand have shared valuable feedback on what appeared in their exams, how they handled it, and what strategies helped them succeed.

How Thais Found the Arts and Entertainment Theme

Feedback from recent test takers shows a mix of excitement and challenge. Thai students often say that Arts & Entertainment feels more relatable than abstract topics like climate policy or global economics. Most Thais have daily exposure to films, music, social media, and even traditional Thai culture—all of which connect naturally with the theme.

However, while students usually feel comfortable talking about their favourite singer or film, they sometimes struggle with deeper, academic-style questions. For example, questions like “What role does art play in society?” or “Should governments spend more money on entertainment than education?” require not just vocabulary but also critical thinking and structured argument.

Feedback from Thai IELTS Candidates

Here are some of the main points Thai students reported in 2025:

• Speaking Test: Many candidates faced questions about cinema, music concerts, and the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+. One common follow-up was: “How has watching films at home changed people’s behaviour compared to going to the cinema?” Students felt confident when describing their own experiences but admitted difficulty when asked to generalise about society.

• Writing Task 2: Several Thai candidates were asked to write essays on whether public funding should go to museums and art galleries, or whether governments should invest more in modern entertainment industries. Students who had practised forming balanced arguments performed best.

• Reading Section: Passages often focused on global entertainment trends, including K-pop, cultural festivals, and the economic value of creative industries. Thai test takers noted that skimming and scanning techniques were vital to cope with long, complex texts.

• Listening Section: Some students mentioned recordings related to theatre performances, exhibition announcements, and even podcasts on cultural history. They found it manageable if they had trained their ear with different accents, particularly British and Australian.

Key Themes that Emerged in 2025

From dozens of feedback reports, three major sub-themes have consistently appeared under Arts & Entertainment:

1. Traditional vs. Modern Culture – Questions comparing classical forms of art (such as traditional dance or painting) with modern entertainment (like video games and online concerts).

2. The Role of Technology – Streaming, virtual reality, and social media influencers have been frequent exam references.

3. The Value of the Arts – Essays and speaking questions often push students to argue whether the arts are as important as science, business, or technology in modern life.

These themes show that IELTS examiners are not just interested in personal hobbies but also in a candidate’s ability to discuss cultural and social issues with depth.

What Thai Students Can Do to Prepare

To perform strongly in Arts & Entertainment questions, Thai candidates can take several practical steps:

1. Build Topic Vocabulary
   Learn words and phrases beyond “I like music” or “I watch movies.” For example:

   • box office success, art exhibition, cultural heritage, mass audience, funding for the arts, global phenomenon.
     Using precise vocabulary shows examiners you can handle academic discussion.

2. Practise Balanced Arguments
   In Writing Task 2, avoid one-sided answers. For example, if asked about government spending on the arts, acknowledge both the cultural value of arts funding and the practical need for investment in healthcare or education.

3. Use Thai Examples with Global Links
   Examiners appreciate when candidates connect local knowledge with international trends. For instance:

   • “The popularity of Thai series on Netflix shows that Asian entertainment can have global influence, similar to K-pop from Korea.”

4. Train for Speaking Part 3
   Many Thais can handle Part 1 easily (personal questions) but feel nervous in Part 3 (abstract discussion). Practise giving longer, structured answers:

   • Introduction → Supporting Example → Mini-conclusion.

5. Listen Widely
   Improve listening by engaging with English media in arts and entertainment: BBC Culture podcasts, TED Talks on creativity, or film reviews in English. Exposure to varied accents and formal language helps replicate exam conditions.

Final Thoughts

Arts and Entertainment has become one of the most engaging yet challenging themes in IELTS 2025. Thai learners often enjoy the familiarity of the topic but must prepare to go deeper—analysing society, comparing cultures, and forming clear arguments. At ILC Hua Hin, our teachers emphasise practice that combines personal expression with academic skill.

For Thai students aiming for higher IELTS band scores, the lesson is clear: don’t just say what you like—explain why it matters, how it reflects society, and what it means in a global context. By doing so, you not only impress the examiner but also strengthen your ability to communicate in the real world.

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