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IELTS Topic: Education

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 23, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 0

In this article, I am going to tell you all about education and IELTS. As you know (if you follow this website), the best way to learn new vocabulary is to study in terms of topics . There are many IELTS topics , such as environment , space , sports , health , and crime. We have talked about education many times in the past but today I will devote a whole article to it.

I intend to look at this topic in a structured way. We will explore it as such:

Reading & Listening

You can either study the whole lesson or else skip to the part that is most interesting for you.

Education Vocabulary

If we look at the topic of education and IELTS , we can quickly see that there is a huge amount of vocabulary to learn. In fact, this is a vast topic. I will assume that you already know the basic words like “school” and “teacher” (or else you are probably not reading this right now). Instead, I will look at some more advanced vocabulary for IELTS education.

First of all, let’s look at some school subjects.

School Subjects

There many be some regional differences in the words used for these subjects (for example, mathematics is known as “maths” in British English and “math” in American English.

Depending on where you study, most people learn a subject called “science” when they are young and later this becomes several subjects, including chemistry, biology, and physics. We also have “social sciences.” This includes many areas of study. You can read about it here .

British English vs American English

I actually wrote in depth about the differences between British and American English last year . For now, though, I will focus on the differences in language when it comes to education. Here are a few ways in which we talk about these differences.

*The British and American school systems are quite different and what is known as “secondary school” in the UK lasts for up to six years. As such, this overlaps the American version. Anyway, those final years in the UK would more likely be called “fifth/sixth form” or “fifth/sixth year,” depending on which part of the country you come from. In England, it is usually “sixth form” and in Scotland it is “sixth year.”

british vs american vocabulary for education (schools and school supplies)

Some other differences

American people talk about their school years in this way:

Freshmen (1 st year)
Sophomore (2 nd year)
Junior (3 rd year)
Senior (4 th year)

In the UK, we do not commonly use these terms but in the last few decades it has become normal to talk about “freshers” as people in their first year of university. For example, they often talk about “freshers’ week” as the first week in the university year because this is when the new students arrive.

Reading and Listening

Because education is something that affects pretty much everyone in the world, it is a topic that is really common in IELTS. It could appear in any part of the test , including the reading and listening sections.

When it does occur, you should be prepared. This means that you ought to know lots of vocabulary about this topic and also have some life experience and opinions on the matter. You can achieve that by including this topic in your regular reading.

There are many ways to achieve this. You can go on Google News (or any news service that you enjoy) and subscribe to their education feed.

Let’s take an article for an example and do a little practice. We will look first at a piece called “ With no students, small college town worries over its future .” Let’s look at the first two paragraphs:

What happens to a college town when the students disappear? Ithaca, a small upstate New York city nearby gorges and vineyards, is finding out. Most of the 24,000 students at Cornell University and 6,200 more from Ithaca College effectively vanished in March when the coronavirus pandemic struck, leaving behind struggling restaurants and shops. Locals still reeling from the outbreak and resulting exodus are wondering when — or if — things will get back to normal.

It is an interesting text that deals with a familiar situation: the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this excerpt, you can see the word “exodus.” What do you think this means? Let’s isolate that sentence:

Locals still reeling from the outbreak and resulting exodus are wondering when — or if — things will get back to normal.

We can learn from the words around it. “Resulting” tells us that this thing happened because of the virus outbreak. We also know from the previous sentence that thousands of students are not coming to this place.

We can guess then, that “exodus” means “a mass departure of people.” This sort of skill is really important when it comes to IELTS reading. You need to be able to figure out the meaning of a word from context. Here is a video that shows you how to work out the meaning of difficult vocabulary:

I have covered the topic of education here many times, including this TED video lesson about making education better by introducing creativity to curriculums. (By the way, this is one of two possible ways to pluralise “curriculum”! The other is “curricula.”)

Here is another interesting video about education. This time it is about gender and education. Remember that sometimes IELTS topics overlap like this.

IELTS Speaking Topic: Education

The topic of education is really common in IELTS speaking. In fact, it is probably one of the most common topics that there is. As such, you need to be ready to answer these sorts of questions.

As you probably know, the first part of the IELTS speaking test is comprised of relatively simple questions that you should answer with one, two, or three sentences. You don’t need to develop your answers very much here.

Here are a few sample questions:

Do you work or are you a student?
Why did you choose that subject?
Did you enjoy/Do you enjoy studying at school?
Do you study English now?
What kind of school did you go to as a child?
Where do you study / Where did you study?
What do you study/did you study in university?
What was your favourite subject as a child?
Who was your favourite teacher?
Do you enjoy studying alone or with friends?

You don’t need to have dazzling grammar or vocabulary skills to answer these questions. You can just give pretty basic answers. For example:

Q: Do you work or are you a student?

A: I’m studying at the moment but I also have a part-time job.

Q: Where do you study?

A: I’m studying at Shanghai Jiaotong University . The word “jiaotong” literally means “traffic” but the common translation for the name is “Shanghai Communications University.”

Q: What are you studying there?

A: I’m studying English literature at the moment but I will move onto a business course next semester and continue studying English on the side. Literature was interesting for me but I don’t think it will help my career much.

Notice that there was very little specialist vocabulary here. The only word that I used that might require explanation is “semester.” A school year is made up of two semesters. (The word “term” can also be used but different countries have different systems. In some countries, an academic year is four terms, which means that two terms make up a semester. But this is not the same everywhere.)

There are countless possible education cue cards for IELTS speaking. You might be asked to describe one of the following:

an important memory
the actual school you attended

The list is extremely long, but let’s look at a few possible education cue cards in more detail.

Describe a Subject

You may well be asked to describe a subject that you studied in school or that you wish you had studied. Remember that it could be your favourite subject or a subject you hated. It is always important that you read the whole cue card and do not jump to conclusions.

Here is an example:

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school. You should say: – when and where you started studying it – what the lessons were like – what made the subject different from other subjects and explain why you enjoyed the subject

Describe a Lesson or Project

Describing a subject presents many possibilities. You can talk about many different aspects of your chosen subject, including the classes, the books, and the teachers. However, the cue card might present you with a more specific topic, like this one:

Describe a project that you did in school with your classmates or friends. You should say: – what the project was – what it was about – how you completed it and whether you enjoyed the project or not.

Describe a Period of Time

It can be harder to answer a cue card when the thing you must talk about is a memory or period of time. These can be a real challenge because thinking of the right vocabulary and grammar is quite difficult. When you are presented with this sort of question, you might have to be a little creative with your answers. Here is another example cue card:

Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far. You should say: – when it was – why was it hard – what you were doing at that time and whether you felt you were successful in overcoming the difficulties.

Describe a Teacher

Finally, we come to the obvious IELTS speaking cue card: describe a teacher . This is definitely a common cue card and also quite an easy one. I think that most people who sit IELTS should be comfortable describing people like teachers. If you are not, you should look at my other lessons on how to describe people. You may also find this article about the good qualities teachers possess to be helpful.

There are lots of different ways that this could be phrases. It could be a teacher who influenced you, a teacher you liked, a teacher who helped you, your favourite teacher… and so on. There are numerous possibilities. But here is one example:

Describe a teacher from the past whom you remember. You should say: – what subject the teacher taught you – how old you were then – what were some special characteristics of this teacher and explain why you remember this teacher.

Of course, there are also lots of possible questions about education for part three of the speaking exam. In this section, you will most likely be asked questions like “are men and women equally capable of teaching?” and “should boys and girls be forced to take the same lessons?” The issues of gender , age, and other social issues will often intersect with the main topic.

Here are a few examples:

What are some essential qualities every teacher should have?
How are education priorities today different from those in the past?
How well do you think schools should prepare young people for working life?

Education and IELTS Writing

When it comes to task 2 of the IELTS writing test, education is also a really common topic. Again, there are countless possible questions you could be given, so rather than prepare for any single question, it is better to build your skill in dealing with this topic.

You should be familiar with the vocabulary given at the start of this lesson and also with ideas about education on a global scale. It is ok to have different opinions from other people, but you should be aware of all sides of these issues.

Keep in mind that education does not just mean “school” or “university.” It involves much more: teaching, learning, childhood, adulthood, books, reading, etc. It could be about community colleges or distance learning. Do not be surprised by these questions and do not think that you can handle this topic just because you are comfortable talking about high school. There is much more to it than that.

Here, I will give you four sample band 9 answers to typical IELTS writing questions. Two are from task 2 and two are from task 1, both general and academic tests.

Question #1

Many businesses think that the new employees who have just graduated from schools lack interpersonal skills, such as working with colleagues as a team.

What has caused this and what are the solutions to this problem?

Sample Band 9 Answer

It is claimed by some business owners and recruiters that graduates nowadays tend to lack interpersonal skills. This essay will first explore why this is the case, before then suggesting how it may be remedied.

If it is true that graduates now lack the interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in the modern workplace, then that surely can be blamed on the exceptionally high level of theoretical knowledge necessary to achieve a good degree. As universities have become more competitive, the requirements for achieving a degree have gotten much more stringent, and students are required to spend all their time reading books and preparing for difficult assessments. It seems likely that this hinders their opportunities to socialize or work with others on productive tasks.

Solving this problem should not be terribly difficult. In fact, university faculties should pay attention to these complaints and implement solutions into their courses. Perhaps the most obvious suggestion is that students must be required to participate in more group activities throughout their education. For example, rather than studying all day and night to write an essay or sit an exam, students could be asked to prepare a group presentation together with their peers. Ideally, these groups should be picked at random to ensure that students develop the necessary skills to work with others whom they would not have previously chosen to work.

In conclusion, it appears that universities are failing students by not educating them in how to develop their interpersonal skills, and as a result they are struggling in the workplace. These universities should thus require students to develop their communicative abilities through specific group-based tasks.

Question #2

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People disagree over how to raise their kids, with many parents and teachers suggesting that competition is detrimental to their development. They think that children should be taught cooperation instead. This essay will look at both views, before deciding that these need not be mutually exclusive.

The argument against competition in children essentially revolves around the idea that it is unhealthy for children to be pitted against one another. Rather than teaching them to compete, these people argue, we should teach them to work together. Natural selection dictates that some children will invariably be winners while others will be losers, and in the modern era, this seems like an out-dated concept. All children should be winners.

On the other hand, competition is a part of life and therefore children should be exposed to it from the beginning. It needn’t be unfair, of course. When children are taught healthy attitudes towards competition – such as sportsmanship – then it is actually tremendously beneficial for them. They can learn how to participate in natural activities and then deal healthily with the result, whether that is victory or loss.

However, it seems to me that there is no real distinction between competition and cooperation. Team sports, after all, involve both these elements. If children play football, basketball, or rugby, then they will work with their teammates to compete against another team. In the end, both aspects are learned.

In conclusion, there is no need to separate competition from cooperation, and neither should be removed from a child’s education or environment. Both are important for child development.

Question #3

You recently did a short cookery course. The cookery school has asked for your feedback on this course.

Write a letter to the course director at the cookery school. In your letter

describe what you enjoyed about the course
say how much cooking you have done since the course
suggest another cookery course you’d like the school to offer

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to your request for feedback on the cookery course I recently attended. I am happy to give you some of my thoughts on the course.

First of all, I really enjoyed it. I had wanted to study French cooking techniques for several years and so I was really excited to see that this course became available. It certainly did not disappoint me, and I was delighted by the processes that I learned during that amazing week.

Since the course, I have been cooking and baking for my friends and family at every opportunity. They have been really impressed with my newfound skills, and I will continue to practice what I have learned.

As for suggestions, I do think that it would be worth adding some other sorts of cuisine to the courses on offer. I would love to learn how to cook Thai food, for example.

David S. Wills

Question #4.

There is a bar chart and a pie chart containing information taken from a survey on adult education. The bar chart describes why adults go into education and the pie chart shows who the respondents think should pay for it. People mostly go into education out of interest, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is believed that they should pay for it themselves.

According to the data, forty percent of adults go into education due to some sort of interest in a particular subject, while thirty-eight percent do it to gain qualifications. These are far and away the most common reasons, as the next most frequently cited reason was almost half this value. Several reasons were picked by about twenty percent of people, including the fact that it may help them earn a promotion at work. The least frequently stated answer was that adult education is a good way to meet new people.

The survey results showed forty percent of people believe the individual should pay the costs of a course. This matches quite well with the previous data, as the same percentage of people did these courses purely out of interest.

About The Author

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topic: Education

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IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Correction

Education is a cue card topic that often comes up in the IELTS speaking part 2. Below you will find a list of some exam questions and answers that you could encounter during part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test.

The questions below are based on the real IELTS speaking exam. They serve as a great IELTS Speaking part 2 cue card prediction questions to help you prepare better before your test.

Education Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card 1

Talk about a new language that you learnt. Please say

You should say:

when did you do it
how did you do it
who helped you with it
and explain how you feel about it now.

I am going to talk about learning English. I have been learning English since I was a child. I went to an international school so from a young age some of the subjects were taught in English. This was really difficult at first as not only did you have to be good at science or maths, you had to listen to the teacher explain it in English too. When I went to secondary school, my parents employed a private tutor to teach me at home. The teacher was a native from the UK so the classes really helped me learn more typical phrases and the correct pronunciation. The classes were invaluable and have really paid off as my English is much better now. Since then, I have been self taught. I read books, watch TV series and listen to podcasts in English which really helps immerse me in the language. Sometimes, I chat with English speaking friends and they correct me and I ask questions about the bizarre phrases and colloquial expressions they use. English uses a lot of jargon and slang , it can be difficult to understand but eventually I managed to catch their drift . I make a note of new vocabulary and use an app on my phone to test myself every now and again. Now I am studying translation, I am using English every day so I don’t need to brush up on my skills as much now. I feel proud of my English level, I have worked hard to get to this point.

Education Vocabulary Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card 2

paid off – got a good result
bizarre – strange
jargon and slang – technical and local dialect vocabulary
catch their drift – understand their meaning
to brush up on – to practice something after a long time

Vocabulary for Cue Card 2

have two left feet – no ability to dance
sign up – register for a course or activity
flustered – nervous and embarrassed
almost unheard of – very unusual

Talk about an elementary school teacher you have a good memory of. Please say

what he/she was like
the subject he/she taught
a memory you have of him/her
and why you this is a good memory, in your opinion
What he/she was like I am going to talk about Miss Elaine who was my favourite elementary school teacher. She was probably the kindest teacher I have ever had. She was very patient with us, but she also knew how to set 9 clear boundaries 10 . She would always let us know when we did something wrong, but she would also try to understand why we did it.
The subject he/she taught Miss Elaine was my math teacher. I always struggled 11 with math, but she was there to help me, and she gave me a lot of individual attention 12 , which I very much needed, because I would get very anxious trying to solve a math problem on my own.
A memory you have of him/her I remember that one time she gave us a worksheet 13 to complete. I could not do it and I started to tear up 14 . Everybody else was looking at me in the classroom. Miss Elaine ran to me and asked what was going on. I couldn’t really speak because I was crying and feeling stressed. Miss Elaine told me everything was okay and asked me if I was crying because I was nervous that I couldn’t solve the problems when others could. I just nodded 15 and she gave me a warm hug. Then she sat with me, and we solved the problems together.
And Why you this is a good memory, in your opinion To me that is a good memory because I really felt like she wanted to and was able to understand me. Especially when you are young, it is hard sometimes to know, let alone 16 say how you feel. Her understanding and support 17 had a huge 18 impact 19 on my confidence.

Vocabulary for Cue Card 3

set = (in this case) put
boundaries = limits
struggled = had problems doing something
individual attention = focus on one person
worksheet = a piece of paper with activities to complete or questions to answer
tear up = have tears come up in your eyes
nodded = said yes with the head
let alone = even less
support = help
huge = extremely big
impact = (in this case) effect

Talk about a skill that was difficult for you to learn. You should say

what skill it was
why you learnt it
why it was difficult to learn
and explain how you felt about this.

I am going to speak about learning to speak another language. I learnt to speak French a few years ago. I decided to learn in order to communicate better when I travelled abroad. I had learnt it at school but forgotten a lot in recent years and felt I should brush up on it. I wanted to challenge myself and prove to myself I could do it. So I found a teacher online and then we met face to face . The teacher was a French native but spoke really good English too which helped when explaining the grammar. As well as the classes, I listened to podcasts and used vocabulary apps to learn new words. At first, it felt near impossible to grasp the vocabulary and master the pronunciation. I felt really frustrated that I didn’t seem to be picking it up more quickly and it was embarrassing to repeat the same things over and over again in class. But I persevered and gradually it got easier. It was as if part of my brain opened up and started to accept and remember the language. I was elated . From that moment, I was on a roll ; learning new words and even going to a language exchange group to meet other like- minded people. Now when I go on holiday to France, I feel more confident going into shops or ordering food in a restaurant so it was worth the effort and time I put into learning French.

Vocabulary for Cue Card 4

face to face – in person
grasp – to understand
elated – very happy
on a roll – a prolonged period of success
like minded – similar thinking people

Describe an area of science (physics, psychology and so on) that interests you. Please say

how do you know about it
why are you interested in it
What it is? I would like to talk about physics, an area of science that focuses on matter. It mainly deals with how matter moves in space and time, and what forces act upon it. In general, this field aims to make people understand how the universe behaves. For ordinary people, Physics is more understandable in situations like rubbing two things together and creating static electricity or the force applied whenever the washing machine dryer rapidly rotates. And to many, this subject can be identified when driving a car because natural forces help cars to start, move and stop.
How do you know about it? I started learning physics when I was 8 years old as it was a formal subject in my school curriculum. As my class teacher used to teach concepts of physics in a very interesting manner, I developed keen interest in it during my childhood. What’s more my father is a science professor at a local university so I also got to know a lot about physics through him.
Why are you interested in it? Physics interested me because it involves a lot of math. I find it easier to work with formulas for force and understanding how they work compared to other branches of science. Physics covers several areas and every time I encounter them in real life, my love for physics grows further. Moreover, I feel satisfied whenever I realize the scientific explanation and apply its practical aspect

Vocabulary for Cue Card 5

Talk about another course that you would like to take, not related to your previous studies. Please say

what kind of course would it be
what do you want to learn from it
why would you choose it

I am going to talk about photography. I would love to take a photography course. I have always been interested in taking photos since I was a young child. I was given a camera when I was a teenager and used to go out taking pictures of animals and people. Nowadays, I mainly take photos using my smartphone but I miss the skill of taking really good photos. I would like to take the course so I could learn about setting up the shot, capturing a moment and also some of the technical stuff about filtering and perfecting photos.

I know that you can do these courses as an evening class or even during the summer but I just haven’t had the time or the money since I have started university. You can even learn online but I don’t think that is the same as a hands on experience.I have a friend who has completed the course and he takes amazing photos of people and beautiful architecture – it really is awe inspiring . If I did the course in the future, I would like to take a trip to a famous sight like Machu Picchu or the Niagara Falls and capture some amazing shots there. In the meantime . I am taking photos with my smartphone of me and my friends. I use the different filters and post photos on instagram so my friends and family back home can keep up to date with my life.

Vocabulary for Cue Card 6

set up – prepared
hands on – direct experience
awe inspiring – amazing
in the meantime – the time between now and something in the future
keep up to date – to be informed of the current situation

Talk about a person you know who learnt a foreign language. Please say

who is he/she
what was his/her motivation for learning the language
how frequently does he/she use it
and how do you feel about him/her
Who is he/she? I am going to talk about my aunt Tina. Aunt Tina comes from a multicultural family background, and is a polyglot , speaking French, Danish and Spanish fluently. She learnt French and Danish from her parents, and made the decision to major in Spanish at university. She completed her degree and later lived in Argentina for about ten years, where she met her husband, Pedro.
What was his/her motivation for learning the language? Growing up with different cultures, my aunt developed a fascination for languages, and it seemed she was picking them up with ease. When she was fourteen years old, her parents travelled with her to Spain for the summer holidays, and she realised she was able to comprehend most of what was being said to her and around her. Her knowledge of French was a huge leg up, due to the common linguistic roots between French and Spanish. I think she really identified with the culture there, and her interest in the language grew stronger over time.
How frequently does he/she use it? My aunt practises the language on a regular basis. Although she no longer lives in Argentina and her husband speaks a little French, they find it easier to communicate in Spanish. My aunt introduced the languages she knows to her children, and she was beside herself with joy when one of them expressed an interest in learning an additional foreign language in school. Sometimes, she would speak to her children in Spanish and they would respond in a different language. It is their way of learning new words and phrases!
and how do you feel about him/her? I find her inspiring. Learning languages is like a walk in the park for her, and I admire her courage to pursue her dreams and live life as she sees fit .

Vocabulary for Cue Card 7

Polyglot = someone who speaks more than two languages
Fascination = strong interest in
picking them up = (in this case) learning them
leg up = help
linguistic roots = linguistic origins
on a regular basis = regularly
beside herself with joy = extremely happy
a walk in the park = extremely easy
as she sees fit = the way she wants, as she believes is right for her

Describe you preferred location for studying. Please say

where is this place
what does it physically look like
why is it your favourite place to study
follow up question: Do other people you know use the same place to study?
Where is this place? I am going to talk about my favourite place to study. It is actually a public library. As a tour guide, I need to constantly increase and update my knowledge of the places I tour, and the library provides me with all the resources I need for that.
What does it physically look like? The public library I go to is quite big. It has a Victorian architecture and outside look to it, but it’s very modern on the inside. It offers a plethora of books on a variety of subjects, such as history, art, languages, and so on. Thereare plenty of tables and chairs throughout the library. Some chairs look more like armchairs an may be placed by large bay windows, although I prefer less exposed areas, to help me concentrate better. There is also an area with computers for people to use, as well as printers and scanners.
Why is it your favourite place to study? I find myself being more productive at the library. I believe that being surrounded by books really sparks motivation in me. The members of staff are all so friendly, and I feel like there is little that can distract me there. It is really the ideal place for me to complete my work without any interruptions. I enjoy the abundance of books and resources there. The history section is of particular interest to me , due to my job. There are plenty of books on local history, and I feel like there are always new facts and anecdotes for me to learn.
Follow up question: Do other people you know use the same place to study? I know people who use this library, but I don’t believe they go there to study. Many of them make use of the computers or borrow books rather than study. I see many people conduct research or focused on their own personal projects, but I do not know them personally.

Vocabulary for Cue Card 8

plethora = range
exposed = with nowhere to hide
productive = making good use of time by completing many tasks and actions
sparks motivation = inspires enthusiasm/motivation
abundance = large quantities
of particular interest to me = particularly interesting to me
anecdotes = small stories that relate to a main subject

Talk about a course which left an impression on you.

what course was it
where did you take that course
what was the course like
and why did it impress you
What course was it? I am going to talk about a course I took and which left a strong impression on me. That course was a Spanish course I took over the summer. I had studied Spanish in school but wanted to hone my skills.
Where did you take that course? It was an intensive and immersive language course at a language institution in a nearby town. It was delivered by a Guatemalan teacher, which meant I got insight into Guatemalan culture and idioms. The institution was only a twenty-minute drive from where I live. Very convenient!
What was the course like? The course was very engaging and inclusive. Our teacher used a myriad of media to teach us: films, videos. Books, magazines, recordings, songs, and more! It was truly immersive and I was completely hooked . The classes took place three times a week, and I would look froward to each class. Another aspect I truly appreciated about the course was the fact that she only spoke to us in Spanish, with the occasional English translations, where needed. It really forced us to think and produce in the language. It was great!
Why did it impress you? I was very impressed by this course because I never realised the power of immersive programmes. I sincerely feel like I got more bang for my buck than with other more traditional courses. I can certainly feel that my speaking skills, and my reading skills for that matter, have increased tremendously . It also taught me about the power of visuals in conveying messages, and that anything is possible when we put effort into it! I did not expect that level of improvement on my part, and I am very thankful for the course and, of course, the teacher!

Vocabulary for Cue Card 9

hone = sharpen
engaging = (in this case) catching my interest
myriad = range
hooked = (in this case) so exciting I want to keep doing it
bang for my buck = better value for the price you pay
tremendously = in large amounts, to a very large degree

Cue Card 10

Talk about a practical skill you have learnt.

what skill have you learnt
how did you learn it
and why is it an important skill
What skill have you learnt? I am going to talk about an important practical skill I learnt when I was young. It is a cooking skill I use today and which involves frying eggs.
When did you learn it? I believe I was about 12 years old when my mom called me to the kitchen. I was clueless about cooking, and quite frankly disinterested in the subject. But my mom, wise as an owl , said to me: “you may not find it interesting, but, believe me, you will find useful”. At the time I did not realise how right she was.
How did you learn it? She showed me exactly how to do it, and even let me try it out myself. The first time, I went too strong, and part of the eggshell fell into the pan. I felt so embarrassed and told my mom I was giving up. My mom was never the kind of person to beat around the bush . She essentially told me to stop making excuses, and pull myself together so I can try again. She didn’t do it in a malicious way. She just wanted to help me get back on the horse . The second time, I managed to do it properly. She congratulated me and let me try it a few more times.
And why is it an important skill? This skill is so very important, because it is one of the easiest meals to cook. It helps a lot when my schedule gets too busy for me to have the energy to cook anything else. It also inspired me to attempt to cook other dishes. When I mastered the skill, I thought to myself, if I can cook that, imagine what else I could make? It was a significant confidence boost for me

Vocabulary for Cue Card 10

clueless = have no idea, have no knowledge of something
wise as an owl = very wise person
beat around the bush = avoid saying what you think because it is uncomfortable
pull myself together = get over a negative emotional state
malicious = evil, meaning to hurt
get back on the horse = try again after a discouraging failure
confidence boost = an action that helps increase someone’s confidence/self-confidence

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Education Vocabulary

It’s very common for candidates to be asked about their school, college or university experience, so a good range of education vocabulary is something you definitely need to develop.

This page should make that easy for you as it contains over 150 everyday words and phrases related to study, education and teaching. For each, I’ve included an explanation and added a sample sentence to show it in context. This will help you to learn how to use it correctly.

Don’t try to learn them all. Look at my suggestions below as to the best way to use this extensive list of education vocabulary.

Here are some of the categories covered:

Educational institutions
Course types & levels
Qualifications
People in education
Subjects & facilities
Academic work

As well as your own experience of education, you could be asked your opinion on wider issues such as the quality of teaching or education system in your country, equal opportunities, technology in schools and many other related topics. The list of education vocabulary will equip you to create answers for these types of subjects as well.

Also on this page are three other things that will help you prepare for questions about education:

IELTS-style questions on the topic of education
Sample answers
Links to online reading & listening resources

You’ll find PDF downloads of both the questions and sample answers and the education vocabulary list at the bottom of the respective sections.

The questions relate to the Speaking test because this part of the exam offers the broadest range of possible questions on the topic of education. They give the best opportunity for me to demonstrate the vocabulary and for you to practise using it.

I’ve included IELTS-style questions and answers for all three parts of the Speaking test. I've highlighted key words and phrases in bold .

You'll find these words and phrases, and many others, in the vocabulary list beneath. There’s an audio to listen to their pronunciation.

The education vocabulary list contains words and phrases relevant to all parts of the IELTS exam.

Finally, at the bottom of the page I've added links to topical articles, short videos and podcasts that will help you to improve both your education vocabulary and your reading and listening skills.

Let’s begin with the sample questions.

IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers

Common education vocabulary is highlighted in bold .

1) At what age do children begin school in your country?

Formal education starts at five years of age but most children go to preschool when they are around three. This isn’t compulsory but really helps them to develop socially.

2) What kind of school did you go to as a child?

My family moved around a lot when I was growing up so I went to many different schools including three primary schools , a grammar school and a co-educational comprehensive school . I even attended a private school for a year.

3) Did you enjoy your time at school?

I can’t say that I particularly enjoyed my early education . With changing schools so often, I was always the new kid which I found hard.

4) Would you say you were a good student?

Yes, I was definitely a good pupil . I was a quiet, shy child who never caused my teachers any trouble or played truant . I worked hard on my coursework and got on well with my peers .

5) Did you do any extra-curricular activities?

Back in my day, there weren’t many opportunities to do extra-curricular activities . However, I was in the school choir at my secondary school . We use to put on concerts and one year we did a tour of Germany.

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.

You should say:

when and where you started studying it
what lessons were like
what made it different from other subjects

and explain why you enjoyed the subject.

There There were three subjects I particularly enjoyed at school, English , geography and P.E. but if I had to choose a favourite, I guess it would be geography .

I suppose you start learning about the natural features around you and other countries in primary school but geography first appeared on the curriculum as a specific subject in secondary school . I’d been fascinated with other places and cultures for as long as I could remember. My dad had travelled a lot and had a large map on the wall with pins in all the countries he’d been to. I loved looking at it so perhaps that’s where my interest in geography first started.

The geography classroom was great; full of globes, atlases and books about places that were very different to where I lived. We had a nice teacher called Mrs Rose who used lots of pictures and maps in her lessons . This was perfect for me as I’m a visual learner. If Mrs Rose had just talked all the time, as some of our teachers did, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the subject so much or learnt so easily.

I even liked doing geography homework . I can remember sitting at my desk at home spending hours carefully drawing maps and adding all the features. When my mum took me to the library on a Saturday morning, I’d look for adventure stories set around the world or books on how people live in other countries.

When I reached the sixth form and had to choose just three subjects to study, geography was one of them, although I actually failed my final exam. My family moved house yet again just before I took it and I was very unsettled. I had a private tutor for a few months then retook the exam and got a good grade.

At university , I trained as a teacher myself. I chose primary education so taught geography along with many other subjects. However, during one of my training placements, the headteacher asked me to spend three weeks teaching the subject to every class in the small village school, from 5 year olds up to 11 year olds. It was one of the happiest times in the whole of my career even though I hadn’t even got my teaching qualification yet.

1) What impact do universities have on the places where they’re located?

I believe that the presence of a university in a town or city has a significant positive impact on the area. For a start, it's often the largest employer, offering jobs at all levels from cleaners and maintenance staff to lecturers and top academics .

Large educational institutions like this bring in lots of investment from around the world from foreign students and for important research projects. The presence of thousands of students during term times is also a massive boost to the local economy.

In addition to the financial benefits, there several ways in which universities contribute socially. For example, university towns and cities tend to be vibrant, with a great social life due to the large numbers of young adults living there. What’s more, the campus itself usually has a number of facilities that can be used by local people. A university city I used to live in had an excellent theatre that attracted top plays, shows and performers from around the country.

2) What is it more important for academics to do, research or teaching?

It was only recently, after reading an article about a local university , that I realised just how much research goes on in them. It was about a new facility in the medical faculty and outlined the important research they will now be able to carry out on stem cells and brain tumours. This type of work is vital if we are to combat illness and disease in the future.

For most people though, universities are places of learning where you go to get your degree and prepare for your future career, so teaching must have a high priority. As teachers , academics have the role of passing on knowledge to the next generation.

Weighing it up, I think that the teaching side of their work is the most important because unless they instruct and inspire their students , there will be no-one to fill the most important jobs in society or to carry on the research work the academics do.

3) What are the advantages of studying a distance learning course?

For many people, especially mature students who work, distance learning is the ideal way to study. There are several benefits that immediately come to mind. Firstly, the cost is far less than it would be to attend a college or university with their high tuition fees .

Secondly, you can study anywhere and in your own time and at your own pace. Some students , myself included, find that this method of learning suits them better than sitting in lectures or going to tutorials . You do have to be self-motivated to keep up with the coursework though, and you still get assignments to write and sometimes a dissertation , but you can fit these around your daily life.

Thirdly, there’s a huge range of correspondence courses and online courses available these days so you can take almost any subject you want to and even study for a degree qualification this way. So all in all, distance learning courses have many advantages over other methods of study.

Click this link to get a PDF download of these practise questions & sample answers.

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* Important

Do not try and learn this list of education vocabulary.
Identify the vocabulary you find useful for answering practise questions about this topic.
Record it in your vocabulary notebook and practise using it regularly.

I recommend that you create your own answers to the Speaking questions on this page. You will find many other IELTS-style practise questions by searching online.

For help on how to learn vocabulary, what to learn and how to record it, visit these pages:

How to Learn Vocabulary for IELTS

Top 6 Types of IELTS Vocabulary & Topic Word Lists

Education Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases

Education Vocabulary Set 1: Key Definitions

education – the process of teaching or learning, especially in a school, college or university, or the knowledge that you get from this

- Education is a low priority for the governments of some developing countries.

- Most children receive their education in schools but some are taught at home.

to educate – to give someone intellectual, moral or social instruction, typically at a school, college or university

- At the school I visited in Kenya the children are educated in classes of over 60 pupils.

educational – relating to the provision of education

- When I was at school we had an educational visit to the British Museum in London to see Tutankhamun’s treasures.

educational institution – a place where people gain an education, such as a school

- We are fortunate to have many excellent educational institutions in our area.

formal education – education normally delivered by trained teachers in a systematic way in a school, college or university.

- In Norway, formal education starts when children reach the age of six.

compulsory education – the legally-required period of time that children are expected to attend school. In the western world, these laws generally require that children attend school from the ages of 5 to 16 or 18.

- One day, a formal education will hopefully be compulsory for all children.

Education Vocabulary Pronunciation

Education Vocabulary Set 2: Educational institutions

preschool – a school for children who are too young to begin their formal education

- Most children in the UK go to a preschool but it isn’t compulsory.

nursery school (UK)/ kindergarten (US) – preschool education

- In the UK, most children begin nursery school at the age of four.

primary school (UK)/ elementary school (US) – the type of school for children ages 5-11

- Bindi was so excited about starting primary school when the new term started in September.

primary education – the education of 5-11 year olds

- In an ideal world, primary education would be compulsory in every country.

secondary school (UK)/ high school (US) – the type of school for children age 11 to 16, sometimes 18

- I want to teach in a secondary school when I finish my teacher training as I really enjoy working with older pupils.

co-educational/mixed – a school where girls and boys are taught together.

- These days, most schools in the UK are co-educational .

single-sex school – a school for either male or female students but not both

- Both my parents went to single-sex schools but it’s more normal these days to go to a mixed school.

state school – a school that is funded and controlled by the government and for which no fees are charged

- The government is facing growing criticism for the underfunding of state schools .

comprehensive school – a state school that accepts pupils regardless of their level of academic ability or achievement

- There is an ongoing debate as to whether all young people should attend comprehensive schools or if schools that select pupils on academic ability are still relevant.

grammar school (UK) – state secondary school that selects their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 11

- Although many people are against selective education where some school places go to the most academically able pupils, grammar schools are still popular.

private school – a school that is not supported by government money, where education must be paid for by the children’s parents

- Jonah’s parents decided to pay for him to go to a private school because most classes only had 20 pupils in.

private education – education parents have to pay for

- Only a small percentage of parents can afford to give their children a private education .

public school (UK) – an exclusive, expensive school, run independently

public school (US) – a school which is free and paid for by the government

higher education (also called tertiary education ) – education beyond the age at which it is compulsory, usually in a college or university

- Most of Vijay’s friends wanted to leave school and get a job as soon as possible but he was determined to go on to higher education to improve his career prospects.

boarding school – a school where students live and study during the school term.

- Yu Yang hated boarding school as she missed her family and felt very homesick.

college – a place of higher education where people study specialized subjects or undertake vocational training for a skilled job

- Hugo applied for a place at the local college to train to be a chef.

university – a high-level educational institution where students study for degrees and academic research is done.

- Fuyuko wanted to study nursing at university in Australia but had to get a band 7 in her IELTS exam to be accepted.

Education Vocabulary Pronunciation

Education Vocabulary Set 3: Course types & levels

course – a series of lessons in a particular subject

undergraduate – studying for a degree but having not yet achieved it.

postgraduate – having achieved a degree and now studying for a higher qualification, possibly a professions qualification

vocational – education or training directed at a particular occupation and its skills, often requiring practical skills

intensive – fast-paced courses which give a lot of information quickly and in a short time

Education Vocabulary Set 4: Qualifications

qualification – an official record showing that you have achieved a certain level of education or skill in a particular subject or skill area

- Riya was determined to leave school with good qualifications so she could get a well-paid job to support her family.

certificate – an official record of achievement, generally issued for a short course

- Shona was delighted to be presented her TEFL certificate on passing her course to become an English teacher.

diploma – issued for a higher education course that is shorter than a degree

- Greg did so well in his two-year engineering diploma that his tutor persuaded him to study for another year to qualify for a degree.

bachelor’s degree / or just degree ( BA/BSc etc) – qualification issued by a university or college at the end of three or four years of study

- I’m studying for a bachelor’s degree in marine biology.

- I’m studying for a BA in history.

master’s degree /or just master’s ( MA/MSc etc) – qualification issued by a university when the student has completed further study beyond a degree, often in a more specialisn'ted field than a bachelor’s degree

- Alonso wanted to stay on at university an extra year to study for his master’s but his parents couldn't afford the fees.

doctorate ( PhD ) – the highest level of degree qualification issued by a university

- I’m so proud of my sister for achieving a PhD in biochemistry.

fellowship – a teaching or research post given to a person studying for an advanced degree.

- Being awarded a research fellowship at my university is a dream come true as it enables me to stay on and study for my doctorate.

Education vocabulary Pronunciation

Education Vocabulary Set 5: People in education

headteacher/ principal – the person in charge of a school

- Our headteacher had been principal for 12 years when he retired.

teacher – a person who teaches, especially in a school

- My favourite teacher at school was Mr Webber because he made lessons so interesting.

tutor – a teacher who works privately with one student or a small group

- Our son struggles with maths so we’ve got him a private tutor to help him with his work.

lecturer – a person who teaches at a college or university.

- My cousin is a lecturer in physics at the University of London.

professor – a teacher of the highest rank in a department of a British university, or a teacher of high rank in an American university or college

- Professor Stephen Hawking was one of the most influential figures in modern science.

an academic – a person who teaches in a college or university and continues to research and increase knowledge about their specialist subject

- She was such a bookworm at school and always in the library researching some topic or other, so it’s no surprise that she became an academic .

pupil – a person, usually a child at school, who is being taught

- The pupils loved Miss Lefebvre’s French lessons as she gave them fun learning games to play.

student – a person, usually a college or university, who is being taught

- The beginning of the academic year was so busy with all the new students starting their college courses.

mature student – an adult student who attends college or university some years after leaving school

- Jose was so grateful for the chance to study for a degree as a mature student having left school with very few qualifications.

a graduate – a person who has finished their college or university education

- University graduates can usually get higher paid jobs than people with vocational skills.

peer – a person who is in the same class, age group or social group as someone else

Pupils these days are under a lot of pressure to dress and behave like their peers .

Education Vocabulary Set 6: School subjects

curriculum – the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college

- Her parents chose the school because it offered a broad curriculum including drama and dance which were her favourite subjects.

syllabus – an outline or summary of the subjects to be covered in a course

- The new syllabus included environmental science which was becoming more popular as a school subject.

maths/math/mathematics – the study of numbers, shapes and space

literature – the study of written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to be very good and to have lasting importance

the three R's – the basic educational skills of r eading, w r iting and a r ithmetic (maths)

- Most schools put a high priority on teaching the three R's .

language – a system of communication used by a particular country or community often studied as a subject by non-native speakers

- To her surprise, Jenna found that she was quite good at languages at school.

humanities – studies about human culture, such as literature, languages, philosophy, and history.

- Tuma couldn’t decide whether to study history or philosophy at university so opted for a degree in humanities .

science – the study of the structure and behaviour of the physical world, divided into subjects such as physics, biology and chemistry

physics – the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy
biology – the study of living organisms
chemistry – the branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed

geography – the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these

religious studies – the study of religion and belief systems

history – the study of past events, particularly in human affairs

information technology (IT or ICT) – the study of the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data

physical education (PE) – instruction in physical exercise and games, especially in schools

art – the study of artistic techniques such as drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. or the appreciation of works of art

music – the study of how to play a musical instrument or sing, how to read music, how to compose music, etc

drama – the study of acting and theatrical performance

home economics – cooking and other aspects of household management, especially as taught at school

Education Vocabulary Set 7: School vocabulary

to play truant – to be absent without permission from parents or teachers

- Helios was always playing truant from school which he regretted when he failed his exams and struggled to find a good job.

to skip classes – to be absent from lessons you are supposed to attend

- I was never brave enough to skip classes as my parents would have been furious if they’d found out.

bookworm – a person who loves reading and/or studying

- My best friend is a real bookworm but is a great person to have on your quiz team because his general knowledge is excellent.

rote learning – a teaching style based on learning by memorisation through repetition

- My parents’ education was based on rote learning but there was more emphasis on learning by investigation by the time I went to school.

literacy – the ability to read and write, sometimes use as a subject title for reading and writing

- Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world with just 28% of people able to read and write.

literate – to be able to read and write

- In the past 20 years, the proportion of adults in the world who are literate has increased from 75% to 84 % which is a great improvement.

illiterate – to be unable to read and write

- There are many children in the poorest countries of the world who have little or no access to education and are illiterate .

remedial – involving pupils who need extra help with a particular area of study or subject

- Pupils who got poor grades use to be put in a remedial class but now they are given extra support from a learning assistant.

additional needs/ special needs – related to students who need special help due to a learning or physical difficulty

- Shona spend the later part of her teaching career working in a school for students with additional needs .

extra-curricular activities – activities or subjects offered in addition to the normal curriculum usually offered outside normal class hours, such as art, cooking or computer clubs and extra sporting activities

- The most popular extra-curricular activities at Westcroft School were pottery, badminton and computer programming.

school uniform – a particular set of clothes that has to be worn by pupils

- Do Hyan looked so smarting setting off for school on his first day wearing his new school uniform .

discipline – a set of rules governing conduct or behaviour

- Schools where a high level of discipline is maintained, generally have above average exam results

impose discipline
maintain discipline
lack of discipline

timetable – a chart showing times of particular events, such as lesson times in the school day

- Ruby wasn’t very happy with her new timetable as she had double maths followed by double science on a Monday, both subjects she found hard.

Education Vocabulary Set 8: Facilities

classroom – where lessons take place in a school

- The noisy classroom fell silent when the headteacher walked through the door.

lecture theatre/ hall – a room or hall for lectures with seats in tiers

- There was excitement in the lecture theatre as the famous actor stood up to give the drama students a lecture on method acting.

studio – a room where students studying art, photography, media studies, etc. create work

- The studio was set up with recording equipment for the students to practice editing techniques.

library – a building or room containing collections of books, professional journals and other academic literature and material relevant to student's studies

- Sabiha spent all day in the university library doing research for her essay on globalisation.

laboratory – a room or building with scientific equipment for doing scientific tests or for teaching science

- Kate’s favourite part of her degree course in molecular biology was the laboratory work.

campus – the buildings and grounds of a university or college

- It took me a long time to find my way around the campus when I first started at university.

halls of residence – a college or university building where students live

- In his first year at college, Somchai lived in a hall of residence , but in his second year, he rented a house with some other students.

student accommodation – living accommodation for college or university students

- The university offered a range of student accommodation including studio apartments, flats, halls of residence and shared houses.

Education Vocabulary Set 9: Academic work

assignment – a piece of work given to someone as part of their studies

- I have three more written assignments to complete this term.

coursework – written or practical work done by a student during a course of study, often assessed in order to count towards a final mark or grade

- Helga was really bad at exams so she chose a course where 50 per cent of the overall marks came from assessed coursework .

dissertation – is a long formal piece of writing on a particular subject, especially for a university degree.

- It was hard getting my dissertation finished by the deadline and I handed it in on the very last day.

thesis – a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done for a higher degree

- Adao wrote his PhD thesis on the effect of organic fertilizers on soil fertility in tropical climates.

presentation – a speech or talk given in front of an audience

- As part of their end of year assessment, the students had to give a presentation on the theories of learning for children under 3 years of age.

lecture – a formal talk on a subject given to a large group of students who would normally take notes

- She was so pleased that the lecture was cancelled as it gave her time to catch up on some coursework.

tuition – teaching or instruction, especially of individual pupils or small groups

- Dana was unable to get to lectures after breaking her leg but the college provided individual tuition for her until she recovered.

tutorial – a small group study session with a tutor often following a lecture

- He always found tutorials helpful as it was a chance to ask questions about what they’d heard in the lecture.

seminar – a class at university in which a specific topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students

- At university, I found seminars far more useful than lectures as I learn best in a small group.

lesson – a period of learning or teaching, usually in a school

- Walter was late for the history lesson and got into trouble with the teacher.

homework – additional coursework work given to pupils to complete in their own time outside school hours

- Most pupils hate homework as they’d rather be out with their friends or playing computer games than studying.

correspondence course – a course of study in which student and tutors communicate by post

- Juan’s local college didn’t offer a course in accountancy but he found a good correspondence course to give him the qualification he needed.

distance learning – a way of studying in which lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted by post or via the internet without the student needing to attend a school or college or have in-person teacher interaction

- I prefer to study by distance learning as I can work when I want and at the pace I want.

online learning – Similar to distance learning but done 100% via the internet and often involving in-person interaction with a teacher online

- I find online learning ideal for preparing for my IELTS exam and enjoy connecting with my teacher via Skype.

to sit an exam – to take an exam.

- I want to carry on learning for the rest of my life but after I finish my training I hope I never have to sit an exam again.

Education Vocabulary Set 10: The cost of education

tuition fees – the money paid for a course of study, especially at a private school or a college or university

- High tuition fees mean that many young people can’t afford to go to university.

a grant – money given by the government to support a student while studying

- Bernice was successful in her application for a grant which meant that she could attend her local university.

a student loan – money which a student can borrow while they are studying, but which has to be repaid

- Geraint took out student loans of £9000 a year to pay for his tuition of fees and left university heavily in debt.

a scholarship – money given to someone, often by the institution they are studying at, to help pay for their tuition

- He was overjoyed to receive a scholarship to Oxford University as his parents couldn’t afford to pay the fees.

internship – a period of work experience (often unpaid) offered by an employer to give students and graduates experience of working in an industry related to their field of study

- All students on the course were expected to secure an internship during the long vacation between the second and third years of their degree course.

Education Vocabulary Set 11: Common terms related to college or university

unconditional offer – the offer of a place at an educational institution for which you already meet the entry requirements

- Mustafa was delighted to receive an unconditional offer from his first choice university and accepted immediately.

conditional offer – the offer of a place at an educational institution which requires you to meet certain entry requirements, usually specific exam grades

- She was fairly confident that she would get the exam grades she needed to take up the conditional offer at Bristol University.

to major in – to choose as your main subject

- I want to major in primary education with a specialism in science.

to read (a subject) – to study a specific subject

- Hans read geology at university and is now working for an oil company in the States.

faculty – department in a university that specialises in a specific subject

- It was a proud day for the university when the faculty of science move into the new, state-of-the-art building.

research – a detailed study of a particular subject

- I’m really enjoying this research project on the migratory behaviour of the golden eagle.

conduct research
carry out research

Education Vocabulary Set 12: More common words, phrases & expressions

to work your way through university – to have a paid job while studying to support yourself financially

- With the steep increase in tuition fees, many students are forced to work their way through university .

to keep up with your studies – to not fall behind with your work

- Giang would have to limit his time socializing with his friends if he was going to keep up with his studies .

to fall behind with your studies – to not get your coursework and assignments done in the time allowed

- She was a hard-working student but fell behind with her studies after catching pneumonia and having to spend time in hospital.

to learn something by heart – to memorise it

- By the end of his first week learning English, Elisha had learnt all the days of the weeks and months of the year by heart .

gap year – a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between school and university or college education

- Many students spend their gap year travelling to get more experience of life before they settle down to studying for a degree.

to take a year out – to take a gap year

- Before going to the university, I took a year out to travel and also earn some money.

to enrol – to officially register on a course at a college or university

- She didn’t know an old friend had enrolled on the same course until they met up on the first day.

- Having signed up for the photography course, she now had to ask her brother if she could borrow his camera.

to drop out – to leave a course before completing it

- Hiran was forced to drop out of university when his father became ill and he had to take over the family business to support his family.

a dropout – a student who fails to complete a course of study and leaves the educational institution with no qualifications

- Many famous and very wealthy entrepreneurs are college dropouts , which proves that you don’t need a degree to succeed in life.

well-educated – someone who has received a high level or good standard of education

- You could tell that he was well-educated by the way he spoke.

to meet a deadline – to complete a piece of work by the required date

- I didn’t think I’d get my essay written in time but I just met the deadline .

note-taking – to take notes in a lesson or lecture when the teacher is talking

- I find note-taking in a lecture really difficult as I miss much of what is being said while I’m writing.

to revise – study or read something again in order to remember it better, often before exams

- No matter how hard I revise , my mind goes blank as soon as I get into the exam room.

to review – to read over something again. Similar to revise, but generally done just after a lesson or lecture rather than in preparation for an exam

- Bella found that reviewing her notes just before going to sleep helped her to remember the key points.

workload – the amount of work that has to be done

- The course workload felt overwhelming at first but became more manageable once the students had covered the theory and moved on to the more practical part of the course.

to pass with flying colours – to pass an exam or test easily and with excellent result

- He was sure he was going to fail his maths exam but passed with flying colours .

scrape through – to just pass an exam

- She ran out of time in the exam and left many questions unanswered but just scraped through with a pass mark.

to resit/retake an exam – to take an exam again in order to get a better result

- Madee needed band 7 in her IELTS Speaking test but only got 6.5, so she had to retake the exam .

Click this link to get a PDF download of this list of education vocabulary.

Other Useful Education Vocabulary

It’s also a good idea to create your own list of education vocabulary related to any courses you are currently taking so that you are ready to talk about them if asked.

Ways to Improve Your Education Vocabulary

One of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is through reading. Watching topic related YouTube videos and listening to podcasts is also hugely beneficial.

Here are some online resources I recommend.

Education Articles

BBC News – Education

The Independent

New York Times

The Conversation

I love TED Talks. They are short videos with a powerful message and are generally very interesting. They’re ideal for improving your vocabulary and give valuable listening skills practise.

Search YouTube TED Talks - Education to help you improve your education vocabulary.

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Entrepreneur(n) – a person who starts a business.
Vital (adj) – very important/needed.
Tough (adj) - difficult.
A multitude of (n) - very many.
One in a million (p) – very rare/unusual.
To possess (v) - to have (formal).
To assess (v) – To make a judgement about something.
Sought after (adj) – wanted by many people.
Curriculum (n) – the courses taught at a school or university.
To illustrate (v ) – to show.

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Education writing task 2 questions for IELTS

Here you can find common IELTS essay questions for "Education" topic.

Some students work while studying. This often results in lacking time for education and constantly feeling under pressure.

What do you think are the causes of this?

What solutions can you suggest?

Children are generally more successful in foreign language studies than adults. Thus, it is better to learn languages in childhood.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Online education is becoming more and more popular. Some people claim that e-learning has so many benefits that it will replace face-to-face education soon. Others say that traditional education is irreplaceable.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

In contemporary society, everyone should have equal opportunities in education. Therefore, universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Everyone deserves to be educated. It's unfair that intelligent people are not admitted to private universities because of their financial background. University education should be free for everyone.

Provide relevant examples if necessary.

Some people argue that girls and boys should be educated separately, while others think that it is more advantageous for children to study at the same school.

What is your opinion?

Nowadays university education is considered very important for people's future. However, there are a lot of successful people who didn't get higher education.

Do you think that higher education is necessary to succeed in life?

Justify your opinion with relevant examples.

Students should focus on learning in the classroom rather than show their status by wearing fashionable clothes. Therefore, all students have to wear school uniforms.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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IELTS Essays About Education

Jump to: Opinion Essays , Discussion Essays , Discussion and Opinion Essays , or Situation Essays

Opinion Essays

Children can learn effectively by simply watching television, therefore they should be allowed to do so to regularly at home and at school.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Watching television is one way students can learn new information. Therefore some people believe that students ought to watch television on a regular basis in their own home aswell as at school. I disagree with this statement for a variety of reasons and this essay shall explore these reasons.

One of the main reasons students should not merely sit in front of the television screen as a means of education is that it is a very inactive and disengaging form of learning. Learning in this manner provokes no need for a response from the learner making it a very passive activity. the learner is not directed to any particular pieces of information so it is difficult for someone to know what they should be learning, or what facts are important to know. A recent study at the University of Texas recently proved that passive learning in this manner was 56% less effective than more engaging educational activities that required at the very least some form of note taking.

Another reason television watching should not be encouraged for educational purposes is that television programs are rarely created with a students specific requirements in mind. This means that there will be a lot of information not relevant to the curriculum being studied. Furthermore, there may even be inappropriate material in certain scenes which is not age appropriate. This can not only damage students psychologically but also lead to complaints from parents of the student if they happen to be watching during school time. Educational professionals also claim that time spent watching television could be spent more wisely reading books fro a well selected book list which would provide much greater scope for learning.

In conclusion, television watching is unlikely to engage its audience or provide the precise information required in order to be useful. I therefore standby my original assertion that watching television should not be encourage either at home or in educational institutions.

Fewer schools are teaching handwriting skills as so much is now done online.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this trend?

Some people believe that a school teacher’s role is to motivate and inspire their students, however other people think that teacher’s primary role is to simply pass on knowledge so students can pass exams.

What do you think is the role of a teacher?

Some people think that it is beneficial for old people to learn something new while others believe that once a person is past 65 years of age it is too late to learn.

What is your opinion?

Nowadays over enthusiastic parents place too much pressure on their children to do well at school.

What is the reason for doing and is this a negative or positive development?

Some people believe that universities should make sport a compulsory module on all degree courses as rates of obesity are getting higher and higher.

To what extent do you agree?

Under-achieving pupils should be made to complete extra classes after school to help them improve their grades.

These days learning foreign languages is a waste of time as computers can translate quickly and accurately.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The role of education is to prepare children for the modern world. Schools should cut subjects such as art and physical education out of the curriculum so that children can focus on subjects which will be more useful later in life such as information technology and math.

Each year Increasing numbers of students are deciding to move to a different country for higher education.

Do you think that the benefits of this outweigh the problems?

Schools are spending more time teaching traditional topics, such as history and maths. Some people think they should focus on teaching skills that can help students start a career instead.

Many people relocate abroad to pursue further studies.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

In many countries at least one foreign language is taught in primary schools.

Do the advantages of learning a new language outweigh the disadvantages?

Graduating from university with a good degree ensures you will have a well paid career.

More and more universities are offering online courses for students.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development for students?

Discussion Essays

There has been a dramatic growth in the number of people studying at universities in the last few decades. While some people see this as a positive trend which raises the general level of education within the community, others fear that it is lowering the quality of education.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the increase in student numbers at university?

In recent years the number of students applying to universities has increased significantly. Not everyone believes this is beneficial for society; in fact, some people think that increased student numbers actually lowers the standard of education. This essay shall explore some of the positives and downsides of this surge in student numbers.

First of all, an increase in student numbers at university means that levels of poverty in society may reduce. This is due to the fact that if a nation has an educated workforce other companies from around the world will see that and be attracted to move their companies offices and factories there which will then create more jobs for local people. For instance, many tech firms relocate to Silicon Valley in America as there is a large tech based workforce located there.

Furthermore, university graduates improve living standards by creating new products through their own innovations which is encouraged through their university studies. These inventions can then go on to improve living standards in years to come. For example, the University of Rochester were first to develop the flu vaccine.

On the other hand, as more and more people continue to university there is a concern that standards are declining. It is thought by some that in order for universities to serve so many people they will have to focus more on enabling lower level students to participate in the courses rather than stretching the most gifted and talented students. This of course leads to an overall drop in the standard of education being provided. In addition to this, as so many people now have a degree from the UK, they have now become devalued and are no longer a sign of somebody who is an expert in their field. For instance, in 2016 after graduating with a degree over 40% of graduates remain jobless a year later.

In summary, the increasing levels of students studying in higher education may help eliminate poverty and improve living standards. However, it may also be reducing the quality of degree level courses and devaluing degree level qualifications. Personally, I feel it is the responsibility of the government to weigh up these arguments and take action where necessary.

In some countries girls and boys are educated separately rather than mixed together in the same school.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

These days many students take a gap year before going to university in order to do voluntary work abroad in underdeveloped countries.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for young people of doing volunteer work?

Some people believe parents exert the greatest influence on their child's academic success while others believe that a child's teacher exerts more influence.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Discussion and Opinion Essays

Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates secure the career of their choice, whereas others feel that there are much broader benefits of attaining a university degree for both the individual and society as a whole.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Graduating from university is still believed by some to be the best way to secure a well-paid job, others believe that gaining experience is more beneficial.

Some schools make all students where the same smart uniform while other schools have a very relaxed dress code.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a school uniform?

Being able to speak a foreign language can be helpful in many situations in life. Some people believe that children should begin studying a foreign language in primary school while others believe children should not start until secondary school.

Some people believe that teachers should be able to force badly behaved children to stand outside the classroom.

Do you think this is the best way to deal with badly behaved students in the classroom, and what other solutions are there?

Some people think that children should not be given homework while others believe that they must get homework every day in order to achieve highly at school.

Some people are of the opinion that art is an essential topic for children to learn at school, while others believe it should not be studied at school at all.

Discuss both side of the issues and give your opinion.

Discipline is a problem in many schools today. Some people think that discipline should be the responsibility of teachers while others believe it is the parents duty.

Situation Essays

Children who begin reading earlier in life do better academically later on in their school life.

How important is the development of early reading skills in a child's performance at school and what further pre-school factors influence later academic success?

In some schools and universities girls often select arts subjects, for instance, literature, and boys often choose science subjects, such as, physics.

Why do you think this is so? Should this tendency be changed?

Some children receive no encouragement from their Parents regarding their effort in school while other children have too much pressure put on them by their parents which can have a negative impact on the child.

Why do you think some parents’ pressure their children so much and what do you think the parent’s role should be in their child's education?

These days, many students in school struggle to concentrate for even short periods of time.

What are the reasons for this and how can this situation be improved?

In many high schools, part of the curriculum requires students to perform voluntary work in the community such as helping the elderly.

In what way do students gain from this and do you think it should be a part of the curriculum?

In nearly all science courses in university, there are many more male participants than female.

What is the reason for this and what could be done to reduce the difference in numbers?

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IELTS speaking vocabulary about school and education

Home » IELTS speaking » IELTS speaking vocabulary about school and education

You may be asked questions about school and education in general. Read the following IELTS style question and answers below and pay attention to the words or phrases in bold. Use the ‘definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check any meanings you are unfamiliar with.

Make a note of any new vocabulary and the best way to learn it is to use it!

IELTS speaking part 1 – style questions

Examiner: What did you enjoy most when you were at school?

Janet: School feels like a long time ago now, as I am currently at University, but I do remember really enjoying English lessons. We were lucky enough to have a native speaking teacher, which was usual, but it gave us the opportunity to be inspired by hearing authentic pronunciation and our teacher told very funny stories to keep us focused.

Examiner: Do you think a teacher should be friendly or strict?

Alexa: When I was at school, our teachers were ‘old-school’, strict and very traditional, so our lessons were teacher centred. As children we were not encouraged to ask questions or voice our opinions. However, today, thankfully, classes are more student centred, and encourage collaboration and I think a more friendly teacher would be more successful here.

Examiner: What’s the most difficult part of your study now?

Kamila: Well, for the most part, I’d say it’s encourage collaboration. I mean there are so many assignments , and students are always under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines. I am lucky as I don’t find exams too overwhelming. If you are well prepared, they are entirely predictable , and I can pretty much sail through them with only a bit of revision.

IELTS speaking part 2 – style question

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.

You should say:

when and where you started studying it
what lessons were like
what made it different from other subjects

and explain why you enjoyed the subject.

Said: To be honest, I found school pretty challenging for a number of reasons. We moved house quite often back then, so I had to adapt to different teachers, learning expectations and to make new friends. However, the subject which I was always passionate about and determined to succeed in was French.

I started lessons when I was quite young, which is common in the UK, as learning languages is actively encouraged, but the standard and expectation was relatively low so lessons revolved around role plays asking for ice cream or bread! Our lessons involved a lot of writing and dictation which was hard, and I did struggle to see the point of this as what I really wanted to learn was how to communicate and be understood. Our vocabulary was based around the family, food, travel and school so It was quite useful but not the sort of things that children really want to talk about.

I was motivated as I had already visited France on holiday and so I could see for myself the possible benefits of being able to communicate and make myself understood. The breakthrough for me came when I was around 15 with a teacher called Mrs. Green.

She was half French herself, so she spoke beautifully and was rather glamourous too and her lessons were filled with laughter, games and stories although she was very strict as well. We were all expected to study hard and to succeed in exams. She was inspiring though because she loved her subject.

Personally, I have always enjoyed listening to languages, to the i ntonation and sound even if I do not understand. Once I could use the French I had learnt in school when I visited France and later studied there, the language came alive and all that hard work as a youngster paid off !

IELTS speaking part 3 – style question

Examiner: Do you think single sex schools are still relevant in today’s world?

Emilie: While today many would argue that traditional schools which only allow either girls or boys to study there seem rather outdated and old fashioned as this is not how ‘real’ society of the workplace operates. However, many league tables which rank schools in order of high exam results, have proved that single sex schools can be much better as there are less distractions and maybe students are more able to focus on learning and be proud of their achievements without having to compete with the opposite sex.

Examiner: What are the benefits of a boarding school?

Helene: As an alumni of a boarding school , I can see the upsides as well as the challenges. In some countries children as young as 8 are sent away to school, either because of the higher standard of education on offer, or because their parents may be working overseas.

Many of these schools offer a wide range of e xtra-curricular activitie s such as golf, photography or fashion as well as the core academic subjects. Children usually speak of forming lifelong friendships, with their peer group as well as teachers and there is a strong concept of shared experiences.

Examiner: What are the advantages of studying a distance learning course?

Lydia: For many people, especially students who work or need more flexibility, distance or remote learning is the ideal way to study. There are several benefits that immediately come to mind. Not only the cost, which is far less than it would be to attend a college with high tuition fees but the ability to study at your own speed.

It is usually agreed that some find that this method of learning suits them better than sitting in lectures or going to tutorials which demands more self-motivation and discipline.

Vocabulary words related to education and definitions:

authentic: real, true
old-school strict: traditional learning with punishments and controlling teachers
teacher centred : where the teacher is leading the class
encourage collaboration: learning together through discussions
pressure to meet deadlines: having to finish work by a certain time / date
assignments: homework or essays
sail through them: not to have to work hard and to find things easy
learning expectations: what the teacher expects from their student
role plays : acting out a situation to simulate or practice it
dictation: writing down what the teacher says, accurately and fast.
breakthrough: a new development
inspiring: something which makes you want to do better
intonation: the ‘singing’ sound of speech
paid off: was worth the effort
outdated: old fashioned
league tables: tables which rank the position of schools according to academic success
alumni: students who used to go to a certain school or college
boarding school: where students live at school during the term time
extra- curricular activities: anything NOT academic, eg sport, drama
peer group : students of your own age, in your class
remote: not being physically there / learning via computer

More IELTS vocabulary tutorials to help you prepare for your IELTS exam :

Vocabulary about climate change
Vocabulary about fashion and shopping
Vocabulary about advertising
Vocabulary about social media
Vocabulary about food and nutrition
Vocabulary about family and friends
Vocabulary about sport
Vocabulary about the Coronavirus

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IELTS Speaking Topic – Speaking Part 3: Education (Follow-up Questions)

Updated on
May 13, 2023

IELTS Speaking Topic - Speaking Part 3: Education (Follow-up Questions)

Q. 1. How has teaching changed in your country in the last few decades?

Ans- Teaching has undergone significant changes in my country over the past few decades, with a greater emphasis on technology and student-centred learning. Teachers are now expected to be more innovative and adaptable, using a range of teaching methods and technologies to engage students and enhance their learning experience. In addition, there has been a shift towards a more collaborative and interactive learning environment, with greater emphasis placed on group work and project-based learning.

Q. 2. What role should the teacher have in the classroom?

Ans- The teacher should play an active role in the classroom, providing guidance and support to students while also allowing them to develop their own skills and knowledge. A good teacher should be able to adapt their teaching style to suit the needs of individual students, creating a positive and engaging learning environment. In my experience, teachers who are approachable and willing to help students outside of class tend to have more successful students.

Q. 3. Do you think computers will one day replace teachers in the classroom?

Ans- While I think that computers can be a valuable tool in the classroom, I do not believe that they will ever fully replace teachers. Teachers provide valuable human interaction and personalized instruction that cannot be replicated by a computer program. Moreover, teachers can inspire and motivate students in ways that technology simply cannot. However, I do believe that technology can be used to supplement traditional teaching methods, providing additional resources and opportunities for students to learn.

Q. 4. What makes a good student?

Ans- A good student is someone who is curious and enthusiastic about learning. They should have a positive attitude towards their studies and be willing to put in the effort required to succeed. Additionally, good students should be organized and disciplined, able to manage their time effectively and stay focused on their goals. Personally, I have found that students who are open to new ideas and are not afraid to ask questions tend to perform better in their studies.

Q. 5. What is the difference between the way children learn and the way adults learn?

Ans- Children tend to learn through play and exploration, while adults are more focused on practical application and problem-solving. Children have a more flexible and open-minded approach to learning, while adults tend to rely more on their existing knowledge and experience. Additionally, children often require more structure and guidance in their learning, while adults are more self-directed and autonomous.

Q. 6. How can a teacher make lessons for children more interesting?

Ans- A teacher can make lessons more interesting for children by using a range of teaching methods and resources, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and interactive technologies. It is also important for teachers to be enthusiastic and passionate about the subject matter, as this can inspire children and help to engage them in the learning process. Personally, I have found that incorporating games and competitions into lessons can be a fun and effective way to motivate children and make learning more enjoyable.

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Education: IELTS Cue Card Topics

The ‘Education’ category in the IELTS Speaking section typically includes questions revolving around academic experiences, knowledge sharing, and educational systems. Examples include ‘Describe a memorable lesson from school’, ‘Describe a favorite teacher’, or ‘Describe a challenging educational experience’.

To practice with past questions, please look at Speaking Part 2 in more detail.

Unveiling ‘Education’ in the IELTS Speaking Section

Discussing education in the IELTS Speaking section allows you to demonstrate your capacity to reflect on past experiences, express ideas, and discuss abstract topics. It’s a chance to showcase your ability to use sophisticated language and structures and convey complex thoughts.

Explore Various IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Questions and Answers.

Guide to Discussing ‘Education’ in the IELTS Speaking Section

When discussing education, remember to express your thoughts clearly and logically. You might talk about your own experiences in school or university, your favorite subjects, the teaching methods you found effective, or how your education has impacted your life. Use varied vocabulary and grammatical structures to discuss these topics.

Learn How To Answer IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 : CUE Cards.

Sample ‘Education’ Topics

Here are some examples of ‘Education’ topics you might encounter:

Describe a Memorable Lesson from School: Discuss a lesson you distinctly remember from your school days, explaining what made it memorable and how it has impacted you.
Describe a Favorite Teacher: Share about a teacher who has significantly influenced your educational journey, talking about their teaching style, personality traits, and the lessons you learned from them.
Describe a Challenging Educational Experience: Talk about an educational challenge you faced, how you dealt with it, and what you learned from the experience.

Different Cue Card Topics

Personal Experiences: IELTS Cue Card Topics People and Personalities: IELTS Cue Card Topics Places: IELTS Cue Card Topics Objects: IELTS Cue Card Topics Events: IELTS Cue Card Topics Experiences and Achievements: IELTS Cue Card Topics Hobbies and Interests: IELTS Cue Card Topics Plans and Dreams: IELTS Cue Card Topics Nature and Environment: IELTS Cue Card Topics Education: IELTS Cue Card Topics Work and Careers: IELTS Cue Card Topics Technology: IELTS Cue Card Topics Health and Fitness: IELTS Cue Card Topics Food and Drinks: IELTS Cue Card Topics

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School & Education: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Model Answer

Updated On Dec 11, 2023

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School & Education: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Model Answer

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

In IELTS Speaking Part 3, to answer IELTS examiner’s questions in a natural and fluent way, you should focus on one idea only and then expand that idea into a long meaningful sentence using grammar patterns and vocabulary, which can help you get Band 8.0+ for IELTS Speaking.

Let’s practice it with some easy questions about an essential topic: School & Education.

Speaking Part 3

1 what courses/subjects you think will be added in your high school.

Rather than adding more courses, I think most of those we already have will become electives. Students in my country are already studying too many subjects, most of which they have no interest in. When I was in school, I had 13 mandatory subjects, and I can’t recall what I learned in half of them.

2 What courses/subjects will be helpful in future work?

I think classes on foreign languages and intercultural communication will be useful. The world is becoming more and more globalized, so being able to speak at least one foreign language will help people find work in the job market. As for intercultural communication, knowledge about cultural norms and the ways in which people think and interpret messages will prevent miscommunication.

3 What do students do after school in your country?

Students in my country usually take extra classes after school, which are often taught by their own teachers or private tutors. If students do not have classes, many of them hang out with friends in the afternoon before going home to have dinner and do their homework.

4 Do you think students should choose subjects they like?

To a certain extent, yes. I think subjects like Math, Reading, and at least one Foreign Language should be compulsory for all. Other subjects such as Arts and Music should be optional, as I think few students intend to work in the creative industry or see it as a viable career path.

5 Can the students in your country choose their favorite subjects?

No. The subjects students learn are all dictated by the Ministry of Education. In my experience, all students have at least one subject they detest. Many subjects students want to learn aren’t even available.

6 According to you, what will school be like in the future?

I think the schools in the future will focus more on application of fundamental concepts to real-world problems instead of plain rote learning. I also think – and hope – that there will be a greater emphasis on the all-round development of the student as an individual.

Mandatory: Compulsory Eg: Applying for the exam is mandatory.
Miscommunication: Problem created due to lack of communication Eg: I am writing it down to avoid miscommunication
Emphasis: Pressurising Eg: She emphasized on getting a job as a waitress.

Also check :

IELTS Speaking preparation tips
Linking words for IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking recent actual test
IELTS Speaking topics 2020
Sports Vocabulary IELTS
Work Vocabulary IELTS
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions with Answers
Idioms for IELTS Speaking
IELTS Pronunciation Guide
Common English words in IELTS Speaking

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Courtney Miller

Courtney is one of our star content writers as she plays multiple roles. She is a phenomenal researcher and provides extensive articles to students. She is also an IELTS Trainer and an extremely good content writer. Courtney completed her English Masters at Kings College London, and has been a part of our team for more than 3 years. She has worked with the British Council and knows the tricks and tips of IELTS.

Explore other Speaking Part 3 Actual Test Questions

50 IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics 2024 & Questions with Answers

Kasturika Samanta

Travel and Holidays: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Model Answer

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IELTS Speaking Part 3: Topic Education

The topic Education often appears in IELTS Speaking Part 3. Here are sample answers to this topic.

1. Do you like the education system of your country? Yes, I feel that education system of my country covers almost all the basis but there is one area where we can improve a lot and that is curriculum.The syllabus is very old and needs an immediate change. Most of the students are learning certain things that are out of date and some are learning the things that are not that practical. 2. What changes do you want to make in the education system of your country? I would like to make a couple of changes to the system. The first one is that I want to make the education more practical rather than cramming hundreds of theory books. The second change will be in the curriculum. It needs to be more diverse and should develop a student holistically. 3. How many hours a student should read books apart from his studies? I think it is unfair to them. They are under a burden of so many books already. But reading is a great habit. If students can take out some time to read about great leaders or personalities, then I think it is a good idea. In my opinion, students should spend around 3 hours a week on reading material apart from the curriculum. 4. Which was your favourite subject in school time? My favourite subject was science. I liked the diversity in subjects and how the subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology were so different from one another yet so same. I used to be so active during my science class as we would learn new things every day.

5. Any subject that you didn’t like? I never liked mathematics. I used to get confused when I saw all the questions and calculations. That was the subject that I never understood completely and never scored well. I got a lot of headaches while solving the problems in math’s. 6. Which type of education is better, distance learning or regular schooling? In my opinion, both types of education have their advantages. If a person is in a job or a business, then distance education is the best solution for them. But if the student has ample time to study then he or she should go for the regular education.

speaking part 3

IELTS Speaking Questions and Topics

Do you want to know the IELTS speaking questions and topics that are likely to come up in the test?

They do change regularly but there are certain types of topics that arise in various forms and we'll show you here what those are.

On the following pages you will find examples of IELTS speaking questions and topics from part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the speaking test

part 1 (see below)

You can also watch a video with examples of questions for the three parts of the test:

Try practising the questions with a friend, and remember to extend your answers . You can usually do this by giving reasons why. For example, if you say it was fun growing up in your home town, say why it was fun. Don't give one word answers.

You can get further tips for answering IELTS speaking questions in part 1 of the speaking test here.

You can also download these IELTS Speaking Questions here:

IELTS Speaking Questions Part One Download

IELTS Speaking Questions & Topics for Part One

Common topics.

These are common IELTS Speaking Questions so you should make sure you practice them regularly. Remember the test changes regularly so the types of questions around these topics will vary.

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your hometown.

Where is your hometown?
What was it like growing up there?
Has it changed much since you were a child?
What do you like most about living there?
What kinds of things can visitors to your hometown go and see?
Do you think you will live there when you are older?

I’d like to ask you some questions about your home.

Do you live in an apartment or a house?
Is it a large apartment/house?
Who do you live there with?
What is your favourite room in your apartment/house?
Is it a quiet or noisy place to live?
What can you see from the windows in your apartment/house?
If you could change anything about your apartment/house, what would you change?

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your studies.

What are you studying?
Why did you choose that particular course?
What is your favourite subject?
Are you friends with many other students on your course?
What job would you like when you have completed all your studies?
Will you have to do further studies in the future?

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your work.

What work do you do?
What do you enjoy most about your work?
What are your main duties?
Is there any other work you would like to do in the future?
What do you normally do when you finish work everyday?
Will you have to do more training for your work in the future?

Full IELTS Speaking Test Example

Full IELTS speaking test example including questions for parts 1, 2 and 3. View more sample tests on the following pages.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample: Listen to a candidate taking the test

Listen to an IELTS speaking part 2 sample audio, with comments on the performance of the candidate.

IELTS Speaking Tips

Essential IELTS Speaking Tips to help you achieve the score you need in the IELTS Exam first time!

Sample IELTS Speaking Test - Teaching & Education

View a sample IELTS speaking test to help improve your score in the exam. This is on the topic of teaching and education.

Full IELTS Speaking Test - The Environment

View an IELTS speaking test on the topic of the environment. In parts 2 and 3, the topics are usually connected in some way.

Listen to an IELTS speaking sample of a candidate taking the test

Listen to a live IELTS Speaking Sample - hear recordings of candidates taking IELTS practice tests, with assessments of their answers.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answers

These IELTS speaking part 2 sample answers cover a mix of topic that may come up in the long turn section of the test.

IELTS Speaking Long Turn Samples

IELTS Speaking Long Turn Samples: View examples answers for IELTS Part 2 speaking topics

IELTS Speaking Samples: Questions and Model Answers

IELTS speaking samples to help you learn the best way to answer questions from this part of the exam. Questions and answers from parts 1, 2 and 3 of the test.

IELTS Speaking Sample Questions for Part 3

View IELTS speaking sample questions for part 3 of the test. Questions in this part are of a more abstract nature than parts 1 and 2.

Speaking Test For IELTS

View a complete speaking test for IELTS - Many more speaking tests and practice exercises available to improve your speaking.

IELTS Sample Speaking Test - Education

View an IELTS sample speaking test on the topic of education.

IELTS speaking questions with answers

These IELTS speaking questions with answers will help you to successfully prepare for parts 1,2 and 3 of the speaking test

Common IELTS Speaking Topics and Questions for Part Two

View IELTS speaking topics for part 2 of the test. In this section you have to talk on a topic for 2 minutes.

IELTS Speaking Environmental Problems for Part 3

Sample answers for IELTS speaking on environmental problems. Read a sample part 3 answer for a set of questions about environmental issues.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Samples: Questions and Answers

These IELTS speaking part 3 samples give you examples of the kinds of answers you can give in the third part of the IELTS speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Examples - Answers for Part 2 of the Test

View IELTS Speaking Examples for Part 2 of the speaking test. Sample questions with example answers.

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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions

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 will mostly likely be used at some point in 2024.

What is IELTS speaking part 1?

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

Speaking Part 1 Common Topics List

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.

Daily routine
Dictionaries
Family & Friends
Leisure time
Neighbours & Neighbourhood
Shopping Sport

Questions & Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 1

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.

Work 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?

Study 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?

Note: if you don’t work or study, please say so. When the examiner asks “Do you work or do you study?”, this isn’t a trick question. Just be open and honest. For example, “I don’t work or study at the moment.” or “I’m a housewife.” If you don’t work or study, the examiner will ask about your home or hometown instead.

Note: Your hometown refers to the village, town or city where you spent most of your childhood. It might not be the same place you were born. If you grew up in many different places, choose the place you are most connected to.

Hometown 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?

Home 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?

Common Questions in Speaking Part 1

Art Are you good at art? Did you learn art at school when you were a child? What kind of art do you like? Is art popular in your country? Have you ever been to an art gallery? Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?

Bicycles Do you have a bike? How often do you use it? How old were you when you learned to ride a bike? Do many people in your country using bicycles? Do you think using bicycles should be encouraged?

Birthdays 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?

Childhood Did you enjoy your childhood? What is your first memory of your childhood? Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child? What did you enjoy doing as a child? Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the countryside?

Clothes Are clothes important to you? What kind of clothes do you usually wear? Do you ever wear the traditional clothes of your country? Where do you usually buy your clothes? Have you ever worn a uniform? Do most people in your country follow fashion?

Computers Do you often use a computer? How do you usually get online? Do you prefer desktops or laptops? What do you use your computer for? Do you think it is important to learn how to use a computer?

Daily Routine When do you usually get up in the morning? Do you usually have the same routine every day? What is your daily routine? Do you ever change your routine? Is your routine the same today as it was when you were a child? Do you think it is important to have a daily routine?

Dictionaries Do you often use a dictionary? What do you use dictionaries for? What kinds of dictionaries do you think are most useful? Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language? What kind of information you find in a dictionary? Useful video lesson: Dictionary vocabulary

Dreams Do you often have dreams when you sleep? Do you usually remember your dreams? Do you think dreams are important to remember? Do you ever have daydream? What kind of daydreams do you usually have?

Drinks What is your favourite drink? Is it common for people to drink tea and coffee in your country? Did you prefer different drinks as a child? Do you think it is important to drink lots of water? What is a traditional drink in your country for celebrating?

Evenings What do you often do in the evenings? Do you do the same thing every evening? Do you prefer to spend your evenings with family or friends? Do you ever work or study in the evenings? What is a popular activity for young people in your country in the evenings? Do you do the same thing in the evenings as you did when you were a child?

Family & Friends Do you spend much time with your family? Who are you closest to in your family? Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends? Who is your best friend? Are you still friends with people from your childhood? Is family important in your country?

Flowers Do you like flowers? What’s your favourite flower? When was the last time you gave someone flowers? Do any flowers have a special meaning in your country? Why do you think women like flowers more than men? See similar topics for part 2 and 3: Parks, Gardens, Trees & Flowers

Food What’s your favourite food? Have you always liked the same food? Is there any food you dislike? What is a common meal in your country? Do you have a healthy diet? What do you think of fast food?

Going Out Do you often go out in the evenings? What do you like to do when you go out? Do you prefer going out on your own or with friends? How often do you go out in a week? Where do most young people like to go out in your country?

Happiness Are you a happy person? What usually makes you happy or unhappy? Does the weather ever affect how you feel? What makes you smile? Do you think people in your country are generally happy people?

Hobbies Do you have a hobby? What equipment do you need for it? Do you think hobbies should be shared with other people? Did you have a hobby as a child? What hobbies are popular in your country? Why do you think people have hobbies?

Internet How often do you go online? What do you use the internet for? How do you get online? Do you have your own computer? What’s your favourite website? Do you think children should be allowed unsupervised access to the internet?

Languages 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?

Leisure Time What is your favourite leisure activity? What did you enjoy doing in your free time as a child? Do you prefer to spend your free time with other people or alone? What is a common leisure activity in your country? Do most people in your country get two days off a week? Do you think leisure time is important?

Music Do you like music? What’s your favourite type of music? Can you sing? Did you learn music at school? If you could learn a musical instrument, what would it be? Do you think music is important?

Neighbours & Neighbourhood Do you like your neighbours? Are neighbours usually close to each other in your country? What is your neighbourhood like? Do you think your neighbourhood is a good place for children? How could your neighbourhood be improved? Do you think it is important to have a good relationship with your neighbours?

Newspapers How do you usually get your news? Do you often read the newspapers? What kind of news do you usually follow? How do most people get the news in your country? Do you think international news is important?

Noise Do you live in a noisy area? What kinds of sounds you you hear on a daily basis? Where do you go to spend time in peace and quiet? Are there any sounds which you think are pleasant? Do you have any noisy friends?

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?

Pets Do you have a pet? Do you like animals? What’s your favourite animal? What is a popular pet to have in your country? Did you have a pet as a child? Why do people have pets?

Reading Do you often read? What is your favourite kind of book to read? Do you often read newspapers? Do you have any e-books? What books did you read as a child? Do you think it is important to encourage children to read?

Shopping Do you like shopping? What’s your favourite shop? Do you prefer shopping alone or with others? What kinds of shops are there where you live? Have you ever bought anything online? Do you think men and women have different opinions about shopping?

Sport Do you like sport? What’s your favourite sport? Do you often watch sport on TV? Did you play sport as a child? What is the most popular sport in your country? How do most people in your country keep fit?

TV Do you often watch TV? What sorts of things do you watch on TV? What is your favourite TV program? Do you ever watch foreign programs or films? What did you watch on TV when you were a child? Do you think children should watch TV?

Transport How did you get here today? What is your favourite mode of transport? Do you ever use public transport? Do you like the transport system in your country? What is the difference between taking a bus and taking a train?

Weather What’s the weather like today? What’s your favourite weather? Do you like the weather in your country? Is the weather the same in all parts of your country? Does the weather ever affect the way you feel? Does the weather in your country ever affect transportation?

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

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1000 IELTS Speaking Questions (Updated 2024)

If you’re preparing for the IELTS Test, it’s important to know what IELTS Speaking questions might come up. In this article, we will provide an overview of the different parts of the Speaking test, as well as real questions from past exams.

Part 1: Introduction and Interview

The examiner will ask you questions about yourself and your life. These IELTS Speaking questions are usually easier to answer than the other two parts. The good news is all of the questions are about, and you are the world-leading expert on the topic of you.

Some examples of questions are:

-Can you tell me where you live?

-Do you work or study?

-What do you do in your free time?

To learn more about how to answer these types of questions, watch the following video:

Part 2: The ‘Long Turn’

The examiner will give you a topic card. You will have 1 minute to prepare your response. Then you will speak for 1-2 minutes on the topic. Don’t worry, the examiner will stop you when you reach 2 minutes.

The topics are random and cannot be predicted, but they are normally topics that anyone in the world can talk about.

Here are some examples of Part 2 IELTS Speaking questions that have been asked in previous years:

-Describe a time when you were really proud of yourself.

-Talk about a hobby that you enjoy.

-Tell me about a place that you have visited that you really liked.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

The examiner will ask you more detailed questions about the topic from Part 2. They may also ask you about other interrelated topics. They are normally on abstract IELTS Speaking questions, and resemble the kind of ‘academic’ questions you might get asked in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Here are some examples of questions that have been asked in previous years:

-What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking up a new hobby?

-Do you think people should return to their hometowns after finishing school or university?

-What are the benefits of living in a big city?

Below are some example questions from real tests. DO NOT prepare answers for these IELTS Speaking questions . The IELTS test is not a test of memorization. Use these IELTS Speaking questions to practice and familiarise yourself with the test.

Image: Beige-Playful-Illustration-Public-Speaking-Skill-Infographic-1-410x1024

Part 1 IELTS Speaking Questions

Accommodation

Let’s move on to talk about accommodation. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Is it a big place?
Does the place you live in have many amenities?
What do you like about living there?
Is there anything you would like to change about the place you live in?
How long have you lived there?
Do you plan to live there for a long time?
Is there a garden in the place you live in?

Part 2 IELTS Speaking Questions

Describe an advertisement that persuaded you to buy a product. You should say:

What advertisement it was
Was it shown on TV, radio or newspaper
What was good about that advertisement

Explain why you think that advertisement made the product seem attractive.

A Challenging Thing You Did

Describe a challenging thing you have done. You should say:

when you did it
why you did it
how you handled this challenge

and explain why you thought it was challenging.

A Person You Know

Describe an old person that you know. You should say:

What your relationship is with this person
How often do you see them
What people think about this person

Explain why you like them.

Describe a child that you know and like a lot. You should say:

Who the child is
How do you know them
What do they enjoy doing

Explain why you like them a lot.

Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say:

Who the person is
How long you have known him/her
What qualities this person has

Explain why they have had such an influence on you.

Describe a person that you think is very interesting. You should say:

Who is this person
How you met them
What they like to talk about

Explain why this person is very interesting.

Describe a (very) intelligent person you know. You should say:

who is this person
when and where you (first) met them (him or her)
what this person does in life (e.g., work/ study)

and explain why you think this person is intelligent.

Describe your favourite teacher from school. You should say:

What school he/she taught at
What he/she looked like
What subject he/she taught you

Explain why you remember this teacher so well.

Describe your favourite childhood friend. You should say:

who he/she is
where you met each other
what you often did together

and explain what made you like him/her.

Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants (vegetables, fruits, flowers). Please tell me:

what they grow
where they grow them

explain why they enjoy growing plants

Describe a present or gift you have given someone. You should say:

Who you gave it to
What kind of present it was
How it compared to other presents you have given

Explain why you decided to give this particular gift.

Describe a present or gift someone gave you that you really liked. You should say:

Who gave it to you
Why you were given it

Explain why you liked it.

Describe a person who taught you something important. You should say:

who this person was
what they taught you
how they taught it to you

and explain why you think what they taught is important.

Describe an interesting animal you have seen. You should say:

What animal it was
When and Where you saw it
And explain how you feel about this animal

and explain why you think this animal is interesting.

Talk about a painting you would like to have in your home. You should say:

how you know about it
how much it would cost you

and explain why you want to have it in your home.

A Time When Someone Apologised To You

Describe a time when someone apologised to you. You should say:

when this happened
what you were doing
who apologised to you

and explain why they apologised to you.

Talk about a book you are reading now or have read recently. You should say:

How and why you got it
How long it took you to read it, or how long you have been reading it
What kind of book it is

And say if you would like to read something else similar or not, and why

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to read. You should mention:

How well-known it is
Why you would like to read it
Why you have never read it before

And say how you think it will compare to other books you have read

Talk about a book or novel you recently read. Please tell me:

Who wrote this
What it is about
Explain if you enjoyed reading it

And why do you think you will read the book again or not?

Describe a building that you particularly like. You should say:

Where the building is
What it looks like
What you can do there

Explain why you like this building.

Describe a small business you want to start. You should say:

what business it would be
when you want to start it
why you have not started it yet

and explain why you want to start this business.

Describe a successful small business that you know about. You should say:

what business/company it is
what this business does
how you know about this business

and explain why you think this business/company is successful.

Describe a positive change in your life. You should say:

what the change was about
when it happened
describe details of the change that happened

and describe how it affected you later in life.

Describe your favourite piece of clothing. You should say:

Where you got it
Do you often wear it
When you wear it

And explain why it is your favourite piece of clothing.

Describe a uniform you have worn (such as a school or company uniform). You should say:

what it looked like
when and where you needed to wear this uniform
who paid for this uniform

and explain how you felt about that uniform.

Describe your favourite city or a city you have visited that you like very much. You should say:

What is its name and where it is
when you visited it.
why you liked it

And the major attractions in this city are

Describe an organisation or a company that you know. Please say

How big is it?
Do you find this company to be successful? Why?
What can you say about the working environment there?

And if you would like to work there.

Describe your favourite part of the day. You should say:

What time of day this is
What you like to do at this time
Who you are usually with

Explain why this is your favourite part of the day.

Describe an important decision you have made. You should say:

what the decision was
why you made that choice
who helped you make the choice

and explain why the decision was so important.

Electronic Devices

Describe a useful electronic device you would like to own. You should say:

how it would help your life
if it would be expensive to buy

and explain why you would like it.

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you have. You should say:

what you used it for
how long you have used it

and describe why it is important to you

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful. You should say:

how you learned to use it
how long you have had it

and explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment useful.

Entertainment

Describe a comedian that you think is very funny. You should say:

Who the comedian is
Where they usually perform
Who likes to see the comedian

Explain why you think this comedian is very funny.

Describe a TV show that you enjoy. You should say:

What type of show it is
How often it is on
How popular it is with other people in your country

Explain why you like it.

Describe a performance you enjoyed watching. You should say:

what the performance was
when and where you watched the performance
who was performing (or who performed)

and explain why you enjoyed the performance.

Environment

Describe an environmental problem or event. You should say:

Where is it happening
What problems it causes

And what do you think will happen in the future regarding this event.

Describe a type of exercise that you like to do. You should say:

What the exercise is
When you do it
Where you do it

Explain why you like this particular exercise.

Exciting Experience

Describe an exciting experience you’ve had. You should say:

when it was
where you were
what it was

And explain what made this experience especially exciting.

Talk about the last time your whole family got together. You should mention:

Where you met
What you did together
How long have you spent together

And say if you would like to do the same thing again soon or not, and why

Describe a family member that you get on well with. You should mention:

What their personality is like
What things they like doing
If they have any strong dislikes

And say why you think you have a good relationship

Describe one of your relatives. You should say:

What that person looks like
What that person’s character is like
What they are doing at the moment

And say which other relative of yours they are most similar to

Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with. You should say:

what you usually do together
what kind of person he/she is

and explain why you spend the most time with him/her.

Describe a famous food from your hometown or country. You should say:

What it tastes like
When and how it is usually eaten

And say why you think it is famous

Describe a meal that you had that you remember well. You should say:

Where the meal was
Why you had the meal
Who you went with

Explain why you remember this particular occasion.

Describe a meal that you ate out. You should say:

Where you went
What you ate

Explain why you remember this meal.

Describe a friend who has played an important part in your life. You should say:

How you met this person
How long you have known him or her
The kind of things you do or have done together

And explain why this person has been important in your life

Describe a friend you had in primary school. You should say:

What that person was like
How long you were friends for
What things you did together

And say whether you are still in contact with that person or not, and why

Describe a piece of furniture that you own. You should say:

where you bought it
how you use it

and explain why you like it.

Describe a garden or park you enjoyed visiting. You should say:

where it was
what you did (or were doing) there

and explain why you liked it.

Describe a present that you gave someone. You should say:

Why you decided to give them a present
Why you chose that present

And say how that present compares to other presents you have given that person or other people.

Describe your (or your friend’s) experience with an illness or injury. You should say:

What it was
When it happened
How you (or your friend) handled it

and say how you feel about it now.

Describe something healthy you enjoy doing. You should say:

What you do
Who do you do it with

and explain why you think doing this is healthy.

Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the Internet that could help people improve their health. You should say:

when you read it
where you read it
what it was about

and explain why (you think) it could improve people’s health.

Describe a time when you helped someone. You should say:

When you helped
How you helped
How you felt after helping

And if you will help them in the future.

Describe a historical place that you have visited. You should say:

what kind of place it is
where it is located
what is the historical significance of the place is

and describe your experience of the place.

Talk about a leisure activity you did when you were a child. You should say:

How you first became interested in it
How long you did it, or have been doing it for
Why you enjoyed doing it

And say if you have become more or less interested in that hobby since you were a child, and why.

Talk about an activity you like doing when you are on holiday. You should say:

Where do you usually do it
Why do you enjoy it

And say whether you also enjoyed doing that when you were a child or not, and why

Talk about somewhere you went on holiday. You should say:

How you got there
What activities you did there
Who you went with

And say if you would recommend that holiday to a friend or not, and why

Talk about your dream holiday. You should say:

Where you would like to go
What kind of accommodations you would like
What activities you would like to do

And say if you ever think you will go on a holiday like that or not, and why

Talk about your plans for your next long vacation. You should say:

Where do you want to go
Who do you want to go there with
What do you want to do when you get there

And say how likely you are to do what you have planned and why.

Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in. You should say:

where it is / Where it would be
what you would (like to) do there
who you would (like to) live therewith

and explain why you would like to live in this place.

Describe an important building in your hometown or city. You should say:

where it is
what it looks like
what it is used for

and explain why you think it is important.

Describe a change that could improve your local area. You should say:

what the change would be
how this change could be made
what problems are causing the need for this change

and explain how this change would improve your local area.

Describe someone who has had an important influence in your life. You should say:

and explain why this person has had such an influence on you.

Describe a website that you often use. You should say:

what type of website it is
how you found out about it
what it allows you to do, and why you find it useful.

And how it compares to other similar websites.

Talk about one method of learning a foreign language you have used. You should say:

What you did
How long have you used this method for
How it compares to other methods of learning a language

And say if you will use that same method in the future or not, and why

Talk about an English language book you have read or used. You should say:

Why you bought or used that book
What you learned from using it
If it was difficult or easy to use

And say if you would use a similar book again or not, and why

Talk about a language test you have taken. You should say:

Where you took the test
How long it took
What skills and language knowledge you were tested on

And say if you think the test was a good indicator of your language level or not, and why.

Describe an important lake/river in your country. Please tell me:

how big/long it is

explain why it is important

Describe a time you were late for something. You should say:

why you were late
how people reacted to you being late

and explain what happened because you were late.

Describe the most useful household appliance that you have. You should say:

How it works
How life would be without it

And explain why it is so important to you.

Describe an occasion when you forgot something important. You should say:

what you forgot
how important it was
Some possible reasons why you forgot it

And if you think this will happen again.

Describe a happy childhood event. You should say:

Who was involved
How you felt at the time

Mobile phone

Describe a time when you couldn’t use your mobile phone. You should say:

where it was
what you were doing at this time

and explain why you were not able to use your mobile phone.

Describe what you would do if you received a very large amount of money. You should say:

who you would share it with
what you would buy
what else you would do

and explain how you would feel about getting so much money.

Describe a special day out that cost you little money/did not cost you much. You should say:

when the day was
where you went
how much you spend

and explain how you feel about the day.

Describe something (special) that you saved money to buy. You should say:

how long it took you to save enough money to buy it
why you wanted to buy this thing
how you got (or, earned) the money

and explain how you felt when (or, after) you bought it.

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried. You should say:

What the instrument looks like
What it sounds like
What kinds of people it is popular with

And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

Describe your favourite song. You should say:

What is the name of the song
What the song is about
When you first heard the song

Explain why it is your favourite song.

Describe an interesting piece of news that you have recently read about or heard about. You should say:

what the story was
who was involved in the story
where you read or heard about this story

and explain why this news story was interesting to you.

Describe some good news that you recently received. You should say:

What the news was
How you got the news
Who else you told about it

Explain why this was good news.

Describe a person who is often in the news and who you would like to meet. You should say:

who is this person is
how do you know him/her
why he/she is often in the news

and explain why you would like to meet him/her.

Describe people that you know and believe to be very good parents. You should say:

Who they are
Why do you think they are good parents

And explain what it requires to be good parents.

Describe the best party you have been to. You should say:

whose party it was
who was there
what happened at the party

and explain what made it so enjoyable.

Talk about a birthday party you can remember well. You should say:

How you celebrated
Who you were with
Why do you remember that day

And say how it was different from other birthdays you have had before or since

Describe a typical festival or celebration in your country. You should say:

When it usually happens
What it is celebrating
What people do

And say if that is your favourite celebration or not, and why

Describe your favourite festival or celebration. You should say:

What time of year it is
Why do you like it
What you usually do

And say how that festival or celebration compares to others in your country or abroad.

Describe a crowded place you’ve been to. You should say:

when you go there
where the place is (or was)
who you went therewith

and explain how you felt about the place.

Talk about one thing you are going to do next weekend. You should mention:

Where you are going to do it
Who you are going to do it with
Any equipment you need to do it

And say whether you are looking forward to it or not and why

Talk about one thing you are planning to do after you pass the IELTS test. You should say:

When you think you will do it
Why do you want to do it
How long you have had that plan

And say whether there are any other options for what you could do which might be just as good.

Talk about a goal or ambition you have. You should say:

When and why you first discovered you had that goal or ambition
What you need to do to make it come true
What your next step needs to be

And say if you think you will achieve that goal or ambition or not, and why

Presents or Gifts

Describe a photograph that you like. You should say:

Who is in the photograph
When the photograph was taken
Where the photograph is

Explain why you like the photograph.

Describe something which is produced in your country, such as food, a handicraft, or a car. You should say:

how it is made or produced

and explain why your country produces this thing.

Describe your favourite book. You should say:

When you read the book
What the book is about
Why did you read it

Explain why this book is your favourite.

Describe a website that you visit a lot. You should say:

What is the website about
How you found the website
Who else you told about the website

Explain why you visit the website a lot.

Restaurants

Describe a restaurant or a cafe you often go to. You should say:

Where it is
What kind of services are provided
What kind of food do you like there/ What kind of food is famous?

And say why you like it.

Describe a traffic rule or law you know about. You should say:

if you follow this rule or law

and explain why this rule is important.

Describe a rule you had to obey when you were in school. You should say:

what the rule was
if you agreed with the rule
why the rule existed

and what would happen if students broke the rule.

Describe a school that you are attending or attended in the past. You should say:

What it looks like from the outside
What it looks like inside
What facilities it has

And say if you think it is a good school building or not, and why

Talk about a subject you would like to study in the future. You should say:

Why do you want to study that subject
What things about that subject do you find particularly interesting
Where it is possible to study that subject

And say if you think you will start studying it soon or not, and why

Describe an area of science that you are interested in. You should say

What you can learn from it
When you started becoming interested in it

And explain how this area of science helps you

Describe a scientific subject that you learned about in high school. You should say:

what subject it was
who taught you this subject
what you learned from it

and explain how this subject helped you in your life.

Describe a shopping street in your hometown. You should say:

What things you can buy there
What are the most popular shops
Any changes there have been over the years

And say if you think shopping there will become more or less popular in the future, and why.

Describe a shop in your hometown or the place you are living now. You should say:

What it sells
What are the advantages of shopping there are

And, if you think it will be popular or not in the future, and why

Social Problems

Describe a problem in your city. You should say:

how serious it is
what causes this problem

and say what can be done to solve or reduce the effects of this problem.

Something Difficult To Use

Describe something you bought that was difficult to use at first. You should say:

why you bought it

and explain why it was difficult to use at first.

Talk about a sport you like doing or watching. You should say:

Why you are interested in it
What equipment and skills are needed for it

And say if you think it is an easy sport to do or not, and why

Talk about a sport many people enjoy, but you have never tried. You should say:

What equipment is needed for it
What some of the rules are
What kinds of people this sport is popular with

And say if you think you will do this sport in the near future or not, and why

Talk about a sport that interests you, but you have never tried. You should say:

Where it is usually played
What kinds of people usually play it
Why it interests you

And say if you think you will ever do this sport or not, and why

Describe a sporting event you attended. You should say:

What kind of sport is was
How it compared to other events you’ve been to
How often it takes place

Explain why you consider this event to be of interest.

Describe a sport that you would like to try. You should say:

Which sport it is
Where you could do the sport
Who you could do it with

Explain why this sport would be good to try.

Describe the best teacher you have had. You should say:

what subject the teacher taught
when you studied with him or her
what made that person a good teacher

and explain why you think this person was the best teacher you’ve had.

Text message

Describe an important text message you received. You should say:

who sent the message
what was in the message
why the person sent the message

and explain why the message was important to you.

Describe something you own which is very important to you. You should say:

where you got it
what you use it to do

And explain why it is important to you.

Traditional Product

Talk about a traditional product which is very popular in your country. You should say

What the product is
How it is made
Why it is popular

And if it is popular in other countries.

Transportation

Describe the transportation system in your hometown or the place you are living now. You should say:

What kind of transportation there is
Which kind of transportation do most people use
What are the good points and bad points of the transportation system are

And say if you think most people are happy with the transportation system or not, and why.

Talk about one means of transportation that you often use. You should mention:

Where you usually go by that means of transportation
What the advantages of that method of travelling are
What the disadvantages are

And say if you think you will use that means of transport more or less often in the future, and why.

Describe a trip you took by public transport. You should say:

what means of transport you took
what you did during the trip

and explain how you felt about the trip.

Describe a journey you have been on. You should say:

What kind or kinds of transport you used
How long the journey took

And say whether you think it was easy to take this journey or not, and why.

Talk about something tourists like to do in your country. You should say:

How well-known the activity is
What kinds of people like to do it

And say if you think it will become more popular or less popular in the future and why

Talk about a day trip you have been on. You should say:

How you travelled
Why you chose to go to that place

And say whether you would like to go back to the same place again or not, and why.

Talk about a part of your country you have never been to but would like to visit. You should say:

Why you have never been there before
If or when you think you might go
Why you would like to go

And say how you first became interested in going to that place.

Talk about a foreign country you have never been to but would like to visit. You should say:

Describe a country you would like to visit in the future that you haven’t been to yet. You should say:

Which country it is
Where it is located in the world
What you could see there

Explain why this country would be such a good place to visit.

Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited. You should say:

Where the lake is
How often you have visited it
What activities you do there

Explain why you like this particular place.

Describe a holiday that you recently went on that you enjoyed. You should say:

Explain why this holiday was enjoyable.

Describe a traditional product in your country. You should say:

what the product is
when you tried this product for the first time
what it is made of

and explain how you feel about it.

Describe a TV programme that you often watch. You should say:

What kind of programme it is
Why you watch it
When and why you first started watching it

And say if you think that programme is better than other TV programmes that are on at the same time or not, and why

Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with. You should say:

Where it grows
Why is it important
What you like or dislike about it

And explain why it is important for your country.

Describe a time when the weather prevented you from doing something. You should say:

what your plan was
what weather you were hoping for
what happened

and explain how you felt when you had to change your plans.

Describe your dream job. You should say:

What kind of things you would do in that job
What the working conditions would be like
What kind of workplace you would work in

And say if you think you will be able to get a job like that or not, and why.

Describe your dream workplace. You should say:

What it would look like
What facilities it would have
Where it would be

And say if you think you will ever work in a place like that or not, and why.

Talk about a job you have done or know about. You should say:

What people do in that job
What kind of place they work in
What clothes and equipment they need

And say if you think it is a satisfying job to do or not, and why.

Talk about a job someone in your family does.You should say:

How long that person has been doing that job
What the good things about that job are
What the difficulties of doing that job are

And say if you think that person enjoys their job or not, and why.

Describe a workplace you have worked in or know about.You should say:

What the building looks like
What is inside the building
What things there are to do in the local area

And say if you think it is a good place to work or not, and why.

Describe a job you would like to do in the future.You should say:

How and when you first became interested in that job
What people in that job have to do every day
What qualifications and experience do you need in order to get that job

And say if you think you will be able to get that job or not, and why.

Part 3 IELTS Speaking Questions

What challenges do young people face today?
How do (young people) handle difficult or challenging tasks?
Which do you think is better, to face these difficulties and challenges alone or to seek the help of others?
Do you think people need to be challenged?

A Member of A Team

In a team, is it more important to pursue individual development or to achieve team targets?
Do you think it’s important for children to join teams to learn to cooperate with others?
Do you think disagreements among team members have a great influence on teamwork?
Can you suggest how teamwork could be cultivated in classes at school?
What are popular types of advertising in today’s world?
What type of media advertising do you like most?
Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
What factors should be taken into account when making advertisements?
Is advertising really necessary in modern society?
Let’s move on from types of advertising to the impact of advertising on children. How does advertising influence children?
Is there any advertising that can be harmful to children?
Why do people like to keep pets ?
What should we do to protect endangered animals ?
Do you support doing experiments on animals ?
Why do some people refuse to eat animals ?
What would happen when some species disappear on earth ?
Do you think that aquatic animals are dangerous ?
What is it like to be a professional athlete?
A lot of animals are getting extinct these days. What do you think about this? Why is it happening?
Earlier people used animals for their work. Now, what do people use to do their work?
Research is being conducted on animals; is this a good idea?
How do people in your country feel about art?
Do people in your country prefer music over art?
What are some traditional art forms in your country?
How has art changed in the past few decades in your country?
Let’s move on from art in your country to art education. Do you think children should study art in school?
How can children benefit from learning about art?
Do you think the government should provide support for art and cultural activities?
How could art exhibitions attract more visitors?
Are art exhibitions popular in your country?
Do you think people should have to pay to visit art exhibitions?
How will art exhibitions change in the future?
What can you do to support an artist?
Do people read more nowadays?
Do you read before going to bed?
In your opinion, how will e-books affect paper books?
What’s the difference between films and books?
Let’s move on to the topic of traditional literature in your country. What is one example of traditional literature in your country?
Do you like reading the traditional literature of your country?
Do you prefer books or movies?
Do you think it is important to read the book before watching the movie version of it?
Do boys and girls like the same kinds of books?
What kind of books do Indian people like to read?
In your opinion, do business people have to work long hours?
How do business people relax?
Let’s move on to the topic of small businesses. How can a small business grow big?
In your opinion, what kind of small businesses will young people have in the future?
In your opinion, what skills are required to start a small business?
Finally, let’s talk about globalisation. What are the impacts of globalisation on small and large businesses?
What qualities are required to become a company leader (or CEO or manager)?
In general, what factors do you think to determine whether a small company will become successful or not?
Do you think the latest technology plays an important role in a company’s development?
What do you think of charitable organisations?
Which do you think is better, to start your own business or to work for someone else?
Do you think change is good?
What are some of the major changes that occur to people throughout their lives?
Is your country changing rapidly?
In what ways have changes in technology changed people’s lives?
Why do old people not accept change?
In your opinion, what makes a city a good one to live in?
What are the advantages of living in a city?
Let’s move on from the positive aspects of cities to the negative aspects of cities. In your opinion, what are the negative aspects of crowded cities?
How can governments improve living standards in crowded cities?
What about air quality? What can people do to improve the air quality in the city?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in tall buildings ?
Do you think there will be more tall buildings in the future?
Why aren’t there many tall buildings in the countryside?
Why do some people like to live in tall buildings nowadays?
Is it true that tall buildings are more beneficial than small buildings?
Why do a lot of people enjoy going to crowded places?
Where (or what) would you say is the most crowded place in your city?
Would you say it’s important for a city to have amusement (and/or recreational) facilities?
Why do you think people choose to live in big cities (despite certain problems)?
How do you think cities overseas are different from those in your country?
Would you say urban planning is important?
Can clothing tell you much about a person in your country?
Do people still wear traditional clothing in your country?
How has clothing fashion changed in your country over the last few decades?
Why do some companies ask their staff to wear uniforms?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having uniforms at work?
For which jobs are people required to wear a uniform in your country?
Do you think people are treated differently when they are in uniform?
Where do people from your country buy clothes?
What’s the difference between men and women’s choices of clothes?
Do clothes affect people’s mood?
What do people consider when buying clothes?
What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?
In your country, do schools provide similar uniforms to their students?
What kinds of professionals need to wear uniforms?
Do you think people wear clothes that reflect their personality?
Do you think women’s clothes show more variety than men’s clothes?
What is the difference between big companies and small companies?
Are there many big companies in your country?
What are the good things about working for a big company?
Should big companies be punished more seriously than small companies?
Why do some people choose to work at an international company?
Let’s move on to the topic of companies’ services. How can a company maintain the quality of the service that it gives to the public?
Do you think it’s important for a company to provide after-sales service?
What are a few things that make you happy?
Do you believe that engaging in artistic activities might make people happier? (Why/Why not)
Do you think people who have more talent are happier than others? (Why/Why not)
Do you think money makes people happy?
Are the things or events that make people happy today the same as several decades ago?
What are the benefits of getting up early?
Why do some people like to stay up late?
Do you think it is important to be punctual?
What kind of situations need people to arrive early?
Why do children and youngsters generally wake up late?
Do you know anyone who likes to get up early?
Why do some people find it hard to make decisions?
How important is it to get advice from other people when making decisions?
Why is it sometimes difficult to accept advice?
What are some of the most important decisions young people have to make?
Do you agree that parents should make important decisions for their children?
Is it better to make a decision thinking about what you want or thinking about what other people want?

Desired Change to Local Area

Why do old people not like changes?
Do you think it’s important for people to socialise with their neighbours?
How do people socialise with their neighbours?

Eating habits

Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the past?
How healthy is your country’s food?
Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?
How may eating habits change in coming decades?
Let’s move on to diet and eating habits. Do you think our diet is important?
What is a balanced diet?
How might eating habits change in the coming decades?
How are education priorities today different from those in the past?
What is your opinion on the way languages are taught in schools?
How can the type of school you go to affect career success?
What changes do you think will happen in the classroom in the near future?
What are the most popular electronic devices in today’s world?
What devices do you think will be popular in the future?
Let’s move on to the role of electronic devices in today’s society. Do you think people spend too much money on electronic devices?
In what ways can electronic devices make our lives harder?
What would the world be like without computers?
Should children be taught to use computers at school?
Do you think traditional performances are important?
What do you think is the difference between watching a live performance and watching it on TV?
How do you think watching a dance performance or a stage play influences children?
What are some of the main environmental problems in your county?
Why should people be concerned about the environment?
Is water pollution a problem in your country?
What are some of the causes of water pollution?
Do you think problems with the cleanliness of water will improve in the future?
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 scenic spots in your country?
What can individuals do to try and ensure water is kept clean?
What rewards can children get from school?
Should parents push their children to get prizes?
Is it good for children to compete for prizes at school?
What kinds of rewards can companies offer to their outstanding employees?
Is it good to have competition?
What are the most common resolutions in your country?
How difficult would it be for you to save money this year?
How difficult would it be for you to get fit this year?
What do you think this year will be like for you?
Do you personally think that resolutions help us achieve our goals?
What are the benefits of taking New year resolutions?
Describe an event that you attended recently.
Describe an important choice you had to make in your life.
Describe a very difficult task that you succeeded in doing.
Describe an interesting discussion you had related to your work or studies.
Can you compare some exciting activities people do now with activities people did 20 years ago?
Why do some people enjoy doing dangerous sports?
Do you think some dangerous activities should be banned?
Let’s move on from exciting activities to people doing new things in general. Should people try doing new things?
What problems can people have when they try new activities for the first time?
Do you think it’s best to do new things on your own or with other people?
Do people in your country spend a lot of money on celebrating birthdays?
Do you think it’s necessary to spend a lot of money on holding a party?
Do people in your country usually go out to celebrate traditional festivals with others?
Is family important in your country?
Who should be responsible to care for the elderly? Should it be the family or the government?
How has the size of the average family changed in your country in the last few decades?
How do you think families will change in the future?
Let’s move on to the roles of different family members. Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family?
What role do grandparents play in the family in your country?
What qualities does a person need to have to take care of old people?
Do you think old people should be taken care of at home?
How can people in the neighbourhood help the elderly during an epidemic?
Do you see this kind of help occurring in your neighbourhood?
Do you think teenagers must indulge in building a community for elderly?
What kind of jobs need physical activity?
Can physical workers have higher salaries in the future?
Do you think machines could replace manual labour in the future?
What’s the difference between payment for physical work and payment for mental work?
How can a person’s energy affect others?
Do you think children are born smart or do they learn to become smart?
How do children become smart at school?
Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one thing?
Why does modern society need talent of all kinds?
How can we assist youngsters in realising their potential?
Who is the head of the family in your culture?
Are men better at decision-making in a family?
How do you see leadership qualities now and in the future?
Do you think that in the future there will be more women leaders?
Should a leader discuss with team members when making decisions?
What are the advantages of strong family relationships?
How many generations are usually living under one roof in your country?
What are the benefits, and drawbacks of a family of several generations living together?
Do both parents have equal responsibilities in taking care of their children?
What is the importance of traditional festivals?
What is the difference between festivals that are celebrated now and in the past?
Do you think festivals like Christmas are replacing traditional festivals in your country?
Do you think it is wrong for children to not celebrate traditional festivals?
Do you think teens should learn about traditions?
Do you think the traditions in your country are restricted, especially for women in any sense?
What are the types of food that people eat in your country?
What about foreign food? What kinds of foreign food are popular in your country?
In your country, is it important to have a meal together with your family?
Is food now better than in the past?
What kind of people would like to go to a cafe?
Why do young people like studying in a cafe instead of at home?
Do older people like to drink coffee?
Do Indian people like to drink coffee?
Does the taste of coffee vary by country?
What is the importance of friends?
Would you like to have a few very good friends or a lot of just friends?
If you had a problem, would you go to your friends or family? Why?
Do you think it is always better to talk to your friends about such a problem?
Is it important to have friends from other countries?
In what situations do people in your country buy furniture?
In families in your country, who usually decides what furniture to buy for the home?
How do people in your country decide what furniture to buy for the home or office?
Do people in your country prefer traditional or modern styles of furniture?
How can people improve their health?
Do elderly people exercise much in your country?
Do you think all illnesses can be prevented?
Do you think that illnesses will be less common in the future?
Do you think healthcare should be free?
What makes someone a good doctor?
Why is it that different people want to see different magazines?
What type of magazines do teens prefer to read?
What is the distinction between information on TV and information in magazines?
Do folks like to read the information on the World Wide Web?
Do people still purchase magazines in their own country?
Do you feel that people now are healthier than people previously?
Do you think we have to restructure our lifestyle to improve our health?
How do you think people could become healthier?
Are there any differences between the way old people and young people try to stay healthy?
Do schools in your country have any special activities to enhance the fitness of students?
Do you think people in the future will be doing more exercise and eating healthier than they are today?
Do you like helping others?
Do you think people are less willing to help others these days compared to the past?
Do people today trust others as much as they used to in the past?
How do people in your community help each other?
Let’s move on to the topic of educating children to help people. In your view, should children be taught to help others?
In your opinion, how can we encourage children to help others?
What about students? How can students, such as high-school students, help each other?
Do you think history is important?
Do you like to learn about history?
What do you think we can learn by studying history?
Let’s move on to different ways of learning about history. In your opinion, how can people learn about history?
Do you think people can learn history from films or TV programs?
Do you think the internet is a good place to learn about history?
What is the effect of technology on how people learn about history?
First of all, why do people go on holiday?
How important is it for families to go on holiday together?
Why do some people go on holiday alone?
How have holidays changed over the past few decades?
What kind of holidays will be popular in the future?
Let’s move on to talk about taking holidays in a foreign country. Do you think is it better to take a holiday in your own country or in a foreign country?
What problems can people have on holiday in a foreign country?
Why do people move to a new home?
What problems do people face after moving to a new place?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the same place?
Is it good to move to a new place frequently? Why?
Do you think it’s better to rent or to buy a place to live in?
How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents?
What options are available to young couples looking for accommodation in your country?
What are some of the pleasures involved in making a home for ourselves?
What types of people influence the young in your country?
What type of people, such as parents, teachers, or friends, are best to influence young people’s behaviour?
Why is it important for young people to have role models?
What do you think young people will be influenced by the most in the future?
Why is it important to have role models?
Do you think the education system in your country influences young people’s behaviour?
What type of person (parents, teachers, friends etc) are best to influence young people’s behaviour?
What do you think young people will be most influenced by in the future?
How do you think the Internet will change people’s buying habits in the future?
What are the pros and cons of shopping online?
Is the Internet important for education?
Do you think parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet?
What’s the best age for children to use the Internet?
Why do children start using the Internet very early nowadays?
Let’s move on to what people do on the Internet. What do you think people do on the Internet?
What about elderly people? Do elderly people use the Internet very much?
What can people do on social media?
Do you think older people and younger people will use the same kind of social media software?
Do older people spend much time on social media?
Are non-social media like television and newspapers still useful?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using social media?
How do you think AI (artificial intelligence) will affect people’s work?
What would you say are the important factors to consider when choosing a career?
That technology will make some people lose their jobs. How do you think this problem should be handled?
Would you ever move to work and live in another city?
Is it common in your country for people to move to other cities because of work?
When young people choose their jobs, which do you think is usually more important, the salary or their interest in the work?
What is the general attitude towards arriving somewhere late in your country?
What is an example of a time when it is very important for people to arrive on time in your country?
Can you suggest some ways to make sure you are not late for anything?
Let’s move on to how modern technology influences the way that people manage time. Do you think computers make it easier or more difficult to manage time?
How can modern technology help people arrive early?
Do you think it is easy to manage your time in the modern world?

Leisure activities

What types of leisure activities are popular in your country?
Why is it important for people to have time for leisure activities?
Why are some activities more popular than others?
Are the types of leisure activities that are popular today the same as those that were popular when your parents were young?
What types of leisure activities may become more popular in the future?
Do you think (watching) films have (has) any educational benefits?
In what ways are documentary films and films only for entertainment different?
Why do you think documentary films are not so popular?
How are movies and real life different?
Do men and women watch the same kind of films?
Do different age groups like the same kind of films?
Do you like any particular film star? Why?
Do you like movie stars who were treated like God?
What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
Let’s move on to technology. Do you think people rely too much on technology?
Do you think men and women view technology differently?
Finally, let’s talk about the impact of technology on employment. How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Do you think it’s important to have a good memory?
Why do sometimes people forget things?
Which do you think is more important to remember, a business meeting or a meeting with a friend?
Are there any things that are especially important for people to memorise?
Let’s move on from memory to family history. Why do people want to remember their family history?
What can you do to learn more about your family history?

Mobile phones

Do you think there should be regulations on the use of mobile phones?
What do you think of primary school students owning a mobile phone?
What (minimum) age do you think is appropriate for owning a cell phone?
Is money important to you?
What is the relationship between money and power?
Let’s move on to teaching children about money. How do you think parents can teach the value of money to their children?
Do you think it is important to teach children money skills?
Should we let children buy whatever they want with money they’ve saved?
What kind of music is popular in your country?
How does pop music now compare to when you were growing up?
Is foreign music or music from your country more popular with people your age?
Let’s move on to the role of government on music. Do you think is it necessary for the government to require all children to learn music?
Do you think the government needs to do more to preserve traditional music? What could they do?
Finally, let’s talk about illegal downloading of music. There’s a lot of pirated music. Do you agree that we should support official music?
What are some possible advantages and disadvantages of being stricter about the illegal downloading of music?
Do you think CDs will have any role in the music industry in the future?
Do singers play an important role in your country?
Do you think celebrities have a lot of income?
In your country, do people prefer to listen to traditional music or foreign music?
Do you prefer live performances?
What do you think about the role of singers on the national level?
What types of songs are the most popular among today’s young generation in India?
Why do you think pop music is so popular?
How do people get their news in today’s society?
How do you think people will get their news in the future?
How does modern technology affect the delivery of news?
Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?
Let’s move on to the topic of good news. In your opinion, when do people share good news?
How do people share good news?
What is the difference between new media and old media?
Do you think the contents in the newspapers are reliable?
Do you think it’s necessary for people to watch foreign news?
How has social media changed how we consume news?
What kinds of (famous) people are usually in the news in your country?
For parents, what is important when bringing up their children?
Do you think mothers and fathers have different roles to play in bringing up a child?
Let’s move on to the education of children. Do you think hitting children is sometimes necessary for discipline?
Do you think sweets are a good thing to reward children with?
Do you think parents spend too much on buying toys for their children?
When do people usually have parties in your country?
What makes a good party?
What are the main reasons why people organise family parties in your country?
In some places people spend a lot of money on parties that celebrate special family events. Is this ever true in your country? Do you think this is a good trend or a bad trend?
How important is it to celebrate important events with a group of people?
Why do some people think that national celebrations are a waste of government money? Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why?

Personal

What decisions do people generally make in their daily life?
Which is easier, making a decision by oneself or making a decision after a group discussion?
Why are many young people unwilling to listen to their parent’s advice?
Why do middle-aged people tend to second guess their decision?
Should people consider the consequences of their decisions that impact others or only think of themselves?
Do you think adults can have lots of imagination?
Do you think imagination is necessary for scientists?
What kind of jobs need imagination?
What subjects are helpful for people’s imagination?
Do you think children can have a good imagination level ?
Do children like to change opinions?
Why do people change their opinion?
Who do young people turn to for advice?
Do people like giving an opinion about politics?
Is changing opinions good for society?
On what occasions do people usually need to wait?
Who behaves better when waiting, children or adults?
Compared to the past, are people less patient now, why?
What are the positive and negative effects of waiting on society?
Are you a patient person?
Do you think it is possible to teach people to be more patient?
Some people believe that impatience helps the development of technology. Do you agree with that?– Why do you think so?
Where do you go to get good advice?
Whose advice do you follow more parents or your friend’s advice?
Have your parents given you much advice?
What kind of advice do parents give their children?
What kind of advice do friends give each other?
What can we learn from our mistakes?
Do children make mistakes easily?
What should parents do if their children make mistakes?
What do children learn from teachers and parents?
How should a person be remorseful for their mistakes?
How do children benefit from using dictionaries?
In general, do you think planning is important?
Do you think people should make highly detailed plans or just general plans?
What types of people like to make plans?
Why do you think some people dislike making plans?
Let’s move on from planning to career plans. Do you think it’s important for a person to have a career plan?
How do most people plan their futures in their education and careers?
Do you think it’s important for young people to get advice from their parents when planning a career?
What kinds of products are mostly imported into your country?
In your opinion, why do some people like to buy imported products?
Let’s move on to local products. What are some famous local products in your country?
Do you think a country should make everything it needs or import some things?
What are the disadvantages of a country producing everything it needs?
Finally, let’s talk about globalisation. Do you think the globalisation of industries and commerce is a good thing?
What are the impacts of globalisation on international trade?
Do many people eat in restaurants in your country?
Why do some people enjoy eating out?
Is it expensive to eat out in your country?
Let’s move on from eating in restaurants to cooking at home. Do you like to cook at home?
Nowadays, more and more people are unwilling to cook. Why is this happening?
What’s the difference between restaurant food and home-cooked food?
Why do we have rules in society?
Do you think it’s necessary to set up rules about overworking people?
What are some examples of rules that exist in many families?
What are some rules that exist in schools or workplaces in your country?
Do you think that the students themselves should have a say in what kinds of school rules there are?
Is higher education too expensive in your country?
Should all students pay for their university education?
Can you compare the education your parents had with the education that you received?
What changes do you think will happen in the classrooms of the near future?
Let’s move on to university education. What advantages do universities bring to society?
Which is more important, research or teaching?
What makes a good university student?
Do you think students should be taken to school by their parents or go by themselves?
Should children rely on their parents or be independent?
How can children become more independent?
What is the effect if parents interfere with children’s life too much?
How does changing school affect children?
Do you think science is important?
Do you think science can change our society?
Which area of science has been the most important in the last one hundred years?
Why do you think some inventions have not been successful in the marketplace?
Do you think it’s good that new inventions are appearing so often?
Do you think there will be any negative effects resulting from future technology?
Is shopping a popular activity in your country?
How have shopping habits changed over recent years?
To what extent do you think advertising affects the way people shop?
Do you think shopping habits are likely to change in the future?
Why do some people prefer to purchase brand name products produced abroad?
Is service better in large shops or in small shops?
What do people do when they get bad service?
What social problems are there in your country?
What about poverty? What can be done to alleviate poverty?
Are there many charities in your country?
Let’s move on to talk about the overpopulation problem. Why do so many people move to live in cities?
What problems does overpopulation cause?
Finally, let’s talk about crime. What is the difference between major and minor crime?
Do you think all criminals should go to prison?

Something Difficult to Use

Do you often buy new things?
Would you say that advertising makes people buy more news things than they would if there was no advertising?
Do you think old(er) people have difficulties using some things that young people do not?
What types of sports are popular in your country?
Do you think the types of sports that are popular will change in the future?
Let’s move on to talk about some positive aspects of sports. In your opinion, what are the benefits of playing a sport?
What about cultural aspects? How can sports bring people from different countries closer together?
Do you think old people can keep fit by playing sports or exercising?
Finally, let’s talk about the Olympic Games. How are the Olympic players trained in your country? Do they usually start training when they are born?
Why would somebody dislike watching the Olympic Games?
Do you think the types of sport that are popular will change in the future?
How often do people go to buy clothes?
Why do parents let their children play with puzzles?
What kind of puzzles improve people’s intelligence?
Why are detective stories attractive to people?
Which do you think is better? A detective movie or its original novel?
Which age group plays puzzles the most?
What kinds of exercises do Indian people like?
What characteristics do you think an athlete should have?
Why are there so few top athletes?
What’s the best way to become a top athlete?
What are your thoughts about the trend that people buy new things instead of repairing the old ones?
Is increasing consumerism a good trend?
Do you think adults and youngsters’ shopping lists have a vast difference?
Which products are most consumed in your country? Why?
What skills do students need to master?
Is it hard for students to learn new skills?
Is it hard for old people to learn new skills?
Is a good teacher very important for students’ learning experience? Why?
What is necessary to learn and improve a skill?
Why do some people have a better memory?
Which can help people remember things better, words or photos?
Can technology help people remember things better? How?
How can people improve their memory?
Should old people read books?
What is the most important practical skill in modern society?
What kind of job requires practical skills?
What kinds of skills are difficult to learn?
How can you teach your skills to others?
How well-respected are teachers in your society?
Do you think teachers get paid enough money in your country?
What role should the teacher have in the classroom?
In your opinion, what are the most important qualities for a good teacher to have?
Let’s move on to teaching aspects. In your opinion, how can a teacher make lessons for children more interesting?
Do you think computers will one day replace teachers in the classroom?
What’s the best invention in the past hundred years?
What’s the influence of science on human life?
What can individuals do for scientific research?
What influence can international cooperation in science bring about?
Do you think it is mandatory to teach science in schools?

Text Message

Why do some people dislike using text messages?
Have the ways that people communicated with each other changed much in the last few decades?
Why do people prefer texting as compared to phone calls?
Do you think modern technology has any negative influence on communication?
What do you think are some of the main differences between written communication and spoken communication?
What kinds of possessions are considered high-status to people in your country?
Were different possessions thought of as valuable in the past?
Why do you think people need to show their status in society?
Do advertisements give correct information, or do they encourage people to buy things that they may not need?
Where can people hear a lot of noise?
What may happen when someone listens to very loud music using headphones while they are running or hiking?
What can be done to reduce traffic noise?
Do you think the world will be noisier in the future?
What rules should be imposed to reduce noise pollution in the near future?

Time When Someone Apologised to You

What kinds of people are most likely to say sorry?
In what situations do you think people need to (or, should) apologise?
What do you think of those people who don’t apologise very often?

Traditional Products

What different types of traditional products are produced in your country?
In your opinion, why do traditional products attract tourists?
Do you think there are benefits of traditional products to locals?
Do you think the government should help in the promotion of traditional products?
Let’s move on from traditional products to traditions. Do you think because of globalisation countries are adopting each other’s traditions?
Did the traditional things of the past are of better quality than present day things?
Do you think it is necessary to protect traditions?
How do most people travel long distances in your country?
Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
What kinds of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent years?
Do you think transport is likely to continue to improve in the future?
Have the types of transportation people use changed much over the last few decades?
How has transportation improved in recent years?
Do you think transportation is likely to continue to improve in the future?
What is your take on introducing transportation passes?
Let’s move on to the transportation system in your country. Is it faster to travel by public transportation or by car in your country?
What are the impacts of Uber on transportation in your country?
Do you think traffic jams would be reduced if people could travel on public transport for free?
Why do you think more and more people prefer to travel by plane?
What kinds of obstacles do you think some local governments have to face when they develop transportation infrastructure?
Why do some people prefer to travel abroad rather than travel in their own country?
Do you think travelling to another country can change the way that people think?
Do you think it’s safer to travel today than in the past?
Let’s move on to tourism. What are some famous tourist spots in your country?
What are the positive impacts of tourism in your country?
What are the negative impacts of tourism in your country?
What can you say about the future of the tourism industry in your country?
Does the rating of the people influence their choice?
How do people reserve rooms?
What influences people’s choice of a hotel?
What is the difference between a hotel in our country and a hotel abroad?
Which feature is the most important facility you look for while staying in a hotel?
Tell me about the types of programmes that are generally on television in your country.
Do you think state or private television is better?
Let’s move on from TV programmes to television in general. How has TV changed our lives?
Do you think TV influences the way we think?
Should children be allowed to watch a lot of TV?
Are all people on TV famous?
How popular is watching television in your country?
Why do people like watching television?
What effects can watching television have on children?
What vegetables are common in your country?
Do people like to grow vegetables in your country?
How do people feel when they eat vegetables that they grew on their own?
Let’s move on to the topic of organic vegetables. As we know organic fruits and vegetables are more expensive than conventional fruits and vegetables, but they are actually worth the extra cost. Do you think organic fruit deserves a higher price?
Do you think the government should encourage farmers to grow more organic vegetables?
Describe the seasons in your country
Do you think job satisfaction is more important than your salary when choosing a job?
What skills do you think are needed to get a good job these days?
Do you think that women should be able to do the same jobs as men?
What’s the difference between white-collar and blue-collar jobs?
What jobs do you think are most valuable to society?

Disclaimer: Please note that these questions were gathered by asking hundreds of our students to send in their practice questions. Whilst every effort has been made to make sure mistakes have been removed, with so many of them, mistakes may still be present. These IELTS Speaking Questions are for educational purposes only.

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IELTS Speaking test sample: Education Topic
In IELTS Speaking test you are assessed for your fluency and coherence, and thus you have to accurately use your advanced vocabulary while speaking. In this IELTS Speaking sample we collected various questions + model answers on Education Topic that you may encounter on the speaking test. Our special formatting styles: Useful linking phrases ...
Education Essay Titles
Education Essay Titles. IELTS Essay Questions for the Topic of Education. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and seem to have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the years the questions were reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below.
IELTS Topic: Education
Education and IELTS Writing. When it comes to task 2 of the IELTS writing test, education is also a really common topic. Again, there are countless possible questions you could be given, so rather than prepare for any single question, it is better to build your skill in dealing with this topic.
Education IELTS Speaking Part 2 Questions with Answers
Education is a cue card topic that often comes up in the IELTS speaking part 2. Below you will find a list of some exam questions and answers that you could encounter during part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test. The questions below are based on the real IELTS speaking exam. They serve as a great IELTS Speaking part 2 cue card prediction questions ...
Describe your Education: IELTS Speaking Part 1 Sample Answer
In IELTS Speaking Part 1, to answer IELTS examiner's questions in a natural and fluent way, you should focus on one idea only and then expand that idea into a long meaningful sentence using grammar patterns and vocabulary, which can help you get Band 8.0+ for IELTS Speaking. Let's practice it with some easy questions about a popular topic ...
IELTS Education Vocabulary
Learning common education vocabulary is great preparation for your IELTS exam as education is a very popular topic. This page is full of useful words & phrases, plus practise IELTS-style questions & answers with PDF downloads. All created to make your life easier.
Ielts Speaking: Education
In this article you will learn some key vocabulary and read some sample answers for IELTS speaking part 3 questions related to the topic of education. Entrepreneur (n) - a person who starts a business. Vital (adj) - very important/needed. Tough (adj) - difficult. A multitude of (n)- very many.
IELTS
To help you get ready, here are some sample tests for the Academic test. Listening and Speaking tests are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, but the Reading and Writing tests are different. With these official practice materials you can: get used to the test format. experience the types of tasks involved.
Task 2 essay questions about education
Home » IELTS writing task 2 questions » Education essay topics for writing task 2 IELTS. Take a look at these sample Task 2 essay questions about education for your IELTS exam. For an introduction on how to start IELTS writing task 2 click here. Some people think that a person improves intellectual skills better when doing group activities.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Education
Topic: Education. Q. 1. What makes a good student? Answer: A student is a good student when she/he learns new things at every opportunity not only what is taught in the classroom, but also what is taught by nature and his/her surroundings. We would call a student a "good student" also when he/she asks many pertinent questions and tries to ...
IELTS Writing task 2: Education questions with answer samples
Justify your opinion with relevant examples. Students should focus on learning in the classroom rather than show their status by wearing fashionable clothes. Therefore, all students have to wear school uniforms. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? See the most common IELTS Writing task 2 questions + answer samples for Education topic.
IELTS
Free IELTS practice tests and resources to help you prepare. Official IELTS partnership preparation tools will get you the results you need to succeed! ... IELTS sample test questions Official practice and sample questions and answers. We have a range of materials to help you do well in your IELTS test. Every year millions more people succeed ...
IELTS Essay Questions About Education
Discuss both sides and give your opinion. Some people are of the opinion that art is an essential topic for children to learn at school, while others believe it should not be studied at school at all. Discuss both side of the issues and give your opinion. Discipline is a problem in many schools today. Some people think that discipline should be ...
IELTS speaking vocabulary about school and education
Read the following IELTS style question and answers below and pay attention to the words or phrases in bold. Use the 'definitions' section at the bottom of the page to check any meanings you are unfamiliar with. ... In some countries children as young as 8 are sent away to school, either because of the higher standard of education on offer ...
Speaking Part 3: Education (Follow-up Questions)
Q. 1. How has teaching changed in your country in the last few decades? Ans- Teaching has undergone significant changes in my country over the past few decades, with a greater emphasis on technology and student-centred learning. Teachers are now expected to be more innovative and adaptable, using a range of teaching methods and technologies to ...
Free Online IELTS Practice & Sample Tests
Take the IELTS Progress Check, an official online practice test. Qualified markers assess completed tests, providing a Feedback Report with indicative band scores for each test section. Our free online IELTS practice tests with answers will help improve your listening, reading, writing and speaking IELTS exam performance.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics for part 3 (Education) and sample answers.. Explore Various IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Questions and Answers.. Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be ...
Education: IELTS Cue Card Topics
Discussing education in the IELTS Speaking section allows you to demonstrate your capacity to reflect on past experiences, express ideas, and discuss abstract topics. It's a chance to showcase your ability to use sophisticated language and structures and convey complex thoughts. Explore Various IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Questions and ...
School & Education: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Model Answer
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, to answer IELTS examiner's questions in a natural and fluent way, you should focus on one idea only and then expand that idea into a long meaningful sentence using grammar patterns and vocabulary, which can help you get Band 8.0+ for IELTS Speaking. Let's practice it with some easy questions about an essential ...
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Topic Education
By IELTS Resource. The topic Education often appears in IELTS Speaking Part 3. Here are sample answers to this topic. 1. Do you like the education system of your country? Yes, I feel that education system of my country covers almost all the basis but there is one area where we can improve a lot and that is curriculum.The syllabus is very old ...
IELTS Speaking Questions & Topics for the Test
On the following pages you will find examples of IELTS speaking questions and topics from part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the speaking test. Try practising the questions with a friend, and remember to extend your answers. You can usually do this by giving reasons why. For example, if you say it was fun growing up in your home town, say why it was ...
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics & Questions
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 ...
1000 IELTS Speaking Questions (Updated 2024)
The topics are random and cannot be predicted, but they are normally topics that anyone in the world can talk about. Here are some examples of Part 2 IELTS Speaking questions that have been asked in previous years: -Describe a time when you were really proud of yourself. -Talk about a hobby that you enjoy. -Tell me about a place that you have ...

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IELTS Topic: Education

Education Vocabulary

School Subjects

British English vs American English

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Reading and Listening

IELTS Speaking Topic: Education

Describe a Subject

Describe a Lesson or Project

Describe a Period of Time

Describe a Teacher

Education and IELTS Writing

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Sample Band 9 Answer

Question #2

Question #3

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IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topic: Education

Education Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card 1

Education Vocabulary Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card 2

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IELTS speaking vocabulary about school and education

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IELTS Speaking Topic – Speaking Part 3: Education (Follow-up Questions)

Q. 1. How has teaching changed in your country in the last few decades?

Q. 2. What role should the teacher have in the classroom?

Q. 3. Do you think computers will one day replace teachers in the classroom?

Q. 4. What makes a good student?

Q. 5. What is the difference between the way children learn and the way adults learn?