Teachers, school subjects, exams and courses: education is one of the topics you are most likely to meet in IELTS Speaking Part 2. Everyone has been to school, so the examiner expects you to have something to say.
The secret is to choose one clear memory and add details: names, places, how you felt. Below you will find four education cue cards with band 7+ sample answers, useful vocabulary, and typical Part 1 and Part 3 questions about education.
You get a cue card and 1 minute to make notes. Then you speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover every point on the card, add a short example or story, and finish with the “explain” part.
Education cue cards with sample answers
Describe a teacher who has influenced you.
You should say:
- who the teacher was
- what subject they taught
- what they were like
and explain how they influenced you.
Sample Answer:
The teacher who influenced me the most was my history teacher at secondary school, Mr Novak. He taught us for four years, from the age of thirteen until we left school.
What made him special was the way he told history as a series of stories rather than a list of dates. He would walk around the classroom, ask us what we would have done in a certain situation and then tell us what really happened. He was strict about homework, but he always had time to answer questions after class.
He influenced me in two ways. First, he made me genuinely curious about the past, and I still read history books for fun. Second, he showed me that you can explain almost anything if you make it interesting. Whenever I give a presentation at work, I try to start with a story, just like he did.
Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.
You should say:
- what the subject was
- when you studied it
- what you learnt
and explain why you enjoyed it.
Sample Answer:
The subject I enjoyed most at school was biology. I studied it for about six years, but it really became my favourite in the last two years, when we had a new teacher and a lot more practical lessons.
We learnt how the human body works, how plants grow and how different species depend on each other. The part I remember best is a project where we had to observe a small pond near the school for a month and record every living thing we could find. I was amazed by how much life there was in such a tiny place.
I enjoyed it because it explained things I could see around me every day. It was not just theory from a textbook. Even now, when I walk in a park, I find myself noticing the trees and insects in a way I probably would not have done without those lessons.
Describe a course you would like to take in the future.
You should say:
- what the course is
- where you would take it
- how long it would last
and explain why you would like to take it.
Sample Answer:
A course I would really like to take in the future is a professional photography course. There is a well-known evening school in my city that runs one for beginners, and it lasts about three months, with two classes a week.
From what I have read, the course covers how to use a camera properly, how light and composition work, and how to edit photos on a computer. At the end, every student prepares a small exhibition of their best pictures, which sounds both exciting and a little frightening.
I would like to take it because photography is something I have enjoyed for years, but I have always used my phone and relied on luck. I would love to understand what I am doing and take pictures I am really proud of. Who knows, one day it could even become a second source of income.
Describe an important exam you took.
You should say:
- what the exam was
- when you took it
- how you prepared for it
and explain how you felt about the result.
Sample Answer:
The most important exam I have ever taken was my final school exam in mathematics, which I sat when I was eighteen. The result decided whether I could study economics at the university I wanted.
Maths was never my strongest subject, so I started preparing about four months in advance. I made a timetable, did past papers every weekend and joined a small study group with three classmates. We met in the library twice a week and explained difficult problems to each other, which helped me more than studying alone.
When the results came out, I had a much higher grade than I expected. I felt enormously relieved and also proud, because I knew how hard I had worked for it. That experience taught me that steady preparation is far more effective than trying to learn everything the night before.
Useful education vocabulary for IELTS
Try to replace basic words like “school”, “learn” and “test” with more precise vocabulary:
| Topic | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Places and stages | primary school, secondary school, university, a vocational course, an evening class, higher education |
| Studying | to revise for an exam, to take notes, to do research, to hand in an assignment, to fall behind, to catch up |
| Exams and results | to sit an exam, to pass with flying colours, to fail, a mock exam, a grade, a qualification |
| People | a lecturer, a tutor, a classmate, a mentor, a strict teacher, a supportive teacher |
| Useful phrases | to learn by heart, to broaden your knowledge, lifelong learning, to learn from your mistakes |
IELTS Speaking Part 1: education questions
Part 1 questions are short and personal. Give a direct answer and add one reason or example.
1Do you work or are you a student?
I am a student at the moment. I am in my third year of a business degree, and I also work part-time in a café at the weekends.
2What was your favourite subject at school?
It was English, actually. We had a teacher who used songs and films in class, so the lessons never felt like hard work.
3Do you prefer studying alone or with other people?
It depends on the task. For reading and memorising I prefer to be alone, but for practising speaking I like studying with a friend.
4Would you like to study something new in the future?
Yes, I would like to learn a second foreign language, probably Spanish, because I would love to travel around South America one day.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: education and learning questions
New to Part 3? See how to give band 7+ answers in Speaking Part 3, with simple and stronger answers compared.
In Part 3 the examiner asks about education in general. Give longer answers with reasons, examples and both sides of the argument.
1What makes a good teacher?
In my opinion, a good teacher needs more than knowledge of the subject. They need patience, the ability to explain things in different ways and real interest in their students. The best teachers I had also had high expectations, which pushed us to work harder than we would have done otherwise.
2Is it better to study at university or to start working straight after school?
It depends on the career. For professions like medicine or law, university is essential. For other jobs, practical experience can be just as valuable, and starting work early means avoiding student debt. I think young people should choose based on what they want to do, rather than going to university just because it is expected.
3How will education change in the future?
I expect online learning to become even more common, especially for adults who want to retrain while they are working. Schools may also focus less on memorising facts, since information is so easy to find, and more on skills like critical thinking and teamwork. However, I believe face-to-face teaching will remain important for younger children.
Practise on your own
Choose one of the cue cards above, set a timer for 1 minute to make notes, and then record yourself speaking for 2 minutes. Listen back and check whether you covered every point and used some of the vocabulary from this page. For more topics, see IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics and cue cards with answers.