IELTS Speaking practice: Education

This is a full IELTS Speaking sample with questions related to Education topic.
See IELTS Speaking vocabulary for Education topic >
You probably know what do such phrases as "bookworm" or "bachelor's degree" mean. However, it's not enough to simply know the meaning! 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.
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Part 1

Do you work or are you a student?

At the moment I'm studying. I’m doing a graduate degree in molecular biology in the Vanderbilt University.

Why did you choose that subject?

I've always loved life sciences, particularly biology... And when I received my bachelor's degree I took a research internship in a laboratory where I studied interactions between proteins... And then I understood that I want to pursue my career in biochemistry or molecular biology.

Can you describe yourself as a good student?

Well, overall I think I am a good student. ... I am not an eager beaver, nor the teacher's pet... but I'm good at scientific subjects and, most importantly, I like studying.

Do you study English now?

Yes, of course. I've taken an intensive course this year, where I've attend classes three times a week... And I plan on pursuing my studies in the future, too...

Did you enjoy/Do you enjoy studying at school?

I've never really liked school... I'm not a bookworm and a lot of humanities subjects seemed too boring to me. However, the workload was not too big... The other good thing about school is being able to see your friends. And fortunately, I had wonderful classmates.

Part 2

Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.

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

I would like to talk about my last school year. It was really diffucult due to enormous amounts of homework I had to do and all the exams I had to prepare for... Em, so I studied hard, having no time to goof around ... Moreover, I forgot a lot of things from the school curriculum, that's why I had to do a lot of revision... But despite the tough preparation, I managed to set aside some time to rest and interact with my friends and family... After all, my efforts were not in vain... I passed all the exams well and was admitted to the university of my dream.

Part 3

What are some essential qualities every teacher should have?

As for me, every teacher should be able to catch student's attention. It is very important to make your subject interesting to the others... Also, teacher should be a subject specialist and a kind, helpful person..

What are some pros of studying on a distance learning course?

To be honest, I think it's very advantageous to study in such way... It gives you more time flexibility, especially if you have a job... Not to mention that it is fairly cheap, compared to face-to-face classes...

Does everybody get equal opportunities to study?

Definitely not. I think it really depends on a country you live in... Moreover, it depends on your financial capabilities... Some schools and universities are just too expensive... Only a small fraction of people can afford to study there.