10 IELTS speaking topics

CONTENTS TOPIC: EDUCATION Sample answers, useful vocabulary and resources for IELTS speaking exam SAMPLE ANSWERS Sample questions and answers from speaking part 1, and KEY VOCABULARY Words and terms frequently used when talking about education WORD FORMATION Learn how to use wide variety of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives COLLOCATIONS Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers USEFUL RESOURCES References to teaching and authentic materials related to this topic: IELTS blogs, podcasts, videos and articles SAMPLE ANSWERS PART 1 What kind of school did you go to as a child? Where you study / Where did you study? -I have studied in a public school from pre-school till 6th grade It used to be the most popular and the best elementary school during my time Did you go to a co-educational school? -Yes, I did I had good memories in that school I gained a lot of friends, both boys and girls I studied in (name of university) It is located in (name of the city) What’s your university/college like? It’s one of the best universities in my country It has a huge campus with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students of different courses/major What was your favorite subject as a child? What you study/did you study in university? -I liked Maths a lot when I was a kid Solving word problems were very interesting for me I’d always get high scores in exams Who was your favorite teacher? -My Maths teacher He made the lessons fun and exciting by engaging us into different activities related to our topics Me and my classmates enjoyed the games I studied business administration This course is perfect for a business minded person like me What is special about this subject? Basically, it is about management of business operations It has relevance and social importance since it deals with technology, economy, global competitions and the emerging markets PART Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school You should say: • When and where you started studying it • What lessons were like • What made the subject different from other subjects • and explain why you enjoyed the subject The subject I’d like to describe is World History It was a subject taught in highschool About one hour is allotted everyday to learn about significant historical events For some of my classmates, it was a boring subject but I enjoyed it a lot I remember that our teacher distributed a syllabus on our first meeting which served as a guide on the topics that will be discussed each week We were assigned to read several books and other reading materials We talked about famous people, from warriors to philosophers to artists We discussed the wars that happened in the past We also talked about religion, traditions and customs of the people during the ancient time As a subject, it required us to memorize a lot which was a disadvantage for me and my classmates at that time because it consumed much of our time Nevertheless, history really intrigues me I am always curious about how humans lived in the past I have always been interested to look into how history turned us into the present generation It fascinates me PART How are education priorities today different from those in the past? In a fast-changing world we are in today, education priorities have transformed as well In our current society, education opens more opportunities for a wider skill set that were not offered in the past For example, colleges and universities have more specific major or courses as compared before Education has also involved the use of the modern technology such as computers and other gadgets that were not present in the past Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why? Good education is important for both boys and girls Both should be given equal rights to education In today’s society, women have proven that they can tasks and get jobs that only men used to have Women have shown their competency in various fields such as politics, science, sports and etc Men on the other have also entered some industries that used to be considered as women’s job such as cooking, housekeeping, fashion and etc I think both sexes must be given equal opportunities How well you think schools should prepare young people for working life? Schools are considered our second home This is where we learn almost everything, starting from the basic such as reading and writing Before we turn into adults, this is the place where we get most of our training Therefore, schools should also be the avenue to prepare us to enter into another chapter – the working life Schools must extend its training by educating and guiding the young people to their future career KEY VOCABULARY qualification a quality or accomplishment that makes someone suitable for a particular job or activity These qualifications are just like a ticket for entry into the corporate world graduation the completion of university degree course or your education and receiving of an academic degree or diploma I went to England to work after my graduation to enrol officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a cours, school, university, etc In many areas, it is possible to enrol for adult education classes in archaeology to study To apply the mind to learning and understanding a subject by reading, going to school, university etc She studied biology and botany course a series of lessons or lectures in a particular subjesct, a learning program in a school, university, college etc He took a course in basket weaving discipline the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior In addition , the type of research carried out is exploratory , involving a variety of academic disciplines degree He has no degree in education qualification or an academic rank that is given after successful completion of a course of study distance learning a series of lessons that you are not intended to attend and instead can take at your home or another place Many of these optional modules will be available by distance learning tuition The training or instruction provided by a teacher or tutor especially in small groups We want to support them by providing free tuition in core subjects primary (elementary) school An institution in which children aged between and 11 receive the first stage of academic learning Some articles may not be appropriate for primary school children secondary school a school for children from 11 to 16 or 18 (UK) The project will involve two primary schools and a secondary school to pass To go through any inspection or test successfully, to succeed in exam I recently passed my exams to become a chartered structural engineer to conduct organize and carry out They conducted a survey of people 's attitudes to local environmental issues receive to get something Managers who have received no formal training will find the course of particular benefit acquire to get or gain something There are regular classes where you can acquire new expertise , or improve existing skills , with professional tuition attend To go to or be present at (e.g meetings, church services, university, etc.) The three children are now attending the local village school leave to stop doing something, go away from place or situation Both of my parents had left school at fourteen compulsory something that is compulsory must be done because of a rule or law The majority of the age cohort attend beyond the end of compulsory schooling comprehensive school A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude (Wikipedia) The comprehensive high school provides students with a holistic education that allows them to become well-rounded adults private education classess you have to pay for In fact the percentage of secondary school pupils in England in private education has dropped since comprehensives were introduced make progress someone who makes progress moves forward, improves, becomes closer to goals Why some people make progress and others don't? dropout a student who fails to complete a course of study and leaves university etc with no qualifications Years ago the official label for `` dropout '' was changed to `` premature school leaver '' coursework work done during a course of study, especially that contributing to one's mark Approximately 50 per cent of the overall marks each year are obtained from continuously assessed coursework research the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions While the research reveals many overlaps and similarities, there are also some interesting differences subject Area of knowledge taught in an educational institution Maybe you want to study a subject you particularly enjoy industrious hard-working Industrious students will look for opportunities on their own to have work in their portfolios 3.WORD FORMATION qualification noun Colonel Spratt highlighted the importance of the qualification for people planning a career in marketing to qualify verb Like student nurses, there are no jobs for them when they qualify qualified adjective The English Department employs well qualified and experienced tutors and as a result has always enjoyed a high success rate in examination results graduation noun I went to England to work after my graduation to graduate verb Sadly, a number of high school students are inarticulate when they graduate and cannot properly word a sentence to enroll verb Failure to enroll for a full academic load does not alter the residency requirement enrollment noun today women make up 70 percent of professional school enrollment study noun Another study showed that 26 %of schools in the country fail to comply with state regulations for PE to study verb This course is designed for complete beginners who are eager to study the language, and provides an excellent opportunity to understand and to feel the language studied adjective He stops what he's doing and stares in my direction with a studied indifference leaning on his broom education noun Poland 's education system failed during the 1990s to train enough skilled workers,including engineers and craftsmen to educate verb Le Quement was educated at a public school in England well-educated adjective Well-educated Catholics, ie those with university education, did not appear to suffer any disadvantage in occupational achievement compared with their Protestant peers educational adjective The larger issue, though, is whether such schools can providebetter educational benefits innovation noun In recent years the value of innovation has been demonstrated in many sectors to innovate verb Advertisers and web sites are looking to innovate to engage users through marketing campaigns that align across multiple media innovative adjective Magazines and the Internetopen a huge range of innovative designer options attendance noun Laforgue 's life in Germany at the court of the Empress Augusta was steeped inmusic: it involved regular attendance at concerts and operas attend verb On Saturday, talent scouts will attend thegraduate show of the fashion college Central Saint Martins, alma mater toMcQueen, Chalayan and numerous other stars KEY VOCABULARY TRAVEL – BY AIR airport a place aircraft flights run to and from: a station for air travel Transfer times cover the average period taken from leaving the airport to arriving in your resort to take off the action of becoming airborne The plane about to take off from Nice, heading for Luton airport plane an airplane An hour later than planned, the plane took off to land come down through the air and alight on the ground The plane landed safely with the remaining engine low-cost air travel travel via airline that generally has Bradford International Airport is served by lower fares and fewer comforts many operators including low-cost airlines check-in the place where travellers report to on arrival at the airport You can still use self check-in if you are travelling with hold luggage TRAVEL – SEA/ OCEAN voyage long journey usually involving travel by sea Tasman made several voyages to the Far East ship a large boat that carries passengers or goods by sea The wooden ship took fifteen days to make the crossing to America to sail travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation There are many lakes and rivers where you may fish, canoe or sail sailboat a boat propelled by sails I also have a 30-foot cruising sailboat port a town or city with a harbor where ships load or unload Because our town is a port, and because it has two rivers, there are often many people from other lands here ferry a boat or ship for conveying passengers and goods, especially over a relatively short distance and as a regular service We caught the overnight ferry from Birkenhead to Belfast cruise-ship a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages The distinction between ocean liners and cruise ships has blurred, particularly with respect to deployment boat a small vessel propelled on water by oars, sails, or an engine There is also boats available for hire TRAVEL – BY LAND subway underground railway system The New York City subway system is one of the world's largest underground underground railway system The London underground is like a moving public thoroughfare tube the underground system in London It's in a quiet residential area close to the tube train a series of connected railway vehicles pulled by a locomotive London is 80 minutes away by shuttle service, with trains every 30 minutes traffic vehicles moving on roads Summer holidays often mean hours stuck in traffic in a hot car road a path for vehicles to drive on Follow the road down to Clanbrassil Street railway a track made of parallel bars on which trains run Probably the most famous landmark along the railway is Ribblehead Viaduct with its 24 arches TRAVEL – VACATION hike a walk outdoors for pleasure Take a hike on some of these tracks camp a place with tents or other shelters for people holidaying or travelling The tour involves staying in camps in the mountains vacation a period of time away from work, especially in which one travels; holiday We found that people were taking fewer vacations and spending more time in one destination trip a journey or visit somewhere My wife Jen and I visited Borneo in March 2004, as part of a longer trip including Thailand and Nepal travel agent the person working in company that provides travel and tourism related services to the public Travelers really need travel agents for complex trips travel the action of traveling, typically abroad International travel, was catastrophically affected by the September 11th attacks on New York tourist a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure Many areas have important natural features which serve to attract tourists tour a visit around a place or several places, usually for the purpose of pleasure/tourism Computer headaches are common these days In fact, computers may be one of the main causes of chronic daily headaches in today’s world suitcase a case with a handle and a hinged lid, used for carrying clothes and other personal She has a whole suitcase of shoes possessions sightseeing the activity of visiting places of interest as a tourist The members took us sightseeing in the Yellowstone National Park route a way or course taken in getting from a starting point to a destination The driver must take you to your destination by the shortest possible route passenger somebody who travels in a vehicle, aircraft, train, or vessel but is not the driver or a member of its crew Rail passengers in Germany have to deal with unreliable timetables motel a roadside hotel designed primarily for motorists We found a motel on the other side of Mississippi luggage suitcases and bags used when travelling He has no luggage, no passport, just the clothes on his back to go camping the activity of going to a place with tents or other shelters for people holidaying or travelling Find a rock every time you go camping and write a memory on it journey a short, easy, or routine trip from one place to another How long is the train journey ? hotel an establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists We will make all your hotel bookings and arrange the tour for you hostel cheap hotel It is widely known the fact that hostels are cheaper than hotels to book to make a reservation or registration During the course of one week four hundred guests were booked into a hotel to go sightseeing to visit places of interest in a particular location On Saturday I took the opportunity to go sightseeing excursion an organized trip, often one that is part of a holiday a leisure activity During the trip the pupils will go on several excursions destination the place where someone or something is going It took us five days to reach our destination, Ban Pong , 30 miles north of Bangkok to go abroad to visit a foreign country or countries In order to go abroad, one has to start from the scratch and work accordingly ticket a piece of paper or small card that gives the holder a certain right, especially to enter a place, travel by public transport, or participate in an event There is no booking fee when you buy tickets in person at the galleries guide a person who shows others the way He began his journey to the ruin of ancient Loulan City, accompanied by five cameramen and two local guides locals a local person Talking with locals is a great way of really getting to know a new place getting to know learn, find out I love seeing the world and getting to know it’s people countryside the land and scenery of a rural area In the Chinese countryside, nobody seems to know where anything is scuba diving the sport or pastime of swimming underwater using scuba gear Stav and I are off to Sharm to go scuba diving and lounging around in the sun to get lost unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabout Touring motorcyclists are supposed to get lost TRAVEL – ADJECTIVES incredible adventure activities impossible to believe I will never forget incredible adventure activities we experienced during the trip indigenous peoples first peoples, aboriginal peoples, native peoples, occurring naturally in a particular place New Zealand recognizes its indigenous people in its constitution dangerous places hazardous places, likely to cause harm it's a good idea to know how to behave and what not to when traveling to dangerous places tropical islands Islands with extremely hot climate, situated in the regions of the world that lie between the tropics Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef covered with hundreds of unique tropical islands exciting causing one to feel great enthusiasm and eagerness Nottingham is a vibrant and exciting city, recently voted the third best shopping city in the UK fantastic extraordinarily good or attractive Head all the way to the top for a fantastic view of the city foreign from, in, characteristic of or of another country He has a slightly foreign accentor language overseas from, to, or relating to a foreign country, especially one across the sea Earnings from overseas visitors contributed more than £ billion to the economy memorable noteworthy or pleasurable and therefore likely to be remembered At any time of year, a visit to Durlston is a memorable experience cross-country across a region or country Cross-country travel allows you to see the beauty of this country tiring making one feel tired It has been a tiring journey, and I shall sleep well tonight pleasant giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment In the afternoon we took a walk - just long enough to feel a pleasant tiredness 3.WORD FORMATION check-in noun You can still use self check-in if you are travelling with hold luggage to check-in verb Check-in online via the airline website hike noun Take a hike on some of these tracks hiking noun I am a teacher in a local high school and our hobbies include hiking and photography travelling adjective A convenient traveling route to the destination will also be suggested to travel verb As you travel the mountain roads look out for the monuments in memory of 1944 travel noun International travel, was catastrophically affected by the September 11th attacks on New York safety noun When travelling near crocodile habitats, observe safety signs and don’t swim in rivers safe adjective Australians experience a safe lifestyle safely adverb You can safely enjoy New Zealand’s unique landscapes 4.COLLOCATIONS AND PHRASES to come by to go by to travel by It's two hours by verb+by+ ship take travel by catch get miss wait for run for board get on hop on jump aboard/on get of verb+ train catch get take miss board, get on verb+ plane get off step off go by go on take travel by run for catch get miss board get on/onto verb+ bus air bus car coach rail sea train foreign international overseas world long-distance business leisure cheap adjective+ travel risk agency business company firm industry arrangements plans allowance costs expenses insurance travel+noun travel be able/unable to be free to want to, wish to be forced to have to verb+ travel long short bus car railway train comfortable easy adjective+ journey pleasant safe arduous hard tiring dangerous cross-country epic extended long quick overnight weekend annual forthcoming fantastic great memorable round foreign overseas round-the-world European shopping sightseeing adjective+ trip USEFUL RESOURCES THIS TOPIC ON IELTS BLOGS IELTS topic vocabulary for speaking test: Travel [] IELTS Speaking Vocabulary Travel & Holidays [ieltsup.com] Holiday Vocabulary [ieltsspeaking.co.uk] PODCASTS Useful Expressions for Travelling [teacherluke.co.uk] § Podcast 46 – Air Travel in Australia [slowenglish.info] Flight Stories [teacherluke.co.uk] § The point and the pleasure of travel Excess Baggage Travelling in Indonesia (Part 1) [teacherluke.co.uk] [bbc.co.uk] ARTICLES What it is like to quit your job and travel the world? [quora.com] VIDEOS § Learn to Travel: Travel to Learn: Robin Esrock [ted.com] § Prepositions: TRANSPORT & TRAVEL [ETJ English] Learn English - Travel Vocabulary [engVid] § Malaysia – Travel in 10 Travel Podcast Travel Phrases & Vocabulary [ETJ English] [travelin10.com] ... IELTS BLOGS § IELTS topic vocabulary for speaking test: Travel [] [ielts-simon.com] § IELTS Speaking Part 2: educational TV programme [ielts-simon.com] § IELTS SPEAKING part 1, and sample questions... ENVIRONMENT Sample answers, useful vocabulary and resources for IELTS speaking exam SAMPLE ANSWERS Sample questions and answers from speaking part 1, and KEY VOCABULARY Words and terms frequently used... TOPIC: WORK Sample answers, useful vocabulary and resources for IELTS speaking exam SAMPLE ANSWERS Sample questions and answers from speaking part 1, and KEY VOCABULARY Words and terms frequently used