IELTS HOPECO Speaking Practice TestT 9: Education

Part 1

1. Do you work or are you a student?
2. What subject are you studying?
3. Is it a difficult subject?
4. Why did you choose this subject?
5. What do you like most about this subject?
6. What’s the most interesting aspect of your subject?
7. What do you plan to do when you finish studying?
8. At what age do most people leave school in your country?
9. Do you think it’s a good age to leave school?
10. What was your favourite subject at school? Why?
11. What do you think are the most important subjects at school?

 
Part 2
Describe a teacher that had a positive influence on you.
You should say:

• what subject this teacher taught
• how long he/she was your teacher
• what positive attributes this teacher had
• and explain why you remember this teacher in particular.

Part 3

1. Is there a system of free state education in your country?
2. Do you think school and university prepares young people adequately for real life?
3. Do you think there is too much pressure on young people at school these days?
4. Do you agree that there is too much emphasis on formal testing?
5. Have there been significant changes in schooling methods in your country in recent years?
6. Do you think schools provide enough careers advice to young people?

Useful Vocabulary
A. School

nursery / primary / secondary schools / education	to revise (for an exam)
state school / private school	to pass / to fail an exam
boarding school	to get exam results
all girls / all boys school	to get qualifications / to be qualified
to go to / attend school	to leave school / a school-leaver
the curriculum	to drop out of school / to be a dropout
extra-curricular activities	to study for [a qualification / an exam
to sit / do / take an exam	to be academic / to be an all-rounder
to resist / retake an exam

B. University

tertiary / higher education	to get a university degree / a Masters / a Doctorate (Ph.D)
colleges of higher education / technical colleges / universities	to graduate from university / to graduate in [subject]
to apply for a course	a university graduate
to get an (un)conditional offer	a postgraduate student / course
to do a course in [subject]	to do a postgraduate course / a Masters / a PhD (Doctorate)
halls of residence / student accommodation	to be a qualified [job title]
student union / student body	to qualify in [subject]
an undergraduate	to take a gap year
a graduation ceremony	to drop out of university

Useful Linking Expressions
A. Introducing a contrast

However, …	Although …
Nevertheless, …	Despite …
On the one hand …. but on the other hand …	But, …

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