IELTS Speaking Questions: Studies and School
Study questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1 are personal and present-focused: what you study now or studied at school, why you chose it, and how you feel about learning. The examiner wants a direct answer with a reason or detail attached, not a subject name on its own. In Part 3, the same topic turns abstract - free university education, exams as a measure of ability, the future of online learning - and you are expected to reason about education as a system rather than describe your own experience.
Prepare two or three real details before the test: your actual subject or course, one specific reason you chose it, and one honest opinion about something you would change about how you were taught. A natural mix of these details, adapted to the exact question asked, sounds far more convincing than a rehearsed answer.
Part 1 questions
Short, personal, present-tense. Answer the question directly first, then add the one detail the tip suggests — the extension is what separates a one-line answer from a Band 7 one.
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What subject are you studying now, or what was your favourite subject at school?
How to extend itName it, then say why you liked it.
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Why did you choose that subject or course?
How to extend itGive one specific, honest reason.
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Do you prefer studying alone or in a group?
How to extend itPick one, add a short reason.
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What was your school like when you were young?
How to extend itAdd one memorable detail.
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Did you enjoy school when you were a child?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain briefly.
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What is the education system like in your country?
How to extend itMention one feature, then a brief opinion.
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Do you find it difficult to concentrate while studying?
How to extend itGive a cause, then how you manage it.
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What skill took you a long time to learn?
How to extend itName it, then describe the effort briefly.
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Do you prefer reading textbooks or learning online?
How to extend itPick one, add a short reason.
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Is there a subject you wish you had studied?
How to extend itName it, then explain why briefly.
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How do you usually revise before an exam?
How to extend itDescribe one method, then why it works.
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Would you like to study further in the future?
How to extend itState your intention, then one reason.
Part 3 questions
The same topic, pitched at the abstract level the examiner moves to after your cue card. These want reasoning — a position, a cause, an example, a concession — not a description of your own life.
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Should university education be free for everyone?
How to structure itTake a position, give a reason, then a concession.
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How has technology changed the way students learn?
How to structure itCompare past and present, then an example.
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Is it better to study a subject you enjoy or one that leads to a good job?
How to structure itCompare both, then favour one.
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Do you think exams are the best way to measure ability?
How to structure itGive a cause, an effect, then a concession.
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Should schools focus more on practical skills than theory?
How to structure itState a position, support it with a reason.
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How important is lifelong learning in modern society?
How to structure itGive a reason, then a specific example.
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Do you think class sizes affect how well students learn?
How to structure itCompare small and large groups, then decide.
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Should governments spend more on education than on other areas?
How to structure itState a position, then a likely consequence.
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Is it becoming more common for adults to return to education?
How to structure itDescribe the change, then explain a cause.
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Do you think online learning will eventually replace classrooms?
How to structure itTake a position, then add a concession.
Say the answers out loud, then sit the whole test
Reading a question and answering it are different skills. Work through the list above aloud, then put the topic inside a full timed test where you cannot stop to think.
- Describe a subject you enjoyed at school Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Describe a skill you learned that took a long time Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Education and studying vocabulary 30 band-graded phrases and a self-test
Part 1, a cue card, then Part 3 — timed, in your browser, about 13 minutes.
One cue card a day on Telegram
A new Part 2 card every morning, a vocabulary topic on Sundays.
Practise this with instant AI feedback
Record your answer in the app and get your grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation analysed in seconds.
More topics
Books and reading
Part 1 and Part 3 IELTS Speaking questions on books and reading, from personal habits to the role of libraries and reading in society, with a tip per answer.
Daily Routine
Commonly reported IELTS Speaking questions about daily routine for Part 1 and Part 3, with short tips for extending your answers and structuring opinions.
Family and Friends
Commonly reported IELTS Speaking questions about family and friends for Part 1 and Part 3, with short tips for extending answers and structuring opinions.