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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Teachers: Part 1 questions and answers

Real Part 1 questions about teachers, as candidates reported them. Play each one, answer it out loud, then open a short Band 7 reply to compare.

Today's topicTeachers

  • 4–5 minthe whole part
  • ~12questions
  • ~20 seach answer

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop. The examiner moves on fast, so short and real wins.

Reported in September 2026

Question 1: Do you have a favourite teacher?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerProbably yes. WhyBecause Ms Lan, my secondary-school English teacher, made shy students feel comfortable, she really stood out to me. ExampleHer lessons felt nice rather than stressful, and she stayed after class in 2018 to help me practise a presentation.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. stood out to me This natural phrasal verb clearly shows a strong personal choice.
  2. lessons felt nice Nice is understandable, but relaxed is more precise here.

About 16 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 2: Do you remember your teachers from primary school?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerYes, I do. WhyI mean, I can’t recall every name, but I can look back on primary school quite clearly because it felt close-knit in Hue. ExampleMr Huy, my maths teacher, used to draw cartoons in our exercise books, and there’s still a few in my drawer.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. I mean, I can’t recall every name This filler makes the short answer sound spontaneous.
  2. there’s still a few A common spoken slip: There are still a few is correct.

About 19 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 3: What kind of teachers do you like best?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerWell, I like teachers who are patient and practical. WhyThey explain difficult points simply, so I don’t feel embarrassed when I ask questions. ExampleI once had a science tutor who got on with his students, and his lessons were good even when the topics was hard.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. got on with his students This useful collocation shows a friendly teacher-student relationship.
  2. his lessons were good Good is understandable, but effective is more precise here.
  3. the topics was hard A small slip: the topics were hard is correct.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 4: Have you ever had a bad teacher?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerYes, once. WhyIn my first year at university, I had a teacher who lost her patience whenever we asked questions, so I found her unfair rather than strict. ExampleDuring a group project in November, there was too many unanswered questions in our chat, and she ignored my email for nearly a week.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. lost her patience This natural phrase gives a clear and specific classroom problem.
  2. there was too many A common spoken slip: There were too many is correct.
  3. I found her unfair Unfair is more precise than the general word bad.

About 21 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 5: Would you like to be a teacher in the future?

Plans and wishesUse would, I'd like to or I'm planning to.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerProbably not. WhyI work in an office in Bogotá, and I’d rather keep teaching as something I do occasionally because I enjoy helping one person at a time. ExampleLast summer, I took to teaching my cousin basic English, but planning the lessons after work were tiring.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. took to teaching This phrase shows that I began teaching my cousin regularly and naturally.
  2. planning the lessons after work were tiring A common agreement slip: Planning the lessons was tiring is correct.
  3. something I do occasionally Something is vague, so occasional tutoring would be more precise.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Phrases to borrow

stand out

/stænd ˈaʊt/

be noticeably better or different

Her calm voice made her stand out in the interview.

look back on something

/lʊk ˈbæk ɒn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

remember something from the past

I often look back on my first year abroad.

get on with someone

/ɡet ˈɒn wɪð ˌsʌmwʌn/

have a friendly relationship with someone

Our new manager gets on with everyone.

lose your patience

/luːz jə ˈpeɪʃəns/

become annoyed because something continues

I sometimes lose my patience in heavy traffic.

take to something

/teɪk tə ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

begin doing something regularly and naturally

He took to cooking almost immediately.

Fill the gap

Which phrase fits?

Phrases from the answers above. Pick the one that belongs in the gap.

Your turn: answer the examiner

Would you like to be a teacher in the future?

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop: about 20 seconds. Nothing is uploaded.

Want a band score?Sign in free, answer the examiner's Part 1 questions out loud and get one thing to fix.

Practise Part 1

More Part 1 topics

Each question with a short Band 7 reply.

How the IELTS Speaking test works