IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe your favorite teacher: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 257 words
  • A person
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe your favorite teacher.

You should say:

  • →Who this teacher was?
  • →What this teacher taught?
  • →How long you had this teacher?
  • →And explain why you liked this teacher so much.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A person

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Jot down the name, subject, and duration first to ensure you cover the mandatory bullet points.

  2. 2

    Brainstorm three specific adjectives describing their personality to help build your narrative during the speech.

  3. 3

    Focus on one specific memory or interaction to make the 'why' section more personal and vivid.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8257 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I’d like to talk about Mr. Harrison, who was my English literature teacher during my final two years of secondary school. He was an elderly man with a penchant for tweed jackets and a rather dry, infectious sense of humour that could lighten even the most tedious grammar lessons. He taught us British classics, focusing heavily on Victorian novels and poetry. I was under his tutelage for two years, and those classes were easily the highlight of my academic week. What struck me most about him was his pedagogical approach; he never simply lectured at us. Instead, he treated us like budding intellectuals, encouraging us to debate themes of morality and ambition in books like 'Great Expectations'. I liked him so much because he possessed an incredible ability to make archaic texts feel startlingly relevant to our own lives. He had this unique knack for spotting potential in students who were otherwise disengaged. If I was struggling with an essay, he wouldn’t just correct my errors; he would sit with me after school, offer a cup of tea, and guide me through my own logic until I reached the conclusion independently. His patience was boundless, and he fostered a genuine appreciation for language that I’ve carried with me into adulthood. He wasn’t just an educator; he was a mentor who taught me how to think critically and express myself with clarity. Even now, whenever I pick up a classic novel, I find myself hearing his voice, encouraging me to dig deeper beneath the surface of the prose.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • penchant

    a strong or habitual liking for something

  • tutelage

    the act of teaching or guiding someone

  • pedagogical

    relating to the methods and practice of teaching

  • budding

    beginning to develop or show great promise

  • archaic

    very old or old-fashioned and outmoded

  • knack

    an acquired or natural skill at performing tasks

  • disengaged

    emotionally detached or lacking interest in tasks

  • boundless

    having no limits or ends; vast and infinite

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1We've been talking about teaching and I'd like to ask you a few questions about teaching and education.
  2. 2What are the qualities of a good teacher?
  3. 3Did other students also like this teacher?
  4. 4What differences in teaching styles have you experienced with different teachers?
  5. 5Should teachers use discipline in the classroom?
  6. 6Can students learn from computers?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe your favorite teacher."?+

Jot down the name, subject, and duration first to ensure you cover the mandatory bullet points.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a person

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