IELTS Speaking — Practice Test 1

Band 9  ~2 minutes

I’d like to talk about my grandmother, who has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life.

I’ve known her my whole life, but I really came to appreciate her when I was a teenager and began to understand her story. She grew up in a poor village where, at that time, girls were rarely allowed to continue their education. Despite enormous pressure to leave school and get married, she fought to keep studying, and she eventually became one of the first female teachers in her area.

What I find so inspiring is not just what she achieved, but the way she did it — with quiet determination and without ever complaining. She spent almost forty years teaching, and she educated hundreds of children who would otherwise never have learned to read.

She has inspired me in two main ways. Firstly, she taught me that education is the most powerful tool a person can have. Secondly, she showed me the value of perseverance: whenever I feel like giving up, I think of the obstacles she overcame, and it puts my own problems into perspective.

So, all in all, that’s the person who has inspired me most — living proof that one determined individual can change the lives of many.

Band 7  ~1.5–2 minutes

I would like to talk about my grandmother, who is a big inspiration for me.

I have known her all my life, but I understood her story when I was a teenager. She grew up in a poor village, and at that time girls were not allowed to study much. But she wanted to study, so she fought for it, and she became one of the first women teachers in her area.

The thing that inspires me is not only what she did, but how she did it — with a lot of patience and without complaining. She was a teacher for almost forty years and she taught many children who could not read before.

She inspires me in two ways. First, she taught me that education is very important and we should not waste it. Second, she showed me that we should never give up. When I have a difficult problem, I think about her and it helps me.

So that is the person who inspires me the most. She shows that one person can change many people’s lives.

Band 5–6  ~1–1.5 minutes

I want to talk about my grandmother. She is my big inspiration.

I know her all my life but i understand her story when i am teenager. She grow up in a poor village and that time the girl can not study much. But she want to study so she fight for it and she become a teacher, one of the first woman teacher in her area.

The thing that inspire me is how she do it, with patience and no complain. She is a teacher almost forty year and she teach many children who can not read before.

She inspire me in two way. First she teach me the education is important and we should not waste. Second she show me we should not give up. When i have problem i think about her.

So this is the person who inspire me most. She show one person can change many people life.

Band 9

1. Above all, a good role model needs integrity — they should practise what they preach. Beyond that, qualities like hard work, humility and kindness matter far more than fame or wealth, because those are the traits people can actually learn from.

2. It’s a mixed picture, honestly. Some sports stars are wonderful examples of discipline and dedication, but others behave badly off the field, and since young people tend to idolise them, that can send the wrong message. So fame alone certainly doesn’t make someone a good role model.

3. I’d say it’s extremely important. Children learn largely by imitation, so having someone positive to look up to — a parent, a teacher or a public figure — helps shape their values and gives them something to aspire to.

4. For most children, I believe family has the deepest influence, because that’s who they spend the most time with. However, once they reach their teens, celebrities and social-media figures start to compete for their attention, sometimes with a stronger pull than parents would like.

5. Yes, quite dramatically. In the past, heroes were often warriors or great leaders, whereas today we’re more likely to admire ordinary people who do extraordinary things — a doctor, a volunteer or an activist. Personally, I think that’s a very healthy shift.

Band 7

1. I think a good role model should be honest and should do what they say. Also, they should work hard and be kind, because these things are more important than being famous or rich.

2. It is both good and bad. Some sports stars are very disciplined and hardworking, which is good. But some of them behave badly, and children copy them, so it can be a bad example. So being famous does not mean they are a good role model.

3. I think it is very important. Children learn by copying others, so if they have a good person to follow, like a parent or a teacher, it helps them to become a good person.

4. For small children, the family is more important, because they spend most time with them. But when they become teenagers, they also follow celebrities and social media, sometimes more than their parents.

5. Yes, I think it has changed. Before, a hero was a soldier or a king, but now people think a hero is a normal person who does a good thing, like a doctor or a volunteer. I think this change is good.

Band 5–6

1. A good role model should be honest and do what they say. Also they should work hard and be kind. This is more important than famous or rich.

2. It is good and bad both. Some sports star is disciplined and it is good. But some of them do bad thing and children copy, so it is bad example. So famous is not mean good role model.

3. It is very important. Children learn by copy other, so if they have a good person like parent or teacher it help them.

4. For small child the family is more important because they stay with family. But when they are teenager they follow celebrity and social media also, sometime more than parent.

5. Yes it change. Before the hero is soldier or king but now people think hero is a normal person who do good thing like doctor. I think this change is good.