What makes a good teacher?

Patience, mostly, and caring whether you understand rather than just finishing the lesson. The best teachers I had could explain the same thing three different ways without getting annoyed.

Do you keep in touch with any of your teachers?

One or two, through social media. My old English teacher still comments on my posts, and she still corrects my grammar, which is terrifying.

Is teaching a respected job in your country?

It's respected, but not well paid, which is a strange combination. Everyone agrees teachers are important, but a lot of good teachers leave for better-paid jobs.

Would you prefer to learn with a teacher or by yourself?

For most things, with a teacher. I can learn facts on my own, but I need someone to tell me when I'm doing something wrong, especially with speaking.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 · Favourite teacher

Who was your favourite teacher?

A past-tense question with a person at the centre. The examiner is listening for past simple and "used to" or "would" for habits, plus a reason that shows what made the teacher different.

"Kind and helpful" describes most teachers. What did they actually do? A phrase they always said, a way they explained things, the moment they changed your mind about a subject.

Answer it out loud with the AI examiner

Sample answers at 3 bands

Same question, three answers. Read them out loud and notice what changes: not longer words, but more detail, better linking and a bit of you in it.

Band 5.5 answer

My favourite teacher was my English teacher in high school. She was very kind and she explain everything very clearly. All students liked her.

Why it scores Band 5.5: "She explain" should be "explained", and "very kind" and "very clearly" carry most of the answer. Nothing specific about her.

Band 7 answer

My maths teacher in secondary school, Mr Rahimi. He had this habit of starting every lesson with a puzzle on the board, and whoever solved it first got to leave five minutes early. It sounds small, but it made the whole class actually want to think, which is quite an achievement with fourteen-year-olds.

Why it scores Band 7: A specific habit, explained clearly, with a funny closing comment. Past forms are accurate and the answer is easy to follow.

Band 8 answer

Definitely Ms Karimi, my literature teacher. She had a way of making you feel your opinion was worth something, even when it was half-baked. She'd let you argue, then quietly ask one question that took your whole argument apart. It was infuriating at the time, but I owe her most of my confidence.

Why it scores Band 8: "Half-baked", "took your whole argument apart" and "infuriating" are precise and idiomatic. Past habit with "would" and a reflective final line make this very strong.

Bands are our estimate against the public IELTS Speaking band descriptors. In the real test your band comes from all three parts, not one answer.

The follow-up questions

Part 1 stays on one topic for three or four questions. These are the ones that usually come next.

What makes a good teacher?: Patience, mostly, and caring whether you understand rather than just finishing the lesson. The best teachers I had could explain the same thing three different ways without getting annoyed.
Do you keep in touch with any of your teachers?: One or two, through social media. My old English teacher still comments on my posts, and she still corrects my grammar, which is terrifying.
Is teaching a respected job in your country?: It's respected, but not well paid, which is a strange combination. Everyone agrees teachers are important, but a lot of good teachers leave for better-paid jobs.
Would you prefer to learn with a teacher or by yourself?: For most things, with a teacher. I can learn facts on my own, but I need someone to tell me when I'm doing something wrong, especially with speaking.

Words that lift this answer

she had a way of…: Describes a special skill or habit.
strict but fair: A classic, natural description of a good teacher.
bring a subject to life: Make a subject interesting.
keep in touch with: Stay in contact.
I owe her…: She is the reason you have something good.
encouraging / demanding / inspiring: Precise adjectives for teaching style.

Mistakes that cost marks here

Switching to present tense halfway ("she was kind and she explains well").
"All students liked her". Say why, with one example.
"Teacher Ahmed" as a title. In English say "Mr Ahmed" or "my teacher, Ahmed".

Reading answers won't move your band. Saying them will.

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