Speaking vocabulary · Topic 7 of 46
Secondary school
Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.
In this lesson you will
- read and listen to model answers to 4 Part 1 questions about secondary school
- learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
- practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
- answer the questions yourself and record your answers
Step 1
Key vocabulary
- look back onthink about something that happened in the past
- nerve-rackingmaking you feel very nervous
- struggle withfind something very difficult
- fall behindmake less progress than others
- catch upreach the same level as others
- get throughsucceed in finishing something difficult
- missfeel sad because something is no longer there
- a sense of belongingthe feeling that you are accepted and part of a group
- inspiringmaking you want to do something
- fond memorieshappy memories of the past
Step 2
Model answers
Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.
Do you remember your first day at secondary school?
Vividly! It was quite nerve-racking, because I didn't know anyone in my class and the building was enormous. By lunchtime, though, I'd made a couple of friends who I'm still close to today.
Were there any subjects that you found difficult at secondary school?
Physics, definitely, because I struggled with the maths involved. In my second year I started to fall behind the rest of the class, so my parents found me a tutor. After a few months of extra lessons, I managed to catch up.
What was your favourite subject at secondary school?
History, mainly because the teacher was so inspiring. Instead of making us memorise dates, she turned every lesson into a story, and when the exams came round she helped us get through the revision without too much stress.
Is there anything you miss about secondary school?
I miss the sense of belonging more than anything, because we spent every day together as a class. When I look back on those years, I have really fond memories of them, even the stressful bits.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- making you feel very nervous
- succeed in finishing something difficult
- happy memories of the past
- reach the same level as others
- feel sad because something is no longer there
- find something very difficult
- make less progress than others
- think about something that happened in the past
- making you want to do something
- the feeling that you are accepted and part of a group
Gap fill: use the right form
Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).
Do you remember your first day at secondary school?
Vividly! It was quite , because I didn't know anyone in my class and the building was enormous. By lunchtime, though, I'd made a couple of friends who I'm still close to today.
What was your favourite subject at secondary school?
History, mainly because the teacher was so . Instead of making us memorise dates, she turned every lesson into a story, and when the exams came round she helped us the revision without too much stress.
Drag the words
Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
Were there any subjects that you found difficult at secondary school?
Physics, definitely, because I the maths involved. In my second year I started to the rest of the class, so my parents found me a tutor. After a few months of extra lessons, I managed to .
Is there anything you miss about secondary school?
I the more than anything, because we spent every day together as a class. When I those years, I have really of them, even the stressful bits.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- It was quite ______, because I didn't know anyone in my class and the building was enormous.
- Physics, definitely, because I ______ the maths involved.
- In my second year I started to ______ the rest of the class, so my parents found me a tutor.
- After a few months of extra lessons, I managed to ______.
- History, mainly because the teacher was so ______.
- Instead of making us memorise dates, she turned every lesson into a story, and when the exams came round she helped us ______ the revision without too much stress.
Crossword
Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.
| 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||
| 9 | ||||||||||
Across
- 7 reach the same level as others (5,2)
- 8 feel sad because something is no longer there (4)
- 9 succeed in finishing something difficult (3,7)
Down
- 1 think about something that happened in the past (4,4,2)
- 2 make less progress than others (4,6)
- 3 happy memories of the past (4,8)
- 4 making you want to do something (9)
- 5 making you feel very nervous (5-7)
- 6 find something very difficult (8,4)
Step 4
Now you answer
Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?
Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.