IELTS Speaking Practice 18 Test 03
Practise Part 1 questions, a Part 2 cue card and Part 3 discussion questions with sample answers.
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Introduction and Interview
Answer familiar questions naturally and directly.
What do you do for work?
I work in customer support for an online retail company. Most of my day involves answering questions, checking orders, and helping customers solve delivery or product problems.
What do you like about your job?
I like the problem-solving side of it. It’s satisfying when a customer is confused or frustrated and I can explain the situation clearly and help fix the problem.
What skills are important in your work?
Clear communication is probably the most important skill. You also need patience, attention to detail, and the ability to stay calm when several customers need help at once.
Can you cook?
Yes, I can cook basic meals. I’m comfortable making noodles, fried rice, eggs, vegetables, and a few simple meat dishes, but I’m definitely not an expert.
Who usually cooks in your family?
My mother cooks most often because she’s much faster than the rest of us, but I usually cook for myself when I get home late or want something simple.
Do you think cooking is an important skill?
Yes, because it gives people more control over what they eat and can save money. You don’t need to be a great chef, but knowing a few basic meals is very useful.
Is originality important?
Yes, especially in creative work or business. Original ideas can help something stand out, although I don’t think every idea needs to be completely new to be valuable.
Are you an original person?
I’d say I’m moderately original. I like changing or improving things rather than simply copying them, but I also learn a lot by looking at how other people solve problems.
How can you be more original?
One way is to expose yourself to different ideas and experiences. It also helps to question the usual way of doing something and experiment without expecting every attempt to work.
Long Turn
Speak continuously and develop the cue card as one natural response.
Describe a time you watched a video that taught you a skill
- What skill it was
- Where you found the video
- How you practiced
- What result you got
A useful skill I learned from a video was how to use basic spreadsheet formulas more efficiently. I needed them for work because I was spending too much time calculating totals and checking order data manually. I searched on YouTube and found a beginner tutorial that explained functions such as IF, SUMIF, and VLOOKUP with simple examples. What I liked was that the presenter showed the screen step by step instead of only explaining the theory. I watched the video on my laptop and paused after each section so I could copy the example into a blank spreadsheet. After that, I created a small practice file using fake order numbers and prices. I made several mistakes at first, especially with cell references, but I went back to the relevant parts of the video and corrected them. Within a few days, I was able to build a simple worksheet that automatically checked certain values and reduced some repetitive calculations. It didn’t turn me into an advanced spreadsheet user, but it made my daily work faster and gave me confidence to learn more functions later. I still use several of those techniques now, so the video had a very practical result.
Do you often think about this experience?
Yes, quite often, because I still use some of those spreadsheet techniques at work. It reminds me that a short tutorial can sometimes solve a very practical problem.
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Discussion
Develop your ideas with reasons, examples, comparisons or qualifications where they fit.
Should teachers use more video-based learning in education?
Yes, when video genuinely improves the explanation. It can be especially useful for experiments, physical skills, pronunciation, or processes that are difficult to understand from text alone. However, teachers shouldn’t replace every lesson with a video. Students still need discussion, questions, and practice. The best approach is probably to use short videos as one teaching tool and then let students apply what they have seen.
How has the internet changed the way people teach themselves new things?
The internet has made independent learning much faster and more accessible. People can find tutorials, courses, demonstrations, and discussion forums on almost any topic, often for free. They can also learn at their own pace and repeat difficult sections. The disadvantage is that quality varies a lot, so learners need to judge whether a source is reliable. In the past, access was harder; now the challenge is choosing good information from too much of it.
Should schools teach students how to learn on their own?
Yes, because knowing how to learn independently is useful long after students leave school. Schools can teach them how to set goals, find reliable sources, take useful notes, practise effectively, and evaluate their own progress. This doesn’t mean teachers become unnecessary. In fact, teachers can guide students in developing those habits. If students only learn to follow instructions, they may struggle later when they need to solve unfamiliar problems without someone giving them every step.
Do all students learn well through digital tools?
No. Some students enjoy videos, interactive exercises, and online research, while others concentrate better with printed material or direct explanation from a teacher. Digital tools can also create distractions, especially when the same device is used for games and social media. The important thing is to offer different ways to learn rather than assuming technology automatically improves education. Good teaching should match the learner and the task, not just the newest platform.
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