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IELTS SPEAKING PART 1: SECONDARY SCHOOL [ANSWERS]

Talking about a secondary school experiences in IELTS Speaking Part 1 is easy when you relate each question to your personal experiences of how you lived your life in your secondary school years.

by Julius Malaza
4 weeks ago
in recent ielts part 1 sample answers

Understand how the speaker develops his answers by talking about his personal experiences of attending secondary school. His answers are personalized, and that helped him express himself substantially and clearly. Also, study how he used topic vocabulary, idiomatic phrases, and collocations seamlessly to sound natural and confident. 

That’s the way to answer questions so that your examiner will give you better marks against the IELTS Speaking band criteria – specifically, Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, as well as Grammatical Range and Accuracy. 

 

IELTS SPEAKING PART 1 - SECONDARY SCHOOL SUMMARY CARD

PART 1

SECONDARY SCHOOL

ANSWERS

 

Do you remember your first day at secondary school?  

 

Answer 1  

 

Honestly, yes, and it feels like it was just yesterday. I remember walking through the gates feeling like a small fish in a big pond (someone who feels insignificant in a large, new environment), because everything was so much bigger compared to primary school. I remember I had a bad case of butterflies in my stomach (a feeling of being very nervous), but it was also a great day as I made good friends. 

 

JULIUS’ QUICK COACHING:

  • The imagery of “small fish in a big pond” immediately sets the scene. Using metaphors like this helps you stand out and makes your storytelling more engaging. Well, it’s about time for you to review what you learned in English in high school about the figures of speech or figurative language. 

  • The answer mixes nervousness (butterflies in my stomach) with positivity (made good friends). Showing both sides of an experience demonstrates emotional range and maturity. And that is relatable because we all experienced that back then!

  • Phrases like “feels like it was just yesterday” add a reflective tone. Time markers are very natural in conversations. 

  • Comparing secondary school to primary school shows awareness of change. This kind of contrast enriches your response and makes it more coherent.

  • Closing with “made good friends” leaves the examiner with a warm impression. Ending answers positively is a subtle but effective strategy.

 

 

Answer 2  

 

Actually, I don’t remember it too vividly (clearly), but what I do recall is the uniform. I had to wear a school uniform on the first day, and I did not like it because it was itchy and uncomfortable, and I kept fidgeting (a small movement that somebody makes repeatedly, often without meaning because one is nervous) with the collar all day. Perhaps I felt that way as it was my first time wearing a uniform in my life as a student.   

 

Were there any subjects that you found difficult at secondary school?  

 

Answer 1  

 

Definitely, mathematics was my Achilles’ heel (a weakness despite overall strength). I could grasp basic arithmetic, but the moment we moved on to algebra and geometry, I felt completely lost. I even complained a lot about learning maths, but I had no choice; otherwise, I would fail, and my mom would then disown me (to state that one no longer has any connection).  

 

Answer 2  

 

Well, I wouldn’t say I struggled with just one subject, but chemistry gave me quite a headache. All those formulas and the periodic table just wouldn’t stick in my memory. I wasn’t good at memorizing generally; therefore, I didn’t do well in that subject back then.   

 

JULIUS’ QUICK COACHING:

  • Naming chemistry directly makes the answer clear. Avoid vague replies like “science subjects”. Specificity strengthens your response. I simply pinpointed the subject I was not good at. 

  • Linking the struggle to memorization problems demonstrates logical explanation. Examiners reward answers that go beyond “I didn’t like it.” Tell him the reason why. 

  • Expressions like “gave me quite a headache” sound natural and conversational. Idioms add flavor and help you sound less mechanical than saying what most students say, “…because it’s very difficult.”

  • Admitting weakness shows authenticity, but explaining why you struggled adds depth. This balance makes your answer more credible.

  • Many students find chemistry tough, so this answer resonates. Relatability is a subtle way to connect with the examiner and keep the conversation flowing. And that’s the way to answer naturally and conversationally!

 

What was your favourite subject at secondary school?  

 

Answer 1  

 

That would have to be literature, hands down (without question). I’ve always had a soft spot for storytelling, and analyzing novels and poems allowed me to interpret things from different perspectives, which I found fascinating. These days, I’m hooked on (to enjoy something so much that you can’t stop doing) reading about the lives of famous philosophers and visual artists. I feel like I have entered their own world.   

JULIUS’ QUICK COACHING:

  • Saying “hands down” conveys enthusiasm. Strong expressions like this make your answer lively and convincing. Also, I showed my passion for literature clearly by using that expression. 

  • Linking your love of literature in school to your current interest in philosophers and artists shows continuity, and that helps me communicate my ideas more effectively. 

  • Phrases like “soft spot for storytelling” and “entered their own world” add richness. Figurative language makes your speech more engaging and memorable. Also, using figurative language or figures of speech shows my wide understanding of the English language. 

  • Instead of just saying “I liked literature,” you explain why and how it influenced you. This personal touch makes your response authentic, and that makes the conversation more engaging.

Answer 2  

 

For me, it was PE, or physical education. I loved it, simply because I hated staying only in the four corners of a room for an hour listening to a lecture. In that subject, we normally went outside and played sports as well as performed some aerobic exercises, and I would say that was fantastic (extremely good).  

 

Is there anything you miss about your secondary school?  

 

Answer 1  

 

Oh, absolutely, I miss the carefree lifestyle the most. Back then, my biggest worry was finishing homework, not paying bills or juggling responsibilities. These days, my mind has been preoccupied (to fill or engage someone’s mind completely) with the obligations that a responsible adult carries every day. Well, there’s a saying that goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” and that couldn’t be truer for my school days.   

 

Answer 2  

 

I’d say I miss my friends the most, since we’ve all gone our separate ways (ended up living or working in different places) after graduation. Now, we have different lives; some of them are living abroad, some are living their best life traveling, and some are busy chasing their dreams, climbing the corporate ladder, or running their own business. We used to hang out (spend time relaxing and socializing) every single day, but now we’re lucky if we catch up once a year.    

JULIUS’ QUICK COACHING:

  • Centering your answer on friends makes it heartfelt. It highlights human connections rather than sounding too academic in the IELTS Speaking test. 

  • The answer moves from past (hanging out daily) to present (rarely meeting), which shows clear structure and time awareness. That is narrative progression. 

  • Mentioning friends abroad, traveling, or working adds richness. It demonstrates lexical range and paints a vivid picture of different paths.

  • Phrases like “gone our separate ways” and “climbing the corporate ladder” sound natural and fluent. And using those helps me sound more like a native speaker.

  • Closing with “lucky if we catch up once a year” emphasizes the change. Strong contrasts make your answer memorable and emotionally resonant. Plus, it helps me show my vocabulary skills. 

 

 

Understand how to answer the recent IELTS Speaking PART 1 Topic about

LOST AND FOUND

 

 

 

GET THE LATEST

 

REVIEWERS FOR PART 2 &

 

PART 3 Here!

 

Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford

   

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Julius Malaza

Julius Malaza

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About Me

ieltsDragon-BAND 9.0 Getter!

Julius M.

Author, IELTS Speaking & Writing Coach, Band 9.0 Speaking, First Attempt


Hi students! My name is Julius, and I'm the author of IELTSDragon. I'm a non-native English speaker who scored a Band 9.0 on the IELTS Speaking test on my first attempt.


I hold a degree in Communication Arts from Cebu Normal University, one of the Philippines' prestigious state universities, and I'm a licensed teacher and TESOL-certified. Over the years, I've taught English in a range of settings, including Business English to Japanese professionals at Nikkei while working for a UK-based company.


I built this website so you don't have to waste time and money retaking the exam. Every sample answer here comes from my experience as a Band 9.0 achiever and IELTS Speaking and Writing coach, written to sound conversational and natural, because that natural delivery is what gave me a crisp Band 9.0.


Use this site as part of your prep, and let's get you to your target band score.


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  • IELTS ESSAYS (Task 2)
    • AGREE OR DISAGREE ESSAY
    • DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS & GIVE YOUR OPINION
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  • VOCABULARY
  • IELTS SUCCESS STORIES
  • PRIVACY POLICY
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