Describe a practical skill that you could teach someone else
Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Practice it like the exam
Describe a practical skill that you could teach someone else.
You should say:
- what the skill is
- how you learned it yourself
- how you would teach it
and explain why you think this skill is worth learning.
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1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
264 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A practical skill I could teach someone is how to repair a bicycle, especially fixing a puncture and adjusting the brakes. I learned it from my older brother when I was about thirteen, and over the years I've repaired countless bikes for friends and neighbours.
I picked it up mainly by trial and error. My brother showed me the basics once, and then he let me work on my own bike, which meant I made lots of mistakes. I once put the wheel on backwards and couldn't understand why the brakes didn't work. But gradually I got the hang of it, and later I watched videos online to learn more complicated tasks like changing gears.
If I were teaching somebody, I would begin by gathering the right tools, which are just a few spanners, a pump and a repair kit. Then I would break the process down into simple steps: removing the wheel, finding the hole in the inner tube, patching it and putting everything back. I would let the person do each step themselves, because you only really learn by doing, and I'd stay close enough to help when they got stuck. Probably the whole lesson would take about an hour.
I believe it's a very worthwhile skill. It saves money, since a repair shop can charge a lot for a simple job, and it makes you more self-sufficient, so you're never stranded on the road. It's also quite satisfying to fix something with your own hands, and it encourages people to cycle more, which is good for both health and the environment.
What to notice
- It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
- Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
- The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.
We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.
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Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break it down into steps | divide a task into small parts |
| show someone the ropes | explain how to do something |
| learn by trial and error | improve by trying and making mistakes |
| a useful life skill | an ability helpful in everyday life |
| get the hang of | begin to understand how to do something |
| be self-sufficient | be able to look after yourself |
Plan it in one minute
Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.
Who or what you could talk about
- Basic cooking or sewing
- Changing a tyre or fixing a bicycle
- Managing money, budgeting or using spreadsheets
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the skill is
- 25 show you learned it yourself
- 25 show you would teach it
- 45 sand explain why you think this skill is worth learning.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Teaching and practical skills. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- What makes someone a good teacher?
- Are practical skills as valuable as academic knowledge?
- Why do some people prefer to learn by doing rather than by reading?
- Which skills should children learn at home rather than at school?
- Will technology make some practical skills unnecessary?
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an activity in an IELTS cue card?
Explain what the activity involves and how you got into it, describe a typical time you do it, and finish with what you get from it. Present simple for habits and a short past story for one occasion show range.
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