IELTS Speaking topic: describe a school you went to in your childhood

The topic “Childhood School” is one of the most familiar and emotion-filled topics in the IELTS Speaking test. However, turning memories into a coherent speech that scores high in Lexical Resource and Fluency is not something every candidate can do.

To help you master this topic with ease, teacher Trịnh Nam Việt (an 8.0 IELTS Instructor at ECE Language Center) has compiled the detailed academic material below, which includes “high-scoring” vocabulary, standout sentence structures, and a complete set of sample answers for all 3 parts of the Speaking test.

Useful Vocabulary & Structures for the “Childhood School” Topic

Instead of only using simple words like study, play, good school, you can upgrade your speech using the vocabulary and structures carefully selected by teacher Nam Việt below:

Topic Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meaning
Primary school	Trường tiểu học
Homeroom teacher	Giáo viên chủ nhiệm
Schoolyard	Sân trường
Make lifelong friends	Kết bạn trọn đời / lâu dài
Extracurricular activities	Các hoạt động ngoại khóa
Have fond memories of…	Có những kỷ niệm đẹp về…
Well-equipped classrooms	Phòng học được trang bị đầy đủ cơ sở vật chất
A sense of community	Tinh thần đoàn kết, ý thức cộng đồng
To shape one’s personality	Hình thành, nuôi dưỡng tính cách của ai đó

Useful Structures

• Introducing the story: I’d like to talk about the school where I spent my childhood. (Tôi muốn nói về ngôi trường nơi tôi đã trải qua tuổi thơ của mình).
• Emphasizing preferences: What I liked most about my school was… (Điều tôi thích nhất ở trường là…).
• Talking about memories: One of my happiest childhood memories was… (Một trong những kỷ niệm tuổi thơ hạnh phúc nhất của tôi là…).
• Evaluating importance: The school played an important role in helping me… (Ngôi trường đóng vai trò quan trọng trong việc giúp tôi…).
• Concluding/Nostalgia: Looking back, I still have fond memories of… (Nhìn lại, tôi vẫn còn những kỷ niệm đẹp về…).
• Broadening the meaning: It was a place where I learned not only academic knowledge but also important life skills. (Đó là nơi tôi không chỉ học kiến thức mà còn học được nhiều kỹ năng sống quan trọng).

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Sample Answers – Topic: School / Childhood

In Part 1, questions usually revolve around personal feelings. You need to answer concisely and directly while ensuring naturalness.

Question 1: Did you enjoy your primary school?

Sample: Yes, I really did. I have fond memories of my primary school because the teachers were kind and my classmates were very friendly. Besides studying, we often took part in extracurricular activities, which made school life much more enjoyable.

Question 2: Who was your favorite teacher?

Sample: My favorite teacher was my homeroom teacher. She was always patient and supportive, especially when I had difficulties with my studies. She encouraged me to work hard and helped shape my personality in many positive ways.

Question 3: Do you still keep in touch with your childhood friends?

Sample: Yes, I still keep in touch with a few of my old classmates. Even though we study at different schools now, we occasionally meet up or chat online. I think we’ve become lifelong friends because we shared so many unforgettable memories together.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer

Cue Card: Describe a school you went to in your childhood.

You should say:

• Where it was
• What it looked like
• What you did there
• And explain why you remember it so well.

Sample Answer:

I’d like to talk about the primary school that I attended during my childhood. It was located not far from my house, so I could easily walk there every morning with my friends.

Although it wasn’t a very large school, it had a beautiful schoolyard with many trees and colorful flowers. The classrooms were clean and well-equipped, and there was also a small library where students could borrow books. The atmosphere was always welcoming, and everyone knew each other, creating a strong sense of community.

During my time there, I studied many different subjects, played games during break time, and often took part in extracurricular activities such as singing competitions and sports events. I also made many close friends, some of whom I still keep in touch with today. My teachers were patient and always encouraged us to study hard while enjoying school life.

Looking back, I still have fond memories of that school because it was where I spent some of the happiest years of my childhood. The school not only gave me a good education but also shaped my personality by teaching me responsibility, teamwork, and kindness. I believe those experiences have had a lasting influence on the person I am today.

💡 Analysis from teacher Nam Việt:

This speech scores well due to its very logical flow arrangement (Location -> Scenery -> Activities -> Remaining Emotions). The candidate successfully used the Past Simple tense for storytelling and skillfully connected ideas using structures like “Although…”, “Looking back…”, “The school not only… but also…” to enhance the Grammatical Range criterion.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Sample Answers on the Topic of Education / Childhood Memories

Part 3 requires candidates to discuss broader aspects of education and memories.

Question 1: Why do many people remember their childhood school?

Sample: I think it’s because childhood is a special stage of life. People usually make their first close friends, meet inspiring teachers, and experience many memorable events at school. These experiences often become some of their happiest memories.

Question 2: How has education changed compared to the past?

Sample: Education has changed significantly over the years. Nowadays, schools have more modern facilities and well-equipped classrooms, and students can use technology to support their learning. In addition, many schools offer more extracurricular activities, helping students develop both academically and socially.

Question 3: What makes a good school?

Sample: In my opinion, a good school should have qualified teachers, a friendly learning environment, and enough facilities for students. More importantly, it should help students develop not only academic knowledge but also life skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community. When students feel supported, they are more likely to enjoy learning and achieve better results.

With the vocabulary set and detailed outline above, we hope you feel more confident when encountering the topics of childhood and school. Practice combining emphatic sentence structures regularly to make your speech more emotional and natural. Wishing you effective preparation and high scores soon with ECE!