IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a teacher who influenced you

Teacher cue cards tempt candidates into praising a subject instead of a person. The strongest answers pick one lesson or one habit the teacher had and build the whole talk around what it changed in you.

The cue card

Describe a teacher who influenced you.

You should say:

  • who this teacher was
  • what subject they taught
  • what was special about their teaching
  • and explain how this teacher influenced you

60 seconds to prepare · speak for 1–2 minutes

Your one-minute prep plan

  1. 1Name the teacher and the subject in one breath so the opening is automatic.
  2. 2Note one specific lesson or comment, not a general description of their style.
  3. 3Note the exact contrast: how you were before that moment and after it.
  4. 4Note one thing you still do now because of them, which answers the 'influence' bullet with evidence.

Band 9 model answer

I'd like to talk about Mr. Okafor, who taught me physics for two years in secondary school. He wasn't a particularly warm or exciting teacher on the surface — quite dry, actually, and he never raised his voice once. What was special about him was that he refused to let you get away with a right answer if you couldn't explain why it was right. I remember getting a question about circuits correct by pure luck, and instead of moving on he asked me to explain it to the class, and I just froze because I genuinely didn't understand what I'd written. Rather than embarrassing me further, he sat on the edge of the desk and worked through it with me slowly, in front of everyone, until it actually clicked. That was mortifying at the time, honestly, but it taught me something I hadn't grasped before: that getting an answer and understanding it are two completely different things, and only one of them is worth anything. I think about that distinction constantly now, well beyond physics — in my job I'll often finish a task and then deliberately stop and ask myself whether I could explain it to someone else. If I can't, I go back over it. That habit, more than any specific formula he taught me, is the real thing I took from his classroom, and I doubt he ever knew how much that one uncomfortable afternoon stuck with me.

The same answer at band 7

I want to talk about Mr. Okafor, my physics teacher for two years in secondary school. He was quite a calm and quiet teacher, not very exciting, but he was very strict about understanding, not just getting the correct answer. One time I got an answer right by luck and he asked me to explain it in front of the class. I could not explain it, so he helped me understand it step by step patiently. It was a bit embarrassing but it was useful. Because of him, I learned that understanding something is more important than just having the right answer. Now, in my job, I always try to check if I really understand a task, not just finish it. He influenced me a lot even though I only remember one class from him clearly.

The band 7 answer is accurate and covers all four bullets. The band 9 answer wins through pacing and precision — the physical detail of him sitting on the desk, the honest word 'mortifying', and a present-day habit that proves the influence rather than just claiming it.

Phrases worth stealing

“He wasn't particularly warm on the surface…”
Sets up a contrast before revealing what actually made the teacher special.
“He refused to let you get away with…”
Strong verb phrase for describing a teacher's standards.
“That was mortifying at the time, honestly.”
Natural self-aware admission that keeps the story credible.
“…and only one of them is worth anything.”
Sharp closing clause that turns a story into an idea.
“That habit, more than anything else, is what I took from his classroom.”
Direct answer to an 'influence' or 'lesson' bullet.
“I doubt he ever knew how much that stuck with me.”
Reflective ending that suits people-influence topics.

Part 3 questions that usually follow

What qualities make someone a good teacher?

Separate knowledge of the subject from ability to explain it, and argue that the second matters more, with a brief reason.

Should teachers be strict with students?

Concede that strictness can feel unpleasant short-term, then argue for the long-term benefit, giving one clear example.

How is the relationship between teachers and students changing?

Compare formality a generation ago with today, and mention technology's role without overstating it.

Mistakes to avoid

Now say it out loud

Reading model answers only gets you so far. Linguently gives you a timed Part 2 recorder with AI feedback on fluency, grammar and pronunciation, plus native speakers to practise with in real conversations.

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