IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe the first day you went to school that you remember.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe the first day you went to school that you remember.

You should say:

• When it happened

• Where the school was

• How you felt about the experience
  And explain why you still remember it

Speaking Expressions

• To be honest… (Thành thật mà nói…)

• My stomach was doing backflips… (Tôi hồi hộp muốn “lộn ruột”…)

• I kid you not… (Không đùa đâu nhé…)

• Long story short… (Nói ngắn gọn là…)

• It stuck with me because… (Nó ám tôi vì…)

• Looking back, I’m glad… (Nghĩ lại thì tôi mừng là…)

Ideas & Collocations

• Tiny plastic chair (ghế nhựa nhỏ xíu)

• Name tag sticker (miếng dán tên)

• Chalk-dust smell (mùi phấn bảng)

• Morning flag ceremony (lễ chào cờ buổi sáng)

• Cling to my mom’s áo dài sleeve (bám tay áo dài của mẹ)

• Colourful alphabet posters (áp phích bảng chữ cái đầy màu sắc)

• Classroom decorations (trang trí lớp học)

• Tearful goodbyes (những lời tạm biệt trong nước mắt)

Sample Answer

To be honest, my first real memory of school goes back to 2003, when I was this scrawny six‑year‑old starting Grade 1 at a tiny primary school tucked down a narrow alley in District 5. I was clutching a brand‑new red backpack and clinging to my mom’s áo dài sleeve, and my stomach was doing backflips the whole motorbike ride there. The second we walked through the gate, everything felt huge—there was a morning flag ceremony, older kids marching in line, and teachers barking instructions through a crackly loudspeaker. I kid you not, I almost bailed right there.

Inside the classroom, though, things looked kind of magical: tiny plastic chairs lined up like toy furniture, colourful alphabet posters stuck slightly crooked on the walls, and that unmistakable chalk‑dust smell that tickled my nose. The teacher smiled, slapped a name tag sticker on my shirt, and told us to draw our families. I was so nervous my crayon snapped in half. Then the boy next to me whispered, “Your ears are red like the drum!” and we both cracked up. That silly joke broke the ice better than any introduction game.

Recess was chaos—in the best way. Kids were trading biscuits, comparing pencil boxes, and showing off who could swing higher. I remember standing there for a second, debating whether to jump in or hide under a desk, and then thinking, “Okay, just go for it.” I swapped my seaweed snack for a pack of Pocky and suddenly I had two new friends. By lunchtime, I wasn’t counting the minutes till Mum came back; I was busy arguing about whose turn it was on the seesaw.

Long story short, the fear melted into curiosity quicker than I expected. It stuck with me because it was my first real test of independence: no parents, a room full of strangers, and somehow I survived—and even laughed. Also, all those tiny sensory details—the squeaky ceiling fan, the way the sunlight hit the dusty windows, the chorus of “Hello Teacher!”—got burned into my brain. Looking back, I’m glad it was messy and emotional; that cocktail of panic, excitement, and pride is exactly why I can still replay that morning like a movie. That day didn’t just start my schooling; it kick‑started my confidence.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

1. What are the reasons people change jobs?

2. Are big companies better to work for than small ones? Why?

3. What are the pros and cons of changing jobs?

4. What should parents prepare for their children’s first day at school?

5. How do children socialise with one another?

6. Is socialisation important for children? Why?

Question 1

Speaking Expressions:

• Honestly, it comes down to… (Thật ra, chủ yếu là…)

• They’ve hit a ceiling… (Họ đã chạm trần…)

• Burned out and need a reset… (Kiệt sức và cần làm lại từ đầu…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Better work–life balance (cân bằng công việc–cuộc sống tốt hơn)

• Salary jump / pay rise (tăng lương mạnh / tăng lương)

• Toxic work environment (môi trường làm việc độc hại)

• Career advancement opportunities (cơ hội thăng tiến nghề nghiệp)

Sample Answer:
Honestly, it comes down to a mix of money and meaning—people chase a salary jump or real career advancement opportunities. Some feel they’ve hit a ceiling where there’s nothing new to learn. Others are burned out and need a reset after a toxic work environment. A lot of folks just want better work–life balance so they can see their kids before bedtime. In short, when the pain of staying beats the fear of leaving, they move.

Question 2

Speaking Expressions:

• On the one hand… on the other hand… (Một mặt… mặt khác…)

• It depends what you’re after… (Còn tùy bạn muốn gì…)

• Drowned in red tape… (Bị “chết đuối” trong thủ tục rườm rà…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Structured training programs (chương trình đào tạo có cấu trúc)

• Job security and benefits (an toàn công việc và phúc lợi)

• Flat hierarchy (cơ cấu phẳng)

• Room to wear many hats (cơ hội làm nhiều vai trò)

Sample Answer:
On the one hand, big firms offer job security and benefits plus structured training programs. On the other hand, you can feel drowned in red tape and office politics. Startups or small shops have a flat hierarchy and tons of room to wear many hats, but stability can be shaky. It depends what you’re after—safety or speed. Personally, I’d pick based on the season of life I’m in.

Question 3

Speaking Expressions:

• The upside is… (Điểm tích cực là…)

• But here’s the catch… (Nhưng vấn đề là…)

• You’re back at square one… (Bạn quay lại vạch xuất phát…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Fresh challenges (thử thách mới)

• Network expansion (mở rộng mạng lưới)

• Probation period stress (căng thẳng thời gian thử việc)

• Losing seniority (mất thâm niên)

Sample Answer:
The upside is you get fresh challenges and a chance for network expansion. You might snag a better title or pay. But here’s the catch: you face probation period stress and lose seniority perks. Sometimes you’re back at square one, proving yourself all over again. So yeah, changing jobs is energising but exhausting.

Question 4

Speaking Expressions:

• First off… (Đầu tiên…)

• Pack the basics, not the kitchen sink… (Chuẩn bị vừa đủ, đừng ôm cả “căn bếp”…)

• A little pep talk goes a long way… (Một lời động viên nhỏ mà hiệu quả lắm…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Name-labelled supplies (đồ dùng có dán tên)

• Comfort item (favorite toy) (vật an ủi như đồ chơi ưa thích)

• Simple morning routine (thói quen buổi sáng đơn giản)

• Reassuring goodbye ritual (nghi thức tạm biệt tạo cảm giác yên tâm)

Sample Answer:
First off, parents should prep name-labelled supplies so nothing gets lost. Pack the basics, not the kitchen sink—just a snack and a comfort item if the school allows it. A simple morning routine helps kids feel in control. A little pep talk goes a long way, like “I’ll pick you up after nap time.” And a calm, reassuring goodbye ritual beats sneaking out and causing panic.

Question 5

Speaking Expressions:

• Kids usually break the ice by… (Trẻ con thường “phá băng” bằng cách…)

• They mingle over shared toys… (Chúng kết bạn qua đồ chơi chung…)

• Copy-cat mode kicks in… (Chế độ “bắt chước” bật lên…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Playground games (trò chơi ở sân trường)

• Group projects (hoạt động nhóm)

• Turn-taking and sharing (luân phiên lượt chơi và chia sẻ)

• Imaginative play (chơi tưởng tượng)

Sample Answer:
Kids usually break the ice by joining playground games or trading stickers. They mingle over shared toys and snacks, and turn-taking and sharing teach them basic rules. In class, group projects force cooperation, which is good practice. Copy-cat mode kicks in—one kid laughs, the others follow. Through imaginative play, they build friendships without overthinking it.

Question 6

Speaking Expressions:

• Absolutely, because… (Chắc chắn rồi, vì…)

• It shapes who they become… (Nó định hình con người các em…)

• Social muscles need exercise… (“Cơ” xã hội cần được tập luyện…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Emotional intelligence (trí tuệ cảm xúc)

• Conflict resolution skills (kỹ năng giải quyết xung đột)

• Sense of belonging (cảm giác thuộc về)

• Team mindset (tư duy làm việc nhóm)

Sample Answer:
Absolutely, because socialising builds emotional intelligence early. It shapes who they become—kids learn empathy, sharing, and conflict resolution skills. They also gain a sense of belonging, which keeps anxiety down. Social muscles need exercise, just like physical ones. Without that practice, teamwork later on is much harder.