IELTS Speaking Practice: Art in Education

This practice set covers all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test.

Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes, Part 2 takes 3-4 minutes, and Part 3 runs for 4-5 minutes.

You can use these questions to prepare for discussions on art in education.

Part 1 (4-5 minutes)

1. Did you enjoy art classes when you were in school?
2. What type of art activities did you participate in as a student?
3. Do you think art is an important subject in schools? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever visited an art museum or gallery?
5. Do you have a favorite artist? Who is it and why do you like their work?
6. How often do you engage in any artistic activities now?
7. Do you think everyone can be artistic, or is it a natural talent?
8. What role do you think technology plays in art education today?

Note: The examiner may ask follow-up questions based on your responses.

Part 2 (3-4 minutes)

You have 1 minute to prepare. Then speak for 1-2 minutes about:

A memorable art project you did in school

You should say:

• What the project was
• When and where you did it
• How you felt about doing the project
• And explain why it was memorable for you

Part 3 (4-5 minutes)

1. How do you think art education contributes to a student’s overall development?
2. Should art be a compulsory subject in schools? Why or why not?
3. In what ways can art education help students in other academic subjects?
4. How has the approach to teaching art in schools changed over the years?
5. What role does creativity play in today’s job market?
6. How can schools better integrate art into other subjects?
7. Do you think there’s enough emphasis on art in the current education system?

Sample answer outlines

Part 1

You can provide brief, personal responses with some elaboration.

For example: “Yes, I enjoyed art classes in school. I found them relaxing and a nice break from more academic subjects. I particularly liked painting and working with colors.”

Part 2

You should structure your response to cover all points;

Introduction: You can mention the art project (e.g., a group mural for the school)

Main points: Now, it is time to discuss what it was, when and where you did it, how you felt about it

Conclusion: Explain why it was memorable (e.g., teamwork, sense of accomplishment)

Part 3

You should offer more complex answers showing critical thinking.

For instance: “Art education contributes to overall development by fostering creativity, improving problem-solving skills, and enhancing self-expression. It also helps develop fine motor skills and can boost self-confidence.”

Evaluation criteria

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

Practice all three parts with a study partner for the best results.

Sample high-scoring responses will be provided in a reply.

Share your practice answers in the comments!

For more speaking practice tests, you can visit Consumerism and Education Topics.