APIEIELTS Speaking: Choosing a University Course
Choosing a university course
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Unit: Choosing a university course
📌 How to use this lesson
For Teachers:
Guide students through the build-up tasks first. The whole lesson takes about 25 minutes.
Check their recorded answers and AI scores to see where they need help.
For Students:
First, complete the word checks and practice saying the sentence patterns out loud.
Next, record your own natural spoken answers in Modules 2 and 3 before checking the models.
📚 Module 1: Vocabulary & Build-up
Get familiar with essential university words and natural speaking phrases before you talk.
scholarship, tuition, admission, campus, lecture, module, semester, demanding, practical, optional
Part A: Word Review
1. She was awarded a full ___ because she got top grades in high school.
2. Most college students have to pay their annual ___ fees before classes begin.
3. The main university ___ has libraries, student halls, and sports grounds all in one place.
4. Over two hundred students sat quietly in the hall listening to the professor's morning ___.
5. The academic year is divided into an autumn and a spring ___.
Part B: Common Collocations
Match each collocation on the left to its meaning on the right.
Part C: Useful Sentence Patterns
See how these simple patterns work in everyday sentences:
"During my first year, ..."
Example: "During my first year, I plan to live in a shared flat with two classmates."
Why this works: It cleanly sets the time frame right at the start of your sentence.
"I will decide by ..."
Example: "I will decide by the end of next month which course suits me best."
Why this works: It gives a firm deadline in natural spoken English.
"I find it quite hard to ..."
Example: "I find it quite hard to concentrate when people are talking nearby."
Why this works: It states a personal difficulty without sounding stiff.
"I would rather study ... than ..."
Example: "I would rather study in a quiet cafe than sit in my messy bedroom."
Why this works: It quickly compares two choices and makes your preference clear.
Part D: Fun Facts (Guess the number)
1. Guess the number: How many students were in tertiary education in the EU in 2024?
2. Guess the percentage: What percentage of EU students chose business, administration or law in 2024 (making it the most popular field)?
🎙️ Module 2: IELTS Speaking Part 1
Answer these 4 familiar questions about your school life and study habits in your own words.
What subject did you like best at school?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Well, to be honest, art was always my favourite. It felt really hands-on, and I often completely lost track of time while sketching a simple bowl of apples in the art room."
• to be honest: a casual filler to state what you truly think
• was always my favourite: liked something best over a long period
• hands-on: practical, doing things with your hands
• lost track of time: forgot how many minutes had passed
Is there a subject that you would like to know more about?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"I'd really love to learn computer coding. It comes in handy nowadays, you know, and I want to learn how to make simple websites, like the one my cousin built for his cafe."
• love to learn: very enthusiastic about studying something
• comes in handy: turns out to be very useful
• learn how to: start to be able to do something
When you do homework, do you start with the easy part or the hard part?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"I usually start with the hardest task first to get it out of the way. After I finish my math problems, the rest of my evening is a lot easier, you know."
• start with: do this first
• get it out of the way: complete something so it stops worrying you
• a lot easier: much less hard
Who gave you the best advice about what to do after school?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"My older sister pointed me in the right direction. She listened to me and told me to go for what I enjoy, so I picked modern history instead of law, which helped a lot."
• pointed me in the right direction: offered helpful guidance
• listened to me: paid attention to what I said
• go for what I enjoy: choose what you really like
💬 Module 3: IELTS Speaking Part 3
In this part, you will answer four bigger questions about university life and give longer answers.
Why do many young people go to university after school?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Well, a lot of young people think getting a degree will open more doors for decent jobs later on. In my hometown, almost all my classmates rushed to apply right after exams because they didn't want to fall behind. But honestly, some just do what their friends do without thinking much about it. It's a first step into adult life, where they can live away from home and learn how to manage on their own before they start working full-time."
• open more doors: create more career opportunities
• do what their friends do: copy other people
• first step: the start of something new
Should students choose a course that leads to a good job, or one that they enjoy?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"That's a tricky choice, you know. On one hand, you definitely need a job that pays well and gives you some security. But if you hate your daily classes, you might quickly lose interest. My friend took finance just for the money and hated every minute of it. So I think people should look for a middle ground, like studying graphic design if they love drawing, so they have both steady work and real fun."
• pays well: gives you a good salary
• lose interest: stop caring about something
• a middle ground: a choice in the middle of two ideas
How can a young person find out what a course is really like before they join it?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"I'd say the smartest move is to reach out to older students who are already taking that course. You can send a quick text message to an older cousin or someone online to hear their first-hand experience. Also, going to university open days lets you walk around classrooms and chat directly with lecturers. That way, you get a clear picture of the daily workload and avoid any nasty surprises once the term starts."
• reach out to: contact someone to ask for advice
• first-hand experience: direct, personal knowledge from doing it
• get a clear picture: understand a situation accurately
Is it a good idea to take a year out between school and university?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Well, it really depends on what you do with your time. Taking a year off lets you take a breather after tough school exams and figure things out. For instance, working six months at a local cafe teaches you to budget and look after yourself. However, some people lose their study habit and struggle to study again. So, if you have a clear plan, it's definitely worthwhile."
• take a breather: take a short rest or break
• figure things out: discover what you truly want
• look after yourself: take care of yourself
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