IELTS Speaking Part 3: how to give longer, better answers
Part 3 is a 4-5 minute discussion of wider ideas linked to your Part 2 topic. The examiner expects longer answers than in Part 1: give a view, explain why, add an example, and consider another side.
What changes from Part 1
Part 1 asks about you. Part 3 asks about people and society in general: "Why do some people...", "How has this changed...", "What will happen in the future...". These questions give you the chance to show complex grammar and less common vocabulary, which matter for bands 7 and above.
A four-step answer
- Answer: "I think it's mainly because..."
- Explain: give the reason in more detail.
- Example: something from your country, your experience or the news.
- Another side: "That said, older people might see it differently, because..."
You won't use all four every time, but most answers should go beyond one reason.
Language that helps
| To | Try |
|---|---|
| Give an opinion | "As I see it...", "I'd argue that..." |
| Compare | "Compared with twenty years ago...", "whereas" |
| Speculate | "It's likely that...", "I imagine people will..." |
| Generalise carefully | "In many cases...", "This tends to happen when..." |
| Buy thinking time | "That's a difficult one. I suppose..." |
Common problems
- Answering about yourself when the question is general.
- Stopping after one sentence: the examiner then asks more questions on easier ground.
- Long pauses to find the perfect word: rephrase instead ("the people who make laws" instead of "legislators").