IELTS Speaking Part 3: Questions, Topics & Sample Answers

Q: How long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?

.........................................................................................................d.

In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the examiner will ask some related questions arising from the previous Part 2 topic, which you should discuss with him/her. There is no preparation time for Part 3. This part will last 4–5 minutes.

Speaking fluently is only part of your score. See how to give band 7+ answers in Part 3, with simple and stronger answers compared side by side.

How IELTS Speaking Part 3 works

1
Linked to Part 2
The questions follow the topic of your cue card, but move from your own experience to people and society in general.
2
A real discussion
The examiner may ask follow-up questions, ask you to explain more or even disagree, to see how far you can develop your ideas.
3
4 to 5 minutes
Usually four to six questions. There is no preparation time, so you think as you speak.
4
Your chance for a high band
Abstract questions are where you show complex grammar and precise vocabulary, which you need for band 7 and above.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Topics & Follow-up Questions

Science

Does education in Canada do enough to support scientific development?
How do or how could governments support scientific development?
Which scientific developments of the last hundred years should be exhibited in a museum?
Should science subjects be compulsory or voluntary at school?

Technology

What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Do you think that all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices today?
How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?

Animals

Should endangered species of animals be protected if that means restricting the development of business and industry?
Do you think that animals should have rights just as people do?
Are zoos suitable places in which to keep animals?
How could the conditions of animals in captivity be improved?

Possessions

Do you think we care too much about possessions and are becoming too materialistic?
Would you be willing to own less if that meant working less?
Should people be fairly equal in wealth?
Should men earn more than women for the same type of work?

Wedding

Do you think marriage will become less common in the future?
When is the best time to marry in your opinion?
Does it make any real difference if people live together but aren't married?
How do weddings differ from country to country?

Sport

Are top sportsmen paid too much?
In what ways is sport an important part of life?
Should public money be spent on promoting sports?
What improvements to sporting life in Toronto can you suggest?

Childhood adventure

Do people benefit from having adventure in their lives? If so, how?
Would you give your own children more or less freedom than you had as a child?
Do people and nations really learn from their experience?

Making plans

Do you think people should try to plan their lives or should they take life as it comes?
Are children put under too much pressure to achieve high academic results?
Do schools do enough to prepare children for real life in the outside world?
What more could they do?

For more topics and questions, you may want to see IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics on IELTS Liz.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Sample Answers

1What qualities do you think are important in a good friend?

Well, as far as I'm concerned, some of the most important things are trust and being supportive. What I mean is that a good friend should be someone that you can always depend on and turn to if you need them, and you would do the same for them. For example, if you lost your job, a good friend might help you out by lending you money. They would know that you'd pay it back and that you would do the same thing if they were in the same situation.

Key phrases

Well, as far as I am concerned, … = In my view
What I mean is that … = Let me explain
For example, …

2What kind of effect do you think changes in technology have had on the nature of friendship?

Well, of course, mobile phone and computer technology, the internet and everything have all had a big impact on the way we manage our relationships with other people. They can affect the nature of friendship in so many different ways. For example, on the positive side, if you're far away from your friends it's so much easier to keep in touch using the phone, internet or even Skype.

On the other hand, a lot of people would say that personal relationships have suffered from excessive use of computers – people are less interested in what's going on around them and spend more time alone on the computer.

Key phrases

On the positive side / negative side …
On (the) one hand … , but on the other hand …

Speaking tip

Forgot a word? Keep talking.

I'm afraid I have forgotten that word in English. I mean… a thing used for moving a boat.

Explaining the word without a long pause shows you can communicate with the examiner. It earns more marks than remembering a single word.

How to answer Part 3 questions

A good Part 3 answer has three to five sentences and follows a simple pattern. Use it as a guide, not a formula:

Step	Example: Should people work from home?
Give your opinion	I think working from home suits some jobs very well, but not all of them.
Explain why	People save time and money on commuting, which means they often have more energy for their work.
Add an example	My sister, who works in IT, is much more productive at home than she was in the office.
Show the other side	That said, people who are new to a job probably learn faster when they sit next to experienced colleagues.

Fluency alone does not get you a high band: you also need a range of complex sentences. See how simple and band 7+ answers are scored, with examples side by side.

Part 3 questions by topic

Each topic page has Part 3 questions with band 7+ sample answers, after the Part 2 cue cards.

Useful Phrases for IELTS Speaking Part 3

First response

That's a difficult question
That's an interesting question
Well, it depends
It depends on (the / how / who)

Giving views

In my view, ...
In my opinion, ...
As far as I'm concerned, ...
To my mind, ...
To be honest, I think ...
Generally speaking I'd say ...
It seems to me that ...
If you ask me ...

Being unsure

I'm not sure what I think about that
I have mixed views/feelings about that
Well, on the whole, I tend to agree that ...
Of course everyone is entitled to their own point of view, but to my mind ...

Useful Language for IELTS Speaking Part 3

Analyse the question

I think it (entirely) depends on the (type of) person
One can't really generalise; some do, others don't
It depends what is meant by 'learning'
If by 'older' one means people over, say, 35, then I think ...

What other people might believe

It is often said that ...
It might be said that ... . However, I believe that ...
I tend to think that ...

Make a comparison

While younger people prefer ... , older people prefer ...
I would say that young people learn more because ... whereas older people ...
There are two main differences between Z and X ... , but in terms of ... they are similar

Use personal experience

It's hard to say but in my experience ...
I have noticed that ... (younger people) tend to (prefer) ...

Refer to a past time

Things have probably changed
I think people used to travel mainly to ... , but nowadays ...

Refer to the media

TV suggests that exploration and extreme holidays are very popular among ... at least in countries like the UK
However, in my country, judging by the advertising ...

Agree or disagree

I entirely agree with that
Actually, I don't really agree with that because ...
I'm not sure I agree with that view because ...
Generally speaking I would agree, although perhaps ...
It seems that ... but I'm not sure

Giving opinions in a qualified way

In my opinion ... but this may not be quite true among ...
I would say ... although others would say ...
For me ... is important because ...
I think ... but I can understand people who say that ...

Supporting an opinion

All the evidence shows that ... . For example, ...

Asking for clarification

Could you repeat / rephrase your question, please?
What do you mean by ' ... '?

Making yourself clear

What I mean to say is ...
By that I mean ...
In other words ...

IELTS Speaking Part 3 FAQ

Quick answers to the questions students ask most.

How long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?

About 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks more general questions linked to the topic of your Part 2 cue card.

How long should my answers be in Part 3?

Usually three to five sentences: your opinion, a reason, an example and, if possible, the other side of the argument.

What if I do not know anything about the topic?

Say so briefly and then think aloud: “I have not thought about this much, but I would guess...”. You are scored on your English, not your knowledge.

Can I disagree with the examiner?

Yes. Part 3 is a discussion, and giving a different view with reasons is a good way to show your language.

What is the difference between Part 2 and Part 3?

Part 2 is about your own experience and you speak alone for up to two minutes. Part 3 is a discussion about people and society in general.

← Speaking Part 2 Speaking vocabulary →

Speaking resources

Speaking

Recent posts

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Questions, Topics & Sample Answers

How IELTS Speaking Part 3 works

Linked to Part 2

A real discussion

4 to 5 minutes

Your chance for a high band