IELTS Speaking Part 3: how to develop answers in the discussion

Part 3 is a discussion in which the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to your Part 2 topic. You are expected to give and explain opinions, compare, speculate and evaluate. It tests the more advanced language of the interview, which is why this part often separates higher bands from middle ones.

Format

• The last stage of the test: about 4 to 5 minutes of two-way discussion on themes connected with your Part 2 topic.
• The questions are more abstract than in Parts 1 and 2 and concern society, trends and causes rather than you personally. Common types are opinion, comparison of past and present, cause and effect, speculation and evaluation.
• Answers of about three to five sentences are usually right. If you give a very short answer, the examiner may ask a follow-up.
• You do not need specialist knowledge. The examiner assesses your language and how well you develop ideas, not whether your facts are correct.
• Marked on the same four equally weighted criteria as the whole test.

Strategy

1. Answer directly first, then explain. 'I think it has changed a lot. Twenty years ago most people read paper newspapers, whereas now many get their news on their phones.'
2. Give a reason and then an example from society, from people you know or from a place. Examples can be general: 'In many cities...', 'Young people tend to...'
3. Move from 'I' to people in general. Use 'people', 'young adults', 'governments', 'employers', and phrases such as 'tend to', 'on the whole' and 'it depends on'.
4. For comparison questions, name both sides and say how they differ: 'Older people often prefer a printed map, while younger people are more likely to use an app.'
5. For speculation, use 'would', 'might' and 'could': 'I imagine most people would work from home more, although some would miss the office.'
6. For evaluation, give both sides and then decide: 'There are benefits, such as flexibility, but it can also isolate people. On balance, I think the benefits are greater.'
7. If you need time, use a natural phrase such as 'That's an interesting question' or 'Let me think'. If you do not understand a question, ask the examiner to repeat or explain it.
8. Do not retell your Part 2 story. Part 3 is about wider ideas, so move from your own experience to general statements.

Common traps

• Answering in one sentence, such as 'Yes, it is important'. The examiner needs reasons and examples to assess your range.
• Answering as if it were Part 1, with 'I like...' or 'I usually...' when the question is about society or people in general.
• Giving a memorised answer to a familiar topic, which sounds rehearsed and may not fit the exact question.
• Stopping to correct a fact. The examiner is not marking whether your figures are right, and repeated stops damage fluency.
• Using the same linking word, such as 'because', in every answer instead of a range of structures.

FAQ

More IELTS Speaking guides

• Part 1: interview
• Part 2: long turn

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