IELTS speaking Part 3: the discussion, with answer shapes and 24 practice questions
IELTS Speaking Part 3 is a two-way discussion of 4-5 minutes. The examiner asks questions linked to your Part 2 topic, but more general and abstract, and you are expected to explain and justify opinions, analyse and speculate. If you talk about yourself, IDP says the examiner will steer you back to general answers.
Part 3 is the last part of the Speaking test, and unlike the long turn there is no card to read. This page explains what the owners say it tests, how its questions connect to your long turn, which kinds of answer the examiner is looking for, and gives you 24 practice questions of our own.
What Part 3 is
A discussion linked to your long turn, but about ideas, not about you.
"In Part 3, you and the examiner discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth."
| Question | What the owners say |
|---|---|
| How long is it? | Part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes. |
| What is it testing? | This part tests your ability to explain your opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues. |
| How is it connected to Part 2? | The long turn topic is always related to the part 3 topic area. |
| Can you give an example? | For example, if your long turn is about your teacher, part 3 will be a general discussion about education. |
| Are the questions connected? | The questions in part three will be connected to the general topic that you spoke about in Part 2. |
The key phrase is general and abstract. The first two parts of the test are about you. The discussion asks what people think, why things happen and what might change. IDP puts the consequence in one sentence.
"In part 3, you are expected to discuss all topics in a general manner. If you try and talk about yourself and your family, the examiner will steer you away from these familiar topics and will encourage you to speak in a general way."
That does not mean you cannot use your own experience. Our reading: a short personal example is a useful support for an opinion. The rule is not to answer the whole question as a personal story.
How a long turn leads to Part 3 questions
IDP's examples, and one from its practice page.
IDP shows the link in a table of three long turns and the Part 3 areas that could follow.
| Part 2 long turn | Possible Part 3 topic area (IDP) |
|---|---|
| Something you own that is important to you | Belongings, shopping, advertising, values |
| A holiday that you really enjoyed | Tourism, holiday destinations, leisure time, travel |
| An item you would like to buy | Shopping, advertising, online shopping, consumerism, manufacturing, clothing |
"Notice how the topic area moves away from the personal and towards the general and abstract."
IDP's practice page gives a second kind of example, with a question you might hear.
"If your long turn was about a beautiful place to visit in your city, this section might begin by talking about beautiful places and the first question might be, “Do you think it’s important to maintain beautiful places in cities?”"
Our reading: practise by moving up a level. Take any long-turn topic you have prepared and ask what general subject it belongs to, then write three questions that a person could ask about that subject. That is the skill Part 3 tests.
What the examiner may ask you to do
IDP lists the speech functions, and the grammar that goes with them.
The questions are not all the same. Each one asks you to do something with the topic. IDP gives the list of functions.
"It is important that you attempt to extend your responses as much as you can."
- expressing your opinion.
- agreeing or disagreeing with something.
- looking at the advantages and disadvantages of something.
- giving reasons for your opinion.
- giving examples to support your opinion.
- describing the situation in your country.
- thinking about the future.
- assessing the importance of something.
- asking the examiner for clarification or to explain something.
- suggesting solutions.
- comparing and contrasting.
IDP then pairs four of them with the grammar that suits them.
| Function | Grammar IDP pairs with it |
|---|---|
| Describing the situation in your country | present, perfect, past |
| Thinking about the future | conditionals (if), future (will/going to) modal verbs (may, might, should, could) |
| Suggesting solutions | conditionals, modal verbs |
| Comparing and contrasting | comparative structures |
"Try to avoid meaningless fillers [um, er, ah, eh] as they show that you cannot find the words or language needed to discuss the topic."
Five answer shapes of ours
One shape for each kind of question.
These are our own shapes, built on the functions IDP lists. Each one gives you a way to keep going for three to five sentences without having to invent a new structure on the spot.
| When the question asks you to | Use this shape | Sentence starters |
|---|---|---|
| Give an opinion or say whether you agree | Opinion, reason, example | I think, mainly because, for instance |
| Say how things have changed | Then, now, next | In the past, these days, in future it may |
| Weigh pros and cons | One side, other side, conclusion | On the one hand, however, on balance |
| Solve a problem | Problem, solution, result | The main issue is, one answer would be, if that happened |
| Compare two groups or places | Group one, group two, why | Generally, whereas, the difference is probably |
The shapes are not scripts. Use one to start and let the examiner's next question lead you somewhere new.
A worked example answer
One original question and answer.
The question and the answer are ours. They show the shape and the length, not a band. We do not say what an answer like this would be given.
Answer. I think it depends a lot on what you are buying and how much time you have. People who prefer online shopping usually say it saves time and that prices are easier to compare, which is true for things like electronics or books. On the other hand, a lot of people still like going to shops because they can touch the product and try it before they pay. Clothes are a good example. Sizes vary so much between brands that it can be risky to order without trying something on. Personally, I'd say most people do a bit of both now, and the real difference is between people who enjoy shopping as an outing and people who see it as a chore.
What the answer does:
- It opens with a general view and a condition, not with a personal story.
- It looks at both sides, using one linking phrase to turn from one to the other.
- It gives one concrete example in support of the second point.
- It ends with a short, balanced view that answers the question as asked.
- It is about six sentences, which is long enough to show development without taking over the conversation.
24 practice questions for Part 3
Our own questions, in six areas.
Each area below is the kind of general subject a long turn can lead to. The questions are written in the style of the discussion, but they are not from any test or list, and we do not say they will be asked. Answer each one aloud in three to five sentences, using one of the shapes above.
Has the way people get to know their neighbours changed in recent years?
Does technology bring communities closer or keep them apart?
What could a city do to help people meet others who live nearby?
Should old buildings be kept, or replaced with new ones?
Who should pay to look after parks and squares?
How might your city change over the next fifty years?
Does advertising affect what people buy?
Is it better to repair something or to replace it?
How will shopping change in the future?
Should schools teach more practical skills?
How is learning online different from learning in a classroom?
Do people ever stop learning?
Which matters more, a good salary or a job you enjoy?
What makes a good workplace?
How have working patterns changed in your lifetime?
Who is responsible for a person's health, the person or the government?
Do people spend enough time outdoors?
How might people's diets change in the future?
To use them well, record your answers, then listen for two things: whether you stayed general, and whether you gave an example. If you only said what you personally do, rewrite the answer about people in general and say it again.
Common mistakes in Part 3
And how to fix each.
- Answering about yourself. The examiner will steer you back, according to IDP. Start with a general point and bring in yourself only as an example.
- Giving one-sentence answers. IDP says it is important to extend your responses as much as you can. Add a reason and an example every time.
- Memorising a speech on a topic. The question will not match it. Memorise linking phrases instead, such as on the other hand and as a result.
- Staying silent over a word you do not know. IDP says the examiner will explain a term if you ask. Say, could you explain what you mean by that.
- Repeating one filler. IDP says to avoid meaningless fillers such as um and er. Pause quietly or use a phrase such as that is an interesting question.
Common questions
They are discussion questions connected to your Part 2 topic, in a more general and abstract way. IELTS says Part 3 tests your ability to explain opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
Part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes, according to ielts.org.
They follow from your Part 2 topic. IDP says the long turn topic is always related to the part 3 topic area, for example a long turn about your teacher leads to a general discussion about education.
Only briefly. IDP says you are expected to discuss topics in a general manner, and that if you talk about yourself and your family, the examiner will steer you away from these familiar topics.
Ask. IDP says your examiner will explain a term to you if you ask.
Give a reason and an example every time. IDP says it is important to attempt to extend your responses as much as you can, and lists speech functions such as giving reasons and examples, comparing and contrasting, and suggesting solutions.