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IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions with Sample Answers
IELTS Speaking Part 3 is a 4–5 minute discussion with the examiner about more general and abstract ideas linked to your Part 2 topic. You are expected to give opinions, explain reasons, compare and predict, so answers are longer than in Part 1: usually four to six sentences. Below are common Part 3 topics with practice questions and sample answers.
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- Length
- 4–5 minutes
- Topic
- Linked to your Part 2 cue card, but more general
- Answer length
- About 4–6 sentences
- What examiners want
- Opinions with reasons, examples and comparisons
- Versions
- Same for Academic and General Training
How IELTS Speaking Part 3 works
Part 3 comes straight after your Part 2 talk. The examiner asks broader questions on the same theme. If your Part 2 cue card was about a teacher you liked, Part 3 might ask what makes a good teacher, or how education has changed.
The questions are harder because they ask about society and ideas, not just your own life. The examiner wants to hear whether you can discuss, explain and justify a view. It is a conversation, so the examiner may ask follow-up questions or challenge your answer. That is normal and gives you a chance to show more.
The six question types
| Question type | Example | Useful way to start |
|---|---|---|
| Opinion | Should university education be free? | “In my view…”, “I tend to think…” |
| Compare (past and present) | How have families changed in recent decades? | “A generation ago… whereas now…” |
| Predict the future | Will physical shops disappear in the future? | “I expect that…”, “It is likely that…” |
| Advantages and disadvantages | Is it better to rent or buy a home? | “On the one hand… on the other hand…” |
| Cause and solution | Why do some people find it hard to live healthily? | “The main reason is…”, “One way to fix this would be…” |
| Evaluate or agree | Is advertising more useful or harmful? | “It depends on…”, “Partly, yes, but…” |
How to answer: point, reason, example, other side
A strong Part 3 answer usually has four moves:
- Point: answer the question directly. “To some extent, yes.”
- Reason: explain why. “Phones have replaced so many separate things…”
- Example: make it concrete. “I notice that people rarely just wait in a queue anymore.”
- Other side: show balance. “That said, for many families a phone is the only way to stay close to relatives abroad.”
You do not need all four every time, but answers with only a point and no reason are what keep Part 3 scores down.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and sample answers
Practise these aloud and record yourself. The sample answers show the length and style to aim for. Do not memorise them: examiners are trained to notice memorised answers, and a memorised answer rarely fits the exact question you are asked.
Technology
- How has technology changed the way people communicate?
- Do you think people rely too much on their phones?
- Should children be allowed to use smartphones?
- What new technology will change daily life in the next twenty years?
Sample answer: Do you think people rely too much on their phones?
To some extent, yes. Phones have replaced so many separate things, like maps, cameras and even wallets, that it is hard to put them down. The problem is not the phone itself but how it fills every quiet moment. I notice that people rarely just wait in a queue anymore; they scroll. That said, for many families in India, a phone is also the only way to stay close to relatives abroad, so I would not say the dependence is entirely negative.
Education
- What makes a good teacher?
- Is online learning as effective as classroom learning?
- Should university education be free?
- How has education changed since your parents’ time?
Sample answer: Is online learning as effective as classroom learning?
It depends on the learner and the subject. For something like a language, online classes can work very well, because you get the same live interaction without travelling. But younger children usually need a teacher in the room to keep them focused. I think the key factor is feedback: if the teacher corrects you individually, the medium matters much less than people assume.
Work
- Why do some people change jobs often?
- Is it better to work for a large company or a small one?
- Will people work from home more in the future?
- What is more important in a job, salary or job satisfaction?
Sample answer: Is it better to work for a large company or a small one?
Each has clear advantages. A large company usually offers more stability, better training and a recognisable name on your CV. A smaller firm, on the other hand, often gives you more responsibility early on, because there are fewer people to share the work. Personally, I think a large company is a safer start, and a smaller one is more rewarding once you know what you are good at.
Environment
- What can individuals do to protect the environment?
- Should governments or individuals be responsible for reducing pollution?
- Why do some people not care about environmental problems?
- Will cities become cleaner in the future?
Sample answer: Should governments or individuals be responsible for reducing pollution?
Both, but I would put more weight on governments. Individuals can recycle or use public transport, but those choices only work when the system supports them. If there is no reliable bus service, people will keep driving. So governments need to make the greener option the easier and cheaper one, and then individual habits follow much more naturally.
Cities and housing
- Why do people move from villages to cities?
- What problems do large cities face?
- Is it better to rent or buy a home?
- How could cities be made better places to live?
Sample answer: Why do people move from villages to cities?
Mainly for jobs and education. Cities have more employers, colleges and hospitals, so young people in particular see better opportunities there. In my state, many families send at least one child to a bigger city for studies. The downside is that cities get crowded and expensive, and villages lose their young people, which creates problems on both sides.
Family
- How have families changed in recent decades?
- Should elderly people live with their children?
- Who should be responsible for teaching children good manners?
- Do children today spend enough time with their parents?
Sample answer: How have families changed in recent decades?
The biggest change is size and structure. A generation ago, joint families with grandparents, uncles and cousins under one roof were common. Now many couples live in nuclear families, often in a different city from their parents. Families have also become more equal; decisions that used to be made only by the eldest man are now discussed together. I think that shift is mostly positive, even if people miss the support of a big household.
Health
- Why do some people find it hard to live healthily?
- Should junk food advertising be restricted?
- Is it the government’s job to make people healthier?
- How has people’s diet changed in your country?
Sample answer: Why do some people find it hard to live healthily?
Mostly because of time and convenience. Long working hours and commutes leave little energy for cooking or exercise, and fast food is cheap and available everywhere. There is also a knowledge gap: many people know they should eat better, but not what a balanced meal actually looks like. So I think making healthy options easier, not just telling people what to do, is what really works.
Travel and tourism
- Why do people like to travel abroad?
- What are the effects of tourism on local communities?
- Is it better to travel alone or in a group?
- How will travel change in the future?
Sample answer: What are the effects of tourism on local communities?
It is a mixed picture. On the positive side, tourism brings jobs and money, especially for small businesses like guesthouses and local restaurants. On the negative side, popular places can become overcrowded, prices rise for local people, and traditional culture sometimes turns into a show for visitors. The best examples I have seen are places where local people keep control over how tourism grows.
Media and advertising
- How do advertisements influence what people buy?
- Should advertising aimed at children be banned?
- Do people trust news on social media?
- Is advertising more useful or harmful?
Sample answer: Do people trust news on social media?
Less than they used to, I think. A few years ago many people believed whatever was forwarded to them, but now there is more awareness of fake news, partly because so much of it has been exposed. Still, older people and very young people can be easily misled. In my view, the best defence is teaching people to check the source before they share anything.
Shopping
- Why has online shopping become so popular?
- Do people buy more than they need?
- Will physical shops disappear in the future?
- How do young and old people shop differently?
Sample answer: Will physical shops disappear in the future?
I do not think they will disappear, but they will change. For everyday items, online shopping is simply faster, so many small shops may struggle. However, people still like to see and touch things like clothes or furniture before buying, and shopping is also a social activity. So I expect fewer shops, but the ones that survive will focus on experience rather than just selling products.
Common Part 3 mistakes
- Answering only about yourself. Part 3 asks about people and society. Move from “I” to “people in general” or “in my country”.
- Giving an opinion with no reason. “Yes, I agree” is not an answer. Always add why.
- Going off topic to talk about something you prepared.
- Stopping when you are unsure. It is fine to say “That is an interesting question; I have not thought about it before, but I would say…” and then give a view.
- Using only simple sentences. Part 3 is where you can show complex grammar: conditionals (“If governments made buses cheaper, people would…”), comparisons and speculation.
How to practise Part 3
- Pick one topic a day and answer all four questions aloud, timing each answer at around 30 to 45 seconds.
- Record yourself and check: did you give a reason and an example every time?
- Read short opinion articles on everyday topics, so you have ideas ready for education, technology, work and the environment.
- Ask someone to play the examiner and push back on your answers with “Why?” and “Is that always true?”.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?
4–5 minutes. The whole Speaking test takes 11–14 minutes.
How long should Part 3 answers be?
Usually four to six sentences: answer, reason, an example and, where it fits, the other side.
Are Part 3 questions related to Part 2?
Yes. They develop the theme of your Part 2 cue card into broader questions about people and society.
What if I have no opinion on a Part 3 question?
Say it is a new idea for you, then think aloud and give a view with a reason. The examiner rates how you speak, not whether your opinion is right.
Can the examiner interrupt me in Part 3?
Yes. Part 3 is a discussion, so the examiner may ask follow-up questions or challenge your answer. Treat it as a chance to say more.
Is Part 3 the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. The Speaking test is the same for both.
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