IELTS Speaking · Part 3
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions: How to Answer (with Examples)
Part 3 — often called IELTS Speaking task 3 — is a 4–5 minute discussion with more abstract questions linked to your Part 2 topic. Here are the six question types you will meet, a method that works for all of them, and example answers.
Updated · LingoLeap IELTS Content Team
What happens in IELTS Speaking Part 3
After your Part 2 talk, the examiner asks further questions connected to the same topic — but about people and society in general, not about you. If your cue card was a person who helps others, Part 3 might ask why some people volunteer or whether governments should rely on volunteers.
It lasts 4–5 minutes and is where you show you can express and justify opinions, compare, speculate and discuss issues. The cue cards it follows are listed on the IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics page.
A four-step method for Part 3 answers
- Position: answer the question in one sentence.
- Reason: explain why.
- Example: something from your country, a trend, or a general case.
- Balance: a limitation, the other side, or a condition (“unless…”, “that said…”).
The six IELTS Speaking Part 3 question types, with example answers
Opinion
Looks like: Do you think…? / Is it a good idea…?
How to answer: Give a clear position, a reason, and an example; then show you see the other side.
“Do you think children should learn to cook at school?”
Example answer (written by our team)
Yes, I think they should, mainly because it's a life skill that many young people never pick up at home anymore — both parents often work long hours. Even a few basic lessons would help them eat more healthily when they leave home. That said, I'd keep it practical and short, because schools already have very full timetables.Comparison (past and present)
Looks like: How has… changed? / Is it different from the past?
How to answer: Describe then and now, name the cause of the change, and say whether it is positive.
“How has the way people shop changed in your country?”
Example answer (written by our team)
It has changed enormously in the last decade. My parents' generation went to local markets almost every day, whereas now a lot of people order groceries on their phones and have them delivered within an hour. The main driver is convenience, I think, plus the fact that people work longer hours. It's efficient, but some small shops in my neighbourhood have closed as a result.Prediction
Looks like: Will…? / How might… change in the future?
How to answer: Make a cautious prediction, justify it with a current trend, and add a condition.
“Do you think people will still work in offices in twenty years?”
Example answer (written by our team)
I suspect offices will still exist, but they'll be used differently. Since the pandemic, many companies have moved to hybrid working, and I think that trend will continue for jobs that are mostly done on a computer. However, offices will probably become places for meetings and teamwork rather than somewhere you go every day — unless companies find that productivity drops.Cause and effect
Looks like: Why do…? / What effect does… have?
How to answer: Give two causes or effects, develop one of them with an example.
“Why do so many young people move to big cities?”
Example answer (written by our team)
There are two main reasons, I'd say. The first is work: most well-paid jobs, especially in technology and finance, are concentrated in big cities. The second is lifestyle — cities offer more entertainment and more chances to meet people. In my own country, for instance, almost all my classmates from a small town have moved to the capital since graduating.Advantages and disadvantages
Looks like: What are the advantages of…? / Are there any drawbacks?
How to answer: Name one or two of each, and say which side you think is stronger.
“What are the advantages and disadvantages of children using smartphones?”
Example answer (written by our team)
On the positive side, smartphones give children access to a huge amount of information and let parents contact them easily. On the other hand, they can be very distracting, and there's growing evidence that too much screen time affects sleep. Overall, I think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages for younger children, but for teenagers it depends on how the phone is used.Problem and solution
Looks like: How can… be solved? / What should governments do about…?
How to answer: Propose one or two solutions, say who should act, and note a limitation.
“What can governments do to reduce plastic waste?”
Example answer (written by our team)
The most effective step is probably to make single-use plastic more expensive, for example with a charge on plastic bags, which has worked well in several countries. Governments could also fund better recycling systems. But I don't think it can be left to governments alone — manufacturers need to design packaging that uses less plastic in the first place.Useful phrases for IELTS Speaking Part 3
- Giving an opinion
- I'd argue that… · From my point of view… · I'm fairly convinced that…
- Hedging
- It depends on… · To some extent… · I suspect that… · It's hard to say, but…
- Comparing
- Whereas… · Compared with… · In contrast… · These days, as opposed to…
- Giving an example
- For instance… · A good example is… · In my country, for example…
- Buying thinking time
- That's an interesting question — I haven't thought about it before, but… · Let me think…
Use them to connect ideas you actually have — a phrase with nothing after it doesn't help.
Practise out loud, then check your answer
LingoLeap's IELTS Speaking practice has Part 1 and Parts 2–3 questions from the same question bank as the topic lists on these pages. Record an answer and get an estimated band with feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. You can browse the questions without an account; a scored answer costs 200 credits, and sign-up credits cover your first ones.
Open IELTS Speaking practiceFAQ
How long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?
4–5 minutes. The examiner asks further questions connected to the topic of your Part 2 talk.
Is IELTS Speaking Task 3 the same as Part 3?
Yes. IELTS officially calls it Part 3; “task 3” is a common name for the same discussion section.
How long should my Part 3 answers be?
Longer than in Part 1 — often four to six sentences, around 30–60 seconds. Give a position, a reason, an example, and a balancing point or conclusion.
What if I don't know anything about the Part 3 topic?
The examiner is assessing your English, not your knowledge. Say it's not something you know much about, then reason it through: “I'd imagine that…, because…”. Hedging language is useful here.
Can I use personal examples in Part 3?
One short personal example can support a point, but Part 3 questions are about people and society in general. Keep the answer at that level — “many people”, “young people”, “in my country”.
Sources
Test format, timing and scoring criteria are from IELTS (ielts.org), read 28 September 2026. Topic lists are from LingoLeap's IELTS Speaking question bank. Example answers are written by our team to show a method; they are not official material and were not graded.