Speaking Part 3: Discussion & Abstract Topics

Real-world analogy

What is it?

Speaking Part 3 is a 4-5 minute discussion between you and the examiner on abstract, societal topics related to your Part 2 cue card. Unlike Parts 1 and 2 (which focus on personal experience), Part 3 tests your ability to discuss ideas, give opinions, speculate, compare, analyze causes and effects, and present balanced arguments. It is the most intellectually demanding part of the Speaking test.

Real-world relevance

Part 3 skills are exactly what you need in university seminars, business meetings, and professional discussions. When your professor asks 'What are the social implications of AI?', you cannot answer with 'I like AI because it is cool.' You need to discuss causes, effects, different viewpoints, and future possibilities — just like Part 3.

Key points

• Part 3 Format — Part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes and follows directly from Part 2 — the topic is related. If Part 2 was about a book, Part 3 might ask about reading habits in society. Questions are ABSTRACT and GENERAL: 'Why do some people prefer...?', 'Do you think... will change in the future?', 'What are the advantages of...?' You discuss ideas, not personal stories.
• Abstract vs Personal — The biggest shift from Parts 1-2 to Part 3 is moving from personal to abstract. In Part 1 you say 'I like reading'. In Part 3 you say 'Reading is becoming less popular among young people, largely because social media provides instant gratification.' Think about society, trends, causes, effects, and different perspectives — not just yourself.
• Structure for Complex Answers — Use this framework: (1) State your main point, (2) Explain WHY with a reason, (3) Give an EXAMPLE or contrast, (4) Offer a nuanced conclusion. Example: 'I think technology has improved education significantly [main point] because students now have access to unlimited resources online [reason]. For instance, platforms like Khan Academy make learning accessible to people who cannot afford tutoring [example]. That said, it does depend on having reliable internet access [nuance].'
• Giving Balanced Opinions — Band 7+ answers show you can see BOTH sides. Use phrases like: 'On the one hand... on the other hand', 'While some argue that... others believe...', 'There are merits to both sides', 'It really depends on the context.' Even if you have a strong opinion, acknowledging the other side shows intellectual maturity.
• Speculating About the Future — Part 3 often asks 'How do you think X will change in the future?' Use speculative language: 'I imagine that...', 'It is quite likely that...', 'I would predict that...', 'There is a strong possibility that...', 'In all likelihood...'. Avoid 'I think X will happen' (too certain). Good speculation shows conditional thinking and grammatical range.
• Discussing Causes and Effects — Many Part 3 questions ask WHY something happens. Organize your answer as cause-and-effect: 'One of the main reasons people migrate to cities is the availability of employment opportunities. This, in turn, leads to overcrowding, which puts enormous pressure on infrastructure and housing.' Signal words: 'because', 'this leads to', 'as a result', 'consequently', 'which in turn'.
• Comparing and Contrasting — Some questions ask you to compare: past vs present, your country vs others, men vs women, young vs old. Use comparison structures: 'Whereas older generations tended to... younger people are more inclined to...', 'Unlike in the past, nowadays...', 'There is a stark contrast between... and...'. These structures naturally showcase grammatical range.
• Buying Thinking Time Intelligently — Part 3 questions are hard. You WILL need to think. Use smart fillers: 'That is a really thought-provoking question...', 'I have not really considered that before, but off the top of my head...', 'It is hard to generalise, but I would say...'. These phrases show sophistication while giving you 3-5 seconds to formulate your answer.

Code example

// SPEAKING PART 3: MODEL ANSWERS
// ================================

// Part 2 was about: A book that influenced you
// Part 3 follow-up questions:

// Q1: Why do you think some people do not enjoy reading?

// Band 7+ Answer:
// 'I think there are several factors at play here.
//  Firstly, we live in an age of instant gratification
//  where social media and short-form video content
//  provide entertainment with minimal effort. Reading,
//  by contrast, requires sustained concentration, which
//  many people find challenging in today's fast-paced
//  world. Secondly, I think some people had negative
//  experiences with reading at school — being forced
//  to read books they found dull — and that put them
//  off for life. That said, I have noticed that
//  audiobooks are bringing many non-readers back, which
//  is encouraging.'
// [Technique: Two causes + concession + current trend]

// Q2: Do you think physical books will disappear
//     in the future?

// Band 7+ Answer:
// 'That is a really interesting question. Personally,
//  I doubt they will disappear entirely, although their
//  role will almost certainly diminish. E-books and
//  audiobooks are far more convenient — you can carry
//  thousands of titles on a single device. However,
//  there is something about the tactile experience
//  of holding a physical book that digital formats
//  simply cannot replicate. I imagine what we will
//  see is a shift where physical books become more
//  of a luxury or collector item, similar to how
//  vinyl records have made a comeback despite
//  streaming being dominant.'
// [Technique: Speculation + both sides + analogy]

// Q3: How has technology changed the way people
//     access information compared to the past?

// Band 7+ Answer:
// 'Oh, enormously. Whereas in the past, people had
//  to physically visit libraries or consult
//  encyclopedias to find information — which could
//  take hours or even days — nowadays, you can find
//  virtually anything within seconds through a simple
//  search engine query. This has been incredibly
//  empowering in many ways, particularly for people
//  in remote areas who previously had very limited
//  access to knowledge. On the flip side, though,
//  the sheer volume of information available has
//  created a new challenge: distinguishing reliable
//  sources from misinformation, which I think is one
//  of the defining issues of our time.'
// [Technique: Past-present contrast + positive +
//  negative + strong closing phrase]

Line-by-line walkthrough

1. 1. Q1 demonstrates the 'multiple causes' technique — two distinct reasons are given for why people do not read
2. 2. The answer uses 'by contrast' and 'that said' to show sophisticated linking and concession
3. 3. Q2 uses speculation about the future with 'I doubt', 'almost certainly', and 'I imagine'
4. 4. The vinyl records analogy is powerful — it gives a concrete comparison to support an abstract prediction
5. 5. Q3 opens with 'Whereas in the past...' creating an immediate past-present contrast structure
6. 6. The answer gives both positive and negative effects, showing balanced critical thinking
7. 7. The closing phrase 'one of the defining issues of our time' is a strong, memorable conclusion

Spot the bug

Examiner: Do you think children should learn
a foreign language at school?

Student's Answer:
'Yes, I think children should learn a foreign
language. Because it is very important. In my
country, we learn English at school. I started
learning English when I was 10 years old. My
teacher was very kind. I liked English class
because we played games. Now I can speak English
quite well, so I think it is good for children
to learn languages.'

Explain like I'm 5

Fun fact

Hands-on challenge

More resources

• IELTS Speaking Part 3 — How to Give Complex Answers (E2 IELTS)
• Part 3 Question Types and Strategies (IELTS Liz)
• Speaking Part 3 Sample Questions (British Council)
• Band 8 Part 3 Discussion Techniques (IELTS Advantage)