Speaking Part 3 : Tips
Here are 3 common question types that the examiner could ask you:
- Compare and contrast.
- Give an opinion.
- Imagine.
If the topic is 'cities', the examiner could ask: - How is life different in cities compared to rural areas?
- How do you think life in big cities could be made easier?
- What do you think cities will be like in 50 years time?
In my answers below I've underlined a few 'markers' that show comparisons, opinions and future predictions. - Firstly, the cost of living in cities is much higher. Housing is muchmore expensive in cities compared to rural areas; everything costs more. I think life in cities is more difficult. There are more people, so there's more competition for jobs. Life is a lot slower in rural areas, everyone knows each other and there's a sense of community. I don't think rural areas experience the social problems that you find in cities, like crime and homelessness.
- In my opinion cities need to be well-planned. Good public transport can definitely make life easier because there are so many people and it can be really stressful just to move around. Public areas like parks are also important because people need space to relax, and I think cities should be made into healthier places to live and work.
- I imagine cities will be less polluted because we'll have electric cars and better public transport. More people might work from home so maybe cities won't be so busy. But I think there will probably still be problems because more and more people are migrating to cities. SoI'm not so optimistic about issues like crime, homelessness and unemployment.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: add more detail
In this lesson I mentioned 3 techniques to help you give longer answers: ask yourself why, explain the alternatives, give an example.
Most students have no problem with the first step (explaining why), but they aren't so good at giving alternatives or examples. Take the following question from last week's lesson for example.
Question:
In your opinion, are newspapers important?
Example student answer:
Yes, in my opinion newspapers are very important (why?) because they give us information about what is happening around the world. (why?) They are a vital source of knowledge about education, technology, medicine and many other fields.
This is a good start, but let's try to raise the answer to band 9 level.
Example answer with 'alternative' and 'example':
Yes, in my opinion newspapers are very important (why?) because they give us information about what is happening around the world. (why?) They are a vital source of knowledge about education, technology, medicine and many other fields. (alternative?) If newspapers didn‟t exist,
I think the quality of news coverage would suffer because there would be fewer professional journalists.(example?) We would have to rely, for example, on unpaid bloggers who do not have the budgets to carry out detailed research before they write an article.
In part 3, the examiner often asks a question about the past and a question about the future. For example:
- Did people have more free time when your grandparents were young?
- Do you think the hobbies people have will be different in the future?
In the first answer, the examiner wants to hear some past tense verbs. In the second answer, you will need to use a future tense: - When my grandparents were young, I think they had less leisure time. They didn't have the gadgets we use nowadays, so they probablyspent more time doing simple things. For example, nowadays we can cook meals in a microwave in less than 5 minutes, whereas in the past people had to cook everything themselves.
- No, I don't think hobbies will change much in the future. I'm sure people will still play games and sports. On the other hand, maybe the Internet is changing the way we spend our free time. In the future, more and more people might have online hobbies.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: verb tenses
In part 3 of the IELTS speaking test, you will probably get some questions about the past and the future. The examiner will be listening carefully to make sure you use the correct tense.
• If the examiner mentions “50 years ago”, “when your parents were young” or “when you were a child”, you should answer using the past simple.
• If the question asks you to predict, or if it mentions “in 50 years” or “in the future”, use a future tense (will + infinitive).
Do you think people had easier lives 50 years ago?
Yes, maybe life was simpler and less stressful 50 years ago. The mobile phonedidn‟t exist, so I suppose it was easier to forget about work at the end of the day because people couldn't contact you so easily.
Do you think life will be more stressful in the future?
Yes, it probably will be more stressful. As the world gets smaller, employees willprobably have to travel to different countries more often and stay in touch with colleagues and clients all over the world. There will also be more competition for jobs and the cost of living will keep going up.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: "it depends"
Many students answer questions in IELTS speaking part 3 by saying "it depends".
"It depends" is not a full answer. What does it depend on, and why?
Example question:
Do you think it's important to find a job that you love, or is it more important to earn a good salary?
Don't say:
"It depends. Some people prefer to find a job they love, but other people want to earn a good salary." (This answer just repeats the question)
Do say:
"Personally, I'd prefer to do a job that I really enjoy; as long as I earn enough to live comfortably, the salary is less important. However, I can see the benefits of doing a job that you don't like if it pays well. With a good salary, you can probably do more enjoyable things in your free time.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: longer answers
Do you remember my advice about how to give longer answers in part 3?
• Answer the question directly
• Ask yourself why or how (and explain in detail)
• Give an example
• Mention an alternative or opposite answer
Example question
Do you think the seasons still influence people's behaviour?
Example answer
Yes, I do think the seasons affect how we behave. (how?) We still wear different clothes depending on the weather, and clothes shops change what they sell according to the season. We also adapt our habits and daily routines according to the time of year. (example) For example, people in my country like to eat outside in their gardens in the summer, but we can't do that during the other seasons. (opposite) On the other hand, I don't think we notice the change in seasons when it comes to food; the big supermarkets import food from around the world, so most people don't buy seasonal fruit and vegetables any more.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: finish strongly!
When I was an examiner, I remember that not many candidates performed well towards the end of the speaking test. After trying really hard in parts 1 and 2, many people seemed to run out of energy when they got to part 3.
So, how can you make sure that you finish strongly and do well in part 3?
I think the secret is to answer according to a simple 3-step formula: answer the question directly, then explain in detail, then give an example (e.g. a personal experience). I've included a fourth step in this lesson, but the first 3 steps are the easiest to use.
Note: You need to practise consciously going through the 3 steps as you give an answer (maybe you could count the steps on your fingers). Otherwise, you'll go back to your old technique of saying whatever comes into your head!
Here's the technique that I recommend for giving long answers in part 3:
- Answer the question directly
- Explain why
- Give an example
- Explain the alternative / opposite
Here's an example using a question from last week's lesson:
Do you think that it's better to have clear aims for the future, or is it best to take each day as it comes?
(Answer) I think it‟s best to have a good idea of what you want to do with your life, especially in terms of studies and career. (Why) Having aims allows you to plan what you need to do today and tomorrow in order to achieve longer-term objectives. (Example) For example, if you want to become a doctor, you need to choose the right subjects at school, get the right exam results, and work hard at university. (Opposite) Without a clear aim, it would be impossible to take the necessary steps towards a career in medicine, or any other profession.
Questions in part 3 of the speaking test are supposed to follow on from the topic of part 2. So, if the part 2 topic is a future aim, you might expect some part 3 questions like these:
- Do you think it's better to have clear aims for the future, or is it best to take each day as it comes?
- People often say that goal setting is necessary for success. Do you agree with this?
Try preparing detailed answers to these questions using the 'longer answers' techniques in this lesson.
In part 3 of the speaking test, you should try to give longer, more detailed answers. A great way to do this is by giving an example.
However, I've noticed that students often forget to give an example, even when I've just told them to answer using the three steps: 1) direct answer 2) explain 3) give an example.
Here's the solution to this problem: when answering in part 3, force yourself to say the words "for example". When I force my students to say these words, they always manage to find an example, and the result is that they always give better answers. Try it: just force yourself to say the words "for example", and see what happens.
Did you notice how I structured my answers in last week's lesson?
Answer 1
- Answer the question - "it depends"
- Explain one side
- Explain the other side
- Give an example
Answer 2 - Firstly - first characteristic of a good listener
- Secondly - second characteristic
- Finally - third characteristic
Answer 3 - Answer the question - "it's a mixture of both things"
- Explain one side
- Explain the other side
Basically, I'm using Idea, Explain, (Example) or Firstly, Secondly, Finally, just as I do when I'm writing main paragraphs for writing task 2. The more you practise using these two patterns, the easier it becomes to give longer, more coherent answers.
In part 3 of the speaking test, you should try to give longer, detailed answers. A good way to do this is to imagine that you are making a paragraph.
Remember the 'paragraph building' techniques that we use in writing task 2:
Idea, explain, example
Start with a direct answer to the question, like the 'topic sentence' in a written paragraph. Then explain your answer in more detail, and support your explanation with an example.
Try answering this question: Do you think that it's important for people to go on holiday?
Firstly, secondly, finally
Start with the direct answer, then explain it by giving two or three reasons, and maybe an example too.
Try answering this question: Why do you think some people prefer not to go abroad on holiday?
In part 3 of IELTS speaking, it really helps if you give personal examples:
- Do you think it's important for people to have hobbies? Why?
Yes, I think people need to have hobbies because we all need to do things we enjoy in our spare time. In my case, I find that playing football once a week with some friends helps me to relax, keep fit and forget about work. I think it's the same for everyone. - Can hobbies have any negative effects?
Yes, if you spend too much time on your hobby, it can affect other parts of your life. I remember that one of my friends spent most of his time at university playing computer games instead of studying. In the end, he failed most of his exams.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: more long answers
Here are two more answers using the techniques I explained last week:
What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?
Maybe the most important things are that friends need to share common interests and be honest with each other. (why?) Friends are people we spend a lot of time with, so it definitely helps if they enjoy doing the same activities or talking about the same topics as we do, and of course we need to be able to trust our friends, so honesty is vital for a good friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become friends with someone who didn‟t have anything in common with me, or who wasn‟t reliable or trustworthy.
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone?
I‟d say that it‟s essential to spend a bit of time alone, even if it‟s just a few minutes a day. (why?) When you have a few minutes to yourself, it‟s a chance to take stock and reflect on things. (why?) Most of us live such busy lives that our brains need time to catch up every now and then. (example / alternatives?)Personally, I try to have a bit of “me time” every day; I‟ll go for a coffee or find a quiet place to sit and read the newspaper. If I never had any time alone, I think I‟d go mad!
Here are 3 techniques to help you give longer, more detailed answers:
- Keep asking yourself "why?"
- Explain the alternatives
- Give an example
Question:
Do you think that school children should be encouraged to have their own ideas, or is it more important for them to learn what their teachers give them?
Answer:
I think that we should definitely allow children to be creative and have their own ideas. (why?) Children need to develop the ability to think for themselves and solve problems (why?) because as adults they will not always have somebody to guide them or tell them what to do. (alternatives?) If we don't allow children to have their own ideas, they will be less successful in the adult world; they will be too reliant on others. (example?) A doctor, for example, might encounter a situation that he or she hasn't been trained for, but will still be expected to make a decision that could save someone's life.