IELTS Speaking Part 3: the discussion

What Part 3 is for

Part 1 shows how you talk about yourself. Part 3 shows whether you can discuss ideas: explain, compare, give reasons and think about the future. The examiner asks follow-up questions and may push back on what you say, to see how far your English can go.

If your Part 2 was about a place you like to spend time, Part 3 might move to public spaces in cities, how people spend free time now compared with the past, or whether governments should pay for parks.

Question types you will meet

Examples written for this guide:

• Why do you think many people prefer to spend free time at home now? (reasons)
• How is free time different for young people and older people? (comparison)
• Should cities build more parks, even if it costs a lot? (opinion)
• How might the way people relax change in the next twenty years? (prediction)

How to build a fuller answer

1. Give your view clearly: "I'd say it's mainly because…"
2. Explain the reason in a sentence or two.
3. Add an example, from Bangladesh or from what you have seen.
4. Mention another side or a condition: "That said, in smaller towns it's different…"

You do not need expert knowledge. A simple idea explained well scores better than a clever idea you cannot finish.

Language that helps in Part 3

• Giving opinions: "I tend to think…", "From what I've seen…"
• Comparing: "Compared with my parents' generation…", "whereas"
• Speculating: "It's likely that…", "I imagine people will…"
• Buying time naturally: "That's an interesting question. I haven't thought about it much, but…"

Use them where they fit. A phrase dropped into every answer sounds memorised.

Common mistakes in Part 3

• Answering about yourself only, as in Part 1. Widen it to people in general.
• Giving an opinion with no reason.
• Saying "I don't know" and stopping. Think aloud instead.
• Very long, wandering answers that never return to the question.