IELTS Speaking Part 3: The Two-Way Discussion

Quick answer

Part 3 is a 4–5 minute discussion of the wider ideas behind your Part 2 topic. Questions are abstract — about society, change, causes and consequences — and are not about you. Answer with a clear position, one reason, one example or contrast, and roughly 40–60 seconds per answer. This is where Band 7 separates from Band 8.

Part 3 takes the concrete topic of your cue card and moves it up a level: from "a book that influenced you" to why reading habits are changing, whether governments should fund libraries, and how technology alters what people read. The examiner may challenge you, ask for the other side, or push you to justify a claim. That is not hostility — it is the test looking for the top of your range.

4–5 minutes of abstract discussion · Updated September 2026

What does IELTS Speaking Part 3 test?

Part 3 tests whether you can discuss abstract ideas: speculate, compare, concede a point, justify an opinion and structure an argument in real time. It is the part of the test where less common vocabulary, complex structures and precise linking language have the most room to appear, and where short, undeveloped answers are most costly.

What is the examiner listening for in Part 3?

A clear position, stated early, then supported — not a list of unconnected observations.
Speculative and hedging language ("it may well be that", "arguably", "on balance").
Willingness to consider the other side and concede a point without losing the thread.
Complex sentences that stay accurate: conditionals, relative clauses, comparatives.

How should you answer Part 3 questions?

1Answer the general question generally — do not retreat into a personal anecdote about yourself.
2State your view in the first sentence, then justify it with a reason and an example.
3Use a contrast to show range: "Historically…, whereas nowadays…" or "In wealthier countries…, but…".
4When the examiner challenges you, engage with the challenge — agreeing partly is a strong, natural move.
5If a question is hard, buy a moment out loud ("That is a difficult one to generalise about…") rather than pausing silently.

What mistakes lose marks in Part 3?

Answering with "I" when the question asks about people in general.
Giving 10-second answers, which is the single clearest sign of a candidate stuck below Band 7.
Memorised opinion phrases stacked up with no content behind them.
Drifting off the question while trying to use prepared vocabulary.
Treating a challenge as a correction and abandoning a perfectly good argument.

How long does IELTS Speaking Part 3 last?

Part 3 runs 4 to 5 minutes and you will be asked roughly six questions, so each answer is about 40 to 60 seconds — noticeably longer than Part 1. If the examiner keeps interrupting, you are running long; if they ask a rapid string of questions, your answers are too short.

Practise Part 3 questions by topic

Every question below links to the practice item it belongs to, where the examiner reads it aloud and you can record your answer.

People

Describe someone who made you laugh recently.
- Why do people in different countries find different things funny?
- Is a sense of humour something you can learn?
- How useful is humour in the workplace?
- Can humour ever cause problems between people?
Describe a friend who is very different from you.
- Why are some people attracted to friends unlike themselves?
- Can people stay friends when their opinions differ strongly?
- Does social media make friendships more or less varied?
- How do friendships change as people get older?
Describe a person who is very good at their job.
- What qualities make someone excellent at their job?
- Is talent or hard work more important at work?
- Should companies reward experience or results?
- How will the skills employers want change in the next twenty years?
Describe the family member you spend the most time with.
- Why do some families spend less time together than they used to?
- How does living far from relatives affect family relationships?
- Should adult children be responsible for their parents?
- Is family more important than friendship in your culture?
Describe a neighbour you get on well with.
- Why do some people never speak to their neighbours?
- How has neighbourhood life changed in the last thirty years?
- Should local governments do more to bring neighbours together?
- Are relationships between neighbours different in cities and villages?
Leadership and influence (links to 'Describe a good leader')
- What qualities do you think a good leader should have?
- Are leaders in business very different from leaders in politics?
- Do you think leaders are more effective when they are strict or when they are friendly?
- How much influence do leaders really have over the people they lead?
Friendship and relationships (links to 'Describe an old friend')
- Why do you think some friendships last a lifetime while others fade?
- How has social media changed the way people form and keep friendships?
- Do you think online friendships can be as strong as face-to-face ones?
- How important are friends compared with family in a person's life?
Role models and influence (links to 'Describe a person you admire')
- What qualities do you think make someone a good role model?
- Why are some celebrities considered role models even though people have never met them?
- Do you think children today have good role models to look up to?
- How much influence do parents have on the values of their children?

All People topics →

Work & study

How people learn (links to 'Describe a time you taught something to someone')
- What do you think is the best way for people to learn something new?
- Do people learn better from teachers or from their own experience?
- How has technology changed the way people learn?
- Why do some people find learning easier than others?
Learning skills and education (links to 'Describe a skill you would like to learn')
- Why do you think some skills are easier to learn as a child than as an adult?
- What is the best way for adults to learn a new skill?
- Do you think practical skills are as important as academic knowledge?
- How has the internet changed the way people learn new things?

All Work & study topics →

Places

Heritage and cities (links to 'Describe a historic building')
- Why do you think people are interested in old buildings?
- Should governments spend money on preserving historic buildings?
- What are the benefits of keeping old buildings in modern cities?
- Do you think new buildings can ever be as beautiful as old ones?
Public spaces and urban planning (links to 'Describe a public place you like to visit')
- Why are public spaces such as parks important in cities?
- How can well-designed public spaces improve people's quality of life?
- Do you think modern cities have enough green space?
- Who should be responsible for maintaining public spaces?

All Places topics →

Plans & the future

Ambition and success (links to 'Describe a goal you achieved')
- Why is it important for people to have goals?
- Do you think ambition is always a positive quality?
- How do people usually measure success in your country?
- Is success more the result of hard work or of luck?

All Plans & the future topics →

Money & shopping

Consumer culture (links to 'Describe something you bought recently')
- Why do people enjoy buying new things?
- Do you think people today buy more than they really need?
- How does advertising influence what people decide to buy?
- What are the effects of a society that focuses heavily on shopping?

All Money & shopping topics →

Culture & festivals

Tradition and change (links to 'Describe a traditional festival')
- Why are traditional festivals important to a country?
- How have the ways people celebrate festivals changed over time?
- Do you think younger generations still value traditional festivals?
- What role do festivals play in bringing communities together?
Music and culture (links to 'Describe a song that means a lot to you')
- Why do you think music is such an important part of every culture?
- How has the way people listen to music changed in recent years?
- Do you think traditional music is being lost among younger generations?
- What effect can music have on people's emotions and behaviour?

All Culture & festivals topics →

Experiences & memories

Guidance and experience (links to 'Describe a piece of advice you received')
- Why do people often turn to others for advice?
- Who do you think gives the best advice, family or friends?
- Is it better to learn from your own mistakes or from other people's advice?
- Why do some people ignore good advice even when they have asked for it?
Decisions and success (links to 'Describe a decision that changed your life')
- What factors do people usually consider when making important decisions?
- Do you think people make better decisions when they are older?
- How much does luck play a part in a person's success?
- Is it better to make decisions quickly or to take time to think them over?
Helping others and community (links to 'Describe a time you helped someone')
- Why do you think some people volunteer their time to help others?
- What are the benefits of volunteering, both for individuals and for society?
- Do you think people today are less willing to help strangers than in the past?
- How can schools encourage young people to help their communities?

All Experiences & memories topics →

Technology

The internet and information (links to 'Describe a website you often use')
- How has the internet changed the way people find information?
- Do you think everything people read online can be trusted?
- What are the advantages of being able to access information so easily?
- How can people tell the difference between reliable and unreliable websites?
Technology and society (links to 'Describe a piece of technology you find useful')
- How has technology changed the way people work over the past twenty years?
- Do you think people rely too heavily on technology in their daily lives?
- What are the risks of children spending too much time using devices?
- How might artificial intelligence affect employment in the future?

All Technology topics →

Nature & environment

Environment and nature (links to 'Describe a natural place you have visited')
- Why is it important for people to spend time in natural surroundings?
- What are the main threats to natural environments in your country?
- How can individuals help to protect the natural world?
- Do you think economic development and protecting nature can go together?

All Nature & environment topics →

Food & cooking

Food and diet (links to 'Describe a dish you really like')
- How have people's eating habits changed over the last few decades?
- Why do you think fast food has become so popular around the world?
- What can be done to encourage people to eat more healthily?
- Do you think traditional home cooking is becoming less common?

All Food & cooking topics →

Activities & hobbies

Hobbies and leisure time (links to 'Describe a hobby you enjoy')
- Why is it important for people to have hobbies?
- How do the hobbies of young people differ from those of older people?
- Do you think people have more or less free time than they did in the past?
- Should schools give children more time for leisure activities?

All Activities & hobbies topics →

Events & occasions

Celebrations and traditions (links to 'Describe a memorable celebration')
- Why are traditional celebrations important to a society?
- How have the ways people celebrate special occasions changed over time?
- Do you think globalisation is causing local traditions to disappear?
- What is the role of festivals in bringing communities together?

All Events & occasions topics →

Objects & possessions

Possessions and consumerism (links to 'Describe a possession that is important to you')
- Why do some people place great importance on owning expensive things?
- Do you think people today own more possessions than they did in the past?
- How does advertising influence what people choose to buy?
- What are the downsides of a society that values material possessions?

All Objects & possessions topics →

Travel & transport

Travel and tourism (links to 'Describe a place you would like to visit')
- Why do you think international travel has become so popular in recent decades?
- What are the benefits of experiencing other cultures first-hand?
- How does tourism affect the economy of a country?
- What negative impacts can mass tourism have on local communities?

All Travel & transport topics →

Media, books & films

Books and reading (links to 'Describe a book that influenced you')
- Why do you think some people prefer reading printed books rather than e-books?
- How can reading habits differ between younger and older generations?
- What role do libraries play in a community today?
- Do you think governments should do more to encourage people to read?

All Media, books & films topics →

IELTS Speaking Part 3: common questions

How long should IELTS Speaking Part 3 answers be?

About 40 to 60 seconds — a position, a reason, and an example or contrast. That is roughly three times a Part 1 answer.

Are Part 3 questions related to your Part 2 cue card?

Yes. Part 3 develops the same theme in an abstract direction, which is why practising a cue card together with its linked discussion questions is the most realistic preparation.

What if you disagree with the examiner in Part 3?

Disagreeing is fine and often earns better language. The examiner has no opinion of their own — the challenge is a prompt for you to justify your view.

Practise the other parts

Speaking Part 1 Speaking Part 2 New cue cards All speaking practice