IELTS Speaking Part 3 is the final segment of the IELTS Speaking section and last part of your interview with an IELTS examiner. It covers topics related to your Speaking Part 2 questions but requires different, more analytical, detailed answers.
You might be getting a bit tired by this point in the interview. In earlier blog posts, we mentioned that you need to pace yourself. Nevertheless, Speaking Part 3 provides you with an opportunity for a strong finish.
Something that will help you deliver a strong finish in IELTS Speaking Part 3 is that this part of the interview is more interactive. The examiner will ask you questions relating to topics you will see on a cue card. Understanding the nature of the questions you are being asked will help you provide the responses that will score well in this part of IELTS Speaking.
In this post, we will describe the format of IELTS Speaking Part 3, provide tips, strategies and sample topics & responses to help you be prepared for test day.
Key Takeaways
- Know the question format and expected responses
- Have an approach that helps you think of sensible responses
- Be aware of the IELTS Speaking Part 3 scoring criteria
Related Resources
This post mentions other IELTS Speaking tasks and topics. If you need to review those, you can find guidance here:
Speaking Overview: Tips & Strategies
Speaking Part 1: Topics, Tips and Sample Questions & Answers
Speaking Part 2: Topics, Tips and Sample Questions & Answers
What to Expect for IELTS Speaking Part 3
IELTS Speaking Part 3 is the final section of the IELTS Speaking test. It is often referred to as the “Discussion” stage and lasts about 4 to 5 minutes. A summary of the most important features of IELTS Speaking Part 3 is shown below:
| Length of Time | Between 4 to 6 minutes |
| Number of Questions | Up to 6 questions |
| Question Type | More abstract, analytical and in-depth than Speaking Part 1 or 2 |
| Response Length | Give responses of between 30 to 60 seconds |
| Examiner’s Role | To ask both scripted questions as well as impromptu questions while you speak |
How to Provide Good Answers
A good approach to answering the Speaking Part 3 questions is to provide a 3 step answer to each question. The 3 steps to helping fashion a good response are:
Step 1: State your position- I agree, I disagree, Yes, No, My opinion is…
Step 2: Give a reason- historical, cultural, financial
Step 3: Give an example- a good example of….
If your Part 2 topic was about a memorable gift, Part 3 might include questions like:
- Is giving gifts important in your country?
- Has the types of gifts given changed over the years?
- Is this likely to change in the future?
- Has the advertising industry affected the types of gifts given?
- Is this a positive or negative change?
Question and Sample Answer 1
|
Is giving gifts important in your country? |
Position: Yes, gift giving is really important in my country. |
| Reason: Gift giving is a part of my culture. Different types of gifts are given depending on the occasion. | |
| Example: For example, in my culture, money is the most common type of gift given at weddings. |
Question and Sample Answer 2
|
Has the types of gifts given changed over the years? |
Position: Yes, the types of gifts given have changed over the years. |
| Reason: In the past, people often gave gifts that they made themselves or grew in their gardens because most people did not have lot of money to give or spend. | |
| Example: For example, I remember my grandfather telling me that he received seeds as a wedding gift from his uncle just after he took over the farm from his father. |
Question and Sample Answer 3
|
Is this likely to change in the future? |
Position: Yes, it surely will change. In fact, it is already changing. |
| Reason: People have more money and less time. As a result, lots of people are using online websites to choose gifts and arrange their delivery directly to the person receiving it. | |
| Example: For example, apart from choosing a gift online and adding some payment and delivery details, a person giving the gift never needs to touch it. This is so different from the days when someone would grow or build a gift with their own hands. |
Question and Sample Answer 4
|
Is this a positive or negative change? |
Position: In my opinion, it is a negative change. |
| Reason: It seems to me that the online shopping and delivery of gifts is striping away a lot of the meaning in gift giving. | |
| Example: For example, what I mean by a gift having meaning is that it needs to reflect some thoughtfulness and effort and the part of the giver. Somehow just clicking buttons and paying takes something away from the whole act of giving. |
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Scoring Criteria
The examiner assesses your responses using IELTS Speaking criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence: How smoothly you speak and connect ideas.
- Lexical Resource: The range and accuracy of vocabulary you use.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The variety and correctness of your sentence structures.
- Pronunciation: Clarity and naturalness of your speech.
To prepare for Part 3, practice expressing opinions, supporting ideas with examples, and discussing abstract concepts in English.
Top Tips for a High IELTS Speaking Part 3 Score
1. Respond to the Examiner’s Cues- Stay Relevant
Speaking Part 3 is more like a two-way discussion with the examiner. The examiner may challenge your ideas or ask follow-up questions to encourage elaboration. You need to be responsive to the examiner’s questions and use their prompts to help give you ideas about what to talk about next.
2. Use a Range of Vocabulary and Grammar- But Simple is Better
Try to demonstrate that you can use a variety of vocabulary, including topic-specific words (e.g., “sustainability” when discussing the environment). Similarly, try using more complex sentence structures like conditionals, comparatives, and passive voice.
For Example: “If more countries invested in renewable energy, global carbon emissions could decrease significantly.”
3. Be Confident and Clear
Speak confidently and maintain good pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Don’t worry about minor grammatical mistakes—focus on fluency and clarity.
4. Practice Paraphrasing
Practice rephrasing the examiner’s questions to show you understand it. For example, If asked, “Why do people like travelling?” respond with, “In my opinion, the main reason people enjoy travelling is that…”
5. Use Linking Words
Organize your ideas with connectors like:
- Adding: “Moreover,” “In addition”
- Contrasting: “However,” “On the other hand”
- Explaining: “For instance,” “This is because”
Next Steps
So, what should you do now? Go to e2language.com and practise!
To improve your IELTS Speaking score, we recommend that you practice all the IELTS Speaking practice activities, assessments and mock tests on the E2 website. Even though the IELTS Speaking test might seem challenging initially, if you use our methods, tips & strategies, you will master all Parts of the IELTS Speaking test. Start a free trial of our IELTS Test Preparation course and improve your Speaking and other English skills with the help of our experts.
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