IELTS Speaking Part 3: Answering Abstract Questions with Confidence

Part 3 is a four-to-five-minute discussion linked to your Part 2 topic. The questions move from personal experience to society in general. If Part 2 was about a skill you learned, Part 3 might ask "Why do some people give up learning new skills?" or "Will technology change the way people learn practical skills?"

This is where examiners decide between bands 6, 7 and 8, because the questions demand more complex language.

What changes in Part 3

Part 1	Part 3
About you	About people and society
Familiar topics	Abstract ideas
Short answers	Longer, developed answers (4–6 sentences)
Simple opinions	Reasons, comparisons, speculation

A structure for abstract answers: O-R-E-C

1. Opinion: give your view directly.
2. Reason: explain why.
3. Example: from society, news or general knowledge.
4. Contrast or Consequence: consider another side, or what follows.

Question: Why do some people give up learning new skills?

*I'd say the main reason is that people expect quick results (O). We're used to instant answers online, so when progress is slow, it feels like failure (R). You see this a lot with language apps: millions of people download them in January, but only a small fraction are still using them a few months later (E). That said, I think it's partly a time issue too. Adults with jobs and families simply have fewer free hours than students do (C).*

Language for higher bands

Speculating:

• It's likely that… / There's a good chance that…
• I'd imagine that in the future…
• It wouldn't surprise me if…

Comparing past and present:

• Compared with our grandparents' generation, …
• Whereas people used to…, nowadays…

Generalising carefully:

• Generally speaking, … / By and large, …
• It tends to be the case that…

Hedging (not over-generalising):

• Not everyone, of course, but…
• It depends to some extent on…

When you don't know the answer

It is fine to say you have never thought about something, as long as you keep talking:

That's not something I've ever really considered, but if I had to guess, I'd say…

You can also ask the examiner to repeat or rephrase: "Sorry, could you rephrase that question?" This costs you nothing.

A complete Part 3 exchange

Here is how a band 7–8 candidate might handle three linked questions on the topic of learning skills:

Examiner: Do you think schools should teach more practical skills, like cooking or managing money?

Yes, I'd argue they should, at least to some extent. A lot of young people leave school knowing advanced algebra but not how to make a budget or cook a simple meal, which seems a bit unbalanced. In my country, a few schools have introduced personal finance classes, and from what I've heard, students find them far more relevant than some traditional subjects. Having said that, I wouldn't want these classes to replace core academic subjects. It's more a question of finding room for both.

Examiner: How has the way people learn new skills changed in recent years?

Enormously, I'd say. A generation ago, if you wanted to learn the guitar or how to fix a bike, you needed a teacher or at least a book. Nowadays, there's a video tutorial for almost everything, so people can learn at their own pace and for free. The downside is that there's nobody to correct your mistakes, so people sometimes pick up bad habits without realising.

Examiner: Do you think this trend will continue in the future?

I'd imagine so, and probably with more artificial intelligence involved. It wouldn't surprise me if, within ten years or so, most people had some kind of personal AI tutor that could watch them practise and give feedback. That said, I think certain skills, especially ones involving other people, like teamwork or leadership, will always be learned best face to face.

Notice the features that push the score up: a clear opinion in the first sentence, a real-world example, comparison of past and present, speculation about the future, and a balancing point (Having said that…, That said…).

Common mistakes

• Answering about yourself when the question is about people in general.
• One-sentence answers. Part 3 needs development.
• Overusing "I think". Vary your opinion phrases: In my view, I'd argue that, It seems to me that.

Combine this with Part 1 and Part 2 practice, and record yourself regularly.