IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Use this Practical Structure in the Exam!
There are a number of common mistakes that students make when preparing for the IELTS Speaking Part 3.
One of the most glaring errors concerns structure, or more specifically, the lack of it. Many students
decide that the freestyle approach is best when preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 3 and fail to implement
any type of organized structure to their answers. Big mistake!
Structure Structure Structure!
First of all, a disclaimer! Implementing structures in your answers won’t help you to get a high band
score if you don’t have a wide range of vocabulary, or if you make regular grammatical and
pronunciation errors. IELTS is a fairly accurate assessment of your English language ability and you
cannot cheat the exam with magic structures or ‘Band 9’ words and phrases. The primary focus of
your preparation should be the improvement of your English. However, well-rehearsed and easy
to follow structures for different parts of the exam can provide you with a solid platform to
demonstrate your language ability to the examiner. Just don’t use the following structure to answer EVERY question in IELTS Speaking Part 3!
Proposed Structure
There are a number of ways you can structure your IELTS Speaking Part 3 answers. One possible way to do it is as follows:
- Directly answer the question
- Explain why
- Give a supporting example or personal example
- Give an opposing view (optional)
Structure in Use
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, expect questions like the following:
How has teaching changed in your country over the past few decades?
Do you think there will be less illness in the future?
How has the internet changed the way we work?
Do you believe that TV influences the way we think?
Some people say that traveling broadens the mind. Do you agree?
What should be responsible for taking care of the elderly, families or the government?
How has teaching changed in your country over the past few decades?
Well, I guess it has become much more technologically advanced. (direct answer)
These days, most universities have high-tech equipment and computers in the classroom.
Everything is online nowadays so students don’t even have to be physically present, they can just
watch the lectures on their laptop. (explain why)
For example, flipped learning is now the norm in many universities. Students are given preparation
work to do at home or online and then they implement what they have learned in classroom
activities. It wouldn’t be possible without technology. (Supporting example)
However, I will say that it’s important that technology is not used just for the sake of it. The goal at
the end of the day is learning and whatever approach best facilities that should be followed. (Opposing view)
Do you think there will be less illness in the future?
Hmm.. that’s a tricky question… I don’t think there will be less illness but I believe our methods of
treating illness will improve with time. (direct answer)
People these days are becoming more health-conscious and more aware of how to take care of their
bodies but at the same time our food is becoming more processed and we are consuming more
chemicals than ever before. (explain why)
Like, in Ireland for example, cancer rates are increasing but cancer treatment is becoming much
more advanced and what was fatal only ten years ago is now treatable… More and more people are
getting sick but also getting better… It’s kind of a contradiction… (Supporting example)
Some people say that traveling broadens the mind. Do you agree?
Yes, absolutely. I agree completely with that view. (direct answer)
For me, traveling opens our eyes to different cultures and ways of thinking… It takes us out of our
comfort zone and whenever that happens, I think we grow and develop as people. (explain why)
Like, from my own experience, whenever I have visited new countries and met the people there, I have realized that generally, we have a lot of things in common. Last year I spent a week in Laos and I really got on well with the locals. (personal example)
However, in saying that, mass tourism is placing a huge strain on the environment and driving
up house prices in cities such as Barcelona and Dublin so that is something that we need to be aware
of. (example)
Your turn!
Practice makes perfect! Here is a list of Speaking Part 3 questions for you to practice with.
- How has teaching changed in your country over the past few decades?
- Do you think there will be less illness in the future?
- How has the internet changed the way we work?
- Do you believe that TV influences the way we think?
- Some people say that traveling broadens the mind. Do you agree?
- What should be responsible for taking care of the elderly, families or the government?
- What happens when young people lack good role models?
- Can you think of the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
- What problems can people face after retirement?
- If you could change something about your city, what would you change?
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