Part 3: Questions & Strategies (British Council Academic IELTS: Speaking): Study Material
Part 3: examples of questions
Here are some more possible Part 3 questions following on from Part 2 topics
Part 2 topic: a place you enjoyed visiting / a holiday you had or would like to have
Possible Part 3 questions:
How has international tourism changed the culture of popular holiday destinations?
Should governments restrict the number of visitors to natural landmarks to protect the environment?
Part 2 topic: a meal you enjoyed
Possible Part 3 questions:
What role does traditional food play in maintaining a country's cultural identity?
Has the rise of fast-food chains had a negative impact on the health of people in your country?
Part 2 topic: a book, film or TV programme you like
Possible Part 3 questions:
Why do some people prefer watching a film to reading the original book it was based on?
Do you think films and TV shows are effective tools for teaching history or social issues?
Part 2 topic: something you bought or want to buy
Possible Part 3 questions:
What kind of possessions give people "status" in your society today?
To what extent does advertising encourage people to buy things they don't need?
Part 2 topic: a hobby or activity you enjoy
Possible Part 3 questions:
Why is it important for people to have hobbies outside of their work or studies?
How have hobbies changed from your parents' generation to today due to technology?
Part 3: what makes a good answer
Talk about your country or society in general – not your own personal stories
Explain why something is happening
Discuss the importance of an issue
Predict what might happen in the future
Compare and contrast (e.g. the situation now compared to the past, the differences between young and old people)
Include an alternative viewpoint to your own if possible
Structure your answers by using the ORE method:
State your Opinion
Give a Reason
Give an Example
Try to use less common topic-specific vocabulary
Show your grammatical range with more complex structures such as the passive, conditionals, and relative clauses
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the Speaking test, you will get more marks if you try to speak naturally as if you were having a conversation with a friend
Part 3: useful language
To keep the discussion general:
In many cultures…
Example: In many cultures there are significant differences of opinion between the younger and older generations
Generally speaking, …
Example: Generally speaking, having a hobby results in a better social life
In my country, many people think…
Example: In my country, many people think that it’s important to maintain the traditional festivals
Explaining and giving reasons
One of the main reasons for this is …
Example: One of the main reasons for this is people don’t understand the key issues
The primary cause is...
Example: The primary cause is a lack of investment by the governmentWell, the thing is...
Example: Well, the thing is, the gap between the rich and poor is widening
This is largely due to…
Example: This is largely due to the impact of social media on younger people
It’s probably down to the fact that
Example: It’s probably down to the fact that people want to look good in the eyes of others
Giving an opinion
If you ask me …
Example: If you ask me, the environmental situation is becoming critical
Unfortunately …
Example: Unfortunately, there seems to be a general lack of awareness of this key problem
In fact, …
Example: In fact, governments today are doing less for the environment than they were 10 years ago
Definitely …
Example: This issue is definitely something that needs urgent attention
To be honest, …
Example: To be honest, the situation is only going to get worse if we don’t address these issues now
Predicting
If that happened, then…
Example: Governments might prioritize spending money on renewable energy. If that happened, then air pollution would largely be a thing of the past
In the future, …
Example: In the future, people may have a shorter working week
Probably…
Example: New restrictions will probably be brought in to protect young people
It is likely that….
Example: It is likely that the gap between rich and poor will widen if governments don't take action
Comparing and contrasting
Similarly …
Example: Similarly, it’s very difficult to control the rise of misinformation online
In the same way…
Example: In the same way, websites often reuse other people’s work without crediting them
Equally …
Example: Equally, it could be argued that it is the individual’s responsibility, not the government’s, to save money for their old age
However, …
However, governments can’t rely on families to look after the elderly
In contrast …
Example: In contrast, the younger generations don’t watch much television
On one hand, … on the other hand…
Example: On one hand, artificial intelligence might save time and effort, but on the other hand, it could mean people stop thinking creatively and critically
Giving examples
A great example of this is …
Example: A great example of this is the popular tourist attraction of Stonehenge, which is now protected by laws to prevent further damage to the site
Such as …
Example: A number of popular films, such as Forest Gump, present a limited view of American history
For instance….
Example: People often feel under pressure from advertising to buy things they don’t need. For example, designer clothes are advertised to the general public
Illustrated by…
Example: The increase in fast-food outlets in my country has had a negative effect on public health. This is illustrated by the rise in obesity in the population
Clarifying and rephrasing
In other words ...
What I mean by that is ...
To put it another way ...
What I’m trying to say is …
To give you time to think of your answer
That’s a very interesting question
Let me think about that
Well,…
Worked Example
Note: The following is a worked example, written to demonstrate the style and approach expected in the exam. A full exam question would typically be longer in scope.
Question
How has international tourism changed the culture of popular holiday destinations?
Answer
That’s a really interesting question. I believe that international tourism has acted as a double-edged sword for local cultures. On one hand, it often sparks a cultural renaissance; it incentivises communities to preserve heritage, such as traditional crafts and dances, that might otherwise have been lost.
On the other hand, it’s clear that tourism can result in cultural homogenisation. Unfortunately, many destinations have changed their unique character to cater to the tastes of tourists, leading to the commodification of culture. For instance, local restaurants change their menus to attract international customers, or they are replaced by international chains. Similarly, traditionally sacred rituals are turned into staged performances.
Lexical resource: Uses precise, low-frequency vocabulary such as commodification, homogenisation, and double-edged sword
Cohesion: Smooth transitions (On one hand, On the other hand, leading to …) make the argument easy to follow
Grammatical range: Uses complex structures such as might otherwise have been lost
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