Let’s face it, nobody looks forward to IELTS Speaking Part 3! Giving your opinion on quite unfamiliar topics is a challenge, even for a native speaker.
But remember, the examiner doesn’t care about your opinions. He or she wants to know if you can respond in English to unfamiliar questions, that’s all. Read the three hints below before you attempt to answer the questions.
You can also download these IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions as a set of cards for classroom use.
Hints for IELTS Speaking Part 3
Hint #1: Your opinions aren’t important. How you respond is. That means you should focus your preparation on key phrases and strategies to handle difficult issues. See some examples here.
Hint #2: The examiner isn’t interested in knowing your opinion, only your English ability. If you have no opinion, try to talk about other people’s opinion on the subject instead.
Hint #3: Hesitations are very bad for your IELTS Speaking score. Use filler expressions to avoid any long silences. Our list of emergency language for IELTS speaking may help.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #1: Role models
- Which type of people are respected most in your society?
- Do you agree with this situation?
- What happens when young people lack good role models?
- What standards of behaviour should teachers set?
- Do you agree that you should never meet your heroes?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #2: Travel and transport
- How easy is it to travel around your country?
- Which method of travel do you consider safest?
- Has travel become safer in recent years?
- What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
- How do you think people will travel in the future?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #3: Universities
- Is higher education too expensive in your country?
- Should all students pay for their university education?
- What advantages do universities bring to society?
- Which is more important, research or teaching?
- How should students spend their summer vacations?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #4: Sports and competition
- Why are some sports fans so passionate?
- Is there any violence at sporting events in your country?
- Should athletes be better role models?
- What benefits do international sporting events bring?
- Is it important for a country to win lots of medals?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #5: Leadership and politics
- Do you think people are born to be leaders?
- Can leadership skills be taught?
- Why are elected politicians often so unpopular?
- What should a leader do to remain popular?
- Do you think unelected heads of state are a good idea?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #6: Life experience
- Do you agree that we learn best from our mistakes?
- What’s the best way to gain experience in life?
- Can we gain life experience from books and movies?
- Which is more important, experience or potential?
- What experience do you wish you’d gained?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #7: Retirement and old age
- At what age should people retire from work?
- What problems can people face after retirement?
- How important are retirees to your country’s economy?
- When should you start saving for retirement?
- Why do some companies encourage early retirement?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #8: Photography and the image
- Is it easy to take good photographs?
- What are the pros and cons of digital photography?
- Should people share their photographs online?
- When can an image be worth a thousand words?
- Is a photograph a reliable form of identification?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #9: Inventions and copyright
- Which invention has transformed your country most?
- Would you like to be an inventor?
- How long should someone be able to profit from an idea?
- Do you think intellectual property laws are too strict?
- Should all medicines be free to manufacture?
IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #10: The internet and social media
- Which websites are popular among your generation?
- Is using the internet a social or solitary activity?
- How has the internet changed social behaviour?
- Should companies check job applicants’ online profiles?
- What will be the next big development online?