Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
What Happens in Part 3
After your Part 2 monologue, the examiner shifts to a two-way discussion. The questions are thematically linked to your Part 2 topic but move from the personal to the abstract. If your Part 2 was about “a book you enjoyed,” Part 3 might ask about reading habits in your country, the future of printed books, or whether children read enough.
The examiner typically asks 5–8 questions and may follow up with probing questions like “Why do you think that?” or “Can you give me an example?” to push you to elaborate.
How Part 3 Differs from Part 1
| Aspect | Part 1 | Part 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Question type | Personal, factual | Abstract, analytical |
| Expected answer | 2–4 sentences | 4–6 sentences with reasoning |
| Language level | Everyday vocabulary | More sophisticated vocabulary and grammar |
| Follow-ups | Rare | Common — examiner probes deeper |
Common Question Patterns
Part 3 questions follow predictable patterns. Recognising them helps you structure your answer:
- Compare: “How has [topic] changed in your country over the past 20 years?”
- Evaluate: “Do you think [trend] is a positive or negative development?”
- Speculate: “How do you think [topic] will change in the future?”
- Explain: “Why do some people prefer [X] while others prefer [Y]?”
- Suggest: “What could governments/schools do to improve [situation]?”
How to Structure Your Answers
Use a clear framework to keep your answers organised and substantive:
State your position → Explain why → Give an example → Conclude or qualify.
Example question: “Do you think people read less than they used to?”
Strong answer: “I think overall reading habits have shifted rather than declined. People probably read fewer printed books, but they consume an enormous amount of text through news apps, social media, and online articles. For instance, most of my colleagues spend at least an hour a day reading content on their phones. That said, the nature of reading has changed — it tends to be shorter and more fragmented, which might affect concentration and deep comprehension.”
Language Strategies for Band 7+
| Strategy | Example |
|---|---|
| Use hedging language | “I’d argue that…”, “It’s widely believed that…”, “To some extent…” |
| Show both sides | “On the one hand… on the other hand…”, “Having said that…” |
| Use complex structures | Conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses, reported speech |
| Give concrete examples | “For example, in my country…”, “A good illustration of this is…” |
Continue Your Speaking Preparation
- Part 3 lasts 4–5 minutes with abstract, analytical questions linked to your Part 2 topic.
- Give longer, more developed answers (4–6 sentences) with reasoning and examples.
- Use the framework: position → explanation → example → qualification.
- Demonstrate higher-level language: hedging, conditionals, complex clauses.
- It’s fine to admit uncertainty — how you express it matters more than what you know.