Stress to show your opinion in Part 3 answers

Say each pair aloud. If the two words sound the same when you record yourself, slow down and go back to the steps above.

• The government should fund public transport. (neutral statement)/The government SHOULD fund public transport. (insistent obligation)
• I believe university education is essential. (flat agreement)/I DO believe university education is essential. (emphatic endorsement)
• It might work in theory. (neutral possibility)/It MIGHT work in theory, but not in reality. (concessive doubt)
• Some people prefer living in cities. (general fact)/I prefer living in cities. (personal contrast)
• That is not entirely accurate. (polite disagreement)/That is NOT entirely accurate. (firm correction)
• Online learning has advantages. (balanced remark)/Online learning DEFINITELY has advantages. (strong agreement)
• Traditional crafts are dying out. (passive observation)/Traditional crafts ARE dying out. (confirmed reality)

1. 1

   Well, I do think public transport ought to be heavily subsidised.

   emphatic stress on auxiliary 'do' to mark firm agreement

2. 2

   From my perspective, that policy would cause far more harm than good.

   pitch peak on 'far' to intensify comparison

3. 3

   I personally wouldn't choose to live in a crowded high-rise flat.

   prominence on 'personally' to mark individual stance

4. 4

   While some disagree, education is the most effective way forward.

   lengthened vowel and higher pitch on auxiliary 'is'

5. 5

   To be completely honest, it simply isn't practical for working parents.

   heavy falling stress on negative contraction 'isn't'

6. 6

   Remote working has benefits, but it can make people feel isolated.

   modal stress on 'can' to highlight an undeniable risk

7. 7

   Local councils must take direct responsibility for maintaining green spaces.

   strong stress on modal 'must' to express strong duty

8. 8

   I am not entirely convinced that technology always improves our productivity.

   stress on 'always' to challenge an absolute statement

9. 9

   In my view, consumers should buy fewer single-use plastic goods.

   prominence on 'should' to recommend moral action

10. 10

    That approach might be cheaper, but it is hardly sustainable.

    vocal emphasis on 'hardly' to signal strong scepticism

11. 11

    I would argue that historic libraries are crucial for local communities.

    pitch boost on evaluative adjective 'crucial'

12. 12

    Younger generations definitely face steeper housing costs than their parents did.

    stress on 'definitely' to convey total certainty

• Contrastive stress to correct or compare
• Sentence stress on content words
• Stress timing and rhythm in longer sentences
• Weak forms of function words (to, for, of, can)
• All 59 pronunciation sets
• Part 1 topics
• Part 2 cue cards
• Part 3 questions