IELTS Speaking Part 3

Food culture and globalisation: Part 3 questions and answers

Part 3 is a four-to-five-minute discussion that takes the Part 2 topic into wider ideas. Here are 5 questions on food culture and globalisation, each with a Band 8 model answer, plus how to handle this theme and the words that lift it.
  • 5 questions
  • Band 8 model answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

These questions follow the cue card Describe someone who enjoys trying foreign food. Do that card first for the full Part 2 to Part 3 flow.

5 questions

Questions and Band 8 answers

1

Why have international cuisines become so popular in many countries recently?

I suppose the rise of international cuisine is largely driven by increased global mobility and digital media. People travel abroad far more frequently nowadays, which naturally broadens their palate and creates a local demand for authentic flavours back home. On top of that, social media platforms constantly showcase visually appealing international dishes, encouraging young people to branch out from their customary diets. Having said that, this trend is definitely more prominent in multicultural urban centres than in rural communities.

2

Do you think imported food might eventually replace traditional national dishes?

I wouldn't say foreign food will completely eradicate native culinary heritage, although it certainly modifies everyday routines. Traditional recipes carry immense symbolic value, so families still prepare them for festive occasions and quiet domestic dinners. However, in major cosmopolitan cities, younger generations are certainly eating fewer heritage meals on a daily basis. So, while traditional food won't die out entirely, it might gradually shift from daily sustenance to something reserved for special cultural celebrations.

3

How does exposure to foreign food influence people's attitudes towards other cultures?

Experiencing foreign cuisine often serves as an informal entry point to cultural appreciation. When individuals enjoy the flavours and dining rituals of another society, it tends to foster open-mindedness and dismantle superficial stereotypes. For example, learning to share communal dishes can help people appreciate collectivist social values. Nevertheless, simply eating foreign food doesn't automatically mean someone understands the complex socio-political realities of that country, even if it does spark initial curiosity.

4

What are the drawbacks of fast food chains dominating the global food market?

One significant disadvantage is the gradual erosion of culinary diversity. When multinational corporations dominate the dining landscape, independent local establishments often struggle to compete with their aggressive marketing and cheap pricing. Furthermore, highly processed fast food contributes heavily to public health crises, like obesity and cardiovascular disease. To be fair, these chains do offer convenience and affordability for busy workers, but the cultural and physical toll remains quite problematic.

5

How might eating habits and diets change in the next few decades?

In the future, environmental sustainability will probably reshape our diets far more than cultural preferences. Due to climate pressures, we are likely to see a significant transition towards plant-based proteins, lab-grown meats, and insect-derived foods. Additionally, advances in personalised nutrition might mean people choose meals based on genetic data rather than traditional tastes. That being said, emotional attachments to comforting, home-cooked food will probably slow down the full adoption of high-tech alternatives.

Use the shape, not the sentences: a view, a reason, an example, a limit. Examiners mark memorised answers down.

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The AI examiner asks Part 3 questions after your cue card, listens, and scores fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with the words that cost you.

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Strategy

How to discuss food culture and globalisation

  1. 1

    Use hedging expressions like 'to a certain extent' to discuss complex cultural shifts without overgeneralising.

  2. 2

    Draw contrasts between cosmopolitan urban hubs and rural areas when examining the impact of globalisation.

  3. 3

    Balance positive cultural exchange against potential drawbacks such as public health issues and commercial uniformity.

6 words

Vocabulary for this discussion

  • broadens their palate

    expands the range of foods someone enjoys

  • culinary heritage

    traditional food customs passed down through generations

  • communal dishes

    meals served on large platters to be shared

  • erosion of culinary diversity

    the gradual loss of varied traditional cooking styles

  • environmental sustainability

    avoiding the depletion of natural resources in food production

  • dismantle superficial stereotypes

    disprove oversimplified and inaccurate generalisations about people

Frequently asked questions

How long should a Part 3 answer be?+

Usually four to six sentences, or 30 to 60 seconds. Give a clear view, a reason, an example and, where it fits, a limit or an exception. The examiner will interrupt if you go on too long, which is normal.

Does Part 3 follow the cue card?+

Yes. Part 3 takes the theme of your Part 2 card and makes it abstract: society, comparisons, causes and the future. These questions follow the card "Describe someone who enjoys trying foreign food".

Can I say I don't know?+

You can say you haven't thought about it much, but then give your best guess with a reason. Examiners score your language, not your knowledge.

Keep practising

More Part 3 discussions: a person

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