What examiners listen for in IELTS Speaking Part 3
So Part 3 is not more Part 1. Instead of talking about yourself, you explain, compare, judge and predict things about people and society. A one-line answer gives the examiner nothing to judge; a long answer that circles one point gives them the wrong thing to judge.
Read those lines together. Short answers never “go beyond simple responses”, and five words cannot show a range of grammar or vocabulary. Rambling answers fail differently: repetition and drifting make coherence slip. And note “appropriately” in band 9: the goal is development that fits the question, not maximum length.
One question, three answers: “Why do some people prefer small towns to big cities?”
| Version | What the examiner hears | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Too short | “Because it's quieter.” | True, but nothing to assess: no reason, no example. |
| Waffle | “Well, that's an interesting question. Small towns, yes, many people like small towns, some like cities, so it depends, everyone is different.” | Words without ideas. It restates the question and ends on “it depends” without saying on what. |
| Developed | “Mostly for the pace of life. You can often walk to work and you know your neighbours, so life feels less rushed. The catch is fewer jobs, which is why many young people still leave.” | A direct answer, a concrete reason, then the other side. Each sentence adds something. |
Original BandLadder example.
Part 3 grows out of your Part 2 cue card topic. The sections below give you five named moves, worked answers to three question types, waffle fixes and a quick check.
Premium sheet · 5 more sections
- Five moves that extend a Part 3 answer
- Worked examples: compare, predict and evaluate questions
- Waffle vs development: three fixes
- Part 3 traps that cost marks
- Your turn: practise extending Part 3 answers
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Questions
FAQ
How long should IELTS Speaking Part 3 answers be?+
The band descriptors set no word count; band 9 asks for topic development that is “appropriately extended”. BandLadder advice: three to five sentences, roughly 20–40 seconds, usually fits a Part 3 question well.
Can I use personal examples in IELTS Speaking Part 3?+
Yes, briefly. Part 3 discusses issues in a more general and abstract way, so use a personal example to support a point, then zoom back out to people in general.
What should I do if I don't know the answer to a Part 3 question?+
Say so honestly, then speculate. Part 3 tests your ability to analyse, discuss and speculate, so reasoning your way to a guess is exactly what the examiner wants to hear.
Should I use a fixed answer template in Part 3?+
No. Learn flexible moves (answer, reason, example, contrast, prediction) and choose two to four per question. A fixed template sounds rehearsed and makes every answer the same shape.
Does Part 3 count more than Parts 1 and 2?+
No. The band descriptors note that candidates are rated on their average performance across all parts of the test, so Part 3 counts alongside the other two.
Sources
- IELTS Speaking band descriptors (ielts.org PDF): pp. 2–4: Fluency and coherence bands 3, 5, 6, 7, 9; memorised language in bands 1–3; note (ii) on rating across all parts (p. 4)
- ielts.org, IELTS Academic and General Training test format: Speaking: https://ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types/ielts-academic-test/ielts-academic-format-speaking (Part 3 – Discussion: 4–5 minutes, skills tested); the General Training format page has identical Part 3 wording
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