International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )
In the IELTS Speaking test, the "discussion" element primarily refers to Part 3, where the examiner asks follow-up questions about the topic you discussed in Speaking Part 2. This part of the IELTS Discussion test is designed to gauge your ability to discuss abstract ideas, engage in a two-way conversation, and express opinions, justify ideas, and explore abstract topics. The IELTS Discussion typically lasts 4–5 minutes, during which the examiner asks around 4–6 questions to assess the candidate’s fluency, coherence, and critical thinking.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, also known as the IELTS Discussion section or follow up questions, you’re expected to demonstrate higher-level speaking skills. This includes speculating, evaluating situations, and justifying your opinions with clarity. The examiner will ask follow-up questions related to your Part 2 topic and may also throw in spontaneous questions based on your last response. You’ll need to give well-developed, thoughtful answers. This part of the test is more extended than Part 1 and assesses your ability to engage in a deeper conversation.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, also called the IELTS Discussion round, you will:
✅ Engage in a deeper conversation with the examiner, lasting about 4–5 minutes.
✅ Answer follow-up questions based on your Part 2 response, along with some spontaneous or abstract questions.
✅ Demonstrate advanced speaking skills, such as:
✅ Structure your answers clearly, using linking phrases and a confident tone.
✅ Think on your feet — some questions may be unexpected and require quick, thoughtful responses.
✅ Showcase your fluency and coherence while discussing unfamiliar or complex topics.
IELTS Speaking Part 3, also called the IELTS Discussion round, is designed to evaluate how well you can handle complex ideas in English. It’s not just about answering questions — it’s about thinking critically, developing arguments, and expressing opinions clearly under time pressure.
Analytical Thinking: Can you explain your views logically and go beyond surface-level answers?
Opinion Justification: Do you support your ideas with reasons, comparisons, or real-world examples?
Fluency & Coherence: Are your thoughts connected smoothly using appropriate transition words?
Lexical Resource: Are you using a wide range of vocabulary, especially topic-specific words?
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Can you use complex sentence structures naturally?
Unlike Part 1 (personal questions) and Part 2 (short speech), Part 3 challenges your ability to “discuss” like a global communicator — a crucial skill in academic and professional life.
🗣️ Tip: Practice going deeper into a topic, not just answering — explain, compare, speculate, and clarify.
To perform well in IELTS Speaking Part 3, it's important to understand how it fits into the overall structure of the speaking test. While Speaking Part 1 warms you up with personal questions and Part 2 tests your ability to speak at length, Part 3 pushes you further, into a deeper, analytical discussion.
Here’s a quick comparison of all three parts to help you see how Part 3 differs and why it demands more critical thinking and fluency.
| Section | What It Tests | Format | Duration | Example Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Introduction & Interview | Basic personal questions and everyday topics (Fluency, coherence, grammar) |
Q&A style (3–4 topics, 3–5 questions each) | 4–5 minutes | What do you do in your free time? Do you enjoy reading books? |
| Part 2 – Long Turn (Cue Card) | Ability to speak continuously on a topic (Fluency, organization, vocabulary) |
1-minute prep, 1–2 minutes speaking | 3–4 minutes | Describe a place you like to visit. Why do you like it? |
| Part 3 – Discussion | Critical thinking, expressing opinions, justifying ideas (Fluency, logic, depth) |
Follow-up questions related to Part 2 topic | 4–5 minutes | Do you think travel helps people understand cultures? Why/why not? |
To succeed in IELTS Speaking Part 3, it's not just about what you say — it’s how you say it. This section tests your ability to express complex ideas clearly, respond critically, and keep the conversation flowing.
Below are the six key functions you’ll need, from giving strong opinions to handling tough follow-up questions. Mastering these will help you sound confident, fluent, and ready for any topic the examiner throws your way.
| Function | Useful Phrases | Sample IELTS Discussion Question | Example Answer Snippet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressing Opinions | - From my point of view... - I think most people would agree that... - I’d like to point out that... |
Do you think money brings happiness? | From my point of view, money brings comfort, but not necessarily happiness. True joy comes from relationships. |
| Speculating | - It’s likely that... - There is a chance that... - I would assume that... |
What will education look like in 20 years? | It’s likely that most learning will be done online, with AI tutors and personalised content. |
| Agreeing/Disagreeing | - I couldn’t agree more... - I see your point, but... - That’s not always true... |
Some say technology isolates people. Do you agree? | I see your point, but I think it depends on how people use it. Technology can also connect distant families. |
| Comparing & Contrasting | - In contrast to... - Similar to... - As opposed to... |
How do city and rural life differ? | City life is fast-paced and full of opportunities. In contrast, rural life is peaceful but lacks resources. |
| Clarifying Questions | - Could you repeat that, please? - I’m not sure what you meant by... - Would you elaborate on that? |
[When a question is unclear] | I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Could you repeat the question, please? |
| Using Transition Words | - Moreover... - Nevertheless... - Therefore... |
Why do people enjoy travelling? | Travelling is relaxing. Moreover, it exposes you to new cultures and helps you grow personally. |
In Part 3, you're often asked for your personal viewpoint. Don’t just say what you think — explain why and give examples when possible. Avoid vague answers. The examiner wants to hear reasoning and clarity.
Why it matters:
Showing your opinion proves your ability to structure and defend arguments — a core skill in advanced spoken English.
Even if you don’t have exact knowledge about a topic, speculation gives you a way in. Use modal verbs (like might, could, would) and phrases that signal hypothetical thinking.
Pro tip:
Speculating is better than saying "I don’t know." It shows creativity, critical thinking, and control over complex grammar.
Avoid saying just “Yes” or “No.” Instead, explain your agreement or disagreement with examples, conditions, or contrasts. This is where you show you can hold a meaningful conversation.
Why it matters:
This skill is critical for showcasing natural conversational flow and debate-style reasoning — very valuable in IELTS Part 3.
Expect questions that ask you to compare cities, lifestyles, education systems, etc. Learn to clearly highlight differences and similarities using correct linkers.
Common mistake to avoid:
Listing differences without structure. Use contrastive language to build smooth comparisons.
If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification politely. It’s completely acceptable — just don’t do it too frequently, or it may reflect poor listening skills.
Why it’s useful:
It buys you time and ensures you're answering the right question — which is better than guessing.
Transition words are like verbal glue — they help your sentences and ideas flow. Use them to organize your thoughts, show cause-effect, contrast ideas, or add emphasis.
Score booster:
Fluency and coherence are 25% of your score. These small words can make a big difference.
🔍 Final Tip: Don’t memorize these phrases — practice using them in your own words and topics. It’s not about being perfect, but being clear, confident, and coherent.
Here are a few IELTS Speaking topics related to Discussion Questions Part 3 of IELTS Speaking to help you score better in your exam.
What kinds of jobs do young people not want to do in your country?
Well, in my country, we have almost always had a big problem of unemployment among young people, and therefore, there aren’t exactly too many jobs that they don’t want to do. However, as far as I have found out, jobs like “outside sales”, “medical representatives” and other “service-oriented” jobs, that require longer hours of work, are not looked upon very favorably by the young adults in my country. They don’t also like “elementary teaching” jobs because they require a lot of patience (after all, teaching little kids can be really challenging).
Who is best at advising young people about choosing a job: teachers or parents?
In my humble opinion, teachers are best at advising young people about choosing a job primarily because they are usually the ones who work tirelessly at schools and colleges to unlock the potential of young adults. Besides, through the continuous interaction with their students in classes, it is the teachers who are better positioned to identify the skills and expertise of the young people and thus being able to guide them to choose careers that are suitable for them.
Is money always the most important thing when choosing a job?
No, I don’t really think that money is “always” ("always" is the keyword here) the most important thing, when choosing a job, primarily because money doesn’t always buy “happiness” or the “job satisfaction” no matter how much of it we really have. Besides, if I am being paid a lot of “money”, but what I do as a “job” is not considered to be “important”, then the chances are that I won’t be able to perform to my full potential despite my best intention. Money is an important thing for us to do a job, but I do not believe that it is the most important aspect of a job.
Do you agree that many people nowadays are under pressure to work longer hours and take less holiday?
Yes, many people are indeed under huge pressure nowadays to work longer hours and enjoy fewer holidays mainly because most of them are struggling to keep up with the soaring living expenses. Then, some people are under pressure to work extra hours also because they are simply being “exploited” by their employers. Then, there is another group of people who are under pressure to work longer hours because they want to meet their additional demand for more comfort and luxuries of life.
What is the impact on society of people having a poor work-life balance?
The impact of people having a poor work-life balance on society is multi-dimensional. In a society where people are either working too much or sitting idle for too long, there won’t be enough people to take responsibility to carry the nation forward to its full potential. Working too much would be without enough opportunity to relax with families and friends, the people in society would go through mental depression which, in turn, would result in inefficiency and less productivity at work. On the other hand, if people in a society are “sitting idle” for too long, the entire society would be negatively affected by crimes and other anti-social activities.
Could you recommend some effective strategies for governments and employers to ensure people have a good work-life balance?
Governments and employers can do several things to ensure a good work-life balance for the employees. First, employers can offer “flexibility” with work schedules, whenever possible, so that the employees can have little time to spend with their families and friends in between the work hours. Employers can also allow some “unpaid time off” (not getting paid for the off days) so that their staff can attend some fun and family events. As for the governments, they can create awareness among people by using different media outlets to highlight the benefits of a good work-life balance. Governments can also arrange for an “annual award” option for the companies/employers who actively work to promote “work-life” balance among their employees.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 tests your ability to think critically, justify opinions, and discuss abstract ideas — not just speak fluently. To score high, you need real practice with actual discussion themes. Below is a list of topic-wise questions commonly asked during IELTS Discussion (Speaking Part 3) — from relationships and technology to law, education, and the environment. Use them to sharpen your answers and build confidence.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you're graded using four official criteria — the same ones used across all speaking parts. However, in Part 3, the expectation is higher because the questions are more complex and demand deeper thinking.
Here’s how each scoring criterion works:
| Band Descriptor | What It Means in Part 3 | How to Score High |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | Ability to speak smoothly, logically, and without long pauses. | ✔️ Avoid fillers (like "umm", "you know") ✔️ Use linking words ("however", "for instance") |
| Lexical Resource | Range and accuracy of vocabulary used — including topic-specific words and expressions. | ✔️ Use precise, varied vocabulary ✔️ Avoid repeating basic words like "good", "bad" |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Use of a variety of sentence structures with minimal errors. | ✔️ Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences ✔️ Use correct tenses consistently |
| Pronunciation | Clarity, stress, and intonation — how well you're understood. | ✔️ Speak clearly and naturally ✔️ Use proper sentence rhythm and stress patterns |
💡 Note: IELTS Speaking Part 3 is where examiners really expect to see academic-level communication. Use this chance to show that you can think, speak, and argue like a Band 8–9 candidate.
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