IELTS Speaking Part 3 Strategy: How to Answer Abstract Discussion Questions

The question types you will hear

• Comparing: 'How is life in cities different from life in the countryside?'
• Predicting: 'How do you think work will change in the next 20 years?'
• Advantages/disadvantages: 'What are the drawbacks of online shopping?'
• Causes: 'Why do some people prefer to live alone?'
• Agreeing/disagreeing: 'Do you think schools teach enough practical skills?'

The A.R.E.A. answer structure

• Answer — give your direct opinion or observation first.
• Reason — explain why you think that.
• Example — a concrete example from society, not just your own life.
• Alternative — acknowledge the other side: 'That said, …' / 'Of course, some people…'

Band 7 example answer

Question: 'Do you think technology has made people less social?'

Answer: 'In some ways, yes. I think people often choose the convenience of messaging over meeting in person, which weakens real relationships. For example, it's common to see a group of friends in a café all looking at their phones instead of talking. That said, technology also connects people who would otherwise lose touch — families living abroad can video call every week. So overall I'd say it has changed how we socialise rather than simply making us less social.'

Language that earns marks in Part 3

• Generalising: 'On the whole…', 'In most cases…', 'Broadly speaking…'
• Hedging: 'It depends on…', 'To some extent…', 'I would argue that…'
• Speculating: 'It's likely that…', 'I imagine we'll see…', 'There's a good chance that…'
• Conceding: 'While it's true that…, I still believe…'

What to do when you have no idea

Buy time honestly: 'That's an interesting question — I've never really thought about it, but I suppose…' Then use A.R.E.A. anyway. A developed uncertain answer scores far higher than a short confident one.