Ultimate IELTS Part 3 Question Bank — Follow-up & General Questions by Topic

Here’s a classroom-ready, teacher-approved bank of Part 3 follow-up and general questions — organised into clear topic categories so you can pick, mix and practise. Use these to push students from short answers into sustained discussion: cause/effect, comparisons, advantages/disadvantages, predictions, and evaluation. (Yes — stretch those brains. 💪)

How to use:

Give 1 cue card; then use 3–5 follow-up Qs from the relevant topic to simulate Part 3.
Ask students to speak 45–90 seconds per Q. Rotate partners, and give 2 minutes to plan for tougher, abstract questions.
Teacher tip: encourage “why?” and “give examples” after every answer.

🎯 IELTS Speaking Part 3: Guidelines, Tips & Natural Language Toolkit

🧭 1. Understanding Part 3

IELTS Speaking Part 3 is the discussion round — it follows the Cue Card (Part 2).
The examiner asks analytical, opinion-based questions connected to the Part 2 topic.
You’re expected to:

Give extended answers (3–5 sentences)
Use reason + example + result structures
Show flexible vocabulary and coherent argumentation

🧠 2. Golden Guidelines

✅ DOs

Expand ideas: Don’t stop at one sentence — give reasons and examples.
Use linking devices: “Because…”, “As a result…”, “In addition…”, “However…”
Compare & contrast: Show higher-level thinking — “Compared to the past…”
Express balanced opinions: “On the one hand…, on the other hand…”
Show awareness of change: IELTS loves “nowadays / over time” comparisons.

❌ DON’Ts

Don’t give yes/no answers.
Don’t repeat words from the question — paraphrase.
Don’t go off-topic or give memorized responses.
Don’t panic if you need a moment — use fillers naturally.

🗣️ 3. Band 9 Tips & Tricks

💬 Tip 1: Use “Think–Reason–Example”

Structure each answer like this:

Think: Give your main opinion
Reason: Explain why
Example: Give a short illustration

Example:

I believe technology has made life more convenient because we can now access almost everything online. For example, paying bills or shopping can be done with just a few clicks.

💬 Tip 2: Show Contrast and Depth

Examiners love when you look at both sides briefly:

Although social media connects people globally, it can also make them feel isolated if they rely on it too much.

💬 Tip 3: Use “Opinion-Softeners”

Sound more natural and academic by softening your statements:

“It seems to me that…”
“From my point of view…”
“As far as I’m concerned…”
“If I’m not mistaken…”
“Generally speaking…”

💬 Tip 4: Express Change or Trend

Show awareness of how things evolve:

“In the past, people used to…, but now they tend to…”
“There has been a significant shift in the way people…”
“Nowadays, it’s becoming more common to…”

💬 Tip 5: Compare Countries or Generations

Demonstrate cultural awareness:

“In my country, people usually…, whereas in Western societies…”
“Older generations prefer…, while young people today…”

💬 Tip 6: Use Academic Connectors

These make your responses sound fluent and organized:

Function	Phrases
Adding ideas	moreover, furthermore, in addition, also
Contrasting	however, on the other hand, whereas, while
Giving examples	for instance, such as, to illustrate, for example
Showing result	therefore, as a result, consequently, hence
Clarifying	in other words, what I mean is, to put it simply
Summarizing	overall, in short, to sum up, generally speaking

🧩 4. Natural Sentence Starters (for Each Function)

💡 Giving an Opinion

“Personally, I’d say that…”
“I tend to believe that…”
“From my perspective…”
“As I see it…”
“To my mind…”

⚖️ Comparing & Contrasting

“Compared to the past, people now…”
“While some believe that…, others think…”
“There’s a big difference between…”
“On the one hand…, on the other hand…”

🕰️ Talking About Change

“Over the last decade…”
“Things have changed dramatically since…”
“Nowadays, people are becoming more aware of…”

📈 Discussing Trends or Causes

“One major reason for this is…”
“This is mainly because…”
“It can be attributed to…”
“A contributing factor might be…”

💬 Giving Examples

“For instance…”
“A clear example of this is…”
“In my experience…”
“Let’s take the example of…”

🧠 Speculating or Predicting

“It’s likely that in the future…”
“There’s a good chance that…”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if…”
“If this continues, we might see…”

🌍 Expressing General Ideas

“In general, people tend to…”
“Generally speaking, society today…”
“Most people would agree that…”

🗣️ Agreeing / Disagreeing Politely

“I completely agree with the idea that…”
“That’s true to some extent, but…”
“I see your point, yet I believe…”
“I’m not entirely convinced that…”

🧠 5. Example High-Band Response

Question:

Do you think people read fewer books nowadays?

Sample Answer:

Personally, I’d say yes — people read fewer physical books than before, mainly because of technology. Nowadays, many prefer watching videos or reading short articles online. However, I think e-books and audiobooks are helping to keep the reading habit alive in a different form. For instance, I often listen to audiobooks while driving, which is quite convenient.

🎯 Why it scores high:

Clear opinion
Development with reasons
Contrast introduced
Example added
Natural connectors used

🚀 6. Guru’s Pro Tips for “Legendary” Speaking

🐐 Use humor or personality lightly — it makes your tone authentic.
🧩 Mix advanced vocabulary naturally (don’t overuse idioms).
🎯 Practice topic linking — connect answers across ideas smoothly.
🎙️ Record yourself — check for coherence and tone, not just grammar.
💪 End each response with a confident conclusion: “So overall, I believe it’s a positive change.”
“That’s why I think balance is the key.”

🌟 7. Final Words

Remember: IELTS Part 3 isn’t about right or wrong answers — it’s about how logically and naturally you express your ideas.
Speak like a thinker, not a textbook. Use curiosity, comparison, and real-life examples — and you’ll sound like a Band 9 communicator every single time.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Survival Kit: 20 Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them