IELTS, Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 3
A discussion with the examiner about more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | None: start speaking straight away |
| Response time | Up to 60 seconds |
| How it's scored | Assessed on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 33% of your speaking score |
How to answer Speaking Part 3
- 1Give your view clearly.
- 2Explain why, then give an example or a contrast.
- 3Use phrases that show you're thinking: “It depends on…”
Common mistakes
- Short answers without development.
Sample question
Learning new skills as an adult
Learning new skills (linked to the Part 2 cue card: a skill that took longer than you expected)
Why do you think some people find it harder to learn new skills as adults than they did as children?
Show a model answer (Band 9.0)
I'd say there are two main reasons, one practical and one psychological. The practical one is simply time: a child might practise the piano every afternoon, whereas most adults are squeezing lessons in between work and family commitments, so progress is much slower. But I think the psychological side matters even more. Children aren't particularly self-conscious, so they're happy to fall over or mispronounce a word a hundred times. Adults, on the other hand, are used to being competent, and being a beginner again can feel quite humiliating, so they tend to give up before they've got past the awkward stage. That said, I wouldn't say adults are worse learners across the board. They usually have far more discipline and a clearer idea of why they want the skill, which can make up for a lot, as long as they're willing to tolerate looking a bit foolish at first.