IELTS Speaking Part 3 Sample Answer

These are high-scoring sample answers for the following IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions. Read them to understand what you need to talk about and the kind of answers you need to start your IELTS speaking test well.

Sample Answers

Someone You Really Like to Spend Time With

1/ Do you like talking with older people?

In most cases I do. If it’s somebody I know and they’re older, they have more experience and they’ve been out there and lived a good life. I think it’s very interesting to talk with older people and maybe even get advice from them, although saying that it’s kind of difficult with those such as my father-in-law who insists on treating me as if I’m 30 years younger while basically I have more life experience than he does.

2/ Do people have time for themselves nowadays?

I think a lot of people don’t have much time for themselves these days for various reasons. Firstly, I would say that there’s many, many distractions and so it’s actually difficult to get a job done. So there’s mobile phones, you can get phone calls, you can get messages, you can get voice messages, you can start looking at a video for example, something like TikTok. You can start looking at TikTok and just never stop for 20 minutes and so that’s 20 minutes wasted. And so I think people are much more accessible. That makes it really quite difficult.

3/ How do leaders get along with their subordinates?

As for leaders, I think in my opinion leaders should be quite flexible, should be quite easy going in some respects, as long as the job gets done. I think they should treat their workers, treat their subordinates with respect and understand each of their circumstances. And so, if they need some time off, if they need some understanding, if maybe a relative is ill, then that should be given to them as long as they don’t take advantage of that situation.

4/ What kinds of people are easy to get along with?

I think the easiest people to get along with are easy going people, people who aren’t too strict with their own lives and so aren’t too judgmental about other people’s lives, about oh, you can’t do that and oh you can’t do this and oh you should do something else. I think these people are very often, not always, often a very difficult lot to get on with and so if people just accept others, then it makes them much easier to get along with in my view.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Analysis

This is my opinion of the above answers. The answer was given as in a test, with minimal preparation time.

Question 1 – Good answer. Talks about which older people he likes talking to, and then compares to the ones he doesn’t while giving an example.

Question 2 – Average answer, but it’s a pity that there was no secondly or finally. This answer got lost in detail.

Question 3 – Good answer. Logically structured, although some hesitation in places.

Question 4 – Good, although gives several examples of people who it is difficult to get along with, while only giving one example of those who are easy. Should have been reversed.

Less Common and Idiomatic Vocabulary

in most cases – in most situations
saying that – on the other hand
kind of – a little
father-in-law – my wife’s father
insist – to demand something forcefully, not accepting a refusal
treating – dealing with in a certain way
basically – essentially, fundamentally
distractions – something that prevents someone from concentrating on something else
wasted – used carelessly or with no purpose
accessible – easily interrupted
flexible – (of a person) ready and able to change so as to adapt to different circumstances
easy-going – relaxed and tolerant in attitude
circumstances – one’s state of financial or material welfare
time-off – a period of time when you do not work
as long as – provided that
strict – (of a person) following rules or beliefs exactly
judgemental – having or displaying an overly critical point of view