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Part Three actually contains a wide number of different topics and questions. It would be almost impossible to memorize answers in Part Three.
The best strategy for Part Three is to ignore the actual topic and question and focus on the "language function" of Part Three questions.
These language functions require specific grammar aspects, so for this reason, most of our Part Three responses will be based on grammar.
Look at the following question:
Are houses nowadays the same as houses 50 years ago in your country?
With all Part Three questions it is a good idea to ask the following question:
Why is the examiner asking me this question?
With this example the answer should be:
The examiner is testing my ability to demonstrate my ability to compare two things.
This will be our first question type.
Part Three Question Type 1: Comparing
This is one of the most common Part Three question types. It usually appears very early in Part Three (the first or second question). The comparing question can be asked in different ways:
Are houses nowadays, the same as houses 30 years ago in your country?
(This type of comparison question requires the use of mixed tenses.)
Do men and women like the same types of books?
Do old and young people like the same holidays?
Are houses in North China the same as houses in South China?
Although these questions look quite different, they all require a very similar answer. The important thing to remember is that you do not get marks for the "differences" that you describe. Some candidates simply list a number of differences - this does not produce a good quality answer. For this question type you need to use "comparative" structures. Look at the following answer:
Do men and women like the same hobbies?
I think men and women like different hobbies, for example men are fond of many types of sporting activities such as football and basketball. Also they prefer things like watching action movies and going to bars, but women like hobbies such as shopping, watching TV, singing KTV and charting online.
This answer is simply a list of different hobbies: it is focused on content. It does not produce the "comparative" language that is required for this type of question.
Now look at the next answer to the same question:
Well obviously there are a number of clear differences. However, I guess that the most significant would be that men tend to prefer sporting activities such as football or basketball. Whereas in contrast women prefer things like shopping for clothes. In addition to this, another possible distinction might be that men usually like watching films: while on the other hand, women are more likely to prefer watching soap operas on TV.
This second answer contains similar content to the first answer but the content is presented with comparative structures. The comparative language here is: whereas, in contrast, while on the other hand. These two comparative linking structures will increase your score. Now you need to build your own comparative answer. Begin with an opening linking phrase:
Now say that there are some differences:
Now introduce the first difference:
Now use a sentence to describe the first difference. For example, "...men tend to prefer..."
Develop this first difference with a simple linking word: especially, particularly, in fact, such as, for example, specifically.
Now use your first comparative linking structure:
Now add your next sentence. For example, "...women are generally keener on..."
Develop the second part of the first difference with a simple linking word: especially, particularly, in fact, such as, for example, specifically.
So you have described one difference. Now you need to introduce a second difference. Begin with a linking word:
Say there is another important difference.
Now describe the second difference. For example, "...men are quite keen on..."
Now use your second comparative linking structure.
Then give a sentence to describe the second Part of the second difference. You only need to describe two differences.
Sometimes people call these questions "changes" questions. However the question "How has X changed in recent years?" is actually the same question as, "Is X nowadays the same as X in the past (20 years ago, 50 years ago etc.)?"
The answer is actually the same, because if you describe the changes you are simply describing the difference between past and present.
In your answer, when you describe the past, the easiest tense to use accurately is "used to". For example:
Now use your own answer structure to practice the following compare questions.
This is not a complete list of every comparison question in Part Three, but if you can confidently use your comparative structure for all of these questions, you will have no problem answering this type of question - regardless of the topic.
Part Three Question Type 2: Predicting
Look at the following question: "What will houses be like in the future?"
Now ask yourself: "Why is the examiner asking me this question?"
The answer is simple: "The examiner is testing my ability to use future prediction structures."
The following answer is quite common for this type of question:
I think that in the future, houses will be much bigger, and maybe they will be in some strange places such as on the moon or under the sea.
The answer above directly answers the question with acceptable "predictions". However the language used to present these predictions is very basic. Now look at the next answer to the same question:
Certainly, I’m sure that most people would agree that there will be a number of major changes related to this. Initially, I guess that we might begin to see houses that are much bigger. At the same time, I suppose it's quite probable that we may have houses under the sea. And who knows, it could even be possible that we'll see the arrival of houses on the moon.
The content of this answer is basically the same as the answer but the language used is much more complex. The answer lists 3 different predictions and each prediction is presented with a different future structure:
Now you will build your own "predicting answer structure”. Begin with an opening linking phrase:
Certainly, I’m sure that most people would agree that there will be a number of major changes related to this.
I'm sure that in years to come we will see a number of changes related to this.
I reckon that in the not so distant future there are going to be a few imminent changes with regard to...
I imagine that in the near future, we will witness some major changes with regard to...
Introduce your first prediction.
Initially, I guess that we might begin to see...
To begin with, I'd predict that we will most likely have...
Primarily, it looks quite probable that we are going to have...
First of all, I would envisage that we are going to have...
Use a sentence to describe your first prediction. (Try to use basic future tenses when giving details.) Try to develop the sentence with a basic linking word.
Initially, I guess that we might begin to see houses that are made of plastic materials because these will be much cheaper and easier to construct.
Now introduce your second prediction.
Use a sentence to describe your second prediction. (Try to use basic future tenses when giving details.) Try to develop the sentence with a basic linking word.
At the same time, I suppose quite probable that we may have houses that are controlled by computer because this will make home life much easier.
Now introduce your third prediction. It is not always possible to make 3 realistic predictions, so you can make your final one quite unrealistic.
It is probably not necessary to develop your last prediction, but if you can add a detail use a basic future tense. Practise your prediction structure with the following questions:
It is important to remember that some of these prediction questions are quite difficult in their content. It is not always easy to think about the future. As a basic guideline the following changes should be useful for these topics:
Part Three Question Type 3: Why questions
There are some "why" questions in Part One of the speaking test but they are more commonly asked in Part Three. Look at the following question and answer:
Why do so many people want to be famous?
In my opinion there are many reasons. Firstly people think they can make more money, live in a big house, drive an expensive car and travel around the world.
The reasons in this answer are quite acceptable, but they are presented in a basic structure which lacks linking phrases. This answer also lacks complex vocabulary. Now look at the next answer:
In my opinion I guess I would have to say that there are probably a number of factors involved. Primarily, one key motivation would be because they think they would be able to make more money. As well as this a subsequent incentive might be because they want to live in a big house and drive an expensive car.
This answer actually contains less ideas or reasons, but it presents the reasons with complex linking structures. The word "reason" is also replaced with 3 different complex vocabulary items (factor, motivation and incentive).
Now build your own "why" structure. Begin with a linking phrase:
Now use a structure to say that "there are many reasons".
Now introduce the first reason:
Introduce the second reason:
If you want to talk about a third reason, you can use a similar structure to the ones above. Remember try not to repeal the vocabulary, i.e. if you have used "factor" in one sentence, in your next sentence use a different word, e.g., "motive". The more "reason" words you use, the higher your vocabulary score.
Now practise using your structure for the following "why" questions.
Part Three Question Type 4: Advantages
These questions sometimes appear in Part One, but they are much more common in Part Three. Look at the following question and answer:
What are the advantages of travelling by train?
I think there are many advantages; for example it is quite cheap, it's usually faster than road travel, you can usually take a train to any destination and you can sleep on the train.
Although this answer describes some advantages, it does not use appropriate language to express these advantages. In fact, the only word used "advantage" is recycled from the question. Now look at a different answer to the same question:
Well I suppose that there are quite a few clear benefits, but I would probably say that for the most part, the one thing that really stands out is that trains are really cheap, especially for long distance travel - you can travel from one side China to the other for a few hundred yuan. I guess that another obvious plus point is that it is much faster than travelling by road - so you can save time by travelling on trains. Along with this, a further merit is that you can sleep quite comfortably on long train journeys.
In this answer, the candidate has used appropriate language to express "advantages": clear benefits, obvious plus point, further merit.
Now create your own "advantages" structure. (You will build a structure that develops each advantage.) Begin with an opening linking phrase that explains that "there are many advantages".
Now highlight the most obvious:
Add a simple sentence which describes the advantage: "...trains are really cheap..." Now develop this advantage with one of the following structures:
Add a simple sentence to explain why it is an advantage: “… you can travel from one side China to the other for a few hundred yuan."
Now introduce your second advantage:
Add a simple sentence to explain the advantage and develop it with one of the following:
For most questions, two advantages should be enough to produce a good quality answer. There is no need to list every advantage.
A common problem for this type of question is when candidates also try to describe disadvantages in their answer. This is unnecessary because usually (not always) the examiner will ask about disadvantages in the next question. Now use your advantages structure to practise answering the following questions.
Part Three Question Type 5: Disadvantages
An advantage question is often followed by a disadvantage question.
What are the advantages of train travel?
(Your answer)
Are there any disadvantages?
Your disadvantage answer should be similar to your advantage answer. You need to use appropriate vocabulary to describe the disadvantages. Begin with a linking structure to explain that there are some disadvantages:
Now introduce your main disadvantage:
Describe the main advantage with a simple sentence, for example: "...trains are often overcrowded..."
Now use a linking structure to develop this disadvantage.
Add a simple sentence to explain why it is a disadvantage, for example: "...on a long journey you might not be able to find a seat."
Now describe your second disadvantage.
Add a simple sentence and develop it with one of the following structures:
So a complete answer to the question might look like this:
What are the disadvantages of train travel?
I think it's fair to say that there are a few negative aspects. I suppose the most unfavorable quality might be that trains are often overcrowded at certain times of year. This is a clear limitation because on a long journey you might not be able to find a seat which means you have to stand up for hours. At the same time, another stumbling block might be that train tickets are sometimes difficult to buy, especially around Spring Festival, and this can be a hassle because it means you can’t always travel on the actual day that you want to.
When the examiner hears this answer, the first thing he will notice is the appropriate disadvantage language: negative aspects, unfavorable quality, clear limitation, stumbling block, hassle. Because you have used these words in complex linking structures, it affects your score in three ways: fluency – grammar – vocabulary.
Now use your disadvantage structure to practise the following Part Three questions:
Part Three Question Type 6: Problems
This type of question is not as common as the previous five types, but it is often used in topics that deal with nature, environment, social problems or global problems. Example: "What problems are caused by the increase in use of private cars?"
As you should now understand, your aim here is to present two problems using appropriate "problem" vocabulary. Begin with an opening linking phrase to explain that there are problems:
Now highlight your main problem:
Add a simple statement and develop it with one of the following structures:
Now introduce your second problem with one of the following linking phrases:
Add a simple statement and develop it with one of the following:
So a final answer to our first question might look like this:
It’s universally accepted that there a few hazards involved with the increase in the use of private cars. Essentially, one fundamental concern is probably that it leads to an increase in pollution. This fact is unmistakably perturbing because we are facing huge global pollution problems at the moment.
Additionally, another major cause for concern has to be the fact that cars consume huge amounts of our energy resources. And the underlying repercussions of this are that we will soon be confronted with a global energy crisis."
Some candidates try to offer solutions to the problems in the same answer. In most cases the examiner will follow the "problem" question with a "solution" question, so do not offer the solutions until you are asked this question.
What are the problems associated with the increase in car use?
(Your answer)
How could these problems be solved?
Use your "problem" structure to answer the following questions:
Part Three Question Type 7: Solutions
If the examiner asks a "problem" question, it will normally be followed by a "solution" question. It is a good idea to make a back reference to the two problems that you described in your previous answer. For this reason it is a bad idea to describe more than two problems in the previous answer, because you might forget what the actual problems were. First, begin with a general statement:
Highlight your first solution:
Give a brief statement to explain the solution. Now offer a solution to the second problem:
So a complete answer might look like this:
What are the problems associated with in the increase in car use?
(See answers to previous problems)
How could these problems be solved?
In my view, there are a number of actions that could be taken. When dealing with the first problem, the easiest way to work it out would be to develop new technology for car engines which doesn't cause serious air pollution, maybe some kind of special exhaust filter. Taking on the second problem, the most successful way to confront this would be to invest heavily on research into alternative energy sources. In fact, I've heard that we have already produced a car which runs on water.
If you are confident enough, you might want to develop these points further, but don’t do it if you are not sure that you have the vocabulary to continue producing good quality language. It is always better to produce a medium length answer that is accurate in its language than a longer answer that contains many mistakes.
Go back to the problem question section and practise your "solution" structure for the problems that you thought about for each example question.
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