Revealing 3 ways to speak Speaking Part 3 to help you get full marks

For the question in IELTS speaking part 2 , the examiner requires you to answer fluently and smoothly, whereas in part 3 , coherent and logical arguments are prioritized. However, under the pressure of the exam room and sometimes not having ideas quickly, many candidates are quite confused about how to express their answers appropriately. The P.I.E structure below will help you more easily develop your answer in a logical direction. P.I.E stands for:

• P – Point: The main point of the speaker.

• I – Illustration: Evidence, usually manifestations, reasons, or examples that clarify the main point.

• E – Explanation: A bridge that explains and analyzes the relationship between the point and the evidence.

The P.I.E method is used by many candidates due to its outstanding advantages such as:

• Applying the P.I.E structure to the part 3 speaking test will help your answer be more coherent, logical, and visual. Present your speech from the main point, then clarify and prove that point with specific examples, and finally analyze and reaffirm the issue raised.

• Practicing according to the P.I.E structure is also quite easy even if you know nothing about this structure, you can quickly get acquainted because it only consists of the three simple steps mentioned above.

• There are three common types of questions in IELTS Speaking part 3 that you need to pay attention to: comparison type, pros and cons type, and discussion - opinion type.

• In addition, because P.I.E only has three steps, your answer will be of moderate length, ensuring it is within the allotted time.

How to speak IELTS part 3 through the P.I.E structure.

Next to the way of doing Speaking part 3 by using the P.I.E structure, the application to answer questions is very important. Let's join IDP to learn more detailed answers with different types of questions and specific examples!

2.1. Types of questions with two sides of benefits and harms

Step 1: First, you should start the speech by giving your opinions about the given topic.

• Well, I believe, A can bring more benefits than that.

• Well, I worry A have many negative effects affecting our lives.

• Honestly, I believe that Lan can have both a positive and a negative influence on our lives.

Step 2: Next, you specify the first benefit/harm.

• Firstly, A can help people improve their …

• It is clear/obvious that A can provide people with …

• Well, there is no doubt that A supports people in …

Step 3: Present the benefits and harms with specific evidence or illustrative examples to convince the judges.

• For instance, people can…

• One example is….

• Such as,...

• In a similar case,...

Step 4: Based on the relationship linked to the main topic to analyze and explain the mentioned expressions.

• Therefore, they might…

• Ultimately, they might…

• Consequently,...

Step 5: At this step, you can name the next benefits/harms or other opposing benefits/harms (if not, you can skip this step).

• On the other hand,…

• The second profit/drawback of…

• In contrast with…

• Negative impact of…

Step 6 - 7: Repeat the structure in steps 3-4.

After stating the second benefit/harm, you continue to provide evidence and analyze, explain that viewpoint similarly to steps 3 and 4.

The following conversation will help you have a more specific view of how to apply the 7 steps to answer the question of benefits and harms.

Example of applying the P.I.E structure to the question of two sides of benefits and harms

2.2. Comparison questions

Comparison is also a common type of question in the IELTS Speaking Part 3 test. It seems like a scoring type of question, but if you do not orient your answer, it is very easy to lose points unfortunately with this type of question. Let's go through the steps to answer comparison questions to help you score absolutely.

Step 1: First, you should start the speech by giving your opinions about the given topic.

• Well, I guess there is a main difference between A and B

• I think there's a lot of difference between ….

• There are quite a few/some/a lot of/a number of differences between …and….

Step 2: Compare/prove the specific difference with expressions or comparison examples. You can apply comparative, equal, or less than structures.

• Firstly, I would say that A is more… than B.

• Well, when it comes to… I have to say A is not as… as B.

Step 3: Use specific evidence, expressions, or examples to prove the benefit/harm you just presented.

• In a similar case, A usually… whereas B tends to…

• For instance,…

• For example,...

Step 4: State the next issue of difference or similarity (if not, you can skip this step)

• On top of that, A is… better than B.

• Whereas on the other hand….

• Another difference between A and B is that…

• As well as this….

Step 5-6: Repeat steps 2-3.

After stating the second difference/similarity, you continue to provide evidence and analyze, explain that viewpoint similarly to steps 2 and 3.

You can refer to the way to answer comparison questions by applying the steps in the image below.

Applying 6 steps to answer comparison questions helps you score absolutely in the test

See more: Full set of 30+ latest IELTS SPEAKING part 1, 2, 3 topics

2.3. Yes - No questions

This is a closed question because there are usually only 3 cases: Yes, No, and Not sure. Therefore, to answer this question, you should remember 2 main parts: answer directly (yes, no, not sure) and provide detailed explanations for why you answered that way.

If you agree with the question, use some of the following structures:

• Of course,...

• Well, I agree,...

• Absolutely,...

• I totally agree,...

• For sure,...

Some structures to answer if you disagree with the opinion/question:

• I don’t think so,...

• I have say no,...

• I totally disagree,...

• Unfortunately, no,...

• Not really,...

Or if you are not entirely sure about the Yes or No answer, you can use some of the following structures:

• Well, to be honest,...

• Well I'm not too sure about this,...

• Well, it is contingent upon,...

• It’s hard to give a definite answer,...

2.4. Discussion – opinion questions

Known as a difficult type of question, you need to think carefully and systematize the content logically to convince the judges. Refer to the steps to answer discussion – opinion questions below.

Step 1: First, you should start the speech by giving your opinions about the given topic.

• In my opinion, I think…

• On my side, for that

• Personally,

• I haven’t thought about this topic before, but I suppose…

Step 2: Next, you need to state the first argument of the question and discuss them.

• Firstly, I believe that A should …

• I’m convinced that…

• I suppose that…

Step 3: Present specific expressions or examples to prove your argument convincingly.

• For instance,…

• Example include,...

• To illustrate,...

Step 4: To determine the link to the main topic, you need to analyze and explain the viewpoint at this step.

• Because/ Because of/ Due to, …

• …as a consequence…

• …as a result….

Step 5: Present the next viewpoint (if not, you can skip this step)

• On top of that, A also needs to …

• Add on that,...

• Not only that, A should …

• Besides,...

Step 6 - 7: Repeat steps 2 – 3.

After stating the second viewpoint, you continue to provide evidence and analyze, explain that viewpoint similarly to steps 3 and 4.

The sample paragraph below applied the 7 steps as above will help you visualize more specifically how to answer discussion – opinion questions, please refer to it.

Applying the method with 7 steps to answer discussion and opinion questions

Besides applying the P.I.E structure to the IELTS Speaking part 3 test, to complete your test smoothly and score points with the examiners, you can also use the following 5 simple but effective tips.

3.1. Ask again (Rephrase the question)

Not hearing clearly or not fully understanding the content of the question is not uncommon among candidates. In these situations, you can use the familiar question form “Can you repeat the question?” as a simple way to get the examiner to repeat the question.

However, for questions that are too long or difficult, you should replace it with “Can you rephrase the question?”. The difference when you use the word “rephrase” is that the examiner can rephrase the question in simpler, easier-to-understand words!

Don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat the question when you haven't heard or fully understood the question.

3.2. Comment on the question

Sometimes during the test, you will encounter difficult questions that you haven't come up with an idea for an answer. You can buy time by using comments about the question such as:

• That’s a very interesting question.

• I’ve never thought about this before.

• To be honest, it’s not an area of my interest.

The important thing is that you need to come up with an answer to the question, even if it's simple, but avoid long periods of silence!

Use general comments about the test in case you haven't come up with a specific answer.

3.3. Comment on your knowledge of the topic

After completing the above two steps but still being “stuck” for ideas, the best thing you can do at this time is to make a general statement. For example, with the question “Is advertising harmful to viewers?” If you still haven't thought of a specific harm, you can present it by saying something general like: Well, you know, there is a lot of harm from watching advertisements.

Furthermore, for most questions in part 3, you can answer generally according to the structure “There are many…” and then go into each point specifically, which will help the speech be systematic and logical. Additionally, you can use the following sentence patterns:

• It’s very difficult to know exactly, but I think/but I believe/perhaps…

• I don’t really know much about this topic, but if I had to guess I would have to say that…

• I've never thought about this before, but I suppose…

• To be honest, it's not an area of my interest, but I assume…

3.4. Answer the specific issue

Starting the presentation with phrases like “For example,...” or “First,...” are familiar ways to use. However, to avoid the case of not being sure to come up with a second idea, use “For example,...” for safety and coherence. For example: For example, it could make us buy things we do not need, and that’s definitely a waste of money. This is particularly troubling among children, who are heavily influenced by commercials and always pester their parents for the products they see advertised.

3.5. Conclude (Retreat)

If you happen to speak too long in part 3, end your presentation with some simple sentences like:

• That’s all I want to say.

• That’s it.

You may be interested in:6 tips for getting a high score in the IELTS speaking test that you should know

Having effective learning methods in hand will make your review process easier and better! Hopefully, with the ways to speak in Speaking part 3 above have helped you in your IELTS preparation journey! Don't forget to contact IDP through the website: https://ielts.idp.com/vietnam for the best advice and support on IELTS!

See more:

The most common IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics (Part 1)

How to get a high score in Speaking Part 2