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IELTS Recent Actual Test 3 General Training Speaking Test 3 (Online Test)

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Model answer notes

Built from each question on this page — a shape to follow and some phrases to borrow, not a script to memorise. Examiners mark you down for answers that sound learned by heart.

Part 1 · Question 1

Do you write shopping lists?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: write, shopping, lists

  • To be honest, …
  • …, which is something I have always found useful.
  • The main reason for that is …

Part 1 · Question 2

What other sorts of lists do you make?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: sorts, lists

  • What springs to mind is …
  • …, and that is fairly typical where I am from.
  • If I had to pick one, it would be …

Part 1 · Question 3

Where do you keep them?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

  • It depends, but generally …
  • …, whereas ten years ago it was quite different.
  • A good example of that would be …

Part 1 · Question 4

Do you tick things off as you go?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

  • I would say so, yes, mainly because …
  • …, at least that has been my experience.
  • On the other hand, some people would argue …

Part 1 · Question 5

Would you rather keep a list on paper or on your phone?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: rather, paper, phone

  • Not particularly, no — the thing is …
  • …, which makes a real difference day to day.
  • That said, I can see why others might …

Part 2 · Question 6

Describe an occasion when the weather forced you to change your plans.

Aim for 180–220 words — the full two-minute long turn.

Use the one minute of preparation to jot a word per bullet. Take the bullets in the order they are printed, spend the most time on the last one, and close by answering the final line of the card. Keep talking until the examiner stops you.

Pick up and paraphrase: occasion, weather, forced

  • To be honest, …
  • …, which is something I have always found useful.
  • The main reason for that is …

Part 3 · Question 7

Which industries are most at the mercy of the weather?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: industries, mercy, weather

  • What springs to mind is …
  • …, and that is fairly typical where I am from.
  • If I had to pick one, it would be …

Part 3 · Question 8

How do farmers manage the risk of a bad season?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: farmers, manage, season

  • It depends, but generally …
  • …, whereas ten years ago it was quite different.
  • A good example of that would be …

Part 3 · Question 9

Has better forecasting made planning easier?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: better, forecasting, planning

  • I would say so, yes, mainly because …
  • …, at least that has been my experience.
  • On the other hand, some people would argue …

Part 3 · Question 10

Why do outdoor events still go ahead in poor conditions?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: outdoor, events, still

  • Not particularly, no — the thing is …
  • …, which makes a real difference day to day.
  • That said, I can see why others might …

Part 3 · Question 11

What can travellers do to reduce weather-related disruption?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: travellers, reduce, weather-related

  • To be honest, …
  • …, which is something I have always found useful.
  • The main reason for that is …

Part 3 · Question 12

How well will our infrastructure cope with more unpredictable conditions?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: infrastructure, unpredictable, conditions

  • What springs to mind is …
  • …, and that is fairly typical where I am from.
  • If I had to pick one, it would be …
Part 1
Answer questions 1–5
Question 1:
Do you write shopping lists?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s
Question 2:
What other sorts of lists do you make?
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Question 3:
Where do you keep them?
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0 words
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Question 4:
Do you tick things off as you go?
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0 words
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Question 5:
Would you rather keep a list on paper or on your phone?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s
Question 6:
Describe an occasion when the weather forced you to change your plans.
You should say:
  • what you had intended to do
  • what the weather was like
  • what you did instead
and explain how you felt about it.
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0 words
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Question 7:
Which industries are most at the mercy of the weather?
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Question 8:
How do farmers manage the risk of a bad season?
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0 words
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Question 9:
Has better forecasting made planning easier?
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0 words
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Question 10:
Why do outdoor events still go ahead in poor conditions?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s
Question 11:
What can travellers do to reduce weather-related disruption?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s
Question 12:
How well will our infrastructure cope with more unpredictable conditions?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s