Tip # 17: Stage 3: Commit to a plan for extending answers

.IELTS Speaking Part 3: Advanced Strategy Guide
Pre-Speaking Checklist
✅ 1. Mindset:

• Show confidence – You’ve made it to Part 3; now demonstrate your highest-level English.
• Think critically – Examiners expect analysis, not just personal opinions.

✅ 2. Answer Structure (4-6 sentences):

• Direct response (1 sentence)
• Reason/Example (2-3 sentences)
• Conditional/Hypothetical ("If this continues...")
• Conclusion (1 sentence)

✅ 3. Emergency Strategies:

• Stalling: "That’s a complex issue because..."
• Admitting uncertainty: "I lack expertise, but hypothetically..."
• Exiting gracefully: "That’s all I can contribute on this."

✅ 4. Language Tools:

• Cleft sentences: "What matters most is..."
• Formal transitions: "In the long term, this would entail..."
• "It depends" + conditions: "It depends on whether governments..."

 
Model Q&A (Extended Responses)
Topic 1: Urban Development
Q1: What are some major traffic problems in your hometown?
A: "That’s an interesting question because traffic issues vary so much by region. In my city, the most pressing problem is rush-hour gridlock around the central business district. The roads there were built decades ago for a much smaller population, and now daily bottlenecks are inevitable. Just last week, it took me 45 minutes to drive 5 kilometers! While some blame poor driver behavior, I’d argue the root cause is outdated infrastructure that hasn’t kept pace with urban sprawl. That’s about all I can say on this—I’m no city planner, but as a frustrated commuter, I see this daily."
Q2: Why do you think this situation developed?
A: "Well, if I had to analyze this, I’d point to three factors. First, there was a lack of long-term planning—authorities prioritized cheap housing over transport networks. Second, public transport investment lagged; our metro system only covers 30% of the city. Finally, car ownership became a status symbol, so even those near transit lines drive. Take my neighbor: he owns two cars but lives 200m from a subway station! In essence, it’s a perfect storm of planning failures and cultural factors. I’m sure experts could add more nuances, but these seem to be the main drivers."
Q3: What solutions would you propose?
A: "This is complex, but I’ll try to break it down. Congestion charges could help, but only if paired with reliable alternatives. London reduced traffic by 30% after implementing this combo, though their metro system was already robust. Alternatively, flexible work hours might spread out rush hour—my company’s ‘staggered shifts’ policy cut my commute by half. That said, there’s no silver bullet; what matters most is political will to fund transit. I’d love to see what urban planners think—this is just my layperson’s perspective!"


Topic 2: Technology Trends
Q1: How has remote work changed modern life?
A: "Let me think about this holistically. On one hand, platforms like Zoom have enabled global collaboration and reduced office costs—my aunt’s firm downsized their space by 60%. On the other, it’s blurred work-life boundaries; many friends complain about ‘Zoom fatigue’ and after-hours pings. Personally, I’ve noticed fewer serendipitous creative moments compared to in-office days. While the genie can’t go back in the bottle, I suspect we’ll see hybrid models dominate. That’s my take, though I’m curious about long-term psychological impacts researchers might find."
Q2: Where do you see remote work in 10 years?
A: "Hmm, predicting tech trends is tricky, but I’ll venture a guess. If VR meetings become seamless (no more motion sickness!), we might see ‘virtual offices’ replace physical ones for many roles. However, industries requiring hands-on work—like healthcare or manufacturing—will likely stay onsite. Much depends on whether Meta or Apple can make VR headsets as comfortable as sunglasses! I’m no futurist, but this seems plausible based on current R&D. Maybe we’ll all laugh at this prediction in a decade!"
Q3: Should companies force employees back to offices?
A: "It depends entirely on the job function. Creative fields thrive on spontaneous brainstorming—my design team’s output dropped 20% when we went fully remote. However, for routine coding or data work, mandates seem pointless. A friend at Google told me their ‘3-days-in’ policy caused mass resignations among top engineers. Ultimately, flexibility is key; rigid policies ignore nuanced productivity differences. That’s all I’ve got—I’m just glad I’m not the one making these tough calls!"


Why These Work

1. Stall Tactics Used:
   • "That’s an interesting question because..." (Q1)
   • "Well, if I had to analyze this..." (Q2)
   • "Hmm, predicting tech trends is tricky..." (Q3)
2. Strategic Exits:
   • "That’s about all I can say..." (Acknowledges limits)
   • "I’m sure experts could add..." (Defers to authority)
   • "Maybe we’ll laugh at this..." (Self-deprecating humor)
3. Length & Structure:
   • 4-6 sentences per answer
   • Claim → Example → Hypothesis → Exit flow
4. Language Showcased:
   • Cleft sentences: "What matters most is..."
   • Formal transitions: "Ultimately, flexibility is key..."
   • Conditionals: "If VR becomes seamless..."

Pro Tip: Practice blending 1 stalling phrase + 1 exit strategy per answer to sound natural under pressure.