Part 3: a simple structure for discussion answers

Part 3 is where many students struggle the most. The questions are bigger and more abstract. "Why do some people prefer to live in cities?" "How has technology changed the way families communicate?" Your Part 1 style of 2 or 3 sentences isn't enough here. You need longer, more developed answers. But you don't need a speech. You need a clear shape.

Why this matters

Part 3 gives you the best chance to show higher-level language. The examiner wants to see you explain ideas, give reasons, compare, and support your opinion. A simple structure helps you do all of that without rambling.

The structure: A + E + E + O

A: Answer. Give your opinion directly in the first sentence.
E: Explain. Give the main reason.
E: Example. Support it with a real or general example.
O: Other side (optional). Show a different view, or end with a short conclusion.

This usually gives you 4 to 6 sentences, or about 30 to 60 seconds.

Example

Why do some people prefer to live in cities?

A: "I think the main reason is opportunity."

E: "Cities have far more jobs, better universities and better hospitals, so people move there to improve their lives."

E: "In Bangladesh, for example, a huge number of young people move from villages to Dhaka or Chittagong every year, mostly to find work in factories or offices."

O: "Having said that, I think more people are starting to realise that city life comes with real costs, like pollution, traffic and expensive rent. So I wouldn't be surprised if some people start moving back to smaller towns in the future."

Common Part 3 question types and starter phrases

Question type	Example	Useful starters
Opinion	Is it important to...?	"I'd say it's really important, because..."
Compare	How is... different from...?	"The biggest difference is that..."
Past vs present	How has... changed?	"In the past, ... Whereas nowadays, ..."
Future	Will... change in the future?	"I suspect that... / It's likely that..."
Cause	Why do people...?	"There are a couple of reasons. The main one is..."
Solution	What can be done about...?	"One thing that could help is..."
Advantages and disadvantages	What are the pros and cons of...?	"On the plus side, ... On the downside, ..."

When you don't have an opinion

That's okay. You can say:

"I've never really thought about it, but I suppose..."
"It's hard to say. On the one hand, ... but on the other hand, ..."
"I think it depends on..."

Then continue with the E + E part.

What if the examiner interrupts?

In Part 3, the examiner may interrupt you or ask "Why?" or "Can you give an example?" This is normal. It doesn't mean you're doing badly. It's a conversation. Just answer the new question.

Try it yourself

Answer each question using A + E + E + O. Record each answer and check the time.

Do you think children today spend too much time on screens?
How has shopping changed in your country in recent years?
What can governments do to reduce traffic in big cities?

Honest note

Don't force the "O" part into every answer. Sometimes your answer is complete after the example. Use the structure as a guide, not as a rule.

Your task today

Write down five Part 3 questions, one for each of five question types in the table. Answer each one using A + E + E + O.