Hello! Welcome to your next lesson on IELTS Speaking.
In our last session, you learned how to analyze the different types of questions you'll face in IELTS Speaking Part 3. You can now identify if the examiner is asking for an opinion, a comparison, a prediction, and more. This is a crucial first step.
Today, we'll build on that skill by learning how to answer those questions effectively. Our goal is to structure a developed opinion for Part 3 responses by stating your opinion, explaining it, and providing an example. This simple, powerful structure will help you give longer, more coherent answers, which is exactly what you need to do to increase your band score.
1. The Core Structure: Answer, Explain, Example
In Part 3, a simple "yes" or "no" isn't enough. The examiner wants to hear you develop your ideas. A highly effective way to do this is by following a three-step structure.
This structure is sometimes called O-R-E: Opinion - Reason - Example. It ensures your answer is logical, well-supported, and long enough to demonstrate your English skills.
2. The O-R-E Method Explained
Let's explore this method in more detail. We'll watch a video that introduces the O-R-E method and highlights a very important point about the type of examples you should use in Part 3.
How to Start Speaking in IELTS Part 3
This video from English Speaking Success introduces the 'O-R-E' (Opinion, Reason, Example) method. Pay close attention to the advice about using general examples instead of personal ones.
Watch the segment from 04:33 to 06:42. Focus on how the speaker distinguishes between a personal example (not ideal for Part 3) and a more general or global example (much better).
The key takeaway here is that Part 3 is about general topics, so your examples should also be general. Instead of saying "For example, my grandfather...", try to say "For example, many older people..." or "I read in the news that...".
To reinforce this, let's look at the same information in a written format. This will help you see the language and structure clearly.
How to Start Speaking in IELTS Part 3
This article from Keith Speaking Academy provides a clear text-based summary of the O-R-E method. Reading it will help consolidate what you learned in the video.
Read the section titled 'How to develop your answers in IELTS Speaking Part 3'. It begins just after the picture of a shopping bag. Notice the bolded phrases and the clear distinction between personal and general examples.
3. Seeing the Structure in Action
Now that you understand the theory, let's watch some high-quality model answers. In this video, you will see an experienced speaker, Jay, answer Part 3 questions. Notice how his answers naturally follow the O-R-E structure.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 - Questions with Jay & Alex
Let's watch two model answers from the E2 IELTS channel. Listen carefully to how Jay structures his responses to give a clear opinion, explain it, and then support it with an example.
Watch the two sample answers from 14:59 to 16:13 and from 17:31 to 19:07. For the first answer ('Do you think the government should care about historical sites?'), try to identify: His Opinion His Reason(s) His Example
Let's break down Jay's first answer together:
- Question: "Do you think the government should care about historical sites?"
- Opinion: "Uh, well I think that absolutely yes, the government needs to care about historical sites." (Very direct answer)
- Reason: "...if the government didn't pay attention to those places... it falls to the people and to organizations... the government has to protect their history. It's part of their culture..." (He explains why it's the government's responsibility).
- Example: "...things that spring to mind would be like the pyramids in Egypt for instance." (A perfect, general example).
His answer is clear, logical, and well-developed. This is the standard you should aim for.
4. Practice Time
Now it's your turn to apply the O-R-E structure. As a dental student, you have a lot of knowledge about health. Let's use that to practice.
Question: "In your opinion, what is the most important thing people can do to maintain good health?"
Take about 10 minutes to plan and write out your answer using the O-R-E framework. Don't worry about perfect grammar; focus on the structure.
- My Opinion:
- My Reason:
- My Example:
Click here to see a model answer.
Here is one possible way to structure an answer. Your ideas might be different, and that's perfectly fine!
- Opinion: "In my view, the most crucial factor for maintaining good health is consistency in basic habits, rather than relying on occasional, intense efforts."
- Reason: "This is because our bodies respond best to regular, predictable routines. Things like chronic diseases or dental problems, for example, don't develop overnight; they are the result of long-term neglect. Therefore, consistent daily actions are the most powerful preventative measure."
- Example: "For instance, public health campaigns often focus on simple, daily activities like brushing your teeth twice a day or taking a short walk. Studies have repeatedly shown that populations that adhere to these simple routines have far lower rates of common health issues, like cavities or heart disease, compared to those who only seek treatment when a problem becomes severe."
Conclusion
Great job today! You have learned a simple but incredibly effective structure for building developed answers in IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Key Takeaways:
- To give a strong Part 3 answer, use the Opinion - Reason - Example (O-R-E) structure.
- Start with a clear, direct statement of your opinion.
- Explain the reason(s) behind your opinion.
- Support your reason with a general example, not a personal story. Think about news, general knowledge, or common societal trends.
In our next lesson, we will look at what to do when you're faced with a difficult question and need a moment to think. We will learn how to use filler phrases to gain thinking time without losing fluency.