IELTS Speaking Part 3: Advice
4 Part 3 discussion questions on advice, with developed sample answers of the kind Part 3 expects.
Do people often ask you for advice?
Yes, I'd say people do come to me for advice fairly regularly, particularly friends and close family members. I think this is partly because I try to be a good listener and to consider a problem carefully before responding, rather than jumping to conclusions. People tend to seek advice from those they trust and believe will be honest yet supportive. The topics vary widely, from academic and career decisions to personal or relationship matters. I always try to give balanced, practical advice while being careful not to impose my own views too forcefully. That said, I'm mindful that ultimately the decision has to be theirs. It's genuinely rewarding to feel that people value my opinion enough to ask for it.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best piece of advice I've ever received was from a mentor who told me not to fear failure, but to see it as a stepping stone to success. At the time, I was quite anxious about making mistakes, and this simple shift in perspective was genuinely liberating. It taught me that setbacks are an inevitable and even valuable part of learning and growth, rather than something to be ashamed of. Since then, I've been far more willing to take risks and step outside my comfort zone. This mindset has helped me persevere through difficult challenges instead of giving up. I think advice like this is so powerful because it changes not just a single decision but your whole attitude. It's something I'll carry with me for life.
Should children listen to their parents' advice?
Yes, on the whole I believe children should listen to their parents' advice, though not always follow it blindly. Parents have far more life experience and, in most cases, only want what's best for their children, so their guidance is usually valuable and worth taking seriously. Listening to this advice can help children avoid mistakes and make wiser decisions. However, I don't think children should obey their parents unconditionally, especially as they grow older. It's important for young people to learn to think for themselves and develop their own judgement, which sometimes means respectfully disagreeing. Parents' advice may also occasionally be outdated or not suited to a child's individual personality. So ideally, children should carefully consider their parents' advice, weigh it thoughtfully, and then make their own informed decisions.
Is it easier to give advice than to take it?
Yes, without a doubt, giving advice is generally far easier than taking it. When we advise others, we're looking at their situation objectively, without the emotions and pressures that cloud our judgement when we face the same problem ourselves. It's easy to tell a friend to stay calm or take a risk, but far harder to follow that same advice when we're the one who's anxious or afraid. There's also the fact that receiving advice sometimes bruises our ego, as it can feel like criticism or an admission that we can't cope alone. People are naturally reluctant to accept that others might know better. Acting on advice also requires real effort and change, whereas dispensing it costs nothing. So while we're all quick to guide others, applying that wisdom to ourselves is a genuine challenge.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 3 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How is Part 3 different from Part 1?
Part 1 is about you; Part 3 is about people in general. The questions move to society, causes and consequences, and the answers are expected to be longer and more developed — an opinion plus a reason plus an example.
What if I have no opinion on the question?
You are not marked on the opinion, so pick one and support it. Saying you have never thought about it and stopping there leaves the examiner nothing to assess.
How long does Part 3 last?
Four to five minutes. The topics develop out of your Part 2 card, so the discussion is usually connected to what you just described.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.