IELTS Speaking Part 3: Shopping
5 Part 3 discussion questions on shopping, with developed sample answers of the kind Part 3 expects.
Do you think that people buy a lot of things that they don't need?
(Similar to earlier answer but expanded) Yes, this is a hallmark of modern consumer societies, where shopping has become a leisure activity and a way to manage emotions. Many purchases are driven by advertising that creates artificial needs – a new phone model that is only marginally better, a “limited edition” color, or a gadget that solves a problem you did not know you had. Social media amplifies this by showcasing curated lifestyles, making people feel inadequate unless they buy certain clothes, decor, or experiences. There is also the phenomenon of “retail therapy,” where people shop to relieve boredom, stress, or sadness, only to feel buyer’s remorse later. The rise of fast fashion exemplifies this: clothes so cheap that they are almost disposable, yet the environmental cost is enormous. Of course, “need” is subjective – a professional artist needs expensive brushes, while a hobbyist might not. But a simple test is to wait 48 hours before any non-essential purchase; often, the urge passes.
Do you often buy more than you expected?
I used to, especially when entering supermarkets without a list or when online algorithms showed me “frequently bought together” items. The physical layout of stores – placing essentials at the back, impulse items at the checkout – is designed to trigger unplanned purchases. Online, one-click ordering and saved payment information reduce the friction of impulse buying to nearly zero. Over time, I have become more disciplined by using a strict shopping list and unsubscribing from promotional emails. I also practice the “one in, one out” rule for non-essentials: if I buy something new, I must donate or discard something old. Even so, I still occasionally overspend on sales that seem too good to pass up, only to later realise I do not actually want the item. The key is not to eliminate spontaneous purchases entirely – they can be joyful – but to ensure they are the exception, not the rule.
*What are the psychological tricks stores use to make people buy more? (added)
Stores deploy an arsenal of psychological tactics, starting with the layout: expensive, high-margin items at eye level, cheap essentials near the floor. They play slow music to make you linger and use warm lighting to make products look more appealing. The “decoy effect” offers three price options where the middle one seems like a bargain compared to the expensive one, even if you would not have bought any. Free shipping thresholds encourage adding small items to reach the limit. Limited-time offers and “only X left” create scarcity mindset, bypassing rational thinking. Loyalty cards and points systems exploit the sunk cost fallacy – you buy more to “earn” rewards that are often worth very little. The most powerful trick is anchoring: showing a high original price crossed out next to a sale price, even if the original was inflated. Being aware of these tricks is the first step to resisting them.
*Is online shopping more likely to lead to impulse buying than in-store shopping? (added)
In some ways yes, but the dynamics differ. Online, the sheer convenience and lack of physical friction (no driving, no carrying bags) lowers the barrier to purchase. Targeted ads and personalised recommendations use your browsing history to show you exactly what you are most vulnerable to wanting. However, online also allows easy price comparison and reading reviews, which can discourage impulsive purchases if the reviews are bad. In-store, the physical sensation of touching an item and the social pressure of a salesperson can trigger impulse buys that online cannot. Returns are also easier online in many countries, so people might buy impulsively knowing they can send it back – but many never do. Ultimately, both environments are engineered to encourage overspending, just through different mechanisms. The most effective defence is a pre-commitment strategy, like a shopping list or a 24-hour waiting period, regardless of channel.
*How can someone reduce unnecessary spending? (added)
The single most effective method is to track every purchase for a month – you will often be shocked by the cumulative cost of small, thoughtless buys. Next, adopt a waiting period: for any non-essential over a certain amount (say $30), wait 48 hours before buying. Unsubscribe from retailer emails and remove saved payment information from shopping sites to add friction. Use cash or a separate debit card for discretionary spending, so you physically see the balance shrink. Another powerful tactic is to calculate purchases in terms of hours worked – “Is this handbag worth 10 hours of my life?” Finally, find free or low-cost alternatives for entertainment: libraries, parks, potlucks instead of restaurants, hiking instead of shopping malls. Reducing unnecessary spending is not about deprivation; it is about redirecting money toward things that truly matter to you.
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.