IELTS Speaking Part 3: Watching TV
4 Part 3 discussion questions on watching tv, with developed sample answers of the kind Part 3 expects.
How often do you watch TV?
These days I don't watch traditional television all that often, to be honest, as my viewing habits have shifted largely to online platforms. On a typical day, I might watch something for an hour or so in the evening to relax and unwind after work or study. However, rather than sitting down to scheduled TV broadcasts, I tend to stream series, documentaries or videos on my laptop or phone at times that suit me. At weekends, I sometimes watch a bit more, perhaps a film or an episode of a series I'm following. I also still catch the news or a major sports event on the actual television now and then. So while I do watch regularly, it's mostly on demand rather than conventional TV. It reflects how younger people increasingly consume content.
What kinds of TV shows do you like?
I enjoy a fairly broad range of shows, but I'm particularly fond of documentaries and well-crafted dramas. Documentaries appeal to me because they're both entertaining and educational, allowing me to learn about history, science, nature or different cultures while being genuinely engaged. High-quality drama series are another favourite, as I love becoming absorbed in a gripping storyline with well-developed characters. I also appreciate a good comedy when I want something light-hearted to relax and have a laugh. Occasionally, I'll watch talk shows or news analysis to keep up with current events and different perspectives. What I tend to avoid are repetitive reality shows, which I find rather shallow. So overall, I gravitate towards content that either teaches me something or tells a compelling story.
Do you think watching TV is a waste of time?
I don't think watching TV is inherently a waste of time; it really depends on what you watch and how much. Television can be genuinely valuable when it's educational or informative — documentaries, news and quality dramas can teach us a great deal, broaden our horizons and even spark meaningful conversations. It's also a perfectly legitimate and healthy way to relax and unwind after a demanding day, and everyone needs some downtime. That said, TV can certainly become a waste of time when it's consumed excessively or when people mindlessly watch low-quality, repetitive content for hours on end. In those cases, it displaces more productive or beneficial activities like exercise, reading or socialising. So the key, as with most things, is balance and making conscious choices. Used sensibly, TV is far from a waste of time.
Has online streaming replaced traditional TV?
Online streaming has largely overtaken traditional TV for many people, though I wouldn't say it has completely replaced it just yet. There's no denying that streaming services like Netflix and YouTube have revolutionised how we watch content, offering unmatched convenience, choice and control that appeals especially to younger generations. As a result, traditional scheduled television has seen a steep decline in viewership, and many households now rely primarily on streaming. However, traditional TV still holds its ground in certain areas — live events such as sports, breaking news and major national broadcasts are still watched in real time by huge audiences. Older generations also tend to stick with conventional TV out of habit. So while streaming has become dominant, traditional television hasn't disappeared entirely and still serves an important role. The two are likely to coexist for some time yet.
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.