Even though anything under the sun could be asked to you in the IELTS Speaking test, there are certain subject matters which are brought up often. As a general rule of thumb, you should religiously follow news and current events while preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions. This is because you will understand the different contexts upon which the IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions are based on. Similarly, you will get ideas and examples to use in your answers to IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Below are the latest topics for IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions.
Education
How has education changed in your country since the time your parents were young?
How will the education system change in the next 20 years?
What opportunities are available to people with higher education these days compared with those of the previous generation?
Are there benefits of studying in a group? How should students be grouped?
How easy or difficult is it for elderly people to receive education in your country?
It is said that the purpose of education is to memorize important ideas of the past. What do you think?
Formal education can sometimes hinder new ideas and creativity. Do you agree or disagree?
How can teachers help students to develop their own ideas?
What are the common types of tests in schools and colleges in your country?
Are such tests effective in assessing learning progress of students?
Do students who perform poorly on tests become successful in the future?
What types of books should children be encouraged to read? Why and how?
How can technology be used in education?
Will technology totally replace teachers one day?
Movies
How is watching movies in cinema different from watching movies at home?
Do you think people will still visit cinemas in the future as online movie-streaming sites are gaining in popularity?
What things should be considered when making movies based on real-life events?
Should films be censored? What types of content should be censored?
How has the film industry of your country changed since the time you were a child?
What is the difference between reading a book and watching a movie adaptation of the same book?
Do filmmakers have the responsibility of tackling social or political issues through their films?
How can films influence people?
Ceremonies/Festivals/Celebrations
What is the significance of public ceremonies in people’s lives?
What occasions are celebrated as national holidays in your country? How are they celebrated?
What types of people enjoy national celebrations? Are they generally younger or older?
Is celebrating festivals and national days a waste of money?
How important is it to allocate time for celebrating festivals?
Do you think many festivals today have lost their original meaning? Should they still be celebrated?
What kinds of new festivals might emerge in the future?
What are the different types of family parties in your country?
Is it good or bad to spend a lot of money on celebrating special family events?
How are family parties different from parties given by friends?
Why do some people go to restaurants to celebrate important occasions?
Are there any festivals in your country that celebrate a specific type weather or season?
News/Media/Television
What types of events make headlines in your country?
What sorts of global news are reported by media in your country?
How reliable is internet news?
What are the qualities of a good newspaper?
Why is “right to information” called a fundamental human right?
Are people still reading newspapers? How popular is online news in your country?
Will internet news completely replace newspapers in the future?
To what extent is news censored in your country?
What types of information should be censored in the media?
Why do common people have an interest in the lives of public figures?
What types of news about public figures do you see in your country?
How should media treat the private lives of celebrities?
What are the most popular television shows in your country? Why?
How real do you think are reality shows?
How are TV programs today different from the past?
Shopping/Consumerism
Why do some people like to own a lot of things?
What kinds of possessions show status in your country? Has this changed from the time of your grandparents?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a materialistic society?
Why do some people shop online while others hate online shopping?
Is the internet better than physical stores for buying and selling certain types of products?
Is it better to shop in supermarkets and malls or in small local shops?
Why do people enjoy shopping?
What is good customer service?
How are people’s shopping habits different now from the past?
Should vendors be allowed to sell products and services on the street instead of from a store?
Are there benefits of having locally-owned businesses in a neighborhood? What types of businesses are these?
Does shopping and owning a lot of things make people happy?
Is having a lot of things a sign of success?
Advertising
How are the advertisements of products and services today different from the past?
How effective is the internet in advertising products and services? How is it different from television advertising?
What are the different types of advertisements that a modern person encounters on a daily basis?
How do you feel about the amount of advertisement on television or the internet?
How are television commercials different now from the past?
In what ways might products and services be advertised in the future?
How influential are advertisements in what we choose to buy?
What types of products are advertised more than others on TV in your country?
Some people claim that nobody pays attention to advertisements today as people have learned to ignore them. What do you think?
Should there be regulations on advertising?
History
How reliable are historical accounts of the past?
Some students find History boring or difficult at school. Should History be taught as an optional or a compulsory subject?
How can people learn about history outside from what is taught at schools?
What is the general opinion of people in your country regarding historical and cultural monuments?
What are the benefits to a society of preserving historically important places? How can they be preserved?
What types of structures from today will be preserved in the future as important monuments?
Free time activities
Is having a hobby good for people’s social life?
Why do some people become obsessed with their hobbies?
How much free time should an adult get in order to pursue his or her hobbies and interests?
Are the free time activities that people engage in these days the same as those of the previous generation?
Will people get more or less free time in the future?
What free-time activities are popular among children in your country these days? Are they the same from your own childhood?
Should free-time activities of children always be educational?
How might children and adults spend their free time in the future?
Travel/Tourism
Why do places with water, such as rivers, lakes, and seas, attract a lot of visitors? What types of activities can tourists do in such places?
What types of areas do tourists like to visit?
How can the local government look after popular tourist attractions?
In what ways might the local people help tourists feel welcome?
What are the adverse effects of having too many tourists in an area?
How should the tourists behave when they are visiting new places?
What can people learn by visiting foreign countries for holiday?
What are the differences between traveling within your own country and traveling to a foreign country?
What are the different reasons that people need for traveling regularly?
What kinds of problems do people in your country face on their daily journeys?
Do you think that people will travel less in the future due to advancement in information technology?
What things should be considered when choosing a hotel to stay in?
Communication
How has the internet affected communication among people?
How might people communicate a hundred years from now?
What types of difficulties may arise when communicating on the phone or internet as compared to face-to-face communication?
Why do organizations need to find out people’s opinions? How can they do that?
Why do some people openly communicate their opinions while others are more reserved?
How can social media be used for positive purposes? How can social media be misused?
Art
What art forms (for example, music, dance, drama, painting, and so on) are popular in your country?
How involved should the government be in supporting art and artists?
Should centers for art (such as theaters, galleries, museums, etc) be operated as businesses or as public services?
Is art an important part of school curriculum in your country?
Do artists deserve titles and honors from the government?
Celebrity/Fame
What makes people famous these days? How is this different from the past?
Why does the media focus so much on the private lives of famous people? What kinds of information about famous people should remain private?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?
How can celebrities influence people? Should celebrities be conscious about the impact they might have on their followers?
Do you agree that everyone wants to become famous? Why might some people avoid fame?
Music
Generally, do young people and old people like the same type of music?
What factors influence a person’s taste in music?
What changes do you predict in the music industry in the next 10 years?
What types of traditional music do you have in your country?
Why do countries have national anthems or songs?
Friendship
What are the qualities of a good friend?
What might cause friendships to end?
The internet has redefined what it means to be friends. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
How is friendship different from family relationships?
Why do some people have a lot of friends while others have only a few friends?
Do the types of friends we make change as we get older?
Is it important to have friends from different cultural backgrounds?
Is it possible to become friends with someone from a different age group than you?
How can friends influence each other?
Family
How can family members be similar to each other?
Who have a greater impact on people’s personality: family members or friends?
What kinds of expectations do parents have from children in your country?
To what extent are human characteristics determined by heredity?
How important is it for families to eat meals together?
What are the causes of divorce?
Do you think divorce rates will increase or decrease in the future?
How much time do children and parents spend together in your country? Is it enough?
Why should parents spend time with children? What problems might arise if children grow up without much involvement of parents?
What types of activities should parents do together with their children?
How have relationships between parents and children changed in recent decades?
Do people in your country continue to live with their parents after they have grown up? Is it a good practice?
Do parents give allowances or pocket money to children in your country?
Health
How conscious are people in your country regarding health and fitness?
What are some of the simple and easy ways to remain healthy?
Most people believe that modern lifestyle is not healthy. Why do you think that is?
Why do some people lead unhealthy lives?
What is the role of the government in ensuring that people adopt healthy lifestyle?
Is is expensive to become healthy and fit in the modern world?
How good is the healthcare system in your country? How can it be improved?
What are the benefits of buying health insurance? Should it be mandatory to purchase health insurance?
Sports/Games/Exercise
Are children of today playing the same games that you used to play as a child?
Are competitive games good or bad for children?
Games and sports can divide people. Do you agree or disagree?
What types of sports and games are suitable for older people?
Is it possible to be too competitive in sports?
What might be the disadvantages of training too hard for a competition?
How might competitive sports affect the psychology of athletes?
Are people more or less physically active than in the past?
How are professional athletes viewed in your country? Do they become rich and famous?
Choices
What choices for children should be left upon themselves? Why?
Why do some people discuss their choices with other people?
What sorts of choices do people make on a daily basis?
People of today have more choices than in the past. Is this positive or negative?
Work
Should employees of a company be consulted on how to operate the business? What may be the downsides of this?
What difficulties may arise within an organization when it wants to implement new ideas?
There are often age criteria when hiring and/or promoting workers. Should discrimination based on age be made illegal in the workplace?
What are the attitudes of people in your country regarding women in the workforce?
Are there restrictions on women on doing certain types of jobs in your country?
Do women make the same amount of money as men in your country? Why do you think this is?
Why do colleagues become friends?
What are the qualities of a good boss?
How can companies improve relationships between employees?
What kinds of jobs pay the highest salaries in your country? Is it fair?
Which jobs in society deserve high salary?
Would it be best for all the workers in the society get the same amount of salary?
Why do some people want to start a business? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
What qualities are required to become successful in business?
What kinds of jobs require people to be extremely patient? Is it always better to be patient?
Should students engage in jobs while they are studying?
How difficult is it to work and study at the same time?
What can be done to make a workplace more comfortable for workers?
How important are colleagues in job satisfaction?
How would human life be different if there was no need for work?
Are all jobs equally important?
Why do some people become workaholics?
What types of jobs do young people want to do in your country? Which jobs are unpopular?
How important is salary when choosing a job? What other things are important?
In what ways can a balance between work and personal life be maintained?
Which jobs are the most difficult? Why do people do these jobs?
Some people consider success a result of luck or wit rather than hard work. What do you believe?
School/College
Are competitive class activities beneficial for children? Why do some teachers use them?
Some people say that giving prizes to children who perform well at school might be a bad idea. Why might this be the case? Do you agree?
What is the importance of extracurricular activities in schools?
Besides education, how can schools prepare students for the challenges of life?
What will you say to someone who does not like school?
Is education possible without going to school?
What opportunities are available to students in your country after completing school or college?
Why do some people say that learning is a lifelong process?
How is school life different from university life?
How do public schools differ from private schools in your country?
How expensive is university education in your country?
Should education be provided for free? What are the negatives of free education?
Can people achieve great successes without completing school or college?
Should schools consult students when making rules and designing lessons?
Which skills should schools teach children?
Should schools teach children about how to manage money?
What is the appropriate age for children to begin computer lessons?
How can schools use technology to improve teaching and learning?
Science/Technology
How does technology assist in housework in modern homes?
What are the drawbacks of relying too much on technology for our chores?
What kinds of devices are common in offices today?
How has the adoption of technology in work affected employment in your country?
Is space research worth the money?
How far will humans have reached in outer space in the next 100 years?
Should private companies invest money on space exploration?
Why are some people deciding to reduce their use of technology?
What sorts of technological developments do you predict in the days to come?
What would life be like without internet?
What are the differences between ebooks (electronic books) and printed books?
Will printed books be replaced by ebooks in the future?
Food
Are people these days eating healthier food than in the past?
How has modern technology affected the types of food we eat?
How does homemade food differ from restaurant food? Which is better?
How important is it for people to know how to cook?
Will genetically modified foods have a positive or negative effect on the world?
Food which is expensive is always better than cheaper food. What is your opinion?
Is it necessary for a country to grow all the food it needs?
Environment
What are the biggest environmental issues the world is currently facing?
How can the government protect the environment?
What is the role of private organizations in protecting the environment?
Which are some of the endangered species in the world? Why is it important to preserve them?
In what ways can endangered species be saved?
Will there be more or less pollution in the future?
Is population control an important aspect of environmental protection? Should there be a limit on the number of children parents can have?
Is urbanization an environmental issue? Why?
Are certain jobs affected by changes in weather conditions?
Society
How are the elderly treated in your country? How different is it from a generation ago?
In what ways can we improve the lives of the elderly?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to a society of an ageing population?
What makes a young person take up the life of crime?
How can adolescents be discouraged from involving in criminal activities?
How should a society treat prisoners who have completed their sentence?
How can people help each other in the society?
Why are some people active in social work while other avoid such activities?
Some people believe that communal relations were much stronger in the past than they are today. What do you think?
Do you believe that certain groups in society deserve more help than others?
What will happen if there is a vast income gap between individuals within a society?
Career and work leaves people with less time for family and community. Do you agree?
What are the effects on society of people working longer hours and having less free time?
Government/Politics
What is the ideal age for voting?
Should children and teenagers be involved in politics?
Should there be restrictions on voting?
Why do political leaders of different countries meet each other?
How easy or difficult is it to organize meetings between world leaders?
Is it the responsibility of affluent nations of the world to help poor countries?
Why do some people want to go into politics? What skills are needed to become a successful politician?
Home/Accomodation
In what types of homes do most people live in your country?
Compare and contrast living in a house and living in an apartment.
Is it true that everyone wants a large home?
What might be the disadvantages of home ownership?
What things make a home comfortable to live in?
Is it very expensive to make a house look good?
How are home decorations of today different from the past?
How might the homes of the future be designed and decorated?
Personality/Attitude/Daily life
What types of meeting do people need to go to?
Why do some people hate meetings? What are the benefits of attending meetings?
What skills can a person develop by participating in meetings?
Why do people like doing new things?
Do you think the learning style of children is different from grown ups?
In general, should people take risks in life or should they play it safe?
Which skills are the most desirable among people today? Are they different from the previous generation?
Which skills will be crucial in the future?
Is there a culture of reading books in your country?
Should reading books be an important part of people’s lives?
Is it important to arrive early in certain situations?
Generally speaking, how punctual are people in your country?
Why are some people always late? What can they do to be on time?
Are older people more patient than younger people?
Can money buy happiness?
Is it good to discuss problems with other people? Who should we share our problems with?
Why are some people addicted to internet?
Is it really necessary to have goals in life?
Are successful people always happy?
Are people generally cautious of new ideas? Why?
Next lesson:
IELTS Speaking Part 3 tips: How to engage in a discussion?
