IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics for part 3 (Restaurants) and sample answers.

Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.

To practice with past questions, please look at Speaking Part 2 in more detail.

However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.

TIP >> Listen to the questions the examiner asks you and think about the structure of the question. Are they asking your for your opinion? or to say how something has changed from the past to the present?

TIP >> Learn about the most commonly asked question types used in the part 3 questions. This will help you to identify how you should respond and what to look out for when you are practising.

TIP >> It is common for many people to say ‘I don’t know’ or to lose focus when they get a question they know little about. Always answer the questions and if you feel as though you don’t know about the topic, then buy yourself some time by saying; ‘I haven’t really thought about that before…. but in my opinion……’ then give your opinion, etc.

TIP >> Don’t try to answer the questions as quickly as possible, take your time and answer them to the best of your ability. Give your opinion, the reasoning behind it and support with specific examples.

Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of ‘Restaurants‘ >>

Q. Why do you think people go to restaurants when they want to celebrate something?

A: In my opinion, I think that dressing up to go somewhere with your friends and family is a great way to celebrate a special event. Booking a table in a favoured restaurant is a one way to have a night out and socialise for a birthday or other occasion. This takes the party out of your own hands so that everyone can enjoy the food and not have to do any of the work themselves. Restaurants have a good atmosphere and you can pre-order cakes or other desserts which may be popular if you are celebrating a birthday.

Q. Which are more popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional restaurants? Why do you think that is?

A: Where I live, traditional restaurants are favoured because the people who live here and come to visit want to enjoy the home-cooked food of the Med. They want to try delicious dishes prepared with the local produce. The restaurants here are mainly family-owned, with all of the ingredients used bought on the island. Fast food restaurants do not do very well here, with only one available in the town centre. This is mainly frequented by teenagers, as it is cheap.

Q. Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than food in a cheap restaurant – would you agree?

A: Not really, as I think it depends on where you go and who is cooking it. Everyone has their own personal tastes and if you like a place that serves good food at a good price, then it will be very popular. For example, you might visit a fish restaurant right on the beach, which serves deliciously cooked fresh fish with seasonal vegetables. This could be a small taverna with basic decor and a low-cost menu. This might be quite cheap in comparison to some other so-called ‘a la carte’ restaurants, where the food is very expensive, comes in small portions and does not always live up to expectations.

Q. Do you think there will be a greater choice of food available in shops in the future, or will there be less choice?

A: I think there will continue to be more choice, as the supermarkets seem to be getting bigger and bigger. There is a supermarket next to my parent’s house which is as big as the airport building. The sheer number of products on offer is amazing, they even have employees on roller skates working there, so that they can find what you are looking for and assist you faster.

Q. What effects has modern technology had on the way food is produced?

A: In my view, the way that food is produced now has become quite disgusting with the use of machines and added ingredients. Processed food is so bad for you, yet it is frequently produced and sold in all of the supermarkets. They make it fast, for people who want to cook it fast and eat it fast. This is a process which is against the principles of having a good diet and having the time to enjoy the food. Machines can manufacture food, with all sorts of additional ingredients, which as you can see is creating problems for people.

Q. How important is it for a country to be able to grow all the food it needs, without importing any from other countries?

A: It is definitely something that should be done, I think that when a country can supply the people who live or visit there with fresh natural produce, the lifestyle is much healthier. For example in Greece, they produce fresh vegetables grown in farms there, meat from local farmers and olive oil. They have one of the healthiest diets in the world, with older people living longer. When a country brings food in from other places, the cost goes up and often you don’t really know what is in it, or how the animals were treated.

Different Cue Card Topics

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