Video summary

4 smart tips for expanding your answers in ielts speaking part 3

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

The speaker explains why IELTS Speaking Part 3 answers often become too short. It’s not because of limited vocabulary—it’s usually because the test-taker chooses an unhelpful “angle” or strategy.

The video offers four practical tips to help learners produce fully developed, long answers without relying on fancy words.

Methodology / tips

1) For buildings/places (and sometimes abstracts), shift to “people and what they do”

If a Part 3 question is about:

  • places/buildings, or
  • abstract concepts

…don’t try to describe the object/concept directly for the whole answer. It’s hard to sustain.

Strategy

  • Give a short description (optional starter).
  • Then expand by discussing:
    • people’s actions
    • experiences
    • events connected to that place/concept

Example pattern used in the video

  • Briefly name/describe the place.
  • Then describe what visitors/people actually do there (e.g., tourists taking photos).

Reframing examples given

  • Historic buildings question → talk about tourists’ behavior (e.g., Instagram photo culture) rather than only architectural appearance.
  • Architectural styles question → talk about people taking pictures and wearing traditional outfits; even newer buildings may mimic the old style to fit that behavior.
  • History learning question (abstract) → shift from “ways to learn history” to people who teach history (schoolteachers vs YouTubers), and compare their methods.

2) “Think like a billionaire” to deepen complex/social-issue answers

For questions involving big, complex, or social/trending issues, avoid a “mediocre/obvious” answer.

Strategy

  • Imagine how a high-level business leader might approach the question.
  • Compare:
    • “average people/workers” vs
    • billionaire perspectives (e.g., Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg)

How it helps

  • Makes it easier to add reasoning, trade-offs, and consequences
  • Often enables use of more specific, impactful vocabulary (e.g., productivity, staying on track, motivation)
  • Helps you sound confident even when you’re being critical

Example scenarios in the video

  • Repetitive work & breaks
    • Average answer: “Yes, give breaks so people relax.”
    • Billionaire-style answer: consider productivity targets, competition, monitoring, motivation, and focusing again after breaks.
    • Example added: Amazon warehouse workers are monitored; breaks are short and uncertain.
  • Queuing in restaurants > 1 hour
    • Billionaire-style contrast: billionaires wouldn’t waste time; it’s about incentives like Instagram photos or social status.
  • Cheap fashion popularity
    • Average view: “It’s cheap and stylish.”
    • Billionaire-style contrast: decision fatigue avoidance (e.g., Zuckerberg wearing the same shirt), plus broader reasons like people spending time scrolling, ordering, and returning.

3) Don’t list points—develop with examples (and/or “other side of the story”)

Core rule

  • Avoid listing multiple points without expansion.
  • The examiner may stop you if you don’t develop ideas.

Strategy

  • Use 1–2 well-developed examples rather than enumerating.
  • If using personal experience, don’t keep it too specific—generalize it.

Personal-to-general example technique (taught explicitly)

  • Replace “my cousin / my friend” with a general group (e.g., factory workers, low-paying workers).
  • Keep the logic and details, but broaden the subject.

Examples given

  • Young adults living with parents
    • Personal start: cousin with low factory wages
    • Revised general form: low-paying workers generally; parents covering utilities helps
  • History learning via YouTube
    • Use a “human history” example described in the video (evolution animations)
    • If too hard, switch angle to business history (e.g., Bezos interviews about Amazon history)

Useful framing expressions for examples

  • “Let me give you an example…”
  • “Let me give you an easy example…”
  • “Let me give you a perfect example, or a perfect example of this is…”

4) If the examiner hasn’t stopped you: add the other side (a balanced extension)

After developing your main point(s), you can add a counterpoint or benefit.

How to do it

  • Add an advantage when relevant, using transition language.

Example transitions

  • “With that said…”
  • “That being said…”
  • “Having said that…”
  • “But hey…”

Example scenarios

  • Repetitive work & breaks
    • Main point: too many breaks reduce productivity/focus
    • Other side: if workers have self-discipline, extra breaks can help them relax/recharge and return with a clearer head
  • Restaurant queueing
    • Main point: people queue for status/Instagram photos
    • Other side: the food may be genuinely awesome due to strong reviews

Extra tip (bonus): Stay idea-ready by actively listening to news

Problem noted by the speaker

  • In Part 3, you may not lack vocabulary—you may have nothing to say.

Strategy

  • Actively listen to news to gather ideas for speaking (and writing).

Recommendations mentioned

  • WSJ “What’s News”
  • Tech News Briefing
  • Platforms: Spotify (mainly), also YouTube (with subtitles)

Speakers / sources featured (at end)

  • Speaker/host: “Lilie” (self-identified as “Lilie Here”)
  • Examples/figures referenced: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg
  • Organizations/news/brands referenced: BBC
  • Companies referenced: Amazon, Walmart, Tesla, Shein, Zara
  • Content platforms/channels referenced: YouTube; “WSJ What’s News”; “Tech News Briefing” (also via Spotify/YouTube)

Original video