IELTS Speaking Part 3: Art & Creativity (Band 9 Sample)
IELTS Speaking Part 3 broadens your Part 2 topic into an abstract discussion — here, art and creativity. A band-9 answer states a clear view, develops it with reasons and concrete examples, and weighs the other side before landing a balanced conclusion. Below are four common discussion questions with band-9 model answers, plus why they score 9 and the collocations worth stealing.
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01 · Discussion questions & Band 9 answers
Q: Why do you think art is important in society?
I think art matters because it does something nothing else quite can — it captures how people feel and see the world at a particular moment. A painting or a song can express things that are almost impossible to put into plain words, and it connects people across cultures and centuries. Beyond that, art simply makes life richer; a world without music, films or beautiful buildings would be unbearably grey.
name the unique value, then broadenQ: Should governments fund the arts, or should they focus on other things?
I do think there's a strong case for public funding, though I understand the objection. On the one hand, money spent on the arts can feel like a luxury when hospitals and schools are stretched. On the other, the arts bring real, measurable benefits — they support tourism, regenerate run-down areas and improve wellbeing. So rather than seeing it as charity, I'd argue it's an investment that often pays for itself.
concede, then reframe as investmentQ: Do you think creativity can be taught, or is it a natural talent?
A bit of both, I'd say, but I lean towards it being teachable. Some people are undeniably born with a natural flair, but I firmly believe creativity is more like a muscle than a gift — it grows with practice, exposure and the freedom to make mistakes. The problem is that a lot of education actually stifles it by rewarding one 'correct' answer, when creativity thrives on exactly the opposite.
take a side, expose an obstacleQ: How has technology changed the way art is made and shared?
Dramatically, and mostly for the better. Digital tools have democratised creativity — anyone with a laptop can now make music or films that once needed a professional studio, and social media lets unknown artists reach a global audience overnight. The flip side is that it's created a flood of content, so it's harder than ever to stand out, and there are real questions about how artists actually make a living. But on balance, I think wider access is a good thing.
optimistic, then a caveat02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer builds an argument in stages — claim, reason, example, then a qualifying turn ("On the one hand... On the other", "The flip side is...") — so the discussion develops rather than lists points. The delivery holds across the longer turns without hesitation.
Arts-and-society vocabulary is precise and idiomatic — "put into plain words", "regenerate run-down areas", "a natural flair", "stifles it", "democratised creativity" — and the collocations carry the argument rather than decorating it.
A wide range is handled accurately: a "so... that" implied structure, a balanced "On the one hand... On the other" contrast, and a comparison ("more like a muscle than a gift"). Complex, abstract ideas are expressed without breakdown.
Longer turns are chunked into clear thought groups with stress on the contrast words, so the intonation signals emphasis and qualification the way a fluent debater's would.
03 · Useful phrases for this topic
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural phrases like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
04 · Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know about famous artists for this topic?
No. Part 3 tests reasoning in English, not art history. A clear opinion backed by logic and a plausible example ('anyone with a laptop can now make music') scores far higher than a list of painters or movements you're unsure of.
How do I structure a strong Part 3 answer?
State your view, give one reason with a concrete example, then add a concession or caveat. This 'claim–reason–example–balance' shape fills the turn naturally and shows developed thinking.
Can I disagree that art is important?
Yes — as long as you argue it well. A well-reasoned minority view is perfectly acceptable and can even stand out, provided you support it with logic rather than simply dismissing the topic.
How long should each answer be?
Three to five sentences: state your view, give a reason, add an example or a concession. Long enough to develop the idea, short enough to keep the discussion flowing.
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