IELTS Speaking Part 3: Cities & Urban Life (Band 9 Sample)
IELTS Speaking Part 3 broadens your Part 2 topic into an abstract discussion — here, cities and urban life. 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 so many people move to cities?
Overwhelmingly, it comes down to opportunity. Cities are where the jobs are, particularly the well-paid, skilled ones, so they act as a magnet for anyone looking to build a career. On top of that, they offer far better access to universities, hospitals and culture. For a lot of people, especially the young, moving to a city isn't just about work — it's about a more exciting, connected way of life.
name the main driver, then broadenQ: What are the main problems of living in a big city?
The most obvious ones are the cost and the crowding. Housing in major cities has become wildly expensive, so many people spend a huge chunk of their income on rent. Then there's the congestion, the pollution and the sheer pace of it all, which can be exhausting. Ironically, you can also feel quite isolated in a city of millions, surrounded by people yet knowing hardly any of your neighbours.
list problems, add an ironyQ: Do you think cities or the countryside offer a better quality of life?
Honestly, it depends entirely on what you value and what stage of life you're at. Cities win hands down for career opportunities, convenience and things to do, which suits young professionals. But the countryside offers space, clean air and a slower, calmer pace that many people come to crave as they get older or start a family. Personally, I suspect the ideal is to spend your twenties in a city and then move somewhere quieter.
it-depends, then commit personallyQ: How can cities be made better places to live?
I think the key is thoughtful planning that puts people before cars. Investing in good public transport and cycle lanes, creating plenty of green space, and building affordable housing would all make an enormous difference. The best cities I've been to are the ones designed at a human scale — walkable, green and mixed-use — rather than just endless roads and tower blocks.
name a principle, back it with examples02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer builds an argument in stages — claim, reason, example, then a qualifying turn ("Ironically...", "But the countryside offers...") — so the discussion develops rather than lists points. The delivery holds across the longer turns without hesitation.
Urban-life vocabulary is precise and idiomatic — "act as a magnet", "a huge chunk of their income", "the sheer pace of it all", "at a human scale", "mixed-use" — and the collocations carry the argument rather than decorating it.
A wide range is handled accurately: a "so" result clause ("so they act as a magnet"), a concessive with "But", and a comparative structure ("a slower, calmer pace that many people come to crave"). Complex 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 statistics about cities for this topic?
No. Part 3 tests reasoning in English, not urban data. A clear opinion backed by logic and a plausible example ('housing has become wildly expensive') scores far higher than population figures you're unsure of.
Can I use my own city as an example?
Absolutely — it is encouraged. Drawing on your own experience of city or rural life makes your argument vivid and personal, and examiners welcome that specificity over memorised general statements.
How do I answer a "which is better" question?
Acknowledge that it depends, give the strengths of each, then commit to a position rather than sitting on the fence. This model favours cities for the young and the countryside later in life — a balanced but decided view.
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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