IELTS Speaking Part 3: Science & Society (Band 9 Sample)
IELTS Speaking Part 3 broadens your Part 2 topic into an abstract discussion — here, science and society. 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: How has science improved people's lives?
Immeasurably, I'd say — it's easy to forget just how much we owe to it. Medical science alone has doubled human life expectancy over the past century through vaccines, antibiotics and modern surgery. Beyond health, science has given us electricity, instant global communication and the ability to feed a huge population. In almost every area of daily life, the comforts we take for granted are the fruit of scientific progress.
assert strongly, back with examplesQ: Are there any dangers associated with scientific progress?
Certainly — science is a tool, and like any tool it can be misused. The same research that produces life-saving medicine can also create devastating weapons, and technologies like artificial intelligence raise genuine concerns about privacy and jobs. There's also the fact that progress often outpaces our ability to think through the consequences. So I wouldn't say science itself is dangerous, but the way we choose to use it certainly can be.
concede, then reframe the real issueQ: Should governments fund all scientific research, or only useful projects?
I'd argue strongly for funding both. It's tempting to back only research with an obvious payoff, but history shows that many of the most world-changing discoveries began as pure curiosity with no practical aim in sight. If we only ever funded 'useful' science, we'd risk missing the next great breakthrough. That said, when budgets are tight, I do accept that projects addressing urgent problems, like disease, deserve some priority.
take a side, then qualifyQ: Do you think people trust scientists as much as they used to?
That's an interesting one, and I think trust has become more polarised rather than simply falling. Most people still rely on science every day without a second thought. But the internet has allowed misinformation to spread rapidly, and a vocal minority has become deeply sceptical of experts, as we saw during the pandemic. So while overall trust is probably still high, it feels more fragile and contested than it once was.
complicate the premise, then judge02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer builds an argument in stages — claim, reason, example, then a qualifying turn ("So I wouldn't say science itself is dangerous, but...", "That said...") — so the discussion develops rather than lists points. The delivery holds across the longer turns without hesitation.
Science-and-society vocabulary is precise and idiomatic — "life expectancy", "take for granted", "outpaces our ability", "an obvious payoff", "spread misinformation" — and the collocations carry the argument rather than decorating it.
A wide range is handled accurately: a relative clause ("The same research that produces life-saving medicine can also create weapons"), a second conditional ("If we only ever funded useful science, we'd risk missing the next breakthrough"), and a concessive ("while overall trust is probably still high, it feels more fragile"). Complex ideas come out 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 scientific knowledge for this topic?
No. Part 3 tests reasoning in English, not science. A clear opinion backed by logic and a plausible example ('vaccines and antibiotics') scores far higher than technical detail or statistics you're unsure of.
Is it okay to talk about the dangers of science too?
Yes — a balanced answer that acknowledges both benefits and risks shows range. This model credits science's huge benefits but notes that the way we use it can be dangerous, which is exactly the developed thinking band 9 rewards.
Can I mention recent events like the pandemic?
Yes, in general terms. Referencing widely-known events ("as we saw during the pandemic") makes your argument concrete and current. Keep it broad and accurate rather than citing specific unverifiable claims.
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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