📖 Notes
LESSON 16 OF 20
Speaking Part 3 — Discussion & Abstract Topics
From Personal to Abstract
Part 3 pushes the same topic from Part 2 into broader, more abstract territory. A simple opinion-reason-example-conclusion formula keeps answers organised even under pressure.
Format
4–5 Minutes of Abstract Discussion
Part 3 questions are abstract, societal, or philosophical in nature, and always linked back to the Part 2 topic — but discussed more broadly.
The 5-Step Formula
1
Opinion
"I think/believe/feel that..."
2
Reason
"...because/since/as..."
3
Example
"For instance/Take...as an example"
4
Concede
"Although/However/That said..."
5
Conclude
"So overall..."
Useful Phrases
- "That's an interesting question. I think..."
- "There are different ways to look at this..."
- "It depends on the context, but generally..."
- "From a social perspective..."
- "Some argue... but personally I believe..."
💡
Conceding a point raises your score
Acknowledging a counter-argument before your conclusion ("Although some would argue...") signals more sophisticated thinking than a one-sided answer, and directly supports the Fluency & Coherence criterion.