IELTS Speaking · Part 3
Food and diet: IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
Discussion questions
The examiner usually opens the discussion with: "What kinds of food are most popular with people in your country?", then works up from concrete to abstract.
Warm-up (concrete)
Why do you think fast food has become so common?
Cause & effect
Development (societal)
How have people's eating habits changed compared with the past?
ComparisonDo you think it is important for families to eat together?
OpinionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of eating out often?
EvaluationShould schools be responsible for teaching children about healthy eating?
Opinion
Depth (abstract & hypothetical)
How might the way people eat change in the next few decades?
SpeculationIf healthy food were cheaper than unhealthy food, would people's diets improve?
HypothesisIs traditional home cooking being lost in modern life?
Evaluation
Useful vocabulary for this theme
Band 7+ language for discussing food and diet.
- a balanced diet
- a varied, healthy mix of foods
- “I try to stick to a balanced diet during the working week.”
- a sweet tooth
- a strong fondness for sugary food
- “I've got a real sweet tooth, so I can't resist desserts.”
- home-cooked meals
- food prepared freshly at home
- “Nothing beats home-cooked meals after a long day.”
- cut down on
- reduce your consumption of something
- “I'm trying to cut down on processed food this year.”
- grab a bite
- eat something quickly and informally
- “I usually just grab a bite between lectures.”