IELTS Speaking · Part 3
Music and performance: IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
Discussion questions
The examiner usually opens the discussion with: "Why do you think music is so important to people all over the world?", then works up from concrete to abstract.
Warm-up (concrete)
How do people's tastes in music tend to change as they get older?
Comparison
Development (societal)
Do you think learning a musical instrument is good for children?
OpinionHow has technology changed the way people listen to music?
ComparisonWhy do you think live performances are still so popular?
Cause & effect
Depth (abstract & hypothetical)
Should traditional music be protected as part of a country's culture?
OpinionHow might the way people experience music change in the future?
SpeculationIf music disappeared from public life, what effect would it have?
HypothesisIs music a more powerful way of expressing feelings than words?
Evaluation
Useful vocabulary for this theme
Band 7+ language for discussing music and performance.
- have a good ear for music
- be naturally sensitive to sounds and tunes
- “I've always had a good ear for music.”
- play by ear
- play music from memory rather than notation
- “My uncle can play almost any tune by ear.”
- a catchy tune
- a melody that is easy to remember
- “The song has such a catchy tune that I can't stop humming it.”
- take centre stage
- become the main focus of attention
- “The lead singer really took centre stage that night.”
- stage fright
- nervousness before performing in public
- “I get terrible stage fright before I have to sing.”