IELTS Speaking · Part 3
Work and careers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
Discussion questions
The examiner usually opens the discussion with: "What makes a job satisfying for most people?", then works up from concrete to abstract.
Warm-up (concrete)
Why do some people change careers several times in their lives?
Cause & effect
Development (societal)
How has the way people work changed in recent years?
ComparisonDo you think people work harder now than they did in the past?
OpinionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
EvaluationShould a good salary matter more than enjoying your work?
Opinion
Depth (abstract & hypothetical)
How might automation and machines change the jobs people do in the future?
SpeculationIf everyone worked a four-day week, what effect would it have on society?
HypothesisIs it realistic to expect one job to last a whole career anymore?
Evaluation
Useful vocabulary for this theme
Band 7+ language for discussing work and careers.
- climb the career ladder
- progress upward through job positions over time
- “I'm hoping to climb the career ladder over the next few years.”
- a nine-to-five job
- a conventional office job with fixed hours
- “I'm not sure a nine-to-five job would really suit my personality.”
- a steep learning curve
- having a great deal to learn very quickly
- “My first month was a steep learning curve, but I got there in the end.”
- job satisfaction
- the sense of fulfilment you get from your work
- “For me, job satisfaction matters far more than a high salary.”
- a demanding role
- a job that requires a lot of effort and time
- “She has a very demanding role that often keeps her at the office late.”