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IELTS · Guide 22 · 10 min read

IELTS Speaking Part 3 sample answers: success and happiness

An IELTS Speaking Part 3 discussion on success and happiness, with transcripts at bands 8, 6.5 and 5 and commentary on all four criteria.

How to use this worked session

This page takes a Part 3 discussion on an abstract theme and shows three candidates answering it at different levels, as transcripts. Try it yourself first: read each question aloud, answer without notes, and record yourself. Aim for four to six sentences per answer. Then compare your recording with the transcripts and commentary.

The task

In Part 3 the examiner asks deeper questions linked to the Part 2 topic. It lasts 4 to 5 minutes. Here, the Part 2 card might have asked you to describe a person you consider successful.

Part 3 discussion questions: success and happiness

  1. How do people in your country usually measure success?
  2. Do you think money and happiness are closely connected?
  3. Why do some people who seem successful still feel unhappy?
  4. Should schools teach children how to be happy?
  5. Is social media changing the way people judge their own lives?

What the examiner is listening for

Strong response (around band 8)

Examiner: How do people in your country usually measure success? Candidate: Traditionally, I'd say it's been measured in fairly concrete terms: a stable professional job, owning a home, and being able to support your family. Those things still matter enormously, particularly to my parents' generation. But I think younger people are starting to define it more broadly, so that having time for friends, or doing work you find meaningful, counts as success too, even if it pays less. Examiner: Do you think money and happiness are closely connected? Candidate: Up to a point, yes. If you're constantly worried about paying the rent, it's very hard to feel content, so having enough money clearly removes a major source of stress. Beyond that, though, I'm not convinced extra money makes much difference. Once people are comfortable, they tend to adjust their expectations, and what made them happy last year simply becomes normal. Examiner: Why do some people who seem successful still feel unhappy? Candidate: I think one reason is that success is often defined by other people. Someone might spend years working towards a promotion because it's what's expected of them, and then find it doesn't actually satisfy them. There's also the cost to consider. Reaching the top of a demanding profession can mean very long hours and less time with family, and that sacrifice can outweigh the rewards. Examiner: Should schools teach children how to be happy? Candidate: I'd be a bit cautious about the word "teach", because happiness isn't really a subject like maths. That said, there are skills that clearly contribute to well-being, such as managing stress, resolving arguments, or understanding the importance of sleep and exercise. If schools covered those in a practical way, rather than through lectures, I think it could make a real difference, especially for teenagers. Examiner: Is social media changing the way people judge their own lives? Candidate: Very much so, I'd say. People inevitably compare themselves with what they see, and what they see online is a carefully edited version of other people's lives: the holidays and celebrations, never the dull or difficult days. So it's easy to come away feeling your own life is falling short. On the other hand, it can also connect people with communities who share their interests, so it isn't entirely negative.

Commentary

Pass-level response (around band 6.5)

Examiner: How do people in your country usually measure success? Candidate: In my country, I think most people measure success by money and job. For example, if someone is a doctor or an engineer and has a big house and a nice car, people think he is successful. Also, having a family is very important for success in my culture. Examiner: Do you think money and happiness are closely connected? Candidate: I think they are connected, but not completely. Money is necessary because you need it for food, housing and education for your children. But some rich people are not happy, and some poor people are very happy, so money is not everything. Examiner: Why do some people who seem successful still feel unhappy? Candidate: Maybe because they work too much and they don't have time for their family or hobbies. Also, some people achieve their goal but then they feel empty, because they don't know what to do next. I think it's important to have balance in life. Examiner: Should schools teach children how to be happy? Candidate: Yes, I think it would be useful. Schools focus a lot on exams and grades, and students feel a lot of pressure. If schools teach them how to deal with stress and how to be positive, they will be happier and maybe also study better. Examiner: Is social media changing the way people judge their own lives? Candidate: Yes, definitely. On social media people only post the good things, like holidays and expensive restaurants. So when other people see these pictures, they feel that their own life is boring. I think this is a big problem, especially for young people.

Commentary

What would lift it: add a qualification or an opposite view to at least some answers ("On the other hand ..."), and use more precise words for abstract ideas ("well-being", "pressure to succeed", "compare themselves with").

Weaker response (around band 5)

Examiner: How do people in your country usually measure success? Candidate: Er ... success is money. If you have money, you are success. And, er, good job. Examiner: Do you think money and happiness are closely connected? Candidate: Yes. Money is important. Without money you cannot ... er, you cannot do anything. So money make happy. Examiner: Why do some people who seem successful still feel unhappy? Candidate: Er ... I don't know. Maybe they are ... er, tired. Too much work. Examiner: Should schools teach children how to be happy? Candidate: Yes. School must teach. Because, er, students is stress. Too much exam. Examiner: Is social media changing the way people judge their own lives? Candidate: Yes. Social media is ... er, people see other people life and, er, they feel bad. Is not good.

Commentary

What would lift it: for every Part 3 question, use a simple frame: "I think ... because ... For example, ... So ...". Learn the word families you need for common themes (success, successful, succeed; stress, stressed, stressful).

The three answers side by side

FeatureBand 8Band 6.5Band 5
DevelopmentView, reasons, qualificationView and a reason, some examplesShort fragments
Abstract vocabularyPrecise and variedAdequate, often simpleVery limited, wrong word forms
BalanceWeighs both sidesOccasional contrastRarely
GrammarWide range, accurateSome complex sentences, minor errorsSimple, frequent errors

Self-check checklist

  1. Did I answer about people and society in general, not only about myself?
  2. Did each answer have a view, a reason and an example or consequence?
  3. Did I show some balance, such as "up to a point" or "on the other hand"?
  4. Were my answers four to six sentences, not one or two?
  5. Did I use the right word forms (success, successful, succeed)?
  6. Did I use conditionals or speculation ("If schools did ..., it might ...")?
  7. Did I avoid repeating the same simple words ("good", "bad", "important")?
  8. In my recording, does my intonation make my opinion clear?

About the band levels

The band levels on this page are our own estimates for practice purposes. They are not official scores and are not produced or endorsed by any IELTS partner. Only a certified examiner assessing a real test can give you an official band.