Following is a compare and contrast question from IELTS speaking part 3. This is one of the most difficult question types to answer from the IELTS speaking test. Follow along with how I plan and see my model answer.
What are the differences between famous people today and those in the past?
Compare & Contrast Question
Organize Your Answer (It’s vital to structure your answer otherwise it is confusing for you and the listner)
Talk about one thing then the other (Separate your 2 things into sections. Then talk about one and then the other).
See how I have done this in my answer:
Back in the day, celebrities were famous for their business exploits, like Henry Ford, or for their talent. For instance, Elvis was a well-known singer and Audrey Hepburn, was a famous actress.
These days the same is true to some extent but many people are simply famous for being famous. Take the Kardasians for instance, their incredible popularity isn’t based on any particular talent but rather than having a rich father and an ultra-glamorous lifestyle.
Linking phrase/Discours marker
Back in the day (phrase) – Introduce something in the past
Take the….for instance (phrase) – Way to introduce something
Vocabulary
Business exploits (collocation) – Business achievements
Talent (n) – Something someone is good at
Incredible (adj) – Amazing (very good)
Popularity (n) – Being liked and admired by many people
Ultra-glamorous (adj) – Very appealing and luxury
Next time you get one of these questions in the IELTS speaking test, organise your answer and talk about 1 thing and then the other. That way it will be easy for you to keep track of where you are in the answer and easy for the examiner to understand.