IELTS Part 3 Question Types – Describing Changes

Why do I need to know this?

One of the common points of discussion n Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking Test is about how (or if) things have changed in your country, society. This can also include changes to very specific topics.

For example:

• Social Changes: “In your country, have people’s eating habits changed in recent years?“
• Physical Changes: “How have cities changed in your country in the last 20 years?”
• Specific Topics: “How has technology affected the way news spreads?”

You can usually tell if it’s a ‘changes’ question type if you hear the examiner use the following words or phrases:

• changed / affected / shifted / become
• over the past few [years / decades]
• recently / in recent years
• nowadays

If you get this kind of question, don’t fret! It’s a great chance to demonstrate some “natural and appropriate” (i.e. high-band) grammar! 

Here’s how. 

How do I answer these Part 3 Question Types?

Structure #1 – ‘Become’ with Comparative Adjectives

• [Subj.] + have / has become + (comparative) adjective

• Technology has become cheaper than ever before.
• English has become more important all over the world.
• Elderly people have become healthier thanks to modern medicine.

The present perfect shows that the changes have happened gradually over a longer period of time.
The comparative adjectives shows that the current state of the change is more expensive / healthier / better / faster than before.

• In your country, have people’s eating habits changed in recent years?

“A lot of people have become more conscious about factory farming.”

“Vegetarianism has definitely become more popular than ever before.”

• How have cities changed in your country in the last 20 years?

“Most major cities have become more expensive nowadays.”

“Pollution has become more serious every year.”

• How has technology affected the way news spreads?

“News updates have become faster than ever before.”

“Fake news has become harder to spot than many people expected.”

Here are some full high-band answers using comparative adjectives:

• Do you think people are less willing to help others these days compared to the past?

“Unfortunately yes, to an extent. In regards to strangers, I think people have become less trusting because they hear so many shocking and sensationalist stories in the news about crime and assaults, so they don’t reach out to help people they don’t know because their views have become more cynical because of those stories.”

• It is important to teach students about environmental protection at school?

“Absolutely, yes. I think it has become more important than ever before, because climate change has become a lot more dangerous, and our oceans have become much more contaminated with microplastics and chemicals, so teachers need to show the future generations that they have the power to help our planet before it’s too late.”

Structure #2 – ‘Become’ with Superlative Adjectives & Nouns

[Subj.] + have / has become + [the / a / one of the] + [(Superlative adj).] + noun

• Texting has become [the most popular method of communication] nowadays.
• Money has become [the most important thing] in many people’s lives.
• Indonesia has become [one of the most popular tourist destinations] in the world.

Especially if a new technology, gadget, activity or idea has only appeared in the last few years, this structure is clearer and more accurate.

Here are some full, high-band answers using superlative adjectives and nouns.

• Are people in your country happier now than they were 30 years ago?

“On the whole, I think so, because China has become one of the most prosperous countries in Asia, and our quality of life has become more similar to western European countries. 30 years ago, my parents told me that life was very hard and their living standards were a lot lower than they are now, so they have become much happier. On top of that, we have more choice of cars, clothes and food from around the world – like going out for steak or pizza has become a common activity for a lot of people my age. So I think that’s why most people are happier nowadays.”

• Is it popular to learn English in your country?

“Yes, it is, obviously English has become one of the most important languages in the world at the moment, so in Seoul, there are thousands of private English academies for kids and adults, and Korea has become one of the highest spenders on language education in the whole world, so English is a really important and popular subject here.”

There you go!

Two high-band, clear, easy-to-apply structures you can use to give high-band IELTS Speaking Part 3 answers to Changes Questions.

Study more IELTS Part 3 Question Types:

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions usually come in 5 different question types. Here they are.

• Your Opinion & Evaluating Others’ Opinions
  • Click here to learn more about this question type
• Describing Changes
  • Click here to learn more about this question type
• Comparisons & Differences
  • Click here to learn more about this question type
• Giving Advice & Suggestions
  • Click here to learn more about this question type
• Your Country & Society
  • Click here to learn more about this question type

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