Mat Clark ielts speaking

Part Three Question Type I: Comparing 
This  is  one  of  the  most  common  Part  Three  question  types.  It  usually  appears  very 
early in  Part Three (the first or second question). The  comparing question can be asked in 
different ways: 
Time comparison 
Are houses nowadays, the same as houses 30 years ago in your country? 
(This type of comparison  question requires the use of mixed tenses). 
Social group comparison 
Do men and women like the same types of books? 
Do old and young people like the same holidays? 
Geographic comparison 
Are houses in North China are same as houses in South China? 
Although these questions look quite different, they all require a very similar answer. 
The important thing to remember is that you do not get marks for the ―differences‖ that you 
describe.  Some  candidates  simply  list  a  number  of  differences  –  this  does  not  produce  a 

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Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
 
 
170
 
good quality answer. For this question type you need to use ―comparative‖ structures. Look 
at the following answer: 
―Do men and women like the same hobbies?‖ 
―I  think  men  and  women  like different  hobbies, for example  men  are  fond of many 
type  of  sporting  activities  such  as  football  and  basketball.  Also  they  prefer  things  like 
watching  action  movies  and  going  to  bars,  but  women  likes  hobbies  such  as  shopping, 
watching TV, singing TV and chatting online‖. 
This answer is simply a list of different hobbies; it is focused on content. It does not 
produce the ―comparative‖ language that is required for this type of question. 
 
Now look at the next answer to the same question: 
―Well  obviously  there  are  a  number  of  clear  differences.  However,  I  guess  that  the 
most  significant  would  be  that  men  tend  to  prefer  sporting  activities  such  as  football  or 
basketball. Whereas in contrast women prefer things like shopping for clothes. In addition to 
this,  another  possible  distinction  might  be  that  men  usually  watching  films;  while  on  the 
other hand, women are more likely to prefer watching soap operas on TV.‖ 
This  second  answer  contains  similar  content  to  the  first  answer  but  the  content  is 
presented  with  comparative  structures.  The  comparative  language  here  is:  whereas,  in 
contrast,  while  on  the  other  hand.  These  two  comparative  linking  structures  will  increase 
your score. Now you need to build your own comparative answer. 
 
Begin with an opening linking phrase: 
Well obviously … 
Well clearly … 
Sure, without a doubt … 
Well undoubtedly … 
Well unmistakably … 
Unquestionably ….. 
 
Now say that there are some differences: 
There are a number of underlying differences here. 
There are a variety of possible differences here. 
There are a range of potential distinctions here. 
 
Now introduce the first difference: 
However, I guess that the most significant would be that … 

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Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
 
 
171
 
Though I suppose the most obvious would be that … 
But I would say the most fundamental would be that … 
 
Now  use  a  sentence  to  describe  the  first  difference.  For  example,  ―…men  tend  to 
prefer …‖ 
Develop  this  first  difference  with  a  simple  linking  word:  especially,  particularly,  in 
fact, such as, for example, specifically. 
 
Now use your first comparative linking structure: 
Whereas on the other hand …. 
On the contrary … 
Though quite the opposite … 
 
Now add your next sentence. For example, ―…women are generally more keen on …‖ 
Develop the second part of the first difference with a simple linking word: especially,