Part 3 Practice: Society & Culture

1. How has family life changed in your country over the last 50 years?
2. Do you think young people today are less respectful than in the past?
3. Why do some traditions die out and others survive?
4. What role should older people play in modern society?
5. How important is it to maintain cultural traditions?
6. Do you think globalisation is making all cultures more similar?

1. Opinion (1 sentence): "I think..." or "In my view..."
2. Reason (1 sentence): "This is mainly because..."
3. Example (1–2 sentences): "For instance..."
4. Counterpoint (1 sentence): "Although some people would argue..."
5. Conclusion (1 sentence): "On balance..."

This structure fits a 45–60 second answer — ideal for Part 3.

I think globalisation has definitely made certain surface aspects of culture more similar — things like food, fashion, and popular entertainment. You can find the same fast-food chains, the same pop music, and the same fashion brands in cities across the world. However, I'd argue that deeper cultural features are actually more resilient than many commentators assume. Language, religious practice, family structures, and humour tend to survive globalisation relatively intact. For example, in my country, young people will wear the same clothes and use the same apps as their counterparts in London or Tokyo — but they still celebrate the same festivals their grandparents did, often with renewed enthusiasm. So while globalisation is flattening the visible layer of culture, I don't think it's eroding cultural identity at the level that actually matters to people.

Avoid over-certain claims. Examiners reward hedging because it shows sophisticated thinking.

• Personal answers — Part 3 is not personal. Avoid "In my family, we..." unless as a brief illustrating example. Shift to "In general..." or "Most families...".
• One-sided answers — always include a counterpoint, even if you disagree with it. This shows higher-order thinking.
• Repeating the question — "That's a very interesting question" wastes 3 seconds. Just answer.

Take each of the 6 common questions above and answer for 45 seconds using the Opinion Sandwich. Record and review — specifically look for hedging language and counterpoints.