Part 3 comparison questions — past vs present, urban vs rural

Common Part 3 comparison types

Time-based

• "How has [X] changed over the past 50 years?"
• "Do you think [activity] is more popular now than in the past?"
• "What's different about today's [Y] compared with our parents' generation?"

Place-based

• "Are people's lives different in cities and rural areas?"
• "How does education in your country compare with other countries?"
• "Are family structures similar across cultures?"

Group-based

• "Do younger and older people view this differently?"
• "How do men and women's experiences differ?"
• "Do experts and ordinary people see this issue the same way?"

Framework: COMPARE-DEVELOP-CONCLUDE

Step 1: Acknowledge both sides

"There are definitely differences between [A] and [B]..."

Step 2: Compare with specifics

For EACH side, give 2-3 specific characteristics.

Step 3: Note the key contrast

Use explicit comparison language.

Step 4: Conclude with broader observation

"This contrast reflects [larger pattern]..."

Vocabulary for comparison

Showing similarity

• much like / similarly / in the same way
• both A and B share / common to both
• parallel patterns / mirror each other
• analogous to / equivalent to

Showing difference

• in contrast / by contrast / conversely
• whereas / while
• diverge / depart from / differ markedly
• a stark contrast / a notable difference
• worlds apart / poles apart

Degree of difference

• subtle / minor / slight (small)
• substantial / considerable (large)
• dramatic / striking / profound (very large)
• fundamental / radical / categorical (deep)

Temporal comparison (past vs present)

• traditionally / historically / in the past
• nowadays / currently / today
• a generation ago / decades ago / back then
• the contemporary landscape / modern era
• shifted / evolved / transformed / transitioned

Worked example

Q: "How has dating changed over the past 30 years?"

Band 8 response

"Dating has transformed quite dramatically since the 1990s — both in how people meet and how relationships develop.

In the past, people typically met through real-world contexts: school, work, community events, or introductions by friends and family. Relationships often developed slowly over time, building familiarity through shared activities. There was less emphasis on romantic intensity early on.

Nowadays, dating apps have largely replaced these traditional pathways. Apps like Tinder allow people to meet hundreds of potential partners they would never have encountered otherwise, often based on appearance and quick profile reads. This shifts the dynamic — initial connection is often more superficial, relying on instant attraction rather than gradual familiarity.