Category: Techniques
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Useful Language
In the interview part of the IELTS Speaking test, you’re simply asked questions about yourself and other familiar topics. The examiner will be listening for how well you express yourself in a few words or sentences.
Of course, you should try to do more than simply answer the question if you want to achieve a high score. The following useful language will give you ideas for expanding an answer by talking about the past, present and future. It will also help you speak more fluently and with an awareness of collocation and idiomatic speech. Some idiomatic expressions are explained in parentheses.
Asking for repetition
- Could you say that again?
- I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.
- Did you say ( )?
Stalling for time
- Well, let me see.
- In my case, …
- Hmm, I’d have to say …
Saying something negative
- I’m sorry but …
- I’m afraid (to say that) …
- To be (perfectly) honest, …
Giving an example
- For example, …
- A good example is …
- Maybe you’ve heard of …
Describing frequency
- Every other day, … (= Frequently)
- Once in a while, … (= Occasionally)
- Once in a blue moon, … (= Rarely)
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IELTS Speaking Part 3: Useful Language
For most people, the discussion is the toughest part of the IELTS Speaking test. Remember though, you’re NOT required to demonstrate any special knowledge of the topics discussed. The examiner is listening for how well you connect your ideas, expand your answers and cope with difficulty when it arises. The following useful language will help you speak with more fluency and coherence, which together are worth 25% of your speaking score in IELTS.
Asking for help
- Could you say that in other words?
- I’m not sure what you mean exactly.
- Do you mean ( )?
Stalling for time
- That’s a(n) interesting/tough/difficult question.
- I don’t know much about this issue but …
- I’ve never really thought about it before but …
Giving an opinion
- Well, I think/suppose/would say …
- … for two/several reasons.
- I think most people would agree that …
Self-correcting
- Or rather …
- I mean …
- Or, should I say …
Rephrasing
- What I mean is …
- What I want to say is …
- What I’m trying to say is …
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IELTS Speaking: Emergency Language
In the Speaking module of IELTS, you may be asked a question you don’t understand. In such situations, you CAN ask for help from the examiner. The kind of help you will be given depends on the part of the test:
- In Part 1, the examiner can ONLY repeat the question.
- In Part 2, the examiner can answer your questions during the preparation time.
- In Part 3, the examiner can help you to understand the question.
The following useful language will enable you to get the help you need.
When you don’t hear the question
- I’m sorry, could you repeat that please?
- I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.
- Would you mind saying that again?
When you don’t understand a particular word
- What does ( ) mean?
- Does ( ) mean ( )?
- Sorry, I’m not sure what ( ) means.
When you don’t understand the question
- I’m sorry, what do you mean exactly?
- Could you say that in other words?
- I’m afraid I’m not quite sure what you mean.
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IELTS Speaking: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Silence
Different cultures have different attitudes to silence, but for English speakers the attitude is one of near-zero tolerance. It’s fine to hesitate for a few seconds before speaking or between ideas, but silences of longer than five seconds will go down badly. Happily, there’s a solution to this problem and that’s to learn some filler expressions such as That’s a tough question and Let me see.
2. Memorised answers
The examiner is very likely to notice if you try to recite an answer from memory, and there is a penalty for this. The telltale signs of a memorised answer include speaking in a ‘written’ style of English, unnatural intonation, and the candidate attempting to ‘rephrase’ the question to the one they want to answer. Any questions you try to memorise answers to are very unlikely to be asked, so it is much more effective to practice speaking about a wide range of topics before you take the test.
3. Overuse of transition signals
It’s helpful to use a few signposting words like first, for example or on the other hand. But if you overload your speech with these you could actually damage your score. Sounding natural, not like a signposting robot, should be your goal in IELTS Speaking. There are also many words characteristic of formal writing such as furthermore, moreover and in addition that are hardly ever used in speech and could actually make you sound less natural if you say them.
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IELTS Speaking, Part 3: Practice Questions with Sample Answers
Today we will look at six example questions from Part 3 of the Speaking module of IELTS. The questions cover the three topics introduced in our Part 2 practice, and include a variety of question types: Indicate a preference; Yes/No; Agree/Disagree; Open-ended. Try answering these questions yourself first and then compare the sample answers below with your own. Remember to expand your answers as much as possible.
Questions 1 & 2
Is it better to make important life decisions on your own or is it better to consult other people?
Do you think good decision-making can be taught?
Questions 3 & 4
Is watching TV a good way of forgetting about work or study?
Should coworkers also spend their leisure time together?
Questions 5 & 6
Do you agree that English should be the main language of international exchange?
What are the difficulties in creating a universal language?
See below for sample answers and analysis
