Get High IELTS Speaking Scores by Learning Phrases

This article will take students through the IELTS preparation process including tips on how to improve their English language skills and achieve a high score. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. For non-native English speakers, IELTS is a globally recognized exam for English language ability.

In the Speaking section, the student will speak to an IELTS examiner on a range of subjects during the test, which lasts between 11 and 14 minutes. To ace the speaking portion of the IELTS test and improve the chances of receiving a high band score, these are some phrases to learn and use during the exam.

IELTS Speaking Section

During the face-to-face interaction with the examiner, the student will be asked questions on various topics that are based on their likes, dislikes or opinions on something including whether they agree or disagree with certain statements. A set of phases has been listed below which will help students perform better in the IELTS Speaking section by showing the examiner that they can use a variety of expressions and phrases.

Phrases on Likes

The examiner will ask the students some questions about their likes. Instead of saying “I like”, students can use the following phrases to help them with their answers:

• This appeals to me because…
• I am partial to…
• I am passionate about…
• I am fond of…
• I am keen to do…
• I have grown fond of…
• I get a lot of pleasure out of…

For example:

“I am passionate about badminton and I usually play it twice a week.” 

“I get a lot of pleasure out of playing badminton.” 

Phrases on Dislikes

The examiner will ask the students some questions about their dislikes. Instead of saying “I don’t like” or “I dislike”, students can use the following phrases to help them with their answers:

• I can’t bear it…
• I don’t appreciate it…
• I am sick of it… 
• That’s not for me…
• I am not too keen on it…
• I am not a big fan of… 

For example:

“I can’t bear cooking any longer.”

“I am not a big fan of cooking.”

Students can also express their dislikes by giving reasons. For example:

“I am not a big fan of cooking because I am not very good at it.”

Phrases on Opinions

The examiner will ask the students to express their opinions. Instead of jumping straight into the answer, students can use the following phrases to help them with their answers:

• As I see it…
• I think…
• I believe…
• As far as I am concerned…
• In my opinion… 

For example:

“In my opinion, people should always study for a Master’s degree.”

“Well, I believe a postgraduate education is important in every sector.”

Students can also express their opinions by giving reasons. For example:

“As far as I am concerned, all students should have a postgraduate education because it allows them to be experts in their field.”

Phrases on Agreeing

The examiner will ask the students whether they agree or disagree with a statement. Instead of immediately answering, students can use the following phrases:

• Absolutely…
• Definitely…
• Precisely… 
• I couldn’t agree more…
• I totally agree…
• You are absolutely right… 
• There’s no doubt about it…

For example:

“I couldn’t agree more that money is definitely the most important thing in a job.” 

Phrases on Disagreeing

The examiner will ask the students whether they agree or disagree with a statement. Instead of immediately answering, students can use the following phrases:

• That’s the one way of looking at it…
• It’s not always true… 
• I don’t see it that way…
• I tend to disagree…
• Well, I see your point but I am not so sure about it…
• I don’t quite agree with it…

For example:

“That’s one way of looking at it but I think people these days don’t pay enough attention to their postgraduate education.”

Phrases When Students Cannot Think of an Answer

During the exam, students may get confused about what to instantly say in response to the question. These are some phrases students can say when they are not sure about their answer:

• That’s a difficult question.
• I am not quite sure about where to start, let me see…
• That’s an interesting question.
• I have never thought about it before but I guess…

For example:

“That’s an interesting question, but if I had to choose I would say work experience is more important than academics while hiring.”

Phrases When Students Do Not Understand the Question

Sometimes, students may not understand the examiner’s question. If/when this happens, students should not be silent but should use the following phrases to get more clarity on the question:

• Sorry, I didn’t catch that…
• Could you say that again, please?
• Sorry, I don’t understand the question, would you please elaborate?
• Sorry, would you clarify what you mean?
• Could you explain what you mean? 

By using the phrases mentioned in this article, students can improve their score in the Speaking section of IELTS!

For more information on IELTS preparation, contact 21K School for expert guidance and advice!