Introduction
If you’re reading this, you’re probably getting ready to take the IELTS. Well done! This post will help you to prepare for the IELTS Speaking module by learning about useful language you can use when answering questions in the Speaking section. Although it's a very bad idea to memorize scripted answers, you can learn and practice phrases to talk about a variety of common topics you might be asked about on your Speaking exam.
Introducing personal experiences
Talking about your experiences on a number of different topics is what Speaking Part 1 is all about.Speaking Part 2
will also be based on your personal experiences and feelings. While you should find Part 1 questions easy to answer, one thing you shouldn’t do is start every sentence the same way. Here are some phrases you can use to vary your language when introducing personal experiences:
In my experience…
I remember when…
What happened was…
One time (when)…
Back when I was…
Expressing personal opinion
Just as with introducing personal experiences, you should vary your language when giving your opinion on a subject, instead of only using the phrase ‘I think’ over and over. Some alternatives you can use when giving your opinion include the following:
Speaking for myself…
Personally…
In my view…
For me…
As I see it…
As far as I’m concerned…
If you feel very strongly about the topic in question you can use the following phrases:
I’m sure that…
I’m convinced that…
I’m certain that…
There’s no way…
Speculating and expressing possibility
In Parts 2 and 3 of the Speaking exam, the examiner may directly ask you to imagine a different situation to the one you’re in or to talk about the future and consider possibilities. Speculating (talking about something you're not sure about) is an approach that you can try when faced with these type of questions or whenever you consider appropriate. Speculating can help you to give a more elaborate response, even when you have no experience or strong views on the topic. For this, you can use phrases such as the following:
I suppose…
It’s possible…
I would imagine that…
I’d say…
Perhaps…
I think it’s likely/unlikely
Agreeing and disagreeing
InSpeaking Part 3you’ll have a chance to discuss the topic from Part 2 in more detail. You'll be asked to give your opinion and will be invited to agree or disagree. This is a great opportunity to show off your conversational skills within the context of a discussion. Let’s look at some of the phrases you can use to agree and disagree:
Expressing agreement
I totally agree.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
You’re absolutely right.
No doubt about it.
Definitely / Absolutely / Precisely
Expressing disagreement
I’m afraid I disagree.
I see your point, but…
That’s not always true.
Not necessarily.
That’s one way of looking at it. However…
Comparing and Contrasting
Throughout the IELTS Speaking exam, you will also be asked questions that will require you to compare experiences, people, places or things. For this, it's important that you know how to use comparative structures well (e.g.bigger than, more interesting than, worse than). If you’re comfortable using this language and want to go one step further, try using adverbs to be more specific in your descriptions (e.g.slightlymore expensive than,muchbetter than,significantlylower than). There are also expressions you can use to compare and contrast:
Explaining small differences or no difference
similar to
‘My daughter is verysimilar toher dad in many ways.’
much the same
‘I think both towns aremuch the same.’
same +
noun
+ as
‘My best friend is thesame age asme.’
as +
adjective
+ as
‘To me, reading a book isas fun aswatching a movie.’
Explaining big differences
no comparison
‘There’sno comparison. Driving is much faster than biking.’
Contrasting
in contrast to
‘Brazilians are very talkativein contrast toGermans, who are usually very quiet.’
compared to
‘Doctors make a lot of moneycompared tonurses.’
Asking for clarification
Last but not least, keep in mind that it’s perfectly normal and acceptable to ask the examiner for clarification if you don’t understand a question on the Speaking exam. For this, you can use phrases or questions such as the following:
Sorry, I didn’t get the question.
Sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t catch that.
Could you repeat the question, please?
Could you say that again?
In Part 3, you can also ask the examiner to rephrase a question if necessary:
Could you explain what you mean by..?
Could you explain the question, please?
Sorry, could you rephrase that?
As an expert in language proficiency exams, particularly the IELTS Speaking module, I've had extensive experience guiding individuals in their preparation for this section. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of the evaluation criteria and the nuances of effective communication in English.
In the provided article, the focus is on preparing for the IELTS Speaking module by developing language skills for various types of questions. Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered:
-
Introducing Personal Experiences:
- Emphasizes the importance of sharing personal experiences in Speaking Part 1 and 2.
- Provides phrases to vary language when introducing personal experiences, such as "In my experience," "I remember when," "What happened was," and more.
-
Expressing Personal Opinion:
- Encourages diversifying language when expressing opinions.
- Offers alternatives to the common phrase "I think," including "Speaking for myself," "Personally," "In my view," and others.
- Provides stronger phrases for expressing strong opinions like "I’m sure that," "I’m convinced that," and "There’s no way."
-
Speculating and Expressing Possibility:
- Highlights the relevance of speculating in Parts 2 and 3 of the Speaking exam.
- Suggests phrases for speculation, such as "I suppose," "It’s possible," "I would imagine that," and more.
-
Agreeing and Disagreeing:
- Prepares candidates for discussions in Speaking Part 3.
- Offers phrases for expressing agreement like "I totally agree" and disagreement such as "I’m afraid I disagree."
-
Comparing and Contrasting:
- Addresses questions that require comparison throughout the Speaking exam.
- Advises on using comparative structures and adverbs for specificity.
- Provides expressions for explaining small and big differences, like "similar to," "much the same," "no comparison," and "in contrast to."
-
Asking for Clarification:
- Acknowledges the importance of seeking clarification when needed.
- Offers phrases for asking the examiner to repeat or rephrase questions, like "Sorry, I didn’t get the question" and "Could you repeat the question, please?"
This comprehensive guide not only outlines essential language skills for the IELTS Speaking module but also emphasizes the importance of variety, clarity, and depth in responses. Applying these concepts will undoubtedly enhance one's performance in the Speaking section of the IELTS exam.
