01 Apr Words to avoid in IELTS Speaking
Here are the 50 Words to avoid in IELTS Speaking to score High
IELTS Speaking test is an informal speaking test that comprises of:
Greeting and ID check
- Part 1 : Questions & Answers; ideally related to oneself for 4-5 minutes
- Part 2 : A talk 1-2 minutes
- Part 3 : Discussion for 4-5 minutes
The IELTS Speaking test is an informal English test, and thus one needs to attain certain vocabulary skills for securing a higher band score. The following words and phrases are presented in terms of the context in which they might be used:
1. Things that you like/dislike
For questions related to what or whether you like/dislike a specific activity or food or anything for that matter, we could use a phrase that wouldn’t be cliched like ‘I like travelling’ or “I love swimming”, etc.
I found the story line very appealing.
Chess appeals to me because it’s an intellectual game
I am keen on making new experiences,
I am a keen supporter of the republican party
I am fond of learning new languages.
I am not very fond of beaches unlike most people.
Get a lot of pleasure out of/doing something: I get a lot of pleasure taking my dog for a walk because it’s a stress buster.
To grow fond of (started/starting to like) : I grew fond of the old teacher.
Growing on me (liking more than you did before) : Classical music started growing on me quite recently
2. For Clarifications :
Whenever you are required to ask for a clarification or want the examiner to rephrase something for you, here are some add ons to your vocabulary that can come in handy.
Sorry,I didn’t quite catch that.
Could you say that again?
Could you please repeat the same?
Do you mind rephrasing the statement/question?
Note : Ideally these can be only used in Part 3 of the test.
3.Providing clarification :
In this scenario, you are giving a clarification on the statement that you just made or when you are concluding or rephrasing. Few examples are as follows:
To put it another way : To put it another way, I believe that India could be a superpower within the next decade.
What I am trying to say : What I am trying to say is, at the current rate the world would have a huge drinking water crisis.
What I am mean is : What I mean is, in near future, we can expect India in Football World cup.
Imply : What I am implying is that we need to focus more on women empowerment.
Fillers are basically phrases used to buy you extra time, in case you need more time to answer or you’re not very sure of what to answer.
That’s a difficult question
That’s a good question
I haven’t really thought about it
That’s an interesting question
Note: The above options can be mixed and matched according to appropriateness but over usage will lead to repetition and loss of marks.
When asked questions on personal opinion, the following words can be used to express yourself:
I couldn’t agree more..
I totally agree with..
I would like to think of it in another way.
I’m afraid i can’t agree with you on that.
That’s an interesting perspective but I think..
I beg to differ with..
Linking words are words that are used to add more information, substantiate ones idea, help in connecting ideas and concepts, to compare and contrast etc.
Adding more information
As well as
Another reason is
I think the main difference is
I guess one reason is
Contrasting and concessions
On the other hand
When I was younger
In the past
Causes and solutions
The main reason is
I suppose the best way to deal with this problem is
I guess it’s because
What I mean is
As I was saying
While you practice make sure you use these, do that you inculcate these phrases and words in your vocabulary so that it comes naturally. It will result in a better IELTS band score in Speaking Test.