STARTING THE SENTENCE

I Definitely Think/ I Guess / I Suppose / I Firmly Belive / I Suspect / I Recon / I Admit / I Am Convinced That / In
My Humble Opinion / If You Aske Me / Personally, / Um Honestly

CONTRADICTING INFORMATION / CONTRAST

However / But / Instead / In Comparison / On The Other Hand/On The Contrary/ Contrarily/ Notwithstanding/ But/
However/ Nevertheless/ In Spite Of/ In Contrast/ Yet/ On One Hand/ On The Other Hand/ Rather/ Or/ Nor/
Conversely/ At The Same Time/ While This May Be True.

ADDITION
And/ In Addition To/ Furthermore/ Moreover/ Besides/ Than/ Too/ Also/ Both-And/ Another/ Equally
Important/ First/ Second/ Etc./ Again/ Further/ Last/ Finally/ Not Only-But Also/ As Well As/ In
The Second Place/ Next/ Likewise/ Similarly/ In Fact/ As A Result/ Consequently/ In The Same Way/ For Example/
For Instance/ However/ Thus/ Therefore/ Otherwise.

TIME
After/ Afterward/ Before/ Then/ Once/ Next/ Last/ At Last/ At Length/ First/ Second/ Etc./ At First/ Formerly/ Rarely/
Usually/ Another/ Finally/ Soon/ Meanwhile/ At The Same Time/ For A Minute/ Hour/ Day/ Etc./ During The
Morning/ Day/ Week/ Etc./ Most Important/ Later/ Ordinarily/ To Begin With/ Afterwards/ Generally/ In Order To/
Subsequently/ Previously/ In The Meantime/ Immediately/ Eventually/ Concurrently/ Simultaneously.

SPACE
At The Left/ At The Right/ In The Center/ On The Side/ Along The Edge/ On Top/ Below/ Beneath/ Under/ Around/
Above/ Over/ Straight Ahead/ At The Top/ At The Bottom/ Surrounding/ Opposite/ At The Rear/ At The Front/ In
Front Of/ Beside/ Behind/ Next To/ Nearby/ In The Distance/ Beyond/ In The Forefront/ In The Foreground/ Within
Sight/ Out Of Sight/ Across/ Under/ Nearer/ Adjacent/ In The Background.

DETAILS
Specifically/ Especially/ In Particular/ To Explain/ To List/ To Enumerate/ In Detail/ Namely/ Including.

SIMILARITY
Similarly/ Likewise/ In Like Fashion/ In Like Manner/ Analogous To.

SUGGESTION
For This Purpose/ To This End/ With This In Mind/ With This Purpose In Mind/ Therefore.

GIVING EXAMPLES
Such As / Yet Another Example Of This Is / What I Mean Is / What I Want To Say Is/For Example/ For
Instance/To Illustrate/ Thus/ In Other Words/As An Illustration/In Particular

SUMMARIZING INFORMATION
In Short / In Summary / To Summarize/ In Conclusion/ In A Nutshell/Therefore/ Finally/ Consequently/
Thus/ In Brief/As A Result/Accordingly
 SPEAKING STATEMNETS

Here are the different phrases you can use while preparing and practicing so that by the time you take the
test/ you have familiarized yourself with them. This way/ thinking of what and how to answer will be easier/
and you can formulate your sentences faster. 

1. Opening Statements

How you open your statements is your first opportunity to impress the examiner. Making a good first
impression will boost your chance of getting a high band score. 

Examples:

 Today/ I’d like to share with you about…

 In this talk/ I’m going to tell you how…
 I want to tell you about…
 Today/ I would like to discuss…
 Today/ I want to give you a short talk on…

2. Closing statements

The manner in how you end your statements plays a vital role in the IELTS speaking test too. It shows how
fluent you are and how coherent your responses are. 
Examples:

 In conclusion…
 To sum up…
 To summarize…
 To conclude… 
 As a whole… 
 So all in all… 

3. Beginning the Main Body of Your Speech 

Once you are asked a question or given a topic to talk about/ be creative and use phrases and expressions
that the examiner will find appealing. 

Examples:

  First and foremost….

 And why do I find it so appealing? It is/ after all….
 To begin with… 
 One of the most intriguing aspects about….
 This is the most significant day/opportunity of my life because…

4. Building on Your Idea

When you have started talking about your topic/ you would want to include some background information
and some explanations and examples to help develop your topic. 

Examples:

 Another reason why I like…

 One of the main advantages…
 One of the consequences…
 This appeals to me because…
 Another unusual fact about…
 I like … more than anything else because…

5. Expressing Your Opinions

You should change your words while presenting your viewpoint on a subject/ just as you should when
adding personal experiences/ rather than repeating the phrase ‘I think’.

Examples:

 In my opinion…
 I firmly believe that…
 From my point of view…
 It seems to me that…
 From my viewpoint…
 From my perspective…
 It appears to me that…
  I realize that…
 I understand that…

6. Speculating and Expressing Possibilities

The examiner may ask you to imagine a different setting from the one you are in or discuss the future and
weigh options in Part 2 and Part 3 of the Speaking test. Even if you have little knowledge or strong opinions
on the subject/ speculating can help you deliver a more thorough response.

Examples:

 I suppose…
 It is possible…
 I would imagine that…
 I would say…
 Perhaps…
 I think it is likely/unlikely…

7. Agreeing and Disagreeing 

You will be asked for your thoughts and given the option to agree or disagree in Part 3 of the IELTS
Speaking test. This is an excellent opportunity to show your conversational skills in a group setting. 

Examples: 

 I totally agree.
 I couldn’t agree with you more.
 You are absolutely right.
 No doubt about it.
 Definitely / Absolutely / Precisely

 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…
8. Comparing and Contrasting 

You will also be asked questions throughout the IELTS Speaking test that will demand you to compare
experiences/ people/ places/ or things. It is crucial to know how to employ comparative structures effectively
for this. If you are comfortable with this language and want to take it a step further/ try utilizing adverbs to
make your descriptions more detailed.

Examples:

 Similar to…
 Much the same…
 As (adjective) as …

“as fun as traveling alone”/ “as enjoyable as playing the guitar”

 Same (noun) as… 

“the same age as me”/ “same school as my brother”

 In contrast to…
 Compared to…

9. Clarifying the Questions 

Keep in mind that asking the examiner for clarification if you do not understand a question is entirely natural
and acceptable 

Examples:

 I’m sorry/ I didn’t get the question.

 I’m sorry/ I’m afraid I didn’t catch that.
 I’m sorry/ could you rephrase that?
 Could you repeat the question/ please?
 Could you say that again?
 Could you explain what you mean by..?
 Could you explain the question/ please?

10. Transition Words 

If you want your speech to sound coherent/ organized/ and connected/ you should use cohesive features of
transition words. These aid in the organization of your response and the demonstration of clear connections
between your ideas.

Examples:
  Also/ as well as…
 Similarly/ in the same way…
 Even though/ despite/ yet… 
 So that/ so/ for this reason… 
 For example/ for instance…
 Because/ since/ thus/ that is why…
 Actually/ I have to say…
 On the other hand…

11. Conditionals

In the IELTS Speaking test Part 3/ you are more likely to be asked conditional sentences. A conditional
sentence is a sentence that states one situation as a condition for the occurrence of another situation. To put
it simply/ the basic structure underlying most conditional sentences can be expressed as/ “If this/ then that.”

The most common conditional sentences covered in the IELTS Speaking test are the zero/ first/ and second
conditionals. 

i) Zero Conditionals 

They are used to describe factual situations. Both clauses are in the simple present tense. 

Examples: 

 When it rains/ I take the bus. 

 If I work from home/ I don’t get salary deductions.
 I don’t eat breakfast if I am late for work. 

ii) First Conditionals 

They are used to express what will most likely happen in the future if a certain condition is met.
The ‘if’ phrase is normally in the present tense/ and the following clause frequently includes a verb such
as ‘will/’ ‘can’/  or ‘might/’. 

Examples: 

 If I get the required band score for IELTS/ I will migrate to Canada.
 If I get promoted at work/ I might buy myself a new car.
 I can bring my family to the UK if I get the required band score in IELTS. 

iii) Second Conditionals

They are used to express an improbable circumstance. The ‘if’  phrase is in the past tense/ whereas the
following clause frequently includes a verb such as ‘would’ or ‘could’.

Examples:
  If I were the mayor of our city/ I would ban the use of plastics.
 If I won the lottery/ I could afford not to work.
 I would give everyone a pay increase if I were rich.

12. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb. It functions as a verb in which the
meaning is entirely different from the combined meanings of the individual words.  

In the IELTS Speaking test/ you are encouraged to use phrasal verbs to indicate that you are fluent and
naturally know the language. 

Top 10 Phrasal Verbs to Use in the IELTS Speaking Test

Phrasal
Meaning Sentence
Verbs

“I want to bring up the possibility of me changing

Bring up  To raise a topic for discussion or consideration
profession in the future.”

Carry on  To continue an activity or task “Please carry on with your question.” 

Come To meet someone and find something by “I was at a museum when I came across an old schoolmate
across chance  of mine.”

“I was only planning to go window-shopping but ended

End up To reach or come to a place or condition
up buying two pairs of sandals.”

To solve a problem or discover the answer to a

Figure out  “I need to figure out a way on how to make ends meet.”
question   

“Please fill in the registration form and give it to the

Fill in  To complete a form or an official document 
receptionist.”

To stop exerting an effort; to resign oneself to “I won’t give up chasing my dreams of moving to

Give up
failure Canada.”

To understand a person or thing’s meaning or

Make out  “I am not sure what to make out of this piece of art.” 
character

To say something to make someone aware of a “I want to point out the fact that technology has changed
Point out
fact or a circumstance  the way people live.” 

To find a solution to a problem by considering “If things work out for the best/ I will be studying in
Work out
the facts  Australia next year.”
13. Idioms

Idioms are phrases or expressions with a non-literal meaning that cannot be deduced by reading each word
individually. They are used so frequently by native speakers in such a natural way that they often go
unnoticed.

Top 30 Idioms to Use in the IELTS Speaking Test

Idioms Meaning Sentence

“My cousin was sick as a dog on the day of the concert/ so I went

As sick as a dog Extremely sick
alone.”

Black and blue Badly bruised  “I had a hiking accident last week/ and my legs were black and blue.”

“I injured my neck last year and found out when I had it checked that I
Blessing in An apparent misfortune that
have problems with my spinal cord/ so in a way/ the injury was
disguise turns out well 
a blessing in disguise.”

Blind as a bat Having very bad eyesight  “I wear eyeglasses because I am blind as a bat.”

Bookworm A person who loves to read  “I am a bookworm/ and I have hundreds of books at home.”

A phrase used to wish

Break a leg “Before going to this interview/ my sister told me to break a leg.”
someone good luck 

“I am an engineer/ and anything including numbers is a piece of

Child’s play Very easy 
cake to me.”

(1) “I live in the city/ and I have to work day and night to pay for my
(1) All day long  bills.”
Day and night
(2) Complete opposite (2) “I have a twin brother/ and we are day and night when it comes to
our hobbies.” 

Driving me up Make someone annoyed or “There’s an ongoing construction just beside my apartment/ and the
the wall angry. noise is driving me up the wall.”

Follow
Do as another person did “My parents are both nurses/ and I have decided to follow in their
someone’s
before  footsteps.”
footsteps

“I used to live with a friend in the city/ but the noise at night get on my
Get on my nerves Irritate or annoy someone 
nerves/ so I decided to move back to the country.”

Golden An excellent chance to do “Acing the IELTS test will be a golden opportunity for me to visit my
opportunity something valuable  friends and relatives in the UK.” 
Idioms Meaning Sentence

“My parents have finally given me the green light to study in New

Green light Permission to do something
Zealand.”

Natural talent for growing “My mom has a green thumb/ and I/ unfortunately/ did not inherit it/
Green thumb
plants  so I have diverted my hobbies to cooking instead.”

“One time/ my sisters and I went to a movie and came home late; our
Hit the ceiling To get extremely angry
parents hit the ceiling.”

“I am not fond of extreme sports because I am afraid to kick the

Kick the bucket To die 
bucket doing those kinds of activities.” 

To learn something so well; to “Playing the guitar is something I have learned by heart since I was
Learn by heart
memorize something  five.”

To be excited in one’s
Like a kid in a “My first out-of-the-country trip was to Disneyland in Hongkong/ and I
surroundings and act in a silly
candy store remember being like a kid in a candy store.” 
way 

Makes my blood “I always make it a point to arrive on time/ and if someone is late/
To get extremely angry 
boil it makes my blood boil.” 

In the process of recovering “I was on a ski trip two weeks ago and injured my knee/ I am still on
On the mend
from something  the mend.”

Once in a blue
Very rarely  “I am not into sweets/ and I only eat them once in a blue moon.”
moon

Without warning; “I have an old friend I don’t have communication with anymore/
Out of the blue
unexpectedly  and out of the blue/ she called me.”

“I would be over the moon if I got a band score of 7 or higher in the

Over the moon Extremely happy 
IELTS test.”

“I think that if I review and prepare enough for the IELTS test/ it would
Piece of cake Very easy
be a piece of cake.”

Run in the Many members of the family

“Playing a musical instrument runs in our family.”
family  have it

To have a whale
Enjoy oneself very much  “I had a whale of a time when I first tried scuba diving.”
of a time

Under the “My brother was supposed to accompany me today/ but he is

In low spirits
weather feeling under the weather.”
Idioms Meaning Sentence

“My friends told me my new haircut looks nice/ but I know it was
White lie A harmless lie
a white lie.”

With flying
Complete success “I hope to finish the IELTS test with flying colors.”
colors

Working against
As fast as possible  “I had papers due last night/ and I had to work against the clock.”
the clock