These phrases make answers sound natural and help both Fluency and Lexical Resource. One rule matters: do not memorise them to squeeze into every answer. Choose one or two from each group and use them in practice until they become your own.
Starting an answer
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| To be honest, ... | Opens naturally instead of repeating the question |
| It depends, really. | Opens naturally instead of repeating the question |
| That's an interesting question. | Opens naturally instead of repeating the question |
| Well, as far as I'm concerned, ... | Opens naturally instead of repeating the question |
| I've never really thought about it, but ... | Opens naturally instead of repeating the question |
Giving an opinion
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| I'd say that ... | States a view without "I think" every time |
| I'm convinced that ... | States a view without "I think" every time |
| From my point of view, ... | States a view without "I think" every time |
| I tend to think that ... | States a view without "I think" every time |
| If you ask me, ... | States a view without "I think" every time |
Hedging
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| To some extent, ... | Makes a claim careful and more natural |
| It's likely that ... | Makes a claim careful and more natural |
| I suspect that ... | Makes a claim careful and more natural |
| It's not always the case, but ... | Makes a claim careful and more natural |
| Generally speaking, ... | Makes a claim careful and more natural |
Adding a point
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| On top of that, ... | Adds a second reason or example |
| What's more, ... | Adds a second reason or example |
| Not only that, but ... | Adds a second reason or example |
| Another thing is that ... | Adds a second reason or example |
| As well as that, ... | Adds a second reason or example |
Contrasting
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| Having said that, ... | Shows the other side |
| On the other hand, ... | Shows the other side |
| Whereas ... | Shows the other side |
| Even so, ... | Shows the other side |
| That's not to say that ... | Shows the other side |
Giving examples
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| Take ..., for example. | Supports a point with something concrete |
| A good example of this is ... | Supports a point with something concrete |
| Just last week, ... | Supports a point with something concrete |
| In my own experience, ... | Supports a point with something concrete |
| Such as ... | Supports a point with something concrete |
Buying time to think
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| Let me think about that for a second. | Fills a pause instead of silence |
| That's a difficult one. | Fills a pause instead of silence |
| How can I put it? | Fills a pause instead of silence |
| What I mean is ... | Fills a pause instead of silence |
| I'm not sure, but I'd guess ... | Fills a pause instead of silence |
Concluding
| Phrase | When it helps |
|---|---|
| So, all in all, ... | Closes an answer cleanly |
| Taking everything into account, ... | Closes an answer cleanly |
| That's why I think ... | Closes an answer cleanly |
| At the end of the day, ... | Closes an answer cleanly |
| So that's the main reason. | Closes an answer cleanly |
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
Start free in TelegramAn estimate. Only a test centre issues an official result.
How to practise
- Each day, choose two phrases from one group.
- Use them while answering Part 1 questions, and record yourself.
- After a week, check whether they come out on their own.
On the most common mistakes: 12 common mistakes.
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
Start free in TelegramAn estimate. Only a test centre issues an official result.
