Here is a question to check your understanding IELTS speaking:
Is it ok to use “gonna” or “wanna” in IELTS Speaking?
Answer
The answer can be found on this page:
Click here: Answer about using Wanna and Gonna
All the best
Liz
IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024
Hi, I'm Liz. Welcome! Enjoy your IELTS journey to success!
About me
Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your teacher and the author of this website. I am an experienced, qualified English teacher specialising in IELTS test preparation since 2008. Please enjoy the 300 plus pages of free lessons, tips, model answers, topics etc.
Hi Liz. Is it acceptable for one to use the pronoun ‘you’ repetitively when talking e.g ‘you shouldn’t wear makeup’ or rather ‘one’ or ‘people’ should be used in place of ‘you’.
The speaking test is informal. It’s fine and natural to repeat “you”. However, in part 3 we usually talk about people in general rather than “you”, but it’s still fine to use it when appropriate.
Can I use the word ass-off in IELTS speaking examination?
Personally I wouldn’t use offensive language in a language test. It is not polite and many people will find it very rude.
Recently on my speaking….i uses the word ” BACK BITCHING”…..by mistake in a flow…will this affect my score? And how much lower it can bring my overall score
No, it won’t affect your score. Such words can occasionally slip out and the examiner will understand this. If you made a habit of using such language in the test, this might be an issue as it isn’t appropriate. But in your situation it was just a slip and that’s fine.
Thanks for the quick response.
Hi Liz, can you kindly let me know whether can I use the word “hell yeah!” in IELTS Speaking to express my agreement? Do you think it will boost my score or it just low me down? Thank you in advance, I’m very grateful 😘
It doesn’t sound natural to use it in the speaking test as very few questions would require such a strong response. It is also not appropriate for an exam context.
Hi Liz,
When I describe say, indian clothes, can I use indian language word, followed by it’s english meaning?
For example, can I use a nonenglish word “turban” and explain it as cloth head wrap, more like bandana.
Kindly enlighten me. Thank you!
It doesn’t help your score to use native language that isn’t English. But if you do, then paraphrasing it in English is fine. The word “turban” is in the English language. You will find quite a lot of words that are not English in origin have entered the English language.
Thank you for the prompt and clear response!!
Hi Liz,
I’m wondering if it is okay to say “EXAM” in IELTS speaking. I’ve heard that exam is informal, and we should say examination.
“exam” is a standard short form for “examination” and is perfectly acceptable in IELTS writing.
Hi Liz,
I was wondering if i could use the phrase “so called” in my ielts speaking. If not, what can i use instead of it
Of course you can. Why did you think you couldn’t? It is an informal speaking test.
“My voice changes when I’m nervous like I’m right now and when I get fucked up” This is the answer I gave, does it lead to any decrease in band score?
It’s not a good thing to swear and use bad language in your test. Luckily, you haven’t sworn directly at the examiner, you used it as a phrasal verb relating to your answer. It won’t affect your score – but don’t use any language like it again in your test.
Hi Liz,
Today I take the speaking exam and I use a word which makes worry me. When the examiner asked me ” When people in your country have a smile”
I told “…When they want seduce”
And I am worried about “seduce”. This word may have an influence on my score?
It’s 100% fine. The word itself is not a problem. However, it does create a strange meaning haha 🙂
Hi Liz,
Is it ok to use idioms like “I don’t give a tiny rat’s ass” in the IELTS speaking?! 😀
I certainly wouldn’t use impolite, rude idioms in a speaking test. You are supposed to be polite to people. As for idioms as a whole, many of them are out dated or overused, so stick with phrasal verbs and other idiomatic language.
i have used the word “guts” in my ielts speaking exam and also ” i will repeat my sentence” after saying an incorrect sentence.. wil it reduce my score?
Using “guts” is 1005 fine in the speaking test – it is an informal test. It is not so good to correct yourself in that way in the speaking test because it affects your fluency score. However, your score is based on your overall performance, not on each question, which means you need to wait and see your results. Good luck!
I have used the word ‘yeah’ one time while speaking. Is it acceptable or wrong?
It’s fine. It’s completely normal to use it.
When your addressing yourself in terms of any exam it’s not a good way of approaching we’re in when you text your friends it’s ok to proceed your conversation with gonna wanna.
I think Yes, we can use “gonna” or “wanna”
we can use words which are used for daily speaking…
I think IELTS is a formal assessment for one’s skills of English communication thus wanna, gonna is not appropriate in this particular test.
ı think it is ok to use wanna or gonna in speaking test.
I believe yes we can use these words because speaking test is un formal
Me also this is a formal exam and i should use proper usage.
Ielts is a test for speaking, and in speaking there should be some words included which we use in daily life. it is absolutely 100% ok to use some slangs and also daily life words only in speaking.
No it’s not ok to speak
I think its okay because its a formal speaking test and native speakers use it alot
Hi Liz,
As the speaking is to test the vocab and grammar it will be better to use going to and want to instead of gonna and wanna because they are slang words.
I believe it’s ok to use those words as it makes your conversation sound more natural..
no it is not ok .
I think we should not use these slang words during the ielts exam.
Not a good idea to me.
Of course we can use those kind of words in speaking as they judge how we handle the language very normally and it will definitely make them think we are more comfortable with the language. Thank you. Cheers guys.
Of course we can use those kind of words in speaking as they judge only the way we handle the language and it will absolutely make them feel we are more comfortable with the language. Thank you. Cheers.
These both words are informal.
speaking test is almost informal throughout the whole test u can speak whatever you want.
Yes
Yes, it is fine for the Speaking part of exam. However, it is not advisable to use it on Writing Task 2.
yes you can use .
Hello every one
I think, yes it is.
I think it’s slang, so inappropriate to be used
No. It is not ok to use “gonna” or “wanna”.
No. I think
It’s a formal meeting . We should not use such lingo. The examiners are highly intellectual and such lingo is not appropriate.
no. it is not ok.
I think we can use them . I remember you said that we can use American language in our speaking test .
Yes
Yes we can speak .its speaking part not writing that have to be formal.
Yes
Should not be used however if said there should be no penalty
Yes
I think in part 1, we can use them but in another part and also in academic’s IELTS we can not use them.
No, I don’t think it’s appropriate.
No, i don’t think so. It doesn’t add…fluency, just slang.
I think, no
No.. I don’t think we can use ‘wanna’ in ielts
Yes.
No
hi Liz, I think it’s better not to use these. In part 1 speaking, examiner may excuse if used with the flow while answering personal questions. In formal speaking, it can be an unnecessary risk.
I think yes they can be used in ielts speaking test because they are the short form of two words,benefit is that,by their uses we can save our time as well as their uses improve our pronounciations.
In my opinion, it is not a good idea. We might as well use formal English during the test.
No, we have to use formal language.
It is not acceptable
Mam plz help me in ielts
No. It’s not allowed to use gonna or wanna. Theese are slang words.
Its ok to use these words as they show your language fluency.
I feel these contractions are much more common in American English than in British English. In my opinion for an American it is rather unusual to use ‘going to’ when speaking informally. I hope it is ok to use them at IELTS because the test is supposed to check the level of English, not the level of British English.
I think Yes !
I think it’s ok ….because it’s a speaking test not any profational test but …if it has been used in naturally
In the speaking section, i think it is k
I think yes we can, but it might affect our score in terms of Coherence and cohesion
No, it’s not gud to use slang language in such examinations.
No, because, i think it’s not an appropriate word to use.
No, it’s not ok
I think generally contractions are OK in IELTS speaking, so perhaps these can work, as well. But I also feel it mostly relies on the whole way of speaking, doesn’t it? Personally, I contract simple verbs and negations. My contraction naturally comes at a basic level such as saying “I’m going to” rather than “I gonna”. I don’t feel easy speaking with heavy contractions, though it may naturally come in certain situations, depending on the person I’m talking to.
Sorry, “I’m gonna” is correct instead of “I gonna”. “Gonna” only contracts “going to”.
IELTS Speaking is an informal test so using informal contractions such as wanna, gonna, and gotta should be okay as long as it is used in the sentence correctly.
No. It shouldn’t be used in the speaking test because, “wonno and Gonno” are not conventional english rather, slangs used within friends.
I think these words can be used sometimes, but it’s better to no use……slang words.
I do not think it is right to use “wanna ” in speaking test
No,it is not because in ielts speaking test we use more formal language and above two woeds are informal.
No, it’s not okay.
No it is not OK
Yes, I think we have to , but not in the writing essay
Yes, we can use contractions in speaking. So gonna and wanna are allowed in speaking.
yes definitely,
I don’t think it’s proper to use such words in an official exams like the IELTS.
In my perspective those words can not be used in speaking , as in speaking fluency and clear words matters .
i think we can use contraction form for noun+axuliary verb like he’s, i’m. however, i think we need to avoid the forms of informal english like wanna for want to or gonna for going to.
Can be used in speaking test but not in writing .
Yes, definitely we can use these words while speaking. We can use wanna and gonna while speaking in an informal manner. These are called contractions. Just like we say it’s OK in place of it is OK.
No I don’t think so
As in the speaking part is allowed to use an informal vocabulary, because it’s supposed to be a dialogue between two friends I think we can use the reduction of ‘want to/ want a ‘and ‘going to’ as we can use the contractions you’re, we’re etc….in this way we will sound more natural. I will avoid using wanna for the third person because I don’t know how I can contract ‘he wants to’.
Yes, we can.
I think yes, for part 1.
It’s speaking test these words, though informal, can be used. In fact it would give impression to the examiner as if the candidate have slang as well.
No, I don’t think so .
Contractions such as won’t, can’t can be used..
But Gonna and wanna cannot be used
No , of course not .
yes . as long as ielts speaking is not formal you can say those words!
Yes it will be used according to my knowledge.but m not sure
Yes it will be used according to knowledge.but m not sure
As it is an English test so it is Okay to use that words as well as these are also the informal forms of words, so yes…… we can.
No it is not ok to use such words …as we have to elabarote our speaking skills by using full fledged vocabulary
I think it’s ok, no problem at all.
As far as I know, IELTS test in speaking is to check applicants how to daily informal conversation. That’s why it may be ok.
In my point of view wanna and gonna are part of slang language and they cannot be used in any part of ILETS test
No
I think they should not be used ,too informal.won’t is better than wanna
I think we can use ‘wanna’ or ‘ gonna’ in Ielts speaking. But it will be better if we choose carefully in suitable situation before talking anything
Yes..sometimes, bcz its also treated as a new vocab. But not uses frequently.
Yes i think we can because speaking test is informal and test of natural ability to speak English,but its better to use full forms like going to be,because they are more clear in pronunciation.
No
No, it is not OK. We should you formal language only
I don’t think it’s ok to use it in speaking test
According to me,yes we can use these words as it’s speaking test, these are common in daily conversation. though they are informal , i think they can be used.
No it is not
As I think that it is speaking test so words does matter instead of these counterpart.
NO it is not ok to use such, because it’s a test of English exam testing your vocabulary and efficiency. Wanna or gonna is a slang.
Yes for sure
of course its ok as those words are informal forms of going to and want to and they exist in most of the dictionaries as well as the oxford dictionary. But i wonder if its ok if i use cockney rhyming slang .i dont adam and eve it Liz that’s a pork pie.))))
No .I do not think so.because it is constructions.
No
Why
I think these are informal word, thus we should not use them.
No
No, ABSOLUTELY NOT
No
Yes, u can use “wanna” or “gonna” when necessary
Sorry may be I am wrong
Don’t be influenced by other people. Think about why you believe it is ok – what are your reasons. Use your own judgement. I’ll post the answer tomorrow.
Its ok to use these words as they show your language fluency.
As it is a speaking test so it is okay to use words like “gonna” or “wanna”.
Yes, as well as mmm.
But the question is where I’m going to use them!!
So I think it’s rare.
Yes it’s ok
I would not prefer to use this slang language as it is not at all indigenous,instead going to and want to have more impact on scoring than there counterparts…
However,if it is coming naturally to you than you should carry on with that…
no
No, it is not ok.
No I don’t think it will be used in speaking.