Linking Words for IELTS Speaking: Word List & Tips

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Here is a list of linking words for your IELTS speaking with tips and models. For speaking you need some simple linking words and natural phrases to help the examiner follow your ideas and stories. These linking words  and signposts are simple and informal on the whole. IELTS writing is different and requires the use of a wide range of linkers.

IELTS Speaking Linking Words – Why are they important?

Why are they important for IELTS Speaking if there is no marking criterion for Coherence and Cohesion, like there is in IELTS writing? Well, the marking criterion of Fluency is actually Fluency & Coherence and that means you are marked on being well understood. While the linking words themselves are not marked, you are marked on being easy to understand by making the direction of your ideas clear – and that requires linking words which signpost the direction of what you are saying. So, these linking words will help your score for Fluency and Coherence, which counts for 25% of your marks.

Types of Linking Words for IELTS Speaking

Adding more information

  • and
  • also
  • as well as
  • another reason is

Time Phrases

You should use signposts to help the listening understand when you are talking about the past or the present. This is crucial in IELTS Speaking where you will be asked questions that are related to the past, to the present and to the future.

  • now
  • at the moment
  • at present
  • right now
  • these days
  • nowadays
  • in the past
  • before
  • then
  • at that time
  • years ago
  • when I was younger
  • in the future
  • in a few decades
  • looking ahead

Expressing ideas

  • I think one important thing is
  • I guess one difference is
  • I suppose the main difference between X and Y is

Causes and Solutions

  • I guess it’s because
  • The main reason is
  • It was caused by
  • Because
  • I suppose the best way to deal with this problem is
  • I reckon the only answer is to
  • The best way to solve this is

Giving Examples

These connective devices are for giving examples in your answers. The most common and natural to use is “like”. Please note that “like” can’t be used as a linking device in IELTS writing.

  • for example
  • for instance
  • such as
  • like

Being Clear

You use these simple, natural expression to explain your point again more clearly or get your answer back on track.

  • What I mean is
  • What I want to say is
  • As I was saying

Contrasting and concessions

Use these connecting words to compare and contrast or give concessions. You will often be asked a comparison question in the IELTS Speaking test. These questions can come in speaking part 1, part 2 or part 3. So, make sure to use these linking words for your statements.

  • but
  • on the other hand
  • while
  • although
  • or
  • in comparison
  • on the other hand
  • by contrast

Free PDF Download: Linking words for IELTS Speaking

Examples of Linking Words in IELTS Speaking

Look at the following questions and answers from the speaking test and see what linking words are contained in the answers. You’ll see that the use of linking words is very common in most answers you will give.

Q. Do you eat much fruit?

A. Yes, I do. I love tropical fruit like mangoes and pineapples. I just can’t get enough of them. I’d eat them with every meal if I could.

Comments: We would not use “for example” in this type of sentence which relates to our everyday life and instead we use “like” which is very informal. We can use “like” as a linking word in the speaking test, but never in the writing test, which is formal.

Q. Do you think fast food is bad?

A. Yes, I do. If it is eaten too often, it can cause problems such as heart disease or diabetes. Also, it can lead to weight problems which are really common nowadays.

Comments: You could use “such as” or “for example” in this sentence because the content is more serious. Please note that we don’t use “furthermore” or “in addition” for speaking, instead we use “also” or “and”.

Q. Do children play similar games today that they played in the past?

A. No, I don’t think they do. Before, children used to play simple games like hide and seek or they used to play with simple handmade toys. But, these days, kids tend to prefer computer games and their toys are battery operated. 

Comments: This answer contained time phrases for the past and present “before” and “these days”. It also had an example “like”. “Like” is the main example linking word for speaking and can be repeated again and again. This answer also uses a contrasting linking word “but”. “But” is the main contrasting linking word in speaking and can be repeated many times.

Mistakes with Linking Words in Speaking

The example below will help you understand how not to answer a question with linking words when you answers questions in your IELTS Speaking test.

Q. Do you like going out with friends?

A. Yes, I do. Firstly, it gives me a chance to relax. Secondly, I can catch up on their news. Last but not least, it allows me the opportunity to visit new places.

Comments: The method of linking is too formal for IELTS Speaking, which is informal. It is inappropriate to speak in a formal style in such an informal test. It won’t help your score.

See below what the answer should be:

A. Yes, I do. It’s great being able to chill out and catch up with their news. Also we often go out to new places which I really enjoy.

Comments: This answer was more natural and would be marked higher in IELTS speaking. The linking words are used appropriately (and / also). You are being marked on your natural use of English in an informal speaking test.

Tips for Linking Devices in IELTS Speaking

  • Don’t use formal linking words for simple questions about yourself and your life.
  • Don’t worry about repeating linking words. This is different to IELTS writing and repetition in the speaking test is more usual and not marked down.
  • The most common linking words for speaking are: and, but, because, also, like (for giving examples). This means you will probably use them a lot and repeat them often – that’s fine for the speaking test.
  • “Like” is only used as a linking word to give examples in speaking NOT in writing.
  • You do not get a higher score because you used a range of linking devices.
  • Linking words in speaking are just to help the examiner understand better and that will boost your score.
  • Linking words are used naturally not formally in IELTS speaking.
  • Linking words are part of the criterion of “Fluency and Coherence” which is 25% of your marks.

Linking Devices for IELTS Writing

The following link will provide you with a list of Essential Linking Words for Writing Task 2. For IELTS writing, you MUST use a range of formal linking words in your essay to get a high score. This is applicable to both GT and academic students.

IELTS Speaking Questions & Topics

IELTS speaking common questions and topics to practice for your test.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics

IELTS Speaking Model Answers and Tips:

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IELTS Speaking Part 2 Quiz: How much do you know?

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How much do you know about IELTS speaking part 2? Make sure you understand everything about speaking part 2 before you do your test.

Quiz

Are the following tips and advice good or bad?

  1. If you don’t know anything about the topic, ask the examiner to give you another cue card.
  2. You must write answers to each question on the cue card during your 1 minute preparation.
  3. You shouldn’t look at your notes while you are giving your talk.
  4. You will get a low score if your talk is boring.
  5. You should only add information to your talk relating to the prompts on your card.
  6. The examiner will interrupt you if you go off topic.
  7. If you don’t speak for 2 minutes, you won’t get a high score.
  8. The examiner is not interested in your grammar in part 2, only in your fluency.
  9. Use plenty of idioms to get a higher score.
  10. You should expand your talk by adding descriptions, details and stories.
Answers

All the advice given above is bad except for one. Read the comments below to learn more.

  1. You can’t change your topic. Even if you don’t know much about it, you should still try to talk by adding your own ideas and information.
  2. There are no questions on the speaking part 2 cards. There are prompts on the cards which are only guidelines. You should decide how to write notes in a way that is useful for your talk. The notes are only to help you remember your ideas so you decide if you want to make notes on each prompt or not.
  3. This is really bad advice. Of course you can look at your notes. Your notes will help you remember your ideas. However, don’t look down at your notes all the time. Eye contact with the examiner while you are speaking is important. Just glance at your notes from time to time to help remember ideas.
  4. There is no score for having an interesting talk or a boring talk. However, an interesting talk usually contains a better range of language and for that reason adding interesting details can help.
  5. This is also poor advice. The prompts should be used as guidelines. If you decide not to follow them, it is up to you. Personally, I recommend following them because they provide a useful structure for your talk but you need to add more information to each prompt. It is your choice what extra information you add.
  6. The examiner will not interrupt your talk at all. Once you start talking, the examiner will remain silent until you have finished. Also there is no scoring for being on or off topic in IELTS speaking. You shouldn’t change the topic but you might want to add some interesting details which are not mentioned on your card.
  7. Part of fluency is your ability to speak at length but that doesn’t mean you must speak for 2 minutes. If you only speak for 1.5 minutes but during that time you speak without hesitation, you can still get a high score.
  8. There are four marking criteria in IELTS speaking (fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation). These criteria are scored from your answers to ALL parts of the test. While part 2 is a good chance to show your fluency skills, your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation will still be assessed.
  9. Using idioms is not a sure way to get a high score. Idioms should be used appropriately and correctly and should definitely not be over used.
  10. This is absolutely correct advice. You need to expand your talk by adding more detail and descriptions. This website (IELTS Advantage) has a great strategy for developing your talk. I’m sure you will all find it useful.

 

Recommended for Speaking Part 2

Recommended IELTS Website

IELTS Advantage: A great website for IELTS tips and strategies.

Main IELTS Pages

Develop your IELTS skills with tips, model answers, lessons, free videos and more.

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IELTS Listening Essential 25 Tips

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The essential IELTS listening tips and information for success in your test. Learn the right listening techniques with over 25 top tips to help you achieve a high score. Learn about the listening exam content, writing the answers correctly, types of questions, scoring, making notes and much more. This is A MUST WATCH video lesson for all IELTS students.

Capital letters in IELTS listening. You can write in capital letters or lower case – your choice.  My recommendation is to use all capital letters as it is easier to read and avoids mistakes when writing by hand in the paper test. For the computer test, this isn’t an issue.

TEST CHANGES:

There have been only very minimal changes to the listening test since I made this video.

  1. The paper test has 10 mins answer transfer time to move your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet after the recording has finished. However, the computer test has only 2 mins checking time. This is not a change to the test, it is just an adaptation of time because in the computer test your answers are already entering into the computer. Note that this is the same listening test regardless of whether you write your answer on paper or into a computer.
  2. There used to be an example recording given before the real answer came in the recording. The example recording gave you time to adjust the volume and get used to the speaker’s voice. However, that example recording has now gone. From the moment the recording starts, the test starts and you must listen directly for answers.

IELTS Video: Listening Tips

Summary List of Tips Given Below Video.

IELTS Listening Test Summary

  1. All students take the same test. Both academic and GT students take the same listening test. It is marked in the same way.
  2. All candidates take the same test whether writing their answer on paper or into a computer. Only the answer transfer/checking time is different. See point number 6 below.
  3. There are 40 questions
  4. There are 4 sections
    1. Section 1 = two speakers. This is often a telephone conversation between two people, for example organising a place on a course, booking a table at a restaurant or renting an apartment. You must listen for specific information, such as names (tips on listening for names), dates, times (tips on listening for time), places and numbers.
    2. Section 2 = one speaker. This is often a talk from a guide. You might hear information about a building, a resort, a company, a charity etc.
    3. Section 3 = three or four speakers. This is an academic discussion. It could either be two students talking with a professor or a student presenting their resource to their colleagues.
    4. Section 4  = one speaker. This is an academic lecture.
  5. The sections get more difficult as the test progresses. This means section 1 is the easiest and section 4 is the most difficult.
  6. The listening test is 40 mins (paper test) and 32 mins (computer test) – a time difference due to transfer/checking time below:
    1. 30 minutes to listen to the recording and write down your answer on the question paper
    2. additional time after recording has stopped:
      • paper test = 10 minutes given after recording has ended to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer sheet
      • computer test = 2 mins given after recording has ended checking time for the computer test
  7. IELTS is an international test. There will be a range of accents but the main accents will probably be British and Australian.
  8. IELTS accept either British English or American English spelling.

IELTS Listening Tips

Below is a list of IELTS listening tips that have been given in the video above. Read these tips carefully.

  1. The recording will be played only once. You will not hear it a second time.
    1. You must practice completing a full listening test by listening only once before your test. You should do this a number of times.
    2. When you are developing skills and vocabulary, you might want to practice listening more than once. This is fine when you are in training.
  2. You will need to multitask. This means you must be able to read the questions, listen for the answer and write down words all at the same time. You should practice doing this.
  3. Practice transferring your answers to the answer sheet at home before your test. Here is a link to download the IELTS listening answer sheet.
  4. You should write your answers on the answer sheet using  pencil not a pen. This is the same as the IELTS reading test.
  5. Scores are calculated by the number of points you got correct. Here is a link to learn all about the IELTS band scores: IELTS Band Scores Explained. You don’t lose a mark if your answer is wrong. Your score will not change due to incorrect answers.
  6. If you don’t know an answer, guess. Always write something in the box on your answer sheet. Who knows, maybe you guess right !!
  7. You can write your answer using capital or lower case letters.  However, I recommend using all capital letters.
  8. Check the number of words you can have for your answer. Each time the question type changes, the number of words for the answer might change too. Here is an example of instructions: “No more than two words and/or a number”. To learn exactly what these instructions mean, please watch the video lesson above.
  9. Check the instructions to see if you can have a number (which means only one) or numbers (plural which means more than one number).
  10. How words and numbers are calculated:
    1. A date “1950” is considered one number.
    2. A large number “1,000,500” is considered one word.
    3. A hyphenated word “part-time” is considered one word.
    4. A compound noun which is not hyphenated “tennis shoe” is considered two words.
  11. “at the hospital” or “hospital”. Should you write the article and preposition? Your answer will depend on the type of question you have. If you are completing the sentence, for example:
    1. The best place to meet is ………. = the answer must be grammatically correct so you need “at the hospital”.
    2. If the question is a note or form completion, such each 1) PLACE: …… = the answer can be just one word (with or without the article) “hospital” or “the hospital” (if two words are possible.
  12. SPELLING!!! If your answer is spelled wrong, the answer is marked wrong. You must have the correct spelling to get a point and have the answer marked correct.
    1. Don’t worry about spelling while you are listening because you don’t have time to concentrate on spelling. You need to concentrate on listening to the recording and following the questions.
    2. Check your spelling when you transfer your answers to the answer sheet. That is the time to check and make sure everything is correct.
  13. Writing letters or words. If you get a multiple choice question, it will ask you to write down the letter as your answer. For example:
    1. a) spring
    2. b) summer
    3. c) winter
    4. If the answer is b, you must write “b” on your answer sheet not “summer”. The word “summer” would be marked wrong because the instructions ask you to write a letter not a word.
  14. IELTS Listening Question Types
    1. form completion
    2. note completion
    3. summary completion
    4. sentence completion
    5. multiple choice
    6. diagram labelling
    7. map labelling
    8. table completion
    9. form chart
    10. If you want practice with these types of question, go to my IELTS listening page.
  15. Don’t try to understand everything. IELTS will add lots of extra information but you only need to listen for answers. Keep yourself focused on listening for answers to questions.
  16. Answers may come quickly. You might get three answers in a very short time. Get ready to write your answers down quickly. Answers may come slowly. There may be a gap between answers. Don’t panic. This is common in section 4.
  17. Look out for answers which are plural. IELTS know that students have difficulty hearing the plural “s”. So, these answers will certainly be given to test your listening ability.
  18. Common Problems
    1. Giving the answer and then changing it. Here is an example: “Is it ok to meet at 7pm?” / “Yes, 7pm works fine for me” / “Oh I’ve just remembered I have a late meeting, could we make it half past instead?” The answer was 7pm but then the speaker changed it to 7.30pm. Always keep listening and be ready for the speaker to change the answer.
    2. Similar words might not be the right answer. Watch this video about IELTS listening multiple choice to understand this tip.
  19. If you miss an answer, just move on to the next question. Don’t waste time. Don’t lose your place in the recording.
  20. CONCENTRATE!!! 30 minutes is a long time to actively listen for answers. If you lose focus, you will miss answers. Don’t let that happen to you. Practice full tests at home to build up your ability to concentrate.

For more tips and explanations – please watch the video above.

Do you have a question about IELTS listening or about the IELTS test? This page has over 100 answers to your questions: IELTS Test FAQ

Improve your IELTS listening for free with this practice lessons: IELTS Listening Lessons

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IELTS Essay Structure & Paragraphs

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IELTS Essay Structure and Paragraphing is essentially the same for all types of IELTS essays. IELTS Writing Task 2 has five types of essays and they are all structured more or less the same. You are advised to use only 40 mins to write your writing task 2 essay so it is a short, highly focused, highly relevant, well-organised essay.

IELTS Paragraphing, Structure & Marking

The examiner will mark how well structured your essay is. This is part of the marking criterion of Coherence and Cohesion, which is 25% of your writing task 2 marks. In this criterion, the examiner will check:

  1. the overall essay structure
  2. how ideas are put into paragraphs to help the reader navigate the essay
  3. how topic sentences are written to help the reader understanding the paragraph
  4. how supporting points are organised within body paragraphs
  5. how linking devices and signposts are used to direct the flow of the essay.
    1. You can find a list of linking devices here: IELTS Writing Task 2 Linking Words

You can learn more about the marking for this criterion and others on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band scores5 to 8 Explained.

Overall IELTS Essay Structure

How many paragraphs should I have in my IELTS essay? What is the best IELTS essay structure?

All IELTS essays will have the following structure:

An introduction

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3 (optional)

Conclusion

IELTS essays are designed to be quite short, between 270 and 290 words. This means you will have in total either four or five paragraphs with about a total of 290 words. You will not get a higher score for a longer essay. In fact, a longer essay can open you up to more criticism and a lower score.

 The main bulk of your band score will be in the body paragraphs. The introduction and conclusion are of course vital, but they play more of a functional role to the essay.

Can I have one body paragraph or four body paragraphs?

No, you can’t. Having only one body paragraph means you have failed to organise your main ideas into paragraphs and you will get around band 5 for Coherence and Cohesion if you do this.

If you have too many body paragraphs it means that each individual main idea has not been sufficiently developed and that will also lower your score for Task Response. For example, band 5 Task Response is when the ideas have not been developed and band 7 is when ideas have been extended. Of course, there are other factors involved that impact your score in both CC and TR.

Individual Paragraphs & Content

Introduction Paragraph

This always has two statements. One is the background statement and one is the thesis statement. This does not vary no matter what the essay type is. You will always start by paraphrasing the IELTS essay question details – meaning the specific issue given to you. And you will always have a thesis statement which either introduces the reader to your opinion ( your position) or presents main points.

Introduction Paragraph for IELTS Essays Video

An oldie but a goodie and still relevant today.

Note:

Sorry about the handwriting in the video. It was my first ever video.

Body Paragraphs

These paragraphs form the main part of your essay structure. Each body paragraph must have a main theme or main idea. If your ideas are jumbled up and scattered between paragraphs you will get a low score for CC marking criterion. So, each body paragraph must be unique in content and not overlap in content with other body paragraphs.

Within the body paragraph, you will always start with a topic sentence. This is a statement that contains your main idea or theme. It must be clear for the examiner to read. By reading this sentence, the aim of the paragraph is made clear.

All supporting points that follow will explain your main idea or central theme. Each sentence must be 100% critical to the essay and connect both to the main idea and essay question. At no time do you add extra padding or unnecessary description or information. These are highly focused, skills-based essays.

Conclusion

This is the shortest paragraph of only one or two sentences that restates your opinion or main ideas. The biggest problem is having NO CONCLUSION. Running out of time is the biggest problem which causes people to miss out their conclusion. See the video below to learn why this is such a problem. Other issues with the conclusion are: 1) using the right linking word to start your conclusion 2) not going off topic with new ideas.

Why your Conclusion is Essential

What to do with the last 5 mins of your writing task? Is it ok to not have a conclusion paragraph?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structure Example

Some people think that constructing bigger roads will help to prevent traffic problems.

To what extent do you agree?

Notice: overall structure, paragraphing, paragraph content and linking words.

It is sometimes thought that in order to address traffic congestion bigger roads ought to be built. In my opinion, while this is one way to tackle traffic problems, there are drawbacks to this solution and therefore other measures may need to be taken.

Constructing wider roads could certainly have a positive impact on the flow of traffic, particularly during rush hours. Roads in most developed cities were not built to handle the sheer volume of traffic that exist these days which is why traffic often grinds to a halt. Consequently, wider roads should be able to accommodate more traffic and theoretically reduce congestion. However, in some cases wider roads have been shown to actually encourage car use which could negate this solution.

With the growing number of private cars on the road, having wider roads may not be enough to tackle future congestion problems. For this reason, improving public transport and encouraging people to use it also needs to be implemented. Most people find that public transport is unreliable and too costly. By making public transport a cost effective, attractive option, it will be possible to reduce car use and ease long-term congestion.

Finally, it must be considered that some major cities have infrastructure that does not allow for expansion in terms of the size of roads. With growing populations and growing demands for housing, space is becoming a rare commodity and road expansion is sometimes not feasible. Therefore, by taking traffic overhead or underground by constructing bridges and tunnels, it is possible to reduce surface level traffic which ultimately solves road traffic congestion.

In conclusion, although I agree that road expansion is a potential solution, improving public transport and looking at alternative traffic flow options must be considered to effectively tackle traffic problems.

(under 300 words)

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Can you use quotes or idioms in your IELTS essay?

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Idioms, quotes and proverbs are often used inappropriately in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Read below to learn whether you should or should be using them in your IELTS writing task 2 essay.

Will I get a higher score using idioms in my IELTS essay?

The answer is clear – no. Idioms are mostly informal because they are descriptive. Idioms such as “it cost an arm and a leg” are too informal to use in a formal IELTS writing task 2 essay for both Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS.. However, there are some idioms which are suitable but they are not always suitable for the topic you might be given so don’t necessarily aim as a strategy to use them. Such suitable idioms are: in the long run / the key to this issue / give rise to / bridge the gap / shed light on / pave the way etc. If your essay topic and aims allow you to use these idioms, that’s great. But such idioms are still not actually required for a high score in Vocabulary because there are other options.

The marking criteria for Vocabulary which relates to idiomatic language is not just about idioms. Idioms are just one type of idiomatic language and as I explained above, not necessarily the best type. Phrasal verbs, on the other hand, are often great to use in your essays, such as to look up / to look after /  to look down on /  to bring about / bring up / bring forward / bring up etc. All these phrasal verbs are examples of idiomatic language that can be used in your IELTS essays to boost your score.

Using Quotes in IELTS Essays

Regarding quotes, the examiner will give you a score based on your own level of English language, not the words you remember from another person. While quotes are suitable for academic essays at university, they will not help your band score for IELTS. Instead, use the idea from the quote and write it in your own words. Your essay should be written using your own language, not memorised phrases or sentences from other people.

What about proverbs in IELTS writing?

I would also recommend avoiding proverbs as well. Most proverbs are not appropriate for academic writing. Here’s an example of an inappropriate proverb in writing “all that glitters is not gold”. While the meaning might be perfect for your essay, it would be better to write “people should not be deceived by appearances because they can be deceptive” The latter sentence has a much better variety of appropriate vocabulary for a high score and each word has clearly been chosen by you to demonstrate your own level of English.

Can I use quotes, idioms or proverbs in my IELTS speaking test?

Proverbs and quotes are not usually academic and for that reason are better suited to speaking. However, don’t lose your fluency score because you are trying to remember an idiom. You get a high score when you use appropriate, natural language in the right context. So, don’t try to fill your answers with idioms or proverbs. Using quotes is not really suitable for IELTS because they are not your own words.

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ALL MODEL ESSAYS & TIPS FOR IELTS WRITING TASK 2

ALL MODEL ANSWERS & TIPS FOR IELTS SPEAKING

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Which part of IELTS speaking is most important?

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Are all the parts of the IELTS speaking test equally important?

The IELTS speaking test is graded by your performance in all parts of the test. The examiner will check your English language using the 4 marking criteria for each part of the test.

Speaking Part 1

If you are strong in speaking part 1 but not in the other parts, then you will not get a good score. You must do well in all parts to get a good score.

Most of the questions are quite easy in part 1 and are about yourself or your country. So, doing well in this part is expected for high level students. If you give very short answers, for example “Yes, I do” or “No, I don’t”, you are not providing the examiner with a good range of language to assess. So, that means your potential score is not high when you enter part 2 and it will affect your overall score.

Speaking Part 2

In speaking part 2, the examiner has a chance to sit and listen to your English without interrupting. So, giving a short speech of only 1 minute gives you less chance to demonstrate the level of your English and less chance to show fluency. It is still possible to get a good score with only 1 mins or 1.5 mins speech but only if the language you use is very good  and your fluency is very strong during that time.

By the end of speaking part 2, the examiner has a rough idea of your band score. Adding more information and details to each prompt is a way of offering the examiner a broader range of your language ability. Description offers the examiner more vocabulary and fluency. Talking with feeling can offer better intonation. Explaining in detail can offer better sentence structures and grammar. Giving examples of the past and ideas for the future can offer more grammar tenses. Try to find ways to showcase your English in part 2.

Speaking Part 3

In speaking part 3, it is a chance for the examiner to ask more in depth questions which will require more skill in English to answer. The questions are abstract and about the world rather than yourself. This requires a better level of English to answer well.

This is a chance for you to boost your score by providing the examiner with a better range of vocabulary, grammar, fluency and pronunciation. Giving examples and detailed explanations of your ideas naturally produces better language which will help your score.

Will the examiner decide my score in the test or later on?

Your score will be decided by the examiner who conducts the test and the score will be given at the end of the test. By the end of speaking part 3, the examiner will have decided your score.

Does the examiner have model answers?

No, there are no model answers used for assessing you in the IELTS speaking test. Each student will use different English and give different answers. Your score is only calculated on the English language you produce – the level and range of your English and the accuracy of your English.

If I don’t answer one question, will it affect my score?

If you perform well and produce good English in the other questions, you can still get a good score. Struggling with only one question while the others are fine, should not affect your score adversely.

Will I get a low score if I can’t think of many ideas?

The IELTS speaking test only assess your English language, not your ideas. This is very different to the IELTS writing test. IELTS writing assesses your ideas, your answers, how you develop the ideas and how you present them. IELTS speaking only tests your vocabulary, grammar, fluency and pronunciation. See below for the band score descriptors.

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IELTS Reading Tips: How can I improve my score

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Below are some IELTS reading tips about how you can improve your score. The tips include developing both IELTS reading exam skills and also improving your English level. Even if your English language is at a native speaker level, you still need to get used to the test and be familiar with it in order to succeed.

IELTS Reading Tips: How to Increase your Score

Below are many ways you can boost your IELTS reading score. Take a look at the list and see which things you need to focus on for your IELTS reading preparation.

Develop skills for each type of question in IELTS reading

There are around 14 different types of IELTS reading questions and you need to find a strategy to tackle each one. Some question types have answers that come in order and others do not. This type of information will help you not only save time but also locate the right answers. Follow the link to learn about the IELTS reading question types. Most students struggle with True False Not Given questions, see this IELTS TFNG video to learn how to approach this type of question. You can find free practice reading lessons for different types of questions on this page: IELTS Reading Practice Lessons & Tips

Skimming and Scanning Reading Skills

You should be able to skim and scan passages to do well in IELTS. Skimming is reading a passage to get a general idea of the content. This is recommended to do before you tackle the questions. All types of questions, except one, are given after the passage because it is recommended to skim read the passage before the questions. This does not mean you try to understand the passage. It’s just a chance to get a sense of the topic and layout. You should skim read the full passage in 2 to 3 minutes – not longer. At the same time, you should underline any key words you see. The only types of questions which comes before the passage is matching headings, for those, you don’t need to read the passage first. Scanning is your ability to locate information quickly and has no relation to comprehension of the passage.

Develop your speed reading skills.

IELTS has a strict time limit which will really challenge your ability to complete the questions in time. You must develop speed reading skills to be able to find your answers quickly. This means you must be able to scan the passage quickly to locate information. Always keep your eye on the clock in the test. For the paper test, there’s be a clock on the wall, for the computer test it is given at the top of the screen.

Don’t try to understand the full passage

Your task is to locate answers only. Most questions test your ability to locate specific information given to you and then to comprehend the sentence or sentences which contain that information. There are only two types of questions which will require a more detailed understand of the whole passage – matching headings and choosing a title. All other questions are based on locating information. For more tips about reading techniques for IELTS, follow the link.

Developing vocabulary

This is one of the key reasons why students don’t get the score they need. Learning vocabulary is not just about learning the meaning of a word, it is about learning when you can and can’t use a word. It is also about what collocations can be used with words, for example verbs and match nouns.  You should write words lists that include common paraphrases and also any problems you had finding the answer. You can do this by learning vocabulary from practice reading passages. There is not set vocabulary list to learn for IELTS reading, unlike IELTS writing and speaking. For IELTS Reading, it is about broadening your vocabulary by reading on many different topics and learning to navigate through different language.

Keywords

Each IELTS reading question will have keywords to help you locate the information in the passage and to spot the right answer. You should learn to spot keywords and use them correctly. You should also check whether the keywords can be paraphrased. You will soon learn to use keywords correctly when you review your answers in practice reading lessons. Some keywords are obvious, for instance names, dates, numbers, places etc. Other keywords are more subtle.

Grammar

Question types such as summary completion and sentence completion require that the sentence is grammatically correct when you have put the answer in. This means that grammar can help you to spot the right answer. Many students post question on this blog asking me why one answer is correct and the other is not – the reason is often grammar related. You will see this when you do practice reading lessons.

More Tips to Improve your IELTS Reading

  1. Practice makes perfect. Unless you practice regularly, you won’t improve. Here’s a link to all my reading lessons for IELTS. The lesson are useful for students taking both the GT test and academic test because they are aimed at building skills, understanding of question types and also vocabulary.
  2. Getting used to difficult passages. If you have time before your test, you should be widening your reading skills and familiarity of complicated passages on a range of topics.  read the bbc news, the new scientist, the economist etc. Here’s a link to a page with useful websites for IELTS which includes links to websites useful for reading.
  3. IELTS Practice Reading Tests. You can find practice tests online for free (see my useful website page for links)or you can buy the IELTS Cambridge Test books (number 10 is the most recent). You should use IELTS practice reading tests for two purposes:
    1. To develop your skills, practice different types of questions and enhance your vocabulary
    2. To test yourself under exam conditions to check your score and check if you have developed or no
  4. GT Test. The first two passages in the GT test are different to the academic test but the third passage is similar. To practice the first two types of reading passages, you can practice reading materials such as instruction manuals, schedules and employment terms. You can find practice tests in the IELTS Cambridge books. The same skills and question types apply to both the GT test and academic test so all lessons on this blog will be useful to Gt students.
  5. Know your weaknesses. Unless you know your weaknesses, you won’t know how to improve. You must check the reasons why you are getting your answers wrong or right. If you are getting answers wrong due to your understanding of the passage, then you know you must improve your English language. If you are getting your answers wrong because your couldn’t find the information or you didn’t understand the question or you ran out of time, then the problem is your technique and strategies. Spend time reviewing your performance.
  6. Be realistic. If your level of English is not strong, don’t expect to get band score 7.
  7. Plan your training for IELTS reading. You should spend time
    1. developing vocabulary and paraphrasing awareness through broad reading practice
    2. practicing particular question types
    3. developing speed in locating information
    4. doing practice test not under exam conditions so you can work on skills
    5. doing practice tests under exam conditions to test your score and improvement
  8. You must prepare. Like all tests, you need to prepare. Even native speakers need to prepare by learning about the different types of questions and developing the right skills.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Planning Tips

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IELTS essay planning tips. Learn how to plan your IELTS essay successfully. Learn how to use your time to plan ideas and paragraphs as well as other essential aspects of your IELTS essay.

Should I spend time planning my essay?

Yes, you should. 50% of your marks as based on your ability to answer the essay question directly, present relevant ideas, have clear supporting points to extend the main ideas, to organise your ideas and have logical paragraphing. So, spending time planning is essential for any student aiming for band score 6, 7, 8 or 9.

When you get to writing task 2, you will be tired. You will already have done the listening test, reading test and writing task 1. This means your concentration and energy levels will be low. It is easy to make a mistake with the essay question, lose focus in your writing and present disorganised ideas. This is another reason why planning is so important. It helps you focus and create a clear strategy with clear ideas. This will make writing your essay easier and help you write a strong essay.

How much time should I spend planning?

Some teachers will tell you to plan for at least 10 minutes. This is good advice but I know what most students are too nervous to spend so much time planning. Other teachers advise students to spend about 3 minutes. This is enough to plan main ideas but not to plan supporting points and to organise ideas.

I advise you to spend at least 5 minutes planning. You must practice planning your essay and calculate how long it really takes you to create a strong plan for your essay. Whatever you decide, know that planning is critical. Lack of planning is the common downfall of most students.

What should I plan before I start writing?

You should have a clear outline of the following before you start your essay:

  • identifying the issues in the essay question
  • brainstorming main ideas
  • choosing the best main ideas (select the best – more ideas does not mean a better score)
  • planning supporting points
  • organising paragraphs

Should I practice planning my essays at home before my test?

Yes, definitely. There is a skill to good logical essay planning which you need to practice. On this blog, I have over 100 essay questions for IELTS writing task 2. While it might be difficult to practice writing over 100, you should certainly spend time planning a lot of them even if you don’t have time to write the full essay. The better you are at planning, the better your essay will be. See the link below for essay questions.

Where can I write my plan?

You can write your plan on the question paper. There is plenty of room to write on the question paper and the examiner will not see it. The examiner only sees the answer sheet. So, use the question paper to plan your essay. For the computer test, you’ll have extra paper for planning and making notes.

Warning

I have seen many high level students with very good English fail to get band score 7, not because of their English, but because of their poor essay planning. Don’t let that happen to you! Plan your essay thoroughly before you start writing your essay.

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