How To Avoid Overusing Fillers During The IELTS Speaking Tests
Using filler phrases like uhm, err or uhh are actually quite normal, even for native speakers. However, you shouldn’t do this a lot during your speaking test. Using unnecessary fillers and repetition gives the impression that the speaker does not have sufficient vocabulary for the task, and that you cannot continue speaking. This will affect both your fluency and vocabulary scores. In this article you will learn how to use discourse markers, or paraphrasing to buy time to think of appropriate ways to answer.
Why Buying Time Is Important
The questions in part three are much tougher than those in part 1. If you get asked a question that you can’t immediately answer during your IELTS exam, you should not panic or keep silent. It’s important to keep speaking even if you need a moment to decide how to answer the actual question. Native English speakers use many different time-filling phrases to help them do this.
Honestly, I am a little bit nervous right now and my mind just went blank
Wow let me think about that.
I’ve never thought about it before
I’ve never really given much thought to that before.
Frankly, this isn’t something I’m used to talking about
That’s a good question, so let’s see …
You know, it’s been such a long time since I’ve thought about this matter …
Unfortunately, this subject is not really my cup of tea, but let me try …Asking For Clarification:
If part of the reason why you are struggling with a question is because you don’t understand what is being asked, there are instances when you are allowed to ask the examiner for claricfication. In part three of the IELTS speaking test you are allowed to ask the examiner to repeat, rephrase or explain the question
You can use the following phrases to request the examiner to do so:
I am not sure what you meant by (…)
Could you please, say that in other words?
Could you please, repeat the question?
Do you mean……….?
I am sorry. Could you please, repeat that?
I beg your pardon…
Could you please repeat that…?
Could you please explain it to me in another way?
I did not quite get that. Did you mean…?Self-Correcting:
If you do make a mistake when speaking, its important not to panic. Rather politely correct yourself using one of the following phrases:
What I actually meant was…
To express it another way…
Another way to say it…
Another way of saying it is…
Let me put it this/another way…
What I mean is…
To rephrase what I have just said…
What I want / meant to say is…
What I am trying to say is…If you feel that your speaking skills are lacking in any other way, then it is probably best to consider enrolling in a professional IELTS course, under the guided supersivion of an IELTS lecturer. This will help you to identify your weak areas as well as offer you valuable feedback on how to improve.
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