If you are preparing for IELTS Speaking, you might have heard that vocabulary range is an important criterion that can influence your IELTS score. The examiner will look at what vocabulary you use and how you do it, i.e. your accuracy matters as well. You can demonstrate the width of your vocabulary by using synonyms, set expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs, etc.

Using phrasal verbs where appropriate makes you sound more fluent. That is because most of the time native speakers of English use these short multiple-word verbs in their sentences. Phrasal verbs will make your speech more lively and natural, as a result, you will be able to increase your score in the Speaking section of the exam. 

It’s also good to use phrasal verbs in your speaking because a lot of them are idiomatic, i.e. their meaning is not the same as the individual words, which is also good for improving your score.

We have collected a list of advanced phrasal verbs that will help you dwell on various topics, and we have also provided you with their definitions and examples.

Remember it’s not recommended to use phrasal verbs in IELTS Academic Writing. We recommend that you replace them with single verb equivalents.

• READ ABOUT:
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• Punctuation for IELTS Academic Writing

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 often implies the candidate has to describe line graphs, bar charts, tables and multiple charts that have a lot in common. These visuals contain numbers and percentages, which makes them different from maps and processes. In order to score high in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you have t0 give an accurate and strong description as well as analyse the provided charts properly. Writing 150 words is not enough to achieve the desired band. You should avoid repetition, i.e. demonstrate the range of vocabulary. What words and expressions to use to describe and emphasize the changes, similarities and differences in the data is going to be discussed below.

Rise and fall verbs

increase / rise significantly = go up a lot 

• e.g. In the period from September to November, the profits increased significantly reaching a peak of 10 million. 

rocket/soar = go up quickly to a high level

• e.g. In October, the figures rocket / soar to 2,600 copies.

reach a peak = get to a maximum 

• e.g. The sales increased gradually, reaching a peak of approximately 25, 000 copies in April.

increase / rise slightly = go up a little  

• The figures for Pretty Cuo increased slightly in the final year.

decrease significantly = go down a lot

• e.g. In December the sales decreased significantly reaching a low of 1,500 books.

plummet / plunge = go down quickly and suddenly

• e.g. The property values had plummeted / plunged by 2008. 

decrease slightly = go down a little

• e.g. The figures for Pretty Cuo decreased slightly in the final year.

reach a low = go to a minimum

• e.g. The profits of Richmond Blue saw a dramatic fall and reached a low of 2 million in 2010.

fluctuate = change all the time

• e.g. … the profits of the Pretty Cup slightly fluctuated…

remain stable = not change

• e.g. … the indexes of Coffee Day and Short Street Coffee remained stable… 

halve = to reduce by half

• e.g. In the past eight years, the elephant population in Africa has been halved. 

drop/dip / show a downward trend/decline = go down, to gradually become less, worse, or lower

• e.g. Stock prices dropped after the company’s announcement.

grow/surge = to increase suddenly and greatly

• e.g. House prices surged between 2015 and 2021.

recover = to improve after a difficult period or after falling in value

• e.g. Profits are expected to recover in the current financial year.

READ ABOUT: 250+ commonly misspelled words in IELTS Listening

Adjectives and adverbs

sharply / dramatically = quickly

• e.g. The number of bike commuters increased sharply between 2019 and 2021.

gradually / steadily = slowly

• e.g. …  income from this source decreased gradually over the years, falling from 20% to 12%.

considerably / significantly = greatly

• e.g. The number of people cycling to work fluctuated considerably at the beginning of the described period.

slightly / insignificantly / marginally = a little / not much

• e.g. However, their values dropped insignificantly: in 2004 for the former and 2005 for the latter. 

nearly / roughly/ around = approximately

• e.g. The sales declined reaching a low of nearly 50 copies.

sharply, steeply, dramatically, significantly, substantially, considerably, wildly (fluctuate wildly) = very much

• e.g. The profits of  Richmond Blue fluctuated wildly during the first ten years.

upward = going up

• e.g. Overall, the indexes of retail trade and logistics fluctuated during this period with an upward trend.

downward = going down

• e.g. … the satisfactory scores demonstrate the downward trend from just under 40% to a projected quarter of all tests. 

overall = describing changes in trend over the whole period

• e.g. Overall, the indexes of retail trade and logistics fluctuated during this period…

slight/gradual/modest = describing small changes

• e.g. a slight rise, a gradual fall, a modest increase

marginal = describing very small change

•  e.g. a marginal change

consistent/steady/constant = steady

• e.g. steady movement , consistent flow, constant shifting

significant/dramatic/sudden/dramatic/substantial/sharp = describing a degree of change

• e.g.  a sudden rise, a sharp decrease = changes that happened quickly, a dramatic fall, a substantial change.

Writing a good description demands not only knowing a wide range of vocabulary and grammar, but also applying certain strategies. Go to our online IELTS preparation course where you will be able to build your IELTS Academic vocabulary,  go through a lot of practice in using the vocabulary, grammar and strategies, analyse sample answers, and write your own reports. Immediate feedback from our IELTS experts will help you build confidence and tackle IELTS Writing Task 1 with flying colours.

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Academic writing requires you to refer to the original source when you have used someone else’s ideas or concepts in your writing. One of the most common ways to incorporate these citations into your writing is to use reporting verbs to present the information. In IELTS Writing Task 2, candidates often have to express more than one point of view, especially when writing introductions and statements for their essays.

There is a wide variety of reporting verbs in the English language, which can be used in your essays. Let’s have a look at them and study some examples.

Why use reporting verbs? 

Reporting verbs can be tentative, neutral, or emphatic. They tell us that someone said something. In writing, these verbs demonstrate our opinion of someone’s ideas:

• whether we agree that the opinion is correct
• whether we have a neutral attitude towards what was said
• whether we think that the opinion is wrong.

Let’s have a look at some examples of the reporting verbs and choose the stronger ones:

• Many people insist that there is one ‘best’ variety of English.
• Many people argue that there is one ‘best’ variety of English.
• Some people doubt the value of bilingual education.
• Some people deny the value of bilingual education.

Each reporting verb has a slightly different meaning, so you have to be aware of and try to use a range of reporting verbs, depending on the statement you are making.

There are lots of different verbs that we can use to describe the action of speaking. The most common reporting verbs are ‘say’, ‘tell’, and ‘state’. However, it is not a good idea to use the same verb over and over as this will not give your writing much variation. There are many other verbs you can use in your IELTS writing.

Possible reporting verbs

READ ABOUT: How to identify the type of essay in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Tentative verbs are used when the author isn’t sure of their idea. Neutral verbs are used in an essay in place of ‘say’ or ‘tell’. Strong verbs are used when the author is very sure of their opinion. All of the verbs above can be used in IELTS essays.  

Here are some examples of how the reporting verbs can be used in sentences:

• It is claimed that graffiti is a modern art that should be accepted by society. Yet, others maintain the idea that this phenomenon is a crime and should be punished accordingly.
• Although many people think that technological development is unstoppable, it is not true. 
• It is claimed that robots should receive legal status, but there are those who strongly disagree with this idea.
• In various nations around the world, many people advocate taking a gap year in order to work or travel before beginning one’s tertiary education. 
• It is argued by some that the death penalty benefits a nation. I completely agree with this opinion and in this essay, I will state the reasons for my view. 
• Critics argue that such frivolity is a misuse of precious funds. However, I personally believe the opposite.
• Some people suspect that within a century, there will be only two or three languages spoken in the world.

The grammar of reporting verbs

Different reporting verbs are followed by different structures. Here are the most common structures with examples:

For example:

• It is claimed that graffiti is a modern art that should be accepted by society. 
• Others question whether the authorities should do something about it. 
• I object to the policy of government subsidies.
• Many people advocate taking a gap year.
• I would urge the government to subsidise...

As you can see there are many cases when reporting verbs can be used in your essay, and they can really help you demonstrate the range of your vocabulary to the examiner as well as express your ideas and thoughts effectively. Find more useful grammar and vocabulary issues in our blog:

• 30 common words to avoid in IELTS Writing
• Signpost expressions in IELTS Listening
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking

It is a common situation when some candidates are stuck between bands 6 and 7  because of their limited vocabulary. In order to get a high score both in IELTS Speaking and Writing you need to demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary as well as to succeed in the Listening and Reading sections of the exam. According to the assessment criteria, vocabulary covers 25% of the marks for Speaking and Writing tests, so the better your vocabulary the higher the score if you use it properly. How can one enhance his vocabulary within a short period of time? What are the ways to improve? Is it possible at all? Read this article to find out.

Tip #1. Learn phrases instead of words

It is advisable to learn not separate words but collocations, i.e. words that native speakers commonly use together. For example, let’s take the word “vocabulary”. How many collocations with it do you know? What comes to your mind when you hear it:

• limited/poor vocabulary;
• range of vocabulary;
• acquire vocabulary;
• build / enlarge  / increase vocabulary;
• active vocabulary;
• passive vocabulary;
• vocabulary item, etc.

Learning only words is not enough. In order to demonstrate your high level of English (above 7), you need to know how to connect these words with other words and how to use them in the right context. Phrases are better to learn because they create this context, thus it is easier for us to understand and remember them.

Tip # 2. Use the English-English dictionary

English-English dictionaries are a real treasure because there you can find all those phrases and collocations. There are a few good dictionaries available online, and they are absolutely free to use:

Cambridge Dictionary

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary

Free Collocation

The English-English dictionaries provide you with definitions, uses, synonyms, collocations, examples, and even idioms if there are such with the word you are learning. 

For example, we have taken the word “exam” and checked what Oxford Dictionary offers for this word:

There are a few more good reasons to use the English-English dictionary:

• They prevent you from translating, i.e. you start thinking in English and so speed up your comprehension and production of the language. You increase your use of English outside the classroom as well.
• They help you understand the words that do not translate in your own language. Sometimes the translations cannot give the same meaning as the English word.  For example, the word “stan” has no translation in Ukrainian. It appeared in the song by Eminem “Stan”. Cambridge dictionary defines it as “someone who greatly admires a singer or other famous person, to an extent that is unusual”: Lady Gaga’s devoted fans are the most visible example of stan culture. Eminem has so many stans. 
• They teach you how to explain things in English. Dictionaries explain notions with simple words. This is exactly what you need to know how to do if you, for example, can not find the word or forget it during the exam. Reading the definitions helps you learn to make your own ones when you need them. 

READ ABOUT: Top 30 words and phrases to avoid in IELTS Academic Writing

Tip #3. Learn topic vocabulary

Learning vocabulary by topic is a good idea as you will know the most important words and phrases you can come across in the Reading or Listening sections as well as what you need to use in your essay or when answering the examiner’s questions in the Speaking section of the IELTS. 

There are about 20 different topics for IELTS that you cannot change even if you do not like them or are not familiar with them. In other words, we recommend researching, learning and practicing to use the vocabulary on various topics before your exam.

Tip #4. Pay attention to the new meanings of the words you already know 

You might know many words. However, those familiar words might have different meanings. This often happens, for example, with verbs that take prepositions or adverbs, and they mean a completely different thing when they are combined. Those are phrasal verbs, the trickiest verbs for all non-native learners and the most common ones for native speakers.
For example:

put (v) – to move something or someone into the stated place, position, or direction;

up (adv) – towards a higher position; out of the ground. 

However, the phrasal verb “put up” has a completely different meaning:

put up – to stay somewhere for the night. 

For example:

• We put up at a small hotel for the night. 

If you are not sure which phrasal verb is formal, informal or neutral, we recommend that you replace it with a single verb equivalent in your IELTS Writing. Here are some common phrasal verbs with the verbs that you can use instead.

Another example when the words you might already know change their meaning is when they are used as a part of the idiom:

put all (one’s) eggs in one basket – to invest, devote, or commit all of one’s energy or resources into a single venture, opportunity, or goal, generally at the risk of losing everything in the event that that thing fails or does not come to fruition. For example:

• She has put all her eggs in one basket with this merger deal. If it doesn’t work out, I doubt her company can survive.

In the idioms, we usually cannot deduce the meaning from separate words. If you want to score higher than 7, you should use idiomatic vocabulary in the Speaking section.

READ ABOUT: 20 helpful idioms for IELTS Speaking

Tip #5. Learn different forms of the word

Being aware of the word and its meaning is good, but knowing the other word forms is more beneficial.  You can easily understand it when you hear or read it in the text whichever form it is used in. 

For example, let us check how many other word forms you can make for the word “different”:

• differ (v)
• difference (n)
• indifferent (adj)
• differently (adv)
• differentiate (v)

Most words in English have different forms for different parts of speech, but not all words have all forms. 

Some words look the same for different parts of speech:

• better (adj): Your plan is better than mine.
• better (adv): She knows it better.
• better (n): Give place to your betters.
• better (v): Bradman’s score of 96 has never been bettered. 

Some words have more than one form for the same part of speech:

• bored (adj): I am bored with reading this book.
• boring (adj): This book is boring.

The idea is to learn the root of the word and make up new words, learn and use them.

Tip #6. If you don’t use it, you will lose it

Learning the new vocabulary is half of the way. If we don’t use the words we learn, our brain tends to forget them. What you can do is to use the words and phrases you learn in sentences or even stories. This is how you will create the context for the new vocabulary, personalize it and make them meaningful to you.

As you can see, a good vocabulary increases your chances to get a higher score in IELTS. While the exam consists of four sections, there is one common thing in all of them – vocabulary. Make sure you fully take advantage of IELTS preparation before the day of the exam, and then you shine bright.

Many words we use in English would be inappropriate in IELTS Writing. We have selected common words students and candidates keep using in their writing you should avoid. These words are too informal for IELTS unless you write a letter to a friend in IELTS General. However, Writing Task 2 and writing tasks in IELTS Academic require more formal language.

The problem is that you don’t always know which words in English are informal, and which are formal. That is why we are going to show you some of the most common ones you should avoid in IELTS writing. This will help you achieve a high score. 

Read and learn the words below. We have provided some informal examples and suggested how you can substitute them with more formal words or phrases.

• In the nutshell = In conclusion / To conclude

In the nutshell, while equality of opportunity is an attractive concept, attempting to put this idea into practice can do more harm than good.

To conclude, while equality of opportunity is an attractive concept, attempting to put this idea into practice can do more harm than good.

• A couple of = several

A couple of members have not replied for over three years.

Several members have not replied for over three years.

• Kind of/ sort of = somewhat / to some degree

The resort has kind of changed over the last few years.

The resort has changed somewhat over the last few years.

• Lots of/ A lot of = Many / much

A lot of people think that boys are naturally more aggressive than girls.

Many people maintain that boys are naturally more aggressive than girls.

• You/ Your = One / Passive voice

If you give appropriate guidance to children, they won’t be adversely affected.

Provided children are given appropriate guidance, they are unlikely to be adversely affected.

 If one is given appropriate guidance, they are unlikely to be adversely affected.

• A phone = a telephone

People spend hours and hours on the phone.

People spend much of their time on the telephone.

• A photo = a photograph

a colour/black-and-white photograph

The report contains diagrams and colour photographs.

The book includes numerous colour photographs, but many are not sharp or their colours are washed out.

• Info = information

You can find the info about upcoming local events  in the newspaper

Information about upcoming local events is printed in the newspaper.

• A uni = university

a university campus/degree/professor

The majority of the employees have university degrees.

• So on / etc. / and so forth = A, B, and C

We should consider the cultural context, the physical environment, the personalities of those involved, etc.

The cultural context, the physical environment, and the personalities of those involved should be considered. 

• At the end of the day = In conclusion / To conclude

At the end of the day, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for others.

 To conclude, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for others.

• Once in a blue moon = hardly ever, rarely

I talk to my neighbours once in a blue moon.

Nowadays people rarely communicate with their neighbours.

• Since the dawn of time = for centuries, throughout history

The country has been exposed to many cultural influences since the dawn of time.

For centuries, the country has been exposed to many cultural influences.

The country has been exposed to many cultural influences throughout its history.

• A big deal = important; an important step.

Most patients don’t think that getting enough sleep is a big deal but study after study shows how important it is for good health.

The majority of patients do not consider getting enough sleep to be important but the research reveals how important it is for good health.

READ ABOUT: How to recognise signals and signposts in IELTS Listening

• Get = obtain / receive

In the second experiment, they got a very clear result.

In the second experiment, they obtained a very clear result.

• Give = provide / present

The author gives no documentary references to support her assertions.

The author provides no documentary references to support her assertions.

• So / very = extremely 

These antiques are so beautiful and so valuable.

These antiques are both beautiful and extremely valuable.

• Show = demonstrate / illustrate / reveal

The graph shows the breakdown of actual expenses by two categories.

The graph illustrates the breakdown of actual expenses by two categories.

• Bad = poor / negative

The warm winter has had a very bad impact on the ski industry.

The warm winter has had a very negative effect/impact on the ski industry.

• Big = large / sizable

a sizeable amount/area/house

a large amount of work

a large house

• Find out = discover

Its purpose is to find out the truth of what happened and identify any lessons that may help to prevent a repetition.

Its purpose is to discover the truth of what happened and identify any lessons that may help to prevent a repetition.

• Think about = consider

Many people think about the film as a controversial one.

Many people consider the film controversial.

• Look at = examine

Forensic scientists are looking at the wreckage for clues about the cause of the explosion.

Forensic scientists are examining the wreckage for clues about the cause of the explosion.

• Point out = Indicate

Various studies point out that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective.

Various studies indicate that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective.

• Guys / Fellows / Dudes = people / individuals / everyone

It’s a general rule that applies to all those dudes and benefits them.

This is a general rule that applies to everyone and benefits everyone.

• Stuff / Things = Aspects / Issues / Ways

environmental/ethical/personal issues

Lighting is a very important thing in filmmaking.

Lighting is a vitally important aspect of filmmaking.

• So = Therefore

So, awareness measures and training were crucial. 

Awareness measures and training were therefore crucial.

• And = Additionally

And, there are excellent photos in each chapter.

Additionally, there are excellent photographs in each chapter.

• But = However

But that is not a reason to avoid taking action.

However, that is not a reason to avoid taking action.

• Also = Moreover

Also, traditional foods are an important aspect of culture and social life.

Moreover, traditional foods are an important aspect of culture and social life.

Remember, you may not lose scores if you use these words and expressions. However, it can be the reason why you are stuck between 6 and 6.5. In order to prevent you from this, we have created a unique fully online IELTS preparation course.

Have you ever been lost in a new city? If yes, how did you get directions? If no, imagine you had no map or technology. How would you get to your destination? Probably you are going to read signs on the road. They can tell you about the distance to the spot and whether you have to go straight or turn left or right.

Many students and candidates often get lost when they listen to lecture portions of the IELTS Listening test.  They struggle to understand everything that is being said and give up the task. However, there is a solution to this problem. It is quite simple, and it works not only for lectures but for longer conversations as well. It is a good idea to listen to signposts.

What are signposts?

Signposts or signposting language are the words and expressions speakers usually use to guide the listener through what they are saying. In the IELTS Listening section, they signal a specific type of information in a listening passage. For example, there are signposts that signal that a new topic is going to be introduced or that the speaker is going to give a definition of some key term, etc. Look at the following task and the script of the conversation. What do these signposts tell us?

• A: Over the last five years scientists from thirteen countries have been taking part in the project and launching floats in their area of ocean control. And next year this number will rise to fourteen when Indonesia joins the project.
• B: That’s impressive.
• A: But let’s move on to how floats work. The operational cycle goes like this…

Here the speaker warns us that he is going to talk about the process now. That means, he is moving from the first part of the conversation to the next one where we have to complete the diagram.

• The operational cycle goes like this… Each of the floats is dropped in the ocean from above to the set point and activated from the satellite. The float immediately sinks to the bottom of about 2,000 meters. That’s two whole kilometers down in the water. 

Here we are ready to hear that the speaker will be talking about the first step in the process. 

• A:…During this time, it’s quite possible for it to cover quite large distances. But the average is fifty kilometers. 
• B: So, what is it actually recording?

By talking about the distance first, and then making a contrast, the speaker emphasizes that he is telling the correct answer to the question. 

• A: Well, at this stage nothing. But as it rises to the surface it collects all sorts of data. Most importantly, variations in salinity, that’s salt levels, and the changes in temperature, a bit like underwater weather balloons. Then, when it gets back to the surface, all the data that’s collected is being dubbed to the satellite…

Here the speaker explains what ‘salinity’ is and immediately provides us with the word we need to complete the gap, also by giving us the definition. 

So, can you see now that the IELTS Listening test tries desperately to show you where the answers are?

Signpost words and expressions help you to predict what is going to be said next. Finally, as you listen to them, you get a clear understanding of the point the speaker is making, be it comparing, contrasting, adding information, or just sequencing, and you start seeing the whole picture. Even if you get lost in the lecture or a conversation, listening for signposts will definitely help you get a better sense of what is happening in the lecture, which will help you become focused again.

READ ABOUT: Linking words for IELTS Speaking

Common signposting language

Once you learn to listen to signposting language during your IELTS preparation, you are likely to reduce stress on the day of your exam and answer more questions correctly. 

READ IN OUR BLOG:

• 5 effective ways to brainstorm ideas for IELTS essays
• How to deal with unexpected questions in the IELTS Speaking test
• Dos and don’ts for IELTS Reading matching headings questions

The IELTS Speaking section is the same for all candidates regardless of the module they choose to take: general or academic. It consists of three parts and is assessed according to the four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. As you answer the questions, you also have to organise your ideas logically and link them in a proper way. The examiner must follow your thoughts without effort while you are speaking. It is called coherence. In order to make your answer more coherent, you should use different discourse markers and linking words.

The linking words and phrases for speaking are different from those we use in writing. They are usually simple and less formal and help you sound more natural. So, the main tip here is not to try to impress the examiner with them. Now, let’s look at their functions and meaning.

Adding more information

and

I’m afraid those days are gone and they’ll never come again.

also

She’s a photographer and also writes books.

as well as

We have a responsibility to our community as well as to our families.

another reason/example

There was another reason why he loved this spot.

indeed

I am happy, indeed proud, to be associated with this project.

in addition

In addition to his apartment in Manhattan, he has a villa in Italy and a castle in Scotland.

likewise

Just water these plants twice a week, and likewise the ones in the bedroom.

moreover

He enjoys selling and, moreover, is good at it.

Comparing and contrasting

yet

Melissa was not doing well in her physics course, yet overall she had a B average.

but

She’s very hard-working but not very imaginative.

or

There were ten or twelve people in the room.

otherwise

They had to leave early, otherwise, the children would have been up too late.

rather

The ending of the war is not a cause for celebration, but rather for regret that it ever happened.

still

Even though she doesn’t really have the time, she still offered to help.

although / even though

She walked home by herself, although she knew that it was dangerous.

despite

I still enjoyed the week despite the weather.

on the one hand…on the other hand

On the one hand, I’d like a job that pays more, but on the other hand, I enjoy the work I’m doing now.

comparatively

Comparatively speaking, this machine is easy to use.

however

This is one possible solution to the problem. However, there are others.

Giving examples

for example / for instance

Offices can easily become more environmentally-friendly by, for example, using recycled paper.

such as

That money is to cover costs such as travel and accommodation.

like

She looks best in bright, vibrant colours, like red and pink.

chiefly / mainly

The island chiefly attracts upmarket tourists.

READ ABOUT: How to deal with unexpected questions in the IELTS Speaking test

Adding emphasis

as a rule

As a (general) rule, I don’t read detective novels.

as usual

As usual, she was wearing jeans.

generally speaking

Generally speaking, people like her as a leader.

no doubt

He will no doubt tell you all about his vacation.

of course

We arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes late so, of course, our reservation had been cancelled.

especially

Parents of young children often become depressed, and this is especially true of single parents.

indeed

We live in strange times indeed.

Expressing result or purpose/reason

so that

I opened the door so that she could come in.

for this reason

It is partly for this reason that he is refusing to rush any recruitment moves.

that’s why

You didn’t study well. That’s why you didn’t pass the exam

because

The journey was quite quick because the road was clear.

Ordering events and sequencing time

first/ second /for a start

We’ll take names and phone numbers for a start, then, later on, we can get more details.

at first

At first, I thought he was joking but then I realized he meant it.

after that

Like nothing I ever did after that was of any significance.

following sth

Following the dinner, there will be a dance.

then

Give her the letter to read, then she’ll understand.

next

What happened next?

finally 

We finally got home at midnight.

at long last

At long last, the government is starting to listen to our problems.

meanwhile

Carl’s starting college in September. Meanwhile, he’s travelling around Europe.

when

I was just getting into the shower when the phone rang.

while

While I was in Italy I went to see Alessandro.

as soon as

We’ll come as soon as we can.

at the same time

No one likes conflict, but at the same time, we have to deal with this problem.

now / right now /at the moment

She used to be a teacher, but now she works in publishing.

years ago

What we saw 16 years ago was horrible.

before

It was an hour before the police arrived.

when I was…

I wanted to go to school when I was younger, but my mother was told that children like me couldn’t go to school.

in the past

You must have had similar situations in the past.

during

They work during the night and sleep by day.

as yet 

No ambulances had as yet managed to get across the river.

Expressing ideas and opinions / Being clear

Actually, I have to say…

I must admit…

I must admit, I admire your courage… staying with Ezra while his life turns upside down.

I think…/ I guess…/ I suppose…/ I believe…

What I want to say is… / What I mean is…/What I was saying is…

As far as I am concerned

As far as I am concerned, the problem is not a simple one.

In my opinion

Games are also more interesting in my opinion.

To tell you the truth

To tell the truth, I couldn’t hear a word he said.

To be honest

To be honest, I don’t think it will be possible.

If you ask me

If you ask me, people should go on a training course before they become parents.

frankly

Quite frankly, I think this whole situation is ridiculous.

READ ABOUT: How to avoid repetition at the IELTS Speaking test

Sounding less direct

apparently

Apparently, he’s had enough of England and is going back to Australia.

perhaps

“I never remember people’s birthdays.” “Well, perhaps you should.”

sort of /kind of

I was sort of hoping to leave early today.

arguably

She was, arguably, the best female basketball player of all time

maybe

Maybe you were right after all.

probably

I’m probably going – it depends on the weather.

surely

Surely they could have done better than that (= I believe they could have done better).

just

I just wanted to ask you if you’re free this afternoon.

Summarizing

So

So we leave on Thursday and get back the next Tuesday, is that right?

After all

I do like her – after all, she is my sister.

In any case

You should be able to catch a bus, but in any case, you can always take a taxi home.

In short

He’s disorganized, inefficient, never there when you want him – in short, the man’s a pain.

In other words

He was economical with the truth – in other words, he lied.

Anyway

Anyway, in the end, we just agreed to stop seeing each other.

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