IELTS TIPS AND TRICKS

Speaking  Fillers

In IELTS Tips & Tricks Using speaking fillers in IELTS  enables the candidate to have some valuable time to think about what they are going to say rather than just rushing in and making lots of mistakes!
Most of the time, while talking to our friends or colleagues, we forget words while giving a response to someone. In such situations, we use fillers to continue smooth and effective communication. A filler word is an apparently meaningless word, phrase, or sound that marks a pause or hesitation in speech. Fillers are also called ‘Discourse Makers’. Let’s learn some filler words that can be used in communication.

a) To be honest

b) Well

c) I hadn’t thought about that before. Give me a moment to think, please

d)It’s difficult to say

e) It’s funny you should ask that

Following phrases and idioms can be used as fillers.

1. Wow

This is an expression of surprise or happiness that comes out unexpectedly.
E.g. Wow! You have amazing artistic skills.

2. Actually/basically

It is used while explaining concepts or facts from the initial stage.
E.g. Actually, Mr. Ram is our very first client.

3. You know/you see/I know/I see

It is used for creating familiarity between the concept and the listener.
E.g. You know, they are working for the last 20 years for our organization.

4. I mean/you mean

It is used to confirm the understanding of something.
E.g. You mean, the event is postponed?

5. Come on

It is used to motivate people.
E.g. Come on guys, this is the moment for which we were waiting.

6. Well/By the way

This filler indicates that the subject of discussion is going to change on a certain step.
E.g. The event was really awesome. By the way, when are our lectures starting?

7. Believe me

It is used to convince someone regarding something.
E.g. Believe me, I will complete this assignment.

8. How shall I put it?

This phrase indicates that the speaker wants to convey something but the words are becoming shorter and unorganized in his/her mind.

E.g. This concept is very challenging to put down, how shall I put it?

9. It’s on the tip of my tongue.

This is a very popular phrase used when a speaker is not able to recollect the very well-known word.
E.g. The name of that cricketer is on the tip of my tongue.

10. Now, let me think.

This phrase asks for a small gap of a few seconds for a speaker to think about certain things.
E.g. How did we allocate this activity, let me think?

USE OF SINCE (IELTS Tips and Tricks)

We use since to talk about a point in the past, a specific point in time.

Examples:

• Dizzy has been at work since morning.
• John has lived here since 2015.
• I haven’t been on holiday since last February.

USE OF FOR

We use for to talk about a length of time, a period of time

Examples:

• You have played golf for six years.
• They have been married for 10 years.
• I have few slept for few hours.

USE OF BECAUSE

Because is used to show/give a reason. It is followed by a complete sentence with its own subject and verb.

• Examples:
• I like Kirsch because he is very helping.
• I go to McDonald’s because I like burgers.

USE OF HOWEVER

We can express a contrast by using the adverb however with two sentences. It is always followed by comma.

Examples: ( IELTS Tips and Tricks )

• Kinsey was not feeling well. However, she went to work.
• Most students disagree with Roman. However, no could prove him wrong.

WHAT IS IELTS SPEAKING ?

IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face conversation and informal discussion with an examiner, and is the same for both General Training and Academic. The test is divided into three parts and is designed to test your grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation.

There are three parts to the speaking test. (IELTS Tips and Tricks)

PART 1: There are some introduction questions and question on familiar topics.

Part 1 of the will start with examiner asking you to state your full name and show your real identification.

Next, examiner will asked some general questions about yourself like where do you come from or what you are doing currently (studying/working).

After that examiner asked few questions about a range of familiar topics. For example, about the fruits and vegetables you like, cooking, weather, shoes, singing or movies. Examiner generally asked about one or two topics.

Moreover, examiner will ask some scripted questions and he/she will listen your answer, encourage you to extend your answer/response with a “how” and “why” or “why not?” if your answer in too short or not appropriate.

This part of speaking test mainly focuses on student’s ability to communicate opinions and relevant information on day-to-day topics by answering a range of questions.

PART 2: Cue-card/ Individual long turn

2 To 3 minutes

After Part 1, the examiner will give you a one familiar topic related with your everyday life and will ask you to talk about it for one to two minutes only.

The topic will be handed to student and examiner will also be given a piece of paper and pencil for making some notes on it. On the cue-card/ individual long turn student see speaking prompt and few bullet points with the help of that student prepare notes.

After that student have only one minute to think about it and prepare some notes on it before speak. Examiner will use timer and will tell you when your time is up.

The examiner will tell you when to start your conversation and examiner will remind you that they will stop you after 2 to 3 minutes. The points mention in the cue-card will help you to think what you say and with the help of that you should try to keep talking for the 2 to 3 minutes. Examiner may ask you a few questions about what you earlier said before going on to the next section.

The part of the test assesses your skill set to speak at length on a specific topic, using apt/relevant language and manage your ideas in a logical way. Student can use his/her own experience on the topic to help complete the cue-card or individual long turn.

PART 3: Two-way discussion/ discussion between two individuals and Follow-ups

4 To 5 minutes

The questions in part three will be related to the familiar topic that you spoke about in part 2 cue-card/individual long turn. Student will discuss the topic in a more abstract and general way showing to examiner that student is able to express and justify his/her opinions, discuss and speculate on the topic more deeply.

If your cue-card was about beautiful place in your city, in this section might begin by talking about places of interest or beautiful places and the first question might be, “Do you like to visit on different places?”

The examiner will speak more with you in follow-up section and may ask you to justify your views to see how well you are able to communicate about relevant ideas compared to the personal topics you spoke about in Parts 1 and 2.

In Part 3, you are assessed on your ability to express your opinions and to examine, share and hypothesize about a range of issues connected to the familiar topic you spoke about in Part 2.

LIST OF EMOTIONS

DAILY USE IDIOMS

To break the ice-To gets the conservation going.

To bite the bullet-To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult.

To miss the boat-To misses an opportunity.

The best of both worlds– Benefiting from two different opportunities at once.

Round-the-clock-Something that is ongoing for 24-hours a day.

DAILY USE PHRASES

Dead tired – I am exhausted.

 Pardon – Excuse me.

I feel you – I understand you.

Give it a shot – Give it a try.

To feel blue – To feel sad.

That hits the spot – Exactly what you needed.

MAINLY CUE-CARD BASED ON

• PERSON
• PLACE
• EVENT
• THING
• SKILL
• INCIDENT
• EXPERIENCE

VOCABULARY AND ADVANCE WORDS

PERSON

Positive characteristics of person

• Outgoing – Offer assistance when necessary.
• Supportive- Providing encouragement.
• Cheerful- Happy and optimistic.
• Confident- Showing confidence in oneself.
• Adventurous- Willing to take risks.
• Ambitious- Showing a strong desire.

Negative characteristics of person

• Insensitive- No concern for others.
• Pessimistic – Always think negative.
• Stingy- Ungenerous.
• Deceitful- Always misleading others.
• Rude- Bad mannered.

Person is divided into three parts

• FRIEND
• FAMOUS PERSON
• OLD PERSON

FRIEND (mention according to question)

• Name
• Work/occupation
• Residence
• Intelligent
• Broad-minded
• Optimistic
• Hard-working
• Creative
• Polite
• Punctual
• Helping in nature
• Loyal
• Honest
• Kind-hearted
• Friendly
• Run NGO
• Charity from his/her savings
• Inspiration
• Youth-icon
• Role model
• Motivational speaker
• Good advisor
• Good decision-maker
• Punctual
• Respectful
• Smart

FAMOUS PERSON (mention according to question)

• Name
• Occupation/singer/politician/celebrity
• Follow on social media
• Fashionable dressing sense
• Won many awards
• Down-to earth
• Polite
• Confident
• Honest and loyal
• Creative
• Struggle a lot in his/her life
• Achieve success
• Belong from a humble background
• Run NGO and donate a part of his/her income to the charity
• Intelligent
• Helping nature
• Polite
• If he/she is singer so we can use tuneful voice
• Meaningful songs
• Post on social sites related with serious issue, meaningful posts and motivational quotes.
• Youth-icon
• Inspiration
• Motivational speaker
• Role model

OLD PERSON (mention according to question)

• Name
• Your relation with him/her
• Occupation like retired army office or school teacher
• Rich in experience
• Well knowledgeable- tradition/culture/rituals/customs
• Optimistic
• Polite
• Perdition oriented
• Static mind-set
• Cultural devotion
• Good advisor
• Good decision maker
• Motivational speaker
• Ability to balance stress
• Close bonds and social relationships
• Wearing sense/ dressing sense
• Simple lifestyle
• Inspiration
• Spend quality time with him/her
• Role model

PLACE

• INTERESTING
• QUIET
• HISTORICAL

INTERESTING PLACE (mention according to question)

• Name
• Location
• With whom you went there like your relative are live there or your birth place
• Beautiful
• Green
• Clean
• Local facilities like transportation, education, and medical
• Less polluted
• Good infrastructure
• Place of interest like old monuments or famous places
• Entertainment sources like malls, cinema, parks and clubs
• Hill stations are also very near if you want to mention like solan and shimla is very near from Chandigarh
• Click photographs there
• Visit with my friends and family
• Fashionable boutiques
• Chain stores
• High-rise flats
• Visit again

IELTS Tips and Tricks – QUIET PLACE (mention according to question)

• Name of the place like library
• Location
• With whom you visit there
• Good infrastructure
• All kind of facilities are also available there
• No disturbance or distraction
• Peaceful environment
• Well organized things
• Variety of books are also available
• Like history, encyclopedia, holy books, dictionaries, related with study and current affairs
• Computer lab
• Easily issue books
• Easily concentrate on work or study
• 4 floor library/ multi-story library
• Staff is also very polite
• I like to spend my time at that place

IELTS Tips and Tricks – Historical place (mention according to question)

• Name like museum
• Location
• From whom you visit there like friends and family
• Things preserve related with our culture, tradition, rituals and customs
• Connected with our roots
• Tourist attraction
• Good infrastructure
• Clean
• Description of things
• Learn more about history
• Enhance knowledge
• People visit not from vicinity but also from faraway places
• Click a lot of photographs
• Know about sacrifices of ancestors
• Memorable day
• Visit again

IELTS Tips and Tricks – EVENT (mention according to question)

• Name of the event like festival/ birthday party/ anniversary celebration
• Invite friends and relative
• Place where you organized
• Carters
• Decoration
• Customized cake
• Presents/ gifts
• Dance
• Food was tasty/ delicious/ mouth-watering
• Relative appreciate me and compliments on the taste of the food
• Click a lot of pictures
• Memorable day
• Parents/ friends thankful to me because I make their day more special up to their expectations
• Enjoy a lot

THING  (mention according to question)

• Name of the thing
• Gifted or you purchase from somewhere
• Size
• It is useful
• Purpose of that thing
• Easily available or not
• Expensive or cost effective
• How we use
• Positive effects of that thing
• Negative effects of that thing
• Instructions
• Positive results
• Negative results
• Why people use it or not
• Thing is fruitful or not

EXPERIENCE (mention according to question)

• Reasonable destinations- Places within a affordable price rage.
• Get around
• Craft markets
• Memorable day
• Click lot of pictures
• Holiday packages
• Magnificent landscapes
• Scenic views
• Arts and culture
• Beautiful destinations
• Enjoy a lot
• Travel
• Affordable travel
• With family and friends
• Guided tours
• Mention about destination
• Activities you did there
• If your experience was bad/worst
• If your experience was good/memorable
• Visit again
• Recommend to friends and others
• Share pictures of that place or posted on social media

INCIDENT (mention according to question)

• Mention about your journey
• Good incident or bad incident
• Happening on that day
• A collision
• A derailment
• Fatalities
• Minimal damage
• Under the influence of alcohol

IELTS Tips and Tricks – SKILL (mention according to question)

• Name of the skill
• From whom you learned that skill
• How you learned
• What kind of difficulties you faced while learning
• How it is beneficial for your present and future
• Example – cooking, driving, painting etc.
• Explain the skill in brief.

IELTS LISTENING