This is an IELTS Energy Podcast, Episode 1578, Stuck on IELTS Speaking, Two Ways to Buy Time.
Welcome to the IELTS Energy Podcast from All Ears English downloaded more than 35 million times with examiner-trained IELTS whiz Aubrey Carter and Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer.
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Hello, Aubrey.
How's it going today?
I'm great, Lindsay.
How are you?
I'm feeling pretty good today, ready to get into the IELTS details so our listeners can get past IELTS and move on right.
Absolutely.
And I'm excited to talk about ways to buy time today because all of you out there listening there's a good chance you'll get stuck on IELTS speaking, whether you're trying to think of the perfect word or trying to think of what your opinion could be.
There are strategies you can use to fill that time.
So let me start with a question here for you, Lindsay.
What do you do when someone asks you a question that you don't know the answer to?
Or maybe you're not sure about your opinion.
That's a good question.
I mean, what I try to do is, you know, I try to make something up.
Like you just showed it, right?
Because I had asked you a question and you're not sure and you're sort of filling the space with some kind of filler words and phrases.
Yeah, because sometimes you have to make something up.
Sometimes we narrate our thoughts out loud, right?
We sort of fill the silence.
Yeah.
As Americans, because we don't like silence.
We're not going to silently just think.
And you can't do that on IELTS either, right?
We're allergic to silence.
But this is where strategy becomes.
This is why sometimes even native speakers don't score nines on IELTS because they haven't spent the time to study strategy for IELTS.
And the strategy is you have a vocabulary opportunity, right, Aubrey?
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Because, on IELTS speaking, long pauses or hesitation will pull down your fluency and coherence score.
But instead you can use these interesting filler phrases that you have practiced ahead of time, that have interesting vocabulary, that you don't have to think about.
You're ready to say them while you think of what you want to say next.
Yeah.
So what kind of situations?
Let's get our mindset into the speaking room, speaking test room with the examiner.
What kind of situations might actually cause this hesitation, Aubrey?
What could happen?
There are a few things, right?
So first of all, if you don't understand the question, you're not positive.
Maybe there's a word in the question that's unfamiliar.
So you're not positive you understand.
Or sometimes you don't know the answer.
We don't have ideas, right?
I mean we've talked about, especially on speaking, part three.
You do kind of need to have some ideas about many topics.
Exactly.
This can definitely happen that you're asked a question that you've not really thought about before and you could struggle to come up with an answer right away.
Or if you're unsure of your opinion, something might be quite divisive.
Or, you know, there are lots of possible opinions and something that you just sort of haven't thought through yet.
Yeah.
Or you feel kind of wishy-washy about it.
You're not exactly sure what you think.
You just don't have clarity.
Or if you can't think of the vocabulary that you want.
You're trying to nail down the word that you're trying to say, but you can't quite get it.
These are all moments that could create that pause where you start to lose points.
Exactly.
And the first thing that's good to realize is you're not alone.
Every student faces these same situations.
So what's key is that you are ready for them, that you anticipate all of these things possibly happening, that you have something to say when this happens.
You don't have to have the answer right away.
You don't have to know your opinion right away, but you have to be able to say something.
And that right there will mean the difference between getting a six on your speaking test or a seven or higher right.
Exactly right.
It's important to keep speaking, even if you need a moment to decide how to answer.
So yes, that is vital for your fluency and coherence score.
To be a seven or higher, you cannot have pauses and hesitation.
So in today's episode, let's go through three things we can do to fill that space.
Right, Aubrey?
But first, before we get into it, go ahead and hit the follow button right there on IELTS Energy, if you're listening to the show.
You love what we do.
We are going to help you get past this test.
We have so many resources for you right here on this podcast.
Go ahead and hit the follow button now.
Okay.
Yes.
Awesome.
So let's dive in first.
The first thing is you want to be able to use filler phrases.
Native English speakers do this all the time.
We use lots of different phrases in these situations.
You could rewind the episode and hear the filler phrases Lindsay used when I asked her this question.
I'm not sure if I would necessarily use those as a great example.
I think I did a few ums, a few uhs.
It was a little awkward.
But it is because it's very native, right?
Native speakers use filler phrases.
It won't pull down your score.
But you make a good point Lindsay, that you do want specific filler phrases that have better vocabulary, that have linking phrases, that are actually going to boost your scores.
If you're going to bother learning something ahead of time, Make sure it's something high scoring.
Yeah.
And also, we're, of course, going to need to take these into our practice sessions, right?
What we learned today, we're going to need to practice them in a lot of mock speaking tests, right?
Exactly.
Because you need to be able to say it with good enunciation and pronunciation, correct word stress.
Without having to think about it.
You want it to be muscle memory to say these phrases while you give yourself time to think.
You want your brain to be able to thinking.
What to be able to think?
What is my opinion about that?
Or what is that word that I learned that I want to use?
Yeah.
So in the beginning I mean, we had some ums, some uhs, good questions, but we can actually extend this out and really fill that time with some longer phrases.
So one of them would be this, Aubrey, are you ready for it?
Yeah, let's do it.
All right.
So frankly, this isn't something I've thought much about or thought about much.
Both would be fine.
Perfect.
Yes.
And frankly is a band nine word, right?
You've definitely said honestly or to be honest, which is also good, but you don't want to be repetitive.
So if you already use those, this is great.
Or to be frank, to be frank, this isn't something I've thought about a lot.
And that you want to practice saying so that you don't have to think about it while you say it.
If you really like, internalize this what we're teaching you guys.
It's really cool, because what other tests will give you points?
For not knowing the answer.
Right.
That's a good point.
And that's fine, right?
You don't have to be able to answer right away.
You can use a filler phrase or two.
You do eventually have to answer the question, but you can buy yourself time first.
Exactly.
You're not going to stop with this.
Frankly, this isn't something I've thought much about.
That's it.
That's all you say.
Get an answer.
But what you're doing, again, like Aubrey said, buying yourself that time.
Okay?
Love it.
Exactly.
And then you share more details while you consider how you want to answer.
For example, your second filler phrase could be have no idea if this is the case for everyone, but those I know don't really discuss this a lot, Right?
So this and for anything on speaking part three, that could be the case whether it's the environment or crime.
Yeah.
Even if you have talked about this with friends.
If you need a little time to think of vocabulary, to think of what you want to say, the examiner doesn't care.
If this is true,
This is all just to save your fluency score.
Save your fluency score while you start.
And of course, your brain is working in the background as you're saying this.
You're scanning for an idea.
Right.
Exactly.
Idea or the vocabulary you want and use practice these with interesting intonation as well.
Right.
When you say I have no idea or no clue would be good.
Emphasize the no.
I have no clue if this is the case for everyone.
Like notice my intonation.
Do not say these.
Don't practice these with a monotone.
Yeah, I don't because it won't help that score.
Right.
Or maybe you'll get won't help your pronunciation score.
You can boost fluency and pronunciation if you memorize these in a high scoring way.
Yes.
Or another thing we could say, that's a good question.
I'm actually at a bit of a loss for words and you need your intonation there.
You're up and down intonation.
I'm actually at a bit of a loss for words and you say it with a bit of surprise.
Exactly.
Right.
And at a loss for words is an idiom.
So that's also improving vocabulary scores, pronunciation scores when you have that up and down.
Definitely these you want to practice ahead of time.
Practice before you answer a speaking question.
Use one of these with interesting intonation.
Okay.
So what would be another thing?
We have more ideas for our listeners, don't we?
Yes.
Our next one is, to be honest, I'm a little bit nervous right now and my mind just went blank.
Yeah.
And again, it seems like maybe we're being too vulnerable, but it's language.
This is a language test, right?
Absolutely.
It's not bad to be honest or to admit you're nervous.
All this does is improve your scores if you do so with good vocabulary, intonation, and no pauses.
Yes, I love that.
And then you could also say, well, the phrase my mind went blank.
It is an idiom.
So that would get you some extra points there.
Exactly right.
We're showing filler phrases here that have idioms, because you have to use idiomatic language to get seven or higher.
So learn idioms with your filler phrases.
Say this first while you think of your answer to get interesting intonation and great vocab scores.
And what's a really cool ninja tactic?
We could use Aubrey if we get a controversial question, like about the environment, education and tech, or social issues like crime, health care.
What is something we could say?
And these are especially where you might have a hard time just diving in with your opinion.
Maybe you haven't thought about it yet.
So you can say, I know that many people might disagree with me here, but...
And this is idiomatic, just to say here like this, because you're not talking about here, as in the place where you are.
This is a chunk we use to and it means, you know, I don't know if everyone will agree about this.
Yes.
And again, you're it's you're coming up with your opinion as you're saying this.
Right.
So you're hedging a bit like you do need to come up with an opinion.
Right.
But you're buying yourself that time.
Exactly.
Right.
After you use this filler phrase, maybe two filler phrases, then you are going to share an opinion details.
You're going to answer the question and you will do so in a more high scoring way because you've bought yourself the time to think of that interesting vocabulary or to make sure that your thoughts are organized.
Perfect.
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Okay, Aubrey, we're back from our break.
Now, there is a second strategy.
What is it?
Yeah, so the second way to buy yourself time is to slow down.
When you first begin an answer, this is not the only time you need to buy time.
It could happen in the middle of an answer, if you are struggling to think of vocabulary or more details, struggling to fill the full two minutes for part two, or having a hard time, you know, thinking of exactly, you know, maybe the story that you want to share.
There's all kinds of things that could cause you to hesitate in the middle of an answer.
Yeah, we know what it feels like to try to fill those two minutes because we do sample answers all the time here on the show.
It's not always easy, right?
And one of the best strategies to avoid pauses and hesitation is to slow down the speed at which you're speaking.
Speaking quickly does not improve your score.
There's nothing in the scoring system about the speed of your speech, right?
It can actually pull down fluency and pronunciation scores.
I feel like that's super important what you just said, Aubrey.
And I think maybe a lot of listeners might think that you do have to speak fast to get a high score right.
Because they see native speakers speaking fast.
But again, can you just say that one more time, what you just said?
Speaking quickly does not improve your score.
In fact it can pull it down because it's more difficult to enunciate clearly and vary your intonation.
If you're speaking very quickly, you also have to say a lot more.
If you do a part two answer and you're speaking very quickly you have to say so much more in those two minutes.
This has happened on the podcast.
If you go back in the archives, if you've listened to all of our episodes, sometimes a part two will feel so long and we have a hard time saying enough.
And you'll realize part of the problem is we were speaking very quickly.
Yeah, you're rushing too much.
There's another reason why speaking quickly will not help your score.
And it's kind of a mindfulness thing.
You know, I like to study mindfulness and meditation and how this all works.
When you do slow down, you start to feel more mindful in each word you're saying and you can start to articulate and possibly those words will actually come to you because you'll have brain space.
Exactly.
It gives your brain a chance to catch up to what you're saying.
So if you speak more slowly, and I find we're speaking more slowly as we give you this advice.
Because often native speakers are speaking too quickly.
This happens to me on the podcast.
I won't be able to think of the right word because I was speaking too quickly and didn't give my brain a chance to catch up.
So what you're doing is you're in a way putting yourself in a new frame of mind, right?
So it's not just because it doesn't matter for the score.
It's because it matters for your clear thinking.
Exactly.
Yes.
So if you slow down and remember when you are varying your intonation in order to punch some words harder, they have to be given space.
If not, if you're speaking quickly and running it all together, it also pulls down your pronunciation score.
So when you practice...
So this is our third tip is how to practice this.
Yeah, how to practice.
When you're practicing answers, you want to speak more slowly even than you plan to do on test day.
Because what happens when you're nervous, Lindsay?
Oh, you will speed up.
Absolutely.
We all do this on the day of the exam.
It will cause you to speed up a little bit if you get nervous at all.
So practice speaking more slowly than you plan on to make up for the difference.
Yes, 100%.
But if you think back already to any presentations you've given, if you've been nervous, or anytime you had to speak in a group, or any moment you've been nervous,
It's true, right?
You probably spoke faster and you sped up and it was just all a big jumbled mess.
Yes, absolutely.
Right.
So practicing answering IELTS speaking questions with these filler phrases first of all and slowing down a bit, is really going to buy you that time to use interesting vocabulary and a lot of detail to boost all of your scores.
All right, good stuff.
Guys, hit the follow button on the show for part two of this series.
We're going to answer a speaking part three question using these strategies, right?
So you'll see us slow down.
And take our own advice here.
Exactly.
We're going to show you how to use these strategies, especially in speaking part.
Three answers where they're going to be the most necessary.
Awesome.
I love it.
And what is a great other episode for our listeners to check out?
Yes.
If you missed it, scroll up and check out 1576.
Make IELTS speaking your daily routine.
This was really great vocabulary and sample answers.
About your daily routine, because you're likely to be asked about that on IELTS Speaking.
Yeah, exactly.
And for a takeaway today.
I mean, if you know, maybe this advice seems counterintuitive or you would think you have to speak clearly, but there's nothing there.
Slowly, quickly, quickly.
Sorry.
Clearly, quickly, slowly.
Guys, everything we teach you here on the show comes back to the scoring system.
Just keep that in mind.
Right.
If you are working with a teacher who's teaching you these things and you're not sure if it's right, check the scoring system.
It's available online publicly.
Right, Aubrey?
Exactly right.
You can read through the IELTS scoring system.
In fact, you should if you haven't.
And of course you can't speak unnaturally slowly, but you can speak more slowly than you might expect.
Yes, I love it.
Such good strategies.
So incredibly smart.
And I can't wait for part two.
Awesome.
I'll see you there.
All right.
Take care.
Bye.
Thanks for listening to IELTS Energy.
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