35 Useful Phrasal Verbs for IELTS Speaking (with Meaning & Examples)

Prity Mallick

4 min read

Updated On Apr 22, 2025

Get your hands on the list of most common and useful phrasal verbs for IELTS Speaking with meaning and examples here. Use them to add a natural conversational tone to your answer, boost your IELTS vocabulary and achieve your desired IELTS band score of 9.

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

Do you want that extra edge, to push your score to Band 8.0 or higher for the IELTS test? Let’s make the most out of 10 English phrasal verbs for IELTS to stand out and get the score you need!

You will probably be asked to talk about a plethora of different topics such as Work, Study, Books And Films, Relationships, Physical Appearance, Personality, Music, Food in the IELTS Speaking Section. Native speakers use phrasal verbs all the time in the conversation! Stay well-prepared for these topics with these phrasal verbs to sound more natural and native when speaking informally.

Here are Ten IELTS Verbs that are Easy to Use and will Impress your Examiner

1. Make it: arrive or get a result
Example:

Examiner: Do you have any expectation regarding your scholarship application?
Candidate: I am not sure if I am good enough to actually get the scholarship, but I expect to at least make it to the final round

2. Bone up on: to learn.
Example: I had to bone up on my English studies to push my IELTS score to a 7 or higher.

3. Do away with: end/ terminate
Example: Personally, I think we should do away with school uniforms. Students should wear what they like.

4. End up: become eventually
Example: I’m not sure what I will end up doing with my life. I can’t decide on a career path.

5. Figure out: to learn the details of something, or discover how it works.

Example: I figured out how to fix the television.

[do_widget id=custom_html-47]

6. Make do with: accept something less satisfactory because there’s no alternative
Example:

Examiner: Can you tell me something memorable about one of your recent outings?
Candidate: Sure! My friends and I went to a friend’s house last week. Things were great, except that there was no coffee, so we had to make do with tea.

7. Goof off: to waste time or avoid work
Example: I used to spend most of the school days goofing off with her friends.

8. Make of: understand or have an opinion
Example: I’m not sure what to make of this question. Could you rephrase it for me?

9. Worn out: exhaust/ tire
Example: I’m usually worn out by the end of the week because I’m studying for IELTS and working as well.

10. Clam up: say nothing usually because you are embarrassed or nervous
Example: I clammed up when she asked me to answer the question.

11. Work out: calculate
Example: I need to work out whether I can afford to study abroad.

12. Catch up: to try to reach the same standard, stage, or level as others after you have fallen behind them (like you’re chasing someone, or with your studies)
Example: I fell behind after 1 week off from school and had to catch up.

13. Carry on: continue
Example: I’m going to carry on studying IELTS till I get the score I need – I’m not giving up!

14. Come across: To meet or find (something or someone) by chance.
Example: On the halfway back home, I came across Tom, what a coincidence!

15. Read up on: to study or learn by reading
Example: Before setting out to travel around the world, I read up on all the places I planned to visit.

16. Sort out: to find a solution to (a problem, etc), esp to make clear or tidy.
Example: It took a long time to sort out the mess.

17. Zone out: fall asleep or lose concentration or consciousness.
Example: I just zoned out for a moment after such a long drive.

18. Put up with: endure
Example: After graduating, I had to put up with many months of unpaid work before finally being given a permanent contract.

19. Come up with: to think of, develop, or find something
Example: They’ve tried their best to come up with a feasible solution to air pollution.

20. Look back on: Think about something that happened in the past
Example: When I look back on my childhood, I’m amazed by the crazy things we used to do

21. Call off: to stop or cancel
Example: They called off the football match because of the weather forecast.

Do you have any other phrasal verbs you’d like to use in the IELTS exam?

Let us know what they are in the comments section below!

To see a significant improvement in your essays and the band score overall, phrasal verbs indeed contribute substantially, so here we have for you our IELTS online classes

Also check :

Frequently Asked Questions

Can using phrasal verbs really increase my IELTS Speaking score?

Yes, when used correctly, phrasal verbs can definitely help you score higher, especially under the lexical resource criterion. This criterion rewards your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions like phrasal verbs. They show the examiner that you can communicate in a flexible and natural way, much like a native speaker. However, it is important to use them appropriately.

How many phrasal verbs should I try to use in the IELTS Speaking test?

There’s no fixed number, but quality matters more than quantity. You don’t need to force phrasal verbs into every sentence. Using 2–4 natural, well-placed phrasal verbs across your entire speaking test is more than enough to show flexibility and range.

Are there certain phrasal verbs that are better suited for IELTS Speaking?

Yes, some phrasal verbs are especially useful for IELTS Speaking because they commonly come up in everyday topics. Examples include: ‘get by’ (to manage), ‘come up with’ (to think of), ‘catch up’ (to reach the same level), and ‘put up with’ (to tolerate). These can be used naturally when talking about school, work, travel, goals, and personal experiences.

Do phrasal verbs count as idiomatic language for IELTS scoring?

Yes, phrasal verbs are considered a form of idiomatic language, which is specifically mentioned in the Band 7+ descriptors for lexical resources. While full idioms may be harder to use naturally, phrasal verbs are simpler and more appropriate for everyday topics, making them easier to include without sounding rehearsed.