75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test

Lexical resources or a wide range of vocabulary words for IELTS Speaking is as important as fluency, pronunciation and grammatical accuracy in the speaking module to achieve a top IELTS band score.

But, the dilemma regarding the right kind of words to use in the speaking IELTS test is common among IELTS candidates. Therefore, we have listed a number of words used in IELTS Speaking to make your preparation hassle-free.

Common Vocabulary Words for IELTS Speaking

IELTS aspirants are often confused when deciding the best words to use for IELTS Speaking answers. While some believe that using bombastic words for speaking test are preferable, others incline towards the most common words in IELTS exam.

However, it is important to remember that whatever words you use, it should be used correctly and you should be confident while using it. So, let’s look at some words to use in speaking IELTS with their meaning and usage.

Popular Idiomatic Expressions for IELTS Speaking

Unlike in IELTS Writing, having a solid command of idioms will significantly boost your score in the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam. Given below are some common idiom list for IELTS Speaking based on different topics that you can use in your answers:

Animals

• A fish out of water: A person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he or she is in surroundings that are not familiar.
• Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: Never predict something will happen or be successful before it does.
• Raining cats and dogs: raining heavily
• Let the cat out the bag: reveal a secret
• Kill two birds with one stone: to accomplish two goals with a single action

For more such idioms, check out Animal Idioms for IELTS Speaking.

Health

• Alive and kicking: To be alive, well, and active
• Go under the knife: to undergo surgery
• Not feeling like myself: one feels different or not their usual self, often due to illness, fatigue, or emotional distress
• To have a new lease of life: experience a renewed sense of vitality, energy, or purpose, often after a difficult or challenging period
• Under the weather: describe feeling unwell or sick
• Fit as a fiddle: to be in very good health
• Break a sweat: to exert effort, especially in physical activities

Check out similar Common Idioms to Boost Your IELTS Score – Topic : Health, illness, and death.

Money

• Cost an arm and a leg: very expensive
• Save for a rainy day: to save money for difficult situations
• Make ends meet: to get by or to survive
• Live from hand to mouth: to have little money
• Pay through the nose: pay much more than a fair price
• Foot the bill: to pay for something, often reluctantly

Explore more Money Idioms with Meaning, Usage, and Exercise.

Happiness and Anger

• Lose my cool: to become angry or lose one’s composure in a situation
• Go through the roof: situation where emotions or reactions become extremely intense, typically in response to something surprising or outrageous
• Make my blood boil: conveys extreme anger or frustration
• Over the moon: to be extremely happy or delighted about something
• Made my day: something has greatly improved or brighten one’s day, often by bringing joy, happiness, or a positive outcome
• Music to my ears: describe something that is very pleasing or gratifying to hear

Browse through Useful Idioms & Expressions About Happiness And Anger for IELTS Speaking to improve your speaking skills.

Food

• Bitter pill to swallow: an unpleasant or difficult situation or truth that one must accept, even though it may be hard to do so
• Cry over spilt milk: to be upset or dwell on past mistakes or misfortunes that cannot be undone
• Food for thought: describe something that provides mental stimulation or prompts reflection or consideration
• Hard nut to crack: a problem or situation that is difficult to solve or overcome
• To be spoon fed: to be provided with information or assistance in a very simplistic or overly easy manner, without having to make much effort or think critically
• Have a sweet tooth: love sweet/sugary food
• Bite off more than you can chew: to take a task that is bigger than one's capabilities

To learn more such food related expressions and words in IELTS Speaking, check out Food Idioms to help Score Band 8.0+.

Travel

• Hit the road: begin a journey or to start traveling, especially by road
• From pillar to post: describe a situation where someone moves or travels continuously from one place to another without any stability or permanent residence
• Live out of a suitcase: to travel frequently or to not have a permanent home, resulting in the need to keep one’s belongings packed in a suitcase
• At the wheel: person who is driving a vehicle
• Hitch a lift/ride: to request or obtain a ride in a vehicle, typically from someone else who is traveling in the same direction
• To travel on a shoestring: to travel on a limited budget
• In the middle of nowhere: a remote and isolated location

Express yourself confidently with these IELTS Speaking words and phrases on Travel & tourism & Adventure Vocabulary.

Sports

• Hit it out of the park: To do something exceptionally well.
• Keep your eye on the ball: To stay focused.
• Throw in the towel: To give up.
• The ball is in your court: Your decision or responsibility to act

Learn more IELTS Sports Vocabulary to express your choice and passion for sports while answering your questions for the speaking exam.

Check out more idiomatic expressions for IELTS Speaking from the links below:

• Success and failure
• Deception
• Memory and Mind
• Safety and risk
• Starting and stopping
• Involvement and interest
• Trouble and Difficulty
• Communication
• Honesty and fairness
• Expectation
• Progress
• Loving and liking
• Fear and frustration
• Useful Idioms for IELTS to Score Band 8.0+
• 25 Common Idioms in IELTS Speaking

List of IELTS Linking Words for Speaking

When you speak, the examiner will be able to follow your ideas and stories more easily if you use some basic linking words for IELTS Speaking and natural phrases, as these IELTS linking words for speaking are straightforward and informal.

Here is a list of linking words used in IELTS speaking test:

Linking Words for Time

• Now/At Present/Right Now
• At the moment
• These days/Nowadays
• In the past/Earlier
• At that time
• When I was younger

Linking Words for Causes and Solutions

• The main reason is
• It was caused by
• I guess it’s because
• The best way to deal with this problem is/The best way to solve this is

Linking Words for Adding Information

• And
• Also
• As well as

Phrases to Begin with

• I’d like to talk about…
• I’m gonna talk about…
• I’d like to tell you about…

Linking Phrases to Express Opinion

• I’m convinced that…/I’m sure that…
• I suppose…/ I think…/I’d say
• I believe that…
• It’s difficult to say…/I tend to think that…/That’s a tricky one…I’ve never thought about that…
• In my view…/In my opinion…
• To be honest,…

IELTS Speaking Tips for Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test

What is an IELTS preparation or vocabulary guide without tips? Incomplete, right? So, let’s go through some IELTS Speaking tips to make sure that you use the words used in IELTS Speaking test effectively.

• Avoid memorizing vocabulary: Don’t just memorize the words to use in speaking IELTS. Make sure you know to use them correctly and naturally.
• Improve your word power: Expand your vocabulary by learning new words and phrases related to the common IELTS Speaking topics for Part 2 & 3 and use them while practicing IELTS Speaking practice tests.
• Don’t repeat words: Avoid repeating the most common words in IELTS Speaking. Use a variety of IELTS Speaking vocabulary to showcase your language skills.
• Back up your ideas with examples: Develop and elaborate your answers for IELTS Speaking with examples, personal experience and anecdotes.
• Practice is the key: Practice regularly to ensure that your fluency and coherence in IELTS Speaking and pronunciation are on point along with IELTS Grammar rules. Check the IELTS pronunciation guide for a better guidance.
• Be confident: Finally, be confident and maintain a positive attitude. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if something is unclear.

Learn Words to Use in IELTS Speaking with IELTSMaterial

If you’re looking to enhance your speaking skills for the IELTS exam, IELTSMaterial can be a valuable resource. Whether it is about updating your vocabulary with words used in IELTS Speaking test or brushing up your pronunciation, our experts are your all-time partners.

Feel free to check out our highly rated IELTS Speaking learning material with example answers and audio or get in touch with our IELTS experts if you need more advice. Take the step you need to boost your prep further and receive a Band 8+ on the IELTS Speaking test.

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