TLDR;
This video provides 20 high-scoring sentence patterns crucial for achieving a band 7+ in the IELTS speaking test. It covers phrases for expressing opinions, indicating uncertainty, comparing and contrasting ideas, agreeing or disagreeing, and giving examples. Mastering these patterns will showcase a wide range of vocabulary and improve overall fluency and coherence.
- Expressing Opinions: Learn phrases like "As far as I'm concerned" and "I hold the view that."
- Indicating Uncertainty: Use phrases such as "I'm not sure about that" and "Let me gather my thoughts."
- Comparing and Contrasting: Master patterns like "On the one hand... on the other hand" and "There is a significant distinction between."
- Agreeing and Disagreeing: Utilize phrases like "I couldn't agree more" and "I'm not entirely convinced that."
- Giving Examples: Use advanced phrases such as "A good example of this is" and "A case in point is."
Expressing Opinions [0:33]
To express opinions effectively, the video suggests using phrases like "As far as I'm concerned" to introduce a viewpoint, as demonstrated in the example: "As far as I'm concerned, social media has both positive and negative impacts on mental health, depending on how it's used." Another phrase is "I hold the view that," which is slightly more formal and suitable for expressing opinions in an advanced manner, such as "I hold the view that schools should focus more on practical life skills, rather than just academic subjects." Additionally, the simple yet clear phrase "In my opinion" can be used, and it can be placed either at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. Lastly, "From my point of view" is another clear way to signal that you are about to share your personal perspective on a topic.
Indicating Uncertainty [2:07]
When you're unsure about an answer or idea, the video recommends using phrases like "I'm not sure about that" to clearly indicate uncertainty. For example, "I'm not sure about that, but I think the cost of living in big cities is generally higher than in rural areas." Another useful phrase is "I haven't thought about that before," which can be followed by a guess or speculation. Alternatively, you can use "I've never given that much thought" to express that you haven't deeply considered a topic. For situations where you need a moment to think, the advanced phrase "Let me gather my thoughts" is suggested, allowing you time to formulate a coherent response.
Comparing and Contrasting Ideas [3:35]
To compare similar ideas, use the phrase "This is similar to." For example, "Many people prefer working from home now for the sake of convenience. This is similar to people who enjoy online shopping instead of visiting physical stores." When presenting contrasting ideas, use "On the one hand" to introduce one point and "On the other hand" to introduce the opposing point. A more advanced way to compare two things is with the phrase "Despite their similarities," highlighting that while there are resemblances, there are also differences. To take comparisons to a higher level, use the phrase "There is a significant distinction between" to showcase advanced vocabulary.
Agreeing and Disagreeing [5:21]
To express agreement or disagreement, the video suggests using "I agree with" or "I disagree with." For strong agreement, use the phrase "I couldn't agree more." Another useful phrase in natural speech is "That's a good point," which can be used to acknowledge someone else's idea before adding your own perspective. To disagree in a less direct way, use the phrase "I'm not entirely convinced that." If you are not entirely sure about something, you can use the phrase, "it's possible that," to speculate about something.
Giving Examples [7:01]
Instead of just using "for example," the video suggests more advanced phrases to provide examples. A more elaborate version is "A good example of this is." Another way to give an example is by using the word "take" before the example, followed by "for example." For instance, "Take social media for example." Additionally, the advanced phrase "A case in point is" can be used to impress the examiner, as in "A case in point is the increasing number of companies switching to a four-day work week."