Common IELTS Phrases, Divided by Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (with Natural, Exam-like Examples)

Common IELTS Phrases, Divided by Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (with Natural, Exam-like Examples)

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PART 1: Introduction & Interview (Short, Personal Answers)

In Part 1, the examiner asks about familiar topics (home, work, hobbies). You should answer in 15-20 seconds (about 2-3 sentences). Start with a natural phrase to give yourself 1 second to think.

Phrase	Best Used When...	Example Answer
"Well, actually..."	You need a second to think, or you want to give a slightly unexpected answer.	Q: "Do you like cooking?" A: "Well, actually, I don't cook very often, but I do enjoy baking cakes on weekends."
"To be honest..."	You are giving a personal preference or a slightly negative opinion.	Q: "Do you like your job?" A: "To be honest, it's quite demanding, but I find it incredibly rewarding."
"I'd say..."	You are giving a general opinion or estimate.	Q: "How often do you use the internet?" A: "I'd say I use it every single day, probably for about five hours."
"Without a doubt..."	You are very sure about your answer (strong opinion).	Q: "Do you prefer cities or the countryside?" A: "Without a doubt, I prefer the countryside. It's so much more peaceful."
"Usually..."	You are describing a habit or routine.	Q: "What do you do in your free time?" A: "Usually, I like to go for a long walk or read a book to unwind."
"For me, personally..."	You are making it clear this is just your own opinion.	Q: "Is food important in your culture?" A: "For me, personally, food is the heart of our culture, especially during festivals."
"I'm pretty keen on..."	A natural way to say you really like something.	Q: "Do you like music?" A: "Yes, I'm pretty keen on classical music, as I find it very soothing."
"Not really, to be fair..."	A polite way to say "no" or disagree slightly.	Q: "Are you a morning person?" A: "Not really, to be fair. I struggle to wake up early unless I have a good reason."

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PART 2: Individual Long Turn (The 2-Minute Monologue)

In Part 2, you get a cue card and 1 minute to prepare. You must speak for 1-2 minutes. Use these phrases to structure your answer smoothly so you don't panic or go off-topic.

Phrase	Best Used When...	Example (on a cue card about a trip)
"I'd like to talk about..."	Starting your presentation (introducing the topic).	"I'd like to talk about an unforgettable trip I took to the mountains last year."
"To kick off, / To start with..."	You are beginning the first bullet point on your cue card.	"To kick off, I should mention that this place is called Pokhara, which is a beautiful lakeside city."
"What I should probably mention is..."	You are adding an important detail you just remembered.	"What I should probably mention is that I went there with my entire extended family, which was chaotic but fun."
"The main reason I chose this topic is..."	You are moving to the "Explain why" part of the cue card.	"The main reason I chose this topic is because it was the first time I had ever seen snow in person."
"To elaborate a bit more..."	You have finished one idea and need to expand on it.	"To elaborate a bit more, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, with the mountains reflecting perfectly on the lake."
"Looking back on it now..."	You are reflecting on a past memory (gives a mature, thoughtful tone).	"Looking back on it now, I realize that trip taught me the importance of disconnecting from technology."
"If I'm not mistaken..."	You are slightly unsure about a specific detail (dates, names).	"We stayed there for about three days, if I'm not mistaken."
"Anyway, to cut a long story short..."	You have rambled a bit and need to wrap up your story quickly.	"Anyway, to cut a long story short, it was an incredible experience I will never forget."
"That's pretty much the reason why..."	You are concluding your speech and linking back to the question.	"That's pretty much the reason why I would love to go back there someday."

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PART 3: Two-Way Discussion (Abstract, Deep Questions)

In Part 3, the examiner asks complex questions about society, technology, and global issues. Your answers should be 30-45 seconds long (4-6 sentences). You MUST use these phrases to structure complex arguments.

Phrase	Best Used When...	Example Answer
"That's a tricky / complex question..."	You need extra time to think about a hard topic.	Q: "Should governments ban single-use plastic?" A: "That's a complex question. On the one hand, banning it would help the environment..."
"If you ask me..." / "From my perspective..."	Giving a strong personal opinion on an abstract topic.	Q: "Is talent more important than hard work?" A: "From my perspective, hard work is actually more crucial because talent can only take you so far."
"I tend to think that..."	Showing a balanced, cautious opinion (good for Band 7+).	Q: "Will AI replace human jobs?" A: "I tend to think that while AI will replace repetitive tasks, it will also create new, more creative jobs."
"I suppose it depends on..."	You are separating your answer into two scenarios.	Q: "Do people enjoy living in big cities?" A: "I suppose it depends on the person. For young professionals, it's great, but for elderly people, it might be overwhelming."
"There's no doubt that... however..."	Agreeing with the premise but introducing a counter-argument.	Q: "Is online learning effective?" A: "There's no doubt that it is convenient; however, it lacks the social interaction of physical classrooms."
"The way I see it..."	A classic, natural way to introduce your main point.	Q: "Why do people buy things they don't need?" A: "The way I see it, it's largely due to clever advertising that makes us feel we need these items."
"Take... for example."	You are giving a specific real-world example to prove your point.	Q: "Does tourism harm local cultures?" A: "Yes, take Venice, for example. The sheer number of tourists has completely changed the local way of life there."
"It's a bit of a double-edged sword..."	When a topic has both clear advantages AND disadvantages.	Q: "Is social media good for society?" A: "I think it's a bit of a double-edged sword. It connects us globally, but it also spreads a lot of misinformation."
"Having said that..."	You are going to add a contrasting point to what you just said.	Q: "Is public transport reliable?" A: "In my city, it's usually punctual. Having said that, it does get very crowded during rush hour."

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💡 3 Golden Rules for Using These Phrases:

Don't overuse them:

You should only use 1-2 starter phrases per answer. If you use them in every sentence, you sound like a robot.

Bad:
"Well actually... If you ask me... I would say... To be honest... I think..." (Too many!)

Good:
"To be honest, I think it's a double-edged sword. Having said that,..." (Just two).

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Match the 'Register':

Use casual phrases ("Well actually") for Part 1, and more formal, structured phrases ("From my perspective," "There's no doubt that") for Part 3.

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Buying Time:

If your mind goes blank, do not say "Ummmm."

Instead, take a breath and use:

"That's a really interesting question... Let me think for a moment..."

It sounds much more natural.

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Full Demo: See these phrases in action in a complete interview:

Examiner (Part 1): "Do you enjoy travelling?"

You:
"Without a doubt, I absolutely love it. To be honest, I try to travel to a new place at least once a year."

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Examiner (Part 2): "Describe a memorable journey you had."

You:
"I'd like to talk about a road trip I took with my friends two years ago. To kick off, we went to the coastal region. What I should probably mention is that we had absolutely no plan and just drove wherever the road took us... (speaks for 90 seconds)... Looking back on it now, it was one of the best decisions we ever made."

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Examiner (Part 3): "Do you think tourism will change a lot in the future?"

You:
"That's a complex question. The way I see it, tourism will definitely become more sustainable. Take places like Amsterdam, for example, where they are already limiting the number of cruise ships. Having said that, I still think budget travel will remain incredibly popular."