• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

NativeSpeakerOnline

Learn natural English online

  • LEARNING ENGLISH
    • Confusing words in English
    • English grammar
    • Typical mistakes in English
  • IELTS SPEAKING TIPS
  • CONTACT
How to use natural English in the IELTS test

How to use natural English in the IELTS test

August 6, 2015 By Nestor Leave a Comment

When you are asked questions in the IELTS Speaking test, try to respond in a natural way. Many candidates try to repeat the examiner’s words in their answers, and sometimes this doesn’t sound very natural. Study this example.

Typical candidate’s answer
Examiner: Do you prefer to watch TV or listen to the radio?
Candidate: I don’t like watching TV and I don’t like listening to the radio. I prefer to watch online videos.

Although this answer is grammatically correct, it might ‘feel’ a little unnatural to a fluent speaker of English. This could be because the candidate repeats the phrase ‘I don’t like …-ing’. Also, the answer might sound unnatural without a connecting word at the beginning. You don’t always need to use a connector in your answers, but in this particular case the response would sound more natural.

Now compare this version:

Examiner: Do you prefer to watch TV or listen to the radio?
Candidate: Actually, I don’t like either. I prefer to watch online videos.

Although this answer is shorter, it sounds more natural and more appropriate for a Band 8-9 candidate. The connector actually is used when giving a surprising response, in other words a response that the questioner is not expecting. The phrase I don’t like either shows the examiner that the candidate has a wide grammatical range and is able to speak concisely.

In the IELTS Speaking Masterclass course, I present lots of examples of natural English as well as useful connectors that you can use in your speaking.

Opt In Image
Improve your speaking
Learn more tips in the Masterclass

You can find many more tips like this in the IELTS Speaking Masterclass course, an essential programme of training materials for IELTS Speaking including videos and downloadble pdfs.

Take the Course

Filed Under: IELTS Speaking Tips, Tips for Band 7-9 Tagged With: Grammar tips, Vocabulary tips

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • IELTS Speaking Tips
    • General tips
    • Other stuff
    • Tips for Band 6.5
    • Tips for Band 7-9

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Check your inbox now to confirm your subscription. If you don't receive my email, check your spam folder.

IELTS Tag cloud

  • Grammar tips
  • IELTS preparation advice
  • IELTS scoring criteria
  • IELTS Speaking test
  • IELTS speaking test strategies
  • IELTS Speaking tip cards
  • Pronunciation
  • Questions from candidates
  • Sample answers
  • Scary situations
  • Speaking test Part 1
  • Speaking test Part 2
  • Speaking test Part 3
  • Test rules and procedure
  • Topical videos
  • Vocabulary tips

Youtube videos

  • Contact
  • Terms of use and privacy policy

Footer

IELTS Speaking Tips on Facebook

Facebook

Copyright © 2021 ยท NativeSpeakerOnline