Today’s post is for candidates who are aiming for higher than Band 7. I’m going to share a video of a tourist travelling in a very unusual destination — North Korea. He is going to describe his experience, so pay attention to the words and phrases that he uses. Some of them may be helpful for you in the IELTS Speaking test, especially if you are aiming for a very high band.
Less common synonyms
In the video, the speaker uses lots of ‘less common’ synonyms of common words. Using some less common synonyms in your speaking can help you get a very band.
| Less common synonyms/idioms | Common word or phrase |
|---|---|
| trepidation (0:09) | fear |
| concern (0:38) | worry |
| gear (0:43) | equipment |
| wonderland (1:20) | paradise |
| startling (1:42) | very surprising |
| No one batted an eyelid. (2:46) | Nobody was surprised. |
| quirky (2:59) | unusual |
Useful phrases
- The first thing that hits you …. (1:06)
- The contrast with … is … (1:38)
- The first thing to hit me was … (1:50)
- Highlights for me (in Pyongyang) included … (2:52)
Very nice , I liked it