Many English-speaking test takers feel they have to give a right answer, but often there is no right or wrong answer to many questions. This makes the speaker confused and stops them thinking clearly. Using natural English expressions to briefly set the context of your speaking answer is one of the best ways to overcome this. You can do it once or several times during an answer, as long as you use these expressions accurately.
This feeling is worse if they know little or nothing about the topic, and because many taking IELTS have only studied at school or university, they feel they don’t have enough life experience to answer the question at all.
In other exams, such as Cambridge C1 Advanced, this is called talking about an unfamiliar topic. This, like paraphrasing and summarising, is just a skill that can be learned.
It is most important to tell your listener that you don’t know much about the topic. Make it absolutely clear. If you do that, then your listener (the examiner) knows that you are basing your answer on what you know or believe. That may be a little wrong, or even completely wrong because they know you are doing your best.
It doesn’t matter that you are wrong, because you have set the context by explaining that you are doing your best to answer a tricky question.
Of course, the examiner s not stupid, so you can’t do this with every question, but:
It is an English-speaking test, not a general knowledge test. You can’t be expected to know everything.
How to set the context using Natural Expressions
If you use the right expressions, it shows very quickly clearly your attitude to the question. Whether you don’t know, or you know a little or can’t remember clearly, there are expressions you can use. Below are some of the most common. As usual, use the ones that you like rather than trying to remember them all.
Showing that you don’t know
To be honest, I don’t know much about this, but ………
Example – Why can exciting activities relieve people’s stress? – To be honest, I don’t know much about this, but I would say that dangerous sports such as car racing would take your mind off all your problems and leave you with good memories.
To be completely honest, I know nothing about this, but ……
Example – Why do some people quit and change jobs? – To be completely honest, I know nothing about this, and can’t believe how many people change jobs frequently. …………………….
I know a little, but I could be wrong
As far as I know ……….
Example – When do you think children start to have their own opinions? – As far as I know, it’s when they start to be aware of everything that’s happening around them. That’s why they cry isn’t it?
From what I understand ………
Example – Which is more likely to be successful, family businesses or large corporations? – From what I understand, it is easier for a family business to succeed due their ability to stop trading quickly, which would be almost impossible for a large corporation to do.
I used to know, or I was once told
From what I remember
Example – Does historic preservation contradict economic development? – From what I remember from university, it doesn’t due to how much tourism preserved buildings attract.
As far as I can remember
Example – Should teachers give students advice? – As far as I can remember, I only got useful advice from my schoolteachers, so yes, I think they should.
This is what I think about it (it doesn’t matter what others think)
As far as I’m concerned, ……
Example – What challenges do young people face today? – As far as I’m concerned, every generation faces problems that the previous ones faced.
If you ask me, …..
Example – Do people spend too much time looking at digital screens? Why? – If you ask me, they do. Most people would talk about phones, but there are computer screens, smart TVs and Kindles as well as mobiles, so yes, they do.
Explaining where you think you know a little information from
I think I saw something about this on TV, in a documentary
Example – Do you think there is too much advertising in our daily lives? – I think I saw something about this on TV, in a documentary that said most people are suffering from advertising overload. It’s one thing that it’s personalised, but another that you just can’t seem to get away from it.
I think I read a story about this in some newspaper or another
Example – Is talent important in sports? – I think I read a story about this in some newspaper or another. I think high class sports people ned to be talented in various areas, of just their sport. Punctuality and hard work are two examples I can think of offhand.
I believe this has something to do with ….
Example – Why do some people choose to remain silent when they receive bad service? – I believe this has something to do with culture or personality. In some cultures, complaining is frowned upon, not to mention the many shy people in the world who would not dream of complaining.
I’m not sure this is exactly right
or something like that
Example – Why do most children have difficulties waiting for a long time? As far as I know, it’s something to do with their energy levels, or something like that.
or whatever
Example – Why do some children not like learning science at school? – I think this is an awkward question because it’s not just science children don’t like. But if you’re talking about Chemistry or whatever, then it’s probably because it’s really difficult to imagine.
in some xxx or another
Example – Why do some people not like going to parties? – As far as I’m concerned, everybody likes parties in some way or another, it just depends on what kind of party it is.
Conclusion
These are just some natural English expressions that will help you on your journey to a better IELTS score. Please remember they are common, so more than one expression can be used in a sentence. Practice makes perfect! Good luck!