IELTS Speaking Tip: Expanding your answers with linking words  

A common problem in the IELTS speaking exam is expanding your answers.

Using linking words can help you extend your answers.

Some common linking words for adding information are:

Some common linking words for adding information:

1. In addition to
2. Also
3. Moreover

Say the examiner gave use the question: Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far?

“The hardest period of time from my studies is when I had university exams last spring. In additionto having 4 exams, I also had to work a job. Moreover, I was very sick, and had to go to the hospital.”

 Some more linking words:

4. Further
5. Besides
6. Additionally

 “The hardest time in my studies so far is when I had a biology exam. The material covered was very difficult. Further, it was a very long test, and we were only given two hours to complete it. Besides my biology exam, my neuroscience exam was also very challenging. We had to write a long assay on the brain. Additionally, we had diagnosis a person with a brain injury.

Linking words for adding an example:

1. For example
2. For instance
3. In particular

“The hardest period of time from my studies was last spring. There was one week in particular when I had many difficult projects to finish at the same time. For instance, I had a 2000-word essay and presentation due on the same day! The essay was very complicated. I had to talk about many new areas in biology. For example, I had to write about the new stem cell research being done in Columbia.”

I recommend you practice using all of these words in preparing for your IELTS test. They will help you organize your thoughts and make it easier for your examiner to follow what you are saying.

Good luck and happy studying!