35 Note: We are not recommending that you learn my answers word-for-word.
Just try to take some of these ideas and adapt them to your own answers.
Don’t use formula phrases Students often ask whether the following formula is useful for speaking part 2:
I guess I could begin by saying something about (point 1) and I think I
would have to choose...
Going on to my next point which is (point 2), I really need to emphasise
that (explain point 2).
And now with reference to (point 3), the point I want to make here is
that (explain point 3).
And so finally, if I have time, in answer to the question of (point 4), really
I should mention that...
So, are these 'formula phrases' a good idea? The answer is no!
IELTS examiners will find these phrases annoying. It's obvious that they are
memorised, and they do not address the question topic. Please don't expect
the examiner to be impressed by this kind of thing.
There are a couple of benefits to learning a formula: it gives your answer some
structure, and it might make you feel more confident during the test. However,
the disadvantages are greater:
1.
Your focus is on the phrases you have memorised, when it should be
on answering the question with relevant ideas.
2.
The examiner thinks that you are using memorised phrases because you
are unable to produce good language spontaneously. In other words,
your use of long formula phrases suggests that your level of English is
lower.
