Asking an examiner questions in the speaking exam
You can ask the examiner questions in the IELTS speaking exam.There are numerous ways to deal with problems and it is a good idea to learn these before taking an exam.
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Asking the examiner questions
FUNCTION | PHRASE |
Repeat question |
Could you please repeat that? Sorry, I didnโt quite catch what you said? |
Checking a word (part 1 -3) | Sorry, what does X mean? Could you please explain the meaning of X? |
Checking the question (part 3 only) |
Are you asking meโฆ.? Do you meanโฆ.? |
Engaging the examiner | If you know what I mean. Donโt you agree? Do you feel the same way? |
Useful Discourse Markers
FUNCTION | PHRASE |
Buying time | Let me see now, that really is quite a tricky question. Well, I suppose I would have to say thatโฆ Oh gosh! Iโm really not sure about that, but probablyโฆ |
Extending | Let me cut to the chase, the key point isโฆ Anyway, the thing I really want to say isโฆ What Iโm trying to say isโฆ And, well, let me put it this wayโฆ |
Repeating | Let me put it another way Or, in other wordsโฆ To put it more succinctlyโฆ |
Restarting | How can I put this (better) โฆ Let me start overโฆ Oh, I seem to have lost my train of thought a bit, let me see, oh yes, thatโs right, what I mean to say isโฆ |
SPEAKING QUESTIONS
Something Iโd like to know is am I allowed to make notes in both the second and the third part?
Only really the 2nd part (you get one minute) most examiners will take away the paper after part 2, and you donโt have time to make notes in part 3, you must answer fairly quickly (no preparation time is given)
And what would you advise me to do if i totally block and can`t come up with normal and logical answer.
Just tell the examiner โsorry I donโt have any opinion about thatโ
Can I ask the examiner what a word means
Part 1 you can ask the examiner to repeat the question (they can do this 1 time only for each question). It wonโt have a negative impact on your grade unless you do this often.
Part 1 and 2 you can ask the examiner the meaning of a WORD
Part 3 you can ask the examiner to REPHRASE the question
if we say โsorry I donโt have any opinion about thatโ, will it not have a negative impact on the band ?
For an essay yes! For speaking, it is OK one time. The examiner may rephrase it or guide you towards an opinion..maybe saying something
like “Well, do you think it would be bad for the economy”