Useful Phrases

Learn a few phrases to help make your answers flow better.

Not understanding a question

Sorry, I’m being a bit slow.
Sorry, my listening isn’t the best.
Sorry, my brain is failing me.

Asking for the examiner to repeat or explain

Could you rephrase that?
I didn’t quite catch that, sorry.
I’m afraid I didn’t quite catch that.
Could you explain what you mean by…?

Giving yourself time to think

How will AI change schools? That’s a good question.
How will AI change schools? That’s a tricky question.
How will AI change schools? I have to say I haven’t really thought much about that.
How will AI change schools? Well, for teachers that’s the million-dollar question.

Admitting you don’t know much about the topic

I have to say I’m not much of an expert on…
I readily admit I’m clueless about…
…isn’t really my thing.
…isn’t really my forte.
…isn’t really my strong suit.That’s probably a question for smarter people than myself.

Stopping when you realise your answer is going too long

Sorry, I’m waffling.
Sorry, that’s a bit long-winded.

What I’m trying to say is…
Let me rephrase that:…
Let me phrase that another way:…
Let me put it another way;…
In other words…
To put it more succinctly…

Restarting after a mistake

Sorry, maybe that didn’t make much sense.
Sorry, maybe that wasn’t clear.

Let me put that better:
Let me start over…

Separating your opinion from other people’s

Generally people think…However, personally I believe….

My experience is…But I don’t think that is true for everyone. My parents, for instance, …

Expanding your answer to include other areas

I think that’s different for different people.
For older people…
Younger people, however,….

Now, ….However, this hasn’t always been the case. 20 years ago…But I think this is changing. In 5 years time…

Using the examiner as a ‘wall’

Of course, you might think differently.
I’m not sure what people in your culture think about that.
Maybe you disagree.

I’m sure you agree.
You probably know the feeling.

More than one point

Also,…
On top of that,…
As well as that….

Including the other side of the argument

Of course,….
That said,…
On the other hand…

Introducing examples

If I may give a example from my own experience:…
Take me, for instance:…
My parents, for example, are evidence of that:…
When I was at school, for example,…

As a hypothetical example, think of…
If you imagine….