Hi, I’m Daniel Hughes, and in today’s lesson we’ll tackle a common issue that lowers many IELTS Speaking scores — repetition.
Repeating the same words or sentence patterns makes your speech sound limited, and it affects your Lexical Resource score. The good news? You don’t need rare words to fix it. You just need to learn how to paraphrase naturally.
As the British Council explains, examiners award higher bands to candidates who can express ideas flexibly using varied vocabulary and structures
IELTS examiners listen for variety — not complexity.
If you say “I like… I like… I like…” in every answer, your fluency and lexical range appear limited, even if your grammar is fine.
According to IELTS.org’s marking criteria, Band 7+ candidates can “use a range of vocabulary resourcefully.” Repetition signals the opposite: narrow language range.
1️⃣ Replace Repeated Words with Synonyms
Instead of saying the same adjective or verb, try simple alternatives.
Common Word | Natural Alternatives |
good | excellent, enjoyable, beneficial |
bad | unpleasant, disappointing, poor |
like | enjoy, love, be fond of, be into |
very | really, quite, extremely |
people | individuals, the public, others |
important | essential, vital, significant |
Example:
❌ I like my hometown because it’s very nice and people are very nice.
✅ I love my hometown because it’s peaceful and the people are friendly.
💡 Tip: Practise replacing one common word in each sentence during speaking drills.
2️⃣ Paraphrase Using Different Grammar
You don’t always need new words — you can change sentence structure.
Original | Paraphrased |
I like travelling because it’s relaxing. | Travelling helps me relax. |
I enjoy cooking because it’s fun. | Cooking is something I find enjoyable. |
I don’t like crowded places. | I prefer quieter places. |
Varied grammar shows flexibility and boosts your Grammatical Range & Accuracy score.
3️⃣ Use Linking Words to Add Flow
Repetition often happens because candidates rush.
Use short connectors to add rhythm and link ideas smoothly.
Purpose | Connector |
Adding ideas | also, as well as, besides |
Giving reason | because, since, as |
Giving contrast | but, however, although |
Giving example | for example, such as, for instance |
Example:
I enjoy reading. Also, I like listening to podcasts because they keep me informed.
You can hear natural use of connectors in IDP IELTS Speaking sample videos.
4️⃣ Avoid Repeating the Question
Many learners copy the question when starting an answer, which sounds unnatural.
Instead of repeating the question, paraphrase it slightly.
Question | Avoid | Better Start |
Do you like cooking? | Yes, I like cooking. | Yes, I really enjoy preparing meals. |
What’s your favourite colour? | My favourite colour is blue. | I’ve always liked shades of blue. |
Do you enjoy travelling? | Yes, I enjoy travelling. | Definitely — exploring new places excites me. |
5️⃣ Group Ideas with Variety
You can still talk about the same topic from different angles:
“I enjoy watching films — especially documentaries — because they’re educational. I also love comedies; they help me unwind.”
Here, the candidate expresses one theme (films) using two perspectives and two connectors — perfect for Band 8 fluency.
6️⃣ Use Topic-Specific Collocations
Collocations (natural word combinations) instantly make your vocabulary sound broader.
Topic | Collocations |
Travel | plan a trip, book accommodation, go sightseeing |
Food | grab a snack, cook a meal, eat out |
Work | do overtime, attend meetings, get promoted |
Study | take notes, sit exams, revise for tests |
Hobbies | play an instrument, go jogging, watch a film |
Using these instead of single verbs prevents repetition and boosts lexical control. You can learn more examples in the IELTS Vocabulary section on British Council.
7️⃣ Practise Paraphrasing with Question Banks
Use official IELTS question lists — many are repeated in real exams.
When you answer, record yourself and note any repeated phrases like “I think,” “because,” or “actually.” Replace them with alternatives:
Phrase | Alternatives |
I think | In my opinion / To me / Personally |
because | as / since / due to |
actually | in fact / to be honest |
I like | I’m into / I’m keen on / I’m fond of |
Daily repetition of this practice will train you to vary speech automatically.
Examiner: What do you like to do in your free time?
Candidate (Band 6): I like watching movies. I like reading books too.
Candidate (Band 8): I usually watch films or read books to relax. Sometimes I go for a walk if the weather’s nice — it helps me clear my head.
Notice how the Band 8 answer avoids repeating I like, adds variation, and connects ideas fluently.
After practising your answers, ask yourself:
1️⃣ What if I can’t think of a synonym during the test?
That’s fine — use a paraphrase instead. For example, I like watching films → I enjoy spending time watching movies.
2️⃣ Can I use idioms to avoid repetition?
Yes, but only if they sound natural. Avoid overused phrases like “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
3️⃣ Does repetition always lower my score?
Occasional repetition is fine. Consistent repetition, however, limits your Lexical Resource mark.
4️⃣ Should I practise synonyms before the exam?
Yes — review topic-specific vocabulary from IELTS.org to build flexibility.
5️⃣ Is paraphrasing tested directly?
No, but it strongly influences your Fluency and Vocabulary bands.
Avoiding repetition makes your speech more engaging, flexible, and examiner-friendly.
Practise rephrasing ideas daily using synonyms, different grammar, and connectors — small changes can raise your band score.
Next, move on to Confidence & Eye Contact to strengthen your delivery and body language.
Or revisit the IELTS Speaking Overview to review marking criteria and performance standards.
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