The document provides advice for IELTS Speaking exam takers on what to say if they do not have an opinion on a topic raised by the examiner. It suggests saying that you are not familiar with or interested in the topic, while still communicating effectively. A number of polite phrase options are given for admitting a lack of knowledge or opinion, including "I'm sorry, I've never heard of that" or "I'm afraid I don't know much about [topic]". More advanced expressions are also listed for candidates aiming for a high band score.
The document provides advice for IELTS Speaking exam takers on what to say if they do not have an opinion on a topic raised by the examiner. It suggests saying that you are not familiar with or interested in the topic, while still communicating effectively. A number of polite phrase options are given for admitting a lack of knowledge or opinion, including "I'm sorry, I've never heard of that" or "I'm afraid I don't know much about [topic]". More advanced expressions are also listed for candidates aiming for a high band score.
The document provides advice for IELTS Speaking exam takers on what to say if they do not have an opinion on a topic raised by the examiner. It suggests saying that you are not familiar with or interested in the topic, while still communicating effectively. A number of polite phrase options are given for admitting a lack of knowledge or opinion, including "I'm sorry, I've never heard of that" or "I'm afraid I don't know much about [topic]". More advanced expressions are also listed for candidates aiming for a high band score.
You do not need to have great ideas or opinions. The examiner is only evaluating your ability to communicate in English. However, you must give a relevant response to every question. This shows that you have understood the question correctly. So, what do you say if you don’t have any ideas or opinions on a particular topic? Well, you can try inventing an opinion -- the examiner is not interested in the truth. However, if you really have nothing to say, then it’s okay to tell the examiner that you do not have an opinion. However, try to give your reasons and show good communication skills. You can say:
Ø I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of that.
Ø I’m afraid I’ve never been interested in [sport, etc.] Ø I’m afraid I’m not very keen on [music, etc.] Ø I’m afraid I don’t know much about [art, etc.] Ø I’m sorry, I’m not sure what that is. Ø I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that topic.
Advanced expressions Consider using these expressions if you are aiming for a very high band:
Ø I’m sorry, I’ve never given that much thought.
Ø I’m afraid I’m not really a [sports, painting, etc.] enthusiast. Ø I’m afraid I’m not really into [art, music, sports, etc.] Ø I’m afraid that topic has never really aroused my interest. Ø I’m sorry, I’m completely unfamiliar with that topic.