SIMULATION IELTS

SPEAKING

LINKING WORDS, SIGNPOSTING, NATURAL SPEECH

Purpose Signpost Language Example
Introducing the  Today we are going to talk about…
topic of the talk  The topic of today’s talk is…
 We are going to take a look at…
 Today I’ll be talking about / discussing...
 What I’m going to be talking about today is…
 The purpose of today’s lecture is…
 The subject/topic of my talk is ...
Explaining the  In today’s talk I’m going to cover three points.
talk structure  I’m going to divide this talk into three parts.
(sections /  First, we’ll look at…. Then we’ll go on to … And finally, I’ll…
subtopics)  Well, In general I would say that…
 Actually, I suppose that for the most part I’d probably say
that…
Introducing the  Firstly,  I’ll start with, …  To begin with, this essay will identify the
first section /  To begin with  The first advantage / reason / cause causes of this situation.
subtopic or first  Initially etc. is...
of a list of points  Finally, Lastly  Ok then, the first point I want to
 Let’s start by talking mention is that….
about...  Well, the point that I would like to
 To begin, … begin with is that…
 Firstly, …  Well, first of all, I think I would
have to say that…
 Right, ok, the main thing you need
to know that…
Finishing a  We've looked at...
section  I’ve talked about….
Starting a new  Let’s move on to…  These factors will subsequently be
section  Now, let’s turn to… analysed in detail.
 And I’d now like to talk about…

Page 1/4
 SIMULATION IELTS
SPEAKING

 The next / second …

 I'd like now to discuss...
 The next issue/topic/area I’d like to focus on …
 Secondly
 Then …. Next ….
 Subsequently
To generalise  As a rule  On the whole  In general, it is true to say that a good
 For the most part  In most cases understanding of theory is essential.
 Generally  Usually  The conclusions are, for the most part,
 In general sound.
To add an idea,  In addition  Similarly  The issue is, furthermore, complicated
or more detail  Additionally  Besides by external matters.
 Furthermore  What is more  Indeed, scholars reject this theory as
 Moreover  Equally unrealistic
 Again  Indeed
 and  Apart from this
 Also  Likewise
To give an  For example,  Certain research methods, for instance,
example  For instance surveys and questionnaires, are
 To demonstrate particularly effective.
 As an illustration/example  As an example, the following quotation
 To illustrate could be cited as representative of this
viewpoint.
To focus on  In particular  Such examples, and in particular those
specifics in more  Specifically from the last five years, support the
detail findings of recent research.
To cross-  As noted above / below  As noted previously, a number of
reference to other  As stated previously scholars have offered a different
parts of the essay  As is discussed below explanation.
 This development is composed of a
number of stages, as discussed above.
To introduce a  By the same token  In the same way  Compared with the first example, the
comparison or  Compared with  Likewise second seems unconvincing.

Page 2/4
 SIMULATION IELTS
SPEAKING

further point to  In like manner  Similarly  This scholar’s argument is likewise

support your  In comparison with  Whereas flawed.
argument
 In contrast  But  Nevertheless, arguments in favour of the
To introduce a
 However  Yet theory must also be considered.
contrast or
 Although  Alternatively  The case must not, however, be
alternative point
 Nevertheless  Conversely overstated.
or section
 Nonetheless  By contrast,
 On the other hand  On the contrary
 After all  Obviously  These claims must, of course, be closely
To introduce a
 Clearly  Of course examined.
fact or state the
 Naturally  It is evident that  Clearly, popular opinion is against the
obvious
 Evidently changes
 In other words  There is only one negative example,
To rephrase or
 Or rather namely, that of the government.
explain
 That is to say  The model is not universal. To be more
 To put it more simply/in another way precise, it is not applicable in seven per
 Namely cent of the above cases
 To be more precise
 Accordingly  For this reason  The data are incomplete and, as a
To introduce a
 As a consequence  Because consequence, this interpretation is not
reason, result,
 As a result  Due to convincing.
proof or logical
 Consequently  Indeed  Due to problems of access, research on
conclusion
 Hence  In fact this topic is scarce.
 Therefore  It could be concluded that
 Thus
 To sum up, …  Overall, …
To signal the end
 So, it is clear from what  The three main points are …
of the talk /
we have discussed today  Finally
Summing up
that…  In short
 I'd like now to recap...  To conclude
 Let's summarise briefly  As this essay has demonstrated

Page 3/4
 SIMULATION IELTS
SPEAKING

what we've looked at...

 In conclusion, …
 To summarise, …
 In summary, …
 Well, to be honest, I 
Natural speech
suppose to say that…
 In actual fact that…
 In fact, in all honesty,…
 Well, to be honest, I
think I would have to say
that…

The end

Page 4/4