The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English. One key skill you need is expressing opinions confidently. Whether you’re discussing social issues, personal preferences, or abstract topics, knowing how to state your opinion clearly and support it with reasons can boost your score.
In this blog, we’ll explore useful phrases, strategies, and tips to help you express your opinions confidently in the IELTS Speaking test.
Why Expressing Opinions Matters in IELTS Speaking
The IELTS Speaking test, especially Part 3 (Discussion Questions), requires you to:
✔️ Give your opinion clearly.
✔️ Justify your thoughts with examples.
✔️ Compare different viewpoints when necessary.
✔️ Speak fluently and naturally without hesitation.
By mastering these skills, you’ll improve your fluency, coherence, and lexical resource, which are key factors in scoring high on the IELTS Speaking test.
Useful Phrases for Giving Opinions
Here are some phrases you can use to express opinions confidently:
1. Stating Your Opinion
💬 In my opinion, …
💬 From my point of view, …
💬 I strongly believe that …
💬 As far as I’m concerned, …
💬 Personally, I think …
2. Agreeing with an Opinion
👍 I completely agree with that because …
👍 That’s a valid point, and I would add that …
👍 Absolutely! I feel the same way because …
3. Disagreeing Politely
👎 I see your point, but I believe …
👎 I understand that perspective, but in my opinion …
👎 That’s an interesting view, but I would argue that …
4. Giving Reasons and Examples
✔️ The main reason for this is that …
✔️ For example, …
✔️ This is mainly due to …
✔️ One good example of this is …
5. Comparing and Contrasting
🔄 On the one hand, … but on the other hand, …
🔄 While it’s true that …, I still think that …
🔄 Compared to …, I believe that …
Strategies to Improve Confidence
💡 Practice speaking out loud – Record yourself answering IELTS questions.
💡 Use a variety of expressions – Avoid repeating the same phrase.
💡 Think before you speak – Take a second to organize your thoughts.
💡 Expand your answers – Support your opinion with explanations and examples.
💡 Stay calm – If you make a mistake, keep going and correct yourself naturally.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Giving short answers – Always explain why you think something.
🚫 Using memorized responses – Examiners can tell if you’re reciting answers.
🚫 Hesitating too much – If you don’t know the answer, try to guess logically.
🚫 Repeating the same words – Use synonyms and varied vocabulary.
Practice Questions for IELTS Speaking
Try answering these Part 3-style questions to practice expressing opinions:
1️. Do you think social media has a positive or negative impact on communication?
2️. Should students be required to wear uniforms at school? Why or why not?
3️. Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?
4️. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online education?
5️. Do you believe that technology is making people less social?
FAQs
Q: What if I don’t know much about a topic in the IELTS Speaking test?
A: That’s okay! You can say, “I haven’t thought much about this before, but I would say…” and then give a logical guess.
Q: Can I change my opinion during my answer?
A: Yes! You can say, “Actually, I’ve just realized that…” and adjust your response naturally.
Q: How long should my answers be?
A: Your answers should be detailed, but not too long. Aim for 3–5 sentences per response.
