Mat Clark ielts speaking

Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
30
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Linking phrases 

Uncommon vocabulary 

Idiomatic vocabulary 

Different tenses (how many are used?)
 
Description Structures
When responding to description questions, you need to begin with a lead-in phrase. 
(This is an example of a linking device/ redundant language). Possible lead-in phrases 
include 
the 
following:
OK then... 
Alright... 
Well, you know... 
Actually... 
Right, OK... 
Well... 
Well 
first 
of 
all...
We can add a ―pointing phrase‖ next, to signal to the listener that the first point is 
coming. (This is another example of a linking device/ redundant language). 
...the first thing I should mention is that... 
...the point I'd like to begin with is that... 
...I could start off by saying that... 
...my initial point would be that... 
...I need to start off by pointing out that... 
...the main thing you need to know is that... 
...I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that... 
...you may (or may not) be aware that in fact... 
...I really need to kick off with the point that... 
Most of the above contain interchangeable words. Now you are ready to describe you 
first point.
 
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Activity
Example question: ―Tell me about the street that you live in.‖ 
Think about one important point you can describe about your street (it could be 
location, size, appearance, the buildings, etc). Do not give the name as this is not really 
describing (and the name would probably in Chinese so you would not be using examples of 

Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking 
31
topic-related vocabulary). Select a lead-in phrase and a pointing phrase. 
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Now describe your first point. 
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Choose different lead-in and pointing phrases and practice describing 
the first point about your street. 
The first point needs to be developed with a complex sentence. Notice in the example 
how the candidate uses a structure with ―that‖. 
―...the first thing I would say is 
that
it's absolutely enormous, maybe even one 
of the biggest city in Asia I guess.‖ 
This is a simple but effective way to join your linking phrase with the detail sentence. 
The result is a complex structure. Notice how the candidate then uses another linking word 
―maybe even‖ to add more details.

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