♻️ How to Avoid Repeating Yourself in IELTS Speaking

Do you find yourself using the same words again and again — like “good,” “interesting,” or “I think…”? Repetition is one of the most common issues that affect fluency and lexical resource in the IELTS Speaking test. This article will help you avoid repetition and speak with more variety, clarity, and confidence.

🔍 Why Repetition Lowers Your Score

• Lexical Resource: Limited vocabulary reduces your score
• Fluency: Repeating words or ideas can make answers sound robotic
• Coherence: Over-explaining the same point confuses the listener

✅ 5 Strategies to Avoid Repetition

1. Use Synonyms and Paraphrasing

Instead of saying “interesting” every time, use:

• Fascinating
• Engaging
• Thought-provoking
• Enjoyable

Example: “The documentary was fascinating. I found the topic very thought-provoking.”

2. Vary Your Sentence Starters

• “In my opinion…” → “From my perspective…”
• “I think…” → “I believe…” / “I suppose…”
• “For example…” → “Take ___ as an example…” / “To illustrate…”

3. Use Linking Devices to Organize Ideas

Instead of repeating the same phrase, use:

• “Moreover,” “In addition,” “Also”
• “However,” “On the other hand,” “That said”
• “As a result,” “Therefore,” “Because of that”

4. Expand, Don’t Repeat

Instead of repeating your main idea, add depth or examples.

❌ “I like reading. Reading is my favorite activity. I read books every day.”

✅ “I enjoy reading, especially biographies and historical fiction. It helps me relax after work and also improves my vocabulary.”

5. Practice With Topic Variety

Don’t just prepare for one topic. Switch subjects often and practice using different vocabulary sets: food, travel, education, technology, etc.

🧠 Practice Exercise

Choose 1 common word you overuse (e.g., “nice,” “like,” “good”) and:

• Write down 5 synonyms or descriptive alternatives
• Use a different one each time you answer a new question
• Record your answers and check if your variety improves

⚠️ What to Avoid

• ❌ Using the same phrase for every question (“In my opinion… In my opinion…”)
• ❌ Repeating the question’s words without change
• ❌ Saying the same idea with different words just to fill time

🎯 Final Advice

The best IELTS Speaking answers are natural, organized, and varied. To avoid repetition, grow your vocabulary by topic, record and self-review, and practice expressing the same idea in different ways. This shows real control of English — and helps boost both your fluency and lexical score.

See also next Speaking Fluently Without Saying “Umm…” – Real Techniques That Work

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