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Linking words serve as the verbal "glue" that holds your ideas and phrases together. They aid in making connections between your sentences and are crucial in demonstrating your ability to organise your thoughts cogently in the IELTS test.

They are sometimes referred to as cohesive or connecting devices. Although many linking words can be used in both speaking and writing, some should only be used in writing, and others should only be used in speaking.

In fact, using "academic" or "written English" connectors in IELTS Speaking is one of the major mistakes students make. They occasionally use the following:

• Nevertheless
• Furthermore
• Thus
• It can be concluded that

Furthermore, this leads to the conclusion that this doesn't sound natural. When taking the IELTS Speaking test, you must employ spoken, idiomatic linking words.

Linking Words for IELTS Speaking – Word List

The blog here gives a list, tips and models of connectors or linking words for IELTS speaking. To help the examiner follow your ideas and concepts while giving the speaking exam, you will require some basic linking words and phrases that are spoken naturally. The linking words or connectors for IELTS speaking are very basic and informal.

Giving additional information

• As well as
• And
• Also
• Another reason is

Talking about time

• At the moment
• Right now
• At present
• These days
• Nowadays
• In the past
• Now
• Before
• Years ago
• When I was younger

Citing examples

• For instance
• Like
• Such as
• For example

Being clear

• As I was saying
• What I want to clarify is
• What I mean is

Concessions and Contracts

• Although
• But
• On the other hand
• Although
• While
• Or

Causes and Solutions

• Because
• The best way to solve this is
• I guess the only answer is to
• It was caused by
• I suppose the best way to tackle this problem is
• I guess it’s because
• The main reason is

Idea expression

• I think the main difference between A and B is
• I think one difference is
• I guess one important thing is

Some More Linking Words

Even though this list is far from complete, it's a nice place to start.

Another recommendation for a band 9 response is to avoid using the same linking words more than once and to avoid using only the easiest ones (like and, or, but, however, still).

Make sure your linking words are varied and appropriate for the context; for example, the words "notwithstanding," "hereby," "hence," and "correspondingly" seem more natural when written down than when spoken.

Also read: IELTS Eligibility

Linking Words Examples for IELTS Speaking

In the following questions and answers, linking words that have been used have been highlighted.

Q: Do you like eating a lot of fruit?

A: Of course, I do. I love eating fruits like mangoes and pineapples which are tropical ones.

Q: Do you think junk food is bad?

A: Yes, I think so. If junk food is eaten quite often, it can cause health issues such as diabetes or heart disease. Also, eating junk food frequently can lead to obesity and weight-related problems.

Q: Do kids these days play similar games that were played in the past?

A: No, I guess they don’t do so. Earlier, kids used to play basic and simple games like hide and seek or they used to play with simple handmade toys. But, nowadays, kids prefer to play online or computer games and even their toys are machine or battery-operated.

Also read: IELTS Exam type

Common Errors in Linking Words for IELTS Speaking

The examples below, presented as questions and answers will help you understand what are the common errors in linking words in IELTS speaking.

Q: Do you like to go out with friends?

A: Of course, I like to do so. It gives me a chance to relax, and catch up with them. Finally, it allows me to visit new places

Errors: The linking words used here are too formal. This is inappropriate and might not help you get a high band score.

The answer should be spoken in the following way:

A: Of course, I like to do so. It’s fantastic to be able to get a chance to chill out and catch up with my friends. Also, we often visit new places which I enjoy a lot.

Also read: IELTS test dates

Tips for using Linking Words in IELTS speaking

• Avoid using formal linking words for answers to questions that are simple and ask you about yourself and your life.
• You need not worry about repeating linking words in IELTS speaking as this is not similar to IELTS writing.
• The most basic and common linking words for speaking are: but, and, because, like, also, etcetera.
• “Like” as a linking word is used to give examples in IELTS speaking only and not in IELTS writing.
• You might not get a higher band score if you used a various linking words.
• Linking words in speaking are used to aid the listener in understanding the spoken ideas and concepts better.
• Linking words are used informally in IELTS speaking.
• Linking words are a part of the marking criterion of “fluency and coherence”, which accounts for 25% of your marking criteria.

In conclusion, answering the exam question appropriately, offering sufficient detail, and displaying strong vocabulary and grammar are not the sole requirements for achieving band 9.

Additionally, make sure that your thoughts flow naturally and that their connections are obvious. Organizing and clarifying your response by using a variety of suitable linking words can also help you highlight the logic in your reasoning.

Also read : IELTS test centres