Question
Answer
Introduce the topic in Writing Task 2
In recent years, ... / It is often argued that ...
State your opinion clearly
In my opinion, ... / I strongly believe that ...
Give a balanced viewpoint before opinion
While some people argue that ..., I believe that ...
Introduce your first main point
Firstly, ... / To begin with, ...
Add a second main point
Secondly, ... / Moreover, ...
Give an example to support a point
For example, ... / A clear example of this is ...
Introduce a counterargument
On the other hand, some believe that ... / Opponents of this view argue that ...
Conclude a Writing Task 2 essay
In conclusion, ... / To sum up, ...
Describe an increasing trend (Task 1)
... rose steadily / increased sharply / climbed gradually
Describe a decreasing trend (Task 1)
... fell slightly / declined dramatically / dropped gradually
Describe no change (Task 1)
... remained stable / stayed constant / showed little change
Describe a fluctuating trend (Task 1)
... fluctuated throughout the period / rose and fell repeatedly
Introduce an overview in Task 1
Overall, ... / In general, it is clear that ...
Compare two data sets (Task 1)
In contrast, ... / Compared with ..., ... was significantly higher
Describe the highest point in a graph
... reached a peak of ... / ... peaked at ...
Describe the lowest point in a graph
... hit its lowest point at ... / ... reached a low of ...
Answer a Speaking Part 1 question about hobbies
I really enjoy ... because it helps me relax / it's a great way to ...
Answer a Speaking Part 1 question about hometown
I'm originally from ..., which is well known for ...
Start a Speaking Part 2 answer (cue card)
I'd like to talk about a time when ... / Let me tell you about ...
Buy time before answering (Speaking)
That's an interesting question. / Let me think about that for a moment.
Give a reason in Speaking Part 3
I think this is mainly because ... / One reason for this could be ...
Speculate about the future (Speaking Part 3)
It's likely that ... / I imagine that in the future, ...
Express a strong personal opinion (Speaking)
Personally, I feel very strongly that ... / If you ask me, ...
Disagree politely (Speaking)
I see your point, but I'd have to disagree because ... / That's not quite how I see it.
Compare life now to the past (Speaking Part 3)
Nowadays, ..., whereas in the past, ...
Give advantages of something
One major advantage is that ... / This brings several benefits, such as ...
Give disadvantages of something
One drawback is that ... / A possible downside is ...
Discuss both views (Task 2 essay type)
There are two sides to this argument. On the one hand, ...; on the other hand, ...
Give the causes of a problem (Task 2)
This problem stems largely from ... / A major cause of this is ...
Give solutions to a problem (Task 2)
One effective solution would be to ... / This issue could be addressed by ...
Introduce a hypothetical outcome
If this trend continues, ... / Should this happen, ...
Emphasize a key point
It is worth noting that ... / Crucially, ...
Refer back to the essay question
Regarding the question of whether ..., I believe ...
Summarize an argument before concluding
Taking everything into consideration, ... / Weighing up both sides, ...
Describe a similarity between data (Task 1)
Similarly, ... / Likewise, ...
Describe a proportion or percentage (Task 1)
... accounted for nearly a third of ... / ... made up the majority of ...
Introduce a process description (Task 1)
The process begins with ... / The first stage involves ...
Link steps in a process description
Once this is complete, ... / Following this, ...
Express a preference (Speaking)
I'd much rather ... than ... / Given the option, I'd choose ...
Talk about a childhood memory (Speaking Part 2/3)
When I was a child, I used to ... / I clearly remember ...
Justify an opinion with reasoning
This is important because ... / The main reason for this is ...
Acknowledge complexity in an issue (Task 2)
This is a complex issue with no easy answer. / There is no simple solution to this.
Introduce a general truth or fact
It is a well-known fact that ... / Generally speaking, ...
Signal you're finishing an answer (Speaking)
So, to sum up, ... / That's really all I have to say about that.
End a Writing Task 2 conclusion with a final thought
Ultimately, ... / Governments and individuals alike must ...
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