# IELTS_Part1_LinkingPhrases_Band9 - **Original Source:** `IELTS_Part1_LinkingPhrases_Band9.pdf` - **Category:** `speaking` - **Original Format:** `.pdf` --- IELTS Speaking — Part 1 Linking Phrases & Discourse Markers 8 functions · 48 phrases with examples · 1 full Band 9 model answer · Phrases to avoid How to use this guide 1. Read each phrase aloud three times — once slowly, twice at natural speed. 2. Read the example sentence aloud. The target phrase is highlighted in blue. 3. Per practice session, pick one phrase per function (8 total) and use them actively. 4. Study the model answer last — read it aloud and notice how the phrases create flow, not decoration. 5. Check the Avoid section. Eliminating bad habits is faster than adding good ones. Contents 01. Reason & Cause (6 phrases) 02. Effect & Result (6 phrases) 03. Addition (6 phrases) 04. Example & Illustration (6 phrases) 05. Contrast & Comparison (6 phrases) 06. Opinion & Perspective (6 phrases) 07. Desires, Hopes & Future Plans (6 phrases) 08. Hedging & Qualification (6 phrases) 09. Full Band 9 Model Answer 10. Phrases to Avoid IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 2 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 1 Reason & Cause Explaining WHY — move beyond 'because' TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. The main reason is that... Neutral · Band 7+ When: To introduce your primary reason clearly and directly. "I prefer working from home. The main reason is that I concentrate far better without the interruptions of an open-plan office." This is largely because... Neutral · Band 7+ When: To emphasise that this is a major — though not the only — factor. "I find the evening shift much harder. This is largely because my energy drops sharply after eight hours of clinical work." This stems from the fact that... Formal · Band 8+ When: To trace a current situation back to its origin or cause. "I've always been drawn to psychiatry. This stems from the fact that I was surrounded by unexplained human behaviour early in my training and found it impossible to ignore." I'd attribute this to... Formal · Band 8+ When: To credit a specific source or cause for a characteristic or habit. "My interest in linguistics? I'd attribute this to a professor I had in medical school who happened to study Nahuatl on the side." Owing to... Formal · Band 8+ · followed by noun When: Prepositional phrase — always followed by a noun or noun phrase. "Owing to a fairly demanding schedule, I've had to become very deliberate about when and how I rest." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 3 Band 9 Discourse Markers partly because... and partly because... Natural · Band 8+ · dual reason When: To give two causes simultaneously — avoids oversimplification. "I eat less red meat now, partly because of environmental concern and partly because my body seems to function better without it." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 4 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 2 Effect & Result Showing CONSEQUENCES — what happens as a result TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. Consequently, Formal · Band 7+ When: Strong causal link — use when the result is a direct, significant outcome. "I work twelve-hour shifts twice a week. Consequently, I've become quite protective of my days off." As a result, Neutral · Band 7+ When: The most versatile result marker — safe and effective in any context. "I started reading more during the pandemic. As a result, I've developed a habit I've managed to maintain since." This means that... Natural · Band 7+ When: To explain the practical implication — what something actually leads to in practice. "My commute takes about forty minutes each way. This means that I have a reliable window for reading, which I've come to value." This leads to... Natural · Band 7+ When: To show a direct chain reaction between a cause and its effect. "Sustained grey skies genuinely drain my energy. This leads to a noticeable drop in productivity that I've learned to plan around." Hence, Formal · Band 8+ · terse When: Very compressed result — best used for a short, strong concluding statement. "My job requires absolute precision. Hence, I've developed a low tolerance for ambiguity in professional contexts, even if I embrace it clinically." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 5 Band 9 Discourse Markers ...which means... Natural · Band 8+ · mid-sentence When: Embedded mid-sentence — creates flowing, complex syntax without sounding forced. "I cycle to work when the weather allows, which means I arrive already awake rather than still half-asleep." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 6 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 3 Addition Adding SUPPORTING points — beyond 'and' TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. Furthermore, Formal · Band 7+ When: To add a strong second point that reinforces the first. "I prefer physical books for their tactile quality. Furthermore, I retain information better when I read on paper." Moreover, Formal · Band 8+ When: Similar to 'furthermore' but slightly stronger — implies the second point is even more significant. "The neighbourhood is well connected by metro. Moreover, the rent is considerably lower than comparable areas." On top of that, Natural · Band 7+ When: Slightly informal but very fluent — adds a bonus or extra benefit. "The city has a thriving cultural scene. On top of that, the food is genuinely extraordinary by any standard." What's more, Natural · Band 8+ When: Adds something surprising or particularly noteworthy — slightly emphatic. "I took up long-distance walking to clear my head. What's more, I've found it's more effective than most structured relaxation techniques I've tried." Not only... but also... Formal · Band 8+ · emphatic When: Emphatic structure — the second element always lands with more weight. "My work is not only intellectually demanding but also emotionally taxing in ways that are difficult to leave at the door." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 7 Band 9 Discourse Markers In addition to this, Neutral · Band 7+ When: Smooth transition that explicitly connects the new point to what was just said. "I find the early morning shift difficult. In addition to this, the administrative load has increased considerably over the last year." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 8 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 4 Example & Illustration ILLUSTRATING your point — specificity is what separates bands TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. For instance, Neutral · Band 7+ When: The safest and most versatile example marker — works in any register. "I have fairly eclectic taste in music. For instance, I might listen to a Baroque cantata in the morning and something electronic by the afternoon." Take... for example Natural · Band 7+ When: Conversational and direct — draws the listener's attention to a specific case. "Travel changes how you think about your own culture. Take my first extended trip to Europe, for example — I came back with a very different sense of what I'd taken for granted." To illustrate, Formal · Band 8+ When: Signals a descriptive or developed example — slightly more elaborate than 'for instance'. "I've become much more deliberate about what I buy. To illustrate, I recently spent a month deciding whether to replace a pair of headphones I've had for six years." Such as... Neutral · Band 7+ · mid-sentence When: Used within a sentence — introduces a list of examples concisely. "I enjoy quiet, indoor hobbies, such as reading, building things on a computer, and exploring unfamiliar music." ...which is a good example of... Natural · Band 8+ · mid-sentence When: Embeds the example inside the sentence — sounds fluid and unrehearsed. "I've started studying Mesoamerican linguistics in my spare time, which is a good example of how my intellectual interests have shifted inward as I've gotten older." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 9 Band 9 Discourse Markers A case in point is... Formal · Band 8+ When: Slightly literary — introduces a particularly apt or telling example. "Public institutions often fail the people who need them most. A case in point is the chronic underfunding of psychiatric services in public hospitals." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 10 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 5 Contrast & Comparison COMPARING options, periods, or preferences — essential for preference questions TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. In contrast, Neutral · Band 7+ When: Clear difference between two things — best with a full sentence on each side. "My current city is dense, fast, and relentless. In contrast, the New Zealand towns I've read about seem almost deliberately quiet." On the other hand, Neutral · Band 7+ When: To introduce the opposite perspective — especially useful in preference questions. "I enjoy the intellectual stimulation of the city. On the other hand, I've started to feel that the pace is costing me more than it's giving." Whereas... Neutral · Band 7+ · mid-sentence When: Embedded contrast — both ideas appear in the same sentence. "Whereas I used to travel purely for novelty, I now travel more to understand context and history." Compared to... Neutral · Band 7+ When: Direct comparative — anchors the current situation against a reference point. "Compared to my twenties, I have considerably fewer social obligations now, which I consider an improvement." Unlike... Natural · Band 7+ When: Draws a sharp distinction between two subjects. "Unlike most clinical fields, psychiatry rarely offers the certainty of a definitive answer, which is either its great challenge or its great appeal, depending on the day." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 11 Band 9 Discourse Markers While / Although... Natural · Band 7+ · mid-sentence When: Introduces a concession — acknowledges the opposite view before asserting your own. "While I understand the appeal of spontaneous travel, I find I enjoy trips more when I've had time to read about a place before arriving." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 12 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 6 Opinion & Perspective GIVING YOUR VIEW — with precision, not just confidence TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. From my perspective, Formal · Band 7+ When: Clean, unambiguous opinion marker — signals that what follows is your considered view. "From my perspective, the most underrated quality in a doctor is tolerance for diagnostic uncertainty." As far as I'm concerned, Neutral · Band 7+ When: Slightly emphatic — implies you have thought this through and hold it firmly. "As far as I'm concerned, the value of travel is less in what you see and more in what it reveals about what you'd assumed without realising." I'd say that... Natural · Band 7+ When: Slightly softer than a direct assertion — sounds reflective rather than dogmatic. "I'd say that working in a public hospital changes your relationship with certainty in ways that no textbook quite prepares you for." The way I see it, Natural · Band 8+ When: Conversational and confident — implies a personal framework for interpreting things. "The way I see it, digital tools have given us more access to information and less capacity to think about it." To my mind, Formal · Band 8+ When: Slightly literary — suggests the opinion is the result of careful reflection. "To my mind, the most interesting question in psychiatry isn't what causes illness, but why some people remain well despite every reason not to." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 13 Band 9 Discourse Markers If anything, Natural · Band 9 · nuance When: Powerful hedging phrase — qualifies or reverses an expected conclusion. Rare and impressive. "I expected city life to feel liberating. If anything, it's taught me how much I value silence." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 14 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 7 Desires, Hopes & Future Plans Talking about WISHES and GOALS — range of tense and grammar TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. Ideally, Natural · Band 7+ When: Describes your preferred or perfect scenario — implies compromise is possible. "Ideally, I'd live somewhere with a reasonable pace of life, good access to nature, and a system that actually funds public services properly." If I had the chance, I would... Natural · Band 7+ · conditional When: Hypothetical desire — shows command of second conditional grammar. "If I had the chance, I would spend a year doing nothing but reading and learning languages, which I suspect would make me a better clinician." I'm hoping to... Natural · Band 7+ When: Realistic near-future goal — more grounded than 'would love to'. "I'm hoping to relocate to New Zealand within the next year or so, though the logistics are considerably more complex than I'd anticipated." What I'd really love is... Natural · Band 8+ · emphatic When: Emphatic structure — the fronted 'what' clause gives the wish more weight. "What I'd really love is to have enough sustained free time to study Mesoamerican linguistics properly, rather than in whatever gaps the schedule allows." My long-term goal is to... Neutral · Band 7+ When: States a deliberate, considered objective — implies planning, not just wishing. "My long-term goal is to contribute to how psychiatry is taught in this region, beyond what's possible in a single clinical role." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 15 Band 9 Discourse Markers I'm keen on... Natural · Band 7+ · followed by -ing When: Expresses strong interest in a future activity — always followed by gerund. "I'm keen on spending more time in archives and libraries once I'm settled in a new country — there's a kind of thinking that only happens in quiet rooms." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 16 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 8 Hedging & Qualification SOUNDING NATURAL — Band 9 speakers qualify; they don't declaim TIP Use 1–2 of these per answer — not all at once. Natural, well-placed use of one phrase beats forced use of five. To some extent, Neutral · Band 7+ When: Partial agreement or partial truth — avoids overstating a claim. "Weather affects my mood, to some extent — I notice it more than I'd like, but I can usually work around it." It depends on... Natural · Band 7+ When: Shows nuance — your answer varies by context, mood, or circumstance. "It depends on the kind of day I've had. After a difficult shift I want silence; after a routine one I'm more open to company." I wouldn't say... exactly, Natural · Band 8+ When: Gently corrects or complicates an assumed premise — sounds thoughtful. "I wouldn't say I'm a social person, exactly — I'm more selectively engaged. I have a small number of relationships I invest in heavily." That said, Natural · Band 8+ When: Concedes the previous point while introducing a contrasting qualification. "I find large social gatherings draining. That said, I do value the occasional event that brings together people I wouldn't normally encounter." ...if I'm honest, Natural · Band 8+ · mid/end sentence When: Signals candour — implies you're sharing something slightly unexpected or vulnerable. "I've become quite protective of my evenings, if I'm honest — the boundaries between work and rest eroded gradually and I've had to rebuild them deliberately." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 17 Band 9 Discourse Markers I'm not entirely sure, but... Natural · Band 9 · epistemic When: Genuine epistemic humility — shows the speaker thinks rather than retrieves. "I'm not entirely sure whether my preference for solitude is temperamental or just a response to a very social job, but I've stopped trying to force myself to be otherwise." IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 18 Band 9 Discourse Markers 0 9 Full Band 9 Model Answer TIP Read this aloud twice: once for meaning, once tracking the linking phrases. Notice that no phrase sounds forced — each one earns its place by doing real argumentative work. Q: "Do you think people spend too much time online?" Probably, in aggregate — though 'too much' is doing a lot of work in that sentence. The main reason I hesitate is that quantity alone doesn't capture what's actually happening. What concerns me, to a far greater extent, is the quality of attention: people are online in a way that fragments concentration rather than deepening it. Consequently, you get a population that is simultaneously more informed and less able to think carefully about what it knows. That said, I'd be careful about assuming this applies uniformly — it depends on how and why someone is online. If anything, the problem isn't the internet itself but the incentive structures built around it, which means the solution is probably structural rather than individual. Phrases used: Hedging Probably, in aggregate — Reason The main reason I hesitate is that... Qualification to a far greater extent Effect Consequently, Contrast That said, Condition it depends on Opinion If anything, Result which means IELTS Part 1 — Linking Phrases · 19 Band 9 Discourse Markers 1 0 Phrases to Avoid TIP These patterns appear in Band 5–6 answers. Removing them from your speech is often more effective than adding new vocabulary. ✗ "Because it is good / nice / interesting" Empty adjectives. Every candidate says this. Add a specific reason or sensation instead. ✗ "I think that... I think that... I think that..." Repetition of the same opinion marker signals limited range. Rotate: 'I'd say', 'From my perspective', 'The way I see it'. ✗ "Also, ... Also, ... Also,..." 'Also' has no connective strength. Use 'Furthermore', 'What's more', or 'On top of that' for additions. ✗ "First... Second... Third..." List structure sounds like a written essay. Speaking uses flowing transitions, not numbered points. ✗ "To be honest, ..." Overused to the point of meaninglessness. Reserve 'if I'm honest' for moments where you're genuinely admitting something unexpected. ✗ "In conclusion," This is Part 1 — answers are 2–4 sentences. There is no conclusion. Just stop when you've said something real.