Saying Umm Ahh in IELTS Speaking

Importance of Fluency in IELTS Speaking

Speaking fluently and without hesitation is vital in the IELTS Speaking exam. Pausing frequently to think or using fillers such as “uh,” “um,” or “er” can disrupt the flow of conversation, distract the listener, and negatively impact your score. Fluency accounts for 25% of your overall score, so avoiding fillers is crucial to showcase your speaking ability effectively.

IELTS Speaking Marking Criteria

To perform well, it’s essential to understand the key marking criteria:

• Fluency
• Pronunciation
• Lexical Resources
• Coherence and Cohesion

Fluency, as a primary criterion, emphasizes your ability to communicate ideas without hesitation. Filler words like “umm” or “ahh” interrupt the rhythm of conversation and can significantly lower your score.

Understanding Filler Words

Filler words are terms or sounds people use to fill gaps in their speech. Common examples include “umm,” “ahh,” “I don’t know but,” “mmm,” and “so on.” These words add no value to your response and can hinder your ability to convey ideas clearly.

Example of Incorrect Use:

Question: What’s a common leisure activity in your country?
Answer: Well, umm… To be honest, I am not sure but let me think… I guess some popular leisure activities in my country are going out to coffee shops with friends and family, and ahh… yes eating lunch or dinner at restaurants.

Example of a Well-Developed Response:

Question: What kinds of dictionaries do you think are most useful?
Answer: Well, I believe it depends on the individual’s personal preference. As for me, I find dictionaries that, along with the detailed meaning, provide example scenarios as to how to use the words most useful. Moreover, I appreciate those that include synonyms and antonyms to enrich vocabulary.

The second example demonstrates fluency, vocabulary range, and coherence, while the first suffers due to overuse of fillers.

Tips to Avoid Filler Words

• Buy Time Thoughtfully: If you need time to think, politely ask the examiner to repeat the question. Use this strategy sparingly to avoid appearing unsure.
• Maintain a Natural Pace: Speak at a comfortable pace, pausing as needed to collect your thoughts, similar to how you use punctuation while writing.
• Practice and Record: Choose a cue card topic, speak for 2-3 minutes, and record yourself. Review the recording to identify fillers and work on replacing them with meaningful phrases.
• Edit Redundancy: Avoid redundant or tautological expressions. Use concise sentence and precise language to convey your ideas.