The IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. For many students, this can feel nerve-wracking. The pressure to speak fluently often leads to the frequent use of fillers—words like um, uh, you know, like, actually, basically.
Here’s the problem: while fillers are natural in everyday English, overusing them lowers your fluency score in IELTS. Examiners want smooth, confident speech, not hesitation or repeated filler phrases.
But don’t worry. In this guide, you’ll learn:
👉 By the end, you’ll know exactly how to sound fluent and confident without relying on fillers.
The Speaking test lasts 11–14 minutes and is divided into three parts:
Examiners score you on:
Fillers are sounds, words, or short phrases we use to fill pauses while thinking. Examples:
Native speakers also use fillers, but in IELTS, examiners distinguish between natural pauses and excessive hesitation.
Overusing um and you know makes you sound unsure. Examiners reduce fluency marks if your answers feel interrupted.
Fillers disrupt sentence flow. IELTS wants connected speech, not broken phrases.
If you constantly say basically or actually, examiners assume you lack a wide range of vocabulary.
💡 According to IELTS Band Descriptors:
Here’s a list of filler words/phrases you should minimize:
👉 Using them once or twice is fine. Repeating them every sentence = Band drop.
Instead of fillers, use smart strategies that make you sound fluent and confident.
A short pause is better than saying “umm.” Examiners prefer natural thinking breaks.
Example:
❌ “Umm… I like, you know, playing cricket.”
✅ “I like playing cricket. [pause] It helps me relax after studying.”
Use connectors to organize thoughts instead of fillers.
If you need time, rephrase the question.
Q: “What’s your favorite subject?”
❌ “Umm… you know… like…”
✅ “That’s an interesting question. I’d say my favorite subject is English because…”
Instead of uh, use phrases that buy time but still sound fluent:
Memorize a few natural openers:
These sound confident and prevent hesitation.
❌ With Fillers:
“Umm… yeah, I mean, actually, you know, I like reading, like, novels sometimes.”
✅ Without Fillers:
“Yes, I enjoy reading novels. They allow me to escape reality and explore different cultures. For example, I recently read a book about Japanese traditions, and it was fascinating.”
❌ With Fillers:
“Uhh… so yeah, I, like, helped my friend, umm… you know, with his homework. Basically, he was struggling, and I… actually, I mean, I taught him maths.”
✅ Without Fillers:
“A time I helped someone was when my friend was struggling with mathematics. He couldn’t understand algebra, so I explained the concepts step by step. I also gave him some examples from real life, like calculating discounts during shopping. In the end, he improved his grades, and I felt proud to support him.”
“Last year, I traveled from Gujarat to Himachal Pradesh with my college friends. The journey was special because it was my first time seeing snow. We traveled by train for almost 30 hours, which was exhausting but fun since we played games and shared stories. When we reached Manali, the scenery was breathtaking—snow-covered mountains and pine trees everywhere.
What I enjoyed most was trying skiing for the first time. I was nervous, but after some practice, I managed to slide down a small slope. It was thrilling. Apart from adventure, I also appreciated the peaceful environment, which was very different from my busy city life.
Overall, the trip created unforgettable memories, and it made me realize how travel brings both adventure and relaxation.”
Listen back. Count how many fillers you use. Aim to reduce each time.
Use “That’s a good question” instead of “uhhh.”
More vocabulary = fewer fillers. Practice synonyms daily.
Practice under real exam conditions with a partner or coach.
Overuse fillers in IELTS Speaking makes you sound hesitant, less fluent, and less confident. By replacing fillers with natural pauses, linking phrases, and paraphrasing techniques, you can sound like a confident Band 7+ speaker.
👉 At AEOC, our IELTS Coaching in Nadiad, Anand, and Vallabh Vidyanagar provides personalized speaking practice, AI-powered feedback, and Band 7+ strategies so you can perform with confidence in front of examiners.
📞 Book your free demo class today and start speaking fluently—without fillers.
Yes. Occasional fillers are natural. Overuse = problem.
Yes, but in IELTS, fluency = smooth + minimal hesitation.
Silence is better. A 1–2 second pause is natural.
Yes, as long as they sound natural (e.g., That’s an interesting question…).
Heavy fillers = Band 5–6 for fluency. Controlled pauses = Band 7+.
