tefliz.com One effective strategy to impress the examiner in the IELTS Speaking Exam is to incorporate phrasal verbs into your responses. Phrasal verbs can add a layer of fluency and naturalness to your speech, which is highly valued in these exams.
To help you excel, here’s a curated list of 10 phrasal verbs that you can seamlessly integrate into your responses about work or studies. These verbs are not only common in everyday English but also versatile enough to be used in various contexts for talking about other topics. We’ve organized them into a table with their meanings and example sentences to help you understand and remember them better.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Kick off | To begin or start | We will kick off the project with a team meeting on Monday. |
| Fall behind | To fail to keep pace with | I try not to fall behind with my assignments during the semester. |
| Catch up | To reach the same level or standard | After being ill for so long, she had to catch up on all her missed lectures. |
| Branch out | To expand or diversify | Our company is planning to branch out into new markets next year. |
| Wrap up | To complete or finish something | Let’s wrap up this meeting so we can start our lunch break. |
| Burn out | To become extremely tired or sick by working hard for a long time | She was burning out after studying 10 hours a day for several weeks. |
| Look into | To investigate or research | Our team is looking into new approaches to improve efficiency. |
| Run through | To explain or describe something to someone to make sure it is correct or acceptable | Can I run through my assignment with you before the lecture?” |
| Weigh in on | To give an opinion about something | I’d like everyone to weigh in on this decision before we finalize it. |
| Step up | To take action when there is a need or opportunity for it | With the upcoming project deadline, the team manager encouraged everyone to step up their efforts to ensure timely and successful completion |
Practice, Practice, Practice
Remember, practice is the key to using these phrasal verbs effectively in your IELTS speaking test. Try incorporating them into your daily conversations, or use them when practising your responses to potential exam questions. This will boost your vocabulary and demonstrate your proficiency in using English naturally and fluently.
Embrace these phrases, practice regularly, and watch your confidence and competence in the English language soar.
