IELTS Speaking: Talk about change? Use 'IF' or 'WISH ONLY' - tips to score in IELTS Speaking

IELTS Speaking tips is something that most students look out for. Not only will these speaking tips help them perform much better in IELTS Speaking, but will also give students the extra confidence to speak English.

Here are certain top IELTS Speaking tips, which will take you way ahead of others!

To talk about something that you would like to change is one of the most commonly asked questions in an IELTS speaking sub-test. Thus learning to answer them is good, but beautifying your answers with the right phrases and words would be great ! 

With these IELTS Speaking tips, find out about two words that can be a life-saver when it comes to questions like "Is there anything that you would like to change in your hometown?".

Top tips in IELTS Speaking to talk about change:

Let's have a look at a question:

       ◘   Q: " Would you like to better anything in your area?"

Now you can answer this in many ways in your IELTS Speaking, but I can assure you, the best scores would be for the type of answers given below.

• Yes, If only there were more busses, we could have made it to places on time.
• Yes, I wish there were more busses, we could have made it to places on time.

They sound better and more advanced which will bring in points for the usage as well every time your perform in your IELTS Speaking.

The Explanation

We use wish and if only to talk about things that we would like to be different in either the present or the past. If only is usually a bit stronger than wish. Hence use it only when you have to express a strong desire for something.

We use these words with two tenses only; Past tense and Present tense.

• Present tense: We can use wish/if only + a past form to talk about something that we want to be different.

○ I wish you didn't live so far away.
○ If only we knew what to do.
○ He wishes he could afford a holiday.

• Past tense: We can use wish/if only + a past perfect form to talk about something we would like to change about the past. 

• They wish they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. 
• They're feeling very sick now.
• If only I'd studied harder when I was at school. 

It can also be used in a special way to express your views about something that annoys you.

We can use wish + would(n't) to show that we are annoyed with what someone or something does or doesn't do. We often feel that they are unlikely or unwilling to change. 

               ○ I wish he wouldn't borrow my car without asking first.

              ○ She wishes he'd work less. They never spend any time together. 

Here, pitch modulation is very important thus, stress and raise your pitch when necessary to convey the right tone. Only then the meaning can easily be conveyed in your IELTS Speaking.

Now it's time to put your newly acquired skills to the test. Pull out an IELTS speaking test and try them out.

Happy scoring!