Most Band 6 students overuse idioms and phrasal verbs because they think it impresses the examiner. In reality, forced idioms bleed marks — nothing shows memorisation faster than a shoehorned expression. The examiner wants natural, flexible language, not a list of phrases you copied from a website.
Why forced idioms drop your score
IELTS Speaking rewards natural use of language, not memorised chunks. When you say 'it was raining cats and dogs' in a context where you'd never use it in real life, examiners mark you down for lack of spontaneity. Overusing idioms or using them incorrectly signals Band 6 — not Band 7. The examiner listens for language you could use in a real conversation, not a performance.
What examiners really want
Examiners award Band 7 for flexibility and appropriacy — your ability to choose the right phrase for the right moment. That means using phrasal verbs and idioms you actually use in your daily English. For example, 'I grew up in Hanoi' or 'I get along well with my colleagues' are natural, high-frequency phrasal verbs. The key is control, not quantity.
Band 6.0
I want to talk about my hometown. It is my cup of tea. I was over the moon to live there. It is raining cats and dogs sometimes.
Band 7+
I want to talk about my hometown. I’ve always felt at home there, and I love how lively the city feels after a summer rain.
The 'Three-Fit' framework for using idioms and phrasal verbs
Use the Three-Fit framework for every idiom or phrasal verb: (1) Does it fit the question? (2) Does it fit your real voice? (3) Does it fit the grammar and context? If any answer is no, skip it. This habit protects you from the most common Band 6.5 mistake: using language you don’t control.
- Fit the question: Is the idiom or phrasal verb relevant to what you’re being asked?
- Fit your voice: Would you use this phrase in a conversation with a friend?
- Fit the grammar: Are you using the idiom or phrasal verb correctly in the sentence?
Question: Describe a time you helped someone. Band 7: I lent my friend a hand when she was moving house last year. We packed up her things and loaded everything into the van together.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Spot the natural idiom
- 1
Which answer uses an idiom naturally for the question: 'Describe a time you were surprised'?
Pick one. You'll see why straight away.
- 2
True or False: You must use at least three idioms per Speaking Part to get Band 7.
Pick one. You'll see why straight away.