IELTS & TOEFL - How to give your opinion

Summary

In this lesson, Emma explores effective ways to express opinions for both IELTS and TOEFL exams, as well as everyday communication. She highlights the overuse of 'I think' and introduces varied written and spoken expressions like 'As far as I'm concerned,' 'It seems to me that,' and 'If you ask me.' The video also covers showing contrast with others' opinions using words like 'although' and 'even though,' and emphasizes adding degrees of certainty—ranging from 'somewhat agree' to 'absolutely agree'—to strengthen responses. These strategies help learners sound more natural, confident, and academically sophisticated in both writing and speaking tasks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Overusing 'I think...' is considered basic English and can lower your score in IELTS and TOEFL.
• 😀 Alternative expressions to 'I think...' include formal options like 'As far as I'm concerned,' 'In my opinion,' 'It seems to me that,' 'I would argue that,' and 'From my point of view.'
• 😀 When using expressions that include 'that,' no comma is needed; for others, use a comma before stating your opinion.
• 😀 Conversational expressions for speaking include 'If you ask me,' 'To be honest,' 'Personally speaking,' and 'From what I gather.'
• 😀 Contrasting your opinion with others' opinions using words like 'although' and 'even though' can strengthen your essay or spoken response.
• 😀 Adding a degree of certainty to your opinion improves clarity and persuasiveness: use terms like 'somewhat,' 'partially,' 'I suppose I...' for moderate agreement.
• 😀 Strong agreement can be expressed with words like 'absolutely,' 'totally,' 'strongly,' and 'completely.'
• 😀 Spoken IELTS responses should use natural, everyday language rather than overly formal or academic phrases.
• 😀 Written IELTS and TOEFL responses can use more formal expressions but should avoid repetitive or basic phrases.
• 😀 Using varied opinion expressions and degrees of agreement can significantly improve your marks and communication effectiveness in both writing and speaking sections.

Q & A

Why is overusing 'I think...' discouraged in IELTS and TOEFL writing?

Overusing 'I think...' is considered basic English usage and can lower your mark because it shows limited vocabulary. Using varied expressions demonstrates stronger language skills.

What are some formal expressions to give opinions in writing?

Formal expressions include: 'As far as I’m concerned,', 'In my opinion,', 'It seems to me that…', 'I would argue that…', 'From my point of view,', and 'I am inclined to believe that…'.

When using expressions with 'that', do you need a comma?

No, expressions that include 'that', such as 'It seems to me that...' or 'I would argue that...', do not require a comma before 'that'.

What are some spoken expressions suitable for IELTS speaking?

Spoken expressions include: 'If you ask me,', 'To be honest,', 'Personally speaking,', and 'From what I gather,'. These are more casual and natural for conversation.

How can contrasting your opinion with others help improve your IELTS or TOEFL score?

Showing contrast demonstrates critical thinking and language variety. Using words like 'although' or 'even though' before stating your opinion highlights the ability to consider multiple perspectives.

What phrases indicate partial agreement with a statement?

Phrases indicating partial agreement include: 'I somewhat agree', 'I partially agree', and 'I suppose I agree'. These show a moderate level of certainty.

Which expressions convey strong agreement?

Expressions for strong agreement include: 'I am confident that…', 'I absolutely agree', 'I totally agree', 'I strongly agree', and 'I completely agree'. They indicate certainty and conviction.

How should punctuation be handled when using opinion expressions?

Use a comma after expressions that do not include 'that' (e.g., 'As far as I’m concerned,'). Do not use a comma before 'that' in expressions that include it (e.g., 'It seems to me that…').

Why is it important to vary opinion expressions in exams?

Varying expressions demonstrates a wider range of vocabulary and language ability, making your writing and speaking more sophisticated and helping achieve higher marks.

Can casual expressions like 'absolutely' and 'totally' be used in academic writing?

No, these casual terms are better suited for spoken language. In formal writing, use expressions like 'strongly agree' or 'confident that' instead.

How can adding a degree of certainty to your opinion benefit your response?

Adding a degree of certainty clarifies how strongly you feel about a statement, providing nuance to your answer and demonstrating better critical thinking in both writing and speaking.