What Band 7 looks like
Speaks at length with only occasional hesitation — does not rely on filler words to fill time
Uses a range of complex sentence structures naturally, not just simple sentences
Uses topic-specific vocabulary and collocations precisely
Pronunciation is consistently clear — connected speech features emerge naturally
In Part 3, develops abstract ideas with reasons, examples, and counterarguments
Band 6 habits to break
Overusing "I think", "In my opinion" repeatedly
Giving short answers without developing ideas
Using only basic vocabulary (good, bad, big, important)
Pausing with "um", "uh", "like" between thoughts
Sticking to simple sentences under pressure
Repeating the same grammar structure throughout
Band 7 habits to build
Vary your openers: "What strikes me is...", "It's worth noting that..."
Always expand: Point → Reason → Example → Reflection
Use precise collocations: "deeply concerned", "raises serious questions"
Pause silently rather than filling with fillers
Use conditionals, relatives, passives naturally
Acknowledge complexity: "That's a nuanced issue because..."
Useful phrases for Part 3 — Abstract Discussion
That's a complex issue...
It depends to a large extent on...
There's a strong case for...
On the other hand...
What concerns me most is...
It's worth distinguishing between...
The evidence suggests that...
In the long run...
That raises an interesting point about...
I'd argue that...
To a certain extent...
The implications of this are...
Part 2 — Speaking at length
The reason this stands out is...
What made it particularly special was...
Looking back, I think...
It had a real impact on me because...
One thing I remember vividly is...
I should also mention that...