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"Linking Words for IELTS Speaking That Do Not Sound Robotic"

IELTS Speaking29 August 2026 · 7 min read · WiderAI Team

The best linking words for IELTS Speaking are the short, conversational ones: so, because, but, actually, for example, on the other hand, that's why. The worst are the essay connectors many candidates memorise from writing lists: furthermore, moreover, in addition, firstly/secondly/thirdly, in conclusion. Spoken English and written English link ideas differently, and examiners hear the difference immediately.

This surprises a lot of candidates, because coherence is one of the scored criteria and linking words are the most visible coherence tool. But the criterion rewards appropriate use of connectives — and in speech, "appropriate" means the words a fluent speaker would actually say in conversation. A candidate who says "Moreover, my hometown boasts numerous recreational facilities" sounds like they are reading an essay aloud. That does not raise the coherence score; it signals memorised, register-blind language, which works against both coherence and vocabulary.

So the strategy is straightforward: build a small set of natural spoken connectors, spread them across the jobs they do (adding, contrasting, giving reasons, giving examples, sequencing), and stop reaching for essay language. Here is exactly which words to use and how.

Why do formal linking words hurt your speaking score?

Three reasons, all of which examiners are listening for.

Register mismatch. Words like furthermore and moreover belong to formal writing. Using them in a chat about your weekend shows you have learned words without learning where they live. Vocabulary in IELTS is judged partly on appropriateness, so a formal connector in casual speech is not a bonus point — it is a small error.

Memorisation signal. Essay connectors delivered in speech usually arrive in suspiciously complete packages ("First and foremost... In addition to that... Last but not least..."). Examiners recognise this as a rehearsed frame bolted onto the answer, which undermines the impression of spontaneous language — the very thing the test measures.

Overuse breaks flow. Candidates who have been told "use linking words for coherence" tend to start every sentence with a connector. Natural speech does not work that way; many sentences connect through meaning alone. A connector on every sentence makes speech sound mechanical even when each individual word is fine.

Which linking words sound natural in IELTS Speaking?

Organise them by job, not by list position. You need two or three per job, used flexibly.

Giving reasons and results

• "because" and "since" — still the best reason-givers in the language
• "so" — the everyday result word: "It rains a lot there, so most people drive."
• "that's why" — "I grew up near the sea. That's why I find cities a bit suffocating."

Adding and building

• "and", "also", "as well" — invisible, which is exactly what you want
• "on top of that" — the spoken cousin of "in addition"
• "another thing is..." — perfect for Part 3 when a second point occurs to you

Contrasting

• "but" — never apologise for it; it is the most natural contrast word in speech
• "though" at the end of a sentence — "It's expensive, though." This is a genuinely native pattern that few candidates use.
• "on the other hand" and "having said that" — both fine in speech, especially when weighing two sides in Part 3
• "whereas" — good for direct comparisons: "My parents shop in markets, whereas I order everything online."

Giving examples

• "for example" and "for instance" — both natural in speech
• "like" — "Some sports, like boxing, are hard to watch." Perfectly acceptable spoken English used this way.
• "say" — "If you visit somewhere quieter, say a mountain village..."

Sequencing a story (Part 2)

Skip firstly/secondly. Stories run on time words: "at first", "then", "after that", "eventually", "in the end", "the moment I arrived". These do more for Part 2 coherence than any formal connector, because a story sequenced in time is automatically easy to follow.

Managing your own answer

A few phrases signal the shape of your thinking, which is high-value coherence in Part 3: "I suppose it depends on...", "the way I see it...", "to give you an idea...", "going back to what I said about...". These show the examiner a speaker steering a conversation, not delivering fragments.

How many linking words should you actually use?

Fewer than you think. As a working rule, roughly one explicit connector every one or two sentences is the density of natural speech. Coherence comes mostly from elsewhere: answering the actual question first, then extending with a reason or example; keeping one idea per sentence; and using pronouns properly so sentences chain together ("My brother taught me to drive. He was patient about it, which surprised everyone.").

A useful mental model: linking words are signposts, not scaffolding. A well-organised answer needs only a few signs; a disorganised answer cannot be rescued by any number of them. If your ideas are in a sensible order, "so", "but" and "for example" will carry you to a high coherence score. If they are not, "furthermore" certainly will not.

It also matters where the connector sits. Spoken English happily links in mid-sentence ("It's cheaper, but the quality suffers") rather than always fronting the connector. Varying the position is itself a mark of flexible, natural language.

How do you practise linking words until they are automatic?

Knowing this list changes nothing on test day unless the words come out without thought. Three drills fix that.

1. One-job focus. Take a Part 1 topic and answer five questions using only contrast connectors naturally where they fit. Next session, reasons. Isolating one job at a time builds retrieval speed far faster than trying to use everything at once.
2. The "because... so..." extension habit. Whatever the question, train yourself to extend every short answer once with a reason or consequence. "Do you like cooking?" → "Not really, because I get home late — so I mostly cook at weekends." This single habit installs the two most valuable connectors permanently.
3. Test under pressure and review. Connectors that survive exam pressure are the only ones that count. Take a timed IELTS speaking mock test and check the feedback on your Fluency and Coherence: if your answers are being scored as under-extended or hard to follow, the fix is usually more reasons and examples — not more connectors.

If you want to see exactly how cohesion is described at each band, read the speaking band descriptors explained — the short version is that higher bands reward connectives used flexibly and appropriately, and lower-middle bands are characterised by a narrow set of connectors used repetitively. Both halves of that matter: variety, and restraint.