Speaking: Expand & Build Your Answer — English for IELTS

Once you have opened with a Stall and committed to a position, the next job is to fill the body of your answer. This is where most marks are won or lost. Step 3 helps you expand your initial point, and Step 4 helps you build it into something richer and more convincing.

Step 3 — Expand

Do not jump straight into adding more — first expand your opening statement. The tool you pick depends on the question type.

Why? — Give a reason

Use when the question asks why something happens or why you think something.

Phrase	Example
The reason is…	People prefer online shopping. The reason is that it saves both time and money.
I think this is because…	Young people feel stressed. I think this is because they face pressure from school, family, and social media all at once.
This is mainly due to…	The air quality is getting worse. This is mainly due to the rapid growth of factories and vehicles in urban areas.
This is mainly caused by…	Poor mental health among teenagers is mainly caused by excessive screen time and social comparison.
That's why…	Children today spend less time outdoors. That's why obesity rates among young people have increased so dramatically.

What? — Clarify or describe

Use when the question asks what something is like, or when you want to make your point clearer.

Phrase	Example
To be more specific…	Young people spend too much time online. To be more specific, most of them scroll social media for over four hours a day.
What I mean is…	Technology is not the problem. What I mean is, it is how we use it that really matters.
To put it simply…	The economy is struggling. To put it simply, people have less money to spend than before.
In other words…	The policy failed completely. In other words, the government wasted millions of dollars on something that did not work.
I mean…	I love big cities. I mean, the job opportunities there are just unmatched anywhere else.
As you can see…	Both options have clear drawbacks. As you can see, there is no perfect solution here.

When? — Add time context

Use when you want to show how something has changed over time, or anchor your point in a specific period.

Past

Phrase	Example
Back then…	Life was much simpler. Back then, people spent evenings talking with family instead of staring at screens.
In the past…	In the past, finding information meant going to the library. Now everything is a Google search away.
Looking back…	Looking back, I think I spent too much time worrying about things that did not really matter.
When I was a child…	When I was a child, we played outside every afternoon. Kids today rarely do that anymore.
A few years ago…	A few years ago, working from home was considered unusual. Now it is completely normal.
If I remember correctly…	If I remember correctly, the internet only became widely available here in the early 2000s.

Present

Phrase	Example
Nowadays…	Nowadays, almost everyone owns a smartphone, even young children.
These days…	These days, people are much more aware of environmental issues than before.
At the moment…	At the moment, I am focusing on improving my speaking fluency.
Currently…	Currently, many companies are shifting toward fully remote work models.
Recently…	Recently, I started exercising every morning and it has made a huge difference.

Future

Phrase	Example
In the future…	In the future, I think AI will replace many jobs that exist today.
In the long run…	Healthy habits are hard to build. But in the long run, they are absolutely worth the effort.
Eventually…	Eventually, I would love to start my own business and work for myself.
Sooner or later…	Sooner or later, every country will have to take climate change more seriously.
Going forward…	Going forward, companies need to invest much more in employee wellbeing.

How? — Add detail or comparison

Use when the question asks how something works, or when you want to compare two things.

Introducing the topic

Phrase	Example
When it comes to…	When it comes to education, I believe quality matters far more than quantity.
In terms of…	In terms of cost, public transport is far more affordable than owning a car.
Regarding…	Regarding health, diet and exercise are equally important.
As for…	As for me, I prefer working in a quiet environment rather than a busy open office.
Talking about…	Talking about travel, I think experiencing different cultures changes your perspective completely.

Making the comparison

Phrase	Example
Compared to…	Compared to ten years ago, people today are much more health-conscious.
While / Whereas…	I enjoy city life. Whereas my parents prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside.
Unlike…	Unlike my generation, younger kids today have grown up entirely surrounded by technology.
Similarly…	Dogs make great companions. Similarly, cats can provide real comfort and reduce stress for their owners.
In contrast…	Older people tend to save carefully. In contrast, younger generations are more likely to spend on travel and experiences.
By comparison…	Vietnam's cost of living is quite low. By comparison, Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Step 4 — Build

Now that you have expanded your point, push it further. Add more weight, draw attention to the key idea, and back it up with a concrete example.

Adding — push your point further

Phrase	Example
Furthermore…	Public transport reduces traffic. Furthermore, it also cuts down on pollution significantly.
Moreover…	Young people are more tech-savvy today. Moreover, they are also more environmentally aware than previous generations.
In addition…	Many companies now offer flexible hours. In addition, remote work has become a standard option for most office jobs.
On top of that…	The government cut education funding. On top of that, teacher salaries have not increased in years.
Not only that…	Social media affects mental health. Not only that, but it also shortens our attention span over time.
What's more…	Pollution levels in cities are rising. What's more, studies show the trend is still accelerating.
As well as that…	Exercise improves your physical health. As well as that, it has a strong positive effect on your mental wellbeing.

Highlight — tell the examiner what really matters

Phrase	Example
Especially…	I enjoy outdoor activities. Especially hiking — it really clears my mind.
In particular…	Young people face many challenges. In particular, the pressure to succeed academically is overwhelming.
Above all…	A good leader needs many qualities. Above all, they must be honest and trustworthy.
Most importantly…	We need to protect the environment. Most importantly, we need to act now before it is too late.
What really stands out is…	I have visited many countries. What really stands out is how friendly the people in Japan were.
What I find most striking is…	Technology has changed our lives. What I find most striking is how dependent we have become on our phones.
The main thing is…	There are many ways to learn English. The main thing is that you practise consistently every single day.

Example — make it concrete

Phrase	Example
For example…	Technology has changed how we communicate. For example, I can video call my family overseas in seconds.
For instance…	Many jobs now require digital skills. For instance, even farmers use apps to manage their crops these days.
Take… for example…	Many small businesses have gone online. Take local coffee shops for example — most of them now have delivery apps.
A good example of this is…	Exercise improves mental health. A good example of this is how a short walk can immediately lift your mood.
To give you an example…	People adapt quickly to new technology. To give you an example, my grandmother learned to use a smartphone within a week.
To illustrate this…	Cities are becoming more crowded. To illustrate this, the population of Ho Chi Minh City has doubled in just two decades.
Such as…	I enjoy creative hobbies such as painting, writing, and playing the guitar.

Effect — show the impact of something

Positive

Phrase	Example
S + helps + object + to V	Regular exercise helps people to manage stress and sleep better at night.
S + enables + object + to V	Scholarships enable talented students to pursue higher education regardless of their background.
S + allows + object + to V	Flexible working hours allow employees to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively.
S + promotes + noun	Reading regularly promotes creativity and improves vocabulary naturally over time.

Neutral

Phrase	Example
S + affects + object	Social media affects the way people form and maintain relationships.
S + influences + object	Advertising heavily influences what people choose to buy, often without them realising it.
S + tends to + V	Working long hours tends to create a cycle of stress and declining productivity.
S + plays a role in + noun	Genetics plays a major role in determining a person's health and personality.

Negative

Phrase	Example
S + leads to + noun	Lack of sleep leads to poor concentration, irritability, and long-term health problems.
S + results in + noun	Deforestation results in the loss of biodiversity and contributes directly to climate change.
S + makes + object + adj	Constant social media use makes people feel more anxious and dissatisfied with their own lives.
S + prevents + object + from + V-ing	Poverty prevents millions of children from accessing proper education and healthcare.

Quick sample

Q: Why do so many young people move to big cities?

A: I think this is because cities offer far more job opportunities than rural areas. To be more specific, most large companies, universities, and creative industries are concentrated in urban centres. Furthermore, social life is much richer in cities. For example, a young graduate in a small town may have very few networking opportunities, whereas someone in Ho Chi Minh City can attend industry events every single week. What really stands out is how much faster you can grow — both professionally and personally — when you are surrounded by that kind of energy.

Pratice

1. Do you work or study? Well… I am currently a student.

_______________________________________________

2. Do you enjoy your work / studies? Hmm… I prefer work over studying. _______________________________________________

3. What would you like to do in the future? That's a tricky one… I would love to work in technology. _______________________________________________

4. Is it difficult to find a good job in your country? Well… I strongly believe it is quite difficult. _______________________________________________

5. Where are you from? Well… I am from Ho Chi Minh City. _______________________________________________

6. Do you like your hometown? Hmm… To be honest, I really do love it. _______________________________________________

7. What do you like most about where you live? That's interesting… From my perspective, the food scene is unbeatable. _______________________________________________

8. Would you like to live somewhere else in the future? Let me see… I would say it depends on the opportunity. _______________________________________________

9. What do you usually do in your free time? Well… Personally, I spend most of my time reading and learning online. _______________________________________________

10. Do you prefer spending time indoors or outdoors? Hmm… I tend to prefer indoors. _______________________________________________

11. Are you a morning person or a night person? That's a tricky one… I would say I am more of a night person. _______________________________________________

12. How do you usually spend your weekends? Well… Personally, I like to keep weekends fairly low-key. _______________________________________________

13. What is your favourite food? Hmm… Without a doubt, it has to be Vietnamese street food. _______________________________________________

14. Do you enjoy cooking? Give me a second… Not really, to be honest. _______________________________________________

15. Do you prefer eating at home or at a restaurant? Well… I would say it depends on the day. _______________________________________________

16. How often do you use the internet? Hmm… To be honest, I use it almost constantly. _______________________________________________

17. Do you think social media is good or bad? That's a tricky one… I have mixed feelings about that. _______________________________________________

18. Do you prefer calling or messaging people? Well… I tend to prefer messaging over calling. _______________________________________________

19. Do you enjoy travelling? Hmm… Absolutely — I love experiencing new places. _______________________________________________

20. What is your favourite way to travel? Let me see… If you ask me, I prefer travelling by plane. _______________________________________________