15 Essential Phrasal Verbs for IELTS Speaking Parts 1, 2 & 3
If you want your IELTS Speaking to sound more natural and fluent, phrasal verbs are one of the best tools you can use. Native speakers use them all the time — and when you use them correctly, your English instantly sounds less scripted and more conversational. In this lesson, we’re covering 15 must-know phrasal verbs for the IELTS Speaking test, split into Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Â
Part 1 – personal, everyday topics
Part 1 is all about everyday topics like your hobbies, daily routine, and the people in your life. These five phrasal verbs will help you answer those questions in a much more natural way.
- Be into — to really like something or have it as a hobby.
“I’m really into rock climbing at the moment.” - Keen on — similar to “be into”, great for showing enthusiasm.
“I’ve never really been keen on going to the gym.” - Head out — to leave home and go somewhere.
“I usually head out after work to meet friends.” - Stay in — to remain at home instead of going out.
“During the week, I tend to stay in and relax.” - Get along with — to have a good relationship with someone.
“I get along really well with my colleagues.”
Part 2 – telling stories & describing experiences
In Part 2, you need to tell a story or describe a past experience. These phrasal verbs will help you talk about events, unexpected changes, and how things turned out.
- Call off — to cancel something.
“We had to call the trip off because of the weather.” - Turn up — to arrive, often unexpectedly.
“A few friends turned up and made the night even better.” - Run out of — to have none of something left.
“We ran out of petrol in the middle of nowhere!” - End up — to describe the final result, often a surprise.
“We got lost but ended up finding an amazing café.” - Look forward to — to feel excited about something in the future.
“I’m really looking forward to going back one day.”
Part 3 – abstract ideas & analysis
Part 3 questions are more complex and require you to explain causes, discuss solutions, and give opinions on bigger topics. These phrasal verbs will help you sound analytical and precise.
- Figure out — to understand or find a solution.
“Governments need to figure out ways to reduce pollution.” - Cut down on — to reduce something.
“People should cut down on plastic use to help the environment.” - Stem from — to be caused by something.
“A lot of stress stems from long working hours.” - Boil down to — to simplify to the most important point.
“Success often boils down to hard work and consistency.” - Play a role in — to influence or contribute to something.
“Technology plays a big role in how students learn today.”
Get instant corrections for your answers with my IELTS Speaking Course!
