man sitting on sofa while holding book

Hmmm, I would say…

“I would say” is a great way for candidates to sound more natural and avoid repeating the verb “think” too many times. It can be used to express an opinion about a topic or subject, so is perfect in all parts of the speaking paper.

Practice for part 1 of the speaking paper of the B2 First exam by watching the video below which contains eight common questions that examiners might ask in the exam. In each answer try and use “I would say” rather than “I think”.

It is also very common to use some adverbs to give more information about your opinion:

  • I would probably say (not certain)
  • I would definitely say (certain)

NOTE: I would can also be contracted to I’d, which is common to do when speaking

Practice Questions

Each answer should be around 15 seconds long, and will usually consist of two or three sentences. A timer will appear on the screen indicating how long you should be speaking for. Candidates should practice answering these questions repeatedly until they are confident and comfortable using “I would say” in each answer.

What do you find most difficult about learning English?

What was your favourite subject at school?

Do you spend a lot of time worry about things?

What is the best way to relax when you feel stressed?

How do you usually keep in contact with friends and family?

Is there something new you would like to study in the future?

Would you say you do enough exercise?

Who do you take after in your family?

 

Lesson Details: