Have you ever been in a conversation where someone asked you a question, but your brain just didn’t register it? This can happen in the IELTS Speaking test too! Not because your English is bad, but because sometimes, we just lose focus.
So, what should you do if you don’t understand the examiner’s question? In this post, I’ll share polite and effective ways to ask for a question again without sounding rude or affecting your score. Plus, I’ll explain some key mistakes to avoid when doing this.
Why You Might Not Understand the Question
Even fluent English speakers sometimes don’t catch what others say. In IELTS Speaking, this can happen due to:
- Lack of focus: Your mind drifts, and you miss the question.
- Pronunciation differences: The examiner’s accent might be different from what you’re used to.
- Unfamiliar vocabulary: A word in the question confuses you. (This doesn’t happen so often because most vocabulary in IELTS Speaking questions is common.)
It’s absolutely okay to ask for clarification—but do it wisely!
Warnings Before You Ask Again
Before I share polite ways to ask for the question again, here are some key things to remember:
- Ask only once (or twice at most!)
- If you ask multiple times, it may signal weak vocabulary, grammar, or listening skills.
- If you truly don’t understand after the first repeat, focus hard and ask only one more time.
- Avoid asking too often
- If you repeatedly ask for questions to be repeated, the examiner may assume you struggle with comprehension.
- If you need clarification more than once or twice, it could lower your score.
- Be polite
- Never say, “What?” or “Huh?”—this sounds rude.
- Use polite phrases to ask again.
Now, let’s look at the best ways to ask for a question to be repeated in IELTS Speaking.
Polite Ways to Ask for the Question Again
Here are four effective ways to ask the examiner to repeat the question:
1. “Sorry, I didn’t get that. Could you please repeat it?”
This is my personal favorite! It’s polite, clear, and natural.
2. “Sorry, what was the question again?”
A shorter, more straightforward way to ask.
3. “Is it possible to repeat the question for me, please? I didn’t get it.”
A formal and polite way to ask if you want to sound more professional.
4. “What did you mean by [word] ?”
Use this only if you don’t understand a word in the question. For example:
- “What did you mean by ‘sustainable’?”
- “What did you mean by ‘entrepreneurial’?”
⚠ Warning: Asking for the meaning of a word might slightly affect your score because it signals a vocabulary gap. However, it’s still better than guessing and answering incorrectly.
What Not to Do
❌ Don’t ask too many times – This suggests comprehension issues.
❌ Don’t be rude – Never just say “What?” or “Huh?”
❌ Don’t guess – If you don’t understand a word, ask for clarification instead of making assumptions.
Practice Your Own Way to Ask!
We all speak English differently. The ways I shared are just suggestions. Try writing your own version of how you would ask for the question again. Comment below, and I’ll help you correct any mistakes!
Nothing beats practicing when it comes to exams. Get customized exam-like IELTS Speaking Evaluations to receive your estimated band scores, corrections, and suggestions on how to improve with One-on-one Speaking Evaluations with me.
Also, don’t forget—you can get free IELTS practice tests on Practice9.co. See you there!
Have fun learning! 🚀
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