Stop Using Filler Words in IELTS Speaking (They’re Not Helping You 😬)

I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this… Whoever told you to use more filler words in IELTS Speaking was lying.

And not just a little white lie — they were ruining your score. That person should be put in IELTS jail. With no parole. 🚔

My First IELTS Experience 😅

Let me take you back to my very first IELTS attempt — over 12 years ago. I didn’t prepare, didn’t practice, and I had no clue what I was doing.

After that attempt, I started studying with a girl who was also preparing for the exam. Her English? Way better than mine. She spoke with confidence, clarity, and guess what?

She never used filler words. Not even once.

If she didn’t know what to say, she simply paused for a second and then kept going. And it worked.

Back then, we didn’t have YouTube channels, online IELTS tutors, or all the resources you have now. So naturally, I listened to what most people said at the time — “Use filler words to sound fluent.” 🙄

Now I know how wrong that advice was. But I didn’t know any better then.

What My Study Partner Taught Me 🧠

Here’s what she told me and I’m passing it on to you now:

💡 Filler words don’t help your IELTS Speaking score. At all.

In fact, they do the opposite.

Let’s break it down:

❌ Problem #1: Filler words don’t mean anything

Words like “uh,” “you know,” “like,” “um,” are just… noise. They don’t add value to your answer, and the examiner knows it.

❌ Problem #2: They mess with your brain

Personally, I forget what I was saying the moment I say “umm.” Filler words steal your brainpower and make it easier to lose your train of thought.

So even if your goal is to sound fluent, filler words are not the way. What helps more is pausing naturally — it gives your brain a second to think, and your answer will sound clearer and more confident.