Phrases aren’t a script — they’re handrails. Learn a few in each category so they come out naturally under pressure. Use them to sound like yourself, only clearer.
Giving your view
- “The way I see it…”
- “I’d argue that…”
- “For me, the main point is…”
Agreeing and building
- “I agree with that, and I’d add…”
- “That’s a good point — it also means…”
- “Building on what you said…”
Disagreeing gracefully
- “I see it slightly differently, because…”
- “I take your point, but…”
- “I’m not so sure — one issue is…”
Bringing others in
- “What do you think, [name]?”
- “Shall we hear another view?”
- “Does everyone agree with that?”
Buying a moment to think
- “That’s an interesting question…”
- “Let me think about that for a second…”
- “There are two sides to this…”
Giving examples and concluding
- “For example…” / “A good case of this is…”
- “So, overall…” / “To sum up, my view is…”
A word of caution: a phrase used mechanically sounds worse than plain speech. Practise them out loud until they feel like yours.
Put them to work with the Part A group interaction and Part B breakdowns, and see them in worked sample answers. Full context: the complete Paper 4 guide.
Start free: Practise these with a partner that talks back — take the 15-minute placement.
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