5 Ways to Express Opinions Clearly and Confidently in the ISLPR Speaking Test

Articulating your opinions with clarity and confidence can transform your performance in the ISLPR Speaking Test. Examiners assess not only your language accuracy but also your ability to present well-structured viewpoints, back them up with relevant examples, and adapt your style to different prompts.

Whether you are asked to discuss education policy, reflect on personal experiences or analyse social issues, mastering these strategies will help you deliver strong, persuasive responses. Here are five practical methods to ensure your opinions shine in the ISLPR Speaking Test.

1. Begin with Signpost Phrases to Frame Your Viewpoint

Signpost phrases guide your listener through your response and show that you are organised. Start by introducing your opinion with expressions such as In my view, I believe that or From my perspective. These cues signal that what follows is your considered stance on the issue.

Use sequencing phrases to present your supporting reasons: firstly for your initial point, and then use furthermore or in addition to add evidence. If you wish to acknowledge a contrasting idea, introduce it with however or on the other hand. When drawing your argument to a close, phrases such as in conclusion, overall or to sum up are effective.

Example of signposting in action:
In my view, introducing a balanced approach to homework can improve learning outcomes. Firstly, it encourages students to develop time management skills. Furthermore, it allows teachers to assess individual progress outside the classroom.

However, it is important to ensure the workload remains reasonable. In conclusion, a moderate amount of homework offers both academic and personal development benefits.

Using signpost phrases helps the examiner follow your reasoning and demonstrates that you can structure your response logically.

2. Support Your Statements with Specific Examples

An opinion on its own can sound unsupported and abstract. To make your argument persuasive, you must back it up with concrete examples drawn from experience, observation or general knowledge. Linking your opinion to real-world situations shows you can apply language to contexts beyond the classroom.

Introduce your illustration with a phrase such as for instance or for example. Choose one or two well-chosen examples rather than overwhelming your response with multiple anecdotes. Keep your examples brief and directly relevant to your point.

Example of using specific examples:
I believe flexible working hours increase employee satisfaction because they allow people to balance work and personal commitments. For instance, at my previous job I was able to adjust my start time, which meant I could drop my children at school without stress. This flexibility improved my focus at work and reduced absenteeism.

By anchoring your viewpoints in specific instances, you make your argument more vivid and memorable, which reflects positively on your fluency and coherence.

3. Strike the Right Balance between Certainty and Caution

You must sound confident in your opinions, but absolute statements can come across as rigid or insensitive to alternative perspectives. Using hedging language allows you to present a balanced view and demonstrates critical thinking. Hedging also prevents you from committing to statements that may be factually incorrect.

Incorporate modal verbs such as might, could or may to suggest that your viewpoint is one of several valid interpretations. Qualifying adverbs like generally, often or in many cases add nuance without undermining your authority. Phrases such as it seems that or I tend to think soften strong assertions.

Example of hedging appropriately:
I tend to think that community service can foster social responsibility. It often provides young people with real insights into local issues. However, some participants may not engage fully if they do not see the relevance to their own lives.

By using hedging, you show the examiner that you can avoid over-generalisation and respect the complexity of real-world matters.

4. Use Varied Intonation and Stress to Emphasise Your Key Points

The way you speak is as important as what you say. A monotone delivery can make even the strongest arguments sound flat. By varying your intonation and stressing key words, you draw the examiner’s attention to the most significant parts of your response.

Place stress on important words in a sentence to highlight your main ideas. For example, emphasise renewable energy in the sentence “I support renewable energy because it reduces carbon emissions.” Use rising intonation when you pose a rhetorical question or list items, and falling intonation to signal the end of a thought or conclusion.

Brief pauses before introducing a new point or between your reasons give your listener time to absorb your ideas and help you maintain a steady pace.

Example of effective intonation and stress:
What are the benefits of remote learning? It offers greater flexibility, greater accessibility to diverse resources and improved self-paced study opportunities.

These techniques keep your speech dynamic and engaging.

5. Practise with a Range of Topics and Timed Drills

Confidence grows through practice and exposure to a wide variety of subjects. The more topics you rehearse, the better prepared you will be for unpredictable prompts on exam day. Create a set of topic cards covering areas such as education, health, technology, environment and culture. For each card, spend one minute organising your thoughts and two minutes speaking continuously on the topic.

Recording these practice sessions and reviewing them critically is invaluable. Listen for your use of signpost phrases, the relevance of your examples, the balance in your hedging and the effectiveness of your intonation. Identify filler words such as um, ah or you know and work to minimise them in subsequent attempts.

Another effective method is shadowing model responses. Find sample ISLPR speaking answers or high-scoring band descriptors online. Listen to a strong response and immediately repeat it, focusing on copying the structure, vocabulary and pronunciation exactly. This helps embed effective patterns of language and delivery.

Practising under exam conditions with a partner or tutor is also beneficial. One person acts as the examiner by posing questions, while the other responds. Rotate roles so you also gain insight into how questions are framed. This collaborative simulation replicates the pressure of the real test and helps you adapt your responses to follow-up questions.

Bringing It All Together

By combining clear signposts, specific examples, balanced hedging, varied intonation and regular practice across diverse topics, you will develop the skills needed to express opinions clearly and confidently in the ISLPR Speaking Test.

On exam day, start each response with a framing phrase, sequence your points with signposting language, support them with relevant examples, soften your claims where appropriate and deliver your ideas with dynamic speech.

With these five strategies in your toolkit, you will engage your examiner with well-structured, persuasive answers and achieve the results you aim for. Best of luck with your preparation and your forthcoming ISLPR Speaking Test!