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If you want to get a Band 7 or higher in IELTS Speaking, using phrasal verbs naturally is a smart move.
They make your English sound fluent, natural, and modern, showing examiners that you can communicate like a real English speaker — not like a textbook.
Here are 10 phrasal verbs that can transform how you speak in IELTS — plus examples for each part of the test.
Table of Contents
Brush up on (something)
Meaning: Review or improve your knowledge or skills.
I need to brush up on my English before my exam.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 1 – Learning: “Recently I’ve been brushing up on my photography skills.”
- Part 2 – Describing a learning experience: “Before the trip, I brushed up on my Japanese.”
Come across as (something)
Meaning: Appear or seem to others in a particular way.
She comes across as really confident in meetings.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 2 – Describe a person: “He comes across as confident but is actually quite shy.”
- Part 3 – Personality or leadership: “Leaders should come across as approachable.”
Get around to (doing something)
Look down on (someone)
Meaning: Think you’re better than someone else.
Some people look down on others who do manual work.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 3 – Social attitudes: “In some societies, people look down on certain jobs, but I think every job has value.”
Put up with (something or someone)
Meaning: Tolerate something unpleasant.
I can’t put up with this noise anymore!
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 2 – Describing a problem: “I had to put up with the heat during my trip.”
- Part 3 – Challenges or patience: “Sometimes you have to put up with stressful situations.”
👉 Join The Vocabulary Vault — Learn more phrasal verbs like these across 20 different IELTS Speaking topics.
Take after (someone)
Meaning: Resemble a family member in looks or character.
I take after my mum — we both love cooking.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 1 – Family topic: “People say I take after my father because we’re both quite optimistic.”
Turn out (to be)
Meaning: End up being something unexpected.
The interview turned out to be easier than I expected.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 2 – Describing experiences: “I was nervous at first, but it turned out to be an amazing trip.”
Run out of (something)
Meaning: Have none left (e.g. time, money, energy…)
We’ve run out of time to finish the project.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 2 – Problems or time pressure: “We ran out of time before finishing the task.”
- Part 3 – Environment: “Some countries are running out of natural resources.”
Come up with (something)
Meaning: Think of or create an idea or plan.
She came up with a clever solution.
How to use in IELTS:
- Part 2 – Creativity or innovation: “We came up with an idea to reduce plastic waste.”
- Part 3 – Problem solving: “Companies need to come up with new strategies to stay competitive.”
Carry on (doing something)
🌟 Why These Phrasal Verbs Matter for IELTS Speaking
Examiners assess your lexical resource, which means the range and naturalness of your vocabulary.
Using phrasal verbs like these shows you can use natural, flexible, everyday English — a key feature of Band 7+ speakers.
💬 Pro Tip: Every time you learn a new phrasal verb, try saying out loud a phrase with that phrasal verb in 4 different tenses: Present, Past, Present Perfect, and Future. This will improve your fluency and confidence to use it.
🧠 People Also Ask
What are phrasal verbs in English?
They are combinations of a verb + preposition or adverb (e.g., get up, put off, look after) that change the verb’s meaning. Sometimes the meaning can be idiomatic.
Do I need to use phrasal verbs in the IELTS Speaking test?
No, but using them naturally can help you reach Band 7 or above by demonstrating a wide range of vocabulary and using natural spoken English.
How can I learn phrasal verbs effectively?
Group them by topic (e.g., work, travel, emotions) and practice using them in sentences. Try saying out loud a phrase with every new phrasal verb in 4 different tenses: Present, Past, Present Perfect, and Future. This will improve your fluency and confidence to use it.
FAQs
Use simple, everyday ones like get up, hang out, take after, get around to, and run out of.
You can try story-style ones like start out, carry on, and turn out, — they make storytelling natural.
You can use some, but generally speaking, it’s better to use more formal vocabulary there. Phrasal verbs are ideal for Speaking.
💡 Final Thought
Phrasal verbs are the secret ingredient that make your English sound real, not rehearsed.
If you can use just two or three naturally in each IELTS Speaking test, you’ll already be standing out from the crowd.
So go ahead — brush up on these, carry on practising, and come up with your own examples!
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