Technique
How to say it
- 1
Identify phrases where a word ending in /t/ or /d/ is followed immediately by a consonant sound.
- 2
Relax the tongue tip so it does not make full contact with the ridge behind your upper teeth.
- 3
Move directly from the preceding consonant sound into the first consonant of the next word.
- 4
Keep the transition smooth and rhythmic without pausing or inserting an abrupt glottal stop.
7 pairs
Minimal pairs
Say each pair aloud. If the two words sound the same when you record yourself, slow down and go back to the steps above.
- past time/pass time
- guest room/guess room
- mined coal/mine coal
- missed call/miss call
- canned peas/can peas
- cracked cup/crack cup
- raced back/race back
12 sentences
Practice lines from IELTS-style answers
- 1
We moved into our new flat just next door to a local bakery.
elision: nex(t) door
- 2
To be honest, I missed my flight because of the terrible roadworks.
elision: misse(d) my
- 3
Last night, I spent three hours revising for my final chemistry exam.
elision: las(t) night
- 4
You must pay attention when the tutor gives the first lesson.
elision: mus(t) pay, firs(t) lesson
- 5
My best friend usually buys fast food whenever we study together.
elision: bes(t) friend, fas(t) food
- 6
I suppose they found some old coins buried under the back garden.
elision: foun(d) some, ol(d) coins
- 7
We walked back along the coast path after watching the sunset.
elision: walke(d) back, coas(t) path
- 8
I had a cold shower before heading off to catch the train.
elision: col(d) shower
- 9
The head teacher asked several difficult questions during the morning assembly.
elision: aske(d) several
- 10
She cooked dinner for us while we planned next week's holiday.
elision: cooke(d) dinner, nex(t) week's
- 11
I held back my opinions because everyone seemed stressed by the workload.
elision: hel(d) back
- 12
They packed bags quickly to catch the last bus into the town centre.
elision: packe(d) bags, las(t) bus
Say it in a real answer
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Common mistakes
- →Over-enunciating every /t/ and /d/ sound, creating an unnatural and robotic staccato rhythm.
- →Dropping /t/ or /d/ before a vowel sound, where the consonant should link instead of disappearing.
- →Inserting an unnatural hesitation or glottal stop where the elided consonant used to sit.
In the exam: Naturally dropping /t/ and /d/ between consonants lets you produce longer, smoother chunks of language without sounding breathless in Part 2 and Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How much does pronunciation count in IELTS Speaking?+
A quarter of your Speaking band. Examiners judge how easy you are to understand and how well you use features like stress, rhythm and intonation, not whether you sound British or American.
Do I need a native accent for Band 8?+
No. An accent is fine at every band. What matters is that individual sounds are clear, stress falls on the right syllables and your intonation helps the listener follow you.
How should I practise these lines?+
Read each line slowly, then at natural speed, then record yourself and compare. Say the sentences in a real answer next, because examiners hear your pronunciation while you think, not while you read.
Keep practising
More linking and connected speech practice
- Assimilation (would you, don't you, ten people)
- Chunking and pausing in a Part 2 answer
- Contractions in natural speech (I'd, we've, it's)
- Linking a consonant to a vowel (pick it up)
- Linking r in British English (far away, more often)
- Linking with /j/ and /w/ sounds (I am, go out)
- All 59 pronunciation sets
- Part 1 topics
- Part 2 cue cards
- Part 3 questions
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