Five ways to ask for repetition

What if I didn’t hear the question?

by Kasra Sharifan | Jul 12, 2019 | Speaking, Tips

It is absolutely OK to ask for repetition if you don’t understand the question your interviewer asks at the IELTS Speaking test. Just stay calm and try these expressions:

1- “Pardon?“

(or even its formal version: “I beg your pardon?” and the American version: “Pardon me?“)

2- “I’m sorry, could you repeat that please?“
(or other variations like: “would you repeat that please?“)

3- “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.“

4- “Could you say that again please?“
(If you don’t hear the question completely, you can say: “Sorry, did you say …?“)

5- “Sorry!“
(short and more common in British English)

Do not use “~~what?~~” as it is informal and rude.

Kasra Sharifan

Co-founder and CFO

British Council certified English teacher, IDP-trained IELTS instructor, content writer, editor-in-chief, co-founder, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at IELTS Juice Online Academy.