In the CELPIP Speaking section, how you speak matters just as much as what you say. One of the biggest reasons test-takers lose marks is excessive use of filler words - "um," "uh," "like," "you know" - which make responses sound hesitant and unprepared.
The good news is that fluency is a skill you can practice. This guide shows you why fillers hurt your score, what to say instead, and how to build the habit of speaking smoothly and confidently.
How Fluency Affects Your Score
CELPIP raters score your speaking in four official categories. Fluency matters most for Listenability, but it touches all four:
| Criteria | How Fluency Matters |
|---|---|
| Listenability | Are you easy to listen to? Smooth delivery, clear pronunciation, and natural rhythm all contribute to a high listenability score. Excessive fillers break the rhythm and make you harder to follow. |
| Content/Coherence | Are your ideas organized and easy to follow? Fillers interrupt the logical flow of your response and waste valuable speaking time. |
| Vocabulary | Using transition phrases instead of fillers shows a wider vocabulary range. |
| Task Fulfillment | If fillers eat into your speaking time, you may not fully address the prompt. |
Important: An occasional "um" or short pause is normal. Even strong speakers hesitate now and then. It is frequent, repeated fillers that signal a lack of fluency.
What to Say Instead of Fillers
The key to reducing fillers is having ready-made phrases that serve the same purpose - giving you a moment to think while still sounding natural.
| Instead of Saying | Try Saying | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| "Um... so..." | "To begin with..." | Starting your response |
| "Uh... and also..." | "In addition to that..." or "Another point is..." | Adding a new idea |
| "Like... you know..." | "For example..." or "For instance..." | Introducing an example |
| "Um... but..." | "On the other hand..." or "However..." | Introducing a contrast |
| "So... yeah..." | "Overall..." or "In conclusion..." | Wrapping up your response |
| "Uh... I think..." | "In my opinion..." or "I believe that..." | Stating your position |
| [long silence] | "That is an interesting question..." or "Let me think about this..." | Buying time to think |
Practice these phrases until they feel automatic. When they become second nature, you will reach for them instead of fillers without thinking about it.
Techniques to Build Fluency
1. Speak in thought groups
Instead of saying one word at a time, group related words together and pause between groups. This creates a natural rhythm that is easy to follow.
- Choppy: "I... think... that... a... library... is... better."
- Smooth: "I think / that a library / is better / for the community."
Practice reading sentences aloud, grouping 3-5 words together with a short pause between each group.
2. Stress the important words
Native speakers naturally emphasize key words in a sentence. This makes speech clearer and more engaging.
- "I strongly believe that a library would benefit the entire community."
Stressing content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) while letting grammar words (the, a, is, to) stay lighter creates a natural rhythm.
3. Paraphrase the prompt in your opening
Instead of repeating the exact words from the prompt, rephrase them in your own words. This gives you a strong opening and shows vocabulary range.
- Prompt: "Do you think children should learn to cook at school?"
- Weak opening: "Um, I think children should learn to cook at school."
- Strong opening: "I believe that teaching basic cooking skills in schools would be very beneficial for young students."
4. Use the preparation time to outline, not script
During your 30-60 seconds of prep time, write down 2-3 keywords for your main points - not full sentences. If you try to memorize a script, you will sound robotic. If you forget a word, you will panic and fill with "ums." Keywords keep you flexible.
5. Record yourself and listen back
Record yourself answering a practice question. Then listen for:
- How many fillers you used
- Where you paused awkwardly
- Whether you filled the entire time
- Whether your pace was too fast or too slow
Most people are surprised by how often they use fillers without realizing it. Recording yourself is one of the best ways to improve.
6. Practice the microphone experience
Speaking into a microphone with no one listening feels very different from talking to a person. Before the test, practice speaking into your phone or computer microphone. On test day, the Speaking section starts with an unscored practice task. Use it to get comfortable with the microphone.
Before and After Example
Prompt: Describe your favourite season of the year.
With excessive fillers:
"Uh, my favourite season is, um, summer, because, like, I go outside, and it's, uh, fun. You know, I like... um... the weather."
Fluent and natural:
"My favourite season is summer because the weather is warm and sunny. I enjoy going to the beach with friends, playing sports outdoors, and having barbecues in the park. In addition, summer holidays give me more time to relax and spend quality time with my family. Overall, summer is the season when I feel most energetic and happy."
What improved: The fluent version opens with a clear statement, uses transition words ("In addition," "Overall"), includes specific details (beach, sports, barbecues), and fills the speaking time without any fillers. The pace is steady and the ideas flow logically from one to the next.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It Hurts Your Score | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Repeating fillers constantly | Breaks the rhythm and reduces listenability | Replace fillers with transition phrases |
| Speaking too fast to avoid pauses | Rushing causes stumbling, which leads to more fillers | Speak at a moderate, steady pace |
| Memorizing full scripts | If you forget a word, you panic and fill with "ums" | Prepare keywords and structure, not full scripts |
| Finishing too early | Short responses suggest underdeveloped ideas | Add details, examples, or another point to fill the time |
| Restarting a sentence | Saying "Sorry, let me start again" wastes precious time | If you stumble, just keep going and finish the thought |
| Speaking in a monotone voice | Flat delivery makes you harder to listen to | Stress key words and vary your intonation naturally |
Quick Summary
- Excessive filler words ("um," "uh," "like") lower your listenability and coherence scores
- An occasional filler is normal - it is repeated, constant fillers that hurt
- Replace fillers with transition phrases like "In addition," "For example," "On the other hand"
- Speak in thought groups and stress important words for natural rhythm
- Paraphrase the prompt in your opening instead of repeating it word for word
- Prepare keywords, not scripts - stay flexible and natural
- Record yourself regularly to catch fillers you do not notice
Start Practicing
The best way to reduce fillers is through regular speaking practice. Try our CELPIP-style speaking practice and get AI feedback on your fluency, vocabulary, and organization. Practice needs a free account. AI feedback on Writing and Speaking is free up to a daily limit.