What the terms mean, in plain English

• Filler: a sound or word like um, uh, you know that buys time but adds no meaning.
• Planning pause: a short silence you choose so you can plan the next idea.
• Hesitation: an unplanned break caused by uncertainty.
• Thought group: a 4 to 7 word chunk that carries one idea.
• Buffer line: a short, meaningful opener that buys one breath, for example, That is a fair question.
• Articulation rate: words per minute excluding pauses and fillers.

Why this matters for Band 7
Clean pauses and minimal fillers improve Fluency and Coherence. Examiners follow your thought groups and ignore small grammar slips when rhythm is steady. The goal is not zero silence. The goal is purposeful silence.

The 3 layer control system

1. Plan your silence: place 300 to 500 ms micro-pauses at thought-group boundaries.
2. Compress your filler: if a filler starts, cut it at the first vowel and replace the rest with a silent beat.
3. Front-load a buffer: begin longer answers with one 6 to 9 word buffer line so you can breathe before the first idea.

Metrics that keep you honest

• Fillers per minute (FPM): count ums or you know per 60 seconds. Target under 3, then under 1.
• Average pause length: aim for 0.3 to 0.6 seconds between groups.
• Pace: 110 to 150 words per minute in long answers.
• Final falls: end most statements with a falling tone to sound finished.

Two model fixes

Example 1: From messy to controlled
Raw: Uh, in my city, um, traffic is like, really bad and, you know, it affects, uh, daily life.
Fix with groups and a buffer: That is a fair question. / In my CITY / traffic is SEVere / and it AFfects / daily LIFE /.
What changed: one buffer line, five thought groups, zero fillers, final fall on LIFE.

Example 2: Buying time without noise
Raw: I would say, um, online classes are, uh, helpful, but, like, not for everyone.
Fix: From my experience, / onLINE classes HELP with ACcess / but they do not suit EVerYone /.
What changed: a soft buffer, two clean groups, contrast word but holds the rhythm, no filler.

The 10 minute practice loop

• Minute 1: write a 40 word answer. Mark slashes for groups.
• Minutes 2 to 3: record once, count FPM and average pause length.
• Minutes 4 to 5: insert one buffer line and re-record.
• Minutes 6 to 7: shadow a clear 30 second clip, copying pauses.
• Minutes 8 to 9: speak the same answer at 90 percent speed to stabilise breath.
• Minute 10: final record at normal speed. Log FPM and pace.

Drills with measurable targets

• Clip and replace: read a paragraph and intentionally remove every filler you hear by stopping at the first vowel, then pause for one beat. Target two clean runs.
• Metronome speak: set 110 beats per minute. Aim for 5 to 6 syllables per beat inside groups, one silent beat between groups.
• Number ladders: 1 to 8 in one smooth fall, then in pairs with tiny pauses. Teaches breath control without fillers.
• Buffer bank: write 9 buffers you like, for example, Let me look at this from the access side. Keep each under 9 words and under 3 seconds.

Mini case — Sadia from Dhaka
Problem: 12 to 15 fillers per minute and rushed endings.
Intervention: two weeks of the 10 minute loop, plus a rule: no answer starts without a buffer. She tracked FPM, average pause length, and percentage of statements ending with a fall.
Result: FPM fell to 2.3, average pause length reached 0.45 seconds, final falls rose from 25 to 78 percent. Mock Speaking moved from 6.0 to 7.0.

Common mistakes

• Killing all pauses: replacing silence with rapid speech increases fillers later.
• Long inhalations on mic: audible gasps sound like hesitation. Take small nose breaths at group edges.
• Overusing one buffer: repeating to be honest in every answer sounds memorised. Rotate three.
• Rising on every group: a rise signals more is coming. Use falls to finish ideas.
• Pausing mid word: plan breaths at group edges, not inside words.

Edge cases and safe choices

• Names and numbers: pause just before, then deliver them cleanly in one go.
• Corrections: use a micro-pause, then a clean restart, for example, I mean, the BUS network. Keep I mean once only.
• Unexpected follow up: take a 700 ms planning pause. Say a short buffer, then continue. The silence is better than noise.

Tips and tricks

• Hold a pen and tap once per thought group to pace yourself.
• Smile when giving a positive stance; it stabilises breathing and softens tone.
• Pre-write three contrast lines to stop rambling: On the other hand, In the short term, In the long term.
• If you speed up, insert a forced two-beat pause after your first group in every long answer.

To avoid

• Starting without a breath.
• Chaining three ideas into one breath.
• Filler clusters like um you know like.
• Ending statements with a rise unless you intend more.

Glossary
Filler: a non-meaning sound or word that signals hesitation.
Planning pause: a chosen silence that prepares your next idea.
Hesitation: an unplanned break under pressure.
Thought group: a short unit of speech that carries one idea.
Buffer line: a brief opener that buys a breath while adding meaning.
Articulation rate: speed measured without pauses and fillers.

Next steps
Pick one Part 2 topic and write 100 to 120 words. Add slashes, select a buffer line, and record three versions: slow, normal, and timed with a metronome. Log FPM, average pause length, and final falls. Repeat tomorrow with a new topic and beat one metric by 10 percent.

1. Actionable closing — Myth vs fact

• Myth: Fillers are bad, silence is worse.
  Fact: Short planned silences score higher than noisy hesitations. Use 300 to 500 ms micro-pauses.
• Myth: Band 7 speakers never use fillers.
  Fact: They keep FPM very low and cut fillers quickly. Aim for under 3, then under 1.
• Myth: Faster speech means better fluency.
  Fact: 110 to 150 words per minute with clear groups sounds confident and controlled.
• Myth: Buffers are the same as fillers.
  Fact: Buffers add meaning and buy one breath. Fillers add no meaning.
• Myth: Pauses must be equal length.
  Fact: Vary pauses. Short inside the answer, slightly longer before a new idea.
• Myth: You should remove every um in editing.
  Fact: One natural hesitation is fine if the rhythm stays clean.

CTA: Do the 10 minute loop today. Use one buffer, speak in thought groups, and track FPM, average pause length, and final falls. Repeat in two days and cut FPM by 20 percent while keeping your pace between 110 and 150 words per minute.