The Power of the Pause

THE FEAR

Most students believe:

“If I pause… I’ll lose marks.”

So they rush. They stutter. They panic and throw words into the air.

But here’s what high scorers understand:

THE TRUTH

Pausing doesn’t lose you points — it gives you power.

It gives you:

  • Space to breathe
  • A clear, steady voice
  • Time to choose the next idea
  • And (this is key) it gives the examiner time to think

THE EXAMINER’S BRAIN

The examiner is listening, yes — but also scoring you live.
They’re checking 4 things:

  1. Fluency & Coherence
  2. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
  3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  4. Pronunciation

That’s a lot. And guess what?

When you pause calmly…
Their brain says:
“Good rhythm. Clear structure. Natural speaker.”

Your pause lets them catch up with your greatness.

REFRAME THIS NOW:

“Pauses are bad.”
“Pauses are proof I’m thinking like a fluent speaker.”

TYPES OF STRATEGIC PAUSES

1. The Idea Pause (1–2 seconds)

“I usually go hiking. [pause] I think I started a few years ago.”

→ Shows you’re thinking, not rushing. Very natural.

2. The Sequence Pause (0.5 seconds between thoughts)

“I wake up early. [pause] I drink some water. [pause] Then I exercise.”

→ Builds rhythm and control.

3. The Emphasis Pause

“Honestly… [pause] I never liked math.”

→ Adds drama. Sounds native. Makes the examiner focus.

PRACTICE DRILL: Speak Like a Storyteller

Answer this:

“What do you usually do on weekends?”

But this time, pause intentionally between every thought. Breathe. Feel the space.

Sample Answer (with built-in pauses):

“On weekends… [pause] I usually sleep a bit longer. [pause] Then I make breakfast — usually something simple. [pause] After that, I meet my friends, or go for a walk. [pause] It depends on my mood.”

Notice the difference? You sound calm. In control. Fluent.

MINI CHALLENGE: Combine Pauses + SVO

Pick one topic below.
Answer it using simple SVO patterns… and pause between each one.

  • “Describe your daily routine.”
  • “Talk about your favorite place to relax.”
  • “Tell me about something you learned recently.”

Tip: Imagine the pause is a gift to the examiner — and to your own brain.

WHAT YOU JUST LEARNED

  • Pausing = fluency tool, not weakness
  • It helps you think, and helps them grade you more generously
  • Pauses create confidence rhythm in your voice

Don’t rush. Don’t ramble. Spe