Hey there, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for real IELTS success. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re cracking one of the most common worries in Writing Task 1: how to start your answer with confidence, without memorizing boring and obvious templates.

If you want to boost your score fast, this one’s for you. Paraphrasing the question in your own words is a small tweak that makes a big difference.

IELTS TIP

Imagine you open your Writing Task 1 and see a bar chart or line graph. The question might say:

'The graph shows the number of tourists from 2000 to 2020.'

A lot of students just copy this sentence, but examiners are looking for your own language. So, how do you paraphrase it naturally?

MODEL OR DEMO RESPONSE

Here’s how I would start my introduction, aiming for that Band 7 style:

'The chart illustrates how many tourists visited each year between 2000 and 2020.'

Notice I changed ‘shows’ to ‘illustrates,’ ‘the number of tourists’ to ‘how many tourists,’ and ‘from 2000 to 2020’ became ‘between 2000 and 2020.’

Let me break it down even further…"

First, structure. In Task 1, your introduction should do two things:

1. Paraphrase the question in your own words
2. Avoid personal opinions or details – keep it simple and factual

Here are three useful phrases you can steal for your next Writing Task 1:

• 'The chart illustrates…'
• 'According to the data…'
• 'The graph compares…'

Why do these work?

They sound natural, and they show examiners you can use a range of vocabulary. Also, words like ‘illustrates’ or ‘compares’ are native-level choices. Swapping ‘shows’ for ‘illustrates’ or ‘compares’ is a quick upgrade.

So, what does that mean for you?

Don’t just repeat the question. Mix up the vocabulary and change the sentence structure. Even small changes count.

Ready for a quick challenge? Pause the podcast and try this:

Take the sentence:

‘The graph shows the number of tourists from 2000 to 2020.’

Now, paraphrase it in your own words. Use a phrase like 'The chart illustrates…' or 'According to the data…'

Aim for one clear, simple sentence. Give yourself one minute.

Remember, your fluency isn’t born – it’s built. Let’s build it together.

Alright, that’s it for today’s IELTS on Fire. Try paraphrasing a few more Task 1 questions in your own words this week. We’ll dig into how to summarize key features next time.

Keep practicing and come back tomorrow. Let’s set your English on fire.

Hey everyone, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for real IELTS success. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re going to tackle one of the most common grammar mistakes in IELTS Speaking: saying 'I am agree' instead of 'I agree'.

If you want to sound more natural and boost your grammar score, this episode is for you. Small changes like this can make a big difference in your final band. So, let’s get you sounding confident and fluent."

Alright, here’s a classic IELTS trap: Many students say 'I am agree' when they want to show agreement. But the correct form is just 'I agree'. No 'am'.

Let me give you a quick example:

Wrong: 'I am agree with you.'

Right: 'I agree with you.'

And if you want to sound more advanced, there are even better ways to agree politely and naturally. For example:

• 'I completely agree with that.'
• 'I see your point.'
• 'That’s a good point.'

So, how do you use these in a real IELTS answer? Let’s try it out.

"Imagine the examiner asks:

Do you think it’s important for people to recycle?

Here’s how I might answer:

'Yes, I completely agree that recycling is important. First of all, it helps reduce waste and protects the environment. I see your point about how it takes extra effort, but in my opinion, the benefits are worth it. For example, in my city, we have separate bins for plastic and paper, and most people use them regularly. Overall, I believe that even small actions can make a big difference, so I strongly support recycling.'"

Let me break that down for you.

Did you hear those phrases? Here are three you can steal for your next Speaking test:

• 'I completely agree that…'
• 'I see your point about…'
• 'I strongly support…'

Why do these work?

First, they sound natural and polite. They help you show your opinion clearly – which the examiner loves. Second, they use Band 7 vocabulary like 'completely agree', 'see your point', and 'strongly support'. Finally, they show you can use a range of expressions, not just 'yes' or 'no'.

So, what does that mean for you? Try to mix up your agreement phrases. Don’t just say 'I agree'. Level up with these expressions.

"Now, it’s your turn. Here’s your mini speaking task:

I want you to repeat after me – five sentences using correct agreement phrases. Ready?

I’ll say each one, and you can pause to repeat:

1. I completely agree with you.
2. I see your point, but I have a different opinion.
3. That’s a good point.
4. I strongly support that idea.
5. I agree that it’s important.

Awesome job. Practice these out loud, and try to use them in your next speaking answer. Remember, your fluency isn’t born – it’s built. Let’s build it together."

Thanks for tuning in to IELTS on Fire. Try out those agreement phrases today, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow for more quick, high-impact IELTS tips. Until then – let’s set your English on fire.

Hey there, and welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for IELTS confidence and skill. I’m Teacher Phil, your friendly IELTS mentor, and today we’re zooming in on two words that pop up everywhere on the exam: reliable and trustworthy.

If you want to boost your vocabulary score fast, this one’s for you. Knowing the difference between these two words can really set your English apart from the average Band 6. So, let’s dive in."

First, what’s the difference between reliable and trustworthy?

These words are close cousins, but they’re not twins. Reliable means something or someone you can depend on to do what they say, or to work correctly. Think of a reliable car – it starts every morning, even in winter. Trustworthy is about honesty and integrity.

If someone is trustworthy, you can trust them with your secrets, your money, or your house keys. They won’t let you down.

Let’s see how these play out in IELTS Speaking or Writing.

Here are two Band 7+ sentences you might use:

1. ‘My best friend is a very reliable person. Whenever I need help, I know I can count on her, whether it’s picking me up from the airport or lending a hand with my homework.
2. ‘I believe teachers should be trustworthy, since students need to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and asking questions without fear of being judged.’

Notice the difference? In the first, reliable is about actions – showing up, helping out. In the second, trustworthy is about character – keeping confidence, being honest.

Let me break down the structure for you.

Both sentences use natural collocations – that’s how native speakers really talk.

• ‘A reliable person’ and ‘count on her’ – these go together all the time.
• ‘A trustworthy teacher’ and ‘feel comfortable sharing’ – again, very natural.
• ‘Without fear of being judged’ – this is a great phrase for IELTS Speaking and Writing.

And the best part? You can steal these sentence frames for your own answers:

• ‘I know I can count on [person] because they’re very reliable.’
• ‘It’s important for [profession] to be trustworthy, since…’

Try using these in your next mock test, or even in daily conversation. The more you practice, the more natural they’ll sound.

Alright, it’s your turn. Here’s a one-minute challenge:

Write one sentence using reliable and one using trustworthy. Say them out loud, like you’re in the Speaking test.

Pause the episode, take a minute, and really try to make your sentences personal – maybe about a friend, a teacher, or even a product you use.

Remember, your fluency isn’t born – it’s built. Let’s build it together.

Nice work today. Keep practicing those sentences, and you’ll sound more natural and confident in no time. Tomorrow, we’ll tackle another vocabulary pair that can help you sound like a Band 7 speaker.

This is IELTS on Fire – no fluff, just real, useful IELTS tips. Let’s set your English on fire.

See you next time.