Hey there, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for real IELTS results. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re going to tackle one of the biggest Speaking challenges: how to keep talking in Part 2 without freezing up.

If you want to boost your score fast, this one’s for you. A lot of students panic when they see the cue card and worry they’ll run out of things to say. But I’ve got a simple strategy that’ll help you build a strong, confident answer – even if you feel stuck or have to make something up.

Describe a restaurant you like.

You should say:

• where it is
• what kind of food it serves
• what the atmosphere is like
• and explain why you like this restaurant

Okay, so you’re in the Speaking test. The examiner hands you this card, and your mind goes blank. Don’t worry. Listen to my sample, and I’ll show you a method that works every time.

Let me tell you about a restaurant I really enjoy. It’s called The Green Spoon, and it’s just a short walk from my apartment in the city centre. I first went there about a year ago when a friend recommended it.

The Green Spoon mainly serves Italian food – things like pasta, wood-fired pizza, and fresh salads. Honestly, their margherita pizza is out of this world. The menu isn’t huge, but everything is made with really fresh ingredients.

The atmosphere is super cosy and relaxed. There’s soft music playing, the lighting is warm, and the staff are always friendly and welcoming. It’s a place where you can have a proper conversation without shouting.

I keep going back because I always feel comfortable there. The prices are reasonable, and the quality never disappoints. Sometimes I wish they had more dessert options, but that’s a small thing.

To sum up, I’d say The Green Spoon is my go-to spot when I want to treat myself or catch up with friends. I’m actually planning to take my parents there next month when they visit, so I hope they’ll like it as much as I do.

Let me break down what just happened. I used a simple structure I call 'past, detail, feeling, future.' First, I talked about when I discovered the place (the past). Then I gave some details about the food and atmosphere. After that, I shared my feelings and reasons for liking it. Finally, I mentioned a future plan involving the restaurant.

Here are three useful phrases you can use for your own answers:

• 'It’s just a short walk from my apartment in the city centre.'
• 'Honestly, their margherita pizza is out of this world.'
• 'I’m actually planning to take my parents there next month.'

Notice how these phrases sound natural and help me give extra information. They show location, give a strong opinion, and talk about the future. That’s exactly the kind of language examiners love. And the best part? You don’t have to tell the exact truth. It’s totally fine to use your imagination if you need to keep talking.

Now it’s your turn. Here’s your practice task:

Describe a restaurant you like, using the ‘past, detail, feeling, future’ structure. Try to speak for at least one minute – even two if you can.

After this podcast, take a deep breath, and give it a go. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident and fluent you’ll sound in the real test.

Alright, that’s it for today’s episode of IELTS on Fire. Keep practicing, and come back tomorrow for more quick wins and real IELTS strategies. Until then, let’s set your English on fire.

Hey there, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for better English and a higher IELTS score. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re talking about a tiny skill that makes a big difference: how to buy time in the IELTS Speaking test.

If you want to sound fluent, confident, and natural, even when you get a tricky question, this episode is for you. Buying time helps you organize your thoughts, calm your nerves, and show the examiner that you can handle real conversation.

So here’s the trick: native speakers use little phrases to give themselves a moment to think before answering. In IELTS Speaking, these ‘time-fillers’ are a secret weapon for sounding natural and avoiding awkward silence.

Let’s say the examiner asks:

‘What kind of books do you enjoy reading?’

You don’t want to sit there in silence, right? That’s where these phrases come in.

"Let’s try it out. Imagine I get that question. Here’s how I might respond: ‘Hmm, that’s an interesting question. I suppose I read a variety of books, but if I had to choose, I’d say I’m really into biographies these days. The reason is, I love learning about people’s real-life experiences. Actually, the last book I read was about a famous entrepreneur, and it really inspired me to work harder on my own goals.’

See how I started? I didn’t rush. I gave myself a second to think, and then answered naturally."

Let me break that down for you. The structure is simple:

First, I bought time with a phrase. Then, I answered the question and added some detail.

Here are three native-sounding time-filler phrases you can steal for your own answers:

• ‘That’s an interesting question…’
• ‘Let me think about that for a second…’
• ‘Well, I haven’t really thought about it before, but…’

These phrases do two things:

First, they give you a second to think. Second, they make your English sound more natural and fluent. Examiners love to hear these because it shows you can handle conversation just like a native speaker.

Bonus tip: Use them in Part 1, 2, or 3 – anywhere you need a moment to organize your ideas.

Ready for a quick challenge? Here’s what I want you to do:

Pick any common IELTS Speaking question, like ‘What’s your favorite type of music?’ or ‘Do you prefer to spend time alone or with others?’

Before you answer, practice saying one of these time-filler phrases, then give your response.

After this podcast try it for one minute. The goal isn’t a perfect answer, it’s just to get used to buying yourself that little bit of thinking time. You’ll sound more confident, I promise.

That’s it for today’s IELTS on Fire. Practice those phrases before your next mock test, and you’ll notice a big improvement in your fluency and confidence. Join me tomorrow for another practical IELTS tip. Until then, keep practicing and let’s set your English on fire.

Hey everyone, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for real, useful IELTS tips. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re going to talk about a tiny word that weakens your English and how to replace it with words that sound much more natural and impressive.

If you want to boost your Speaking score fast, this one’s for you. Today’s focus: stop saying ‘very’ and start using strong, expressive alternatives that sound just like a native speaker."

Describe an experience when you felt very happy.

You should say:

• When and where it happened
• What made you feel so happy
• Who was with you
• And explain why you remember this experience so clearly

Okay, imagine you’re in the Speaking test. This topic pops up. Most students say ‘very happy’ or ‘very excited.’ But the examiner hears ‘very’ a hundred times a day. So, how can you stand out and sound more natural? Let’s listen to a sample answer using better words.

"One of the happiest moments in my life happened last year when I graduated from university. The ceremony was held on a sunny afternoon, and my whole family came to support me. Honestly, I was absolutely thrilled because I’d worked incredibly hard for four years, and this was the result.

My parents looked extremely proud, and I felt truly grateful to have them there. Afterwards, we went out for a delicious meal together, and I was completely satisfied with how the day turned out. The whole experience was incredibly memorable, not just because of the degree but because I got to share it with my loved ones. That’s why I remember it so clearly."

So, let me break it down. Did you notice I didn’t use ‘very’ even once? Instead, I used strong alternatives that make my English sound more natural and fluent. Here are five words and phrases you can use instead of ‘very’:

• Absolutely thrilled (instead of ‘very happy’)
• Incredibly hard (instead of ‘very hard’)
• Extremely proud (instead of ‘very proud’)
• Truly grateful (instead of ‘very grateful’)
• Completely satisfied (instead of ‘very satisfied’)

These are what we call collocations – words that naturally go together. Using them shows the examiner you have a good ear for real English.

And the best part? They’re super flexible. You can say, ‘absolutely delicious,’ ‘incredibly difficult,’ or ‘completely exhausted.’ Try using these in your next practice answer, and you’ll sound much more like a native speaker.

Alright, time for your one-minute practice challenge. Think of three situations from your life when you felt a strong emotion – maybe excited, tired, proud, or surprised. Now, say three sentences out loud using one of today’s new words in each. For example, ‘I was absolutely exhausted after my exam,’ or ‘My parents were extremely proud when I got my first job.’

After the podcast, give it a try, and really focus on swapping out ‘very’ for one of these stronger words. Remember, your fluency isn’t born, it’s built. Let’s build it together.

Thanks for joining me today on IELTS on Fire. Keep practicing these natural phrases, and soon they’ll feel automatic. Tomorrow, we’ll dive into another quick tip for Speaking Part 2. Until then, let’s set your English on fire.