Hey everyone, 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 crack one of the trickiest but most important parts of the Speaking test: how to make the best use of that one golden minute you get to prepare for Speaking Part 2.

If you want to boost your fluency and sound confident, this is a small tweak that makes a big difference.

Cue Card Question:

Describe a memorable event from your childhood.

You should say:

• where it happened
• who was there
• what happened
• and explain why it was memorable

Okay, imagine you’re in the exam and you get this card. You have exactly one minute to make notes – and no, you can’t take the paper out of the room, but you can use it while you speak. So, what’s the smartest way to use this time? Listen to my sample and think about how I use my notes.

Sample Answer

I’d like to talk about a childhood event that still stands out in my mind. It happened when I was about nine years old, at my grandparents’ house in the countryside.

My whole family was there – my parents, my younger sister, and both sets of grandparents. We had gathered for a big family barbecue, which was something of a tradition for us every summer.

The most unforgettable part was when my cousins and I put on a little talent show for the adults. I remember feeling both excited and a bit nervous, but everyone cheered us on. We sang some songs, told a few silly jokes, and even tried to do a magic trick, which didn’t go as planned, but everyone laughed anyway.

What made it truly memorable for me was the sense of togetherness. It was one of those rare days when everyone was relaxed, happy, and really present. Looking back, I realise those simple moments meant a lot more than I understood at the time. I’d love to relive that day again if I could.

Let me break down what just happened. When you get your cue card, it’s easy to panic or write down everything you can think of. But here’s the trick: use a simple, reusable framework so you never run out of things to say.

I call this the ‘W-H-W-W’ method: Where, Who, What, and Why. Notice how every bullet point on the card fits this pattern? So, in your minute, jot down one or two keywords for each point. For example:

• Where: grandparents’ house
• Who: family, cousins
• What: talent show, jokes, magic trick
• Why: togetherness, laughter, happy memory

Now, here are three native-level phrases you can steal for your own answers:

• ‘still stands out in my mind’
• ‘we had gathered for’
• ‘looking back, I realize…’

These phrases help your answer sound natural and reflective, and they show the examiner you can use English flexibly. The framework keeps your ideas organized so you don’t freeze up or lose your way."

Quick Practice Challenge

Alright, it’s your turn. Grab a piece of paper, set a timer for one minute, and make quick notes for this question:

Describe a time when you learned something new.

Write down just four things: Where, Who, What, and Why it was important. Then, try speaking for one to two minutes, using your notes to guide you.

Remember, the goal isn’t to write full sentences – just ideas that will jog your memory. Practice this routine and you’ll start sounding more fluent in no time."

That’s it for today’s episode of IELTS on Fire. Keep practicing your one-minute prep – it really pays off. Join me tomorrow for another quick boost. Until then, let’s set your English on fire.