Don’t Say “I Am Agree”! (Common IELTS Grammar Mistake) – IELTS Speaking Sample

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."

IELTS TIP SECTION

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.

Sample Answer

"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.

Quick Practice Challenge

"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.