In the IELTS Speaking exam, being able to articulate personal growth is a key skill. This post focuses on how to describe a positive change in your daily routine, which is a frequently appearing topic in the current IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card rotation, and we provide a comprehensive Band 9 model answer to help you succeed.

The Cue Card

Describe a positive change in your daily routine.
You should say:
• What the change was
• When and where it happened
• What you did
• And explain why it was a positive change for you.

Band 9 Sample Answer

To be perfectly honest, I used to be a bit of a night owl, often staying up until the early hours of the morning scrolling through social media or binge-watching series. However, about six months ago, I decided to overhaul my habits and describe a positive change in your daily routine that has truly transformed my life: waking up at 5:30 AM to go for a run. This shift happened right at my home in the city, and it was sparked by a realization that I was constantly feeling sluggish and unproductive during the day. I started by setting a very strict “no-screens” policy after 10 PM and forcing myself to get out of bed as soon as the alarm went off. Initially, it was an absolute struggle; I felt like a zombie for the first week. But once I got into the rhythm of putting on my trainers and hitting the pavement while the streets were still quiet, everything changed. I began running for about thirty minutes through the local park, watching the sunrise, and then returning home for a healthy breakfast before starting my workday. This change has been incredibly positive because it has boosted my energy levels significantly. Instead of starting my day in a reactive state, checking emails and feeling stressed, I now start with a sense of accomplishment. It’s improved my mental clarity and, surprisingly, my sleep quality has skyrocketed because I’m naturally tired by 10 PM. It’s been a total game-changer for my productivity, and I feel much more in control of my schedule than I ever did before. If I hadn’t made this change, I think I’d still be stuck in that cycle of late-night lethargy.

Band 7 Sample Answer

I want to talk about a positive change I made in my daily life recently. A few months ago, I decided to stop eating junk food for lunch and started preparing my own healthy meals at home. I used to work in a busy office and would always buy fast food because it was quick and easy. However, I noticed I was gaining weight and feeling very tired in the afternoons. So, I started “meal prepping” every Sunday evening. I would cook chicken, rice, and vegetables for the whole week. This change was very good for me for several reasons. First, I saved a lot of money because eating out every day is quite expensive. Second, I lost about five kilograms in two months, which made me feel much more confident. Most importantly, I have much more energy now to focus on my tasks at work. Although it took some discipline to spend my Sunday evenings cooking, the results have been worth it. I feel much healthier now and I plan to keep this routine for a long time because it has made such a big difference to my physical health and my budget.

How the Band 9 Answer Scores Top Marks

Fluency and Coherence

The Band 9 answer flows naturally without any noticeable effort to find words. The speaker uses cohesive devices such as “Initially,” “But once I got into the rhythm,” and “Instead of,” which help the listener follow the timeline of the change. The transition from the “what” to the “why” is seamless, ensuring that the narrative feels like a real conversation rather than a list of answers to the bullet points. This level of coherence is essential if you want to describe a positive change in your daily routine effectively in the exam.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary used is both precise and idiomatic. Phrases like “night owl,” “overhaul my habits,” “sluggish,” and “total game-changer” demonstrate a high level of English proficiency. The speaker also uses topic-specific collocations like “mental clarity,” “reactive state,” and “late-night lethargy.” Using such varied language shows the examiner that you have a wide range of vocabulary to express complex ideas about personal habits and lifestyle changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The answer showcases a variety of complex structures. For instance, the use of a third conditional at the end—“If I hadn’t made this change, I think I’d still be stuck”—is a hallmark of a Band 9 candidate. The speaker also uses the past continuous (“was constantly feeling”), present perfect (“has truly transformed”), and gerunds as subjects (“waking up at 5:30 AM”). These structures are integrated naturally into the speech, maintaining accuracy while demonstrating range.

Pronunciation

While we cannot hear the text, a Band 9 performance would involve natural intonation and stress. For example, emphasizing the word “absolute” in “absolute struggle” or “everything” in “everything changed” adds emotional weight to the story. To improve your own performance, you might consider taking an IELTS English Speaking Course to work on your rhythm and connected speech, which are vital for a high score.

Vocabulary and Idioms to Use

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
Sedentary	Spending too much time seated; somewhat inactive.	My previous lifestyle was far too sedentary, so I needed a change.
Invigorated	Feeling full of energy and strength.	After my morning run, I feel completely invigorated for the day ahead.
Cognitive function	Mental processes like memory and thinking.	Waking up early has significantly improved my cognitive function.
Incorporate	To include something as part of a whole.	I decided to incorporate meditation into my nightly routine.
Discipline	The ability to control one’s feelings and overcome weaknesses.	It takes a lot of self-discipline to avoid checking your phone at night.
Burnout	Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.	I was on the verge of burnout before I changed my daily habits.
Productivity	The effectiveness of productive effort.	My productivity has reached an all-time high since I started this routine.
Mindfulness	The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.	Practicing mindfulness helps me stay calm during stressful meetings.
Consistent	Acting or done in the same way over time.	Being consistent is the hardest part of maintaining a new habit.
Transformation	A thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.	The transformation in my energy levels was almost immediate.
Night owl	A person who is habitually active or luminous at night.	I used to be a night owl, but now I prefer the early mornings.
Game-changer	An event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift.	Switching to a plant-based diet was a real game-changer for my health.

Grammar Structures That Boost Your Band Score

• Third Conditional: “If I hadn’t started exercising, I wouldn’t have discovered how much energy I actually have.”
• Used to + Infinitive: “I used to spend hours aimlessly browsing the internet before bed.”
• Present Perfect Continuous: “I have been following this new schedule for nearly six months now.”
• Relative Clauses: “The park where I go running is incredibly peaceful in the early morning.”
• Gerund as Subject: “Prioritizing my sleep has been the best decision I’ve made this year.”
• Past Perfect: “By the time I reached the office, I had already completed my workout and had breakfast.”
• Comparative Structures: “I feel much more alert now than I did when I was sleeping in late.”
• Modal Verbs for Possibility: “This change might seem small, but it has had a massive impact.”

Part 3 Follow-up Questions

Why do you think some people find it hard to change their daily habits?

I believe the primary reason is that habits are deeply ingrained in our subconscious. When we do something repeatedly, our brains create neural pathways that make those actions almost automatic. Breaking these patterns requires a significant amount of conscious effort and “willpower,” which can be exhausting. Furthermore, many people lack a strong enough “why”—a compelling reason to change—so when they face the initial discomfort of a new routine, they often revert to their old, comfortable ways. It’s also worth noting that our environment plays a huge role; if your surroundings don’t support your new habit, you’re much more likely to fail. Understanding IELTS Speaking: Behaviour & Patience can help you explain these human tendencies more clearly.

Do you think children find it easier to change their habits than adults?

Generally speaking, yes, I do. Children have what scientists call “neuroplasticity,” meaning their brains are still developing and are much more adaptable to new information and routines. They haven’t had decades to reinforce bad habits like adults have. Additionally, children are often in environments—like schools or homes—where their routines are guided by authority figures, making it easier to implement changes. Adults, on the other hand, have more autonomy but also more responsibilities and stress, which can make them more resistant to change because they view their current habits as a form of “coping mechanism.”

How can technology help people maintain a healthy routine?

Technology is a double-edged sword, but it can be incredibly beneficial for habit formation. For instance, wearable devices like smartwatches can track our physical activity and sleep patterns, providing us with tangible data that motivates us to improve. There are also countless apps designed for “habit tracking,” which use gamification—like “streaks” or rewards—to encourage consistency. Furthermore, things like digital calendars and reminder apps help us allocate time for new habits, ensuring they don’t get pushed aside by our busy schedules. If used mindfully, technology acts as a personal coach that keeps us accountable. You can find more about how habits change in this article on Changes in Reading Habits.

Is a strict routine necessary for a person to be successful in life?

While “success” is subjective, I would argue that some level of routine is essential for most high achievers. A routine reduces “decision fatigue,” allowing a person to save their mental energy for important tasks rather than wondering what to eat or when to work out. However, I wouldn’t say it has to be “strict” to the point of being rigid. Flexibility is also important because life is unpredictable. A successful person usually has a framework that provides discipline but allows for adjustments when necessary. Without any structure, it’s very easy to become reactive rather than proactive, which often hinders long-term goals.

How do daily routines differ between different generations?

There’s a stark contrast between generations, largely due to the digital revolution. Older generations, like my grandparents, tend to have routines centered around physical tasks and face-to-face social interactions. Their days often start early and follow a very predictable, analog pattern. In contrast, younger generations, like Gen Z or Millennials, have routines that are heavily integrated with digital devices. Our work, entertainment, and even social lives happen on screens, which often leads to more irregular sleep patterns and a blurred line between work and leisure. This shift has changed the very nature of how we perceive time and productivity compared to our ancestors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being Too Vague: Don’t just say “I started being healthy.” Specify exactly what you did, like “I started drinking two liters of water a day.”
• Forgetting the “Why”: The examiner wants to know the impact of the change. If you don’t explain the positive results, you miss a key part of the prompt.
• Using Robotic Transitions: Avoid saying “First point, Second point.” Use natural transitions like “What really made a difference was…” or “Initially, I thought…”
• Over-complicating the Story: You don’t need a life-altering transformation. Even a small change, like learning from a person with interesting ideas to read more, is perfectly fine.
• Ignoring the Tenses: Ensure you use the past tense for the “when/where” and the present tense for how it affects you now.
• Lack of Personal Emotion: If you don’t sound enthusiastic about a “positive change,” it won’t sound authentic. Use descriptive adjectives to show how you felt.

Practice Tips for This Cue Card

• Record and Review: Record yourself answering the prompt and listen for “ums” and “ahs.” Try to replace them with natural fillers like “well” or “actually.”
• Mind Map Your Routine: Draw a simple timeline of your day before and after the change to help you visualize the narrative.
• Focus on Adjectives: Make a list of 5-10 positive adjectives (e.g., “refreshing,” “productive,” “enlightening”) and try to use them in your practice sessions.
• Practice Part 3 Transitions: Practice moving from personal experience (Part 2) to general societal trends (Part 3).
• Check the Official Criteria: Familiarize yourself with the descriptors on the IELTS Official Website to understand exactly what examiners are looking for in a Band 8 or 9.

Conclusion

Mastering the ability to describe a positive change in your daily routine is about more than just listing facts; it’s about telling a compelling story of self-improvement. By using advanced vocabulary, varied grammatical structures, and maintaining a natural flow, you can easily reach the higher band scores. For more in-depth practice and personalized feedback, explore our Speaking Tips or enroll in our comprehensive speaking course to get the score you deserve.