A habit you would like to change
IELTS Speaking Part 2 · cue card
Describe a habit you have that you would like to change.
You should say:
- what the habit is
- how long you have had it
- how it affects you
- and explain why you want to change it
You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.
Free account required for the live AI partner.
Band 7+ sample answer
About 243 words, roughly two minutes spoken. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise: examiners notice rehearsed answers.
The habit I'd most like to change is staying up very late on my phone, usually until about two in the morning, scrolling through short videos.
I think it started during the pandemic, about four or five years ago. Classes were online, I didn't have to get up early, and at night the phone became my main source of entertainment. Even though life has gone back to normal, the habit has stayed.
The effects are quite obvious. I wake up tired, I often feel foggy in my first lecture, and I drink far too much tea in the afternoon to stay awake. I've also noticed it affects my mood; if I sleep badly, I get irritated much more easily. And honestly, I rarely remember anything I watched. It's two or three hours a night that simply disappear.
I want to change it for a few reasons. The main one is health. I've read that young adults need seven to nine hours of sleep, and I'm getting about five. Another reason is my IELTS preparation. I could use part of that time to read or to get up early and study when my mind is fresh.
I've already started trying. I installed an app that locks social media after eleven, and I've bought a cheap alarm clock so I can charge my phone outside my bedroom. It's still a struggle, but I'm now asleep before midnight about four nights a week, which is progress.
Useful vocabulary
- source of entertainment
- something that gives you fun
- has stayed
- has continued
- feel foggy
- unable to think clearly
- irritated
- annoyed
- when my mind is fresh
- when I am alert and rested
- a struggle
- something difficult
Part 3 follow-up questions
- Why are bad habits so hard to break?
- Do people develop more bad habits because of technology?
- Should schools teach healthy habits?
- What good habits should children learn?
- Can governments help people change unhealthy habits?
Tip: in Part 3, give an opinion, a reason and an example, and consider another point of view. Aim for 3–5 sentences per answer.
How to practise this card
- Set a one-minute timer and write keywords for each bullet, not full sentences.
- Speak for two minutes and record yourself on your phone.
- Listen back: did you cover every bullet and the "explain" part? Note one phrase from the vocabulary list to use next time.
- Answer two Part 3 questions out loud, then try the card again with the AI Speaking Partner.