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Part 2 cue card · Events · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a change you made recently.

Describe a change you made recently.

You should say:

  • ·what the change was
  • ·when you made it
  • ·why you made it
  • ·how easy or difficult it was

and explain how you feel about the change.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 154 words

Recently, I made a small change to my evening routine. I stopped using my phone in bed and started reading a paper book for about twenty minutes instead. I made this change about a month ago. I decided to do it because I often stayed up late watching short videos, and I felt tired the next morning. At first, it was not easy. I was used to checking messages before sleeping, and I sometimes wanted to pick up my phone. I put it on a desk across the room, which helped me leave it alone. Now I fall asleep a little earlier, and I feel more rested when I wake up. I also enjoy reading more than I expected. I still use my phone in the evening, but I try to stop before I get into bed. Overall, I feel happy with this change because it is simple and has made my nights better.

  • Give a reason · “I decided to do it because”
  • Add a specific detail · “I put it on a desk”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 8 · 256 words

Honestly, about a month ago I made a small change to my evening routine. Instead of scrolling on my phone in bed, I now leave it on a desk across the room and read a paper book for around twenty minutes. I started doing this after I noticed that short videos were keeping me awake much longer than I planned. Most mornings, I felt groggy and rushed, which made the change seem worth trying. This began roughly four weeks ago, when I was trying to get back into a more regular sleep schedule. I didn't want to make a big rule or give up my phone completely; I just wanted to stop using it once I was under the covers.

It was harder than I expected for the first few nights. I kept reaching for my phone out of habit, especially if I heard a message arrive. Putting it on the desk meant I had to get out of bed to check it, and that small inconvenience usually stopped me. I also chose a book that was easy to read, rather than something demanding, so the new routine felt relaxing instead of like another task.

Now I tend to fall asleep a little earlier and feel more rested in the morning. I still use my phone in the evening, but if I have an important message, I can check it before I put it on the desk. Overall, I'm pleased because this is a simple change that has made my evenings calmer without being too strict.

  • State the change clearly · “Instead of scrolling on my phone”
  • Reason plus specific effect · “short videos were keeping me awake”
  • Add detail with a relative clause · “which made the change seem worth trying”
  • Show difficulty with detail · “that small inconvenience usually stopped me”
  • Add a balanced view · “without being too strict”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Bringing home-cooked lunch instead of takeaway: a colleague praising your first lunch box
  2. 2Leaving your phone outside the bedroom: the restless nights in the first week
  3. 3Cycling to work instead of taking the metro: the sunset you saw by the river
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

break the habit of
stop doing something regularly
it's early days, but
it's too soon to say, but
stick with it
continue despite difficulty
a change for the better
an improvement
I feel much more energetic
I have a lot more energy now
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    Why do people often fail to keep up new habits?

    • ·Their goals are too ambitious
    • ·Without anyone checking, they give up
  2. 2

    Do you think older people are less willing to change?

    • ·Decades-old habits are hard to break
    • ·Many quickly learned to pay by phone
  3. 3

    What big changes have happened in your city in recent years?

    • ·Many new metro lines have opened
    • ·Old streets have become trendy spots
  4. 4

    Is change always a good thing?

    • ·Change brings new opportunities
    • ·Fast change can make places feel unfamiliar
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • Deciding to study abroad

    Why you are taking IELTS: the choice, who you talked to, what you gave up, how you are preparing.

Say it out loud and get a band score