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Part 2 cue card · Events · New for September–December 2026

Describe an activity you do regularly that you think is a waste of time.

Describe an activity you do regularly that you think is a waste of time.

You should say:

  • ·what the activity is
  • ·how often you do it
  • ·when you started doing it
  • ·how much time you spend on it

and explain why you think it is a waste of time.

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 · 176 words

I'd like to talk about scrolling through short videos on my phone. I usually do it in the evening after dinner, when I sit on the sofa and tell myself I'll watch just a few clips. In reality, I often keep going much longer.

I started doing this about three years ago, when I had more time at home. At first, I only watched videos when friends sent them to me. Then I began opening the app whenever I felt bored, and it became a habit.

I probably spend around forty minutes a day on it. Sometimes it is less, but on a busy day, I can still lose half an hour without noticing. The videos are funny and easy to watch, so I don't need to think much.

I think it's a waste of time because I don't remember most of what I watch. Afterward, I feel that I could have used that time to read, exercise, or talk to my family. I still watch them, but I want to spend less time on it.

  • Habitual phrasing · “tell myself I'll watch just a few clips”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 8 · 275 words

Honestly, it's scrolling through short videos on my phone. I usually do it after dinner, when I'm on the sofa and want to switch off for a few minutes. I tell myself I'll watch a couple of clips, but the next one starts automatically, so it's surprisingly easy to lose track.

I started about three years ago, when I was spending more time at home. At first, I only opened the app if a friend sent me something funny. Gradually, though, I got into the habit of checking it whenever I felt bored, even if I had no particular reason to pick up my phone.

I'd say I spend around forty minutes a day on it. That doesn't sound like a huge amount, but it adds up to nearly five hours a week. Some evenings I stop after ten minutes; on others, I look up and realise half an hour has gone by. The short clips are entertaining and require almost no effort, which is probably why I keep watching.

The main reason I consider it a waste of time is that I rarely remember the videos afterwards, so I don't get much lasting enjoyment from them. I could use that time to read a few pages, get some exercise, or have a proper conversation with my family. I don't think all phone entertainment is pointless, and it can be a nice way to relax if I choose a video deliberately. But if I keep scrolling without deciding what I want to watch, I end up feeling a bit annoyed with myself. That's why I'd like to cut down, rather than give it up completely.

  • Specific detail · “the next one starts automatically”
  • Quantifying impact · “it adds up to nearly five hours a week”
  • Explaining the reason · “which is probably why I keep watching”
  • Condition and concession · “if I choose a video deliberately”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Scrolling short videos before bed: planning five minutes and still awake at 1 am
  2. 2Sitting in traffic on your commute: working out how many hours you lose a year
  3. 3Refreshing shopping apps for discounts: a whole evening spent to save ten yuan
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

kill time
do something while waiting
mindlessly scrolling
scrolling without thinking
before I know it
very quickly, without noticing
a bad habit I can't shake
a habit that's hard to stop
I could be doing something more useful
there are better uses of my time
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 keep doing things they know waste their time?

    • ·It's relaxing and needs no effort
    • ·Apps are designed to be addictive
  2. 2

    Do you think young people today have less free time than their parents did?

    • ·Overtime and competition fill their days
    • ·Machines save on chores, so they may have more
  3. 3

    How can people manage their time better?

    • ·Make a list and do the hardest task first
    • ·Use focus modes to block notifications
  4. 4

    Is it important to have time to do nothing at all?

    • ·Doing nothing lets the brain recharge
    • ·Too much idle time can cause boredom and worry
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits these 2 stories. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A film, book or video with a strong reaction

    One you loved and one you hated, where you watched it and with whom, the moment that stayed with you.

  • A trip that went wrong

    A commute or short trip: the early start, the phone that died, the message nobody answered, what you did instead.

Say it out loud and get a band score