Daily routine questions look easy, but this is exactly where many candidates fall into a chain of identical sentences: "I wake up, I eat, I go". The present simple for habits, frequency words and one or two interesting details make the answer come alive.
What the examiner asks on this topic
What is your daily routine like?
Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Has your routine changed recently?
What part of the day do you like most?
Do you think it's important to have a routine?
Would you like to change anything about your routine?
Model answers (aimed at band 7+)
What is your daily routine like?
On weekdays it's fairly predictable. I get up around seven, grab a quick breakfast and take the metro to university. Classes usually finish by three, and after that I either study in the library or go to the gym. Evenings are for dinner with my family and an hour or so of English practice.
Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Definitely an evening person, unfortunately. My brain only really wakes up at about ten in the morning, and I do my best work late at night, which isn't ideal when lectures start at half past eight.
Has your routine changed recently?
Yes, quite a bit. Since I started preparing for IELTS, I've cut down on social media in the evenings and replaced it with speaking practice. The first week was hard, but now it feels completely normal.
Do you think it's important to have a routine?
I'd say so, at least for the basics like sleep and meals. Having a routine means I don't waste energy deciding small things, so I have more left for what actually matters. That said, I'd find it boring if every single day were the same.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fairly predictable | fairly predictable |
| grab a quick breakfast | grab a quick breakfast |
| a morning person | a morning person |
| do my best work | do my best work |
| cut down on | cut down on |
| replace X with Y | replace X with Y |
| waste energy | waste energy |
| that said | that said |
How to answer
- Use the present simple and frequency words for habits: "usually", "either... or...", "an hour or so".
- Compare weekdays with weekends: it is a ready-made contrast.
- For questions about change, use the present perfect: "Since I started..., I've cut down on...".
- For "is it important?", give an opinion, a reason and a small "but".
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The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
Everything about Part 1: the Part 1 guide. More topics: all articles.
Practise this topic now
The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
