IELTS Speaking Part 1: Daily routine
Daily routine and habits. It tests time expressions, adverbs of frequency, and comparing your routine now with before.
Questions and sample answers
1. What time do you usually get up?
Around half past six on weekdays. At weekends I try to sleep in until eight, though I rarely manage it.
2. Are you more productive in the morning or the evening?
The morning, definitely. My head is clearest before lunch, so I try to do anything that needs concentration first thing.
3. Has your daily routine changed much in the last year?
Yes, completely. I started a new job in January, so I’ve gone from studying late at night to getting up early.
4. Do you think having a fixed routine is important?
To some extent. A routine saves energy, because you don’t have to make decisions, but too rigid a routine can make life feel repetitive.
Each sample is two to four sentences: the answer, a reason or example, then stop. Use them to hear the shape, not to memorise. Examiners are trained to spot a rehearsed answer, and it costs fluency marks.
Language this topic rewards
- sleep in / lie in: Phrasal verbs for waking late.
- an early bird / a night owl: Idioms for morning and evening people.
- first thing in the morning: A natural time expression.
- I’ve gone from … to …: Describes a change in routine.
- to some extent: A hedge for a balanced opinion.
The trap on this topic
Narrating your whole day hour by hour. Answer the time, add one reason or detail, and stop. The examiner has three more questions to ask.
Answer these out loud and get marked
The Part 1 practice runs the interview the way the examiner does: your work or studies first, then two topic sets. It records you, transcribes what you said and marks it on the four official criteria.
Start Part 1 practiceMore Part 1 topics
Ready for the long turn? Browse the Part 2 cue cards.