IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Cue card

Describe a habit you would like to change

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

"Describe a habit you would like to change" is a Part 2 cue card in the IELTS Speaking test. You get one minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes. This guide breaks down how to structure your long turn around all four bullet points, the topic vocabulary to reach for, and the Part 3 questions likely to follow.

The cue card

Describe a habit you would like to change.

You should say:

what the habit is
how it started
why you want to change it
and explain how you might do it

How to structure your long turn

Spend roughly 20–30 seconds on each prompt. Take the bullets in order — they build a natural narrative — and save the most time for the final 'explain' point.

1
what the habit is
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
2
how it started
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
3
why you want to change it
This is the most important bullet — give reasons and a personal example, and spend the most time here.
4
and explain how you might do it
This is the most important bullet — give reasons and a personal example, and spend the most time here.

Timing & delivery

Part 2 is the long turn: you get 1 minute to prepare and speak for 1–2 minutes.
Use the preparation minute to jot keywords against each bullet, not full sentences.
Cover all four bullet points, spending the most time on the final 'and explain…' prompt.
It's fine to invent details — you're scored on how you speak, not whether the story is true.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

Natural, Band 7+ language for talking about health and fitness.

keep fit: stay physically healthy and in shape; “I go swimming twice a week to keep fit.”
work up a sweat: exercise hard enough to perspire; “A good jog really lets me work up a sweat.”
a sedentary lifestyle: a way of living with very little physical activity; “Office work can lead to a very sedentary lifestyle.”
in good shape: physically fit and healthy; “My grandfather is still in good shape at eighty.”
burn off calories: use up energy through activity; “Cycling to work helps me burn off calories every day.”

Rounding-off questions

After your long turn, the examiner may ask a short question or two before moving on to Part 3.

Why are habits so hard to break?
Do people change more easily when they're young?

Part 3 questions on health and fitness

This cue card leads into a Part 3 discussion of the wider topic. Expect abstract, opinion-based questions such as these.

Why do some people find it so hard to keep fit?
How have people's lifestyles become less active than in the past?
Do you think modern life is more stressful than it used to be?
Whose responsibility should it be to keep people healthy — individuals or the government?

See all Part 3 questions on health and fitness

Explore more IELTS Speaking practice

Frequently asked questions

How long should I talk about the "Describe a habit you would like to change" cue card?

You should speak for one to two minutes without interruption. The examiner gives you one minute beforehand to make notes, then times the long turn and stops you at two minutes.

Can I make up my answer to this cue card?

Yes. IELTS examiners score how you speak — your fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation — not whether your story is true. Inventing realistic details is completely acceptable and often easier than recalling a real event.

What Part 3 questions follow the "Describe a habit you would like to change" topic?

This cue card leads into a Part 3 discussion on health and fitness. Expect broader, opinion-based questions such as "Why do some people find it so hard to keep fit?"

What if I run out of things to say before two minutes?

Lean on the final 'and explain…' bullet. Adding reasons, feelings and a specific example naturally extends your answer, and it's the part that most improves your score.

Next step

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