# Tell me about your daily routine: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 1 - Home

Tell me about your daily routine.

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

Normally I wake up at six thirty in the morning. First I take shower and drink a cup of tea, and then I go to my office by bus, it takes around forty-five minutes. I work in a bank, so I am busy from ten until five, and I have lunch with my colleagues in the canteen. After office I sometimes go to gym, but honestly not every day because I feel tired. In the evening I help my mother in the kitchen and then we eat dinner together and watch some TV. I usually go to bed at eleven, but sometimes later if I am using my phone.

**Examiner notes.** This answer walks through the day in clear time order, which makes it easy to follow. The sequencing is very predictable ("First... and then... In the evening"), and the vocabulary is mostly everyday. Missing articles in "take shower" and "go to gym", the phrase "After office" and a comma splice before "it takes around forty-five minutes" are typical Band 6 slips. For Band 7, the speaker would add some comment or attitude, not just a list of actions, and use more natural phrases like "head to work".

## Band 7 sample

On weekdays my routine is pretty fixed. I get up at around seven, grab a quick breakfast and head to university, where I usually have lectures until early afternoon. After that I either go to the library or work a few hours at a café near campus, which helps me cover my living costs. Evenings are mostly for studying, although I try to squeeze in a short walk or a phone call with my family so the day doesn't feel like it's all work. I'm trying to get to bed before midnight, but to be honest I don't always manage it, especially around exam time.

**Examiner notes.** This answer is organized around parts of the day but adds attitude and purpose, for example a walk "so the day doesn't feel like it's all work". Natural phrases such as "grab a quick breakfast", "head to university" and "squeeze in" make it sound conversational. Grammar is accurate, with relative and purpose clauses. The overall shape is still a fairly standard morning-to-night sequence. For Band 8, the speaker would develop a more distinctive angle and use more precise vocabulary.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/tell-me-about-your-daily-routine).

## More Part 1 questions on this topic

1. Do you usually have the same routine every day?
2. What part of the day do you like most?
3. Has your routine changed in recent years?
4. Is your routine at the weekend different from your weekday routine?

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.