# IELTS Speaking Study Sheet: Day 2 Date: 2026-10-15 [Interactive practice](https://wayneenterprisesinc.duckdns.org/#practice/day-2/0) ## 1. Daily Routines ### Question Do you prefer taking a shower in the morning or in the evening? ### Your Turn Describe your own morning or evening routine. Give one preference, one reason, and one example. ### Model Answer I usually prefer taking a shower in the evening because my mornings are quite rushed. When I was at university, I had more free time, so I could take my time getting ready. But now that I'm working full-time, I prefer to keep my morning routine simple. ### Useful Expressions - **Take a shower**: wash your body under a shower. - **My mornings are rushed**: I have little time to get ready in the morning. - **Have more free time**: have more time available outside work or other responsibilities. - **Work full-time**: work the normal full working week for a job. - **The day before yesterday**: two days before today. - **My muscles are sore**: my muscles feel painful or tender, often after exercise. ## 2. Life After University ### Question Has your daily routine changed since you started working? ### Your Turn Compare your routine now with an earlier stage of your life. Try using “since,” “used to,” or “let alone.” If you have not started working, compare two periods of study instead. ### Model Answer When I was at university, I had much more free time. I could work out, play video games, watch movies, or listen to music whenever I wanted. But since I started working, my free time has decreased dramatically. Work-related activities, including commuting, now take up a large part of my day. Sometimes, I feel like my life revolves around work. I barely have enough time to relax, let alone think creatively or explore new ideas. That's probably the biggest change I've experienced since graduating. ### Useful Expressions - **My free time has decreased dramatically**: I have much less free time than before. - **Work-related activities**: activities connected with your job. - **My life revolves around work**: work is the central focus of my life. - **I barely have time to…**: I have almost no time to do something. - **Let alone…**: introduces something even less likely or possible than what you just mentioned. - **Think creatively**: develop ideas in new or imaginative ways. ### Key Pattern I barely have enough time to relax, let alone think creatively. ## 3. Daily Commuting ### Question What bothers you most about your daily routine? ### Your Turn Describe a journey you make regularly. Explain one difficulty and one way it could be improved. If you do not commute, choose another routine journey. ### Model Answer I'd probably choose my daily commute. Taking the subway is convenient, but it can be absolutely packed during rush hour. Most of the time, I'm just standing there, waiting to reach my stop. And because the internet connection is sometimes unreliable underground, I can't always browse the internet properly. Honestly, a long commute can feel like a frustrating use of time. ### Useful Expressions - **Daily commute**: your regular journey between home and work or study. - **Train carriage**: one of the connected passenger sections of a train. - **Packed during rush hour**: very crowded at the busiest travel times. - **Look things up online**: search the internet for particular information. - **Browse the internet**: look through websites, often without one specific search in mind. - **The signal is terrible underground**: the mobile connection is very poor below ground. - **My commute really bothers me**: my journey to work or study causes frustration. - **Get on someone's nerves**: annoy someone, especially repeatedly. ### Key Pattern My daily commute is really getting on my nerves. ## 4. Working From Home ### Question Would you prefer working from home? ### Your Turn Give your view on working or studying from home. Support it with two reasons and acknowledge one possible drawback. ### Model Answer I'd be happier if I could work from home a few days a week. In a role that mainly involves computer-based tasks, much of the work can be done remotely. Meetings can also take place online, so being physically present in the office may not always be necessary. Working from home could save commuting time and reduce transportation costs. It could also offer more flexibility in how I manage my day. Overall, I think it could significantly improve my work-life balance. ### Useful Expressions - **Work remotely**: work somewhere other than the usual workplace, using communication technology as needed. - **Attend meetings online**: take part in meetings through an internet connection. - **Be physically present**: be there in person. - **Get more sleep**: spend more time sleeping. - **Have more flexibility**: have more freedom to change when or how you do something. - **Improve my work-life balance**: make the relationship between work and personal life healthier or more manageable. ## 5. Productivity and Remote Work ### Question Does working from home make people more productive? ### Your Turn Give a balanced answer: explain who might benefit from remote work, who might find it harder, and why. ### Model Answer I think it really depends on the person and the nature of their job. Some people prefer working independently and can complete their tasks with clear instructions. For them, working from home might improve productivity if there are fewer interruptions. On the other hand, some roles involve regular communication and collaboration with different teams. Those people may benefit from opportunities to discuss ideas in person. Personally, I think a quiet home environment could help me concentrate, but I can't speak for everyone else. ### Useful Expressions - **It depends on…**: the answer changes according to a particular factor. - **The nature of their job**: the type of work and what it requires. - **Work independently**: complete work without needing frequent help or supervision. - **Clear instructions**: directions that are easy to understand and follow. - **Fewer interruptions**: fewer events that break your concentration or stop your work. - **On the other hand**: introduces a contrasting point of view. - **Collaborate with different teams**: work together with people from other teams. - **I can't speak for everyone else**: my opinion or experience does not represent everybody. ## Natural Expressions 1. My muscles are sore. 2. I haven't been there for ten days. 3. Before going to work. 4. My free time has decreased dramatically. 5. The time I spend. 6. My two-hour commute really bothers me. 7. The metro is very crowded. 8. I can do all of this remotely. 9. I can get more sleep. 10. On the other hand. 11. Specific instructions. 12. I could achieve a better work-life balance. 13. Can you check how long we've been talking? 14. Let's wrap up for tonight. ## Five Expressions to Recall Read the meaning and say the expression from memory before checking. 1. **My life revolves around work.** Meaning: Work is the main focus of my life. 2. **I barely have time to relax, let alone think creatively.** Meaning: There is almost no time to relax, and even less opportunity for creative thinking. 3. **My daily commute is really getting on my nerves.** Meaning: My regular journey is becoming very annoying. 4. **It would significantly improve my work-life balance.** Meaning: It would make a substantial positive difference to the balance between work and personal life. 5. **It depends on the person and the nature of their job.** Meaning: Different people and types of work lead to different answers. ## Your Practice Plan 1. Read the five recall expressions aloud. 2. Choose two questions and answer without looking at the models. 3. Check your grammar and how clearly you connect your ideas. 4. Answer again, changing the details so they reflect your own experience. Learn useful sentence patterns rather than memorising every paragraph word for word. Aim for clear ideas, accurate grammar, and natural connections between points.