What 'lifestyles' covers: Lifestyles is part of the theme Identities. You need vocabulary to describe daily routines, habits, the pace of life and well-being — and to give your opinion about them.
The words below are common English B vocabulary. Treat the list as a glossary: learn each term with its meaning and a synonym, then reuse them in the reading and writing sections.
- lifestyle
- the way a person lives — their daily habits and choices
- (daily) routine
- the set of things you do regularly each day
- pace of life
- how fast or slow daily life feels; how busy you are
- to commute
- to travel regularly between home and work or school
- leisure / free time
- time when you are not working or studying
- well-being
- a state of being comfortable, healthy and happy
- to lead a healthy life
- to live in a way that is good for your body and mind
- work-life balance
- a healthy split between work or study and the rest of your life
- sedentary (lifestyle)
- involving a lot of sitting and very little physical activity
- to switch off / unplug
- to stop using screens and relax; to take a break
- stressed — stress
- worried and under pressure — the feeling of pressure itself
- to watch what you eat
- to be careful about your diet; to eat in a healthy way
- hectic
- very busy and full of activity, often in a tiring way
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| I lead a very hectic life. | My days are extremely busy. |
| I try to keep a balance. | I make an effort not to overdo work or screens. |
| I like to switch off at the weekend. | I stop using screens / working and relax. |
| I spend too much time in front of a screen. | I use my phone, laptop or TV more than I should. |
| I exercise to relieve stress. | I work out so I feel less pressure and worry. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text on health, a listening interview about routines, a Paper 1 blog, or your oral. Reusing precise topic words is how you score Criterion A (Language).
Free preview
Reading it is one thing — hearing it is another
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- Audio on every wordTap any vocabulary word or example to hear it read aloud in natural English.
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start Studying Free Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime
Have something to say: Examiners reward developed ideas, not just vocabulary. Around lifestyles, the common debates are: a fast, busy modern life vs slow living, screen time and social media, and how to stay healthy. Take a position and back it up.
Opinion phrases (use these to introduce a view)
- In my opinion… / From my point of view… — to introduce what you think
- It seems to me that… / I believe that… — a slightly softer way to give a view
- The most important thing is… — to highlight your main point
- On the one hand… on the other hand… — to weigh up two sides
- I (completely) agree that… / I'm not convinced that… — to react to an idea
Drawbacks of the modern pace
- Many people live stressed and don't sleep enough.
- We spend too much time in front of screens.
- A sedentary lifestyle harms your health.
Benefits
- We have more opportunities and conveniences.
- Technology keeps us connected to the world.
- It is easier to stay informed and to keep learning.
Link your ideas: Connectors lift your answer from a list into an argument: moreover (to add), however (to contrast), therefore (to conclude), although (to concede). Use at least two or three in any written answer.
See how examiners mark answers
Access past paper questions with model answers. Learn exactly what earns marks and what doesn't.
Try Exam Vault FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
Read like Paper 2: Here is a short blog post — the kind of text Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. Read it once just for the general idea; don't worry about every word. Then we'll work through one exam question together.
A week without screens: A month ago I decided to spend a week without social media. At first it was hard: every five minutes I picked up my phone out of habit.
But soon everything changed. I started sleeping better because I no longer stared at a screen before bed, and I had more time for my family. I realised I had been spending hours watching videos without even meaning to. Now I switch my phone off after dinner and leave it in another room. I haven't given up technology, but I have learned to live a more balanced life.
- out of habit
- automatically, because you always do it
- to stare at
- to look at something fixedly for a long time
- to realise
- to become aware of something you hadn't noticed
- to give up
- to stop doing or having something
- balanced
- sensibly arranged so nothing is overdone
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, what does the writer do with their phone after dinner?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the words "after dinner": "Now I switch my phone off after dinner and leave it in another room."
- The answer — They switch the phone off and leave it in another room. The words are right there in the text, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: For an "according to the text" question, find the exact line that proves your answer — don't rely on memory or general knowledge.
The task: Your school is running a healthy-living campaign. Write a blog post for other students: describe your lifestyle and give advice for living in a more balanced way.
Use an informal, friendly register. Write 450–600 words.
Blog structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy title
A title, often a question. "Living in a hurry?"
2
Greeting + topic
Greet the reader and say what the post is about. "Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about…"
3
Your experience
Describe your old routine in the past. "I used to live very stressed…"
4
Two or three tips
Give advice using imperatives. "Protect your sleep", "look after what you eat", "switch off from screens".
5
Motivating close
Finish with an encouraging line. "Start today — you'll feel better."
Title → Greeting → Experience → Tips → Close
Model: the 5 steps in action
The blog post, step by step
- Living in a hurry? You're not alone.
- Hi everyone! I'm Maya, and today I want to talk about something we rarely stop to think about: our lifestyle.
- I used to live very stressed. I got up late, ate whatever was quickest and spent hours scrolling on my phone. Honestly, I had no balance at all.
- So here are three tips. First, protect your sleep. Second, look after what you eat. And third, switch off from your screens for a while every day.
- The most important thing, though, is not to obsess over it. A healthy lifestyle is really about balance. Start with one small change this week and you'll feel so much better.
Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Range of tenses: past "I used to", imperatives "protect", "switch off"
- Connectors: "so", "though", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: describes a lifestyle AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Blog conventions: a catchy title
- Direct address: "Hi everyone", "you'll feel better"
- A persuasive, personal tone
Study smarter, not longer
Most students waste 40% of study time on topics they already know. Our AI tracks your progress and optimizes every minute.
Try Smart Study FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
How listening is tested: Paper 2 also tests listening: you hear short clips, each played twice, and you never see the words. Read the questions first, listen for the key idea, then answer.
Here we'll use a transcript so you can practise the technique on the page. Read the questions, then find the answer in the speaker's words.
Transcript — Daniel's week: Hi, I'm Daniel. During the week I lead a really hectic life: I get up at half past six, head to school, and in the afternoon I play sport. To stop myself getting stressed, I try to sleep eight hours and I switch my phone off after dinner. At the weekend I rest and spend time with my family. For me, the most important thing is balance.
IB-style task — two listening questions
Two questions, step by step
- Q1 — What does Daniel do to avoid getting stressed? Listen just after "to stop myself getting stressed": "I try to sleep eight hours and I switch my phone off after dinner." That is your answer.
- Q2 — What matters most to him? He says it at the end: "For me, the most important thing is balance." Answer: balance.
Listening technique: Read the questions before the clip plays. Each question usually points to one short part of the recording — listen for the words around it, not the whole thing.