The Last Word
Speaking skill

Describing Change Over Time

"Yes, it's changed a lot" is true of almost everything, which is exactly why it's a weak answer - it gives the examiner nothing to picture. This page shows you how to paint a quick before-and-after picture and show how big the change actually was.

This is the quick-fix version — see the full guide →
Common mistake

When "it has changed a lot" is all you say

"Why doesn't 'Yes, it has changed a lot' get me a good score?"

It's true, but it's just a headline - the examiner wants an actual picture of what it used to be like and what it's like now, so follow it with one specific detail.

Why this works
— Open with the present perfect Use has/have + past participle ("has changed", "has become") to signal this is a change happening up to now, not a single finished event.
— Follow up with one concrete detail A vague "it has changed a lot" doesn't teach the listener anything - name one specific thing that used to be true and one that's true now.
Weak
Yes, my hometown has changed a lot.
Upgraded
Yes, my hometown has changed a lot - there used to be lots of low-rise buildings and narrow streets, but the local government has replaced most of them with modern apartment blocks.
Weak
Yes, the internet has changed a lot.
Upgraded
Yes, the internet has completely changed how we talk to people - it's replaced most phone calls with chatting online through messaging apps.
Weak
Yes, transport has changed a lot.
Upgraded
Yes, transport has changed a lot - the roads used to get a bad traffic jam every morning, but a new subway line has cut my commute down to twenty minutes.
Common mistake

Painting the "before" picture, not just "now"

"How do I compare 'then' and 'now' instead of just describing today?"

Give two little pictures, not one - say what it used to be like (past simple or "used to") and then what it's like now (present simple), right next to each other, so the change is obvious.

Why this works
— Pair past simple with present simple State the old situation in the past simple and the current one in the present simple, back to back, so the listener hears the contrast instead of having to guess it.
— Use "used to" for habits or states that stopped "Used to" signals a past habit or state that isn't true anymore, which is exactly what a change question is asking about.
Weak
Restaurants are more expensive now.
Upgraded
When I was a kid, most restaurants used to be small, simple eateries, but now elegant, much more expensive places line every street.
Weak
My hometown looks really different now.
Upgraded
My hometown used to be full of narrow streets and low-rise houses, but now it's full of wide roads and modern facilities.
Weak
We use phones differently now.
Upgraded
We used to only make phone calls, but now almost everyone chats online through messaging apps instead.
Common mistake

Showing how big the change was

"How do I show how much something has changed, not just that it changed?"

Add a comparative adjective after your before/after picture - "much bigger", "a lot more crowded" - to show the size of the change, not just the fact of it.

Why this works
— Add a comparative + "than before" Comparative adjectives (bigger, more crowded, cheaper) measure how much things changed, which is more precise than just saying something "changed".
— Intensify with "much" or "a lot" Add "much" or "a lot" before the comparative ("much wider", "a lot busier") to show the change was significant, not tiny.
Weak
The roads used to be quiet. Now they are busy.
Upgraded
The roads used to be quiet, but they're a lot busier now - what used to be a quick trip to work is now a stressful commute stuck in traffic jams during rush hour.
Weak
The city used to be small. Now it is big.
Upgraded
The city used to be small, but it's much bigger now - the streets are wider and there are far more facilities than before.
Weak
Restaurants used to be cheap. Now they are expensive.
Upgraded
The little eateries near my house used to be cheap and simple, but the new places are a lot more elegant and much more expensive.
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