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IELTS Speaking Part 1 · Current season: 6.25-7.13 Predicted · Updated 2026-07-08

Part 1 Questions

  • What sports do you like?
  • Where did you learn how to do it?
  • Did you do some sports when you were young?
  • Do you think students need more exercise?
  • Do you know any schoolmates who are good at sports?
  • Do you think it is important for people to exercise?
  • Should schools encourage young students to take more physical exercise?
Full answer demonstrationNotice how the answer develops and connects its details.Listen for pace, sentence stress, linking and small natural corrections.
Read the complete transcript

I enjoy a mix of team and solo sports — mainly football and swimming, and I go cycling when the weather’s good. Football gives me that team buzz and friendly competition, while swimming and cycling help me clear my head and build endurance. I try to fit at least a few sessions into my week so I don’t get too sedentary.

This AI-generated learner demonstration is a practice example, not an official IELTS response.
Visual warm-up

See the topic before you speak

Use the images as idea prompts. Describe what you notice, connect it to your experience, then answer the real question.

Visual speaking prompt 1 for the topic doing sports
Prompt 1Notice three concrete details, then answer without writing a script.
Visual speaking prompt 2 for the topic doing sports
Prompt 2Change the viewpoint or example and record a second, more specific answer.
Listen · compare · repeat

Model answers, heard side by side

Start with the simpler answer, switch bands to hear how the same task can be developed, then record a personal response. These are teaching examples, not official answers or score guarantees.

What sports do you like?

Band 6 model

I like football and swimming the most. I play football with friends at the weekend and I go swimming once or twice a week to relax. Sometimes I also go for runs if I have time.

Speaking criteria note: The Band 7 answer is longer, uses a wider range of vocabulary and gives reasons and frequency, showing better cohesion and fluency than the Band 6 answer.

Where did you learn how to do it?

Band 6 model

I learned to play football at school and in a local club. For swimming I had lessons when I was small and then practised at the community pool.

Speaking criteria note: The Band 7 answer gives more detail about learning contexts, methods and the effect of coaching, showing a broader range of language and past tenses.

Did you do some sports when you were young?

Band 6 model

Yes, I did a lot of sport as a child. I played football and did swimming lessons. It was part of after-school activities.

Speaking criteria note: Band 7 expands on types of activity, parental influence and benefits, using more varied vocabulary and connected ideas.

Do you think students need more exercise?

Band 6 model

Yes, students need more exercise because it helps them stay healthy. Many spend too long sitting and that is bad for them.

Speaking criteria note: The Band 7 answer links exercise to academic benefits and screen time, uses connectives and gives a practical suggestion, showing better development of ideas.

Do you know any schoolmates who are good at sports?

Band 6 model

Yes, a few of my schoolmates are really good at sports. One friend was captain of the football team and another was strong at athletics.

Speaking criteria note: Band 7 gives specific examples, mentions outcomes and balance between sport and study, and uses a wider range of vocabulary.

Do you think it is important for people to exercise?

Band 6 model

Yes, it is important for people to exercise. It keeps you fit and healthy and can stop you getting ill.

Speaking criteria note: Band 7 expands on multiple benefits (physical, mental, social), uses more precise language and connects ideas coherently.

Should schools encourage young students to take more physical exercise?

Band 6 model

Yes, schools should encourage more physical exercise. It would make children healthier and more active. PE lessons should be regular.

Speaking criteria note: Band 7 offers concrete suggestions and emphasises inclusivity and enjoyment, demonstrating a wider range of vocabulary and more nuanced opinion than Band 6.

How to answer Doing Sports IELTS Speaking questions

This Doing Sports set contains 7 short interview questions. Start each answer with the information the examiner asked for, then extend it with one reason, example or contrast. The goal is spontaneous, connected speech—not a mini-essay.

  1. Answer the exact question in the first sentence.
  2. Add one reason or specific personal detail.
  3. Use an example or contrast only when it adds new information.
  4. Finish naturally and let the examiner ask the next question.

Question-by-question approach

Practice questionUseful answer move
What sports do you like?Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example.
Where did you learn how to do it?Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script.
Did you do some sports when you were young?Give a real past example, then say what changed or why it mattered.
Do you think students need more exercise?State a likely view, explain the reason and add one condition or example.

Vocabulary focus

Useful language already demonstrated in the model answers includes use precise words from your own answer. Learn the meaning and a natural word partnership, then use each item in a different answer instead of copying a complete script.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Giving a memorised response that only partly answers the question.
  • Adding difficult vocabulary without checking meaning or collocation.
  • Restarting after every error instead of correcting briefly and continuing.
  • Reading the model answer before recording your own first attempt.

Doing Sports practice FAQ

How long should my answer be for Doing Sports in Part 1?

Aim for a direct answer plus a reason or detail, usually two to four sentences. Stop when the idea is complete rather than forcing a fixed word count.

Should I memorise the Doing Sports model answers?

No. Use them to notice structure and language, then answer from your own experience. Memorised wording can fail when the examiner changes the question.

What if I have no experience of the topic?

Say that honestly, then explain a related preference, observation or hypothetical example. You are assessed on language, not specialist knowledge.