Speaking Test Model Answers
7. Sport
Below you will find example model answers for IELTS test style speaking parts 1, 2 and 3 questions on this topic. You'll notice that some key advanced vocabulary for this topic is in bold in the model answers - you will find definitions and examples sentences at the bottom of the page for these.
SPEAKING
PART 1
1. Do you enjoy playing any sports?
Yes, I love playing sports in my free time as it is a great way to work off stress and make sure I don’t get out of shape.
2. What sports did you play when you were at school?
When I was in school, I played a wide variety of sports, ranging from racket sports like tennis and squash to ball sports like hockey, basketball and football.
3. Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?
In terms of playing a sport myself, I prefer individual sports like tennis or surfing, but as a spectator, I like team sports more.
4. What sports do you watch live or on TV?
I’m a fan of contact sports like rugby and football so I watch live games on TV whenever I get the chance. I’m also a big fan of motorsport and I tune in to watch Formula 1 races on a regular basis.
5. Do you have a favourite sportsperson? Who?
Not really, but if I had to choose one right now, I would probably say Max Verstappen, the Dutch formula 1 driver. He’s ultra competitive and I really admire his cool head and unbelievable skill.
6. What sports do people in your country like?
People in my country are really into football, and the stands at football clubs are full every weekend. Rugby and cricket have a following too, but are nowhere near as popular as football.
7. What sports would you like to try in the future?
That’s an interesting question. I’ve always wanted to give some extreme sports a go, so if I get the chance, I might try skydiving or bungee jumping. They look absolutely thrilling!
Listen:
PART 2
Describe a sport you enjoy watching on TV.
You should say:
what the sport is
when you watch it
who you watch it with
and explain why you enjoy watching it
Model Answer:
I’m really into football so I like to watch games on TV as often as I can. I support Tottenham Hotspurs, an English Premier League team, based in London. Most of their games are televised so I’m able to watch them play frequently during the season. Often the games are on the weekend, but sometimes they play on weeknights too.
I tend to watch the games on my own at home, although from time to time I get together with friends at a bar or pub to watch a game. My friends all support other teams so we can be quite competitive when we cheer for our teams, and sometimes it gets so loud you can’t hear the commentators.
Football is a fantastic spectator sport because it’s fast-paced, exciting and the players have to be really skillful. To be a professional you need to be really fast, agile and incredibly talented. That’s why top flight football is worth watching just for the athleticism. It’s also fun to discuss the games with friends and colleagues afterwards. Because a lot of people support a team, football is a great topic for small talk.
Listen:
PART 3
1. Is sport important?
Yes, in my opinion sport is important. Firstly, it’s a great source of entertainment. People love to watch top-flight sports on TV and in person at sporting venues. Secondly, doing sport is really helpful to stay in shape. Playing sports help build strength, flexibility and improve fitness, and they’re a great way to work off stress after a hard day at work.
2. Do kids do enough sport?
Probably not. It seems like these days kids spend much more time indoors playing computer games or on social media than in sports fields or sports halls. As far as I know, after school sports clubs aren’t as popular as they used to be either, and I see more young people with weight problems, so they can’t be doing very much sport.
3. Is there a difference between the sports that girls do and boys do?
Traditionally yes, some sports were considered boys sports while others were for girls. I know when I was at school only boys played contact sports like rugby and football, while the girls played hockey and netball. Times are changing though, and sports like football and basketball are much more popular with girls than they used to be.
4. How can parents encourage kids to do more sport?
I think it's really important for parents to help their kids get into sport. Probably the best way to do this is to give kids the chance to try out a range of sports, from individual racket sports like tennis or squash to team ball sports like football or rugby. Some kids may even prefer athletics or martial arts. The main thing is to give them a chance to find something they love and then encourage them to do it regularly.
5. Do you think sports stars are paid too much?
That’s a difficult question. It's true that some top-flight sports stars are paid a huge amount of money and in particular, football stars earn massive salaries. But, in sports which are not so popular, like rugby, the players often don't get paid so well. It depends on the popularity of the sport and how much money players can make from sponsorship. At the end of the day, if a player is incredibly popular and makes a lot of money for his team and sponsors, it’s understandable that he or she earns a lot.
6. What are the benefits of international sports events?
I've never really thought about this before, but I guess a big benefit is that it provides an opportunity for people to get to know about other countries and their cultures. So, for that reason international sport brings countries closer and fosters better international relations. However, sometimes international sport can lead to intense rivalry between supporters too, and at times there is even violence among hooligans, so that’s obviously not good. Overall though, I’d say international sport is really good, and it’s great for different countries to get together to participate in these worldwide events.
Listen:
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
agility (noun [u])
Definition: Being able to move quickly and easily.
Example: The cat's agility allowed it to quickly climb up the tree and escape the dog.
athleticism (noun [u])
Definition: The physical abilities, fitness, strength, and skill required for sports and physical activities.
Example: Her natural athleticism made her excel in a variety of sports like volley ball, tennis, and swimming.
ball sport (noun [c])
Definition: Games where people use a ball to play, like football or basketball.
Example: Football is a popular ball sport that is played by millions around the world.
cheer (verb)
Definition: Showing support and happiness by clapping, shouting, or being excited.
Example: The crowd cheered loudly when their team scored a goal.
commentator (noun [c])
Definition: Someone who describes on TV or radio what is happening in a sporting event.
Example: The commentator explained the game's key moments to the viewers.
competitive (adjective)
Definition: Trying hard to win against others.
Example: The two friends are very competitive and always try to outdo each other in games.
contact sport (noun [c])
Definition: A sport in which there is physical contact between players, such as football or rugby.
Example: Boxing is a contact sport that involves physical contact and punches between opponents.
fast-paced (adjective)
Definition: Happening quickly and with a lot of energy.
Example: The football match's fast-paced action kept me on the edge of my seat.
hooligan (noun [c])
Definition: A person who behaves badly, often causing trouble or violence in public settings.
Example: The hooligans caused trouble after the football match, damaging property.
martial arts (noun [pl])
Definition: Various types of self-defence or combat techniques practised as a sport.
Example: He's been studying martial arts for years to learn self-defence.
motorsport (noun [u])
Definition: Racing with fast cars or motorbikes.
Example: My dad loves watching motorsport on TV, especially Formula 1.
professional (noun [c])
Definition: An individual who is paid to play a particular sport or activity at a high level.
Example: She became a professional player after years of dedication and hard work.
racket sport (noun [c])
Definition: Games where people hit a ball with a racket, like tennis or badminton.
Example: He was always good at racket sports because he had excellent hand to eye coordination.
spectator (noun [c])
Definition: A person who watches a sports or other event.
Example: The stadium was filled with spectators cheering for their favourite team.
sponsorship (noun [u])
Definition: When money is given to an event, team, or individual in exchange for advertising.
Example: The football player made a huge amount of money from a sponsorship deal with Reebok.
sports hall (noun [c])
Definition: A large indoor space for playing sports or exercising.
Example: The kids played basketball in the sports hall after school.
stand (noun [c])
Definition: Where people sit or stand to watch sports games or concerts.
Example: We cheered loudly from the stands as our team scored a goal.
televised (adjective)
Definition: Shown on television.
Example: The championship game will be televised on Saturday.
top-flight (adjective)
Definition: The highest level of quality or skill.
Example: She's a top-flight athlete and regularly competes in international competitions.
work off (phrasal verb)
Definition: To get rid of or reduce something, like stress or calories, through physical activity.
Example: I'm going for a run to work off the extra calories from dinner.
