Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2, 3: Talk about your favorite sport

Sports is an extremely common topic that frequently appears in the IELTS Speaking test. Below is a sample IELTS Speaking Part 1 + 2 + 3 on the topic "Talk about your favorite sport" written by teachers at PREP. Refer to the following article to effectively practice your Speaking skills at home!

I. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1: Sports

1. Do you like playing sports?

If outdoor walking counts as a sport, then it would be a solid yes for me! I do enjoy strolling in the park, and occasionally I even break into a jog. Jogging time has always been my favourite time of the week, as I get to escape a while from my sedentary lifestyle, and also enjoy the fresh breezes and natural scent of the park. 

• Stroll (v): to walk in a gentle and relaxed manner

• Break into something (phrasal verb): to interrupt one activity and start another

• Sedentary lifestyle (n): a lifestyle characterized by little physical activity

2. What sports are popular in your country?

Of course football it is! I think that in Vietnam, football is such a special sport, in the sense that it unites people together and even enhances national pride. I bet every Vietnamese would have experienced the victory cheering and chanting of the crowd at least once in their lifetime. That’s when I know that compared to other popular sports like badminton or martial arts, football would always be the king sport in my country. 

• Unite (v): to connect or bring together

• National pride (n): a sense of pride for one's own nation

• Cheering and chanting (n): the act of expressing support or enthusiasm through vocal cheers and chants

• Martial arts (n): various forms of combat sports or self-defense techniques

• King sport (n): a sport that is considered the most popular or prestigious

3. What sport would you like to try in the future?

Well there are quite a lot of sports that I would like to have a go at, but if I had to choose one to try my hand at in the near future, that would be roller derby. After discovering my love for skating a few months ago, I have been training myself so that one day I would have the chance to compete in a roller derby. You know, it’s kinda an upgraded version of roller skating, but with contact and obviously, teamwork. It would be a dream come true for me to be in the Hanoi Roller Derby team next year. 

• Have a go at = try one’s hand at (idiom): to attempt or try something

• Roller derby (n): a contact sport played on roller skates

• Compete (v): to participate in a competition or contest

• Upgraded (adj): improved or enhanced

• Roller skating (n): the act of moving on roller skates

• Contact (n): physical interaction or communication

• A dream come true (n): the realization of a long-held aspiration or desire

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Talk about your favorite sport

1. Cue card: Talk about your favourite sport

Talk about your favourite sport:

• What is the sport ?

• How did you first know about it ?

• How often do youpractise it ?

• Explain why it is your favourite sport ?

2. Outline: Part 2

2.1. Idea

• The topic "Talk about your favorite sport" requires candidates to describe a sport they love. In order to do well in this topic, you need to provide the following information:

  • What is the sport?

  • How did you come to know about this sport?

  • How frequently do you play this sport?

  • Explain why you like this sport.

• To effectively handle the "Talk about your favorite sport" topic, the easiest and most efficient way is to closely follow the cues provided in the prompt and provide clear information, avoiding general statements.

• For the first question in "Talk about your favorite sport," which asks about the sport itself, it is generally easy to answer as most people have played a sport at least once. All you need to do is choose a sport that you find interesting and feel confident to share about.

• Next, you need to go into more detail with the second question, which asks how you came to know about this sport. In this question, aside from sharing about the sources of information that introduced you to this sport, you can also elaborate on when you started playing this sport. During the sharing process, try to incorporate past tenses and sequencing devices from the Events cluster to meet the requirements of the "Describe your favourite sport" prompt.

• Continuing from the previous point, you can answer the third question in the "Talk about your favorite sport" topic, which is about the frequency of playing this sport. In this aspect, you can further share and contrast or link between the past and present in terms of training frequency.

• Last but not least, and the most important part of the "Talk about your favorite sport" topic, is explaining why you like this sport. Allocate more time to this question as it is the main content of the prompt. To answer it clearly, coherently, and with emphasis on the required focus, you should present your points clearly, consider incorporating a list of benefits that this sport brings to you (both psychologically and physically). Don't forget to convey your emotions through your voice while answering.

2.2. One-minute note-taking

3. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2

Below is a sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 on the topic "Talk about your favorite sport" that you should refer to for effective IELTS preparation at home.

As a full-time graduate student with a lot of things on my plate, sports are not usually a part of my daily routines. But somehow I always manage to squeeze in a few hours every week to practice my favourite sport, which is roller skating. 

It stays crystal clear in my memory that I used to grab a pair of skates and take them on a smooth ride to the local park whenever I came home from school. You know, during my teenage years, together with the blowing wind and open atmosphere, skating time was truly a form of escapism and a stress buster for me. Needless to say,  I fell in love with it ever since.

Years later, even when I am transitioning into adulthood, my love for roller skating remains unchanged. I still enjoy hitting the streets every weekend, enjoying the bustling of my beloved Hanoi whilst toning up my body. Lots of people choose to walk or run, but some including me find this type of exercise boring or lacking in stimulation. 

Let’s put it this way, the level of excitement is relatively low if we compare walking or running with having wheels under our feet. Roller skating offers me not only a sense of thrill with its high speed, but it also helps strengthen my heart by its nature as an aerobic exercise. What’s more, the street scenes can be a pleasure to my eyes, and the exercise can do wonders for my heart, but it is the endorphins released during sessions that my mind really appreciates. Although I can no longer skate on a daily basis, I would do it whenever I find a chance from my schedule, which mostly means Sunday mornings only.

Roller skating involves a lot of fun, and I would recommend everybody to try this sport as a way to embark on a new active life. 

Here are some commonly used vocabulary words in the sample "Talk about your favorite sport": 

• A lot on my plate (idiom): Having many tasks or responsibilities to handle

• Manage to do something (v): Successfully accomplish or achieve something

• Squeeze in: Find a small amount of time to do something

• Escapism (n): The act of seeking distraction or relief from reality

• Stress buster (n): Something that helps to relieve or reduce stress

• Hit the streets (idiom): Go out and enjoy the city or the public places

• Tone up something (phrasal verb): Make something stronger or more firm

• Lack in something (phrasal verb): Be deficient or missing in something

• Stimulation (n): The act of arousing or exciting

• A sense of thrill (n): A feeling of excitement or exhilaration

• An aerobic exercise (n): A form of physical exercise that increases endurance

• Do wonders for something (idiom): Have a very positive or beneficial effect on something

• Endorphin (n): A hormone that brings about feelings of happiness or pleasure

• Embark on something (phrasal verb): Start or begin something

For more information, please refer to the following article:

50+ bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 2 phù hợp với band điểm 6.5+!

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 3: Sports

1. Why do you think playing sports is important?

Probably the best explanation for the essence of sports in our life  is the mind-blowing medical advantages it offers. Needless to say, with a proper nutritional background, regular sports practice helps us to achieve physical fitness, which can be considered a foundation for mental wellbeing. In fact, sport is a powerful ally of our immune system, which means the more we engage in sports, the less likely we are to get sick. Also, I think that sports has magically filled our life with zest as it can help battle negative feelings, enhance concentration level and boost self-confidence. Obviously through participation in sports, our overall wellness is promoted, and that is what makes life worthwhile. 

• Essence (n): The most important aspect or fundamental nature of something

• Mind-blowing (adj): Extremely surprising or astonishing

• Ally (n): A person or group that is joined with another for a common purpose or goal

• Immune system (n): The bodily system that protects against diseases and infections

• Fill something with zest (idiom): To infuse something with enthusiasm, energy, or excitement

• Wellness (n): Overall physical and mental health

• Worthwhile (adj): Deserving of time, effort, or attention because it is important or beneficial

2. Do you agree that sports stars earn too much money?

I think that professional athletes are the elites within their profession just as top tier actors are in the movie business, so obviously they deserve to earn their multi-million dollar salaries. Some may say that these sportspeople aren’t the best in the business, but in my point of view that’s exactly what they are, given the gruelling process of competition and elimination they have to go through. In fact, it is nothing but their resilience and years of hard work that can secure them a place in  the semi-finals, not to mention winning a medal back to their country. For those reasons, I believe they’ve earned their salaries fair and square.

• Elite (noun): A group of exceptional or outstanding individuals

• Top-tier (adj): Pertaining to the highest level or quality

• Sportsperson (noun): An individual who participates in sports

• Gruelling (adj): Extremely difficult, demanding, or exhausting

• Elimination (noun): The process of removing or excluding someone or something

• Secure somebody a place: Ensure or guarantee someone a position or spot

• Fair and square (phrase): Just, equitable, or honest

3. Do you think children get enough exercise these days?

Sadly, I have to admit that children these days, especially those from crowded cities, are way less physically active than others. The usual reason given is that modern parents often let their kids spend most of their time glueing their eyes to the screen, playing computer games or watching too much telly. That is not completely wrong, yet I think that the lack of safe open space should be the chief cause. When most open spaces have disappeared in favour of the concrete jungles where we are breathing in, city kids are left with nothing but their own devices, literally and figuratively. Compared to those who live in the countryside with plenty of space available, these urban kids have sadly had their wings clipped, and this would one way or another affect their development, not in a positive way. 

• Physically active: Engaging in regular physical activities

• Glue eyes to the screen (idiom): To be fixated or engrossed in watching a screen, implying spending a lot of time watching TV/computer

• Telly (n): Informal term for television

• Concrete jungles: Referring metaphorically to urban areas with numerous tall buildings and little greenery

• Device (n): An object or tool used for a particular purpose

• Literally and figuratively: In both the literal and figurative sense

• Have their wings clipped: To have one's freedom or independence limited or restricted

• One way or another: By one means or another, by any means necessary

This article has provided the most comprehensive sample for IELTS Speaking Part 1 + 2 + 3 on the topic "Talk about your favorite sport." PREP wishes you effective exam preparation and success in achieving a high band score in the Speaking section!