In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.
The cue card
Describe a hobby you would like to take up
You should say:
- what the hobby is
- how you learned about it
- what you would need to start
- and explain why it interests you
One-minute notes
Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:
- pottery — making bowls + cups on a wheel
- saw a friend's handmade mugs + online videos
- need: a class (studio), clay, apron, patience
- expensive kiln → use a studio first
- interests me: hands-on, away from screens, useful result
Band 7–8 sample answer
A hobby I'd really like to take up is pottery — making bowls and cups and things on a potter's wheel.
I first became interested about a year ago, when a friend of mine started taking a pottery class. She gave me a mug she'd made for my birthday — slightly uneven, with a thumbprint on the handle — and I liked it more than any mug I'd ever bought. After that I started watching videos of potters online, which I found strangely relaxing; there's something hypnotic about watching a lump of clay turn into a vase.
To start, I'd need to find a local studio that offers beginner courses, because the equipment is expensive. A wheel and a kiln, which is the special oven used to harden the clay, cost far more than I can justify for a hobby I might give up after a month. Most studios provide the clay and tools, so apart from the course fee, I'd just need an old apron and a lot of patience. From what my friend says, the first few weeks are mostly about making a mess.
It interests me mainly because it's so different from my job. I spend all day in front of a screen, and nothing I make actually exists physically. Pottery is completely hands-on, it forces you to concentrate on one thing, and at the end you have something real and useful. Even if the first ones are ugly, I like the idea of drinking my morning coffee out of something I made myself.
About 257 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.
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Useful vocabulary
- take up (a hobby) — to start doing a new activity
- hands-on — involving physical, practical activity
- hypnotic — making you want to keep watching
- justify (the cost) — to show that something is reasonable
- make a mess — to make things dirty or untidy
- a creative outlet — an activity for expressing creativity
Part 3: questions and model answers
After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.
Why is it important to have hobbies?
Hobbies give people a break from work and responsibilities, and they're a way of feeling skilled at something just for yourself. They also connect people — clubs and classes are one of the easiest ways to make friends as an adult. Without hobbies, life can become just work and rest.
Do people have less free time than in the past?
In some ways, yes. Working hours haven't fallen much, and phones mean work often continues in the evening. But people also lose a lot of free time to screens without really noticing. So I think the problem is partly how we use free time, not only how much we have.
Should hobbies be turned into a way of earning money?
It can be a great idea, but it changes the activity. Once a hobby becomes a source of income, there are deadlines, customers and pressure, and the relaxing part can disappear. Some people manage it happily, but many find it better to keep their hobby as a hobby.
Are expensive hobbies only for the rich?
Not entirely. Some hobbies, like sailing or golf, do need money. But many hobbies are almost free — running, reading, chess, drawing. Public facilities like libraries and community centres play an important role in making hobbies accessible to everyone.
More cue cards about activities and habits
- Describe a skill you learned as an adult
- Describe a meal you enjoyed
- Describe a sport you enjoy watching or playing
- Describe an outdoor activity you did for the first time
- Describe a healthy habit you have
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