Describe a sport you enjoy watching or playing

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

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:

• basketball — play with friends + watch league
• started at 12, school team
• play Sundays at a public court, watch 1–2 games a week
• fast, every minute matters, short games
• enjoy: teamwork, a reason to see friends weekly

Band 7–8 sample answer

The sport I enjoy most, both playing and watching, is basketball. I'm not particularly good at it — I'm quite short for a basketball player — but it's been part of my life for a long time.

I started when I was about twelve. A new PE teacher arrived at my school and set up a basketball team, and since most of my friends joined, I did too. I was on the bench for most of the first year, but I loved training, and gradually I got good enough to play in actual matches.

These days I play on Sunday mornings at a public court near my flat, with a group of friends from school and a few people we've met there over the years. We play for about two hours and then usually go for breakfast together. I also watch one or two professional games a week, either on TV or, when tickets are cheap, at the local arena.

I enjoy it for a few reasons. As a sport to watch, it's fast and the score keeps changing, so you can't relax until the last few seconds, which makes it exciting even when your team is losing. As a sport to play, I like that it depends on teamwork — one great player can't win on their own. But honestly, the biggest reason is social. Those Sunday games are the one fixed time each week when I see my oldest friends, and that's become just as important as the basketball itself.

About 252 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.

Useful vocabulary

• be on the bench — to be a substitute who does not play
• set up (a team) — to create or organise
• nail-biting — very exciting because the result is uncertain
• keep fit — to stay healthy and active
• a team player — someone who works well with others
• a die-hard fan — an extremely loyal supporter

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 are some sports more popular than others?

Mainly history and access. Sports that need little equipment, like football, spread easily because anyone can play them anywhere. Television also plays a big role — sports with exciting, easy-to-understand formats attract sponsors and coverage, which makes them even more popular.

Are professional athletes paid too much?

At the top level, salaries seem extreme compared with nurses or teachers. But professional sport is an entertainment industry, and the money comes from millions of fans and broadcasters. Their careers are also short and risky, so I'm less bothered by it than I used to be.

Should schools make sport compulsory?

I think schools should make physical activity compulsory, but with more choice. Not every child enjoys competitive team sports, and forcing them can put them off exercise for life. Offering dance, swimming or yoga as well would keep more young people active.

Do big sporting events benefit the host country?

Sometimes. They can improve transport and bring tourism and international attention. But many host countries have ended up with huge debts and empty stadiums nobody uses afterwards. The benefits seem to depend on planning — using existing facilities rather than building everything from scratch.

More cue cards about activities and habits

• Describe a skill you learned as an adult
• Describe a meal you enjoyed
• Describe an outdoor activity you did for the first time
• Describe a hobby you would like to take up
• Describe a healthy habit you have

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