If you’re asked about sports in part one of your IELTS Speaking test, then a common question is, “What sports do you like?”
Let’s look at how you can easily answer this question for a band-seven score. Below, you’ll also see 20 example answers (go straight to the answers here).
How You Can Answer
First, choose a sport that’s easy for you to talk about. Then you could say:
- If you like to play or watch that sport
- Why you like it
- How long you’ve been playing or watching it for
- How often you play or watch it
- Your favorite team or player
- If you’ve ever been to watch a game or match in person
- Who you play or watch it with
- What sports you liked when you were younger
- Anything else you think of
You Don’t Like Any Sports?
If you dislike all sports, no problem. You can simply say that you don’t like sports, and then talk about:
- Why you don’t like sports
- A sport you used to play or watch in the past
- A sport you would like to play one day
- Someone you know who loves a sport
- If you liked sports in the past
- What physical activities you prefer to do instead of sports
- Anything else that comes to mind
Use the Three-Step YES Method
For part-one questions, it’s best to keep your answers very simple.
Also, don’t say too much. 20 or 30 seconds is fine for each part-one answer.
To help you prepare, practice using the YES Method. Just say:
- Your answer (say which sport you like)
- Explain your answer (say why you like it) or add more details
- Stop talking (calmly wait for the next question)
This method keeps your answers nice and short. Many students forget to stop talking.
Remember, in part one the examiner has to ask you 10-12 questions, and they only have four to five minutes. That’s not a lot of time.
If you keep your answers short, they will be easier to answer, and you’re less likely to make mistakes.
Focus on Fluency
For part one, focus on fluency.
Start speaking right away and speak without hesitation. It’s easier to do this when you use simple English, which is fine for part-one questions.
You can show off your more complex grammar and vocabulary in parts two and three.
Example Answers
Here are 10 example answers to this question about sports. Use them to borrow ideas for your own answer.
Football
1. I’ve always loved playing football. It’s great fun and really good exercise. I usually play football once a week in the local park with a few of my old school friends.
2. I’m a huge fan of football. I support a British football team called Manchester United. My favorite player is David Beckham. I’ve never been to a Manchester United match but I’d love to see them play one day.
Basketball
3. I quite like watching basketball. My father loves basketball and when I was growing up, I watched so many games on TV with him. My favorite basketball player was always Kobe Bryant, before he passed away.
4. I’m a big fan of basketball because it’s such a fast-moving game. I have a net in my garden and often practice shooting hoops, by myself or with my brother. And at the weekends I play basketball in the local park.
Tennis
5. I love watching tennis, especially the big tournaments like Wimbledon. My favorite player is Federa, because he’s so skillful and I think he has a really great personality, too.
6. I enjoy playing tennis at the weekends with a few friends and coworkers. It’s a wonderful sport, and I’m pretty good at it. I think tennis is a fantastic way to get some exercise and unwind after a long week.
Swimming
7. The only sport I’m into is swimming. I go to the local pool to swim every few days. I’ve been swimming since I was very young. I find that not only does swimming keep me fit, but it also really clears my head.
Mixed Martial Arts
8. I’ve been practicing martial arts since I was young. I did wrestling at school and more recently I’ve taken up mixed martial arts. That means all kinds of fighting skills mixed together. I go to classes three times a week. It’s great fun.
9. The only sport I really like is mixed martial arts. I’m an avid fan of the UFC, and I rarely miss a fight. My favorite UFC fighter of all time is GSP, who is considered the GOAT, which means the greatest fighter of all time.
Volleyball
10. I quite like volleyball. I used to be on the school volleyball team and we played really often, almost every week. But I haven’t played volleyball for a few years now.
Ping Pong
11. I love playing ping pong, or table tennis. I especially like watching professionals play on TV. They’re incredible.
Boxing
12. I’m really into boxing because it’s such a difficult, intelligent sport. I often watch boxing matches online, and I’ve recently taken up lessons as well. It’s tough, but a lot of fun.
Running
13. I suppose the only sport I really enjoy is running. I go jogging every morning, and I take it really seriously. I’m currently training to run a half-marathon later this year.
Golf
14. I play a lot of golf these days, and I suppose it’s my favorite sport. Golf is a very technical, difficult sport to play, which I enjoy. It’s also relaxing and it gets me out of the house for some fresh air and sunshine.
Cricket
15. My favorite sport is cricket, which is the most popular sport in my country: India. In fact, cricket is something of a national pastime in India. I love playing cricket and watching it, too.
Snooker
16. I really like watching snooker, which is a very difficult game to play. My favorite snooker player is Ronnie O’Sullivan, who’s from England. I like playing snooker myself every now and then, but I’m not very good at it.
Don’t Like Sports
17. To be honest, I’m not really into sports at all. But my brother is obsessed with soccer. He plays it all the time and his bedroom is covered in posters of his favorite soccer team, which is Real Madrid.
18. I never find time for sports these days but when I was younger I used to enjoy basketball. It would be nice to play it again one day.
19. I’m afraid I’m not a fan of sports. To be frank, I think sports are a waste of my time. I’d much rather spend my valuable time and energy learning something new or growing my business.
20. I don’t have a favorite sport because I don’t play or watch any sports at all. But one sport I’ve always wanted to try is Quidditch, the sport from Harry Potter. I just want to fly around on a broom all day.
Your Turn To Answer
Now, give this question a go.
When you practice any speaking question, it’s best to record yourself. That way you can listen back afterward and improve upon it.
Set up the voice recorder on your phone and ask aloud, “What sports do you like?”
Answer quickly, without hesitation, using the YES Method.
Then listen to your answer, and think of how you can make it better.
Answer again. Try to improve a little each time.
Keep doing this and you’ll soon be ready to give a great answer to all your part-one questions in IELTS Speaking.