Sport, health & the outdoors: IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions

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2. Detail→
3. Feeling

Yes, I play badminton twice a week at a sports centre near my flat. It's a fairly casual group, mostly people from work, and we usually play doubles for about an hour and a half. I'm not especially competitive, but I do hate losing a long rally.

a fairly casual group

a relaxed group that doesn't take things seriously

not especially competitive

I don't care very much about winning

47 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

It was through my older cousin, who played for her university team. She used to drag me along to practise with her during the summer holidays when I was about fifteen. I was terrible at first, but once I could actually return her smashes, I was completely hooked.

drag me along

make me go with her, even if I didn't want to

terrible at first

very bad in the beginning

completely hooked

totally addicted to it

48 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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Playing, without question. I find watching sport on television quite passive, and my attention starts to wander after twenty minutes. The only exception is a big international badminton final, because I can properly appreciate how difficult those shots are.

without question

certainly, with no doubt

my attention starts to wander

I begin to lose concentration

The only exception is

the one case where this is not true

39 words · about 17 seconds spoken

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Football is by far the most popular, as it is in most places. On weekend mornings every park is full of kids' teams, and the pubs are packed whenever there's a big match on. Even people who never kick a ball themselves seem to know every player's name.

by far the most popular

much more popular than anything else

there's a big match on

an important game is being played or shown

never kick a ball

never play football at all

48 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

Far more than I do now, mainly because it was built into the school day. We had PE three times a week, and I also ran for the school in cross-country races every winter. These days, with a desk job, badminton is really the only thing that keeps me moving.

built into the school day

a fixed part of the school timetable

a desk job

work done sitting at a desk

keeps me moving

makes me stay physically active

50 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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3. Reason

I try to, mainly by running three or four times a week. It's nothing too ambitious, usually a loop of about five kilometres along the river near my home. Sitting at a desk all day makes me feel sluggish, so I need something to balance that out.

nothing too ambitious

nothing very difficult or demanding

feel sluggish

feel slow and lacking energy

balance that out

make up for something negative

47 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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Outdoors, as long as the weather isn't completely miserable. Running on a treadmill feels like going nowhere, whereas outside I've got changing scenery to keep me interested. In the depths of winter, though, I'll grudgingly move to the gym for a few weeks.

as long as

only if

feels like going nowhere

seems pointless because nothing around you changes

In the depths of winter

in the coldest, darkest part of winter

43 words · about 19 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

First thing in the morning, before I've had a chance to talk myself out of it. If I leave it until the evening, there's always a reason not to go, like a late meeting or simply feeling tired. Getting it done early also gives me a real boost for the rest of the day.

First thing in the morning

very early, soon after waking up

talk myself out of it

persuade myself not to do it

a real boost

a strong lift in energy or mood

54 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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Not always, and I definitely go through phases. When I've signed up for a race, I train religiously, but without a goal I can easily skip a week. What helps is running with a friend on Sundays, because I'd feel guilty letting her down.

go through phases

have periods of doing something more, then less

train religiously

exercise very regularly without ever missing

letting her down

disappointing her by not doing what I promised

44 words · about 19 seconds spoken

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On the whole, no, although things are slowly improving. A lot of people commute by car and work long hours, so exercise is the first thing to be squeezed out. Still, I've noticed many more people jogging and cycling in the parks than five years ago.

On the whole

generally, in most cases

the first thing to be squeezed out

the first thing dropped when time is short

46 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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Yes, I love it, and I go for one most evenings after dinner. It's the best way I know to clear my head, especially after a day staring at a screen. Even twenty minutes round the block makes a noticeable difference to how well I sleep.

clear my head

stop worrying and think clearly again

round the block

a short walk around nearby streets

makes a noticeable difference

has a clear effect

46 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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3. Example

My favourite route runs along the canal towpath behind my street. It's flat and quiet, with narrowboats moored along one side and herons fishing in the water. Every so often I'll follow it all the way into the city centre and treat myself to a coffee at the end.

all the way into

the whole distance as far as

treat myself to

buy myself something nice as a reward

49 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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3. Reason

Probably to get somewhere, if I add it all up. I walk to the station every morning, which is about fifteen minutes each way, and I do most of my errands on foot. Parking near the shops is a nightmare, so it's honestly quicker than driving.

if I add it all up

when I count everything together

do most of my errands

go to the shops and do small jobs

on foot

by walking

46 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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It depends on why I'm walking, really. My evening walks are a solo thing, usually with a podcast or just my own thoughts for company. On Sundays, though, I like a longer walk with my sister, because we can chat for hours without our phones distracting us.

a solo thing

something I do alone

my own thoughts for company

nobody with me except my own thinking

chat for hours

talk in a relaxed way for a long time

47 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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Generally, yes, it's one of the things I like most about living there. The pavements are wide, there's plenty of greenery, and the canal path links up with a large park. The only drawback is a busy ring road you have to cross, which can feel a bit hairy at rush hour.

links up with

connects to

a bit hairy

slightly dangerous or frightening

at rush hour

when the roads are busiest with commuters

52 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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I really do, and I get quite restless if I'm stuck inside all weekend. My job keeps me indoors from nine to six, so being outside feels like a proper change of scene. Even eating my lunch on a bench in the sun counts as a small escape.

stuck inside

forced to stay indoors

a proper change of scene

a real break in a different place

a small escape

a short break from normal routine

48 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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3. Example

Cycling is probably my main thing, especially along quiet country lanes. A couple of times a month I'll head out with a friend for a ride of forty kilometres or so, stopping somewhere for lunch halfway. I also love a picnic in the park, which takes no planning at all.

my main thing

my most important activity or interest

head out

leave to go somewhere

takes no planning at all

needs no preparation

50 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

Fortunately, yes, there's a large park about ten minutes from my front door. It has a lake, a few football pitches and a wilder area where the grass is left long for wildlife. I count myself lucky, because plenty of people in my city live miles from anything green.

ten minutes from my front door

very close to my home

I count myself lucky

I feel fortunate

miles from anything green

a long way from parks or nature

49 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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Summer, by a long way, since it stays light until nearly ten. I can go for a ride after work or sit outside with friends until it gets dark. In winter I still get out at weekends, but it takes real willpower to drag myself out of a warm flat.

by a long way

by a large amount

get out at weekends

go out and do things on Saturday and Sunday

drag myself out of

force myself to leave when I don't want to

50 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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Much calmer, and usually a lot more cheerful too. I think fresh air and a bit of daylight help me put my worries into perspective. After a long ride, I'll often sleep better than I have all week, even if my legs are aching.

put my worries into perspective

see my problems as less serious than they seemed

a bit of daylight

some natural light from the sun

my legs are aching

my legs feel sore and tired

44 words · about 19 seconds spoken