Describe a new hobby that you would like to take up
Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Practice it like the exam
Describe a new hobby that you would like to take up.
You should say:
- what the hobby is
- what you would need to do it
- where you would do it
and explain why you would like to start this hobby.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.
Band 8 sample answer
262 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A hobby I'd like to take up is gardening, specifically growing my own vegetables and herbs. I live in an apartment at the moment, so I've never really had the chance, but I'm hoping to change that soon, as my family has a small plot of land outside the city that we don't use at all.
To get started, I wouldn't need much. I'd buy basic equipment such as a spade, a rake, a watering can and gloves, as well as seeds and some compost. I'd probably begin with easy plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, mint and basil, which grow well in our climate. I've been watching videos and borrowing books from the library to pick up the basics, and my neighbour, who has a beautiful garden, has promised to give me advice. I'd spend most weekends there, plus a few hours of evening watering in summer, and I could also grow a few herbs in pots on my balcony during the week.
There are several reasons why I'd like to start this hobby. First, I'm interested in healthy eating, and there's nothing better than vegetables you've grown yourself, without chemicals. Second, I spend most of my working week in an office in front of a computer, and I think physical work outdoors would be a great way to relax and get some fresh air. Third, it requires patience, and I suspect it would teach me a lot about nature and the seasons. And finally, it's a hobby that could involve my whole family. I'm already planning what to plant in the spring.
What to notice
- It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
- Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
- The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.
We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.
Getting ready for IELTS?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take up | begin a new activity |
| a fulfilling pastime | an activity that makes you feel satisfied |
| basic equipment | the simple items needed for an activity |
| a creative outlet | a way of expressing creativity |
| make time for | set aside time for |
| pick up the basics | learn the simplest parts |
Plan it in one minute
Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.
Who or what you could talk about
- Gardening or growing vegetables
- Painting or pottery
- Birdwatching or astronomy
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the hobby is
- 25 swhat you would need to do it
- 25 swhere you would do it
- 45 sand explain why you would like to start this hobby.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Leisure and wellbeing. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Do you think people who have hobbies are happier than those who do not?
- Why do people often say they have no time for hobbies?
- Should employers encourage workers to have outside interests?
- Are expensive hobbies worth the money?
- How can social media inspire people to try new hobbies?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Plans and wishes
- Describe a concert, festival or cultural event that you would like to go to in the future
- Describe a place in your own country that you would like to visit
- Describe a book that you would like to read in the future
- Describe a project to help other people that you would like to organise
- Describe a family celebration that you are looking forward to or would like to organise
- Describe an ambition that you had when you were a child and that you still have
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How do I talk about future plans in an IELTS cue card?
Say what you would like to do, why, and how you would go about it. Mix future forms: "I'm planning to", "I'd love to", "if I had the chance, I would". A plan you really have gives you more to say than an invented one.
Getting ready for IELTS?
More free IELTS tools
All free toolsWriting topic generator
Write to Task 1 and Task 2 prompts with a timer and a word counter.
IELTS band score calculator
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
IELTS score converter
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
University IELTS requirements
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for.