IELTS Speaking Part 1 hobbies and free time: questions, answers and vocabulary
Prepare for IELTS Part 1 questions about hobbies and free time with sample answers, leisure vocabulary, and tips for sounding natural.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Talk about a real hobby with one specific example—how often, with whom, and why you enjoy it.
Typical hobby questions
Free time, sport, music, reading, and weekends all fall under this topic. They can also lead into Part 2 cue cards such as 'Describe a skill you learned'.
- What do you do in your free time?
- Did you have the same hobbies as a child?
- Do you prefer indoor or outdoor activities?
- Is it important to have a hobby?
Related guide: Link hobbies to Part 2 cue cards
Sample answer
Use frequency, time phrases, and a reason to build a full answer quickly.
'What do you do in your free time?'
Mostly I go bouldering. I started about two years ago with a friend from work, and now we go to an indoor climbing wall twice a week. It's a great way to switch off, because you can't think about anything else while you're on the wall.
Leisure vocabulary that scores
Phrasal verbs and collocations show lexical range without sounding forced.
- take up / give up a hobby
- unwind after a long day
- it helps me switch off
- I'm really into…
- a sociable / solitary activity
Practise and compare
Answer three hobby questions in a row, then review feedback for repeated words like 'like' and 'enjoy'.
Start a Speaking practice →Put this into practice
Pick a Part 1 question about free time, record your answer, and get feedback on range and fluency.
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Official sources and further reading
Practice examples and study routines are illustrative advice, not official band-scored answers or predictions of exam questions.