# Describe an outdoor activity you enjoy: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Activities

Describe an outdoor activity you like to do.

You should say:
- what the activity is
- where and when you do it
- who you do it with
- and explain why you enjoy it

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about cycling, which is something I've been doing regularly for about three years now.

Basically, I go out on my bike most Saturday mornings, usually quite early, around six o'clock, before the traffic gets heavy. There's a route I really like that goes along the river on the edge of the city and then climbs up into some hills. The whole ride takes about two and a half hours if I don't stop too much. In the summer I sometimes go in weekday evenings as well, because it stays light until quite late.

Normally I ride with two friends from my old university. One of them is much fitter than me, so he always waits for us at the top of the hills and makes jokes about how slow we are. Sometimes I go alone, though, and I actually enjoy that too, because I can go at my own pace and just think.

There are a few reasons why I enjoy it so much. The first one is obviously the exercise. I work in office all week, sitting in front of a computer, so it's good to move my body and get some fresh air. Another reason is that it clears my head. When I'm cycling I don't check my phone and I don't worry about work, I just focus on the road. And also, there's a great feeling when you reach the top of a steep hill and you can look back at the whole city below you. After the ride we usually stop at a small café for breakfast, which is honestly my favourite part.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is fluent and well organised, with a believable routine and clear reasons. Vocabulary goes beyond basics ("go at my own pace", "clears my head", "steep hill"), and present habits are described accurately. There are a couple of typical slips: a wrong preposition in "go in weekday evenings" (rather than "on weekday evenings") and a missing article in "I work in office" (rather than "in an office"). The reasons are introduced with predictable markers ("The first one", "Another reason", "And also"), and some description is plain. For Band 8, the speaker would need more precise and idiomatic language, and to develop the feeling at the top of the hill rather than simply naming it. Said with natural chunking, the listing would still sound easy to follow.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-an-outdoor-activity-you-enjoy).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.