# Describe something you do to relax: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Activities

Describe something you do to relax.

You should say:
- what you do
- when and where you do it
- who you do it with
- and explain how it helps you relax

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

## Band 7 sample

Something I usually do to relax is cooking. I know for some people cooking is a stressful thing, but for me it's the opposite, it really helps me to switch off.

I mostly do it on Sunday evenings, in the small kitchen of my flat. During the week I'm too busy with work, so I just eat something quick, like noodles or a sandwich. But on Sunday I have more time, so I choose a recipe, sometimes from my mum, sometimes from a video online, and I go to the market in the morning for buying fresh ingredients.

Usually I cook by myself, because I like the quiet, but sometimes my flatmate joins me and we cook together. She's actually a better cook than me, so I've learned a lot from her, for example how to use spices properly and not to add too much salt at the beginning. When we cook together we put some music on and chat, and it feels more like a hobby than a job.

The reason it helps me relax is that I have to concentrate on what I'm doing. When I'm chopping vegetables or watching that the sauce doesn't burn, I can't think about my emails or my problems at work, so my mind gets a break. Also, I find the smells and the sounds really comforting, they remind me of my family home. And at the end you have something to show for it, which is satisfying.

Of course, it doesn't always go well. Last month I have tried to make bread and it came out hard like a stone. But even then I laughed about it, and I think that's the point, it's not something serious.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is relevant and well developed, covering when, where and who in detail and giving a sensible explanation of why cooking is relaxing. It includes useful natural phrases ("switch off", "my mind gets a break", "something to show for it"). There are also typical grammar errors: "for buying fresh ingredients" (rather than "to buy" for a purpose) and "Last month I have tried" (rather than "Last month I tried"). Band 8 would use vocabulary more precisely and idiomatically and link ideas with greater variety, so the explanation sounds less like a list.

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

## 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.