# What is your favourite hobby? IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 1 - Hobbies

What is your favourite hobby?

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

## Band 6 sample

My favourite hobby is playing guitar. I started it when I was in high school because my cousin had a guitar and he taught me some basic chord. Now I play almost every evening for maybe thirty minutes after I finish my work. I mostly play old pop songs and some film songs also, but I am not so good at singing, so I only play. I think it is a very good hobby because it make me relax and I can forget about my stress. Sometimes I play in small gatherings with friends and they enjoy a lot. In future I want to learn more difficult songs and maybe join a music class.

**Examiner notes.** This answer responds directly and gives useful detail about when, how often and why the speaker plays, so it is easy to follow. The ideas are joined mostly with "and", "but" and "so", and the vocabulary stays general ("very good hobby"). Slips like "some basic chord", "it make me relax", "they enjoy a lot" and "In future" are noticeable but never block meaning. For Band 7, the speaker would use collocations such as "helps me unwind", vary sentence openings, and fix agreement and article errors.

## Band 7 sample

I'd say my favourite hobby at the moment is gardening, although in my case it's really just a balcony full of pots. I got into it during my final year at university, when a neighbour gave me a few chilli plants she didn't have room for. Since then it's grown into a small collection of herbs, tomatoes and a couple of flowering plants. I usually spend about twenty minutes on it every morning, watering and checking for pests, and it's become a calming way to start the day. What I like most is that you can see the results of your effort, which isn't always the case with studying. Plus, there's nothing quite like cooking with herbs you've grown yourself.

**Examiner notes.** This answer tells a mini story of how the hobby began and then gives a reason with a clear contrast: you can see results, "which isn't always the case with studying". Natural phrases such as "got into it" and "grown into a small collection" show good awareness of collocation, and relative clauses are accurate. Ideas are still added in a fairly linear way ("Since then... What I like most... Plus"). For Band 8, the speaker would show more precise, less predictable word choice and link the reason more tightly to personal detail.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/what-is-your-favourite-hobby).

## More Part 1 questions on this topic

1. How much free time do you usually have?
2. Did you have the same hobbies when you were a child?
3. Is there a new hobby you would like to try?
4. Do you prefer hobbies you do alone or with other people?

## 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.