IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hobbies Questions & Band 9 Answers (2026)

If you are taking the test between September and December 2026, get ready for Hobbies. The examiner wants to know what you do in your free time to relax. To score Band 9, you need to show passion. Don't just list activities; explain why you enjoy them using words like creative outlet, unwind, or passionate.

Latest Sep-Dec 2026: Hobbies Questions & Sample Answers

1. Do you have a hobby?
Yes, I am absolutely passionate about photography. I love walking around my hometown with my camera to capture the moment. It allows me to see the world from a different perspective and notice small details that other people might miss.

2. Why do you like this hobby?
It is my main creative outlet. I spend so much time focusing on facts and logic for my studies, so photography helps me switch off my brain and just create something beautiful. It is the best way to decompress after a stressful week.

3. How often do you take photos?
I try to go out every weekend. I usually wake up early on Sunday mornings to catch the golden hour—that specific time just after sunrise when the light is soft and perfect. It’s become a ritual for me.

4. How did you learn to take photos?
I am completely self-taught. I watched hundreds of tutorials on platforms like YouTube to learn about lighting and composition. After that, it was just a process of trial and error until I started getting results that I was happy with.

5. Is your hobby expensive?
Unfortunately, yes. Camera gear is incredibly pricey. I had to save up for months just to buy my first proper lens. It can be a bit of a money pit because you always want to upgrade your equipment to get better quality shots.

6. Do you prefer doing this hobby alone or with others?
I definitely prefer doing it alone. Photography is a very solitary activity for me. I need to focus and be patient to get the perfect shot, which is hard to do if I have a friend chatting next to me. It is my personal me-time.

7. Do you share your work with anyone?
Yes, I have a dedicated account where I post them on social media. It’s really nice to get feedback and likes from strangers. It gives me a sense of validation and encourages me to keep improving my skills.

8. Did you have different hobbies when you were a child?
Yes, quite different. When I was younger, I used to play a lot of football with my cousins. But as I got older and busier with work, I stopped playing team sports and shifted towards more artistic interests.

9. What is the most difficult part of your hobby?
The editing process. Taking the photo is the fun part, but then I have to sit at my computer for hours to edit my shots. It requires a lot of patience and a good eye for color correction, which can be quite tedious sometimes.

10. Do you think hobbies are important?
Absolutely. I think everyone needs a way to unwind. If you only focus on work or study, you will eventually burn out. Having a hobby is essential for your mental health because it gives you a sense of purpose outside of your career.

11. Would you like to turn your hobby into a career?
I have thought about it, but I think I will keep it as a hobby. I am worried that if I start doing it for money, the pressure of deadlines might kill the enjoyment. I prefer to keep it as something I do purely for pleasure.

12. Tell me about a photo you are proud of.
Last month, I took a picture of an old man feeding birds in the park. I managed to frame the shot perfectly so the birds looked like they were dancing around him. It was a very candid moment, and it turned out to be one of my best pictures ever.

13. Why do some people not have any hobbies?
I think many people are just caught up in the daily grind. Between working long hours and taking care of their families, they simply lack the leisure time to explore personal interests. It’s sad, but survival often takes priority over fun.

14. Are hobbies today different from those in the past?
Definitely. In the past, people preferred outdoor activities or making things by hand. Nowadays, a lot of hobbies revolve around screens or consumerism, like spending hours playing video games or going shopping for the latest fashion trends.

15. Do people's hobbies change as they get older?
Yes, they usually do. Teenagers tend to prefer high-energy activities or extreme sports for the adrenaline rush. But as people age, they usually gravitate towards more sedentary activities like reading or gardening because they just want to relax.

Key Vocabulary for IELTS Topic: Hobbies

• Adrenaline rush: A physical feeling of intense excitement or thrill.

• Artistic interests: Hobbies involved with creating art (painting, music, photography).

• Camera gear: The equipment used for photography (camera body, tripod, bags, etc.).

• Candid moment: A photograph taken informally, usually without the subject's knowledge (not posed).

• Capture the moment: To record a specific event or feeling permanently.

• Creative outlet: An activity that allows you to express your creativity.

• Daily grind: The difficult, routine, and tiring realities of daily work or life.

• Deadlines: The latest time or date by which something should be completed.

• Edit my shots: To improve photographs using software (adjusting colors, brightness, cropping).

• Fashion trends: The popular styles of clothes and accessories at a particular time.

• Feedback and likes from strangers: Comments and positive reactions from people online.

• Frame the shot: To compose a picture so the subject is placed perfectly within the image.

• Golden hour: The first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset, known for beautiful soft light.

• Leisure time: Time when you are not working or studying and can relax.

• Lighting and composition: The technical skills of controlling light and arranging objects in a photo.

• Me-time: Time spent relaxing on one's own rather than working or doing things for others.

• Money pit: Something that costs a lot of money over time (often more than expected).

• Passionate: Having a strong love or enthusiasm for something.

• Perspective: A particular attitude or way of looking at something (literally or figuratively).

• Pleasure: A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.

• Post them on social media: To upload photos to apps like Instagram or Facebook.

• Proper lens: A high-quality or specific camera lens suitable for the job.

• Ritual: A habit or series of actions that feels special and is done regularly.

• Save up for months: To put money aside for a long time to buy something expensive.

• Sedentary activities: Pastimes that involve a lot of sitting and very little physical exercise.

• Self-taught: Having learned something on your own without a teacher.

• Solitary activity: Something you do alone.

• Tedious: Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome.

• Trial and error: The process of experimenting with various methods until one works.

• Unwind: To relax after a period of work or tension.

• Validation: The feeling that your actions or work are valuable and appreciated by others.

• Way to decompress: A method to release stress and relax.

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