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

Sports is a common topic. The examiner will ask if you like playing or watching them. To score Band 9, you need to be honest. If you hate football, say it! Use words like stamina, sedentary lifestyle, or solitary pursuit to describe how sport makes you feel.

How to Use These Sample Answers

Below are the latest 2026 questions for "Sports."

Important: These answers are for a person who loves running alone to relax. They hate team sports (like football) because they don't like relying on other people. They run to clear their mind, not to win trophies. If you are a football fanatic who watches every match, these answers are not for you.

So, here is the plan:

1. Read these samples to understand the Band 9 structure.

2. Use the IELTS Speaking Lab App to get personalized answers with perfect vocabulary for your life.

Part 1: Questions & Model Answers about Sports

1. Do you like sports?
I am not really into competitive team sports, but I love running. It is the perfect antidote to my sedentary lifestyle. I spend all day sitting at a desk for work, so I need to hit the pavement in the evenings to stretch my legs and get my blood pumping.

2. How often do you exercise?
I am quite strict with my fitness regime. I try to run five times a week. It requires a lot of self-discipline, especially on cold mornings, but consistency is key. If I break the routine, I start to feel sluggish and lazy.

3. Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?
Definitely individual sports. I view running as a solitary pursuit. I enjoy being able to go at my own pace without feeling the pressure to perform for teammates. It is my time to zone out and escape the world.

4. Did you play sports at school?
Yes, it was mandatory in my school. We had to play football, which I absolutely loathed. I lacked the coordination for ball games and was always picked last for the team. It was quite a humiliating experience, to be honest.

5. Do you enjoy watching sports on TV?
No, I find it incredibly dull. I don't understand the appeal of being a passive spectator. I would much rather be out there breaking a sweat myself than watching millionaires chase a ball on a screen.

6. Is there a sport you would like to try in the future?
I have always been curious about rock climbing. It seems to require immense upper body strength and problem-solving skills. It looks like a great way to push my limits, but I haven't had the courage to try it yet.

7. Do you think sports are important for children?
Absolutely. Beyond the physical benefits like fighting obesity, it teaches them valuable life lessons. It provides a healthy outlet for energy and helps them build resilience—learning how to lose is just as important as learning how to win.

8. What is the most popular sport in your country?
It is undeniably football. People in my hometown are fanatical about it. When the national team plays, the whole country comes to a standstill. It creates a great sense of community and national pride.

9. Do you usually exercise alone or with friends?
I almost always exercise alone. For me, running is a form of meditation. If I go with friends, I get distracted by the conversation and lose my rhythm. I prefer to plug in my headphones and focus on my breathing.

10. Do you have a favorite athlete?
I don't follow professional leagues, but I have a lot of respect for marathon runners. Their endurance and mental toughness are incredible. Pushing your body for 42 kilometers requires a level of dedication that I find very inspiring.

11. Do you need special equipment for your sport?
Running is generally low-maintenance, but you do need to invest in a high-quality pair of running shoes. Proper footwear provides shock absorption and prevents injuries like shin splints.

12. Is your diet important for your sport?
Yes, fuel is everything. I try to eat clean, whole food to keep my energy levels stable. If I eat heavy, greasy meals, I feel terrible during my run. Hydration is also crucial, especially in the summer.

13. Have you ever won a sports competition?
No, I don't have a competitive streak. I run to beat my own personal best, not to defeat others. The only reward I look for is the sense of achievement I feel after completing a long distance.

14. How do you feel after exercising?
Physically, I feel shattered, but mentally, I feel amazing. There is a chemical reaction called the "runner’s high"—a massive endorphin rush that floods your brain. It leaves me feeling exhilarated and stress-free.

15. Is sport expensive?
It depends on what you do. Golf or skiing can be prohibitively expensive due to the gear and fees. But running is very budget-friendly. You don't need a gym membership; the world is your gym.

Key Vocabulary for IELTS Topic: Sports

Here is the complete glossary of every bolded word and phrase used in the answers above.

• Achievement: A thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage.

• At my own pace: Going at a speed that is comfortable for you, not rushing for others.

• Breaking a sweat: Doing physical exercise that is hard enough to make you sweat.

• Budget-friendly: Cheap; good for people who don't have much money.

• Competitive streak: A part of your personality that wants to win and be better than others.

• Coordination: The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently.

• Dedication: The quality of being committed to a task or purpose.

• Endorphin rush: A sudden feeling of happiness caused by chemicals released during exercise.

• Endurance: The ability to keep doing something difficult for a long time.

• Exhilarated: Feeling very happy, animated, and energetic.

• Fanatical: Extremely interested in something and enthusiastic about it (obsessed).

• Fitness regime: A regular plan of physical exercise.

• Get my blood pumping: To start exercising and get your heart rate up.

• Hit the pavement: To go for a run on the street/road.

• Hydration: The process of causing something to absorb water (drinking enough water).

• Invest in: To spend money on something useful or high quality.

• Low-maintenance: Not needing much effort or money to keep going.

• Mandatory: Required by law or rules; compulsory.

• Meditation: The practice of focusing the mind (running can be mental rest).

• National pride: Love and devotion to one's country (often seen during sports events).

• Obesity: The state of being grossly fat or overweight.

• Outlet for energy: A way to release physical energy (important for kids).

• Passive spectator: Someone who just watches an event rather than taking part.

• Personal best: The best time or score you have ever achieved in a sport.

• Prohibitively expensive: So expensive that you cannot afford it.

• Push my limits: To try to do more than you think you are capable of.

• Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

• Runner’s high: A feeling of euphoria (happiness) experienced after prolonged running.

• Sedentary lifestyle: A way of life that involves little physical activity (sitting a lot).

• Self-discipline: The ability to control yourself and work hard to achieve a goal.

• Shattered: Extremely tired; exhausted (British English).

• Shock absorption: The ability of shoes to reduce the impact of running on your joints.

• Sluggish: Lacking energy or alertness; moving slowly.

• Solitary pursuit: An activity that you do alone.

• Upper body strength: The physical power of your arms, shoulders, and chest.

• Zone out: To stop thinking about everything around you and relax mentally.

Create Your Own Band 9 Answers

The answers above are perfect—if you are a solo runner. But what if you are a football fan? Or what if you are a yoga lover?
Your answers need to be true so that you can easily recall them during a stressful exam.

IELTS Speaking Lab helps you turn your real ideas into Band 9 answers.

1. Select your topic - Sports.

2. Input your rough idea (e.g., "I love playing basketball with my team").

3. Get personalized Band 9 answers instantly, with the perfect vocabulary for your story.

Start Generating Your Personal Answers Now →