IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a sport or exercise that you do for fitness: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 262 words
  • An activity or habit
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Talk about a sport or exercise that you do for fitness.

You should say:

  • →What it is?
  • →How often do you do it?
  • →Why do you do it?
  • →and explain how this activity or sport helps your fitness.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

An activity or habit

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Note the specific sport and why you started it to build a narrative foundation.

  2. 2

    List sensory details like sounds or feelings to make your description sound authentic.

  3. 3

    Focus your final minute on explaining the specific physical health benefits you have noticed.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8262 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I have recently taken up swimming at a local leisure centre called The Oasis, which has become a staple of my weekly routine. I try to head there at least three times a week, usually early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and then once on a Saturday afternoon when it is slightly less crowded. I initially started swimming because I spend far too much time hunched over a laptop for work, and I noticed my posture was really beginning to suffer. I needed something that would force me to move my entire body rather than just tapping away at a keyboard. It has become a form of meditation for me; there is something incredibly soothing about the rhythmic sound of water and the total lack of digital distractions in the pool. Regarding my physical well-being, the impact has been quite profound. Swimming is a low-impact exercise, which means it is gentle on my joints while simultaneously providing a rigorous cardiovascular workout. By swimming laps, I have noticed a significant improvement in my lung capacity and muscle tone. Because water provides natural resistance, every stroke helps to strengthen my core and back muscles, which has effectively eliminated the chronic lower back pain I used to experience. It is not just about weight management; it is really about building functional strength and improving my overall stamina. After a forty-minute session, I feel invigorated rather than exhausted, and I find that my energy levels remain stable throughout the rest of the day, which makes it far more effective than just hitting the gym for weights.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • staple

    a main or important element of something

  • hunched

    bent over with shoulders raised and forward

  • low-impact

    exercise that does not put strain on joints

  • cardiovascular

    relating to the heart and blood circulation system

  • lung capacity

    the amount of air the lungs can hold

  • functional strength

    strength that helps with daily life movements

  • invigorated

    feeling very healthy, energetic, and full of life

  • stamina

    the ability to sustain physical or mental effort

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What are the best ways to keep fit?
  2. 2What do you do to keep fit?
  3. 3What daily physical activities are popular in your country as a form of exercise?
  4. 4Which age group in your country spend most time on regular physical activities?
  5. 5Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun?
  6. 6How can we encourage young people to stay healthy?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Talk about a sport or exercise that you do for fitness."?+

Note the specific sport and why you started it to build a narrative foundation.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: an activity or habit

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