The cue card
Describe a sporting event that you watched.
You should say:
- what the event was
- when and where you watched it
- who you watched it with
and explain why you enjoyed watching it.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
I'd like to talk about a traditional boat race, or nouka baich as we call it in Bengali, which I watched about three years ago near my grandparents' village, a few hours' drive from Dhaka. These races are usually held towards the end of the monsoon, when the rivers are full, and they're a much-loved tradition in rural Bangladesh, although I'd never actually seen one in person before that year. The race took place on a wide stretch of river just outside the village. By the time we arrived in the early afternoon, both banks were lined with thousands of spectators, and some people had even climbed onto rooftops and into trees to get a better view.
There were small stalls selling snacks, balloons and cheap toys, so the whole area had the atmosphere of a village fair. I watched it with my grandfather and three of my cousins. My grandfather had rowed in these races himself as a young man, so he spent the whole afternoon explaining the finer points to us: how the oarsmen have to row in perfect rhythm, and how they sing traditional rowing songs to keep their strokes in time. As for why I enjoyed it so much, the first reason is the sheer spectacle.
The boats are incredibly long and narrow, painted in bright colours, and each one carries dozens of rowers. When they came racing down the river side by side, with drums beating and the crowd roaring, the noise was absolutely deafening. The second reason is more personal. Seeing my grandfather so animated, cheering for the boat from his old village and telling stories I'd never heard before, made me feel connected to a part of my family's history.
The boat we were supporting didn't actually win, but I don't think any of us cared very much.
Useful phrases from this answer
- in person
- being physically present, not watching on a screen
- lined with
- having people or things all along the edges
- the finer points
- the small, detailed parts that experts understand
- the sheer spectacle
- how impressive and exciting something is to watch
- absolutely deafening
- extremely loud
- on the global stage
- in front of the whole world
- make way for
- be removed so that something new can take its place
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Why are some sports more popular than others in particular countries?
I think history plays a major role. Cricket is hugely popular in South Asia largely because of the colonial connection with Britain, and it has since become part of national identity. Success is another important factor: when a national team starts doing well internationally, more children want to play that sport, and more money flows into it. Geography and climate matter too, so it's no surprise that winter sports are popular in snowy countries but almost unknown in tropical ones. Finally, cost and access make a difference. Football is popular almost everywhere partly because all you need is a ball and some open space, whereas sports like golf require expensive equipment and facilities.
Is it better for children to play team sports or individual sports?
I'd say both have their benefits, so ideally children should try a bit of each. Team sports like football or cricket teach cooperation, communication and the importance of putting the group's interests before your own, which are valuable lessons for later life. They're also very sociable, which helps shy children make friends. Individual sports such as swimming or athletics, on the other hand, develop self-discipline and personal responsibility, because there's nobody else to blame if things go wrong. In the end, though, I think the most important thing is that children enjoy what they're doing, because a child who loves a sport will keep playing it far longer than one who's pushed into it.
Do top athletes deserve the high salaries they earn?
This is a tricky one. On the one hand, top athletes have extremely short careers, often finishing in their mid-thirties, and they've usually sacrificed a normal childhood and years of their lives to reach that level. They also generate huge revenue for clubs, broadcasters and sponsors, so it could be argued that they're simply getting a share of the money they help to create. On the other hand, it does seem disproportionate when a sports star earns more in a week than a nurse or a teacher earns in several years, given how essential those jobs are to society. So I'd say their salaries are understandable in market terms, but not necessarily deserved in a moral sense.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hosting a major international sporting event?
The main advantages are prestige and investment. Hosting a major tournament puts a country on the global stage, attracts tourists and can speed up improvements to infrastructure, such as roads, airports and public transport, which local people continue to benefit from long afterwards. It can also create a strong sense of national pride. However, the costs can be enormous, and there's a real risk that money is spent on stadiums that are barely used once the event is over. In some places, residents have even been moved out of their homes to make way for new facilities. So I'd argue it's only worthwhile if there's careful long-term planning rather than spending for the sake of a few weeks of publicity.
How can governments encourage people to take more exercise?
I think the most effective approach is to make exercise easy, safe and affordable. That means providing public parks, sports grounds and walking or cycling paths, particularly in crowded cities where open space is scarce. In Dhaka, for example, the few parks that exist are often full of people walking in the early morning, which suggests the demand is there if the facilities are provided. Governments can also support school sports programmes, so that children develop the habit early, and run public health campaigns explaining the benefits of regular activity. Supporting community sports clubs or organising free events like fun runs could help too, although ultimately people need to find activities they genuinely enjoy.
Practise this cue card out loud
Free, no account needed. Use Chrome or Edge with a microphone; you'll get a band estimate for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Want the technique behind a strong Part 2? Read the free Speaking lessons.