IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hobby – Model Answers 2026

Hobby is a carryover topic in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026. It is one of the most commonly asked topics in IELTS and one of the most commonly answered badly. Saying “my hobby is reading” and stopping there is not an answer. It is the beginning of one. These model answers show you how to develop it.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Hobby: Questions and Model Answers

Question 1: Do you have any hobbies?

Model Answer:
Yes, I have a few. I enjoy reading non-fiction, particularly books about history and psychology. I also like hiking on weekends when the weather allows. More recently, I have picked up journalling as a way to reflect on my thoughts and experiences. I find it is a genuinely healthy habit for mental clarity.

Why This Works:
Three specific hobbies, each with a brief qualifier, give the answer variety without running on too long. “Mental clarity” is impressive vocabulary used in a completely natural way.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– non-fiction — writing that deals with real events and facts
– hiking — walking long distances in nature
– picked up — started doing something new
– journalling — the practice of writing personal reflections regularly
– mental clarity — a state of clear, focused thinking

Question 2: Did you have any hobbies when you were a child?

Model Answer:
As a child, my main hobby was drawing. I would spend hours sketching characters, designing imaginary buildings, and filling notebooks with illustrations. I was also into collecting things for a while, stamps, stickers, trading cards. Looking back, I was quite a creative and imaginative child.

Why This Works:
Specific activities like “sketching characters” and “designing imaginary buildings” paint a vivid picture. The nostalgic closing line sounds natural and reflective.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– sketching — making quick, rough drawings
– illustrations — pictures that accompany or explain text
– collecting — the hobby of gathering objects of a particular type
– imaginative — having a strong ability to create mental images
– nostalgic — feeling a sentimental longing for the past

Question 3: Do you have a hobby you have had since childhood?

Model Answer:
Reading is the one hobby I have maintained consistently since childhood, though what I read has changed dramatically. As a child I was into picture books and adventure stories. Now I read mostly non-fiction and long-form articles. The love of reading has stayed the same. It has just evolved alongside my interests and maturity.

Why This Works:
“Evolved alongside my interests and maturity” is a sophisticated way to describe personal growth. The contrast between childhood and adult reading shows clear tense range.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– maintained — continued or kept in the same state
– consistently — in the same way over time without changing
– dramatically — to a very great extent
– long-form — extended in length and depth
– evolved — developed gradually into a different form

Question 4: Do you have the same hobbies as your family members?

Model Answer:
To some extent, yes. Me dad and I both enjoy hiking and being outdoors, so we go for walks together sometimes. My mother and I share a love of cooking and trying new recipes. My interest in reading is not really shared by most of my family though. Having some overlapping hobbies is nice because it gives us something to do together.

Why This Works:
Connecting hobbies to specific family members adds warmth and natural detail. “Overlapping hobbies” is precise vocabulary that sounds completely natural in this context.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– to some extent — partly, but not completely
– outdoors — in or relating to the open air
– share — to have something in common with another person
– overlapping — covering the same area or sharing common elements
– recipes — sets of instructions for preparing a dish

Examiner Tips for IELTS Speaking Part 1 Hobby

Tip 1: Name the hobby and add one specific detail.
“Reading non-fiction, particularly history and psychology” is far stronger than just “reading.” The extra detail takes two seconds and raises your score.

Tip 2: Show evolution over time.
How your hobbies have changed from childhood to now is one of the easiest ways to use past and present tense naturally. Use it every time this topic comes up.

Tip 3: Connect hobbies to people you care about.
Mentioning shared hobbies with family members adds a social dimension that makes your answer more natural and more interesting.

Common Mistakes on This Topic

Naming a hobby with no development or explanation
Using the word “hobby” in every sentence
Giving the same answer for childhood and adult hobbies
Forgetting to explain why a hobby is enjoyable, not just that it is

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hobby a confirmed IELTS Speaking topic for 2026?
Yes. Hobby is a carryover topic in the official IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026.

What if I do not have many hobbies?
Focus on one hobby and develop it in depth. A single hobby described with real detail scores better than several hobbies mentioned vaguely.

Can watching TV or playing video games be a hobby?
Yes. These are real hobbies. Be specific about what you watch or play and why, and your answer will be just as strong as any other.