IELTS Speaking band 8 sample test 6: Free time and hobbies

Examiner: Let's talk about free time. What do you usually do in your free time?

Candidate: Mostly I'm outdoors, to be honest. I surf before work most mornings if the waves are decent, and on weekends I go for long walks along the coast with my partner and our dog. When it's cold or wet, I'll curl up with a book or do a bit of pottery at a local studio.

Examiner: Have your hobbies changed since you were a child?

Candidate: Completely, really. As a kid I was all about netball and drawing, and I'd spend hours sketching horses. Netball fell by the wayside when I went to uni, and I drifted away from art for years. Now my hobbies are much more about being in the water and working with my hands, which I think is a sign that I've grown into a different person.

Examiner: Do you prefer indoor or outdoor activities?

Candidate: Outdoor, without question. I'm a bit of a sun-seeker, and I think more clearly when I'm out in the fresh air. Indoor stuff has its place, of course, like a pottery class on a wet Tuesday night, but I'd much rather be on the beach or up on a trail. Being outside keeps me grounded, I suppose, especially after a long shift at the hospital.

Examiner: Now, I'm going to give you a topic, and I'd like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Describe a hobby you enjoy. You should say: what the hobby is, how you started it, and how often you do it, and explain why you enjoy it. You have one minute to prepare.

Examiner: All right, please start speaking now.

Candidate: The hobby I'd like to talk about is surfing, which I've been doing for about six years now. I live in Wollongong, just south of Sydney, so the coast is basically on my doorstep, and I'd been watching people out in the water from the headland for ages before I ever tried it myself. It felt intimidating, honestly, all those experienced surfers who seemed to know exactly what they were doing.

Candidate: I finally got the nerve up after a friend of mine, Kate, offered to give me a lesson at a beginners' beach near the harbour. I was hopeless at first. I spent more time falling off the board than standing on it, and I came home with a sore neck and a bruised ego. But I kept going back, and within a couple of months I could catch the small waves. Now I'm out about three or four times a week, usually at dawn before work, when the water's glassy and the crowds haven't arrived.

Candidate: Why I enjoy it so much is hard to put into words, but I think it's the combination of challenge and calm. When you're out there, you're completely present, because you have to be. You can't think about emails or the roster when a set of waves is rolling in. There's also a lovely community feel, with people nodding hello at the same spot every morning. On a bad day I'll paddle out feeling flat, and I'll come back in feeling like I've reset. That's a pretty good return for a few hours in the water.

Examiner: Thank you. Do you think surfing is a sport that's becoming more popular?

Candidate: Definitely, I think so. More people are discovering it through lessons and surf schools, and social media has made it look glamorous. I'd only say it's a bit crowded at the popular breaks now.

Examiner: Let's think about leisure more broadly. Why do you think leisure time is important for people?

Candidate: I'd argue it's essential, really, because it's where people recharge. Most of us spend our working lives under pressure, whether that's deadlines, shift patterns or family demands, and without leisure, that pressure just builds up. On the one hand, downtime offers rest. On the other hand, it's where creativity and identity come from. Nobody's defined by their job alone, and hobbies give people a sense of who they are beyond their roles. I've seen this in my patients too. Those who have something they love outside work tend to recover better, both physically and mentally. So, I'd say leisure isn't a luxury, it's part of staying well.

Examiner: Do people today have more or less free time than in the past?

Candidate: On paper, people have more free time, because we work fewer hours on average than our grandparents did. But I'd argue it doesn't always feel that way. Phones mean work follows you home, and many people feel they're always switched on. Plus, a lot of free time gets swallowed up by errands and logistics, like booking appointments online or sorting out bills. I think the difference is that leisure now feels fragmented, rather than being a clear block of time. Honestly, I'd like to see more people guard a proper couple of hours each week for something they truly enjoy.

Examiner: How do hobbies benefit society as a whole?

Candidate: They build community, mainly. A local running club or a choir brings together people who might otherwise never cross paths, and that kind of connection matters more than people realise. Hobbies also encourage volunteering, because many clubs rely on people giving their time, from surf lifesaving to community gardens. There's an economic angle too, since sport and arts groups support local jobs and businesses. Still, I think the biggest benefit is quieter. People who are happier and less isolated are less likely to put pressure on health services, and that helps everyone.