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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing.

You should say:

• what kind of game or sport it is
• whom you play it with
• where you play it

and explain why you enjoy playing this game or sport.

Model Answer 1:
We love to get involved in different kinds of spectators and individual sports in Myanmar. In fact, our government also encourages us to play sports. Anyway, today I would like to talk about a sport, which I enjoy playing the most like millions of others in my country.

The name of this sport is football. In fact, football by far is the most popular sport in my country, followed by Golf, especially after the modern Myanmar national football league was formed in the year of 2009.  Besides, football has a long and rich tradition in my country as used to be one of the best Asian teams along with Iran and South Korea, winning Asian Games football tournaments twice, in 1966 and 1970, as well as being runner up in the 1968 Asian Cup, after the champion and host Iran. Myanmar youth team had also crowned Asian youth championship titles seven times.

Anyway, when I was younger, I could play this sport anywhere in our streets, where I lived, with my friends and neighbours because back then, the streets were not really that busy.  But, as I've grown up now, I only play this great sport in the field by dividing ourselves, including my friends and neighbours, in two teams, with 11 players in each, and we play like true professionals. In fact, we even organize a “friendly cup” football tournament for our wards (“ward” is a local city authority in my country) in our town every year where the champion team receives an award.

In fact, when our “ward” team plays in this friendly cup football tournament, we support our own teams by chanting and screaming for them so that they become spirited and energized to score goals.

Anyway, I enjoy this sport because it allows me to socialize and mingle with my friends and neighbours while also having fun in the field. The game helps me recuperate from the fatigue and tiredness of my busy working life.  Finally, the sport also allows me to remain physically fit and healthy like no other game.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction:
I am not a huge fan of different kinds of games and sports, unlike most of my friends who are die-hard sports fans, but there is one game that I always find enjoyable to play. That game is table tennis, also known as ping pong. 

What kind of game or sport it is:
Table tennis is a game that is played with two or four players. It is an indoor game that is played on a table with a net dividing it into two halves. The game is played using small rackets and a lightweight ball. The objective of the game is to hit the ball back and forth over the net without letting it touch the ground on your side of the table.

Whom you play it with: 
I usually play table tennis with my friends or family members. It is a great game to play with a group of people, and it always ends up being a lot of fun. We often play doubles, which means that two people are on each team. 

Where you play it:
We usually play table tennis at my friend's house as he has a table in his basement. However, we also play at community centers or recreational facilities. It is a game that is easy to set up, and all you need is a table and a few rackets, making it a great option to play almost anywhere.

And explain why you enjoy playing this game or sport: 
I enjoy playing table tennis because it is a game that requires a lot of focus and concentration. It is a fast-paced game that requires quick reflexes, and it always keeps me on my toes. It is also a great way to get some exercise and stay active. Additionally, playing table tennis is a lot of fun and a great way to socialize with friends and family. It is a game that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels, making it a great option for everyone.

Sample Answer 3:

Introduction:
Football is one of the most popular sports in the world, and I've been playing it since my childhood. In this answer, I would like to describe my experience of playing football, a game that I really enjoy.

What kind of game or sport it is:
Football is a team sport that involves two teams with eleven players on each side. The objective of the game is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team's goalpost.

Whom you play it with & Where you play it:
I usually play football with my friends at the local sports ground. We all have a common interest in football and try to play at least once a week. We are a group of twelve people, and we divide ourselves into two teams to play the game.

And explain why you enjoy playing this game or sport:
Football is a sport that requires physical fitness, teamwork, and strategy. Playing this game helps me to stay fit and healthy, and also allows me to spend time with my friends. Football is a game that tests your skills, and I find it challenging and exciting. Moreover, it is a great stress buster for me. When I am on the field, I forget about all my worries and just focus on the game. It is an amazing feeling to score a goal or make a great pass to a teammate. Football has taught me the importance of team spirit and has helped me in my personal and professional life. I am so passionate about playing this sport.

Model Answer 4:

Introduction: 
Snooker is a popular cue sport that is played on a rectangular table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each long side. It is a sport that requires a lot of skill and precision, as well as strategy and patience. Since I have been playing this game for a few years now, and sometimes I can play it really well, I love to play it whenever I can. 

What kind of game or sport is it: 
Snooker is a cue sport that is played with a cue stick and a set of 21 balls, including 15 red balls worth 1 point each, six coloured balls worth different points and a white cue ball. The aim of the game is to score points by potting balls in the pockets, with players alternating turns until all the balls have been potted.

Whom you play it with & Where you play it: 
I enjoy playing snooker with my friends at a local snooker hall. The hall has several snooker tables that are well-maintained, and we usually reserve a table for a couple of hours. It's a great way to spend time with friends and enjoy some healthy competition.

And explain why you enjoy playing this game or sport:
I enjoy playing snooker because it requires a lot of skill and strategy. It's not just about potting the balls, but also about positioning the cue ball for the next shot. It's a game that requires a lot of concentration and patience, and it can be very rewarding when you successfully pot a difficult ball or execute a difficult shot. Additionally, it's a great way to unwind and socialize with friends.

Sample Answer 5:
I've played several games throughout my young age, both indoor and outdoor games, and I try to play them whenever I get some spare time. Among those games, I enjoyed playing chess more than others. Chess is an indoor game where two players participate to beat one naother. This game does not involve any major physical movements like other outdoor games but a chess player has to use his/her brain and make game plans to defeat the opponent.

I mostly play this game with my friends and cousins. Sometimes I play it with my father and senior relatives. Since playing chess requires only placing the board on a surface and sitting position of the two participating players, it is convenient to play chess almost anywhere. I mostly play it at our veranda, garden or bedroom. I enjoy this game because I have a fascination for this game from my childhood and I really like the overall theme and barnstorming involved in this game. It's a thought-provoking game that gives the participating players to use their brains. A player can apply his/her strategy, and then allure the opponent to fall into a trap which is much like a real battlefield.

It's not a game where someone would only use the physical movements rather the game requires a perfect game plan, finding weaknesses of the opponent and a battle strategy. This game gives you a feel of being the King of a regime where you decide your country men's fate. For all those reasons this is a very interesting and enjoyable game for me.

Tips for answering this Cue Card Topic:

Since this candidate task card is about a game or sport you like to play and enjoy, you can talk about any indoor or outdoor game or sport you play or know about. Alternatively, you can talk about computer games as well. If this is an indoor game you want to talk about,  pick chess, card games, table tennis, bowling, carom, computer games, gaming device game or any other game you prefer. For the indoor games, you can mention that you regularly play it with your family members or friends and enjoy it a lot. Generally, physical exercise is not involved in indoor games except table tennis and you should focus on "improvement" and "excitement" the indoor games offer. Indoor games are usually played inside homes and you should mention that you play it in your house, veranda, drawing room or in a guestroom. You should also mention that you play it in your relatives' houses or friends' houses as well.

If you pick an outdoor game, like cricket, football, badminton, or rugby you should mention that you play it with your friends and some of the neighbours. Sometimes unknown people join in such games where more than 7-8 players are needed. Mention that these games are refreshing and a good way of keeping your health fit.

For the question "why you enjoy playing this game", you should mention that you have a great passion for this game or sport and you have been playing it for a long time. You can also mention that you are usually good at it and your percentage of winning the game is very good. If you talk about an indoor game, mention the excitement and brainstorming it offers and the way you enjoy playing it with your family members and friends. For the outdoor games mention the health benefits it offers and the way you enjoy playing it.
 

Part 3 – Two-way discussion/ Detail Discussion:

Discussion topic: Children’s games

Q. How have games changed from the time when you were a child?
Q. Do you think this has been a positive change? Why?
Q. Why do you think children like playing games?

Discussion topic: Games and competition

Q. Do you think competitive games are good or bad for children? In what ways?
Q. How can games sometimes help to unite people?
Q. Why is competition often seen as important in today’s society?

Please click on IELTS Speaking Test Sample 92 for the answer to those Part-3 Questions

Following are a few more Part-3 questions that you can prepare for this topic. Please note that you will be asked 6 or 7 questions in total in this part of the test. 

Q. What types of sports are popular in your country? Why?
Q. What are the benefits of playing a sport or game in your opinion? 
Q. Do you think the types of sports that are popular will change in the future? [Why? / Why not?]
Q. How can sports bring people from different countries closer together?
Q. What are the advantages of hosting different international sporting events in a country?
Q. How can we encourage children to participate in different types of sporting activities?

Q. What types of sports are popular in your country?
Answer: If there is one thing that brings and unites the people of my country, then that thing has to be sports. So, yes, we love sports, especially if they are soccer, hockey and cricket, whether we are good at playing them or not. After all, for a huge majority of people in my country, these sports are a pure form of entertainment. Apart from soccer, hockey and cricket, sports like badminton, volleyball and long tennis also attract considerable attention from a large number of crowds in my country, particularly when some international tournaments in any of these sports take place. 

Q. What are the benefits of playing a sport or game?
Answer: One has to be really naïve to discount the benefits of playing a sport or game because sport can actually change our life for the better, especially if someone wants to feel fitter, healthier and mentally strong. Sports can also be a pure form of fun and joy, especially when they are played with family members and friends in an informal environment. Finally, sports can also develop great leadership qualities within us and provide individuals with a great opportunity to shine in both their personal and professional life. 

Q. Do you think the types of sports that are popular will change in the future?
Answer: The answer to this question is “perhaps not”. In fact, if the past of some of our present-day, popular sports is any indication, we will find that they are still as popular today, if not more, as they were centuries ago. For example, soccer or football is very much kicking and alive still today even though it started its journey back in 206 B.C! Similarly, the modern-day game, hockey, emerged in the mid-18th century, but it is still being played today in different parts of the world!

Of course, the rules of the games may change a little, here and there, but the fundamental of these games would probably never change.

Q. How can sports bring people from different countries closer together?
Answer: Sports generally spark a very intense kind of emotions and passion among sports lovers, unlike anything else, because of supporting some particular teams or players.  And it’s these intense emotions and passion that make people think positively about each other even though, they belong to different countries, cultures and customs.

Besides, many a time, countries invite other countries to play some international sports tournaments, and usually, when this happens, countries try to be friendly to other countries in order to make the sporting events more enjoyable and accessible to everybody. 

Q. What are the advantages of hosting different international sporting events in a country?
Answer: Hosting different international sporting events on the soil of a country has some great advantages. One such advantage is that it helps generate a huge amount of revenue for the host country, apparently because people from all around the world visit that country and spend their money to watch sporting events. It also helps promote their tourism sectors in a new light to attract more visitors. Finally, it also helps create new infrastructure, structures, buildings, roads, hotels and other facilities which, in turn, then also helps create new employment opportunities for their people.    

Q. How can we encourage children to participate in different types of sporting activities?
Answer: We can encourage children to take part in different sporting activities in many ways. One of those ways could be to actually take them to different sporting events and enjoy the games together. Another way could be that we can play some sports – sports which are actually preferred by the children - together with kids and cheer them up when they score or perform well. Finally, schools can also encourage children to play sports by offering them extra “credits” or “marks” for participating in different kinds of sporting activities. 

Being able to answer this question would help you answer the following cue card topics also:

1. Talk about something you enjoy doing at home.
2. Describe something you do often.
3. Talk about an outdoor activity you have.
4. Describe a healthy habit you have.
5. Describe a game or sports you often play.
6. Describe something you do with your friends or family members.
7. Talk about a national sport or game in your country.
8. Describe something you enjoy doing.

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card

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