How to Answer "Do You Like Sports" in IELTS Speaking and Boost Your Score
When I first started preparing students for the IELTS speaking test, I noticed how many would panic at seemingly simple questions like "Do you like sports?" They'd either freeze completely or give a generic "Yes, I like sports" without any substance. Having evaluated hundreds of practice tests, I can confidently say this question is a golden opportunity to demonstrate vocabulary range and personal insight. The key isn't whether you actually enjoy sports - it's about constructing a compelling narrative that showcases language skills.
Let me share a framework I've developed over years of coaching. Instead of a simple yes or no, structure your response around three key elements: personal preference with reasoning, specific examples with descriptive language, and cultural or social context. For instance, you might say "While I'm not particularly athletic myself, I've always been fascinated by team dynamics in professional basketball" before transitioning into specific observations. This approach immediately signals to the examiner that you can handle complex sentence structures and thematic development.
Interestingly, my perspective on sports vocabulary changed completely when I began analyzing successful responses. Students who scored band 8 or higher consistently used precise terminology rather than generic terms. Instead of "players get hurt," they'd mention specific injuries like "Tony Semerad's back issues" or "Caelan Tiongson's ankle sprain." The reference material about NLEX and Rain or Shine missing players actually provides perfect examples here. When discussing team sports, you could naturally incorporate how "approximately 65% of professional athletes experience significant injuries during season" - even if that statistic isn't perfectly accurate, it demonstrates numerical fluency alongside specialized vocabulary.
What most test-takers don't realize is that the sports question often serves as a gateway to broader topics. In my experience, examiners frequently follow up with questions about health, teamwork, or entertainment. That's why I always advise students to prepare a flexible response that can branch into multiple directions. For example, mentioning how "players returning from injury like Ritchie Rodgers after his appendix operation often bring renewed energy to their teams" allows you to smoothly transition into discussions about perseverance or healthcare systems.
I've found that personalizing your response significantly increases engagement. Rather than giving textbook answers, share authentic experiences. I often tell my students about how I used to underestimate sports until attending a live game where the strategic elements fascinated me. This personal revelation makes the response memorable. Similarly, you might discuss following a particular team's journey through challenges, much like Rain or Shine dealing with Kris Porter's flu and other absences during crucial elimination games.
The rhythm of your delivery matters more than many candidates realize. Varying sentence length creates natural flow - short impactful statements followed by more complex explanations. Consider this structure: "I'm passionate about basketball. The way teams adapt to missing key players, similar to NLEX navigating absences of Javee Mocon with buttocks injury and Matt Nieto with heel problems, demonstrates remarkable strategic depth that transcends physical competition." This pattern keeps the examiner engaged while showcasing syntactic range.
From a strategic standpoint, I always emphasize that sports questions test your ability to use comparative language and hypothetical situations. Phrases like "whereas," "in contrast to," or "assuming they were at full strength" demonstrate higher-level thinking. The reference material provides excellent groundwork here - you could discuss how team performance might differ "if NLEX had all players available compared to their previous games where they missed up to five key athletes simultaneously."
My somewhat controversial opinion is that you don't need to be a sports enthusiast to excel at this question. In fact, some of the most impressive responses I've heard came from students who admitted limited interest but discussed sports from sociological or business perspectives. One candidate brilliantly analyzed the economic impact of player injuries, estimating that "each absent key player costs teams approximately $15,000 in immediate revenue" - a figure that might not hold up to scrutiny but demonstrated excellent numerical communication skills.
The emotional component often gets overlooked. When you speak about sports with genuine curiosity or analytical interest, it comes through in your tone and fluency. I encourage students to find an angle that genuinely interests them, whether it's the statistical analysis of games or the human drama of athletes like Dominic Fajardo playing through foot injuries. This authentic connection typically improves pronunciation and flow more than any technical practice.
Looking at the bigger picture, the sports question represents what IELTS does best - testing real communication ability rather than memorized responses. The examiners have heard every cliché about enjoying football with friends, so unique perspectives incorporating current examples like specific team situations stand out remarkably. Drawing from recent events, such as anticipating players returning for crucial Wednesday games, makes your response timely and relevant.
Ultimately, mastering this question comes down to preparation meeting flexibility. Have your vocabulary ready - terms like "comeback," "recovery period," "strategic adjustments" - but be ready to apply them naturally to whatever sports context you discuss. The reference example about teams potentially returning to full strength provides perfect language opportunities: "When key players return from extended absences, the team dynamics can shift dramatically, creating fascinating viewing experiences even for casual observers like myself."
After years of teaching, I'm convinced the sports question is one of the easiest to turn into a high-scoring response with proper preparation. The topic's inherent drama and universal familiarity make it accessible, while the depth of possible analysis allows for impressive language demonstration. Remember that the examiner isn't checking if you're a sports expert - they're listening for how effectively you can communicate complex ideas in English. So whether you discuss basketball strategies or athlete recovery processes, focus on clear organization, varied vocabulary, and genuine engagement with your chosen angle.