IELTS Speaking Forecast · Q3 2026 · September–December
Team Sports / Doing Sports
This topic is part of the Part 1 forecast set for Q3 2026 (September–December). Below are the questions that keep coming up, each with an original Band 9 model answer by WIKION.
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Questions & Band 9 answers
Have you ever played a team sport?
Yeah, definitely — I played volleyball pretty seriously all through school, and I was actually on the class team for a couple of years. What I loved about it was that buzz you get when everyone clicks and pulls off a good rally together, so it kind of got me hooked.
Are team sports popular in your country?
Oh, hugely. Football is basically a national obsession — whenever the national team plays, the whole country grinds to a halt and people spill out onto the streets to celebrate. Badminton and volleyball are big too, especially in smaller towns where you'll see people knocking a shuttlecock around in the evenings.
Do you often do physical exercise?
I try to, though I'll admit I'm not the most disciplined person about it. On a good week I'll get moving three or four times, but when work piles up it's the first thing to slip. That said, I always feel so much sharper and less stressed afterwards, so I keep dragging myself back to it.
What kind(s) of physical exercise do you do to keep fit?
Mostly a mix of running and bodyweight stuff at home — nothing too fancy. I go for a jog around the park a few mornings a week, and then I'll throw in some push-ups and squats when I'm short on time. I've never really been a gym person; I much prefer being outdoors where I can clear my head.
What sports are popular with young people today?
These days I'd say football and basketball are still the go-to for a lot of young people, but I've noticed things like pickleball and gym workouts really taking off, partly because everyone posts their progress on social media. A lot of my friends are into hiking and cycling too — I think there's this growing trend of doing something active that also makes for a nice photo.
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