Understanding how to talk about your daily routine, free time, and hobbies is essential for success in IELTS Speaking Part 1. These are some of the most commonly asked question areas, and answering them well requires using the correct tenses, a variety of vocabulary, and natural fluency.
This lesson will teach you how to describe what you do regularly, express what you enjoy doing in your spare time, and explain your interests confidently. You’ll also see sample questions with model answers to help you practice and understand the structure of strong responses.
These topics are used to start the conversation easily and allow candidates to speak about familiar subjects. Examiners expect you to talk about your personal life in a simple, fluent, and natural way.
Because these questions focus on your everyday activities, it’s a great chance to:
Use the present simple tense correctly.
Show natural expressions related to time and routine.
Express preferences and give short explanations.
Being prepared to speak about your daily routine and interests also helps you feel more confident during the beginning of the speaking test.
What you do every day (Daily Routine)
How you spend your weekends
What you like doing in your free time
Your favorite hobbies or pastimes
Indoor vs. outdoor activities
Whether you prefer relaxing or being active
These questions are often phrased in simple, personal terms and do not require advanced vocabulary, but your answers should show fluency, organization, and a good range of words.
What do you usually do during the day?
What time do you usually wake up?
How do you spend your weekdays?
Model Answer 1:
Q: What is your typical weekday like?
A: On weekdays, I usually wake up around 7 a.m., have a quick breakfast, and then head to work. I work in an office, so I spend most of my day in front of a computer. After work, I sometimes go to the gym or just relax at home watching TV.
Why this works:
Uses present simple appropriately.
Includes time expressions (“usually”, “around 7 a.m.”).
Expands the answer with daily activities.
Useful Vocabulary for Daily Routine:
Wake up / get up / go to bed
Have breakfast/lunch/dinner
Commute / travel to work or school
Spend time doing (something)
Relax / unwind / take a break
What do you do in your free time?
Do you have enough free time?
How do you like to relax?
Model Answer 2:
Q: What do you usually do in your free time?
A: In my free time, I enjoy reading books and listening to music. Sometimes I go for a walk in the park or meet my friends for coffee. It really helps me relax after a long day at work.
Why this works:
Lists more than one activity to expand the answer.
Shows preference (“I enjoy…”, “It helps me relax”).
Uses time-related phrases and descriptive vocabulary.
Useful Phrases for Free Time:
I usually…
I like to…
I prefer spending time…
It helps me relax / It helps me unwind
I find it enjoyable / rewarding / relaxing
Do you have any hobbies?
What hobbies did you enjoy when you were younger?
Have your hobbies changed over time?
Model Answer 3:
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Yes, I love playing the guitar. I’ve been practicing for a few years now, and I try to play at least an hour every evening. It’s a great way to express myself and take a break from work.
Why this works:
Includes a specific hobby.
Uses present perfect (“I’ve been practicing”) to show duration.
Adds personal meaning and explanation.
Useful Vocabulary for Talking About Hobbies:
Play (an instrument, a sport)
Do (yoga, painting, gardening)
Go (swimming, hiking, jogging)
Take up / get into / be passionate about
It’s a good way to… / It helps me to…
Use a variety of tenses
While most answers are in present simple, don’t be afraid to use past simple (for past hobbies) or present perfect (to show ongoing activities).
Give reasons and examples
A strong answer doesn’t just say what you do – it explains why. This shows depth and coherence.
Don’t give one-word answers
Always expand with at least 2–3 sentences. This gives the examiner more to evaluate and shows fluency.
Practice with real questions
Prepare for at least 10 different questions about your lifestyle and interests.
Use linking phrases
Words like “because,” “so,” “that’s why,” “for example,” “also,” and “in my case” help organize your answers naturally.
Weak Answer:
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I watch movies.
Strong Answer:
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I really enjoy watching movies, especially thrillers and documentaries. I usually watch them on weekends when I have more free time. It helps me relax and learn something new at the same time.
Present Simple: for routine activities
“I go to work at 8 a.m.”
Present Continuous: for current habits or changing routines
“These days I’m spending more time at home.”
Past Simple: for hobbies in the past
“I used to play football when I was younger.”
Present Perfect: to show how long you’ve done something
“I’ve been learning Spanish for two years.”
Using these correctly shows grammatical range and accuracy, two important scoring criteria in the IELTS Speaking test.
Try answering these sample Part 1 questions using the strategies above:
What do you usually do in the evenings?
Do you prefer spending time alone or with others?
What’s your favorite way to relax after work or study?
Are there any hobbies you’d like to try in the future?
Did you have different hobbies when you were a child?
Record yourself answering, then listen to check:
Are your answers 2–3 sentences long?
Did you use a variety of vocabulary?
Did you use proper grammar and tenses?
Was your pronunciation clear?
Talking about daily life and hobbies in IELTS Speaking Part 1 is a key skill that can help you earn a higher band score. These topics are predictable, familiar, and ideal for practicing natural, fluent English.
To give strong answers, you must:
Use a range of vocabulary.
Speak in full, well-organized sentences.
Use common tenses correctly.
Add reasons and personal details.
By preparing well for this lesson, you’ll boost your confidence for the exam and impress the examiner from the very first question.