IELTS Speaking Part 2 · Events
Describe a sports event you watched
Describe a sports event you watched
You should say:
- what sports event it was
- when and where you watched it
- who was competing or participating
and explain why you found this sports event so exciting.
How to plan your answer
Use your 1 minute to jot down key words for each point, not full sentences.
- 1
what sports event it was
Event: A city marathon held in the heart of my hometown downtown.
- 2
when and where you watched it
When and where: Watched from the main avenue near the finish line last October.
- 3
who was competing or participating
Participants: International professional athletes competing alongside enthusiastic local amateur runners.
- 4
and explain why you found this sports event so exciting.
Why exciting: Unpredictable final sprint, energetic cheering crowd, and inspiring human determination.
Sample answer
about 222 words · 2 minutesI would like to talk about a city marathon that I had the opportunity to watch live last autumn, around October. It took place right in the heart of my hometown, with the course stretching across the major avenues and finishing at the central park. I decided to head down to the final stretch along the main boulevard with a few friends to cheer on the runners and soak up the lively atmosphere. The event brought together thousands of participants, ranging from top-tier international long-distance runners to enthusiastic local amateurs running to raise money for charity. What made the roster so interesting was the massive variety of competitors, from young university students to elderly runners showing incredible stamina. The main reason I found this event so incredibly exciting was the tense atmosphere near the finish line. Just as the elite male runners approached the final kilometer, two competitors were practically neck and neck, repeatedly surging past one another in a bid for victory. The whole crowd was roaring with excitement, creating an electric energy that gave me goosebumps. Beyond the dramatic physical battle for first place, it was immensely inspiring to see ordinary citizens push past sheer exhaustion to complete the race. Overall, attending this event was an unforgettable experience because it combined high-stakes athleticism with a strong sense of community spirit.
A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.
Useful phrases
soak up the lively atmosphere
We arrived early at the stadium to soak up the lively atmosphere before kickoff.
neck and neck
The two sprinters were neck and neck until the final few meters.
roaring with excitement
The entire arena was roaring with excitement as the home team scored.
electric energy
There was an electric energy in the hall during the championship match.
push past sheer exhaustion
She managed to push past sheer exhaustion and cross the finish line.
Common mistakes
I watched a sports event who was very exciting.
I watched a sports event that was very exciting.
Use 'that' or 'which' for things, and 'who' only for people.
The runners were making a race very fastly.
The runners were racing very fast.
'Fast' is both an adjective and an adverb; 'fastly' is not a word.
I am interested to watch live sports.
I am interested in watching live sports.
The adjective 'interested' takes the preposition 'in' followed by a gerund.
Tips for a higher band
- Use topic-specific collocations like 'thrilling competitive aspect' or 'neck and neck' to demonstrate idiomatic vocabulary.
- Vary your sentence structures by mixing complex clauses with direct descriptive statements to enhance grammatical range.
- Maintain natural pausing at phrase boundaries rather than pausing between individual words to improve fluency.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After Part 2 the examiner may ask deeper questions on the same theme.
- Why do you think major international sporting events are popular around the world?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of hosting a large sports event in a city?
- How have people's habits regarding watching sports changed with modern technology?
Now try this cue card
1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak, then a band estimate and tips for each criterion.
Practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.