IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample – Topic: Describe a time when you first learned outdoor sports

Describe a time when you first learned outdoor sports

You should say:
– What you did
– When and where you did it
– How you felt about it later

MODEL ANSWER 

(What you did)
I usually go out walking in the evening every day and sometimes play some outdoor games, but the outdoor activity that I did for the first time last month was something different. At that time, after completing the arduous end-of-term examination, I was invited by a friend to go climbing on a mountain. He’s been doing it for about six months and I had asked him about it once as I was curious whether mountain climbing requires a lot of stamina. I accepted his request without hesitation and even bought some suitable clothes for the sport.

(When and where you did it)
During the journey to the highest mountain in our province, my friend accompanied me all the time. It was great fun, although I was a little scared at first, apprehensive to be exact. My special instructor was really experienced and I started practising on the ground and very low on the wall to gain my confidence so there was very little risk. However, the reality seemed not that easy, as the route to reach the mountain peak is in twist and turns, we almost felt the terminal point was approaching but it was endless. I got a little exhausted and had to lean against a tree. My friend encouraged me to hold on, take deep a breath and only think about the mountain peak to continue to climb.

(How you felt about it later)
There’s nothing quite like standing on top of a mountain, with the clouds and the rest of the world stretched out below you. It is so challenging, refreshing, and wonderful. When I am in the mountains, it relieves me of all the tension from my schoolwork and daily life. I can chat with my friends, breathe fresh air, and appreciate different plants. When I reach the top of a mountain, I cannot help but feel as if I were a king. I have a panorama of the world below me, and I am always fascinated by the beautiful scenery. Though undeniably exciting, mountain climbing requires a level of advance preparation and physical fitness that few other types of sports can equal. I have more confidence in myself after conquering such a demanding sport for the very first time.

Vocabulary:

1. arduous [adj]: difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy
Eg: Domestic work remained especially arduous since, even in the 1970s, a large part of rural housing lacked basic amenities.
2. stamina [n]: the physical and/or mental strength to do something that might be difficult and will take a long time
Eg: The triathlon is a great test of stamina.
3. without hesitation [expression]: if you say that someone does something without hesitation, you are emphasizing that they do it immediately and willingly
Eg: The great majority of players would, of course, sign the contract without hesitation.
4. apprehensive [adj]: feeling worried about something that you are going to do or that is going to happen
Eg: I’m very apprehensive about tomorrow’s meeting.
5. twist and turns [expression]: curves and frequent changes of direction
Eg: The road through the mountains has many twists and turns.
6. approach [v]: to come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount
Eg: If you look out of the window on the left, you’ll see that we’re now approaching the Eiffel Tower.
7. refreshing [adj]: making you feel less hot or tired
Eg: There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a cold beer.
8. panorama [n]: a view of a wide area
Eg: From the hotel roof you can enjoy a panorama of the whole city.
9. equal [v]: to achieve the same standard or level as someone else, or the same standard or level as you did before
Eg: We raised over $500 for charity last year and we’re hoping to equal that this year.
10. conquer [v]: to deal with or successfully fight against a problem or an unreasonable fear
Eg: He has finally conquered his fear of spiders