IELTS Sport Vocabulary: Useful Phrases, Expressions & Questions for IELTS Speaking
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Sports is one of the common topics in the IELTS exam. Explore lists of IELTS sports vocabulary, along with their meaning and usage through practice questions for IELTS Speaking. Don’t just play your favourite sports, learn to play with sports vocab here!
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Sports is a common theme in the IELTS exam, especially in the writing and speaking sections. Whether you are discussing your fitness routine in Speaking Part 1, describing your favourite sports in Part 2, or expressing your opinion about national sports events and athletes in Part 3 or essays, having a strong IELTS sports vocabulary related to sports helps you sound fluent, natural, and precise.
Therefore, in the blog, we have listed important IELTS sports vocabulary for speaking as well as IELTS Writing, tips on how to use them in these sections, and some practice questions and answers for speaking.
List of IELTS Sports Vocabulary Based on Different Aspects
Understanding fluency and coherence in IELTS Speaking is not enough when you want to score 7+, as you need to stand out from the crowd of IELTS candidates. To do so, you need to improve your vocabulary and other skills as per the evaluation criteria.
Therefore, we have created lists of IELTS sports vocabulary based on different aspects of the topic. Let’s get started!
IELTS Sports Vocabulary: Types of Sports
The table below presents IELTS vocabulary related to kinds of sports, both team and individual.
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Team sports |
Sports played by two or more people on each side |
Team sports like football and basketball build cooperation and discipline. |
Individual sports |
Sports that are played by one person |
I prefer individual sports like swimming because I can focus on myself. |
Contact sport |
A sport in which players physically touch each other |
Rugby is a typical contact sport that requires strength and stamina. |
Water sport |
A sport played in or on water |
Snorkeling is my favourite water sport when I go to coastal areas. |
Extreme sport |
A sport that involves a high level of danger |
Skydiving is an extreme sport not suitable for the faint-hearted. |
Indoor sport |
Sports played inside a building |
Badminton is a popular indoor sport in many Asian countries. |
Outdoor sport |
Sports played outside |
I enjoy outdoor sports because they let me connect with nature. |
IELTS Sports Vocabulary: Fitness & Training Vocabulary
This vocabulary set helps describe your fitness routine, exercise habits, and training experiences, perfect for IELTS Speaking Part 1 & 2.
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Cardio |
Exercise that raises your heart rate |
I do cardio three times a week to keep my heart healthy. |
Workout |
A session of physical exercise |
My gym workout usually includes weights and running. |
Endurance |
The ability to do something difficult for a long time |
Long-distance runners must build high endurance. |
Stamina |
The physical or mental strength to continue an activity for a long time |
Good stamina helps me complete long hikes without fatigue. |
Strength training |
Exercises that improve muscle power |
My strength training includes squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. |
Flexibility |
The ability to move joints easily |
Yoga enhances flexibility and reduces the risk of injury. |
Cool-down |
Gentle exercises after a workout |
I always stretch during my cool-down to avoid soreness. |
Warm-up |
Light exercises to prepare the body for activity |
A quick jog is a good warm-up before lifting weights. |
IELTS Sports Vocabulary: Mental Aspects & Sports Psychology
IELTS often includes topics like motivation and pressure. This table for IELTS sports vocabulary focuses on psychological vocabulary in sports.
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Sportsmanship |
Fair and generous behaviour in sports |
Good sportsmanship is more important than winning. |
Competitive spirit |
The desire to compete and win |
She has a strong competitive spirit that motivates the whole team. |
Focus |
Mental concentration |
To perform well, athletes must maintain laser-sharp focus. |
Motivation |
The reason or enthusiasm to do something |
My coach gives great motivation before every match. |
Pressure |
The stress of performing well |
Athletes face huge pressure during international tournaments. |
Discipline |
The ability to control one's actions |
Regular training requires self-discipline. |
Mental toughness |
The ability to stay strong under stress |
Mental toughness helps players bounce back after a poor performance. |
IELTS Sports Vocabulary: Sports Events & Facilities
This vocabulary table helps when discussing sports competitions, infrastructure, and events.
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Sports event |
An organised occasion for sports competitions |
The Olympics is the biggest sports event in the world. |
Athletics meeting |
An event where various athletic competitions are held |
Our school hosted an athletics meeting last weekend. |
Football match |
A game of football |
Last night’s football match was incredibly intense. |
Championship |
A competition to find the best team or player |
He won the national chess championship three times. |
Stadium |
A large building for sporting events |
The cricket stadium was packed with thousands of fans. |
Arena |
A building for sports or concerts |
The new indoor arena will host basketball and badminton games. |
Spectator |
A person watching an event |
Thousands of spectators cheered during the final. |
Sports facilities |
Places or equipment provided for sports |
My college has excellent sports facilities, including a swimming pool. |
Learn how to use the IELTS employment vocabulary effectively from experts!
Collocations & Phrases for IELTS Speaking Test – Topic: Sports
These commonly used collocations and common idioms in IELTS Speaking will help you speak naturally in the actual test.
Phrase/Idiom |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
To take up exercise |
To start doing exercise |
I say I’m going to take up exercise all the time, but I always find an excuse to delay. |
To train hard |
To train with a lot of effort |
An athlete has to train hard to achieve their goal. |
To do judo |
To practise the martial art of judo |
My friend is physically very strong. She does judo every day. |
To play tennis/football |
To take part in a tennis or football game |
At the weekends I like to play football with friends, and sometimes I just do judo to kill time. |
A strong swimmer |
Someone who swims well |
My father, who is a strong swimmer, teaches me how to swim. |
To get into shape |
To become physically fit |
My brother does many exercises, which help him to get into shape. |
To keep fit |
To stay in good physical condition |
I try to keep fit by consuming healthy food and exercising regularly. |
To go jogging |
To run at a steady pace for exercise |
I usually go jogging with my mother in the park in the early morning. |
To set a record |
To achieve the best result |
All athletes want to set a record or achieve personal bests. |
Sports facilities |
Equipment and services for sports |
My university spends a lot of money on upgrading the sports facilities. |
A personal best |
Someone’s best achievement so far in a sport |
Sara trains hard to achieve her personal bests. |
Brisk walk |
A fast-paced walk |
Doing a brisk walk is one of the best ways to maintain our health. |
A huge fan of |
A strong supporter or admirer of something |
I am a huge fan of football, and my favourite club is Real Madrid. |
To be out of condition |
Not physically fit |
Lacking exercise and playing sports can lead to being out of condition. |
An athletics meeting |
An event where several athletic competitions are held |
It’s my dream to go to an athletics meeting to watch professionals compete. |
A football match |
A game of football |
I never miss a football match involving my favourite team. |
To be a good sport (idiom) |
To be cheerful and accepting in tough or losing situations |
Even after losing the match, he was a good sport and congratulated the winners. |
To jump the gun (idiom) |
To act too soon without thinking or planning properly |
I jumped the gun by entering the marathon without proper training. |
To hit below the belt (idiom) |
To act unfairly, especially in competition |
The coach said the player hit below the belt with his harsh comments after the game. |
To throw in the towel (idiom) |
To give up or quit, especially after repeated failure |
After losing five games in a row, the team finally threw in the towel. |
To go the extra mile (idiom) |
To make more effort than is expected |
She always goes the extra mile in training, which is why she’s the team captain. |
To level the playing field (idiom) |
To make a situation fair and equal |
Introducing youth leagues has helped level the playing field in competitive sports. |
How to Learn IELTS Sports Vocabulary?
Learning vocabulary effectively for the IELTS exam requires focused and topic-specific strategies, especially for sports. Here is how to master the terms above:
- Organise by Theme: Create flashcards sorted into categories like ‘training’, ‘events’, or ‘mental aspects’ to revise faster.
- Use in Speaking Practice: Pair vocabulary with IELTS-style speaking questions. For example, ‘Do you enjoy playing sports?’ → ‘Yes, I train hard every week and recently achieved a personal best in swimming.’.
- Write Sample Answers: Include the new words in your Writing Task 2 essays or Speaking Part 2 cue card stories.
- Record Yourself: Say the collocations out loud in natural sentences and listen to improve pronunciation and fluency.
- Use Mind Maps: Link each sport word with verbs (e.g., ‘play tennis’, ‘set a record’, ‘train hard’) to understand usage in context.
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Check out this eBook - Vocabulary for IELTS!
Learn IELTS Sports Vocabulary with Practice Questions & Answers
It is time to look at some sample questions and answers for IELTS Speaking and get an idea of how to use them in the actual exam to score a top IELTS band score.
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Discussing sports in IELTS Speaking Part 1 involves answering simple questions about your favorite sports, sports you play, and your general interest in physical activities.
1 Do you do any sports?
Absolutely yes, I am fond of playing football with my friends after school, because we are big fans of football, and whenever playing it, we have a lot of fun with that and feel a sense of enjoyment.
2 Do you watch sports on TV?
Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. Since I a huge football fan, I have barely missed football matches of my favourite team including away games and home games. I prefer to spend my Sunday night staying at home to see a match with my father.
3 What is the most popular sports in your country?
In my opinion, I believe football is the most common sport in my country. This is because it is not too hard to take up sports. In terms of watching a football match, this can bring so much fun to the viewer, not to mention that the sports does not cost much money to play and watch, which allow people to find it easy to approach.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you might be asked to describe a memorable sports event or your favorite athlete, requiring more detailed and structured responses.
Describe your favourite sports.
You should say:
|
Band 8.0 Sample Answer
Since I was a little boy, I began to fall for football, and until now I have ever stopped loving sports. At the very beginning, I first came to know football when my father took me to watch a football match in which our local team played against their biggest competitor. Although our team lose that match, I knew that they had trained hard to prepare for the big match, also during the match, they showed their determination to win that game. All of this made me love our team and to start to fall in love with the interesting sports. After that, I always followed our local team and asked my father to buy season tickets, then I would never miss any games of my favourite team.
Apart from watching football, I am also into playing it. Thus, whenever I have spare time, I prefer to spend on playing football with my friends, which is not only easy for us to take up but also give us a sense of enjoyment. Though it makes me sweat a lot anytime I play with the ball, I love the fact that I always have a great time with my buddy. In addition, I was proud that by playing football regularly I can get into shape, then my relatives compliment on my fit body each time we meet.
Finally, I believe that does not matter that how busy I will be in the future, I will constantly spend a part of my time on football, and my love for football will never be faded.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
IELTS Speaking Part 3 involves deeper discussion about sports, such as the role of sports in society, the impact of professional sports, and the importance of physical education, showcasing your ability to express complex ideas.
1 Should people be encouraged more to take up a sport?
Definitely yes, the most important reason is that playing sports can be regarded as a recreational activity. Indeed, while in the modern world individuals have to suffer from a high level of stress at work or school, so this activity can allow people to reduce stress significantly and feel comfortable. Another reason is anticipating that sports will allow people to socialize, which means they can meet and make new friends.
2 Which sports do you think is best for people who aren’t used to physical activity?
In my point of view, this kind of people won’t prefer strenuous exercise, so brisk walking can be a great choice because sports do not require a high level of fitness. Also, going on a brisk walk regularly help people to keep fit and have a good effect on their health. People who aren’t used to physical activity can also choose swimming, which is easy to take up and after go swimming, they can feel a sense of freshness.
Sounding natural and confident during the IELTS speaking test is consequential to your overall performance. Thus, when answering questions related to sports during IELTS, make sure to use the right vocabulary in your responses. Hopefully, this article will help you improve your sports vocabulary and how to use it for the IELTS exam.
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To sum up, IELTS Sports Vocabulary is a valuable resource for anyone preparing for the IELTS exam. By familiarizing yourself with key sports terms and expressions, you’ll be able to discuss sports topics more fluently and accurately. Incorporate this vocabulary into your study plan to boost your confidence and achieve a higher score in the IELTS speaking and writing sections.
Useful Links:
- Mind Maps to Improve Your IELTS Vocabulary
- Linking Words for IELTS Speaking Section
- 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
- Top 11 IELTS Vocabulary Books
- IELTS Work Vocabulary: Useful Phrases and Expressions in IELTS Speaking
- IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025
- 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test
- Ough Words With Pronunciation


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