‘Hobbies’ is one of the most common themes in the IELTS Writing Task 2 as well as in the Speaking section of this English language proficiency test. This is a seemingly easy topic and does not pose many difficulties for students taking the exam.
The kind of questions that you can primarily expect for the hobbies theme in the IELTS essay writing task should be opinion-based questions. These questions will first give you a statement and then ask you to give your opinion on it with the help of supporting examples for each reason or opinion you give.
How to Write a High Band IELTS Essay on Hobbies
To score an excellent band in the hobbies essay IELTS poses, follow the below-mentioned tips:
- Inculcate strong vocabulary, and make sure your sentences are perfectly structured.
- Provide good examples for each reason or supporting argument that you present. Whenever possible, follow this pattern: topic sentence for paragraph giving a good idea about the reason you are stating, followed by a brief explanation, then an example, and finally wrapping it up with a concluding sentence.
- Manage your time well so that you have some spare time in the end to proofread your essay and correct any mistakes.
What sets apart a high band essay from a relatively low scoring essay is the overall structure of the essay, how you have linked one paragraph with the other, your vocabulary and grammar, and the quality of examples you have provided. So, make sure to work on each aspect before sitting for the final exam.
Sample Answers
Here are two sample answers that will guide you on getting a high band score in the hobbies theme essay for IELTS Writing Task 2.
Question: Few people devote time to hobbies these days. Why do you think this is the case, and what effect does this have on an individual and society in general? You should spend around 40 minutes on this task and write at least 250 words in the essay.
Answer: Nowadays, there are only a handful of people who pursue a hobby with due diligence. In my opinion, this is not a positive development and can have many disadvantages for the individual and society in general. Leisure activities can be the much-needed relief from the bursts of high-level energy to cope with today’s highly competitive world. They not only keep you fit and healthy but also contribute towards society’s development. The paucity of time and introduction of alternative means of spending one’s free time are the top two causes for the declining number of people engaging in hobbies today. Demanding jobs and a tough education system make it harder for people to take time out and engage in recreational activities like gardening, dancing, yoga, etc. Additionally, with the new streaming platforms, social media applications, and online gaming communities, people often find themselves on the internet in their spare time rather than stepping out for some simple hobbies. The surge in demand for data and the rising number of online users serve as testament to this statement. With the absence of physical activities comes direct and latent consequences like deteriorating physical health leading to issues like obesity and declining mental health as a result of feeling alienated from society. The individual and the society suffer on account of these effects on physical health, mental health, and community building. For instance, as people increasingly choose the company of their smartphones over their friends and other members of society, they feel increasingly alone and start getting out of shape, as observed by some social scientists at the University of Los Angeles. To conclude, not interacting with others while engaging in hobbies has had a rather negative impact on individuals and society consequently. People should thus be encouraged to step out more and participate in various hobbies within their community to ensure they are in good health and instill in them a strong sense of belonging for the society.
Question: Some people are of the view that hobbies need to be difficult for people to be able to enjoy them well. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement? Write your answer with a minimum of 250 words and give relevant examples.
Answer: While some hobbies are fairly easy to pursue, others are more difficult to perform and pose a challenge for the individual. However, in my view, it is wrong to establish a correlation between the level of difficulty in performing a leisure activity and the enjoyment (or the recreation value) derived from that hobby. Some people truly find pleasure in easy hobbies like swimming. Such activities do not require a very high level of expertise to perform them and can be completed without putting a lot of strain on their physical health. However, that does not mean that swimmers do not like the activity as much. Another example of such hobbies can be people who like to go bird-watching. This is not a difficult hobby per se, but it still serves the purpose of recreation for the individual partaking in it. In contrast, sometimes, more challenging and difficult hobbies can be thrilling. These hobbies can be more rewarding and more satisfying in the end because the person goes through more challenges to reach the endpoint. For instance, video editing and filmmaking are two rather challenging hobbies that can be very rewarding for some people and, thus, more enjoyable. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe that both kinds of hobbies, easy and difficult, can be pleasurable for an individual depending on their preferences. Hence, it is wrong to state that one type of hobby is more enjoyable than the other simply because it is more challenging. The hobbies essay IELTS often presents can be very easy to tackle and should be written in coherence with the statement given and the question asked. However, to score a good band, you should follow a well-structured format like the ones given above in the sample answers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get >7.5 in IELTS writing?
Ans: To get a high band score in writing, you should practice writing regularly and figure out certain formats with which you feel the most comfortable in writing an essay. After you’ve figured out certain formats, try to answer as many common questions as you can.
2. What are the most common essay questions in IELTS?
Ans: Some of the most common essay questions for IELTS are based on themes like fossil fuels, global warming, society, etc. The questions here can be opinion-based or description based (where you don’t give an opinion and simply describe what is asked).
