Part 1 — Hobbies & Leisure
Frequency expressions · gerund vs. infinitive after enjoy/like/love · making simple hobbies sound rich · scoring techniques
1. Topic & Why It Matters
Hobbies & Leisure is a classic Part 1 topic because it sounds easy but quietly exposes your level. The examiner uses it to relax you, yet it's exactly where many candidates give one-line answers ("I like music.") that hand over almost no evidence of vocabulary, grammar range, or fluency.
This topic typically generates 4–6 questions across sub-areas: what you do in your free time, how often, who you do it with, how you got into it, how it's changed since childhood, and whether you'd like to try something new. The examiner can pivot from "What do you do to relax?" to "Did you have the same hobbies as a child?" in a single breath, so you need ideas ready across all of them.
Where marks are commonly dropped:
- Fluency & Coherence — listing hobbies without explaining when, why, or how they fit into daily life; freezing because the topic feels "too simple" to develop.
- Lexical Resource — repeating like, interesting, and relax instead of richer phrases like clear my head or get completely absorbed in.
- Grammar — the wrong verb form after enjoy, avoid, be into, or would like; never moving beyond the present simple.
- Pronunciation — weak sentence stress, especially in answers built around frequency phrases such as once or twice a week.
2. Scoring Strategy — How to Maximise Your Band
Part 1 is scored on the same four criteria as Parts 2 and 3. Here is how to target each one specifically in Hobbies & Leisure answers:
3. Answer Frameworks
A framework stops you freezing on a "simple" question. For Part 1 hobbies, aim for 3–5 sentences (20–40 seconds). Here are four reliable shapes:
4. Knowledge Points
Frequency language: be precise, not robotic
| Meaning | Natural phrase | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Very often | almost every day | I go for a short run almost every day. |
| Regular but not daily | a couple of times a week | I cook with my friends a couple of times a week. |
| Occasional | every now and then | Every now and then, I play badminton after work. |
| Rare | once in a blue moon | I go to karaoke once in a blue moon. |
| When busy | whenever I can squeeze it in | I read whenever I can squeeze it in. |
| Irregular over time | on and off | I've been learning the guitar on and off for years. |
Frequency spectrum (from most to least)
Gerund vs. infinitive after common hobby verbs
| Verb / phrase | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| enjoy / avoid / consider / practise | -ing (gerund) | I enjoy taking photos. I avoid watching TV too late. |
| be into / be keen on / be fond of | -ing or noun | I'm really into bouldering. I'm fond of old films. |
| would like / hope / plan / want | to + verb | I'd like to learn the guitar properly. |
| like / love / prefer | -ing or to + verb | I love cooking on weekends. (-ing sounds more general) |
| spend (time) / it's worth | -ing | I spend hours editing photos. It's worth getting outdoors. |
| used to | base verb | I used to collect stamps when I was a kid. |
The 3-layer Part 1 answer
For hobbies, use three quick layers: what you do, how oftenyou do it, and why it matters. For example: "I'm really into street photography. I usually do it on Sunday mornings, when the city is still pretty quiet. It helps me slow down and notice small details I'd normally miss."
Turning a one-word hobby into a high-band answer
"I like music."
"I like listening to music. I listen every day because it helps me relax."
"I'm a bit of a music addict, to be honest — I almost always have something playing. Lately I've been really into lo-fi and old jazz, mainly because it helps me switch off and get in the zone when I'm working."
5. Vocabulary & Phrase Bank
A. Liking & getting into a hobby
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | be really into … | like something strongly and naturally |
| 02 | be keen on … | British-style phrase for liking an activity |
| 03 | be a big fan of … | really enjoy something |
| 04 | get into a hobby | start becoming interested in it |
| 05 | pick up a new skill | learn something casually |
| 06 | be hooked on … | be unable to stop doing something enjoyable |
| 07 | have a soft spot for … | have a fondness for something |
| 08 | dabble in … | do something casually, not seriously |
B. How a hobby makes you feel
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 09 | clear my head | relax mentally after stress |
| 10 | switch off for a while | stop thinking about work or study |
| 11 | unwind after a long day | relax and de-stress |
| 12 | get completely absorbed in … | become deeply focused on an activity |
| 13 | lose track of time | forget the time because you're enjoying something |
| 14 | get in the zone | reach a state of total focus |
| 15 | blow off steam | release stress or frustration |
| 16 | take my mind off things | stop worrying for a while |
| 17 | recharge my batteries | restore your energy |
C. Benefits & describing the hobby
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | keep me in shape | help physical fitness |
| 19 | a creative outlet | a way to express creativity |
| 20 | a nice change of pace | something different from daily routine |
| 21 | meet like-minded people | meet people with similar interests |
| 22 | it's right up my street | exactly the kind of thing I enjoy |
| 23 | a real escape | a complete break from everyday stress |
| 24 | good for my mental health | beneficial for emotional wellbeing |
| 25 | a bit of me-time | time spent alone doing what you enjoy |
D. Frequency & fitting it in
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | do it on and off | do it irregularly over a long period |
| 27 | fit it around my schedule | make time for it despite being busy |
| 28 | whenever I can squeeze it in | whenever I can find a little time |
| 29 | once in a blue moon | very rarely |
| 30 | make it a regular thing | turn it into a habit |
| 31 | set aside some time for … | deliberately reserve time |
| 32 | be a bit rusty | less skilled than before from lack of practice |
| 33 | fall out of the habit | stop doing something you used to do regularly |
E. Vocabulary upgrades — replace generic words
| Instead of … | Try … | Example in context |
|---|---|---|
| I like | I'm really into / I'm keen on / I'm a big fan of | "I'm really into bouldering these days." |
| fun | absorbing / addictive / a real buzz | "It's genuinely addictive once you start." |
| relax | unwind / switch off / clear my head | "It helps me switch off after work." |
| interesting | fascinating / absorbing / addictive | "I find photography completely absorbing." |
| good for me | good for my mental health / a real escape | "It's a real escape from the daily grind." |
| sometimes | every now and then / on and off | "I paint on and off, depending on my mood." |
| I'm not good at it | I'm a bit rusty / I'm still finding my feet | "I'm a bit rusty, but I'm getting back into it." |
6. Describing Techniques — How to Talk About Different Sub-Topics
A. Describing what you do in your free time
Don't just name the hobby — layer it: activity → frequency → a vivid detail → how it feels. A specific detail is what makes an answer sound real rather than rehearsed.
"In my free time I watch TV, play games, and sometimes read books."
"Honestly, my go-to way to unwind is cooking. A couple of evenings a week I'll put on a podcast and just experiment with whatever's in the fridge — it's become a real escape from staring at a screen all day."
B. Describing how you got into it
Use narrative + a turning point. A mini-story of how you discovered the hobby shows past tenses naturally and sounds genuine.
- "I sort of fell into it during the pandemic, when I had a lot of time on my hands."
- "A friend dragged me along to a class once, and I was hooked from then on."
- "I've been doing it on and off ever since I was a kid."
- "It started as a way to deal with stress, and it just snowballed from there."
C. Describing who you do it with
- "It's mostly a solo thing for me — a bit of much-needed me-time."
- "I usually do it with a small group of like-minded people I met online."
- "It's actually become a nice way to catch up with friends."
- "I prefer doing it on my own, to be honest — it's when I get completely absorbed."
D. Describing how a hobby has changed over time
The examiner often asks if you had the same hobbies as a child. Use "used to" + "these days" to contrast past and present cleanly.
"When I was younger I used to spend every spare minute playing football outside. These days, though, I'm drawn to quieter things like reading and cooking — partly because life's got busier, and partly because my tastes have just shifted as I've got older."
E. Describing a hobby you'd like to try
- "I've always wanted to give [pottery / diving / the piano] a go."
- "I'd love to pick up [a language / painting] at some point, mainly because …"
- "It's been on my bucket list for ages — I just haven't got round to it yet."
- "If I had more time on my hands, I'd definitely take up …"
7. Grammar Patterns
8. Pronunciation Focus
Sentence stress in frequency phrases
In Part 1, frequency phrases should sound light and natural. Stress the number or key time word, then move smoothly into the activity: a COUple of times a WEEK, almost every DAY, every NOW and THEN.
| Phrase | Stress target | Practice line |
|---|---|---|
| a couple of times a week | COUple / WEEK | I go cycling a couple of times a week. |
| every now and then | NOW / THEN | Every now and then, I bake with my sister. |
| whenever I can squeeze it in | WHENever / SQUEEZE | I read whenever I can squeeze it in. |
| once in a blue moon | ONCE / BLUE | I go dancing once in a blue moon. |
Linking sounds
Link short function words into the next word: into_it, couple_of, sort_of, pick_up, kind_of. This makes the answer sound more fluent without speaking faster.
Intonation for enthusiasm
Hobbies should sound like things you actually enjoy. Let your pitch rise on the key feeling word to convey genuine interest:
"I'm REALLY into it ↗ — it's honestly become a bit of an obSESSion ↘."
Flat delivery here sounds bored, which undercuts the meaning. Lift the pitch on 'really' and 'obsession'.
Words candidates often mangle
| Word | Common error | Target sound |
|---|---|---|
| hobby | /ˈhɒbi/ (over-stressed -by) | /ˈhɒbi/ — short, light second syllable |
| leisure | /ˈliːʒə/ vs /ˈleʒə/ | /ˈleʒə/ (UK) — 'leh-zher', not 'lee-zher' |
| photography | /ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːfi/ | /fəˈtɒɡrəfi/ — stress on the second syllable |
| absorbed | /əbˈzɔː/ | /əbˈzɔːbd/ — release the '-bd' cluster |
9. Common Pitfalls
10. Common Questions Bank & Strategy Notes
Below are the most frequently asked Part 1 Hobbies & Leisure questions, grouped by sub-topic. For each, there's a strategy note on what the examiner is looking for.
A. What you do
B. Frequency & routine
C. Origins & people
D. Evaluation & future
11. Practice Questions & Model Answers
Question 1: "What do you usually do in your free time?"
"What do you usually do in your free time?"
Follow-up: "Did you have the same hobbies when you were younger?"
Target length: 4–6 sentences · Target time: 30–45 seconds
"Well, these days I'm really into cooking, especially simple Chinese dishes that don't take the whole evening. I usually cook properly a couple of times a week, mostly on Friday nights, because it helps me switch off after staring at a screen all day. I used to treat cooking as a chore, to be honest, but during the pandemic I started trying recipes with my sister, and it gradually became a kind of creative outlet for me. I'm still a bit rusty with anything involving dough, but when a dish turns out well, I can lose track of time and really enjoy the process."
Question 2: "How did you become interested in this hobby?"
"Honestly, I sort of fell into hiking by accident. A friend more or less dragged me along to a weekend trek a couple of years ago, and I remember complaining the whole way up — but the view from the top completely won me over. Ever since then, I've been hooked. What drew me to it, I think, is that feeling of being totally off-grid — no phone signal, no emails, just you and the trail. Now I try to get out into the hills whenever I can squeeze it in, which admittedly isn't as often as I'd like."
Question 3: "Did you have the same hobbies when you were younger?"
"Not really, no — my interests have shifted quite a bit. As a kid I used to be obsessed with video games; I'd happily spend a whole weekend glued to the screen. These days, though, I'm drawn to much calmer things, like reading and cooking, partly because life's got busier and partly because my tastes have just changed as I've got older. Having said that, I'll still fire up a game every now and then when I really want to switch my brain off — so I suppose old habits die hard."
Question 4: "Do you prefer doing hobbies alone or with other people?"
"It honestly depends on the hobby. For something like reading or sketching, I much prefer being on my own — it's a bit of much-needed me-time, and I can get completely absorbed without anyone interrupting. But for things like hiking or board games, half the fun is doing it with like-minded people — you bounce off each other and it turns into a proper social occasion. So I'd sayI'm a bit of both, really, depending on what kind of mood I'm in."
Question 5: "Would you like to try a new hobby in the future?"
"Definitely. At the moment I'm so snowed under with work that I barely have time for my existing hobbies, but there's one thing that's been on my bucket listfor ages — pottery. I'd love to give it a go, mainly because it looks so hands-on and calming, and I think working with clay would be a real change of pace from sitting at a desk. If everything goes to plan, I'm actually thinking of signing up for a weekend class once things quieten down a bit. I just need to get round to it!"
12. Annotated Commentary
Analysis of techniques used across the model answers above:
"especially simple Chinese dishes that don't take the whole evening" — a defining relative clause adds detail smoothly. Also: "I'd happily spend a whole weekend glued to the screen" (would + base verb for past habit) and "working with clay would be a real change of pace" (gerund subject + conditional).
The answers shift naturally between present simple ('I usually cook'), 'used to' for childhood ('I used to be obsessed'), present perfect ('I've been hooked'), and conditional ('I'd love to give it a go'). That range is what lifts you to Band 7+.
"lose track of time", "won me over", "off-grid", "old habits die hard", "on my bucket list", "a change of pace". Woven into the narrative, not bolted on. Use 1–2 per answer, not five.
"to be honest", "I'd say", "it depends on the hobby", "admittedly", "I suppose". Hedging shows degrees of certainty and stops answers sounding absolute or rehearsed.
"during the pandemic I started trying recipes with my sister", "I remember complaining the whole way up". Specific, credible details that make the answer believable rather than memorised.
"Well", "Honestly", "sort of", "I suppose", "really". These signal confident, conversational speech and buy thinking time without sounding uncertain.
Stress the frequency phrases: 'a COUple of times a WEEK', 'every NOW and THEN'. Link 'into_cooking', 'switch_off', 'kind_of', 'fell_into'. Let pitch rise on feeling words ('REALLY into', 'completely abSORBED').
13. High-Band Techniques (Band 7–8+)
These techniques turn a "simple" hobby question into evidence of real range. Each one targets a specific scoring criterion.
14. Self-Drill
Shadow-reading lines — say each 5 times aloud
"I usually cook properly a couple of times a week, mostly on Friday nights, because it helps me switch off."
Focus on: stress COUple and WEEK, link 'couple_of', keep 'switch off' crisp.
"When a dish turns out well, I can lose track of time and really get absorbed in it."
Focus on: link 'turns_out', rise on 'reALLY', release the '-bd' in 'absorbed'.
"I used to be obsessed with video games, but these days I'm drawn to much calmer things."
Focus on: 'used to' → /juːstə/, stress 'obSESSED' and 'CALMer', falling tone at the end.
Improv prompts — record yourself, no notes
"What do you do to relax after a busy week?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use one frequency phrase, one gerund after enjoy/be into, and one feeling collocation.
"Tell me about a hobby you had as a child."
Target: 4+ sentences · Use 'used to' and at least one past tense. Add a contrast with 'these days'.
"Would you like to try a new hobby in the future? Why or why not?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use 'would like to + infinitive' and one conditional. Include a concrete plan.
"Do you think hobbies are important for people? Why?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Give a reasoned opinion + one benefit ('a creative outlet', 'good for mental health').
Vocabulary activation drill
Set a 2-minute timer. For each prompt below, speak for 30 seconds using as many expressions from the phrase bank as you can. Don't read — speak from memory.
- Describe your favourite way to spend a free Saturday.
- Persuade a friend to take up your hobby with you.
- Explain how a hobby helps you deal with stress.
- Talk about a hobby you stopped doing and why.