What do you usually do on weekends? Some people go out with friends, while others prefer to stay home and relax after a long, stressful week. To help you score high on the topic “Weekends” in the IELTS Speaking test, this article provides useful ideas, sample responses, and essential vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 1.
1. Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions – Topic: Weekends
Here are typical questions that IELTS examiners ask to assess your speaking skills on the topic of weekends. Be sure to check the IELTS Speaking band descriptors to understand how to meet each criterion effectively. Prepare your ideas for these frequently asked questions:
What do you usually do on the weekend?
What did you do last weekend?
Do you make plans for your weekend?
Do you enjoy your weekends now more than you did when you were a child?
What would your ideal weekend be like?
What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?
How important do you think it is to have free time on the weekends?
2. Sample Answers – IELTS Speaking Part 1: Weekends
In Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test, questions are personal and informal. This section is designed to ease you into the test and reduce anxiety.
Question: What do you do at the weekend?
Normally, I go out to some stunning natural places to let off steam with my family or friends. But if the weather is not nice, I prefer to stay home the entire weekend. Most of the time, I just use the Internet to kill time.
High-scoring Vocabulary:
Stunning natural places: beautiful outdoor destinations
Let off steam: relax, relieve stress
Kill time: pass time doing something nonproductive
Question: Do you make plans for your weekend?
No, I do not. I consider myself a routine-oriented person, so I usually repeat the same tasks and activities every weekend. However, if something unexpected happens, I can easily put my routine aside, though it rarely occurs.
High-scoring Vocabulary:
Routine-oriented: following a fixed routine
Unforeseen: unexpected
Put something on the sideline: set aside or postpone
Question: What did you do last weekend?
Let me think. Last weekend, my Sunday class was canceled, so my friend and I visited a local market called Dong Xuan to enjoy the local cuisine. Thanks to this unplanned outing, I had a chance to recharge my batteries and improve my mood for the upcoming week. I also had quality time sharing thoughts with my friend.
High-scoring Vocabulary:
To pay a visit to: visit
Local cuisine: traditional food
Recharge one’s batteries: refresh and relax
Gain a better mood: feel happier
Have quality time: spend meaningful time
3. Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking – Topic: Weekends
To impress the examiner in the IELTS Speaking test, strong ideas must be supported with flexible use of topic-related vocabulary. Below are useful words and phrases for the topic Weekends – Part 1:
3.1 Common Vocabulary for Weekends
Vocabulary | Meaning | Example |
Hang out | Spend time socially | Do you still hang out at the pool hall? |
Chill out at home | Relax at home | I like to chill out at home on weekends. |
Sleep in | Wake up late | I usually sleep in on the weekends. |
Get together with friends | Gather with friends | We often get together on Saturdays. |
Go shopping | Go to stores | I always go shopping for groceries on weekends. |
All-in package | Package holiday | I prefer solo travel over an all-in package tour. |
3.2 Common Collocations and Idioms – Topic: Weekends
Expression | Meaning |
A well-earned rest | A break that is deserved after hard work |
Have a change of air | Experience something new |
Make a day of it | Spend the whole day enjoying an activity |
Leave work aside | Stop thinking about work |
Be full of beans | Feel very energetic |
Shake off tension and negative thoughts | Get rid of stress and worries |
Put one’s mind at ease | Feel relaxed and calm |
Go with the flow | Let things happen naturally |
Confidently Score High on IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Weekends Topic
We hope the sample questions, model answers, and topic-specific vocabulary above will help you respond confidently and naturally in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 test on the topic of weekends. You can also apply these phrases in everyday conversations for real-life fluency.
To save time and plan efficiently for your IELTS test, consider booking the Speaking test on the same day as your Listening, Reading, and Writing sections. You may choose between the IELTS Academic or General Training Speaking test, depending on your goal and level.
Once you decide on the right test for you, find your nearest IDP IELTS test center and register for your IELTS exam today.