This is a speaking topic from the real IELTS exam related to running/jogging.

Practice below in case if it comes up on your test.

You can try to answer these questions yourself before looking at my answers.

Running

  1. Do you like jogging?
  2. When was the last time you went for a long run?
  3. Do you enjoy watching running competions on TV?
  4. Is your neighborhood a good place for running?

Or listen to the audio file and take notes to work on your listening:

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Dave

IELTS Speaking Model/Sample Answer: Running (Real IELTS Speaking Exam)

1. Do you like jogging?

Nah, if you’re talking about going for a jog or getting on a treadmill. I can’t stand it and I don’t think it’s worth the alleged health benefits. Whenever I feel like exercising, I just lie down and wait for the feeling to pass. I was so happy to hear that it’s bad for your joints because that gave me an excuse not to ever try going for another run and wiped away any health-related guilt I might’ve felt.

2. When was the last time you went for a long run?

I remember pretty well the last time I went for a run, long as I haven’t forgotten any times since then… I was about 22 so must’ve been more than a decade ago. I was dating a girl who was an avid runner – cross country and everything – and I was a good athlete but not a runner. I wanted to show off and thought I could handle it without any training beforehand – I thought I’d be way faster no matter how far we ran. But it was a rude awakening – I gave up halfway through and the experience scarred me enough to put me off running forever.

3. Do you enjoy watching running competitions on TV?

I guess you mean the marathon and Olympic track and field… I’ve never watched the full telecast of the marathon – I doubt anyone has – I’ve only seen highlights on the news of the runners crossing the finish line. I have watched some track and field at the Olympics – the first time Usain Bolt won gold but I haven’t caught any of the last 2 Olympics.

4. Is your neighborhood a good place for running around?

Yes, it’s ideal in a lot of ways. I come from a small suburb – the roads are pretty empty most of the time so you can run in the street or on the sidewalk. There are a lot of little forests nearby with running trails and a big lake. I never availed myself of the opportunity to go for a run because for me a run is a run – even in a paradise, it’s still exercise.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Nah, if you’re talking about going for a jog or getting on a treadmill. I can’t stand it and I don’t think it’s worth the alleged health benefits. Whenever I feel like exercising, I just lie down and wait for the feeling to pass. I was so happy to hear that it’s bad for your joints because that gave me an excuse not to ever try going for another run and wiped away any health-related guilt I might’ve felt.

I remember pretty well the last time I went for a run, long as I haven’t forgotten any times since then… I was about 22 so must’ve been more than a decade ago. I was dating a girl who was an avid runner – cross country and everything – and I was a good athlete but not a runner. I wanted to show off and thought I could handle it without any training beforehand – I thought I’d be way faster no matter how far we ran. But it was a rude awakening – I gave up halfway through and the experience scarred me enough to put me off running forever.

I guess you mean the marathon and Olympic track and field… I’ve never watched the full telecast of the marathon – I doubt anyone has – I’ve only seen highlights on the news of the runners crossing the finish line. I have watched some track and field at the Olympics – the first time Usain Bolt won gold but I haven’t caught any of the last 2 Olympics.

Yes, it’s ideal in a lot of ways. I come from a small suburb – the roads are pretty empty most of the time so you can run in the street or on the sidewalk. There are a lot of little forests nearby with running trails and a big lake. I never availed myself of the opportunity to go for a run because for me a run is a run – even in a paradise, it’s still exercise.

Answers

Nah no

talking about referring to

jog run

treadmill machine for running at the gym

can’t stand it hate it

worth valuable for

alleged health benefits supposedly good for your health

pass go away

happy to hear glad to find out

joints connecting your bones/ligaments

excuse justification

wiped away gotten rid of

health-related guilt feel bad due to health

long as short for ‘as long as’ meaning if I haven’t

times time period

decade 10 years

avid enthusiastic

cross country long distance running

athlete person who plays sports

show off brag about

handle it deal with well

beforehand prior to

way faster much quicker

rude awakening surprised

gave up halfway through quit in the middle

scarred traumatic

put me off made me dislike

marathon 23 mile run

Olympic track and field running events at the Olympics

telecast on TV

doubt question

highlights best parts of

crossing the finish line at the end of the race

caught watched

ideal perfect

suburb small town near a city

running trails paths for joggers

availed myself took advantage of

paradise perfect

Pronunciation

nɑː 
ˈtɔːkɪŋ əˈbaʊt 
ʤɒg 
ˈtrɛdmɪl 
kɑːnt stænd ɪt 
wɜːθ 
əˈlɛʤd hɛlθ ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
pɑːs 
ˈhæpi tuː hɪə 
ʤɔɪnts 
ɪksˈkjuːs 
waɪpt əˈweɪ 
hɛlθ-rɪˈleɪtɪd gɪlt 
lɒŋ æz 
taɪmz 
ˈdɛkeɪd 
ˈævɪd 
krɒs ˈkʌntri 
ˈæθliːt 
ʃəʊ ɒf 
ˈhændl ɪt 
bɪˈfɔːhænd 
weɪ ˈfɑːstə 
ruːd əˈweɪknɪŋ 
geɪv ʌp ˌhɑːfˈweɪ θruː 
skɑːd 
pʊt miː ɒf 
ˈmərəθən 
əʊˈlɪmpɪk træk ænd fiːld 
ˈtɛlɪkɑːst 
daʊt 
ˈhaɪˌlaɪts 
ˈkrɒsɪŋ ðə ˈfɪnɪʃ laɪn 
kɔːt 
aɪˈdɪəl 
ˈsʌbɜːb 
ˈrʌnɪŋ treɪlz 
əˈveɪld maɪˈsɛlf 
ˈpærədaɪs 

Vocabulary Practice

What do the words in bold below mean?

N__h, if you’re t________________t going for a j__g or getting on a t___________l. I c_____________t and I don’t think it’s w______h the a______________________s. Whenever I feel like exercising, I just lie down and wait for the feeling to p____s. I was so h_______________r that it’s bad for your j________s because that gave me an e________e not to ever try going for another run and w______________y any h_______________t I might’ve felt.

I remember pretty well the last time I went for a run, l__________s I haven’t forgotten any t______s since then… I was about 22 so must’ve been more than a d__________e ago. I was dating a girl who was an a_____d runner – c________________y and everything – and I was a good a__________e but not a runner. I wanted to s_________f and thought I could h__________t without any training b___________d – I thought I’d be w____________r no matter how far we ran. But it was a r_______________g – I g________________________h and the experience s__________d me enough to p____________f running forever.

I guess you mean the m_____________n and O______________________d… I’ve never watched the full t____________t of the marathon – I d_______t anyone has – I’ve only seen h___________s on the news of the runners c______________________e. I have watched some track and field at the Olympics – the first time Usain Bolt won gold but I haven’t c__________t any of the last 2 Olympics.

Yes, it’s i_______l in a lot of ways. I come from a small s__________b – the roads are pretty empty most of the time so you can run in the street or on the sidewalk. There are a lot of little forests nearby with r______________s and a big lake. I never a_______________f of the opportunity to go for a run because for me a run is a run – even in a p_______________e, it’s still exercise.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Watch the video below to learn a bit more about jogging:

Reading Practice

Read more about the health benefits of jogging here – just don’t go for an actual jog!

https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/benefits-of-jogging

Writing Practice

Write about the writing topic below then check with my sample answer:

Many feel that going to the gym is the best way to stay fit. Others think there are more effective methods.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Real past IELTS tests

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