How would you describe your family in English? It is one of the most personal topics in the IELTS Speaking test, and one of the most common. Family comes up in IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards, and “Tell me about your family” is a classic Part 1 question.
Because the topic is personal, you can speak from real experience, which makes it easier to sound fluent. Below you will find five family cue cards with band 7+ sample answers, useful family vocabulary, and typical Part 1 and Part 3 questions with answers.
You get a cue card and 1 minute to make notes. Then you speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover every point on the card, add a short example or story, and finish with the “explain” part.
Family cue cards with sample answers
Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with.
You should say:
- who the person is
- what you do together
- how often you see each other
and explain why you spend so much time with this person.
Sample Answer:
The family member I spend the most time with is my older sister, Anna. She is three years older than me, and since we both moved to the same city for work, we see each other at least twice a week.
We do all sorts of things together. On Wednesday evenings we usually cook dinner at her flat and catch up on each other’s news, and at weekends we often go for long walks or visit our parents together, since they live about an hour away.
I think we spend so much time together because we are not only sisters but also best friends. She is the first person I call when I have good news or a problem, and she always gives me honest advice. When we were teenagers we argued a lot, but now we are closer than ever.
Describe a family member who has achieved something remarkable.
You should say:
- who the family member is
- what they achieved
- how they achieved it
and explain why you are proud of them.
Sample Answer:
I would like to talk about my grandfather, who achieved something remarkable at the age of sixty-five: he ran his first marathon.
He had never been sporty, but after he retired his doctor told him to be more active. He started by walking every day, then slowly began to jog, and after about two years of training he signed up for the marathon in our city. He trained in all weathers, and the whole family came to cheer him on at the finish line.
I am incredibly proud of him because he proved that it is never too late to start something new. He finished in just over five hours, which is very respectable for a beginner of his age. His story has inspired several people in our family, including me, to start running too.
Describe an activity that you enjoy doing with your family.
You should say:
- what the activity is
- when and where you do it
- who takes part
and explain why you enjoy doing it with your family.
Sample Answer:
An activity my family and I really enjoy is our big Sunday lunch. Almost every Sunday, my parents, my siblings and I get together at my parents’ house, and sometimes my grandparents join us too.
Everyone helps to prepare the food. My father is in charge of the main course, my mother makes dessert, and the rest of us set the table and do the washing-up afterwards. The lunch itself usually lasts for hours, because we sit around the table and talk about everything from work to politics.
I enjoy it because during the week we are all busy and live in different places, so this is the time when we really connect. It is relaxed, there are no phones at the table, and there is always a lot of laughter. For me, those lunches are what family is all about.
Describe a successful family business that you know.
You should say:
- what the business is
- who runs it
- how it became successful
and explain why you think it is successful.
Sample Answer:
A successful family business I know well is a bakery in my hometown, which has been run by the same family for three generations.
It was started by the grandfather in the 1970s as a tiny shop selling bread. Today his son and granddaughter run it together. The son is responsible for the baking, while the granddaughter, who studied marketing, has opened a café next to the shop and started selling cakes online.
I think it is successful because it combines tradition with new ideas. They still use the original recipes, so the quality has stayed the same, but the younger generation has helped the business attract new customers. Also, the whole family is friendly and knows many customers by name, which creates real loyalty.
Describe a great dinner that you and your family enjoyed.
You should say:
- when and where it was
- what you ate
- who was there
and explain why it was so enjoyable.
Sample Answer:
One family dinner I will never forget was the celebration of my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary last spring.
My siblings and I organised it as a surprise. We booked a private room in a lovely restaurant by the lake and invited about twenty relatives, some of whom had travelled from abroad. We had a three-course meal: fresh fish to start, roast lamb as the main course and, of course, a big anniversary cake.
It was so enjoyable because my parents were completely surprised; my mother actually cried when she walked in. During the dinner, my uncle showed old photos from their wedding, and everyone shared funny stories. It was a rare evening when the whole family was together in one place.
Useful family vocabulary for IELTS
These words and phrases will help you talk about family more precisely:
| Topic | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Family members | immediate family, extended family, relatives, siblings, an only child, in-laws, a stepfather |
| Relationships | to get on well with, to be close to, to look up to, to take after, to have a lot in common |
| Family life | to bring up children, a family gathering, to spend quality time, a close-knit family, a family tradition |
| Describing people | supportive, easy-going, strict, protective, down-to-earth, a role model |
| Useful phrases | to run in the family, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, to start a family |
IELTS Speaking Part 1: family questions
Part 1 questions are short and personal. Give a direct answer and add a reason or an example.
1Tell me about your family.
I come from a fairly small family. There are four of us: my parents, my older sister and me. My grandparents live nearby, so we see them quite often too.
2Do you get along well with your family?
Yes, I’d say we get on really well. Like every family we have the occasional argument, but we are very close and we support each other a lot.
3What do you usually do together with your family?
We usually have dinner together at the weekend, and in summer we often go to our cottage in the countryside, where we swim, have barbecues and just relax.
4How much time do you spend with your family?
Not as much as I would like, because I live in a different city now. But I visit my parents at least once a month, and we talk on the phone a few times a week.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: family discussion questions
New to Part 3? See how to give band 7+ answers in Speaking Part 3, with simple and stronger answers compared.
Part 3 questions are about families in society. Give longer answers with reasons and examples.
1How have families changed in recent years?
Families have become smaller. In my grandparents’ generation it was normal to have four or five children, but today most couples have one or two. People also start families later, and it is more common for both parents to work full-time, so grandparents often help with childcare.
2Is family more important than friends?
For most people, I think family is more important in the long term, because family members are usually there for you no matter what. However, friends play a different role: we choose them, and we often share interests and experiences with them that we can’t share with our family.
3Should elderly people live with their children?
It depends on the culture and the situation. Living together can be great for both sides, since grandparents help with the children and get support in return. But it can also cause tension, so in many countries older people prefer to live independently, as long as they are healthy.
Practise on your own
Choose one of the cue cards above, set a timer for 1 minute to make notes, and then record yourself speaking for 2 minutes. Listen back and check whether you covered every point and used some of the vocabulary from this page. For more topics, see IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics and cue cards with answers.