my family essay ielts

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Write About Your Family- Sample Essays For IELTS

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Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

‘ Write about your family ’ IELTS essay shouldn’t be a difficult task for the test-taker. All they need to do is write logically and clearly, mentioning their family members and mentioning snippets of what they do. You can also mention the family structure if you live in a joint family. This essay draws upon your personal experiences and needs an objective writing style.

Sample Essay 1:
Sample Essay 2:

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore more resources related to ielts essays:, write about your family: samples for ielts , sample essay 1: .

My family is my biggest pride and joy. We are a family of six living in a spacious and sparsely furnished apartment with three rooms. Our family comprises my paternal grandparents, my parents, a younger sister, and yours truly. I believe that we are fortunate to live with our grandparents since the love and care that we get from them are unparalleled. My parents are also supportive of our dreams and aspirations while giving us the space that we require to lead our own lives.

My grandfather retired from service as the General Manager at a nationalized bank. He has had a long and illustrious career. My grandmother taught mathematics at a leading Government school. She also retired from service some years back. My father is a chartered accountant, running his practice and consulting with several MNCs and corporate biggies. He has been a good student from childhood, just like my grandparents. All three of them also share another passion, namely running and athletics. Both my grandparents were into marathon running in their younger years. They still go for jogs and walks each morning. My father runs at least ten kilometers each day without fail.

My mother runs her salon; she has always been passionate about beauty and wellness. She also loves cooking delicious dishes that we love feasting on. My sister studies English in the first year of college. She is good at creative writing and debate; she wishes to study media, journalism, and communications in the future. I am currently working as a data science specialist at one of India’s biggest technology firms. I also pursue clay modeling in my spare time. We are an eclectic family with diverse tastes, and that lends a special dimension to our life and time together.

Tentative Band Score: 6.5

Word Count: 294

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Sample Essay 2:

I happen to live in a family of 32 members, which is surprising, considering today’s nuclear-family explosion and the dismantling of the joint-family structure. Yet, I feel blessed and grateful to reside in a home where there is unbridled love and unquestioned support at all times. Our family comprises my grandfather, grandmother, father, and his four brothers (my uncles). All five brothers are married and have two children each. This makes it 22 members in all. I have a younger sister, while my uncles all have two daughters each.

My family also comprises my grandfather’s brother and his wife. They have two children (two uncles) who are both married and have two children each (all sisters). The best part is that I am the only brother in a team of 14 siblings. You can imagine the kind of love and pampering that I get, along with unconditional support. Food at home is still cooked in the same kitchen, and every family gets to decide the menu for a particular day. Every family equally contributes towards the household expenditure, which is now digitally created and shared among everyone.

We have always grown up having a blast together. Every day is like a special occasion at home. For us, it is not only about having our parents to fall back on; we have two sets of grandparents and multiple sets of parents in the form of my uncles and aunts. Another interesting aspect is that we take a family vacation once every year, all 32 of us. This is usually an elaborate affair, with travel plans being chalked out well in advance. Needless to say, we always have a blast on your vacations together. I am proud of the values of togetherness and sharing inculcated in us through our family dynamics.

Tentative Band Score: 7

Word Count: 299

How can I describe my family in IELTS?

You can describe your family succinctly and objectively in your IELTS essay. You have to first talk about all the members, mentioning them and your relationship with them one by one. You can also mention what they do and some other passions/special talents that they possess. In this manner, you can describe your family in your IELTS essay.

How do I write an essay about my family?

There are several ways that you can write an essay about your family. You have to follow this pattern-

Talk about your family structure in general and the number of members.
Give an introduction to yourself first.
Then mention the people in your family, their profession/passions, and your relationship with them in a nutshell.

You can also talk about extended members of your family who stay in your house along with mentioning any special traits/attributes of your family, things you like to do together, etc.

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Reading is the second part of the IELTS test and takes 60 minutes. It consists of three or sometimes four reading passages to increase difficulty, and there are a total of 40 questions to answer.

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IELTS Academic writing is meant for students who are applying for top-ranked universities and colleges in English-speaking countries. The writing task one is an academic summary writing based on diagrammatic and graphical representation.

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Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing section of IELTS, where aspirants are presented with a point of view, argument, or problem and asked to write an essay in response to the question.

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In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 starts with a diagram, a visual representation of information. It can be a table, map, graph, process, diagram, or picture.

IELTS Essay Samples

The essay for IELTS is part of Writing Task 2. It is the same for the General Training and Academic of the IELTS. You will get a topic and have to write an essay on the same.

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The IELTS speaking cue cards come into play for the second part when the candidate will be choosing cue cards and then speaking on a topic for two minutes at least.

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Family Essay Titles

IELTS Essay Questions for the topic of Family. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and most have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the year reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below. The topics below could appear in both GT and Academic IELTS Writing Task 2.

Family Essay Questions for IELTS Writing Task 2

Note that IELTS may paraphrase the question or change the task so don’t expect questions to appear the same. In other words, topics are repeated, but questions or tasks are often altered.

Nowadays parents put too much pressure on their children to succeed. What is the reason for doing this? Is this a negative or positive development? (Reported 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021)

Some people think it is better for children to grow up in the city, while others think that life in the countryside is more suitable. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both places? (frequent question)

In many modern societies, grandchildren rarely spend any quality time with their grandparents. What do you think are the consequences of this? (2019, 2021, 2022 – intergenerational topics are common many topics in IELTS)

Nowadays, it seems that different generations within the family spend less time doing activities together. Why is that? Is it a positive or negative development? (2023)

Children can learn effectively by watching television. Therefore they should be encouraged to watch television regularly at home and at school. To what extend do you agree or disagree? (Reported 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023 – the question could also ask about how to control the time children spend watching TV)

Some people think that the role of parents is to discipline their children and teach them about right and wrong. Other people consider that the main responsibility of parents is to nurture their children and provide them with a safe environment to grow up in. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. (2020, 2022 – discipline questions could also be about corporal punishment as a means of discipline, such as hitting children)

Most modern families have both parents working and as a result children spend less and less time with their parents. What is the reason for this? What problems can this cause? (2020)

The nuclear family is well adapted to move geographically due to its size. Do you think children benefit in any way from moving? Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (2019)

In the past, the older generation were a source of knowledge and experience. Nowadays, the older generation have little understanding or experience of the modern world.

Has this had any negative impact on the way the elderly are treated by society and the family? What could be done to solve this situation? (2020)

In many western countries there is an increasing number of couples choosing to have no children. What are the advantages and disadvantages to couples having no children? (2018, 2020, 2021)

These days people are living into their 90’s and beyond. As a result, there is increasing concern about care for the elderly. Do you think it is the responsibility of the family to care for their elderly members or should the government be held responsible? (frequent question)

Children these days have more freedom than in pervious generations. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? (2021, 2023)

The values we gain from our parents and family have more influence over our future success than any skills or knowledge learned in school. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (2023)

Reported essay questions are from students who have taken their IELTS test. That means questions may have appeared more frequently than have been reported. These questions may vary slightly in wording and focus from the original question. Also note that these questions could also appear in IELTS speaking part 3 which is another good reason to prepare all topics thoroughly.

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Sample Essays

Family Values Essay

This is an IELTS family values essay, centered around the belief that families are not as close as in the past.

If you look at the question carefully, you will see that there are two tasks. Firstly, you have to explain why (give reasons ) families are not so close. The second task is to state whether you think this more of a negative or positive trend.

Take a look at the question:

Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this.

Why is this happening?

Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the drawbacks?

So this essay is a mix of causes, advantages and disadvantages .

Be careful in noting that it is partly an opinion essay as you have to give your opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh (i.e. more advantages) the disadvantages.

Take a look at the question and the model answer:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Family Values Essay Model Answer

There has been a trend over recent decades for families to become less close than they were in the past and this situation is largely accepted in society. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and examine the benefits and drawbacks of this development.

One of the first reasons for a decline in the closeness of families is connected to the busy lifestyles that we now lead. Most people are having to work longer hours and often both parents work, so they simply do not have as much time to spend with each other as they did in the past. Another factor is the materialistic and consumer driven culture we now live in, which has led to less value being placed on family relationships. Modern technology also means that people are more interested in their online life than interacting with their family in their free time.

It could be argued that this has benefits. If people are not so close with their family, they are free to pursue their own dreams and aspirations, and to focus on improving their own lifestyle. However, I believe that there are far more negative outcomes. The most important factors leading to a fulfilled and happy life are emotional security and comfort. Without these we are in danger of feeling lost. It is a difficult world we live in and we need the support of people close to us to cope with modern life. We are seeing a rise in mental health problems in many countries and this may well be a factor in this.

To conclude, busy modern lifestyles, changing cultural values and modern technology are causing families to become less close. We should try to halt this trend as it has more negative than positive outcomes.

(294 Words)

This family values essay would merit a high IELTS score.

The essay is organized clearly . The introduction introduces the topic and the thesis clearly sets out the contents of the essay.

Each body paragraph has a clear central idea - the first paragraph is about the reasons and the second paragraph examines the advantages and disadvantages . This paragraph also makes it clear that the writer believes the drawbacks outweigh the benefits .

It would also be possible to have presented a separate body paragraph, each with the advantages and disadvantages, but you would need to be careful not to write too much and possibly run out of time.

The conclusion then summarises the main points made in the essay and again clarifies the opinion .

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Describe your family

You should say:

How many family members your family has
What they do
How close you are

And explain why your family is important to you

Sample Answer

My family has always been an integral part of my life. There are four people in our home, which are my mom, my dad, my little sister and myself. We also own a pet cat in our household and my sister loves him so much that she sometimes calls him our family’s fifth.

My Mom is a clerk at the bank while my Dad works as a police officer. It can be extremely busy working for the law at times, so he isn’t always present at meal time with us. My sister just finished high school a month ago, which is why she’s trying to get into the university of her dreams. I’m also a university student in junior year, but my school is totally different from my sister’s choice.

My family is very close-knitted. I don’t know what it’s like for other families, but for me, it really feels that way. We have this family tradition where my mom cooks a special meal for everyone on the weekend. Because dad is less likely to be away at the job at that time, our household can bond around the dinner table and savor something that we don’t get to enjoy every day. The fact that my mom’s signature dishes are delectable helps too.

I think the importance of having a family can’t be stressed enough. I struggle to imagine what my life would be like without my loved ones.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Family

1. is family important in your country.

Oh yes, it is doubtlessly an important thing and I know this because in my country, young people are encouraged to settle down and make their own family as soon as possible. The deference and respect that children are expected from their parents are also proof that family is valued very highly here.

2. How has the size of the family changed in the last few decades in your country?

In recent decades, there has been a shift in family structure, from an extended family inside one household to a nuclear family. As a result, the size of a typical family in my country has shrunk to about 3 or 4 people in one home. In the past, there were more people than that because children were living with not only their parents but also their grandparents.

3. What role do grandparents play in the family in your country?

Grandparents here, I believe, have a very important role at home. They can act as caregivers for their grandkids, because in a lot of households, both parents have to be away at work to put food on the table. So, the grandparents would naturally step up to look after the young. They actually look forward to this too, because it gives them a chance to bond with their grandkids.

4. Who do you think should be responsible for the care of the elderly, the family or the government?

In my opinion, it has to be the family. Each family is responsible for looking after their own elderly because that’s what being in a family is all about. If families stop caring for their elders then you might as well throw all of society’s rules out of the window. Besides, there are other things that deserve the government’s attention more.

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Changes in Family Structure Essay IELTS

In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family roles. What are the changes occurring? Do you think these changes are positive or negative? OR

In recent years, the structure of a family and the role of its members are gradually changing. What kinds of changes can occur? Do you think these changes are positive and negative?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.

Family Structure IELTS Essay – Model Answer 1

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In the present context, it is obvious that the families are much different in terms of their structure and gender roles in a family unit as opposed to a family a few decades back. Families today are very small in size since single parenting is not uncommon. In addition roles of parents have changed drastically. Moreover, marriages among same-sex are legalized in many countries in the world now. In my opinion, most of these changes have a positive impact on the family itself and society. Relevant factors regarding this topic will be further elaborated in this essay with examples.

To begin with, family is the backbone of society or in other words family is a reflection of society. When it comes to roles among family members, in most families, both parents support the economical stability of the family and they both share the responsibility of the children. If we consider a family a few decades back, the situation was rather different. For instance, women were supposed to look after the children while men were supposed to take care of financial stability. It is needless to say that this has completely changed by today. From my perspective, this is a positive tendency since family and children are well supported by both parents.

In addition, when it comes to the structure of the family today, same-sex marriages, as well as single parenting, can be seen in many parts of the world. From my point of view, this is a positive trend since having different sexual preferences as opposed to conventional opposite-sex marriages is no longer a reason to be discriminated against.

In conclusion, families play an important role in society. Families have been changed a lot over the last few years in various aspects as aforementioned. As per my view, this can be considered as a positive development of the society.

In recent years, the family structure has changed IELTS Essay – Model Answer 2

In recent times, there has been a number of changes within the structure of families, and the roles that family members play. This essay will discuss those changes, and the impacts these trends are having on families.

Firstly, in a lot of countries, many people are now choosing to live in a nuclear family structure, where only parents and children live together, and grandparents live separately. In the past, however, it was quite common in many countries for three, or even four generations of a family to all live under one roof. There has also been a shift in the roles that various family members play. For example, in the past, it was commonplace for men to have to work to provide for their families, and women to stay at home to cook, clean, and raise the children. However, many women nowadays are choosing to work instead, while some fathers stay at home to help out with family and household duties.

These changes can bring about both positive and negative eﬀects. Nuclear family structures allow more freedom to parents who no longer want to live in their hometown, in order to pursue their careers. Many people need to live in large cities these days to find work, however many older, retired people want to remain living in their hometown. Though, one disadvantage of the nuclear family is that grandparents may not be available to help raise and care for grandchildren. In terms of the changing roles, women have greatly benefited from the opportunity to pursue a career, and become the breadwinner of the family, instead of being housewife. One downside of this trend though might be that some people would argue that women are better at domestic duties than stay-at-home dads.

In conclusion, I believe there are both positive and negative eﬀects from these changes, though the impacts on each individual family will be diﬀerent.

Family Structure and Roles IELTS Essay – Model Answer 3

The changes in family structure and family roles have become a major topic of concern in modem society. Some of the main changes will be identified, before an evaluation on whether this is a positive or negative trend is made.

A few drastic changes could be observed in families today. The most obvious one is the decreased size of an average family in society. In Vietnam, for example, a majority of extended families of three generations or more living under the same roof have been transformed into nuclear families with only parents and children. In addition, there is also a significant change in terms of the roles of the father and the mother in a family. The responsibility of males as the sole breadwinner of the family has now been shared with their partners, and now women have equal working opportunities compared with their male counterparts. Accordingly, household duties are also shared equally between the two sexes.

I contend that this new family structure is, without a doubt, beneficial for all families. As regards the smaller family size, each family member could benefit from an increased sense of freedom. For instance, parents have more time for themselves now, compared with the situation in the past when they had to bear the responsibility of taking care of both grandparents and children. With respect to the change in family roles, women may reap the benefit of having their own career and thus financial freedom. Men also gain from this change since they have been freed from the financial pressure of being the only source of income in the family.

To conclude, the most apparent changes in today’s families include a decreased family size and a shared financial and household responsibility of men and women. All the existing data has provided a concrete foundation that these changes are beneficial for all members of the family.

Nuclear Family IELTS Writing Task 2 – Model Answer 4

Until a few decades ago, men were the providers and women were the caregivers. Men would go out to work and earn money. Women would stay at home looking after children and cooking food. This arrangement is disappearing and in my opinion, it is a positive trend.

In many families, now both spouses work and earn money. This is particularly true in developed and developing nations. This trend has changed the structure of families and the role of family members. Men are no longer seen as the only breadwinners. In some families, women earn more than men do. They deserve equal treatment.

Working women expect their partners to share the household responsibilities with them. They want their husbands to help them with the kids and housework. Most men are willing to lend a helping hand. Many of them never saw their dads doing the dishes or dusting the furniture, but now they do it happily because their women are also busy with their careers.

As more and more women become financially independent, the role of family members will change. Modern women have carved a niche for themselves in almost every sector. They now work and earn. Naturally, they deserve equal treatment and respect. Men who still have age-old notions of male supremacy may find it difficult to come to terms with the change of roles. However, those who think practically have certainly changed their attitudes and support their women in their careers and at home. To conclude, women’s empowerment is the reason behind this change in the structure of families. Women no longer want to confine themselves to the four walls of their home. As they have started working outside, traditional definitions of husbands and wives have changed. Men are no longer the only breadwinners and women are no longer the only caregivers. In my opinion, this is a positive trend that has the potential to make our world a better place where both men and women command equal respect.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Family – Model Answer 5

Recently, there has been a gradual transformation in the household structure and the way each member makes a contribution to the family. In this essay, I would like to discuss several possible changes and demonstrate that those changes are totally beneficial.

To begin with, the way a family is organized is far different from that in the past. Firstly, men and women are now sharing the role of breadwinners. A few decades ago, fathers were those who earned money to raise the family, while nurturing progeny was the responsibility shouldered by mothers. Today, as a logical effect of gender equality, professional opportunities are available for people of both sexes, leading to the fact that both men and women should exert effort to make ends meet. Secondly, people now have an inclination to form nuclear families. The escalating competitiveness of the job market accompanied by the higher demands of living standards drives people to work overtime and have fewer children.

From my perspective, the aforementioned changes are totally advantageous. The first benefit is that the financial pressure that parents of medium-sized families have to burden is far less significant than that of large families. This allows them to save money for long-term purposes, such as affording a house or sending their children overseas for tertiary education. Another significant advantage is that the children of such busy parents can learn how to live independently and acquire a diverse mixture of qualities at a young age. For example, many youths today have to prepare meals and arrange the study schedules themselves, which helps to sharpen up their self-reliance.

In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm my position that the household structure and the role of each family member are altering in a positive way.

Family IELTS Essay – Model Answer 6

It is true that there have been significant changes in not only the family structure but also family roles. In my opinion, these changes should be regarded as a positive tendency.

To begin with, the structure of a family is relatively different from that of some decades ago. In the past, it was likely that extended families became prevalent among societies when many generations including children, parents and grandparents lived under the same roof. In contrast, these days are witnessing the domination of nuclear families which have only parents and their offspring. Regarding parental roles, in earlier periods, men and women were supposed to be breadwinners and homemakers respectively as fathers tended to earn a living while mothers were supposed to stay at home to fulfill household duties as well as look after children. However, both men and women currently go to work to support the whole family, whereas household tasks are often divided.

I am of the opinion that these changes would have beneficial effects on family life. First of all, if fewer generations reside together, people seem to have more freedom and privacy to do anything they have an interest in without disturbing other members. For instance, in extended families juveniles adoring pop music might have to stop listening to it because their grandparents could find it annoying and noisy. Furthermore, pursuing their own careers can allow women to become financially independent from men and this also provides families with another income to have a higher standard of living. Another benefit when husbands assist their wives with household chores is that women would ease the burden of housework and have more time for themselves which can be spent on recreational activities.

In conclusion, I hold the view that several changes in family pattern and the role of members such as the fact that extended families are gradually replaced by nuclear ones and the fair division of household duties is a positive development.

Family Changes IELTS Essay

It is true that these days the family structure has considerably shifted, and the changing roles of men and women in the family have become increasingly similar. There are several new forms of family composition, and in my opinion, these developments are not always desirable.

In the past, nuclear families where parents and their offspring lived together under one roof used to be prevalent. However, there is now a huge trend towards single-parent families due to more marriages ending in divorce, while the increase in cohabiting couple families and stepfamilies is probably a result of cohabitation and remarriage becoming much more acceptable. In addition, the number of single-mother families has increased as many mothers want to have children without getting married. In terms of changing parental roles in a family, there has been a rise in the number of stay-at-home dads in recent years when it has become normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue their own career paths. This is in sharp contrast to about half a decade ago when men were breadwinners, and women were in charge of household chores in their families.

In my view, the changes described above could have both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, due to the lack of emotional attachment and legal binding, non-traditional households such as stepfamilies and cohabiting parents are more prone to breaking down. Consequently, children of these families are more likely to be involved in antisocial behaviors while their parents may experience feelings of loneliness and worry. On the other hand, the changes in the roles of members in the family could be seen as progress because women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their own careers to assume childcare and domestic responsibilities.

In conclusion, I believe that the changes in the roles of family members and the family structure are both positive and negative.

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Family Vocabulary

It’s important to learn a good range of family vocabulary as there’s a high chance you’ll get questions about your family in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test.

The topic could also come up in Parts 2 and 3 as well as being the subject of the Writing, Listening or Reading tests.

Here are a few things you could be asked about:

Facts about your family
Details of family relationships
Family activities & celebrations
A family member you admire
Changes in family roles
The generation gap
Parental responsibility
The future of the family

This page includes over 100 common words and phrases related to the family. I’ve added an explanation for each one and a sample sentence to show it in context where needed. This will help you to learn how to use this family vocabulary correctly.

Don’t try to learn them all. Look at my suggestions below as to the best way to use this list.

To ensure that you’re well prepared to answer any family-related question, I’ve included four things here:

IELTS-style questions on the topic of the family
Sample answers
A list of common family vocabulary with definitions & sample sentences
Links to online reading and listening resources

You’ll find PDF downloads of both the questions and sample answers and the family vocabulary list at the bottom of the respective sections.

The questions relate to the Speaking test because this part of the exam offers the broadest range of possible questions on this topic. They give the best opportunity for me to demonstrate the vocabulary and for you to practise using it.

I’ve included IELTS-style questions and answers for all three parts of the Speaking test. I've highlighted keywords and phrases in bold .

You'll find these words and phrases, and many others, in the vocabulary list beneath. The list also includes the explanations and sample sentences and there’s an audio to listen to the pronunciation.

The vocabulary list contains words and phrases relevant to all parts of the IELTS exam.

Finally, at the bottom of the page, I've added links to topical articles, short videos and podcasts that will help you to improve both your family vocabulary and your reading and listening skills.

IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers

Common family vocabulary is highlighted in bold .

1) How many people are there in your immediate family?

Four people make up my immediate family – my dad, my sister and my two bothers . They all live close to me except for my youngest brother who moved away because of his work.

2) Do you get along well with your family?

Most definitely. I used to argue with my brothers and sister a lot when we were. It was sibling rivalry I guess but we get on really well now.

3) Which member of your family are you closest to?

I’d have to say my sister but we’re a close-knit family and we all get along just great.

4) How much time do you spend with your family?

We used to go to my parent’s house for Sunday tea every few weeks but since my mother died, my oldest brother , my sister and I take turns to spend time supporting our father . This means that we don’t all get together so often. However, we still have family gatherings on special occasions.

5) When did you last have a family party?

Just a few weeks ago. It was for my father’s birthday. We had a get-together at his house and we all took along cakes and snacks to share.

Describe a family celebration that you attended.

You should say:

where this celebration was held
why it was held
what you did at the event

and explain what you enjoyed about the celebration.

One of the most memorable family events of recent years was my father’s 80 th birthday. We wanted to have a special celebration for him but decided to keep it a secret so as to surprise him on the day.

My youngest brother , who lives two and a half hours drive away from the rest of my immediate family , told Dad that he’d come down with his family so we could all go out for a meal together. What we actually did was to invite members of our extended family to come as well without my father knowing. Most of them live a long way away, like in London or Scotland, so we don’t see them very often. They came down the day before and stayed in local hotels.

There was a lot to arrange and it was difficult to sort everything without Dad guessing what we were up to. There were several times when I thought he must know something was going on but was just playing along and pretending he didn’t.

We booked a table at a local restaurant and on the day, my sister decorated it with balloons and other party bits and pieces. It looked amazing. It was a very long table as in the end there were more than twenty family members at the meal. So, as well as my parents and my siblings , there were also nieces , nephews , aunts , uncles and cousins . I think it was probably the biggest family gathering we’d ever had.

We arranged for Dad and Mum to be the last to arrive so that everyone else could be seated at the table waiting for them. I’ll never forget Dad’s face when he walked into the restaurant. He hadn’t guessed what we were arranging and it was a real surprise to him to see everyone there.

We had a lovely meal together but the best thing was spending time with all our relatives . It made me realize what a close-knit family we are even though we don’t see each other very often. I think that Dad enjoyed it too and I hope it showed him how much he means to our whole family .

1) In what ways can people in a family be similar to each other?

Both immediate and extended family members often have a lot of similarities. For example, they can look alike . My brother Steve is the spitting image of our cousin Peter, while my sister takes after our mother in the way she both looks and talks.

Also, relatives may be good at the same things or do similar types of work. Most of my extended family are either teachers or scientists.

Specific interests often run in the family . In my family , we all love the outdoors and nature, particularly the older generation . Younger family members do like to go out walking as well but now that my nieces and nephews are all teenagers , they spend a lot of time on their electronic gadgets.

The final way that people in a family can be alike is in their personality, and especially in their sense of humour.

2) In terms of personality, are people influenced more by their family or by their friends?

In my opinion, personality is mostly hereditary . I think that the main traits of a person’s character are passed down from parents to their offspring . Some people are more like their father , others more like their mother but most of us can recognise characteristics of both parents in our own personality. For example, I’m quiet like my dad and have my mum’s creativity.

How children are raised also affects the way they think, feel and behave as they grow up. Kids from a happy, stable family background generally have a normal personality. However, an unhappy childhood , which may include some form of abuse, will definitely affect a child’s mental development and their character later in life.

This suggests that personality can change so it’s probably true that the people we spend time with as friends and colleagues also influence the way we think, feel and behave. However, I don’t think that they alter our deepest character.

So in conclusion, I’d say that an understanding of personality is quite complex and involves both hereditary and social factors.

3) How has the role of elderly people in the family changed in recent times?

In the past, the older generation was highly respected in most cultures. They were considered to be wise because of all the things they’d learnt in their long lives. Elderly family members would have been family leaders, teachers and spiritual guides to the younger generation . They helped to maintain the structure and stability of the family .

One of their most important roles was to pass on the old traditions and to maintain traditional culture. The other vital job they did, especially the grandmothers , was to provide childcare for their grandchildren . They would certainly have played an important role in their upbringing .

In my country, most of this changed when it became normal for adult children to move away to study and get better jobs. Family ties are no longer so strong and elderly people aren’t respected as they once were. Grandparents aren’t the people we usually go to for advice these days. To be honest, many elderly people don’t have a significant role in most families any more. However, many do still look after the grandchildren if they live close to them.

Click this link to get a PDF download of these practise questions & sample answers.

Download PDF Now

* Important

Do not try and learn this list of family vocabulary.
Identify the vocabulary you find useful for answering practise questions about the family.
Record these in your vocabulary notebook and practise using them regularly.

I recommend that you create your own answers to the Speaking questions on this page. You will find many other IELTS-style practise questions by searching online.

For help on how to learn vocabulary, what to learn and how to record it, visit these pages:

How to Learn Vocabulary for IELTS

Top 6 Types of IELTS Vocabulary & Topic Word Lists

Family Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases

Family Vocabulary Set 1: Types of Family

family – a group of people who are related to each other

- Mohit was very nervous when he met his girlfriend’s family for the first time.

immediate family – your closest relations, such as your parents, children, husband or wife

- My immediate family are my dad, mum and two sisters.

nuclear family – parents and their children

- The average nuclear family in the US is made up of parents and two children.

extended family – a family unit that includes grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, and uncles, etc. in addition to parents and children

- I have a large extended family with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

dysfunctional family – a family that is not behaving or working normally, where there is conflict, misbehaviour, etc.

- Cynthia came from a dysfunctional family and could often be seen wandering the street on her own when she was young.

Family Vocabulary Pronunciation

Family Vocabulary Set 2: Family Members - General Terms

family member – someone who belongs to a specific family

- I have family members living all over the world.

to be related to – to belong to the same family as

- I’m related to many people in my village as my family has lived here for generations.

a relative – someone who is part of your family

- We are going to visit relatives who live on the coast for our holiday this year.

blood relative – someone you are related to through birth rather than marriage

- Aunty Sylvia is my blood relative but Uncle George, her husband, is only related to me by marriage.

distant relative – generally, a relative who is a third cousin or greater, or a great aunt or uncle, especially when you have little or no involvement with him or her.

- A member of my family died last week but they were a distant relative and I didn’t know them very well.

next of kin – the person or group of people you are most closely related to

- When you apply for a passport, you have to name your next of kin in case there is an emergency while you are away travelling.

descendants – a person who is related to you and who lives after you, such as your child or grandchild, and all future generations

ancestors – family members from past generations

- I’m writing my autobiography so that my descendants will know what life was like for one of their ancestors .

household – all the people who live in one house

- There are now only three people in my household as my older brother has gone away to university.

Family Vocabulary Set 3: Immediate family

father – a man in relation to his child or children

mother – a woman in relation to her child or children

parent – father or mother

husband – the male partner in a marriage; a married man

wife – the female partner in a marriage; a married woman

spouse – a husband or wife

son – a person’s boy child

daughter – a person’s girl child

brother – a male who has the same parents as another person

sister – a female who has the same parents as another person

big brother / older brother (or sister) – older than you

little sister / younger sister (or brother) – younger than you

- I have two younger sisters but I do wish I had an older brother .

sibling – a brother or sister

- I have three siblings , two brothers and a sister.

twin – either of two children born to the same mother on the same occasion

- My sister has just given birth to twins , a boy and a girl.

identical twins – twins who look exactly the same

- I have an identical twin brother and even our parents find it difficult to tell us apart.

an only child – a child who doesn’t have any brothers or sisters

- It can be lonely being an only child as you don’t have siblings to play with.

Family Vocabulary Set 4: Extended family

uncle – the brother of your mother or father

aunt – the sister of your mother or father

nephew – the male child of your brother or sister

niece – the female child of your brother or sister

cousin – a child of your uncle or aunt

grandparents – the parents of your parents

grandfather – the father of your mother or father

grandmother – the mother of your father or mother

grandchildren – the children of your children

grandson – the son of your son or daughter

granddaughter – the daughter of your son or daughter

Family Vocabulary Set 5: In-laws

in-laws – the relatives of your husband or wife

- When we were first married, we couldn’t afford a place of our own so lived with the in-laws .

mother-in-law – mother of your spouse

- Many people don’t get on with their mother-in-law but mine is really nice.

father-in-law – father of your spouse

- My father-in-law offered me a job in the family business so he is also my boss.

son-in-law – the husband of your daughter

- I didn’t like Amir when I first met him but he’s a great son-in-law and helps me out whenever I need it.

daughter-in-law – the wife of your son

- We are very happy that our son has decided to marry Zehra and look forward to her becoming our daughter-in-law .

brother-in-law – the husband of your sister

- My brother-in-law is lazy and not a very good husband to my sister.

sister-in-law – the wife of your brother

- I often help my sister-in-law to look after my baby niece.

Family Vocabulary Set 6: Stepfamilies

step – in the context of family relationships, ‘step’ means that you are related to the person because of one of your parents marries one of their parents

stepmother – the wife of your father, but not your biological mother

stepfather – the husband of your mother, but not your biological father

stepson – the son of your new wife or husband, but not your biological son

stepdaughter – the daughter of your new wife or husband, but not your biological daughter

stepsister – the daughter of your stepmother or stepfather

stepbrother – t he son of your stepmother or stepfather

half-brother – a brother you have only one parent in common with

half-sister – a sister you have only one parent in common with

Family Vocabulary Set 7: Parenting

parent – a person's father or mother

- I’m glad that my parents live close by as it’s easy to visit them.

motherhood – the state of being a mother

- I’d like to have children one day but I’m not ready for motherhood yet.

fatherhood – the state of being a father

- Sakda is taking the responsibilities of fatherhood seriously and now only goes out drinking with his friends once a month.

to start a family – to have children

- Billy and I are planning to start a family as soon as we get married.

to give birth – to have a baby

- It was a special moment in Cesar’s life when he saw his wife giving birth to their first child.

offspring – a person's child or children

- My two sisters are coming over later with their offspring so the house is going to be very noisy.

family man – a man who enjoys being at home with his wife and children

- Deepak used to love partying but now that he has kids he’s become a real family man .

family life – the kind of life a person normally leads when they are married and have children

- My husband and I enjoy doing lots of activities with our children and we all have a great family life together.

to raise (a child) – to take care of a child until they become an adult

- It’s a big responsibility raising children but I love being a parent.

to bring up (a child) – to raise a child

- When Jae-min’s husband died, she was left to bring up the children on her own.

upbringing – the way in which you are treated and educated when young, especially by your parents

- I was fortunate to have a good upbringing but not all children have caring parents who look after them well and teach them the right way to behave.

to support (a family) – to have enough money to be able to look after a family

- Egor earned very low wages and had to work two jobs to support his family.

breadwinner – the member of a family who earns most of the money that the family needs

- In many countries, men are expected to be the breadwinner in a family.

dependant – someone who depends on you for financial support, such as a child or family member who does not work

- I‘m working hard to get a promotion and earn more money now that I’m a husband and a father and have dependants who rely on me.

to adopt – to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of them as your own child

- Paul and Siri were unable to have children of their own and decided to adopt a baby.

to foster – to take care of someone else’s child, usually for a limited time, without becoming the child's legal parent

- Even though I’m an only child, I always had other boy’s and girl’s to play with when I was growing up as mum and dad often used to foster other children.

over-protective parents – a parent who protect their child too much

- Overprotective parents can prevent their children from building confidence and independence.

spoilt child – a child who shows bad behaviour because they have been allowed to do or have anything they want

- I don’t like playing with the girl next door because she’s a spoilt child and gets in a temper if I don’t let her win all the games.

single parent – a person bringing up a child or children without a partner

- My sister is a single parent now that her husband has left her.

stay at home parent / stay at home mum – a parent who stays at home to take care of their children rather than going out to work

- These days, it’s far more usual for men to be a stay-at-home parent than when I was young when it was always the mother who looked after the kids.

to look after – to take care of

- I’m going to look after my daughter’s children on Saturday while she has a day out with her friends.

childcare – the care of children, especially by a crèche, nursery or childminder while parents are working

- Childcare is a big problem for many working parents and they are lucky if their own parents can help out.

strict – strongly limiting someone's freedom to behave as they wish, or likely to severely punish someone if they do not obey

- My parents are very strict with me and I have to finish all my homework before I’m allowed to play or watch TV.

authoritarian – demanding that people obey completely and refusing to allow them the freedom to act as they wish

- My father was very authoritarian when I was growing up and I was terrified of him.

Family Vocabulary Set 8: The Generations

generation – all the people of about the same age within a society or within a particular family

- It’s hard to believe how much everyday life has changed for my grandparent’s generation .

older generation – people of middle-age and older

younger generation – young adults, teenagers and children

- The older generation are often stuck in their ways, while the younger generation welcome change.

generation gap – a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs and attitudes, often leading to a lack of understanding between them

- It’s a skilled politician who can bridge the generation gap .

teenager – a person aged between 13 and 19 years

- My lovely little boy turned into a rebellious monster when he was a teenager but now he’s a lovely young man.

adolescent – a young person who is developing into an adult

- Many adolescents develop emotional problems as they try to find their place in the world.

Family Vocabulary Set 9: Other vocabulary

sibling rivalry – the feeling of competitiveness that often exists between brothers and sisters

- There was huge sibling rivalry between my two brothers and they were always fighting but they are the best of friends now that they’re adults.

run in the family – a common feature in a family; something which is passed from parents to children

- Artistic ability seems to run in the family .

hereditary – passed from the genes of a parent to a child

- Diabetes is hereditary in our family so I make sure that I eat healthily and keep fit to lessen my chances of getting it.

childhood – the time when someone is a child

- Many children in the world do not have a happy childhood .

family background – the details of a person's family regarding education, social status, etc.

- We want our son to marry a girl from a good family background .

family gathering / family get-together – an informal event where family members meet up

- We’re having a family get-together to celebrate my mother’s birthday.

close-knit – involving groups of people in which everyone supports each other

- We’re a close-knit family and know that we can rely on each other when one of us needs help.

family ties – the sense of connection between family members

- Family ties aren’t as strong as they used to be in my country because relatives often live many miles apart and even in different countries.

to care for – to provide the things someone needs, especially someone who is young, old, or ill

- In my country, sons and daughters are expected to care for their elderly parents.

a widow – a woman whose husband has died

- Her husband died young and she has been a widow for almost thirty years now.

a widower – a man whose wife has died

- My mother died last year so my father is now a widower .

to desert – to leave someone without help or in a difficult situation and not come back

- My father deserted us when I was young and my mother has brought me up on her own.

Family Vocabulary Set 10: Idioms

There are many idioms about the family but I’ve chosen just a few that might prove a useful addition to your family vocabulary. Pick only one or two to learn and make sure that you know how to use them 100% or they won’t make sense.

If you’re unsure about them, give them a miss rather than risking sounding silly.

get on with / get along with – to like someone and have a friendly relationship with them

- I used to fight with my siblings when we were young but I get on with them really well now that we’re adults.

to fall out with / to have a falling out – to have a disagreement which ruins a relationship with that person

- I fell out with my sister when she started dating my boyfriend.

- The two brothers had a falling out over the broken toy.

on speaking terms – friendly enough to talk

- My parents had a big argument and are not on speaking terms at the moment.

to look alike – to look very similar to someone else

- My twin sister and I look alike and people often call us by each other’s names.

to take after (someone) – to be very similar to an older family member

- Mila was excellent at drawing. She took after her mother who was a famous artist.

a chip off the old block – the person is very similar (in character and personality) to one of their parents

- Sanjay is always cracking jokes, just like his father. He’s a real chip off the old block .

to follow in someone’s footsteps – to do the same thing as someone else did previously, especially someone in your family

- I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a doctor like he is.

spitting image – to look extremely similar to someone

- Cher is the spitting image of her mother.

wears the trousers – to be the person in a family who holds the authorit y and makes decisions

- My dad likes to thinks that he’s in charge but it’s my mother who wears the trousers in our house.

black sheep (of the family) – someone who brings shame to their family by being different or doing something wrong

- My brother first started getting into trouble with the police when he was a teenager and he’s become the black sheep of the family.

Click this link to get a PDF download of this list of family vocabulary.

Ways to Improve Your Family Vocabulary

One of the best ways to improve your family vocabulary is through reading. Watching topic related YouTube videos and listening to podcasts is also hugely beneficial.

Here are some online resources I recommend.

Articles About the Family

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Raising Children – The Australian Parenting Website

The Independent - Family

The New York Times - Family

I love TED Talks. They are short videos with a powerful message and are generally very interesting. They’re ideal for improving your vocabulary and give valuable listening skills practise.

Search TED Talks - The Family & TED Talks - Parenting to help you improve your family vocabulary.

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Describe Someone in your Family [IELTS Speaking]

Posted by David S. Wills | Apr 5, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Speaking | 4

In the IELTS exam, you sometimes have to talk about families . We have discussed that before on this blog, looking at common questions and vocabulary for family and friends . However, today we will look specifically at part 2 of the IELTS speaking test and a cue card that says “Describe someone in your family.”

In this lesson, we will look at how to give a good answer to this cue card by analysing it properly, picking the right vocabulary, and then speaking confidently.

Cue Card: Describe Someone in your Family

In part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you will be shown a cue card on which there will be a task for you to complete. This will tell you to describe something – a person, a place, a memory, etc. Today, we will look at a cue card about describing a person:

Describe someone in your family who you really admire. You should say: – what relation this person is to you – what are your first memories of this person – how often you see this person and explain why you really admire this person.

First of all, it is worth considering what exactly we must describe:

It should be someone in my family (not another person’s family)
It should be someone that I really admire

The bullet points contain some things that I should aim to talk about, but it’s not vitally important that I do this. To be honest, they typically provide a good framework that can help you give a fluent answer, but don’t worry too much about them. You won’t lose marks for missing one or talking about other (on-topic) things.

Language for Describing Family Members

I written before about language for describing families and friends. You can learn some words in this slideshow:

Today, though, let’s look at appropriate language for describing a specific person. Think carefully about what you might need to say. Here are some words/phrases stemming from the ideas suggested in the bullet points:

When we talk about people, it is good to provide a sort of verbal portrait of them. This is really hard to do, even for native speakers, but if you can do it reasonably well, it will show the examiner that you have a good grasp of English.

Culturally, people in English-speaking countries now try to steer clear of physical descriptions of people because it can sometimes be seen as offensive. However, in other countries, it is still common. When I was in China, all my students would say, “My mother is very beautiful” or “My brother is very handsome.” It sounds weird to a native speaker of English, but it’s not wrong exactly. Instead, I would recommend using personality adjectives:

Making Notes

You only have 1 minute to make notes, so do it quickly and efficiently. Don’t write too much – just write down words that will help you remember what to say later, and also any important vocabulary that you could use.

Avoid wasting time by thinking too much about who you should describe! You have no time to waste. Instead, focus on picking a person quickly and then how to describe them well.

Here are some ideas:

playing football
infrequently

As you can see, my notes are very brief. These correspond to the points on the cue card, and I have included two good words – “infrequently” and “integrity”.

Sample Band 9 Answer

I really admire one of my cousins. He’s about two years older than me, so I’ve known him all my life. When I was very young, my mum and my aunt spent a lot of time together and so my cousin and I would often play together in his garden. Mostly we played football, but we did other things too. We were very close at that time, although in later years we saw each other less and less. Still, we sometimes see each other; just a little infrequently. I live abroad now, but whenever I go home I try to meet him and we hang out for a while. We maybe see each other about once every year or two. He is now married with two young children, and I feel very happy when I see photos of his family and think about how well his life has gone.

I think that I’ve always looked up to him to some extent. Maybe it’s because he has a lot of integrity. Ever since I’ve known him, I’ve been impressed by his honesty. He’s a really great guy – very generous and compassionate. Most people are attracted to his sense of humour, actually. He’s very funny and also quite optimistic, so people naturally gravitate towards him. It’s for all of those reasons and more that I admire him.

Notes on the Answer

I have used verb tenses carefully to reflect the reality of our relationship throughout this speech. Note these parts:

I’ve known him all my life

This is present perfect tense. It shows that I knew him in the past and continue to know him now.

my aunt spent a lot of time together
we played football

I used past simple often for things that happened in the past but also finished in the past. Remember that if they could continue now, you would use present perfect.

I live abroad now
He is now married

When I switched to talk about the present, I used present simple. Again, it is very important to use verb tenses to show this accurately. The wrong verb tense could lead to a lot of confusion!

Let’s also note the vocabulary used:

looked up to him
compassionate
gravitate towards

All of these words and phrases are really useful for describing people! They can make your descriptions vivid and compelling.

Animated Version

On my various social media channels ( Facebook , Instagram , Twitter ), I like to post visual lessons. Here is one made from the above sample answer. It provides a little more detail:

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Cue Card Sample

Ielts cue card sample 387 - describe your family, describe your family..

how many family members you have
what they do
what are they like
what type of family it is
how many family members you have got

Part 3 – Two-way discussion:

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How Can I Describe my Family in IELTS Speaking? | IELTS Cue Cards Sample about Family

Students often ask ” How can I describe my family in IELTS Speaking?”, like how to shape their answer, and what kind of details to give.Family is a commonly discussed topic in IELTS. “Describe your family” is a popular question often asked in the part 2 of the speaking test .

Here is a short discussion on how to describe your family in IELTS Speaking Part 2.

How to describe your family in IELTS Speaking?

In IELTS speaking, you can describe your family by providing information about the number of family members, their relationships, and some key characteristics or activities that define your family dynamic.

Here are some key points :

Practice beforehand to speak for 1-2 minutes.
You have 1 minute to prepare your notes before speaking. Use this time wisely to jot down key points, so you stay on track during your response.
Demonstrate a range of vocabulary relevant to family relationships and characteristics.
Instead of repeatedly using “good” or “nice,” try words like “supportive,” “close-knit,” or “harmonious.”
Speak naturally in a conversational tone, adding connectors or sentence starters where necessary. Such as” well, overall, additionally, Although, despite etc. There are some included in the example below.

Look at the example below:

Example 1: Describe your family

You should say:

Who is in your family?
Their professions
How do you spend time together
Any hobbies or interests that stand out among you
Why is your family special to you?

Sample Answer

“Well, I come from a close-knit family that consists of my parents, my younger sister, and me. We share a warm and loving bond that makes our home a happy place. My father works as a teacher, and my mother is a nurse, both dedicated to their professions. Despite their busy schedules, we always find time to enjoy family dinners together, where we discuss our day and share laughter. Now, my sister,… my sister is a ten years old school kid who loves reading story books. Sometimes she also shares those stories with us and, of course, we all enjoy that. Overall, my family is my source of support, and we cherish the simple moments we spend together, whether it’s watching movies on weekends or going for a family outing.

“My family is important to me because I strongly feel that it is my haven and my safest place. This is the place where I find genuine love and care. No one can replace your family in the whole world and you can’t find it anywhere else.”

There can be similar questions in cue card for IELTS Speaking like describing a younger or older family member, or a family member you admire / like. Let’s take a look at more examples:

Example 2: Describe a person in your family you like

You should say

Who is that family member
How often you see him/her
How you enjoy talking to this person

“My favourite family member is my aunt, who happens to be my mom’s younger sister. She recently graduated from university and has started working as a teacher in a nearby school. She’s a vibrant and incredibly kind person. Although she is many years older than me, we share a friendship that goes beyond the traditional aunt and niece relationship, making her more of a close friend than just a relative.”

“Fortunately, I get to see her quite often as she lives very close to my house. She visits every few days, and sometimes even on weekdays after finishing her job, so we spend a lot of time together. Additionally, she frequently invites my family to her house, and we always enjoy our time together during these gatherings.”

“I absolutely love talking to her. Our conversations extend beyond the usual small talk; we catch up on life, share stories, and she imparts valuable life lessons. Sometimes, we stay up late at night just to talk to each other, and those moments are the best and most cherished times of my life.”

“So, if I were to pick a favourite person in my family, it would undoubtedly be my aunt.”

For more IELTS Speaking Questions and Answer Samples, go to the link below:

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Describe your family: IELTS Speaking Part 2 / IELTS Cue Answer

Describe something you own which is very important to you.

Learn How To Answer IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 : CUE Cards.

Sample Response 1:

My family, a close-knit group, consists of five members: my parents, my elder brother, my younger sister, and myself.

My father is an architect, and he runs his own firm. He’s a tall man with greying hair, which reflects his years of experience and wisdom. He’s extremely patient and has a jovial nature, always making everyone laugh with his timely jokes. My mother, on the other hand, is a school teacher teaching English Literature. She’s petite with a radiant smile. She has a soft demeanor but is incredibly strong-willed and is the backbone of our family.

My elder brother works as a software engineer. He’s outgoing, loves technology, and is the one I turn to whenever I face any tech-related issues. My younger sister is still in high school. She’s bubbly, full of life, and has an insatiable curiosity about the world around her.

Our family shares a bond of mutual respect and understanding. My parents have always ensured that we grow in an environment filled with love, trust, and support. We have our occasional disagreements, like any family, but we always come together, valuing our bonds over our differences.

Discover expert tips for discussing food and drinks in the IELTS Speaking section. Click here to access our detailed guide and learn how to describe flavors, cuisines, and dining experiences effectively.

Sample Response 2:

My family is a moderately-sized unit with six members, including me. There’s my grandparents, my parents, my younger brother, and myself.

My grandfather, now retired, was an army officer and has the discipline and regality that you’d expect from someone with such a background. My grandmother, the epitome of grace, was a nurse and is a fantastic storyteller. Together, they are the pillars of our family, weaving tales from the past and ensuring we understand our roots.

My father is a banker, a practical man with a sharp mind and a knack for understanding finances. He loves reading and has instilled the same love in me. My mother is a homemaker and the most vivacious person I know. She has an infectious enthusiasm for life, be it in cooking, gardening, or dancing.

Then there’s my younger brother, currently navigating his high school years. He’s passionate about music, and I often wake up to the sound of his guitar.

I share a deep bond with each of my family members. They are my support system, my cheerleaders, and my critics, ensuring I always strive for the best. Our relationships are built on a foundation of love, trust, and countless shared memories.

Explore Various IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Questions and Answers.

Recommended Vocabulary:

Demeanor: Outward behavior or bearing. Example: His calm demeanor was reassuring during the crisis.

Insatiable: Impossible to satisfy. Example: Her insatiable appetite for knowledge led her to read books constantly.

Epitome: A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. Example: She is the epitome of kindness and compassion.

Regality: The quality or condition of being regal; kingship. Example: The regality of the ceremony was unmatched, making it an event to remember.

Vivacious: Lively in temper, conduct, or spirit. Example: Her vivacious spirit was infectious, making everyone around her cheerful.

Camaraderie: Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. Example: The camaraderie among the team members contributed to their success.

Pillars: An essential person or thing that supports or maintains an institution or organization. Example: The teachers were the pillars of the educational institution, ensuring its reputation and standards.

Navigate: To move on, over, or through (water, air, or land) in a ship or aircraft. Example: He’s currently navigating the challenges of adolescence.

Dynamics: The forces or properties that stimulate growth, development, or change within a system or process. Example: Understanding the dynamics of family relationships can lead to better communication and understanding.

Different Cue Card Topics

Personal Experiences: IELTS Cue Card Topics People and Personalities: IELTS Cue Card Topics Places: IELTS Cue Card Topics Objects: IELTS Cue Card Topics Events: IELTS Cue Card Topics Experiences and Achievements: IELTS Cue Card Topics Hobbies and Interests: IELTS Cue Card Topics Plans and Dreams: IELTS Cue Card Topics Nature and Environment: IELTS Cue Card Topics Education: IELTS Cue Card Topics Work and Careers: IELTS Cue Card Topics Technology: IELTS Cue Card Topics Health and Fitness: IELTS Cue Card Topics Food and Drinks: IELTS Cue Card Topics

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Tell Me Something About Your Family: IELTS Speaking (10 Example Answers)

In part one of your IELTS Speaking test, you might be asked, “Tell me something about your family.”

Let’s take a look at how to answer this question for a good band-seven score, including 10 great example answers ( go straight to the answers here ).

Immediate Family or Extended Family?

Remember, in English when people ask about your family, they usually mean your ‘immediate’ family (the family members we usually live with: parents, siblings, and children…)

They don’t mean your ‘extended’ family (the family members we usually see less often: uncles, aunts, cousins, great grandparents…).

So for this question, it’s best to talk about your immediate family first. But if you want to mention your extended family, that’s fine too.

Things You Might Say About Your Family

Any ‘tell me something about…’ question is a very big question, where you really can say anything you like.

It’s best to choose just one thing to talk about, and then say just two or three sentences about it.

As long as your English is good, this will be fine. You could talk about:

How big or small your family is
What people in your family do for a living (for their work) or what they study
Your children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents
How close your family is (are you close-knit, do you get along well, have you drifted apart…)
How often you spend time together (family get-togethers, gatherings, Christmas, special occasions…)
How you keep in touch
Things you do together
How you were raised
Where you all live
If you have a traditional or religious family
Who you admire in your family
What you are grateful for about your family
Anything else that comes to mind

Focus on Fluency

In your part-one answers, keep them short. Saying one or two or three sentences of simple English is fine.

Remember that part one is only to warm you up . The questions are supposed to be easy.

So you should focus on fluency : speak smoothly, without hesitation, with simple English.

You don’t get a big score from part one. More of your score will come from parts two and three.

So in part one, keep your answers simple, fluent, and confident.

Don’t worry too much about using clever vocabulary and grammar. That’s for parts two and three.

The Three-Step YES Method

Use this system to give a good answer to part-one questions. Just say:

Y our answer (say one thing about your family)
E xplain your answer, or add more details
S top talking (stop talking, don’t say too much. Let the examiner know you’re ready for the next question)

Example Answers

Take a look at these 12 example answers (10 + two bonus answers), which are all good for a band-seven score.

Close-Knit

1. Well, my family has always been really close-knit. My parents and my two older brothers and I spend a lot of time together, eating meals or going on day trips. We also like to watch movies and play board games.

2. My father is an engineer and my mother works in HR, I also have one younger sister, who is studying to be a nurse. So we have lots of different kinds of professions in my family.

3. Everyone in my family thinks education is really important. My mother is an English teacher. And my brother and I are under a lot of pressure to do well at school.

Family Gatherings

4. After I graduated, I moved away from my hometown, so I rarely see my family in person, but we always keep in touch and meet up for family gatherings.

Don’t Get Along Well

5. Unfortunately, I don’t get along well with my parents. I chose a different career path than what they wanted for me, and it made them upset with me. But I still love them and stay in touch.

6. I actually have a really big family. I have four brothers and sisters, and I also have loads of uncles and aunts, so my extended family is huge as well. Family gatherings, like weddings, are always big, hectic occasions.

7. I love my family so much. I’ve always looked up to my father, who’s a doctor. My parents raised me and my siblings well, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that.

Traditional Family Values

8. I’m from Outer Mongolia so I was raised in a culture with very strong family values. It’s important for us to stay close to each other and to support each other.

Very Religious

9. I’m a devout Muslim so I was raised in a household with very strong religious beliefs. Our religious faith has held us together, and it’s also given us shared values and a strong local community.

Live Far Apart

10. I’m afraid I’m not so close to my immediate family anymore. I haven’t been since I moved to another country with my new wife. But I do go back to visit my parents every now and then. And we sometimes talk online.

11. I have a wonderful family that I’m grateful for every day. There are my two daughters, my husband, and me. We live in a small apartment in Dublin.

Grandchildren

12. Well, I’m happy to say that I have two lovely, loyal children and three adorable grandchildren, who I spoil with gifts whenever they come to visit.

Your Turn To Answer

Now, it’s your turn!

Set up the recorder on your phone and ask yourself out loud, “Tell me something about your family.”

Then answer using the three-Step YES Method. Try to answer quickly and fluently, without hesitation.

When you’ve finished, listen to your answer, and then do it again.

Each time, focus on fluency and no hesitation. You can use simple English, that’s fine for part one.

This is a great way to prepare for part one of your IELTS Speaking test.

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Write About Your Family: IELTS Essay Samples
Write About Your Family: Samples for IELTS Sample Essay 1: My family is my biggest pride and joy. We are a family of six living in a spacious and sparsely furnished apartment with three rooms. Our family comprises my paternal grandparents, my parents, a younger sister, and yours truly. I believe that we are fortunate to live with our ...
Family Essay Titles
IELTS Essay Questions for the topic of Family. All essay questions below are reported by IELTS candidates and most have been repeated over the years. Regardless of the year reported, you could get any question below in your test. You should, therefore, prepare ideas for all questions given below. The topics below could appear in both GT and ...
IELTS Essay: Family & Friends
Nonetheless, friends pass in and out of life and family lasts forever. 2. Family has, naturally, the greatest influence in the developmental years of life when researchers believe the majority of identity formation takes place. 3. Coupled with genetic factors, this is why family members have similar attitudes and beliefs, in general.
Family Values Essay
This family values essay would merit a high IELTS score. The essay is organized clearly. The introduction introduces the topic and the thesis clearly sets out the contents of the essay. Each body paragraph has a clear central idea - the first paragraph is about the reasons and the second paragraph examines the advantages and disadvantages.
Describe your family
Model Answer 2: A family is often the most important thing for an individual and is considered a root for many. Without a family, according to some, it is hard to become happy and lead a fulfilling life. For this topic, I am going to describe my family. In my family, basically, we are five members altogether.
IELTS Topic: Family
IELTS Topic: Family. Here all the sample answer IELTS essays that I have written on the topic of family! This includes essays related to children, husbands, wives, spouses, grandparents, work/life balance, houses, apartments, parents, childbirth, and more. Check out my IELTS EBooks here. Enjoy!
IELTS Writing Task 2 : Family
Sample Answer 2 : Modern world products and services put extra costs on families. This has led to many of mothers work besides their husbands for their children's welfare. Although some individuals hold the view that working of both parents may cause problems in children upbringing, others believe parents can pay enough attention to their ...
50 Latest Family IELTS Topics
You went to your friend house and had meal. Write a letter to your friend thanking him and his family for the meal. 1) Tell what you enjoyed about the meal. 2) Thanks to his parents and what you think about them 3) suggest arrangements for his invite at your place. Write an essay on the topic.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Family ( Causes and effects Essay)
Sample Answer: Adults nowadays, regardless of genders, have a tendency not to give birth when they are still young. This is attributable to their desire to pursue further education and career success, and I believe this development has detrimental effects on both society and family life. To many people, further education and career success are ...
IELTS Essay: Looking after Family
1. However, this discounts the many contexts in which this care may not be appropriate. 2. Many parents do not want to be a burden to their children and would rather look after themselves later in life. 3. Others may not have been there for their children, or even been abusive. 4.
IELTS Essay: Whole Family Raising Children
Analysis. 1. Many today feel that is important for the entire extended family to play a role in child-rearing, while others feel that parents are sufficient. 2. In my opinion, the whole family should be part of the process. Paraphrase the overall essay topic. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
Describe your family (Part 2/3)
Describe your family. You should say: And explain why your family is important to you. Sample Answer. My family has always been an integral part of my life. There are four people in our home, which are my mom, my dad, my little sister and myself. We also own a pet cat in our household and my sister loves him so much that she sometimes calls him ...
IELTS Essay: Celebrating Family Events
1. Events that bring together the whole family encourage stronger internal cohesion. 2. This is best illustrated through the counter-example of families that rarely meet for large social gatherings. 3. These families are likely to grow distant and remain family members in name rather than actuality. 4.
Changes in Family Structure Essay IELTS
In recent years, the family structure has changed IELTS Essay - Model Answer 2. In recent times, there has been a number of changes within the structure of families, and the roles that family members play. This essay will discuss those changes, and the impacts these trends are having on families. Firstly, in a lot of countries, many people ...
IELTS Essay: Family Meals
Develop the example fully. State the results as well. 1. In conclusion, family meals are less common because of developments in society generally and it is positive on the whole given the freedom the average person now possesses. 2. Nonetheless, it is still important to balance time with family and friends.
IELTS Essay # 202
Model Answer 1: There is much discussion nowadays as to whether or not the relationship between family members is as close as before. Diverse contributing factors can be identified. In the following, I would like to present my point of view. Great changes have taken place in family life along with the development of society.
IELTS Family Vocabulary
Learning family vocabulary is important preparation for your exam as 'the family' is a very common IELTS topic. Find over 100 useful words & phrases, plus practise IELTS-style questions & answers with PDF downloads & other resources. All created to make your life easier.
IELTS Essay: Moving Away from Friends and Family
Use short and long sentences. 1. On the other hand, moving is often a catalyst for individual growth. 2. Someone who moves to a new country for work or study is likely to encounter people from different backgrounds with a greater number of viewpoints and experiences than their former friends and family. 3.
Describe Someone in your Family [IELTS Speaking]
In part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you will be shown a cue card on which there will be a task for you to complete. This will tell you to describe something - a person, a place, a memory, etc. Today, we will look at a cue card about describing a person: Describe someone in your family who you really admire. You should say:
IELTS Cue Card Sample 387
And explain your relationship with them. Model Answer 1: Thank you for the opportunity you gave me to talk about my family. To begin with, my family has got 6 members including me. My father, mother, elder brother and two younger sisters are the roots of my existence and I love them very much.
How Can I Describe My Family In IELTS Speaking?
Here is a short discussion on how to describe your family in IELTS Speaking Part 2. How to describe your family in IELTS Speaking? In IELTS speaking, you can describe your family by providing information about the number of family members, their relationships, and some key characteristics or activities that define your family dynamic. Here are ...
Describe your family: IELTS Speaking Part 2 / IELTS Cue Answer
Learn How To Answer IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 : CUE Cards. Sample Response 1: My family, a close-knit group, consists of five members: my parents, my elder brother, my younger sister, and myself. My father is an architect, and he runs his own firm. He's a tall man with greying hair, which reflects his years of experience and wisdom.
Tell Me Something About Your Family: IELTS Speaking (10 Example Answers)
How often you spend time together (family get-togethers, gatherings, Christmas, special occasions…) How you keep in touch. Things you do together. How you were raised. Where you all live. If you have a traditional or religious family. Who you admire in your family. What you are grateful for about your family.

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Write About Your Family- Sample Essays For IELTS

Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

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