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
Sample Answer
“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.”
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For more IELTS Speaking Questions and Answer Samples, go to the link below:
