Describe a family member you are close to
The full IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, a band-8 model answer you can learn from, the Part 3 questions that follow, and examiner strategy. Free, no sign-up.
Describe a family member you are close to.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how much time you spend together
- what you do together
- and explain why you are close to them
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
The family member I'd like to talk about is my older sister, Priya. She's about four years older than me, so growing up she was a bit like a second mother, always looking out for me even though she'd never admit it. We don't actually live in the same city any more — she moved abroad for work about three years ago — but I'd honestly say we speak more often now than we did when we were under the same roof. We message pretty much every day and video-call at least once a week, usually on a Sunday evening. When we do get to see each other in person, we tend to just do very ordinary things: cook a big meal at home, go for long walks, or watch old films we used to love as kids. What I really appreciate about her is that she gets me in a way nobody else does. She's the one person I can be completely honest with, without worrying about being judged. She also has this knack for giving me a fresh perspective whenever I'm stressed about something. So even though we've drifted apart geographically, in every way that matters we're closer than ever, and I feel really lucky to have her in my life.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Distance-vs-closeness contrast ('drifted apart geographically… closer than ever') that answers the 'why' bullet directly
- ✓Natural collocations: 'a knack for', 'get me in a way nobody else does'
- ✓Mixes past, present and general truths without sounding rehearsed
Part 3 follow-up questions
After the cue card, the examiner discusses the topic in more depth. Practise these aloud too — Part 3 is where the highest bands are won or lost.
Examiner strategy for this cue card
Practise this answer out loud in a real Speaking test
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Describe a family member you are close to — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a family member you are close to' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (who this person is; how much time you spend together; what you do together; and explain why you are close to them), then speak for the full two minutes. Cover each point briefly but give most of your time to the final 'explain why' prompt, where the marks are. A full band-8 model answer is shown on this page.
How long should the IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?
You should talk for up to two minutes without stopping. It is better to keep going and cover the topic in depth than to finish early — the examiner will stop you when the time is up.
What Part 3 questions follow 'Describe a family member you are close to'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: Do you think family relationships are more important today than in the past? What causes family members to grow apart? How can distance affect family closeness?