IELTS Speaking Part 1: Family
Family questions are personal but simple. Describe who is in your family and what you do together, and use a small story to extend your answers. You don't have to share anything you're uncomfortable with; general answers are fine.
Family questions
- How many people are there in your family?
- Do you all live in the same house?
- What things do you like doing together?
- Who is your favourite family member?
Sample answers
How many people are there in your family?
There are five of us in my immediate family: my parents, my older brother, my younger sister and me. But we also have a big extended family; my mother has six siblings, so family gatherings can get quite crowded.
What things do you like doing together?
We love eating together, especially on Friday evenings, when everyone tries to be home. In summer we usually rent a house by the lake for a week, which has been a family tradition since I was little.
Original examples written for SpeakingIELTS. Notice the pattern—a direct answer, then a reason or detail—and use your own true information. Do not memorise them.
Useful words and phrases
- my immediate family
- extended family
- family gatherings
- we get on really well
- a family tradition
- I take after my mother
Common mistakes
- Listing names and ages without saying anything about the people.
- Confusing "relatives" (people in your family) with "relations" (connections).
- Answering "Who is your favourite family member?" without a reason.
Practise it now
Answer each question above aloud in 20–30 seconds, or start a timed session that begins with family and adds two other random topics, just like the real test. Record yourself, listen once, and check your answers with the self-evaluation checklist.
Other Part 1 topics
Work · Studies · Hometown · Home · Freetime · Food · Weather · Public Transport · Sport · Books · Internet · Routine · Travel · Technology · Social Media
Moving on to Part 2? See cue cards with sample answers.