IELTS Speaking Part 1: Family Questions and Answers

Common family questions

Here are some typical IELTS family questions and answers you should be ready to discuss.

Do you have a large family?

You could talk about:

• brothers and sisters
• parents
• grandparents
• extended family

Who are you closest to in your family?

You might explain:

• who the person is
• why you are close
• what you usually do together

Do you spend much time with your family?

Possible ideas:

• meals
• weekends
• holidays
• phone calls
• living far apart

What do you usually do together?

You could mention:

• eating together
• watching films
• travelling
• shopping
• visiting relatives

Do you live with your family?

You can explain:

• who you live with now
• whether you lived differently in the past
• why your current arrangement suits you

How often do you see your relatives?

Useful frequency language includes:

almost every week

once or twice a month

from time to time

mainly during holidays

only a few times a year

Is family important in your country?

Keep your answer balanced. Avoid making absolute claims about everyone.

Instead of:

Family is the most important thing for everyone in my country.

say:

I’d say family is quite important for many people, especially when it comes to major festivals or important life events.

Band 7+ sample answers

These examples show how to answer naturally with enough development for Part 1. You don't need to memorise them.

Do you have a large family?

Not particularly. I have one brother, and most of my relatives live in different parts of the country, so my immediate family is fairly small. We still keep in touch with our extended family, especially during holidays.

Who are you closest to in your family?

I’m probably closest to my older sister. We have quite similar personalities, so it’s easy to talk to her about things. She’s also the person I usually ask for advice if I have a problem.

Do you spend much time with your family?

It depends on the week. I’m quite busy during the working week, but I normally see my parents at the weekend. We usually have dinner together and catch up on what everyone has been doing.

What do you usually do together?

Mostly quite ordinary things, to be honest. We often go out for a meal or stay at home and watch something together. Occasionally, we take short trips if everyone has enough free time.

Do you live with your family?

Not anymore. I moved out a few years ago because I wanted to be closer to work. I still visit my family regularly, though, so I don’t feel like I’ve become distant from them.

How often do you see your relatives?

Not very often because most of them live quite far away. I probably see my extended family a few times a year, usually during major holidays or family celebrations.

Is family important in your country?

Yes, I think it’s quite important for a lot of people. Families often spend time together during festivals and special occasions, and it’s also common for relatives to support each other when someone needs help.

Notice how each sample:

• answers immediately
• adds one or two details
• uses natural vocabulary
• avoids sounding memorised
• stays short enough for Part 1

‍

Useful family vocabulary and collocations

These expressions can make your answers more precise.

Try to learn these as complete phrases rather than isolated words.

For example:

I’m close with my sister.

is understandable, but in British English:

I’m close to my sister.

is more natural.

If you want a wider range of words for describing what relatives are like, study our Personality Adjectives.

How to extend your answers naturally

A common problem in IELTS Speaking Part 1 is giving answers that are too short.

For example:

Do you spend much time with your family?

Weak answer:

Yes, I do.

Better:

Yes, especially at weekends because we normally have dinner together.

You can extend your answers using a simple pattern:

answer + reason + example/detail

For example:

I’m quite close to my family because we speak almost every day. For example, I usually call my parents on my way home from work.

You can also add a contrast:

We used to spend much more time together when I was younger, but now everyone is busier.

Or add frequency:

We usually meet once or twice a month.

Useful linking phrases include:

because...

mainly because...

especially when...

for example...

usually...

although...

but these days...

when I was younger...

Do not force all of these into one answer. One extra idea is usually enough.

Avoid making answers too long

Part 1 answers should normally be concise.

If the examiner asks:

Who are you closest to in your family?

you do not need to give a long story about that person’s entire life.

A natural answer might be:

Probably my mum. She’s very easy to talk to, so I normally go to her if I need advice or just want to discuss something.

That is already enough.

‍

Common mistakes

Giving one-word answers

Too short:

Yes.

Better:

Yes, quite a lot. We usually see each other at weekends.

Memorising complicated answers

Avoid answers full of unnatural expressions just to sound advanced.

For example:

My family constitutes the fundamental cornerstone of my emotional wellbeing.

This sounds inappropriate for normal Part 1 conversation.

Better:

I’m quite close to my family, and they’re very supportive.

Using family incorrectly as a plural noun

In British English, family can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether you think of the family as one unit or as individuals.

Both can occur:

My family is quite small.

My family are all coming for dinner.

For learners, My family is... is usually a simple and safe structure when describing the family as a group.

Confusing relatives and parents

Parents means your mother and father.

Relatives includes a wider group such as:

• grandparents
• aunts
• uncles
• cousins

So:

I visit my relatives at Christmas.

does not necessarily mean only your parents.

Saying we are five people in my family

Understandable but less natural:

We are five people in my family.

More natural:

There are five people in my family.

or:

I come from a family of five.

Overusing very

Instead of:

We are very close and my sister is very kind and my parents are very supportive.

try:

We’re a close-knit family, and my parents are extremely supportive.

‍

Extra practice questions

Practise answering each question in about two or three sentences.

1. How many people are there in your family?
2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
3. Who do you spend the most time with in your family?
4. Are you close to your relatives?
5. What do you normally do with your family at weekends?
6. Do you often have family gatherings?
7. Who do you take after in your family?
8. Is there anyone in your family you really look up to?
9. Did you spend more time with your family when you were younger?
10. Do families in your country usually live close to each other?
11. Do you think family relationships change as people get older?
12. Would you like to live near your family in the future?

Family questions can also develop into longer people topics later in the test, so practise Describe a Person You Admire in IELTS Speaking Part 2.

For IELTS Speaking Part 1 family questions, the goal is not to give the most impressive answer possible. Give a direct response, add one useful detail and use natural expressions such as close-knit family, keep in touch, get along with, spend time together and get together. This will make your answers sound more fluent and conversational.

More IELTS Speaking practice

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Friends Questions and Answers

Describe a Person You Admire: IELTS Speaking Part 2

‍