Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who is it?
What do you do together?
How do you feel about it?

29 unique answers with expert feedback

How has your relationship with your mother changed over the years?

As I grew older, I began to understand my mother's perspective and the love behind her scoldings. Our bond has strengthened as I've matured, allowing me to appreciate her sacrifices and dedication more deeply.

What qualities do you admire most in your mother?

I admire her determination and zest for life. Despite her fears, she pushes herself to experience new things and meet new people, which inspires me to embrace life fully and not shy away from challenges.

What are some activities you enjoy doing together with your mother?

We love going on trips together, exploring new places, and trying different cuisines. I also enjoy having deep conversations with her about life, which helps us bond and understand each other better.

Band 6-7

00:00

Yes, I have one. One of my brothers. He and me, anytime, playing in the corridor, both at the time, in childhood time. He is very interesting and I like very much my brother. Both of us sleeping together in a place and playing and sometimes we are helping to my mother. She is anytime, anytime doing. Yes, a lot of time.

Follow up questions

What activities do you enjoy doing with your brother now?

Now, we enjoy playing video games together and going out for sports. We also like to watch movies and share our thoughts about them. It's a great way to bond and have fun.

How has your relationship with your brother changed over the years?

As we've grown older, our relationship has matured. We share more personal experiences and support each other in our goals. We still have fun, but we also have deeper conversations about life.

What qualities do you admire most in your brother?

I admire his sense of humor and his ability to stay positive in tough situations. He is also very supportive and always encourages me to do my best, which I really appreciate.

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Band 6-7

00:00

A family member that I spend a lot of time with is my gorgeous mother. The reason why I spend a lot of time with her is because she's an exquisite and mesmerizing person that I admire. We spend a lot of time talking about each other's lives, what our plans for the days are and what we aspire to be in the future. Furthermore, sometimes we cook together and we also go out a lot. However, I do spend time with my father as well, who is also an extremely admirable and sweet person. Furthermore, I go out for shopping with my parents quite often since my brother is not here. We go for family lunches and dinners together, which really helps us bridge the gap between adults and children, the generational gap. It helps us become closer as a family and understand each other's values, traditions and emotions.

Follow up questions

What activities do you enjoy doing with your mother?

I enjoy cooking with my mother, as it allows us to bond and share recipes. We also love going out for walks and exploring new places together, which gives us a chance to talk and connect on a deeper level.

How has your relationship with your family changed over the years?

Over the years, my relationship with my family has grown stronger. As I've matured, I've come to appreciate their wisdom and support more. We communicate better now, and our shared experiences, like family dinners, have helped us understand each other more.

What values have you learned from your family?

I've learned the importance of respect, kindness, and open communication from my family. They have taught me to value traditions and to be empathetic towards others, which I believe are essential qualities for building strong relationships.

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Band 6-7

00:00

Spending time with my mother will be one of the greatest pleasures that I'll have in my life. She makes me want to aim higher in life, get better in terms of academics, in terms of how I feel, in terms of how I'm supposed to be when I grow up, how I'm supposed to work in a professional environment. My mother teaches me everything during these conversations. My mother always, always likes to pull my leg and have fun, have conversation which ultimately leads to laughter. We laugh so much that we cry our eyes out. That is how close we are and that is how much we enjoy each other's company. We occasionally do play a game of Ludo to engage ourselves during the free time that we have which is very rare because of how focused she is and how driven she is even at this age. She is always focused and always... What the f**k bro, what are you doing? I spend a lot of time with my mother. She is a homemaker, therefore I would always end up spending my free time in her company. She is a very entertaining person. We always enjoy a laugh together and make conversation which ultimately leads to a fight. We always talk to each other and make sure that there is no animosity between us and we always gossip about our relatives and have a good laugh about it. We would occasionally play a game of Ludo to pass our time. She is not very leisure all the time because she is always focused and driven about her language study process. She is aiming to be a professional Japanese translator and therefore I hardly get some time with her but the leftover time that she has is always with me and it is the same for me as well. It is a great pleasure that I get to spend my time with her and I would always love to be next to her forever. Thank you very much.

Follow up questions

What qualities do you admire most in your mother?

I admire my mother's determination and her ability to balance her studies with being a homemaker. Her focus on becoming a professional Japanese translator inspires me to work hard and pursue my own goals. She also has a great sense of humor, which makes our time together enjoyable.

How do you think spending time with your mother has influenced you?

Spending time with my mother has greatly influenced my outlook on life. Her encouragement pushes me to aim higher academically and personally. Our conversations help me develop my communication skills and understand the importance of maintaining close relationships.

What activities do you enjoy doing together besides playing Ludo?

Besides playing Ludo, we enjoy cooking together and trying out new recipes. We also like to watch movies and discuss them afterward. These activities not only strengthen our bond but also allow us to share our thoughts and experiences in a fun way.

Band 6-7

00:00

Family is a very important part of our lives. Without family, it's impossible to live a life. So today, I would like to talk about my mother. I spend a lot of time with my mother. Whenever I came back from college or school, I share everything with my mother. What happens all over a day and I tell him. I also like to spend time with my mother because my mother always introduces me to something new in my life. Sometimes I learn cooking from my mother because I have so much interest in cooking. And my mother tells me new recipes and sometimes it's my cooking test and I cook some food and that time I also get punished. And I feel very safe whenever I am with my mom. I can share every emotion of my life. Hence, my mother also shares her feelings with me. We both do so much gossip all the day because we are very close to each other. My mother always stands at my back. She always helps me in my work. She always helps me in my studies. Sometimes she is emotional towards me. Whenever I feel low, she always motivates me. She always gives me power to come back. So at the end, I would like to say this is the person in my family member I spend a lot of time with.

Follow up questions

What activities do you enjoy doing with your mother?

I enjoy cooking with my mother, as she teaches me new recipes. We also like to watch movies together and have long chats about our day. These activities help strengthen our bond and create wonderful memories.

How has your relationship with your mother influenced your life?

My relationship with my mother has greatly influenced my life. She has taught me important values like kindness and perseverance. Her support during tough times motivates me to strive for my goals and be a better person.

Do you think spending time with family is important? Why?

Yes, I believe spending time with family is crucial. It helps build strong relationships and provides emotional support. Family members understand each other better and can offer guidance, which is essential for personal growth.

Show all 29 answers

Cue 1:Who is it?

Start by introducing the family member, mentioning their relationship to you.
Include a brief description of their personality or interests to make your answer more engaging.

Example

The family member I spend the most time with is my younger sister, Ananya. She is 15 years old and is full of energy and enthusiasm. Ananya loves to read and is always curious about the world around her.

Cue 2:What do you do together?

Describe the activities you enjoy doing together, highlighting shared interests.
Mention any specific routines or special occasions that you look forward to.

Example

We often spend our weekends together. One of our favorite activities is going to the local park to play badminton. We also enjoy watching movies at home, especially comedies, and sometimes we cook simple dishes together, which is always a lot of fun.

Cue 3:How do you feel about it?

Express your feelings about spending time with this family member, focusing on the emotional connection.
Share how this relationship impacts your life positively.

Example

I feel incredibly grateful to have Ananya in my life. Spending time with her not only brings me joy but also strengthens our bond as siblings. I cherish our moments together, as they provide me with a sense of comfort and happiness.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points about your relationship with this family member.
Reiterate the importance of this connection in your life.

Example

In conclusion, my sister Ananya is not just a family member but also my closest friend. The time we spend together is invaluable, and I look forward to creating more memories with her in the future.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Being Too Vague

Candidates often provide general answers without specific details. This can make the response less engaging and informative, which may not impress the examiner.

Tip

Include specific examples and anecdotes about your family member to make your answer more vivid and relatable.

2: Neglecting Emotional Connection

Failing to express feelings about the relationship can make the response feel flat. Emotions add depth and personal touch to your answer.

Tip

Share your feelings about spending time with this family member, such as joy, comfort, or support, to enhance your response.

Lack of Structure

A disorganized answer can confuse the listener. It’s important to present your thoughts in a clear and logical order.

Tip

Follow the cue prompts systematically: introduce the family member, describe activities, and conclude with your feelings to maintain clarity.

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