Describe a Family Member - IELTS Speaking Cue Card

This article contains the Describe a Family Member Cue Card Sample Answers.

During Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking, you will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic. This is the IELTS cue card task. You can learn how to communicate clearly and successfully by reviewing sample answers.

This IELTS cue card gives you an opportunity to share one of your opinions on a family member.

Practise IELTS Speaking Part 2 by referencing the Cue Card Sample Answers below.

Check more Family – Cue Cards.

For more Cue Cards, take a look at IELTS Speaking Part 2 | Topics, Questions and Samples Answers.

Sample Answer 1

• who this person is;

Family members are the closest people we have in our lives. They are people who stay by our side through thick and thin. Of course, there are some family members we like more than others, and these are the people we try to spend most of our time with during family gatherings. A family member that I am attached to more than others is my cousin. He is the only child of my father’s elder brother, and we have been friends since pre-school.

• describe some things you have done together;

Rehan, my cousin, and I have always done everything together. We used to go to the same school till Class 10. Our tuitions teachers were also the same, and we used to study together most of the time. Since our study schedules were nearly identical, we would play together in the park near my house almost every day. As we grew up, our friendship became stronger. We attended football games together, and we always used to play on the same team. From family vacations to trips with our friends, Rehan and I have had several memorable experiences.

• and explain why you like this person.

Some family members are our favourites for various reasons. Some of them are fun to be around, while others are good at listening to our problems and giving productive advice. Rehan has always been a good friend and has helped me on countless occasions. Since we are childhood friends and cousins, we have always had a strong bond. I like Rehan as a person as he is honest and kind-hearted. He is someone that I look up to and will always hold in high regard.

Sample Answer 2

• who this person is;

I’m grateful to have such a supportive and caring family who are always there for me no matter what. We have 5 members in the house that’s always full of laughter: my parents, my two sisters and me. Even though I love them all to the moon and back, my younger sister, Jade, is the one that’s closest to me.

• describe some things you have done together;

Jade is seven years younger than me, which might create some sense of generation gap, yet, we still get along well, or at least most of the time. She is in high school now and has a dream of becoming a doctor one day. In term of appearance, we have little in common. By that I mean while I’m kind of tall, she’s relatively short; while I take after my father, she’s my mom’s splitting image. Same thing with our characteristics. I am people-oriented and a true free spirit, Jade, on the contrary, is quite introverted and into stability. Hence, it came as a huge surprise when others acknowledge our strong bond. We’re like 2 sides of the same coin.

• and explain why you like this person.

No matter how different we are, we have never neglected or abandoned each other. In fact, we are partners in crime in so many impulsive and silly acts that our family has lost count. Once, I tried to play the victim with my uncle as I accidentally broke a crystal vase that my aunt adored, Jade backed me up as we blamed our poor cousin. What a shameful act! But that was years ago, and we learnt our lesson the hard way. Another time was when my sister’s teacher asked to meet our parents because Jade had ditched class. In her defence, that subject was boring, and I was the one who talked to her teacher. In the end, Jade had to serve more time at the library, and we kept this from our parents and so were many other things. We got each other’s back and we always will because that’s what sisters do and simply because I love her.

Sample Audio

Click on the audio to listen to the sample answer above. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation of the words

Vocabulary

• Love someone/ something to the moon and back: love someone/ something more than anything
  Eg: Rose loves her family to the moon and back.
• Get along well: have a harmonious or friendly relationship
  Eg: On the very first day in the school, the little girl got along well with the teachers.
• Have … in common: to share interests or characteristics
  Eg: My sister and I have a lot in common.
• Take after: resemble (a parent or ancestor)
  Eg: After his father’s death, Mohan took after his business.
• Splitting image: a person who bears a strong physical resemblance to another, esp to a relative
  Eg: The twin brother’s have the splitting image of their mother.
• Two sides of the same coin: very closely related although they seem different
  Eg: Attachment and hatred are the two sides of the same coin.
• Partners in crime: good friends who get in trouble together or get each other in trouble
  Eg: My best friend who also happens to be my partner in crime is going to Goa without me.
• Impulsive (a): acting suddenly without thinking carefully about what might happen because of what you are doing
  Eg: Rose made an impulsive decision to quit her job.
• Lost count: to fail to be able to count someone or something, especially because there are so many
  Eg: There were so many cars parked that I lost the count.
• Play the victim: the act of pretending to be the one who has been done wrong to manipulate others or seek attention
  Eg: Mary is very excited to play the victim’s role in her next movie.
• Back someone up; have one’s back: support or help someone
  Eg: You can always rely on your parents or friends to have your back.
• Put the blame on; blame something on someone; blame someone for something: say that someone or something has done something bad
  Eg: Since she was also present at the crime scene, the entire blame was put on her.
• Learn something the hard way: learn something by experience, especially by an unpleasant experience
  Eg: The students don’t listen to the teachers advice. Thus, They will have to learn the hard way.
• In someone’s defense: used at the beginning of a sentence to indicate that the subsequent statement will justify some action or decision one made
  Eg: When the judge asked her, she spoke in her defense.

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