The IELTS speaking section is the most important part of the English language test. It is designed to assess your proficiency in communication and fluency. Among its various tasks, cue card is an interesting yet challenging task. It demands that you speak fluently on a given topic for a specific period. To solve your problem, we bring you a few samples of cue cards on the topic 'Describe Your Family' in this blog. Subsequently, you will get lexical resources, follow-up questions, and tips to excel.
Table of Contents
The IELTS cue card question is a part of the speaking section in the IELTS test. Here, students are required to speak on the given topic using a cue card. It consists of a specific topic accompanied by prompts or related questions. You'll get one minute to prepare and take notes on the given topic. After that, you will need to discuss the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.
You can get any topic, such as places, people, objects, situations, and incidents. Therefore, you must be prepared to answer topics like describing your family. Answering cue cards in the IELTS speaking part 2 requires a specific approach and structure, as outlined in the upcoming section.
To effectively answer IELTS cue cards, it's important to understand what the topic demands. You should be familiar with the question pattern and focus on key aspects such as accuracy, fluency, and relevance. In this blog, based on the topic "Describe Your Family," you'll begin with a brief introduction and then address the four follow-up questions that typically follow.
Below is the image how the cue card describing your family looks like when you take the IELTS exam.
Below is the first sample of the cue card describing your family settled in a town with a population.
My family life in a small town is very subdued and precious. I enjoyed the environment and company of my grandparents, parents, siblings and neighbourhood friends. Life in a small town is hassle-free and less chaotic as compared to big cities.
We are a joint family of 6. My parents, grandparents, and my elder sister and I. We are a typical Indian family living in a double-story home at the town's central market. Our neighbourhood is warm and supportive, with a kind and helpful nature. As a family, we live together, share responsibilities, celebrate every occasion, and truly enjoy each other's company.
I'm currently in 7th standard, and my elder sister is in 10th. My father works as a clerk at a nearby post office, and my mother manages the household. Living with us are my grandfather, a retired school teacher, and my grandmother, who is deeply spiritual and loves sharing moral stories with us after school. Her stories are both inspiring and comforting — a part of our daily routine we truly cherish.
I like to play with my friends, love drawing, and watching TV. My sister is a very assiduous person and wants to become a teacher. My father is a simple man who loves gardening. My mother is a great cook and loves to decorate her home with handicrafts. Grandfather is a person curious about geopolitical issues, such as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. My grandmother is a spiritual person and teaches us moral stories after school.
My family consists of every kind of person you would meet in this world. I think it is a nice blend, and that's what we call family. Our family has some traditions, such as dining together in the evening and offering prayers in the morning. If anyone has any problems, we discuss and sort them out. So, mutual bonding and understanding are the special traits of our family.
So, I can say I feel very safe, confident, and positive around my people. I always pray for the enduring bond of our family to remain until the end. I hope people understand the importance of family in today's fast-paced life.
This is the second type of sample that describes your family, which lives in a metropolitan city.
Over time, due to growth and development, family dynamics also change. Here, I will describe my family from the perspective of the urban landscape.
I live in a nuclear family of 4 members. I have my sister and my parents. We live among the buzz of a metropolitan city, where everyone is in a race for something.
I study in the 6th standard, and my brother is 2 years younger than me. My mother is an assistant officer in the Bank. My father works as a software engineer at an MNC. We even have one pet cat named Mini. Mini is like a family member to us.
Me My brother and I love to play video games and play with Mini. My parents are working, so we spend most of our time together and with Mini. My mother is a very disciplined officer and fond of yoga and meditation. My father is a sports lover and loves to watch football matches and explore different places. We usually spend a lot of time together on weekends.
What makes my family special is the sense of unity, respect, and equality we maintain. Responsibilities are shared without any bias, and every member supports one another. My parents set a strong example through their dedication and care, inspiring me to be responsible and hardworking and to value family above all.
I feel motivated by my parents. I learn many life skills with my mother, such as gardening, cleaning, and house chores. I am also excited to refine my skills and create the best version of myself.
You can refer to our third sample if you want a quick and concise answer to help you score the overall IELTS band in the speaking section. So, go through the description of your family, which is an NRI family.
My family moved to Canada before I was born. The life and culture of a foreign city are completely different from India. I would like to discuss my family and my experience abroad.
I live with my parents in Canada. We have only three members. Me, my mother, and father. Besides, I have two uncles, one aunt, and cousins, but in an extended family in India.
I am pursuing a degree in computer engineering for my graduation. Both my mother and father are professor at a Canadian university. My mother’s discipline is psychology. My father teaches applied science.
I like animated movies and trekking. My mother enjoys spending time in social clubs and societies. My father is a quiet pedagogue who loves to teach students. Additionally, we discuss Indian mythological stories to stay connected to our country.
A unique aspect of my family is that my parents are from the scholarly field. I do not require any outside guidance, unlike other students. We love studying and teaching. Therefore, respect each one's space and decisions.
Yes, we are living in a foreign land, but we remain deeply connected to our Indian roots. I am always eager to learn new things and discuss new developments with my parents.
Lexical resources are one of the parameters of your score in the IELTS speaking part 2. It reflects your proficiency in the English language and how you effectively use it in communication. Therefore, it is crucial to use a broad vocabulary in the IELTS exam to impress the examiner.
In the table below, we have listed all the advanced words used in the samples above. These will help you score better in IELTS exam:
| Vocabulary Words | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subdued | Quieter and peaceful than others. |
| Chaotic | Completely confused or disordered. |
| Assiduous | Hardworking and taking great care of everything. |
| Geopolitics | Politics is influenced by geographical factors. |
| Landscape | Everything you can see when you look across the whole thing. |
| Metropolitan | Large cities |
| Exploring | To travel around the place. |
| Housechores | Routine task to maintain the house. |
| Pedagogue | A person who likes to teach people |
| Mythological | Cultural, religious stories. |
| Accountabilities | A sense of responsibility. |
| Handicrafts | An activity needs hand skills and artistic ability as well. |
The following are the follow-up questions asked by the examiner after the IELTS speaking section 2. So, have a look.
1. What Is the Importance of Family in One’s Life?
Answer: In my opinion, family plays a very important role in one’s life. It builds your character and habits, developing good values in your personality. You may receive formal education in school and college, but your first and most important school is your home. It helps you maintain emotional balance and develop a good attitude. And all these essential qualities will help you throughout your life.
2. Do You Like a Joint or Nuclear Family?
Answer: Well, it depends on the circumstances. Earlier, there was a time when people used to live in joint families. With growth and development, people often need to relocate to another city to pursue better opportunities. In that case, it is not possible to live in a joint family. However, both have their merit and demerits. So, the answer is very subjective.
3. How Do You Think Changing Development Has Evolved the Equation of Family?
Answer: Yes, that’s true. Earlier, we had fewer requirements and ambitions. So, humans were satisfied with their earnings and places and believed it was best to stay within the family. However, as science advances, new technologies emerge. With innovation and job opportunities, the tendency to explore the world has increased, especially in the 21st century. Therefore, it is not possible to live with a joint family. But that does not mean being disconnected from your grandparents and cousins. Occasionally, you can visit them, have a good time, and make beautiful memories. Distance does not matter now.
4. What Did You Ever Learn New from Your Family That Completely Changed Your Perspective?
Answer: I learn good values like gender neutrality, tolerance, and mutual respect for everyone. These things completely changed my perspective from objective to subjective. Everything has two aspects, and these values help me to understand the other dimension for a more informed conclusion. During my education, it helped me make better decisions about my subject choices. I am confident enough, and this will help me further shortly.
5. What Is the Role of Grandparents in The Younger Generation?
Answer: Grandparents are like our mentors, through whom you can experience life. You can learn life lessons from their learning. They have a broader overview of life, family, education, and finances. Nowadays, we can see that children from this generation have a violent and aggressive nature. Radical decision-making is one of the biggest problems that the younger generation is facing. So, here, the role of grandparents comes in, which is unmatchable.
To excel in IELTS speaking part 2, you can follow a well-planned approach to articulate your score well. To help you, below are some tips:
Wrapping up! The IELTS Cue Card topic describes your family, which seems easy but can be difficult to answer in the exam. By solving and thoroughly understanding the samples and follow-up questions, you can perform well. Try to keep your communication more engaging, and thus, it will create a strong impression.
Thus, if you need more topics for cue cards and require assistance, you can consult our expert at Gradding.com. They will provide online IELTS classes, offering high-quality materials, IELTS mock tests, and more to help students become proficient in solving cue cards.
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