IELTS Speaking Questions: Family and Friends
Family and friends questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1 are personal and present-focused: who you are close to, how often you see them, and what you do together. The examiner wants a direct answer with a specific detail attached, not a generic claim like “family is important to me”. In Part 3, the same topic turns abstract - changing family structures, care of elderly parents, the effect of social media on friendship - and you are expected to reason about relationships in society rather than describe your own family.
Prepare two or three real details before the test: an actual family member or friend you are close to, one specific thing you do together, and one honest opinion about how a relationship has changed over time. A natural mix of these details, adapted to the exact question asked, sounds far more convincing than a rehearsed answer.
Part 1 questions
Short, personal, present-tense. Answer the question directly first, then add the one detail the tip suggests — the extension is what separates a one-line answer from a Band 7 one.
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Do you have a large family or a small family?
How to extend itSay which, then add one detail.
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Who are you closest to in your family?
How to extend itName them, add a short reason.
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Do you spend much time with your family?
How to extend itSay yes or no, give an example.
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How often do you see your close friends?
How to extend itName a frequency, add a detail.
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What do you usually do when you meet friends?
How to extend itName one activity, add a reason.
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Is it important to you to keep in touch with old friends?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain briefly.
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Do you prefer spending time with family or friends?
How to extend itPick one, add a short reason.
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What qualities do you look for in a friend?
How to extend itName one quality, then why it matters.
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Have your friendships changed since you were younger?
How to extend itName one change, then explain briefly.
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Do you and your family members share similar interests?
How to extend itSay yes or no, give an example.
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Who has had the biggest influence on you in your family?
How to extend itName them, add a short reason.
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Do you find it easy to make new friends?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain briefly.
Part 3 questions
The same topic, pitched at the abstract level the examiner moves to after your cue card. These want reasoning — a position, a cause, an example, a concession — not a description of your own life.
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How has technology changed the way friends stay in touch?
How to structure itCompare past and present, then an example.
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Do you think family relationships are as close as they used to be?
How to structure itCompare past and present, then a concession.
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Is it more important to have a few close friends or many acquaintances?
How to structure itCompare both, then favour one.
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How do family structures differ between generations?
How to structure itGive a reason, then a specific example.
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Should elderly parents be cared for by their families or by care homes?
How to structure itTake a position, then add a concession.
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Do you think people rely on friends more than family nowadays?
How to structure itState a position, then a likely consequence.
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How does social media affect the quality of friendships?
How to structure itGive a cause, an effect, then a concession.
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Is it becoming harder for people to maintain close family ties?
How to structure itDescribe the change, then explain a cause.
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What responsibility do adult children have towards their parents?
How to structure itState a position, support it with a reason.
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How might family life change in the next generation?
How to structure itPredict a trend, then give a reason.
Say the answers out loud, then sit the whole test
Reading a question and answering it are different skills. Work through the list above aloud, then put the topic inside a full timed test where you cannot stop to think.
- Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Describe a friend you have known for a long time Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Family and relationships vocabulary 30 band-graded phrases and a self-test
Part 1, a cue card, then Part 3 — timed, in your browser, about 13 minutes.
One cue card a day on Telegram
A new Part 2 card every morning, a vocabulary topic on Sundays.
Practise this with instant AI feedback
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