Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics (Family) and sample answers.
Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.
However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.
TIP >> Each answer should be at least 2-3 sentences long.
TIP >> Listen carefully to the question so that you answer in the correct tense.
TIP >> When answering a yes/no question – answer then give your reasons for your answer. You must extend your answer to gain more marks.
TIP >> Just relax and think of it as a regular conversation you are having, make eye contact and be positive.
Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of ‘Family‘ >>
Q: Could you tell me something about your family?
A: My family is quite small and most people live far away from each other. Some are at the top of the country and some at the bottom. More distant relatives live in France and Australia, so we don’t see them very often.
Q: Do you think it is good to live with grandparents?
A: In my opinion, living with your grandparents may be a way to save money and also to help to care for them. Perhaps they can’t do things they used to, like housework or cooking, so being able to help them would be a positive.
Q: What’s the women’s status in families?
A: Women are seen as the people in charge in most families, they have many roles within the family unit, often having qualifications and a career also. They are the carers, providers, mothers and managers.
Q: Do you think it good to be the only child in the family?
A: On the one hand, it could be a lonely existence when you are a small child but as you become older would start to enjoy having that space. On the other hand, they are missing out on the connection that you see between siblings.
Q: Is there any generation gap in your family?
A: There is a divide between the older members of the family and the young, with varying views on politics and religion which leads to misunderstandings.
Q: Do you like your family?
A: Yes of course! My immediate family – my parents are amazing people, kind, funny and caring. The other members of my family and my husbands family are all very lovely people, who have good times together.
Q: Who is your closest family member?
A: My mother is very close to me and we talk every day, often about trivial things like what our dogs have been doing. She likes to ask questions about my dog, to make sure he is being taken care of like a king!
Q: What are your parents like?
A: Very good, kind and funny people. They like to laugh, read, travel and like all of the same TV shows as me. They are very caring people too, helping in the community – for a children’s charity and to protect the environment.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics (technology) and sample answers.
Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.
However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.
TIP >> Each answer should be at least 2-3 sentences long.
TIP >> Listen carefully to the question so that you answer in the correct tense.
TIP >> When answering a yes/no question – answer then give your reasons for your answer. You must extend your answer to gain more marks.
TIP >> Just relax and think of it as a regular conversation you are having, make eye contact and be positive.
Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of ‘technology‘ >>
Q: Do you use emails?
A: Yes of course! I use email every day to communicate with friends, family and work. I rely on it for work, talking to students, clients and booking appointments. Without it, I would not be able to do very much!
Q: Are they popular in your country?
A: They are popular all over the world, as the digital revolution has taken over. People rely on emails to communicate, to send and receive information.
Q: Do you think they are going to replace letters in the future? Why?
A: I think so because it is an instant way of getting information. People do not have the time now to wait 3-5 days for a letter to be delivered (or longer) so use emails frequently.
Q: Are you interested in robots? Why?
A: Yes, I know they are being developed right now to be intelligent and read about them in the news so that they can communicate and perform tasks. I read an article recently about how two robots developed their own language of code, which was interesting.
Q: Do you like robots to work at your home?
A: Not really, after reading the article about the google robots communicating in a language they had developed. If they can do that without human programming it makes you think about what else they could do!
Q: Do you want to take a car which robot is the driver?
A: No, I think that it would be difficult for a robot to navigate roads when they do not know what to expect. driving situations are always different, things happen that you cannot predict.
Q: Will robots replace human beings in the workplace completely?
A: No, in my opinion, I think that robots may be able to complete some jobs but obviously not all. How can they be programmed to think like a human? They are not human and do not have the compassion and humanity that we need for most jobs in society.
Q: Do you enjoy using technology?
A: Yes, it makes my working life really easy, I use my computer every day. I love that it is convenient and that everything can be accessed online.
Q: Do you use the Internet for your studies?
A: Yes, I do research online, reading articles from trusted resources. However, there is a lot of information out there, so you need to be able to separate the good from the bad.
Q: Do you have your own computer?
A: Yes, I have and I use it for hours every day, it is very high speed which I love and it makes my working day feel easy and uncomplicated. I rely on my computer a lot, so it was a really good investment.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
