IELTS Speaking : Family

Exam tip

  • Some words in English are more formal or more appropriate for formal writing.
  • Other words in English are less formal or more appropriate for speaking.
  • Avoid slang expressions, for example: Creative writing is really cool.
  • Avoid very formal expressions or words which are more appropriate for writing, for example: My aforementioned interest in creative writing lasted for six months.

1I live in a one-parent family / single-parent family. (a family where the children live with only one parent)

2I really enjoy my family life. (the way a family lives)

3I come from a big family of eight children. (the group of people who are related to you)

4I grew up on a farm. (develop from being a child to being an adult)

5I grew up knowing that my elder brother would take over the family business one day. (the job your parents and probably your grandparents used to do)

6Nuclear family (a family consisting of mother, father and their children)

7Extended family (all the people in a family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)

8Family background (the sort of family you come from)

9She's / he's family (informal) (used to say that someone is related to you)

10A large household (all the people who live in one house)

11My domestic life isn't very happy. (connected with the private family home)

12I live on my own. I haven't got any family. (the group of people who are related to one another)

13We've got the same name but are not related. (the way you are connected)

14He lives with us, but he's not related / unrelated. (a person who is not a member of your family)

15He is a close / distant relative of mine. (near or not in a family relationship)

16I really take after my mother. (to look like or be like a parent or older member of your family)

17All the men in our family are bald. I support it's hereditary. (a quality which is passed from parents to children)

18All her children are very artistic. It must run in the family. (something which is passed from parents to children / a common feature in a family)

19Bringing up / raising children is never easy. (to look after children in a family until they are adults and to teach them how to behave)

20My parents really tried to give me a good upbringing. (the way somebody is brought up)

21My father recently lost his job, so my mother's the main breadwinner now. (a person who earns all or most of the money in family)

22I need a job, so I can support my family. (to have enough money to be able to look after a family)

23I am getting married next year and hope to start a family straight away. (have children)

24My father is really a family man. (a man who enjoys being at home with his wife and children)

25He's got some fatherly concern and duties. (behaving like a father)

26Motherhood really suits her. (the state of being a mother)

27She is a motherly sort of person. (behaving like a mother)

28Danny is my foster brother. (having different parents, but being brought up in the same family)

29My step father is a nice man. (the man who is married to your mother but is not your father)

30Paul is my big brother / older / elder brother. (older than you)

31Anna is my little sister / younger sister. (younger than you)

32We're identical twins. (twins who look exactly the same)

33My twin sister is a dentist. (either of the children who have the same parents and are born at the same time)

34She doesn't get on well with her in-laws. (the parents of your husband or wife)

35 Next of kin (your closest relative, who should be told if you are injured or killed)

36I closely resemble my father. (to be closely similar to, or look like someone)

37You can see the resemblance between Susan and her sister. (a similarity between two things, especially in the way they look)

38He bears a remarkable resemblance to my father. (to be or look somebody / something else)

39My parents live apart from each other. (if married people decide to separate, then they live apart)


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