Describe a family member you admire: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a family member you admire.

You should say:

who this person is
what they are like
what they do

and explain why you admire them.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 229 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

The family member I admire most is my mother, who works as a nurse in a large public hospital.

She's a calm, patient person, but she's also much tougher than she looks. She raised three children while working night shifts for most of our childhood, and somehow she always had time to help us with homework or listen to our problems. She has a very dry sense of humour, too, which I think helps her cope with a stressful job.

As a nurse, she works on a ward for elderly patients, many of whom have serious illnesses. Her job involves everything from giving medicine to comforting families who've just received bad news. A few years ago, she was promoted to senior nurse, so now she also trains younger staff, which she really enjoys.

I admire her for a few reasons. First, her work ethic is remarkable; I don't think I've ever heard her complain about being tired, even after a twelve-hour shift. Second, she treats everyone with the same respect, whether they're a senior doctor or a hospital cleaner. And finally, during the pandemic, when many people were afraid to go near hospitals, she kept going to work every day, knowing the risks. That took real courage. I'm not sure I'll ever be as selfless as she is, but she's definitely the person I try to model myself on.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

tougher than she looks: stronger than her appearance suggests
a dry sense of humour: a way of being funny while seeming serious
cope with: to deal successfully with something difficult
work ethic: attitude to hard work
selfless: caring more about others than yourself
model yourself on someone: to try to be like someone

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Do other people in your family feel the same about this person?

Part 3 questions: Families

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

How have families in your country changed in the last fifty years?

The biggest change is probably size. Families used to be much larger, and several generations often lived together. Now, especially in cities, many couples have only one or two children and live separately from their parents, partly because of work and the cost of housing.

Should grandparents help to look after their grandchildren?

I think it can be wonderful for both sides, as long as it's a choice rather than an obligation. Children benefit from the relationship, and many grandparents enjoy feeling useful. But it shouldn't replace proper childcare, because looking after young children every day can be exhausting for older people.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on birthdays and rain, and a Part 3 discussion.

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This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.