The cue card
Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with. You should say:
- who this person is
- what you do together
- how often you see them
- and explain why you enjoy spending time with them
You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.
🎙 Practise this card with the examiner
Notes you could make in 1 minute
Write key words only, one line per bullet point:
- my cousin Daniel
- cook, watch footy
- every weekend
- laugh, honest advice
Band 7+ sample answer
The family member I spend the most time with is my cousin Daniel. He's about two years older than me, and he moved to Australia a year before I did, so when I arrived he helped me find a job and a place to live. We've been very close ever since.
We do lots of things together, but mostly pretty ordinary stuff. Most Sunday evenings we cook dinner together, usually something from home, because neither of us can find the exact food we grew up with here, so we try to recreate it. We also both got into Aussie Rules football, so during the season we watch the games together and argue about our teams, because of course we support different ones.
I see him at least once a week, sometimes more, because we live about fifteen minutes apart. If one of us has a problem with something like a rental agreement or a car, we usually call the other one first.
I enjoy spending time with him for a few reasons. He has a great sense of humour and can make even a terrible day seem funny. But he's also very honest. If I'm making a bad decision, he'll tell me directly, which I don't always enjoy hearing, but I appreciate it. And because we're both far from our parents, I think we've become a bit like brothers. Being with him feels like having a small piece of home here in Australia.
About 243 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- we're very close
- we get on like a house on fire
- to have a lot in common
- to confide in someone
- a great sense of humour
- to spend quality time
Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.
Follow-up and Part 3 questions
Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Are you similar to this person?
Part 3 discussion questions:
- How have families changed in your country in recent years?
- Should grandparents help to raise children?
- Do children spend enough time with their parents nowadays?
- Is it better to live near your family?
Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.
More cue cards
Frequently asked questions
How long should my answer to 'Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with' be?
Speak for up to 2 minutes; the examiner will stop you. That's roughly 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The sample answer on this page is about 243 words.
Can I memorise this sample answer?
No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised answers, and it can lower your score. Use the sample to see the structure and borrow a few phrases, then talk about your own experience.