# Describe a family member you admire: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - People

Describe a family member you admire.

You should say:
- who this person is
- what this person is like
- what this person has done
- and explain why you admire this person

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

The family member I'd like to talk about is my older sister, Kavya. She's six years older than me and she works as a primary school teacher in a large state school.

In terms of personality, she's very calm and patient, which I think is perfect for her job. She's quite quiet when you first meet her, but once you get to know her, she has a great sense of humour. She's also extremely organised. Even when we were kids, she always had a plan for everything, while I was the messy one.

What she has done is quite impressive, I think. When she finished school, our family didn't have much money, so she couldn't go to university straight away. Instead, she worked in a shop for two years and saved money, and at the same time she studied in the evenings to prepare for the teacher-training entrance exam. She passed it on her first try. During her training she also helped me with my homeworks, even though she was very busy herself.

I admire her for a few reasons. The main one is her determination. She never gave up, even when things were difficult for our family. Also, I really respect the work she does. Teaching is a very hard job, with long days and a lot of stress, but she never complains and she genuinely cares about her pupils. Sometimes she tells me stories about pupils she has helped, and I feel very proud for her. I think she has taught me that if you work hard and stay focused, you can achieve your goals, even when you don't start with many advantages.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is clear, warm and fully relevant, with a well-chosen example of the sister's hard work. Vocabulary is good ("sense of humour", "entrance exam", "determination", "long days"), and complex sentences are mostly handled with control. There are a couple of typical errors: "my homeworks" (rather than "my homework", which is uncountable) and "proud for her" (rather than "proud of her"). Some phrasing is also slightly unnatural, such as "What she has done is quite impressive, I think", which echoes the card, and the reasons use simple markers like "The main one" and "Also". For Band 8, the speaker would need more idiomatic, precise vocabulary and more flexible linking.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-family-member-you-admire).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.