In this article we will delve into one of the most popular topics for the IELTS Speaking Parts 1-3: Family and Relationships. Our aim is to provide you with sample questions and answers, as well as some valuable IELTS Speaking tips to help you excel in this particular area.
Here are some sample questions related to the Family and Relationships topic you may be asked on the exam.
- Are relationships with other people important for you?
- Do you think that people should care more about relationships with their colleagues?
- What can be done to improve the relationship with a person who you had a conflict with?
- Are conflicts common in your environment?
- In what ways have families in your country changed recently?
- Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?
- Which are more important to you: your family or your friends?
- Do you think that social media is changing the way that we relate to our friends and family?
- What is the best age to get married?
- Do you think a man should take care of a baby? Why?
- Do you think weddings in your countries waste lots of money?
1. Are relationships with other people important for you?
As for me, relationships with others are very important. We crave friendship and positive relationships as much as we crave food and water. The higher our social skills, the happier and more productive we become. This is important in any area: personal, professional and social. In addition, good relationships give us freedom: instead of spending time and energy overcoming problems associated with negative relationships and conflicts, we can focus on opportunities.
2. Do you think that people should care more about relationships with their colleagues?
A friendly atmosphere at work is extremely important. It is much more pleasant to work in a team where mutual assistance and friendly relations have been established, than in a quarrelsome office. Making friends at work gives you several undeniable benefits: you know that they will always support you, help you in difficult times, share your problems and tell you how to act in a difficult situation. That is why I am sure that people should care about relationships at work.
3. What can be done to improve the relationship with a person who you had a conflict with?
There are several methods to improve the relationship. First of all, you should admit your mistake and take your time. If you realize that your discussion did not end how you originally expected, ask the other person for a private meeting. Take responsibility for your actions by admitting that you did the wrong thing - whether you interrupted, criticized too harshly, or wrote a rash message. Explain that you would like to discuss in detail what happened in order to understand how to avoid this in the future. Remember that it may take a while for your colleague to think about what you are saying.
4. Are conflicts common in your environment?
Well, I work as a manager, and conflicts happen from time to time. Sometimes we have to deal with furious customers who are not satisfied with the service, sometimes it is an inner conflict in a team working on the same project. Conflict can be functional and can lead to improvement of organizational performance. Or it may be dysfunctional and result in decrease of personal satisfaction, group collaboration, and organizational effectiveness. To manage a conflict, you need to know the reasons for its occurrence, type, possible consequences in order to choose the most effective method of resolving it.
5. In what ways have families in your country changed recently?
The roles of husbands and wives have changed in recent years. Both spouses have been more open to perform different roles, such as seizing various job opportunities or being more involved in the household. Another change, I think, is the trend to have fewer children. Parents nowadays think of having smaller families due to high cost of living and career perspectives.
6. Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family?
Traditionally, husbands and wives had clear-cut roles in society. Husbands used to work and fulfill financial needs of the family, while women were expected to take care of the house. Changes had occurred over time and both husbands and wives started to take part in each of these roles. I think this change is rather positive. It is not necessary to sharply define each role. I reckon, whatever role family members take, they should always move in the same direction and pursue what is best for the family itself.
7. Which are more important to you: your family or your friends?
Both are fairly important, but my family takes place in my life that is dear to my heart. Friends may come and go, but I know that my family will always be there for me, no matter what happens in my life and no matter what decisions I take. Nevertheless, my friends are the closest people with whom I can share and discuss things that sometimes are not appropriate to bring up in the family circle.
8. Do you think that social media is changing the way that we relate to our friends and family?
Answer: In some ways yes. Social media allows us to build up relationships with distant cousins, even with those that live on foreign soil. It also helps us to make connections with long lost friends, who we may never have spoken to or seen again. On the other hand, we often spend far too much time on our digital devices instead of socializing face to face.
9. What is the best age to get married?
I don’t believe that there is a right time for anything, marriage included. It’s more about the maturity of the two people than the age itself, I think. People mature at different rates, physically and emotionally, and not until after they can fully acknowledge their life issues and handle them with rationale and thorough consideration, are they ready to get settled and find happiness in their marriage life. Besides, the financial situation also plays a significant part in this once-in-a-lifetime decision. Many divorces have been directly resulted from the lack of money or financial insecurity. Therefore, only when people can fully support themselves should they consider starting a family.
10. Do you think a man should take care of a baby? Why?
Both mother and father have fundamental roles in a child’s development from birth through adulthood, I believe. Hence, men should be more active in raising kids since they can boost their children, intellectually and socially. Research has shown that children who have a close father-child relationship are likely to have better social skills and fewer behavioral problems since they are more emotionally secure. Meanwhile, a distant or non-existent father-child bond could take a horrendous toll on a kid’s self-esteem and self-belief. Thus, if you want to raise a well-rounded kid, pay attention to them.
11. Do you think weddings in your countries waste lots of money?
It’s absolutely a yes to me. Maybe I’m a minimalist, therefore, I consider weddings one of those occasions when people are willing to pour money down the drain with exorbitantly high and unnecessary items and ceremonies. For example, in XYZ, where I come from, couples tend to have a huge reception where hundreds of guests are invited while, in my opinion, it should be an intimate one where people can share and celebrate the delight of life with their family and close friends only. In addition, other wedding expenses including floral arrangements, invitations, photography, costumes and so many more also cost people more than they should since I believe they’re more show than substance.
Families and Relationships Vocabulary
The following list of vocabulary and phrases can help you expand your lexicon on the Family and Relationships topic. This will enable you to express yourself more accurately during the IELTS Speaking test.
- to communicate with...
- to interact with...
- open-minded
- extroverted / introverted
- to make friends
- to have a close relationship with...
- to share
- to follow
- to support
- to give a hand
- in the workplace
- vital / necessary
- As for me...
- teamwork
- partnership between...
- to be a team
- to trust
- team building activities
- top management
- to forgive
- to say sorry
- to excuse
- to reach an agreement
- to understand each other
- kind-hearted
- understanding
- to make mistakes
- to look for…
- to avoid
- to be good / bad at...
- closely-knit
- circle of...
- misunderstanding
- habit
- conflict management
- psychologist
- mental health
- compromise
By familiarizing yourself with these questions and practicing your responses, you can enhance your speaking skills and boost your confidence for the IELTS Speaking exam.
Furthermore, we introduced the IELTS Speaking simulator by SmallTalk2Me, which offers a convenient and efficient way to practice authentic IELTS speaking questions, receive personalized feedback and track your progress. With such regular practice you can approach the IELTS Speaking exam with confidence and achieve your desired results.
