IELTS Speaking · Part 3
Family and upbringing: IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
Discussion questions
The examiner usually opens the discussion with: "How important is family to people in your country?", then works up from concrete to abstract.
Development (societal)
Why do you think family life has changed in recent decades?
Cause & effectHow is family life today different from when your grandparents were young?
ComparisonDo you think parents are too protective of their children nowadays?
OpinionWhat are the advantages of growing up in a large family?
Evaluation
Depth (abstract & hypothetical)
How much should older and younger generations be expected to help each other?
OpinionHow might family life change in the future?
SpeculationIf children were raised mainly by the community rather than parents, what would change?
HypothesisIs the influence of parents stronger or weaker than it used to be?
Evaluation
Useful vocabulary for this theme
Band 7+ language for discussing family and upbringing.
- bring up
- raise and care for a child
- “I was brought up to always be polite to strangers.”
- a tight-knit family
- a family whose members are very close
- “We're a tight-knit family and see each other every week.”
- take after
- resemble an older relative in looks or character
- “Everyone says I take after my mother.”
- family values
- the principles a family holds and teaches
- “My parents instilled strong family values in me.”
- the breadwinner
- the family's main earner of money
- “My father was the breadwinner when I was young.”