Describe a family member that did something that made you feel proud
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe a family member that did something that made you feel proud
You should say:
- who this person is and what this person did
- why you felt proud of them
- who this person is
- what they did
Sample answer
The family member I felt particularly proud of is my younger brother. He took part in a piano performance during his first year at a music college, which was quite a big deal for him. At that point, he was mainly focusing on the essentials of music, like theory and basic techniques, along with learning simpler classical pieces. Generally, expectations are pretty low during this stage, as most students are still getting used to the demands of a professional music education. This is precisely why I found his performance so remarkable. He played in front of an audience that included lecturers, classmates, and a few parents during a small concert organized by the college. While the piece he chose wasn’t overly complicated, I was genuinely impressed by the confidence and emotion he brought to his playing. It was striking to see how he didn't just tick the boxes by hitting the right notes; he seemed to truly grasp the music and convey its essence through his performance, especially considering how early he was in his studies. I felt an immense sense of pride for numerous reasons. Firstly, mastering an instrument at that level demands a fair amount of discipline, patience, and commitment, even when the progress might seem slow. Moreover, putting oneself out there to perform in front of others can be incredibly daunting, particularly for someone who is still in the beginner's phase. Nonetheless, he managed to remain calm and focused, delivering a performance that clearly showcased both his hard work and his passion for music. What made the experience even more special for me was knowing the countless hours he invested in practicing those fundamental exercises, which often can be tedious and frustrating. Watching those foundational skills transform into a captivating live performance opened my eyes to his unwavering commitment to his musical journey. Overall, that moment filled me with genuine pride, not due to any perfectionism, but because it was a testament to his dedication and seriousness about nurturing his talent.
334 words — roughly 3–3 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to say and can speak naturally from them.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.