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Describe a person you disliked at first but ended up being friends with: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Who the person is?
  • When and where you met him/her?
  • Why you disliked this person at first?
  • And explain how your opinion of him/her changed and why.
Show all 104 answers

Cue 1:Who the person is?

  • Introduce the person by name and describe your relationship with them.
  • Mention any relevant background information that helps to understand who they are.

Example

The person I initially disliked is named Rohan. He was my classmate in college, and we were both part of the same study group for our engineering course.

Cue 2:When and where you met him/her?

  • Specify the time and place where you first met this person.
  • Provide context about the situation that brought you together.

Example

I first met Rohan during our first semester at university, in a crowded lecture hall. We were both attending an introductory class on computer science, and it was a bit overwhelming for all of us.

Cue 3:Why you disliked this person at first?

  • Clearly explain the reasons for your initial dislike.
  • Share specific incidents or traits that contributed to your feelings.

Example

At first, I found Rohan to be quite arrogant. He often interrupted others during discussions and seemed to think he was better than everyone else. This behavior really annoyed me, and I felt he was not a team player.

Cue 4:And explain how your opinion of him/her changed and why.

  • Describe the turning point that changed your perception of this person.
  • Explain how you got to know them better and what positive traits you discovered.

Example

Over time, I had to work closely with Rohan on a group project. As we collaborated, I discovered that he was actually very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. He was also willing to help others, which made me appreciate him more. I realized that his confidence was just a way of expressing his enthusiasm for learning.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, my initial dislike for Rohan transformed into a strong friendship as I got to know him better. This experience taught me the importance of looking beyond first impressions and understanding people more deeply.

    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Avoid Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your answer less engaging and informative. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about the person or the situation, which can lead to a lack of clarity.

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    Tip

    Include specific examples and anecdotes about the person and your initial feelings to create a vivid picture for the examiner.

    2: Don't Overemphasize Negativity

    Focusing too much on negative feelings can create a one-sided narrative. Candidates may dwell on their initial dislike without explaining the positive changes that occurred later.

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    Tip

    Balance your response by discussing both your initial dislike and the qualities that led to your friendship, highlighting personal growth.

    Neglecting the 'Why' Factor

    Failing to explain why your opinion changed can leave your answer incomplete. Candidates often skip this crucial part, making it hard for the examiner to understand the transformation.

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    Tip

    Clearly articulate the reasons behind your change of heart, emphasizing specific interactions or experiences that influenced your perspective.

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    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 7

    I would like to talk about a classmate of mine, Sia, whom I disliked at first but later become a good friend with. I met her during my college days. At the beginning, I thought she was very arrogant because she didn't talk much to anyone and always looked serious. So I avoided her and assumed we would never get along. However, after a few weeks, we were put in the same group for a project. While working together, I realized she was not arrogant at all but actually very shy. See, she was hardworking, supportive and had a great sense of humor once she become comfortable. Over time, we started spending more time together and now she is one of my closest friends. This experience taught me not to judge people too quickly and to try to understand them better before forming an opinion.

    Band 7

    The person whom I met and disliked at first was my boss in my previous organization. He was my reporting manager. I disliked him because our personalities were totally opposing. I am more of an extrovert, he was an introvert. So I felt that I was not appreciated for my effort or he never showed any emotions, neither satisfaction or dissatisfaction with my work. But later I realized that there are lot of redeeming qualities in him which I chose to ignore at first. When the team was in crisis and we needed someone to step up and lead the team forward, he came forward. He is an excellent crisis manager and keeps calm during crisis without stressing the other members of the team. And I learned from him what true leadership is really like. The lessons which I learned by working with him are really valuable for me in my current engagement in the current organization I am working. He taught me that leadership is not leading from the front. Leadership at times is to be there when the team needs you the most. And now we are very good friends. Although our personalities are different, we have managed to come to a common ground. And I look up to him for feedback and improvement in my area of work.

    Band 7

    When I was a kid, I used to change schools a lot. So every time I transferred to a different school, I used to meet a variety of people. So once when I transferred to Kolhapur Public School, I was in 5th standard and I met a girl named Shreya. She was always rude to me and I actually did make an effort to get to know her as she was always at the top of the class, always being the teacher's pet and not wanting to talk to others, not taking the initiative of being extroverted or being friends with anyone. So at first, I let it go but then she became my bench partner and then we started talking and I realized that she was actually an amazing human being. She was friendly, intelligent and an absolutely breathtaking beautiful woman. She is now my best friend and I talk to her about everything. I would have regretted if she wouldn't have become my bench partner.

    Band 7

    The person that I disliked at first but ended up being friends with is my current best friend Venkat Lakshmi. She was very loud back in school, but she's also very outgoing and friendly. Initially, I took her loudness as rudeness and that her loudness made her less feminine, but now I see her as someone who is enthusiastic and full of zeal. Hence, I find her to be my closest friend ever. She is very open and honest to the point that people will think that she is rude, but as a friend, I know it deep in my heart that she has the best intentions and she cares about me and my loved one's well-being. I really enjoyed her company from the time I first met her. We have common interests in movies and TV shows and she's a foodie which complemented my love for food.

    Band 7

    The first time I met my boss named Ashwik Naik, I thought he was a characterless person with a low demeanor because he always looked at the negative situations first rather than the positive ones. I met him at an interview that I first went to while I was applying for a new job and I thought to myself that this was someone that I would not be able to work with because of how controlling and narcissistic he was. But as we went out on a work event wherein we were casually speaking in a casual environment, I then began to realize that he was actually a decent and nice human being and had a different attribute to himself while working in an office space. I then realized that a corporate environment compared to a personal one is where you understand people much more than when you speak to them in a place of work. In my opinion, I now believe that he is someone who is resilient, strong and kind at the same time. So to believe that he is a narcissist completely dissolved in my head as I started getting to know this person a little better. Because of the times that we've spent together have now created a lot of cherishable and memorable moments that I now cherish for life. I can now say he is my best friend and mentor that taught me a lot in the industry.

    Band 7

    So the person that I disliked at first and then later went on to become good friends with, her name is Nidhi. So we met in college, first day of college. We met through a common friend who was a college mate for me and Nidhi's schoolmate named Ankita. So me and Ankita, we had the same vibe. We used to gel together very well, but Nidhi was a little different from our, from what we used to like. She had a different set of ideas and likings compared to us. So initially we kind of did not like her as much because she wouldn't get our jokes or she wouldn't like doing the same things that we liked doing. For example, eating out and she didn't have the same food choices or preferences as us. So it was a little difficult to gel with her in the beginning, but as years went by and we always sat together in class and as years went by, Nidhi evolved and maybe as luck would have it, she kind of became more aligned to our choices and likings and we all became really close. And by the end of our college days, we were all very close. And I must say, I'm really happy that even after five years after college, I am one of the closest with Nidhi right now. And the city where I lived is the city where she got married into. And every time she visits her husband's house, she makes sure that she visits me. And I also make sure that we visit her because it's such a joy to meet her right now. And it's such a delight to be with Nidhi and Manoj right now. The hours just flow by or it just flies when we are with Nidhi and Manoj.

    Band 7

    Well, one person I initially disliked but later became good friends with is Asha, a classmate I met during my first semester at university. We were both enrolled in the same biotechnology course and I first met her during the introductory lab sessions. Right from the beginning, Asha came across as a loud and overly confident person. She often interrupted others, dominated group discussions, and acted like she knew everything. Because of this, I found her completely annoying and even a little arrogant. I tried to avoid working with her whenever possible. Things took a turn when we were randomly assigned as partners for a genetics assignment. I wasn't very enthusiastic about it, but we had no choice. During the course of the assignment, I started noticing a completely different side of her. She was extremely dedicated and hardworking. More importantly, she was always willing to help me understand complex concepts and she never made me feel inferior for not knowing something, which I find is very important. We began chatting casually during breaks and I started appreciating her honesty and her sense of humor and the way she always motivated me to do better. I found out that she had a tough time adjusting to college life, which explained why she came across as loud and outspoken at first. This whole experience taught me a lot.

    Band 7

    Changes are a constant part of life even while we are thinking and even in our thought process. For a person in our mind to be changed according to their personality, if I have to recall one person then I would think of my nurse Vishali. Initially when I joined the Hans Foundation back in 2004, December, I was in apprehension that she might be a person who is not able to take up the responsibilities well. Additionally, she might not be able to manage the patients as per my needs as I was working as a doctor in that setup. As my previous experiences have had been with all the nursing staff, that's why I overgeneralized this particular thought of mine over to Vishali's as well. But I was proven wrong very quick. She embodied the team management role as well as the responsibility role very well in herself. She showed me the ways how we can improve our setup, how we can improve our screening rates and it is only because of her that we have been successful in increasing our screening rates by 25%. Moreover, she also worked with our team which consists of 40 members and she took up the lead in all the nursing staff about the issues they all are facing and how can those issues be curbed. Apart from this, she also imparted some health seeking behavioral activities, took some initiatives to induce some behavioral changes in students' life in the Delhi school and that is why I personally feel that she has inspired me.

    Band 7

    At first glance, she might seem a bit bored and disengaged, like she's not fully present in the moment, but once we start talking about the things we both enjoy, whether it is shared hobbies and a specific interest, we can see her light up. It's like she's come alive when the conversation shifts to something she's passionate about. Over time, I realized we have a lot more in common than I expected, and she's actually one of the most interesting people I know. Once you peel back that first layer, whether it's gaming, books, or whatever we are into, it's like we are in the same web land, and I never thought we'd click this well. She was so interesting, and now she's become my best friend.

    Band 7

    So, today I would like to talk about the one friend who I dislike, but ended up being a friend with his wife, best friend named Srinivas. During my childhood, I used to dislike him because of his attitude and the tantrums he used to show. But on one random day, he texted me on social media. From that day till now, our friendship grew vastly. He is one of my best friend and closest friend now. I used to share everything with him. He believes in me, he supports me like no one. I love his amicable nature and the resilience and courage he has. The most thing I love about him is his humor sense. He has great humor sense and he makes other people laugh a lot. The other thing I like about him is his patience. He never complains anything about life or others. He just sits in calm and thinks that let the fate or destiny decide. So I like him very much. He even believes me and supports me in my things even if I cannot see them myself. So he is one of the best person I have in my life right now.
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