Describe a time when you changed your opinion: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What was it?
When & why did you change it?
How did you feel about it?

30 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific aspects of culture did you find most interesting while learning French?

While learning French, I found the cultural nuances, such as traditions, cuisine, and art, to be fascinating. Understanding these aspects helped me appreciate the language more deeply and made my learning experience richer.

How do you think learning a language can impact your career opportunities?

Learning a language opens up various career paths, especially in fields like translation, international relations, and tourism. It enhances communication skills and cultural understanding, making you a valuable asset in a globalized job market.

What challenges did you face when changing your opinion about language learning?

Initially, I struggled with the belief that language learning was limiting. Overcoming this mindset required exposure to successful language learners and understanding the broader benefits of language skills, which ultimately changed my perspective.

Band 6-7

00:00

Here I would like to talk about my trading experience, both I and my wife started trading 4 years before, we were searching for the sources in the internet at the beginning, I found a source of fundamental analysis in a website called ticker tape, in that time I was explaining about fundamental analysis to my wife, I thought that was the correct opinion, after 2 days she found that was wrong and bring that concern to me, initially I was not accepting with her opinion, so after some time I did a research on it and I found that was wrong, I was feeling proud of my wife that she pointed out my wrong opinion in that case.

Follow up questions

What factors influenced your initial opinion on fundamental analysis?

Initially, I relied on the information I found online, which seemed credible at the time. I was also influenced by my own understanding of trading, which made me confident in my opinion. However, I learned that it's essential to verify information from multiple sources.

How did you feel when you realized your wife was right?

I felt a mix of emotions. At first, I was defensive, but once I acknowledged my mistake, I felt proud of her for being insightful. It was a humbling experience that taught me the importance of being open to feedback and learning from others.

What did you learn from this experience about changing opinions?

I learned that it's crucial to remain open-minded and willing to reassess my views. This experience highlighted the importance of collaboration and communication in decision-making, especially in trading, where different perspectives can lead to better outcomes.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, the time when I changed my opinion was, it was during the pandemic, during the coronavirus, where the whole world was in isolation and all of us were stuck at home. Well, at that time, I was, I didn't know what to do with my life, as I was really confused and I didn't know what to do with my future. So, I planned to do my Bachelors in Business Administration in India. And the other, my second option was to do a Makeup Artist course. I just thought, so I just realized later that instead of doing makeup course first, I would like to know how the business works. So, I changed my opinion from makeup to study business or get a degree of BBA. So, I finally decided to major in entrepreneurship. And yeah, that's how I completed my Bachelors degree. And how I felt about it after making the decision was, I felt really proud of myself because not many people would choose to do higher studies and then, you know, struggle through exams and everything. But then, I was really interested in the particular subject. So, that made me really motivated and look forward to what the course had to offer. So, I really don't regret that I made that decision.

Follow up questions

What influenced your decision to choose business over makeup?

I realized that understanding business principles would be more beneficial for my future. I wanted to learn how to manage and grow a business, which I thought would provide me with more opportunities than just being a makeup artist.

How did you feel about your decision after completing your degree?

After completing my degree, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I was proud of my hard work and dedication, and I felt that I had made the right choice by pursuing something that truly interested me.

What challenges did you face while studying for your BBA?

I faced several challenges, including balancing my studies with personal life and the pressure of exams. However, my passion for entrepreneurship kept me motivated to overcome these obstacles and succeed in my studies.

Band 6-7

00:00

There was a time that I had to change my opinion from changing my career from a physiotherapy background to a clinical technology background. I had to go through a lot of preparation whether I need to choose an opinion, whether I need to change the career from a clinical based background to a technology based background. It all started from where I started realizing where I was not good in my profession and I need to switch where I can be more proficient in what that I do. I started looking up for options where I can get more interest and really put my whole effort in the work that I do. I started looking out for courses where I can invest my time and courses where the technology is wide. This made me help to know there are some technologies where I can put my time and learn where I can get into a better skill and into a position. This time was very challenging for me because I had to choose a thing which would definitely change my whole future. After this, furthermore, I realized taking advices from my family and mostly praying to God, I opted to choose for a technology based opinion. This completely changed me and the work that I do now. If I remember back, the time that I had to choose between those options, but the clarity that I got to invest was really worth it. So to sum up this experience, the time was very challenging yet a very interesting one.

Follow up questions

What factors influenced your decision to change your career?

Several factors influenced my decision, including my realization that I wasn't excelling in physiotherapy. I wanted to find a field where I could be more proficient and passionate. Additionally, I considered the growth opportunities in clinical technology, which seemed more aligned with my interests.

How did you feel during the process of changing your opinion?

The process was quite challenging and filled with uncertainty. I felt anxious about making such a significant change, but also excited about the possibilities that a new career could bring. Ultimately, the support from my family and my own determination helped me navigate through those feelings.

What advice would you give someone considering a similar change?

I would advise anyone considering a career change to thoroughly research their options and reflect on their interests and strengths. It's important to seek advice from trusted individuals and to trust your instincts. Taking the time to prepare and plan can lead to a more fulfilling career path.

Band 6-7

00:00

Basically, the opinion that I changed within time was marrying at a young age. I thought that I would be the person who would marry at a very young age, that is, like 25 something. I just thought that I would just get married at the right age, have children at the right age, because I don't want to get old, like come in mid-30s and then do marriages and then have kids, because I felt that biologically I would not be able to bear children. But now that I realize, when I think out aloud, I feel that marriage is basically, it's a choice, like you can do it or you can, you just simply cannot marry. So I feel, I thought that maybe I could just not marry, first have a good life, first be financially stable and then I will see if that fits my environment and then I would think of marrying and it is not very necessary to marry, I feel.

Follow up questions

What factors influenced your change in opinion about marriage?

I realized that personal happiness and financial stability are more important than societal expectations. I began to see that marriage is not a necessity for a fulfilling life and that focusing on my career and personal growth can lead to a more satisfying future.

How do you think societal views on marriage have changed over time?

Societal views on marriage have evolved significantly. Many people now prioritize personal development and career over early marriage. There's a growing acceptance of diverse lifestyles, including remaining single or cohabiting without marriage, reflecting a shift towards individual choice.

Do you think your opinion on marriage will change again in the future?

It's possible that my opinion may change as I experience more of life. Relationships and circumstances can alter perspectives, and I remain open to the idea of marriage if it aligns with my life goals and personal happiness in the future.

Show all 30 answers

Cue 1:What was it?

Clearly state the opinion you had before and what it was about.
Provide context to help the listener understand why this opinion was significant.

Example

Initially, I had a very negative opinion about online learning. I believed that it lacked the personal touch and effectiveness of traditional classroom education.

Cue 2:When & why did you change it?

Describe the specific event or experience that led to your change of opinion.
Explain the reasons behind your change, focusing on what new information or experiences influenced you.

Example

During the pandemic, I was forced to attend online classes for my college courses. I realized that the interactive tools and resources available made learning engaging and accessible. This experience changed my perspective completely.

Cue 3:How did you feel about it?

Share your feelings before and after the change of opinion.
Reflect on how this change has impacted your views or actions moving forward.

Example

At first, I felt skeptical and resistant to the idea of online learning. However, after experiencing it, I felt relieved and excited about the flexibility it offered. I now advocate for a blended learning approach, combining both online and offline methods.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points of your experience and the change of opinion.
Mention any lasting effects this change has had on your life or studies.

Example

In conclusion, changing my opinion about online learning has opened up new avenues for my education. I now appreciate the benefits of technology in learning and continue to embrace it in my studies.

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: Vague Responses

Providing vague or unclear answers can make it difficult for the examiner to understand your experience. Specific details help illustrate your point and make your response more engaging.

Tip

Use clear examples and specific details when describing the situation, the change, and your feelings to create a vivid picture.

2: Lack of Structure

Failing to organize your thoughts can lead to a confusing response. A well-structured answer helps convey your message more effectively and keeps the examiner engaged.

Tip

Follow a clear structure: introduce the situation, explain the change, and describe your feelings. This will help you stay focused.

Overly Emotional Language

Using overly emotional or dramatic language can detract from the clarity of your response. It's important to express your feelings but in a balanced way.

Tip

Aim for a calm and reflective tone when discussing your feelings about the change. This will make your response more relatable and credible.