Describe a time when you changed your opinion
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 time when you changed your opinion
You should say:
- what the original opinion was
- why you changed it
- when it was
- how you felt about it
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a time when I did a complete about-turn on something — specifically, my attitude towards online learning.
My original opinion was fairly damning. Before the pandemic, I was firmly convinced that online learning was a poor substitute for traditional classroom education. I believed that studying through a screen would be impersonal, hit-and-miss and riddled with distractions, and that nothing could ever hold a candle to learning face-to-face with a teacher and classmates. I was, frankly, rather dismissive of the whole idea.
However, my outlook shifted dramatically a few years ago, when the pandemic forced all of us to switch to online learning virtually overnight. Initially, I approached it with a hefty dose of scepticism, fully braced for a frustrating experience.
The reason I changed my tune was that, to my surprise, I found online learning to be far more effective and convenient than I'd ever given it credit for. I discovered I could learn at my own pace, revisit recorded lessons whenever it suited me, and save a huge amount of time and energy by cutting out the commute. I also gained access to a wealth of top-notch courses and resources from all over the globe that simply wouldn't have been within my reach otherwise. Once I'd found my feet with it, I genuinely came to appreciate its flexibility.
As for how this shift left me feeling, it was truly eye-opening. I felt a touch embarrassed that I'd been so quick to write something off without properly giving it a go. More importantly, though, the experience taught me a valuable lesson about keeping an open mind rather than judging things on assumptions alone. I now firmly believe that online learning, while far from flawless, is an enormously valuable tool, and I've become a genuine advocate for it. It reminded me that we should always be willing to rethink our opinions in light of new experiences.
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 talk about rather than a script.
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.