Describe a time when you changed your opinion.
Describe a time when you changed your opinion
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe a time when you changed your opinion.
You should say
When was it?
What was the original opinion?
Why you changed it?
And explain how you felt about it.
Sample Answer 1
Introduction
- Most people have this habit of forming opinions regarding things, places, circumstances and so on.
- Like others, I too have formed opinions which I often find difficult to change because our brain needs sufficient data and information to change our beliefs.
When was it?
- One year back, I used to be very bulky. To lose weight, I tried a lot of options like running, swimming, gymming and so on. But I didn’t get good results.
- During that period, one of my friends introduced me to Dr Rimple Sharma. She is a renowned dietician.
- After listening to my side of the story, she suggested two changes in my diet. Firstly, not to eat anything between 7 pm to 7 am, which means not taking dinner after 7 pm and not having breakfast before 7 am. Secondly, she suggested me to chew every bite for at least 32 times.
- I followed her advice with determination, dedication and discipline.
- Due to her unabated support and my changed thinking process, I managed to achieve the desired weight.
- Not only I lost weight, but I started feeling more confident and energetic.
- This change in belief brought a paradigm shift in my life.
What was the original opinion?
- My original opinion was that for losing weight, the best way is to do a lot of physical workouts and if you do sufficient exercise every day, you can have any diet as per your taste and liking.
- Due to my this inherent conviction, the suggestions made by Dr Rimple Sharma sounded a bit weird to me because before meeting her, I had implicit faith in the belief that the easiest way to lose weight is to do a lot of exercises.
- Whereas, as per Dr.Rimple, the contribution of the right diet in the weight loss journey is 80 per cent, and the share of physical workout in the same is just 20 per cent.
Why you changed it?
- The primary reason behind changing my thought process was that my previous theory of focussing on physical workout for weight loss backfired in my case.
- Instead of getting in shape, I was turning obese.
Please explain how you felt about It.
- I felt quite happy because the change of opinion moved my life towards an impressive growth trajectory.
Sample Answer 2
Introduction
Human beings have this tendency of forming opinions through their experiences. As there is no denying this conviction that our experiences work as the best teachers for us. However, sometimes they make us form wrong opinions.
Recently I changed one of my long-held opinions
When was it?
Last year we had our college reunion. Over there, one of my friends taught me the concept of minimization, and that day, I changed my long-held belief of buying more and more stuff to please myself.
What was the original opinion?
My original opinion was that we need to have plenty of things like having clothes is good for us. We need to have our kitchens full of eating materials, and for every need, we must have multiple products and services.
Why you changed it?
I changed it because the concept of minimisation led to a significant change in my set of beliefs.
Please explain how you felt about It.
Due to this change in opinion, my life has become overly simple. I make effective use of whatever I have, plus the desire to have more has ceased to exist. For example, now I do not purchase so many books at once, I buy one book and finish it, then I move to the next book. Due to this mindset shift, I have become more productive.
Now my home looks spic and span because whatever things are there are for use. Although I have limited products at home, I make effective use of them.
Conclusion
To conclude, this change in opinion has acted as a blessing for me by making me a better version of myself.
Follow up Questions
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Follow up Questions
Here are some examples of follow up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to cue card “Describe a time when you changed your opinion.”
1. Do children like to change opinion?
During the formative years, our opinions are short-term. As and when children have new experiences, based upon their understanding, they like to change their opinion.
2. Why do people change their opinion?
People usually go through the process of changing their opinion when they come across contrary evidence against their formerly held belief. If they decide on not changing it, they experience guilt. Hence, although they find it hard at the beginning, with time, they do change their opinion.
3. Who do young people turn to for advice?
Youngsters have too many questions in their minds, and they always strive hard to get suitable answers for them. Based on the concerned matter, they usually take advice from parents, siblings, relatives, friends, teachers and colleagues.
4. Do people like giving an opinion about politics?
These days there is an overdose of politics based content through the medium of electronic and print media a large section of society has developed this habit of staying away from political decisions. Most of the people tend to stay away from such discussions. Hence, the percentage of those who would like to give an opinion on political scenarios is reducing.
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