PERSON WHO YOU DIDN’T LIKE AT FIRST

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Instructions

• You will have 1 minute to think and make notes on the topic.

• The examiner will give you paper and a pencil for note-making.

• Then, you must speak continuously for 1–2 minutes on the topic.

• Usually, this is around 10–12 sentences spoken naturally..

Band 7 Answer

One person I didn’t like at first but later became friends with is my college classmate Ahmed. We met during our first year of university in a business communication class. At the beginning, I found him quite arrogant and unfriendly. He often spoke loudly in class and interrupted others while they were talking, which annoyed me a lot.

I assumed he was full of himself and didn’t respect others' opinions. Because of this, I avoided talking to him and didn’t really try to get to know him.

However, everything changed when we had to work together on a group project. I was worried at first, but during the project, I saw a different side of him. He was actually very hardworking, well-organized, and always tried to help the team. He listened carefully to everyone’s ideas and even encouraged quieter members to speak up.

After that, we started talking more often and eventually became good friends. Now, I really enjoy spending time with him. I learned that sometimes, first impressions can be wrong, and it’s important to give people a chance.

Band 8 Answer

A person I didn’t get along with at first but later became close to is my colleague Sara. We were assigned to the same department when I joined my current job about two years ago. Initially, I found her quite cold and difficult to approach. She rarely smiled, kept conversations very short, and didn’t seem interested in engaging with the team.

Because of this, I assumed she was unfriendly or even rude, and I tried to keep my distance. I felt a bit uncomfortable working around her and avoided casual conversations whenever possible.

However, everything changed during a team-building retreat. We were put in the same group for a challenge, and that gave us a chance to interact more. To my surprise, Sara turned out to be incredibly thoughtful and supportive. She explained that she’s just naturally introverted and takes time to warm up to new people. The more I got to know her, the more I appreciated her quiet sense of humor, intelligence, and loyalty as a teammate.

Now, we talk almost every day and work really well together. This experience taught me that first impressions are not always accurate, and that people often have hidden qualities we only discover over time.