Table of Contents
Describe a Time When You Changed an Important Opinion Of Yours
Part 2
You should say:
- When you changed your opinion
- What the original opinion was
- Why you changed it
- And explain how you felt about the experienc
Sample Answer 1
So I think one of the most important opinions of mine that I have changed, it happened the last year. I was thinking about having a meaningful relationship with someone because before that, I never thought.
I was one of those persons who wanted to get married because I always felt like I had to be this super private person and I never truly valued companionship.
I remember when I was going to hang out with my friends, that the group size had to be less than three people, anything more than that, I would start feeling anxious and I would socially shutdown myself. I was never really good around people and I never really considered the possibility of falling in love and building a meaningful relationship with someone.
But last year I changed my mind about this. In hindsight, I don’t seem to pin down the specific reasons why I changed my mind. I think it was because when I turned 35 last year. I suddenly had this relevation about, you know, what love truly meant to me.
Because in my twenties, I always thought the only reason why people want to get married and have a relationship was because they’re lonely. They wanted someone else to take care of them. I felt like I never felt that way. I never felt that I was lonely. So I thought I really didn’t need anyone. But what I didn’t realize was back then I was in a very bad place – both financially and emotionally. I remember my job was super unstable and I was moving around all the time. I also remember not having enough friends to talk to.
But last year when I turned 35, like the first of all, the people in my social circle, they’re around the same age. So after 30, I started to see the people around me. They kind of like built their own families and they get married and they have kids. So I was lucky enough to witness some of my friends having their first kid and I got invited to their family parties.
Sometimes even they fight over the most trivial things in life, like which school is the best and which school they want to send their kids to. Just all this little moments, just makes me realize that a lot of probably is not people falling in love, not really because they’re lonely, but it’s more like they’re ready because they’re ready to give.
They’re ready to take care of someone else. They’re ready to stand up for someone else’s needs. They’re ready to take the responsibility. They’re, they’re ready to, you know, celebrate and enjoy all this beautiful little moments in life with the people they love. Um, so I think the reason why I didn’t want to get married before was not because I wasn’t lonely. It was because I wasn’t ready. So now I’m much more open-minded about this. I’m definitely looking forward to having a meaningful, a meaningful relationship with someone that I care about. I feel great about this because I just feel like I’m more emotionally mature.
| Word / Phrase | Type | Definition | Example |
| meaningful relationship | Noun phrase [B2] | a deep and significant connection with someone | I want to build a meaningful relationship based on trust. |
| truly | Adverb [B2] | in a genuine or sincere way | I truly believe that things will get better. |
| companionship | Noun [C1] | the feeling of friendship with others | Pets offer companionship to people living alone. |
| anxious | Adjective [B2] | feeling worried and nervous | I was anxious about the outcome of the interview. |
| down | Adjective [B2] | feeling unhappy or low in spirits | I was feeling a bit down after the rejection. |
| changed my mind | Phrase [B2] | to have a different opinion than before | After the trip, I completely changed my mind about living abroad. |
| in hindsight | Phrase [C1] | looking back and understanding something better now | In hindsight, I should have called instead of texting. |
| pin down | Phrasal verb [C1] | to identify or define something precisely | I couldn’t quite pin down the reason for my change of heart. |
| in my twenties | Phrase [B2] | during the years of one’s life between 20 and 29 | In my twenties, I was very carefree. |
| financially | Adverb [B2] | relating to money and finance | Things were difficult financially at the time. |
| emotionally | Adverb [B2] | in a way relating to emotions | She was emotionally exhausted after the argument. |
| unstable | Adjective [B2] | likely to change or fail; not secure | The political situation was unstable. |
| social circle | Noun phrase [B2] | the group of people someone knows and spends time with | My social circle grew after I joined the club. |
| witness | Verb [B2] | to see something happen | I was lucky enough to witness the whole event. |
| trivial | Adjective [C1] | of very little importance | They argued over trivial matters. |
| ready to give | Phrase [B2] | prepared to offer something of oneself | Love means being ready to give without expecting anything in return. |
| stand up for | Phrasal verb [B2] | to defend or support someone or something | She always stands up for what she believes in. |
| responsibility | Noun [B2] | a duty to deal with something | Owning a pet is a big responsibility. |
| celebrate | Verb [B2] | to mark a special event with joy | We should celebrate even the small victories. |
| open-minded | Adjective [B2] | willing to consider different ideas | Travelling made her more open-minded. |
| looking forward to | Phrase [B2] | to feel excited about something in the future | I’m really looking forward to starting the new chapter. |
| meaningful | Adjective [B2] | having purpose or importance | She wanted a more meaningful career. |
| emotionally mature | Adjective phrase [C1] | able to handle emotions in a healthy, adult way | Being emotionally mature means knowing your limits. |
Part 3
1. When do most children begin to have their own opinions?
Actually, I remember reading a study saying that children start developing their own opinions at quite an early age, but I think it becomes more obvious when they are around the primary school age. That is usually when they begin thinking more independently, instead of simply copying what their parents say. At that age, they start questioning things, expressing their preferences, and even disagreeing with adults sometimes. Honestly, I think that is a healthy sign because it shows they are developing their critical thinking and their own personality.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| developing their own opinions | B2 | Phrase | The process of forming personal views and judgements independently, rather than following others | Children begin developing their own opinions around primary school age, when they start thinking independently. |
| thinking more independently | B2 | Phrase | Forming ideas and conclusions based on one’s own reasoning, rather than relying on others | As children grow, they start thinking more independently instead of copying their parents’ views. |
| questioning things | B2 | Phrase | Challenging or seeking reasons and explanations for things, rather than accepting them without thought | A child who starts questioning things is showing signs of developing critical thinking. |
| expressing their preferences | B2 | Phrase | Communicating what one likes, wants, or prefers; stating personal choices and opinions clearly | Primary-school-age children begin expressing their preferences openly, from food choices to friendships. |
| critical thinking | B2 | Collocation | The ability to analyse information objectively and form reasoned, independent judgements | Disagreeing respectfully with adults is a sign that a child is developing strong critical thinking skills. |
2. Whose opinions are more important to children, their parents’ or teachers’?
This is a complex question. Parents and teachers hold different perspectives with distinct standpoints and focuses. Therefore it’s hard to tell whose opinions carry more weight without knowing the specific matter. Parents stay with children day in and day out. They understand their personalities and inner feelings best and their advice mainly covers daily habits, moral cultivation and emotional needs. Teachers guide children on study, rules and communication. Both play irreplaceable roles.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example |
| hold different perspectives | B2 | collocation | To have varying viewpoints on a topic | Parents and teachers hold different perspectives on a child’s education. |
| carry more weight | B2 | idiom | To have greater importance or influence | A teacher’s advice may carry more weight on academic matters. |
| day in and day out | B2 | idiom | Every day, continuously without change | Parents stay with children day in and day out, so they know them deeply. |
| inner feelings | B2 | collocation | A person’s deep, private emotions | Good parents are often in tune with their children’s inner feelings. |
| emotional needs | B2 | collocation | The psychological requirements for personal wellbeing | Parental advice tends to focus on children’s emotional needs. |
| distinct standpoints | C1 | collocation | Clearly separate positions or viewpoints | The two sides approach child-rearing from distinct standpoints. |
| moral cultivation | C1 | collocation | The development of ethical values and character in a person | Family life plays a central role in a child’s moral cultivation. |
| irreplaceable | C1 | adjective | Too valuable or unique to be replaced by anything else | Both parents and teachers play irreplaceable roles in a child’s growth. |
3. Do children communicate more with teachers or with parents?
Well, it depends on different situations. For example, for the life part, obviously children will communicate more with their parents because they live with them, they stay with their parents, especially at a very young age.
Basically, they spend most of the time staying with their parents. So, of course, they will have more talks with their parents. For example, when they are very young and they are very curious about the world and they have a lot of questions, they will ask their parents. So, at this time, this is the process of communication between parents and their children.
But in the perspective of study staff, basically they will communicate more with their teachers in terms of subject knowledge because they need to search for the answer in terms of difficulties about the study. So, from this aspect, they will communicate more with their teachers.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| curious about the world | B2 | Phrase | Eager to learn about and explore how things work in life, nature, and society around them | Young children who are curious about the world tend to ask their parents endless questions. |
| process of communication | B2 | Collocation | The ongoing exchange of information, ideas, or feelings between two or more people | The daily conversations between parent and child form a natural process of communication. |
| in terms of | B2 | Phrase | With regard to a particular aspect or area; when considering a specific dimension of something | Children tend to turn to teachers in terms of subject knowledge when they need academic help. |
| subject knowledge | B2 | Collocation | Understanding and expertise in a particular academic area or field of study | Teachers are the main source of subject knowledge for children when they struggle with schoolwork. |
4. Who do young people like to share opinions with?
Young people usually prefer sharing their opinions with people who make them feel understood rather than judged. So most of the time, that tends to be close friends instead of parents or teachers. Friends are often going through similar experiences, so it feels easier to talk openly about relationships, studies, or future plans. At the same time, social media has changed this quite a lot.
Nowadays, many young people express their opinions online because they can quickly find people with similar interests or views, even if they are complete strangers. In some cases, that actually feels more comfortable opening up online than face-to-face. Having adults who genuinely try to understand them is still really important.
A lot of young people don’t necessarily want someone to lecture them, they just want to feel heard and understood. And sometimes, adults with more life experience can still give valuable advice while being supportive at the same time.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| feel understood rather than judged | B2 | Phrase | To feel that others listen and accept your views without criticising or evaluating you negatively | Young people prefer sharing with friends because they feel understood rather than judged. |
| talk openly about | B2 | Phrase | To discuss something honestly and without hiding feelings or holding back information | It is easier to talk openly about personal matters with close friends who share similar experiences. |
| opening up | B2 | Phrasal verb | To begin sharing one’s thoughts, feelings, or personal experiences with others; to be emotionally honest | Many young people find that opening up online feels less intimidating than face-to-face conversation. |
| lecture them | B2 | Verb phrase | To speak to someone at length in a critical or preachy way, often giving unwanted moral advice | Young people don’t want adults to lecture them — they simply want to be listened to and understood. |
| feel heard and understood | B2 | Phrase | To feel that one’s words and emotions have been genuinely listened to and acknowledged by others | The most important thing for young people is to feel heard and understood, not necessarily given advice. |
| life experience | B2 | Collocation | Knowledge and wisdom gained through living through various situations and events over time | Adults with more life experience can sometimes offer perspective that young people genuinely value. |
| valuable advice | B2 | Collocation | Guidance or recommendations that are genuinely useful and worth considering | A supportive adult who listens well is often the best person to give young people valuable advice. |
Some IELTS Speaking part 2 cue-cards you may like :
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 From May to August 2026
- (Update 2026) Describe a Person Who Is Good at Learning and Speaking New Languages
- (Update 2026) Describe a Special Cake You Received From Others Free
- (Update 2026) Describe a TV Show/online Program You Have Watched Recently
- (Update 2026) Describe An Advertisement With A Famous Person In It
