IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a person you didn’t like at first but later became friends with.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a person you didn’t like at first but later became friends with.
You should say:

• Who he/she is

• How you met him/her

• Why you disliked him/her at first
  And explain how you became friends

1. Speaking Expressions

A. Who he/she is

• The person in question is… (Người tôi muốn nói đến là…)

• She/He goes by the name of… (Cô/Anh ấy tên là…)

• A fellow student/colleague/acquaintance… (Bạn cùng lớp/đồng nghiệp/người quen…)

B. How you met him/her

• We first met… (Chúng tôi gặp nhau lần đầu…)

• It was introduced through… (Chúng tôi được giới thiệu qua…)

• Our paths crossed at… (Chúng tôi gặp nhau tại…)

• I initially bumped into her/him when… (Ban đầu tôi tình cờ gặp cô/anh ấy khi…)

C. Why you disliked him/her at first

• At first, I found him/her to be… (Ban đầu, tôi thấy cô/anh ấy…)

• She/He came across as… (Cô/Anh ấy có vẻ…)

• I interpreted his/her behaviour as… (Tôi hiểu hành động đó là…)

• It put me off because… (Điều đó khiến tôi không thích vì…)

D. How you became friends

• Over time, I realised… (Dần dần, tôi nhận ra…)

• A turning point was when… (Bước ngoặt là khi…)

• We bonded over… (Chúng tôi gắn kết qua…)

• That changed my perception because… (Điều đó thay đổi suy nghĩ của tôi vì…)

2. Ideas & Collocations

• Initial impressions can be misleading (Ấn tượng đầu có thể sai lệch)

• Come across as arrogant/shy (Trông có vẻ kiêu căng/ngại ngùng)

• Step out of my comfort zone (Bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)

• Common ground was… (Điểm chung là…)

• Ice-breaker activity (Hoạt động phá băng)

• Shared sense of humour (Khiếu hài hước chung)

• Built mutual respect (Xây dựng sự tôn trọng lẫn nhau)

• Went from acquaintances to close friends (Từ người quen thành bạn thân)

• Misread signals (Hiểu lầm tín hiệu)

• Open up to each other (Cởi mở với nhau)

3. Sample Answer 

The person in question is Linh, a fellow volunteer I met at a beach‑cleanup event last summer. We first met when I arrived early to help set up tents, and she was already bossing people around—assigning roles in a rather arrogant‑sounding tone. At first, I found her to be overbearing and thought she was showing off her “leader” status. It put me off because I prefer collaborative atmospheres, not someone barking orders.

However, a turning point was when I saw her patiently coaching a new volunteer on how to sort recyclables, explaining each bin’s purpose with care. In that moment I realised my initial impression was misleading. After the event, we were both invited to a small thank‑you gathering. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and struck up a conversation about our favourite beach‑cleanup memories.

Soon, we discovered our common ground: a love of photography and Sunday morning cycling routes along the riverside. Linh showed me some of her landscape shots, and I shared tips on editing apps. We bonded over discussing camera lenses and the best café viewpoints for sunrise. That shared interest changed my perception because I saw her passion and kindness underneath the bossy façade.

Over the next few weeks, we started coordinating other community events together. Each time we opened up to each other, Linh revealed she’d been nervous stepping into leadership for the first time and used a firm tone to mask insecurity. I sympathised, having felt anxious when I’d led a workshop last year. Understanding that, we built mutual respect and ended up going from acquaintances to close friends.

Now, Linh and I exchange weekend cycling photos, plan camping trips, and volunteer side by side. She’s one of the funniest, most supportive people I know. Looking back, I’m grateful that I didn’t let my misread signals define our relationship. It taught me that initial impressions can be misleading, and giving someone a second chance can lead to a rewarding friendship.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. What do you think about making friends online?

Expressions:

• In this digital age… (Trong thời đại kỹ thuật số này…)

• It can bridge geographical gaps… (Nó có thể thu hẹp khoảng cách địa lý…)

• You need to be cautious though… (Tuy nhiên bạn cần cẩn trọng…)

• It opens up a vast network… (Nó mở ra mạng lưới rộng lớn…)

Collocations:

• Online communities (cộng đồng trực tuyến)

• Virtual meet‑ups (gặp gỡ ảo)

• Verify authenticity (Xác minh tính xác thực)

Sample Answer:
In this digital age, making friends online can bridge geographical gaps and connect you with like‑minded people in online communities or virtual meet‑ups. However, you need to be cautious—always verify authenticity before sharing personal details.

2. Is it a good idea to befriend people who are much older than you?

Expressions:

• Absolutely, age is just a number… (Chắc chắn rồi, tuổi chỉ là con số…)

• They offer a wealth of experience… (Họ mang lại kho tàng kinh nghiệm…)

• You can gain invaluable insights… (Bạn có thể thu nhận cái nhìn quý giá…)

• Balance is key, though… (Tuy nhiên, cần sự cân bằng…)

Collocations:

• Mentorship relationships (mối quan hệ cố vấn)

• Intergenerational exchange (trao đổi liên thế hệ)

• Mutual respect (tôn trọng lẫn nhau)

Sample Answer:
Absolutely, age is just a number. Befriending someone much older fosters intergenerational exchange—you gain their wisdom and they learn fresh perspectives from you. Such mentorship relationships, built on mutual respect, enrich both lives. Balance is key to ensure both sides feel comfortable.

3. Do you enjoy meeting new people? Why or why not?

Expressions:

• Generally speaking, I’m an extrovert/introvert… (Nói chung, tôi là người hướng ngoại/hướng nội…)

• I thrive on… (Tôi phát huy khi…)

• It can be exhausting if… (Điều đó có thể mỏi mệt nếu…)

• I appreciate genuine connections… (Tôi trân trọng mối quan hệ chân thành…)

Collocations:

• Small talk vs. deep conversations (nói chuyện xã giao vs. sâu sắc)

• Networking occasions (sự kiện kết nối)

• Reading non‑verbal cues (đọc tín hiệu phi ngôn ngữ)

Sample Answer:
Generally speaking, I’m an extrovert, so I thrive on meeting new people at social or networking occasions. I enjoy deep conversations more than small talk, as I value genuine connections. However, it can be tiring if the crowd is too large or the event is too noisy.

4. Do you think friendship is important?

Expressions:

• Without a doubt… (Chắc chắn rồi…)

• It provides emotional support… (Nó cung cấp sự hỗ trợ tinh thần…)

• Friends enrich our lives… (Bạn bè làm phong phú cuộc sống…)

• It fosters a sense of belonging… (Nó nuôi dưỡng cảm giác thuộc về…)

Collocations:

• Trust and loyalty (niềm tin và lòng trung thành)

• Social well‑being (sức khỏe xã hội)

• Mutual support (hỗ trợ lẫn nhau)

Sample Answer:
Without a doubt, friendship is crucial. It provides emotional support during tough times and fosters a sense of belonging. Strong friendships built on trust and loyalty enhance our overall social well‑being through mutual support.

5. Why do some people find it hard to make friends?

Expressions:

• It often boils down to confidence… (Thường là vấn đề tự tin…)

• Fear of rejection plays a part… (Sợ bị từ chối cũng ảnh hưởng…)

• Cultural or language barriers… (Rào cản văn hóa hoặc ngôn ngữ…)

• Busy lifestyles get in the way… (Cuộc sống bận rộn cản trở…)

Collocations:

• Introverted personalities (tính cách hướng nội)

• Social anxiety (lo âu xã hội)

• Lack of opportunities (thiếu cơ hội tiếp xúc)

Sample Answer:
It often boils down to confidence—people with introverted personalities or social anxiety may hesitate to reach out. Fear of rejection compounds this. Additionally, busy lifestyles or language barriers can mean a lack of opportunities to meet others, making friendship formation challenging.