Describe a time you changed your opinion

Band 6

I would like to talk about a time when I changed my opinion about a classmate called Mwila. I amTense slip: should be “was” in my second year at the university in Lusaka, in Zambia, and Mwila was in my department, so we had many lessons together. Before that, I thought he was very proudBasic adjective; limits Lexical Resource because he never talked to anybody and he always sat alone at the back. I, erNatural hesitation marker, minor filler, never tried to speak to him, and I told my friends he thinkTense slip: should be “thought” he was better than us. Then in March our lecturer put us in a pair for a presentation, and I was not happy about it. In the first meeting he didn’t saidForm error: should be “didn’t say” much, but he brought notes that were very clear and he explainTense slip: should be “explained” the difficult parts to me. He stayed in the library until late with me to practise the slides. Then I understood that he was not proud, he was just very shyBasic adjective; limits Lexical Resource and he did not know how to start a conversation. So I changed my mind, because I saw his behaviour and not only my first idea. I felt embarrassed because I judged him too fast, you knowFiller phrase used as a hesitation marker, and also happy because I found a good friend. Now we isSubject-verb agreement error: should be “are” close friends and we study together every week. Now I try to wait before I decide about people, because Mwila showed me that the first idea can be wrong. He is also very funny when you know him.

Band 7

I’d like to talk about a time when I changed my opinion about a classmate called Mwila. I was in my second year at the university in Lusaka, in Zambia, and Mwila was in my department, so we shared several lessons. At first I thought he was stuck-upInformal but precise word for a proud person, because he never talked to anybody and always sat alone at the back. I never tried to speak to him, and I told my friends he thinkTense slip: should be “he thought” he was better than the rest of us. Then in March our lecturer put us in a pair for a presentation, and I wasn’t thrilled. In our first meeting he said very little, but he’d brought notes that were really clear, and he patiently explained the parts I hadn’t understoodPast perfect used accurately in a relative clause. He even stayed in the library until late to practise the slides with me. That’s when I realised he wasn’t proud at all, he was simply very reservedSelf-correction that sounds natural and had no idea how to start a conversation. So I had a change of heartIdiomatic phrase for changing your opinion, because I’d seen his behaviour with my own eyes. I felt embarrassed ofPreposition error: should be “embarrassed about” judging him so quickly, but also glad that I’d made a good friend. We’re close now, and we study together every week. I try to wait before deciding anything about someone these days, because Mwila showed me how wrong a first idea can be. He’s also hilarious once you know him.

Band 8

I’d like to talk about a time when I changed my opinion about a classmate called Mwila. I was in my second year at the university in Lusaka, in Zambia, and Mwila was in my department, where we shared most of our lectures. At first I took him for an arrogant person, since he never spoke to anyone and always sat alone at the back, and rather than make an effort to talk to him, I told my friends that he thought he was better than the rest of usContrastive structure with accurate reported speech. Then in March our lecturer paired us for a presentation, which I wasn’t looking forward to. In our first meeting he said very little, but he’d prepared notes that were remarkably clear, and he patiently went over everything I hadn’t grasped. He even stayed in the library until late to rehearse the slides with me. That was when it dawned on meNatural discourse marker for a moment of realisation that he wasn’t arrogant at all, merely reservedPrecise word choice, and simply had no idea how to start a conversation. I had to eat my wordsIdiomatic phrase for admitting a mistake in front of my friends. I felt embarrassed that I’d jumped to conclusionsPrecise idiom for judging too quickly, but mostly glad, because I’d gained a good friend. We study together every week now, and he has turned out to be remarkably funny once you know him. These days I try to hold back from judging people until I’ve seen how they actAccurate gerund and subordinate clause.