Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Subject you did not like but have interest in it now - Cue Card # 448
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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe a subject you didn’t like before but have an interest in it now.
You should say:
- what subject it is
- when you studied this subject
- why you didn’t like it before
and explain why you have an interest in it now.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
I must admit that I was more of a “complaining boy” as a high school student. In fact, I used to complain about many things which looked and sounded perfectly normal. Oh, one more thing, I also used to complain about the Geography subject.
Yes, back in my high school years, geography was one of the boring subjects for me. In fact, it was so boring to me that I actually used to fall asleep in class from time to time. I was scolded a lot by my geography teacher because of this insolent behaviour of mine in his class, but he also probably understood the sad and frustrating fact that I wasn’t the one to change, and, to my credit, I didn’t.
At some point, my good geography teacher even formally sent a note of complaint to my parents, but that wasn’t enough to change me either. However, in spite of all that, I was lucky that my geography teacher didn’t fail me in his subject, so I guess I owe him a very big “thank you” for that.
So, why didn’t I really like that subject in high school? Well, I guess that back then, I wasn’t just convinced that geography was actually of any practical use in life. In other words, I just didn’t think that memorising the names of some countries, states and their locations was really necessary to become a successful person in life. On top of that, I don’t think that I had enough time to understand the difficult subject because of other classes and homework.
Interestingly enough, I actually have a great deal of interest in this subject now. This is mainly because I am more aware of our planet and how not only natural catastrophes, like earthquakes and floods, but also man-made events are affecting our part of the world. It interests me now also because we are commercially and culturally more interconnected than ever before with the rest of the world.
Model Answer 2:
When I was a teenager, I absolutely disliked History. To me, it was nothing more than memorising dates, battles, and the names of long-dead people, which felt both boring and pointless. Unsurprisingly, I used to skip classes, and my exam answers were often a mixture of vague guesses and wild imagination. While I excelled in Mathematics and sciences, History was my weakest subject, and I never managed to get good grades in it.
Looking back, I think there were two reasons for this. First, I’ve always struggled with rote learning, and History at school was taught in a very dry, textbook-oriented way. Second, I didn’t realise that behind all those facts and figures were real stories about people, societies, and how the world was shaped. At that age, I simply lacked the perspective to appreciate it.
However, my views changed dramatically after I started travelling as an adult. Business trips and personal holidays took me to several countries, where I visited museums, monuments, and historic sites. Experiencing history firsthand, for instance, seeing ancient ruins in Europe or learning about independence movements in Asia, made me realise how fascinating and important it actually is. That’s when it struck me: I knew embarrassingly little about the history of my own country.
Since then, I’ve started reading history books in my free time, and to my surprise, I now find the subject deeply engaging. Far from being a dull list of dates, history feels like a window into human struggles, achievements, and lessons that are still relevant today. Ironically, the subject I once hated has become one of my favourites, and I even regret not paying attention to it during school.
Sample Answer 3:
As a university student, I did not like accounting as a subject, but it seems fascinating to me nowadays. I have completed my graduation in computer science, and we had accounting part 1 and part 2 in our second year, 5th and 6th semesters. Though accounting was an important subject for us, I had very little interest in it. This was probably because of my misconception that it is only important for commerce and business studies students.
I studied accounting only to pass my course, and I missed a few classes. Thus, I failed to enter into the interesting world of accounting, and that’s why I did not like it much.
Science had always been my major, and I was never introduced to the accounting subject in my pre-university level. The teacher who took our accounting classes did not introduce us to the basic concept of accounting. Moreover, he went through the chapters so quickly that I missed it completely. As a result, when the teacher explained the advanced concepts of accounting, I was completely lost. For all these reasons, I was weak in accounting and failed to appreciate this as a subject.
Well, the reason I like accounting these days is quite interesting. After I started working as a software engineer in a multinational company, I worked on various projects. A year ago, I was assigned to a project that required me to develop accounting software for an Australian company. Ironically, I had to study many accounting books and tutorials to understand how I should implement the concepts and calculations in this software. I also attended a few training sessions organised by our office related to accounting and banking concepts. Once I understood the basic and interesting part of this subject, I actually started enjoying it a lot. The project took around eight months to be delivered to the client, and I was kind of forced to study and discuss a lot of accounting concepts during this period. Once I started understanding the fundamental concepts and their application in the real world, this subject became one of my favourite subjects.
Idea Generation for this Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card Topic:
This topic asks you to describe a subject you didn’t like before but have an interest in now. To give a nice answer, you should say what the subject was, when you studied it, why you disliked it earlier, and explain what changed so you have an interest in it today. Below are a few ideas - each written as a short anecdote you can expand into a full answer.
Idea 1: Mathematics:
In school, I found mathematics dry and intimidating, especially algebra and proofs, so I avoided it whenever I could. I studied it through secondary school, mostly because it was compulsory. Later, when I started handling budgets and data at work, I had to apply basic statistics and financial calculations regularly. As I used math for real problems - forecasting expenses, analysing sales trends - I began to appreciate its logic and clarity. Now I enjoy the challenge of solving a tricky problem and the confidence that numbers bring to decision-making.
Idea 2: History:
I used to think history was just memorising dates and battles during middle school, which felt tedious. I studied it through high school exams, but never engaged with the narratives. Years later, after travelling and reading modern analysis, I realised history explains why societies behave as they do and how past policies shape present issues. Seeing historical patterns in current events made me curious, and now I read historical essays to understand culture and politics more deeply.
Idea 3: Chemistry:
Chemistry felt abstract and full of formulas when I first encountered it in science class; the lab work intimidated me, and I struggled with equations. I stayed with the subject until the end of secondary school because of the science track. Later, when I started cooking more seriously and learned how heat, emulsions, and fermentation work, the chemical principles suddenly made sense in practical terms. Understanding reactions improved my cooking and sparked an interest in the science behind everyday processes.
Idea 4: Computer programming:
In school, programming felt like a weird mix of cryptic commands and bugs - boring and frustrating when my code didn’t run. I took basic computer classes in college more out of requirement than passion. After I began freelancing and needed to automate repetitive tasks, I taught myself simple scripts and small apps; each tiny success was addictive. That hands-on problem-solving converted my irritation into curiosity, and now I enjoy building small tools that save time.
Idea 5: Economics:
Economics in school seemed full of graphs and theoretical models that didn’t connect to my daily life, so I paid little attention. I studied the subject during sophomore year but found it dull at first. Later, when I started planning investments and following business news, economic concepts like inflation, interest rates, and supply and demand became highly relevant. The real-world impact of these ideas grabbed my attention, and I now follow economic trends to make informed financial choices.
Idea 6: Art / Design:
As a student, I dismissed art classes as non-serious and felt awkward with drawing assignments. I took art lessons in school but never practised outside class. Years later, working on presentations and content creation made me realise how much design affects communication - good visuals make arguments clearer and more persuasive. I began learning basic composition and colour theory, and now I enjoy applying simple design principles to make my work look neater and more compelling.
Idea 7: Foreign language (e.g., French/Spanish):
I hated language classes in school because we focused on rote grammar and endless drills that felt pointless. I continued studying the language because it was part of the curriculum, but motivation was low. Later, a trip abroad forced me to practise conversational phrases; the first few successful exchanges were thrilling. Those real interactions - ordering food, asking for directions, making a local friend - turned grammar into a tool for connection, and now I study the language with genuine enjoyment.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a subject you disliked but now have an interest in, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey what the subject is, when you studied it, your reasons for disliking it, and the reasons for your newfound interest. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the shift in your perspective and the practical applications that have changed your view, making your response both insightful and personal. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Tedious: – Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.
Example: I used to find history to be a tedious subject, full of names and dates to memorise.
Rote learning: – A learning technique based on repetition and memorising without understanding.
Example: My dislike stemmed from the rote learning method used by my teachers.
Abstract: – Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
Example: The concepts in that class felt too abstract and disconnected from the real world.
Uninteresting: – Not arousing curiosity or interest; dull.
Example: I found the subject uninteresting because I couldn't see its relevance.
Foundational: – Serving as a base or groundwork of something.
Example: I now realise that the subject is foundational to many aspects of modern life.
Practical application: – The use of a skill, technique, or idea in a real-world situation.
Example: I now find the practical application of the subject in my job fascinating.
Appreciation: – The recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of something.
Example: I have a newfound appreciation for the subject now that I see its true value.
Eye-opening: – Surprising in a way that teaches one a new fact or idea.
Example: Learning about its real-world use was an eye-opening experience.
Crucial: – Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.
Example: I now understand how crucial the topic is to solving many of today's problems.
Perspective: – A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
Example: My perspective on the subject has changed completely over time.
Essential: – Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
Example: The subject has become essential for me to understand the world around me.
Relevancy: – The quality or state of being closely connected or appropriate to what is being considered.
Example: I failed to see the relevancy of the subject in school, but now it seems obvious.
Indispensable: – Absolutely necessary.
Example: The knowledge I gained has become an indispensable part of my understanding.
Enlightening: – Giving someone greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation.
Example: I find reading about the subject now to be an enlightening experience.
Intellectually stimulating: – Arousing curiosity and causing one to think more.
Example: I now find the subject intellectually stimulating and enjoy learning more about it.
Interdisciplinary: – Relating to more than one branch of knowledge.
Example: My interest grew when I realised how interdisciplinary the subject truly is.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a subject you didn’t like before but have an interest in it now", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a subject you did not like when you were at school, but now you find interesting.
2) Describe a subject that helped you in life, even though you didn’t like it in school.
3) Describe something you did that was new or exciting.
4) Describe an interesting course or training session that you attended.
5) Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education.
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