ELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

“Your first impressions when you meet someone are always right.”

Do you agree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer 1:

The first impression, without a doubt, has a great importance, but it does not always reveal the true
characteristics of a person and I personally believe that first impressions are not always accurate. This
essay discusses why the first impression may often be deceptive and less important in judging someone.

To begin with, the first impression often reflects a great deal of information about a person, especially if
we meet this person all of a sudden. We can judge him from the way he dresses, speaks, starts a
conversation and expresses his views. This is often the true reflection of a person's real character. But
this can often be ambiguous. For instance, my experience has taught me that persons who make quick
friends are less serious about a long-term friendship though they give an opposite impression on their
first meet.

Moreover, people try to behave modestly, act friendly and show compassion when they meet someone.
Only a long-term observation can express their true nature and intention. From this regards, I would not
agree with the view that my initial impressions about someone are always right. I believe we can learn a
great deal about a person only when we intimately spend time with the person, just not from our first
meeting.

To conclude, people are one of the greatest mysteries in the world and judging someone at the first
meet is kind of irrational. No doubt a great deal about someone could be learned from the first
encounter, but this is not always right, at least not in my experience.
Sample Answer 2:

Often first impressions form the basis for judging a person’s personality and background. There are two
lines of thoughts when considering the significance of first impressions. I am inclined to agree that first
impression is important to some extent; however, my support is in the favour of knowing the person
better instead of establishing the judgments just on looks and the way of dressing as I support the more
holistic way of getting to know people.

To begin with, I believe that the first impression only gives just a glimpse of somebody’s character. There
can be a variety of underlying factors and reasons for why the person is behaving in a particular way. If
someone, for example, is in their own world and does not initiate a conversation and does not smile in a
party where it is required to mingle, it could be because maybe the person is not well enough or have a
serious trouble in the family. Judging by his first impressions, that person can be easily labelled as
arrogant and unfriendly. However, if someone made an effort to know the person and the reason
behind being a recluse in the party, the former judgment is entirely reversed. In addition, outer
appearances change and evolve but the inner personality remains the same. People who form their
perception on the basis of outer fleeting appearances are often considered shallow and narrow.

On the contrary, there are instances where first impressions are of foremost importance, such as in job
interviews. Recruiters are specifically trained to sort potential employees just on the basis of the first
impression and recruiters hope that they are right. The first impression not only includes the way of
dressing, but also the way a person speaks and carries himself.

To conclude, although there are instances where the first impression matters and needed to be taken
into account, I strongly believe that it is always prudent to get to know a person before jumping to a
conclusion.

[By - Neha]