Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
I used to have a bike when I was young, umm, my parents used to umm, teach me cycling and we would go cycling in the nearest park on the weekend.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Bicycles are popular in a way that serves leisure activities, but not as an essential umm transportation mold like in some other places like Vietnam and umm, mainland China where people ride.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Reduce fillers (umm), make the response more concise and natural, and add one specific detail to enrich the answer. Start with a clear topic sentence, then add a supporting detail using a linking word. Keep it to no more than 3–4 sentences.
Ví dụ: Yes, I had a bike when I was a child. My parents taught me to ride, and we often cycled together in the nearby park on weekends. I remember learning to balance on a little red bicycle with training wheels until I felt confident to go without them.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 70.0Gợi ý: Avoid hesitations and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'transportation mold'). Begin with a clear opinion, then use linking words (however, while, because) to provide a specific reason and a brief comparison. Use more precise vocabulary such as 'mode of transport' and give a concrete example or statistic if possible.
Ví dụ: Bicycles are fairly popular in my country, but mainly for leisure and exercise. However, they are not widely used as a daily mode of transport because public transit and cars are more convenient in most cities. For example, many families ride bikes in parks on weekends rather than commuting to work by bicycle.
× I used to have a bike when I was young, umm, my parents used to umm, teach me cycling and we would go cycling in the nearest park on the weekend.
✓ I used to have a bike when I was young. My parents used to teach me to cycle, and we would go cycling in the nearest park on weekends.
Error type: verb + -ing form. The phrase 'teach me cycling' is incorrect in English; after 'teach' use the infinitive 'to' + base verb (teach someone to cycle) or the gerund noun 'cycling' as an object in different structure ('teach me cycling' is nonstandard). Also 'on the weekend' is less natural than 'on weekends' in this general past-habit context. Split into two sentences for clarity and remove filler 'umm'. Suggestion: use 'teach me to cycle' or 'teach me cycling' only in informal contexts but 'teach me to cycle' is grammatically correct and clearer.
× Bicycles are popular in a way that serves leisure activities, but not as an essential umm transportation mold like in some other places like Vietnam and umm, mainland China where people ride.
✓ Bicycles are popular for leisure activities, but not as an essential means of transportation like in some other places such as Vietnam and mainland China, where people ride them.
Error type: incorrect use of prepositions and word choice. 'Popular in a way that serves leisure activities' is wordy and uses an awkward preposition; 'popular for leisure activities' is natural. 'Transportation mold' is incorrect word choice; use 'means of transportation'. Also add 'such as' for examples and include 'them' after 'ride' to complete the idea. Remove filler 'umm'. Suggestion: simplify phrasing and use correct prepositions and collocations ('popular for', 'means of transportation', 'such as').