Part 1
Examiner
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Candidate
Well, yes. I had a blue bike when I was a child. I rode it every weekend to the park with my brother and it was great because it made me feel independent. For example, we would race along the paths and sometimes stop to feed the ducks.
Examiner
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Candidate
Well, I think bikes are quite popular in my country, especially in cities because they are cheap and easy to use for short trips. For example, many students in office workers ride bikes to work or school to avoid traffic and there are bike lanes in some areas so they are a common sight.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Score: 86.0Suggestion: Good direct response with relevant supporting details and a concise example. To improve further, vary sentence openings and use a wider range of vocabulary (e.g., describe feelings or activities more precisely). Also avoid filler words like “Well” at the start, and ensure linking words add cohesion (for instance, use “because,” “so,” or “also” purposefully).
Example: Yes, I did — I had a bright blue bike throughout my childhood. I used to ride it to the park every weekend with my brother, which gave me a strong sense of independence because I could travel on my own. We often raced along the tree-lined paths and occasionally paused to feed the ducks, which made those afternoons memorable.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Score: 81.0Suggestion: The answer directly addresses the question and includes reasons and an example, but it has minor grammar errors and awkward phrasing (“many students in office workers”). Improve by correcting grammar, using clearer linking words (e.g., “because,” “therefore,” “for instance”), and adding a specific statistic or vivid detail to strengthen credibility.
Example: Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country, particularly in urban areas, because they’re inexpensive and convenient for short trips. For instance, many students and office workers cycle to school or work to avoid rush-hour traffic, and several cities have dedicated bike lanes, which makes cycling a common sight.
× For example, many students in office workers ride bikes to work or school to avoid traffic and there are bike lanes in some areas so they are a common sight.
✓ For example, many students and office workers ride bikes to work or school to avoid traffic, and there are bike lanes in some areas, so they are a common sight.
The original sentence used 'students in office workers', which mixes noun phrases incorrectly. This is a singular/plural and coordination issue: 'students' and 'office workers' are two plural groups that should be joined with 'and'. Also punctuation was needed to separate clauses. Suggestion: join parallel noun phrases with 'and' and add commas to clarify the sentence structure.