Part 1
Examiner
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Candidate
Yeah, I used to have a bike when I was a child. Uh, I don't know, do you mean cycle by bike or any other vehicle? But, uh, what I mean that I used to have a cycle when I was a child.
Examiner
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Candidate
Yeah, it's quite popular in my country. In fact my father have 1 and I sometimes dream about like having my own bike even though I'm not financially stable right now to buy one.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Score: 65.0Suggestion: Answer the question directly without asking the examiner to clarify the meaning of “bike,” as “bike” normally refers to a bicycle in this context. Avoid repeating the same idea and remove fillers such as “Uh” and “But, uh.” You should also say “what I mean is” rather than “what I mean that.” Add one specific detail, such as where you rode it or who gave it to you.
Example: Yes, I had a bicycle when I was a child. I usually rode it around my neighborhood after school, and I really enjoyed exploring the area with my friends.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Score: 68.0Suggestion: Give a clear topic sentence and support it with a relevant reason or example. Use the plural form “bikes are quite popular” and correct the grammar: “my father has one,” not “my father have one.” Avoid fillers such as “like” and use the natural expression “dream of having” instead of “dream about like having.” The final comment about your financial situation is understandable, but you could explain more clearly why you want a bike.
Example: Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country, especially among young people and delivery workers. My father has one, and I often dream of buying my own because it would be a convenient and affordable way to travel around my neighborhood.
× But, uh, what I mean that I used to have a cycle when I was a child.
✓ But, uh, what I mean is that I used to have a bicycle when I was a child.
The structure 'what I mean that' is incomplete because the linking verb 'is' is required before 'that'. A natural structure is 'What I mean is that...'.
× Yeah, it's quite popular in my country.
✓ Yeah, they're quite popular in my country.
The subject 'bikes' is plural, so the plural pronoun 'they' must be used instead of the singular pronoun 'it'. The verb must also agree with the plural subject: 'they're' means 'they are'.
× In fact, my father have 1
✓ In fact, my father has one.
The subject 'my father' is third-person singular, so the present-tense verb must be 'has', not 'have'. In speaking, write or say 'one' instead of the numeral '1' when referring back to a bike.
× Even though I'm not financially stable right now to buy one.
✓ Even though I'm not financially stable enough to buy one right now.
When an adjective expresses a sufficient degree for an action, use 'adjective + enough + to-infinitive'. Therefore, 'financially stable enough to buy one' is the correct structure. 'Enough' should be placed after the adjective 'stable'.