Band 7 Example

Question: What goals do people at your age have?

Idea 1

Academic Goals
Model Answer
At my age, most people focus on academic goals. For example, we want to get good grades in school or university, and pass important exams like IELTS or Gaokao. Many of us are also trying to improve our English or other language skills, because it's important for our future studies or jobs. Getting into a good university is a big goal for a lot of students.
People my age tend to set academic goals as a top priority. For instance, we aim to achieve high marks in our courses and pass crucial exams like the IELTS or Gaokao. Many are also working hard to improve their English or other language abilities, since these skills open up more opportunities. Getting accepted into a reputable university or a competitive program is definitely a major goal for most of us.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout (e.g., "People my age tend to set academic goals...") to talk about general habits and truths, which is appropriate for this kind of question. 2. Infinitive of purpose: "to achieve high marks," "to improve their English"—shows clear purpose and intention. 3. Present continuous: "Many are also working hard..."—demonstrates ongoing action, which adds variety to the grammar. 4. Gerund as subject: "Getting accepted into a reputable university... is definitely a major goal..."—using a gerund phrase as the subject of the sentence is a more advanced structure.
Vocabulary
  • set academic goals
  • top priority
  • achieve high marks
  • pass crucial exams
  • working hard
  • improve their English
  • open up more opportunities
  • reputable university
  • competitive program
  • major goal

Idea 2

Career Goals
Model Answer
Career goals are also really important for people my age. After graduation, we want to find a good job, so some of us do internships or part-time jobs to get experience. It's also important to choose the right career path and start building a strong resume, so we can have more chances in the future.
Career-wise, people my age are quite focused on preparing for the future. Many of us are looking for internships or part-time jobs to gain some real-world experience. We're also thinking about what kind of career suits us best and trying to build up our CVs. Finding a good job after graduation is a big goal, so we try to make ourselves as competitive as possible in the job market.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present continuous tense: Phrases like "are looking for internships" and "are thinking about what kind of career suits us best" use the present continuous tense to show ongoing actions and current focus. 2. Infinitive of purpose: "to gain some real-world experience" uses the infinitive form to explain the purpose of looking for internships or part-time jobs. 3. Comparative structure: "as competitive as possible" uses the comparative structure to show the goal of maximizing competitiveness. 4. Compound sentences: The answer uses compound sentences (joined by "so") to clearly connect goals and actions, making the response coherent and easy to follow.
Vocabulary
  • career-wise
  • preparing for the future
  • internships
  • part-time jobs
  • real-world experience
  • build up our CVs
  • finding a good job after graduation
  • competitive in the job market

Idea 3

Personal Development Goals
Model Answer
Personal development is another goal for people my age. We want to become more independent and confident, and learn new skills like driving or cooking. Traveling and experiencing new cultures is also popular, and making new friends or building relationships is important for us too.
Personal development is a major focus as well. Many people my age are keen to become more independent and self-confident. We try to pick up practical skills, like learning to drive or cook, and a lot of us are interested in traveling to broaden our horizons. Building new friendships and forming meaningful relationships are also important goals at this stage of life.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout the answer (e.g., "Personal development is a major focus," "Many people my age are keen...") to express general truths and habits, which is appropriate for discussing goals. 2. Infinitive of purpose: Phrases like "to become more independent," "to broaden our horizons" use the infinitive form to explain reasons or purposes, adding clarity and coherence. 3. Parallel structure: The answer uses parallelism in listing goals and actions (e.g., "learning to drive or cook," "building new friendships and forming meaningful relationships"), which makes the answer more organized and fluent. 4. Present participle as adjective: "traveling to broaden our horizons" uses the present participle "traveling" to describe an ongoing interest or activity.
Vocabulary
  • personal development
  • major focus
  • keen to become
  • independent
  • self-confident
  • pick up practical skills
  • learning to drive
  • broaden our horizons
  • building new friendships
  • forming meaningful relationships
  • important goals
  • stage of life