Band 7 Example
Topic: Describe a place you have been to where things are expensive
Example
Luxury shopping at Harrods in London Where the place is I'm going to talk about Harrods, which is a world-renowned department store located in Knightsbridge, London. It's one of the most famous luxury shopping destinations in the world. What the place is like Harrods is truly a spectacle. Spanning over five acres with over 330 departments, it's like a giant treasure trove for shoppers. The store is known for its lavish decorations, especially during Christmas when it's adorned with lights and beautiful displays. Inside, it's equally impressive with its opulent interiors, including the Egyptian Hall and the Food Halls which are exquisitely designed. Why you went there I visited Harrods during a vacation to London last year. I had always heard about its grandeur and luxury and wanted to experience it firsthand. It was also a great opportunity to find unique gifts for my family and to treat myself to something special from a prestigious location. What you bought there I ended up buying a beautifully crafted leather wallet for myself and a set of luxury teas for my parents. The wallet was from a designer brand known for its quality and durability, and the teas were a selection of exotic blends that Harrods is famous for. Explain why you think things are expensive there The prices at Harrods can be quite steep, and I believe there are several reasons for this. Firstly, the store stocks a lot of high-end brands and luxury products which naturally come with a higher price tag. Additionally, the shopping experience at Harrods is unlike any other, with exceptional customer service, a wide range of exclusive products, and a stunning environment. All these factors contribute to the overall value of the products, making them more expensive compared to other places. The store's iconic status and location in one of the most affluent areas of London also play a role in the pricing.
Grammar Analysis
The answer effectively uses a variety of sentence structures, enhancing the clarity and richness of the description. For instance, complex sentences like "Spanning over five acres with over 330 departments, it's like a giant treasure trove for shoppers," provide detailed information in a concise manner. The use of past and present tenses is appropriately managed to describe past experiences and current characteristics of Harrods, such as "I visited Harrods" and "Harrods is truly a spectacle." Additionally, the response includes conditional and causal constructions that add depth to the explanation, such as "if you want to experience luxury" and "because it offers exclusive services."
Vocabulary
  • - **world-renowned**: Indicates something famous all over the world, adding to the prestige of Harrods.
  • - **luxury shopping destination**: Highlights the upscale and exclusive nature of the store.
  • - **lavish decorations, opulent interiors**: These phrases describe the luxurious and rich decoration style of Harrods, enhancing the visual imagery.
  • - **Egyptian Hall, Food Halls**: Mention of specific areas within Harrods that are known for their distinctive themes and designs.
  • - **grandeur**: A term that conveys splendor and impressiveness, suitable for describing a place like Harrods.
  • - **prestigious location**: Indicates a place of high status, which adds to the allure of shopping at Harrods.
  • - **crafted leather wallet, luxury teas, exotic blends**: These phrases describe the high-quality and unique products available at Harrods.
  • - **high-end brands, luxury products, exceptional customer service**: Terms that explain why the products at Harrods are expensive, emphasizing the quality and exclusivity.
  • - **iconic status, affluent area**: These phrases help justify the high prices at Harrods by linking them to its reputation and location.