Part 1
Examinador
Do you prefer sad or happy music?
Candidato
Well, I prefer happy music most of the time when I'm studying or just going about my daily routine. I prefer sad music when I want to relax or just reflect on something.
Examinador
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Candidato
Yeah, it is mainly because the rhythm and the lyrics boost my energy. For example, I usually play lively songs when I work or study at home to stay motivated.
Examinador
Have you taken any music classes?
Candidato
Yeah, actually music is a compulsory course in Chinese primary schools, and I have learned a lot about it. I learned some basic vocal techniques and I also learned how to play the flute. We just didn't learn anything like violin or piano, but it was very fun.
Examinador
Do you listen to music while doing other things?
Candidato
Yeah, I usually listen to music while I commute or exercise to pass the time. For example, pop music with upward lyrics makes me run faster on the treadmill.
Do you prefer sad or happy music?
Pontuação: 86.0Sugestão: Your answer is natural and relevant, and you directly addressed the question with a clear topic sentence. To improve, shorten slightly to avoid redundancy and add one specific example or reason to make the distinction clearer. Use a linking phrase to contrast the two preferences (e.g., "however" or "on the other hand").
Exemplo: I usually prefer happy music when I'm studying or doing daily tasks because its upbeat tempo keeps me focused. However, I choose sad music when I want to relax and reflect, as its slower melodies help me unwind.
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Pontuação: 88.0Sugestão: Good concise response with a cause and an example. To improve further, replace informal "Yeah" with "Yes" in the exam, and use a linking phrase ("for example" is fine) plus a slightly more specific example of the type of song or artist to show range of vocabulary.
Exemplo: Yes. The upbeat rhythm and motivating lyrics boost my energy. For example, I often play energetic pop songs with strong beats when I study at home to keep my concentration high.
Have you taken any music classes?
Pontuação: 83.0Sugestão: You answered directly and gave specific details, which is good. Improve by avoiding casual fillers like "yeah" and tightening sentences to be more coherent using linking words ("for instance", "however"). Also correct a minor awkward phrasing: say "we didn't learn instruments such as the violin or piano". Limit to four sentences max.
Exemplo: Yes. In Chinese primary schools, music is a compulsory subject and I learned basic vocal techniques and how to play the flute. For instance, I can read simple sheet music and perform short melodies. However, we didn't study instruments such as the violin or piano.
Do you listen to music while doing other things?
Pontuação: 86.0Sugestão: Good direct answer with a clear example. Replace informal "Yeah" with "Yes" and choose a more precise phrase than "upward lyrics" (e.g., "uplifting lyrics"). Add a linking phrase to connect activities and effects ("for example" is fine).
Exemplo: Yes. I usually listen to music while commuting or exercising to pass the time. For example, pop songs with uplifting lyrics and a strong beat help me run faster on the treadmill.
× Well, I prefer happy music most of the time when I'm studying or just going about my daily routine.
✓ Well, I prefer happy music most of the time when I'm studying or just going about my daily routine.
No correction needed; sentence is grammatically correct. Keep the preposition 'about' with 'going about my daily routine'. Suggestion: none.
× I prefer sad music when I want to relax or just reflect on something.
✓ I prefer sad music when I want to relax or just reflect on something.
No correction needed; 'reflect on' is the correct verb-preposition collocation. Suggestion: none.
× Yeah, it is mainly because the rhythm and the lyrics boost my energy.
✓ Yeah, it is mainly because the rhythm and the lyrics boost my energy.
No correction needed. Subject 'the rhythm and the lyrics' is plural and correctly takes 'boost'. 'It is mainly because' is acceptable to introduce the reason. Suggestion: none.
× For example, I usually play lively songs when I work or study at home to stay motivated.
✓ For example, I usually play lively songs when I work or study at home to stay motivated.
No correction needed. The verbs 'work' and 'study' are correctly used, and 'to stay' properly expresses purpose. Suggestion: none.
× Yeah, actually music is a compulsory course in Chinese primary schools, and I have learned a lot about it.
✓ Yeah, actually music is a compulsory subject in Chinese primary schools, and I have learned a lot about it.
'Course' is not incorrect, but 'subject' is more natural in this context. Tense usage is correct: 'is' for current general fact and 'have learned' for present perfect experience. Suggestion: use 'subject' for natural phrasing.
× I learned some basic vocal techniques and I also learned how to play the flute.
✓ I learned some basic vocal techniques and I also learned how to play the flute.
No correction needed. Past tense 'learned' correctly describes completed actions in the past. Suggestion: none.
× We just didn't learn anything like violin or piano, but it was very fun.
✓ We just didn't learn instruments like the violin or the piano, but it was very fun.
Use 'instruments like the violin or the piano' for clarity and include articles 'the' before specific instrument names in this context. 'Didn't learn' is correct past tense. Suggestion: include 'instruments' and 'the' for natural English.
× Yeah, I usually listen to music while I commute or exercise to pass the time.
✓ Yeah, I usually listen to music while I commute or exercise to pass the time.
No correction needed. 'While I commute or exercise' correctly uses verbs in base form for habitual present. Suggestion: none.
× For example, pop music with upward lyrics makes me run faster on the treadmill.
✓ For example, pop music with uplifting lyrics makes me run faster on the treadmill.
'Upward lyrics' is unnatural. Use 'uplifting lyrics' (adjective) to describe lyrics that boost mood or energy. The rest of the sentence is correct. Suggestion: replace 'upward' with 'uplifting'.