Part 1
Giám khảo
Do you have any hobbies?
Thí sinh
Yes, I have quite a few hobbies. My top 2 would be reading and dancing. Ever since I was a child I love to dance a lot. My mom made me join these dance classes and I often times also enjoy reading.
Giám khảo
Did you have any hobbies when you were a child?
Thí sinh
Yes, when I was a child, I used to have my dance classes and I also used to collect these stamps, which was a very popular hobby among little kids. I believe it's still very popular and it stood the test of time. Uh, it helped me relax a lot.
Giám khảo
Do you have a hobby that you've had since childhood?
Thí sinh
Yes, reading is a hobby that I've had since childhood. It really makes me feel like I'm in my element when I'm reading. It relaxes me, it broadens my perspective. I like to read non fiction a lot because it helps to imagine myself in a new.
Giám khảo
Do you have the same hobbies as your family members?
Thí sinh
Oh not really. My mother usually likes to cook and my father prefers to go on his trips with his friends. I like to read so it's difficult to connect with them on the topic of hobbies, but it's nice since we all do our own things.
Do you have any hobbies?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Be more concise and correct grammar; start with a clear topic sentence, then give 1–2 specific supporting details using linking words. Avoid redundancy (e.g., 'a lot' repeated) and minor errors ('I love' → 'I have loved', 'often times' → 'often').
Ví dụ: I have several hobbies, but my two favourites are reading and dancing. For example, I have loved dancing since childhood because my mother enrolled me in classes, and I often read contemporary novels to relax and learn new ideas.
Did you have any hobbies when you were a child?
Điểm: 75.0Gợi ý: Give a clear topic sentence, then provide specific details and avoid filler words ('uh'). Use linking words to connect ideas (for example, 'also' or 'in addition'), and correct phrasing ('it has stood the test of time').
Ví dụ: Yes — I took dance classes as a child and also collected postage stamps. In addition to being a popular pastime among children, stamp collecting helped me relax and sparked my interest in history because I enjoyed the different designs.
Do you have a hobby that you've had since childhood?
Điểm: 68.0Gợi ý: Be accurate and complete: avoid unfinished sentences and repetition. Combine short similar sentences using linking words (e.g., 'and', 'which', 'because'). Use precise vocabulary ('non-fiction' and explain why).
Ví dụ: Yes, I have read since childhood, and reading makes me feel in my element because it relaxes me and broadens my perspective. I especially enjoy non-fiction, for example biographies, because they help me understand other lives and imagine different career paths.
Do you have the same hobbies as your family members?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Begin with a direct topic sentence and use linking words to explain differences and consequences. Use slightly more formal phrasing (avoid 'Oh') and give a specific example of how you share or don't share activities.
Ví dụ: Not really — my mother enjoys cooking while my father prefers going on trips with friends, whereas I prefer reading. For instance, we sometimes cook together on weekends, but I usually spend quiet evenings reading, so our hobbies rarely overlap.
× Ever since I was a child I love to dance a lot.
✓ Ever since I was a child I have loved to dance a lot.
The phrase 'ever since' refers to a period continuing from the past to the present, so the present perfect ('have loved') is required rather than simple present ('love') to show an action that began in the past and continues now. Use 'have loved' to correctly link past start and present continuation.
× My mom made me join these dance classes and I often times also enjoy reading.
✓ My mom made me join dance classes, and I often enjoy reading as well.
Use 'often' (one word) and place it before the main verb 'enjoy' for natural adverb placement. 'These' is unnecessary; 'dance classes' is sufficient. 'Also' is better as 'as well' at the end or omitted; avoid 'often times' which is colloquial and less concise.
× Yes, when I was a child, I used to have my dance classes and I also used to collect these stamps, which was a very popular hobby among little kids.
✓ Yes, when I was a child I used to have dance classes and I also used to collect stamps, which were a very popular hobby among little kids.
'These' is unnecessary; 'stamps' is fine. The relative clause refers to 'stamps' (plural), so the verb should be 'were' not 'was' (subject-verb agreement). Also omit 'my' before 'dance classes' for natural phrasing.
× I believe it's still very popular and it stood the test of time.
✓ I believe it's still very popular and it has stood the test of time.
To indicate that popularity began in the past and continues to the present, use present perfect 'has stood' rather than simple past 'stood'. This links past endurance to the present.
× Uh, it helped me relax a lot.
✓ It helped me to relax a lot.
While 'helped me relax' is acceptable in informal speech, adding 'to' before the verb makes the infinitive clearer and more formal: 'helped me to relax.' Either form is grammatical, but for clarity and register consistency use 'to relax.'
× It really makes me feel like I'm in my element when I'm reading.
✓ It really makes me feel like I'm in my element when I read.
When describing general habit or state, simple present 'read' is preferable to present continuous 'I'm reading.' The simple present expresses habitual action and sounds more natural here.
× I like to read non fiction a lot because it helps to imagine myself in a new.
✓ I like to read nonfiction a lot because it helps me imagine myself in a new situation.
Use 'nonfiction' as one word. The verb 'help' should take an object: 'helps me imagine' rather than 'helps to imagine.' The phrase 'in a new' is incomplete; add a noun such as 'situation' to complete the thought.
× Oh not really. My mother usually likes to cook and my father prefers to go on his trips with his friends.
✓ Oh, not really. My mother usually likes to cook, and my father prefers to go on trips with his friends.
Add commas for clarity. 'His trips' is acceptable but redundant; 'on trips' is more natural. Ensure pronoun reference is clear; here 'his friends' refers to father so it's fine.
× I like to read so it's difficult to connect with them on the topic of hobbies, but it's nice since we all do our own things.
✓ I like to read, so it's difficult to connect with them about hobbies, but it's nice since we all do our own things.
Use 'about hobbies' instead of 'on the topic of hobbies' for more natural spoken English. Add a comma after the introductory clause for readability.