Part 1
Giám khảo
Are there tall buildings near your home?
Thí sinh
No, there aren't tall buildings near my home. My neighborhood is a place where houses are near each other. It usually consists of MMM people that are friends with each other and have known each other for very long time.
Giám khảo
Do you take photos of buildings?
Thí sinh
No, I don't usually take photos of buildings. However I like to take pictures of the sky, the greenery, especially the trees. I'd like to keep it as a keep safe for me, for my memories to look back on.
Giám khảo
Is there a building that you would like to visit?
Thí sinh
No, there isn't exactly a building that I would like to visit. I am more of a nature type of person. For example, I would rather go to a beach or a mountain to climb instead of a building.
Giám khảo
Do you want to live in a tall building?
Thí sinh
No, I would much prefer to live on an apartment rather than a tall building. I am usually scared of heights and I like the idea of having my place at a lower level. I like to enjoy it more.
Are there tall buildings near your home?
Điểm: 60.0Gợi ý: Be more concise and correct factual or odd phrases. Start with a direct topic sentence, correct grammar (e.g., 'My neighbourhood has mostly low-rise houses'), avoid unclear terms like 'MMM', and add one specific supporting detail with a linking word. Keep it under five sentences.
Ví dụ: No, there aren't tall buildings near my home. My neighbourhood mostly has low-rise houses, and the streets feel quiet and residential. For example, most homes are two-storey houses with small gardens, so the area feels close-knit and peaceful.
Do you take photos of buildings?
Điểm: 70.0Gợi ý: Begin with a clear topic sentence, fix phrasing and word choice (e.g., 'I keep them as memories' instead of 'keep it as a keep safe'), and use linking words for coherence. Provide one specific example of when or where you take photos.
Ví dụ: No, I don't usually photograph buildings. Instead, I prefer taking pictures of the sky and local greenery because they calm me; for instance, I often photograph sunsets at the nearby park to keep as memories.
Is there a building that you would like to visit?
Điểm: 75.0Gợi ý: Answer directly and expand with a specific reason and example. Use linking words like 'because' or 'so' to connect ideas, and be more precise about your preferences (e.g., which beach or mountain). Keep it natural and within five sentences.
Ví dụ: Not really — I prefer natural places to buildings because I enjoy outdoor activities. For example, I would rather hike a nearby mountain or relax at a coastal beach like X Beach, where I can swim and take photos.
Do you want to live in a tall building?
Điểm: 65.0Gợi ý: Clarify the contrast between 'apartment' and 'tall building' (they overlap), correct grammar, and give a specific supporting detail (e.g., 'I prefer ground-floor or low-rise apartments because I feel safer'). Use linking words to explain reason concisely.
Ví dụ: No, I wouldn't like to live in a high-rise. I prefer a low-rise or ground-floor apartment because I'm afraid of heights and I feel safer and more comfortable on a lower level.
× No, there aren't tall buildings near my home.
✓ No, there aren't any tall buildings near my home.
Use 'any' with negative sentences containing plural countable nouns after 'there aren't' to indicate absence. Without 'any' the sentence sounds unnatural. Suggestion: say 'there aren't any tall buildings'.
× My neighborhood is a place where houses are near each other.
✓ My neighborhood is a place where the houses are close to each other.
The original is understandable but awkward. 'Near each other' is grammatical but 'close to each other' is a more natural collocation. Also include 'the' before 'houses' to refer to the houses in the neighborhood. Suggestion: use natural collocations and appropriate articles.
× It usually consists of MMM people that are friends with each other and have known each other for very long time.
✓ It usually consists of many people who are friends with each other and have known each other for a very long time.
'MMM' is not a valid quantifier; use 'many'. Use 'who' for people rather than 'that'. Add 'a' before 'very long time' to form 'a very long time'. Suggestion: replace 'MMM' with an appropriate quantifier, use 'who' for people, and include the article 'a'.
× No, I don't usually take photos of buildings.
✓ No, I don't usually take photos of buildings.
This sentence is grammatically correct in present simple for habitual action; no correction needed.
× However I like to take pictures of the sky, the greenery, especially the trees.
✓ However, I like to take pictures of the sky and the greenery, especially the trees.
Add a comma after 'However' when it begins a sentence. Use 'and' to link 'the sky' and 'the greenery' for parallel items. Suggestion: include punctuation and coordinating conjunctions for clarity.
× I'd like to keep it as a keep safe for me, for my memories to look back on.
✓ I'd like to keep them as a keepsake for my memories to look back on.
The phrase 'keep it as a keep safe' is incorrect and redundant. Use 'keepsake' (one word) and 'them' to refer to 'pictures'. 'For my memories to look back on' is awkward; 'for my memories' is acceptable but better: 'to look back on later'. Suggestion: refer clearly to 'pictures' with correct noun 'keepsake' and adjust pronouns.
× No, there isn't exactly a building that I would like to visit.
✓ No, there isn't exactly a building that I would like to visit.
Sentence is grammatically acceptable: 'there isn't' correctly used with singular 'a building'. No correction needed.
× I am more of a nature type of person.
✓ I am more of a nature-loving person.
Original is understandable but awkward. 'Nature-loving person' is a more natural adjective-noun combination. This is a style improvement rather than a strict grammatical fix.
× For example, I would rather go to a beach or a mountain to climb instead of a building.
✓ For example, I would rather go to a beach or climb a mountain instead of visiting a building.
Parallel structure improves readability: match verb forms ('go to a beach' and 'climb a mountain') and use 'visiting a building' to clarify the alternative. Suggestion: maintain parallel verbs and clear alternatives.
× No, I would much prefer to live on an apartment rather than a tall building.
✓ No, I would much prefer to live in an apartment rather than in a tall building.
Use the preposition 'in' with 'an apartment' (not 'on'). Also include 'in' before 'a tall building' for parallel structure. Suggestion: use correct prepositions with places and keep parallel prepositional phrases.
× I am usually scared of heights and I like the idea of having my place at a lower level.
✓ I am usually scared of heights, and I like the idea of having my place on a lower level.
'At a lower level' is not incorrect but 'on a lower level' is the more natural prepositional choice when referring to floors. Add a comma before 'and' for compound sentence. Suggestion: prefer 'on a lower level'.
× I like to enjoy it more.
✓ I would enjoy it more.
'I like to enjoy it more' is awkward and redundant. 'I would enjoy it more' fits the conditional/preference context and is more natural. Suggestion: use 'would' to express preference and remove redundant 'like to'.