Part 1
Giám khảo
Do you prefer sad or happy music?
Thí sinh
It would depend on what time of the month it is. If I am expecting my period for the month I would love to listen to sad music. I tend to cry over them and for the rest of the month I prefer.
Giám khảo
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Thí sinh
Yes, of course happy music made me feel more excited. I love to listen to pop songs when I as I start my work it gives me energy and the umm the.
Giám khảo
Have you taken any music classes?
Thí sinh
No, I have not joined any music classes in the past, but I would love to join one in the future. I would love to improve my singing, specifically try to hit high notes so I can perform in front of larger audience in the future.
Giám khảo
Do you listen to music while doing other things?
Thí sinh
Yes, I do love listening to music while doing other things. When I'm at work I play instrumental mostly so it won't umm this interfere with my thoughts, but umm, when I'm doing household chores.
Do you prefer sad or happy music?
Điểm: 62.0Gợi ý: Be more concise, avoid overly personal or potentially sensitive details, and structure the response with a clear topic sentence followed by one specific reason and an example. Use linking words to connect ideas and keep to 2–3 sentences. Replace vague phrases (e.g., "for the rest of the month I prefer") with a clear statement.
Ví dụ: I usually prefer happy music, but sometimes I choose sad songs when I need to relax. For example, if I’m feeling reflective, I’ll listen to slow ballads because they help me process my emotions.
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Điểm: 58.0Gợi ý: Improve grammar (tense and sentence fragments), remove hesitations, and use a linking phrase to add a brief supporting detail. Keep it to 1–2 complete sentences and be specific about how music affects you.
Ví dụ: Yes, happy music definitely makes me feel more energetic. For example, I play upbeat pop songs when I start work because the fast rhythm helps me focus and boosts my motivation.
Have you taken any music classes?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Good clear answer and intention; reduce repetition and combine ideas into a concise 2–3 sentence reply. Add a linking word and a specific plan (type of class or timeline) to make it more concrete.
Ví dụ: No, I haven’t taken formal music classes, but I’d like to in the near future. For example, I plan to join a vocal coaching course next year to improve my range and learn techniques for hitting higher notes so I can sing confidently on stage.
Do you listen to music while doing other things?
Điểm: 66.0Gợi ý: Remove filler words (umm), finish the second sentence with a complete idea, and use linking words to contrast different situations. Be specific about what kind of music you choose for each activity and why.
Ví dụ: Yes, I often listen to music while doing other tasks. For instance, I usually play instrumental music at work so it doesn’t distract me, but I prefer lively pop songs when I do household chores because they make the chores more enjoyable.
× It would depend on what time of the month it is.
✓ It depends on what time of the month it is.
The original uses 'would depend' which is conditional and not needed when stating a general preference. Use simple present 'depends' for habitual or general truths.
× If I am expecting my period for the month I would love to listen to sad music.
✓ If I am expecting my period, I love to listen to sad music.
Mixing 'If I am expecting' (present continuous) with 'I would love' creates a conditional that is unnecessary for a habitual tendency. Use simple present 'I love' to describe regular reaction.
× I tend to cry over them and for the rest of the month I prefer.
✓ I tend to cry during that time, and for the rest of the month I prefer happy music.
The original sentence is incomplete and unclear ('cry over them' and 'I prefer' with no object). Clarify the time reference and supply the object 'happy music' so the sentence is complete.
× Yes, of course happy music made me feel more excited.
✓ Yes, of course happy music makes me feel more excited.
The examiner asked about a general effect; use simple present 'makes' rather than past 'made' to indicate a habitual or general truth.
× I love to listen to pop songs when I as I start my work it gives me energy and the umm the.
✓ I love to listen to pop songs when I start work because they give me energy.
The original has disfluencies and incorrect word order ('when I as I start my work') and a dangling fragment 'and the umm the.' Combine ideas, remove filler, correct word order, and change 'it gives' to 'they give' to agree with plural 'songs.'
× No, I have not joined any music classes in the past, but I would love to join one in the future.
✓ No, I have not joined any music classes in the past, but I would love to join a class in the future.
Use 'a class' instead of 'one' for clarity and natural phrasing. Both are grammatical but 'a class' is more natural here.
× I would love to improve my singing, specifically try to hit high notes so I can perform in front of larger audience in the future.
✓ I would love to improve my singing, specifically try to hit high notes so I can perform in front of a larger audience in the future.
The phrase needs the article 'a' before 'larger audience' to be grammatical: 'a larger audience.' Without the article the noun phrase is incorrect.
× Yes, I do love listening to music while doing other things.
✓ Yes, I do like listening to music while doing other things.
'Love listening' is grammatical but contextually 'like' is more natural for habitual activities; however 'do love' is emphatic. This is a stylistic suggestion: keep 'I do love' only if emphasis is intended; otherwise 'I like' is more neutral.
× When I'm at work I play instrumental mostly so it won't umm this interfere with my thoughts, but umm, when I'm doing household chores.
✓ When I'm at work I mostly play instrumental music so it doesn't interfere with my thoughts, but when I'm doing household chores I listen to more upbeat songs.
Problems: word order ('play instrumental mostly' → 'mostly play instrumental music'), wrong verb form/agreement ('won't ... interfere' is not appropriate for habitual present; use 'doesn't interfere'), and the final clause is incomplete. Provide a complete contrasting clause. Use 'instrumental music' for clarity.