Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have any opportunities to take part in new activities as a child?
Thí sinh
Yes, in my school there are a lot of activities to do and as well as I have a lot of opportunity to take part in a new activity.
Giám khảo
Should people try as many different things as they can?
Thí sinh
Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
Did you have any opportunities to take part in new activities as a child?
Điểm: 58.0Gợi ý: Answer directly in the past tense because the question asks about your childhood. Avoid repetition of “activities” and “opportunity,” and use the correct expressions “there were” and “had many opportunities.” Add one specific example and explain why you enjoyed it. Also, use a linking word such as “for example” to connect your detail naturally.
Ví dụ: Yes, I had many opportunities to try new activities at school. For example, I joined the drama club and learned how to perform in front of an audience. I really enjoyed it because it helped me become more confident.
Should people try as many different things as they can?
Điểm: 64.0Gợi ý: Your opinion is clear, but correct the subject–verb agreement and word forms: say “trying different things makes us learn” or, more naturally, “trying different things helps us learn,” “sometimes,” and “gives us valuable life lessons.” Avoid repeating “different things,” and include a specific example or result to make your answer more convincing. Use a linking phrase such as “For instance” or “As a result.”
Ví dụ: Yes, I think people should try a variety of activities because it helps them discover their interests and develop new skills. For instance, someone who tries volunteering may realize that they enjoy helping others. It can also teach people valuable life lessons, such as how to deal with challenges.
× Yes, in my school there are a lot of activities to do and as well as I have a lot of opportunity to take part in a new activity.
✓ Yes, at my school, there were a lot of activities to do, and I had many opportunities to take part in new activities.
The question asks about the student's childhood, so the answer should use the past tense. Change there are to there were and have to had.
× Yes, in my school there are a lot of activities to do and as well as I have a lot of opportunity to take part in a new activity.
✓ Yes, at my school, there were a lot of activities to do, and I had many opportunities to take part in new activities.
Opportunity is a countable noun. Because the sentence refers to many opportunities, it should be plural: opportunities. Activities should also be plural because the student is referring to more than one activity.
× Yes, in my school there are a lot of activities to do and as well as I have a lot of opportunity to take part in a new activity.
✓ Yes, at my school, there were a lot of activities to do, and I had many opportunities to take part in new activities.
As well as is not used correctly to connect these two independent ideas. Use and to join the clauses clearly.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
The subject trying different things is a singular gerund phrase, so it requires the singular verb makes, not make. The singular subject it also requires gives, not give or gave.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
The student is expressing a general opinion, so the present tense is appropriate. Change gave to gives.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
Gave is a past-tense verb, but the sentence describes what generally happens whenever people try new things. Use the present-tense verb gives.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
The pronoun they does not agree clearly with the singular idea something different. Use it to refer to one different thing.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
Some is normally used with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns. For one unspecified countable thing, use something or a different thing. Something different is the most natural choice here.
× Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things make us learn a lot and sometime when we try some different thing, they gave us a life lesson.
✓ Yes, people should try as many different things as they can because trying different things makes us learn a lot, and sometimes when we try something different, it gives us a life lesson.
Sometimes is the correct adverb when referring to an occasional action. Sometime usually refers to an unspecified point in time, as in I will visit sometime next year.