Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
Yes, I had a bike when I was a child. I received one from my dad as a birthday present when I was 5 and it was a pink and green bike that I loved very much.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Yes, I think they are popular in my country, although I do think they are not as popular as they should be considering it's a very low cost means of transportation. I would have to argue that maybe the reason behind it not being a more popular means of transportation.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 86.0Gợi ý: Good direct response with a clear topic sentence and relevant details. To improve, shorten slightly to avoid redundancy, add one linking phrase for flow, and include a brief reflection or specific memory to enrich content. Keep maximum 4–5 sentences.
Ví dụ: Yes, I had a bike as a child. My dad gave me a pink-and-green bike for my fifth birthday, and I loved riding it around the neighborhood. For example, I remember practicing turns on the nearby park path until I felt confident, which made me really proud.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: The answer addresses the question and gives an opinion, but it is wordy and vague. Improve by using clearer reasons and specific examples, add linking words for coherence, and avoid hesitations like 'maybe' and 'would have to argue'. Keep it concise (2–3 sentences) and give one concrete reason or example.
Ví dụ: Yes, bikes are fairly popular, but not as widely used as they could be. For instance, many people prefer cars because of limited bike lanes and long commutes, so cycling is mainly common among students and short-distance commuters.
× I received one from my dad as a birthday present when I was 5 and it was a pink and green bike that I loved very much.
✓ I received one from my dad as a birthday present when I was 5, and it was a pink-and-green bike that I loved very much.
The original sentence joins two independent clauses without proper punctuation; additionally 'pink and green' describing a compound adjective before a noun should be hyphenated as 'pink-and-green' to form a single compound adjective modifying 'bike'. Suggest adding a comma before 'and' to separate clauses and hyphenating the compound adjective for clarity and correct adjective formation.
× Yes, I think they are popular in my country, although I do think they are not as popular as they should be considering it's a very low cost means of transportation.
✓ Yes, I think they are popular in my country, although I do not think they are as popular as they should be, considering they are a very low-cost means of transportation.
This sentence has mixed pronouns and awkward structure. 'I do think they are not as popular' is a double-negative/awkward phrasing; replace with 'I do not think they are as popular'. 'It's a very low cost means' incorrectly uses singular 'it' and lacks hyphenation: 'means' is plural and should be referred to as 'they are a very low-cost means' or better 'an inexpensive mode of transportation'. Hyphenate 'low-cost'. Suggest revising pronouns for agreement and hyphenating compound adjective.
× I would have to argue that maybe the reason behind it not being a more popular means of transportation.
✓ I would argue that the reason may be that it is not a more popular means of transportation.
Original is an incomplete and awkward clause lacking clear subject-predicate structure ('would have to argue that maybe the reason behind it not being...' is ungrammatical). Rephrase to a complete clause: 'I would argue that the reason may be that it is not a more popular means of transportation.' This provides a clear subject ('the reason') and verb phrase ('may be that it is not...'). Use 'it is' for clarity or replace 'it' with 'bicycling' or 'bikes' for specificity.