Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child because we couldn't afford it. We come from a very middle class family and I used to play with Barbie dolls rather than with a bike.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Yes, I do think bikes are popular in my country because it is affordable and people use to travel from one place to another, but there are limitations also because bikes can only be used when two persons are going somewhere.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 65.0Gợi ý: Keep the answer concise, correct grammar, and add a clear topic sentence followed by one or two specific supporting details. Avoid irrelevant or slightly contradictory phrasing (e.g., "come from a very middle class family" sounds odd with "couldn't afford"). Use linking words to connect ideas and correct tense consistency.
Ví dụ: No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child. We couldn't afford one because my family had limited income, so I spent my free time playing with Barbie dolls and reading books instead. As a result, I learned to enjoy indoor hobbies rather than outdoor cycling.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 60.0Gợi ý: Start with a clear topic sentence, then provide specific reasons and examples. Fix grammatical errors (use "people use them to travel"), avoid incorrect or unclear claims ("bikes can only be used when two persons are going somewhere" is confusing). Use linking words like "however" or "for example" to show contrast.
Ví dụ: Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country because they are affordable and economical for short-distance travel. For example, many students and office workers ride bikes to commute daily. However, they are less practical for long journeys or when carrying heavy loads, so people often switch to buses or cars for those trips.
× No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child because we couldn't afford it.
✓ No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child because we couldn't afford one.
The sentence is mostly correct tense-wise (past tense). The issue is with the noun phrase 'it' which is vague and less natural when referring to 'a bike'—use 'one' to refer back to a singular countable noun. Suggestion: replace 'it' with 'one' for clarity in past-tense context.
× We come from a very middle class family and I used to play with Barbie dolls rather than with a bike.
✓ We come from a very middle-class family, and I used to play with Barbie dolls rather than with a bike.
The main tense usage is fine: 'come from' (present) for background and 'used to' for past habits. The grammatical issues are hyphenation and punctuation. 'Middle class' as a compound adjective before a noun should be hyphenated: 'middle-class'. Also add a comma before 'and' to separate clauses. Suggestion: hyphenate compound adjectives and punctuate compound sentences correctly.
× Yes, I do think bikes are popular in my country because it is affordable and people use to travel from one place to another, but there are limitations also because bikes can only be used when two persons are going somewhere.
✓ Yes, I do think bikes are popular in my country because they are affordable and people use them to travel from one place to another, but there are limitations because bikes can only carry one or two persons at a time.
There are multiple grammar issues: subject-pronoun agreement and verb usage. 'Bikes' is plural, so the pronoun should be 'they' not 'it' (present tense issue). 'Use to' is incorrect for habitual / purpose: the correct form is 'use' or 'use them to' (verb + object), not 'use to' which can be confused with 'used to' (past habit). Also 'two persons' is awkward—'one or two persons' or 'one or two people' is clearer; 'carry' fits better than 'be used' for capacity. Suggestion: match pronouns to plural nouns, use 'use them to' for purpose, and prefer 'people' and clearer phrasing for capacity.