Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
No, I didn't. I'm just like the normal guy, playing our friend Thailand, singing and walking when I wanna go anywhere.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Bike are more popular in the countryside, however in a big city they refer the motorbike more. The bustle and hustle lie in the city allow people to travel with a fast speed in their own pace.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 42.0Gợi ý: Answer the question directly, then add one clear reason or alternative activity. Use natural expressions such as “like most children” instead of “like the normal guy,” and say “played with my friends” rather than “playing our friend Thailand.” Also, avoid informal forms such as “wanna” in the IELTS test and make sure the sentence clearly explains how you travelled. Keep the answer to two or three well-connected sentences.
Ví dụ: No, I didn’t have a bike when I was a child. Like most children, I usually played with my friends near my home. When I needed to go somewhere, I normally walked or went with my parents.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 48.0Gợi ý: Begin with a direct comparison and use accurate grammar: “Bikes are more popular” and “people prefer motorbikes.” Use a linking word such as “whereas” or “because” to connect the countryside and city contexts. Replace “the bustle and hustle lie in the city” with “cities are busy and crowded,” and explain specifically that motorbikes are convenient for avoiding traffic and travelling quickly. Use “at their own pace” instead of “in their own pace.”
Ví dụ: Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country, especially in rural areas, where the roads are less crowded and people often use them for short trips. In big cities, however, most people prefer motorbikes because they are faster and more convenient in heavy traffic. They also make it easier for commuters to travel independently.
× I'm just like the normal guy, playing our friend Thailand, singing and walking when I wanna go anywhere.
✓ I was just like a normal kid, playing with my friends in Thailand, singing, and walking whenever I wanted to go anywhere.
The question asks about the student's childhood, so the past tense is appropriate. Use was instead of am and wanted instead of want. Whenever is more suitable than when because the meaning is every time the student wanted to go somewhere.
× I'm just like the normal guy, playing our friend Thailand, singing and walking when I wanna go anywhere.
✓ I was just like a normal kid, playing with my friends in Thailand, singing, and walking whenever I wanted to go anywhere.
The verb play normally takes the preposition with when referring to people: play with my friends. The preposition in is used before Thailand to indicate the place.
× I'm just like the normal guy, playing our friend Thailand, singing and walking when I wanna go anywhere.
✓ I was just like a normal kid, playing with my friends in Thailand, singing, and walking whenever I wanted to go anywhere.
Use the indefinite article a before a singular countable noun when referring to one person in a general way. Therefore, a normal kid is more appropriate than the normal guy.
× Bike are more popular in the countryside, however in a big city they refer the motorbike more.
✓ Bikes are more popular in the countryside; however, in a big city, people refer to motorbikes more.
Use the plural noun bikes because the statement refers to bicycles in general. Motorbikes should also be plural when discussing them as a general category.
× Bike are more popular in the countryside, however in a big city they refer the motorbike more.
✓ Bikes are more popular in the countryside; however, in a big city, people refer to motorbikes more.
The phrase the countryside refers to a commonly recognized geographical area, so the definite article the is required.
× Bike are more popular in the countryside, however in a big city they refer the motorbike more.
✓ Bikes are more popular in the countryside; however, in a big city, people refer to motorbikes more.
The verb refer requires the preposition to: refer to something. Therefore, refer the motorbike is grammatically incorrect.
× The bustle and hustle lie in the city allow people to travel with a fast speed in their own pace.
✓ The hustle and bustle in the city allow people to travel at a fast speed at their own pace.
The original sentence contains the unnecessary verb lie, which interrupts the sentence structure. Use the phrase the hustle and bustle in the city as the subject, followed by the verb allow.
× The bustle and hustle lie in the city allow people to travel with a fast speed in their own pace.
✓ The hustle and bustle in the city allow people to travel at a fast speed at their own pace.
Use at with speed and pace: travel at a fast speed and travel at their own pace. The preposition with is not appropriate in the phrase with a fast speed.