Part 1
Giám khảo
What's the weather like where you live?
Thí sinh
I live in London right now and the weather is mostly cloudy, especially during the winter. This January we have not seen much sunlight for about 3 weeks because it has been raining or cloudy.
Giám khảo
Do you prefer cold or hot weather?
Thí sinh
I prefer hot weather to cold weather because I enjoy jogging and running outside, so rainy and cloudy conditions can prevent me from going outside and lifting my mood. So when I can't go out, I sometimes read the books inside my home.
Giám khảo
Do you prefer dry or wet weather?
Thí sinh
I definitely prefer dry weather to humid weather because I usually enjoy going outside and exercising. Therefore with the conditions can prevent me from enjoying exercising. So when it is raining, I don't go outside and read books at home.
Giám khảo
Are you in the habit of checking the weather forecast? When and how often?
Thí sinh
Yes, I usually check the weather forecasts through my smartphone because the information is very important for me to determine whether I should exercise or not. Therefore, if the weather is predicted to be rainy, I usually choose exercising at home.
Giám khảo
What do you think are the effects of climate change in recent years?
Thí sinh
I definitely think climate change has intensified over the past 10 years because we can see more rising temperature and extreme weather condition frequently than that in 10 years ago, so we have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate it.
Giám khảo
Would you like to visit other cities that have different climates from where you live?
Thí sinh
Yes, I would like to visit the states with very different climates in Japan. And this is because, especially during the summer, it's very challenging for us to stay outside for a long time. So I want to visit much colder cities such as Copenhagen and Helsinki.
What's the weather like where you live?
Điểm: 86.0Gợi ý: Be more concise and vary vocabulary. Start with a clear topic sentence, then give one or two specific details (use linking words). Avoid repetition of 'cloudy/raining' and compress time references.
Ví dụ: I live in London, where the weather is generally overcast in winter. For example, this January we've had about three weeks of rain and little sunshine, which makes the days feel quite gloomy.
Do you prefer cold or hot weather?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Give a direct topic sentence, then one clear reason and a brief example. Avoid redundancy (e.g., 'prefer hot weather to cold weather' repeated ideas). Use linking words like 'because' or 'so' sparingly and accurately.
Ví dụ: I prefer hot weather because I like running outdoors. For instance, when it's warm and dry I can jog every morning, but cold, rainy days often force me to stay inside and read instead.
Do you prefer dry or wet weather?
Điểm: 74.0Gợi ý: Answer directly then provide one specific supporting detail. Correct grammar and avoid unclear phrases ('Therefore with the conditions can prevent me...'). Use linking words for clarity and keep within 3–4 sentences.
Ví dụ: I prefer dry weather because it's easier to exercise outdoors. When it's wet or humid, my runs become uncomfortable, so I usually stay home and read instead.
Are you in the habit of checking the weather forecast? When and how often?
Điểm: 88.0Gợi ý: Good structure and relevance. Make it slightly more concise and add frequency detail (e.g., 'every morning' or 'before I leave'). Use a linking phrase to connect the reason.
Ví dụ: Yes, I check the forecast on my smartphone every morning because it helps me decide whether to exercise outdoors. If rain is predicted, I plan a home workout instead.
What do you think are the effects of climate change in recent years?
Điểm: 80.0Gợi ý: Start with a clear statement, then give one or two specific observable effects using accurate grammar (e.g., 'rising temperatures' and 'more frequent extreme weather'). Avoid repeating time phrases and provide a concise solution.
Ví dụ: I think climate change has worsened in the past decade: we are seeing higher average temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events. Therefore, reducing CO2 emissions is essential to slow this trend.
Would you like to visit other cities that have different climates from where you live?
Điểm: 70.0Gợi ý: Be consistent and accurate: avoid confusing locations (you mention 'states in Japan' then European cities). Start with a direct answer, give a clear reason and a specific destination. Keep it within 2–3 sentences.
Ví dụ: Yes, I'd like to visit much colder cities to escape hot summers. For example, I'd love to go to Copenhagen or Helsinki because their cool climate would make it easier to spend time outdoors in summer.
× This January we have not seen much sunlight for about 3 weeks because it has been raining or cloudy.
✓ This January we have not seen much sunlight for about three weeks because it has been raining or has been cloudy.
The sentence mixes present perfect with a compound predicate describing ongoing weather. Use parallel present perfect continuous or present perfect with consistent auxiliary: 'has been raining or has been cloudy' ensures grammatical parallelism and clarity. Also write numbers under ten as words ('three').
× I prefer hot weather to cold weather because I enjoy jogging and running outside, so rainy and cloudy conditions can prevent me from going outside and lifting my mood.
✓ I prefer hot weather to cold weather because I enjoy jogging and running outside, so rainy and cloudy conditions can prevent me from going outside and lifting my spirits.
The phrase 'lifting my mood' is not idiomatic; 'lift my spirits' is the correct collocation. No grammar category in the list for collocation, but this involves correct verb + noun usage; suggesting 'lifting my spirits' improves naturalness.
× So when I can't go out, I sometimes read the books inside my home.
✓ So when I can't go out, I sometimes read books inside my home.
Use of the definite article 'the' before 'books' is incorrect because this is a general activity, not specific books. Remove 'the' for correct article usage.
× Therefore with the conditions can prevent me from enjoying exercising.
✓ Therefore, these conditions can prevent me from enjoying exercise.
Original sentence is ungrammatical and missing a subject. Insert 'these' as a determiner for 'conditions', add comma, and use the noun 'exercise' instead of the gerund phrase 'enjoying exercising' for concision and correctness.
× So when it is raining, I don't go outside and read books at home.
✓ So when it is raining, I don't go outside and read books at home.
Sentence is grammatically acceptable. No correction needed. (Included for completeness.)
× I usually check the weather forecasts through my smartphone because the information is very important for me to determine whether I should exercise or not.
✓ I usually check the weather forecast on my smartphone because the information is very important for me to determine whether I should exercise or not.
Use 'on my smartphone' rather than 'through my smartphone' for checking apps or screens. Also 'weather forecast' is usually uncountable in this context, so singular is preferred.
× Therefore, if the weather is predicted to be rainy, I usually choose exercising at home.
✓ Therefore, if the weather is predicted to be rainy, I usually choose to exercise at home.
The verb 'choose' should be followed by the infinitive 'to exercise' rather than the gerund 'exercising' in this context.
× I definitely think climate change has intensified over the past 10 years because we can see more rising temperature and extreme weather condition frequently than that in 10 years ago, so we have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate it.
✓ I definitely think climate change has intensified over the past ten years because we can see more rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions more frequently than ten years ago, so we have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate it.
Several issues: write numbers under ten as words ('ten'); use plural 'temperatures' and 'conditions'; 'more frequently' is the proper adverb placement; remove unnecessary 'that' and use 'than ten years ago'. These changes fix agreement and comparative structures.
× Yes, I would like to visit the states with very different climates in Japan.
✓ Yes, I would like to visit places with very different climates from where I live in Japan.
'States' is incorrect for Japan (it has prefectures or cities); unclear reference. Use 'places' and add 'from where I live' to clearly express comparison. Also 'in Japan' should modify the places visited.
× And this is because, especially during the summer, it's very challenging for us to stay outside for a long time.
✓ This is because, especially during the summer, it's very challenging for me to stay outside for a long time.
Speaker refers to personal preference earlier, so use singular pronoun 'me' instead of plural 'us' to keep perspective consistent.
× So I want to visit much colder cities such as Copenhagen and Helsinki.
✓ So I want to visit much colder cities, such as Copenhagen and Helsinki.
Add a comma before 'such as' for correct punctuation in examples. The sentence is otherwise acceptable; no tense change needed.