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. It was a Yamaha RX-100 that my parents bought me for my 10th birthday and I used to ride it around the neighborhood every afternoon with my friends.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
No, I don't think bikes are very popular. Cars are more common because mainly middle class households can afford compact budget models that local manufacturers produce. So most families prefer buying a small car rather than a bike.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Your answer is clear, relevant and provides specific details, which is good. To improve, make the response more concise and vary sentence openings to sound more natural. Begin with a direct topic sentence, then add one or two linked supporting details using a linking word (for example, “and” or “so”). Avoid repeating obvious information (e.g., “when I was a child” twice).
Ví dụ: Yes — I had a bike. It was a Yamaha RX-100 my parents gave me for my 10th birthday, and I rode it around the neighbourhood every afternoon with friends. Because our street was quiet, we often raced each other and practised wheelies, which made those afternoons really memorable.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Your answer addresses the question and gives reasons, which is good. To improve coherence and naturalness, start with a direct short opinion, then use a linking word (for example, “because” or “however”) and give one clear specific reason with a concise example. Avoid overlong phrases and aim for varied vocabulary (e.g., “motorcycles” or “two-wheelers” instead of repeating “bikes”).
Ví dụ: Not really — motorcycles and scooters aren’t as popular as cars. Because local manufacturers make affordable compact cars, many middle-class families choose small cars for comfort and safety; for example, my neighbours all bought small hatchbacks instead of two-wheelers.
× No, I don't think bikes are very popular.
✓ No, I don't think bicycles are very popular.
The sentence uses present simple correctly, but 'bikes' is informal and 'bicycles' is slightly more formal and appropriate in this context. Suggestion: use consistent register; replace 'bikes' with 'bicycles' when speaking formally.
× Cars are more common because mainly middle class households can afford compact budget models that local manufacturers produce.
✓ Cars are more common because middle-class households can mainly afford compact budget models produced by local manufacturers.
The original sentence has awkward word order and placement of 'mainly' and 'produce'. Move 'mainly' to modify 'can afford' and change 'that local manufacturers produce' to the reduced relative clause 'produced by local manufacturers' for clarity and natural English word order. Also hyphenate 'middle-class' as a compound adjective.
× So most families prefer buying a small car rather than a bike.
✓ So most families prefer to buy a small car rather than a bicycle.
When using 'prefer' followed by a verb, the infinitive 'to buy' or the gerund 'buying' can be used, but 'prefer to buy' fits better here and matches 'rather than' construction. Also maintain register consistency by using 'bicycle' instead of 'bike'.