Part 1
考官
Do you like shopping?
考生
Yes, I enjoy shopping because it gives me a sense of satisfaction and helps me relieve stress after a busy day. For instance, yesterday I bought a new pair of Nike shoes that look stylish, fit perfectly and are very comfortable. And I also picked up a few blind boxes to add my collection.
考官
Do you compare prices when you shop? Why?
考生
Yes, I always compare prices because I'm a student and only have pocket money from my mum so I need to budget carefully. For example, I check online shops and local stores to find the best deal before buying things like clothes or blind boxes.
考官
Is it difficult for you to make choices when you shop?
考生
Yes, I often find it hard to choose, especially when I really like more than one option. For instance, when I bought blind boxes yesterday, I couldn't decide between the Disney and the Minions set because both of them were very adorable.
考官
Do you think expensive products are always better than cheaper ones?
考生
I think most of the time expensive products are of higher quality because luxury brands tend to use better materials and more careful craftsmanship. However, some cheaper items can also be excellent, especially when manufacturers use efficient production methods.
Do you like shopping?
分數: 85.0建議: Good direct response with relevant examples and clear reasons. To improve further, make the answer slightly more concise (max 5 sentences), vary vocabulary (use synonyms for 'enjoy' and 'satisfaction'), and add a linking phrase to connect stress relief and the example (e.g., 'For example' or 'As a result'). Also avoid minor redundancy (combine style, fit, and comfort into one cohesive phrase).
範例: I do enjoy shopping because it helps me relax and gives me a small sense of reward after a busy day. For example, yesterday I bought a pair of Nike trainers that are stylish, fit perfectly and feel very comfortable, and I also picked up a couple of blind-box figures to expand my collection.
Do you compare prices when you shop? Why?
分數: 88.0建議: Direct and well-structured answer with a clear reason and specific methods. To improve, use linking words to make the flow smoother (e.g., 'Therefore' or 'So'), replace informal phrases like 'from my mum' with 'from my parents' or 'allowance' for a slightly more formal tone, and add one brief result or consequence of comparing prices.
範例: Yes, I always compare prices because I'm a student living on a small allowance, so I need to budget carefully. Therefore, I check both online shops and local stores to find the best deal, which helps me save money for other expenses.
Is it difficult for you to make choices when you shop?
分數: 82.0建議: Good honest response and relevant example. To improve, add a linking word when moving to the example (e.g., 'For example' is fine) and give a brief explanation of how you resolve the difficulty (decision strategy) to add depth. Also avoid repeating 'very' and consider a synonym for 'adorable'.
範例: Yes, I often find it hard to choose when I like more than one option. For example, yesterday I had to decide between the Disney and Minions blind-box sets; in the end I compared which characters I already had and chose the set that filled gaps in my collection.
Do you think expensive products are always better than cheaper ones?
分數: 87.0建議: Balanced and well-argued answer with nuance. To improve, include a linking word between contrasting ideas (e.g., 'However' is used—follow with 'for example' or 'for instance'), provide a specific example illustrating a cheap but good product, and keep sentences concise to avoid wordiness.
範例: Generally, I believe expensive products are often higher quality because luxury brands use better materials and craftsmanship. However, for example, some affordable electronics from reputable brands offer excellent value because efficient production and strict quality control keep standards high.
× Yes, I enjoy shopping because it gives me a sense of satisfaction and helps me relieve stress after a busy day.
✓ Yes, I enjoy shopping because it gives me a sense of satisfaction and helps me to relieve stress after a busy day.
The verb pattern 'help' can be followed by either the bare infinitive or 'to' + infinitive. In this sentence both are acceptable, but to match more formal spoken English and parallel structure with 'gives me', using 'to relieve' clarifies the infinitive purpose. Suggestion: use 'helps me to relieve' for clarity and formality.
× For instance, yesterday I bought a new pair of Nike shoes that look stylish, fit perfectly and are very comfortable.
✓ For instance, yesterday I bought a new pair of Nike shoes that looks stylish, fits perfectly and is very comfortable.
When 'a new pair' is the grammatical subject (singular), verbs referring to the pair should be singular: 'looks', 'fits', 'is'. The original used plural verbs 'look'/'fit'/'are' which treat 'shoes' as the subject. Suggestion: make verbs agree with 'pair' (singular) or rephrase as 'new Nike shoes that look... and fit...' if you want plural agreement.
× And I also picked up a few blind boxes to add my collection.
✓ And I also picked up a few blind boxes to add to my collection.
The verb phrase 'add to' requires the preposition 'to' before the object 'my collection'. Omitting 'to' is ungrammatical. Suggestion: include 'to' after 'add' to form the correct phrasal verb 'add to'.
× Yes, I always compare prices because I'm a student and only have pocket money from my mum so I need to budget carefully.
✓ Yes, I always compare prices because I'm a student and only have pocket money from my mum, so I need to budget carefully.
This sentence is mostly correct grammatically but benefits from punctuation: a comma before 'so' when it joins two independent clauses improves clarity. Also 'mum' is fine in British English. Suggestion: add a comma to separate the clauses for readability.
× For example, I check online shops and local stores to find the best deal before buying things like clothes or blind boxes.
✓ For example, I check online shops and local stores to find the best deals before buying things like clothes or blind boxes.
'Deal' in this context is usually used in plural 'best deals' when referring generally to different items or offers. Using plural matches the plural objects 'clothes or blind boxes'. Suggestion: change to 'best deals' for natural collocation.
× Yes, I often find it hard to choose, especially when I really like more than one option.
✓ Yes, I often find it hard to choose, especially when I really like more than one option.
This sentence is grammatically correct; no change necessary. It matches subject-verb agreement and tense. Suggestion: none.
× For instance, when I bought blind boxes yesterday, I couldn't decide between the Disney and the Minions set because both of them were very adorable.
✓ For instance, when I bought blind boxes yesterday, I couldn't decide between the Disney and the Minions sets because both of them were very adorable.
When referring to two different product lines (Disney and Minions), use the plural 'sets' to match 'blind boxes' and indicate each brand's set. The rest of the sentence correctly uses past tense. Suggestion: use 'sets' for consistency with plural reference.
× I think most of the time expensive products are of higher quality because luxury brands tend to use better materials and more careful craftsmanship.
✓ I think that most of the time expensive products are of higher quality because luxury brands tend to use better materials and more careful craftsmanship.
The original is grammatical; adding the conjunction 'that' after 'I think' makes the sentence slightly more formal and clearer but is optional. The tense usage is appropriate. Suggestion: include 'that' for clarity in formal responses.
× However, some cheaper items can also be excellent, especially when manufacturers use efficient production methods.
✓ However, some cheaper items can also be excellent, especially when manufacturers use efficient production methods.
This sentence is correct as written; 'some' is an appropriate quantifier here. No change needed. Suggestion: none.