| Criterion | Band | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluency & Coherence Flow, pausing, self-correction | 6.5 | Developing | |
Lexical Resource Vocabulary range & precision | 6.0 | Needs Work | |
Grammatical Range & Accuracy Sentence variety, error rate | 6.0 | Needs Work | |
Pronunciation Clarity, stress, intonation | 7.0 | Good |
| Filler | Count | Frequency | Replace with |
|---|---|---|---|
| "um / uh" | 18× | "Let me think…" / short natural pause | |
| "like" | 6× | "I would say…" / "I suppose…" |
| Type | Error → Fix | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Vocab | "it's good for me" → "it's quite filling and energising" | "Good" is Band 4. Two descriptive adjectives show lexical range — worth +0.5 alone. |
| Structure | "After that… And then…" (4 simple sentences) → "after which I… which means…" | Simple sentence chains = Band 5–6. Relative connectors push to 7. |
| Tense | "I go to work" → "I commute to work" / "I've been commuting" | Habitual routine = habitual present + adverb ("usually commute") or present perfect habit. |
| Type | Error → Fix | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Tense | "Before I worked" → "Before I started working" | "Before I worked" implies you don't work now. "Before I started" marks the change point. |
| Tense | "My routine changed a lot" → "My routine has shifted quite significantly" | Change from past that still applies now = present perfect ("has shifted"), not simple past. |
| Structure | 5 separate short sentences → "Whereas before I used to… now I…" | Contrast structure is the perfect frame for change questions. One "whereas" sentence = Band 7 grammar. |
| Vocab | "careful" / "It's different" → "disciplined" / "quite an adjustment" | Adjective precision. "Disciplined" shows register. "Quite an adjustment" is a natural collocation. |
| Type | Error → Fix | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 5 short sentences — no linking → "…which means / who / given that…" | Same issue as Q3 — zero clause linking. Every sentence = separate simple statement. |
| Vocab | "close" / "good" → "close-knit" / "genuinely cherish" | Collocations matter here. "Close-knit family" and "cherish time together" are Band 7 expressions. |
| Type | Template + Example |
|---|---|
| Relative | I tend to [verb], which / who / where [result or detail]. "I tend to cook in the evenings, which helps me unwind after a long day." |
| Reason | I prefer [X] given that / since / because it [specific reason]. "I prefer mornings given that I feel far more focused before noon." |
| Contrast | Although / Whereas I used to [past], I now [present change]. "Whereas I used to sleep in until 9am, I now wake up at 6 for work." |
| Conditional | If I had to / could / were able to [choice], I would probably [result]. "If I had to choose, I would say mornings suit me better overall." |
| Passive | It's often / generally said that [opinion + your take]. "It's often said that morning people are more productive — I'd say that's true for me." |
| Participle | Having [V3] / Growing up [context], I [result or habit]. "Having grown up in a busy household, I've always found mornings the quietest time." |
| Avoid | Better Options |
|---|---|
| good / nice | refreshing, rewarding, fulfilling |
| tired | mentally drained, exhausted, fatigued |
| changed | shifted, evolved, transformed |
| fun / enjoy | therapeutic, satisfying, genuinely fulfilling |
| okay / fine | manageable, tolerable, decent enough |
| careful | disciplined, punctual, organised |