A City That You Really Enjoyed Visiting

Part 3 follow-up questions

These are the discussion questions examiners asked after this cue card. Sample answers are shown where available.

1. 1. Why do tourists choose to visit certain cities?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain closing summary 'But usually, people choose a city because of one clear reason', which simply restates the opening idea.

   I think tourists usually choose a city because it is famous for one thing. For example, Hoi An, near where I live, is famous for its lantern-lit old town, and this image brings most of the tourists there. Other things matter too, like how easy and cheap it is to travel there, and whether it looks good on social media. It is interesting that people often talk about something different after their trip, like the food, even if they came for the lanterns. But usually, people choose a city because of one clear reason.

   Why this band

   • FC“But usually, people choose a city because of one clear reason.” — This closing sentence repeats the opening claim almost word for word, using the basic connector 'But', with no new insight added. A 7.0 answer would restate this with the more confident 'honestly, the initial choice is nearly always driven by one strong, simple association', and a 7.5 answer would compress the idea into an even tighter closing phrase.
   • LR“famous for one thing” — This is a plain, generic phrase describing the city's appeal, without any more vivid or specific wording. A 7.0 answer would restate this as 'a good example' of a city with 'one strong, simple association', and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid phrase 'owns one image'.
   • GRA“this image brings most of the tourists there” — This is a short, simple active sentence in plain subject-verb-object order. A 7.0 answer would extend this into a longer sentence using 'basically carries the whole tourism industry there', and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid metaphor 'carries the entire tourism industry on its back'.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the reflective observation 'What's interesting is that the reasons people give afterwards are often different', which adds a genuine layer of nuance before the closing statement.

   Usually because the city has one thing it's known for that they can picture before they arrive, I'd say. Hoi An, just down the road from me, is a good example, everyone comes for the lantern-lit old town, and that single image basically carries the whole tourism industry there. Practical factors matter too, how easy it is to get to, whether it's affordable, and increasingly whether it photographs well on social media. What's interesting is that the reasons people give afterwards are often different, they came for the lanterns and left talking about the food. But honestly, the initial choice is nearly always driven by one strong, simple association.

   Why this band

   • FC“What's interesting is that the reasons people give afterwards are often different” — This sentence uses a cleft construction ('What's interesting is that...') to highlight an observation, a more reflective move than simply stating the fact plainly. A 6.5 answer would state this more flatly as 'It is interesting that people often talk about something different after their trip', and a 7.5 answer would rephrase this as 'What's genuinely interesting is how the story shifts afterwards'.
   • LR“carries the whole tourism industry there” — This phrase personifies the city's image as something that 'carries' an entire industry, a more vivid collocation than the plain 'brings most of the tourists there' used at 6.5.
   • GRA“everyone comes for the lantern-lit old town, and that single image basically carries the whole tourism industry there” — This sentence coordinates two clauses with 'and', the second one built around a vivid personifying verb, showing more developed sentence construction than the plain version at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would state these as two separate shorter sentences.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the vivid metaphor 'carries the entire tourism industry on its back' and the parallel participial contrast 'arrive chasing lanterns and leave raving about the food instead'.

   Usually because a city owns one image people can picture long before they ever arrive. Hoi An, just down the road from me, is the textbook case, everyone comes for the lantern-lit old town, and that single postcard shot carries the entire tourism industry on its back. Practical factors weigh in too, ease of access, affordability, and increasingly how well a place photographs for social media. What's genuinely interesting is how the story shifts afterwards, visitors arrive chasing lanterns and leave raving about the food instead. But the initial pull, almost without exception, comes down to one strong, uncomplicated association.

   Why this band

   • FC“What's genuinely interesting is how the story shifts afterwards” — This sentence adds the intensifying adverb 'genuinely' and the more abstract noun 'the story' to sharpen the observation beyond the 7.0 version's plainer wording. A 6.5 answer states this idea with no such reflective framing device at all.
   • LR“carries the entire tourism industry on its back” — This is a vivid, physical metaphor (an image literally 'carrying' something 'on its back') considerably more distinctive than the plainer 'basically carries the whole tourism industry there' used at 7.0.
   • GRA“visitors arrive chasing lanterns and leave raving about the food instead” — This sentence uses two parallel participial phrases ('chasing lanterns', 'raving about the food') attached to contrasting verbs ('arrive', 'leave'), a compact and flexible structure. A 7.0 answer would use the plainer finite clause 'they came for the lanterns and left talking about the food', and a 6.5 answer would state this even more simply.

2. 2. Are modern cities more interesting for tourists than historical ones?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain comparison and the simple closing conditional sentence 'But if I could only travel once a year, I would choose a place with history'.

   I think historical cities are usually more interesting for tourists, though it depends on what you like. I spent a weekend in Singapore once, and I found it nice but easy to forget, because glass towers look similar everywhere. But walking around the old citadel in Hue, my hometown, feels different because it could not be anywhere else. Historical cities give you something unique, which is what travel is usually about. Some people still like modern cities for shopping or nightlife, and they are often more comfortable. But if I could only travel once a year, I would choose a place with history.

   Why this band

   • FC“But if I could only travel once a year, I would choose a place with history.” — This closing sentence uses a plain second conditional structure in a straightforward way, with no added emphasis. A 7.0 answer would restate this with 'if I only had one trip a year, honestly, I'd choose the place with a story', adding a spoken hedge and a more vivid noun, and a 7.5 answer would use the intensifier 'every time' at the end.
   • LR“easy to forget” — This is a plain, literal adjective phrase describing the impression Singapore left. A 7.0 answer would use the more natural 'oddly forgettable', and a 7.5 answer would compress this into 'strangely unable to recall much of it afterwards'.
   • GRA“I found it nice but easy to forget, because glass towers look similar everywhere” — This sentence joins two clauses with the simple connector 'because' in a plain causal structure. A 7.0 answer would restate the reason as a separate reflective aside, 'glass towers look much the same wherever you are', and a 7.5 answer would compress the whole idea into a single, more elegant sentence.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the natural hedge 'though it depends what you're after' right after the opening claim and the spoken tag 'honestly' in the closing sentence.

   For most tourists, I'd say historical cities win, though it depends what you're after. I spent a weekend in Singapore once and found it impressive but oddly forgettable, glass towers look much the same wherever you are. Whereas walking around the old citadel in Hue, my hometown, you're standing somewhere that couldn't be anywhere else. Historical cities offer difference, which is what travel is usually about. Modern cities do have their fans, people who love architecture, shopping or nightlife, and they tend to be more comfortable overall. But if I only had one trip a year, honestly, I'd choose the place with a story.

   Why this band

   • FC“though it depends what you're after” — This qualifying clause, attached directly to the opening claim, softens the statement in a natural, spoken way rather than stating a flat opinion. A 6.5 answer would state the opinion plainly with 'though it depends on what you like' as a separate clause with less natural rhythm, while a 7.5 answer reframes the whole opening with 'though it hinges on what you're actually after'.
   • LR“oddly forgettable” — This is a more natural, compact adjective than the plainer phrase 'nice but easy to forget' used at 6.5, combining the idea into a single word.
   • GRA“Whereas walking around the old citadel in Hue, my hometown, you're standing somewhere that couldn't be anywhere else.” — This sentence opens with the subordinator 'Whereas' followed by a gerund phrase and an existential construction ('you're standing somewhere that...'), a more flexible structure than the plain causal clause at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use the simpler connector 'But' followed by a plain 'because' clause.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the inanimate subject construction 'A weekend in Singapore left me impressed' and the closing intensifier 'every time', a more idiomatic closing than a plain conditional statement.

   For most tourists, historical cities probably win out, though it hinges on what you're actually after. A weekend in Singapore left me impressed yet strangely unable to recall much of it afterwards, glass towers, after all, look much the same wherever you land. Wandering the old citadel in Hue, my hometown, by contrast, you're standing somewhere that couldn't exist anywhere else on earth. Historical cities trade in difference, which is arguably what travel is for in the first place. Modern cities have their devotees too, those drawn to architecture, shopping or nightlife, and they're generally the more comfortable option. But given only one trip a year, I'd take the place with a story every time.

   Why this band

   • FC“A weekend in Singapore left me impressed yet strangely unable to recall much of it afterwards” — This sentence uses an inanimate subject ('A weekend...') with the verb 'left me', a more literary construction than the personal subject 'I spent a weekend' used at lower bands. A 7.0 answer would use the more standard personal subject 'I spent a weekend in Singapore once and found it impressive'.
   • LR“trade in difference” — This is a vivid, idiomatic metaphorical collocation ('trade in') describing what historical cities offer, more distinctive than the plainer 'offer difference' used at 7.0.
   • GRA“But given only one trip a year, I'd take the place with a story every time.” — This closing sentence uses a fronted participial phrase ('given only one trip a year') instead of a full conditional clause, plus the intensifying tag 'every time', a more compact and idiomatic structure. A 7.0 answer would use the fuller conditional 'if I only had one trip a year, honestly, I'd choose the place with a story', and a 6.5 answer would use the plainest conditional structure.

3. 3. Are cities that tourists like to visit also good places to live?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain narrative example about the friend and the simple listed reasons joined by 'and because', with no more elegant structure.

   Often not, I think. What tourists love, a small, lively centre with cafes and things to do, can become tiring when it is right outside your door every day. A friend of mine moved into the old town in Hoi An because she loved visiting it, but she moved out again within a year because of the crowds, the high prices, and because every shop sold souvenirs instead of vegetables. Tourism also makes rent go up until local people cannot afford to live there anymore. Some cities, like Da Nang, try to keep the tourist areas separate from where people actually live.

   Why this band

   • FC“Often not, I think.” — This short opening sentence states the position plainly with the basic verb 'think', with no reflective framing. A 7.0 answer would open with the fuller 'Often not, unfortunately', adding a mild evaluative adverb, and a 7.5 answer would extend this with 'and there's a certain irony in that'.
   • LR“high prices” — This is a plain, basic adjective-noun combination describing one of the problems. A 7.0 answer would use the more precise 'the prices' within a fuller list structure, and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid 'inflated prices'.
   • GRA“she moved out again within a year because of the crowds, the high prices, and because every shop sold souvenirs instead of vegetables” — This sentence lists three reasons but awkwardly repeats 'because' partway through the list. A 7.0 answer would remove the second 'because' for a cleaner list structure, and a 7.5 answer would compress the list into a participial phrase, 'worn down by the crowds, the inflated prices, and shops stocked with souvenirs'.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the natural evaluative adverb 'unfortunately' right after the opening judgement and the apposition-style list explaining the friend's departure with no repeated connector.

   Often not, unfortunately. What tourists love, a compact, atmospheric centre full of cafés and things to do, becomes exhausting when it's outside your front door every single day. A friend of mine moved into the old town in Hoi An because she'd loved visiting, and she was gone within a year, the crowds, the prices, the fact that every shop sold souvenirs rather than vegetables. Tourism also pushes up rents until the locals who gave the place its character can't afford to stay. Cities that manage both, like Da Nang to some extent, tend to keep the tourist zone fairly separate from where people actually live.

   Why this band

   • FC“Often not, unfortunately.” — This opening adds the evaluative adverb 'unfortunately' to the bare judgement, giving it a reflective, slightly rueful tone rather than a flat statement. A 6.5 answer would open more plainly with 'Often not, I think', and a 7.5 answer would extend this further with 'and there's a certain irony in that'.
   • LR“she was gone within a year, the crowds, the prices, the fact that every shop sold souvenirs rather than vegetables” — This list of reasons is presented in apposition without a repeated 'because', a cleaner and more fluent structure than the 6.5 version's repeated connector. A 6.5 answer would repeat 'because of' and 'because' across the list, producing a slightly clumsier structure.
   • GRA“A friend of mine moved into the old town in Hoi An because she'd loved visiting, and she was gone within a year, the crowds, the prices, the fact that every shop sold souvenirs rather than vegetables” — This sentence uses a past perfect ('she'd loved visiting') to mark the sequence of events clearly, followed by an appositive list with no repeated connector, a more advanced structure than the plain coordinated list at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use the simple past throughout and a list awkwardly joined by 'and because'.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the vivid opening verb 'curdles into exhaustion' and the closing idiom 'at arm's length', both replacing plainer descriptive phrases used at lower bands.

   Often not, unfortunately, and there's a certain irony in that. What tourists adore, a compact, atmospheric centre brimming with cafés and things to do, curdles into exhaustion once it's sitting right outside your front door every day. A friend of mine moved into Hoi An's old town precisely because she'd loved visiting, only to be gone within the year, worn down by the crowds, the inflated prices, and shops stocked with souvenirs rather than vegetables. Tourism also drives up rents until the very locals who gave a place its character can no longer afford to stay in it. Cities that balance both, Da Nang to some degree, tend to keep the tourist zone at arm's length from where people actually live.

   Why this band

   • FC“Often not, unfortunately, and there's a certain irony in that.” — This opening extends the evaluative adverb with a further reflective clause, 'and there's a certain irony in that', showing a genuinely interpretive opening rather than a flat judgement. A 7.0 answer stops at the shorter 'Often not, unfortunately', and a 6.5 answer opens even more plainly.
   • LR“curdles into exhaustion” — This is a vivid, unusual verb choice ('curdles', normally used for milk turning sour) applied metaphorically to a place, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'becomes exhausting' used at 7.0.
   • GRA“worn down by the crowds, the inflated prices, and shops stocked with souvenirs rather than vegetables” — This is a participial phrase ('worn down by...') replacing a finite clause, compressing the reason for leaving into a single compact structure attached to the main clause. A 7.0 answer would use the appositive list without a participle, and a 6.5 answer would use the clumsier repeated-connector list.

4. 4. Why do many people choose to live in cities?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain listing sentences and the simple closing judgement 'but for most people in their twenties, it is still worth it'.

   I think the main reason people move to cities is work, and then everything else that comes with it. I moved from Hue to Da Nang because there was only one design studio in my hometown, but there are many here. When you live somewhere with more jobs, you also get better hospitals, universities, and more restaurants. Another reason, especially for young people, is that cities give you more freedom, because nobody knows your family like in a small town. Of course, rent and noise are higher in cities, but for most people in their twenties, it is still worth it.

   Why this band

   • FC“Of course, rent and noise are higher in cities, but for most people in their twenties, it is still worth it.” — This closing sentence uses the basic hedge 'Of course' before a plain 'but' contrast, without any further nuance. A 7.0 answer would restate this with the more reflective 'The cost is high rent and noise, but for most people in their twenties, honestly, the trade is clearly worth it', and a 7.5 answer would use the phrase 'that trade is clearly worth paying'.
   • LR“more freedom” — This is a plain, generic noun phrase describing the appeal of cities for young people. A 7.0 answer would use the more precise and less common word 'anonymity', and a 7.5 answer keeps the same precise word within a more literary sentence.
   • GRA“nobody knows your family like in a small town” — This is a short, simple clause with a plain comparative ending. A 7.0 answer would restructure this into a balanced semicolon sentence contrasting small towns and cities directly, and a 7.5 answer would use the more formal 'whereas' connector for the same contrast.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the precise word 'anonymity' introduced as a distinct reason and the semicolon-linked balanced sentence contrasting small towns with cities.

   Work, mostly, and then everything that gathers around work, I'd say. I left Hue for Da Nang because there was exactly one design studio in my hometown and there are dozens here. Once you're somewhere with jobs, you also get the hospitals, the universities, the choice of restaurants, and a bigger pool of people to become friends with. There's a quieter reason too, especially for younger people, anonymity. In a small town everyone knows whose child you are; in a city you can figure out who you want to be. The cost is high rent and noise, but for most people in their twenties, honestly, the trade is clearly worth it.

   Why this band

   • FC“There's a quieter reason too, especially for younger people, anonymity.” — This sentence builds anticipation by delaying the key noun 'anonymity' to the very end, after two introductory phrases, a more sophisticated rhetorical move than stating the reason directly. A 6.5 answer would state the idea plainly and directly as 'cities give you more freedom', with no such delayed emphasis.
   • LR“anonymity” — This precise, moderately less common noun is a more specific and accurate word choice than the vague 'more freedom' used at 6.5, capturing exactly what the speaker means.
   • GRA“In a small town everyone knows whose child you are; in a city you can figure out who you want to be.” — This sentence uses a semicolon to join two balanced, parallel clauses contrasting small towns and cities, a more elegant structure than the plain comparative clause at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use only one short clause ending in 'like in a small town' with no matching city-side clause.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the vivid metaphor 'the whole ecosystem that clusters around it' and the closing evaluative phrase 'that trade is clearly worth paying', a more precise verb choice than the plain 'worth it'.

   Work, mostly, and then the whole ecosystem that clusters around it. I left Hue for Da Nang simply because my hometown had exactly one design studio and this city has dozens. Once you've landed somewhere with jobs, the hospitals, universities, restaurant choices, and a far wider pool of potential friends all come bundled in. There's a quieter draw too, especially for the young, anonymity: in a small town everyone knows whose child you are, whereas in a city you get to decide who you'd rather be. The price is steep rent and constant noise, but for most people in their twenties, that trade is clearly worth paying.

   Why this band

   • FC“Once you've landed somewhere with jobs, the hospitals, universities, restaurant choices, and a far wider pool of potential friends all come bundled in.” — This sentence uses the vivid idiom 'come bundled in' to describe how various city benefits arrive together, a more image-based construction than the plainer 'you also get' used at lower bands. A 7.0 answer uses the more literal verb 'get', and a 6.5 answer states this even more plainly.
   • LR“the whole ecosystem that clusters around it” — This is a vivid, scientific metaphor ('ecosystem', 'clusters') applied to city life, considerably more distinctive than the plainer 'everything that gathers around work' used at 7.0.
   • GRA“in a small town everyone knows whose child you are, whereas in a city you get to decide who you'd rather be” — This sentence uses the subordinating connector 'whereas' instead of a semicolon to join the two balanced clauses, and replaces 'figure out' with the more idiomatic 'get to decide', a slightly more polished version of the 7.0 structure. A 6.5 answer would use only a single short clause with no matching city-side comparison at all.

5. 5. Does living in cities have more advantages for younger or older people?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain listing sentence about city demands and the simple closing summary 'So it depends on whether someone already has friends and family nearby or not'.

   I think cities are usually better for younger people. City life needs energy to deal with long commutes, crowded buildings, and constant change, and younger people can handle that more easily while they are still building their life. My grandmother, for example, has always refused to move from Hue to Da Nang, even though the hospitals here are better. She likes that everything she needs is within a ten-minute walk. But cities can also be good for older people who live alone, because services and company are close by. So it depends on whether someone already has friends and family nearby or not.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it depends on whether someone already has friends and family nearby or not.” — This closing sentence uses the plain connector 'So' before a basic 'whether...or not' structure. A 7.0 answer would rephrase this with 'It really comes down to whether the person already has a strong local network or needs to find one', and a 7.5 answer would extend this with 'or is still hunting for one'.
   • LR“handle that more easily” — This is a plain, generic verb phrase describing adaptability, without any more vivid or precise alternative. A 7.0 answer would restate this idea as 'suit someone who's still building a life', a more natural collocation, and a 7.5 answer would extend this with 'in the process of building a life'.
   • GRA“City life needs energy to deal with long commutes, crowded buildings, and constant change, and younger people can handle that more easily while they are still building their life.” — This long sentence coordinates two clauses with 'and' in a fairly plain structure, listing the demands separately from the response to them. A 7.0 answer would restructure this so the list of demands itself becomes the grammatical subject of the sentence, a more advanced construction.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the compact opening fragment 'Younger people, on balance, I'd say' and the sentence where the list of city demands itself becomes the subject, 'the long commutes, the crowded buildings, the constant change all suit...'.

   Younger people, on balance, I'd say. Cities reward energy and flexibility, the long commutes, the crowded buildings, the constant change all suit someone who's still building a life. My grandmother, on the other hand, has flatly refused every suggestion to move from Hue to Da Nang, even though the hospitals here are better. Her whole world is within a ten-minute walk, and that's what she values. That said, cities can be very good for older people who are on their own, because services and company are close by. It really comes down to whether the person already has a strong local network or needs to find one.

   Why this band

   • FC“Younger people, on balance, I'd say.” — This opening fragment states the position compactly, without a full sentence structure, and adds the natural hedge 'on balance, I'd say', a more fluent opening than a full declarative sentence. A 6.5 answer would open with the fuller 'I think cities are usually better for younger people', and a 7.5 answer would extend this to 'tend to get the better end of the deal'.
   • LR“reward energy and flexibility” — This phrase personifies cities as actively 'rewarding' certain qualities, a more vivid collocation than the plain 'needs energy to deal with' used at 6.5.
   • GRA“the long commutes, the crowded buildings, the constant change all suit someone who's still building a life” — This sentence uses a three-item list as its grammatical subject, taking a plural verb 'suit', a more advanced and compact construction than the 6.5 version, which lists the demands and then separately describes the response. A 6.5 answer would keep the list and the response in two separate coordinated clauses.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the idiomatic phrase 'get the better end of the deal' and the vivid collocation 'the relentless churn of change', which elevates the register beyond the plainer noun list used at 7.0.

   Younger people, on balance, tend to get the better end of the deal. Cities reward energy and flexibility, the long commutes, the crowded buildings, the relentless churn of change all suit someone still in the process of building a life. My grandmother, by contrast, has flatly rebuffed every suggestion of moving from Hue to Da Nang, even with better hospitals on offer here. Her entire world fits within a ten-minute walk, and that's precisely what she values about it. That said, cities can genuinely serve older people living alone well, given how close services and company sit. It really hinges on whether someone already has a strong local network or is still hunting for one.

   Why this band

   • FC“Younger people, on balance, tend to get the better end of the deal.” — This opening uses the idiomatic phrase 'get the better end of the deal', a more vivid and figurative way of stating the position than the plainer fragment used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer opens with the flattest possible statement, 'I think cities are usually better for younger people'.
   • LR“the relentless churn of change” — This is a vivid, literary collocation ('relentless churn') describing constant change, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'constant change' used at 7.0 and 6.5.
   • GRA“It really hinges on whether someone already has a strong local network or is still hunting for one.” — This closing sentence uses the more precise verb 'hinges' instead of 'comes down to', plus the vivid verb 'hunting' instead of 'needs to find', a slightly more polished version of the 7.0 structure. A 6.5 answer would use the plainest possible closing, 'depends on whether someone already has friends and family nearby or not'.

6. 6. Do you agree or disagree that cities lose their individual character as they grow in size?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain personal example and the simple closing summary 'So growth makes it easier to lose character, but it is not automatic', stated with no further reflection.

   I mostly agree, and I have seen it happen myself. In the five years I have lived in Da Nang, the riverfront has filled up with tall glass buildings that could be in any city in Asia, and my own office is actually in one of them. When cities grow, they often get the same developers, the same shops, and it becomes expensive to keep things different. But I do not think it always has to happen. Places like old markets or local food streets can keep their character if the city protects them. Ha Noi, for example, is very big but still feels unique. So growth makes it easier to lose character, but it is not automatic.

   Why this band

   • FC“So growth makes it easier to lose character, but it is not automatic.” — This closing sentence states the conclusion plainly with the basic connector 'but'. A 7.0 answer would restate this in a shorter, more confident form with the hedge 'I'd say' inserted, and a 7.5 answer would drop the hedge entirely for an even more compact final statement.
   • LR“very big but still feels unique” — This is a plain adjective-based description with a basic connector. A 7.0 answer would use the more formal and confident 'is huge and still unmistakably itself', and a 7.5 answer would restructure this into 'for all its size, remains unmistakably itself'.
   • GRA“the riverfront has filled up with tall glass buildings that could be in any city in Asia, and my own office is actually in one of them” — This sentence joins two clauses with 'and' in a fairly plain structure, adding the detail about the office as an afterthought. A 7.0 answer would use the more vivid verb 'belong to' instead of 'be in', and a 7.5 answer would use the striking verb 'sprouted' to describe the buildings appearing.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the three-item asyndetic list 'the same developers, the same chains, the same solutions' and the closing parenthetical hedge 'I'd say' inserted mid-sentence.

   I mostly agree, and I've watched it happen. In the five years I've lived in Da Nang, the riverfront has filled up with tall glass buildings that could belong to any city in Asia, my own office is in one of them, actually. Growth brings the same developers, the same chains, the same solutions, and difference gets expensive. But I don't think it's inevitable. The parts of a city that grow slowly, old markets, particular streets, local food, hold their character if a city decides to protect them. Hà Nội is huge and still unmistakably itself. So size makes losing character easier, I'd say, not automatic.

   Why this band

   • FC“So size makes losing character easier, I'd say, not automatic.” — This closing sentence inserts the parenthetical hedge 'I'd say' mid-clause, interrupting the flow for a more natural, spoken rhythm than a flat statement. A 6.5 answer would state the same idea as a plain, uninterrupted sentence, 'So growth makes it easier to lose character, but it is not automatic', while a 7.5 answer drops the hedge for an even more compressed, confident version.
   • LR“is huge and still unmistakably itself” — This phrase uses the more formal and confident adverb 'unmistakably' rather than the plainer 'still feels unique' used at 6.5.
   • GRA“Growth brings the same developers, the same chains, the same solutions, and difference gets expensive.” — This sentence uses a three-item asyndetic-style repeated list ('the same developers, the same chains, the same solutions') followed by a short, punchy result clause, a more advanced rhetorical structure than the plain listing sentence at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would state this idea with a simpler two-item list joined by 'and'.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the participial opener 'having watched it unfold firsthand' and the vivid verb 'sprouted', which personify observation and growth more vividly than the plainer verbs used at lower bands.

   I mostly agree, having watched it unfold firsthand. Over the five years I've lived in Da Nang, the riverfront has sprouted tall glass buildings indistinguishable from any other city in Asia, my own office sits in one of them, fittingly enough. Growth tends to import the same developers, the same chains, the same off-the-shelf solutions, and difference becomes an expensive thing to preserve. Yet it isn't inevitable. The corners of a city that grow slowly, old markets, particular streets, local food, retain their character wherever a city actively chooses to protect them. Hà Nội, for all its size, remains unmistakably itself. So size makes losing character easier, not automatic.

   Why this band

   • FC“I mostly agree, having watched it unfold firsthand.” — This opening uses a participial phrase ('having watched...') instead of a full finite clause, a more compact and literary construction than a coordinated sentence with 'and'. A 7.0 answer would use the fuller 'I mostly agree, and I've watched it happen', and a 6.5 answer would state this with the plainest coordinated structure.
   • LR“sprouted tall glass buildings” — This is a vivid, unusual verb choice ('sprouted', typically used for plants) applied to buildings, considerably more distinctive than the plainer 'has filled up with' used at 7.0.
   • GRA“Hà Nội, for all its size, remains unmistakably itself.” — This sentence uses the concessive phrase 'for all its size' inserted between the subject and verb, a more compact and literary construction than the simple coordinated sentence 'is huge and still unmistakably itself' used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would use the plainest connector, 'but', for the same contrast.

7. 7. What can be done to make large cities more liveable?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain listing structure introduced by 'Besides that' and the simple closing sentence explaining why local markets matter.

   I think we should start with small things that people experience every day. For example, my daily ride along the Han River is much better on parts with shade and a good pavement, and this is much cheaper to fix than building a new metro line. Besides that, cities need public transport that people actually want to use instead of driving, affordable housing near workplaces, and green spaces close to home instead of just one big park far away. I would also say cities should keep local markets alive, because buying breakfast from someone who knows you makes a city feel more liveable.

   Why this band

   • FC“Besides that, cities need public transport that people actually want to use instead of driving, affordable housing near workplaces, and green spaces close to home instead of just one big park far away.” — This long sentence lists three needs joined by commas using the plain connector 'Besides that', in a fairly basic list structure. A 7.0 answer would replace this connector with the more natural 'Beyond that, the big levers are...', and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid 'the real levers are...'.
   • LR“much cheaper to fix” — This is a plain, basic comparative phrase describing cost. A 7.0 answer would use the more natural 'a cheap fix compared with a new metro line', and a 7.5 answer would restructure the whole sentence around the vivid verb 'swings from... to'.
   • GRA“my daily ride along the Han River is much better on parts with shade and a good pavement” — This sentence is a simple comparative statement with plain adjectives. A 7.0 answer would restructure this into a parallel contrastive sentence using ellipsis, 'bearable on the stretches with shade... and miserable on the stretches without', and a 7.5 answer would compress this further using the verb 'swings' to link both extremes in one clause.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the parallel contrastive structure 'bearable on the stretches with shade... and pretty miserable on the stretches without', using ellipsis instead of repeating the noun.

   Start with the small things people touch every day, I'd say. My commute along the Han River is bearable on the stretches with shade and a proper pavement and pretty miserable on the stretches without, and that's a cheap fix compared with a new metro line. Beyond that, the big levers are public transport that people actually prefer to driving, housing that ordinary workers can afford near where they work, and green space within walking distance rather than in one big park across town. I'd also argue for keeping neighbourhood markets alive. A city where you can buy breakfast from someone who knows your name feels liveable in a way that infrastructure alone can't replace.

   Why this band

   • FC“I'd also argue for keeping neighbourhood markets alive.” — This sentence uses the natural framing verb 'argue for' rather than the plainer 'I would also say', a slightly more assertive and fluent way of introducing a personal recommendation. A 6.5 answer would use the flatter 'I would also say cities should keep local markets alive'.
   • LR“the big levers” — This is a moderately abstract, figurative noun phrase describing the main policy tools, more distinctive than the plain listing structure used at 6.5 with no such organising metaphor.
   • GRA“My commute along the Han River is bearable on the stretches with shade and a proper pavement and pretty miserable on the stretches without” — This sentence uses ellipsis, dropping the repeated noun 'stretches' in the second half, a more compact and fluent parallel structure than the plain single comparative sentence at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would state this as a single simple comparative sentence without the parallel construction.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the vivid noun phrase 'the small, everyday frictions' and the compressed verb 'swings from... to', which replaces the parallel ellipsis structure of the 7.0 answer with an even tighter single-verb construction.

   Start with the small, everyday frictions people actually touch, I'd argue, not the grand projects. My commute along the Han River swings from perfectly bearable on shaded, well-paved stretches to genuinely miserable where those things vanish, and fixing that costs a fraction of a new metro line. Beyond that, the real levers are public transport people genuinely prefer over driving, housing ordinary workers can afford near their jobs, and green space within walking distance rather than concentrated in one distant park. I'd also make the case for keeping neighbourhood markets alive. A city where you can buy breakfast from someone who knows your name is liveable in a way no amount of infrastructure can substitute for.

   Why this band

   • FC“Start with the small, everyday frictions people actually touch, I'd argue, not the grand projects.” — This opening adds the contrastive tag 'not the grand projects' after the parenthetical 'I'd argue', sharpening the claim with an explicit contrast, a more assertive move than the plainer opener at 7.0. A 6.5 answer opens with the flattest possible framing, 'I think we should start with small things that people experience every day'.
   • LR“the small, everyday frictions” — This is a vivid, slightly abstract noun phrase ('frictions') used metaphorically for small daily annoyances, more distinctive than the plainer 'small things people touch every day' used at 7.0 and 6.5.
   • GRA“My commute along the Han River swings from perfectly bearable on shaded, well-paved stretches to genuinely miserable where those things vanish” — This sentence uses the single vivid verb 'swings from...to' to compress the contrast into one clause, instead of the parallel ellipsis structure with two separate adjective phrases used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would use the plainest single comparative sentence with no such compression.

8. 8. Does moving from cities to the countryside benefit society?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain conditional framing 'but only if the people moving bring something useful with them' and the simple closing summary 'So it depends on whether people connect with the place or just use it'.

   I think it can benefit society, but only if the people moving bring something useful with them. For example, a designer I used to work with moved back to his family's farm in Quang Nam, and instead of just growing peppers, he built an online business and now gives jobs to six people from the village. That is a real benefit because skills and money go out to the countryside. But if people move just to escape the city and still work remotely for city companies, it might only make house prices go up without giving much back. So it depends on whether people connect with the place or just use it.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it depends on whether people connect with the place or just use it.” — This closing sentence uses the plain connector 'So' before a basic 'whether...or' contrast. A 7.0 answer would restate this with the more precise 'the movement itself is neutral; what matters is whether the newcomers connect with the place or just consume it', and a 7.5 answer would use the stronger verb 'engage with' instead of 'connect with'.
   • LR“gives jobs to” — This is a plain, basic verb phrase describing employment creation, without any more precise or formal alternative. A 7.0 answer would use the more standard 'employs', and a 7.5 answer keeps this same precise verb within a more compressed sentence.
   • GRA“instead of just growing peppers, he built an online business and now gives jobs to six people from the village” — This sentence uses the subordinate contrastive phrase 'instead of' followed by two coordinated clauses joined with 'and', in a fairly plain structure. A 7.0 answer would use the more precise verb 'employs' in place of 'gives jobs to', and a 7.5 answer would restructure the ending into an appositive summary phrase.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the compact appositive summary 'That's a real benefit, skills and money flowing outward' and the closing semicolon-linked reflective sentence about the movement being 'neutral'.

   It can, if the people moving bring something with them, I'd say. A designer I used to work with moved back to his family's farm in Quảng Nam, and instead of just growing peppers he built an online brand and now employs six people from the village. That's a real benefit, skills and money flowing outward. But if people move to the countryside purely to escape and keep working remotely for city companies, the local area just gets higher house prices and not much else. So the movement itself is neutral; what matters is whether the newcomers connect with the place or just consume it.

   Why this band

   • FC“So the movement itself is neutral; what matters is whether the newcomers connect with the place or just consume it.” — This closing sentence uses a semicolon to join a short evaluative claim with a cleft explanation, a more sophisticated and reflective structure than a flat 'So it depends on' sentence. A 6.5 answer would state this more simply as 'So it depends on whether people connect with the place or just use it', with no semicolon or reflective framing.
   • LR“skills and money flowing outward” — This is an appositive noun phrase using the participle 'flowing', a more compact and vivid image than the plain causal clause 'because skills and money go out to the countryside' used at 6.5.
   • GRA“That's a real benefit, skills and money flowing outward.” — This sentence attaches an absolute construction (noun plus participle, 'skills and money flowing outward') after a comma, standing in for a full finite clause, a more compact and flexible structure than the plain causal sentence at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use the finite clause 'That is a real benefit because skills and money go out to the countryside'.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the more formal opening connector 'provided' and the compressed appositive closing 'instead of just in', which sharpens the image of outward flow beyond the plainer version at 7.0.

   It can, provided the people moving actually bring something with them. A designer I once worked with moved back to his family's farm in Quảng Nam, and rather than simply growing peppers, he built an online brand that now employs six people from the village, a genuine benefit, skills and money flowing outward instead of just in. But if people relocate purely to escape while still working remotely for city companies, the local area is often left with little more than inflated house prices. So the movement itself is neutral; what actually matters is whether the newcomers engage with the place or merely consume it.

   Why this band

   • FC“It can, provided the people moving actually bring something with them.” — This opening uses the more formal conditional connector 'provided' instead of the plainer 'if' used at lower bands, a slightly more sophisticated register choice. A 7.0 answer uses the plainer 'if', and a 6.5 answer states the same idea as a separate 'but only if' clause.
   • LR“skills and money flowing outward instead of just in” — This phrase adds the precise contrastive tag 'instead of just in' to the appositive image used at 7.0, sharpening the direction of the flow with more specific, compact wording.
   • GRA“the local area is often left with little more than inflated house prices” — This sentence uses the passive construction 'is often left with' plus the idiom 'little more than', a more literary and compact way of stating the negative outcome than the plainer active sentence at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would use the simplest active construction, 'it might only make house prices go up without giving much back'.

9. 9. Do you think the problems that exist in large cities will ever be solved?

   May–Aug 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   This is a 6.5 answer because of its plain cause-and-effect explanation about flooding and the simple closing statement 'I think the real goal should be managing these problems well, not making a perfect city'.

   I think some problems will be solved, but new ones will also appear. For example, Da Nang floods every October, even though the city has built many drainage projects, because they keep covering the land that used to absorb the rain water with buildings. In some wealthy cities, problems like air pollution and traffic have already been solved, so I think these problems can be solved with enough money and effort. But cities are always full of people wanting the same space, so this kind of problem will probably never completely go away. I think the real goal should be managing these problems well, not making a perfect city.

   Why this band

   • FC“I think the real goal should be managing these problems well, not making a perfect city.” — This closing sentence states the conclusion plainly using the basic modal 'should be', without any more idiomatic or reflective phrasing. A 7.0 answer would restate this as 'I think the realistic goal is managing problems well, not chasing a finished, problem-free city', and a 7.5 answer would add the reflective closing tag 'that will never actually arrive'.
   • LR“covering the land” — This is a plain, literal verb phrase describing urban development, without any more vivid or specific wording. A 7.0 answer would use the more natural 'paving over the land', and a 7.5 answer keeps this same vivid verb within a more compressed sentence.
   • GRA“they keep covering the land that used to absorb the rain water with buildings” — This sentence uses a relative clause ('that used to absorb the rain water') attached to a fairly plain main clause. A 7.0 answer would restructure this with the more natural verb phrase 'paving over the land that used to absorb the water', and a 7.5 answer would add the further vivid reflective clause 'we're generating the problem faster than we're solving it'.

   Band 7.0

   This is a 7.0 answer because of the reflective aside 'we're basically creating the problem faster than we fix it' and the concessive clause 'no matter how many drainage projects get announced', which adds nuance beyond a flat statement.

   Some will, some won't, and new ones will appear in their place, I'd say. Da Nang floods every October no matter how many drainage projects get announced, partly because the city keeps paving over the land that used to absorb the water, we're basically creating the problem faster than we fix it. Air quality and traffic have been solved in a few wealthy cities, though, so they're clearly solvable with enough money and political will. But cities are essentially too many people wanting the same space, and that tension never fully goes away. I think the realistic goal is managing problems well, not chasing a finished, problem-free city.

   Why this band

   • FC“we're basically creating the problem faster than we fix it” — This reflective aside, attached after a comma with no connector, offers a genuine interpretive observation rather than simply stating the cause and effect. A 6.5 answer would not attempt this kind of reflective summary, stopping instead at the plain causal explanation about covering land with buildings.
   • LR“paving over the land” — This phrasal verb is a more natural, idiomatic collocation than the plain 'covering the land' used at 6.5, specifically evoking the image of concrete over soil.
   • GRA“Da Nang floods every October no matter how many drainage projects get announced” — This sentence uses a concessive clause introduced by 'no matter how many', a more advanced construction than the plain 'even though' clause used at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use the simpler subordinator 'even though' instead of this more idiomatic concessive structure.

   Band 7.5

   This reaches 7.5 through the vivid opening image 'fresh ones will spring up to fill the gap' and the closing tag 'that will never actually arrive', a genuinely reflective addition beyond the plainer statement at 7.0.

   Some will, some won't, and fresh ones will spring up to fill the gap. Da Nang floods every October regardless of how many drainage projects get announced, largely because the city keeps paving over the very land that once soaked up the rain, we're generating the problem faster than we're solving it. Air quality and traffic, though, have been tamed in a handful of wealthy cities, which suggests they're solvable given enough money and political will. But cities are, at bottom, too many people competing for the same patch of ground, and that tension never fully dissolves. The realistic goal, I'd argue, is managing problems well rather than chasing some finished, problem-free city that will never actually arrive.

   Why this band

   • FC“Some will, some won't, and fresh ones will spring up to fill the gap.” — This opening uses the vivid idiom 'spring up to fill the gap' rather than the plainer 'appear in their place' used at 7.0, giving the sentence a more image-based, confident register from the very start.
   • LR“tamed in a handful of wealthy cities” — This is a vivid, less-common verb choice ('tamed') applied to abstract problems like air quality and traffic, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'solved' used at both 6.5 and 7.0.
   • GRA“cities are, at bottom, too many people competing for the same patch of ground” — This sentence uses a copular structure with a noun phrase as the predicate and the parenthetical phrase 'at bottom' inserted mid-clause, a more literary and compact construction than the plainer 'cities are essentially too many people wanting the same space' used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would state this idea in an entirely separate, plainer sentence.