A Crowded Place You Have Been To

Part 3 follow-up questions

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

1. 1. What kinds of places are often crowded in your country?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer lists crowded places one by one, each backed by a short, plain example, and closes with the simple summarising connector 'So basically'.

   In Vietnam, markets and city centres are usually the most crowded, especially at meal times or during festivals. For example, Han Market in Da Nang gets very busy most mornings, with sellers, shoppers and motorbikes all in the same small streets. Bus stations are crowded too, especially around Tet, when millions of people travel home. Famous places like Dragon Bridge or Ba Na Hills are also busy at weekends. So basically, anywhere with shopping, travel or sightseeing gets crowded quickly here.

   Why this band

   • FC“So basically, anywhere with shopping, travel or sightseeing gets crowded quickly here.” — A plain, direct summary sentence tacked on at the end to round the list off. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely build this generalisation into the flow of the answer itself rather than adding it as a separate final line.
   • LR“with sellers, shoppers and motorbikes all in the same small streets” — A plain, literal list of who and what is present. A higher band would likely use a more vivid verb, such as people and vehicles 'competing for the same narrow lanes', to make the same crowding feel more physical.
   • GRA“Bus stations are crowded too, especially around Tet, when millions of people travel home” — A simple main clause with a when-clause tagged on, safe but plain. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to compress the timing detail into a tighter phrase rather than a full separate clause.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer softens the opening with 'honestly' and upgrades the plain list into the natural collocation 'competing for the same narrow lanes', linking cause and effect with 'since' in the final sentence.

   Markets and city centres tend to be the most crowded places here, honestly, especially around meal times or festivals. Han Market in Da Nang, for instance, gets packed most mornings, with vendors, shoppers and motorbikes all competing for the same narrow lanes. Transport hubs get busy too, particularly around Tet, when millions of people travel back to their hometowns at once. Tourist spots like Dragon Bridge or Ba Na Hills are also crowded at weekends, when locals and visitors both show up. Shopping malls fill up in the evenings as well, since people go there to cool off and eat dinner.

   Why this band

   • FC“Markets and city centres tend to be the most crowded places here, honestly” — The spoken filler 'honestly' inserted mid-sentence gives the opening a more natural, conversational rhythm than the flatter, unhedged opening statement a 6.5 answer would use for the same claim.
   • LR“all competing for the same narrow lanes” — A more vivid, natural collocation than 6.5's plain 'all in the same small streets', with 'competing for' suggesting real physical pressure rather than simply listing who is present.
   • GRA“Shopping malls fill up in the evenings as well, since people go there to cool off and eat dinner” — A since-clause explains the reason within the same sentence, a slightly more developed structure than the plain when-clause pattern repeated through the 6.5 answer.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer drops the connecting verb in 'vendors, shoppers and motorbikes all jostling' for a compact appositive, uses the less common verb 'jostling', and closes on the tidy, slightly aphoristic 'Crowding here...tends to follow food, festivals and free time.'

   Markets and city centres are usually the most crowded spots in Vietnam, especially around mealtimes or festivals. Han Market here in Da Nang gets packed most mornings, vendors, shoppers and motorbikes all jostling for the same narrow lanes. Transport hubs get crowded too, particularly around national holidays like Tet, when millions travel back to their hometowns within the space of a few days. Landmarks such as Dragon Bridge or Ba Na Hills draw sizeable crowds at weekends, once locals and tourists alike descend on them. Malls like Vincom fill up come evening as well, largely because people head there to escape the heat and grab dinner before going home. Crowding here, in short, tends to follow food, festivals and free time.

   Why this band

   • FC“Crowding here, in short, tends to follow food, festivals and free time.” — A compact closing generalisation that ties the whole list together with light alliteration, giving the answer a deliberate sense of shape. A 6.5 answer ends on a similar idea but as a flatter, unadorned summary sentence.
   • LR“vendors, shoppers and motorbikes all jostling for the same narrow lanes” — The less common verb 'jostling' captures the physical crowding far more precisely than the plain 'competing' or 'in the same small streets' a lower band would use.
   • GRA“Han Market here in Da Nang gets packed most mornings, vendors, shoppers and motorbikes all jostling for the same narrow lanes” — A participial phrase ('vendors...jostling...') is attached without a connecting verb like 'with', a more compressed construction than the 'with X, Y and Z all...' pattern the lower bands rely on.

2. 2. Do you think it can be exciting to be in a crowded place?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer answers directly with 'Yes, it can be' and gives one plain example about the fireworks crowd, using short sentences and the basic connector 'but' to introduce the limit on that excitement.

   Yes, it can be, at least for a while. A crowded place has a kind of energy — noise, movement, everyone doing something together — that a quiet place doesn't have. I remember watching fireworks with a big crowd by the Han River on New Year's Eve, and counting down together made it feel more exciting. But that feeling doesn't last long for me. After about twenty minutes of being pushed around by a crowd, I usually want to leave. So it's exciting for a short time, not all the time.

   Why this band

   • FC“But that feeling doesn't last long for me.” — A short, plain sentence used to pivot to the limitation of the idea. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely use a more natural spoken connector such as 'That said' in this position instead of the bare 'But'.
   • LR“being pushed around by a crowd” — A plain, literal phrase describing physical discomfort. A higher band would likely choose a more idiomatic phrase like being 'pushed along by strangers' or 'swept up in the crowd', adding more texture to the same sensation.
   • GRA“I remember watching fireworks with a big crowd by the Han River on New Year's Eve, and counting down together made it feel more exciting” — Two ideas joined with 'and' in a fairly plain coordinated structure. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use a participial phrase to fuse the two ideas more tightly together.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the natural spoken pivot 'That said' instead of a plain 'But', and adds a semicolon to link the wearing-off of excitement to its cause in a single flowing sentence.

   It can be, yes, at least for a while. There's a certain energy to a packed place — the noise, the movement, everyone doing something at once — that a quiet space just doesn't have. I remember being part of the crowd watching fireworks over the Han River on New Year's Eve, and everyone counting down together made the moment feel bigger than it would have alone. That said, the excitement wears off fairly quickly for me; after twenty minutes or so of being pushed along, I'm usually looking for a way out. So it's exciting in short bursts, rather than something I'd want constantly.

   Why this band

   • FC“That said, the excitement wears off fairly quickly for me” — A natural spoken qualifier that shifts the argument more smoothly than 6.5's blunt 'But that feeling doesn't last long for me', showing a slightly more fluent handling of contrasting ideas.
   • LR“everyone counting down together made the moment feel bigger than it would have alone” — A more developed, natural phrase than 6.5's plain 'made it feel more exciting', with 'made the moment feel bigger' adding a touch more nuance to the same idea.
   • GRA“the excitement wears off fairly quickly for me; after twenty minutes or so of being pushed along, I'm usually looking for a way out” — A semicolon links two closely related clauses into a single flowing sentence, more structurally developed than the short, separate sentences a 6.5 answer uses for the same content.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the idiomatic 'swept up in the crowd' and a participial phrase ('the shared countdown making the moment feel...') instead of a plain and-clause, closing on the vivid image of excitement as 'a constant backdrop to daily life'.

   It can be, yes, at least for a while. There's a particular energy to a packed place — the noise, the movement, everyone doing something at once — that a quiet space simply can't match. I remember being swept up in the crowd watching fireworks over the Han River on New Year's Eve, the shared countdown making the moment feel far bigger than it would have alone. That excitement wears off fairly fast for me, though; after twenty minutes of being pushed along by strangers, I'm usually scanning for a way out. So it's exciting in short bursts, I'd say, rather than something I'd want as a constant backdrop to daily life.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it's exciting in short bursts, I'd say, rather than something I'd want as a constant backdrop to daily life.” — The closing point is extended into a fuller, more vivid image than the plainer bands' closing statements, giving the answer a deliberate, considered final shape rather than a flat restatement.
   • LR“being swept up in the crowd” — A vivid, idiomatic phrase in place of the plainer 'being part of the crowd' or 'watching fireworks with a big crowd' a lower band would use, conveying motion and loss of control more precisely.
   • GRA“the shared countdown making the moment feel far bigger than it would have alone” — A participial phrase ('the shared countdown making...') replaces a full clause like 'and everyone counting down together made...', a more compact and flexible construction than the coordinated clauses of the lower bands.

3. 3. Why do some people choose to visit popular places at times when they are not crowded?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a short direct reason, one plain example about Trang, and lists two more points with 'too' and 'as well' before a simple closing sentence.

   Mainly for comfort, I think, and a better experience. Popular places can be so crowded that you spend more time queuing than enjoying them, so going early or on a weekday helps avoid that. My colleague Trang always plans her Ba Na Hills trips on a Tuesday instead of a weekend, just to skip the long cable car lines. Taking photos is easier too, without lots of strangers in the background. Sometimes prices are lower as well. So really, people just want a calmer visit.

   Why this band

   • FC“So really, people just want a calmer visit.” — A plain, short closing sentence that restates the main idea rather than developing it. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely fold this conclusion into a longer sentence about what people are trading for that calm.
   • LR“Taking photos is easier too, without lots of strangers in the background” — A plain, literal description of the photography benefit. A higher band would likely use a more specific phrase like getting 'a clean shot... without dozens of strangers wandering into frame', which paints a sharper picture.
   • GRA“Popular places can be so crowded that you spend more time queuing than enjoying them, so going early or on a weekday helps avoid that” — A so...that structure followed by a separate so-clause, workable but slightly repetitive with 'so' used twice. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to vary the connectors across the sentence.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer adds the reflective 'I'd say' and the natural verb pair 'queuing or dodging people', ending on the moderately developed collocation 'trading scheduling convenience for a calmer visit'.

   Mainly for comfort and a better overall experience, I'd say. Popular spots can get so packed that you end up spending more time queuing or dodging people than actually enjoying the place, so visiting early in the morning or on a weekday avoids most of that. A colleague of mine, Trang, always plans her Ba Na Hills trips for a Tuesday rather than a weekend, specifically to skip the long cable car lines. Photography is another factor, since it's much easier to get a clean shot without dozens of strangers in the background. Basically, people are trading scheduling convenience for a calmer visit.

   Why this band

   • FC“Basically, people are trading scheduling convenience for a calmer visit.” — A natural spoken summary connector ('Basically') introduces a slightly more developed closing idea than 6.5's flatter 'So really, people just want a calmer visit', framing the choice as a deliberate trade-off.
   • LR“spending more time queuing or dodging people” — A more natural verb pairing than 6.5's plain 'spend more time queuing than enjoying them', with 'dodging people' adding a touch more physical detail.
   • GRA“Popular spots can get so packed that you end up spending more time queuing or dodging people than actually enjoying the place, so visiting early in the morning or on a weekday avoids most of that” — A longer so...that sentence followed by a second so-clause, similar in shape to 6.5 but with more embedded detail in each clause, showing slightly greater control over a longer sentence.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise verbs 'weaving' and 'sidesteps', and the vivid 'strangers wandering into frame', closing on the more developed evaluative phrase 'a calmer, more absorbing visit overall'.

   Mainly for comfort and a genuinely better experience, I'd say. Popular spots can get so packed that you spend more time queuing or weaving around people than actually enjoying them, so visiting early or on a weekday sidesteps most of that. A colleague of mine, Trang, always schedules her Ba Na Hills trips for a Tuesday rather than a weekend, purely to dodge the long cable car queues. Photography is another motive — it's far easier to get a clean shot of a landmark without dozens of strangers wandering into frame. Prices can dip off-peak too. Essentially, people are trading a little scheduling convenience for a calmer, more absorbing visit overall.

   Why this band

   • FC“Essentially, people are trading a little scheduling convenience for a calmer, more absorbing visit overall.” — The closing summary is more precisely worded than the equivalent lines in the lower bands, adding the evaluative 'more absorbing' rather than settling for the plain 'calmer visit' alone.
   • LR“without dozens of strangers wandering into frame” — A vivid, photography-specific idiom ('wandering into frame') that names the exact problem far more precisely than the generic 'strangers in the background' a lower band would use.
   • GRA“Popular spots can get so packed that you spend more time queuing or weaving around people than actually enjoying them, so visiting early or on a weekday sidesteps most of that” — The so...that structure is reused but with more varied, precise verbs ('weaving', 'sidesteps') filling each slot, showing tighter lexical control within a familiar grammatical frame than the lower bands manage.

4. 4. What are the advantages of living in a busy, densely populated neighbourhood?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer states the main advantage plainly in one short opening sentence and lists three supporting points with 'also' and 'too', closing on a simple 'but' contrast.

   The biggest advantage is convenience. Everything you need, like shops, restaurants and public transport, is usually close by in a busy neighbourhood. I live near the Han River, close to Dragon Bridge, and I can get coffee, groceries and a Grab ride all within a few minutes without planning ahead. There are also more things happening socially, more events and more chances to meet people. Businesses do well too, because there are always customers around. Of course, there's more noise and less personal space, but for convenience, it's hard to beat.

   Why this band

   • FC“The biggest advantage is convenience.” — A very short, plain opening sentence that announces the main point directly with no hedging. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would likely soften this with a spoken filler like 'honestly' and fold the reasoning straight into the same sentence.
   • LR“There are also more things happening socially, more events and more chances to meet people” — A plain, listy description using ordinary nouns. A higher band would likely replace this with a more vivid verb, such as dense areas 'buzzing socially', which conveys the same idea with more energy.
   • GRA“Businesses do well too, because there are always customers around” — A short main clause with a because-clause attached, safe and clear but basic. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use a participial phrase such as 'riding a constant flow of customers' instead of a full subordinate clause.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer inserts the spoken filler 'honestly' into the opening statement and uses 'which suits someone who doesn't want to feel isolated' as a reflective aside, tightening the closing contrast with 'obviously' and 'sheer'.

   The biggest advantage, honestly, is convenience — everything from grocery stores to restaurants to public transport tends to be within walking distance in a dense neighbourhood. I live near the Han River, a short walk from Dragon Bridge, and I can get coffee, groceries and a Grab ride all within a few minutes without needing to plan ahead. Dense areas also tend to have more going on socially, which suits someone who doesn't want to feel isolated. Businesses thrive there too, since there's a constant flow of customers. The trade-off is obviously noise and less personal space, but for sheer convenience, it's hard to beat.

   Why this band

   • FC“which suits someone who doesn't want to feel isolated” — A reflective clause added onto the social-life point, showing the speaker interpreting the fact rather than just stating it, which is more developed than the flat listing style of the 6.5 answer.
   • LR“Businesses thrive there too, since there's a constant flow of customers” — The verb 'thrive' is a more natural, slightly more vivid choice than 6.5's plain 'do well', giving the businesses more of a sense of active success.
   • GRA“everything from grocery stores to restaurants to public transport tends to be within walking distance in a dense neighbourhood” — An 'everything from X to Y to Z' structure compresses a list into one flowing phrase, more developed than the plain 'like shops, restaurants and public transport' list a 6.5 answer uses for the same information.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'buzz' and the participial phrase 'riding a constant flow of passing customers rather than waiting for people to come to them', giving the businesses a more active, specific role than the plainer bands.

   The biggest advantage, honestly, is convenience — everything from groceries to restaurants to public transport sits within walking distance in a dense neighbourhood. I live near the Han River, a short stroll from Dragon Bridge, and I can pick up coffee, groceries and a Grab ride all within a few minutes, without ever needing to plan ahead. Dense areas also tend to buzz socially, throwing up more chances to bump into people, which suits someone who'd rather not feel isolated. Businesses thrive there too, riding a constant flow of passing customers rather than waiting for people to come to them. The obvious trade-off is noise and shrinking personal space, but for sheer convenience, density is hard to beat.

   Why this band

   • FC“Businesses thrive there too, riding a constant flow of passing customers rather than waiting for people to come to them.” — The point about businesses is extended into a small contrast of its own ('rather than waiting for people to come to them'), giving the sentence a shape the shorter, flatter versions in lower bands don't attempt.
   • LR“Dense areas also tend to buzz socially” — The vivid verb 'buzz' replaces the plain 'have more going on socially' a lower band would use, giving the neighbourhood a livelier, more sensory quality.
   • GRA“Businesses thrive there too, riding a constant flow of passing customers rather than waiting for people to come to them” — A participial phrase ('riding a constant flow...') replaces the full since-clause a 7.0 answer uses for the same idea, a more compact and flexible construction.

5. 5. How important are quiet spaces in a crowded city?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct opinion ('very important, almost as important as the busy areas') and one plain personal example, using 'so' and 'but' to move between the points.

   I'd say very important, almost as important as the busy areas. Constant noise is tiring, so people need somewhere to rest from it, even in a lively city. For me, that's usually a bench by the river early in the morning, before the traffic starts, or a quiet café away from the main road. Cities that only have busy, crowded spaces can wear people down over time, but even a small park can improve people's mood. So I think city planners in growing cities like Da Nang need to protect quiet corners too, not just build more shops.

   Why this band

   • FC“So I think city planners in growing cities like Da Nang need to protect quiet corners too” — A plain, direct closing recommendation introduced with the basic connector 'So'. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely use a stronger verb like 'guard' and a more deliberate phrase such as 'genuinely need to' in this position.
   • LR“Cities that only have busy, crowded spaces can wear people down over time” — A plain description using the everyday phrase 'wear people down'. A higher band would likely choose a more vivid verb such as cities that 'grind their residents down', adding more intensity to the same idea.
   • GRA“For me, that's usually a bench by the river early in the morning, before the traffic starts, or a quiet café away from the main road” — A simple list of two alternatives joined with 'or', clear but plain. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use a more evocative time phrase such as 'at first light' instead of the plain 'early in the morning'.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer adds the slightly more precise 'noise and stimulation' and uses 'whereas' to build a single contrasting sentence, with 'really do need to' giving the closing recommendation more emphasis than a plain 'need to'.

   Very important, I'd say, almost as important as the busy areas themselves. Constant noise and stimulation are tiring, and people need somewhere to recover from that, even in the middle of a lively city. For me, that's usually a bench along the river early in the morning, before the traffic builds up, or a quieter café tucked away from the main road. Cities that only offer commercial, crowded spaces tend to wear their residents down over time, whereas even a small park can noticeably improve people's mood. Urban planners in growing cities like Da Nang really do need to protect these small corners too.

   Why this band

   • FC“Urban planners in growing cities like Da Nang really do need to protect these small corners too” — The intensifier 'really do' gives the closing recommendation more conversational emphasis than the plainer 'need to' construction a 6.5 answer would use for the same point.
   • LR“a quieter café tucked away from the main road” — The phrase 'tucked away' is a more natural, slightly more vivid collocation than 6.5's plain 'away from the main road', suggesting a sense of discovery rather than just location.
   • GRA“Cities that only offer commercial, crowded spaces tend to wear their residents down over time, whereas even a small park can noticeably improve people's mood” — Uses 'whereas' to build one balanced contrasting sentence, rather than the 'but' used between two shorter clauses in the 6.5 answer.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise adjective 'wearing' and the vivid verb 'grind... down', closing on 'as the population swells' — a less common verb choice than the plainer 'increases' a lower band would use.

   Very important, I'd say, almost as important as the busy areas themselves. Constant noise and stimulation are wearing, and people need somewhere to recover from that, even in the middle of a lively city. For me, that usually means a bench along the river at first light, before the traffic builds up, or a quiet café tucked well away from the main road. Cities that offer nothing but commercial, crowded spaces tend to grind their residents down over time, whereas even a small park can noticeably lift people's mood and concentration. Urban planners in fast-growing cities like Da Nang genuinely need to guard these small quiet corners, not just keep building more shopping areas as the population swells.

   Why this band

   • FC“Urban planners in fast-growing cities like Da Nang genuinely need to guard these small quiet corners, not just keep building more shopping areas as the population swells.” — The closing recommendation is extended with a contrasting clause ('not just keep building...') rather than stated as a single bare sentence, giving the ending more argumentative weight than the lower bands' shorter closings.
   • LR“tend to grind their residents down over time” — The less common verb phrase 'grind... down' is more vivid and forceful than the plain 'wear people down' a lower band would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“For me, that usually means a bench along the river at first light, before the traffic builds up, or a quiet café tucked well away from the main road” — The time phrase 'at first light' replaces the plainer 'early in the morning' with a more compact, literary image, showing a more flexible, precise choice of wording within an otherwise similar sentence structure.

6. 6. Why might people move away from crowded cities at different stages of their lives?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer states the general pattern directly and moves through three life stages one after another with 'but', 'so' and 'later in life', ending on the plain closing observation that priorities change.

   I think it usually depends on what people need at each stage of life. Young adults often move to crowded cities first, for jobs and the excitement of city life — that's actually why I moved from Hue to Da Nang after university. But once people start a family, they often want more space and safer, quieter schools, so they move to smaller towns. Later in life, older people sometimes move away again for their health, preferring cleaner air and a slower pace. So it's not really one direction, it changes as priorities change.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it's not really one direction, it changes as priorities change.” — A short, slightly repetitive closing sentence (using 'change' twice) that restates the point plainly. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely vary the wording and turn this into a more polished contrast, such as a 'back-and-forth' between opportunity and calm.
   • LR“Young adults often move to crowded cities first, for jobs and the excitement of city life” — A plain description using the general noun 'excitement'. A higher band would likely choose a more vivid verb, such as young adults 'chasing job opportunities and the sheer energy of city life', to convey the same idea more actively.
   • GRA“once people start a family, they often want more space and safer, quieter schools, so they move to smaller towns” — A once-clause followed by a plain so-clause, workable but grammatically simple. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use 'though' to build a tighter single sentence out of the same contrast.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the natural collocation 'tracks what people need' and closes on the more developed image of 'less a straight line... and more a back-and-forth', a step up from the flatter closing line a 6.5 answer gives.

   It usually tracks what people need at each stage of life, I'd say. Young adults often move to crowded cities first for job opportunities and the energy of city life — that's actually why I left Hue for Da Nang after university. But once people start families, priorities shift towards space, safety and quieter schools for their children, so some move out to smaller towns. Later on, older people sometimes move away from cities again for health reasons, preferring cleaner air and a slower pace, closer to relatives. So it's less a straight line, really, and more a back-and-forth as priorities change.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it's less a straight line, really, and more a back-and-forth as priorities change.” — A more developed closing contrast than 6.5's repetitive 'it's not really one direction, it changes as priorities change', using the spoken filler 'really' and a clearer image (straight line vs back-and-forth) to shape the conclusion.
   • LR“It usually tracks what people need at each stage of life” — The verb 'tracks' is a more natural, slightly more precise choice than the plain 'depends on' a lower band would use to open the same idea.
   • GRA“once people start families, priorities shift towards space, safety and quieter schools for their children, so some move out to smaller towns” — A once-clause followed by a three-item list ('space, safety and quieter schools') before the so-clause, more developed than the two-item list a 6.5 answer manages in the same slot.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the participial phrase 'chasing job opportunities' and the less common verbs 'tilt', 'drift out' and 'retreat', closing on the balanced parallel phrase 'chasing opportunity when young and craving calm once other priorities take over'.

   It usually tracks what people need at each stage of life, I'd say. Young adults tend to move to crowded cities first, chasing job opportunities and the sheer energy of city life — that's actually why I left Hue for Da Nang after university. Once people start families, though, priorities tilt towards space, safety and quieter schools for the kids, so some drift out to smaller towns or the outskirts. Later on, older people sometimes retreat from cities again for health reasons, favouring cleaner air and a slower pace closer to relatives. So it's less a straight line and more a back-and-forth between chasing opportunity when young and craving calm once other priorities take over.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it's less a straight line and more a back-and-forth between chasing opportunity when young and craving calm once other priorities take over.” — The closing image is extended into a fully parallel structure ('chasing opportunity...craving calm...') rather than the shorter, less balanced closing line the lower bands use, giving the ending a more deliberate rhetorical shape.
   • LR“priorities tilt towards space, safety and quieter schools for the kids, so some drift out to smaller towns” — The less common verbs 'tilt' and 'drift out' replace the plainer 'shift towards' and 'move out' a lower band would use, adding more precise, slightly figurative movement to the same idea.
   • GRA“Young adults tend to move to crowded cities first, chasing job opportunities and the sheer energy of city life” — A participial phrase ('chasing job opportunities...') attaches directly to the main clause instead of the separate 'for job opportunities and the energy of...' prepositional phrase the lower bands use, a more compact construction.

7. 7. How has technology made it easier to live in remote places?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer lists four plain examples of technology one after another, each joined loosely with 'and' or 'too', and closes with a simple, direct statement of the remaining limitation.

   A lot easier, honestly. Remote work tools mean people don't need to live near an office anymore — at my studio, one developer works from a small town outside Hoi An and just joins meetings online. Shopping apps like Shopee mean you can get things delivered even if you're far from a big shopping centre, and mobile banking means you don't have to visit a bank branch for most things. Telemedicine helps too, so people can see a doctor without travelling to a city hospital. The main problem now is really just weak internet in some areas.

   Why this band

   • FC“The main problem now is really just weak internet in some areas.” — A plain, direct closing sentence that names the limitation without much elaboration. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely turn this into a conditional statement showing exactly how the limitation plays out.
   • LR“mobile banking means you don't have to visit a bank branch for most things” — A plain, literal description of the benefit. A higher band would likely use a more precise phrase, such as mobile banking having 'removed the need to visit a physical branch', which sounds slightly more formal and considered.
   • GRA“Shopping apps like Shopee mean you can get things delivered even if you're far from a big shopping centre, and mobile banking means you don't have to visit a bank branch for most things” — Two similarly structured clauses joined with 'and', a safe but repetitive pattern ('X means Y' twice in a row). A 7.5 answer would be more likely to vary the verb and structure between the two examples.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the emphatic 'Enormously, honestly' and closes on a conditional-style structure ('where the connection is weak, all of this still breaks down') instead of the flat statement a 6.5 answer uses for the same limitation.

   Enormously, honestly. Remote work tools mean people no longer have to live near an office to do their job — at my studio, one of our developers works from a small town outside Hoi An and just joins meetings over video call. Shopping apps like Shopee mean you can get most things delivered even if you're far from a big shopping centre, and mobile banking has removed the need to visit a physical branch for most tasks. Telemedicine is helping too, letting people consult doctors without a long trip to a city hospital. The main limitation now is really just internet infrastructure — where the connection is weak, all of this still breaks down.

   Why this band

   • FC“where the connection is weak, all of this still breaks down” — A conditional-style closing clause that shows the limitation actually playing out, rather than 6.5's flatter statement that just names the problem ('weak internet in some areas') without showing its effect.
   • LR“mobile banking has removed the need to visit a physical branch for most tasks” — The phrase 'removed the need to' is a more natural, slightly more formal collocation than the plain 'means you don't have to' a lower band would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“Telemedicine is helping too, letting people consult doctors without a long trip to a city hospital” — A participial phrase ('letting people consult doctors...') attaches directly to the main clause, a more compact construction than the plain so-clause a 6.5 answer uses for the same information.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer opens with the abstract, vivid claim that technology has 'dissolved the old link between opportunity and location', using the less common verb 'sparing' before echoing the same conditional close as 7.0 but with the added evaluative 'quietly'.

   Enormously, honestly — technology has more or less dissolved the old link between opportunity and location. Remote-work tools mean people no longer have to live near an office to do their job; at my studio, one of our developers works from a small town outside Hoi An and simply joins meetings over video call. Apps like Shopee mean goods get delivered even to places far from a big shopping centre, and mobile banking has removed the need to visit a physical branch for most tasks. Telemedicine helps too, sparing people a long trip to a city hospital just to see a doctor. The one real limitation left is internet infrastructure — where the connection is weak, all of this quietly breaks down.

   Why this band

   • FC“technology has more or less dissolved the old link between opportunity and location” — A single abstract sentence frames the whole answer around one idea before the examples start, rather than the plainer bands' habit of opening directly with the first example. This kind of framing sentence shows more control over how the discourse is organised.
   • LR“sparing people a long trip to a city hospital just to see a doctor” — The less common verb 'sparing' replaces the plainer 'letting people consult doctors without' a lower band would use, expressing the same benefit more economically.
   • GRA“Remote-work tools mean people no longer have to live near an office to do their job; at my studio, one of our developers works from a small town outside Hoi An” — A semicolon links the general claim to the specific example in one flowing sentence, rather than the em dash and separate clause structure the lower bands use for the same transition.

8. 8. What could governments do to encourage people to live in less crowded areas?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer states its main recommendation first, then lists two more with 'too' and 'as well', closing with a plain warning sentence beginning 'But'.

   I think investing in infrastructure outside the big cities would help the most — good roads, reliable internet and decent schools make smaller towns actually possible to live in, not just cheaper. Tax breaks for businesses that move away from city centres could help too, so people don't have to go to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find work. Better healthcare in smaller provinces matters as well. But just telling people to move, without building these services first, probably won't work.

   Why this band

   • FC“But just telling people to move, without building these services first, probably won't work.” — A plain, direct warning sentence added at the end with the basic connector 'But'. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely connect this warning back to the whole argument with a 'though' or 'so', tying it more tightly to what came before.
   • LR“Better healthcare in smaller provinces matters as well” — A plain, general statement using the vague verb 'matters'. A higher band would likely be more specific, describing healthcare as 'often the deciding factor for families', which explains why it matters rather than just asserting that it does.
   • GRA“Tax breaks for businesses that move away from city centres could help too, so people don't have to go to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find work” — A relative clause plus a so-clause, workable but fairly linear. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use a participial phrase such as 'sparing people the need to' instead of the plain 'so...don't have to' construction.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer adds the reflective 'I'd say' and gives a reason for the healthcare point with 'since that's often the deciding factor for families', ending the warning with 'though' instead of a separate 'But' sentence.

   Investing in infrastructure outside the major cities would probably have the biggest impact, I'd say — good roads, reliable internet and decent schools make smaller towns genuinely viable, not just cheaper. Tax incentives for businesses that relocate away from city centres could also help spread job opportunities more evenly, so people aren't forced into Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find decent work. Improving healthcare facilities in smaller provinces matters too, since that's often the deciding factor for families. Simply telling people to move without building the supporting services first rarely works, though.

   Why this band

   • FC“Simply telling people to move without building the supporting services first rarely works, though.” — Placing 'though' at the end of the sentence rather than starting a new sentence with 'But' ties the warning more closely to the rest of the argument, a slightly more fluent way of managing the contrast than the 6.5 pattern.
   • LR“that's often the deciding factor for families” — A more precise, natural phrase than 6.5's vague 'matters as well', naming exactly what role healthcare plays in a family's decision rather than just asserting its importance.
   • GRA“Tax incentives for businesses that relocate away from city centres could also help spread job opportunities more evenly, so people aren't forced into Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find decent work” — A relative clause plus a so-clause, similar in shape to 6.5 but with the more precise verb 'relocate' and the phrase 'aren't forced into', showing slightly more control over word choice within a familiar structure.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the participial phrase 'sparing people the need to crowd into' instead of a so-clause, and closes with the more developed final sentence tying the warning back to 'the underlying reasons people crowd into cities to begin with'.

   Investing in infrastructure beyond the major cities would probably have the biggest impact — good roads, reliable internet and decent schools make smaller towns genuinely viable, rather than merely cheaper. Tax incentives for businesses willing to relocate away from city centres could also spread job opportunities more evenly, sparing people the need to crowd into Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find decent work. Upgrading healthcare in smaller provinces matters just as much, since that's often the deciding factor for families weighing a move. Simply urging people to relocate without laying the supporting services first rarely works, though, so any real policy has to tackle the underlying reasons people crowd into cities to begin with.

   Why this band

   • FC“so any real policy has to tackle the underlying reasons people crowd into cities to begin with” — The final warning is extended into a fuller closing argument connecting back to the whole answer's theme, rather than the shorter 'rarely works, though' ending the 7.0 answer settles for.
   • LR“sparing people the need to crowd into Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City” — The participial phrase 'sparing people the need to' is a more compact, slightly more formal collocation than the plain 'so people aren't forced into' a lower band would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“Tax incentives for businesses willing to relocate away from city centres could also spread job opportunities more evenly, sparing people the need to crowd into Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City just to find decent work” — A participial phrase ('sparing people the need to...') replaces the so-clause the lower bands use for the same consequence, a more compact and flexible construction packing the result into the same sentence.

9. 9. Do you think cities in the future might become unliveable after their population reaches a certain point?

   Sep–Dec 2026
   Compare Band 6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5 for this question

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct hedge ('possible, but not certain'), one plain personal observation about Da Nang traffic, and the Singapore example, before a simple closing sentence stating the answer's overall view.

   It's possible, but I don't think it's certain. After a certain point, problems like traffic, pollution and housing prices tend to grow faster than the benefits, and I've already noticed Da Nang's traffic getting worse compared to a few years ago. But cities that plan early, with good public transport and more green spaces, seem to manage growth much better than ones that don't. Singapore is often mentioned as an example of a crowded but liveable city. So I think it depends more on planning than on population size alone.

   Why this band

   • FC“It's possible, but I don't think it's certain.” — A short, plain hedge stating the position directly with no further nuance. A 7.0 or 7.5 answer would more likely use the more natural phrasing 'possible, though not inevitable', which softens the contrast slightly rather than stating it as a flat 'but'.
   • LR“problems like traffic, pollution and housing prices tend to grow faster than the benefits” — A plain verb choice ('grow faster') describing the process. A higher band would likely use a more precise, less common verb such as problems that 'multiply faster than the benefits', which conveys a stronger sense of acceleration.
   • GRA“cities that plan early, with good public transport and more green spaces, seem to manage growth much better than ones that don't” — A relative clause with an inserted prepositional phrase, workable but fairly plain. A 7.5 answer would be more likely to use a more specific verb like 'absorb' in place of the generic 'manage' for a more vivid comparison.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer softens the hedge to 'possible, though I don't think it's inevitable' and upgrades the verb to 'multiply faster', using the more natural phrase 'held up as an example' instead of the plain 'mentioned as an example'.

   It's possible, though I don't think it's inevitable. Beyond a certain density, problems like traffic, pollution and housing costs do tend to multiply faster than the benefits of city life, and I've already noticed Da Nang's traffic getting noticeably worse compared to a few years ago. But cities that invest early in public transport, vertical housing and green spaces seem to manage growth far better than ones that don't plan ahead. Singapore is often held up as an example of dense living that still works well. So I'd say it depends far more on planning and governance than on population size alone.

   Why this band

   • FC“It's possible, though I don't think it's inevitable.” — The connector 'though' softens the contrast between possibility and inevitability more naturally than 6.5's flatter 'but', giving the hedge a more considered, spoken quality.
   • LR“problems like traffic, pollution and housing costs do tend to multiply faster than the benefits of city life” — The verb 'multiply' is a more precise, slightly less common choice than the plain 'grow faster' a lower band would use, conveying a stronger sense of compounding growth.
   • GRA“Singapore is often held up as an example of dense living that still works well” — The collocation 'held up as an example' is a more natural, idiomatic construction than the plain 'mentioned as an example' a 6.5 answer uses for the same reference.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'thicken' for traffic and the collocation 'absorb growth far more gracefully', closing on the compact idiom 'tipping into unliveable' rather than a plain restated opinion.

   It's possible, though I don't think it's inevitable. Past a certain density, problems like traffic, pollution and housing costs tend to multiply faster than the benefits of city life, and I've already watched Da Nang's traffic thicken noticeably compared to a few years ago. But cities that invest early in public transport, vertical housing and green space seem to absorb growth far more gracefully than ones that leave planning until it's urgent. Singapore gets held up as the classic example of dense living that still functions well. So I'd say liveability hinges far more on planning and governance than on population size alone — a well-managed city can keep growing without ever tipping into unliveable.

   Why this band

   • FC“So I'd say liveability hinges far more on planning and governance than on population size alone — a well-managed city can keep growing without ever tipping into unliveable.” — The closing statement is extended into a final, self-contained image ('tipping into unliveable') that rounds off the whole argument, rather than the shorter, flatter closing sentence the lower bands settle for.
   • LR“I've already watched Da Nang's traffic thicken noticeably compared to a few years ago” — The less common verb 'thicken' used for traffic is more vivid and precise than the plain 'getting worse' a lower band would use for the same observation.
   • GRA“cities that invest early in public transport, vertical housing and green space seem to absorb growth far more gracefully than ones that leave planning until it's urgent” — The comparative clause is extended with the adverb 'gracefully' and a more specific contrasting clause ('leave planning until it's urgent') than the plain 'don't plan ahead' the lower bands use, adding more nuance within a similar grammatical frame.

10. 10. Which cities are overcrowded in your country?

    Sep–Dec 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 descriptive sentences and the simple closing contrast 'The crowds were exciting at first, but after a few days, I missed the slower pace of Da Nang'.

    I think Ho Chi Minh City is the most overcrowded city in my country. It always feels very busy, especially during rush hour. For example, last October I visited my younger sister, who studies there, and I remember trying to cross the street near Ben Thanh Market around 6pm. It was full of motorbikes and cars everywhere, and people were squeezing past each other on the sidewalks. Even compared to Da Nang, where I live, it feels much more crowded. Hanoi is also crowded, but I think Saigon has more people and more energy. The crowds were exciting at first, but after a few days, I missed the slower pace of Da Nang.

    Why this band

    • FC“The crowds were exciting at first, but after a few days, I missed the slower pace of Da Nang.” — This closing sentence states a plain contrast using the basic connector 'but', with no reflective hedge. A 7.0 answer would soften this with 'To be fair, the crowds can be exciting sometimes', and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid adjective 'exhilarating' and the phrase 'craving Da Nang's slower rhythm'.
    • LR“very busy” — This is a plain intensifier-plus-adjective phrase, without any more vivid or specific alternative. A 7.0 answer would use the identical phrase 'packed', a slightly more precise single-word choice, and a 7.5 answer would use the more literary 'perpetually packed'.
    • GRA“It was full of motorbikes and cars everywhere, and people were squeezing past each other on the sidewalks.” — This sentence coordinates two clauses with 'and' in a fairly plain structure. A 7.0 answer would restate this with a comma splice mimicking spoken rhythm, 'it was just a sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, with people squeezing past each other', and a 7.5 answer would drop the finite verb entirely for a more compact appositive.

    Band 7.0

    This is a 7.0 answer because of the vivid image 'a sea of motorbikes and cars' and the natural hedge 'To be fair' introducing the closing contrast.

    Well, the first city that comes to mind is definitely Ho Chi Minh City. It always feels packed, especially during rush hour. For example, last October I visited my younger sister, who studies there, and I remember trying to cross the street near Ben Thanh Market around 6pm, it was just a sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, with people squeezing past each other on the sidewalks. Even compared to Da Nang, where I live, it's on another level. Hanoi is also really crowded, but I think Saigon's energy and its sheer number of people make it stand out. To be fair, the crowds can be exciting sometimes, but after a couple of days, I started missing the slower pace back in Da Nang.

    Why this band

    • FC“To be fair, the crowds can be exciting sometimes, but after a couple of days, I started missing the slower pace back in Da Nang.” — This closing sentence opens with the natural spoken hedge 'To be fair' before making the contrast, a more fluent structure than a bare 'but' statement. A 6.5 answer would state the same contrast without this opening hedge, and a 7.5 answer would replace it with the more idiomatic 'admittedly'.
    • LR“a sea of motorbikes and cars” — This is a vivid, idiomatic collocation describing the crowd, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'full of motorbikes and cars' used at 6.5.
    • GRA“it was just a sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, with people squeezing past each other on the sidewalks” — This sentence uses a comma splice mimicking natural spoken rhythm, followed by a participial phrase ('with people squeezing...') instead of a second finite clause joined by 'and'. A 6.5 answer would use the standard coordinating 'and' with a full finite clause instead of this participial construction.

    Band 7.5

    This reaches 7.5 through the verbless appositive 'a solid sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, pedestrians squeezing past each other' and the closing phrase 'craving Da Nang's slower rhythm', more vivid than the plainer wording at lower bands.

    Ho Chi Minh City is the one that instantly springs to mind. It feels perpetually packed, especially once rush hour hits. Visiting my younger sister there last October, I remember trying to cross the street near Ben Thanh Market around 6pm, a solid sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, pedestrians squeezing past each other on what little sidewalk remained. Even set against Da Nang, where I live, it's operating on an entirely different level. Hanoi has its own crowds too, but Saigon's raw energy and sheer density of people give it a particular edge. The chaos is exhilarating for a day or two, admittedly, but I found myself craving Da Nang's slower rhythm soon enough.

    Why this band

    • FC“The chaos is exhilarating for a day or two, admittedly, but I found myself craving Da Nang's slower rhythm soon enough.” — This closing sentence uses the vivid adjective 'exhilarating' and the parenthetical 'admittedly' inserted mid-clause, plus the idiomatic verb 'craving', a more evocative and confident structure than the plainer contrast used at lower bands. A 7.0 answer would open this contrast with 'To be fair' instead, and a 6.5 answer would state it with the simplest possible wording.
    • LR“sheer density of people” — This is a more precise, almost technical collocation than the plainer 'sheer number of people' used at 7.0, using the abstract noun 'density' for a sharper image.
    • GRA“a solid sea of motorbikes and cars in every direction, pedestrians squeezing past each other on what little sidewalk remained” — This is a verbless appositive clause with no main finite verb, describing the scene entirely through noun phrases and participles, a more compact and literary construction than the comma-spliced sentence with a finite participial phrase used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would use the plainest possible coordinated sentence with two full finite clauses.

11. 11. Will there be more or less green space in cities in the future?

    Sep–Dec 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 about the construction and the simple closing summary 'Not every area is this lucky, but I think the trend here is positive'.

    I think it depends on how cities are planned, but I am a little hopeful there will be more green spaces in the future. People are becoming more aware of how important parks and trees are, especially for mental health and cooling down cities. For example, a few months ago, I saw some construction near the riverfront in Da Nang, close to my apartment. At first, I thought it was another tall building, but it turned out to be a new riverside park with walking paths and a small garden. I was surprised, and I saw families and joggers using it almost immediately. Not every area is this lucky, but I think the trend here is positive.

    Why this band

    • FC“Not every area is this lucky, but I think the trend here is positive.” — This closing sentence uses the basic connector 'but' to state a plain final contrast, without any softer hedge. A 7.0 answer would extend this with 'Of course' at the start, and a 7.5 answer would add the further hedge 'admittedly' for a more reflective tone.
    • LR“cooling down cities” — This is a plain, literal phrasal verb construction. A 7.0 answer would use the more formal noun phrase 'reducing city temperatures', and a 7.5 answer would extend this idea within a longer, more parallel list structure.
    • GRA“I saw families and joggers using it almost immediately” — This is a short, simple sentence with a plain adverb. A 7.0 answer would restate this using the idiom 'almost right away', and a 7.5 answer would use the more vivid verb 'colonised' for a stronger image.

    Band 7.0

    This is a 7.0 answer because of the natural hedge 'cautiously optimistic' and the parallel past continuous contrast 'assumed they were putting up... but it turned out they were creating', a more fluent narrative structure.

    I think it really depends on how city planning is handled, but I'm cautiously optimistic there will be more green spaces in the future. There's definitely a growing awareness of how important parks and trees are, especially for mental health and reducing city temperatures. For example, a few months ago, I noticed construction near the riverfront in Da Nang, just a few blocks from my apartment. At first, I assumed they were putting up another high-rise, but it turned out they were creating a new riverside park, with walking paths and even a small garden area. It was honestly a nice surprise, and you could see families and joggers enjoying it almost right away. Of course, not every part of the city is this lucky, but I think the trend is heading in a positive direction, at least here.

    Why this band

    • FC“Of course, not every part of the city is this lucky, but I think the trend is heading in a positive direction, at least here.” — This closing sentence opens with the natural hedge 'Of course' before the final contrast, a more fluent structure than a bare 'but' statement. A 6.5 answer would state the same contrast without this opening hedge, and a 7.5 answer would replace it with 'admittedly' inserted mid-sentence instead.
    • LR“reducing city temperatures” — This is a more formal, precise noun phrase than the plain phrasal verb 'cooling down cities' used at 6.5.
    • GRA“At first, I assumed they were putting up another high-rise, but it turned out they were creating a new riverside park” — This sentence uses parallel past continuous verbs ('were putting up', 'were creating') on either side of the contrast, a more controlled structure than the mixed simple-past construction used at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would use the simple past 'I thought it was another tall building' rather than this parallel continuous construction.

    Band 7.5

    This reaches 7.5 through the triple parallel prepositional list 'for mental health, for cooling overheated streets, for simple liveability' and the vivid verb 'colonised', more literary than the plainer verbs used at lower bands.

    It really hinges on how seriously city planning takes it, but I'm cautiously optimistic more green space is coming. There's a growing awareness now of just how much parks and trees matter, for mental health, for cooling overheated streets, for simple liveability. A few months back, I noticed construction near the riverfront in Da Nang, a few blocks from my apartment, and assumed, wearily, that another high-rise was on its way. It turned out to be a new riverside park instead, complete with walking paths and a modest garden, and families and joggers had colonised it almost the moment it opened. Not every neighbourhood gets that lucky, admittedly, but the trend, at least here, does seem to be pointing the right way.

    Why this band

    • FC“Not every neighbourhood gets that lucky, admittedly, but the trend, at least here, does seem to be pointing the right way.” — This closing sentence inserts the parenthetical 'admittedly' mid-clause and adds a second parenthetical 'at least here' further along, a more flexible and layered structure than the plainer 'Of course... but' opener used at 7.0. A 6.5 answer would state this contrast with the simplest possible 'but' connector.
    • LR“families and joggers had colonised it almost the moment it opened” — This is a vivid, unusual verb choice ('colonised', typically used for settlement or spread) applied to people enjoying a park, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'using it almost immediately' used at 6.5 and 'enjoying it almost right away' at 7.0.
    • GRA“There's a growing awareness now of just how much parks and trees matter, for mental health, for cooling overheated streets, for simple liveability.” — This sentence uses a triple parallel prepositional list ('for mental health, for cooling overheated streets, for simple liveability') with no connecting 'and', a more rhetorical and compact structure than the plain two-item list joined by 'and' used at 6.5 and 7.0. A 6.5 answer would use the simplest two-item list, 'especially for mental health and cooling down cities'.

12. 12. Do you think it is a good trend to have more big cities?

    Sep–Dec 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 'on one hand... but' structure and the simple closing conditional 'or quality of life gets worse'.

    To be honest, I am not sure if having more big cities is a good trend or not. On one hand, big cities give many opportunities. For example, my job as a UI designer would not really exist in a small town, because most clients are in cities. But there are also clear problems. Last year, I went to Hanoi for a tech conference, and it took over an hour to get from my hotel in Ba Dinh to the convention centre because of traffic. The noise and crowds actually stressed me out. So I think growing cities can help the economy, but only if the infrastructure and public spaces improve too, or quality of life gets worse.

    Why this band

    • FC“So I think growing cities can help the economy, but only if the infrastructure and public spaces improve too, or quality of life gets worse.” — This long closing sentence chains several ideas together with the basic connectors 'but' and 'or', producing a somewhat run-on structure. A 7.0 answer would tighten this by dropping the final 'or' clause and using 'only positive if' instead, and a 7.5 answer would use the more precise verb 'erodes' at the very end.
    • LR“stressed me out” — This is a plain, basic phrasal verb describing the reaction to noise and crowds. A 7.0 answer would use the more precise adverb-modified version 'stressed me out a bit', and a 7.5 answer would use the more formal 'left me faintly stressed'.
    • GRA“it took over an hour to get from my hotel in Ba Dinh to the convention centre because of traffic” — This sentence uses a simple causal phrase 'because of traffic' at the end, in a fairly plain structure. A 7.0 answer would restate this with 'took over an hour in traffic', a slightly more compact phrasing, and a 7.5 answer would use the vivid verb 'swallowed' to describe how the traffic consumed the time.

    Band 7.0

    This is a 7.0 answer because of the natural idiom 'on the fence' and the tightened closing sentence using 'only positive if', a cleaner conditional structure than the run-on version at 6.5.

    To be honest, I'm kind of on the fence about whether having more big cities is a good trend. On one hand, big cities offer tons of opportunities, like, my job as a UI designer wouldn't really exist if I lived in a small town, since most of our clients and creative projects are based in urban areas. But at the same time, the downsides are pretty obvious. Last year, I visited Hanoi for a tech conference, and just getting from my hotel in Ba Dinh to the convention center took over an hour in traffic. The sheer noise and crowd actually stressed me out a bit. So while growing cities can boost the economy, I think it's only positive if the city's infrastructure and public spaces keep up with the population.

    Why this band

    • FC“To be honest, I'm kind of on the fence about whether having more big cities is a good trend.” — This opening uses the natural idiom 'on the fence' to express genuine uncertainty, a more fluent and conversational move than the plainer 'I am not sure if... is a good trend or not' used at 6.5.
    • LR“tons of opportunities” — This is a more casual, idiomatic quantifier ('tons of') than the plain 'many opportunities' used at 6.5, showing natural spoken register.
    • GRA“my job as a UI designer wouldn't really exist if I lived in a small town, since most of our clients and creative projects are based in urban areas” — This sentence combines a conditional clause with a causal 'since' clause in one flowing sentence, a more complex single structure than the two separate short sentences used at 6.5. A 6.5 answer would state the conditional and the reason as two separate sentences joined loosely by 'because'.

    Band 7.5

    This reaches 7.5 through the fronted participial clause 'Attending a tech conference in Hanoi last year' and the vivid verb 'swallowed', which personifies the traffic more dramatically than the plainer verbs used at lower bands.

    Honestly, I'm somewhat torn on whether more big cities counts as a good trend. On one hand, they open up genuine opportunities, my job as a UI designer simply wouldn't exist in a small town, given how much of our client base and creative work is rooted in urban areas. Yet the downsides are hard to ignore. Attending a tech conference in Hanoi last year, I found the trip from my hotel in Ba Dinh to the convention centre swallowed over an hour in traffic alone, and the sheer noise and crush of people left me faintly stressed. So while expanding cities can undoubtedly fuel the economy, that's only a good thing if infrastructure and public spaces keep pace with the population, otherwise quality of life simply erodes.

    Why this band

    • FC“Attending a tech conference in Hanoi last year, I found the trip from my hotel in Ba Dinh to the convention centre swallowed over an hour in traffic alone” — This sentence opens with a fronted participial clause ('Attending...') instead of the plain 'Last year, I visited Hanoi for a tech conference, and' used at lower bands, a more compact and literary opening. A 6.5 answer would use the simplest coordinated structure with 'and' joining two full clauses.
    • LR“swallowed over an hour in traffic alone” — This is a vivid, personifying verb choice ('swallowed') describing how traffic consumed the travel time, considerably more distinctive than the plain 'took over an hour' used at both 6.5 and 7.0.
    • GRA“that's only a good thing if infrastructure and public spaces keep pace with the population, otherwise quality of life simply erodes” — This sentence uses the precise verb 'erodes' at the end, following the conditional structure with an explicit 'otherwise' clause spelling out the consequence, a more complete and literary construction than the run-on 6.5 version or the truncated 7.0 version, both of which omit this final consequence clause in its fullest form.