A Person You Know Who Did Something Difficult and Was Successful

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 types of businesses are successful 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 categories with the plain connector 'too' used three times and simple vocabulary like 'do well' and 'a big part of', ending in a direct summary sentence.

   Food and drink businesses do well first, always. The corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and now it's a milk-tea place with a queue, so that tells you where the money goes. Apart from that, anything for the growing middle class does well too, like private clinics, English centres, and real estate. Manufacturing for export is a big part of the economy too, especially electronics and clothes. Technology companies that do work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly. These businesses usually meet an obvious need that people already have.

   Why this band

   • FC“Food and drink businesses do well first, always.” — A short, direct opening claim with no elaboration attached. A band 7 answer would more likely fold the reasoning or example directly into this same sentence instead of leaving it bare.
   • GRA“The corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and now it's a milk-tea place with a queue, so that tells you where the money goes.” — A list of three shops joined with commas and 'then', followed by a simple 'so' clause, a fairly basic way of building a sentence. A 7.5 answer would likely compress this list into a tighter, punchier structure.
   • LR“does well too” — A very general, plain verb phrase repeated across the answer. A higher band answer would likely vary this with more specific words, such as 'thrives' or 'booms', instead of reusing 'do well'.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the compact fronted phrase 'Food and drink, first and always', and closes with the reflective observation 'What these share is...', showing more developed reasoning than the flatter band 6.5 list.

   Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes. Beyond that, anything serving the growing middle class does reasonably well: private clinics, English centres, real estate, motorbike dealers. Manufacturing for export is a big engine nationally, especially electronics and garments. Technology firms doing outsourced work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly too. What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes.

   Why this band

   • GRA“Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes.” — A fronted noun phrase opens the sentence instead of a full subject-verb clause, and a 'which' clause replaces the plainer 'so' clause used at band 6.5, showing more grammatical range.
   • LR“ride a wave of rising incomes” — A more vivid, natural collocation than the plainer 'do well too' phrasing repeated at band 6.5, showing deliberate word choice, though not yet the most distinctive vocabulary a 7.5 answer would use.
   • FC“What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes.” — A reflective closing sentence that draws a general pattern out of the list, typical of band 7.0's mild elaboration beyond the flatter listing style of band 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer adds the sharp final line 'Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here', a compact evaluative twist that gives the answer a more finished, deliberate close than band 7.0's ending.

   Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes. Beyond that, anything serving the growing middle class does well: private clinics, English centres, real estate, motorbike dealers. Manufacturing for export is the big engine nationally, especially electronics and garments. Technology firms doing outsourced work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly. What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes. Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here.

   Why this band

   • FC“Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here.” — A short, punchy closing sentence that adds a contrasting final observation rather than simply restating the pattern, a more polished, deliberate finish than the reflective but self-contained ending at band 7.0.
   • LR“Manufacturing for export is the big engine nationally” — The definite article 'the' before 'big engine' gives the metaphor slightly more authority and precision than the indefinite 'a big engine' phrasing used at band 7.0, a small but deliberate lexical choice.
   • GRA“Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here” — A compact subject-heavy sentence, 'businesses selling X', packs the whole argument into a single clause rather than a separate explanatory sentence, a more economical construction than the equivalent idea would take at lower bands.

2. 2. How easy is it to start a successful business?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'starting easy, succeeding hard' opinion with one personal example, using the plain connector 'but' three times and simple vocabulary like 'a different matter' and 'hard parts'.

   Starting is easy, but succeeding is a different matter. In Vietnam you can open a food stall in a week with almost no paperwork, which is why every street has several of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed after eight months, but the second one, which he opened using everything he had learned from the first, is still open fifteen years later. The hard parts are money, since most new businesses fail because they run out of cash before customers arrive, and competition, since anything that works gets copied. So starting is easy, but surviving is much harder.

   Why this band

   • GRA“My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed after eight months, but the second one, which he opened using everything he had learned from the first, is still open fifteen years later.” — A main clause with an inserted 'which' clause and a second main clause joined by 'but', a fairly basic way of packing detail into one sentence. A band 7.5 answer would likely compress this comparison further.
   • LR“a different matter” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific or idiomatic word, such as calling it 'another matter entirely', to sharpen the same contrast.
   • FC“So starting is easy, but surviving is much harder.” — A short, flat closing sentence that repeats the opening idea almost word for word. A higher band would more likely vary the phrasing and add a further, sharper point rather than circling back to the same words.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the semicolon-linked opener 'Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter' and adds the extra reflective sentence about needing 'a genuine edge', giving more developed reasoning than band 6.5.

   Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter. In Vietnam you can open a food stall in a week with almost no paperwork, which is why every street has ten of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed within eight months, and the second, which he opened with everything he'd learnt from the first, is still going fifteen years later. The hard parts are cash - most new businesses die because money runs out before customers arrive - and competition, since whatever works gets copied by next month. Success needs either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else. So it's easy to start, quite hard to survive, and rare to thrive.

   Why this band

   • GRA“Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter.” — A semicolon joins two balanced independent clauses in a tight parallel structure, a more sophisticated construction than the 'but' coordination used for the same contrast at band 6.5.
   • LR“Success needs either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else.” — A more precise, idiomatic collocation ('a genuine edge') than the plainer vocabulary used at band 6.5, though not yet as vivid as the phrasing a 7.5 answer would choose.
   • FC“So it's easy to start, quite hard to survive, and rare to thrive.” — A three-part parallel closing structure gives a more developed, rhythmic final point than the two-part 'easy...but harder' sentence used at band 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer opens with the compact 'the easy half...the real test' pairing and closes with the colon-led 'So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive', a tighter rhythm than band 7.0's fuller closing sentence.

   Starting is the easy half; surviving is the real test. In Vietnam a food stall goes up in a week with barely any paperwork, which is why every street is lined with ten of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue folded within eight months; the second, opened on everything he'd learnt from the wreckage of the first, is still running fifteen years on. The hard parts are cash - most new businesses die waiting for customers who arrive too late - and competition, since anything that works gets copied within the month. Success takes either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else. So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive.

   Why this band

   • GRA“the second, opened on everything he'd learnt from the wreckage of the first, is still running fifteen years on” — A participial phrase ('opened on...') carries the whole clause without its own subject or finite verb, a more compact construction than a full relative clause, and the extended image 'wreckage of the first' packs extra meaning into the same space.
   • LR“most new businesses die waiting for customers who arrive too late” — The image of businesses dying 'waiting for customers who arrive too late' is more vivid and specific than the plainer 'die because money runs out before customers arrive' phrasing at band 7.0, giving the cause a sharper, almost narrative quality.
   • FC“So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive.” — A colon replaces the connective 'it's' used at band 7.0, compressing the three-part rhythm into the tightest possible frame, a more economical and punchy closing line.

3. 3. Is making money the most important thing for a business?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'necessary, not most important' opinion with one example, using the plain connector 'but' three times and simple vocabulary like 'push customers and staff away'.

   It's necessary, but not the most important thing, if that makes sense. My studio once turned down a well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it, and the money would have been useful, but it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business can't survive, so money is like oxygen. But businesses I admire care about something else - making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for years, being proud of the work. The money follows. Businesses that only care about profit tend to push customers and staff away, which is actually bad for profit too.

   Why this band

   • GRA“My studio once turned down a well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it, and the money would have been useful, but it still wasn't worth it.” — Three clauses joined with 'because', 'and' and 'but', a fairly basic way of stacking ideas in one sentence. A band 7 answer would more likely use a dash to separate the reflection from the main claim instead.
   • LR“money is like oxygen” — A simple, direct comparison. A higher band answer would likely extend or sharpen this image further, rather than leaving it as a single plain sentence.
   • FC“Businesses that only care about profit tend to push customers and staff away, which is actually bad for profit too.” — A flat closing sentence stating the irony directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely mark this irony explicitly with a word like 'ironically' for a sharper, more self-aware finish.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer sharpens the opening with the more precise 'the necessary thing, not the most important one', and upgrades 'push away' to the more vivid 'squeeze...until both leave', showing more developed vocabulary than band 6.5.

   It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense. My studio once turned down a very well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it - the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business dies, so money is the oxygen. But the businesses I admire are organised around something else: making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for years, being proud of the work. The money follows from that more often than not. Businesses that put profit first tend to squeeze customers and employees until both leave, which is bad for profit in the end.

   Why this band

   • LR“squeeze customers and employees until both leave” — A more vivid, precise verb choice ('squeeze') than the plainer 'push customers and staff away' phrasing used at band 6.5, capturing a slower, more deliberate process.
   • GRA“the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it” — A dash separates the reflection from the main clause, and the two ideas are joined smoothly with 'and', a more polished construction than the three-clause chain a band 6.5 answer used for the same content.
   • FC“It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense” — The phrase 'if that distinction makes sense' adds a small reflective, conversational check typical of band 7.0, a nuance a band 6.5 answer would more likely leave out.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer upgrades 'for years' to the more precise 'for decades', and adds the explicit marker 'ironically' to the closing observation, giving a sharper, more self-aware finish than the plainer band 7.0 ending.

   It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense. My studio once turned down a very well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it - the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business dies, so money is the oxygen. But the businesses I admire are organised around something else: making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for decades, being proud of the work. The money follows from that more often than not. Businesses that put profit first tend to squeeze customers and employees until both leave, which, ironically, is bad for profit.

   Why this band

   • LR“keeping staff for decades” — The more specific time frame 'decades' replaces the vaguer 'for years' phrasing used at band 7.0, a small but deliberate precision typical of the more exact vocabulary expected at band 7.5.
   • GRA“which, ironically, is bad for profit” — The evaluative word 'ironically' is inserted mid-clause, set off by commas, rather than left implicit as at band 7.0, a more compact and pointed way of flagging the irony directly within the sentence.
   • FC“making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for decades, being proud of the work” — A tight list of three parallel gerund phrases with no connecting words between them gives the sentence a punchier, more deliberate rhythm than a version padded with 'and' throughout.

4. 4. Why are some people more successful than other people?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives two main reasons and one example, using the plain connector 'also' twice and simple vocabulary like 'a big role' and 'never get to knock on'.

   Talent matters less than people think, and finishing matters more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had similar ability - one released lots of imperfect projects and now runs his own studio, while the other kept polishing everything and released almost nothing. Luck also plays a big role, like being in the right city or having supportive parents, and successful people forget how much that helped. Persistence, being willing to look foolish, and asking for help separate people more than intelligence does. Success also builds on itself, since one small win opens doors that others never get to knock on.

   Why this band

   • GRA“one released lots of imperfect projects and now runs his own studio, while the other kept polishing everything and released almost nothing” — A long clause pair joined by 'while', a fairly basic contrastive structure. A band 7 answer would more likely trim this comparison into two shorter, punchier parallel phrases.
   • LR“a big role” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific word to describe the size of luck's influence rather than the everyday 'a big role'.
   • FC“Success also builds on itself, since one small win opens doors that others never get to knock on.” — A flat closing sentence stating the idea directly with 'since'. A 7.5 answer would more likely compress this into a shorter, more vivid metaphor instead of a fuller explanatory clause.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer replaces the 'while' clause with a tighter semicolon structure, and upgrades 'builds on itself' to the more precise verb 'compounds', showing sharper, more deliberate vocabulary than band 6.5.

   Talent matters less than people think, and finishing matters more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had roughly equal ability; one released ugly, imperfect projects constantly and now runs a studio, the other polished everything endlessly and released almost nothing. Luck plays a big role too - being in the right city, having parents who could support a risky first year - and people who succeed tend to underestimate that. Persistence, the willingness to look foolish, and the habit of asking for help seem to separate people more than intelligence does. And success compounds: the first small win opens doors that the second person never gets to knock on.

   Why this band

   • GRA“Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had roughly equal ability; one released ugly, imperfect projects constantly and now runs a studio, the other polished everything endlessly and released almost nothing.” — A semicolon joins two balanced parallel clauses without a connecting word, a tighter, more sophisticated structure than the 'while'-joined sentence used for the same contrast at band 6.5.
   • LR“And success compounds” — A more precise, formal verb ('compounds') than the plainer 'builds on itself' phrasing used at band 6.5, borrowing a term with a specific, mathematical sense of accumulating advantage.
   • FC“being in the right city, having parents who could support a risky first year” — Two examples are listed as a compact dash-separated pair rather than joined with 'like' and 'or', a small stylistic tightening typical of band 7.0's more economical phrasing.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer drops the 'and' between the two classmates' fates for a punchier dash-led contrast, and closes with the vivid verb 'pries open' in place of band 7.0's plainer 'opens', a more deliberate, image-based finish.

   Talent counts for less than people assume; finishing counts for more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi were roughly matched in ability - one shipped ugly, imperfect projects on a loop and now runs his own studio, the other polished endlessly and shipped almost nothing. Luck plays its part too, being in the right city, having parents who could bankroll a risky first year, and the people who make it tend to write that part out of the story. Persistence, a willingness to look foolish, and the habit of asking for help seem to separate people more than raw intelligence ever does. And success compounds: that first small win pries open doors the second person never even gets to knock on.

   Why this band

   • LR“the people who make it tend to write that part out of the story” — The idiom 'write...out of the story' is a vivid, less-common way of describing how survivors downplay luck, more distinctive than the plainer 'tend to underestimate that' phrasing used at band 7.0.
   • GRA“one shipped ugly, imperfect projects on a loop and now runs his own studio, the other polished endlessly and shipped almost nothing” — The two classmates' fates are set side by side with a comma instead of 'while', a tighter parallel construction than the semicolon-and-conjunction structure used at band 7.0 for the same contrast.
   • FC“that first small win pries open doors the second person never even gets to knock on” — The verb 'pries open' is more forceful and specific than the plainer 'opens' used in the equivalent closing line at band 7.0, giving the final metaphor a sharper, more deliberate edge.

5. 5. Is being successful at work necessary for a successful life?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'no' opinion with one personal example and one contrast, using the plain connector 'but' once and simple vocabulary like 'empty lives' and 'rich ones'.

   No, even though our culture wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never had a job with a title - she raised five children, ran a market stall, and keeps the family together - and by any measure that matters, she has one of the most successful lives I know. Work success is one path to respect and security, and for many it's a source of meaning. But plenty with great careers have empty lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist.

   Why this band

   • GRA“My grandmother never had a job with a title - she raised five children, ran a market stall, and keeps the family together - and by any measure that matters, she has one of the most successful lives I know.” — A long sentence built from several clauses joined mainly with dashes and 'and', a fairly direct way of stacking detail. A band 7.5 answer would more likely tighten this into a punchier, more compact structure.
   • LR“empty lives” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more distinctive or idiomatic word, such as 'hollow', to describe the same idea more vividly.
   • FC“I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist.” — A short, direct closing sentence stating the conclusion plainly. A 7.5 answer would more likely add a final twist, pointing out that neither condition has to happen at work.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'empty lives' to the more precise 'hollow lives', and extends the closing sentence with 'though neither has to happen at work', giving a fuller, more developed final point than band 6.5.

   No, though our culture badly wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never held a job with a title - she raised five children, kept a market stall, and holds the whole extended family together - and by any measure that matters she has one of the most successful lives I know. Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning. But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, though neither has to happen at work.

   Why this band

   • LR“plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives” — A more vivid, precise adjective ('hollow') than the plainer 'empty lives' phrasing used at band 6.5, giving the contrast a sharper, more distinctive edge.
   • GRA“I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, though neither has to happen at work” — A 'though' clause is added onto the closing sentence to qualify the claim further, a more developed structure than the simpler final sentence a band 6.5 answer used to close the same idea.
   • FC“Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning” — The phrase 'a genuine source of meaning' adds a reflective concession before the main counterargument, a small nuance typical of band 7.0's mild elaboration.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer upgrades 'one of the most successful lives' to the more absolute, punchier 'the most successful life of anyone I know', and closes with 'neither of those has to happen at work', a compact final twist sharper than band 7.0's ending.

   No, though our culture badly wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never held a job with a title - she raised five children, kept a market stall, and holds the whole extended family together - and by any measure that matters she has the most successful life of anyone I know. Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning. But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, and neither of those has to happen at work.

   Why this band

   • LR“she has the most successful life of anyone I know” — The absolute superlative claim ('the most successful life of anyone I know') is bolder and more idiomatic than the hedged 'one of the most successful lives I know' phrasing at band 7.0, showing more confident, precise word choice.
   • GRA“and neither of those has to happen at work” — The pronoun 'those' compactly refers back to both conditions named in the previous clause, a more economical construction than repeating or restating them, characteristic of band 7.5's tighter grammar.
   • FC“But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones.” — A tight, symmetrical two-part contrast lands the counterargument in one balanced sentence, giving the point a more polished, deliberate rhythm than a looser equivalent would.

6. 6. Does having a positive attitude always bring financial success?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'no, not always' opinion with one example, using the plain connector 'but' once and simple vocabulary like 'even seen' and 'what actually works'.

   No, not always. I once met a very cheerful café owner near my office who greeted every customer like an old friend, and he still went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high. Attitude does help, since optimistic people keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which can bring opportunities. But it can't replace a good product, good numbers, and some luck. I've even seen positive thinking become a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them. A positive attitude combined with a realistic one is probably what actually works.

   Why this band

   • GRA“I once met a very cheerful café owner near my office who greeted every customer like an old friend, and he still went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high.” — A long sentence built with 'who', 'and' and 'because', a fairly basic way of stacking clauses. A band 7 answer would likely split this differently for a tighter, more dramatic effect.
   • LR“become a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them” — A plain, functional phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more vivid or idiomatic way to describe positive thinking used as a form of avoidance.
   • FC“A positive attitude combined with a realistic one is probably what actually works.” — A short, flat closing sentence stating the conclusion directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely phrase this same conclusion as a punchier, more compressed final line.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the idiomatic 'and "always" is doing a lot of work in that question' and closes with the more compact 'the combination that actually pays', showing sharper phrasing than the plainer band 6.5 sentences.

   Not always, no - and 'always' is doing a lot of work in that question. The most relentlessly cheerful business owner I've ever met ran a café near my office, greeted every customer like a long-lost friend, and went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high. Attitude helps: optimists keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which brings opportunities. But it's no substitute for a good product, sound numbers and luck. If anything, I've seen positive thinking become a way of not looking at problems. A positive attitude plus a realistic one is the combination that actually pays.

   Why this band

   • FC“and 'always' is doing a lot of work in that question” — An idiomatic phrase ('doing a lot of work') is used to comment on the question itself, a more reflective, self-aware opening than the flatter 'is really the key word' phrasing at band 6.5.
   • LR“If anything, I've seen positive thinking become a way of not looking at problems” — The phrase 'a way of not looking at problems' is more precise and slightly ironic than the plainer 'a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them' phrasing used at band 6.5.
   • GRA“Attitude helps: optimists keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which brings opportunities.” — A colon introduces the explanation directly, followed by a 'which' clause, a more compact and varied structure than the fuller 'since' clause a band 6.5 answer used for the same content.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'curdle' for positive thinking turning sour, and the participial closing 'done in by bad coffee and worse rent', showing more compressed, image-based grammar than the fuller band 7.0 sentences.

   Always, no - that word is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the question. The most relentlessly cheerful business owner I've ever met ran a café near my office, greeted every customer like a long-lost friend, and was bankrupt within the year, done in by bad coffee and worse rent. Attitude does help: optimists keep going after setbacks and are simply nicer to work with, which tends to open doors. But it's no substitute for a decent product, sound numbers, and a slice of luck. If anything, I've watched positive thinking curdle into a way of refusing to look at problems at all. Attitude paired with realism is the combination that actually pays off.

   Why this band

   • GRA“was bankrupt within the year, done in by bad coffee and worse rent” — A participial phrase ('done in by...') replaces the fuller 'because the coffee was bad and the rent was high' clause used at band 7.0, a more compact and flexible way of attaching the cause.
   • LR“I've watched positive thinking curdle into a way of refusing to look at problems” — The verb 'curdle', borrowed from describing milk turning sour, is a vivid, less-common metaphor for optimism souring into denial, more distinctive than the plainer 'become a way of not looking at problems' phrasing at band 7.0.
   • FC“Attitude paired with realism is the combination that actually pays off” — The phrase 'paired with' replaces the plainer 'plus' used at band 7.0, and 'pays off' extends the closing pun slightly further, giving the final line a marginally more polished, idiomatic finish.

7. 7. Why is fame seen as a desirable form of success by many people?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'because' reason with one example and two extra points, using the plain connector 'also' once and simple vocabulary like 'never feeling lonely' and 'turn off'.

   Because it's the type of success everyone can see. A classmate of mine once had an app covered in the press, and within a week people who had ignored him for years started treating him like an expert, even though nothing about his skill had changed, only how visible he was. Fame promises everything else at once - money, respect, being chosen, never feeling lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially since people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't turn off.

   Why this band

   • GRA“A classmate of mine once had an app covered in the press, and within a week people who had ignored him for years started treating him like an expert, even though nothing about his skill had changed, only how visible he was.” — A long sentence built from 'and', 'who' and 'even though' clauses stacked together, a fairly basic way of packing in detail. A band 7 answer would more likely split this into two tighter sentences.
   • LR“everything else at once” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more precise or vivid word to describe fame promising several things simultaneously.
   • FC“What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't turn off.” — A flat closing sentence stating the distinction directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely add a final reflective remark acknowledging how hard this truth is to learn from a distance.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer replaces the 'even though' clause with a compact dash-led contrast ('nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility'), and lists the promised forms of success in a tight colon-led list, showing more economical phrasing than band 6.5.

   Because it's the form of success that everyone can see. A classmate of mine had an app covered in the press once, and within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility. Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once: money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially now that people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't switch off.

   Why this band

   • GRA“within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility” — A dash introduces a compact contrastive clause in place of the fuller 'even though...only how visible he was' construction used at band 6.5, a more economical and polished structure.
   • LR“Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once” — The phrase 'all the other forms' is more precise than the vaguer 'everything else' phrasing at band 6.5, treating fame as one category among several named kinds of success.
   • FC“money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely” — A tight, comma-separated list with no connecting words gives this line a punchier rhythm than a fuller list joined with 'and', a small stylistic choice typical of band 7.0.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer adds the short, reflective final sentence 'But you have to be quite close to it to learn that', a compact closing twist that acknowledges the limits of outside observation, sharper than band 7.0's ending.

   Because it's the form of success that everyone can see. A classmate of mine had an app covered in the press once, and within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility. Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once: money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially now that people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't switch off. But you have to be quite close to it to learn that.

   Why this band

   • FC“But you have to be quite close to it to learn that.” — A short, understated final sentence adds a reflective twist about the limits of knowing this from outside, giving the answer a more deliberate, self-aware close than the flatter ending at band 7.0.
   • LR“attention is something you can't switch off” — The verb 'switch off', evoking a device, is a vivid, concrete metaphor for describing an abstract state, more distinctive than a plainer verb like 'stop' or 'end'.
   • GRA“especially now that people can become known from a bedroom” — The compact prepositional phrase 'from a bedroom' stands in for a fuller explanation of internet fame, an economical, image-based construction rather than a longer explanatory clause.

8. 8. Why are some successful people unhappy with their lives?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives one main reason with one example and two extra points, using the plain connector 'also' once and simple vocabulary like 'moving' and 'find nobody there'.

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine achieved every professional goal he'd set for himself over ten years, and when I met him again after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success is built by giving things up - relationships, health, curiosity - and the cost shows up later. There's the problem of goals moving, since each achievement feels normal within a month. And some chase their parents' idea of success, and reach it only to find nobody there.

   Why this band

   • GRA“A former boss of mine achieved every professional goal he'd set for himself over ten years, and when I met him again after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday.” — A long sentence built with 'and' and 'when' clauses stacked together, a fairly direct way of packing in the whole anecdote. A band 7.5 answer would likely trim this into a tighter, more compressed structure.
   • LR“the problem of goals moving” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific or idiomatic term, such as 'moving goalposts', to describe the same phenomenon.
   • FC“and reach it only to find nobody there” — A short, plain closing image. A 7.5 answer would more likely sharpen this final phrase into a more vivid or unexpected word choice for a stronger emotional close.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'giving things up' to the more precise 'sacrificing', and 'goals moving' to the idiomatic 'moving goalposts', showing sharper, more distinctive vocabulary than band 6.5.

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine hit every professional goal he'd set himself for a decade, and when I ran into him after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later. There's also the problem of moving goalposts: each achievement feels ordinary within a month. And some people were chasing their parents' definition of success rather than their own, and reach it only to find nobody home.

   Why this band

   • LR“the problem of moving goalposts” — A precise, idiomatic phrase ('moving goalposts') replacing the vaguer 'goals moving' description used at band 6.5, naming the phenomenon with an established figure of speech.
   • GRA“Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later.” — A dash-separated list is dropped directly into the sentence, followed by a compact metaphorical clause ('the bill arrives later'), a more economical structure than the fuller sentence a band 6.5 answer used for the same idea.
   • FC“and reach it only to find nobody home” — The idiom 'nobody home' gives the closing image a sharper, more evocative finish than the plainer 'find nobody there' phrasing used at band 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer adds the compact closing line 'Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough', a compressed final abstraction that gives the answer a more philosophical, deliberate finish than band 7.0's ending.

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine hit every professional goal he'd set himself for a decade, and when I ran into him after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later. There's also the problem of moving goalposts: each achievement feels ordinary within a month. And some people were chasing their parents' definition of success rather than their own, and reach it only to find nobody home. Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough.

   Why this band

   • FC“Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough.” — A final abstract, aphoristic sentence closes the answer with a generalising reflection rather than stopping at the last concrete example, giving it a more deliberate, essay-like finish typical of band 7.5.
   • GRA“which is enough” — A minimal, verbless tag closes the final sentence rather than a fuller explanatory clause, a highly compressed construction that trusts the reader to fill in the meaning, characteristic of band 7.5's flexible grammar.
   • LR“something success can't supply” — The precise verb 'supply' treats happiness and success as comparable resources, a more distinctive and deliberate word choice than a plainer verb like 'give' or 'bring'.

9. 9. Is it impossible to feel successful without contributing to the good of society?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'not impossible' opinion with one example and one contrast, using the plain connector 'but' twice and simple vocabulary like 'a bit empty' and 'keep feeling that way'.

   Not impossible, I think, but harder than people expect. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage just for his own enjoyment, doesn't contribute anything to anyone, and seems completely happy - so private success clearly exists. But most people, once their needs are met, start looking for ways to matter to someone else, and success that helps nobody starts to feel a bit empty. In a culture like mine, where family and community are central, feeling successful automatically involves others. So it's possible to feel successful alone, but not many people manage to keep feeling that way.

   Why this band

   • GRA“A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage just for his own enjoyment, doesn't contribute anything to anyone, and seems completely happy - so private success clearly exists.” — A list of three verb phrases joined with commas and 'and', followed by a 'so' clause, a fairly basic way of building a long sentence. A band 7 answer would more likely tighten this into a punchier structure.
   • LR“starts to feel a bit empty” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more precise or vivid word, such as 'weightless', to describe the same feeling more distinctively.
   • FC“So it's possible to feel successful alone, but not many people manage to keep feeling that way.” — A flat closing sentence stating the conclusion directly with 'but'. A 7.5 answer would more likely phrase this final point more compactly, without repeating the word 'feel' twice.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'a bit empty' to the more precise 'weightless', and replaces the closing 'but' with a semicolon-linked structure, giving a more sophisticated final contrast than band 6.5.

   Not impossible, I think, but it's harder than people expect. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage purely for his own pleasure, contributes nothing to anyone, and seems completely fulfilled - so private success clearly exists. But I've noticed that most people, once their own needs are met, start looking for a way to matter to someone else, and success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless. In a culture like mine, where family and community are central, feeling successful automatically involves others. So it's possible to feel successful alone; it's just that few people manage to stay feeling that way.

   Why this band

   • LR“success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless” — A more vivid, precise adjective ('weightless') than the plainer 'a bit empty' phrasing used at band 6.5, giving the idea a more distinctive, almost physical quality.
   • GRA“So it's possible to feel successful alone; it's just that few people manage to stay feeling that way.” — A semicolon links two balanced clauses instead of the plain 'but' coordination used at band 6.5, a more sophisticated way of closing the contrast.
   • FC“most people, once their own needs are met, start looking for a way to matter to someone else” — The inserted 'once their own needs are met' clause adds a reflective condition to the claim, a small elaborative touch typical of band 7.0 that a band 6.5 answer would more likely state as a flatter fact.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the idiomatic 'drags other people into the picture' and the inserted aside 'in practice', showing more precise, flexible phrasing than the fuller band 7.0 sentences.

   Not impossible, I'd say, though harder than it sounds. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage purely for his own pleasure, contributes nothing to anyone else, and seems entirely fulfilled by it - private success plainly exists. But most people, I've noticed, once their own needs are covered, start hunting for some way to matter to somebody else, and success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless before long. In a culture like mine, where family and community sit at the centre of everything, feeling successful almost inevitably drags other people into the picture. So it's possible to feel successful alone; very few people, in practice, manage to keep feeling that way for long.

   Why this band

   • GRA“once their own needs are covered, start hunting for some way to matter to somebody else” — The verb 'hunting' replaces the plainer 'looking' used at band 7.0, and 'covered' replaces 'met', small but deliberate upgrades that give the clause a slightly more vivid, active feel.
   • LR“feeling successful almost inevitably drags other people into the picture” — The idiom 'drags...into the picture' is a vivid, less-common way of describing involvement, more distinctive than the plainer 'automatically involves others' phrasing used at band 7.0.
   • FC“very few people, in practice, manage to keep feeling that way for long” — The inserted aside 'in practice' is placed mid-clause rather than left out, a more flexible position than band 7.0's plainer 'it's just that' framing, giving the closing line a slightly more considered, precise finish.