A Public Building You Enjoy Being In

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 things make a building a nice place to live in?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct preference and lists supporting points with simple connectors like 'also' and 'too', giving one clear personal example throughout.

   For me, natural light and good airflow matter the most, more than the size of the space. My own apartment has tall windows facing the Han River, and even though the floor plan is small, the light makes it feel open. Enough storage also matters, so the place doesn't get messy. I also think a nice building has a sense of community, like a lobby where neighbours actually say hello to each other. Location matters too, since being close to cafés and the market saves a lot of daily hassle. These small things matter more than expensive finishes.

   Why this band

   • FC“I also think a nice building has a sense of community, like a lobby where neighbours actually say hello to each other.” — This new point, introduced with 'I also think', is added as a separate sentence rather than fused into the surrounding argument.
   • LR“These small things matter more than expensive finishes.” — This is plain, generic phrasing for the closing evaluation, functional but not particularly vivid.
   • GRA“My own apartment has tall windows facing the Han River, and even though the floor plan is small, the light makes it feel open.” — This sentence combines a simple coordinated clause with a basic 'even though' clause, standard tools at this band.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with 'For me, honestly' and closes with the reflective observation about location saving 'a surprising amount of daily hassle', more natural than the 6.5 version's plainer statements.

   For me, honestly, natural light and good airflow make more difference than the size of the space itself. My own flat has these tall windows looking out toward the Han River, and even on a fairly small floor plan, the light makes it feel far more open than it actually is. Storage matters too — enough cupboards that the place never feels cluttered. Beyond the physical layout, I'd say a nice building also needs some sense of community, like a lobby where you actually greet your neighbours rather than just nodding. Location plays a role as well, since a ten-minute walk to cafés and the market saves a surprising amount of daily hassle.

   Why this band

   • FC“Beyond the physical layout, I'd say a nice building also needs some sense of community” — This transition phrase, 'Beyond the physical layout', organises the answer into stages rather than simply appending points, showing more deliberate coherence-building than 6.5.
   • LR“saves a surprising amount of daily hassle” — This is a natural, moderately vivid collocation, more fluent than the plainer phrasing used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“even on a fairly small floor plan, the light makes it feel far more open than it actually is” — This sentence embeds a comparative clause ('far more...than it actually is') inside a concessive 'even on' clause, more complex than the simple sentences used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid phrase 'clutter never gets a foothold' and the adverb 'deceptively', and closes with the compact evaluative sentence about small things adding up to 'far more than luxury finishes ever do', showing its most idiomatic phrasing.

   Natural light and decent airflow, honestly, make a bigger difference to me than the size of the space itself. My own flat has these tall windows looking out toward the Han River, and even on a fairly modest floor plan, the light alone makes it feel deceptively open. Storage matters too, if less romantically — enough cupboards that clutter never gets a foothold. Beyond the physical layout, though, a genuinely nice building has some sense of community baked in, a lobby where neighbours actually greet each other rather than just nod and look away. Location plays its part as well, since being a ten-minute walk from cafés and the market quietly saves an enormous amount of daily hassle. All these small things, in my experience, add up to far more than luxury finishes ever do.

   Why this band

   • FC“All these small things, in my experience, add up to far more than luxury finishes ever do.” — This closing synthesis, with the parenthetical 'in my experience' inserted mid-sentence, is a more elaborate evaluative move than the plain closing sentence used at 6.5.
   • LR“clutter never gets a foothold” — This vivid, idiomatic personification of clutter is more striking than the plain 'doesn't get messy' phrasing used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“the light alone makes it feel deceptively open” — The adverb 'deceptively' modifying 'open' packs an implied contrast into a single word, a more compressed structure than the explicit comparison used at 7.0.

2. 2. Do you think it is better for most people to live in flats or apartments than in houses?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer states a direct opinion ('flats make more sense') and lists supporting points with simple connectors like 'also' and 'But', giving one personal example throughout.

   For most people in cities, I think flats make more sense, mainly because of limited land and lower cost. I live in a one-bedroom apartment myself, and it suits me well because I don't need a garden and I like being close to work by the river. Flats also often have security and shared facilities, like the small gym in my building, which houses usually don't offer at the same price. But houses give families more space and privacy, which matters more once there are children. So it depends on the stage of life — flats suit young professionals, and houses often suit families better.

   Why this band

   • FC“But houses give families more space and privacy, which matters more once there are children.” — This new sentence, starting with 'But', introduces the counterpoint as a separate additive statement rather than fusing it into the argument.
   • LR“mainly because of limited land and lower cost” — This is plain, functional phrasing listing two reasons with a simple 'and'.
   • GRA“So it depends on the stage of life — flats suit young professionals, and houses often suit families better.” — This closing sentence uses a simple coordinated 'and' clause after the dash, the most basic way of contrasting two groups.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with 'For most people in cities, honestly' and uses the contrastive marker 'That said' before its counterpoint, showing more deliberate organisation than the 6.5 answer's plain 'But'.

   For most people in cities, honestly, flats make more practical sense, mainly because of limited land and the lower cost that comes with it. I live in a one-bedroom apartment myself, and it suits my lifestyle well since I don't need a garden and I like being close to work on the riverfront. Flats also tend to come with security and shared facilities, like the small gym in my building, which houses usually don't offer at a comparable price. That said, houses give families more space and privacy, which starts to matter a lot more once children are involved. So it really depends on the stage of life — flats suiting young professionals, houses often suiting growing families better.

   Why this band

   • FC“That said, houses give families more space and privacy, which starts to matter a lot more once children are involved.” — The discourse marker 'That said' signals a considered shift in the argument, more deliberate than the plain 'But' used for the same pivot at 6.5.
   • LR“which houses usually don't offer at a comparable price” — This is a natural, moderately precise phrase ('a comparable price'), a step up from the plainer equivalent phrasing at 6.5.
   • GRA“So it really depends on the stage of life — flats suiting young professionals, houses often suiting growing families better.” — The dash-linked closing uses a participial construction ('flats suiting...houses...suiting') instead of a finite coordinated clause, a more compressed structure than the simple 'and' clause used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid phrase 'more room to breathe' and closes with the compact colon-linked sentence naming flats and houses by life stage, showing its most economical, idiomatic phrasing.

   For most people in cities, flats make the more practical choice, mainly because land is limited and the cost savings follow from that. I live in a one-bedroom apartment myself, and it suits my lifestyle well since I've no need for a garden and I like being within walking distance of work on the riverfront. Flats also tend to come bundled with security and shared facilities — the small gym in my building, for instance — which houses rarely match at a comparable price. That said, houses give families more room to breathe and more privacy, both of which matter considerably more once children enter the picture. So it really comes down to life stage: flats for young professionals starting out, houses for growing families needing the extra space.

   Why this band

   • FC“So it really comes down to life stage: flats for young professionals starting out, houses for growing families needing the extra space.” — This colon-linked closing list compresses the whole contrast into a single sentence without repeating a verb, a tighter synthesis than the coordinated closing sentence used at 7.0.
   • LR“houses give families more room to breathe” — This is a vivid, idiomatic collocation, more evocative than the plain 'more space' phrasing used for the same idea at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • GRA“both of which matter considerably more once children enter the picture” — The relative clause 'both of which' refers back to two coordinated noun phrases at once, a more compressed reference than the simpler 'which' clause used at 6.5/7.0.

3. 3. Why do some people choose to live in the countryside?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a short fragment answer ('Mainly for more space and a slower pace of life') and lists reasons with simple connectors like 'also' and 'so', giving one personal example.

   Mainly for more space and a slower pace of life. Land is cheaper outside the city, so people can afford a real house with a garden instead of a small flat. A colleague of mine, Huy, moved near Hoi An last year, partly to get his children away from the noise and traffic of downtown Da Nang. Cleaner air and being closer to family are also big reasons, especially for people who grew up in the countryside. The downside is convenience, of course — commuting takes longer, and there are fewer shops and entertainment options, so it isn't right for everyone.

   Why this band

   • FC“The downside is convenience, of course — commuting takes longer, and there are fewer shops and entertainment options, so it isn't right for everyone.” — This closing sentence lists the downsides with simple 'and'/'so' coordination, a basic additive structure for wrapping up the answer.
   • LR“get his children away from the noise and traffic” — This is plain, functional phrasing describing the motive.
   • GRA“Land is cheaper outside the city, so people can afford a real house with a garden instead of a small flat.” — This is a simple result clause joined with 'so', the most basic way of expressing a consequence.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the hedge 'I'd say' and marks its closing shift with 'The trade-off, obviously, is convenience', showing more natural spoken framing than the 6.5 version's plainer statements.

   Mainly for space and a slower pace of life, I'd say. Land is cheaper outside the city, so people can afford an actual house with a garden rather than a cramped flat. A colleague of mine, Huy, moved out toward Hoi An last year, partly to get his kids away from the noise and traffic of downtown Da Nang. Cleaner air and being closer to extended family are big draws too, especially for people who grew up rurally and want that connection back. The trade-off, obviously, is convenience — commuting takes longer, and there's less access to entertainment or specialist shops, so it's not the right choice for everyone.

   Why this band

   • FC“The trade-off, obviously, is convenience — commuting takes longer, and there's less access to entertainment or specialist shops” — The dash-linked structure, with the parenthetical 'obviously' inserted, organises the concession more deliberately than the plain 'The downside is...' sentence used at 6.5.
   • LR“Cleaner air and being closer to extended family are big draws too” — This is a natural, moderately vivid collocation ('big draws'), more fluent than the plainer phrasing used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“especially for people who grew up rurally and want that connection back” — This relative clause coordinates two verbs ('grew up...and want...') inside a single clause, a more complex structure than the short separate sentences typical of 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise verb 'relocated' and closes with the compact colon-linked concession about the trade-off, showing more compressed, idiomatic phrasing than the lower bands.

   Mainly for space and a slower pace of life, honestly. Land is cheaper once you're outside the city, so people can afford an actual house with a garden rather than a cramped flat. A colleague of mine, Huy, relocated toward Hoi An last year, partly to get his kids away from the noise and traffic of downtown Da Nang. Cleaner air and proximity to extended family are big draws too, especially for people who grew up rurally and find themselves craving that connection again. The trade-off, inevitably, is convenience: commuting stretches out, entertainment and specialist shops thin considerably, and so it's a choice that suits some stages of life far better than others.

   Why this band

   • FC“The trade-off, inevitably, is convenience: commuting stretches out, entertainment and specialist shops thin considerably” — This colon-linked list, using the vivid verbs 'stretches out' and 'thin', compresses the concession into a single flowing sentence, more idiomatic than the plainer dash structure used at 7.0.
   • LR“entertainment and specialist shops thin considerably” — The verb 'thin' used intransitively for shops becoming scarcer is a vivid, less common word choice than the plain 'there's less access to' phrasing used at 7.0.
   • GRA“find themselves craving that connection again” — This uses a reflexive present-participle construction ('find themselves craving') instead of a simple verb, a more flexible structure than the plain 'want that connection back' used at 7.0.

4. 4. What makes historic buildings worth saving?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct general claim and adds points with simple connectors like 'also' and 'too', giving one clear example (the Hue citadel).

   Historic buildings hold a kind of memory that new buildings cannot really copy, and they connect people to their city's past. The old citadel area in Hue, where my parents still live, is a good example — walking through it, you get a real sense of what life looked like generations ago. They are also often built in unique ways, using techniques or materials that people don't really use anymore. Historic buildings also bring in tourism money, which helps the whole local economy. Of course, not every old building is worth saving just for being old, but ones with real cultural value definitely deserve the cost of saving them.

   Why this band

   • FC“Historic buildings also bring in tourism money, which helps the whole local economy.” — This point, introduced with 'also', is a separate additive sentence rather than being integrated into the flow of the previous idea.
   • LR“hold a kind of memory that new buildings cannot really copy” — This is plain, functional phrasing using the everyday verb 'copy'.
   • GRA“They are also often built in unique ways, using techniques or materials that people don't really use anymore.” — This sentence uses a simple relative-style 'that' clause, a basic way of adding descriptive detail.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with 'honestly' inserted mid-sentence and closes with the hedge 'of course', showing more natural spoken qualification than the 6.5 answer's flatter statements.

   Historic buildings hold a kind of memory that new construction just can't replicate, honestly — they connect people to their city's past in a way nothing else quite manages. The old citadel area in Hue, where my parents still live, is a good example; walking through it, you get a genuine sense of what life looked like generations ago, which no modern building could really give you. They're also often architecturally unique, built with techniques or materials that have mostly fallen out of use. Beyond sentiment, they bring in tourism revenue too, which benefits the wider local economy. Not every old building deserves preservation simply for being old, of course, but the ones with genuine cultural significance are certainly worth the effort and cost.

   Why this band

   • FC“Beyond sentiment, they bring in tourism revenue too, which benefits the wider local economy.” — The transition phrase 'Beyond sentiment' organises the answer into a new stage of argument, more deliberate than the plain 'also' used for the same point at 6.5.
   • LR“bring in tourism revenue too, which benefits the wider local economy” — 'Tourism revenue' is a more precise, formal collocation than the plainer 'tourism money' used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“walking through it, you get a genuine sense of what life looked like generations ago, which no modern building could really give you” — This sentence embeds a participial phrase ('walking through it') before a relative clause ('which...'), a more complex structure than the simple sentences used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise verb 'tether' for the buildings' connective power and closes with the compact phrase 'unquestionably worth the cost and effort of saving', showing its most idiomatic, evaluative phrasing.

   Historic buildings hold a kind of memory that new construction simply can't replicate — they tether people to their city's past in a way nothing else quite manages. The old citadel area in Hue, where my parents still live, is a good example; wandering through it, you get a genuine sense of what life looked like generations ago, something no modern building could ever offer. They're also often architecturally unique, built with techniques or materials that have largely fallen out of use. Beyond sentiment, there's a harder economic case too: they draw tourism revenue that ripples through the wider local economy. Not every old building deserves preservation purely for being old, of course, but the ones carrying genuine cultural or historical weight are unquestionably worth the cost and effort of saving.

   Why this band

   • FC“Beyond sentiment, there's a harder economic case too: they draw tourism revenue that ripples through the wider local economy.” — The colon-linked structure here explicitly frames the second argument as 'a harder economic case', a more deliberate rhetorical move than the plainer transition used at 7.0.
   • LR“they tether people to their city's past” — 'Tether' is a vivid, less common verb, more precise than the plainer 'connect' used for the same idea at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • GRA“tourism revenue that ripples through the wider local economy” — The relative clause here uses the figurative verb 'ripples through', a more compressed and vivid image than the plain 'which benefits' clause used at 7.0.

5. 5. Do you think it is always better to save historic buildings than to build new ones?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct 'Not always, no' and gives one plain example, connecting ideas with simple 'but' and 'so', typical of the straightforward reasoning at this band.

   Not always, no, I think it depends on the building's condition and how important it is. Some buildings are genuinely important for culture and should be saved almost at any cost, but others are just old without being special, and forcing people to preserve them can hold a city back. I remember reading about an old warehouse near the river that the city turned into a modern art space instead of restoring it, and the result seems more useful to people now. New buildings can also do things old ones can't, like better accessibility. So I would judge it case by case rather than always choosing preservation.

   Why this band

   • FC“So I would judge it case by case rather than always choosing preservation.” — This closing sentence, starting with 'So', gives a plain sequential conclusion rather than a more elaborate final synthesis.
   • LR“just old without being special” — This is plain, everyday phrasing, functional but not particularly vivid.
   • GRA“but others are just old without being special, and forcing people to preserve them can hold a city back” — This sentence combines two coordinated clauses with 'but' and 'and', the most basic way of linking several ideas together.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the dash-linked 'Not always, no — it really depends' and adds the reflective aside 'honestly the result seems more useful to residents now', more natural than the 6.5 version's plainer statements.

   Not always, no — it really depends on the building's condition and how significant it actually is. Some structures are genuinely important culturally and should be preserved almost at any cost, but others are simply old without being particularly special, and forcing preservation there can hold a city back. I remember reading about a rundown warehouse near the river that the city eventually redeveloped into a modern art space rather than restoring it as it was, and honestly the result seems more useful to residents now. New buildings can also meet needs old ones can't, like better accessibility or energy efficiency. So I'd judge it case by case rather than assuming preservation is automatically the right call.

   Why this band

   • FC“honestly the result seems more useful to residents now” — This reflective aside, with 'honestly' inserted mid-sentence, adds a personal evaluative note beyond the plain factual statement used at 6.5.
   • LR“New buildings can also meet needs old ones can't, like better accessibility or energy efficiency” — This is a natural, moderately more specific collocation ('meet needs'), a step above the plainer phrasing used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“Some structures are genuinely important culturally and should be preserved almost at any cost, but others are simply old without being particularly special, and forcing preservation there can hold a city back.” — This long sentence balances two coordinated clauses joined by 'but' and 'and', a more complex multi-clause structure than the shorter sentences used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise adverb 'painstakingly' and an extended comparison with an embedded hypothetical, and closes with the compact idiom 'on its own merits', showing its most evaluative, idiomatic phrasing.

   Not always, honestly — it depends almost entirely on the building's condition and how significant it actually is. Some structures are genuinely important culturally and deserve preservation almost regardless of cost, but plenty of others are simply old without being particularly special, and insisting on preservation there can hold a city back rather than help it. I remember reading about a rundown riverside warehouse the city eventually redeveloped into a modern art space instead of painstakingly restoring it, and the result seems considerably more useful to residents now than a faithful restoration would have been. New buildings can also meet needs old ones simply can't, like genuine accessibility or energy efficiency. So I'd judge each case on its own merits rather than treating preservation as automatically the right call.

   Why this band

   • FC“So I'd judge each case on its own merits rather than treating preservation as automatically the right call.” — This closing synthesis, using the idiom 'on its own merits', is a more compact evaluative move than the plainer closing sentence used at 6.5/7.0.
   • LR“instead of painstakingly restoring it” — 'Painstakingly' is a precise, less common adverb, more vivid than the plain 'restoring it as it was' phrasing used at 7.0.
   • GRA“the result seems considerably more useful to residents now than a faithful restoration would have been” — This comparative clause embeds a hypothetical ('than...would have been'), a more complex structure than the simple comparative used at 7.0.

6. 6. Who should pay the costs of saving historic buildings?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct opinion and lists supporting points with simple connectors like 'But' and 'also', giving one concrete example (the Han Market shophouses).

   I think it should be a shared responsibility, mainly between the government and businesses that benefit, like tourism companies. Public money makes sense because historic places belong to everyone, not just to local interest. But private investment helps too — old shophouses near Han Market have been fixed up by cafés and small businesses that now use the space commercially. Charging a small entry fee at big sites can also help, without putting the whole cost on taxpayers. If only the government pays, restoration often gets delayed for years because of limited budgets, so a mixed approach seems better.

   Why this band

   • FC“Charging a small entry fee at big sites can also help, without putting the whole cost on taxpayers.” — This additive point, introduced with 'also', is a separate sentence in the list rather than being fused into the surrounding argument.
   • LR“Public money makes sense because historic places belong to everyone” — This is plain phrasing, using the everyday phrase 'Public money' rather than a more formal term.
   • GRA“If only the government pays, restoration often gets delayed for years because of limited budgets, so a mixed approach seems better.” — This uses a single 'If' conditional plus a 'so' result clause, a basic structure for this band.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the natural collocation 'chip in' and 'loading the whole burden onto taxpayers', and closes with the reflective 'a mixed approach seems more realistic', a step up from the 6.5 answer's plainer phrasing.

   I think it should be a shared responsibility, mainly split between the government and the businesses that stand to benefit, like tourism companies. Public funding makes sense because historic sites belong to everyone and represent something like national identity, not just local interest. But private investment plays a role too — I've seen old shophouses near Han Market renovated by cafés and small businesses that now put the space to commercial use, which offsets some of the cost. Charging modest entry fees at major sites can also chip in without loading the whole burden onto taxpayers. Relying on just one source, especially government alone, often means restoration gets delayed for years by limited budgets, so a mixed approach seems more realistic.

   Why this band

   • FC“Relying on just one source, especially government alone, often means restoration gets delayed for years by limited budgets” — This fronted gerund-phrase subject organises the concession before the main clause, more deliberate than the plain 'If' conditional used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • LR“Charging modest entry fees at major sites can also chip in” — This is a natural, moderately informal collocation ('chip in'), more fluent than the plain 'can also help' phrasing used at 6.5.
   • GRA“old shophouses near Han Market renovated by cafés and small businesses that now put the space to commercial use, which offsets some of the cost” — This long noun phrase, with an embedded participial phrase and a further relative clause, is more complex than the simple sentences used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer opens with the compact fragment 'A shared responsibility, I'd say' and uses the vivid phrase 'stalls for years under limited budgets', showing its most idiomatic, compressed phrasing.

   A shared responsibility, I'd say, mainly split between the government and whichever businesses stand to benefit, tourism companies chief among them. Public funding makes sense because historic sites belong to everyone and carry something close to national identity, not merely local interest. Private investment earns its place too — old shophouses near Han Market, renovated by cafés and small businesses that now put the space to commercial use, offset a fair chunk of the cost in the process. Modest entry fees at major sites can chip in without dumping the whole burden onto taxpayers. Leaning on a single source, government alone especially, tends to mean restoration stalls for years under limited budgets, so a genuinely mixed approach seems by far the more realistic path.

   Why this band

   • FC“A shared responsibility, I'd say, mainly split between the government and whichever businesses stand to benefit” — This compact fragment opener, with an embedded hedge, is tighter than the full sentence used for the same claim at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • LR“tends to mean restoration stalls for years under limited budgets” — 'Stalls' is a vivid, less common verb, more precise than the plainer 'gets delayed' used for the same idea at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • GRA“old shophouses near Han Market, renovated by cafés and small businesses that now put the space to commercial use, offset a fair chunk of the cost in the process” — This non-restrictive participial phrase ('renovated by...') is inserted between the subject and its verb, a more flexible structure than the relative clause used at 7.0.

7. 7. Do you think an architect's only responsibility is to design buildings that are beautiful?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct 'No' and gives one professional example, connecting ideas with simple 'but' and 'So', typical plain reasoning.

   No, I don't think beauty should be the only priority at all. I work in design myself, in a different field, but I know good design always has to balance how something looks with how it works — an architect also has to think about safety, cost, how people move through the space, and the environment. A beautiful building that leaks in the rainy season or wastes energy isn't really successful. My own workplace looks striking from outside with all that glass, but the layout inside is what actually makes it nice to work in every day. So beauty matters, but it's only one part of the job.

   Why this band

   • FC“So beauty matters, but it's only one part of the job.” — This closing sentence, starting with 'So', is a plain sequential summary of the answer's position.
   • LR“isn't really successful” — This is plain phrasing, using a basic intensifier ('really') and a generic adjective.
   • GRA“an architect also has to think about safety, cost, how people move through the space, and the environment” — This is a simple listing sentence built with commas and 'and', the most basic way of presenting several items.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the concessive aside 'though in a different field' and closes with the emphatic 'genuinely only one part of the job', showing more natural hedging than the 6.5 version's plainer statements.

   No, I don't think beauty should be the only priority at all. As someone who works in design myself, though in a different field, I know a good design always has to balance appearance with function — an architect also has to think about safety, cost, how people actually move through the space, and increasingly the environmental impact of the materials used. A beautiful building that leaks in the rainy season or wastes energy simply isn't a successful one. My own workplace, for instance, looks striking from the outside with all that glass, but it's the layout inside that actually makes it pleasant to work in every day. So beauty matters, but it's genuinely only one part of the job.

   Why this band

   • FC“As someone who works in design myself, though in a different field, I know a good design always has to balance appearance with function” — This fronted relative clause, plus a mid-sentence concessive aside, organises the answer more deliberately than the plain 'I work in design myself, in a different field, but' structure used at 6.5.
   • LR“increasingly the environmental impact of the materials used” — This is moderately precise, formal phrasing, a step up from the plainer equivalent used at 6.5.
   • GRA“A beautiful building that leaks in the rainy season or wastes energy simply isn't a successful one.” — This relative clause has two coordinated verbs ('leaks...or wastes') and a cleft-like predicate ('isn't a successful one'), more complex than the simple predicate used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'bleeds' for wasting energy and closes with the idiom 'one piece of a much larger job', showing its most vivid, idiomatic phrasing.

   No, beauty shouldn't be the only priority, honestly, and I doubt many architects would even claim it should. As someone who works in design myself, albeit a different field, I know good design always has to balance appearance against function — safety, cost, how people actually move through a space, and increasingly the environmental footprint of the materials chosen. A beautiful building that leaks in the rainy season or bleeds energy isn't, in any meaningful sense, a successful one. My own workplace, for instance, looks striking from the outside with all that glass, but it's the interior layout that actually makes it a pleasure to work in day after day. So beauty matters, undeniably, but it's only ever one piece of a much larger job.

   Why this band

   • FC“and I doubt many architects would even claim it should” — This added concessive clause, extending the opening 'No', is a more elaborate opening move than the flat 'No, I don't think...' used at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • LR“or bleeds energy isn't, in any meaningful sense, a successful one” — 'Bleeds' is a vivid, less common verb, more striking than the plainer 'wastes' used for the same idea at 6.5 and 7.0.
   • GRA“So beauty matters, undeniably, but it's only ever one piece of a much larger job.” — The adverb 'undeniably', inserted mid-clause between subject and predicate, is a more flexible interruption than the plain 'So beauty matters, but...' sentence used at 6.5.

8. 8. How valuable is impressive architecture to a city's image and status?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct claim ('genuinely valuable, because...') and connects ideas with simple 'also' and 'But', giving one concrete example (Dragon Bridge).

   I think it's genuinely valuable, because a special building can become a symbol for the whole city. Dragon Bridge here in Da Nang is a good example — most visitors take a photo of it on their first day, and it has become the image people connect with the city, more than any slogan could. Striking buildings also show ambition and investment, which can attract businesses and tourists who might otherwise ignore a smaller city. But I don't think image alone should decide building choices, because a city also needs practical things that are not photogenic. Still, having one or two landmark buildings really does help with pride and recognition.

   Why this band

   • FC“But I don't think image alone should decide building choices, because a city also needs practical things that are not photogenic.” — This new sentence, starting with 'But', is an additive counterpoint tacked onto the argument rather than fused into it.
   • LR“a special building can become a symbol for the whole city” — This is plain phrasing, using the generic noun 'symbol'.
   • GRA“Striking buildings also show ambition and investment, which can attract businesses and tourists who might otherwise ignore a smaller city.” — This sentence adds a relative 'which' clause onto a simple sentence, a basic structure for adding detail.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the hedge 'It's genuinely valuable, I'd say' and marks its counterpoint with 'That said', a more deliberate structure than the 6.5 answer's plain 'But'.

   It's genuinely valuable, I'd say, because a distinctive building can become shorthand for an entire city. Dragon Bridge here in Da Nang is a good example — most visitors photograph it within their first day, and it's arguably become the image people associate with the city, more than any slogan ever could. Striking architecture also signals ambition and investment, which can pull in businesses and tourists who might otherwise overlook a smaller city entirely. That said, I don't think image alone should drive building decisions, since a city also needs practical infrastructure that isn't necessarily photogenic. Still, having at least one or two landmark buildings does seem to boost both pride and recognition considerably.

   Why this band

   • FC“That said, I don't think image alone should drive building decisions” — This explicit discourse marker signals the shift to the counterpoint, more deliberate than the plain 'But' used for the same pivot at 6.5.
   • LR“pull in businesses and tourists who might otherwise overlook a smaller city entirely” — This natural collocation, 'pull in', is more fluent than the plainer 'attract' used for the same idea at 6.5.
   • GRA“it's arguably become the image people associate with the city, more than any slogan ever could” — This comparative clause embeds the hedge 'arguably' mid-clause, a more complex structure than the simple comparison used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'eclipsed' for the bridge overtaking any slogan, and closes with the idiom 'does wonders for both civic pride and recognition', showing its most vivid, idiomatic phrasing.

   Genuinely valuable, I'd say, because a distinctive building has a way of becoming shorthand for an entire city. Dragon Bridge here in Da Nang is a good example — most visitors photograph it within their first day, and it's arguably eclipsed any slogan as the image people now associate with the city. Striking architecture also signals ambition and investment, pulling in businesses and tourists who might otherwise write off a smaller city entirely. That said, I wouldn't want image alone driving building decisions, since a city equally needs practical infrastructure that was never designed to be photogenic. Still, having even one or two landmark buildings seems to do wonders for both civic pride and recognition.

   Why this band

   • FC“That said, I wouldn't want image alone driving building decisions” — This uses a bare gerund-phrase construction ('image alone driving...') instead of a finite clause, a more compressed structure than the finite 'should drive' clause used at 7.0.
   • LR“it's arguably eclipsed any slogan as the image people now associate with the city” — 'Eclipsed' is a vivid, less common verb, more striking than the plainer comparative phrasing used for the same idea at 7.0.
   • GRA“seems to do wonders for both civic pride and recognition” — This idiomatic verb phrase, 'do wonders for', is a more compressed and figurative structure than the plain 'does seem to boost' phrasing used at 7.0.

9. 9. Do you think environmental considerations will become the priority in building design in the future?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer opens with a direct 'I think it's very likely, because' and lists supporting points with simple connectors like 'also' and 'But', giving one local example.

   I think it's very likely, because people care a lot more about climate issues now. Energy efficiency, natural cooling, and sustainable materials are already becoming normal in new buildings, not just extra options. Even in Da Nang, I have noticed more buildings with bigger windows for natural light and airflow, which reduces the need for air conditioning. Rising energy costs and stricter rules will probably push this further in the next ten years. The only problem is cost — sustainable materials and technology are still often more expensive at first, so it may stay slower in developing areas until prices go down. But overall, the direction seems clear.

   Why this band

   • FC“But overall, the direction seems clear.” — This short closing sentence, starting with 'But', is a plain wrap-up of the whole answer.
   • LR“becoming normal in new buildings” — This is plain phrasing, using the everyday adjective 'normal'.
   • GRA“which reduces the need for air conditioning” — This is a simple relative clause, a basic structure for adding a consequence.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer opens with the compact hedge 'Very likely, I'd say' and closes with 'Overall, though, the direction seems pretty clear', showing more natural spoken framing than the 6.5 version's plainer statements.

   Very likely, I'd say, given how much attention climate issues are getting right now. Energy efficiency, natural cooling and sustainable materials are already becoming standard requirements rather than optional extras in newer developments. Even here in Da Nang, I've noticed more buildings going up with larger windows for natural light and ventilation, which cuts down on the need for air conditioning in our climate. Rising energy costs and tighter regulations will probably push this further over the next decade or so. The one uncertainty is cost — sustainable materials and technology are still often pricier upfront, so adoption might stay slower in developing areas until prices come down. Overall, though, the direction seems pretty clear.

   Why this band

   • FC“Overall, though, the direction seems pretty clear.” — This closing sentence, with the mid-sentence 'though' inserted, is a slightly more natural framing than the plain 'But overall' sentence used at 6.5.
   • LR“sustainable materials and technology are still often pricier upfront” — This uses the natural, moderately more precise adjective 'pricier', a step up from the plain 'more expensive' phrasing used at 6.5.
   • GRA“Energy efficiency, natural cooling and sustainable materials are already becoming standard requirements rather than optional extras in newer developments.” — This 'rather than' contrastive structure, embedded within a listing sentence, is more complex than the simple 'not just extra options' phrasing used at 6.5.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'hardening into' for the shift to environmental standards and the precise phrase 'heftier upfront price tag', closing with the compact adjective 'unmistakable', showing its most idiomatic, precise phrasing.

   Very likely, I'd say, given how much attention climate issues are commanding right now, and given how fast building codes are catching up. Energy efficiency, natural cooling and sustainable materials are already hardening into standard requirements rather than optional extras in newer developments. Even here in Da Nang, I've noticed more buildings going up with larger windows for natural light and ventilation, which trims the need for air conditioning in our climate considerably. Rising energy costs and tighter regulations will likely push this further over the coming decade. The one real uncertainty is cost — sustainable materials and technology still carry a heftier upfront price tag, so uptake may lag in developing areas until prices come down. Overall, though, the direction seems unmistakable.

   Why this band

   • FC“Overall, though, the direction seems unmistakable.” — This closing sentence uses the precise adjective 'unmistakable' instead of the plainer 'pretty clear' used at 7.0, a more decisive final evaluative move.
   • LR“sustainable materials and technology still carry a heftier upfront price tag” — This vivid, idiomatic phrase is more striking than the plainer 'pricier upfront' used for the same idea at 7.0.
   • GRA“Energy efficiency, natural cooling and sustainable materials are already hardening into standard requirements rather than optional extras in newer developments.” — The metaphorical verb 'hardening into' replaces the plain 'becoming' used at 7.0, a more figurative and compressed verb choice within the same sentence structure.

10. 10. What conditions should a good residential building have?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain phrase 'it felt much more liveable' closes the answer with basic, everyday vocabulary rather than a developed final judgement.

    I think a good building needs safety, easy access, and comfortable spaces. Last year I visited a new building near Tran Phu street while looking for a flat, and it really impressed me. The lobby was bright and staffed all day, there were cameras in the common areas, and the lift needed an access card, which made me feel safer. There was also a bright hallway and a small gym on the ground floor. Compared to older places with dark halls or broken lifts, it felt much more liveable.

    Why this band

    • LR“I think a good building needs safety, easy access, and comfortable spaces” — A simple three-item list as the opening thesis. The 7.5 version intensifies this with 'above all' and more precise nouns, 'solid safety features, convenient access, and genuinely comfortable living spaces', giving the opener more weight.
    • GRA“the lift needed an access card, which made me feel safer” — A plain relative clause. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions use 'the elevator used access cards, which made me feel a lot more secure', with the intensifier 'a lot' adding more emotional force.
    • FC“Compared to older places with dark halls or broken lifts, it felt much more liveable” — A short, flat closing comparison. The 7.5 version extends this with a further generalising sentence about basic safety and maintenance, giving the conclusion more depth.

    Band 7.0

    The number '24/7' used mid-sentence gives the description a slightly more casual, spoken texture than writing out 'all day and night'.

    I think a good residential building should have solid safety features, convenient access, and comfortable living spaces. For example, when I was apartment hunting in Da Nang last year, I visited a new building near Tran Phu street that really impressed me. The lobby was bright and staffed 24/7, there were security cameras in the common areas, and the elevator used access cards, which made me feel a lot more secure. They also had a naturally lit hallway and a small gym on the ground floor. Compared to some older places I saw that felt dark, that building just felt much more liveable.

    Why this band

    • LR“The lobby was bright and staffed 24/7” — The shorthand '24/7' is a more natural, spoken way of expressing constant staffing than 6.5's plainer 'staffed all day'.
    • GRA“They also had a naturally lit hallway and a small gym on the ground floor” — A simple two-item list. The 7.5 version extends this to 'a spacious, naturally lit hallway and a small but well-equipped gym', adding precise adjectives that give a fuller sensory picture.
    • FC“Compared to some older places I saw that felt dark, that building just felt much more liveable” — A flat, unelaborated comparison. The 7.5 version extends this with 'or had unreliable lifts', adding a second specific contrast before the conclusion.

    Band 7.5

    The idiom 'felt in a different league entirely' gives the comparison a vivid, almost competitive final image rather than a flat statement.

    I think a good residential building needs, above all, solid safety features, convenient access, and genuinely comfortable living spaces. When I was apartment hunting in Da Nang last year, I toured a new building near Tran Phu street that really impressed me on every count. The lobby was bright and staffed around the clock, there were security cameras across all the common areas, and the elevator ran on access cards, which made me feel considerably more secure than most places I'd seen. They'd also fitted a spacious, naturally lit hallway and a small but well-equipped gym on the ground floor. Compared to some older places I visited that felt dark or had unreliable lifts, that building felt in a different league entirely. Not everyone needs fancy amenities, of course, but basic safety and good maintenance make a real difference.

    Why this band

    • LR“that building felt in a different league entirely” — The idiom 'a different league' is far more vivid and evaluative than 6.5's plain 'much more liveable' and 7.0's near-identical version of the same phrase.
    • FC“Not everyone needs fancy amenities, of course, but basic safety and good maintenance make a real difference” — This closing concession-plus-claim structure gives the whole answer a balanced, considered final judgement, more developed than 6.5's abrupt ending and 7.0's version without any such concession.
    • GRA“which made me feel considerably more secure than most places I'd seen” — The comparative clause 'than most places I'd seen' extends the claim with a broader comparison, more grammatically developed than 7.0's simpler 'which made me feel a lot more secure'.

11. 11. Do people prefer living in flats or in detached houses?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain closing sentence 'flats usually fit busy routines better' restates the whole argument in seven basic words.

    I think it depends on a person's lifestyle, but in cities like Da Nang, most people I know prefer flats mainly for convenience. For example, my colleague Phuong just moved into a two-bedroom apartment near Vincom because she did not want long commutes or a yard to look after. Her flat has good security and easy access to the supermarket downstairs. It is true that some people, especially families with children, might want a detached house with a garden further out. But in urban areas, flats usually fit busy routines better.

    Why this band

    • GRA“Her flat has good security and easy access to the supermarket downstairs” — A two-item list of amenities. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this to a three-item list including 'a gym on the third floor', giving a fuller picture of the flat's appeal.
    • LR“she did not want long commutes or a yard to look after” — Plain, functional wording. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions use the more precise 'maintaining a yard', a slightly more formal gerund construction for the same idea.
    • FC“But in urban areas, flats usually fit busy routines better” — A short, flat closer with no further comment. The 7.5 version extends this with 'it's hard to beat the location and the amenities', adding a further evaluative point rather than stopping at the bare claim.

    Band 7.0

    The verb 'lean toward' rather than 'prefer' gives the opening claim a slightly softer, more considered edge than a flat assertion.

    I think it really depends on a person's lifestyle and priorities, but in cities like Da Nang, most people I know lean toward flats, mainly for convenience. For example, my colleague Phuong just moved into a two-bedroom apartment near Vincom because she didn't want to deal with long commutes or maintaining a yard. Her flat has great security, easy access to the supermarket downstairs, and even a gym on the third floor. It's true that some people, especially families with young kids or people who value privacy, might dream of a detached house with a garden somewhere further out. But honestly, in urban areas, flats just fit busy routines better.

    Why this band

    • LR“most people I know lean toward flats, mainly for convenience” — 'Lean toward' is a more nuanced, softer verb than 6.5's blunter 'prefer', suggesting a tendency rather than an absolute.
    • GRA“Her flat has great security, easy access to the supermarket downstairs, and even a gym on the third floor” — A three-item list, one more than 6.5's version, adding a specific detail about the gym that makes the description more vivid.
    • FC“especially families with young kids or people who value privacy” — A two-item list of exceptions. The 7.5 version develops this further with 'maybe somewhere near Son Tra', giving the exception a concrete, local location.

    Band 7.5

    The added detail 'which she actually uses' turns a plain list of amenities into a small, specific, almost humorous observation about actual behaviour.

    I think it really depends on a person's lifestyle and priorities, but in cities like Da Nang, most people I know lean quite firmly toward flats, mainly for convenience. My colleague Phuong, for instance, just moved into a two-bedroom apartment near Vincom because she didn't want to deal with long commutes or the upkeep of a yard. Her flat has great security, easy access to the supermarket downstairs, and even a gym on the third floor, which she actually uses. It's true that some people, especially families with young kids or those who genuinely value privacy, might dream of a detached house with a garden further out, maybe somewhere near Son Tra. But honestly, in urban areas, flats simply fit busy routines better — it's hard to beat the location and the amenities.

    Why this band

    • FC“a gym on the third floor, which she actually uses” — This small added clause gives a generic amenity list a specific, almost wry human detail, more developed than 6.5's and 7.0's plain listing without any such comment.
    • LR“lean quite firmly toward flats” — The added intensifier 'quite firmly' sharpens 7.0's already softer 'lean toward', giving the claim more precise calibration.
    • GRA“flats simply fit busy routines better — it's hard to beat the location and the amenities” — The dash-led closing clause adds a further evaluative point beyond the bare claim, more grammatically developed than 6.5's and 7.0's shorter final sentences.

12. 12. Do you think it is better to live in an apartment or a house?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain phrase 'which was not fun' understates a difficult experience in the simplest possible words.

    I think it depends on your lifestyle and priorities. For me, apartments suit my current situation. I live in a one-bedroom apartment near the Han River, and I really enjoy the convenience. Last month the lift broke down and I had to walk up eighteen flights of stairs, which was not fun, but apart from that I enjoy the security, the river view, and not needing to do yard work. A house would give more space and privacy, especially for a family, but at this point in my life, an apartment feels easier.

    Why this band

    • LR“Last month the lift broke down and I had to walk up eighteen flights of stairs, which was not fun” — A plain verb 'walk up' describes the ordeal simply. The 7.5 version intensifies this with 'trudge up eighteen flights of stairs... which wasn't remotely fun', using a more vivid verb and a stronger negative.
    • GRA“A house would give more space and privacy, especially for a family, but at this point in my life, an apartment feels easier” — A single long sentence joined with 'but'. The 7.5 version restructures this with 'especially with a family in tow' and 'at this particular stage in my life', more precise idiomatic phrasing throughout.
    • FC“I live in a one-bedroom apartment near the Han River, and I really enjoy the convenience” — A plain statement of fact and feeling. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions add the adjective 'modern' and the adverb 'honestly', 'a modern one-bedroom apartment... honestly, I love the convenience', giving the sentence more personality.

    Band 7.0

    The dash-set aside '— which wasn't fun —' interrupts the sentence for emphasis, a more natural spoken rhythm than a separate clause.

    Personally, I think whether it's better to live in an apartment or a house really depends on your lifestyle and priorities. For me, apartments actually suit my current situation. I live in a modern one-bedroom apartment near the Han River, and honestly, I love the convenience. For example, last month, the elevator broke down for a few hours and I had to walk up eighteen flights of stairs after work — which wasn't fun — but apart from rare moments like that, I enjoy the security, the river view, and not needing to worry about yard work. Of course, a house would offer more space and privacy, but apartment living just feels easier right now.

    Why this band

    • FC“which wasn't fun” — The dash-set interruption gives this small aside more emphasis than 6.5's plainer comma-joined 'which was not fun'.
    • LR“I live in a modern one-bedroom apartment near the Han River, and honestly, I love the convenience” — The added adjective 'modern' and hedge 'honestly' give this opening description more personality than 6.5's flatter version.
    • GRA“apart from rare moments like that, I enjoy the security, the river view, and not needing to worry about yard work” — The phrase 'apart from rare moments like that' frames the earlier anecdote as an exception, a more fluent transition than 6.5's simpler 'but apart from that'.

    Band 7.5

    The idiom 'with a family in tow' gives an otherwise standard concession about houses a slightly more vivid, natural phrasing.

    Personally, I think whether it's better to live in an apartment or a house really depends on your lifestyle and priorities at any given time. For me, apartments suit my current situation. I live in a modern one-bedroom apartment near the Han River, and honestly, I love the convenience. For example, last month the elevator broke down for a few hours and I had to trudge up eighteen flights of stairs after work — which wasn't remotely fun — but apart from rare moments like that, I enjoy the security, the river view, and not having to worry about yard work. Of course, a house would offer considerably more space and privacy, especially with a family in tow, but at this particular stage in my life, apartment living just feels easier and more connected to the city.

    Why this band

    • LR“trudge up eighteen flights of stairs after work — which wasn't remotely fun” — The verb 'trudge' is far more vivid and physical than 6.5's and 7.0's plainer 'walk up', and 'remotely' intensifies the negation for extra emphasis.
    • FC“especially with a family in tow” — The idiom 'in tow' is a more natural, colloquial phrase than 6.5's and 7.0's plainer 'especially for a family' or 'but apartment living just feels easier'.
    • GRA“depends on your lifestyle and priorities at any given time” — The added phrase 'at any given time' introduces a temporal qualifier that neither 6.5's nor 7.0's opening sentence includes, showing more flexible modification.

13. 13. What kinds of public facilities do people commonly use where you live?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain three-item opener 'parks, sports areas, and libraries' answers the question directly before any examples follow.

    In Da Nang, the public facilities people use most are parks, sports areas, and libraries. The riverside park along Bach Dang street is always busy in the early morning with people walking, jogging, or doing group exercise. I sometimes run there on weekends, and you can feel the energy, with groups of older women doing aerobics to loud music. Another popular place is the community sports centre near Tran Hung Dao street, where people play badminton. Libraries are quieter but attract students, especially the Da Nang Public Library.

    Why this band

    • LR“groups of older women doing aerobics to loud music” — Plain, generic vocabulary. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions use the more precise 'synchronised aerobics to loud pop music', naming the specific style and genre.
    • GRA“Another popular place is the community sports centre near Tran Hung Dao street, where people play badminton” — A simple relative clause with one activity. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this to two activities, 'play badminton or use the outdoor fitness equipment', giving a fuller picture.
    • FC“Libraries are quieter but attract students, especially the Da Nang Public Library” — A short, flat closing sentence. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this with 'free Wi-Fi and quiet study rooms', adding specific, concrete detail rather than a bare claim.

    Band 7.0

    The dash-led list 'people stretching, chatting, and groups of older women doing synchronised aerobics' captures a whole scene within one sentence rather than several.

    I'd say in Da Nang, the public facilities people use most often are parks, sports zones, and libraries. For example, the riverside park along Bach Dang street is always busy in the early mornings with people walking, jogging, or doing group exercises. I sometimes run there on weekends myself, and you can really feel the energy — people stretching, chatting, and groups of older women doing synchronised aerobics to loud pop music. Another popular spot is the community sports centre near Tran Hung Dao street, where people play badminton or use the outdoor fitness equipment. Libraries aren't as crowded but do attract students and remote workers, especially the Da Nang Public Library.

    Why this band

    • FC“people stretching, chatting, and groups of older women doing synchronised aerobics to loud pop music” — A dash-led three-part scene description is more developed than 6.5's simpler 'with groups of older women doing aerobics to loud music'.
    • LR“synchronised aerobics to loud pop music” — 'Synchronised' and 'pop' are more precise, specific descriptors than 6.5's vaguer 'aerobics to loud music'.
    • GRA“Libraries aren't as crowded but do attract students and remote workers” — The added category 'remote workers' extends 6.5's simpler single-category 'students', giving a fuller, more contemporary picture.

    Band 7.5

    The closing generalisation 'these spaces sit quite centrally in local daily life' widens the answer from a list of examples into a single unifying claim.

    I'd say in Da Nang, the public facilities people rely on most are parks, sports zones, and libraries. The riverside park along Bach Dang street is always buzzing in the early mornings with people walking, jogging, or doing group exercises. I sometimes run there on weekends myself, and you can feel the energy of the place — people stretching, chatting, and groups of older women doing synchronised aerobics to loud pop music. Another popular spot is the community sports centre near Tran Hung Dao street, where people play badminton or use the outdoor fitness equipment. Libraries aren't as crowded but still draw a steady stream of students and remote workers, especially the Da Nang Public Library, which offers free Wi-Fi and quiet study rooms. So overall, these spaces sit quite centrally in local daily life.

    Why this band

    • FC“So overall, these spaces sit quite centrally in local daily life” — This closing generalisation draws every earlier example into one summarising claim, more developed than 6.5's abrupt final sentence and 7.0's version without any concluding synthesis.
    • LR“is always buzzing in the early mornings” — 'Buzzing' is a vivid, sensory verb, more evocative than 6.5's and 7.0's plainer 'is always busy'.
    • GRA“still draw a steady stream of students and remote workers” — The idiom 'a steady stream of' is a more precise, flowing construction than 7.0's plainer 'do attract students and remote workers'.

14. 14. Do younger and older people use the same kinds of public facilities?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain closing sentence 'the times and activities often differ by age' summarises the whole observation in ten basic words.

    I don't think younger and older people use public facilities in quite the same way, at least in Da Nang. When I visit the riverside park near Tran Hung Dao street on Sundays, I usually see older people doing tai chi or chatting in the shade, while younger people are jogging, cycling, or taking photos. Last month I tried the outdoor gym and shared a machine with a retired man named Mr. Son, who moved slowly and gently, unlike the teenagers nearby. So the times and activities often differ by age.

    Why this band

    • LR“who moved slowly and gently, unlike the teenagers nearby” — Plain, generic vocabulary. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions use the more precise phrase 'more focused on gentle stretching than the intense sets', naming the specific type of exercise rather than describing manner alone.
    • GRA“I usually see older people doing tai chi or chatting in the shade, while younger people are jogging, cycling, or taking photos” — A single sentence joined with 'while'. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend the younger people's list with 'taking photos for social media', a more specific, contemporary detail.
    • FC“So the times and activities often differ by age” — A short, flat closing sentence. The 7.5 version extends this with 'even the time of day people show up', adding a further dimension to the comparison before the conclusion.

    Band 7.0

    The phrase 'taking photos for social media' gives the description of younger visitors a precise, contemporary detail that 6.5's vaguer version leaves out.

    I don't think younger and older people use public facilities in quite the same way, at least from what I've seen around Da Nang. For example, when I visit the riverside park near Tran Hung Dao street on a Sunday morning, I usually see older folks gathering for group exercises like tai chi or just chatting under the shade, while younger people are more into jogging, cycling, or taking photos for social media. Last month, I decided to try the outdoor gym equipment, and ended up sharing a machine with a retired man named Mr. Son, who was more focused on gentle stretching than the intense sets I saw from some teenagers nearby.

    Why this band

    • LR“taking photos for social media” — This precise, contemporary detail is more specific than 6.5's vaguer 'taking photos' alone.
    • GRA“more focused on gentle stretching than the intense sets I saw from some teenagers nearby” — The comparative structure names the specific type of exercise on both sides, more developed than 6.5's vaguer 'moved slowly and gently, unlike the teenagers'.
    • FC“older folks gathering for group exercises like tai chi or just chatting under the shade” — The verb 'gathering' gives the scene a slightly more vivid, communal quality than 6.5's plainer 'doing tai chi or chatting'.

    Band 7.5

    The closing dash-set aside '— and even the time of day people show up —' adds a second layer of contrast within the same sentence rather than a separate claim.

    I don't think younger and older people use public facilities in quite the same way, at least from what I've observed around Da Nang. When I visit the riverside park near Tran Hung Dao street on Sundays, I usually see older folks gathering for group exercises like tai chi or chatting under the shade, while younger people are more into jogging, cycling, or taking photos for social media. Last month, I decided to try the outdoor gym equipment, and ended up sharing a machine with a retired man named Mr. Son, who was far more focused on gentle stretching than the intense sets I watched some teenagers pushing through nearby. So although the facilities are technically shared by everyone, the activities — and even the time of day people show up — often differ noticeably by age group.

    Why this band

    • FC“the activities — and even the time of day people show up — often differ noticeably by age group” — This dash-set addition packs a second observation into the closing sentence, a more developed conclusion than 6.5's single-point ending and 7.0's version that doesn't reach a conclusion at all.
    • LR“the intense sets I watched some teenagers pushing through nearby” — The verb 'pushing through' is a more vivid, physical description than 7.0's plainer 'I saw from some teenagers nearby'.
    • GRA“although the facilities are technically shared by everyone, the activities” — The concessive 'although' clause frames the whole conclusion as a considered contrast, more grammatically developed than 6.5's simpler additive 'So' opener.

15. 15. Why are public facilities important in a city or community?

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

    Band 6.5

    The final conditional sentence 'If Da Nang did not have places like that, life here would feel less connected' states the whole argument's stakes plainly.

    Public facilities shape daily life in a city, in my opinion. They are not just about convenience, they also help people feel they belong somewhere. Last month I spent an afternoon at the Da Nang Public Library, a ten-minute ride from my apartment. The place was bright, the air conditioning was perfect given the heat outside, and it was full of people reading or studying. What struck me was how welcoming it felt, with strangers sitting side by side quietly. If Da Nang did not have places like that, life here would feel less connected.

    Why this band

    • GRA“The place was bright, the air conditioning was perfect given the heat outside, and it was full of people reading or studying” — A simple three-item list joined with commas. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this to four items, adding 'or using the computers', a more complete picture of what people actually do there.
    • LR“What struck me was how welcoming it felt, with strangers sitting side by side quietly” — Plain phrasing. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this with 'or helping each other find things', adding a second, more specific example of the welcoming atmosphere.
    • FC“If Da Nang did not have places like that, life here would feel less connected” — A single conditional sentence. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions strengthen this with 'more isolating' as an additional consequence, giving the closing claim more emotional weight.

    Band 7.0

    The semicolon in 'What struck me was how welcoming it felt; strangers sat side by side' links observation and evidence smoothly within one sentence.

    Public facilities really shape the daily experience of living in a city, in my opinion. They're not just about convenience — they also help people feel they belong somewhere. For example, last month I spent an afternoon at the Da Nang Public Library, just a ten-minute ride from my apartment. The place was bright, the AC was perfect given the heat outside, and it was full of people reading, studying, or using the computers. What struck me was how welcoming it felt; strangers sat side by side, quietly working or helping each other find things. Honestly, if Da Nang didn't have spaces like that, life here would feel more isolating.

    Why this band

    • LR“strangers sat side by side, quietly working or helping each other find things” — The added clause 'or helping each other find things' extends 6.5's simpler observation with a second, more specific example of the welcoming atmosphere.
    • GRA“What struck me was how welcoming it felt; strangers sat side by side” — The semicolon links the general observation directly to its concrete evidence, more fluent than 6.5's comma-joined version of the same idea.
    • FC“Honestly, if Da Nang didn't have spaces like that, life here would feel more isolating” — The word 'isolating' is a stronger, more precise consequence than 6.5's vaguer 'less connected', giving the closing claim more force.

    Band 7.5

    The closing generalisation 'That sense of community is genuinely hard to build without good public facilities in place' widens a single anecdote into a broader civic claim.

    Public facilities shape the whole daily experience of living in a city, in my opinion. They're not just about convenience — they also help people feel they genuinely belong somewhere, which is easy to underestimate. For example, last month I spent an afternoon at the Da Nang Public Library, a ten-minute ride from my apartment. The place was bright, the air conditioning was a relief given the heat outside, and it was full of people reading, studying, or using the computers. What struck me most was how welcoming it felt; strangers sat side by side, working or helping each other track things down. Honestly, if Da Nang didn't have spaces like that, life here would feel considerably less connected and far more isolating. That sense of community is genuinely hard to build without good public facilities in place.

    Why this band

    • FC“That sense of community is genuinely hard to build without good public facilities in place” — This closing generalisation widens the anecdote into a broader civic principle, a more developed ending than 6.5's simple conditional statement and 7.0's version without any such generalising conclusion.
    • LR“which is easy to underestimate” — This small added clause gives the opening claim a reflective, self-aware quality that neither 6.5's nor 7.0's plainer opener includes.
    • GRA“life here would feel considerably less connected and far more isolating” — The paired intensifiers 'considerably' and 'far more' show more controlled, deliberate modification than 7.0's single intensifier 'more isolating'.

16. 16. Do you think old buildings are valuable?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain closing sentence 'I think it is worth it' states the final judgement in five simple words.

    Yes, I think old buildings are valuable, for their history and atmosphere. A few months ago I visited the old Cham Museum near the Han River with my friend Huy. The museum is a beautiful French-colonial building from the early twentieth century, with thick yellow walls and wooden shutters. Walking inside, you feel connected to the past, both the Cham civilisation and Da Nang's own history. I found it much more inspiring than the modern glass towers I see every day. Keeping these old buildings can be hard, but I think it is worth it.

    Why this band

    • LR“Keeping these old buildings can be hard, but I think it is worth it” — A simple, vague closing claim. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions replace 'Keeping' and 'worth it' with 'Maintaining these old buildings can be a challenge... the cultural benefits outweigh the costs', a more precise and formal economic framing.
    • GRA“The museum is a beautiful French-colonial building from the early twentieth century, with thick yellow walls and wooden shutters” — A simple descriptive sentence. The 7.5 version adds a sensory detail, 'shutters that creak slightly in the breeze', giving the description more vivid, physical texture.
    • FC“I found it much more inspiring than the modern glass towers I see every day” — A plain comparative sentence. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions add the specific detail 'from my office window', grounding the comparison in a concrete, personal routine.

    Band 7.0

    The economic framing 'the cultural benefits outweigh the costs' treats preservation as a considered trade-off rather than a simple moral claim.

    Yes, I think old buildings are valuable, both for their history and their atmosphere. A few months ago I visited the old Cham Museum near the Han River with my friend Huy. The museum is a beautiful French-colonial structure from the early 20th century, with thick yellow walls and those classic wooden shutters. Walking inside, you get this sense of being connected to the past — both the Cham civilisation and Da Nang's own history. I found it way more inspiring than most of the modern glass towers I see every day from my office window. Maintaining these old buildings can be a challenge, but I think the cultural benefits outweigh the costs.

    Why this band

    • FC“Maintaining these old buildings can be a challenge, but I think the cultural benefits outweigh the costs” — This economic framing treats preservation as a weighed trade-off, more analytical than 6.5's simpler 'can be hard, but... it is worth it'.
    • LR“those classic wooden shutters” — The adjective 'classic' adds a small evaluative touch beyond 6.5's plainer 'wooden shutters'.
    • GRA“I found it way more inspiring than most of the modern glass towers I see every day from my office window” — The added detail 'from my office window' grounds the comparison in a specific, personal routine, more developed than 6.5's more generic 'I see every day'.

    Band 7.5

    The added clause 'it left more of an impression than I'd expected' frames the whole visit as a small personal surprise rather than a flat description.

    Yes, I genuinely think old buildings are valuable, both for their history and for the sheer atmosphere they carry. A few months ago I visited the old Cham Museum near the Han River with my friend Huy, and it left more of an impression than I'd expected. The museum itself is a beautiful French-colonial structure from the early twentieth century, with thick yellow walls and those classic wooden shutters that creak slightly in the breeze. Walking inside, you genuinely get this sense of being connected to the past — both the Cham civilisation and Da Nang's own layered history. I found it far more inspiring than most of the modern glass towers I stare at every day from my office window. Maintaining buildings like this is undoubtedly a challenge, but I'd argue the cultural benefits comfortably outweigh the costs.

    Why this band

    • FC“it left more of an impression than I'd expected” — This added clause frames the anecdote as a genuine personal surprise, a more developed narrative touch than 6.5's and 7.0's plainer introductions to the same visit.
    • LR“those classic wooden shutters that creak slightly in the breeze” — The added relative clause 'that creak slightly in the breeze' gives a vivid sensory detail beyond 7.0's plainer 'those classic wooden shutters'.
    • GRA“the cultural benefits comfortably outweigh the costs” — The added adverb 'comfortably' intensifies the economic framing beyond 7.0's plainer 'outweigh the costs', showing more precise, confident modification.

17. 17. Which historical buildings are worth preserving?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain closing sentence 'I think it is worth restoring' states the final position directly with basic vocabulary.

    I think historical buildings that really show the identity of a city are worth preserving. For example, in Hue there is the famous Truong Tien Bridge. It is not only beautiful with its curved steel arches, but it also holds memories for many local families, including my parents, who used to walk across it after school in the 1980s. Preserving places like that gives people a connection to their own past. Some old buildings might be unsafe, but if a building still has cultural value, I think it is worth restoring.

    Why this band

    • LR“It is not only beautiful with its curved steel arches, but it also holds memories for many local families” — A simple 'not only... but also' structure. The 7.5 version adds the sensory detail 'catching the evening light', giving the description a more vivid, specific quality.
    • GRA“including my parents, who used to walk across it after school in the 1980s” — A plain relative clause. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions rephrase this as 'my parents included, since they used to walk across it after school in the 80s', a more natural, spoken word order.
    • FC“Some old buildings might be unsafe, but if a building still has cultural value, I think it is worth restoring” — A single closing sentence. The 7.5 version extends this with 'even updating the inside for modern use', adding a further practical detail rather than stopping at the bare judgement.

    Band 7.0

    The dash-led aside '— my parents included, since they used to walk across it after school in the 80s' folds a personal detail smoothly into the main sentence.

    I think historical buildings that really capture the identity or spirit of a city are worth preserving. For example, in Hue, there's the iconic Truong Tien Bridge. It's not just beautiful with its curved steel arches, but it also holds memories for so many local families — my parents included, since they used to walk across it after school in the 80s. Preserving places like that gives people a sense of connection to their own past. Of course, some old structures might be unsafe or beyond repair, but if the building still has cultural or architectural value, I'd say it's worth the effort to restore it.

    Why this band

    • GRA“my parents included, since they used to walk across it after school in the 80s” — The dash-led aside integrates the personal detail directly into the sentence, more fluent than 6.5's separate relative clause 'including my parents, who used to walk across it'.
    • LR“capture the identity or spirit of a city” — The paired nouns 'identity or spirit' are more precise and evocative than 6.5's single 'identity', suggesting something less tangible than simple appearance.
    • FC“if the building still has cultural or architectural value, I'd say it's worth the effort to restore it” — The added phrase 'the effort to' emphasises the cost of restoration explicitly, more developed than 6.5's simpler 'I think it is worth restoring'.

    Band 7.5

    The closing comparison 'no plaque or photograph can quite replace' gives the abstract idea of 'connection to the past' a concrete, almost tactile contrast.

    I think historical buildings that genuinely capture the identity or spirit of a city are the ones worth preserving. For example, in Hue there's the iconic Truong Tien Bridge, which is honestly hard to overstate the importance of. It's not just beautiful with its curved steel arches catching the evening light, but it also holds memories for a great many local families — my own parents included, since they used to walk across it together after school back in the eighties. Preserving places like that gives people a tangible connection to their own past that no plaque or photograph can quite replace. Of course, some old structures are genuinely unsafe or beyond repair, but if a building still carries cultural or architectural value, I'd say it's worth the considerable effort to restore it, even updating the inside for modern use.

    Why this band

    • FC“a tangible connection to their own past that no plaque or photograph can quite replace” — This closing comparison gives an abstract claim about connection a concrete, physical contrast, more developed than 6.5's plainer 'gives people a connection' and 7.0's version without this comparison.
    • LR“curved steel arches catching the evening light” — The added participial phrase 'catching the evening light' gives a vivid visual detail beyond 7.0's plainer 'curved steel arches'.
    • GRA“which is honestly hard to overstate the importance of” — This inserted evaluative clause, using the idiom 'hard to overstate', shows more flexible sentence-building than 6.5's and 7.0's plainer, more linear descriptions.

18. 18. Do you think old buildings should be demolished?

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

    Band 6.5

    The plain closer 'But if a building is unsafe, then maybe it is necessary' states the exception directly, without further elaboration.

    Personally, I don't think all old buildings should be demolished, at least not by default. It depends on their condition and historical value. There is an old yellow post office on Tran Hung Dao street here in Da Nang that I actually love visiting. It is not fancy, but the architecture has a classic charm, with wooden windows and tiled floors, like stepping into another era. Tearing down places like that just to build another glass tower would be a shame. But if a building is unsafe, then maybe it is necessary.

    Why this band

    • LR“Tearing down places like that just to build another glass tower would be a shame” — A plain evaluative sentence. The 7.5 version intensifies this with 'a real shame, and a fairly short-sighted one', adding a second, sharper judgement.
    • GRA“It is not fancy, but the architecture has a classic charm, with wooden windows and tiled floors” — A simple contrastive sentence. The 7.5 version extends this with 'understated' and 'stepping inside feels like stepping into another era entirely', giving the description more precision and force.
    • FC“But if a building is unsafe, then maybe it is necessary” — A short, flat closer. The 7.0 and 7.5 versions extend this final thought with 'I think preserving old buildings gives a city character', adding a broader concluding principle rather than stopping at the exception.

    Band 7.0

    The closing sentence 'preserving old buildings gives a city character' widens the specific example of the post office into a general principle.

    Personally, I don't think all old buildings should be demolished — at least not by default. A lot depends on their condition and historical value. There's an old yellow post office on Tran Hung Dao street here in Da Nang that I actually love visiting. It's not fancy, but the architecture has this classic charm with wooden windows and tiled floors, and it feels like stepping into another era. Honestly, tearing places like that down just to build another glass tower would be a shame. Of course, if a building is unsafe or beyond repair, then maybe it's necessary. But in general, I think preserving old buildings gives a city character.

    Why this band

    • FC“But in general, I think preserving old buildings gives a city character” — This closing generalisation widens the specific anecdote into a broader claim, more developed than 6.5's version, which stops at the exception about unsafe buildings.
    • LR“the architecture has this classic charm with wooden windows and tiled floors” — The demonstrative 'this' gives the description a more immediate, spoken quality than 6.5's plainer 'a classic charm'.
    • GRA“if a building is unsafe or beyond repair, then maybe it's necessary” — The added phrase 'or beyond repair' extends 6.5's single-condition 'if a building is unsafe' with a second, related condition.

    Band 7.5

    The closing pair 'character and a real, lasting sense of identity' extends the 7.0 version's single closing noun into a fuller, more developed final claim.

    Personally, I don't think all old buildings should be demolished — certainly not by default. A great deal depends on their condition and their historical value. There's an old yellow post office on Tran Hung Dao street here in Da Nang that I genuinely love visiting whenever I'm passing. It's not fancy in the slightest, but the architecture has this classic, understated charm — wooden windows, tiled floors — and stepping inside feels like stepping into another era entirely. Honestly, tearing places like that down just to build another glass tower would be a real shame, and a fairly short-sighted one. Of course, if a building is genuinely unsafe or beyond repair, then demolition might be necessary. But in general, I think preserving old buildings gives a city character and a real, lasting sense of identity.

    Why this band

    • FC“preserving old buildings gives a city character and a real, lasting sense of identity” — This closing pair of nouns extends 7.0's single 'character' into a fuller, more developed final claim, giving the whole answer a stronger conclusion.
    • LR“a real shame, and a fairly short-sighted one” — The added second judgement 'a fairly short-sighted one' sharpens 6.5's and 7.0's single evaluative claim into a two-part criticism.
    • GRA“It's not fancy in the slightest, but the architecture has this classic, understated charm — wooden windows, tiled floors” — The dash-set appositive list 'wooden windows, tiled floors' is a more compact, flexible structure than 7.0's fuller prepositional phrase 'with wooden windows and tiled floors'.