A Time When You Had to Get Up Very Early

Part 3 follow-up questions

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

1. 1. Why do people have to get up early?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct claim ("something outside them decides the time") supported by one clear fish-market example, using plain connectors like "because" and "or" throughout.

   Usually because something outside them decides the time. The workers at the fish market start at four because the boats arrive then, and it gets too hot by nine. For most people it is their job, like a shift or a school time, or for parents it is the children, who wake up early anyway. Farmers work by the light of the day. Some people choose to get up early, for exercise or prayer, or just for a quiet hour. And in a hot country like Vietnam, getting up early makes more sense because of the weather.

   Why this band

   • FC“And in a hot country like Vietnam, getting up early makes more sense because of the weather.” — This closing sentence states the final point plainly with "because of", without further development. A 7.0 answer would more likely connect this idea directly to a specific cultural detail instead.
   • LR“Farmers work by the light of the day.” — This is a plain, literal statement without any more vivid or figurative phrasing for the same idea about daylight.
   • GRA“For most people it is their job, like a shift or a school time, or for parents it is the children, who wake up early anyway.” — This sentence chains several ideas with "or", accurate but structurally plain compared to the dash-linked constructions of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the semicolon-linked contrast "set by tides and weather, not by choice" and the dash-bracketed list "a shift, a commute, a school bell", giving the categories more shape than the plain 6.5 list.

   Because something outside them sets the time, honestly. The people at that fish market start at four because the boats arrive then and the heat arrives by nine; their day is set by tides and weather, not by choice. For most people it's the job — a shift, a commute, a school bell — and for parents it's the children, who wake when they wake. Some people get up early for things they've actually chosen, like exercise or prayer or the only quiet hour of the day. And some simply live in a hot country: in Vietnam, the culture of dawn markets grew from the climate long before anyone had an alarm.

   Why this band

   • FC“their day is set by tides and weather, not by choice” — This semicolon-linked contrast reframes the fish-market example as a general rule, a more reflective move than the plain fact stated separately at 6.5.
   • LR“a shift, a commute, a school bell” — This dash-bracketed list of concrete nouns is a more economical, vivid way of naming the category "job" than the plainer "like a shift or a school time" a 6.5 answer writes.
   • GRA“For most people it's the job — a shift, a commute, a school bell — and for parents it's the children, who wake when they wake” — Two dashes bracket an appositive list inside the sentence before it continues with "and", a moderately complex structure beyond the simpler "or"-chained sentence a 6.5 answer would use.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the precise cultural detail "grew from the climate long before anyone owned an alarm", a sharper final image than the plainer, more general closing sentences of the other bands.

   Because something outside them sets the time. The people at that fish market start at four because the boats arrive then and the heat arrives by nine; their day is set by tides and weather, not by choice. For most people it's the job — a shift, a commute, a school bell — and for parents it's the children, who wake when they wake. Farmers work by the light. Some people get up early for things they've chosen, like exercise or prayer or the only quiet hour of the day. And some simply live in a hot country: in Vietnam, the sensible hours are early, and the culture of dawn markets and six o'clock exercise grew from the climate long before anyone owned an alarm.

   Why this band

   • FC“the culture of dawn markets and six o'clock exercise grew from the climate long before anyone owned an alarm” — This closing image compresses a whole historical argument into one flowing clause, a more idiomatic and vivid final touch than the flatter closing statement a 6.5 or 7.0 answer would give.
   • LR“in Vietnam, the sensible hours are early” — "The sensible hours" is a precise, slightly wry phrase, more distinctive than the plainer "getting up early makes more sense" construction used at lower bands.
   • GRA“their day is set by tides and weather, not by choice” — This semicolon-linked contrastive clause compresses two ideas into one flowing sentence, a more flexible structure than the separate sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same point.

2. 2. Why do many people dislike getting up early?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct reason ("their bodies are not asked") supported by one personal example, using plain connectors like "and" and "also" throughout.

   Mostly because their bodies are not asked. My own natural rhythm is midnight to eight, and every working day an alarm pulls me out of that, which feels like a small, constant kind of jet lag. Many people are night owls but live on a morning schedule, and it feels bad because it really is bad for them. Getting up early also means less sleep, since evenings do not move earlier too. The dark and cold do not help either. There is also an emotional part: the first hour is when all the day's problems arrive at once.

   Why this band

   • FC“The dark and cold do not help either.” — This short sentence adds a final point plainly with "either", without any elaboration. A 7.0 answer would more likely fold this detail into a longer, more connected sentence.
   • LR“which feels like a small, constant kind of jet lag” — "A small, constant kind of jet lag" is already a reasonable image, but it is built with plain modifiers ("small, constant") rather than a single more distinctive word.
   • GRA“Many people are night owls but live on a morning schedule, and it feels bad because it really is bad for them.” — This sentence chains three clauses with "but", "and" and "because", accurate but structurally plain compared to higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the vivid phrase "dragged out of that by an alarm" and the natural contrast "a night owl living on a lark's schedule", giving the argument more colour than the plainer 6.5 version.

   Mostly because their bodies weren't asked, honestly. My natural rhythm is midnight to eight, and every working day I'm dragged out of that by an alarm, which produces a permanent, mild version of jet lag — a lot of people are night owls living on a lark's schedule, and it feels bad because it is bad for them. Early mornings also mean cutting sleep, since evenings rarely move earlier to match. The dark and the cold don't help, nor does the fact that early rising is usually for something you didn't choose. And there's the emotional part: the first hour is when the whole day's obligations arrive at once.

   Why this band

   • FC“I'm dragged out of that by an alarm” — "Dragged out" is a more vivid, physical verb than the plainer "pulls me out of" a 6.5 answer would use for the same forced waking.
   • LR“a lot of people are night owls living on a lark's schedule” — "A lark's schedule" is a more precise, idiomatic collocation contrasting with "night owls", more distinctive than the plainer phrasing a 6.5 answer would use for the same mismatch.
   • GRA“The dark and the cold don't help, nor does the fact that early rising is usually for something you didn't choose” — The negative inversion "nor does the fact that..." is a moderately complex structure, beyond the simple "either"-ending sentence a 6.5 answer would use for the same additional point.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the pointed observation "people who love mornings tend to be the ones whose bodies already agree with them", a sharper final judgement than the plainer bands, which simply list reasons.

   Mostly because their bodies weren't asked. My natural rhythm is midnight to eight, and every working day I'm dragged out of that by an alarm, which produces a permanent, low-level version of jet lag — a lot of night owls are living on a lark's schedule, and it feels bad because it is bad for them. Early mornings also mean cutting sleep, since evenings rarely move earlier to match. The dark and the cold don't help, nor does the fact that early rising is usually for something you didn't choose. And there's the emotional part: the first hour of the day is when the whole day's obligations arrive at once. People who love mornings tend to be the ones whose bodies already agree with them.

   Why this band

   • FC“People who love mornings tend to be the ones whose bodies already agree with them.” — This closing sentence generalises the whole argument into a wry, slightly ironic observation, a more reflective move than the plain final example a 6.5 or 7.0 answer would give.
   • LR“a permanent, low-level version of jet lag” — "Low-level" is a more precise, technical-sounding collocation than the plainer "mild" a 7.0 answer uses for the same idea, adding a slightly clinical, knowing tone.
   • GRA“People who love mornings tend to be the ones whose bodies already agree with them” — A relative clause ("whose bodies already agree with them") uses a possessive relative pronoun to compress the idea, a more flexible structure than the simpler sentences lower bands close on.

3. 3. Is the early morning the best part of the day?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct distinction ("most beautiful, but maybe not the best") supported by two personal examples, using plain connectors like "but" and "so".

   I think it is the most beautiful part, but maybe not the best. That half hour at the harbour when the sun came up was as beautiful as anything I have seen, and the early morning has things nothing else has, like quiet and cool air. But my best design work actually happens after ten at night, when the messages stop. So 'best' depends on what you are measuring: for calm, the morning wins, but for creativity, the evening often wins for me. I think people who say morning is best usually just have bodies that agree with mornings.

   Why this band

   • FC“I think people who say morning is best usually just have bodies that agree with mornings.” — This closing sentence states the observation plainly and directly as a personal opinion. A 7.5 answer would more likely turn this into a sharper, more general claim about human nature.
   • LR“the early morning has things nothing else has, like quiet and cool air” — "Things nothing else has" is plain, vague phrasing rather than a more specific or vivid list of qualities.
   • GRA“So 'best' depends on what you are measuring: for calm, the morning wins, but for creativity, the evening often wins for me.” — A colon introduces a comparison with "but", accurate but structurally straightforward compared to the more compressed constructions of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the dash-bracketed list "quiet, cool air, a city not yet in a hurry" and the sharper closing verb "prescribing", giving the argument more precision than the plainer 6.5 version.

   It's the most beautiful part, honestly, but not necessarily the best. That half hour at the harbour when the sun came up was as beautiful as anything I've seen, and the morning has qualities nothing else quite does — quiet, cool air, a city not yet in a hurry. But my best design work arrives after ten at night, when the messages finally stop, and for a lot of people the evening is when they're most themselves. 'Best' depends on what you're measuring: for calm and fresh attention, morning wins; for creativity and company, later hours often do. The people who insist morning is best are usually just prescribing their own rhythm to everyone else.

   Why this band

   • FC“quiet, cool air, a city not yet in a hurry” — This dash-introduced list of three qualities is more vivid and specific than the plain "things nothing else has, like quiet and cool air" a 6.5 answer would write.
   • LR“usually just prescribing their own rhythm to everyone else” — "Prescribing" is a precise, slightly ironic verb choice for imposing a preference, more distinctive than the plain "just have bodies that agree with mornings" a 6.5 answer ends on.
   • GRA“'Best' depends on what you're measuring: for calm and fresh attention, morning wins; for creativity and company, later hours often do” — A colon and a semicolon organise a two-part comparison into one compact sentence, a moderately complex structure beyond the simpler comma-based comparison a 6.5 answer would write.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the precise, faintly critical distinction between people "whose bodies agree" and those "prescribing their own rhythm to everyone", a sharper final observation than the plainer bands.

   It's the most beautiful part of the day, but not necessarily the best. That half hour at the harbour when the sun came up was as beautiful as anything I've seen, and the early morning has qualities nothing else does — quiet, cool air, a city not yet in a hurry. But my best design work arrives after ten at night, when the messages stop, and for a lot of people the evening is when they're most themselves. 'Best' depends on what you're measuring: for calm and fresh attention, morning wins; for creativity and company, later hours often do. The people who insist the morning is best are usually people whose bodies agree, and they're prescribing their own rhythm to everyone.

   Why this band

   • FC“The people who insist the morning is best are usually people whose bodies agree, and they're prescribing their own rhythm to everyone.” — This closing sentence separates the observation into two linked clauses, ending on the pointed verb "prescribing", a more layered final judgement than the plainer single-clause ending of a 6.5 answer.
   • LR“they're prescribing their own rhythm to everyone” — "Prescribing" applied to a personal habit is a genuinely idiomatic, slightly wry word choice, sharper than the plainer verb "have" used in the equivalent 6.5 sentence.
   • GRA“the early morning has qualities nothing else does — quiet, cool air, a city not yet in a hurry” — A dash introduces a compact appositive list standing in for a full relative clause, a more economical construction than the vaguer "things nothing else has, like" phrasing a 6.5 answer would use.

4. 4. What are the advantages of arriving early for an appointment?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct two-part answer ("Calm first, and information second") supported by one office example, using plain connectors like "and" and "also" throughout.

   Calm first, and information second. I arrived at that seafood company's office half an hour early for the first meeting, and I learned more from sitting in the reception than from the meeting itself, like the photos on the wall and how staff spoke to each other. Being early means you are not apologising when you sit down, and you have already found the room. It also shows respect, which matters a lot in Vietnamese business. It gives you extra time if something goes wrong. And it often gives you a few informal minutes before the meeting.

   Why this band

   • FC“It gives you extra time if something goes wrong.” — This short sentence adds a plain, separate point using a simple "if"-clause, without further development. A 7.0 answer would more likely fold this idea into a fuller, more connected sentence.
   • LR“how staff spoke to each other” — This is plain, literal phrasing rather than a more vivid or specific description of the social dynamic being observed.
   • GRA“Being early means you are not apologising when you sit down, and you have already found the room.” — This sentence lists two benefits joined with "and", accurate but structurally plain compared to the dash-linked constructions of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the dash-bracketed list "the photographs on the wall, how staff spoke to each other, the chairman walking through in rubber boots" for vivid detail, giving the example more texture than the plainer 6.5 list.

   Calm first, honestly, and information second. I arrived at that seafood company's office half an hour early for our first meeting, and I learned more from sitting in their reception — the photographs on the wall, how staff spoke to each other, the chairman walking through in rubber boots — than from the meeting itself. Being early means you're not apologising as you sit down, you've already found the room, and your mind's on the conversation rather than the traffic. It signals respect too, which matters more in Vietnamese business than people admit. And it often gives you the few informal minutes before the meeting when the real business actually happens.

   Why this band

   • FC“the chairman walking through in rubber boots” — This specific, slightly surprising detail is more vivid than the general "how staff spoke to each other" description a 6.5 answer includes, adding a memorable, concrete image.
   • LR“It signals respect too, which matters more in Vietnamese business than people admit” — "Signals respect" is a more precise, formal verb choice than the plainer "shows respect" a 6.5 answer would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“the photographs on the wall, how staff spoke to each other, the chairman walking through in rubber boots — than from the meeting itself” — Two dashes bracket a list of three examples inside the main clause before it continues, a moderately complex structure beyond the simpler "like"-example a 6.5 answer would use.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer uses the precise, slightly formal phrase "gives a margin for the things that go wrong", a more compact and idiomatic way of expressing contingency than the plainer bands manage.

   Calm, first, and information, second. I arrived at that seafood company's office half an hour early for the first meeting, and I learned more from sitting in their reception — the photographs on the wall, how staff spoke to each other, the chairman walking through in rubber boots — than from the meeting itself. Being early means you're not apologising as you sit down, you've found the room, and your mind is on the conversation rather than the traffic. It signals respect, which matters in Vietnamese business more than people admit. It gives a margin for the things that go wrong. And it often gives you the few informal minutes before the meeting when the real business is actually done.

   Why this band

   • FC“It gives a margin for the things that go wrong.” — "A margin" is a precise, almost technical metaphor for contingency, more compact and idiomatic than the plainer "extra time if something goes wrong" a 6.5 answer would write.
   • LR“It gives a margin for the things that go wrong” — "Margin" applied to time is a genuinely distinctive, slightly technical word choice, more precise than the plain "extra time" phrase a 6.5 answer uses for the same idea.
   • GRA“Being early means you're not apologising as you sit down, you've found the room, and your mind is on the conversation rather than the traffic” — Three parallel clauses are chained together without repeating "being early", a more compact, cumulative structure than the two-item list a 6.5 answer would use for the same point.

5. 5. In what situations is it not good to arrive very early?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct rule ("when your early arrival creates work for someone else") supported by one clear dinner-party story, using plain connectors like "so" and "also".

   When your early arrival creates work for someone else. I once arrived forty minutes early for a dinner in Hue, and I found the host still in the shower and the kitchen in chaos, so my punctuality was actually a small disaster for her. At social events, being early can be a kind of rudeness. Hospital and job appointments often cannot see you early anyway, so you just wait in a room. Arriving at someone's office long before a meeting can also look anxious. And at parties, the early guest often ends up helping to set things up.

   Why this band

   • FC“And at parties, the early guest often ends up helping to set things up.” — This closing sentence adds a final example plainly with "And", without any further comment. A 7.0 answer would more likely add a qualifying remark about whether that is welcome.
   • LR“so my punctuality was actually a small disaster for her” — "A small disaster" is plain, everyday phrasing for the idea, without a more precise or ironic word choice.
   • GRA“I once arrived forty minutes early for a dinner in Hue, and I found the host still in the shower and the kitchen in chaos, so my punctuality was actually a small disaster for her.” — This long sentence chains three clauses with "and" and "so", accurate but relying on simple coordination rather than a dash-linked construction.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the dash and semicolon to link the story directly to its lesson ("a small disaster; at social events, early is genuinely a kind of rudeness") and adds the qualifying remark "which may or may not be welcome" that the 6.5 version lacks.

   When your presence creates work for someone, basically. I once arrived forty minutes early for a dinner in Hue and found the host still in the shower and the kitchen in chaos — my punctuality was, for her, a small disaster; at social events, early is genuinely a kind of rudeness. Hospital and job appointments often can't see you early and simply leave you in a waiting room. Arriving at someone's office long before a meeting can look anxious or make them feel watched. And at things like parties or weddings, the early guest ends up helping set up, which may or may not be welcome.

   Why this band

   • FC“which may or may not be welcome” — This trailing qualification softens the final example with a natural, balanced hedge, something a 6.5 answer's flat closing statement would not attempt.
   • LR“my punctuality was, for her, a small disaster” — The inserted phrase "for her" specifies whose disaster it was in a compact, natural way, a slightly more precise construction than the plainer "my punctuality was actually a small disaster for her" a 6.5 answer writes.
   • GRA“I once arrived forty minutes early for a dinner in Hue and found the host still in the shower and the kitchen in chaos — my punctuality was, for her, a small disaster; at social events, early is genuinely a kind of rudeness” — A dash and a semicolon chain three related ideas into one long, flowing sentence, a more ambitious structure than the separated sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same content.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the vivid, practical instruction "walk around the block", a concrete and idiomatic final touch that neither plainer band includes.

   When your presence creates work for someone. I once arrived forty minutes early for a dinner in Hue and found the host still in the shower and the kitchen in chaos, and my punctuality was, for her, a small disaster — at social events, early is a kind of rudeness. Hospital and job appointments often can't see you early and simply leave you in a waiting room. Arriving at someone's office long before a meeting can look anxious or make them feel watched. And at things like parties or weddings, the early guest ends up helping to set up, which may or may not be welcome. The polite margin is five or ten minutes; beyond that, walk around the block.

   Why this band

   • FC“The polite margin is five or ten minutes; beyond that, walk around the block.” — This closing sentence turns the whole discussion into a concrete, actionable rule, ending on a vivid imperative that is far more idiomatic than the plain final example a 6.5 or 7.0 answer ends on.
   • LR“walk around the block” — This is a genuinely idiomatic, image-based instruction for killing time politely, more vivid and specific than any equivalent phrase in the plainer bands.
   • GRA“The polite margin is five or ten minutes; beyond that, walk around the block.” — A semicolon links a stated rule directly to a practical instruction, a compact, two-part structure beyond the single-clause sentences that close the plainer bands.

6. 6. Why do some people think it's important to be on time while others don't?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct reason ("different meanings for time") supported by one clear cultural contrast, using plain connectors like "but" and "since" throughout.

   It is because they have learned different meanings for time. To our German client, nine o'clock is a real promise, but to my relatives in Hue, 'around lunchtime' is already an accurate time, and arriving at exactly noon would seem strangely rigid. Culture is the biggest reason, since some societies treat time as fixed, and others treat it as something that moves around relationships. Personality matters too, because anxious, organised people tend to be early, and relaxed people tend to be late. There is also power involved, since people usually wait for those above them, not the other way around.

   Why this band

   • FC“There is also power involved, since people usually wait for those above them, not the other way around.” — This closing sentence adds one final point plainly with "since", without further comment on what it reveals. A 7.5 answer would more likely close on a sharper, more pointed observation.
   • LR“some societies treat time as fixed, and others treat it as something that moves around relationships” — "Something that moves around relationships" is a reasonable image but built with plain, general vocabulary rather than a single more precise word or metaphor.
   • GRA“To our German client, nine o'clock is a real promise, but to my relatives in Hue, 'around lunchtime' is already an accurate time, and arriving at exactly noon would seem strangely rigid.” — This long sentence chains three clauses with "but" and "and", accurate but relying on simple coordination rather than the compressed dash-linked structures of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the dash to deliver the sharp insight "each side thinks the other is being rude" and the metaphor "time as a fixed resource... flows around relationships", giving the argument more analytical weight than the 6.5 version.

   Because they've learned different meanings for time, honestly. To our German client, nine o'clock is a promise, and being late breaks it; to my relatives in Hue, 'around lunchtime' is an accurate description, and arriving at noon exactly would seem oddly rigid — each side thinks the other is being rude. Culture is the biggest factor: some societies treat time as a fixed resource, others as something that flows around relationships. Personality matters too, since anxious and organised people are early, relaxed and scattered ones are late. And there's power: people wait for those above them and not the other way round.

   Why this band

   • FC“each side thinks the other is being rude” — This dash-introduced insight reframes the whole example as mutual misunderstanding, a more reflective move than the plain description a 6.5 answer stops at.
   • LR“others as something that flows around relationships” — "Flows around relationships" is a more vivid, figurative verb choice than the plainer "moves around relationships" a 6.5 answer uses for the same idea.
   • GRA“Culture is the biggest factor: some societies treat time as a fixed resource, others as something that flows around relationships” — A colon introduces a compressed parallel comparison with an ellipted verb ("others [treat it] as something..."), a moderately complex structure beyond the fuller "and"-joined sentence a 6.5 answer would use.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the compact, unresolved observation "Neither view is wrong, but they collide painfully", a more balanced and idiomatic final judgement than the plainer bands offer.

   Because they've learned different meanings for time. To our German client, nine o'clock is a promise and being late breaks it; to my relatives in Hue, 'around lunchtime' is an accurate description and arriving at noon exactly would seem oddly rigid — each side thinks the other is being rude. Culture is the biggest factor: some societies treat time as a fixed resource, others as something that flows around relationships. Personality matters, too; anxious and organised people are early, relaxed and scattered ones are late. And there's power: people wait for those above them and not the other way round, so punctuality often reveals who thinks they matter. Neither view is wrong, but they collide painfully.

   Why this band

   • FC“Neither view is wrong, but they collide painfully.” — This closing sentence refuses to pick a side, instead naming the tension itself, a more sophisticated and idiomatic final move than the single-example ending a 6.5 or 7.0 answer would use.
   • LR“punctuality often reveals who thinks they matter” — "Reveals" applied to punctuality is a precise, slightly pointed verb choice, more distinctive than a plain phrase like "shows who is more important" a 6.5 answer might use for the same idea.
   • GRA“so punctuality often reveals who thinks they matter” — This result clause is appended directly onto the previous statement about power with "so", flowing into one longer sentence rather than the shorter, separated sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same chain of ideas.

7. 7. Why do people sometimes not notice time passing?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct reason ("attention has gone somewhere else") supported by one clear photography example, using plain connectors like "and" and "because" throughout.

   I think it is because their attention has gone somewhere else completely. Hùng photographed the sunrise at the harbour for twenty minutes without saying a word, and afterwards he swore it had only been five minutes. This happens when a person is fully focused on something, like work, games or good conversation. Enjoyment can cause this, and so can danger. Screens also cause it artificially, because they keep feeding attention so it never has a chance to surface. Routine does something similar in a strange way, because when every day looks the same, nothing marks the time.

   Why this band

   • FC“Enjoyment can cause this, and so can danger.” — This short sentence lists two causes plainly with "and so can", without further elaboration. A 7.0 answer would more likely combine these two causes into one more reflective sentence.
   • LR“their attention has gone somewhere else completely” — This is plain, general phrasing for the idea of absorption, without a more specific or figurative term like "switch off".
   • GRA“Hùng photographed the sunrise at the harbour for twenty minutes without saying a word, and afterwards he swore it had only been five minutes.” — This sentence joins two clauses with "and", accurate but structurally plain compared to the dash-linked constructions of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the vivid image "the part of the mind that counts minutes seems to just switch off" and the semicolon-linked pair "Enjoyment does it; so does danger", giving the ideas more compact rhythm than the 6.5 list.

   Because attention has gone somewhere else entirely, honestly. Hùng photographed the sunrise at the harbour for twenty minutes without a word and afterwards swore it had been five — when someone is fully absorbed in something, the part of the mind that counts minutes seems to just switch off. It happens with work we love, with games, with good conversation, and with anything demanding enough to fill the whole head. Enjoyment does it; so does danger. Screens do it artificially, by feeding attention constantly so it never surfaces. And routine does the opposite in a stranger way: when every day is identical, whole years can pass unnoticed.

   Why this band

   • FC“the part of the mind that counts minutes seems to just switch off” — This vivid, almost mechanical image explains the phenomenon in a single reflective clause, more figurative than the plain "has gone somewhere else completely" a 6.5 answer uses.
   • LR“with anything demanding enough to fill the whole head” — "Fill the whole head" is a vivid, image-based phrase for total absorption, more distinctive than the plainer "fully focused on something" a 6.5 answer would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“Enjoyment does it; so does danger.” — A semicolon links two short parallel clauses with an inverted second clause ("so does danger"), a moderately complex structure beyond the "and so can" phrasing a 6.5 answer would use for the same pairing.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the paradoxical aphorism "Noticing time, oddly, is a sign of being slightly bored", a genuinely surprising final claim well beyond the more predictable closing sentences of the plainer bands.

   Because attention has gone somewhere else entirely. Hùng photographed the sunrise at the harbour for twenty minutes without a word and afterwards swore it had been five — when a person is fully absorbed in something, the part of the mind that counts minutes seems to switch off. It happens with work we love, with games, with good conversation, and with anything demanding enough to fill the whole head. Enjoyment does it; so does danger. Screens do it artificially, by feeding attention constantly so it never surfaces. And routine does the opposite in a stranger way: when every day is identical, nothing marks the time, so whole years pass unnoticed. Noticing time, oddly, is a sign of being slightly bored.

   Why this band

   • FC“Noticing time, oddly, is a sign of being slightly bored.” — This paradoxical closing claim inverts the whole discussion for a final surprise, a much more idiomatic and memorable move than the descriptive final sentence a 6.5 or 7.0 answer ends on.
   • LR“nothing marks the time, so whole years pass unnoticed” — "Marks the time" is a precise, image-based verb phrase, more vivid than a plain equivalent like "shows the time passing" that a lower band might use.
   • GRA“routine does the opposite in a stranger way: when every day is identical, nothing marks the time, so whole years pass unnoticed” — A colon introduces a chain of three clauses building to a final consequence with "so", a more ambitious cumulative structure than the shorter, separated sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same idea.

8. 8. Why are deadlines necessary, for example for work or study?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct reason ("most things stay almost finished") supported by one clear personal example, using plain connectors like "because" and "since" throughout.

   Because without them, most things stay almost finished. That fish-market shoot happened because the client needed the new brand ready before summer, and without that date, I would probably have waited for a better morning forever. Deadlines turn intention into action, because they force decisions and stop the endless improving. In study, they're often what makes learning happen at all, since many students, like me, do nothing until the week before. They also protect quality in a strange way, because a limit forces you to decide what matters. But bad deadlines, set too tight, usually cause panic and poor work.

   Why this band

   • FC“But bad deadlines, set too tight, usually cause panic and poor work.” — This closing sentence adds a final qualification plainly with "but", without folding it into the argument that came before. A 7.0 answer would more likely link this caveat directly to the previous idea.
   • LR“Deadlines turn intention into action, because they force decisions and stop the endless improving.” — "Turn intention into action" is a reasonably vivid phrase, but the surrounding vocabulary ("force decisions", "stop") is plain and literal.
   • GRA“That fish-market shoot happened because the client needed the new brand ready before summer, and without that date, I would probably have waited for a better morning forever.” — This long sentence joins two clauses with "and", accurate but relying on simple coordination rather than a dash-linked construction.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the semicolon to link cause and consequence directly ("without that date I would have found a reason to wait...") and the dash-introduced list of three effects, giving the reasoning more compact shape than the 6.5 version.

   Because without them, most things stay almost finished, honestly. That fish-market shoot happened because the client needed the new brand before the summer season; without that date I would have found a reason to wait for a better morning forever. Deadlines convert intention into action — they force decisions, end the endless improving, and let other people plan around your work. In study, they're what makes learning happen at all for most students, who, like me, did nothing until the week before. They protect quality in a strange way too: a limit forces you to decide what actually matters. Bad deadlines, set arbitrarily or too tight, just produce panic and poor work.

   Why this band

   • FC“I would have found a reason to wait for a better morning forever” — This is a more reflective, self-aware phrase than the plainer "I would probably have waited... forever" a 6.5 answer writes, hinting at self-deception with "found a reason to".
   • LR“they force decisions, end the endless improving, and let other people plan around your work” — Three parallel verb phrases are listed after a dash, a more economical, precise structure than the two-item "because"-clause a 6.5 answer would use for the same idea.
   • GRA“Deadlines convert intention into action — they force decisions, end the endless improving, and let other people plan around your work” — A dash introduces a list of three parallel verb phrases explaining the opening claim, a moderately complex structure beyond the single "because"-clause a 6.5 answer would use.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the sharp, symmetrical contrast "no deadline usually produces nothing at all", echoing and inverting the opening claim for a more polished final effect than the plainer bands manage.

   Because without them, most things stay almost finished. That fish-market shoot happened because the client needed the new brand before the summer season; without that date I would have found a reason to wait for a better morning forever. Deadlines convert intention into action — they force decisions, end the endless improving, and let other people plan around your work. In study, they're what makes learning happen at all for most students, who, like me, did nothing until the week before. They also protect quality in a strange way: a limit forces you to decide what matters. Bad deadlines, set arbitrarily or too tight, produce panic and poor work. But no deadline usually produces nothing at all.

   Why this band

   • FC“But no deadline usually produces nothing at all.” — This closing sentence deliberately echoes the opening claim ("most things stay almost finished") in inverted form, a more polished, circular structure than the plain caveat a 6.5 or 7.0 answer ends on.
   • LR“a limit forces you to decide what matters” — "A limit" used as the subject is a precise, compact way of naming the constraint, more economical than the fuller phrase "a limit forces you to decide what actually matters" used in the 7.0 answer.
   • GRA“In study, they're what makes learning happen at all for most students, who, like me, did nothing until the week before” — A non-restrictive relative clause ("who, like me, did nothing until the week before") is inserted with a further appositive ("like me") nested inside it, a flexible, layered structure beyond the simpler sentences of lower bands.

9. 9. Does success today mainly depend on being skilled at managing time effectively?

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

   Band 6.5

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct "partly, but" opinion supported by one clear workplace contrast, using plain connectors like "but" and "so" throughout.

   Partly, but I would put it lower than the productivity books do. The most organised person in our studio, with the tidiest calendar and the most finished tasks, is not actually the most successful. The most successful person is a designer who is often late and disorganised, but has a strong sense of which problems are worth solving. So managing time and managing what matters are different skills, and the second one decides more. Time management gets you to 'good enough'; it removes waste and stress. Success beyond that comes from judgement, relationships, persistence and some luck.

   Why this band

   • FC“Success beyond that comes from judgement, relationships, persistence and some luck.” — This closing sentence lists four factors plainly with commas, stated directly without further comment. A 7.5 answer would more likely close with a sharper, more pointed final image instead.
   • LR“Time management gets you to 'good enough'” — "Good enough" is plain, general phrasing for the outcome of time management, without a more precise or vivid alternative.
   • GRA“The most successful person is a designer who is often late and disorganised, but has a strong sense of which problems are worth solving.” — This sentence uses one relative clause and one "but"-clause, accurate but structurally straightforward compared to the more compressed constructions of higher bands.

   Band 7.0

   The 7.0 answer uses the semicolon to contrast the two designers directly and adds the reflective closing clause "none of which fits neatly into a calendar", giving the argument more analytical bite than the flatter 6.5 version.

   Partly, honestly, but I'd put it lower than the productivity books do. The most organised person in our studio, with the tidiest calendar and the most completed tasks, isn't the most successful; the most successful is a designer who's often late and disorganised but has an unusual sense of which problems are worth solving. Managing time and managing what matters are genuinely different skills, and the second one decides more. Time management gets you to good — it removes waste and stress and keeps promises. Success beyond that comes from judgement, relationships, persistence and some luck, none of which fits neatly into a calendar.

   Why this band

   • FC“none of which fits neatly into a calendar” — This trailing relative clause circles back to the calendar image from earlier in the answer, a reflective callback a 6.5 answer's flatter list ending would not attempt.
   • LR“an unusual sense of which problems are worth solving” — "An unusual sense of" is a more precise, evocative phrase than the plainer "a strong sense of" a 6.5 answer would use for the same quality.
   • GRA“isn't the most successful; the most successful is a designer who's often late and disorganised but has an unusual sense of which problems are worth solving” — A semicolon links the negative and positive halves of the contrast into one flowing sentence, a more compact structure than the two separate sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same comparison.

   Band 7.5

   The 7.5 answer closes with the compact, almost aphoristic image "arrives efficiently at the wrong place", a sharper and more memorable final line than the plain list of factors the other bands end on.

   Partly, but I'd put it lower than the productivity books do. The most organised person in our studio, with the tidiest calendar and the most completed tasks, is not the most successful; the most successful is a designer who's often late and disorganised but has an unusual sense of which problems are worth solving — managing time and managing what matters are different skills, and the second decides more. Time management gets you to good; it removes waste and stress and keeps promises. Success beyond that comes from judgement, relationships, persistence and some luck. A person who manages their hours brilliantly toward the wrong goal arrives efficiently at the wrong place.

   Why this band

   • FC“A person who manages their hours brilliantly toward the wrong goal arrives efficiently at the wrong place.” — This closing sentence compresses the whole argument into a single ironic image, a far more idiomatic and memorable final move than the plain list of factors a 6.5 or 7.0 answer ends on.
   • LR“arrives efficiently at the wrong place” — "Efficiently at the wrong place" is a genuinely idiomatic, ironic pairing of words that don't usually go together, more distinctive than any phrase used in the plainer bands.
   • GRA“the most successful is a designer who's often late and disorganised but has an unusual sense of which problems are worth solving — managing time and managing what matters are different skills, and the second decides more” — A dash links the specific example directly to the general principle it illustrates within a single long sentence, a more ambitious, flexible structure than the separate sentences a 6.5 answer would use for the same content.