IELTS Speaking Part 2

An Ambition You Have Had for a Very Long Time

最近一次出现于 2026年9–12月当前在用

题卡

Describe an ambition you have had for a very long time.

You should say:

  • what you want to do
  • why you want to do this
  • when you think you will achieve this ambition
  • and explain why you have had this ambition for such a long time.

范文：6.5、7.0、7.5 三档

同一题目的三个版本，分别写到对应分数的真实水平——对比着看，能清楚看到分数之间到底差在哪里。

6.5 分

The answer states the marathon goal and its reasons directly and simply ('I am not a very sporty person by nature'), with each cue-card point answered in a short, plain sentence.这段回答直接、简单地说明了马拉松目标及原因（'我天生不太擅长运动'），题卡上的每一点都用一句简短朴素的话来回答。

The ambition I have had for a long time is to run a full marathon, forty-two kilometres. I have wanted to do this since I was a student, but I still haven't managed it.

What I want to do is simple to explain. I run most weekends already, along My Khe Beach near my apartment, but only five or six kilometres at a time. A full marathon is much longer, and I want to finish one, even slowly, even at the back of the group.

Why I want to do this is partly for my health, but mostly for myself. I am not a very sporty person by nature, and finishing something that hard would prove to me that I can do difficult things if I really try, not just in my design work but in my body too.

When I think I will achieve it is next year. There is a marathon in Da Nang every autumn, and I have already told two colleagues I plan to enter.

Why I have had this ambition for so long is that running is one of the few things I do only for myself, without a client or a deadline. Every time I finish a short run, I think about the full distance, and one day I want to actually do it.

查看中文翻译

我长久以来的一个愿望,是跑完一次全程马拉松,也就是四十二公里。从我还是学生的时候起就想做这件事,但至今还没能实现。

我想做的事情说起来很简单。我现在几乎每个周末都会跑步,沿着我公寓附近的美溪海滩跑,但每次也就五六公里。全程马拉松要长得多,我想完整跑完一次,哪怕跑得很慢,哪怕排在队伍最后面。

我想做这件事,一部分是为了健康,但更多是为了自己。我天生并不算运动型的人,能完成这么难的事情,会向自己证明只要真正努力,我不仅在设计工作上,在身体方面也能做到有难度的事情。

我觉得能实现这个愿望大概是明年。岘港每年秋天都会举办一次马拉松比赛,我已经告诉两位同事,我打算报名参加。

我之所以一直抱着这个愿望这么久,是因为跑步是少数几件我完全只为自己做的事情之一,没有客户,也没有截止日期。每次跑完一小段路,我都会想到那全程的距离,总有一天我想真正跑完它。

220 词 · 约 2 分钟

为什么是这个分数

  • LR“The ambition I have had for a long time is to run a full marathon, forty-two kilometres.” — The ambition is restated almost word-for-word from the prompt, with the distance clarified through a simple appositive numeral ("forty-two kilometres") rather than any more vivid description of what that distance means. That plain, functional restatement, clear, accurate, unembellished, is squarely Band 6.5 vocabulary: information delivered, but with no attempt at colour.这份抱负几乎是原封不动地从题目中复述出来的,距离的具体信息通过一个简单的同位数字(“forty-two kilometres”)来交代清楚,而没有对这段距离的意义做任何更生动的描述。这种平实、功能性的复述——清楚、准确、不加修饰——正是典型的 Band 6.5 词汇:信息传达到位,但没有尝试增添色彩。
  • GRA“I am not a very sporty person by nature” — "I am not a very sporty person by nature" is a single subject-verb-complement sentence with no subordination at all — grammatically correct but about as basic as an English sentence gets. That's the Band 6.5 ceiling on display: accuracy without complexity, used here to introduce a fairly personal admission that a higher band might instead fold into a longer, more nuanced sentence.“I am not a very sporty person by nature”是一个单一的主谓补语句,完全没有任何从属结构——语法正确,但几乎是英语句子能达到的最基本形态了。这正是 Band 6.5 的天花板在这里显现:准确却不复杂,用来引出一个相当私人的坦白,而更高分段可能会把它包裹进一个更长、更细腻的句子里。
  • FC“running is one of the few things I do only for myself, without a client or a deadline” — The reason given — that running is one of the few things done purely for the self, without a client or deadline — is a genuinely interesting idea, but it's stated once and left there, with no example of what a "client or deadline" moment actually feels like by contrast. That single, undeveloped reason is typical Band 6.5 development: the point lands, but it isn't pushed further with illustration the way a 7.0 answer would follow up with a specific instance.这里给出的理由——跑步是少数几件纯粹为自己而做、不涉及客户或截止日期的事情之一——本身是一个相当有意思的想法,但它只被提出一次就搁在那里,没有举出一个“客户或截止日期”式的时刻实际是什么感受来做对照。这种单一、未加展开的理由是 Band 6.5 典型的展开方式:观点落地了,却没有像 Band 7.0 的答案那样,用一个具体的例子进一步推进、加以说明。
7.0 分

The answer links its ideas with comfortable complex sentences and small natural asides ('partly so I can't quietly back out later'), sounding fluent and lightly self-aware without reaching for unusual vocabulary.这段回答用自然流畅的复杂句把各个想法串联起来，还加入了一些自然的小插话（'一部分原因也是这样一来我就不能悄悄反悔了'），听起来流畅，还带点自嘲式的自我觉察，用词也并不特别。

The ambition I've had for a long time is to finish a full marathon, the whole forty-two kilometres, something I first thought about back when I was still a university student, though I still haven't actually managed it.

What I want to do is fairly straightforward — I already run most weekends along My Khe Beach, but usually only six or seven kilometres, so a full marathon would mean pushing myself roughly six times further than my normal distance, even if that means finishing near the back of the pack.

The reason I want to do this is partly about staying healthy, but honestly it's more about proving something to myself. I wouldn't call myself a naturally sporty person, so completing something that demanding would show me that I can push through difficulty when I actually commit to it, not just in my job but physically as well.

As for when I think I'll achieve it, I'm aiming for next year's Da Nang marathon, which takes place every autumn. I've already mentioned it to a couple of colleagues, partly so I can't quietly back out later.

The reason I've held onto this ambition for so long, I think, is that running is one of the few things I do purely for myself, without a deadline or a client waiting on the result. Every time I finish one of my usual short runs, I find myself thinking about the full distance again, and that thought hasn't gone away in years — if anything, it's got a bit stronger the closer I get to actually signing up.

查看中文翻译

我一直以来的一个愿望，是完成一场全程马拉松，整整四十二公里，这是我大学时期就开始想的事情，但到现在其实还没真正做到。

我想做的事情其实很直接——我已经差不多每个周末都会沿着美溪海滩跑步了，不过通常只跑六七公里，所以要跑完全程马拉松，意味着要比我平时的距离多跑大约六倍，就算最后成绩排在队伍靠后也没关系。

我想做这件事的原因，一部分是为了保持健康，但说实话，更多是想向自己证明点什么。我不算是天生擅长运动的人，所以如果能完成这么一件消耗体力的事情，就能证明自己一旦真正下定决心，是可以在困难面前坚持下去的——不只是在工作上，身体上也一样。

至于我打算什么时候实现这个目标，我瞄准的是明年秋天举行的岘港马拉松。我已经跟几个同事提过这件事了，一部分原因也是这样一来我就不能悄悄反悔了。

我觉得自己之所以能一直坚持这个愿望这么久，是因为跑步是少数几件我完全为自己而做的事情之一，没有截止日期，也没有客户在等着结果。每次跑完平时那种短距离的路程，我总会不由自主地又想起全程马拉松这件事，这个念头这么多年都没有消失过——如果说有什么变化，反而是随着我越来越接近真正报名，这个念头变得更强烈了。

265 词 · 约 2 分钟

为什么是这个分数

  • GRA“so a full marathon would mean pushing myself roughly six times further than my normal distance, even if that means finishing near the back of the pack” — A result clause introduced by 'so' is extended with a concessive 'even if' clause, layering two different kinds of subordination into one sentence while staying accurate throughout -- the comfortable complex range the 7.0 grammar descriptor describes, short of the denser multi-clause stacking a 7.5 answer might attempt. The specific comparison 'six times further than my normal distance' also grounds the ambition in a concrete, quantified detail rather than a vague statement of difficulty.一个由'so'引导的结果从句被进一步用让步从句'even if'扩展,在同一个句子里叠加了两种不同类型的从属结构,同时全程保持准确——这是7.0分语法描述所说的那种从容的复杂范围,尚未达到7.5分答案可能尝试的那种更密集的多从句叠加。具体的比较'six times further than my normal distance'也把这一雄心壮志落实在一个具体的量化细节上,而不是含糊地说"很难"。
  • LR“I wouldn't call myself a naturally sporty person” — 'I wouldn't call myself' softens the self-assessment into a hedge rather than a flat statement like 'I am not sporty', which is a small but genuine step toward the natural, flexible phrasing the 7.0 lexical descriptor targets over the plainer wording a 6.5 answer would use. It also fits the modest, self-aware tone of someone admitting they're not a natural athlete before explaining why they still want to run a marathon.'I wouldn't call myself'把自我评价软化成一种模糊限定的说法,而不是像'I am not sporty'那样直接的陈述,这是朝着7.0分词汇描述所瞄准的那种自然、灵活的表达迈出的一小步,但确实是真实的进步,超越了6.5分答案会用的更平淡的措辞。它也契合了一个承认自己并非天生运动型的人,在解释为何仍想跑马拉松之前那种谦逊、有自知之明的语气。
  • FC“partly so I can't quietly back out later” — This aside adds a second, slightly humorous motive for telling colleagues about the marathon plan -- accountability rather than just enthusiasm -- which develops the answer with a self-aware detail a plainer response would skip entirely. The informal linking word 'partly' signals this is an additional, secondary reason rather than a formally listed point, keeping the tone natural and spoken, which is exactly the kind of development the 7.0 fluency descriptor rewards.这句插话补充了另一个略带幽默的动机——把马拉松计划告诉同事,是为了给自己施加"问责压力",而不仅仅是出于热情——这以一个具有自我意识的细节拓展了答案,而更平淡的回答完全会略去这一点。非正式的连接词'partly'表明这是一个附加的、次要的理由,而非正式列出的要点,使语气保持自然、口语化,这正是7.0分流利度描述所看重的那种展开方式。
  • GRA“that thought hasn't gone away in years — if anything, it's got a bit stronger” — The dash introduces an afterthought that revises the initial claim upward ('if anything, it's got a bit stronger'), a natural spoken correction-in-progress rather than a pre-planned written structure, which fits the comfortable, accurate complexity the 7.0 grammar descriptor rewards. A 6.5 answer would more likely state this as one flat claim without the self-correcting nuance, while the dash here lets the sentence build in real time, the way genuine spoken reflection does.破折号引出了一个事后补充的想法,将最初的论断向更强的方向修正('if anything, it's got a bit stronger'),这是一种自然发生在口语中、正在进行中的自我修正,而非事先规划好的书面结构,符合7.0分语法描述所看重的那种从容、准确的复杂度。6.5分的答案更可能会把这一点说成一句平淡的论断,没有这种自我修正的细微差别,而这里的破折号让句子实时地逐步构建起来,正如真实的口头反思那样。
7.5 分

The answer turns a personal goal into a reflection on ageing parents and changing motivation, closing on the generalisation 'Ambitions for yourself fade when you change,' which is the kind of evaluative, reflective point that marks genuine Band 7.5 fluency.这段回答把一个个人目标延伸成了对父母日渐年迈、自身动机不断变化的反思，最后以一句概括性的话收尾——'当一个人变了，为自己定下的抱负也会随之淡去'——这种带有评价性、反思性的观点正是Band 7.5真正流利度的体现。

The ambition I've had longest is to design and build a small house in Hue, with a courtyard, for my parents to grow old in — and to draw it myself, every line.

What I want to do is quite specific. Old Hue houses have a courtyard in the middle and rooms around it, so that air moves and the family can see each other across an open space. My parents' current house is a narrow four-floor tube with stairs everywhere, and my father's eyes and my mother's knees will not manage stairs forever. I want to build them a single-storey house around a courtyard, with wide doors, no steps, and a room for whichever grandchild is visiting.

Why I want to do this is partly practical and partly a debt. They spent twenty years in that tube house so that my sister and I could go to school in the city, and I'd like their last twenty years to be in a house built around them rather than around the size of the plot. There's also vanity in it: I've spent my career making things on screens, which disappear when the phone is off, and I want to make one thing that stands.

When I think I'll achieve it: the land is bought — a small plot near my aunt's, two years ago — and I'm hoping to start foundations in 2027, and have them living in it by 2029. My father has begun making suggestions, which is his way of saying he believes it.

Why I've had it so long: I drew the first version at twenty, on graph paper, and I still have the page. Every year since, I've redrawn it. I think the ambition survived because it was never about me. Ambitions for yourself fade when you change. This one is for two people who don't change much, and who, I've realised, have been waiting for it without ever asking.

查看中文翻译

我心里存放最久的一个志向,是在顺化给我父母设计并建造一座带天井的小房子,让他们在那里安享晚年——而且要我自己亲手画图,每一条线都要自己画。

我想做的事情其实相当具体。顺化的老房子中间都有一个天井,房间围绕着它排列,这样空气能流通,家人也能隔着这片开放的空间彼此看见。我父母现在住的是一栋四层楼的窄长“管道式”房子,到处都是楼梯,而我父亲的眼睛和母亲的膝盖不可能永远应付得了楼梯。我想给他们建一座围绕天井的平层房子,门要宽,没有台阶,还要留一间房给不管哪个孙辈来访时住。

我想做这件事,一部分是出于实际考虑,一部分是出于一种“亏欠感”。他们在那栋管道房里住了二十年,就是为了让我和姐姐能在城里上学,而我希望他们人生最后的二十年,能住在一栋围绕着他们本身建造的房子里,而不是被地皮大小所限制的房子里。这里面也有一点虚荣心:我这些年的职业生涯都在屏幕上做东西,手机一关,这些东西就消失了,而我想做出一样能够真正立得住的东西。

关于我觉得什么时候能实现:地已经买好了——两年前在我姑姑家附近买的一小块地——我希望能在2027年开始打地基,到2029年让他们搬进去住。我父亲已经开始提各种建议了,这是他表达“他相信这件事会成真”的方式。

至于为什么我怀揣这个志向这么久:我二十岁时在方格纸上画了第一版图纸,那张纸我现在还留着。从那以后,我每年都会重新画一遍。我想这个志向之所以能坚持下来,是因为它从来都不是为了我自己。为自己而立的志向,往往会随着你的改变而淡去。而这个志向是为了两个不太会变的人,而我后来才意识到,他们一直在等待它,却从未开口要求过。

324 词 · 约 2 分钟

为什么是这个分数

  • LR“There's also vanity in it” — 'Vanity' is a precise, self-critical word choice that most speakers would avoid applying to themselves, and using it unsoftened -- rather than something gentler like 'part of it is for me too' that a 7.0 answer might choose -- shows real confidence with precise, less-common vocabulary. This single blunt admission is exactly the kind of natural, unforced lexical precision the 7.5 descriptor rewards, and it adds genuine complexity to the stated motive of building his parents a house.'Vanity'是一个精确、带有自我批判意味的词汇选择,大多数说话者都会避免用它来形容自己,而这里毫不软化地直接使用它——而不是像7.0分答案可能选择的更温和的说法'part of it is for me too'——展现出对精确、不常见词汇真正的自信驾驭能力。这一处直率的坦白正是7.5分描述所看重的那种自然、不刻意的词汇精确性,也为"为父母盖房子"这一既定动机增添了真实的复杂性。
  • GRA“My father has begun making suggestions, which is his way of saying he believes it.” — The non-defining relative clause 'which is his way of saying he believes it' doesn't just add information, it interprets the father's small action, converting an observed fact (making suggestions) into an inferred emotional meaning within the same sentence. This inferential use of grammar -- going beyond description to interpretation -- is what the 7.5 descriptors mean by combining varied, accurate structures with genuine reflective content, rather than treating grammar and meaning as separate achievements.非限定性定语从句'which is his way of saying he believes it'不只是补充信息,它是在解读父亲这一细微举动,把一个观察到的事实(提出建议)在同一句话中转化为一种被推断出的情感含义。这种带有推理色彩的语法运用——从描述走向解读——正是7.5分描述所说的,把多样、准确的结构与真正的反思性内容结合在一起,而不是把语法和意义当作两项彼此独立的成就。
  • FC“Ambitions for yourself fade when you change.” — This short, aphoristic sentence generalises beyond the specific story of the courtyard house into a broader claim about why some ambitions last and others don't, which is a genuinely reflective insight rather than a summary of what was just said -- exactly the single evaluative point the 7.5 fluency descriptor asks for. A 7.0 answer would more likely close by restating the plan itself; the generalisation here gives the answer real intellectual weight.这句简短、带有格言意味的话,超越了关于带院子的房子这一具体故事,升华为一个更宏观的论断,说明为什么有些志向能够持久,而有些则不能,这是一种真正具有反思性的洞见,而非对刚才所说内容的总结——正是7.5分流利度描述所要求的那种单一评价性观点。7.0分的答案更可能会以重述那个计划本身作结;而这里的概括让整个答案拥有了真正的思想分量。

各考试时段出题记录

  • Describe an ambition you have had for a very long time.2026年9–12月
  • Describe an ambition you have had for a very long time2026年5–8月

Part 3 追问

这些是考官在该题卡之后提出的讨论题，已编写范文的题目附有参考答案。

  1. 1. What kinds of ambitions do young people often have in your country?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with a direct list of three ambitions joined by 'and' and 'like', closing with a plain sentence about a smaller group who want something different.这篇6.5分答案以一份用"and"和"like"连接的三项志向直接列表开篇,并以一句关于一小部分人想要不同东西的平淡句子收尾。

    If I listen to the young people at my studio, three ambitions come up a lot: owning a flat before thirty, working or studying abroad for at least a year, and eventually starting a business with their own name on it. Under these newer ambitions, there are also older ones that parents still want for them, like having a stable job, ideally in a big company, and having a good marriage. Some young people want to be famous, like influencers or musicians, because the internet has made that feel possible. Many simply want to earn more money than their parents did. A smaller group also wants a quieter life than the city offers, which their parents often don't understand.

    查看中文翻译

    如果听听我工作室里的年轻人怎么说,有三个志向经常被提起:三十岁前拥有一套公寓、至少花一年时间出国工作或留学,以及最终开一家挂着自己名字的公司。在这些较新的志向之下,还藏着一些更老式的志向,是父母依然希望他们拥有的,比如一份稳定的工作,最好是在一家大公司,还有一段美满的婚姻。有些年轻人想出名,比如当网红或音乐人,因为互联网让这种事感觉变得可能了。很多人单纯只是想赚得比父母那一代更多。还有一小部分人,想要一种比城市生活更安静的生活,而这一点,他们的父母往往并不理解。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“three ambitions come up a lot” — 'Come up a lot' is a plain, everyday phrase; a higher band would likely intensify this with a stronger word such as 'constantly'."Come up a lot"是一个平淡、日常化的短语;更高分数段可能会用像"constantly"这样更有力的词来强化它。
    • LR“want to be famous” — 'Want to be famous' is a general, common phrase; a higher band might use a more specific verb, such as 'want to be known', paired with concrete examples."Want to be famous"是一个笼统、常见的短语;更高分数段可能会用一个更具体的动词,比如"want to be known",并搭配具体的例子。
    • GRA“A smaller group also wants a quieter life than the city offers, which their parents often don't understand” — This closing sentence adds a relative clause ('which their parents...') as a simple extension, a basic way of adding a final comment rather than a more compact, understated final phrase.这个结尾句加入了一个定语从句("which their parents...")作为简单的延伸,是一种加入最终评论的基础方式,而不是更紧凑、更含蓄的收尾短语。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer adds the reflective tag 'I'd say' and the colloquial verb phrase 'come up constantly', plus the closing adjective 'baffling' instead of a fuller explanatory clause.这篇7.0分答案加入了反思性的附加语"I'd say"和口语化的动词短语"come up constantly",还用了形容词"baffling"收尾,而不是一个更完整的解释性分句。

    If I listen to the juniors at my studio, three ambitions come up constantly: a flat of their own before thirty, at least a year working or studying abroad, and eventually a business with their own name on the door. Those are the modern ones, I'd say. Underneath them sit the older ambitions parents still hold on their behalf, like a stable job, ideally in a large company, and a good marriage. Some want to be known, influencers, musicians, athletes, and the internet has made that feel genuinely possible now. Many simply want to earn more than their parents did, which in Vietnam is a pretty realistic and powerful ambition. And a growing minority actually want a quieter life than the city offers, which their parents tend to find baffling.

    查看中文翻译

    如果听听我工作室里初级员工怎么说,有三个志向不断被提起:三十岁前拥有一套属于自己的公寓,至少花一年时间出国工作或留学,以及最终开一家门上挂着自己名字的公司。我想说,这些是"现代版"的志向。在它们下面,还压着一些更老式的志向,是父母依然替他们坚持着的,比如一份稳定的工作,最好是在一家大公司,还有一段美满的婚姻。有些人想要被人知道——当网红、音乐人、运动员——而互联网让这种事现在感觉是真的可能实现了。很多人单纯只是想赚得比父母更多,而在越南,这算得上是一个相当现实又有力量的志向。而越来越多的一小部分人,其实想要一种比城市生活更安静的生活,这一点,他们的父母往往觉得难以理解。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Those are the modern ones, I'd say” — Inserting the reflective tag 'I'd say' as its own short sentence is a more natural, spoken structure than folding the same idea into a longer sentence as the 6.5 answer does.把反思性附加语"I'd say"作为一个独立的短句插入,是一种比6.5分答案把同样的想法融入更长句子更自然的口语化结构。
    • LR“which their parents tend to find baffling” — 'Baffling' is a more precise, vivid adjective for confusion than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'often don't understand'."Baffling"是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语"often don't understand"更精确、更生动的、表达困惑的形容词。
    • GRA“Some want to be known, influencers, musicians, athletes, and the internet has made that feel genuinely possible now” — This sentence inserts a list of examples directly after 'known' using commas, a more compact structure than the separate 'like' clause used at 6.5.这个句子用逗号直接在"known"之后插入了一份例子列表,比6.5分中使用独立"like"分句更紧凑。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer uses dashes to insert the list of examples mid-sentence, closes with the compact, understated 'one their parents find, frankly, baffling', and drops explicit hedges like 'I'd say' for a more confident register.这篇7.5分答案用破折号在句中插入了例子列表,以紧凑、含蓄的"one their parents find, frankly, baffling"收尾,并去掉了像"I'd say"这样明确的缓和语,以获得更自信的语域。

    If I listen to the juniors at my studio, three ambitions come up constantly: a flat of their own before thirty, at least a year working or studying abroad, and eventually a business with their own name on the door. Those are the modern ones. Underneath them sit the older ambitions that parents still hold on their behalf — a stable job, ideally in a large company or the state, and a good marriage. Some want to be known — influencers, musicians, athletes — and the internet has made that feel possible. Many simply want to earn more than their parents did, which in Vietnam is a realistic and powerful ambition in itself. And a growing minority want a quieter life than the city offers, one their parents find, frankly, baffling.

    查看中文翻译

    如果听听我工作室里初级员工怎么说,有三个志向不断被提起:三十岁前拥有一套属于自己的公寓,至少花一年时间出国工作或留学,以及最终开一家门上挂着自己名字的公司。这些是"现代版"的志向。在它们下面,还压着一些更老式的志向,是父母依然替他们坚持着的——一份稳定的工作,最好是在一家大公司或体制内,还有一段美满的婚姻。有些人想要被人知道——当网红、音乐人、运动员——而互联网让这种事感觉变得可能了。很多人单纯只是想赚得比父母更多,而在越南,这本身就是一个现实又有力量的志向。而越来越多的一小部分人,想要一种比城市生活更安静的生活,这一点,说实话,他们的父母觉得难以理解。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Some want to be known — influencers, musicians, athletes — and the internet has made that feel possible” — Using dashes to insert a list of examples directly into the middle of the sentence, rather than after a comma, is a more compact and visually structured device than the version used at 7.0.用破折号把例子列表直接插入句子中间,而不是逗号之后,是一种比7.0分版本更紧凑、视觉结构更清晰的手法。
    • LR“one their parents find, frankly, baffling” — Inserting 'frankly' as a parenthetical aside inside a reduced relative clause ('one their parents find... baffling') is a more compact, idiomatic construction than the fuller relative clause used at the lower bands.把"frankly"作为插入语,放进一个简化的定语从句里("one their parents find... baffling"),比低分数段使用的更完整的定语从句更紧凑、更地道。
    • GRA“which in Vietnam is a realistic and powerful ambition in itself” — The phrase 'in itself' added onto the end of the clause is a compact intensifier that tightens the claim, a more economical construction than the plainer version of the same clause used at 7.0.短语"in itself"加在分句末尾,是一个紧凑的强调语,收紧了这个论断,比7.0分中同一分句更平淡的版本更精简。

  2. 2. Why is it good for young people to have ambitions?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'I think it's good because' and lists three benefits with 'also' and 'And', ending in a short final sentence about identity.这篇6.5分答案以"I think it's good because"开篇,用"also"和"And"列出了三个好处,最后以一句关于身份认同的简短句子结尾。

    I think it's good because an ambition gives young people direction, and without one, they can just drift wherever things take them. For me, drawing a house on graph paper when I was young was the reason I chose to study design at twenty — it gave every decision after that a kind of test, does this get me closer or not? Ambitions also make effort feel purposeful, so the boring years of learning feel like an investment instead of a waste. They also build resilience, because a young person with a goal gets back up after failure faster. And they give identity at an age when identity is not settled yet.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得这很好,因为志向能给年轻人一种方向感,而如果没有志向,他们就只会随波逐流,被事情推到哪里就到哪里。对我来说,小时候在方格纸上画房子,正是我二十岁时选择学设计的原因——它给此后的每一个决定都提供了一种检验标准:这样做,是让我离目标更近,还是更远?志向也能让努力感觉有意义,这样那些枯燥的学习岁月,感觉就像一种投资,而不是浪费。志向还能建立韧性,因为一个有目标的年轻人,在失败之后能更快地重新站起来。而且在身份认同还没定型的年纪,志向能给人一种身份感。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“drift wherever things take them” — This is a fairly plain, general phrase; a higher band would likely tighten it into a more compact image, such as saying a person 'drifts wherever the current goes'.这是一个相当平淡、笼统的短语;更高分数段可能会把它收紧成一个更紧凑的意象,比如说一个人"drifts wherever the current goes"。
    • LR“a kind of test” — 'A kind of test' is vague, general phrasing; a higher band might make this more vivid by embedding the actual test question directly into the sentence."A kind of test"是模糊、笼统的措辞;更高分数段可能会把实际的测试问题直接嵌入句子里,让它更生动。
    • GRA“And they give identity at an age when identity is not settled yet” — This closing sentence adds a final point with 'And', a basic coordinating connector, rather than compressing the idea into the main flow of the paragraph.这个结尾句用"And"这个基础的并列连接词加入了最后一点,而不是把这个想法压缩进段落的主要行文中。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer opens with 'I'd say' and inserts the actual test question directly into the sentence ('does this get me closer?'), plus the closing reflection on the habit mattering more than the goal.这篇7.0分答案以"I'd say"开篇,并把实际的测试问题直接插入句子里("does this get me closer?"),还加了一个关于"习惯比目标更重要"的收尾反思。

    I'd say it's because an ambition gives a young person direction, and without one, they just drift wherever things take them. That house I once drew on graph paper is honestly the reason I chose design at twenty; it gave every decision afterwards a kind of test, does this get me closer? Ambitions turn effort into something purposeful, so the boring years of learning feel more like investment than waste. They build resilience too, since a young person with a goal tends to get back up after failure faster than one without. And they're a source of identity at an age when identity feels pretty unsettled. The ambition itself may change, and often should, but the habit of wanting something and working toward it matters more than any particular goal.

    查看中文翻译

    我想说,这是因为志向能给年轻人一种方向感,而如果没有志向,他们就只会随波逐流,被事情推到哪里就到哪里。说实话,那座我曾经在方格纸上画的房子,正是我二十岁时选择学设计的原因;它给此后的每一个决定都提供了一种检验:这样做,能让我更接近目标吗?志向能把努力转化为有目的的东西,这样那些枯燥的学习岁月,感觉更像是投资,而不是浪费。它们也能建立韧性,因为一个有目标的年轻人,往往比没有目标的人更快地在失败之后重新站起来。而且在身份认同感觉相当不稳定的年纪,它们是一种身份感的来源。这个志向本身可能会变,而且常常应该变,但想要某样东西并为之努力的这种习惯,比任何具体的目标本身都更重要。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“it gave every decision afterwards a kind of test, does this get me closer?” — Embedding the actual internal question directly into the sentence, rather than describing it abstractly, is a more vivid, natural narrative technique than the vaguer phrase used at 6.5, 'a kind of test'.把实际的内心问题直接嵌入句子,而不是抽象地描述它,是一种比6.5分中更模糊的短语"a kind of test"更生动、更自然的叙事技巧。
    • LR“purposeful” — 'Purposeful' is a precise, slightly abstract adjective for effort with a clear aim, a step up from the plainer wording a 6.5 answer might use, such as 'worth it'."Purposeful"是一个精确、略带抽象色彩的形容词,用来形容目标明确的努力,比6.5分答案可能会用的更平淡的措辞(比如"worth it")进了一步。
    • GRA“but the habit of wanting something and working toward it matters more than any particular goal” — This closing clause uses 'but' to attach a final reflective contrast onto the end of a long sentence, a more integrated structure than the short, separate closing sentence used at 6.5.这个结尾分句用"but"把最后一个反思性的对比附加到长句的末尾,比6.5分中简短、独立的结尾句更整合。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer opens directly with 'Because' for a confident fragment answer, embeds the test question with dashes mid-sentence, and closes with three short, separate sentences for rhetorical emphasis.这篇7.5分答案直接以"Because"开篇,形成一个自信的片段式回答,用破折号在句中嵌入了测试问题,并以三个简短、独立的句子收尾,以获得修辞上的强调效果。

    Because an ambition is a direction, and without one, a young person drifts wherever the current goes. That house on graph paper is the reason I chose design at twenty; it gave every decision after it a test — does this get me closer? — which is what an ambition really does. Ambitions turn effort into something purposeful, so the boring years of learning feel like investment rather than waste. They build resilience, since a young person with a goal gets up after failure faster than one without. And they're a source of identity at an age when identity is unsettled. The ambition may change, and often should. But the habit of wanting something and moving toward it is worth more than any particular goal.

    查看中文翻译

    因为志向就是一个方向,而如果没有志向,年轻人就会随波逐流,被水流带到哪里就到哪里。方格纸上的那座房子,是我二十岁时选择学设计的原因;它给此后的每一个决定都提供了一个检验——这样做,能让我更接近目标吗?——而这正是一个志向真正应该做的事。志向能把努力转化为有目的的东西,这样那些枯燥的学习岁月,感觉就像是投资,而不是浪费。它们能建立韧性,因为一个有目标的年轻人,比没有目标的人更快地在失败之后重新站起来。而且在身份认同还不稳定的年纪,它们是一种身份感的来源。这个志向可能会变,而且常常应该变。但想要某样东西并朝它前进的这种习惯,比任何具体的目标本身都更有价值。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“does this get me closer? — which is what an ambition really does” — Inserting the embedded question and then commenting on it with a dash-marked appositive clause is a more compact, sophisticated construction than the fuller, separate explanation used at 6.5 and 7.0.插入嵌入式问题,然后用一个破折号标出的同位语分句对它进行评论,是一种比6.5分和7.0分中更完整、独立的解释更紧凑、更精细的结构。
    • LR“a young person drifts wherever the current goes” — 'The current' used metaphorically for the pull of circumstance is a vivid, figurative noun, more precise and less common than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'wherever things take them'."The current"被隐喻性地用来形容环境的拉力,是一个生动、具有修辞色彩的名词,比6.5分中更平淡的短语"wherever things take them"更精确、更不常见。
    • GRA“The ambition may change, and often should. But the habit of wanting something and moving toward it is worth more than any particular goal” — Splitting this reflection into two short, separate sentences rather than joining them with 'but' inside one sentence, as at 7.0, creates a more deliberate, punchy rhetorical rhythm.把这个反思拆成两个简短、独立的句子,而不是像7.0分那样用"but"在一个句子里连接起来,创造出一种更刻意、更有力度的修辞节奏。

  3. 3. Should parents help their children decide what ambitions to follow?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with the parallel structure 'Help, yes, but decide, no' and explains with a personal example joined by 'and' and 'so', ending with a plain 'I think' summary.这篇6.5分答案以平行结构"Help, yes, but decide, no"开篇,并用一个由"and"和"so"连接的个人例子来解释,以一句平淡的"I think"总结收尾。

    Help, yes, but decide, no — and my father is a good example of the difference. He wanted me to work in a bank's IT department, said it once when I was eighteen, and then never mentioned it again while I studied design instead. He gave me his opinion and then let me choose. Parents know things about the world and about their child that the child cannot always see, so not sharing that would be a kind of neglect. But parents should not force their own unfinished dreams onto their children or choose the safe option for them, because then the child lives a life that isn't really theirs. I think the right role for parents is to give their opinion once and then support whatever the child chooses.

    查看中文翻译

    帮忙,可以;替孩子做决定,不行——而我父亲就是这种区别的一个很好的例子。他曾经希望我去一家银行的IT部门工作,在我十八岁的时候说过一次,然后就再也没有提起过,而我则选择去学了设计。他给了我他的意见,然后就让我自己选择了。父母了解一些关于这个世界、关于自己孩子的事情,而孩子自己未必总能看到这些,所以不去分享这些其实是一种忽视。但父母不应该把自己未完成的梦想强加给孩子,也不应该替孩子选择那条"安全"的路,因为那样一来,孩子过的就不是真正属于自己的人生了。我认为,父母正确的角色,是把自己的意见说一次,然后支持孩子最终做出的任何选择。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“He gave me his opinion and then let me choose” — This is a plain, literal summary of the anecdote; a higher band would likely compress this into an appositive phrase attached to the previous sentence instead of a separate one.这是对这个轶事平淡、字面化的总结;更高分数段可能会把它压缩成一个附加在前一句上的同位语短语,而不是一个独立的句子。
    • LR“a kind of neglect” — 'A kind of neglect' is used plainly here; a higher band might strengthen or vary this claim with a more forceful adverb like 'honestly'."A kind of neglect"在这里用得比较平淡;更高分数段可能会用一个更有力的副词,比如"honestly",来强化或变化这个论断。
    • GRA“I think the right role for parents is to give their opinion once and then support whatever the child chooses” — This closing sentence states the conclusion directly with 'I think', a fairly basic way of summarising rather than using a colon to introduce a compact final formula.这个结尾句用"I think"直接陈述了结论,这是一种相当基础的总结方式,而不是用冒号来引出一个紧凑的最终公式。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer uses a semicolon in 'Help, yes; decide, no' for a tighter parallel opener, and adds the aside 'honestly' and 'though' for more natural spoken reflection than the 6.5 version.这篇7.0分答案在"Help, yes; decide, no"中使用了分号,让开篇的平行结构更紧凑,并加入了插入语"honestly"和"though",比6.5分版本更具自然的口语化反思。

    Help, yes; decide, no, and my father showed me the difference pretty clearly. He wanted me in the IT department of a bank, said so once when I was eighteen, and then never brought it up again while I went off to study design instead — he gave me his view and left the actual choice to me. Parents know things about the world and about their child that the child often can't see themselves, and withholding that is honestly a kind of neglect. What they shouldn't do, though, is transfer their own unfinished ambitions or pick the safe path on the child's behalf, because then the child ends up living a life that isn't theirs and resenting it. The right role, I'd say, is informant and supporter: say what you think once, and then help with whatever they actually choose.

    查看中文翻译

    帮忙,可以;替孩子做决定,不行,而我父亲相当清楚地向我展示了这种区别。他曾经希望我去一家银行的IT部门,在我十八岁的时候说过一次,然后就再也没有提起过,而我则去学了设计——他给了我他的看法,然后就把真正的选择权留给了我。父母了解一些关于这个世界、关于自己孩子的事情,而孩子自己常常看不清这些,而不分享这些,说实话,是一种忽视。不过,他们不应该做的,是把自己未完成的志向转移给孩子,或者替孩子选择那条安全的路,因为那样一来,孩子最终会过上一种不属于自己的人生,并且心生怨恨。我想说,父母正确的角色是"信息提供者"和"支持者":把自己的想法说一次,然后帮助孩子实现他们最终选择的任何东西。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“he gave me his view and left the actual choice to me” — Attaching this summary directly onto the previous clause with a dash, rather than starting a new sentence as at 6.5, shows more compact sentence-combining ability.用破折号把这个总结直接附加到前一个分句上,而不是像6.5分那样另起一句,展示出更紧凑的句子组合能力。
    • LR“withholding that is honestly a kind of neglect” — Inserting the aside 'honestly' before the claim shows more natural, reflective spoken commentary than the plain statement used at 6.5.在论断之前插入插入语"honestly",展示出比6.5分中平淡陈述更自然、更具反思性的口语化评论。
    • GRA“What they shouldn't do, though, is transfer their own unfinished ambitions or pick the safe path on the child's behalf” — A cleft construction ('What they shouldn't do... is...') with an inserted 'though' packages the contrast into one complex sentence, more advanced than the simpler 'But parents should not' sentence used at 6.5.一个分裂句结构("What they shouldn't do... is...")加上插入的"though",把对比打包进一个复杂句里,比6.5分中更简单的"But parents should not"句更高阶。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer tightens the semicolon-linked opener further, drops filler hedges like 'I'd say', and closes with the compact colon-introduced formula 'informant and supporter: say what you think, once, and then help'.这篇7.5分答案进一步收紧了用分号连接的开头,去掉了像"I'd say"这样的填充式缓和语,并以紧凑的、由冒号引出的公式"informant and supporter: say what you think, once, and then help"收尾。

    Help, yes; decide, no, and my father showed me the difference. He wanted me in the IT department of a bank, said so once, clearly, when I was eighteen, and then never mentioned it again while I went to study design — he gave me his view and left me the choice. Parents know things about the world and about their child that the child can't see, and withholding that is a kind of neglect. What they shouldn't do is transfer their own unfinished ambitions or choose the safe path on the child's behalf, because the child then lives a life that isn't theirs and resents it. The right role is informant and supporter: say what you think, once, and then help with whatever they choose.

    查看中文翻译

    帮忙,可以;替孩子做决定,不行,而我父亲向我展示了这种区别。他曾经希望我去一家银行的IT部门,在我十八岁的时候,清楚地说过一次,然后就再也没有提起过,而我则去学了设计——他给了我他的看法,然后把选择权留给了我。父母了解一些关于这个世界、关于自己孩子的事情,而孩子自己看不清这些,而不分享这些,是一种忽视。他们不应该做的,是把自己未完成的志向转移给孩子,或者替孩子选择那条安全的路,因为那样一来,孩子会过上一种不属于自己的人生,并且心生怨恨。父母正确的角色是"信息提供者"和"支持者":把想法说一次,然后帮助孩子实现他们选择的任何东西。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Help, yes; decide, no, and my father showed me the difference” — The semicolon-linked, elliptical opening ('Help, yes; decide, no') drops repeated words entirely for maximum compactness, a tighter structure than the fuller two-clause opener used at 6.5.用分号连接、省略式的开头("Help, yes; decide, no")完全省去了重复的词,以获得最大的紧凑度,比6.5分中更完整的两分句开头更紧凑。
    • LR“informant and supporter” — This precise two-word role label is a more condensed, formal lexical choice than the fuller descriptive phrase used at 6.5, 'give their opinion once and then support'.这个精确的两词角色标签,是一个比6.5分中更完整的描述性短语"give their opinion once and then support"更浓缩、更正式的词汇选择。
    • GRA“The right role is informant and supporter: say what you think, once, and then help with whatever they choose” — The colon introduces a compact three-part instruction in place of a full explanatory sentence, a more economical structure than the fuller 'I think the right role... is to' sentence used at 6.5.冒号引出了一条紧凑的三段式指示,取代了一个完整的解释性句子,比6.5分中更完整的"I think the right role... is to"句更精简。

  4. 4. Why are some people ambitious to take on higher positions at work?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'I think there are different reasons' and lists three motivations joined by dashes and 'and', ending with a plain 'I think the best managers' conclusion.这篇6.5分答案以"I think there are different reasons"开篇,用破折号和"and"列出了三个动机,以一句平淡的"I think the best managers"结论收尾。

    I think there are different reasons, even though from outside they can look similar. Three people at my studio wanted the same manager job last year — one wanted the higher salary, one was tired of seeing things done badly and wanted the power to fix it, and one honestly just wanted a title he could tell his parents about. Money and status are the obvious reasons. Control is another one, because a higher position means deciding things instead of being told what to do. Some people also want a bigger effect on the world, and some are just naturally competitive. I think the best managers are usually the ones who want to fix things, not just get the title.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得原因各不相同,尽管从外面看,它们可能显得很相似。去年我们工作室有三个人想要同一个经理职位——一个人想要更高的薪水,一个人厌倦了看着事情被做得一团糟、想要有权力去纠正它,还有一个人说实话只是想要一个能跟父母炫耀的头衔。金钱和地位是显而易见的原因。控制权是另一个原因,因为更高的职位意味着可以自己做决定,而不是被别人指使。有些人还想对这个世界产生更大的影响,有些人则单纯是天生好胜。我觉得最好的经理通常是那些真心想把事情做好、而不只是想要头衔的人。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“the power to fix it” — This is a plain, direct phrase; a higher band would likely use a more precise, formal term such as 'authority' instead of 'power'.这是一个平淡、直白的短语;更高分数段可能会用一个更精确、更正式的词,比如用"authority"来代替"power"。
    • LR“different reasons” — 'Different reasons' is a general, vague phrase; a higher band would likely be more specific about how these reasons compare, such as noting they 'look pretty alike from the outside'."Different reasons"是一个笼统、模糊的短语;更高分数段可能会更具体地说明这些原因之间的关系,比如指出它们"look pretty alike from the outside"。
    • GRA“I think the best managers are usually the ones who want to fix things, not just get the title” — This closing sentence gives a direct opinion with 'I think', a basic way of concluding rather than referring back to a category established earlier in the answer.这个结尾句用"I think"直接给出了观点,这是一种基础的收尾方式,而不是回扣答案前面已经建立的类别。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer opens directly with the reason clause before the main statement ('For reasons that look pretty alike...'), and closes by referring back to 'the second kind' rather than restating the point in full.这篇7.0分答案在主要陈述之前直接以理由分句开篇("For reasons that look pretty alike..."),并以回扣"the second kind"收尾,而不是完整地重述观点。

    For reasons that look pretty alike from the outside, I'd say. Three people at my studio wanted the same management job last year: one for the salary, one because she was tired of watching things done badly and wanted the authority to fix them, and one, honestly, for a title his parents could repeat to the neighbours. Money and status are the obvious drivers. Control is another one, since higher positions mean deciding rather than being decided for. Some people want a bigger effect on the world and can only get it from higher up, and some are just competitive by nature, so a ladder is basically a ladder to them. The best managers, I'd say, tend to be the second kind.

    查看中文翻译

    我想说,这是出于一些从外面看起来相当相似的原因。去年我们工作室有三个人想要同一个管理职位:一个人是为了薪水,一个人是因为她厌倦了看着事情被做得一团糟、想要有权力去纠正它,还有一个人,说实话,是为了一个能让父母拿去跟邻居炫耀的头衔。金钱和地位是显而易见的驱动力。控制权是另一个,因为更高的职位意味着自己做决定,而不是被别人决定。有些人想对这个世界产生更大的影响,而这只有站得更高才能实现,还有些人单纯是天生好胜,所以对他们来说,"梯子"就只是一个"梯子"而已。我想说,最好的经理通常是第二种人。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“For reasons that look pretty alike from the outside, I'd say” — Fronting the reason clause before the main statement, with the hedge 'I'd say' attached at the end, is a more natural, essay-like opener than the plainer 'I think there are different reasons' used at 6.5.把理由分句前置到主要陈述之前,并在末尾附上缓和语"I'd say",是一种比6.5分中更平淡的"I think there are different reasons"更自然、更具议论文风格的开头。
    • LR“the authority to fix them” — 'Authority' is a more precise, formal noun for power granted by a position than the plainer word 'power' used at 6.5."Authority"是一个比6.5分中更平淡的词"power"更精确、更正式的名词,用来表达由职位赋予的权力。
    • GRA“The best managers, I'd say, tend to be the second kind” — Referring back to 'the second kind' rather than restating the reason in full is a more compact, cohesive device than the fuller restatement used at 6.5, 'the ones who want to fix things, not just get the title'.回扣"the second kind",而不是完整地重述理由,是一种比6.5分中更完整的重述"the ones who want to fix things, not just get the title"更紧凑、更连贯的手法。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer drops the hedge entirely for a bare fragment opener ('For reasons that look alike from outside'), uses the compact idiom 'a ladder is a ladder', and adds a fourth motivation about growing beyond the job.这篇7.5分答案完全去掉了缓和语,以一个赤裸的片段开篇("For reasons that look alike from outside"),使用了紧凑的习语"a ladder is a ladder",并加入了第四个动机——超越工作本身。

    For reasons that look alike from outside. Three people at my studio wanted the same management job last year: one for the salary, one because she was tired of watching things done badly and wanted the authority to fix them, and one, honestly, for a title his parents could repeat to the neighbours. Money and status are the obvious drivers. Control is another — higher positions mean deciding rather than being decided for. Some people want a bigger effect on the world and can only get it from higher up. Some are competitive by nature and a ladder is a ladder. And some simply grow beyond their job and need the next one to stay interested. The best managers tend to be the second kind.

    查看中文翻译

    出于一些从外面看起来相似的原因。去年我们工作室有三个人想要同一个管理职位:一个人是为了薪水,一个人是因为她厌倦了看着事情被做得一团糟、想要有权力去纠正它,还有一个人,说实话,是为了一个能让父母拿去跟邻居炫耀的头衔。金钱和地位是显而易见的驱动力。控制权是另一个——更高的职位意味着自己做决定,而不是被别人决定。有些人想对这个世界产生更大的影响,而这只有站得更高才能实现。有些人天生就好胜,对他们来说"梯子"就是"梯子"。还有些人单纯是超越了自己现在的工作,需要下一个职位才能保持兴趣。最好的经理通常是第二种人。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“For reasons that look alike from outside” — Opening with a bare prepositional fragment and no hedge at all is the most compact, confident version of this opener across the three bands, more so than the 'I'd say' version used at 7.0.以一个赤裸的介词短语开篇,完全没有缓和语,是三个分数段中这个开头最紧凑、最自信的版本,比7.0分中"I'd say"的版本更甚。
    • LR“a ladder is a ladder” — This idiomatic, almost proverbial repetition ('a ladder is a ladder') is a more vivid, figurative way of describing an attitude than the plainer explanation given at 6.5, 'naturally competitive'.这种地道、近乎谚语式的重复("a ladder is a ladder"),是一种比6.5分中给出的更平淡的解释"naturally competitive"更生动、更具修辞色彩的方式,来描述一种态度。
    • GRA“And some simply grow beyond their job and need the next one to stay interested” — Adding this extra short sentence as a fourth category, introduced simply with 'And', extends the list further than the three-reason structure used at 6.5 and 7.0, showing a more developed range of ideas.加入这个额外的简短句子作为第四个类别,简单地用"And"引出,比6.5分和7.0分使用的三个理由结构进一步延伸了列表,展示出更成熟的想法范围。

  5. 5. Is it good to have ambitious people in a work team?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'I think it depends on the kind of ambition' and gives two contrasting examples joined by 'But' and 'so', closing with a plain two-part final sentence.这篇6.5分答案以"I think it depends on the kind of ambition"开篇,给出了两个用"But"和"so"连接的对比例子,以一句平淡的两部分结尾句收尾。

    I think it depends on the kind of ambition. My colleague Linh wants to do the best healthcare project in the country, and her ambition pulled the whole team up with her because her goal needed everyone to succeed. But another former colleague just wanted to get promoted, and he treated his teammates like steps to climb, so the team slowly stopped helping him. Ambitious people bring energy and high standards, which any team needs, but the question is whether the ambition is for the work or for the person. A team with only ambitious people is tiring, but a team with none stays exactly where it is.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得这要看是哪种志向。我的同事玲想做全国最好的医疗项目,她的志向把整个团队都一起带动了起来,因为她的目标需要每个人都成功。但另一位前同事只是单纯想升职,他把队友当成往上爬的台阶,所以团队渐渐不再帮他了。有志向的人能带来能量和高标准,这是任何团队都需要的,但问题在于,这个志向究竟是为了工作,还是为了个人自己。一个全是有志向的人组成的团队会让人疲惫,但一个完全没有志向的人组成的团队则会原地踏步。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“treated his teammates like steps to climb” — This is a fairly plain, literal metaphor; a higher band would likely use a more compact, idiomatic version, such as calling teammates 'rungs on a ladder'.这是一个相当平淡、字面化的隐喻;更高分数段可能会用一个更紧凑、更地道的版本,比如把队友称为"rungs on a ladder"。
    • LR“high standards” — 'High standards' is a common, general phrase; a higher band might present this idea as part of a tighter three-item list, such as 'energy, standards and a refusal to settle for good enough'."High standards"是一个常见、笼统的短语;更高分数段可能会把这个想法呈现为一个更紧凑的三项列表的一部分,比如"energy, standards and a refusal to settle for good enough"。
    • GRA“A team with only ambitious people is tiring, but a team with none stays exactly where it is” — This closing sentence uses 'but' for a simple contrast between two extremes, a basic structure rather than a semicolon-marked, tighter parallel sentence.这个结尾句用"but"来表达两个极端之间的简单对比,是一种基础结构,而不是用分号标出的、更紧凑的平行句。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer opens with the compact fragment 'Good in the right kind, I'd say, harmful in the wrong kind' and uses the idiom 'rungs on a ladder', showing more figurative precision than the 6.5 version.这篇7.0分答案以紧凑的片段"Good in the right kind, I'd say, harmful in the wrong kind"开篇,并使用了习语"rungs on a ladder",比6.5分版本展示出更强的修辞精确性。

    Good in the right kind, I'd say, harmful in the wrong kind. Linh's ambition to do the best healthcare work in the country pulled the whole hospital project up with her, since her goal actually needed the team to succeed, whereas a former colleague's ambition to get promoted treated teammates more like rungs on a ladder, and the team quietly stopped helping him. Ambitious people bring energy, standards and a refusal to settle for 'good enough', which any team genuinely needs. The real question, though, is whether the ambition is for the work or for the person. Ambition for the work makes a team better; ambition for oneself basically turns it into a competition.

    查看中文翻译

    我想说,对的那种是好的,错的那种是有害的。玲想做全国最好医疗工作的志向,把整个医院项目都一起带动了起来,因为她的目标实际上需要整个团队一起成功;而另一位前同事想升职的志向,却把队友更多地当成往上爬的"梯级",于是团队渐渐悄悄地不再帮他了。有志向的人能带来能量、标准,以及不满足于"过得去就好"的那种劲头,这是任何团队都真正需要的。不过,真正的问题在于,这个志向究竟是为了工作,还是为了自己。为工作而生的志向能让团队变得更好;为自己而生的志向,基本上会把团队变成一场竞赛。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Good in the right kind, I'd say, harmful in the wrong kind” — Opening with two short balanced fragments before any full sentence is a more compact, essay-like structure than the fuller 'I think it depends on' opener used at 6.5.在任何完整句子之前,先用两个简短、平衡的片段开篇,是一种比6.5分中更完整的"I think it depends on"开头更紧凑、更具议论文风格的结构。
    • LR“treated teammates more like rungs on a ladder” — 'Rungs on a ladder' is a more vivid, precise metaphor for being used as a means to an end than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'steps to climb'."Rungs on a ladder"是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语"steps to climb"更生动、更精确的隐喻,用来表达"被当作达成目的的手段"。
    • GRA“Ambition for the work makes a team better; ambition for oneself basically turns it into a competition” — A semicolon links two tightly parallel clauses into one balanced sentence, a more controlled structure than the separate 'but' sentence used at 6.5.分号把两个紧密平行的分句连接成一个平衡的句子,比6.5分中独立的"but"句更有控制力。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer tightens the metaphor to the single word 'rungs', drops filler hedges for a more confident register, and closes with the same parallel sentence pattern used twice in a row for rhetorical effect.这篇7.5分答案把隐喻收紧成一个单独的词"rungs",去掉了填充式的缓和语以获得更自信的语域,并连续两次使用相同的平行句式收尾,以取得修辞效果。

    Good in the right kind, harmful in the wrong kind. Linh's ambition to do the best healthcare work in the country pulled the whole hospital project up with her, because her goal needed the team to succeed; a former colleague's ambition to be promoted treated teammates as rungs, and the team quietly stopped helping him. Ambitious people bring energy, standards and the refusal to accept 'good enough', which any team needs. The question is whether the ambition is for the work or for the person. Ambition for the work makes a team better; ambition for oneself makes it a competition. A team of only ambitious people is exhausting, and a team with none stays where it is.

    查看中文翻译

    对的那种是好的,错的那种是有害的。玲想做全国最好医疗工作的志向,把整个医院项目都一起带动了起来,因为她的目标需要整个团队一起成功;而另一位前同事想升职的志向,却把队友当成"梯级",于是团队渐渐悄悄地不再帮他了。有志向的人能带来能量、标准,以及不接受"过得去就好"的那种劲头,这是任何团队都需要的。问题在于,这个志向究竟是为了工作,还是为了自己。为工作而生的志向能让团队变得更好;为自己而生的志向会把团队变成一场竞赛。一个全是有志向的人组成的团队让人疲惫不堪,而一个完全没有志向的人组成的团队则会原地踏步。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“a former colleague's ambition to be promoted treated teammates as rungs” — Reducing the metaphor to the single precise word 'rungs', without the fuller phrase 'on a ladder' used at 7.0, is a more compact, confident lexical choice.把隐喻精简成一个精确的单一词"rungs",不再使用7.0分中更完整的短语"on a ladder",是一个更紧凑、更自信的词汇选择。
    • LR“the refusal to accept 'good enough'” — Quoting 'good enough' directly inside the sentence is a precise, almost aphoristic way of naming a standard, more vivid than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'high standards'.在句子里直接引用"good enough",是一种精确、近乎格言式地命名一种标准的方式,比6.5分中更平淡的短语"high standards"更生动。
    • GRA“Ambition for the work makes a team better; ambition for oneself makes it a competition. A team of only ambitious people is exhausting, and a team with none stays where it is” — Two semicolon-linked parallel sentences placed back to back create a more sustained rhetorical rhythm than the single contrastive sentence used at 6.5 for the same overall idea.两个用分号连接的平行句子紧挨着放在一起,创造出一种比6.5分中用来表达同一整体想法的单一对比句更持续的修辞节奏。

  6. 6. Are ambitious people always successful at work?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'No, I don't think so' and gives one classmate example joined by 'but' and 'because', closing with a plain final sentence about dissatisfaction.这篇6.5分答案以"No, I don't think so"开篇,给出了一个由"but"和"because"连接的同学例子,以一句关于"不满足"的平淡结尾句收尾。

    No, I don't think so, and the most ambitious person in my design class proves it. He always talked about bigger plans than the rest of us, but at thirty-five he is still in the same junior job he started in, because he wanted the final result but never did the boring work in between. Ambition only sets the target — actually succeeding needs skill, persistence, good relationships, timing and even luck, and ambition alone cannot give you any of those. Some ambitious people also hurt themselves by being impatient or making enemies. What ambition does guarantee is that a person will not be satisfied with where they are, and that can push them forward or just make them bitter.

    查看中文翻译

    不,我不这么认为,而我设计班里志向最大的那个人就证明了这一点。他总是把计划说得比我们所有人都大,但到了三十五岁,他还是在做他一开始就在做的那份初级工作,因为他只想要最终的结果,却从来不愿意做中间那些枯燥的工作。志向只能设定目标——真正的成功还需要技能、坚持、良好的人际关系、时机,甚至运气,而单靠志向本身,这些东西一样都给不了你。有些有志向的人还会因为没耐心或者树敌太多而伤害到自己。志向唯一能保证的是,一个人不会满足于自己现在所处的位置,而这既可能推动他前进,也可能只是让他变得愤世嫉俗。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“the boring work in between” — This is a plain, direct phrase; a higher band would likely use a more precise or vivid term, such as 'the boring part in between'.这是一个平淡、直白的短语;更高分数段可能会用一个更精确或更生动的表达,比如"the boring part in between"。
    • LR“bigger plans than the rest of us” — 'Bigger plans' is a general, everyday phrase; a higher band would likely intensify or vary this, such as describing the plans as bigger than 'any of us' with repeated emphasis."Bigger plans"是一个笼统、日常化的短语;更高分数段可能会强化或变化这个说法,比如用重复强调的方式,把这些计划描述得比"any of us"都大。
    • GRA“Ambition only sets the target — actually succeeding needs skill, persistence, good relationships, timing and even luck, and ambition alone cannot give you any of those” — This long sentence links its two halves with a dash and then 'and', a fairly loose structure rather than the semicolon-marked, tighter contrast used at higher bands.这个长句用破折号连接了两半,然后又用了"and",这是一种相当松散的结构,而不是更高分数段所使用的、用分号标出的更紧密的对比。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer adds the honest aside 'honestly' and the closing qualifier 'of course', plus the more precise phrase 'none of which ambition alone provides' instead of the plainer wording at 6.5.这篇7.0分答案加入了诚实的插入语"honestly"和结尾限定语"of course",还用了更精确的短语"none of which ambition alone provides",代替了6.5分中更平淡的措辞。

    No, and the most ambitious person in my design class is honestly the proof. He had bigger plans than any of us, talked about them constantly, and at thirty-five he's still in the same junior role he started in, because he wanted the destination and never did the boring part in between. Ambition sets the target, I'd say, but success needs skill, persistence, relationships, timing and luck, none of which ambition alone provides. Some ambitious people undermine themselves through impatience, by making enemies, or by switching goals every time one gets hard. Others succeed enormously, of course. What ambition does guarantee is that a person stays dissatisfied with where they are, and that can drive either progress or bitterness, depending on what else they bring to it.

    查看中文翻译

    不,而说实话,我设计班里志向最大的那个人就是证明。他的计划比我们所有人都大,而且常常挂在嘴边,可到了三十五岁,他还是在做他一开始就在做的那份初级工作,因为他只想要终点,却从来不愿意做中间那些枯燥的工作。我想说,志向能设定目标,但成功还需要技能、坚持、人际关系、时机和运气,而这些光靠志向一样都给不了。有些有志向的人会因为缺乏耐心、树敌,或者每次遇到困难就换目标,而毁掉自己。当然,也有些人取得了巨大的成功。志向唯一能保证的是,一个人会一直不满足于自己现在所处的位置,而这既可能推动进步,也可能带来愤世嫉俗,具体取决于他们还带来了什么别的东西。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“the most ambitious person in my design class is honestly the proof” — Inserting 'honestly' before the claim shows more natural, reflective spoken commentary than the flatter statement used at 6.5.在论断之前插入"honestly",展示出比6.5分中更平淡的陈述更自然、更具反思性的口语化评论。
    • LR“none of which ambition alone provides” — A non-restrictive relative clause ('none of which...') replaces a full separate clause, a more compact way of dismissing all five qualities at once than the fuller phrase used at 6.5, 'ambition alone cannot give you any of those'.一个非限定性定语从句("none of which...")替代了一个完整的独立分句,是一种比6.5分中更完整的短语"ambition alone cannot give you any of those"更紧凑地一次性否定所有五种特质的方式。
    • GRA“Some ambitious people undermine themselves through impatience, by making enemies, or by switching goals every time one gets hard” — This sentence lists three parallel prepositional phrases joined by 'or', showing more controlled parallel structure than the simpler two-item list used at 6.5.这个句子用"or"列出了三个平行的介词短语,展示出比6.5分中更简单的两项列表更有控制力的平行结构。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer uses a semicolon to tighten the contrast between setting a target and achieving success, and closes with two short, separate sentences ('Some succeed enormously') for rhetorical punch rather than folding it into a longer sentence.这篇7.5分答案用分号收紧了"设定目标"和"取得成功"之间的对比,并以两个简短、独立的句子("Some succeed enormously")收尾,以获得修辞上的力度,而不是把它融入一个更长的句子。

    No, and the most ambitious person in my design class is the proof. He had bigger plans than any of us, talked about them constantly, and at thirty-five he's in the same junior role he started in, because he wanted the destination and never did the boring part in between. Ambition sets the target; success needs skill, persistence, relationships, timing and luck, and ambition alone provides none of them. Some ambitious people undermine themselves by impatience, by making enemies, or by changing goals every time one gets hard. Some succeed enormously. What ambition guarantees is that a person will be dissatisfied with where they are, and that can drive either progress or bitterness, depending on what else they bring.

    查看中文翻译

    不,而我设计班里志向最大的那个人就是证明。他的计划比我们所有人都大,而且常常挂在嘴边,可到了三十五岁,他还是在做他一开始就在做的那份初级工作,因为他只想要终点,却从来不愿意做中间那些枯燥的工作。志向能设定目标;但成功需要技能、坚持、人际关系、时机和运气,而单靠志向,这些东西一样都给不了。有些有志向的人会因为缺乏耐心、树敌,或者每次遇到困难就换目标,而毁掉自己。有些人则取得了巨大的成功。志向唯一能保证的是,一个人会不满足于自己现在所处的位置,而这既可能推动进步,也可能带来愤世嫉俗,具体取决于他们还带来了什么别的东西。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Ambition sets the target; success needs skill, persistence, relationships, timing and luck” — A semicolon links two closely related independent clauses into one tight, balanced sentence, a more controlled structure than the dash-based version used at 6.5 or the comma-based version at 7.0.分号把两个紧密相关的独立分句连接成一个紧凑、平衡的句子,比6.5分中基于破折号的版本或7.0分中基于逗号的版本更有控制力。
    • LR“ambition alone provides none of them” — This tightened phrase, dropping 'which' and 'of those' seen at the lower bands, is a more economical, confident way of making the same dismissive point.这个收紧的短语,去掉了低分数段中出现的"which"和"of those",是一种更精简、更自信地表达同样否定观点的方式。
    • GRA“Some succeed enormously” — This short, standalone sentence, placed right after a list of ways ambitious people undermine themselves, creates a deliberate contrast through brevity, a more stylistically controlled choice than folding the same idea into a longer sentence with 'of course' as at 7.0.这个简短、独立的句子,紧接在一份关于"有志向的人如何毁掉自己"的列表之后,通过简洁性创造出一种刻意的对比,比7.0分中用"of course"把同样的想法融入一个更长的句子,是一种风格上更有控制力的选择。

  7. 7. Why does the world need ambitious people?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'Because somebody has to be a little unreasonable, I think' and gives one example joined by 'but', ending with a plain 'but without ambition' conclusion.这篇6.5分答案以"Because somebody has to be a little unreasonable, I think"开篇,给出了一个用"but"连接的例子,以一句平淡的"but without ambition"结论收尾。

    Because somebody has to be a little unreasonable, I think. Every bridge across the Hàn river in Da Nang started as an idea that a sensible group of people could easily have rejected, but someone wanted it enough to push it forward — ambitious people are the ones who don't just accept things the way they are. They start companies, find cures for diseases, and build things that everyone later takes for granted. Progress usually comes from people being unhappy with how things are, and ambition is really just that kind of unhappiness with a plan attached to it. The world also needs people who are not ambitious, who keep things working, but without ambition, nothing new would ever get built.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得,是因为总得有人愿意"不那么讲道理"一点。岘港汉江上的每一座桥,一开始都只是一个理性的群体本可以轻易否决的想法,但总有人愿意为此拼一把,把它推动了下去——有志向的人,就是那些不愿意仅仅接受事物现状的人。他们创办公司、寻找治病的方法,建造出后来所有人都习以为常的东西。进步通常来自于人们对现状的不满,而志向,其实就是那种带着计划的不满。这个世界也需要那些没有志向、让一切正常运转的人,但如果没有志向,就永远不会有新的东西被建造出来。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“started as an idea that a sensible group of people could easily have rejected” — This is a fairly plain, literal description; a higher band would likely use a more precise, formal noun such as 'proposal' and a more figurative adjective such as 'absurd'.这是一种相当平淡、字面化的描述;更高分数段可能会用一个更精确、更正式的名词,比如"proposal",以及一个更具修辞色彩的形容词,比如"absurd"。
    • LR“a little unreasonable” — 'A little unreasonable' softens the claim with a general hedge; a higher band would likely drop the softener for a more confident, direct claim."A little unreasonable"用一个笼统的缓和语软化了论断;更高分数段可能会去掉这个软化语,给出一个更自信、更直接的论断。
    • GRA“The world also needs people who are not ambitious, who keep things working, but without ambition, nothing new would ever get built” — This long closing sentence links three ideas mainly with 'who... but', a fairly loose coordinating structure rather than the tighter, more compact final sentence used at higher bands.这个长长的结尾句主要用"who... but"把三个想法连接起来,这是一种相当松散的并列结构,而不是更高分数段使用的更紧密、更紧凑的结尾句。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer drops the softening 'a little' for the more direct 'unreasonable', and uses the more precise verb 'drag' to describe pulling institutions forward, plus the closing evaluative aside 'honestly'.这篇7.0分答案去掉了软化语"a little",改用更直接的"unreasonable",并用了更精确的动词"drag"来描述推动体制前进,还加了一个评价性的收尾插入语"honestly"。

    Because somebody has to be unreasonable, I'd say. Every bridge across the Hàn river in Da Nang was once an absurd proposal that a sensible committee could have easily rejected, and someone wanted it badly enough to push it through, ambitious people are the ones who refuse to accept the current state of things as final. They found companies, cure diseases, build the infrastructure everyone later takes for granted, and drag institutions forward that would otherwise just sit still. Progress comes from dissatisfaction, basically, and ambition is dissatisfaction with a plan attached. The world also needs the unambitious, who maintain, care and keep things running, and who honestly tend to be undervalued. But without ambition, nothing new would get built, and we'd probably still be maintaining the same village forever.

    查看中文翻译

    我想说,是因为总得有人愿意"不讲道理"。岘港汉江上的每一座桥,一开始都是一个理性的委员会本可以轻易否决的荒唐提案,但总有人极其渴望它得以实现,把它推动了下去——有志向的人,就是那些拒绝把事物的现状当作最终答案的人。他们创立公司、治愈疾病,建造出后来所有人都习以为常的基础设施,还拖着那些原本只会原地不动的体制向前走。说到底,进步来自于不满,而志向就是带着计划的不满。这个世界也需要那些没有志向的人,他们维护、关怀,让一切正常运转,而说实话,他们往往被低估了。但如果没有志向,就永远不会有新的东西被建造出来,我们大概也会永远守着同一个村子。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“someone wanted it badly enough to push it through” — 'Badly enough' intensifies the claim more than the plainer phrasing at 6.5, 'wanted it enough', showing a more natural emphatic register."Badly enough"比6.5分中更平淡的表达"wanted it enough"更强化了这个论断,展示出更自然的强调语域。
    • LR“drag institutions forward that would otherwise just sit still” — 'Drag' is a vivid, precise verb for forceful, effortful movement, more figurative than a plain verb like 'move' or 'push' that a 6.5 answer might use for the same idea."Drag"是一个生动、精确的动词,用来表达费力、艰难的移动,比6.5分答案可能会用的"move"或"push"这类平淡动词更具修辞色彩。
    • GRA“who honestly tend to be undervalued” — Inserting 'honestly' before the evaluative claim shows more natural, reflective spoken commentary than the plainer, unqualified relative clause used at 6.5.在评价性论断之前插入"honestly",展示出比6.5分中更平淡、不加限定的定语从句更自然、更具反思性的口语化评论。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer opens with the bare, confident claim 'Because somebody has to be unreasonable' with no softening hedge, and closes with the compact, vivid final image of 'maintaining the same village forever'.这篇7.5分答案以赤裸、自信的论断"Because somebody has to be unreasonable"开篇,没有任何软化语,并以紧凑、生动的最终意象"maintaining the same village forever"收尾。

    Because somebody has to be unreasonable. Every bridge across the Hàn river in Da Nang was once an absurd proposal that a sensible committee could have rejected, and someone wanted it enough to push it through — ambitious people are the ones who don't accept the current state of things as final. They found companies, cure diseases, build the infrastructure everyone later takes for granted, and drag institutions forward that would otherwise rest. Progress comes from dissatisfaction, and ambition is dissatisfaction with a plan. The world also needs the unambitious, who maintain, care and keep things working, and who are usually undervalued. But without ambition, nothing new would be built, and we'd be maintaining the same village forever.

    查看中文翻译

    因为总得有人愿意"不讲道理"。岘港汉江上的每一座桥,一开始都是一个理性的委员会本可以否决的荒唐提案,但总有人对它渴望到足以推动它实现——有志向的人,就是那些不接受事物现状是最终答案的人。他们创立公司、治愈疾病,建造出后来所有人都习以为常的基础设施,还拖着那些原本只会歇着不动的体制向前走。进步来自于不满,而志向就是带着计划的不满。这个世界也需要那些没有志向的人,他们维护、关怀,让一切正常运转,而他们通常被低估了。但如果没有志向,就永远不会有新的东西被建造出来,我们也将永远守着同一个村子。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Because somebody has to be unreasonable” — Dropping both the softening 'a little' used at 6.5 and the hedge 'I'd say' used at 7.0 creates the most direct, confident version of this opening claim across the three bands.同时去掉了6.5分中使用的软化语"a little"和7.0分中使用的缓和语"I'd say",创造出这三个分数段中最直接、最自信的开篇论断版本。
    • LR“institutions forward that would otherwise rest” — 'Rest' used to mean stay static or stagnant is a precise, slightly literary verb choice, more figurative than the plainer phrase used at 7.0, 'just sit still'."Rest"用来表示"保持静止或停滞",是一个精确、略带文学色彩的动词选择,比7.0分中更平淡的短语"just sit still"更具修辞色彩。
    • GRA“we'd be maintaining the same village forever” — This compact conditional clause, without the hedging adverb 'probably' used at 7.0, states the consequence with more direct, confident force, a subtly tighter construction than the fuller version used at the lower bands.这个紧凑的条件分句,没有使用7.0分中使用的缓和副词"probably",以更直接、更自信的力度陈述了后果,是一种比低分数段更完整的版本更微妙地紧凑的结构。

  8. 8. Are people who are not ambitious at a disadvantage in life?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with the balanced phrase 'In careers, maybe a little, but in life generally, I'm not so sure' and gives one contrast example, closing with a plain 'But' final sentence.这篇6.5分答案以平衡的短语"In careers, maybe a little, but in life generally, I'm not so sure"开篇,给出了一个对比例子,以一句平淡的"But"结尾句收尾。

    In careers, maybe a little, but in life generally, I'm not so sure. My neighbour, Mr Bảy, who I go swimming with, has wanted nothing for thirty years except his morning swim in the sea and his family's health, and a friend of mine with a much bigger job and salary actually envies him. People who are not ambitious usually earn less, get promoted less, and can be pushed around more by people who want more. That is a real disadvantage in a world built around competing. But unambitious people are often happier, healthier, and nicer to be around, and they don't give up important things for the next goal as easily.

    查看中文翻译

    在职业上,可能有那么一点点,但从整体人生来看,我不太确定。我的邻居七叔,我们一起去游泳的那位,三十年来除了每天早上在海里游泳和家人的健康之外,什么都不曾渴望,而我的一位工作和薪水都好得多的朋友,竟然羡慕他。没有志向的人通常挣得更少,升职更少,也更容易被那些想要更多的人摆布。在一个围绕着竞争建立起来的世界里,这是一个真实存在的劣势。但没有志向的人往往更快乐、更健康,也更让人愿意相处,而且他们不会轻易为了下一个目标而放弃重要的东西。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“nicer to be around” — This is a plain, everyday phrase; a higher band would likely use a slightly more concise or formal alternative such as 'better company'.这是一个平淡、日常化的短语;更高分数段可能会用一个稍微更简洁或更正式的替代表达,比如"better company"。
    • LR“a much bigger job and salary” — 'A much bigger job and salary' is fairly general phrasing; a higher band might use a more vivid, specific image, such as 'a corner office'."A much bigger job and salary"是相当笼统的措辞;更高分数段可能会用一个更生动、更具体的意象,比如"a corner office"。
    • GRA“That is a real disadvantage in a world built around competing” — This sentence states the claim plainly with 'is', a basic structure rather than a more compact clause conditioned on how life is measured.这个句子用"is"平淡地陈述了论断,是一种基础结构,而不是一个以"生活如何被衡量"为条件的更紧凑分句。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer specifies the friend's job with the vivid detail 'a corner office' and adds the honest aside 'honestly', plus the closing conditional about how the disadvantage 'only shows up if you measure life' a certain way.这篇7.0分答案用生动的细节"a corner office"具体说明了朋友的工作,并加入了诚实的插入语"honestly",还加了一个收尾条件句,说明这个劣势"only shows up if you measure life"以某种方式。

    In careers, somewhat, but in life, I'm honestly not sure they are. Mr Bảy, my swimming neighbour, has wanted nothing for thirty years beyond his morning in the sea and his family's health, and a friend of mine with a corner office and a much larger salary openly envies him. Unambitious people do earn less, get promoted less, and can be pushed around more by those who want more, that's a genuine disadvantage in a world organised around competing. But they're often happier, healthier and better company, and they're less likely to sacrifice what actually matters for whatever's next. The disadvantage really only shows up if you measure life by the things ambition produces.

    查看中文翻译

    在职业上,算是有一点,但在人生里,说实话,我不太确定他们真的处于劣势。七叔,我的游泳邻居,三十年来除了每天早上在海里游泳和家人的健康之外,什么都不曾渴望,而我的一位有着角落办公室、薪水高得多的朋友,却公开羡慕他。没有志向的人确实挣得更少,升职更少,也更容易被那些想要更多的人摆布,这在一个围绕着竞争组织起来的世界里,是一个真实存在的劣势。但他们往往更快乐、更健康,也是更好的相处对象,而且他们不太可能为了接下来的目标而牺牲真正重要的东西。这个劣势,其实只有当你用"志向所带来的东西"来衡量人生时才会显现出来。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“a friend of mine with a corner office and a much larger salary openly envies him” — 'A corner office' is a vivid, concrete image for professional success, more specific and figurative than the general phrase used at 6.5, 'a much bigger job and salary'."A corner office"是一个生动、具体的意象,用来表达职业上的成功,比6.5分中使用的笼统短语"a much bigger job and salary"更具体、更具修辞色彩。
    • LR“openly envies him” — 'Openly envies' is a more precise, natural collocation than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'actually envies him'."Openly envies"是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语"actually envies him"更精确、更自然的搭配。
    • GRA“The disadvantage really only shows up if you measure life by the things ambition produces” — This conditional closing sentence ('only shows up if you measure...') is a more compact, reflective structure than the flatter, unconditional closing statement used at 6.5.这个条件性的结尾句("only shows up if you measure...")是一种比6.5分中更平淡、无条件的结尾陈述更紧凑、更具反思性的结构。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer uses a semicolon to tighten the opening contrast, and closes with the sharp, inverted final sentence 'Measured otherwise, it might be the ambitious who are losing', which the lower bands do not include.这篇7.5分答案用分号收紧了开篇的对比,并以尖锐、反转的最终句子"Measured otherwise, it might be the ambitious who are losing"收尾,低分数段都没有包含这句话。

    In careers, somewhat; in life, I'm not sure they are. Mr Bảy, my swimming neighbour, has wanted nothing for thirty years beyond his morning in the sea and his family's health, and a friend of mine with a corner office and a much larger salary openly envies him. Unambitious people earn less, get promoted less, and can be pushed around by those who want more. That's a real disadvantage in a world organised around competing. But they're often happier, healthier and better company, and they're less likely to sacrifice what matters for what's next. The disadvantage exists only if you measure life by the things ambition produces. Measured otherwise, it might be the ambitious who are losing.

    查看中文翻译

    在职业上,算是有一点;但在人生里,我不太确定他们是有劣势的。七叔,我的游泳邻居,三十年来除了每天早上在海里游泳和家人的健康之外,什么都不曾渴望,而我的一位有着角落办公室、薪水高得多的朋友,却公开羡慕他。没有志向的人挣得更少,升职更少,也更容易被那些想要更多的人摆布。在一个围绕着竞争组织起来的世界里,这是一个真实存在的劣势。但他们往往更快乐、更健康,也是更好的相处对象,而且他们不太可能为了接下来的目标而牺牲真正重要的东西。这个劣势,只有当你用"志向所带来的东西"来衡量人生时才会存在。换一种方式衡量的话,也许真正在"输"的,反而是那些有志向的人。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“In careers, somewhat; in life, I'm not sure they are” — The semicolon-linked, elliptical opener, dropping repeated words entirely, is a tighter, more compact structure than the fuller comma-and-'but' opener used at 6.5.用分号连接、省略式的开头,完全去掉了重复的词,是一种比6.5分中更完整的"逗号加but"开头更紧密、更紧凑的结构。
    • LR“it might be the ambitious who are losing” — This inverted, provocative closing claim is a more sophisticated rhetorical move than the plainer conditional sentence used at 6.5 and 7.0, ending on a genuinely surprising note rather than a flat restatement.这个反转、带有挑衅意味的收尾论断,是一种比6.5分和7.0分使用的更平淡的条件句更精细的修辞手法,以一个真正令人惊讶的收尾结束,而不是平淡的重述。
    • GRA“Measured otherwise, it might be the ambitious who are losing” — A fronted past-participle phrase ('Measured otherwise') opens the final sentence in place of a fuller clause like 'if it is measured otherwise', a more compact and flexible construction than the conditional clause used at 7.0.一个前置的过去分词短语("Measured otherwise")开启了最后一句,代替了一个更完整的分句(比如"if it is measured otherwise"),比7.0分中使用的条件分句更紧凑、更灵活。

  9. 9. Does society value some kinds of ambition more than others?

    2026年9–12月
    查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比
    6.5 分

    The 6.5 answer opens with 'Yes, very much' and gives one contrast example joined by 'but', closing with a plain 'I think this matters because' final sentence.这篇6.5分答案以"Yes, very much"开篇,给出了一个用"but"连接的对比例子,以一句平淡的"I think this matters because"结尾句收尾。

    Yes, very much, and usually the loud kinds get more praise than the useful ones. A friend of mine who started a company got applause from everyone, but my cousin, whose ambition is to be the best nurse on her ward, gets asked when she will do something more with her life. I think society mostly praises ambitions that create money, fame, or visible growth, and it hardly notices ambitions to be really good at caring, teaching, or raising a family. Different cultures value ambition differently too — Vietnam still respects academic and stable careers quite a lot. I think this matters because the ambitions we praise are the ones that attract the most talent.

    查看中文翻译

    是的,非常明显,而且通常那些"响亮"的志向,比那些"有用"的志向更容易得到赞扬。我有一位朋友创业了,得到了所有人的掌声;而我表妹的志向是成为她所在病房里最好的护士,她却常常被问,什么时候要做点"更有出息"的事。我觉得社会大多赞扬那些能创造金钱、名气,或者带来看得见的发展的志向,却几乎注意不到那些想要真正擅长照顾人、教育人,或者养育家庭的志向。不同的文化对志向的重视程度也不一样——越南依然相当看重学业和稳定的职业。我觉得这一点很重要,因为我们所赞扬的那些志向,恰恰就是最能吸引人才的那些。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“get more praise than the useful ones” — This is a plain, direct comparison; a higher band would likely tighten this into a shorter, more idiomatic phrase such as 'over the useful ones'.这是一个平淡、直白的比较;更高分数段可能会把它收紧成一个更短、更地道的短语,比如"over the useful ones"。
    • LR“visible growth” — 'Visible growth' is fairly general wording; a higher band would likely use a more specific term such as 'visible scale', paired with concrete examples like 'founding, winning, rising'."Visible growth"是相当笼统的措辞;更高分数段可能会用一个更具体的词,比如"visible scale",并搭配"founding, winning, rising"这类具体的例子。
    • GRA“I think this matters because the ambitions we praise are the ones that attract the most talent” — This closing sentence gives a reason directly with 'because', a basic connector, rather than a compact 'which is why' clause attached to the previous sentence.这个结尾句用"because"这个基础的连接词直接给出了理由,而不是用一个紧凑的、附加在前一句上的"which is why"分句。
    7.0 分

    The 7.0 answer drops 'Yes' for a more confident direct opener ('Very much, and usually...'), and closes with the natural 'which is probably why' clause connecting the argument to its consequence.这篇7.0分答案去掉了"Yes",改用更自信、更直接的开头("Very much, and usually..."),并以自然的"which is probably why"分句收尾,把论证和它的后果连接起来。

    Very much, and usually the loud kinds over the genuinely useful ones. A friend who announced a startup got applause from everyone, while my cousin, whose ambition is to be the best nurse on her ward, gets asked when she'll finally do something with her life. Society tends to reward ambitions that produce money, fame or visible scale, founding, winning, rising, and barely notices ambitions to be excellent at caring, teaching or raising a family. Cultures do differ, though, Vietnam still honours academic ambition and stable careers more than some countries, and less than it used to. The ambitions we praise are the ones that get the talent, I'd say, which is probably why so much talent goes into apps and so little into care.

    查看中文翻译

    非常明显,而且通常"响亮"的志向会压过真正"有用"的志向。一位朋友宣布要创业,得到了所有人的掌声,而我表妹的志向是成为她所在病房里最好的护士,却常常被问什么时候要为自己的人生"做点什么"。社会往往会奖励那些能带来金钱、名气或看得见的规模——创业、获胜、晋升——的志向,却几乎注意不到那些想要真正擅长照顾人、教育人,或者养育家庭的志向。不过,不同文化确实有差异——越南依然比一些国家更看重学业上的志向和稳定的职业,不过比以前要少了。我想说,我们所赞扬的志向,恰恰是那些能吸引人才的志向,而这大概就是为什么这么多人才都投身于开发App,而投身于照护行业的却那么少。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Very much, and usually the loud kinds over the genuinely useful ones” — Dropping the initial 'Yes' and moving straight to the confident claim is a more compact opener than the fuller 'Yes, very much, and' sentence used at 6.5.去掉最初的"Yes",直接进入自信的论断,是一种比6.5分中更完整的"Yes, very much, and"句更紧凑的开头。
    • LR“founding, winning, rising” — This asyndetic list of three gerunds compresses several concrete examples into a tight rhythm, a more vivid and economical device than the general phrase used at 6.5, 'money, fame, or visible growth'.这个无连接词的三个动名词列表,把几个具体的例子压缩进一个紧凑的节奏里,比6.5分中使用的笼统短语"money, fame, or visible growth"更生动、更精简。
    • GRA“which is probably why so much talent goes into apps and so little into care” — A non-restrictive relative clause ('which is probably why...') attaches a consequence directly onto the previous claim, a more compact structure than the separate 'because' sentence used at 6.5.一个非限定性定语从句("which is probably why...")把一个后果直接附加到前面的论断上,比6.5分中独立的"because"句更紧凑。
    7.5 分

    The 7.5 answer uses a semicolon and a colon for tighter transitions, extends the list of neglected ambitions with 'farming', and closes with the short, punchy final sentence 'It's a choice, and it shows.'这篇7.5分答案用分号和冒号来实现更紧凑的过渡,用"farming"扩展了被忽视的志向列表,并以简短有力的结尾句"It's a choice, and it shows."收尾。

    Very much, and usually the loud kinds over the useful ones. A friend who announced a startup got applause from everyone; my cousin, whose ambition is to be the best nurse on her ward, gets asked when she'll do something with her life. Society rewards ambitions that produce money, fame or visible scale — founding, winning, rising — and barely notices ambitions to be excellent at caring, teaching, farming or raising a family. Cultures differ: Vietnam still honours academic ambition and stable careers more than some countries do, and less than it used to. The ambitions we praise get the talent, which is why so much talent goes into apps and so little into care. It's a choice, and it shows.

    查看中文翻译

    非常明显,而且通常"响亮"的志向会压过"有用"的志向。一位朋友宣布要创业,得到了所有人的掌声;而我表妹的志向是成为她所在病房里最好的护士,却常常被问什么时候要为自己的人生做点什么。社会奖励那些能带来金钱、名气或看得见的规模的志向——创业、获胜、晋升——却几乎注意不到那些想要真正擅长照顾人、教育人、务农,或者养育家庭的志向。不同文化确实有差异:越南依然比一些国家更看重学业上的志向和稳定的职业,不过比以前要少了。我们所赞扬的志向能吸引人才,而这就是为什么这么多人才都投身于开发App,而投身于照护行业的却那么少。这是一种选择,而它也确实显现出来了。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“A friend who announced a startup got applause from everyone; my cousin, whose ambition is to be the best nurse on her ward, gets asked when she'll do something with her life” — A semicolon links these two contrasting examples into one tightly balanced sentence, a more controlled structure than the 'while' clause used at 7.0 or the 'but' clause used at 6.5.分号把这两个对比性的例子连接成一个紧密平衡的句子,比7.0分中使用的"while"分句或6.5分中使用的"but"分句更有控制力。
    • LR“excellent at caring, teaching, farming or raising a family” — Extending the list to four items, including 'farming', broadens the lexical range of overlooked ambitions beyond the three-item lists used at the lower bands, showing wider, more specific vocabulary.把列表扩展到四个项目,包括"farming",拓宽了"被忽视的志向"这一词汇范围,超越了低分数段使用的三项列表,展示出更广泛、更具体的词汇。
    • GRA“It's a choice, and it shows” — This short, punchy closing sentence, with no elaboration attached, is a more confident, stylistically deliberate ending than the fuller explanatory closing sentences used at 6.5 and 7.0.这个简短、有力的结尾句,没有附加任何进一步的阐述,是一种比6.5分和7.0分使用的更完整的解释性结尾句更自信、更具风格化刻意感的结尾。

常见问题

这道 Part 2 题应该讲多长？
讲 1 到 2 分钟。考官会在 2 分钟时打断你，因此目标约 220-300 词，覆盖题卡上的每一点，并以你的感受收尾。
这张题卡之后会问哪些 Part 3 问题？
在"An Ambition You Have Had for a Very Long Time"之后，考官提出过 9 个讨论题，见上方列表。问题会从你的个人经历转向同一主题的普遍观点。
这张题卡还在使用吗？
是的——它是当前考试时段（2026年9–12月）的题卡。