Part 2

Band 5+: Describe an unconventional rule you had to follow at school or work. You should say: - What the rule was - Where and when it applied - Whether other people liked it And explain how this rule affected you.

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74% Accuracy The overall pronunciation accuracy of your speech, reflecting how well a native speaker can comprehend it.

Polished transcript:

Male Female

So, I'd like to mention one unconventional rule I had at my university. When I encountered this rule, it was during a final exam, and the rules were strictly regarding electronic devices. The rule was to not use electronic devices. At first, as I mentioned, the rules were strict, and the devices were forbidden for us before entering the exam room. Invigilators took our phones and told us to leave them in our bags. Of course, we had to switch them off. Initially, it was not a big deal, but once the exam started, I felt that I needed my mobile phone, and I realized how dependent I was on it. I had no choice but to rely entirely on my memory to complete the test. I think others also did not like this type of rule because, before this exam, they allowed us to use our mobile phones for ten minutes, and surprisingly, they restricted that during this exam.

Actual audio transcript (What native speakers are likely to hear):

So, I’d like to say one rule that’s unconventional in my university. When I come across to this rule, it was a final exam at the university and the rules were strictly regarding electronic devices. So my rule is do not use the electronic devices. So at first, as I mentioned above, rules were strictly and the rules were strict and the device were forbidden for us before entering the exam room, invitulators taking our phones and they said leave them in our bags. Of course before we should switch off them and at first it was not a big deal but once the exam started I I feel that I should I need my mobile phone and I realized that how dependent I am on my mobile phone. So I had no choice but to rely entirely on my memory and do the test. So I think that others also do not like this type of rule because before this exam they allow us to use our mobile phones for a for a 10 minutes and surprisingly they restricted that in this exam.

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Speaking Time: 64 seconds

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Overall Band Score

5.5

(+/- 0.5)

Vocabulary Complexity:
B1 - Intermediate
Using more sophisticated words could be beneficial.

Vocabulary Repetition:

exam: 5

rule: 4

this: 4

were: 3

devices: 3

during: 2

rules: 2

electronic: 2

before: 2

phones: 2

mobile: 2

Try using synonyms for the above words

Pronunciation

Your pronunciation is above average. However, you may find complexity in certain words challenging. Regular practice should aid in improvement.

Task Response

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, including the nature of the rule, the setting, the reaction of others, and the personal impact. To improve the score, the candidate should aim to expand more on the 'unconventional' aspect of the rule. While the rule is described, the explanation of why it was considered unusual or different from standard academic procedures could be more detailed. Additionally, providing more specific details regarding the emotional or psychological effect of the rule - beyond just realizing a dependency on technology - would help in developing a more comprehensive and high-level response. Increasing the depth of the personal reflection would enhance the overall quality of the answer.

Fluency & Coherence

The speaker demonstrates the ability to keep talking, but there is significant repetition of words and phrases (e.g., 'the rules were strictly', 'the rules were strict', 'mobile phone'). There are also several self-corrections and hesitations that disrupt the flow. To improve, work on using cohesive devices (like 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', or 'As a result') to link ideas rather than repeating the same sentence structures. Aim to move from simple sentences to more complex, connected ideas.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary is functional but quite basic and repetitive. Words like 'rule', 'strict', and 'mobile phone' are used multiple times in a short span. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise synonyms. For example, instead of 'strict rules', you could say 'stringent regulations'; instead of 'do not use', you could say 'prohibited' or 'banned'. You used 'unconventional' and 'dependent', which were good, but you need more variety to demonstrate 'full flexibility'.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and word order. For example, 'When I come across to this rule' (should be 'encountered'), 'invitulators taking our phones' (should be 'took'), and 'switch off them' (should be 'switch them off'). There is also a struggle with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency (mixing present and past tense). Focus on mastering the past simple tense for storytelling and practicing the placement of object pronouns.

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Band 5+: Describe an unconventional rule you had to follow at school or work. You should say: - What the rule was - Where and when it applied - Whether other people liked it And explain how this rule affected you.

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