Band 5+: do you think that people are more likely to buy expensive items for their friends or for themselves?

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

The answer addresses both sides of the question, which shows a good attempt at a balanced response. However, the development of the ideas is quite limited. To improve, try to expand on the 'why' behind these behaviors. For example, you could discuss the social status associated with buying luxury goods for oneself, or the emotional connection and social obligation involved in gifting expensive items to others. Additionally, ensure the response remains at a general, societal level; while you avoided personal anecdotes, the explanation could be more sophisticated by discussing broader human tendencies or cultural norms.

The speaker demonstrates a basic ability to answer the question and uses a cohesive device ('But' / 'The other') to show contrast. However, there is noticeable repetition ('The The') and the structure is somewhat simplistic. To improve, use more sophisticated transition signals such as 'On the other hand,' 'Conversely,' or 'While some individuals prioritize self-indulgence, others...' to create a smoother flow.

The vocabulary is functional but very basic (e.g., 'good question', 'make happy', 'expensive items'). There are also errors in word choice/collocation, such as 'most of people' (should be 'most people') and 'one loves' (should be 'loved ones'). To reach a higher band, try using more precise terms like 'discretionary income,' 'materialistic tendencies,' 'altruistic motives,' or 'self-gratification'.

The answer contains several grammatical errors that affect the precision of the meaning. Specifically: 'spend... for themselves' (should be 'on themselves'), 'to fulfilling' (should be 'to fulfill'), and 'make happy their friends' (incorrect word order; should be 'make their friends happy'). The sentence structures are mostly simple. Aim to use complex sentences with relative clauses (e.g., 'People who prioritize their loved ones often...') and ensure correct preposition usage.