Task 1: Write about the following topic: New year eve You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay effectively addresses the topic of New Year’s Eve in Russia and provides relevant details about the celebrations, which is a key strength. However, there are critical areas for improvement, particularly in grammatical accuracy and coherence. The original writing contained several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues and incorrect verb forms, which have been corrected in the revised version. Additionally, the structure has been improved by clearly separating the text into three distinct paragraphs, each focusing on different aspects of the celebration: preparations, traditions, and the overall atmosphere. Transition phrases have been added to enhance the flow of ideas. For further improvements, the writer could incorporate more varied vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to avoid repetition and enhance lexical resource. The tone used is appropriate for the context, maintaining a celebratory and personal touch throughout the description.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The essay has a logical flow of ideas, but the transitions between sentences and ideas could be smoother. For example, using cohesive devices like 'firstly', 'next', and 'finally' could help guide the reader through the narrative. Additionally, some sentences are quite long and could be broken down for better clarity.
How to improve:
- Use a clear paragraph structure
- Connect ideas with appropriate linking words
- Maintain logical progression
- Use referencing effectively
What this means:
The writing contains several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('we are decorate', 'everybody are come together') and incorrect verb forms ('is most important day'). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors detract from the overall quality. To improve, the writer should focus on using correct verb forms and ensuring subject-verb agreement.
How to improve:
- Use complex sentence structures
- Maintain grammatical accuracy
- Use a variety of sentence patterns
- Check for common grammar errors
What this means:
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the topic, with some good expressions like 'Olivier salad' and 'magical time'. However, there are instances of repetition, such as 'we are' and 'new year', which could be varied. To enhance the score, the writer could incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
How to improve:
- Use a wider range of vocabulary
- Demonstrate awareness of collocations
- Avoid word repetition
- Use more sophisticated vocabulary accurately
What this means:
The writing addresses the topic of New Year’s Eve in Russia and provides relevant details about the celebrations. However, it lacks some organization and clarity in presenting ideas. To improve, the writer could structure the response more clearly, perhaps by dividing it into paragraphs that cover different aspects of the celebration, such as preparations, traditions, and the atmosphere.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
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