Living and working in a foreign country
This is a sample answer written to show what a Band 6.5 response looks like, and where it falls short of Band 7. It is a worked example, not a graded submission. To see your own band, paste your writing into the free checker.
The prompt
Many people now choose to live and work in a country other than the one they were born in. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Band 6.5 sample answer (264 words)
Nowadays many people decide to live and work in another country instead of their own country. In my opinion, the advantages of this are more than the disadvantages.
There are some advantages of living in a foreign country. Firstly, people can get a better job and earn more money than in their home country. For example, many people go to rich countries because the salary is high and they can support their family and also save money for the future. Secondly, living abroad is a good experience because you can learn a new culture and a new language, and you can also meet many new people from different places, which is very useful for your future life and career.
However, there are also some disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that people feel lonely because they are far from their family and friends and they cannot see them often. Also, sometimes it is difficult to adjust to the new culture and the food is different, so many people miss their home country. Another problem is the language, because if you cannot speak it well, it is hard to communicate with other people and to do simple things like shopping or going to the doctor.
In conclusion, living in a foreign country has both advantages and disadvantages. But I think the advantages, like a better job and a new experience, are more important than the disadvantages. Although it is not always easy at the beginning, especially with the language and being far from family, I believe that for many people the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Why this reaches Band 6.5
-
Task Response
The task is addressed and a position is given, but the ideas are only partly developed. Points such as "a better job" and "new experience" are stated with brief examples rather than fully explained, which holds it at Band 6.5 rather than 7.
-
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, but the linking is mechanical ("Firstly", "Secondly", "Also", "Another problem"), and several ideas are listed rather than connected.
-
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate and generally clear, but it is repetitive ("advantages" and "disadvantages" recur throughout) and rarely precise, with little of the topic-specific language a Band 7 would show.
-
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of sentences is attempted and meaning is always clear, but the structures are fairly simple and there is little of the variety and flexibility expected at Band 7.
The one fix to reach Band 7
This answer reaches Band 6.5 because its ideas are listed rather than developed and its vocabulary repeats. The single most effective change to reach Band 7 is to take one advantage and one disadvantage and explain each in depth, in more precise wording, instead of naming several points briefly.
Now check your own answer.
Paste your own attempt at this prompt and Examinerly names the single criterion keeping you below your target band, and shows the sentence-level fix. We never inflate your band.
Check your writing free