Describe a time you got up early

Band 6

I would like to talk about a morning last May when I get upTense slip: should be “got up” at half past three to see the sunrise from a hill near Chimgan, in the mountains outside Tashkent. It was the idea of my younger brother Bobur, and he talkTense slip: should be “had talked” about it for many weeks, so in the end I said yes, although I am not a morning person. We putWord choice: should be “set” two alarms, took sandwiches and tea, and a friend with a car came at four. It was very dark and very coldBasic repetition; limits Lexical Resource when we started to walk, and in the first half an hour I was regretWord form error: should be “regretting” or “I regretted” my answer. But on the top the sky becomeTense slip: should be “became” orange behind the mountains and there was fog in the valley, erNatural hesitation marker, minor filler it was a really niceBasic phrasing; limits Lexical Resource view. We sat there for one hour and almost did not talk. On the way down we had breakfast in a small tea house, and Bobur said many times that he was right. I was tired all afternoon, but I think it was worth it, and I would do it again.

Band 7

I’d like to talk about a morning last May when I got up at half past three to watch the sunrise from a ridge near Chimgan, in the mountains outside Tashkent. It was my younger brother Bobur’s idea. He’d talked about it for weeks, until I finally agreed, although I’m not a morning person at all. We set two alarms, packed sandwiches and a flask of tea, and a friend with a car picked us up at four. It was pitch dark and bitterly coldPrecise, vivid description when we started the climb, and for the first half hour I regretted saying yes. But when we reached the ridge, the sky was turning orange behind the peaksPast continuous used to set the scene, and the valley below was still full of mist. We sat there for almost an hour, hardly speaking. On the way down we had breakfast in a small tea house, and Bobur kept reminding me that he’d been right all along. Looking back, I think it was completely worth itReflective discourse marker answering the explain line: I was tireWord form error: should be “tired” all afternoon, but I’d seen something I’d never have seen from my bed, and I’d gladly do it again.

Band 8

I’d like to talk about a morning last May when I got up at half past three to watch the sunrise from a ridge near Chimgan, in the mountains outside Tashkent. It was my younger brother Bobur’s idea. He’d seen photographs of the view and had talked about it for weeks, until I finally agreed, although I’m definitely not a morning person. We set two alarms, packed sandwiches and a flask of tea, and a friend with a car picked us up at four. It was pitch dark and bitterly cold when we started the climb, and for the first half hour I honestly regretted saying yes. But when we reached the ridge, the sky was turning orange behind the peaks and the valley below was still full of mist. We sat there for almost an hour, hardly speaking. On the way down we had breakfast in a small tea house, and Bobur kept reminding me that he’d been right all along. Looking back, it was absolutely worth itReflective opener that answers the explain line directly: I was tired all afternoon, but I’d seen something I’d never have seen from my bed, and I’d happily do it again, preferably with a thicker jacketLight humour and natural register.