Task
When we meet someone for the first time, we generally decide very quickly what kind of person we think they are and if we like them or not.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Examiner’s Answer
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
Some people say that we form an opinion about a person within thirty seconds of meeting them. A person’s clothing, facial expression, and even the way they shake hands can have a profound effect on our judgement. But is this natural human tendency good or bad?
There is something unfair about our inclination to judge people too quickly. Many people have had unfortunate life experiences that can affect their confidence when meeting new people. Shyness may make them appear aloof and cold, but this initially icy persona melts away when we allow them a bit of time to warm up. Others do not have the means to dress in a way that leaves an impression.Inevitably,if we write people off too quickly, we could miss out on potential friendships, business opportunities and even romantic relationships.
There is another side to this that is also worth considering. We are all aware of the effect first impressions can have. There is even a saying: you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Awareness of this reality should motivate us to always treat people in a friendly,respectful manner. If we strive to make a good impression on the people we meet, it increases our overall happiness and sense of well-being.
On balance, there is no doubt that judging people too quickly can have negative consequences. But knowing the power of first impressions can keep us on our toes, motivating us to question how we come across to others. Aside from this, the ability to read people quickly could also prevent us from being easily taken in by somebody with ulterior motives.
Examiner’s Comment
This response presents both sides of the argument and the ending concludes that forming impressions early can be either positive or negative. The second paragraph presents the downsides of judging too rapidly: the impact of low confidence, being shy or not having smart clothes. It also notes that people could miss out on friendships, opportunities and romance if they judge too harshly.
The third paragraph is not entirely relevant. The question asks about the evaluation people make about the ‘kind of person’ and whether ‘we like them’ but this paragraph mainly gives advice on how to behave when meeting new people. It should be more aligned to the question and present the advantages of forming early impressions.
There is a very wide range of vocabulary with some higher-level items [affect their confidence | aloof | icy persona | strive to make | come across]. Overall, the response includes a variety of accurate complex grammatical structures, with many long sentences containing a number of clauses.
Vocabulary and grammatical structures are very strong, accurate and flexible throughout. To improve the response, the third paragraph could present more clearly the advantages of quick decisions about the people we meet.
