Onterra TutorIs it better to buy a few expensive things or many cheap ones?
Duolingo English Test writing question in the official format, with a full model answer and notes on why it scores. Write your own version below it and get an instant rater-style score.
The question
Is it better to buy a few expensive things that last, or many cheaper ones? Give your opinion with reasons and examples.
Model answer
I buy few things and pay more for them, though I learned this the expensive way. In two years I bought four pairs of cheap shoes at about fifteen dollars each, and every pair failed before the rainy season ended. The boots I finally saved for cost ninety and are now in their fifth year. The arithmetic is obvious in hindsight, but the real cost was the time lost shopping again and again. I make two exceptions. Things that change fast, like a child's clothes or a phone I will replace anyway, do not deserve premium prices. Where quality lasts and use is daily, buying once is cheaper than buying often.
Why this answer scores
- Concrete numbers make the argument vivid and specific in very few words.
- The exceptions show judgement rather than a rule applied blindly.
- Clear position in the first sentence, restated as a principle at the end.
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