Sample answer band score 8:

A long car journey that I recall vividly was when I visited Yellowstone National Park with my friends last summer. We drove from Seattle to Wyoming, which was a distance of about 800 miles. It was a thrilling and unforgettable trip that I cherished a lot.

Yellowstone National Park is the first and oldest national park in the world. It is renowned for its diverse and unique features, such as geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes, canyons, mountains, and wildlife. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve.

We spent three days at the park, where we immersed ourselves in various activities. We camped at a designated site, where we set up our tents, cooked our meals, and enjoyed the starry night. We also explored different attractions, such as Old Faithful, which is a famous geyser that erupts regularly. We also hiked to the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is a colorful hot spring that resembles a rainbow. We also saw some amazing animals, such as bison, elk, bears, and wolves. We also learned about the history and culture of the park, as well as the conservation efforts to protect it.

I went on this journey with three of my best friends. We are all avid travelers and nature lovers. We rented a reliable and fuel-efficient car for this trip, which was cozy and practical. We had a blast on the road, singing along to our favorite songs, cracking jokes, and sharing stories. We also made some detours to some fascinating places along the way, such as Spokane, where we visited a beautiful park and a historic museum.

We opted to go on this journey by car because we wanted to have more autonomy and adventure. We could customize our itinerary and schedule, and stop at any place that caught our eye. We also wanted to save some bucks, as flying would have been more costly. Furthermore, we wanted to experience the road trip vibe of America, which is an integral part of its culture and identity. We enjoyed witnessing the changing scenery, meeting new people, and discovering new things as we drove across different states.

This was one of the most remarkable trips I have ever had in my life. It was memorable and meaningful for me and my friends. I would love to revisit Yellowstone National Park someday and delve deeper into its wonders and secrets.

New words:

• vividly: clearly or intensely

• thrilling: very exciting or enjoyable

• unforgettable: very memorable or impressive

• cherished: valued or appreciated

• diverse: varied or different

• unique: special or one-of-a-kind

• renowned: famous or well-known

• immersed: involved or engaged

• designated: assigned or specified

• attractions: places or things that are interesting or appealing

• erupts: bursts or explodes

• resembles: looks like or is similar to

• conservation: protection or preservation

• avid: enthusiastic or passionate

• reliable: dependable or trustworthy

• fuel-efficient: using less fuel or energy

• cozy: comfortable or pleasant

• practical: useful or sensible

• blast: fun or enjoyment

• detours: deviations or changes of route

• fascinating: interesting or captivating

• opted: chose or decided

• autonomy: independence or freedom

• adventure: excitement or challenge

• customize: modify or adapt

• bucks: dollars or money (informal)

• costly: expensive or valuable

• vibe: atmosphere or mood

• integral: essential or important

• witnessing: seeing or observing

• remarkable: extraordinary or outstanding

• delve: investigate or research

Idioms and expressions:

• set up: prepare or arrange something

• starry night: a night with many visible stars in the sky

• sing along to: join in singing with someone or something else

• crack jokes: tell funny stories or make humorous remarks

• catch one’s eye: attract one’s attention or interest

• save some bucks: save some money (informal)

• road trip vibe: the feeling or mood of traveling by car for pleasure