The Adjective Stack
CLB 7 descriptions are thin: "There is a man." CLB 8 descriptions are rich. Use adjective combos:
1. "A well-dressed elderly gentleman" (manner + age + noun) 2. "A brightly colored outdoor market" (color + location + noun) 3. "Several excited young children" (quantity + emotion + age + noun) 4. "A cozy little café" (atmosphere + size + noun) 5. "A tall modern building" (size + style + noun) 6. "A neatly organized fruit stall" (manner + adjective + noun) 7. "A wide, tree-lined pathway" (size + feature + noun)
Rule of 2: Use at least 2 adjectives per description. "A man is sitting" → "A middle-aged man in a dark suit is sitting comfortably."
This doubling of descriptive detail signals CLB 8 vocabulary range.
Inference and Speculation
Go beyond what you see to what you infer:
- "Judging by their body language, they appear to be close friends." - "The woman seems to be in a hurry, as she's walking quite briskly." - "Based on the decorations, it looks like some kind of celebration is taking place." - "It would appear that this is a popular gathering spot for the local community."
Inference shows higher-order thinking in English — a CLB 8 differentiator.
Movement and Action Words
Replace basic verbs with specific ones:
| CLB 7 | CLB 8 | |---|---| | walking | strolling / hurrying / wandering | | sitting | lounging / perched / relaxing | | talking | chatting / discussing / laughing together | | looking | gazing / examining / peering at | | eating | savoring / enjoying / nibbling on |
Specific verbs create a vivid mental image without adding extra words.