Study & Schools

1. Describe your education

I started school when I was 7. I finished my primary education 5 years later and I went to
secondary school at 12. Then at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted pupils in my
hometown. In my country, highschool education lasts 3 years, then I went onto higher
education at the Foreign Trade University where I’m currently studying economics.
2. What is your area of specialization?
Well, my major is External Economics. I have mastered the basics of economics and social
economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export
business.
3. Why did you choose to study that major?
I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products to
the world. Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name
for themselves, you know.
4. Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?)
Yes, of course. Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and
practical. It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and
problem-solving skills as well.
5. What kind of school did you go to as a child?
As a child, I attended a public elementary school. It’s quite a big school in my hometown
which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was
quite lucky.
6. What was your favourite subject as a child?
Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl. It was fun to work
with brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own
creative world.
7. Do you think your country has an effective education system?
To be honest, I don’t think so. Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not
promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares
way too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven
curriculum, which I find quite impractical.
8. (Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?
Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can do the job I love. Not only
will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution. It’s hard to be
happy and fulfilled without working, you know.
9. Who was your favorite teacher?
My favorite teachers have changed over a period of time. However, I remember Swatantra
Sir because of his deep faith in me. He was one of the teachers who asked me to improve
on my English and take part in different activities. I remember him giving all of us lot of
advises on how to live a better life.
10. What is the education system like in your country?
Our country follows the British education system, so it is mostly revolving around lot of
research work instead of practical. However, in recent times, with coming of Internet and
smart classes, there has been a considerable shift towards practical, although it still
remains research oriented at the fundamental level.
VOCABULARY
Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at
universities Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in
U.S. higher education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related
majors making up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13
 Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to do something well
Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language.
 Make a name for oneself ( trở nên nổi tiếng) [idiom] become famous and
respected by a lot of people
Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful
railway contractor
 Keep up with (cập nhật thông tin về cái gì) [idiom] be aware of
Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home
 Analytical (thuộc về phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning
Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem
solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly
 Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between
7-11 years old (in Vietnam)
Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend
classes fully.
 Unduly (quá mức, không chính đáng ) [adj] excessively/ to a level that more than is
necessary, acceptable, or reasonable
Example: For every new parents, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or herchild
has been unduly stressful
 Exam-driven curriculum (chương trình học để phục vụ cho các kỳ thi)
[expression] the courses taught a school, college, which focus on teaching what will be on
the exam
Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s
attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways.
 Pay the bills (trang trải cuộc sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s
lifestyle
Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills.
Part 2 : Describe a good news, letter, occasion where everybody smiled
Though People mostly send emails nowadays for official and personal communication, the
handwritten letter has its own importance as well. Today I would like to talk about a
handwritten letter that I received when I was 14 years old. This particular letter was written
by my father and I was so excited to receive it that I read it several times. The letter was
about the scholarship result, which was my ambition at that moment. and my father wrote
me to inform me that I got the scholarship. In his letter, he congratulated me and wrote
that he was proud of me.
I was staying at a relative’s house with my mother and sister after my entrance exam to
refresh myself cause i had been working so hard the whole year to prepare for the test but
and that really made me tired. and one day I found that a post office peon delivered a
letter to my uncle. My uncle handed over me the precious letter as it was addressed to me.
I found that it was written by my father. I read the letter quickly and was very deliriously
happy to learn the news. I was like OMG and i read it again and again to make sure i was
not dreamming. My scores were much higher than i had expected so that was my foremost
at that time. and then i informed my mother and relatives about it. There was no
combination of words that could express their happiness. My mother even cried and she
said i made her proud so much and all my family felt so excited and congratulated me
cause they knew how hard i tried.
As a kid, the scholarship was very desiring for me and when I found that my family was
very happy, that made me happier.
1. Has education in your country changed in the last 20 years?
Definitely yes! Education has considerately enhanced in recent years. Especially, hi-tech
gadgets is beneficial to educate people significantly. In suburban areas, those who have
not had a chance access to higher educational program are still able to register online
study and obtain knowledge.
2. How do you think it will change in the future?
Broadly speaking, more children in the future will approach to more modern teaching ideas
by learning through the Internet that don't need to go to school. Remarkably, arts and
other extravagant hobbies will play an important role in human life because the more
modern people are, the more recreational activities people want to get after a long day.
3. What is the importance of extracurricular activities such as sport and music?
These kind of extracurricular activities are essential to make children figure out their latent
talent as quickly as they can. It is considered as the perfect way not only to unearth their
talents but also maintain peers-bonding, learn soft skills in a non-academic environment.
Furthermore, extracurricular acitivities also set children free and they don't have to
undergo the school and peer pressure, and then they try to find the best version of
themselves.
4. Do you have any regrets about your major?
Definitely not. I have never ever been regretful about my major. You know what? I’ve
graduated at Foreign Trade University with the faculty of English Linguistics. I’m keen on
Language, especially English. I remembered that every time I go to university, I recalled all
of the unforgettable memories of learning English with passionate and devoted teachers.
All of these things told me that I’m cut out for being an English teacher in the long run.
5. What was the most regretful/unforgettable experience in your college life?
Well, I revoked that I used to play truant or skip class when I’m in college life and it’s such
a shame for me but also a remarkable memory that I have never forgotten. I was
considered as one of the out-standing student in English Department; however, that day I
overslept and even though the arlarm clock rang, I didn’t want to get up anymore.
Therefore, I forgot to take the mid-term test, and unfortunately, I was not allowed to sit for
the final test. So, this is one of the most regretful experience I makes me feel funny and
unforgettable simultaneously.
6. Do you think what you have learned at college is beneficial to your future
career?
Yes, absolutely. It is believed that billionaire cancelled his learning process at university
and then he become a billionair, yeah I would say Bill Gates. However, we didn’t know that
he was clever enough to be a student in Havard University. Therefore, if you are just a
normal person, academic learning is the safe path to success because the majorities all do
this. Especially, if you are qualified by certificates qualifications, the recruiters or
headhunters will see your potentials before they want to challenge you. Therefore, let’s
think college is your opportunity and you will vie for it to shape your own future.
7. Can you describe yourself as a good student?
I just wanna say that good student is not a student who always attends all the lessons of
the professors. I mean a good student is a person who can usually generate ideas for every
questions that teachers give to them. They can skip class if they are tired or exhausted,
but their self-study is higher than others. In the essence, they also participate or take part
in class or school activities like volunteer or music performance.
Câu hỏi phổ biến trong IELTS Speaking Part 1 Study
1. Câu hỏi 1
Do you study or work? (Bạn đang đi học hay đi làm?)
I’m currently a senior at the University of Foreign Language Studies. My major is English
Teacher Education, which means that I am studying to be qualified as an English teacher in
the future.
Dịch nghĩa: Tôi hiện là sinh viên năm cuối Đại học Ngoại ngữ. Chuyên ngành của tôi là Sư
phạm Tiếng Anh, nghĩa là tôi sẽ trở thành một giáo viên tiếng Anh trong tương lai.
 Currently (adv) at present time (hiện tại) ➜ Trong phần thi Speaking Part 1 của
IELTS, các bạn nên dùng từ này thay thế cho now, hay at the moment sẽ hay hơn.
 Senior (n) a student in the last year at a high school or college (sinh viên/
học sinh năm cuối của trường đại học/ phổ thông).
Với sinh viên năm 1, 2, 3, bạn cũng làm tương tự, có thể thay:
 Năm nhất: first-year student = freshman
 Năm hai: second-year student = sophomore
 Năm ba: third-year student = junior (các bạn lưu ý cách dùng junior, junior là năm
sát với năm cuối, nghĩa là năm áp chót. Các trường Đại Học ở Việt Nam học 4 năm thì năm
3 có thể dùng junior. Tuy nhiên nếu trong trường hợp các bạn học 5 năm thì dùng third-
year student như thường, đến năm 4 bạn mới nên dùng junior nhé).
 Major (n) the main subject or course of a student at college or
university (chuyên ngành các bạn đang theo học) ➜ Ở đây bạn cũng có thể dùng động từ
major + in hoặc specialize + in. Ví dụ câu trên: I’m currently…Studies, majoring in/
specialized in English…
 (Be) qualified (adj) having the practical knowledge or skills to do
something (đủ tư cách/ kỹ năng làm gì) ➜ Bạn cũng có thể dùng Be qualified to do sth.
2. Câu hỏi 2
Is that a popular subject in your country? (Đó có phải là ngành nghề quan trọng
ở đất nước bạn không?)
Well, personally I think it’s quite a widespread subject. Due to the society’s huge demand
for teaching careers nowadays, a large number of people are devoting themselves to this
area.
Dịch nghĩa: Cá nhân tôi nghĩ đó là một ngành nghề khá phổ biến. Do nhu cầu lớn của xã
hội đối với sự nghiệp giảng dạy ngày nay, dẫn đến một số lượng lớn người đang cống hiến
hết mình cho lĩnh vực này
 Widespread (adj) existing or happening over a large area or among
many people (phổ biến, rộng rãi) = popular ➜ Các bạn cũng có thể dùng cấu trúc be
widespread + among… / be popular + among… (được ai đó yêu thích ưa chuộng) với tính
từ này.
 Demand (n) + for sth: a very strong request for something (nhu cầu
rất lớn cho điều gì đó).
➜ Nhu cầu/ yêu cầu cao: huge/ considerable/ excessive/ enormous demand for…
➜ Đáp ứng nhu cầu của…: meet the demand of…
 Devote oneself to sth: to give most of your time, energy, attention,
etc. to somebody/something (tận tụy, dốc sức, hỗ trợ, cống hiến cho… ai đó/ điều gì đó)
Actually, Vietnamese students are chasing various kinds of careers, it’s totally up to their
taste. But personally, I think a majority of them would decide on several promising sectors
which provide them with a high-paid job in the future, such as language teaching, medical
care, or finance and accounting.
Dịch nghĩa: Thực ra, sinh viên Việt Nam đang theo đuổi nhiều ngành nghề khác nhau,
điều đó hoàn toàn tùy thuộc vào sở thích của họ. Nhưng cá nhân tôi nghĩ rằng đa số họ sẽ
quyết định chọn một số lĩnh vực đầy hứa hẹn sẽ cung cấp cho họ một công việc được trả
lương cao trong tương lai, chẳng hạn như giảng dạy ngôn ngữ, chăm sóc y tế hoặc tài chính
và kế toán.
 Chase (v) to try to obtain or achieve something, for example, money,
work or success (theo đuổi để đạt được điều gì đó, chẳng hạn như tiền, công việc, thành
công);
 Decide on = choose (quyết định);
 Promising (n) showing signs of being good or successful (có triển vọng
sẽ thành công sau này);
 Sector (n) = field/ area (lĩnh vực);
 promising sector = highly demanded area/ sunrise industry (ý nói đến
những ngành nghề có triển vọng phát triển trong tương lai).
3. Câu hỏi 3
Why did you choose that university? (Tại sao bạn lại chọn học tại trường đại học
đó?)
The incentive for me to choose this university is that it is one of the top-ranked universities
in Vietnam with a perfect learning environment including experienced lecturers, who are all
subject specialists, and modern equipment. This university is also located in my hometown;
therefore, I decided on it for the sake of convenience.
Dịch nghĩa: Động lực để tôi chọn trường đại học này vì đây là một trong những trường đại
học hàng đầu Việt Nam với môi trường học tập tuyệt vời cùng với đội ngũ giảng viên giàu
kinh nghiệm, đều là chuyên gia về bộ môn này và trang thiết bị hiện đại. Trường đại học
này cũng nằm ở quê hương của tôi; do đó, tôi quyết định theo học nó vì tiện lợi cho việc di
chuyển.
 Incentive (n) (for/to sb/sth) (to do sth) something that encourages you
to do something (động lực thúc đẩy để làm điều gì đó) = motivation;
 Subject specialist: a teacher who has a great deal of knowledge about the
subject they teach (giáo viên có trình độ chuyên môn cao);
 For the sake of convenience = for convenience (nhằm mục đích thuận
tiện).
4. Câu hỏi 4
What are your favorite classes/ courses/ subjects at university? (Đâu là môn học
bạn yêu thích nhất tại trường đại học?)
During my study at the university, I’m into almost all subjects but language teaching
methodology is still the one I have the greatest interest in. It’s a demanding course but it’s
worth studying because I’ve gained a lot of experience and knowledge relevant to
teaching during the course, especially in the microteaching periods.
Dịch nghĩa: Trong quá trình học tập tại trường đại học, tôi học hầu hết các môn học
nhưng môn liên quan đến phương pháp giảng dạy ngôn ngữ vẫn là môn học làm tôi thích
thú nhất. Đây là một môn học đòi hỏi nhiều thử thách nhưng rất đáng để học vì tôi đã tích
lũy được nhiều kinh nghiệm và kiến thức liên quan đến giảng dạy trong suốt quá trình học,
đặc biệt là trong các tiết dạy vi mô.
 Be into sth: to be interested in something in an active way (rất thích một
điều gì đó);
 Have (the great) interest in: có hứng thú với lĩnh vực nào đó = be
interested in…
 Demanding (adj) needing a lot of skill, effort, etc. (yêu cầu cao về kỹ
năng, sự nỗ lực) = challenging/ difficult
Lưu ý: Để nhấn mạnh hơn thử thách, đòi hỏi về nỗ lực/thể chất/ kỹ thuật/ tinh thần/ trí tuệ,
bạn có thể thêm một số trạng từ như: physically/ technically/ mentally/ intellectually +
demanding.
 Worth (adj) + V-ing: xứng đáng…
5. Câu hỏi 5
Do you get along with your classmates? (Bạn có thân thiết với bạn học cùng lớp
không?)
To be honest, I believe that I’m kind of a lucky person because I had the opportunity to
meet my peers at the university, who are such friendly and helpful people. A lot of things in
common have made us close as a family. Although we got to know each other almost 4
years ago, everyone has always respected and worked at our friendship until now.
Dịch nghĩa: Thành thật mà nói, tôi tin rằng tôi là một người may mắn vì tôi đã có cơ hội
gặp gỡ những người bạn cùng lứa tuổi ở trường đại học, những người rất thân thiện và tốt
bụng. Rất nhiều điểm chung đã khiến chúng tôi trở nên thân thiết như một gia đình. Dù
quen nhau cách đây gần 4 năm nhưng mọi người vẫn luôn trân trọng và gắn bó tình cảm
với nhau cho đến tận bây giờ.
 Peer (n) a person who is the same age or who has the same social
status as you (bạn đồng trang lứa). Bạn có thể dùng từ này có thể thay cho friend/
classmate để bài nói đa dạng hơn.
 Share/ Have something in common: to have the same features,
characteristics, etc. (có những điểm chung, điểm tương đồng với nhau).
 Get to know sb: begin to know sb (dần trở nên thân thích với ai đó).
 Work at a relationship: try to maintain a positive relationship with
sb (cố gắng duy trì mối quan hệ tốt đẹp).
Các bạn cũng có thể dùng các cụm từ bên dưới để trả lời cho câu hỏi này:
 to hit it off = quickly become good friends (nhanh chóng trở thành bạn
tốt);
 to be well-matched = to be similar (kết hợp ăn ý với);
 to drift apart = become less close to sb (trở nên xa lạ với ai đó);
 keep in touch with/ lose touch with (giữ/ mất liên lạc kết nối với ai đó);
 a healthy relationship = a good, positive relationship (đang trong một
mối quan hệ tốt đẹp).
IELTS Speaking Part 1 : Study (Question-Answer)
• Do you work or study?
I am currently studying. I am in the 11th semester and my major is economics.
• Where do you study?
I study in the (…university name…). It is one of the best private universities in our country.
My major is Economics.
• What is the name of your college/ university?
The name of my university is (…say the full name of your university…). It is more popularly
known as (…name that people call it in short…).
• What subject are you studying?
My major is Economics. I completed my school majoring commerce and studying in
Economics was a long dream for me.
• Which part of the course do you enjoy most?
I enjoy learning new things in every semester. The project works in each semester is the
part I enjoy most. These projects enable me to work in a group and hands on the theories I
learn throughout the semester.
• Why did you choose to study that?
Honestly, I did not particularly select this subject. I attended the university admission test
in commerce faculty and based on my performance on the exam and interview with the
faculty members, I was offered this subject from their end. I wanted to study in commerce
faculty and now I feel very lucky that I was offered this major.
• Is it a difficult subject to study?
In a general sense, this subject requires extensive study, research, group works and other
academic activities. Things are new and challenging in many cases but I think with passion
and dedication it can be conquered. To me, it is a difficult yet very enjoyable subject.
• What is your favourite subject?
Economics without any doubt is my favourite subject. I am very fascinated to discover the
connection of this subject in our everyday life and the global economic structure has made
it more complex yet more intriguing. I love to explore different theories and researches
done on this subjects and how economics is all around us.
• What kind of school did you go to?
In my early childhood, I studied in a local English medium school and then was shifted to a
government school by my parents when I was in grade 7. I was in a cantonment college
and I have finished my twelve class degree from there. Now I am studying at a large
university which is one of the best public universities in my country.
• What was your favourite subject at school?
Organisational behaviour, microeconomics were my two most favourite subjects so far.
These two subjects have built my base and love for the whole course and I still find it
fascinating.
• What is the best thing about your university/school?
I love my university life. The classes, friends, teachers, university life, my freedom to do so
many things and my participation in some charity works organised by the university are
equally important to me. If I have to select one best thing about my university, I would
choose my exposure to a diverse culture and academic life that has motivated and inspired
me to do even better than I initially thought. I was exposed to a life and era that was
unimaginable to me and that is the best part of my university life so far.
• What part of university life do you like best?
Well, I think my previous answer already covers this answer. However, I would say I enjoy
most of my university life and my exposure to a whole new culture that I never imagined is
the best part of my university life. My university life offers me a vision for my future and
potential jobs sectors and I think this is the best part.
• What is the educational system like in your country?
I am glad that you asked this question. In our country, the primary education is mandatory
for all and it is funded by the government unless someone wants to send his kids to a
private English medium school. The secondary and tertiary education systems are also
managed and run by the government and private organisations. The government
controlled educational institutes are less costly and the curriculums are presented and
monitored by the education board. On the other hand, the private educational institutes
are bound to include some of the national curriculums and they mostly follow their own
syllabus. In all universities and in many colleges, higher education is offered in English. The
technical and vocational colleges and universities are also popular in our country and they
mostly offer certification and degree in selected technical and practical skill related fields.
The private universities are approved by the Government controlled bodies and they have
to follow their rules very strictly. I am happy to see many changes brought to our
educational system in the last few years and innovation and quality modern education is a
vision our country has already started implementing.
• What are your future study plans?
It will take me 7-8 months more or so to finish my graduation and then I will try to get
admitted to a foreign university which has a reputation for better education. There I will
complete my Master’s degree and would get involved in a job. Besides doing the job I have
plans to get enrolled in a professional MBS course to further my education. If time allows, I
also wish to do some research based courses related to my academic background and
interest.
• What kind of job would you prefer after graduation?
I would prefer to work in a multinational company which will offer me a position related to
my academic background and have a positive working environment to learn and explore
new things. I would not worry too much about my designation and salary initially but the
company must have sufficient scope for career enhancement.
• What is your career plan after you graduate?
For the first few years, I will work in a multinational company. Then maybe in 10 years, I
will plan to start my own business. I would like to be an entrepreneur rather than working
in a company for the rest of my life. I know being an entrepreneur is not that easy and it
requires a lot of dedication and commitment. However, I would work to fulfil this plan after
I finish my graduation.
• Why are you taking the IELTS test?
I am mainly taking the test to achieve a band score I require to apply in most of the
reputed universities in Australia or Canada. As I have my plans to complete my Master’s
degree in a reputed foreign university, the IELTS score is a pre-requisite to prove my ability
to handle the language – English, and I need the score to even apply to those universities.
1. Do you work or are you a student?
I’m currently a freshman/ sophomore/ junior/ senior at National Economics University
– one of the top schools in Vietnam. Now I still can’t believe I was able to gain admission
to the university because it’s so competitive.
 currently /ˈkʌr.ənt.li/ (adv): hiện nay
 freshman/ sophomore/ junior/ senior/ˈfreʃ.mən//ˈsɒf.ə.mɔːr/
/ˈdʒuː.ni.ər//ˈsiː.ni.ər/ (noun): sinh viên năm nhất/ hai/ ba/ cuối
 gain admission to the university /ədˈmɪʃ.ən/ (verb phrase): đỗ đại học
Em hiện là sinh viên năm nhất / hai / ba/ cuối của trường Đại học Kinh tế Quốc dân – một
trong những trường hàng đầu Việt Nam. Bây giờ em vẫn không thể tin rằng em có thể đỗ
vào trường vì đầu vào rất cạnh tranh.
2. What do you study?
I’m majoring in the English language and as you can guess, I have to deal a lot with
something like phonetics and phonology, lexicology or grammar. To be honest, they are
sometimes overwhelming to me, but I have a knack for linguistics, so it’s OK.
 major in something /ˈmeɪ.dʒər/ (verb phrase): học chuyên ngành …
 overwhelming /ˌəʊ.vəˈwel.mɪŋ/ (adj): gây ngợp, quá tải
 have a knack for something /næk/ (idiom): có khiếu về …
Em đang học chuyên ngành tiếng Anh và như thầy có thể đoán được, em phải xử lý rất
nhiều với những thứ như ngữ âm và âm vị học, từ vựng học hoặc ngữ pháp. Thành thật mà
nói, chúng đôi khi quá sức đối với em, nhưng em có sở trường về ngôn ngữ học, nên không
sao cả thầy ạ.
3. What do you like about your study? (Do you like your study?)
(Yes). For the most part, I would say it’s the environment. We speak in English 100% in
the class and it helps us develop our English skills substantially. Besides, almost all the
classrooms are equipped with top-notch facilities like air-conditioners or overhead
projectors. My teachers and friends are nice as well. All in all, it’s a great place to study.
 for the most part (adv): thường thì, phần lớn thì
 substantially/səbˈstæn.ʃəl.i/ (adv): rất đáng kể
 top-notch facilities /ˌtɒpˈnɒtʃ fəˈsɪl.ə.ti/ (noun phrase): trang thiết bị
chất lượng hạng A
Thường thì em sẽ nói đó là môi trường. Chúng em nói 100% bằng tiếng Anh trong lớp và nó
giúp chúng em phát triển các kỹ năng tiếng Anh của mình một cách đáng kể. Bên cạnh đó,
hầu hết các phòng học đều được trang bị những tiện nghi hàng đầu như điều hòa hay máy
chiếu trên cao. Giáo viên và bạn bè của em cũng rất tốt. Nói chung, đây là một nơi tuyệt
vời để cho em học tập.
Part 2
1. Describe your favourite subject
You should say:
 What it is
 Who teaches it
 How it is taught/ how you learn it
 Why you like it
When I read the cue card, the first thing springing to mind was English.
Maybe you don’t know but English used to be my pet hate in former days. The education
system in Vietnam is somewhat impractical. It focuses on an exam-driven curriculum in
which we studied English by learning by heartmonotonous grammar and vocabulary in
school. We’re not taught listening and speaking so it’s no wonder that I couldn’t speak a
word of English when graduating from high school.
But everything has changed since I started my higher education. I am majoring in the
English language, so I’ve got to study in English-speaking classes. At first, it was a
nightmare when I couldn’t grasp what my teachers and friends said. But it turns out that
the environment has boosted my English skills so greatly. Through practice, I’ve gained a
certain level of competence in English. I even participated in a local tour guide club in
which I had opportunities to meet foreigners, practice English with them and discover more
about their countries. They are such exhilarating experiences.
I have gradually built up confidence in speaking English and take a keen interest
inhaving idle chit-chat with foreigners. At school, there is this one subject called
“Cultures and Civilisations” in which we learned a lot about the cultures and traditions of
English-speaking countries like the UK, the US or Australia. Such a subject
really broadened my horizons. All in all, I never regret choosing English as my major at
university.
 one’s pet hate (idiom): điều cực kỳ không thích
 somewhat (adv): có chút gì đó
 learn something by heart (idiom): học thuộc lòng
 monotonous /məˈnɒt.ən.əs/ (adj): nhàm chán
 it’s no wonder that …: chẳng trách gì, chẳng ngạc nhiên, thảo nào …
 grasp something /ɡrɑːsp/ (verb): hiểu hoàn toàn
 turns out that/ to be … (phrasal verb): hóa ra
 competence in something/ˈkɒm.pɪ.təns/ (noun): năng lực làm tốt cái gì
 exhilarating /ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ/ (adj): thú vị
 take a keen interest in something /ˈɪn.trəst/ (verb phrase): rất thích
cái gì
 have idle chit-chat with somebody /ˈaɪ.dəl/ (verb phrase): chém gió với
ai
 broaden one’s horizons /həˈraɪ.zən/ (verb phrase): mở mang tầm mắt,
tầm hiểu biết
Khi tôi đọc thẻ gợi ý, điều đầu tiên em nghĩ đến là tiếng Anh.
Có thể thầy chưa biết chứ nhưng ngày xưa tiếng Anh là môn em ghét nhất. Hệ thống giáo
dục ở Việt Nam hơi phi thực tế. Nó tập trung vào một chương trình giảng dạy thiên về thi
cử, ở đó chúng em đã học tiếng Anh bằng cách học thuộc lòng từ vựng và ngữ pháp khô
khan nhàm chán ở trường. Chúng em không được dạy nghe và nói nên chẳng có gì đáng
ngạc nhiên khi em không thể nói một từ nào bằng tiếng Anh nào khi tốt nghiệp cấp 3.
Nhưng mọi thứ đã thay đổi kể từ khi tôi bắt đầu học đại học. Chuyên ngành của em là ngôn
ngữ Anh nên em phải tham gia các lớp dạy bằng tiếng Anh. Lúc đầu, đó thực là một cơn ác
mộng khi em không thể hiểu được những gì giáo viên và các bạn nói. Nhưng hóa ra môi
trường đã thúc đẩy kỹ năng tiếng Anh của em rất nhiều. Qua thực hành, em đã đạt được
một mức nhất định về khả năng tiếng Anh. Em thậm chí còn tham gia vào câu lạc bộ hướng
dẫn viên du lịch ở địa phương, nơi em có cơ hội gặp gỡ người nước ngoài, thực hành tiếng
Anh với họ và khám phá thêm về đất nước của họ. Đó thật là những trải nghiệm vô cùng
thú vị.
Tôi đã dần dần tự tin hơn trong việc nói tiếng Anh và rất thích chém gió với người nước
ngoài. Ở trường, có một môn học tên là “Văn hóa và Văn minh”, nơi chúng em tìm hiểu rất
nhiều về văn hóa và truyền thống của các nước nói tiếng Anh như Anh Quốc, Hoa Kỳ hoặc
Úc. Môn học tuyệt vời này thực sự đã mở rộng kiến thức của em rất nhiều. Nói chung, tôi
em bao giờ hối hận khi chọn tiếng Anh là chuyên ngành của mình ở trường đại học.

2. Describe a subject which you disliked before but now you think it is important
You should say:
 What the subject is
 Why you disliked it
 Why you think it is important now
 Explain why you changed your mind
Part 3
1. Has education in your country changed in the last 20 years?/ How are
education priorities today different from those in the past?
It’s obvious that education in Vietnam has changed tremendously over the past decades.
A wider skill set that was not offered in the past has found its place in our current
society. For example, many activities such as sports teams or clubs are now
being incorporated into the curriculum to enhance students’ study and soft skills.
Besides, education has also involved the use of modern technology such as computers or
projectors, which were not present in former days.
 tremendously /trɪˈmen.dəs.li/ (adv): cực kỳ, khủng khiếp
 find one’s place (verb phrase): tìm được chỗ đứng
 incorporate something into something /ɪnˈkɔː.pər.eɪt/ (verb): tích hợp, bao
gồm
Rõ ràng là nền giáo dục ở Việt Nam đã thay đổi vô cùng nhiều trong những thập kỷ qua.
Nhiều loại kỹ năng hơn không có trong quá khứ đã tìm được chỗ đứng của mình trong xã
hội hiện tại của chúng ta. Ví dụ, nhiều hoạt động như đội tuyển thể thao hoặc câu lạc bộ
hiện đang được đưa vào bên cạnh chương trình giảng dạy để nâng cao khả năng học tập và
kỹ năng mềm của học sinh sinh viên. Bên cạnh đó, giáo dục cũng đưa vào sử dụng nhiều
công nghệ hiện đại hơn như máy tính hoặc máy chiếu, những thứ mà ngày xưa không có.
2. How do you think it will change in the future?
I believe that blended learning – the combination of offline and online instruction where
students interact with their instructors and other students through both a physical
classroom and an online platform is likely to become prevalent in the not-too-distant
future. In fact, this type of education has been applied by many universities since the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, families will also be more financially
stable and may encourage their children to pursue their passions rather than
traditional career paths like business or medicine. So more people will therefore turn
towards arts, history and the like.
 prevalent /ˈprev.əl.ənt/ (adj): thịnh hành
 in the not-too-distant future /ˈdɪs.tənt/ (adv): trong tương lai không xa
 the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic /pænˈdem.ɪk/ (noun phrase): sự
bùng phát của đại dịch COVID-19
 financially stable/faɪˈnæn.ʃəl.iˈsteɪ.bəl/ (adjective phrase): tài chính ổn định,
khấm khá
 pursue a passion /pəˈsjuː/ (verb phrase): theo đuổi đam mê
 the like (noun): thứ/ người tương tự
Em tin rằng việc học trộn – sự kết hợp của học trên lớp và học trực tuyến, nơi học sinh
tương tác với giáo viên và bạn học thông qua cả lớp học ngoài đời và nền tảng trực tuyến
có khả năng trở nên phổ biến trong tương lai không xa. Trên thực tế, kiểu giáo dục này đã
được nhiều trường đại học áp dụng kể từ khi đại dịch COVID-19 bùng phát. Bên cạnh đó,
các gia đình cũng sẽ khấm khá hơn và có thể khuyến khích con em theo đuổi đam mê của
mình hơn là những con đường sự nghiệp truyền thống như kinh doanh hay y học. Vì vậy,
bọn trẻ có thể sẽ hướng tới nghệ thuật, lịch sử và những môn tương tự nhiều hơn.
3. In what ways can education prepare pupils for life after school?/ How well do
you think schools should prepare young people for working life?
Well, schools are where we learn almost everything, starting from the basics at the
elementary level such as reading and writing. Before we turn into adults, schools equip us
with knowledge and skills that we need to gain admission to colleges. And then, we
are educated to acquire more specialized knowledge and skills before being able to
be qualified to participate in the workforce. So it can be said that schools are the place
we’re well prepared to enter another chapter – the working life.
 equip somebody with something /ɪˈkwɪp/ (verb): trang bị
 gain admission to colleges /ədˈmɪʃ.ən/ (verb phrase): đỗ đại học
 qualified (to do/ for something) /ˈkwɒl.ɪ.faɪd/ (adj): đủ điều kiện, phẩm chất,
trình độ
Trường học là nơi chúng ta học hầu như tất cả mọi thứ, bắt đầu từ những điều cơ bản ở cấp
tiểu học như đọc và viết. Trước khi chúng ta trưởng thành, trường học trang bị cho chúng ta
kiến thức và kỹ năng cần thiết để chúng ta có thể đỗ vào các trường đại học. Và sau đó,
chúng ta được giáo dục để có thêm kiến thức và kỹ năng chuyên môn trước khi đủ trình độ
để tham gia vào lực lượng lao động. Vì vậy, có thể nói rằng trường học là nơi chúng ta
chuẩn bị cho bản thân thật tốt để bước vào một chương khác của cuộc đời – đi làm.
IELTS speaking part 1 – style questions
Examiner: What did you enjoy most when you were at school?
Janet: School feels like a long time ago now, as I am currently at University, but I do
remember really enjoying English lessons. We were lucky enough to have a native
speaking teacher, which was usual, but it gave us the opportunity to be inspired by
hearing authentic pronunciation and our teacher told very funny stories to keep us
focused.
Examiner: Do you think a teacher should be friendly or strict?
Alexa: When I was at school, our teachers were ‘old-school’, strict and very traditional, so
our lessons were teacher centred. As children we were not encouraged to ask questions or
voice our opinions. However, today, thankfully, classes are more student centred, and
encourage collaboration and I think a more friendly teacher would be more successful
here.
Examiner: What’s the most difficult part of your study now?
Kamila: Well, for the most part, I’d say it’s encourage collaboration. I mean there are so
many assignments, and students are always under a lot of pressure to meet
deadlines. I am lucky as I don’t find exams too overwhelming. If you are well prepared,
they are entirely predictable, and I can pretty much sail through them with only a bit of
revision.
IELTS speaking part 2 – style question
Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.
You should say:
 when and where you started studying it
 what lessons were like
 what made it different from other subjects
and explain why you enjoyed the subject.
Said: To be honest, I found school pretty challenging for a number of reasons. We moved
house quite often back then, so I had to adapt to different teachers, learning
expectations and to make new friends. However, the subject which I was always
passionate about and determined to succeed in was French.
I started lessons when I was quite young, which is common in the UK, as learning
languages is actively encouraged, but the standard and expectation was relatively low so
lessons revolved around role plays asking for ice cream or bread! Our lessons involved a
lot of writing and dictation which was hard, and I did struggle to see the point of this as
what I really wanted to learn was how to communicate and be understood. Our vocabulary
was based around the family, food, travel and school so It was quite useful but not the sort
of things that children really want to talk about.
I was motivated as I had already visited France on holiday and so I could see for myself the
possible benefits of being able to communicate and make myself understood.
The breakthrough for me came when I was around 15 with a teacher called Mrs. Green.
She was half French herself, so she spoke beautifully and was rather glamourous too and
her lessons were filled with laughter, games and stories although she was very strict as
well. We were all expected to study hard and to succeed in exams. She
was inspiring though because she loved her subject.
Personally, I have always enjoyed listening to languages, to the intonation and sound
even if I do not understand. Once I could use the French I had learnt in school when I
visited France and later studied there, the language came alive and all that hard work as a
youngster paid off!
IELTS speaking part 3 – style question
Examiner: Do you think single sex schools are still relevant in today’s world?
Emilie: While today many would argue that traditional schools which only allow either girls
or boys to study there seem rather outdated and old fashioned as this is not how ‘real’
society of the workplace operates. However, many league tables which rank schools in
order of high exam results, have proved that single sex schools can be much better as
there are less distractions and maybe students are more able to focus on learning and be
proud of their achievements without having to compete with the opposite sex.
Examiner: What are the benefits of a boarding school?
Helene: As an alumni of a boarding school, I can see the upsides as well as the
challenges. In some countries children as young as 8 are sent away to school, either
because of the higher standard of education on offer, or because their parents may be
working overseas.
Many of these schools offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities such as golf,
photography or fashion as well as the core academic subjects. Children usually speak of
forming lifelong friendships, with their peer group as well as teachers and there is a
strong concept of shared experiences.
Examiner: What are the advantages of studying a distance learning course?
Lydia: For many people, especially students who work or need more flexibility, distance
or remote learning is the ideal way to study. There are several benefits that
immediately come to mind. Not only the cost, which is far less than it would be to attend
a college with high tuition fees but the ability to study at your own speed.
It is usually agreed that some find that this method of learning suits them better than
sitting in lectures or going to tutorials which demands more self-motivation and discipline.
Vocabulary words related to education and definitions:
 authentic: real, true
 old-school strict: traditional learning with punishments and controlling teachers
 teacher centred: where the teacher is leading the class
 encourage collaboration: learning together through discussions
 pressure to meet deadlines: having to finish work by a certain time / date
 assignments: homework or essays
 sail through them: not to have to work hard and to find things easy
 learning expectations: what the teacher expects from their student
 role plays: acting out a situation to simulate or practice it
 dictation: writing down what the teacher says, accurately and fast.
 breakthrough: a new development
 inspiring: something which makes you want to do better
 intonation: the ‘singing’ sound of speech
 paid off: was worth the effort
 outdated: old fashioned
 league tables: tables which rank the position of schools according to academic
success
 alumni: students who used to go to a certain school or college
 boarding school: where students live at school during the term time
 extra- curricular activities: anything NOT academic, eg sport, drama
 peer group: students of your own age, in your class
 remote: not being physically there / learning via computer