Mở bài
Chủ đề “Describe A Time When You Achieved A Significant Goal” là một trong những đề bài phổ biến và quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Đây là dạng câu hỏi yêu cầu bạn kể về một trải nghiệm cá nhân mang tính tích cực, thể hiện khả năng đặt mục tiêu, nỗ lực và đạt được thành công. Từ góc nhìn của một examiner với hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm, tôi nhận thấy đây là chủ đề tuyệt vời để thí sinh thể hiện kỹ năng kể chuyện, sử dụng thì quá khứ chính xác và vocabulary liên quan đến động lực, thử thách và thành tựu.
Theo thống kê từ các đề thi thực tế, chủ đề về “achievements” và “goals” xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ 2020 đến 2024, đặc biệt tăng mạnh trong giai đoạn 2023-2024. Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai: Cao. Các examiner thường đánh giá cao những câu trả lời thể hiện sự phát triển cá nhân, kiên trì và reflection về quá trình học hỏi.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:
- Các câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến chủ đề goals và achievements
- Bài mẫu chi tiết theo nhiều band điểm từ 6-7, 7.5-8 đến 8.5-9 với phân tích sâu
- Từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm được native speakers sử dụng
- Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn examiner
- Những lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview
Tổng Quan Về Part 1
Thời gian: 4-5 phút
Part 1 là phần khởi động, giúp bạn làm quen với examiner và tạo ấn tượng ban đầu. Các câu hỏi thường xoay quanh đời sống hàng ngày, sở thích, công việc và các chủ đề quen thuộc. Đặc điểm quan trọng là câu hỏi ngắn gọn, trả lời nên từ 2-3 câu để vừa đủ mở rộng ý mà không quá dài dòng.
Chiến lược hiệu quả:
- Trả lời tự nhiên như đang trò chuyện, không cần quá formal
- Mở rộng câu trả lời bằng cách đưa ra lý do hoặc ví dụ ngắn
- Sử dụng một số từ vựng/cụm từ nâng cao nhưng phù hợp với context
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ với “Yes” hoặc “No” mà không giải thích
- Dùng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “very good”, “very important”
- Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể khiến câu trả lời trừu tượng
- Không tự nhiên vì học thuộc template
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp
Question 1: Do you usually set goals for yourself?
Question 2: What kind of goals do you set in your daily life?
Question 3: Have you achieved any important goals recently?
Question 4: Do you prefer short-term or long-term goals?
Question 5: How do you feel when you achieve a goal?
Question 6: What do you do when you fail to achieve a goal?
Question 7: Did your parents encourage you to set goals when you were young?
Question 8: Do you think setting goals is important for success?
Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết
Question: Do you usually set goals for yourself?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Trả lời trực tiếp Yes/No
- Đưa ra lý do tại sao có hoặc không
- Thêm ví dụ ngắn về loại mục tiêu bạn thường đặt
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I do set goals for myself. I think it helps me stay organized and motivated. For example, I usually set study goals each week to improve my English.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời rõ ràng, có lý do cơ bản và ví dụ đơn giản
- Hạn chế: Vocabulary khá basic (helps, stay organized, improve), thiếu collocations tự nhiên
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Đủ để communicate ý tưởng nhưng chưa impressive về mặt ngôn ngữ, cấu trúc câu đơn giản
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Absolutely! I’m quite a goal-oriented person, actually. I find that setting clear objectives really helps me stay on track and maintain my momentum, especially when I’m working on long-term projects. For instance, I recently set myself a target to read one book per month to broaden my horizons, and it’s been incredibly rewarding so far.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary sophisticated: “goal-oriented person”, “setting clear objectives”, “maintain momentum”, “broaden horizons”
- Collocations tự nhiên: “stay on track”, “set myself a target”
- Grammar đa dạng: present perfect (I’ve been), gerund (setting, working)
- Ví dụ cụ thể và personal (one book per month)
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluent, natural, wide range of vocabulary with precise meaning, complex structures used accurately
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- goal-oriented person: người có định hướng mục tiêu rõ ràng
- setting clear objectives: đặt ra các mục tiêu rõ ràng
- stay on track: đi đúng hướng, theo đúng kế hoạch
- maintain momentum: duy trì động lực/đà tiến triển
- set myself a target: tự đặt mục tiêu cho bản thân
- broaden one’s horizons: mở rộng tầm nhìn
Question: How do you feel when you achieve a goal?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Mô tả cảm xúc chính
- Giải thích tại sao bạn có cảm giác đó
- Có thể thêm một trải nghiệm cụ thể
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I feel very happy when I achieve a goal. It gives me confidence and makes me want to set more goals. Last month, I passed my driving test and I felt really proud of myself.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Có emotion (happy, proud), có example (driving test)
- Hạn chế: Vocabulary cơ bản (very happy, really proud), thiếu nuance trong cách diễn đạt cảm xúc
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicates effectively nhưng lacks sophistication and range
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“It’s honestly an incredible feeling – there’s this sense of accomplishment that’s hard to describe. I’d say it gives me a tremendous boost of confidence and reinforces my belief that hard work pays off. What I find particularly rewarding is not just the end result, but looking back at the journey and seeing how much I’ve grown. When I recently completed my first marathon, that feeling of elation at the finish line was absolutely unforgettable.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary range: “sense of accomplishment”, “tremendous boost”, “reinforces”, “hard work pays off”, “feeling of elation”
- Personal reflection: “not just the end result, but the journey”
- Specific example with emotional depth: marathon finish line
- Grammar complexity: relative clause (that’s hard to describe), gerund (looking back)
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Excellent lexical resource, shows emotional depth, coherent development of ideas, natural fluency
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- sense of accomplishment: cảm giác hoàn thành, thành tựu
- tremendous boost of confidence: sự tăng cường tự tin đáng kể
- reinforce: củng cố, tăng cường
- hard work pays off: công sức bỏ ra sẽ được đền đáp
- feeling of elation: cảm giác phấn khích, vui mừng cao độ
- unforgettable: không thể quên
Question: What do you do when you fail to achieve a goal?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Thể hiện thái độ tích cực, mature về thất bại
- Nói về cách xử lý cụ thể
- Có thể mention về learning experience
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“When I fail to achieve a goal, I feel disappointed but I try to learn from it. I think about what went wrong and try again. I believe failure is part of success.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Có attitude tích cực, mention learning
- Hạn chế: Ideas khá cliché (failure is part of success), vocabulary basic (feel disappointed, went wrong)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated expression
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Well, I won’t lie – initially there’s definitely a sense of disappointment, but I’ve learned not to dwell on it for too long. What I typically do is take a step back and conduct a sort of post-mortem analysis – figuring out what factors contributed to falling short. I see it as valuable feedback rather than failure. This approach has actually been instrumental in my personal growth. For instance, when I didn’t get into my first-choice university, instead of being discouraged, I used that experience to refine my approach and ended up getting into an even better program the following year.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Honest và authentic: “I won’t lie”
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “dwell on”, “post-mortem analysis”, “falling short”, “instrumental”, “refine my approach”
- Growth mindset: “valuable feedback rather than failure”
- Compelling example với real outcome
- Complex grammar: conditional, gerund phrases
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Demonstrates maturity, sophisticated language, coherent and extended response, personal example that resonates
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- dwell on something: day dứt, suy nghĩ mãi về điều gì
- conduct a post-mortem analysis: phân tích sau sự việc để tìm hiểu nguyên nhân
- falling short: không đạt được, thiếu sót
- valuable feedback: phản hồi có giá trị
- instrumental: đóng vai trò quan trọng
- refine one’s approach: cải thiện, tinh chỉnh cách tiếp cận
Học viên đang luyện tập IELTS Speaking về chủ đề đạt được mục tiêu quan trọng
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Tổng Quan Về Part 2
Thời gian chuẩn bị: 1 phút
Thời gian nói: 2-3 phút (không bị ngắt)
Part 2 là phần độc thoại, nơi bạn cần kể chi tiết về một chủ đề cụ thể. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để thể hiện khả năng nói liên tục, tổ chức ý tưởng và sử dụng ngôn ngữ phong phú.
Đặc điểm: Bạn sẽ nhận được một Cue Card với chủ đề và 3-4 bullet points cần trả lời. Examiner sẽ không ngắt lời bạn trong suốt 2 phút.
Chiến lược hiệu quả:
- Sử dụng hết 1 phút để ghi chú keywords (không viết câu hoàn chỉnh)
- Cấu trúc notes theo bullet points của đề bài
- Nói đủ 2 phút, tối thiểu 1.5 phút
- Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points, đặc biệt chú ý phần “explain”
- Sử dụng past tenses chính xác khi kể về sự kiện đã xảy ra
- Thêm chi tiết cụ thể để câu chuyện sinh động
Lỗi thường gặp:
- Không sử dụng hết thời gian chuẩn bị, vội bắt đầu nói
- Nói dưới 1.5 phút khiến examiner phải hỏi thêm
- Bỏ sót bullet points quan trọng
- Kể quá chung chung, thiếu details
- Lạc đề, nói về những thứ không liên quan
Cue Card
Describe a time when you achieved a significant goal
You should say:
- What the goal was
- When you achieved it
- What you did to achieve it
- And explain how you felt about achieving this goal
Phân Tích Đề Bài
Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an event/experience – kể về một sự kiện cụ thể trong quá khứ
Thì động từ: Chủ yếu là Past Simple và Past Continuous vì kể về sự việc đã hoàn thành. Có thể dùng Past Perfect để nói về những gì xảy ra trước đó.
Bullet points phải cover:
- What the goal was: Mục tiêu cụ thể là gì, tại sao nó quan trọng với bạn
- When you achieved it: Thời điểm cụ thể, có thể mention context
- What you did to achieve it: Quá trình, hành động cụ thể, challenges
- Explain how you felt: Phần này QUAN TRỌNG nhất để ghi điểm cao – cần reflection sâu sắc
Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là phần chiếm nhiều điểm nhất. Examiner muốn nghe sự phản ánh (reflection) của bạn về trải nghiệm, không chỉ mô tả cảm xúc surface-level. Bạn cần nói về:
- Cảm xúc cụ thể (không chỉ “happy”)
- Tại sao achievement này meaningful
- Bài học hoặc impact lên cuộc sống bạn
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7
Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút
“I’d like to talk about when I achieved my goal of getting a good score in my university entrance exam. This happened about two years ago, in the summer of 2022.
The goal was very important to me because I wanted to get into a good university to study business. My parents also expected me to do well, so I felt pressure.
To achieve this goal, I studied very hard for about six months. I attended extra classes after school and spent most of my free time studying. I also did many practice tests to prepare myself. Sometimes I felt tired, but I kept going because I knew it was important.
I took the exam in July, and when the results came out in August, I was very happy to see that I had achieved my goal. My score was high enough to get into my first-choice university.
When I achieved this goal, I felt really proud of myself. It was a great feeling because I had worked so hard for it. My parents were also very happy and proud of me. This achievement taught me that if you work hard, you can achieve your goals. It also gave me more confidence for the future. I think this was one of the most important achievements in my life so far.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 6-7 | Nói khá mạch lạc, có sử dụng basic connectives (also, sometimes, when), nhưng còn một số pauses khi tìm từ. Câu chuyện được kể theo trình tự logic. |
| Lexical Resource | 6-7 | Vocabulary adequate cho topic (entrance exam, pressure, practice tests), nhưng có repetition (very happy/proud xuất hiện nhiều lần). Collocations cơ bản (study hard, work hard). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6-7 | Sử dụng past tenses correctly, có một số complex sentences (because, when), nhưng chủ yếu là simple structures. |
| Pronunciation | 6-7 | Generally clear và understandable (giả định dựa trên text) |
Điểm mạnh:
- ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
- ✅ Có timeline rõ ràng (two years ago, six months, July, August)
- ✅ Có quá trình chuẩn bị cụ thể (extra classes, practice tests)
- ✅ Mention cảm xúc và impact
Hạn chế:
- ⚠️ Vocabulary repetitive (very happy, very proud, very important)
- ⚠️ Lacks sophisticated expressions và idiomatic language
- ⚠️ Explanation phần cuối còn surface-level, chưa deep reflection
- ⚠️ Grammar structures khá basic, thiếu variety
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8
Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút
“I’d like to share with you a particularly meaningful achievement – when I successfully completed my first half-marathon last year. This took place in November 2023, during the Hanoi International Marathon event.
Now, the reason this goal was so significant to me was that I had never been particularly athletic growing up. In fact, I was quite the opposite – I struggled with physical activities and often felt self-conscious about my fitness level. So setting this goal represented a real personal challenge and a chance to prove to myself that I could overcome my limitations.
The journey to achieving this goal was quite intense. I started training about four months before the race, following a structured training plan I found online. At first, I could barely run two kilometers without feeling exhausted, but I gradually built up my endurance. I ran three to four times a week, rain or shine, and also made significant changes to my diet. There were moments when I felt like giving up, especially during those early morning runs in the cold, but I kept pushing myself.
What really helped me stay motivated was joining a running club where I met other runners who shared similar goals. Their support and encouragement were invaluable. I also tracked my progress using a fitness app, which gave me a sense of accomplishment each time I hit a new milestone.
When I finally crossed the finish line after running 21 kilometers, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It wasn’t just about completing the race – it was about the entire transformation I’d undergone. I felt an immense sense of pride and accomplishment. This achievement taught me that consistency and determination can help you achieve things you never thought possible. It’s had a lasting impact on my confidence, not just in sports, but in other aspects of my life as well.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 7.5-8 | Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation, good use of discourse markers (Now, At first, What really helped), logical progression với clear timeline |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5-8 | Wide range of vocabulary với some less common items (self-conscious, invaluable, overwhelmed with emotion), good collocations (structured training plan, built up endurance, lasting impact) |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 7.5-8 | Good variety of complex structures (relative clauses, gerunds, conditionals), accurate use of past tenses và present perfect |
| Pronunciation | 7.5-8 | Generally clear với good control (assumed from text quality) |
So Sánh Với Band 6-7
| Khía cạnh | Band 6-7 | Band 7.5-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | “very happy”, “worked hard” | “overwhelmed with emotion”, “structured training plan”, “gradually built up endurance” |
| Grammar | Simple: “I studied hard for six months” | Complex: “There were moments when I felt like giving up” |
| Ideas | Basic motivation (parents’ expectations) | Personal transformation narrative, deep reflection về limitations |
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9
Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ
“I’d like to tell you about what I consider to be one of my most pivotal achievements – securing a scholarship to study abroad at a prestigious university in Singapore. This came to fruition in April 2023, though the journey leading up to it had been going on for well over a year.
Now, what made this goal particularly significant wasn’t merely the prestige or the financial aspect, though those were certainly important. What truly drove me was that it represented a pathway to pursuing my passion for sustainable architecture – a field that’s not very developed in Vietnam yet. Growing up, I’d always been fascinated by how buildings could be designed to harmonize with the environment, and this scholarship presented an opportunity to study under world-renowned experts in the field.
The pursuit of this goal was, to put it mildly, demanding. I had to maintain a near-perfect GPA while simultaneously preparing for the IELTS exam, compiling a comprehensive portfolio of my design projects, and crafting a compelling personal statement. What made it even more challenging was that I was doing all this during my final year of university, so I was juggling coursework, part-time work, and scholarship applications.
I implemented what I’d call a systematic approach – I broke down the entire process into manageable chunks and set myself weekly targets. For the IELTS, I dedicated two hours each morning to practice. For the portfolio, I worked closely with mentors who provided invaluable feedback. I also sought out additional projects to strengthen my application – I volunteered with a local NGO working on eco-friendly housing for low-income families.
There were definitely moments of self-doubt. I remember when I received my first rejection from another program, I questioned whether I was aiming too high. But I’d already invested so much, and more importantly, I truly believed in what I was doing. So I persevered, refined my approach based on feedback, and kept pushing forward.
When I finally received the acceptance email along with the full scholarship offer, I was absolutely elated, but also somewhat taken aback – it felt almost surreal. What struck me most wasn’t just the achievement itself, but the realization of how much I’d grown throughout the process. I’d developed resilience, time-management skills, and a much deeper understanding of my field.
Looking back, I’d say this achievement fundamentally shaped my self-perception. It reinforced my belief that calculated risks and sustained effort can lead to extraordinary outcomes. More than that, it taught me that the value of pursuing a goal often lies as much in the journey as in reaching the destination. This experience has equipped me with the confidence to tackle even more ambitious goals in the future, and I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead.”
Thí sinh đạt band điểm cao trong phần thi IELTS Speaking Part 2 với cue card về thành tựu
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 8.5-9 | Speaks fluently với natural, effortless delivery. Sophisticated use của discourse markers và cohesive devices. Ideas are fully developed và coherently linked. |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5-9 | Wide range của sophisticated vocabulary used with full flexibility và precision (pivotal achievements, came to fruition, harmonize with, calculated risks). Natural use của idiomatic language. Rare errors. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 8.5-9 | Full range của structures used naturally và appropriately. Consistently accurate grammar với only rare, minor errors. Complex sentences handled with confidence. |
| Pronunciation | 8.5-9 | Full control với subtle features (assumed from sophisticated language use) |
Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc
🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
- Không có hesitation, ideas flow naturally từ introduction đến reflection
- Sophisticated linking: “Now, what made this…”, “Looking back…”, “More than that…”
- Câu chuyện được kể với dramatic arc rõ ràng (setup → challenges → climax → reflection)
📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
- “came to fruition” thay vì “achieved” – idiomatic và sophisticated
- “pursuing my passion” + “pathway” – abstract nouns used precisely
- “harmonize with” – topic-specific vocabulary cho sustainable architecture
- “juggling”, “taken aback”, “surreal” – idiomatic expressions used naturally
- “calculated risks”, “sustained effort”, “extraordinary outcomes” – collocations của native speakers
📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
- Relative clauses: “a field that’s not very developed”, “who provided invaluable feedback”
- Gerunds: “Growing up”, “Looking back”, “compiling a comprehensive portfolio”
- Conditionals implied: “it felt almost surreal” (mixed emotions)
- Past Perfect: “I’d always been fascinated”, “I’d already invested”
- Emphatic structures: “What truly drove me was…”, “What struck me most…”
💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
- Personal motivation beyond surface level (passion for sustainable architecture, not just prestige)
- Vulnerability: mentions self-doubt và rejection
- Sophisticated reflection: “the value lies as much in the journey as in reaching the destination”
- Forward-looking: connects experience to future goals
- Maturity trong understanding: growth mindset và meta-cognition
Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)
Sau khi bạn kết thúc Part 2, examiner thường hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn để transition sang Part 3. Đây là “rounding off questions” – câu hỏi đệm, không quá phức tạp.
Question 1: Would you set similar goals in the future?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, I think so. I enjoyed the process and learned a lot, so I would like to set similar challenging goals again.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Absolutely. In fact, this experience has whetted my appetite for even more ambitious pursuits. I think once you get a taste of what you’re capable of achieving through dedicated effort, it becomes almost addictive. I’m already contemplating my next big challenge, though I’m trying to be more strategic about which goals to prioritize.”
Question 2: Do you think this achievement changed you?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, definitely. It made me more confident and taught me to work hard. I feel I can achieve more things now.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“It fundamentally transformed me, actually. Beyond the obvious confidence boost, I’d say it recalibrated my sense of what’s possible. I now approach challenges with this underlying belief that with the right strategy and unwavering commitment, even seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome. It’s also made me more empathetic toward others pursuing their own goals – I appreciate the unseen struggles behind every achievement.”
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Tổng Quan Về Part 3
Thời gian: 4-5 phút
Part 3 là phần thảo luận sâu về các vấn đề trừu tượng liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2. Đây là phần khó nhất và cũng là phần giúp phân biệt band 7 và band 8-9.
Đặc điểm:
- Câu hỏi trừu tượng, yêu cầu critical thinking
- Không hỏi về cá nhân nữa mà về society, trends, comparisons
- Cần phân tích, đánh giá, so sánh từ nhiều góc độ
Yêu cầu:
- Đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng và defend it với lý lẽ
- Xem xét nhiều perspectives (không chỉ một chiều)
- Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ personal experience
- Acknowledge complexity của issues
Chiến lược:
- Mở rộng câu trả lời (3-5 câu tối thiểu)
- Structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/Nuance
- Sử dụng discourse markers để organize ideas
- Thừa nhận different viewpoints khi appropriate
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu), không develop ideas
- Chỉ đưa ra opinion mà không có reasoning
- Thiếu vocabulary trừu tượng (success, achievement, motivation, perseverance)
- Không xem xét nhiều góc độ, chỉ nói một chiều
- Personal examples thay vì societal analysis
Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu
Theme 1: Goals and Success in Modern Society
Question 1: Why do you think some people are more successful at achieving their goals than others?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause-Effect (tại sao một số người thành công hơn)
- Key words: some people, more successful, achieving goals
- Cách tiếp cận: Identify factors (personal traits, circumstances, resources) và explain với examples
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think there are several reasons. First, some people are more determined and don’t give up easily. They keep trying even when they face difficulties. Second, having support from family and friends is important. If people encourage you, it’s easier to achieve your goals. Also, some people are better at planning and managing their time. For example, students who make study schedules usually do better in exams than those who don’t plan.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Có organization (First, Second, Also) và example ở cuối
- Vocabulary: Basic (determined, give up, support, planning)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Ideas are clear nhưng development còn surface-level, thiếu depth trong analysis
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Well, I’d say it’s a complex interplay of several factors. First and foremost, there’s the element of resilience – some individuals simply have a greater capacity to bounce back from setbacks and maintain their focus despite obstacles. This mental fortitude is often cultivated through early experiences and challenges.
Secondly, I think goal-setting skills themselves play a crucial role. People who are successful tend to set SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They’re not just harbouring vague ambitions; they have concrete action plans with clear milestones. In contrast, those who struggle often have nebulous goals that lack structure.
Another critical factor is access to resources – and I don’t just mean financial resources. Social capital, like mentorship and networks, can be instrumental. For instance, someone with connections in their field has avenues for opportunities that others might not even know exist.
That said, we shouldn’t overlook the role of circumstances and privilege. While determination matters, external factors like socioeconomic background, education quality, and even timing can significantly tip the scales. So it’s rarely just about individual traits – it’s about how those traits interact with environmental conditions.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Well-organized với clear progression: personal traits → skills → resources → acknowledgment of complexity
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated (complex interplay, resilience, bounce back from setbacks, mental fortitude, cultivated, harbouring vague ambitions, nebulous goals, social capital, instrumental, tip the scales)
- Grammar: Wide range (relative clauses, passive voice, conditionals implied)
- Critical Thinking: Balanced view, acknowledges multiple factors including privilege và circumstances, shows nuanced understanding
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: “Well, I’d say”, “First and foremost”, “Secondly”, “In contrast”, “That said”
- Tentative language: “tend to”, “can be”, “might not”, “rarely just about”
- Abstract nouns: “resilience”, “capacity”, “fortitude”, “privilege”, “circumstances”
- Academic expressions: “complex interplay”, “play a crucial role”, “shouldn’t overlook”
Question 2: Do you think society puts too much pressure on people to be successful?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion (agree/disagree với statement)
- Key words: society, too much pressure, successful
- Cách tiếp cận: Give clear stance → Explain với societal examples → Consider consequences → Possibly acknowledge other viewpoint
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think so. Nowadays, everyone wants to be successful and society expects people to achieve a lot. This can be stressful, especially for young people who worry about their future. Social media makes it worse because people always compare themselves to others who seem more successful. This pressure can cause mental health problems. However, some pressure can be good because it motivates people to work hard.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear opinion với some explanation
- Vocabulary: Adequate (stressful, compare, mental health problems, motivates)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question nhưng analysis còn general, thiếu specific examples và sophisticated vocabulary
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“I think this is actually becoming an increasingly pressing issue, particularly in achievement-oriented cultures. The pressure to succeed has been amplified exponentially by several factors. Social media, for one, has created this perpetual comparison culture where people are constantly bombarded with curated images of others’ achievements. This fosters a sense that success should be rapid and visible, which is quite unrealistic.
Moreover, economic uncertainties have heightened the stakes. With rising costs of living and precarious employment situations, there’s this pervasive anxiety that you need to constantly outperform just to maintain a decent quality of life. This has given rise to phenomena like burnout culture and hustle culture, where overwork is almost glorified.
The consequences of this are far-reaching. We’re seeing escalating rates of anxiety and depression, particularly among young adults who feel they’re falling short of societal expectations. There’s also this troubling trend where people equate their self-worth with their professional achievements, which is fundamentally problematic.
That being said, I wouldn’t advocate for eliminating all pressure – a certain degree of healthy ambition and societal expectations can be motivating. The key is finding a sustainable balance and redefining success in more holistic terms – not just career accomplishments, but also personal fulfillment, relationships, and well-being.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear position → Multiple causes explained → Consequences discussed → Balanced conclusion
- Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (achievement-oriented cultures, amplified exponentially, perpetual comparison culture, bombarded with, precarious employment, pervasive anxiety, hustle culture, far-reaching, escalating rates, equate self-worth, fundamentally problematic)
- Grammar: Complex structures throughout (relative clauses, passive, participles)
- Critical Thinking: Multi-dimensional analysis với causes, effects, và nuanced conclusion
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: “for one”, “Moreover”, “That being said”
- Tentative language: “I think”, “quite unrealistic”, “wouldn’t advocate”
- Emphasizing language: “increasingly pressing”, “exponentially”, “fundamentally problematic”
- Abstract concepts: “achievement-oriented cultures”, “comparison culture”, “self-worth”, “holistic terms”
Theme 2: Education and Goal-Setting
Question 3: Should schools teach children how to set and achieve goals?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion with “should” (recommendation)
- Key words: schools, teach, children, set and achieve goals
- Cách tiếp cận: Clear position → Reasons why important → How it could be done → Potential challenges
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I strongly believe schools should teach this. Many students don’t know how to set goals properly, so they waste time or feel lost. If schools teach goal-setting, students will be more organized and motivated. Teachers can show them how to make plans and track their progress. This will help them not only in studies but also in their future careers. Some schools already do this through career counseling programs.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear position với basic reasoning
- Vocabulary: Functional (waste time, feel lost, organized, motivated, track progress)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicates ideas clearly nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated argumentation
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Absolutely, and I’d go further to say it should be a fundamental component of the curriculum, not just an afterthought. The reality is that goal-setting is a crucial life skill that often determines long-term success, yet it’s rarely taught systematically.
The rationale is quite straightforward. Students who learn to set realistic, incremental goals develop better self-regulation skills. They learn to break down daunting tasks into manageable steps, which is essential for tackling complex projects later in life. This metacognitive skill – essentially learning how to learn – has applications far beyond academics.
Moreover, teaching goal-setting can address the problem of learned helplessness that many students experience. When young people understand that success is a product of strategic planning and consistent effort rather than just innate ability, they develop what psychologists call a growth mindset. This reframes failure not as a definitive endpoint but as feedback for adjustment.
Practically speaking, this could be integrated into existing subjects rather than being a standalone course. For example, in project-based learning, teachers could explicitly guide students through the process: identifying objectives, setting milestones, monitoring progress, and reflecting on outcomes. The key is making it tangible and relevant to their current lives, not just abstract concepts.
Of course, there are implementation challenges. Teachers would need proper training, and there’s always the risk of this becoming just another checkbox exercise rather than meaningful learning. But given the potential benefits – improved academic performance, better mental health, enhanced career readiness – I’d say it’s well worth the investment.”
Giáo viên hướng dẫn học sinh kỹ năng đặt mục tiêu trong môi trường giáo dục hiện đại
Phân tích:
- Structure: Strong opening → Rationale → Psychological benefits → Practical implementation → Challenges acknowledged
- Vocabulary: Extensive range (fundamental component, afterthought, crucial life skill, self-regulation, metacognitive skill, learned helplessness, growth mindset, reframes, tangible, checkbox exercise)
- Grammar: Sophisticated structures (relative clauses, conditionals, participles, passive constructions)
- Critical Thinking: Multi-layered argument với psychological theory (growth mindset), practical suggestions, và honest acknowledgment of challenges
Theme 3: Cultural Perspectives on Achievement
Question 4: Are there cultural differences in how people view success and achievement?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare/Contrast across cultures
- Key words: cultural differences, view success and achievement
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge diversity → Give examples of different cultural views → Discuss implications → Avoid stereotyping
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, definitely. Different cultures have different ideas about success. For example, in Western countries, people often think success means being independent and achieving things by yourself. But in Asian countries like Vietnam, success is more about family and helping each other. Also, in some cultures, having a high position at work is very important, while in others, work-life balance is more valued. These differences affect how people set goals and what they work for.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Acknowledgment → Examples of differences → Brief implication
- Vocabulary: Basic (independent, achieving, helping, high position, work-life balance)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Makes valid points nhưng comparisons còn simplistic và generalized
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Undoubtedly, and I think these differences are quite profound and multifaceted. At a fundamental level, there’s often a distinction between what social scientists call individualistic versus collectivistic cultures, and this shapes achievement orientation in significant ways.
In individualistic societies – stereotypically Western countries, though this is increasingly nuanced – success tends to be framed in terms of personal accomplishment, self-actualization, and standing out from the crowd. There’s this valorization of the self-made individual who achieves success through their own merit and determination. Think of the American Dream narrative.
By contrast, in more collectivistic cultures – many Asian, African, and Latin American societies – success is often conceptualized more relationally. It’s not just about personal achievement but about how your success contributes to your family’s honor, your community’s prosperity, or your fulfillment of filial responsibilities. So someone might prioritize a stable, respectable career that supports their parents over a risky entrepreneurial venture, even if the latter might bring more personal satisfaction.
These cultural frameworks also manifest in attitudes toward competition versus cooperation, the acceptance of hierarchical structures, and even what constitutes a legitimate path to success. For instance, in some cultures, academic credentials are paramount, while others place more emphasis on practical skills or social connections.
What’s fascinating, though, is how globalization is blurring these boundaries. Younger generations, particularly in urban areas, are synthesizing values from different cultural paradigms. You see Vietnamese young people balancing traditional family expectations with more individualistic career aspirations, for example.
I think it’s important to avoid essentializing cultures, though. There’s tremendous variation within any culture, and these are tendencies rather than absolutes. But understanding these different lenses helps us appreciate why people might approach goals and achievement in fundamentally different ways.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Complex organization: fundamental distinction → individualistic culture explained → collectivistic culture contrasted → manifestations → globalization’s impact → caveat about stereotyping
- Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (profound, multifaceted, valorization, self-actualization, conceptualized relationally, filial responsibilities, paramount, synthesizing, essentializing, lenses)
- Grammar: Advanced structures throughout (passive voice, participles, conditionals, relative clauses)
- Critical Thinking: Nuanced understanding với academic terminology (individualistic/collectivistic), awareness of stereotyping dangers, recognition of within-culture variation, discussion of globalization’s impact
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic discourse: “social scientists call”, “framed in terms of”, “conceptualized”, “manifest in”
- Hedging: “often”, “tends to be”, “stereotypically”, “increasingly”, “might”
- Contrasting: “By contrast”, “while”, “rather than”
- Evaluative language: “What’s fascinating”, “I think it’s important”
Question 5: How has the concept of success changed over the past few decades?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Describe change over time (Past vs Present)
- Key words: concept of success, changed, past few decades
- Cách tiếp cận: Past situation → Present situation → Factors driving change → Implications
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think success used to mean having a good job, a house, and a family. But now, young people have different ideas. They want to be happy and have good experiences, not just make money. Also, technology has created new types of success – like being a famous YouTuber or influencer. People also care more about work-life balance now than before. In the past, working long hours was normal, but now people want time for hobbies and family.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Past → Present contrast với some examples
- Vocabulary: Basic (good job, make money, famous, work-life balance)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Identifies valid changes nhưng analysis lacks depth và sophisticated expression
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“The concept of success has undergone quite a dramatic transformation, I’d say, driven by several intersecting factors – technological disruption, shifting societal values, and changing economic realities.
Historically – let’s say in the post-war era through the 1990s – success was relatively narrowly defined along quite traditional parameters: a stable corporate career, homeownership, marriage, children – what you might call the conventional life trajectory. There was this prevailing narrative that if you followed a prescribed path – get good grades, land a steady job, climb the corporate ladder – you’d achieve success and security. It was quite linear and formulaic.
Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a much more pluralistic conception of success. Several factors are at play here. First, the gig economy and digital revolution have democratized opportunity in unprecedented ways. You can now build a successful career as a content creator, freelance consultant, or digital nomad – paths that simply didn’t exist before. This has expanded people’s sense of what’s possible.
Secondly, there’s been a profound shift in values, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. They’re prioritizing experiences over possessions, work-life integration over mere career advancement, and purpose-driven work over purely lucrative but unfulfilling jobs. The pandemic accelerated this trend dramatically – people reassessed what truly matters to them.
There’s also been a growing recognition of diverse success metrics. Mental health, personal growth, creative expression, and social impact are now legitimate markers of success, not just secondary considerations. We’re moving away from this one-size-fits-all definition toward a more individualized and holistic understanding.
That said, I think there’s a tension here. While these evolved concepts are empowering for some, they can also be paralyzing – with infinite definitions of success, how do you know if you’ve achieved it? And let’s not forget that structural inequalities mean that redefining success is a luxury not everyone can afford. For many, success still means basic economic security, which feels increasingly elusive.
So yes, the concept has changed substantially, becoming more fluid and multidimensional, but the implications of this shift are still unfolding.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Masterful organization: historical context → present reality → factors driving change → values shift → recognition of tensions and inequalities
- Vocabulary: Exceptional range (dramatic transformation, intersecting factors, conventional life trajectory, prevailing narrative, prescribed path, pluralistic conception, democratized opportunity, purpose-driven work, legitimate markers, one-size-fits-all, structural inequalities, elusive)
- Grammar: Full range of complex structures
- Critical Thinking: Sophisticated analysis với historical perspective, multiple causative factors, acknowledgment of contradictions and inequalities, forward-looking implications
Từ Vựng và Cụm Từ Quan Trọng
Topic-Specific Vocabulary
| Từ vựng/Cụm từ | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| achievement | n | /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ | thành tựu, thành tích | “Graduating with honors was my greatest achievement.” | great/significant/remarkable achievement, sense of achievement |
| accomplish | v | /əˈkʌmplɪʃ/ | hoàn thành, đạt được | “She accomplished her goal of running a marathon.” | accomplish a goal/task/mission, successfully accomplish |
| perseverance | n | /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/ | sự kiên trì, bền bỉ | “Success requires perseverance and dedication.” | require perseverance, show perseverance, through perseverance |
| milestone | n | /ˈmaɪlstəʊn/ | cột mốc quan trọng | “Graduating was an important milestone in my life.” | major/significant milestone, reach a milestone, mark a milestone |
| strive | v | /straɪv/ | phấn đấu, cố gắng | “I always strive to do my best in everything.” | strive for success/excellence, strive to achieve |
| determination | n | /dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃn/ | sự quyết tâm | “Her determination helped her overcome all obstacles.” | sheer determination, show determination, with determination |
| resilience | n | /rɪˈzɪliəns/ | khả năng phục hồi, sức bền | “Building resilience is key to achieving long-term goals.” | build/develop resilience, show resilience, emotional resilience |
| breakthrough | n | /ˈbreɪkθruː/ | bước đột phá | “Winning that competition was a real breakthrough for me.” | major breakthrough, achieve/make a breakthrough, represent a breakthrough |
| overcome | v | /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ | vượt qua, khắc phục | “I had to overcome many challenges to reach my goal.” | overcome obstacles/challenges/difficulties, successfully overcome |
| dedication | n | /ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn/ | sự tận tâm, cống hiến | “His dedication to training was impressive.” | total/complete dedication, show dedication, require dedication |
| pursue | v | /pəˈsjuː/ | theo đuổi | “She decided to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.” | pursue a goal/dream/career, actively pursue, relentlessly pursue |
| fulfill | v | /fʊlˈfɪl/ | hoàn thành, thực hiện | “I finally fulfilled my ambition of studying abroad.” | fulfill a goal/ambition/dream, fulfill potential |
| momentum | n | /məˈmentəm/ | đà, động lực | “Once I started, I gained momentum quickly.” | gain/build/maintain momentum, lose momentum |
| setback | n | /ˈsetbæk/ | trở ngại, thất bại tạm thời | “Despite several setbacks, I never gave up.” | suffer/experience a setback, major/minor setback, overcome setbacks |
| triumph | n | /ˈtraɪʌmf/ | chiến thắng, thành công lớn | “Completing the project was a personal triumph.” | personal triumph, moment of triumph, triumph over adversity |
| aspiration | n | /ˌæspəˈreɪʃn/ | khát vọng, hoài bão | “My aspiration is to make a difference in society.” | have aspirations, career aspirations, fulfill aspirations |
| endeavor | n | /ɪnˈdevə(r)/ | nỗ lực, cố gắng | “This project was my most ambitious endeavor yet.” | ambitious endeavor, worthwhile endeavor, in this endeavor |
| tenacity | n | /təˈnæsəti/ | sự kiên trì, bền bỉ | “Her tenacity in the face of challenges was admirable.” | show/demonstrate tenacity, with tenacity |
Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases
| Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ sử dụng | Band điểm |
|---|---|---|---|
| reach a milestone | đạt được cột mốc quan trọng | “When I reached the milestone of 10,000 followers, I knew my efforts were paying off.” | 7.5-8 |
| go the extra mile | nỗ lực nhiều hơn mức yêu cầu | “To achieve this goal, I had to go the extra mile and sacrifice my weekends.” | 7.5-8 |
| push oneself to the limit | đẩy bản thân đến giới hạn | “During the preparation period, I pushed myself to the limit both mentally and physically.” | 7.5-8 |
| reap the rewards | gặt hái thành quả | “After months of hard work, I finally reaped the rewards of my dedication.” | 7.5-8 |
| come to fruition | thành hiện thực, đơm hoa kết trái | “All my careful planning came to fruition when I received the acceptance letter.” | 8-9 |
| move mountains | làm được điều tưởng như không thể | “With enough determination, you can move mountains.” | 7.5-8 |
| cross the finish line | hoàn thành mục tiêu | “The moment I crossed the finish line, all the pain disappeared.” | 7-8 |
| hit a home run | đạt thành công lớn | “My presentation really hit a home run with the judges.” | 7.5-8 |
| rise to the challenge | vượt qua thử thách | “I was nervous at first, but I rose to the challenge admirably.” | 7.5-8 |
| turn over a new leaf | bắt đầu lại, thay đổi tích cực | “Achieving this goal helped me turn over a new leaf in my life.” | 7.5-8 |
| break new ground | tạo ra bước tiến mới | “This achievement broke new ground in my personal development.” | 8-9 |
| stay the course | kiên trì đến cùng | “Even when things got difficult, I stayed the course and didn’t give up.” | 7.5-8 |
Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)
Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:
- Well,… – Dùng khi cần thời gian suy nghĩ ngắn, tự nhiên
- Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc làm rõ điều gì đó
- To be honest,… – Khi muốn nói thật hoặc chia sẻ personal opinion
- I’d say that… – Cách mềm mại để đưa ra quan điểm
- From my perspective,… – Thể hiện đây là góc nhìn cá nhân
- Looking back,… – Khi reflect về quá khứ
Để bổ sung ý:
- On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó, hơn nữa
- What’s more,… – Hơn thế nữa
- Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
- Furthermore,… – Thêm vào đó (formal hơn)
- Another point worth mentioning is… – Một điểm khác đáng nói là
- Additionally,… – Thêm vào đó
Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:
- On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác
- While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng cũng cần xem xét
- That being said,… – Điều đó đã được nói, tuy nhiên
- Having said that,… – Đã nói như vậy, nhưng
- By the same token,… – Tương tự như vậy
Để kết luận:
- All in all,… – Tóm lại, nhìn chung
- At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì, xét cho cùng
- Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng, xét về lâu dài
- In the final analysis,… – Phân tích cuối cùng thì
- To sum up,… – Tóm lại
Để đưa ra examples:
- For instance,… – Ví dụ
- Take… for example – Lấy… làm ví dụ
- A case in point is… – Một trường hợp điển hình là
- To illustrate this,… – Để minh họa điều này
Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng
1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):
Mixed conditional:
- Formula: If + Past Perfect, would/could + base verb
- Ví dụ: “If I hadn’t set that goal, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” (Nếu tôi không đặt mục tiêu đó, tôi sẽ không ở vị trí như hôm nay)
Inversion (Đảo ngữ):
- Formula: Had + subject + past participle, would have…
- Ví dụ: “Had I known how challenging it would be, I might have prepared differently.” (Nếu tôi biết nó khó đến vậy, tôi có thể đã chuẩn bị khác đi)
2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):
Non-defining:
- Formula: …, which/who + verb…
- Ví dụ: “The scholarship, which was highly competitive, opened many doors for me.” (Học bổng, vốn rất cạnh tranh, đã mở ra nhiều cơ hội cho tôi)
3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):
Academic passive:
- It is thought/believed/said that… – Người ta nghĩ/tin/nói rằng
- Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that goal-setting is crucial for success.” (Người ta tin rộng rãi rằng việc đặt mục tiêu là cực kỳ quan trọng cho thành công)
4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):
What-cleft:
- What I find most…, is… – Điều tôi thấy… nhất là
- Ví dụ: “What I found most challenging was maintaining motivation over such a long period.”
It-cleft:
- It was… that… – Chính… mà
- Ví dụ: “It was the support from my family that really helped me through the difficult times.”
5. Gerund và Infinitive Structures:
-
There’s no denying that… – Không thể phủ nhận rằng
-
Ví dụ: “There’s no denying that achieving this goal transformed my confidence.”
-
It goes without saying that… – Không cần phải nói rằng
-
Ví dụ: “It goes without saying that perseverance is essential for any significant achievement.”
Chiến lược đạt Band cao từ góc nhìn của người chấm – Examiner
4 Tiêu Chí Chấm Điểm IELTS Speaking
1. Fluency and Coherence (25%)
Band 6-7:
- Nói khá trôi chảy với occasional repetition và self-correction
- Có pauses nhưng thường là để tìm từ chứ không phải do grammar
- Uses a range of connectives nhưng không luôn appropriate
- Can produce extended turns but có thể lose coherence đôi khi
Band 8-9:
- Speaks fluently với very occasional repetition hoặc self-correction
- Hesitation thường là content-related chứ không phải để search for language
- Develops topics coherently và appropriately
- Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately và với flexibility
Cách cải thiện:
- ✅ Luyện nói hàng ngày về nhiều chủ đề trong 2-3 phút không ngừng
- ✅ Ghi âm và nghe lại để identify các patterns của hesitation
- ✅ Sử dụng discourse markers tự nhiên: Well, Actually, You know, I mean (nhưng đừng overuse)
- ✅ Thực hành shadowing: Nghe native speakers và repeat ngay sau họ để internalize natural flow
- ✅ Prepare ideas, không phải scripts: Biết bạn sẽ nói về gì nhưng không học thuộc từng câu
- ❌ Không học thuộc lòng câu trả lời (examiner trained để nhận ra memorized answers và sẽ penalize)
- ❌ Không sử dụng fillers quá nhiều (um, uh, like) – một vài lần okay nhưng quá nhiều affects fluency
2. Lexical Resource (25%)
Band 6-7:
- Uses vocabulary resource adequately to discuss topics
- Attempts to use less common vocabulary nhưng có some inaccuracy
- Makes some errors in word choice nhưng meaning generally clear
- Can paraphrase successfully
Band 8-9:
- Uses vocabulary với full flexibility and precision
- Uses idiomatic language naturally và appropriately
- Makes very rare errors in word choice
- Skillfully uses uncommon lexical items
Cách cải thiện:
- ✅ Học vocabulary theo topic clusters thay vì học từ đơn lẻ
- ✅ Focus on collocations: “achieve a goal” (không phải “reach a goal”), “make progress” (không phải “do progress”)
- ✅ Học synonyms và paraphrase: success → achievement, accomplish → fulfill
- ✅ Đọc và note down expressions từ articles, TED talks về topics bạn quan tâm
- ✅ Sử dụng topic-specific vocabulary: Cho chủ đề goals, dùng “perseverance”, “milestone”, “setback” thay vì generic words
- ✅ Practice với intensity adjectives: Instead of “very good” → “excellent”, “exceptional”, “outstanding”
- ❌ Không dùng từ quá phức tạp nếu không chắc nghĩa và cách dùng (sẽ backfire nếu sai)
- ❌ Tránh lặp lại từ vựng – nếu đã dùng “important” thì lần sau dùng “significant”, “crucial”
Chiến lược đạt band điểm cao trong IELTS Speaking từ góc nhìn giám khảo chấm thi
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)
Band 6-7:
- Uses a mix of simple and complex structures
- Makes frequent errors with complex structures though these rarely cause comprehension problems
- Has good control of simple structures
Band 8-9:
- Uses a wide range of structures với full flexibility
- Majority of sentences are error-free
- Makes only very occasional minor errors
Cách cải thiện:
- ✅ Sử dụng đa dạng thì: Không chỉ present simple – thử past perfect, present perfect continuous, future perfect
- ✅ Practice complex sentences: Relative clauses, conditionals, passive voice
- Example: “Had I known earlier, I would have…” instead of “If I knew earlier…”
- ✅ Mix sentence lengths: Đừng toàn câu dài hoặc toàn câu ngắn
- ✅ Self-correction is GOOD: Nếu nhận ra lỗi, sửa ngay cho thấy language awareness
- ✅ Focus on accuracy with complex structures: Thà dùng 2-3 structures correctly hơn là dùng nhiều nhưng toàn sai
- ❌ Đừng sacrifice fluency để focus quá nhiều vào grammar – cân bằng là quan trọng
- ❌ Avoid learned phrases that you force into answers unnaturally
4. Pronunciation (25%)
Band 6-7:
- Uses a range of pronunciation features với mixed control
- Shows some effective use of features but not sustained
- Can generally be understood throughout, though mispronunciation of individual words occasionally reduces clarity
Band 8-9:
- Uses a full range of pronunciation features với precision và subtlety
- Sustains flexible use of features throughout
- Is effortless to understand
Cách cải thiện:
- ✅ Nghe native speakers thường xuyên: Podcasts (BBC 6 Minute English, TED Talks), TV shows
- ✅ Tập word stress: “PREsent” (noun) vs “preSENT” (verb) – sai stress có thể change meaning
- ✅ Sentence stress và intonation: Nhấn vào content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives), không nhấn function words (the, is, of)
- ✅ Luyện linking sounds: “turn_it on” (sounds like “tur-ni-ton”)
- ✅ Shadowing technique: Nghe một câu và repeat ngay với same intonation và rhythm
- ✅ Record yourself: Compare với native speakers để identify areas for improvement
- ✅ Focus on clarity hơn là “native accent”: Examiners không expect bạn sound như British or American, chỉ cần clear
- ❌ Đừng quá lo lắng về accent – Vietnamese accent is fine miễn là clear
- ❌ Tránh speak too fast nghĩ rằng sẽ sound fluent hơn – thường dẫn đến unclear pronunciation
Những Điều Examiner Muốn Thấy
✅ DO – Nên làm:
-
Answer the question directly first: Đừng beating around the bush
- Bad: “Well, that’s an interesting question. There are many aspects to consider…”
- Good: “Yes, absolutely. I think schools should teach goal-setting because…”
-
Extend your answers naturally: Đặc biệt Part 1 và 3
- Structure: Direct answer → Reason → Example → Extra comment
- “Yes, I do set goals. It helps me stay organized and focused. For instance, this year I set a goal to…”
-
Show personality: Examiner muốn conversation, không phải interview
- Use natural expressions: “to be honest”, “I’d say”, “actually”
- Share genuine opinions và experiences
-
Demonstrate range: Vocabulary, grammar, và ideas
- Không repeat same words và structures
- Show you can discuss topics từ different angles
-
Make eye contact và engage với examiner
- Treat it like a conversation
- Smile naturally
-
Self-correct when appropriate: Shows language awareness
- “I went there last year… sorry, two years ago”
- Nhưng đừng quá thường xuyên
-
Ask for clarification nếu cần:
- “I’m not quite sure I understand. Could you rephrase that?”
- Better than answering sai câu hỏi
❌ DON’T – Không nên:
-
Memorize answers: Biggest mistake!
- Examiners can spot memorization immediately
- Sẽ bị marked down significantly
- Sounds unnatural và robotic
-
Use rigid templates:
- “There are three reasons for this. Firstly… Secondly… Thirdly…”
- Sounds like học thuộc
- Natural speakers không nói như vậy
-
Give one-word hoặc very short answers:
- “Do you like reading?” → “Yes” ❌
- “Do you like reading?” → “Yes, I do. I particularly enjoy mystery novels because…” ✅
-
Speak too fast: Thinking it shows fluency
- Actually often reduces clarity
- Natural pace with clear pronunciation is better
-
Remain silent for too long (>3 seconds):
- If thinking, use fillers naturally: “Well, let me think…”
- “That’s an interesting question…”
-
Provide false information about yourself:
- Examiner có thể follow up với detailed questions
- You might contradict yourself
- Stick to truths hoặc realistic scenarios
-
Panic về grammar mistakes:
- Everyone makes mistakes
- Fluency và communication quan trọng hơn perfect grammar
- Một vài small errors ở Band 8-9 is acceptable
-
Overuse linking words:
- “Moreover, furthermore, in addition” liên tục sounds unnatural
- Mix formal và informal connectors
-
Translate directly từ Vietnamese:
- Vietnamese thought patterns ≠ English expression
- Learn to think in English for common topics
-
Talk off-topic:
- Stay relevant to question
- If you drift, bring it back: “Sorry, to answer your question…”
Insider Tips Từ Examiner
🎯 About The Test:
- Examiners follow strict rubrics – they’re assessing language, not judging your opinions
- You cannot “fail” by having wrong opinions – only by poor English
- All examiners are trained to same standard, nhưng human variability exists
- Part 2 và 3 có trọng số cao hơn Part 1
🎯 What Actually Matters:
- Communicative competence > perfect grammar
- Natural English > impressive vocabulary dùng sai
- Sustained performance across all 3 parts > one excellent part
- Confidence (even if fake) helps fluency
🎯 Common Mistakes của Vietnamese Learners:
- Using Vietnamese thinking patterns: “I think that I think that…”
- Over-formal language: “I would like to express my opinion that…”
- Neglecting pronunciation: Word stress và sentence stress very important
- Preparing scripts thay vì ideas
- Not enough speaking practice (chỉ học lý thuyết)
🎯 Last-Minute Tips:
- Ngủ đủ đêm trước – fatigue affects fluency significantly
- Warm up your voice trước test: Practice speaking 15-20 phút
- Đừng cố impress với từ khó – use what you know confidently
- If nervous, take a deep breath và remember: examiner wants you to do well
- Timing: Nếu Part 2 kết thúc sớm (<1.5 phút), examiner will ask prompts – that’s not bad, just continue
Thành công trong IELTS Speaking không đến từ một đêm. Nó đòi hỏi consistent practice, exposure to English, và confidence building. Với chiến lược đúng và mindset tích cực, bạn hoàn toàn có thể đạt band điểm mong muốn. Remember: Examiner là người muốn nghe câu chuyện của bạn, không phải người đang tìm lỗi để trừ điểm. Hãy tự tin và enjoy the conversation!
