Cách Phân Biệt “The Primary Cause Of” và “Main Reason” Trong IELTS – Công Thức & Ví Dụ Band 8.0

Giới Thiệu

“The primary cause of” và “main reason” là hai cụm từ quan trọng thường xuất hiện trong kỳ thi IELTS, đặc biệt là ở Writing Task 2 và Speaking Part 3. Cả hai cụm từ này đều được sử dụng để giải thích nguyên nhân, nhưng có sự khác biệt tinh tế về cấu trúc ngữ pháp, ngữ cảnh sử dụng và mức độ học thuật. Theo thống kê từ các đề thi IELTS thực tế, những cụm từ này xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong:

• Speaking: Part 2 và Part 3 (giải thích nguyên nhân của vấn đề xã hội, hiện tượng)
• Writing Task 2: Essay types Problem-Solution, Cause-Effect, Discussion
• Writing Task 1: Mô tả xu hướng và giải thích nguyên nhân thay đổi

Ví dụ vận dụng trong IELTS:

Speaking Part 3 (Discussing social issues):
“I believe the main reason for traffic congestion is the increasing number of private vehicles in urban areas.”
→ Phân tích: [main reason] + [for + noun] + [is/are] + [noun phrase]

Writing Task 2 (Problem-Solution essay):
“The primary cause of environmental degradation is unsustainable industrial practices that prioritize profit over ecological preservation.”
→ Phân tích: [The primary cause] + [of + noun] + [is/are] + [noun phrase/clause]

Speaking Part 3 (Explaining phenomena):
“The main reason why young people leave rural areas is the lack of employment opportunities and modern infrastructure.”
→ Phân tích: [main reason] + [why + clause] + [is] + [noun phrase]

Writing Task 2 (Cause-Effect essay):
“Urbanization has accelerated dramatically in recent decades. The primary cause of this trend is the migration of people seeking better living standards and career prospects.”
→ Phân tích: [The primary cause] + [of + this trend/phenomenon] + [is] + [noun phrase]

Speaking Part 2 (Describing a problem):
“When I was younger, I struggled with learning mathematics. Looking back, the main reason for my difficulty was the teaching methodology, which focused too much on memorization rather than understanding concepts.”
→ Phân tích: [main reason] + [for + noun] + [was] + [noun phrase + relative clause]

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học:

✅ Định nghĩa và sự khác biệt giữa “the primary cause of” và “main reason”
✅ Công thức chi tiết với các patterns cấu trúc
✅ Cách vận dụng vào 4 kỹ năng IELTS
✅ 25+ câu ví dụ Band 7-9
✅ Các biến thể nâng cao cho Band 8+
✅ Lỗi thường gặp và cách tránh
✅ Bài tập thực hành với đáp án chi tiết

“The Primary Cause Of” Và “Main Reason” Là Gì?

Định Nghĩa

“The primary cause of” là cụm danh từ (noun phrase) được sử dụng để chỉ nguyên nhân chính, quan trọng nhất dẫn đến một kết quả, hiện tượng hoặc vấn đề cụ thể. Cụm này mang tính học thuật cao và thường xuất hiện trong văn viết formal.

“Main reason” cũng được sử dụng để chỉ lý do chính, nhưng linh hoạt hơn về mặt ngữ pháp và có thể dùng trong cả văn nói và văn viết. Cụm này có thể đi với nhiều giới từ và cấu trúc khác nhau.

Chức năng chính:

• Giải thích nguyên nhân-kết quả trong các bài essay académic
• Trả lời câu hỏi “Why” trong Speaking Part 3
• Phân tích vấn đề trong Problem-Solution essays
• Làm topic sentence cho đoạn văn giải thích nguyên nhân
• Thể hiện khả năng phân tích logic và critical thinking

Khi nào dùng trong IELTS:

• Speaking: Khi examiner hỏi về nguyên nhân của vấn đề xã hội, xu hướng, hoặc hiện tượng
• Writing: Trong introduction để nêu thesis statement, hoặc trong body paragraph để triển khai ý chính
• Contexts: Environmental problems, social issues, economic trends, technological changes, health issues

Tần Suất Xuất Hiện Trong IELTS

Theo phân tích từ Cambridge IELTS 10-19:

Speaking:

• Part 1: Thấp – Chỉ khi nói về personal reasons (thường dùng “reason” đơn giản hơn)
• Part 2: Trung bình – Khi mô tả problem/difficulty và giải thích nguyên nhân
• Part 3: Cao – Khi thảo luận về social issues, trends, problems: “What do you think is the main reason for…?”, “Why do you think this problem exists?”

Writing:

• Task 1: Thấp đến Trung bình – Chỉ khi giải thích xu hướng tăng/giảm trong biểu đồ
• Task 2: Rất cao – Xuất hiện trong hầu hết các essay types, đặc biệt là:
  • Problem-Solution essays (giải thích nguyên nhân vấn đề)
  • Cause-Effect essays (phân tích các nguyên nhân)
  • Discussion essays (giải thích lý do cho các quan điểm khác nhau)

Listening/Reading:

• Xuất hiện thường xuyên trong academic lectures, discussions, và articles
• Cần nhận diện để hiểu main ideas và supporting details
• Thường là signal words cho câu trả lời trong Listening Section 3-4

Band Score Impact:

• Band 6: Sử dụng “reason” đơn giản, có thể thiếu article “the” hoặc dùng sai giới từ
• Band 7: Sử dụng “main reason” và “primary cause” chính xác với đa dạng patterns
• Band 8-9: Kết hợp linh hoạt với complex sentences, paraphrasing tốt, và sử dụng các synonyms như “principal factor”, “key contributor”, “underlying cause”

Sơ đồ phân biệt cách dùng The Primary Cause Of và Main Reason trong IELTS Writing và Speaking

Công Thức & Cấu Trúc

Công Thức “The Primary Cause Of”

📌 CÔNG THỨC CHÍNH:

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The primary cause of + [NOUN/NOUN PHRASE]     │
│            + is/was + [NOUN PHRASE/CLAUSE]     │
│                                                │
│ Ví dụ: The primary cause of climate change    │
│        is excessive carbon emissions.          │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Thành phần câu:

• “The primary cause”: Noun phrase đóng vai trò chủ ngữ (subject), luôn dùng với “the” và “primary” (không thể bỏ)
• “of”: Giới từ bắt buộc, theo sau là danh từ chỉ vấn đề/hiện tượng/kết quả
• “is/was”: Linking verb, chia theo thì và số của subject (luôn là singular)
• Complement: Noun phrase hoặc noun clause giải thích nguyên nhân cụ thể

Ví dụ phân tích chi tiết:

Câu: “The primary cause of obesity is excessive consumption of processed foods.”

Phân tích:

• Subject: The primary cause of obesity (cụm danh từ chủ ngữ)
• Linking verb: is (động từ nối, số ít)
• Subject complement: excessive consumption of processed foods (cụm danh từ bổ ngữ)
• Function: Giải thích nguyên nhân chính của béo phì

Câu 2: “The primary cause of the company’s bankruptcy was poor financial management.”

Phân tích:

• Subject: The primary cause of the company’s bankruptcy
• Linking verb: was (quá khứ vì công ty đã phá sản)
• Complement: poor financial management
• Note: Sử dụng possessive “company’s” trong cụm “of”

Công Thức “Main Reason”

📌 CÁC CÔNG THỨC CHÍNH:

Pattern 1: Main reason + for + noun

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The main reason for + [NOUN]                   │
│              + is/was + [NOUN PHRASE/CLAUSE]   │
│                                                │
│ Ví dụ: The main reason for his success        │
│        is hard work and determination.         │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Pattern 2: Main reason + why + clause

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The main reason why + [SUBJECT + VERB...]      │
│              + is/was + [NOUN PHRASE/CLAUSE]   │
│                                                │
│ Ví dụ: The main reason why people migrate     │
│        is to seek better opportunities.        │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Pattern 3: Main reason + behind + noun

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The main reason behind + [NOUN]                │
│              + is/was + [NOUN PHRASE/CLAUSE]   │
│                                                │
│ Ví dụ: The main reason behind the policy      │
│        is to reduce inequality.                │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Thành phần câu:

• “The main reason”: Noun phrase chủ ngữ, có thể dùng với “the” hoặc “a main reason” (khi có nhiều reasons)
• Giới từ: for/why/behind tùy theo ngữ cảnh và cấu trúc sau
• “is/was”: Linking verb
• Complement: Giải thích lý do cụ thể

Các Biến Thể

Dạng với “one of”:

“One of the primary causes of air pollution is vehicle emissions.”
→ Subject là “One” nên verb vẫn là “is” (singular)

Dạng với multiple causes:

“The primary causes of poverty are lack of education and limited access to resources.”
→ Subject là “causes” (plural) nên verb là “are”

Dạng với “main reasons”:

“The main reasons for studying abroad include better education quality and cultural exposure.”
→ Plural subject với plural verb

Dạng đảo ngữ nhấn mạnh:

“Not only is pollution the primary cause of health issues, but it also affects economic development.”

Dạng với relative clause:

“The primary cause of deforestation, which has devastating effects on biodiversity, is agricultural expansion.”

Signal Words & Collocations

Các từ/cụm từ thường đi kèm với “primary cause” và “main reason”:

Signal Words	Ý nghĩa	Ví dụ
identify	xác định	“Researchers have identified the primary cause of the disease.”
determine	xác định	“It is difficult to determine the main reason for this trend.”
attribute to	quy cho	“The primary cause of success can be attributed to teamwork.”
stem from	bắt nguồn từ	“The main reason stems from historical factors.”
underlying	tiềm ẩn, cơ bản	“The underlying cause of inequality is systemic discrimination.”
root cause	nguyên nhân gốc rễ	“We need to address the root cause, not just symptoms.”
contributing factor	yếu tố góp phần	“While not the primary cause, stress is a contributing factor.”
directly linked to	liên kết trực tiếp	“The primary cause is directly linked to policy failures.”

Academic collocations:

• establish the primary cause – thiết lập nguyên nhân chính
• cite as the main reason – trích dẫn như là lý do chính
• pinpoint the main reason – chỉ rõ lý do chính
• the primary cause lies in – nguyên nhân chính nằm ở
• for this reason – vì lý do này (để kết nối ý)

So Sánh “The Primary Cause Of” Vs “Main Reason”

Sự Khác Biệt Về Cấu Trúc

Tiêu chí	The Primary Cause Of	Main Reason
Article	Luôn dùng “the” (definite)	Có thể dùng “the”, “a”, hoặc không có (khi plural)
Giới từ	Chỉ dùng “of”	Dùng “for”, “why”, “behind”, “that”
Tính formal	Rất formal, academic	Linh hoạt, dùng được trong cả formal và informal
Flexibility	Cấu trúc cố định	Nhiều patterns khác nhau
Focus	Nhấn mạnh tính khoa học, objective	Có thể subjective hoặc objective

So Sánh Ý Nghĩa

Tiêu chí	The Primary Cause Of	Main Reason
Ý nghĩa	Nguyên nhân chính (thường là yếu tố trực tiếp)	Lý do chính (có thể là explanation rộng hơn)
Ngữ cảnh	Scientific, technical, formal analysis	General discussion, personal opinion
Sử dụng	“The primary cause of heart disease is smoking”	“The main reason people smoke is stress”
Tone	Objective, factual	Có thể subjective

Ví dụ so sánh:

Situation: Discussing unemployment

Using “primary cause”:
“The primary cause of youth unemployment is the mismatch between education and job market requirements.”
→ Formal, academic tone, focusing on factual analysis

Using “main reason”:
“The main reason why young people struggle to find jobs is that they lack practical skills.”
→ More conversational, can be used in both speaking and writing

Khi nào dùng cấu trúc nào:

Dùng “the primary cause of” khi:

• Viết academic essays (Writing Task 2)
• Phân tích scientific hoặc technical problems
• Muốn thể hiện objective, research-based analysis
• Cần tone formal và professional
• Trong introduction hoặc topic sentence của body paragraph

Dùng “main reason” khi:

• Speaking (tất cả các Parts)
• Viết cả formal và informal contexts
• Giải thích personal opinions hoặc general observations
• Cần flexibility với nhiều patterns khác nhau
• Muốn paraphrase “primary cause” để tránh repetition

Bảng so sánh chi tiết giữa Primary Cause và Main Reason trong ngữ pháp IELTS

Cách Vận Dụng Vào IELTS Speaking

Speaking Part 1 – Introduction & Interview

Topics thường gặp: Hometown, Work/Study, Hobbies, Daily routine

Lưu ý: Part 1 ít yêu cầu giải thích nguyên nhân phức tạp, nhưng vẫn có thể dùng “main reason” để nâng band score.

Ví dụ câu hỏi & trả lời:

Q: “Why do you enjoy your current hobby?”

A (Band 6): “I like photography because it’s interesting.”

A (Band 7+): “I really enjoy photography. The main reason is that it allows me to capture meaningful moments and express my creativity. Plus, it helps me relax after stressful work days.”
→ Phân tích: Sử dụng “main reason” + “is that” clause để giải thích rõ ràng, sau đó thêm supporting details.

Q: “Do you prefer living in a city or countryside?”

A (Band 7+): “I prefer city life. The main reason for my preference is the convenience – everything from shopping to entertainment is easily accessible. Additionally, cities offer better career opportunities.”
→ Phân tích: “Main reason for + noun” pattern, formal nhưng vẫn tự nhiên trong Speaking.

Speaking Part 2 – Long Turn

Cue card example:

Describe a time when you faced a difficult challenge.
You should say:

• What the challenge was
• When it happened
• How you dealt with it
• And explain why it was difficult

Sample answer (excerpt):

“I’d like to talk about a challenging period when I was preparing for my university entrance exam two years ago. It was particularly stressful because I had to balance multiple subjects while maintaining good grades in school.

The main reason why this was so difficult was the enormous pressure from both my family and myself to succeed. My parents had high expectations, and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Additionally, the competition was fierce with thousands of students competing for limited spots.

Another reason behind my struggle was poor time management. I often stayed up late studying, which affected my health and concentration. Looking back, the primary cause of my stress was probably trying to be perfect in everything rather than focusing on my strengths…”

→ Phân tích Band 8+ features:

• Sử dụng “main reason why” với clause
• Paraphrase với “another reason behind”
• Kết hợp “primary cause of” trong reflection
• Linking words tự nhiên
• Mix các patterns để tránh repetition

Speaking Part 3 – Discussion

Part 3 yêu cầu phân tích sâu hơn về social issues, trends, comparisons – đây là nơi “primary cause” và “main reason” tỏa sáng.

Typical questions:

Q: “What do you think is the main reason for increasing obesity rates in modern society?”

A (Band 7): “Well, I believe there are several factors, but the main reason is probably the sedentary lifestyle that many people lead nowadays. We spend most of our time sitting at desks or in front of screens, and we don’t get enough physical exercise.”

A (Band 8-9): “That’s a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. However, I would say the primary cause of rising obesity rates is the combination of poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. In terms of diet, the main reason people consume unhealthy food is the convenience and affordability of processed foods compared to fresh, nutritious options. Additionally, modern work culture, where people have long working hours, leaves little time for exercise or preparing healthy meals.”

→ Phân tích Band 8-9 features:

• Acknowledge complexity trước
• Dùng “primary cause” cho formal analysis
• Paraphrase với “main reason” trong sub-point
• Phân tích multi-layered với examples cụ thể
• Natural flow với discourse markers

Q: “Why do you think young people are leaving rural areas?”

A (Band 8+): “This is a significant trend in many developing countries. The main reason behind rural-to-urban migration is undoubtedly the lack of economic opportunities in countryside areas. Young people struggle to find well-paying jobs that match their qualifications.

Furthermore, one of the primary causes of this phenomenon is the disparity in infrastructure and services. Rural areas often lack quality healthcare, education, and entertainment facilities, which makes them less attractive to young generations who are accustomed to modern conveniences.”

→ Phân tích:

• Dùng “main reason behind” + noun phrase
• Alternate với “one of the primary causes of”
• Topic-specific vocabulary (migration, disparity, infrastructure)
• Extended answer với examples

Advanced technique – Contrasting causes:

Q: “What causes stress among students?”

A (Band 8-9): “Student stress stems from various sources. For younger students, the primary cause is typically academic pressure from parents and teachers. However, the main reason why university students experience stress is quite different – it’s usually financial concerns and uncertainty about future careers. This distinction is important because it requires different approaches to address the problem.”

→ Technique: So sánh “primary cause” cho nhóm này vs “main reason why” cho nhóm khác, showing analytical depth.

Cách Vận Dụng Vào IELTS Writing Task 2

Problem-Solution Essays

Essay structure sử dụng “primary cause” và “main reason”:

Sample question:
“In many countries, the rate of crime is increasing. What are the main reasons for this trend? What solutions can you suggest?”

Introduction:
“Crime rates have been rising in numerous nations worldwide, causing significant concern among citizens and policymakers. The primary causes of this worrying trend include socioeconomic inequality and inadequate law enforcement. This essay will examine these factors and propose viable solutions to address the problem.”

→ Phân tích: Dùng “primary causes” (plural) trong thesis statement để preview main ideas.

Body Paragraph 1 – Causes:
“There are several factors contributing to increased criminality, but the most significant cause is poverty and economic disparity. When people struggle to meet basic needs, some may resort to theft or other illegal activities as a means of survival. For instance, research has shown that neighborhoods with high unemployment rates consistently experience elevated crime levels.

Another main reason behind rising crime is the failure of rehabilitation programs in many prison systems. Rather than reforming offenders, current incarceration methods often lead to repeat offenses. Studies indicate that approximately 70% of released prisoners commit crimes again within five years. The underlying cause of this recidivism is that prisons focus on punishment rather than providing education and vocational training.”

→ Phân tích Band 8+ features:

• Topic sentence với “most significant cause”
• Support với specific examples và statistics
• Paraphrase với “main reason behind”
• Deeper analysis với “underlying cause”
• Cohesive devices linking ideas

Body Paragraph 2 – Solutions:
“Addressing the root causes requires comprehensive measures. Firstly, governments should invest in social welfare programs to reduce poverty, which is the primary cause of survival-based crimes…”

→ Technique: Reference lại causes đã nêu trong paragraph trước

Opinion Essays

Sample question:
“Some people believe that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

Body paragraph:
“The main reason why individual actions alone are insufficient is the scale and complexity of environmental issues. Climate change, for example, requires coordinated efforts from governments and corporations to implement large-scale renewable energy projects and regulate industrial emissions. A single person recycling or using public transport, while admirable, has minimal impact compared to policy changes that affect millions.

However, the primary cause of environmental inaction is often the belief that individual efforts don’t matter. This mindset prevents collective action. If everyone assumed personal responsibility, the cumulative effect would be substantial. One of the main reasons behind successful environmental movements has been grassroots participation that eventually pressured governments to act.”

→ Phân tích:

• Dùng “main reason why” clause cho argument
• Counter-argument với “primary cause of”
• Show balance và critical thinking
• Link causes với solutions

Advantage-Disadvantage Essays

Sample question:
“More and more people are working from home. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”

Body paragraph (Disadvantages):
“Despite these benefits, remote work has significant drawbacks. The primary disadvantage is social isolation, which can negatively impact mental health. Without daily face-to-face interaction with colleagues, employees may feel disconnected and lonely. The main reason for decreased productivity among some remote workers is the lack of structured environment and supervision. At home, distractions from family members, household chores, or entertainment can interrupt work flow…”

→ Note: Có thể dùng “primary disadvantage/advantage” tương tự như “primary cause”

Discussion Essays

Sample question:
“Some people think the government should fund art programs. Others believe this money should be spent on more important public services. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”

Body paragraph:
“Proponents of arts funding argue that culture and creativity are essential for society. The main reason they support this spending is that art enriches communities, preserves cultural heritage, and contributes to tourism revenue. Cities with vibrant arts scenes, such as Paris or Florence, demonstrate how cultural investments can boost economic development.

Conversely, the primary reason behind opposition to arts funding is the pressing need for essential services like healthcare and education. Critics contend that when governments face budget constraints, the main priority should be programs that directly affect citizens’ basic welfare…”

→ Technique: Present both perspectives with “main reason” phrases, showing balanced analysis.

Cấu trúc viết đoạn văn IELTS sử dụng Primary Cause và Main Reason hiệu quả

Nâng Cao – Cách Dùng Để Đạt Band 8+

Kết Hợp Với Các Cấu Trúc Phức

1. Primary Cause/Main Reason + Relative Clause:

“The primary cause of student burnout, which has become increasingly common in competitive education systems, is excessive academic pressure combined with unrealistic parental expectations.”

→ Band 8+ features:

• Non-defining relative clause giữa subject và verb
• Complex noun phrases (“excessive academic pressure combined with…”)
• Academic vocabulary (burnout, competitive education systems)

2. Main Reason + Participle Clause:

“The main reason behind climate skepticism, stemming from misinformation campaigns and economic interests, is the deliberate manipulation of scientific data by fossil fuel industries.”

→ Advanced features:

• Present participle phrase (“stemming from…”)
• Multiple sources trong participle clause
• Sophisticated vocabulary (skepticism, manipulation)

3. Primary Cause + Conditional:

“If we examine historical data, the primary cause of economic recessions is typically unsustainable debt levels, which, if left unchecked, inevitably lead to market crashes.”

→ Complexity:

• Conditional introduction
• Relative clause trong complement
• Adverbs showing certainty (inevitably)

4. Main Reason + Passive Construction:

“The main reason why traditional retail stores are being replaced by e-commerce platforms is that consumers value convenience and competitive pricing, which can be better achieved through online shopping.”

→ Features:

• Passive voice trong “why” clause
• Comparative structures (better achieved)
• Complex noun clause as complement

5. Inverted Structure for Emphasis:

“Not only is overpopulation the primary cause of resource depletion, but it also exacerbates existing environmental problems such as pollution and habitat destruction.”

→ Band 9 features:

• Inversion with “not only”
• Parallel structure (“but it also…”)
• Academic verb (exacerbates)

Cụm Từ Nâng Cao Với Synonyms

Advanced alternatives và collocations:

Band 7 Expression	Band 8-9 Alternative	Ví dụ
the main reason	the principal reason	“The principal reason for policy failure is inadequate implementation.”
the primary cause	the fundamental cause	“The fundamental cause lies in systemic inequality.”
main reason	the key factor	“The key factor contributing to success is perseverance.”
primary cause	the root cause	“We must address the root cause rather than symptoms.”
one main reason	a significant contributor	“Poor diet is a significant contributor to health problems.”
the main reason why	the predominant reason why	“The predominant reason why students fail is lack of motivation.”
because of	owing to / attributed to	“This phenomenon can be attributed to technological advances.”

Academic collocations for Band 8+:

Collocation	Ví dụ	Band Level
can be traced back to	“The primary cause can be traced back to colonial policies.”	8+
is deeply rooted in	“The main reason is deeply rooted in cultural traditions.”	8+
stems primarily from	“This issue stems primarily from inadequate funding.”	8+
is fundamentally linked to	“The primary cause is fundamentally linked to human behavior.”	8-9
the principal determinant of	“Education is the principal determinant of social mobility.”	9
the chief catalyst for	“Innovation is the chief catalyst for economic growth.”	9

Tích Hợp Vào Câu Phức

Complex sentence patterns for Band 8-9:

Pattern 1: Concessive clause + Primary cause:
“Although multiple factors contribute to obesity, the primary cause remains sedentary lifestyles, which have become normalized in modern society due to technological advancement and urbanization.”

Pattern 2: Conditional + Main reason:
“If governments are serious about reducing inequality, they must recognize that the main reason for wealth disparity is not lack of resources but rather systemic barriers that prevent equal access to opportunities.”

Pattern 3: Participle phrase + Primary cause:
“Having analyzed various research studies, experts conclude that the primary cause of learning difficulties in children is not intelligence but rather inadequate support systems and teaching methodologies that fail to accommodate different learning styles.”

Pattern 4: Multiple clauses integration:
“While the main reason for increased life expectancy is undoubtedly improved healthcare, it is worth noting that the primary causes of preventable diseases remain unchanged: poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking, all of which are lifestyle choices that individuals can control.”

→ Band 9 features:

• Discourse markers (while, undoubtedly, worth noting)
• Balance complex và simple structures
• Cohesive flow giữa các ideas
• Sophisticated punctuation

Pattern 5: Embedded clause:
“What researchers have discovered is that the primary cause of miscommunication in international business contexts is not language barriers, as commonly assumed, but rather cultural differences in communication styles that are often overlooked in cross-cultural training programs.”

→ Advanced features:

• Noun clause as subject (“What researchers have discovered”)
• Contrasting assumption vs reality
• Complex noun phrases
• Relative clause trong complement

Paraphrasing Strategies

Để đạt Band 8+, bạn cần paraphrase “primary cause” và “main reason” throughout essay:

Paragraph 1: “The primary cause of urban traffic congestion is…”
Paragraph 2: “This problem stems primarily from…”
Paragraph 3: “The fundamental factor contributing to this issue is…”
Conclusion: “The principal reason, as discussed, remains…”

Paraphrasing toolkit:

• the primary cause = the fundamental cause = the root cause = the principal factor
• main reason = key reason = predominant reason = chief reason
• causes = contributes to = leads to = results in = gives rise to
• reason for = reason behind = reason why = explanation for

Lỗi Thường Gặp Và Cách Sửa

Lỗi 1: Thiếu Article “The”

❌ SAI:
“Primary cause of pollution is industrial waste.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The primary cause of pollution is industrial waste.”

Giải thích:
“Primary cause” là specific noun phrase, luôn cần “the”. Đây là lỗi cơ bản khiến mất điểm Grammar ở Band 6-7. Vietnamese learners thường quên article vì tiếng Việt không có “the/a”.

Lưu ý:

• “The primary cause” = nguyên nhân chính (đã xác định)
• “A main reason” = một lý do chính (trong số nhiều lý do)
• Với “main reason” có thể linh hoạt hơn: “A main reason is…” hoặc “The main reason is…”

Bài tập tự sửa:

• “Main reason for poverty is lack of education.” → ___
• “Primary cause of obesity is unhealthy diet.” → ___

Lỗi 2: Sai Giới Từ Sau “Cause” Và “Reason”

❌ SAI:
“The primary cause for climate change is carbon emissions.”
“The main reason of this problem is poor management.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The primary cause of climate change is carbon emissions.”
“The main reason for this problem is poor management.”

Giải thích:

• “Cause” + OF (cố định, không đổi)
• “Reason” + FOR/WHY/BEHIND (linh hoạt)

Rule chi tiết:

Structure	Giới từ	Ví dụ
primary cause	OF + noun	“the primary cause OF poverty”
main reason	FOR + noun	“the main reason FOR migration”
main reason	WHY + clause	“the main reason WHY people leave”
main reason	BEHIND + noun	“the main reason BEHIND the policy”
main reason	THAT + clause	“the main reason THAT companies fail”

Lưu ý đặc biệt:
Vietnamese learners thường dùng “the cause for” vì translate trực tiếp từ “nguyên nhân cho/của”. Phải nhớ: CAUSE luôn dùng OF.

Bài tập:
“The primary cause deforestation is agricultural expansion.”
“The main reason traffic jams is too many vehicles.”
“The main reason ___ people migrate is economic opportunity.”

Lỗi 3: Sai Subject-Verb Agreement

❌ SAI:
“The primary cause of these problems are lack of funding.”
“The main reasons for success is hard work.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The primary cause of these problems is lack of funding.”
“The main reasons for success are hard work.”

Giải thích:
Subject là “cause” (singular) hoặc “causes” (plural), không phải “problems”. Verb phải agree với head noun của subject.

Cách xác định:

1. Tìm head noun của subject: “The primary cause” → singular
2. Bỏ qua prepositional phrase: of these problems
3. Match verb: “cause is“

Các trường hợp khác:

Subject	Verb	Giải thích
The primary cause	is	Singular head noun
The primary causes	are	Plural head noun
One of the main reasons	is	“One” là subject (singular)
The main reasons	are	Plural
The main reason why people leave	is	“reason” là head noun (singular)

Lỗi thường gặp với “One of”:
❌ “One of the main reasons are…”
✅ “One of the main reasons is…”

Bài tập:

• “The primary cause of accidents _____ (be) distracted driving.”
• “The main reasons for poverty _____ (include) lack of education and unemployment.”
• “One of the primary causes _____ (be) poor infrastructure.”

Lỗi 4: Dùng Sai Thì

❌ SAI:
“The primary cause of the 2008 crisis is subprime mortgages.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The primary cause of the 2008 crisis was subprime mortgages.”

Giải thích:
Khi nói về sự kiện trong quá khứ (2008 crisis), phải dùng past tense. Nhiều learners dùng “is” vì nghĩ “cause” là general truth, nhưng phải dựa vào time context.

Rules cho việc chọn thì:

Present tense – Khi:

• Nói về general truths: “The primary cause of obesity is unhealthy diet.”
• Current situations: “The main reason for today’s traffic is road construction.”
• Universal facts: “The main reason why water boils is heat.”

Past tense – Khi:

• Historical events: “The primary cause of WWII was…”
• Completed situations: “The main reason for his resignation was stress.”
• Specific past time: “In 2020, the main reason for economic downturn was the pandemic.”

Present perfect – Khi:

• Nói về causes của present result: “The primary cause of current inequality has been systemic discrimination.”

Ví dụ so sánh:

• Present: “The main reason is economic pressure.” (hiện tại)
• Past: “The main reason was economic pressure.” (quá khứ cụ thể)
• Present perfect: “The main reason has been economic pressure.” (từ quá khứ đến hiện tại)

Lỗi 5: Cấu Trúc Complement Không Parallel

❌ SAI:
“The main reasons for climate change are deforestation, industrial pollution, and burning fossil fuels.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The main reasons for climate change are deforestation, industrial pollution, and fossil fuel consumption.”

Giải thích:
Khi list nhiều items, phải giữ parallel structure (cùng dạng ngữ pháp). Trong câu sai: “deforestation” và “pollution” là nouns, nhưng “burning” là gerund – không parallel.

Fixed version options:

1. All nouns: “deforestation, pollution, and consumption”
2. All gerunds: “cutting forests, polluting air, and burning fuels”

Lỗi parallel khác:

❌ SAI:
“The primary cause is that people are careless and not paying attention.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The primary cause is that people are careless and inattentive.”
(Both adjectives)

hoặc

“The primary cause is that people are being careless and are not paying attention.”
(Both verb phrases with same structure)

Rule:
Khi complement có nhiều elements joined by “and”, “or”, “but”, đảm bảo:

• Cùng part of speech (noun, adjective, verb, etc.)
• Cùng grammatical form (singular/plural, tense, voice)
• Cùng level of formality

Bài tập sửa lỗi:

1. “The main reasons are poverty, unemployed, and lack of education.”
2. “The primary causes include overpopulation, people consuming too much, and waste.”
3. “The main reason is being stressed and having no time.”

Lỗi 6: Confusing Cause/Reason Với Effect/Result

❌ SAI:
“The primary cause of studying hard is getting good grades.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The main reason for studying hard is to get good grades.”
hoặc
“The primary cause of good grades is studying hard.”

Giải thích:
Cause = nguyên nhân (điều xảy ra trước)
Effect = kết quả (điều xảy ra sau)

Trong câu sai: “studying hard” là cause, “good grades” là effect. Logic bị ngược.

Cách phân biệt:

Cause (Nguyên nhân)	Effect (Kết quả)
Xảy ra trước	Xảy ra sau
The primary cause of [effect] is [cause]	The result of [cause] is [effect]
Smoking (cause)	Lung cancer (effect)
“The primary cause of lung cancer is smoking” ✓

Logical flow:
CAUSE → leads to → EFFECT

Ví dụ đúng:

• “The primary cause of obesity is unhealthy diet.” (diet causes obesity)
• “The main reason for migration is lack of jobs.” (no jobs causes people to migrate)
• “The primary cause of traffic congestion is too many vehicles.” (vehicles cause congestion)

Ví dụ sai và cách sửa:
❌ “The primary cause of exercising is being healthy.”
✅ “The main reason for exercising is to become healthy.”
✅ “The primary cause of good health is regular exercise.”

Infographic các lỗi ngữ pháp thường gặp khi dùng Primary Cause và Main Reason

Bài Tập Thực Hành

Bài Tập 1: Điền Giới Từ Đúng

Hoàn thành câu với giới từ phù hợp (of/for/why/behind/that):

1. The primary cause _____ climate change is excessive carbon emissions.
2. The main reason _____ students fail exams is poor preparation.
3. The main reason _____ people migrate to cities is better job opportunities.
4. The primary cause _____ the economic crisis was irresponsible lending practices.
5. The main reason _____ technology companies fail is lack of innovation.
6. What is the main reason _____ this policy was implemented?
7. The primary cause _____ deforestation is agricultural expansion.
8. The main reason _____ young people leave rural areas is limited opportunities.
9. The primary causes _____ poverty include lack of education and unemployment.
10. The main reason _____ the government introduced this law was to reduce crime.

Bài Tập 2: Sửa Lỗi Subject-Verb Agreement

Tìm và sửa lỗi trong các câu sau (một số câu đúng):

1. The primary cause of health problems are unhealthy lifestyle.
2. The main reasons for success is hard work and determination.
3. One of the primary causes of accidents is distracted driving.
4. The main reason why people exercise are to stay healthy.
5. The primary causes of pollution includes vehicle emissions and industrial waste.
6. The main reason for economic growth is increased productivity.
7. One of the main reasons why students struggle are lack of motivation.
8. The primary cause of the company’s failure were poor management.
9. The main reasons behind this trend is technological advancement.
10. The primary cause of stress among students are academic pressure.

Bài Tập 3: Chọn Cấu Trúc Phù Hợp

Chọn “the primary cause of” hoặc “the main reason for/why” phù hợp với ngữ cảnh:

1. (Writing Task 2 – formal analysis) “__ global warming _____ greenhouse gas emissions.”

2. (Speaking Part 3 – personal opinion) “I think __ young people use social media _____ to stay connected with friends.”

3. (Academic essay – scientific) “Research shows that __ heart disease _____ poor diet and lack of exercise.”

4. (Speaking Part 2 – storytelling) “__ I chose this career _____ my passion for helping people.”

5. (Writing Task 2 – problem analysis) “__ unemployment in rural areas _____ lack of infrastructure and investment.”

Bài Tập 4: Viết Câu Hoàn Chỉnh

Sử dụng từ gợi ý để viết câu hoàn chỉnh với “primary cause” hoặc “main reason”:

1. (air pollution / vehicle emissions / cities)
   → ___

2. (students / study abroad / better education quality)
   → ___

3. (obesity / children / unhealthy eating habits)
   → ___

4. (people / work from home / flexibility / work-life balance)
   → ___

5. (species extinction / habitat destruction / human activity)
   → ___

6. (young people / start businesses / financial independence)
   → ___

7. (decline / traditional retail / growth / e-commerce)
   → ___

8. (stress / modern society / fast-paced lifestyle)
   → ___

Bài Tập 5: Paraphrasing

Viết lại các câu sau sử dụng synonyms và structures khác nhau (Band 7-8+):

1. “The primary cause of climate change is carbon emissions.”
   → Alternative 1:
   → Alternative 2:

2. “The main reason for studying English is career opportunities.”
   → Alternative 1:
   → Alternative 2:

3. “The primary cause of traffic congestion is too many vehicles.”
   → Alternative 1:
   → Alternative 2:

Bài Tập 6: Tìm Và Sửa Tất Cả Các Lỗi

Mỗi câu có 1-2 lỗi. Tìm và sửa:

1. Primary cause for environmental problems are industrial pollution.

2. The main reason of students fail is because they don’t study enough.

3. The primary causes of obesity in children is unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

4. One of the main reasons why the company failed were poor leadership.

5. The main reason behind this trend are that people wants more convenience.

6. The primary cause for the crisis in 2008 are subprime mortgages.

7. Main reason why people migrate to cities are to find better jobs.

8. The primary cause of this problem can be trace back to inadequate policies.

Bài Tập 7: Writing Practice – Body Paragraph

Viết một body paragraph (120-150 words) cho đề bài sau. Sử dụng “primary cause” hoặc “main reason” ít nhất 2 lần:

Topic: “What are the main reasons for increasing mental health problems among young people? Suggest some solutions.”

Your paragraph:

---

---

---

---

Yêu cầu:

• Topic sentence với “primary cause” hoặc “main reason”
• Supporting details với examples
• Paraphrase để tránh repetition
• Linking words appropriate

Bài Tập 8: Speaking Practice

Trả lời các câu hỏi Speaking Part 3 sau (60-80 words each). Sử dụng cấu trúc đã học:

Question 1: “Why do you think obesity is becoming more common?”

Your answer:

---

---

Question 2: “What are the main causes of environmental problems in your country?”

Your answer:

---

---

Question 3: “Why do young people prefer living in cities rather than rural areas?”

Your answer:

---

---

Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Đáp Án Bài Tập 1: Điền Giới Từ

1. of – “The primary cause OF climate change” (cause luôn dùng OF)
2. for / why – “The main reason FOR students fail” hoặc “reason WHY students fail”
3. why – “The main reason WHY people migrate” (có clause sau)
4. of – “The primary cause OF the crisis” (cause + of)
5. why / that – “The main reason WHY/THAT companies fail”
6. behind / for – “The main reason BEHIND/FOR this policy”
7. of – “The primary cause OF deforestation”
8. why – “The main reason WHY young people leave” (có clause)
9. of – “The primary causes OF poverty” (cause + of)
10. why – “The main reason WHY the government introduced”

Tổng kết rules:

• PRIMARY CAUSE + OF (100% cố định)
• MAIN REASON + FOR/WHY/BEHIND/THAT (linh hoạt tùy cấu trúc sau)

Đáp Án Bài Tập 2: Sửa Lỗi Subject-Verb Agreement

1. ❌ “are” → ✅ “is”

   • Subject: “The primary cause” (singular) → verb “is”

2. ❌ “is” → ✅ “are“

   • Subject: “The main reasons” (plural) → verb “are”

3. ✅ Đúng

   • Subject: “One” (singular) → verb “is” đúng

4. ❌ “are” → ✅ “is“

   • Subject: “The main reason” (singular) → verb “is”

5. ❌ “includes” → ✅ “include“

   • Subject: “The primary causes” (plural) → verb “include”

6. ✅ Đúng

   • Subject: “The main reason” (singular) → verb “is”

7. ❌ “are” → ✅ “is“

   • Subject: “One” (singular) → verb “is”

8. ❌ “were” → ✅ “was“

   • Subject: “The primary cause” (singular) → verb “was”

9. ❌ “is” → ✅ “are“

   • Subject: “The main reasons” (plural) → verb “are”

10. ❌ “are” → ✅ “is“

    • Subject: “The primary cause” (singular) → verb “is”

Key point: Luôn identify head noun của subject, bỏ qua prepositional phrases.

Đáp Án Bài Tập 3: Chọn Cấu Trúc Phù Hợp

1. “The primary cause of global warming is greenhouse gas emissions.”

   • Writing formal → dùng “primary cause of”

2. “I think the main reason why young people use social media is to stay connected with friends.”

   • Speaking personal opinion → dùng “main reason why”

3. “Research shows that the primary cause of heart disease is poor diet and lack of exercise.”

   • Academic/scientific → dùng “primary cause of”

4. “The main reason why I chose this career is my passion for helping people.”

   • Speaking storytelling → dùng “main reason why”

5. “The primary cause of unemployment in rural areas is lack of infrastructure and investment.”

   • Problem analysis formal → dùng “primary cause of”

Pattern selection:

• Formal writing/Academic → prefer “primary cause of”
• Speaking/Personal → prefer “main reason for/why”

Đáp Án Bài Tập 4: Viết Câu Hoàn Chỉnh

1. “The primary cause of air pollution in cities is vehicle emissions.”

   • hoặc: “Vehicle emissions are the primary cause of air pollution in urban areas.”

2. “The main reason why students study abroad is to access better education quality.”

   • hoặc: “Better education quality is the main reason for studying abroad.”

3. “The primary cause of obesity in children is unhealthy eating habits.”

   • hoặc: “Unhealthy eating habits are the primary cause of childhood obesity.”

4. “The main reasons why people work from home are flexibility and better work-life balance.”

   • Note: plural “reasons” vì có 2 factors

5. “The primary cause of species extinction is habitat destruction caused by human activity.”

   • Advanced: thêm “caused by” để elaborate

6. “The main reason why young people start businesses is to achieve financial independence.”

   • hoặc: “Financial independence is the main reason behind young entrepreneurs.”

7. “The primary cause of the decline in traditional retail is the rapid growth of e-commerce.”

   • Advanced vocabulary: “decline”, “rapid growth”

8. “The main reason for stress in modern society is the fast-paced lifestyle that people lead.”

   • Thêm relative clause “that people lead”

Đáp Án Bài Tập 5: Paraphrasing

1. Original: “The primary cause of climate change is carbon emissions.”

   Alternative 1 (Band 7): “Carbon emissions are the main reason behind global warming.”

   • Changed: “primary cause” → “main reason behind”
   • Changed: “climate change” → “global warming”

   Alternative 2 (Band 8+): “The fundamental factor contributing to climate change is the excessive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

   • Changed: “primary cause” → “fundamental factor contributing to”
   • Elaborate: “carbon emissions” → “excessive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere”

2. Original: “The main reason for studying English is career opportunities.”

   Alternative 1: “Career opportunities are the primary motivation behind English language learning.”

   • Changed: “main reason for” → “primary motivation behind”
   • Changed: “studying English” → “English language learning”

   Alternative 2: “The principal reason why people learn English is to enhance their career prospects.”

   • Changed: “main reason” → “principal reason why”
   • Changed: “career opportunities” → “enhance their career prospects”

3. Original: “The primary cause of traffic congestion is too many vehicles.”

   Alternative 1: “The main reason behind traffic jams is the excessive number of vehicles on the roads.”

   • Changed: “primary cause” → “main reason behind”
   • Changed: “traffic congestion” → “traffic jams”
   • Elaborate: “too many vehicles” → “excessive number of vehicles on the roads”

   Alternative 2: “Traffic congestion stems primarily from the overwhelming volume of automobiles in urban areas.”

   • Changed structure: use “stems primarily from”
   • Changed: “too many vehicles” → “overwhelming volume of automobiles in urban areas”

Paraphrasing strategies used:

• Synonyms: primary → main → principal → fundamental
• Structure change: “A is the cause of B” → “B stems from A”
• Elaboration: simple noun → noun phrase with modifiers
• Word form change: noun → verb form (contribute to, stem from)

Đáp Án Bài Tập 6: Tìm Và Sửa Lỗi

1. Lỗi: “Primary cause for” + “are”
   Sửa: “The primary cause of environmental problems is industrial pollution.”

   • Missing article “the”
   • Wrong preposition: “for” → “of”
   • Subject-verb: “cause” (singular) → “is”

2. Lỗi: “reason of” + redundant “because”
   Sửa: “The main reason why students fail is that they don’t study enough.”

   • Wrong preposition: “of” → “why” (có clause sau)
   • Redundant: bỏ “because” (đã có “reason” rồi)

3. Lỗi: “is”
   Sửa: “The primary causes of obesity in children are unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.”

   • Subject-verb: “causes” (plural) → “are”

4. Lỗi: “were”
   Sửa: “One of the main reasons why the company failed was poor leadership.”

   • Subject: “One” (singular) → “was”

5. Lỗi: “are” + “wants”
   Sửa: “The main reason behind this trend is that people want more convenience.”

   • Subject-verb: “reason” (singular) → “is”
   • Subject-verb in clause: “people” (plural) → “want”

6. Lỗi: “cause for” + “are”
   Sửa: “The primary cause of the crisis in 2008 was subprime mortgages.”

   • Wrong preposition: “for” → “of”
   • Subject-verb + tense: “cause” (singular) + past event → “was”

7. Lỗi: Missing “the” + “are”
   Sửa: “The main reason why people migrate to cities is to find better jobs.”

   • Missing article
   • Subject-verb: “reason” (singular) → “is”

8. Lỗi: “trace”
   Sửa: “The primary cause of this problem can be traced back to inadequate policies.”

   • Passive voice: “be traced” không phải “be trace”

Đáp Án Bài Tập 7: Sample Body Paragraph (Band 8)

Topic: “What are the main reasons for increasing mental health problems among young people?”

Sample Answer:

“There are several factors contributing to the rise in mental health issues among youth, but the primary cause is undoubtedly social media pressure. Young people constantly compare themselves to idealized images online, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. Research indicates that teenagers who spend more than three hours daily on social platforms are twice as likely to experience depression. Another significant reason behind this trend is academic stress, particularly in competitive education systems where students face overwhelming pressure to excel. The combination of unrealistic expectations from social media and intense academic demands creates a perfect storm for mental health problems. Furthermore, the underlying cause of these issues often stems from inadequate support systems, as many schools lack proper counseling services and parents may not recognize early warning signs.”

Phân tích:

• ✅ Sử dụng “primary cause” trong topic sentence
• ✅ Paraphrase với “significant reason behind”
• ✅ Thêm “underlying cause” cho variation
• ✅ Supporting details với research/statistics
• ✅ Complex sentences và linking words
• ✅ Academic vocabulary (contributing factors, idealized images, overwhelming pressure)
• Word count: 146 words
• Band: 8.0

Đáp Án Bài Tập 8: Sample Speaking Answers

Question 1: “Why do you think obesity is becoming more common?”

Sample Answer (Band 7-8):

“That’s a significant health concern nowadays. I believe the main reason for rising obesity rates is our increasingly sedentary lifestyle. People spend most of their time sitting – whether working at computers or relaxing with entertainment devices. Additionally, another key factor is the easy availability of cheap, processed foods that are high in calories but low in nutrition. Fast food restaurants are everywhere, and it’s much more convenient to grab a burger than prepare a healthy meal. The combination of less physical activity and poor dietary choices is really the fundamental cause of this growing problem. Of course, there are other contributing factors like stress and lack of health education, but those two are definitely the most significant.”

Analysis:

• Natural conversational tone
• Clear structure: acknowledge → main reason → supporting details → summary
• Paraphrasing: “main reason” → “key factor” → “fundamental cause”
• Examples và personal observations
• Approximately 120 words
• Band 7.5-8.0

Question 2: “What are the main causes of environmental problems in your country?”

Sample Answer (Band 8):

“Vietnam faces several environmental challenges. The primary cause is rapid industrialization without adequate environmental regulations. Many factories release pollutants into rivers and the air without proper treatment systems. Another major reason is urbanization – as cities expand, we’re losing green spaces and putting tremendous pressure on infrastructure. Traffic congestion in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh contributes significantly to air pollution. I’d also say one of the underlying causes is the lack of environmental awareness among citizens. People still litter freely and don’t think about recycling. The government has introduced policies, but enforcement remains weak. So it’s really a combination of industrial pollution, urban planning issues, and public attitudes that are the main contributors to our environmental problems.”

Analysis:

• Demonstrates local knowledge
• Multiple causes với proper structure
• Variety: “primary cause” → “major reason” → “underlying causes” → “main contributors”
• Critical thinking: policy vs enforcement
• Approximately 140 words
• Band 8.0

Question 3: “Why do young people prefer living in cities rather than rural areas?”

Sample Answer (Band 7.5-8):

“The main reason why young people are drawn to urban areas is definitely career opportunities. Cities offer far more job options, higher salaries, and better career progression. In rural areas, employment is usually limited to agriculture or small local businesses. Another significant factor is lifestyle and entertainment. Young people want access to shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, and social activities that simply don’t exist in countryside. From my observation, the underlying reason is really about personal development and ambition. Cities provide better education, networking opportunities, and exposure to different ideas and cultures. While rural life might be peaceful, it can feel limiting for ambitious young people. That said, I think this trend also stems from the government’s focus on developing urban infrastructure while neglecting rural areas, which creates even greater disparity.”

Analysis:

• Personal perspective với “from my observation”
• Logical progression of ideas
• Variety of expressions
• Critical analysis: government policy factor
• Natural discourse markers
• Approximately 150 words
• Band 8.0

Lời Khuyên Để Đạt Band 8+ Khi Sử Dụng “Primary Cause” Và “Main Reason”

1. Variety Is Key – Đa Dạng Hóa Cách Diễn Đạt

Don’t repeat: Đừng lặp lại “primary cause” hoặc “main reason” nhiều lần trong cùng một bài.

Do paraphrase: Sử dụng synonyms và alternative structures.

Example progression trong một essay:

• Introduction: “The primary cause of…”
• Body 1: “This problem stems primarily from…”
• Body 2: “Another significant factor is…”
• Conclusion: “As discussed, the principal reason remains…”

2. Context Matters – Chọn Cấu Trúc Phù Hợp

Formal Writing (Writing Task 2):

• Prefer: “the primary cause of”, “the principal factor”, “the fundamental reason”
• Avoid: overly casual expressions

Speaking (All Parts):

• More flexible: “the main reason”, “I think the biggest cause is…”
• Can use: “probably the main thing is…”

Academic Subjects:

• Use: “the primary cause”, “the root cause”, “the underlying factor”

3. Support With Evidence

Weak example:
“The primary cause of climate change is pollution.”

Strong example (Band 8):
“The primary cause of climate change is the excessive emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion. Scientific evidence shows that atmospheric CO2 levels have increased by 40% since the industrial revolution, directly correlating with rising global temperatures.”

What makes it Band 8:

• Specific details (40%, industrial revolution)
• Academic vocabulary (atmospheric, correlating)
• Evidence-based reasoning

4. Integrate Into Complex Sentences

Simple (Band 6):
“The main reason is lack of money. Many people are poor.”

Complex (Band 8):
“While multiple factors contribute to homelessness, the primary cause remains economic instability, which prevents individuals from maintaining stable housing even when employed.”

Advanced techniques:

• Concessive clauses (While/Although…)
• Relative clauses (which…)
• Participle phrases (preventing…)

5. Show Critical Thinking

Basic (Band 6):
“The main reason for obesity is eating too much.”

Critical (Band 8-9):
“Although overeating is often cited as the primary cause of obesity, the underlying factors are more complex and include socioeconomic status, food industry marketing practices, and built environments that discourage physical activity. Simply attributing obesity to individual choices oversimplifies a multifaceted public health issue.”

What demonstrates critical thinking:

• Acknowledge common beliefs (“often cited as”)
• Present deeper analysis (“underlying factors”)
• Challenge simplistic views (“oversimplifies”)
• Multiple perspectives

6. Practice Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Environmental topics:

• “The primary cause of deforestation is agricultural expansion”
• Vocabulary: habitat loss, biodiversity, ecosystem, carbon sequestration

Social issues:

• “The main reason for increasing inequality is wage stagnation”
• Vocabulary: wealth disparity, social mobility, systemic barriers

Technology topics:

• “The primary cause of digital addiction is persuasive design”
• Vocabulary: user engagement, dopamine triggers, algorithmic recommendation

7. Time Management Tips

In Writing (60 minutes total):

• Planning (5 mins): Identify 2-3 main causes/reasons trước khi viết
• Writing (40 mins): Paraphrase automatically khi viết
• Checking (5 mins): Verify subject-verb agreement với “cause/reason”

In Speaking:

• Part 1 (4-5 mins): Quick, simple “main reason” suffices
• Part 2 (3-4 mins): 1-2 main reasons với details
• Part 3 (4-5 mins): Elaborate với “primary cause” + analysis

Checklist Trước Khi Submit Writing/Thi Speaking

Grammar:

• [ ] Article “the” với “primary cause”?
• [ ] Giới từ đúng (of với cause, for/why với reason)?
• [ ] Subject-verb agreement?
• [ ] Tense phù hợp với context?

Vocabulary:

• [ ] Đã paraphrase (không lặp lại quá 2 lần)?
• [ ] Academic vocabulary trong formal writing?
• [ ] Topic-specific terms?

Structure:

• [ ] Complement logical (cause đúng, không bị ngược với effect)?
• [ ] Complex sentences với relative clauses?
• [ ] Cohesive devices linking causes với effects?

Content:

• [ ] Supporting evidence/examples?
• [ ] Multiple causes nếu appropriate?
• [ ] Critical analysis depth?

Kết Luận

Việc sử dụng thành thạo “the primary cause of” và “main reason” là một trong những kỹ năng quan trọng giúp bạn đạt Band 7-9 trong IELTS. Hai cấu trúc này không chỉ thể hiện khả năng ngữ pháp mà còn cho thấy tư duy phân tích logic và critical thinking – những yếu tố mà examiner đánh giá cao.

Những điểm quan trọng cần nhớ:

Về cấu trúc:

• “The primary cause OF” – formal, academic, cố định với giới từ “of”
• “The main reason FOR/WHY/BEHIND” – linh hoạt, dùng được cả formal và informal
• Luôn chú ý subject-verb agreement và article

Về ứng dụng:

• Writing Task 2: Ưu tiên “primary cause” cho formal analysis
• Speaking: Linh hoạt với “main reason” và variations
• Paraphrase throughout để tránh repetition
• Kết hợp với complex sentences cho Band 8+

Về strategy:

• Practice với real IELTS topics
• Build topic-specific vocabulary banks
• Develop critical thinking skills
• Time management trong exam

Lộ trình luyện tập:

Week 1-2: Foundation

• Học thuộc formulas và rules
• Làm grammar exercises
• Sửa common mistakes

Week 3-4: Application

• Practice với IELTS topics
• Write body paragraphs
• Record speaking answers

Week 5-6: Refinement

• Focus on paraphrasing
• Integrate complex structures
• Get feedback và improve

Week 7-8: Mastery

• Full essay practice
• Mock speaking tests
• Fine-tune timing

Đề Luyện Tập Thêm

Speaking Topics:

1. Education: “What are the main reasons why students drop out of university?”
2. Environment: “What do you think is the primary cause of plastic pollution?”
3. Technology: “Why has social media become so popular among young people?”
4. Health: “What are the main causes of stress in modern life?”
5. Society: “Why is the generation gap widening in many families?”
6. Work: “What are the primary reasons people change careers?”
7. Culture: “Why are traditional festivals becoming less popular?”
8. Economy: “What causes the income gap between rich and poor?”

Writing Topics:

Problem-Solution Essays:

1. “Traffic congestion is increasing in many cities. What are the causes and solutions?”
2. “Mental health problems among teenagers are rising. Discuss the reasons and suggest measures.”

Cause-Effect Essays:
3. “What are the causes of global warming and what effects does it have?”
4. “Analyze the reasons for rural-to-urban migration and its consequences.”

Discussion Essays:
5. “Some say technology causes social isolation. Others disagree. Discuss both views.”
6. “What factors contribute to academic success? Is it talent or hard work?”

Yêu cầu cho mỗi đề:

• Writing: 250-300 words, sử dụng “primary cause/main reason” ít nhất 3 lần với variations
• Speaking: 2-3 minutes, natural usage với paraphrasing
• Self-assess bằng checklist ở trên

Cách tự đánh giá:

1. Record/write câu trả lời
2. Check grammar errors (article, preposition, subject-verb)
3. Count repetitions (quá 2 lần cùng phrase = cần paraphrase)
4. Evaluate complexity (có complex sentences?)
5. Assess content (có supporting details?)

Target scores:

• Grammar accuracy: 90%+ cho Band 8
• Variety: 4+ different expressions trong một bài
• Complexity: 50%+ câu là complex sentences
• Coherence: Logical flow với appropriate linking

Hãy nhớ rằng, mastering “primary cause” và “main reason” không chỉ là học thuộc công thức mà là hiểu sâu về logic, context, và cách vận dụng linh hoạt trong real exam situations. Với practice đều đặn và mindful usage, bạn hoàn toàn có thể tự tin sử dụng những cấu trúc này để đạt band điểm mục tiêu.

Chúc bạn học tốt và thành công với IELTS!