IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời "Describe A Difficult Task You Completed" - Bài Mẫu Band 6-9 » IELTS.NET

Chủ đề “Describe A Difficult Task You Completed At Work Or School That Made You Feel Proud” là một trong những đề bài phổ biến và quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Với tư cách là một examiner có hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi, tôi nhận thấy chủ đề này xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ 2020 đến nay, đặc biệt trong quý 1 và quý 3 hàng năm. Khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai: Rất cao.

Mục lục nội dung

Đề bài này đánh giá khả năng kể chuyện, mô tả trải nghiệm cá nhân và thể hiện cảm xúc của thí sinh. Thí sinh Việt Nam thường gặp khó khăn với chủ đề này vì xu hướng nói quá chung chung, thiếu chi tiết cụ thể, và không biết cách diễn đạt cảm xúc một cách tự nhiên bằng tiếng Anh.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:

10+ câu hỏi thực tế cho cả 3 Part liên quan đến chủ đề challenges và achievements
Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm 6-7, 7.5-8, và 8.5-9 với phân tích sâu
40+ từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm được examiner đánh giá cao
Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn người chấm thi
Lỗi phổ biến của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
Cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao giúp tăng band điểm

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài 4-5 phút, trong đó examiner sẽ hỏi các câu hỏi về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích, công việc hoặc học tập của bạn. Đây là phần khởi động để bạn làm quen với examiner và môi trường thi.

Đặc điểm chính:

Câu hỏi ngắn gọn, dễ hiểu về các chủ đề quen thuộc
Examiner mong đợi câu trả lời tự nhiên, không quá dài
Mỗi câu trả lời nên có 2-3 câu (khoảng 15-20 giây)
Thể hiện khả năng giao tiếp cơ bản và phản xạ ngôn ngữ

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi ngay trong câu đầu tiên
Mở rộng bằng cách đưa ra lý do hoặc ví dụ
Sử dụng từ vựng đa dạng nhưng tự nhiên
Giữ tone thoải mái, như đang trò chuyện

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ “Yes” hoặc “No” mà không mở rộng
Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “bad”, “like”, “don’t like”
Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
Nói quá dài, lan man không tập trung vào câu hỏi
Học thuộc câu trả lời nghe không tự nhiên

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Dưới đây là 10 câu hỏi thực tế thường xuất hiện trong Part 1 liên quan đến chủ đề work, study và challenges:

Question 1: Do you work or are you a student?
Question 2: What do you find most challenging about your work/studies?
Question 3: Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
Question 4: How do you usually deal with difficult tasks?
Question 5: Have you ever felt proud of something you achieved?
Question 6: What kind of tasks do you find most difficult?
Question 7: Do you like taking on new challenges?
Question 8: How do you manage your time when you have a lot of work?
Question 9: Who do you usually ask for help when facing difficulties?
Question 10: Do you think it’s important to challenge yourself?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

Question: What do you find most challenging about your work/studies?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

Xác định một challenge cụ thể (không nói chung chung)
Giải thích tại sao nó challenging
Có thể thêm cách bạn đang deal với nó

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I think the most challenging thing is managing my time. I have many assignments and sometimes it’s difficult to finish everything on time. I try to make a schedule but I don’t always follow it.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh: Trả lời đúng trọng tâm câu hỏi, có đưa ra giải pháp
Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn basic (difficult, many, finish), thiếu ví dụ cụ thể
Tại sao Band 6-7: Ý tưởng rõ ràng nhưng cách diễn đạt chưa sophisticated, ngữ pháp đơn giản (simple present), thiếu depth

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“I’d say the most challenging aspect is juggling multiple deadlines simultaneously. For instance, last month I had to balance preparing for final exams while completing a demanding group project. What makes it particularly tough is that I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I struggle to prioritize when everything feels equally important.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh:
- Từ vựng chính xác và sophisticated: “juggling multiple deadlines”, “demanding”, “perfectionist”
- Có ví dụ cụ thể: “last month”
- Thể hiện self-awareness: “I’m a bit of a perfectionist”
- Cấu trúc đa dạng: “What makes it particularly tough is that…”
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Natural flow, không hesitation
- Vocabulary: Topic-specific words (juggling, prioritize), collocations chính xác (balance + preparing)
- Grammar: Complex structures với relative clause và present continuous
- Content: Personal, authentic, với depth

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

juggle multiple deadlines: xoay xử nhiều deadline cùng lúc
demanding: đòi hỏi cao, khắt khe
perfectionist: người cầu toàn
prioritize: sắp xếp ưu tiên

Question: Do you like taking on new challenges?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

Trả lời Yes/No rõ ràng
Giải thích lý do (personality, benefits, hoặc concerns)
Đưa ra ví dụ ngắn nếu có thể

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I like challenges because they help me to improve. When I do something difficult, I can learn new skills. For example, last year I learned to use new software at work and now I’m better at my job.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh: Có lý do và ví dụ cụ thể
Hạn chế: Từ vựng repetitive (difficult, new, better), cấu trúc câu đơn giản
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear message nhưng thiếu range và sophistication trong ngôn ngữ

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“Absolutely! I’m quite drawn to new challenges because they push me out of my comfort zone. I find that facing difficult tasks is actually invigorating – it keeps my work interesting and helps me develop resilience. That said, I do prefer challenges that are achievable rather than completely overwhelming, so I can maintain a healthy work-life balance.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh:
- Opening mạnh mẽ: “Absolutely!”
- Idiomatic expressions: “push me out of my comfort zone”, “work-life balance”
- Từ vựng tinh vi: “invigorating”, “resilience”, “achievable”
- Thể hiện balanced view: “That said…” để acknowledge limitation
- Personality insight: “I’m quite drawn to”
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Confident, natural discourse markers
- Vocabulary: Precise word choice (invigorating vs exciting), collocations (develop resilience)
- Grammar: Complex structures với relative clauses và present perfect
- Pronunciation: Stress trên key words tạo rhythm tự nhiên

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

be drawn to: bị thu hút bởi, thích thú với
push someone out of their comfort zone: đẩy ai đó ra khỏi vùng an toàn
invigorating: làm phấn chấn, tràn đầy năng lượng
develop resilience: phát triển khả năng phục hồi, kiên cường

Question: How do you usually deal with difficult tasks?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

Mô tả process hoặc strategy của bạn
Có thể chia thành 2-3 bước ngắn
Thể hiện bạn là người organized và proactive

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“When I have a difficult task, first I try to understand what I need to do. Then I break it into smaller parts and do one part at a time. If I really can’t do it, I ask my teacher or friends for help.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh: Có structure rõ ràng (first, then, if), practical approach
Hạn chế: Từ vựng basic (difficult, smaller parts, can’t do), thiếu sophistication
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear communication nhưng lacks lexical resource và grammatical variety

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“My approach is quite systematic. Initially, I assess the scope of the task and identify potential obstacles. Then I break it down into manageable chunks and tackle the most challenging aspects first when my energy levels are highest. I’m also a firm believer in seeking input from colleagues or mentors early on, rather than struggling in silence. This collaborative approach has really paid off for me in the past.”

Phân tích:

Điểm mạnh:
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “assess the scope”, “identify potential obstacles”, “manageable chunks”
- Natural linking: “Initially”, “Then”, “also”
- Personal philosophy: “I’m a firm believer in”
- Phrasal verbs: “paid off”, “break it down”
- Reflects on experience: “This collaborative approach has really paid off”
- Shows strategic thinking và self-awareness
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Confident elaboration với logical flow
- Vocabulary: Precise, topic-appropriate (assess, tackle, collaborative)
- Grammar: Mix of present simple for habits và present perfect for reflection
- Ideas: Thoughtful, mature approach showing developed skills

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

assess the scope: đánh giá phạm vi, quy mô
break down into manageable chunks: chia nhỏ thành các phần dễ quản lý
tackle: giải quyết, xử lý (một vấn đề khó)
seek input: tìm kiếm ý kiến đóng góp
pay off: mang lại kết quả tốt, đáng giá

Học viên tự tin trả lời câu hỏi IELTS Speaking Part 1 về thử thách trong công việc và học tập

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần “độc thoại” trong IELTS Speaking, kéo dài tổng cộng 3-4 phút bao gồm:

1 phút chuẩn bị: Bạn được cho một cue card và giấy nháp để ghi chú
2-3 phút nói: Bạn trình bày về chủ đề không bị ngắt lời
30 giây – 1 phút: Follow-up questions ngắn (rounding-off questions)

Đặc điểm chính:

Đây là phần quan trọng nhất, chiếm trọng số lớn trong tổng điểm Speaking
Yêu cầu khả năng tổ chức ý tưởng và duy trì độc thoại
Phải trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong cue card
Thể hiện khả năng sử dụng ngôn ngữ phong phú và tự nhiên

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

Sử dụng hết 1 phút chuẩn bị: Đừng bắt đầu sớm! Viết keywords cho mỗi bullet point
Ghi chú thông minh: Chỉ note keywords, không viết câu hoàn chỉnh (waste time)
Nói đủ thời lượng: Aim for 2-2.5 phút. Dưới 1.5 phút sẽ bị trừ điểm Fluency
Cân bằng giữa các bullet points: Đừng dành quá nhiều thời gian cho 1-2 points đầu
Kết thúc tự nhiên: Có thể tóm lược ngắn hoặc nhấn mạnh feeling trong câu cuối

Lỗi thường gặp:

Không sử dụng đủ 1 phút chuẩn bị: Vội vàng bắt đầu, dẫn đến thiếu ý tưởng
Nói dưới 1.5 phút: Thiếu content, impact trực tiếp đến Fluency score
Bỏ sót bullet points: Đặc biệt là phần “explain…” cuối cùng
Mất cân bằng thời gian: Nói quá nhiều về bullet đầu, vội vã với các bullet sau
Dùng sai thì: Câu chuyện quá khứ nhưng dùng hiện tại
Học thuộc template: Nghe mechanical, không authentic

Cue Card

Describe a difficult task you completed at work or school that made you feel proud

You should say:

What the task was

When and where you did it

Why it was difficult

And explain why you felt proud of completing it

Phân Tích Đề Bài

Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an experience/event (kể về trải nghiệm trong quá khứ)
Thì động từ chính: Past tenses (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect)
Bullet points phải cover:
1. What: Task cụ thể gì? (Không nói chung chung “a project”, mà cụ thể: “organizing a charity event”, “completing my thesis”)
2. When/Where: Time frame và địa điểm (last semester, at university, during my internship)
3. Why difficult: Những obstacles, challenges cụ thể bạn gặp phải
4. Explain feelings: Đây là phần QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT – nơi bạn ghi điểm cao với emotional depth và reflection
Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là nơi thể hiện vocabulary về emotions và ability to reflect. Đừng chỉ nói “I felt proud” – hãy explain why và what it meant to you. Examiner đánh giá cao khả năng introspection này.

Tips từ Examiner:

Chọn một task thực sự bạn đã làm, không nên bịa chuyện phức tạp
Task không cần “spectacular” – có thể là điều đơn giản nhưng meaningful với bạn
Focus vào journey (quá trình) hơn là result (kết quả)
Thể hiện personal growth và lessons learned

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

“I’d like to talk about a difficult task I completed during my final year at university. The task was writing my graduation thesis about digital marketing strategies. I did it last year, from March to June, mostly at the university library and sometimes at home.

It was difficult for several reasons. First, I had to read many books and research papers, which took a lot of time. Second, my topic was quite new, so there wasn’t much information available in Vietnamese. I had to read everything in English, which was challenging for me. Third, I had to collect data by interviewing 50 business owners, but many of them were too busy to participate. Sometimes I felt very stressed and wanted to give up.

However, I kept working hard. I made a schedule and followed it every day. I also asked my supervisor for help when I didn’t understand something. Finally, I finished the thesis on time and got a good grade – 8.5 out of 10.

I felt really proud when I completed it because it was the biggest project I had ever done. It taught me that I can achieve difficult things if I work hard and don’t give up. My parents were also very happy, which made me feel even prouder. This experience gave me more confidence for my future career.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Có structure rõ ràng với sequencing (First, Second, Third), sử dụng linking words cơ bản. Tuy nhiên thiếu sophistication trong cách transition giữa các ý. Một số repetition không cần thiết.
Lexical Resource	6-7	Từ vựng adequate và relevant (graduation thesis, research papers, collect data, supervisor). Tuy nhiên còn nhiều từ basic (difficult, many, good) và thiếu collocations tự nhiên. Có paraphrasing nhưng chưa flexible.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng past tenses chính xác. Có một số complex sentences với relative clauses và conditionals. Tuy nhiên phần lớn là simple và compound sentences. Thiếu variety trong structures.
Pronunciation	6-7	(Assumed) Clear và understandable. Có thể có một số lỗi nhỏ về word stress nhưng không ảnh hưởng communication.

Điểm mạnh:

✅ Cover đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong cue card
✅ Time frame và structure rõ ràng, dễ follow
✅ Có personal details (thesis topic, grade 8.5/10, parents’ reaction)
✅ Thể hiện perseverance và positive outcome

Hạn chế:

⚠️ Từ vựng còn basic: “difficult”, “many books”, “good grade”, “very happy”
⚠️ Thiếu sophisticated expressions để describe emotions và challenges
⚠️ Grammatical structures chưa đa dạng, nhiều simple sentences
⚠️ Phần “explain why proud” còn surface-level, thiếu depth về personal growth
⚠️ Linking words còn mechanical (First, Second, Third)

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

“I’d like to share an experience that really pushed me to my limits. The task I’m thinking of was spearheading a fundraising campaign for underprivileged children during my third year at university. This took place about two years ago, and most of the work happened on campus, though I also had to reach out to businesses and community organizations around the city.

What made this particularly daunting was that I’d never done anything like it before. I was responsible for coordinating a team of 15 volunteers, which meant juggling everyone’s schedules and keeping them motivated. On top of that, we had a pretty ambitious target – raising $10,000 in just two months. The biggest challenge, though, was approaching local businesses for sponsorship. I’m naturally quite shy, so cold-calling companies and pitching our project was really nerve-wracking for me. I remember my hands trembling during the first few phone calls!

There were definitely moments when I felt overwhelmed. Halfway through the campaign, we’d only raised about 30% of our target, and some team members were losing steam. I had to rally everyone and come up with new strategies, like organizing a charity concert and setting up online crowdfunding.

But when we finally surpassed our goal and raised $12,500, the sense of accomplishment was incredible. What made me feel most proud wasn’t just the money – it was seeing how I’d grown as a leader and stepped out of my comfort zone. I’d discovered capabilities I didn’t know I had. Plus, knowing that our efforts would make a tangible difference in those children’s lives gave the whole experience such meaningful purpose. It was definitely a defining moment in my personal development.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Natural flow với sophisticated linking (On top of that, though, Halfway through). Ít hesitation, progression logic rõ ràng từ description → challenges → resolution → reflection.
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Wide range với nhiều topic-specific vocabulary (spearheading, daunting, coordinating, rally, surpassed). Collocations chính xác (make a tangible difference, defining moment). Sử dụng phrasal verbs tự nhiên (reach out to, losing steam).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Variety of complex structures: relative clauses, conditional, participle clauses. Mix of past tenses used accurately. Some sophisticated structures (What made me feel most proud wasn’t just…). Minimal errors.
Pronunciation	7.5-8	(Assumed) Clear với good intonation và sentence stress. Natural rhythm và appropriate pausing.

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“difficult”, “many books”, “very stressed”	“pushed me to my limits”, “daunting”, “overwhelmed”, “nerve-wracking”
Grammar	“It was difficult because I had to read many books”	“What made this particularly daunting was that I’d never done anything like it before”
Ideas	“I felt proud because it was big project”	“What made me feel most proud wasn’t just the money – it was seeing how I’d grown as a leader”
Emotions	Basic description: “felt very happy”	Vivid description: “my hands trembling during the first few phone calls”, “sense of accomplishment was incredible”

Điểm nổi bật của bài Band 7.5-8:

🎯 Emotional depth: Mô tả cảm xúc cụ thể (trembling hands, nerve-wracking) thay vì chung chung
🎯 Vivid storytelling: Có tension và resolution (30% target → came up with new strategies → surpassed goal)
🎯 Personal reflection: Không chỉ describe mà còn analyze personal growth
🎯 Natural language: Phrasal verbs và idioms tự nhiên (pushed to limits, stepped out of comfort zone)

Thí sinh IELTS đang trình bày bài nói độc thoại Part 2 về nhiệm vụ khó khăn đã hoàn thành

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

“I’d like to recount an experience that was genuinely transformative for me. During my final semester at university, I took on the challenge of developing an AI-powered mobile application as my capstone project – something that, in retrospect, was probably overly ambitious given my skill level at the time.

The project spanned four months, from February through May last year, and I worked primarily in the university’s computer lab, often burning the midnight oil to meet various milestones. The application was designed to help elderly people navigate public transportation more easily, which required me to integrate real-time GPS data with voice recognition technology.

What made this monumentally challenging wasn’t just the technical complexity – though that certainly pushed me to my intellectual limits. The real difficulty was the sheer scope of what I’d bitten off. I had to master two new programming languages simultaneously, grapple with machine learning concepts I’d only vaguely understood before, and conduct user testing with elderly participants who weren’t particularly tech-savvy. There were countless setbacks – the voice recognition kept malfunctioning, the interface proved unintuitive for my target users, and I hit a wall with the GPS integration for weeks.

To compound matters, I was simultaneously juggling my other courses and had just started a part-time internship. I distinctly remember one particularly grueling week where I pulled three all-nighters in a row, subsisting mainly on coffee and instant noodles. At my lowest point, I seriously considered scaling back the project’s ambitions or even switching to something more manageable.

But what kept me going was the unwavering support of my supervisor, who instilled in me the belief that perseverance pays off, and also my stubborn determination to prove to myself that I could rise to the occasion. Bit by bit, through painstaking troubleshooting and relentless iteration, things started falling into place.

When I finally delivered the completed application and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both my professors and the test users, the feeling was absolutely euphoric. But what truly filled me with pride went deeper than the grade – though the distinction was certainly gratifying. It was the profound realization that I had cultivated resilience I didn’t know I possessed. I’d learned to embrace uncertainty, to persist in the face of adversity, and to break down seemingly insurmountable problems into manageable pieces.

Moreover, seeing elderly users light up when they successfully used my app to navigate the bus system was immensely rewarding on a human level. It reinforced my belief that technology should ultimately serve humanity, not just showcase technical prowess. This experience fundamentally shaped my professional trajectory and gave me the confidence to tackle even more daunting challenges in my current role as a junior software developer. It remains, without question, one of the most formative experiences of my academic career.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Exceptional fluency với sophisticated discourse markers (in retrospect, to compound matters, bit by bit). Seamless progression through story arc với natural digressions và reflections. Coherent narrative structure từ setup → challenges → crisis point → resolution → reflection.
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Extensive và precise vocabulary với nhiều less common expressions (burning the midnight oil, hit a wall, subsisting, painstaking, insurmountable). Idiomatic language tự nhiên (bitten off, pulled all-nighters). Collocations sophisticated (unwavering support, profound realization, cultivate resilience). Skillful use of synonyms để avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Wide range of complex structures: cleft sentences (What made this…, What truly filled me…), inversion (not just… but also), participle clauses, conditional (would have). Mix of narrative past với present perfect for reflection. Virtually error-free với full control of tenses.
Pronunciation	8.5-9	(Assumed) Fully intelligible với native-like features: appropriate intonation patterns, word stress, sentence stress, và natural rhythm. Effective use of pausing for emphasis.

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:

Natural storytelling với emotional arc: excitement → struggle → despair → triumph → reflection
Sophisticated discourse markers không mechanical: “in retrospect”, “to compound matters”, “at my lowest point”
Comfortable với digressions và elaborations như native speaker
Appropriate pausing for dramatic effect: “It remains, without question…”

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

Less common words used precisely: “monumentally”, “painstaking”, “euphoric”, “insurmountable”
Idiomatic expressions tự nhiên: “burning the midnight oil”, “hit a wall”, “bitten off more than I could chew” (implied)
Topic-specific terminology: “AI-powered”, “voice recognition technology”, “machine learning concepts”
Collocations sophisticated: “unwavering support”, “profound realization”, “cultivate resilience”, “embrace uncertainty”
Synonyms để avoid repetition: difficult → challenging → daunting / proud → gratifying → rewarding

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

Cleft sentences for emphasis: “What made this monumentally challenging wasn’t just…”
Participle clauses: “subsisting mainly on coffee”
Past perfect for earlier events: “I’d only vaguely understood before”
Relative clauses: “elderly people who weren’t particularly tech-savvy”
Conditionals: implied trong “would have” constructions
Inversion: “not just… but also”

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:

Không chỉ describe event mà analyze personal transformation
Philosophical reflection: “technology should ultimately serve humanity”
Self-awareness về limitations: “probably overly ambitious given my skill level”
Mature perspective: “what truly filled me with pride went deeper than the grade”
Long-term impact: “fundamentally shaped my professional trajectory”
Emotional intelligence: recognizes support system’s role (“unwavering support of my supervisor”)

🎭 Storytelling Elements:

Vivid details: “three all-nighters in a row, subsisting mainly on coffee and instant noodles”
Crisis point: “At my lowest point, I seriously considered scaling back”
Resolution: “Bit by bit, through painstaking troubleshooting”
Emotional payoff: “seeing elderly users light up”
Full narrative arc với satisfying conclusion

Những điểm đặc biệt khiến bài này đạt 8.5-9:

Authenticity: Nghe như real experience, không phải học thuộc template
Emotional depth: Mô tả emotions cụ thể qua actions và physical sensations
Maturity: Reflects on broader implications beyond personal achievement
Sophistication: Language choices natural nhưng elevated
Engagement: Keeps listener interested qua dramatic tension và resolution
Length: Đủ 2.5-3 phút với substance, không filler

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Sau khi bạn kết thúc phần độc thoại 2 phút, examiner sẽ hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn để “round off” Part 2 trước khi chuyển sang Part 3. Những câu này thường liên quan trực tiếp đến story bạn vừa kể.

Question 1: Would you like to do a similar task in the future?

Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, I think so. I learned a lot from this experience, so I would like to try similar challenging tasks. But maybe I would prepare better next time so it won’t be so stressful.”

Band 8-9 Answer:
“Absolutely, though I’d like to think I’d be a bit more strategic in my approach next time! While I’d definitely welcome similar challenges, I’ve learned the importance of realistic goal-setting and not biting off more than I can chew. That said, the experience taught me that I thrive under pressure, so I’m actually actively seeking out opportunities that will push my boundaries in my current role.”

Phân tích:

Band 8-9 answer thể hiện reflection và learning (“realistic goal-setting”)
Sử dụng idiomatic language (“biting off more than I can chew”, “thrive under pressure”)
Acknowledge complexity với “that said” để show balanced thinking
Connect to present/future: “in my current role”

Question 2: How did you feel while you were doing this task?

Band 6-7 Answer:
“I felt both stressed and excited. Sometimes I was worried that I couldn’t finish it, but I also felt motivated because I wanted to do well.”

Band 8-9 Answer:
“It was quite an emotional rollercoaster, to be honest. There were moments of genuine exhilaration when I’d crack a difficult problem, but also periods of crippling self-doubt when nothing seemed to work. I’d say the predominant feeling was probably anxious determination – this constant tension between fear of failure and stubborn resolve to see it through. Looking back, I think that emotional intensity is what made the eventual success so profoundly satisfying.”

Phân tích:

Vocabulary tinh vi về emotions: “exhilaration”, “crippling self-doubt”, “anxious determination”
Metaphor tự nhiên: “emotional rollercoaster”
Phrasal verb: “crack a difficult problem”, “see it through”
Reflection từ present perspective: “Looking back”
Complex emotional awareness: “tension between fear and resolve”

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thảo luận hai chiều giữa bạn và examiner, kéo dài 4-5 phút. Đây là phần challenging nhất vì yêu cầu bạn phân tích, đánh giá và thảo luận về các vấn đề trừu tượng liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2.

Đặc điểm chính:

Câu hỏi rộng hơn, trừu tượng hơn Part 2 (not personal stories)
Focus vào opinions, social issues, trends, comparisons
Yêu cầu critical thinking và ability to discuss abstract concepts
Examiner có thể challenge opinions của bạn hoặc ask follow-up questions

Yêu cầu:

Phân tích nhiều góc độ của vấn đề (advantages/disadvantages, causes/effects)
So sánh giữa quá khứ và hiện tại, hoặc giữa các groups khác nhau
Đưa ra quan điểm có lý lẽ và evidence
Xem xét complexity – thừa nhận rằng issues không simple
Sử dụng examples từ society, không chỉ personal experience

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

Mở rộng câu trả lời: Aim for 3-5 câu mỗi answer (30-45 giây)
Structure rõ ràng: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/Nuance
Sử dụng discourse markers: Well, Actually, On the one hand…, That said…
Thể hiện balanced view: Acknowledge different perspectives
Think societally: Nói về trends, society, not just “I think…”
Be tentative: I would say, It seems to me, To some extent (shows sophisticated thinking)

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

Trả lời quá ngắn: Chỉ 1-2 câu, thiếu elaboration
Không có structure: Rambling without clear reasoning
Thiếu examples: Chỉ nói general statements không có support
Too personal: “I think…”, “I believe…” mà không nói về society
One-sided: Không thừa nhận complexity hoặc alternative views
Thiếu từ vựng abstract: Struggle với concepts như “innovation”, “globalization”, “work ethic”
Không dare to disagree: Sợ disagree với examiner hoặc give controversial opinions

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Dưới đây là 8 câu hỏi Part 3 authentic liên quan đến chủ đề “difficult tasks, challenges, và achievements”, được phân loại theo 3 themes chính.

Theme 1: Education and Work Challenges

Question 1: Why do you think some tasks are more difficult for some people than others?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Cause/Reason (Why…?)
Key words: “some tasks”, “more difficult”, “some people than others” (comparison)
Cách tiếp cận:
- Acknowledge individual differences
- Đưa ra 2-3 factors: skills/background, personality, experience
- Examples từ workplace/education context
- Có thể mention nature vs nurture

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I think it depends on each person’s abilities and background. Some people are naturally good at certain things, like math or languages, so those tasks are easier for them. Also, if someone has experience doing similar tasks before, they will find it less difficult. For example, a person who is good at organization will find planning tasks easier than someone who is not organized.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Direct answer → Natural ability factor → Experience factor → Example
Vocabulary: Adequate nhưng basic (good at, find it easier, not organized)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear reasoning nhưng lacks sophistication. Từ vựng repetitive (easier, difficult), thiếu abstract concepts và complex structures. Example còn surface-level.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Well, I’d say it largely boils down to a combination of inherent aptitude and prior exposure. On the one hand, we all have different cognitive strengths – someone with strong spatial reasoning might excel at architectural design but struggle with tasks requiring meticulous written communication. On the other hand, our backgrounds play a crucial role. Someone who’s grown up in an environment that nurtured problem-solving skills will naturally find complex challenges less daunting.

That said, I think personality factors are equally significant. Resilient individuals who embrace setbacks as learning opportunities tend to persist where others might throw in the towel. To illustrate, in my workplace, I’ve noticed that colleagues with high tolerance for ambiguity actually thrive in projects with unclear parameters, whereas those who prefer structured environments find such situations anxiety-inducing. Ultimately, it’s this intricate interplay of nature, nurture, and personality that determines what we find challenging.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Opening với discourse marker: “Well, I’d say”
- Organized theo factors: inherent aptitude → background → personality
- Each factor có explanation + example
- Conclusion acknowledges complexity: “intricate interplay”
Vocabulary:
- Abstract nouns: “inherent aptitude”, “prior exposure”, “cognitive strengths”, “spatial reasoning”
- Topic-specific: “meticulous”, “resilient”, “tolerance for ambiguity”, “structured environments”
- Collocations: “nurtured problem-solving skills”, “embrace setbacks”, “throw in the towel”
- Phrasal verbs: “boils down to”, “grown up in”, “excel at”, “struggle with”
Grammar:
- Conditional structures: “someone who’s grown up… will naturally find…”
- Relative clauses: “individuals who embrace setbacks”
- Comparative: “less daunting”, “more challenging”
- Present perfect for general truth: “I’ve noticed”
Critical Thinking:
- Acknowledges multiple factors (not simplistic)
- Uses hedging language: “I’d say”, “tend to”, “it seems”
- Provides workplace observation as evidence
- Shows nuanced understanding: “intricate interplay”

💡 Key Language Features:

Discourse markers: Well, On the one hand, On the other hand, That said, To illustrate, Ultimately
Tentative language: I’d say, largely, tend to, it seems
Abstract nouns: aptitude, exposure, resilience, ambiguity, parameters
Sophisticated vocabulary: inherent, meticulous, daunting, anxiety-inducing, intricate interplay

Question 2: Do you think schools should give students more challenging tasks?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Opinion (Do you think…? Should…?)
Key words: “schools”, “students”, “more challenging tasks”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Take a clear position (Yes/No/It depends)
- Give reasons với examples
- Acknowledge potential drawbacks (để show balanced thinking)
- Có thể mention age appropriateness hoặc individual differences

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I think schools should give more challenging tasks to students. When students do difficult tasks, they can develop their problem-solving skills and become more confident. However, the tasks should not be too difficult, or students will feel stressed and give up. Teachers should choose tasks that are suitable for each student’s level.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Direct answer → Reason + benefit → Caveat → Suggestion
Vocabulary: Basic expressions (difficult tasks, problem-solving skills, feel stressed)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear opinion với basic reasoning. Có attempt to show balance (“However…”) nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated language. Thiếu concrete examples.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Absolutely, though with some important caveats. I firmly believe that appropriate academic challenges are instrumental in fostering resilience and critical thinking skills. When students are pushed slightly beyond their comfort zones – what psychologists call the ‘zone of proximal development‘ – they undergo significant cognitive growth.

That said, the keyword here is ‘appropriate’. Overwhelming students with tasks that are far beyond their capabilities can be counterproductive, leading to anxiety and disengagement rather than growth. What’s crucial is that challenging tasks should be scaffolded – meaning teachers provide adequate support and gradually withdraw that support as students gain competence.

Moreover, we need to acknowledge that ‘challenging’ means different things for different students. A task that stretches one student might overwhelm another. This is where differentiated instruction becomes vital. In my view, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, schools should tailor challenges to individual students’ readiness levels.

On a broader level, I’d argue that our rapidly evolving job market demands individuals who can tackle complex, unprecedented problems. By exposing students to academic challenges early on, schools are essentially equipping them with the mental fortitude necessary for modern professional life. Take, for instance, the growing emphasis on project-based learning in progressive educational systems – this approach inherently involves challenges but also teaches students to embrace ambiguity and think creatively.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Clear position: “Absolutely, though with caveats”
- Multiple paragraphs với distinct points:
  1. Benefits với psychological concept
  2. Important qualification (appropriate level)
  3. Individual differences
  4. Societal relevance
- Each point has elaboration and/hoặc example
Vocabulary:
- Educational terminology: “zone of proximal development”, “scaffolded”, “differentiated instruction”, “project-based learning”
- Abstract concepts: “cognitive growth”, “mental fortitude”, “unprecedented problems”
- Sophisticated adjectives: “instrumental”, “counterproductive”, “progressive”
- Collocations: “fostering resilience”, “withdraw support”, “gain competence”, “rapidly evolving job market”
Grammar:
- Complex sentences với multiple clauses: “When students are pushed… they undergo…”
- Passive voice: “should be scaffolded”, “are essentially equipping”
- Relative clauses: “what psychologists call”, “A task that stretches”
- Gerunds: “Overwhelming students”, “By exposing students”
Critical Thinking:
- Introduces academic concept (zone of proximal development)
- Acknowledges complexity: different for different students
- Shows awareness of broader context: job market demands
- Provides concrete example: project-based learning
- Uses hedging appropriately: “I’d argue”, “in my view”
- Balanced view: strong opinion but với important qualifications

💡 Key Language Features:

Strong opinion markers: Absolutely, I firmly believe, I’d argue
Qualification language: though with caveats, That said, What’s crucial
Academic register: instrumental in, undergo, acknowledge, inherently
Evidence markers: Take for instance, in my view, on a broader level

Theme 2: Workplace Culture and Success

Question 3: What qualities do people need to complete difficult tasks successfully?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: What qualities/characteristics…?
Key words: “qualities”, “people need”, “complete difficult tasks successfully”
Cách tiếp cận:
- List 2-3 key qualities
- Explain why each quality matters
- Give examples or scenarios
- Có thể rank theo importance hoặc discuss combinations

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I think people need several qualities to complete difficult tasks. First, they need to be patient and not give up easily. Second, they should have good time management skills to organize their work. Third, it’s important to be able to work with other people because teamwork can help solve problems faster. Finally, being confident is also important so people don’t feel too stressed.”

Phân tích:

Structure: List format với First, Second, Third, Finally
Vocabulary: Basic quality words (patient, good time management, confident)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers multiple qualities nhưng explanation shallow. Mechanical listing structure. Thiếu sophisticated vocabulary và examples cụ thể.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“From my observation, the most critical quality is probably perseverance – the ability to persist despite setbacks. Difficult tasks invariably involve obstacles, and those who can maintain momentum through challenging periods tend to see things through to completion.

Equally important is adaptability. Rarely do complex projects go entirely according to plan, so people need to be flexible enough to pivot their strategies when circumstances change. I’ve seen numerous projects derailed not by lack of skill but by rigid adherence to plans that were no longer viable.

Another essential quality is what I’d call ‘strategic thinking‘ – the ability to break down intimidating tasks into manageable components and prioritize effectively. Without this, people often become paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of what they’re facing. To put it concretly, when I tackled my thesis, what got me through wasn’t just hard work but the ability to compartmentalize the project into weekly milestones.

I’d also emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness about one’s limitations and knowing when to seek help. The misconception that you must tackle everything independently often leads to unnecessary struggles. In today’s collaborative work environments, the ability to leverage others’ expertise is actually a strength, not a weakness.

Finally, and perhaps underappreciated, is stress tolerance. Difficult tasks generate pressure, and those who can maintain composure and make sound decisions under stress have a distinct advantage. That said, this doesn’t mean suppressing emotions but rather managing them constructively.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Each quality gets separate paragraph
- Opening: “From my observation” establishes authority
- Each quality: name it → explain why → example/elaboration
- Transitions: “Equally important”, “Another essential”, “I’d also emphasize”, “Finally”
- Nuanced conclusion với qualification
Vocabulary:
- Sophisticated quality words: “perseverance”, “adaptability”, “strategic thinking”, “emotional intelligence”, “stress tolerance”
- Strong verbs: “persist”, “pivot”, “derailed”, “paralyzed”, “leverage”, “suppressing”
- Collocations: “maintain momentum”, “see things through”, “rigid adherence”, “sheer magnitude”, “sound decisions”
- Abstract nouns: “obstacles”, “circumstances”, “limitations”, “misconception”
Grammar:
- Inversion for emphasis: “Rarely do complex projects…”
- Passive voice: “I’ve seen numerous projects derailed”
- Gerunds: “the ability to break down”, “knowing when to seek”
- Relative clauses: “those who can maintain”, “what got me through”
- Complex conditionals: implied trong “when circumstances change”
Critical Thinking:
- Ranks qualities: “most critical”, “equally important”
- Challenges assumptions: “misconception that you must tackle everything independently”
- Personal evidence: thesis example
- Nuanced view on emotions: not suppressing but managing
- Acknowledges underappreciated aspects
- Shows workplace awareness: “In today’s collaborative work environments”

💡 Key Language Features:

Authority markers: From my observation, I’d emphasize, I’ve seen
Emphasis structures: Rarely do…, What got me through wasn’t just… but…
Hedging: probably, tends to, I’d call, perhaps
Concrete examples: “To put it concretely”, thesis milestone example

Chuyên gia phân tích các yếu tố then chốt để hoàn thành nhiệm vụ khó khăn trong môi trường làm việc hiện đại

Question 4: How has the nature of challenging tasks changed in the modern workplace compared to the past?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Compare/Contrast (past vs present)
Key words: “nature”, “challenging tasks”, “modern workplace”, “compared to the past”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Establish past situation briefly
- Contrast với modern situation
- Explain reasons for changes (technology, globalization, etc.)
- Examples từ workplace trends
- Có thể mention implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“In the past, challenging tasks were usually about physical work or making things by hand. But now, most challenging tasks are about using technology and thinking skills. Also, in the past, people worked alone more often, but now teamwork is more important. Another difference is that modern work changes very fast, so people need to learn new things all the time. For example, my father’s job didn’t change much in his career, but my job requires me to learn new software every year.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Past situation → Present contrast → Additional difference → Example
Vocabulary: Basic (physical work, thinking skills, teamwork, changes fast)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Makes comparison clearly nhưng lacks sophistication. Từ vựng simple, thiếu deeper analysis về why changes occurred. Example personal chưa sophisticated.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“The nature of workplace challenges has undergone a dramatic transformation, I’d say. Historically, challenging tasks were often physically demanding or skill-based in a tangible sense – think of craftsmen mastering intricate techniques or workers handling complex machinery. Success was largely measurable through concrete outputs: products manufactured, buildings constructed, that sort of thing.

In stark contrast, today’s challenging tasks are predominantly cognitive and often involve navigating ambiguity. We’re dealing with what I’d call ‘wicked problems‘ – issues that are ill-defined, constantly evolving, and lack clear solutions. Take, for instance, the challenge of managing a remote team across multiple time zones while maintaining company culture. This wasn’t even a consideration a few decades ago.

What’s more, the pace of change has accelerated exponentially. Where previous generations might master a set of skills that would serve them throughout their careers, modern workers face what researchers call ‘continuous disruption‘. Technologies that are cutting-edge today can become obsolete within years. This necessitates constant upskilling and adaptability as core competencies rather than optional extras.

Another fundamental shift involves the collaborative dimension. While craftsmanship was often solitary, modern complex challenges inherently require cross-functional collaboration. A software project, for example, demands coordination between developers, designers, marketers, and business analysts – each bringing specialized expertise. The challenge isn’t just technical but interpersonal: navigating different perspectives and forging consensus.

Moreover, there’s now a psychological complexity that wasn’t as pronounced before. Modern workers grapple with information overload, the blurring of work-life boundaries through constant connectivity, and the pressure to remain perpetually relevant. Burnout has become endemic, suggesting that today’s challenges aren’t just harder – they’re harder in fundamentally different ways.

That said, I wouldn’t romanticize either era. Past challenges had their own hardships – dangerous working conditions, limited opportunities. But undeniably, the cognitive and psychological demands of modern work represent a paradigm shift in what we consider ‘challenging’.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Introduction establishes broad change
- Paragraph 1: Past characteristics
- Paragraph 2: Present contrast – ambiguity
- Paragraph 3: Pace of change
- Paragraph 4: Collaborative dimension
- Paragraph 5: Psychological aspect
- Conclusion: Balanced perspective
Vocabulary:
- Historical terms: “craftsmen”, “tangible”, “mastering intricate techniques”
- Modern concepts: “wicked problems”, “continuous disruption”, “cross-functional collaboration”, “information overload”
- Academic language: “undergone a dramatic transformation”, “accelerated exponentially”, “paradigm shift”
- Sophisticated adjectives: “ill-defined”, “solitary”, “endemic”, “perpetually”
- Collocations: “navigating ambiguity”, “cutting-edge technologies”, “forging consensus”, “blurring of boundaries”
Grammar:
- Past simple cho historical facts: “were often physically demanding”
- Present perfect cho changes: “has undergone”, “has accelerated”
- Complex comparisons: “In stark contrast”, “While… modern”
- Relative clauses: “Technologies that are cutting-edge”
- Passive constructions: “can become obsolete”, “has become endemic”
- Gerunds: “navigating different perspectives”, “forging consensus”
Critical Thinking:
- Uses academic terminology appropriately: “wicked problems”, “continuous disruption”, “paradigm shift”
- Provides specific modern example: remote team management
- Acknowledges multiple dimensions: cognitive, collaborative, psychological
- Shows awareness of research: “what researchers call”
- Balanced conclusion: doesn’t romanticize either era
- Explains causation: “This necessitates constant upskilling”
- Societal awareness: mentions burnout as endemic issue

💡 Key Language Features:

Comparison markers: Historically vs In stark contrast, Where… modern workers, While… modern
Emphasis: dramatically, exponentially, fundamentally, undeniably
Academic register: undergone transformation, necessitates, paradigm shift, pronounced
Hedging: I’d say, I wouldn’t romanticize, suggests that

Theme 3: Personal Development and Motivation

Question 5: Do you think people feel more satisfied when they complete difficult tasks compared to easy ones? Why?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Opinion + Reason (Do you think…? Why?)
Key words: “people feel”, “more satisfied”, “difficult vs easy tasks”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Take position (Yes/Depends)
- Explain psychological reasons
- Có thể reference concepts như achievement, effort, growth
- Examples from different contexts
- Acknowledge individual differences nếu relevant

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I believe people feel more satisfied when they complete difficult tasks. When something is difficult, people need to work harder and use more effort. So when they finally finish it, they feel very proud and happy. Easy tasks don’t give the same feeling because they don’t require much effort. For example, when I completed my difficult thesis, I felt more satisfied than when I finished easy homework assignments.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Direct answer → Reason (effort) → Comparison → Example
Vocabulary: Basic satisfaction words (proud, happy, satisfied)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear reasoning nhưng lacks psychological depth. Repetitive language (difficult, effort). Example personal chưa analyze deeper meaning.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Absolutely, and there’s actually compelling psychological research backing this up. The phenomenon is closely tied to what psychologists call ‘the effort justification effect‘ – essentially, the more effort we invest in something, the more we value the outcome. When we overcome a genuinely difficult challenge, it validates our competence and creates what I’d call a profound sense of accomplishment.

In contrast, easy tasks, while they might provide a fleeting sense of completion, rarely generate that deep satisfaction. It’s akin to the difference between fast food and a carefully prepared meal – one satiates briefly, the other nourishes more meaningfully. Easy tasks don’t stretch our capabilities, so completing them doesn’t affirm our growth or potential.

What’s particularly interesting is the role of struggle in the satisfaction equation. Counterintuitively, it’s often the moments of doubt, frustration, and near-failure during a difficult task that make the eventual success so rewarding. These challenges create what researchers call a ‘narrative arc‘ – a story with tension and resolution that’s psychologically compelling. An easy task lacks this dramatic tension, so the completion feels anticlimactic.

That said, there’s a caveat: the difficulty must be surmountable. Tasks that are impossibly difficult or that end in failure obviously don’t generate satisfaction – they produce demoralization. The sweet spot is what I mentioned earlier: that zone where something is challenging but achievable with effort. That’s where the most potent satisfaction lives.

Moreover, I think the satisfaction from difficult tasks compounds over time in ways that easy tasks don’t. When you’ve conquered something hard, it reshapes your self-perception – you see yourself as someone capable of handling challenges. This bolsters confidence for future endeavors. Easy tasks don’t catalyze this kind of identity transformation.

To illustrate, think about marathon runners. Nobody runs 42 kilometers because it’s easy or pleasant – it’s grueling. But ask any marathoner about their proudest moments, and completing that race will likely top the list. The difficulty isn’t incidental to the satisfaction; it’s integral to it.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Opening with strong agreement + mention research
- Paragraph 1: Psychological explanation (effort justification)
- Paragraph 2: Contrast với easy tasks + metaphor
- Paragraph 3: Role of struggle + narrative arc concept
- Paragraph 4: Important caveat (surmountable difficulty)
- Paragraph 5: Long-term effects on identity
- Conclusion: Concrete illustration (marathon example)
Vocabulary:
- Psychological terms: “effort justification effect”, “validates”, “narrative arc”, “identity transformation”
- Sophisticated satisfaction words: “profound sense of accomplishment”, “deep satisfaction”, “rewarding”, “potent”
- Academic language: “compelling research backing this up”, “counterintuitively”, “catalyze”
- Strong verbs: “invest”, “overcome”, “stretch”, “affirm”, “conquered”, “reshapes”, “bolsters”
- Precise adjectives: “fleeting”, “anticlimactic”, “surmountable”, “grueling”, “integral”
- Collocations: “backing this up”, “validates competence”, “near-failure”, “sweet spot”, “bolsters confidence”
Grammar:
- Complex sentences: “the more effort we invest, the more we value”
- Passive constructions: “is closely tied to”, “can’t be understated”
- Gerunds throughout: “overcoming a challenge”, “completing them doesn’t affirm”
- Relative clauses: “tasks that are impossibly difficult”, “something that’s challenging”
- Cleft sentences: “It’s the moments of doubt that make the success rewarding”
- Conditionals: implied trong “must be surmountable”
Critical Thinking:
- References psychological research legitimately
- Uses effective metaphor: fast food vs prepared meal
- Introduces counter-intuitive element: struggle enhances satisfaction
- Important qualification: must be achievable
- Explores long-term psychological effects
- Concrete, relatable example: marathon runners
- Distinguishes between incidental và integral difficulty
- Shows nuanced understanding: it’s not just about difficulty but the right level

💡 Key Language Features:

Academic authority: “compelling psychological research”, “what psychologists call”, “what researchers call”
Contrast markers: In contrast, Counterintuitively, That said
Metaphor/Analogy: fast food vs prepared meal, narrative arc
Qualification: there’s a caveat, The sweet spot is
Emphasis: particularly interesting, most potent, proudest moments
Illustration: To illustrate, think about

Question 6: What role do parents and teachers play in helping young people handle difficult tasks?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: What role…? (Descriptive + evaluative)
Key words: “parents and teachers”, “helping”, “young people”, “handle difficult tasks”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Separate roles của parents vs teachers hoặc discuss chung
- Types of support: emotional, practical, skill development
- Balance between helping và allowing struggle
- Examples cụ thể về effective support
- Có thể mention risks của over-helping

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Parents and teachers play a very important role in helping young people with difficult tasks. They can give advice and encouragement when young people feel stressed or want to give up. They should also teach young people good skills like time management and problem-solving. However, parents and teachers shouldn’t do everything for young people. They should let young people try by themselves so they can learn from their mistakes.”

Phân tích:

Structure: General statement → Types of support → Important caveat
Vocabulary: Basic support words (advice, encouragement, teach, help)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers key points nhưng lacks depth và sophistication. Thiếu specific examples và nuanced discussion về balance. Generic language.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Parents and teachers serve as crucial scaffolding – to use an educational term – but the key is knowing when to provide support and when to step back. It’s a delicate balance that, when struck correctly, fosters genuine resilience and competence.

From an emotional standpoint, adults play a vital role in normalizing struggle. Young people often catastrophize challenges, believing that difficulty signals inadequacy. When parents and teachers model a healthy perspective – that struggle is a natural part of learning, not evidence of failure – they equip young people with a growth mindset. To give you a concrete example, a teacher might say, ‘This problem is supposed to be challenging; let’s see what strategies we can try,’ rather than simply providing the solution.

On a practical level, adults can teach what I’d call ‘meta-skills‘ – not solving specific problems but teaching approaches to problem-solving. This includes breaking down complex tasks, seeking resources, managing time, and persisting through setbacks. The crucial distinction is between ‘doing for‘ versus ‘empowering to do‘. When a parent completes a child’s difficult science project, they rob them of the learning opportunity. But when they guide the child through the planning process, ask probing questions, and help them navigate obstacles without taking over, they’re building genuine capability.

However, there’s a troubling trend toward what researchers call ‘helicopter parenting‘ or over-scaffolding in education, where adults shield young people from any difficulty. This is profoundly counterproductive. Research consistently shows that young people who are constantly rescued from challenges develop lower resilience and higher anxiety. They never internalize the crucial lesson that they can handle difficulty.

The ideal role, in my view, is what psychologists call ‘responsive but not intrusive‘ support. This means being attentive to genuine struggles – recognizing when a young person is overwhelmed beyond their developmental capacity and needs intervention – while also allowing productive struggle. It’s about creating a safety net, not a cushion. To put it another way, young people need to know support is available if they truly need it, but they should be encouraged to stretch themselves first.

Moreover, adults can help young people reframe failure. In many Asian educational contexts, for instance, there’s often intense pressure for perfection, which makes tackling difficult tasks anxiety-ridden. Parents and teachers who help young people see that setbacks are informative rather than definitive are providing invaluable psychological support.

In essence, the role is to be a coach rather than a rescuer – providing the tools, encouragement, and occasional guidance while allowing the young person to do the actual work of conquering the challenge.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Introduction establishes key concept: scaffolding + balance
- Paragraph 1: Emotional support (normalizing struggle)
- Paragraph 2: Practical support (meta-skills) với clear distinction
- Paragraph 3: Caveat về over-helping
- Paragraph 4: Ideal approach (responsive but not intrusive)
- Paragraph 5: Cultural consideration (reframing failure)
- Conclusion: Metaphor (coach vs rescuer)
Vocabulary:
- Educational terminology: “scaffolding”, “growth mindset”, “meta-skills”, “responsive but not intrusive”
- Psychological concepts: “catastrophize”, “helicopter parenting”, “internalize”, “developmental capacity”
- Sophisticated verbs: “fosters”, “model”, “equip”, “rob”, “navigate”, “shield”, “reframe”
- Precise nouns: “resilience”, “competence”, “adequacy”, “setbacks”, “intervention”
- Strong collocations: “normalizing struggle”, “probing questions”, “building genuine capability”, “productive struggle”
- Academic language: “consistently shows”, “profoundly counterproductive”, “invaluable psychological support”
Grammar:
- Gerund structures: “knowing when to provide”, “teaching approaches to problem-solving”
- Complex conditionals: “when struck correctly, fosters”
- Comparative structures: “not… but…” (“not a cushion but a safety net”)
- Relative clauses: “young people who are constantly rescued”
- Passive constructions: “research consistently shows”, “This is profoundly counterproductive”
- Cleft sentences: “The crucial distinction is between…”
Critical Thinking:
- Uses educational terminology accurately (scaffolding, growth mindset)
- Makes important distinction: “doing for” vs “empowering to do”
- References research: “what researchers call”, “research consistently shows”
- Acknowledges problematic trend: helicopter parenting
- Provides concrete example: teacher’s response to challenge
- Cultural awareness: mentions Asian educational context
- Effective metaphors: coach vs rescuer, safety net vs cushion
- Nuanced understanding of balance: when to help vs when to step back
- Shows awareness of developmental psychology

💡 Key Language Features:

Educational register: scaffolding, meta-skills, growth mindset, over-scaffolding
Contrast structures: not… but…, rather than, versus, The crucial distinction
Research references: researchers call, research consistently shows, psychologists call
Examples: To give you a concrete example, To put it another way, for instance
Qualification: However, The ideal role, in my view
Emphasis: crucial, vital, profoundly, invaluable

Giáo viên đang hướng dẫn học sinh phát triển kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề một cách độc lập và hiệu quả

Theme 4: Social and Cultural Perspectives

Question 7: Are there any differences between how young people and older people approach difficult challenges?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Compare/Contrast (young vs old people)
Key words: “differences”, “young people and older people”, “approach difficult challenges”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Identify 2-3 key differences
- Explain reasons (experience, risk tolerance, technology, etc.)
- Avoid stereotyping – use hedging language
- Balance generalizations với acknowledgment of individual variation
- Examples từ observation

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I think there are some differences. Young people usually have more energy and are willing to try new things, so they might approach difficult challenges in a more enthusiastic way. They are also better with technology. Older people have more experience, so they can use their past knowledge to solve problems. However, they might be more careful and take fewer risks. Of course, this depends on each person’s personality too.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Affirmative answer → Young people characteristics → Older people characteristics → Caveat
Vocabulary: Basic descriptors (more energy, enthusiastic, careful, take fewer risks)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Makes valid points nhưng lacks depth và sophistication. Generalizations too broad without nuance. Thiếu specific examples và psychological/social explanations.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“There are certainly discernible patterns, though I should preface this by saying any generalization has its exceptions. That said, research and observation suggest some intriguing differences in approach.

One notable distinction lies in risk tolerance. Younger individuals often exhibit what economists call ‘optimism bias‘ – they tend to underestimate potential obstacles and overestimate their ability to overcome them. This can be a double-edged sword: it gives them the audacity to tackle challenges that might intimidate more experienced people, but it can also lead to naive decisions. Older individuals, having accumulated both successes and failures, tend to be more circumspect, carefully weighing pros and cons before committing. Their approach is often more strategic and measured.

Another key difference involves problem-solving strategies. Young people, particularly those who are ‘digital natives‘, often gravitate toward technology-based solutions and are comfortable with trial-and-error approaches. They’re willing to experiment, iterate quickly, and pivot if something isn’t working. In contrast, older generations might rely more heavily on proven methodologies and established frameworks. They bring what I’d call ‘pattern recognition‘ – the ability to see parallels between current challenges and past experiences. This can be invaluable, though it occasionally leads to rigid thinking when problems require unconventional solutions.

From a psychological perspective, there’s also a difference in stakes perception. Young people often feel they have ‘time on their side‘ – if one approach fails, they believe they have ample opportunity to recover. This can foster a more experimental mindset. Older individuals, conscious of time constraints and often with more responsibilities (families, mortgages), may perceive higher stakes in decisions, making them more risk-averse. That said, this isn’t always negative – prudence has its place.

What’s particularly interesting is the collaborative potential when bridging these approaches. I’ve observed in intergenerational teams that the dynamism and technological fluency of younger members complement the wisdom and contextual understanding of older colleagues. The synergy can be remarkably effective when mutual respect exists.

It’s also worth noting that these differences are narrowing in some respects. Many older adults today are embracing continuous learning and technology, challenging the stereotype of risk-averse, inflexible seniors. Similarly, some young people, perhaps due to economic uncertainty, are actually quite cautious in their approach to challenges.

Ultimately, I’d argue that the most effective approach synthesizes the boldness of youth with the wisdom of experience – regardless of one’s actual age.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Introduction: Acknowledges complexity + general statement
- Paragraph 1: Risk tolerance difference
- Paragraph 2: Problem-solving strategies
- Paragraph 3: Psychological perspective (stakes)
- Paragraph 4: Collaborative potential (positive angle)
- Paragraph 5: Nuance – differences narrowing
- Conclusion: Synthesis view
Vocabulary:
- Academic language: “discernible patterns”, “preface this”, “intriguing differences”, “circumspect”, “methodologies”
- Economic/psychological terms: “optimism bias”, “risk tolerance”, “stakes perception”, “pattern recognition”
- Sophisticated descriptors: “double-edged sword”, “audacity”, “naive”, “measured”, “prudence”
- Modern concepts: “digital natives”, “iterate quickly”, “pivot”, “intergenerational teams”
- Strong verbs: “exhibit”, “accumulated”, “gravitate toward”, “foster”, “synthesizes”
- Collocations: “proven methodologies”, “rigid thinking”, “unconventional solutions”, “ample opportunity”, “mutual respect”
Grammar:
- Complex conditionals: “if one approach fails, they believe…”
- Relative clauses: “those who are digital natives”, “pattern recognition – the ability to see…”
- Present participles: “having accumulated”, “conscious of time constraints”
- Passive constructions: “are narrowing”, “is worth noting”
- Comparative structures: “more strategic”, “more risk-averse”
- Conditional perfect: implied in “can be invaluable”
Critical Thinking:
- Hedging appropriately: “certainly”, “tend to”, “often”, “might”, “generally”
- Acknowledges exceptions: “I should preface this”, “any generalization has exceptions”
- Uses research terminology: “what economists call”, “what I’d call”
- Balanced view: Shows both advantages và disadvantages of each approach
- Avoids stereotyping: “These differences are narrowing”
- Offers synthesis: “most effective approach synthesizes…”
- Multiple perspectives: Risk, problem-solving, psychology, collaboration
- Concrete observation: “I’ve observed in intergenerational teams”
- Cultural awareness: Economic uncertainty affecting young people
- Metaphors: “double-edged sword”, “time on their side”

💡 Key Language Features:

Cautious generalization: “There are certainly”, “tend to”, “often”, “can be”
Academic register: discernible, circumspect, methodologies, synthesizes
Balanced discourse: “That said”, “In contrast”, “On the other hand”, “Ultimately”
Multiple dimensions: risk → problem-solving → psychology → collaboration → trends
Research reference: “what economists call”, “research and observation suggest”
Nuance markers: “This isn’t always negative”, “has its place”

Question 8: Do you think society puts too much pressure on people to always be successful and overcome challenges?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

Dạng: Opinion + Social commentary (Do you think…?)
Key words: “society”, “too much pressure”, “always be successful”, “overcome challenges”
Cách tiếp cận:
- Take clear position (Yes/To some extent/Depends)
- Analyze sources of pressure (social media, education system, work culture)
- Discuss consequences (positive and negative)
- Consider cultural factors
- Offer balanced perspective
- Có thể suggest alternatives

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I think society does put too much pressure on people to be successful. Everywhere we see messages about success and achievement, especially on social media. People always share their best moments, which makes others feel they must also be perfect. This pressure can cause stress and make people unhappy. I think it would be better if society accepted that failure is normal and people don’t need to be successful all the time. Everyone should be able to make mistakes and learn from them without feeling bad.”

Phân tích:

Structure: Direct answer → Evidence (social media) → Consequence → Suggestion
Vocabulary: Basic (too much pressure, successful, stress, unhappy, feel bad)
Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear opinion với valid points nhưng lacks depth. Thiếu sophisticated analysis về systemic factors. Language còn simple, thiếu nuance về complexity của issue.

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“I’d argue that, yes, we’re living in what some sociologists call a ‘cult of achievement‘, and it’s having profound consequences for mental wellbeing. The pressure isn’t just excessive – it’s also relentless and increasingly performative.

To unpack this, consider the myriad sources of this pressure. Social media has created this curated version of reality where everyone appears to be perpetually achieving – launching businesses, traveling exotically, maintaining perfect work-life balance. It’s what researchers term ‘highlight reel culture‘, and it fosters debilitating comparison. We’re bombarded with aspirational content that suggests any difficulty we face is due to personal inadequacy rather than systemic challenges.

The workplace has amplified this through what’s called ‘hustle culture‘ – the glorification of constant productivity and the demonization of rest. Terms like ‘side hustle‘ and ‘grinding‘ have normalized the idea that perpetual striving is not just desirable but mandatory. Taking time to recover from setbacks is increasingly stigmatized rather than recognized as psychologically necessary.

Educational systems compound this by placing disproportionate emphasis on measurable achievements – test scores, university admissions, prestigious internships. Students are often tracked from young ages into rigid trajectories, with failure to meet arbitrary milestones framed as catastrophic. The collateral damage is staggering: rising rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, even among adolescents.

What’s particularly insidious about this pressure is its individualization. When people struggle, there’s a tendency to frame it as personal failure rather than acknowledging structural barriers – economic inequality, limited opportunities, systemic discrimination. This compounds the psychological burden: you’re not just facing difficulty; you’re also feeling ashamed for not overcoming it effortlessly.

That said, I don’t think all emphasis on achievement is problematic. The crucial distinction is between healthy striving – pursuing challenges for intrinsic growth and meaningful contribution – versus toxic hustle driven by external validation and fear of inadequacy. The former can be enriching; the latter is depleting.

What we desperately need is a cultural shift toward what I’d call ‘compassionate realism‘ – acknowledging that struggle is inherent to the human experience, that setbacks are informative rather than definitive, and that rest and recovery are productive, not indulgent. Some progressive workplaces are beginning to embrace this, prioritizing mental health and normalizing failure as part of innovation.

Moreover, we need to broaden our definition of success beyond narrow metrics like wealth, status, and productivity. Success might also mean cultivating meaningful relationships, contributing to community, maintaining wellbeing, or simply navigating life’s challenges with integrity. Until we make this shift, the pressure will remain excessive and damaging.”

Phân tích:

Structure:
- Strong opening: Takes clear position + introduces concept (cult of achievement)
- Paragraph 1: Social media pressure (highlight reel culture)
- Paragraph 2: Workplace pressure (hustle culture)
- Paragraph 3: Educational system pressure
- Paragraph 4: Individualization problem (structural vs personal)
- Paragraph 5: Important distinction (healthy vs toxic striving)
- Paragraph 6: Solutions – cultural shift
- Paragraph 7: Broader definition của success
- Conclusion: Consequences if no change
Vocabulary:
- Sociological terms: “cult of achievement”, “highlight reel culture”, “hustle culture”, “performative”, “systemic barriers”
- Mental health language: “debilitating comparison”, “anxiety”, “depression”, “burnout”, “mental wellbeing”
- Academic expressions: “to unpack this”, “compound this”, “collateral damage”, “insidious”, “compassionate realism”
- Strong adjectives: “relentless”, “curated”, “perpetual”, “staggering”, “enriching”, “depleting”
- Sophisticated verbs: “fosters”, “bombarded”, “amplified”, “glorification”, “stigmatized”, “prioritizing”
- Collocations: “profound consequences”, “arbitrary milestones”, “structural barriers”, “toxic hustle”, “intrinsic growth”
Grammar:
- Complex noun phrases: “the curated version of reality where everyone appears to be perpetually achieving”
- Gerund subjects: “Taking time to recover”, “pursuing challenges for intrinsic growth”
- Passive constructions: “is increasingly stigmatized”, “are tracked from young ages”, “is framed as”
- Cleft sentences: “What’s particularly insidious is…”, “What we desperately need is…”
- Relative clauses: “pressure that isn’t just excessive”, “challenges that are systemic”
- Present perfect: “has created”, “has amplified”
- Conditionals: “Until we make this shift, the pressure will remain…”
Critical Thinking:
- Sophisticated social analysis: Identifies multiple systemic sources (social media, workplace, education)
- Uses academic terminology: References researchers, sociologists, psychological concepts
- Distinguishes types: Healthy vs toxic achievement pressure
- Acknowledges complexity: “That said”, “The crucial distinction”
- Shows awareness of consequences: Mental health impacts, individualization of structural problems
- Proposes solutions: Cultural shift, broader success definitions
- Cultural commentary: Progressive workplaces, changing norms
- Philosophical depth: Questions societal values và definitions
- Empathetic perspective: Acknowledges suffering caused by pressure
- Systemic thinking: Doesn’t just blame individuals, analyzes structures

💡 Key Language Features:

Academic authority: “what sociologists call”, “what researchers term”, “what’s called”
Strong opinion markers: “I’d argue that”, “What we desperately need”, “What’s particularly insidious”
Analytical phrases: “To unpack this”, “To compound this”, “The crucial distinction is”
Emphasis structures: “isn’t just… it’s also”, “not just… you’re also”
Solution-oriented: “What we desperately need”, “Until we make this shift”
Societal scope: Discusses broader implications beyond individuals

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
spearhead	v	/ˈspɪəhed/	dẫn đầu, khởi xướng (một dự án/phong trào)	I spearheaded a fundraising campaign for charity.	spearhead an initiative/project/campaign/movement
daunting	adj	/ˈdɔːntɪŋ/	đáng sợ, nản lòng, khó khăn	The task seemed daunting at first.	daunting task/challenge/prospect/responsibility
overwhelmed	adj	/ˌəʊvəˈwelmd/	choáng ngợp, quá tải	I felt overwhelmed by the workload.	feel/become overwhelmed by something
perseverance	n	/ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/	sự kiên trì, bền bỉ	Success requires perseverance and hard work.	show/demonstrate/require perseverance
resilience	n	/rɪˈzɪliəns/	khả năng phục hồi, sức bật	The experience built my resilience.	build/develop/demonstrate resilience
juggle	v	/ˈdʒʌɡl/	xoay xở nhiều việc cùng lúc	I had to juggle work and studies.	juggle multiple tasks/responsibilities/commitments
nerve-wracking	adj	/ˈnɜːv rækɪŋ/	căng thẳng thần kinh, lo lắng	The presentation was nerve-wracking.	nerve-wracking experience/situation/ordeal
surmount	v	/səˈmaʊnt/	vượt qua, khắc phục (khó khăn)	We managed to surmount all obstacles.	surmount difficulties/obstacles/challenges
milestone	n	/ˈmaɪlstəʊn/	cột mốc quan trọng	Completing the project was a major milestone.	reach/achieve/mark a milestone
transformative	adj	/trænsˈfɔːmətɪv/	có tính chất biến đổi, thay đổi sâu sắc	It was a transformative experience.	transformative experience/journey/moment/impact
painstaking	adj	/ˈpeɪnzteɪkɪŋ/	tỉ mỉ, công phu, cẩn thận	The research required painstaking effort.	painstaking work/effort/research/detail
relentless	adj	/rɪˈlentləs/	không ngừng, dai dẳng, kiên trì	His relentless determination paid off.	relentless effort/pursuit/determination/pressure
insurmountable	adj	/ˌɪnsəˈmaʊntəbl/	không thể vượt qua	The problems seemed insurmountable.	insurmountable obstacle/challenge/problem/difficulty
euphoric	adj	/juːˈfɒrɪk/	hưng phấn, phấn khởi tột độ	I felt euphoric when I succeeded.	feel euphoric, euphoric feeling/moment
cultivate	v	/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/	trau dồi, phát triển (kỹ năng, phẩm chất)	The experience cultivated my leadership skills.	cultivate skills/relationships/resilience/mindset
aptitude	n	/ˈæptɪtjuːd/	năng khiếu, khả năng thiên bẩm	She has an aptitude for mathematics.	natural/inherent aptitude for something
meticulous	adj	/məˈtɪkjələs/	tỉ mỉ, cẩn thận đến chi tiết nhỏ	He is meticulous in his work.	meticulous attention/planning/care/preparation
adaptability	n	/əˌdæptəˈbɪləti/	khả năng thích nghi	Adaptability is crucial in the modern workplace.	demonstrate/require/show adaptability
scaffold	v	/ˈskæfəʊld/	hỗ trợ từng bước (trong giáo dục)	Teachers should scaffold difficult tasks.	scaffold learning/instruction/support
intrinsic	adj	/ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/	nội tại, bên trong	I pursue challenges for intrinsic satisfaction.	intrinsic motivation/value/reward

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
push someone to their limits	đẩy ai đó đến giới hạn khả năng	This project really pushed me to my limits.	7.5-9
out of one’s comfort zone	ra khỏi vùng an toàn	I had to step out of my comfort zone.	7-8.5
hit a wall	gặp phải rào cản lớn, bế tắc	I hit a wall with the technical problems.	7.5-9
burn the midnight oil	thức khuya làm việc	I was burning the midnight oil to meet deadlines.	7.5-9
bite off more than one can chew	nhận việc quá sức mình	I’d bitten off more than I could chew.	7.5-9
rise to the occasion	vươn lên đáp ứng thử thách	I was determined to rise to the occasion.	7.5-9
go the extra mile	nỗ lực hơn mức cần thiết	I went the extra mile to ensure quality.	7-8.5
weather the storm	vượt qua giai đoạn khó khăn	We managed to weather the storm together.	7.5-9
throw in the towel	từ bỏ, đầu hàng	I was tempted to throw in the towel.	7.5-9
pull through	vượt qua thành công	With support, I managed to pull through.	7-8.5
see something through (to completion)	hoàn thành điều gì đó đến cùng	I was determined to see the project through.	7.5-9
in over one’s head	vượt quá khả năng kiểm soát	At first, I felt I was in over my head.	7.5-9
break new ground	khám phá lĩnh vực mới, tiên phong	This research broke new ground in the field.	8-9
make or break	quyết định thành bại	This presentation was a make-or-break moment.	7.5-9
pull off	thành công làm điều khó	Against all odds, we pulled it off.	7.5-8.5
take something in one’s stride	xử lý khó khăn một cách bình tĩnh	She took the challenges in her stride.	8-9
cut one’s teeth on something	tích lũy kinh nghiệm qua việc làm việc gì khó	I cut my teeth on challenging projects early in my career.	8-9
move mountains	làm điều không tưởng, nỗ lực phi thường	With determination, you can move mountains.	7-8.5

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

📝 Well,… – Sử dụng khi cần vài giây suy nghĩ hoặc muốn sound natural
📝 Actually,… – Khi muốn correct một perception hoặc introduce surprising information
📝 To be honest,… / Honestly speaking,… – Khi đưa ra quan điểm thật lòng
📝 I’d say that… / I would say… – Hedging language để sound less forceful
📝 From my perspective,… – Thể hiện đây là personal viewpoint
📝 In my experience,… – Khi dựa vào trải nghiệm bản thân

Để bổ sung ý:

📝 On top of that,… / What’s more,… – Thêm information quan trọng
📝 Not to mention… – Nhấn mạnh điểm bổ sung
📝 Moreover,… / Furthermore,… – Formal way to add information
📝 Additionally,… – Thêm điểm khác
📝 Another thing worth mentioning is… – Giới thiệu new point

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – So sánh hai mặt
📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Acknowledge điểm đối lập
📝 That said,… / Having said that,… – Introduce contrasting viewpoint
📝 However,… / Nevertheless,… – Contrast với ý trước
📝 At the same time,… – Thêm parallel consideration

Để đưa ra ví dụ:

📝 For instance,… / For example,… – Giới thiệu example
📝 Take…, for example – Specific example structure
📝 To illustrate,… / To give you a concrete example,… – Formal introduction của example
📝 Let me give you an example… – Natural conversation style
📝 A case in point is… – Academic style

Để giải thích rõ hơn:

📝 What I mean is… / In other words,… – Clarify ý đã nói
📝 To put it another way,… – Rephrase để rõ hơn
📝 That is to say,… – Formal clarification
📝 Essentially,… / Basically,… – Simplify complex idea

Để nhấn mạnh:

📝 The thing is,… / The point is,… – Focus attention
📝 What’s particularly interesting/important is… – Highlight significance
📝 It’s worth noting that… – Emphasize noteworthy point
📝 I can’t stress enough how… – Strong emphasis

Để kết luận:

📝 All in all,… / Overall,… – Summarize
📝 At the end of the day,… – Informal conclusion
📝 In conclusion,… / To sum up,… – Formal conclusion
📝 Ultimately,… – Final judgment
📝 In essence,… – Core message

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed Conditional:

Formula: If + Past Perfect, would/could + base verb (mix past condition với present result)
Ví dụ: “If I hadn’t persevered through those challenges, I wouldn’t be as confident as I am today.”
Sử dụng: Khi nói về past action affecting present situation

Inversion for emphasis:

Formula: Had/Were + subject + past participle/adjective, subject + would…
Ví dụ: “Had I known how difficult it would be, I might have approached it differently.”
Sử dụng: Formal style, tạo dramatic effect

2. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

What clauses:

Formula: What + clause + is/was…
Ví dụ: “What made the task particularly challenging was the tight deadline.”
Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh specific aspect

It cleft:

Formula: It + be + focus + that/who…
Ví dụ: “It was my supervisor’s support that kept me motivated.”
Sử dụng: Shift focus to particular element

The thing that:

Formula: The thing that + clause + is…
Ví dụ: “The thing that I’m most proud of is how I developed my problem-solving skills.”
Sử dụng: Conversational way to emphasize

3. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining (with commas):

Formula: …, which/who + clause, …
Ví dụ: “The project, which took four months to complete, transformed my approach to challenges.”
Sử dụng: Add extra information

Reduced relative clauses:

Formula: Noun + V-ing/V-ed…
Ví dụ: “Students facing difficult challenges often develop greater resilience.”
Sử dụng: More concise, sophisticated

4. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

Impersonal passive (formal):

Formula: It is thought/believed/said/considered that…
Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that overcoming challenges builds character.”
Sử dụng: Present information objectively

Perfect passive:

Formula: has/have been + past participle
Ví dụ: “My perspective has been shaped by numerous challenging experiences.”
Sử dụng: Show completed action affecting present

5. Participle Clauses:

Present participle (-ing):

Formula: V-ing…, main clause
Ví dụ: “Facing numerous setbacks, I learned to persevere.”
Sử dụng: Show simultaneous actions hoặc reason

Past participle (-ed):

Formula: V-ed/V3…, main clause
Ví dụ: “Exhausted by the workload, I nearly gave up.”
Sử dụng: Show earlier completed action

6. Inversion Structures:

Negative inversion:

Formula: Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb, but also…
Ví dụ: “Not only did I complete the task, but I also exceeded expectations.”
Sử dụng: Dramatic emphasis

Rarely/Seldom inversion:

Formula: Rarely/Seldom + auxiliary + subject + verb…
Ví dụ: “Rarely have I felt so challenged yet so motivated.”
Sử dụng: Emphasize unusual nature

Với tư cách examiner, tôi muốn nhấn mạnh: Không có công thức ma thuật cho IELTS Speaking band cao. Điều quan trọng nhất là authenticity – trả lời chân thật, tự nhiên, với vocabulary và grammar phù hợp mức độ của bạn. Các bài mẫu band 8-9 trong bài viết này không phải để bạn học thuộc lòng, mà để hiểu được những yếu tố tạo nên câu trả lời xuất sắc: depth of ideas, sophisticated language used naturally, và ability to discuss issues từ nhiều góc độ.

Lời khuyên cuối cùng từ một examiner:

Practice naturally: Record yourself và listen back – bạn có nghe tự nhiên không?
Build genuine vocabulary: Học từ trong context, không học lists
Develop ideas: Đọc về social issues, form opinions
Don’t memorize: Templates sound robotic và sẽ bị penalized
Stay calm: Examiner muốn bạn succeed – we’re not trying to trick you

Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking!

What are You Looking For?

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Difficult Task You Completed” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Cue Card

Phân Tích Đề Bài

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Education and Work Challenges

Theme 2: Workplace Culture and Success

Theme 3: Personal Development and Motivation

Theme 4: Social and Cultural Perspectives

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời "Describe a Person You Have Recently Met" - Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời "Describe A Time When You Received A Compliment Unexpectedly" - Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

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IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Time When You Received A Compliment Unexpectedly” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

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IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Difficult Task You Completed” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Cue Card

Phân Tích Đề Bài

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Education and Work Challenges

Theme 2: Workplace Culture and Success

Theme 3: Personal Development and Motivation

Theme 4: Social and Cultural Perspectives

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời "Describe a Person You Have Recently Met" - Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời "Describe A Time When You Received A Compliment Unexpectedly" - Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Leave a Comment Cancel

Read Next

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Time When You Received A Compliment Unexpectedly” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe a Place You Visited That Has Cultural Importance” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Live Sports Match That You Have Watched” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

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