IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Job You Would Like To Do In The Future” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Chủ đề nghề nghiệp tương lai là một trong những topic phổ biến và quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking. Với tư cách là một examiner có hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi, tôi nhận thấy đây là chủ đề xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các kỳ thi từ 2020 đến nay, với tần suất khoảng 15-20% trong Part 2. Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai: Cao, vì chủ đề này cho phép giám khảo đánh giá được khả năng sử dụng thì tương lai, từ vựng chuyên ngành, và tư duy logic của thí sinh.

Chủ đề “Describe A Job You Would Like To Do In The Future” không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng ngôn ngữ mà còn phản ánh sự trưởng thành trong suy nghĩ về định hướng nghề nghiệp. Các góc độ thường được hỏi bao gồm: mô tả công việc cụ thể, kỹ năng cần thiết, lý do lựa chọn, tác động xã hội của nghề nghiệp, và xu hướng thị trường lao động.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:

• 12 câu hỏi thực tế xuất hiện trong cả 3 Part của IELTS Speaking
• Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích chuyên sâu
• Hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm liên quan đến nghề nghiệp
• Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của examiner
• Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
• Discourse markers và grammatical structures giúp nâng band điểm

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích cá nhân, và các chủ đề quen thuộc như công việc, học tập. Đây là phần “warm-up” để bạn cảm thấy thoải mái trước khi chuyển sang các phần khó hơn.

Chiến lược quan trọng: Mỗi câu trả lời nên có 2-3 câu, bao gồm: câu trả lời trực tiếp + lý do/giải thích + ví dụ cụ thể. Đừng chỉ trả lời “Yes” hay “No” – đây là lỗi phổ biến nhất của học viên Việt Nam.

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn, thiếu elaboration (chỉ 1 câu)
• Dùng từ vựng quá đơn giản, lặp lại từ trong câu hỏi
• Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Không tự nhiên, nghe như đang đọc thuộc lòng

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you work or are you a student?

Question 2: What subject are you studying? / What do you do for work?

Question 3: Why did you choose this field of study/work?

Question 4: What would you like to do in the future?

Question 5: What kind of jobs are popular in your country?

Question 6: Do you think salary is the most important factor when choosing a job?

Question 7: Would you like to have the same job for a long time?

Question 8: What’s more important – job satisfaction or a high salary?

Question 9: Did you want to be a particular professional when you were young?

Question 10: Have your career goals changed over time?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

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Question: What would you like to do in the future?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Đưa ra câu trả lời trực tiếp về nghề nghiệp mong muốn
• Giải thích ngắn gọn lý do chọn nghề đó
• Thêm một chi tiết cụ thể về kế hoạch hoặc kỹ năng cần có

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I would like to become a marketing manager in the future. I think this job is interesting because I can be creative and work with many people. I’m studying business now to prepare for this career.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp, có lý do cơ bản, có liên kết với hiện tại
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng đơn giản (interesting, many people), thiếu depth, câu ngắn và structure đơn điệu
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Đủ thông tin nhưng chưa impressive, vocabulary adequate nhưng không sophisticated, grammar đơn giản nhưng accurate

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“I’m really keen on pursuing a career in digital marketing management, particularly in the e-commerce sector. What appeals to me most about this field is the perfect blend of creativity and data analysis – you need to craft compelling campaigns while also interpreting metrics to optimize performance. I’m currently building up relevant experience through internships and online certifications.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary sophisticated: “keen on pursuing”, “appeals to me”, “perfect blend”, “compelling campaigns”, “interpreting metrics”
  • Structure phức tạp: câu ghép với mệnh đề quan hệ
  • Chi tiết cụ thể: e-commerce sector, blend of creativity and analysis
  • Linking tự nhiên: particularly, while, currently
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Trôi chảy, natural pausing
  • Vocabulary: Topic-specific lexis (digital marketing, e-commerce, metrics)
  • Grammar: Complex sentences với participle clauses
  • Ideas: Specific và insightful (blend of creativity & data)

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• keen on pursuing a career: say mê theo đuổi sự nghiệp
• appeals to me: hấp dẫn tôi, thu hút tôi
• perfect blend: sự kết hợp hoàn hảo
• compelling campaigns: chiến dịch hấp dẫn, thuyết phục
• interpreting metrics: phân tích các chỉ số
• building up experience: tích lũy kinh nghiệm

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Question: Do you think salary is the most important factor when choosing a job?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng (Yes/No/Depends)
• Acknowledge tầm quan trọng của lương nhưng mention các factors khác
• Cho ví dụ hoặc personal perspective

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“No, I don’t think salary is the most important thing. Job satisfaction is also very important. If you don’t like your job, you won’t be happy even with a high salary. I think we need to balance between money and enjoying our work.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Có quan điểm rõ ràng, đưa ra counterpoint về job satisfaction, có conclusion
• Hạn chế: Vocabulary basic (very important, don’t like, be happy), thiếu specific examples, structure đơn giản
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative và coherent nhưng thiếu sophistication trong language

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“Well, I’d say it depends on your life stage, but personally, I don’t think salary should be the sole determining factor. While financial security is undeniably important, especially when you have family responsibilities, I believe job fulfillment and opportunities for growth matter just as much. I mean, spending 40+ hours a week in a job you find utterly unfulfilling just for a high paycheck can really take a toll on your mental health.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Discourse markers natural: “Well”, “I mean”
  • Nuanced view: “depends on your life stage”
  • Advanced vocabulary: “sole determining factor”, “undeniably”, “utterly unfulfilling”, “take a toll on”
  • Balanced argument: acknowledge importance of salary but emphasize other factors
  • Specific detail: “40+ hours a week”, “mental health”
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Natural hesitation devices (Well, I mean)
  • Vocabulary: Collocations (financial security, family responsibilities, mental health)
  • Grammar: Complex conditionals, adverbial clauses
  • Critical thinking: Shows maturity and balanced perspective

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• life stage: giai đoạn cuộc đời
• sole determining factor: yếu tố quyết định duy nhất
• undeniably important: quan trọng không thể phủ nhận
• job fulfillment: sự thỏa mãn trong công việc
• opportunities for growth: cơ hội phát triển
• utterly unfulfilling: hoàn toàn không mang lại sự thỏa mãn
• take a toll on: ảnh hưởng tiêu cực đến

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Question: Have your career goals changed over time?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Sử dụng thì quá khứ để nói về goals trước đây
• So sánh với goals hiện tại
• Giải thích lý do thay đổi (maturity, new interests, market trends)

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, they have changed a lot. When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher because I liked my teachers at school. But now I want to work in technology because it has more opportunities and better salary. I think my interests changed as I grew up.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Có comparison giữa past và present, đưa ra lý do cơ bản
• Hạn chế: Vocabulary repetitive (wanted, liked), explanation superficial, thiếu detail về transformation process
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated language

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“Absolutely, they’ve evolved quite significantly. When I was in primary school, I was dead set on becoming a veterinarian because I was passionate about animals. However, as I matured and gained more exposure to different fields, I realized that my strengths actually lie in analytical thinking and problem-solving rather than hands-on medical work. That’s what led me to pivot towards data science, which I find much more aligned with my natural aptitudes. I think it’s quite normal for career aspirations to shift as you gain self-awareness.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Strong opening: “Absolutely” + “evolved quite significantly”
  • Narrative structure: past → transition → present
  • Self-reflection: “realized that my strengths lie in”, “gain self-awareness”
  • Advanced collocations: “dead set on”, “gained exposure to”, “aligned with”, “natural aptitudes”
  • Mature conclusion: acknowledges this is a normal process
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Smooth transitions between timeframes
  • Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions (dead set on, pivot towards)
  • Grammar: Perfect tenses, complex clauses với “as”
  • Ideas: Demonstrates personal growth và self-awareness

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• evolved quite significantly: phát triển đáng kể
• dead set on becoming: quyết tâm trở thành
• passionate about: đam mê về
• gained more exposure to: tiếp xúc nhiều hơn với
• strengths lie in: điểm mạnh nằm ở
• led me to pivot towards: dẫn tôi chuyển hướng sang
• aligned with: phù hợp với
• natural aptitudes: khả năng tự nhiên
• shift as you gain self-awareness: thay đổi khi bạn hiểu rõ bản thân

Thí sinh đang trả lời câu hỏi về nghề nghiệp tương lai trong phần thi IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần quan trọng nhất của IELTS Speaking, chiếm tỷ trọng lớn trong việc đánh giá năng lực thí sinh. Bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị và phải nói liên tục 2-3 phút về một chủ đề cụ thể.

Chiến lược quan trọng:

• Sử dụng đủ 1 phút chuẩn bị: Ghi chú keywords, không viết câu hoàn chỉnh. Tôi khuyên các bạn ghi 3-5 từ khóa cho mỗi bullet point
• Nói đủ 2 phút: Đây là yêu cầu tối thiểu. Nếu bạn nói dưới 1.5 phút, điểm sẽ bị ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng
• Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points: Đừng bỏ sót bất kỳ yêu cầu nào
• Câu “explain” là quan trọng nhất: Đây là nơi bạn thể hiện depth of thinking

Lỗi thường gặp:

• Viết quá nhiều trong 1 phút preparation (waste time)
• Nói quá nhanh và kết thúc sau 1 phút
• Tập trung quá nhiều vào bullet point đầu, bỏ qua các bullet khác
• Không sử dụng past tense khi kể về trải nghiệm

Cue Card

Describe a job you would like to do in the future

You should say:

• What the job is
• What skills and qualifications are needed for this job
• What the job involves
• And explain why you would like to do this job

Phân Tích Đề Bài

• Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a job (future aspiration)
• Thì động từ: Chủ yếu dùng Present Simple (để mô tả công việc) và Future forms (would like, will need, plan to)
• Bullet points phải cover:
  1. Job name và brief description
  2. Required skills/qualifications (2-3 items cụ thể)
  3. Job responsibilities/daily tasks
  4. Personal reasons cho việc chọn nghề này
• Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là phần ghi điểm cao nhất. Bạn cần thể hiện được personal values, long-term vision, và how this job aligns với your strengths. Đừng chỉ nói “because it’s interesting” – hãy đi sâu vào WHY it’s meaningful to you.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

“I would like to talk about being a software developer, which is a job I really want to do in the future.

To become a software developer, you need to have good programming skills. You should know languages like Python or Java. Also, you need a university degree in computer science or a related field. Problem-solving skills are also important because you need to fix bugs and create solutions.

The job involves writing code for computer programs and applications. Software developers work in teams to create websites, mobile apps, or software systems. They also need to test their code and fix any problems. Sometimes they have meetings with clients to understand what they want.

I would like to do this job for several reasons. First, I’m very interested in technology and computers. I enjoy learning about new programming languages. Second, this job has a good salary and many opportunities in Vietnam and abroad. The demand for developers is very high now. Finally, I like the idea of creating something useful that many people can use. It’s satisfying to see your work helping others.

That’s why I’m currently studying computer science at university and learning programming in my free time. I hope to become a good software developer in the next few years.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Nói liên tục được 1.5-2 phút, có structure rõ ràng theo bullet points. Sử dụng basic connectors (First, Second, Finally). Có một vài hesitation nhẹ nhưng không ảnh hưởng communication
Lexical Resource	6-7	Vocabulary adequate và relevant (software developer, programming skills, problem-solving, bug). Có một số collocations tốt (good salary, related field) nhưng còn repetitive (good, many, like)
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng mix of simple và complex sentences. Có present simple, present continuous, future forms. Một số errors nhỏ nhưng không ảnh hưởng meaning. Thiếu variety trong structures
Pronunciation	6-7	Clear pronunciation, dễ hiểu. Word stress và sentence stress cơ bản accurate. Intonation hơi monotone

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Cover đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
• ✅ Structure logic và dễ follow
• ✅ Có specific details (Python, Java, mobile apps)
• ✅ Personal reasons được mention

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Vocabulary còn basic, lặp lại (good, many, like)
• ⚠️ Explanation chưa deep, thiếu personal insight
• ⚠️ Sentences đơn điệu, thiếu complex structures
• ⚠️ Duration hơi ngắn (1.5-2 phút), nên aim for 2+ phút

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

“I’d like to talk about a career path I’m genuinely passionate about, which is becoming a UX/UI designer in the tech industry.

In terms of required qualifications, you typically need a degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field, though I’ve noticed many successful designers are self-taught these days. The essential skills include proficiency in design software like Figma or Adobe XD, a strong understanding of user psychology, and excellent visual communication abilities. What’s particularly important is having a solid portfolio that showcases your design thinking process, not just pretty interfaces.

The role itself is quite multifaceted. On a daily basis, UX/UI designers conduct user research to understand customer needs and pain points. They create wireframes and prototypes, run usability tests, and collaborate closely with developers and product managers to bring designs to life. There’s also a significant amount of iterative refinement based on user feedback. It’s not just about making things look good – it’s about solving real problems and enhancing user experience.

What really draws me to this profession is the perfect intersection of creativity and logical problem-solving. I’ve always been artistically inclined, but I also love the analytical aspect of understanding user behavior and designing solutions based on data. Moreover, seeing your designs positively impact thousands or even millions of users is incredibly rewarding. There’s something deeply fulfilling about knowing you’ve made someone’s digital experience smoother or more enjoyable.

Another aspect that appeals to me is the continuous learning involved. Design trends and technologies are constantly evolving, which means you never stop growing. I’m currently building my portfolio through freelance projects and taking online courses in interaction design, hoping to break into the field within the next year or two.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation. Excellent use của discourse markers (In terms of, Moreover, Another aspect). Well-organized với clear progression of ideas. Natural linking between points
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Wide range of vocabulary với good collocations (genuinely passionate about, multifaceted, iterative refinement, break into the field). Vocabulary precise và topic-specific (wireframes, prototypes, user psychology). Some less common items (artistically inclined, pain points)
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Wide range of structures including relative clauses, participle clauses (hoping to, based on), cleft sentences (What’s particularly important is). Mix of simple và complex sentences. Generally accurate với occasional minor errors
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Clear pronunciation với good intonation patterns. Appropriate word stress. Natural rhythm và pacing

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“good programming skills”, “fix bugs”	“proficiency in design software”, “pain points”, “iterative refinement”
Grammar	“You need to have good skills”	“What’s particularly important is having a solid portfolio that showcases…”
Ideas	“I’m interested in technology”	“The perfect intersection of creativity and logical problem-solving”
Depth	Surface-level reasons (good salary, interesting)	Deep personal insight (artistic + analytical nature, continuous learning)

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

“I’d like to describe a career I’m utterly captivated by, which is working as a sustainability consultant, specifically in the corporate sector.

Regarding prerequisites, while there isn’t a single prescribed path, most successful consultants possess postgraduate qualifications in environmental science, sustainable business, or a related discipline. That said, what truly sets apart exceptional consultants is a unique blend of competencies: in-depth knowledge of environmental regulations and frameworks like the GRI Standards or Science-Based Targets, sharp analytical capabilities to assess corporate carbon footprints, and crucially, persuasive communication skills to convince skeptical executives that sustainability isn’t merely about corporate social responsibility but represents a compelling business case. A track record of successful organizational transformations is worth its weight in gold.

In terms of day-to-day responsibilities, sustainability consultants essentially serve as change agents. They conduct comprehensive audits of a company’s operations to identify inefficiencies and environmental impacts, develop tailored roadmaps for reducing carbon emissions and waste, and facilitate workshops to embed sustainable practices into corporate culture. A significant portion involves stakeholder engagement – you’re constantly liaising with everyone from C-suite executives to supply chain managers, translating complex environmental data into actionable strategies. There’s also the challenging but rewarding aspect of navigating the tension between short-term profitability and long-term sustainability goals.

What fundamentally resonates with me about this profession is its profound impact potential. We’re at a critical juncture where businesses must radically transform their operations to address the climate crisis, and consultants are at the forefront of catalyzing this change. I find it intellectually stimulating to grapple with the complexity of decarbonizing entire industries while ensuring economic viability. More personally, I’ve always been driven by a sense of environmental stewardship – this career allows me to channel that passion into tangible, measurable outcomes rather than just well-intentioned rhetoric.

Furthermore, what I find particularly compelling is the strategic nature of the role. You’re not just implementing solutions; you’re shaping corporate strategy and influencing decisions that ripple through entire value chains. The intellectual rigor required – constantly staying abreast of evolving regulations, emerging technologies like carbon capture, and shifting stakeholder expectations – means you’re perpetually learning and evolving.

I’m currently laying the groundwork through my master’s in Environmental Management and gaining hands-on experience through a pro bono consulting project with a local social enterprise. My ultimate aspiration is to spearhead transformative initiatives at the intersection of business and environmental sustainability.”

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Speaks fluently và effortlessly. Sophisticated use của discourse markers (Regarding, That said, Furthermore). Ideas flow logically và naturally. No apparent hesitation
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Extensive vocabulary với precise meaning (utterly captivated, sets apart, worth its weight in gold, at the forefront, grapple with). Natural collocations (compelling business case, profound impact, critical juncture). Idiomatic language used naturally
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures với full flexibility và accuracy. Complex sentences với multiple clauses. Sophisticated use of participle phrases, relative clauses, cleft sentences. Consistently accurate
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Full range of pronunciation features. Effortless to understand. Natural intonation và stress patterns. Enhances meaning through pronunciation

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:

• No hesitation, speaks naturally như đang có conversation
• Sophisticated discourse markers không sound rehearsed
• Smooth transitions giữa các ideas (That said, Furthermore, More personally)

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• “utterly captivated by” – không chỉ “interested in” mà show strong emotional connection
• “worth its weight in gold” – idiomatic expression được use naturally
• “at a critical juncture” – sophisticated way để nói “at an important time”
• “catalyzing this change” – technical vocabulary used precisely
• “ripple through entire value chains” – vivid imagery

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• “What truly sets apart exceptional consultants is…” – cleft sentence để emphasize
• “…constantly liaising with everyone from C-suite executives to supply chain managers, translating…” – participle phrase showing simultaneous actions
• “We’re at a critical juncture where businesses must radically transform…” – complex relative clause
• Perfect mix của present simple, continuous, và future forms

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:

• Không chỉ describe job mà analyze its societal significance
• Shows understanding về tension giữa profit và sustainability
• Demonstrates strategic thinking về career progression
• Personal values clearly articulated và connected to career choice

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Sau khi bạn hoàn thành Part 2, examiner thường hỏi thêm 1-2 câu short questions để transition sang Part 3. Đây không phải Part 3 chính thức nhưng vẫn được chấm điểm.

Question 1: Is this a popular career choice in your country?

Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, I think more people are interested in this field now. Technology jobs are becoming more popular because of good salaries and opportunities.”

Band 8-9 Answer:
“It’s definitely gaining traction, especially among millennials and Gen Z. There’s been a noticeable shift toward purpose-driven careers that align with environmental values, though I’d say it’s still relatively niche compared to traditional fields like finance or engineering. The growing awareness of climate issues is gradually changing career preferences.”

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Question 2: What preparation have you done for this career?

Band 6-7 Answer:
“I’m studying related subjects at university and reading books about this field. I also try to learn from online courses.”

Band 8-9 Answer:
“I’ve been quite strategic about it, actually. Beyond my formal education, I’ve been actively building relevant competencies through industry certifications and hands-on projects. I’ve also been networking extensively with professionals in the field through LinkedIn and industry events to gain insider perspectives and stay informed about emerging trends.”

Thẻ cue card IELTS Speaking Part 2 về chủ đề nghề nghiệp tương lai với ghi chú chuẩn bị

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần khó nhất và quan trọng nhất để distinguish giữa Band 7 và Band 8+. Đây không phải là kiểm tra kiến thức mà là kiểm tra khả năng think critically, analyze issues from multiple perspectives, và articulate complex ideas clearly.

Thời gian: 4-5 phút với 4-6 câu hỏi

Yêu cầu:

• Phân tích và đánh giá (analyze & evaluate), không chỉ describe
• Đưa ra quan điểm có substantiated arguments
• Xem xét nhiều góc độ: individual, societal, economic, cultural
• Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ personal experience

Chiến lược:

• Mỗi câu trả lời nên 3-5 câu (30-60 giây)
• Structure: Direct answer → Reason/Explanation → Example → Nuance/Alternative view
• Sử dụng tentative language (I would say, It seems to me, To some extent)
• Acknowledge complexity (It’s a complex issue, There are multiple factors)

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn, thiếu elaboration
• Chỉ nói về personal experience, không analyze societal trends
• Thiếu từ vựng abstract và academic
• Không demonstrate critical thinking
• Trả lời black-and-white, không acknowledge nuance

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Career Choices and Society

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Question 1: What factors do young people consider most when choosing a career nowadays?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: General trend analysis
• Key words: factors, young people, nowadays (cần so sánh với past)
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 main factors → Explain each briefly → Contrast với previous generation nếu có thể

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I think young people today consider many things when choosing a career. First, salary is important because they need money to live. Second, they think about work-life balance because they don’t want to work too much. Finally, they consider if the job is interesting to them. These days, people want jobs that make them happy, not just jobs that pay well.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear listing of factors (First, Second, Finally)
• Vocabulary: Basic but adequate (salary, work-life balance, interesting)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers the question nhưng thiếu depth, explanation superficial, no specific examples or contrast với past

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Well, I’d say there’s been a quite significant shift in priorities compared to previous generations. Whereas our parents’ generation predominantly focused on job security and financial stability – which is totally understandable given the economic context they grew up in – today’s young people seem to place equal, if not greater, emphasis on factors like personal fulfillment and alignment with their values.

For instance, many of my peers are gravitating towards careers in social enterprises or sustainability, even if they pay less than traditional corporate roles, because they want their work to have meaningful social impact. On top of that, there’s this growing demand for flexibility and work-life integration – the pandemic really accelerated this trend. Young people are increasingly unwilling to sacrifice their personal lives for career advancement in the way previous generations did.

That said, I think we shouldn’t oversimplify this. Financial considerations still matter enormously, particularly in developing economies like Vietnam where economic pressures remain very real. It’s often a case of balancing idealism with pragmatism.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized: Contrast with past → Main factors with examples → Acknowledgement of complexity
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “quite significant shift”, “predominantly focused on”, “gravitating towards”, “unwilling to sacrifice”
  • Abstract nouns: “personal fulfillment”, “alignment”, “social impact”, “pragmatism”
  • Collocations: “place emphasis on”, “economic pressures”, “balancing idealism”
• Grammar:
  • Complex structures: “Whereas… which is…” (complex clause với which)
  • Comparative structures: “equal, if not greater, emphasis”
  • Present perfect: “has been”, “have changed”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Compares generations
  • Uses specific example (pandemic effect)
  • Acknowledges complexity và exceptions
  • Shows nuanced understanding

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Well, I’d say”, “For instance”, “On top of that”, “That said”
• Tentative language: “seem to”, “I’d say”, “It’s often a case of”
• Contrast markers: “Whereas”, “compared to”, “in the way that”
• Abstract nouns: “fulfillment”, “alignment”, “integration”, “pragmatism”

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Question 2: How has technology changed the job market?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change/Impact analysis (past → present)
• Key words: technology, changed (past tense), job market
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 major changes → Explain impact (positive & negative) → Future implication

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Technology has changed the job market a lot. Many traditional jobs disappeared because of automation. For example, factories now use robots instead of workers. However, technology also created new jobs in IT and digital marketing. People can also work from home now because of the internet. I think technology brings both good and bad changes to jobs.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Mentions change → Example → Positive aspect → Conclusion
• Vocabulary: Basic (a lot, disappeared, created, good and bad)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses the question nhưng lacks sophistication, examples generic, no specific analysis of mechanisms

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“Technology has fundamentally reshaped the employment landscape in multiple ways. Most notably, we’ve witnessed widespread automation of routine tasks, which has rendered certain occupations obsolete – think of bank tellers being replaced by ATMs or assembly line workers being displaced by industrial robots. This has disproportionately affected workers in low-skill, repetitive roles who often lack the resources to retrain for new positions.

On the flip side, technology has spawned entirely new industries and job categories that didn’t exist a decade ago – content creators, data scientists, cybersecurity specialists, to name just a few. There’s been this massive proliferation of gig economy platforms like Grab or Upwork, which have democratized access to income opportunities but simultaneously eroded traditional employment protections.

Perhaps most profoundly, technology has decoupled work from physical location. The normalization of remote work has opened up global opportunities for skilled workers in developing countries, though it’s also intensified competition as you’re now competing with talent worldwide.

Looking ahead, I think the key challenge will be ensuring this technological transition is equitable – we need robust reskilling programs and social safety nets to support workers whose jobs are being automated away.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Perfect organization: Negative impact → Positive impact → Structural change → Future consideration
• Vocabulary:
  • Academic: “fundamentally reshaped”, “rendered obsolete”, “disproportionately affected”, “democratized access”
  • Topic-specific: “automation”, “gig economy”, “employment protections”, “reskilling programs”
  • Precise verbs: “spawned”, “eroded”, “decoupled”, “intensified”
• Grammar:
  • Perfect tenses: “has reshaped”, “has spawned”
  • Passive voice: “being replaced”, “being displaced”, “being automated away”
  • Relative clauses: “workers who lack”, “jobs that didn’t exist”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Balanced view (both negative và positive impacts)
  • Specific examples with context (ATMs, Grab)
  • Analyzes mechanisms (how technology causes change)
  • Forward-looking perspective
  • Considers equity issues

💡 Key Language Features:

• Impact language: “fundamentally reshaped”, “disproportionately affected”, “opened up opportunities”
• Causation: “has rendered”, “has spawned”, “has intensified”
• Formal academic tone: “Most notably”, “On the flip side”, “Perhaps most profoundly”, “Looking ahead”

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Theme 2: Work-Life Balance and Job Satisfaction

Question 3: Why do some people feel stressed at work?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause analysis (Why)
• Key words: some people (không phải everyone), stressed, work
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 main causes → Explain mechanism → Acknowledge individual differences

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Many people feel stressed at work for different reasons. First, they have too much work to do and not enough time. This makes them tired and worried. Second, some people have difficult bosses or bad relationships with colleagues. Third, they worry about losing their job or not getting promoted. The pressure to perform well also causes stress. Some jobs are more stressful than others.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists multiple causes systematically
• Vocabulary: Common words (too much, difficult, worried, pressure)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers adequately nhưng explanation shallow, no psychological depth

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“There are multiple contributing factors, and they often intersect in complex ways. I think one of the primary culprits is the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life, especially in our hyper-connected era. People are perpetually tethered to their emails and feel compelled to be responsive 24/7, which means they never truly mentally disconnect from work. This chronic state of alertness is mentally exhausting.

Another significant stressor stems from organizational culture – specifically, toxic work environments characterized by unrealistic expectations, insufficient support, or lack of autonomy. When people feel they have no control over their work processes or aren’t valued by management, it breeds frustration and burnout. Research actually shows that lack of recognition can be even more detrimental to wellbeing than heavy workload.

There’s also an economic dimension – job insecurity, particularly in volatile industries, creates persistent anxiety. People are constantly worried about being made redundant or becoming professionally obsolete, which fuels a perpetual sense of precariousness.

Of course, individual factors play a role too – people’s stress tolerance, coping mechanisms, and personal circumstances vary enormously. What one person finds challenging, another might find stimulating.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Sophisticated organization: Modern work issue → Organizational factors → Economic factors → Individual differences
• Vocabulary:
  • Advanced: “primary culprits”, “perpetually tethered to”, “chronic state of alertness”, “breeds frustration”
  • Psychological terms: “mentally disconnect”, “burnout”, “stress tolerance”, “coping mechanisms”
  • Academic collocations: “contributing factors”, “intersect in complex ways”, “detrimental to wellbeing”
• Grammar:
  • Participle phrases: “characterized by”, “fuels a sense of”
  • Complex sentences với multiple clauses
  • Passive constructions: “are perpetually tethered”, “aren’t valued”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Analyzes multiple dimensions (technological, organizational, economic, psychological)
  • References research (“Research actually shows…”)
  • Acknowledges complexity và individual variation
  • Explains mechanisms (how factors cause stress)

💡 Key Language Features:

• Hedging/Tentative language: “I think”, “often”, “can be”, “Of course”
• Emphasis structures: “one of the primary culprits”, “Another significant stressor”
• Causation language: “stems from”, “breeds”, “fuels”, “creates”
• Abstract nouns: “autonomy”, “recognition”, “insecurity”, “precariousness”

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Question 4: Do you think people should prioritize career over family?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion/Evaluation (Should)
• Key words: prioritize, career, family (dichotomy)
• Cách tiếp cận: Avoid simple yes/no → Present nuanced view → Acknowledge different life stages → Consider cultural context

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I don’t think people should choose one over the other. Both career and family are important in life. If you focus only on career, you might be successful but lonely. If you focus only on family, you might have financial problems. I think the best way is to find a balance between them. It also depends on each person’s situation and values.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: States position → Explains both extremes → Suggests balance → Acknowledges individual difference
• Vocabulary: Simple (choose, focus, successful, lonely, balance)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Logical response nhưng lacks sophistication and specific reasoning

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“I think framing it as an either-or choice is somewhat reductive. In reality, most people are trying to negotiate competing demands rather than flatly prioritizing one domain over another. That said, I believe the appropriate balance is highly contextual and varies across life stages.

For instance, early in one’s career, it might make sense to invest heavily in professional development – putting in long hours, taking on challenging projects, building expertise – because this lays the foundation for future opportunities. This doesn’t mean neglecting family, but rather being more career-focused during this formative period. Conversely, when you have young children, it might be wise to dial back career ambitions temporarily because those early years are irreplaceable and foundational for child development.

What troubles me about our current work culture, particularly in competitive economies, is this implicit expectation that total devotion to career is the only path to success. This perpetuates burnout, strains relationships, and ultimately undermines both productivity and wellbeing. Companies that recognize this and offer genuine flexibility – not just lip service – tend to have more engaged and loyal employees.

There’s also a gendered dimension we can’t ignore. Women are still disproportionately expected to shoulder family responsibilities, which often impedes their career advancement. True equity would mean normalizing career flexibility for all genders and dismantling the stigma around men taking parental leave or working reduced hours for family reasons.

Ultimately, I’d argue that fulfilling both domains enriches the other – strong family connections provide emotional resilience that enhances professional performance, and meaningful work contributes to personal identity and family financial security.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptional organization: Reframes question → Life stage perspective → Critique of work culture → Gender dimension → Holistic conclusion
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “framing as either-or choice is reductive”, “negotiate competing demands”, “dial back ambitions”, “implicit expectation”
  • Academic: “formative period”, “disproportionately expected”, “impedes advancement”, “dismantling stigma”
  • Precise collocations: “invest heavily in”, “lays the foundation”, “perpetuates burnout”, “enriches the other”
• Grammar:
  • Complex conditionals
  • Gerund phrases: “putting in”, “taking on”, “building”
  • Relative clauses: “Companies that recognize”, “Women who shoulder”
  • Parallel structures: “provides… enhances”, “contributes to… and…”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Rejects false dichotomy
  • Analyzes from multiple angles (life stages, cultural, gender)
  • Critiques current norms
  • Proposes systemic solutions
  • Shows deep sociological understanding

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “That said”, “For instance”, “Conversely”, “Ultimately”
• Critical language: “What troubles me”, “implicit expectation”, “can’t ignore”
• Hedging: “I believe”, “might make sense”, “I’d argue”
• Emphasis: “True equity would mean”, “This doesn’t mean… but rather”

Cuộc thảo luận sâu về nghề nghiệp và xã hội trong IELTS Speaking Part 3

Theme 3: Future of Work

Question 5: How do you think the job market will change in the next 10-20 years?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Future prediction/Speculation
• Key words: will change, next 10-20 years (long-term future)
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify trends → Explain drivers → Consider implications → Acknowledge uncertainty

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I think the job market will change a lot in the future. More jobs will use artificial intelligence and robots. Some jobs will disappear, but new jobs will be created in technology. People will need to learn new skills to stay employed. Remote work will become more common. I also think people will change jobs more often than now.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists predicted changes
• Vocabulary: Basic future forms (will change, will disappear, will be)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Makes predictions nhưng lacks detailed reasoning about WHY these changes will occur

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“I think we’re on the cusp of some pretty dramatic transformations, driven primarily by converging technological trends – artificial intelligence, automation, and digital connectivity.

Most evidently, I expect we’ll see continued erosion of jobs involving routine cognitive work, not just manual labor. AI is already making inroads into fields like legal research, financial analysis, and even medical diagnosis. This will likely bifurcate the labor market – with high-demand for both highly skilled creative and strategic roles that require uniquely human capabilities like emotional intelligence and complex problem-solving, and low-wage service positions that are difficult to automate like elderly care or skilled trades. The middle tier of routine professional jobs could become increasingly squeezed.

Another trend I anticipate is the further normalization of non-traditional employment arrangements. The distinction between employee and contractor may become increasingly blurred, with more people cobbling together income from multiple sources – what some call portfolio careers. This offers flexibility but also shifts risk from employers to individuals.

We’ll probably also witness dramatic acceleration in skills obsolescence. The half-life of professional skills is shrinking, meaning continuous learning won’t be optional – it’ll be essential for employability. I think this will put enormous pressure on education systems to pivot from the traditional model of front-loaded education to lifelong learning pathways.

There’s also potential for more positive changes – perhaps greater emphasis on wellbeing and four-day work weeks as productivity gains from technology allow us to reconfigure how we think about work. But realizing this potential depends on policy choices about how technological gains are distributed.

Of course, prediction is inherently uncertain – disruptive innovations we haven’t even imagined could completely reshape the landscape in unexpected ways.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Outstanding organization: Technological drivers → Labor market bifurcation → Employment arrangements → Education implications → Positive possibilities → Acknowledgment of uncertainty
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “on the cusp of”, “converging trends”, “making inroads into”, “bifurcate the market”, “cobbling together”
  • Technical: “portfolio careers”, “skills obsolescence”, “half-life”, “front-loaded education”
  • Abstract: “uniquely human capabilities”, “shifts risk”, “disruptive innovations”
• Grammar:
  • Future forms variety: “we’re on the cusp”, “I expect we’ll see”, “could become”, “will put”
  • Passive constructions: “is shrinking”, “are distributed”
  • Conditional: “depends on”, “could reshape”
  • Participle phrases: “driven by”, “involving routine work”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Identifies underlying drivers (technology)
  • Analyzes complex effects (bifurcation)
  • Considers both opportunities và challenges
  • References concepts (portfolio careers, skills obsolescence)
  • Acknowledges uncertainty
  • Discusses policy dimension

💡 Key Language Features:

• Speculation language: “I think”, “I expect”, “I anticipate”, “probably”, “perhaps”, “potential for”
• Trend language: “continued erosion”, “further normalization”, “dramatic acceleration”
• Causation: “driven by”, “depends on”, “allow us to”
• Academic tone: “Most evidently”, “Another trend”, “There’s also potential”

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Question 6: What can governments do to prepare the workforce for future changes?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Solution/Recommendation (What can… do)
• Key words: governments, prepare, workforce, future changes
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 key policy areas → Explain how each helps → Provide examples → Acknowledge challenges

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Governments should do several things to prepare workers. First, they should improve education system to teach modern skills like coding and digital literacy. Second, they should provide training programs for workers who lost their jobs. Third, governments should support new industries to create more jobs. They also need to help companies that use new technology. I think investment in education is the most important thing.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists policy recommendations
• Vocabulary: Basic (should, improve, provide, support, help)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Provides relevant suggestions nhưng lacks specificity và sophisticated policy analysis

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

“This is arguably one of the most pressing policy challenges of our era, and it requires coordinated action across multiple fronts.

First and foremost, we need wholesale reform of education systems. The traditional model of front-loading education in youth and then coasting on those skills for 40 years is fundamentally incompatible with rapidly evolving job requirements. Governments should invest heavily in lifelong learning infrastructure – think accessible, high-quality online learning platforms, micro-credentials that allow people to acquire specific skills quickly, and portable qualification frameworks that recognize learning from diverse sources. Countries like Singapore have pioneered programs like SkillsFuture, which provides funding for continuous upskilling – that’s the kind of model we need to scale globally.

Secondly, there needs to be robust social safety nets to support workers through transitions. This might include enhanced unemployment benefits, but more importantly, active labor market policies – subsidized retraining programs, job placement services, wage insurance for workers transitioning to lower-paid roles. Denmark’s “flexicurity” model combines flexible labor markets with generous support for displaced workers – it’s been quite successful in facilitating rather than resisting change.

Beyond education and social protection, governments should be strategically investing in emerging industries where their country has comparative advantages – whether that’s green technology, biotechnology, or advanced manufacturing. This shapes the composition of the job market rather than just reacting to market forces.

Finally, and perhaps most controversially, we may need to reconsider fundamental assumptions about the relationship between work and income. If technological unemployment becomes sufficiently widespread, concepts like universal basic income or significantly expanded public employment might need to move from fringe ideas to mainstream policy discussion.

The challenge, of course, is that these interventions require substantial public investment and political will at a time when many governments are fiscally constrained. But I’d argue the cost of inaction – social dislocation, political instability, widening inequality – would be far greater.”

Phân tích:

• Structure: Masterful organization: Education reform → Social safety nets → Industrial policy → Fundamental rethinking → Implementation challenges
• Vocabulary:
  • Policy-specific: “wholesale reform”, “active labor market policies”, “flexicurity model”, “comparative advantages”, “universal basic income”
  • Academic: “arguably”, “coordinated action”, “fundamentally incompatible”, “facilitating rather than resisting”
  • Advanced collocations: “invest heavily in”, “scale globally”, “shapes the composition”, “move from fringe to mainstream”
• Grammar:
  • Modal verbs for recommendations: “should invest”, “need to reconsider”, “might need to”
  • Conditional structures: “If technological unemployment becomes…”
  • Complex noun phrases: “subsidized retraining programs for workers transitioning to lower-paid roles”
  • Gerund phrases: “facilitating rather than resisting”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Provides specific examples (Singapore’s SkillsFuture, Denmark’s flexicurity)
  • Analyzes underlying assumptions
  • Considers controversial solutions
  • Acknowledges implementation constraints
  • Compares cost of action vs inaction

💡 Key Language Features:

• Policy language: “wholesale reform”, “coordinated action”, “robust safety nets”, “strategic investment”
• Academic discourse markers: “First and foremost”, “Secondly”, “Beyond”, “Finally”, “The challenge is”
• Evidence referencing: “Countries like Singapore have pioneered”, “Denmark’s model”
• Hedging: “arguably”, “might need to”, “perhaps most controversially”

Chương trình đào tạo kỹ năng nghề nghiệp tương lai với công nghệ hiện đại

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
career aspiration	n	/kəˈrɪər ˌæspəˈreɪʃn/	khát vọng nghề nghiệp	My career aspiration is to become a leading researcher.	pursue/fulfill career aspirations, long-term career aspirations
professional development	n	/prəˈfeʃənl dɪˈveləpmənt/	phát triển nghề nghiệp	Continuous professional development is essential in tech.	invest in professional development, professional development opportunities
career trajectory	n	/kəˈrɪər trəˈdʒektəri/	con đường phát triển nghề nghiệp	Her career trajectory has been impressive.	upward career trajectory, alter one’s career trajectory
job security	n	/dʒɒb sɪˈkjʊərəti/	sự đảm bảo công việc	Job security is less common in the gig economy.	provide/ensure job security, lack of job security
work-life balance	n	/wɜːk laɪf ˈbæləns/	sự cân bằng công việc và cuộc sống	Achieving work-life balance is challenging for entrepreneurs.	maintain/strike/achieve work-life balance, healthy work-life balance
remuneration package	n	/rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃn ˈpækɪdʒ/	gói lương thưởng	The remuneration package includes bonuses and health insurance.	competitive/attractive remuneration package, negotiate remuneration
transferable skills	n	/trænsˈfɜːrəbl skɪlz/	kỹ năng chuyển đổi được	Communication is one of the most valuable transferable skills.	develop/acquire transferable skills, highly transferable skills
job market	n	/dʒɒb ˈmɑːkɪt/	thị trường lao động	The job market for data scientists is very competitive.	tight/competitive job market, enter the job market
career path	n	/kəˈrɪər pɑːθ/	con đường sự nghiệp	She chose a non-traditional career path.	follow/pursue a career path, clear/defined career path
occupational hazard	n	/ˌɒkjuˈpeɪʃənl ˈhæzərd/	rủi ro nghề nghiệp	Stress is an occupational hazard for healthcare workers.	face occupational hazards, minimize occupational hazards
pursue a career	v phrase	/pəˈsjuː ə kəˈrɪər/	theo đuổi sự nghiệp	He decided to pursue a career in environmental law.	actively pursue, successfully pursue a career
climb the career ladder	idiom	/klaɪm ðə kəˈrɪər ˈlædər/	thăng tiến trong sự nghiệp	She climbed the career ladder rapidly.	slowly/rapidly climb, help someone climb
job satisfaction	n	/dʒɒb ˌsætɪsˈfækʃn/	sự hài lòng với công việc	High salary doesn’t always guarantee job satisfaction.	derive/gain job satisfaction, high/low job satisfaction
vocational training	n	/vəʊˈkeɪʃənl ˈtreɪnɪŋ/	đào tạo nghề	Vocational training prepares students for specific careers.	provide/receive vocational training, quality vocational training
fulfilling career	adj + n	/fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ kəˈrɪər/	sự nghiệp mang lại sự thỏa mãn	Teaching can be an incredibly fulfilling career.	find/have a fulfilling career, personally fulfilling
career prospect	n	/kəˈrɪər ˈprɒspekt/	triển vọng nghề nghiệp	Engineering has excellent career prospects.	bright/promising career prospects, assess career prospects
skill obsolescence	n	/skɪl ˌɒbsəˈlesns/	sự lỗi thời của kỹ năng	Rapid skill obsolescence requires continuous learning.	prevent/address skill obsolescence, rate of skill obsolescence
burnout	n	/ˈbɜːnaʊt/	sự kiệt sức	Many healthcare workers experience burnout.	suffer from/experience burnout, prevent burnout
portfolio career	n	/pɔːtˈfəʊliəʊ kəˈrɪər/	sự nghiệp đa dạng	She has a portfolio career combining consulting and teaching.	develop a portfolio career, manage a portfolio career
corporate ladder	n	/ˈkɔːpərət ˈlædər/	thang thăng tiến trong công ty	He’s not interested in climbing the corporate ladder.	climb/ascend the corporate ladder, top of the corporate ladder

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
to be cut out for something	sinh ra để làm việc gì đó, có năng khiếu	I don’t think I’m cut out for a desk job.	7.5-8
to make a name for oneself	tạo dựng tên tuổi	She made a name for herself in the field of biotechnology.	7.5-8
a dead-end job	công việc không có triển vọng	Working as a cashier can feel like a dead-end job.	7-7.5
to carve out a niche	tạo dựng vị trí riêng trong lĩnh vực	He carved out a niche as an expert in sustainable architecture.	8-8.5
to be in the pipeline	đang trong kế hoạch	Several promotions are in the pipeline for next quarter.	7.5-8
to pull strings	sử dụng quen biết để có lợi thế	His father pulled strings to get him the internship.	7.5-8
to move up in the world	thăng tiến trong cuộc sống	After his promotion, he’s really moved up in the world.	7-7.5
a stepping stone	bước đệm	This job is just a stepping stone to something better.	7-7.5
to be swamped with work	bị ngập trong công việc	I’ve been absolutely swamped with work this week.	7.5-8
to learn the ropes	học hỏi các kỹ năng cơ bản	It took me months to learn the ropes at my new job.	7.5-8
to be on the cusp of	đang ở ngưỡng cửa của	We’re on the cusp of major technological breakthroughs.	8.5-9
to take a toll on	ảnh hưởng tiêu cực đến	The long hours are taking a toll on my health.	8-8.5

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Khi cần suy nghĩ một chút trước khi trả lời
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn hơi khác với expected answer
• 📝 To be honest,… – Khi muốn nói thật, thể hiện honesty
• 📝 I’d say that… – Cách lịch sự để đưa ra quan điểm
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Nhấn mạnh đây là personal viewpoint
• 📝 Generally speaking,… – Khi đưa ra general observation

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó (informal)
• 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
• 📝 Moreover,… – Hơn nữa (formal)
• 📝 In addition to this,… – Ngoài ra
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Xa hơn thế

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

• 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác
• 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng ta cũng cần xem xét
• 📝 Having said that,… – Nói như vậy nhưng…
• 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên
• 📝 Conversely,… – Ngược lại

Để đưa ra ví dụ:

• 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ
• 📝 Take… for example,… – Lấy… làm ví dụ
• 📝 A case in point is… – Một ví dụ điển hình là
• 📝 To illustrate this,… – Để minh họa điều này

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì
• 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng
• 📝 In the final analysis,… – Xét cho cùng

Để thể hiện uncertainty hoặc tentative view:

• 📝 I suppose… – Tôi cho là
• 📝 I would imagine… – Tôi tưởng tượng rằng
• 📝 It seems to me that… – Có vẻ như với tôi
• 📝 As far as I can tell,… – Theo những gì tôi biết
• 📝 To some extent,… – Ở một mức độ nào đó

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed conditional:

• Formula: If + past perfect, would + verb (mixing time periods)
• Ví dụ: “If I had studied computer science (past), I would be working in tech now (present).”
• Sử dụng: Để nói về điều kiện ở quá khứ ảnh hưởng đến hiện tại

Inversion for emphasis:

• Formula: Had I known…, Were I to…, Should you need…
• Ví dụ: “Were I to choose again, I would pursue a career in sustainability.”
• Sử dụng: Formal style, thể hiện hypothetical situations một cách sophisticated

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining relative clauses:

• Formula: …, which/who…, …
• Ví dụ: “Remote work, which has become normalized, offers greater flexibility.”
• Sử dụng: Thêm thông tin bổ sung, không thiết yếu cho meaning

Reduced relative clauses:

• Formula: …working in/based on/requiring…
• Ví dụ: “Jobs requiring creativity are less likely to be automated.”
• Sử dụng: Làm câu concise hơn, sophisticated hơn

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

It is thought/believed/said that…

• Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that AI will transform the job market.”
• Sử dụng: Để refer đến general opinion without specifying source

Being + past participle:

• Ví dụ: “Workers are increasingly worried about being made redundant.”
• Sử dụng: Passive form trong continuous hoặc sau preposition

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

What… is/was…

• Formula: What + clause + is/was + noun/adjective
• Ví dụ: “What I find most appealing about this career is the opportunity for creativity.”
• Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh specific aspect

The thing that… is…

• Ví dụ: “The thing that really matters in a career is job satisfaction.”
• Sử dụng: Tương tự What-clause nhưng informal hơn

It is/was… that…

• Ví dụ: “It was the financial crisis that changed my career plans.”
• Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh specific element trong câu

5. Participle Clauses:

Present participle (V-ing):

• Ví dụ: “Having gained experience in marketing, I now want to transition to brand management.”
• Sử dụng: Show sequence of events, cause-effect

Past participle (V3):

• Ví dụ: “Driven by passion for sustainability, she chose environmental consulting.”
• Sử dụng: Show reason, thay thế for because clause

6. Inversion for Emphasis:

Not only… but also…

• Ví dụ: “Not only does this job offer good salary, but it also provides growth opportunities.”
• Sử dụng: Emphasize both positive aspects

Seldom/Rarely at beginning:

• Ví dụ: “Seldom have I seen such rapid career progression.”
• Sử dụng: Formal emphasis of rarity

7. Subjunctive Mood:

It is essential/important that + subject + base verb:

• Ví dụ: “It is essential that workers acquire new skills continuously.”
• Sử dụng: Express necessity, recommendation

Sơ đồ tư duy từ vựng về nghề nghiệp và tương lai cho IELTS Speaking

Chiến Lược Trả Lời Hiệu Quả Từ Góc Nhìn Examiner

Những Điều Examiner Thực Sự Đánh Giá Cao

Với hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi, tôi có thể khẳng định rằng nhiều thí sinh hiểu sai về những gì examiner tìm kiếm. Đây là những yếu tố thực sự tạo nên sự khác biệt:

1. Natural Communication Over Perfection

• Examiner không mong đợi câu trả lời hoàn hảo 100%
• Một vài errors nhỏ được chấp nhận nếu communication vẫn clear
• Tự nhiên, fluent quan trọng hơn grammatically perfect nhưng robotic
• Self-correction thể hiện language awareness (tốt cho điểm)

2. Depth Over Length

• Một câu trả lời 3 câu sâu sắc tốt hơn 5 câu superficial
• Quality of ideas quan trọng hơn quantity of words
• Show critical thinking, not just information recall

3. Authenticity Over Memorization

• Examiner nhận ra memorized answers ngay lập tức
• Prepared ideas OK, nhưng phải flexible và natural delivery
• Personal examples luôn ấn tượng hơn generic ones

4. Sophisticated Vocabulary Used Naturally

• Dùng đúng từ vựng level 7-8 trong context tốt hơn cố nhét từ level 9 không phù hợp
• Collocations quan trọng hơn individual difficult words
• Topic-specific vocabulary > generic academic words

Lỗi Thường Gặp Của Học Viên Việt Nam

1. Over-reliance on Templates
Biểu hiện:

• “In my opinion, there are several reasons for this. Firstly,… Secondly,… Finally,…”
• Nghe mechanical, thiếu personality

Cách khắc phục:

• Học discourse markers nhưng vary usage
• Start với “Well”, “Actually”, “I’d say” để sound natural
• Không bắt buộc phải có “Firstly, Secondly”

2. Translating Directly from Vietnamese
Biểu hiện:

• “The salary is very high” (translated from “lương rất cao”)
• Better: “offers competitive remuneration” hoặc “pays well”

Cách khắc phục:

• Học collocations, không chỉ individual words
• Think in English, không translate mentally
• Record yourself và listen back

3. Insufficient Elaboration
Biểu hiện:

• Q: “Why do you want this job?” A: “Because it’s interesting.”
• Thiếu explanation về WHY it’s interesting

Cách khắc phục:

• Always ask yourself “Why?” và “How?” after initial answer
• Structure: Direct answer → Reason → Specific example/detail
• Aim for 2-3 sentences minimum per Part 1 answer

4. Lack of Personal Examples
Biểu hiện:

• Speaking in generalities: “People nowadays want flexible jobs.”
• Không relate đến personal experience

Cách khắc phục:

• Personalize answers: “In my case…”, “From my experience…”
• Use specific details: names, numbers, concrete situations
• Balance between personal và general observations

5. Monotone Delivery
Biểu hiện:

• Same intonation pattern cho mọi câu
• Sounds bored hoặc disengaged

Cách khắc phục:

• Vary pitch và volume for emphasis
• Use pauses effectively
• Show enthusiasm through voice (especially for Part 2)

Tips Để Đạt Band 8+

1. Develop Your “Speaking Personality”

• Không cần sound like native speaker
• Cần sound like confident, articulate speaker
• Find your comfortable speaking style (formal? conversational?)

2. Master Nuanced Language

• Instead of “I think”, use: “I’d argue that”, “It seems to me”, “From my perspective”
• Instead of “very important”, use: “crucial”, “vital”, “of paramount importance”
• Show range through subtle variation

3. Demonstrate Critical Thinking

• Acknowledge complexity: “It’s a complex issue with multiple factors”
• Show balanced view: “While X has merits, we must also consider Y”
• Question assumptions: “The common assumption is… but actually…”

4. Use Strategic Pausing

• Pause before key words để create emphasis
• Use “Well…” hoặc “Let me think…” naturally (not excessively)
• Pausing shows you’re thinking, not just reciting

5. Tell Micro-stories

• Even in Part 1, weave in brief anecdotes
• “Actually, just last week I…” → creates engagement
• Stories are memorable và demonstrate fluency

6. Show Lexical Range Through Synonyms

• Avoid repeating “job” → position, role, career, occupation, profession
• Vary “important” → crucial, vital, significant, essential, paramount
• This demonstrates lexical resource naturally

Practice Routine Recommended by Examiners

Daily (15-20 minutes):

• Record yourself answering 3-4 random IELTS questions
• Listen back critically: note hesitations, repetitions, weak vocabulary
• Re-record after thinking of improvements

Weekly (1-2 hours):

• Full mock test with all 3 parts
• Focus on timing (especially Part 2: minimum 2 minutes)
• Review recording với checklist: Fluency? Vocabulary? Grammar? Ideas?

Monthly:

• Identify 5-6 common topics (career, education, technology, environment, health, culture)
• Build topic vocabulary set (20-30 words/phrases each)
• Prepare flexible ideas, NOT memorized scripts

Key Principle: Practice speaking spontaneously, not rehearsing scripts. The goal is building confidence và reflexes, not memorization.

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Kết Luận

Chủ đề “describe a job you would like to do in the future” là một trong những topic quan trọng và phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Speaking. Để đạt điểm cao, bạn cần:

✅ Hiểu rõ tiêu chí chấm điểm: Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation – cả 4 yếu tố đều quan trọng bằng nhau

✅ Phát triển depth trong câu trả lời: Không chỉ what và how, mà còn why và what if

✅ Xây dựng vocabulary bank topic-specific: Học collocations, không chỉ individual words

✅ Practice speaking spontaneously: Không học thuộc template, mà develop flexible thinking

✅ Show personality và critical thinking: Examiner muốn nghe authentic voice, không phải robot

✅ Balance giữa preparation và naturalness: Có prepared ideas nhưng deliver một cách tự nhiên

Nhớ rằng, IELTS Speaking không phải test kiến thức về career counseling hay economics. Đây là test communication skills của bạn – khả năng express ideas clearly, coherently, và sophisticatedly trong tiếng Anh. Với preparation đúng cách và practice thường xuyên, bạn hoàn toàn có thể đạt band điểm mục tiêu.

Lộ trình học tập đề xuất:

1. Tuần 1-2: Build vocabulary foundation với 50-60 từ/cụm từ core
2. Tuần 3-4: Practice Part 1 questions daily, focus on elaboration
3. Tuần 5-6: Master Part 2 structure, practice speaking 2+ minutes fluently
4. Tuần 7-8: Develop Part 3 critical thinking, practice complex answers
5. Tuần 9-12: Full mock tests, refine delivery, work on weak areas

Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking! Remember: confidence comes from preparation, và preparation comes from consistent practice.