IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời “Describe A Childhood Friend You Are Still In Touch With” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Chủ đề về bạn bè thời thơ ấu là một trong những đề tài phổ biến và gần gũi nhất trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking. Đề bài “Describe A Childhood Friend You Are Still In Touch With” không chỉ yêu cầu bạn kể về một người bạn, mà còn đòi hỏi khả năng diễn đạt về mối quan hệ lâu dài, những kỷ niệm đáng nhớ và cảm xúc chân thực.

Theo thống kê từ các trung tâm luyện thi IELTS và báo cáo của thí sinh, chủ đề “Friendship” xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ 2020 đến 2024, đặc biệt là dạng câu hỏi về người bạn thời thơ ấu. Khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai được đánh giá ở mức cao do tính universal và relatable của chủ đề này.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:

• Các câu hỏi Part 1, 2, 3 thường gặp về chủ đề friendship và childhood
• Bài mẫu chi tiết theo từng band điểm 6-7, 7.5-8, và 8.5-9 với phân tích chuyên sâu
• Hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm liên quan đến bạn bè và tuổi thơ
• Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của IELTS Examiner
• Những lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking thường kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn về đời sống hàng ngày và kinh nghiệm cá nhân. Đối với chủ đề friendship, examiner sẽ hỏi những câu hỏi đơn giản để bạn làm quen và cảm thấy thoải mái.

Chiến lược hiệu quả cho Part 1:

• Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi trong câu đầu tiên
• Mở rộng với lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể (2-3 câu là đủ)
• Giữ câu trả lời tự nhiên, không quá dài dòng

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Chỉ trả lời Yes/No mà không giải thích
• Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “nice”, “happy”
• Không đưa ra ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Nói quá ngắn gọn, thiếu substance

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you still keep in touch with your childhood friends?

Question 2: What do you usually do when you meet your friends?

Question 3: How important are friends to you?

Question 4: Do you prefer to have many friends or just a few close ones?

Question 5: How do you make new friends?

Question 6: Have you ever lost touch with a good friend?

Question 7: What makes a good friend?

Question 8: Do you think it’s important to have friends from childhood?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

Question: Do you still keep in touch with your childhood friends?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời Yes/No ngay từ đầu
• Giải thích tại sao (thường xuyên gặp, liên lạc online, hoặc lý do không còn liên lạc)
• Thêm chi tiết về tần suất hoặc cách thức liên lạc

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I do. I still keep in touch with two friends from primary school. We usually chat on social media and sometimes meet up for coffee. Even though we are busy with work, we try to stay connected.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời rõ ràng, có đề cập đến cách thức liên lạc (social media, coffee), có ý về việc duy trì mối quan hệ dù bận rộn
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn đơn giản (chat, meet up, busy), thiếu collocations, chưa có details cụ thể về tình bạn
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời adequate và coherent nhưng vocabulary và grammar chưa sophisticated. Thiếu personal touch để tạo ấn tượng

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely! I’m still in regular contact with a handful of friends from my primary school days. Despite the fact that we’ve gone our separate ways in terms of careers and locations, we make it a point to catch up every few months, either through video calls or when we’re back in our hometown. I’d say these friendships have stood the test of time because we share so many formative memories from our childhood.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary nâng cao: “in regular contact”, “gone our separate ways”, “make it a point to”, “stood the test of time”, “formative memories”
  • Grammar phức tạp: Despite + clause, either…or structure
  • Ideas sâu sắc: nhấn mạnh vào shared memories và long-lasting nature của friendship
  • Natural discourse marker: “Absolutely!”, “I’d say”
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Câu trả lời trôi chảy với linking tốt
  • Vocabulary: Precise collocations và idiomatic expressions
  • Grammar: Complex sentences với variety
  • Content: Thoughtful và personal, không generic

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• in regular contact: thường xuyên liên lạc
• gone our separate ways: đi những con đường riêng (nghề nghiệp, địa điểm)
• make it a point to: cố gắng, có ý thức làm điều gì
• stood the test of time: trường tồn theo thời gian
• formative memories: những kỷ niệm định hình (tuổi thơ)

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Question: What makes a good friend?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Nêu 2-3 qualities quan trọng
• Giải thích tại sao những qualities đó quan trọng
• Có thể thêm personal experience nếu phù hợp

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think a good friend should be honest and supportive. They should listen to you when you have problems and give you good advice. Also, they should be there for you in difficult times. Trust is very important in friendship.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Đề cập được nhiều qualities (honest, supportive, good listener), có structure logic
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng basic, các ý còn general và predictable, thiếu depth trong explanation
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answer adequate nhưng thiếu sophistication và personal insight

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

I believe genuine friendship is built on mutual trust and understanding. A good friend should be someone you can confide in without fear of judgment, someone who has your back through thick and thin. Beyond that, I think emotional intelligence plays a huge role – a true friend knows when to offer advice and when to simply lend an ear. In my experience, the best friendships are those where you can be your authentic self without pretense.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary sophisticated: “genuine friendship”, “mutual trust”, “confide in”, “emotional intelligence”, “authentic self”
  • Idiomatic expressions: “has your back”, “through thick and thin”, “lend an ear”
  • Grammar: Complex structures với relative clauses
  • Ideas: Thoughtful với mention về emotional intelligence và authenticity
  • Personal touch: “In my experience”
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Seamless flow với appropriate discourse markers
  • Lexical Resource: Precise và idiomatic
  • Grammatical Range: Varied và accurate
  • Content: Insightful, không generic

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• genuine friendship: tình bạn chân thành
• mutual trust and understanding: sự tin tưởng và hiểu biết lẫn nhau
• confide in someone: tâm sự, tin tưởng chia sẻ với ai
• has your back: ủng hộ, che chở bạn
• through thick and thin: qua mọi thăng trầm
• lend an ear: lắng nghe
• authentic self: bản thân chân thật

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Question: How do you make new friends?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Mô tả các tình huống thường gặp (work, hobbies, social events)
• Nêu personality traits hoặc approaches của bạn
• Có thể so sánh với cách bạn kết bạn trước đây

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I usually make new friends at work or through common hobbies. I like to join clubs or activities where I can meet people with similar interests. I’m quite friendly, so I find it easy to start conversations with new people.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Clear answer với specific contexts (work, hobbies, clubs)
• Hạn chế: Vocabulary basic, thiếu chi tiết về HOW exactly, description về personality khá shallow
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative nhưng thiếu depth và sophisticated language

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

I’d say I’m fairly outgoing, so I tend to strike up conversations quite naturally in various settings – whether it’s at professional networking events, hobby groups, or even just casual encounters at cafes. I find that shared interests are often the common ground that sparks initial connections. For instance, I recently bonded with someone over our mutual love for hiking, and we’ve since become quite close. I think being genuinely curious about people’s stories and showing authentic interest really helps break the ice and cultivate meaningful friendships.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary: “strike up conversations”, “casual encounters”, “common ground”, “bonded with”, “cultivate meaningful friendships”
  • Structure: Logical flow từ personality → settings → process → example → principle
  • Example: Concrete instance về hiking friend
  • Insight: Emphasis on authenticity và genuine interest
  • Phrasal verbs: “strike up”, “bonded with”, “break the ice”
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Natural với appropriate hedging (“I’d say”, “quite”)
  • Vocabulary: Precise và idiomatic
  • Grammar: Complex với relative clauses và various structures
  • Content: Personal và insightful với concrete example

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• fairly outgoing: khá hướng ngoại
• strike up conversations: bắt đầu cuộc trò chuyện
• casual encounters: những lần gặp gỡ tình cờ
• common ground: điểm chung
• bonded with: gắn kết với ai
• break the ice: phá vỡ sự ngượng ngùng
• cultivate meaningful friendships: vun đắp những tình bạn ý nghĩa

Trong quá trình phát triển tình bạn, việc tìm ra những điểm chung và trải nghiệm đáng nhớ cùng nhau rất quan trọng, tương tự như describe a weekend that you enjoyed, những khoảnh khắc vui vẻ bên bạn bè có thể tạo nên những kỷ niệm khó quên và củng cố mối quan hệ lâu dài.

Học viên IELTS đang trả lời câu hỏi Part 1 về chủ đề bạn bè thời thơ ấu với examiner

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần “độc thoại” kéo dài 2-3 phút, trong đó bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị và phải nói liên tục về một chủ đề cụ thể được ghi trong cue card. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để demonstrate khả năng sustained speaking của bạn.

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

• Sử dụng đủ 1 phút chuẩn bị để ghi chú keywords (không viết câu hoàn chỉnh)
• Organize notes theo bullet points trên cue card
• Nói đủ 2 phút (examiner sẽ dừng bạn nếu vượt quá 3 phút)
• Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points, đặc biệt là câu “explain” cuối cùng
• Sử dụng thì quá khứ khi kể về memories và hiện tại khi nói về current relationship

Lỗi thường gặp:

• Ghi chép quá nhiều, không tận dụng được thời gian chuẩn bị
• Nói dưới 1.5 phút hoặc nói quá ngắn gọn
• Bỏ sót bullet points, đặc biệt là phần “explain”
• Không có structure rõ ràng, nhảy lung tung giữa các ý
• Sử dụng thì động từ không chính xác (dùng hiện tại cho quá khứ)

Cue Card

Describe a childhood friend you are still in touch with

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How and when you first met
• What you used to do together
• And explain why you have remained friends with this person

Phân Tích Đề Bài

Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a person (với focus vào relationship và memories)

Thì động từ:

• Quá khứ: Khi nói về “how you met”, “what you used to do”
• Hiện tại: Khi nói về “who this person is”, “why you remain friends”

Bullet points phải cover:

1. Who this person is: Tên, tuổi, nghề nghiệp hiện tại, personality basics
2. How and when you first met: Hoàn cảnh gặp nhau (school, neighborhood, etc.), năm nào, độ tuổi
3. What you used to do together: Activities trong quá khứ, shared interests, memorable experiences
4. Explain why: Đây là phần quan trọng nhất – phải analyze the reasons, show depth of understanding

Câu “explain” quan trọng: Phần này chiếm 40-50% điểm Part 2. Examiner muốn nghe insights về qualities của friendship, không chỉ simple reasons như “she’s nice”. Bạn cần demonstrate:

• Understanding of what makes relationships last
• Emotional intelligence
• Ability to reflect on personal experiences
• Advanced vocabulary về emotions và relationships

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

The childhood friend I want to talk about is Nam. He is my classmate from primary school and we are still good friends now. He is currently working as an engineer in Hanoi.

I first met Nam when I was 7 years old. It was the first day of second grade, and he sat next to me in class. I remember he had a nice pencil case and I asked him about it. That’s how we started talking and became friends.

When we were kids, we used to do many things together. We played football after school almost every day. We also studied together at his house or my house. During summer holidays, we went swimming at the local pool. We liked reading comic books and trading them with each other. Sometimes we got into trouble at school, but it was always fun.

The reason I have remained friends with Nam is because we have known each other for a long time. We understand each other very well and have many shared memories from our childhood. Even though we don’t meet very often now because of work, we still keep in touch through phone calls and social media. He is a trustworthy person and always supports me when I need help. Our friendship is important to me because it reminds me of my happy childhood.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6.5	Có basic sequencing (first, when, sometimes), nhưng thiếu sophisticated linking. Story flow khá linear và predictable
Lexical Resource	6.0	Từ vựng adequate nhưng repetitive (good friends, many things, very well). Thiếu collocations và less common vocabulary
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6.5	Sử dụng đúng past simple và present simple. Có một số complex sentences nhưng không nhiều. Không có lỗi lớn
Pronunciation	6.5-7	Giả định pronunciation clear, không đánh giá được qua văn bản

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
• ✅ Structure rõ ràng theo thứ tự câu hỏi
• ✅ Có concrete examples (football, swimming, comic books)
• ✅ Grammar chính xác, không có major errors

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Vocabulary quá đơn giản: “good friends”, “many things”, “nice”, “fun”, “happy”
• ⚠️ Thiếu emotional depth trong phần explain
• ⚠️ Không có idiomatic expressions hoặc collocations
• ⚠️ Câu trả lời hơi generic, không có unique details gây ấn tượng
• ⚠️ Thời lượng hơi ngắn (dưới 2 phút)

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to tell you about my childhood friend Minh, who has been a constant presence in my life for over two decades now. These days, he’s working as a software developer in Ho Chi Minh City, and despite our busy schedules, we’ve managed to maintain a strong bond.

Our friendship dates back to when we were just seven years old. I vividly remember the first day of second grade – I was feeling quite nervous and out of place as my family had just moved to a new neighborhood. Minh was sitting at the desk next to mine, and he noticed I was struggling to find my textbook. Without hesitation, he offered to share his, and that simple act of kindness was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

During our childhood years, we were practically inseparable. We spent countless afternoons playing football at the neighborhood field, often losing track of time until our parents called us home for dinner. We also shared a passion for reading, particularly adventure novels, and would spend hours at each other’s houses immersed in stories about far-off places. One of my fondest memories is when we saved up our pocket money to buy a secondhand bicycle together, which we took turns riding around the neighborhood. We even went through the typical childhood experiences of getting into minor mischief at school, which, looking back, only strengthened our bond.

The reason our friendship has endured over the years is multifaceted. Firstly, we established a foundation of trust from a very young age, and that trust has never been broken. More importantly, we’ve both made a conscious effort to stay connected despite the geographical distance between us now. We make it a point to meet up whenever we’re both in town, and we regularly check in with each other through calls. I think what really makes our friendship special is that we’ve witnessed each other’s growth – from awkward kids to adults with careers and responsibilities. He knows me inside out, including my strengths and weaknesses, and that level of mutual understanding is rare to find.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5	Smooth flow với sophisticated linking devices. Coherent progression từ introduction → first meeting → activities → explanation
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Good range với collocations (constant presence, maintain a strong bond, lifelong friendship, losing track of time). Một số less common vocabulary
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5	Complex structures được sử dụng tốt (relative clauses, participles, conditionals). Minimal errors
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Giả định pronunciation clear với good intonation

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“good friends”, “many things together”	“constant presence”, “lifelong friendship”, “inseparable”
Grammar	Simple: “We played football”	Complex: “We spent countless afternoons playing football at the neighborhood field, often losing track of time”
Ideas	“He supports me when I need help”	“We’ve witnessed each other’s growth from awkward kids to adults with careers and responsibilities”
Details	Generic activities	Specific: “saved up pocket money to buy a secondhand bicycle together”

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d love to talk about Linh, who has been not just a friend but really more like a sister to me since our early childhood. She’s now a practicing physician specializing in pediatrics, which, funnily enough, perfectly suits her nurturing personality that I’ve known since we were kids. Despite leading hectic lives, we’ve somehow managed to keep our friendship alive and thriving after all these years.

Our paths first crossed when we were barely six years old at a local kindergarten in Hanoi. What I find remarkable, looking back on it now, is that our friendship wasn’t one of those instant connections you sometimes hear about. Initially, we were actually quite wary of each other – she thought I was too tomboyish with my scraped knees and messy hair, while I found her a bit too prim and proper with her perfectly ribboned pigtails. However, there was this one incident that completely transformed our relationship. During a school trip to the zoo, I had a nasty fall and was quite shaken up. Linh, who happened to be nearby, immediately rushed over and comforted me with such genuine concern that all my initial reservations about her melted away. From that moment on, we became utterly inseparable.

Our childhood was filled with adventures that still bring a smile to my face. We were those kids who were always up to something – whether it was concocting elaborate games in her backyard, putting on theatrical performances for our bemused parents, or embarking on “expeditions” to explore every nook and cranny of our neighborhood. We also developed a shared obsession with astronomy after her father bought us a telescope one summer, and I can still recall those magical nights we spent stargazing from her rooftop, dreaming up fantastical stories about distant galaxies. What made these experiences so special wasn’t just the activities themselves, but the way we brought out each other’s imagination and fearlessness.

As for why our friendship has stood the test of time, I believe it boils down to several key factors. First and foremost, we grew up witnessing the full spectrum of each other’s lives – the triumphs, the failures, the awkward phases, and the transformative moments. This shared history has created an unshakeable foundation of understanding. We don’t need to put on pretenses with each other; there’s this beautiful authenticity in our relationship where we can be completely vulnerable without fear of judgment.

What’s more, we’ve both been incredibly intentional about nurturing this friendship. We’ve weathered periods when life pulled us in different directions – her medical training, my years abroad – but we’ve always made the deliberate choice to reach out, to check in, to show up. I think this conscious effort is what distinguishes lasting friendships from those that simply fade away.

On a deeper level, Linh embodies qualities I deeply admire – her unwavering integrity, her capacity for empathy, her resilient spirit. Over the years, she’s challenged me to grow, called me out when I was in the wrong, and celebrated my victories as if they were her own. There’s something profoundly comforting in having someone in your life who has literally known you since before you could tie your shoelaces, yet still chooses to stick around as you navigate the complexities of adulthood. That’s the kind of irreplaceable bond that I treasure beyond measure.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	9	Exceptional flow với sophisticated discourse markers. Ideas well-developed và logically sequenced. Speaks at length without noticeable effort
Lexical Resource	9	Wide range of vocabulary used flexibly và precisely. Sophisticated collocations và idiomatic language. Less common items used naturally
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	9	Full range of structures used accurately và appropriately. Only rare minor errors (if any)
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Giả định pronunciation sustained, flexible use of features, easy to understand

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:

• Natural discourse markers: “funnily enough”, “looking back on it now”, “first and foremost”, “what’s more”, “on a deeper level”
• Self-correction và elaboration tự nhiên: “not just a friend but really more like a sister”
• Extended speaking không hesitation, ideas flow seamlessly

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• Sophisticated collocations: “practicing physician”, “nurturing personality”, “keep our friendship alive and thriving”, “stood the test of time”, “unshakeable foundation”
• Less common phrases: “wary of each other”, “prim and proper”, “initial reservations melted away”, “utterly inseparable”
• Academic/formal vocabulary được sử dụng naturally: “transformed”, “embodies”, “unwavering”, “capacity for empathy”, “irreplaceable bond”
• Vivid descriptive language: “scraped knees”, “perfectly ribboned pigtails”, “bemused parents”

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• Complex relative clauses: “who has been not just a friend but really more like a sister”, “that I’ve known since we were kids”
• Participle phrases: “looking back on it now”, “specializing in pediatrics”, “putting on theatrical performances”
• Inversion: “What I find remarkable is…”
• Conditionals implied: “without fear of judgment”
• Cleft sentences: “What made these experiences so special wasn’t just…”
• Various tenses used accurately: past, present perfect, present continuous

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:

• Nuanced understanding của friendship: không phải instant connection mà gradually developed
• Psychological insights: “shared history creates unshakeable foundation”, “conscious effort distinguishes lasting friendships”
• Emotional intelligence: “completely vulnerable without fear of judgment”, “capacity for empathy”
• Reflective thinking: “looking back on it now”, analysis của why friendship lasts
• Mature perspective: acknowledge the effort required để maintain relationships

🎭 Storytelling Skills:

• Vivid details: telescope, rooftop stargazing, zoo incident
• Character development: từ wary strangers → inseparable friends
• Emotional arc: initial wariness → transformative moment → deep bond
• Engaging narrative: holds listener’s attention với interesting anecdotes

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Examiner có thể hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn sau Part 2:

Question 1: Do you think you’ll remain friends with this person in the future?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I definitely think so. We have been friends for many years and our friendship is very strong. I hope we will continue to stay in touch.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely. I have no doubt whatsoever that our friendship will continue to flourish. Given the depth of our connection and the fact that we’ve already navigated so many life transitions together, I’m confident we’ll remain fixtures in each other’s lives for decades to come. If anything, I think our bond will only deepen as we go through more life milestones together.

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Question 2: How has your friendship changed over the years?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Our friendship has changed because we are both adults now. We don’t meet as often as before, but we still care about each other. We talk about different topics now, like work and family.

Band 8-9 Answer:
The dynamics have certainly evolved quite considerably. When we were children, our friendship was characterized by spontaneity and constant togetherness. Now, as adults with demanding careers, it’s become more about quality over quantity – our meetings are less frequent but far more intentional and meaningful. We’ve also graduated from discussing Pokemon cards to navigating complex life decisions together, so there’s definitely more depth to our conversations now.

Hai người bạn từ thời thơ ấu đang gặp gỡ sau nhiều năm tại quán cà phê

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thảo luận trừu tượng và sâu sắc nhất, kéo dài 4-5 phút. Examiner sẽ hỏi những câu hỏi liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2 nhưng ở level abstract và analytical cao hơn. Đây là phần phân biệt candidates ở Band 7+ với Band 6.

Yêu cầu:

• Đưa ra opinions có lý lẽ rõ ràng
• Phân tích nhiều perspectives của vấn đề
• So sánh, đối chiếu, đánh giá
• Sử dụng examples từ society, không chỉ personal experiences

Chiến lược:

• Mở rộng câu trả lời (3-5 câu minimum)
• Structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/caveat
• Sử dụng discourse markers sophisticated: “Well”, “Actually”, “I would argue that”
• Thừa nhận complexity: “It depends”, “To some extent”, “However, we also need to consider”
• Balance perspectives: “On the one hand… On the other hand…”

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu), không elaborate
• Không justify opinions với reasons/examples
• Thiếu từ vựng abstract và academic
• Không demonstrate critical thinking
• Quá personal, không analyze ở societal level

Những kỹ năng đặc biệt cần thiết ở phần này tương tự như khi describe a time when you were very curious about something, vì cả hai đều đòi hỏi khả năng phân tích sâu sắc và diễn đạt những suy nghĩ phức tạp một cách mạch lạc.

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Changes in Friendship Patterns

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Question 1: How have friendships changed with the development of technology and social media?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Compare & Contrast (past vs present), Cause-Effect
• Key words: “changed”, “technology”, “social media” – cần analyze both positive và negative impacts
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • Acknowledge the change đã xảy ra
  • Discuss positive aspects (easier to stay connected)
  • Discuss negative aspects (superficial connections)
  • Balanced conclusion

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think technology has changed friendships a lot. Now people can easily connect with friends through social media like Facebook or Instagram. They can chat and share photos anytime. However, I think sometimes people spend too much time online and don’t meet face-to-face. Real friendships need personal interaction, not just messages on the phone.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có compare được past and present, nhưng còn basic
• Vocabulary: Common words (changed, easily, chat, share), thiếu academic terms
• Ideas: Có mention cả positive và negative, nhưng chưa deep
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng thiếu sophistication và detailed analysis

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, I’d say technology has fundamentally transformed the landscape of friendship in both positive and problematic ways. On the one hand, social media platforms have enabled us to maintain connections across vast geographical distances that would have been virtually impossible a generation ago. For instance, I can stay abreast of my friends’ lives through Instagram stories or video calls, even when they’re living on different continents. This constant connectivity has undoubtedly enriched certain aspects of friendship.

However, on the flip side, there’s a growing concern that these digital interactions are cultivating more superficial relationships. What I mean by that is people might have hundreds of “friends” online, but lack the depth of connection that comes from genuine face-to-face interaction. Studies have shown that young people today report feeling more socially isolated despite being more “connected” than ever. I would argue that we’re witnessing a shift from quality to quantity in terms of friendships – people prioritize accumulating followers over nurturing meaningful bonds.

That said, I don’t think technology is inherently negative. It ultimately boils down to how we use it. Those who use social media as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, real-world friendships can reap the benefits without the detrimental effects.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized: Intro → Positive aspect + example → Negative aspect + studies → Balanced conclusion
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated academic language: “transformed the landscape”, “constant connectivity”, “cultivating superficial relationships”, “socially isolated”, “nurturing meaningful bonds”
• Grammar: Complex structures: relative clauses, conditionals, cleft sentences (“What I mean by that is”)
• Critical Thinking: Shows balanced view, cites studies, acknowledges complexity, doesn’t give simplistic answer

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Well”, “On the one hand”, “However, on the flip side”, “That said”, “I would argue that”
• Tentative language: “I’d say”, “I would argue”, “It ultimately boils down to”
• Abstract nouns: “connectivity”, “isolation”, “bonds”, “landscape of friendship”
• Academic phrases: “fundamental transformation”, “growing concern”, “detrimental effects”, “reap the benefits”

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Question 2: Do you think it’s harder to make friends as an adult compared to childhood? Why?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion + Comparison + Cause-Effect
• Key words: “harder”, “adult vs childhood” – cần compare và explain reasons
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • Take a clear stance (yes/no/depends)
  • Compare circumstances của childhood vs adulthood
  • Analyze psychological và social factors
  • Provide examples

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I believe it’s more difficult to make friends when you are an adult. When we are children, we meet friends at school every day and have a lot of free time to play together. But adults are busy with work and family responsibilities. They don’t have many opportunities to meet new people. Also, adults are more careful about choosing friends.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear yes answer với reasons
• Vocabulary: Basic (difficult, busy, careful)
• Ideas: Logical reasons nhưng không deep: lack of time, fewer opportunities
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicates ideas clearly nhưng thiếu analytical depth

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I think there’s a stark difference between forming friendships in childhood versus adulthood, and yes, it’s generally more challenging as we get older. There are several factors at play here.

Firstly, there’s the structural difference in how our lives are organized. Children have built-in social environments like schools and playgrounds where they’re constantly exposed to potential friends with similar ages and interests. This proximity naturally facilitates bonding. In contrast, adults often find themselves in more compartmentalized lives – their colleagues might be much older or younger, their schedules might be too hectic for spontaneous social interactions, and there simply isn’t the same organic mixing of people.

Beyond the practical aspects, there’s also a psychological dimension. Children tend to be more open and unguarded in their interactions. They can become best friends with someone simply because they both like the same cartoon character. Adults, however, have accumulated life experiences – both positive and negative – that make them more cautious and discerning. We’ve been burned by betrayals, we’ve learned to spot red flags, and we’re more protective of our time and energy. This emotional guardedness, while protective, can also create barriers to forming new connections.

Moreover, adults often carry the weight of multiple responsibilities – careers, families, existing relationships – which means any new friendship has to compete for already scarce time and attention. There’s less room for the spontaneity and frequent interaction that cement childhood bonds.

That being said, I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. Adult friendships, when they do form, often have a different quality – they’re based on shared values and experiences rather than just proximity and circumstance, which can make them deeply meaningful in their own right.

Phân tích:

• Structure:
  • Clear stance with “Absolutely”
  • Systematic analysis: structural factors → psychological factors → practical constraints → nuanced conclusion
  • Each point well-developed với examples
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “stark difference”, “factors at play”, “compartmentalized lives”, “organic mixing”, “accumulated life experiences”, “emotional guardedness”
  • Topic-specific: “proximity facilitates bonding”, “spontaneous social interactions”, “cement bonds”
  • Academic: “structural difference”, “psychological dimension”, “compete for scarce resources”
• Grammar:
  • Complex sentences với embedded clauses
  • Passive voice: “They’re constantly exposed to”
  • Perfect aspect: “have accumulated”, “have been burned”
  • Modal verbs: “might be”, “can create”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Multi-dimensional analysis (structural, psychological, practical)
  • Shows nuance: “That being said”
  • Compares quality vs quantity
  • Demonstrates understanding of human psychology

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Absolutely”, “Firstly”, “Beyond”, “Moreover”, “That being said”
• Cause-effect language: “facilitates”, “create barriers”, “cement bonds”
• Comparison structures: “stark difference between”, “in contrast”, “different quality”
• Abstract concepts: “psychological dimension”, “emotional guardedness”, “proximity”

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Theme 2: Quality vs Quantity in Friendships

Question 3: Is it better to have many friends or just a few close friends?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion, Compare & Contrast
• Key words: “better”, “many vs few”, “close” – subjective question, cần balanced perspective
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • Acknowledge it depends on personality và circumstances
  • Discuss benefits của each approach
  • Personal stance với justification

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think it depends on each person. Some people like to have many friends because they enjoy being social and meeting different people. Other people prefer a few close friends because these friendships are deeper and more meaningful. Personally, I prefer having a small group of close friends because I can trust them and share personal things with them.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Presents both sides, gives personal opinion
• Vocabulary: Basic (like, enjoy, prefer, trust)
• Ideas: Reasonable but not elaborated
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear communication nhưng thiếu depth và sophisticated language

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer to this – it really hinges on individual personality types, life circumstances, and what you personally derive from friendships. However, let me explore both perspectives.

On the one hand, having a wide social circle certainly has its merits. A diverse network of acquaintances can expose you to different perspectives, opportunities, and experiences. From a pragmatic standpoint, it’s also beneficial professionally – research suggests that “weak ties” (casual acquaintances) are often more valuable than close friends when it comes to career advancement or finding new opportunities, simply because they operate in different circles and can provide access to resources you wouldn’t otherwise have.

On the other hand, cultivating a small circle of intimate friendships offers something qualitatively different. These are the relationships where you can be completely authentic, where there’s mutual vulnerability and deep trust. Psychologically speaking, humans have a finite capacity for maintaining truly close relationships – anthropologist Robin Dunbar famously suggested we can only maintain about five intimate bonds at any given time. Trying to spread yourself too thin across numerous friendships might mean you never achieve the depth of connection that’s truly fulfilling.

From where I stand, I’d argue that the ideal scenario is a tiered approach – maintaining a handful of deep, intimate friendships that serve as your core support system, while also keeping cordial relationships with a broader network. This way, you get the best of both worlds: the emotional sustenance of close bonds and the variety and opportunities that come with wider connections. What matters most, I think, is being intentional about where you invest your emotional energy rather than letting relationships happen haphazardly.

Phân tích:

• Structure:
  • Acknowledges complexity và personal nature
  • Presents both perspectives systematically
  • References research (Dunbar’s number)
  • Offers nuanced personal conclusion
  • Each point thoroughly developed
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “hinges on”, “derive from”, “pragmatic standpoint”, “finite capacity”, “emotional sustenance”, “haphazardly”
  • Academic: “qualitatively different”, “mutual vulnerability”, “anthropologist”, “tiered approach”
  • Collocations: “wide social circle”, “diverse network”, “weak ties”, “career advancement”, “intimate bonds”
• Grammar:
  • Conditional: “Trying to spread yourself too thin might mean…”
  • Cleft sentences: “What matters most is…”
  • Participle phrases: “maintaining a handful”, “keeping cordial relationships”
  • Advanced structures: “From where I stand”, “This way”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Presents balanced argument
  • Cites academic research (Dunbar)
  • Offers original synthesis (tiered approach)
  • Shows psychological understanding
  • Demonstrates intellectual sophistication

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Question 4: How do cultural differences affect the way people make and maintain friendships?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause-Effect, Cultural Analysis
• Key words: “cultural differences”, “affect”, “make and maintain” – cần compare cultures và analyze impacts
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • Identify specific cultural dimensions (collectivism vs individualism, communication styles)
  • Give concrete examples from different cultures
  • Analyze implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Different cultures have different views about friendship. In Asian cultures, people often have close friendships and help each other a lot. In Western cultures, people might be more independent. Also, the way people communicate is different. Some cultures are more direct, while others are more indirect. These differences can affect how people become friends and stay friends.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Identifies some differences
• Vocabulary: Basic (different, close, independent, direct)
• Ideas: Very general, stereotypical
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question nhưng lacks depth và specific examples

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

This is a fascinating question because cultural norms profoundly shape not just how friendships are formed but also what’s expected within those relationships. Let me illustrate with some contrasts.

In collectivist cultures – prevalent in East Asia, for instance – friendships often carry a sense of obligation and interdependence that might seem intense to outsiders. There’s an implicit understanding that friends are quasi-family members who should step in during times of need, sometimes even prioritizing the friend’s needs over their own. Vietnamese friendships, for example, often involve a level of involvement in each other’s lives – offering unsolicited advice, intervening in personal matters – that people from individualistic cultures might perceive as overstepping boundaries.

Conversely, in Western individualistic societies, friendships tend to be more compartmentalized and based on mutual enjoyment rather than obligation. There’s greater emphasis on personal autonomy and respecting boundaries. Friends might be less likely to impose on each other or expect the kind of all-encompassing support common in collectivist cultures. This doesn’t mean these friendships are less meaningful, just differently constructed.

Communication styles also play a crucial role. In high-context cultures like Japan, much is left unsaid – friends are expected to read between the lines and intuit each other’s needs. In low-context cultures like the United States or Germany, explicit communication is valued, and there’s less expectation that friends should automatically understand unspoken needs.

These differences can lead to misunderstandings in cross-cultural friendships. Someone from a collectivist background might interpret a Western friend’s respect for independence as coldness or disinterest, while a Westerner might find an Asian friend’s intense involvement overwhelming or intrusive.

I think in our increasingly globalized world, there’s growing awareness of these differences, and many people are learning to navigate and appreciate different friendship paradigms. The key, I believe, is communicating expectations explicitly rather than assuming everyone operates from the same cultural script.

Phân tích:

• Structure:
  • Clear introduction of complexity
  • Systematic comparison: collectivist vs individualist → communication styles → cross-cultural challenges → conclusion
  • Specific examples from multiple cultures
• Vocabulary:
  • Academic: “profoundly shape”, “implicit understanding”, “quasi-family members”, “compartmentalized”, “autonomy”, “paradigms”
  • Cultural terminology: “collectivist”, “individualistic”, “high-context”, “low-context”
  • Sophisticated expressions: “overstepping boundaries”, “all-encompassing support”, “read between the lines”
• Grammar:
  • Complex relative clauses
  • Conditional structures
  • Participle phrases: “offering unsolicited advice”, “respecting boundaries”
  • Comparative structures throughout
• Critical Thinking:
  • Nuanced cultural analysis
  • Avoids stereotyping while acknowledging patterns
  • Shows awareness of potential misunderstandings
  • Addresses globalization impact
  • Demonstrates intercultural competence

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Theme 3: The Value and Challenges of Long-term Friendships

Question 5: Why do some childhood friendships last while others don’t?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause-Effect, Analysis
• Key words: “why”, “some last, others don’t” – cần identify multiple factors
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • List several factors (effort, compatibility, circumstances)
  • Elaborate each với examples
  • Show understanding của relationship dynamics

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Some childhood friendships last because both people make effort to stay in touch. If they have similar interests and values, they will continue to be friends. However, some friendships end because people change as they grow up. They might move to different places or become too busy with their lives. Sometimes people just grow apart and don’t have much in common anymore.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists reasons simply
• Vocabulary: Basic (make effort, similar, change, grow apart)
• Ideas: Valid points nhưng not elaborated
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers question adequately nhưng superficially

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

I think whether childhood friendships endure really comes down to a complex interplay of factors, both within and beyond the individuals’ control.

First and foremost, there’s the element of intentionality and effort. Friendships don’t sustain themselves automatically – they require conscious investment. The friendships that survive are typically those where both parties actively prioritize the relationship, making time despite busy schedules, reaching out even when life gets hectic. What distinguishes long-lasting friendships from those that fade away is often this deliberate choice to keep showing up for each other.

Beyond effort, there’s the question of evolving compatibility. As we mature, our values, interests, and life paths diverge. Some childhood friendships survive this because the individuals grow in compatible directions – perhaps they share core values that remain constant even as superficial interests change. Others don’t make it because the people simply become too different. There’s no judgment in this; it’s a natural part of life. Someone who becomes deeply religious might drift apart from a friend who takes a different philosophical path, not because of any falling out, but simply because they no longer resonate in the same way.

Circumstantial factors also play a non-negligible role. Geographical proximity, for instance, makes a huge difference. It’s simply easier to maintain a friendship with someone in the same city than someone halfway across the world. Life transitions – marriage, children, career demands – can also either strengthen or strain friendships depending on whether both friends are going through similar stages.

There’s also a psychological aspect that’s often overlooked. Some friendships fulfill a particular need at a particular developmental stage and aren’t meant to last forever. Perhaps you were friends with someone because they were the fun, adventurous one when you needed that energy in your teenage years, but as you’ve matured, your needs from friendships have shifted toward deeper emotional support, which that person might not be equipped to provide.

Lastly, I’d argue there’s sometimes an element of serendipity – some friendships survive more by luck than design, perhaps because of circumstances that kept people connected when they might otherwise have lost touch.

Phân tích:

• Structure:
  • Systematic breakdown of multiple factors
  • Each factor thoroughly explained với examples
  • Shows psychological depth
  • Acknowledges complexity và multiple perspectives
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “complex interplay”, “conscious investment”, “evolving compatibility”, “non-negligible role”, “serendipity”
  • Academic: “intentionality”, “diverge”, “circumstantial factors”, “developmental stage”
  • Collocations: “sustain themselves”, “fade away”, “drift apart”, “resonate”, “equipped to provide”
• Grammar:
  • Complex conditional structures
  • Participle clauses: “making time despite”, “depending on whether”
  • Cleft sentences: “What distinguishes… is”
  • Relative clauses throughout
• Critical Thinking:
  • Multi-faceted analysis (effort, compatibility, circumstances, psychology, chance)
  • Acknowledges natural evolution
  • Non-judgmental perspective
  • Shows understanding of human psychology
  • Balanced view recognizing both controllable và uncontrollable factors

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “First and foremost”, “Beyond”, “There’s also”, “Lastly”
• Tentative language: “I think”, “typically”, “often”, “sometimes”, “I’d argue”
• Cause-effect language: “comes down to”, “distinguishes from”, “depending on”
• Abstract nouns: “intentionality”, “compatibility”, “serendipity”, “interplay”

Khi thảo luận về những yếu tố giúp tình bạn bền vững, điều này cũng liên quan mật thiết đến describe a time when you felt truly happy, vì những khoảnh khắc hạnh phúc bên bạn bè thường là động lực quan trọng để duy trì và trân trọng mối quan hệ lâu dài.

Sơ đồ tư duy về các yếu tố giúp tình bạn thời thơ ấu bền vững qua thời gian

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Question 6: In what ways can friendships benefit people’s mental health and wellbeing?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Effect/Benefits, Analysis
• Key words: “ways”, “benefit”, “mental health”, “wellbeing” – cần identify multiple benefits với evidence
• Cách tiếp cận:
  • Discuss various psychological benefits
  • Reference research nếu có thể
  • Give concrete examples
  • Connect to broader wellbeing

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Friendships are very important for mental health. When you have good friends, you don’t feel lonely. Friends can help you when you have problems or feel stressed. They make you happy and give you support. Talking to friends can make you feel better. Also, doing activities with friends is enjoyable and can reduce stress.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists benefits simply
• Vocabulary: Basic (important, lonely, happy, support)
• Ideas: Valid but not elaborated with evidence
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question but lacks depth và scientific backing

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

The impact of friendships on mental health is actually quite profound and backed by extensive research. Let me break down several key mechanisms through which friendships contribute to psychological wellbeing.

Perhaps most fundamentally, friendships serve as a buffer against loneliness and social isolation, which are increasingly recognized as major risk factors for depression, anxiety, and even physical health problems. Studies have shown that people with strong social connections have lower rates of mental health disorders. There’s something inherently therapeutic about having someone who genuinely knows you, someone you can turn to without pretense or performance.

Beyond just preventing negative outcomes, friendships actively promote positive mental states. When we engage with friends, our brains release oxytocin and serotonin – the so-called “feel-good” hormones that regulate mood and reduce stress. This isn’t just subjective feeling; it’s measurable biochemical change. Even something as simple as laughing with a friend can trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural stress-relievers.

Friends also provide crucial emotional support during difficult times. Having someone who will listen without judgment, who can offer perspective when you’re caught up in your own head, who can validate your feelings – these are invaluable resources for maintaining psychological resilience. Research on resilience consistently shows that social support is one of the strongest predictors of how well people cope with adversity.

There’s also a cognitive dimension. Friendships challenge us intellectually – they expose us to different viewpoints, stimulate conversation, and keep our minds active. This kind of social engagement has been linked to better cognitive function and may even reduce the risk of cognitive decline in later life.

Moreover, friendships contribute to our sense of identity and purpose. They affirm our value, reflect back to us who we are, and give us a sense of belonging. Psychologically speaking, feeling that you matter to others and have a place in a social network is fundamental to human wellbeing.

What’s particularly interesting is that these benefits seem to be dose-dependent – the quality and quantity of friendships both matter, but quality typically trumps quantity. A few deep, supportive friendships appear to be more beneficial for mental health than a large network of superficial connections.

Phân tích:

• Structure:
  • Introduction establishing importance
  • Systematic coverage of multiple dimensions: prevention, positive promotion, emotional support, cognitive benefits, identity/purpose
  • Scientific backing throughout
  • Nuanced conclusion about quality vs quantity
• Vocabulary:
  • Academic/scientific: “buffer against”, “risk factors”, “therapeutic”, “biochemical change”, “endorphins”, “resilience”, “cognitive dimension”, “dose-dependent”
  • Medical terminology: “oxytocin”, “serotonin”, “psychological wellbeing”
  • Sophisticated expressions: “inherently therapeutic”, “without pretense”, “caught up in your own head”, “invaluable resources”
• Grammar:
  • Passive constructions: “are increasingly recognized”, “has been linked to”
  • Complex noun phrases: “major risk factors for depression”
  • Participle clauses: “feeling that you matter”
  • Conditional implications: “may even reduce”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Evidence-based approach citing research
  • Multi-dimensional analysis (biochemical, emotional, cognitive, social)
  • Scientific credibility
  • Nuanced conclusion
  • Shows deep understanding of psychology

💡 Key Language Features:

• Scientific language: “studies have shown”, “research on X”, “linked to”, “backed by extensive research”
• Discourse markers: “Perhaps most fundamentally”, “Beyond”, “Moreover”, “What’s particularly interesting”
• Cause-effect structures: “serve as”, “contribute to”, “promote”, “trigger”
• Hedging: “typically”, “appear to be”, “may even”

Biểu đồ minh họa các lợi ích của tình bạn đối với sức khỏe tâm thần và hạnh phúc

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
in touch with	phrase	/ɪn tʌtʃ wɪð/	giữ liên lạc với	I’m still in touch with my childhood friends through social media.	keep/stay/remain in touch, get in touch, lose touch
bond	n/v	/bɒnd/	mối liên kết, gắn kết	We bonded over our shared love of music.	strong bond, close bond, form/develop/forge a bond, bond with someone
inseparable	adj	/ɪnˈsepərəbl/	không thể tách rời	We were inseparable during our school years.	practically/virtually/almost inseparable, inseparable friends/companions
drift apart	phrasal verb	/drɪft əˈpɑːt/	xa cách dần, mất liên lạc	After university, we gradually drifted apart.	slowly/gradually/eventually drift apart, drift apart from someone
formative years	phrase	/ˈfɔːmətɪv jɪəz/	những năm tháng định hình	Our formative years together shaped who we are today.	during formative years, throughout formative years
mutual	adj	/ˈmjuːtʃuəl/	lẫn nhau, chung	Our friendship is based on mutual respect and trust.	mutual trust/respect/understanding/friend/interest
nurture	v	/ˈnɜːtʃə(r)/	vun đắp, nuôi dưỡng	We’ve always nurtured our friendship through regular communication.	nurture a relationship/friendship, carefully/actively nurture
confide in	phrasal verb	/kənˈfaɪd ɪn/	tâm sự, tin tưởng	I can confide in her about my deepest fears.	confide in someone, confide something to someone
stand the test of time	idiom	/stænd ðə test əv taɪm/	trường tồn qua thời gian	Our friendship has stood the test of time.	stand/withstand the test of time
make it a point to	phrase	/meɪk ɪt ə pɔɪnt tuː/	cố gắng, có ý thức làm gì	We make it a point to meet up at least once a year.	make it a point to do something, make a point of doing
thick and thin	idiom	/θɪk ənd θɪn/	mọi thăng trầm	She’s been there for me through thick and thin.	through thick and thin, stick together through thick and thin
genuine	adj	/ˈdʒenjuɪn/	chân thành, thật	He showed genuine concern when I was going through difficulties.	genuine interest/concern/friendship/affection/smile
resilience	n	/rɪˈzɪliəns/	sự kiên cường, khả năng phục hồi	Friendships build emotional resilience.	emotional/psychological resilience, build/develop resilience
authentic	adj	/ɔːˈθentɪk/	chân thật, không giả vờ	I can be my authentic self around her.	authentic self, authentic relationship/connection
cultivate	v	/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/	trau dồi, vun đắp	It takes time to cultivate meaningful friendships.	cultivate relationships/friendships, carefully/actively cultivate
companionship	n	/kəmˈpæniənʃɪp/	tình bạn, sự đồng hành	I value the companionship we share.	close/warm companionship, provide/offer companionship
camaraderie	n	/ˌkæməˈrɑːdəri/	tình bạn thân thiết	There was a strong sense of camaraderie among us.	sense/feeling of camaraderie, build/foster camaraderie
loyalty	n	/ˈlɔɪəlti/	lòng trung thành	Loyalty is one of the most important qualities in friendship.	fierce/unwavering/absolute loyalty, show/demonstrate loyalty
empathy	n	/ˈempəθi/	sự đồng cảm	She has a natural capacity for empathy.	show/express empathy, capacity/ability for empathy, feel empathy
vulnerability	n	/ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti/	sự dễ bị tổn thương, sự cởi mở	True friendship requires vulnerability.	emotional vulnerability, show/display vulnerability

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
has your back	ủng hộ, che chở bạn	A true friend is someone who always has your back, no matter what.	7.5-9
kindred spirit	người tâm đầu ý hợp	We’re kindred spirits who understand each other without words.	8-9
birds of a feather	người cùng loại, giống nhau	We became friends instantly – birds of a feather, as they say.	7-8
strike up a conversation	bắt chuyện	It’s easy to strike up a conversation with him.	7-8
break the ice	phá vỡ sự ngượng ngùng	Humor is a great way to break the ice when meeting new people.	7-8
hit it off	hợp nhau ngay từ đầu	We hit it off immediately when we first met.	7-8
see eye to eye	đồng quan điểm	We don’t always see eye to eye, but we respect each other’s views.	7.5-8
go way back	quen nhau từ lâu	Tom and I go way back – we’ve been friends since kindergarten.	7.5-8
a shoulder to cry on	người để dựa vào lúc buồn	She’s always been a shoulder to cry on when I needed one.	7-8
fair-weather friend	bạn chỉ chơi khi vui	He turned out to be a fair-weather friend who disappeared when I had problems.	8-9
walk down memory lane	nhớ lại kỷ niệm	Every time we meet, we walk down memory lane talking about our childhood.	7.5-8
be on the same wavelength	có cùng suy nghĩ, hiểu nhau	We’re always on the same wavelength; I know what she’s thinking before she says it.	8-9

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Dùng khi cần một chút thời gian suy nghĩ hoặc khi câu trả lời phức tạp
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc sửa lại điều vừa nói
• 📝 To be honest,… – Khi muốn nói thật, thể hiện tính chân thành
• 📝 I’d say that… – Cách mềm mại để đưa ra quan điểm
• 📝 Looking back on it now,… – Khi reflect về quá khứ

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó, ngoài ra
• 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, quan trọng hơn
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến, không nói đến
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài điều đó ra
• 📝 Moreover,… – Hơn nữa (formal hơn)

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
• 📝 That being said,… – Dù vậy, tuy nhiên
• 📝 However, on the flip side,… – Tuy nhiên, mặt khác
• 📝 Conversely,… – Ngược lại

Để đưa ra ví dụ:

• 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ như
• 📝 To illustrate this,… – Để minh họa điều này
• 📝 Let me give you an example,… – Để tôi đưa ra một ví dụ
• 📝 Take X for example,… – Lấy X làm ví dụ

Để giải thích/làm rõ:

• 📝 What I mean by that is… – Ý tôi là
• 📝 In other words,… – Nói cách khác
• 📝 To put it another way,… – Nói theo cách khác
• 📝 Let me clarify… – Để tôi làm rõ

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại, xét cho cùng
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì
• 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng, rốt cuộc
• 📝 In conclusion,… – Kết luận lại

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

• Mixed conditional (pha trộn):

  • Formula: If + past perfect, would + base verb
  • Ví dụ: “If we hadn’t met at that summer camp, we wouldn’t be friends today.”

• Third conditional for regret:

  • Ví dụ: “If I had made more effort to stay in touch, we might not have drifted apart.”

• Inversion for emphasis:

  • Formula: Had + subject + past participle, subject + would…
  • Ví dụ: “Had we not gone through those difficult times together, our bond wouldn’t be as strong.”

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

• Non-defining (cung cấp thông tin thêm):

  • Ví dụ: “My friend Lan, who I’ve known since primary school, is now a successful lawyer.”
  • “We used to spend hours at the park, which was our favorite meeting spot.”

• Reduced relative clause:

  • Ví dụ: “The memories formed during our childhood continue to bond us.”

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động – formal):

• It is thought/believed/said that…

  • Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that childhood friendships shape our social development.”

• Research shows/suggests passive:

  • Ví dụ: “Friendships have been shown to significantly impact mental health.”

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ – nhấn mạnh):

• What I find/appreciate most is…

  • Ví dụ: “What I appreciate most about our friendship is the unconditional support.”

• The thing that makes our friendship special is…

  • Ví dụ: “The thing that makes our friendship special is our shared history.”

• It was… that…

  • Ví dụ: “It was that one incident at school that really cemented our friendship.”

5. Inversion (Đảo ngữ – formal, emphatic):

• Not only… but also:

  • Ví dụ: “Not only does she understand me, but she also challenges me to grow.”

• Rarely/Seldom at the beginning:

  • Ví dụ: “Rarely do you find friendships that stand the test of time like ours.”

6. Participle Clauses (Rút gọn mệnh đề):

• Present participle (-ing):

  • Ví dụ: “Having known each other for decades, we can communicate without words.”

• Past participle (-ed):

  • Ví dụ: “United by shared experiences, we formed an unbreakable bond.”

Những kỹ năng giao tiếp và phát triển mối quan hệ qua thời gian cũng có nhiều điểm tương đồng với describe a hobby you find relaxing, vì cả hai đều đòi hỏi sự kiên nhẫn, đầu tư thời gian và khả năng tìm ra niềm vui trong những hoạt động thường ngày.

Chiến lược làm bài và lời khuyên từ Examiner

Chuẩn bị hiệu quả trước kỳ thi

1. Tạo kho từ vựng chủ đề (Topic-based Vocabulary Bank):

Thay vì học từ vựng ngẫu nhiên, hãy tạo mind maps cho từng chủ đề. Với chủ đề friendship, phân loại theo:

• Personality traits: loyal, trustworthy, empathetic, genuine
• Actions: confide in, bond with, drift apart, nurture
• Emotional aspects: vulnerability, intimacy, companionship
• Challenges: misunderstandings, geographical distance, growing apart

2. Practice với real conditions:

Đừng chỉ đọc bài mẫu. Hãy:

• Record yourself trả lời trong time limit thực tế
• Listen back và identify các vấn đề (hesitation, grammar errors, repetition)
• Practice lại cho đến khi fluent

3. Develop personal examples:

Chuẩn bị 3-4 personal stories có thể adapt cho nhiều topics khác nhau:

• Một câu chuyện về childhood friend có thể dùng cho: friendship, memorable experience, happy time
• Practice retelling cùng một story theo các góc độ khác nhau

4. Build confidence với common topics:

IELTS có khoảng 20 chủ đề phổ biến. Prioritize:

• People (friends, family, role models)
• Places (hometown, travel)
• Events (celebrations, memorable experiences)
• Objects (gifts, possessions)
• Abstract (changes, future plans)

Trong phòng thi

Part 1 strategies:

✅ DO:

• Smile và maintain eye contact
• Answer directly trước khi elaborate
• Extend với ONE reason/example (2-3 câu total)
• Speak naturally, không recite

❌ DON’T:

• Give yes/no answers only
• Memorize và recite prepared answers
• Over-elaborate (quá dài dòng)
• Use vocabulary quá academic cho Part 1

Part 2 strategies:

✅ DO:

• Use full 1 minute prep time
• Write keywords only (5-7 bullet points)
• Organize notes theo structure của cue card
• Speak for full 2 minutes
• Use past tense cho stories, present cho current situations
• Address ALL bullet points, especially “explain why”

❌ DON’T:

• Write full sentences trong prep time
• Memorize entire responses
• Stop trước 1.5 minutes
• Skip bullet points
• Rush through phần “explain”

Sample note-taking for cue card:

Who: Nam - childhood friend - engineer now
How/when met: 7 yrs old - 2nd grade - shared pencil case
Used to do: 
- football after school
- study together
- swim summer
- comic books
Explain why:
- 20 years together
- understand deeply
- shared memories
- trustworthy
- important reminder of childhood

Part 3 strategies:

✅ DO:

• Take a moment to think (1-2 seconds)
• Structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion
• Use discourse markers
• Acknowledge complexity: “It depends”, “There are several factors”
• Give balanced views: both sides của argument
• Use examples từ society/studies, không chỉ personal

❌ DON’T:

• Rush to answer immediately
• Give short answers (under 3 sentences)
• Be too personal (avoid “I” too much)
• Give extreme opinions without nuance
• Say “I don’t know” và stop

Dealing với difficult questions:

Nếu không understand question:

• “I’m sorry, could you please repeat/rephrase that?”
• “Do you mean [paraphrase question]?”

Nếu không biết trả lời:

• Buy time: “That’s an interesting question. Let me think…”
• Be honest: “I haven’t thought much about this before, but I’d say…”
• Speculate: “I’m not entirely sure, but I imagine…”

Common mistakes của học viên Việt Nam

1. Over-reliance on templates:

❌ Sai: “There are three reasons why… First of all… Secondly… Last but not least…”

✅ Đúng: Natural discourse với varied structures

2. Inappropriate formality:

❌ Sai: “I am of the opinion that friendship is of paramount importance.”

✅ Đúng: “I think friendships are really important because…”

Speaking là informal, không phải writing Task 2!

3. Lack của natural fillers:

❌ Sai: Long pauses hoặc “uh… um…” nhiều

✅ Đúng: “Well…”, “Actually…”, “You know…”, “I mean…”

4. Limited vocabulary range:

❌ Sai: Repeat “good friend”, “very important”, “many things”

✅ Đúng: Use variations: “close friend”, “inseparable”, “crucial”, “vital”, “countless activities”

5. Ignoring examiner cues:

Examiner có thể interrupt bạn ở Part 2 nếu bạn quá 3 phút. Đây KHÔNG phải negative signal. Similarly, nếu examiner moves on, đừng panic.

6. Memorized intonation:

Khi recite prepared answer, intonation thường flat và robotic. Examiner nhận ra ngay! Practice speaking naturally như đang chat với bạn.

Đạt Band 8+ – Advanced tips

1. Demonstrate sophisticated thinking:

• Acknowledge complexity: “It’s not a straightforward issue…”
• Consider multiple perspectives: “From one angle… but from another viewpoint…”
• Show awareness của nuances: “While generally true, there are exceptions…”

2. Use less common vocabulary naturally:

Band 8-9 không phải về big words, mà về:

• Precise vocabulary: “nurtured” thay vì “kept”
• Collocations: “forge a bond” thay vì “make friendship”
• Idiomatic language: “stand the test of time”

3. Vary sentence structures:

Trong mỗi answer, include:

• Simple sentence (for clarity)
• Compound sentence (with coordination)
• Complex sentence (with subordination)
• Conditional (if…)
• Relative clause (who/which/that)

4. Show personal engagement:

Band 9 candidates sound genuinely interested và engaged:

• React to questions: “That’s a fascinating question!”
• Show enthusiasm về topic
• Use appropriate humor khi phù hợp
• Demonstrate real thinking, not recitation

5. Master pronunciation features:

Beyond individual sounds:

• Word stress: “REcord” (noun) vs “reCORD” (verb)
• Sentence stress: Emphasize content words
• Intonation: Rising for questions, falling for statements
• Connected speech: “used to” sounds like “useta”
• Chunking: Pause at meaningful phrase boundaries

Lộ trình tự học 8 tuần

Weeks 1-2: Foundation

• Learn core vocabulary cho 10 common topics
• Practice Part 1 questions (30 phút/day)
• Record và listen back

Weeks 3-4: Part 2 Mastery

• Practice 1 cue card/day
• Focus on speaking for full 2 minutes
• Develop personal stories bank

Weeks 5-6: Part 3 Development

• Study high-level vocabulary
• Practice abstract discussions
• Learn to structure complex arguments

Weeks 7-8: Integration & Polish

• Full mock tests (all 3 parts)
• Address specific weaknesses
• Fine-tune pronunciation và fluency

Để phát triển khả năng kể chuyện một cách tự nhiên và hấp dẫn, bạn có thể tham khảo thêm cách trả lời cho chủ đề describe a place where you go to connect with nature, nơi bạn cũng cần sử dụng kỹ năng miêu tả chi tiết và diễn đạt cảm xúc một cách chân thực.

Lời kết từ IELTS Examiner

Sau hơn 20 năm chấm thi IELTS Speaking, tôi nhận thấy rằng candidates đạt điểm cao không phải là những người có từ vựng “fancy” nhất hay grammar phức tạp nhất. Họ là những người:

Communicate naturally và confidently – Họ speak như đang conversation thật sự, không recite memorized scripts. Họ comfortable với pauses, tự correct mình một cách natural, và show genuine interest trong conversation.

Demonstrate genuine thinking – Họ không rush để answer, mà take time để organize thoughts. Họ acknowledge complexity của questions và offer nuanced perspectives thay vì simple, black-and-white answers.

Use language flexibly – Họ có range tốt, nhưng quan trọng hơn là use language appropriately for context. Họ biết khi nào formal, khi nào conversational, và adapt theo tình huống.

Show personality – Band 8-9 candidates không sound like robots. They smile, laugh, show emotion, và let their personality come through. Examiners are human – we appreciate genuine, engaging conversations.

Về chủ đề “Describe a childhood friend”, đây là một topic tuyệt vời để showcase communication skills của bạn vì:

• It’s personal and relatable
• It allows for emotional expression
• It demonstrates your ability to talk about relationships và human experiences
• It provides opportunities cho both narrative (Part 2) và analytical thinking (Part 3)

My final advice:

Don’t stress about perfection. Native speakers make grammar mistakes too! Focus on:

• Fluency over accuracy (within reason)
• Communication over complicated language
• Authenticity over memorization
• Confidence over anxiety

Remember: IELTS Speaking test is a conversation, not an exam where you’re trying to prove how many big words you know. The examiner wants to have a pleasant, interesting conversation with you. Treat it as such, và your natural abilities sẽ shine through.

Practice consistently, learn from feedback, và gradually build your confidence. With the strategies, vocabulary, và sample answers trong bài viết này, bạn đã có foundation vững chắc để approach chủ đề này successfully.

Good luck với IELTS preparation của bạn! Remember – every expert was once a beginner. With dedication và proper practice, you can achieve your target band score.