IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời Chủ Đề “Describe A Goal You Want To Achieve In The Near Future” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Mở bài

Chủ đề về mục tiêu tương lai là một trong những đề tài phổ biến và quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking. Câu hỏi “Describe A Goal You Want To Achieve In The Near Future” xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ năm 2020 đến nay, đặc biệt là trong Part 2. Theo thống kê từ các bài thi thực tế được ghi nhận trên IELTS-speaking.com và ielts-blog.com, chủ đề này xuất hiện trung bình 2-3 lần mỗi quý tại các trung tâm thi trên toàn thế giới.

Đây là một chủ đề tuyệt vời để thí sinh thể hiện khả năng sử dụng thì tương lai, động từ khuyết thiếu, và từ vựng liên quan đến kế hoạch, quyết tâm, động lực cá nhân. Examiner thường đánh giá cao những câu trả lời thể hiện tham vọng thực tế, có kế hoạch rõ ràng và phản ánh sự trưởng thành trong suy nghĩ.

Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai: Cao. Chủ đề về mục tiêu cá nhân luôn relevant với mọi thí sinh và cho phép đánh giá toàn diện năng lực ngôn ngữ.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:

• 10+ câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến mục tiêu và tương lai
• Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm khác nhau (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích sâu
• Hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm được native speakers sử dụng
• Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của một IELTS Examiner
• Những lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
• Phương pháp structure câu trả lời để tối đa hóa điểm số

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích, công việc, học tập. Đây là phần “warm-up” để bạn làm quen với examiner và tạo ấn tượng ban đầu. Chiến lược quan trọng nhất là trả lời tự nhiên, mở rộng mỗi câu trả lời thành 2-3 câu với cấu trúc: Direct answer → Reason/Detail → Example (nếu có).

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam trong Part 1:

• Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ với “Yes” hoặc “No”
• Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “bad”, “like”, “dislike”
• Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Nói quá nhanh hoặc quá chậm do lo lắng
• Không duy trì eye contact với examiner

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you usually set goals for yourself?

Question 2: What kind of goals do young people in your country typically have?

Question 3: Have you achieved any important goals recently?

Question 4: Do you prefer short-term or long-term goals?

Question 5: How do you feel when you achieve a goal?

Question 6: What do you do if you fail to achieve a goal?

Question 7: Do you think it’s important to have ambitious goals?

Question 8: Who influences your goals the most?

Question 9: Do you write down your goals or just keep them in mind?

Question 10: How have your goals changed over the years?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

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Question: Do you usually set goals for yourself?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời trực tiếp có hay không
• Đưa ra lý do tại sao bạn làm vậy
• Thêm ví dụ về loại mục tiêu bạn thường đặt ra

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I do set goals for myself regularly. I think it helps me stay focused on what I want to achieve. For example, I set a goal to improve my English skills this year by practicing speaking every day.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp, có lý do cơ bản, có ví dụ cụ thể
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng đơn giản (helps, improve, practicing), cấu trúc câu chưa phức tạp, thiếu sâu sắc
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Đáp ứng yêu cầu cơ bản nhưng chưa impressive về mặt ngôn ngữ. Vocabulary và grammar ở mức adequate nhưng chưa có các collocations hay structures nâng cao.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I’m quite goal-oriented by nature. I find that setting clear objectives gives me a sense of direction and keeps me motivated in both my personal and professional life. For instance, I’ve recently set myself the target of becoming conversationally fluent in English within six months, which has pushed me to dedicate at least an hour daily to immersive practice.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Sử dụng “Absolutely” thay vì “Yes” đơn giản, có cụm “goal-oriented”, “setting clear objectives”, “conversationally fluent” thể hiện precision, cấu trúc câu phức với relative clause “which has pushed me…”, thời gian cụ thể “within six months”, “at least an hour daily” tạo credibility
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluency tự nhiên với discourse marker “Absolutely”, Vocabulary sophisticated với collocations như “sense of direction”, “immersive practice”, Grammar đa dạng với present perfect và complex sentence, Ideas cụ thể và realistic

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• goal-oriented (adj): có định hướng mục tiêu rõ ràng
• setting clear objectives: đặt ra các mục tiêu rõ ràng
• conversationally fluent: trôi chảy trong giao tiếp
• dedicate (v): dành riêng (thời gian/nỗ lực)
• immersive practice: luyện tập đắm chìm, toàn diện

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Question: What kind of goals do young people in your country typically have?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Nói về xu hướng chung của giới trẻ Việt Nam
• Đưa ra 2-3 loại mục tiêu phổ biến
• Giải thích ngắn gọn tại sao có xu hướng đó

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Young people in Vietnam usually have goals about education and career. Many of them want to get good grades or find a good job. Some also want to earn more money to help their families.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời đúng trọng tâm, có 2 loại mục tiêu (education, career), đề cập đến bối cảnh văn hóa (help families)
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng repetitive (good grades, good job), thiếu variety trong cấu trúc câu, chưa elaborate về reasons
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Đáp án adequate và relevant nhưng lacks sophistication trong cách diễn đạt

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

I’d say that career advancement and financial independence are probably the most common aspirations among Vietnamese youth. There’s a strong emphasis on academic excellence as a pathway to secure employment, which reflects our achievement-oriented culture. Beyond that, many young people are increasingly focused on work-life balance and personal development – things like traveling, learning new skills, or even launching their own startups in the growing tech scene here.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Vocabulary precise và varied (career advancement, financial independence, aspirations, achievement-oriented culture), structure phức tạp với “There’s a strong emphasis on…”, “things like…”, đề cập nhiều góc độ (traditional và modern goals), thể hiện cultural awareness
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Demonstrates excellent lexical resource với collocations như “secure employment”, “work-life balance”, Grammar sophisticated với complex sentences, Ideas well-developed và nuanced, Pronunciation với stress pattern chuẩn trên các academic words

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• career advancement: thăng tiến nghề nghiệp
• financial independence: độc lập tài chính
• aspirations (n): khát vọng, hoài bão
• achievement-oriented culture: văn hóa định hướng thành tích
• work-life balance: cân bằng công việc và cuộc sống
• launching startups: khởi nghiệp

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Question: Have you achieved any important goals recently?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Nói về một mục tiêu cụ thể đã đạt được (dù lớn hay nhỏ)
• Giải thích tại sao nó quan trọng với bạn
• Mô tả ngắn gọn quá trình hoặc cảm xúc khi đạt được

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I recently passed my university entrance exam. It was very important to me because I studied hard for it for many months. I felt really happy when I got the results.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Ví dụ cụ thể và relevant, có mention về effort (studied hard), có cảm xúc (felt happy)
• Hạn chế: Vocabulary basic (very important, really happy, studied hard), thiếu detail về process hoặc impact, cấu trúc câu đơn giản
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks depth và sophistication

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Actually, yes – I recently accomplished something I’m quite proud of. I successfully completed a demanding online certification course in digital marketing while juggling my full-time job. What made it particularly significant was that I’d struggled with time management in the past, so seeing it through to completion felt like a personal milestone. The sense of achievement was incredibly rewarding, and it’s already opened up new opportunities in my career.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Verb variety (accomplished, completed, juggling, struggled with), cấu trúc “What made it particularly significant was that…” cho phép explain deeper, vocabulary chính xác (demanding, milestone, rewarding), kết nối với impact thực tế (opened up opportunities), tone tự nhiên với “Actually, yes”
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluency excellent với natural flow, Lexical resource sophisticated (juggling, seeing it through, personal milestone), Grammar complex với past perfect và relative clauses, Ideas well-elaborated với personal reflection

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• accomplished (v): hoàn thành, đạt được (formal hơn “achieved”)
• juggling (v): xoay xở đồng thời nhiều việc
• seeing something through to completion: kiên trì làm gì đó đến cùng
• personal milestone: cột mốc quan trọng trong cuộc đời
• rewarding (adj): đáng công, mang lại sự thỏa mãn

Học viên IELTS Speaking luyện tập trả lời chủ đề mục tiêu tương lai với giáo viên

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 ghi chú trước khi nói. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để demonstrate khả năng nói liên tục mà không bị ngắt quãng.

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

• Sử dụng trọn vẹn 1 phút chuẩn bị: Ghi keywords chứ không viết câu đầy đủ. Sử dụng mindmap hoặc bullet points
• Nói đủ thời gian: Aim for 2-2.5 phút. Nếu nói dưới 1.5 phút sẽ bị trừ điểm fluency
• Cover tất cả bullet points: Đừng bỏ sót bất kỳ yêu cầu nào trong cue card
• Sử dụng thì động từ phù hợp: Với mục tiêu tương lai, chủ yếu dùng will, going to, present continuous for future, would like to
• Phần “explain” là quan trọng nhất: Đây là nơi bạn show deeper thinking

Lỗi thường gặp:

• Viết quá nhiều trong 1 phút chuẩn bị rồi đọc y chang → nghe mechanical
• Nói quá ngắn rồi dừng lại ngồi im → mất điểm fluency nghiêm trọng
• Bỏ sót 1-2 bullet points → incomplete response
• Không elaborate phần “explain” → miss cơ hội scoring cao nhất

Cue Card

Describe a goal you want to achieve in the near future

You should say:

• What the goal is
• Why you want to achieve it
• What you need to do to achieve it
• And explain how you will feel when you achieve this goal

Phân Tích Đề Bài

• Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a goal (abstract noun) – yêu cầu mô tả kế hoạch tương lai
• Thì động từ: Chủ yếu Future tenses (will, going to, planning to, hoping to) và Present continuous for arranged future
• Bullet points phải cover:
  • What: Mục tiêu cụ thể là gì (rõ ràng, không mơ hồ)
  • Why: Động lực, lý do đằng sau mục tiêu (personal, professional, social reasons)
  • What to do: Các bước cụ thể, kế hoạch hành động (shows realistic planning)
  • Explain feelings: Cảm xúc kỳ vọng khi đạt được (đây là phần ghi điểm cao nhất)
• Câu “explain” quan trọng: Phần này chiếm 30-40% thời gian nói. Đây là nơi bạn demonstrate emotional intelligence, personal reflection, và ability to articulate complex feelings. Đừng chỉ nói “I will feel happy” – hãy explain WHY và elaborate on the IMPACT.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

I’d like to talk about a goal I want to achieve soon, which is getting my IELTS band 7. This is very important to me because I need this score to apply for a master’s degree abroad.

Currently, my English level is around band 6, so I need to improve by one band. To achieve this goal, I have made a study plan. First, I attend an IELTS preparation course twice a week. The teacher there gives me useful tips and corrects my mistakes. Second, I practice speaking English with my friends who are also preparing for IELTS. We meet every weekend to practice together. Third, I watch English movies and read English newspapers every day to improve my vocabulary.

I think I need about three more months of hard work to reach my target. I’m quite confident because I can see my progress week by week. My speaking is getting better and I can understand more difficult reading passages now.

When I achieve this goal, I will feel very happy and proud of myself. It will be a big achievement for me because I have spent a lot of time and effort on it. Also, getting band 7 means I can apply to the universities I want, so it will open many opportunities for my future. My parents will also be very pleased when they hear the good news.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Có linking words cơ bản (First, Second, Third, Also) nhưng hơi mechanical. Flow tương đối smooth nhưng có một số pauses nhỏ. Structure rõ ràng nhưng chưa sophisticated
Lexical Resource	6-7	Vocabulary adequate cho topic (preparation course, study plan, progress, achievement, opportunities). Có một số collocations (getting better, hard work) nhưng chưa có less common phrases. Một số repetition (very, need, improve)
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng đúng future forms (will feel, need to, going to). Có một số complex sentences với “because”, “when”, “which”. Tuy nhiên chủ yếu là simple và compound sentences. Không có lỗi ngữ pháp nghiêm trọng
Pronunciation	6-7	Giả định phát âm clear và understandable với intonation cơ bản. Stress pattern đúng trên các từ đa âm tiết phổ biến

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong cue card
• ✅ Có cấu trúc rõ ràng với introduction, body, và conclusion
• ✅ Nội dung realistic và relatable
• ✅ Thời lượng đủ 1.5-2 phút

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Vocabulary chưa impressive, thiếu academic/advanced words
• ⚠️ Grammar structures đơn giản, ít sử dụng passive, conditionals, complex sentences
• ⚠️ Ideas chưa elaborate sâu, đặc biệt phần “explain feelings” còn surface-level

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to describe a goal that I’m quite determined to achieve in the next few months, which is to obtain an IELTS band score of 7.5 or higher. This particular target is crucial for my academic aspirations as I’m planning to apply for a master’s program in the UK, and most universities there require at least a 7 overall with no band below 6.5.

The main reason this goal matters so much to me is that it represents not just a ticket to further education, but also a validation of years of English learning. I’ve been studying English since primary school, but I’ve never really put it to the test in such a formal way. Beyond the practical requirements, I see achieving this score as a personal milestone that will boost my confidence in using English in academic settings.

To make this goal a reality, I’ve devised a fairly comprehensive study plan. I’m currently enrolled in an intensive IELTS course where I receive targeted feedback on my weak areas – particularly my writing, which tends to be my Achilles’ heel. Additionally, I’ve committed to at least two hours of daily practice, which includes everything from vocabulary building to timed mock tests. I’ve also found a language exchange partner online, which has been invaluable for improving my fluency and spontaneity in speaking. Another strategy I’m using is immersing myself in English content – podcasts during my commute, BBC news articles, and even switching my phone’s language settings to English.

When I finally achieve this goal – and I’m cautiously optimistic that I will within three to four months – I expect to feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It’ll be quite gratifying to see all those hours of preparation pay off. More than just happiness, I think I’ll feel a sense of relief because there’s been quite a bit of pressure, both from myself and my family. But most importantly, reaching this milestone will give me the confidence to tackle the academic challenges that lie ahead in my master’s program.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Discourse markers tự nhiên và varied (Additionally, Beyond, Another strategy, More than just). Ít hesitation, flow rất smooth. Ideas được develop logically với clear progression
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Vocabulary precise và less common (determined to achieve, obtain, crucial, academic aspirations, validation, devised, Achilles’ heel, invaluable, immersing myself in, cautiously optimistic, overwhelming sense of accomplishment, gratifying, pay off). Collocations natural (put it to the test, boost confidence, make this goal a reality)
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Wide range structures: relative clauses (which is to obtain, which tends to be), present perfect (I’ve been studying, I’ve devised, has been invaluable), passive voice (I’m enrolled in), future in the past (I expect to feel). Flexible use of verb patterns. Minimal errors
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Giả định pronunciation clear với good range of connected speech features, appropriate word stress (particularly on academic words), natural intonation patterns

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“getting my IELTS band 7”, “very important”, “study plan”	“obtain an IELTS band score of 7.5”, “crucial for my academic aspirations”, “devised a comprehensive study plan”
Grammar	“I need to improve by one band” (simple structure)	“This particular target is crucial for my academic aspirations as I’m planning to…” (complex with subordinate clauses)
Ideas	“I will feel very happy and proud” (surface-level emotion)	“an overwhelming sense of accomplishment… more than just happiness, I think I’ll feel a sense of relief” (nuanced emotions with elaboration)

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d like to talk about a goal that’s been at the forefront of my mind recently – securing an IELTS band score of 7.5 to 8. This might sound like quite a lofty ambition, particularly given that I’m essentially self-taught in English, but it’s something I’m genuinely passionate about achieving within the next three to four months.

The impetus behind this goal is multifaceted, really. On a practical level, I’m hoping to apply for a master’s program in International Relations at several UK universities, and they typically set the bar at around 7.5 for non-native speakers. But beyond the utilitarian aspect, there’s something deeply personal about this pursuit. English has been a window into different worlds for me – through literature, films, and conversations with people from diverse backgrounds. Achieving this score would, in a sense, validate not just my linguistic competence but also affirm years of self-directed learning and intellectual curiosity. It’s about proving to myself that I can rise to the challenge of something demanding.

In terms of the roadmap I’ve laid out, I’m taking quite a holistic approach. I’ve enrolled in a specialized IELTS preparation course, but I’m also supplementing that with self-study strategies that work for me personally. I’m religiously following a routine that involves dissecting band 9 sample essays to understand what examiners are looking for, practicing timed speaking responses on diverse topics to build spontaneity, and immersing myself in authentic English materials – everything from The Economist to podcasts like The Guardian’s Today in Focus. I’ve also sought out a speaking partner through an online platform, which has been instrumental in refining my ability to articulate complex ideas on the fly. What I’ve learned is that consistency trumps intensity – even just 90 minutes of focused, deliberate practice daily yields better results than sporadic cramming sessions.

Now, as for how I’ll feel upon reaching this milestone – and I genuinely believe I will, barring any unforeseen circumstances – I imagine it’ll be quite cathartic. There’ll certainly be an immense sense of satisfaction, tinged with relief because, truthfully, there’s been considerable self-imposed pressure throughout this journey. But more profoundly, I think it’ll represent a turning point – a moment where I can look back and see tangible evidence of growth and perseverance. It’ll reaffirm my belief that with the right mindset and strategies, seemingly daunting challenges can be surmounted. And perhaps most excitingly, it’ll open doors to intellectual and professional opportunities that might otherwise remain closed, allowing me to engage with global perspectives in my field of study. In a way, this achievement would be less of an endpoint and more of a springboard into the next chapter of my academic journey.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation. Sophisticated discourse markers (On a practical level, But beyond, In terms of, Now, as for, And perhaps most excitingly). Coherence excellent với clear progression of ideas. Natural self-correction và elaboration
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Sophisticated vocabulary used precisely (at the forefront of my mind, lofty ambition, multifaceted, utilitarian aspect, validate, self-directed learning, holistic approach, dissecting, spontaneity, on the fly, trumps, deliberate practice, cathartic, tinged with, turning point, surmounted, springboard). Skillful use of idiomatic language. Rare minor errors
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures với flexibility: complex conditionals (barring any unforeseen circumstances), cleft sentences (What I’ve learned is that), passive constructions (has been instrumental in), relative clauses (which has been instrumental), emphatic structures. Maintains high degree of grammatical accuracy
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Pronunciation clear and natural với appropriate intonation, word stress, và connected speech. Easy to understand với L1 features không impede communication

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
Bài nói flow rất natural với very few hesitations. Thí sinh sử dụng fillers và discourse markers một cách tinh tế (really, truthfully, in a sense) để tạo conversational tone chứ không phải academic essay được đọc to. Self-correction tự nhiên (“barring any unforeseen circumstances”) shows confidence.

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
Không chỉ sử dụng academic words mà còn biết dùng idiomatic expressions một cách appropriate. Ví dụ: “at the forefront of my mind” (trong đầu óc, quan tâm hàng đầu) natural hơn nhiều so với “very important to me”. “Trumps” (vượt trội hơn) thay vì “is better than” shows sophistication. “Cathartic” (mang tính giải thoát tâm lý) là academic vocabulary used precisely trong context về cảm xúc sâu sắc.

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
Sử dụng cleft sentences: “What I’ve learned is that consistency trumps intensity” – đây là advanced structure để emphasize một điểm. Present perfect continuous: “has been at the forefront”, “I’ve been studying” shows ongoing relevance. Conditional sophisticated: “barring any unforeseen circumstances” thay vì simple “if nothing goes wrong”.

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
Không dừng lại ở surface level như “I will feel happy”. Thí sinh elaborate về complex emotions: “cathartic”, “satisfaction tinged with relief”, “turning point”. Kết nối mục tiêu với bigger picture: “less of an endpoint and more of a springboard” shows mature thinking. Phản ánh về process: “consistency trumps intensity” demonstrates self-awareness.

Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả IELTS Speaking Part 2 với cue card về mục tiêu cá nhân

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Examiner có thể hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn sau Part 2 trước khi chuyển sang Part 3:

Question 1: Have you started working towards this goal yet?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I have already started. I registered for an IELTS course last month and I practice every day now.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely, I’ve already taken concrete steps towards it. I enrolled in a preparation course about six weeks ago, and I’ve been quite disciplined about maintaining a daily practice routine. I’m already seeing some encouraging progress, particularly in my writing skills.

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Question 2: Do you think you’ll definitely achieve this goal?

Band 6-7 Answer:
I think so. I’m working very hard and my teacher says I’m improving. So I hope I can achieve it.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Well, I’m cautiously optimistic. While there are no guarantees, I genuinely believe that with consistent effort and the right approach, it’s well within reach. The key is maintaining momentum and adapting my strategies based on what’s working and what isn’t.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 kéo dài 4-5 phút và là phần “thảo luận hai chiều” giữa bạn và examiner về các vấn đề trừu tượng liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2. Đây là phần khó nhất và cũng là nơi phân biệt rõ ràng giữa band 7 và band 8+.

Yêu cầu chính:

• Phân tích sâu: Không chỉ nói ý kiến cá nhân mà phải analyze, compare, evaluate
• Lý lẽ rõ ràng: Mỗi quan điểm cần có reasons và examples từ xã hội, không chỉ personal experience
• Nhìn nhận nhiều góc độ: Show ability to see different perspectives (On the one hand… On the other hand…)
• Thừa nhận complexity: Các vấn đề thường không black and white

Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả:

• Mở rộng câu trả lời: Aim for 4-6 câu mỗi câu hỏi (30-45 giây)
• Structure rõ ràng: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/nuance
• Sử dụng discourse markers: Well, Actually, I think, On balance, To some extent…
• Đưa ra examples từ society: “In my country”, “These days”, “In modern society”
• Thừa nhận counterarguments: “Of course, some might argue that…, but I believe…”

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn 1-2 câu rồi dừng → examiner phải prompt thêm → mất điểm interaction
• Không phân tích, chỉ nói “yes/no, because…” → thiếu depth
• Không có examples xã hội, chỉ nói về bản thân → lacks breadth
• Sử dụng vocabulary Part 1/2 level → không demonstrate range
• Không structure câu trả lời → ideas scattered and unclear

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Importance and Types of Goals

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Question 1: Why do you think some people are more goal-oriented than others?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause-and-effect / Analysis question
• Key words: “some people”, “more goal-oriented”, “than others” → cần compare và explain reasons cho differences
• Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra 2-3 factors (personality, upbringing, culture, life circumstances) với examples cụ thể

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think it depends on personality and family background. Some people are naturally more ambitious and like to plan ahead, while others prefer to live more spontaneously. Also, if parents teach their children to set goals from a young age, those children will probably continue this habit when they grow up. Education also plays a role because schools and universities encourage students to have clear targets for their studies and future careers.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có mention nhiều factors (personality, family, education) nhưng không elaborate deeply
• Vocabulary: Basic level (naturally, prefer, teach, plays a role, encourage)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response với several ideas nhưng lacks sophistication trong expression và depth trong analysis. Examples còn general chứ chưa specific.

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, I’d say there are multiple factors at play here. First and foremost, personality traits certainly come into it – some individuals are naturally more conscientious and future-oriented, traits that psychologists often associate with goal-setting behavior. But beyond innate characteristics, I think upbringing plays a pivotal role. People raised in environments where achievement was emphasized and where they witnessed role models systematically working towards objectives tend to internalize these patterns.

On top of that, there’s a socioeconomic dimension to consider. Those from less privileged backgrounds might be more driven to set and pursue goals as a means of upward mobility, while others who’ve had things come more easily might lack that sense of urgency. Cultural factors also can’t be overlooked – in many Asian societies, for instance, there’s a strong collective emphasis on achievement and long-term planning, which permeates how people approach their personal and professional lives. So it’s really a complex interplay of nature, nurture, and broader societal influences.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Perfectly organized: Direct answer with “multiple factors” → Factor 1 (personality) with psychology reference → Factor 2 (upbringing) with elaboration → Factor 3 (socioeconomic) with contrast → Factor 4 (cultural) with specific example → Concluding synthesis. Clear signposting với “First and foremost”, “Beyond”, “On top of that”
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise (multiple factors at play, conscientious, future-oriented, pivotal role, internalize, socioeconomic dimension, upward mobility, sense of urgency, permeates, complex interplay). Academic collocations (innate characteristics, role models, collective emphasis, broader societal influences)
• Grammar: Excellent range: relative clauses (traits that psychologists…, those who’ve had…), present perfect (have had things come), passive voice (where achievement was emphasized), conditional undertones (might be more driven), noun phrases (complex interplay of nature, nurture and broader influences)
• Critical Thinking: Shows nuanced understanding by examining multiple perspectives (nature vs nurture, privilege vs disadvantage, individual vs collective culture). Acknowledges complexity với “it’s really a complex interplay”

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: Well (thinking tone), First and foremost (prioritizing), Beyond (going deeper), On top of that (adding), So (concluding)
• Tentative language: I’d say, I think, tend to, might be, can’t be overlooked (avoiding absolute statements → sounds more natural và academic)
• Abstract nouns: traits, characteristics, upbringing, role, dimension, mobility, urgency, emphasis, influences, interplay (Band 8-9 essential)
• Verb patterns: associate with, internalize patterns, come into it, work towards, permeate how (precise verb choices)

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Question 2: Do you think it’s better to have one major goal or several smaller goals?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion/Compare question với “it’s better to…”
• Key words: “one major goal” vs “several smaller goals” → yêu cầu so sánh advantages và give personal stance
• Cách tiếp cận: Có thể argue một bên, hoặc “it depends on…” để show balanced view

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think it’s better to have several smaller goals. Big goals can be very difficult and take a long time to achieve, so people might feel discouraged. But if you break it down into smaller goals, you can achieve them step by step and feel motivated. However, having one major goal can also help you stay focused and not get distracted by too many things.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có compare cả hai sides nhưng chưa develop fully
• Vocabulary: Basic (very difficult, feel discouraged, step by step, stay focused, get distracted)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers the question và có some comparison nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated expression

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

That’s an interesting question, and I think the answer largely depends on the individual and the context. Personally, I’m inclined to favor a combination approach – having one overarching goal that provides direction, but breaking it down into manageable milestones.

The advantage of smaller, incremental goals is that they provide regular wins, which is psychologically reinforcing. When you achieve these micro-goals, you get immediate feedback that you’re on the right track, which sustains motivation over the long haul. This approach also allows for more flexibility – if one avenue doesn’t work out, you can adjust your tactics without feeling like you’ve failed entirely.

That said, having one major goal can be incredibly powerful in terms of maintaining focus. It serves as a north star that guides your decisions and helps you prioritize when faced with competing demands. Without that singular vision, there’s a risk of spreading yourself too thin and losing sight of what really matters.

On balance, I believe the most effective approach is to marry the two – keep that big goal in mind for direction, but chunk it down into smaller objectives that make the journey less daunting and more achievable. It’s about finding that sweet spot between ambition and pragmatism.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Sophisticated structure: States stance (combination) → Explains advantage of small goals with psychological reasoning → Acknowledges advantage of major goal with metaphor → Synthesizes both in conclusion. Perfect balance.
• Vocabulary: High-level (overarching goal, incremental goals, psychologically reinforcing, micro-goals, immediate feedback, sustains motivation, north star, spreading yourself too thin, losing sight of, marry the two, chunk it down, sweet spot, pragmatism). Natural use of metaphor (“north star”)
• Grammar: Complex structures: conditional (if one avenue doesn’t work out), passive (the answer largely depends on), relative clauses (which sustains motivation), cleft sentence potential (It’s about finding…)
• Critical Thinking: Shows sophisticated reasoning by not choosing one side absolutely but arguing for integration. Uses psychology reference (“psychologically reinforcing”). Acknowledges trade-offs (focus vs flexibility).

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Theme 2: Goals and Age

Question 3: How do you think people’s goals change as they get older?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change/Compare across time question
• Key words: “people’s goals”, “change”, “as they get older” → yêu cầu trace evolution across life stages
• Cách tiếp cận: Compare goals ở different ages (youth, middle age, elderly) với reasons for changes

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think people’s goals change a lot with age. When they are young, they usually focus on career and success. They want to get a good job, earn money, and maybe become famous. But when they get older and have a family, their priorities change. They care more about their children’s education and having a stable life. Old people usually want to be healthy and spend time with family.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Covers three life stages với basic comparisons
• Vocabulary: Simple and repetitive (get a good job, earn money, care more about, spend time with)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question với clear progression but lacks sophisticated vocabulary và deeper analysis of WHY changes occur

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

This is quite a profound shift that I think most people experience. In youth, goals tend to be quite outward-focused and achievement-oriented – things like climbing the career ladder, accumulating wealth, or making a name for oneself. There’s often a sense of proving yourself to the world and establishing your identity.

As people transition into middle age, particularly once they have families, you often see a recalibration of priorities. The focus shifts from personal achievement to more relational and security-oriented goals – ensuring their children have good education and opportunities, building financial stability, maintaining health. There’s less concern with impressing others and more emphasis on creating a secure foundation for the next generation.

Then, as people enter their later years, goals become even more introspective and meaning-focused. I think there’s often a desire to leave a legacy, give back to the community, or simply cultivate deeper relationships. Health naturally becomes more paramount, and many elderly people I know express that their main goal is to maintain independence and not be a burden on their families. There’s also often a shift towards finding contentment rather than chasing achievement.

What drives these changes, I believe, is a combination of biological factors – our energy and health inevitably decline – and psychological maturation. We develop different perspectives on what constitutes success and happiness as we gain life experience. Cultural expectations also play a role; society has different expectations for people at different life stages, which inevitably shapes how we set our goals.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptionally well-organized với chronological progression (youth → middle age → elderly) followed by synthesis paragraph explaining WHY. Each life stage thoroughly developed with specific examples.
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và varied (profound shift, outward-focused, climbing the career ladder, recalibration of priorities, relational and security-oriented, introspective, meaning-focused, leave a legacy, give back to, paramount, maintain independence, psychological maturation, inevitably shapes). Precise verb choices (transition into, recalibration, cultivate, decline)
• Grammar: Excellent range including: present participle phrases (particularly once they have families), passive constructions (is driven, inevitably decline), comparative structures (less concern with… more emphasis on), complex noun phrases (biological factors, psychological maturation, cultural expectations)
• Critical Thinking: Goes beyond description to explain WHY changes occur (biological, psychological, cultural factors). Shows holistic understanding. Acknowledges universality (“most people experience”) while allowing for individual variation.

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Question 4: Do you think young people today have different goals compared to previous generations?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Generational compare question
• Key words: “young people today”, “different goals”, “previous generations” → yêu cầu so sánh và explain reasons for differences
• Cách tiếp cận: Compare specific goals của millennials/Gen Z vs older generations, mention societal changes that drive differences

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think young people’s goals are quite different now. In the past, people mainly wanted to have a stable job and support their family. But today’s young people care more about work-life balance and pursuing their passions. They also want to travel and experience different things, not just work all the time. Technology has changed things too – many young people want to be influencers or start online businesses.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Has comparison (past vs present) và mentions technology influence
• Vocabulary: Basic level (stable job, care more about, pursuing passions, experience different things)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks specific examples và sophisticated analysis of underlying societal changes

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, there’s been quite a marked shift in aspirations between generations, which I think reflects broader societal transformations. Previous generations – let’s say our parents’ and grandparents’ – tended to prioritize job security, homeownership, and material stability. The goal was often to secure a steady position in a reputable company and stay there for decades, gradually working your way up the hierarchy. There was a fairly linear path to success that was widely accepted.

In contrast, today’s young people seem to place greater emphasis on personal fulfillment, flexibility, and purpose-driven work. They’re often less willing to sacrifice their well-being for career advancement and more likely to change jobs or even careers if they’re not finding meaning in their work. Concepts like work-life integration, rather than just balance, and pursuing passions have become much more central to how young people define success.

Several factors have driven this shift. The gig economy and technological advances have made traditional career paths less reliable anyway, so there’s less incentive to pursue them. Additionally, having grown up witnessing economic crises and their parents’ generation experiencing burnout, many young people are more skeptical about the traditional hustle culture. Social media has also played a role – it’s both broadened horizons by showing different lifestyles and created pressure to curate a life that looks meaningful and exciting.

That said, I’d argue that beneath these surface-level differences, young people still want what previous generations wanted – security, belonging, and contribution – they’re just defining and pursuing these things differently in response to a changed world.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptional organization: Describes previous generations’ goals → Contrasts with current generation → Explains multiple factors causing shift → Provides nuanced conclusion about underlying similarities. Perfect flow với clear signposting
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (marked shift, broader societal transformations, linear path, place greater emphasis on, purpose-driven work, sacrifice well-being, work-life integration, gig economy, incentive, experiencing burnout, skeptical about, hustle culture, broadened horizons, curate a life, surface-level differences). Rich in abstract nouns and academic collocations
• Grammar: Full range including: present perfect (have driven, has played, has broadened), passive voice (was widely accepted, are just defining), complex conditionals (if they’re not finding), present participle clauses (having grown up witnessing…, experiencing burnout), comparative structures (less willing to… more likely to…)
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates exceptional depth by not just comparing but explaining WHY differences exist (economic factors, technological changes, generational learning, social media influence). Provides balanced conclusion acknowledging that fundamental human needs remain constant despite surface changes. Shows awareness of complexity.

So sánh mục tiêu của thế hệ trẻ hiện nay và thế hệ trước về công việc và cuộc sống

Theme 3: Success and Failure in Achieving Goals

Question 5: What should people do if they fail to achieve their goals?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Advice/Problem-solution question
• Key words: “should people do”, “fail to achieve” → yêu cầu practical advice và possibly discuss psychological aspects
• Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra multiple strategies (analyze why failed, adjust approach, manage emotions, persist vs pivot decision)

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

If people fail to achieve their goals, first they should not give up easily. They need to think about why they failed and what went wrong. Maybe they need to change their approach or get help from others. It’s also important to stay positive and learn from mistakes. Sometimes people need to adjust their goals to make them more realistic. Failure is normal and everyone experiences it, so we should see it as a learning opportunity.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Covers several strategies (don’t give up, analyze, adjust, stay positive) nhưng không elaborate deeply
• Vocabulary: Common phrases (give up, went wrong, change approach, stay positive, learn from mistakes, learning opportunity)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate advice nhưng lacks sophistication trong expression và psychological depth

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, this is such an important question because how we handle setbacks often determines whether we eventually succeed. I think the first step is to engage in some honest self-reflection – to take stock of what specifically didn’t work and why. Was the goal unrealistic from the start? Did external circumstances interfere? Or were there gaps in your planning or execution? This kind of diagnostic analysis is crucial because without it, you risk repeating the same mistakes.

Beyond analysis, I think it’s vital to reframe failure as feedback rather than as a definitive verdict on your abilities. There’s actually quite a bit of psychological research suggesting that people who view setbacks as learning opportunities are more resilient and ultimately more successful. This mindset shift – what psychologists call a “growth mindset” – can be transformative.

Practically speaking, depending on the analysis, people might need to either adjust their approach while keeping the same goal, or recalibrate the goal itself to make it more attainable. There’s no shame in pivoting – in fact, recognizing when to change course requires wisdom and self-awareness. It might also be wise to seek guidance from mentors or people who’ve achieved similar goals, as they can offer perspectives you might have overlooked.

Finally, I’d emphasize the importance of maintaining perspective. One failed goal doesn’t define you or predict your future. Some of the most successful people experienced numerous failures before achieving their breakthroughs. The key is building that tolerance for setbacks and seeing the bigger picture of your journey rather than fixating on individual disappointments.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Perfectly organized with clear progression: Step 1 (self-reflection and analysis) → Step 2 (psychological reframing) → Step 3 (practical adjustments) → Step 4 (maintaining perspective). Each point thoroughly developed with reasoning
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated and precise (handle setbacks, engage in honest self-reflection, take stock of, diagnostic analysis, reframe failure as feedback, definitive verdict, growth mindset, transformative, recalibrate, attainable, pivoting, maintaining perspective, building tolerance, fixating on, bigger picture). Excellent use of academic vocabulary và psychological terminology naturally
• Grammar: Full range including: conditional structures (without it you risk…), passive voice (are more resilient, doesn’t define you), present participle phrases (depending on the analysis, recognizing when to change course), perfect structures (who’ve achieved, experienced numerous failures), complex noun phrases (diagnostic analysis, growth mindset, tolerance for setbacks)
• Critical Thinking: Exceptional depth showing psychological understanding (references growth mindset research), balanced view (adjust approach vs change goal), practical wisdom (seek mentors), and philosophical perspective (one failure doesn’t define you). Demonstrates mature thinking about failure as part of success journey.

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: Well (thoughtful opening), Beyond (moving to next point), Practically speaking (shifting to concrete advice), Finally (concluding thought)
• Academic references: “psychological research”, “growth mindset” (shows awareness of relevant literature)
• Metaphorical language: “diagnostic analysis” (treating failure like medical diagnosis), “pivoting” (business term), “building tolerance” (immunity metaphor)

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Question 6: Do you think society puts too much pressure on people to achieve goals?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion question with social critique element
• Key words: “society”, “too much pressure”, “achieve goals” → yêu cầu evaluate societal expectations và discuss consequences
• Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge pressure exists → Discuss sources (social media, culture, economy) → Evaluate if “too much” → Consider consequences → Balanced conclusion

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think there is too much pressure nowadays. Social media makes it worse because people always show their achievements and successes online. This makes others feel like they must achieve big things too. In my country, parents and schools also put a lot of pressure on students to get high scores and go to good universities. This can cause stress and mental health problems. However, some pressure can be good because it motivates people to work hard and not be lazy.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Has opinion với some supporting reasons (social media, parents, schools) và brief counterargument
• Vocabulary: Basic level (makes it worse, feel like, put pressure on, cause stress, motivates, work hard, be lazy)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question và mentions relevant factors nhưng lacks depth trong analysis và sophisticated expression

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

This is quite a loaded question, and my answer would be: to some extent, yes, though it varies considerably across cultures and contexts. I think we’re living in what some sociologists call an “achievement society” where your worth is increasingly measured by your accomplishments and productivity. This pervasive mindset is amplified by social media, where people curate highlight reels of their successes, creating an illusion of universal achievement that can be quite damaging.

In many Asian cultures, including my own, there’s a particularly intense emphasis on achievement that starts remarkably early – children as young as five or six are already being groomed for competitive exams, with their entire childhoods often structured around academic performance. This relentless pressure can have serious ramifications for mental health, as we’re seeing with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide among young people in highly competitive societies.

That said, I don’t think pressure itself is inherently problematic – a certain degree of expectation and challenge is actually conducive to growth and development. The issue is when pressure becomes excessive and unrelenting, when it’s coupled with narrow definitions of success, and when failure is stigmatized rather than seen as part of the learning process. What’s particularly concerning is that this pressure often isn’t accompanied by adequate support systems or healthy coping mechanisms.

What we need, I’d argue, is a more balanced approach – one that encourages ambition and striving while also validating diverse paths to fulfillment and success. We need to normalize the idea that not everyone needs to be extraordinarily accomplished to have a meaningful, valuable life. Shifting these narratives is challenging, particularly in cultures with deeply ingrained achievement orientations, but I think it’s essential for collective well-being.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Sophisticated organization: Qualifies answer → Identifies problem với sociological reference → Provides specific cultural example with consequences → Nuances position (pressure not always bad) → Proposes solution. Excellent critical thinking structure
• Vocabulary: Highly advanced (loaded question, achievement society, measured by, pervasive mindset, amplified by, curate highlight reels, illusion of universal achievement, groomed for, structured around, relentless pressure, serious ramifications, rising rates of, conducive to, excessive and unrelenting, stigmatized, deeply ingrained, collective well-being). Sophisticated academic collocations throughout
• Grammar: Full range including: passive constructions (is measured by, is amplified by, is stigmatized, isn’t accompanied by), present continuous for trends (we’re living in, we’re seeing), relative clauses (what some sociologists call, what’s particularly concerning, what we need), complex conditionals (when pressure becomes excessive), noun clauses, participle phrases
• Critical Thinking: Exceptional depth showing sociological awareness (“achievement society”), cultural sensitivity (acknowledges variation across cultures), evidence-based reasoning (rising mental health issues), balanced perspective (pressure can be good but…), and constructive solutions (need balanced approach). Demonstrates ability to critique society while acknowledging complexity. References broader consequences (mental health, collective wellbeing).

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: This is quite (thoughtful opening), To some extent (hedging), That said (contrasting), What’s particularly concerning (highlighting key issue), What we need (solution-oriented)
• Hedging language: “to some extent”, “varies considerably”, “I’d argue”, “I think” (shows academic caution)
• Sociological vocabulary: “achievement society”, “cultural narratives”, “support systems”, “collective well-being”
• Evaluative language: “damaging”, “serious ramifications”, “essential”, “concerning”

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
goal-oriented	adj	/ɡəʊl ˈɔːriəntɪd/	có định hướng mục tiêu	She’s very goal-oriented and always plans ahead.	goal-oriented person/approach/mindset/culture
aspiration	n	/ˌæspəˈreɪʃn/	khát vọng, hoài bão	Career advancement is a common aspiration among young professionals.	career/personal/academic aspirations; fulfill/achieve aspirations
milestone	n	/ˈmaɪlstəʊn/	cột mốc quan trọng	Graduating university was a major milestone in my life.	major/important/personal milestone; reach/achieve/mark a milestone
determination	n	/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃn/	sự quyết tâm	Her determination helped her overcome many obstacles.	show/demonstrate determination; fierce/strong/unwavering determination
accomplish	v	/əˈkʌmplɪʃ/	hoàn thành, đạt được	I accomplished my goal of learning English.	accomplish a goal/task/mission; successfully accomplish
pursue	v	/pəˈsjuː/	theo đuổi	He’s pursuing a career in medicine.	pursue a goal/dream/career/interest; actively/relentlessly pursue
attainable	adj	/əˈteɪnəbl/	có thể đạt được	Make sure your goals are realistic and attainable.	attainable goal/target/objective; easily/readily attainable
setback	n	/ˈsetbæk/	trở ngại, thất bại tạm thời	She experienced several setbacks but never gave up.	face/encounter/overcome/experience a setback; major/minor/temporary setback
perseverance	n	/ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/	sự kiên trì	Success requires perseverance and hard work.	show/demonstrate/require perseverance; through/with perseverance
endeavor	n	/ɪnˈdevə/	nỗ lực, cố gắng	It was a challenging endeavor but worth it.	worthy/ambitious/challenging endeavor; in this/future endeavors
realistic	adj	/ˌriːəˈlɪstɪk/	thực tế, khả thi	You need to set realistic expectations.	realistic goal/expectation/plan/assessment; be realistic about
priority	n	/praɪˈɒrəti/	ưu tiên	Health should be our top priority.	top/main/high priority; set/establish priorities; give priority to
motivation	n	/ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃn/	động lực	What’s your motivation for learning English?	intrinsic/extrinsic motivation; lack/lose motivation; source of motivation
strive	v	/straɪv/	cố gắng, phấn đấu	We should always strive for improvement.	strive for/to achieve; constantly/continuously strive
commitment	n	/kəˈmɪtmənt/	sự cam kết, tận tụy	Success requires commitment and dedication.	strong/firm/long-term commitment; make/demonstrate a commitment
obstacle	n	/ˈɒbstəkl/	chướng ngại vật	Don’t let obstacles discourage you.	face/overcome/encounter obstacles; major/significant obstacle
ambition	n	/æmˈbɪʃn/	tham vọng	She has the ambition to become a CEO.	career/personal ambition; burning/driving ambition; fulfill/realize ambitions
resilience	n	/rɪˈzɪliəns/	khả năng phục hồi	Building resilience helps you bounce back from failures.	build/develop/show resilience; emotional/mental resilience
objective	n	/əbˈdʒektɪv/	mục tiêu (formal)	Our main objective is to improve customer satisfaction.	primary/main/key objective; achieve/meet/accomplish objectives
incentive	n	/ɪnˈsentɪv/	động lực khích lệ	Financial rewards provide incentive to work harder.	provide/offer/create incentive; strong/powerful/financial incentive

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
at the forefront of one’s mind	trong đầu óc, quan tâm hàng đầu	This goal has been at the forefront of my mind for months.	8-9
seeing something through to completion	kiên trì làm điều gì đó đến cùng	I’m committed to seeing this project through to completion.	8-9
on the right track	đi đúng hướng	The feedback confirmed I’m on the right track.	7-8
rise to the challenge	đương đầu với thử thách	I’m confident I can rise to the challenge.	7.5-8
a stepping stone	bước đệm	This internship is a stepping stone to my dream career.	7-8
spread yourself too thin	làm quá nhiều việc cùng lúc đến mức thiếu tập trung	Don’t spread yourself too thin by pursuing too many goals.	8-9
keep your eye on the prize	tập trung vào mục tiêu cuối cùng	It’s tough but I’m keeping my eye on the prize.	7-8
move the goalposts	thay đổi mục tiêu giữa chừng (thường tiêu cực)	They keep moving the goalposts, which is frustrating.	8-9
back to the drawing board	phải bắt đầu lại từ đầu	My plan didn’t work, so it’s back to the drawing board.	7.5-8
pay off	đền đáp, mang lại kết quả	All the hard work will eventually pay off.	7-8
turn over a new leaf	bắt đầu lại, thay đổi tích cực	I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and focus on my health.	7.5-8
trial and error	thử và sai	I learned through trial and error what works best.	7-8

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Khi cần suy nghĩ: “Well, that’s an interesting question…”
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác: “Actually, I think it depends on…”
• 📝 To be honest,… – Khi nói thật: “To be honest, I haven’t thought about that before…”
• 📝 I’d say that… – Khi đưa ra quan điểm: “I’d say that setting goals is essential…”
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Từ góc nhìn cá nhân (formal)

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó: “On top of that, you need self-discipline.”
• 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa: “What’s more, it builds confidence.”
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến: “Not to mention the financial benefits.”
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài ra: “Beyond that, there are social factors.”
• 📝 Additionally/Furthermore,… – Ngoài ra (formal)

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

• 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác…
• 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng cũng cần xem xét…
• 📝 That said,… – Nói như vậy thì (để contrast): “That said, pressure isn’t always bad.”
• 📝 Having said that,… – Sau khi nói điều đó (tương tự “that said”)

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại: “All in all, goal-setting is beneficial.”
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì: “At the end of the day, it’s about personal growth.”
• 📝 On balance,… – Trên cân nhắc chung: “On balance, I believe it’s worth it.”
• 📝 In conclusion,… – Kết luận (formal, dùng ít trong speaking)

Để giải thích hoặc paraphrase:

• 📝 What I mean is,… – Ý tôi là: “What I mean is, you need a clear plan.”
• 📝 In other words,… – Nói cách khác
• 📝 That is to say,… – Nghĩa là (formal)
• 📝 Put simply,… – Nói đơn giản

Để đưa ra ví dụ:

• 📝 For instance/For example,… – Ví dụ
• 📝 Take… for example – Lấy… làm ví dụ
• 📝 Such as… – Chẳng hạn như
• 📝 Like… – Như là (informal, natural)

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed conditional (Type 2 + Type 3):

• Formula: If + past simple/continuous, subject + would/could + have + past participle
• Ví dụ: “If I had better time management skills, I would have achieved more goals by now.”
• Nghĩa: Nếu tôi có kỹ năng quản lý thời gian tốt hơn (bây giờ – nhưng không có), tôi đã đạt được nhiều mục tiêu hơn rồi (trong quá khứ)

Inversion for emphasis:

• Formula: Had + subject + past participle, subject + would + base verb
• Ví dụ: “Had I known how challenging it would be, I would have started preparing earlier.”
• Nghĩa: Nếu tôi biết nó khó đến thế, tôi đã bắt đầu chuẩn bị sớm hơn (formal, literary style)

Should conditional:

• Formula: Should + subject + base verb, subject + will/would + base verb
• Ví dụ: “Should I encounter any obstacles, I’ll adjust my strategy accordingly.”
• Nghĩa: Nếu tôi gặp bất kỳ chướng ngại nào, tôi sẽ điều chỉnh chiến lược cho phù hợp

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining relative clauses:

• Formula: …, which/who + verb + …,
• Ví dụ: “I’m taking an intensive course, which has been extremely helpful, to prepare for the exam.”
• Nghĩa: Tôi đang tham gia một khóa học chuyên sâu, cái mà rất hữu ích, để chuẩn bị cho kỳ thi (thông tin bổ sung)

What-clauses (Noun clauses as subjects):

• Formula: What + subject + verb + is/was + …
• Ví dụ: “What motivates me most is the sense of accomplishment.”
• Nghĩa: Điều thúc đẩy tôi nhất là cảm giác hoàn thành mục tiêu

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

Impersonal passive:

• It is thought/believed/said that…
• Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that setting specific goals increases the likelihood of success.”
• Nghĩa: Người ta tin rằng việc đặt mục tiêu cụ thể tăng khả năng thành công (không nêu rõ chủ thể tin)

Get passive (more conversational):

• Formula: get + past participle
• Ví dụ: “I got discouraged when I failed the first time, but I didn’t give up.”
• Nghĩa: Tôi bị nản lòng khi thất bại lần đầu (natural, spoken style)

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

What-cleft for emphasis:

• What I find most…, is…
• Ví dụ: “What I find most challenging is maintaining motivation over a long period.”
• Nghĩa: Điều tôi thấy khó nhất là duy trì động lực trong thời gian dài (nhấn mạnh “maintaining motivation”)

It-cleft:

• It is/was… that/who…
• Ví dụ: “It was my teacher who inspired me to pursue this goal.”
• Nghĩa: Chính giáo viên tôi là người truyền cảm hứng cho tôi theo đuổi mục tiêu này (nhấn mạnh “my teacher”)

The thing that… is…

• Ví dụ: “The thing that distinguishes successful people is their ability to persevere.”
• Nghĩa: Điều phân biệt người thành công là khả năng kiên trì của họ

5. Advanced Verb Patterns:

Verb + object + from + -ing:

• Ví dụ: “Nothing will prevent me from achieving my goal.” (Không gì ngăn cản tôi đạt mục tiêu)

Verb + -ing as subject:

• Ví dụ: “Achieving this goal would mean fulfilling a lifelong dream.” (Đạt mục tiêu này có nghĩa là hoàn thành một ước mơ đời)

Causative structures:

• Have/get something done: “I need to have my study plan reviewed by an expert.” (Tôi cần nhờ chuyên gia xem lại kế hoạch học)

6. Present Perfect Continuous for Duration:

• Formula: have/has been + -ing
• Ví dụ: “I’ve been working towards this goal for the past six months.” (Tôi đã làm việc hướng đến mục tiêu này trong 6 tháng qua – và vẫn đang tiếp tục)

7. Future Perfect:

• Formula: will have + past participle
• Ví dụ: “By the end of the year, I will have completed all the necessary preparations.” (Đến cuối năm, tôi sẽ đã hoàn thành tất cả các chuẩn bị cần thiết)

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng IELTS Speaking chủ đề mục tiêu tương lai band 8-9

Chiến Lược Trả Lời Hiệu Quả và Lời Khuyên Từ Examiner

Những Lỗi Phổ Biến Của Học Viên Việt Nam

1. Lỗi về Fluency:

• Dừng quá lâu để nghĩ từ vựng: Nhiều học viên im lặng 3-5 giây để search từ “khó” → Giải pháp: Sử dụng fillers tự nhiên như “Well”, “Let me think”, “That’s an interesting question” trong khi suy nghĩ
• Nói quá nhanh do lo lắng: Speak tốc độ 200 words/phút → khó hiểu và mất điểm pronunciation → Giải pháp: Aim for 120-150 words/phút, practice với recording để self-monitor
• Lặp lại từ quá nhiều: “I think… I think… I think…” → Giải pháp: Vary với “I believe”, “From my perspective”, “I’d say that”

2. Lỗi về Vocabulary:

• Dùng từ quá “sách vở” không tự nhiên: “ameliorate”, “plethora”, “utilize” → Examiner biết bạn học thuộc → Giải pháp: Focus on collocations và natural expressions thay vì individual difficult words
• Paraphrase sai nghĩa: “goal” → “purpose” (không hoàn toàn tương đương trong mọi context) → Giải pháp: Learn synonyms trong context, không học isolated words
• Thiếu academic collocations: “make a goal” (sai) instead of “set a goal” → Giải pháp: Learn verb+noun collocations đi cùng topic vocabulary

3. Lỗi về Grammar:

• Sai thì tương lai: “I will achieve” vs “I’m going to achieve” vs “I’m planning to achieve” – không phân biệt sắc thái → Giải pháp: “Will” cho spontaneous decision, “going to” cho planned intention, “planning/hoping to” cho uncertainty
• Overuse present simple: “I go to UK next year” → Giải pháp: Use present continuous for arranged future: “I’m going to the UK next year”
• Thiếu conditional structures: Chỉ dùng simple sentences → Giải pháp: Incorporate “If I achieve this, I will…” hoặc “Should I encounter problems, I would…”

4. Lỗi về Ideas:

• Trả lời quá chung chung: “I want to be successful” without defining what success means → Giải pháp: Be specific, quantify when possible
• Chỉ nói về bản thân trong Part 3: Part 3 cần analyze society, trends, not just personal experience → Giải pháp: “In my country”, “Young people nowadays”, “From a societal perspective”
• Không elaborate: Answer + ngừng → Examiner phải prompt → Giải pháp: Practice DEEE structure (Direct answer, Explain, Example, Extend)

5. Lỗi về Pronunciation:

• Stress sai trên academic words: MOtivation (sai) vs moTIvation (đúng), Goal-ORiented (sai) vs Goal-Oriented (đúng) → Giải pháp: Mark stress pattern khi học từ mới
• Monotone intonation: Nói như đọc list → Examiner cảm thấy bạn recite memorized answers → Giải pháp: Vary intonation, use rising intonation for lists, falling for statements
• Connected speech issues: “I want to” → “I wanna” (quá casual), hoặc tách rời từng từ “I want to” → Giải pháp: Learn natural linking “wantu” (slightly reduced but not slang)

Lộ Trình Chuẩn Bị Hiệu Quả

4-6 tuần trước thi:

Week 1-2: Foundation Building

• Học 15-20 topic-specific vocabulary mỗi ngày với collocations
• Record yourself trả lời 5 Part 1 questions mỗi ngày
• Analyze band 8-9 samples: highlight structures và vocabulary bạn chưa biết
• Practice shadowing (repeat sau native speakers) để improve pronunciation

Week 3-4: Part 2 Intensive Practice

• Practice 1 cue card mỗi ngày with full 2 minutes
• Record và transcribe: tìm errors và areas for improvement
• Build personal “story bank”: chuẩn bị 5-7 stories linh hoạt có thể adapt cho nhiều topics
• Focus on elaborating the “explain” bullet point

Week 5-6: Part 3 Critical Thinking

• Practice Part 3 questions về different themes
• Learn discourse markers và practice linking ideas
• Record discussions: check if you’re giving 4-6 sentences per answer
• Mock tests với partners hoặc teachers: get feedback on all four criteria

1 tuần trước thi:

• Light practice only: 30 minutes/day
• Review recorded errors và avoid repeating
• Rest well: anxiety affects fluency more than lack of practice
• Visualize success: mental rehearsal của smooth, confident performance

Tips Từ Góc Nhìn Examiner

What impresses examiners (Beyond vocabulary):

✅ Natural interaction: Making eye contact, smiling, showing you’re engaged in conversation rather than performing a monologue

✅ Self-correction: “I mean…” hoặc “or rather…” shows you’re monitoring your language actively – this is actually GOOD, not a mistake

✅ Asking for clarification naturally: “Sorry, could you rephrase that?” is perfectly acceptable and shows good communication skills – better than guessing và answering wrong question

✅ Showing thinking process: “That’s an interesting question, let me think…” + brief pause (2-3 seconds) is natural và demonstrates engagement

✅ Elaborating without prompting: Don’t wait for examiner to say “Can you explain more?” – automatically extend your answers

❌ What makes examiners suspicious:

❌ Unnatural phrases: “As far as I’m concerned” used excessively (native speakers rarely use this)

❌ Over-rehearsed stories: When every detail is too polished và you recite with exact same intonation patterns như rehearsed speech

❌ Template language: “This is a controversial topic and there are two sides…” – examiners recognize templates immediately

❌ Lack of hesitation: Speaking 3 minutes Part 2 without ANY pauses → clearly memorized

❌ Switching to “performance mode”: Suddenly using much more complex language in Part 2 than Part 1 → inconsistent và suspicious

Mock Test Practice Strategy

Effective mock test không phải chỉ là practice:

Before mock:

• Set up proper environment (quiet room, face a person or camera)
• Time strictly: Part 1 (4-5 min), Part 2 (3-4 min including prep), Part 3 (4-5 min)
• Use unfamiliar topics để test true ability

During mock:

• Simulate real test pressure: no stopping và re-starting
• Record both audio và video nếu có thể
• Don’t check notes or dictionary – treat như real test

After mock (Most important part):

• Transcribe at least Part 2 entirely
• Analyze bằng band descriptors:
  • Count hesitations và self-corrections (Fluency)
  • Highlight all collocations và less common vocabulary (Lexical Resource)
  • Identify grammar structures used: simple, compound, complex sentence ratio (Grammar)
  • Note pronunciation issues: word stress, sentence stress, intonation (Pronunciation)
• Get feedback from teacher or experienced speaker
• Create action plan: “In next practice, I will focus on [specific issue]”

Sample Analysis Template:

My Performance Analysis - [Date]

FLUENCY & COHERENCE (Current estimate: Band X)
✅ Strengths: [e.g., Good use of discourse markers]
⚠️ Weaknesses: [e.g., Frequent long pauses 3+ seconds]
🎯 Action: [e.g., Practice fillers to cover thinking time]

LEXICAL RESOURCE (Current estimate: Band X)
✅ Collocations used: [list them]
⚠️ Repetitions: [which words repeated too much]
🎯 Action: [learn synonyms and practice using them]

GRAMMATICAL RANGE (Current estimate: Band X)
✅ Complex structures: [list them]
⚠️ Errors: [list with corrections]
🎯 Action: [focus on mastering 2-3 new structures]

PRONUNCIATION (Current estimate: Band X)
✅ Clear words: [list ones you pronounced well]
⚠️ Problem words: [list with phonetic transcription]
🎯 Action: [drill problem sounds daily]

OVERALL TARGET: Raise from Band X to Band Y
TIMEFRAME: [weeks until test]
DAILY PRACTICE: [specific activities]

Final Advice: Mindset Matters

Sau 20 năm chấm thi, tôi nhận thấy điều phân biệt lớn nhất giữa band 6-7 và band 8-9 không phải là intelligence hay inherent language ability – mà là:

🧠 Mindset của người đạt Band 8-9:

• View speaking test như conversation, not exam
• Comfortable với uncertainty – không panic khi không biết từ perfect
• Willing to take risks với complex structures (và sometimes make small errors)
• See examiner như conversation partner, not judge
• Practice regularly với focus on communication, not perfection

Psychological preparation:

• Week trước test: Visualization exercises – imagine yourself speaking confidently và naturally
• Day trước test: Rest well, don’t cram – your speaking ability won’t improve overnight
• Morning of test: Light warm-up only – speak English 10-15 minutes
• Right before entering: Deep breathing, positive self-talk: “I’m prepared. I can communicate well.”

Remember: Examiners are trained to help you demonstrate your best English, not to trick you. We genuinely want to see you succeed và give you credit for what you CAN do, not penalize for what you can’t. Stay calm, be yourself, và let your preparation shine through naturally.

Good luck với IELTS Speaking test của bạn!