IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời Chủ Đề “Người Giỏi Quản Lý Tài Chính” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Mở bài

Chủ đề “Describe A Person Who Is Good At Managing Their Finances” là một đề bài phổ biến trong IELTS Speaking, đặc biệt thường xuất hiện ở Part 2 và được mở rộng thảo luận sâu ở Part 3. Đây là chủ đề thuộc nhóm “Describe a person” – một trong những dạng câu hỏi cơ bản nhất của bài thi IELTS Speaking.

Theo thống kê từ các đề thi thực tế, chủ đề liên quan đến quản lý tài chính cá nhân xuất hiện với tần suất trung bình đến cao trong các kỳ thi từ 2022 đến 2024, đặc biệt trong bối cảnh sau đại dịch khi ý thức về tiết kiệm và đầu tư được chú trọng hơn. Khả năng xuất hiện của chủ đề này trong các kỳ thi tương lai được đánh giá ở mức cao.

Chủ đề này không chỉ kiểm tra khả năng miêu tả về một người mà còn đòi hỏi bạn phải sử dụng từ vựng chuyên ngành về tài chính, kế hoạch chi tiêu, và thể hiện được tư duy phân tích về các quyết định tài chính. Qua bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được cách trả lời tự nhiên và ấn tượng cho cả ba phần thi, từ những câu hỏi khởi động ở Part 1, cách xây dựng một bài nói độc thoại hoàn chỉnh ở Part 2, cho đến các câu hỏi thảo luận trừu tượng ở Part 3. Bạn cũng sẽ được trang bị vốn từ vựng phong phú về tài chính cá nhân, các cụm từ idiom ăn điểm, và chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của một examiner chính thức.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích, và kinh nghiệm cá nhân. Đây là phần “làm quen” giúp bạn thoải mái trước khi chuyển sang các phần khó hơn. Chiến lược tối ưu là trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi trong 1-2 câu đầu, sau đó mở rộng bằng lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể để đạt 2-3 câu trọn vẹn.

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam trong Part 1 bao gồm: trả lời quá ngắn gọn chỉ Yes/No mà không giải thích thêm, sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản lặp đi lặp lại, và thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân khiến câu trả lời nghe chung chung. Nhiều bạn cũng có xu hướng nói quá nhanh hoặc dùng các cụm từ học thuộc lòng nghe không tự nhiên.

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you think it’s important to save money?

Question 2: How do you usually manage your money?

Question 3: Did your parents teach you about money management when you were young?

Question 4: Do you prefer to pay by cash or card?

Question 5: Have you ever saved money to buy something special?

Question 6: Do you think young people today are good at managing money?

Question 7: What do you usually spend most of your money on?

Question 8: Do you keep track of your expenses?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

Question: Do you think it’s important to save money?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi với Yes hoặc No
• Đưa ra 1-2 lý do cụ thể
• Có thể thêm ví dụ ngắn từ kinh nghiệm bản thân hoặc xã hội

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think saving money is quite important. It helps us prepare for emergencies and unexpected situations. For example, last year when my laptop broke down, I was glad I had some savings to buy a new one.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời rõ ràng, có lý do và ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm cá nhân
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn đơn giản (important, helps, broke down), cấu trúc câu chưa phức tạp
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời đầy đủ và mạch lạc nhưng chưa thể hiện được vốn từ vựng phong phú hay cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao. Ý tưởng còn khá cơ bản.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I believe putting money aside is crucial in today’s unpredictable economic climate. It not only provides a financial safety net for unexpected expenses but also gives you the freedom to pursue opportunities without being financially constrained. I’ve found that having a decent emergency fund has reduced my stress levels considerably.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Sử dụng từ vựng chính xác và đa dạng (putting money aside, financial safety net, financially constrained, emergency fund), cấu trúc câu phức tạp với “not only…but also”, ý tưởng sâu sắc hơn khi đề cập đến khía cạnh tâm lý
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Thể hiện Fluency với câu trả lời tự nhiên và trôi chảy, Lexical Resource xuất sắc với collocations chính xác, Grammar đa dạng với cấu trúc phức, và Ideas sâu sắc khi liên kết tiết kiệm với sức khỏe tinh thần.

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• putting money aside: để dành tiền, tiết kiệm
• financial safety net: lưới an toàn tài chính
• financially constrained: bị hạn chế về tài chính
• emergency fund: quỹ dự phòng khẩn cấp

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Question: How do you usually manage your money?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Miêu tả phương pháp quản lý tiền cụ thể của bạn
• Đề cập đến công cụ hoặc thói quen cá nhân
• Có thể nói về tần suất thực hiện

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I usually use a mobile app to track my spending. Every month I write down how much I earn and how much I spend on different things like food, transportation, and entertainment. This helps me see where my money goes.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời cụ thể với phương pháp rõ ràng, có ví dụ về các hạng mục chi tiêu
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn basic (write down, track, spending), thiếu cụm từ chuyên ngành về quản lý tài chính
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Nội dung đầy đủ và có tổ chức nhưng chưa impressive về mặt ngôn ngữ.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

I’m quite methodical about budgeting. I use a personal finance app that automatically categorizes my expenses and sends me alerts when I’m approaching my spending limits in any category. I also follow the 50-30-20 rule – allocating 50% for necessities, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and investments. This disciplined approach has really helped me stay financially on track.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Vocabulary chuyên ngành rất mạnh (methodical about budgeting, categorizes expenses, spending limits, 50-30-20 rule, disciplined approach), cấu trúc câu phức tạp với relative clause và compound sentences, ý tưởng cụ thể và sophisticated khi đề cập đến quy tắc tài chính cụ thể
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Thể hiện kiến thức sâu về quản lý tài chính cá nhân, sử dụng terminology chính xác, và trình bày logic rõ ràng.

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• methodical about budgeting: có phương pháp cụ thể trong việc lập ngân sách
• categorizes expenses: phân loại chi tiêu
• spending limits: hạn mức chi tiêu
• 50-30-20 rule: quy tắc 50-30-20 (quy tắc phân bổ ngân sách phổ biến)
• financially on track: đi đúng hướng về tài chính

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Question: Did your parents teach you about money management when you were young?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời Yes/No rõ ràng
• Miêu tả cụ thể cách bố mẹ dạy (hoặc không dạy)
• Có thể đề cập đến tác động của việc này đến hiện tại

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, they did. My parents gave me pocket money every week and told me to save some of it. They also taught me not to spend all my money on toys and snacks. I think this helped me become more careful with money now.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời đầy đủ với ví dụ cụ thể và kết nối với hiện tại
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng đơn giản (pocket money, save, careful), cấu trúc câu đơn giản
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Nội dung hợp lý và có tổ chức nhưng ngôn ngữ chưa đủ phức tạp cho band cao hơn.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Actually, yes – my parents were quite instrumental in shaping my financial habits from an early age. They introduced me to the concept of delayed gratification by having me save up my allowance for bigger purchases rather than splurging on impulse buys. They also opened a savings account in my name when I was about ten, which really helped me understand how compound interest works. Looking back, these foundational lessons have been invaluable.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Vocabulary sophisticated (instrumental in shaping, delayed gratification, splurging on impulse buys, compound interest, foundational lessons), cấu trúc ngữ pháp đa dạng với gerund phrases và relative clauses, ý tưởng mature khi phân tích tác động lâu dài
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Câu trả lời thể hiện depth of thought, sử dụng terminology tài chính chính xác, và có reflective quality cao.

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• instrumental in shaping: đóng vai trò quan trọng trong việc hình thành
• delayed gratification: sự trì hoãn thỏa mãn (khái niệm tâm lý quan trọng)
• splurging on impulse buys: chi tiêu phung phí vào những mua sắm bốc đồng
• compound interest: lãi suất kép
• foundational lessons: bài học nền tảng

Khi trả lời các câu hỏi về quản lý tài chính trong IELTS Speaking Part 1, điều quan trọng là bạn cần thể hiện khả năng sử dụng từ vựng chuyên ngành một cách tự nhiên. Tương tự như describe a situation when you had to overcome an obstacle, việc miêu tả một người giỏi quản lý tài chính cũng đòi hỏi bạn phải biết cách kể chuyện có cấu trúc và sử dụng ngôn ngữ phù hợp với band điểm mục tiêu.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần thi độc thoại kéo dài 2-3 phút, trong đó bạn được 1 phút chuẩn bị để ghi chú. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất của bài thi Speaking vì nó chiếm thời gian dài và cho phép examiner đánh giá toàn diện khả năng của bạn. Chiến lược hiệu quả là sử dụng hết 1 phút chuẩn bị để ghi keywords chứ không viết câu hoàn chỉnh, nói đủ 2 phút để thể hiện độ trôi chảy, trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points, và quan trọng nhất là sử dụng thì động từ phù hợp với đề bài.

Lỗi thường gặp nhất của học viên Việt Nam là không tận dụng hết thời gian chuẩn bị, nói dưới 1.5 phút khiến examiner phải hỏi thêm câu hỏi, bỏ sót một số bullet points trong đề bài, và sử dụng sai thì động từ khi kể về sự kiện quá khứ. Nhiều bạn cũng có xu hướng học thuộc template khiến bài nói nghe không tự nhiên.

Cue Card

Describe a person who is good at managing their finances

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you know this person
• What they do to manage their finances well
• And explain why you think they are good at managing money

Phân Tích Đề Bài

Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a person – đây là dạng miêu tả về một người cụ thể

Thì động từ: Chủ yếu dùng thì hiện tại đơn và hiện tại hoàn thành vì bạn đang miêu tả thói quen và khả năng hiện tại của người đó. Tuy nhiên, có thể dùng quá khứ đơn khi kể về cách bạn gặp người này hoặc những sự kiện cụ thể trong quá khứ.

Bullet points phải cover:

• Who this person is: Cần nói rõ mối quan hệ và background cơ bản
• How you know this person: Kể ngắn gọn về cách quen biết
• What they do to manage their finances well: Đây là phần quan trọng nhất, cần miêu tả cụ thể các hành động và thói quen
• Why you think they are good at managing money: Phần giải thích này là nơi ghi điểm cao, cần phân tích sâu hơn chứ không chỉ liệt kê

Câu “explain” quan trọng: Phần explain cuối cùng chiếm khoảng 30-40% thời gian nói và là nơi bạn thể hiện critical thinking. Đừng chỉ nói “because they save money” mà hãy phân tích deeper về results, impacts, hoặc principles đằng sau hành vi của họ.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

I’d like to talk about my older sister, who is really good at managing money. Her name is Mai and she’s 28 years old. She works as an accountant at a big company in Ho Chi Minh City.

I’ve known her all my life since she’s my sister, but I started noticing her good financial habits about three years ago when she moved out and got her own apartment. She always talks to me about saving money and making good financial decisions.

There are several things she does to manage her finances well. First, she keeps a detailed record of all her expenses in a spreadsheet. Every month, she writes down how much she spends on rent, food, transportation, and entertainment. She also puts 30% of her salary into a savings account automatically. Another thing she does is compare prices before buying anything expensive. She never makes impulse purchases and always looks for discounts or promotions.

I think she’s good at managing money because she has clear financial goals. She’s been saving to buy a house and she’s already saved quite a lot. She also invests some of her money in stocks and bonds, which shows that she thinks about long-term financial growth. Because of her careful planning, she never has to borrow money from our parents and she can afford to travel abroad once a year. I really admire her discipline and hope to be as good as her at managing finances someday.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Trôi chảy với một vài hesitations nhỏ, sử dụng linking words cơ bản (first, another thing, because), có cấu trúc logic
Lexical Resource	6-7	Từ vựng adequate (financial habits, detailed record, impulse purchases, long-term financial growth) nhưng chưa sophisticated
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng được cấu trúc phức như relative clauses và present perfect, một số câu phức tạp hơn nhưng chưa đa dạng
Pronunciation	6-7	Rõ ràng và dễ hiểu với một vài lỗi nhỏ về trọng âm

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong đề bài
• ✅ Có ví dụ cụ thể và chi tiết (30% vào savings, so sánh giá, du lịch nước ngoài)
• ✅ Cấu trúc rõ ràng với introduction, main points, và conclusion
• ✅ Thời lượng phù hợp khoảng 1.5-2 phút

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Từ vựng chưa đủ sophisticated cho band cao hơn
• ⚠️ Thiếu idiomatic expressions
• ⚠️ Phần explain chưa đủ sâu sắc, còn khá surface-level

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to describe my uncle Minh, who I consider to be exceptionally skilled at financial management. He’s in his early forties and works as a financial consultant, though his expertise in this area extends far beyond his professional life.

I’ve known him since childhood, obviously, but it was only in recent years that I truly began to appreciate his financial acumen. We became closer when I started university and he took me under his wing to teach me about personal finance. He’s been somewhat of a mentor to me in this regard.

What really sets him apart is his systematic approach to money management. He’s developed what he calls his “three-pillar strategy.” The first pillar is meticulous budgeting – he uses sophisticated software to track every single transaction and categorizes them to identify spending patterns. The second pillar is strategic saving and investing – he follows the principle of “paying himself first” by automatically transferring 40% of his income into various investment vehicles before touching the rest. The third pillar is continuous financial education – he’s always reading books, attending seminars, and staying updated on market trends.

What’s particularly impressive is his diversified investment portfolio. He doesn’t put all his eggs in one basket; instead, he spreads his investments across stocks, real estate, and even some cryptocurrency. He also practices what he calls “intelligent frugality” – he’s not cheap, but he’s very intentional about his spending, always questioning whether a purchase aligns with his long-term goals.

I believe he’s genuinely good at managing money because the results speak for themselves. Despite coming from a modest background, he’s achieved financial independence in his early forties. He’s built up multiple streams of income, owns two properties, and has enough in his retirement fund to retire comfortably whenever he chooses. More importantly, his financial stability has given him the freedom to pursue his passions and help family members when needed. His success isn’t just about accumulating wealth – it’s about creating options and security for himself and his loved ones.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Rất trôi chảy với minimal hesitations, sử dụng cohesive devices sophisticated (what really sets him apart, what’s particularly impressive), ý tưởng được phát triển logic
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Từ vựng đa dạng và precise (financial acumen, meticulous budgeting, investment vehicles, diversified portfolio, intelligent frugality, financial independence), có collocations mạnh
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Cấu trúc ngữ pháp đa dạng (relative clauses, participle clauses, conditional structures), ít lỗi
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Rõ ràng với intonation tự nhiên và word stress chính xác

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“good at managing money”, “detailed record”	“exceptionally skilled at financial management”, “meticulous budgeting”
Grammar	Simple và complex sentences cơ bản	Sophisticated structures với participles và embedded clauses
Ideas	Liệt kê các hành động cụ thể	Phân tích strategy và philosophy đằng sau hành động

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d like to talk about my former colleague, David, who I regard as someone with truly remarkable financial prowess. He’s a software engineer in his mid-thirties, and what makes him particularly interesting is that he’s self-taught in the realm of personal finance – he didn’t come from a business or economics background.

We worked together for about three years at a tech startup, and I got to know him quite well during that time. What initially caught my attention was that despite earning a similar salary to mine, he seemed to have a completely different relationship with money. He was never stressed about finances, could afford experiences that seemed beyond our pay grade, and yet he wasn’t living extravagantly. This piqued my curiosity, and over time, he generously shared his approach with me.

His financial management strategy is both comprehensive and nuanced. At the foundation, he practices what financial experts call “zero-based budgeting” – every dollar has a designated purpose before the month begins. But what distinguishes his approach is the philosophical framework underpinning it. He views money not as an end in itself, but as a tool for purchasing freedom and opportunities. This mindset shift has profound implications for how he makes financial decisions.

He’s incredibly intentional about optimizing his income streams. Beyond his primary salary, he’s developed several passive income sources – from a carefully curated investment portfolio weighted toward index funds and dividend-paying stocks, to revenue from a side business creating online courses. He’s also remarkably tax-savvy, maximizing contributions to tax-advantaged accounts and taking full advantage of every legitimate deduction.

What’s particularly impressive is his approach to delayed gratification and opportunity cost analysis. Before any significant purchase, he asks himself: “What else could this money do for me?” For instance, rather than upgrading to a luxury car, he calculated that investing that difference could accelerate his path to financial independence by several years. This doesn’t mean he’s miserly – quite the opposite. He spends generously on things that truly matter to him, like experiences with loved ones and continuous learning, but he’s ruthlessly efficient about cutting expenses that don’t align with his values.

I genuinely believe he’s exceptional at managing finances because he’s achieved what many people only dream about – he’s on track to reach financial independence before forty. He’s built up a six-figure investment portfolio, owns rental property that generates positive cash flow, and most importantly, he’s cultivated a scarcity-free mindset around money. His success isn’t measured merely in net worth figures but in the autonomy and peace of mind his financial position affords him. He’s living proof that financial success isn’t about how much you earn, but rather about how strategically you manage what you have. His approach has completely transformed my own relationship with money and inspired me to be far more intentional about my financial future.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Hoàn toàn trôi chảy, tự nhiên như native speaker, sử dụng discourse markers sophisticated, ideas flow seamlessly
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Vocabulary range rộng và precise (financial prowess, zero-based budgeting, passive income sources, opportunity cost analysis, tax-advantaged accounts, scarcity-free mindset), collocations hoàn hảo
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures với accuracy cao (inversion, cleft sentences, complex noun phrases), virtually error-free
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Native-like với natural intonation patterns và appropriate emphasis

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
Bài nói không có bất kỳ hesitation nào nghe giống do thiếu vocabulary hay grammar. Mọi pause đều là rhetorical pauses tự nhiên để tạo emphasis.

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• “financial prowess” vs “good at managing money” – thể hiện register cao hơn nhiều
• “philosophical framework underpinning it” – abstract noun phrase phức tạp
• “ruthlessly efficient” – collocation mạnh thể hiện intensity
• “scarcity-free mindset” – terminology từ psychology of money

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• Complex noun phrases: “the autonomy and peace of mind his financial position affords him”
• Participle phrases: “weighted toward index funds”
• Rhetorical questions: “What else could this money do for me?”
• Cleft sentence: “What distinguishes his approach is…”

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
Không chỉ miêu tả WHAT he does mà còn phân tích WHY và HOW at a philosophical level. Bài nói thể hiện mature understanding về psychology of money, không chỉ là technical knowledge.

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Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Examiner có thể hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn sau Part 2 để transition sang Part 3 hoặc để clarify điểm nào đó. Đây không phải là phần chính thức của Part 3.

Question 1: Do you think you’ll follow his financial advice?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, definitely. I’ve already started using some of his methods, like tracking my expenses more carefully. I think his advice is very practical and useful.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely, I’ve already begun implementing several of his strategies, particularly around conscious spending and automating savings. That said, I’m trying to adapt his approach to my own circumstances rather than following it blindly, because what works for him might not be a perfect fit for my situation.

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Question 2: Is he generous with his money?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, he is quite generous. He often treats colleagues to lunch and donates to charity regularly. He believes in helping others when he can.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Interestingly, yes – he’s remarkably generous, which might seem counterintuitive for someone so focused on financial discipline. But I think his generosity is actually a product of his financial security. Because he’s got his own finances well in hand, he can afford to be magnanimous without it affecting his financial goals. He’s a firm believer in what he calls “strategic generosity” – giving in ways that create meaningful impact.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thảo luận hai chiều kéo dài 4-5 phút, trong đó examiner sẽ hỏi các câu hỏi trừu tượng và phức tạp hơn liên quan đến chủ đề của Part 2. Đây là phần khó nhất của bài thi Speaking vì yêu cầu bạn phải phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá, và đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân có lý lẽ vững chắc. Bạn cần xem xét nhiều góc độ của vấn đề và thể hiện critical thinking.

Chiến lược hiệu quả cho Part 3 là mở rộng câu trả lời với 3-5 câu, sử dụng discourse markers để tổ chức ý (Well, Actually, I think…), đưa ra examples từ xã hội rộng lớn hơn chứ không chỉ kinh nghiệm cá nhân, và quan trọng là thừa nhận complexity của vấn đề thay vì đưa ra câu trả lời đen trắng.

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam trong Part 3 bao gồm: trả lời quá ngắn gọn thiếu phân tích sâu, không đưa ra lý lẽ rõ ràng để support quan điểm, thiếu từ vựng trừu tượng cần thiết cho discussion ở level này, và có xu hướng chỉ nói về personal experience thay vì broader societal issues.

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Financial Education and Young People

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Question 1: Why do you think many young people struggle with managing money?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause-Effect – yêu cầu phân tích nguyên nhân
• Key words: young people, struggle, managing money
• Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra 2-3 reasons với explanation và examples, có thể đề cập đến education system, social influences, và cultural factors

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think there are several reasons why young people have difficulty managing money. First, they don’t learn about it in school. Most schools focus on academic subjects and don’t teach practical skills like budgeting. Second, young people are influenced by social media and advertising, which encourage them to buy things they don’t really need. Also, many young people want to enjoy life and don’t think about saving for the future. They prefer to spend money on entertainment and experiences rather than save it.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có organizing pattern với First, Second, Also
• Vocabulary: Adequate với budgeting, influenced, advertising nhưng chưa sophisticated
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Có multiple reasons và adequate development nhưng thiếu depth và sophistication trong language và ideas

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, I think this issue is quite multifaceted. First and foremost, there’s a glaring gap in our education system – financial literacy simply isn’t prioritized in most curricula. Young people graduate knowing advanced mathematics but haven’t the faintest idea how to balance a budget or understand compound interest.

Beyond that, I’d argue that young people today face unprecedented financial pressures that previous generations didn’t encounter. The cost of living has skyrocketed relative to wages, and there’s this pervasive consumer culture amplified by social media that creates artificial needs. Young people are constantly bombarded with aspirational lifestyle content that makes them feel they need to keep up appearances.

Additionally, there’s a temporal dimension to this – young people’s brains are still developing, particularly the parts responsible for long-term planning and impulse control. So it’s somewhat neurologically predetermined that they’ll struggle with delayed gratification. That said, I don’t think we should use this as an excuse – rather, it underscores the importance of intentional financial education and building strong habits early on.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized với clear progression: education gap → social pressures → developmental factors → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (multifaceted, glaring gap, financial literacy, unprecedented pressures, pervasive consumer culture, temporal dimension, neurologically predetermined)
• Grammar: Complex structures (relative clauses, participle phrases, cleft sentences)
• Critical Thinking: Shows nuanced understanding by examining educational, societal, and biological factors; acknowledges complexity without oversimplifying

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: Well, First and foremost, Beyond that, Additionally, That said
• Tentative language: I’d argue, I think, somewhat
• Abstract nouns: temporal dimension, impulse control, delayed gratification
• Strong collocations: glaring gap, unprecedented pressures, pervasive culture

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Question 2: Should financial management be taught in schools?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion – Should question requiring position và justification
• Key words: financial management, taught, schools
• Cách tiếp cận: State clear position → provide 2-3 strong reasons → acknowledge potential counterargument → reinforce position

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I definitely think schools should teach financial management. It’s a very important life skill that everyone needs. If students learn about saving, budgeting, and investing when they’re young, they will make better decisions when they grow up. Many adults have problems with debt and money because they never learned these skills. Schools teach many subjects, so adding financial education wouldn’t be difficult. It could be part of mathematics or social studies classes.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear position → reasons → practical suggestion
• Vocabulary: Basic but appropriate (life skill, budgeting, investing, debt)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear opinion với adequate support nhưng lacks sophistication và depth of analysis

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I’d go so far as to say it should be mandatory in the curriculum. Financial management is arguably one of the most practical life skills anyone can acquire, yet it’s conspicuously absent from most educational systems.

The benefits would be far-reaching. For one, it would help level the playing field – currently, financial knowledge is often transmitted intergenerationally, meaning children from affluent families who discuss investments at the dinner table have a massive advantage over those whose families are just making ends meet. Formal financial education could help break this cycle of financial inequality.

Moreover, the economic implications are significant. If we had a more financially literate population, we’d likely see lower rates of consumer debt, fewer people falling into predatory lending traps, and potentially better retirement preparedness across society. This would alleviate strain on social welfare systems in the long run.

Now, some might argue that schools are already overburdened with curricular demands and that financial education is the responsibility of parents. While I understand this concern, I’d counter that we can’t outsource such a critical skill to families, many of whom lack the expertise themselves. It doesn’t need to be a separate subject – it could be seamlessly integrated into existing classes like mathematics, where students learn percentages by calculating interest rates, or social studies, where they examine economic systems.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear position → Benefit 1 (equality) + example → Benefit 2 (economic) + explanation → Counterargument → Refutation với practical solution
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated (mandatory, conspicuously absent, far-reaching, level the playing field, transmitted intergenerationally, predatory lending, overburdened, seamlessly integrated)
• Grammar: Full range including conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses
• Critical Thinking: Balanced view acknowledging counterarguments before refuting them; considers multiple stakeholders (students, families, society)

💡 Key Language Features:

• Strong stance language: I’d go so far as to say, Absolutely, arguably
• Discourse markers: For one, Moreover, Now, While I understand
• Hedging when appropriate: likely, potentially
• Academic vocabulary: far-reaching, intergenerationally, implications

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Theme 2: Consumer Culture and Spending Habits

Question 1: How has technology changed the way people spend money?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change/Compare – how has X changed Y
• Key words: technology, changed, spend money
• Cách tiếp cận: Discuss multiple ways technology has impacted spending → evaluate whether changes are positive/negative → perhaps predict future trends

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Technology has changed spending in many ways. First, online shopping makes it very easy to buy things. People can shop anytime from their phones without going to stores. Second, digital payment methods like e-wallets and credit cards make spending faster and more convenient. People don’t need to carry cash anymore. However, this convenience can be a problem because people might spend more money without thinking carefully. They can buy things with just one click. Overall, technology has made spending easier but also more difficult to control.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Multiple points organized với First, Second, However, Overall
• Vocabulary: Adequate (online shopping, digital payment, e-wallets, convenient)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers main points adequately nhưng lacks sophistication và specific examples

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Technology has fundamentally revolutionized spending behaviors in several profound ways. Most notably, it’s created what I’d call frictionless commerce – the barriers between desire and purchase have been virtually eliminated. With one-click ordering, contactless payments, and buy-now-pay-later schemes, the psychological friction that once gave people pause before making purchases has been systematically removed. This is, of course, by design – tech companies have weaponized behavioral psychology to make spending as seamless as possible.

Another significant shift is the rise of invisible money. When you’re swiping a card or tapping your phone, you’re not physically parting with cash, which diminishes the psychological pain associated with spending. Research has shown that people spend significantly more when using digital payment methods compared to cash, precisely because it feels less “real.”

Technology has also enabled hyper-personalized marketing. Algorithms track our browsing history, purchase patterns, and even social media behavior to serve us targeted advertisements at precisely the moment we’re most susceptible to impulse buying. It’s remarkably sophisticated and, frankly, somewhat insidious.

That said, technology is a double-edged sword. While it facilitates mindless consumption, it also provides powerful tools for financial management. Budgeting apps can track spending in real-time, robo-advisors make investing accessible to ordinary people, and financial education resources are more available than ever. The question is whether people are using technology to exercise financial discipline or whether they’re being unwittingly manipulated into overconsumption. I suspect for most people, it’s a bit of both.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Effect 1 (frictionless commerce) + explanation → Effect 2 (invisible money) + research reference → Effect 3 (personalized marketing) + critical evaluation → Balanced conclusion acknowledging both sides
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (frictionless commerce, psychological friction, weaponized behavioral psychology, invisible money, hyper-personalized marketing, susceptible, double-edged sword, unwittingly manipulated)
• Grammar: Complex structures throughout (relative clauses, participles, passives, conditionals)
• Critical Thinking: Nuanced analysis considering both negative and positive aspects; references research; uses sophisticated metaphors

💡 Key Language Features:

• Metaphorical language: weaponized, invisible money, double-edged sword
• Academic tone: Research has shown, precisely because, fundamentally revolutionized
• Critical evaluation: by design, somewhat insidious, remarkably sophisticated
• Balanced hedging: I suspect, I’d call, frankly

Khi thảo luận về các vấn đề xã hội rộng lớn hơn liên quan đến quản lý tài chính, bạn cần thể hiện khả năng phân tích đa chiều. Giống như cách how schools prepare children for their future life ielts đòi hỏi bạn phải bàn luận về vai trò của giáo dục, chủ đề quản lý tài chính cũng cần bạn xem xét từ nhiều góc độ khác nhau.

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Question 2: Do you think people today are more materialistic than in the past?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Compare (past vs present) + Opinion
• Key words: today, more materialistic, than in the past
• Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge complexity → provide evidence for both perspectives → nuanced conclusion

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think people today might be more materialistic than before. Social media shows us many expensive products and lifestyles, which makes people want to buy more things. Also, there are more shopping opportunities now with online stores. However, I’m not sure if this is completely true. In the past, people also wanted nice things, but they had fewer opportunities to buy them. Maybe they were materialistic too, but we just see it more clearly now because of technology and media.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Opinion → reasons → acknowledgment of counterpoint
• Vocabulary: Basic but relevant (materialistic, expensive products, shopping opportunities)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Attempts balanced view nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated language

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

This is a fascinating question, and I think the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. On the surface, it certainly appears that materialism is more pronounced today. We live in an age of conspicuous consumption, where social media has created this performative aspect to purchasing – people aren’t just buying things for their own satisfaction, but to curate an image and gain social validation. The influencer economy has essentially commodified lifestyle itself, turning everyday consumption into content creation.

However, I’d argue that materialism itself isn’t new – what’s changed is its visibility and accessibility. In previous eras, people certainly aspired to status symbols and material wealth, but there were more structural barriers to consumption. If you lived in a small town fifty years ago, your exposure to consumer goods was limited, and your purchasing power was constrained. So perhaps people wanted material things just as much, but they simply couldn’t act on those desires to the same extent.

There’s also a generational perspective worth considering. Older generations often criticize millennials and Gen Z for being materialistic, but I think they’re conflating different phenomena. Young people today might spend money on experiences and brands, but they’re also burdened with debt, struggling to afford fundamental markers of adulthood like homeownership that previous generations took for granted. So is it materialism, or is it a different relationship with money born out of economic precarity?

Ultimately, I think materialism is a constant of human nature, but its expression changes based on technological and economic contexts. Social media and e-commerce platforms have certainly amplified materialistic tendencies, but I wouldn’t say they’ve created them from scratch. It’s more that they’ve lowered the barriers to both consumption and comparison, making materialism more visible and perhaps more psychologically damaging than in previous eras.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Acknowledge complexity → Present evidence for “more materialistic” view → Counter with historical perspective → Add generational nuance → Synthesize with balanced conclusion
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated (pronounced, conspicuous consumption, performative aspect, curate an image, commodified lifestyle, conflating phenomena, economic precarity, constant of human nature)
• Grammar: Full range with complex embeddings, conditionals, participles
• Critical Thinking: Highly nuanced, examines multiple dimensions (technological, historical, generational, psychological), challenges the premise of the question

💡 Key Language Features:

• Hedging appropriately: I’d argue, perhaps, I think, certainly appears
• Academic discourse: worth considering, ultimately, on the surface
• Sophisticated linking: However, There’s also, So is it X or Y
• Rhetorical devices: Questions to engage examiner

Theme 3: Financial Security and Life Choices

Question 1: How does financial stress affect people’s lives?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Effect/Impact – examining consequences
• Key words: financial stress, affect, people’s lives
• Cách tiếp cận: Discuss multiple areas of impact (health, relationships, career, mental health) với examples và potentially suggest solutions

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Financial stress affects people’s lives in many negative ways. First, it causes mental health problems like anxiety and depression. People worry constantly about money and can’t sleep well. Second, it affects relationships. Couples often argue about money, and this can lead to divorce. Financial stress also impacts work performance because people can’t concentrate properly when they’re worried. Additionally, people might make bad decisions when they’re stressed about money, like borrowing from dangerous sources. Overall, financial stress creates a cycle of problems that is difficult to escape.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Multiple effects organized logically
• Vocabulary: Adequate (mental health, anxiety, work performance, concentrate)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers main points với clear organization nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated terminology

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Financial stress has pervasive and devastating effects that ripple through virtually every aspect of a person’s life. From a physiological standpoint, chronic financial worry triggers sustained activation of the stress response system, leading to elevated cortisol levels, which are linked to numerous health problems including cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, and accelerated aging. The research on this is quite unequivocal – prolonged financial insecurity literally takes years off people’s lives.

The psychological toll is equally severe. Financial stress is strongly correlated with anxiety disorders, clinical depression, and substance abuse. What’s particularly insidious is that it creates what researchers call a “scarcity mindset” – when people are preoccupied with immediate financial survival, their cognitive bandwidth for everything else is severely diminished. They perform worse on cognitive tests, struggle with long-term planning, and are more likely to make impulsive decisions that can perpetuate the cycle of financial difficulty.

Relationships suffer tremendously as well. Money is consistently cited as the leading cause of marital conflict, and financial stress can erode trust, create power imbalances, and generate resentment between partners. Beyond romantic relationships, financial insecurity affects parenting quality – stressed parents have less emotional bandwidth for their children, which can have intergenerational consequences.

Perhaps most tragically, financial stress creates a vicious cycle. When you’re mired in financial anxiety, it becomes harder to perform optimally at work, invest in education or skills development, or make strategic long-term decisions – the very things that might help improve your financial situation. It’s a poverty trap in the psychological sense.

That said, I think it’s crucial to recognize that this isn’t an individual failing – it’s often a systemic issue. Many people experiencing financial stress are working full-time or multiple jobs; the problem isn’t lack of effort but rather structural economic factors like stagnant wages, rising costs of living, and inadequate social safety nets. Addressing financial stress requires both individual financial literacy and broader economic policy reforms.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Physiological effects + research backing → Psychological effects + concept introduction (scarcity mindset) → Relationship impacts → Cyclical nature → Systemic perspective
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (pervasive, ripple through, unequivocal, cognitive bandwidth, intergenerational consequences, mired in, poverty trap, systemic issue, stagnant wages)
• Grammar: Complex structures including nominalization, passive voice, relative clauses
• Critical Thinking: Evidence-based analysis referencing research, examines multiple domains, acknowledges systemic factors beyond individual control

💡 Key Language Features:

• Academic register: From a physiological standpoint, The research on this is, consistently cited as
• Strong collocations: pervasive effects, devastating effects, elevated cortisol, prolonged insecurity, vicious cycle
• Cause-effect language: triggers, leading to, linked to, creates, perpetuate
• Sophisticated vocabulary: unequivocal, insidious, mired in, erode

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Question 2: Is it better to save money or spend it to enjoy life?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Either/Or + Opinion requiring balanced perspective
• Key words: better, save, spend, enjoy life
• Cách tiếp cận: Avoid simplistic answer → explore nuances → present balanced approach → personal philosophy

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think both saving and spending are important. People should save money for emergencies and their future, like retirement. But they should also spend some money to enjoy life because we only live once. If people only save and never spend, they might regret missing experiences when they’re older. On the other hand, if they only spend and don’t save, they will have problems in the future. The best approach is to find a balance between saving for tomorrow and enjoying today. Each person should decide based on their own situation and priorities.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Both sides → reason for each → balanced conclusion
• Vocabulary: Basic but clear (emergencies, retirement, experiences, balance, priorities)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Demonstrates balanced thinking nhưng lacks sophistication và depth

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

I think this question presents a false dichotomy – as if saving and enjoying life are mutually exclusive, when in reality, optimal financial health requires both, just in the right proportions and with the right mindset.

The extreme positions on either end of this spectrum are clearly problematic. Excessive frugality to the point where you deny yourself any enjoyment can lead to a diminished quality of life and, ironically, may not even serve you well financially in the long run. If you’re so miserable in your penny-pinching that it affects your mental health or professional performance, you’re undermining the very financial security you’re trying to build. As they say, you can’t take it with you.

Conversely, unbridled hedonism and living entirely in the present is equally shortsighted. Without adequate savings, you’re essentially mortgaging your future for present pleasure, and the opportunity cost is staggering. The money you spend on fleeting pleasures today could, through compound growth, provide financial security and even greater freedom down the line.

I think the key is intentional spending aligned with your values. This concept, sometimes called “conscious consumerism” or “value-based budgeting,” suggests that you should spend generously on things that truly enhance your well-being – whether that’s meaningful experiences, quality time with loved ones, or investing in your health and education – while being ruthlessly frugal about things that don’t align with your core values.

There’s also a temporal element to consider. When you’re young and healthy, experiences might provide outsized value – the memories and personal growth from travel or pursuing passions can be priceless. However, this doesn’t negate the importance of harnessing compound interest by starting to invest early. It’s not either/or; it’s about strategic allocation.

Ultimately, I believe the goal should be to build enough financial security that you’re not operating from a place of scarcity, but rather from abundance and intention. The sweet spot is having enough saved that you’re not perpetually anxious about money, while also spending in ways that genuinely enrich your life. That balance looks different for everyone, but the principle is universal: money is a tool, not an end in itself, and its value lies in what it enables – both present joy and future security.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Challenge the premise → Examine extreme position 1 → Examine extreme position 2 → Present nuanced middle path (intentional spending) → Add temporal dimension → Synthesize philosophy
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (false dichotomy, mutually exclusive, optimal financial health, excessive frugality, unbridled hedonism, mortgaging your future, conscious consumerism, outsized value, temporal element, strategic allocation)
• Grammar: Full range including conditionals, relative clauses, nominalization, cleft sentences
• Critical Thinking: Challenges binary thinking, examines extremes, presents sophisticated middle path, acknowledges individual variation, articulates clear philosophy

💡 Key Language Features:

• Academic sophistication: false dichotomy, temporal element, optimal health, strategic allocation
• Idiomatic expressions: take it with you, sweet spot, operating from a place of
• Balanced discourse markers: Conversely, However, There’s also, Ultimately
• Philosophical tone: the principle is universal, money is a tool, its value lies in

Để có thể thảo luận sâu về các vấn đề tài chính như vậy, việc nắm vững cấu trúc ngữ pháp và từ vựng là vô cùng quan trọng. Tương tự như khi describe a technology that you recently learned to use, bạn cần kết hợp nhiều kỹ năng ngôn ngữ để tạo nên câu trả lời ấn tượng.

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
financial literacy	n	/faɪˈnænʃəl ˈlɪtərəsi/	kiến thức tài chính	Financial literacy should be taught in schools.	improve/enhance financial literacy, lack of financial literacy, promote financial literacy
budget	n/v	/ˈbʌdʒɪt/	ngân sách, lập ngân sách	I need to budget more carefully this month.	stick to a budget, balanced budget, monthly budget, tight budget
emergency fund	n	/ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi fʌnd/	quỹ dự phòng khẩn cấp	Everyone should have an emergency fund.	build an emergency fund, deplete emergency fund, adequate emergency fund
compound interest	n	/ˈkɒmpaʊnd ˈɪntrəst/	lãi suất kép	Compound interest can significantly grow your savings.	power of compound interest, earn compound interest, benefit from compound interest
investment portfolio	n	/ɪnˈvestmənt pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/	danh mục đầu tư	He has a diversified investment portfolio.	diversified portfolio, balanced portfolio, manage a portfolio, portfolio performance
passive income	n	/ˈpæsɪv ˈɪnkʌm/	thu nhập thụ động	Rental properties provide passive income.	generate passive income, streams of passive income, build passive income
impulse buying	n	/ˈɪmpʌls ˈbaɪɪŋ/	mua sắm bốc đồng	Social media encourages impulse buying.	avoid impulse buying, prone to impulse buying, resist impulse buying
financial independence	n	/faɪˈnænʃəl ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/	độc lập tài chính	He achieved financial independence at 40.	achieve financial independence, path to financial independence, pursue financial independence
cost of living	n	/kɒst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ/	chi phí sinh hoạt	The cost of living has risen dramatically.	rising cost of living, high cost of living, cost of living crisis
disposable income	n	/dɪˈspoʊzəbl ˈɪnkʌm/	thu nhập khả dụng	After bills, my disposable income is limited.	limited disposable income, increase disposable income, disposable income levels
debt management	n	/det ˈmænɪdʒmənt/	quản lý nợ	Good debt management is crucial.	effective debt management, debt management plan, debt management strategies
frugal	adj	/ˈfruːɡl/	tiết kiệm, khôn ngoan	She’s very frugal with her spending.	frugal lifestyle, frugal habits, frugal living
splurge	v	/splɜːrdʒ/	chi tiêu phung phí	I splurged on a new phone.	splurge on something, occasional splurge, splurge wisely
nest egg	n	/nest eɡ/	tiền để dành (đặc biệt cho nghỉ hưu)	They’ve built up a substantial nest egg.	build a nest egg, comfortable nest egg, retirement nest egg
money-savvy	adj	/ˈmʌni ˈsævi/	hiểu biết về tài chính	She’s very money-savvy for her age.	financially savvy, become money-savvy, money-savvy decisions
expenditure	n	/ɪkˈspendɪtʃər/	chi tiêu, khoản chi	Track your monthly expenditure carefully.	monthly expenditure, reduce expenditure, household expenditure
fiscal responsibility	n	/ˈfɪskl rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/	trách nhiệm tài chính	Parents should teach fiscal responsibility.	demonstrate fiscal responsibility, lack of fiscal responsibility, promote fiscal responsibility
return on investment (ROI)	n	/rɪˈtɜːrn ɒn ɪnˈvestmənt/	lợi nhuận đầu tư	Calculate the ROI before investing.	good ROI, maximize ROI, expected ROI, measure ROI
cash flow	n	/kæʃ floʊ/	dòng tiền	Maintain positive cash flow.	positive/negative cash flow, manage cash flow, cash flow problems
credit score	n	/ˈkredɪt skɔːr/	điểm tín dụng	A good credit score is important.	improve credit score, excellent credit score, credit score rating

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
live within one’s means	sống trong phạm vi khả năng tài chính của mình	It’s important to live within your means rather than overspending.	7.5-9
put money aside	để dành tiền	She puts money aside every month for emergencies.	7-8
tighten one’s belt	thắt lưng buộc bụng, tiết kiệm	During tough times, we had to tighten our belts.	7.5-8.5
make ends meet	đủ sống, kiếm đủ sống	Many families struggle to make ends meet.	7-8
rainy day fund	tiền dự phòng cho lúc khó khăn	Always keep a rainy day fund for unexpected expenses.	7.5-8.5
money doesn’t grow on trees	tiền không rơi từ trên trời xuống	My parents always told me money doesn’t grow on trees.	7-8
break the bank	tốn rất nhiều tiền	That vacation didn’t break the bank, surprisingly.	7.5-8.5
a penny saved is a penny earned	tiết kiệm một xu là kiếm được một xu	My grandfather believed that a penny saved is a penny earned.	7.5-8.5
financial cushion	đệm tài chính, tiền dự phòng	Having a financial cushion reduces stress.	7.5-9
burn through money	tiêu tiền như nước	He burned through his inheritance in just two years.	7.5-8.5
strapped for cash	thiếu tiền, túng thiếu	I’m a bit strapped for cash this month.	7-8
money is tight	tiền bạc eo hẹp	Money is tight right now with all these expenses.	7-7.5

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 muốn đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc thông tin bất ngờ
• 📝 To be honest,… / Honestly,… – Khi nói thật lòng về quan điểm cá nhân
• 📝 I’d say that… – Cách lịch sự đưa ra quan điểm
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Thể hiện đây là góc nhìn cá nhân

Để bổ sung ý:

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

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

• 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác…
• 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng ta cũng cần xem xét…
• 📝 Having said that,… – Nói như vậy thì… (để đưa ra counterpoint)
• 📝 That being said,… – Điều đó đã nói…
• 📝 Conversely,… / In contrast,… – Ngược lại

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… / All things considered,… – Xét tất cả mọi mặt thì…
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì, điểm mấu chốt là…
• 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng, về cơ bản
• 📝 In the final analysis,… – Khi phân tích cuối cùng
• 📝 Taking everything into account,… – Khi tính đến mọi thứ

Để làm rõ hoặc diễn giải:

• 📝 What I mean is… – Ý tôi là…
• 📝 In other words,… – Nói cách khác
• 📝 To put it another way,… – Để diễn đạt theo cách khác
• 📝 That is to say,… – Nghĩa là

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed conditional (Type 2 + Type 3):

• Formula: If + past perfect, would + base verb
• Ví dụ: “If I had learned about investing earlier, I would be financially independent now.”

Inversion (Đảo ngữ trong câu điều kiện):

• Formula: Had + subject + past participle, would have…
• Ví dụ: “Had he been more careful with his spending, he wouldn’t have accumulated so much debt.”

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining relative clauses:

• Formula: …, which/who…,
• Ví dụ: “My uncle, who has been investing for 20 years, has achieved remarkable financial success.”
• Ví dụ: “His budgeting method, which he learned from a book, has transformed his finances.”

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

It is thought/believed/said that…

• Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that financial education should start in childhood.”
• Ví dụ: “It has been proven that people spend more when using credit cards.”

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

What I find most…, is…

• Ví dụ: “What I find most impressive about his approach is the discipline he maintains.”
• Ví dụ: “What really sets her apart is her ability to delay gratification.”

The thing that…, is…

• Ví dụ: “The thing that makes him successful is his long-term perspective.”

It is… that…

• Ví dụ: “It is his consistent saving habits that have enabled his financial freedom.”

5. Participle Clauses (Mệnh đề phân từ):

Present participle:

• Ví dụ: “Having saved diligently for years, she was able to buy her dream home.”
• Ví dụ: “Being financially literate, he makes informed investment decisions.”

Past participle:

• Ví dụ: “Faced with mounting debt, many people seek financial counseling.”

6. Inversion for Emphasis:

Not only… but also…

• Ví dụ: “Not only does he save regularly, but he also invests wisely.”

Never/Seldom/Rarely at the beginning:

• Ví dụ: “Rarely have I seen someone so disciplined with their finances.”
• Ví dụ: “Never before has financial literacy been so important.”

7. Subjunctive Mood:

It’s crucial/essential/vital that + subject + base verb

• Ví dụ: “It’s essential that people understand the basics of compound interest.”
• Ví dụ: “It’s crucial that young adults learn to budget effectively.”

Việc thành thạo các cấu trúc ngữ pháp này sẽ giúp bạn đạt điểm cao hơn trong IELTS Speaking. Tương tự như khi describe a situation where you had to take responsibility for something, việc sử dụng đúng thì động từ và cấu trúc câu phức tạp sẽ thể hiện năng lực ngôn ngữ của bạn.

Chiến Lược Ôn Tập và Lưu Ý Quan Trọng

Cách Chuẩn Bị Hiệu Quả

1. Practice với Real Examples (Thực hành với ví dụ thực tế):

Đừng học thuộc template hay câu trả lời mẫu. Thay vào đó, hãy nghĩ về người thực sự trong cuộc sống bạn – có thể là cha mẹ, anh chị em, bạn bè hoặc đồng nghiệp – những người có thói quen tài chính tốt. Ghi chú cụ thể về:

• Họ làm gì để quản lý tiền (tracking expenses, automatic savings, investment strategies)
• Kết quả họ đạt được (bought a house, retired early, no debt)
• Điều gì khiến phương pháp của họ đặc biệt (discipline, knowledge, long-term thinking)

2. Build Your Vocabulary Bank (Xây dựng kho từ vựng):

Tạo một danh sách riêng về financial vocabulary và practice sử dụng chúng trong context:

• Mỗi ngày học 5-7 từ mới liên quan đến finance
• Viết câu ví dụ cho mỗi từ
• Record yourself sử dụng các từ này
• Review và practice collocations

3. Record and Self-Evaluate (Ghi âm và tự đánh giá):

Hãy record câu trả lời của bạn và listen back để:

• Identify fillers (um, ah, like) mà bạn dùng quá nhiều
• Check pronunciation và word stress
• Evaluate fluency và coherence
• Compare với sample answers ở các band scores khác nhau

4. Think in Layers (Suy nghĩ theo tầng):

Khi trả lời câu hỏi Part 3, structure your thinking theo layers:

• Layer 1: Direct answer to the question
• Layer 2: Reason/explanation
• Layer 3: Example hoặc evidence
• Layer 4: Broader implications hoặc alternative perspectives
• Layer 5: Conclusion hoặc personal reflection

Ví dụ cho câu hỏi “Should financial management be taught in schools?”:

• Layer 1: Yes, absolutely
• Layer 2: Because it’s a critical life skill everyone needs
• Layer 3: Many adults struggle with debt due to lack of education
• Layer 4: Would help reduce inequality and improve social welfare
• Layer 5: Should be integrated into existing subjects

Common Mistakes của Học Viên Việt Nam

1. Over-reliance on Memorized Templates:

Nhiều bạn học thuộc các template như “I’d like to talk about a person who…” và cố nhồi nhét vào mọi câu trả lời. Examiners dễ dàng nhận ra điều này và nó sẽ lower your score. Instead, focus on natural language và authentic responses.

Lỗi: “There are several reasons why I admire this person. First and foremost… Furthermore… Last but not least…”

Tốt hơn: “What really impresses me about him is… Another thing I’ve noticed is… I think the main reason he’s successful is…”

2. Using Overly Complex Vocabulary Incorrectly:

Một số bạn cố sử dụng từ vựng advanced nhưng không hiểu đúng nghĩa hoặc dùng sai context.

Lỗi: “He is very economical in his fiscal personality.” (unnatural)

Tốt hơn: “He’s very disciplined with his spending.” hoặc “He has excellent fiscal responsibility.”

3. Lack of Specific Examples:

Nhiều câu trả lời quá general và abstract mà không có concrete examples.

Lỗi: “Young people today have many financial problems. They don’t save money and spend too much.”

Tốt hơn: “For instance, many of my peers are burdened with student loans and credit card debt. I have a friend who accumulated $10,000 in debt within two years of graduating simply because he never tracked his expenses or set a budget.”

4. Translating Directly from Vietnamese:

Nhiều cấu trúc và expressions trong tiếng Việt không translate trực tiếp sang tiếng Anh.

Lỗi: “He knows to hold money” (anh ấy biết giữ tiền)

Tốt hơn: “He’s good at saving money” hoặc “He knows how to manage his finances well”

5. Speaking Too Fast or Too Slow:

Một số bạn nói quá nhanh khiến pronunciation unclear, trong khi một số khác nói quá chậm với quá nhiều pauses.

Tip: Practice với natural pace. Record native speakers discussing similar topics và mimic their rhythm.

6. Not Answering the Actual Question:

Đôi khi bạn prepared một answer và cố gắng use it ngay cả khi nó không perfectly match the question.

Example Question: “How has technology changed the way people spend money?”

Lỗi: Nói về một người giỏi quản lý tài chính mà không focus vào technology impact.

Đúng: Discuss specific technological changes như online shopping, digital payments, budgeting apps, etc.

Final Tips từ Examiner

1. Be Authentic:

Examiners có thể tell when you’re being genuine versus when you’re reciting memorized content. Nói về real experiences và genuine opinions sẽ sound more natural và engaging.

2. Don’t Panic About Vocabulary:

Bạn không cần biết mọi từ về finance. Nếu không biết một từ cụ thể, paraphrase it. Ví dụ, nếu quên “compound interest,” bạn có thể nói “when your savings grow because you earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned.”

3. Think Before You Speak:

Không sao nếu bạn pause một chút để suy nghĩ. Use fillers một cách natural như “Well, that’s an interesting question…” hoặc “Let me think about that for a moment…” thay vì “um” liên tục.

4. Extend Your Answers Naturally:

Trong Part 1 và 3, aim for 3-5 sentences per answer. Structure: Direct answer → Reason → Example → Additional thought.

5. Show Range:

Try to demonstrate variety trong:

• Vocabulary (synonyms, collocations, idioms)
• Grammar structures (simple, compound, complex sentences)
• Ideas (personal, societal, historical perspectives)

6. Maintain Eye Contact and Engagement:

Mặc dù nội dung quan trọng, communication skills cũng matter. Smile naturally, maintain eye contact, và show interest in the conversation.

7. Don’t Worry About “Right” Answers:

IELTS Speaking không test kiến thức của bạn về finance. Nó test English proficiency. Quan điểm của bạn về tiền có conservative hay progressive không quan trọng – điều quan trọng là bạn express it clearly và coherently.

8. Practice Under Realistic Conditions:

• Set a timer cho mỗi part
• Practice speaking to someone, không chỉ tự nói với mirror
• Record yourself và analyze weaknesses
• Practice với variety of topics, không chỉ finance

Khi thực hành kỹ năng nói, việc có trải nghiệm thực tế sẽ giúp bạn tự tin hơn rất nhiều. Giống như describe a recent experience that had a lasting impact on you, những câu chuyện có thật từ cuộc sống sẽ khiến bài nói của bạn chân thực và ấn tượng hơn.

Kết Luận

Chủ đề “Describe a person who is good at managing their finances” là một đề bài phổ biến và thực tế trong IELTS Speaking. Để đạt điểm cao, bạn cần kết hợp nhiều yếu tố: từ vựng chuyên ngành phong phú, cấu trúc ngữ pháp đa dạng, khả năng phân tích sâu sắc, và quan trọng nhất là sự tự nhiên trong cách diễn đạt.

Qua bài viết này, bạn đã được trang bị:

• Phương pháp trả lời hiệu quả cho cả 3 Parts của Speaking test
• Sample answers chi tiết ở các band điểm khác nhau (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) để hiểu rõ tiêu chuẩn
• Vốn từ vựng đa dạng về tài chính cá nhân với pronunciation và collocations
• Các cụm từ idiom và expressions ăn điểm
• Cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao giúp thể hiện range
• Chiến lược tránh những lỗi phổ biến của học viên Việt Nam

Hãy nhớ rằng, IELTS Speaking test không phải về việc có câu trả lời “đúng” hay “sai” mà về khả năng communicate effectively trong English. Examiner muốn thấy bạn có thể express ideas clearly, use appropriate vocabulary and grammar, và maintain fluency trong conversation tự nhiên.

Thành công trong IELTS Speaking đến từ practice đều đặn với authentic materials, recording và self-evaluation, và exposure to natural English through podcasts, videos, và conversations. Đừng học thuộc template mà hãy build genuine language skills mà bạn có thể apply linh hoạt cho bất kỳ topic nào.

Chúc bạn chuẩn bị tốt và đạt được band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking sắp tới. Remember: confidence comes from preparation, và preparation means understanding the test format, building your skills systematically, và practicing under realistic conditions. You’ve got this!