Chủ đề “Describe A Person Who Is Successful” là một trong những đề tài xuất hiện thường xuyên trong IELTS Speaking Part 2, đặc biệt phổ biến từ năm 2020 đến nay. Theo thống kê từ các trung tâm thi IELTS tại Việt Nam và các nguồn uy tín như IELTS-Blog.com, chủ đề về người thành công xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi, chiếm khoảng 15-20% các đề thi Part 2. Khả năng xuất hiện của chủ đề này trong tương lai vẫn ở mức cao do tính ứng dụng rộng rãi và khả năng mở rộng sang nhiều góc độ khác nhau.
Chủ đề này quan trọng vì nó không chỉ đánh giá khả năng miêu tả con người mà còn kiểm tra kỹ năng phân tích, đánh giá về thành công – một khái niệm trừu tượng đòi hỏi vocabulary và grammar structures nâng cao. Điều đặc biệt là từ Part 2, examiner sẽ mở rộng sang Part 3 với những câu hỏi sâu hơn về định nghĩa thành công, yếu tố tạo nên thành công, và vai trò của xã hội trong thành công cá nhân.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:
- Các câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến chủ đề thành công
- Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích từng câu
- Hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm được giải thích kỹ lưỡng
- Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của examiner
- Những lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
- Phương pháp chuẩn bị trong 1 phút và cách structure bài nói 2 phút
- Tips insider giúp bạn tự tin và tạo ấn tượng tốt với giám khảo
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, công việc hoặc học tập. Đây là phần “warm-up” giúp bạn làm quen với examiner và tạo ấn tượng ban đầu. Mục tiêu không phải trả lời quá dài mà là trả lời tự nhiên, mạch lạc với 2-3 câu cho mỗi câu hỏi.
Chiến lược quan trọng:
- Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi ngay trong câu đầu tiên
- Mở rộng bằng cách đưa ra lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể
- Sử dụng thì động từ chính xác (hiện tại đơn cho thói quen, hiện tại hoàn thành cho kinh nghiệm)
- Tránh học thuộc, hãy tự nhiên như trò chuyện bình thường
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ với “Yes” hoặc “No” mà không mở rộng
- Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “nice”, “interesting”
- Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
- Nói quá nhanh hoặc quá chậm, không tự nhiên
- Dùng “I think” quá nhiều lần ở đầu câu
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp
Dưới đây là các câu hỏi thực tế từ các kỳ thi IELTS gần đây liên quan đến chủ đề thành công và những người thành công:
Question 1: Who do you admire most in your life?
Question 2: Do you think success is important?
Question 3: What qualities do successful people have?
Question 4: Do you consider yourself a successful person?
Question 5: How do you define success?
Question 6: Do you know any successful people in your family?
Question 7: What kind of people are considered successful in your country?
Question 8: Is it important to set goals to be successful?
Question 9: Do you think luck plays a role in success?
Question 10: Would you like to be famous and successful?
Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết
Question: Who do you admire most in your life?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Nêu rõ người bạn ngưỡng mộ ngay từ câu đầu
- Giải thích tại sao bạn ngưỡng mộ người đó (qualities, achievements)
- Thêm một chi tiết cụ thể hoặc ví dụ ngắn
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
I admire my father most in my life. He is a hard-working person and always supports our family. He taught me many important things about life and I respect him a lot.
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi, có đưa ra lý do cơ bản
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng khá đơn giản (hard-working, important things), thiếu chi tiết cụ thể, cấu trúc câu đơn giản
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời rõ ràng nhưng chưa thể hiện được lexical resource và grammatical range đủ để đạt band cao hơn. Thiếu sự phát triển ý sâu sắc.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
I’d have to say that the person I admire most is my father. What really strikes me about him is his unwavering dedication to our family despite facing numerous challenges throughout his career. He’s managed to climb the corporate ladder while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which I think is no small feat in today’s fast-paced world. His ability to remain humble and grounded despite his professional achievements has taught me that true success isn’t just about money or status.
Phân tích:
-
Điểm mạnh:
- Sử dụng discourse marker tự nhiên “I’d have to say”
- Vocabulary tinh vi: “unwavering dedication”, “climb the corporate ladder”, “no small feat”
- Cấu trúc phức tạp với relative clauses và despite + V-ing
- Có critical thinking về định nghĩa thành công
-
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Trôi chảy, tự nhiên với linking words
- Vocabulary: Paraphrasing tốt (admire → strikes me), collocations chuẩn (unwavering dedication, work-life balance)
- Grammar: Complex sentences với relative clauses, despite + V-ing
- Pronunciation: Các cụm từ như “no small feat” cho thấy natural English usage
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- strikes me: gây ấn tượng với tôi
- unwavering dedication: sự cống hiến kiên định, không lay chuyển
- climb the corporate ladder: thăng tiến trong sự nghiệp
- work-life balance: cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống
- no small feat: không phải thành tựu nhỏ, rất khó đạt được
- humble and grounded: khiêm tốn và chân thật
Question: Do you think success is important?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng (Yes/No/It depends)
- Giải thích tại sao với 1-2 lý do
- Có thể đưa ra ví dụ hoặc qualification (nhưng…)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
Yes, I think success is very important. Everyone wants to be successful in their life because it can bring happiness and money. When people are successful, they can have a better life and help their family.
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp, có lý do cơ bản
- Hạn chế: Ý tưởng khá general và predictable, từ vựng đơn giản (happiness, money, better life), thiếu nuance
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Đủ để truyền đạt ý nhưng thiếu độ tinh vi trong cách diễn đạt và suy nghĩ.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
Well, I’d say success is definitely important, but perhaps not in the traditional sense that most people think of. While achieving our goals and being recognized for our efforts can bring a sense of fulfillment, I believe that how we define success matters just as much. For me, success isn’t solely about material wealth or social status – it’s more about personal growth and making a positive impact on others. That being said, having financial stability does provide peace of mind, so there’s certainly a practical dimension to success that we can’t ignore.
Phân tích:
-
Điểm mạnh:
- Sử dụng discourse marker “Well” và “I’d say” rất tự nhiên
- Vocabulary sophisticated: “sense of fulfillment”, “material wealth”, “social status”
- Grammar đa dạng: While + V-ing, it’s more about…, that being said
- Critical thinking: Có nuance, thừa nhận nhiều góc độ của vấn đề
- Personal perspective rõ ràng
-
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Câu dài nhưng mạch lạc với linking devices phù hợp
- Vocabulary: Precise và less common (fulfillment, dimension)
- Grammar: Complex structures với subordinate clauses
- Content: Sophisticated ideas showing mature thinking
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- a sense of fulfillment: cảm giác được thỏa mãn, hoàn thiện
- material wealth: của cải vật chất
- social status: địa vị xã hội
- personal growth: sự phát triển cá nhân
- a practical dimension: khía cạnh thực tế
- that being said: tuy nhiên, điều đó được nói ra
Question: What qualities do successful people have?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Liệt kê 2-3 qualities cụ thể
- Giải thích ngắn gọn tại sao mỗi quality quan trọng
- Có thể đưa ra ví dụ minh họa
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
I think successful people are usually hard-working and determined. They never give up when they face difficulties. Also, they are smart and know how to make good decisions. These qualities help them achieve their goals.
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Có structure rõ ràng, đưa ra được một vài qualities
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng cơ bản (hard-working, smart, good decisions), thiếu examples cụ thể, ideas khá generic
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Đủ để communicate ý tưởng nhưng chưa impress với vocabulary và depth of ideas.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
From what I’ve observed, successful individuals tend to share several key characteristics. First and foremost, they have remarkable resilience – the ability to bounce back from setbacks rather than being discouraged by failures. They also demonstrate exceptional self-discipline, which enables them to stay focused on their long-term objectives even when faced with short-term temptations. Additionally, I’ve noticed that truly successful people possess strong interpersonal skills; they know how to build meaningful relationships and leverage their networks effectively. Finally, they’re often lifelong learners who constantly seek out new knowledge and adapt to changing circumstances.
Phân tích:
-
Điểm mạnh:
- Opening phrase tự nhiên: “From what I’ve observed”
- Vocabulary cao cấp: “remarkable resilience”, “bounce back from setbacks”, “leverage”
- Structure rõ ràng với sequencing: First and foremost, Additionally, Finally
- Grammar phức tạp: relative clauses, which enables…, even when faced with…
- Multiple qualities được giải thích cụ thể
-
Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Well-organized với clear progression of ideas
- Vocabulary: Precise collocations (remarkable resilience, exceptional self-discipline, strong interpersonal skills)
- Grammar: Variety of complex structures
- Content: Insightful observations showing analytical thinking
Thí sinh đang trả lời câu hỏi IELTS Speaking Part 1 về người thành công với giám khảo
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- remarkable resilience: khả năng phục hồi đáng chú ý
- bounce back from setbacks: phục hồi sau thất bại
- discouraged: nản lòng, chán nản
- exceptional self-discipline: tính kỷ luật tự giác xuất sắc
- short-term temptations: cám dỗ ngắn hạn
- strong interpersonal skills: kỹ năng giao tiếp tốt
- leverage: tận dụng hiệu quả
- lifelong learners: người học hỏi suốt đời
- seek out new knowledge: tìm kiếm kiến thức mới
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Tổng Quan Về Part 2
Part 2 là phần quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking, chiếm khoảng 40% tổng điểm của bài thi. Bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị và 2-3 phút để nói liên tục về một chủ đề được ghi trên cue card. Examiner sẽ không ngắt lời bạn trong suốt thời gian này.
Thời gian chuẩn bị: 1 phút
- Đọc kỹ đề và tất cả bullet points
- Ghi chú keywords, KHÔNG viết câu hoàn chỉnh
- Lên ý tưởng cụ thể cho mỗi bullet point
- Nghĩ về vocabulary và expressions phù hợp
Thời gian nói: 2-3 phút
- Mục tiêu tối thiểu: 1 phút 45 giây
- Lý tưởng: 2 phút đến 2 phút 30 giây
- Nếu nói dưới 1 phút 30 giây: Điểm Fluency bị ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng
- Nếu nói đủ 2 phút: Examiner sẽ ngắt lời bạn một cách lịch sự
Chiến lược hiệu quả:
- Trả lời đầy đủ TẤT CẢ bullet points, không bỏ sót
- Dành thời gian nhiều nhất cho câu “explain” cuối cùng (đây là phần ghi điểm cao)
- Sử dụng past tense khi kể về người/sự kiện trong quá khứ
- Thêm chi tiết cụ thể (names, places, numbers, dates) để bài nói sinh động
- Dùng signposting phrases: “First of all…”, “What I’d like to mention is…”, “The reason why…”
Lỗi thường gặp:
- Không tận dụng đủ 1 phút chuẩn bị (viết lung tung hoặc ngồi không)
- Nói dưới 1 phút 30 giây
- Bỏ sót bullet points quan trọng
- Nói chung chung, không có chi tiết cụ thể
- Quá lo lắng về grammar nên nói ngập ngừng
- Không phát triển phần “explain” – phần quan trọng nhất
Cue Card
Describe a person who is successful
You should say:
- Who this person is
- How you know about this person
- What this person does/did
- And explain why you think this person is successful
Phân Tích Đề Bài
Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a person – Miêu tả con người cụ thể
Thì động từ: Tùy thuộc vào người bạn chọn
- Nếu người còn sống và đang hoạt động: Present Simple, Present Perfect
- Nếu nói về thành tựu trong quá khứ: Past Simple
- Kết hợp cả hai thì nếu phù hợp
Bullet points phải cover:
- Who this person is: Giới thiệu tên, nghề nghiệp, mối quan hệ với bạn
- How you know about this person: Bạn biết họ như thế nào (quen biết trực tiếp, nghe nói, đọc về họ)
- What this person does/did: Công việc, thành tựu cụ thể của họ
- And explain why…: ĐÂY LÀ PHẦN QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT – dành 40-50% thời gian cho phần này
Câu “explain” quan trọng:
Đây là lúc bạn cần thể hiện critical thinking và vocabulary nâng cao. Không chỉ nói “because he is rich” hay “because she is famous” mà phải phân tích sâu hơn về:
- Qualities mà người đó có
- Impact họ tạo ra cho cộng đồng/xã hội
- Challenges họ đã vượt qua
- Values/principles mà họ đại diện
- Inspiration mà họ mang lại
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7
Thời lượng: Khoảng 1 phút 45 giây – 2 phút
I’d like to talk about my uncle who I think is a very successful person. His name is Minh and he is 45 years old. He is a businessman who owns a small company in Ho Chi Minh City.
I have known him since I was a child because he is my father’s younger brother. We often meet during family gatherings and holidays, so I know him quite well. He always shares interesting stories about his work and life with me.
My uncle runs a company that imports and exports electronic products. He started this business about 15 years ago with very little money. At first, it was very difficult and he had to work really hard. He often worked late at night and on weekends. But he never gave up and kept trying. Now his company has grown bigger and he has many employees working for him. His business is doing very well and he makes good profit every year.
I think my uncle is successful for several reasons. First, he achieved his business goals through hard work and determination. He faced many challenges but he overcame them all. Second, he is now financially stable and can support his family well. His children go to good schools and his family lives in a nice house. Third, he is also respected by other people in his industry. Many people ask for his advice about business.
Moreover, what I really admire about him is that he still remains humble despite his success. He often helps other family members and donates money to charity. He taught me that success is not just about making money but also about helping others and being a good person.
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 6.5 | Bài nói mạch lạc, có structure rõ ràng nhưng sử dụng linking words còn đơn giản (First, Second, Third). Một vài chỗ lặp từ (work, business). Độ dài phù hợp. |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 | Từ vựng adequate nhưng chưa sophisticated. Có một số collocations tốt (financially stable, business goals) nhưng còn nhiều từ basic (very difficult, really hard, good profit, nice house). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6.5 | Sử dụng được một số cấu trúc phức tạp (relative clauses, past simple kết hợp present perfect) nhưng chủ yếu vẫn là simple và compound sentences. Ít lỗi ngữ pháp. |
| Pronunciation | 6.5 | Giả định phát âm rõ ràng, dễ hiểu với một vài lỗi nhỏ không ảnh hưởng đến communication. |
Điểm mạnh:
- ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
- ✅ Có structure rõ ràng, dễ theo dõi
- ✅ Thời lượng phù hợp (gần 2 phút)
- ✅ Có chi tiết cụ thể (tên, tuổi, địa điểm, thời gian)
- ✅ Phần explain được phát triển đầy đủ với nhiều reasons
Hạn chế:
- ⚠️ Vocabulary còn basic: “very difficult”, “really hard”, “good profit”, “nice house”
- ⚠️ Thiếu idiomatic expressions và less common vocabulary
- ⚠️ Sentence structures chưa đa dạng, nhiều câu đơn giản
- ⚠️ Linking words còn mechanical (First, Second, Third)
- ⚠️ Ideas tốt nhưng cách diễn đạt chưa sophisticated
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8
Thời lượng: Khoảng 2 phút 10 giây – 2 phút 20 giây
I’d like to tell you about a person I deeply admire for their success, and that’s my former professor, Dr. Nguyen Lan Anh, who is currently a leading expert in renewable energy research in Vietnam.
I first encountered Dr. Anh during my undergraduate studies at university about five years ago. She taught a course on environmental sustainability, and her passion for the subject was absolutely infectious. Even after graduation, I’ve kept in touch with her and followed her career trajectory through social media and academic publications, so I’ve had the opportunity to witness her remarkable journey firsthand.
Dr. Anh specializes in developing affordable solar energy solutions specifically designed for rural communities in Southeast Asia. What’s particularly impressive is that she didn’t come from a privileged background – she actually grew up in a small village without reliable electricity, which fueled her determination to address energy poverty. Over the past decade, she’s spearheaded numerous research projects that have resulted in the installation of solar panels in over 200 villages across Vietnam and neighboring countries. Her innovations have literally transformed the lives of thousands of families who previously had limited access to electricity.
Now, regarding why I consider her truly successful, there are several compelling reasons. First and foremost, her success isn’t measured solely by academic achievements or awards, though she has received plenty of those, including a prestigious international prize last year. What really sets her apart is the tangible impact her work has had on real people’s lives. She’s managed to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical application, which is quite rare in academia.
What’s more, she’s achieved this while maintaining her integrity and staying true to her values. Unlike many people who become successful and forget their roots, she’s remained deeply committed to social equity. She could have easily taken her expertise to the private sector and earned a fortune, but she chose to focus on helping underserved communities instead. To me, that demonstrates genuine success – when someone uses their talents and resources not just for personal gain but to make a meaningful difference in society. Her story has inspired me to think about success in a more holistic way, beyond just career advancement or financial rewards.
Thí sinh tự tin trình bày bài nói Part 2 về người thành công trong phòng thi IELTS
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 7.5-8 | Bài nói rất trôi chảy với minimal hesitation. Sử dụng discourse markers tự nhiên (First and foremost, What’s more). Ideas được phát triển logic và coherent. Không có repetition không cần thiết. |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5-8 | Vocabulary sophisticated và precise: infectious, spearheaded, tangible impact, bridge the gap, committed to social equity. Collocations chuẩn native-like. Paraphrasing tốt (success → achievements, remarkable journey). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 7.5-8 | Đa dạng cấu trúc: relative clauses, participle phrases (designed for…, including…), conditionals, passive voice. Minimal errors. Complex sentences được sử dụng tự nhiên. |
| Pronunciation | 7.5-8 | Giả định pronunciation rõ ràng với good intonation và word stress. Able to use features like linking và rhythm naturally. |
So Sánh Với Band 6-7
| Khía cạnh | Band 6-7 | Band 7.5-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | “runs a company”, “doing very well”, “good profit” | “leading expert”, “spearheaded”, “tangible impact”, “bridge the gap” |
| Grammar | “He started this business about 15 years ago with very little money” | “She didn’t come from a privileged background – she actually grew up in a small village without reliable electricity, which fueled her determination” |
| Ideas | Success = business achievement + financial stability + helping family | Success = tangible social impact + staying true to values + making meaningful difference beyond personal gain |
| Discourse Markers | First, Second, Third (mechanical) | First and foremost, What’s more, regarding… (natural và sophisticated) |
| Development | List reasons separately without deep connection | Ideas flow naturally into each other với detailed elaboration |
Điểm nổi bật của bài Band 7.5-8:
- 🎯 Sophisticated vocabulary: infectious, spearheaded, tangible impact, bridge the gap
- 🎯 Complex grammar: Relative clauses, participles, conditional structures
- 🎯 Depth of ideas: Không chỉ nói “she is successful” mà phân tích WHY và HOW
- 🎯 Personal reflection: “Her story has inspired me…” – adds personal dimension
- 🎯 Nuanced view: Acknowledges multiple dimensions of success
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9
Thời lượng: 2 phút 30 giây đầy đủ
I’d like to talk about someone whose success story has genuinely resonated with me on a profound level, and that’s Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, better known as Vietnam’s first self-made female billionaire and the CEO of VietJet Air.
My knowledge of her comes from various sources – I’ve read extensively about her in business publications, watched several interviews she’s given, and I actually had the privilege of attending a conference where she was the keynote speaker about three years ago. That experience was particularly eye-opening as it gave me firsthand insight into not just her business acumen but also her philosophy on success and leadership.
Ms. Thao’s professional journey is nothing short of remarkable. She ventured into the aviation industry in 2007, which was previously dominated by state-owned enterprises and considered virtually impenetrable for private investors, especially women. Against all odds, she managed to establish VietJet as the first privately-owned airline in Vietnam, and within just over a decade, she’s transformed it into one of the fastest-growing low-cost carriers in Asia, completely revolutionizing the domestic aviation market. What makes her story even more compelling is that she accomplished this by challenging conventional business wisdom – while others focused on premium services, she identified an untapped market segment and created an entirely new business model that made air travel accessible to ordinary Vietnamese people who’d never flown before.
Now, when it comes to explaining why I consider her extraordinarily successful, I need to emphasize that it goes far beyond her impressive net worth or the market capitalization of her company. What truly distinguishes her is the paradigm shift she’s brought about in multiple dimensions. On an economic level, she’s dismantled the monopoly that existed in Vietnamese aviation, fostering healthy competition that has ultimately benefited millions of consumers through lower fares and better services. More significantly, she’s become a trailblazer for women in business, shattering glass ceilings in a traditionally male-dominated industry and proving that gender should never be a barrier to achieving one’s ambitions.
But perhaps what I find most admirable about her success is the ripple effect it’s created. She’s not merely running a profitable airline; she’s generated employment for tens of thousands of people, contributed substantially to Vietnam’s tourism industry, and more broadly, she’s redefined societal perceptions of what Vietnamese women can achieve in business. Her success challenges the traditional narrative that women should occupy certain roles while leaving others to men.
On a more personal note, what really strikes a chord with me is her unwavering resilience in the face of relentless criticism and skepticism, particularly in the early days when many industry experts dismissed her venture as bound to fail. She’s exemplified what I believe is the essence of true success – the courage to pursue a vision despite overwhelming doubt from others, the tenacity to persist through inevitable setbacks, and ultimately, the wisdom to leverage one’s success not just for personal gain but to create opportunities for others and drive positive social change. Her journey has fundamentally reshaped my understanding of success, teaching me that the most meaningful achievements are those that transcend individual accomplishment and contribute to the collective progress of society. That’s the kind of success that truly stands the test of time.
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 9 | Exceptionally fluent với extended speech không có hesitation. Ý tưởng phát triển coherently với sophisticated discourse markers. Mỗi ý được elaborate đầy đủ và connect logic với nhau. |
| Lexical Resource | 9 | Exceptional range của vocabulary với precision cao: paradigm shift, dismantled the monopoly, fostering healthy competition, shattering glass ceilings, transcend individual accomplishment. Idiomatic và natural. Less common lexis được sử dụng appropriately. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 9 | Full range của structures với full flexibility và accuracy. Complex sentences with multiple clauses, inversion, participle phrases, relative clauses. Error-free hoặc có slips rất minor không ảnh hưởng communication. |
| Pronunciation | 9 | Giả định pronunciation features được sử dụng với full range và precision. Sustained use của native-like features including rhythm, intonation, sentence stress. Fully intelligible. |
Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc
🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
- Bài nói dài (2.5 phút) nhưng không có hesitation hay repetition
- Ý tưởng flow tự nhiên từ introduction → description → explanation
- Không cần thinking time vì ideas được structure sẵn trong đầu
- Sustained speech với appropriate pace
📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
- “resonated with me on a profound level” thay vì “I really like” – shows sophisticated expression của emotion
- “against all odds” – idiomatic, natural alternative cho “despite difficulties”
- “paradigm shift” – academic/sophisticated term thể hiện hiểu biết sâu sắc
- “dismantled the monopoly” – precise, powerful verb choice
- “shattering glass ceilings” – metaphor được sử dụng appropriately
- “transcend individual accomplishment” – abstract concept expressed perfectly
📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
- Relative clauses: “…where she was the keynote speaker”, “…who’d never flown before”
- Participle phrases: “challenging conventional business wisdom”, “fostering healthy competition”
- Passive voice: “was previously dominated by”, “she’s generated employment”
- Inversion: “Not merely running… she’s generated…” (implied)
- Complex conditionals: Embedded trong context
- Multiple subordinate clauses: “…that she accomplished this by challenging… while others focused… she identified…”
💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
- Multi-dimensional analysis: Economic impact + social change + gender equality
- Beyond surface level: Không chỉ “she is rich and famous” mà analyze deeper meaning của success
- Critical thinking: “Success transcending individual accomplishment”
- Personal reflection: “reshaped my understanding” – shows personal growth
- Sophisticated comparison: Traditional vs. innovative business models
- Long-term perspective: “stands the test of time”
🎭 Advanced Features:
Discourse Management:
- Natural opening: “I’d like to talk about someone whose success story has genuinely resonated with me”
- Smooth transitions: “Now, when it comes to explaining…”, “On a more personal note…”
- Signposting: “What truly distinguishes her”, “More significantly”
- Conclusion với personal takeaway
Lexical Sophistication:
- Collocations: “profound level”, “business acumen”, “conventional wisdom”, “untapped market”
- Academic style: “paradigm shift”, “market capitalization”, “societal perceptions”
- Metaphors: “glass ceilings”, “ripple effect”, “strikes a chord”
- Precision: “dismantled” instead of “destroyed”, “fostering” instead of “creating”
Grammatical Complexity:
- Multiple clause sentences maintaining clarity
- Mix of active and passive voices
- Perfect tenses used appropriately for time relationships
- Gerunds and infinitives used naturally
Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)
Sau khi bạn kết thúc Part 2, examiner thường hỏi 1-2 câu ngắn để “làm mát” trước khi chuyển sang Part 3. Những câu này thường liên quan trực tiếp đến người/sự việc bạn vừa miêu tả.
Question 1: Would you like to be like this person?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I would like to be like her in some ways. I admire her determination and success. However, I think it would be very difficult to achieve what she has done because it requires a lot of hard work and talent.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Well, I’d certainly like to emulate certain aspects of her character, particularly her unwavering commitment to her goals and her ability to maintain her integrity despite enormous success. That said, I recognize that everyone’s path is unique, and rather than trying to replicate her journey, I’d prefer to draw inspiration from her example while forging my own path that aligns with my personal values and circumstances.
Question 2: Do you think you will meet this person in the future?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I’m not sure if I will meet her because she is a very busy person and quite famous. But if I have the chance, I would really like to meet her and talk to her about her success story.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Realistically speaking, the chances are quite slim given her demanding schedule and prominent position. However, I’m a firm believer that opportunities often arise unexpectedly, so I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. In fact, I’ve been actively seeking opportunities to attend industry conferences and networking events where she might speak, so you never know – our paths might cross one day. If that happens, I’d be absolutely thrilled to have even a brief conversation with her.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Tổng Quan Về Part 3
Part 3 là phần challenging nhất trong IELTS Speaking, kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi trừu tượng và sâu sắc hơn nhiều so với Part 1. Examiner muốn kiểm tra khả năng phân tích, đánh giá, so sánh của bạn về các vấn đề xã hội rộng hơn liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2.
Yêu cầu:
- Đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân có lý lẽ rõ ràng
- Phân tích nhiều góc độ của vấn đề (not just black and white)
- Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ personal experiences
- Demonstrate critical thinking và ability to discuss abstract concepts
- Trả lời dài hơn Part 1 (3-5 câu minimum)
Chiến lược:
- Dùng discourse markers để có thời gian suy nghĩ: “Well”, “That’s an interesting question”, “I’d say that…”
- Structure câu trả lời: Direct answer → Reason/Explanation → Example → Conclusion/Qualification
- Acknowledge complexity: “It depends on…”, “There are multiple factors…”, “On the one hand… on the other hand…”
- Don’t be afraid to challenge the question hoặc đưa ra nuanced view
- Sử dụng tentative language: “I would argue that…”, “It seems to me that…”, “To some extent…”
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn như Part 1 (1-2 câu)
- Chỉ đưa ra quan điểm một chiều, không phân tích nhiều góc độ
- Thiếu examples cụ thể từ xã hội
- Vocabulary không đủ trừu tượng cho discussion-level
- Không demonstrate critical thinking
- Speaking quá general, không specific
- Avoid câu hỏi bằng cách nói “I don’t know” hoặc “I’m not sure”
Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu
Theme 1: Defining Success
Question 1: How do people in your country define success?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Generalization về cultural values
- Key words: “people in your country” (không phải personal opinion), “define” (concept)
- Cách tiếp cận:
- Nêu traditional definition
- Đưa ra modern/changing perspective
- Có thể mention generational differences
- Support với examples
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
In Vietnam, I think most people define success mainly by career achievement and financial stability. If someone has a good job with high salary, they are considered successful. Also, having a happy family is important for success. Nowadays, younger people might have different ideas about success compared to older generations. Some young people think that success means having work-life balance and doing what they love, not just making money.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Có main idea → supporting points nhưng chưa elaborate enough
- Vocabulary: Basic level (good job, high salary, happy family)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Ideas relevant và clear nhưng thiếu depth, vocabulary không sophisticated, thiếu concrete examples
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
That’s quite a thought-provoking question. I’d say that traditionally, success in Vietnamese culture has been predominantly measured through quite tangible markers – particularly educational qualifications, professional status, and material prosperity. There’s this deeply ingrained societal expectation that a successful person should have climbed the career ladder to a respectable position, ideally in fields like medicine, engineering, or civil service, which are still viewed as prestigious professions.
However, I’ve noticed a significant paradigm shift occurring, especially among younger generations. Increasingly, millennials and Gen Z are challenging this conventional definition and embracing a more holistic view of success that encompasses personal fulfillment, work-life balance, and making a meaningful contribution to society rather than simply accumulating wealth. For instance, we’re seeing more young people willingly forgoing lucrative corporate careers to pursue passion projects or social enterprises, even if it means earning less money.
That said, we can’t ignore the fact that Vietnam remains a developing country where economic security still holds enormous weight. So while attitudes are evolving, the traditional definition of success centered around financial stability hasn’t been entirely displaced – it’s more like we’re witnessing a gradual broadening of what success can encompass. The tension between these old and new values actually creates interesting dynamics in how success is perceived and pursued across different demographics.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Well-organized: Traditional view → Changing perspective → Balanced conclusion acknowledging complexity
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise: predominantly measured, tangible markers, deeply ingrained, paradigm shift, holistic view, accumulating wealth, willingly forgoing, entirely displaced
- Grammar: Complex structures: participle phrases (especially among…), relative clauses, passive voice, gerunds
- Critical Thinking:
- Acknowledges traditional values
- Identifies changing trends
- Provides specific examples (millennials, social enterprises)
- Recognizes tension between old and new
- Balanced view without being simplistic
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: “That’s quite a thought-provoking question”, “However”, “That said”, “For instance”
- Tentative language: “I’d say that”, “I’ve noticed”
- Academic vocabulary: “paradigm shift”, “holistic view”, “demographics”
- Hedging: “quite”, “predominantly”, “increasingly”
- Contrast language: “However”, “while…hasn’t been”, “The tension between”
Question 2: Do you think the definition of success has changed over time?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare (past vs. present/future)
- Key words: “changed over time” (temporal comparison)
- Cách tiếp cận:
- Nêu rõ có thay đổi hay không
- So sánh past vs. present
- Giải thích nguyên nhân của sự thay đổi
- Examples cụ thể cho mỗi period
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
Yes, I definitely think it has changed a lot. In the past, people thought success meant having a stable job and enough money to support their family. But now, especially for young people, success can mean different things. Some people want to travel and have experiences rather than just work hard and save money. Social media has also changed how people see success – now many people want to be famous influencers or have many followers online.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Direct answer → Past → Present → Example (social media)
- Vocabulary: Adequate nhưng repetitive (people x3, success)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear comparison nhưng lacks sophistication, limited vocabulary range, ideas không được develop deeply
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:
Absolutely, and I’d argue that the transformation has been quite profound, particularly over the last few decades. If we look back to previous generations – say, our grandparents’ era – success was largely synonymous with survival and basic security. In post-war Vietnam, for instance, simply having stable employment, owning a home, and ensuring your children received an education was considered the pinnacle of achievement. The definition was quite narrow and materialistic out of necessity, given the economic hardships people faced.
Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a much more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of what constitutes success. This shift has been driven by several factors. First and foremost, improved living standards mean that for many people, basic needs are no longer their primary concern, allowing them to aspire to what Maslow would call higher-order needs – self-actualization, personal growth, and meaningful contribution. Secondly, globalization and digital connectivity have exposed people to diverse lifestyles and values, challenging the one-size-fits-all model of success.
What’s particularly interesting is the rise of what I’d call “purpose-driven success” – the idea that true achievement involves aligning your work with your values and making a positive impact. We’re seeing professionals deliberately choosing careers in non-profits or sustainable businesses over more lucrative corporate positions. This would have been almost unthinkable to previous generations who prioritized financial security above all else.
However, I should mention that this evolution isn’t uniform across all segments of society. In rural areas or among lower-income families, the definition of success remains closely tied to economic advancement, and understandably so. So while there’s definitely been a shift towards more holistic and individualized concepts of success, it’s important to recognize that this change is somewhat privileged and hasn’t reached everyone equally. The definition continues to evolve and remains very much context-dependent.
Thảo luận sâu Part 3 về định nghĩa thành công trong phòng thi IELTS
Phân tích:
- Structure: Exceptional organization: Clear thesis → Historical context → Present situation → Drivers of change → Specific trend → Balanced conclusion
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated: largely synonymous with, pinnacle of achievement, nuanced and multifaceted, aspire to, higher-order needs, one-size-fits-all, deliberately choosing, unthinkable, context-dependent
- Grammar: Full range: Conditionals, relative clauses, participles, if-clauses, complex noun phrases
- Critical Thinking:
- Historical perspective (grandparents’ era, post-war)
- Multiple factors driving change
- Academic reference (Maslow)
- Recognition of inequality in the evolution
- Nuanced conclusion avoiding oversimplification
💡 Key Language Features:
- Strong opening: “Absolutely, and I’d argue that…”
- Time markers: “If we look back to”, “Fast forward to today”
- Cause-effect language: “driven by”, “allowing them to”
- Discourse markers: “First and foremost”, “Secondly”, “However”
- Emphasis: “What’s particularly interesting”
- Academic tone: References to Maslow, use of quotes for concepts
- Hedging/Balancing: “I should mention”, “understandably so”, “somewhat privileged”
Theme 2: Factors Contributing to Success
Question 3: What do you think are the main factors that contribute to a person’s success?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause analysis (identifying factors)
- Key words: “main factors” (multiple), “contribute to” (causation)
- Cách tiếp cận:
- List 2-3 main factors
- Explain each factor với examples
- Có thể rank theo importance
- Acknowledge complexity (không có single factor)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
I think there are several important factors for success. First is hard work because you need to work very hard to achieve your goals. Second is education – if you have good education, you will have more opportunities. Third is luck – sometimes people are lucky and get good chances. Also, having support from family is important. These factors work together to help people become successful.
Phân tích:
- Structure: List format với brief explanation
- Vocabulary: Basic (hard work, good education, lucky)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear factors identified nhưng explanations superficial, lacks depth và concrete examples
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:
Well, I’d say success is typically the result of a complex interplay of multiple factors, and it’s quite difficult to isolate any single element as the most important. That being said, from what I’ve observed, there are several critical components that seem to consistently come into play.
Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, there’s intrinsic motivation and persistence – what we might call grit. Research has actually shown that passion and perseverance are often better predictors of success than raw talent or intelligence. People who succeed tend to possess this remarkable ability to stay the course despite setbacks, to maintain their commitment to long-term goals even when immediate gratification seems more appealing. Take J.K. Rowling, for example – she faced numerous rejections before Harry Potter was published, but her persistence ultimately paid off spectacularly.
Secondly, I’d emphasize the importance of what you might call strategic thinking – the ability to set clear objectives, identify opportunities, and make calculated decisions. Successful people don’t just work hard blindly; they work smart. They’re adept at recognizing which skills to develop, which networks to build, and where to invest their energy for maximum impact. This kind of strategic awareness often distinguishes those who merely stay busy from those who actually progress toward meaningful achievements.
However, we’d be naive to ignore external factors that are often beyond individual control. Socioeconomic background, for instance, can dramatically influence one’s access to quality education, networking opportunities, and even the psychological freedom to take risks. Someone born into a financially secure family with educated parents has considerable advantages – what sociologists call “social capital” and “cultural capital” – that others must work much harder to acquire. Similarly, timing and luck play roles that we often underestimate. Being in the right place at the right time, encountering the right mentor, or entering a field just as it’s emerging – these fortuitous circumstances can significantly accelerate one’s trajectory.
What I find particularly important to emphasize is that these factors don’t operate in isolation – they’re deeply interconnected. Your level of persistence might be influenced by your support system; your strategic thinking might be honed through educational opportunities; and even how you capitalize on luck depends on your preparation and mindset. So rather than thinking of success as attributable to any single factor, I believe it’s more accurate to view it as an emergent outcome of multiple elements working in concert, with the specific combination varying significantly from person to person.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Outstanding organization: Introduction (acknowledging complexity) → Factor 1 (intrinsic) + example → Factor 2 (strategic thinking) → Factor 3 (external factors) → Synthesis (interconnection)
- Vocabulary: Exceptional: intrinsic motivation, grit, immediate gratification, paid off spectacularly, strategic awareness, socioeconomic background, social capital, fortuitous circumstances, emergent outcome
- Grammar: Full range with complete control: Relative clauses, what-clauses, participle phrases, compound-complex sentences
- Critical Thinking:
- References research
- Specific example (J.K. Rowling)
- Academic concepts (social capital, cultural capital)
- Acknowledges both internal and external factors
- Recognizes interconnection of factors
- Nuanced conclusion avoiding oversimplification
- Sophisticated analysis showing deep understanding
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic references: “Research has shown”, sociological concepts
- Exemplification: J.K. Rowling case study
- Contrast: “However, we’d be naive to ignore”
- Emphasis structures: “What I find particularly important to emphasize”
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “fortuitous circumstances”, “emergent outcome”, “attributable to”
- Hedging: “typically”, “might be”, “often”, “can significantly”
Theme 3: Success and Society
Question 4: Do you think successful people have a responsibility to help others?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion + Ethics/Moral responsibility
- Key words: “responsibility” (obligation), “help others”
- Cách tiếp cận:
- State your opinion clearly
- Provide reasoning (ethical/practical)
- Consider counter-arguments
- Real-world examples
- Nuanced conclusion
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
Yes, I think successful people should help others. They have more money and resources, so they can help people who are less fortunate. For example, rich people can donate money to charity or help poor children go to school. This is good for society and also makes successful people feel good about themselves. However, I understand that it’s their own money, so they can choose what to do with it.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Opinion → Reason → Example → Counter-point
- Vocabulary: Basic (rich people, less fortunate, donate money)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear position nhưng argument superficial, lacks sophistication trong reasoning
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:
This is quite a nuanced question, and I’d say my answer is a qualified yes – I do believe successful people have a responsibility to contribute to the broader welfare of society, though the nature and extent of that responsibility is open to debate.
Let me explain my reasoning. Success, particularly in the form of wealth accumulation, rarely happens in a vacuum. It typically depends on infrastructure, educated workforces, legal systems, and social stability – all of which are collective goods funded and maintained by society. In this sense, successful individuals have benefited from what might be called “the commons”, and there’s a strong argument that they have an obligation to give back and help sustain the very systems that enabled their success. This isn’t just an ethical imperative; it’s also pragmatic – extreme inequality and social fragmentation ultimately threaten the stability that everyone, including the wealthy, depends on.
Moreover, there’s what philosophers call “the problem of moral luck” – the recognition that success often involves factors beyond individual merit, such as being born into the right family, having good health, or encountering fortuitous opportunities. When we acknowledge that success isn’t purely meritocratic, it becomes harder to argue that successful people owe nothing to those who weren’t as fortunate. Take Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, for instance – both have publicly acknowledged that their extraordinary wealth is partly attributable to circumstances beyond their control, and they’ve committed billions to philanthropic causes through their Giving Pledge initiative.
That said, I want to qualify this by saying that “responsibility to help” shouldn’t necessarily mean mandatory wealth redistribution through punitive taxation, which could stifle innovation and disincentivize entrepreneurship. Rather, I think it’s about fostering a culture where success is viewed as carrying certain social obligations – whether that’s through philanthropy, mentorship, creating employment opportunities, or investing in sustainable businesses that address social problems. The key is finding approaches that leverage the skills and resources of successful people in ways that create sustainable, systemic change rather than just short-term relief.
Ultimately, I believe that as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the notion of success divorced from social responsibility becomes increasingly untenable. We’re all part of an ecosystem, and the long-term sustainability of anyone’s success depends on the health of the broader system. So while I wouldn’t advocate for coercive measures, I do think society should cultivate expectations and create incentives for successful people to play constructive roles in addressing collective challenges.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Sophisticated: Qualified position → Reasoning 1 (infrastructure) → Reasoning 2 (moral luck) + example → Qualification (not mandatory) → Conclusion with broader perspective
- Vocabulary: Exceptional: qualified yes, accumulation, collective goods, give back, moral luck, purely meritocratic, philanthropic causes, mandatory wealth redistribution, stifle innovation, disincentivize, divorced from, untenable, coercive measures
- Grammar: Full range: Conditional structures, relative clauses, participle phrases, noun clauses, passive voice
- Critical Thinking:
- Philosophical reference (moral luck)
- Real-world examples (Gates, Buffett, Giving Pledge)
- Multiple perspectives considered
- Distinction between different types of “helping”
- Systemic thinking (ecosystem metaphor)
- Balanced view acknowledging complexity
- Policy implications discussed
💡 Key Language Features:
- Sophisticated opening: “This is quite a nuanced question”
- Qualified language: “qualified yes”, “open to debate”, “I want to qualify this”
- Academic references: Philosophical concept (moral luck)
- Real examples: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Giving Pledge
- Contrast: “That said”, “Rather”
- Strong conclusion: “Ultimately”, “increasingly untenable”
- Abstract concepts: “collective goods”, “systemic change”, “ecosystem”
Question 5: How has the idea of success changed in the age of social media?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Change analysis (impact of technology/social media)
- Key words: “changed”, “age of social media” (modern context)
- Cách tiếp cận:
- Identify specific changes
- Explain causes (how social media drives change)
- Positive and negative effects
- Examples of new forms of success
- Reflection on implications
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7-7.5:
Social media has definitely changed how people think about success. Now, many people think that having many followers or likes means you are successful. Young people want to become influencers and make money from posting on Instagram or TikTok. This is very different from before when success meant having a good traditional career. However, I think social media success is sometimes not real because people only show the best parts of their life online, not the difficulties they face.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Main change → Examples → Comparison with past → Critical observation
- Vocabulary: Appropriate nhưng could be more sophisticated (many followers, good traditional career, real)
- Tại sao Band 7-7.5: Good ideas và relevant examples nhưng lacks depth trong analysis, vocabulary có thể more precise
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:
Social media has fundamentally transformed not just how success is defined, but more importantly, how it’s perceived, pursued, and validated in contemporary society. The changes are quite far-reaching and, I’d argue, somewhat problematic in certain respects.
Perhaps the most significant shift is what I’d call the “democratization of fame”. Traditionally, success – particularly in terms of public recognition – was largely gatekept by traditional institutions: you needed to work your way up corporate hierarchies, get published by established media, or be recognized by official credentialing bodies. Social media has completely disrupted this model by enabling virtually anyone to cultivate a following and build a personal brand without traditional intermediaries. On the surface, this seems empowering – we now have countless examples of people achieving success through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok by simply creating compelling content that resonates with audiences.
However, this shift has come with significant downsides. For one, there’s been an alarming conflation between visibility and value – the assumption that being widely seen equates to being successful or worthy. This has given rise to what I’d call “metrics-driven validation”, where success is quantified through follower counts, likes, and engagement rates. Young people, in particular, are increasingly measuring their self-worth through these arbitrary metrics, which I find concerning. There’s substantial research linking heavy social media use to heightened anxiety and feelings of inadequacy, precisely because people are constantly comparing themselves to carefully curated versions of others’ lives.
Moreover, social media has accelerated what we might call the “commodification of personal life”. Success increasingly means monetizing your personality or lifestyle – becoming, in essence, a product. Influencers who appear successful often blur the lines between authentic self-expression and calculated marketing, and there’s something somewhat dystopian about a society where success requires constantly performing your life for public consumption. We’re seeing people making life decisions – where to travel, what to wear, even whom to date – based on what will generate engagement rather than what brings genuine fulfillment.
That said, I don’t want to paint an entirely negative picture. Social media has genuinely opened up opportunities for people who might have been marginalized by traditional success pathways – independent artists, entrepreneurs from developing countries, people with niche expertise can now find their audiences and build sustainable careers in ways that weren’t possible before. The key issue isn’t social media itself, but rather our critical engagement with it – distinguishing between superficial markers of success and substantive achievement, and maintaining perspective on what truly matters beyond virtual validation.
In essence, social media has made success seemingly more accessible while simultaneously making it more precarious and psychologically fraught. It’s recalibrated our aspirations toward immediate visibility over long-term impact, toward broad but shallow recognition over deep but narrow expertise. Whether this represents progress or regression probably depends on how we collectively navigate these new dynamics in the coming years.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Exceptional: Introduction (transformation) → Main change (democratization) → Downsides (metrics-driven, commodification) → Balanced view (opportunities) → Sophisticated conclusion
- Vocabulary: Outstanding: fundamentally transformed, gatekept, democratization of fame, traditional intermediaries, alarming conflation, metrics-driven validation, heightened anxiety, curated versions, commodification, dystopian, marginalized, precarious, psychologically fraught, recalibrated
- Grammar: Full range với complete accuracy: Relative clauses, participle phrases, noun clauses, gerunds, complex conditionals, passive structures
- Critical Thinking:
- Multi-dimensional analysis
- Academic research reference
- Sociological concepts (commodification, democratization)
- Both positive and negative implications
- Concern for psychological impacts
- Future-oriented reflection
- Sophisticated metaphors (gatekept, curated)
- Systemic thinking about societal changes
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic tone: “democratization of fame”, “commodification of personal life”, “metrics-driven validation”
- Hedging appropriately: “somewhat problematic”, “I’d argue”
- Strong transitions: “Perhaps the most significant”, “However”, “Moreover”, “That said”
- Evidence reference: “There’s substantial research linking…”
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “gatekept”, “dystopian”, “precarious”, “psychologically fraught”
- Rhetorical devices: “What I’d call”, “in essence”
- Balanced perspective: Acknowledging both benefits and drawbacks
- Abstract concepts: “commodification”, “virtual validation”, “systemic changes”
Theme 4: Success Across Cultures
Question 6: Do you think success means the same thing in different cultures?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cross-cultural comparison
- Key words: “different cultures” (comparative analysis)
- Cách tiếp cận:
- State position (same/different/both)
- Explain cultural variations with specific examples
- Identify underlying factors (values, economic development, religion)
- Acknowledge universal elements if any
- Nuanced conclusion
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7-7.5:
No, I don’t think success means the same thing in all cultures. In Western countries like America, success is often about individual achievement and making a lot of money. But in Asian cultures, especially in Vietnam and China, family success and respect from community are also very important. In some cultures, having a good education is the most important sign of success, while in others, it might be more about business success or being famous. These differences come from different cultural values and traditions.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Direct answer → Western vs Asian → Further variation → Reason
- Vocabulary: Clear nhưng could be more sophisticated (making money, family success, cultural values)
- Tại sao Band 7-7.5: Good comparative structure và relevant examples nhưng lacks depth trong cultural analysis, vocabulary appropriate nhưng not advanced
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:
I’d argue that while there are certainly some universal elements, the concept of success is profoundly shaped by cultural context, and the variations across cultures can be quite striking. Let me unpack this a bit.
If we look at what researchers call “individualistic versus collectivistic cultures,” we see fundamentally different orientations toward success. In predominantly individualistic societies – think the United States, Australia, or much of Western Europe – success tends to be framed in terms of personal achievement, autonomy, and standing out from the crowd. There’s this deeply embedded cultural narrative about the “self-made person” who charts their own course and achieves success through individual merit and effort. Career advancement, personal wealth accumulation, and individual recognition are highly prized.
In contrast, collectivistic cultures – which characterize much of East Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa – tend to embed success within a web of social relationships and obligations. In Vietnam, for instance, your success isn’t just about your personal achievements; it’s inextricably linked to how well you’ve fulfilled your filial duties, supported your extended family, and maintained harmonious relationships within your community. Someone who becomes wealthy but neglects their parents or alienates their family might not be considered truly successful, regardless of their financial status. There’s also often less emphasis on individual distinction and more on collective advancement – lifting your family up rather than just yourself.
Beyond the individual-collective dimension, religious and philosophical traditions play a significant role in shaping success concepts. In Buddhist-influenced cultures, for example, there might be greater skepticism toward purely material definitions of success, with more emphasis on spiritual development, inner peace, and detachment from worldly desires. Meanwhile, in societies influenced by Protestant work ethic – what sociologist Max Weber famously analyzed – there’s often a strong association between material prosperity and moral virtue, where wealth is seen as evidence of God’s favor or righteous living.
Economic development also factors in crucially. In societies grappling with poverty or recent histories of scarcity, success naturally gravitates toward basic security and material advancement – you can’t afford the luxury of defining success in abstract terms when you’re concerned about putting food on the table. As societies become more affluent, we typically see a shift toward what psychologists call “post-materialist values” – greater emphasis on self-expression, quality of life, and meaning rather than just subsistence and security.
That said, I think we’re also seeing some convergence in the age of globalization. Young people across diverse cultures are exposed to similar media, educational frameworks, and career models, which is creating certain shared assumptions about success – particularly around professional achievement and consumer lifestyles. However, these global influences tend to layer onto rather than completely replace traditional cultural frameworks, creating complex hybrid understandings of success.
Ultimately, while there might be some human universals – most people everywhere probably want security, respect, meaningful relationships – how these are defined and prioritized, what trade-offs are considered acceptable, and what ultimate end success serves vary enormously across cultural contexts. Understanding these differences is increasingly important in our interconnected world, where we’re constantly navigating across cultural boundaries and need to avoid projecting our own culturally-specific definitions onto others.
Phân tích:
- Structure: Masterful: Qualified thesis → Dimension 1 (individualistic vs collectivistic) with detailed examples → Dimension 2 (religion/philosophy) → Dimension 3 (economic development) → Convergence trend → Sophisticated conclusion
- Vocabulary: Exceptional: profoundly shaped by, fundamentally different orientations, deeply embedded cultural narrative, inextricably linked to, filial duties, harmonious relationships, spiritual development, detachment from worldly desires, post-materialist values, complex hybrid understandings, human universals
- Grammar: Full range with complete flexibility: Relative clauses, participle phrases, conditional structures, noun phrases, gerunds, passive voice, complex embedding
- Critical Thinking:
- Academic framework (individualistic vs collectivistic)
- Multiple dimensions analyzed (cultural, religious, economic)
- Specific cultural examples (Vietnam, US, Buddhist cultures)
- Academic reference (Max Weber)
- Psychological concepts (post-materialist values)
- Recognition of globalization’s impact
- Nuanced conclusion acknowledging both differences and universals
- Practical implications mentioned
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic frameworks: “individualistic versus collectivistic cultures”, “post-materialist values”
- Scholarly reference: Max Weber, Protestant work ethic
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “inextricably linked”, “filial duties”, “detachment from worldly desires”
- Cultural sensitivity: Avoids value judgments, presents differences objectively
- Complex sentence structures: Multiple subordinate clauses
- Hedging appropriately: “tends to”, “might be”, “often”, “probably”
- Transitions: “Beyond”, “Meanwhile”, “That said”, “Ultimately”
- Abstract concepts: “cultural narrative”, “hybrid understandings”, “human universals”
Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng
Topic-Specific Vocabulary
| Từ vựng/Cụm từ | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| resilience | n | /rɪˈzɪliəns/ | khả năng phục hồi, sức bền | Her remarkable resilience helped her bounce back from business failures. | remarkable resilience, show resilience, build resilience, emotional resilience |
| perseverance | n | /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/ | sự kiên trì, bền bỉ | Success requires perseverance through difficult times. | show perseverance, demonstrate perseverance, with perseverance, perseverance pays off |
| dedication | n | /ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn/ | sự cống hiến, tận tụy | His unwavering dedication to the project impressed everyone. | unwavering dedication, total dedication, dedication to, show dedication |
| accomplished | adj | /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/ | tài năng, thành đạt | She is an accomplished pianist who has performed worldwide. | highly accomplished, accomplished professional, accomplished artist |
| breakthrough | n | /ˈbreɪkθruː/ | đột phá, bước ngoặt | The scientist made a major breakthrough in cancer research. | major breakthrough, significant breakthrough, achieve a breakthrough, scientific breakthrough |
| pinnacle | n | /ˈpɪnəkl/ | đỉnh cao, đỉnh điểm | Reaching the pinnacle of his career took decades of hard work. | reach the pinnacle, pinnacle of success, at the pinnacle, career pinnacle |
| self-made | adj | /ˌself ˈmeɪd/ | tự lập, tự thân | He’s a self-made billionaire who started from nothing. | self-made millionaire, self-made man/woman, self-made entrepreneur |
| visionary | n/adj | /ˈvɪʒəneri/ | người có tầm nhìn xa, sáng kiến | Steve Jobs was a visionary who transformed multiple industries. | visionary leader, visionary ideas, visionary thinking, business visionary |
| trailblazer | n | /ˈtreɪlbleɪzər/ | người tiên phong, mở đường | She was a trailblazer for women in the tech industry. | industry trailblazer, trailblazer in, pioneering trailblazer |
| mentor | n/v | /ˈmentɔːr/ | người cố vấn, hướng dẫn | A good mentor can accelerate your career development. | act as a mentor, find a mentor, mentor someone, business mentor |
| leverage | v | /ˈliːvərɪdʒ/ | tận dụng hiệu quả | Successful people know how to leverage their networks. | leverage resources, leverage connections, leverage opportunities, leverage technology |
| cultivate | v | /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ | vun đắp, phát triển | He cultivated relationships with industry leaders. | cultivate relationships, cultivate skills, cultivate a reputation, carefully cultivate |
| navigate | v | /ˈnævɪɡeɪt/ | điều hướng, vượt qua | She navigated numerous challenges on her path to success. | navigate challenges, successfully navigate, navigate through, navigate obstacles |
| tenacity | n | /təˈnæsəti/ | tính kiên cường, bền gan | His tenacity in pursuing his goals was admirable. | show tenacity, with tenacity, remarkable tenacity, tenacity and determination |
| acumen | n | /əˈkjuːmən/ | óc nhạy bén, khôn ngoan | Her business acumen helped her identify profitable opportunities. | business acumen, financial acumen, political acumen, sharp acumen |
| embody | v | /ɪmˈbɒdi/ | hiện thân, thể hiện | She embodies the qualities of a successful leader. | embody values, embody success, perfectly embody, embody the spirit |
| aspire | v | /əˈspaɪər/ | khao khát, mong muốn | Many young people aspire to entrepreneurial success. | aspire to, aspire to be, aspire to achieve, aspire to greatness |
| trajectory | n | /trəˈdʒektəri/ | quỹ đạo, lộ trình phát triển | His career trajectory has been consistently upward. | career trajectory, upward trajectory, follow a trajectory, success trajectory |
| caliber | n | /ˈkælɪbər/ | tầm cỡ, trình độ | They only hire people of the highest caliber. | high caliber, exceptional caliber, person of caliber, caliber of work |
| endeavor | n | /ɪnˈdevər/ | nỗ lực, công việc khó khăn | Starting a business is a challenging endeavor. | undertake an endeavor, successful endeavor, ambitious endeavor, business endeavor |
Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases
| Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ sử dụng | Band điểm |
|---|---|---|---|
| climb the corporate ladder | thăng tiến trong công ty | She climbed the corporate ladder to become CEO within ten years. | 7.5-8 |
| make it big | thành công lớn | He always dreamed of making it big in the music industry. | 7-7.5 |
| go from rags to riches | từ nghèo khổ đến giàu có | His story of going from rags to riches inspired many people. | 7.5-8 |
| strike gold | tìm được cơ hội vàng, thành công lớn | The startup struck gold with their innovative app. | 7.5-8 |
| make a name for oneself | tạo dựng danh tiếng | She made a name for herself as a brilliant scientist. | 7.5-8 |
| break new ground | có sáng kiến đột phá | The research team broke new ground in renewable energy. | 8-8.5 |
| ahead of the curve | đi trước thời đại | His innovative approach kept him ahead of the curve. | 7.5-8 |
| think outside the box | suy nghĩ sáng tạo, không theo틀틀틀 | Success often requires thinking outside the box. | 7-7.5 |
| rise through the ranks | thăng tiến từng bước | She rose through the ranks to become a senior executive. | 7.5-8 |
| make one’s mark | tạo dấu ấn, ảnh hưởng | He made his mark in the tech industry at a young age. | 7.5-8 |
| carve out a niche | tạo vị trí riêng, chuyên môn riêng | The company carved out a niche in sustainable fashion. | 8-8.5 |
| hit the ground running | bắt đầu mạnh mẽ, năng động | She hit the ground running in her new role as director. | 7.5-8 |
| weather the storm | vượt qua khó khăn | Successful businesses know how to weather the storm during economic downturns. | 7.5-8 |
| stand the test of time | tồn tại lâu dài, bền vững | True success is that which stands the test of time. | 8-8.5 |
| move mountains | làm được điều không tưởng | With determination, you can move mountains. | 7.5-8 |
| break the glass ceiling | phá vỡ rào cản, đặc biệt cho phụ nữ | She broke the glass ceiling to become the first female CEO. | 8-8.5 |
Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)
Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:
- 📝 Well,… – Khi cần suy nghĩ (tự nhiên, không formal quá)
- 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc correct misconception
- 📝 To be honest,… – Khi muốn nói thật, thẳng thắn
- 📝 I’d say that… – Khi đưa ra quan điểm (tentative, polite)
- 📝 That’s an interesting question,… – Khi cần thời gian suy nghĩ
- 📝 From my perspective,… – Khi nêu quan điểm cá nhân rõ ràng
Để bổ sung ý:
- 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó (informal hơn Moreover)
- 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, thêm nữa
- 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
- 📝 Additionally,… – Thêm vào đó (formal hơn)
- 📝 Furthermore,… – Hơn thế nữa (academic tone)
- 📝 Beyond that,… – Xa hơn thế
Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:
- 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác
- 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Tuy đúng là… nhưng cũng cần xem xét
- 📝 That being said,… – Tuy nhiên, điều đó được nói ra
- 📝 Having said that,… – Đã nói vậy thì
- 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên (ngắn gọn hơn)
Để kết luận:
- 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại, nói chung
- 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì, xét cho cùng
- 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng, về căn bản
- 📝 In essence,… – Về bản chất
- 📝 To sum up,… – Tóm lại
Để nhấn mạnh:
- 📝 What really strikes me is… – Điều thực sự gây ấn tượng là
- 📝 The key thing is… – Điều quan trọng nhất là
- 📝 What I find particularly interesting is… – Điều tôi thấy đặc biệt thú vị là
- 📝 It’s worth noting that… – Đáng chú ý là
Để đưa ra ví dụ:
- 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ
- 📝 Take… for example – Lấy… làm ví dụ
- 📝 A good example of this would be… – Một ví dụ tốt về điều này là
- 📝 To illustrate this,… – Để minh họa điều này
Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng
1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):
Mixed conditional (Kết hợp loại 2 và 3):
- Formula: If + Past Perfect, Subject + would/could + V (present)
- Ví dụ: “If she hadn’t persevered through those difficult years, she wouldn’t be the successful entrepreneur she is today.”
- Sử dụng: Nói về việc trong quá khứ ảnh hưởng đến hiện tại
Inversion (Đảo ngữ để nhấn mạnh):
- Formula: Had/Were/Should + Subject + V…, Subject + would/could…
- Ví dụ: “Had he not taken that risk, he would never have achieved such remarkable success.”
- Sử dụng: Tạo formal tone, nhấn mạnh điều kiện
2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):
Non-defining relative clauses:
- Formula: …, which/who/whom + clause, …
- Ví dụ: “My uncle, who started his business with very little capital, is now a successful entrepreneur.”
- Sử dụng: Thêm thông tin không thiết yếu, tạo câu phức tạp hơn
What-clauses (Mệnh đề danh từ với what):
- Formula: What + Subject + V + is/was…
- Ví dụ: “What truly distinguishes successful people is their ability to learn from failures.”
- Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh ý chính, tạo focus
3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):
Impersonal passive:
- It is thought/believed/said that…
- Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that success requires both talent and hard work.”
- Sử dụng: Nói về general beliefs, formal tone
Passive with reporting verbs:
- Ví dụ: “He is regarded as one of the most successful innovators of our time.”
- Sử dụng: Academic style, objective tone
4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):
It-cleft:
- Formula: It + be + focus + that/who + clause
- Ví dụ: “It was her determination that led her to success, not luck.”
- Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh phần cụ thể trong câu
What-cleft:
- What I find most…, is…
- Ví dụ: “What I admire most about successful people is their resilience.”
- The thing that…, is…
- Ví dụ: “The thing that sets him apart is his innovative thinking.”
- Sử dụng: Highlight specific aspect, tự nhiên trong speaking
5. Participle Phrases (Cụm phân từ):
Present participle (V-ing):
- Ví dụ: “Having faced numerous setbacks, she developed remarkable resilience.”
- Sử dụng: Show cause and effect, simultaneous actions
Past participle (V3/ed):
- Ví dụ: “Inspired by her mentor, she decided to start her own business.”
- Sử dụng: Show reason, passive meaning
6. Inversion for Emphasis:
Negative adverbials:
- Formula: Never/Rarely/Seldom + auxiliary + subject + main verb
- Ví dụ: “Rarely do we see such dedication and perseverance in young entrepreneurs.”
- Sử dụng: Formal, emphatic
Only:
- Formula: Only + time expression + auxiliary + subject + verb
- Ví dụ: “Only when we face challenges do we truly discover our potential.”
- Sử dụng: Emphasize timing or condition
Như các câu trả lời mẫu Band 8-9 trong bài viết này đã thể hiện, khi bạn muốn đạt điểm cao trong IELTS Speaking về chủ đề “Describe a person who is successful”, điều quan trọng là phát triển nhiều chiều sâu trong câu trả lời của mình. Đừng chỉ dừng lại ở việc miêu tả bề ngoài mà hãy phân tích ý nghĩa sâu sắc hơn của thành công – làm thế nào người đó ảnh hưởng đến cộng đồng, những giá trị họ đại diện, và những bài học bạn có thể rút ra. Tương tự, nếu bạn quan tâm đến việc miêu tả những trải nghiệm cảm xúc sâu sắc, kỹ năng phân tích và diễn đạt tinh tế này sẽ vô cùng hữu ích.
Sự thành công trong IELTS Speaking không chỉ nằm ở vocabulary hay grammar mà còn ở khả năng tư duy phản biện và trình bày ý tưởng một cách mạch lạc, thuyết phục. Khi chuẩn bị cho Part 3, hãy luôn nghĩ đến nhiều góc độ của vấn đề – kinh tế, văn hóa, tâm lý, xã hội – và thể hiện sự hiểu biết rộng của bạn. Điều này không chỉ giúp bạn ghi điểm cao mà còn cho thấy bạn là người có khả năng giao tiếp hiệu quả trong môi trường học thuật và nghề nghiệp quốc tế.
Một điểm quan trọng nữa là đừng quá lo lắng về việc phạm sai lầm nhỏ. Ngay cả những người nói tiếng Anh bản xứ cũng có những “slips” nhỏ khi nói. Điều examiner quan tâm là khả năng communicate effectively của bạn – bạn có thể truyền đạt ý tưởng rõ ràng không, có sử dụng ngôn ngữ linh hoạt và phù hợp với ngữ cảnh không, và có thể hiện được depth of thinking không. Hãy tự tin vào bản thân và tập trung vào việc chia sẻ ý tưởng của mình một cách tự nhiên nhất.
Cuối cùng, thành công trong IELTS Speaking đòi hỏi sự chuẩn bị bài bản nhưng cũng cần sự linh hoạt. Đừng học thuộc lòng các câu trả lời – examiner rất dễ nhận ra điều này. Thay vào đó, hãy chuẩn bị ideas, vocabulary và structures linh hoạt mà bạn có thể adapt cho nhiều tình huống khác nhau. Practice regularly, record yourself, và liên tục cải thiện. Với dedication và phương pháp đúng đắn, bạn hoàn toàn có thể đạt được band điểm mục tiêu. Good luck với IELTS journey của bạn!
