IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời Chủ Đề “Describe A Person Who Made You Laugh” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Chủ đề “Describe A Person Who Made You Laugh” là một trong những đề bài phổ biến và được yêu thích nhất trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Đây là topic xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ năm 2020 đến nay, đặc biệt trong quý 1 và quý 3 hàng năm. Theo thống kê từ các nguồn uy tín như IELTS-Blog.com và IELTSLiz.com, chủ đề về “người làm bạn cười” hoặc các biến thể liên quan đến humor và entertainment xuất hiện trong khoảng 15-20% các đề thi Speaking thực tế.

Điều đặc biệt của chủ đề này là nó cho phép thí sinh thể hiện khả năng kể chuyện một cách tự nhiên và sinh động. Đây là cơ hội tuyệt vời để bạn sử dụng các từ vựng liên quan đến emotions, personality traits, và social interactions – những vocabulary clusters rất được giám khảo đánh giá cao. Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong các kỳ thi 2024-2025 vẫn ở mức cao do tính phổ biến và khả năng đánh giá toàn diện năng lực ngôn ngữ của thí sinh.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được cách tiếp cận hiệu quả cho cả 3 phần thi Speaking với chủ đề này, bao gồm 20+ câu hỏi thực tế, 6 bài mẫu chi tiết theo các band điểm khác nhau (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9), hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm, cùng những chiến lược trả lời được chia sẻ từ góc nhìn của một IELTS Examiner chính thức. Đặc biệt, tôi sẽ phân tích cụ thể tại sao một câu trả lời đạt band điểm nhất định và những gì bạn cần làm để cải thiện lên band cao hơn.

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 “warm-up” nhưng cũng vô cùng quan trọng để tạo ấn tượng ban đầu với giám khảo.

Đặc điểm quan trọng:

• Câu hỏi tập trung vào general topics và personal experiences
• Yêu cầu trả lời tự nhiên, không quá dài (2-3 câu)
• Cần mở rộng câu trả lời với lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn gọn kiểu “Yes, I do” hoặc “No, I don’t” mà không giải thích
• Sử dụng từ vựng đơn giản, lặp lại như “good”, “nice”, “interesting”
• Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Không tự nhiên, nghe giống đang đọc thuộc lòng template

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Dưới đây là những câu hỏi Part 1 thực tế liên quan đến chủ đề humor, laughter, và entertainment:

Question 1: Do you like watching comedy shows?

Question 2: Who makes you laugh the most in your family?

Question 3: Do you think it’s important to have a sense of humor?

Question 4: What kind of things make you laugh?

Question 5: Do you prefer comedies or serious films?

Question 6: Are you good at making other people laugh?

Question 7: Do you remember funny things easily?

Question 8: When was the last time you laughed a lot?

Question 9: Do you think laughter is good for health?

Question 10: What do you usually do when you feel stressed or sad?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

Question: Do you like watching comedy shows?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Đưa ra câu trả lời trực tiếp (Yes/No)
• Giải thích lý do tại sao thích hoặc không thích
• Đưa ra ví dụ cụ thể về loại chương trình hoặc thời điểm xem

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I like watching comedy shows. They help me relax after a long day at work. I usually watch them on YouTube before going to bed because they make me feel happy and forget about stress.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi, có lý do rõ ràng, đề cập đến thói quen cụ thể
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn basic (happy, stress), cấu trúc câu đơn giản, thiếu chi tiết cụ thể về loại comedy show
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời đủ để communication rõ ràng nhưng chưa demonstrate được lexical range và grammatical complexity cần thiết cho band cao hơn

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely! I’m actually quite a fan of stand-up comedy and sitcoms. Watching them is my go-to way to unwind after a hectic day. I find that a good laugh can work wonders for my mental well-being – it’s like hitting the reset button on stress. Lately, I’ve been binge-watching some British panel shows, which combine witty banter with clever wordplay that really tickles my funny bone.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:

  • Vocabulary phong phú: “quite a fan of”, “go-to way”, “work wonders”, “witty banter”, “tickles my funny bone”
  • Grammar đa dạng: present perfect continuous (I’ve been binge-watching), relative clause (which combine…)
  • Ý tưởng cụ thể: đề cập đến British panel shows, giải thích tác động đến mental well-being
  • Tự nhiên với các expressions như “Absolutely!”, “actually”

• Tại sao Band 8-9:

  • Fluency: Câu trả lời trôi chảy, cohesive với các linking ideas
  • Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions được sử dụng chính xác và tự nhiên
  • Grammar: Complex structures nhưng vẫn accurate
  • Pronunciation: Từ như “binge-watching”, “witty banter” cho thấy familiarity với contemporary English

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• quite a fan of something: người rất thích cái gì đó
• go-to way: cách thức ưa thích/thường dùng nhất
• work wonders: có tác dụng kỳ diệu
• witty banter: cuộc đối thoại dí dỏm, thông minh
• tickles my funny bone: làm cho tôi cảm thấy buồn cười

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Question: Who makes you laugh the most in your family?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Xác định người cụ thể trong gia đình
• Giải thích tại sao người đó funny
• Đưa ra ví dụ về tính cách hoặc hành động của họ

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

My younger brother makes me laugh the most. He is very funny and always tells jokes. He can imitate other people’s voices very well, which is really entertaining. Sometimes he makes jokes about daily situations and everyone in the family enjoys his humor.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời đúng trọng tâm, có giải thích về kỹ năng đặc biệt (imitate voices)
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng repetitive (funny, jokes xuất hiện nhiều lần), thiếu depth trong việc mô tả personality
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communication effective nhưng lacks sophistication trong expression

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Without a doubt, it’s my dad who has me in stitches most often. He has this incredible knack for finding humor in the most mundane situations – like turning a trip to the supermarket into a comedy routine. What I love most is his self-deprecating humor; he’s never afraid to poke fun at himself, which makes everyone feel at ease. Just last week, he cracked us all up by doing an impromptu impression of our cat trying to catch a laser pointer – his comedic timing was absolutely spot-on!

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:

  • Vocabulary sophisticated: “has me in stitches”, “incredible knack for”, “self-deprecating humor”, “comedic timing”
  • Specific example: câu chuyện về cat impression rất vivid và relatable
  • Personality description: không chỉ nói “funny” mà giải thích style of humor
  • Grammar variety: present simple, present perfect, compound adjectives

• Tại sao Band 8-9:

  • Fluency: Natural discourse markers (Without a doubt, What I love most, Just last week)
  • Vocabulary: Precise và idiomatic (poke fun at, cracked us up, spot-on)
  • Grammar: Complex sentences với relative clauses và participle phrases
  • Ideas: Demonstrates ability to explain abstract concepts (self-deprecating humor)

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• have someone in stitches: làm ai đó cười nghiêng ngả
• incredible knack for something: tài năng đặc biệt về điều gì
• self-deprecating humor: khiếu hài hước tự châm biếm bản thân
• poke fun at someone/something: trêu chọc, đùa cợt ai/cái gì
• comedic timing: khả năng nắm bắt thời điểm hài hước

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Question: Do you think laughter is good for health?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Đưa ra opinion rõ ràng
• Giải thích về health benefits (physical hoặc mental)
• Có thể thêm personal experience hoặc general knowledge

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think laughter is very good for health. When we laugh, we feel less stressed and more relaxed. Scientists say that laughing can help reduce blood pressure and improve our immune system. I always feel better after watching a funny video or spending time with friends who make me laugh.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Clear opinion, có mention đến scientific evidence, personal experience
• Hạn chế: Vocabulary còn general (feel better, very good), structure tương đối simple
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks depth và linguistic sophistication

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I’m a firm believer that laughter is one of the best medicines we have. From a physiological perspective, it triggers the release of endorphins, our body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can alleviate stress and even reduce pain perception. Beyond that, I think the psychological benefits are equally profound – a good laugh can shift your perspective on problems and help you maintain resilience during challenging times. In my own experience, I’ve noticed that on days when I share a hearty laugh with friends or family, I tend to sleep better and feel more emotionally balanced.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:

  • Academic vocabulary: “physiological perspective”, “triggers the release of endorphins”, “alleviate stress”
  • Balanced structure: physical benefits → psychological benefits → personal experience
  • Sophisticated expressions: “firm believer”, “equally profound”, “emotionally balanced”
  • Grammar complexity: passive voice, relative clauses, compound sentences

• Tại sao Band 8-9:

  • Fluency: Well-organized with clear progression of ideas
  • Vocabulary: Topic-specific và precise (endorphins, pain perception, resilience)
  • Grammar: Varied structures including cleft sentences và present perfect
  • Ideas: Shows depth of thinking về multiple dimensions của topic

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• a firm believer that: tin tưởng mạnh mẽ rằng
• triggers the release of: kích hoạt việc giải phóng
• alleviate stress: giảm bớt căng thẳng
• shift your perspective: thay đổi góc nhìn của bạn
• maintain resilience: duy trì sức bền, khả năng phục hồi

Giảng viên IELTS Speaking đang tư vấn chiến lược trả lời cho học viên về chủ đề người làm bạn cười trong phòng học hiện đại

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần độc thoại quan trọng nhất trong IELTS Speaking, kéo dài 3-4 phút tổng cộng (1 phút chuẩn bị + 2-3 phút nói). Đây là lúc bạn cần thể hiện khả năng diễn đạt dài, mạch lạc và tự nhiên.

Đặc điểm quan trọng:

• Bạn sẽ nhận được một cue card với chủ đề và 4 bullet points
• 1 phút chuẩn bị với giấy và bút để ghi chú (chỉ ghi keywords, không viết câu)
• Nói liên tục 2-3 phút mà không bị gián đoạn
• Giám khảo sẽ nghe và không hỏi thêm trong lúc bạn nói

Chiến lược quan trọng:

• Sử dụng hiệu quả 1 phút chuẩn bị: Ghi note cho tất cả bullet points, thêm 2-3 keywords cho phần “explain”
• Nói đủ thời gian: Target ít nhất 2 phút (tối đa 2 phút 30 giây là lý tưởng)
• Follow đúng structure: Giới thiệu ngắn → trả lời từng bullet point → explain chi tiết
• Sử dụng thì động từ phù hợp: Thường là past tense khi describe người/sự kiện trong quá khứ

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Không tận dụng hết 1 phút preparation (chỉ dùng 20-30 giây)
• Nói quá ngắn (dưới 1.5 phút) hoặc dừng lại giữa chừng
• Bỏ sót bullet points (đặc biệt bullet cuối “and explain…”)
• Không có conclusion, kết thúc đột ngột
• Nói quá nhanh hoặc quá chậm, không tự nhiên

Cue Card

Describe a person who made you laugh

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you know this person
• What this person did to make you laugh
• And explain why you think this person is funny

Phân Tích Đề Bài

• Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a person – thuộc nhóm “people” topics

• Thì động từ chính: Có thể dùng present tense (nếu vẫn biết người đó) hoặc past tense (nếu là kỷ niệm trong quá khứ). Phần “what this person did” thường dùng past tense.

• Bullet points phải cover:

  • Who: Tên, relationship, basic information về người đó
  • How you know: Context của mối quan hệ, bao lâu rồi, gặp ở đâu
  • What did: Hành động cụ thể, tình huống làm bạn cười (phần quan trọng nhất)
  • Why funny: Phân tích tính cách, style of humor, impact trên bạn

• Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là phần ghi điểm cao nhất! Không chỉ nói “because he/she is funny” mà phải phân tích deeper về personality traits, sense of humor, và emotional impact.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

I’d like to talk about my best friend Nam, who always makes me laugh whenever we meet. I’ve known him since high school, which was about seven years ago. We were classmates and sat next to each other in many classes.

Nam is a very funny person. He’s good at telling jokes and often makes funny comments about everyday situations. One time that I remember clearly was during our university entrance exam preparation. Everyone was very stressed and worried, but Nam made a joke about how our math teacher looked like a famous comedian on TV. The way he described it was so funny that everyone in the study group started laughing.

What makes Nam particularly funny is his facial expressions. When he tells a story, he uses different voices and makes funny faces. He can imitate our teachers and friends very well. Sometimes he doesn’t even need to say anything – just his expressions are enough to make people laugh.

I think Nam is funny because he has a natural talent for comedy. He can find humor in normal situations that other people might not notice. Also, he has good timing – he knows when to make a joke to lift everyone’s spirits. Whenever I feel sad or stressed, talking to Nam always makes me feel better because his humor helps me forget my worries and see things from a lighter perspective.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Có linking words cơ bản (since, when, also), structure rõ ràng nhưng transitions còn simple. Một số repetition (funny xuất hiện 8 lần)
Lexical Resource	6-7	Vocabulary adequate: “entrance exam preparation”, “facial expressions”, “lift everyone’s spirits”. Tuy nhiên thiếu idiomatic expressions và paraphrasing
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Có mix của simple và complex sentences. Sử dụng relative clauses (which was, that I remember). Ít lỗi grammar nhưng chưa đa dạng structures
Pronunciation	6-7	Giả định pronunciation clear và understandable với occasional mispronunciation không ảnh hưởng communication

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Cover đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong cue card
• ✅ Có specific example (tình huống trong exam preparation)
• ✅ Structure logic: who → how know → what did → why funny
• ✅ Đủ content cho 1.5-2 phút

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Từ vựng lặp lại nhiều (funny, laugh, joke)
• ⚠️ Thiếu idiomatic expressions và advanced vocabulary
• ⚠️ Grammar structures chưa đủ varied cho band cao hơn
• ⚠️ Phần “explain why” chưa đủ depth và insight

Tương tự như describe a film character you would like to be friends with, việc miêu tả tính cách và đặc điểm của một người đòi hỏi bạn phải sử dụng vocabulary phong phú và ví dụ cụ thể.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to talk about my uncle Minh, who has this incredible gift for making people laugh. I’ve known him all my life, obviously, as he’s my father’s younger brother, but I really came to appreciate his sense of humor when I was around fifteen.

Uncle Minh is quite a character. He’s in his early forties but has this youthful energy that’s absolutely infectious. What sets him apart is his ability to find humor in the most mundane situations – a skill that I genuinely admire. He’s not the type to tell rehearsed jokes; instead, his humor is spontaneous and situational.

One particular incident that had me in stitches happened during our family gathering last Tet holiday. My grandmother was complaining about how technology was making young people antisocial. Uncle Minh, without missing a beat, pulled out his phone and started narrating his Facebook feed in the style of a dramatic radio announcer from the 1950s. He was describing someone’s lunch photo as if it were breaking news: “We interrupt this program to bring you live coverage of Mrs. Lan’s extraordinary pho bowl!” His impeccable comic timing and the absurdity of the situation had everyone, including my grandmother, doubled over with laughter.

What makes Uncle Minh genuinely funny, I think, is his self-awareness and wit. He never makes fun of others in a mean way; instead, he gently pokes fun at modern absurdities or his own quirks. There’s also something about his laid-back demeanor – he doesn’t try too hard, which makes his humor feel authentic and refreshing. Whenever I’m around him, I find myself smiling more and taking life less seriously, which I think is a wonderful quality to have.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Smooth delivery với sophisticated linking (without missing a beat, instead, I think). Minimal hesitation, good paragraph organization
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Strong vocabulary range: “quite a character”, “youthful energy”, “spontaneous and situational”, “impeccable comic timing”. Good use of collocations
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Variety of complex structures: cleft sentences (What sets him apart), conditionals (implied), relative clauses. Mostly error-free
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Giả định pronunciation clear với good use of stress và intonation để convey meaning

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“very funny person”, “makes funny comments”	“quite a character”, “spontaneous and situational”, “impeccable comic timing”
Grammar	“He’s good at telling jokes” (simple present)	“What sets him apart is his ability to…” (cleft sentence)
Ideas	“He can find humor in normal situations”	Specific detailed example về Facebook narration với vivid description
Depth	“He has good timing”	“His self-awareness and wit… never makes fun of others in a mean way”

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d like to tell you about my colleague David, who is hands down the most naturally hilarious person I’ve ever encountered. We met about three years ago when I joined an international marketing firm, and he was assigned as my mentor during the onboarding process.

What makes David stand out from the crowd isn’t just that he’s funny – plenty of people can crack a joke – but rather his rare combination of intelligence, observational prowess, and impeccable timing. He has this uncanny ability to read a room and gauge the mood, adjusting his humor accordingly. It’s almost as if he has a sixth sense for knowing exactly what kind of levity a situation needs.

The moment that truly cemented his reputation in my mind occurred during what was supposed to be an excruciatingly dull quarterly review meeting. Our CEO was presenting slides filled with corporate jargon and buzzwords – you know, the usual eye-glazing material about “synergistic paradigm shifts” and “leveraging core competencies.” About halfway through, David, who was sitting across from me, started subtly mimicking the CEO’s hand gestures and facial expressions, but in such an exaggerated, theatrical manner that it looked like he was conducting an invisible orchestra. The cherry on top was when he mouthed the words “sustainable value proposition” with such mock solemnity that I had to stifle my laughter by pretending to have a coughing fit. What made it even funnier was that he maintained a completely straight face throughout, as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

But here’s what I find most remarkable about David’s humor – it’s never mean-spirited or at someone’s expense. He has this gift for lampooning corporate absurdities and societal quirks without ever crossing the line into cruelty. His comedy is inclusive rather than divisive; he makes people laugh with him, not at others. Moreover, there’s an underlying intelligence to his humor – he often incorporates clever wordplay, cultural references, and social commentary that make you think even as you’re laughing. It’s this blend of wit, emotional intelligence, and genuine warmth that makes him not just funny, but someone who brightens up any environment he’s in. In my experience, people like David are few and far between – they possess this alchemy of being able to find absurdity in the mundane while simultaneously making everyone around them feel more connected and at ease.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Effortlessly fluent với sophisticated discourse markers. Ideas flow naturally với clear progression. Complex sentence structures linked seamlessly
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Exceptional range: “uncanny ability”, “impeccable timing”, “excruciatingly dull”, “lampooning”, “mean-spirited”. Precise và natural idiomatic usage
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures: relative clauses, participle phrases, cleft sentences, conditionals. Consistently accurate với only very minor slips
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Giả định pronunciation clear, natural stress và intonation patterns, effective use of features to enhance meaning

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
Bài nói có natural pauses và discourse markers (But here’s what, Moreover, In my experience) giống như cách native speakers organize thoughts. Không có những pauses không tự nhiên hay repetition để fill time.

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• “hands down” – một cách dứt khoát, không cần bàn cãi (intensifier)
• “uncanny ability to” – khả năng kỳ lạ, phi thường (stronger than “special ability”)
• “excruciatingly dull” – nhàm chán đến mức đau đớn (vivid intensifier)
• “lampooning” – châm biếm, nhại lại một cách hài hước (sophisticated synonym cho “making fun of”)
• “as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth” – vẻ mặt vô tội, ngây thơ giả tạo (idiomatic)

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• Cleft sentence: “What makes David stand out isn’t just that he’s funny…”
• Non-defining relative clause: “David, who was sitting across from me, started…”
• Participle phrases: “About halfway through… started subtly mimicking”
• Conditional implied: “It’s almost as if he has a sixth sense…”
• Inversion: “Never” được nhấn mạnh trong “never mean-spirited”

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
Không chỉ describe hành động mà analyze deeper meaning: “His comedy is inclusive rather than divisive” – shows critical thinking về social function của humor. Nhận xét về “underlying intelligence” và “emotional intelligence” demonstrates sophisticated understanding của human behavior.

Trong describe a memorable day you had with friends, bạn cũng cần kỹ năng tương tự để miêu tả chi tiết các khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ và cảm xúc của mình.

Thí sinh IELTS Speaking đang tự tin trả lời câu hỏi về người làm mình cười với giám khảo trong phòng thi chuyên nghiệp

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Sau khi bạn kết thúc phần độc thoại Part 2, examiner thường hỏi 1-2 câu ngắn để transition sang Part 3. Đây là những câu hỏi đơn giản liên quan trực tiếp đến topic bạn vừa nói.

Question 1: Do you still keep in touch with this person?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I do. We talk regularly on the phone and sometimes meet up for coffee. Even though we’re both busy with work now, we try to maintain our friendship.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely! We’re actually still thick as thieves. We catch up at least once a week, either over coffee or through video calls. Despite our hectic schedules, we’ve made it a point to maintain that connection because, honestly, having someone who can lighten the mood whenever life gets overwhelming is invaluable.

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Question 2: Would you say humor is important in friendships?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, definitely. I think humor makes friendships more enjoyable and helps people become closer. When friends can laugh together, it creates good memories and makes the relationship stronger.

Band 8-9 Answer:
I’d say it’s absolutely fundamental. Shared laughter is like social glue – it not only breaks down barriers but also helps people navigate difficult situations together. In my experience, the friendships that have stood the test of time are those where we can find humor even in challenging circumstances, which speaks volumes about the resilience that humor brings to relationships.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thách thức nhất trong IELTS Speaking, kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi thảo luận sâu và trừu tượng. Đây là lúc examiner đánh giá khả năng critical thinking và express complex ideas của bạn.

Đặc điểm quan trọng:

• Câu hỏi abstract và general hơn Part 1, liên quan đến social issues, trends, opinions
• Yêu cầu phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá, không chỉ kể kinh nghiệm cá nhân
• Cần demonstrate ability to discuss issues from multiple perspectives
• Expected answer length: 3-5 câu (khoảng 30-45 giây mỗi câu trả lời)

Yêu cầu cụ thể:

• Analyze: Phân tích nguyên nhân, hậu quả, mối liên hệ
• Compare: So sánh past/present, different groups, advantages/disadvantages
• Evaluate: Đánh giá tầm quan trọng, effectiveness, impact
• Predict: Dự đoán future trends, possible changes
• Justify: Giải thích reasons, provide evidence cho opinions

Chiến lược quan trọng:

• Extend answers: Không trả lời ngắn như Part 1, phải develop ideas fully
• Use discourse markers: Well, Actually, I would argue that, From my perspective
• Give examples: Không chỉ personal examples mà societal examples
• Show complexity: Acknowledge different viewpoints (On the one hand… on the other hand…)
• Think before speaking: Sử dụng thinking time fillers như “That’s an interesting question” hoặc “Let me think about that”

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu) như Part 1
• Chỉ đưa ra personal opinion mà không có reasoning hoặc examples
• Thiếu vocabulary trừu tượng để discuss social issues
• Không demonstrate critical thinking (chỉ nói một chiều)
• Sử dụng quá nhiều “I think” mà không có variety trong expressing opinions
• Không có examples từ society, chỉ focus vào personal experience

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Theme 1: Humor in Society

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Question 1: Why do you think different cultures have different senses of humor?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause-Effect (Why) – cần giải thích reasons
• Key words: different cultures, different senses of humor
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Direct answer (acknowledge sự khác biệt)
  2. Reason 1 + explanation/example (cultural values)
  3. Reason 2 + explanation/example (language/context)
  4. Conclusion/additional thought

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think different cultures have different senses of humor because of their traditions and values. For example, in some cultures, people enjoy sarcasm and irony, while in others, direct and physical comedy is more popular. Also, language plays an important role because many jokes depend on wordplay, which doesn’t translate well to other languages. Cultural background affects what people find funny or offensive.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có direct answer → reason về traditions → reason về language → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Adequate với “sarcasm”, “irony”, “wordplay” nhưng chưa sophisticated
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communication clear nhưng lacks depth trong analysis. Ví dụ còn vague (không có specific cultures được mention). Grammar structures còn simple.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Well, I’d say humor is deeply rooted in cultural context and collective experiences. Different societies have varying tolerance levels for certain types of comedy based on their values – for instance, self-deprecating humor might be embraced in British culture as a sign of modesty, whereas in some Asian cultures, it could be perceived as undermining one’s dignity.

Beyond that, the linguistic dimension plays a huge role. Comedy often hinges on wordplay, double meanings, and cultural references that simply don’t translate across languages. Take Vietnamese humor, for example – much of it revolves around tonal wordplay that would be completely lost on non-Vietnamese speakers.

I think it also comes down to what each society has collectively experienced. Cultures that have gone through hardship often develop darker, more satirical humor as a coping mechanism, while more affluent societies might lean towards lighter, observational comedy. It’s fascinating how humor both reflects and shapes cultural identity.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized với clear progression: cultural values → linguistic factors → historical experience → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise: “deeply rooted in”, “collective experiences”, “varying tolerance levels”, “hinges on”, “coping mechanism”
• Grammar: Complex structures: relative clauses (that would be…), passive voice (is embraced), cleft sentences (It’s fascinating how…)
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates nuanced understanding với multiple perspectives và specific examples (British vs Asian, Vietnamese tonal humor)

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: Well, Beyond that, I think, for instance
• Tentative language: I’d say, might be, could be (showing academic caution)
• Abstract nouns: tolerance levels, linguistic dimension, collective experiences, cultural identity
• Sophisticated linking: whereas, Take…for example, It’s fascinating how

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Question 2: Do you think humor is becoming more global due to the internet?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion + Trend analysis
• Key words: humor, becoming more global, internet
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Direct opinion (Yes/Partially/No)
  2. Supporting evidence (memes, viral videos)
  3. Counter-argument hoặc limitation
  4. Future implication

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I agree that humor is becoming more global because of the internet. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow people from different countries to share funny content easily. Memes and viral videos can spread quickly around the world. However, some jokes still need cultural understanding to be funny, so not everything translates well internationally.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear opinion → supporting evidence → counter-argument, nhưng mỗi point chưa được developed đủ
• Vocabulary: Basic với “funny content”, “spread quickly”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng lacks sophistication và depth. Examples generic (TikTok, Instagram) mà không có specific analysis.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:

To a large extent, yes, though I’d argue it’s more of a two-way street than complete globalization. The internet has definitely facilitated the spread of universal forms of comedy – things like physical slapstick, cute animal videos, or relatable situations that transcend language barriers. We’re seeing a convergence where memes and viral content create shared comedic references across continents, which is unprecedented in human history.

That said, there’s also been a parallel trend of hyper-localized humor thriving online. Platforms like Reddit have niche communities where culture-specific jokes actually flourish because they cater to specific groups. It’s interesting that the same technology that enables global humor also allows for increasingly specialized comedy that doubles down on cultural insider knowledge.

What I find most fascinating is how this is creating a stratified humor landscape – we have mainstream, globally accessible comedy at one level, and deeply contextual, culturally-specific humor at another. The internet hasn’t so much homogenized humor as it has expanded the spectrum of what’s available and to whom. Looking ahead, I suspect we’ll see even more of this duality, where people consume both universal content and hyper-local material that speaks to their specific identity.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Thesis (to a large extent, yes) → Supporting evidence → Counter-argument (That said) → Synthesis → Future prediction
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated: “facilitated the spread of”, “transcend language barriers”, “unprecedented”, “hyper-localized”, “stratified landscape”, “homogenized”
• Grammar: Full range: passive constructions, relative clauses, complex noun phrases, participle phrases
• Critical Thinking: Shows exceptional depth với acknowledgment của complexity. Presents balanced view với evidence cho both sides. Introduces original concept (stratified humor landscape)

💡 Key Language Features:

• Sophisticated discourse markers: To a large extent, That said, What I find most fascinating, Looking ahead
• Academic vocabulary: convergence, parallel trend, unprecedented, hyper-localized, homogenized, duality
• Nuanced expressions: more of a two-way street, doubles down on, speaks to their identity
• Balanced argument: Presents thesis → antithesis → synthesis (dialectical approach)

Đối với những ai quan tâm đến describe a time when you attended a special family event, việc miêu tả cảm xúc và chi tiết của sự kiện cũng yêu cầu khả năng sử dụng vocabulary đa dạng và cấu trúc câu phức tạp tương tự.

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Theme 2: Comedy and Entertainment

Question 3: What makes a good comedian?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Characteristics/Qualities question
• Key words: good comedian, what makes
• Cách tiếp cận: List 2-3 key qualities với explanation và possibly examples

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

A good comedian needs to have good timing and know their audience well. They should be able to read the room and understand what people find funny. Original content is also important – just copying other comedians’ jokes isn’t enough. Additionally, confidence and stage presence help comedians connect with the audience and deliver their material effectively.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Adequate với 3 qualities (timing, originality, confidence) nhưng mỗi point chưa được elaborated đủ
• Vocabulary: Functional nhưng basic – “good timing”, “read the room”, “stage presence”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear communication nhưng lacks sophistication. Thiếu depth trong analysis về why these qualities matter.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:

I think what separates a great comedian from an average one is a combination of several key qualities. First and foremost, observational acuity – the ability to spot absurdities in everyday life that most people overlook. The best comedians are essentially social anthropologists who can hold up a mirror to society and make us laugh at ourselves.

Equally crucial is impeccable timing – knowing not just what to say, but when to say it and when to pause. Comedy is as much about rhythm as it is about content. There’s also the element of authenticity; audiences can sniff out insincerity immediately. Comedians who draw from their genuine experiences and vulnerabilities tend to resonate more deeply with people than those who rely on generic material.

Beyond that, I’d argue that adaptability is increasingly important in today’s world. The best performers can gauge their audience in real-time and adjust their approach accordingly – what works for a college crowd might fall flat with a corporate audience. And perhaps most importantly, there’s an ethical dimension – knowing where to draw the line between edgy humor and genuinely offensive content. The comedians who stand the test of time are those who can be funny without punching down at vulnerable groups.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Highly organized với clear topic sentences and developed paragraphs
• Vocabulary: Exceptional range: “observational acuity”, “social anthropologists”, “resonate deeply”, “gauge their audience”, “punching down”
• Grammar: Sophisticated variety: gerunds, relative clauses, parallel structures, complex noun phrases
• Critical Thinking: Goes beyond surface-level qualities để discuss deeper aspects (authenticity, ethical dimension). Shows mature understanding của comedy as art form.

💡 Key Language Features:

• Academic register: “First and foremost”, “Equally crucial”, “Beyond that”, “perhaps most importantly”
• Metaphorical language: “hold up a mirror”, “sniff out”, “fall flat”, “punching down”
• Sophisticated modifiers: “impeccable”, “genuine”, “increasingly”, “genuinely”
• Parallel structures: “not just what to say, but when to say it”

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Theme 3: Laughter and Well-being

Question 4: How has the role of comedy changed in society over the past few decades?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Compare Past and Present + Social Trends
• Key words: role of comedy, changed, past few decades
• Cách tiếp cận: Describe past → describe present → explain changes → implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Comedy has changed a lot in recent decades. In the past, comedians mainly performed on TV shows and in theaters, but now they also use social media and streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix. The topics they talk about have also changed – comedians now discuss more serious social issues like politics and discrimination. Comedy has become more diverse with comedians from different backgrounds getting more opportunities to share their voices.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Basic past-present comparison với some mention của changes
• Vocabulary: Adequate nhưng repetitive (changed, discuss, comedians)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicates main ideas clearly nhưng lacks depth và specific analysis về why changes occurred và their significance.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:

The role of comedy has undergone a dramatic transformation. Traditionally, comedy was primarily seen as pure entertainment – a form of escapism where the main goal was simply to make people laugh. Comedians in the 60s through the 80s, for instance, tended to stick to observational humor about mundane daily life or performed self-contained sketches that avoided controversial territory.

Fast forward to today, and comedy has become increasingly politicized and socially conscious. Contemporary comedians like social commentators use humor as a vehicle for sparking dialogue about pressing issues – from systemic inequality to environmental concerns. This shift reflects a broader trend where audiences, particularly younger generations, expect entertainment to have substance and meaning rather than being purely superficial.

Another seismic shift has been the democratization of comedy through digital platforms. You no longer need to work your way up through comedy clubs to gain visibility. Amateur comedians can go viral overnight on TikTok or YouTube, which has both diversified the voices we hear and lowered the barriers to entry. However, this has also led to saturation – with so much content, it’s harder for individual comedians to stand out and build lasting careers.

I’d also note that comedy has become more reflexive – comedians are increasingly meta, commenting on the act of comedy itself and pushing boundaries in terms of what’s acceptable to joke about. This has sparked important conversations about free speech versus responsibility, though it’s also created a more polarized landscape where what some find hilarious, others find deeply offensive. It’s a fascinating evolution that mirrors broader cultural debates about identity, representation, and the power of language.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptional organization with clear historical progression and thematic development across 4 paragraphs
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise: “undergone a dramatic transformation”, “vehicle for sparking dialogue”, “seismic shift”, “democratization”, “reflexive”
• Grammar: Full range with consistent accuracy: passive voice, relative clauses, participle phrases, complex noun phrases
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates exceptional analysis với multiple dimensions (content evolution, platform changes, ethical considerations). Shows awareness của nuances và controversies.

💡 Key Language Features:

• Temporal markers: Traditionally, Fast forward to today, You no longer need to, increasingly
• Academic discourse: This shift reflects, Another seismic shift, I’d also note that, It’s a fascinating evolution
• Cause-effect language: which has both… and…, this has also led to, has sparked
• Abstract concepts: democratization, saturation, reflexive, polarized landscape, broader cultural debates

Một ví dụ chi tiết về describe a recent holiday that you enjoyed cho thấy cách bạn có thể kết hợp miêu tả sự kiện với cảm xúc và reflection sâu sắc.

Giảng viên IELTS đang phân tích chi tiết tiêu chí chấm điểm Speaking với học viên qua các ví dụ cụ thể

Question 5: Should there be limits on what comedians can joke about?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion + Ethical Discussion
• Key words: limits, what comedians can joke about
• Cách tiếp cận: Present balanced view (advantages của free speech vs responsibility) → personal position với justification

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

This is a difficult question. On one hand, freedom of speech is important and comedians should be allowed to express themselves. On the other hand, some jokes can be hurtful and offensive to certain groups of people. I think there should be some basic limits – jokes that encourage violence or hatred should not be allowed. But comedians should have freedom to discuss controversial topics as long as they’re not deliberately trying to hurt people.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Balanced view (on one hand… on the other hand) → personal opinion
• Vocabulary: Functional nhưng generic: “difficult question”, “hurtful and offensive”, “basic limits”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Shows ability to see multiple perspectives nhưng argument lacks sophistication. Examples và reasoning còn vague.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:

This is one of the most contentious questions in contemporary discourse, and I think it defies easy answers. On principle, I’m a strong advocate for freedom of expression – comedy has historically been a crucial tool for challenging power structures and questioning social norms. Some of the most important social commentary has come wrapped in humor, and imposing restrictions risks stifling that critical voice.

That being said, I don’t think absolute freedom means freedom from consequences. There’s a meaningful distinction between punching up – making jokes about those in power or systemic issues – and punching down, which targets marginalized groups. While I wouldn’t support legal restrictions on comedy in most cases, I do think there’s value in social accountability. If a comedian makes jokes that perpetuate harmful stereotypes or trivialize genuine suffering, audiences have every right to call that out and choose not to support them.

The crux of the issue, for me, is intent and context. A skilled comedian can address even the most sensitive topics if they’re doing so with nuance and a genuine attempt to shed light rather than simply shock for shock’s sake. Comedy that challenges our assumptions and makes us uncomfortable in a thought-provoking way is different from comedy that simply reinforces prejudice.

Ultimately, I’d argue for a self-regulatory approach rather than top-down censorship. Let audiences, venues, and platforms make informed decisions about what kind of comedy they want to support, but avoid government intervention except in cases of direct incitement to violence or hatred. It’s a delicate balance, but I think that’s preferable to either complete free-for-all or heavy-handed restrictions that could set dangerous precedents for artistic expression.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptional structure với sophisticated argumentation: principle (free speech) → qualification (consequences) → key distinction (intent/context) → practical solution → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated: “contentious questions”, “defies easy answers”, “imposing restrictions”, “stifling”, “perpetuate harmful stereotypes”, “self-regulatory approach”
• Grammar: Full mastery: conditional structures, relative clauses, gerunds, complex noun phrases, parallel structures
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates exceptional analytical ability. Presents nuanced position that acknowledges complexity. Introduces important distinctions (punching up vs down, intent vs effect) and proposes concrete solution.

💡 Key Language Features:

• Academic hedging: On principle, That being said, for me, Ultimately, I’d argue
• Sophisticated connectors: That being said, The crux of the issue, Ultimately
• Abstract reasoning: meaningful distinction between, intent and context, delicate balance, dangerous precedents
• Evaluative language: crucial tool, meaningful distinction, thought-provoking, preferable to

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Theme 4: Future of Entertainment

Question 6: Do you think traditional comedy clubs will survive in the digital age?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Prediction + Trend Analysis
• Key words: traditional comedy clubs, survive, digital age
• Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge challenges → discuss unique value of live performance → predict future → possibly mention hybrid models

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7-8:

I think traditional comedy clubs will survive, but they might need to adapt. While digital platforms offer convenience, live comedy has something special that videos can’t replace – the energy between performers and audience. However, comedy clubs will probably need to offer more than just shows, like hosting events or special performances to attract people. They might also use social media to promote themselves and reach younger audiences. So yes, I believe they’ll survive, but they’ll look different from before.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear position → supporting reason → suggestions for adaptation → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Good range: “convenience”, “energy”, “special performances”, “promote”
• Tại sao Band 7-8: Well-organized với clear reasoning. Shows ability to consider multiple factors. Vocabulary adequate nhưng could be more sophisticated.

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📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9:

I’m cautiously optimistic about their future, though I think they’ll need to evolve rather than simply resist change. While it’s true that the digital revolution has disrupted traditional entertainment venues across the board, comedy clubs offer something that cannot be replicated through screens – the ephemeral magic of live performance and collective laughter.

There’s something uniquely powerful about being in a packed room where everyone is laughing together. It creates a shared experience and sense of community that’s increasingly rare in our atomized, screen-dominated world. This is actually a potential competitive advantage – as people become more digitally fatigued, they’re seeking out authentic, in-person experiences. We’ve seen this phenomenon with vinyl records and independent bookstores – a resurgence of interest precisely because they offer something tangibly different from digital alternatives.

That said, survival will likely depend on adaptation and innovation. The most successful clubs will probably embrace a hybrid model – using digital platforms for discovery and engagement while preserving the core live experience. They might livestream select shows to expand their reach, use social media to cultivate community, or offer exclusive in-person experiences that create FOMO among digital audiences.

There’s also a generational factor to consider. While younger audiences might be accustomed to consuming comedy on their phones, many still crave live entertainment – witness the success of large-scale comedy tours and festivals. I think comedy clubs that can position themselves as cultural hubs rather than just performance spaces – incorporating food, drinks, a vibrant atmosphere, and a sense of belonging – will carve out a sustainable niche in the entertainment landscape.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptional organization: thesis → unique value proposition → supporting evidence (vinyl records analogy) → practical adaptations → generational factors → conclusion
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise: “cautiously optimistic”, “ephemeral magic”, “atomized”, “digitally fatigued”, “resurgence”, “FOMO”, “carve out a sustainable niche”
• Grammar: Full range expertly deployed: relative clauses, participle phrases, cleft sentences, conditionals, parallel structures
• Critical Thinking: Outstanding analysis với multiple dimensions. Uses compelling analogy (vinyl records), considers demographic factors, proposes concrete solutions, and shows awareness của broader cultural trends.

💡 Key Language Features:

• Nuanced opinion markers: I’m cautiously optimistic, That said, I think… will likely
• Sophisticated vocabulary: ephemeral magic, atomized, digitally fatigued, cultivate community, FOMO
• Cause-effect language: precisely because, witness the success, this is actually a competitive advantage
• Academic structures: There’s something uniquely powerful, survival will likely depend on, while… might be…, many still crave

Tương tự như khi describe a time when you had to handle a difficult conversation, việc thể hiện khả năng phân tích tình huống phức tạp và đưa ra giải pháp là rất quan trọng để đạt band điểm cao.

Từ Vựng và Cụm Từ Quan Trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
hilarious	adj	/hɪˈleəriəs/	cực kỳ buồn cười	The comedian’s performance was absolutely hilarious.	hilarious story/joke/moment, absolutely/utterly hilarious
sense of humor	n phrase	/sens əv ˈhjuːmə(r)/	khiếu hài hước	She has a great sense of humor and can laugh at herself.	great/good/dry/quirky sense of humor, develop/appreciate someone’s sense of humor
witty	adj	/ˈwɪti/	dí dỏm, thông minh	His witty remarks always make people laugh.	witty comment/remark/response, incredibly/naturally witty
crack someone up	phrasal v	/kræk ˈʌp/	làm ai đó cười sặc sụa	His impersonations always crack me up.	crack someone up completely, never fail to crack someone up
burst out laughing	v phrase	/bɜːst aʊt ˈlɑːfɪŋ/	bật cười, phá lên cười	Everyone burst out laughing at his joke.	suddenly burst out laughing, couldn’t help bursting out laughing
infectious laughter	n phrase	/ɪnˈfekʃəs ˈlɑːftə(r)/	tiếng cười lây lan	Her infectious laughter made everyone join in.	infectious laughter/enthusiasm/energy, have/spread infectious laughter
comedic timing	n phrase	/kəˈmiːdɪk ˈtaɪmɪŋ/	khả năng nắm bắt thời điểm hài hước	His comedic timing is impeccable.	perfect/impeccable/excellent comedic timing, master comedic timing
side-splitting	adj	/saɪd ˈsplɪtɪŋ/	buồn cười đến mức đau bụng	It was a side-splitting performance.	side-splitting comedy/humor/laughter, absolutely side-splitting
lighthearted	adj	/ˌlaɪt ˈhɑːtɪd/	vui vẻ, nhẹ nhàng	The conversation was lighthearted and fun.	lighthearted banter/conversation/approach, keep things lighthearted
self-deprecating	adj	/self ˈdeprəkeɪtɪŋ/	tự châm biếm bản thân	He uses self-deprecating humor to connect with audiences.	self-deprecating humor/jokes/comments, charmingly self-deprecating
deadpan	adj	/ˈdedpæn/	nói nghiêm túc để gây cười	She delivered the joke with perfect deadpan expression.	deadpan delivery/expression/humor, maintain a deadpan face
punchline	n	/ˈpʌntʃlaɪn/	câu kết của câu chuyện cười	The punchline caught everyone by surprise.	deliver/ruin/miss the punchline, perfect/unexpected punchline
chuckle	v/n	/ˈtʃʌkl/	cười khúc khích	He couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory.	chuckle quietly/softly, give a little chuckle
guffaw	v/n	/ɡʌˈfɔː/	cười phá lên, cười ồ	His joke made everyone guffaw loudly.	guffaw loudly/heartily, burst into guffaws
amusing	adj	/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/	vui vẻ, buồn cười	The story was quite amusing.	mildly/highly/rather amusing, amusing anecdote/story
in stitches	idiom	/ɪn ˈstɪtʃɪz/	cười nghiêng ngả	His comedy routine had us all in stitches.	have someone in stitches, leave the audience in stitches
tickle someone’s funny bone	idiom	/ˈtɪkl ˈfʌni bəʊn/	làm ai đó thấy buồn cười	That kind of humor really tickles my funny bone.	really tickle someone’s funny bone
jovial	adj	/ˈdʒəʊviəl/	vui vẻ, hòa đồng	He has a jovial personality that brightens any room.	jovial mood/personality/manner, naturally jovial
mischievous	adj	/ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/	tinh nghịch, láu cá	She gave him a mischievous grin before telling the joke.	mischievous grin/smile/sense of humor
belly laugh	n	/ˈbeli lɑːf/	cười phá lên, cười bụng	His performance generated genuine belly laughs from the crowd.	genuine/hearty belly laugh, produce/generate belly laughs

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
a barrel of laughs	người/sự vật rất vui vẻ và thú vị	Spending time with him is always a barrel of laughs.	7.5-8
laugh your head off	cười rất nhiều	We laughed our heads off watching that comedy show.	7-7.5
no laughing matter	vấn đề nghiêm trọng, không đùa được	Climate change is no laughing matter.	7.5-8
the last laugh	người cười sau cùng, thắng cuộc	They doubted him, but he had the last laugh when his business succeeded.	8-8.5
laugh something off	cười trước khó khăn, không để bận tâm	She laughed off the criticism and continued with her work.	7.5-8
comedy gold	điều cực kỳ buồn cười	His impression of the boss was absolute comedy gold.	7.5-8
dry humor	hài hước khô khan, châm biếm	British comedy is famous for its dry humor.	8-8.5
tongue-in-cheek	nói đùa nhưng giả vờ nghiêm túc	His comment was tongue-in-cheek, not meant to be taken seriously.	8-8.5
comic relief	sự giải tỏa căng thẳng bằng hài hước	The character provides much-needed comic relief in the tense drama.	8-9
roll in the aisles	cười rất nhiều (trong rạp hát)	The comedian had the audience rolling in the aisles.	7.5-8
kill someone with comedy	làm ai đó cười rất nhiều	The stand-up comedian absolutely killed it last night.	7.5-8
laugh until you cry	cười đến mức rơi nước mắt	That video was so funny I laughed until I cried.	7-7.5

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Dùng khi cần một chút thời gian để suy nghĩ hoặc tổ chức ý tưởng
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi muốn đưa ra thông tin bất ngờ hoặc correction
• 📝 To be honest,… – Khi đưa ra ý kiến thật lòng, chân thành
• 📝 I’d say that… – Cách express opinion một cách tentative và sophisticated
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Để present góc nhìn cá nhân một cách academic hơn

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó, bổ sung thêm điểm
• 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, thêm vào đó (formal hơn “also”)
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến (để add một điểm quan trọng)
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài ra, xa hơn nữa
• 📝 In addition to that,… – Thêm vào đó (formal)

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

• 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác…
• 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng ta cũng cần xem xét…
• 📝 That said,… / That being said,… – Dù vậy, tuy nhiên (sophisticated way to introduce contrast)
• 📝 Having said that,… – Sau khi nói điều đó (để introduce counterpoint)

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Nhìn chung, tóm lại
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì, xét về cơ bản
• 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng, về cơ bản (academic)
• 📝 Looking ahead,… – Nhìn về tương lai
• 📝 In the long run,… – Về lâu dài

Để show critical thinking:

• 📝 The key issue here is… – Vấn đề chính ở đây là
• 📝 What strikes me most is… – Điều ấn tượng nhất với tôi là
• 📝 It’s worth noting that… – Đáng chú ý rằng
• 📝 Interestingly enough,… – Điều thú vị là
• 📝 To some extent,… – Ở một mức độ nào đó

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed conditional:

• Formula: If + past perfect, would/could + base verb (present result of past condition)
• Ví dụ: “If I hadn’t met David, I wouldn’t appreciate dry humor as much as I do now.”

Inversion for emphasis:

• Formula: Had/Were/Should + subject + verb
• Ví dụ: “Had he not made that joke, the atmosphere would have remained tense.”

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining relative clauses:

• Formula: …, which/who/where + clause, …
• Ví dụ: “My uncle, who has an incredible sense of humor, always brightens family gatherings.”

Reduced relative clauses:

• Formula: Verb-ing/past participle
• Ví dụ: “The comedian standing on stage had everyone in stitches within minutes.”

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

Impersonal passive:

• Formula: It is thought/believed/said that…
• Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that laughter can reduce stress levels significantly.”

Passive with modal verbs:

• Formula: Can/should/might be + past participle
• Ví dụ: “Comedy can be used as a powerful tool for social commentary.”

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

What-cleft:

• Formula: What I find most… is…
• Ví dụ: “What I find most impressive about his humor is his ability to remain authentic.”

It-cleft:

• Formula: It is/was… that/who…
• Ví dụ: “It was his impeccable timing that made the performance so memorable.”

5. Participle Clauses (Mệnh đề phân từ):

Present participle:

• Formula: Verb-ing at the beginning or end
• Ví dụ: “Watching him perform, I realized how difficult stand-up comedy actually is.”

Perfect participle:

• Formula: Having + past participle
• Ví dụ: “Having studied various comedy styles, he developed his own unique approach.”

6. Inversion Structures:

Negative adverbials:

• Formula: Never/Rarely/Seldom + auxiliary + subject + verb
• Ví dụ: “Never have I laughed so hard as I did during that performance.”

Only after/when/if:

• Formula: Only after/when/if + auxiliary + subject + verb
• Ví dụ: “Only when you see him perform live can you truly appreciate his talent.”

Bảng từ vựng IELTS Speaking chủ đề hài hước với phân loại theo band điểm và ví dụ minh họa cụ thể

Chiến Lược Đặc Biệt Để Đạt Band 8+

1. Paraphrasing và Lexical Flexibility

Một trong những skills quan trọng nhất để đạt band cao là khả năng paraphrase – diễn đạt cùng một ý tưởng bằng nhiều cách khác nhau.

Thay vì lặp lại “funny”:

• Band 6-7: funny, humorous, amusing
• Band 8+: hilarious, side-splitting, comedic, witty, droll, facetious

Thay vì “make someone laugh”:

• Band 6-7: make me laugh, is very funny
• Band 8+: crack me up, have me in stitches, tickle my funny bone, send me into fits of laughter, leave me doubled over with laughter

Thay vì “I think”:

• Band 6-7: I think, I believe, In my opinion
• Band 8+: I’d argue that, From my perspective, It strikes me that, I’m inclined to think, I’d venture to say

2. Develop Ideas Fully

Mỗi main point cần được develop với structure rõ ràng:

Formula: PEEL

• Point: State main idea
• Explain: Elaborate on the point
• Example: Give specific example
• Link: Connect back to question hoặc transition to next point

Ví dụ:
“[Point] What makes David particularly funny is his observational humor. [Explain] He has this incredible ability to notice absurdities in everyday situations that most people overlook – like how everyone pretends to be busy when the boss walks by, or how office coffee tastes progressively worse as the day goes on. [Example] Just last week, he did this hilarious commentary on our morning meetings, describing them as ‘synchronized nodding sessions where everyone agrees to things nobody fully understands.’ [Link] This kind of relatable humor is what makes him so popular among colleagues.”

3. Show Range of Grammar

Đừng chỉ dùng simple present và past. Demonstrate variety:

Present Perfect Continuous:

• “I’ve been following his comedy for years now.”

Passive Voice:

• “His style of humor is often described as observational.”

Conditionals:

• “If he hadn’t developed that sense of humor, he probably wouldn’t be as successful.”

Relative Clauses:

• “What I admire most about him is his authenticity.”

Participle Phrases:

• “Having performed for over a decade, he knows exactly how to read an audience.”

4. Natural Spoken Features

Band cao không có nghĩa là nói quá formal. Include natural spoken features:

Discourse markers:

• Well, Actually, You know, I mean, Kind of, Sort of

Hedging language:

• I think, probably, perhaps, to some extent, in a way

Self-correction:

• “He’s quite funny – well, actually, he’s hilarious.”

Fillers (used sparingly):

• “Let me think about that for a second…”
• “That’s an interesting question…”

5. Demonstrate Critical Thinking

Cho Part 3, show ability to:

Analyze causes and effects:
“The rise of social media has fundamentally changed comedy because it’s democratized who can become a comedian, which has both positive and negative implications.”

Compare and contrast:
“While traditional comedians relied on physical comedy and wordplay, modern comedians tend to focus more on social commentary and relatable observations.”

Evaluate:
“Although some argue that cancel culture is limiting comedy, I’d contend that it’s actually pushing comedians to be more thoughtful and creative.”

Predict:
“Looking ahead, I suspect we’ll see an increasing fusion of comedy styles as digital platforms continue to globalize entertainment.”

6. Pronunciation Tips for Vietnamese Speakers

Common challenges và solutions:

Final consonants:

• Practice: laugh /lɑːf/ (not la), joke /dʒəʊk/ (not /dʒəʊ/)
• Tip: Hold the final sound slightly longer

Th sounds:

• /θ/ as in “think” – tongue between teeth
• /ð/ as in “the” – tongue between teeth, voiced

Word stress:

• HIlarious (first syllable)
• comeDian (second syllable)
• enterTAINment (third syllable)

Intonation:

• Rising intonation cho questions: “Don’t you think?”
• Falling intonation cho statements: “He’s very funny.”
• Use varied pitch để sound more natural và engaged

7. Time Management Strategies

Part 1 (4-5 phút):

• Aim for 2-3 câu mỗi answer
• Don’t talk too long (max 20-30 giây mỗi câu hỏi)
• Keep energy high và engagement

Part 2 (3-4 phút total):

• Use full 1 phút preparation time
• Speak for 2-2.5 phút (không quá 2:45)
• Include all bullet points
• Have a brief conclusion

Part 3 (4-5 phút):

• Develop each answer (aim for 30-45 giây)
• Don’t rush – it’s okay to pause and think
• If struggling, use phrases like “That’s a complex question…” để buy time

8. Dealing with Difficult Situations

Nếu không hiểu câu hỏi:

• “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
• “Do you mean…?” (paraphrase để check understanding)
• KHÔNG nói “I don’t understand” và dừng lại

Nếu không biết từ vựng:

• Paraphrase: “Someone who makes people laugh professionally” thay vì “comedian”
• Describe: “The art of making people laugh” thay vì “comedy”
• Use gesture nếu appropriate

Nếu không có ý tưởng:

• “That’s an interesting question. Let me think…”
• Start general rồi narrow down
• Relate to personal experience nếu có thể

Nếu nói sai:

• Self-correct naturally: “He’s very funny – I mean, hilarious”
• DON’T stop và apologize extensively
• Continue confidently

9. Cultural References

Sử dụng cultural references một cách thông minh có thể ghi điểm:

International references (safer):

• “Like Charlie Chaplin’s silent comedy…”
• “Similar to stand-up comedians like Trevor Noah…”
• “British panel shows like QI or Mock the Week…”

Vietnamese references (with explanation):

• “In Vietnam, we have a comedy tradition called ‘tấu hài’, which is similar to sketch comedy…”
• “Vietnamese humor often involves wordplay based on tonal differences…”

Tip: Always add brief context khi mention cultural references để examiner có thể follow.

10. Body Language and Delivery

Non-verbal communication ảnh hưởng đến Pronunciation score:

Eye contact:

• Look at examiner naturally (không stare)
• Occasional glances away khi thinking là natural

Gestures:

• Use natural hand gestures để emphasize points
• Don’t overdo it hoặc appear stiff

Facial expressions:

• Smile when appropriate
• Show interest và engagement
• React naturally to examiner’s questions

Posture:

• Sit comfortably và confidently
• Lean slightly forward để show engagement
• Don’t slouch hoặc appear disinterested

Voice:

• Vary pitch và tone (không monotone)
• Project clearly (không whisper)
• Use appropriate volume

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes by Band Score

Band 5-6 Mistakes:

• ❌ Memorizing và reciting templates word-for-word
• ❌ Using overly simple vocabulary repetitively
• ❌ Short answers without elaboration
• ❌ Grammatical errors that impede communication
• ❌ Heavy Vietnamese accent affecting intelligibility

Band 6-7 Mistakes:

• ❌ Relying too heavily on common phrases
• ❌ Limited range of grammatical structures
• ❌ Lack of specific examples
• ❌ Underdeveloped ideas in Part 3
• ❌ Some hesitation và self-correction

Band 7-8 Mistakes:

• ❌ Occasional inappropriate vocabulary choices
• ❌ Minor grammatical slips
• ❌ Slightly unnatural use of idioms
• ❌ Not fully addressing all aspects of question
• ❌ Slight lack of coherence between ideas

Specific Don’ts for This Topic

DON’T:

• Say someone is funny without explaining WHY hoặc HOW
• Use only “funny” và “laugh” throughout
• Forget to include specific examples về what the person did
• Make the story too long và irrelevant
• Offend examiner với inappropriate jokes hoặc humor
• Speak too fast to show off vocabulary
• Use vocabulary you don’t fully understand
• Appear bored hoặc uninterested in the topic

DO:

• Use varied vocabulary về humor và laughter
• Include vivid, specific details về situations
• Explain the person’s style of humor
• Show genuine enthusiasm when appropriate
• Balance sophistication với naturalness
• Demonstrate ability to analyze humor
• Connect ideas smoothly
• Maintain appropriate pace và clarity

Sample Study Plan

Week 1-2: Foundation Building

Days 1-3: Vocabulary accumulation

• Learn 10 new words/phrases daily từ topic-specific list
• Create flashcards với examples
• Practice pronunciation với online dictionaries

Days 4-7: Part 1 Practice

• Record yourself answering Part 1 questions
• Listen và identify areas for improvement
• Focus on extending answers naturally
• Practice với timer (keep answers 15-20 giây)

Week 3-4: Story Development

Days 8-10: Part 2 Preparation

• Choose your person và brainstorm details
• Practice 1-minute note-taking
• Record full 2-minute responses
• Self-assess using band descriptors

Days 11-14: Refining Part 2

• Incorporate more advanced vocabulary
• Work on smooth transitions
• Practice without notes
• Get feedback từ teacher hoặc study partner

Week 5-6: Critical Thinking

Days 15-18: Part 3 Practice

• Study sample answers for different question types
• Practice developing longer, analytical responses
• Work on discourse markers
• Record và analyze your answers

Days 19-21: Integration

• Do full mock tests (all 3 parts)
• Focus on maintaining energy throughout
• Practice time management
• Review recordings để identify patterns

Week 7-8: Refinement

Days 22-25: Targeted Improvement

• Address specific weaknesses identified
• Perfect pronunciation của key words
• Polish delivery và body language
• Practice với various examiners nếu possible

Days 26-30: Final Preparation

• Daily mock tests
• Review all vocabulary
• Stay relaxed và confident
• Avoid learning new material (consolidate existing)

Conclusion

Chủ đề “Describe a person who made you laugh” là một trong những topics được yêu thích nhất trong IELTS Speaking vì tính tự nhiên và relatable của nó. Tuy nhiên, để đạt band điểm cao, bạn cần vượt qua việc chỉ kể chuyện một cách đơn giản – thay vào đó, hãy demonstrate linguistic competence thông qua vocabulary range, grammatical accuracy, và ability to analyze humor từ multiple perspectives.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Prepare thoroughly nhưng speak naturally – Học vocabulary và structures nhưng đừng sound như đang recite
✅ Use specific, vivid examples – Concrete details make your answer memorable và credible
✅ Demonstrate range – Vocabulary, grammar, và ideas ở tất cả band levels
✅ Think critically for Part 3 – Go beyond surface level để show analytical skills
✅ Practice with purpose – Record, review, và refine systematically
✅ Stay authentic – Choose người mà bạn genuinely find funny để sound convincing

Remember, examiner không expect perfection – họ assess your ability to communicate effectively về a range of topics. Với preparation đúng cách và mindset tích cực, bạn hoàn toàn có thể achieve band điểm mục tiêu của mình.

Chúc bạn tự tin và thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking!