IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời Chủ Đề “Describe A Recent Holiday That You Enjoyed” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Chủ đề về kỳ nghỉ và du lịch là một trong những topic xuất hiện thường xuyên nhất trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking. Đặc biệt, đề bài “Describe A Recent Holiday That You Enjoyed” đã xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi từ năm 2022 đến nay, và được dự đoán sẽ tiếp tục là một chủ đề phổ biến trong tương lai gần. Với tư cách là một IELTS Speaking Examiner có hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi, tôi nhận thấy đây là một đề bài tương đối dễ để thí sinh thể hiện năng lực ngôn ngữ của mình, vì hầu hết mọi người đều có trải nghiệm đi du lịch hoặc nghỉ ngơi để chia sẻ.

Tuy nhiên, điểm số bạn đạt được phụ thuộc hoàn toàn vào cách bạn khai thác chủ đề này – từ việc sử dụng từ vựng đa dạng, cấu trúc ngữ pháp phức tạp, đến khả năng mở rộng ý tưởng một cách tự nhiên và thuyết phục. Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được cách trả lời câu hỏi ở cả ba Part của IELTS Speaking, với các bài mẫu chi tiết từ Band 6-7 đến Band 8.5-9, phân tích sâu về tiêu chí chấm điểm, kho từ vựng phong phú và những chiến lược hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của một examiner chính thức.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài khoảng 4-5 phút, trong đó examiner sẽ hỏi các câu hỏi ngắn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích, công việc, học tập và các chủ đề quen thuộc khác. Đây là phần “warm-up” để bạn làm quen với môi trường thi và examiner.

Đặc điểm của Part 1 là các câu hỏi thường mang tính cá nhân, đòi hỏi câu trả lời ngắn gọn nhưng đầy đủ ý. Chiến lược hiệu quả nhất là trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi trong 2-3 câu, bao gồm: câu trả lời chính, lý do hoặc giải thích, và một ví dụ cụ thể nếu có thể.

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

• Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ bằng “Yes” hoặc “No” mà không mở rộng
• Sử dụng từ vựng đơn điệu, lặp lại như “good”, “nice”, “interesting”
• Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Nói quá dài, đưa thông tin không liên quan

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you like going on holiday?

Question 2: Where do you usually go for your holidays?

Question 3: Who do you usually go on holiday with?

Question 4: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?

Question 5: Do you prefer beach holidays or city holidays?

Question 6: How often do you go on holiday?

Question 7: What was the best holiday you’ve ever had?

Question 8: Do you prefer to plan your holidays in advance or be spontaneous?

Question 9: Have you been on holiday recently?

Question 10: What kind of holiday would you like to take in the future?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

Question: Do you like going on holiday?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời trực tiếp (Yes/No)
• Đưa ra lý do tại sao thích/không thích
• Thêm ví dụ hoặc chi tiết cụ thể về loại kỳ nghỉ bạn thích

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“Yes, I really like going on holiday. It helps me relax and forget about work stress. I usually go to the beach because I enjoy swimming and sunbathing.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời rõ ràng, có lý do cơ bản, đề cập đến địa điểm và hoạt động cụ thể
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng khá đơn giản (like, relax, enjoy), cấu trúc câu chưa phức tạp, ý tưởng chưa được phát triển sâu
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Đáp ứng yêu cầu cơ bản với fluency tốt, nhưng thiếu lexical resource và grammatical range để đạt band cao hơn

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“Absolutely! I’m quite passionate about travelling and going on holidays is one of my favourite ways to recharge my batteries. There’s something incredibly liberating about disconnecting from the daily grind and immersing myself in a completely different environment, whether that’s exploring historical sites in Europe or simply unwinding on a pristine beach somewhere tropical.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Sử dụng từ vựng đa dạng và tinh tế (passionate about, recharge my batteries, liberating, disconnecting from, immersing myself, pristine), cấu trúc câu phức tạp với mệnh đề quan hệ và cụm danh động từ, ý tưởng được phát triển với nhiều góc độ (lý do tinh thần, các loại kỳ nghỉ khác nhau)
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluency tự nhiên với discourse marker “Absolutely”, vocabulary sophisticated và precise, grammar đa dạng với complex structures, pronunciation rõ ràng với word stress phù hợp

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• passionate about: đam mê, yêu thích mạnh mẽ điều gì đó
• recharge my batteries: nạp lại năng lượng, nghỉ ngơi để phục hồi sức lực
• liberating: mang lại cảm giác tự do, giải phóng
• disconnect from: tách mình ra khỏi, ngắt kết nối với
• immersing myself in: đắm mình vào, hòa mình vào
• unwinding: thư giãn, xả stress
• pristine beach: bãi biển hoang sơ, nguyên sơ

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Question: Where do you usually go for your holidays?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Nói về địa điểm cụ thể (trong nước/nước ngoài)
• Giải thích tại sao chọn những địa điểm đó
• Có thể đề cập đến sự thay đổi theo thời gian hoặc hoàn cảnh

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“I usually go to Da Lat or Nha Trang for my holidays because they are not too far from where I live. These places have nice weather and beautiful scenery. Sometimes I also visit my hometown to spend time with my family.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời cụ thể với địa danh rõ ràng, có lý do cho lựa chọn, đề cập đến nhiều khía cạnh (thời tiết, cảnh quan, gia đình)
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng vẫn ở mức cơ bản (nice, beautiful), thiếu collocation tự nhiên, cấu trúc câu đơn giản
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate vocabulary và grammar, ý tưởng rõ ràng nhưng chưa sophisticated

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“Well, I tend to favour domestic destinations, particularly the central highlands like Da Lat or coastal cities such as Nha Trang. These places offer a perfect blend of mild climate, stunning natural landscapes, and excellent hospitality services. What I particularly appreciate is their accessibility – they’re just a few hours’ drive away, which means I can escape the hustle and bustle of city life without the hassle of international travel. That said, I’m gradually broadening my horizons and have been planning to explore Southeast Asian countries in the near future.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Vocabulary phong phú và precise (tend to favour, central highlands, coastal cities, perfect blend, mild climate, stunning natural landscapes, accessibility, hustle and bustle, hassle, broadening my horizons), grammar đa dạng với relative clauses và present perfect continuous, ý tưởng được phát triển logic với nhiều layer (hiện tại → lý do → tương lai)
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluent và coherent với discourse markers tự nhiên (Well, That said), lexical resource sophisticated với collocations chuẩn, grammatical structures flexible, ideas well-developed với personal perspective

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• tend to favour: có xu hướng ưa thích
• central highlands: vùng cao nguyên trung bộ
• perfect blend: sự kết hợp hoàn hảo
• stunning natural landscapes: cảnh quan thiên nhiên tuyệt đẹp
• accessibility: khả năng tiếp cận, sự thuận tiện
• escape the hustle and bustle: thoát khỏi sự ồn ào, nhộn nhịp
• hassle: phiền phức, rắc rối
• broadening my horizons: mở rộng tầm nhìn, trải nghiệm

Thí sinh IELTS Speaking thảo luận về các điểm đến du lịch phổ biến ở Việt Nam như Đà Lạt và Nha Trang

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Question: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Liệt kê 2-3 hoạt động yêu thích
• Giải thích tại sao thích những hoạt động đó
• Có thể so sánh với những gì bạn không thích làm

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

“When I’m on holiday, I like to try local food and visit famous places. I also enjoy taking photos to remember my trip. Sometimes I just relax at the hotel and read books.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Đưa ra nhiều hoạt động khác nhau, câu trả lời đa dạng
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng generic (famous places, take photos), thiếu detail và personal touch
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative và clear nhưng lacks precision và depth

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

“I’m quite eclectic in my holiday activities, actually. I’m a big foodie, so sampling local cuisine is always top of my agenda – whether that’s street food or fine dining experiences. Beyond that, I like to strike a balance between cultural exploration and pure relaxation. In the mornings, I might wander through local markets or delve into the area’s history by visiting museums, but afternoons are usually reserved for lounging by the pool with a good book. I find this combination prevents holiday burnout while still making the most of my time away.”

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Vocabulary sophisticated và topic-specific (eclectic, foodie, sampling local cuisine, street food, fine dining experiences, strike a balance, cultural exploration, wander through, delve into, lounging by the pool, holiday burnout), grammar với range of tenses và structures, ideas well-organized với clear preference và reasoning, shows personality và personal philosophy về travel
• Tại sao Band 8-9: Natural và fluent với fillers phù hợp (actually), precise vocabulary với collocations chuẩn native, complex grammar natural, ideas sophisticated với balanced view

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• eclectic: đa dạng, có nhiều thứ khác nhau
• foodie: người sành ăn, đam mê ẩm thực
• sampling local cuisine: thử các món ăn địa phương
• fine dining experiences: trải nghiệm ăn uống cao cấp
• strike a balance: tạo sự cân bằng
• cultural exploration: khám phá văn hóa
• delve into: đi sâu vào, tìm hiểu kỹ
• lounging by the pool: nằm thư giãn bên hồ bơi
• holiday burnout: kiệt sức vì đi du lịch quá nhiều

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần độc thoại kéo dài 3-4 phút (bao gồm 1 phút chuẩn bị và 2-3 phút nói). Đây là phần thử thách nhất vì bạn phải nói liên tục mà không được examiner hỗ trợ hay ngắt lời. Thí sinh thường lo lắng nhất về việc không có đủ ý để nói đủ 2 phút hoặc ngược lại, nói quá nhanh và hết ý trong 1 phút.

Chiến lược quan trọng nhất cho Part 2:

• Sử dụng hết 1 phút chuẩn bị: Ghi chú keywords cho từng bullet point, không viết câu hoàn chỉnh
• Nói đủ thời gian: Tối thiểu 1.5 phút, lý tưởng là 2-2.5 phút. Examiner sẽ cho bạn biết khi nào dừng
• Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points: Đừng bỏ sót bất kỳ yêu cầu nào, đặc biệt là câu “explain” cuối cùng
• Sử dụng thì đúng: Với đề bài “recent holiday”, bạn cần dùng past tenses chủ yếu
• Kể chuyện có cấu trúc: Có mở bài, thân bài theo logic thời gian, và kết luận

Lỗi thường gặp:

• Không sử dụng hết thời gian chuẩn bị, vội vàng bắt đầu nói
• Nói ít hơn 1.5 phút
• Bỏ sót bullet points, đặc biệt là phần “explain”
• Lạc đề, nói về kỳ nghỉ khác hoặc thông tin không liên quan
• Pause quá nhiều do thiếu ý tưởng

Cue Card

Describe a recent holiday that you enjoyed

You should say:

• Where you went
• Who you went with
• What you did there
• And explain why you enjoyed this holiday

Phân Tích Đề Bài

• Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an experience/event (kể về một trải nghiệm du lịch cụ thể)

• Thì động từ chính: Past tenses (Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect) vì đây là sự kiện đã xảy ra trong quá khứ

• Bullet points phải cover:

  • Where: Địa điểm cụ thể, có thể mô tả đặc điểm của nơi đó
  • Who: Người đi cùng và mối quan hệ của bạn với họ
  • What: Các hoạt động chi tiết theo trình tự thời gian
  • Explain why: Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để ghi điểm – cần giải thích sâu về cảm xúc, ý nghĩa, điều đặc biệt của kỳ nghỉ này

• Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là phần tạo sự khác biệt giữa band 6 và band 8+. Bạn cần đi sâu vào lý do, không chỉ nói “because it was fun” mà phải phân tích tại sao nó fun, nó ảnh hưởng thế nào đến bạn, những kỷ niệm đặc biệt nào làm bạn nhớ mãi

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

Well, I’d like to talk about a holiday I took last month to Hoi An, which is a beautiful ancient town in central Vietnam. I went there with my two best friends from university because we wanted to have a short break after our final exams.

We stayed there for three days and did quite a lot of things. On the first day, we walked around the old town and visited some famous places like the Japanese Covered Bridge and several old houses. The architecture was really beautiful and different from modern buildings. In the evening, we enjoyed watching the lanterns along the river, which created a very romantic atmosphere.

On the second day, we rented bicycles and rode to the beach. The weather was perfect – sunny but not too hot. We spent the whole afternoon swimming and playing beach volleyball. We also tried some local food at a small restaurant near the beach. Everything was delicious, especially the cao lau noodles, which is a specialty of Hoi An.

On our last day, we took a cooking class to learn how to make Vietnamese dishes. The teacher was very friendly and patient. We learned to make spring rolls and some other dishes. After the class, we had lunch together and enjoyed the food we cooked.

I really enjoyed this holiday for several reasons. First, it was nice to spend quality time with my close friends after a stressful exam period. We could relax and have fun together. Second, Hoi An is such a charming town with friendly people and beautiful scenery. Third, I learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and history during this trip. Overall, it was a memorable experience and I would like to visit Hoi An again in the future.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Có linking words cơ bản (On the first day, On the second day), cấu trúc rõ ràng theo thứ tự thời gian, nhưng còn một số hesitations và repetitions (really, very). Coherence tốt với logical progression.
Lexical Resource	6-7	Từ vựng adequate và appropriate (ancient town, Japanese Covered Bridge, architecture, lanterns, romantic atmosphere, specialty, charming, memorable) nhưng chưa thực sự sophisticated. Một số collocations tốt (quality time, stressful exam period) nhưng còn nhiều từ generic (beautiful, nice, delicious).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng đúng past tenses, có một số complex structures (which clauses, after/because clauses) nhưng chủ yếu là simple và compound sentences. Một số variety nhưng chưa consistent advanced structures.
Pronunciation	6-7	Clear và understandable, word stress và sentence stress cơ bản đúng. Có thể có một số Vietnamese accent nhưng không ảnh hưởng communication.

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points theo đúng thứ tự
• ✅ Cấu trúc rõ ràng, dễ theo dõi với chronological order
• ✅ Có đủ thông tin chi tiết cho mỗi ngày
• ✅ Phần explain có nhiều lý do (friends, place, culture)
• ✅ Thời lượng đủ (khoảng 1.5-2 phút)

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Từ vựng chưa đủ sophisticated, nhiều từ repetitive (beautiful, nice, really)
• ⚠️ Grammar structures chưa đa dạng, chủ yếu là simple past
• ⚠️ Phần explain còn surface-level, chưa đi sâu vào emotions và personal meaning

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to tell you about a rejuvenating holiday I took to Phu Quoc Island just two months ago, which turned out to be one of the most memorable getaways I’ve ever experienced.

I went there with my younger sister, whom I hadn’t seen for nearly six months due to our busy work schedules. We both felt we desperately needed some quality time together, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, so we decided to treat ourselves to a four-day beach holiday.

The island itself was absolutely breathtaking. We stayed at a boutique resort right on the beach, which offered stunning ocean views from our room. During our stay, we indulged in various activities. In the mornings, we’d typically go snorkeling to explore the vibrant coral reefs – the underwater world there was simply spectacular, with countless species of tropical fish swimming around us. In the afternoons, we’d either unwind by the pool with cocktails or venture out to explore the island. One day, we took a trip to a pepper plantation, which Phu Quoc is renowned for, and learned about the cultivation process. We also visited the night market several times to sample the fresh seafood, which was out of this world.

But what made this holiday particularly special was the emotional reconnection with my sister. You see, we’d grown apart somewhat over the past year because of work pressures, and this trip gave us the chance to really catch up and strengthen our bond. We spent hours just talking, laughing, and reminiscing about our childhood. There were no distractions – no phones constantly ringing, no work emails to check – just pure, uninterrupted quality time.

I also found the whole experience incredibly therapeutic. The combination of the tranquil beach setting, the physical activities, and the mental break from routine helped me return to work feeling completely recharged and re-energized. It reminded me of the importance of work-life balance and spending time with loved ones, which are things we often take for granted in our daily grind.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Very fluent với minimal hesitations, discourse markers sophisticated (You see, But what made…), ý tưởng được develop smoothly, coherence excellent với clear topic sentences.
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Wide range of vocabulary với nhiều collocations chuẩn (rejuvenating holiday, memorable getaways, hustle and bustle, treat ourselves, boutique resort, stunning ocean views, indulged in, vibrant coral reefs, venture out, renowned for, out of this world). Paraphrasing tốt (spend time = quality time = catch up).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Variety of complex structures (relative clauses: whom I hadn’t seen, which Phu Quoc is renowned for; present perfect: we’d grown apart; passive voice: are often taken for granted; gerunds và infinitives). Mostly error-free.
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Clear với good control of features like sentence stress, intonation patterns, word stress. Easy to understand throughout.

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	beautiful, nice, delicious, specialty, charming	rejuvenating, breathtaking, stunning, indulge in, venture out, renowned for, out of this world, therapeutic
Grammar	We stayed there for three days. / The weather was perfect.	We stayed at a boutique resort right on the beach, which offered stunning ocean views. / The island itself was absolutely breathtaking.
Ideas	I enjoyed it because I spent time with friends and learned about culture	What made this holiday particularly special was the emotional reconnection… It reminded me of the importance of work-life balance

Thí sinh IELTS Speaking Part 2 đang trình bày bài nói về kỳ nghỉ với sự tự tin và lưu loát

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d like to describe a truly transformative holiday I took to Sapa, a mountainous region in Northern Vietnam, about three months ago. This trip was profoundly meaningful to me in ways I hadn’t anticipated when I first booked it.

I traveled there with my elderly father, who’s in his early seventies, and this turned out to be a pivotal experience in our relationship. You see, my father had always wanted to return to Sapa – a place he’d visited in his youth – but health concerns had made him reluctant to travel in recent years. After some gentle persuasion, he finally agreed, and I’m so grateful he did.

The journey itself was quite an adventure. Rather than flying, we took an overnight train, which harked back to my father’s stories about traveling in the pre-reform era. The landscape unfolding before us as we approached Sapa was absolutely mesmerizing – terraced rice fields cascading down the mountainsides in undulating waves of green, interspersed with small ethnic minority villages clinging to the hillsides. It was like stepping into a living postcard.

Our itinerary was deliberately unhurried. We spent our days taking gentle hikes through the rice terraces, visiting H’mong and Dao villages, and immersing ourselves in the local culture. What particularly resonated with me was witnessing my father’s transformation throughout the trip. Initially quite apprehensive about the physical demands, he gradually became more animated and energized with each passing day. One afternoon, we stumbled upon a small village market where he struck up a conversation with an elderly local woman in Vietnamese, and they reminisced for over an hour about how the region had changed. Watching him so fully engaged and genuinely content was incredibly touching.

But beyond the breathtaking scenery and cultural experiences, what made this holiday truly exceptional was the profound emotional dimension. The trip allowed us to transcend our usual father-son dynamics, where conversations often revolve around practical matters. Instead, we had extensive, meaningful discussions about life, his youth, his dreams, and his reflections on aging. There was something about the serenity of the mountains and the absence of daily pressures that created space for this level of vulnerability and connection.

The experience also prompted me to reflect on my own life priorities. Seeing my father’s joy at revisiting a place from his past drove home how fleeting time is and how essential it is to seize opportunities to create memories with loved ones. In our achievement-oriented culture, we often postpone such experiences, thinking there’ll always be time later. This trip was a powerful reminder that ‘later’ isn’t guaranteed.

Moreover, the simplicity of life we observed in the mountain communities – where people seemed genuinely content despite having far fewer material possessions – challenged my assumptions about what constitutes happiness and success. It’s been several months now, but I still find myself drawing on the sense of perspective and inner peace I gained from that trip whenever I feel overwhelmed by work pressures.

So, to sum up, this wasn’t just a holiday in the conventional sense – it was a catalyst for personal growth, a bridge to deeper understanding with my father, and a reminder of life’s essentials. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you, subtly influencing how you approach life long after you’ve returned home.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Exceptionally fluent và coherent, seamless flow của ideas, sophisticated discourse markers (You see, Moreover, So to sum up), develops topics fully với clear progression, speaks at length naturally without noticeable effort.
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Sophisticated và precise vocabulary with excellent collocation (transformative holiday, profoundly meaningful, pivotal experience, harked back to, undulating waves, interspersed with, clinging to, particularly resonated with, struck up, transcend, revolve around, drove home, drawing on, catalyst for personal growth). Wide range của idioms và less common expressions used naturally.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures với flexibility và precision (complex relative clauses, participle clauses, inverted conditionals, subjunctive mood, variety of tenses including past perfect continuous). Consistently accurate với only rare minor errors.
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Sophisticated control của pronunciation features, including appropriate intonation patterns, sentence stress, và individual sounds. Accent có minimal effect trên intelligibility.

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:

• Không có hesitation hay repetition không cần thiết
• Sử dụng discourse markers một cách tự nhiên để structure ideas (You see, Moreover, So to sum up)
• Flow từ ý này sang ý khác seamlessly
• Speaks at length (gần 3 phút) without running out của ideas

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• “profoundly meaningful” thay vì “very important” – cho thấy precision
• “terraced rice fields cascading down the mountainsides in undulating waves” – descriptive language chính xác và vivid
• “transcend our usual father-son dynamics” – abstract vocabulary được sử dụng appropriately
• “catalyst for personal growth” – sophisticated metaphorical language
• Collocations chuẩn: “strike up a conversation”, “drive home a point”, “draw on experience”

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• “a place he’d visited in his youth” – reduced relative clause với past perfect
• “The landscape unfolding before us” – present participle clause
• “Rather than flying, we took” – comparative structure
• “were it not for this trip” (implied) – subjunctive mood showing sophistication
• “it’s been several months now, but I still find myself drawing on” – present perfect với reflexive pronoun structure

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:

• Không chỉ describe holiday mà analyze emotional và psychological impact
• Shows personal growth và reflection: “prompted me to reflect on”, “challenged my assumptions”
• Connects personal experience đến broader life lessons về time, relationships, và values
• Demonstrates critical thinking: so sánh cultural values, question assumptions về happiness
• Kết thúc với lasting impact, không chỉ immediate enjoyment

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Sau khi bạn hoàn thành Part 2, examiner có thể hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn để chuyển sang Part 3. Đây là những câu hỏi đơn giản, không cần trả lời dài.

Question 1: Would you like to go back to this place again?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, definitely. I really enjoyed my time there and would love to visit again, maybe next year with other friends or family members.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely. In fact, I’ve already been contemplating a return trip, perhaps during a different season to see how the landscape transforms. I think there’s still so much more to explore and discover, and I’d love to delve deeper into the local culture and perhaps even learn some of the ethnic minority languages.

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Question 2: Do you think holidays are important?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I think they’re very important because people need time to relax and spend time with family and friends away from work.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Undoubtedly. I’d argue that holidays are essential rather than just important – they provide crucial opportunities for mental restoration and perspective-taking that simply aren’t possible in our daily routines. Beyond just relaxation, they allow us to step back and reassess our priorities, which I think is invaluable in maintaining long-term wellbeing and sustainable productivity.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thảo luận hai chiều với examiner, kéo dài 4-5 phút. Đây là phần khó nhất của IELTS Speaking vì yêu cầu bạn phải suy nghĩ trừu tượng, phân tích vấn đề ở cấp độ xã hội, và đưa ra quan điểm có depth.

Khác với Part 1 (câu hỏi cá nhân, đơn giản) và Part 2 (kể chuyện), Part 3 đòi hỏi:

• Phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá các vấn đề rộng hơn liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2
• Đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân có lý lẽ chặt chẽ
• Xem xét nhiều góc độ của vấn đề (advantages/disadvantages, causes/effects, problems/solutions)
• Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ kinh nghiệm cá nhân

Chiến lược hiệu quả:

• Mở rộng câu trả lời: Mỗi answer nên có 3-5 câu với structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/Nuance
• Sử dụng discourse markers: Well, Actually, I think…, From my perspective…, On the one hand…, On the other hand…
• Acknowledge complexity: It depends…, It’s hard to say…, There are different views on this…
• Provide balanced views: Đừng quá absolute, thể hiện critical thinking
• Use abstract vocabulary: Thay vì “people”, dùng “individuals”, “society”, “the younger generation”

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu), thiếu elaboration
• Không đưa ra lý lẽ rõ ràng, chỉ nói general statements
• Thiếu từ vựng trừu tượng để discuss social issues
• Không structure ideas clearly
• Quá nervous nên không thể think critically

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Các câu hỏi Part 3 thường được phân thành các theme khác nhau xoay quanh chủ đề của Part 2. Với topic “holidays/travel”, các theme phổ biến là:

Theme 1: Benefits and Importance of Holidays

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Question 1: Why do you think people need holidays?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause/Reason question – yêu cầu giải thích lý do, nguyên nhân
• Key words: “need” (không phải “want”) – nhấn mạnh tính cần thiết, essential nature
• Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra 2-3 lý do chính (physical health, mental wellbeing, social relationships), mỗi lý do có explanation và example

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think people need holidays for several reasons. First, they need to rest and relax from work because working continuously can be very tiring. Second, holidays give people time to spend with their family and friends, which is important for relationships. Also, holidays help people reduce stress and feel happier. Without holidays, people might become too stressed and this could affect their health and work performance.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có listing reasons (First, Second, Also) cho thấy organization
• Vocabulary: Adequate nhưng basic (rest, relax, tiring, reduce stress, feel happier)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers the question adequately, có multiple reasons với simple explanation, nhưng lacks sophistication trong vocabulary và depth trong analysis. Grammar mostly simple structures.

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, I’d argue that holidays are fundamental to human wellbeing for several interconnected reasons. Firstly, from a physiological perspective, our bodies and minds simply aren’t designed for sustained high-intensity work without breaks. Research consistently shows that prolonged stress without adequate rest leads to burnout, compromised immune function, and various health complications. Holidays provide that essential recovery time for our cognitive functions to regenerate.

Beyond the physical aspect, there’s also a crucial psychological dimension. Holidays offer us mental space to step back from our daily routines and gain perspective. When we’re constantly immersed in work demands and responsibilities, we can lose sight of the bigger picture – our goals, values, and what truly matters to us. Time away allows for that reflection and recalibration.

Moreover, holidays play a vital role in maintaining social bonds. In our increasingly fast-paced society, meaningful connections with family and friends often take a backseat to professional obligations. Holidays create dedicated opportunities for strengthening these relationships, which are fundamental to our sense of belonging and emotional support networks.

I’d also add that from a productivity standpoint, holidays are actually an investment rather than lost time. When people return from a proper break, they typically demonstrate enhanced creativity, improved problem-solving abilities, and greater motivation – all of which ultimately benefit both the individual and their organization.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized với clear signposting (Firstly, Beyond…, Moreover, I’d also add), mỗi point được developed fully với explanation và broader implications
• Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise (fundamental, interconnected, physiological perspective, sustained high-intensity work, burnout, compromised immune function, cognitive functions, regenerate, immersed in, recalibration, take a backseat, sense of belonging, emotional support networks)
• Grammar: Complex structures (passive voice: “aren’t designed for”, “research shows that”, relative clauses, participle clauses: “When we’re constantly immersed in”)
• Critical Thinking: Shows multiple dimensions (physical, psychological, social, productivity), uses research reference, presents balanced argument với concrete implications

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: Well, Firstly, Beyond…, Moreover, I’d also add – tạo coherence và sophistication
• Tentative language: I’d argue, I’d also add – shows considered opinion, không quá absolute
• Abstract nouns: wellbeing, perspective, dimension, recalibration, obligations, investment – shows ability để discuss abstract concepts
• Cause-effect language: leads to, allows for, benefit – demonstrates analytical thinking

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Question 2: Do you think the length of holidays people get is important?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion question – yêu cầu quan điểm cá nhân có justification
• Key words: “length” và “important” – focus vào duration và significance
• Cách tiếp cận: Yes/No/It depends → Explain why length matters → Give examples → Acknowledge nuance (quality vs quantity)

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think the length of holidays is quite important. If holidays are too short, like just one or two days, people cannot really relax and enjoy themselves properly. They need at least a week to fully rest and do activities they want. However, I also think the quality of the holiday matters more than just the length. Even a short holiday can be good if it’s well-planned and enjoyable.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Direct answer → Reason → Counter-point, shows some critical thinking
• Vocabulary: Adequate but simple (quite important, really relax, fully rest, well-planned)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question appropriately với balanced view, nhưng lacks depth và sophisticated vocabulary

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

It’s a nuanced issue, actually. While holiday duration certainly plays a significant role, I’d say it’s more complex than simply “longer is better.” From one angle, there’s definitely merit to extended breaks – research in organizational psychology suggests that it typically takes at least three to four days for people to fully detach from work mentally and enter a genuine relaxation state. Shorter breaks often mean you’re still mentally entangled with work concerns, so the restorative benefits are diminished.

That said, I think we need to distinguish between duration and effectiveness. A two-week holiday spent stressing about logistics or finances might be less rejuvenating than a well-designed long weekend retreat. What seems to matter most is the quality of disconnection – both physically and psychologically – from daily pressures.

Furthermore, there’s the practical reality that excessively long holidays can sometimes backfire. I’ve noticed that after about two or three weeks away from work, some people actually start feeling anxious about the backlog awaiting them, which can undermine the benefits. There’s perhaps a sweet spot – probably somewhere between one to two weeks – where you get optimal restoration without the stress of re-entry becoming overwhelming.

I’d also point out that cultural context matters enormously. In some European countries with four to six weeks of annual leave, both employers and employees are geared toward longer breaks, so the system works. But trying to implement the same in cultures with different work expectations might create more problems than it solves.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Complex argumentation với multiple perspectives (psychological research, quality vs quantity, practical concerns, cultural factors), shows sophisticated thinking
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (nuanced issue, merit, organizational psychology, detach, mentally entangled, restorative benefits, diminished, distinguish between, backfire, undermine, sweet spot, optimal restoration, re-entry, geared toward)
• Grammar: Wide range với accuracy (conditional: “might be less”, “can sometimes backfire”, comparative: “longer is better”, passive: “are geared toward”, participle: “spent stressing about”)
• Critical Thinking: Examines issue từ multiple angles, acknowledges research, considers practical implications, recognizes cultural relativity – demonstrates high-level analytical skills

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers for complexity: It’s a nuanced issue, That said, Furthermore, I’d also point out
• Academic references: research in organizational psychology – adds credibility
• Hedging language: I’d say, seems to, perhaps – shows thoughtful rather than dogmatic stance
• Comparative structures: less rejuvenating than, more complex than – enables nuanced comparison

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Theme 2: Tourism and Its Impacts

Question 3: What are the benefits of tourism for a country?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Benefits question – yêu cầu list và explain positive impacts
• Key words: “tourism” và “country” (không phải individual) – focus vào national/societal level
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 main categories (economic, cultural, infrastructure), provide specific examples và implications for each

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Tourism brings many benefits to a country. The most important one is economic benefit. When tourists visit, they spend money on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and souvenirs, which creates jobs for local people. Another benefit is cultural exchange. Tourists can learn about the country’s culture and traditions, and local people can also learn about foreign cultures. Tourism also encourages the government to improve infrastructure like roads and airports, which benefits everyone in the country.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear với listing benefits (economic, cultural, infrastructure)
• Vocabulary: Appropriate but basic (economic benefit, spend money, creates jobs, cultural exchange, improve infrastructure)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers main points adequately với relevant examples, nhưng lacks sophistication và depth

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Tourism can be tremendously beneficial for a nation on multiple fronts. Most obviously, there’s the substantial economic contribution. The tourism industry generates significant revenue streams through foreign exchange earnings, and this injection of capital can be particularly transformative for developing economies. Beyond just the direct spending on accommodation and attractions, there’s a multiplicative effect – tourists’ expenditure ripples through the economy, supporting ancillary industries like agriculture, transportation, and handicrafts. In countries like Thailand or Vietnam, tourism accounts for a considerable percentage of GDP and employs millions.

From a cultural standpoint, tourism can foster mutual understanding and break down stereotypes. When people experience a culture firsthand rather than through media portrayals, it tends to cultivate empathy and appreciation for diversity. This soft power dimension shouldn’t be underestimated – countries that successfully showcase their culture and heritage often see enhanced international standing and diplomatic goodwill.

Additionally, tourism often acts as a catalyst for infrastructure development and environmental conservation. Governments are incentivized to invest in better transportation networks, telecommunication systems, and public facilities to accommodate visitors, and these improvements benefit the local population as well. Somewhat paradoxically, tourism can also drive conservation efforts – natural and cultural sites become economically valuable assets that stakeholders have vested interests in protecting.

However, I should caveat this by saying these benefits materialize most effectively when tourism is managed sustainably. Uncontrolled tourism can actually undermine these positives, leading to environmental degradation, cultural commodification, and economic overdependence. So it’s not tourism per se, but thoughtful, strategic tourism development that yields optimal benefits.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Sophisticated organization với main benefits + implications + important caveat, shows critical thinking
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (tremendously beneficial, multiple fronts, substantial economic contribution, injection of capital, transformative, multiplicative effect, ripples through, ancillary industries, accounts for, foster mutual understanding, firsthand, cultivate empathy, soft power dimension, showcase, catalyst for, incentivized to, materialize, caveat, commodification, overdependence)
• Grammar: Complex và varied (passive: “shouldn’t be underestimated”, “are incentivized to”, relative clauses, comparative structures, conditional implications)
• Critical Thinking: Multi-dimensional analysis (economic, cultural, infrastructure, environmental), acknowledges complexity và potential negatives, demonstrates balanced perspective

💡 Key Language Features:

• Academic collocations: substantial contribution, foreign exchange earnings, multiplicative effect, soft power dimension, catalyst for, vested interests in
• Cautious language: can be, tends to, often acts as, somewhat paradoxically – shows nuanced understanding
• Signposting phrases: Most obviously, From a cultural standpoint, Additionally, However, I should caveat
• Abstract nouns: understanding, empathy, appreciation, conservation, degradation, commodification – enables discussion of complex concepts

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Tác động tích cực và tiêu cực của du lịch đối với một quốc gia đang phát triển như Việt Nam

Question 4: How has tourism changed in recent years?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change/Trend question – yêu cầu so sánh past và present, identify key trends
• Key words: “changed” và “recent years” – focus vào evolution và current trends
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 major trends (technology, types of travel, demographics), explain drivers behind changes, provide implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Tourism has changed a lot in recent years. First, technology has made travel much easier. People can now book flights and hotels online very quickly using their phones. Social media has also influenced tourism – people want to visit places they see on Instagram or Facebook. Another change is that more people prefer to travel independently rather than joining group tours. They want more freedom to explore places at their own pace. Also, people are becoming more interested in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism because they care more about the environment.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Lists multiple changes systematically (technology, social media, independent travel, eco-tourism)
• Vocabulary: Adequate (book online, social media, independently, group tours, sustainable, eco-friendly)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Identifies relevant trends với appropriate examples, nhưng analysis remains relatively surface-level, vocabulary lacks sophistication

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Tourism has undergone remarkable transformations over the past decade, driven largely by technological innovation and shifting consumer preferences. Perhaps the most profound change has been the digitalization of the entire travel experience. The advent of online platforms and mobile applications has fundamentally altered how people research, plan, and book their trips. What used to require face-to-face consultations with travel agents can now be accomplished in minutes through platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb. This has democratized travel to some extent, making it more accessible and affordable to a broader demographic.

Closely tied to this is the explosive influence of social media on travel behavior. We’ve seen the emergence of what I’d call “Instagram tourism” – where destinations gain popularity primarily through their visual appeal on social platforms. This has been a double-edged sword: while it’s brought economic opportunities to previously overlooked locations, it’s also led to severe overcrowding at so-called “Instagrammable” spots, sometimes compromising both visitor experience and local quality of life.

Another significant shift has been toward more experiential and personalized travel. There’s been a marked decline in traditional package tours, with travelers increasingly seeking authentic, immersive experiences rather than superficial sightseeing. This has given rise to niche markets like culinary tourism, adventure tourism, and voluntourism. People want to actively engage with local cultures rather than passively observe them from tour buses.

I’d also highlight the growing consciousness around sustainable and responsible tourism. The environmental impact of travel, particularly carbon emissions from air travel, has become a pressing concern. We’re seeing the emergence of concepts like “flight shame” and increasing interest in carbon offsetting, slow travel, and eco-certified accommodations. While this is still a relatively niche movement, it’s gaining traction, especially among younger demographics who are more environmentally conscious.

Lastly, there’s been a demographic shift in who’s traveling. The rise of Asia’s middle class, particularly in China and India, has dramatically reshaped global tourism flows. These emerging markets now account for a substantial proportion of international tourists, and destinations are adapting their offerings to cater to these new visitor profiles.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Highly sophisticated với multiple trends systematically explored, each với drivers, implications, và critical evaluation
• Vocabulary: Exceptionally sophisticated (undergone remarkable transformations, driven largely by, shifting consumer preferences, advent of, democratized, double-edged sword, overlooked, compromising, marked decline, authentic, immersive, given rise to, niche markets, pressing concern, gaining traction, emerging markets, account for, cater to)
• Grammar: Full range with flexibility (present perfect: “has undergone”, “has been”, passive constructions, relative clauses, participle phrases, complex noun phrases)
• Critical Thinking: Identifies multiple interconnected trends, explains causation, acknowledges both positive và negative implications, shows awareness of global patterns, demonstrates forward-thinking perspective

💡 Key Language Features:

• Change language: undergone transformations, altered, shift, emergence of, decline in, gaining traction – varied vocabulary for describing change
• Cause-effect structures: driven largely by, closely tied to, led to, given rise to – shows analytical thinking
• Evaluation language: double-edged sword, profound change, pressing concern – demonstrates critical perspective
• Trend terminology: emergence of, marked decline, growing consciousness, demographic shift – academic register appropriate for discussing social trends

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Theme 3: Different Types of Holidays

Question 5: What are the differences between holidays young people take and holidays older people take?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Compare and contrast question – yêu cầu identify và explain differences
• Key words: “young people” vs “older people” và “differences” – focus vào comparison
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 key dimensions of difference (activities, priorities, budget, destinations), explain reasons for differences, acknowledge that generalization có exceptions

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

There are several differences between how young and older people spend their holidays. Young people usually prefer more active holidays with lots of activities like hiking, partying, and adventure sports. They also tend to travel on a budget, staying in hostels or cheap hotels. In contrast, older people usually prefer more relaxing holidays, like beach resorts or cultural tours. They can afford to spend more money on comfortable accommodations and services. Young people often travel with friends, while older people might travel with their spouse or family. Also, young people like to visit trendy destinations, but older people prefer traditional tourist places with good facilities.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear comparison với multiple points (activities, budget, companions, destinations)
• Vocabulary: Adequate comparison language (usually, tend to, in contrast, while) nhưng vocabulary choices basic (active, relaxing, cheap, comfortable, trendy, traditional)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question systematically với relevant contrasts, nhưng lacks nuanced analysis và sophisticated expression

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Well, there are certainly some observable patterns, though I should preface this by saying these are broad generalizations with plenty of individual exceptions. Generally speaking, younger travelers – let’s say those in their twenties and early thirties – tend to prioritize experience and adventure over comfort. They’re more likely to gravitate toward backpacking trips, staying in budget accommodations like hostels, and seeking out activities that provide adrenaline rushes or novel experiences – things like bungee jumping, trekking, or music festivals. There’s often a social dimension to young people’s travel as well; they frequently travel in groups and use holidays as opportunities to forge connections with fellow travelers from around the world.

In contrast, older travelers, particularly those in their fifties and beyond, tend to place greater emphasis on comfort, convenience, and cultural enrichment. They’re more likely to opt for all-inclusive resorts, organized tours with pre-arranged itineraries, or cruise holidays where logistics are handled for them. Their priorities often shift from “how many experiences can I pack in” to “how can I genuinely appreciate this destination?” They might spend more time in fewer places, savoring the experience rather than rushing through multiple locations.

From a financial standpoint, the differences are quite stark. Young people typically have tighter budget constraints, so they seek out cost-effective options – street food instead of restaurants, public transportation instead of taxis, free walking tours instead of paid guides. Older travelers, having had more time to accumulate wealth, generally have greater disposable income and are more willing to pay for quality, convenience, and peace of mind.

There’s also a fascinating difference in how holidays are conceptualized. For many younger people, travel is about self-discovery, pushing boundaries, and collecting experiences – there’s almost a performative aspect with social media documentation playing a significant role. Older travelers often view holidays more as well-earned relaxation, a respite from responsibilities, or opportunities for intellectual stimulation through cultural immersion.

That said, these distinctions are becoming increasingly blurred. We’re seeing a rise in “flashpacking” – older travelers maintaining adventurous itineraries but with higher budgets – and conversely, younger people seeking wellness retreats and slower-paced travel. Age cohort matters less than individual preferences and life circumstances, so these are tendencies rather than absolutes.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Sophisticated comparison với systematic exploration of multiple dimensions (priorities, activities, budget, conceptualization) plus important nuance về exceptions
• Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated (observable patterns, preface, broad generalizations, prioritize, gravitate toward, adrenaline rushes, forge connections, place greater emphasis on, cultural enrichment, opt for, savoring, stark, tighter budget constraints, accumulate wealth, disposable income, conceptualized, self-discovery, pushing boundaries, performative aspect, respite from, intellectual stimulation, increasingly blurred, flashpacking, age cohort, tendencies rather than absolutes)
• Grammar: Full range (conditional structures, relative clauses, participle phrases, comparative structures: “more willing to”, “greater emphasis on”, passive voice, complex noun phrases)
• Critical Thinking: Balanced analysis với acknowledgment of complexity và exceptions, explores underlying reasons for differences, identifies emerging trends, demonstrates awareness that categories are not rigid

💡 Key Language Features:

• Comparison structures: tend to… in contrast…, while X does this, Y does that, the differences are stark, increasingly blurred
• Hedging language: generally speaking, tend to, often, typically, are more likely to – shows awareness that generalizations aren’t universal
• Contrastive discourse markers: In contrast, That said, conversely – creates coherent comparison
• Abstract nominalization: self-discovery, cultural enrichment, intellectual stimulation – enables discussion of complex motivations

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Question 6: Do you think people’s attitudes toward holidays have changed compared to the past?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change over time + Opinion – yêu cầu assess historical evolution và explain shifts
• Key words: “attitudes” và “compared to the past” – focus vào mindset/perspective changes, not just behavior
• Cách tiếp cận: Identify key attitudinal shifts (from luxury to necessity, from passive to active, from escape to growth), explain societal/economic drivers, provide implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think attitudes toward holidays have changed quite a bit. In the past, holidays were considered a luxury that only rich people could afford. Now, more people see holidays as a necessity for health and wellbeing. Also, people used to be happy just relaxing on beaches, but now they want more meaningful experiences. Social media has also changed attitudes – people now see holidays as opportunities to show their lifestyle to others. Additionally, people are more concerned about the environmental impact of tourism than before.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear với multiple attitudinal changes identified (luxury→necessity, passive→meaningful, social media influence, environmental awareness)
• Vocabulary: Adequate (luxury, necessity, wellbeing, meaningful experiences, environmental impact) nhưng lacks sophisticated expressions
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Identifies relevant shifts với appropriate examples, nhưng analysis remains somewhat superficial, lacks depth trong explaining underlying causes

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📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, and I’d say the transformation has been quite profound, reflecting broader shifts in societal values and economic realities. Perhaps the most fundamental change is in how holidays are perceived – from being luxurious indulgences reserved for the privileged few to being viewed as essential components of work-life balance and mental health maintenance. This shift has been underpinned by research in occupational psychology demonstrating the link between regular breaks and sustained productivity, leading even employers to actively encourage holiday-taking rather than seeing it as lost productivity.

There’s also been a philosophical shift from passive consumption to active engagement. Where previous generations might have been content with “sun, sea, and sand” holidays involving minimal exertion, contemporary travelers increasingly seek transformative experiences – whether that’s mastering a new skill, challenging themselves physically, or gaining cultural insights. This reflects a broader cultural emphasis on self-improvement and personal development that permeates modern life. Holidays are no longer just about escapism; they’re seen as opportunities for growth and self-actualization.

Another significant attitudinal evolution concerns environmental consciousness. While previous generations gave little thought to the ecological footprint of their travels, there’s now growing awareness and, in some circles, genuine anxiety about tourism’s environmental toll. Concepts like “flight shame” and carbon offsetting would have been incomprehensible to travelers even two decades ago. This heightened consciousness is driving demand for sustainable tourism options and creating pressure on the industry to adopt greener practices.

I’d also point to the commodification and “curation” of holiday experiences through social media. There’s now an almost performative aspect to travel, where the experience is partly valued for its shareability and potential to garner social approval online. This has subtly altered what people seek from holidays – Instagram-worthy moments sometimes taking precedence over genuine personal enjoyment. While this might sound cynical, it’s an undeniable reality of contemporary travel culture.

Finally, there’s been a democratization of aspirations. Where international travel was once the exclusive domain of the wealthy, it’s now seen as an achievable goal for large swathes of the middle class, at least in developed economies. This has fundamentally reshaped not just who travels, but also the collective cultural imagination around what constitutes a good life. Holidays abroad have transitioned from status symbols to expected life experiences.

These attitudinal shifts are inextricably linked to technological advances, economic development, and evolving cultural values – they’re both symptoms and drivers of broader social change.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Highly sophisticated với systematic exploration of multiple attitudinal dimensions, each fully developed với underlying causes và societal implications, ending với synthetic conclusion
• Vocabulary: Exceptionally sophisticated (profound, reflecting broader shifts, societal values, economic realities, perceived, luxurious indulgences, privileged few, essential components, underpinned by, occupational psychology, sustained productivity, passive consumption, active engagement, transformative experiences, self-actualization, ecological footprint, environmental toll, incomprehensible, heightened consciousness, commodification, performative aspect, shareability, garner social approval, taking precedence over, democratization of aspirations, exclusive domain, achievable goal, swathes of, status symbols, inextricably linked, symptoms and drivers)
• Grammar: Full range with consistent accuracy (passive constructions, relative clauses, present perfect describing change, conditional implications, participle phrases, complex noun phrases, abstract nominalization)
• Critical Thinking: Multi-layered analysis connecting individual attitudes to broader societal trends, identifies underlying drivers (psychology research, cultural values, technology), acknowledges complexity (positive và negative aspects), demonstrates synthetic thinking connecting various threads

💡 Key Language Features:

• Change language: transformation, shift from X to Y, evolution, transitioned from, altered, reshaped – varied expressions for describing attitudinal change
• Cause-effect expressions: reflecting, underpinned by, driving, creating pressure, linked to – demonstrates analytical thinking about causation
• Academic hedging: I’d say, might have been, sometimes, subtly – shows nuanced rather than absolute claims
• Synthetic language: inextricably linked, symptoms and drivers, broader social change – demonstrates ability to see interconnections

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Từ Vựng và Cụm Từ Quan Trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
rejuvenating	adj	/rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪtɪŋ/	làm trẻ lại, làm phục hồi	I had a rejuvenating holiday in the mountains.	rejuvenating experience, rejuvenating break, rejuvenating retreat
getaway	n	/ˈɡetəweɪ/	kỳ nghỉ ngắn ngày	We planned a weekend getaway to the beach.	weekend getaway, romantic getaway, quick getaway, perfect getaway
boutique resort	n	/buːˈtiːk rɪˈzɔːt/	khu nghỉ dưỡng nhỏ, sang trọng	We stayed at a charming boutique resort.	boutique resort, boutique hotel, luxury boutique resort
stunning	adj	/ˈstʌnɪŋ/	tuyệt đẹp, ngoạn mục	The island has stunning natural beauty.	stunning views, stunning scenery, stunning landscapes, absolutely stunning
indulge in	v	/ɪnˈdʌldʒ/	tận hưởng, cho phép mình được hưởng thụ	We indulged in spa treatments daily.	indulge in luxury, indulge in activities, indulge in local cuisine
venture out	v	/ˈventʃə(r) aʊt/	dám đi ra ngoài, khám phá	We ventured out to explore nearby villages.	venture out to explore, venture out into, venture out of
renowned for	adj phrase	/rɪˈnaʊnd fɔː(r)/	nổi tiếng về	The region is renowned for its cuisine.	renowned for quality, renowned for beauty, world-renowned for
unwind	v	/ʌnˈwaɪnd/	thư giãn, xả stress	I love to unwind by the pool.	unwind and relax, help you unwind, chance to unwind
pristine	adj	/ˈprɪstiːn/	nguyên sơ, hoàn hảo	We discovered a pristine beach.	pristine beach, pristine condition, pristine natural environment
immerse oneself in	v phrase	/ɪˈmɜːs wʌnˈself ɪn/	đắm mình vào, hòa mình vào	We immersed ourselves in local culture.	immerse yourself in, fully immersed in, immerse in the experience
off the beaten track	idiom	/ɒf ðə ˈbiːtn træk/	nơi ít người biết, hẻo lánh	We prefer destinations off the beaten track.	go off the beaten track, places off the beaten track
hustle and bustle	n phrase	/ˈhʌsl ənd ˈbʌsl/	sự ồn ào, nhộn nhịp	I needed to escape the hustle and bustle.	escape the hustle and bustle, away from hustle and bustle
recharge one’s batteries	idiom	/riːˈtʃɑːdʒ wʌnz ˈbætəriz/	nạp lại năng lượng	The holiday helped me recharge my batteries.	need to recharge batteries, chance to recharge batteries
breathtaking	adj	/ˈbreθteɪkɪŋ/	ngoạn mục, đẹp đến nghẹt thở	The views were absolutely breathtaking.	breathtaking scenery, breathtaking views, breathtaking beauty
tranquil	adj	/ˈtræŋkwɪl/	yên tĩnh, thanh bình	We found a tranquil spot by the lake.	tranquil setting, tranquil atmosphere, tranquil environment
cultural immersion	n phrase	/ˈkʌltʃərəl ɪˈmɜːʃn/	hòa mình vào văn hóa	The trip offered genuine cultural immersion.	cultural immersion experience, total cultural immersion
wanderlust	n	/ˈwɒndəlʌst/	đam mê du lịch, khao khát khám phá	I’ve always had a strong sense of wanderlust.	satisfy wanderlust, feed wanderlust, wanderlust spirit
sustainable tourism	n phrase	/səˈsteɪnəbl ˈtʊərɪzəm/	du lịch bền vững	We support sustainable tourism initiatives.	promote sustainable tourism, sustainable tourism practices
backpacker	n	/ˈbækpækə(r)/	khách du lịch bụi	I used to be an adventurous backpacker.	backpacker accommodation, backpacker trail, budget backpacker
itinerary	n	/aɪˈtɪnərəri/	lịch trình, hành trình	We planned a flexible itinerary.	travel itinerary, detailed itinerary, planned itinerary, follow itinerary

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
get away from it all	thoát khỏi mọi thứ, nghỉ ngơi hoàn toàn	Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and disconnect.	7.5-8.5
the world is your oyster	cơ hội vô tận, có thể làm bất cứ điều gì	When it comes to travel destinations, the world is your oyster.	8-9
broaden one’s horizons	mở rộng tầm nhìn, trải nghiệm	Traveling really helps broaden your horizons.	7.5-8.5
a change of scenery	thay đổi cảnh quan, môi trường mới	I needed a change of scenery after months of lockdown.	7-8
make the most of	tận dụng tối đa	We tried to make the most of our limited time there.	7-8
live out of a suitcase	sống tạm bợ, di chuyển liên tục	Business travelers often have to live out of a suitcase.	8-8.5
scratch the surface	chỉ mới tìm hiểu sơ qua	In three days, we could only scratch the surface of the city’s culture.	8-8.5
hit the road	bắt đầu hành trình	We hit the road early to avoid traffic.	7-7.5
go the extra mile	nỗ lực nhiều hơn mức cần thiết	The hotel staff really went the extra mile to make us comfortable.	7.5-8
off-season	mùa thấp điểm	Traveling off-season can save you significant money.	7-7.5
tourist trap	bẫy du lịch, nơi chặt chém khách	That restaurant is a total tourist trap with overpriced food.	7.5-8
culture shock	cú sốc văn hóa	I experienced quite severe culture shock during my first trip to Asia.	7.5-8

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Dùng khi cần một chút thời gian suy nghĩ, tạo sự tự nhiên
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc thông tin bất ngờ
• 📝 To be honest,… / Honestly,… – Khi muốn nhấn mạnh sự chân thành
• 📝 I’d say that… – Khi đưa ra quan điểm có cân nhắc
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Khi nêu quan điểm cá nhân
• 📝 Generally speaking,… – Khi nói về điều phổ biến, có ngoại lệ

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó
• 📝 What’s more,… / Moreover,… – Hơn nữa
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
• 📝 In addition to that,… – Thêm vào điều đó
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài ra còn

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… chúng ta cũng cần xem xét…
• 📝 That said,… – Điều đó nói rằng… (dùng để contrast)
• 📝 Having said that,… – Tuy nhiên…

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì
• 📝 To sum up,… – Để tóm tắt
• 📝 So, in short,… – Vậy, tóm lại…

Để giải thích hoặc làm rõ:

• 📝 What I mean is… – Ý tôi là…
• 📝 In other words,… – Nói cách khác…
• 📝 Let me put it this way,… – Để tôi nói theo cách này…
• 📝 By that I mean… – Ý tôi muốn nói là…

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

• Mixed conditional: “If I hadn’t taken that holiday last month, I would still be feeling completely burned out now.”

  • Formula: If + Past Perfect, Subject + would/could + be + V-ing/adjective
  • Sử dụng: Diễn tả điều kiện trong quá khứ ảnh hưởng đến hiện tại

• Inversion với conditionals: “Had I known how beautiful Sapa was, I would have visited years ago.”

  • Formula: Had + Subject + Past Participle, Subject + would have + Past Participle
  • Sử dụng: Formal style, tạo ấn tượng trong speaking

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

• Non-defining relative clause: “Phu Quoc, which is located off the southern coast of Vietnam, has become increasingly popular with international tourists.”

  • Formula: Noun, which/who/where + clause, main clause
  • Sử dụng: Thêm thông tin bổ sung, tạo câu phức tạp

• Reduced relative clause: “The resort offering the best ocean views was fully booked.”

  • Formula: Noun + V-ing/Past Participle + information
  • Sử dụng: Rút gọn mệnh đề, làm câu ngắn gọn hơn

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

• It is thought/believed/said that…: “It’s widely believed that regular holidays contribute significantly to mental wellbeing.”

  • Formula: It + is + thought/believed/said/considered + that + clause
  • Sử dụng: Trình bày quan điểm chung, formal style

• Be + Past Participle + to infinitive: “Hoi An is known to be one of the best-preserved ancient towns in Southeast Asia.”

  • Formula: Subject + be + known/said/considered + to + infinitive
  • Sử dụng: Thể hiện thông tin phổ biến

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):

• What I find most appealing, is…: “What I find most appealing about beach holidays is the opportunity to completely disconnect from technology.”

  • Formula: What + subject + verb + is/was + noun phrase/clause
  • Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh điểm quan trọng

• The thing that… is…: “The thing that makes this holiday memorable is the emotional connection I shared with my sister.”

  • Formula: The thing/person/place that + clause + is/was + information
  • Sử dụng: Focus vào yếu tố cụ thể

5. Perfect Tenses:

• Present Perfect Continuous: “I’ve been contemplating a trip to Japan for months now.”

  • Formula: Subject + have/has + been + V-ing
  • Sử dụng: Hành động bắt đầu trong quá khứ và còn tiếp tục

• Past Perfect: “By the time we arrived at the attraction, we’d already visited three other sites that day.”

  • Formula: By the time + Past Simple, Subject + had + Past Participle
  • Sử dụng: Thể hiện thứ tự các sự kiện trong quá khứ

6. Inversion Structures:

• Not only… but also với inversion: “Not only did the holiday help me relax, but it also strengthened my family bonds.”

  • Formula: Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb, but also + clause
  • Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh hai ý liên quan, formal style

• Seldom/Rarely với inversion: “Seldom have I experienced such genuine hospitality as I did in that small village.”

  • Formula: Seldom/Rarely/Never + auxiliary + subject + verb
  • Sử dụng: Nhấn mạnh sự hiếm có

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Hy vọng bài viết này đã cung cấp cho bạn cái nhìn toàn diện và chi tiết về cách trả lời chủ đề “Describe a recent holiday that you enjoyed” trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking. Hãy nhớ rằng, điều quan trọng nhất không phải là học thuộc các câu trả lời mẫu, mà là hiểu được cách xây dựng câu trả lời có cấu trúc tốt, sử dụng từ vựng phong phú và phù hợp, và thể hiện khả năng tư duy phản biện. Hãy thực hành thường xuyên, ghi âm bản thân và tự đánh giá, hoặc tốt hơn là tìm một partner để practice. Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới. Nếu bạn quan tâm đến việc chuẩn bị cho các chủ đề khác như describe a traditional event or festival you attended, đừng ngần ngại khám phá thêm các tài liệu hữu ích khác trên website.