Mở bài
Tần suất xuất hiện: Chủ đề này xuất hiện khá thường xuyên trong các kỳ thi IELTS thực tế từ năm 2020 đến 2024, đặc biệt trong các đợt thi vào tháng 6-7 (mùa tốt nghiệp). Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai vẫn ở mức Cao vì đây là một sự kiện quan trọng mang tính phổ quát trong cuộc sống.
Bài viết này sẽ trang bị cho bạn:
- Câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến lễ tốt nghiệp và các sự kiện đặc biệt
- Bài mẫu chi tiết theo nhiều band điểm từ 6-7, 7.5-8 đến 8.5-9 với phân tích sâu
- Từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm đặc trưng cho chủ đề ceremonies và achievements
- Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả dựa trên kinh nghiệm chấm thi thực tế
- Lời khuyên từ góc nhìn Examiner về cách kể chuyện một sự kiện cụ thể một cách ấn tượng
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview
Tổng Quan Về Part 1
Part 1 kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi về cuộc sống hàng ngày. Đối với chủ đề ceremonies và celebrations, examiner thường hỏi về các sự kiện bạn thường tham gia, thái độ của bạn đối với các buổi lễ, và văn hóa tổ chức sự kiện ở quê bạn.
Chiến lược: Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi (1 câu), sau đó mở rộng bằng lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể (1-2 câu). Tránh trả lời quá dài (trên 30 giây) hoặc quá ngắn (chỉ Yes/No).
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn gọn, không giải thích hoặc đưa ra ví dụ
- Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “nice”, “interesting”
- Thiếu tự nhiên, nghe như đang đọc thuộc lòng
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp
Question 1: Do you enjoy attending ceremonies or formal events?
Question 2: What kinds of ceremonies are popular in your country?
Question 3: Have you attended any graduation ceremonies recently?
Question 4: Do you think ceremonies are important? Why?
Question 5: What do people usually wear to formal ceremonies in your culture?
Question 6: How do you feel about giving speeches at ceremonies?
Question 7: Are traditional ceremonies still popular among young people in your country?
Question 8: What’s the difference between traditional and modern ceremonies?
Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết
Question: Do you enjoy attending ceremonies or formal events?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Trả lời trực tiếp có/không
- Giải thích lý do cụ thể
- Thêm ví dụ hoặc trải nghiệm gần đây
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I enjoy attending ceremonies. They are usually happy occasions where I can meet my friends and family. Last year, I went to my cousin’s wedding ceremony and it was very nice. I like the festive atmosphere.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp, có ví dụ cụ thể (cousin’s wedding), sử dụng từ “festive atmosphere”
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn đơn giản (nice, happy), thiếu chi tiết về lý do tại sao thích, câu văn ngắn
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Fluency ổn nhưng vocabulary còn basic, grammar đơn giản, ý tưởng chưa sâu
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Well, I’d say I’m quite fond of attending ceremonies, particularly milestone celebrations like graduations or weddings. There’s something really uplifting about witnessing people’s achievements or happiness, and these events always have such a vibrant atmosphere. Plus, they’re great opportunities to reconnect with old friends and family members you don’t see regularly. The sense of community is what I appreciate most.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary đa dạng và precise: fond of, milestone celebrations, uplifting, vibrant atmosphere, reconnect with, sense of community
- Grammar phức tạp: There’s something…about, relative clause (you don’t see regularly)
- Ideas sâu sắc: không chỉ nói “happy” mà giải thích cụ thể aspect nào hấp dẫn (witnessing achievements, sense of community)
- Discourse marker tự nhiên: “Well”, “I’d say”, “Plus”
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluent, flexible, lexical resource sophisticated, grammatically accurate với complex structures, pronunciation clear với natural intonation
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- be fond of something: thích cái gì đó (formal hơn “like”)
- milestone celebration: lễ kỷ niệm cột mốc quan trọng
- uplifting (adj): nâng cao tinh thần, tích cực
- vibrant atmosphere: bầu không khí sôi động
- reconnect with: kết nối lại với
- sense of community: cảm giác thuộc về cộng đồng
Question: What kinds of ceremonies are popular in your country?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Liệt kê 2-3 loại ceremonies phổ biến
- Giải thích ngắn gọn về mỗi loại
- Có thể so sánh hoặc đưa ra insight về văn hóa
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“In Vietnam, we have many ceremonies. Wedding ceremonies are very popular and they are usually big with many guests. Graduation ceremonies are also common, especially at universities. We also have traditional ceremonies like ancestor worship ceremonies during Tet holiday.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Liệt kê được 3 loại ceremonies, có đề cập đến văn hóa Việt Nam (ancestor worship, Tet)
- Hạn chế: Câu văn đơn giản, thiếu linking, từ vựng basic (big, many, common), không có chi tiết thú vị
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative nhưng chưa demonstrate lexical range hoặc grammatical complexity
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Well, Vietnam has quite a rich tapestry of ceremonies. First and foremost, wedding ceremonies are extremely elaborate affairs, often lasting an entire day with hundreds of guests. Graduation ceremonies have also become increasingly prevalent, particularly at tertiary institutions. What’s interesting is that we still maintain many traditional ceremonies, like ancestral worship rituals during Tet, which hold deep cultural significance. These ceremonies actually serve as a bridge between our modern lifestyle and our heritage.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary tinh vi: rich tapestry of, elaborate affairs, increasingly prevalent, tertiary institutions, ancestral worship rituals, hold deep cultural significance, serve as a bridge
- Structure: First and foremost (sequencing), What’s interesting is… (introducing insight)
- Ideas: không chỉ list mà còn add insight về cultural significance và sự kết nối giữa modern-traditional
- Grammar: passive voice (have become), relative clause (which hold…), complex noun phrases
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Sophisticated vocabulary với precise meaning, complex structures sử dụng tự nhiên, shows cultural awareness và analytical thinking
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- rich tapestry of: sự đa dạng phong phú của
- first and foremost: trước hết, quan trọng nhất
- elaborate affair: sự kiện công phu, phức tạp
- tertiary institutions: các cơ sở giáo dục bậc cao (đại học, cao đẳng)
- ancestral worship ritual: nghi lễ thờ cúng tổ tiên
- hold deep cultural significance: mang ý nghĩa văn hóa sâu sắc
- serve as a bridge between: đóng vai trò cầu nối giữa
Question: Do you think ceremonies are important? Why?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng (Yes/No hoặc It depends)
- Giải thích 2 lý do cụ thể
- Có thể thêm example để minh họa
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think ceremonies are important. They help us remember special moments in our lives. For example, a graduation ceremony marks the end of our study and the beginning of our career. Ceremonies also bring families together and create good memories.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Có opinion rõ ràng, đưa ra được lý do (remember moments, bring families together) và example (graduation)
- Hạn chế: Vocabulary basic (special, good, remember), ideas chưa đủ developed, thiếu depth
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate communication nhưng chưa demonstrate range và sophistication
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Absolutely, I believe ceremonies play a crucial role in society. From a personal perspective, they mark significant transitions in our lives – like graduating or getting married – and provide a sense of closure and accomplishment. Beyond that, ceremonies have profound social functions. They strengthen communal bonds by bringing people together to collectively celebrate or commemorate. Take graduation ceremonies, for instance – they don’t just recognize individual achievement; they also reinforce the values of education and hard work within the community. So yes, they’re far more than just formal gatherings.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Structure logic: Personal perspective → Social functions → Example → Conclusion
- Vocabulary đa tầng: crucial role, mark significant transitions, closure and accomplishment, profound social functions, strengthen communal bonds, collectively celebrate, reinforce values
- Grammar: complex sentences với dashes, semi-colons, they don’t just… they also… structure
- Critical thinking: phân tích ở nhiều levels (personal, social), đưa ra deeper meaning
- Discourse markers: From a personal perspective, Beyond that, Take…for instance, So yes
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Demonstrates high level of fluency, precise lexical resource, wide range of structures, sophisticated ideas với analytical depth
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- play a crucial role: đóng vai trò quan trọng
- mark significant transitions: đánh dấu những chuyển đổi quan trọng
- closure and accomplishment: sự kết thúc và hoàn thành
- profound social functions: chức năng xã hội sâu sắc
- strengthen communal bonds: củng cố mối liên kết cộng đồng
- collectively celebrate: cùng nhau ăn mừng
- reinforce the values: củng cố các giá trị
- far more than just: còn hơn nhiều so với chỉ là
Lễ tốt nghiệp đại học với sinh viên mặc áo tốt nghiệp và gia đình tham dự – minh họa chủ đề IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Tổng Quan Về Part 2
Part 2 là phần độc thoại trong đó bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị và phải nói liên tục 2-3 phút về một chủ đề cụ thể. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để demonstrate khả năng speaking của bạn.
Thời gian chuẩn bị: 1 phút
Thời gian nói: 2-3 phút (không bị ngắt)
Chiến lược:
- Sử dụng đầy đủ 1 phút để ghi chú keywords (KHÔNG viết câu hoàn chỉnh)
- Nói đủ ít nhất 1.5-2 phút, tối ưu là gần 3 phút
- Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trong cue card
- Sử dụng thì quá khứ khi kể về sự kiện đã xảy ra
- Thêm chi tiết cảm xúc và impressions để bài nói thêm sinh động
Lỗi thường gặp:
- Không sử dụng hết thời gian chuẩn bị, vội vàng bắt đầu nói
- Nói dưới 1.5 phút hoặc dừng quá sớm
- Bỏ qua bullet point cuối (explain part) – đây là phần quan trọng nhất
- Quá tập trung vào narrative mà quên phân tích cảm xúc/ý nghĩa
Cue Card
Describe a time when you attended a graduation ceremony
You should say:
- When and where it was
- Whose graduation ceremony it was
- What happened during the ceremony
- And explain how you felt about attending this ceremony
Phân Tích Đề Bài
-
Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an event – kể về một sự kiện cụ thể trong quá khứ
-
Thì động từ: Quá khứ đơn và quá khứ tiếp diễn (Past Simple, Past Continuous)
-
Bullet points phải cover:
- When/Where: Thời gian và địa điểm cụ thể
- Whose: Của ai (bạn bè, người thân, chính bạn)
- What happened: Diễn biến sự kiện, các hoạt động
- How you felt: Cảm xúc và suy nghĩ (phần này quan trọng nhất!)
-
Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là phần demonstrate vocabulary về feelings và ability to reflect. Đừng chỉ nói “I felt happy” mà hãy giải thích TẠI SAO và ảnh hưởng của sự kiện đó đến bạn như thế nào.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7
Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút
I’d like to talk about my best friend’s graduation ceremony that I attended last year. It was in June 2023 at her university, which is the National University in Hanoi.
My friend’s name is Linh and she graduated with a degree in Business Administration. The ceremony took place in the main auditorium of the university. It was a big event with many graduates and their families.
The ceremony started at 9 AM. First, the university president gave a speech about education and the future. Then, they called the names of graduates one by one. When Linh’s name was called, she walked on the stage to receive her diploma. Everyone clapped and her parents took many photos. After that, we had a photo session outside with the beautiful university campus. Many students threw their graduation caps in the air.
I felt very happy and proud for my friend. We had studied together for four years and I knew how hard she worked. Seeing her achieve this milestone was really meaningful. The ceremony also made me excited about my own graduation in the future. It was a memorable day and I was glad to be there to support her. The atmosphere was very positive and everyone was celebrating. I think graduation ceremonies are important because they recognize students’ efforts.
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 6-7 | Có sequencing logic (First, Then, After that), nhưng còn mechanical. Một số hesitation về từ vựng. Linking devices cơ bản. |
| Lexical Resource | 6-7 | Vocabulary adequate (milestone, achievement, memorable) nhưng chưa sophisticated. Có paraphrase (happy = glad) nhưng limited. Collocation đơn giản. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6-7 | Mix của simple và complex sentences. Có relative clause (which is). Past tense chính xác. Thiếu variety trong structures. |
| Pronunciation | 6-7 | Clear và dễ hiểu. Word stress chính xác. Intonation cơ bản, chưa expressive. |
Điểm mạnh:
- ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
- ✅ Có structure rõ ràng với time sequencing
- ✅ Đủ thời lượng (khoảng 1.5 phút)
- ✅ Grammar chính xác, không có lỗi nghiêm trọng
Hạn chế:
- ⚠️ Vocabulary còn basic, lặp lại “happy”, “proud”
- ⚠️ Thiếu descriptive language về atmosphere và emotions
- ⚠️ Ideas chưa developed fully, particularly ở phần “explain feelings”
- ⚠️ Grammar structures chưa đủ đa dạng (nhiều simple sentences)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8
Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút
I’d like to share my experience of attending my younger sister’s university graduation ceremony, which took place about six months ago, in June of last year. The venue was the grand auditorium of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, one of the most prestigious institutions in Vietnam.
My sister, Mai, was graduating with a degree in Computer Engineering after four years of rigorous academic study. The ceremony was quite elaborate – the auditorium was beautifully decorated with the university’s colors and banners, and there must have been around 500 graduates along with their families and friends.
The ceremony followed a traditional format. It began with the university president’s inspiring speech about the challenges and opportunities awaiting the graduates. What I found particularly moving was when they played a video montage showing highlights from the students’ four years on campus. Then came the main event – the conferring of degrees. When Mai’s name was called, I watched her walk confidently across the stage in her black gown and mortarboard. The sense of pride I felt at that moment was overwhelming. After the official ceremony, we gathered outside for photos. The atmosphere was absolutely electric – graduates were hugging each other, throwing their caps in the air, and families were celebrating everywhere you looked.
Reflecting on how I felt, I’d say it was a mixture of emotions. Obviously, I felt immensely proud of my sister’s achievement, knowing the countless hours she’d spent studying and the sacrifices she’d made. But beyond that, the ceremony also gave me a profound sense of how important education is and how these milestone moments really mark the transition from one life stage to another. It was also somewhat bittersweet because it meant my sister was moving on to a new chapter, starting her professional career. Overall, attending that graduation ceremony was a truly memorable experience that reminded me of the value of perseverance and dedication.
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 7.5-8 | Smooth delivery với minimal hesitation. Coherence devices đa dạng (What I found particularly…, Beyond that, Overall). Ideas well-organized và developed logically. |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5-8 | Wide range của vocabulary với collocations tốt (rigorous academic study, conferring of degrees, electric atmosphere). Có idiomatic expressions (bittersweet). Paraphrasing hiệu quả. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 7.5-8 | Variety của complex structures: relative clauses, participle clauses (knowing the countless hours…), passive voice. Conditionals và reported speech sử dụng tốt. Minimal errors. |
| Pronunciation | 7.5-8 | Clear articulation với natural intonation patterns. Word và sentence stress appropriate. Easy to understand với some L1 influence nhưng không affect comprehension. |
So Sánh Với Band 6-7
| Khía cạnh | Band 6-7 | Band 7.5-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | “big event”, “beautiful”, “happy and proud” | “grand auditorium”, “prestigious institutions”, “electric atmosphere”, “immensely proud” |
| Grammar | Simple: “The ceremony started at 9 AM. First, the president gave a speech.” | Complex: “What I found particularly moving was when they played a video montage showing…” |
| Ideas | “I felt happy for my friend. She worked hard.” | “It was a mixture of emotions… somewhat bittersweet because it meant moving on to a new chapter” |
| Coherence | Basic sequencers: First, Then, After that | Sophisticated: What I found particularly…, Beyond that, Reflecting on…, Overall |
Một khía cạnh khác thú vị trong chủ đề về các sự kiện đặc biệt là describe a weekend that you enjoyed, nơi bạn cũng có thể áp dụng các kỹ năng kể chuyện và miêu tả cảm xúc tương tự.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9
Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ
I’d like to recount what was genuinely one of the most emotionally charged experiences I’ve had – attending my cousin’s graduation ceremony from medical school about eighteen months ago. The ceremony was held at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, in their magnificent colonial-era auditorium that exudes both grandeur and historical significance.
My cousin, Tuan, was among approximately 200 students receiving their Doctor of Medicine degrees that day. What made this particularly poignant for our family was that he was the first person in our family to pursue medicine, and his journey had been anything but straightforward. He’d overcome considerable adversity, including financial hardship and personal setbacks, to reach this milestone.
The ceremony itself was meticulously orchestrated. It opened with the traditional Hippocratic Oath, which was delivered in unison by all the graduates. Hearing those solemn promises to uphold ethical medical practice was genuinely spine-tingling. The dean then gave what I can only describe as a profoundly inspiring address about the responsibilities and privileges of being a physician. When Tuan’s name was called, watching him stride across that stage with such confidence and dignity – it was a moment that seemed to encapsulate years of struggle and determination. The eruption of applause from our family section was probably disproportionately loud, but we couldn’t contain our excitement.
What really struck me most deeply about this experience was the layered significance it held. On the surface level, yes, it was a celebration of academic achievement – but it represented so much more than that. It was a testament to Tuan’s resilience and our family’s collective support through challenging times. It also made me acutely aware of how these ceremonial moments serve as anchors in our life narratives – they’re the events we look back on as defining moments. There was also this bittersweet undercurrent to my emotions because while I was overwhelmingly proud, I also recognized that this marked Tuan’s transition into an incredibly demanding profession where he’d be shouldering immense responsibility.
Beyond the personal dimension, the ceremony gave me a renewed appreciation for the ritualistic importance of such events in society. They’re not merely formalities – they’re collective acknowledgments of individual achievement that reinforce societal values around education, perseverance, and professional integrity. In retrospect, that graduation ceremony was far more impactful than I’d anticipated, and it’s an experience that continues to resonate with me whenever I think about the transformative power of education and dedication.
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 8.5-9 | Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation. Ideas coherently organized với sophisticated cohesive devices. Natural development của ideas từ narrative đến reflection đến broader analysis. |
| Lexical Resource | 8.5-9 | Wide range của sophisticated vocabulary với precise meaning. Idiomatic expressions sử dụng naturally (spine-tingling, struck me deeply, bittersweet undercurrent). Skillful use của less common lexis (poignant, meticulously orchestrated, encapsulate). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 8.5-9 | Full range của structures sử dụng naturally và accurately. Complex sentences với multiple clauses. Variety của verb forms including perfect aspects, conditionals, passive constructions. No noticeable errors. |
| Pronunciation | 8.5-9 | Pronunciation features consistently well-controlled. Uses intonation effectively để convey meaning. Word stress và sentence rhythm natural. Easy to understand với minimal L1 influence. |
Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc
🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
Bài nói flows naturally từ introduction → description → narration → reflection → broader insight. Không có pauses hoặc self-correction. Sử dụng discourse markers một cách tinh tế (What made this particularly poignant, What really struck me most, Beyond the personal dimension, In retrospect).
📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
- “emotionally charged” – không chỉ là “emotional” mà là “charged”, suggesting intensity
- “exudes both grandeur and historical significance” – verb choice “exudes” rất sophisticated
- “meticulously orchestrated” – collocation hoàn hảo cho ceremony organization
- “it was a moment that seemed to encapsulate” – “encapsulate” là từ chính xác, academic
- “layered significance” – demonstrates analytical thinking với abstract concept
- “serve as anchors in our life narratives” – metaphorical language cực kỳ impressive
- “bittersweet undercurrent” – shows ability to express complex, mixed emotions
📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
- Complex relative clauses: “that seemed to encapsulate years of struggle”
- Participle clauses: “hearing those solemn promises”, “watching him stride”
- Cleft sentences: “What made this particularly poignant was that…”
- Passive constructions: “was meticulously orchestrated”
- Perfect aspects: “he’d overcome considerable adversity”
- Conditional implications: “where he’d be shouldering immense responsibility”
💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
Không chỉ describe sự kiện mà còn analyze ở multiple levels:
- Personal level: family achievement, overcoming adversity
- Emotional complexity: pride mixed với bittersweet recognition
- Societal level: ritualistic importance, collective acknowledgment
- Philosophical reflection: transformative power of education
Shows sophisticated thinking và ability to synthesize experience into meaningful insights.
Phụ huynh chụp ảnh con nhận bằng tốt nghiệp tại lễ tốt nghiệp đại học – khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ trong IELTS Speaking
Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)
Sau khi bạn kết thúc phần Part 2, examiner thường hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn để transition sang Part 3. Đây là những câu đơn giản, chỉ cần trả lời ngắn gọn.
Question 1: Do graduation ceremonies in Vietnam usually follow a similar format?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, most graduation ceremonies in Vietnam are quite similar. They usually include speeches, giving diplomas, and taking photos afterwards.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Yes, by and large, Vietnamese graduation ceremonies tend to follow a fairly standardized format – typically featuring formal addresses from university leadership, the conferral of degrees, and then celebratory gatherings afterward. Though individual institutions might add their own distinctive touches, the core structure remains relatively consistent.”
Question 2: Was it a long ceremony?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, it was quite long. It lasted about three hours because there were many graduates.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“It was fairly lengthy, actually – roughly three hours from start to finish, which is pretty standard given the number of graduates. Though I have to say, the time flew by because the ceremony was so well-paced and emotionally engaging.”
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Tổng Quan Về Part 3
Part 3 kéo dài 4-5 phút và là phần khó nhất của IELTS Speaking. Examiner sẽ hỏi các câu hỏi trừu tượng, yêu cầu bạn phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá các vấn đề xã hội liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2.
Yêu cầu:
- Đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân có lý lẽ chặt chẽ
- Phân tích nhiều góc độ của vấn đề
- Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ kinh nghiệm cá nhân
- Demonstrate abstract thinking và critical analysis
Chiến lược:
- Mở rộng câu trả lời (3-5 câu tối thiểu)
- Structure: Direct answer → Reason/Explanation → Example → Further point/Nuance
- Sử dụng discourse markers để signpost ideas
- Acknowledge complexity: “It depends…”, “On the one hand…, on the other hand…”
- Avoid absolute statements; show balanced thinking
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu), không develop ideas
- Chỉ đưa ra personal examples thay vì societal analysis
- Thiếu từ vựng abstract và academic
- Không structure câu trả lời clearly
- Sợ nói dài nên rush through ideas
Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu
Theme 1: The Importance and Purpose of Ceremonies
Question 1: Why do you think graduation ceremonies have remained popular despite becoming quite expensive to organize?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause/Reason – tại sao hiện tượng này tồn tại
- Key words: “remained popular”, “despite…expensive”
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge the cost issue → Explain psychological/social reasons → Give examples → Conclude với broader point
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Well, I think graduation ceremonies are still popular because they are meaningful for students and families. Even though they cost money, people want to celebrate this important achievement. It’s a special moment that students remember for their whole life. Also, families are proud of their children and want to attend. The ceremony makes the achievement feel more official and real.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Có main point (meaningful) → reason (special moment) → additional point (families proud)
- Vocabulary: Adequate nhưng repetitive (meaningful, special, important) và basic
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicates main ideas nhưng thiếu depth, vocabulary limited, không có nuanced analysis
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Well, I’d argue that graduation ceremonies have endured precisely because they fulfill deep-seated psychological and social needs that transcend their financial cost. From a personal standpoint, these ceremonies provide tangible recognition of years of hard work – there’s something profoundly satisfying about that physical moment of receiving your diploma on stage, which creates a sense of closure that simply receiving a certificate in the mail cannot replicate.
Beyond the individual level, these events serve crucial communal functions. They’re collective affirmations of societal values around education and achievement. For families, particularly in cultures like Vietnam where filial achievement is deeply valued, attending your child’s graduation is almost a culmination of their own sacrifices and investments. The ceremony validates not just the graduate’s effort but also the family’s support.
Moreover, institutions recognize that these ceremonies are powerful branding opportunities that foster alumni loyalty and create emotional connections to the university. So while they’re expensive, they generate long-term intangible returns – enhanced institutional identity, stronger community bonds, and memorable milestone markers in people’s lives. In essence, the symbolic value far outweighs the monetary cost for most participants.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Excellently organized – Personal → Social → Institutional perspectives → Conclusion
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated và precise: endured, deep-seated psychological needs, tangible recognition, sense of closure, collective affirmations, filial achievement, culmination, validates, branding opportunities, foster alumni loyalty, intangible returns, symbolic value
- Grammar: Wide range – rhetorical questions structure (there’s something…that), relative clauses, participle phrases (particularly in cultures), cleft sentence (It’s collective affirmations)
- Critical Thinking: Multi-layered analysis examining different stakeholders’ perspectives, acknowledges complexity
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: “Well”, “From a personal standpoint”, “Beyond the individual level”, “Moreover”, “In essence”
- Tentative language: “I’d argue that”, “precisely because”, “almost a culmination”
- Abstract nouns: endurance, recognition, closure, affirmation, validation, culmination, loyalty, identity
- Academic phrases: “transcend their financial cost”, “fulfill deep-seated needs”, “generate long-term returns”
Question 2: How important do you think it is for educational institutions to maintain traditional ceremonies in modern times?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion/Evaluation – đánh giá importance
- Key words: “maintain traditional ceremonies”, “modern times” (tension giữa tradition và modernity)
- Cách tiếp cận: Present balanced view → Arguments for maintaining → Arguments for adapting → Nuanced conclusion
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think traditional ceremonies are still important for universities. They help keep the culture and history of the institution. Students like to feel connected to past graduates. However, schools should also think about modern students’ preferences. Some young people prefer simpler ceremonies. So maybe universities can keep the main traditions but make some changes to fit modern times.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Present view → reason → counterpoint → suggestion
- Vocabulary: Basic (important, keep, like, prefer, simple)
- Ideas: Adequate but not fully developed
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers the question but lacks sophistication và detailed analysis
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:
“This is actually quite a nuanced issue that requires balancing preservation with adaptation. On the one hand, I believe there’s significant value in maintaining traditional ceremonial elements. These rituals provide continuity and institutional identity – when you participate in the same ceremony format that generations before you experienced, it creates a powerful sense of belonging to something larger than yourself. Traditional ceremonies also embody timeless values like academic excellence and intellectual integrity that shouldn’t be diluted by passing trends.
That said, I don’t think tradition should be maintained rigidly or without critical examination. Educational institutions need to ensure their ceremonies remain relevant and inclusive for increasingly diverse student populations. For instance, traditional Western academic regalia might feel alienating to students from non-Western backgrounds, so universities might consider incorporating multicultural elements while preserving core ceremonial structures.
The key, I think, is thoughtful evolution rather than wholesale abandonment of tradition. Universities could maintain the fundamental framework – the conferral of degrees, the symbolic robes – while adapting peripheral elements to reflect contemporary values like environmental sustainability or digital inclusion. Take virtual attendance options, for example – allowing remote participation doesn’t diminish the ceremony’s significance; it actually extends its reach and makes it more accessible.
Ultimately, the most successful approach is probably one that strikes a balance between honoring heritage and embracing innovation, ensuring ceremonies remain meaningful touchstones for each new generation while maintaining their ceremonial gravitas.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Perfectly organized balanced argument – Value of tradition → Need for adaptation → The key (solution) → Ultimate conclusion
- Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated: nuanced issue, balancing preservation with adaptation, continuity, embody timeless values, rigidly, alienating, incorporating multicultural elements, thoughtful evolution, wholesale abandonment, peripheral elements, environmental sustainability, strikes a balance, meaningful touchstones, ceremonial gravitas
- Grammar: Full range including conditionals (shouldn’t be diluted), complex noun phrases (thoughtful evolution rather than wholesale abandonment), cleft sentences (The key…is)
- Critical Thinking: Demonstrates sophisticated analysis examining multiple perspectives, acknowledges complexity, proposes nuanced solutions
💡 Key Language Features:
- Hedging/Tentative language: “actually quite a nuanced issue”, “I believe there’s significant value”, “probably one that strikes a balance”
- Contrasting discourse markers: “On the one hand…That said…”, “while preserving”
- Emphasizing key points: “The key, I think, is…”, “Ultimately…”
- Examples introduction: “For instance”, “Take…for example”
Đối với những ai muốn tìm hiểu thêm về cách phát triển ý tưởng trong các chủ đề giáo dục, do you want to become a foreign language teacher ielts cũng là một chủ đề liên quan đến giáo dục và nghề nghiệp mà bạn có thể tham khảo thêm.
Theme 2: Changes in How Ceremonies Are Conducted
Question 3: How have graduation ceremonies changed over the past few decades?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare/Contrast – so sánh past và present
- Key words: “changed”, “past few decades”
- Cách tiếp cận: Identify 2-3 main changes → Explain each với examples → Analyze reasons behind changes
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Graduation ceremonies have changed a lot in recent years. In the past, they were more formal and serious. Now they are more relaxed and fun. Also, technology has changed ceremonies. Many universities now use screens and videos. Another change is that more people can attend because of live streaming on the internet. Parents who live far away can watch online. I think these changes make ceremonies more accessible and interesting.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Identifies changes (formality, technology, attendance) but development is shallow
- Vocabulary: Basic descriptors (formal, serious, relaxed, fun)
- Ideas: Valid points but not deeply explored
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate communication but lacks sophistication
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:
“Graduation ceremonies have undergone some quite substantial transformations over recent decades, largely driven by technological advancement and shifting cultural attitudes.
Perhaps the most visible change has been the integration of digital technology. Traditional ceremonies were relatively austere affairs – you’d have a speaker at a podium, diplomas handed out, and that was essentially it. Now, ceremonies often feature elaborate multimedia presentations – video montages of student life, digital displays showing graduate names and achievements, even social media integration where attendees share moments in real-time. This has made ceremonies more visually engaging but some might argue they’ve lost some of their solemn dignity.
Another significant shift concerns accessibility and inclusivity. Historically, graduation ceremonies were quite exclusive events with limited seating for immediate family only. The advent of live streaming technology has democratized access dramatically – now relatives on the other side of the world can witness the ceremony, and graduates with mobility limitations have better accommodations. Universities have also become more culturally inclusive, sometimes incorporating indigenous acknowledgments or allowing students to wear cultural attire alongside traditional robes.
There’s also been a move toward personalization. Whereas ceremonies used to be quite homogeneous, many institutions now allow graduates to customize aspects of their experience – adding personalized messages on caps, choosing which name to be called, or even incorporating cultural traditions into individual walks across the stage.
What’s interesting is that while the format has become more flexible, the core symbolic elements – the robes, the diploma, the processional march – have largely remained intact, suggesting that even as we modernize, we still crave these ritualistic anchors. So it’s been evolution rather than revolution in ceremony design.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Exemplary organization – Introduction → Change 1 (technology) → Change 2 (accessibility) → Change 3 (personalization) → Reflection on paradox
- Vocabulary: Precise và sophisticated: substantial transformations, austere affairs, elaborate multimedia presentations, solemn dignity, democratized access, mobility limitations, culturally inclusive, indigenous acknowledgments, homogeneous, ritualistic anchors, evolution rather than revolution
- Grammar: Complex structures including passive voice, relative clauses, participle phrases, contrasts (while…suggesting that)
- Critical Thinking: Not just describing changes but analyzing their implications và identifying underlying paradox
💡 Key Language Features:
- Sequencing complex ideas: “Perhaps the most visible change”, “Another significant shift”, “There’s also been”, “What’s interesting”
- Contrasting: “but some might argue”, “Whereas ceremonies used to be”, “while the format…the core elements”
- Hedging/Academic tone: “largely driven by”, “some might argue”, “suggesting that”
- Abstract expressions: “shifting cultural attitudes”, “democratized access”, “crave ritualistic anchors”
Question 4: Do you think virtual graduation ceremonies that became common during the pandemic will continue to be popular?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Prediction/Speculation about future trends
- Key words: “virtual”, “pandemic”, “continue to be popular”
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge context → Arguments for continuation → Arguments against → Balanced prediction
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think virtual graduation ceremonies will continue but not as the main option. During Covid, they were necessary because people couldn’t meet. Now, most people prefer in-person ceremonies because they are more meaningful. However, virtual ceremonies are useful for people who live far away or cannot travel. So universities might offer both options. Virtual ceremonies are more convenient but less special. I believe hybrid ceremonies combining both online and offline will become common.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Present opinion → reasons → counterpoint → prediction
- Vocabulary: Functional but basic (necessary, useful, convenient, special, common)
- Ideas: Reasonable but not deeply analyzed
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers adequately but lacks sophistication và nuanced analysis
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:
“This is a fascinating question that really highlights the tension between convenience and experience. My sense is that while virtual ceremonies won’t replace traditional in-person events, they’ll likely become a permanent complementary option, essentially creating a hybrid model of ceremonial participation.
The pandemic forced a rapid digitization that revealed both possibilities and limitations. On the positive side, virtual ceremonies dramatically expanded accessibility – international students who couldn’t return home, family members with health constraints, or those facing financial barriers could all participate meaningfully. Universities discovered that the incremental cost of streaming a ceremony is negligible, making it an obvious feature to retain. There’s also an environmental argument – reducing the carbon footprint associated with thousands of people traveling for a single event has genuine sustainability merit.
That said, the virtual format cannot fully replicate the embodied experience of physically walking across a stage, shaking hands with university leadership, and absorbing the atmosphere of collective celebration. Graduation ceremonies derive much of their power from being shared physical experiences – the sensory elements, the spontaneous emotions, the tangible sense of occasion are all diminished in virtual spaces. We saw during the pandemic that while people appreciated having a ceremony at all, there was widespread acknowledgment that it wasn’t the same.
What I envision is a future where universities offer stratified participation options – a core in-person ceremony for those who can attend, with high-quality streaming for remote participants, perhaps enhanced with interactive elements like virtual photo opportunities or digital commemorative materials. Some institutions might even develop creative hybrid formats where remote participants are represented through large screens, creating a sense of presence.
Ultimately, I think we’ll see virtual options normalize as a standard accommodation rather than an exciting innovation – similar to how universities now routinely provide disability access. It won’t supplant traditional ceremonies, but it will extend their reach, making graduation more inclusive while preserving its ceremonial essence.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Masterful organization – Thesis statement → Benefits of virtual → Limitations of virtual → Future vision → Conclusion
- Vocabulary: Exceptional range: tension between convenience and experience, complementary option, hybrid model, forced rapid digitization, expanded accessibility, incremental cost, negligible, environmental argument, sustainability merit, embodied experience, absorbing atmosphere, shared physical experiences, sensory elements, tangible sense of occasion, diminished in virtual spaces, stratified participation options, normalize as standard accommodation, extend their reach, ceremonial essence
- Grammar: Full range including conditionals, complex noun phrases, relative clauses, passive constructions, future forms with varying degrees of certainty
- Critical Thinking: Sophisticated analysis weighing multiple factors, predicting nuanced outcomes, showing awareness of competing values
💡 Key Language Features:
- Speculation language: “My sense is that”, “likely become”, “What I envision”, “I think we’ll see”
- Contrasting: “On the positive side…That said”, “while people appreciated…there was”
- Cause-effect: “forced a rapid digitization that revealed”, “derive much of their power from”
- Academic hedging: “essentially creating”, “perhaps enhanced with”, “similar to how”
Sinh viên tham gia lễ tốt nghiệp trực tuyến qua màn hình máy tính – xu hướng mới trong giáo dục
Theme 3: Cultural and Social Aspects
Question 5: Are graduation ceremonies celebrated differently in various cultures around the world?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare/Contrast across cultures
- Key words: “celebrated differently”, “various cultures”
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge diversity → Give specific cultural examples → Identify common elements → Reflect on reasons for differences
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, graduation ceremonies are different in different countries. In Western countries like America, ceremonies are very formal with special gowns. In Asian countries like Vietnam, ceremonies are also formal but families are more involved. In some cultures, there are parties after the ceremony. The decorations and traditions vary. But all cultures think graduation is important and want to celebrate education achievements.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Affirmative answer → brief examples → commonality
- Vocabulary: Basic (formal, special, involved, important)
- Ideas: Surface-level observations without depth
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Answers the question but lacks detailed cultural knowledge và analytical depth
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:
“Absolutely, graduation ceremonies exhibit remarkable cultural variation while maintaining certain universal core elements, which I find quite fascinating from an anthropological perspective.
In Western contexts, particularly the US and UK, ceremonies tend to follow the medieval university tradition – the academic regalia, the processional format, the Latin terminology – all harking back to European academic heritage. There’s typically a strong emphasis on individual achievement and future-oriented speeches about careers and success. The ceremony itself is often quite structured and decorous, with specific protocols about how to receive diplomas.
By contrast, many Asian graduation ceremonies place greater emphasis on familial honor and collective achievement. In Vietnam, for instance, it’s common for parents to be prominently featured in photos and celebrations because the graduation is seen as validation of family sacrifice as much as student success. Similarly, in countries like Japan and South Korea, there’s often more formality and reverence toward educational institutions, with graduates expressing gratitude to parents and teachers as a central ceremonial element.
In some Middle Eastern and Latin American cultures, graduation celebrations tend to be more elaborate social affairs extending beyond the formal ceremony. There might be large family gatherings, multiple days of celebration, and greater integration of cultural and religious elements into the proceedings. The ceremony isn’t just an endpoint but a catalyst for extended communal celebration.
What’s particularly interesting is how globalization has created hybrid forms. Many international universities now incorporate multicultural elements – you might see a ceremony with Western-style robes but including indigenous welcome ceremonies in countries like Australia or New Zealand, or allowing students to wear cultural dress beneath their gowns.
Despite these variations, what remains remarkably consistent across cultures is the ritualistic marking of educational transition and the communal recognition of achievement. This suggests that while the specific expressions vary, the underlying human need to ceremonialize important life transitions is truly universal. The differences often reflect deeper cultural values – individualism versus collectivism, future orientation versus honoring the past, formal protocol versus celebratory spontaneity.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Exceptional organization – Introduction establishing thesis → Western traditions → Asian traditions → Middle Eastern/Latin American → Globalization effects → Universal elements → Reflection on meaning
- Vocabulary: Highly sophisticated and culturally aware: exhibit remarkable variation, universal core elements, anthropological perspective, medieval university tradition, harking back to, structured and decorous, familial honor, validation of family sacrifice, reverence toward, expressing gratitude, elaborate social affairs, catalyst for extended communal celebration, hybrid forms, incorporate multicultural elements, indigenous welcome ceremonies, ritualistic marking, truly universal, deeper cultural values
- Grammar: Full range including participle phrases, relative clauses, passive constructions, complex comparisons, abstract noun phrases
- Critical Thinking: Demonstrates cultural awareness, comparative analysis, identifies patterns, reflects on underlying reasons for differences, shows global perspective
💡 Key Language Features:
- Introducing examples: “In Western contexts”, “By contrast”, “Similarly”, “In some…cultures”
- Academic tone: “from an anthropological perspective”, “suggests that”, “reflect deeper cultural values”
- Comparing/Contrasting: “By contrast”, “Similarly”, “Despite these variations”, “while the specific expressions vary”
- Generalization with precision: “tend to follow”, “typically emphasis”, “often more formality”, “remarkably consistent”
Question 6: Why do you think some people choose not to attend their own graduation ceremonies?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause/Reason – explaining a phenomenon
- Key words: “choose not to attend”, “their own”
- Cách tiếp cận: Identify multiple reasons → Explain each → Show understanding of different perspectives
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Some people don’t attend graduation because they think it’s not important. Maybe they are shy and don’t like public events. Some students have already started working and are too busy. The ceremony might also be expensive with the gown rental and photos. Other students might live far from the university. Also, some people don’t like formal events and prefer to celebrate with friends privately.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Lists reasons but without much development
- Vocabulary: Simple (important, shy, busy, expensive, formal)
- Ideas: Valid points but superficial treatment
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate but lacks depth và nuanced understanding
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:
“This is actually more common than many people realize, and I think the reasons are quite multifaceted, reflecting both practical constraints and deeper philosophical differences about ceremony’s value.
From a pragmatic standpoint, some graduates face genuine barriers – financial considerations around travel, accommodation, and ceremonial costs can be prohibitive, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who may already be burdened with debt. International students might find it logistically impossible to return for a ceremony that occurs months after their studies conclude. For others, competing professional obligations – job start dates, work commitments – make attendance genuinely unfeasible rather than merely inconvenient.
Beyond practical barriers, there’s also a psychological dimension. Some individuals experience acute social anxiety around large gatherings or formal events, and the prospect of walking across a stage in front of hundreds of people can be genuinely distressing rather than celebratory. For these individuals, the cost to their mental wellbeing outweighs the ceremonial benefit.
There’s also what I’d call the philosophical objectors – people who view graduation ceremonies as unnecessarily performative or emblematic of educational commodification. They might argue that the actual learning journey and acquired knowledge is what matters, not a ritualized spectacle. Some see it as an antiquated tradition that doesn’t resonate with their values, preferring more intimate or authentic forms of celebration.
Interestingly, I think the decision sometimes reflects different cultural orientations toward ceremony itself. In highly individualistic cultures where personal choice is paramount, opting out of a traditional ceremony might be seen as a legitimate expression of autonomy. Some graduates simply don’t derive meaning from formal rituals and would rather commemorate their achievement privately or in ways more aligned with their personal values.
What’s important to recognize is that skipping graduation doesn’t necessarily indicate diminished pride in one’s achievement – it often reflects a different conception of how that achievement should be acknowledged. The ceremony isn’t meaningful for everyone, and that’s actually okay. It speaks to the diversity of how people find meaning and the fact that one-size-fits-all rituals don’t resonate universally.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Sophisticated organization – Introduction → Practical reasons → Psychological reasons → Philosophical reasons → Cultural perspective → Reflective conclusion
- Vocabulary: Exceptional sophistication: multifaceted, practical constraints, deeper philosophical differences, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, burdened with debt, logistically impossible, competing professional obligations, genuinely unfeasible, acute social anxiety, genuinely distressing, cost to mental wellbeing, philosophical objectors, unnecessarily performative, emblematic of educational commodification, ritualized spectacle, antiquated tradition, intimate or authentic forms, cultural orientations, legitimate expression of autonomy, don’t derive meaning from, commemorate achievement, diminished pride, different conception, diversity of how people find meaning, one-size-fits-all rituals, resonate universally
- Grammar: Full range including relative clauses, conditional implications, complex noun phrases, abstract expressions, participle constructions
- Critical Thinking: Multi-dimensional analysis considering economic, psychological, philosophical, and cultural factors; demonstrates empathy and non-judgmental understanding of different perspectives
💡 Key Language Features:
- Categorizing reasons: “From a pragmatic standpoint”, “Beyond practical barriers”, “There’s also what I’d call”, “Interestingly”
- Academic hedging: “I think the reasons are”, “sometimes reflects”, “might be seen as”
- Emphasizing points: “What’s important to recognize”, “actually okay”, “speaks to”
- Sophisticated connectors: “rather than merely”, “rather than”, “doesn’t necessarily indicate”
Nếu bạn quan tâm đến việc phát triển kỹ năng miêu tả những người có ảnh hưởng trong cuộc sống, describe a famous writer you enjoy reading cũng cung cấp những kỹ thuật hữu ích về cách structure và develop ideas khi nói về các nhân vật đáng nhớ.
Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng
Topic-Specific Vocabulary
| Từ vựng/Cụm từ | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| conferral of degrees | n | /kənˈfɜːrəl əv dɪˈɡriːz/ | Lễ trao bằng cấp | The conferral of degrees is the most important part of the ceremony. | degree conferral ceremony, official conferral, conferral proceedings |
| commencement | n | /kəˈmensmənt/ | Lễ tốt nghiệp (từ formal của Mỹ) | The university holds its commencement in May each year. | commencement ceremony, commencement speech, commencement address |
| academic regalia | n | /ˌækəˈdemɪk rɪˈɡeɪliə/ | Trang phục học thuật (áo choàng, mũ) | Graduates must wear proper academic regalia during the ceremony. | traditional regalia, full regalia, ceremonial regalia |
| mortarboard | n | /ˈmɔːrtərbɔːrd/ | Mũ tốt nghiệp hình vuông | Students traditionally throw their mortarboards in the air at the end. | wear a mortarboard, toss mortarboards, mortarboard cap |
| milestone | n | /ˈmaɪlstoʊn/ | Cột mốc quan trọng | Graduation is a significant milestone in one’s educational journey. | major milestone, important milestone, reach a milestone, milestone moment |
| poignant | adj | /ˈpɔɪnjənt/ | Cảm động, đầy xúc cảm | The ceremony was particularly poignant for mature students. | poignant moment, poignant speech, deeply poignant |
| emotionally charged | adj | /ɪˈmoʊʃnəli tʃɑːrdʒd/ | Tràn đầy cảm xúc | The atmosphere was emotionally charged throughout the event. | emotionally charged atmosphere, emotionally charged moment, emotionally charged experience |
| solemn | adj | /ˈsɑːləm/ | Trang nghiêm, long trọng | Graduates took a solemn oath to uphold academic integrity. | solemn ceremony, solemn occasion, solemn promise, solemn atmosphere |
| processional | n/adj | /prəˈseʃənl/ | Đám rước, liên quan đến diễu hành | The graduates entered in a formal processional. | processional march, processional music, join the processional |
| congregate | v | /ˈkɑːŋɡrɪɡeɪt/ | Tụ tập, tập trung | Family members congregated outside after the ceremony. | congregate in the hall, congregate for photos, students congregate |
| culmination | n | /ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃn/ | Điểm cao trào, sự hoàn tất | The ceremony was the culmination of four years of hard work. | culmination of efforts, reach culmination, represent culmination |
| bittersweet | adj | /ˈbɪtərswiːt/ | Ngọt ngào lẫn đắng cay | Graduation is often a bittersweet experience for students. | bittersweet moment, bittersweet feeling, bittersweet emotion |
| commemorate | v | /kəˈmeməreɪt/ | Kỷ niệm, tưởng nhớ | The ceremony commemorates students’ academic achievements. | commemorate an occasion, commemorate achievement, special commemorative |
| accolade | n | /ˈækəleɪd/ | Sự tán dương, giải thưởng danh giá | Several students received special accolades for excellence. | receive accolades, earn accolades, highest accolades |
| valedictorian | n | /ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/ | Thủ khoa (người có điểm cao nhất) | The valedictorian delivered an inspiring speech. | class valedictorian, valedictorian address, valedictorian speech |
| auditorium | n | /ˌɔːdɪˈtɔːriəm/ | Hội trường lớn | The ceremony was held in the university’s main auditorium. | grand auditorium, packed auditorium, university auditorium |
| diploma | n | /dɪˈploʊmə/ | Bằng cấp, văn bằng | Each graduate received their diploma on stage. | receive diploma, diploma ceremony, diploma holder, award diploma |
| alumnus/alumni | n | /əˈlʌmnəs/ /əˈlʌmnaɪ/ | Cựu sinh viên (số ít/số nhiều) | The ceremony strengthens bonds with alumni. | proud alumnus, distinguished alumni, alumni association, alumni network |
Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases
| Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ sử dụng | Band điểm |
|---|---|---|---|
| mark a significant transition | đánh dấu sự chuyển đổi quan trọng | Graduation ceremonies mark a significant transition from student life to professional career. | 7.5-9 |
| sense of closure | cảm giác kết thúc, hoàn tất | The ceremony provided a sense of closure after years of study. | 7.5-9 |
| rite of passage | nghi lễ trưởng thành | Graduation is considered an important rite of passage in many cultures. | 8-9 |
| time flies by | thời gian trôi qua nhanh | The three-hour ceremony felt short; time really flew by. | 7-8 |
| look back on | nhìn lại, hồi tưởng | I often look back on my graduation day with fondness. | 7-8 |
| encapsulate years of effort | gói gọn nhiều năm nỗ lực | That moment on stage seemed to encapsulate years of effort. | 8-9 |
| burst with pride | tràn ngập niềm tự hào | Parents were bursting with pride watching their children graduate. | 7.5-8 |
| serve as a reminder | đóng vai trò như một lời nhắc nhở | The ceremony serves as a reminder of what dedication can achieve. | 7.5-8 |
| collective celebration | sự ăn mừng chung | Graduation is a collective celebration of academic achievement. | 7.5-8 |
| resonate with | gây được tiếng vang, có ý nghĩa với | The valedictorian’s speech really resonated with the audience. | 8-9 |
| hold deep significance | mang ý nghĩa sâu sắc | These traditional ceremonies hold deep significance for many families. | 7.5-8 |
| reinforce values | củng cố các giá trị | Graduation ceremonies reinforce values of hard work and perseverance. | 7.5-8 |
Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)
Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:
- 📝 Well,… – Thường dùng khi cần một chút thời gian suy nghĩ hoặc khi sắp đưa ra một câu trả lời có tính chất giải thích
- 📝 Actually,… – Khi muốn đưa ra góc nhìn có thể khác với mong đợi hoặc sửa lại ý kiến
- 📝 To be honest,… – Khi muốn thể hiện sự chân thành trong quan điểm
- 📝 I’d say that… – Cách mềm mại để đưa ra ý kiến cá nhân
- 📝 From my perspective,… – Nhấn mạnh đây là quan điểm cá nhân
Để bổ sung ý:
- 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào điểm vừa nói (informal hơn Moreover)
- 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, còn thêm nữa
- 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến (thường là điểm quan trọng)
- 📝 Beyond that,… – Xa hơn điểm đó, ngoài ra
- 📝 Additionally,… – Thêm vào đó (formal)
Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:
- 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác (để so sánh hai khía cạnh)
- 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng ta cũng cần xem xét
- 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên, dù vậy (để giới thiệu counterpoint)
- 📝 Having said that,… – Sau khi nói điều đó (để balance idea trước đó)
Để kết luận:
- 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại, xét trên tổng thể
- 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì (informal, thường dùng Part 1, 3)
- 📝 In essence,… – Về bản chất, cốt lõi là
- 📝 Ultimately,… – Rốt cuộc, cuối cùng
- 📝 All things considered,… – Xét tất cả mọi yếu tố
Để đưa ra ví dụ:
- 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ như (formal hơn “for example”)
- 📝 Take [something] for example,… – Lấy… làm ví dụ
- 📝 A case in point would be… – Một trường hợp điển hình là
- 📝 To illustrate this point,… – Để minh họa điểm này
Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng
1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):
-
Mixed conditional: “If I hadn’t attended that graduation ceremony, I wouldn’t appreciate now how important these milestone events are.”
- Formula: If + Past Perfect, would/could + Present
- Dùng khi: Điều kiện ở quá khứ, kết quả ở hiện tại
-
Inversion (Đảo ngữ): “Had I known how meaningful the ceremony would be, I would have invited more family members.”
- Formula: Had + S + Past Participle, S + would have + Past Participle
- Dùng khi: Muốn tăng tính formal và sophisticated cho câu điều kiện type 3
2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):
-
Non-defining: “The graduation ceremony, which lasted nearly three hours, was an unforgettable experience.”
- Formula: N + , which/who + clause + ,
- Dùng khi: Thêm thông tin không thiết yếu, cần dấu phẩy
-
Reduced relative clause: “Graduates wearing traditional robes processed into the auditorium.”
- Formula: N + V-ing/Past Participle
- Dùng khi: Rút gọn mệnh đề quan hệ để câu ngắn gọn hơn
3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):
-
It is thought/believed/said that… “It is widely believed that graduation ceremonies strengthen institutional loyalty.”
- Formula: It is + Past Participle + that + clause
- Dùng khi: Nói về quan điểm chung, không cần nêu chủ thể cụ thể
-
Having been + Past Participle: “Having been a challenging journey, completing my degree made the graduation ceremony even more meaningful.”
- Formula: Having been + PP, S + V
- Dùng khi: Nhấn mạnh một trạng thái đã hoàn thành trước hành động chính
4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):
-
What I find most impressive is… “What I find most impressive about graduation ceremonies is how they bring together multiple generations of a family.”
- Formula: What + S + V + is/are + N/clause
- Dùng khi: Nhấn mạnh điểm quan trọng nhất
-
The thing that struck me was… “The thing that struck me most was the overwhelming emotion visible on everyone’s faces.”
- Formula: The thing that + S + V + is/was + N/clause
- Dùng khi: Tương tự What clause nhưng formal hơn một chút
5. Participle Clauses:
-
Present participle: “Watching my sister receive her diploma, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride.”
- Formula: V-ing + object, S + V
- Dùng khi: Hai hành động xảy ra đồng thời
-
Past participle: “Overcome with emotion, she could barely speak during her valedictorian address.”
- Formula: Past Participle + complement, S + V
- Dùng khi: Diễn tả trạng thái/cảm xúc của chủ ngữ
Đối với những ai đang tìm kiếm thêm về cách miêu tả các sự kiện đặc biệt khác trong đời sống, describe an occasion when you wore a costume là một chủ đề liên quan mà bạn có thể tham khảo để nâng cao kỹ năng kể chuyện và miêu tả.
Chiến Lược Trả Lời Theo Band Điểm
Điểm Khác Biệt Giữa Các Band Scores
Band 6-7:
- ✅ Communicates ideas clearly và đủ thông tin
- ✅ Vocabulary functional, adequate cho task
- ✅ Grammar chính xác cơ bản, có một số complex structures
- ⚠️ Limited range of vocabulary
- ⚠️ Ideas chưa fully developed
- ⚠️ Có thể có hesitation khi tìm từ
Band 7.5-8:
- ✅ Fluent với minimal hesitation
- ✅ Wide range of vocabulary với collocations tốt
- ✅ Variety of complex grammar structures
- ✅ Ideas well-developed với supporting details
- ⚠️ Occasional errors không ảnh hưởng communication
- ⚠️ Có thể chưa demonstrate được những từ vựng extremely sophisticated
Band 8.5-9:
- ✅ Speaks fluently với natural hesitation only
- ✅ Sophisticated vocabulary với precise meaning
- ✅ Full range of grammar structures used naturally
- ✅ Ideas sophisticated với critical analysis
- ✅ Idiomatic expressions used appropriately
- ✅ Shows cultural awareness và global perspective
Lỗi Thường Gặp Của Học Viên Việt Nam
Part 1:
- Trả lời quá ngắn: “Yes, I like ceremonies” → Cần thêm reason và example
- Học thuộc câu trả lời: Nghe không tự nhiên, thiếu flexibility
- Dùng từ quá formal không phù hợp: “I deem that…” thay vì “I think…”
Part 2:
- Không sử dụng hết 1 phút preparation time
- Bỏ qua bullet point cuối cùng (explain feelings) – đây là phần quan trọng nhất
- Kể chuyện quá chi tiết không cần thiết thay vì focus vào những điểm ăn điểm
- Dừng nói trước 1.5 phút
- Không có variety trong tenses và structures
Part 3:
- Chỉ nói về personal experience thay vì societal analysis
- Thiếu discourse markers để organize ideas
- Không đủ tự tin để develop ideas fully, trả lời quá ngắn
- Sử dụng vocabulary quá academic nghe unnatural
- Không acknowledge complexity của issue (everything is black or white)
Tips Từ Examiner
Chuẩn bị:
- Không học thuộc answers – Examiners nhận ra ngay và sẽ interrupt
- Practice storytelling naturally – Kể chuyện như với bạn bè, không đọc script
- Record yourself – Nghe lại để tự nhận diện hesitation và repetition
- Expand answers systematically – Direct answer → Reason → Example → Further point
Trong phòng thi:
- Part 1: Trả lời 2-3 câu, mỗi answer khoảng 15-25 giây
- Part 2: Nói ít nhất 1.5 phút, tốt nhất là 2-3 phút
- Part 3: Mỗi answer 30-60 giây, develop ideas fully
- Don’t panic nếu không hiểu câu hỏi – hỏi lại: “Sorry, could you repeat that?”
- Self-correction is natural – Không sao nếu sửa lỗi ngay, đừng dừng lại quá lâu
Về Vocabulary:
- Prioritize accuracy over complexity – Dùng từ chính xác quan trọng hơn từ fancy
- Collocation matters more than big words – “make a decision” tốt hơn “undertake a determination”
- Paraphrase naturally – Không nhất thiết phải paraphrase examiner’s words, focus on answering
Về Fluency:
- Natural hesitation is okay – “Well…”, “Let me think…” là bình thường
- Don’t rush – Nói với pace thoải mái, rõ ràng
- Use fillers appropriately – “you know”, “I mean” can be natural if not overused
Để mở rộng vốn từ và cách diễn đạt về các chủ đề văn hóa và truyền thống, bạn có thể tham khảo thêm describe a traditional meal in your culture, nơi cung cấp nhiều cấu trúc và từ vựng hữu ích khi nói về các khía cạnh văn hóa.
Kết luận
Chủ đề “Describe a time when you attended a graduation ceremony” là một đề bài phổ biến và khá dễ tiếp cận trong IELTS Speaking, tuy nhiên để đạt band điểm cao đòi hỏi bạn không chỉ kể chuyện mà còn phải demonstrate vocabulary range, grammatical complexity, và khả năng reflect deeply về ý nghĩa của sự kiện.
Key takeaways:
✅ Part 1: Trả lời concise nhưng developed (2-3 câu), thêm personal touch
✅ Part 2: Cover đầy đủ tất cả bullet points, đặc biệt là phần “explain feelings” – đây là nơi showcase vocabulary và depth of thought. Nói đủ 2-3 phút.
✅ Part 3: Think beyond personal experience, analyze from multiple perspectives (personal, social, cultural), acknowledge complexity, use sophisticated vocabulary và structures.
✅ Vocabulary: Focus on collocations và idiomatic expressions hơn là single big words. Paraphrase naturally.
✅ Grammar: Demonstrate variety, không cần mọi câu đều phức tạp, nhưng cần show range throughout the test.
✅ Authenticity: Nói tự nhiên, không học thuộc, có emotion và personality trong câu trả lời của bạn.
Graduation ceremonies are more than just formal events – they’re powerful symbolic markers in our lives that encapsulate years of effort and mark significant transitions. When discussing this topic in IELTS, your goal is not just to describe the event, but to articulate its deeper significance while demonstrating your English proficiency across all four assessment criteria.
Lộ trình học tập đề xuất:
- Week 1: Học thuộc vocabulary và collocations trong bài này, practice using them in sentences
- Week 2: Record yourself answering Part 1 questions, focus on extending answers naturally
- Week 3: Practice Part 2 với timing chính xác, record và self-assess
- Week 4: Practice Part 3, focus on developing abstract ideas và using sophisticated structures
Remember: The best preparation is authentic practice. Speak regularly, record yourself, analyze your performance, và continuously improve. Examiners appreciate candidates who speak naturally và confidently about real experiences rather than reciting memorized scripts.
Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking!
