Trong kỷ nguyên chuyển đổi số, câu hỏi “How Is The Rise Of Fintech Affecting Traditional Banking?” đã trở thành một chủ đề nóng hổi và xuất hiện ngày càng nhiều trong các đề thi IELTS Reading. Sự bùng nổ của công nghệ tài chính (fintech) đang tái định hình toàn bộ ngành ngân hàng toàn cầu, tạo ra những thay đổi sâu sắc về cách thức cung cấp dịch vụ tài chính. Chủ đề này thường xuất hiện trong IELTS Reading Academic vì tính thời sự và tầm quan trọng đối với nền kinh tế hiện đại.
Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages tăng dần độ khó (Easy → Medium → Hard), bao gồm 40 câu hỏi đa dạng giống thi thật 100%. Bạn sẽ nhận được đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích cụ thể, từ vựng quan trọng được phân tích kỹ lưỡng, và các kỹ thuật làm bài hiệu quả. Đề thi này phù hợp cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên, giúp bạn làm quen với format thực tế và nâng cao khả năng đọc hiểu học thuật.
Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test là phần thi quan trọng đánh giá khả năng đọc hiểu tiếng Anh học thuật của thí sinh. Bạn có 60 phút để hoàn thành 3 passages với tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Điểm số được tính dựa trên số câu trả lời đúng, không bị trừ điểm khi sai.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (độ khó thấp nhất)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (độ khó trung bình)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (độ khó cao nhất)
Lưu ý dành 2-3 phút cuối để chuyển đáp án vào phiếu trả lời. Với đề thi này, bạn sẽ trải nghiệm đầy đủ cấu trúc và độ khó của bài thi thực tế.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Chọn đáp án đúng từ các phương án cho sẵn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin trong bài đúng, sai hay không được đề cập
- Yes/No/Not Given – Đánh giá quan điểm của tác giả
- Matching Headings – Ghép tiêu đề phù hợp với các đoạn văn
- Sentence Completion – Hoàn thành câu với thông tin từ bài đọc
- Summary Completion – Điền từ vào đoạn tóm tắt
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời ngắn gọn các câu hỏi
Mỗi dạng đều yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu và chiến lược riêng, được thiết kế để đánh giá toàn diện năng lực của bạn.
IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Dawn of Digital Finance
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
The financial services industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past two decades, primarily driven by the emergence of fintech companies. These innovative enterprises leverage cutting-edge technology to provide financial services that are faster, more accessible, and often cheaper than those offered by traditional banks. The term “fintech” – a combination of “financial technology” – encompasses a wide range of applications, from mobile payment systems and peer-to-peer lending platforms to cryptocurrency exchanges and robo-advisors.
Traditional banks, which have dominated the financial landscape for centuries, initially viewed fintech companies as minor competitors. However, this perception has changed dramatically as fintech firms have begun to capture significant market share, particularly among younger consumers who prioritize convenience and digital accessibility. According to a 2022 survey by Ernst & Young, approximately 64% of consumers globally have used at least one fintech service, representing a substantial increase from just 16% in 2015.
One of the most significant impacts of fintech has been in the area of payment processing. Companies like PayPal, Square, and Stripe have revolutionized how individuals and businesses transfer money. These platforms offer instantaneous transactions with lower fees compared to traditional bank transfers, which often take several business days to complete. Mobile payment applications such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and various regional services have made it possible for consumers to make purchases without carrying physical cash or cards, fundamentally altering consumer behavior.
Peer-to-peer lending represents another area where fintech has disrupted traditional banking models. Platforms like LendingClub and Prosper connect borrowers directly with individual lenders, bypassing conventional financial institutions entirely. This approach often results in better interest rates for both parties: borrowers typically pay lower rates than they would receive from banks, while lenders earn higher returns than traditional savings accounts offer. By 2023, the global peer-to-peer lending market was valued at approximately $68 billion, demonstrating the substantial appetite for alternative lending solutions.
The investment management sector has also experienced significant disruption through the introduction of robo-advisors. These automated platforms use algorithms to provide financial planning services with minimal human intervention. Companies such as Betterment and Wealthfront offer portfolio management at a fraction of the cost charged by traditional financial advisors. The accessibility of these services has democratized investment opportunities, allowing individuals with modest savings to access sophisticated investment strategies previously available only to wealthy clients.
Traditional banks have responded to the fintech challenge in various ways. Some have chosen to compete directly by developing their own digital platforms and mobile applications with enhanced features. Others have opted for collaboration, either by partnering with fintech companies or by acquiring them outright. For instance, Goldman Sachs launched Marcus, a digital banking platform, while JPMorgan Chase has invested heavily in technology infrastructure. A third approach involves banks acting as service providers to fintech companies, offering regulatory compliance expertise and access to established payment networks.
Despite the rapid growth of fintech, traditional banks retain several significant advantages. They possess extensive regulatory experience, having navigated complex financial regulations for decades. Banks also benefit from established trust among customers, particularly older demographics who may be hesitant to entrust their money to relatively new technology companies. Furthermore, traditional banks can offer a comprehensive suite of services under one roof, from checking accounts to mortgages to wealth management, creating convenience through integration.
The regulatory environment presents both opportunities and challenges for the fintech sector. While some jurisdictions have embraced fintech innovation through supportive regulatory frameworks known as “regulatory sandboxes,” others maintain strict requirements that can be difficult for new companies to meet. Traditional banks argue that all financial service providers should face identical regulatory standards to ensure consumer protection and financial stability. Fintech advocates, however, contend that overly restrictive regulations could stifle innovation and prevent beneficial technologies from reaching consumers.
Sự cạnh tranh giữa fintech và ngân hàng truyền thống trong kỷ nguyên số
Questions 1-6
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, what is the main factor driving transformation in financial services?
A. Government regulations
B. The rise of fintech companies
C. Consumer demands for lower fees
D. Competition between traditional banks -
What does the passage say about traditional banks’ initial attitude toward fintech?
A. They saw them as serious threats
B. They immediately formed partnerships
C. They considered them minor competitors
D. They ignored them completely -
The percentage of global consumers using fintech services in 2022 was:
A. 16%
B. 64%
C. 68%
D. Not mentioned -
According to the passage, peer-to-peer lending platforms:
A. Always charge higher fees than banks
B. Connect borrowers directly with individual lenders
C. Only benefit lenders
D. Are less popular than traditional loans -
What advantage do traditional banks have over fintech companies?
A. Better technology
B. Lower costs
C. Regulatory experience
D. Younger customer base -
“Regulatory sandboxes” mentioned in the passage refer to:
A. Strict financial regulations
B. Supportive frameworks for fintech innovation
C. Consumer protection laws
D. International banking standards
Questions 7-10
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
-
Mobile payment applications have completely replaced cash transactions worldwide.
-
Robo-advisors provide investment services at lower costs than traditional financial advisors.
-
All traditional banks have chosen to compete directly with fintech companies.
-
Older customers are generally more trusting of traditional banks than fintech companies.
Questions 11-13
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
-
Fintech companies use __ to provide faster and more accessible financial services.
-
The global peer-to-peer lending market reached a value of approximately __ by 2023.
-
Traditional banks can offer customers a __ under one roof, from checking accounts to mortgages.
PASSAGE 2 – Technological Disruption and Banking Evolution
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The ascendancy of financial technology has fundamentally altered the competitive landscape of the banking sector, forcing traditional institutions to reassess their operational models and strategic priorities. This transformation extends far beyond simple digitization; it represents a paradigm shift in how financial services are conceptualized, delivered, and consumed. The implications of this shift are multifaceted, affecting everything from customer acquisition strategies to risk management frameworks and regulatory compliance mechanisms.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as critical differentiators in the fintech space. These technologies enable companies to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, facilitating more accurate credit assessments, personalized product recommendations, and fraud detection capabilities that surpass traditional methods. For instance, fintech lenders can evaluate thousands of data points – including non-traditional metrics such as social media activity, online shopping behavior, and smartphone usage patterns – to determine creditworthiness. This approach allows them to serve customers who might be rejected by conventional banks due to insufficient credit history or other traditional criteria.
Blockchain technology, the distributed ledger system underlying cryptocurrencies, presents both opportunities and challenges for the banking industry. Proponents argue that blockchain could revolutionize cross-border payments, trade finance, and securities settlement by eliminating intermediaries, reducing transaction times from days to minutes, and significantly lowering costs. Several major banks, including Santander and JPMorgan, have experimented with blockchain-based payment systems. However, scalability concerns, regulatory uncertainty, and questions about energy consumption have slowed widespread adoption. Traditional banks must carefully evaluate whether to invest heavily in blockchain infrastructure or risk being left behind if the technology achieves mainstream acceptance.
The concept of “open banking” has introduced another dimension to the fintech-banking relationship. Open banking regulations, implemented in various jurisdictions including the European Union and the United Kingdom, require banks to share customer data (with customer consent) with third-party providers through standardized APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This regulatory framework aims to foster innovation and competition by allowing fintech companies to build services on top of existing banking infrastructure. While this creates opportunities for collaboration, it also means that banks must share their most valuable asset – customer data – with potential competitors, fundamentally altering the power dynamics within the financial services ecosystem.
Customer expectations have evolved dramatically in the digital age, shaped by experiences with technology companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Uber. Modern consumers demand seamless, personalized experiences delivered through intuitive digital interfaces, available 24/7 across multiple devices. They expect instant account opening, real-time notifications, and frictionless transactions. Traditional banks, encumbered by legacy systems and outdated technology infrastructure, often struggle to meet these expectations. Many banks operate on core banking platforms developed decades ago, making it technically challenging and expensive to implement new features quickly. This “technical debt” creates a significant competitive disadvantage relative to fintech companies built on modern, flexible technology stacks.
The cost structure differences between fintech companies and traditional banks further intensify competitive pressure. Fintech firms typically operate with significantly lower overhead costs, lacking expensive branch networks and large employee bases. This operational efficiency allows them to offer products with better terms – higher savings rates, lower loan rates, and minimal fees – while still maintaining profitability. Traditional banks face the difficult challenge of maintaining their existing infrastructure while simultaneously investing heavily in digital transformation initiatives. Some institutions have responded by closing physical branches and reducing headcount, though these measures often prove politically sensitive and may alienate certain customer segments.
Cybersecurity and data privacy concerns have intensified as financial services have migrated online. Fintech companies, handling sensitive financial information and payment credentials, present attractive targets for cybercriminals. High-profile data breaches at various fintech firms have raised questions about whether these relatively young companies possess the security expertise and resources necessary to protect customer information adequately. Traditional banks, despite their technological limitations in some areas, generally have more robust security frameworks and deeper expertise in managing financial crime risks, developed over decades of experience. Regulators are increasingly scrutinizing fintech companies’ security practices, potentially leveling the playing field.
The pandemic-accelerated shift toward digital banking has proven to be a defining moment for the industry. Lockdowns and social distancing measures forced even technology-resistant customers to adopt digital banking services. Traditional banks that had invested in digital capabilities weathered this transition relatively smoothly, while those with underdeveloped digital offerings faced significant customer satisfaction challenges. Fintech companies, already operating entirely digitally, were well-positioned to capture market share during this period. Industry analysts suggest that the pandemic compressed a decade of digital transformation into a few years, permanently altering customer behavior and expectations.
Looking forward, the relationship between fintech and traditional banking appears likely to evolve toward increasing integration rather than outright competition. Many industry observers predict a future characterized by symbiotic relationships, where banks and fintech companies leverage each other’s strengths: banks providing regulatory expertise, capital, and customer trust, while fintech firms offer technological innovation, agility, and user experience design capabilities. This collaborative approach, sometimes termed “embedded finance,” envisions financial services becoming invisible infrastructure integrated seamlessly into non-financial contexts, from e-commerce platforms to healthcare systems.
Công nghệ blockchain và trí tuệ nhân tạo trong ngành ngân hàng hiện đại
Questions 14-18
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, fintech lenders assess creditworthiness by:
A. Only using traditional credit scores
B. Analyzing thousands of data points including non-traditional metrics
C. Consulting with traditional banks
D. Focusing exclusively on income levels -
What does the passage suggest about blockchain technology?
A. It has been universally adopted by all major banks
B. It has no practical applications in banking
C. It faces challenges including scalability concerns and regulatory uncertainty
D. It is only useful for cryptocurrency transactions -
Open banking regulations require banks to:
A. Close their physical branches
B. Share customer data with third-party providers with customer consent
C. Reject all fintech partnerships
D. Increase their fees -
The term “technical debt” in the passage refers to:
A. Money owed to technology companies
B. The challenge of operating outdated technology infrastructure
C. Loans taken for digital transformation
D. Cybersecurity costs -
According to the passage, the COVID-19 pandemic:
A. Had no impact on banking services
B. Slowed down digital transformation
C. Compressed a decade of digital transformation into a few years
D. Only affected fintech companies
Questions 19-23
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Traditional banks face significant challenges in competing with fintech companies. Fintech firms benefit from lower (19) __, as they don’t maintain expensive branch networks. Banks operate on (20) __ developed decades ago, which creates (21) __ when trying to implement new features. Modern consumers expect (22) __ delivered through digital interfaces, shaped by their experiences with major technology companies. The future likely involves (23) __ between banks and fintech companies, leveraging each other’s strengths.
Questions 24-26
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
-
Fintech companies have better cybersecurity expertise than traditional banks.
-
The pandemic permanently changed customer behavior regarding digital banking.
-
All traditional banks will eventually be replaced by fintech companies.
PASSAGE 3 – The Systemic Implications of Fintech Integration
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The proliferation of financial technology enterprises has engendered a multifaceted transformation of the banking ecosystem that extends beyond mere operational efficiencies or enhanced customer experience. This phenomenon represents a fundamental reconfiguration of financial intermediation, challenging the ontological assumptions that have underpinned banking theory and practice since the inception of modern financial systems. The ramifications of this shift reverberate through regulatory frameworks, systemic risk architectures, and the very notion of what constitutes a financial institution in the contemporary economic landscape.
From a theoretical perspective, traditional banking has historically been conceptualized through the lens of financial intermediation theory, which posits that banks serve essential functions in mitigating information asymmetries, providing liquidity transformation, and facilitating maturity transformation between savers and borrowers. The raison d’être of banks, according to this framework, derives from their specialized capacity to overcome market frictions that would otherwise impede efficient capital allocation. However, fintech innovations have progressively eroded many of these informational advantages. Advanced algorithmic systems and big data analytics enable fintech firms to conduct credit risk assessments with comparable or superior accuracy to traditional banks, while distributed ledger technologies promise to reduce counterparty risks and settlement uncertainties that have historically necessitated institutional intermediaries.
The disintermediation facilitated by fintech platforms raises profound questions regarding systemic stability and macroprudential regulation. Traditional banking regulation has evolved over decades, incorporating capital adequacy requirements, liquidity coverage ratios, and stress testing protocols designed to ensure individual bank soundness and collective system resilience. These regulatory structures presuppose a relatively homogeneous set of institutions performing similar functions through comparable mechanisms. The heterogeneity introduced by fintech – spanning peer-to-peer lending platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processors, and algorithmic investment advisors – challenges regulators to develop frameworks that are simultaneously principles-based enough to accommodate innovation yet sufficiently prescriptive to mitigate emerging risks.
Regulatory arbitrage presents a particularly vexing challenge in this context. Fintech companies often operate in regulatory interstices, providing services that are functionally equivalent to traditional banking products but structured in ways that circumvent existing regulatory classifications. This regulatory asymmetry creates competitive distortions: fintech firms may offer lending products without maintaining the capital reserves required of banks, or provide payment services without adhering to the same anti-money laundering protocols. While some jurisdictions have responded by developing activity-based regulatory frameworks that apply rules based on the function performed rather than the entity’s legal classification, achieving international regulatory harmonization remains an elusive objective, particularly given the borderless nature of many digital financial services.
The concentration of technological infrastructure among a small number of providers introduces novel systemic vulnerabilities. Many fintech companies and even traditional banks increasingly rely on cloud computing services from major technology corporations such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. This technological dependency creates potential single points of failure: a significant disruption to one of these platforms could simultaneously impair numerous financial service providers, precipitating cascading failures across the financial system. Moreover, the operational complexity of modern fintech systems, involving interconnected APIs, third-party data providers, and complex algorithmic decision-making processes, may obscure risk exposures and complicate efforts to assess and manage systemic risk comprehensively.
Behavioral economics offers illuminating insights into how fintech is reshaping consumer financial decision-making. The gamification elements incorporated into many fintech applications – featuring progress bars, achievement badges, and social comparison features – leverage psychological principles to encourage engagement and desired behaviors. While these design interventions can promote positive outcomes such as increased saving or debt repayment, they also raise ethical considerations regarding manipulation and consumer autonomy. The hyperpersonalization enabled by machine learning algorithms creates individualized choice architectures that may subtly steer users toward products that maximize provider profitability rather than customer welfare. Regulatory frameworks have traditionally focused on disclosure requirements and suitability standards, but these approaches may prove inadequate in addressing the sophisticated behavioral influence techniques employed by advanced fintech platforms.
The implications for financial inclusion constitute another critical dimension of the fintech phenomenon. Proponents argue that fintech can democratize access to financial services, particularly in underbanked or unbanked populations where traditional branch-based banking is economically unviable. Mobile money platforms such as M-Pesa in Kenya have demonstrated the potential for technology-enabled financial services to reach previously marginalized populations, facilitating economic participation and entrepreneurial activity. However, critical scholars caution that fintech may simultaneously create new forms of exclusion and inequality. Algorithmic credit scoring systems, while potentially more inclusive than traditional methods in some respects, may perpetuate or amplify existing biases if trained on historically discriminatory data. Furthermore, the digital divide – encompassing disparities in internet access, digital literacy, and smartphone ownership – means that fintech innovations may primarily benefit those already well-served by existing financial systems, potentially exacerbating rather than ameliorating financial inequality.
The competitive dynamics between fintech entrants and incumbent financial institutions exhibit characteristics of Schumpeterian creative destruction, wherein innovative enterprises displace established firms through superior efficiency or novel value propositions. However, the ultimate market structure that emerges from this competitive process remains uncertain. Some analysts anticipate consolidation, with successful fintech companies either growing into systemically important institutions themselves or being acquired by traditional banks seeking to internalize innovation. Alternative scenarios envision platform-based ecosystems wherein a small number of dominant technology firms control the customer interface while commoditizing underlying financial services. Each trajectory carries distinct implications for competition, innovation, and consumer welfare, necessitating vigilant regulatory oversight to ensure that market evolution serves broader societal interests.
From a macroeconomic perspective, the ascendance of fintech has potential ramifications for monetary policy transmission mechanisms. Central banks have traditionally implemented monetary policy primarily through adjustments to policy interest rates, which influence broader financial conditions through the banking system. As non-bank financial intermediation assumes a larger role, the efficacy of these traditional transmission channels may be attenuated. Additionally, the emergence of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) raises fundamental questions about the future of money itself, with profound implications for monetary sovereignty, financial stability, and the appropriate scope of central bank functions. The analytical frameworks and policy tools developed for a bank-centric financial system may require substantial reconceptualization to remain effective in an increasingly diversified and technologically mediated financial landscape.
The intersection of fintech and traditional banking thus represents far more than a simple competitive dynamic between established and emergent firms. It embodies a comprehensive transformation of financial intermediation, with far-reaching consequences for regulatory architecture, systemic risk management, consumer protection, financial inclusion, and macroeconomic stability. Navigating this transformation successfully requires sophisticated analytical frameworks that transcend simplistic narratives of technological determinism or institutional inertia, recognizing instead the complex interplay of technological capabilities, regulatory structures, market dynamics, and social factors that will collectively shape the future trajectory of financial services.
Rủi ro hệ thống và quản lý trong tài chính công nghệ số
Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
-
According to the passage, financial intermediation theory suggests that banks:
A. Should focus only on lending
B. Serve essential functions in mitigating information asymmetries
C. Are no longer necessary in modern economies
D. Only provide liquidity to large corporations -
The term “disintermediation” in the passage refers to:
A. The process of banks opening more branches
B. The reduction of intermediaries in financial transactions
C. Government intervention in banking
D. International banking cooperation -
What does the passage identify as a “vexing challenge” for regulators?
A. The high cost of fintech services
B. Lack of customer interest in digital banking
C. Regulatory arbitrage by fintech companies
D. Traditional banks closing branches -
The concentration of technological infrastructure among major cloud providers:
A. Has no impact on financial stability
B. Reduces all systemic risks
C. Creates potential single points of failure
D. Is prohibited by regulators -
According to the passage, algorithmic credit scoring systems:
A. Are always more fair than traditional methods
B. May perpetuate or amplify existing biases
C. Have been banned in most countries
D. Only work for wealthy customers
Questions 32-36
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
The growth of fintech represents a fundamental change in (32) __ that challenges traditional banking theory. Fintech innovations have progressively reduced the (33) __ that banks historically possessed. Traditional banking regulation includes requirements such as (34) __ and liquidity coverage ratios. Fintech companies often operate in (35) __, providing services similar to banks but avoiding regulatory classifications. The use of (36) __ in fintech apps can influence consumer behavior through psychological principles.
Questions 37-40
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
-
Mobile money platforms have successfully reached previously marginalized populations in some regions.
-
All fintech innovations necessarily reduce financial inequality.
-
The emergence of central bank digital currencies raises important questions about monetary sovereignty.
-
Traditional monetary policy transmission mechanisms remain fully effective despite the growth of fintech.
Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- B
- FALSE
- TRUE
- FALSE
- TRUE
- cutting-edge technology
- $68 billion
- comprehensive suite of services
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- overhead costs
- core banking platforms
- technical debt
- seamless, personalized experiences
- increasing integration / symbiotic relationships
- NO
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- B
- B
- C
- C
- B
- financial intermediation
- informational advantages
- capital adequacy requirements
- regulatory interstices
- gamification elements
- YES
- NO
- YES
- NO
Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: main factor, driving transformation, financial services
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: Câu đầu tiên của bài đọc nói rõ “The financial services industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past two decades, primarily driven by the emergence of fintech companies.” Từ “primarily driven by” được paraphrase thành “main factor driving” trong câu hỏi, do đó đáp án chính xác là B.
Câu 2: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: traditional banks’ initial attitude, fintech
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: Bài viết chỉ rõ “Traditional banks, which have dominated the financial landscape for centuries, initially viewed fintech companies as minor competitors.” Cụm “initially viewed” = “initial attitude” và “minor competitors” xuất hiện nguyên văn, nên đáp án là C.
Câu 7: FALSE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Mobile payment applications, completely replaced, cash transactions, worldwide
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 4-6
- Giải thích: Bài đọc chỉ nói “Mobile payment applications…have made it possible for consumers to make purchases without carrying physical cash or cards” nhưng không đề cập đến việc “completely replaced cash transactions worldwide.” Thực tế, passage chỉ nói về khả năng thay thế chứ không khẳng định đã thay thế hoàn toàn, nên đây là FALSE.
Câu 8: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Robo-advisors, investment services, lower costs
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: Passage nói rõ “Companies such as Betterment and Wealthfront offer portfolio management at a fraction of the cost charged by traditional financial advisors.” Cụm “at a fraction of the cost” nghĩa là chi phí thấp hơn nhiều, khớp với “lower costs” trong câu hỏi.
Câu 11: cutting-edge technology
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: Fintech companies use, provide faster and more accessible
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: Câu trong bài: “These innovative enterprises leverage cutting-edge technology to provide financial services that are faster, more accessible…” Từ “leverage” được paraphrase thành “use” trong câu hỏi.
Chiến lược làm bài IELTS Reading hiệu quả cho học viên Việt Nam
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: fintech lenders, assess creditworthiness
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 4-7
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói rõ “fintech lenders can evaluate thousands of data points – including non-traditional metrics such as social media activity, online shopping behavior, and smartphone usage patterns – to determine creditworthiness.” Đáp án B paraphrase chính xác thông tin này.
Câu 15: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: blockchain technology
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-7
- Giải thích: Passage đề cập “However, scalability concerns, regulatory uncertainty, and questions about energy consumption have slowed widespread adoption.” Điều này cho thấy blockchain đang đối mặt với nhiều thách thức, tương ứng với đáp án C.
Câu 19: overhead costs
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: lower, don’t maintain expensive branch networks
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Fintech firms typically operate with significantly lower overhead costs, lacking expensive branch networks and large employee bases.” Cụm “overhead costs” là từ chính xác cần điền.
Câu 24: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Fintech companies, better cybersecurity expertise, traditional banks
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 4-7
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói “Traditional banks, despite their technological limitations in some areas, generally have more robust security frameworks and deeper expertise in managing financial crime risks.” Điều này mâu thuẫn với câu hỏi cho rằng fintech có chuyên môn bảo mật tốt hơn, nên đáp án là NO.
Câu 25: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: pandemic, permanently changed, customer behavior
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8, dòng 5-7
- Giải thích: Passage khẳng định “Industry analysts suggest that the pandemic compressed a decade of digital transformation into a few years, permanently altering customer behavior and expectations.” Từ “permanently altering” khớp với “permanently changed” trong câu hỏi.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: financial intermediation theory, banks
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-4
- Giải thích: “Traditional banking has historically been conceptualized through the lens of financial intermediation theory, which posits that banks serve essential functions in mitigating information asymmetries, providing liquidity transformation…” Đáp án B trích dẫn chính xác chức năng chính của ngân hàng theo lý thuyết này.
Câu 29: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: vexing challenge, regulators
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 1
- Giải thích: Đầu đoạn 4 nói rõ “Regulatory arbitrage presents a particularly vexing challenge in this context.” Đây là cụm từ nguyên văn trong bài, nên đáp án chính xác là C.
Câu 32: financial intermediation
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: fundamental change, challenges traditional banking theory
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 1, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: “This phenomenon represents a fundamental reconfiguration of financial intermediation, challenging the ontological assumptions that have underpinned banking theory…” Từ “financial intermediation” phù hợp với ngữ cảnh của câu tóm tắt.
Câu 37: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Mobile money platforms, reached, marginalized populations
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: Passage nói “Mobile money platforms such as M-Pesa in Kenya have demonstrated the potential for technology-enabled financial services to reach previously marginalized populations.” Đây là khẳng định rõ ràng trùng với câu hỏi.
Câu 38: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: All fintech innovations, necessarily reduce, financial inequality
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, dòng 6-10
- Giải thích: Bài viết cảnh báo “critical scholars caution that fintech may simultaneously create new forms of exclusion and inequality” và “fintech innovations may primarily benefit those already well-served by existing financial systems, potentially exacerbating rather than ameliorating financial inequality.” Điều này mâu thuẫn trực tiếp với câu hỏi, nên đáp án là NO.
Câu 40: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Traditional monetary policy, transmission mechanisms, remain fully effective
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, dòng 3-5
- Giải thích: Passage nói “As non-bank financial intermediation assumes a larger role, the efficacy of these traditional transmission channels may be attenuated.” Từ “attenuated” (suy yếu) mâu thuẫn với “remain fully effective” trong câu hỏi.
Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage
Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| emergence | n | /ɪˈmɜːdʒəns/ | Sự xuất hiện, nổi lên | The emergence of fintech companies | rapid emergence, sudden emergence |
| peer-to-peer | adj | /pɪə tə pɪə/ | Ngang hàng, giữa các cá nhân | Peer-to-peer lending platforms | peer-to-peer network, peer-to-peer transaction |
| bypass | v | /ˈbaɪpɑːs/ | Bỏ qua, vượt qua | Bypassing conventional financial institutions | bypass the system, bypass regulations |
| democratize | v | /dɪˈmɒkrətaɪz/ | Dân chủ hóa, phổ cập | Democratized investment opportunities | democratize access, democratize technology |
| disruption | n | /dɪsˈrʌpʃn/ | Sự gián đoạn, phá vỡ | Significant disruption through robo-advisors | market disruption, digital disruption |
| regulatory | adj | /ˈreɡjələtəri/ | Thuộc về quy định | Regulatory compliance expertise | regulatory framework, regulatory requirements |
| suite | n | /swiːt/ | Bộ, tập hợp | Comprehensive suite of services | full suite, complete suite |
| leverage | v | /ˈliːvərɪdʒ/ | Tận dụng, khai thác | Leverage cutting-edge technology | leverage technology, leverage resources |
| instantaneous | adj | /ˌɪnstənˈteɪniəs/ | Tức thì, lập tức | Instantaneous transactions | instantaneous access, instantaneous response |
| substantial | adj | /səbˈstænʃl/ | Đáng kể, lớn | Substantial increase from 16% | substantial amount, substantial growth |
| sandbox | n | /ˈsændbɒks/ | Môi trường thử nghiệm | Regulatory sandboxes | regulatory sandbox, testing sandbox |
| overly restrictive | adj phrase | /ˈəʊvəli rɪˈstrɪktɪv/ | Quá hạn chế | Overly restrictive regulations | overly restrictive policies, overly restrictive rules |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| paradigm shift | n phrase | /ˈpærədaɪm ʃɪft/ | Sự thay đổi mô hình căn bản | Represents a paradigm shift | major paradigm shift, paradigm shift in thinking |
| multifaceted | adj | /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/ | Đa diện, nhiều khía cạnh | Multifaceted implications | multifaceted approach, multifaceted problem |
| distributed ledger | n phrase | /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd ˈledʒə/ | Sổ cái phân tán | Distributed ledger system | distributed ledger technology, distributed ledger network |
| scalability | n | /ˌskeɪləˈbɪləti/ | Khả năng mở rộng quy mô | Scalability concerns | scalability issues, scalability problems |
| third-party | adj | /θɜːd ˈpɑːti/ | Bên thứ ba | Third-party providers | third-party services, third-party access |
| frictionless | adj | /ˈfrɪkʃnləs/ | Không ma sát, trơn tru | Frictionless transactions | frictionless experience, frictionless process |
| encumbered | adj | /ɪnˈkʌmbəd/ | Bị cản trở, bị vướng | Encumbered by legacy systems | encumbered with debt, encumbered by regulations |
| technical debt | n phrase | /ˈteknɪkl det/ | Nợ kỹ thuật | Creates technical debt | accumulate technical debt, address technical debt |
| operational efficiency | n phrase | /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənl ɪˈfɪʃnsi/ | Hiệu quả vận hành | Operational efficiency allows | improve operational efficiency, enhance operational efficiency |
| robust | adj | /rəʊˈbʌst/ | Vững chắc, mạnh mẽ | Robust security frameworks | robust system, robust approach |
| symbiotic | adj | /ˌsɪmbaɪˈɒtɪk/ | Cộng sinh, hỗ trợ lẫn nhau | Symbiotic relationships | symbiotic relationship, symbiotic partnership |
| embedded finance | n phrase | /ɪmˈbedɪd ˈfaɪnæns/ | Tài chính nhúng | Collaborative approach termed embedded finance | embedded finance solutions, embedded finance services |
| intensify | v | /ɪnˈtensɪfaɪ/ | Tăng cường, làm mạnh thêm | Intensify competitive pressure | intensify efforts, intensify competition |
| seamless | adj | /ˈsiːmləs/ | Liền mạch, trơn tru | Seamless, personalized experiences | seamless integration, seamless experience |
| foster innovation | v phrase | /ˈfɒstə ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ | Thúc đẩy đổi mới | Framework aims to foster innovation | foster innovation and growth, foster innovation culture |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| proliferation | n | /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/ | Sự tăng sinh, lan rộng | Proliferation of financial technology | rapid proliferation, nuclear proliferation |
| ontological | adj | /ˌɒntəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ | Thuộc bản thể luận | Ontological assumptions | ontological question, ontological framework |
| ramification | n | /ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ | Hệ quả, tác động | Ramifications of this shift | serious ramifications, far-reaching ramifications |
| intermediation | n | /ˌɪntəmiːdiˈeɪʃn/ | Sự trung gian, môi giới | Financial intermediation theory | financial intermediation, credit intermediation |
| raison d’être | n | /ˌreɪzɒn ˈdetrə/ | Lý do tồn tại | Raison d’être of banks | the raison d’être, fundamental raison d’être |
| disintermediation | n | /dɪsɪnˌtɜːmiːdiˈeɪʃn/ | Sự loại bỏ trung gian | Disintermediation facilitated by fintech | financial disintermediation, market disintermediation |
| macroprudential | adj | /ˌmækrəʊpruːˈdenʃl/ | Thuộc thận trọng vĩ mô | Macroprudential regulation | macroprudential policy, macroprudential framework |
| heterogeneity | n | /ˌhetərədʒəˈniːəti/ | Tính không đồng nhất | Heterogeneity introduced by fintech | cultural heterogeneity, genetic heterogeneity |
| regulatory arbitrage | n phrase | /ˈreɡjələtəri ˈɑːbɪtrɑːʒ/ | Khai thác lỗ hổng quy định | Regulatory arbitrage presents challenge | engage in regulatory arbitrage, regulatory arbitrage opportunity |
| interstice | n | /ɪnˈtɜːstɪs/ | Khoảng trống, kẽ hở | Operate in regulatory interstices | social interstices, legal interstices |
| cascading failure | n phrase | /kæsˈkeɪdɪŋ ˈfeɪljə/ | Sự cố liên hoàn | Precipitating cascading failures | cascading failure effect, risk of cascading failure |
| gamification | n | /ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ | Trò chơi hóa | Gamification elements incorporated | gamification strategy, gamification techniques |
| hyperpersonalization | n | /ˌhaɪpəˌpɜːsənəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ | Cá nhân hóa siêu cao | Hyperpersonalization enabled by algorithms | hyperpersonalization strategy, hyperpersonalization approach |
| underbanked | adj | /ˌʌndəˈbæŋkt/ | Thiếu tiếp cận ngân hàng | Underbanked or unbanked populations | underbanked communities, underbanked consumers |
| Schumpeterian | adj | /ʃʊmˈpiːtəriən/ | Thuộc thuyết Schumpeter | Schumpeterian creative destruction | Schumpeterian innovation, Schumpeterian economics |
| attenuation | n | /əˌtenjuˈeɪʃn/ | Sự suy yếu, giảm bớt | Efficacy may be attenuated | signal attenuation, attenuation effect |
| monetary sovereignty | n phrase | /ˈmʌnɪtəri ˈsɒvrənti/ | Chủ quyền tiền tệ | Implications for monetary sovereignty | national monetary sovereignty, preserve monetary sovereignty |
| elusive | adj | /ɪˈluːsɪv/ | Khó nắm bắt, khó đạt được | Achieving harmonization remains elusive | elusive goal, elusive concept |
Kết Bài
Chủ đề “How is the rise of fintech affecting traditional banking?” không chỉ phổ biến trong IELTS Reading mà còn phản ánh một xu hướng toàn cầu đang định hình lại nền kinh tế hiện đại. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm đầy đủ ba mức độ khó từ Easy đến Hard, giúp bạn làm quen với cấu trúc thực tế của kỳ thi IELTS Reading.
Ba passages đã cung cấp góc nhìn toàn diện về tác động của fintech: từ những thay đổi cơ bản trong dịch vụ khách hàng (Passage 1), đến những thách thức về công nghệ và cạnh tranh (Passage 2), cho đến những tác động sâu rộng về hệ thống và chính sách (Passage 3). Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích đã chỉ ra chính xác vị trí thông tin, cách paraphrase, và lý do tại sao mỗi đáp án đúng hoặc sai, giúp bạn tự đánh giá và học hỏi từ những sai lầm.
Bảng từ vựng được phân loại theo từng passage cung cấp hơn 40 từ và cụm từ quan trọng, không chỉ giúp bạn hiểu sâu hơn về chủ đề fintech mà còn trang bị vốn từ học thuật cần thiết cho bài thi. Những collocations và ví dụ thực tế từ bài đọc sẽ giúp bạn sử dụng từ vựng một cách tự nhiên và chính xác hơn.
Hãy thực hành đề thi này trong điều kiện giống thi thật, tuân thủ thời gian 60 phút và không tra từ điển. Sau đó, dành thời gian phân tích kỹ những câu sai để hiểu rõ lỗi của mình. Sự cải thiện trong IELTS Reading đến từ việc luyện tập có phương pháp và phân tích sâu, không chỉ làm nhiều đề. Chúc bạn đạt band điểm mong muốn trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới!
