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SPEAKING
CODE 01
Part 1
- What did you do on your last holiday?
- My most memorable holiday is the last one with my family/ friends/
colleagues in...... We did.../ played.../ ate.../ visited..... It was a good
time for us to share the feelings, experience and understandings and
improve the relationship/ friendship among us.
- Who do you prefer spending your holiday with? Relatives or friends?
- I like being with my friends, because we have a lot in common, so we
can share our hobbies and interests.
- Spending holiday with the family makes me happy because I love my
family. It’s a good chance for all family members to be together, take
care of one another and enjoy the cozy and close atmosphere.
- Do you prefer going on holiday abroad?
- Of course, going abroad on holiday is really an excellent experience
when we can see new things, meet new people and know more about
another culture, habits and customs of different nations. Moreover,
it’s also a good time to learn a language, make new friends and
improve communication.
- No, I’ve never thought about going abroad on holiday, because I can’t
speak a foreign language. Furthermore, travelling abroad is too
expensive and sometimes dangerous for young and inexperienced
people. In my view, domestic holidays are better in term of safety,
expense and convenience.
- How many hours a day do you watch television?
- I rarely watch TV, because I don’t have much time/ I’m always busy.
At weekend I spend about one or two hours watching TV with my
family members.
- Watching TV is my favourite pastime. I watch it whenever I have free
time. I often watch three or four hours a day.
- Which programmes do you like?
- There are a lot of good programmes on TV these days and the one I
like most is Discovery. This channel provides me with interesting
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knowledge of the world. I never feel bored watching this programme.
- The News is my favourite programme because it provides me with
useful knowledge and information of all fields. You can sit at your
comfortable armchair but know everything happening in the world.
- Do you prefer watching television alone or with other people? Why?
- I prefer watching television with other people because we can not
only share our feelings and information, but also discuss together on
what is watched on TV. Additionally, it’s a good time for us to promote
understandings and relationship among us.
Part 2: Situation
If you won the lottery of 1 billion VND, what would you do with the
money?
- Buy a new house.
- Start a business.
- Deposit the money in the bank.
a) If I won a lottery of one billion dollars, I would buy a house,
because I haven’t got one now. I am living with my parents, but I
prefer an independent life. After I buy it, I will have my own house and
I will be able to do whatever I want with it.
b) If I won a lottery of one billion dollars, I would start a business.
Firstly, having my own business is my dream. I want to make money
by myself and to stand on my feet. If my business ran well, I could buy
a house, deposit money in the bank, do charity and other things.
c) If I won a lottery of one billion dollars, I would deposit money in the
bank. In my view, it’s the safest way to keep money while I can get
monthly interest to spend. I’m not young so I want stability and safety.
Part 3
Topic: Online courses have changed the way people learn
- Provide new learning experience
- Be more convenient to study
- Be independent in learning
- Your own ideas
a) Provide new learning experience: Instead of going to school,
college or university, people learn anywhere via the Internet with a
laptop. In traditional learning, the teacher teaches students particular
subjects in class on schedule. In contrast, with online courses
learners can learn anytime, any subjects they want. Instead of taking
exams in the class, people can do online tests and get the results
after they click “submit” button without waiting for weeks.
b) Be more convenient to study: Learners do not have to go to class
because they can stay at home or at work, learn online with a cup of
coffee. They can listen to the lectures again and again. They do not
have to meet teachers face-to-face to submit assignments or get
feedback from them. All they need is a laptop connected to the
Internet.
c) Be independent in learning: When learners attend an online course,
they must follow the rules and study by themselves because there are
no teachers in front of them to explain what the learners do not
understand. They do not have classmates to discuss together.
d) Your own ideas: Online courses are economical in terms of time,
expense and physical effort. Learners do not have to go to class so
they do not have to spend time travelling from one place to another
and attending classes. They do not have to pay for transportation.
Moreover, they listen to lectures whenever they can, this makes their
timetable flexible and they can do lots of things when learning.
Follow up questions:
- What advice would you give someone on how to study English?
- There are many ways to learn English depending on learner’s
conditions, interests and proficiency. The best way is that you put
yourself in an English speaking environment. You can listen to English
songs, see English films. Furthermore, communicating with a native
speaker, participating in an English speaking club are very good to
improve your English as well.
- Do you think being a student is the best time of your life? Why/ why
not?
- In my opinion being a student is the best time of one’s life because
we have an exciting, wonderful time with friends at university. At that
time, people are young, strong, carefree and eager to explore new
knowledge. They are willing to do voluntary work without thinking
about themselves.
- Should a student’s university education be free or should the
student have to get a loan? Explain your choice.
- In my view university education should be free for some specific
majors, such as police, military education because those are
demanding jobs. People who are devoted to them may sacrifice their
life to defend the motherland. However, most fields in education
should not be free. Students should understand the value of their
education in order to try harder. The money should be paid for training
facilities, materials, administration and education affairs.
CODE 02
Part 1
- When is your birthday?
- I was born in (month/ year). My mother told me that it was a very
hot/ cold day in summer/ winter. I was the first child in my family so I
got love and care from my grandparents, parents and relatives.
- What do you usually do on your birthday?
- On my birthday, I often prepare a good meal and invite some close
friends to my house for dinner. We eat together and chat in a cosy
atmosphere.
- On my birthday, I often invite some close friends to a restaurant for a
small party. I blow off the candles on the birthday cake, and my
friends wish me good luck, good health and success. I get some gifts
from them. Then we sing Happy Birthday song. We chat and enjoy
ourselves.
- What is your favourite family celebration? Why?
- There are a lot of celebrations my family has; however, Lunar New
Year celebration or Tet holiday is the most special time not only for
me, but also for Vietnamese people. We have much time together to
prepare for our holiday. We clean the house; decorate it with nice
flowers and plants. At New Year’s Eve all family members get
together to enjoy traditional food and give the best wishes to
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everyone. Children and old people receive lucky money. That is my
most preferable celebration.
- What is the best way to travel in your town/city?
- In my opinion a bicycle is the best way to travel in my town. Firstly,
the town is small and the streets are narrow, so it is easy and
convenient for a bicycle to move to every corner of the town. Secondly,
it helps to protect the environment and it’s cheap.
- What is your favourite means of transportation?
- My favourite means of transportation is a motorbike, because it
faster than a bicycle. It is not too big to move in narrow streets, and it
is not as expensive as a car to buy and drive, either.
- Do you think people should use public transportation more? Why?
Why not?
- In my view, public transportation should be used more for some
reasons. Firstly, it is cheap and safe. Secondly, it helps to reduce
traffic jams and accidents. Thirdly, we can protect the environment
when using less private cars.
Part 2: Situation
You have just received a sum of money from your father as a birthday
present. How would you use the money?
- To buy a laptop for your study.
- To buy a fashionable smart phone.
- To save up for future.
a) If my father gives a sum of money as a birthday present, I will buy
a new laptop for my study. The reason is that it is really necessary for
me to learn and work. It can help me to search for information,
documents and references. I can send and receive emails, messages
from other people. Additionally, I can relax with music and games, and
read e-books with the laptop.
b) If my father gives a sum of money as a birthday present, I will buy
a smart phone. The reason is that I have already had a laptop, and it is
not small enough to take with me to everywhere. A smart phone is
useful for my study as well as for my job. I can talk, chat, and send
emails, messages to others conveniently. I can also listen to music,
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play games or read e-books with a smart phone too.
c) If my father gives a sum of money as a birthday present, I will not
buy a laptop or a smart phone, because it’s a waste of money. The
reason is that I have had both. I will save up for the future. Running a
business is my dream, but I cannot start a new business without the
capital. Now I do not have enough, but I believe that if I save money
gradually, I will have my own.
Part 3
Topic: Examinations are not necessary
- Time-consuming
- Unfair
- Costly
- Your own ideas
a) Time-consuming: Examiners have to design, deliver and evaluate
students through the test. Whereas, students must revise their
lessons, take the test and wait for the results.
b) Unfair: Examinations are not always truthful and the feedback
about students’ study based on test results sometimes invalid.
Students sometimes cheat or copy other’s answers at examinations.
If examiners lack responsibilities, the test results will be invalid
c) Costly: A big sum of money has to be spent on preparation for the
test regarding facilities, equipment, materials, papers…. In addition, we
should pay for administration, evaluation of the tests. Obviously,
students have to pay fees, which is a burden on their shoulders.
d) Your own ideas: Exams are still important. On the one hand, via
examinations teachers/examiners can evaluate students’ abilities so
as to adjust teaching methods properly. On the other hand, students
are be aware of their own abilities to have effective ways of learning.
Follow up questions:
- Do you think schools are necessary? Why? Why not?
- In my opinion schools are necessary. Firstly, they are the place
where students can get knowledge of all fields and be educated. They
are also the place where students can make friends, learn useful skills
for their life, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, soft
skills...Secondly, students can learn how to behave and develop their
personality in a good way when following the school rules
- How do modern technologies change the way people study?
Modern technologies help people to study faster, more active and
effectively. people do not have to go to class because they can stay at
home or at work, learn online with a laptop connected to the Internet.
They can search information and download documents from the
Internet. Furthermore, it is possible for them to listen to the lectures
again and again. They do not have to meet teachers face-to-face to
submit assignments or get feedback from them.
- Do you think that traditional schools will disappear in the future
because of the development of modern technology?
I don’t think so. Traditional schools are always necessary, because
they are the place where students can learn not only knowledge, but
also social lessons of how to behave and how to become good
citizens. Schools are the place for children to develop and improve
their personalities.
CODE 03
Part 1
- Do you like music? If yes, what kind of music do you like best?
Why? If no, why not?
- I am interested in music because of its rhythm and lyrics. I feel
relaxed when listening to music. Music is a good way to nurture my
soul and emotions.
- What is the most popular kind of music in your country?
- Pop music is very popular in my country. It is said that it is the music
of the young which makes people love life more. It gives people more
energy to live and work.
- Traditional music is the most popular in my country. It helps people
to relax, nurture our love for the country. Listening to traditional music,
people feel proud of the history, culture and customs of our country.
- How is music good or not good for people?
- In my opinion, music is good for people. When you listen to music,
you can feel your happiness or sadness in the rhythm and lyrics.
Moreover, music makes you relaxed and comfortable after a hard
working day. A joyful song can cheer you up and change your mood. It
is the reason why when you are happy or in troubles, music is always
your good friend.
- Did you learn English at secondary school?
- No, I didn’t learn English at school. I studied Russian/ French. It was
interesting but difficult. I started learning English when I was at high
school.
- Yes, I did. English was a compulsory subject in my school. I knew
that English was necessary for my study and my future job
- What do you think about how English is taught at school now?
- Now English is taught in a traditional way at school. It means that
students learn grammar, vocabulary and how to make correct
sentences but not how to communicate in real life situations. English
is considered as a compulsory subject rather than an interest. As a
result, most students are reluctant to learn English.
- In what ways has children’s English much improved nowadays?
- These days children learn English from very young age. They start
learning English at Kindergarten and can access a lot of resources in
English. They can listen to English songs, watch movies in English,
and participate in English speaking clubs to improve their language
proficiency. Some parents send their children abroad, so they have
chances to live and study in an English speaking environment.
Part 2
An optional subject will be added to the curriculum for secondary
students in your city. Three options are suggested:
- photography
- swimming
- dancing
a) If I have the right to choose an optional subject to add to the
curriculum for secondary students in my city, a swimming course is
my first choice. In reality, Vietnamese students have a sedentary
lifestyle and they seldom do physical activities to make them strong.
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to take part in physical activities to keep fit and stay healthy.
Part 2: Situation
You are going to take your secondary students to a private cinema.
Three options of movies are suggested:
- cartoon
- action movie
- detective movie
I think a detective movie will be the best choice. Secondary students
are curious, they want to explore and investigate everything. They try
to guess and share ideas or comments on what they have seen. As a
result, they will be attracted to the detective movie. Moreover, it is
also a good way for them to learn how to think logically. A cartoon is
no longer suitable for secondary students. On the other hand, an
action movie has too many violent scenes which may affect their
behaviors.
Part 3:
Topic: Punishment by teachers at school is good for students
- Obey teachers
- Minimise misbehaviours
- Concentrate better on study
- Your own ideas
Some people say punishment by teachers at school is necessary,
others think that it may cause emotional and mental suffering in
children’s heart. In my opinion, punishment makes students obey
teachers and minimize misbehaviours, as well as concentrate more
on their study. Teachers deal with 30 or more students in each class,
so students surely misbehave sometimes. It is the teacher’s job to
make them obey the discipline. If the teachers do nothing, then the
children see no consequences for bad behaviours. As a result, the
classroom will be in disorder and confusion. However, punishment
should always be fair and appropriate so as students can see their
faults and adjust themselves. There are many ways to punish a child:
writing an essay, doing more exercises, cleaning the classroom. The
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purpose is to educate students with acceptable behaviours.
Follow up questions:
- Do you think punishment by teachers to students at school should
be encouraged?
- No, in any case, being punished is a negative experience for a child.
It’s the reason why punishment should be fair and in a suitable way. It
is better if teachers inform parents about their children’s
misbehaviours and co-operate with the parents to educate their
children.
- Do all students obey their teachers whenever they receive
punishment?
- No, it depends on each student’s character. There are many
students who obey teachers, because they are afraid of teachers and
punishment. However, there are some students who are stubborn and
difficult to control. Teachers should know their students well enough
to apply different ways to educate them.
- What are the downsides of overuse of punishment at school?
- Overuse of punishment can lead to negative feelings and
emotions in children. It may make them more stubborn and restive.
On the other hand, they can be afraid of going to school or keep doing
bad things.
CODE 05
Part 1
- Where do you come from?
- I come from ... and I lived here all my life. It’s a peaceful town in
the North of Vietnam which is ..... kilometres from Hanoi. It has lots of
green fields and mountains and hills.
- Do you like living in. (candidate’s hometown)?
- Yes, I do. I love my hometown very much, because it is the place
where I was born and grew up. This place nurtures me to become a
good citizen. There are a lot of wonderful things about my hometown,
but one of the best things is that the people here are honest, hard-
working and friendly.
- What is it famous for?
- My hometown is famous for tea. People often buy tea as presents
when they visit Thai Nguyen. They say the flavour of Thai Nguyen tea
is unforgettable.
- What is your job?
- I’m a worker/ an officer/ a teacher of maths/ English/ literature .... I
really have to study very hard to become a good worker/ officer/
teacher. I love my job and I’m proud of it very much.
- How long have you been working as ........ (candidate’s job)?
- I’ve been working as a worker/ an officer/ a teacher for ...... years
since I graduated from college. I will never change my job because it is
a rewarding job which is highly respected by society.
- Why do you like your job?
- I love my job because it is a rewarding job which is highly
respected by society. I work with children of different characters,
which makes me happy and excited each day. Moreover, I have a good
salary.
Part 2: Situation
Your school, college or workplace is organizing an Open Day. When
visitors come to see and find out about the place, people will be asked
to help with various aspects of the event. There are three options for
you to choose:
- A tour guide
- A traffic instructor
- A master of ceremony
I think being a tour guide will be the most suitable for me. I can speak
English so I want to make use this chance to practice English.
Furthermore, as a citizen of the town, I know its history very well, so I
can tell visitors about the events which happened in the past. I can
take them to the scenic spots of the town. Being a traffic instructor is
good; however, I am not healthy enough to stand out all the time
showing ways for people. Being a master of ceremony is great, but I
am not confident enough to speak in front of the audience.
Part 3:
Topic: Smoking should be banned in public places
- Smoker’s health
- Second-hand smoker’s health
- Financial burden
- Your own ideas
a) Smoker’s health: Cigarette smoking causes a number of health
problems for smokers. It is a major cause of respiratory diseases
such as asthma, lung cancer and bronchitis. It also leads to heart
disease.
b) Second-hand smoker’s health: Smoking also affects the health of
non-smokers and unborn babies. Non-smokers soften suffer from eye
and nose irritations, allergies and headaches as a result of inhaling
second-hand smoke. There is also evidence to suggest that passive
smoking may cause lung cancer. Smoking during pregnancy can
hinder to growth of the foetus and may even result in death.
c) Financial burden: Smoking is also a financial burden for smokers
and non-smokers. Firstly, cigarettes are addictive because of nicotine
they contain, so smokers have to pay a lot of money to buy them;
Secondly, the cost of medical treatment for the diseases caused by
smoking is very high. As a consequence, non-smoking taxpayers have
to pay for the health costs of smokers, which is unfair.
d) Your own ideas: Everyone knows that smoking is harmful to our
health. However, we live in a democratic country where everyone has
the right to do whatever he likes within the laws, so we cannot ban
smoking completely. We are able to raise awareness about health
problems when smoking, and prohibit smokers from smoking in
public places. We should have warnings and raise the price of all
smoking products. This will help to decrease smoking.
Follow up questions
- Do you smoke?
- No, I don’t. I used to smoke when I was younger, but I gave it up
some years ago. Smoking is very bad for health so people should not
smoke.
- Why do many people want to smoke?
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- Many people smoke because they want to reduce stress and
focus on their work, especially people who have to work at night or
under pressure. Moreover, there is cocaine in cigarettes, so smoking
can be addicted easily.
- What should you do to prevent smoking in public places
- Firstly, people should be given information and educated about bad
consequences of smoking. Secondly, we should have rules to ban
smoking in public places, then we hang signs “No Smoking” there.
Smokers should pay a penalty if they break the rules.
CODE 6
Part 1
- What do you like doing in your free time?
- I usually spend my time on reading books or listening to music.
- Why do you like doing it?
- I like reading books and listening to music because I want to relax
after working or just like a routine.
- How much time do you spend doing that?
- I often read books and listen to music whenever I am free: on my
way to my office, cooking or going to bed. Sometimes, when I am
unhappy I also read a book to make me feel better. My favourite book
is ‘the last leaf’, written by O’ Henry.
- Do you like English?
- Yes, I do. I like English because it is an international language, it is
spoken all over the world and I really need it for my work in the future.
Moreover, I can use English to communicate with foreigners from
different countries.
- When did you start learning English?
- I started learning English when I was 10. In other word, I have
learned English for over 16 years.
- How do you improve your English?
- Well, I often use many methods to improve my English skills. The
most effective way is watching films. There are a lot of movies which
are suitable for me to learn English. I usually watch American films
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with English subtitle to enrich my vocabulary, my listening skill and my
pronunciation. Besides, I also read English magazines online or
English short stories. I always choose kind of books, according to my
hobby because I cannot read books which I do not like.
Part II: Situation
Your family is making a plan for this weekend. There are THREE
options for you to choose:
- Going to the cinema
- Having meal in a restaurant
- Going to the beach
Which plan do you think is the best choice for your family?
- This weekend I do not have free time, so I plan to have a dinner out
with my family. My children love hotpot, so I intend to have a chicken
hotpot in a restaurant near the city centre. It is a famous restaurant
and we have to make a call to book a table before coming. Last week,
we went to the cinema to watch ‘Kungfu Panda 3’ so I am not going
the movie this weekend. I can watch films on the Internet or TV at
home with my family. We are planning to go to the beach this summer
when my children have a long holiday after a school year.
Part III
Topic: Describe a teacher who has influence you
- His/ her appearance
- His/ her personality
- His/ her influences
- Your own ideas
The teacher who influences me most is my former teacher in grade
- Her name was Hong, she was 32, and she looked quite younger
than her age. She taught us Literature. My classmate and I loved her
so much because she taught very well, and she was very kind. We
often shared our ideas and problems with her. She rarely told our
secrets to our parents but tried to talk to us and suggested ways to
solve.
Follow up questions:
- When did she/ he teach you?
- My teacher taught me when I was in grade 10 at high school. She
taught me for three years until I graduated.
- Do you still in touch with him/ her?
- Yes, I do. I sometimes phone and talk to her, I want to know about
her health and we recall all our memories. She is retired now.
- How often do you see him/ her?
- Sometimes, you know, I am very busy now with my family and my
job, and now I live far from my hometown, I really want to see her very
often but I can only do this when I have a lot of time.
CODE 07
Part I:
- When is the best time to come to your hometown? Why?
- The best time to come to my hometown is in the summer. You can
go all over my country and my hometown ti visit the beautiful views,
specially a lot of wonderful beaches.
- What do you like best about your hometown?
- I like best about my hometown is the people, they are very honest,
hard-working and friendly, and they can help you whenever you need a
hand. Besides I also like many interesting places and the traditional
food…
- Do you think your hometown is the best place to grow up? Why/
Why not?
- Yes, I do. I think my hometown is the best place to grow up because I
used to live there and I love it. Moreover, the air here is fresh and the
people-my neighbors are very helpful and friendly, the food is very
delicious. It is a good environment to grow up.
- What does your best friend look like?
- My best friend is tall; she is beautiful, kind-hearted and has long
black hair. Her name is Mai, she is thirty years old, she works as a
doctor in the hospital where is not far from my house.
- How did you meet your best friend?
- I met her ten years ago. It was the first day of the beginning of term
at university. We started talking and became friends when we sat next
to each other to wait for the formality proceeding.
- In your opinion, what is the best quality of a good friend?
- The best quality of a good friend is loyalty and honesty. You can’t
share anything with a person who can give up on you easily, and of
course, you can’t trust anyone if you realize he or she is dishonest.
This kind of friend will give you the feeling of being unsafe.
Part II: Situation
Your friend is going to have his first date this weekend. He would like
you to give advice on where to go. There are THREE options for you to
choose:
- Restaurant
- Cinema
- Shopping malls
Which do you think is the best place for the first date?
- I think he should take his girlfriend to a restaurant to have a meal.
They can talk and share the time while having meal. There is a variety
of places for him to choose. He should ask the girl about the dish she
like and pick her up. When they are having dinner, they could talk to
know each other such as hobby, his or her family, work or something
like that. That is an amazing evening to move the next step in their
relationship. If they want to have a next date, going to the cinema or
going to shopping malls will be better instead of the first date.
Part III:
Topic: Airplane is the best transport means to travel long distance
- Time-saving
- Save
- Comfortable
- Your own ideas
I think that airplane is the best means of transport to travel long
distance for some reasons. Firstly, it is the quickest way to travel. It
takes you only 30 minutes to travel from Vinh city to Hanoi capital.
The second reason is that traveling by airplane is safe and
comfortable. You will not be stuck into the traffic jam like traveling by
cars, you just need to sit and enjoy your journey.
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- Bought some valuable things such as a car, a house or a piece of
land
- Gave some to a charity organization. Then, went travelling with your
family or friends with the rest.
Which will you choose?
- If I won the lottery of 1 billion VND, I would deposit all the money
in the bank to get the interest rate in banks in Vietnam increases day
by day. I can stay at home or do leisured work, and take some money
more from bank’s interest. I can earn some money without doing
anything from early morning to late night! It’s so interesting!
Part III:
Topic: How important are your friends to you?
- Share life
- Help
- Get together (have fun)
- Your own ideas
There’s an old saying “Tell me about your friend and I will tell you who
you are”. And of course, nobody can live without family and friends.
Friends are these ones who you share everything in life, and the ones
who help you when you have troubles. Whenever you have ones you
can confide in your friend and when you do that you can reduce your
stress and it can help you out of your problems with suitable solutions.
And you can have a lot of fun with your friends when you take part in
outdoor activities or go to some interesting places to stay and explore.
Sometimes you can organize a party to create a chance to connect
everyone together and have fun.
Follow up questions:
- Do you think you make friends easily? Why? / Why not?
- Well, I feel easy to make a new friend because I am a exalted
person. But in my point of view, to have a close friendship that is not
easy.
- What is the most important quality to you in a friend?
- Personally, I think loyalty is the most important quality in a true
friendship.
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- Do you sometimes get on with your friends better than with your
family? Why?/ Why not?
- Yes, of course. When I get into trouble or when I am upset, I often
talk to my best friends because they could give me their useful advice
which my parents sometimes cannot understand and tell me what
exactly I should do.
CODE 10
Part 1
- Which indoor games do you play regularly?
- I often play chess with my son sometimes play game on internet.
- Which indoor games are common in your hometown?
- Badminton is the most popular indoor sport in my hometown. It is
the simple sport because of playing easily. It makes people healthy
and funny. Most of the people love it very much.
- Do you take part in any outdoor sports regularly? (Which?)
- Yes, I do. The outdoor sports which I regularly play is soccer.
- How often do you do any exercise?
- I do exercise every day in the early morning because it makes
me feel stronger to start a new day.
- Do you prefer to exercise alone or in a class? Why?
- I prefer to exercise in a class because when many people doing
exercise makes me excited and doing better.
- What do you think is the best type of exercise? Why?
- I think the best type of exercise is yoga because both the old and
the young can do. Yoga is very light and easy to do. After doing yoga,
people feel better and free in mind.
Part II:
Situation: You are invited to a new working place. You have decided to
go. There are THREE reasons that make you go:
- You go because you are paid much higher than the old working
place
- You go because you are respected (needed) in a positive work
environment with high salary
- You go because it is simply that you will be paid higher and can do
whatever you want in a competitive work environment.
Which will you choose?
- I am an educated person and I am an expert in my field so I am
going to get a new job in a new working place where I will be paid
higher and I can do whatever I want in a competitive work
environment. People just improve their skills when put them in a
active work environment. So I can create in work or give ideas to
develop my ability. In addition, I will devote all my knowledge to my
working place.
Part III:
Topic: Crimes are increasing in modern society?
- DVD
- TV programmes
- Your own ideas
In the modern society, there are more and more crimes.
Unemployment, DVD, TV programme and the lack of education are the
causes of crime. We can see crimes everyday on TV, on newspaper
and they are increasing seriously. Moreover, the crime is younger than
before. They are not aware of their behavior and have no
responsibility for what they do. So the government should have better
rules to reduce crimes.
Follow up questions:
- What do you think are the causes of crime?
- People who are not well educated and are not taken care of often
do crime.
- Do DVDs and TV programmes about violent crime help to cause
more crime? Why?/ Why not?
- They are sometimes the cause of more crime because people
imitate things they watch from movies.
- Is prison really the answer to crime? Why?
- Partly, prison is the answer to crime. Because the government
bans the strict laws to reduce crime. But we need to improve people’s
awareness and have policy to decrease the rate of unemployment.
CODE 11
Let’s talk about rooms in your house
Which room in your house do you like best?
B1: I like the bedroom most because that is where I can relax after long
working day
B1: There are 5 rooms in my house including 2 bedrooms, a living room,
a kitchen and a bathroom. My favourite room is a living room because
this is a place where I can meet my friends and all my family members to
chat and talk about all things in life.
B2C1: Well, I live in a small house which is about 2 kilometres from the
city centre. There are 5 rooms in my house including 2 bedrooms, a living
room, a kitchen and a bathroom. My favourite room is a kitchen because
this is a place where I can meet all my family members to chat and talk,
and about all things in life during the meal. It’s also a good time for all
the members of my family to share the feelings and improve the better
understanding among us.
Examiner speaking: What do you like doing there?
B1: Just lie on my bed watching TV or read books to take a rest
B2C1: I like chatting with my family members in my kitchen. I think it’s a
good chance for all members of my family to be together and preseve
the cozy and close atmosphere of the family. To be honest, I release that
I have a highly-motivated feeling with all my heart for my family.
Examiner speaking: Do you like having guests in your room? Why? Why
not?
B1: In fact I am not really like having guests in my personal room as I
cannot do what I usually do.
B2C1: In my opinion, my own room is a personal space that I want to
keep for myself so that I rarely invite guests to my room except some
special situations like sickness, injuries…
Now, let’s talk about sports
Examiner speaking: Do you play any sports?
You know, playing sports is very important to our life because it helps us
to have good health and reduce stress after work. Moreover, sports
make us become more active and dynamic in our job and our life. Last
but not least, playing sports is considered as the best way to improve the
good relationship with other people. Recognizing the importances of
sports, I often play badminton at my school after I finish my work in the
afternoon.
Examiner speaking: What sports do you enjoy watching?
29
There are many kinds of sports that are often shown on TV every day,
but my favourite is watching football because it is the most popular
sport all
30
over the world and it is considered a King sport that is favourite by most
people. This kind of sport praises the strength of community and honors
the solidarity among the members of the team. Finally, it is easy to play
and suitable for both male and female.
Examiner speaking: What sports do you enjoy playing?
PART 2
Situation: Some of your friends are visiting you this weekend. You would
like to do something fun with them. What will you do?
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- Cook a meal together in your apartment.
- Go to a local restaurant together.
- Take your friends out for sightseeing.
C1: I am a quite good cook so whenever my friends visit me, they always
want to enjoy the food I prepare. Therefore I think we will cook a meal
together in my apartment.
Going to a local restaurant is also a good choice, but my friends usually
prefer to stay at home so that we have more time together while still
save money. I also like taking my friends out for sightseeing but the
weather at this time of the year is not really beautiful, therefore I think I
will choose the first option.
C2: In my opinion, there are some factors that affect job satisfaction
including qualifications, attitude to work and relationship with colleagues.
The first thing I want to talk about is qualification, which is one of the key
for anyone’s job satisfaction. When we are well-qualified, we feel so
confident to perform our work effectively and we can meet all the
requirements of the job. The next point is attitude to work, which plays a
huge role in how you perceive your job and your life in general. If you are
depressed, angry or frustrated, you're much less likely to be satisfied
with anything. Making a change to a positive attitude is a complex
process that requires a lot of work and a strong commitment. However,
over time, you can turn your internal dialogues around and start to see
most events in your life as positive and worthwhile. The last factor to
bring the job satisfaction is relationship with colleagues. If I have a good
relationship with my colleagues, they are willing to share and support me
in the best way for my job. Our job satisfaction may be broken when
we have to work with unhelpful or inactive and uncooperative
colleagues. I think the success or failure depends much on the
combination and the great effort of the team. Thus, good interaction
with colleagues is one of the most important parts that help us feel
satisfied with our job.
PART 3
Topic: Things that affect people’s job satisfaction?
Do you think companies should promote workers who are
experienced?
Do you think that workers should change companies often?
Why? Why not?
What is better motivated for workers? Salary or working
condition?
Relationship
with
colleagues
Your own ideas
Attitude to
work
There are a lot of factors that affect people’s job satisfaction. The first
factor is the qualifications workers own. If they have to do something
that they are not trained, it is difficult for them to do the job well.
Secondly is the attitude to work. If people can do the job they like, they
will become dedicated to it and always feel willing and happy. Another
factor that affects people’s job satisfaction is the relationship with
colleagues. Once they have good working environment with helpful and
friendly colleagues, people love their jobs more. Last but not least, the
working condition is also important in raising people’s job satisfaction as
I think every employee likes to work in modern office building with
enough equipment to support their job.
Do you think companies should promote workers who are experienced?
C1:Yes I think it’s a good idea to promote workers who are experienced
because they better understand their jobs and know how to deal with
various situations.
C2:I think one of the most essential requirements for workers who want
to perform their jobs effectively and successfully is “working
experience”. The more experienced workers are, the more
accomplishments companies can make because the workers who
have a lot of experience have a good sense of responsibility for their
work and they seem to have
Qualifications
Job satisfaction
35
Let’s talk about ways of relaxing
Examiner speaking: What do you do to relax?
- I usually stay at home to read some fantasy cartoon books or
something or only sleep to relax after a hard – working day.
Examiner speaking: Where do you want to go to relax?
- I and my friends always go to the cinema to enjoy new films at the
weekends and after that we go to the cafeteria and discuss about this
films. You know, it’s really good way to relax.
Examiner speaking: Do you like relaxing on your own or with other people?
- It depends on my mood really. After hard working, I just want to get
home and read a book or something to relax but sometimes I like to go
out and meet friends in the evening or play volleyball in a team at the
weekend.
Now, let’s talk about rooms at home
Examiner speaking: Which is the most important room in your house?
- It’s definitely my living room.
Examiner speaking: What make it important?
- Because of some reasons following. Firstly, it’s the room which is
decorated most beautifully in my house. Secondly, it’s is the place where
my family sit together to watch a TV after a long day. Thirdly, when my
friends come to see me, I can introduce to them a lot of family pictures
with a lot of family events in the living room
Examiner speaking: What do you do in the room
- In my living room, I always watch TV with my family at the weekend
evening. Moreover, it’s the place where I and my sister help each other to
play the piano.
Situation: Your university offers free courses for graduate students.
Which would you choose? There are THREE options for you to choose:
- A time-management course.
- A public speaking course.
- A team work course.
If I have a chance to join a free course that my university offers, a public
speaking course and team work course are not my choice because when
I study at university, presenting a project in front of my classmates and
working in groups or teams are considered usual and regular tasks I
have to perform, so they are very interesting and good but it is not as
necessary as a time-management. I want to join this course because, to
me, time is the most important and valuable property that people often
waste for useless activities. How to manage and use the time effectively
and efficiently during 24 hours is very necessary and if I can manage the
time suitably, I can do any things successfully and perfectly.
36
C1: There are a lot of things causing stress in life. Among those, the
biggest burdens for many people are job security, financial problem and
family life. For most people especially the young, finding a permanent job
is not easy. Sometimes they like the job but the salary is not enough for
their daily expense, sometimes though the payment is good, they still
decide to give up because it is too stressful or too dangerous. Finance is
also another big problem especially for married people as they need to
earn enough to support their family. Besides, family life sometimes
causes stress when the members of the family can’t share the feelings
and emotions with each other and they don’t spend enough time to be
together to do the same things. Last but not least, people today are
dealing with other stress in big cities like; pollution, traffic jam, limited
accommodation…..
C2: There are many stressful things in our modern life. First, money can
make us very tired because we have to think of how to earn money to
feed our family and how to keep and spend money reasonably. Second,
problems in our jobs can be a source of stress. If our company has
trouble, or our boss or workmates are not friendly, we’ll feel unhappy.
Last, family life can sometime be stressful. We often get tired when we
have problems with our partner or when our children do not behave well.
In conclusion, we are easy to get stress in modern life, so we need to
balance money, job, family life and our own interest.
What do you think is the best way to deal with stress?
C1: There are many ways to reduce stress for people in modern society
but I think the best way to deal with stress is relaxing whenever you have
free time.
C2: The best way to deal with stress is to think positively. If we have
good mind, we feel happy and we can forget about worries and pressure.
We can overcome difficulties and live better.
Do you think life was easier in the past?
C1; Yes, I do. Life in the past seems to be easier. People in the past seem
to be happier with their life. They don’t expect too much, so they do not
suffer from stress.
C2: It depends on the way of thinking of each person. Life in any time
past or present contains both advantages and disadvantages. However,
in most situations, we should have a positive side in life and always feel
to have a motivation in a better future.
Do you think people should take regular break during work hours?
C1: Of course not, although you have to spend a lot of time on working
but I think it should have fixed time to have a break. If not, it affects the
process of working.
C2: Yes, I do. People should have some kind of regular breaks during
working hours so that they have more energy to work better later.
SPEAKING 14
Let’s talk about films
Examiner speaking: Do you like films?
- Oh yes, I really like watching movies especially cartoon movies.
Examiner speaking: What type of films do you like?
- As I said, I really like cartoon movies because it helps me to relax after
working hard
Examiner speaking: Who do you enjoy watching films with?
- I always watching film with my children because they are interested in
cartoon movies like me.
Now, let’s talk about mobile phones
Examiner speaking: Do you use a mobile phone?
Yes, of course. It’s one of the most important equipment to me.
Examiner speaking: What are the good points of mobile phones?
There are a lot of advantages of mobile phones. Firstly, it’s a good way to
communicate with distant people. Secondly, mobile phone is very useful
because you can access the internet, check your email or even listen to
music or watch movie.
Examiner speaking: What are the bad points of mobile phones?
You know, nowadays there are a lot of people much depend on mobile
phones. So I think it wastes a lot of time phoning and messaging on
mobile phones and many people are wasting much money buying
fashionable smart phone in order to satisfy their tendency’s demand or
their interests. Moreover, the wave of mobile phone, according to
statistics, is not good for our health if we use it continously and regularly.
Situation: A student wants to do a part-time job where he can practice
his English. Which job would be best for him?
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- A job at a souvenir shop
- A job at a travel agency
- A job at a take-away shop
There are a lot of part time jobs for example student can work in a
souvenir shop or a travel agency or a take-away shop… However, if he
wants to practice his English, I think a job at travel agency is the best
suitable for him. You know, working at travel agency, you can be a
temporary guide in English. For example, guiding a group of Australian
tourists visiting Hanoi, you can practice English to describe and present
about Hanoi’s sightseeing…
39
C1; Fast food is now really popular in the modern world. Though it has
some benefits like helping people save time, it has a lot of disadvantages.
Firstly, family gathering may become less than before as family
members do not need to help each other prepare food. What’s more,
people eating too much fast food risk losing appetite due to the similar
flavor of different fast food. In addition, fast food makes people forget
their regular eating time which may causes some disorder of the
digesting organs. Thus, it can be seen that fast food is not good for our
health.
C2: There are many negative effects of fast food. First, we may lack of
family gathering when we do not spend enough time eating at home but
fast food restaurant. Second, if we eat a lot of fast food, we may lose our
appetite because it has a lot of oil and artificial spices. Last, we may
have irregular eating time, so it’s not good for our health. In conclusion,
eating too much fast food can have some bad effects, so we should
avoid eating lots of fast food.
40
Cau 1: C1: Nowadays, People eat fast food because of some reasons.
Firstly, it’s very convenient because they can save time make dinner after
a hard working day. Secondly, fast food is usually much cheaper than
home made meals and have a meal in restaurants. Moreover, Fast food
is decorated very colorfully and its flavour is very attractive and delicious.
C2: People eat fast food because it’s fast and convenient. It’s suitable for
busy people in our busy modern life.
Cau 2: However, fast food menu items are high not only in fat but also in
sugar. Most fast food are cooked in fat like French Fries and Donuts…
Moreover, it takes in large amounts of sugar. It leads to undesirable
weight gain and many other health issues. Last but not least, fast food is
often stored for a long time with a lot of preservation so that it can have a
bad effect on people’s health.
Cau 3: I think people should be aware of the disadvantages of eating
from fast food. We should be careful before considering fast food as a
best choice for their menu. Fast food is convenient in modern society but
it also contains a lot of negative sides that damage people’s health if we
use it regularly.
Speaking 15
Part 1:
Let’s talk about sports.
Examiner speaking:Do you prefer indoor or outdoor sports? Why?
I like outdoor sports because it has more exciting atmosphere
Examiner speaking: Which sports do you like best? Why?
I like football because each match brings a lot of surprises
Examiner speaking:Do you know why people like to play sports?
It is good for their health and helps them feel relaxed
Now, let’s talk about fast food.
Examiner speaking: What kind of fast food do you like best?
I like chicken best
Examiner speaking: Is fast food good for your health? Why?/ Why not?
Of course not I think. It is not organic food and may result in obesity
Examiner speaking: In your opinion, why is fast food popular?
it helps people save time.
PART 2
Situation: Your friend is going on a long journey by train on his own.
Which do you think is the best way to pass time on a long journey?
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- Talking to other people
- Reading books
- Sleeping
In my opinion, the best way to pass time on a long journey is to talk to
other people. When talking you may forget everything around you and
just focus on your chat. I don’t think that reading books is good because
on a journey as our eyes may become tired. Moreover, we can get train-
sick because of concentrating on reading. Sleeping is also a good way to
pass the time but we cannot socialize with others while sleeping. So for
me talking to other people is the best choice
There are many ways to stay healthy. Firstly people can do physical
exercises at home or go to the gyms to practice with different equipment.
People should also pay attention to their diets. Having good diets help
them get enough nutrition for their daily work and therefore feel
energetic and never be distracted by hunger. Another contribution to
healthy lifestyle is sufficient relaxation which helps people release stress
and feel happy all the time. So, having good diets, doing physical
exercises frequently and having enough relaxation play important roles in
keeping our life healthy.
- Do you think people today care about their health more than they did in
the past?
Yes I think so. I agree that people today pay more attention to their
health than in the past because the standard of living is much more
improved than in the past. Moreover, recognizing the importance of
health in our life is very important and people’s life in modern society is
facing many serious diseases like cancer, obesity, stress….so that people
nowadays usually go to hospital to check their health regularly.
- Do you think happy people are healthier than angry people?
Yes, sure. Happy people are more relaxed and they usually have an
optimistic view about life. When we have a positive thinking about life,
we become healthier. In contrast, angry people tend to make their life
become worse and they always feel stressful and feel uncomfortable
about life. This thing leads to some serious problems to their health.
- Could you recommend some kinds of exercises that are good for health?
I think all forms of exercise are good for people but I prefer sports like
swimming, badminton, tennis.
SPEAKING 15
Let’s talk about sports.
- Do you prefer indoor or outdoor sports? Why?
To be honest, I prefer spending all my leisure time playing outdoor sports
because outdoor activities will help me become more healthy, bring me
be closer with nature and expand my relationships.
- Which sports do you like best? Why?
Football, of course, to me, this is the best team sport and it teaches me
to be responsible and try my best for the whole team.
- Do you know why people like to play sports?
Well, I think people are keen on playing sports because it’s fun, it helps
them to relax after a long day working and it’s great to enjoy the feeling
of a winner.
- What kind of fast food do you like best?
To be honest, I’m not a fan of fast food. But I love hamburger. It is so
tasty with a hunk of ground beef served between two pieces of bun-
configured bread and a variety of toppings and condiments.
- Is fast food good for your health?
Not really, fast food contains large amounts of carbohydrates, added
sugar, fats and salt. But I eat it anyway because it’s tasty and convenient.
- In your opinion, why is fast food popular?
Well, people now are so busy at work that they can hardly prepare a meal
by themselves. That’s why fast food is much preferred. Not only does it
taste good but it also helps people to save time and energy for other
3
Examiner speaking: What do you usually do when you are upset?
Sometimes I listen to upbeat music to cheer myself up, but sometimes I
4
like to listening to sad songs that really suits my mood at that time.
Examiner speaking: What’s the weather like today?
Today it’s a bit too cold and windy. Elderly people and children can easily
get sick these days.
Examiner speaking: Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Why?
I prefer cold weather to hot weather. Because in hot weather I feel very
uncomfortable. I hate sweat. Moreover, in winter, my skin becomes
prettier. I love winter fashion too.
Examiner speaking: Could you recommend some activities to do in
different kinds of weather?
In hot weather, you can go swimming, play beach volleyball, or play in
waterparks. While in cold weather, you can go to the gymnastics, go
jogging and running in the morning. You can even go skating.
PART II:
Situation: A group of people is planning a trip from Thai Nguyen to Ha
Giang. Could you suggest the best means of transport? Which do you
think is the best choice?
There are THREE options for you to choose:
I choose coach because coach is safe, cheap and comfortable. The
distance from Thai Nguyen to Ha Giang is about 250 km and it takes
about 4.5 hours or 5 hours to travel. Going by coach is relaxing and the
cheapest among the three options. You can even sightsee through the
coach window. Moreover, you can reach almost exactly where you want
to arrive at by coach because it is easy to travel in roads. Travelling by
train is noisy and more costly and boats can give you seasickness which
is really awful. More importantly, you have to take taxies or buses from
train station or boat port if you want to reach the place.
PART III: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT (~ 5 mins)
PART III:
Reading is an important skill that all parents need to encourage their
children to master. A person who can read well is more likely to perform
well in school, graduate from college, and get a higher paying job.
Obviously, reading expands a child’s vocabulary, introduces them to
different writing styles and techniques, requires them to understand
complex ideas, and exposes them to new ideas and knowledge that
covers a wide variety of topics.
- What is the difference between the kinds of books read by your parents’
generation and those read by your generation?
Due to different time and circumstances, our parents’ generation and our
generation have distinguished kinds of book to read. My parents often
read books about Vietnamese histories, about Uncle Ho, feng-shui, about
how to do proper offerings to the ancestors, while I like reading romantic,
detective novels, newspapers on economy, technology, entertainment,
celebrities, etc.. My parents’ generation tends to like Vietnamese
traditional things or something in the past while my generation loves
books about updated and modern things.
- Do you think that governments should support free books for all people?
Topic: Reading should be encouraged among teenagers.
- What is the difference between the kinds of books read by
your parents’ generation and those read by your generation?
- Do you think that governments should support free books for
all people? - In what way can parents help children develop
their interest in reading?
Not really. I think governments should support free books for poor
people in difficulties, for those who can just afford their basic needs. For
other people, books should not be free because books are of precious
intellectual property, people should pay to read and master the
knowledge.
- In what way can parents help children develop their interest in reading?
Parents can provide a good role model by reading themselves and
reading often to their child.
They can provide varied reading materials: some for reading enjoyment
and some with information about hobbies and interests, for example,
about animals, drawing, cooking, etc..
They can encourage activities that require reading, for example, cooking
(reading a recipe), constructing a kite (reading directions), etc..
Establish one evening a week for reading (instead of watching TV).
1
SPEAKING TEST 17
Let’s talk about your cooking.
Examiner speaking: Who does the cooking in your family?
Everyday, my mother and I do the cooking in my family
Examiner speaking: Do you think cooking is a task that only women
should do? Why?/ Why not?
In my opinion, cooking is a task that both men and women should do
because the men should help the women cook whenever they are busy in
their jobs or assist them for the family’s parties or celebrations
Examiner speaking: Do you like cooking by yourself? Why?/ Why not?
I strongly like cooking because it helps me to improve my own skills of
cooking and I am very glad when I try my best to cook for meals for my
family. I think all members in my family are also happy to enjoy them.
Now, let’s talk about TV programs.
Examiner speaking: What’s the worst TV programs you’ve ever seen?
- I find TV programs very interesting and useful so I think they are not too
bad.
Examiner speaking: How much TV do you watch every day?
- Because I am very busy in work so I don’t have much time to watch TV.
I only wacth TV in the evening with my family.
Examiner speaking: What are some advantages of watching TV?
Nowadays, television has become the most popular media of human.
There are many advantages of watching TV. At first, TV programs
provide us with useful information about science, nature, society,
entertainment, etc. Secondly, by watching TV, we can see many things
happened all over the world. Finally, watching TV helps us relax after
strained working hours.
2
PART II: Situation: Your brother is going to hold his wedding. He would
like you to give advice on who should be invited. Which do you think is
the best choice?
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- All acquaintances
- Only close people
- Only the ones that invited you to their weddings
The answer:
In my opinion, only inviting close people is the best choice for my
brother’s wedding. As you can see, the wedding is seemed to be the
most important event in life, therefore, inviting close people such as
relatives, neighbors or close friends to the wedding has become a
general rule. The presence of close people will make you happy from
their congratulations and they may help you to prepare for your wedding.
Two left choices are really unreasonable. Inviting all acquaintances
may make your family confused. Your family can not control the number
of guests invited to the party and accommodate them considerately.
Inviting only the ones that invited you to their wedding makes your
wedding no longer significant in the event that you don’t want to invite
them for any reason. Moreover, there is a bad case that they come to the
party as a duty or responsibility when they only give you an envelope with
money and come back home.
PART III: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT (~ 5 mins)
Examiner speaking
There are some negative sides of watching TV a lot among children. The
Topic: Too much TV can harm children.
How much TV is enough for children?
Do you think that governments should limit the programs for
children? Why?/ Why not?
How can parents control what their children watch on TV?
Affect children’s behaviour
first point I want to say here is that watching TV can affect children’s
behavior. Nowadays, TV programs show a lot of violent scenes that
make children tend to imitate their actions and become more aggressive.
This is very dangerous because the children’s behavior becomes out of
control and they can break the laws. Moreover, watching TV a lot can
make the children’s eyes tired because they have to look at the screen
for a long time in a short distance. This thing can cause some problems
to their eyes. Next, the children who spend much time sitting in front of
TV become more passive and lazier. They rarely move their body parts
and they become a coach potato that is one of the main reasons for over
weight problems. Besides some disadvantages of watching TV such as
affecting children’s behavior, causing eye-diseases or overweight
problems, I think watching TV too much result in poor social
development. Children who watched excessive television as less
cooperative, less imaginative, less enthusiastic about learning, and less
happy than those who watched little or no TV.
How much TV is enough for children?
In my opinion, children should spend less than one hour watching TV in
their free time.
Do you think that governments should limit the programs for children?
Why?/ Why not?
Government should develop the useful programs that help children
develop comprehensively and some entertainment programs should be
encourage for relaxing them after strained studying hours. Government
should limit violent programs that are not good for children because
those programs affect their behavior.
How can parents control what their children watch on TV?
I think there are some ways that help parents control what their children
watch on TV. The first way is that parents should choose the suitable
channels that are appropriate for children’s age and give them the fixed
time to watch every day. Moreover, parents should find the ways to lock
the bad programs that can have a bad effect on children’s development.
More importantly, parents should create healthy environment for children
to play and study from the outside world by encouraging them to take
part in outdoor activities that make children healthier and more active,
dynamic rather than watching TV at home. Finally, parents should give
some punishment to children if they don’t obey parents’ rules.
SPEAKING TEST 18
Let’s talk about money.
Money
How much did you spend last week?
As usual, I spend 300,000vnd per week. But last week, I had to buy a gift
for my mother for her birthday. Therefore, the total amount of money I
spent last week was 800,000vnd.
What do you spend most of your money on?
I spend most of my money on books because I like reading. Each month,
I use the considerable amount of money to buy some books of my
favorite authors.
Can money buy happiness? Why?/ Why not?
In my personal opinion, money cannot buy happiness. Money can buy
things that make us feel good in the short time. Money just helps us
cover our needs. For example, when we are hot and we need an ice
cream, we can use money to get it, then we feel happy. However, when
we don’t feel hot, eating an ice cream will not make us happy anymore.
Shopping
What is your favorite place to shop?
I like to go shopping at a small shop near my department because it
takes me few minutes to go on foot and it has reasonable prices.
What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Where and why
did you buy it?
Last Saturday was my mother’s birthday. Because it’s winter, I bought
her a wool scarf of a famous brand at the mall. It was blue, which was
my mother’s favorite color. Having seen this gift, she was extremely
happy.
Do you prefer going shopping on your own or going with other people?
Why?
I tend to go shopping with my friend especially whenever I go to buy
clothes. We go window shopping before deciding what we buy. She is
really an expert in shopping. She gave me a lot of useful advice. I am very
excited to go shopping with her.
Part 3: I think knowing a new language is really good. Firstly,
language and culture are closely related. When you know a new
language, you know a new culture also. You understand what people
like to do or hate to do. You are living another life. Secondly, you can
get a lot of information easily. Therefore you can show your own
ideas and become smarter.
- If I introduce to foreign learners, I will introduce them our poems
because I like it so much
- No, British and Vietnamese behave differently
SPEAKING TEST 20
Let’s talk about secondary schools around where you live.
Are there many secondary schools where you live?
Yes there are. Exactly 3, my neighborhood is quite populous, so
there are a lot of children. Therefore, there is a need for schools,
especially secondary schools. And a new school is now being built,
which will be a modern school in both facilities and teaching
methods.
What do these schools have in common?
Well, they are all newly built and equipped with modern facilities,
such as new desks and chairs, televisions, air-conditioners,
projectors, and so on. In addition, the teachers are quite young but
well trained. They are very lovely and enthusiastic.
In what ways do you think schools play an important part in the
Vietnamese educational system?
Schools do play an important role in Vietnamese educational system.
Schools provide talented people. As we all know, in Vietnam
education mostly means schooling. We have kindergarten, primary
schools, secondary schools, high schools, universities and colleges
and even higher levels. Schools are the main source of talented
personnel supply. Of course, there are many talented people who do
not receive schooling, but the number of these people is too small.
When did you start learning English?
I started to learn English when I was young, exactly when I was in
grade 3. I first had English lessons then.
Do you think English is a good subject for students to learn at school?
Why/ Why not?
I think English is definitely a good subject for students to learn at
school, and even the best. English has so many advantages and
applications in future job and without English people will have a lot
of difficulties in the current context of integration.
Do you think that students are learning too many subjects at school
now?
Yes, I do. There are too many subjects that they have to take.
Especially primary school students have to learn so many subjects, a
lot of which I think are useless for them. And students need time for
relax and playing, but entertainment time is quite out of their reach
now.
PART II: Situation: You are planning to take your students to
participate in outdoor activities. Which do you think is the most
suitable one for your students?
THREE options of activities are suggested:
- visiting the zoo
- camping
- drawing
I am planning to take my students to participate in an outdoor
activity and I plan to take them to the zoo. I know my students really
like animals. Going to the zoo helps them to widen their knowledge
and satisfy their interest. And I think Thu Le Zoo is quite suitable a
place for us to go to. It is quite large with a lot of games for children
to play. But most importantly, there are a lot of cages of animals
which students cannot see at any other places. And my plan for that
day is that we will start off in the morning, go around the zoo and
sightsee and play games for about three hours, then at noon we
leave the zoo for a restaurant for lunch. While having lunch, I will ask
students to talk about their feelings after the trip. This is really
necessary, giving them an opportunity to express themselves, talking
about what they have learned from the trip, and especially enhancing
their love for nature and animals. I hope the trip will raise their
awareness of protecting nature and animals and at the same time,
provide them with interesting and enjoyable moments.
PART III:
Topic: Marking by teachers at school is good for students.
- marking motivates students to learn
- marking creates a competitive learning environment
- marking facilitates students with better teaching methods.
- Your own idea.
What are the downsides of overuse of punishment at school?
Marking by teachers at school is good for students. In my opinion,
this is true in four aspects.
First, marking motivates students to learn. Students always want
their efforts to be recognized and marking is an effective method to
do so. If s student gets a good grade, which means their
achievement is recorded, he will tries his best to have good results
again and again.
Second, marking creates a competitive learning environment. When
a student in class gets good grades and is praised before the class,
others definitely want the same. And they will make continuous
efforts to have good results, too.
Third, marking facilitates students with better teaching methods.
Traditional teaching methods do not always work and there are
needs for better ones. And marking makes it easy for students in
learning.
Finally, my own opinion is that marking is a mirror of student’s
capabilities. Though this is not absolute, to some extent marking
reflects a student’s efforts and is a measure to evaluate their
abilities.
Anyway, marking is effective.
Do you think marking by teachers to students at school should be
encouraged?
Yes, I do. Marking will help reinforce students’ studying morale. And
without marking, a big number of students will not pay attention to
studying, no pressure and then no efforts made.
Do you think teachers’ marking at school always work?
Not always. Sometimes marking causes pressure on students, and
so many students as well as parents are stressed and even
obsessed to try to get good marks.
What are the downsides of overuse of punishment at school?
Overuse of punishment has some drawbacks. Punishment makes
students lose their interest in studying. Punished students get bored
and depressed, so they cannot concentrate to continue to study.
Punishment also makes students afraid of studying. They will look at
studying with a pessimistic view that studying is stressful and full of
punishment and no joy at all.
In conclusion, I think punishment should be abolished
SPEAKING TEST 21
Let’s talk about health.
Examiner speaking: What do people where you live do to keep fit?
They often play sport to keep fit.
Examiner speaking: Do you think that they are practising in the right
way?
Yes, I do.
Examiner speaking: In what ways is doing gyms good or not good for
old people?
Doing gym everyday enables older men and women to not only live
longer, but also to extend their active involvement in all levels of
society. Lots of older people use gyms and feel better for it. Doing
gym is an effective intervention for improving physical functioning in
older people, including improving strength and the performance of
some simple and complex activities. It had a small but significant
effect on improving physical ability and on reducing some pain on
old people. In fact, gym is good but the elder should choose suitable
type of exercise to their physical ability.
Now, let’s talk about healthcare service where you live.
Examiner speaking: What do people in your area usually do when
they have health problems?
People often talk to friends, family, and coworkers to find out the
best doctor who can treat them, after that they go to see him/her for
checking their health problems as well as asking for
recommendations. Some others can check with their insurance plan
for a list of doctors in the area. Then they go to a local hospital,
medical center, or nearby medical school.
Examiner speaking: Do you think that it is good to open private
clinics?
In addition to public health care providers such as primary care
doctors and hospitals, many private clinics offering specialized
services also operate. I think that it is good to open private clinics
because they typically offer services with reduced wait times
compared to the public health care system. Moreover, in private
hospitals your treatment is usually in a private room which has hotel
type services such as TV, menu choices etc., at a time to suit you.
Examiner speaking: What are the downsides of having too many
private clinics?
It makes more and more people confused about the private health
care choices available to them. People tend to compare hospitals
relative to infection rates, degrees of surgical success, and many
other metrics. When we are able to do this, hospitals will be driven by
quality, service, and cost — all of which will be necessary to compete.
Therefore, too many private hospitals means that there is an open
competitive market. We know what happens in this environment.
There are winners and losers. As a result, many clinics with
expensive and modern equipment will be closed which wastes a lot
of money.
PART II: Situation: You are planning to take your secondary students
to participate in outdoor activities. Which do you think are the most
preferable to them?
THREE options of dressing for girls are suggested:
- uniforms
- selected tops and shorts
- skirts
I think that selected tops and shorts and skirts are popular
costumes that make students more active and dynamic but they are
not suitable male students. Uniforms may be the best choice
because of the following reasons. The first reason is that uniforms
highly appreciate the community. All the rich and the poor are the
same. There is no difference and inequality between male and
female. Moreover, when students put on uniforms they feel so proud
of their school and have a sense of responsibility to keep their
school’s reputation. Finally, uniforms make all students look more
formal.
PART III: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT (~ 5 mins)
At several universities worldwide, staffs are required to wear
university uniforms. Wearing uniform does have its advantages. One
of the main advantages of uniforms is the reality that every staff
looks the same so they are easily recognized. Staffs who don’t have
enough means to buy expensive and fashionable clothes can surely
benefit from this. They also save quite a bit of money, not having to
buy the latest clothing to wear.
University uniforms are a form of unity in the school, wherein the
staff wears the same uniform that gives them the identity. This
surely gives them the identity from other school and they will look
good. If they are wearing the uniform that identifies them with a
certain university or school, people will able to distinguish them.
Another advantage of wearing university uniform is the staff can feel
proud because of the feeling that they belong to a certain university.
Just wearing the uniform together with its logo can provide them the
best chance to feel proud of their university.
Wearing uniform is also important for staff to save time changing
clothes or outfits because they are trying to figure out the right
combination of shirt, pants, blouse or skirt. This makes it easy for
them to save time because they just need to wear their uniform
when going to university.
Staffs don’t have to compete with their colleagues because everyone
wears the same thing. In order to “fit in” many people feel pressured
to buy expensive clothing.
In conclusion, for all the advantages above, we should have uniforms
for staffs at university.
Let’s talk about restaurants.
Examiner speaking: Tell me about your favourite restaurant.
Examiner speaking: What is your opinion of foreign food?
Examiner speaking: Why do people like to eat out?
People eat out for many reasons. Some people like to eat out
because they do not like to cook and do the washing up on their own.
Some people like to eat out because they can have food they do not
know how to cook at home. People might go out to eat if they are in
a hurry. At some restaurants, food is prepared quickly or comes
already prepared and ready to eat. If a person does not have the time
to cook a meal, he may go out to eat. Many people go out to eat for
special occasions. If a person has a birthday, for example, she may
invite her friends and family to a restaurant for a meal. By going out,
the person and her friends can enjoy a birthday celebration without
having to worry about preparing food or washing up.
Now, let’s talk about relaxation
Examiner speaking: What activities can people do to relax?
Listening to your favorite song is one of the best ways to relax.
Sometimes belting out the lyrics to a favorite tune makes everything
seem all right and classical music can be especially relaxing right
before bedtime. Talking to a friend is also a good way to reduce
stress. When something’s really bothering you, it can help to share
your feelings with a pal. In fact, more talkative folks tend to be
happier in general. So people tend to go to a coworker or call a close
family member and spill.
Examiner speaking: Tell me about how you like to relax.
Examiner speaking: In what ways can you relax without spending any
money?
Situation: You are planning a holiday and you will be staying in a
hotel. You will decide which feature you consider to be the most
important when choosing a hotel to stay in.
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- The location of the hotel.
- The comfort of the hotel room.
- Reasonable price.
When having a holiday, your accommodation choice is very
important because it can make or break your holidays. In my opinion,
the location of the hotel is not very important because I will go by my
private car so I can travel everywhere I want without any worrying
about the distance. Costs are another important consideration here
but I have affordability so I do not care about the price. I only want to
make sure to check whether the hotel prices are all-inclusive or not.
I consider the convenience of the hotel the most important when
choosing a hotel to stay. Travelling, either by land or air, can be
exhausting. So I would be looking forward to a comfortable and
convenient stay when I arrive in my destination. Therefore, my hotel
should have the amenities that would help me relax and unwind.
Things like a cozy room, a soft bed, or a pool spa are a big plus. I can
check these, as well as the type of service they give, by reading
reviews or guest testimonials on the Internet. Also, safety and
security should not be overlooked when selecting accommodation.
PART III:
Topic: Living in the countryside?
Do you think companies should promote workers who are
experienced?
Do you think that workers should change companies often? Why?
Why not?
What is better motivated for workers? Salary or working condition?
Living in the countryside has a lot of advantages. As the advantage
we can consider the fact that the country is less polluted and the
traffic isn't so heavy. You are fit and you don't need to worry about
your health condition, because in the countryside the air and water
are so clean. In the country there are many plant species. In the
country you are free to admire the breathtaking landscapes such as
huge meadows, peaceful hills or forests. You can enjoy walking in
the forest and picking mushrooms or hunting. Moreover, living in the
countryside is cheaper than it is in the city, so you probably may
afford many other things, because the prices are lower. What is more,
you can invite your friends to the barbecue organized in your garden.
It would be great! The other positive side is the safety. In the rural
area the crime rate is much lower. There aren't a lot of housebreaks
and the possibility of burglary is also lower. In the countryside people
usually and keep eyes on neighbour's estates. They always react
when something strange is happening. Country life is very peaceful
and silent. You will enjoy the feeling of peace.
You also feel closer to nature in the country, you are woken up by the
singing of the birds rather than by the noise from the traffic. Homes
in the countryside are surrounded by nature which has a soothing
effect on both the mind and the body. In the country, you do not have
to leave your home to feel closer to nature because here, the nature
comes to you and it is quite common to see wildlife such as birds,
butterflies, hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits and even deer from your
backyard.
Living in the countryside, you have good neighbours. In the country,
everyone knows everyone and people actually say ‘hello’.
Communities in the country are much smaller but they are more
connected and open. People in the country are really friendlier and
are prepared to help without asking anything in return.
To sum up, I think that living in the country may have a lot of
advantages such as fresh air, breathtaking landscape, comfort and
lovely neighbours, but a lot of people decide to stay in the city, due to
the fact that the life in the town is easier.
SPEAKING TEST 24
PART I: SOCIAL INTERACTION (~ 3 mins)
Let’s talk about housework.
Examiner speaking: How do you share housework in your family?
( nư ̃
tra ̉
lơ ̀
i) In my family I often prepare meals and wash clothes
while my husband does some technical work like repairing things.
However sometimes when I am busy, my husband helps me to cook.
( nam tra ̉
lơ ̀
i) In my family my wife often prepares meals and
washes clothes and I some technical work like repairing things.
However sometimes when my wife is busy, I am willing to help her
to cook.
Examiner speaking: Do you think children should help with the
housework?
Yes, I totally agree that children should help their parents do the
housework that are suitable with their ages
Examiner speaking: What are some of the things that your family
usually do together?
We usually watch TV together in the evening. Sometimes at
weekends we go out to eat in a restaurants or travel to some new
places
Now, let’s talk about fashion.
Examiner speaking: Do you try to follow the latest fashion?
Not usually but sometimes in fact. Although I am not really
fashionable, I think that I should keep up to date with new fashion to
keep my image in other people’s eyes.
Examiner speaking: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
in fact I like dress most as I think I look more attractive when
wearing dress
Examiner speaking: Which do you prefer, shopping in a small shop or
a supermarket?
In fact I like shopping in a supermarket more because I think it’s
more convenient. There are lots of things in a supermarket so I can
buy almost everything I want without having to travel to different
places.
Part II: SOLUTION DISCUSSION (~4 mins)
Examiner speaking: Alright. Thank you. That is the end of Part I. Now
let's move to Part II. In this part of the speaking test, you will be given
a situation with THREE options. You have to choose ONE to argue on.
You will have to say which option you will follow and explain why.
You will also have to say why you haven't chosen the other two
options. You have ONE minute to prepare your talk and TWO minutes
to talk. Here is the situation.
Situation: You are giving a short talk on language learning. You will
decide which activity is the best way to learn a new language.
There are THREE options for you to choose:
- Join a class.
- Self-study.
- Talk to native speakers
In learning a language, there are many different options such as
joining a class, learning by oneself and talking to native speakers. In
my opinion, talking to native speakers is the best way to acquire a
new language. Communicating with native speakers can help people
make sure whether they can make themselves understood. What is
more, it is a great chance for language learners to practise their
pronunciation and sharpen their communicating skills. Besides,
having talks with foreigners can act as a motivation for language
learners. Joining a class is also a good way but looking for a good
classroom is not an easy job. Self-studying is necessary in language
learning, however it is more suitable for language learners of high
level than low level ones. All things considered, I believe that talking
to native speakers is the best way to learn a language.
Part III: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT (~ 5 mins)
Being famous, in fact, is not always advantageous. Famous people
usually feel stressful as they need to meet people’s expectations.
Sometimes they need to try their best to keep their image good and
therefore do not dare to show their real feelings. Being famous
means being followed by many people. This naturally put pressure
on famed people, they need to perform well every time, everywhere
and are easy to be depressed once they cannot do their job perfectly.
The biggest problem is that famous people normally lose their
privacy. Nearly everything that they do can be released on
newspaper. Thus, not only famous people but also their family
members are irritated sometimes. So, I think, being famous is, in fact,
not always good.
- Which qualities should a famous person have?
I think they should have good communication skills because they
need to work with a lot of people and keep their image good.
Topic: Being famous?
- Which qualities should a famous person have?
- Why does the young generation copy them?
- If you had a chance to become famous, who would you like to
become?
- Why does the young generation copy them?
Young people are usually affected by their idols. They tend to try to
imitate their idols’ styles and actions. I think it’s because young
people think famous people have fashionable styles and they look
more modern if wearing similar to them.
- If you had a chance to become famous, who would you like to
become?
I would like to become Taylor Swift. She’s smart, elegant and does
not have any scandals.
SCRIPT FOR SPEAKING TEST 25
LEVELS 3 – 5
PART I: SOCIAL INTERACTION (~ 3 mins)
Let’s talk about friends.
Examiner speaking: Could you tell me about your best friend?
My best friend is Trọng. He’s a very good friend. He shares with
me everything in life and gives me a lot of useful advice.
Examiner speaking: What is important about a friend for you?
I think a true friend is someone who understand me and I can trust,
who share my happiness and my sorrow
Examiner speaking: What kind of people do you like to spend time
together with?
I would like to spend time with optimistic people as they seem to be
happy all the time. Spending time with them makes me feel relaxed
Now, let’s talk about houses.
Examiner speaking: Would you rather live in a big city or in the
country? Why?
I would like to live in a big city because it is very convenient. There
