TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC TÀI CHÍNH – MARKETING

KHOA NGOẠI NGỮ

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TÀI LIỆU ÔN TẬP SPEAKING – WRITING

Nhóm biên soạn - Khoa Ngoại ngữ

(Lưu hành nội bộ)

TP. Hồ Chí Minh, ngày 15 tháng 6 năm 2024

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PHẦN 1. SPEAKING
Part 1: Social Interaction (Tương tác xã hội)
Thời gian: 3 phút
Kĩ năng kiểm tra: Trả lời phỏng vấn, giao tiếp xã hội, mô tả, giải thích và mô tả một vấn đề cụ
thể
Hình thức: Thí sinh được cho 02 chủ đề.
Mỗi chủ đề có 3 câu hỏi. Thí sinh không được biết trước câu hỏi và không có thời gian chuẩn
bị cho câu trả lời.
Yêu cầu: Thí sinh sẽ nói về một hoặc cả hai chủ đề (không cần theo thứ tự). (theo Quyết đi ̣nh
số: 730/QĐ-BGDĐT)
TIPS:
- Answer at least 2-3 sentences for each question.
- Stay on the topic and give extra information (reason for your answer as well)
- Use linking words.
- Never speak as if you memorize the answer.
COMMON CONNECTIVE WORDS
Addition Sequence Consequence Contrast
In addition Firstly As a result However
Similarly Initially Thus On the other hand
As well as Secondly Therefore Despite
Furthermore To begin with Consequently In spite of
Moreover Next It follows that Though
Not only ... but also Earlier/Later Thereby Although
Besides this/that After this/that Eventually On the contrary
Following this/that In that case Otherwise
Afterwards Admittedly Whereas
Certainly Condition Example Summary
Undoubtedly If For instance In conclusion
Obviously Unless One example In summary
Certainly Whether For example Lastly
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Plainly Provided that Just as Finally

Of course Depending on To illustrate To sum up

1. Let’s talk about daily routine.

- Can you describe your typical day?
- What do you usually do in the morning?
- How do you like to spend your weekends?
2. Let’s talk about travel and holidays.
- What kind of places do you like to visit?
- Do you prefer traveling alone or with others? Why?
- Can you share a memorable travel experience?
3. Let’s talk about sports and fitness.
- What is your favorite sport?
- Do you prefer to exercise alone or with a partner? Why?
- What are your ways to stay fit and healthy?
4. Let’s talk about your hometown.
- What do you like the most about your hometown?
- What are some popular places to visit in your hometown?
- Do you think you will continue to live in your hometown in the future? Why?
5. Let’s talk about gifts.
- Do you enjoy giving gifts to others? Why?
- Is it important to spend a lot of money on a gift? Why?
- What kind of gifts do you usually give to your friends and family?
6. Let’s talk about your shopping habits.
- Do you enjoy shopping? Why?
- Can you describe a shopping center you often go to?
- Do you prefer online shopping or in-store shopping?
7. Let’s talk about TV programs.
- How often do you watch television?
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- Which programs do you like? Why?

- Do you prefer watching television alone or with your family members? Why?
8. Let’s talk about English.
- Do you like learning new languages? Why?
- Do you think learning English is important? Why?
- What are your ways to improve your English?
9. Let’s talk about sports.
- What is the most popular sport in your country?
- What is your favorite sport?
- What are the benefits for children to play outdoor games?
10. Let’s talk about the internet and technology.
- Do you use the internet much during the day? Why?
- Are there any negative things about the internet? Why?
- What are your favorite websites?

Part 2: Solution Discussion (Thảo luận giải pháp)

Thời gian: 4 phút (1 phút chuẩn bị)
Kĩ năng kiểm tra: Lập luận trình bày quan điểm, giao tiếp xã hội, đàm phán
Hình thức: Thí sinh được cho một tình huống và ba giải pháp. Thí sinh có một phút để chuẩn
bị cho phần trả lời.
Yêu cầu: Thí sinh cần chọn ra giải pháp tốt nhất và trình bày quan điểm, lý do tại sao chọn
giải pháp đó. (theo Quyết đi ̣nh số: 730/QĐ-BGDĐT)
TIPS:
- Analyze the topic (1 minute)
- Choose the option that you have more ideas
- List 2 advantages (reasons) of the option you choose and disadvantages of the other 2 options
- State 2 advantages and compare with the other 2 options
- Summarize your choice
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LANGUAGE FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST STRUCTURES

Function Vocabulary Sample sentence frames
Compare "Similarly, ..." "X is similar to Y in that..."
"Likewise, ..." "X and Y both..."
"In the same way, ..." "Like X, Y also..."
"Both... and..." "X shares similarities with Y
"Just as... so too..." regarding..."
"Comparable to..." "Just as X does..., Y also..." "Both X
"In a similar fashion, ..." and Y exhibit..."
"Not only... but also..." "One way in which X is like Y is..."
"Similarly to..."
"Akin to..."
Contrast "However, ..." "X is... while Y is..."
"On the other hand, ..." "Unlike X, Y..."
"In contrast, ..." "X..., but Y..."
"Conversely, ..." "Although X..., Y..."
"Whereas..." "X and Y differ in that..."
"While..." "While X..., Y..."
"Unlike..." "In contrast to X, Y..."
"Different from..." "X is characterized by..., whereas Y
"Although..." is..."
"Even though..." "Despite X, Y..."
"On one hand, X..., but on the other
hand, Y..."

1. Situation:
You are planning your short holiday at the end of July. The following options are
recommended: taking a guided tour, visiting your relatives, going camping with your friends.
In your opinion, which one is the best choice?
2. Situation:
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With a busy schedule, you must quickly choose what to eat between study sessions. You have
these options to choose from: fast food from a nearby restaurant, a packed meal at home, or
some biscuits. Which is the best?
3. Situation:
You are considering what to spend your large sum of lucky money on. You have three options
to choose from: a new laptop, a new smartphone, or some books. Which is the best choice?
4. Situation:
You are planning your summer vacation. There are three options for you to choose from: going
to the mountains, going to the beach, or staying at the house of one of your relatives. Which
is the best choice?
5. Situation:
You are thinking of different ways to advertise your products. There are three options to choose
from: on television, on the internet, or in the newspaper. Which is the best choice?
6. Situation:
You want to improve your English skills. There are three options for you to choose from:
watching English movies, practicing with friends, or reading English books. Which is the best
choice?
7. Situation:
You want to buy some clothes for an upcoming event. There are three options for you to choose
from: shopping online, visiting a mall, or buying from a second-hand store near your house.
Which is the best choice?
8. Situation:
You and your friends want to go out for a meal together. You have three options for where to
eat: a fast food restaurant, a buffet restaurant, or a BBQ at a public park. Which is the best
choice?

Part 3. Topic development (Phát triển đề tài)

Thời gian: 5 phút (1 phút chuẩn bị)
Kĩ năng kiểm tra: Nói trước khán giả, nói độc thoại dài, trình bày về một vấn đề, phát triển và
mở rộng chủ đề, mô tả sự vật, hiện tượng, hiểu người tham thoại, tương tác xã hội, trả lời câu
hỏi.
Hình thức: Thí sinh nói độc thoại dài, hỏi và trả lời câu hỏi. Thí sinh được cho 1 đề tài, 3 gợi
ý câu trả lời, và ba câu hỏi liên quan tới chủ đề đã cho.
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Yêu cầu: thí sinh trình bày bài nói ngắn về chủ đề được cung cấp, thí sinh trả lời từ một đến
ba câu hỏi liên quan đến chủ đề. (theo Quyết đi ̣nh số: 730/QĐ-BGDĐT)
TIPS:
- Clarify the statement topic by using the supporting details and your own ideas
- Vary vocabulary by using synonyms, related words instead of using given words
- Use tips of part 1 to answer extended questions

1. Topic: Online learning brings more choices for people to improve their knowledge.
Suggested ideas:
- low cost
- flexible
- continuous
- (your own ideas)
Extended questions:
- What age groups are suitable for online learning?
- Do you think people will only use online learning in the future instead of going to
classrooms?
- What are the main challenges faced by learners in online education?
2. Topic: Leaning English has many benefits.
Suggested ideas:
- Find a good job with higher salary
- Make friends with people from over the world
- Make travelling easier
- (your own ideas)
Extended questions:
- How much time a day do you spend learning English?
- Do you prefer learning English through formal classes or self-study?
- What apps or online platforms do you use to learn English?
3. Topic: Fast food is a good option for people these days.
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Suggested ideas:
- convenience
- time-saving nature
- many choices
- (your own ideas)
Extended questions:
- How often do you eat fast food in a week?
- What fast food is popular in your country?
- What problems can happen if you eat fast food a lot?
4. Social networking has changed how people around the world connect.
Suggested ideas:
- Make more friends around the world
- Interact in real-time through photos, videos
- Help people reconnect with old friends
- (your own ideas)
Extended questions:
- How has social networking impacted the younger generation's behavior?
- What are some problems linked to social networking?
- How does false information on social media affect the society?
5. Teaching children to do housework is beneficial.
Suggested ideas:
- promote teamwork
- teach valuable life skills
- develop children’s independence
- (your own ideas)
Extended questions:
- Did you help your parents do housework when you were young? Why (not)?
- What types of housework can children do at home?
- At what age should children start doing housework?
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PHẦN 2. WRITING

A. USEFUL STRUCTURES & EXPRESSIONS FOR WRITING

I. TASK 1 (Email/ Letter)
1. GENERAL STRUCTURE OF AN EMAIL/ LETTER

Section Useful language Notice

Greeting/ Salutation Dear Sir/ Madam, Formal/ Informal

Dear Mr. Smith,
Dear John,
Hi John,

Opening (1 paragraph) Write about 1-2

- Start your email/ letter Thank you for your email/ letter. sentences
It’s lovely to hear from you.
How are you?
I’m sorry to hear …

- Add comment on the information It’s great to know that …

mentioned in the latest email/ letter What wonderful news about …
you received from that person if
necessary

Body/ Message content (1-2 Answer all of the

paragraphs) I am writing this email/ letter to/ questions mentioned
- Mention reason(s) for writing the for … in the given email/
email/ letter letter
I thought I’d write to tell you/ to
- Focus on the main ideas ask you …
- Answer all of the questions as Anyway, the reason I’m writing
requested in the given email/ letter is …
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Closing (1 paragraph) Sign the email/ letter

- End the email/ letter I am looking forward to hearing with the name of the
from you. person you are
playing the role of,
Hope to hear from you soon. not you real name
I’ll write back soon.

- Offer help if necessary If you have any questions, please Formal/ Informal
feel free to ask.
Best regards,
- Close the email/ letter and sign
Your faithfully,
All the best,
Love,

2. TYPES OF EMAILS/ LETTERS

It depends on the given email/ letter to decide whether you should write a formal or
informal email/ letter.
Below are some common types of emails/ letters.

GIVING INFORMATION

Opening  Mention reason(s) for writing Thank you for your email/ letter. I am
writing to answer your questions about …
I write to tell you about ….
I’m sorry to hear …
 Add comment on the
information mentioned in the latest It’s great to know that …
email/ letter you received from that
person if necessary

Body  Give information as requested The first thing I would like to tell you is …
- First point I’d also like to let you know that …
- Further points It might also be useful for you to know that
…
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Another piece of information that might be

useful is …

Closing - End the email/ letter and sign I hope that I have been able to answer all
of your questions.
I look forward to being able to help you
again in the future.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you
have any questions.
Best regards,
Love,

GIVING OPINIONS

Opening - Mention reason(s) for writing I am writing to response/ in reply to your

letter about …
I hope the following advice/ suggestions
will be of some help to you.
I’d like to give you my views on …

Body - Give advice/ suggestions/ your own I strongly recommend that …

opinions I would advise you to …
I suggest that …
I agree/ disagree with … because …
I’m for/ against the plan because …
It seems to me that …

Closing - End the email/ letter and sign I hope you agree with …
Please do not hesitate to contact me for
more information.
Let me know what you think.
Best regards,
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Cheers,
Love,

Most complaint emails/ letters are written in formal format.

COMPLAINING

Opening  I am writing to complain about/ express

Mention reason(s) for writing
my concern about a laptop which I bought
 Give detailed information
from your shop last Saturday.
about the service/ purchase:
- When and where did the service/
purchase in the given email/ letter I am writing this email/ letter because I am
take place? not satisfied with the quality/ the service in
your restaurant in recent months.
- How much did you pay for the
goods/ service?
- Other

Body  When the details are about a Make a complaint: present tenses
chronological sequence of events Describe the problem: past tenses
- How did you discover the problem?
- What did you do/ have you done
after that?
- Did you try to do anything to let
those responsible know about the
problem? What are their reactions?
 When the details fall into
groups or different inconvenience
- What was the first inconvenience?
- What was the second
inconvenience?
- Other

Closing  Call to action

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- What do you feel about the I understand that mistakes might happen
situation? but I was so unhappy with that.
I must ask you, therefore, either to replace
- What do you think you should get the laptop or refund the price I paid for it,
in compensation for the $1,200.
inconvenience you had to suffer? I demand that you refund my money
immediately.
I feel that at the very least you owe me an
apology. I await an answer from you.
If the email/ letter does not get any
response, I intend to take up the matter
- Do you intend to take any further with the Department of Home Affairs.
action if your demands are not
fulfilled?
Unless I hear from you within ten days, I
shall have to take legal advice on the
matter. I enclose the receipt as evidence.
- Do you need to enclose anything, Best regards,
for example, the receipt as evidence?

 End the email/ letter and sign

APOLOGIES

Opening  Mention reason(s) for writing I am writing to express my apology …

 Give a brief detail and express I am afraid I …
you regret about the trouble caused to I regret to say that …
the writer of the given email/ letter
I am extremely sorry for …
Sorry for …

Body  Explain the whole This was due to …

circumstances and offer an apology The reason for this was …
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The reason for this has been that I forgot/

misunderstood …
 State any promise you can
make to rectify the situation I can offer no excuse to except that …
- How do you feel about the I am promise that …
situation?
- Do you promise anything?
- Do you assure any improvement in
the future?

Closing - Express your regret once again Once again, sorry for …
Please accept my apology.
- End the email/ letter and sign Best regards,

Most emails/ letters for making requests are written in formal format.

REQUESTS

Opening - Mention reason(s) for writing I am writing to ask for …

I am writing on account of …

Body - What are your requests? Could you please …

I would like you to …
I would be grateful if you could …
Would it be possible for you to …
Another thing/ matter I need is …

Closing - Make some reference to hearing I look forward to receiving your reply.
from the recipient I look forward to hearing from you at your
earliest convenience.
Please call me at … if you need any further
information.
Best regards,
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II. TASK 2 (Essay)

1. GENERAL OUTLINE FOR AN ESSAY

Introduction - Opening sentence Write about 1-2

- Thesis statement sentences

Body Write about 2-3

Body paragraph 1 - Topic sentence 1 paragraphs

Explanation/ Supportive idea & Example

Body paragraph 2 - Topic sentence 2

Explanation/ Supportive idea & Example

Body paragraph 3 - Topic sentence 3

Explanation/ Supportive idea & Example
…

Conclusion - Summary Write about 1-2

sentences
Do not add new
information

2. USEFUL LANGUAGE

Introduction - Opening sentence: paraphrase the topic question/ task input

- Thesis statement: YOUR point of view on the issue raised in the topic,
help the examiner direct the content of your essay and keep the smaller
points in the body of the essay on track
• INTRODUCE THE TOPIC
Some people argue that…
Have you ever considered… ?
The question raises the issue of…
• STATE AN OPINION (THESIS STATEMENT)
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I believe that…
It is my belief that…
This essay will argue that…
From my perspective, …
• INDICATE THE SCOPE OF THE ESSAY
In this essay, I will state…
This essay will examine…
This essay will discuss further insight into …
… will be covered in this essay.

Body
Body paragraph 1 - Topic sentence 1
- Explanation/ Supportive idea/ Evidence to strengthen your argument
- Example if needed
…
Body paragraph 2
Body paragraph 3
… • ADD IDEAS
What is more, …
Moreover/ furthermore/ in addition (to)
Firstly, … / First of all,…
Secondly, ...
Thirdly, …
Lastly, … / Finally, …
• EXPRESS CONTRAST
Although …
Despite ... / In spite of ...
On the contrary, …
Whereas ... / However, ... / In contrast, ... / But ... / Compared to …
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On the one hand, ... / On the other hand, ...

• GIVE EXAMPLES
For example, …/ For instance, …
In particular, …
To illustrate this point, …
In other words, …
It means that …
 INTRODUCE FACTS
It is true that/ noticeable that …
One should note here that …
 EXPRESS CERTAINTY
Certainly, … / Doubtless,… /Definitely, …
Undoubtedly, …
 GIVE CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS
If…/ Provided that …/ Unless …
Whether …
Depending on …
 GIVE REASONS
Since, …/ As …,
Because (of) …/ Thanks to …/ Due to…/ Owing to …
 GIVE CONSEQUENCES
As a result, …
Thus…
Therefore, …/ Consequently, …/ Eventually, …
It follows that …
Admittedly, …
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Conclusion To sum up, …

To conclude, …
In summary, …
In short, …
In conclusion, …
Overall, …
On the whole, …
To return to my original idea, …
To recapitulate, I do (not) believe that … because of …

B. PRACTICE
I. TASK 1
1. Email of complaint: Complaining about poor service experienced during a recent trip
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from a friend, Alicia, asking you about your recent trip. Read her
email below.

Hi Kate,
I hope you're having a good day. I saw your Facebook status about your recent trip, and it
sounds disappointing. What happened? I'm really curious to know what went wrong. Despite
that, what activities did you do on the trip? Also, if you don't mind sharing, how much did you
have to pay for everything? I hope things get better for you, and maybe I can talk to you soon.
Take care,
Alicia

Write an email responding to Alicia. In your email, you have to complain about the poor
service you received, tell Alicia about the activities you did and the cost you had to pay
for your trip.
You should write at least 120 words.
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DO NOT include your name or address.

Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

2. Email of apology: Apologizing for being late to an event or meeting

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from an uncle, Peter, asking you about not being at the family
party and your new job in HCM City. Read his email below.

Hey Ken,
I hope you're well. We missed you at the family party recently; I tried calling you a few times.
Is everything okay? How's your new job in HCM City going? I'd love to hear how things are.
Let me know if there's anything you need help with. It would be great to see you soon. Looking
forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Peter

Write an email responding to Peter. In your email, you have to apologize for missing the
party, tell him about your life in HCM city and about your new job.
You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

3. Email of giving information: Giving information about a healthy lifestyle

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from a friend, Jack, asking you about having a healthy lifestyle.
Read his email below.
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Hey Peter,
I hope you're doing well. I really want to have a healthier lifestyle, and you are the perfect
person to ask for advice. I'd love to know what foods I should focus on for a balanced diet.
Besides, could you share your daily exercise routine with me? It’s also hard to me to stay
motivated, so any tips on that would be great. Looking forward to hearing from you and
learning from your experience!
Best,
Jack

Write an email responding to Jack. You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

4. Email of giving information: Giving information about how to manage your time as a
student
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from a friend, Sophie, asking you about time management. Read
her email below.

Hey Lucy,
I hope you're doing well! I'm thinking about applying for a part-time job like yours. I'd love
to learn from your experience. Can you tell me more about your part-time job? Also, how do
you effectively manage your time? Do you use any tools or applications to track your daily
activities? It would be great to get some advice from you!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Take care,
Sophie

Write an email responding to Sophie. You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
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Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

5. Email of request: Requesting a sister to take care of your house

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from your sister, Anne, who is going to take care of your house
while you are away. Read her email below.

Hi Janet,
Hope you're doing well! Just wanted to say I've got your back while you're away next week.
There’re a couple of things I wanted to check to make sure everything’s okay while you're
gone. First, I'll take care of your dog, no worries. So let me know when and how much to
feed it. By the way, are there any special instructions for the care of the plants on the rooftop
garden? And lastly, how do I get into the house because you'll already have left by the time
I get there?
I'll make sure everything's in good shape when you get back!
Have an awesome trip.
Love,
Anne

Write an email responding to Anne. You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

6. Email of request: Request for tutoring or help with homework

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from your brother, Tom, asking about your studies and offering
help. Read his email below.
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Hi Brad,
Hope you're doing well! I recently graduated and heard you started studying in a similar
field. That's awesome news!
I hope you are enjoying the subjects and the way they're taught. I know the first few months
can be exciting but also a bit tough. Have you joined any clubs or activities on campus? It's
a great way to meet new people. If you need any advice, feel free to message me. I'd be
happy to help.
Can't wait to hear from you!
Tom

Write an email responding to Tom. In your email, tell him about the clubs you are enjoying
at university, your relationship with classmates, and ask him to help you with your
English writing.

You should write at least 120 words.

DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

7. Email of giving opinion: Giving opinion about organizing a year-end party

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from a colleague who is working with you, Lizzie, asking you
about organizing the year-end party. Read her email below.
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Hi Kathy,
I hope this email finds you well. As we start planning for the year-end party, I wanted to get
your thoughts on a few key points to make sure everyone is going to enjoy it.
First, do you have any suggestions for the place that would be suitable for our whole team?
Also, what food should we have for the party? And what types of entertainment would you
like us to include?
Your ideas will be valuable in helping us create a fantastic celebration. Looking forward to
hearing your ideas.
Best regards,
Lizzie

Write an email responding to Lizzie. You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

8. Email of giving opinion: Giving opinion about how to improve online learning
experience
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received an email from a friend, Lucy, asking you about how to improve your online
learning experience. Read her email below.

Hi Susie,
I hope things are going well for you. I wanted to share that I've started taking an online course,
and I'm really excited about it. However, I'm finding it a bit challenging to stay focused during
the lessons. Do you have any tips on how to concentrate? Also, how do you take good notes
online? Lastly, I'm curious about how to work well with friends in group projects. Can you share
me some tips? Your advice would be really helpful!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Lucy
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Write an email responding to Lucy. You should write at least 120 words.
DO NOT include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary, and
Grammar.

II. TASK 2
1. Online shopping
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:

With the rise of digital marketplaces, shopping from home is becoming more common,
leading to fewer visits to traditional stores. Do you believe this trend towards online
shopping is a positive or negative development overall?

Write an essay to an educated reader to state your own opinion on the given topic. Include
reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
fulfilment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

2. Living in the city or the countryside

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:

More and more people are moving to cities because they believe that living in cities offers
more advantages in comparison to rural life. What do you think about this movement?

Write an essay to an educated reader to state your own opinion on the given topic. Include
reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
fulfilment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.
 25

3. Team sport and academic performance

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:

Many people argue that students who participate in team sports tend to perform better
academically and socially. Do you believe that engaging in team sports positively impacts
students' academic and social life?

Write an essay to an educated reader to state your own opinion on the given topic. Include
reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
fulfilment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

4. Eating out and social interactions

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:

Eating out can be a social activity, allowing people to connect and form friendships over
meals. Do you think dining out enhances social interactions?

Write an essay to an educated reader to state your own opinion on the given topic. Include
reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
fulfilment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

5. Social media
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

 26

It is said that social media addiction is a serious problem among young people today. What
are some negative effects of spending too much time on social media?

Write an essay to an educated reader to state your own opinion on the given topic. Include
reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
fulfilment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

BÀI THAM KHẢO

(Bài tham khảo được trích từ Tài liệu ôn luyện chứng chỉ tiếng Anh 6 bậc theo khung tham
chiếu Châu Âu: https://tailieuvnu.com/#google_vignette)

Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently received an email from your English-speaking friend, Pat, he said that he
is going to have a holiday.
Write a letter to Pat, and invite him to your city and stay with you during his holiday
You should write at least 120 words. You are not allowed to include your name.

C1 (bậc 5) (193 words)

Dear Pat,
I hope you are well. Are you looking forward to the summer holiday? Thank you for your
previous letter, it's always great to hear the news from back home.
I'm writing to you because I want to invite you to come to my city during the holiday season.
We could visit the art and history museums or spend days at the park or wander around the
shopping center if the weather is bad. My friends would love to spend more time with you
too, we could hang out with them in that cafe you like or go on a day trip to the beach. What
do you think?
I think it would be amazing to spend a couple of weeks with you here in the city! We would
have so much fun! I know how much you love the city and it wouldn't be expensive as you
can stay with me in the apartment.
 27

Let me know what you think. If you decide to come, we can start planning what we will do
while you're here.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully I'll see you soon!
Kind regards,

B2 (bậc 4) (184 words)

Dear Pat,
It's amazing to get your email. How are you? I hope you are fine.
It's wonderful that you are going to have a holiday. I am writing this email to invite you to
come to Hanoi, my city, and stay with my family on your holiday. Hanoi is very nice this
time. The weather is so pleasant and the food is wonderful. I am sure you will like it. There
are a lot of things to see and do here, too. We can visit Van Mieu, the first school in Vietnam
and HCM museum, where you can get to know more about the life of the greatest leader of
Vietnam. In the evening, we can hang out round Hoan Kiem lake and enjoy the beauty of
the lake. If you want to go shopping, there are some big shopping malls near my house.
There are everything that you can buy. You can stay here as long as you want.
Please let me know your decision as soon as possible.
I am looking forward to hearing from you. Write to me soon.
Love

B1 (bậc 3) (164 words)

Dear Pat,
It's amazing to get your email. How are you? I hope you are fine.
You said that you are going to have a holiday so I want to invite you to my city. Hanoi is
small but very beautiful. The weather is nice. The food is good and the people are friendly
and kind. Here we can visit Van Mieu, HCM museum. We can walk around Hoan Kiem
Lake, it is very big, clean and beautiful. A lot of people come here to in the morning to do
exercise. We can also go to the cinema to see very interesting films. We can go shopping in
the shopping centre. You can buy a lot of things and relax there. My parents are very happy
to see you. They say you can stay with my family during your holiday.
Please let me know if you can come in your next email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Write to me soon.
Love
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Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
There is a big number of people who wish to live in big cities.
Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
living in big cities. Include reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

C1 (bậc 5) (322 words)

It is the fact that, there is an increasing number of people who rush to big cities to live and
work while others decide to move to the countryside nowadays. In this essay, I am going to
discuss the good things and bad things we have in big cities.
On the one hand, living in such a big city has a lot of advantages. There is a big offer how
to spend free time. There are a lot of theatres, concerts and other ways of entertainment.
There is always a lot to do and visit! There are a lot of possibilities of shopping. In various
shopping centres and galleries, you can buy whatever you want. In addition, there are a lot
of working places in a city. Many big international companies have their locations in the
cities, so it is much easier to find a job in a big city.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of living in a big city. Cities are very
crowded with people and plenty of vehicles such as buses, cars, motorbikes and so on.
Traffic jams are common seen at peak hours, which not only wastes time but annoys people.
In addition, pollution in cities is another big problem. The air is filled with smoke and dirt
from various kinds of vehicles while there are almost no trees. What we can see here are tall
buildings. What's more? The noise is nonstop from early morning till midnight. Crime and
unemployment rates are also considered much higher than those in the countryside.
To sum up, there are both benefits and drawbacks of living in big cities. The decision
whether to live in big cities or in the countryside depends on our priorities. Personally, I
believe that living here is more beneficial for me as I have a good job in a foreign company
and my children can study in the best school in the country.

B2 (bậc 4) (255 words)

It is the fact that more and more people are becoming interested in living in big cities.
However, there are both advantages and disadvantages of living there.
 29

On the one hand, living in a big city has some certain benefits. Firstly, people can get good
jobs easily as there are a lot of big companies, factories, as well as services there. It is the
reason why a lot of people rush to big cities to work. Secondly, there are many kinds of
entertainment for people to enjoy and relax in free time. They can go to the cinemas,
theatres, shopping centres, where they can buy everything. Life will be boring if we do not
have those things. Finally, education and health care in cities are much better than in the
countryside. Children have chance to learn at good schools.
On the other hand, however, there are some disadvantages of living in a big city. Firstly, it
is crowded. There is not enough space for people to live in. People have to live in small
houses or rent a small flats. Secondly, it is dirty and noisy. Smoke and dirt from cars,
motorbikes and factories is everywhere while there are almost no trees. This can badly affect
people's health.
To sum up, living in big cities has both good and bad things. If you need a place which is
clean, quiet and spacious, then you should live in the countryside. But if you wish to find
good jobs and better services, big cities are good choice.

B1 (bậc 3) (162 words)

It is the fact that more and more people are becoming interested in living in big cities.
However, there are both advantages and disadvantages of living there.
On the one hand, living in big cities, we can find good jobs and make more money. There
are many big companies and factories for us to choose. We can go to good schools to learn
and go to the cinema or the theatre to watch films or relax. We can also go to big shopping
centres to buy things. There is everything here in big cities.
However, it is dirty, noisy in big cities. We do not have enough houses to live. We have to
live in small houses or we have to rent a small flat. It is not comfortable. There are a lot of
people and cars, motorbikes, buses so it is very noisy, from morning to midnight.
To sum up, there are both advantages and disadvantages of living in big cities.

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