IELTS SPEAKING SECTION 1

PART 1: SOME RANDOM QUESTIONS

1. What is your name?
I am proud to be called Minh Anh. I think that this name brings me luck. It
means intellectuality, brightness and seniority...bla..bla. What is your
name, sir/madam?
a. Intellectuality: su tri thuc
b. Seniority: su can trong, gia gian
2. Where are you from?
Well, I was born in Ha Tay. My demographic registration is in Hanoi. My
parents are from Ha Tinh. I think that I belong to everywhere. In the
future, I hope to live in America.
a. Demographic: thuoc ve nhan khau
3. What do you often do at the weekend?
I depends on my schedule. When I am busy with studying, for example,
IELTS preparation, I have no time at weekend, except for cramming myself
with knowledge. Once I am free from exams, I love travelling to some
special places, hanging out with friends or cooking with my family. I long
for more weekends as long as IELTS is over.
a. Cram oneself with something: nhet day voi cai gi
4. What is your favorite means of transportation?
Most of my friends are fans of motorcycle, but I prefer cycling. By cycling,
I keep myself healthy, protect environment and enjoy romantic sightseeing with girl-friends, especially in autumn. It is also a cheap means of
transportation, as well.
a. Romantic: thuoc ve lang man
b. Means: Phuong tien
5. What is your favorite color?
Each color demonstrates a unique meaning. For instance, violet shows
loyalty while red color reflects passion and love. I myself fall in love with
white that bespeaks purity and virginity. That is why I paint my house all

in white. I love wearing white wedding gown as well. I long for that day,
you know.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Demonstrate: the hien

Loyalty: su trung thanh
Reflect: phan anh
Bespeak: noi len
Virginity: su trinh tiet

6. What is your favorite book?

Definitely, seven habits of highly effective people is my ideal choice. I love
this book so much that every day I keep reading it again and again. Also,
this book provides me wonderful ways to lead a healthy life. Integrity,
patience and knowledge are key to success as the book suggests. I
become more mature thanks to reading this book. I strongly recommend
you to read it. It is a best-selling book of the world
a.
b.
c.
d.

Ideal: ly tuong
Integrity: su giu pham hanh
Patience: su kien nhan
Definitely : chac chan la

7. What is your favorite weather?

My family is running a business that sells winter jacket. Therefore, I love
winter. Every winter comes, my family makes more money. But I
sometimes love autumn because it is a season of romance and peace.
What is your favorite weather, sir/madam?
a. Romance: su lang man
b. Peace: su hoa binh
8. What is your favorite subject at school?
I used to love mathematics and spend days and nights solving difficult
exercises. But after two years, I realized that it was a subject of low
practicality in real life. Many PHD students learning mathematics are poor.
Hence, I change my major to economics. I strongly that this subject
ensures me a good living. You can do business well if you have keen
business sense, you know.
a. Low practicality: tinh thuc dung thap
b. Ensure: dam bao
c. Keen business sense: dau oc kinh doanh sac ben

9. What is the place you recommend your international friend

to visit?
No wonder, that is one pillar pagoda that is located in the center of Hanoi.
This pagoda dates back hundreds of years ago and reflects the mixture of
Vietnamese and Chinese architecture. Many tourists come here and love
it. Hope that so do you
a. Reflect: phan anh
b. Pagoda: chua
c. Pillar: cot
10.

Where can you get news from?

Some people like reading newspaper to gather information. To me, the

most effective, cheapest and quickest way is through the Internet. Here,
you can access online information of all things around the world from
politics, history to gastronomy. Unfortunately, in some remote areas, this
means has not been popular due to poor infrastructure.
a. Gastronomy: thien van hoc
b. Gather: thu thap thong tin
c. Poor infrastructure: co so vat chat ngheo nan
11.

Which season often has rain?

Well, the worlds weather, because of global warming, greenhouse effect,

becomes more unpredictable than ever. Sometimes, it rains very hard in
winter, but summer may have a lot of rain in several years. I would say
that rain comes unexpectedly.
a. Unpredictable: khong the doan truoc
b. Unexpectedly: khong mong doi
12.

What is your favorite festival in your nation?

Tet holiday is our choice. On this occasion, we as youngsters are given

lucky money, you know. With such money, I can pay for IELTS exam fee
and am going to fly soon. Oh, I am dying for the arrival of this occasion.
Little kids also love this festival because they can eat, play and enjoy free
days.
a. Arrival: su den
b. Youngsters: nguoi tre

PART 2- THEME-BASED QUESTIONS

Admin questions
1. Can I see your (photo) ID please?/ Can I have your scorecard please?/
Please show me your passport/ Can I see some identification first?
Name
2. Can I just check your name? / Your name is _______________/ So you
are_______________. Is that right?
3. Could you tell me your (full) name please?
4. Can I check out how to pronounce/ spell your name?
5. What would you like me to call you?/ What should I call you?
6. Which part is your first name?
7. So, it says here that your name is ________________ Did I pronounce that
okay?
8. Would you prefer me to use your first name or your family name?
9. Is it okay if I use your first name?
10. Should I call you _____________ or ______________?
11. Do you prefer Mrs, Miss or Ms?

Work and studies

1. Are you working or are you a student?

Yes, I am a student. You know that students life is poor and dependent on
my parents. I long for the day to get out of university and start my own
career or fly soon to another country.
2. What do you do?
I am currently studying in preparation for IELTS test. Sometimes, I am
working as a tutor to support my study and parents. In the future, I desire
to become a successful businessman. But it is still a long way to go, you
know.
a. In preparation for: chuan bi cho cai gi
3. Do you enjoy your studies/ work? (What makes you say that/
Why?)/ What is the most interesting aspect/ part of your studies/
work?
I love working. I am workaholic. Part of interest comes from the fact that
when you are absorbed in work and study, you can forget the real life and
develop important skills. I strongly recommend that young generation
should love working, instead of playing and wasting time on meaningless
activities.
a. Be absorbed in: bi thu hut vao cai gi
b. Meaningless: khong co y nghia gi

4. Is there anything you dislike about your work/ studies?

Sometimes, my learning is theoretical. It takes me a long time to figure
the true connection between reality and theory. Besides, it demands a lot
of concentration, so it may drive you crazy occasionally
a. connection: su ket noi
b. drive somebody crazy: lam ai phat dien
c. theoretical: thuoc ve ly thuyet
5. What job would you like to do in the future? / What job do you
hope to be doing in ten years time?
Definitely, I hope to become a teacher. By being a teacher, I pass on
precious knowledge to the next generation. Besides, it is a job of nobility

and stability, which is suitable with me. In ten years, I dig deeper into my
field to sharpen my skill as I believe jack of all trades is master of none
a. Jack of all trades is master of none: nhat nghe tinh nhat than vinh
b. Nobility: su cao quy
c. Stability: su on dinh
d. Precious: quy gia
e. Dig deeper into something: dao sau vao cai gi

6. Do you want to study anything in the future? / Is there

anything youd like to study in the future?
Apart from my main field, I want to spend part of my time learning new
skills. Sometimes, by dwelling on different fields, I can discover an
interesting feature related to the main field. Perhaps, I want to learn
astronomy to see how it is related to language. It sounds a bit funny,
right?
a. Dwell on: nghien cuu, nghien ngam cai gi
b. Astronomy : thien van ho
7. Why did you choose this subject/ job?
I opt for it for a variety reasons from stability, nobility to knowledge. This
job is an ideal choice, you know. Possibly, my parents also love this job.
They think that teachers are normally able to marry guys easily and settle
down sooner.
a. Settle down: on dinh gia dinh
8. Is it a difficult job/ subject?
It depends on the level of passion you nurture. I have been dreaming to
become a teacher for more than ten years, so the more I pursue it, the
more I find it interesting and challenging. It proves difficult for those who
have little interest in it or for newcomers. Beginning is not always easy,
right.
a. Level of passion: muc do su dam me
b. Challenging: thach thuc
c. Newcomers: nguoi moi den
9. What was your favourite subject at school? What did you like
about that?

I used to love mathematics and spend days and nights solving difficult
exercises. But after two years, I realized that it was a subject of low
practicality in real life. Many PHD students learning mathematics are poor.
Hence, I change my major to economics. I strongly that this subject
ensures me a good living. You can do business well if you have keen
business sense, you know.
10. Who was your favourite teacher at school? (Why?)
I am a fan of a physics teacher at secondary school. She has a strong
personality. Thanks to her discipline and passion for teaching, I become
more interested in this subject, even though it used to be my dislike and
burden years ago. I even wished schools to remove it, but by dint of her
inspiration, I find this subject quite appealing.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

A strong personality: tinh cach manh me

Discipline: su ky luat
Dislike: su cam ghet
Burden: ganh nang
Inspiration: su truyen cam hung

11. What is your typical day like at work/ at school/ in college?

Day in day out, I am just used to the schedule of working for ten hours. I
am teaching, researching and writing. It sounds like a rut, but I am
workaholic and find great interest in working, you know.
a. Like a rut: mot vong lan quan, chan ngat
b. Find interest : tim thay su thich thu o dau