Buzz
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Chocolate
Example
1. What flavors of chocolate do you enjoy the most?
Well in fact, I have been a huge fan of chocolate since I was a kid. Precisely, I am pretty mad about dark chocolate. You know, it has a lower proportion of sugar and milk, so you can indulge in the cocoa’s bitterness and aroma without worrying about gaining weight.
In addition, I am also into the matcha flavor. The Japanese powdered green tea makes an incredible combination with chocolate. It’s a marvelous choice when trying something new.
- Proportion (n): tỉ lệ
- Bitterness and aroma (nouns): vị đắng và hương vị
- Gaining weight (verb phrase): tăng cân
- Makes an incredible combination (phrase): tạo nên một sự kết hợp đáng kinh ngạc/ tuyệt vời
→ List one or two types of chocolate that you enjoy. Candidates can choose chocolates combined with various nuts or other flavors they like and describe its uniqueness. Use alternative phrases instead of 'like'.
2. How popular is chocolate in your country?
Well to be honest, it kind of depends really. To be more exact, young people display a marked preference for this kind of confectionery. I guess it has something to do with the fact that chocolate has established itself in the rituals of the modern world along with the power of advertising. It’s quite common if you give your friend or someone you love some bars of chocolate as a gift, right?
On the other hand, it’s not well-liked by the aged. Taking my grandmother as an example, she prefers traditional treats like candied coconut ribbons to chocolate.
- Display a marked preference (verb phrase): thể hiện sự yêu thích
- Confectionery (noun): bánh kẹo
- Established itself in the rituals of the modern world (verb phrase): củng cố vị thế của nó trong nghi thức xã hội hiện đại (ý ám chỉ các dịp lễ người ta sẽ tặng nhau chocolate như một hình thức truyền thống – Valentine’s Day)
- The aged (noun phrase): người già (số nhiều)
- Treats (n): món ăn vặt, thường là đồ ngọt
- Candied coconut ribbons (noun phrase): mứt dừa
→ The response employs a pattern analyzing the differences in preferences and the popularity of chocolate among older and younger people. Note sweet-related phrases to avoid repetition.
3. Do you believe there have been changes in how people use chocolate compared to the past?
In all fairness, I guess it’s fairly intriguing and innovative especially when it comes to how chefs devise new ways to incorporate chocolate with other ingredients or their culture. For example, I was really surprised when finding out that chicken salad with chocolate and vinegar dressing is quite popular among Parisians.
At the same time, old-fashioned chocolate chips and bars still retain much of their sensation.
- Intriguing (a): hấp dẫn
- Devise (v): tạo/ sáng tạo ra cái mới
- Incorporate (v): kết hợp
- Dressing (n): nước sốt dầu giấm cho salad
- Parisians (n): người sống ở thủ đô Paris
- Old-fashioned (a): truyền thống
- Retain (v):
giữ lại
- Sensation (n): sự chú ý/ quan tâm/ sở thích
→ The response uses a pattern discussing some changes in how chocolate is added to dishes or combined with traditional dishes. Also, clarify that traditional chocolates are still produced today.
4. Is chocolate beneficial for our health?
Generally, chocolate has been reputable for its abundance in healthy nutrients and antioxidants. It’s also proven to promote cardiovascular health. This is definitely the case for dark chocolate or pure cocoa powder.
But you also have to understand that most people tend to have a sweet tooth or binge on sweets, so they crave for artificially sweetened chocolate containing plenty of synthetic sugar substitutes which can bring on some health concerns, such as obesity or diabetes.
- Reputable for (a): nổi tiếng /có uy tín
- Abundance (n): dồi dào/ có nhiều
- Nutrients and antioxidants (nouns): chất dinh dưỡng và chất chống oxy hóa
- Artificially sweetened (phrase): làm ngọt nhân tạo
- Synthetic sugar substitutes (noun phrase): các loại đường tổng hợp
- Bring on (phrasal verb): gây ra (thường hay dùng với bệnh tật)
- Obesity or diabetes (nouns): béo phì hoặc tiểu đường
→ The response uses a pattern considering the issue from both sides: beneficial and harmful to health. Each should state the reasons/causes. Pay attention to health-related vocabulary and eating habits.
Topic 2 of IELTS Speaking
Describe a friend you enjoy talking to.
You should say:
- Who is he/she
- How long you two are friends
- What you often talk about
And explain why you enjoy talking to him/her.
Example
If there were a contest for the most humorous individual I know, Minh, my companion, would be a strong candidate.
If memory serves me correctly, it was in grade 7 when we became desk mates and started to hang out. Precisely, we have been friends for more than a decade and support each other through ups and downs.
In terms of his appearance, he is pretty attractive among female peers for his incredible height and sharp look. Hence, he has an eye for fashion, so he even becomes a model for a few local brands in my city.
Regarding his personality, he is truly a social butterfly that gets along with everyone. Minh also has a really good sense of humour and is able to make other people see the funny side of serious situations. Lots of times he manages to break the tension by making people smile at what’s going on. Therefore, I love sharing and chatting with him about different things in our daily life and work, and vice versa. If I am in trouble, he will always give me a helping hand.
To cut the long story short, he is definitely a friend indeed.
- Ups and downs (idiom): thăng trầm
- Has an eye for s.th (idiom): có khiếu nhìn
- A social butterfly (idiom): người giao thiệp rộng rãi
- Gets along with (phrase): hòa hợp với
- Has a really good sense of humour (phrase): có khiếu hài hước
- Break the tension (phrase): phá vỡ sự căng thẳng
- Vice versa (phrase): ngược lại (bạn ấy cũng kể với tôi)
- A friend indeed (idiom): một người bạn chân chính, đồng cam cộng khổ
→ The response describes aspects such as the TIME of befriending the person, PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, PERSONALITY, and common topics of conversation. Candidates may choose not to focus on physical appearance but rather on hobbies or life/study issues that both frequently discuss; how they feel after each conversation. Note the idioms used to describe friends.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Establishing friendships
Example
1. Do you believe that forming genuine friendships online is impossible?
Well, I guess an online friendship with strangers is too good to be true for two main reasons.
Firstly, people make new friends on social networks just for courtesy when someone with no real-life contact sends them a friend request after which they hardly keep in touch with each other, let alone meeting them in person.
The second reason worth mentioning would perhaps be due to our natures. Humans tend to be skeptical and only find it safe and comfortable when talking with those they know face to face.
- Too good to be true (phrase): quá tốt để trở thành sự thật/ không có thật/ không thể diễn ra
- Courtesy (n): phép lịch sự
- Let alone (phrase): đừng nói chi đến
- In person = face to face (phrase): mặt đối mặt/ trực tiếp
- Natures (n): bản chất
- Skeptical (a): hoài nghi
→ The answer outlines two reasons why forming true friendships on social media is challenging.
- Người ta kết bạn vì lịch sự chứ thật sự không muốn phát triển mối quan hệ bạn bè
- Vì mức độ tin tưởng
Candidates might list the risks associated with making friends on social media
2. Why do some individuals struggle to keep their friendships intact?
Honestly, I suppose my response would vary depending on different situations.
Particularly, if one is as busy as a bee, then it will be unlikely for that person to remain in touch with their friends. Most adults’ time is occupied with work and life matters, especially when they have a family with kids.
In addition, it could also be because of their introverted characteristics. These people usually find it tough to speak the same language with others and prefer being alone.
- As busy as a bee (idiom): bận tối mắt tối mũi
- Occupied with (a): bận rộn với
- Introverted (a): hướng nội
- Speak the same language (idiom): có cùng tiếng nói
→ The solution also lists 2 reasons based on busy schedules and personal characteristics that make it difficult to maintain friendships. Candidates may choose to describe negative traits.
3. What do you think constitutes a strong friendship?
Well, in my opinion, there are several key qualities that define good friendships.
But I assume that the most crucial one would be their willingness to be there for each other no matter what happens. This shows how much you care and treasure your friendship.
Another feature could be their honesty. Although you have to tell white lies in some certain situations, sincerity is a must for any long-lasting relationships because the truth will out.
- Willingness (n): sự tự nguyện
- Be there (phrase): sát cánh/ kề cạnh nhau
- Treasure (v): trân quý/xem trọng
- Honesty (n): sự trung thực
- White lies (noun phrase): lời nói dối vô hại
- Sincerity (n): sự chân thành/ thật lòng
- Long-lasting (a): lâu dài
- The truth will out (idiom): giấy không gói được lửa
