Tell about an instance when you and others planned something together

Bài mẫu chủ đề Kể về một lần bạn và những người khác lên kế hoạch làm gì đó cùng nhau

You should say:

• What the plan was

• Who you made the plan with

• Whether the plan was successful or not

And explain how you felt about the experience.

1. Breakdown – Phân tích đề bài

Đề bài: Describe a time when you and other people made a plan to do something together

📌 Từ khóa quan trọng:

• Plan: Kế hoạch

• Together: Cùng nhau

• Successful: Thành công

• Experience: Trải nghiệm

2. Conceptualize – Lên ý tưởng & từ vựng chủ đề

3. Present – Bài mẫu (2 phút)

"So basically, last year, one of our close friends was turning 18, and we decided to throw her a surprise birthday party. It was kind of a big deal because it marked her official step into adulthood, and we really wanted to make it memorable."

"We started planning about two weeks in advance. I worked with a few of her best friends from school, and we split up responsibilities - one person handled the decorations, another was in charge of the cake and snacks, and I took care of inviting the guests and keeping her distracted on the day of the party."

"To be honest, there were a few bumps along the way. For example, we had to change the location last minute due to bad weather, but thankfully, we managed to pull it off. When our friend walked into the room and saw everyone shouting 'surprise!'—her reaction was priceless."

"All in all, I’d say the plan was a huge success. Not only did she love it, but the entire experience brought us closer together as a group and strengthened our friendship. Honestly, it was heartwarming to see how teamwork and a bit of creativity could turn into such a beautiful memory."

Analyze Useful Vocab -  Vocabulary for the topic

1. Planning & collaboration

2. Events & emotions

3. Emotions & connections

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion Topics – Planning and Everyday Life

1. Do you enjoy making plans in your daily routine? Why or why not?

📌 Point: Yes, I’d say I really enjoy making plans—it helps me stay focused and organized. 📌 Explain: When I plan my day, I know exactly what I need to get done, so I waste less time. It also gives me peace of mind because I don’t have to remember everything in my head.📌 Example: For instance, I usually make a to-do list on my phone that syncs across devices, so I can check or adjust it whenever needed.📌 Link: So overall, planning isn’t just a habit for me—it’s a way to reduce stress and boost productivity.

Phân tích từ vựng:

stay focused and organized

• Phát âm: /steɪ ˈfəʊ.kəst ænd ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪzd/

• Dịch: Giữ sự tập trung và có tổ chức

• Ví dụ: "Making a plan every morning helps me stay focused and organized throughout the day."

gives (someone) peace of mind

• Phát âm: /ɡɪvz ˌpiːs əv ˈmaɪnd/

• Dịch: Mang lại cảm giác yên tâm

• Ví dụ: "Using a planner gives me peace of mind because I know everything is under control."

syncs across devices

• Phát âm: /sɪŋks əˈkrɒs dɪˈvaɪ.sɪz/

• Dịch: Đồng bộ hóa trên nhiều thiết bị

• Ví dụ: "My calendar syncs across devices, so I never miss an important task."

2. What types of plans do young people commonly make?

Phân tích từ vựng:

short-term plans

• Phát âm: /ˌʃɔːt ˈtɜːm plænz/

• Dịch: Kế hoạch ngắn hạn

• Ví dụ: "Students usually make short-term plans during exam season to manage their workload."

stay on track

• Phát âm: /steɪ ɒn træk/

• Dịch: Giữ đúng tiến độ

• Ví dụ: "Making a timetable helps me stay on track with both studies and hobbies."

balance responsibility and relaxation

• Phát âm: /ˈbæ.ləns rɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪ.lə.ti ænd ˌriː.lækˈseɪ.ʃən/

• Dịch: Cân bằng giữa trách nhiệm và thư giãn

• Ví dụ: "Young adults often try to balance responsibility and relaxation through daily planning."

3. Why do some individuals avoid making plans?

📌 Point: Some people avoid planning because they prefer flexibility or simply find it stressful.📌 Explain: They might feel that sticking to a strict schedule limits their freedom, or they get overwhelmed trying to organize everything perfectly. Others may think life is too unpredictable to plan ahead.📌 Example: I know someone who feels completely lost when they try to plan everything out—he says he functions better when he just takes the day as it comes. 📌 Link: So for certain individuals, the idea of planning can feel more like pressure than support.

Phân tích từ vựng:

prefer flexibility

• Phát âm: /prɪˈfɜː ˌflek.sɪˈbɪl.ə.ti/

• Dịch: Ưa thích sự linh hoạt

• Ví dụ: "Some people prefer flexibility and find rigid plans too restricting."

feel completely lost

• Phát âm: /fiːl kəmˈpliːt.li lɒst/

• Dịch: Cảm thấy mất phương hướng

• Ví dụ: "Without a clear plan, I feel completely lost during busy weeks."

take the day as it comes

• Phát âm: /teɪk ðə deɪ əz ɪt kʌmz/

• Dịch: Sống tùy hứng, không lên kế hoạch trước

• Ví dụ: "He doesn’t like schedules and prefers to take the day as it comes."

4. What are the reasons people often change or cancel their plans?

📌 Point: Honestly, people change or cancel their plans for all kinds of reasons—both personal and practical.📌 Explain: Sometimes, unexpected events like illness, bad weather, or work obligations pop up. Other times, it’s just a change of mood or priorities. Life is unpredictable, so it’s hard to stick to every plan.📌 Example: For instance, I once planned a weekend trip with friends, but we had to cancel last minute because one of us had a family emergency. It couldn’t be helped.📌 Link: So yeah, while planning is useful, flexibility is equally important in real life.

Phân tích từ vựng:

unexpected events

• Phát âm: /ˌʌn.ɪkˈspek.tɪd ɪˈvents/

• Dịch: Những sự kiện bất ngờ

• Ví dụ: "Plans often change due to unexpected events like illness or accidents."

pop up

• Phát âm: /pɒp ʌp/

• Dịch: Xuất hiện bất ngờ

• Ví dụ: "I was about to go out, but a last-minute meeting popped up."

change of priorities

• Phát âm: /tʃeɪndʒ əv praɪˈɒr.ə.tiz/

• Dịch: Sự thay đổi trong thứ tự ưu tiên

• Ví dụ: "People sometimes cancel plans due to a sudden change of priorities."

5. Do you believe it’s necessary for individuals to have long-term plans? Why or why not?

📌 Point: Yes, I strongly believe having long-term plans is essential, especially when it comes to career, education, or personal development.📌 Explain: Long-term planning gives people a sense of direction and helps them stay motivated. It also makes it easier to break big goals into smaller, manageable steps. That being said, plans should be flexible because life doesn’t always go as expected.📌 Example: For example, my long-term plan is to study abroad next year, so I’ve been improving my English, saving money, and researching universities.📌 Link: In short, while plans might change, having a clear goal helps people move forward with purpose.

Phân tích từ vựng:

sense of direction

• Phát âm: /sens əv dəˈrek.ʃən/

• Dịch: Cảm giác định hướng rõ ràng

• Ví dụ: "A long-term plan gives people a sense of direction in life."

manageable steps

• Pronunciation: /ˈmæn.ɪ.dʒə.bəl steps/

• Translation: Các bước dễ thực hiện

• Example: "Breaking big goals into manageable steps makes them less overwhelming."

progress with intention

• Pronunciation: /muːv ˈfɔː.wəd wɪð ˈpɜː.pəs/

• Translation: Tiến lên với mục đích rõ ràng

• Example: "Long-term goals help people move forward with purpose rather than drifting aimlessly."

Conclusion