Speaking
Crowded Places:
SAMPLE ANSWER 1
1. Is the city where you live crowded?
Currently, I’m living in Hanoi which the capital of Vietnam. It’s one of the largest cities in China. According to the
latest population census, it has more than 5 million inhabitants, so it’s really crowded here. The traffic is heavily
dense during the rush hour. The commuters are packed into metro like sardines.
2. Is there a crowded place near where you live?
Sure, there is a park near in my community, and whenever I walk by the park, it’s filled with people, retired people
in particular, all the time. They spend most of their time here, talking, playing chess, lawn dancing etc. But
strangely, it doesn’t make you feel noisy, instead it’s full of life.
3. Do you like crowded places?
For the most part, I don’t like crowded places. I like quiet places and quiet life. Noise can easily distract me from
whatever I’m doing, and eventually get on my nerves.
4. Do most people like crowded places?
I’m not sure about that actually but believe some like it, some hate it, and that’s a fact. As for some people, it’s
exciting to watch madness unfold around them and I guess they like the lively feeling that crowded places provide.
SAMPLE ANSWER 2
1. Is the city where you live crowded?
Absolutely, yes. The city where I live is relatively crowded. It’s a bustling urban center with a dense population,
especially in the downtown areas and commercial districts.
2. Is there a crowded place near where you live?
Certainly, there is a bustling market just a short distance from where I live. It’s a popular shopping destination, and
the streets are often filled with people, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.
3. Do you like crowded places?
I have a mixed opinion about crowded places. While I appreciate the vibrancy and energy of busy areas, I also
value moments of tranquility. It depends on the context; for social events or shopping, a lively atmosphere is
enjoyable, but for relaxation, quieter spaces are preferable.
4. Do most people like crowded places?
Preferences for crowded places vary among individuals. Some people thrive in social settings and enjoy the energy
of crowded places, while others may find them overwhelming. It’s subjective, and different people have different
comfort levels in bustling environments.
5. When was the last time you were in a crowded place?
The last time I was in a crowded place was during a local festival last month. The streets were filled with people
celebrating, enjoying street performances, and exploring various stalls, It was a festive and vibrant atmosphere
that added to the enjoyment of the event.
Feeling bored
SAMPLE ANSWERS 1
1. Do you often feel bored?
Absolutely not. I’m kind of quiet and enjoy the pleasures of solitude. So most of the time, I really want to be left
alone and make my own fun. It’s not boring. Instead, I find it very interesting.
2. When would you feel bored?
Despite sometimes I want to sit around and chew the fat with my family or friends,
they are not available. At this point I would feel little bit bored and lonely. Most of the time, I seldom feel bored,
and there’s a lot of stuff I can do.
*chew the fat means having small talks.
3. What do you do when you feel bored?
There are so many things I can do. I can read some books, visit my friends, play sports, or engage in small talks with
people who I don’t know for entertainment. These are good ways to pass time and make life interesting.
4. Do you think childhood is boring or adulthood is boring?
I feel like, for me, there’s no comparison. Childhood and adulthood are just a season of our life. We might feel
bored in both parts of the phase sometimes, but we do have so many options to make life exciting and fun.
SAMPLE ANSWERS 2
1. Do you often feel bored?
Not really, most of the time, I busy myself with different things, like preparing a presentation or just binge-
watching a show. So, I only feel bored once in a while when I slow down but don’t know what to do.
2. When would you feel bored?
I feel bored when I have nothing to do or do the same thing again and again.
For example, When I was preparing for the test, I did the reading practice every day, and sometimes I just felt
bored by the reading materials, bored to the point that feel it was meaningless. I felt like, why do I have to know
the history of Egypt, boring! I hate history.
3. What do you do when you feel bored?
Like most people, I just scroll through my social media feeds to recharge my batteries. But one thing I have done
recently is to grab a coffee myself, partly because I need the pick-me-up drink but also because the five-minute
stroll can just allow me to relax a bit.
4. Do you think childhood is boring or adulthood is boring?
I think adulthood is boring as most children are happy-go-lucky, they find everything interesting and curious about
everything around them. But when it comes to adulthood, most people just feel the pressure of being grown-ups.
Some of them may gradually lose their lust for life because jobs or money start to dominate their life.
Video Games
SAMPLE ANSWER 1
1. Do you play video games?
I do enjoy playing video games in my free time. It’s a great way to relax and unwind after a long day of classes and
studying. I also find it to be a fun way to connect with friends and meet new people online.
2. Would you watch others play video games?
Yes, I sometimes watch others play video games, especially if it’s a game I’m interested in but haven’t played yet. I
also enjoy watching gaming competitions and tournaments.
3. Do you think people spend too much time playing video games?
It varies for everyone. I do think that some people can spend too much time playing video games, to the point
where it affects their academic or personal life. It’s important to find a balance and not let gaming take over other
important aspects of life.
4. Do you prefer playing video games alone or with others?
I personally enjoy both playing video games alone and with others. Playing games alone allows me to focus and
immerse myself in the game, while playing with others can be a fun experience. It really depends on the game and
my mood at the time.
Advertisement
SAMPLE ANSWER 1
1. Is there an advertisement that made an impression on you when you were a child?
Yes, when I was young, I watched an advertising on TV, which really struck me. The advertisement was about a
kind of nutritional supplement for older people. It’s called Naobaijin in Chinese, kinda like nutrition for the brain.
The commercial advertisement was always about an old man and a woman cartoon character singing and dancing.
It’s so much fun.
2. Do you see a lot of advertising on trains or other transport?
I do see various of advertising on public buses, such as skincare commercials, clothing, food etc., and I guess this is
because bus advertising is a great outdoor advertising strategy and it easily reaches a large target audience.
Commuters can see the advertisement on the bus as they get on and off the bus.
3. Do you like advertisements?
Of course I don’t like advertisements. It’s really annoying, online ads in particular, pop up while I’m watching TV
dramas. Moreover, it often creates a desire for products that I may not actually need or have any use for. It seems
like a waste of time and money.
4. What kind of advertising do you like?
I don’t like all advertisements. The main purpose of ads is to attract consumers’ attention and increase our desire
to buy some unnecessary stuff or things we do not need. Some advertising is not truthful and hyperbolic,
seemingly taking audience for a fool.
SAMPLE ANSWER 2
1. Is there an advertisement that made an impression on you when you were a child?
Absolutely, there was this one advertisement for a chocolate brand that really stuck with me. It featured
a whimsical, magical chocolate factory and had this catchy jingle that I used to hum all the time.
It wasn’t just the chocolate that appealed to me as a child; it was the whole fantastical world they created. That ad
certainly had a knack for captivating a young audience.
2. Do you see a lot of advertising on trains or other transport?
Yes, advertisements are quite prevalent on public transport here in London. Whether it’s on buses, trains, or in
tube stations, you’re bound to come across a variety of ads. They range from promotions for the latest films to ads
for tech startups. It’s like a dynamic tapestry of the commercial world, constantly changing and vying for your
attention.
3. Do you like advertisements?
My feelings towards advertisements are somewhat ambivalent.
On one hand, they can be informative and creatively inspiring, showcasing clever ideas and new products.
On the other hand, they can be intrusive, especially when they’re overly persistent or irrelevant to my interests.
So, it really depends on the context and the quality of the advertising.
4. What kind of advertising do you like?
I have a particular fondness for witty and innovative ads that tell a story or present a message in a unique way.
Advertisements that use humor or clever visual metaphors tend to catch my eye. I also appreciate well-crafted
social media campaigns that engage with the audience in an interactive manner. It’s about striking the right
balance between being persuasive and being engaging.
Memory
SAMPLE ANSWER 1
1. Are you good at memorising things?
No, my memory is bad. I’ve got a memory like a sieve, and I’ve started forgetting things. Last Monday, I left the
house without my keys and then I was locked out!
2. Have you ever forgotten something that was important?
I do forget things sometimes, little annoying things instead of important things. I prefer to set alerts or put
reminders for myself on my phone to help me with scheduling, in case I forget or lose track of time.
3. What do you need to remember in your daily life?
There is a lot to remember, a lot to do every day. This includes my working schedules, important meetings,
business events, time for reading and learning and more. I can easily remember.
4. How do you remember important thing?
I have a habit of using a checklist and a calendar to see what’s important, prioritizing tasks, and then knocking
them off one by one.
SAMPLE ANSWER 2
1. Are you good at memorising things?
Honestly, it really depends. I’m good at math, and I can confidently say that I can memorize formulas and resolve
math problems easily. However, I struggle so much with history. I can hardly memorize the names of particular
wars and the people involved in historical events.
2. Have you ever forgotten something that was important?
Oh, sure, all the time! I’m constantly forgetting people’s birthdays, forgetting about meetings, and all sorts of
other slip-ups. I try to avoid forgetting important things by noting them down in my calendar, but it’s definitely
not a foolproof system. I’ve still forgotten a bucketload of important things that I later noticed had been entered
into my calendar.
3. What do you need to remember in your daily life?
I have a lot on my plate right now as I’m currently in my third year of university study. For instance, I need to keep
track of upcoming assignments and various meeting schedules. To make my life easier, I always set reminders on
my phone for everything important so l don’t miss anything.
4. How do you remember important thing?
I we’re talking about daily trivialities, l often rely on a common method, that is, making to-do lists.
But when it comes to memorizing a large amount of information, I would try mind maps. I think they are quite
helpful and handy because they show the structure and major points clearly, which makes it easier to remember.
Plus, I’ll have a nightly review of my daytime activities to help me keep track of is everything.
Describe a newly built public facility (such as parks, cinemas, etc) that influences your city.
You should say:
Where the facility is
When it was built
What people can do there
and why influence the facility has.
So today I would like to talk about Thanh Ha water park, which is a recently constructed facility that is attracting
many Hanoians’ attention.
Water park used to be my all-time favorite spot as a child. I mean who can resist the fun of playing with water?
When it was opened December last year, I decided to visit Thanh Ha, a newly built water park located in the
outskirt of Hanoi, to relive my childhood. The trip was fun and memorable.
The most exciting things in the park, to me, are definitely the water slides. The feeling of sliding down from 15 to
20 meters at high speed and getting soaking wet is appealing to a thrill-seeker like me. If you are not into
physically-demanding activities, you can always choose to relax by letting yourself flow aimlessly on the lazy river.
The food at the water park, which is normally great, will taste even better after two hours of water exercising.
Water park, in my opinion, is a great place for parents who have no idea where to take their children to in this
boiling 38-degree-or-above summer. I mean, children can spend hours in the park without complaining and playing
with water is quite safe. Also, this place is a necessary replacement for the old Ho Tay water park, which is
really outdated and in desperate need of renovation.
PART 3
1. What facilities do young people and old people like in your country?
I think the situation is similar in all nations, not just Vietnam. Old people prefer quiet places like parks or
libraries, mostly because they hate noise and want to enjoy a sense of tranquility. Also, since old
people are more vulnerable to both physical and mental issues, they tend to visit public places like
hospitals more often. Meanwhile, young people love exciting and crowded places like malls or stadiums as
they are more interested in having a good time or hanging out with friends.
2. What measures should be taken to deal with damages on public facilities?
There are quite a few solutions that could be applied. Some suggest that the government should impose
stricter punishments on those who damage public facilities. For example, Singapore government has
a fine of up to $1000 littering or public urination. Others, however, believe that instead of punishments,
the authorities should simply provide more financial support to help renovate and refurbish outdated
facilities.
3. What’s the difference between facilities in the countryside and the ones in the city?
Public facilities in the city are, without a doubt, better. Let’s take the road system in Vietnam as an
example. In big cities like Hanoi, roads are often wider and there are more expressways and arterials
roads. In comparison, most of the streets in the countryside are narrow and bumpy because there are a
lot of holes that can cause an accident at any time.
