lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1 VSTEP SPEAKING
The VSTEP Speaking lasts 12 minutes and consists of three parts:
• Part 1: Social Interaction (3’)
• Part 2: Solution Discussion (4’)
• Part 3: Topic Development (5’)
You are evaluated on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, topic development and pronunciation.
Speaking Part 3: Topic Development (5’)
1 . General Description
- Part 3 last 5 minutes including 1 minute for preparation, about 2 minutes to talk and about 2
minutes to answer follow-up questions.
- You are given a topic with a mind map (with three hints and/ or your own ideas to that topic).
You have to develop a full-length answer towards a topic given. After that, you have to answer
some follow-up questions which are related to the topic.
- The topic are normally about social subjects. You are asked to discuss the causes/effects,
advantages/disadvantages, solutions, etc.…. The style is academic and formal like essay writing. 2 . Tips
a. You are given 1 minute to note down what you are going to say. Remember some useful tips to take notes efficiently
Spend some time thinking and planning and don’t write for the whole minute
Don’t write complete sentences
Don’t develop a talk against the topic given. It is not allowed.
b. Try to support your main points by adding details, giving explanations or examples, evidence
to expand each main point in the mind-map by answering WH-questions like “what”, “why”,
“when”, “where” ...
c. Try to vary your vocabulary by using synonyms, related words, collocations, etc instead of using the given words. Examples:
- Reading habit = reading culture, the habit of reading , the culture of reading
- Encouraged =to boost, to inspire
- Teenagers = the youth , adolescence, young people, young generation, teens
- Increase knowledge = broaden/ widen knowledge / understanding Knowledge gathers day by day through books.
- Reduce stress = release stress, get away from pressure, stress reduction Keep people away from reality
- Improve memory = memory improvement lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1
Have to remember characters, backgrounds, etc => help to gain memory improvement -
Improve focus and concentration.
d. Divide your talk into 3 main parts: •
Introduction: introduce the topic with some paraphrasing Example:
Reading habit should be encouraged among teenagers. = Reading is a popular activity with
youngsters as it brings a number of benefits as follows. •
Body: develop the main points and give illustrations.
- All the points need to be well-linked with linking devices: in the first place, moreover, last but
not least, firstly, secondly, finally, in addition...
- Each point should be initiated with a topic sentence, the controlling idea of which is reworded
from key points in the mind-map.
- Each topic sentence should be accompanied by 2 or 3 supporting sentences with examples,
reasons, definitions, explanations or other kinds of further information.
Conclusion: restate the topic or summarize main points -
Signal with: to sum up, in conclusion, in short... -
Summarize the main point or restate the topic without repeating exact words from the mind-
map. After finishing the talk, candidates are asked some follow-up questions. Sample question:
Topic: Reading habit should be encouraged among teenagers. Follow-up questions:
1. What is the difference between the kinds of books read by your parents’ generation and those read by your generation?
2. Do you think that the government should support free books for all people?
3. In what ways can parents help children develop their interest in reading? Sample answer Introduction: 2 lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1
Reading is a popular activity with youngsters as it brings a number of benefits as follows. Body:
In the first place, reading helps broaden their background knowledge. For example, when one
reads a book about America, he can gain an insight (cái nhìn sâu sắc) into different aspects of
this powerful country including its history, politics, culture, geography, people and so on. The
same happens when he reads a daily newspaper as it updates him with the latest news about
current events that happen around the world.
Moreover, when a teenager does the reading on the regular basis (đều dặn thường xuyên) , he
can practise his memorizing skill. His brain can be activated frequently and gradually so he can
enhance its storage capacity, which is beneficial for his study. For example, when
you read a book, you have to remember characters, their backgrounds as well as their
ambitions, history, etc. It is undeniable that it is a good method to practice memorization skills.
Last but not least, reading is really a useful way to entertain young readers. Comic books, for
instance, can give a lot of fun through jokey script and vivid pictures. These elements can refresh
one’s mind and soul after exhausting school hours. Or no matter how much stress they have
at a school, at home, in their relationships, it all just slips away when they lose themselves in a great story. Conclusion:
To sum up, reading bears several positive effects on people in general and on the young in
particular. Therefore, they should be inspired and given as much chance to read as possible, both
inside and outside classrooms. 3. Useful language
a. Introducing opinion expressions ▪ I firmly/strongly believe that... ▪ I’m convinced that..... ▪ I am of the opinion that ▪ For me ▪ The way I see it ▪ I really think that
Supporting a positive opinion -
It’s good/ very important/ essential/ vital for + Ving -
It’s very important that … - ...... should all + V -
...... should make an effort to V -
It gives us the great chance/opportunity/freedom to V
E.g. It’s essential for teenagers to watch TV because they can gain various knowledge.
Supporting a negative opinion -
It would be inappropriate to V/ for N - It could have a bad effect on … - It’s not good for society if people.. lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1 - It’s unfair to V/sb … - It’s not necessary to V … - It’s unreasonable to V …
E.g. For me, it’s not necessary to make education free because it’s already extremely cheap
Techniques for supporting your opinions >>> Example - For example / For instance
- Let me give an example to illustrate this
>>> Common sense - Everyone knows
- It’s common knowledge that
- It is widely believed/ claimed that
>>> Statistics - Use numbers
- Use figures to support an argument
E.g. Traffic should be reduced in Vietnam. Over 1000 new cars go on to the roads every day.
This is becoming a major problem.
>>> Expert opinion - According to.. - To quote... - The .....says..
- I heard/read/saw somewhere that.
E.g. According to many experts, global warming is not actually scientifically proven to exist.
b. Expressing advantages and disadvantages
Introduce advantages
Introduce disadvantages
- The main/first/most important/greatest
- The main/first/most important/greatest/most
advantage/benefit of…is (that)….
serious disadvantage/drawback of…is (that)….
- One of the best parts/aspects of…is (that)…. - Another/An additional/A
One of the main positives of….is
further disadvantage/drawback of…is (that)…. (that)….
- One of the major plus points of…is (that)… - Another negative aspect/effect/side of…is (that) - Another/A further/An ….
additional advantage/benefit of…is
- A final drawback is (that)… (that)….
- Another positive aspect/effect of…is (that) ….
- Another good point about…is (that)…
c. Expressing causes and effects 4 lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1 - Because of/Due - For this reason, - Can be attributed to to/Owning
- …a consequence/result/effect of… - To result from/to be - - to/On account of - As a result/consequence, caused by Because/Since/As
- Therefore/Thus/Consequently/Hence, - To result in/cause/lead - - The - So to - first/second/third - This means that… - To affect/influence reason for…is (that)
- A consequence of this is that… - To be A reason for….is
- The first/second/third effect of…is… affected/influenced (that) - One/Another effect of…is - To have an effect on Another cause of….is (that) One of the most common reasons….is
d. Introducing problems and solutions
Introduce problems
Introduce solutions
- One problem with …. is that …. S + V
- A good solution to this problem is to ….is + noun
- One problem with …. is …. Noun
- The best way to deal with this (problem) is to…is +
- Another problem is that …. S + V noun
- Another problem is …. Noun
One way to solve this (problem) is to …is + noun
- The biggest problem with... is that …
- V-ing … is a good way to ….
- The biggest problem with... is noun 4 . EXAM PRACTICE PRACTICE 1:
Topic: Outdoor activities should be encouraged among teenagers. Sense of community Good physical Outdoor Good mental health activities health
[ Your own ideas]
Task 1: Develop the mind map lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1
- Good physical health: increase blood circulation, strengthen muscles,
………………………………………………………………………………
- Good mental health: reduce stress,
……………………………………………………………………………… - Sense of community:
………………………………………………………………………………
- Others:.………………………………………………………………………
Task 2: Build introduction sentence
Outdoor activities should be encouraged among teenagers.
Example: Outdoor activities bring teenagers a number of significant benefits as follows. Your sentence:
………………………………………………………………………………………
Task 3: Put it all together
First, within 5 minutes, practice making talks of the above topic. Remember to spend only a
maximum of 2 minutes on each talking time. Then, demonstrate it with your partner. PRACTICE 2:
Topic: Computer games should be controlled among children and teenagers. Contain the violence Make children/ Badly affect Computer games teenagers lazy health ( Your own idea)
Task 1: Develop the mind map
- Make children/teenagers lazy
………………………………………………………………………………... - Badly affect health 6 lOMoAR cPSD| 47886956
SPEAKING HANDOUTS FOR TAB1
………………………………………………………………………………... - Contain the violence
……………………………………………………………………………….. - Others
………………………………………………………………………………..
Task 2: Build introduction sentence
Computer games should be controlled among children and teenagers.
Example: There are several reasons why children’s and teenagers’ playing computers games
should be brought under control. Your sentence:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
Task 3: Put it all together
First, within 5 minutes, practice making talks of the above topic. Remember to spend only a
maximum of 2 minutes on each talking time. Then, demonstrate it with your partner.