IELTS SPEAKING AND WRITING TEST TOPIC 18

IELTS SPEAKING AND WRITING TEST TOPIC 18
Success- money - personal related
Success - personalities
Interest and hobby:
Special Events
Special People
SECTION 1: SUCCESS-PERSONALITIES
1. It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in books.” Compare
and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In
your opinion, which source is more important? Why?
- What can we learn from books?
- The information we need to function in our society.
- Learn how to speak and write and understand mathematical equations.
- All information that we need to live in our communities and earn a living.
- What knowledge can be gained from experience?
- Know how to get along with others.
- How to have self – respect.
- How to deal with pressure.
- How to fall in love and get married.
- Any where else we can learn?
- Guidelines from teachers and parents.
- What’s more important? Why?
- Most important lessons are gained through our own experience -> “experience is the
best teacher”.
2. The expression “Never, never give up” means to keep trying and never stop working
for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
“ If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. These are wise words. One should never
give up. There is always another opportunity, another goal, another option.
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot
of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

“ Success is more than how much money you make”.
For me, success would be considered as how effective you use your time, which is, in
more detail, assessed in three aspects:
- What you can gain yourself: money, social status, knowledge.
- What you can contribute to your surrounding people: your family and your friends.
- What you can contribute to the society you live in: your country.
3. “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with
success.” Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and
examples to explain your position.
4. Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your money
for some time in the future? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
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“ Save it for rainy day”.
What saved money is used for?
- Education: tuition, room, board, book and incidental expenses to pay for.
- Travel: visit home from studying place.
- Unforseen emergencies: unexpected illness, one family member need help.
5. People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new
experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people
attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
- Career preparation.
- Job market is competitive.
- University offer new skill for career -> a lot of opportunities.
- New experiences.
- Meet different people.
- Making their own decisions -> increases their knowledge of themselves.
- Expand knowledge in subjects they find interesting.
6. Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or chances. Others

believe that success results from careful planning. In your opinion, what does success
come from? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
“Nothing ventured. Nothing gained”.
What is the rule to be succesful in life?
- Take risks in our lives, but these must be calculated risks.
- Like the great thinkers of our time, we must plan carefully: seize all opportunitiesm and
reevaluate our plan.
7. In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for example, honesty,
intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person can have to be successful in life? Use
specific reasons and examples from your experience to explain your answer. When you
write your answer, you are not limited to the examples listed in the question.
A person who always desire of progress: always set goals and plan carefully to reach
their goal, always create themselve chances by challenging themselves to new contexts,
always seize any opportunities to come and reevaluate opportunities.
SECTION 2: INTEREST AND HOBBY
1. What is your interest?
2. What do you enjoy doing on the weekend?
SECTION 3: SPECIAL EVENTS
1. Your birthday:
Talk about a birthday celebration that you particularly enjoyed.
• When was it?
• What did you do?
• Why did you particularly like it?What did you do when you were preparing to leave
(candidate''s home country) to come to (country of study)?
2. What is the most embarrassing thing that''s ever happened to you?
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3. Describe your favourite building.
- Among those buildings in HN I’ve ever come, undoubtly, Melia hotel is the most
striking one.
- Located in Thanh Nien street. From there you can look out both Truc Bach and West

lake.
- What strikes me when coming there is very the glass lift. When going up to higher
floor, the higher you are raised, the broader view of Hanoi’s panorama you can see. It is
really amazing to have a constantly changing vision of our dear capital.
- The building consists of 21 floors. Most rooms are used for renting. There are many
companies located in that building.
- The building is really splendid with modern design and luxurious decoration.
- The atmostphere is completely fresh with two nearby lakes.
- The surrounding sceneries is also charmful.
- The entertainment facilites inside the building is rather satisfying with a swimming
pool, a specific area for sport where you can play bowling, table tennis, etc. What special
in entertainment service is the top floor. There people can have some drink or some
fruits, listen to live music and look out for an overview of the beloved capital. For the
moment I was in such position, I found Hanoi more beautiful than ever before.
SECTION 4: SPECIAL PEOPLE
1. A person who has the most influence in your life. My mother
Who is the person?
2. Describe a teacher who has greatly influenced you in your education.
You should say:
- where you met them.
- What subject they taught.
- What was special about them.
- And explain why this person influenced you so much.
His name is Mr Nguyen The Vinh - my highschool informatics teacher – a beloved
teacher for any student that has ever been taught by him. He is indeed my most ideal
teacher.
- In fact, he considered me not only as he special student but also as his daughter. He
lived in the teacher’s hostel in my highschool. And he always offered me most friendly
and informal hospitality whenever I dropped in asking about some informatics problems
or maybe just having a rest or drink btw lessons.

- With his help in my studying process, I was chosen to take part in the national contest
for best informatics students grade 12 though I was only in grade 11 at that time. I did
gain the third prize for that contest.
- Informatics since then has in fact had a great influence on my studying process. It
helped me a lot in studying other subjects, like English, Geography, etc. In fact my
preparation for this exam is also assisted by my computer skill. It is really amazingly
helpful. I believe that effect would be much more taken advantage of when I arrive in
Singapore in this July because this is an extensively high – tech environment where
requires lots of computer skill. It is Mr Vinh that has offered me comparative advantage
in this magic field.
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3. Tell me about a famous person that you admire
- Who is that person?
- What is he famous for?
- Why you admire that person?
- What can you learn from that person’s life?
4. Describe a competition ( or contest) that you have entered:
You should say:
- When the competition took place?
- What you had to do?
- How well you did it?
- Do you enjoy entering competitions?
- Have you entered any other competition?
- Speak about:
- Competition at a young age?
- Competition at school.
- Value of international competitions.
- The psychology of competing.
- Competitive spirit.
5. Tell me about a favorite event of your childhood.

6. If someone gave you a million dollars, what would you do with it?
• What''s your favorite place to shop?
- Price:
- Quality:
- Diversity
- Services:
- Fashion trend:
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