WRITING IN THE NATIONAL EXAM

WRITING IN THE NATIONAL EXAM
Để viết được một đoạn văn (paragraph), trước tiên học sinh cần hiểu rõ bố cục và
cách sắp xếp chi tiết trong một đoạn văn chứ không thể "nghĩ sao viết vậy" như một số học
sinh thường làm.
Thông thường một đoạn văn viết bằng tiếng Anh có độ dài dao động trong khoảng
80 đến 150 từ (words). Trong một đoạn văn chuẩn thường phải có câu chủ đề (topic
sentence). Trong câu chủ đề phải có hai phần: chủ đề (topic) và ý chính (controlling idea).
Thông thường câu chủ đề là câu mở đầu đoạn văn. Mặc dù trong cách viết tiếng Anh, câu
chủ đề còn có thể có các vị trí khác trong đoạn văn, nhưng để an toàn và không tự làm khó
mình, khi thi các em nên sử dung cách viết với câu chủ đề là câu đầu tiên.
Khi đã có câu chủ đề, ta phải tìm ý để có thể triển khai ý chính. Việc tìm ý không
quá phức tạp. Thí sinh chỉ cần tự đặt ra những câu hỏi liên quan đến câu chủ đề sau đó tự
trả lời chúng. Những câu hỏi này thường bắt đầu bằng các từ nghi vấn (question words)
như What, When, Where, Why, How.
Những câu trả lời cho các câu hỏi trên sẽ được sử dụng như supporting sentences
(các câu văn chứng minh, diễn giải ý chính trong câu chủ đề). Khi đã có các supporting
sentences, người viết chỉ cần ráp nối chúng lại thì sẽ có một đoạn văn hoàn chỉnh. Tuy
nhiên, mấu chốt ở công đoạn này là các bạn phải biết sắp xếp các câu văn theo một trật tự
nhất định chứ không phải "có gì viết nấy".
- Cách sắp xếp supporting sentences trong một đoạn văn:
Tùy theo đề bài, người viết có thể sắp xếp supporing sentences theo 1 trong các trật tự
dưới đây:
+ Từ các chi tiết quan trọng nhất đến ít quan trọng nhất.
+ Từ các chi tiết ít quan trọng nhất đến chi tiết quan trọng nhất (ngược với cách 1).
+ Theo trật tự thời gian (cái gì xảy ra trước kể trước, cái gì xảy ra sau kể sau).
+ Theo trình tự của công việc phải làm (ví dụ như bạn đang hướng dẫn người khác nấu
cơm thì bạn sẽ chỉ họ làm theo các bước: Thứ nhất, lấy gạo bỏ vào nồi. Thứ hai, vo gạo.
Thứ ba, bỏ nồi vào nồi cơm điện (nếu nấu bằng nồi cơm điện). Thứ tư, cắm phích vào ổ
điện. Thứ năm, bật công tắc nấu. Cuối cùng, chờ khoảng 20 đến 25 phút thì cơm chín.
+ Theo trình tự không gian. Thường trật tự này chỉ được áp dụng trong một đoạn văn tả
quang cảnh/nơi chốn. Ví dụ như đề bài yêu cầu bạn tả góc học tập của mình. Trường hợp

này bạn có thể bắt đầu từ bất kể vị trí nào: từ ngoài vào trong, từ trong ra ngoài, từ trái
sang phải, từ phải sang trái, từ dưới lên trên, từ trên xuống dưới...tùy theo góc độ mà bạn
quan sát để mô tả.
Cuối cùng, bạn có thể kết thúc đoạn văn bằng một câu kết (concluding sentence). Thông
thường câu kết được thực hiện bằng cách viết lại câu chủ đề theo một dạng khác mà thôi.
Tuy nhiên, câu kết không nhất thiết luôn phải có trong đoạn văn, nghĩa là nếu bạn tự tin
mình viết tốt thì kết bài với câu kết, còn không thì không sử dung câu này.
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Một yêu cầu quan trọng nữa đối với một đoạn văn đó là sự thống nhất. Sự thống nhất là
một đặc tính quan trọng để đánh giá đoạn văn đó có tốt hay không. Sự thống nhất ở đây có
nghĩa là đoạn văn đó chỉ nói về một đề tài. Tất cả các câu trong đoạn đều phải đề cập đến
đề tài đó, không được đi lệch hướng.
- Các bước làm một bài viết đoạn văn bằng tiếng anh
+ Viết câu chủ đề (Lưu ý: cần triệt để lợi dụng đề bài để viết thành câu chủ đề).
+ Kiểm tra lại câu chủ đề để biết chắc trong câu chủ đề của bạn có topic và controlling
idea.
+ Tìm ý để chứng minh/diễn giải ý chính bằng cách đặt các câu hỏi mở đầu bằng từ nghi
vấn. Lưu ý: do độ dài của đoạn văn bị khống chế nên bạn chỉ cần đặt khoảng 5 câu hỏi là
được. Nhớ rằng các câu hỏi phải liên quan đến câu chủ đề.
+ Ráp các câu trả lời cho các câu hỏi của bạn (supporting sentences) lại thành một đoạn
văn hoàn chỉnh. Cần nhớ mấu chốt ở bước này là bạn phải biết chắc mình đang sử dụng
trật tự nào để ráp nối supporting sentences.
+ Cân nhắc có nên viết câu kết hay không. Nếu không chắc chắn thì bỏ qua bước này.
+ Kiểm tra lại các lỗi chính tả, lỗi ngữ pháp có thể có trong từng câu viết của bạn.
Một số chủ đề có thể sẽ xuất hiện trong yêu cầu viết bài tự luận đó là:
- Con người: sở thích của bản thân, người yêu thương nhất trong gia đình, người bạn mà
bạn yêu quý nhất, thần tượng…
- Giáo dục: môn học yêu thích, người thầy mà bạn ngưỡng mộ…

- Thể thao: môn thể thao yêu thích…
- Du lịch: địa điểm du lịch mà bạn yêu thích…
- Công việc: ước mơ của bạn, người bạn muốn trở thành trong tương lai…
Topic 1: Write a letter to a pen pal about the importance of family in your life and your
family rules.
87 Tran Hung Dao street
Thaibinh, Vietnam
25th May, 2014
Dear Mai,
I have received your letter and I feel so glad when knowing that you had passed
your examinations with good marks. You want me to tell you about my family rules, and
the importance of family in my life? I am always willing to tell you all about my family.
Family rules? It's an interesting topic, isn't it? It may be obvious that every family
has its own rules. Mine has a few, apart from our traditional rules, especially for this
school year as I'm in the final year.
First, I'm not allowed to watch TV, nearly no, except when there is a good or
interesting movie or when I have finished all my homework and exercises. And never do
my parents let me stay up so much late at night.
Next my parents don't permit me to go out with my friends without necessary reason
for example birthdays.
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Besides, I have to take a balanced diet to keep fit for my coming exam. And one
more thing I have to keep up is talking on the phone, that is I have to set a limit to my
using of the phone.
For me, family is very important part of my everyday life. It helps me in improving
my personality. It also helps me in shaping my life. It teaches me the value of love,
affection, care, truthfulness and self-confidence and provides me tools and suggestions
which are necessary to get success in life.

Family is a place where I can be myself. It is a place where I am accepted for what I
am. This is where I am completely tension free and everyone is there to help me. Family
encourages me when I am surrounded by problems. It helps me survive through tough
times and bring joy and happiness into my life. Now I am preparing for my GCSE
examination and the entrance examination. They are very hard for me, but I try my best to
pass the exams with good marks.
I have told you something about my family rules. How about your family rules? Are you
ready to let me know about it? I am really excited to hear about it. And I look forward to
hearing from you soon.
Best wishes to you!
Love,
Thu Trang
Topic 2: Write a paragraph to discuss the reasons why many students want to study
abroad.
Nowadays, studying abroad isn’t a new learning method and is more and more
popular in the world. It has several good points such as: broadening your knowledge,
improving your language and helping you with more experiences. However, there are
some bad points like: being homesick, culture shock, and financial problem. This essay
will focus the above-mentioned aspects.
Studying abroad is one of the learning methods bringing many advantages to you.
Normally, foreign countries have conditions better than Vietnam’s ones. The schools and
universities are full of modern facilities helping you can study and comprehend lessons
effectively. The majority of them are large and have many different majors so it is easier
for you to choose which you want to learn. Besides, you will know more things when
living abroad for a long time for example, such as: culture, traditions, habits, lifestyle,
food and so on. Your knowledge, of course, will become more abundant. Moreover, the
degree of foreign country is always higher than the one of Vietnam, so looking which
leads students to look for a good job quickly after graduating from your university.
Simultaneously, studying abroad improves your language. Your speaking and listening
skills will also be fluently and clearly. In addition, it helps you have many experiences as

well as soft skills such as: communication skill, managing, routine, time and money…
Nevertheless, studying abroad has some disadvantages. Firstly, when living in
strange country, being homesick or feeling lonely will happen. Living condition of foreign
countries is more luxurious so most of the things are expensive. Therefore, finance is one
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of the problems you have to encounter. Secondly, you’ll cope with culture shock. The
difference of food also affects your digestion: food smells strange so you can’t eat much,
which made makes you uncomfortable and it is easy to get sick if your health isn’t good.
Communication problem can cause difficulty for you. Sometimes, you can be unconfident
and shy because of different learning style of foreign students. They are independent,
active and learn by themselves but Vietnamese students are shy, dependent on teachers
and
lack
self-taught
skill.
In conclusion, studying abroad has more advantages than disadvantages and is very useful
for you. To reduce bad points of it, you should find and read as much as information as
possible about the country you are going to study and prepare necessary skills for yourself
so that you can adjust quickly.
Topic 3: Write a paragraph to introduce a beauty spot in Viet nam.
The ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Da Nang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon
River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of
Southeast Asia in the 16th century.
Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets;
the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses
were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with
Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.
There is no shortage of bacon in town, but cao lầu is the dish that one simply can not

miss. Prices and service are rightfully on par with the latest venues in major cities like
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. People are very friendly in Hoi An.
Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.
Topic 4: Write a paragraph to share with your friends about the charity work.
Charity work is a great way to help the community and to increase life experience on
various issues. When you have more advantages, you should share those privileges with
the poor, which makes the community better. In addition, charity work gives you a chance
to better someone’s life and create a positive impact on your surroundings by building a
caring society. We and the poor are the members of human race, therefore, our action of
sharing will strengthen social and traditional morality. Moreover, you can gain valuable
experiences through real work. You can work in almost any field and contribute
meaningfully to the cause. For example, you can volunteer for the betterment of the
disadvantaged children in mountainous regions. You can participate in a walk for charity
and raise funds for the organization. In short, not only does charity work bring hope and
happiness to the community, but it also leads to personal growth. It is an experience that
cannot be bought with any amount of money.
TOPIC 5: Your school organizes a competition for students to write about "The
world in which I would like to live in the year 2020. " Below are 2 essays by one of the
students.

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1. "My ideal world would be a peaceful one. There are no wars or conflicts between
nations. People won't have to live under the threat of terrorism but all live together in
harmony. Everyone has a job to do and there is a good healthy standard of living for all. I
would also wish to live in a clean healthy environment with less noise and less pollution.
There are more and larger parks where children can play and wildlife can be protected. But
my main desire is to see people less materialistic, less selfish, less violent and more loving
than they are now."

2. My ideal world will be an interesting one. There will be no longer terrorism. All people
will have jobs with high salary. We will use modern computers. In stead of typing on
computers, we'll say the words and the computers will type them. People can breathe fresh
air and live in clean environment. Especially, people will use motorbikes which run on
solar energy. People at that time will be richer and they will live longer thanks to the
environment.
TOPIC 6: Write a passage about some measures to protect endangered animals.
1. As you know, animals play an important part in our environment. They help maintain
the biodiversity in nature. Today many animal species, however, are in danger of
extintion. The reason causing the decrease in the number of animals is mainly from human
beings. It is high time we must take some measures to protect endangered animals.
Firstly, we should educate people from the young age about the importance of wild
animals in maintain the ecosystem and biodiversity. Young people should be educated
how to protect our environment in general and how to protect endangered animals in
particular. They should be told about the things that threat the safety of wildlife so that
they can avoid doing them. This should be included in their curriculum at school.
Secondly, the governments all over the world should set up national parks and
wild-life preserves as many as possible. Thanks to these places, animals will have a
suitable habitat to survive and good conditions to grow and multiply. There they can be
kept in a natural and safe environment.
Last but not least, each nation must enforce stricter law with more serious
punishment- capital punishment, for example- to prevent people from poaching rare and
valuable animals.
In general, protecting wild animals is not a person's work but it needs the solidarity
of human beings all over the world. I should think each of us has the responsibility for
protecting and saving endangered species before it is too late."
2. There are a number of measures that should be taken to protect endangered animals.
First, people should organize different activities to raise people's awareness of the urgent
needs to protect these animals. For example, they hold international conferences, seminars
and forums about the great importance of ecology and biodiversity. At the same time, they

should appeal for government agencies in the world to contribute to the programmes of
protecting and preserving plants and animals that are driven to the verge of extinction. In
addition, people should contribute to the fund of preserving the earth's valuable natural
resources for the future generations. Besides these, governments should enact laws to ban
activities that can damage or destroy the nature. If these measures are taken, our planet
might be a peaceful and beautiful place for all kinds of beings to live in.
Topic 7: Write a bout a book you have read recently
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I recently read The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnfor, a book about three animal
friends who travel across the Canadian wilderness looking for their owners. It is a
fascinating story that describes some of the incredible things animals can do.
When a Canadian family goes to England for a long trip, they leave their three pets
with a friend who lives 300 miles away. Though well treated by the friend, the pets miss
their family. One ‘day, they are also to leave the friend’s house unnoticed and begin the
long journey to find their owners. The central theme of the book, a problem the animals
must resolve, is how to survive in the wilderness in order to arrive home. They never could
have completed the journey alone, but they take care of one another, and all the three make
it and are reunited with their owners.
Each animal has a distinct personality, but they care for one another almost as if
they were a family. The most impressive of them is the old dog. The journey was the most
difficult for him, but amazingly he found the strength to make it.
The author did not try to turn the animals into people, speaking and acting like
humans. Instead, she was faithful to her characters as animals and showed us their journey
through animal eyes. That made the book interesting and unbelievable.
I would like to recommend to anyone who likes animals. I think that anyone who
has ever had a pet or wanted one would enjoy it.
Topic 8: Write a paragraph that are encountered by women in modern
societies.

Throughout much of the history of human civilization, deep-seated cultural beliefs
allowed women only limited roles in society. Many people believed that women's natural
roles were as mothers and wives. These people considered women to be better suited for
childbearing and homemaking rather than for involvement in the public life of business or
politics. Women nowadays still have to do housework, fulfill their social tasks and get
their career achievements. Women, especially in third world nations have to suffer from
domestic violence, gender discrimination in work places. However, many women are
behaving differently; they are drinking too much, having casual sex, as a result they have
to pay high prices: diseases and bad reputations. Many problems are facing our women, no
matter how hard we are trying to solve; but they are an integral part of our world, as it is
said that “men build the house and women make it home”.
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TOPIC 9: Write a paragraph about one of the football matches you like best
To celebrate the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union's Foundation Day, our School's
Sports Club recently played a friendly football match with Hanoi School's Football Team.
The match was held on February 28th, at 4:00 pm at My Dinh stadium.
It was a nice day. In the first half, our team played pretty well. They tried to keep the ball
away from the goal and as near to our rival's as possible. By a combination of passing and
dribbling, the opponents gave a shot into our goal. Fortunately, our goalie could catch the
ball. All the stands seemed to be exploded with merry and exciting shouts. And all the
schoolboys and girls jumped up and down cheering. In the second half, both teams played
beautifully and skilfully and tried to score the goal, but no-one succeeded. Finally it was a
draw.
When the game was over, all of us were happy to have a fair game. I think all the schools
in the area should hold such a friendly game to tie up and promote the friendship and
solidarity together.
My family
My family consists of four people. There are my parents, my sister and me. My

father is an engineer working for a government office. My mother is a housewife. My
sister is a primary school teacher, and I am a high school student.We get up at 6 o’clock
every morning. After breakfast, my father and my sister go to work, my mother does the
housework and I go to school. We have lunch at noon and dinner at 7 p.m. In the evening
after dinner, we sit together in the living-room talking or watching television for about an
hour. Then my sister and I go to our own rooms to prepare the lessons for the coming
week.My family is a very happy one. We love each other very much and expect to live
together under the same roof forever.
A letter telling him/her about your family
Dear Bill,
I’m writing to tell you something about my family as requested in your last letter.
There are four people in my family: my parents, my younger sister and I. My Dad is fortynine and my mom is four years younger. My younger sister is ten years old. My Dad
works for a trade company and my mom is a teacher. My mother is a caring person. She
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always gets up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for everyone. In the evening after
dinner, we sit together in the living-room talking or watching television for about an hour.
Then my sister and I go to our own rooms to prepare the lessons for the coming week.My
family is a very happy one. We love each other very much and expect to live together
under the same roof forever.
Give my regards to all members in your family.
Best wishes,
Hoa
The person who influenced my life the most
When I think about the person who influenced my life the most, the first person that
comes to my mind is my Dad.
My Dad is a tall, cool, independent, hardworking and a very practical man. He loves
me a lot as every father and always remains strong by not showing his emotions. He is full
of fun, light hearted and always looking at the positive things in life. He is not only a

father to guide between the good and bad but also a good friend, a companion and above
all my inspiration. I love to play a good game of Billiards with him whenever we go to the
Club. Family is the first priority to him and he pleasures every moment with us. He is full
of fun and jokes when he is around. I have lots of friends but I am much happier and
relaxed when he is around. I love my Dad so much.
The formal school education system in VN
The current formal education in Vietnam is composed of three levels: pre-school,
primary and secondary education. Now there are two school systems in pre-school and
primary education in big cities: state and private schools. In state school, parents have to
pay tuition fee. The academic year from September to May is divided into two semesters.
Children usually start the pre-school at the age of 3, when they go to nurseries, but this
stage is not compulsory. When children reach the age of 6, they must go to primary
schools. The primary education lasts five years. When they complete their primary
education, they can go to secondary schools, including Lower and Upper schools, from
grade 6 to 12. However, children must pass a entrance exam at the end of grade 9, the final
year of lower schools, to enter the upper secondary education. They will stay there until
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they complete grade 12. At the end of this stage, they must take the National Examination
for GCSE, the requirement to go to university or college. This examination often takes
place at the end of May or early June.
Measures for protecting endangered animals
As you know, animals play an important part in our environment. They help
maintain the biodiversity in nature. Today many animal species, however, are in danger
of extinction. The reason causing the decrease in the number of animals is mainly from
human beings. It is high time we must take some measures to protect endangered animals.
Firstly, we should educate people from the young age about the importance of wild
animals in maintain the ecosystem and biodiversity. Young people should be educated
how to protect our environment in general and how to protect endangered animals in

particular. They should be told about the things that threat the safety of wildlife so that
they can avoid doing them.This should be included in their curriculum at school.Secondly,
the governments all over the world should set up national parks and wild-life preserves as
many as possible. Thanks to these places, animals will have a suitable habitat to survive
and good conditions to grow and multiply. There they can be kept in a natural and safe
environment.Last but not least, each nation must enforce stricter law with more serious
punishment- capital punishment, for example- to prevent people from poaching rare and
valuable animals.In general, protecting wild animals is not a person's work but it needs the
solidarity of human beings all over the world. I should think each of us has the
responsibility for protecting and saving endangered species before it is too late.
The book you have read
I have read many economic book and the book I really like is “The Lexus and Oliu
tree”. This book was written by Thomas L.Friedman, a journalist of New York Times. The
book answers the question “What is the globalization”. In this book, he told about the
world economy and how to develop the economy in some countries where he had visited.
He also wrote about the changes of world economy, the past now and the future. I think
this book gave me much knowledge about economics. Besides, he still told about the
effect of the political problems to the economy. In my opinion, this book is helpful to
students who studying in economics university.

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FUTURE JOB
Hi! My name is Thomas and I love playing video games, doing physical exercise,
playing tennis and skiing. Listening to music, watching my favorite programme on TV,
chatting with my friends or going for a walk in the city are also some of the activities I
enjoy doing in my free time.
My future job has to be related with company management. I also would like to be a
professional tennis player, although I think it may be difficult to achieve that. I would like

to manage a company because I like to give orders, administrative work and to organize
things. I think I can be that, but I know that I need to have good marks and be good at
everything I do. If I go to an interview, I will need to keep myself calm and relaxed. I must
look at the interviewer’s eyes; I must talk formally and be polite.
Unemployment is something that worries me, because nowadays there are more and
more people who can’t find a suitable job and…in the future, there are lots of people who
will want the same job as me.I would like to have a part-time job, because I want to have
my own money…
MUSIC
Music brings back a variety of benefits to our lives in terms of entertainment,
disease treatment and education. Firstly, music is a great means of entertainment. It is
always used in special occasions such as Tet Holiday, Christmas, celebration or birthday
parties in order to create exciting atmosphere. Moreover, listening to music helps us to get
rid of anxiety and depression, feel optimistic and think more positive. It not only reduces
our stress level but also brings cheerful mood and active lifestyles. In addition, music can
also be used as a means of treating patients such as patients with mental disorder because
music soothes their nerves. Furthermore, music is good for studying, especially learning
English. For example, if we listen to English songs, we can improve our vocabulary,
listening skill. In short, because of such advantages already mentioned, it is obvious that
music has a profound and powerful impact on our lives.

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