ILASS ORAL TEST ENGLISH B1.

University of Transport HoChiMinh City

Institute of Languages and Social Sciences
SPEAKING TOPICS
SUBJECT: ENGLISH LEVEL B1.3
COURSE BOOK: SOLUTIONS- UPPER INTERMEDIATE (UNIT 1-5)
Part 1: Social Interaction (2 minutes)
▪ Students are asked 3-5 questions about familiar topics (family, school, sports, fashion, jobs,
traveling, hometown, etc.)
▪ Two subskills are tested: description and explanation
 Part 2: Solution Discussion (3 minutes)
▪ Draw a topic card and prepare in ONE minute.
▪ Present the response in 2 minutes.
▪ No questions are asked.
Part 3: Topic Development (4 minutes)
▪ Students have ONE minute to prepare.
▪ Present the response in 2 minutes.
▪ Examiner asks at least 4 follow-up questions.
 Students are graded on the following criteria:
 Pronunciation/Intonation
 Lexical use
 Grammar
 Reflex
 Relevant content
 General Notes:
 No materials are allowed after drawing topics.
 No change of topics
 No explanation about the question
 No extra preparation time.
 No Vietnamese

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 Tips for Part 1

Don’t just answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Try to extend your answers.
For example: Do you read books?
Yes, I do.
 Yes, I do. I read books both for fun and for work.
Use suitable linking words to connect your ideas.
For example: What’s your favorite time of the year?

 I love summer. I don’t have to go to school.

 I love summer the most because I don’t have to go to school at that time.
 Tips for Part 2

 Try to brainstorm ideas. Choose the one that you think is the best; explaining your choice. You
should mention 2 advantages of your options and some disadvantages of the other two options.
 Include 3 clear parts (opening, body and conclusion) in your talk.
 Tips for Part 3

 Include 3 clear parts (opening, body and conclusion) in your talk.

 Expand the main ideas using clear and relevant explanation, description and examples to
make your argument more persuasive.

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PART 1: SOCIAL INTERACTION

Notes: Students may be asked different questions about two of the eight topics or the same
questions with different ways.
1. Let’s talk about your hobbies
- What do you do in your free time?
- Do you prefer spending your time alone or with others?
- What are good hobbies and bad hobbies?
2. Let’s talk about sport
- Do you like playing sports?
- What sports are popular in your country?
- Do you think it is important to play a sport?
3. Let’s talk about your study.
- What is your major?
- What do you like about your studies?
- What do you like about learning English?
- How often do you use English?
4. Let’s talk about your hometown.
- Which part of your country do you come from?
- What's the weather like in your hometown?
- Can you describe your hometown?
5.Let’s talk about Family.
- Do you come from an extended family or a nuclear one?
- How often do you have a family get-together?
- Who are you closest to in your family?
- Would you rather spend your free time with your friends or your family members?
6. Let’s talk about plans
- Are you good at making plans? Why (not)?
- What do you plan to do this weekend?
- What are your plans for the future?

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7. Let’s talk about your place of living

- Do you live in a house or a flat?
- What do you like about your place of living?
- Can you describe your neighbourhood?
- Do you plan to live there in the future?
8. Let’s talk about health?
- Is it important to eat healthy food?
- What do you do to keep fit?
- Do you do anything which is not healthy?
- What do you think is more important, eating a healthy diet or doing exercise?
PART 2: SOLUTION DISCUSSION
1.You are thinking of organizing a charity fundraiser for orphans. There are three people you are going
to invite to your event: a celebrity; a successful businessman; a well-known vlogger. Who do you
choose to invite to your event?
2.Your most important person has faced a quite stressful situation and feelings of isolation, so you
need to help him or her have inner peace. The three pieces of advice are: daily practice of meditation,
seeing a therapist, connecting with supportive people. Which one will you choose to advise him or
her?
3. A member in your family is going to get married. He or she needs your recommendation on where
to hold the reception. What is your option? At home, in a restaurant, or on the beach. Explain your
option.
4. You want to choose a gift for a friend coming from Japan. A book, a self-designed photo album,
a silk scarf. What do you think is the best choice?
5. You and your family plan to go travel around Europe for some months, so you need to prepare many
things in advance. Three things you need to plan ahead include: budget, luggage and language. Which
do you think is the most important?
6. You and your family are going on holiday next month. There are 3 kinds of holiday for you to choose
from: adventure holiday, cruise holiday and beach holiday. Which kind of holiday do you like best?
7. Your brother or sister is addicted to playing computer games. Your family is considering a family
activity to help him or her give up computer games. Which is the best choice: playing board games,
taking part in outdoor activities regularly or watching a TV program?

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8. You have just passed an examination to a famous university. Your parents allow you to choose one
of the three special presents: a top-of-the-line smart phone, a high-end laptop, an innovative smart
watch. Which one is your choice?
PART 3: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
1. Topic: It is true that reputable people play an important role in inspiring young generations.
REPUTABLE PEOPLE
- Great career choice
- Wonderful inner beauty
- Deep knowledge
- Your own ideas
2.Topic: Being famous is not always a good thing.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF FAME
- Rumors
- Loss of privacy
- Pressure to perform
- Your own ideas
3.Topic: There are many things that make people blow their top in public places.
PET PEEVES
- No wi-fi in public places
- Dropping litter in the street
- Making noise
- Your own ideas
4. Topic: Soft skills are becoming more and more important.
SOFT SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL
- Communication skills
- Time management skills
- Problem solving skills
- Your own ideas
5. Topic: Traditional festivals present important values.
TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS
- Improve spiritual life
- Honor community
- Teach history and culture
- Your own ideas

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6.Topic: Visiting a foreign country is a valuable experience for us.

VISITING A FOREIGN COUNTRY
- Refreshment
- New experiences
- New friends
- Your own ideas
7.Topic: Online friendship is believed to have more advantages for young people.
ONLINE FRIENDSHIP
- Making friends without boundaries
- Helping people to vent
- Learning new cultures
- Your own ideas
8.Topic: There are many causes leading to sibling rivalry in a family.
SIBLING RIVALRY
- An equal amount of parental attention
- Different personalities
- Being in developmental stages
- Your own ideas