Writing:

Task 1: Writing an Email

You are making a plan for a summer vacation. You are interested in several tour options
you found online while browsing.
Write an email to a travel agency in about 150-200 words.
Your email should do the following things:
● Tell the travel agency where you want to go
● Describe what you are interested in

Ask about the cost and payment options

Dear Starlight Travel Agency Staffs,

I’m writing this email to inquire about the cost and the itinerary of your Vietnam tours for a family
of four this upcoming June. As listed on your website, our family is currently considering a 6-day
tour package in Hanoi and Halong Bay and a 4 day tour package in Ha Long Bay.

As this will be our first visit to Vietnam, my parents, my husband and I are eager to experience
the rich local culture and food. In particular, we would like to explore local markets and enjoy the
famous street food in the corner of Hanoi Old Quarter, or visit the seafood market in the Quang
Ninh market. Furthermore, we would also love to visit the most famous tourist attraction such as
Hoan Kiem Lake, Phong Nha Cave.

Our budget is approximately $5000 for a family of four, which should include the plane ticket,
accommodations, meals and local traveling expenses. Please let me know your
recommendation for us!

Thank you in advance for your help! I’m looking forward to hear back from you!

Sincerely,
Lucy Nguyen
Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions
The faculty at your university is considering a new course policy. The faculty is asking
students to respond to an opinion survey.
Choose the option that you prefer. Why do you prefer your choice? Explain the reasons
for your choice. Write about ISO-200 words.
• Students need to take a final exam to pass the course
OR
• Students need to complete a research project to pass the course

I strongly advocate for the new course policy to grade student final research projects to evaluate
student completion of a course. This solution offers several benefits to students in our university.
Firstly, most exams usually start a week after the final class ends to give students a proper time
frame to review what they have learned during the course. Meanwhile, the final project can be
finished as soon as their final class ends. Giving students a chance to complete a research
project instead of giving students final exams will give them more time to take their semester
break, which will help to prevent students from getting mentally burned out and prepare
themselves for the next semester.
Secondly, students will be required to spend more time finishing a research project than a final
exam, which will add more depth and quality in content than typical three-hour exam papers. As
a result, evaluating a research project will be more reflective of a student’s ability to comprehend
the content of a course than a final exam.
Ultimately, giving students the chance to do a final research project will demonstrate the
school's commitment to fair and ethical conduct to education, and empower students to take a
break.
This is my own personal opinion, I will support whatever decision is made. Thank you so much
for the opportunity to contribute my thoughts on these important matters.

Speaking:
Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice
Your co-worker, Sam, is retiring next month. Your office wants to hold a

farewell party for her.

The employee who is organizing the party is asking for ideas.

Advise the employee about what to do for the party.

Oh, wow. I heard that - Sam is retiring next month. Good for her. Um, yeah. Here
are my few suggestions for her,uh, farewell parties. First of all, um, I think we
should get her a goodbye card.Um, we can all sign in her cards, and then, give it
to her. I think she will be very touched. Another thing that we could do is that we
could do,um, we can pitch in for a personalized gift for her. I know she always go
to the gym, like, three times a week. So, I think getting a gym back for her will be
something that she would use. And, every time she'd look at that, I think she
would think of us. And, another last thing that we should get for her is that,um,
we should pull her,um, for a surprise party for her. She always loved Japanese
food and I think it will be so great to have her,um,parties at our local Japanese
food, which is right down the corner. We're knowing, um, I think it's called natto
sushi or something like that. But, I, I think she would absolutely love it, and I think
I'm really happy for her. And,um, yeah, that's all my suggestion for the,uh,
surprise party.

Speaking Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience

Talk about a time when you attended a sporting event. Maybe you can talk

about a professional match, or a school/local game you watched. Where was

it, who did you watch it with, and what did you think of the game?

Preparation: 30 seconds
Recording: 60 seconds

When I was in high school, I went to this soccer match at our local My Dinh
Stadium. It was so,um, wonderful. I,um, actually went with my um
classmates,um, which just,um, about 3,30 people in our class. And, we were just
gathered there and watched this soccer match. Um, the highlights of the soccer
match is that, when our famous kicker,um, did his famous reverse kick,um that
kinda ended the score that,um, came in give us, our winning advantage in the
match.I remember seeing everybody faces with joy when he, after his reverse
kick, and, which is a moment of pure joy and victory. That's why I really
remember that moment until now.

Speaking Task 3: Describing a Scene

Describe some things that are happening in the picture as well as you can.

The person whom you are speaking to cannot see the picture.

Preparation: 30 seconds
Recording: 60 seconds

Yeah. This is a scene from a library. Um, I can notice that the younger men in
orange t-shirts are trying to use the printer. But, I think there was some problem
with the printer, so he keeps trying to hit the printer. And, then next to the, the
man with the printer, I also noticed that there was a, a guy in a blue shirt kind of
slouching down to asking the librarian for something on the book.So, I'm
guessing he must be questioning about,um, the library services. And, I also
noticed that on there,the,the behind the guy and the librarian, there was another
person who is using the computer. And, next to that, and next to that, there's an
empty computer station. And I also noticed that-
Yeah, overall, I can see what happened next, is that after asking the order library
and about the reference book right in front of him, the guy in the blue t shirt will
go to, go back to his computer station to keep working on research, checking on
his essay. And, then, um right in front of him. There will be…. a younger librarian,
is helping, who is helping,um, the older guy to check out his book, to actually,um,
they will actually finish the transaction.And, he will give him the library card and
he will be happy and go back to the,um, back table of the corner.Overall, I
think,uh,it’s um, very normal day in the library. I hope people will find whatever
they're looking for.

Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading

Your family is looking to buy a family car.

You find two suitable options. Using pictures and information below, choose

the option that you prefer.

In the next section, you will need to persuade your parent that your choice is

the better choice.

If you don't choose one, the computer will choose one for you. You do not

need to speak for this part.

Hi dad, um, I hear you are looking for a family car. And I think the blue SUV
would be a better option than the pick up truck you’ve already pick. Um,
Personally,um, Personally, I think it will fit more people. So. we are quite a large
family with four people. And, whenever you go to the grandma and pick up
grandma and grandpa, I think they also fit in the SUV as well. So, definitely the
SUV is,um,a lot more spacious than the pickup truck. And, another thing is that
you have more warranty than the pickup truck, which only offers about two years
warranty, which is really good just because in case anything happened with the
car, we can always go back to the manufacturer and then say that, “Oh hey, we
have manufacturer warranty”. And lastly, it's more environmentally friendly as
well. The first year we don't have to pay gas. And that's all my opinion. Thank
you so much for seeing where I'm coming from.
Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
You are going to watch a concert with two other friends. You arrived at the

concert hall 5 minutes after the concert started. You met your friend Jack,

however, your other friend, Samantha, is running late.

Choose one:

Either

-Talk to Jack. Explain that you and Jack should wait for Samantha before

going in.

OR

-Talk to Samantha. Explain that you want to enter the venue first because you
don't want to miss the concert.
Hey, Samantha. Sorry about that. I know you're stuck in traffic, but, however,
hear me out. I would like to go, and eventually, we have to go right now without
you. Just because we need to get some food for the before, right before the
concert starts. Otherwise, the food stall will get closed during the concert
time,um, so that I can get a couple of frie, for us..So, let me know what you want.
And second of all, I heard there was this very great opening band that I always
like called um, AT, and then, I think, I know you don't like the band, but I would
love to hear them out before the show started. Um, So yeah, overall, I think thank
you so much for seeing where I'm coming from and I hope you can make it on
time. Um, We're sitting at aisle six, so yeah, let me know when you're here.
Thank you.

Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

Do you think restaurants should make tipping mandatory to all customers?

Even though tipping is a part of our culture, I don't think that tipping should be
made mandatory for all restaurants, for following reasons. First of all,um, tipping
makes the food and services less affordable for a lot of customers. Especially
right now, we are entering recession. It is imperative that restaurants has to be,
people have to be more encouraged to go to a restaurant and support their local
businesses.And, tipping is discouraging people from just, from supporting their
local restaurant.Just because, while tip tipping means that people has to pay
more than the amount that they already agreed for.
Second of all, I think most restaurants already pay at least minimum wage for
their staff, so that,um, mean that their staff also make a livable wage.
Another thing that,another reason why that tip shouldn't be made mandatory is
that tips should be based on services.
So it's really depends on the customer to decide how much they wante to tip their
server based on their services. And that's all my personal opinion on this.

Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

You are at a travel fair and see an interesting hotel room being advertised.

The hotel is offering a discount if you make a reservation at the fair. Call your

spouse, describe the hotel room, and ask your spouse if he/she would like to

stay there.

Preparation: 30 seconds
Recording: 60 seconds
Hey, Bob, I'm here at this Tourism,um, UK tourism festival, and I was looking as
so many different hotel options that we can go to Ireland next year. And I found
this very interesting hotel. I think you would loved it. I wish I could describe it to
you, but I’ll do my best. So,um, Basically the whole hotel room,kind of, mimics
the feeling of a snow cave.So when you walk in, you will notice that there is four
polar bear shapes, kind of,covered in snow,um, inside the,um, right left of the
room. And, then on the right side, we have this very big crystal lamp light, that
kind of mimics that crystal ice. And further bove, I also noted that they also have
that bed frame with the black um bed mattress. Plus, there's a fireplace too which is
placed in the middle of the room giving this warm glow throughout the room. There’s also a
big wooden bench next to the fireplace, from which you can warm your hands after
spending a day outside.
And yeah, you've got to see it. I think it is a very interesting place to stay. I think it
will be lovely.