Trong phần thi IELTS Speaking, bạn có thể bắt gặp những chủ đề yêu cầu về khả năng kể chuyện và mô tả trải nghiệm cá nhân, như: “Describe an important journey that was delayed”. Đây là một chủ đề quen thuộc liên quan đến cuộc sống hằng ngày – nơi giám khảo muốn đánh giá khả năng diễn đạt lưu loát và tự nhiên của bạn khi kể về một sự kiện thực tế.
Trong bài viết này, IDP sẽ cùng bạn khám phá cách tiếp cận hiệu quả đối với đề bài “Describe a journey that was delayed”, từ việc lựa chọn một trải nghiệm đáng nhớ, sử dụng từ vựng linh hoạt đến triển khai câu chuyện một cách logic, giúp bạn biến một trải nghiệm không mấy dễ chịu thành cơ hội thể hiện khả năng tiếng Anh một cách xuất sắc trong bài thi IELTS.
Linh hoạt chọn lịch thi IELTS phù hợp và nhận nhiều ưu đãi cực hấp dẫn tại IDP.
1. Phân tích chủ đề “Describe an important journey that was delayed” - IELTS Speaking Part 2
“Describe an important journey that was delayed” cue card nằm trong nhóm chủ đề miêu tả trải nghiệm (thường được gọi là "Describe an experience" hoặc "Describe an event"). Khi miêu tả một trải nghiệm, yếu tố cảm xúc và phản ứng của bạn (lo lắng, thất vọng, bực bội, sau đó có thể là nhẹ nhõm) chính là yếu tố cốt lõi của câu chuyện. Bên cạnh đó, phần trình bày của bạn sẽ được đánh giá cao nếu thể hiện được suy nghĩ, phản ứng hoặc bài học cá nhân rút ra sau trải nghiệm.
Đề bài: Describe an important journey that has been delayed
You should say:
When it was
Why it was important
How it was delayed
And how you felt about it
2. Dàn ý tham khảo đối với đề “Describe a journey that didn't go as planned” - IELTS Speaking Part 2
When it was
| my trip to Dalat, a beautiful highland city in Vietnam I planned meticulously for my graduation celebration last summer. |
Why it was important | This journey was particularly significant as it was meant to be a reward for completing my four-year university degree with honors I had been dreaming about visiting this romantic city famous for its cool climate, pine forests, and flower gardens for years |
How it was delayed
| Our plans went awry when a severe tropical storm hit the central region of Vietnam two days before our departure All flights to Dalat were canceled for safety reasons Weather forecast predicted heavy rainfall and potential flooding in the area for the next week. He is always ready to listen and offer words of encouragement whenever I feel overwhelmed or discouraged. |
And how you felt about it | I felt utterly disappointed and frustrated as this trip represented not just a vacation but a milestone celebration Eventually, we decided to change our destination to Hoi An, a coastal city that wasn't affected by the storm. We managed to book last-minute accommodation in a traditional Vietnamese house and ended up having an incredible time exploring the local cuisine, taking cooking classes .. |
Lesson learned | valuable lessons about flexibility and the importance of having backup plans when traveling I learned that sometimes the unexpected detours can lead to equally rewarding experiences if you maintain a positive attitude developed a more relaxed approach to travel planning, leaving room for spontaneity and understanding that the unpredictable nature of travel can often be what makes it most memorable |
3. Bài mẫu topic “Describe an important journey that has been delayed” - IELTS Speaking Part 2
Đề bài: Describe a journey that didn't go as planned
Bài làm mẫu:
I'd like to talk about a momentous journey that was unexpectedly disrupted last December, which held particular significance for me as I was traveling to attend my sister's graduation ceremony in Melbourne, Australia.
This trip had been meticulously planned months in advance since my sister was completing her Master’s degree with distinction, and being the first in our family to reach such an academic milestone, it was an immensely proud moment for all of us. I had booked a flight from Hanoi to Melbourne with a brief layover in Singapore and was scheduled to arrive a day early to assist her with preparations and spend some meaningful time together.
Unfortunately, what was meant to be a seamless journey quickly turned into a gruelling ordeal when a severe typhoon swept across Southeast Asia just as I was about to depart. Initially, my flight was postponed by several hours, which didn’t raise much concern. However, as the day wore on, the situation deteriorated drastically. The airline announced that all flights were grounded indefinitely due to worsening weather conditions. The airport became increasingly congested with stranded passengers, and the atmosphere turned tense as people grew anxious about missed connections and critical engagements.
After nearly six hours of agonizing waiting, we were informed that all flights for that day had been called off, and rebooking would depend on availability and weather the following day. This news hit me like a ton of bricks, as it implied I might miss the entire graduation ceremony. I immediately contacted my sister to explain the situation. While she was understanding, I could sense the disappointment in her voice, which left me feeling utterly crushed.
The airline staff, although visibly overwhelmed, were commendably supportive and prioritized passengers with pressing travel needs. After I explained my circumstances, they secured a seat for me on the first flight the next morning, rerouted through Hong Kong instead of Singapore. They also arranged overnight accommodation, which offered a bit of relief amid the chaos.
That night, I barely slept. I kept checking weather updates and flight statuses, gripped by anxiety, frustration, and helplessness. On one hand, I acknowledged the importance of safety and appreciated the airline’s responsible decision not to fly in hazardous conditions. On the other, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was letting my sister down on one of the pivotal days of her life.
Luckily, the weather improved overnight, and my rescheduled flight departed on time. The airline also arranged expedited transfers in Hong Kong, allowing me to recover some lost time. Against all odds, I arrived in Melbourne just three hours before the ceremony began. The moment I saw my sister’s face as I rushed into her apartment was pure euphoria—a blend of exhaustion and overwhelming relief.
In hindsight, though the delay was incredibly stressful at the time, it taught me valuable lessons in patience, adaptability, and staying composed under pressure. It also made me cherish the ceremony even more, knowing how close I had come to missing it. Sometimes, it’s the adversity we encounter on our journeys that makes the destination all the more profound when we finally arrive.
Vocabulary ghi điểm:
momentous journey (noun phr.): chuyến đi trọng đại
unexpectedly disrupted (verb phr.): bị gián đoạn bất ngờ
held particular significance (verb phr.): có ý nghĩa đặc biệt
immensely proud moment: khoảnh khắc cực kỳ tự hào
meaningful time (noun phr.): thời gian có ý nghĩa
seamless journey (noun phr.): hành trình suôn sẻ
gruelling ordeal (noun phr.): thử thách khắc nghiệt
postponed (v): hoãn
deteriorated drastically (verb phr.): trở nên xấu đi nghiêm trọng
grounded indefinitely (verb phr.): bị đình chỉ bay vô thời hạn
agonizing waiting (phr.): chờ đợi đau đớn, căng thẳng
called off (verb phr.): hủy bỏ
crushed (adj): suy sụp
commendably supportive (adj): đáng khen vì hỗ trợ
overnight accommodation (noun phr.): chỗ ở qua đêm
pivotal days (noun phr.): những ngày mang tính bước ngoặt
expedited transfers (noun phr.): chuyến chuyển tiếp được đẩy nhanh
euphoria (n): niềm sung sướng tột độ
adversity (n): nghịch cảnh
more profound (adj): sâu sắc hơn
4. Bài mẫu topic Describe an important journey that was delayed - Part 3
Câu hỏi: Has transportation improved a lot compared with the past?
Yes, there have been notable advancements in the transportation industry compared to the past. As cities continue to expand to accommodate the surging population, governments have had to prioritize infrastructure enhancement and initiate large-scale construction projects. This has resulted in upgraded road conditions and alleviated traffic congestion. The availability of buses and trains has also increased, thereby strengthening public transit systems and offering environmental benefits. For example, the introduction of metro networks in major urban areas has revolutionized transportation and significantly reduced reliance on private vehicles.
Vocabulary ghi điểm:
notable advancements (noun phr.): những bước tiến đáng chú ý
surging population (noun phr.): dân số tăng mạnh
prioritize infrastructure enhancement (verb phr.): ưu tiên nâng cấp cơ sở hạ tầng
initiate large-scale construction projects (verb phr.): khởi xướng các dự án xây dựng quy mô lớn
upgraded road conditions (noun phr.): điều kiện đường xá được cải thiện
alleviated traffic congestion: giảm ùn tắc giao thông
strengthening public transit systems: củng cố hệ thống giao thông công cộng
offering environmental benefits (verb phr.): mang lại lợi ích cho môi trường
metro networks (n): mạng lưới tàu điện ngầm
revolutionized transportation (v): cách mạng hóa giao thông
Câu hỏi: What do you think transportation companies should do when there are delays?
I believe transportation companies have both ethical obligations and pragmatic responsibilities when delays occur, and their response can profoundly influence customer loyalty and brand integrity over the long term. First and foremost, transparency is absolutely paramount. Companies should provide clear, honest, and timely updates regarding the cause of the disruption, its estimated duration, and the remedial measures being undertaken. Nothing frustrates passengers more than being left uninformed or receiving vague and contradictory messages.
Beyond communication, companies should implement comprehensive contingency strategies that prioritize passenger comfort and well-being. These may include providing refreshments and meals during prolonged delays, offering comfortable and accommodating waiting areas, ensuring access to charging stations for electronic devices, and arranging alternative modes of transportation when necessary. For overnight disruptions, securing temporary lodging should be considered a standard protocol rather than an exceptional courtesy.
Vocabulary ghi điểm:
ethical obligations (phr.): nghĩa vụ đạo đức
pragmatic responsibilities (phr.): trách nhiệm thực tiễn
profoundly influence (phr.): ảnh hưởng sâu sắc
brand integrity (noun phr.): uy tín thương hiệu
paramount (adj): tối quan trọng
the cause of the disruption (noun phr.): nguyên nhân gián đoạn
remedial measures being undertaken (noun phr.): các biện pháp khắc phục đang được thực hiện
left uninformed (verb phr.): không được thông tin
comprehensive contingency strategies (phr.): kế hoạch dự phòng toàn diện
comfort and well-being (verb phr.): sự thoải mái và sức khỏe
alternative modes of transportation (phr.): phương tiện thay thế
securing temporary lodging (verb phr.): sắp xếp chỗ ở tạm thời
exceptional courtesy (phr.): hành động tử tế đặc biệt
Câu hỏi: Do people still drive a car if public transportation is free of charge?
In my opinion, even if public transportation were offered free of charge, some individuals would still opt to drive due to factors such as convenience, flexibility, or specific travel requirements. While cost is certainly a consideration, personal preferences, comfort, and the desire for autonomy and privacy continue to shape transportation decisions. Therefore, despite the availability of free public transit, individual circumstances and lifestyle choices ultimately determine whether people persist in using private vehicles.
Vocabulary ghi điểm:
opt to drive (verb phr.): chọn lái xe
specific travel requirements (noun phr.): nhu cầu di chuyển cụ thể
cost is certainly a consideration (noun phr.): chi phí là một yếu tố cần cân nhắc
autonomy and privacy (noun phr.): sự tự chủ và riêng tư
shape transportation decisions (verb phr.): định hình quyết định đi lại
individual circumstances and lifestyle choices (noun phr.): hoàn cảnh và lựa chọn cá nhân
persist in using private vehicles (verb phr.): tiếp tục sử dụng phương tiện cá nhân
5. Từ vựng topic “Describe an important journey that was delayed”
Từ vựng mô tả loại chuyến đi
Từ/ cụm từ vựng | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
|---|---|---|
Business trip | Chuyến công tác | I was on an important business trip to meet potential clients when my flight was delayed. |
Leisure travel | Du lịch giải trí | The delay affected our leisure travel plans, forcing us to cancel our beach activities. |
Commute | Hành trình đi làm/học hàng ngày | My daily commute was severely disrupted by the unexpected train cancellations. |
Expedition | Chuyến thám hiểm | Our expedition to the mountain region was postponed due to adverse weather conditions |
Pilgrimage | Chuyến hành hương
| The pilgrimage to the sacred temple was delayed because of local unrest in the region. |
Voyage | Hành trình dài | The ocean voyage was delayed by three days because of mechanical issues with the ship. |
Retreat | Chuyến đi nghỉ dưỡng | Our wellness retreat was postponed when the resort suffered damage from the recent storm. |
Honeymoon | Tuần trăng mật
| Our honeymoon to the Maldives was delayed due to a booking error by the travel agency. |
Từ vựng mô tả nguyên nhân trì hoãn
Từ/ cụm từ vựng | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
|---|---|---|
Technical fault/malfunction | Lỗi kỹ thuật
| A technical malfunction with the aircraft's navigation system caused a four-hour delay. |
Adverse weather conditions | Điều kiện thời tiết xấu | Our train was delayed due to adverse weather conditions affecting the rail network. |
Traffic congestion | Tắc nghẽn giao thông | Severe traffic congestion on the highway made us miss our scheduled departure. |
Industrial action/strike | Đình công
| The pilot strike resulted in hundreds of canceled flights across Europe. |
Overbooking | Đặt chỗ quá số lượng cho phép | The delay was caused by overbooking, and the airline was looking for volunteers to take a later flight. |
Customs/immigration issues | Vấn đề hải quan/nhập cư
| We were held up for hours due to unexpected immigration issues at the border. |
Mechanical breakdown | Hỏng hóc máy móc
| A mechanical breakdown of the ferry meant we were stranded on the island for an extra day |
Security concerns | Lo ngại về an ninh | The train station was evacuated due to security concerns, delaying all services by several hours. |
Infrastructure limitations | Hạn chế về cơ sở hạ tầng
| Many delays in developing countries can be attributed to infrastructure limitations rather than operational issues. |
Từ vựng mô tả cách đối phó với trì hoãn
Từ/ cụm từ vựng | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
|---|---|---|
Adapt plans | Điều chỉnh kế hoạch
| We had to quickly adapt our plans when we realized we would arrive a day late |
Seek compensation | Tìm kiếm bồi thường | Many passengers decided to seek compensation for the significant delay |
Make alternative arrangements | Sắp xếp phương án thay thế
| When our flight was canceled, we made alternative arrangements to travel by train instead. |
Keep occupied | Giữ bản thân bận rộn | I tried to keep occupied during the long delay by reading and catching up on work. |
Maintain composure | Giữ bình tĩnh | It's important to maintain your composure when facing travel disruptions. |
Negotiate solutions | Thương lượng giải pháp | I managed to negotiate a solution with the hotel to extend our stay at no extra cost due to the delay |
Exercise patience | Kiên nhẫn | In such situations, you have to exercise patience and understand that some factors are beyond anyone's control. |
Take initiative | Chủ động
| Rather than waiting for information, I took the initiative to research alternative routes myself. |
Contingency planning | Lập kế hoạch dự phòng | Effective contingency planning is essential when traveling during peak seasons to manage potential delays. |
Từ vựng hữu ích mô tả về chuyến đi bị trì hoãn
Từ/ cụm từ vựng | Ý nghĩa | Ví dụ |
|---|---|---|
Through no fault of my own | Không phải lỗi của tôi | Through no fault of my own, I missed the important meeting due to the flight delay. |
Beyond my control | Ngoài tầm kiểm soát của tôi | The circumstances leading to our delayed journey were completely beyond my control. |
Make the best of a bad situation | Tận dụng tốt nhất tình huống xấu
| We decided to make the best of a bad situation by exploring the airport's art exhibitions during the long delay. |
Take matters into my own hands | Tự mình giải quyết vấn đề
| When no information was forthcoming about the delay, I took matters into my own hands and booked an alternative route |
Cut it fine | Sát sao về thời gian, gần như trễ
| Even before the delay, we were cutting it fine to make the connecting flight. |
Against the clock
| Chạy đua với thời gian | After the delay, we were working against the clock to rearrange our entire itinerary. |
A change of plan
| Thay đổi kế hoạch | The unexpected delay necessitated a complete change of plan for the rest of our journey. |
In the nick of time
| Vừa kịp lúc
| Despite the delay, we managed to arrive at the wedding venue in the nick of time. |
Các Idiom về chủ đề “Describe an important journey that was delayed”
Idiom | Ý nghĩa |
|---|---|
Hit a snag | Gặp trở ngại bất ngờ |
Throw a spanner/wrench in the works | Gây ra vấn đề bất ngờ làm gián đoạn kế hoạch |
Back to square one | Phải bắt đầu lại từ đầu |
At the eleventh hour | Vào phút chót |
Between a rock and a hard place | Trong tình thế khó xử |
Take it in stride | Đón nhận một cách bình tĩnh |
Up in the air | Chưa chắc chắn, còn bỏ ngỏ |
Silver lining | Mặt tích cực trong tình huống tiêu cực |
Cùng IDP tự tin chinh phục chủ đề “Describe a journey that was delayed”
Khi đối mặt với chủ đề “Describe an important journey that has been delayed” trong phòng thi IELTS, hãy nhớ rằng đây không chỉ là câu hỏi về một sự kiện, mà còn là cơ hội để bạn thể hiện khả năng kể chuyện, diễn đạt cảm xúc, và phản ánh về trải nghiệm cá nhân. Giám khảo không chỉ đánh giá nội dung của câu trả lời mà còn ở cách bạn sử dụng ngôn ngữ để truyền đạt ý tưởng. Vì thế, đừng quên nắm rõ những tiêu chí chấm điểm IELTS Speaking để ghi điểm thật cao ở những tiêu chí khác nhau.
IDP cung cấp hai hình thức cho phần thi IELTS Speaking bao gồm: IELTS General Speaking và IELTS Academic Speaking. Bạn có thể linh hoạt lựa chọn hình thức thi phù hợp tùy thuộc vào mục tiêu của bạn. Đặc biệt, nếu bạn vẫn chưa đạt được điểm số mong muốn trong lần thi đầu tiên, bạn có thể lựa chọn thi IELTS One Skill Retake - cho phép bạn thi lại một kỹ năng duy nhất mà không cần phải làm lại toàn bộ bài thi.
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