PRACTICE - SESSION 1 - JANUARY 2023

WRITING LETTERS
A. INFORMAL LETTERS
Practice 1:
Task 1: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You and your friend - Anna - are chatting via email. In your last email, you mentioned that
you went on a trip last week. She has written you an email asking for more information.

Read this part of her email below.

...I heard that you have just had a trip. Could you tell me where you went to? Did you go alone or
with other people? Did you enjoy anything there? How do you feel after that trip?....

Write a letter to respond to Anna

You should write at least 120 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 1: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently received a letter from a closest friend - He asking for advice about something
before going to your hometown.

Read this part of his email below.

…I want to visit your hometown - Can Tho. I don't know many things about your hometown. Could
you give me some advice on what I should prepare before going to your hometown? What can I do
when I am in your hometown? Are there any special food I can try there?…

Write a letter to respond to your friend.

You should write at least 120 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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B. FORMAL LETTERS
Practice 1:
Task 1: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You and your family went to a coffee shop last Thursday. You had some problems with the
food and drinks there. The attitude of the waiter made you feel dissatisfied.

Write a letter to the manager to explain the problems and suggest some ways to resolve them.

You should write at least 120 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 1: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have just seen a job advertisement for ABC company on the Internet. You think you are
qualified to work at this company. You decide to apply for this job.

Write an application letter to apply to the company.

You should write at least 120 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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 WRITING ESSAYS
A. TYPE 1 ESSAYS - ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ESSAYS
Practice 1:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website
In some countries, renting homes is preferred to buying homes. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of renting a home.
Write an essay to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this issue.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website
Young people are often influenced in their behaviors and situations by others in the same age. This
is called “peer pressure”.
Write an essay to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of peer pressure.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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 PRACTICE - SESSION 2 - JANUARY 2023
B. TYPE 2 ESSAYS - CAUSES - EFFECTS - SOLUTIONS ESSAYS
Practice 1:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a web.
Motorways help people travel quickly and cover long distances but they also cause problems. What
are the problems of motorways and what solutions are there?
Write an essay to discuss the causes of these problems and suggest solutions to solve them.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website
Nowadays, more and more people choose fast food as their quick meals before they start working.
Write an essay to discuss the causes and effects of the popularity of fast food.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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C. TYPE 3 ESSAYS - OPINION ESSAYS
1. AGREEING AND DISAGREEING ESSAYS
Practice 1:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website.
Some people say that we do not need printed newspapers anymore. To what extend do you agree or
disagree?
Write an essay to give your opinion.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website.
The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and
other vehicles. To what extend do you agree or disagree?
Write an essay to give your opinion.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 3:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website
As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. Do you agree or disagree?
Write an essay to give your opinion.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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2. DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS AND GIVE YOUR OWN OPINION ESSAYS
Practice 1:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website.
Some people think that robots are important for human’s future development. Others think that
robots have negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Write an essay to discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Practice 2:
Task 2: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following extract from a website
It is commonly believed that nowadays main factors that affect a child's development are media,
pop culture and friends. A different point of view is that family plays the most significant role.
Write an essay to discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons and relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Do not include your name. Your response will be evaluated in
terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

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Motorways help people travel quickly and cover long distances but they also cause problems.
What are the problems of motorways and what solutions are there?

Motorways assist humans to travel swiftly and rapidly, and move long displacements, while
they are also generating some issues. The vehicles on these ways are fast and they may cause
accidents. Also, they damage the environment as well as increase the pollution level. So, the proper
planning and precautionary signs will become the feasible solution in order to avoid this scenario.

Firstly, the most common problems, generate from the motorway is the vehicular collision,
which, ultimately, responsible for human lives. As the speed limit of this road is high, which raises
the probability of these incidents. Therefore, a lesson on the safe driving should be given to the
folks and also reduce the speed limit. In addition, punishment should be applied, which is either in
the form of a fine or any other penalty in order to avoid this incident and save the mankind.
Moreover, special safety signs, display in the case of bad weather, which can guide driver to cover a
safe journey.

Secondly, it has seriously affected the environment, because it passes through a beautiful area
and their smoke destroy the greenery and the volume of the traffic disturbs the native of that area.
Furthermore, the horns of these cars lead to the noise pollution. And also the carbon footprints
generate from them have detrimental effects on the air quality and the Ozone Layer. So, these ways
should have constructed under tunnels to protect the atmosphere and use the nature friendly vehicles,
such as electric cars.

To conclude, besides the drawbacks of a motorway, no one can forget the benefits and the
easiness, which it provides in the commuting. Thus, the proper planning and precautionary
measures are the optimal solutions to overcome these problems.

WRITING PRACTICE - VSTEP - COLLECTED AND ADAPTED BY HUYNH HUU KHOA

WRITING PRACTICE - VSTEP - COLLECTED AND ADAPTED BY HUYNH HUU KHOA
WRITING PRACTICE - VSTEP - COLLECTED AND ADAPTED BY HUYNH HUU KHOA
WRITING PRACTICE - VSTEP - COLLECTED AND ADAPTED BY HUYNH HUU KHOA
It is commonly believed that nowadays main factors that affect a child's development are
media, pop culture and friends. A different point of view is that family plays the most
significant role.

It is often held that teachers, peers and the media have a significant influence on the life of
children. While some people argue that these factors are predominant in shaping a child's future,
others believe that parents impact their offspring in more critical ways. This essay will discuss both
these points of view and argue in favour of the latter.
On the one hand, the books children read and the music they listen to form their belief system.
In other words, children tend to copy the behaviour of their favourite personality or fictional
character. Moreover, when little ones work and play in groups, they are influenced by their peers.
Finally, other factors, like the media, prompt children to want things regarded as fashionable. For
instance, children demand toys that they see on television.
On the other hand, a child's personality is malleable at a very young age, and parents are always
present in their life at this stage. Also, very young children love to imitate. For example, children
who come from a dysfunctional family often exhibit behavioral problems at school. An emotionally
secure environment at home is critical for the child's confidence. Moreover, parents also teach
children about setting boundaries.
In my opinion, children's choice of friends, books or music depends on the values instilled in
them by their parents. Therefore, parents hold more substantial sway over their offspring than media,
pop culture and friends circle.
In conclusion, the outside world influences the intellectual and social development of children.
However, I believe that it is parents who set the stage for these developments by laying a strong
foundation from a very young age.
(273 words)

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