IELTS Speaking topic Advice question - sample

Đưa ra lời khuyên, lời khuyên là một chủ đề quen thuộc trong IELTS Speaking. Đề này thường xuất hiện trong Part 2,3 theo các dạng câu hỏi dưới đây, các bạn cùng tham khảo câu trả lời và từ vựng, thử sức trả lời sau nhé.

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Speaking Part 2 Giving Advice

Describe a time when you gave advice to others

• When it was
• To whom you gave the advice
• What the advice was
• And explain why you gave the advice

* Outline

* Sample Answer

I’ve always believed that good advice is about listening more than speaking, but there was one occasion where I had to be quite vocal to help a close friend.

It happened about six months ago. My friend had just finished her degree and was feeling immensely overwhelmed by the pressure to find a "perfect" job immediately. She was considering several high-paying roles that, frankly, didn't match her long-term goals or her creative skillset. We met up at a cafe to discuss her options, and that’s when I decided to offer my two cents.

I advised her to take a step back and prioritize personal growth over a paycheck. Specifically, I suggested she look for an internship or an entry-level role in a company with a strong mentorship culture, even if the starting salary was lower. I explained that in the early stages of a career, know-how and professional networks are far more valuable than a slightly higher bank balance.

Initially, she was a bit skeptical because she was worried about falling behind her peers. However, I shared my own experiences of how focusing on foundational skills helped me navigate my career more effectively later on.

I gave her this advice because I hated seeing her talent being stifled by temporary financial gain. It was incredibly gratifying to see her eventually land a role that she’s passionate about. It reinforced my belief that sometimes, a disinterested outside perspective is exactly what someone needs to see the bigger picture.

* Vocabulary Highlights

Vẫn đề trên nhưng có thể cuecard hướng triển khai khác: Describe a time you gave advice to others.

You should say:

• Who you gave the advice to
• What advice you gave
• Why they needed your advice (whether they took your advice)
• And explain how useful the advice was (/the result).

* Sample

The first one that comes to mind is the suggestion I gave to my friend Lisa. If memory serves correctly, it happened about half a year ago. At the time, Lisa was upset about failing to lose weight, so I shared the method I used to drop some weight and suggested that she try it out.
I told her that the key to losing weight is finding a companion who wants to go through the workout and diet every day with her. I actually managed to lose 10 kilograms with this trick. So I suggested that if she could find anyone in her social circle with the same goal as her and form a team to encourage and support each other, then she mi gilt have half a chance to lose weight.
My words seemed to inspire her and she was totally on board with what I said. So she started a fitness team with three friends of hers. Lisa said they always went to the gym together and cheered each other up when they were tired or hungry. It really worked like a charm; Lisa lost 5 kilograms in a month, and every member of the team lost weight more or less.
To express her gratitude for my suggestions, Lisa treated me to a good dinner a month later. And she happily told me that she shared my method with others who want to keep fit. It gave me a sense of achievement to know that my suggestion was so helpful and really worked.

* Vocabulary Highlights

Describe an occasion when someone gave you positive advice or suggestion about your work/study

You should say:

• Who the person is
• What he/she said
• How the advice/suggestion affected you
• And explain how you felt about the advice/suggestions.

* Sample

I’m going to talk about the time my boss gave me some advice. If memory serves correctly, I had just started an internship at a marketing firm. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing, so the first couple weeks were hard to adjust to. My boss was very gracious, though and fielded any questions I had.

My boss wasn’t too much older than me, actually. She had been working in marketing ever since graduating from college. So she had a lot of experience despite being relatively young.

One day, I told her that I was feeling in over my head. I said that even though I had some experience in marketing, it didn’t feel significant enough for me to deserve this internship. My boss gave me some great advice. She told me that you should never self-reject. In other words, you shouldn’t discredit yourself. You should always have faith in yourself and avoid taking yourself out of the running for opportunities just because you don’t think you’re one hundred percent qualified.

Her words really left a mark on me. She inspired me to have more confidence in myself, which actually helped me to do a better job at work. With her help, I felt way better about my capabilities and started to consider a long-term career in marketing. Now, I’m pursuing a job in this field full- time. I don’t think I would’ve had the faith in myself to pursue this career without her words of wisdom.

* Vocabulary Highlights

Speaking Part 3 advice

Ask for advice

1. When would old people ask young people for advice?

In my observation, the elderly typically seek counsel from the younger generation when it comes to technological advancements and rapidly shifting social trends. Because the world is undergoing a digital transformation at an unprecedented pace, older individuals often find themselves facing a steep learning curve. For instance, it is quite common to see a grandparent asking their grandchild to help them troubleshoot a software issue or navigate the complexities of social media. This dynamic not only bridges the generational gap but also ensures that seniors remain integrated into our increasingly digitized society."

2. Why do some people think it is better to ask for advice from friends than from parents?

Many individuals prefer seeking guidance from peers because they share a similar socio-cultural context, which often eliminates the generational bias that parents might have. While parents offer wisdom, their advice can sometimes be perceived as outdated or overly protective. For example, a young professional might find a friend’s perspective on career-hopping more relevant than their parents' traditional view of 'jobs for life.' Consequently, the advice received from friends often feels more relatable and empathetic, fostering a sense of solidarity rather than feeling like a top-down instruction.

3. What are the problems if you ask too many people for advice?

The primary issue with soliciting advice from too many sources is that it frequently leads to analysis paralysis. When a person is bombarded with conflicting perspectives, it can cloud their own intuition and make the decision-making process far more arduous. For instance, an aspiring entrepreneur who asks too many people for input might end up being paralyzed by a mountain of contradictory strategies. Ultimately, this information overload tends to hinder decisive action and can lead to a significant amount of mental fatigue."

4. What are the personalities of people whose job is to give advice to others?

Professionals in advisory roles, such as consultants or therapists, typically exhibit a unique blend of empathy and analytical prowess. They need to be exceptional active listeners who can remain objective while dissecting complex personal or professional issues. For example, a successful life coach must be able to put themselves in their client's shoes without losing their professional detachment. This balanced personality ensures that the advice given is not only pragmatic but also sensitive to the individual's emotional state.

5. Is it good to ask advice from strangers online?

Seeking counsel from strangers on the internet is very much a double-edged sword. On one hand, online platforms offer a vast diversity of perspectives that one might not find in their immediate circle; however, the lack of accountability is a major concern. For instance, following medical or legal suggestions from an anonymous forum user can have dire consequences. Therefore, while the internet is a great place for brainstorming, it is imperative to verify any information with a qualified professional before taking action.

6. Should people prepare before giving advice?

I strongly believe that providing guidance should be a deliberate and thoughtful process rather than a spontaneous one. Giving advice without fully grasping the nuances of a situation can be quite irresponsible and may unintentionally lead someone astray. For example, before advising someone on a major life decision like a career shift, a mentor should take the time to analyze all the underlying facts and potential risks. In the end, thorough preparation is what distinguishes constructive guidance from mere opinion.

Giving advice

1. Should people prepare before giving advice?

Well, it depends on the situation; sometimes people will ask you for advice out of the blue, and you won’t have time to prepare an answer. Other times, you may know that you are going to be giving someone advice and in that case, you can prepare beforehand. This is especially true if giving advice is part of your job, such as if you are a teacher, mentor, or therapist, in those cases, you have to prepare because your advice might have a huge impact on advice seekers’ lives.

2. Is it good to ask for advice from strangers online?

I don’t think it is ever a good idea to ask for advice from strangers online. And children or teenagers should especially be cautious about seeking advice online because they can't tell whether the strangers are helping them or steering them wrong. Plus, people online are not always who they say they are. It can be very dangerous to share a lot of personal information online with someone you don’t know, so for that reason I would advise not contacting strangers online for anything.

3. What are the personalities of people whose job is to give advice to others?

I think that people who give advice to others have a few specific personality traits, including empathy and patience. These people are very empathetic and understanding because they can relate to a problem that their clients might be going through and give relevant advice. As in, they can stand in their client's shoes and understand their situation as much as possible, so they can come up with the best advice based on each individual situation. Plus, they need to be patient because sometimes people coming to get advice might be in an agitated or confused state of mind.

4. What are the problems if you ask too many people for advice?

If you hear a lot of advice, you might become even more confused than before you asked them. If you ask for advice from more than two people and they all have different opinions about what you should do, that can be very frustrating and not helpful. It’s normal that everyone has their own perspective. They might give you opposite advice but all make sense, in that case, you would probably be of two minds and can’t decide what to do next. So it might be better to ask just one trusted friend. They can always give you all the advice you need.

5. What kinds of advice do parents give to their children?

I think that in general, parents want their children to succeed and be happy. So they give them advice that will help with that. For instance, if children are facing a problem, parents will encourage them to work through it and not give up. Or they might tell their children to see the blight side of the problem and not just complain about it. Everyone wants their kid to do well, so they give them the best advice they can.

6. What advice do parents often give to teenagers about making friends?

Usually, parents encourage teenagers to be active when it comes to making friends. It’s easier to get others to accept you when you start the conversation first. We can often see that outgoing and extroverted people have more friends than people who are shy and don’t like talking with others actively. A lot of parents also tell teenagers not to give in to peer pressure. Sometimes when you make friends, you might be tempted to follow along with the crowd. But it’s best to stick to your guns and avoid doing anything stupid.

7. Should parents get involved in their children’s friendships?

I don’t think parents should take action with their children’s friendships, even if they have a falling out with their friends. Actually, it’s natural for children to fall out and make friends again. If parents help too much, they might make the situation even worse. They can just teach their children what qualities a good friend should have and let them choose who to be friends with.

8. How do experts give advice to others? (e.g. a doctor gives advice to his patients); What personal qualities should experts have?

I find that in general, experts are very calm and helpful when they give advice. They make sure to give their client all the right information. And if needed, they can explain it more than once so their client gets the frill picture. So to be an expert in something, you should be patient and hardworking. You can’t just give up at the first sign of trouble. Otherwise, you won’t do very well in your field.

9. Whose advice is more helpful? Parents’ or friends’?

I suppose that in general, parents’ advice is more helpful than advice from friends. Even though your friends might know you even better than your parents do, your parents have way more experience. They’ve been alive way longer than you or your friends. So it’s best to take advice from the wise. Your friends might end up leading you astray, even if they don’t mean to. I always listen to my parents before my friends.

10. Should people prepare before giving advice?

Well, it depends. Sometimes people will ask you for advice without any warning. So you won’t have time to prepare an answer. Other times, you might be able to prepare. This is especially true if giving advice is part of your job, such as if you are a teacher, mentor, or therapist, in those cases, you have to prepare because your advice might have a huge impact on people’s lives.

11. What are the personalities of people whose job is to give advice to others?

I think these people are very understanding and patient. They can relate to a problem that then clients are facing and give good advice. They can imagine how their clients feel and understand their situation as much as possible. That way they can give the best advice based on each individual situation. Plus, they need to be patient because sometimes people might be upset when they ask for advice.

12. What are the problems if you ask too many people for advice?

If you get too much advice, you might get confused. I mean, if you ask for advice from more than two people and they have different opinions, that can be very frustrating and not helpful. It’s normal that everyone has their own perspective. They might give you opposite advice but all make sense. In that case, you might not be able to decide what to do next. So it might be better to ask just one trusted friend.

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