IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card
Describe an intelligent person you know.
You should say:
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Who this person is
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How you know this person
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What this person does
And explain why you think he/she is intelligent
1. Speaking Expressions
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The first person who springs to mind is… (Người đầu tiên tôi nghĩ đến là…)
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I crossed paths with him/her at… (Tôi đã gặp anh/chị ấy tại…)
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He/She has an uncanny ability to… (Anh/Chị ấy có khả năng kỳ lạ là…)
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What really struck me was… (Điều làm tôi ấn tượng nhất là…)
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He/She consistently demonstrates… (Anh/Chị ấy liên tục thể hiện…)
2. Ideas & Collocations
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Quick on the uptake (nắm bắt vấn đề rất nhanh)
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Keen analytical mind (tư duy phân tích sắc bén)
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Think on one’s feet (phản ứng nhanh/ứng biến khéo léo)
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Deep subject-matter expertise (chuyên môn sâu về lĩnh vực)
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Offer insightful perspectives (đưa ra góc nhìn sâu sắc)
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Problem-solving prowess (khả năng giải quyết vấn đề xuất sắc)
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Intellectual curiosity (tính tò mò trí tuệ)
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Stay abreast of developments (luôn cập nhật tiến triển mới)
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Connect disparate ideas (kết nối các ý tưởng khác nhau)
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Learn at a rapid clip (học nhanh như chớp)
3. Sample Answer
The first person who springs to mind is my former university lecturer, Dr. Minh, a renowned data scientist specializing in artificial intelligence. I crossed paths with him during my second year, when I enrolled in his advanced machine learning course. Right from his opening lecture, what really struck me was his uncanny ability to explain complex algorithms in clear, everyday language.
He consistently demonstrates a keen analytical mind. During lectures, he would connect disparate ideas from mathematics, statistics, and ethics, weaving them into a coherent narrative about how AI shapes society. In lab sessions, he encouraged us to think on our feet—presenting a real-world dataset and asking us to propose novel approaches on the spot. I was amazed by how Dr. Minh could offer insightful perspectives within seconds, highlighting potential biases or optimization tricks that even seasoned researchers sometimes overlook.
Beyond his sharp intellect, Dr. Minh’s intellectual curiosity is contagious. He’s always the first to jump on new research papers—staying abreast of developments in natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. He maintains a personal blog where he breaks down the latest breakthroughs into digestible posts. Watching him learn at a rapid clip and then turn around to teach us those findings solidified my belief that quick uptake and problem-solving prowess go hand in hand.
I also saw his expertise in action during our group project. When we hit a roadblock optimizing a neural network, Dr. Minh sat down with us, patiently walking through the gradients and pointing out a small oversight in our cost function. That tiny tweak boosted our model’s accuracy by 10%. It was a masterclass in deep subject-matter expertise.
In short, I think Dr. Minh is one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met because he combines raw cognitive ability with relentless curiosity and a gift for communication. His knack for connecting disparate ideas and offering insightful perspectives made challenging material accessible, inspired me to push my own boundaries, and shaped my decision to pursue AI research. To me, intelligence isn’t just IQ; it’s also about understanding deeply, teaching effectively, and never stopping the quest to learn more.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
1. Are intelligent people happier than others?
Expressions
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It’s not a given that… (Không phải điều hiển nhiên rằng…)
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Higher intellect can bring… (Trí tuệ cao có thể mang lại…)
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They may overthink things… (Họ có thể suy nghĩ quá nhiều…)
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Happiness boils down to balance… (Hạnh phúc phụ thuộc vào sự cân bằng…)
Sample Answer:
It’s not a given that intelligent people are happier. While they may enjoy deeper insights and creative problem‑solving, they also overthink things, leading to stress. Often, happiness boils down to balance—emotional intelligence and relationships matter as much as raw intellect.
2. Do you think intelligent people tend to be more selfish?
Expressions
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Intelligence doesn’t equate to… (Trí tuệ không đồng nghĩa với…)
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They might focus on… (Họ có thể tập trung vào…)
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Compassion and empathy play a role… (Lòng trắc ẩn và thấu cảm đóng vai trò…)
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Character shapes behaviour more than IQ… (Tính cách ảnh hưởng hành vi hơn IQ…)
Sample Answer:
Intelligence doesn’t equate to selfishness. Some may concentrate on personal goals, but compassion and empathy are independent traits. In fact, many smart people use their abilities to mentor others or contribute to society. Character shapes behaviour more than IQ ever could.
3. Who plays a more important role in a child’s development — teachers or parents?
Expressions
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Both are pivotal, but… (Cả hai đều quan trọng, nhưng…)
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Parents lay the foundation… (Cha mẹ đặt nền tảng…)
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Teachers expand horizons… (Giáo viên mở rộng tầm nhìn…)
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It’s a collaborative effort… (Đó là nỗ lực chung…)
Sample Answer:
Both are pivotal, but in different ways. Parents lay the foundation—teaching values and emotional support. Teachers expand horizons academically and socially, introducing new ideas and peers. Ultimately, it’s a collaborative effort; synergy between home and school yields the best development.
4. Why are some children more intelligent than others?
Expressions
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A mix of nature and nurture… (Thừa hưởng cả di truyền và môi trường…)
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Genetic predispositions set the stage… (Di truyền tạo nền tảng…)
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Early stimulation matters… (Kích thích sớm rất quan trọng…)
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Quality of education and resources… (Chất lượng giáo dục và nguồn lực…)
Sample Answer:
It’s a mix of nature and nurture. Genetic predispositions set the stage, but early stimulation—like reading, play, and supportive caregiving—boosts cognitive growth. Access to quality education and resources further nurtures potential. In short, both genes and environment shape intelligence.