IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a job you think is difficult that you would like to try

Describe a job you think is difficult that you would like to try

Suggested ideas for each part

• What it is: 👨‍✈️ Pilot / 👩‍⚕️ Surgeon / 👨‍🚒 Firefighter / 👩‍🎨 Animator
• How you knew about it: 🎥 Watched a documentary / 📖 Read about it online / 🗣️ Heard from a friend
• Why you would like to try it: ✈️ Exciting and challenging / 💰 Well-paid / 🎯 Sense of achievement
• Why you think it is difficult: 📚 Requires years of training / 🏋️‍♂️ Physically and mentally demanding / ⏳ Long working hours

Useful grammar structures

1. Present perfect: I have always been fascinated by the idea of being a pilot.
2. Comparisons: Being a surgeon is far more challenging than a typical office job.
3. Modal verbs: This job requires a lot of dedication and hard work.
4. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I had the chance, I would love to try this job at least once.
5. Passive voice: Extensive training is required before someone can work as a firefighter.

Collocations

1. Highly demanding job 💼 (công việc có yêu cầu cao)
2. Physically and mentally exhausting 🏋️‍♂️ (gây kiệt sức cả thể chất lẫn tinh thần)
3. Intensive training 📚 (đào tạo chuyên sâu)
4. Emergency situations 🚨 (tình huống khẩn cấp)
5. Critical decision-making skills 🧠 (kỹ năng ra quyết định quan trọng)
6. Sense of accomplishment 🎯 (cảm giác thành tựu)
7. High-pressure environment ⚠️ (môi trường áp lực cao)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the most challenging yet fascinating jobs I would love to try is being a pilot 👨‍✈️. I have always been captivated by the idea of flying a plane and traveling around the world. I first became interested in this career when I watched a documentary about airline pilots, showing how they handle high-pressure environments ⚠️ and navigate through difficult weather conditions. It looked extremely difficult, but at the same time, I found it inspiring.

There are several reasons why I would love to experience this job. First, it must be thrilling to sit in the cockpit and control such a massive aircraft. Pilots also get to visit different countries, which is something I have always dreamed of. On top of that, being a pilot is a highly respected profession and comes with an excellent salary.

However, I know that this job is physically and mentally exhausting 🏋️‍♂️. Pilots go through intensive training 📚 for years before they can even fly a commercial plane. They need to develop critical decision-making skills 🧠 to handle emergency situations 🚨, such as engine failures or extreme turbulence. Another reason why it’s tough is the long working hours and irregular schedules. Sometimes, pilots have to fly overnight or across multiple time zones, which can be exhausting.

Despite all the difficulties, I still think it would be an incredible experience. If I had the chance, I would love to sit in a cockpit and see what it feels like to fly a plane. Even though I may never become a professional pilot, I hope to at least take flying lessons one day!

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Do you think companies are placing too much emphasis on qualifications?

Ideas

• 📜 Many companies require degrees even for simple jobs
• 💡 Skills and experience are often more important than a diploma
• 🔄 Some industries value practical ability over formal education

Collocations

1. Academic qualifications 🎓 (bằng cấp học thuật)
2. Practical skills 🛠️ (kỹ năng thực tế)
3. Job performance 📈 (hiệu suất công việc)

Sample answer

Yes, I believe that many companies place too much emphasis on academic qualifications 🎓. While having a degree is important, it doesn’t always reflect a person’s true abilities. In many cases, practical skills 🛠️ and real-world experience are more valuable for job performance 📈. For example, a university graduate may have theoretical knowledge but lack the hands-on experience needed to succeed in a job.

2. Are there any well-paid jobs that do not require qualifications?

Ideas

• 🏗️ Skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters)
• 🎭 Entertainment industry (actors, musicians, influencers)
• 🖥️ Tech field (self-taught programmers, UX designers)

Collocations

1. Self-taught skills 📚 (kỹ năng tự học)
2. High-income potential 💰 (tiềm năng thu nhập cao)
3. Skilled labor 🏗️ (lao động có tay nghề)

Sample answer

Yes, there are several well-paid jobs that do not necessarily require a university degree. For example, many people in the tech industry have built successful careers through self-taught skills 📚, such as programming or graphic design. Another example is skilled labor 🏗️, such as electricians and plumbers, who often earn a good income. Additionally, careers in entertainment, such as acting or content creation, have high-income potential 💰 without needing formal qualifications.

3. What are the kinds of jobs that young people do not want to do?

Ideas

• 🏭 Physically demanding jobs (construction, farming, factory work)
• 🏪 Repetitive or low-paying jobs (cashiers, cleaners, security guards)
• ⏳ Jobs with long or unpredictable hours (truck drivers, night-shift workers)

Collocations

1. Physically demanding jobs 🏋️ (công việc đòi hỏi thể lực)
2. Monotonous work ⏳ (công việc nhàm chán, lặp đi lặp lại)
3. Unstable income 💸 (thu nhập không ổn định)

Sample answer

Young people today tend to avoid physically demanding jobs 🏋️, such as construction work or farming, because they require a lot of strength and endurance. They also dislike monotonous work ⏳, like working as a cashier or assembly line worker, as these jobs can feel repetitive and boring. Additionally, jobs with unstable income 💸, such as freelance or temporary work, are not very appealing to young people who want financial security.

4. What challenges do people often face when starting a new job?

Ideas

• 🤯 Adapting to a new work environment
• 📋 Learning new skills and responsibilities
• 🗣️ Building relationships with colleagues and supervisors
• ⏳ Managing work-life balance in a new routine

Collocations

1. Steep learning curve 📚 (quá trình học hỏi nhanh và khó khăn)
2. Workplace dynamics 🏢 (tương tác trong môi trường làm việc)
3. Professional development 📈 (phát triển chuyên môn)
4. Time management skills ⏳ (kỹ năng quản lý thời gian)
5. Job-related stress 😣 (căng thẳng liên quan đến công việc)

Sample answer

Starting a new job can be quite challenging because there is often a steep learning curve 📚. Employees need to familiarize themselves with their tasks and develop new skills quickly. Another common challenge is adjusting to workplace dynamics 🏢, as every company has a different culture and way of working. Additionally, people may feel job-related stress 😣 due to the pressure of performing well and meeting expectations. Time management is also crucial because balancing work and personal life in a new routine can be difficult. However, with time and professional development 📈, most employees eventually become more confident and comfortable in their roles.