WRITING TEST 5

Time allowed: 60 minutes

TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently helped organize a college ski trip and you have received an email from Ms.
Janet a parent of one of the students. Read part of her email below:

I understand you were one of the organizers of our son's ski trip. I have to say my husband and I
were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. You know my son and his classmates were
eager to join the trip at first. But when he came home, my son informed us that the lessons were
fewer than promised and the accommodation was inadequate. Can you please give us a
satisfactory explanation?

Write an email responding to Ms. Janet. You should write at least 120 words. You do not
need to include your name or addresses.

TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following text from an article about the Internet

In some countries, people are increasingly doing their shopping on the Internet instead of
going to stores. Some people, especially those with a limited time budget, regard online
shopping as a positive development since they can buy products at home or office without
having to go to stores or shopping malls. However, there are those who argue that making
online transactions can be dangerous to them in several ways.

Now, write an essay to an educated reader to discuss your opinions about the positive and
negative aspects of online shopping. Include reasons and any relevant examples to support
your answer. You should write at least 250 words.
Introduction/ Opening

- It is true that online shopping is becoming more and more popular in many countries
- Thanks to/With the development of technology, online shopping is becoming more and
more popular in many countries
- The number of people who shop online/ buy things on the Internet is increasing rapidly.
- We cannot deny that more and more people are becoming interested in online shopping
- However, everything has two sides.
- This essay will discuss the positive and negative aspects of online shopping

Thanks to the development of technology, online shopping is becoming more and more
popular in many countries. The number of people who buy things on the Internet is
increasing rapidly. However, everything has two sides. This essay will discuss the positive
and negative aspects of online shopping.

On the one hand, online shopping has some benefits. The first advantage that we can
consider is that it is convenient. People do not have to go to stores to buy things. Instead,
they can stay at home, go online, look for things, order and then wait for the delivery.
Therefore, they can save a lot of time for travelling. It is ideal for busy people who do not
have much free time to go out to buy things. Another positive aspect of online shopping we
can think of is that it is economical. This is because online goods are usually cheap and
people can have good deals. Also, they can compare prices of the products on different
websites easily. One more good point of online shopping we can look into is that customers
have more choices when they buy things online. There are various kinds of products on the
Internet that people can buy. It is true that online shopping has become a popular shopping
habit among young people.

On the other hand, however, online shopping has some negative aspects. First, people
may buy wrong things because they cannot touch or try the items. The sizes or the
colors are not as they expect. Second, online transactions can be dangerous as
personal information may be stolen and used for some bad purposes.

To sum up, online shopping has both advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I
believe that it is more beneficial for customers. However, they should be wiser when
they buy things online.
Advantages = benefit = positive aspect = good points (3)

First, / Firstly, - Second, / Seconly – Finally

…… - In addition, Additionally, Moreover, Furthermore, Besides,

The first benefit we can consider is that (ưu điểm 1). …….Another advantage of online
shopping we can think of is that (ưu điểm 2)……. One more good point of online shopping is
that (ưu điểm 3).

- More choice: There are a lot of/ numerous products on the Internet for people to buy
- Convenient: people do not have to go to stores to buy things. Instead, they can stay at
home, go online, look for things they want to buy, order and wait for the delivery.
Therefore, they can save a lot of time
- Economical: people do not have to spend money on travellling. Things people buy on the
Internet are cheap. Also, they can compare prices easily and buy things at low prices, with
good deals

Disadvantages

- Low quality: People cannot touch the products or try them when they buy things online.
As a result, they may buy wrong things. For example, they do not have the right sizes.
The colors or the sizes may not be suitable for the buyer. The quality of the goods are low

Online shopping – going to store

Online goods/products

Things people buy on the Internet are cheap

Words

Topic
Online shopping: positive – negative aspect
Online learning: advantage - disadvantage
Studying abroad/overseas:
Living in big cities
Fast food: effect
Public transport: giao thông công cộng
Environment: môi trường (cause,
Pollution: ô nhiễm (cause, effect, solution)
Smoking: bad effect
Deforestation: phá rừng (cause, effects, solution)
Brain drain: chảy máu chất xám
Tourism
Learning Engish
University education
advertising
advantage: ưu điểm
benefit: lợi ích
disadvantage: nhược điểm
drawback: bất lợi
effect = impact = influence: ảnh hưởng
positive: tích cực, lạc quan
negative: bi quan, xấu, tiêu cực
positive aspect: mặt tích cực (advantage)
bad effect – harmful impact – negative aspect
cause: nguyên nhân
solution: giải pháp
effect: ảnh hưởng
reason: lí do
idea: ý kiến
view – saying – statement – opinion:
say/ think/ believe/ argue/ suppose: nói, nghĩ, tin, tranh luận, cho rằng
agree: đồng
disagree: k đồng ý
To what extent, do you agree or disagree with this idea?