🔥"Describe a surprising encounter with a friend"IELTS SPEAKING PART 2,3: Bài mẫu kèm từ vựng

May 30, 2025

Bên cạnh hướng dẫn Phân tích đề thi IELTS 21/11/2020 WRITING TASK 1 (map)"The plans show a school library 5 years ago and the same library now"(kèm bài sửa cho HS đi thi), IELTS TUTOR Phân tích đề 🔥"Describe a surprising encounter with a friend"IELTS SPEAKING PART 2,3: Bài mẫu kèm từ vựng

I. Đề bài

Describe a surprising encounter with a friend.

When it was
Who you met
Where it was
Why it was surprising

II. Kiến thức liên quan

IELTS TUTOR hướng dẫn

Từ vựng & ideas topic "surprise/unexpected/prediction"tiếng anh

III. Phân tích

IELTS TUTOR gợi ý bài tham khảo:

Today, I would like to tell you about a surprising encounter I had with an old friend that totally caught me off guard.

It happened about six months ago, on a bittersweet afternoon (bittersweet – vừa ngọt ngào vừa cay đắng – sweet with a touch of sadness) when I was strolling through the bustling streets (bustling – nhộn nhịp – full of activity) of the historic quarter (historic quarter – khu phố cổ – an old part of the city filled with cultural or historical value) in my hometown.

The person I met was Linh, a long-lost friend (long-lost – đã mất liên lạc trong thời gian dài – someone you haven’t seen or spoken to for a long time), who had moved abroad more than a decade ago and had seemingly disappeared off the radar.>> tham khảo CẦN VIẾT & THU ÂM BAO NHIÊU BÀI ĐỂ ĐẠT 8.0 SPEAKING & 7.0 WRITING?

We ran into each other by pure chance in front of a quaint little coffee shop, the kind with wooden tables, ivy-covered walls, and a cozy, laid-back vibe (laid-back – thư giãn, không căng thẳng – relaxed and easy-going atmosphere).

It was surprising for two reasons.

Firstly, I had assumed she had settled down for good in Australia, pursuing a corporate career. She had shown no signs of coming back, and we’d completely lost touch over the years. So, seeing her standing there, holding a takeaway cup and grinning at me, was utterly unexpected.

Secondly, what stunned me even more was how much we had changed—yet stayed the same in spirit. Although she now looked like a high-powered professional (high-powered – quyền lực, nhiều năng lượng – very successful or influential in work), dressed in a tailor-made suit (tailor-made – may đo – custom-fitted clothing), her personality was just as warm, bubbly, and down-to-earth (down-to-earth – thực tế, dễ gần – practical and approachable) as I remembered.

We ended up talking for hours, reminiscing about our school days, laughing about our shared mischiefs (shared mischiefs – những trò nghịch ngợm chung – fun trouble made together) and promising not to let another decade pass us by. That random meeting truly reminded me that some friendships, no matter how long they’ve been paused, are simply meant to stand the test of time (stand the test of time – trường tồn với thời gian – lasting despite challenges or distance).

📘 New Vocabulary List with Definitions (Bolded)

bittersweet – vừa ngọt ngào vừa cay đắng – sweet but also with some sadness
bustling – nhộn nhịp – full of noise and activity
historic quarter – khu phố cổ – the old area of a city with historical buildings
long-lost – đã mất liên lạc lâu – not seen or contacted for a long time
laid-back – thư giãn, thoải mái – relaxed and casual
high-powered – có ảnh hưởng, quyền lực – very successful or influential
tailor-made – được may đo riêng – custom-made
down-to-earth – thực tế, dễ gần – practical and unpretentious
shared mischiefs – những trò nghịch ngợm chung – playful trouble caused together
stand the test of time – trường tồn với thời gian – remain strong or popular over time

📚 Synonyms & Antonyms (for 3 words from essay):

1. long-lost

Synonyms: estranged, forgotten, out-of-touch
Antonyms: close, familiar, constant
IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: The person I met was Linh, a long-lost friend…

2. laid-back

Synonyms: easy-going, relaxed, mellow
Antonyms: uptight, anxious, high-strung
IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: a cozy, laid-back vibe

3. high-powered

Synonyms: influential, accomplished, dynamic
Antonyms: unimportant, low-level, mediocre
IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: she now looked like a high-powered professional

⚙️ Difficult Grammar Structures & Examples

Relative clause
- IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: The person I met was Linh, who had moved abroad more than a decade ago.
  → Người tôi gặp là Linh, người đã ra nước ngoài hơn mười năm trước.
Cleft sentence for emphasis
- IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: What stunned me even more was how much we had changed…
  → Điều khiến tôi bất ngờ hơn nữa chính là chúng tôi đã thay đổi nhiều đến mức nào…
Inversion for emphasis
- IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: Not only had we lost contact, but also I had no idea she’d returned.
  (This was implied but can be added in real test for 9.0.)
  → Không những chúng tôi mất liên lạc, mà tôi còn không hề biết cô ấy đã quay lại.

IV. Part 3

1. When do people bump into others unexpectedly?

People usually bump into (va phải, tình cờ gặp — meet someone by chance) others in bustling places (nơi náo nhiệt — crowded and full of activity), such as shopping malls, public transportation hubs, or cafés. One common situation is when they’re running errands (làm việc vặt — doing small daily tasks) like grocery shopping or paying bills.
This is because such places naturally attract people from different walks of life, increasing the chance of an impromptu encounter (gặp gỡ bất ngờ – unplanned meeting). For example, I once bumped into an old classmate while waiting in a snail-paced queue (hàng dài chậm chạp — a very slow line) at the post office.
Another situation is during festive seasons (mùa lễ hội — holiday periods), when people return to their hometowns or go on trips, and the likelihood of unexpected reunions increases. In such moments, the element of surprise (yếu tố bất ngờ — something not anticipated) makes the encounter even more delightful.
These spur-of-the-moment meetings (cuộc gặp gỡ đột ngột – spontaneous events) often evoke nostalgia and rekindle forgotten bonds. Although brief, they can leave a lasting impression due to their emotional spontaneity.

2. Do surprises improve life?

Yes, I believe surprises add flavour to life (gia vị cho cuộc sống — make life more interesting and enjoyable). One key benefit is that they break the monotony of routines (sự đơn điệu của thói quen — lack of variety in daily life), injecting a sense of excitement and novelty.
For instance, receiving an unexpected gift or being taken on a spontaneous getaway (chuyến đi bất ngờ – unplanned trip) can uplift someone’s mood instantly. Such moments create lasting memories (ký ức lâu dài — memories that remain vivid), especially when shared with loved ones.
Another advantage is that surprises can foster resilience and mental agility (sự nhanh nhạy tinh thần – the ability to adapt quickly and think flexibly), especially when people have to react to sudden changes. Life, after all, is unpredictable, and small surprises can help us become more adaptable in the long run.
Although not all surprises are pleasant, even negative ones can serve as valuable learning experiences (trải nghiệm học hỏi quý giá — opportunities to grow and reflect). So, overall, surprises — both good and bad — enrich (làm phong phú — to improve quality) our lives in meaningful ways.

3. Why do people enjoy talking about unexpected events?

People love to recount unexpected events because they add a dramatic twist (tình tiết bất ngờ — a surprising change in the story) to their daily narratives. The unpredictability factor (yếu tố không đoán trước được – something not expected) makes the story more compelling and engaging for listeners.
These stories often become conversation starters (chủ đề mở đầu câu chuyện — easy ways to begin a discussion), helping people connect on a personal level. For example, sharing how someone missed a flight and then met a celebrity in the airport lounge instantly grabs attention.
Moreover, unexpected events usually evoke strong emotions, such as joy, shock, or even embarrassment, which makes storytelling more vivid and relatable. The rollercoaster of feelings (tàu lượn cảm xúc – range of emotions) creates an emotional bond between the speaker and the listener.
Additionally, people find comfort in realizing that life is full of surprises, which brings both laughter and life lessons. Talking about such moments often sparks reflection and offers fresh perspectives on everyday situations.

🔹 New Vocabulary with Definitions (English + Vietnamese):

Bump into – meet by chance (gặp tình cờ)
Bustling places – lively, crowded areas (nơi náo nhiệt)
Running errands – doing everyday tasks (làm việc vặt)
Impromptu encounter – unplanned meeting (cuộc gặp gỡ bất ngờ)
Snail-paced queue – very slow line (hàng dài chậm chạp)
Festive seasons – holiday periods (mùa lễ hội)
Element of surprise – unexpected aspect (yếu tố bất ngờ)
Spur-of-the-moment meetings – spontaneous meetings (cuộc gặp đột ngột)
Flavour to life – make life interesting (làm cuộc sống thú vị)
Monotony of routines – lack of variety in habits (sự đơn điệu của thói quen)
Spontaneous getaway – sudden trip (chuyến đi bất ngờ)
Mental agility – quick thinking (sự nhanh nhạy tinh thần)
Valuable learning experiences – educational moment (trải nghiệm học hỏi quý báu)
Dramatic twist – unexpected event (tình tiết bất ngờ)
Unpredictability factor – the aspect of being unexpected (yếu tố không đoán trước)
Conversation starters – easy ways to start a discussion (mở đầu câu chuyện)
Rollercoaster of feelings – emotional highs and lows (tàu lượn cảm xúc)

🔹 Synonyms & Antonyms:

Example word: Impromptu encounter

Synonyms: spontaneous meeting, chance interaction, unplanned reunion
Antonyms: scheduled meeting, arranged appointment, formal gathering
IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: “...increasing the chance of an impromptu encounter.”

🔹 Difficult Grammar Structures & Translations:

Such places naturally attract people from different walks of life, increasing the chance of an impromptu encounter.
→ Những nơi như vậy thường thu hút người từ nhiều tầng lớp xã hội khác nhau, làm tăng khả năng gặp gỡ tình cờ.
→ [Non-finite clause: “increasing the chance…”]
Although brief, they can leave a lasting impression due to their emotional spontaneity.
→ Dù ngắn ngủi, nhưng chúng có thể để lại ấn tượng sâu sắc vì sự tự phát về cảm xúc.
→ [Concessive clause: “Although brief…”]
Even negative ones can serve as valuable learning experiences.
→ Ngay cả những điều tiêu cực cũng có thể là những trải nghiệm học hỏi quý giá.
→ [Inversion structure: “Even negative ones…” used for emphasis]