TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit 1: Introduction to Collocations, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms....................... 5
Unit 2: Education ......................................................................................... 13
2.1. Technology in Education ................................................................... 15
2.2. Higher Education ............................................................................... 20
Unit 3: Work ................................................................................................ 27
3.1. Qualifications and Experience ........................................................... 29
3.2. Job Hopping....................................................................................... 36
Unit 4: The Environment .............................................................................. 43
4.1 Environmental problems .................................................................... 45
4.2 Protecting endangered species .......................................................... 52
Unit 5: Tourism ............................................................................................ 59
5.1. Tourism and the Environment ........................................................... 61
5.2. Culture and Travel ............................................................................. 66
Unit 6: Transport.......................................................................................... 73
6.1 Comparing forms of transport ............................................................ 75
6.2. Traffic problems ................................................................................ 80
KEY ............................................................................................................... 86

4



IELTS test-takers have heard a lot about phrasal verbs, idioms and
collocations, and their seemingly ‘miraculous’ power in IELTS
Speaking. So what are they? Do they indeed do magic, or are they overrated? Is learning them a piece of cake or a real headache?
An Idiom is, as defined in the Cambridge Dictionary, “a group ofwords
in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the
meanings of each word on its own.” So, like chalk and cheese has nothing

to do with chalk and cheese, and there’s nothing flying in your digestive
tract when you say I have butterflies in my stomach. Many idioms entail
vivid images used as a metaphor for the thing you want to describe.
Phrasal verbs consist of a base verb and two or three more
words. The meaning of a phrasal verb is different from the meaning of a base verb. For example, to look after someone doesn’t
mean to look at their backs, and to do up a house is, surprisingly, to
repair and improve it. We can consider phrasal verbs as similar to idioms,
although they are often considered separate concepts in many books for
teaching purposes.
A collocation is a combination of words that naturally go together. We ‘make
a decision’, not ‘do a decision’. ‘Large’ and ‘huge’ are similar in some instances, but only ‘huge’ collocates, or naturally goes with, the noun ‘advantage’ (a
huge advantage). A great combination of a ‘V + Adj + N’ collocation is to ‘offer
distinct advantages’. The boundary between a collocation and an idiom is loose; in other words, some dictionaries may consider a phrase an
idiom, but others see it as a collocation. The phrase ‘at risk’ is classified
as an idiom in Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, but a collocation in Cambridge
Dictionary.

6

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


Glossary
1. a piece of cake:

/ə piːs ɒv keɪk/
very easy

2. a real headache:


/ə riəl ˈhedeik/
a person or thing that causes worry

3. chalk and cheese:

/ʧɔːk ænd ʧiːz/
completely different from each other

4. have butterflies
in your stomach:

/hæv ˈbʌtəflaɪz ɪn jɔː ˈstʌmək/
feel nervous about something

5. look after:

/lʊk ˈɑːftə/
take care of

6. do up a house:

/duː ʌp/
repaint, repair and improve a house

7. make a decision:

/meɪk ə dɪˈsɪʒən/
decide

8. offer distinct

advantages:

/ˈɒfə dɪsˈtɪŋkt ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz/
to have a lot of clear, obvious benefits

9. at risk:

/æt rɪsk/
in a situation when you may be harmed

7


Prac�i��
Exercise 1:
Label the following photos with the phrases suggesting them.

1+1=2
1.…………………………..
3…………………………..

2.…………………………..
4.…………………………..

Exercise 2:
Fill in each blank with ONE word from the Glossary.
1. Wild animals are ......................... risk of becoming extinct.
2. They are twins, yet surprisingly their personalities are like
......................... and cheese.
3. At first I thought the IELTS test was a piece of ........................., but

then I

8

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


4. I always have ......................... in my stomach whenever I make a presentation.
5. This IELTS book offers distinct ......................... to IELTS learners. 

Exercise 3:
Complete the following sentences, using the following phraes. You can
make some changes to the phrases if necessary.
a piece of cake
look after

offer distinct advantages
do up

at risk
chalk and cheese

1. Our house was built around 10 years ago, and now we need to
......................... a little bit.
2. Some of my friends see Maths as ........................., but I don’t. I almost
failed once last semester!
3. Tom may be ......................... of losing his job; the boss learned that he
had lost a very important folder.
4. While fast food indeed ......................... especially to busy people, I
don’t think that it is healthy if over-consumed.

5. The previous boss and our current one are like ......................... One is
very friendly, and the other is quite aggressive.
6. I was on holiday, so I asked my neighbor to ......................... my garden.

9


Exercise 4:
Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned.
1. I have decided to take the IELTS test this month.
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
2. My brother is completely different from me.
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
3. Doing Tai-chi is beneficial to old people.
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
4. Before my first interview, I was very nervous because other applicants
were more experienced than I was.
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
5. Adapting to a new lifestyle is very difficult to students who are studying
in a foreign country.
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................

10

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc



Exercise 5:
Answer the following questions, using the phrases you have learned.
1. What is your favorite subject at school?
Suggestion: One possible reason a person likes a subject is that it is easy.

...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
2. Do you often speak in front of a lot of people?
Suggestion: Some people are really nervous when they have to deliver a speech in
front of a huge audience.

...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
3. What are some benefits of attending online classes?
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
4. Do you think your house needs improvement?
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................

11


CONSOLIDATION

1
2


3

4

5
6

7

Down:

Across:

1. He was at ......................... of
being fired because of his terrible
performance.
2. synonym of “do up”
3. Thanks to his relentless effort,

4. To be anxious is to have

he was ......................... out for
promotion.

..........................
7. The interview was a piece of

......................... in your stomach.
5. The Internet .........................
several distinct advantages.

6. They are different like chalk and

..........................
12

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


E�uca�i��

13


14

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


2.1 TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Online learning really does wonders for my English skills. Around
3 years ago, English was my Achilles heel. Grammar was a
real struggle, and I couldn’t make head nor tail of what the
teacher was trying to explain. However, one day, one of my friends
introduced me to an open course on Canvas, an online-based learning
site, and I was completely hooked! You know, I had to admit that I was a
little bit slow on the uptake, and with the site, I could learn at my own
pace – I mean, I could replay the video lessons as many times as I liked
until I completely took in all the information. And you know what, my
English came on in leaps and bounds. I passed my final test with flying
colors!

While online learning is really convenient, social networking is a nuisance
to my learning process. It always gets on my nerves when I am studying
and somebody just keeps texting me every 5 minutes!

15


Glossary
1. do wonders

/duː ˈwʌndəz/
have a very good effect on sb/sth

2. Achilles heel

/əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/
a weak point

3. couldn’t make
head nor tail of

/ˈkʊdnt meɪk hed ɔː teɪl/
be completely confused

4. completely
hooked

/kəmˈpliːtli hʊkt/
enjoying sth very much


5. slow on
the uptake

/sləʊ ɒn ði ˈʌpteɪk/
to be slow to understand sth

6. at my own pace

/æt maɪ əʊn peɪs/
at the speed that suits me

7. take in

/teɪk ɪn/
to understand sth

8. came on in
leaps and bounds

/kʌm ɒn ɪn liːps ænd baʊndz/
improved very quickly

9. with flying colors

/wɪð ˈflaɪɪŋ ˈkʌləz/
with a very high grade

10. a nuisance

/ə ˈnjuːsns/

sth that is annoying

11. get on my nerves

/gɛt ɒn maɪ nɜːvz/
make me feel very annoyed

16

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


Prac�i��
Exercise 1:
There is an error in each of the following sentences. Find and correct
them.
1. Eating vegetables really makes wonders for my health.
2. John really couldn’t make tail nor head of what his father was saying.
3. With that terrible grade, passing the exam with flown colors is just a
dream.
4. Nowadays, the Internet allows students to study effectively on their
own pace.
5. His repeated mistakes really got into the boss’s nerves.

Exercise 2:
Fill in each blank with an appropriate phrase.
completely hooked couldn’t make head nor tail of with flying colors
take in
slow on the uptake
Achilles heel

at my own pace
do wonders
1. He passed his exam ..................... although he didn’t study hard throughout the semester.

17


2. He was ..................... on that game after seeing Tom brilliantly playing
it.
3. English was my ..................... when I was in university. I hated it.
4. Despite listening carefully, I still ..................... what my tutor said.
5. If you want to ..................... all the information in the letter, you should
read it twice.
6. He’s pretty ..................... so I usually spend more than one hour reviewing each lesson with him.
7. I think using a computer is the best way for me to study .....................
8. Drinking a lot of water can ..................... for my health because it helps
maintain the balance of body fluids.

Exercise 3:
Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned.
1. I am really mad because he keeps making the same mistake.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
2. Eating an apple a day will be greatly beneficial to your health.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
3. With this MOOC platform, we are able to learn at the speed that suits
us most.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................


18

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


4. I completely didn’t understand what the maths teacher was saying.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
5. I have to admit that it takes me a lot of time to understand the lesson.
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................

Exercise 4:
Answer the following questions, using the words that you’ve learned.
1. Have you ever learned anything on an online platform?
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
2. Is online learning popular in your country?
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
3. What are some advantages and disadvantages of online learning?
...................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................

19


2.2 Higher Education
A: Hi Tom! Long time no see, how have you been doing?

B: Well I’ve just passed the university entrance exam with
flying colors and received an acceptance letter. That was absolutely
fantastic!
A: Congrats! What school are you going to attend?
B: Foreign Trade University, one of the top-ranking schools in Vietnam.
A: So, how do you feel? Is it great?
B: Yeah, I am very proud of myself because, you know, the
admission is really competitive. However, I am afraid that I will have to
deal with the incredible pressure of lots of deadlines and assignments.
So, what about you?
A: I’m now studying at the University of Education, specializing in English, and everything is good here. My friends are so nice and my lecturers are approachable. All of them have helped me a lot in my studies.
Also, the equipment is top-notch with projectors, air-conditioners and
smart boards.
B: How lucky you are! Do you have any plans for your university life?
A: Oh yes I do. I intend to do a part-time job at an English center to get
hands-on experience. Oh, my mom is calling so I have to go home now.
See you next time!
B: Ah OK, See you soon. Take care!

20

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


Glossary
1. academic
performance

/ækəˈdɛmɪk pəˈfɔːməns/
the performance of someone at school


2. entrance
examination

/ˈɛntrəns ɪgˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/
an examination that educational institutions
conduct to select prospective students for admission

3. top-ranking

/tɒp-ræŋkt/
considered to be among the best of its type

4. specialized in

/ˈspɛʃəlaɪzd ɪn/
be very good at something

5. enrich

/ɪnˈrɪʧ/
to make something better

6. hands-on
experience

/hændz-ɒn ɪksˈpɪərɪəns/
hands-on experience or training involves you
doing something rather than just reading about
it or watching other people do it


8.Competitive
admission

/kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv ədˈmɪʃ(ə)n/
the process through which students enter tertiary education at universities and colleges.

9. Top-notch

/ˈtɒpˈnɒʧ/
very high in quality

10. rewarding

/rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ/
giving you satisfaction, pleasure, or profit

11. academic
attainment

/ækəˈdɛmɪk əˈteɪnmənt/
academic achievement

21


Prac�i��
Exercise 1:
Circle the correct word
1. Reading books and doing homework every day will help you improve

your physical / academic performance.
2. After finishing an undergraduate course and eventually getting a university degree / certificate, Peter got a decent job in a local company.
3. I have just received the result of my university entrance / entry
examination. It was higher than I had expected and I was totally surprised!
4. Well, I am studying at RMIT University, which is one of the top-ranking
/ top-notched universities in Vietnam. You know, the facilities are way too
modern and people, including teachers and classmates, are friendly and
supportive.
5. Tuan is the best student in my class. He specializes in /on many subjects
such as Math, Literature, English and even Chemistry.

Exercise 2:
Complete using the correct form of the word in the box.
Top-notch enrich

admission incredible pressure

hands-on

1. Studying in university allows me to engage in many extracurricular activities and more importantly …………. my professional knowledge.
22

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


2. Why do you want to seek a part-time job, Jack? - Well, I would like to
work part-time because I want to get more ……………… experience which
I think will be necessary for me in my future job. 3. You should think carefully before applying for that company since the …………... is incredibly
competitive.
4. Women nowadays have to deal with …………………. from work and family.

5. There are many reasons why I chose to study at that school, but the
think I love most is the …………. equipment which is a great help for us
during our study.

Exercise 3:
Choose the correct answer:
1. Well, I am very busy with my study at the moment. You know, I just can
do ……… at my restaurant on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
a. full-time student
b. half-time student
c. a part-time job
d. full-time job
2. I am truly astonished at what this house is designed and equipped with.
There are tons of ……… facilities here, like the automatic light system and
the AI-supported TV.
a. top-world
b. best-notch
c. top-notch
d. outdated

23


3. Teaching can be a very ………… career. It enables teachers to nurture
and develop young talents.
a. dissatisfying
b. rewarding
c. funny
d. hard-working
4. Vietnam has a surprisingly high record of academic ………………... regarding Physics in the International Olympics compared to that of other

countries like the US and Canada.
a. aims
b. objectives
c. attainment
d. expectation

Exercise 4:
Matching sentences:
1. Studying at university is one of
my great memories;
2. To gain a deeper insight into
science subjects
3. There are hundreds of graduates
4. Going to university can be regarded
5. To get admitted to Harvard

24

a. students should be allowed to
put their learned knowledge into
practice through experiments.
b. I had many opportunities to partake in various extracurricular activities.
c. I had to meet a lot of demands,
ranging from having a high GPA to
scoring 7.5 overall in the IELTS test.
d. who cannot find work every year.
e. as a turning point for every student.

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc



Exercise 5:
Do the following IELTS Part 2, using the words you have learned.
Describe a period from your studies that you find difficult.
You should say:
• When it was
• What you did at that time
• How you felt at that time
• And explain why you think it’s difficult

....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................

25


CONSOLIDATION

1
2

3


4

5

6

7

8

Across:
2. Many Asian parents expect too much from
their children’s academic ____________.
3. I couldn’t make head or ____________ of
what was shown on TV.
4. Lisa was really lucky to work for that top____________ company.
6. This word is pronounced “ˈnjuːsəns”.
8. Passing the exams with flying ___________
is every Vietnamese student’s wish.

26

Down:
1. This word is pronounced “rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ”
4. nɜːvz
5.
Acupuncture
is believed to do
____________ to your

health.
7. She is a talented
lawyer that specializes
____________ divorces.

ANH NGỮ ZIM - Chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS cấp tốc


�
27