VSTEP B2 Speaking Test — Mô phỏng ~12 phút

Q: What do you usually do in your free time?
"Well, in my free time I usually go jogging in the park near my house, and in the evenings I enjoy watching documentaries. If I have a whole free weekend, I sometimes meet up with my old university friends for coffee."

Q: Do you prefer spending your free time alone or with other people? Why?
"To be honest, it depends on my mood. After a stressful week I prefer being alone because it helps me recharge, but when I feel energetic, spending time with friends is much more enjoyable — we always end up laughing a lot."

Q: How did you spend your free time when you were a child?
"When I was a child, I used to play football with the boys in my neighbourhood almost every afternoon. We didn't have smartphones back then, so we spent most of our time outdoors, which I think was really good for us."

"In my opinion, the best choice for my friend is cooking healthy meals at home. First of all, her main problems are tiredness and stress, and diet has a direct effect on energy levels — if she eats more vegetables and less fast food, she will feel stronger every single day, not just occasionally. Secondly, cooking at home is the most affordable option; she doesn't need to spend a lot of money like she would on gym membership or monthly trips.

Of course, the other two options have their advantages. Joining a gym would improve her fitness, but after a long working day she might be too exhausted to exercise, and many people give up after a few weeks. A monthly trip sounds relaxing, but it only helps for a few days and can be quite expensive.

Therefore, I strongly believe that cooking healthy meals is the most practical and sustainable solution for her situation."

"I completely agree that reading books brings many benefits, and I would like to develop this topic using four main ideas.

First, reading is one of the best ways of gaining knowledge. Books about history, science or other cultures give us deeper understanding than short videos or social media posts, because the ideas are explained step by step. Second, reading helps reduce stress — many people, including me, read a few pages before bedtime to relax, and research shows this works even better than listening to music. Third, reading improves language skills: readers naturally pick up new vocabulary and better writing styles, which is extremely useful for both study and work. Finally, books develop our imagination and empathy, because when we read a novel, we have to picture the world and feel what the characters feel.

In addition to the diagram, I would add that reading is a very affordable hobby — a library card costs almost nothing.

Follow-up — Why do young people read fewer books? "I think the main reason is competition from smartphones. Short videos give instant entertainment, so many young people find books too slow. Busy study schedules are another factor."