What Part 1 is, in one paragraph
VSTEP Speaking Part 1, Social interaction (Tương tác xã hội), is the short-answer opening of the 12-minute Speaking test: you answer 3 to 6 questions on 2 different topics about your own life, per the ULIS test format page and the ULIS format PDF ("Thí sinh trả lời 3-6 câu hỏi về 2 chủ đề khác nhau"). ULIS, the University of Languages and International Studies at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, runs the VSTEP testing centre at vstep.vnu.edu.vn and publishes the format. The answer that works is two or three sentences: a direct answer, a reason, and one concrete detail. That length fits the clock, gives the marker enough to assess, and leaves no room for the two habits that cost Vietnamese candidates most in this part: the one-line "Yes, because I like it" and the memorised speech. Below are the official facts, what the marker listens for, the B1, B2 and C1 versions of the same answers, and 30 questions on 15 everyday topics with B2 answers written by TalkDrill.
- Task: answer 3 to 6 questions on 2 topics (ULIS test format page and format PDF).
- Whole Speaking test: 12 minutes, 3 parts. ULIS publishes no time for Part 1 on its own; we practise it in 3 minutes.
- Topics: no official list. The ULIS Level 3 description speaks of familiar topics in work, study and leisure.
- Where you speak: at ULIS the test is taken on computer (14 November 2026 notice), so you answer a screen, not a person. Other licensed universities set their own arrangements.
- Marking: the five ULIS Speaking criteria apply: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency, and content and organisation.
- Score: the final VSTEP score is out of 10; 4.0 is B1, 6.0 is B2, 8.5 is C1 (ULIS scores and levels page).
What the marker listens for in Part 1
ULIS publishes a short summary of the Speaking criteria, linked from its format page as a Word file ("Khái quát tiêu chí chấm bài thi Nói VSTEP.3-5", read 21 October 2026). It lists five criteria for the Speaking test as a whole. It does not give weights, band descriptors for each criterion, or a separate mark for each part, so the right-hand column below is our judgement of how each criterion shows up in short Part 1 answers.
| ULIS criterion | What it measures (ULIS, translated) | How it shows in Part 1 (TalkDrill) |
|---|---|---|
| Content and organisation (bố cục nội dung) | Relevance of the answer; developing ideas; linking devices. | Your first sentence answers the exact question. Then one reason and one detail. A one-line answer has nothing to develop; a memorised paragraph is often off the question. |
| Fluency (độ lưu loát) | Smoothness; speaking in longer stretches. | Starting within a second or two, without "uhm" before every answer, and keeping going for two or three sentences. |
| Grammar (ngữ pháp) | Accuracy and range of structures. | Matching tense to the question: present for habits, past for "last weekend", present perfect for "how long have you" and "how has it changed", "would" for preferences and wishes. |
| Vocabulary (từ vựng) | Accuracy and range of topic words, idioms and fixed phrases. | A precise word in each answer ("cramped", "humid", "flash sales") instead of "good", "nice", "very". |
| Pronunciation (phát âm) | Clear sounds; word stress; sentence stress and intonation. | Final sounds that carry grammar: the -s in "friends" and "books", the -ed in "changed" and "moved". Vietnamese speakers often soften these, and in Part 1 they come in almost every sentence. |
The lesson from the table: Part 1 is easy to understand and easy to under-answer. Every criterion needs a few sentences to show itself. That is why length matters more here than candidates expect.
How long to answer: the 2 to 3 sentence rule
ULIS publishes 12 minutes for the Speaking test and 3 to 6 questions for Part 1. It does not say how long each answer should be. Our working rule, and the one our practice timer uses, is about three minutes for six answers, so roughly 25 seconds each. At a calm pace that is two or three sentences. By our own count, the 60 B2 model answers in our practice bank run from about 23 to 43 words each, about 36 on average.
The shape inside those sentences is what lifts a B1 answer to B2. We call it A + R + D:
- Answer the question directly, in a full sentence that reuses the key words. "I usually take the bus."
- Reason: why, in one clause. "...because I don't have a motorbike yet."
- Detail: one concrete fact, number, place or example. "The journey takes about thirty-five minutes, so I listen to English podcasts on the way."
| Answer shape | Example: "Do you prefer studying in the morning or at night?" | What the marker gets (TalkDrill) |
|---|---|---|
| One word or one clause | "Morning." | Nothing to assess for grammar, vocabulary or development. Relevant, but empty. |
| Answer + "because" fragment | "Morning. Because I am fresh." | A reason, but no development, and the fragment pattern sounds like B1. |
| A + R + D (2 to 3 sentences) | "I'm definitely a morning person. My mind is clearer before nine, and the dormitory is quiet because everyone else is still asleep. At night I get tired and end up on my phone." | A direct answer, a reason, a concrete detail and a contrast. Something for every criterion. |
| A prepared speech (6 or more sentences) | A paragraph about the science of sleep, study timetables and famous people who wake up early. | Drifts off the question, which the relevance part of the content criterion marks, and uses time you need later. |
Two adjustments. If a question asks you to "describe" something (your neighbourhood, your home), give three short details rather than two sentences, because "describe" asks for more. And if a question is an opinion question in disguise ("At what age should children have a phone?"), state the opinion first and give one reason; this is where Part 1 starts to sound like Part 2, and our Part 2 guide covers the reasoning language.
Drop the "yes, no, because" habit
Many Vietnamese learners were trained on short-answer drills: "Do you like music? Yes, I do." Vietnamese also starts reasons naturally with vì, so "Because..." on its own feels like a full answer. In conversation that is fine. In a test that marks development and range, it sounds like B1, because the ULIS Level 3 description itself is about giving reasons "briefly" (ngắn gọn). Here are common habits of this kind, and the fix for each. The list and the examples are ours.
| Habit | What it sounds like | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yes or no, then stop | "Do you cook at home?" "Yes, I do." | Answer with a full statement that adds information: "Yes, most evenings, mainly simple things like eggs and stir-fried vegetables." |
| A bare "because" fragment | "Because it is convenient." | "Mainly because...", "The main reason is that...", "Partly because..., and partly because...". Then add the detail. |
| Echoing the question word for word | "What is your favourite dish? My favourite dish is..." | Start with the content: "It has to be bún chả." Paraphrase instead of repeating. |
| "I think" before facts | "I think I live in Đống Đa district." | Facts need no "I think". Save it for opinions, and vary it: "I'd say", "In my experience", "As far as I'm concerned". |
| Doubling instead of choosing a word | "It is very very delicious." | One precise word: "really tasty", "absolutely delicious", "rich and spicy". |
| A pause to translate before every answer | Three seconds of silence, then the answer. | Start with a natural opener while you think: "Well, mostly...", "Actually, quite often...", "To be honest, not much...". Do not overuse one. |
One question, three levels: B1, B2 and C1 answers
The answers below were written by TalkDrill to show what changes between levels. They are not real candidates' answers, they are not taken from an official sample, and they carry no official score: ULIS publishes level bands for the final score, not for single answers. The level descriptions we refer to are from the ULIS format PDF.
Question 1: "How has your hometown changed in recent years?"
B1 (written by TalkDrill)
"My hometown change a lot. Now it has many new shop and many car. I think it is more modern but the traffic is not good."
B2 (written by TalkDrill)
"It has changed quite a lot. There are far more cafés and small hotels now, and the main road into the centre has been widened. The downside is that the traffic has become much heavier, especially at weekends."
C1 (written by TalkDrill)
"Almost beyond recognition, to be honest. Ten years ago it was a sleepy market town; now it's firmly on the tourist trail, so the rice fields by the river have largely given way to homestays. It's brought money in, no doubt, but older residents feel the place has lost some of its character."
| Criterion | B1 | B2 | C1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammar | "change" for a change still going on; plurals missing ("shop", "car"). | Present perfect ("has changed", "has become") and a passive ("has been widened"), all accurate. | Contrast across time ("Ten years ago... now"), a phrasal verb in the present perfect ("have given way to"). |
| Vocabulary | "many", "modern", "not good". | "far more", "widened", "the downside is", "heavier traffic". | "beyond recognition", "sleepy market town", "on the tourist trail", "lost some of its character". |
| Content and organisation | Two facts and a vague opinion. | Two concrete changes and one drawback, signposted. | A before-and-after picture, a cause ("so"), and a balanced judgement. |
| Fit to the ULIS level description | Level 3: describes and gives a brief reason. | Level 4: fluent, natural, detailed. | Level 5: fluent, spontaneous, flexible use of language. |
Question 2: "Do you prefer spending your free time alone or with other people?"
B1 (written by TalkDrill)
"I like with my friends. Because it is fun. We go to coffee shop and talk."
B2 (written by TalkDrill)
"Mostly with other people. I spend the whole week studying on my own, so at the weekend I want to see friends, usually over coffee or a game of badminton. That said, I do need a quiet evening alone now and then."
C1 (written by TalkDrill)
"It depends on the week, really. After a run of deadlines I crave company, someone to laugh with over a long coffee, but I'm an introvert at heart, so a couple of evenings a week entirely to myself is non-negotiable. That's when I recharge."
Notice what the B2 answer does that the B1 answer does not: it gives the reason as a full clause with a cause ("I spend the whole week studying on my own, so..."), adds concrete activities, and finishes with a small contrast ("That said..."). None of the B2 words is rare. The jump from B1 to B2 in Part 1 is mostly about shape and accuracy, not vocabulary. The jump to C1 is about control: the C1 speaker qualifies the answer ("It depends on the week"), uses idiomatic phrases naturally ("crave company", "non-negotiable") and still answers the question. Pronunciation matters at every level: the B2 answer only sounds like B2 if the -s in "friends" and the -ed in "changed" are audible. Our page on pronunciation errors Vietnamese speakers make in VSTEP covers final sounds by region.
30 Part 1 questions on 15 topics, with B2 answers
ULIS does not publish a list of Part 1 questions. These 30 were written by TalkDrill on the familiar topics of work, study and leisure that the ULIS Level 3 description names, two questions per topic, the way Part 1 pairs two topics. Every answer is a B2 model in the A + R + D shape, two or three sentences. Read the question, cover the answer, answer aloud with your own facts, then compare. Ten full Part 1 sets of six questions, with timers, are in the practice bank.
1. Your hometown
What do visitors usually do in your hometown? Most visitors come for the sea. They spend the morning on the beach and eat grilled seafood at the stalls along the coast road in the evening. Some also take a boat out to the islands, which is the best part if the weather is calm.
Would you like to live in your hometown in the future? Yes, eventually. For the next few years I want to work in Hanoi to get experience, but I would like to go back when I have a family. Life there is slower, and my parents are getting older.
2. Your studies
Why did you choose your university? Mainly because of its reputation for economics, which is my major. It is also close enough to my hometown that I can go back by bus at the weekend, and the fees were lower than at private universities.
Which subject do you enjoy most? I really enjoy marketing. The lectures are full of real examples, like why some brands go viral and others do not, and we do group projects with actual local businesses, which feels much more practical than pure theory.
3. Work
What would be your ideal job? My ideal job would be managing projects for an international company. I enjoy organising people and solving problems, and I would like to use English every day and travel a little for work.
Would you rather work in an office or from home? In an office, at least at the start of my career. You learn a lot just by watching experienced colleagues, and I find it hard to concentrate at home. One or two days at home a week would be ideal later on.
4. Your home
Do you live in a house or a flat? At the moment I share a small rented flat on the fourth floor of an old building with a classmate. It is quite cramped, but it is only ten minutes from campus, so it is worth it.
What would you change about your home? I would let in more natural light. There is only one small window, so the room feels dark even at midday. If I could, I would also put a few plants on the balcony to make it feel more like a home.
5. Free time
What did you do last weekend? On Saturday I helped my aunt at her clothes shop, because her assistant was ill. On Sunday I finally relaxed: I slept late, met two friends for coffee and watched a film in the evening.
Do you have more free time now than when you were at school? Yes, much more. In high school I had extra classes almost every evening to prepare for the university entrance exam. Now my timetable is more flexible, although I have to be more disciplined about how I use it.
6. Food
Do you prefer eating at home or eating out? At home when I can, because home cooking is healthier and cheaper. That said, eating out is a big part of social life here, so I usually go out with friends once or twice a week.
Is there a food you disliked as a child but like now? Yes, bitter melon. My grandmother cooked it in soup, and I used to hide it under my rice. Now I actually order it, because I have got used to the taste and I know it is good for me.
7. Weather
Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather? Cold weather, as long as it is not too damp. In the hot season I feel tired and sticky all day, whereas in winter I can put on a jacket and walk anywhere without sweating.
Does the weather affect your mood? Quite a lot. When it rains for several days in a row, I find it hard to get motivated and I tend to stay in. On sunny mornings I feel much more energetic and usually go for a run before class.
8. Getting around
How do you usually get to class? I usually take the bus, because I do not have a motorbike yet. The journey takes about thirty-five minutes, which gives me time to listen to English podcasts. When I am running late, I book a motorbike taxi on an app.
Is public transport in your city good enough? It is improving, but it is not good enough yet. Buses are cheap, but they get stuck in the same traffic as everyone else. Dedicated bus lanes and more metro lines would persuade far more people to leave their motorbikes at home.
9. Technology
Which app do you use most? Probably Zalo, because my family, my classmates and even my landlord use it. I also use a banking app every day, since almost every shop near my university accepts QR code payments now.
Could you live without the internet for a week? For a week, yes, if I planned it, and I might even enjoy the quiet for a few days. The hard part would be my studies, because all our assignments and lecture slides are online.
10. Friends
Do you prefer having a few close friends or many friends? A few close friends. I have three friends from high school whom I can tell anything, and that matters more to me than knowing lots of people. In a big group, conversations usually stay on the surface.
How do you keep in touch with old classmates? Mostly through a group chat, where we share news and photos. Once a year, usually just after Tết, we organise a reunion dinner. It is the only time we all manage to be in the same place.
11. Shopping
Do you enjoy going to traditional markets? I do, especially early in the morning. Everything is fresh, the sellers know my mother, and you can bargain a little. Supermarkets are cleaner and more comfortable, but they feel a bit lifeless by comparison.
Do you often buy things you do not need? More often than I would like to admit. Shopping apps have flash sales almost every week, and it is easy to buy something just because it is cheap. Now I leave things in my basket for a day before I pay.
12. Festivals and holidays
What is your favourite festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival. I loved carrying a star-shaped lantern around the neighbourhood as a child, and now I enjoy it through my little cousins. Sharing mooncakes with the family under the full moon still feels special.
What do you usually do during the summer holiday? I usually go back to my hometown for a few weeks and help my parents. I also try to learn something practical; last summer, for example, I took an online course in spreadsheets.
13. Health and sport
What do you do to stay healthy? I try to walk at least eight thousand steps a day and go to bed before midnight, which is harder than it sounds. I have also cut down on sugary milk tea, which used to be a daily habit.
Did you play sport at school? Yes, I played volleyball for my secondary school team. We trained twice a week after class and once reached the district final. I stopped in high school, because preparing for the entrance exam took all my time.
14. Films and music
What kind of films do you enjoy? Mostly comedies and family dramas, especially recent Vietnamese ones. I like films that make me laugh and think at the same time. Horror films are not for me; I cannot sleep afterwards.
Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema? For a big release, the cinema, because the screen and the sound make it an event. For everything else I watch at home, since it is cheaper and I can pause whenever I like.
15. English and this test
Why are you taking the VSTEP test? I need a B1 certificate to graduate, but I am aiming for B2 so that I can apply for a master's programme later. A higher level should also help when I apply for jobs.
What is the most difficult thing about speaking English for you? Answering quickly without translating in my head. I understand most of what I hear, but I build each sentence in Vietnamese first, so there is a pause. Recording myself every day has started to help.
When a question surprises you
Part 1 questions are about you, so there is no wrong answer, but a question can still catch you out. Four recovery moves, all of which keep you speaking instead of falling silent:
- You have never thought about it. Say so, then answer anyway: "I've never really thought about that, but I'd probably say..." This is honest, natural and still relevant.
- The honest answer is "no" or "never". Give the no, then explain: "Not really. I've never been very interested in gardening, mainly because I've always lived in flats without any outdoor space."
- You did not catch a word. With an examiner present, ask: "Sorry, could you repeat the question?" At a computer-based sitting, listen during the instructions for whether a question can be replayed; if not, answer the part you understood.
- Your mind goes blank mid-sentence. Use a short bridge and restate: "What I mean is...", "Let me put it another way...". One bridge is fluent; three in one answer is not.
One habit to avoid: do not invent elaborate stories you cannot sustain. A simple true answer with a reason and a detail scores better than an exciting answer you lose control of halfway through.
A 15-minute daily Part 1 routine
Part 1 responds quickly to daily practice because the answers are short and the topics repeat. This is the routine we suggest; the timings are ours.
- 3 minutes: record one set. Take one Part 1 set (six questions) from the practice bank or six questions from the list above. Record all six without stopping.
- 4 minutes: listen back with one question. Did every answer have A + R + D? Count the answers under two sentences. Note any "because" fragments and any silence over three seconds.
- 3 minutes: final sounds. One short read-aloud drill with word-level scoring, alternating plural and -s endings and -ed endings, the two endings Part 1 answers use most.
- 5 minutes: re-record the same set. Same questions, no notes. The second recording should be longer, better organised and still yours.
Once a week, add unseen questions. TalkDrill's IELTS Speaking practice asks Part 1-style questions about your life out loud and gives an estimated IELTS band across fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. It is not a VSTEP score, and we say so plainly, but it gives you questions you have not prepared and feedback on four areas that also appear in the ULIS criteria.
If you are booking at ULIS, the next sittings are 14 November 2026 (registration closes at the end of 4 November) and 12 December 2026 (registration 12 November to 2 December), per the ULIS notice for 14 November and the ULIS 2026 administration plan; our dates and fees page has the details. When Part 1 feels comfortable, move on to the Part 2 solution discussion, then Part 3 topic development, and check what your target score means on our VSTEP score guide. The official format is on the ULIS test format page, and the Vietnamese format PDF with the criteria summary is on Định dạng đề thi VSTEP.3-5. Everything else is on the VSTEP hub.