Introduction
The NLTV B1 level assesses your ability to understand and use Vietnamese in a range of familiar situations. It focuses on practical communication related to daily life, personal information, shopping, local geography, and employment. Successfully completing B1 indicates you can handle most common interactions and understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters.
Exam Format
| Section | Duration | Questions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | ~20 min | 15-20 | Short dialogues, announcements |
| Reading | ~30 min | 15-20 | Signs, messages, short passages |
| Writing | ~20 min | 10-15 | Fill-in-blanks, short sentences |
| Speaking | ~10 min | 5-8 | Self-intro, daily topics |
What You Need to Know
Grammar Points for B1
- Time expressions: Using
trước(before),sau(after),trong khi(while),khi(when) to describe event order and duration. - Basic conjunctions:
và(and),nhưng(but),hoặc(or),vì(because),nên(so) to connect ideas. - Future tense markers:
sẽ(will),định(intend to),chuẩn bị(prepare to) to express future actions. - Past tense markers:
đã(already),rồi(already/completed),từng(used to) to indicate past actions or experiences. - Common prepositions:
ở(at/in),đến(to),từ(from),với(with) to show location, direction, or accompaniment. - Question words:
cái gì(what),ai(who),ở đâu(where),khi nào(when),tại sao(why),thế nào(how) for asking information. - Comparison:
hơn(more than),nhất(most) for making comparisons. - Modal verbs:
có thể(can/be able to),nên(should),muốn(want) to express ability, advice, or desire. - Simple conditional sentences: Using
nếu... thì...(if... then...) to express conditions and consequences. - Verb serialization: Combining verbs to express a sequence of actions, e.g.,
đi mua(go buy),đến thăm(come visit).
Essential Vocabulary Topics
- Daily Routines: (thức dậy - wake up, ăn sáng - eat breakfast, đi làm - go to work, về nhà - go home, đi ngủ - go to sleep)
- Family and Relationships: (bố - father, mẹ - mother, anh - elder brother, chị - elder sister, em - younger sibling, bạn bè - friends, đồng nghiệp - colleagues)
- Food and Drink: (cơm - rice, phở - pho, cà phê - coffee, trà - tea, rau - vegetable, thịt - meat, trái cây - fruit)
- Shopping and Services: (cửa hàng - shop, siêu thị - supermarket, giá cả - price, mua - buy, bán - sell, tiền - money, hóa đơn - bill)
- Travel and Directions: (đi du lịch - travel, khách sạn - hotel, ga tàu - train station, sân bay - airport, trái - left, phải - right, thẳng - straight)
- Work and Study: (công việc - job, học sinh - student, sinh viên - university student, giáo viên - teacher, văn phòng - office, trường học - school)
- Weather and Seasons: (nắng - sunny, mưa - rainy, lạnh - cold, nóng - hot, mùa xuân - spring, mùa hè - summer, mùa thu - autumn, mùa đông - winter)
- Health and Body: (bác sĩ - doctor, bệnh viện - hospital, đau đầu - headache, sốt - fever, tay - hand, chân - leg, bụng - stomach)
Sample Questions
Listening Sample
A: Chào bạn! Cuối tuần này bạn có rảnh không? Mình muốn mời bạn đi xem phim.
B: Ồ, cuối tuần này mình bận rồi. Mình phải về quê thăm ông bà.
Question: Why can't person B go to the movies?
- A. They are busy studying.
- B. They have to visit their grandparents.
- C. They don't like watching movies.
Answer
Answer: B. They have to visit their grandparents. Explanation: Person B says "Mình phải về quê thăm ông bà," which means "I have to go back to my hometown to visit my grandparents."
Reading Sample
Bạn ơi,
Ngày mai là sinh nhật của Lan. Tớ đang định tổ chức một bữa tiệc nhỏ ở nhà lúc 7 giờ tối. Bạn có thể đến không? Mọi người sẽ cùng nhau ăn bánh kem và hát hò. Nhớ mang theo một món quà nhỏ cho Lan nhé!
Thân, Minh
Question: What is the main purpose of this message?
- A. To ask for help organizing a party.
- B. To invite someone to a birthday party.
- C. To remind someone about Lan's birthday.
Answer
Answer: B. To invite someone to a birthday party. Explanation: Minh is sending an invitation ("Bạn có thể đến không?") for Lan's birthday party, providing details like time and activity.
Writing Sample
Điền từ thích hợp vào chỗ trống: Tôi _____ đi Hà Nội du lịch vào tháng sau.
Question: Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank.
- A. đã
- B. sẽ
- C. đang
Answer
Answer: B. sẽ Explanation: The phrase "vào tháng sau" (next month) indicates a future action, so "sẽ" (will) is the correct future tense marker. "Đã" is past tense, and "đang" is present continuous.
Study Tips
- Practice regularly: Dedicate consistent time each day to review vocabulary, grammar, and practice all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).
- Immerse yourself: Listen to Vietnamese music, watch simple Vietnamese videos (with subtitles), and try to read short texts and signs in daily life.
- Find a language partner: Practice speaking with a native speaker or another learner to improve fluency and confidence, and to get feedback on your pronunciation.