ielts task 2 essay questions

IELTS Writing Topics August & September 2024

The collection of writing topics that were reported by IELTS student in 2024 . These questions could be repeated from previous months. Keep in mind that the provided questions are not predictions.

Pick one of the topics and improve your writing skills every day. If you can't come up with ideas for a topic just click the "Answers" button and you will see the different ideas.

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IELTS Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts academic and gt essay/ writing task 2 sample.

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( also known as IELTS Essay Writing ) is the second task of your IELTS Writing test. Here, you will be presented with an essay topic and you will be scored based on your ability to respond to the topic.

You need to write at least 250 words and justify your opinion with arguments, discussion, examples, problem outlining, proposing possible solutions and supporting your position. You will have approximately 40 minutes to finish your Essay Writing. IELTS Writing Task 2 carries more weights than Writing Task 1.

Are you planning to take your IELTS Exam soon? Take an online course and achieve your dream score on your IELTS test.


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IELTS Writing Task 2: Tips, Lessons & Models

Success in IELTS writing task 2 is based on using the right techniques. These free tips, model essays, lessons, videos and information will help develop the skills for writing task 2. This page will teach you how to maximise your IELTS writing task 2 score. All lessons are on this page are for both GT and Academic writing task 2.

On this page, you will find for free:

IELTS WRITING TASK 2 TEST INFORMATION
PRACTICE ESSAY QUESTIONS
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR IELTS ESSAYS
MODEL ESSAYS
PRACTICE LESSONS (writing skills, topic ideas etc)

1. IELTS Writing Task 2 Test Information

Learn about your IELTS writing task 2 test. All lessons and tips on this page are for both Academic and GT writing task 2.

IELTS Writing has two tasks: Task 1 (a report) and Task 2 (an essay).
The total time is one hour for both tasks. You should spend only 40 mins on task 2.
The time is yourself to manage. No one will tell you when to move from task 1 to task 2.
The essay if a formal essay. You should not use informal language in your essay.
The instructions say “write at least 250 words”. This means you need to write over 250 words.
Writing task 2 is worth about 66% of your total writing score. Click here: Total Writing Score Calculations
There are four marking criteria which you must learn about. Click here: WRITING T2 BAND SCORES & MARKING WITH TIPS

The Essay Task

Below is an example task you will be given in IELTS Writing Task 2.

You will be given a topic.
Topics contain specific issues or opinions that you must address.
You are given a task, such as to discuss and give an opinion.
Examples are based on your experience of the world in general, not your personal life.
There are FIVE ESSAY TYPES .

2. IELTS Practice Essay Questions

Practice essay questions to help you prepare ideas for topics in IELTS writing task 2. These questions have been written based on questions reported by IELTS students.

Over 100 IELTS Essay Questions (repeated topics)

3. Essential IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

The most important writing tips for a strong IELTS essay in writing task 2. Learn about the recommended essay length, how to plan your essay, when to give your opinion and how to write an introduction etc. Some videos linked below are old, but still 100% relevant today. Click below:

Essay Structure & Paragraphing

Key Linking Words List

Types of IELTS Essays

Essay Planning Tips

Paraphrasing Tips & Examples

Common Essay Topics

When & How to give your opinion

Video Using the last 5 minutes

4. IELTS Model Essays

IELTS Essays have a specific format, structure, style and band score requirements. These model essays are at band 9 and illustrate how an IELTS writing task 2 essay should be written. Use them as a guide to creating an essay suitable for a high band score in IELTS. Remember, language only counts for about 50% of your marks, the rest is IELTS essay techniques.

Agree Disagree Opinion Essay: Health
Advantages & Disadvantages Essay: Language
Cause Solution Essay: Crime & Punishment
Direct Questions Essay: Happiness
Opinion Essay: Social Media
Discussion Essay: Work
Do Advs Outweigh Disavs Essay: Reading
Direct Questions Essay: Family
Direct Questions Essay: Art
Positive or Negative Development: Social Media
2 Model Essays about Economy & Money /Buildings
Model Essay & Question for Topic of Education
Two Question Essay: Technology
IELTS ESSAY TOPICS FOR 2024

More Writing Task 2 Tips

Deleting Words in your Essay
Should I indent the first word of my paragraphs?
10 sentences to avoid in your IELTS essay
Video: How to add examples to your essay
Tips: Under Words Penalty
Finding idea for topics
Can you use quotes, idioms or proverbs in your essay?
Handwriting: Using cursive writing or not
Video : Grammar – How to Add a Clause
Video : Grammar – Connecting Sentences

5. Practice Lessons for Writing Task 2

Various lessons for: IELTS Essay Writing Skills, Topics, Language

Improving Sentences for a Higher Score
Essay Topics for 2024
New Topics in 2023
IELTS Essay Topics Prediction 2022
Grammar Test : Using “the” with countries and nationalities
Paraphrasing Practice
Using Passive Voice for Giving Opinions
Essay Ideas: Employment Competition
Essay Ideas: The Importance of History
Essay Ideas: Housing & Trees
Essay Ideas: International Aid
Essay Ideas: City Transport
Essay Ideas: Salaries
Essay Ideas: Function of Schools
Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
Writing Skills: Punctuation Practice
Writing Skills: Linking Word Practice
Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
Listen and Write Dictation: Natural Disasters
Discussion Essay with Feedback: Music Topic
Writing Skills: Improving Sentences: Ebooks Topic
Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
Two Question Essay with Feedback: Judging Business Success
Essay Ideas: Tourism and Local Communities
Essay Ideas: Traffic & Pollution
Writing Skills: Improving a Thesis Statement
Writing Skills: Improving Sentences (1)
Essay Ideas: Handwriting Skills
Essay Ideas: Promoting to Children
Essay Ideas: Older or Younger Leaders
Writing Skills: Introduction Feedback
Writing Skill: Opinion Essay Introduction Feedback
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Introduction
Writing Skills: Opinion Essay Finding Main Points
Writing Skills: Thesis Statement
Essay Ideas: Public Services .

………………

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Task 2 (essay)

Common IELTS Writing task 2 questions

Remember the ideal answer structure;
Overcome your writing weaknesses (such as grammar mistakes);
Remember some key ideas and vocabulary for each topic, so you don’t get confused on the exam.

Questions are divided by themes.

Task 2 questions by theme:

Art (3 questions)

Education (8 questions)

Environment (10 questions)

Friends and family (7 questions)

Government and society (7 questions)

Health (6 questions)

Jobs and Employment (7 questions)

Relationships (5 questions)

Science and technology (5 questions)

Sport (4 questions)

Travel and tourism (5 questions)

TV, music and media (6 questions)

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Your Guide to IELTS Band 7

IELTS Writing Sample Questions: Task 2

On this page you will find some IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions that you can use when you practise your IELTS essay writing.

I’ve decided NOT to write a big long list of 100 sample questions. Nobody needs to write that many practice essays! Instead, I’ve selected a few questions, but I’ve included some comments about each question: my comments point out tricky words in the question, suggestions for how to answer each one, and potential problems.

I’ve also included my own sample IELTS essays for some of these questions.

These comments will, I hope, help you to plan and write your essay. Please make sure you read my comments before you write!

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #1: Two Sided Discussion

Good members of society (academic).

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Cambridge 8 (Test 1)

My Comments : This is a two-sided discussion question on the topic of how children should be brought up. Who should teach them to be “good members of society”? Parents or schools?

One difficulty with this question is the term “good members of society”. What does it mean? It’s a very general, vague term. You need to think about what it means to you before you generate your ideas. I think it includes the idea of law-abiding citizens, but if you only discuss that idea, your discussion will be a bit limited. I think it also includes ideas like contributing to society and studying hard, but this is a very personal and culturally-biased thing.

As with many of these two-sided statements, most people would probably argue that BOTH parents AND schools should play a role in bringing up children, and this a perfectly sensible position to take. It’s the position I would take.

Read My Model Essay For This Question

A Bad Situation (Academic)

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Cambridge 14 Academic (Test 1)

My Comments: To me, this is a strange question! Do “some” people really believe that if things are bad, they should accept it? My instinct is to take a strong position, and argue that you should always try to make things better, but that’s just me. So this means that in BP1, I would argue that it is not a good idea to accept a bad situation, because you can usually change things for the better. I would also add that there are some things that can’t be changed, so these should be accepted (e.g. the weather).

Environmental Problems (Academic)

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Cambridge 14 Academic (Test 2)

My Comments: this question addresses the issue of environmental problems. What are the most important ones, in your opinion?

This is one of those “two-sided” issues where you might think BOTH are important. It’s not one or the other. However, the question uses words like “main” and “more important”, so it’s a good idea to choose one side – it will be easier to write a clear essay.

My Position: while protecting the natural world is really important, the most important issue is global warming, because if we don’t deal with rising temperatures, all species will die out anyway.

Sharing Information (Academic)

Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the academic world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely.

Cambridge 12 (Test 5)

This question is particularly nasty! The question is difficult to answer because it mentions information from science, business and academia in the question. Information from the business world (e.g. company accounts) is a lot different to information from scientific research (e.g. new medical drugs). So how should you address this question and structure your essay?

You could simply discuss “all” information in a very general way. But this means your essay will lack development.

A better way is to argue that while some types of information should be shared, other types of information (e.g. financial information and sensitive information) should be protected. In other words, both views are correct: you should share as much information as possible (View 1), but some information shouldn’t be shared because it’s too valuable or important (View 2).

(This is a classic example of how two views are not necessarily “opposites”.)

Boys’ And Girls’ Schools (General Training)

Some people think that it is better to educate boys and girls in

separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit

Watching Movies (General Training)

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Cambridge 13 General Training (Test 3)

My Comments: this is one of my favourite IELTS questions because there’s quite a lot you could say about this. However, it’s also dangerous, because if you have lots of ideas, you must organise them before you write.

This question is typical of many IELTS “two-sided” issues: both “sides” have their merits; it’s not an “either-or” issue. So a well developed answer would argue that both the cinema and home/cafe/etc are good places – it depends.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #2: Agree – Disagree

Music (academic).

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Cambridge 14 Academic (Test 3)

My Comments: I think this is a difficult question. This is not an issue I’ve ever really thought about! My initial thoughts are these: music often divides the generations, because teenagers like different music to older people, but there are exceptions. I think music can bring cultures together, though. Everybody likes Abba, for example! So I’d write a paragraph about dividing people of different ages, and a paragraph about uniting cultures.

Remember just to focus on the ideas of music dividing or uniting people. Don’t start discussing the effect on local cultures because the question is not asking you about that.

Living In A Foreign Country (Academic)

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Cambridge 13 Academic (Test 1)

My Comments: this is a question about living in a foreign country, not one about foreign languages. There are a couple of tricky things about this question. First of all, it’s not clear from the statement if it’s about someone who can speak the foreign language or not: if you live in France, and can speak French fluently, your problems will be different to someone who can’t speak French! Also, the phrase “serious social problems” sounds quite dramatic! It suggests things like isolation and depression.

I think the simplest approach is to disagree with the statement, but acknowledge the problems faced by someone who doesn’t yet know the language. As an Englishman, I would be tempted to argue that I could just socialise with other people who speak English…but the statement says “have to” – i.e. I MUST speak the foreign language, not my own!

Teenagers’ Curfew in USA (General Training)

In some areas of the US, a ‘curfew’ is imposed, in which teenagers are not allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

What is your opinion about this?

Cambridge 13 General Training (Test 1)

My Comments: This is a General Training essay, so you only need to present and support your opinion; you don’t need to explain “to what extent” you agree or disagree (as in the Academic Test)

The issue is quite obscure: curfews of teenagers in America . But you don’t need any specialised knowledge to answer this. You simply need to say whether you think it’s a good or bad idea – or somewhere in between – and why.

Personally, I think it’s a terrible idea! How would you enforce it? Police patrols? (The police have better things to do than arrest teenagers for being outside!) And I would argue that there are better ways to deal with teenagers behaving badly at night.

Tidiness (General Training)

Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy, with everything organised and in the correct place.

Cambridge 13 General Training (Test 4)

My Comments: personally, I find it a bit difficult to generate ideas for this question. I’m naturally tidy, so I don’t think about it much!

Remember to discuss BOTH the home AND the workplace, or you will lose marks for Task Response. I’d suggest writing one paragraph on the home, one paragraph about work. Workplace tidiness could include a discussion of safety issues.

Facts And Skills in Education (General Training)

Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.

Do you agree or disagree?

Cambridge 11 General Training (Test 2)

My Comments: this is a straightforward “do you agree or disagree” question. You will probably draw on your personal experience of the education system in your own country.

I would find it difficult to completely agree or disagree with the statement as far as the British education system is concerned. Certainly I feel that facts are over-emphasised in schools, but not necessarily universities.

Click the button below to read my model IELTS essay for this question, along with more comments.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #3: Advantages – Disadvantages

Increased life expectancy (academic).

One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing.

Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS (Test 2)

My Comments: this question addresses the issue of increased life expectancy. You might think this is obviously a good thing, but think about it… increased life expectancy means more elderly people, who don’t work and need caring for.

If you simply argue that there are only advantages, this suggests that you haven’t thought through your ideas carefully enough.

I would tend to argue that the advantages are greater, but they need to be balanced against the problems with an ageing population.

Self-employment (Academic)

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.

Why might this be the case?

What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?

Cambridge 14 Academic (Test 4)

My Comments: this question is an advantages – disadvantages question ‘in hiding’: the word “advantages” does not appear, but the question is asking you to think about the advantages of being self employed. IELTS could have written “what are the advantages of being self-employed?” and you would write a very similar response. This shows you how IELTS question types do tend to overlap.

Driverless Vehicles (General Training)

In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.

Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?

Cambridge 16 Academic (Test 4)

Tourists In Extreme Conditions (General Training)

Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic.

What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?

My Comments: I think this is a difficult question to generate ideas for. It’s not an issue I’ve thought about, and I didn’t even know people visited the two places mentioned. I know some tourists visit the Himalayas and the Arctic Circle – are the conditions here difficult enough to write about though?

A good response should go beyond the obvious disadvantages (e.g. the extreme temperatures) and address issues like their remoteness and difficulty getting there, and the need to be well-prepared.

The benefits? I’m struggling to think of ideas! Just remember to focus on the benefits for the tourist, NOT the benefits for the local economy / local people.

Mobile Payments (General Training)

In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is becoming increasingly common.

Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Cambridge 15 General Training (Test 4)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #4: Problems – Solutions

Weight, health and fitness (academic).

In some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing.

What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?

Cambridge 8 (Test 4)

My Comments: this question is a causes (of the problem) – solutions essay: what factors are causing people to gain weight, and poorer health and fitness? And how could we solve these problems?

Very Important! you must discuss the CAUSES, not the problem. Do NOT discuss problems associated with being overweight (e.g. diabetes and heart disease); do NOT discuss problems associated with poor health and fitness. Instead, discuss the causes of being overweight (e.g. too much sugar in diet) and the causes of poor health and fitness (e.g. not enough time to take exercise, high medical expenses).

Hunger (Academic)

In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry.

Why is this the case?

What can be done about this problem?

Cambridge Academic 13 (Test 4)

My Comments: the first question is NOT just asking you “why do many people go hungry?” It’s asking you “why do many people go hungry in spite of advances in agriculture ?” So, to get a high band score for Task Response, you need to discuss why people go hungry despite the use of of pesticides on crops and hormones in animals, increased crop yields, modern irrigation, etc. Also, “go hungry” has a fairly broad meaning; it’s not the same as “starve”, so a response that only discusses famine and why people starve to death might be seen as off-topic. This makes it a much trickier essay that it first appears.

So arguing that people go hungry because they live in areas affected by drought is not quite enough for a high band score in TR; you also need to address why “agricultural advances” haven’t been enough, so a better response would be to add that many governments have failed to implement modern irrigation techniques in remote areas. Or you could argue that while advances have led to a plentiful food supply, this has not always helped people living in extreme poverty.

Here’s an interesting article which looks at the 10 causes of world hunger .

Health And Exercise (General Training)

Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result.

Why do many working people not get enough exercise?

Cambridge General Training 13 (Test 2)

This problem-solution question relates to health and exercise in the modern world.

Note that the statement mentions “ or in their free time “, so you should try to address why working people don’t exercise after work or on their days off (e.g. their weekends). In other words, it’s not enough to argue that they can’t exercise because they’re working a lot of hours.

Lack of Sleep (General Training)

Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulties getting enough sleep.

What problems can lack of sleep cause?

What can be done about lack of sleep?

Cambridge General Training 15 (Test 2)

Plastic and the Environment (General Training)

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment.

What damage does plastic do to the environment?

What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem?

Cambridge General Training 16 (Test 1)

IELTS Writing Sample Task 2 Questions #5: Direct Questions

Technology and relationships (academic).

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.

In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make?

Has this become a positive or negative development?

Cambridge 8 (Test 2)

My Comments: Be careful with this essay! There are TWO questions here:

How has technology affected relationships?
Is this a positive or negative development?

Many test takers will see “positive or negative development” in the question and just write about the positives and negatives (or, if they think it’s only a negative development, only the negatives). This means they will not address the first question..and this means a maximum score of Band 5 for Task Response.

Another tricky part are the words “interact” and “relationships”: what do they mean in the context of this essay? “Interact” literally means “to act upon each other”, so it has a wider meaning than “communication”. “Relationships” also has a broad meaning: it’s not just about lovers or friends, it can also include many kinds of acquaintances, including business ones; it could even include your Facebook friends or your Instagram followers.

So you need to discuss how technology (computers, phones) has affected the way we relate to other people, and whether it’s good or bad.

By the way, one common mistake is to write about how technology has changed communication. If you do this, your response could be seen as “tangential” which means Band 4 for Task Response!

Traffic And Pollution Solutions (Academic)

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

What other measures do you think might be effective?

Cambridge 8 (Test 3)

Commentary : this question concerns how we solve traffic congestion and traffic pollution. (I assume it means “traffic” pollution rather than pollution in general because it mentions petrol.)

This is a 2 part question; it combines two other question types: the first question is an agree-disagree question, and the second question asks you for solutions to the problem. You’ll need to answer the first question more concisely than in a question that is ONLY an agree-disagree question. This is quite tricky! The second question uses the word “measures”: this is a synonym of “solutions”.

So what other measures might solve traffic congestion and traffic pollution? I would choose a couple of ideas from this list: improving public transport, limiting the number of cars per household, banning diesel-powered vehicles, introducing congestion charges in city centres, and encouraging more people to work from home. I’m sure you could add to this list!

Travel (General Training)

Today more people are travelling than ever before.

What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?

Cambridge 8 (Test A)

My Comments: be careful with the first question! The statement includes the words “more people…than ever before.” Therefore, “why is the case?” does NOT mean “why do people travel?” but “why are more people travelling than at any point in human history?” So a response that discusses ideas such as “they want to visit famous cities” is not enough for a high band score. This idea does not address the “more people than ever before” issue. A better response would be to discuss ideas such as “air travel is much cheaper than it used to be”.

Owning a Home v Renting (Academic)

In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people.

Why might this be the case?

Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?

Cambridge 15 Academic (Test 1)

My Comments: I think this is a nice question, although I’m British so it’s a topic we often discuss (along with the weather), so I found it easy to generate ideas. You should probably address both owning a home AND renting a home for a high band score, so an essay that only discusses why people want to own a home risks a limited band score for Task Response. The second question – do you think this is a positive or negative situation – is a little tricky: if you argue that it is positive, then your reasons why it’s positive might simply repeat your answers to the first question. A thoughtful answer to this question should, I think, acknowledge that there are both positive and negative aspects.

Living Close To Your Birthplace (General Training)

Some people spend most of their lives living close to where they were born.

What might be the reasons for this?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Cambridge 16 General Training (Test 3)

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IELTS writing topics and answers

IELTS writing topics are extensive, and consistently finding answers for them takes practice. Below I share how I produce an essay, including thinking of ideas , building paragraphs and planning.

For these ideas and sample answers, I usually use the latest latest writing task 2 topics seen by our own students when they do the exam.

IELTS writing task 2 topics (academic) often require simple ideas that are easy to communicate, rather than complex ideas with difficult grammar.

Get the IELTS essay topics with answers pdf here .

Extract text from PDFs, scanned docs, and images effortlessly. Create digital copies for easy access here .

Tutorial contents

IELTS essay topics and answers: education

IELTS essay topics and answer: globalisation

Ielts essay topics and answer: travel and transport, ielts essay topics and answer: employment, ielts essay topics and answer: employment (skills).

IELTS essay topics and answer: gender issues
IELTS topic and answer: education
IELTS topic: gender issues (career)

IELTS essay topics and answer: technology

IELTS essay topic and answer: health
IELTS essay topics and answer: society
Quick presentation on the topics and answers

Common IELTS writing task 2 topics (list)

Below is a list of the most common IELTS essay topics for task 2 questions . Click the topic to get a sample essay, vocabulary list, and a Ted Talk video (to help learn the vocabulary in context). You can also find an in-depth tutorial about IELTS vocabulary and lexical resource here.

Sport Employment Law Health Technology Politics Education Language and culture Crime Environment

IELTS essay topics, answers and ideas

Some people think that robots are important for human’s future development. Others think that robots have negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Ideas: Definitely important, true, big advances, productivity, intelligence, machine learning, artificial intelligence, etc

Can have negative effects – Unemployment – automation – loss of jobs – safe nets need to be in place – welfare system etc Even death of citizens – Tesla accident autonomous driving –

Conc: there are too many advantages to ignore, we cannot forego these advances however more precaution and govt. Legislation could be wise.

Some people think that new houses should be built in the same style as older houses in the local area. Others disagree and say that local authorities should allow people to build houses in the styles of their own choice. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Yes, should be in the same style, keep property values higher, uniformity, conformity, and cohesion –

EG certain villages in prosperous parts of England such as Cheshire, The Cotswolds, and Howarth have extreme rules because the areas have immense cultural heritage. To place a modern MacDonald’s style restaurant in one of these areas would be tantamount to architectural vandalism .

-Great idea! Innovates an area, and introduces new flavours, styles, and ideas into stale and old areas. Your house can reflect your personality. You can make it more environmentally friendly. You can install technical innovations. Solar panels, or even solar cells in roof tiles, are available from Elon Musk’s company.

Conc: both are viable and fair, the caveat is that the law should be clear from the beginning and be permanent – changing it would be extremely unfair.

Some people spend a lot of money attending cultural or sports events. Is it a good or a bad thing? Give your opinion and examples from your own experience.

Body paragraph 1

Definitely a good development, gives something for people to aspire to. It also most likely begets higher revenues for the performers and promoters , which should ultimately lead to even more events. This undoubtedly leads to greater monetary and cultural wealth for a society.

Take for example the English Premier League (EPL), this entertainment spectacle has brought considerable wealth into cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, and London. Higher ticket prices lead to better wages for football stars, which leads to more quality players wanting to play in the EPL, leading to a considerable increase in high net-worth individuals residing in these cities.

There has undoubtedly been a positive self-fulfilling cycle of improvement and quality, fuelled by increasing prices. Furthermore, high prices will most likely mean higher tax revenues for the government, this is definitely beneficial for society.

P2 – Same, but apply to a cultural event – ballet – opera???

IELTS essay topics and answer: education

Do you think it is better for students to work before their university studies? Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

MY ANSWER: YES! – One position, easier to write, easier to read.

PARAGRAPH 1 Practical experience, contacts, on the job skills. EG: Studies from the UK Government show graduates with work experience are twice as likely to find employment…..

PARAGRAPH 2 Better preparation, the chance to improve social skills, close the gap between academia and private sector, helps the student decide on future before committing long term, EG 1/6 students will change their higher education course while at uni….

Many people believe that it’s better to learn something in a group rather than individually. Do you agree or disagree?

Paragraph 1 Agree – learning in a group has many advantages Elements of teamwork can be adopted A group can utilize each person’s skill and expertise

Paragraph 2 Disagree – Individualism is better Self reliant, own the result, not dependent on others More mature way, more responsible No laggards

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IELTS essay topics and answer: education (child)

Some people believe that children should do organised activities in their free time while others believe that children should be free to do what they want to do in their free time. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

MY ANSWER: YES! – One position, easier to write, easier to read.

PARAGRAPH 2 Better preparation, a chance to improve social skills, close the gap between academia and private sector, helps the student decide on future before committing long term, EG 1/6 students will change their higher education course while at uni….

Many people believe that it’s better to learn something in a group rather than individually. Do you agree or disagree?

Paragraph 1 Agree – learning in the group has many advantages Elements of teamwork can be adopted Group can utilize each person’s skill and expertise

Paragraph 2 Disagree – Individualism is better self-reliant, owning the result, not being dependent on others, being more mature way, and being more responsible. No laggards.

Many people say that globalization and the growing number of multinational companies have a negative effect on the environment. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

PARAGRAPH 1 -DEFINITELY DAMAGING THE ENVIRONMENT -Increased interaction between countries -Increase in goods and services traded -this means more production and, therefore more resources. EG China ‘workshop of the world’ – In many places air pollution masks are needed.

PARAGRAPH 2 -MULTINATIONALS / PROBS WITH GLOBALISATION -YES increase pollution – (this decision taken for simplicity) -Globalisation requires global solutions -these can have drastic consequences if accidents happen -EG BP Gulf of Mexico, oil spill , destroyed the local ecosystem…

Scientists believe that in order to protect the environment, people must use less energy in their daily lives. However, most people have not changed the way they live. Why do you think many people have not taken individual action? What could be done to encourage them to take action?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

Not taken individual action because: – Danger not immediately or directly facing them – Tragedy of the commons – Collective problem – easier to shirk responsibility

Ideas for body paragraph 2

What could be done to encourage them to take action? – Media campaigns by the government – Tax or financial incentives EG In Tokyo ……

Some believe that is the responsibility of people to take care of the environment. Others say it is the government that should take care of the environment. Discuss both views and state your opinion.

Paragraph 1 People should take care of the environment because: We are the consumers, we vote with our wallets, Throw away culture become considerably too prevalent – consumers are causing horrendous damage (Pacific Garbage Patch)

Paragraph 2 The government should take care of the environment because: They have the power to legislate Can impose fines and taxes on polluters Supposed to be guardians of the country, which means collectively they are guardians of the earth… but not true in reality

Conclusion Both should be doing more!

Some people say that protecting the environment is the government’s responsibility. Others believe that every individual should be responsible for it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Ideas for body paragraph 1 – Yes: Government’s responsibility – Policies govt could do, then country-specific example

Ideas for body paragraph 2 – Yes individual responsibility also – Action individuals could take + examples.

Conclusion – MY OPINION: Such a mess, such a disastrous state, such a shame, so much so that all parties need to step up and take responsibility for the state of affairs we have landed ourselves in.

In many countries, small shops and town centers are going out of business because people tend to drive to the large out-of-town stores. This results in an increase in car use, and it also means that people without cars have limited access to out-of-town stores. Do you think the advantages of such development outweigh its disadvantages?

The advantages of out-of-town shopping centres are very limited… – Slightly cheaper prices – but huge new developments contribute to the urban sprawl of cities… This reduces investment in city centres … which are much more than just places for shopping EG Vienna regularly has art exhibitions in the city centre…

– For example: those without transport are disenfranchised – Traffic on the roads – ALSO (MAIN POINT) -Some might argue they create jobs .. but really it is probably just shifting employment from one area to the other…

Parents want to achieve balance between family and career but only a few manage to achieve it. What do you think is the reason? Discuss possible solutions and provide examples.

Paragraph 1 – The reason for the imbalance The reason is work-life balance, increased competition in the workplace, changes in society, increase in the amount of working mothers puts strain on the family, EG Studies in the US show that families with two full-time parents are more likely to separate. -therefore this shows that finding the balance is incredibly difficult.

Paragraph 2 – Possible Solutions? -Regulations from the government, increasing maternity leave, more flexible working practices, reduced working week, EG France had a 35-hour working week …

Some people believe that employees should stay in the same job for the rest of their lives. Others think they should switch jobs at least once during their career. To what extent do you agree/disagree?

Click here for the band 6.5 – 7 essay graded by an ex-IELTS examiner (from our team of essay correctors!)

IELTS essay topics, answer,s and ideas: gender issues

Nowadays both men and women spend a lot of money on beauty care. This was not so in the past. What may be the root cause of this behaviour? Discuss the reasons and possible results.

Paragraph 1 -Marketing. Beauty market for women is worth millions, consumer goods companies see similar potential for the male market. Therefore developing new ranges, e.g. Loreal for Men Expert. Therefore main reason is the potential opportunity.

Paragraph 2 -Results? -Difficult to say the results because it is still early, however general trend is in this direction, – Deodorant was considered unnecessary before the 1950s. -Market will probably grow and it will be completely normal in the future.

Some people think that men are naturally more competitive than women. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paragraph 1 Agree – Men are more competitive Look at sporting fans, globally most are male A lot of sports historically only men participate in F1, Boxing, MMA, etc. Psychological drivers of men include: dominance, control

Paragraph 2 Agree – Men are more competitive Although it is difficult to say without sounding sexist Is it nature or nurture – difficult to say

IELTS essay topics and answer: education (student reward)

Students perform better in school when they are rewarded rather than punished.To what extent do you agree or disagree? Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS writing essay structure:

Intro: Paraphrase the question and state your side/argument.

Idea / Paragraph 1: they perform better in schools -definitely better Types of reward – certificate, recognition, positive reinforcement, Studies show children are sensitive and easily influenced when younger, therefore positive environment probably better…

Idea / Paragraph 2: they perform better when punished – works but too harsh for Childhood Possibly does work, but it’s old fashioned, potentially dangerous – could discourage a student for life

Conclusion: Positive better and more modern.

In today’s very competitive world, a worker has to possess multiple skills to succeed. Among the skills that a worker should possess, which skill do you think is more important, social skills or good qualifications? Explain the reasons and provide specific examples to support your answer.

Paragraph idea 1: Social skills are more important – no man is an island – idiomatic expression correctly used i.e in context We need people around us – Lacking social skills could seriously disrupt, demotivate, and damage a team. – a big list of great vocab for Lexical Resource score there.

Paragraph idea 2: Good qualifications, certificates very useful, extremely useful in certain fields such as medicine, but in general, less technical areas, social skills triumph – less common vocabulary “triumph”

Conclusion:

Consider both, but give more weight to sociability.

IELTS essay topics and answer: employment (business)

Do you think businesses should hire employees who will spend their entire lives working for the company? Explain why you agree or disagree. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Paragraph idea 1: Very bad idea to have lifetime permanence- almost zero incentive to improve, Not fair to employees because the company may pledge allegiance to the company but then the company relocates to Asia. Horrible.

Paragraph idea 2: The employee may become a burden for the company. Employees may become a cost that damages the company, lots of companies suffer because of contractual arrangements made in boom times. British Airways is a perfect example of expensive pension contracts made , only for the entire industry to change and render the contracts a massive headache.

Freedom should be given to employees to “ cherry-pick ” their career destiny.

ielts essay topics: cherry pick definition

IELTS essay topics and answer: gender issues (career)

Some people think women should be given equal chances to work and excel in their careers. Others believe that a woman’s role should be limited to taking care of the house and children. Which opinion do you agree with and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.

Paragraph idea 1: Women should of course be given equal rights to perform to the best of their ability (good collocation) in the market place Generous provisions and allowances should be made into law to encourage this behaviour and allow females to also fairly take time out from the career ladder to pursue a family.

Paragraph idea 2: another good reason why I think the first point: Making legal structures to facilitate this transition would not only help to improve the worker’s happiness and wellbeing but also improve the health of society as a whole. Japan has a rather bleak future due to the low fertility rate, perhaps this kind of future could be avoided with more generous legislation.

Conclusion: Definitely should pursue a career and definitely fulfill the traditional family role also. The government should help make both objectives possible.

Do you think that technological advancement has brought more harm than good? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

What technologies did you use to help you in your studies? Describe how it has helped you. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

With the latest technological advancements, dating is now possible online. Would you recommend online dating for your single friends? What are the advantages and disadvantages of online dating? Site some examples to support your answer.

In the developed world, technological progress is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of radical technological advancements.

At the present time, artificial intelligence of some technologies is advancing rapidly, especially in the driving sector. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

Films and computer games which contain violence are very popular. Some people believe they have a negative effect on society and so should be banned. Other people, however, say they are just harmless and help people to relax. Discuss both these points of view and give your own opinion. Ideas for body paragraph 1

Some people believe they have a negative effect on society and so should be banned. – No strong scientific study – Present globally but clearly only the US has issues regarding gun violence. – Banning usually has the direct opposite of its intentions

…harmless and helps people to relax. – Playing with toy guns never seemed to be a problem, these are a modern interpretation of toy guns – With every new development of a generation the older generation is usually worried… EG This happened with the Beatles, with heavy metal and Us hip hop..

These days, mobile phones and the internet are very important to the ways in which people relate to one another socially. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Paragraph 1 It is more advantageous to relate socially to others via the phone Possible to give more frequent contact and support Possible to find others similar to you, useful for those with obscure or specialist interests

Paragraph 2 Disadvantages Cyberbullying is becoming a reality Teenagers becoming addicted to phones, even labeled screenagers Phenomenon called Instagram reality which shows the real-life pictures without the filters…

Some people are fond of buying new gadgets, phones, or laptops. Is this a good or bad thing? Discuss your opinion.

I can write it’s an entirely bad thing, or I can write it’s an entirely good thing.

Ideas for body paragraph 1 – Good: New tech, drive innovation, tech development, job creation etc. – Example: new investment in tech to stay competitive – Sony – manufactures a new chip plant in Korea for PlayStation 5.

Ideas for body paragraph 2 – Bad: C onsumerism, waste, unnecessary, planned obsolescence – Example: Research showed searches for the phrase “slow iPhone” peaked a few weeks before the launch of new iPhone models. This is an extremely worrying development because people might be manipulated into buying new gadgets and finding exaggerated happiness in their new products.

Conclusion – Pros and cons: I think in the past it was fantastic, nowadays with the environment in such a dire state consumerism needs to be upgraded somehow.

Some parents think it is good to have mobile phones for their children, others disagree with it. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Agree: Good idea because can stay in contact with parents, is safer, and can be used for better enriching a child’s life. – Example: algebra app, language learning app, … recent studies showed students learned 26% faster when using the IELTS Podcast Android app.

– Phones are bad: Undoubtedly bad detrimental. Teenagers are quickly and swiftly becoming screenagers, missing out on physical interactions and games. – Social media has a negative impact on confidence and contributes to cyberbullying… and other trends such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). For example ….

Topic and answer: health

Many doctors say that people in today’s world do not do enough physical exercise. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions are there to this problem?

Cause of not doing enough physical exercise – Joke: no natural predators nowadays, nature would have solved this problem,… in the past wild animals would have eliminated those out of shape…. JOKE – Sedentary lifestyle in the office – Lack of time for sport in a lot of modern lifestyles (40 hours/week + commuting etc)

What solutions are there to this problem? – Media campaigns by the government – Tax or financial incentives EG In Tokyo ……

Topic and answer: society

Weddings are more expensive in many countries nowadays when compared to the past. What is the reason behind this? Is this a positive or a negative development?

Paragraph 1 The reason behind this is probably social media Vapid attempts at self-promotion and “keeping up with the joneses”. Now it can be really publicised Ideas here need to be organised a little before starting the essay.

Paragraph 2 Definitely a negative development Although it’s a memorable day and should be cherished – the fact is, large amounts of cash are being spent, Most families have a considerable financial mountain ahead – babies, mortgage, etc

Nowadays consumer goods have become the most important part of people’s lives. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Ideas for body paragraph 1 – Advantage: Understandable – a car – can be the most important if you need it for work, family, etc Advantages are mobility, freedom, independence…

Ideas for body paragraph 2 – Disadvantage: When you fawn over a new product, it has been said the product owns you rather than you owning the product. For example: with an expensive phone, you are constantly worried about the screen smashing, or leaving it on a table, or in a taxi — the worry associated can be stressful.

Conclusion – Although it is understandable they are vital components of modern life, it must not be forgotten , that our lives are so much more than consumer durables.

Some people believe that if people are allowed to work after the age of 60, it will cause some problems. Do you agree or disagree? Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Yes: lots of problems, – Sight, attention, technology gap, especially machinery… blue-collar work… – In some countries, senior citizens are required by law to retake their driving exam….

– Disagree: The elderly can be better qualified at the job, have more life experience, more insight, and more wisdom… – Pension burden if not allowed to work after 60. For example: most Western countries have a serious demographic deficit of an aging workforce . A country simply cannot prosper if all its wealth goes towards a pension.

Conclusion – For some sectors, it should be illegal, or at least the worker should be medically tested, but for other jobs, especially white-collar work, it should be okay.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the main topics of writing task 2.

Think about question types rather than topics – advantages/disadvantages, discuss both sides (and sometimes give your view), opinion essay or agree/disagree, causes/problem/solution/result essays, and two-part essays. Practice all those with common topics to be confident in IELTS.

What are the most common topics in IELTS writing Task 2?

There are many examples to look at and it’s great to do practice tests. In general, common topics are related to work, education, social issues (citizenship, the elderly, government support, healthcare, transportation), technology, globalization, and the environment. Start with those!

How do you get 8 in writing Task 2?

Make sure your essay answer is well organized into paragraphs with a clear introduction and conclusion, topic sentences, and supporting arguments. You must use formal language, fully address the task and make hardly any grammar or word choice errors.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips, Topics and Sample Answers

You can ace IELTS Writing Task 2 on IELTS test day by being prepared and confident! To help you with both, in this article, we give you:

An easy three-step strategy that will boost your confidence by helping you plan and write a good IELTS Writing Task 2 essay;
IELTS Writing Task 2 sample topics for all IELTS Writing Task 2 question types;
An IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer; and
A video that brings all this help together in an IELTS Writing Task 2 lesson.

To use all this help best, you need to practise with real IELTS Writing Task 2 sample questions. Sign up for our IELTS course on E2 Test Prep for a free trial to practice for your exam.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Overview

Writing task 2 tips & strategy, i. writing task 2 agree or disagree questions, ii. writing task 2 advantages and disadvantages, iii. writing task 2 discuss both views, iv. writing task 2 discuss both views and give your opinion, v. writing task 2 problem / solution question, vi. writing task 2 double question, identify the subject – focus your answer.

For both the IELTS General and IELTS Academic exams, Writing Task 2 is an essay. You are given 40 minutes to write an essay of over 250 words about a Writing Task 2 topic. This is what the Writing Task 2 essay topic will look like on your test paper.

Sample question for IELTS Writing Task 2 showing an agree / disagree essay question.

Before we look at each part of the three-step strategy in more detail, a summary of this confidence building formula is:

Step 1 – Learn and identify all the question types. There are several different IELTS Writing Task 2 question types. If you learn all these to quickly identify the type of question you were given, you will save time on test day and can move to steps 2 and 3 below more quickly. In addition, if you are familiar with all the Writing Task 2 question types, there will be no surprises on test day, reducing the likelihood that you will panic during the test. We will set out all the different IELTS Writing Task 2 question types along with IELTS Writing Task 2 sample topics below.

Step 2 – Analyse the question to identify the subject of the Writing Task 2 topic. Identifying the subject of the question will help you focus your thoughts, making it easier to formulate your ideas more clearly and stay on point.

Step 3 – Plan and fit the content of your answer to a simple structure that has a clear beginning, middle and ending that align with the question type you are given. We will give you a Writing Task 2 sample answer by starting with an introductory paragraph, followed by two body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

Step 1 of our strategy is to identify which IELTS Writing Task 2 question type you are given on your test. The question type will influence how you will structure your answer. The different IELTS Writing Task 2 question types you can expect to see on IELTS test day are:

The agree/disagree essay or opinion essay question gives you a topic and asks you to what extent do you agree or disagree with an idea related to that topic. An IELTS Task 2 agree or disagree sample topic is:

In the age of digital communication and social media, face-to-face interactions are becoming less common. Some people think that this is decreasing people’s ability to communicate well in person. Do you agree or disagree with this view?

Knowing right from the start that you are dealing with an agree/disagree topic gives you a big clue as to how you will structure your essay answer. This question type requires that you give your opinion supporting one side or the other – not both. It means that you must take a side. The body of your essay will focus on writing supporting ideas and examples.

The advantages/disadvantages essay question gives you a topic and then asks you to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. A sample advantages and disadvantages essay topic looks like this:

The rise of online shopping has transformed the way many people purchase goods. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this.

Here you will need to present both sides of the argument, one side per paragraph (discussed in more detail below) with supporting ideas and examples for each.

The discuss both views question type gives you two positions or opinions related to a topic and asks you to discuss both. A Writing Task 2 discuss both views sample topic is:

Some people think it is the government’s responsibility to tackle environmental issues. Others believe it is up to each individual to be environmentally responsible. Discuss both sides.

We will explain in more detail below that for this topic type, you should write one body paragraph on each opinion, giving explanations and examples in support of each view.

The discuss both views and give your opinion question is very similar to the question type above. However, instead of asking you to discuss two views, it also asks you to state which one you agree with. A Writing Task 2 discuss both views and give your opinion sample topic is:

Some people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to improve our lives. However, others are worried that it could have a negative impact. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

To write a good essay, you need to discuss both opinions (one in each body paragraph) giving arguments and examples to support each view. You also need to say which view you agree with most.

The problem/solution essay question presents you with an issue that you need to discuss and then provide possible solutions for. A Writing Task 2 problem / solution sample topic is:

The overuse of plastic packaging has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments can tackle these problems.

In a good Writing Task 2 problem / solution answer for this sample topic, you will write about the problems caused by the overuse of plastic packaging in the first body paragraph and suggest some government-led solutions in the second body paragraph.

In the double question essay, you are asked two questions, and you need to make sure you answer both. For example:

Nowadays, more and more people are shifting to a plant-based diet. Why is this the case? What are some drawbacks of plant-based diets?

Here you have two questions to answer. 1. Why are people shifting to a plant-based diet? 2. What are the drawbacks of this diet? You should spend one paragraph answering each question, it is essential that you don’t forget to answer both!

Step 2 of our three-step strategy is to identify and focus on the subject of the question. Although this seems obvious, pausing for a second and forcing yourself to identify the subject of the question helps avoid misreading the question and has planning benefits. The mental process of ‘identifying and focusing’ will help you plan your ideas and, importantly, keep your essay on point. Staying on point is key because the clearer your answer, the easier for an IELTS examiner to grade it and give you a better mark.

For example, let’s looks at the ‘Discuss Both Views’ topic presented above:

For step 2, we need to ask ourselves: what is the core idea, or subject, of this question? On first read, ‘the government’s responsibility’ seems important. Then we see ‘environmental issues’, followed by ‘individual … environmentally responsible’. Which of these is the core subject? In this topic, the core subject is ‘responsibility for environmental issues’. This is the centrepiece of the topic and will be the anchor for your answer.

Given that we know that it is a both views question type, we can also see the question has given us the two sides of the argument, being: i. government responsibility for environmental issues; and ii. individual responsibility for environmental issues. These clues are important because they are the two sides of the argument impacting on how we fit our written arguments within a good IELTS Writing Task 2 essay structure. You will need to practice identifying and focusing several times by looking at the IELTS Writing Task 2 sample topics given above, as well as in the IELTS Writing Task 2 practice questions you will find when you sign up to E2 Test Prep . The better you get at this, the more confident tackling any essay topic you will become.

Writing Task 2 Essay Structure and Sample Answer

Step three of the strategy is to plan the structure of your essay depending on the question type and the core subject of the question. Once you know this, you can fit the content of your answer to this structure. Don’t try to be fancy; a simple structure is best. Your essay should include four paragraphs:

An introduction
Body paragraph 1
Body paragraph 2
A conclusion

Let’s go back to the IELTS Writing Task 2 sample topic we looked at above. Here it is again:

At this point, we know that:

it is a Writing Task 2 discuss both views question type
the subject of the sample essay topic is ‘responsibility for environmental issues’
an introduction that clearly identifies and states the subject (responsibility for environmental issues) of your essay as well as introduces the two points of view (government responsibility and individual responsibility) to be discussed in your essay
body paragraph 1 which gives reasons why governments should be responsible
body paragraph 2 which gives reasons why individuals should be responsible
a conclusion that summarises and concludes the essay.

Note: for discuss both views , even if the question doesn’t say ‘discuss both views and give your opinion’, you should still give your opinion The IELTS Task Two Writing Descriptors for Task Response state that in order to get the highest marks, you need to present a ‘clear and fully developed position’.

Pulling it all together, here is a brief Writing Task 2 sample answer:

Who should take responsibility for environmental issues? Should governments take the lead and act to solve environmental problems? Or should individuals take responsibility for their choices and actions to avoid harming the environment as much as possible? By looking at both sides of this issue, this essay will aim to show that it is, in fact, individuals that can make the biggest impact on the environment and therefore should take the most responsibility.

Some people argue that governments are in the best position to deal with environmental issues. Governments have the power to make laws that prohibit businesses and individuals from taking actions that harm the environment. For example, they set legal limits for the amount of carbon emissions a company is allowed to produce. Governments also have access to funding, experts and resources that are needed to launch environmental initiatives, such as using greener fuel, and to promote environmentally friendly lifestyles among the general public.

On the other hand, avoiding environmental issues and damage before any harm occurs is something that all individual citizens and individuals in businesses have within their power to achieve. We, as individuals, can reduce our power consumption and waste production. We can choose to install solar energy for our homes and businesses, or buy electric or hybrid cars and trucks. Also, we can also avoid spraying pesticides on our gardens or fields, and disposing of dangerous chemicals into public drains and sewerage systems. Through all of these small acts, collectively, we can have a wide-reaching impact. What is more, individuals can take this action today, without having to wait for long-winded government projects to eventually get the funding and backing to actually get off the ground.

In summary, it can be argued that governments have a large responsibility for environmental issues because they hold the power and resources needed to deal with them at a leadership level. However, it is clear that individuals can have the greatest impact on the environment, so the duty must fall on them to be more environmentally responsible.

Summary and Next Steps

Firstly, if you feel you need more help with IELTS Writing Task 2, you should watch this E2 IELTS Youtube video and subscribe to our channel.

Secondly, you need to go to our IELTS info page and sign up for a FREE trial to access the best quality IELTS practice questions and activities.

Preparing online for your IELTS with E2 Test Prep gives you effective methods, practice essays and expert feedback to feel confident and prepared for writing and every other exam task.

Looking for more general English? Try E2 English .

Author Bio: E2 is the world’s leading test preparation provider. Our expert teachers are fully accredited English teachers with TESOL, British Council or IELTS certification, and years of IELTS examiner or IELTS teaching experience.

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Rohit Kanwalu says:

very helpful information keep sharing

Nice information please keep sharing

Advice taken! Thank you :)

Shomoy says:

I have already become a thirsty watcher & learner. i think it could be very helpful for me.

Hi, how we can write a opinion essay such as balanced approach type? for example , to what extent do you agree?

olivia says:

CHECK THIS OUT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFlx4ZS7YSk

Varun Sangani says:

How do I access my writing add on package

Go ahead and message us via this STUDENT HELP LINK: https://help.e2language.com/support/tickets/new

This way we can directly correspond with you & answer any further questions you may have.

The E2 Team

Prasad says:

Very interesting! I got many ideas …..

Anna H. Smith says:

Thank you so much for the useful material you produce and generously sharing with us. It has improved my understanding of IELTS writng and the topics will help practice ,thanks for this article.

Rajib Barua says:

Very informative article. I appreciate your efforts. Thank you so much.

E2Language Team says:

Thank you, you’re welcome!

Sneha Rateria says:

Thank you for sharing article on Writing Task 2. It will be definitely helpful for many people. Keep posting more like this.

Htar Inzale says:

Helpful and informative video, thank u so much, indeed.

Winifred Kashim E says:

IELTS Task 2 Essays Understand the 5 Different Types

There are 5 main types of IELTS Task 2 essays:

1) Opinion Essays

2) Discussion Essays

3) Problem Solution Essays

4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

5) Double Question Essays

Most questions fit one of these categories. However, questions can be written in many different ways, which can make it difficult to determine which type they are.

On this page, I want to give you an overview of all 5 IELTS Task 2 essay types, with samples questions to help you recognise some of the different wording often used. I’ve also included a basic structure for each that you can use to as a guide for essay planning, a vital step in the writing process.

I go into each type of question in more detail on its own page. Click the links above or at the bottom of this page to see these.

First, here’s the basic 4 part structure I recommend that you use for Task 2 essays:

1) Introduction

2) Main Body Paragraph 1

3) Main Body Paragraph 2

4) Conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

The sort of information you include in each of the 4 sections will vary depending on the question type and that’s what I’m now going to outline for you.

These easy to learn structures will enable you to quickly plan and write any IELTS Task 2 essay.

The structures below are not the only ones you could use but they are the ones I recommend because they’re simple and give proven results.

1) Opinion Essays

These are sometimes called ‘agree or disagree’ or ‘argumentative’ essays and are one of the most common types of IELTS Task 2 question.

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

What is your opinion?
Do you agree or disagree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here is an example of each:

Choose one side of the argument.
State your opinion clearly in the introduction.
Keep the same opinion throughout the essay.
Give reasons why you hold this view.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Don’t change your opinion part way through the essay and don’t give reasons for the opposing idea.

Essay Structure

1) Introduction

Paraphrase the question
Give your opinion
State two supporting reasons

2) Main body paragraph 1

Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
Explanation – explain this idea
Example – give an example

3) Main body paragraph 2

Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
Summarise opinion and key reasons

2) Discussion Essays

In discussion essays, you have to discuss both sides of an argument. Usually, you will be asked for your own opinion as well.

The easiest way to approach this type of IELTS Task 2 question is to choose one point of view to agree with and one side to disagree with.

Here are 3 examples of discussion essay questions:

Develop both sides of the argument.
Talk about the view you don’t agree with first.

A big mistake many students make is to fully develop only one point of view. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement.

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for your opposing view.

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Negative Viewpoint

Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Positive Viewpoint

Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with
Summarise the key points and state your opinion

3) Problem Essays

These are sometimes called ‘causes and solutions’ or ‘problems and solutions’ essays. This type of IELTS Task 2 question starts with a statement, then asks you to discuss the problems or causes and the solutions.

Don’t list lots of causes and solutions.
Choose just one or two and develop them fully.
Be sure to link each problem/cause and its solution.

A common mistake is for candidates to list all the problems/causes and solutions they can think of, not necessarily linking them together. They also fail to explain any of them in detail and don’t include any examples.

The wording of this type of essay question can vary considerably. Here are 3 examples of problem essay questions:

State 1 key problem/cause and related solution

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Problem or Cause

Topic sentence – state the problem or cause
Explanation – give detail explaining the problem or cause

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Solution

Topic sentence – state the solution
Explanation – give detail explaining the solution

4) Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

The first part of the question will be a statement. You will be asked to write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the idea stated.

Here is some typical wording that might be used:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

Here are 3 examples of advantages and disadvantages essay questions:

Each of these different types of questions fits into one of two slightly different essay structures. We’ll look at these in detail on the main IELTS Task 2 Advantages & Disadvantages Essays page. For now, I’ll give you the basic structure.

Outline the view or views stated the statement

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Advantage

Topic sentence – state 1 advantage
Explanation – give detail explaining the advantage
Result – state the result

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Disadvantage

Topic sentence – state 1 disadvantage
Explanation – give detail explaining the disadvantage
Summarise the key points
State your opinion if required

5) Double Question Essays

This type of IELTS Task 2 question is sometimes called a ‘direct question’ or ‘two questions’ essay. It has one statement with two different questions after it. The questions may or may not be linked.

You must answer both questions fully.
Don’t confuse it with an opinion or a discussion essay.
Be careful that you don’t end up with too many ideas to write about.

Here are 3 examples of double question essay questions:

Outline sentence – state your answer to both questions

2) Main body paragraph 1 – Answer question 1

Topic sentence – state your answer
Explanation – explain why you think this

3) Main body paragraph 2 – Answer question 2

Summarise both questions and answers

I hope you’ve found this information useful. You can learn lots more about writing the 5 different types of IELTS Task 2 essay and see sample answers on these pages:

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

Opinion Essays

Discussion Essays

Problem Solution Essays

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

Double Question Essays

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More help with ielts task 2.

IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria for IELTS Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

Other related pages:

IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

IELTS Writing
Task 2 Essay Types
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IELTS Writing Samples: 100 Practice Questions

Below you’ll find more than 100 IELTS Writing sample questions updated for 2019. Each of these essay questions has been taken from a real IELTS past paper and will give you an idea of what to expect on your exam day.

These sample questions can be separated into five main Task 2 question types:

Opinion
Advantages and Disadvantages
Problem/Cause and Solution
Two-part questions

They are also divided amongst 13 of the most common IELTS essay topics that have appeared regularly over the last few years. IELTS is always changing, but these common topics can help you prepare more effectively if you improve your ability to use the vocabulary related to them.

These sample IELTS questions are all for Writing Task 2. For Task 1 questions, follow this link.

Feel free to print out these IELTS Writing samples and use them when you prepare for IELTS at home!

Or better yet, why not answer one of them in the comments below and gain feedback from your peers?

If you need feedback on your essays from an IELTS teacher, you can read about my essay correction service here .

Criminal Justice

Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that capital punishment should never be used. Others, however, argue that it should be allowed for the most serious crimes.

Some people believe the purpose of prison is to punish, while others would argue that rehabilitation is its primary role.

Some people feel unsafe when they are in public and at home.

What are the possible causes of this and what are some possible solutions?

Some people say that excessive noise should be a criminal offence, while others say they should be free to make noise without limitation.

Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on public health and that other measures are required.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

In some countries levels of health and fitness are decreasing and average weights are increasing.

What do you think are the causes of these problems and what are some possible solutions?

Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any other experiences we may have in our life.

Which do you consider to be the major influence?

Schools should do more to teach students about their health and wellbeing.

Do you agree or disagree?

More and more schools allow fast-food restaurants to sell their products to their students.

Is it a positive or negative development?

University students must pay all tuition fees, because it benefits mostly them individually, rather than the society as a whole.

Do you agree or disagree?

Some say that music, art and drama are as important as other school subjects, especially at the primary level.

Some people believe that studying history is very important and we must study the past to understand the present. Others say that it is useless and should not be studied at all.

Some teachers tend to reward students who achieve high academic results. Others, however, support and reward students that show the most improvement.

Giving lectures in halls to large numbers of people is an outdated method of teaching. With the technology available today, there is no justification for it and everything should be done online.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In most universities students focus on specialised subjects, however, some people believe that universities should encourage students to study a wider variety of subjects.

It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician.

Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.

What, in your opinion, should be the main function of a university?

Some parents think that childcare centres provide the best services for children of pre-school age. Other working parents think that family members such as grandparents will be better carers for their kids.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Governments should spend more money on education than on recreation and sports.

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children).

Some people think that it is better to educate girls and boys in separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending mixed schools.

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Some people believe that children are given too much free time. They feel that this time should be used to do more academic work.

How do you think children should spend their free time?

In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour.

What do you think are the causes of this?

What solutions can you suggest?

University students should pay in full for their own education instead of the society funding their studies. The reason is that individuals tend to benefit after graduation more than society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.

Some people believe that students should be allowed to evaluate and criticise their teachers to improve the quality of education. Others think this is disrespectful to teachers.

Discuss both views, give your opinion and include relevant examples.

Youth Crime

Nowadays many young people deliberately damage public places.

What are the causes and solutions?

Some people believe that a person’s criminal record should be removed when they reach the age of 18.

More and more young people are using drugs and alcohol and as a result, breaking the law.

What are the causes of this problem?

What are some possible solutions?

Children should never be put in prison with adults no matter how serious their crime.

Being a celebrity – such as a movie star or professional athlete – brings problems as well as benefits.

Do you think that being a celebrity has more benefits or drawbacks?

Some people feel that entertainers (e.g. film stars, pop musicians or sports stars) are paid too much money.

Which other types of job should be highly paid?

Successful sports professionals can earn much more money than people in other important jobs. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.

Environment

There is a growing demand for fresh water nowadays and this is becoming a global problem.

Many people think that too much attention and resources are given to the protection of wild animals and birds.

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.

What other measures do you think might be effective?

Nowadays we are producing more and more waste.

What are the causes of this?

What can be done to help reduce the amount of waste we produce?

Many people believe that companies and individuals should pay to clean up the environment in proportion to the amount of pollution they have produced.

Global warming is the biggest threat we face today.

Children today are too dependent on computers and electronic entertainment. It would be better to encourage them to spend more time outside playing sports and games.

Some people say that public libraries are an important public resource and should be free. Others say that they are just a waste of public money.

Some people think that excessive use of smartphones badly affects teenagers’ literacy skills.

The internet contains a lot of information that can help people, however, sometimes the information is inaccurate or wrong.

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.

In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make?

Has this become a positive or negative development?

Computers have made the world a better place to live in.

Some people believe that the use of mobile phones in public is as annoying as smoking and should be banned.

Most high-level positions in companies are filled by men even though the workforce in many developed countries is more than 50 percent female. Companies should be required to allocate a certain percentage of these positions to women.

Nowadays more and more people have to compete with young people for the same jobs.

What problems does this cause?

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses.

Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender?

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.

What factors contribute to job satisfaction?

How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

Some people think that people in senior positions alone should make decisions in a business, while others think that employees should be involved in the decision-making process too.

Nowadays many people work part- or full-time from home. Some people say that working from home has many benefits while others disagree.

For some people a high salary is the most important criterion when choosing a new job while others are satisfied if the job contributes to society.

Globalisation

In many places, traditional food has been replaced by international fast food. This has adverse effects on individuals and society.

More and more people are visiting historic sites and sometimes tourists damage these ancient sites. The number of people visiting these places should be strictly limited.

Shopping has developed from a necessary activity to a kind of entertainment.

Many small businesses are being forced to close because they are unable to compete with multinational corporations.

What problems does this cause and how can those problems be solved?

Multinational companies are becoming increasingly common in developing countries.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Government Spending

People prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced ones.

Why do you think this happens? Should the government support local filmmakers financially?

Some people think that governments should invest more in public services instead of wasting money on arts such as music and paintings.

Some people believe that the government should pay for and offer to house people who lost their homes or cannot afford them.

Some people think that the government should fund music, dance and art lessons for children. Others think that they should be funded by private businesses or by children’s families.

Many people think that the government should spend money to explore outer space, while others think that it’s a waste of public money.

Some people think that mothers should spend most of their time raising their family, and therefore the government should support them financially.

Development

In some countries, the numbers of children aged 15 and younger are increasing dramatically.

What are the current and future effects of an ever-increasing population?

A recent study showed that people in developed countries are not as happy as they were before development.

What are the causes of this and what are some possible solutions?

Sometimes celebrities get invited to international aid events.

Do you think that such events deviate from their main purpose by inviting famous people?

Some people believe that richer countries should give poorer countries more financial assistance.

Some people believe that no aid should be given to developing countries that have poor human rights records.

Public Transport

Some people think that a car is the best way to travel in cities while others believe a bicycle is a better way to commute.

Many cities have serious problems with traffic congestion.

What are the causes of these problems and what are some possible solutions?

Growing numbers of cities are making their centres pedestrian-only zones.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Some people believe that the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to increase the price of petrol.

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that it is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is becoming increasingly popular for people to travel to tourist destinations during public holidays.

What solutions are there to these problems?

Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.

Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences.

At present, the media affects people’s lives significantly.

What impact does this have on society? Is it a negative or positive development?

Young people say that travelling to different countries benefits them and society.

Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

These days, more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work.

What are the main reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

IELTS Writing Sample Essays

Now that you know what kind of essay questions to expect, feel free to browse my collection of IELTS Writing Sample Essays here: Band 7+ IELTS Writing Sample Essays

However, it’s important that you use them wisely. Simply reading through them won’t improve your skills or your score. When using IELTS Writing sample essays, I always recommend following my ___ step strategy:

Start off by reading the question – NOT the answer.
Attempt to answer the question under exam conditions.
Compare your letter with the sample answer.
Improve your original answer by using some of the elements you noticed in the sample letter. Eg. how did the writer use structure, vocabulary and grammar?

If you do try this strategy, make sure to leave a comment letting me know what you thought of it. Or better yet, leave your response in the comments below!

What I Learned Correcting 10,000 IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays

Over the years, I have corrected more than 10,000 IELTS Task 2 essays.

To help you learn from the mistakes of my students, I made a video which revealed the 5 key things you must to do to score a Band 7+ in IELTS Writing:

For detailed help with improving your essay-writing skills, you should sign up to our IELTS Fundamentals Course. It’s completely free of charge and will give you exclusive access to:

Never-seen-before IELTS videos;
Practice questions for each section of the test;
Answer sheets to help you identify your mistakes.

Learn more about it and sign up here: IELTS Fundamentals.

As always, please reach out in the comments below or via email if you need anything: [email protected]

About Christopher Pell

My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.

I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

Over 250+ IELTS Essay Questions

Below is a database of over 250+ IELTS essay questions for you to practice with. They are all realistic IELTS essay writing task 2 questions, based on previously reported topics and question types. For recent 2018 questions and band 9 model answers it is highly recommended that you download the document using the form at the top of the page.

As the same common topic areas come up time and time again in the test, it makes sense to focus your practice around these topics. This is why I have organised the essay database via topic area.

Within each topic area you can then also select which type of essay question you then wish to answer. For an explanation of the different question types I recommend you read this article first , as different teachers categorise question differently.

The key, however, is to get used to answering the different question types, develop a range of vocabulary and collocation around these topic areas, and to formulate a variety of opinions around these common topics in advance of the test. These questions will certainly help you do that.

The more practice you get the better, so why not get started today! Why not also 'like' or 'share' this page to help friends and so that you can find it again more easily in the future. If you have any questions please let me know: [email protected]

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IELTS Essay Questions (2019)

Development

Environment

Government Spending

People and Society

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IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS essay questions based on types of essays in IELTS for writing task 2.

It is essential to understand the structure you need to follow while writing an essay. Read model answers

Essay Links: Discussion essays Agree Disagree Essays Problem Solution Essays Advantage Disadvantage Essays Opinion Essays Positive or negative development essays Direct question essays

Discussion essay questions.

Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss these views and give your own opinion. Model answer By Prema Australia

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema, Discuss both views and given your own opinion. Model answer .

Some people think it is better to impose a tax on companies which produce pollution while others think that there are other solutions. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Model Answer .

Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spend on improving existing public transport. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest time of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that it is better to educate boys and girls in separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending mixed schools. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal of more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people work for the same organisation all their working life. Others think that it is better to work for different organisations. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Sugar is harmful to the body. Some people say that the government is responsible for limiting the amount of sugar from people’s food. Others think that individuals should take responsibility for limiting the sugar they take. Discuss both views and give your opinion.( 10 April 2020 IDP )

Some people say that modern technology has made shopping today easier, while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Model Answer

Some people think that climate change reforms will negatively effect businesses. Other feel it is an opportunity for them. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Model Answer

Agree disagree essay questions

Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that governments should not provide international aid when they have unemployment and homelessness in their country. Do you agree or disagree? Model Answer .

Some people think that having a set retirement age(e.g 65 years) for everybody, regardless of occupation, is unfair. They believe that certain workers deserve to retire and receive a pension at an earlier age. Do you agree or disagree? Which types of workers do you think should benefit from early retirement?

Rising university fees and scarce employment prospects for graduates have led some people to say that universities should not teach arts subjects, like philosophy and history, and only offer practical degree courses that maximise chances of employment. Do you agree or disagree?

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? What sort of punishment should parents and teachers be allowed to use to teach good behaviour to children?

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic or pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

Some people feel that entertainers (e.g film starts, pop musicians or sports stars) are paid too much money. Do you agree or disagree? Which other types of job should be highly paid?

Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of society in which they are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restriction on what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Popular events like the football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for development of poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise they are complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree?

Fatherhood ought to be emphasised as much as motherhood. The idea that women are solely responsible for deciding whether or not to have babies leads on to the idea that they are also responsible for bringing the children up. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Out of country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Without capital punishment (the death penalty) our lives are less secure and crimes of violence increase. Capital punishment is essential to control violence in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The position of women in society has changed markedly in the last twenty years. Many of the problems young people now experience, such as juvenile delinquency, arise from the fact that many married women now work and are not at home to care for their children. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In some countries, an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose higher tax on this kind of food. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The continued rise in the world’s population is the greatest problem faced by the humanity at the present time. What are the causes of this continued rise? Do you agree that it is the greatest problem faced by humanity?

It is sometimes said that people should be encouraged to get married before they are 30, as this is best both for the individual and society. Do you agree or disagree?

The excessive use of television, mobiles and computers is inhibiting the development of children, which is proved by recent researches. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Eating a healthy diet is the most important step towards living a disease free life. Do you agree or disagree?

In the future, more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that their family members will always be more important than their friends. Do you agree or disagree? (31 October 2020 IDP)

The education of young people is highly prioritised in many countries. However, educating adults who cannot write or read is even more important, and the government should spend more money on this. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Model Answer

Problem solution essay questions

Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result. Why do many working people not get enough exercise? What can be done about this problem?

In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry. Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?

In some countries, the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?

Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish. Why do you think this is happening? What can government do to help reduce the amount rubbish produced?

In many countries, schools have severe problems with student behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?

It is generally accepted that families are not as close as they used to be. Give some reasons why this has happened and suggest how families could be brought closer together.

Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that many cities in the world are now ‘one big traffic jam’. How true do you think this statement is? what measure can governments take to discourage people from using their cars?

Some people get into debt by buying things they do not need and cannot afford. What are the reasons for this behaviour? What action can be taken to prevent people from having this problem?

Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulties getting enough sleep. What problems can lack of sleep cause? What can be done about lack of sleep?

Some people believe that it is impossible to live a comfortable life in big cities. What problems do people face in big cities? What solutions can solve these problems? (21 November 2020 IDP)

The demand for fresh water is increasing, but its level is decreasing in many countries. What are the causes of this problem? How the government and individuals can solve it? (15 January 2022 IDP) Model Answer

Some old people think that retirement life is happier, but it is not as happy as imagined when they retire. What are the reasons for this? Suggest some solutions. Model Answer

Advantage disadvantage essay questions

Today more and more tourists are visiting places where conditions are difficult, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic. What are the advantages and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places?

Many young people regularly change their jobs over the years. What are the reasons for this? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Model Answer.

Solar energy is becoming more and more popular as a source of household energy in many countries around the world. Why is this? What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation. Why might this be the case? What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?

At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

Many museum charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museum outweigh the disadvantages?

Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with. What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantage?

Being a celebrity- such as a famous film start or sports personality- brings problems as well as benefits. Do you think that being a celebrity brings more benefits or more problems?

Some people prefer to live in a house, while others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment. Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?

In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Nowadays technology is increasingly being used to monitor what people are saying and doing (for example, through cellphone tracking and security cameras). In many cases, the people being monitored are unaware that this is happening. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more opportunities to study abroad. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

The ownership of private vehicles is increasing day by day. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.

In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone apps is becoming increasingly common. Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Due to increasing world demands for oil and gas energy, people need to look for new sources of energy in remote and untouched natural places. Do the advantages of locating these sources outweigh the disadvantages of damaging such places? (12 December 2020 IDP Academic)

New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? Model Answer

Opinion essays questions

News stories on TV and in newspapers are very often accompanied by pictures. Some people say that these pictures are more effective than words. What is your opinion about this?

In many places, new homes are needed, but the only space available for building them is in the countryside. Some people believe it is more important to protect the countryside and not build new homes there. What is your opinion about this?

In some areas of the US, a ‘curfew’ is imposed, in which teenagers are not allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night unless they are accompanied by an adult. What is your opinion about this?

Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy, with everything organised and in the correct place. What is your opinion about this?

Learning English at school is often seen as more important than learning local languages. If these are not taught, many are at risk of dying out. In your opinion, is it important for everyone to learn English? Should we try to ensure the survival of local languages and, if so, how?

It is generally accepted that exercise is good for children and teenagers. Therefore, physical education and sports should be compulsory for all students in all schools. What do you think?

Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. Do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?

In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibility. What are your opinions on this?

In some cities, historical buildings are destroyed to create space for new homes. What is your opinion about this? ( 17 September 2020 B.C. )

In many countries today, crime novels and TV crime dramas are becoming more and more popular. Why do you think these books and TV shows are popular? What is your opinion of crime fiction and TV crime dramas.

Positive or negative development essays questions

In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping malls to do their shopping. Is this a positive or a negative development? Model Answer.

Most people accept that we now live in a globalised world but not everyone agree that this is beneficial. Is globalisation a positive or negative development. Model Answer .

Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what way has technology affected the type of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development?

In many countries, people decide to leave their parent’s homes once they finish school. They start living on their own or sharing a home with friends. Is this a negative or positive development? Model Answer .

Direct question essays

In many countries, the amount of crime is increasing. What do you think are the main causes of crime? How can we deal with those causes? Model Answer

Today more people are travelling than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual well-being. What factors contribute to job satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life. Which do you consider to be major influence?

Some people believe that children are given too much free time. They feel that this time should be used to do more school work. How do you think children should spend their free time?

Happiness is considered very important in life. Why it is difficult to define? What factors are important in achieving happiness?

Millions of people every year move to English-speaking countries such as Australia, Britain or America, in order to study at school, college or university. Why do so many people want to study in English? Why English such an important international language?

Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it the responsibility of the governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?

We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in business, hospitals crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used in the future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits?

Many people like to wear fashionable clothes. Why do you think this is the case? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

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7 model answers: IELTS writing task 2

Updated: February 2024

An IELTS essay is a ‘discursive essay’ where you may have to discuss an issue, give an opinion, explain the advantages or disadvantages, write about problems or causes of problems, and give solutions. There are 5 variations to an IELTS discursive essay.

In this blog post, there are 7 model answers for IELTS writing task 2. These are based on essays my students have written with help from me to correct them and make them more concise and clear.

First, let’s look at these important points.

In a problem-solution essay or an advantage-disadvantage essay, the instruction words will ask something like:

What problem s does this cause, what solution s can you suggest?
Do the advantage s outweigh the disadvantage s ?
What are the advantage s and disadvantage s of this?

Notice the plural form here, advantage s and disadvantage s . Many students (and IELTS teachers) think they have to write more than one advantage and disadvantage or more than one problem and solution. Yes, you can certainly do this but you can also make it much simpler by writing about one advantage and one disadvantage. The same goes for a problem solution essay.

Another point to consider is that you may run out of time if you write 2 of each. You will have only 40 minutes for the essay. Planning time is around 10 minutes so that means 30 minutes of writing. Another danger of writing about 2 of each is that your word count will go well over 300 words.

What does the marking criteria say?

Band 8 Task Response states-> ‘presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas…’

There is nothing mentioned in the marking criteria about having more than one advantage or disadvantage only that it needs to be well-developed, relevant, and supported. So you can take one advantage and one disadvantage, explain them well, and support them with a specific example within an essay of between 260 to 300 words. Same for a problem solution essay, one problem one solution.

Band 7 coherence and cohesion it states-> ‘presents a clear central topic within each paragraph…’

So you can run with one central idea or one main advantage and disadvantage, or problem/solution, as long as you can explain it well and give a clear relevant example. You will see this technique in the model answers below.

In the first causes solution model answer below there are 2 problems and 2 solutions . The only issue though is that it tends to end up as a very long essay at way over 300 words. Realistically, you will not have the time in the exam to write an essay over 300 words and you will have more chance of making mistakes.

You do not get a higher band score with a very long essay, such as a 380-word essay. I have often been sent these kinds of essays to mark and it is frustrating. Just keep it concise between 260 to 300 words.

Causes solution essay (long version)

Task question.

All over the world, societies are facing a growing problem with obesity. This problem affects both children and adults. What are the reasons for this rise in obesity, How could it be tackled?

Model Answer

Nations worldwide are dealing with the increasing issue of obesity which is a cause for concern for all age groups. There are two main causes, over-consumption of fast food and lack of exercise. Possible solutions would be a government tax on fast food and special incentives for gym membership to get people to exercise.

One of the reasons that people are becoming overweight these days is that they are eating more junk food, ready meals, and convenience food rather than cooking healthy meals at home. This is because many people tend to lead a busy life, so after a long day at work, it is easier to just buy convenience food or get a takeaway. For instance, research by the UK government found that sales of these types of foods have risen considerably in the past two decades. To tackle this issue the government should take steps to increase taxes on trans fats, high sugar, or unhealthy foods. Therefore, people would think twice about the foods they consume which could lead to them losing weight.

Another problem that needs to be considered is a lack of exercise. As a result of leading a hectic life with work commitments, many people are just too tired to go to the gym or join a sports club. For example, after work, the vast majority of people prefer to come home and sit in front of the TV. Furthermore, when people have time off they tend to relax rather than go to a gym. One possible solution is for employers to consider the well-being of their employees and offer in-house company gyms or special incentives, such as discounts to join sports or fitness clubs. If this is implemented it would have a positive effect on people’s health and a reduction in weight gain.

In conclusion, being overweight is an increasing issue because of the consumption of fast food, convenience foods, and not enough exercise due to work commitments. The government needs to look at taxing fast food and companies should set up incentives for gyms, sports, or fitness clubs.

The word count here is very high at around 345 words. This is because I chose to include 2 problems and 2 solutions. You can just take one problem and one solution as long as it is well-developed and explained. There is a shorter version below this.

Causes solution essay (shorter version)

Nations worldwide are dealing with the increasing issue of obesity which is a cause for concern among all age groups. One main cause of this issue is the overconsumption of fast food and convenience foods. A possible solution would be a government tax on these foods with lower costs for fresh produce.

One reason that people are becoming overweight these days is that they are eating more junk food and convenience food rather than cooking healthy meals at home. This is because many people tend to lead a busy life so it is easier to just buy ready meals or get a takeaway rather than cook at home. For instance, studies by the UK government have found that sales of these types of foods have risen considerably in the past two decades. If the issue is not addressed soon there will most likely be an epidemic of obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes shortly.

To tackle this issue governments need to increase the tax on high-sugar or unhealthy foods, especially those that contain trans fats. This would mean that consumers would think twice about the food they consume, so in the long run, this could lead to them losing weight and leading a much healthier life. To illustrate this, recently Norway implemented tough regulations and higher taxes on food containing high levels of sodium and saturated fats. They also fixed a lower price for organic vegetables to attract more consumers of fresh produce in supermarkets. This had a dramatic effect on reducing the consumption of junk foods.

In conclusion, being overweight is an increasing issue for children and adults globally because of the consumption of fast food and convenience foods. Authorities need to look at taxing these foods and make healthier options more available.

This essay is 297 words long. It takes one cause of the problem and explains it, then in main body 2, the solution is given. Notice the conclusion just rephrases the introduction. I paraphrased the word ‘governments’ to ‘authorities’. Yes, there is some repetition of words such as fast food, etc… you can repeat words as long as this is done sparingly.

You can write about one problem and one solution and still get band 7 as long as it is well-supported . The issue with a two problems two solutions essay is that you will run out of time as it will be a very long essay. Aim for under 300 words in writing task 2.

Discussion essay with opinion.

Some people believe that schoolchildren should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think it is not a good idea for teachers to assign home study tasks to school children, while others say it is an essential part of learning. I believe youngsters need homework to achieve better exam results as it gives them a chance of entering higher education.

On the one hand, some believe that homework is of no benefit and becomes a burden to school children. This is because pupils spend their whole day studying, taking part in after-school clubs, and feel exhausted after returning home. For instance, in Japan, the majority of youngsters are under pressure to complete vast amounts of homework along with extracurricular activities. If they fail to finish their assignments they may not do well in exams, meaning they would be unable to get into a good high school. I think home assignments are beneficial but children should not be put under this kind of pressure.

Other people would say that homework plays a vital role in the development of knowledge for students and I agree with this. One reason for this is that home study tasks help pupils understand school subjects better and allow them to attain higher grades. For example, according to extensive research, pupils aged between 10 and 16 who are given a large amount of mathematics homework do far better in tests than those who are not given any home assignments. I believe that home study tasks improve a child’s chances of entering tertiary education and eventually obtaining a well-paid job.

To conclude, although views differ concerning children being assigned homework, I would argue that home assignments are necessary to help pupils get good grades, which allows them to secure a place at university and improves their career chances.

Word count is 294 words, this is long enough for an IELTS essay. Notice the way I have used specific language to mention people’s views.. ‘ On the one hand, some believe that…’ / ‘ Other people would say that …… One reason for this is….’ This is needed in a discussion essay. I also stated my views in every paragraph, my position is very clear as I agree with the side that says homework is necessary for children.

Opinion essay.

Students today can easily access information online, so libraries are no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that libraries are unnecessary these days because students have easy access to information via the internet. I disagree with this because libraries allow people to attain specialised types of information and are important for students to study in a quiet environment.

Even though it is true that students find it much easier to get specific academic information connected to their studies on the internet, I think that libraries are still essential in schools and universities as well as public library facilities. One reason for this is that some types of specialised information cannot be found on the internet. For instance, most well-known academic authors do not immediately publish their recent work online, instead, they publish books explaining their analyses and results. Therefore these books are usually found in university or school libraries before they appear on the world wide web.

Another reason why I believe that they are necessary is that students need places to concentrate and focus. Libraries are perfect environments for this as they are very quiet and everyone there is motivated to investigate and study. As a result, they create an academic environment that encourages deep concentration. To illustrate this, there is some evidence to suggest that more and more students are spending a larger proportion of their time in the library researching and writing. This is because a silent academic atmosphere helps them to study harder which leads to better results in exams.

In conclusion, although the internet is of great benefit to students, I believe that libraries are still necessary as they grant access to specialised sources of information and their facilities provide better conditions for studying.

Word count is 282 words here, long enough. I have disagreed with the opinion presented in the task question . In main body one is the first reason why I disagree , in main body two is the second reason why I disagree . The conclusion rephrases my views. My opinion and examples do not have to be true (actually I think academic authors first publish online rather than in books) but this doesn’t matter as I have taken the main idea and developed it. The examiner wants to see how you use language.

‘Outweigh’ Advantage Disadvantage essay.

Traffic and accommodation problems are increasing and the government should encourage businesses to move from cities to rural areas. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Housing and traffic congestion is a growing issue in metropolitan areas, and it is argued that the government ought to persuade companies to relocate to the countryside. I think that the advantages of this outweigh the downsides because housing and business overheads are more affordable and there are fewer traffic problems.

Admittedly, there are disadvantages to relocating businesses and companies to rural areas. One particular downside is that many employees have settled with their families and own their own homes, so moving to a rural area would uproot them and their families. Besides this, they may not be suited to life in the country, which could cause stress and motivation issues. To illustrate this, research has shown that many people who are transferred to new offices in small towns and rural locations feel bored, and lonely, and have trouble settling down.

Despite the downsides, I believe that the advantages of moving out of big cities far outweigh the disadvantages. This is because housing is larger and much more affordable in rural areas. That is to say, a small apartment in London costs three times that of a large apartment in Wiltshire which is in a very rural location. Company overheads are also far more cost-effective outside of cities. For instance, an office space 20 miles out of London tends to be much bigger, and overall rental costs are considerably lower than that of central London. Another obvious benefit is that traffic congestion is no longer an issue in rural areas or villages.

In conclusion, although there may be downsides to companies moving out of cities, I think that relocating to the countryside carries more advantages because of cost-effective housing, less traffic, and business rents are lower.

Word count is 285 words here. This is a special type of essay as you need to state your opinion, the question ‘ Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? ‘means which side do you think is stronger? the advantages or the disadvantages? In this essay, my position is that ‘ the advantages of businesses moving to the countryside are stronger than the disadvantages.’ You must also cover the disadvantages, as I have done in main body one.

Advantage Disadvantage essay.

Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a child having a large number of toys?

Some parents purchase many toys for their children to play with. One particular advantage of this is that these toys help to develop a child’s cognitive abilities and motor skills, however, the disadvantage is that children may take too many toys for granted and lose focus and concentration.

One benefit of giving children many toys is that they can develop their cognitive functions and coordination faster. This means that if a young child has access to building blocks they learn about balance and coordination. Additionally, when a child plays with educational games, such as alphabet soup or toy cash registers, they will develop their thought processes and overall brain function. For instance, there is evidence to suggest that children under the age of seven, who play with various kinds of handheld puzzle toys, play doctor kits, and coding kits, had better hand-eye movement and improved their basic math and phonics skills rapidly.

However, the downside to having too many toys is that it is easy for children to become bored and restless with so many choices. This is because they lose interest quickly and their focus tends to become scattered as they flit from one toy to another. For example, compared to when I was a child, youngsters nowadays tend to have a huge collection of toys. After they get a new present for Christmas they become bored with it, and within a few days, they ignore it. As a result, many youngsters become impatient and their attention span becomes much shorter. This can lead to a lack of focus particularly with studying and homework.

In conclusion, although a child’s cognitive processes improve with having a wide choice of toys, the downside is that this can lead to boredom, poor concentration, and impatience.

This type of advantage disadvantage essay does not ask for a direct opinion, so I just clearly stated what the advantages and disadvantages are in both main body paragraphs and explained them well. My position is clear throughout the essay even though I do not state ‘I think…’ or ‘In my view…’

I have taken one advantage and one disadvantage here. This is ok and can still get you a Band 7 as long as it is well-explained, relevant, and supported.

Two-part question essay.

Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define? How can people achieve happiness?

Many people agree with the idea that happiness cannot be bought. This is difficult to define because everyone has a different concept of happiness. I believe that people can become happier by developing an optimistic mindset and pursuing interesting hobbies.

One of the reasons why the definition of happiness is hard to grasp is that views differ on what contributes to being happy. Some people feel that money and career are important, while others would say that close family is the main factor, and yet others believe that freedom and self-expression create a happy existence. To illustrate this, studies carried out by leading psychologists in the USA showed that opinions varied greatly. Participants in these studies said that having freedom and few commitments were important, while the majority stated that a high salary and career status were crucial to being happy.

In my view, people can become happier by developing a positive mentality. In other words, when someone tries to see things optimistically, it leads to emotional maturity and contentment. Moreover, I believe that by having engaging hobbies and pastimes people can achieve far greater contentment than focusing on material success, such as making a lot of money or pursuing job promotions. For example, there is evidence to suggest that people who have work pressures and earn high salaries, such as doctors or lawyers, have the highest rates of depression. However, those who have a positive attitude and spend their free time doing fulfilling activities are the least depressed.

To sum up, although happiness is hard to categorise due to differing opinions, I think that through positivity and taking up fascinating hobbies an individual can develop a greater sense of well-being.

Word count is 287 words. It is pretty straightforward here, just answer the first question in main body one: Why is happiness difficult to define? then answer the second question in main body 2: How can people achieve happiness?

The second question asks for my opinion as it says ‘How?’. The thesis statement answers the 2 questions concisely. My whole introduction is simple and concise at 43 words.

Any Questions? Leave a comment below

IELTS Writing Task 2 Lessons & Tips

These IELTS writing task 2 lessons, strategies and tips will show you how to write an IELTS essay. They go through all the various types of essay that you may get and instructions on how to best answer them.

For the Task 2, general or academic modules, you have to write an essay that must be a minimum of 250 words. You have 40 minutes.

These lessons are free and teach you all the key things you need to know about the IELTS writing task 2, such as writing an introduction, analysing essay questions, writing for a band 7, developing coherency and understanding opinion essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Lessons:

How to write an ielts essay: .

IELTS Essay This starter lessons tells you in simple steps how to structure and write a basic IELTS essay.

Getting Ready to Write:

Identifying the Topic Learn how to identify the topic of an essay question in order to help you answer it correctly.

Identifying the Task This IELTS practice will help you identify the task of an essay question. The most important thing to make sure you answer the question.

Brainstorming and Planning In this IELTS lesson, learn how brainstorm ideas for your essay and how to extend those ideas and create a plan.

IELTS Task Response In this lesson we look at the dangers of not properly answering an IELTS writing task 2 essay question.

Ideas for IELTS Candidates often worry about not having any ideas for IELTS essay topics. This gives you some advise on how to generate ideas.

Parts of an Essay:

IELTS Essay Introduction This lesson explains how you should approach writing an introduction for an IELTS Task 2 essay.

Writing a Thesis Statement The thesis statement is an important part of your essay, so this lesson explains how to write thesis statements for different essay types.

Paragraph Writing Writing clear and well-organized paragraphs is essential for your essay, so here you will learn about the basic elements that make up a good paragraph .

IELTS Essay Conclusion Learn how to write a quick conclusion for an IELTS essay.

Coherency and Cohesion:

Writing Coherence One way to improve coherency in your writing is to use transition words. This lesson teaches you how.

Pronouns Your writing must be coherent, and this IELTS practice lesson shows you how pronouns can help you to do this

Substitution Learn how to use substitution in IELTS to improve your cohesion and quality of writing.

Getting a High Band:

How to get an IELTS Writing band 7 There is no quick way to achieve this, but this lesson provides some general guidance on what is required to get an IELTS band 7 in the writing module.

Band 7 Transitional Phrases for Essays Learn about useful phrases that can be used to improve the sophistication of your writing in argumentative essays.

How to Score IELTS Band 8 This lesson tell you more about how the scoring works for band 8 writing and how long it can take you to get a band 8.

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IELTS Opinion Essays Get an overview of the various types of essay that ask for your opinion in the test.

Advantage Disadvantage Essay This lesson shows you how to write an IELTS advantage disadvantage essay that requires you to give an opinion.

A Complex Essay Question This lesson shows you how to answer a more complex IELTS essay question that does not have a straightforward 'task' given to guide you.

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Personal Pronouns in Essays Can you use personal pronouns such as 'I', 'our' and 'we' in IELTS essays? Find out more in this lesson.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Two-Part Questions

Posted by David S. Wills | Jul 18, 2018 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 1

Today we’re going to look at an IELTS writing task 2 question that often makes students a little worried: the two-part question . This is also sometimes referred to as “the direct question” as it is more direct than other types of writing questions, such as advantages and disadvantages or causes and solutions .

In this lesson, I will show you what this question looks like and explain how to answer it.

What is a two-part question, two-part question examples, analysing the question, structuring a two-part question essay, sample answer.

In IELTS writing task 2, there are different sorts of questions you may be asked. One of them is called the two-part question (or sometimes “the direct question”). It is most commonly called a two-part question because it contains two distinct questions.

Of course, some other questions also contain two parts. For example, a problem and solution essay is two parts. However, what we mean by a “two-part question” is one that contains two questions . The reason this is sometimes called a “direct question” task is that the questions themselves are more direct than other IELTS writing task 2 question types, which instruct candidates to explore an idea. This is rather vague , whereas the two-part question is very specific .

To understand this idea better, let’s look at an example two-part question:

In education and employment, some people work harder than others. Why do some people work harder? Is it always a good thing to work hard?

Ok, the first thing that you may notice is that there are three parts to this question! However, the first part is actually a lead-in statement. It is not particularly important. The parts that you need to address in your essay are the two questions. This is why some people say “two-part question” and others say “direct question”.

Here is another example:

Happiness is often considered difficult to define. Why is this? What factors determine happiness?

Here the first question contains a pronoun, “this”, which refers back to the idea in the first sentence. In other words, the first question is “Why is it often considered difficult to define happiness?”

Finally, here is one more example question:

Success is often measured by wealth and material possessions. Do you think wealth is the best measure of success? What makes a successful person?

As you can see by now, each question has three parts: an introductory statement and two individual (but related) questions. You will see this exact format used with numerous IELTS topics .

Sometimes the lead-in statement will be very long, and sometimes the questions are quite closely linked. Other times the statement may be short or the questions ask quite different things.

How to Answer Two-Part Questions

The first thing to remember is: DON’T PANIC! Two-part questions often make students a bit nervous, but really they are not so bad. They are no more difficult to answer than the other IELTS task 2 question types.

In fact, this type of question may even be the easiest one to answer!

Although the questions themselves are sometimes a bit challenging, they are direct questions . This means that it is less likely you will stray off-topic while writing. In other words, your task is actually more straightforward than it would be with an agree/disagree question, for example.

Let’s look at an example question so we can analyse it. This is the first thing you should do in any IELTS writing task 2 essay, and it’s important to spend a minute or two thinking carefully about it.

Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

We can take three steps to analyse this question.

Let’s look at the first sentence: What is it about? It is about permissive parents – ie parents who give their children too much (or who give in to their child’s demands) and let them do too many things.
Next, the first question contains a pronoun (“this”) which refers to the ideas in the first sentence, and asks if it’s good or not.
The second question talks about the consequences – not for the parents, but for the children.

I have deliberately chosen a slightly difficult question here in order to show you how to answer it. Usually, the questions are a little more direct and obvious, but here you need to consider the three sentences in order, making sure to understand each fully.

In a situation like this, if you make an incorrect assumption about the first or second parts of the sentence, it may cause a serious lack of coherence and cohesion , in addition to poor task achievement .

For example, if you thought it was just about children not being made to study enough, you might write the next paragraph all about a lack of studying and the following one may come back closer to the correct idea because of the more specific question. This would look bad, indicating a lack of unity in your writing.

Thankfully, it is not difficult to create a perfect two-part essay structure. In fact, it is very easy!

Here is a basic essay template:

	Explain the main idea Give an
Body paragraph #1	Answer the first question
Body paragraph #2	Answer the second question
	Summarise your essay briefly

In a previous article, I talked about whether to use a 4 or 5 paragraph essay . This is one case when you definitely want to use a four-paragraph essay.

Here’s the video, if you want to review it:

I have lots more posts on the topic of IELTS essay structures. Here are a few:

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures
Planning IELTS Writing Task 2 Structure
How to Structure a Paragraph

In this section, I will give you my sample answer to the above question, using the basic four-paragraph structure that I mentioned. Obviously, my ideas will be different to yours, but the structure which I outlined can be used 100% of the time.

In today’s society, some parents are becoming increasingly permissive. They do not impose sufficient discipline on their children, and in some cases buy them too many things. This essay will explore why this is not a good way to raise children and why it will have negative impacts upon them in future. While it is understandable that parents want to give their children expensive toys and let them run freely in the streets, this is actually not really an appropriate method of parenting. Having too many toys encourages children to be materialistic and does not offer them the same change to develop social skills like sharing. Furthermore, when children have asked for the toys, it gives them a sense of entitlement and even power over their parents. As for giving children too much freedom, there are obviously a great many dangers in this world from which they need to be kept safe. Children also need rules and boundaries to encourage them to develop into mature and responsible adults. If parents insist on this permissive style of parenting, their children will grow up with very different values from those of stricter parents. Children who were never forced to study will end up with poorer grades in school, and those who were given everything they wanted as children will expect everything to come easily as adults. In short, they will lead difficult and disappointing lives, in contrast with what their parents hoped. In conclusion, although it is tempting to give children whatever they want, parents ought to set rules and boundaries, and to be careful with how they reward children. If parents fail to impose a basic level of discipline, children may grow up with a poor attitude that will cause them and others to suffer.

There are really no words or phrases that are unique to the two-part question essay. Just use regular academic English as with any other IELTS task 2 question, and of course stick to the topic.

For my essay, I used the word “permissive.” It means allowing too much and not setting enough rules. You could use similar words like “liberal,” “easygoing”, “live and let live”, and so on, although they vary slightly in precise meaning.

Here are some more useful terms that you can use to talk about parents:

As always, remember to avoid IELTS phrases and other cliches. Learn new vocabulary by topic and in collocations rather than isolation.

Tips for Two-Part Questions

Finally, a few tips to remember:

Practice this question type often before the exam – it’s pretty common!
Make sure you understand each part of the question before answering.
Always use the four-paragraph essay structure.
Work on idea generation at home in order to come up with good, on-topic answers.

I made this article into a short video. Please give it a ‘LIKE’ and subscribe to the channel if you find it useful.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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could someone evaluate this and give the band score it deserves? here is my writing of the given topic….. In education and employment, some people work harder than others. 1. Why do some people work harder? 2. Is it always a good thing to work hard?

ans : It is often seen that some people put in more effort than others in the field of education and employment . The possible reasons could be due to the workload pressure or genuine passion .While passion for accomplishing task is a good thing, working hard due to constant pressure and other circumstances could be a problem . This essay explores the potential reasons as to why some work more than others and also discusses whether it is good to do so or not.

While students work hard due to their caliber and interest in studies working people work hard due to circumstances .Although there are a few students who study due to constant nagging by mentors or parents, most of them develop a genuine interest towards the subjects. Employers, on the other hand, work up to their innate potential to make both ends meet. For example, some workers work overtime that is for longer hours in order to earn higher salary or during the weekends to cope with the pending works . Sometimes they complete their tasks in advance in case they have any upcoming projects or plans outside the workplace to compensate for the missing working days.

Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing completely depends on the situation. Any work, no matter how important and urgent, if done against will and under high pressure will never give good outcomes . Instead it will lead to anxiety and stress if not accomplished on time. But if one is passionate and hungry for success and enjoys pursuing their interest, it will undoubtedly bear fruits and their hard work will eventually pay off.

All things considered, hard work is the key to success with respect to both education and employment. But it is important to make a note that one should have a great deal of passion and sincerity to achieve success and should not be forced to work due to helplessness or under pressure.

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IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Two Questions (Double Questions)

by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 2 Comments

I have listed here IELTS task 2 questions that contain two questions (double questions) from the real IELTS exam over the last few years – have fun learning about a common IELTS task type!

Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here .

Some people choose to have their first child at an older age.

What are the reasons?

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Read my essay here.

Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen or pencil.

What are the reasons for this?

Is this a positive or a negative development?

In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

What are the consequences of doping for athletes?

What measures should be taken to combat this issue?

Get access to the full EBook (for this and other topics) on Patreon.

The rise of social media platforms has made it easier for people to vent their frustrations and complaints publicly.

What is the consequence of this trend?

Is there any benefit to expressing complaints on social media?

In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining.

Why do you think this is happening?

How can this issue be solved?

Read the essay here.

In many societies, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable living and reducing environmental impact.

What are the challenges of adopting a sustainable lifestyle?

What practical actions can individuals take to contribute to sustainability?

The full EBook (for this topic and others) is exclusively available on my Patreon.

Some countries have introduced laws to limit the working hours that an employer can ask from an employee.

Why are these law introduced?

Is this a positive or negative trend?

Nowadays, not enough students choose science subjects at university in many countries.

Why is this?

What effects does this have on society?

In many countries, people increasingly talk about money such as how much they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations.

Car ownership has increased so rapidly over the past thirty years that in many cities around the world there are constant traffic jams.

How true do you think this statement is?

What measures can governments take to discourage people from owning cars?

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case?

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Some young people like to copy the behaviour and clothes of famous people today.

Why might this be the case?

What problems can it cause?

Advanced technology has brought many beneficial changes to the world. However, some old people today struggle with the use of technologies such as mobile phones and the Internet.

How can the elderly benefit from using advanced technologies?

How can the elderly be encouraged to use consumer electronics more often?

There is more and more outrage and anger common in society today.

These days consumers are faced with an increasing amount of advertising from various companies.

To what extent do you think consumers are influenced by advertising?

What measures should be taken to protect them?

In many countries, people now wear western clothes such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing.

Is this a positive or negative development?

Some children spend hours every day on smartphones.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending time in communities in poorer countries doing unpaid work such as teaching or building houses.

Who benefits more from this, the communities or these young people?

Weddings are getting bigger and more expensive.

What is the reason for this?

Is it a positive or negative development?

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.

What is your opinion about this?

What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

Today, TV channels broadcast men’s sports shows more than women’s sport shows.

Should TV channels give equal showtime for each?

Many young people today know more about international pop or movie stars than about famous people in the history of their own country.

What can be done to increase young people’s interest in famous people in the history of their country?

Read my sample answer here.

There are different methods businesses use to increase their sales.

What are the different ways companies use to increase sales?

Which one is the most effective?

Many adults nowadays prefer spending their free time playing computer games.

Why do they do this?

Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies.

To what extent do you think are consumers are influenced by advertisements?

What measures can be taken to protect them?

In many countries, people now wear western-style dress such as suits and jeans rather than traditional clothing.

Some believe children should be taught to give speeches and presentations in school.

Should this be taught in schools?

In many countries, increasing numbers of people are becoming interested in learning about the history of the house or building where they live.

What are the reasons behind this?

How can individuals research this?

In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are new in some way.

Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Some people today prefer to get advice for medical problems and do not want to visit a doctor.

In recent times, economic growth has helped many become richer, both in developed and developing countries. However, those in developed countries are not as happy as they were in the past.

What can be learned from this?

Some people spend a lot of money celebrating personal family events, such as weddings and birthdays.

How important is it to celebrate such events?

Do you think people spend too much money on these events?

Some people work harder than other.

Is this a positive or negative habit?

Some countries have introduced laws to limit working hours for employees.

Why are these laws introduced?

Do you think they are a positive or negative development?

Competition for university study is becoming increasingly strong.

Why are universities becoming more competitive?

Many people are working longer hours.

Why is this happening?

What problems can this cause to people?

Around the world more and more people today are living in urban areas.

What problems does this cause?

In some countries, there are fewer young people who listen to or play classical music these days.

Should young people be encouraged to play or perform classical music?

Nowadays people live longer after they retire.

How does this affect individuals and society?

What can be done about this?

Many educational institutions give greater importance to subjects related to science and ignore subjects such as drama and literature.

Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activities in many countries for young adults.

These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work.

What could be the reasons for this?

Many researchers believe that we can now study the behaviour of children to see if they will grow up to be criminals, while others disagree.

To what extent do you think crime is determined by genetics?

Is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?

The manufacturing and use of cars damages the environment but their popularity is increasing.

How could this be controlled?

In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people.

Why might this be the case?

Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?

In some countries, governments provide payments for unemployed people.

How does this impact people?

Many parents today do not spend much time with their children.

Does this affect parents or children more?

Many people today are choosing to travel to other countries.

A lot of companies and organisations require employees to wear uniforms.

Which kind of jobs are uniforms suitable for?

Are there any disadvantages to wearing a uniform to work?

More and more students at university today are not choosing to study science.

What are the effects of this?

Many people who drop out of school are more successful than those who complete their studies.

Why does this happen?

What does it require to be successful?

Watching TV shows and movies about crime is becoming more and more popular.

What effect does that have on society?

Some think that ambition is a good quality.

Is it important to be ambitious?

Is it a positive or negative characteristic?

Nowadays, entertainers get paid more than politicians.

What are the reasons for this?

Is this a negative or positive development?

Scientists have been warning for many years about environmental protection and how important it is to limit our personal energy consumption.

What are the causes of the over-consumption of electricity?

How can people be encouraged to use less energy?

People have historically attempted to achieve a perfect society. However, it is difficult to decide what a perfect society would be like.

What would be the most important element of an ideal society?

What can normal people do to make society more perfect?

Compared to the past, more people are now studying abroad because it is more convenient and cheaper than before.

Do you think this is beneficial to the foreign student’s home country?

Will this trend change much in the future?

In many countries people are living in a “throwaway society” where things are used for a short time and thrown away.

What are the causes of this and what problems does it lead to.

Nowadays many people choose to be self-employed, rather than to work for a company or organisation.

What could be the disadvantages of being self-employed?

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7 model answers: IELTS writing task 2. Updated: February 2024. An IELTS essay is a 'discursive essay' where you may have to discuss an issue, give an opinion, explain the advantages or disadvantages, write about problems or causes of problems, and give solutions. There are 5 variations to an IELTS discursive essay.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Lessons, Tips and Strategies
These IELTS writing task 2 lessons, strategies and tips will show you how to write an IELTS essay. They go through all the various types of essay that you may get and instructions on how to best answer them. For the Task 2, general or academic modules, you have to write an essay that must be a minimum of 250 words. You have 40 minutes.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Two-Part Questions
For example, a problem and solution essay is two parts. However, what we mean by a "two-part question" is one that contains two questions. The reason this is sometimes called a "direct question" task is that the questions themselves are more direct than other IELTS writing task 2 question types, which instruct candidates to explore an idea.
IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Discussion Essay ...
Here I have collected actual IELTS discussion essays (discuss both sides/views) from the last several years - enjoy learning about this common task type! Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here. Dave. IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Discussion Essay (Discuss both Sides)
IELTS Task 2 Question Types: Two Questions (Double Questions)
by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 2 Comments. I have listed here IELTS task 2 questions that contain two questions (double questions) from the real IELTS exam over the last few years - have fun learning about a common IELTS task type! Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here. Dave.

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Common IELTS Writing task 2 questions

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IELTS Writing Sample Questions: Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #1: Two Sided Discussion

A Bad Situation (Academic)

Environmental Problems (Academic)

Sharing Information (Academic)

Boys’ And Girls’ Schools (General Training)

Watching Movies (General Training)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #2: Agree – Disagree

Living In A Foreign Country (Academic)

Teenagers’ Curfew in USA (General Training)

Tidiness (General Training)

Facts And Skills in Education (General Training)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #3: Advantages – Disadvantages

Self-employment (Academic)

Driverless Vehicles (General Training)

Tourists In Extreme Conditions (General Training)

Mobile Payments (General Training)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Questions #4: Problems – Solutions

Hunger (Academic)

Health And Exercise (General Training)

Lack of Sleep (General Training)

Plastic and the Environment (General Training)

IELTS Writing Sample Task 2 Questions #5: Direct Questions

Traffic And Pollution Solutions (Academic)

Travel (General Training)

Owning a Home v Renting (Academic)

Living Close To Your Birthplace (General Training)

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IELTS writing topics and answers

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IELTS essay topics and answer: globalisation

IELTS essay topics and answer: technology

Common IELTS writing task 2 topics (list)

IELTS essay topics, answers and ideas

IELTS essay topics and answer: education

IELTS essay topics and answer: education (child)

IELTS essay topics, answer,s and ideas: gender issues

IELTS essay topics and answer: education (student reward)

IELTS essay topics and answer: employment (business)

IELTS essay topics and answer: gender issues (career)

Topic and answer: health

Topic and answer: society

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