35 Ielts Band 9 Sample Essays

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IELTS BAND 9 SAMPLE ESSAYS

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Sample Answer
Band 9 Sample Essay
See the sample answers to practice for your IELTS Writing Task 2 below:
1. Some people believe that technology has made man more social. to what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion? ...................................................................................................................... 4
2. People are using a lot of online language translation apps. do the benefits of this outweigh the
disadvantages? ........................................................................................................................................ 5
3. These days some people spend a lot of money on tickets to go to sporting or events. do you think this
is a positive or negative development? ..................................................................................................... 7
4. Some people think that a person improves their intellectual skills more when doing group activities.
to what extent do you agree? use specific details and examples to explain your view. .............................. 8
5. Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and
unhealthy. which opinion do you agree with? discuss both options and give examples. ............................ 9
6. Obesity is a serious problem in many countries, especially in rich countries. discuss ways to solve the
problem. provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer. ................................................. 9
7. In some countries, the number of shootings increase because many people have guns at home. to
what extent do you agree or disagree? give specific reasons and examples to support your answer. ........ 10
8. Some people think that secondary school children should study international news as one of the
school subjects. other people think that it is a waste of valuable school time. what do you think? give
reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. ... 11
9. Some products can be made quickly by a machine. other items take a long time to be made by hand.
as a buyer, which do you prefer and why? give specific details and examples in your answer. ................ 11
10. Is it good for children to start using computers from an early age and spend long hours on them?
discuss the advantages and disadvantages. ............................................................................................. 12
11. 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. ......................... 13
12. Some people like to travel outside their country. others would rather travel to tourist spots in their
own country first, before travelling abroad. which do you prefer to do and why? include specific details
and examples to support your choice. .................................................................................................... 14
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35 IELTS BAND 9 SAMPLE ESSAYS - https://www.facebook.com/nhuyielts8.5/
13. Some people believe that international sporting events are the ideal opportunity to show the world
the qualities of the hosting nation. others believe that these events are mainly a large unjustifiable
expense. to what extent do you agree or disagree. .................................................................................. 14
14. Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. discuss the causes and solutions. .............. 15
15. Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art, which helps to improve the
quality of people’s lives. however, governments should spend money on other things rather than art. do
you agree or disagree? give your opinion ............................................................................................... 16
16. Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise they are a
complete waste of time. do you agree or disagree? give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your experience. ............................................................................................................ 16
17. Women can do everything that men can and they even do it better. they also can do many things
that men cannot. but it is a fact that their work is not appreciated as much as men’s, although they have to
sacrifice a lot for their family and career… it is said: “a woman’s place is in the home.” what do you
think? ................................................................................................................................................... 17
18. Most schools are planning to replace sport and exercise classes with more academic sessions. how
will this change affect children’s lives in your view? ............................................................................. 18
19. Crime is a big problem in the world; many believe that nothing can be done to prevent it. to what
extent do you agree or disagree? give your own opinion. ....................................................................... 18
20. Should education and healthcare be free of charge and funded by the government, or should it be
the responsibility of the people to pay for these services? discuss the above and give your opinion using
examples. .............................................................................................................................................. 19
21. Some people think that schools have to be more entertaining, while others think that their sole
purpose is to educate. which do you agree with? use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion. ................................................................................................................................................. 20
22. Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading.
to what extent do you agree? use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer. ........................ 21
23. Do copyright laws limit creativity or reward it? would society function better without such rules
and regulations? .................................................................................................................................... 22
24. Should humans adapt to technology or should technology be adapted to us? is technology making
us intellectually weaker or more ............................................................................................................ 22
25. Traditional schooling is out of date, boring and stifles a child’s natural talents, various
professionals have pushed for an education revolution. are there alternatives in the education system? is
traditional education doing more harm than good? ................................................................................. 23
26. Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations.
however, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations
in such areas. to what extent do you agree? ............................................................................................ 24
27. Nowadays most green energy is becoming evermore prevalent in both developed and developing
countries. some argue they greatly reduce costs and are better for the environment, others believe they are
a serious threat to energy security. discuss both views and give your...................................................... 24
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28. Some people think that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research for the benefits of human
beings, while other people argue that it is wrong. ................................................................................... 25
29. Advances in health and biology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed
the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. there is no better time to be alive than now. to what
extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? ................................................................................. 26
30. The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. therefore, it is
important that products are made to last. governments should discourage people from constantly buying
more up to date or fashionable products. to what extent do you agree with this statement? ..................... 27
31. Some people are of the opinion that children should be rewarded for good behaviour. others think
they should be punished for bad behaviour. discuss both views and give your personal opinion and
reasons. ................................................................................................................................................. 28
32. Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. discuss the causes and solutions. ............... 29
33. Some people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of time instead of
going directly to study at university. discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. give
reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. ... 29
34. It is the job of governments and companies to deal with the huge environmental problems which
we face. individuals on their own can do little or nothing’. what is your opinion about this statement? ... 30
35. Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading.
to what extent do you agree? use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer. ........................ 31
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IELTS BAND 9 SAMPLE ESSAYS

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Sample Answer
Band 9 Sample Essay
1. Some people believe that technology has made man more social. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Experts throughout both the developing and developed world have debated whether the advent
of sophisticated modern technology such as mobile phones, laptops and iPad have helped
to enhance and improve people’s social lives or whether the opposite has become the case.
Personally, I strongly advocate the former view. This essay will discuss both sides using
examples from the UK government and Oxford University to demonstrate points and prove
arguments.
On the one hand there is ample, powerful, almost daily evidence that such technology can be
detrimental especially to the younger generation who are more easily affected by it’s addictive
nature and which can result in people feeling more isolated from the society. The central reason
behind this is twofold, firstly, the invention of online social media sites and apps, such as Twitter
and Facebook have reduced crucial face-to-face interactions dramatically. Through use of these
appealing and attractive mediums, people feel in touch and connected yet lack key social skills
and the ability to communicate. Secondly, dependence on such devices is built up frighteningly
easily which may have a damaging effect on mental health and encourage a sedentary lifestyle.
For example, recent scientific research by the UK government demonstrated that 90% of people
in their 30s spend over 20 hours per week on Messenger and similar applications to chat with
their friends instead of meeting up and spending quality time together or doing sport. As a result,
it is conclusively clear that these technology advancements have decreased and diminished our
real life interactions.
On the other hand, although there are significant downsides to technological developments, its’
multifold advantages cannot be denied. This is largely because the popularity of technology such
as cellphones allows people to connect freely and easily with no geographical barriers. People
are able to share any type of news, information, photos and opinions with their loved ones
whenever and wherever they want therefore keeping a feeling of proximity and closeness. For
example, an extensive study by Oxford University illustrated that people who work, or study
abroad and use applications like Facetime and WhatsApp to chat with their families, are
less likely to experience loneliness and feel out of the loop than those who do not. Consistent
with this line of thinking is that businessmen are also undoubtedly able to benefit from these
advances by holding virtual real -time meetings using Skype which may increase the chance of
closing business deals without the need to fly.
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From the arguments and examples given I firmly believe that overall communication and mans’
sociability has been advanced enormously due to huge the huge technological progress of the
past twenty years and despite some potentially serious health implications which governments
should not fail to address, it is predicted that its popularity will continue to flourish in the future.
Here are some of the collocations used in this essay which you may find useful to!
sophisticated modern technology
enhance and improve people’s social lives
addictive nature
feel out of the loop
isolated from society
reduce crucial face-to-face interactions dramatically
a damaging effect on mental health
encourage a sedentary lifestyle
spend quality time together
connect freely and easily with no geographical barriers
proximity and closeness
its less likely to experience loneliness
popularity will continue to flourish
2. People are using a lot of online language translation apps. Do the benefits of this
outweigh the disadvantages?
The importance and popularity of web-based language translation applications has grown over
the past few years due to globalization. People from vastly different geographical
zones, educational backgrounds and cultural beliefs are more inclined to use such mobile
applications to learn and understand a foreign language. I strongly agree that its positives of this
development outweigh the negatives, and, in this essay, I will discuss this using examples of
current apps and The Times newspaper.
On the one hand, there is ample evidence that constant access to mobile phones has
been immeasurably beneficial to both our social life and business careers. Nowadays, citizens are
migrating to different countries in order to build a new future and dealing with overseas
companies for business purposes, so learning a second language has become their necessity.
Such mobile applications are facilitating them by providing a handy solution to their language
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barriers. For example, Play store and Apple app store advertise multiple paid and free to
use apps such as Duolingo, Dictionary, Grammarly and Ginger which instantly translate one
language into another allowing crucial communication, be it social or commercial to happen
seamlessly. Therefore, it is apparent that many key aspects of people’s lives are is being made
easy through these handy and ready to use solutions.
On the other hand, whether language conversion apps benefit the public or cause potential losses
to a key section of the education establishment is also a controversial topic for discussion. A
recent study published in The Times newspaper has shown that there has been a significant
reduction in demand for bilingual teachers or native language tutors as more people have started
using such apps instead of spending money on the specialist tuition required to learn a new
tongue. For an instance, free apps simply require basic registration details and email verification
to register then begin, compared to the many hours or even years needed to master an additional
language to a proficient level of fluency. As a result, despite the indisputable benefits of learning
face to face, talented and experienced professors, translators and interpreters are having to fight
to justify their relevance in this new world.
To conclude, I believe that if the situation favours the relatively accurate, easily accessible use of
online translation applications, which offer instant and quick solutions they can be
hugely beneficial for the community at large and in the future their flexibility and
sophistication will continue to be improved.
constant access to mobile phones
immeasurably beneficial
a handy solution to their language barriers
instant and quick solutions
flexibility and sophistication
permits crucial communication
learn a new tongue
learning face to face
language training professionals
native language tutors
educational backgrounds and cultural beliefs
web- based translation application tools
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3. These days some people spend a lot of money on tickets to go to sporting or events.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
The issue of whether to spend one’s hard earned wages on attending expensive football, rugby or
baseball matches or other exclusive diversions as opposed using it more wisely and prudently has
become a matter of concern for many. Critics argue that such frivolity is a misuse of precious
funds however, I personally believe the opposite. This essay will discuss why the benefits of
attending sport or cultural occasions are worth more than the actual ticket price by using
examples taken from the Harvard Business Review and the Woodstock Festival.
On the one hand those festival goers and sports fans who attend concerts, gigs, matches or
athletic competitions happily extol the virtues of these on their overall well-being, both physical
and mental. The main reason for this is twofold, firstly by watching, participating and enjoying a
game people’s overactive stress levels can be radically reduced. Secondly, many such important
and well-respected events have become a noteworthy opportunity for socializing or networking.
For example, a recent article published by the Harvard Business Review showed that
key, ambitious top executives in the 500 Fortune companies had invested in tickets for basketball
games not only for themselves but for their clients aiming to seek distraction and
amusement while entertaining and nurturing future business contacts. Therefore, although it
could be suggested that the high price of ticket sales has been exacerbated by powerful
Corporates or event organizers with sky high budgets, there is no doubt of the positive spin-
offs to health and business.
On the other hand, if money is no object, then there is overwhelming evidence that going to
festivals, attending concerts or investing in experiences is a growing trend which is appreciated
because of its ability to build fond and durable memories which last a lifetime and become part
of a family’s history. An example of this was the mythical Woodstock music festival in 1969,
which was a peaceful milestone witnessed by thousands of people who have afforded it
legendary status. Thus, the emotional value of such events cannot be overstated.
To conclude from the aforementioned arguments, I firmly believe that despite the
frequently prohibitively high prices of attending sport and cultural events, doing so can be
enormously positive and justifiable for the benefits it brings to those who are there. From the
significant growth in richly diverse Festivals worldwide, it could be predicted that in the future
this kind of events will continue to grow in popularity as people elect to spend their earnings on
experiences rather than in material goods.
one’s hard earned wages
investing in experiences
misuse of precious funds
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sky high budgets

positive spin- offs
seek distraction and amusement
entertaining and nurturing future business contacts
ambitious top executives
noteworthy opportunity for socializing or networking
extol the virtues of
festival goers and sports fans
prohibitively high
part of a family’s history
build fond and durable memories
last a lifetime
if money is no object
4. Some people think that a person improves their intellectual skills more when doing
group activities. To what extent do you agree? Use specific details and examples to
explain your view.
In recent decades, many researchers have studied the importance of group-level cognition.
Indeed, to my mind, there is now convincing evidence that group activities improve the
intelligence of individuals. In this essay, I shall examine how research in team-games and study-
groups supports this view.
To begin with, team-games clearly require individuals to perform a diverse range of rapid mental
calculations. This is because, in a sporting context, players must predict and anticipate possible
actions within tight time constraints. For example, a recent Cambridge study showed that soccer
players can – within the span of seconds – calculate over a dozen different permutations that
could result from a single soccer related action. Such predictive powers clearly improve players’
mental abilities and result from activities performed in a group context.
Secondly, study-groups enable individuals to obtain information that they could not acquire in
isolation. This is because peer feedback allows individuals to refine their understanding of
concepts and to also learn new information from other members in the study-group. For example,
a study by The British Institute for Learning found that, if individuals participated in study-
groups, they had a far more objective and sophisticated understanding of a topic than learners
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who were not part of study-groups. Therefore, it is certainly the case that learning in a group
improves an individual’s mental abilities.
In conclusion, I strongly agree with the notion that group activities improve intellectual abilities.
In the future, we will certainly see schools take greater measures to ensure that more group-level
cognition occurs in the classroom.
5. Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is
dangerous and unhealthy. Which opinion do you agree with? Discuss both options
and give examples.
In recent times, pet related injuries and mortalities have sparked heated debates about whether it
is healthy for children to be around pets. In this essay I shall argue that such dangers are
overemphasised and that children receive substantive psychological benefits through having pets.
To begin with, although exotic pets (e.g. snakes, spiders, apes, etc.) have been known to
occasionally hurt and even kill children, such incidents are so statistically rare as to be
negligible. This is because the overwhelming majority of children have non-lethal cats, dogs,
fish, rodents and rabbits for pets. For example The Child Safety Institute found that over 90% of
children owned the aforementioned pets, and professed that they had never felt in the least bit
endangered by them. Seen in this light, it is clearly unfounded to claim that pets present any
physical danger to children.
Secondly, pets can impact positively upon child psychology. This is because young pet owners
frequently empathise with their pets and perform a diverse range of actions to maintain their well
being (e.g. feeding, grooming, administering medicine, etc). For example, the Cambridge
Developmental Psychology Unit found that children who had grown up with pets were 30% less
likely to bully others and resolve conflicts through aggression. Consequently, it is undeniable
that a child’s pro-sociality and mental health can be improved through exposure to pets.
In conclusion, the cited evidence provides strong support for the view that children owning pets
is a good thing. In the future, as more laws are introduced to ban the ownership of illegally
acquired exotic pets, this viewpoint will no doubt surge in popularity.
6. Obesity is a serious problem in many countries, especially in rich countries. Discuss

ways to solve the problem. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
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With the advent of urbanisation and the rise in popularity of fast food, there have been
accompanying issues with rising obesity rates – especially in developed countries like England
and the USA. After providing a careful analysis of why obesity has risen so sharply in these
countries, I shall suggest a number of ways in which the obesity epidemic can be ameliorated.
To begin with, it should be unsurprising that fast food is incredibly popular in wealthy countries
(like England and the USA). Due to the high levels of development in these countries, consumers
possess more money and can therefore consume vast amounts of fast food without seriously
diminishing their income. For example, the American Dietary Association found that (compared
to the average Indian household), the average American household has a six times larger budget
for food per month. Consequently, it is to be expected that obesity rates are much higher in
countries with larger amounts of wealth.
However, despite the severity of the obesity problem, there are a number of ways in which
developed countries could battle it more effectively. Firstly, developed governments could put
far more pressure on fast food outlets to provide healthy alternatives to hamburgers, french fries
and soft drinks.
Secondly, public exercise initiatives could be advertised and promoted far more vigorously.
Lastly, modules that inform teenagers about healthy dietary requirements could be taught at
schools.
In conclusion, although obesity is a serious issue in the developed world, if the above steps are
taken, the situation will surely improve in the coming years
7. In some countries, the number of shootings increase because many people have guns
at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
Across the globe, many individuals own guns for self-defence and recreational purposes. Gun
related mortalities in households – in particular – throw the ethics of such forms of private gun
ownership into sharp relief. In this essay, I shall appeal to crime statistics to argue that a person
is at a far greater risk being shot if there is a gun in a household.
Firstly, it is intuitively obvious that having a gun in a household endangers children and
teenagers. This is because minors do not have the requisite knowledge or maturity to handle guns
safely. For example, the US Department of Justice recently revealed statistics showing that 150
American children and teenagers die each year because of accidents relating to household guns.
Therefore it is incontrovertible that household guns lead to additional shootings.
Secondly, household guns became especially dangerous when spouses have violent arguments.
This is because male sexual rage, in particular, often results in deadly aggression. For example,
The International Crime Bureau recently produced statistical evidence that – if there is a
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household gun – a man is twice as likely (if he discovers his wife having an affair) to kill her in a
fit of jealous rage. Therefore, once again, household guns correlate positively with additional
shootings.
In conclusion, there is undeniable evidence that having a gun in a house leads to further
shootings. Given the strength of this evidence, in the future, more legislature needs to be put in
place to limit private gun ownership.
8. Some people think that secondary school children should study international news
as one of the school subjects. Other people think that it is a waste of valuable school
time. What do you think? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
The potential for the global media to shape the views of today’s youth is considerable. However,
while some commentators think that the media has no place within secondary education, other
analysts defend the idea that international news should be studied at school. In this essay, I shall
examine a number of studies which show that both viewpoints are, to some degree, justified.
To begin with, the global media undoubtedly enriches teenagers understanding of contemporary
affairs. This is because television reports provide concise summaries of international affairs. For
example, a study run by Oxford sociologists showed that the media heavily influenced teenagers’
knowledge of contemporary affairs. Since any secondary school education would be incomplete
without an awareness of such events, it is therefore clear that the media can play a vital role in
assisting education.
On the other hand, many critics argue that teenagers are negatively affected by the global
media’s focus on wars and civil unrest. This is because exposure to violence often leads to
depression. For example, recent surveys have discovered that depressed teenagers usually cite
the dismal state of the world as a source of their depression. Since mental health is an important
objective of secondary education, it is therefore questionable whether the study of international
news wouldn’t be a destructive and wasteful use of school resource.
In conclusion, it should be clear that there are reasons for and against the study of news at
school. Thus if media studies are to enter schools in the future, schools will have to think about
how negative aspects of the news can be decreased, and positive aspects maximized.
9. Some products can be made quickly by a machine. Other items take a long time to
be made by hand. As a buyer, which do you prefer and why? Give specific details
and examples in your answer.
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Ever since the industrial revolution, mass produced goods have flooded the consumer market.
Although such goods have proved to be highly popular, it is now becoming increasingly clear
that handmade goods are more desirable for modern, informed consumers. In this essay, I shall
look at some of the ethical and quality-based reasons for this re-evaluation.
To begin with, handmade goods can be made with far more care and attention to detail than mass
produced goods. This is because machines lack a sensitivity that experienced craftsman evidently
possess. For example, a study by the International Consumerist Society found that handmade
furniture, musical instruments and jewellery were consistently rated as being more attractive (by
consumers) than their mass made counterparts. Therefore it is clear that buyers prefer handmade
goods for reasons that relate to quality of workmanship.
Secondly, handmade production companies have far more ethical attitudes towards the
environment. This is because factories and chemical processes heavily underpin mass industrial
production. For example the British Green Party found that the levels of toxicity and
environmental damage outside handmade production centres were paltry compared to the levels
found outside factories used for mass production. Consequently, since modern consumers are
more environmentally conscious than ever before, these findings have clearly contributed to their
preference for handmade goods.
In conclusion, there are compelling reasons for why modern consumers favour handmade goods.
In the future, as environmental issues worsen, this preference will no doubt grow more
pronounced.
10. Is it good for children to start using computers from an early age and spend long
hours on them? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
In recent years, children, like adults, have become increasingly exposed to computers. While
some child psychologists have claimed that this is a good thing, others have claimed that it has
an overwhelmingly detrimental impact on children. In this essay, I shall draw upon a number of
studies in cognitive science and industrial psychology that reveal the positive and negative
aspects of this phenomenon.
To begin with, there are clearly reasons why computers do not allow children to develop long
attention spans. This is because computers are packed with many supposedly child-friendly
games that require minimal levels of concentration in order to be enjoyed. For example, a study
by the New York Child Learning Association found that children who read from picture books
were 50% less likely to get distracted than children who played educational computer games.
Therefore computers almost certainly have a negative impact on young children.
However, since the world has become heavily reliant on computers, there are also clearly
advantages to exposing children to computers. This is because children with such exposure will
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stand a better chance of finding employment. For example, after being interviewed by Yale
psychologists, over 70% of young office workers admitted that they had spent long hours on
computers in their middle and late childhood years. Therefore it is clear that computer exposure
can be beneficial to children.
In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to early computer exposure. However, if,
in the future, the quality of educational gaming is increased, there is good reason to believe that
these negative consequences will fall entirely away.
11. 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
The question of women’s rights has always sparked heated controversy. While some
traditionalists claim that women should focus on the upkeep of their homes and children, more
liberal minded people have claimed that women should have the same rights as men. In this
essay, I shall refer to sociological studies that vindicate the correctness of the liberal view.
To begin with, it is false to believe that a woman cannot have a job and raise her children
effectively. This is because part-time and online work obviously gives women the time and space
to care for their children. For example, the Organisation for Child Care found that mothers who
did part time or online work spent as much time with their children (after school hours) as
housewives. Therefore, it is incoherent to claim – as traditionalists do – that having a career
compromises a mother’s ability to care for her children.
Secondly, mothers who work also gain the means to invest more in their children’s education and
personal development. This is because an additional source of revenue enables parents to send
their children to private schools and extra-mural classes. For example, a Harvard study found
that parents were 50% more likely to invest in these goods if both parents had separate sources of
financial income. It is therefore clear that being a working mother can facilitate, rather than
impede, good parenting.
In conclusion, there is strong evidence that women can have jobs and be good mothers. Seen in
this light, it is clear that the traditionalist view is largely baseless, and that it will continue to
decline in popularity.
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12. Some people like to travel outside their country. Others would rather travel to
tourist spots in their own country first, before travelling abroad. Which do you
prefer to do and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.
Over the past few decades the international tourism industry has gone through a boom period.
Cheap air travel, in particular, has allowed ordinary working class people to travel to more
international destinations than ever before. In this essay, I shall refer to number of sociological
studies to show why – contrary to popular opinion – domestic travel should initially take
precedence over international travel.
To begin with, people’s knowledge of their own countries and culture has grown increasingly
sketchy. This is largely because foreign brands, television shows and cultural objects flood local
markets. For example, The Asian Cultural Society found that Japanese teenagers knew more
about American television series than 19th Century Japanese woodcuts. It should therefore be
clear that citizens need to know much more about their own countries, and that visits to local
cultural centres should occur before visits to remote countries.
Secondly, people reap high economic benefits if they are well-travelled in their country of birth.
This is because local travel, in particular, opens up business opportunities. For example, the
Korean Society for Entrepreneurship found that 40% of successful start-up companies were run
by individuals who had travelled extensively in Korea and sniffed out small openings in
developmentally neglected areas. Seen in this light, local travel can also be of vital economic
significance
To conclude, although few would argue outright against foreign travel, there are certainly
reasons why domestic travel is initially preferable. In the future, as some of the hype surrounding
foreign travel dies down, these reasons will no doubt appear more attractive and conspicuous.
13. Some people believe that international sporting events are the ideal opportunity to
show the world the qualities of the hosting nation. Others believe that these events
are mainly a large unjustifiable expense. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Global athletic events such as the Olympics, the World Cup, the Extreme Games, and even the
American Super Bowl are incredible opportunities for countries. These iconic spectacles can
provide a country with an economic avalanche of benefits or expose it to a public relations
disaster. This essay will look at both points, using Russia and the United Kingdom as examples.
Firstly, it is important to bear in mind that simply hosting the event and having the world’s media
attention cannot guarantee a positive promotion. This is because although the country is
receiving enormous amounts of publicity, the media will often report controversial news as well
as. Take the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, for example. The media spotlight is shining
bright on the athletes but also highlighting the polemic legislation regarding homosexuality.
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Therefore, despite the international recognition to be gained, the country can also face a possible
backlash.
Secondly, the expense of building large infrastructures necessary to hold these events can dwarf
the benefits, unless they are fully amortized afterwards. This is largely due to the fact that
stadiums, Olympic parks, ski runs etc. are expensive to construct and undertake large capital
expenditure, often by the public sector. In the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, the
council commissioned a stadium for athletic events which was later adapted and sold to the local
preeminent football club, Manchester City. Therefore with proper, fair, economic management
of such buildings and facilities the cost can be recuperated.
To conclude, a host city or nation has a lot to gain from these events but only if they are
economically administered correctly and the country has no controversial issues for the media to
pull out of the closet.
14. Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. Discuss the causes and
solutions.
The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of industrialisation to the present
day has brought opportunity and prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life. With an
increasing city population, the complexity of the challenges also increases. The causes and
solutions for this are outlined below.
The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically the prosperity endowed on
such metropolitan centres. Their growth is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer,
which in turn increases their attractiveness; essentially they are trapped in a positive self-
reinforcing cycle. However, this eventually leads to a decrease in the quality of life as the city
can experience overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased vulnerability to terrorist
attacks. For example, the density of London makes it a more efficient place to attack, when
compared to a smaller city, such as Bradford. Therefore, due to continuous growth and
prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less well off, often experience a lower standard of
living.
Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport would ease traffic congestion,
as would bike lanes. In theory this would reduce air pollution and possibly improve the
wellbeing of the population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to work. To
counter violent terrorist attacks, cities could embark on CCTV installations, so as to closely
monitor for threats. For example, it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential
attacks, and therefore greatly increased the security of its citizens.
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To conclude, a wealthy city attracts large population inflows, which then cause pressure on
existing infrastructure and security. Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks, but
nevertheless a definite solution has yet to be found.
15. Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art, which helps
to improve the quality of people’s lives. However, governments should spend money
on other things rather than art. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.
Societies with a heritage in the ‘arts’ have long been considered culturally sophisticated and
advanced. However, with the recent financial crisis this lavishness and expense should be
questioned. Tax-payers’ money has to be spent practically rather than on cultural endeavours.
Firstly, not everyone in society appreciates art, and, secondly, employment should take
precedence.
Art can bring quality into one’s life if you are interested. In society art-lovers are typically in the
minority, and other activities, such as sports are more popular. Take football, for example.
Across the globe it is obvious that there are more people watching matches in stadiums than
looking at sculptures or art. This fact makes it impossible that art can bring quality into a
community if the galleries hold little interest for the region.
Secondly, the resources diverted to such projects come from the public and should be spent in a
way that benefits them. Commissioning or purchasing art is an insult to taxpayers who endure
high unemployment, such as, those in Newcastle, UK. This city suffers from historically high
unemployment, yet the council commissioned a large sculpture called ‘The Angel of the North’.
Financing a job creation project would undoubtedly have been more practical for the local
community.
To conclude, I believe that it is an unjust affirmation that art brings quality into one’s life, and I
agree that the money should be spent elsewhere. This is because art expenditures only benefit a
small minority and secondly the expense involved should benefit the majority. Ideally in the
future, governments will recognise that quality in a person’s life derives from a decent
opportunity in life, not a sculpture.
16. Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise
they are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your
answer and include any relevant examples from your experience.
To derive a double benefit from anything is considered a bonus, and this is especially the case
when discussing leisure activities for children. The idea to fuse both education and entertainment
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into one activity is a goal of many educators; some would even believe that failure to do this
makes the activity pointless. Drawing from examples in Sweden and reviewing games, such as
Pokemon, I firmly believe that all activities should have an educational value.
Leisure activities are a perfect time to take advantage of the receptiveness in a child’s mind, and
some countries are adamant about this. Take Sweden, for example. For many years they have
legally stipulated that all children’s toys sold in the country should have some educational value.
In addition, for such a rule to be passed it must be upheld by scientific research. Therefore, the
advantage of incorporating an education element into toys is scientifically proven.
On the other hand, across the UK, children were wasting their time collecting and learning the
statistics of each creature on each Pokemon card. If, however, these cards had been intertwined
with more educational data the child could have simultaneously gained a more practical
education. Due to the child learning large swathes of irrelevant and useless information it can be
argued that the time would have been better spent with real facts and figures on the cards.
To conclude, scientific evidence from Sweden and fantasy games such as Pokemon with little
educational value are two clear reasons why children’s leisure activities should have an element
of learning involved.
17. Women can do everything that men can and they even do it better. They also can do
many things that men cannot. But it is a fact that their work is not appreciated as
much as men’s, although they have to sacrifice a lot for their family and career… It
is said: “A woman’s place is in the home” What do you think?
Women and men have had different roles in the community since the beginning. Under modern
pretexts these differences are slowly converging. However, due to the genetic inheritance and
socio-demographic components, these differences do exist.
Firstly, men are undoubtedly better adapted genetically to perform physical tasks. Therefore, the
assumption that women can match men in everything is clearly flawed. The difference between
their physical abilities is clearly demonstrated in the sporting arena. Take, for example, the
Olympics or any international sporting event. It can be clearly seen that in these competitions the
genders are separated due to inherent differences between the sexes.
Secondly, it has been argued that women are less appreciated in society due to their traditional
roles in the home. This statement is true to a certain extent because it largely depends on the
society. In certain traditional societies in Africa, females working is frowned upon and is seen as
neglecting the family, whereas in Afghanistan, in general, females are allowed to do little else
but stay at home, being a housewife. Consequently a woman’s value is largely dictated by the
society, culture and history. Nevertheless, to state that her place is in the home is widely
considered sexist in modern western societies.
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To conclude, differences do certainly exist; however, these are largely through nature. Also, the
role women may have is usually dictated by other factors, such as, religion or society, not ability.
18. Most schools are planning to replace sport and exercise classes with more academic
sessions. How will this change affect children’s lives in your view?
The debate between where to allocate valuable teaching resources probably started with the first
educational institutions. In present-day society the conflict continues and rightly so. In my
opinion converting sports classes to more traditional subjects has two significant advantages.
Firstly, it is a more effective use of a student’s time. Secondly, in the future, academic skills are
more useful.
Switching time spent on sport in a school to time spent on more academic activities is a wise and
cost-effective solution. Firstly, academic studies are inherently less expensive to perform when
compared to physical education. For example, to play almost any sport one has to invest in the
appropriate equipment, ranging from shorts, t-shirts to rackets and balls. Furthermore, excess
time is spent in the changing rooms or washing afterwards. In more traditional subjects, students
merely enter the classroom and are learning within minutes.
Secondly, sport can be argued as an activity practised naturally by children, especially boys. In
every school at break time many children engage in energetic activities, whereas hardly any are
studying algebra, biology or physics. Because these subjects are less popular more resources
should be allocated to teaching them. In addition, academic skills could be argued as more
important due to the small number of people in society currently using sport skills in a work
environment. Thus, focussing on skills demanded by the labour market would benefit students’
lives dramatically in the future.
To conclude, young learners going through school would finish much better prepared for life
avoiding sport tuition. Furthermore, they would have taken full advantage of their school years
through more time spent learning.
19. Crime is a big problem in the world; many believe that nothing can be done to
prevent it. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.
IELTS Sample Writing Task 2 – Model Essay Answer
Crime is unquestionably one of the most prevailing and worrying aspects in any society, and its
prevention should be taken seriously. Crime prevention can be executed in various ways, firstly
through a sustained honest presence in the community and secondly through international
cooperation.
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A local presence by incorruptible law enforcement authorities may be costly, however, the long-
term investment would pay dividends in the future. A safer region would encourage trade,
investment and set an invaluable example for younger generations. For example, crime has
dramatically been reduced in the Favelas around Rio de Janiero in Brazil. This was achieved
largely through the government committing large funds of money to stationing police
headquarters in and around the slums. These financial expenditures greatly benefited the
community.
Secondly, due to the large-scale severity and the global impact that crime has in some areas of
the world, global cooperation is critical. Operating in a different way would incur significant
financial losses and render any expenditure futile. For example, Somalian pirates in Africa have
reigned terror amongst many ocean transport companies in the area. Only through large-scale
international cooperation was policing the area possible. Therefore, crime reduction can be
attributed to a joint effort between countries.
To conclude, illegal activities are a costly and dangerous fact in the present global economy;
however, through large-scale government investment prevention is an attainable goal. Also,
spreading the expense through international cooperation the resources invested can be
significantly more effective in reducing criminals’ effectiveness abroad.
20. Should education and healthcare be free of charge and funded by the government,
or should it be the responsibility of the people to pay for these services? Discuss the
above and give your opinion using examples.
Example IELTS Essay Question
A healthy and educated society is the backbone of any successful society; however, deciding
who is to provide this is a sensitive topic. I strongly believe the government should be held
responsible to provide these services for two reasons. Firstly, the entire society benefits, and
secondly the whole population is currently paying for the services. However, if one prefers extra
services they should be prepared to pay for it themselves.
Sample Answer
Firstly, education is largely considered a basic right. A population unable to calculate, read, write
or even learn would be doomed in such a competitive global economy. Globalisation has
increased competition and shifted the emphasis to knowledge, information and science. A state
education should, therefore, be freely available to everybody. However, if people wish to
purchase private education, this should also be allowed or even encouraged. Private education
reduces the strain on public services and provides a source of tax revenue for the government, in
effect, subsidising state education.
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Secondly, health services must undoubtedly be available to all because the entire nation is paying
taxes and, therefore, should not be excluded from any service. Take the NHS in the UK, for
example; this organisation caters for the entire population, and no private medical insurance is
needed. Unfortunately waiting lists can be long and service is occasionally slow; therefore, some
purchase private medical insurance for a faster service. This reduces the workload of the public
sector.
To conclude, I believe both healthcare and education are basic fundamental rights, necessary for
any advanced society, and, therefore, the responsibility should lie with the government.
Nevertheless, if individuals require more than the standard level, then they should be prepared to
pay for it.
21. Some people think that schools have to be more entertaining, while others think that
their sole purpose is to educate. Which do you agree with? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
Educational reform is a contentious issue with various trends coming and going over the last few
decades. While many people believe that schools should focus on more enjoyable activities in
order to maintain student engagement, I strongly advocate to maintain a traditional approach so
as to maintain order. This essay will review both sides and use examples from a survey
performed in the UK and an academic report from a prominent university.
Learners who are required to absorb information via conventional academic methods often
experience problems with focus and attention. More specifically, repeatedly performing the same
memory-based task throughout one’s school career is likely to cause boredom and ultimately
result in student disengagement. In several schools in the UK, to take an example, it has been
shown via survey that a considerable number of young people fail to remember crucial
information simply because it was uninteresting. Adhering strictly to rote learning is therefore
harmful to those students who require further assistance to remember key details.
Although there is a case for more entertainment in schools, and even interactive media, the
appearance of such possible distractions in the classroom, cannot be overstated. This is largely
because of two reasons, firstly teachers would have to be re-trained to use such media and this
could lead to considerably increasing education expenses. Secondly, for a more fun class to
happen the teacher has to be firmly in control of the classroom or disobedience and unruly
behaviour could ensue. This was proven in a recent study by Oxford University that showed that
over 91% of teachers who implemented an entertainment oriented curriculum stated that they
quickly lost control of the students. Thus it is possible to state beyond doubt that more
entertainment in the classroom will not only increase costs but even augment poor behaviour.
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To conclude, from the arguments and examples given I firmly believe that although more
entertaining education can lead to fully inclusive classes, the risk for a teacher losing control of
the class is too high a price to pay. Discipline must be maintained or zero education will happen.
It is predicted that traditional teaching methods that incorporate total classroom control will
continue to grow in importance.
22. Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more
creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific
examples to explain your answer.
Parents throughout the world spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for school
where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing
on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would be far
more beneficial. I am a strong advocate of this approach, and the benefits of it will be covered in
this essay.
A fundamental reason for this is that there is no biological age for reading, and pushing infants to
acquire this skill before they are ready could have repercussions. For example, in the UK, many
boys are reluctant readers, possibly because of being forced to read, and this turned them off
reading. By focusing on other activities and developing other skills such as creativity and
imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this skill rapidly. In addition, the
importance of encouraging creativity and developing a child’s imagination must be
acknowledged. Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills, for example, they
are more likely to learn vocabulary through context rather than learning it from a book.
Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and gain self-confidence.
There is no scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child’s
development, moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early years’ education
focuses on playing. Reading is only encouraged if a child shows an interest in developing this
skill. This self-directed approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling
behind their foreign counterparts. In fact, Finland was ranked the sixth best in the world in terms
of reading.
Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I am not vehemently opposed to it and I
strongly recommend incorporating bedtime stories into a child’s daily routine. However, reading
as a regular day time activity should be swapped for something which allows a child to develop
other skills.
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23. Do copyright laws limit creativity or reward it? Would society function better
without such rules and regulations?
It is supposed by many that copyright laws may be counterproductive and could hinder creative
endeavour; however, personally, I disagree with this idea and opine strongly that the protection
of intellectual property is crucial to a well-functioning society, and, in fact, encourages the
production of further works by providing a framework within which innovators may be
adequately rewarded for their efforts.
Copyright regulations may prevent people from expanding on existing ideas, but a key purpose
of such rules is to ensure that new ideas are sufficiently original to warrant financial reward. It is
unlikely that members of the public could discern an original piece from a fraud, and so the
support of the courts is necessary in order to uphold standards of originality. The US federal
government states, for instance, that such laws exist to stimulate artistic creativity for the general
public good, and to ensure reasonable return to authors and inventors. Through this process, the
law establishes incentives for producing new works, which in turn encourages learning, progress,
and development.
Without such regulations, individuals would be free to copy another’s work. As mentioned
above, the general public cannot reasonably be expected to defend authenticity, and so would-be
fraudsters may receive a financial reward comparable to that of the originator. Resultantly, in
countries with substandard protections for artists, for example, creative output is consistently and
considerably lower than that of nations with strong intellectual property regulations since the
genuine owner of the work is afforded little protection or reward. If we accept that more creative
output is good for society, then copyright law can be taken as the same.
To conclude, copyright regulations are an essential tool for the promotion of creativity, and
society tends to function better with their enforcement.
24. Should humans adapt to technology or should technology be adapted to us? Is

technology making us intellectually weaker or more intelligent?
Whether the development of modern technology should be permitted to advance unhindered, or
improved only with specific regard to human need, is a contentious issue. Since learning to use
new technologies strengthens intellect, I believe that new devices should be developed without
limits in order to challenge people.
The achievements of humanity over the last century have only been made possible by the
development of modern technology. Driven by the need to discover, people have created
countless innovations in fields such as electronics, medicine and engineering which have
improved the lives of billions. Additionally, many key discoveries throughout history were made
while investigating something else entirely, such as with penicillin or the microwave oven.
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Establishing controls over what may or may not be investigated could therefore severely limit
new discoveries.
This style of innovation also provides intellectual benefits for both the inventor and the
consumer, since both must work hard in order to either create or use the new device. A constant
flow of new discoveries maintains mental stimulation amongst those who choose to make use of
them. The computer, for example, has enabled humans to achieve remarkable things, but only
after we adapted our behaviour and learned to use it fully. Also, those people who have
maintained a good degree of computer literacy are now able to seek the best professional
opportunities, which is further known to be intellectually beneficial.
In conclusion, I believe that technology should be allowed to develop freely and that humans
should adapt their behaviour to emerging discoveries. This will keep us intellectually strong and
ensure that the maximum good can come from scientific endeavour.
25. Traditional schooling is out of date, boring and stifles a child’s natural talents,
various professionals have pushed for an education revolution. Are there
alternatives in the education system? Is traditional education doing more harm than
good?
The conventional rote method of learning is often considered to be so dull as to discourage full
development of young people’s innate abilities. This essay agrees with the view that the current
pedagogy is outdated, and will consider an alternative to traditional education.
While ordinarily, children are expected to retain pre approved information dictated by a teacher,
a self-directed approach can be more beneficial. Holding all children to the same standard will
necessarily have a divisive result, with some children believing themselves to be intellectually
superior, and others feeling inadequate, perhaps for life. In systems in which achievement is
relative, such as in Finland for example, young people graduate from education each feeling as if
they have completed their own unique path, and knowing deeply and without prejudice their own
capabilities, reducing or even eliminating the feelings of inequality that conventional education
creates.
Furthermore, under the current system, students who lack aptitude in core subjects such as
mathematics and the sciences are seen as having less intrinsic value to society. These children
spend their lives believing that they are inadequate, but many may have valuable talents that
were never explored. It is in this way that conventional education does the most harm, by
ignoring niche abilities in favour of skills with more mass appeal. Comparing traditional
education with the Finnish system of self-direction, we can see that the former is certainly
causing harm to a significant number of pupils.
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To conclude, changes are urgently required in education systems around the world. We should
focus more on a child’s interests and innate abilities in order to maintain their engagement, and
allow them to direct their own learning to achieve the best outcomes.
26. Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of
poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more
responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you
agree?
Undoubtedly governments of developed nations should share the responsibility of helping less
fortunate nations. Different measures exist, ranging from market access to direct financial
payments or even medical assistance. This essay will explain why certain measures are
inherently better than other methods.
Firstly, the most adequate manner to assist the lesser developed countries is not through health or
education ‘hand-outs’. This method is flawed and only offers temporary relief from long-term
challenges; also this assistance can be cut at any moment, leaving the country stranded. For
example, economical help from the UK to disadvantaged regions in Africa has gradually been
reduced since the onset of the financial crisis. Although some parts of the continent may be
better educated or in better health, the benefit was short lived, thus leaving the countries of
Africa to look for other donors.
Commerce is without doubt the most essential type of assistance that can be given. If the lesser
developed country has the opportunity to develop trade, then it will build strong capabilities to
serve it for the long term. These strengths can develop the local economy and are more reliable
than education or health. For example, while trading with the richer country the government can
search for other foreign markets to trade with. This would offer more stability and diversification
for the nation.
To conclude, assistance is definitely necessary for the poorer regions; however, ‘hand-outs’ are
short-term solutions. The optimum solution is to offer market access so the region can produce
products and generate regular income.
27. Nowadays most green energy is becoming evermore prevalent in both developed
and developing countries. Some argue they greatly reduce costs and are better for
the environment, others believe they are a serious threat to energy security. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
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The world today uses more renewable energy than ever before since it contributes to the
preservation of the environment and is economically sound; however, some argue that green
energy could undermine the reliability of the global supply as a result of its dependency on
climatic and meteorological phenomena. This essay will examine both views, but personally, I
strongly advocate the adoption of renewable sources of energy.
On the one hand, opponents of renewables claim that the world could face disruptions to the
power supply should they be fully adopted. This is largely due to the fact that many green energy
technologies currently in use depend on changeable and unpredictable phenomena such as wind,
rain and cloud cover. To take the fastest growing sector as an example, solar panels can only be
used in the presence of strong and direct sunlight, and although the problem of directness has
already been somewhat solved with moving panel arrays, a cloudy few days could still result in a
blackout if we depended entirely on solar power; something that is unlikely to occur today given
current oil stockpiles.
However, fossil fuels are a larger threat to energy security since they are certainly finite in
quantity, whereas renewable energy is effectively infinite; once the Earth’s oil is depleted, there
will be no energy security without green energy technologies. Furthermore, problems of
unpredictability can be mitigated by improving battery technologies (to create a larger buffer),
building more renewable energy generators (to increase supply during ideal conditions) and
improving current technologies (to increase efficiency), such as in the moving solar panel
example. Proponents of renewables therefore claim that they are the most economically sound
option.
To conclude, while many may believe that green energy technologies are a threat to energy
security, the fossil fuels they frequently promote are a greater threat, and renewables are in fact
the only sound option, both economically and environmentally.
28. Some people think that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research for the
benefits of human beings, while other people argue that it is wrong.
Over centuries humans have experimented with many different chemicals, products, and
processes, with the final aim of bettering our conditions. Testing products on animals most likely
dates back centuries, however, in modern society it is a controversial point. Below is an outline
of circumstances when it could be considered acceptable and unacceptable.
Firstly, it is clear that major advances in fighting disease, viruses and illnesses would not have
been made without testing products on animals. This is because it is inhumane to test the
products on healthy human beings, likewise using computer modelling to predict reactions is
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only a recent possibility and still not as reliable as testing on animals. Therefore without
experiments on animals, breakthroughs in medicine would have been impossible, and most
would agree the price paid has been worth it.
Conversely, it could be argued that medical research carried out for mere cosmetic ends is
undoubtedly not worth the lives of innocent animals. This is largely for two reasons, firstly a
large body of research is said to have been built up previously from past experiments, and
secondly there are alternatives such as dermatological testing or using natural ingredients. For
example, retail chains such as Lush and The Body Shop have both made fortunes by positioning
themselves as natural solutions against animal testing. Therefore due to the end rationale for
testing on animals, and the alternatives available, it is clear it is completely unjustifiable in this
situation.
To conclude animal welfare can be side-stepped when the situation is threatening humans and
computer alternatives are simply too premature. Nevertheless, when the research has rather fickle
motives and viable alternatives do exist, in these cases the loss of animal’s lives in inexcusable.
29. Advances in health and biology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have
transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better
time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
opinion?
developed country has the opportunity to develop trade it will build strong capabilities to serve it
for the long term. These strengths can develop the local economy and are more reliable than
education or health. For example, while trading with the richer country the government can
for the nation.
developed country has the opportunity to develop trade it will build strong capabilities to serve it
for the long term. These strengths can develop the local economy and are more reliable than
education or health. For example, while trading with the richer country the government can
for the nation.
Biology is one of the most important areas of science due to its direct relationship to survival and
health. Observing the rapid advances made, it has been suggested that it is presently the optimum
time to be alive. I strongly agree with this affirmation for two reasons, firstly lives have been
improved, and secondly risks have been reduced.
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First, comparing life with a century ago it is possible to list new benefits available such as
hospitals, doctors, medicines, diagnoses, donors, and transplants, all of which were extremely
rare previously. Advances in the sciences have improved lives across society considerably. For
example example, consider an operation in France several years ago whereby a woman received
a complete face transplant. This would be unthinkable in 1910, therefore, due to science her life
has undoubtedly improved.
Secondly, health risks have fallen incredibly, so much so that it is possible to visit tropical
countries which previously carried considerable dangers. This is because traditionally
preventative measures such as vaccinations, immunisation and prescription tablets did not exist.
In addition over the last thirty years their cost has fallen rendering exotic travel available to
almost anyone with the funds. Therefore modern science has increased the opportunities and
reduced the risks related to travel, there has been no parallel in history.
To conclude, I strongly agree that biology and improvements in science have increased people’s
well being and their opportunities to explore the world. This is undoubtedly the first time in
history such situations have existed.
30. The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed.
Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should
discourage people from constantly buying more up to date or fashionable products.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Over the last 30 years the West has witnessed the East strive for a larger ‘piece of the economic
pie’, aiming for similar living standards to the EU and US. This has increased pressure on natural
resources and prompted suggestions for governments to limit consumption. This idea is severely
flawed because it reduces product safety and ‘building products to last would harm the poor.
Firstly, the suggestion that governments should discourage consumers from purchasing ‘up to
date products’ would eliminate the opportunity to improve their safety. This is because as
technology improves, new discoveries can be used to increase their utility. Take for example the
car industry, here technology such as ABS brakes, air-bags, seat belts have all been derived from
a constant flow of improvements. Therefore if the authorities were permitted to limit purchases,
car companies would be reluctant to invest in new features, and safety would never improve.
Secondly, it is true we are consuming more, through ever increasing populations, nevertheless,
the argument that ‘products should be made to last’ is redundant. If products were built stronger
they would be more expensive. This would harm the less wealthy consumer, furthermore with
modern technology these products can often be recycled at a later date anyway. Glass, plastic,
paper, batteries, and even mobile phones are now collected to be re-purposed, reused and
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recycled. Therefore durable products are unnecessary and would harm lower income
demographics.
To conclude it is clear that if the public sector were allowed to discourage consumption it would
harm product improvements and ultimately consumer safety. Meddling with product durability
would most likely harm the poor. Therefore I am strongly opposed to both of these notions.
31. Some people are of the opinion that children should be rewarded for good
behaviour. Others think they should be punished for bad behaviour. Discuss both
views and give your personal opinion and reasons.
The debate over a child’s moral education is difficult due to the various view points each party
holds. The question of discipline is exceptionally important, moreover whether to treat good
behaviour with a neutral attitude or to just focus on correcting incorrect actions. My personal
opinion is that any positive actions ought to be immediately recognised by the parent and vice
versa for negative conduct. This balanced approach makes for a more positive outcome for both
the child and family.
Firstly rewarding a good act immediately signals a positive reaction in the child’s brain which
should encourage the child to want to behave similar in the future. Failure to recognise such
behaviour leaves the child with the same emotional feeling as if they had done nothing.
Therefore rewarding the child regularly for good behaviour enforces the action making it more
likely to repeat itself in the future.
Secondly punishing the son or daughter is also necessary, failure to discipline could have serious
consequences in the future. For example if a child has no clear concept of respect for elders or
authority it is quite possible to encounter more serious problems later in life. This pattern is
prevalent in marginal neighbourhoods throughout the world. Therefore it is essential to
immediately discipline the child whenever witnessing an unruly act so as to enforce the correct
behaviour from an early age.
To conclude both bad and good actions need to be recognised and dealt with immediately to
correct or encourage the future actions. Failure to do either of these could result in a less
fortunate life or a youth who rarely performs any good acts for anyone. Therefore it is critical
that both types of behaviour are recognised dealt with accordingly for the benefit of the child in
the future.
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32. Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. Discuss the causes and
solutions.
The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of industrialisation to the present
day has brought opportunity and prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life. With an
increasing city population, the complexity of the challenges also increases, the causes and
solutions for this are outlined below.
The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically the prosperity endowed on
such metropolitan centres. Their growth is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer,
which in turn increases their attractiveness, essentially they are trapped in a positive self-
reinforcing cycle. However, this eventually leads to a decrease in the quality of life as the city
can experience overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased vulnerability to terrorist
attacks. For example the density of London makes it a more efficient place to attack, when
compared to a smaller city such as Bradford. Therefore, due to continuous growth and
prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less well off, often experience a lower standard of
living.
Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport would ease traffic congestion,
as would bike lanes. In theory this would reduce air pollution, and possibly improve the
wellbeing of the population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to work. To
counter violent terrorist attacks, cities could embark on CCTV installations, so as to closely
monitor for threats. For example, it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential
attacks, and therefore greatly increased the security of its citizens.
To conclude, a wealthy city attracts a large population inflow, which then causes pressure on
existing infrastructure and security. Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks,
nevertheless an indefinite solution has yet to be found.
33. Some people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of time
instead of going directly to study at university. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of both approaches. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
It is common for a student to take a gap-year in a foreign country or even work for a year prior to
university. Whether a student should engage in travelling or working before embarking on a
formal qualification has been a topic of debate for various years. Firstly the advantages of such
activities will be discussed, followed by all the economical disadvantages one encounters on
such endeavours.
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The benefits of resisting university for a year to travel or work open the students mind to new
worlds, such as having responsibility at work or learning a new language abroad. Having spent a
year in Australia prior to university I learnt how to look for work, become responsible with
finances and other essential life skills such as cooking. Upon starting university various tasks
such as money management and employment were second nature thus allowing more time for
studies. Without having gone abroad university life would undoubtedly be more challenging.
The disadvantages are mainly cost related, the airfare, travel insurance, national insurance and
personal living costs are large sums. However finding another opportunity to go abroad is
difficult once the pattern of normal life is resumed. In addition it also an opportunity to
experiment with different jobs before choosing a career at university. Therefore there is a
considerable advantage of taking a year out before higher education.
To conclude, the main disadvantages are the costs involved, however the benefits dramatically
outweigh the disadvantages. Time should be spent wisely as it can never be recuperated unlike
money which can be spent and earned.
34. It is the job of governments and companies to deal with the huge environmental
problems which we face. Individuals on their own can do little or nothing’. What is
your opinion about this statement?
There is now little doubt that global warming and climate change are the result of human
activity. This has happened because of a failure in environmental policy by governments and a
lack of concern for wasted energy by individuals.
It is almost universally accepted that climate change is the consequence of a number of
environmental failings. Perhaps the most important of these is how fossil fuels such as gas and
coal are still the main source of power. This is a problem because their use means that a large
amount of CO2 is released into the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect. Another serious
issue is how illegal logging continues in rainforests and the Amazon Basin in particular. It should
also not be forgotten that there is a connection between global warming and the inefficient use of
energy by consumers in the home.
While governments must take prime responsibility for reducing climate change, individuals too
can play a part. Political leaders across the globe need to cooperate so that research into
renewable forms of energy such as wind and solar power is properly funded and the use of coal
and gas in power stations is phased out. They must also of course ensure that regulations against
logging are properly enforced. Consumers of energy can help by insulating their homes properly
and using solar panels where possible so that less energy is required and wasted. These actions
should limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and so reduce the greenhouse effect.
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In conclusion, while global warming is a serious threat to humanity, there are a number of steps
that can be taken to reduce its effects.
35. Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more
creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific
examples to explain your answer.
Parents throughout the world place spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for
school where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that
focusing on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would
be far more beneficial. I am a strong advocate of this approach, and the benefits of it will be
covered in this essay.
A fundamental reason for this is that there is no biological age for reading, and pushing infants to
acquire this skill before they are ready could have repercussions. For example, in the UK, many
boys are reluctant readers, possibly because of being forced to read, and this turned them off
reading. By focusing on other activities and developing other skills such as creativity and
imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this skill rapidly. In addition, the
importance of encouraging creativity and developing a child’s imagination must be
acknowledged. Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills, for example, they
are more likely to learn vocabulary through context rather than learning it from a book.
Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and gain self-confidence. There is
no scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child’s
development, moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early years’ education
focuses on playing. Reading is only encouraged if a child shows and interest in developing this
skill. This self-directed approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling
behind their foreign counterparts. In fact, Finland was ranked the sixth best in the world in terms
of reading.
Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I strongly recommend incorporating
bedtime stories into a child’s daily routine. However, reading as a regular daytime activity
should be swapped for something which allows the child to develop other skills.
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