Language for introductions

 In this day and age…

 … is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.
 … is a growing issue in today’s society
 We live in an age when many of us are…
 More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
 The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
 Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
 Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
 Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
 Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that ……..

Language for topic sentences

Second Paragraph

 …. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on…

 It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in…
 It is undoubtedly the case that…
 There is little doubt that…
 … is widely believed to contribute to…
 It is generally considered that…
 Recent research suggests that…
 Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on…
 Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

Third Paragraph

 Another factor to consider is…

 On the other hand/In contrast…
 It is often claimed that…
 All the evidence suggests that…

Language for supporting ideas

Language for introducing supporting ideas:

 For example,
 For instance,
 An obvious example of this is…
 A clear example of this is…
 This is illustrated by…
 As a case in point…

Paragraph Skeleton

It goes without saying that …………………………………………………………………… A clear

example of this is ………………………………………………………. In addition,
……………………………………………………………………. Nevertheless,
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………. Overall/in summary
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..

Language for conclusions:

 In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
 As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc.
 … is the most effective way to… due to the fact that…

OR

 In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…

 Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to
the fact that…

Expressing Opinion

 I am of the opinion that…

 In my humble opinion…
 My thoughts on the matter are that…
 As far as I am concerned,
 As far as my opinions on the matter are concerned,…
 My initial reaction to the opinions outlined in the text was…
 I am a firm believer in…
 On the whole, I tend to agree with… due to the fact that…
Formal Language
 DO NOT USE:

·         Contractions
 ·         Colourful language (gorgeous/stunning/awesome etc.)

·         Informal phrasal verbs (meet up/break down/check out etc.)

·         “I/we think….” (too personal)

-Use passive forms whenever possible.

-Use relative clauses to join ideas: The period during which  he lived was full of uncertainty.

-Use these formal words:  like à such as   /   kids à children

a lot (of) a many / a large number of  + countable noun

a lot (of)à much / a great amount of / a great deal of + uncountable

a lot (intensity)à very much / significantly / dramatically

– Avoid using the word things / something,  etc. Use a more specific word (problems, situation, solutions,
subjects, and so on).

Match the formal words or phrases (1-10) that can replace the words/phrases in bold (a-j) .
1. It goes without saying that a) Lots of people think that museums are out-dated.
2. In light of the above, b) Many museums do not cater for young children so they must
3. It is widely believed that be updated.
4. Furthermore/Moreover c) The majority of public gardens are badly-maintained because
5. A great deal of + local governments cannot afford to employ more gardeners.
(uncountable noun) d) Although many youngsters still play sports, participation id
6. Due to the fact that decreasing due to the influence of video games.
7. A large number of + e) To sum up, it is vitally important that local governments
(countable noun) invest more in museums.
8. There are those who believe f) Obviously having access to good sports facilities makes it
that easier to participate in both individual and team sports.
9. In spite of the fact that g) Some people think that investing in public gardens is a
10. therefore waste of money.
h) Also, many sports facilities are overcrowded due to a rise in
demand.
i) Local governments have already spent a lot of money on
upgrading the city’s parks and gardens.
j) A lot of local people have expressed their disappointment
with the cuts in public spending for museums.

ANSWER:
1. F 6. C
2. E 7. J
3. A 8. G
4. H 9. D
5. I 10. B

“For example…”
“For instance…”
“This can be seen when…”
“… is one example of …”
“…as illustrated by…”
“…as seen in …”
“…which is made apparent when…”
these include…
for instance…
particularly…
especially…
this is illustrated…
note well….
for instance
As an example
such as
e.g.(meaning “exempli gratia”)
“by way of illustration”,
“in particular”,
“as a case in point”,
“namely”,
“an example being…”

CAUSE

-lead to: The research could lead to a cure for many serious illnesses.

-result in: The fire resulted in damage to their property.

-be responsible for: He was responsible for the accident.

-bring about: The war brought about enormous social change.

-give rise to: Poor performance in exams can give rise to depression and even thoughts of suicide.

-trigger: to make something suddenly start to happen, especially a bad situation such as a crisis or a war, or
a medical condition: Certain foods can trigger allergies.

-contribute to: Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among
nonsmokers.

-factor: Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing any product.

Describing causes
One factor which has led to ………… is …………..

One of the factors which has brought this about is ………

The problem often stems from ………………..

The situation has been exacerbated by …………….

………….. has only made the situation worse.

One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Concluding
All in all it seems to me that ………..

The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that …………………..

All things considered, ………….

On balance, I tend to believe that …………

The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..

If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a ……………

The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….

Agreement

-A great number of people share the view that tourism will have a negative impact on the island.

-Today there is general / widespread agreement that pollution from cars and planes is threatening the

future of our planet.

-It is now widely accepted that the universe began with the so-called ‘big bang’.

Disagreement

–Opinions differ about the proper relationship between the mass media and society.

–There is considerable disagreement among experts about the usefulness of these tests.

–There has been a great deal of controversy over abortion in the US.

Advantages and disadvantages

-Regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.

-Despite a few problems with the design, the car’s advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages.

–The major drawback of this method is that it can be very time-consuming.

–The downside of running your own business is that you are responsible if anything goes wrong.

Cause

–lead to: The research could lead to a cure for many serious illnesses.

–result in: The fire resulted in damage to their property.

–be responsible for: He was responsible for the accident.

–bring about:The war brought about enormous social change.

–give rise to: Poor performance in exams can give rise to depression and even thoughts of suicide.

–trigger:to make something suddenly start to happen, especially a bad situation such as a crisis or a war, or

a medical condition: Certain foods can trigger allergies.

–contribute to: Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among

nonsmokers.

–factor: Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing any product.

Effect

–impact on: His work has had an enormous impact on the study of genetics.

–influence on:  In his book, he examines the influence of the media on our society.

–affect: (v) The disease affects women more than men.

–influence: (v) She has influenced him a lot.

–implications:  The results of the study could have important implications for future educational policy.

Emphasizing

-I would like to stress that the research is still at an early stage.

–It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available.

–It is worth bearing in mind that 90% of the scientists researching herbicides in the US are employed by
chemical companies.

-Factors such as temperature and acidity play a crucial role in determining how well the process works.

-These insects play a vital part in the food chain.

–It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as possible.

-The climate is much colder, especially in the far north.

Problems

–issue: Issue is used especially about problems that affect a lot of people in society:  International terrorism
is the biggest issue (=the most important issue) facing the world today. Previous governments failed to
address (=try to deal with) social issues such as unemployment and homelessness.

–challenge: something difficult that you must do or deal with, which needs a lot of skill, effort, and
determination: She said she was looking forward to the challenge of starting up a new business on her own.

–difficulty:  The company has managed to overcome (=deal with) its recent financial difficulties.

  Many people experience difficulty in sleeping at some time in their lives.

– trouble:  a problem or several problems that make something difficult, spoil your plans etc:  Students of
English often have trouble with phrasal verbs.  The company ran into trouble (=started to have problems)
when it tried to expand too quickly.

–setback:  something that happens which stops you making progress or which makes things worse than
they were before:  Despite some early setbacks, his campaign for the presidency was successful.

–obstacle:  Criminal gangs are the biggest obstacle to democratic reform.

–dilemma:  The doctors were faced with a moral dilemma.

–vicious circle:  Some developing countries get caught in a vicious circle. They cannot afford to pay their
debt repayments, and so the debts get even bigger.
–complication

 Increase

–increase by (percent):  Last year, the number of burglaries increased by 15 percent.

–go up: Last month unemployment went up from 1.6 million to just over 1.7 million.

–grow:  The volume of traffic on our roads continues to grow.

–expand:  After two years of no growth, the economy started to expand again in 2003.

–double/triple/quadruple: Since 1950, the number of people dying from cancer has almost doubled.

-growth: (n) There has been a huge growth in sales of big 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Decrease

–decrease by (percent):  The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent.

–go down: The percentage of fat in our diets has gone down.

–fall: The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000.

–drop:  At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.

–decline: decline is used about numbers or amounts, and also about the level or standard of something:

In rural areas, the standard of living continued to decline.

ADMIRE

–respect / look up to: The children need someone they can look up to.

–think highly of:  Most of the students and staff think very highly of Dr. Smith.

–think highly of = have a high opinion of

–highly regarded/respected: a highly respected surgeon

= be an admirer of

ADVANCED
–sophisticated / high-tech (equipment) / state-of-the-art (technology)

SURPRISING  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–amazing / unbelievable / incredible / astonishing / staggering

–come as a surprise / come as a shock / amaze / astonish

SURPRISED  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–amazed / astonished / speechless / be taken aback (He was taken aback by the news)

EXCITING  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–thrilling / gripping / exhilarating / action-packed

BORING 

–dull / tedious / monotonous / uninspiring

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE     (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–attractive / good-looking / gorgeous / striking / stunning

BEAUTIFUL PLACES     (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–breathtaking / stunning / awe-inspiring / striking / spectacular

–spotless: very clean

UGLY PLACES / PEOPLE      (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–unattractive / unpleasant / unsightly / hideous (=extremely ugly)

–filthy: very dirty

IN BAD CONDITION  (PLACES)

-in bad condition / dilapidated / run-down

NEW

–latest / brand-new / innovative (idea or system)

 
OLD

–old-fashioned / outdated / obsolete

VERY

–absolutely  / extremely / highly / incredibly / remarkably

GOOD PERFORMANCE / PIECE OF WORK

–excellent / outstanding / impressive / exceptional

GOOD FOR A PARTICULAR JOB, PURPOSE, ETC

–suitable / right / proper / appropriate / be suited to

WRONG INFORMATION / NUMBERS

–incorrect / inaccurate / misleading

NOT REASONABLE / NECESSARY

–unjustified / unreasonable / without good reason

RELAX

–unwind / wind down: Set in spectacular countryside, the Shiga Hotel is the perfect place to unwind.

–make someone feel at ease

–relaxed / feel at ease / laid-back (not easily worried or annoyed) /

NERVOUS

–tense / uneasy / anxious / be under stress

PUBLIC SERVICES

–facilities: The facilities at the hotel were excellent — tennis courts, swimming pool, several bars and a
good restaurant.

–amenities: things such as shops, parks, or restaurants that make living or working in a place more pleasant

I prefer this part of the city because there are plenty of good amenities.
COMPARISONS

–a great deal / far / much + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)

–a bit / slightly / barely + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)

–by far / easily the + superlative (This is easily the best solution we can think of)

VERY MUCH / NOT VERY MUCH

–dramatically / significantly / slightly

And

–As well (as) / in addition to:   Over 600 people will lose their jobs, in addition to the 400 people who left

the company last year.

–In addition: A fifth of the world’s population lives on less than $1 a day. In addition, over 100 million

children are living on the streets.

–Furthermore / Moreover:  used at the beginning of a sentence when adding an important fact that is

connected with what you have just said:  The drug has strong side effects. Furthermore, it can be

addictive.

If

–as long as / on condition that / provided that

Or

–alternatively: You can go up into the mountains. Alternatively, you can stroll around one of Switzerland’s

delightful cities where the old mixes with the new.

–on THE one hand … on the other (hand)

Because

–As  / since:  As it was a hot day, they decided to leave all the windows open.  Since it is difficult to predict

how the climate will change, it is not possible to say which countries will suffer the most.
–thanks to

–due to/owing to + NOUN   

The delay was due to a problem with the ship’s engines.

–due to/owing to + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb

The men did most of the work in the fields. This was partly due to the fact that the men were stronger.

But/although

–While / whereas / by contrast

–However:  However  is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by

commas: Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village,

however, were less lucky. Or it comes at the beginning of a sentence: He began his academic career as a

mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.

–Nevertheless: Nevertheless is usually used at the beginning of a sentence, or at the end.

–in spite of/despite + NOUN   

Despite his lack of formal education, he became one of the world’s leading mathematicians.

–in spite of/despite + verb + ING  

This was a dinosaur that weighed only 10 tons, in spite of being some 28 metres long.

–in spite of/despite + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb

Many people are worried that cellphones may be dangerous to health, despite the fact that most of the

research suggests that there is little risk.

 SOME MORE:

more often that not  (at the beginning of the sentence)

 it is little wonder 
The tourism industry is in a state of flux = 'constantly changing'.
 the situation in environmental problem zones may be exacerbated by, for example, water cycle damage and
on top of that, the profits of tourism
 in the foreseeable future

We should do our utmost to

such a bleak scenario
address the issue of

ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Modern technology is creating a single
world culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. 
2. Some say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities
in their spare time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on
their own.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
(Phân tích đề, làm outline xong rồi click vô link để check)
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-books/
3. 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?
(Phân tích đề, làm outline xong rồi click vô link để check)

https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-books/
4. The question doesn’t ask if we have A LOT of choices, which is definitely true, but if we have
TOO MANY choices, which means that the amount of choice we have is a BAD thing. That’s right, in
English “too many” always means that something is BAD.
(Phân tích đề, làm outline xong rồi click vô link để check)
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/100-ielts-essay-topics/

IELTS Discuss Both Views and Give your Own Opinion Writing Topics
1. Some people think that illegal Internet downloads are having a negative effect on the
music industry. Others feel that they have little or no impact on artists. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion.
2.   Some people think that exams are a good way of assessing a student’s level. Other people believe
that they put unnecessary pressure on young learners and tell us very little about their actual
ability. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
3. Successful sportsmen can earn a great deal more than people in other important professions.
Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion.
4. Some people feel that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime. Others feel that
the circumstances of an offence should be taken into account when deciding on a punishment. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.
5. Some people believe that all children should learn a foreign language from the time they start
school, while others believe it is better to wait until a child is at secondary school. Discuss both views and
give your own opinion.
6. Some people believe that in the near future there will be no borders between countries, while
others feel that national borders will always remain. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
7. Some people feel that the  cost of space exploration is far too high for the benefits it brings while
others argue that we space programmes should continue no matter what the cost. Discuss both views and
give your own opinion.
8. Some people believe that advertising has a strong effect on a person’s decision-making process.
Others feel that it has little or no real impact. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
9. Some people believe that  every human can create art. Other people think that art can only be
created by people with special talents. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
10. Some people feel that the media has the strongest impact on people’s lives. Others feel that it is
politicians who have the most control over the way people lives. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.
11. Some people feel that the  primary function of a university should be to prepare students for the
working world. Others argue that the purpose of a university education is to provide knowledge for
knowledge’s sake. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
12. Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others
think that adult life brings more happiness in spite of greater responsibilities. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.
13. Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others,
however, prefer to take risks and think that change is a positive thing. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion.
14. Some people think that boys and girls should attend school together. Others feel that they should
be educated separately.  Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
15. Some people feel that global warming  should be dealt with by governments. Others feel that it is
the responsibility of individuals in society to solve the problem. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.
16. 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 views and give your own opinion.
17. Some people think that a sense of competition should be encouraged in children. Others believe
that children who are taught to cooperate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.
18. Some people think that economic development is the only way to end poverty while others believe
that it is causing damage to the environment and so should be stopped. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.
19. Some people think that new houses should be built in the same style as the older houses in an
area. Others believe that the government should allow people to build houses in the style they
want. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
20. Some people like to spend their leisure time with their colleagues. Others think it is better to keep
their private life separate from their work life. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Should include your opinion in the introduction to a Discuss Both Sides essay? Great question!
Click here to find out the answer!

To What Extent Do you Agree or Disagree Writing Topics

1. University education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree
2. Men and women are capable of doing all jobs equally well. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
3. Some people believe that nowadays we have too much choice. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
4. Advertising that targets children should be banned from our televisions. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
5. Some people say it is important to keep your home and your workplace tidy, with everything
organised in the correct place.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
6. In some countries it is common for school leavers to take a year off between finishing school and
starting university. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this practice?
7. Open plan offices offer a better working environment for staff than a normal office. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
8. Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
9. The recent popularity of online shopping will result in the end of high street shops. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
10. International sporting events promote peace between countries. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
11. Some people think it is a good thing for  senior managers to have much higher salaries than the
other workers  in a company. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
12. People who read for pleasure in their free time have a better imagination than those who prefer to
watch TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
13. Some people believe that  children who are given pocket money every week have less problems
managing money when they become adults. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
14. Some people believe that eventually all jobs will be done by artificially intelligent robots. What is
your opinion?
15. Nowadays  environmental problems are too big for individual countries or people to solve. We
have reached the stage where we need cooperation on an international level to protect the environment. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
16. Some people say that a person’s success is as a direct result of the way they were brought up  by
their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
17. Some people think that plastic shopping bags  should be banned because they contribute to land
and sea pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
18. Some  people who have been in prison become good citizens  later, and so it is often argued that
these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
19. Some people believe that  children should be taught how to manage money  at school. Do you
agree or disagree?
20. Some people believe that in order for a hobby to be enjoyable, it needs to be difficult. Do you
agree or disagree?

Is it importance to add balance to a To What Extent essays or can you argue strongly for one side?
Great question – many answer is even better! Just click here to find out!

Best Way IELTS Essay Topics

1.  One of the biggest problems facing the world today is growing enough food to feed the ever-
expanding population.  Genetically Modified foods are the best way to solve this issue. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
2.   The main cause of global warming  is pollution from cars. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
3. Playing computer games  only has negative effects on children. To what extent do you agree or
disagree
4. The  main reason for the high sale of consumer goods in today’s society is advertising. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
5. Good marketing is the key to running a successful business. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
6. The  best way to tackle the problem of obesity is to educate people about healthy eating. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
7. The most important factor in job satisfaction is salary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
8. Many people use customer reviews on the Internet to make decisions about what they buy.  Are
customer reviews the most useful tool to use when making a purchase?
9. 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 views and
give your own opinion.
10. Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or
work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a
foreign language. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Positive or Negative Development IELTS Essay Topics

1.   Many parents  today employ private tutors  to teach their children after school hours. Do you
think this is a positive or negative development?
2. Today, more people are waiting until their thirties to get married and have children. Do you think
this is a positive or negative development?
3. In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping
centres or malls to do their shopping. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
4. 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?
5. Nowadays  many people communicate using social media. Do you think this is a positive or
negative development?