academic essay example for ielts

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Free online IELTS Academic Writing practice tests - paper

You will be allowed 1 hour to complete two tasks in the IELTS Academic Writing test.

The two parts of this practice Writing test are presented on two separate web pages. Make sure you move swiftly from one page to the next so that your practice is as realistic as possible. If you prefer to work offline, download the test paper.

In the actual test you will do your writing in an answer booklet.

The total time allowed for the IELTS Academic Writing test is 60 minutes. Time yourself and allow just one hour to complete both parts of the test.

Task 2 contributes twice as much as task 1 to the Writing score.

Writing task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on task 1

• write in a formal style
• write at least 150 words

Writing task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on task 2

• write at least 250 words

Instructions to candidates

In the actual test you will be given the following instructions:

• do not open this question paper until you are told to do so
• write your name and candidate number in the spaces at the top of this page
• read the instructions for each task carefully
• answer both of the tasks
• write at least 150 words for task 1
• write at least 250 words for task 2
• write your answers in the answer booklet
• write clearly in pen or pencil; you may make alterations, but make sure your work is easy to read

At the end of the test, hand in both the question paper and your answer booklet.

Once you have completed both tasks, review your work. Download the model answers to see good examples of how to complete the Writing test. 

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Structures

The four most common IELTS writing Task 2 questions are: Opinion, Advantages and Disadvantages, Problem and Solution Discussion

IELTS Task 2 Essay Structures

Knowing how to structure your IELTS Writing Task 2 essay is an essential skill that can make the difference between getting and not getting the band score you deserve. With that in mind, we have outlined the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 structures below.

Nearly all of my Task 2 essays follow this basic structure: The sentences you put in each paragraph will depend on what type of question you get.

The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:

• Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Problem and Solution
• Discussion (Discuss both views)
• Two-part Question

Below I will outline examples and a structure approved by experienced IELTS teachers and examiners for each type of question. This will help you write a clear, coherent answer and hopefully boost your IELTS band score. I also include an example answer for each type of question so you can see the structure in a real essay.

Please note that these are general structures and may vary slightly depending on the question.

Please also note that no ‘one’ Task 2 essay structure will get you a high score. There are many types of structures that can get you a high score. These are just some I think are effective and easy to learn. 

Please visit the lessons below for more detailed guidance on each type of question. I have provided a link at the end of each section.

Opinion Questions (Agree or Disagree) 

Typical Question Words –

What is your opinion?

Do you agree or disagree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Direct question.

Example Question –

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

Essay Structure 

Introduction 

1- Paraphrase Question

2- Give your opinion and outline the main ideas.

Main Body Paragraph 1 

1- Topic Sentence

2- Explain Topic Sentence

Main Body Paragraph 2

Conclusion 

1- Summary of main points and opinion

Student Sample Answer

It is argued that volunteering should be made part of the school curriculum. This essay agrees with that suggestion completely because it help pupils develop soft skills and helps them gain much-needed work experience.

Education should not be limited to strictly academic pursuits, and those in education should also develop life skills, such as teamwork, empathy and self-discipline, and one of the best ways to hone these aptitudes is through community service. Serving those less fortunate than ourselves teaches us many lessons, including how to work with people from other backgrounds and the value of hard work, thus enabling us to hone these skills before becoming an adult. For example, many young people from wealthier countries take a gap year and help those less fortunate than themselves to increase their gratitude for what they have and improve their work ethic.

Many colleges and companies are also increasingly looking for this type of experience. Most school leavers have the same grades, and charitable work can help set you apart from other students when making college applications. For example, Cambridge and Oxford receive thousands of applications from straight-A students yearly and can only accept a small percentage of applicants. What you have done outside the classroom often differentiates you from everyone else and gets you that coveted spot.

In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid work as part of their schooling because it will help them learn things they wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their teachers, and it will also boost their chances of getting into third-level education.

For more detail on how to answer agree or disagree questions, please visit our opinion essay lesson . 

Need help writing essays like this? Check out our ESSAY CORRECTION SERVICE .

Advantages and Disadvantages Questions

Typical Question Words 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Example Question

Technology is being used more and more in education.

Essay Structure

2- Outline Main Points

Main Body Paragraph 1

1- State Two Advantages

2- Expand/Explain First Advantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Advantage

1- State Two Disadvantages

2- Expand/Explain First Disadvantage

3- Expand/Explain Second Disadvantage

1- Summary of Main Points

Student Sample Answer 

It is argued that technology plays an ever-increasing role in schools and universities. Increased access to information and student freedom are the main advantages, whereas dependency on technology and decreasing levels of face-to-face contact are the main disadvantages.

Access to more information and student autonomy are the principal advantages of increasing the use of electronic devices in education. With the internet, students can access all the information available about any topic, regardless of what books and other resources are available in the school. Furthermore, students can focus on whatever topic or subject they want and study it in depth. A prime example of this is the number of online university courses available to students, covering a myriad of subjects that, up until recently, were unavailable to most learners. This has resulted in more people studying third-level degrees than ever before at a pace and schedule that suits them.

The main disadvantages associated with the increasing use of technology in education are the dependency on this technology and the decrease in face-to-face interaction between students. With many students now using the internet as their primary source of information, they often struggle to use other academic resources to find what they’re looking for. As well as this, students spend more time looking at computer screens by themselves than interacting with each other, which is thought to lead to lower levels of emotional intelligence. For instance, the recent explosion in smartphone use has been at the expense of genuine human interaction. This results in soft skills, such as verbal communication and empathy, being affected.

In conclusion, the benefits technology brings to education, such as unrestricted access to information and student autonomy, must be weighed against the drawbacks, such as dependency on this technology and the negative effects on human interaction.

For more detail on how to answer advantage and disadvantage questions, please visit our  advantage and disadvantage lesson . 

Discuss Both Views Question (Discussion Essay)  

Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.

Example Question 

Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences.

Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

1- Paraphrase Question and/or state both viewpoints.

2- Thesis Statement

3- Outline Sentence

1- State first viewpoint

2- Discuss first viewpoint

3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint

4- Example to support your view

1- State second viewpoint

2- Discuss second viewpoint

Sentence 1- Summary

Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important

There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers.

The Internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. This has allowed learners to research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily.

However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible.

While the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive.

For more detail on how to answer discussion questions please visit our  discussion essay lesson . 

Problem and Solution Questions

Problem and solution.

Cause and solution.

Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology.

What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

2- Outline Sentence

1- State Problems

2- Explain First Problem

3- Explain Second Problem

4- Example of Second Problem

1- State Solutions

2- Explain First Solution

3- Explain Second Solution

4- Example of Second Solution

Learners are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, such as the Internet and mobile devices. This essay believes the main problems associated with dependence on computers are the lack of original thought and copying original work from others and suggests critical thinking classes and writing analysis software as the most viable solutions.

The principal problems with over-reliance on technology are people being unable to think for themselves and plagiarism. With access to so much information, students often rely on other people’s opinions instead of forming their own. As well as this, they often use search engines to answer a question and copy the text from a website rather than thinking about the question. This practice is prohibited in schools and universities and stunts students’ intellectual development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university is supposed to be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer to their questions.

Solutions to these worrying problems are special classes to focus on critical thinking and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. If teachers create situations where students have to infer meaning and express opinions based on a small amount of information, this will ensure that students have an opportunity to develop these skills. Also, if students know that their assignments are being checked for plagiarism, this will be enough to deter them from doing so. For instance, many universities already use this kind of software to scan coursework for plagiarism, and it could be extended to include all homework by learners in both secondary and tertiary education.

In conclusion, the main problems with the overuse of technology in education are the lack of original thought and plagiarism. These can be solved through special classes that teach students analytical skills and plagiarism detection software.

For more detail on how to answer problem and solution questions please visit our  problem and solution lesson . 

Two-Part Questions

There will normally be a statement, and they will then ask you to answer separate questions.

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

What factor contributes to job satisfaction?

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

2- Outline Sentence (mention both questions)

1- Answer first question directly

2- Explain why

3- Further explain

1- Answer second question directly

As most adults spend most of their time at work, being content with your career is a crucial part of a person’s health and happiness. This essay will first suggest fair pay as a key element leading to job satisfaction, and it will then state that it is not very likely that everyone can be happy with their job.

The most important thing that satisfies someone at work is being compensated fairly. If those more senior than you respect you as a person and the job you are doing, then you feel like you are valued. A fair salary and benefits are important marks of respect, and if you feel you are being underpaid, you will either resent your bosses or look for another job. These two factors came top of a recent job satisfaction survey conducted by Monster.com, which found that 72% of people were pleased with their current role if their superiors regularly told them they were appreciated.

With regard to the question of happiness for all workers, I think this is and always will be highly unlikely. The vast majority of people fail to reach their goals and end up working in a post they don’t really care about in return for a salary. This money is just enough to pay their living expenses which often means they are trapped in a cycle of disenchantment. For example, The Times recently reported that 89% of office workers would leave their jobs if they did not need the money.

In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is an important part of one’s well-being, and respect from one’s colleagues and fair pay can improve your level of happiness; however, job satisfaction for all workers is an unrealistic prospect.

Can I get a band 8 or 9 following these structures? 

Nobody can give you a Task 2 IELTS structure that guarantees high scores. Your score is dependent on how good your grammar and vocabulary are and how well you answer the question. A good structure will help you answer the question to some extent and boost your score for coherence and cohesion, but you must use relevant ideas and use these ideas well to answer the question.

You can see how my student scored a Band 8.5 in IELTS Writing here:

Next Steps 

We hope you found those IELTS Writing Task 2 structures useful. Looking for some more sample questions? Here are over 100 sample questions from past exam papers.

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IELTS Opinion Essays: Structure, Topics and Sample Answers

10 min read

Updated On Aug 01, 2024

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The article provides guidance on writing IELTS opinion essays, emphasizing structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs supporting one view, and a conclusion. It includes examples, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for clear, concise essays.

Table of Contents

What is the ielts opinion essay format, ielts opinion essay sample answers, latest ielts opinion essay topics of 2024, top 3 common mistakes of ielts opinion essays, tips to answer ielts opinion essay questions.

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IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key! You can also check tips to write an effective introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2 to present a great IELTS opinion essay!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

• Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
• Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

• Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
• Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
• Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
• Make sure to use appropriate IELTS Vocabulary and IELTS Grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 o pinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have. Additionally, you can review the IELTS Writing Task 2 practice tests on a regular basis to achieve your desired band score.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

Struggling to Crack the IELTS opinion essays? Our 8+ band trainers have got you! Sign up for a FREE demo now!

Sample Answer

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

A few IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essay of opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

• In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?
• Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
• Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
• Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your IELTS band score . Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare! The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

• Not giving a clear opinion.
• Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
• Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

• Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
• Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
• Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
• Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
• Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
• Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
• The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
• Write a complete essay following the given structure.
• Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

• Tips to write great writing essay
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

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100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
• Essay Questions by Essay Type (for example Opinion, Discussion etc)

Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: IELTS LIZ STORE

1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
• Crime & Punishment   (12 essay questions)
• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for you to practice with at home.

• Opinion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Discussion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Solution Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Direct Questions Model Essay 
• Adv/Disadv Model Essay with Useful Tips

3) Recent Essay Topics

You can also track recent essay topics on this page: IELTS ESSAY TOPICS 2024

Note: you must also prepare all other topics on the page above because questions are recycled each year.

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Introduction

This collection of sample answers is intended to help you understand what is necessary in order to write a great essay. All of these answers have been written by a native speaker who is also a professional writer and IELTS trainer with more than ten years of experience. It is important to note before we begin that these answers are not the only way to score band 9. Whether you study English, Korean, Arabic, Spanish, or any other language, it is important to note that there is more than one way to express yourself. If we gather 1,000 professional writers, they would produce 1,000 different IELTS essays.

The fifty answers in this book have been written in order to guide IELTS candidates to the most effective means of composing an essay. They show how to fulfil the requirements of the marking rubric without using overly complex language.

In fact, that is one of the most important things that you should remember. Accuracy and range are more important than using “difficult” language. The best way to approach IELTS writing is through common sense. You could broadly categorise any good approach to an IELTS essay like this:

1) Analyse the question 2) Structure your answer 3) Write your essay 4) Check your writing

Obviously, the hardest part is #3 because there is so much to consider. However, it is important to note that you do not need to achieve perfection in your essay. You just have to make it very good.

When it comes to structure, I always tell people to keep it simple. Do not try to reinvent the wheel. Every task 2 essay requires an introduction and conclusion, as well as two or three body paragraphs. Your structure should look like this: 1) Introduction 2) Body paragraph 1 3) Body paragraph 2 4) Conclusion

The sample answers in this book should help you to understand the construction and execution of a very good IELTS essay. Do not think that these are the only ways to do it. They are intended as models to help you but ultimately the process of planning and writing an essay comes down to one person – you.

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IELTS Essay Samples of Band 8

• 71 Comments
• IELTS Essays - Band 8 , IELTS Writing Samples
• by Simone Braverman

Here you can find IELTS Essay samples of Band 8 on many topics, written by students and graded by an IELTS teacher. Click on one of the topics below to jump to essays on that topic.

Celebrities Crime and Punishment Culture Education Environment Family and Children Food and Diet Global Issues Government and Laws Health Housing and Town Planning Media and Advertising Money Reading Society and Social Matters Sport and Exercise Technology Tourism Work Young People

Note: the task prompt of each essay appears when you hold the mouse over the link. Every essay is checked, marked, has comments and suggestions. Hold the mouse over to see suggested corrections. The teacher’s summary is at the bottom of each essay.

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Celebrities

Celebrities earn more money than politicians (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

Celebrities can be poor role models for teenagers (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Crime and Punishment

Why criminals commit another offence after punishment – Sample essay 1

Crime rates are likely to decline due to the advancements in technology – Sample essay 2

If a child commits a crime, should the child or the parents be punished? – Sample essay 3

Many criminals commit more crimes as soon as they are released from prison (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Culture

In the past people wore their traditional clothes – Sample essay 1

Museums and art galleries should present only the national art (agree/disagree)- Sample essay 2

People should follow the customs and traditions of their new country (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Education

Computers instead of teachers – Sample essay 1

Will computers replace teachers? – Sample essay 2

Financial education at school – Sample essay 3

Schools should select students by their academic abilities (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4

Unpaid community work should be mandatory in high school (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Teachers are more responsible for social and intellectual development of students than parents (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

Education in financial management should be a mandatory component of the school program, agree/disagree (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 7

What are the difficulties of learning a foreign language, and how to overcome them? – Sample essay 8

Many university students nowadays live away from home and their parents (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 9

Part time courses are on the rise (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 10

The purpose of education is to make individuals useful to society (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 11

Use of computers and mobile phones to communicate has a negative impact on reading and writing skills (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 12

It is the schools’ responsibility to teach students good behaviour in addition to providing formal education (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 13

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Environment

Some people believe that preserving natural environment is crucial but make no effort to do so (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

Who should be responsible for protecting the environment, individuals or the government? – Sample essay 2

The best way to solve environmental problems is to increase the price of fuel (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Too much attention and resources are given to the protection of wild animals and birds (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Some countries invest a significant amount of money in promoting the use of bicycles (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 6

Transportation of products and people is the main source of pollution (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 7

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Family and Children

Children and rules – Sample essay 1

Children should be engaged in paid work (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Children these days are suffering from obesity (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Should children grow up in the city or countryside (advantages/disadvantages)? – Sample essay 4

Nowadays families move to different countries for work and some think it has a negative effect on children (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Childcare training courses should be mandatory for all parents (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

Some think that children should leave their family home early – Sample essay 7

Children today are spending more time watching TV than in the past, is it a positive or a negative change? – Sample essay 8

Excessive use of modern technologies is negatively affecting the reading and writing skills of children (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 9

Who should discipline the children, parents or the government? (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 10

The role of parents in the future success of a person is more important than school (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 11

New parents should attend parenting classes to learn how to bring up their children well (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 12

People are spending more and more time away from their families (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 13

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Food and Diet

Dieting can change a person’s life for better or worse (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 1

Nowadays people waste a lot of food (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 2

Nowadays many people choose ready made food instead of cooking (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

In many countries a lot of food is wasted (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Many people today are drinking sugar-based drinks (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 5

Many people do not exercise enough and eat an unhealthy diet – Sample essay 6

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Global Issues

The good and bad of globalization – Sample essay 1

Rich countries should help the poor – Sample essay 2

The positive and negative sides of globalization – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Government and Laws

Some argue that governments should create nutrition and food choice laws to improve public health (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 1

Many people believe that reducing speed limits is the best option for road safety improvement (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Changing drivers age limits is the best way to reduce traffic accidents (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 3

The education system is the only critical factor in the development of a country, agree/disagree (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 4

Some people say that arts subjects are as essential as academic ones and should be part of school syllabus (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Some believe the government should take care of retirees, while others think everyone should save for their own retirement (opinion) – Sample essay 6

Some people think that public health in a country can be improved by government making laws regarding nutritious food (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 7

Some people believe that countries should produce all the food necessary to feed their populations and import as little food as possible (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 8

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Health

Obesity is becoming common among children, give reasons and solutions (from Target Band 7 book) – Sample essay 1

Some people use the Internet to search for solutions to their medical problems, is this a positive or negative development? – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Housing and Town Planning

When new towns are planned, it is important to build more public parks or sports facilities than shopping centers (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

High-rise vs. low-rise buildings, which solution is better for a growing population? – Sample essay 2

Some say that new homes should be constructed in existing cities while others argue that new towns should be built (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Media and Advertising

Advertising affects what people think is important and has a negative effect on their lives (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Some people say that all popular TV entertainment programmes should aim to educate viewers about important social issues (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

Newspapers have a significant influence on people’s ideas and opinions (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Reading newspapers and watching TV news is a waste of time (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Money

Should people spend a lot on weddings and birthday parties? – Sample essay 1

Some people think it is better to make more money rather than have free time (discuss + opinion) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Reading

People who read for pleasure develop their imagination more and acquire better language skills compared to people who prefer watching television (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Public libraries should only provide books, not videos or DVD (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Society and Social Matters

Events bringing people together – Sample essay 1

Some people claim that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research (discuss) – Sample essay 2

Many museums charge for admission while others are free (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

The proportion of older people is increasing (problems and solutions) – Sample essay 4

People should not work beyond the age of retirement (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

Nowadays more and more people want to live by themselves (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 6

Nowadays that many women have full time jobs, it is logical to share the housework evenly between men and women (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 7

Many people support animal testing while others believe it isn’t appropriate (discuss) – Sample essay 8

Some people believe that women should be treated as equal to men when applying for a job with the police or the military (opinion) – Sample essay 9

In the modern world it is possible to shop, work and communicate via internet without face-to-face contact – Sample essay 10

Some think that hosting an international sporting event is beneficial for a country while others disagree (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 11

Some people tend to buy products or get services instantly (reasons and effects) – Sample essay 12

Social media helps people to keep in touch with friends (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 13

The main aim of advertising is to improve sales of products that people do not really need (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 14

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Sport and Exercise

Some people think that it is fine for professional athletes to misbehave on or off the field (opinion) – Sample essay 1

Despite the benefits of walking, very few people walk nowadays (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 2

More and more people participate in extreme sports (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 3

Some people argue that sports are essential (discuss) – Sample essay 4

Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Technology

The development of technology causes traditional skills to die out (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Some believe that modern technology is increasing the gap between the rich and poor (discuss) – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Tourism

Many believe international tourism is bad for their country (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Work

Senior managers should have higher salaries than other employees (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1

Should employers pay more attention to personal qualities rather than qualifications? – Sample essay 2

In many workplaces online communication has overtaken face to face meetings (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3

Many people try to achieve a work-life balance but fail (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

People in senior positions should be compensated with significantly higher salaries (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

It is better to be unemployed than work in a job you dislike (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6

More people move away from their friends and families for work (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 7

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Young People

Some parents encourage young people to leave home while others think they should stay with the family – Sample essay 1

In many countries young people start living on their own after high school – Sample essay 2

Some think that young people should be free to choose any career they like – Sample essay 3

Young people are finding it harder to find permanent jobs (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 4

Today’s young generation is facing many problems at school and at home (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 5

Young people aren’t spending their weekends doing outdoor activities such as hiking or mountaineering (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 6

Young people don’t communicate with older people as much as they used to (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 7

Note: the essays were checked by an IELTS teacher, not an IELTS examiner or examiner trainer. All the band scores are approximate.

How To Write an IELTS Band 8 Essay

Essay samples are useful to get an idea what a Band 8 essay looks like, but how can YOU write a Band 8 essay? As you know, an IELTS essay is scored using 4 criteria:

1. Task Response 2. Coherence and Cohesion 3. Lexical Resource 4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Many test takers are unsure what is wrong with their essay, why they keep scoring Band 6.5 and how to take their writing to Band 8 level. Is that how you feel, too? Keep reading then, because we are just about to analyse a Band 6.5 essay and show you what to change in it, to get a Band 8 score in IELTS.

Colours show elements relating to each criterion that affect the Band Score of this sample IELTS essay. Hold mouse over highlighted words (or tap on mobile) to see the comments, suggestions and corrections.

IELTS Essay Analysed and Rewritten from Band 6.5 to Band 8

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

IELTS Sample Essay – Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion and Lexical Resource Analysis

1. Task Response Analysis: This essay follows the task requirements quite well. Both points of view are discussed (in paragraphs 2 and 3) and the writer’s personal opinion is offered (in the introduction, paragraph 4 and the conclusion). The opinion is clear. The paragraph on money is not very well developed and not entirely clear. Approximate score for Task Response: Band 7.

2. Coherence and Cohesion Analysis: Most linking expressions are appropriate but two are not (see asterisk *). Coherence is concerned with the effectiveness of what the essay is trying to communicate. The essay is well structured – each paragraph announces its topic clearly [TS] and the introduction announces the opinion of the writer. Sometimes the ideas are not entirely clear inside the paragraphs (see NC). Also the writer has a tendency to be repetitive. Approximate score for Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.

3. Lexical Resource Analysis : The use of vocabulary seems quite reasonable but attempts to use a wider range are not always successful (see corrections above). Probably not quite good enough for a 7. Approximate score for Lexical Resource: Band 6 or 6.5.

The same IELTS Sample Essay – Grammatical Range and Accuracy Analysis

Certainly, money is an important part in our lives. It is hard for any persons to accept a partner which does not have money or at least a job to take care of future family . Hence, said “marry for money” (#5) also has its right in some extent .

However, love should be the root of any marriages . Firstly, it is because love is such a glue to connect two persons which have their own lives, become one. So, they can share each other’s the sadness , happiness to overcome any difficulties in daily lives . Moreover, love makes people growing up because they do not only have responsibility to themselves, but also to their partners as well. That is why marrying with love is always encouraged.

In my opinion, I think that both love and money is both necessary. Marriage relying on money would be rapidly disintegrated when unfortunately the money is run out . In contrary , marriage relying on love would sometimes come to end when they could not earn money to carry out family , such as paying bills, buying food, etc . Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage even though their contribution could be unbalanced.

As we have seen, marriage without either money or love would come to an unhappy ending. So I believe that they both have their own contribution to a merry family.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy Analysis : Although the essay is quite easy to follow, it has too many grammatical errors in too many sentences to merit a 7 score (see corrections highlighted above). The range of grammatical constructions used seems quite good. Approximate score for Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6 or 6.5.

Improving the Sample Essay to Achieve an IELTS Band 7

The same essay now at around a Band 7 level might look something like this. Read it carefully and compare it with the original:

Certainly, money plays an important part in our lives. It is hard for any persons to accept a partner who does not have money or at least a job to take care of their future family. Hence, it is said, “marry for money” is right in some extent.

However, love should be the root of any marriage. Firstly, it is because love is such a strong bond between two persons who have their own lives, and become one. So, they can share each other’s sadness, happiness to overcome any difficulties in their daily lives. Moreover, love makes people grow up because they do not only have responsibility to themselves, but also to their partners as well. That is why marrying for love is always encouraged.

In my opinion, I think that love and money are both necessary. A marriage relying on money would rapidly disintegrate when unfortunately the money ran out. In contrary, a marriage relying on love would sometimes come to end when they could not earn money to carry out family duties such as paying bills, buying food, etc. Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage even though their contribution could be unbalanced.

As we have seen, marriage without either money or love would come to an unhappy end. So I believe that they both make their own contribution to a merry family.

Improving the Sample Essay to Achieve an IELTS Band 8

To turn the Band 7 sample essay into a Band 8 one would require further improvement in range and accuracy of grammar, greater clarity and better connection of ideas, and a wider range of appropriate, higher level vocabulary.

So the same sample essay now at around a Band 8 level might look something like this. Once again, read it carefully and compare it with the original:

Clearly, love should be the foundation of any marriage. This is because firstly, love is such a strong bond between two persons, who have their own lives, yet become one. They can share each other’s sadness or happiness in order to overcome any difficulties in daily lives. Moreover, love fosters maturity because each member of a couple no longer has responsibility only for themselves, but also for their partner. These are just two, key reasons why marrying for love should always be encouraged.

In my opinion, love and money are equally necessary. A marriage relying solely on money might rapidly disintegrate in the unfortunate event of the money running out. Similarly, a marriage relying on love alone might sometimes come to an end if the couple could not earn enough money to manage their family’s obligations such as paying bills, or buying food. Therefore, love and money should stand together in marriage, even though their contribution might often be somewhat unequal.

To summarise, marriage without either money or love could come to an unfortunate end. For that reason, I would claim that they both make their own, vital contribution to the creation of a happy family.

If after reading these sample essays you are still missing something and can’t write at Band 8 level, don’t panic. We have a book that can help to improve your grammar and sentence formation, teach you how to connect your ideas better and give you a wide range of appropriate, higher level vocabulary. Go here to discover the “IELTS Success Formula” book .

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71 thoughts on “IELTS Essay Samples of Band 8”

do U have any specific app regarding ielts

We would love to make one! What kind of app would you find useful?

It would be a a great helpful for me to achieve a desire band score.

a great work by the owner!love you for making this world damn resourceful.

how can i get my essays corrected and essessed?

That is very easy! All you need to do is visit the Writing Correction page and purchase a package. We will email you instructions how to send your tasks (via email) and our teachers will also be returning your checked work via email.

this website was so helpful

Thank you! I’m glad it helps.

There’s no doubt that these essay samples of band 8 are very well written, students will remember it during exams.

Great to hear, thanks Benard!

I have my exam in 2 weeks. I hardly get the time to prepare for it due to my work. So, literally I’m panicking right now. Came across your content, and really loved it. They way you’ve put it forward with mistakes and errors highlighted. It gives me a little hope that i can prepare for my ielts by following your resources. Thankyou so much!!

Hello, I’ve my ilets exam in two weeks and I hardly find time to prepare it due to my job. I was panicking, and luckily came across your website and found the content so helpful. They way you habe put forward the esaay and highlighted the errors and mistakes makes it so easy to understand. Thankyou. You’re doing an amazing job!!

Thank you so much for your feedback, Areeb. You’re going through some stressful time, and it’s really great to hear that our resources are helping. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions about anything IELTS-related.

Hello how are you

Hi Asilbek, welcome to IELTS-Blog.com! How can I help? Did you have a question about your IELTS preparation?

Here in the final version of the essay, the paragraph in favor of money and introductory paragraph have been combined in one paragraph, why?

Which essay are you asking about, can you please copy-paste the link to it?

Well, this is a huge collection for the aspirants of IELTS

In this essay, how does the author develop the introductory paragraph effectively?

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Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and the author of several renowned IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005, Simone has been committed to making IELTS preparation accessible and effective through her books and online resources. Her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.

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Writing Task 2 Sample

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

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

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

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IELTS Academic test - sample test questions

Ielts academic is your key to studying where you want to go., jump to section.

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Preparing for your IELTS Academic test

We want you to do well in your test. To help you get ready, here are some sample tests for the Academic test.

Listening and Speaking tests are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.

With these official practice materials you can:

• get used to the test format
• experience the types of tasks involved
• test yourself under timed conditions
• review your answers and compare them with model answers.

IELTS Academic - paper sample tests

Listening (30 minutes) .

The Listening test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training and consists of four recorded monologues and conversations. The following IELTS Listening sample tasks are to be used with the Answer Sheet and MP3 audio files and/or transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.

Listening sample tasks

• Listening sample tasks (PDF 777 KB)  
• Listening answer sheet (PDF 1 MB)  

Find out more about the Listening test

Academic Reading (60 minutes)

Texts for the Academic Reading test are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

A variety of tasks is used, including: multiple-choice questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Academic Reading sample tasks

• Academic Reading sample tasks (PDF 934 KB)
• Academic Reading answer sheet (PDF 490 KB)

Find out more about the Academic Reading test

Academic Writing (60 minutes) 

The Academic Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words. In Task 1, you are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram). You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2 you are presented with a point of view or argument or problem. You need to write your response in 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Academic Writing sample tasks

• Academic Writing sample tasks (PDF 1 MB)

Find out more about the Academic Writing test

Speaking (11–14 minutes)

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output. In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic. The Speaking test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.

Speaking sample tasks

• Speaking sample tasks (PDF 403 KB)  

Find out more about the Speaking test 

IELTS Academic - computer sample tests

Listening (30 minutes).

The Listening question types for IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. 

A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.

Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which a student called Judy is discussing her research with her tutor and fellow students.

For each question, click on the correct answer.

• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Answer Key (PDF 24 KB)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Recording Transcript (PDF 84 KB)

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing a guide to a library.

For each question, click on the correct answers.

• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Answer Key (PDF 23 KB) 
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Recording Transcript (PDF 78 KB)

Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling (Type A)

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a tour guide describes different places in a US town.

For each question, click on the correct space in the table.

• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling
• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Recording Transcript (PDF 75 KB)

Listening Sample task Note Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing second-hand furniture.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

• Listening Sample task Note Completion
• Listening Sample task Note Completion Answer Key (PDF 22 KB)
• Listening Sample task Note Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 92 KB)

Listening Sample task Table Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 4 recording in which a university lecturer is giving a talk about research into ‘learner persistence’.

• Listening Sample task Table Completion
• Listening Sample task Table Completion Answer Key (PDF 26 KB)
• Listening Sample task Table Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 31 KB)

Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two biology students are comparing their research on evidence of life on Earth and other planets.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion
• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion Answer Key (PDF 92 KB)
• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 40 KB)

Listening Sample task Sentence Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two friends are discussing studying with the Open University.

• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion
• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion Answer Key (PDF 30 KB)
• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 37 KB)
• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a representative from a clothing company is giving a talk to high school students.

• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions Answer Key (PDF 22 KB)
• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions Recording Transcript (PDF 78 KB)

The Academic Reading question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about older people in the workforce.

Click on the correct answer.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer)

Click on the correct answers.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about the scientist Marie Curie.

• Academic Reading Sample task Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given) Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Note Completion
• Academic Reading Sample task Note Completion Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Table Completion

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about dung beetles.

• Academic Reading Sample task Table Completion Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Features

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about the development of rockets.

• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Features Answer Key (PDF 107 KB)

Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about the ‘Plain English’ movement, which promotes the use of clear English.

• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text)
• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text) Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)

Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about language.

• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)
• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases) Answer Key (PDF 18 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Sentence Completion

You will read a Part 2 text which discusses whether birds evolved from dinosaurs.

• Academic Reading Sample task Sentence Completion Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Sentence Endings

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about the scientific community in London in the 1700s.

• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Sentence Endings Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)

Academic Writing (60 minutes)

The Academic Writing question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test.

In Part 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event. In Part 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Academic Writing Sample tasks

• Academic Writing Sample task Part 1
• Academic Writing Sample task Part 2
• Responses to Sample Part 2 with band scores and examiner comments (PDF 492 KB)

IELTS on computer practice experience

The practice experience will show you how everything will look on your computer ahead of the test day. As these are practice tests, they are not timed. There are some variations from the live tests, including the timer, highlighting, and notes functions performing differently.

In this Listening test sample , you will hear four different recordings.

You will hear each recording ONCE only.

The test is in four parts, with 40 questions in total.

This Academic Reading sample will show you three texts to read.

The test is in three parts, with 40 questions in total.

This Academic Writing sample consists of two writing tasks.

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IELTS Academic Writing free practice questions

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Content Tags

A quick look at the ielts academic writing test.

Duration: 60 minutes

The IELTS Academic Writing test is made up of two tasks. The topics in these tasks are related to areas of general interest and are suitable for test takers entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. Responses to both tasks must be written in a formal style. 

Task 1  

You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and present data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object, plan or design.  

Task 2  

You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You will support your point of view with relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. 

Summarising facts or figures from graphic information

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you will be shown some visual information, a visual way to represent information. You may be shown one or more than one visual. This visual information can be shown as a: 

Table 

Chart  

Process 

Graph 

You will also be given instructions so summarise the information you see by selecting and reporting the main features you see, making comparisons where relevant.  You will need to do an information transfer task – the visual information you are given needs to be presented in the form of text. 

To complete the task successfully, you will need to: 

Write an introduction 

Write an overview (a summary of what you see) 

Present and highlight the key features with figures (data) 

You will need to write a minimum of 150 words and answers must be written in full, no bullet points or notes.  

Writing an essay

In Task 2 of the Academic Writing test, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, an argument, or a problem. Essays should be written in an academic, or semi-formal style. Topics are about relevant issues and focus on a particular aspect of the topic. For example, if the topic is about computers, the focus will be on a particular aspect rather than writing about computers in general.   

The task instructions give you information about the question telling you how to discuss the topic in your essay. You may be asked to provide factual information, outline and present solutions, justify an opinion or evaluate evidence and ideas. It is important that you complete the task carefully using relevant ideas and examples to support your position. Your ideas should be organised clearly, using paragraphs for each idea. You must write a minimum of 250 words.  

You are assessed on your ability to follow English essay-writing conventions to organise and link information in a coherent way using language accurately and appropriately to express your ideas and opinions.

Sample questions

Writing task 1:.

Sample task

Sample answer sheet

Writing Task 2:

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You can check more details about IELTS One Skill Retake here.

IELTS Writing sample answers

Looking for IELTS Writing sample answers? With IELTS Prepare , you have access to a range of preparation materials at your fingertips: from practice tests, sample answers, videos and articles, all the way to expert assessments, online courses, webinars and more.

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IELTS Writing Practice Tests

Practice makes perfect when it comes to IELTS Writing. Luckily, we have a huge selection of IELTS Writing practice questions for you on this site.

There are two tasks in the Writing section of IELTS: Task 1 requires you to write 150 words describing a diagram or set of data; Task 2 is a discursive essay of 250 words. You must complete both tasks in one hour and you will be give a score of 0-9 on these four attributes: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Grammar, and Vocabulary.

Each of these IELTS writing practice questions comes with a Band 8 or 9 model answer and my explanation of how it achieves that score. Time to get started!

Full list of IELTS Writing practice questions and sample answers

Ielts writing task 1: process.

View Question and Answer

IELTS Writing Task 1: Line Graph

Ielts writing task 1: bar chart, ielts writing task 1: diagram, ielts writing task 1: cycle, ielts writing task 1: process (extra hard), ielts writing task 1: map, ielts writing task 1: natural process, ielts writing task 1: table, ielts writing task 2: opinion essay, ielts writing task 2: argument essay, ielts writing task 2: problem/solution essay, ielts writing task 2: two-part question, ielts writing task 2: discuss both views, ielts writing task 2: positive or negative, download a practice version of the ielts writing answer sheet.

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• Sample Essays

IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples

These are IELTS band 6 essay samples that have been given grades (of 6 or 6.5) and basic comments on the score for each criteria by an experienced IELTS instructor. 

View other samples:

• Band 8 Samples
• Band 7 Samples
• Band 6 Samples
• Band 5 Samples
• Band 4 Samples

Topic: Wages of Entertainers (band 6)

Some people believe that entertainers are paid too much and their impact on society is negative, while others disagree and believe that they deserve the money that they make because of their positive effects on society. 

Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion. 

The entertainment industry is one of the largest sectors in all around the world. Some think that the people who work in that industry earn too much money considering their bad influence on society, and I agree.  Others, however, believe that their positive impact on others is worth the money that they are paid.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that show business is an enormous and unfairly well paid sector. In addition to that, members of it do not add real value, compared to others like, for instance, education workers. Although in some countries teachers live with unreasonable wages, their responsibility, is extremely valuable for next generations become better people. Whereas a singer can earn double their yearly salary from one concert. The other important point is, for a balanced and equal society, the difference between income levels must not be very high. Regardless than their contribution, no one should make billions of dollars that easily, because that imbalance does have a significant negative impact on societies.

On the other hand, some people think that entertainers’ contribution to the modern life is worth the money they earn. It can be understood that for many people, watching a movie or going to a concert is irreplaceable with other activities; therefore, they think that their positive impact is crucial for a significant proportion of people. In addition to that, celebrities do compromise their privacy and freedom with being known by many others. In exchange of that, they do deserve a comfortable life with significantly better paychecks.

In conclusion, despite their minimal contribution with their work to the people and sacrifice from their private life; I believe that their impact is far from being positive and they are not paid fairly or balanced with others.

Task Response: 7

Both parts of the question are fully answered and there is a clear position and opinion presented. But some of the support loses focus and generalises too much. This can be seen in the last part of body paragraph one, which just states there are negative impacts again but does not say why. 

Coherence & Cohesion: 6

Fairly well-organised but there are some issues with CC. For instance 'in addition' does not fit in body paragraph one so early as the topic sentence has yet to be explained. The thesis would be better with the opinion at the end. 

Lexical Resource: 6

An adequate range of vocabulary but there are inaccuracies and mistakes with word forms. 

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 6

Good range and mix of simple and complex sentences but too many noticeable errors for a band 7. For instance, "Regardless than their contribution" or the fragment: "Whereas a singer can earn double their yearly salary from one concert."

Topic: Computers and Teaching (Band 6)

School children are becoming far too dependent on computers and this is having an alarming effect on reading and writing skills. Teachers need to avoid using computers in the classroom at all costs and go back to teaching basic study skills.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Children are born into the digital world. From young age, they know how to operate computers, iPad, and TV. It is part of their daily life. School age children is no exception to the use of computers. They are confident users of computers and very dependent on them which can lead to decline in reading and writing skills. Some teachers utilise the computers well in their lessons, while others avoid the use of computers in their classrooms. I believe good balance of both is needed to help students’ reading and writing skills to improve.

Computers can help students with reading. For example, if students come across unknown words, they can search the unknow words and hear the pronunciation. If it was not for the computers, they have to find someone who knows how to pronounce the words for them. Therefore, computers can play positive role in students’ reading skills.

On the other hands, writing skills need to be improved by lots of handwritten works. If students are using computers all the time and getting the help of autocorrection, they will not improve their writing skills. They will not know how to edit as autocorrect is doing the job for them.

In conclusion, I believe that teachers should not allow students to do all the work on the computers especially writing tasks. However, teacher should not avoid the use of computer as computers can be a great help if they use it effectively. Rather than avoiding computers that students are so used to, teachers need to come up with how to use it effectively to enhance students’ reading and writing skills.

Task Response: 6

You have addressed the question properly and your ideas are relevant. However, you don’t have enough support in your body paragraphs, which is the most important aspect with regards to the grading. Shorten your introduction considerably (2 or 3 sentences to introduce the topic and thesis). It currently doesn’t meet the requirement of “presents, extends and supports main ideas” for band 7.

You sequence information and ideas logically, but your linking devices are a bit too mechanical  i.e. transition words in initial sentence position e.g. for example, therefore, on the other hand etc. A greater range and higher ability to link would be needed for 7 and over. Take a look at this advice on using transitions for band 7 .  Referencing should also be improved e.g. “Some teachers utilise the computers well in their lessons, while others avoid the use of computers them in their classrooms.”

Lexical Resource: 7

Sufficient range of vocab and some less common vocab used, but some errors in word choice / formation prevent a band 8.

Overall the grammar is very good, but there is an error in quite a few of the sentences. Most are quite minor but a couple of very noticeable and the candidates need to take care with this to avoid a drop to a 6.

Topic: Improved Medical Care (Band 6.5)

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

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

Since the medical care system has made significant progress in the last decades, people nowadays get older. While this can be seen as a clear benefit on a personal view, it causes huge problems on a global view. That’s why I think that the benefits of a higher life expectancy do not outweigh the drawbacks.  On the one hand, an advantage of a longer life and better medical care is that people can spend more time with their loved ones without being in pain. As it is possible to treat illnesses the way, that they don’t affect the patient’s life anymore. For example, even a few years ago a lot of people died having a heart attack. With the increased medical possibilities this isn’t the case anymore. As a result, people can overcome illnesses that were deadly.  On the other hand, the global impact a longer life expectancy has is huge. This can be seen by the fact that a longer life of individuals means a higher population on planet earth. For instance, we already have about 8 billion inhabitants and this number is increasing steadily. Consequently, we’ll not have enough resources to gain food and water for such a high number of individuals.  Furthermore, a longer life period also causes higher costs for the medical care system. Reason for that is that more resources are needed to keep people healthy and alive. To illustrate, for the prevention of a heart attack the patient gets a variety of pills to decrease his blood pressure. This medication is expensive. Accordingly, we will need more and more young people to finance the medical system, or the system must be changed.  All in all, it is understandable that people wish to have a healthy and very long life. But in my opinion the global disadvantages clearly outweigh the personal advantages of a longer life and better medical care. 

Content of the essay and ideas are generally okay. However, the initial explanation for the advantages is not always clear. The reader has to still think about what you mean about “being in pain.” A stricter examiner could penalize either TR or CC because the reader still has to process what is meant in this paragraph. But I think the average examiner will give you a 7 as the other paragraphs are ok.

Coherence & Cohesion: 7

The use of sequencers is okay. CC levels 8 and 9 do not necessarily have very obvious introductory phrases at the beginning of nearly every sentence (e.g. on the one hand, for example, as a result), and too many could even limit it to a band 6 if it is very mechanical. Take a look at model 8/9 essays to see how it should be done if you want a higher score.

Vocabulary is okay, despite an error or two. But for a higher score, you’ll need more complex words.

There is a good mix of complex sentences though this aspect could be improved – some sentences could be linked together to make the essay more complex, which would be expected for a band 7, 8 and 9. And this is confusing – “As it is possible to treat illnesses the way, that they don’t affect the patient’s life anymore.” Check out how to write complex sentences as you appear to have a fragment - complex sentences .

Double-check to correct errors you are aware of. As earlier mentioned, the first body paragraph has issues. There are also punctuation issues (comma) in other areas. I think this does not quite reach a 7 but is very close.

Topic: Strength in Sport (Band 6)

Some people think that physical strength is important for success in sport, while others think that mental strength is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Physical energy is considered to be an imperative aspect for achievements in the field of sports. However, many individuals argue that mental strength also plays a pivotal role. This essay represents view for both sides along with the opinion. Firstly, talking about physical energy, regular exercises enables an individual to stay fit and healthy by stretching body muscles that keeps the body active. Secondly, exercises can be performed in a way of practising any activity related to sports; for an instance, playing tennis or football may provides an encouragement and an exploration of new ideas and techniques that can be applied during games. Lastly, exercises reduces the risk of health issues, such as alterations in blood pressure, cardio-vascular diseases, by regulating blood flow in whole body that prevents risk of heart and brain strokes. On the other side, a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. According to this phrase, mental strength performs a crucial role in sports activities. In today's world of competition, a person came through many situations that are full of stress, for example, team pressure, pressure of winning or loosing the game. Moreover, an individual cannot focus on sports unless or until his mental strength is not strong. A stress may leads a player into depression which can put him on stress releasing medication for his entire life. Furthermore, state of happiness provides relaxation to mental power that boost up the confidence level to perform well in the sports. In my opinion, both physical as well as mental strength are considered to be mandatory because if exercises helps in the growth of body similarly mental strength gives confidence and support to play well.

The essay addresses all parts of the task, a clear position is presented throughout the response and main ideas are extended and supported main ideas. However, there is a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus.

The essay is clearly organised but it tends to be a bit mechanical with the use of the transition/sequencers (e.g. firstly, secondly, lastly etc).

There is an adequate range of vocabulary for the task but not enough to meet the and 7 criteria of "sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision" or "uses less common lexical items".

In this IELTS band 6 essay sample there is evidence of a mix of both simple and complex structures but error free sentences are not frequent (band 7), but the errors present do not reduce the communicative effect so it merits a 6, not 5.  

Topic: Relocating Businesses (Band 6)

In some countries governments are encouraging industry and business to move out of large cities and go to regional areas.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Nowadays, industry and business have been encouraging by part of the nations governments to establish their factories in regional areas instead of in large cities. I strongly believe that there are much more benefits in this movement than drawbacks.

Having a company in a metropolitan area could bring lots of benefits, especially because the infrastructure is better than in smaller centers, with more transport options to receive and dispatch goods as well as a bigger range of specialized services and also skilled labour. Even tought, usually the general costs to keep a business in large cities are higher and not worth it, for instance the taxes and rents are normally more expensive.

On the other hand, moving industries to regional areas could benefit not just the local population, but also the entrepreneurs, due to the savings. A new business in a town or small city may bring more opportunities for workers, with job offers the inhabitants do not need to move to metropolies seeking for a greater careers. Furthermore, almost all the biggest centers in the world are heavily populated, reorganize the population density also brings advantages in the sense to avoid migration to already overcrowded areas.

In addition, industries and business can lead to the development of a different region owing to the need to improvements that can benefits everyone, such as government investimento in roads, as well as new opportunities to small commerces to supply daily need, like restaurants and bakeries.

To sum up, there are numerous benefits in the politice that encourage companies to establish in regional areas, which outweigh the drawbacks. The advantages achieve the entrepreneurs, the local population from towns as well as the large cities. Besides, the government can plan better how to distribute the population.

You discuss and explain the issues well, making sure you discuss both benefits and drawbacks. You focus a bit more on benefits which is ok as you think there are more of these.

Your essay is generally organised ok but there are errors with cohesion. “Even tought” is should be “However” - check how these words differ (the first is used to make adverbial clauses , and however is a transition . Also you can’t have ‘On the other hand’ without firstly having “On the one hand”. Check online how to use those words. This is perhaps an area where you could reach a 7 if you take a bit more care.

Vocabulary is generally ok and there are some good words in there. You have too many spelling mistakes which brings it down to a 6. I don’t understand this: ‘politice’. Again be careful. Perhaps you could get 7 if you try to cut out the spelling mistakes.

This is only just a 6 as you do have some noticeable and in cases slightly confusing errors (you’ll see some of the spelling and grammar errors if you look on Word). I think it’s not quite a 5 but it’s possible another examiner would award it that. Be particularly careful about comma splices as these can really confuse what you are trying to say. These all have comma splices in:

• ...usually the general costs to keep a business in large cities are higher and not worth it, for instance the taxes and rents are normally more expensive.
• A new business in a town or small city may bring more opportunities for workers, with job offers the inhabitants do not need to move to metropolies seeking for a greater careers.
• Furthermore, almost all the biggest centers in the world are heavily populated, reorganize the population density also brings advantages in the sense to avoid migration to already overcrowded areas.

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5 Types of IELTS Essays with Questions and Samples

In IELTS Writing Task 2 (both General and Academic), there are 5 different types of essays:

• Discussion essay (Discuss both views essay)
• Agree/disagree essay (Opinion essay)
• Advantage/disadvantage essay
• Problem/solution essay
• Two-part question essay (Direct question essay)

Note that no matter what type of IELTS essay you have to write, you need to make sure that you always follow the instructions and write at least 250 words.

IELTS Discussion Essay Questions

IELTS discussion essay asks you to "Discuss both views/sides and give your opinion".

For example:

Some people think that wild animals should not be kept in zoos. Others believe that there are good reasons for having zoos.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

See also: Discussion Essay Sample

IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay Questions

IELTS agree/disagree essay, also known as an opinion essay, asks you "Do what extent do you agree?", "Do you agree or disagree?", "What is your opinion?".

Medical procedures for cosmetic purposes should not be allowed.

Do you agree or disagree?

See also: Agree/Disagree Essay Sample

IELTS Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Questions

IELTS advantage/disadvantage essay asks you "What are the advantages of this?", "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?".

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

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

See also: Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Sample

IELTS Problem/Solution Essay Questions

IELTS problem/solution essay asks you "What can be done about this problem?", "How could this situation be improved?".

Even though doctors all over the world agree that fast food is bad for people's health, more and more people are eating it.

Why are more people eating fast food?

What can be done about this problem?

See also: Problem/Solution Essay Sample

IELTS Two-part Question Essay Questions

IELTS two-part question essay, also known as direct question essay, asks you to write in response to two or more direct questions.

Millions of people every year move to English speaking countries such as Australia, Britain or America, in order to study at school, college or university.

Why do so many people want to study English?

Why is English such an important international language?

See also: Two-part Question Essay Sample

See more useful IELTS essay resources:

• How to write an IELTS essay?
• How to Improve IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay?
• Essay vocabulary
• Linking & cohesive words

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