Writing Tips

Since Task 2 is more time consuming and has greater impact on your final writing band score,
you may start with Task 2 first and then come to Task I later. Keep in mind the examiners’
criteria for marking your writing. Check if you have fully responded to the task; you have
written a coherent answer; you have used a suitable structure for the report. You have stated a
range of appropriate vocabulary; you have successfully described the significant trends
presented in the graphic information; you have demonstrated a reasonable use of connective
words.

If you have some time left after you have finished the writing tasks use this time wisely to
proof read your writing. There is a possibility of grammatical mistakes and spelling errors in
your writing. Check for these mistakes, and correct if any; these corrections can remarkably
improve your band score.

Since planning is an important strategy for writing tasks, you need to spend some time to plan
your report/essay. You will need effective planning to write a well structured response to your
writing task.

You can write your ideas on the question paper, your examiner will not see this and therefore
you will not be marked for this.

Plan the number of paragraphs and arguments for each paragraph. Also plan ahead you whether
will be writing for or against the opinion in the question.

Underline the key words in the question and list all the related words or synonyms you can
think of. It will help you to avoid repetition of words during your writing. It will also
demonstrate your lexical resource.

Once you have successfully planed your writing, you can more effectively organize your report
or essay. For an organized piece of writing you need to put your thoughts and ideas coherently.
They should flow in order and drive towards a conclusion. IELTS examiners expect you to
demonstrate permanence continuity in your ideas and arguments. You must also support your
arguments with your personal experience and examples.

Once you are done with expanding upon each of your main points, it is time to wrap up,
therefore you need a conclusion. Do not include any new information in your conclusion; it
will only confuse the examiner. Summarise what you have written in the body of your essay or
report.

Again clarify your opinion of the topic or table and briefly analyse your thoughts. There is no
need of supporting arguments in a conclusion. It will just be a summary of the main points you
have already discussed.

Write in simple, plain and not very stylish English. Use sentences and structures you comfortably
can; in this way you can avoid an inappropriate use of your sentences and vocabulary. You

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 should not try to impress the examiner with your vocabulary, but with your skill to analyse,
develop and logically express ideas.

At the end of the test it is a good idea to proofread your writing. You might not be able to make
major changes; it is likely you will find some grammatical or spelling errors. Correcting these
could result in a better score. Don't just sit and wait for the exam to end.

Essay Phrases
Below are some common phrases and expressions, these will add diversity and interest to your
writing. You will also be able to write more quickly and effectively during your exam, when
time is limited.

Preferably, use at least three or four expressions from each group below, so they come to mind
easily during the IELTS.

Stating Your Opinion

In my opinion According to me
In my view To me
From my point of view I think
It seems to me that I believe
From my perspective To my way of thinking
It appears that I suppose
I realize I understand
I imagine I feel

Giving Examples www.laiquelodhi.com

For example For instance

such as In other words

as like

that is namely

To illustrate To paraphrase

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 Comparing

Similar to As….

in common Also

Either...or In the same way

Neither...nor At the same time

Just as Resemble

Contrasting

However But

On the contrary On the other hand

Differ from Nevertheless

Although Though

Otherwise Instead

Alternatively Even though

Generalising www.laiquelodhi.com

Generally Generally speaking

Overall On the whole
In general By and large
It seems to me that I believe
All in all Basically
Essentially As a rule
All things considered For the most part

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 Expressing Certainty

Certainly Undoubtedly

Doubtless No doubt

Definitely Of course

Expressing Partial Agreement

More or less To some extent

Up to a point Almost

In a way So to speak

Functional Sentences
Below is a list of useful sentence to use in your essays, make sure you use them while
writing practice essays.

Introduction
1. …….has been playing an increasingly important role in our day-to-day life. It has
brought us a lot of benefits but created some serious problems as well.
2. It is only during the last years that man has become generally aware that….….
3. In recent years, there is a general tendency to ….….
4. According to a study, there is ….…. compared with ….…. last year.
5. Some people prefer to ….….. In their opinion, .….. In addition, ….….Nevertheless,
nowadays….….has become more and more common.
6. In our history, the idea that ….…. never has been so popular. On one hand ….…. on the
other hand, ….….
7. Some people hold the opinion that ….…. is superior to ….…. in many ways: Others,
however, disagree with it.
8. Nowadays although more and more people ….…., still there are some who think ….….,
they may think ….….
9. There are different opinions among people as to ….….. Some people suggest that ….….

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 Opinions
1. In my opinion, we should place much emphasis on the importance of_____.
But ______ and _______ have their own advantages. For example, ________, while
______. Comparing those two, however, I prefer to _______.
2. In my opinion, ______________ is just as common as ______________. If
______________, it may be very useful. Whatever ______________, the key point lies in
______________.
3. As a popular saying goes, _________ In my opinion what really counts is not ______,
but _____. I believe that as long as _____, we will _____. So I am for the opinion that
_____.
4. In my opinion, all of the people should be brave enough to show our disapproval and
criticism when confronted with ______.
5. People are coming to realize the importance of ______. They have begun to try their best
to _______. We believe that ______.
6. It is difficult to say whether _is good or not in general as it depends very much on the
situation of __. However, from a personal point of view I find ______.
7. My own point of view is that ____ is a normal behavior in our society.
8. Nowadays there is a growing concern over _____. Many people like ____, while others
are inclined to______.
9. Many commentators are of the view that

Body
1. The most effective means to solve this problem is that ___. In that case, ___
2. Everything has its own two sides, no exception with XYZ. For one thing, ______ For
another, _____
3. It is essential that effective actions should be taken to end the situation.
4. It is no doubt that special attention must be paid to the problem of _____.
5. With the development of society, ______ So it’s urgent and necessary to ______If every
member is willing to contribute himself to the society, it will be better and better.
6. We need to take a second look at the matter from a wider standpoint, otherwise, we will
______.
7. It is high time that ______________. Here are some of the measures that might be taken
immediately.
8. If we can not take useful means, we may not control this trend, and some undesirable
result may come out unexpectedly, so what we should do is ______.
9. Recently, _____has become the focus of the society, and in this way, People swarm to
_______.
10. Nowadays, _____ has become a problem we have to face. Though it’s easier said than
done, with the help of modern technology, we now have many means to solve it.
11. While many others contend that it has detrimental effects as well.
12. A convincing argument can be made about….
13. A good illustration of this is.....
14. Evidence for this is provided by…

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 Conclusion

1. Taking into account all of these factors, we may reach the conclusion that ______.
2. From what has been discussed above, we may reasonably arrive at the conclusion that
_____.
3. But both ______ and _____have disadvantages. For example, ____ Which to choose,
_______ or _____? Careful consideration is necessary before you make your own choice.
4. In conclusion, we should know about the problem of ______, and object to ______. Only
in this way ______
5. Although it is affected by many factors, still there are certain ways that can make the
situation better. The most import is _______. Another way is ______. Still another one is
______.
6. Many solutions are offered here, all of them make some sense, but none is adequate
enough. The problem should be studied in depth.
7. No easy method can be at hand to solve the problem of _______. But the common
recognition of the importance of _______might be the first step on the right way.
8. It is clear, therefore, that the task of _______ demands great attention.
9. We may have a long way to go before we reach the final goal. But once we are on the
way, the chance to reach it is greater.
10. But for me, I would rather think of the matter in an optimistic way. Because I believe
______.
11. All in all, we cannot live without _____. But at the same time we must try to find out new
ways to cope with problems that would arise.
12. On the whole, it is high time that we recognized the significance of _____.
13. As a result, we should take some effective methods to ______.
14. In a word, the whole society should pay close attention to the problem of____. Only in
this way can _______in the future.
15. My experience tells me that to _______needs a thorough and persevering process, and in
this process you had better abide by the principles mentioned above.
16. In my opinion, both sides are partly right. When we ______, we should take into
consideration all aspects of the problems, and then make the right decision.
17. Personally, I believe that _______. Consequently, I am confident that a bright future is
awaiting us because ______.
18. We must search for a quick action, because the present situation of ______ is grievous, if
allowed to proceed, will certainly lead to ______.
19. No doubt, if we ignore the problem, there is every chance that _____ will be put in
danger.
20. To recapitulate, it is my own personal view that advantages of _____slightly outweigh
the disadvantages
21. To recapitulate, I would concede that….
22. Overall, I am convinced that…….

Two sides of an argument

Give the other side's opinion, and then give your opinion

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 Give the other side
• Some people think that…
• Although many people feel that…
• It is claimed that…
• Some people feel that…

One sentence (While, although)

• While it is true that… … I believe…
• Despite the fact that millions of people die every year from lung cancer, many people
think it is cool to smoke.
• Although many people think that…., I feel that
• Although it is often said that…, in fact the opposite is true

Two sentences
• It is undoubtedly true that… …However…
• It is often argued that… However, it is
• Some people say that… They claim… However, I feel…
• Supporters of this viewpoint say that… However, it is
•

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Model Answers Writing Task 2

Animal Testing
Should animals be used in testing new drugs and procedures?

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

Write at least 250 words

This model answer perceives a band score of 8

Whether to use animals for medical experiments is a case with many issues, which has both
negative and positive aspects.( General Statement) While a large number of people are in favor
of animal testing for scientific research, (opinion sentence1) others take it as useless suffering of
our fellow species. (opinion sentence2) In this essay I will discuss some arguments for and
against animal testing. (Thesis statement)

Many medical measures and cures have been developed through animal testing without animal
testing the cure for polio would not exist and diabetics would suffer or die from their disease.
Animals such as monkeys or rabbits have similar physical processes to humans. This obviously

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 allows scientists to test the safety and effects of certain drugs on animals before pilot testing on
patients. Animal testing is cheap. There is a large supply of animals for medical research.
Furthermore Animals are easily bred and maintained safely in controlled labs and there is no
danger of extinction of these species. Moreover medical research relating to animals has
significantly improved the health of the humans. Likewise, some advocates think that animals
are less valuable than people. If there is a mistake, it will not cost a human life.

On the contrary, many people believe that animal testing is cruel. They argue that every new
drug does not need to be tested on animals, particularly with the enormous amount of
knowledge and information we now have. In addition, animal rights campaigners claim that
information from animals does not apply to humans. They point to certain commercial drugs
which have been withdrawn because of side-effects in humans.

In conclusion, I am convinced that animal testing is necessary, and it will continue to benefit
humans in innovative and astonishing ways. (Summary of the personal opinion) However we
need to make sure that the millions of animals that are used for testing new products are treated
with the minimum of suffering. Treating our fellow creatures as mercifully as possible will
exhibit our humanity. (A suggestive ending)

Consumer Goods
You should spend 40 minutes on this task

Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialised knowledge of the
following topic.

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

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

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence

You should write at least 250 words

This model answer perceives a band score of 8

Whether elevated sales of popular consumer goods is a result of rigorous advertising campaigns
and not the real requirements of society, has both negative and positive aspects.( opening phrase)
Many people believe that the influence of advertisement results in higher sales of goods.
(opinion sentence1) however a lot of individuals disagree. (opinion sentence2). This essay will
examine both points of view. (Thesis statement)

Nowadays millions of companies produce billions of products with a palpable role of

advertising. A number of market forecasters claim high sales of popular commodities are the

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 result of new promotional technologies besides developing artificial needs. Advertising may
lead buyers to purchase products that they do not need. This is because of the influences of
persuading strategies and repetitive information from advertising sources such as televisions,
radios and magazines that force people to buy products and services often without the actual
need. Moreover, sometimes people buy these redundant products for money that they do not
have, using credit cards and that is also inspired by advertisement which leads to severe
problems like the recent credit card crisis in the USA.

Regrettably, advertisers now maneuver our minds more assertively. Commercials now not only
promote products, but also lifestyles. They enlighten us buying things just because they are
fashionable or up-to-date with the image of a successful person, thus we buy new cars,
appliances and clothes in order to match this icon.

Some people, on the other hand argue that advertising can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
Initially, advertising is advantageous in introducing new products and briefly describing
information about them. For example, for someone who suffers from back pains, without
commercials he would never imagine there are new mattresses which could ease their pains.
Moreover, it brings competition among different companies. Consequently, such companies
spend a large amount of money on research and development in order to occupy the biggest
market share over their competitive companies.

In balance, it is my personal view that advertising provokes people to buy an enormous

amount of different products, some of which they do not really need. (Summary of the personal
opinion) However, we should try to consider the need carefully before buying every product that
is on offer in commercials. (A suggestive ending)

The Following essay has been written by one of Laique Lodhi’s students who achieved 9
Band in writing in the IELTS exam. This essay is being presented in the book for your
understanding.

Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country.

Do you agree?

For the past few decades, illiteracy has been a focal issue among all nations of the world. It is
true that in recent times, every nation is in consensus over imparting education to each of its
citizens. Increasingly however, many people believe that education alone cannot be the sole
factor in a country’s progress. In this essay, I will analyze the importance of literacy in isolation
from the other elements on a country’s advancement.

Literacy is fundamental to the well being of a person. An educated person is more informed and
possesses a better understanding of his own and the people around. In addition, the more
educated the citizens are, the better the country’s elected governments would be. This has a
direct consequence on a nation’s international reputation. Furthermore, a civilized and a more
educated society breeds better employment opportunities. Consequently, there are fewer crime
rates and better living conditions. Owing to this, foreign nationals get attracted as immigrants
and tourists thereby adding to a stronger economy.

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 However, literacy alone cannot bring about all reforms to a society. Despite being learnt, if a
person is not hardworking, nothing substantial can be achieved. It was through hard work and
motivation that China as a nation had overcome their hurdles despite their lower literacy rates.
Moreover, it is a saddening fact, especially in developing countries like India, where highly
educated people shy away from agriculture and rural industries in search of more lucrative jobs
in the urban. This is hampering the nation from attaining its true economic growth.

Finally, to recapitulate, it is my own personal view that education is still the primary element in
the development of any country. A fully literate and knowledgeable nation will have everything in
it to overcome any hurdles in its way towards progress.

The Following essay has been written by one of Laique Lodhi’s students who achieved 9
Band in writing in the IELTS exam. This essay is being presented in the book for your
understanding.

Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or

disagree?

Whether children need to be taught at home by their parents is a case with many issues has
both negative and positive aspects. Some people believe it addresses a child’s emotional and
special needs while others consider it as a deterrent in a kid’s overall development. This essay
will analyze some of the arguments for and against home based education.

Home based teaching is appropriate for a child who learns at his or her own pace. For instance,
a toddler who is yet to attain her full growth would have special demands and emotional needs
that are only known to her parents. Moreover, not all countries have adequate infrastructure or
the expertise to meet the demands of a physically or a mentally challenged child. Furthermore,
extended time spent at home instigates better parent-child relationship. In addition, imbibing
ethical values in today’s youth is turning out to be a responsibility more of the guardians than
the educational institutions.

On the contrary, schools are now better equipped. For instance, the teaching faculties and
facilities have drastically improved over the last decade. Also, specialized skills can only be
attained at school from a trained mentor. For example, an instructor of art is more competent in
teaching artistry than most parents are. To add further, schools and other educational
institutions are now well qualified in terms of staff and infrastructure to handle the demands of
today’s competitive world. Consequently, our sons and daughters have a better chance of
developing their overall personality and take on the competitive world on their own. Finally,
parents can concentrate on their jobs and attain a better work life balance that ultimately leads
to a happy family.

To recapitulate, it is my own personal view that though learning at home might be a good option
in exceptional cases, but, in general, education attained at schools is more valuable to a child’s
future.

Equal number of Students

You should spend 40 minutes on this task

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 Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialised knowledge of the
following topic.

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

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence

You should write at least 250 words

This answer is written by a candidate who achieved a 6 band score

Below is Laique Lodhi’s comment

The writer has tried to organise ideas and uses paragraphing to structure the response. However
the message is confused at times and the answer is incomplete. The writer uses only a limited
vocabulary, quite repetitively and there are simple sentences, however these are often used quite
inaccurately. There are many examples of basic errors in grammar and punctuation. (e.g.;
subject/verb agreement, incorrect use of tenses

considering about studying in the university, students have an opportunity to choose

subjects to learn as they want. Generally, each university class is limited the number of
students in the class regardless the proportion of male and female students. Personally, I
disagree with the idea that the university should accept the same number of men and
women in all classes. This idea can cause many students lose their chance to study the
subjects they like and their study may be ineffective.

In the beginning, the policy that each class should have equal number of male and female
students could make more students miss a chance to study their favorite subjects because
of gender quota. For example, some university classes, such as automobile engineering,
interested males more than females. If the equal number of male and female student
policy is adopted, there will be several male students losing a chance to attend their
interesting class. Similarly, some subjects like accounting and art interest more women
than men. That policy will make a lot of women miss a chance to study their favorite
subjects.

Consequently, when the students cannot enroll in the subjects they are interested in, they
may have to learn the available subjects that they may be not eager to learn. This can
result in the ineffective study because those students will not pay much attention to the
messages that teachers convey in the class. As a result, the instructors may have hard
time in teaching those students.

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 In conclusion, the study will be effective, if the students have an opportunity to study the
subjects they are eager to learn. Therefore, the university should provide student quota in
every subject to be equal the number of student interested in that subject.

Model Answer by a Student

You should spend 40 minutes on this task

Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialised knowledge of the
following topic.

Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own ideas (in words,
pictures, music or films) in whichever way they wish, there should be no government
restrictions on what they do
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence
You should write at least 250 words

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a band score of 7. Below is Laique
Lodhi’s comment on this essay

The writing structure is clear and well organised with an introduction, body and conclusion. The
message is an adequate response to the task and can be followed throughout although there is
room for expansion and clarification of some aspects of the task.

Whether artists should be allowed or there must be some control on the expressions
of their thoughts, is a case with many issues, this essay will analyse the case in depth. At
first sights, the independence of artists in disclosure of their work seems alright. Firstly,
it is their right to convey the message, which is the requirement of the work. Because of
their message would not be delivered to the general public, they might not be able to
survive in the long run. Furthermore being an independent citizen of any country, they have
equal rights. This suggests that it is unlawful to restrict them in discrimination of their
vision. In addition, artists are ambassadors of change in a society. They transform all the
dreadful things happening in the real world in their master pieces and creations. They let
people know about the social issues and motivate them towards a positive change. In a
nutshell artists are playing a key role on the awareness and education of masses.
On the other hand if they are given too much liberty, artists may cause an irreparable
damage to the mental framework of people. Excess liberalization of Government policies
will give them courage to deliver their own message, regardless of the social norms and
general economic and social condition of the audience. Consequently, they can manipulate
they public opinion according to their ideas. Likewise depending on the nature of media the
implications will be different. Certainly a movie that contains some illicit stuff will be more
detrimental to the young audience than writing.

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 In the end to recapitulate, artists should be given independence, but to some extent.
There should be some control on the media through which their work would be
transmitted.

Self-Employed

Some people think it is better to be self-employed. Other people say it is better to work for
a company or institution. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

This model answer perceives a band score of 7+

Whether to work for a company or to be a self-employed person is a case with many issues, and
has both positive and negative aspects. Many consider self employment superior to working for a
company or organisation. (opinion sentence1) By way of contrast, others prefer the opposite
way. (opinion sentence2) In this essay I will analyse both views. (Thesis statement)

Self-employment seems to appear with a positive slant. For instance, being self employed can be
a great experience and an exciting journey. Self-employed people get to look at things from a
different perspective, take charge and are their own boss instead of working for someone else.
Furthermore, self-employed persons can work a their own pace and in their own environment,
especially people with family commitments who may have certain schedules and need to work
specific hours or days. Besides, they do not have to deal with a boss and usually an authoritarian
political environment and it also eliminates the burden of schedules and deadlines

On the other hand, many people support the idea of working for a company. They claim that self-
employed people tend to work more hours than of those who choose to work for a company. For
instance, a 40-hour week is almost non-existent for those who work for themselves. In contrast to
being self-employed, people working for a company have more benefits such as training, health
insurance and travel. Moreover, there are many different retirement plans available from almost
every legitimate employer today. Working for someone else provides you financial peace of
mind to some extent, since you know exactly what and when you will be getting paid.

To recapitulate, there are many advantages to running your own business, however some
people lack the skills or motivation needed, or simply prefer the reassurance of a fixed monthly
salary. Despite numerous rewards of being self-employed, it definitely does not suit everyone. I
would suggest starting a business whilst still working full or part time to see if it is right for you
to reduce the risk involved.

Should rich countries help poorer ones?

What is your opinion?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your argument with
examples and relevant evidence.

You should write at least 250 words.

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 This model answer perceives a band score of 8

Whether developed countries give aid to underdeveloped countries is a case with many issues,
had both negative and positive aspects. For the last half century, poor countries have been
receiving huge sums of money from rich donor countries. Some of this money has enhanced the
lives of people, (opinion sentence1) while much of it has wasted or made no difference to public
lives. (opinion sentence2) In this essay, I will discuss some arguments for and against foreign
aid. (Thesis statement)

The world has become a global village, and nations around the world are more closely linked
than ever before. However, a large proportion of the population of the planet is still struggling in
the jaws of poverty, starvation and lack of basic amenities. The rich have many reasons why they
should help the poorer nations, for instance it promotes their national image among the
international community, it gives them economic and political benefits or they help merely on
humanitarian grounds. The richer nations can assist the poorer ones by offering financial and
medical aid, or by giving them expertise or the technology to improve their standard of living.

Moreover, the richer nations should help the poorer nations to increase their foreign
investments. For example, by aiding underprivileged neighboring countries, the wealthier states
would be able to make the entire region a lucrative locality for investors and this in turn would
bring more investments to the entire region. For example, The Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, commonly known as ASEAN, with member countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia
help poorer nations, namely to illustrate, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia through offering their
expertise. An overall stability in the region has led to the increase in direct foreign investment,
since there is investor's confidence in the region while it is socially and politically stable. Hence,
richer nations can aid poorer countries since it would be a win-win situation for both countries
and the richer nations would reap positive benefits such as accelerated economic growth from
doing so.

Richer nations should also help poorer nations due to political reasons. The instability in a poorer
country may dribble over to the richer country and could potentially lead to social instability in
the neighboring countries too. For instance, Zimbabwe’s political turbulence and social flux
resulted in a huge wave of economic refugees, escaping the crisis in Zimbabwe, and flooding
into Southern African countries. Eventually, neighboring countries are indirectly being affected
by the crises in Zimbabwe. Helping Zimbabwe would play down the refugees coming to these
richer nations and admittedly they would not need to cope with the influx of people in their
country.

Alternatively, opponents of foreign aid argue that, donating money to poorer nations is less
likely to be beneficial; They argue that huge sums of money have been given out as foreign aid
and failed to make a difference in people’s lives. Instead it has gone into the coffers of corrupt
governments or incompetent management. In addition many foreign aid projects are
inappropriate for the intended country. Several countries carry out giant development projects
that fail after a few years or do not involve the local people. Furthermore, a large amount of aid
finds its way back to Europe and the US in the form of costly specialised equipment and experts
from the donor country.

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 In conclusion, the needs of the poorer countries may seem to be intuitive? However, the richer
countries must scrutinise the real needs of poor countries and implement solutions that will
benefit both them and us. (A suggestive ending)

Smoking to be illegal
Should smoking tobacco like other dangerous drugs be made illegal?

What is your opinion?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your argument with
examples and relevant evidence.

You should write at least 250 words.

This model answer perceives a band score of 7+

Whether to prohibit tobacco smoking along with other risky drugs is one of the most
controversial issues of our times, however there are a large number of arguments to be
considered. Every year, thousands of people fall seriously sick or are killed as a result of
tobacco-related fatal illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiac arrest. Because of this, many
people are opposed to tobacco smoking and want it to be banned. (Opinion sentence1) Others
feel it is a threat to their freedom of choice. (Opinion sentence1) This essay will look at some of
the arguments for and against making tobacco smoking illicit. (Thesis statement)

Firstly, the positive side of smoking should not be overlooked. Smoking certainly helps many
people to unwind and relax; it even improves concentration for some people. Furthermore,
Governments throughout the world make huge profits from levying taxes on cigarettes.
Consequently, these monies provide means to upgrade health systems, building schools and
other public facilities. In addition, the tobacco industry provides jobs to thousands of people all
over the world, with the bulk of the contribution coming from poorer countries, banning tobacco
smoking will leave these people laid off.

A large number of people strongly oppose smoking; they believe smoking causes serious health
problems. Namely to illustrate, heart disease, lung cancer and bronchitis have long been
associated with tobacco smoking. Moreover, many people today are also concerned about
passive smoking. Latest research has shown that non-smokers can pick up tobacco related health
problems if they spend time in the company of smokers. Similarly, they argue that smoking costs
governments a massive amount of money in terms of medical expenses for those who need
treatment in hospitals for smoking related illnesses. Admittedly, outlawing smoking will
eliminate these expenses and funds can be better spend on more social benefits

To sum up, I strongly believe that smoking should be banned but to some extent; such as making
it prohibitive only at public places and individuals should not be deprived of freedom of choice.

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 Perhaps public funds should not be used to treat people with smoking related illnesses as they
chose to smoke despite warnings. (A suggestive ending)

The Following essay has been written by one of Laique Lodhi’s students who achieved 9
Band in writing in the IELTS exam.

Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide

improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.

Whether rising standards of human living is the cause of environmental damage is a case with
many issues. Some people believe it is true while others are of the opinion that change is an
elixir of life and that improper regulation and inadequate laws are the factors to blame. In this
essay I will analyze both schools of thought.

Nothing denies the fact that our standard of living has risen by leaps and bounds over the past
few decades; thanks to the advancements in science and technology. However, the price paid
in the form of environmental disturbances has left much less to be desired. For instance, many
species of flora and fauna are on the verge of extinction owing to human’s greed to expand their
habitat. In addition, deforestation leads to disequilibrium of climatic state leading to fluctuations
in rainfall every year. Moreover, the desires to own luxurious commodities like air conditioners
has had adverse effects on the ozone layer leading to life threatening diseases like cancer and
global warming which is gradually leading to rise in sea level. Consequently, the entire
ecological balance will be at stake if such a mad race for unwanted progress in living standards
is not curbed. This would ultimately pose a serious threat to our own existence.

On the contrary, many advocates of human revolution are of the philosophical opinion that
change is natural and that whatever happens is only a direct result of nature’s hidden plans.
Also, industrialists and intellectuals believe that it is not the improvement in standards of living
that causes atmospheric changes but a meek law enforcement by states that leads to
destruction of our environment. For instance, many countries in the Asian subcontinent are yet
to attain a high standard of living but still observe environmental instability. Some people even
state short sightedness and laziness on part of the governments as the primary cause of such a
sorry state of affairs.

To recapitulate, I am strongly of the opinion that humans are racing against the laws of nature
and testing its limits. If this mad spree to attain exorbitant and unwanted luxury is not bought in
check, our environment will continue to suffer and the existence of human life along with other
species will be under serious threat.

The following essay has been written by Laique Lodhi’s student. Laique Lodhi has checked
this letter and made recommendations for your better understanding. Recommendations
are in RED and YELLOW.

While computers are more and more used in education some people argue
that in future there will be no role for teachers. Do you agree or disagree?

Over the past few years, internet has influenced the education sector. It may indeed be
true to say that teachers will soon be replaced by computers, this subject, however,
requires further analysis. A large number of people are in the favour maintain the

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 view of computers taking the role of teachers whereas others people think that
teachers will always have a place in class rooms. This essay will analyse arguments for
and against the significance of teachers.
Some people believe the position of teachers will deteriorate in the future
whereas others are of the view that teachers will always be functional in our
societies.
Firstly, a large number of people argue that computers have solved the education
problems. As evidence of this they say that students can get all kinds of information at
home. For example, teachers can send lectures and notes by e-mail, so there is no need
to go to campus. Furthurmore, (check spellings) they convine (check spellings) by
telling the importance of distant learning courses. in support of their rgument (check
spellings) they debate that in some fields like medicine you can collect data and
information from different countries.

A contrary school of thought believes teachers will have a practical place in

future. others , myself included are in favur of teachers’ presence they emphasise that
teachers not only give lectures or they are not only source of education but students can
learn loads of other things. For instance, like how to tackle different situations.
Admittedly, teachers can transmit convey their life experiences to their pupils. Critics
argue that students can get immediate answers if they find a difficult task which is not
possible by technology. In addition sincere instructor can give you right direction in
your career, they say emphasise that students can equally participate in tutorials and
will be capable of further broadened developing new their concepts.
Finally, to recapitulate i I do agree with the importance of Computers internet
technology but at the same time it cannot be denied that teachers wll (check
spellings) definitely maitain (check spellings) position on this horizon in the future.
Tthe bottom line is if teachers will loose their importance, then all the institutes will
disappear

Space Exploration

You should spend 40 minutes on this task

Should governments spend money on space exploration, or should they spend the money
on problems here first?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

You should write at least 250 words

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band score of 8

Whether authorities should allocate resources for space exploration has been in debate
for many years now. Many people are excited about space exploration. However, others

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 feel it is a massive waste of money. This essay will look at some of the arguments for
and against unearthing the outer space.

Some people are thrilled with planetary voyages argue that the purpose of space
exploration is to discover new planets, new energy resources or to prevent potential
threat to our planet. Furthermore, they believe that space research has provided many
rewards to mankind. They also argue that hundreds of valuable products are the direct
or indirect fallouts of space research, such as ball points, microwave ovens, heart
pacemakers and frozen foods. In addition to these practical benefits, supporters of the
space program point to the scientific knowledge that has been acquired about the sun,
the moon, the planets and even our own earth as a result of space research.

However, there are a range of arguments against the above opinion, a lot of people on
the other hand maintain a view that the money and effort now being wasted in outer
space could be spent for homeless people, improving the education system, saving the
environment, and finding cures for diseases like AIDS and lung cancer. Similarly, many
people believe that the money would be used more effectively to prevent and solve
problems humankind has been confronting with nowadays. Likewise, protection against
the spread out of diseases is also urgent issue that we need to solve on this planet
first.

To sum up, I strongly believe that using this money to improve the quality of education
and health services is much better than for the space discovery. Money should only be
invested in space exploration providing all urgent and important matters on this planet
have been resolved. Also, purposes of space exploration campaign should be studied
carefully and other alternatives should be considered before money is wasted.

Practice Tests writing Task-2

Below is a list of essay topics for your task 2 practice. Aim to write as many practice essays as
possible, within the 40-minute time limit, so you can do so with ease and confidence on the day
of your exam. Take advantage of the writing structure, connective words, phrases and the model
answers provided in this book while you write your essays.

Education
1) Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you
agree?
2) What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?
Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer to a
prospective student? www.laiquelodhi.com

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 3)
4) The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people.
But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the
difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer.
5) Education is recognized as vital to the future of any society in today's world.
Governments throughout the world should make education compulsory for all children
between the ages of 5 and 15. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
6) Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss.
7) Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on
academic subjects?
8) To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?
9) To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of society?
10) Should children be taught driving rules in schools?
11) Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more
languages in the future?
12) Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on
Academic subjects?
13) Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should they
promote education first?
14) As computers are used more and more in education, some people argue that in future
there will be no role for teachers, Do you agree or disagree?
15) Young people are encouraged to travel or work for one year after high school and before
university studies. Write the advantages and disadvantages of this view.
16) It is good for school and university students to take part in part-time jobs. Do you agree
or disagree?
17) Education is sometimes considered as something for youth. Some people, however,
consider it a lifelong task. What is your opinion? Give reasons and support your ideas
with specific examples.
18) It has been said." Not everything that is learned is contained in books." Compare and
contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your
opinion, which source is more important? Say why
19) All education, primary, secondary and further education, should be free for all people
and paid for by the government?
Do you agree or disagree with this statement

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 Technology www.laiquelodhi.com

1) Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology
was simpler?
2) Will modern technology, such as the internet ever replace the book or the written word
as the main source of information?
3) We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses,
hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in
future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious
of their benefits? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
4) In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the
past 10 years?
5) Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of
personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen.
What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than
face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?
6) Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?
7) The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many
as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be
encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do
you think?
8) The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give
reasons for your answer.
9) Computers can translate all kinds of languages well so our children do not need to learn
more languages in the future Do you agree or disagree?
10) Is technology time-consuming or does it save time?
11) It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional cultures must be lost.
Technology and tradition are incompatible - you cannot have both together. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
12) Some people say that television is a very useful tool when it comes to education. Others
argue that television is a much overused, ineffective teacher.
13) Discuss both of these views and give your opinion as to the usefulness of television as
an educational tool.

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 14) The age of Information Technology has taken a lot of people by surprise. While it has
become a way of life for some, others know very little about it and may be unlikely to
learn. Eventually we will have a polarised society and this will lead to serious social
problems.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Parents/Children www.laiquelodhi.com

1) Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
2) Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement?
3) Should parents be forced to immunise their children against childhood diseases. Do you
agree or disagree?
4) Some people think children's spending time on TV, video and PC games is good, while
others think it is bad. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
5) If children behave badly, should their parents accept responsibility and also be punished?
6) Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise they
are a complete waste of time.
Do you agree or disagree?
7) Some people think children are more successful in foreign language studies than adults.
Discuss.
8) Children today are too dependent on computers and electronic entertainment. It would be
better for them to be outside playing sports and taking part in more traditional pastimes
than spending all day indoors.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Employment www.laiquelodhi.com

1) Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?

2) Telecommuting refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and
communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing
in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming
decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
3) In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others
people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be
encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.

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 Gender Issues
1) To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?
2) Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they
have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just
as good as women at parenting. Write an essay expressing your point of view. Give
reasons for your answer.
3) Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain
percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women

Environment & Ecology

1) To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental
conservation?
2) Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in
the standard of living. Discuss.
3) The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be
attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to
reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage
people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to
encourage the use of public transport.
4) The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and
clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Do you
agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.
5) Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish. Why do you think this is
happening? What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?

Modern society www.laiquelodhi.com

1) Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable
activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on
patients’ health, no matter how rich they are?
2) Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?
3) In your opinion what factors contribute to a good film?
4) Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy, or
is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?

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 5) Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some
governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree? Give
reasons.
6) To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
7) See.
8) Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can
get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A vegetarian
diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion above.
9) Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to the death
of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
10) Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.
11) Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment.
Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.
12) To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become
a social and political issue in the 21st century?
13) In Britain, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with other old people
where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this
care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give reasons.
14) The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many
as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be
encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do
you think?
15) The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.
16) News editors decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers. What
factors do you think influence their decisions? Have we become used to bad news?
Would it be better if more good news was reported?
17) TV: could you be without it? Discuss.
18) To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become
a social and political issue in the 21st century?
19) The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons
for your answer.
20) Tourism is becoming increasingly important as a source of revenue to many countries but
its disadvantages should not be overlooked. What are some of the problems of tourism?

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 21) The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons
for your answer,
22) Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy, or
is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
23) Some people say all these advertisements are making people buy things they do not really
need. Discuss.
24) Language and culture are respected less in comparison with the past. Do you agree or
disagree?

Government
1) Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by
providing such things as food and education? Or is it the responsibility of the
governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?
2) What should a government do for a country to become successful?
3) Should money be spent on space exploration?
4) Should rich countries forgive all debts of poor countries?
5) Does foreign aid help donor countries more than the recipients?
6) Should rich countries pay more for environmental damage?
7) Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain
percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
8) Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should they
promote education first?
9) Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be responsible
for enforcing strict building codes - the government or the people who build the homes?
10) Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor countries.
11) Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated
using community service programs, for instance, before being reintroduced to society?
12) In most countries disabled people are not catered for adequately, For example, buildings
are often inappropriately designed; Governments rely too heavily on charities and
voluntary organizations to provide assistance and funding. What further measures could
be taken to assist disabled people?
13) In your opinion should the government intervene in the rights of the individual with
regard to family planning?
14) The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.

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 15) Governments around the world are spending billions in support of space programs. This
money would be better spent on research into improvements in human health.

If you like to hire LAIQUE LODHI as your Personal IELTS Trainer

Click the link http://www.laiquelodhi.com
Contact +92
+92-321-4040-305

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