Test 4

Task 2: Some people believe government should spend money on building train and subway lines to reduce
traffic congestion. Others think that building more and wider roads is the better way to reduce traffic
congestion. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 8.5 Sample Essay 1:

Traffic congestion has become the bane of citizens in many parts of the world. In order to mitigate this
problem, some suggest that public transportation, such as trains and subway lines should be constructed.
Meanwhile, others are firm in their belief that building wider roads makes more sense. Both of these methods
will be analysed below.

On the one hand, building trains is an effective method to improve traffic condition. There are compelling
evidences to support the investment in public transportation. In countries where subway systems are up to
standard, the number of private vehicles that participate in traffic is small, city dwellers can save hours of delay
and also thousands of dollars on traveling expenses. That is not to mention a significant number of gallons of
fuel saved, which means slowing down the exploitation of natural resources.

There are, however, others who express doubts on this approach. Their suggestion is that a better way to
alleviate traffic jam is to make bigger road systems. The undeniable fact is that in many developing countries
today, roads are narrow and in a desperate state of disrepair, which greatly obstruct the travels to their
destinations. Someone’s small accidents, a flat tyre for example, can bring traffic to a halt, which is a
commonly-seen problem in roads that have only two lanes.

To conclude, both methods discussed above provide sustained relief on our roadways; however, it is my
opinion that the method to build trains and subway makes more sense in terms of environmental protection.

252 words, written by Bao Huyen (IELTS Teacher)

Band 8.0 Model Essay 2:

The high volume of traffic is a huge problem for many big cities. Therefore, there is a widely held view among a
number of people that governmental bodies should pour money in building such public transport systems as
train and subway lines. Others, however, argue that road expansion is the more proper way. To my mind,
though widening streets benefits us, this can not alleviate traffic congestion.

It is not by chance that developing public vehicles is considered one of the common approaches to reduce
traffic jams. To day, people have indeed used too many private vehicles whose disadvantages can be listed. The
long line of cars at peak hours is a typical example, which may lead to lengthy delays. This can also cause other
serious consequences such as traffic accidents. Accordingly, it is widely believed that building underground
tunnels can solve heavy traffic jams due to empty spaces beneath the ground.

However, according to others, road extension is a better alternative because this solution does not demand
more efforts. Also, extending road does not seem as costly as developing underground transport systems.
Another reason for this is that bigger roads will create more spaces for vehicle owners, helping them to
circulate easily during peak hours. By doing so, traffic congestion can be alleviated.

In my opinion, road expansion is not a long-term measure because people tend to drive their vehicles regularly
on newly widened streets. In other words, traffic jams might continue to occur. Therefore, government should
take other solutions into consideration for safer transportation.

Test 5
Task 2: More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending a short time in communities in
poorer countries doing unpaid work such as teaching or building houses. Why? Who benefit more from this, the
community or these young people?

Band 8.5 Model Essay

There has been an ongoing trend of many young people from prosperous nations deciding to spend their time
doing voluntary work in underprivileged countries. Some of the prominent reasons for this phenomenon will be
discussed, before the benefits of both individuals and developing countries are analysed.

There are several convincing reasons associated with this practice. The most significant factor is that doing such
unpaid work in poor countries would be a comparative advantage for the young when applying for a job in the
future. In other words, in this fierce and competitive job market, a candidate possessing an application file
accompanied by only great scores could not be the ideal one that a recruiter is finding; therefore, he or she
needs outstanding volunteering experience to be able to compete with other rivals. Another reason that is
worth mentioning is that young generations could engender the feeling of community when participating in
unpaid work. Their voluntary efforts help to give prominence to the value of sharing and the sense of social
responsibility to secure improved humanity and international awareness about disadvantaged places.

It is undoubted that both the young volunteers and underdeveloped or developing countries could equally gain
from this phenomenon. Regarding the young, it is apparent that the aforementioned meaningful work not only
brings the volunteers unforgettable life lessons, gives them hands – on experience but also helps expand their
network of relationships. As a result, they gradually grow more mature and confident, realizing the diversity of
life by getting to know many walks of people. In regard to poorer countries, they may have a chance to raise
the living standards of their dwellers. For instance, knowledge related to environment protection or health care
which they have acquired from overseas volunteers possibly improves their living conditions afterwards.

To sum up, the requirement of more competitive profile and the determination to support financially
disadvantaged countries are the two principal elements that make young people join a wide range of voluntary
activities. I would contend that both the volunteers and the community are the beneficiaries of the practice
above.

(343 words – written by Band 8.5 IELTS Test-taker)

Test 6

Task 2: In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family roles. What types of changes are
occurring? Do you think these changes are positive and negative?

It is true that these days the family structure has considerably shifted, and the changing roles of men and
women in the family has become increasingly similar. There are several new forms of family composition, and
in my opinion, these developments are not always desirable.

In the past, nuclear families where parents and their offspring living together under one roof used to be
prevalent. However, there is now a huge trend towards single-parent families due to more marriages ending in
divorce, while the increase in cohabiting couple families and stepfamilies is probably a result of cohabitation
and remarriage becoming much more acceptable. In addition, the number of single-mother families has
increased as many mothers want to have children without getting married. In terms of changing parental roles
in a family, there has been a rise in the number of stay-at-home dads in recent years when it has become
normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue their own career path. This is in sharp contrast to about
half a decade ago when men were breadwinners and women were in charge of household chores in their
families.
In my view, the changes described above could have both positive and negative consequences. On the one
hand, due to the lack of emotional attachment and legal binding, non-traditional households such as
stepfamilies and cohabiting parents are more prone to breaking down. Consequently, children of these families
are more likely to be involved in antisocial behaviors while their parent may experience feelings of loneliness
and worry. On the other hand, the changes in the roles of members in the family could be seen as progress
because women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their own careers to assume childcare and domestic
responsibilities.

In conclusion, I believe that the changes in the roles of family members and the family structure are both
positive and negative.

308 words, Band 8.5

Test 7

Task 2: More and more people would like to pay more attention to the famous people who have achieved huge
success in areas, such as cinema, sports. Why they attract much interest from people? Do you think it good or
bad?

Band 9.0 Sample Essay:

Humanitarian education teaches various social topics from a humanitarian perspective. However important our
academic careers may be for us, a certain iota of humanity is always expected from us as being the superior
living beings on earth. Whether we need to study specialized subjects for such a quality to develop in us is a
debatable issue.

The people who opine that studying such subjects is a waste of time may believe so, keeping in mind that many
academic curriculum is set and rarely changes. Therefore, the history, literature or philosophy that is taught is
done from a text-bookish perspective, and does not give in-depth knowledge of the same. Also, people feel that
memorizing dates and facts, sources of the origin of a language, or brooding on lessons derived from life hardly
matter when we go out in search of work.

On the contrary, humanitarian education particularly relates to offering assistance to others in an emergency or
crisis and is also used to refer to the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for individuals and communities to
help themselves. In the hostile environment we are living nowadays, the goal of humanitarian education of
communities increasing their resilience and individuals and groups becoming confident, able and willing to help
themselves and others when faced with a crisis, is something that can obviously not be developed on our own.

I believe we need to look beyond the established stereotyping of history, literature and philosophy as subjects
and need to broaden our mentality. Apart from the much popular career choices that rake in our desired
amount of money, the historians, literary scholars and philosophers too play an important role in our societies.
The teachings and observations of Karl Marx, Aristotle, Socrates, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and many
such other personalities are still cited today for reference.

Summarizing this essay we can conclude that classifying humanitarian subjects as having no value for future
careers is narrow minded. These subjects are also as important as any other, when being chosen for a thorough
study so as to make a career out of them.

(347 words)

Test 8
Task 2: Some people think that it is good for a country's culture to import foreign movies and TV programmes.
Others think that it is better to produce these locally.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 8.0 Model Essay 1

People have different views about whether it is better for a country to purchase foreign movies or to create
domestic ones. While importing movies from other countries can have some advantages, I would argue that
producing local movies is a much better option.

On the one hand, there are some clear benefits of buying movies from other countries. Firstly, when a country
imports movies that are produced overseas, it can help its people learn about other cultures in a much easier
and more effective way. This would help its citizens to be more knowledgeable. Secondly, individuals can learn
the good things of other more civilized societies and alter the way they behave. For example, the habit of
queuing is a nice thing in many Western countries, and people from Vietnam can learn and copy this action
when watching foreign movies.

On the other hand, I believe it is better for countries to produce movies domestically because of some reasons.
The first one is that movies made by local people would help to preserve the traditions and customs of their
own cultures. For instance, many Vietnamese TV programmes remind young generations of how people
celebrate Lunar New Year, which is the most important public holiday in some Asian countries. If young people
only watch foreign movies, the traditional values might be gradually forgotten. Another reason is that the film
industry often creates jobs such as actors, directors or cameramen. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in
producing movies in order to provide more employment opportunities for local people.

In conclusion, while purchasing foreign movies is beneficial for a nation’s culture to some extent, it seems to
me that making local ones is a much better choice.

BAND 8.0 MODEL ESSAY 2

Test 9

Task 2: People in the community can buy cheaper products nowadays. Do advantages outweigh disadvantages?

Band 8.0 Model Answer:

The development of technology combined with living in the city gives people the chance to purchase products
at cheaper prices. While I agree that this opportunity is advantageous to some extent, I am seriously concerned
that the drawbacks it brings can be detrimental to the living society.

It is understandable that being able to buy cheaper product is substantially beneficial. Saving money is probably
the first and foremost merit of this trend. Instead of spending a significant amount of monthly expenditure on
clothes or basic necessities as they used to do in the previous years, consumers can now spare a larger
proportion of their budget on important needs including better education and nutrition. In addition, the
availability of low-priced products grants consumers more spending choices and boost overall consumption.
Since products become more affordable and accessible, even low-income people now can purchase a certain
range of consumer goods to satisfy their different needs. Thanks to this, people from all walks of life can enjoy
sufficient living without paying much.

However, I strongly believe that purchasing cheaper goods has its downsides which seem overshadow the
benefits. Firstly, health threats to consumers and workers are two major problems of this trend. To save costs,
manufactures may accept the usage of unsafe cheap chemicals and low-quality ingredients which undoubtedly
affect customers’ health. Moreover, mass production is also associated with worker exploitation and
international outsourcing systems that render poor countries labour-intensive. Secondly, cost-effectiveness of
this practice is not guaranteed since products of lower prices usually come with short shelf life and low quality.
Therefore, in certain cases, customers may not save money but also have to spend more than they should have
to fix or to purchase new products.

In conclusion, people’s access to cheaper products has its own good sides. However, the shortcomings are
more remarkable that they should be taken into serious consideration.

Test 10

Writing task 2 (an essay): Nowadays the differences between countries are becoming less evident because we
see the same TV shows, advertisements, fashion and follow the same brands. To what extent the advantages of
this trend outweigh its disadvantages?

Band 8.0 Model Essay 1

We are now living in a global village where geographical barriers have become insignificant. All over the world,
people wear the same kind of clothes, eat the same foods and watch the same films. In my opinion, this trend
has made life easier for us all.

There are several benefits to following global fashion trends. It makes traveling easier. For example, now
Indians and Americans or Europeans have more or less the same tastes in fashion, food and music. As a result,
young Indian professionals can travel to the US or Europe and still feel at home there. The biggest advantage of
following a global lifestyle is that it eliminates culture shock when you travel to other countries. It also protects
you from discrimination. When you wear the same kind of clothes or eat the same kind of foods as everyone
else, you will not stand out. This will actually protect you from various forms of discrimination that you might
experience when you are in a foreign country. An Indian woman living in the US will be at a disadvantage if she
insists on wearing only traditional Indian clothes and eating only vegetarian foods. This will limit the choices she
has, but if she is willing to follow the culture of the country she lives in, life will be easier for her.

The only disadvantage of this trend is the loss of ethnicity. Every nation has its traditional styles of fashion and
clothing. When everyone wears the same kind of clothes, this cultural legacy gets lost.

To conclude, the benefits of following global trends in lifestyle and fashion are many. It makes life easier for the
globetrotting youngsters. There are, nonetheless, a few disadvantages, but there is an easy way to get around
them. People who are proud of their ethnic fashion and lifestyle can follow it when they are in their own
country.

Band 8.0 Model Essay 2

Globalisation has allowed people to adopt a homogeneous culture in terms of entertainment, fashion and other
areas as such. However there are some people who believe such uniformity isn’t very beneficial. This essay shall
discuss further both the sides of this phenomenon.

Having the same kind of preferences helps people get around the world very easily. If we watch TV shows or
adverts of a certain country we get familiar with a summary of its culture, thereby making it easier for us to
blend in there. The more we get to know about each other, the more can the differences between countries be
eliminated making the world a huge harmonious community. We are no longer restricted to brands of our own
country but are exposed to international products and services. Following a global fashion trend shall make you
feel and act more naturally with the people anywhere in the world without being too obvious.
The people who do not support such a development are the ones who feel a country’s own ethnicity will be lost
if the people try to adopt the prevailing global culture a little more than required. Watching TV shows or movies
from a foreign country may influence and alter the mannerisms of the people of the home country. Some
cultures are very rigid when it comes to clothing and the acceptance of universal fashion trends therefore will
not be received well. Although, I feel these are minor issues in comparison to the host of advantages that we
have regarding this. One’s own ethnicity can be followed regardless of the TV shows we watch or the clothes
we wear.

To conclude, I agree that the advantages of the phenomenon of having a uniform culture worldwide outweigh
the disadvantages. Every subject has pros and cons, and the cons here can be ignored easily, especially when
such an acceptance makes life easier.

Test 11

Writing task 2 (an essay): 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.

Band 8.0 Model Essay

Educational institutions like schools and colleges have a duty to mold students into law abiding citizens and
hardworking employees. However, I don’t think that this should be at the cost of their individuality.

Individuality helps people stand out in a crowd. Independent thinking fuels their creativity and helps them
become good writers, thinkers and artists. Their creative pursuits will bring glory to the nation and give patriots
even more reasons to be proud of their country.

Children spend a great deal of time in schools. The text books, the teachers and the general atmosphere at
school have a major impact on their impressionable minds. If schools don’t encourage creativity and
independent thinking, the nation will suffer.

Just because someone thinks independently, it doesn’t mean that they can’t become good citizens or good
employees. I can’t understand how independent thinking will make a person anti-national or anti-social. Some
of the greatest patriots we have seen were highly creative people who thought independently. There are
numerous examples of such men and women in the annals of World history.

A nation needs great thinkers, writers, artists, scientists and philosophers to take its culture and legacy forward.
We can’t accomplish much by being mechanized patriots and workers.

To conclude, I don’t agree with the argument that schools should only teach students to become good citizens
and workers. Yes, these institutions should teach these values, but they should also encourage independent
thinking. A person can be an independent thinker and a patriot at the same time. If one studies world history
one can find several examples of thinkers who were also great patriots and citizens. Since students spend a
great deal of their time at school, it is the right place to learn all of these values.

Test 12

Writing task 2 (an essay): 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?

Band 8.5 Essay

There are many who prefer supplementary methods such as the TV, internet and books for enhancing their
learning. However, teachers have, and always will be an inseparable part of the classroom. This essay shall
advocate how the teachers provide more than just academic learning.

Graphical representation of the academic content always helps the students to grasp better. For example,
learning about Geography and History from the Discovery channel, or reading articles about tricks to solve
math problems on the internet, makes students more interested to study. There are also many students who
prefer a background or in-depth knowledge of certain concepts, so they prefer to read books on that particular
subject outside of their academic curriculum. We can say all these things assist students to self-learn, but
somewhere without a teacher, this method may go haphazard.

There is a flood of information on the internet and thousands of books published on a single subject. What
content is authentic on the internet or what books are relevant for reading, is supposed to be guided by the
teachers. Teachers know the content and know how to explain it. They motivate the students for high levels of
performances. Good teachers are great performers and storytellers that rivet their students’ attention. Apart
from academic learning, teachers teach the students about the techniques of amplifying information, and when
to execute the knowledge they have. These are life lessons that the students won’t know about unless taught
to them by an experienced professional.

Therefore, in closing I’d say that more than the books, TV and internet, teachers are more of our mentors.
Teachers don’t teach the school or university subjects, they teach how to learn them on your own. Teachers
engineer learning experiences that maneuver the students into the driver’s seat and then step aside.

(299 words, written by Devanshi Shah)

test 13

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people believe that anyone can create art such as painting, poetry, music and
so on. Others think that a person should have special abilities to create art. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.

Band 9.o Model Essay:

Art is a diverse range of creative activities that express the creator’s imaginations. Naturally one can assume, to
create art all you need is a good imagination. However, some others believe that you need to learn special skills
to become an artist. This essay shall discuss both the views in detail.

Any person with a creative vision and ingenuity can create art forms such as writing poetry, painting, or
composing a song or two. Drawing up a mental picture of your feelings and expressing them effectively on
paper will make you an artist. For example some people are sometimes driven by longing or grief for someone,
which makes them spill their feelings out in a song or a painting. This is why people feel that creating art is not
that hard and can be attempted easily.

On the contrary, there are people who firmly opine that without learning how to express creatively,
imagination alone cannot help one become an artist. It requires years of training for people to become great
artists. To become a musician for instance, one needs to learn all the fundamentals of rhythms and melodies; to
play a guitar one needs to learn all the right chords. It doesn’t help if your imagination is vivid; you need to
know the correct technique of expressing the same to distinguish your creation from the ordinary mediocrities.

To conclude, I’d like to say that as easy as it sounds, creating art is definitely not a piece of cake. Sure, one
might be innate in some art forms, but enhancing that skill is very important to create masterpieces.
(266 words, written by Devanshi Shah)

test14

- Task 2: 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?

Band 9.0 Model Essay

The role of one government to support citizens of other countries has been a major topic of concern in today’s
society. From my perspective, this practice is feasible and there arecompelling reasons why governments
should help people in the global community rather than only focusing on the citizens of their own countries.

In this context of globalisation and international integration, the provision of assistance for peoples of all
countries in the world is not an impossible task anymore. One explanation for this is that modern means of
transport have transformed the way that international assistance could be given, and now assistance could
reach even the most remote places on Earth. For example, thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in a
mountainous city in Nepal were rescued by US and German military helicopters in 2014. One further
explanation is that thanks to international banking, the international community could offer a helping hand to
any country where the financial system is on the verge of collapse. An excellent example of this is that the
saving money of millions of taxpayers and pensioners in Greece was saved by a timely act of the European
Commission of injecting a huge amount of bailout money into Greek banks in 2009.

I strongly believe any government must assume the responsibility of helping citizens in other countries. This is
mainly because assisting inhabitants in other countries, to some extent, is synonymous to assisting people in
the home country. In 2014, hundreds of US and UK doctors and nurses were sent to African countries to cope
with the outbreak of Ebola, a dreadful plague, which had killed many thousands by that time. This action
prevented the plague from further spreading to other nations, including the US and the UK themselves,
considering that there was a free movement of people between countries and there were millions of African
migrant workers in the US and the UK at that time. In addition, the act of supporting people all around the
world may promote a sense of humanity, which is essential to the sustainable development of the world,
because humanity is the foundation of peace and stability.

To conclude, governments must provide assistance for citizens of other countries for a clear reason that this
feasible act could simultaneously enhance a global sense of humanity and assure their own nationals of a
proper living environment.

Band 9.0 Model Essay 2

Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are problems in our
own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to help as many people as possible.

On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow citizens. In most communities
there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people,
for example, in even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are concerned about this problem, there are
usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these people. In the UK, people can help in a
variety of ways, from donating clothing to serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our
doorstep, and there are obvious ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise
local charity.

At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national borders. In
some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our own communities, and
it is often even easier to help. For example, when children are dying from curable diseases in African countries,
governments and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A
small donation to an international charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.

In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national boundaries should not stop us
from helping those who are in need.

(280 words, band 9 written by Simon)

Test 15

Task 2: In the future, it seems more difficult to live on the Earth. Some people think more money should be
spent on researching other planet to live, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?

Band 9.0 Model Essay 1

It is true that, if present trends continue, it will become increasingly difficult to sustain human life on Earth.
While I agree that it is vital to tackle this problem. I believe that expenditure on research for new planets to
colonise should be given a low priority, and resources must be used to find other, more practical solutions.

There are two major reasons why life on Earth is becoming more and more unsustainable. One obvious
problem is the uncontrolled consumption of natural resources, which are being depleted as a result. For
instance, the extraction of fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil to satisfy growing energy demands has serious
environmental impacts, and these resources will eventually run out. Another concern is the rising level of
pollution worldwide, of the land, the oceans and the air that we breathe. In India, for example, thousands of
tons of industrial rubbish have been released illegally into rivers, killing aquatic life and contaminating drinking
water.

However, I would argue that the search for a new planet on which humans could survive is a waste of valuable
resources. Firstly, a vast amount of funding would be required to finance such space exploration, with no
guarantee of success. This money is needed now to improve health services globally and to provide better
education for all. Secondly, financial resources should be used to develop advanced technologies that would be
more environmentally- friendly and provide renew able energy. In the field of transport, to take a simple
example, vehicles can now be converted to run on hydrogen or even waste cooking oil – as McDonald’s have
done with their trucks.

In conclusion, I consider that the search for new planets on which to settle is a waste of time and resources,
and efforts should be concentrated on living more sustainably here on Earth.

Band 8.5 Sample Essay 2

Advances in technology make the prospect to find the second Earth potentially viable. While I agree that
terrestrial life has become increasingly difficult, I do not believe that we should invest money in finding a new
planet to live.

On the one hand, there is no doubt that life is not as easy as it was in the past. The main problem is the growing
level of environmental pollution that adversely affects humankind in all parts of the world. The rising
consumption of natural resources such as gas, oil and coal has resulted in an enormous amount of carbon
emissions being released into the atmosphere, which impairs the air quality and accelerates climate change.
The consequences of this are grave. People in many big cities are suffering respiratory diseases; more lands are
being shrunk due to the rise of sea levels; and there are frequent heat waves in tropical countries. Apparently,
human life is now put in danger.
On the other hand, I would contend that spending money finding another home for all creatures on the Earth is
not an effective measure. There is little hope of seeking a planet that has favorable conditions for life while the
expenditure can be extremely huge. In contrast, a much better solution would be that we should invest in
environmental projects and encourage people to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. For example,
green energy should be harnessed and made more available to replace our dependence on fossil fuels, and
individuals ought to opt for public transport rather than driving their vehicles. Such actions can cut exhaust
emissions and slow down the effects of global warming, making the
earth a more desirable place for us all.

In conclusion, although global warming is a global malady, it seems ludicrous to suggest that people should find
another planet to settle down.
(306 words, written by IELTS Teacher)

test 16

- Task 2: Nowadays, more and more old people who need employment compete with the younger people for
the same jobs. What problems this causes? What are solutions?

Band 8.0 Model Essay

It is true that competition is a significant attitude in a workplace which is more prevalence between young and
old employees. There are numerous reasons regarding this issue and various measures can be taken by
governments to improve this situation.

The first predictable consequence is the abundance of mature aged employees. Even though, there is no
disputing the fact that aging workforce is highly experienced, they seem to be less productive due to their
health deterioration. This would negatively influence their job performance as a result. The other outcome is
the increasing rate of unemployment among junior workers which is often reported to be the major cause of
teenage crimes. Because of joblessness, youngsters often lack money and thus they may misbehave such as
spoiling, killing, etc to live from day to day. Consequently , not only does our society indirectly incite crime in
youths, but we also do not effectively exploit young workers who seem to be non-experienced but dedicated to
work.

To mitigate these problems, I think, companies would soon implement early retirement incentive programs for
devoted elderly laborers. Special healthcare and other social welfare payments should be given to ensure that
they live healthily in the rest of their life. Besides, employers should also create more job opportunities for
young employees. Take, for example, fast-track scheme, a system for rapid training and job promotion of
talented young staff. By this way, they can develop their potential to the fullest and make significant
contributions to the company they are working for.

In conclusion, young and old workers play an equally important role in each company’s growth. Therefore, it is
necessary for managers to lead multi-generational workforce by training activities as well as staff incentive
schemes.

Test 17

- Task 2: Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life. What are the reasons? Do
advantages of this outweigh disadvantages?

Band 8.5 Model Essay:

In modern society, there has been a major concern that many couples have delayed parenthood. Some
explanations for this social trend will be put forward, before an analysis of its impacts on society and family life
is given.

A few reasons can be given to justify the trend of giving birth at later stages of life. First, the labour market is
increasingly competitive, and it is a norm that young parents defer having children to devote the whole time in
the first years of their employment to lay a sound foundation for their future career. Second, it is believed that
children are raised better by older parents. This seems valid due to the fact that older fathers and mothers are
generally wealthier, more experienced, and more willing to take the responsibility of bringing up a child.

The trend exerts both advantageous and disadvantageous influence on society and families. On the one hand,
children born to more prosperous and experienced parents can receive better and more comprehensive
education, and thus contribute more to society when they grow up. In each household, the parents may also
reap the benefits of this trend, as their first working years are not interrupted by pregnancy and childcare. On
the other hand, when an aged couple decide to give birth, there are serious health risks for the woman in the
prenatal and postnatal period. If any complicated maternal health problem arises, the life whole family would
be turned upside down.

To conclude, the tendency to have children at later ages is caused by a number of factors, such as the
competitiveness of the job market for young adults, and both the positive and negative impacts of it can be seen
in families and society.

Band 8.0 Model Essay 2:

Having babies later in life is regarded as a new trend of marriage, especially in these days when soon becoming
adolescent parents might face plenty of troubles. It is easily seen that financial burden is one of the reasons
why many spouses tend to delay their childbirth because giving birth early forces them to tighten budget. In
this essay, I will lend more other detailed reasons and effects to this trend.

The fact that pregnancy has been more common in older women stemming from late –life marriage whose
benefits are huge. Tying the knot early, in some cases, would cause constant quarrels about rights of child-
rearing between young couples due to their immature thoughts on marital values. In contrast, delayed
marriage may secure better conditions for children’s future. This would help singles have more time to seek a
financially stable job and broaden behavioral experience before deciding to live with someone forever. Besides,
high remarriage rate led by the rise of divorce in recent years partly contributes to late childbirth. The reason is
that the lack of compatibility forces many couples to end their first love and marry again. Therefore, they may
start having children after age 35.

As mentioned above, the benefits of late childbirth are undeniable, however, elderly parents, as well as society
also face threats that they can foresee. Indeed, raising kids at old age is more arduous than that at young age,
not only because their health will decline but also because their children are too little to self-manage.
Moreover, having children when reaching over 35 can affect pregnancy due to aging health . As a result, babies
are not healthy enough or even die premature death.

In conclusion, stable income and settled life make delayed marriage more appealing. The thing is we need to
consider pros and cons of this to decide what is right for a happy union.

Band 8.5 Model Essay 3:

Many people currently decide not to have babies when they are young and wait until they get older instead.
There are some reasons for this tendency, and it could have some impacts on family life as well as society.
To begin with, there are several reasons why a number of individuals want to have children later in their life.
Firstly, this choice allows them to have more time to enjoy life when they are young. For instance, it is easier for
a young couple to travel when they do not have a baby to nurture. Secondly, people who are at the early stage
of their career usually have lower income compared to when they are older. Therefore, many people decide to
start raising a family after having accumulated enough money to ensure a better life for their children.

However, this tendency might bring about some negative effects on both family life and society. The first
impact is that having children later will cause a significant age gap between two generations. This makes it
harder for parents to understand and communicate with their offspring. Additionally, if people give birth when
they are too old, the babies being born might be less physically healthy. This might adversely affect the quality
of the future workforce if too many people decide to follow this trend.

In conclusion, there are some reasons why many people prefer to have children later in their life, and this
tendency can result in some negative impacts on both family life and society.

Test 18

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people think that there is a great influence of news media on people’s lives
and this is a negative development. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and
relevant examples.

Band 8.5 Model Essay 1:

For many people, news is a regular pan of life. An issue in dispute is whether the massive influence of the news
media on people’s daily lives denotes a negative development. It is my view that news media does more good
than harm to the society.

The news media provides people with much of the information they need on a timely basis, although there are
claims that it reports on issues and events purposely (only selecting those events that interest the audience).
Anecdotal evidence shows that people from all walks of life have the habit of collecting information regularly
from the news media, including print, broadcast and Internet-based media. Information assists people in
decision making. For example, the Free Trade Agreement reached by the Chinese government and its New
Zealand counterpart might open up many opportunities to both countries. For any business person, either in
New Zealand or in China, failing to recognise and capitalise on thisimpending change would cause a costly loss.

Meanwhile it should be recognised that the news media can sometimes save lives and reducecasualties. There
is a lot of uncertainty about the surroundings, and people are susceptible to the damage caused by accidents,
crimes and natural calamity. The news media conveys thefirsthand information to concerned audiences and
enable them to take correspondingactions right away. The authority can declare a state of emergency when it
is necessary, organise evacuation and distribute aid to the needy areas. All these efforts count on the news
media as themessenger.

Despite their significant and ongoing contribution to the society, the news media might sometimes be harmful
to society. It is a convention that the news media exaggerates themagnitude of the real threat (for example,
the potential of a terrorism attack), in order to draw the attention of the desired audiences and in pursuit of
high audience ratings. It ends up with causing panic among the population. Meanwhile, the news media tends
to emphasise some issues or events, which virtually have little relevance to people’s daily lives, such as an
occasional multiple vehicle accident, an affair that a celebrity is involved with, and the like. It distracts the
audience from something that is much more noteworthy, for instance, poverty, environmental problems, to
name but a few.

In summary, the role of news media as an information provider should be acknowledged. In case of emergency,
it acts as a lifesaver. However, it is not to say that the news media can give people an overall view of the
problems in society all the time.

denote = indicate = symbolise = represent = signify

capitalise on = take advantage of = make the best of

impending = imminent = forthcoming = coming = approaching

casualty = fatality = victim

surroundings = environs

calamity = misfortune = catastrophe = disaster

firsthand = immediate

corresponding = relevant

messenger = courier

magnitude = scale = enormity = level

Band 8.0 Model Essay 2:

The influence of media is growing stronger and stronger as time passes. The speed at which news travels
around the world has become faster with the advancement in technology. A lot of people believe this influence
to have more drawbacks than the merits. This essay shall discuss both views and offer a reasonable conclusion.

Gaining information on current events has become quicker and easier as people have a host of resources on
which they can depend on for news about the world, like TV news channels, radio broadcasts, newspapers,
internet, smartphone applications and so on. Sharing and exchanging of views on the same has also become
quite popular. Apart from panel discussions on news channels, public forums on the internet also let us know
the various reactions people have to a certain piece of news – like the comments on Facebook under any news
article – that shape our opinions. However the pressing question is whether these determinants are for the
better or worse.

Too much dependence on anything is never good, which exactly sums the scenario of people’s growing
dependence on news media. For instance, many news channels nowadays keep on looping the same (maybe
insignificant) news piece all day long, hammering it in the minds of unsuspecting people. The many small media
houses that are cropping up are deemed to be corporate sell-outs that publish news relating to the interests of
the party that funds it, and cater to the masses by putting out the most sensational news stories.

The freedom of sharing opinions about any issue also can be feared to seed stereotypical judgements into
people’s thinking. This is bad especially for developing and under-developed nations, where a majority of the
people are not rational enough to be exposed to the press. For example, news about a plane crash focusing on
the casualties and the dangers of the crash, instead of the relevant things like structural stability, changes the
attitudes of such kind of people towards that risk regardless of its real probability.
Weighing all the arguments presented above, I can conclude that the growing influence of news media is
definitely a bad development on people’s lives. Unless the news informants take a firm hold of their
responsibilities towards journalism, over-reliance on such news sources can be detrimental.

(379 words, written by Devanshi Shah)

Test 19

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people say that computer games are bad for children by all means, others
believe that these games are contributing to children’s development. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.

Band 9.0 Model Essay

Children nowadays spend several hours playing video games; since the last few years these games have
become increasingly popular. While some experts think that these games corrupt the brain, some others also
feel that computer games may actually teach kids high-level thinking skills for their future. This essay shall
consider both perspectives and end at a personal approach.

Parents usually complain of their child being addicted to video games, like playing for 2 hours at a stretch, but
practically but the time issue is a red herring. This is a normal time for a child to play – video game or otherwise.
Another issue is of these games being too violent. Although there’s no concrete research linking violent games
to violence in real life, common sense says we should limit a child’s exposure as such games glamorize violence
and are not realistic. Playing video games can be considered to be an addiction or detrimental if it disrupts or
compromises other important things in children’s life, for instance if they can’t concentrate on their homework
because of gaming or have no friendships.

When a child plays video games, it gives his brain a real workout. In many video games, the skills required to
win involve abstract and high level thinking. In shooting games, the character may be running and shooting at
the same time, which develops hand-eye coordination, fine motor and spatial skills. In strategy games, for
example, while developing a city, an unexpected surprise like an enemy attack might emerge. This forces the
player to be flexible and quickly change tactics enabling quick thinking and making fast analysis. Because of all
these factors, video games are deemed to be more constructive than harming.

In closing, I’d say computer games are contributing to children’s development, though in an unconventional
sort of way. We cannot deny that we are now living in a high-tech, sophisticated world so an all-out negative
attitude towards computer gaming is not reasonable. Level-headedness in such matters can help curb the
damaging effects.

Band 9.0 Model Essay by Devanshi Shah

Test 20

Writing task 2 (an essay): Nowadays businesses face problems with new employees who just finished their
education and lack some interpersonal skills such as the ability to work in a team. What do you think is the main
cause of the problem? How can it be resolved?

Band 8.0 Sample Essay

The modern workforce faces a serious problem — many of today’s graduates don’t have the basic skills they
need to succeed at entry-level positions in the workforce. The main reason can be pinpointed towards
universities that fail to train their students adequately. This reason shall be discussed further, following some
potential solutions.
Interpersonal skills are the tools people use to interact and communicate with individuals in an organizational
environment. Young adults entering the workforce are reported to have problems extending beyond the
academic level. Employers complain that they lack many applied skills, such as the ability to work well in teams,
communicate effectively, and uphold a professional demeanour, adding that this unpreparedness harms the
day-to-day productivity of businesses.

What is unsettling is that universities – the places that are expected to train you for the real job environment,
are not placing enough emphasis on critical thinking or independent research skills, resulting in delivering
aspirants devoid of the necessary soft skills. A productive solution at this level can be to administer
implemented skills assessment tests, after requisite training for the same of course, that students must pass
before they can graduate and be recruited.

Another approach can be of businesses and colleges partnering, to help ensure that students gain the real-
world experience and hard skills that employers require. While soft skills are difficult to grade and assess, it is
critical that students be made aware of how their behaviour should match the expectations of employers.

In closing I’d say, interpersonal behavioural development is a complex phenomenon that is becoming
increasingly common. Practical solutions need to be put into effect to improve non-cognitive skills in the
employees for yielding an efficient workforce

Test 21

Writing task 2 (an essay): 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.

Band 8.5 Model Essay

Global communication and trade, at the turn of the 21st century, have brought about many effects. On one
hand, they’re blurring technological, economic, political, and cultural boundaries, however on the other they’re
said to be crushing a country’s individuality. I personally believe in the former opinion more, which shall be
reasoned out further in this essay.

Outsourcing is one of the negative impacts of world trade, where a country loses majority of its jobs to workers
in foreign; a stark example is the outsourcing of companies from the US to Indian BPO (Business Process
Outsourcing) units. Another, is the increasing reliance on foreign brands compared to local equivalents, for
example imported chocolate cookies have more consumption rates than the ones produced by local
companies. A large blame is to be put on social communications for creating an overhyped necessity for foreign
brands in one’s lifestyle. Such factors are considered to be a significant blow to a country’s own economy and
morale of its producers thereby giving rise to the statement in the question.

Looking at the pace international trade is increasing tells us a different story though. In contrast to the ill-
effects mentioned above, a number of advantages are put forward by people beckoning world trade to boom.
International trade is beneficial to world economy. It adds to the money coffers of the world at large. Every
country can benefit monetarily if it is able to dispose off its surplus goods after meeting the requirements of the
local people. Consequently the wages and lifestyles of the people automatically start climbing. There’s no
stopping globalization so as to consider it; a practical approach would be to take on its positive aspects and
work in an according direction to prevent this phenomenon from becoming harmful.

Concluding this topic as a positive trend for the world economies, I would like to say that countries cannot live
in isolation. They have to mutually share their prosperity, technical know-how and undertake trade in order to
sell their surplus products. The world economy is inter-dependent. Economic progress of a nation would
depend upon its ties with other countries.

(351 words, written byDevanshi Shah)

Test 22

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people think that governments must insist on preserving traditional
appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree
with the statement?

Band 8.0 Model Essay

Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage. In the process of restoring them,
some people believe that the authorities should not compensate on any changes done in their original
appearance, and that the buildings should be restored as they were. This essay shall advocate a practical
approach to this scenario.

Restoration is said as the process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it
appeared at a particular period of time by reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. All
around the world, there are many active redevelopment projects undertaken by the government to preserve
the sanctity of these ancient treasures. However, it is not reasonably possible to restore each and every detail
of these buildings as it was.

Primarily, the construction of these century-old buildings begins to wear in time. In such cases, some parts of
the buildings might not be in a recoverable condition. Here, the architects need to reconstruct that particular
part to give a complete look to the puzzle of these primeval structures. Therefore, it is unaccommodating for
the government to demand accurate traditional appearance of the buildings. Sometimes, a few relevant
contemporary touches need to be added to make the older buildings appeasing enough.

In closing we can safely say the government should not be insistent on minute preservation of traditional
appearance of old buildings. Minor modifications can definitely be made to adapt existing buildings to
compatible new uses. This not only makes good economic sense, but preserves our legacy also.

Test 23

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people believe that it is impossible to help everyone in need around the
world. That is why governments should only focus on helping people of their own country. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.

Band 9.0 Model Essay

The role of one government to support citizens of other countries has been a major topic of concern in today’s
society. From my perspective, this practice is feasible and there arecompelling reasons why governments
should help people in the global community rather than only focusing on the citizens of their own countries.

In this context of globalisation and international integration, the provision of assistance for peoples of all
countries in the world is not an impossible task anymore. One explanation for this is that modern means of
transport have transformed the way that international assistance could be given, and now assistance could
reach even the most remote places on Earth. For example, thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in a
mountainous city in Nepal were rescued by US and German military helicopters in 2014. One further
explanation is that thanks to international banking, the international community could offer a helping hand to
any country where the financial system is on the verge of collapse. An excellent example of this is that the
saving money of millions of taxpayers and pensioners in Greece was saved by a timely act of the European
Commission of injecting a huge amount of bailout money into Greek banks in 2009.

I strongly believe any government must assume the responsibility of helping citizens in other countries. This is
mainly because assisting inhabitants in other countries, to some extent, is synonymous to assisting people in
the home country. In 2014, hundreds of US and UK doctors and nurses were sent to African countries to cope
with the outbreak of Ebola, a dreadful plague, which had killed many thousands by that time. This action
prevented the plague from further spreading to other nations, including the US and the UK themselves,
considering that there was a free movement of people between countries and there were millions of African
migrant workers in the US and the UK at that time. In addition, the act of supporting people all around the
world may promote a sense of humanity, which is essential to the sustainable development of the world,
because humanity is the foundation of peace and stability.

To conclude, governments must provide assistance for citizens of other countries for a clear reason that this
feasible act could simultaneously enhance a global sense of humanity and assure their own nationals of a
proper living environment.

Band 9.0 Model Essay 2

Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are problems in our
own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to help as many people as possible.

On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow citizens. In most communities
there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people,
for example, in even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are concerned about this problem, there are
usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these people. In the UK, people can help in a
variety of ways, from donating clothing to serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our
doorstep, and there are obvious ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise
local charity.

At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national borders. In
some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our own communities, and
it is often even easier to help. For example, when children are dying from curable diseases in African countries,
governments and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A
small donation to an international charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.

In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national boundaries should not stop us
from helping those who are in need.

(280 words, band 9 written by Simon)

Test 24

- Task 2: It is observed that in many countries not enough students are choosing to study science subject. What
are causes? And wat will be effects on society?

Band 8.5 Sample Essay

In several parts of the world, there is currently a lack of students choosing to study science in universities and
colleges. This problem happens due to some reasons, and it can have some adverse impacts on society.
There are several reasons why fewer university students are choosing science as their major. Firstly, these
subjects are usually more difficult and demanding, which requires students to put much effort into their study.
For example, my friend who is doing a course in Biology said that he had to conduct too many experiments and
complete numerous projects, which prevented him from having any free time. As a result, science subjects
seem to be less attractive to students compared to economics or business-related subjects. Secondly, as there
are currently fewer employment opportunities available for graduates in science fields, learners are less likely
to decide to select these majors. Instead, they tend to choose other subjects which allow them to find jobs
more easily.

A shortage of learners in science fields can result in some negative effects. The first impact is that when fewer
students decide to learn about science, there would be a serious shortage of employees working in these fields.
This would lead to fewer technological developments, which would also prevent improvements in people’s life
quality. For instance, it would be difficult for humans to produce newer smart phones with better functions.
Additionally, while a significantly increasing number of students are choosing economics and business to study,
the number of job vacancies in these areas is limited. Therefore, many university graduates would have to face
unemployment, which increases burden on society.

In conclusion, the shortage of students choosing science subjects is caused by several factors, and this problem
might bring about serious impacts.

(290 words, by IELTS Teacher in Vietnam)

Test 25

-Task 2: In developing countries, children in rural communities have less access to education. Some people
believe that the problem can be solved by providing more schools and teachers, while others think that the
problem can be solved by providing computers and Internet access. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.

Band 8.0 Sample Essay 1

Limited access to education has led children in remote locations to live under poor conditions. Schools and
teachers, accordingly, are believed to a long-term solution, which will guarantee a better life for disadvantaged
children. However, others argue that technology is the master key to this issue. In this essay, I will discuss both
these views before giving my own opinion.

There is not any difficulty to understand why the role of schools and teachers is highly acclaimed. Unlike
developed nations, many rural areas have faced a severe teacher and school shortage, leading to illiteracy
among children. Therefore, erecting more schools would help rural pupils acquire new knowledge as well as
social skills more easily, all of which are conducive to their mental and physical development at early age. Apart
from this, rural communities can gradually escape from poverty through far-reaching changes in education.

On the other hand, without the help of technology, children in remote villages will have many difficulties in
access to education. The reason is due to geographic barriers. Since the distance from their home to school is
far and they often go to school on foot, dropping out often occurs. Therefore, by equipping young children with
online lessons or programmes, they can self-study at home without having to go to class or being completely
dependent on teachers. Also, this is a good chance for them to familiarize themselves with online education – a
state of the art educational mode.
In my view, schools and technology play an equally important role in rural and remote education because both
have their own values. The concerted action between these factors, therefore, will promise disadvantaged
children a better studying condition

Band 8.0 Sample Essay 2

It is true that rural children are significantly less likely than urban children to receive adequate education
opportunities and resources in developing nations. While some argue that the issue could be fully addressed by
providing computers and Internet access, I personally believe that building more schools and recruiting
competent teachers would be a more practical solution.

On the one hand, some individuals’ main mottos for dealing with the problem are to spread computer literacy
in rural regions. Firstly, mastering computer use allows children from remote areas to compete against other
candidates in the race for decent future jobs. It is mainly because a modern job will require employees to be
familiar with at least some computer applications to boost their productivity at work. Secondly, the main
attribute of E-learning is to offer the youth a wide range of knowledge and also the flexibility of accessing
information and resources. For example, utilizing free search engines could supply users valuable and up-to-
date information within few minutes. Studying via Internet also have the capacity to support children’s
language development as there are numerous websites aiding in learning foreign languages.

On the other hand, children could not access a well-rounded education without dedicated teachers and
renowned schools. The first reason is that spending prolonged periods in front of faceless computers screens
could take away critical human interaction which is beneficial to our children. Moreover, children could be
easily distracted and exposed to largely unregulated material in an unsafe environment. Secondly, it is the trust
and bond between teachers and learners that creates the learning environment while virtual learning simply
cannot do that. Good teachers apparently inspire our young people, promote their enthusiasm and build their
self-esteem to succeed in their educational goals.

In conclusion, although computers have been helping several children to progress more quickly compared to
traditional methods, teachers still have a pivotal role to play in education development.

Test 26

-Task 2: Nowadays, young people admire media and sports stars though they often do not set a good example.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Band 9.0 Model Answer:

The admiration young people hold for celebrities is not a new phenomenon. Throughout/During history, youths
have been inspired by people with outstanding athletic ability. It is argued that this admiration brings with it
more positive than negative issues/ramifications. This will be proven by looking at how sports figures both instill
inspiration and teach life lessons to young people.

Firstly, celebrities often display extremely developed skills, which can help to spur young people towards a life
full of physically active. For instance, school children are often driven to exercise in an attempt to
become/emulate superstars, such as Novak Djokovic, Ronaldo and Messi. As this additional exercise is good for
their health, it is difficult to argue that the inspiration celebrities bestow/leave upon young people is entirely a
bad thing. Thus, this shows that the admiration people hold for sports stars has positive implications/reasons.

Although the negative character figures/traits of many sports celebrities are often called into question, it is felt
the public mistakes professional athletes make can act as good morality lessons for young people. A good
image of this occurred when Canadian runner Ben Johnson dishonorably lost an Olympic gold medal due to
steroid use. This incident showed young people around the world that drug use is a shameful practice. As this
example illustrates/is shown, often the public errors athletes commit can act as good lessons for adolescents.

After looking at the above, it is felt to hold athletes in esteem does not bring with it entirely negative
consequences. It is assumed the historical admiration people will retain/retain for sports stars is not going to
change into the foreseeable future.

Band 8.0 Model Essay

In the modern society, youngsters often look up to well-known entertainers and athletes. Many people believe
that these celebrities are not good role models for young individuals. Thus, they are concerned about the
influence of such admiration. From my perspective, whether that idolization is beneficial or detrimental
depends merely on the young generation’s attitudes.

On the one hand, youngsters’ adoration towards celebrities can bring about several positive effects to
themselves. First of all, individuals who are selective will filter out all the negative characteristics and only opt
for good traits in famous figures to emulate. This consciousness ensures that adolescents will not blindly
reduplicate improper actions from celebrities. For example, even though singer Michael Jackson was involved in
several allegations, his talent, perseverance and work ethic still inspire many youngsters around the world.
Secondly, teenagers can also take valuable lessons from their idols’ mistakes. Since celebrities’ actions are often
publicized, adolescents have the opportunities to observe various examples of misconducts and learn from
them. For instance, upon hearing the doping accusation of Louis Armstrong, many of the biker’s fans realize
that there is no shortcut which leads to success and honesty should be of paramount importance.

On the second hand, idolizing entertainers and sportsmen may result in adverse effects. To begin with, since
most adolescents are malleable, bad examples from celebrities can develop moral issues in them. Many
teenagers who look up to Hollywood figures such as Paris Hilton believe that they should pursue a glamorous,
material life with parties and nightclubs. Other celebrities like Kim Kardashian present a wrong message to the
young generation, suggesting that using scandals and PR stunts are the most effective methods to gain
attention and be successful. Furthermore, there are considered to be better role models for the young to hold
in high regards, such as activists or philanthropists. However, the popularity of celebrities may sway teenagers’
interest away from these individuals. To be more specific, many teenagers do not care much about politics and
other social issues since their attention is solely devoted to entertaining figures.

All things considered, I believe that the adoration which youngsters dedicate to media and sports stars have
both strengths and weaknesses. While this admiration allows youngsters to emulate celebrities’ good traits and
draw a lesson from their mishaps, it also develops moral issues in them and takes the spotlight away from the
more deserving role models.

Test 27

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some people say that when children under 18 are committing a crime they should
be punished, while others believe they should be educated. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Give your own opinion.

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

Cases of juveniles committing crimes are on the rise lately. While it is absolutely necessary to punish those
guilty of committing crimes, an argument put forward in this case suggests underage criminals should be made
aware about their actions rather than being punished straightaway. This essay shall discuss the extent of
feasibility of both solutions in the interest of the society.

Over the last few years, there has been a worrying increase in the numbers of young offenders being reported,
where many of them are involved in instances of burglaries, robberies, shoplifting and even street muggings. In
the hostile environment that we live in, it becomes necessary to nip such problems in the bud, lest the
youngsters become full-fledged criminals when they grow up. Many believe that the children of today’s
generation are very much aware and intelligent, than the ones 30 years ago, to comprehend the actions around
them. Many a times they aren’t even remorseful for their actions. Therefore, they should be tried in courts as
adults and punished according to the severity of the offence regardless of them being underage.

In contrast, a lot of people also believe that such treatment of teenage offenders might not be the best
solution. Knowing the reason behind the crime committed is an essential factor in deciding the punishment to
be given. The environment during the upbringing of a child too influences his mentality to a great extent. Most
of the research cases in this matter have indicated that children, who commit crimes, mostly do so because of
some trauma they have themselves suffered from in the past. It is only logical that the judgment of right and
wrong of such children becomes impaired; therefore they should be educated about the same, and not
punished. Rehabilitating them and flushing all aggression from their minds is giving them a deserved chance to
live a better life, as they still have a lot of growing up to do.

To conclude, this being a sensitive and debatable issue, in my opinion, I feel the primary course of action for
underage criminals is to provide them guidance regarding the consequences of their actions. I don’t fully agree
with not punishing them at all; the extent of the punishment should be decided by the circumstances and the
attitude of the offender, whether he is penitent or not.

(391 words)

test 28

Writing task 2 (an essay): Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities
should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or those coming from rural areas. To what
extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Band 8.5 Sample Essay:

There has been a significant increase in the university fees in the recent years, making it difficult for people of
limited means to consider getting educated. This essay shall explain the fee rise in the universities along with
offering solutions in the advantage of poorer students.

As the requirements of the world have become dynamic, so has the education industry in terms of curriculum
and facilities. Renowned universities now provide far more diverse courses with many advanced facilities to aid
students. This encourages student migration; therefore the universities have to add the tuition fees and
accommodation charges in the fee structure. Naturally, the university fees will rise. With more and more
students taking admissions every year, this hike in fees seems unlikely to go down.

However, this is not a very beneficial situation for the less privileged students. Most students who opt for
university studies do so in hopes of getting good jobs, so as to be able to recover their study expenses. But high
fees make it incredibly expensive and burdensome for these students to pursue higher education from the
start. One solution can be of getting student loans, but in many cases it is observed that students’ parents
simply don’t have the collateral to get loans.
Some alternatives in favour of reducing university fees for students can be to raise income from third party
sources; this can be comparatively easy for top universities. Getting government funding is another option.
Also, instead of a blanket reduction in fees, if possible, a nominal hike can be made in the general fee structure,
excluding the poor students, for their better targeted support.

To conclude, I’d say the cost of a degree is an important determinant of the decision to apply to university. In
order to grow their talent pools and attract the best talent, rich or poor, universities should provide a
consideration for students that cannot take admissions due to financial constraints, but could’ve otherwise
performed remarkably.

(326 words, written by IELTS Blogger, Devanshi Shah)

Test 29

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some believe buildings should be built in a way that serves their purpose rather
than just look beautiful. Others, however, say buildings should represent art too. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.

IELTS Band 8.5 Essay

Constructing buildings is a complex process that needs to cater to the primary purpose of the construction as
well as the requirement of looking distinguished. While some buildings successfully integrate both, some
however are inclined towards only one of the two factors. This essay shall discuss the relevant conditions for
constructing a building.

There are a lot of examples in the world regarding buildings that are artistically rich as well as sturdy in their
construction. The Florence Cathedral in Italy, the Taj Mahal in India, the palace of Westminster in England are
renowned examples of cultural symbols and works of art in the field of architecture, along with being
sufficiently equipped to serve the primary cause of their establishment. These buildings are many decades old
but are still standing strong and for this reason they are famous worldwide. Therefore we can say that building
any structure with both purpose and art is not rare.

On the contrary, the world has also seen many architectural disasters that were caused due to poor planning
and construction, even though they were intended to be assembly of artwork. A near-accurate guess can be
that the architects put so much emphasis on the appearance of the building that they neglected the other
important features that need to be well thought-out as well. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a stark example of
how the foundations of the building weren’t paid adequate attention, resulting that the building couldn’t hold
up its own weight. Many such buildings have suffered collapses due to serious miscalculations in the
architectural planning. These illustrations make us wonder whether appearance should totally be sidelined for
structural stability of any building.

In my view, I feel a building should be a combination of style and stability. The primary purpose of a building
and the appearance both should be kept in mind while planning and equal weight age should be given to both.

(318 words, written by IELTS blogger Devanshi Shah)

Test 30

Writing task 2 (an essay): Some think that buildings should be constructed with functionality in mind, as it is
more important than design. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
IELTS Band 8.5 Essay

Constructing buildings is a complex process that needs to cater to the primary purpose of the construction as
well as the requirement of looking distinguished. While some buildings successfully integrate both, some
however are inclined towards only one of the two factors. This essay shall discuss the relevant conditions for
constructing a building.

There are a lot of examples in the world regarding buildings that are artistically rich as well as sturdy in their
construction. The Florence Cathedral in Italy, the Taj Mahal in India, the palace of Westminster in England are
renowned examples of cultural symbols and works of art in the field of architecture, along with being
sufficiently equipped to serve the primary cause of their establishment. These buildings are many decades old
but are still standing strong and for this reason they are famous worldwide. Therefore we can say that building
any structure with both purpose and art is not rare.

On the contrary, the world has also seen many architectural disasters that were caused due to poor planning
and construction, even though they were intended to be assembly of artwork. A near-accurate guess can be
that the architects put so much emphasis on the appearance of the building that they neglected the other
important features that need to be well thought-out as well. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a stark example of
how the foundations of the building weren’t paid adequate attention, resulting that the building couldn’t hold
up its own weight. Many such buildings have suffered collapses due to serious miscalculations in the
architectural planning. These illustrations make us wonder whether appearance should totally be sidelined for
structural stability of any building.

In my view, I feel a building should be a combination of style and stability. The primary purpose of a building
and the appearance both should be kept in mind while planning and equal weight age should be given to both.

(318 words, written by IELTS blogger Devanshi Shah)