Bad experience with a cruise

You have taken a cruise and have been disappointed with the experience. Write a letter
to the cruise provider and specify
- what went wrong
- how did you feel about it
- what do you want to be done about it.
This task was taken from actual experience. I received full refund after this letter :)
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Soandso and I am writing to bring your attention to an unsatisfactory
experience we had with Christmas Cruises on December 25, 200!
"irst, contrary to that was in the ad#ertisement, the boat was o$d and home$y! It was co$d
inside from the beginning, but when a hundred passengers boarded, the windows became
misted due to poor #enti$ation, which made it impossib$e to en%oy the #iews of the
Sydney &arbour!
Second, e#en though we were pro#ided with a 'pri#ate tab$e', there were so many pri#ate
tab$es that we were $itera$$y sitting e$bow to e$bow with other passengers! (he cheap,
unsteady tab$es were put so c$ose to each other that we became barricaded and had to as)
other peop$e to stand up and $et us pass to get the food or to use the washroom! (his a$$
pro#ided us with the fee$ing of growing embarrassment incompatib$e with en%oying the
cruise and the Christmas spirit!
In the circumstances, we do not fee$ that is unreasonab$e to expect a fu$$ refund of the
money paid to you fo$$owing the misrepresentation of what Christmas Cruises were
offering! *e expect, therefore, a refund of the fu$$ +200!
"aithfu$$y yours,
Soandso
199 words
Expected IELTS Band - 7.5
,osted by -xana at ./0 ,M 12 comments/
Thursday, Juy 1!, "!!#
IELTS Essay$ %re ads &a'in( us to )uy &ore*
Today, the 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?
This task was taken from the book Cambridge IELT ! tudent"s #ook with answers:
Examination papers from $niversit% of Cambridge E&L Examinations 'IELT (ractice
Tests) b% Cambridge E&L.
2owadays mi$$ions of companies produce bi$$ions of products and the ro$e of ad#ertising
is 3uite ob#ious! 4ds he$p consumers to find the goods or ser#ices of their needs!
&owe#er, do our needs grow e3ua$$y fast as the number of products5 Some mar)et
ana$ysts insist modern commercia$s are not mere$y matchma)ers of a product and a
consumer, but acti#e$y interfere with buyer6s desires, de#e$oping artificia$ needs!
7ndoubted$y, ad#ertisement guides peop$e through the mar)et, ser#es those who do not
ha#e time to $earn differences between goods! (hese products are probab$y the same, but
$oya$ty to a particu$ar brand, formed by a commercia$ he$ps ma)e a choice! *hen a
person buys one mobi$e phone out of 50 mode$s, he thin)s he made his choice himse$f!
8ut that was a commercia$ who to$d him about the features of this phone!
2e#erthe$ess, ads not on$y inform us about new goods, but force peop$e to want them!
(his can be e#en usefu$, for examp$e for someone who suffers from bac) pains and
without commercia$s he wou$d ne#er imagine there are new mattresses which cou$d ease
their pains!
7nfortunate$y, promoters now operate our minds more aggressi#e$y! Commercia$s no
$onger promote products, but $ifesty$es! (hey to$d us to purchase things %ust because they
are fashionab$e or up to date with the image of successfu$ person! 4nd we buy new cars,
gadgets and c$othes in order to match this image and not because o$d ones are no $onger
usab$e!
,ersona$$y I thin) that high sa$es of popu$ar commodities are the resu$t of new
promotiona$ techno$ogies! (he best i$$ustration of that is that e#eryone now is concerned
most$y about how a new mobi$e phone wi$$ ref$ect his persona$ity, a new shirt 9 his
image, or wi$$ a new car ma)e co$$eagues fee$ %ea$ous!
"9" words
Expected IELTS Band + 7
,osted by -xana at 5/5. 4M :2 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Thursday, June ",, "!!#
IELTS Letter$ So&e pro)e&s at wor'
You recently took a part-time ob working for a local company. !fter a few weeks you
realised there were some problems with the ob.
Write a letter to the manager of the company. "n your letter
- explain why you took the ob
- describe the problems that you experienced
- suggest what could be done about them.
This task was taken from the book Insight into IELT Extra) with *nswers: The
Cambridge IELT Course +orkbook 'Cambridge #ooks for Cambridge Exams) b%
,anessa -akeman) Clare .c/owell
Dear Mr! (hompson,
I am a part@time ca$$@centre operator at your company, started wor)ing about 1 wee)s
ago! I am writing to indicate the prob$em I encountered during my wor)!
4ctua$$y, I decided to too) the position of a te$esa$es specia$ist because consider myse$f
ab$e to de#e$op a career in sa$es due to my s)i$$ of estab$ishing good contact with peop$e
and ma)e them trust me! &owe#er, I rea$ised there are some obstac$es on a way to
success!
(he prob$ems started A wee)s ago then the system administrator updated my software! 4t
the time of a ca$$ I was 3uerying a customer for his persona$ data then sudden$y my
computer re$oaded and this person6s profi$e was $ost! (his situation repeated in the future
for se#era$ times! I as)ed the system administrator to so$#e this prob$em, but he to$d me
this is so$e$y my fau$t and my computer s)i$$s are be$ow re3uired to use this program!
I am assured the comp$ete situation ma)es company profits $ower! I be$ie#e that software
managing specia$ist cou$d fix the prob$em if the initiati#e wou$d be ta)en by a senior
manager of your ran)!
Sincere$y yours,
4nna "ran)
19" words
Expected IELTS Band - 7
,osted by -xana at B/A 4M B comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
-onday, June "., "!!#
IELTS etter$ /a&a(ed suitcase
You travelled by long distance bus recently and your suitcase was damaged.
Write a letter to the bus company. "n your letter
- inform the bus company of when and to where you travelled
- describe your suitcase and what happened to it
- explain why the company should pay for a new suitcase
This task was taken from the book IELT on Track: Test (ractice 0eneral Training.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to re3uire a compensation for the property damage, ta)en p$ace at the time
of the tra#e$$ing by the bus of your company!
I tra#e$$ed from *ashington, D!C! to 8oston by the bus CA0 on "ebruary 2, 200:!
8efore the trip I passed my $uggage to the dri#er, who he$ped me to p$ace my suitcase in
the $uggage compartment of the bus! 4fter arri#a$ the dri#er opened this bac)
compartment and the first thing I saw was that my new and brand@name suitcase was
smashed under the pressure of the weight of the other6s $uggage!
My suitcase was 3uite firm and #ery beautifu$ in its red co$our and modern design!
&owe#er it ob#ious$y hasn6t been designed to resist such a weight on it! I am #ery
depressed because I can not use anymore my bro)en suitcase, its hand$e was bended and
two whee$s out of 1 were detached!
Since damage stated abo#e was caused by the care$ess actions of your emp$oyee, I wou$d
$i)e to re3uire a compensation of +200, which was the origina$ price of my suitcase!
,$ease, de$i#er a che3ue to the address, written abo#e!
"aithfu$$y yours,
4nna "ran)
197 words
Expected IELTS Band - ,.5-7
,osted by -xana at 0/1. ,M . comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
Sunday, June 15, "!!#
IELTS Letter$ Bad ser0ice at a shop
You recently had your computer fixed at the local computer store however you are not
pleased with the service you received.
Write a letter to the store manager. "n the letter
- describe the situation
- explain why you are dissatisfied
- say what you want the manager to do
Write at least #$% words.
You do &'T need to write your own address.
(egin your letter as follows)
*ear +ir or ,adam,
This task was taken from the cott"s English uccess web1site.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the ser#ice I recei#ed at your
estab$ishment!
4ctua$$y, the computer I ha#e bought at your store on the $ate Danuary was 3uite good,
howe#er after %ust ha$f a year things got wrong! Some programs were getting froEen
fre3uent$y! *hen I too) my computer to your specia$ist and tried to exp$ain the prob$em
to the technician Michae$s, he refused to ta)e my computer into ser#ice because the
prob$em did not appear that time! I was trying to con#ince him to spend more time to
identify the reason it is getting stuc), but he was rude and impatient exp$aining this is the
end of his shift! -n the next day another technician $istened to me carefu$$y and fixed my
computer in 0 minutes!
I suppose your emp$oyee Michae$s is not suitab$e for his position because of his
unprofessiona$ism! I suggest you to emp$oy someone more s)i$$ed and with better
persona$ity in order not to cause your customers to $oose their time $i)e me!
"aithfu$$y yours,
4nna "ran)
177 words
Expected IELTS Band - ,-,.5
,osted by -xana at 1/10 4M 0 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
Saturday, June 11, "!!#
IELTS Letter$ 2o&estay in a 3ew 4eaand 5a&iy
You are going to visit &ew -ealand for an ./nglish and 0omestay. program. You have
ust received details of your homestay host family.
Write your first letter to the family. "n your letter
- introduce yourself
- ask the family some 1uestions to get information that is important to you
- tell the family about your arrival date and time.
This task was taken from the book IELT on Track: Test (ractice 0eneral Training.
Dear Mr Dones,
I ha#e %ust recei#ed detai$s of my future homestay at your fami$y and writing to introduce
myse$f and as) for some further information!
My name is 4nna "ran), I am 2 and $i#e with my fami$y in ;yon, "rance, which is my
hometown! My nati#e $anguage is "rench and I am $oo)ing forward to impro#ing my
<ng$ish during the trip to 2ew Fea$and!
I wou$d be gratefu$ if you cou$d pro#ide more information about your fami$y and its
$ifesty$e! (o begin with, I wou$d $i)e to as) you about your usua$ diet! It is #ery important
to me since I am a #egetarian! Second$y, I wou$d $i)e to $earn more about your fami$y6s
day routines, $i)e games you used to p$ay together, in order to get fami$iar with these
acti#ities whi$e I am here! (his cou$d he$p me to participate in a$$ your routines $i)e a
re$ati#e!
I am #ery eager to meet you in personG 8y the way, I ha#e a$ready bought the p$ane tic)et
and wou$d be happy if you cou$d meet me at the airport because this wi$$ be my first time
abroad! I wi$$ arri#e on September A, at 0 am, *e$$ington time!
I am $oo)ing forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincere$y yours,
4nna "ran)!
"1. words
Expected IELTS Band - 7
,osted by -xana at 5/0 4M 5 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
6riday, June ,, "!!#
IELTS Letter$ 7na)e to attend a course
You are employed full-time and also doing a part time evening course. You are not
able to continue the course.
Write a letter to the course lecturer. "n the letter
- explain why you cannot continue the course
- describe the situation
- say what you will be doing
Write at least #$% words.
You do &'T need to write your own address.
(egin your letter as follows)
*ear 22222.,
This task was taken from the cott"s English uccess web1site!
Dear Dr! Dones,
I am writing to inform you that I no $onger ha#e a possibi$ity to attend your e#ening
$ectures on treating emergencies!
4s I to$d you ear$ier, I recei#ed a position of a nurse at the (hompson &ospita$! My shift
ends at 5 pm and since I ha#e got a $ot of o#ertime %ob recent$y, I found myse$f unab$e to
be on time at your $ectures, which start at 5!A0 pm! (his disappoints me a $ot since I #a$ue
and respect your course and your experience!
I wou$d be gratefu$ if you cou$d consider $etting me to study your course myse$f! 8ecause
of my %ob is c$ose$y re$ated to the accidents treatment, I fee$ ab$e to $earn e#ery point of
the course in practice! In addition, I ha#e a$ready read a$most e#ery boo) you
recommended as the supp$ementary reading for your $ectures!
I hope to get your appro#a$ on this matter soon! I am $oo)ing forward to recei#ing your
response!
Sincere$y yours,
4nna "ran)
IELTS Letter$ Loca cu) &e&)ership canceation
3or the past year you have been a member of a local club. &ow you want to
discontinue your membership.
Write a letter to the club secretary. "n your letter
- state what type of membership you have and how you have paid for this4
- give details of how you have benefited from the club4
- explain why you want to leave.
This task was taken from the book Insight into IELT Extra) with *nswers: The
Cambridge IELT Course +orkbook 'Cambridge #ooks for Cambridge Exams) b%
,anessa -akeman) Clare .c/owell
Dear Mr! Dones,
I regret to inform you that I ha#e to discontinue my membership at your >o$den &oo)
"ishing C$ub!
I %oined the C$ub year ago and the benefits from the participation exceeded the fee!
Hound tab$es and $ectures of famous fishermen were abso$ute$y bri$$iant! Moreo#er,
discounts on the e3uipment in sports gear shops he$ped me to sa#e money! (he $ast but
not the $east, your month$y i$$ustrated magaEine was a precious treat to me!
7nfortunate$y I ha#e to mo#e to another country because my father, $i#ing in "rance, is in
a desperate hea$th condition! I must ac)now$edge that continuing the membership in your
C$ub is no $onger an option to me!
I ha#e paid the $ast year fee by my credit card and its detai$s are in your database!
8ecause of stated abo#e I wou$d $i)e to as) you not to charge me for the fo$$owing year! I
hope that in the future I wi$$ ha#e an opportunity to recommence ha#ing ad#antages of
participation in your C$ub!
Sincere$y yours,
4nna "ran)
171 words
Expected IELTS Band - 7
,osted by -xana at ./A ,M : comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
8ednesday, %pri .!, "!!#
IELTS Essay$ 9hidren: eisure acti0ities
+ome people believe that children5s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise
they are a complete waste of time.
*o you agree or disagree?
6ive reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
experience.
2owadays chi$dren spend so much time at schoo$ and attend #arious additiona$ c$asses
and this ma)es some educationa$ specia$ists fee$ pity for them! (hey suggest gi#ing )ids
more spare time to p$ay and ha#e fun! Meanwhi$e, there is an opinion that youngsters
shou$d do on$y those acti#ities that benefit their )now$edge and educate them, and I
tota$$y agree with this point of #iew!
-f course, the #o$ume of the information chi$dren recei#e at schoo$ and ought to
memoriEe is enormous and they shou$d be gi#en some free time to re$ax! ,$aying with
others is essentia$ to de#e$op communication s)i$$s and this a$so gi#es young brains some
rest!
4$though, we ha#e to admit that in our competiti#e wor$d the more time a )id de#otes to
the study process the better $ife he can achie#e! (here are ways to ma)e p$aying with
others #ery educationa$ and parents shou$d encourage their chi$dren to p$ay games which
ma)e brain wor)! "or examp$e, )ids cou$d ha#e a competition combining physica$
acti#ity and some )ind of tri#ia on geography, $i)e we had in our chi$dhood! Moreo#er,
e#en computer games can be #ery inte$$igent! (here are so many e$ectronic
entertainments which teach $anguages, gi#es information on history, geography, that
chi$d addicted to computers cou$d become #ery smart and educated!
In addition, unattended )id hard$y ma)es proper use of his $eisure time! If it happens,
chi$dren %ust watch (I or get under peer pressure! (hey unfortunate$y do not ha#e s)i$$s
of ana$yEing and fi$tering what is bad or what is good! <ducation through games instead
ma)es them occupied and in the same time teaches ana$yEing!
(o conc$ude with, education through fun is not #ery exhausting for )ids but its usefu$ness
can be great! It wou$d be a shame to de#ote this time to the (I or other entertainment!
,osted by -xana at ./10 4M comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Tuesday, %pri "9, "!!#
IELTS Essay$ S&o'e 'is;
"t has been proved that smoking kills. "n some countries it has been made illegal for
people to smoke in all public places except in certain areas. !ll countries should make
these rules.
*o you agree or disagree with this statement?
(he idea of banning smo)ing from pub$ic p$aces a$ways was a #ery contro#ersia$ one!
(hose who defend smo)ing on streets and in offices refer to human rights and the fact
that tobacco is $ega$! -thers ho$d an opinion that since there are undeniab$e proofs that
cigarettes cause $etha$ diseases not on$y to smo)ers but to surrounding peop$e, smo)ing
shou$d be a$$owed on$y in specia$ p$aces! I tota$$y agree with the idea of ma)ing smo)ing
$ega$ in certain p$aces on$y!
-n the one hand, it is the society who ma)es smo)ers to smo)e and it wou$d be not fair
%ust to put them into exi$e and consider the prob$em so$#ed! Since we se$$ them tobacco
they shou$d ha#e right to use it where#er they want!
-n the other hand, those who do not smo)e shou$d ha#e the right to breathe c$ean air!
*hen somebody is smo)ing cigarette, hea$th of non@smo)ers is under attac)! ,ersona$$y I
am a former smo)er, but e#en for me breathing tobacco sme$$ is unbearab$e! It is not on$y
ma)es peop$e to temporari$y fee$ bad but a$so causes $ong term effect! (here are
researches showing that so ca$$ed Jpassi#e smo)ing6 cou$d be e#en worse for hea$th than
smo)ing itse$f! Causing damage to anyone6s hea$th is i$$ega$, that is why there is no
excuse for smo)ing in pub$ic p$aces!
4nother reason for this is the fact that not e#ery $ega$ action is a$$owed on pub$ic! Mora$,
cu$tura$ and %uridica$ $imitations are exist! "or examp$e, there are toi$ets for peop$e6s
b$adder and nobody is a$$owed to urinate on streets! (obacco is much more dangerous
than that so there is no doubt e#ery country shou$d consider mo#ing smo)ers to specia$
p$aces!
(o conc$ude with, e#ery country must thin) of the we$$being of its citiEens and ma)e
steps to protect them from dangerous effects of tobacco by banning smo)ing from pub$ic
p$aces!
,osted by -xana at 0/0. 4M 0 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Tuesday, %pri "", "!!#
IELTS Essay$ -ore &oney 5or The %rt*
The !rt should be better funded by the government but there must be more control
over where the money goes. *iscuss.
Since prehistoric ages (he 4rt high$ights our $i#es, adds beauty and happiness and
cu$ti#ates the taste among the peop$e! &owe#er, nowadays creati#e pro%ects became #ery
pricey and can not bring pay@off to its authors! Some peop$e thin) that the go#ernment
shou$d pay for those pro%ects and, of course, obser#e precise$y how those funds are being
spent!
(his is 3uite ob#ious that no structure except go#ernment )nows nations cu$tura$ needs
best! It can e#a$uate which sphere of cu$tura$ $ife ha#e the necessity of de#e$opment and
achie#e its goa$s of pub$ic $oya$ty by funding a specific fie$d of (he 4rt, contro$$ing
budget by gi#ing maintenance on$y to pro%ects they are interested in!
&owe#er, funding (he 4rt se$ecti#e$y can $ead artists to the $ac) of freedom in
expressing themse$#es! In other words, then those who ha#e power use money to regu$ate
cu$tura$ $ife, it can $imit the imagination and put artists into borders they wou$d be scared
to cross! (hus, here comes the censorship, which has nothing in common with the main
democracy princip$es! "or examp$e, simi$ar situation was in the So#iet 7nion, there
so$e$y the go#ernment contro$$ed (he 4rt and therefore the on$y career an artist cou$d
pursue is praising the Communist ,arty by his creations!
4s an a$ternati#e of $etting a go#ernment to contro$ spending money on (he 4rt, a non@
go#ernmenta$ independent organiEation cou$d be estab$ished! It must consist of the best
cu$tura$ acti#ists from a country! (his wou$d add a certain $e#e$ of budget contro$ and
wou$d guarantee there are no $imits for (he 4rt!
(o conc$ude with, I be$ie#e that funding (he 4rt is one of the main tas)s of a state, but
the purpose of it shou$d be de#e$opment, not ma)ing it to ser#e go#ernment po$itica$
needs!
,osted by -xana at 1/: 4M 1 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Tuesday, -arch "5, "!!#
IELTS essay$ Shoud education )e 5ree*
!ll education, primary, secondary and further education, should be free to all people
and paid for by the government.
*o you agree or disagree with this statement?
(he opinion that e#ery citiEen shou$d ha#e the right to study at schoo$ or uni#ersity for
free is #ery contro#ersia$ one! (hose, who disagree, refer to enormous expenditures of
go#ernment in case of estab$ishing such $aws! 4$though, I ho$d the #iewpoint that not
charging peop$e for education cou$d become #ery beneficia$ for country and its economy!
"irst, young peop$e from poor fami$ies cou$d be #ery smart! ;oo)ing bac) to history and
biographies of distinguished peop$e, raised in po#erty can i$$ustrate this best! Ma)ing
schoo$ing a#ai$ab$e on$y for fortunate is not fair! Moreo#er, the state we$$@being cou$d
a$so be affected, because there wou$d be a $ac) of ta$ented specia$ists, whose s)i$$s was
not disco#ered and de#e$oped by proper training!
4nother ad#antage of ma)ing education free of charge is happiness of the nation!
Inabi$ity of indi#idua$ to co$$ect amount of money needed to pay schoo$ or uni#ersity fees
cause stress and anxiety of the midd$e@c$ass society, which can e#en )eep them from
ha#ing chi$dren! 2owadays we can see that the $owest birthrate is in countries where
prices of enro$$ment to highest education institutions are #ery high! (his c$ear$y indicates
the fact that citiEens of rich countries do not fee$ ab$e to pro#ide their future offspring
proper education!
"ina$$y, nothing seems to be more beneficia$ to economy than inte$$igent nation! "ree
courses and study programs can prepare exce$$ent specia$ists, who wou$d wor) to bring
profit themse$#es and hence their country! (hat wou$d sure$y compensate most expenses
of state budget caused by education of no charge!
(o sum up, e#en though ma)ing a$$ schoo$s free can be #ery expensi#e for state
economy, ad#antages are in#a$uab$e! 4fter se#era$ years such impro#ements wou$d bring
fruits of happy, inte$$igent nation confident about its future!
,osted by -xana at :/2B 4M comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
-onday, -arch "1, "!!#
IELTS essay$ 9an T< teach peope*
+ome people say that television is a very useful tool when it comes to education. 'thers
argue that television is a much overused, ineffective teacher.
*iscuss both of these views and give your opinion as to the usefulness of television as
an educational tool.
0ive reasons for %our answer and include an% relevant examples from %our own
knowledge or experience.
2ou should write at least 345 words.
(here is a $ot of contro#ersy about whether (I can p$ay a ro$e of teacher! Some peop$e
ho$d a #iewpoint that it can ne#er be educationa$ at a$$! -thers, a$though, disagree,
reffering to (IKs high potentia$ of teaching through amusement!
4s a matter of fact, te$e#ision nowdays can hard$y be ca$$ed educationa$! 4$$ those ta$)
shows and soap operas we can see e#ery day are comp$ete$y waste of time and can e#en
ha#e negati#e effects by distracting young and undiscip$ined peop$e from their studies!
Moreother, the most of so ca$$ed educationa$ programms $i)e 2ationa$ >eographic can
not rep$ace boo)s and academic $ectures because they tend to entertain peop$e and ha#e
not an aim to gi#e deep and concentrated )now$edge!
&o#ewer, (I can be a powerfu$ mean of de$i#ering information and a nice part of
$earning process! <ducationa$ methodists ha#e pro#ed that the more senses are in#o$#ed
at the time of studying, the more effecti#e resu$t can be achie#ed! (e$e#ision produce
both picture and sound, so its usefu$ness is ob#ious! Many teachers a$ready use this
ad#antage acti#e$y by showing to students #ideocassetes which go as supp$imentary
materia$ to many $anguage courses! So why not to broadcast such mo#ies through
te$e#ision5
(he prob$em of ineffecti#eness of te$e#ision as educationa$ too$ is in fact not a prob$em
of te$e#ision itse$f, but of peop$e who decide the content of particu$ar channe$! It is hard$y
un$i)e$y that content directors wou$d abandon their high profits and change ta$) shows to
$ectures and #ideo@$essons! (herefore, those, who insist on (Is use$essness maybe right,
but $et us not forget that as techno$ogy impro#es new cheap ways of broadcasting appear,
for instance #ideo podcasts! (hey can pro#e exc$usi#e power of such $earning too$ as
te$e#ision!
,osted by -xana at :/A. 4M 1 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Sunday, -arch "., "!!#
IELTS essay$ 8ho earn an(ua(es )etter*
+ome people think children are more successful in foreign language studies than
adults. *iscuss.
(he #iewpoint that chi$dren are better $earners became a$most a common sense, a$though
it is not a$ways true in terms of $earning foreign $anguages! *hen it comes to ma)e an
approach to, for examp$e, Dapanese or "rench, adu$ts ha#e pro#en themse$#es superior
$earners because of their experience of getting )now$edge of their own $anguage and their
performance is genera$$y better moti#ated!
<#ery adu$t ha#e some amount of education it their past and it mean he has a$ready
recei#ed genera$ understanding of the structure of nati#e $anguage! (hus, this more or
$ess categoriEed base usua$$y ser#es as a temp$ate for foreign grammar or #ocabu$ary!
,erson on$y has to p$ace new materia$ on certain she$#es in his memory and operate them
$i)e it their own $anguage! Chi$dren, in contrast, are usua$$y confused by any grammar,
e#en of their country! 8ringing foreign $anguage to curricu$um adds embarrassment
because they do not ha#e sufficient understanding of grammatica$ of semantic categories
and can not bring to order such huge amounts of information!
>rown@ups a$so appear to be more enthusiastic about $anguage studies! 4s a matter of
fact, this s)i$$ for them is a too$ that can be used to achie#e career goa$s! -b#ious$y, more
moti#ated indi#idua$ do better, and e#en if his abi$ities are modest, through practice
success can come #ery fast and $ot of success stories can pro#e it! Lids, though, usua$$y
consider second $anguage $essons as a fun or, otherwise, something boring and, e#en if
they tend to absorb )now$edge $i)e sponges, without use it rapid$y disappears! *ith no
proper encouragement youngsters %ust do not )now they ha#e to practice new words and
grammar in order not to forget them!
(hus, whi$e it wou$d not be mista)e to suggest chi$dren are natura$$y better $earners, $et
us not forget that adu$ts are usua$$y better suited to $anguage studies!
IELTS essay$ 7ni0ersity or wor'in(*
+ome people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of
time instead of going directly to study at university.
*iscuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.
0ive reasons for %our answer and include an% relevant examples from %our own
knowledge or experience.
2ou should write at least 345 words.
(here is a considerab$e contro#ersy about what young peop$e shou$d do after recei#ing
graduation certificate of high schoo$! (he ma%ority ho$ds the #iewpoint that obtaining an
uni#ersity degree immediate$y after schoo$ is the on$y option to become successfu$ and
estab$ished person! -thers, howe#er, tend to disagreeM in their opinion after finishing
schoo$ indi#idua$ shou$d recei#e an opportunity to see the wor$d or try his s)i$$s on %ob!
-n the one hand, basic )now$edge, came into posession of a pupi$ at schoo$ shou$d be
preser#ed and recei#e futher de#e$opment at uni#ersity! &uman brain forgets facts
rapid$y, espessia$$y those, which are not in use! In the case of ma)ing a $ong pause
between graduation from schoo$ and enro$$ing to an uni#ersity, person may become
unab$e to pass admission exams!
-n the other hand, on %ob training may pro#ide an opportunity of recei#ing experience
and choosing career before deciding the sphere, in which student wants to obtain higher
education! "or instance, young person can try his s)i$$s of management, wor)ing as an
assistant manager in a sma$$ shop! In addition, that cou$d a$so he$p him to understand if
this wor) is rea$$y what he desires and pre#ent from ma)ing an expensi#e mista)e of
choosing wrong ma%or!
4nother option of understanding someone6s needs is tra#e$$ing! (his is a perfect way to
see the wor$d and different professions in use! ,erson, who ha#e ne#er been in rura$ areas
cou$d be charmed, for examp$e, by romantism of cheesema)ing and come to decision to
ma)e genuine mi$) products a$$ his $ife!
(o sum up, there are some ways different from the standart scheme of going to uni#ersity
right after schoo$ and they shou$d not be o#er$oo)ed! ,ersona$$y I thin) that whiche#er
option person chooses, time before uni#ersity shou$d not be wasted on entertainment or
parties! It is essentia$ to use it wise$y, thin)ing about the future!
,osted by -xana at ./5: 4M comment/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Tuesday, -arch 1, "!!#
IELTS essay$ The ru))ish pro)e&
&owadays 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?
In our high$y industria$iEed era there is a growing awareness about the exessi#e amounts
of trash peop$e producing! *e are about to be f$ooded by different types of garbage if
certain measures wi$$ not be ta)en! (his essay wi$$ exp$ore some causes of this and
propose ways to so$#e the prob$em!
(o begin with, different food producers decided that their products wi$$ be se$$ing better
if they wi$$ pac) them in sma$$@siEed boxes and pac)ets! (hese co$orfu$ and attracti#e
pac)s go straight to the trashcan, the number of pac)s is growing a$ong with the
consuming groth!
More consuming produces more waste! >o#ernment and businesses encourage
consuming because it $eads to high profits and de#e$opment of state economy! (hey are
not interested in the situation there a person is going to use something for a $ong time!
Society is being bombarded with commersia$s, p$eading to buy, for instance, a new
mobi$e phone! 8uying new things cause throwing away o$d but good things!
(he prob$em of garbage is #ery comp$icated! 4s we can see, go#ernment is not interested
of reducing consuming! (hus, the responsibi$ity has to be ta)en by indi#idua$s and non@
go#ernmenta$ organiEations! Certain $aws, regu$ating the percentage of pac)aging
materia$ per ton of product shou$d be estab$ished! Moreo#er, interesting programs,
in#o$#ing peop$e to participate can be de#e$oped! "or examp$e, bonuses for not as)ing for
a p$astic bag in supermar)ets or for buying extra $arge pac)s of food!
In addition, e#eryone shou$d become conserned about the future of human beings and our
p$anet! If we do not wish to be buried in rubbish, we shou$d thin) twice before buying
things we do not need!
This essay has been checked and graded by the real "/7T+ teacher. +ee bellow the
teacher.s comments)
This is a good essay. "t has the right structure and the contents cover the task. The
paragraphs are correctly built and logically connected. The language is fine, however
the grammar needs more attention. 'verall, looks like a band 8 essay.
3or the whole list of teacher.s comments click here.
,osted by -xana at 5/2B ,M B comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
IELTS etter$ %poo(i=in( 5or the noise
Your neighbours have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your
houseflat.
Write a letter to your neighbours. "n your letter
explain the reasons for the noise
apologise
describe what action you will take
Dear Mr Dones,
I am writing in response to your $etter, comp$aining about the sounds my musica$
instrument is producing! I fee$ that I ha#e to exp$ain myse$f and humb$y as) for your
forgi#eness!
4ctua$$y, I am a student of the 2orth Caro$ina 4rts Co$$ege and as a part of my end of
term exams I ha#e to perform 1 p$ays by f$ute! (herefore I ha#e to reherse e#ery day
because I am eager to ma)e a good impression to my teachers! (o achie#e my goa$ I am
supposed to p$ay about A hours a day!
I must apo$ogiEe for p$aying in inappropriate hours! It was a$$ my fau$t since I did not
bother reading the ru$es of our house owner, prohibiting p$aying musica$ instruments!
I ha#e consu$ted with my c$ass teacher and he suggested me to use one of the rooms of
the co$$ege to reherse for a sma$$ fee! I assure you by no means wi$$ be disturbed again
with the noise from my appartment!
I beg for your understanding and forgi#eness! ,$ease, accept this box of choco$ate as a
to)en of my appreciation for not gi#ing this prob$em a $ega$ action!
Nours sincere$y,
4nna "ran)
This letter has been checked and graded by the real "/7T+ teacher. +ee bellow the
teacher.s comments)
This is a great letter. "t is written according to all the guidelines and will probably get
(and 8 at least. 9ay more attention to grammar though.
3or the whole list of teacher.s comments click here.
,osted by -xana at 5/0 ,M . comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
Saturday, January 19, "!!#
IELTS etter$ Bad &ea in a restaurant
You took your family to a near-by restaurant. You were disappointed with the meal and
wish to complain to the manager.
Write a letter to the manager of the restaurant. "n the letter
- explain why you were at the restaurant
- describe the problems
- write about the action you want the manager to take
Write at least #$% words.
You do &'T need to write your own address.
(egin your letter as follows)
*ear +ir or ,adam,
Dear Sir or Madam,
-n Du$y 5th my fami$y and I #isited your estab$ishment to ha#e a traditiona$ ce$ebration
of my sister6s birthday! Since she $i#es in "rance we annua$$y go to this restaurant,
because we a$ways considered it as the most c$assy "rench cuisine p$ace! &a#ing the
onion soup there is a$so our fami$y tradition because my sister $o#ed it #ery much before
her mo#ing to "rance! I suppose, you can imagine our disappointment when we found the
onion soup abso$ute$y inedib$e $ast time! "irst$y, it was co$d! Second$y, it seemed your
chef did not stir it we$$ whi$e coo)ing, so there were some c$ogs of f$our! (he $ast but not
the $east, its taste made us to suggest that the coo) used artificia$ instant soup base! *e
as)ed our waitress about the reasons soup is so awfu$ and she to$d the coo) of current
shift has changed and this is the #ision of the soup of the new one!
It is high$y un$i)e$y this new chef with his #ision is suitab$e for such famous restaurant as
yours! I recommend changing or sending him to training in order your customers cou$d
further en%oy genuine "rench cuisine!
"aithfu$$y yours,
4nna "ran)
,osted by -xana at 5/A2 4M 2 comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S $etter =>enera$ (raining (as) ?
8ednesday, January 1,, "!!#
IELTS Essay$ In5or&ation Technoo(ies ead to socia pro)e&s*
The a(e o5 In5or&ation Technoo(y has ta'en a ot o5 peope )y surprise. 8hie it
has )eco&e a way o5 i5e 5or so&e, others 'now 0ery itte a)out it and &ay )e
uni'ey to earn. E0entuay we wi ha0e a poarised society and this wi ead to
serious socia pro)e&s.
To what extent do you a(ree with this state&ent*
-ur high$y informatiEed era became 3uite a shoc) for many of us! 4t the time one part of
society uses new means of information #ery acti#e$y, other peop$e stay in the dar)
without any chance to ma)e an approach to understanding new techno$ogies! (here is a
raising awareness of does this prob$em ha#e a potentia$ danger of s$icing the society into
two parts which wou$d ne#er understand each other!
It is the fact that many of e#eryday acti#ities became a#ai$ab$e for computer users on$y!
"or examp$e, if you are a uni#ersity student, you are supposed to submit your term paper
as typed and printed document, they no $onger accept hand@written papers! "urthermore,
some manufacturers do not distribute information $eaf$ets, but gi#e a website address on
their products6 pac)s, thus on$y the Internet users can ha#e an access for product detai$s!
(he $ast but not the $east, the computer s)i$$s became a crucia$ re3uirement for
emp$oyment in urban areas!
Meanwhi$e, inhabitants of rura$ areas do not need new means of ac3uiring information!
(heir wor) and e#eryday acti#ities do not demand using computers! "or examp$e, a
farmer can use radio to hear news and ordinary mai$ to communicate!
(a)ing into account the fact not e#ery citiEen can use new information techno$ogies,
go#ernments wou$d not change the traditiona$ ways of interaction with their peop$e! It is
high$y un$i)e$y peop$e wou$d no $onger ha#e a possibi$ity to #ote by fi$$ing papers by
hand or do other acti#ities, important for their citiEenship!
InformatiEation of society affected those, who ha#e a need of instant information
exchange! ,eop$e, whose $ifesty$e do not re3uire any haste in communication ha#e an
opportunity to use traditiona$ ways of it! I am assured that as $ong as situation does not
ma)e others to change their way of $ife against their wi$$, there is no ris) of recei#ing
serious socia$ prob$ems!
This essay has been checked and graded by the real "/7T+ teacher. +ee bellow the
teacher.s comments)
This is a good essay. The only improvement it needs is length reduction :from ;%<
words to =$%-=>$ words? and perhaps paying more attention to grammar. 'verall,
looks like a (and 8 essay.
3or the whole list of teacher.s comments click here.
,osted by -xana at 1/AA 4M comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
Thursday, /ece&)er "!, "!!7
IELTS Essay$ %ni&as$ To use or not to use*
!nimals should not be used for the benefit of human beings, unless there is evidence
that the animals do not suffer in any way.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
(here is a $ot of contro#ersy about using anima$s for human needs! 4nima$ rights
acti#ists are trying to stop a$$ modern and traditiona$ acti#ities, which in#o$#e )i$$ing
anima$s or cause their suffering! (raditiona$ists are trying to con#ince the community that
using $i#ing creatures for menKs needs is natura$ and cannot be a#oided in e#eryday $ife!
In this essay we wi$$ exp$ore this sub%ect!
4cti#ists, who defend anima$ rights, are te$$ing the wor$d that peop$e shou$d not use
anima$s in any way! Moreo#er, they say that anima$s shou$d ha#e exact$y same rights as
humans do! (he reason is that peop$e and anima$s are both $i#ing creatures and there
shou$dnKt be any difference in treating them! So ca$$ed extreme #egans are refusing to eat
any food of anima$ origin, e#en mi$) or honey! (hey are trying to con#ince peop$e to do
the same using as an argument that )i$$ing anima$s and )eeping them in capti#ity cause
their suffering and not ci#i$iEed!
(raditiona$ists disagree with the statement that human shou$d stop )i$$ing anima$s or
using them to fu$fi$$ their needs! "rom the #ery beginning of human ci#i$iEation there is a
tradition and #ita$ need to use anima$s as a food and their parts in traditiona$ crafts!
*ithout proteins and #itamins of anima$ origin human body wou$dnKt recei#e a$$ nutrients
it needs! Moreo#er, testing some medica$s on anima$s a$ready he$ped to fight many
diseases peop$e suffered from!
I thin), peop$e ha#e the mora$ right to use anima$s to their benefit, to some extent! I am
sure, we shou$d not cause them suffer and die for our fun! 4$though, using anima$s for
food is natura$ for humans as a predators, but as ci#i$iEed predators we shou$d ma)e sure
to use on$y humane ways of )i$$ing!
,osted by -xana at B/10 ,M . comments/
;abe$s/ I<;(S essay =>enera$ (raining (as) 2?
IELTS essay$ Space research or 5i(htin( diseases*
6overnments around the world are spending billions in support of space programs.
This money would be better spent on research into improvements in human health.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
(here is an opinion that countries are spending a $ot of their cash assets on space pro%ects
whi$e they shou$d rather finance medica$ science sufficient$y! Spaceships are f$ying a$$
o#er the 7ni#erse at the time peop$e are dying from 4IDS or e#en f$u! Is there any point
of throwing money into the outer space5
-n the one hand, human rea$$y ha#e not fought many dangerous and high$y contagious
diseases! Moreo#er, industria$iEation and economica$ progress brought new diseases as a
resu$t of recei#ing more comfortab$e $ife! (hey are diabetes, cardio@#ascu$ar prob$ems,
etc! In addition, $aunching %ust one space shutt$e into the s)y re3uires so
many natura$ resources and brings so many po$$ution, that it inf$uences eco$ogy a $ot!
(hat brings us new hea$th issues, that need additiona$ funding, which cou$d be withdrawn
from excessi#e payments for space research!
-n the other hand, scientists a$ready ha#e fundraising from commercia$ pharmaceutica$
companies! 4 $ot of diseases ha#e been fought in %ust $ast 00 years and there is an
increase in man)ind $ife expectancy! Moreo#er, impro#ed hea$th and e$ongated $ife of
popu$ation $eads to a new prob$em 9 o#erpopu$ation! Space research can he$p to find a
new home for <arth inhabitants! (he $ast, but not the $east, who )nows, there is a chance
we cou$d found on other p$anets a panacea for a$$ diseases!
4s for me, I am not a #ery hea$thy person and my parents either! &owe#er, if there is a
one, #ery sma$$ chance, that something exciting wi$$ happen and astronauts wi$$ meet
a$ien ci#i$iEation on other p$anets, I wou$d not be happy that go#ernment is spending
money for medicine on$y! *e ha#e o#ercrowded p$anet and we shou$d search for ways of
expanding our habitat!