Essay Tip

For Writing Task 2, you may be asked to discuss a problem and possible solutions to it. For this type of question,
you should explain exactly what the problem is (its causes and effects) and then consider the merits and drawbacks
of various solutions.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

As the number of private cars has increased, so too has the level of pollution in many cities. What can be done
to tackle this increasingly common problem?

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

As the number of private cars has increased, so has the level of pollution. Overreliance on cars at the expense of
public transport has made this problem even worse, causing many concerned citizens to look for a solution to the
problem.

One potential solution to this problem is to discourage the use of private cars by raising taxes. If the cost of petrol
was increased, then many people would consider using alternative forms of transport or even walking. Admittedly,
there would be a number of complaints from car drivers, but these would not be of much importance when balanced
against the environmental benefits.

Another solution could be to look at more specific causes of the problem. Modern cars are fitted with cleaner
burning engines and catalytic converters. Accordingly, they do not cause as much of an environmental hazard as
some older cars. In Japan, for example, cars are heavily taxed once they have been on the road for three years or
more, encouraging people to buy new cars which pollute less. By heavily taxing older vehicles from the road, some
of the worst-polluting vehicles would be taken off the road. However, this would not really be fair to those who
cannot afford a new car with such regularity.

An improvement in the quality and efficiency of public transport would also encourage people to use their cars less.
In London, for example, a system has been operating for some time in which people are allocated days of the week
when they can use their cars. On days that they are not allowed to drive, public transport is taken.

Although these are potential solutions to the problem, none of them are perfect. Only by a concerted effort by both
the government and the public can this situation truly be resolved.

(298 words)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We
know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of
them in private situations.

Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about
people?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip
Structuring an essay is an important part of writing for IELTS. For a Task 2 essay, use a standard essay
structure consisting of separate paragraphs: an introduction (one paragraph), followed by the
main body of the essay (two or three paragraphs), then a conclusion (one paragraph).

There are various connectors that are typically used for conclusions. The first one on the list is the most
unimaginative, and it is better to think of a more interesting one if you can.

In conclusion, finally, therefore, consequently, clearly, it is clear, on the whole, in other

words, generally speaking

You cannot score above Band 5 if you do not use any paragraph. You cannot score above Band 6 if your
paragraphs do not have a clear central topic.

Model answer

Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to be
entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous people in
magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include stories like
these which are neither informative nor useful.

In my opinion, this type of gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several
reasons. Firstly, for example, the fact that Princess Diana is going out with a sportsman is not important
news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their
public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about Princess Diana it should be
about her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition,
journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumours. One should be able to rely
on newspapers for the actual truth.

Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. But I feel it is more acceptable for them to contain
some features about famous personalities. In addition to being popular reading, these stories often
benefit the stars by giving free publicity to them, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe
that magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract people
to buy the magazine. Sensational stories, such as these, cause great unhappiness to the people
concerned.

In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some
articles on people's private lives.

(268 words)

ou should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children. Many children suffer
because they do not get as much attention from their parents as children did in the past.

Do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip
In IELTS Writing Task 2, you might be asked to read a statement and state whether you agree or
disagree with the opinion. Of course, you may only partly agree with it. You must explain your point of
view and give reasons for it.

Model answer

Look at the words or phrases in capitals. Choose the word or phrase which sounds more
formal. Rewrite the final paragraph in a more formal style.

People who ARGUE that nowadays parents give less attention to their children than in the past
are FREQUENTLY looking back to a BRIEF period of time in the twentieth century when MOTHERS in
middle-class families REMAINED at home to look after their children. What these people
are SUGGESTING is that women nowadays should not go out to work.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT in THE MAJORITY OF families in the past both parents
worked MUCH LONGER HOURS than they do nowadays. What has changed is that now in most
countries their children ATTEND school rather than also working themselves. In that sense they
may HAVE LESS CONTACT WITH their parents.

Nowadays, as a result of ACQUIRING AN EDUCATION, children come into contact with teachers
who NATURALLY have to explain why some of their students are failing. What teachers come up with
are FREQUENT stories of parents who are SIMPLY too busy for their CHILDREN. And IF CHILDREN
ARE NOT SUPERVISED BY THEIR PARENTS, they will often UNDERPERFORM at school.
However, ACADEMIC FAILURE is nothing new even when one or both parents are at home. If
children ARE NEGLECTED by their parents, they will suffer.

I guess children probably had more problems in the past when they and their parents had to work non-
stop just to get by. These days, the law looks after children and they can go to school, so children have
lots more chances than they ever had before.

In my opinion, children probably suffered more in the past when the whole family was obliged to work
long hours just to survive. Nowadays children are protected by the law. Moreover access to education
means that they have greater opportunities than ever before.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
__
ou should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in
specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine.
Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are
stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers
around the world.

Do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

Exam Tip
Writing Task 2 is a discursive essay. You will be given a topic to write about. You should write a plan so
that your ideas are organised logically and coherently. Try to use a wide variety ofvocabulary and don’t
copy words from the question paper. Try not to repeat the same words or ideas. When you have finished,
check your spelling and make sure you have written at least 250 words.

Model answer

The so-called ‘brain drain’ from poor to rich countries is now robbing poorer countries of essential
personnel like doctors, nurses, engineers, and the trend is set to continue, if not to get worse.

Some people say this movement of people around the world is not a new phenomenon. Migrant workers
have always been attracted by the wider choice of employment and greater opportunity in major cities in
their own countries and abroad. Recently, as the technological age has advanced and as richer countries
find themselves with not enough workers to feed their development, they have had to run to other parts of
the world to find the necessary manpower. Many richer European countries, for example, are now trying
to attract skilled IT workers from my home country India by offering higher salaries than they could hope
to earn at home. With the globalisation of the world economy, many people feel that the process cannot
be stopped.

Others, myself included, are of the opinion that measures should be taken to address the problem, by
compensating poorer countries financially for the loss of investment in the people they have trained, like
doctors and nurses. Admittedly, this may be cumbersome to administer, but an attempt could be made to
get it off the ground. Another step, which in part has already begun to happen, is to use the forces of
globalization itself. Western countries could encourage people to stay in their own countries by direct
investment in projects like computer factories or by sending patients abroad for treatment, as is already
happening.
It is obviously difficult to restrict the movement of people around the world and it is probably foolish to try
to stop it, but attempts should be made to redress the imbalance.

(291 words)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

As mass communication and transport continue to grow, societies are becoming more and more
alike leading to a phenomenon known as globalization. Some people fear that globalization will
inevitably lead to the total loss of cultural identity.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip
Don't forget to include examples relevant to your experience. Remember you are not expected to be an
expert on the topic. Personal experience counts!

Model answer

Globalization means that in some ways people around the world are becoming more and more similar.
We often eat the same food, watch the same TV programmes, listen to the same music and we wear the
same clothes. Some of this at least can be blamed on the spread of multinational brands available all
over the world.

On the surface, it may appear as if the global diversity of cultural identities is being lost. If, the argument
goes, people in Tokyo and London look and dress the same, then that must mean that cultural
differences are disappearing. However, I would argue that this is a very narrow definition of culture and
that in fact cultural differences are as present as ever.

Cultural Identity is built on far more than just the films we watch or the jeans we wear. The foundation of
cultural identity is shared values. When you look in detail at different cultures, you realize that the things
that are important to one culture can be very different from the things valued by another culture.

Take my own culture, India, as an example and compare it to a very different culture, Japan. Although I
have never visited Japan personally, I believe that it is a culture which places a lot of value on hard work
and that people often work very long hours. The Indian people, in contrast, greatly value their leisure time
and strive to spend as much time with their family as they possibly can. Even if we consume the same
products, I would argue that there are still some very deep-rooted differences.
To summarize, I do not accept that total loss of cultural identity is inevitable, despite the influence of large
companies and their products around the globe.

__________________________________________________________________________
ou should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people consider computers to be more of a hindrance than a help. Others believe that they
have greatly increased human potential.

How could computers be considered a hindrance?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Look at the words or phrases in capitals. Correct your version where necessary.

It is easy to understand why some people believe that computers are more of a hindrance than a
help. Operations such as obtaining a refund or changing a ticket tend to be fairly straightforward without
the aid of a computer, yet once one is involved, the process can become time-consuming, complex and
prone to errors. In an office environment, it can sometimes seem that for every hour saved by computers,
at least set of problems caused by a system malfunction.

Another consideration is that, over-enthusiastic use of computers in the home has the potential to divert
large amounts of free time away from activities such as socialising, tasking exercise or having dinner with
your family. Spending a lot of leisure time looking at a computer monitor screen could perhaps achieving
other goals in life, such as being healthy and socially integrated.

However, it would be simplistic to assert that computers have a generally negative impact. There have
been enormous advences in communications, medicine, design, education and numerous fields of human
endeavour. Nowadays, virtually the entire sum of human knowledge is as far away as the nearest internet
point. Computers have brought about a profound change in the way most people in the developed
world live. (Although it should not be forgotten that the majority of the inhabitants of this planet have
never so much as touched a computer keyboard.)

The benefits of computers undoubtedly outweigh the disadventages. The question is

not whethercomputers help or hinder, but whether people always use their huge potential in a sensible
and responsible way?

ou should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people feel that certain workers like nurses, doctors and teachers are undervalued and
should be paid more, especially when other people like film actors or company bosses are paid
huge sums of money that are out of proportion to the importance of the work that they do.

-How far do you agree?

-What criteria should be used to decide how much people are paid?

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

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Tips
1) It is essential that you plan your essay before actually beginning to write your answer. Some students
may want to begin writing immediately as they are afraid that they will run out of time. This will not allow
them to produce a well-organised essay.

2) There is more weight to Task 2 when calculating your overall writing score, so time management is
important.

3) You should introduce the issue in your introduction, but avoid copying directly from the prompt. Rather,
you should paraphrase the question using your own words.

4) If you write less than 250 words for Task 2, you will be penalized in the Task Response criteria.

Model answer

Nobody can deny that there are certain professionals like nurses, doctors and teachers who are essential
to the fabric of society, and who should therefore be rewarded accordingly. However, this is seldom the
case. When we look at the salaries and fees commanded by certain film stars and actresses and people
who run large companies, this does not seem fair.

First of all, not all film stars earn huge sums of money. In fact, at any one time in the UK, for example,
roughly 80 per cent of actors are out of work and on top of that the number who are paid so-called
‘telephone number fees’ is even smaller. One must also remember that the career of many actors is very
short and that therefore the money they earn has to be spread over many years. The same applies to
company bosses.

Stating a set of criteria as to how much people should be paid is not easy. The idea of performance-
related pay is very much in vogue at the moment. Rewarding people according to qualifications has long
been used as a yardstick for paying people, but it is not a consistently good measure. Another is years of
relevant experience, but there are many cases where a younger person can perform a task better than
someone with lots of experience.

Whatever criteria are used to assess salaries, an on-going cycle will develop. This will create pressure in
other areas. This considered, generally I feel that certain key professionals should have their salaries
assessed by independent review bodies on an on-going basis so that they do not fall behind.

(269 words)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip
Decide whether you agree/disagree completely with the statement, partly agree/disagree with it, or have
no definite opinion.

Choose one of these approaches:

State your position in the introduction and then justify it with arguments. This may be more suitable
if you feel strongly about the statement.

Present the arguments first and then say what you think in the conclusion. This may be better if you
have no strong opinion but can put forward arguments on both sides.

Model answer

In the last decade, there has been considerable debate over the role of free speech in a free society.
Some object to absolute freedom of speech. Others advocate free speech, arguing that the freedom of
speech is the single most important political right of citizens in a civilized society. Whilst I believe that
there are strong arguments on both sides, I would suggest that freedom of speech should be protected in
all but extreme circumstances.
The freedom of speech is important at all levels in a society. Yet it is most important for the governments.
A government which does not know what the people feel and think is in a dangerous position. This is how
the communist regimes of Eastern Europe were toppled in the 1980s. The same is happening again in
other regions of the world today. The governments that muzzle free speech run a risk of pushing their
people to behave destructively or to rebel.

Furthermore, without free speech no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice and
oppression is possible. Without free speech elections would have no meaning at all. Policies of
contestants become known to the public and become responsive to public opinion only by virtue of free
speech. Between elections the freely expressed opinions of citizens help restrain oppressive rule. Without
this freedom it is futile to expect political freedom or consequently economic freedom.

In conclusion, I believe that the importance of free speech as a basic and valuable characteristic of a free
society cannot be underestimated. It may be challenging for society to allow differences of opinion out
into the open; however, the consequences of restricting free speech are likely to be more damaging in the
longer term.

(285 words)

____________________________________________________
____________________________
Essay Tip
When you have to discuss two different views, you have to:

1) Present both views.

2) Evaluate the strength of the arguments on both sides.

3) Challenge the ideas you disagree with and support the ideas you agree with by providing examples

and evidence.

4) Remember that you don’t have to totally agree with one of the views. Express your own opinion,

whatever it is.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people think that human history has been a journey from ignorance to knowledge. Others
argue that this underestimates the achievements of ancient cultures, and overvalues our
achievements.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Some argue that people in the modern world are in possession of much more knowledge than people of
ancient cultures. Others believe that this ignores the accomplishments of the past and places too much
emphasis on present achievements.

While it is undoubtedly true that modern technologies, such as the internet could not have been imagined
in ancient cultures, it is a mistake to view these ancient cultures as ignorant. Few would argue that the
builders of the Sphinx were mere primitive cavemen, for example. People at the time had the knowledge
they needed to understand and deal with their world and in fact one argument that is sometimes put
forward is that, even with all we know today, we do not have the technology to build the Pyramids of
Egypt.

Even if we do accept that modern society is richer in technological terms, it is undoubtedly poorer in
spiritual terms. Our societies have become so complex that people often become victims to the lifestyles
they lead and must face a whole new variety of widespread modern-day problems, such as stress and
obesity which affect people in developed countries worldwide. Furthermore, the number of uneducated
people still living in poverty with little opportunity to benefit from technological achievements suggests that
our modern society is not so advanced after all.

In my view, however, there is no comparison between what we can achieve today and what people even
two hundred years ago could achieve as we now know so much more. The vast majority of people in
developed countries are able to benefit from an education system, standard of living, healthcare and life
expectancy that are so much more advanced than ever before. It is my personal opinion that although we
must remember and respect ancient cultures, modern day achievements have brought us to the peak of
human civilisation.

(307 words)

______________________________________________________________________________
_________
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Motorways help people travel quickly and cover long distances but they also cause problems.
What are the problems of motorways and what solutions are there?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Many countries in the world rely on motorways for speedy and efficient transportation, as they are a very
convenient way of travelling long distances. However, motorways also have negative aspects such as
dangerous traffic, damage to the environment and pollution. In this essay, I will look at some of the
problems of motorways and how they can be overcome.

One major problem of motorways is that they can be dangerous. In many countries, the speed limit on
motorways is very high. This means that any accidents are more likely to be serious and involve many
vehicles. Sometimes in bad weather, several vehicles crash into each other and many people are killed or
injured. This problem could be solved in a number of ways. People could have special lessons on how to
drive safely on motorways. In addition, special signs could be displayed when driving conditions are bad
to make people drive more slowly and safely. Alternatively, the general speed limit could be reduced
slightly.

Secondly, motorways can spoil the environment. Motorways often go through beautiful areas and may
damage plants and wildlife. This problem could be avoided by building motorways through less beautiful
areas or putting some sections in tunnels. In addition, the large amount of traffic on motorways produces
both air pollution and noise pollution. However, governments could help to reduce air pollution by making
environmentally-friendly cars cheaper. Noise pollution could be reduced by changing motorway surfaces
or by putting up sound-proof fences.

Despite the problems of motorways, they are necessary and useful. With careful preparation and
planning, the problems they cause could be reduced. People today are also more aware of environmental
issues and as a result cars and road transport in general are becoming more environmentally friendly.

(290 words)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Machine translation (MT) is slower and less accurate than human translation and there is no
immediate or predictable likelihood of machines taking over this role from humans.

Do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Read the following sample answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with a word or
phrase from the box below.
 on the contrary for instance especially because

for these reasons in order to it is true of course

similarly however it seems to me for example

It is true that there have been great advances in technology over the last forty years. For example / For
instance the use of mobile phones and e-mail communication are common these days.However,
machines that translate from one language to another are still in their early stages.

It seems to me that a machine could never do as good a job as a human, especially when it comes to
interpreting what people are saying. Of course, machines can translate statements such as “Where is the
bank?” but even simple statements are not always straightforward because the meaning depends on
more than just words. For instance / For example the word “bank” has a number of different meanings in
English. How does a translating machine know which meaning to take?

In order to understand what people are saying, you need to take into account the relationship between
the speakers and their situation. A machine cannot tell the difference between the English expression
“Look out!” meaning “Be careful!” and “Look out!” meaning “Put your head out of the window”. You need a
human being to interpret the situation.

Similarly with written language, it is difficult for a machine to know how to translate
accuratelybecause we rarely translate every word. On the contrary, we try to take into consideration
how the idea would be expressed in the other language. This is hard to do because every language has
its own way of doing and saying things.

For these reasons I feel that it is most unlikely that machines will take the place of humans in the field of
translating and interpreting. If machines ever learn to think, perhaps then they will be in a position to take
on this role.

______________________________________________________________________________
_________
ou should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Each year, the crime rate increases.

What are the causes of crime and what could be done to prevent this rise in criminal activity?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Test Tip
Good writers often consider other arguments that are different, before presenting their own views. For
example:

Although some people would like to have a lot of children (concession),

the cost of raising them has to be considered first (writer’s view)

The following expressions are useful when making concessions:

While/Although…
It could be argued that …
Despite the fact that …
Admittedly / Certainly … but/ However …
Even though …
It may be true that …

Sample answer

Crime is an issue of increasing concern around the world, and more money than ever before is being
spent on the detection and punishment of criminal activity. The reasons why people commit crime are
countless, but drugs and alcohol, social problems and poverty play a major role. To solve these problems,
governments can either focus on draconian punishments, or improve employment opportunities, invest in
good housing projects and tackle drug and alcohol abuse.

One of the main causes of criminality is the use, sale and trafficking of narcotics. For example, the sale of
drugs is organised by armed criminal gangs who illegally traffick drugs and control their business with
extreme violence. Drug-related crime does not end there; drug users often steal to fund theft habit,
resulting in further acts of petty crime. The social problems connected with crime are said to be the result
of single-parent families, absent role models and bad living conditions. The children from these broken
families often become criminals because they feel alienated from society. Poverty is also a reason behind
crime. When unskilled jobs pay so little and prices are so high, it's easy to see why some turn to crime for
an income.

Crime can of, course, be dealt with by toughening criminal laws and introducing longer custodial
sentences for persistent criminals, but some of the best ways to deal with crime may be to deal with the
social causes. Increasing employment opportunities in poorer areas would improve living standards,
which would mean access to affordable housing and education. Government funding for drug and alcohol
rehabilitation programmes would help reduce dependency on stimulants and the need for the criminal
activity that surrounds them.
In conclusion, crime is a major issue, but cracking down on offenders with a harsh penal system is not the
only way. These problems can be solved through the government providing jobs and funding which
should raise living standards and dramatically reduce crime levels.

(323 words)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Modern communications mean that it’s no longer necessary to write letters.

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

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

Write at least 250 words.

Test Tip
Your ideas will form the basis of your argument and they need to be expressed clearly and appropriately.

Here are some expressions to help you present ideas.

I would argue/say/agree that …

In my view/opinion It seems (to me) that …
I tend to think that/ I feel that …
As far as I am concerned …
Some/Most people argue/think/say that …
It is understood that …
It is generally accepted that …
There is a tendency to believe that …
One of the main arguments in favour of / against …

Sample answer

In years gone by, before the age of the telegraph or telephone, letter writing was the main means of
communication for most people. Since then we have developed faster and more direct ways of contacting
people, and personal mail has become relatively rare.

It is true that in many cases where our parents would have written a letter, we prefer to pick up the phone,
to email or even to text instead. These are perfectly suitable ways of inviting friends to call round or
exchanging news with a family member, for example, and they have the advantage that the
communication is immediate and we can receive a reply very quickly. In business, too, fax and email are
extremely useful.

However, in my opinion there are times when there is no alternative to a letter. Letters are generally more
formal and carefully composed than emails. This makes them more suitable for occasions when they are
likely to be kept and re-read, perhaps several times, by the recipient, as with formal letters of thanks or
sympathy. In addition, letters provide a written record, unlike telephone calls, so they are also a better
way of setting out an important or complex argument, as in official complaints or legal matters.

In conclusion, I would definitely agree that there are fewer times when we need to write letters than in the
past. On the other hand, I feel there are still some important occasions when a letter is the most
appropriate form of communication.

)_________________________________________________________________________
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

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

Many childhood diseases can now be prevented through the use of vaccines.

Should parents be made by law to immunise their children against common diseases or should
individuals have the right to choose not to immunise their children?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Writing Tip

Sample answers to the tasks in the Practice Tests are provided in the Answers Section. Please do not
read these until you have attempted the tasks. Remember that these are suggestions only and that your
answers may be equally valid. It is valuable to discuss your answers with other students.

Sample Band 9 answer

The question of whether we should oblige parents to immunise their children against common diseases is
a social rather than a medical one. Since we are free to choose what we eat or drink or how much
exercise we take, why should the medical treatment we decide to undergo be any different?
(Introduction poses a new question to introduce the topic)

Medical researchers and governments are primarily interested in overall statistics and trends and in
money-saving schemes, which fail to take into consideration the individual's concerns and rights. While
immunisation against diseases such as tetanus and whooping cough may be effective, little information is
released about the harmful effects of vaccinations, which can sometimes result in growth problems in
children or even death.
(Concessional argument)

The body is designed to resist disease and to create its own natural immunity through contact with that
disease. When children are given artificial immunity, we create a vulnerable society, which is entirely
dependent on immunisation. In the event that mass immunisation programmes were to cease, the society
as a whole would be more at risk than ever before.
(Writer's opinion stated plainly and forcefully-as fact)

In addition there is the issue of the rights of the individual. As members of a society, why should we be
obliged to subject our children to this potentially harmful practice? Some people may also be against
immunisation on religious grounds and their needs must be considered when any decisions are made.
(Main idea with supporting arguments)

For these reasons I feel strongly that immunisation programmes should not be obligatory and that the
individual should have the right to choose whether or not to participate.
(Personal opinion to sum up. Re-statement of original question in own words.)

(254 words)

______________________________________________________________________________
______
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people think that professional athletes make good role models for young people, while
others believe they don’t.

Discuss both these points of views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Tip
With some question types in IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to discuss more than one type of evidence,
argument or point of view before reaching your conclusion. This is called the evidence-led approach.

The term role model generally means a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be
emulated by others, especially by younger people.

Model answer

People everywhere like watching sports. Many top athletes are admired throughout their countries, and
some even have fans all around the world. Young people especially, view many athletes as role models
and want to emulate the way these stars dress, act and live their lives. While some athletes aren't
deserving of their "role model" status, others act like role models and responsible community citizens.

Top athletes get the attention of young people. Most children and teenagers like to follow professional
sports. For many of them, star athletes represent heroes, and children want to be like their heroes. This
means they will want to play sports, which is good for their health. Playing sports also teaches valuable
life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, goal setting, and the realities of dealing with success and
failure. Professional athletes demonstrate the importance of working hard to achieve a goal, or practicing
regularly to become good at something. This is a good example for children to follow.

However, professional athletes are not always good role models. For one thing, when young athletes
reach a level of fame, it comes with media attention, large financial benefits and social attention. This can
lead children to believe that money and fame are an important part of sports. Children might focus more
on these aspects than on the fun of the game or on the challenge of learning how to play well. Then there
are those athletes who behave badly. For example, some cheat to win their games or take drugs to
improve their performance. This kind of behaviour sends the wrong message to children.

Athletes are people who are held at a lofty place in the society owing to their popularity and wealth. These
attributes are what makes people want to look up to them and model various facets of their lives along
those of the athletes. We can thus be led to conclude that professional athletes can be very good role
models for children, as long as they focus on the positive aspects of playing sports.