Essay topics: Many people still believe that riding a bicycle is the best way to get places.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using bicycle these days?
Owing to increment in number of health related issues these days, there has been a radical
change in type of conveyance used to travel. Due to which, people are shifting towards the
traditional way of getting places, which is by bicycle. Using it as a means of transport would
not only help in diminishing the pollution, but will also contribute to better health. But there
are some major negative aspects too which must not be ignored like it may be of no use in
emergency situations and can come out as a dangerous way of going from one place to
another.
Talking about the positives first, the use of bicycle would lead to eradication of pollution.
Vehicles which run on fossil fuels produce Co2, which is responsible for carbon gas
emissions and is harmful for the ozone layer. Consequently, the air would be clean enough to
breathe which would be better for our future generations. Additionally, using bike would also
help in improving our health. It is because of these modern transport systems that obesity is at
an all time high. But with the help of this old way of travelling, we can eliminate this
problem, which in turn would not only contribute to better physical health, but will also lead
to stress free life. To exemplify, a recent survey by AIMS Delhi revealed that those who use
bicycle in their daily routine are less prone to mental issues and getting affected by modern
lifestyle diseases.
Coming to the negative impact, this way of transport can be of no use in alarming situations.
For instance, if someone is getting late for a meeting or he/she needs to visit a hospital on an
urgent basis, using bike can get them late and it can have severe repercussions. Furthermore,
riding a bicycle needs a lot of training and if not trained properly, it can have hazardous after
effects. This mode of transport can be more dangerous as a person would be having limited
security features as compared to other types of transport like car or bus wherein seatbelt is
mandatory and can help in unforeseen and dangerous situations. In fact, one of my friends
died last year while using cycle as an uncontrollable car hit him from behind. Though he was
wearing a helmet, he succumbed to injuries.
To conclude, even today, many of us may be interested in using bicycle to travel to places
and no one can deny that it is good for the environment and our own physical and mental
health. Having said that, we must also look after the side effects of using it as it may be
inappropriate in needful circumstances and it carries a huge concern from safety point of
view.
Essay topics: Computer games are very popular in all age groups and nationalities. Parents
think it has little educational value and harmful effects.
What is your opinion about this?
Give examples based on your own experience.
With the advent of technology and devices based on it, gaming today has become a well
groomed part of every individual across the world. But in case of children, it is thought by
parents that it contributes less in gaining knowledge and more towards ruining their child. In
my opinion, yes, I believe that gaming can lead to severe mental and physical illness. Also,
its after effects can be dangerous. But with proper control and measures, it can help in mental
development of a child.
To start with, computer games can not only cause side effects to a person’s brain but it may
also hamper physical health and can lead them to dangers, knowingly or unknowingly. These
games are generally addictive, because of which players are no longer interested in doing
anything else. The prolonged gaming sessions which they indulge into, causes severe eye
burning and sometimes leads to mental exertion. Consequently, it makes them obese and
affects their circular system. In some cases, they have even proven to be deadly. To illustrate,
Players Under battle Ground (PUBG), an online gaming platform has had hazardous impact
on a youngster when he had a heart attack while playing the game, as a result of not able to
complete the mission. Eventually, he died, leaving a question in front of society that should
these games be allowed to continue or is it better to ban them.
Coming to the positive part, the immense benefit of practical gaming is crucial for a person’s
mental development in today’s competitive environment. If controlled and monitored, these
games can play a vital role in developing cognitive abilities within a child at a very young
age. In other words, it enables them to learn things in a practical manner and it opens their
mind with influx of data, which they may not grasp through books. This in turn, makes them
smarter than the rest of their competitors and helps in logical explanation of things. To
exemplify, a recent research by Oxford University in a local government school revealed that
pupils who were allowed to play computer games had better results in mathematics quiz
when compared to those who were not allowed or had little interest in playing them.
To conclude, the gaming industry has been a pain from parent’s point of view as they
perceive it to cause a deteriorating effect on their child’s health. But, with correct measures
these games can do wonders for their child. We need to understand that gaming is meant to
be fun and should be allowed by guardians as a leisure activity for their offspring as it helps
to increase their mental capabilities and prepare them for their future in more meaningful
way.
Essay topics: Some believe that training is necessary to be a good teacher, others think that
teachers don’t need a training course. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Training plays a vital role in overall development of any professional. In case of teachers, it is
thought by some that getting trained is not essential for the reason that this type of profession
does not requires to get trained and hence can be avoided. Whereas, for others, it is of an
utmost importance as it not only provides a methodology to follow, but also generates unique
ways in which students can be taught. In my opinion, the latter one proves to be more fruitful
and should be followed.

Owing to the procedure followed, trainers can easily impart basic lessons in a meaningful
way. In other words, they can make learning an easy process by dividing the overall course
structure and following up one topic at a time. Consequently, this helps in saving time and
makes learners focus precisely to important things. To exemplify, Indian Business School
recently came up with mandatory training of 2 months for new faculty. This practice helped
them in communication process with students and they were able to pass their knowledge in
an enhanced manner, leading to an increase in better final results. Additionally, this process
results in creation of new ways of teaching. It helps in origination of innovative methods by
brainstorming, which in turn, can be more effective. Furthermore, it may have a positive
approach, as well as a fresh idea of learning things with wider perspective and henceforth,
can turn out to be a major asset in terms of teaching as a profession.

Coming to the part wherein it is felt by some that training need not be present in education
process, is perceived by them as redundant. It is a result of prolonged traditional way of
practicing, which has made these people adamant. To illustrate, government teachers in India
are not required to go through a general training process of how to teach. When asked them to
follow up a new regime of getting trained first, they instantly declared an all India strike and
somehow government dropped this idea. As, a result, students of government schools are yet
to make a mark in educational sector.

To conclude, a good number of people still tend to follow the easy path of traditional way of
doing things and not indulge in a required training process, which can cause detrimental
impact on learning of children. If not trained, these individuals may lack basic understanding
of how to teach productively. And according to me, the idea of a proper step by step guide to
teach should be made compulsory.

Essay topics: Some parents and teachers think that children’s behavior be strictly controlled.
While some think that children should be free to behave. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.

Different schools of thought exist among teachers and parents about how children’s
behaviour should be controlled. While some believe that there should be strict control, others
are more lenient on the control. There are important reasons behind both these thoughts.

Firstly, children do not have enough knowledge and awareness about their surroundings and
do not anticipate and recognize the dangers that may ensue. Moreover, they are not capable
of facing or handling such incident upon the occurrence of such unfortunate event. Secondly,
as children grow up they are expected to have a certain accepted level of behaviour with
kindness, respect, sympathy and decency. As not all children are alike, sometimes parents
and teachers may have to resort to strict actions in order to discipline the child and carve a
noble human being out of him or her. Therefore, it is reasonable for some people to think that
strict control of behavior is important to keep them out of danger as well as to discipline and
teach certain lessons of life.

On the contrary, children are free thinkers and they have ample energy and curiosity that
needs nurturing by letting them explore and experience the world outside without restrictions
for them to learn the good, the bad and the ugly by and within themselves. For that to happen,
they need more freedom to do and discover things on their own. But, that must be done with
proper guidance and supervision with great care and attention. There are enough studies done
world over to support that evidence.

In conclusion, it is important to note that each child is unique in their knowledge, behaviour
and attitudes, and the level of supervision and guidance they need in order to become a good
human being varies accordingly. There is no “one way” to teach and discipline children. It
must be done with great care and insight on to that particular child’s mentality and capability
and appropriately to the particular situation.

Essay topics: Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal.
some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion
Growth in the economy is one of the main denominators of a country’s development as
believed by many governments all over the world. But there are many other indicators that
measure the growth of a country as a whole, such as social development, health indices,
agricultural and industrial, sustainable development etc. However, in my opinion, economic
development should be the most important one among them.
Firstly, one of the main denominators of the country’s development is their Gross Domestic
Product (GDP), which is used to compare and rank countries in the development scale. In
further explanation, it is the sum of values of all the products and services produced by a
country in that particular year. Therefore, it represents most of all the other parameters of
development in all production and services categories. Secondly, another main denominator
is the Per-capita Income, which is the average income of a citizen in that country in a
particular year. Obviously, if every citizen gets a good income, invariably the health, social
and other parameters would also develop proportionately. Thirdly, if a country’s economy is
developed, undoubtedly the industries, transport, infrastructure, defense and security etc.
would also develop as the government is able to spend money for those area as well as to help
the poor and helpless people of the country.

On the contrary, growth of economic indices would represent the data as a whole and it may
not represent individual citizen of the country. Therefore, even if the per-capita income is
high in the country, it does not mean that every citizen enjoys the same income. There would
invariably be a spectrum of people from ultra-rich to poor and homeless people. Similarly,
development in other parameters like social, health etc. would also not be a representation of
the individual citizen, but as an average or as a whole.

In conclusion, I firmly believe the development of the economy should be the main focus of
any government as it would affect the development of all the other parameters also both
directly and indirectly towards the betterment of them. At the same time government should
not neglect any other area also, because that would again affect the development of the
economy negatively both directly and indirectly.

Some people think success in life comes from hard work and determination. Others
think money and appearance are more important. Discuss both views and give your
opinion

It is true that people have a lot of ways to achieve success in their life. While some people
think money and appearance are two factors affecting to people's success, I would argue that
people can reach a peak of their career when they work hard and have determination.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why finance and physical beauty are important
contributors to success in life. First reason is that money enables people reaching their deep
desires like power and frame. For example, if people have a great deal of money, they have
countless opportunities to progress rapidly in their career or being well-known in the
community that they desired. Furthermore, personal appearance is one of the crucial factors
impacting achievement. For instance, it would be a good chance for candidates to seek a job
if they indicate their confident body posture or wearing clothing apart from great skills and
experiences.

On the other hand, it is undeniable that hard working and resolution are necessary features
which are pivotal to ensure success. Firstly, hard work helps people gain some valuable
experiences in aspects of life. For example, if young student practices several times some
kinds of assignment in college and home, they are likely to minimize the risk of repeating the
same mistakes so they have the tendency to get high scores in the formal exam. Secondly,
determination gives us the motivation to set up goals which become the foundation of
success. As a result, this is an essential skill to allow people overcome the complex problems
in all situation and always keep moving forward to reach the long-term goals.

In conclusion, although money and personal appearance have an influence on achievement, it

seems to me that hard work and resolution are dominant factors to get the highest
achievement.

The world’s most urgent problem is caused by over-population. Do you agree or disagree?
It is argued that many countries in the world are facing with one of the most serious problem,
which is massive increase in world’s population. Personally, I completely agree with this
view because of its negative effect on human development and environment.

There are a variety of reasons why the dramatic growth of population in the world brings a
harmful effect on the quality of human’s life and global budget as well. Firstly, over-
population phenomenon has resulted in the lack of accommodation for a large number of
people, especially with those living in crowded cities and metropolitan areas. This reason
because the small number of available housing are not able to meet the demand for the need
of living facility. As a result, if people do not have any shelter, they mostly will build an
illegal house on the prohibited sectors such as riverbank or top of the hill which are
dangerous for them. Furthermore, the unemployment rate would be likely to higher because
of joblessness that profoundly affected on not only world’s economy which makes it go down
but also social issues , in particularly is the rising of violent criminal in the community.
Consequently, with the world’s economy is stagnant and undeveloped, the whole society has
witnessed the majority of citizens who turn into offenders with the hopes of earning enough
money for making end meets.

Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I believe that over-population would lead
to several issues which are associated with living environment. Firstly, some consequences
including air pollution, contamination of water or land which stem from the massive number
of transportation users or the arising of industrial areas. For example, over-using a mean of
transport mode burning fossil fuel, applying chemical fertilisers into the field of agricultural
and discharging toxic waste into water resources all lead to greenhouse gas emission that
causes environmental damage severely. Secondly, some endangered species of animal would
be on the brink of extinction if there is no longer living inhabitant. This would mean that
people are cutting down tree or even killing animals for living purposes as building houses,
schools, hospitals, modern facilities and being main food resources for the massive number of
civilians in the world.

In conclusion, I believe that the phenomenon of over-population should be top-priority

concern to many national governments in the world.

For school children, their teachers have more influence on their intelligence and social
development than their parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There is too much controversial debate about whether teachers or parents have more
significant influence on fostering children’s intellect and individual characteristics. While I
agree that teacher plays a vital role in the growth of children, I also believe that parents’ roles
are essential to facilitate children’s comprehensive development.
On the one hand, there are several reasons why teachers’ role is critically important in
enhancing the ability of children’s intellectual and social growth. One reason is that education
environment in school allows a large number of students to socialize and interact with other
peers through recreational activities or events. For example, during the school years, there are
a lot of extra-curriculum activities for youngsters, which will cultivate children’s
expressiveness, improve communication skill and show their intelligence on various fields.
Furthermore, it would be necessary for young students with the presence of professional
teachers or guided person in education system. This is because those who give them countless
opportunities to promote personal ability such as problem-solving, logical thinking and
reasoning. For instance, in classroom, teacher has enabled their students to expose their
opinion, learn how to tackle complex problems or hold useful discussion among other
students, which are important things for the cultivation of an academically and socially
successful child.

On the other hand, parental involvement can have an equally positive impact on children’s
cognitive ability and social development. Firstly, parents are those who supply their
offsprings with their chance of developing a relationship, communicating and interacting with
others. A healthy relationship and strong sense of community would be improved
dramatically by enjoying various social activities, for example. Secondly, homeschool
parents can dedicate most of their time to delivering high-quality and valuable life lessons ,
so the children would be able to progress easily and naturally. For instance, during formation
years, parents become a good model role for their kids to follow them, they are able to not
only mimic their parents in their language but also learn the way that respond to all situation
in aspects of their life.

In conclusion, both teachers and parents play an equally important role when it comes to
nurturing children’s personal traits and social skills.

The users of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, are replacing face-to-face contact in
this century. Do you think the advantages of this way outweigh the disadvantages?
It is argued by some that advanced technology equipment in communication, especially
social media has a negative effect on the direct interaction among people. In my opinion, the
disadvantages of this trend outweigh the advantage.

There is no doubt that people derive substantial benefits from gaining access to the social
networks. Firstly, the dominant of using technological devices gives users countless
opportunities to exchange socially. For example, Facebook, Twitters and Zalo are platforms
which allow people instant messaging and one can easily contact others by transforming
information into Facebook, Messenger regardless of geographical barriers. It is convenient
for those who live far away from their loved ones. Secondly, communication facilities
available on Facebook are powerful tools in enhancing the productivity's work. For instance,
in the field of economy, business managers can easily provide customer service, answer sales
question and even upload new brands of the company through social networking service. As
a result, this can result in quickly and efficiently exchanging information rather than holding
the private meeting.

However, there are some existing drawbacks of communication equipment abuse to direct
interaction in real society. In the digital age, with the emergence of other social networking
websites, people are disappearing and replacing the traditional way of interaction with
electronic ones. For example, it is common to see many youths make cycle virtual friend
online via Facebook or Zalo instead of gathering at a small shop for their meeting. This can
lead to isolating people from other social members, weakened the sense of community and
even get a serious feeling of pain and mental health problems when making strange people.
Secondly, the ability of people such as literacy skills and social etiquettes are gradually
declining due to the lack of the informal way of transmitting the message and social
exposure. For example, the majority of youngsters prefer making their feelings and emotions
by using emoticons and abbreviations rather than expressing themselves through their verbal
or gestures.

In conclusion, I believe that this trend brings more disadvantages than advantages it brings. It
is advisable that people should take into consideration in less using of modern
communication equipment.

Some people think that developing countries need financial help from international
organizations. Others think that it is practical aid and advice that is needed. Discuss both
views and give your opinion.
It is true that people have different opinions about measures to assist poor nations. While
some people think that financial support from international bodies is essential for those
countries, I would argue that practical aid and advice are more effective assistance.

On the one hand, it is undeniable that financial aid has a positive impact on developing
countries combat starvation and poverty. Firstly, external monetary flow from international
investment enables local and national authorities to improve infrastructure by upgrading and
expanding public transport provision, building more interstate roads and investing in hospital
facilities. As a result, thanks to the overwhelming support, it is convenient for citizens in
those place to avoid traffic congestion or minimize the risk of disease. Secondly, foreign cash
injections make a great contribution to creating more job for struggle residents living in rural
areas or harsh conditions. If financial aids from authorities focus on developing a wide range
of different jobs in the society, especially in poor countries, people who have whether or not
degree are able to earn money to make end meets.

On the other hand, I strongly believe that practical aid and advice are effective solutions to
maintain sustainable growth in the long-term. Firstly, undeveloped nations need experts in the
field of science, law, and medicine in order to encourage their development. However,
scientists, lawyers, and doctors can only be trained and professional and systematic education
and training programs are therefore more practice and suitable in the context of poor
countries. Secondly, without this funding, the poor will be incapable of maintaining the
economic development and independence. Therefore, it is better to give proper advice and
guidance by providing opportunities for students from developing countries to learn
comprehensive knowledge and experience from prosperous ones. For example, some
prestigious Japanese universities offer a large number of scholarships for million of students
in the area to enrich their professional understanding.

In conclusion, although additional funding to support poor nations is not a sustainable

solution, it seems to me that advice and practical aid are better.

The society would benefit from a ban on all forms of advertising because it serves no useful
purpose and can be damaging. Do you agree or disagree?
It is true that some people believe that advertisement is useless or detrimental to their society.
While I consider that this would drawbacks of this industry, I believe that it should not totally
prohibit.

On the one hand, there are a variety of reasons why advertisement has the adverse influence
on consumers. Firstly, the growing popularity of violence advertising on television has
resulted in an increase of crime rate in the society. If advertisements involved in violence are
broadcasted during the prime time television every day, children could easily learn how to
turn into crime in the future. Secondly, a number of advertisements which promote various
products such as toys, aimed mainly at a target audience of children and adolescents. For
example, many children easily swayed by commercial advertisements such as milk or
cookies, so they put pressure on their parents to buy goods impulsively.

On the other hand, I disagree that local and national authorities should impose an official ban
on all forms of advertising because of some undeniable benefits to the public. Firstly, the
advertising industry has an important role in the growth of the economic nation. Without the
presence of advertisements, economic of the whole country could severely suffer because
people who used to work in the advertising industry are now unemployed. As a result, this
would lead to a rise in the unemployment proportion. Secondly, millions of companies take
full of advantages of advertisement developments in order to maximize profits with a hope
that it may attract potential customers in the short term. For instance, in the field of the
beverage industry, most companies try to promote their type of different beverages with a
high quality as well as a reasonable price through social media or television. By adopting this
policy, companies can reach their goal as earning more money.

In conclusion, although there are some negative effects of advertisements, I consider there is
no need to ban it completely

Some people think that good health is very important to every person, so medical service
should not be run by profit-making companies. Do the advantages of private healthcare
outweigh the disadvantages?

It is true that medical service should not be operated by profit-oriented private companies.
While I accept that there are some drawbacks, I think that these are outweighed by the
benefits of this trend.
On the one hand, there are some drawbacks of operating in private healthcare services.
Firstly, the cost of treatment in private healthcare is likely to be higher than in ones
subsidized by the government. For example, patients who live in remote and rural areas are
not able to afford prescription charges in state hospitals because of the availability of latest
machine and professional doctors. Therefore, this leads to further the gap between the rich
and the poor. Secondly, it will be difficult to control treatment process in private hospitals.
For example, a large number of unnecessary tests performed to raise the cost of treatment and
earning for unethical doctors.
On the other hand, it seems to me that patients should choose private healthcare institutions to
operate individual health because of some undeniable advantages. Firstly, the growth of
private healthcare centers lessens the burden of state-owned healthcare institutions in taking
care of the public's health. For instance, in terms of the overload of patients and finance, the
rapidly rising of state hospitals reduce the pressure on state-owned health institutions.
Secondly, it's obvious advantages is state healthcare services make a great contribution to
limit the rise in the crime rate. For instance, most specialist clinics offering treatment and
advice are required to help people who are addicted to drugs.
In conclusion, I believe the there are many advantages for people who operate in private
healthcare institutions, although this decision has some disadvantages.
Some countries achieve international sports by building specialized facilities to train top
athletes, instead of providing sports facilities that everyone can use. Do you think this is
positive or negative development?
Nowadays, international sports games become a playing field for national sports industry to
showcase the best personal talents and bring home honor and admiration. Some countries are
willing to provide specialized facilities to train athletes skill, instead of fitness facilities for
public use. While I personally think this is a positive development, it also has some
drawbacks.
On the one hand, there are several reasons why the government pumps the huge amount of
money into a select and upgrade specialized sports facilities to serve for training professional
skills. First reason is that expenditure on training athletes team for abroad coaching could be
reduced significantly, thanks to the budget of the nation. For example, Japan has long been
known for its gold medal football team in Olympic due to their appropriate method of
training and tremendous investment in infrastructures. Another reason is that sufficient sports
infrastructures have a positive impact on youngsters who are more likely to pursue sports
professions. Therefore, this will result in potential human resources who make a great
contribution to national sports industry in many years.
On the other hand, extremely focusing on investing the quality of sports equipment has a
negative influence on social problems. Firstly, training sectors accounted for the large space
of society as well as wasting the enormous cost of capital. Consequently, people will have
fewer places to go for exercises and play their favorite sports such as swimming or
badminton and make national economic to be fall. Secondly, the lack of public sports
facilities may unfortunately increase chances of people leading a sedentary lifestyle which is
a major factor in health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. For instance,
because young people have to use few and old public facilities that it could not cater for their
demand so they tend to spend time playing games or chatting with other people. As a result,
they have to suffer from eyes and the risk of mental disorder.
In conclusion, although the building of specialized training centers for top athletes brings
some benefit for sport national industry in some ways, it seems to me it has disadvantages
problems for society. It is suggested that a balancing act is required from the authorities to
minimize the potential drawbacks of the issue.
Today more and more people are using mobile phones and computers. Thus, people are
losing the ability to communicate face to face. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is true that mobile phones and computers play an integral part in our lives. While I accept
that the development of technology may meet our demand for living, I believe that it also
could diminish people's communication ability.
On the one hand, it is undeniable that high-tech appliances are playing a vital role in almost
every aspect of life. Firstly, technology gives users countless opportunities to make friends
from various countries without traveling across the world. Therefore, they could save a great
deal of time and money by doing this. Secondly, the availability of high-quality digital
devices makes a great contribution to enhancing the level of job performance. For example,
in the worlds of business and education, video conferencing has enabled to exchange ideas,
discuss about work and help employee complete task instead of wasting too much time to
arrange a meeting.
On the other hand, there are several reasons why mobile phones and computers have to take
responsibility for the decline of people's communication skills. First reason is that because of
extremely focusing on cell phones or computers, people are likely to use less time with their
true friends and their relatives. As a result, they will not know how to build a strong
relationship and how to manage conflicts. Furthermore, by using mobile phones for a long
time, people have a hard time mastering vital soft skills. For instance, in many families,
young people have more tendency to chat with someone they do not even know and may be
dangerous as criminal through technological devices, while their parents would like to watch
TV in order to update breaking news. Consequently, teenagers can not strengthen the
relationship between the members of family as well as limiting the verbal skill.
In conclusion, although technology brings some convenience to people, it seems to me that
the usage of mobile phones and computers can be a reduction in the capability of
communication among people.
Some people say that all young people should have full-time education until they are 18 years
old. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
It is true that education for youngsters is a controversial issue in many countries. The debate
focuses on the necessity of offering full time teaching for students before reaching the age of
majority. While I accept some benefits this trend offers, I do not consider that students should
study full-time.
On the one hand, there are a variety of reasons why children who are less than 18 years old
should study full-time at school. Firstly, full-time education allows young people broaden
their own knowledge about different fields through a wide range of subjects such as math,
literature or history. As a result, basic knowledge will help a group of student fulfills essential
skills which serve in the future and give them countless opportunities to solve the complex
problems in daily life. Secondly, teenagers have more tendency to develop violent behavior
because they witness frequently violent act through the internet or games. Therefore, young
children will more likely to turn into crimes, causing the damaging effect on the society so
studying full-time may reduce their time wasted on these doings and also lessen the burden
for the society.
On the other hand, I disagree that teenagers should be required to study full-time. One reason
is that the incredible pressure of studying at school accounts for a great deal of how
teenagers's spend their time so they easily suffer from stress and depression. For example,
children in many developed countries like Korean or Japan become mentally disordered or
have the nervous breakdown because they have to complete a large number of assignments.
Another important factor is that adolescents should be encouraged to watch some kinds of TV
shows which not only relax under pressure on homework but also develop their practical
skills. This can bring positive impact on studying at school.
In conclusion, it seems to me that young learners should balance their timetable by taking
part in outdoor activities rather than studying day by day.
Cycling is more environmentally friendly than other forms of transport why is it not popular
in many places? How to increase its popularity
Although riding a bicycle is a better way to protect the environment than using other types of
vehicles, it is less likely to attract the most people. A range of reasons are identified and some
solutions could be proposed to address this issue and promote the usage of bicycles.
On the one hand, there are many strong reasons why using the bicycle is limited to people in
many big cities. Firstly, modern life is becoming much busier than in the past, individuals
nowadays have difficulty to manage their time with the use of the bicycle. As a result, people
prefer to travel other types of vehicles such as car, subway, and bus in order to save time and
physically demanding. Secondly, people who commute by cycling have more tendency to
face with health problems such as lung cancer or respiratory disease. This results in the urban
areas where often produce the amount of gas emission released into the air. Finally,
unpredictable danger could be happened when cyclists have to share lanes with other means
of transport. For example, commuters by bike are likely to avoid weigh vehicles as the
container, so they have no space to free moving in the street.
On the other hand, governments play a vital role in adopting the strict policy. First solution is
that it is important to increase people's awareness of saving our living environment. For
instance, government authorities should introduce campaigns to propagate the harmful effects
of fuel vehicles on the public health and encourage citizens to attempt to cycle as much as
possible. Another measurement is to upgrade and expand transport infrastructure, especially
road systems and create dedicated cycle lanes to prevent unexpected accidents. Furthermore,
the restriction of a large number of private car by making it more costly. This can be done by
increasing petrol price or raising taxes on these vehicles before going to central zones.
In conclusion, there are several reasons why bicycles are becoming less common in today's
world, I believe that solutions would be produced to promote this environmentally friendly
means of transport.
The best way for government to solve the problem of traffic congestion is providing free
public transport in 24 hours per day, and seven days a week. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
It is true that traffic congestion is becoming a controversial issue in many major cities.
Although I agree that government can provide free public transport to address this problem, I
do not consider that it is the best solution.
On the one hand, there are many great advantages from serving transport system. By adopting
this policy, governments, as well as many nations around the world saw a significant decline
in the number of cars which used on the street. As a result, it is the beneficial way for society
to reduce the risk of the accident which occurs frequently on the roads and cut down a large
amount of emission gas which released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, using public
transport allow commuters to save much money paying for gas, parking fees and taxes. For
instance, if you use the private vehicle, you will have to pay taxes for fuels and maintenance
service. By the restriction of wasting money, you can spend the amount of money on various
personal purposes.
On the other hand, the government should take into consideration about some disadvantages
before applying a free public transport system. Firstly, traffic congestion only happens during
rush hours due to a large number of commuters, so it would be a waste of money to supply
free transport at night. In addition, there are important fields in the society which need
investment such as building or upgrading transport infrastructure. For example, they should
spend a large money to repair and broaden the road so drivers can easily go faster without
worrying about any troubles. Secondly, people who commute by public transport may suffer
the variety of dangers from criminals. As a consequence, the number of bus or train which
increase rapidly at the same time can result in raising the crime rate. By illegal activities of
offenders, residents can be threated to their property or their life.
In conclusion, it seems to me that governments should serve appropriately free public
transport as well as combine with other effective measures to tackle traffic congestion.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 1- Work

1. Do you work or study?

o I graduated a few years ago and I’m now in full-time employment.
2. What is your job?
o I’m currently an English teacher working for the British Council in Ho Chi
Minh City.
3. Why did you choose that job?
o I was previously a lawyer and found it to be really stressful and never had any
free time, so after quitting that job I thought teaching might be the complete
opposite of being a lawyer, you know not as stressful and more time off.
4. Are there lots of English teachers in Ho Chi Minh City?
o Oh yes! There is a such a big demand for English as a second language here
and it’s also quite a cheap place to live compared to many other big cities in
Asia.
5. Do you enjoy your job?
o Most of the time. It’s very rewarding to be able to help people every day and
the students here are very hardworking and fun to teach, but you sometimes
have lessons that do go so well and the money could always be better.
6. Do you get on well with your co-workers?
o Yes, fine. I don’t really see work as part of my social life, so I don’t socialise
with them, so I suppose I could be more friendly, but it’s just my nature to be
a bit colder with colleagues. I think it’s more professional to be that way.
7. What was your first day at work like?
o There were lots of teachers starting at the same time as me, 10 I think, so we
all had a big induction day. The more senior teachers ran workshops with us to
familarise us with the different systems they had and then we went for a team
dinner in the evening.
8. What responsibilities do you have at work?
o All of the teachers main responsibility is to plan good lessons and then teach
them to the best of our ability. On top of that we have several admin. tasks to
carry out like mark homework, fill out attendance sheets and write reports.
9. Would you like to change your job in the future?
o Yes, as I said before, I like working by myself, so I would like to be my own
boss. I’m currently developing my own website, so if it’s successful I will
 leave teaching and work on it full time. This will also give me more time to
work on other projects.
10. What is your typical day like at work?
o I normally have 2 or 3 classes in the evening and I start the day by doing all
the planning at home. This normally takes between an hour or two depending
on the lessons. I then take the rest of the day to spend with my family, before
going to work around 3 to print off my materials and then I teach all evening.
11. What would you change about your job?
o As with most English teachers, we have to teach what is on the curriculum and
this can mean that you are teaching some things that are quite boring or not
very useful for your students, so I would like to have more freedom to teach
outside the syllabus.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 2- Study

1. Do you work or study?

o I’m currently a student at Queen’s University, Belfast.
2. What do you study?
o I study law because it’s a really well thought of degree and I’m hoping to
pursue it as a career in the future.
3. Is it a popular subject at your university?
o Very popular, in fact, it’s one of the most sought-after courses. I think there
are about 350 people reading law at Queen’s. I think lots of student’s parents
want them to study law so they can get a good job after they graduate.
4. Do you enjoy studying it?
o It’s such a huge subject that there will always be parts you like and parts you
don’t like. I find Human Rights fascinating because it can really make a
difference to peoples’ lives. On the other hand, modules like Land Law and
Equity are really boring.
5. Do you get along with your classmates?
o Yes, they are all really great. Most people like to socialise together in the
evenings and this makes us a very tight group. If you know someone socially,
it is much easier to work together in class.
6. If you could change to another subject, what would it be?
o I planned to study medicine, but then when I went on work experience I
fainted at the first sight of blood, so definitely not that. I’m a real history buff
and read books about World War 2 all the time, so I suppose it would have to
be Modern History.
7. Do you plan to use the subject you are studying in the future?
o Yes, I’ve already started to apply for jobs as a lawyer. We normally have to
secure a job a year before we graduate and then work very hard to get a high
overall mark. After that, I will probably do a Masters in law to become a
specialist in one particular area.
8. What is the most difficult part of your subject?
o You have to remember lots of legislation and cases and not only remember
their names but also how the effect each part of the law and how they interact
with each other. Physically it can also be exhausting because we have to read
very dense texts for a few hours every day.
9. What would like to study in the future?
 o As I said before, my favourite type of law is Human Rights, so I would like to
do a masters in International Human Rights Law. it’s right at the cutting edge
of my field and there are also lots of very high profile cases in the media, so
it’s really exciting and something I would like to become an expert in.
10. Why did you choose your university?
o Mostly because it is close to my hometown and most of my friends were going
there. I kind of regret it now. It’s a great university, but because it’s so close to
home it doesn’t give you much of a chance to experience new things and meet
new people. If I were to choose again, I’d study abroad.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 3- Hometown

1. Where is your hometown?

o My hometown is on the south-east coast of Northern Ireland. It’s called
Dundrum and it’s about 1 hour south of the capital city.
2. What do you like about it?
o It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and for me, one of the most beautiful
places on earth. It has everything; fantastic beaches, rolling mountains, dense
forests and picturesque countryside.
3. What do you not like about it?
o It can be a little bit boring because it’s really tiny. There are only a few small
shops and a couple of pubs and that’s it! In the summer, it’s OK because you
can enjoy the outdoors but it would be nice to have a few more indoor
facilities for the winter.
4. How often do you visit your hometown?
o Not as much as I should. I only get to visit about once a year now to see my
family because I’m really busy with work and it’s quite far away, but I hope to
visit more in the future.
5. What’s the oldest part of your hometown?
o There is an old Norman castle that sits on top of the highest hill of the town.
It’s a ruin now, but there are some breathtaking views from it and it’s easy to
see why they chose that site for a castle because you can see for miles around.
6. Do many people visit your town?
o Thousands of tourists visit every summer. They come from the capital city
mostly to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the peace and quiet.
There are more and more international tourists visiting because lots of scenes
from the TV show ‘Game of Thrones’ were shot just outside the village.
7. Is there any way your hometown could be made better?
o As I said before, the best thing about the town is its rural beauty and you can’t
really improve that. If I had to say something, it would be to improve the
roads, they are in a terrible state and cause a few car accidents every year.
8. How has your hometown changed over the years?
o Since I was a child the town has almost doubled in size and population. It used
to consist of just one main street, but now there are many new housing
developments and apartments next to the water. With all these new people
moving in, it has changed the character of the town a little bit, people are not
as friendly as before.
9. Are there good transportation links to your town?
o The public transport system consists of just buses that pass through the town
on an hourly basis. One bus goes north to the capital city which is
 really convenient if you need to do any shopping and the other bus goes south
where you can switch buses and go across the border to the Republic of
Ireland, so you could say we have international transport links which is not
bad for a little town like ours.
10. Would you recommend the town to people with children?
o Yes and no. It is obviously a great place to bring up kids because there are so
many things for them to do like swim in the sea, play in the forest and run on
the beach. However, the good schools are pretty far away and I remember
having to get up really early every morning to catch a bus to school that was
20 miles away.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 4- Your Home

1. Where do you live?

o I live on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, in a district called Tan Phu, about
15 km from the city centre.
2. Do you live in a house or a flat?
o I live in a 3 bedroom flat on the 11th floor of a big apartment building.
3. Who do you live with?
o I live there with my wife and little baby son.
4. Is it a big place?
o It’s pretty big for a flat. It has 3 large bedrooms, one for my wife and I and one
for my son when he gets older. It also has a smaller bedroom that I use as a
study and to store things in. The kitchen is small but it is part of a big open
plan living room, so there is lots of space for the family.
5. What is your favourite room?
o That would have to be my study because it’s the only room that I can get
peace and quiet in. When I’m in there my wife knows I’m working, so she
leaves me alone and I can concentrate on my work.
6. How is your apartment decorated?
o I don’t like lots of over the top decoration, so I guess you would describe it as
minimalist. The walls are all white and the furniture is also either white or
black. There are very few ornaments or pictures because again, I like to keep
things quite minimal and I hate clutter.
7. Is there anything you would like to change about your flat?
o I would like to have a big balcony. We have a sort of balcony at the moment,
but we mainly use it for washing and drying clothes. It would be really nice to
have some tables and chairs on a proper balcony, with maybe a few plants, so
we could sit there in the evenings and relax.
8. Do you plan to live there for a long time?
o I really like where I live but it is really far from where I work in the centre of
town. It takes around 45 minutes to drive there by motorbike and in the hot
season and wet season it can be really uncomfortable, so we will consider
moving closer to the centre in a year or so.
9. Do you have a garden?
o That’s the best part of where we live, we have a huge garden. It takes around
40 minutes to walk around it. It has a few play parks for the kids, a number of
gyms and four small lakes. We are really lucky to have it and I try to go for a
walk around it every day, if I have time.
10. Are there many amenities?
 o Not really, because it is on the edge of town. If you want to go for a nice meal,
use a swimming pool, go shopping or head out for a drink, you really have to
drive for about 30 minutes. That’s the major drawback, but if you are
organised and buy everything when you are in the centre of town, it’s not so
bad.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 5- Fashion

1. Do you care about fashion?

o I used to in my younger days, I remember always looking to see what my
favourite musicians were wearing and then try to copy them, but now that I’m
older I don’t really care as long as I look smart.
2. What kind of things do you normally wear?
o It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m working I always wear a dress shirt
and trousers, but we don’t have to wear a tie. If I’m going out it will be more
casual like a polo shirt and jeans and if I’m at home it will be really relaxed,
just a t-shirt and shorts.
3. Are there any traditional clothes in your country?
o I have no idea. There might be but I can’t recall ever hearing anyone talking
about them or seeing someone wearing them.
4. Where do you usually purchase your clothes?
o I used to go to the trendy shops when I was a student, but now I’m older and
have little time I just like to go to a big shopping centre or department store
and buy everything there. It’s more convenient that way and it means I don’t
have to run all over town just for a few clothes.
5. Have you ever bought clothes online?
o No, because I don’t trust their clothes to always fit me. I know a few people
who order lots of clothes online and order a few different sizes and then send
the ones that don’t fit them back, but I can’t be bothered with all that. It’s
much quicker to go into a proper shop and try the clothes on there and make
sure they are a proper fit.
6. Do people from your country think fashion is important?
o More so these days. Our country wouldn’t be very high on the list of
international fashion hot spots, but I notice people following certain trends
more. Last year, there was a red trouser craze and everywhere you looked
people had red trousers on.
7. What is your favourite item of clothing?
o Probably my leather jacket. It cost a fortune and it makes me feel really
confident when I go out in it. I normally get a few compliments also because it
is quite slimming.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 6- The Internet

1. How important is the internet to you?

o Extremely important. I depend on it for work, research, study, and
entertainment, so without it I’d be completely lost.
2. How often do you use the internet?
o I use it constantly throughout the day, every day. I check my emails when I get
up in the morning, I use it for work all day and then I watch videos, read
books or listen to music through it at night.
 3. Do you use it more for work or in your free time?
o I’d say both really. About 50% of my job involves researching and writing on
the internet so I would use it for about 4 hours a day. When I get home, I’m
normally too tired to go to the gym or play sports so it is really easy to
download a movie or stream some music and I normally do that until I fall
asleep.
4. What are your favourite websites?
o For work, my two favourite sites are WordPress and Google. WordPress is a
blogging tool that allows you to publish blogs easily and maintain a
professional looking website. Google, of course, allows me to find the
information I need quickly and accurately. In my spare time, I, of course, use
Facebook like everyone else in the world, but my favourite site is The
Guardian because it allows me to keep up to date with everything that’s
happening.
5. Do you use apps?
o I’m a bit of an app addict. My favourite app at the moment is one called
Stitcher. It allows you to listen to podcasts and helps you discover new
podcasts. You can download them and then listen to them whenever you have
time.
6. Do you think you use the internet too much?
o I think most people do these days. My problem is that there are so many sites
and apps that you end up checking them way too often and this wastes lots of
time. It can also be a bit anti-social if you are checking your phone all the time
when you are with other people.
7. How will the internet develop in the future?
o I think it will be more on mobile phones than computers. Smartphones are
becoming more powerful and more affordable all the time, so I think we will
see a shift from people using the internet on desktop computers to mobiles and
apps rather than traditional websites.
8. Are there any negative things about the internet?
o Being connected all of the time is not a good thing. Before you had to sit down
at your computer and log on and that took time, so you didn’t do it so much.
Now all people have to do is look at their phone and this is too much for me.
I’ve been trying to leave my phone at home when I socialise with friends and
family to stop myself from focusing too much on the phone rather than them.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 7- Weather

1. How is the weather today?

o It’s really lovely today. There were a few showers this morning and it was a
bit chilly, but it has brightened up this afternoon and I think it will stay that
way for the rest of the day.
2. What’s your favourite kind of weather?
o It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m doing something outside, I like the
weather to be sunny but not too hot because it gets a bit uncomfortable after a
while. If I’m inside, I love listening to the rain beating against the window and
the wind howling outside.
3. What is the climate like in your country?
o I’m from Ireland, so the thing people always complain about is the rain. It is
right on the edge of Europe so we get lots of rain rolling in off the Atlantic.
 However, because we are an island it means that we don’t get very harsh
winters and it hardly ever snows. I think temperate is the word to describe our
climate- not too hot, not too cold.
4. Does the weather affect people’s lives in your country?
o Yes, very much so. In the winter it is really grey all the time and it gets dark
very early in the afternoon. The lack of sunlight leads to some people getting a
bit depressed and I imagine that’s why people drink much more wine and
whiskey in the winter to cope with how dull everything is.
5. Do people change in the summer?
o Absolutely, as soon as the sun starts to shine and it gets warmer, people start
to have barbecues, do more outdoor activities and are generally happier.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t last very long but people definitely make the most of
it while the weather is good.
6. Is there any type of weather you really don’t like?
o I don’t mind when it’s raining or windy and I don’t mind when it’s cold, but
when it’s cold, windy and raining all that the same time, well that’s horrible,
especially if you have to work or do something outside. I remember when we
were at school we would have to go outside in horrible weather to do P.E. and
I detested every minute of it.
7. Does bad weather ever affect transport in your country?
o As I said before, it rarely snows, but when it does the transportation system
collapses. People are just not used to driving in the snow and the whole
country pretty much grinds to a halt. Buses and trains normally stop running
completely until the snow thaws.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 8- TV

1. Do you like watching TV?

o I don’t get time really to watch TV and I don’t like the fact that you have no
choice about what to watch, so no I would say I don’t really like watching
normal TV, I much prefer streaming something on my iPad and watching it
when I like.
2. How often do you watch TV?
o I’d say maybe only a few times a month when there is a good football match
on. I prefer watching football on TV with other people around because it’s a
great atmosphere, but if it’s a normal TV show I will just watch it alone at
home on my tablet.
3. What kind of TV programmes do you like to watch?
o I like dramas and thrillers. I don’t really like anything that is not set in the real
world, so I’m not a big fan of sci-fi or fantasy, although I have been getting
into the latest season of Game of Thrones. I also really like to watch
documentaries about military history, especially anything to do with the
Second World War.
4. What are the most popular TV shows in your country?
o The two most popular genres are soaps and reality TV. Soaps like Coronation
Street have always been popular because people get to know the characters
really well and the storylines can be quite gripping. I’ve no idea why reality
TV is popular, I can’t stand it, all those C-list celebrities trying to become
popular again. I would rather watch paint dry, to be honest.
5. Do you like watching TV shows from other countries?
 o Yes, most of the programmes I watch are from the United States. Networks
like HBO and Netflix have the biggest budgets and as a result, can make some
really high-quality shows. I don’t think Game of Thrones could be made
without a huge budget and America is probably the only country that can
make a TV show on that scale.
6. Has the internet affected your viewing habits?
o Absolutely, I watch most TV shows on the internet now, rather than a normal
TV. There are so many streaming services like Netflix offering on-demand TV
and it suits me to be able to watch what I want when I want. I also like to
binge-watch a series of TV shows, just watch a whole series in a day or two
rather than waiting for the next episode.
7. What is your favourite TV show?
o There was an American show called Fargo that I really loved. It was an
adaptation of a film made about 15 years ago. The plot lines and characters
were really interesting and the dialogue was well written. Unfortunately, there
has only been one season of it so far, so I have to wait another year to see the
next season.
8. What was your favourite show when you were a child?
o I was a bit of a strange child because I didn’t really like cartoons like most of
the other kids. But there were a few shows I loved like The A-Team, Knight
Rider, and Air Wolf. They were so cool and always had great action scenes. I
was a bit obsessed with violent action films when I was a kid. When I think
about them though they weren’t really all that violent compared to shows these
days, I don’t think one person was ever killed in any of those programmes.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 9- Sport

1. Do you play any sports?

o Not as much as I should. I’m really busy with my job these days, so I don’t get
the chance to do as many sports as I would like. I try to play basketball on
Saturdays for a couple or hours and I occasionally play golf.
2. Have you played basketball for long?
o Since I was about 10 years old. I remember playing a computer game about
basketball when I was about 10 and it made me obsessed with the sport. From
then on I played basketball every day until I went to university and then other
things took priority, but I regret not maintaining it because it was something I
loved doing.
3. Do you watch sport on TV?
o Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. I’m terrible at football but I
love watching it on TV, especially big games like the Champions League. I
follow Liverpool Football Club and so do a few of my friends, so we normally
go the pub every weekend and watch whoever Liverpool are playing and a few
of the other big games in the Premiership.
4. What is the most popular sport in your country?
o In my country, there are two dominant sports Gaelic Football and Hurling.
Gaelic is a little like soccer but you are allowed to pick up the ball with your
hands and you can kick the ball over the bar for one point or in the goal for 3
points. Hurling is played with sticks and a smaller ball and involves hitting the
ball over the bar or in the goal. Both of them are really fast-paced and a bit
brutal at times. You can tackle someone much harder than you can in soccer.
 5. How do people in your country stay fit?
o We are blessed with beautiful countryside and a nice temperate climate so
most people either go running or walking. Lots of young people play field
sports, but more and more people are joining gyms. Gyms have really taken
off recently as people worry more and more about their appearance. I think it
has much more to do with how good people look rather than actually keeping
fit.
6. Is it important for children to play sports?
o Definitely. Sport not only keeps them healthy, but it also teaches them
discipline and keeps them out of trouble. For instance, in my school, the kids
who were dedicated to sport also achieved the highest grades in school and
went on to good universities where they continued to work hard.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 10- Food

1. What’s your favourite food?

o I would have to say that it’s definitely steak. It’s quite expensive, so it’s a real
treat when I get the chance to have steak and I love all the things that come
with it like pepper sauce, chips, mushrooms, and onions.
2. Have you always liked steak?
o I didn’t really like meat when I was younger. My mum said that I only liked to
eat sweet things or breakfast cereal when I was a child. Naturally, Coco Pops
were my absolute favourite.
3. Are there any foods you dislike?
o I like most foods, but if I had to pick some I don’t like, it would have to be
vegetables, especially green ones like broccoli or cabbage. They either taste of
nothing at all or really bitter. Although, I try to force them down when I have
to because they are very healthy.
4. What are some traditional foods in your country?
o Everything seems to revolve around the potato where I’m from, but there’s
much more to Irish cuisine than just one vegetable. If you come to Ireland you
have to try a full Irish breakfast. It’s made up of lots of fried meats, plus a
range of bread like wheaten, soda and potato bread, of course.
5. Do you have a healthy diet?
o No, not at all. I like all of the things that are unhealthy likesweets, fatty foods,
and junk food. I don’t really have a lot of discipline when it comes to my diet,
which is probably why I’m a little overweight.
Online education and training is becoming increasingly
popular in the business world. Do the advantages of this
development outweigh the disadvantages?

Enthusiasm for digital technology is at an all-time high, not least in

the workplace as companies around the world turn to internet-
based training to keep their employees abreast of all the latest
developments. As with all new trends, there is some debate about
whether this transition is for the best.

One key reason for this move away from more traditional training
methods is the fact that e-learning offers businesses the opportunity
to reduce their expenditure significantly. Providing face-to-face
training can be exorbitantly expensive, particularly in terms of travel
costs and lost productivity, and online courses can greatly reduce
the expense of keeping employees well-informed and up-to-date.
Computer-based training renders geographical location irrelevant
and this eliminates the need to pay an instructor to travel to your
office or cover the cost of sending your employees to a training
centre. It also minimises the amount of time wasted. From a purely
financial perspective, there is no doubt that this shift to digital
learning makes perfect sense.

However, research suggests that the quality and effectiveness of

web-based courses lag behind the efficacy of those delivered in a
classroom setting. People crave interaction and while digital training
courses may offer a welcome addition to a company’s professional
development plan, many educators believe that they should be
used to complement rather than replace instructor-led sessions.
Some subject matter such as compliance training is well-suited to
an online format whereas management or leadership courses which
are more collaborative in nature, are best taught ‘in person’. Many
companies are starting to implement ‘blended learning’
programmes which aim to combine the best of both worlds.

In conclusion, although the rise of computer-based education is

very attractive in terms of reducing overheads, for the moment at
least, more traditional training still has its place in the workplace.
The challenge for businesses is to find the right balance between
the two.

Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and
more creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use
reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

IELTS Essay Sample Answer (1)

Parents throughout the world place spend time reading with their
offspring to prepare them for school where their literacy skills are
further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing
on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in
fun activities would be far more beneficial. I am a strong advocate
of this approach, and the benefits of it will be covered in this essay.
A fundamental reason for this is that there is no biological age for
reading, and pushing infants to acquire this skill before they are
ready could have repercussions. For example, in the UK, many
boys are reluctant readers, possibly because of being forced to
read, and this turned them off reading. By focusing on other
activities and developing other skills such as creativity and
imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this
skill rapidly. In addition, the importance of encouraging creativity
and developing a child’s imagination must be acknowledged.
Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills, for
example, they are more likely to learn vocabulary through context
rather than learning it from a book.

Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and

gain self-confidence. There is no scientific research which suggests
reading at a young age is essential for a child’s development,
moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early
years’ education focuses on playing. Reading is only encouraged if
a child shows and interest in developing this skill. This self-directed
approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling
behind their foreign counterparts. In fact, Finland was ranked the
sixth best in the world in terms of reading.
Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I strongly
recommend incorporating bedtime stories into a child’s daily
routine. However, reading as a regular daytime activity should be
swapped for something which allows the child to develop other
skills.

Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. Discuss

the causes and solutions.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Sample Answer (2)

The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of

industrialisation to the present day has brought opportunity and
prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life. With an increasing
city population, the complexity of the challenges also increases, the
causes and solutions for this are outlined below.

The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically
the prosperity endowed on such metropolitan centres. Their growth
is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer, which in turn
increases their attractiveness, essentially they are trapped in a
positive self-reinforcing cycle. However, this eventually leads to a
decrease in the quality of life as the city can experience
overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased
vulnerability to terrorist attacks. For example the density of London
makes it a more efficient place to attack, when compared to a
smaller city such as Bradford. Therefore, due to continuous growth
and prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less well off, often
experience a lower standard of living.

Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport

would ease traffic congestion, as would bike lanes. In theory this
would reduce air pollution, and possibly improve the wellbeing of
the population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to
work. To counter violent terrorist attacks, cities could embark on
CCTV installations, so as to closely monitor for threats. For
example, it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential
attacks, and therefore greatly increased the security of its citizens.
To conclude, a wealthy city attracts a large population inflow, which
then causes pressure on existing infrastructure and security.
Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks, nevertheless an
indefinite solution has yet to be found.

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Question (3)

Social media marketing can influence what consumers buy. Do

you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree?

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Sample Answer (3)

Since the introduction of social media applications in the early

2000’s the world has become a much smaller place. Social media
applications such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have
become information sources for a majority of the global market. As
such, I would agree that marketing, which happens to be a source
of information accessible on these platforms can influence the
consumers who use them. This notion is further aided by the rise in
online retail stores who conduct the bulk of their transactions online.
This makes it easier for the consumer to purchase from anywhere
in the world.

As a consumer on social media, you are constantly bombarded with

advertisements of various products that are specifically designed to
catch your attention. This means that most of the adverts on your
news feeds aren’t random and will almost always feature something
you have previously searched online or something currently popular
or trending. Given the fact that most social media users are young
consumers who are influenced by current trends and happenings
these adverts will almost always catch their eye.

The habit of sharing, retweeting and liking also ensures that these
adverts get around, quite fast. As such, when an advert does reach
your news feed you have already probably seen it on your friend’s
news feed. The truth is, adverts are a form of information and with
the age of the internet, information spreads faster than a wild fire.
Therefore, it only makes sense that in the era and age of
technology, globalization and the need to be trendy, social media
marketing can influence what consumers buy.