TASK1

2019
1. BAR CHART AND TABLE
The table below gives information about changes in modes of travel in England
between 1985 and 2000.
Average distance in miles travelled per person per year, by mode of travel

The chart shows average distances that people in England travelled using different
forms of transport in the years 1985 and 2000.

It is clear that the total number of miles travelled by English people using all modes of
transport increased significantly between 1985 and 2000. The car was by far the most
used form of transport in both years.

In 1985, the average person travelled 3,199 miles by car, and this rose to 4,806 miles in
the year 2000. The figures for miles travelled by train, long distance bus, taxi and other
modes also increased from 1985 to 2000. Travel by taxi saw the most significant change,
with more than a threefold increase from 13 miles per person per year in 1985 to 42
miles in 2000.
 There was a fall in the average distances for three forms of transport, namely walking,
bicycle and local bus. In 1985, English people walked an average of 255 miles, but this
figure fell by 18 miles in 2000. Bicycle use fell from 51 to 41 miles over the period
shown, while the biggest downward change was in the use of local buses, with average
miles per person falling from 429 to 274 over the 15-year period.

2. PROCESS DIAGRAM
The pictures illustrate the ingredients that go into a factory-made fish pie, and the
various steps in its production.

The pie contains salmon, peas, sauce and potatoes, and there are ten stages in its
manufacture, from delivery to dispatch. One of the ingredients, potato, goes through its
own six-stage preparation process before it can be added to the pie.

Potatoes are the first ingredient to be prepared on the production line. They are
delivered to the factory up to a month before the process begins, and they must be
cleaned, peeled and sliced. Potato peelings are thrown away, and the sliced potatoes
are boiled, then chilled and stored.

When fresh salmon arrives at the factory, lemon juice and salt are added, and the fish is
cooked in a steam oven within 12 hours of delivery. Next, factory workers remove and
dispose of the skin and bones, and the fish is inspected. Following inspection, pre-
prepared peas, sauce and potatoes are added. The resulting fish pies are wrapped,
frozen and then stored or dispatched.
(175 words, band 9)
3. MAPS
The maps illustrate some changes that were made to a city hospital's transport
infrastructure between the years 2007 and 2010.
It is noticeable that three main modifications were made to the hospital’s vehicle
access. These involved the building of a new bus station, new roundabouts and new
parking facilities.
Looking at the changes in more detail, we can see that in 2007 there were three bus
stops on either side of Hospital Road. These were no longer present in 2010, and instead
we see the addition of a bus station on the west side of Hospital Road. This bus station is
accessed via two new roundabouts; the first roundabout is at the intersection of City
Road and Hospital Road, while the second is at the other end of Hospital Road, at the
junction with the hospital ring road.
The two maps also show that changes were made to public and staff parking areas. In
2007, staff and visitors used the same car park, which was situated to the east of
Hospital Road and accessed via the ring road. However, by 2010 this original car park
had become a designated area for staff parking only. A new car park, located on the east
side of the ring road, provided parking for members of the public.
(Camnridge 13)
4. TABLE CHART
The charts below show the proportions of British students at one university in England
who were able to speak other languages in addition to English, in 2000 and 2010.
The tables compare the percentages of British university students who spoke different
languages in addition to English in two separate years.
It is noticeable that in both years, 2000 and 2010, the majority of British students at the
university in question were able to speak at least one other language. We can also see
an increase in the proportion of second and third language speakers over the 10-year
period.
In the year 2000, 80% of the students were able to speak one or two foreign languages,
and 20% only spoke English. Ten years later, there was a rise of 5% in the proportion of
those who spoke a second language. There was also an increase, from 10% to 15%, in
the proportion of students who were able to speak two foreign languages.
Looking at the specific second languages spoken, in 2000, 30% of the students were able
to speak Spanish, 15% spoke French, and 10% spoke German. By 2010, the proportion of
Spanish speakers had risen to 35%, there were 5% fewer French speakers, and the figure
for German speakers remained at one in ten. Finally, we can see that the percentage of
speakers of other second languages, apart from Spanish, French and German, rose from
15% to 20% over the period shown.
5. BAR CHART
The bar chart below shows the percentage of Australian men and women in different
age groups who did regular physical activity in 2010.

The chart compares the proportions of Australian males and females in six age
categories who were physically active on a regular basis in the year 2010.
Roughly speaking, close to half of Australian adults did some kind of routine physical
activity in 2010. Middle aged females were the most physically active, proportionally,
while males aged 35 to 44 did the least physical activity.
In the youngest age category (15 to 24), almost 53% of Australian men but only 47.7% of
women did regular physical activity in 2010. However, between the ages of 25 and 44,
men were much less active on average than women. In fact, in the 35 to 44 age group, a
mere 39.5% of males did some form of regular exercise, compared to 52.5% of females.
Between the ages of 45 and 64, the figure for male physical activity rose to around 45%,
while the proportion of active females remained around 8% higher, at 53%. Finally, the
percentages of Australian women and men aged 65 and over who exercised regularly
were almost identical, at approximately 47%.
(179 words, band 9)
6. MAP
The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for
its development.
The diagrams illustrate some proposed changes to the central area of the town of Islip.
It is clear that the principal change to the town will be the construction of a ring road
around the centre. Various other developments with regard to shops and housing will
accompany the building of this road.
Looking at the map of Islip as it is now, we can see that a main road runs through its
centre from east to west. The second map shows the planned pedestrianisation of this
road. Traffic will be diverted on to a dual carriageway that will form a ring around the
town centre.
Currently there is a row of shops along either side of the main road. However, it appears
that the shops along the north side of the new pedestrian street will be demolished to
make way for a bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing area. The shops
along the south side of the street will remain, but it seems that the town’s park will be
reduced in size so that more new houses can be built within the ring road.
(187 words, band 9)
2018
7. BAR CHART
The chart below shows figures for attendances at hospital emergency care departments
in Northern Ireland by age group in December 2016 and December 2017.
Attendances at emergency care departments per 1000-population
The bar chart compares the number of visits made by people in six age categories to
hospital emergency wards in Northern Ireland in the December of 2016 and 2017.
It is clear that elderly people and the youngest children were the most frequent visitors
to A&E (accident and emergency) departments. Also, there was a slight increase in the
rate of emergency care attendances among all six age groups from December 2016 to
December 2017.
Looking first at the older age groups, roughly 65 people, per 1000 population, aged 75
and over attended A&E wards in December 2016, and this rose to almost 70
attendances per 1000-population one year later. Interestingly, those aged 65 to 74 were
less than half as likely to require emergency treatment, with around 30 attendances per
1000-population in both months.
At the other end of the age scale, the figures for A&E visits by under-5s rose marginally
from around 50 to approximately 52 per 1000-population over the one-year period.
Children aged 5 to 15 made the fewest visits, at just over 20 per 1000-population in
both months. Finally, there was almost no difference in the figures for emergency care
attendances among people aged 16 to 44, 45 to 64 and 65 to 74.
(217 words, band 9)
8. LINE GRAPH
The line graph compares three types of traveller visiting New Zealand between 1997
and 2017
The line graph compares three types of traveller to New Zealand between 1997 and
2017 in terms of their average daily expenditure.
It is noticeable that spending by these international visitors was at its highest between
the years 2000 and 2003. Overall, business travellers spent the most per day, while
people visiting friends or relatives spent the least.
In 1997, business visitors to New Zealand spent an average of almost $260 per day,
while holidaymakers spent around $190 and people visiting friends or relatives spent
less than $120. Over the following five years, spending by all three types of traveller
increased dramatically, to peaks of around $330, $270 and $220. However, visitor
spending suddenly fell again between 2003 and 2005.
From 2005 to 2015, the daily expenditure of business travellers and tourists fluctuated
around the $200 mark, whereas people visiting relations or friends spent roughly 60 to
80 dollars less per day. By 2017, daily spending had risen to approximately $250, $210
and $140 respectively for vacationers, business people and those visiting loved ones.
(174 words)
9. LINE GRAPH
The graph below shows the average daily spend of three categories of international
visitor to New Zealand from 1997 to 2017.

The line graph compares three types of traveller visiting New Zealand between 1997
and 2017 in terms of the average amount of money that they spent each day during
their trips.
It is noticeable that overall spending by international visitors to New Zealand was at its
highest between the years 2000 and 2003. Also, over the 20-year period shown,
business travellers spent the most per day, on average, while people visiting friends or
relatives spent the least.
In 1997, business visitors to New Zealand spent an average of just under $260 per day,
while holidaymakers spent around $190 and people visiting friends or relatives spent
less than $120. Over the following five or six years, spending by all three types of
traveller increased dramatically, to peaks of around $330, $270 and $220 for the three
respective categories. However, visitor spending suddenly fell again between 2003 and
2005.
Over the 10 years from 2005 to 2015, similar daily travel expenditure levels can be seen
for both business visitors and tourists, with figures fluctuating around the $200 mark. By
contrast, people who were in New Zealand to see friends or family spent roughly 60 to
80 dollars per day less than the other visitors over this time period. In the final year
shown on the graph, 2017, the figures for average daily spending stood at
approximately $250, $210 and $140 respectively for vacationers, business people and
those visiting family or friends.
2017
10. BAR CHART
The bar chart shows the percentage of waste that is recycled, put into landfill or
incinerated in various EU countries.
If we look at the fifteen EU countries as a whole, it is clear that more waste goes to
landfill sites than to any other refuse management facility. In fact, while around half of
the countries put the majority of their waste into landfill sites, only two countries
recycle at least 50% of the waste that they produce.
Australia and Belgium are the most environmentally friendly of the fifteen countries,
recycling around 60% and 50% of their waste respectively. Germany, Sweden and
Belgium also appear to have effective recycling programmes, resulting in roughly 40% of
waste being processed in this way in each country.
Other EU countries recycle far less. Greece, Ireland and the UK, for example, only
recycle around 10% of refuse and put between 80 and 90 per cent of their waste into
landfill. Finally, while most non-recycled waste in the EU area goes to landfill, four
countries, namely Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, incinerate more
waste than they bury.
(184 words, band 9)
11. DIAGRAM
The diagrams illustrate the stages in the life of a silkworm and the process of producing
silk cloth.
There are four main stages in the life cycle of the silkworm, from eggs to adult moth.
The process of silk cloth production involves six steps, from silkworm cocoon to silk
material.
At the first stage in the life cycle of a silkworm, the moth lays its eggs. Around ten days
later, silkworm larvae hatch from the eggs; these larvae feed on mulberry leaves. Then,
after four to six weeks, the larvae become covered in silk thread, and it takes between
three and eight days for a full cocoon to be produced.
For silk cloth production, a cocoon is first selected and then boiled in water. After
boiling, the silk thread that makes up the cocoon is unwound, and then several strands
of thread are twisted together. At the fifth and sixth stages in the process, the thread
can either be dyed and then woven into silk fabric, or it can be woven first and then
dyed subsequently.
(176 words, band 9)
12. TWO DIFFERENT CHARTS
The charts below show reasons for travel and the main issues for the travelling public in
the US in 2009.

The bar chart and pie chart gives information about why US residents travelled and
what travel problems they experienced in the year 2009.
It is clear that the principal reason why Americans travelled in 2009 was to commute to
and from work. In the same year, the primary concern of Americans, with regard to the
trips they made, was the cost of travelling.
Looking more closely at the bar chart, we can see that 49% of the trips made by
Americans in 2009 were for the purpose of commuting. By contrast, only 6% of trips
were visits to friends or relatives, and one in ten trips were for social or recreation
reasons. Shopping was cited as the reason for 16% of all travel, while unspecific
‘personal reasons’ accounted for the remaining 19%.
According to the pie chart, price was the key consideration for 36% of American
travellers. Almost one in five people cited safety as their foremost travel concern, while
aggressive driving and highway congestion were the main issues for 17% and 14% of the
travelling public. Finally, a total of 14% of those surveyed thought that access to public
transport or space for pedestrians were the most important travel issues.
(201 words, band 9)
13. TABLE CHART

The table below gives information about the problems faced by children in two primary
schools in 2005 and 2015.
The table compares two primary schools in terms of the proportions of their pupils who
experienced seven different educational problems in the years 2005 and 2015.

It is noticeable that school A had higher proportions of children with all seven
educational difficulties in both years. However, while school A managed to reduce the
incidence of most of the problems between 2005 and 2015, school B saw an overall rise
in the percentage of children who were struggling.
In 2005, 42% of school A’s pupils found it difficult to follow instructions, whereas only
6% of pupils in school B experienced this problem. Similarly, between 30 and 40 per cent
of children attending school A had problems in the areas of spelling, listening, verbal
expression and concentration in lessons, while the equivalent figures for school B stood
at between 5 and 15 per cent.
In 2015, the difference between the two schools was less pronounced. Notably, the
proportion of children who struggled to follow instructions fell by 24% in school A, and
this school also saw falls of 22%, 15%, 14% and 5% in the figures for children who had
problems with concentration, listening, verbal expression and spelling. In school B,
however, the proportion of children who struggled with spelling and following
instructions doubled, to 10% and 12% respectively, and there was almost no change in
the incidence of listening, verbal or concentration problems.
14. GRAPH
The line graph compares the average price of a barrel of oil with the food price index
over a period of 11 years.
It is clear that average global prices of both oil and food rose considerably between
2000 and 2011. Furthermore, the trends for both commodities were very similar, and so
a strong correlation (93.6%) is suggested.
In the year 2000, the average global oil price was close to $25 per barrel, and the food
price index stood at just under 90 points. Over the following four years, both prices
remained relatively stable, before rising steadily between 2004 and 2007. By 2007, the
average oil price had more than doubled, to nearly $60 per barrel, and food prices had
risen by around 50 points.
A dramatic increase in both commodity prices was seen from 2007 to 2008, with oil
prices reaching a peak of approximately $130 per barrel and the food price index rising
to 220 points. However, by the beginning of 2009, the price of oil had dropped by
roughly $90, and the food price index was down by about 80 points. Finally, in 2011, the
average oil price rose once again, to nearly $100 per barrel, while the food price index
reached its peak, at almost 240 points.
15. LIFE CIRCLE
The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of the salmon, from birth to maturity.
It is clear that there are six* main stages as the salmon develops from egg to mature
adult. We can also see that salmon spend time in three distinct locations during the
cycle, moving from river to estuary to ocean and then back upstream.
Salmon begin their lives in rivers where the adult fish lay and incubate their eggs. After
emerging from eggs, the young salmon spend the next stage of their lives being reared
in freshwater areas. Then, at some point in their development, the fish swim
downstream to river estuaries where rearing continues.
Following the estuary rearing period, the maturing salmon migrate to the ocean, where
they eventually become fully grown adults. Finally, the adult fish travel back upstream
to spawning areas of rivers; here they reproduce and lay their eggs, and the life cycle
begins anew.
(154 words, band 9)
16. PIE CHART
The chart below shows the
results of a survey of people who
visited four types of tourist
attraction in Britain in the year
1999.
The pie chart compares figures for visitors to four categories of tourist attraction and to
five different theme parks in Britain in 1999.
It is clear that theme parks and museums/galleries were the two most popular types of
tourist attraction in that year. Blackpool Pleasure Beach received by far the highest
proportion of visitors in the theme park sector.
Looking at the information in more detail, we can see that 38% of the surveyed visitors
went to a theme park, and 37% of them went to a museum or gallery. By contrast,
historic houses and monuments were visited by only 16% of the sample, while wildlife
parks and zoos were the least popular of the four types of tourist attraction, with only
9% of visitors.
In the theme park sector, almost half of the people surveyed (47%) had been to
Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Alton Towers was the second most popular amusement park,
with 17% of the sample, followed by Pleasureland in Southport, with 16%. Finally,
Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor had each welcomed 10% of the
surveyed visitors.
(181 words, band 9)
2016
17. PIE CHART WITHOUT NUMBERS (Chưa hoàn chỉnh, cần viết thêm)
The chart below shows the proportions of adults in Canada who own one car, two cars,
more than two cars, or who do not own a car.

As several people commented below last week's lesson, we can describe a pie chart
even if the numbers are not shown. Here are some example sentences:
Just over half of all adults in Canada own one car.
Roughly 50% of Canadian adults own one car, while approximately 25% of adults in
Canada own two cars. Less than a quarter of Canadians do not own a car.
Only a very small percentage (under 5%) of Canadian adults own more than two cars.
Remember: the full pie is always 100%, so it's easy for us to guess approximate
proportions.
18. LINE GRAPH
The graph below shows the amounts of waste produced by three companies over a
period of 15 years.
The line
graph

compares three companies in terms of their waste output between the years2000 and
2015. It is clear that there were significant changes in the amounts of waste produced by
all three companies shown on the graph. While companies A and B saw waste output fall
over the 15-year period, the amount of waste produced by company C increased
considerably.
In 2000, company A produced 12 tonnes of waste, while companies B and C produced
around 8 tonnes and 4 tonnes of waste material respectively. Over the following 5
years, the waste output of companies B and C rose by around 2 tonnes, but the figure
for company A fell by approximately 1 tonne.
From 2005 to 2015, company A cut waste production by roughly 3 tonnes, and company
B reduced its waste by around 7 tonnes. By contrast, company C saw an increase in
waste production of approximately 4 tonnes over the same 10-year period. By 2015,
company C’s waste output had risen to 10 tonnes, while the respective amounts of
waste from companies A and B had dropped to 8 tonnes and only 3 tonnes.
(192 words, band 9)
19. SEPARATE LINE GRAPH
The first chart below gives information about the money spent by British parents on
their children’s sports between 2008 and 2014. The second chart shows the number of
children who participated in three sports in Britain over the same time period.
The line graphs show the average monthly amount that parents in Britain spent on their
children’s sporting activities and the number of British children who took part in three
different sports from 2008 to 2014.
It is clear that parents spent more money each year on their children’s participation in
sports over the six-year period. In terms of the number of children taking part, football
was significantly more popular than athletics and swimming.
In 2008, British parents spent an average of around £20 per month on their children’s
sporting activities. Parents’ spending on children’s sports increased gradually over the
following six years, and by 2014 the average monthly amount had risen to just over £30.
Looking at participation numbers, in 2008 approximately 8 million British children
played football, while only 2 million children were enrolled in swimming clubs and less
than 1 million practised athletics. The figures for football participation remained
relatively stable over the following 6 years. By contrast, participation in swimming
almost doubled, to nearly 4 million children, and there was a near fivefold increase in
the number of children doing athletics.
(185 words, band 9)
20. PIE CHART REPORT
The charts below show the results of a questionnaire that asked visitors to the Parkway
Hotel how they rated the hotel's customer service. The same questionnaire was given to
100 guests in the years 2005 and 2010.
The pie charts compare visitors’ responses to a survey about customer service at the
Parkway Hotel in 2005 and in 2010.
It is clear that overall customer satisfaction increased considerably from 2005 to 2010.
While most hotel guests rated customer service as satisfactory or poor in 2005, a clear
majority described the hotel’s service as good or excellent in 2010.
Looking at the positive responses first, in 2005 only 5% of the hotel’s visitors rated its
customer service as excellent, but this figure rose to 28% in 2010. Furthermore, while
only 14% of guests described customer service in the hotel as good in 2005, almost
three times as many people gave this rating five years later.
With regard to negative feedback, the proportion of guests who considered the hotel’s
customer service to be poor fell from 21% in 2005 to only 12% in 2010. Similarly, the
proportion of people who thought customer service was very poor dropped from 15%
to only 4% over the 5-year period. Finally, a fall in the number of ‘satisfactory’ ratings in
2010 reflects the fact that more people gave positive responses to the survey in that
year.
(193 words, band 9)
21. PIE CHART
The pie charts below compare water usage in San Diego, California and the rest of the
world.

The pie charts give information about the water used for residential, industrial and
agricultural purposes in San Diego County, California, and the world as a whole. It is
noticeable that more water is consumed by homes than by industry or agriculture in the
two American regions. By contrast, agriculture accounts for the vast majority of water
used worldwide. In San Diego County and California State, residential water
consumption accounts for 60% and 39% of total water usage. By contrast, a mere 8% of
the water used globally goes to homes. The opposite trend can be seen when we look at
water consumption for agriculture. This accounts for a massive 69% of global water use,
but only 17% and 28% of water usage in San Diego and California respectively.
Such dramatic differences are not seen when we compare the figures for industrial
water use. The same proportion of water (23%) is used by industry in San Diego and
worldwide, while the figure for California is 10% higher, at 33%.
(168 words, band 9)
22. DETAIL PARAGRAPH
The chart below shows the amount of time that 10 to 15-year-olds spend chatting on
the Internet and playing on games consoles on an average school day in the UK.

The bar chart compares the time spent by 10 to 15-year-olds in the UK on two activities,
namely chatting online and playing computer games.
Boys aged between 10 and 15 clearly favour playing on games consoles over chatting
online. According to the chart, while 85% of boys play computer games every day, only
55% chat online daily. Furthermore, the majority of boys play on their consoles for more
than one hour each day, and 10% do this activity for four hours or more.
By contrast, girls prefer chatting online. Close to 70% of 10 to 15-year-old girls engage in
online conversation each day, compared to about 50% of this cohort who play computer
games. Of the girls who do play on consoles, most of them play for less than an hour,
whereas most girls who chat online do so for more than one hour, and nearly 10% chat
for four hours or more.
Overall, we can see that playing computer games is marginally more popular than
chatting on the Internet. However, completely different trends can be seen if we look at
the specific figures for boys and girls.
23. BAR CHART
The chart below shows the total number of minutes (in billions) of telephone calls in the
UK, divided into three categories, from 1995-2002.
The bar chart compares the amount of time spent by people in the UK on three
different types of phone calls between 1995 and 2002.

It is clear that calls made via local, fixed lines were the most popular type, in terms of
overall usage, throughout the period shown. The lowest figures on the chart are for
mobile calls, but this category also saw the most dramatic increase in user minutes.
In 1995, people in the UK used fixed lines for a total of just over 70 billion minutes for
local calls, and about half of that amount of time for national or international calls. By
contrast, mobile phones were only used for around 4 billion minutes. Over the following
four years, the figures for all three types of phone calls increased steadily.
By 1999, the amount of time spent on local calls using landlines had reached a peak at
90 billion minutes. Subsequently, the figure for this category fell, but the rise in the
other two types of phone calls continued. In 2002, the number of minutes of
national/international landline calls passed 60 billion, while the figure for mobiles rose
to around 45 billion minutes.
(197 words, band 9)
24. BAR CHART AND PIE CHART
The bar chart below shows the proportions of English
men and women of different ages who were living
alone in 2011. The pie chart compares the numbers of
bedrooms in these one-person households.

The two charts give information about single-occupant households in England in the
year 2011. The bar chart compares figures for occupants' age and gender, and the pie
chart shows data about the number of bedrooms in these homes.
Overall, females made up a higher proportion of people living alone than males, and this
difference is particularly noticeable in the older age categories. We can also see that the
most common number of bedrooms in a single-occupant home was two.

A significant majority of the people aged 65 or over who were living alone in England in
2011 were female. Women made up around 72% of single occupants aged 75 to 84, and
76% of those aged 85 or over. By contrast, among younger adults, the figures for males
were higher. For example, in the 35-49 age category, men accounted for nearly 65% of
people living alone.
In the same year, 35.4% of one-person households in England had two bedrooms, while
one-bedroom and three-bedroom homes accounted for 28% and 29.8% of the total.
Under 7% of single-occupant homes had four or more bedrooms.
(189 words, band 9)
 TASK 2
2019
1.OPINION
Genetic engineering is an important issue in society today. Some people think that it will
improve people’s lives in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life on earth.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
It is true that genetic engineering is a key area of modern scientific research, with broad
implications for all human societies. While I accept that this field of technology may have its
dangers, I believe that the benefits of genetic engineering outweigh the drawbacks.
The negative implications of genetic engineering are often discussed in terms of two key areas,
which are food production and the cloning of humans. Genetically modified crops are already
being grown, and people are concerned that they may damage whole ecosystems as foods
become resistant to diseases and natural predators. But perhaps even more worrying is the
possibility that humans could be modified or cloned. Some people imagine a world in which
cloned humans are used to fight wars or to provide body part replacements. Although perhaps
not a threat to life on earth, the implications of such practices would be unprecedented.
A more optimistic prediction, and one that I favour, is that humans will find ways to mitigate
the risks and use genetic technologies in a responsible way. From the food production
perspective, genetic engineering could be the solution to famine in developing countries, if, for
instance, crops can be grown more reliably in harsh conditions. From a medical perspective,
scientists may use genetic engineering to produce vaccines, to cure diseases, or to correct a
genetic defect before a child is born. If properly regulated, even cloning can be done in a way
that improves lives. For example, the cloning of individual organs, such as a heart or kidney,
could be permitted for transplant purposes.
In conclusion, I am convinced that genetic engineering will have a positive impact on our lives
and that people's fears will be unwarranted.
2. DISCUSSION
In many countries today, people in cities either live alone or in small family units, rather than
in large, extended family groups. Is this a positive or negative trend?
It is true that cities are seeing a rise in smaller families and one-person households, while the
extended family is becoming a rarity. In my opinion, this is a negative development.
As families become smaller, the traditional family support network is disappearing, and this can
have a negative impact on children as they grow up. In a nuclear family or single-parent
household, childcare becomes an expensive and stressful part of daily life. Without the help of
grandparents or aunts and uncles, busy parents must rely on babysitters, nannies and after-
school clubs to take care of younger children, while older children may be left alone after
school and during holidays. The absence of adult family members can mean that friends,
television and the Internet become the primary influences on children’s behaviour. It is no
surprise that the decline of the extended family has been linked to a rise in psychological and
behavioural problems amongst young people.
The trend towards people living alone is perhaps even more damaging because of the
psychological effects of reduced human interaction. Individuals who live on their own have
nobody to talk to in person, so they cannot share problems or discuss the highs and lows of
daily life. They forgo the constant stimulation and hustle and bustle of a large family and are
left to their own devices for extended periods of time. The lack of human contact in the home is
necessarily replaced by passive distractions, such as television, video games, online chat rooms
or Internet surfing. This type of existence is associated with boredom, loneliness, and feelings
of isolation or even alienation, all of which are factors that are known to increase the risk of
mental illness.
In conclusion, I believe that individuals thrive when they are part of larger family groups, and so
it is worrying that many people are choosing to live alone or in such small family units.
3. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree
or disagree with this statement?
It is often said that modern life presents us with an overwhelming number of choices. I
completely agree with this, and I believe that the Internet and globalisation are the two major
factors involved.
It is undeniable that the Internet has led to a dramatic expansion in the number of choices that
are available to us. The number of online media options, for instance, is now almost endless.
There are countless websites offering entertainment, news, videos, on-demand TV and music
streaming, many of which are free. I would argue that this abundance of media leads to
confusion on the part of the average user, as we have to make so many decisions about the
content that we consume. A personal example of this trend would be the fact that I had a
choice of just four TV channels when I was a child, whereas I now have access to thousands of
films and series through services like Netflix.
Alongside the influence of the Internet, globalisation is making the world smaller and
compounding this problem of too much choice. Cheap international flights have made overseas
travel possible for millions of people, but this also means that we are faced with a world of
options when deciding where to go on holiday or even where to live. We no longer have the
limited but simple travel choices of our grandparents’ generation. The same is true if we look at
the increasing tendency for young people to study abroad. While the opportunity for overseas
study seems appealing, many students are confused about where to go and which path to take.
In conclusion, we are faced with a huge number of options in most areas of life nowadays, and
this is often more bewildering than beneficial.
(293 words)
4. DISCUSSION
Popular hobbies and interests change over time and are more a reflection of trends and
fashions than an indication of what individuals really want to do in their spare time. To what
extent do you agree or disagree? (Cần viết thêm kết luận)
Some leisure activities become fashionable for a short time and then disappear when a new
trend comes along, whereas others seem to be perennially popular. I can therefore only partly
agree with the assertion that hobbies reflect changing fashions rather than our true interests.
On the one hand, it is true that many hobbies are simply passing trends. Children and
teenagers, in particular, are attracted to whatever activity is currently popular among their
peers. My 10-year-old niece, for example, seems to have a new interest every month, as she
joins in with the latest craze that sweeps through her primary school. Over the last year or so,
she has been obsessed with Rubik’s cubes, fidget spinners, squidgies and slime. In a similar way,
there have been several different fitness trends for adults over recent years, from jogging to
yoga to circuit training, and I doubt whether the majority of participants continued to enjoy
those activities in the long term.
On the other hand, many people spend their free time doing popular activities that are far from
trendy. One good example would be the game chess. Children and adults who enjoy playing
chess are certainly not following a new fashion or wasting their time on something that they do
not truly like. On the contrary, they are passionate about a game that has existed for hundreds
of years, and they find it inherently fascinating and absorbing. I would say the same about many
other hobbies, from reading to swimming.
In conclusion,.....
2018
1. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will have a
positive impact on our lives in the near future. Others, by contrast, are worried that we are
not prepared for a world in which computers are more intelligent than humans. Discuss both
of these views and give your own opinion.
People seem to be either excited or worried about the future impact of artificial intelligence.
Personally, I can understand the two opposing points of view; I am both fascinated by
developments in artificial intelligence and apprehensive about its possible negative effects.
On the one hand, the increasing intelligence of technology should bring some obvious benefits.
Machines are clearly able to do many jobs better than humans can, especially in areas that
require high levels of accuracy or calculations using large amounts of data. For example, robots
are being developed that can carry out surgical procedures with greater precision than a human
doctor, and we already have cars that use sensors and cameras to drive themselves. Such
technologies can improve safety by reducing the likelihood of human errors. It is easy to
imagine how these developments, and many others, will steadily improve our quality of life.
On the other hand, I share the concerns of people who believe that artificial intelligence may
harm us if we are not careful. In the short term, it is likely that we will see a rise in
unemployment as workers in various industries are replaced by machines or software
programs. For example, self-driving vehicles are expected to cause redundancies in driving jobs,
such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and bus drivers. In the medium term, if intelligent technologies
gradually take jobs away from humans, we may find that people become deskilled and lose
their sense of purpose in life. A longer-term fear is that computers become so intelligent that
they begin to make decisions without human oversight and without regard for our well-being.
In conclusion, while intelligent machines will no doubt improve our lives in many ways, the
potential risks of such technologies should not be ignored.
(295 words, band 9)
2. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the
real needs of the society in which they are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is true that we are increasingly surrounded by advertising by companies that want to sell us
their products. To some extent, I agree that advertising has an impact on sales, but I would also
argue that we do need most of the goods that we buy.
Advertisements can certainly tempt people to buy products that they might not otherwise
want. A good example could be the mobile phone. Every year people can be seen queuing to
buy the latest models, even when they already have a perfectly good phone that does not need
replacing. Perhaps it is the influence of marketing that leads us to make these kinds of
decisions; we want to stay up to date with the latest fashions or own the newest high-status
device. The high sales of the iPhone seem to support this idea.
On the other hand, I believe that most people do not buy products because of the advertising
alone. There are other good reasons why we make these choices, and there must be some kind
of need before a person makes a purchase. New versions of products almost always have
improved features that buyers may want. A new car, for example, may have greatly improved
safety features, or it may be more economical to run, or it may pollute less. A new phone may
allow the user to communicate more quickly or effectively, thus enhancing their quality of life.
In conclusion, while advertising obviously influences our buying behaviour, I do not agree that
people make decisions that go against their real needs.
(261 words)
3. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Some people believe that it is more important to teach children the literature and history of
their own country, rather than the literature and history of other countries. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
People have different views about the teaching of national versus global literature and history
in schools. Personally, I support the idea that children should study first and foremost the great
books and historical events of their own countries.
There are several reasons why I believe that schools should focus on teaching national
literature and history. Firstly, children enjoy learning about where they live, and by studying the
ideas, culture and history of their own countries they begin to develop a sense of identity. At
the same time, this approach is appealing to parents, who studied the same books and
historical events and can, therefore, help their children with school work. English children, for
example, read Shakespeare and learn about the Battle of Hastings just as their parents did, and
there is educational continuity across the generations. Finally, an emphasis on national
literature and history gives educators a narrower teaching scope, making curriculum design an
easier task.
By contrast, the study of global events and foreign novels could cause unnecessary difficulty
and confusion for school pupils. For example, I do not see the point in presenting Russian or
Chinese history to a British child who has not yet studied the history of his or her own country
in detail. Surely the child would be more able to comprehend historical events that took place
in London than those that happened in Moscow or Beijing. Similarly, any exposure to
international literature is likely to require the teaching of a foreign language or the use of
translations. Young people at primary or secondary school age are simply not ready for such
complications.
In conclusion, I would argue that it is undesirable for schools to cover aspects of foreign history
and literature; they should ground their pupils in the local culture instead.
(297 words, band 9)
4. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Caring for children is probably the most important job in any society. Because of this, all
mothers and fathers should be required to take a course that prepares them to be good
parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
It is true that parents shoulder a huge responsibility and that raising children is by no means an
easy task. However, I completely disagree with the idea that we should, therefore, force all
mothers and fathers to attend parenting courses.
In my opinion, the idea that all future parents should take a parenthood preparation course is
completely impractical. Many prospective parents have jobs and busy schedules, and they may
not be willing or able to attend regular parenting classes. This raises the question of whether
those who missed the classes or perhaps refused to attend, would be punished. I believe that it
would be wrong to do this, and it would, therefore, be impossible to enforce the idea of
compulsory training for parents. Besides, even if parents could be forced to attend, I doubt that
people would agree on what good parenting entails, and so it would be difficult to create a
parenting course to suit everyone.
As well as being impractical, I would argue that training courses for parents are unnecessary.
Mothers and fathers have been raising children without any formal help or official interference
for thousands of years. Parenting skills are learnt from family members, friends, neighbours and
the surrounding culture. Perhaps more importantly, adults learn to be good parents by instinct,
by trial and error, and by getting to know their own children; for example, a good parent will try
different strategies when faced with a badly-behaved child, and will gradually develop an
understanding of what works to correct the behaviour. None of this requires the intervention of
a taught course.
In conclusion, while compulsory parenting lessons might seem like a good idea, I believe that
such a scheme would be unworkable and largely pointless.
(289 words, band 9)
5. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress,
because what matters is the quality of their work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results than on
the rules that employees must follow. While I agree that the way people dress should be seen
as irrelevant in many work contexts, I believe that dress codes still exist for good reason in
certain professions.
On the one hand, many employers have stopped telling their staff how to dress, and I see this
as a positive trend. Some of the most successful companies in the world, including technology
giants like Google and Facebook, are famous for the relaxed office environments that they try
to create. Employees are encouraged to dress casually, and even the company executives and
leaders are rarely seen wearing anything other than T-shirts and jeans. However, while
managers and programmers are free to dress how they like, they are expected to produce work
of outstanding quality. It is clear from the performance and global dominance of such
companies that strict dress codes are completely unnecessary in the technology sector.
However, I would also argue that rules regarding employees' clothing are still relevant in other
work situations. We expect certain professionals, such as nurses, police officers and airline
pilots, to wear uniforms. These uniforms may have a practical or safety function, but perhaps
more importantly they identify the person’s position or role in society. Similarly, a lawyer,
politician or school principal may choose to wear formal clothing in order to portray an image
of authority, trustworthiness and diligence. I believe that most of us prefer to see these
professionals in smart, formal attire, even if it is not strictly necessary.
In conclusion, I support the trend towards relaxed dress codes for workers, but I do not see it as
applicable to all occupations or sectors of the economy.
(298 words, band 9)
2017
1. DISCUSSION
At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of
young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation
outweigh the disadvantages?
It is true that younger adults make up a significant proportion of the population of some
nations. While there are certain drawbacks for countries with this kind of population structure,
I believe that the individual, social and economic benefits far outweigh these drawbacks.
On the one hand, countries with a large proportion of young adults may experience various
problems. Firstly, if considerable numbers of people leave school or university at the same
time, there will be intense competition for jobs. This oversupply of labour could cause an
increase in unemployment. Secondly, an abundance of working-age adults may result in higher
rates of poverty and falling living standards, as governments or local councils are unable to
meet the demand for the provision of housing and public services. Finally, there is a risk that
rates of crime and antisocial behaviour may rise if the needs of a young population are not met.
In conclusion, it seems to me that it is advantageous in a variety of ways for countries to have
more young adults than elderly people.
2. DISCUSSION
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the
only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.

To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?
It is true that we do not recycle enough of our household waste. Although I accept that new
legislation to force people to recycle could help this situation, I do not agree that a recycling law
is the only measure that governments should take.
In my view, a new recycling law would be just one possible way to tackle the waste problem.
Governments could make it a legal obligation for householders to separate all waste into
different bins. There could be punishments for people who fail to adhere to this law, ranging
from a small fine to community service, or even perhaps prison sentences for repeat offenders.
These measures would act as a deterrent and encourage people to obey the recycling law. As a
result, the improved behaviour of homeowners could lead to a clean, waste-free environment
for everyone.
However, I believe that governments should do more than simply introduce a recycling law. It
might be more effective if politicians put education, rather than punishment, at the centre of a
recycling campaign. For example, children could be taught about recycling in schools, and
homeowners could be informed about the environmental impact of household waste. Another
tactic that governments could use would be to create stricter regulations for the companies
that produce the packaging for household products. Finally, money could also be spent to
improve recycling facilities and systems, so that waste is processed more effectively, regardless
of whether or not people separate it correctly in the home.
In conclusion, perhaps we do need to make recycling a legal requirement, but this would
certainly not be the only way to encourage people to dispose of their waste more responsibly.
(279 words, band 9)
3. DISCUSSION
In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce
crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict our individual freedom.
Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?
It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent years. While
I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe that the benefits do
outweigh the drawbacks.
There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video cameras in public
places. The first objection is that these cameras invade our privacy, in the sense that we are
constantly being watched by the authorities or by private security firms. Many people find this
intrusive and feel that the recording of their movements is a form of state control that curtails
their individual freedom. The second argument against the proliferation of CCTV cameras is that
they are being used as an alternative to police officers patrolling the streets. If this is indeed
happening, then it is unlikely that members of the public will feel safer.
In spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, I believe that the use of video cameras to monitor
public areas is a positive measure. The key objective of video surveillance is to deter criminals
and to prevent crime. For example, petty criminals like shoplifters and pickpockets are less
likely to operate in parts of cities where they know that they are being watched. At the same
time, when crimes are committed, the police can use video evidence to catch and prosecute
offenders. Therefore, in my view, video cameras offer valuable support to police officers, and
they make cities safer for inhabitants, workers and visitors alike.
In conclusion, it seems to me that we gain more than we lose from the enhanced security that
CCTV cameras bring to our cities.
(275 words)
4. PROBLEMS
Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do
whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What consequences could this style
of parenting have for children as they get older?
It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In my opinion,
this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term consequences.
If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain amount of
discipline is necessary. Having worked with children myself, I have learnt that clear expectations
and boundaries are necessary, and it is important to be able to say ‘no’ to children when they
misbehave or try to push against these boundaries. This is the only way to help young people to
regulate their desires and develop self-control. In my view, parents who do the opposite and
constantly give in to their children’s demands, are actually doing more harm than good. They
are failing their children rather than being kind to them.
The children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several negative
personality traits. The first and most obvious danger is that these children will become self-
centred adults who show little consideration for the feelings or needs of others. One
consequence of such an attitude could be that these adults are unable to work successfully in
teams with other colleagues. A second negative trait in such people could be impulsiveness. A
person who has never lived with any boundaries is likely to lack the patience to carefully
consider options before making decisions. This may lead, for example, to compulsive shopping,
unwise financial decisions, or even criminal activity.
In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for others,
and I do not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this objective.
(283 words, band 9)
5. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers,
whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children.
Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.
People’s opinions differ as to whether or not school children should be given homework. While
there are some strong arguments against the setting of homework, I still believe that it is a
necessary aspect of education.
There are several reasons why people might argue that homework is an unnecessary burden on
children. Firstly, there is evidence to support the idea that homework does nothing to improve
educational outcomes. Countries such as Finland, where school children are not given
homework, regularly top international educational league tables and outperform nations where
setting homework is the norm. Secondly, many parents would agree that the school day is
already long enough, and leaves their children too tired to do further study when they return
home. Finally, it is recognised that playtime is just as beneficial as study time from the
perspective of brain development.
In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that homework has an important role to
play in the schooling of children. The main benefit of homework is that it encourages
independent learning and problem solving, as children are challenged to work through tasks
alone and at their own pace. In doing so, students must apply the knowledge that they have
learnt in the classroom. For example, by doing mathematics exercises at home, students
consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught by their teacher at school. In my view, it
is important for children to develop an independent study habit because this prepares them to
work alone as adults.
In conclusion, homework certainly has its drawbacks, but I believe that the benefits outweigh
them in the long term.
(270 words, band 9)
6. DISCUSSION
Some universities now offer their courses on the Internet so that people can study online. Is
this a positive or negative development?
It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of university education. Although
there are some drawbacks of Internet-based learning, I would argue that there are far more
benefits.
The main drawback of the trend towards online university courses is that there is less direct
interaction. Students may not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with their teachers,
and will instead have to rely on written forms of communication. Similarly, students who study
online do not come into direct contact with each other, and this could have a negative impact
on peer support, discussion and exchange of ideas. For example, whereas students on
traditional courses can attend seminars and even discuss their subjects over coffee after
lessons, online learners are restricted to chatting through website forum areas. These learners
may also lack the motivation and element of competition that face-to-face group work brings.
Despite the negatives mentioned above, I believe that online university courses are a positive
development for various reasons. Firstly, they allow learners to study in a flexible way, meaning
that they can work whenever and wherever is convenient, and they can cover the material at
their own pace. Secondly, the cost of a university education can be greatly reduced, while
revenues for institutions may increase as more students can be taught. Finally, online learning
offers open access to anybody who is willing to study, regardless of age, location, ability and
background. For example, my uncle, who is 65 years old, has recently enrolled on an online
MBA course in a different country, which would have been impossible in the days before
Internet-based education.
In conclusion, while I recognise the possible disadvantages of online learning, I consider it to be
a positive development overall.
7. DISCUSSION + OPINION
It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops. Technology and
traditional cultures are incompatible. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Some people believe that technological developments lead to the loss of traditional cultures. I
partly agree with this assertion; while it may be true in the case of some societies, others seem
to be unaffected by technology and the modern world.
On the one hand, the advances in technology that have driven industrialisation in developed
countries have certainly contributed to the disappearance of traditional ways of life. For
example, in pre-industrial Britain, generations of families grew up in the same small village
communities. These communities had a strong sense of identity, due to their shared customs
and beliefs. However, developments in transport, communications and manufacturing led to
the dispersal of families and village communities as people moved to the cities in search of
work. Nowadays most British villages are inhabited by commuters, many of whom do not know
their closest neighbours.
On the other hand, in some parts of the world traditional cultures still thrive. There are tribes in
the Amazon Rainforest, for example, that have been completely untouched by the
technological developments of the developed world. These tribal communities continue to hunt
and gather food from the forest, and traditional skills are passed on to children by parents and
elders. Other traditional cultures, such as farming communities in parts of Africa, are embracing
communications technologies. Mobile phones give farmers access to information, from
weather predictions to market prices, which helps them to prosper and therefore supports
their culture.
In conclusion, many traditional ways of life have been lost as a result of advances in technology,
but other traditional communities have survived and even flourished.
(266 words, band 9)
2016
1. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during
festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you
agree or disagree with this opinion
Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals and that most
of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While I agree that enjoyment seems to be the
priority during festival times, I do not agree that people have forgotten what these festivals
mean.
On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for celebration.
In the UK, Christmas is a good example of a festival period when people are most concerned
with shopping, giving and receiving presents, decorating their homes and enjoying traditional
meals with their families. Most people look forward to Christmas as a holiday period, rather
than a time to practise religion. Similar behaviour can be seen during non-religious festivals,
such as Bonfire Night. People associate this occasion with making fires, watching firework
displays, and perhaps going to large events in local parks; in other words, enjoyment is people’s
primary goal.
However, I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning of such festivals has been
forgotten. In UK primary schools, children learn in detail about the religious reasons for
celebrating Christmas, Easter and a variety of festivals in other religions. For example, in late
December, children sing Christmas songs which have a religious content, and they may even
perform nativity plays telling the story of Jesus’ birth. Families also play a role in passing
knowledge of religious festivals’ deeper significance on to the next generation. The same is true
for festivals that have a historical background, such as Bonfire Night or Halloween, in the sense
that people generally learn the stories behind these occasions at an early age.
In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals, I believe that
they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations.
(296 words, band 9)
2. DISCUSSION + OPINION
Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
In recent years, extreme sports have become increasingly popular, and some people argue that
governments should prohibit them. I completely disagree with the idea that these sports are
too dangerous, and I, therefore, believe that they should not be banned.
In my opinion, so-called extreme sports are not as dangerous as many people think. All sports
involve some element of risk, and there should always be clear regulations and safety
procedures to reduce the possibility of accidents. People who take part in extreme sports are
usually required to undergo appropriate training so that the dangers are minimised. For
example, anyone who wants to try skydiving will need to sign up for lessons with a registered
club, and beginners are not allowed to dive solo; they must be accompanied by an experienced
professional. Finally, the protective equipment and technology used in sports from motor
racing to mountain climbing are constantly improving safety.
While I support regulations and safety measures, I believe that it would be wrong, and almost
impossible, to ban extreme sports. In the first place, we should all be free to decide how we
spend our leisure time; as long as we understand the risks, I do not believe that politicians
should stop us from enjoying ourselves. However, an even stronger argument against such a
ban would be the difficulty of enforcing it. Many of the riskiest sports, like base jumping or big
wave surfing, are practised far away from the reach of any authorities. I cannot imagine the
police being called to stop people from parachuting off a mountain face or surfing on an
isolated beach.
In conclusion, I would argue that people should be free to enjoy extreme sports as long as they
understand the risks and take the appropriate precautions.
3. DISCUSSION + OPINION
In many countries, a small number of people earn extremely high salaries. Some people
believe that this is good for the country, but others think that governments should not allow
salaries above a certain level.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
People have different views about whether governments should introduce a maximum wage.
While in some ways it may seem reasonable to allow people to earn as much as companies are
willing to pay, I personally believe that employee remuneration should be capped at a certain
level.
There are various reasons why it might be considered beneficial to allow people to be paid
extremely high salaries. If companies offer excellent pay packages, they can attract the most
talented people in their fields to work for them. For example, technology companies like
Google are able to employ the best programmers because of the huge sums that they are
willing to pay. Furthermore, these well-paid employees are likely to be highly motivated to
work hard and therefore drive their businesses successfully. In theory, this should result in a
thriving economy and increased tax revenues, which means that paying high salaries benefits
everyone.
However, I agree with those who argue that there should be a maximum wage. By introducing a
limit on earnings, the pay gap between bosses and employees can be reduced. Currently, the
difference between normal and top salaries is huge, and this can demotivate workers who feel
that the situation is unfair. With lower executive salaries, it might become feasible to introduce
higher minimum wages, and everybody would be better off. One possible consequence of
greater equality could be that poverty and crime rates fall because the general population will
experience an improved standard of living.
In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be better, on balance, for governments to set a limit
on the wages of the highest earners in society.
(274 words, band 9)
4. OPINION
Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to find a way to live
with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth, but some people argue that we need
to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this opinion, because I believe
that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce the human impact on the Earth's climate.
There are various measures that governments and individuals could take to prevent, or at least
mitigate, climate change. Governments could introduce laws to limit the carbon dioxide
emissions that lead to global warming. They could impose “green taxes” on drivers, airline
companies and other polluters, and they could invest in renewable energy production from
solar, wind or water power. As individuals, we should also try to limit our contribution to
climate change, by becoming more energy-efficient, by flying less, and by using bicycles and
public transport. Furthermore, the public can affect the actions of governments by voting for
politicians who propose to tackle climate change, rather than for those who would prefer to
ignore it.
If instead of taking the above measures we simply try to live with climate change, I believe that
the consequences will be disastrous. To give just one example, I am not optimistic that we
would be able to cope with even a small rise in sea levels. Millions of people would be displaced
by flooding, particularly in countries that do not have the means to safeguard low-lying areas.
These people would lose their homes and their jobs, and they would be forced to migrate to
nearby cities or perhaps to other countries. The potential for human suffering would be huge,
and it is likely that we would see outbreaks of disease and famine, as well as increased
homelessness and poverty.
In conclusion, it is clear to me that we must address the problem of climate change, and I
disagree with those who argue that we can find ways to live with it.
(322 words, band 9)
5. DISCUSSION + OPINION
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 own opinion.
People have different views about how governments should measure their countries’ progress.
While economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those who believe that other
measures of progress are just as important.
There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries.
Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better
salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for
governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with
higher revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system and its
hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country’s standing on the global stage, in terms
of its political influence and trading power.
However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as significant as the
economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should consider the area of social justice,
human rights, equality and democracy itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is
often seen as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps
another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern country should be how well
that country protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards
environmental sustainability. Alternatively, the success of a nation could be measured by
looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents.
In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country’s success, but social,
environmental and health criteria are equally significant.
(262 words, band 9)
6.PROBLEMS + SOLUTION
More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but city life can be
extremely difficult. Explain some of the difficulties of living in a city. How can governments
make urban life better for everyone?
Cities are often seen as places of opportunity, but there are also some major drawbacks of
living in a large metropolis. In my opinion, governments could do much more to improve city
life for the average inhabitant.
The main problem for anyone who hopes to migrate to a large city is that the cost of living is
likely to be much higher than it is in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to pay
higher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Another issue is that urban areas tend to
suffer from social problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with rural
areas. Furthermore, the air quality in cities is often poor, due to pollution from traffic, and the
streets and public transport systems are usually overcrowded. As a result, city life can be
unhealthy and stressful.
However, there are various steps that governments could take to tackle these problems. Firstly,
they could invest money in the building of affordable or social housing to reduce the cost of
living. Secondly, politicians have the power to ban vehicles from city centres and promote the
use of cleaner public transport, which would help to reduce both air pollution and traffic
congestion. In London, for example, the introduction of a congestion charge for drivers has
helped to curb the traffic problem. A third option would be to develop provincial towns and
rural areas, by moving industry and jobs to those regions, in order to reduce the pressure on
major cities.
In conclusion, governments could certainly implement a range of measures to enhance the
quality of life for all city residents.
(273 words, band 9)