how to get a band 8.0 in ielts writing task 2 - pdf4pro

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How to Get a Band 8.0 in IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips, Strategies and Band 9.0 Sample

Golden rules:

Use the question to help you organize your answer.

Check the general topic of the question, usually, a problem, a point of view or a statement

with two opposing views.

Check how many parts there are to the question.

Make a brief plan. Use the focus points in the question.

Plan to write about four/five paragraphs. Keep this writing structure in mind:

Introduction:

The introduction should tell the examiner what the rest of the essay is about and also answer the

question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and

helps you write your main body paragraphs.

Supporting body paragraphs:

This is where you give the examiner more detail. You do this by stating your main points and

supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

Conclusion:

Here your provide a summary of what you have already said in the rest of the essay.

Reminder:

Make very brief notes about what you are going to write for each paragraph- one idea for

each paragraph is enough.

Aim to write around 270 words.

Work out how many lines 250 words are in your handwriting, e.g. If you write about ten

words per line, then you will need to produce at least 25 lines.

Spend no more than five minutes analyzing the question and planning.

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Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics:

The most common IELTS essay topics are:

Health

Environment

Education

International Development

Globalization

Public Transport

Crime & Punishment

Youth Crime

Technology

Government Spending

Traditional Culture

Travel & Tourism

Society

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Health Sample 1:

Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat meat to have a healthy

diet. Do you agree or disagree?

Band 8.5 Sample Essay

In the last few decades, vegetarianism has entered the mainstream of many societies, most

notably in western countries. It is suggested by those who side with vegetarians that meat is not a

necessary element in a healthy diet and that going vegan is the way to go in modern times.

Personally, I reckon that this view has flaws.

In the first place, non-vegetarian diets are considerably higher in total intake of protein, which is

highly beneficial for the body. As scientists show, protein can not only improve the overall

health and fitness but also can contribute to reinforcing the immune system. As vegetarian diets

hardly meet daily protein requirements, those who follow are generally more vulnerable to

fatigue even when doing physically undemanding tasks or they can be more susceptible to

common diseases such as flu or cold.

In the second place, meat is also a fertile source of many nutrients such as iron or zinc. It is

already recognized that while iron helps in producing tissues inside the body, zinc is

indispensable in helping transporting oxygen to different parts of the body, thus allowing the

proper functioning of all body organs. Besides, when consuming meat, the body will also be

absorbing numerous kinds of vitamins which strengthen bone structures and promote the health

of the teeth or the eyes.

To conclude, the above-mentioned points have manifestly shown that the benefits derived from

following a wholesome diet overshadow those from vegetable-only one. Thus, it is not advisable

to become vegetarians.

Useful expressions:

To enter the mainstream of...: become popular

This view has flaws: This view can be argued against.

To reinforce the immune system: make the immune system stronger. To improve overall

fitness.

They can be more susceptible to common diseases: They are more likely to get sick.

Indispensable (adj.): very important.

To be more vulnerable to fatigue: to be more likely to get sick

Be a fertile source of many nutrients: be very nutritious

To strengthen bone structures: make the bones stronger.

Manifestly (adv.): obviously.

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Health Sample 2:

Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease, governments should make

efforts in reducing environmental pollutions and housing problems.

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


In recent years, the outbreak of rare and new diseases has been preying on the minds of millions

of people in the world. Some suggest that the only way to win the battle against illness and

disease is to improve the environmental conditions and solve housing problems. As far as I am

concerned, I am on the same wavelength with them on this matter.

It is no exaggeration to say that today the environmental pollution has reached its peak and its

effects on human, animals and vegetation alike can be grave and irreparable. With each passing

minute, hundreds of lives are claimed in the world and their reasons of death are from people‟s

daily activities – those related to the degradation of the environment. For instance, farmers today

are no stranger to the practice of overdosing the farmlands with pesticides and insecticides.

Besides, countless factories are poisoning the water with toxic refuse and environmentally

unfriendly chemicals. Apparently, if efforts are made in stopping these activities, many people

would be saved from unnecessary diseases.

In addition to this, I feel that in order to combat disease, housing problems should be properly

addressed; especially in metropolitan areas where accommodation is scarce and people are

plentiful. Homeless people who are forced to live in the gutter or in small sewage-ridden, iron

sheds on the streets are carrying diseases that are highly infectious. For this reason, they should

be provided with sanitary places where they can live so as not to affect the lives of other people.

To conclude, it is my belief that most modern plagues can be prevented if the governments are

willing to take the bull by the horns, to introduce and enforce appropriate measures in

handling this situation. I hope that future generation enjoy lives with no disease.

Useful expression:

The outbreak of diseases: The time when diseases begin to spread

I am on the same wavelength with something: I agree with it

Reach the peak: become severe

Vegetation (n.): plants in general

Toxic refuse: toxic chemicals

Infectious diseases: contagious diseases

To overdose: To abuse

Plague (n.): any serious disease.

To take the bull by the horn: face with problems

Enforce (v.): make it happen

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Health Sample 3:

Scientists tell us that some activities are good for health and others are bad. Despite

knowing that, millions of people still continue doing unhealthy activities.

What are the causes and what are the solutions for this?

Model Essay

Modern people are regularly informed about the dangers of leading unhealthy lifestyles. Despite

the spectacular advances in the medical field, many people are still suffering from and being

killed by diseases, most of which are preventable.

There are some reasons why there is still a prevalent habit of doing unhealthy activities. This

can be, firstly, explained by the fact that most people are prone to undue optimism. Although

powerful and constant reminders of what unsound lifestyles can bring is readily available

everywhere, people still keep the faith that they would hardly be inflicted. Even for those who

are aware, they are often in denial and convince themselves that unhealthy habits are not as

terrible as the media want them to believe. Secondly, once people are addicted to unhealthy

habits, it is very difficult for them to break. For example, people with smoking habits cannot

reduce their dependency on cigarettes due to its high addictiveness, or people with sedentary

lifestyles are unable to bring themselves to be more active on the simple grounds that exercises

are not pleasurable.

To address this problems, multiple solutions can be proposed. One of which is imposing

higher taxes on unhealthy products, such as food with high concentration of fat, alcohol or

cigarettes. This solution promises direct impacts. Moreover, healthy lifestyles should be

further promoted and likewise unhealthy lifestyles should be strictly criticised on the media.

With a sense of self-protection and knowledge that everybody around them practise the same

habit, I believe that people would find it easier to break their old self-destructive lifestyles.

Useful expressions:

Spectacular advances: Huge advances.

Prevalent habit: a habit that many people have.

To be prone to undue optimism: Feel too optimistic

Unsound lifestyle: unhealthy lifestyle.

To be inflicted: to suffer.

Sedentary (adj.): not involving many physical exercises.

To reduce their dependency on something: To become less dependent on it.

On the simple grounds that...: For a simple reason that...

Impose higher tax: to increase tax.

To break the old self-destructive lifestyles: To give it up.

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Environment Sample 1

Wildlife Conservation

Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are given in the

protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree or disagree about this opinion?

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

The protection of wildlife has become a frequent subject of debate with strong arguments for and

against. Personally, I believe that humans are paying too much attention and allocating too many

resources to this issue, as will now be explained.

Firstly, if we allow any species to disappear, this is actually not a disaster. Some people may

argue that the biology will be seriously affected if birds and wild animals are on the verge of

extinction, but this is an exaggeration. Fossil evidence suggests that the mass disappearance of

the dinosaur did not cause any harm to other species on the Earth but merely triggered the

emergence of others such as the mammal. Therefore, we should not devote too many attention to

the protection of wildlife.

Secondly, public money is limited. This means that the national budget should be allocated to

more urgent issues rather than expending too much in the conservation of wild animals and birds.

For example, more resources should be diverted to medical research to find out remedies of fatal

diseases such as HIV and cancer, which may help to save thousands of lives in society.

Finally, the government can simply protect wildlife by continuing campaigns to raise public

awareness of the protection of wildlife habitats, or impose stricter punishments on activities that

may harm wild animals. Any individual who hunts wildlife for food or for pleasure should be

given a heavy fine, and this may discourage them from threatening the life of wild animals.

In conclusion, while I do not refute the argument for the conservation of wildlife, I believe that it

should attract less attention and fewer resources from the public.

(276 words)

Useful expressions:

wildlife: animals, birds, insects, etc. that are wild and live in a natural environment.

e.g. Development of the area would endanger wildlife.

on the verge of extinction: nearly extinct

e.g. Today, many animals are on the verge of extinction.

exaggeration: a statement of description that makes something seem larger, better, worse or

more important than it really is; the act of making a statement like this

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e.g. There was a degree of exaggeration in his description of events.

To devote something to smth: to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to something

e.g. I could only devote two hours a day to the work.

To expend smth: to use or spend a lot of time, money, energy, etc

e.g. She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children.

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Band 8.0 Sample Answer 2:

For centuries, deforestation, farming, urbanisation and other human activities have wreaked

havoc with wild animal species and sent them to the verge of extinction. Regarding wildlife

protection, awareness has been raised and attempts have been made. However, some hold the

idea that the protection of endangered species has been given inordinate amount of attention

and resources. Personally, I do not see eye to eye with this point of view.

In the first place, wildlife protection has never taken centre stage on the media. Compared with

celebrities, for example, the amount of coverage of wild animals is infinitesimal. Clearly, the

reason is profits. In other words, programs featuring wild animals do not generate interest of the

public and accordingly returns for the producers. The absence of educational programs

concerning the lives of wild animals has blinded people to the reality that wild animals are dying

and the ecological system are being disrupted severely.

In addition, governments around the world do not prioritise wildlife conservation in their

agenda's. As a matter of fact, laws to save wild animals have been introduced, but they are

loosely enforced. Because of this, every man can freely exploit land, chop down forests, and

divert the water sources, all of which combine to destroy the natural habitats of threatened

animals.

In every corners of the world, with or without intention, human are still causing changes in

climatic and geographical conditions, which accelerates animal extinction. In light of this fact,

I feel that not enough attention and resources are being given to the conservation of wild flora

and fauna and stronger actions need to be taken to save them.

Useful expressions:

To send something to the verge of extintion: make them become extinct.

To be given inordinate amount of attention: to receive not enough attention.

See eye to eye with: agree with

Coverage (n.) the reporting (in media)

To be infinitesimal: insignificant

To disrupt the ecological system: to make it lose balance.

Laws are loosely enforced: Laws are disregarded.

To chop down forest: cut down a lot of trees.

Divert (v.): change its direction

In light of this fact: all things considered

The flora and fauna: every animals and plants.

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Energy Resources

The consumption of the world's resources (oil, and water etc.) is increasing at a dangerous

rate. What are causes and solutions?


Recently, the rapid consumption of the world's resources such as oil, fresh water or mineral

deposits has inflicted detrimental effects on both human kind and other species. In this essay,

some causes and solutions to this issue will be cited.

There are a variety of forces that drive this issue. First of all, the populations in many countries,

especially the developing ones have risen tremendously, which speeds up industrialisation to

meet the growing demands of the rising number of people. This is clearly reflected in China

where hundreds of factories are established and put into operation on a daily basis to

accommodate more than 1.3 billion residents. Second of all, the combination of low awareness

of the citizens and lax regulations from the government has contributed to the exhaustion of

natural resources in many areas. For example, in the middle highland Vietnam or Indonesia

which used to lush with countless species of trees, the forest has now been bare due to these two

reasons.

Although this is a thorny issue, it can be dealt with by some methods. The first one is imposing

population control. It is of my opinion that this should be considered temporary as in the long

run, it can create aging population and poor quality labour force. The second solution is raising

the awareness of citizens about the importance of preserving and protecting the world's resources.

This can be done by organizing educational programs or school activities. The third is seeking

alternative sources of energy. Although this can be risky and incur high costs, it can bring many

promising results. In addition, the government can pass and enforce stricter laws, along with

imposing higher tax on businesses which operate on the use of resources, however, it can

stagnate the economy.

All things considered, the excessive use of resources is caused by many factors and it can be

bridled by the aforementioned methods. (314 words)

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Useful expressions:

There are a variety of forces that drive this issue: There are many reasons for this.

Speed up (v.) make something happen faster.

Lax regulations: regulations that not many people follow because they are not strict.

The exhaustion of natural resources: The fact that natural resources become rare.

Bare (Adj.) not covered by anything

To put something into operation: to run it.

To lush with countless species of trees: to be full of trees.

A thorny issue: a complicated issue.

To incur high costs: to be expensive

To stagnate the economy: make the economy worse

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Cost of Fuel

The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel. To

what extent do you agree or disagree?


The overconsumption of fossil fuel has become as a major topic of concern recently. Some

people suggest that increasing the fuel price can be the solution to cope with the environmental

issues. Personally, I believe that other measures should also be given equal consideration.

Firstly, increasing the fuel expense cannot minimise the global dependence on fuel. It should be

first noted that even when the price of fuel increases significantly, people still cannot cut down

the tremendous demand for petrol at once. For example, in daily life people still need to use their

cars despite the fluctuation in petrol price. Another clear reason is that petrol is also intended for

other applications in manufacturing industries and agricultural purposes. If the price of fuel

increases, the national economy could suffer many unfavourable consequences.

When it comes to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions, some measures should be taken to

mitigate the problems of over consuming fuel. The most practical measure at the moment is to

reduce the demand for resources in daily activities like traveling or production. This can be done

by encouraging people to turn to mass-producing energy-efficient products like hybrid cars or

implementing new saving energy technology in manufacture. Besides, the most sustainable

solution is to lower the reliance on fuel by taking advantage of alternative resources. Wind and

tidal power in the Netherlands, nuclear power in Japan and solar power in the United States have

all proven their efficiency in energy in energy production. These could be employed in other

parts of the world to minimise the global dependence on fossil fuel.

As all existing data above shows that the only cutting down the fuel price will not reduce the

global warming effects. Some strong alternative measures need to be implemented to tackle this

situation.

Useful expressions:

Tremendous (adj.): very great in amount or level, or extremely good.

Mass-produce (v.): to produce a lot of goods cheaply using machines in a factory.

Energy-efficient (adj.): using little electricity, gas, etc

Hybrid (adj.) (also hybrid car): a vehicle with an engine that uses both petrol and another

type of energy, usually electricity.

Implement (v.): to start using a plan or system.

Solar power: energy from the Sun

Fossil fuel: fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed underground from plant and

animal remains millions of years ago.

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Education Sample 1

Humanitarian Subjects

Some people say that humanitarian subjects such as philosophy, history and literature that

people study in universities have no value for their future career. To what extent do you

agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.

Band 9.0 Sample Essay:

Humanitarian education teaches various social topics from a humanitarian perspective. However

important our academic careers may be for us, a certain iota of humanity is always expected

from us as being the superior living beings on earth. Whether we need to study specialized

subjects for such a quality to develop in us is a debatable issue.

The people who opine that studying such subjects is a waste of time may believe so, keeping in

mind that many academic curriculum is set and rarely changes. Therefore, the history, literature

or philosophy that is taught is done from a text-bookish perspective, and does not give in-depth

knowledge of the same. Also, people feel that memorizing dates and facts, sources of the origin

of a language, or brooding on lessons derived from life hardly matter when we go out in search

of work.

On the contrary, humanitarian education particularly relates to offering assistance to others in an

emergency or crisis and is also used to refer to the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for

individuals and communities to help themselves. In the hostile environment we are living

nowadays, the goal of humanitarian education of communities increasing their resilience and

individuals and groups becoming confident, able and willing to help themselves and others when

faced with a crisis, is something that can obviously not be developed on our own.

I believe we need to look beyond the established stereotyping of history, literature and

philosophy as subjects and need to broaden our mentality. Apart from the much popular career

choices that rake in our desired amount of money, the historians, literary scholars and

philosophers too play an important role in our societies. The teachings and observations of Karl

Marx, Aristotle, Socrates, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and many such other

personalities are still cited today for reference.

Summarizing this essay we can conclude that classifying humanitarian subjects as having no

value for future careers is narrow minded. These subjects are also as important as any other,

when being chosen for a thorough study so as to make a career out of them.

(347 words)

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Education Sample 2

In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of

subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular

career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today’s world?

Band 8.0 Model Essay

Although most children today enjoy the right to receive education, it is not within their power

to decide what subjects they may study at school. Regarding this matter, educational theorists

still find themselves at loggerheads over whether secondary schools should impart knowledge

of various fields, or they should concentrate on teaching only a few selected subjects relating to a

certain sphere of education. From my perspective, I reckon that secondary educational content

should be narrowed down for students.

First of all, a fewer choice of subjects to study at school will create a window of opportunity

for students to blossom socially. To further explain this, students will not constantly find

themselves in a battle against time trying to complete their homework, to prepare for new lessons

or to review for upcoming exams. Instead, they will have more spare time to spend outdoors, to

be with their friends or just to be with themselves. In this way, their self-confidence or

communication skills will be boosted significantly.

It has been found that secondary students nowadays are feeling more stressed and overwhelmed

than ever before, and the reason to explain this is quite self-explanatory. Many children today

consider their schools prisons and their teachers correctional officers who would not stop giving

them dull assignments to complete. When the inspiration to study is almost non-existent, it is

understandably difficult for the students to keep a good performance at school. Consequently, the

quality of education, on the whole, will go downhill.

To conclude, I hold the firm belief that the schools should focus on a small choice of practical

subjects so that the lives of secondary students should not be fettered down by any undue

responsibility.

Useful expressions:

It is not within their power to decide: They cannot decide

To be at loggerheads: strongly disagree

Sphere of education: aspect of education

Create a window of opportunities: provide a lot of opportunities

To blossom socially: to socialise more with more people

Dull assignments: works that make no sense.

Overwhelmed (adj.) under pressure

To go downhill: to reduce in quality.

Fetter down (v.) to keep somebody within limits.

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Education Sample 3

It is more important for schoolchildren to learn about local history than world history. To

what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model Essay 1:

Teaching history for schoolchildren has been a heated topic constantly. There is a common

belief that local history is more important to children than world history. However, I disagree

with this belief.

I believe the notion that local history is more valuable than world history should be rejected.

Some people may claim that the insights into the localhistorical values are completely enough for

one to live. Their claim could be true a few decades ago when most interpersonal

communications were between people of the same race and origin. However, this view is now

outdated, as the world has become globalised and international businessand migrant workers

have made any community a global village. In this context, an understanding of a foreign

country‟s history would enable future local workers to reinforce the relationship between them

and theexpatriates from that country.

In addition, I am strongly convinced that children would benefit the most only when the learning

of local history is placed parallel to that of world history. To understand a local historical event,

children should put the regional and sometimes even world context in that historical era into

consideration. For example, children should acknowledge that the event that Vietnam regained

its independence after defeating the Japanese troops in Indochina in 1945 only happened after a

series of relevant events in the World War II, one of which is the surrender of Japan to the Allies.

In this way of learning, children would understand history more deeply andthoroughly.

All the existing data has provided a concrete foundation that the study of local history should

always be parallel to that of world history. This practice would guarantee that children learn

history more comprehensively and be able to tighten the bond with migrant workers in their

country.

(298 words)

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Model Essay 2:

History is a subject that is present in most school systems and is compulsory at many levels of

education. Regarding this matter, debate has been heated about the importance of teaching of

local history, instead of world history to schoolchildren. In my point of view, the focus of this

subject should be placed on the local history rather than the history of the world.

Firstly, local history provides a foundation for the youth to explore their own identity and that of

their nation. For example, Vietnamese school children should be educated about the Great

Hunger occurred in 1945 during the war with the Japanese in order to fully appreciate the plight

that their forefathers had experienced and therefore value the life of peace, freedom and

independence today. I feel it is essential that the youth, the leaders of tomorrow, are given the

broadest, most accurate platform on which they can construct their own perceptions of life.

Opponents of this view claim that the world history should not be removed from the school

programs as it is related to local history and students will have a better understanding of the

subject. I am convinced that this view is flawed. In fact, much history teaching is concerned

simply with memorising “facts” in the world that have little to do with their own countries and

therefore students will feel overburdened if they are obligated to learn it. This, in the long run,

would not benefit children.

All things considered, for school children, the relevance of receiving knowledge about local

history dwarfs that of learning world history.

(263 words)

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Model Essay 3:

It is argued that children in the age of schooling should place more emphasis on learning the

history of the place where they live than the global history. While I agree that finding the local

history will help them gain more knowledge of their origin, I believe that there are some benefits

of accessing the world history.

On the one hand, it is true that teaching children understanding of the local history helps them

promote a sense of patriotism. In fact, the whole Vietnamese had suffered numerous strauma

during the war against Western enemies, just because thousands of Vietnam heroes sacrificed

their live to protect the independence and freedom. Therefore, they have to a duty to increase the

nationalism in the preservation of the peace that they are enjoying. Furthermore, nowadays more

young people are reluctant to studying history compared to epochal significance. This means that

the value of historical events will be put aside to some extent and gradually sink into oblivion,

hence it is vital that children should learn the past of ancestors and predecessors.

On the other hand, studying history in the world brings numerous benefits to young learners.

Firstly, obtaining knowledge from the world enhances our horizons of the civilization and

developments of humans. During the globalization, more children are likely to access

international education, so they face misunderstanding and backwardness when moving to a new

country if they fail to recognize the importance of human history. In addition, attaining cultural

literacy on a world scale is another advantage. Human beings, unlike other species, have the gift

of language, that is, symbolic thinking and communication, so communicating intelligently in

any language, requires that we share a common fund of knowledge, information, vocabulary, and

conceptual tools to become global citizens.

In conclusion, I hold my firm belief that by learning history at a local and international level in

educational system, future generations will get deeper insights into the past human dignity.

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Education Sample 4

Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should

reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or those coming from rural areas.

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

Band 8.5 Sample Essay:

There has been a significant increase in the university fees in the recent years, making it difficult

for people of limited means to consider getting educated. This essay shall explain the fee rise in

the universities along with offering solutions in the advantage of poorer students.

As the requirements of the world have become dynamic, so has the education industry in terms

of curriculum and facilities. Renowned universities now provide far more diverse courses with

many advanced facilities to aid students. This encourages student migration; therefore the

universities have to add the tuition fees and accommodation charges in the fee structure.

Naturally, the university fees will rise. With more and more students taking admissions every

year, this hike in fees seems unlikely to go down.

However, this is not a very beneficial situation for the less privileged students. Most students

who opt for university studies do so in hopes of getting good jobs, so as to be able to recover

their study expenses. But high fees make it incredibly expensive and burdensome for these

students to pursue higher education from the start. One solution can be of getting student loans,

but in many cases it is observed that students‟ parents simply don‟t have the collateral to get

loans.

Some alternatives in favour of reducing university fees for students can be to raise income from

third party sources; this can be comparatively easy for top universities. Getting government

funding is another option. Also, instead of a blanket reduction in fees, if possible, a nominal hike

can be made in the general fee structure, excluding the poor students, for their better targeted

support.

To conclude, I‟d say the cost of a degree is an important determinant of the decision to apply to

university. In order to grow their talent pools and attract the best talent, rich or poor, universities

should provide a consideration for students that cannot take admissions due to financial

constraints, but could‟ve otherwise performed remarkably.

(326 words)

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Education Sample 5

Too much emphasis is placed on going university for academic education. People should be

encouraged to do vocational training, because there is a lack of qualified trades people such

as electricians or plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Band 8.0 Model Answer:

By most people, vocational training is considered a dishonourable escape route for those who are

not smart enough to attend colleges. Now that the scarcity of qualified craftsmen, such as

construction workers, electricians or locksmiths is getting more acute, some have suggested that

more people should be encouraged to undergo vocational training. From my point of view, I cast

no doubt on the veracity of this statement.

There are multiple benefits that can be derived from attending trade schools instead of

universities. In the first place, programs of vocational schools are often shorter. More specifically,

while college students have to commit to at least 3 years of full-time study, it takes only 1 or 2

years for students to receive certain specialised certifications. In addition, the principal focus of

vocational programs is on providing hands-on experience to students and there is no need for

them to study subjects that are not relevant to their choice of subject. The prime example for this

is Vietnamese college students, regardless of what majors they pursue, are obliged to study

concepts of the communist party while students of trade schools do not have to. For this reason,

their employability is significantly enhanced.

Despite such advantages, many are still skeptical about taking vocational training as it does not

offer much flexibility. I acknowledge that the career choices are much more limited for

vocational students and that there is little chance for them to change their career if they desire to.

However, if students receive proper career orientation program before embarking on their

learning, few wrong decisions will be made.

All things considered, I am inclined to restate that vocational training should no longer be kept

on the periphery of the educational system and that it should be encouraged among students of

all levels of education.

Useful words and expressions:

I cast no doubt on…: I firmly believe in…

Derive benefit from: take the benefit from

Vocational school: school that provides you with skill necessary for a job.

Prime example: classical example

Employability is enhanced: The chance of getting employed is increased

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International Development Sample 1

Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a

positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their

identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own

opinion and relevant examples.


Global communication and trade, at the turn of the 21st century, have brought about many

effects. On one hand, they‟re blurring technological, economic, political, and cultural boundaries,

however on the other they‟re said to be crushing a country‟s individuality. I personally believe in

the former opinion more, which shall be reasoned out further in this essay.

Outsourcing is one of the negative impacts of world trade, where a country loses majority of its

jobs to workers in foreign; a stark example is the outsourcing of companies from the US to

Indian BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) units. Another, is the increasing reliance on foreign

brands compared to local equivalents, for example imported chocolate cookies have more

consumption rates than the ones produced by local companies. A large blame is to be put on

social communications for creating an overhyped necessity for foreign brands in one‟s lifestyle.

Such factors are considered to be a significant blow to a country‟s own economy and morale of

its producers thereby giving rise to the statement in the question.

Looking at the pace international trade is increasing tells us a different story though. In contrast

to the ill-effects mentioned above, a number of advantages are put forward by people beckoning

world trade to boom. International trade is beneficial to world economy. It adds to the money

coffers of the world at large. Every country can benefit monetarily if it is able to dispose off its

surplus goods after meeting the requirements of the local people. Consequently the wages and

lifestyles of the people automatically start climbing. There‟s no stopping globalization so as to

consider it; a practical approach would be to take on its positive aspects and work in an

according direction to prevent this phenomenon from becoming harmful.

Concluding this topic as a positive trend for the world economies, I would like to say that

countries cannot live in isolation. They have to mutually share their prosperity, technical know-

how and undertake trade in order to sell their surplus products. The world economy is inter-

dependent. Economic progress of a nation would depend upon its ties with other countries.

(351 words)

20


It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people

in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Band 9.0 Model Essay 1

The role of one government to support citizens of other countries has been a major topic of

concern in today‟s society. From my perspective, this practice is feasible and there are

compelling reasons why governments should help people in the global community rather than

only focusing on the citizens of their own countries.

In this context of globalisation and international integration, the provision of assistance for

peoples of all countries in the world is not an impossible task anymore. One explanation for this

is that modern means of transport have transformed the way that international assistance could be

given, and now assistance could reach even the most remote places on Earth. For example,

thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in a mountainous city in Nepal were rescued by US

and German military helicopters in 2014. One further explanation is that thanks to international

banking, the international community could offer a helping hand to any country where the

financial system is on the verge of collapse. An excellent example of this is that the saving

money of millions of taxpayers and pensioners in Greece was saved by a timely act of the

European Commission of injecting a huge amount of bailout money into Greek banks in 2009.

I strongly believe any government must assume the responsibility of helping citizens in other

countries. This is mainly because assisting inhabitants in other countries, to some extent, is

synonymous to assisting people in the home country. In 2014, hundreds of US and UK doctors

and nurses were sent to African countries to cope with the outbreak of Ebola, a dreadful plague,

which had killed many thousands by that time. This action prevented the plague from further

spreading to other nations, including the US and the UK themselves, considering that there was a

free movement of people between countries and there were millions of African migrant workers

in the US and the UK at that time. In addition, the act of supporting people all around the world

may promote a sense of humanity, which is essential to the sustainable development of the world,

because humanity is the foundation of peace and stability.

To conclude, governments must provide assistance for citizens of other countries for a clear

reason that this feasible act could simultaneously enhance a global sense of humanity and assure

their own nationals of a proper living environment.

21


Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are

problems in our own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to

help as many people as possible.

On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow citizens. In most

communities there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible

to find homeless people, for example, in even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are

concerned about this problem, there are usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to

support these people. In the UK, people can help in a variety of ways, from donating clothing to

serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our doorstep, and there are obvious

ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise local charity.

At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national

borders. In some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our

own communities, and it is often even easier to help. For example, when children are dying from

curable diseases in African countries, governments and individuals in richer countries can save

lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A small donation to an international

charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.

In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national boundaries

should not stop us from helping those who are in need.

(280 words)

22


More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending a short time doing

unpaid work such as teaching and building houses for communities in poorer countries.

What are the reasons for this?

Who benefits more from this, the communities or these young people?


There has been an ongoing trend of many young people from prosperous nations deciding to

spend their time doing voluntary work in underprivileged countries. Some of the prominent

reasons for this phenomenon will be discussed, before the benefits of both individuals and

developing countries are analysed.

There are several convincing reasons associated with this practice. The most significant factor is

that doing such unpaid work in poor countries would be a comparative advantage for the young

when applying for a job in the future. In other words, in this fierce and competitive job market, a

candidate possessing an application file accompanied by only great scores could not be the ideal

one that a recruiter is finding; therefore, he or she needs outstanding volunteering experience to

be able to compete with other rivals. Another reason that is worth mentioning is that young

generations could engender the feeling of community when participating in unpaid work. Their

voluntary efforts help to give prominence to the value of sharing and the sense of social

responsibility to secure improved humanity and international awareness about disadvantaged

places.

It is undoubted that both the young volunteers and underdeveloped or developing countries could

equally gain from this phenomenon. Regarding the young, it is apparent that the aforementioned

meaningful work not only brings the volunteers unforgettable life lessons, gives them hands – on

experience but also helps expand their network of relationships. As a result, they gradually grow

more mature and confident, realizing the diversity of life by getting to know many walks of

people. In regard to poorer countries, they may have a chance to raise the living standards of

their dwellers. For instance, knowledge related to environment protection or health care which

they have acquired from overseas volunteers possibly improves their living conditions afterwards.

To sum up, the requirement of more competitive profile and the determination to support

financially disadvantaged countries are the two principal elements that make young people join a

wide range of voluntary activities. I would contend that both the volunteers and the community

are the beneficiaries of the practice above.

23

Globalisation Sample 1

Nowadays the differences between countries are becoming less evident because we see the

same TV shows, advertisements, fashion and follow the same brands. To what extent the

advantages of this trend outweigh its disadvantages?


We are now living in a global village where geographical barriers have become insignificant. All

over the world, people wear the same kind of clothes, eat the same foods and watch the same

films. In my opinion, this trend has made life easier for us all.

There are several benefits to following global fashion trends. It makes traveling easier. For

example, now Indians and Americans or Europeans have more or less the same tastes in fashion,

food and music. As a result, young Indian professionals can travel to the US or Europe and still

feel at home there. The biggest advantage of following a global lifestyle is that it eliminates

culture shock when you travel to other countries. It also protects you from discrimination. When

you wear the same kind of clothes or eat the same kind of foods as everyone else, you will not

stand out. This will actually protect you from various forms of discrimination that you might

experience when you are in a foreign country. An Indian woman living in the US will be at a

disadvantage if she insists on wearing only traditional Indian clothes and eating only vegetarian

foods. This will limit the choices she has, but if she is willing to follow the culture of the country

she lives in, life will be easier for her.

The only disadvantage of this trend is the loss of ethnicity. Every nation has its traditional styles

of fashion and clothing. When everyone wears the same kind of clothes, this cultural legacy gets

lost.

To conclude, the benefits of following global trends in lifestyle and fashion are many. It makes

life easier for the globetrotting youngsters. There are, nonetheless, a few disadvantages, but there

is an easy way to get around them. People who are proud of their ethnic fashion and lifestyle can

follow it when they are in their own country.

24


Globalisation has allowed people to adopt a homogeneous culture in terms of entertainment,

fashion and other areas as such. However there are some people who believe such uniformity

isn‟t very beneficial. This essay shall discuss further both the sides of this phenomenon.

Having the same kind of preferences helps people get around the world very easily. If we watch

TV shows or adverts of a certain country we get familiar with a summary of its culture, thereby

making it easier for us to blend in there. The more we get to know about each other, the more can

the differences between countries be eliminated making the world a huge harmonious

community. We are no longer restricted to brands of our own country but are exposed to

international products and services. Following a global fashion trend shall make you feel and act

more naturally with the people anywhere in the world without being too obvious.

The people who do not support such a development are the ones who feel a country‟s own

ethnicity will be lost if the people try to adopt the prevailing global culture a little more than

required. Watching TV shows or movies from a foreign country may influence and alter the

mannerisms of the people of the home country. Some cultures are very rigid when it comes to

clothing and the acceptance of universal fashion trends therefore will not be received well.

Although, I feel these are minor issues in comparison to the host of advantages that we have

regarding this. One‟s own ethnicity can be followed regardless of the TV shows we watch or the

clothes we wear.

To conclude, I agree that the advantages of the phenomenon of having a uniform culture

worldwide outweigh the disadvantages. Every subject has pros and cons, and the cons here can

be ignored easily, especially when such an acceptance makes life easier.

25

Public Transport Sample 1

Traffic Congestion

Some people believe government should spend money on building train and subway lines to

reduce traffic congestion. Others think that building more and wider roads is the better

way to reduce traffic congestion. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 8.5 Sample Essay 1:

Traffic congestion has become the bane of citizens in many parts of the world. In order to

mitigate this problem, some suggest that public transportation, such as trains and subway lines

should be constructed. Meanwhile, others are firm in their belief that building wider roads makes

more sense. Both of these methods will be analysed below.

On the one hand, building trains is an effective method to improve traffic condition. There are

compelling evidences to support the investment in public transportation. In countries where

subway systems are up to standard, the number of private vehicles that participate in traffic is

small, city dwellers can save hours of delay and also thousands of dollars on traveling expenses.

That is not to mention a significant number of gallons of fuel saved, which means slowing down

the exploitation of natural resources.

There are, however, others who express doubts on this approach. Their suggestion is that a better

way to alleviate traffic jam is to make bigger road systems. The undeniable fact is that in many

developing countries today, roads are narrow and in a desperate state of disrepair, which greatly

obstruct the travels to their destinations. Someone‟s small accidents, a flat tyre for example, can

bring traffic to a halt, which is a commonly-seen problem in roads that have only two lanes.

To conclude, both methods discussed above provide sustained relief on our roadways; however,

it is my opinion that the method to build trains and subway makes more sense in terms of

environmental protection.

(252 words)

26

Band 8.0 Model Essay 2:

The high volume of traffic is a huge problem for many big cities. Therefore, there is a widely

held view among a number of people that governmental bodies should pour money in building

such public transport systems as train and subway lines. Others, however, argue that road

expansion is the more proper way. To my mind, though widening streets benefits us, this can not

alleviate traffic congestion.

It is not by chance that developing public vehicles is considered one of the common approaches

to reduce traffic jams. Today, people have indeed used too many private vehicles whose

disadvantages can be listed. The long line of cars at peak hours is a typical example, which may

lead to lengthy delays. This can also cause other serious consequences such as traffic accidents.

Accordingly, it is widely believed that building underground tunnels can solve heavy traffic jams

due to empty spaces beneath the ground.

However, according to others, road extension is a better alternative because this solution does not

demand more efforts. Also, extending road does not seem as costly as developing underground

transport systems. Another reason for this is that bigger roads will create more spaces for vehicle

owners, helping them to circulate easily during peak hours. By doing so, traffic congestion can

be alleviated.

In my opinion, road expansion is not a long-term measure because people tend to drive their

vehicles regularly on newly widened streets. In other words, traffic jams might continue to occur.

Therefore, government should take other solutions into consideration for safer transportation.

27

Public Transport Sample 2

Road Safety

Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum

legal age for driving cars or riding motorbikes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some individuals believe raising the minimum legal age for driving cars or riding motorbikes is

the most effective method of increasing road safety. While I accept that this policy is good to

some extent, I believe it is not the best because there are much better measures to reduce traffic

accidents.

It might be a good idea to increase the minimum age required for driving because of some

reasons. Firstly, since younger people are usually less mature and less responsible with their

manners, they might not be aware of the importance of following the rules. Therefore, it is

reasonable to ban them from travelling on the street to prevent them from breaking the law and

causing accidents. Secondly, as older people are more experienced, they can know how to react

quickly to handle dangerous situations on the road, while younger ones might not be able to. To

illustrate, if the brakes of a car suddenly stop working, a young driver might panic, and accidents

are more likely to occur.

However, I would argue that there are much better methods of ensuring road safety. The first one

is to have stricter punishments for driving offenders. For example, people who break traffic rules

should be required to pay huge fines or be banned permanently from commuting on the street.

This makes commuters more likely to respect the law, and traffic accidents can be limited.

Another solution is to encourage people to use public transport rather than private vehicles. This

can be done by reducing the price and increasing the frequency of buses and tubes to make it

more convenient for users.

In conclusion, I believe apart from increasing the legal age for driving, there are more effective

ways to make sure that travelling on the street is safe for everyone. (298 words)

Useful Vocabulary & Expressions:

• panic: to suddenly feel frightened so that you cannot think clearly and you say or do something

stupid, dangerous ==>I panicked when I saw smoke coming out of the engine.

• commute: to travel regularly by bus, train, car, etc. between your place of work and your home

==>She commutes from Oxford to London every day.

• tube: the underground railway system ==> a tube station

28

Crime & Punishment Sample 1

Studies show that many criminals have a low level of education. For this reason, people

believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate people in prison so they can get a job

when leave prison. Do you agree or disagree?

Band 8.5 Model Answer

Recently, crime has been increasing out of control. Some hold the idea that in order to deter

crimes, criminals should be given proper education while in prison. Personally, I partly share the

same view with this.

It is my belief that nurture, not nature, is responsible for malignant and antisocial behaviours.

That is to say, everybody is born with good personalities and what turns some into criminals is

parental neglect and lack of education. Many studies have shown that children who are not

supervised by their parents on a regular basis are many times more likely to go off the rails,

commit acts of selfishness or to behave aggressively against others. This rationalizes why I think

a good number of prisoners after being released will not repeat their offences if they are given

education.

In addition, while being in jail, inmates have plenty of time which can be misspent. For example,

some of them spend their time on gambling with their cellmates or accessing materials with

objectionable contents. Thus, giving them the opportunity to be educated translates to the

reduction of time which can be potentially frittered away or used for malicious purposes.

Nevertheless, there are objections to this perspective. Those who oppose claim that the potential

program of giving education to criminals can cost a huge amount of money from the

Government budget. However, considering the result it can deliver in the long run as far as

societal stability is concerned, this program is not a waste of taxpayers‟ money.

What has been discussed above has effectively corroborated my view that education can reduce

participation in criminal activities and inmates should receive education while serving time.

Useful expressions:

• To deter crimes: prevent criminal acts.

• To have antisocial behaviour: A behaviour that is harmful to society.

• Parental neglect: not enough care from parents.

• Supervise (v.) control.

• Go off the rails: start behaving in a unacceptable way.

29

• Objectionable (adj.) unpleasant, wrong

• Inmate (v.) those who are imprisoned

• Societal stability.

• To fritter away time: misspend time.

• Malicious (adj.) intended to harm others

• To translate to: change something into something

• To corroborate something: add proof to it.

• To serve time: to be put into prison.

30

Youth Crime Sample 1

Some people say that when children under 18 are committing a crime they should be

punished, while others believe they should be educated.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion.


Cases of juveniles committing crimes are on the rise lately. While it is absolutely necessary to

punish those guilty of committing crimes, an argument put forward in this case suggests

underage criminals should be made aware about their actions rather than being punished

straightaway. This essay shall discuss the extent of feasibility of both solutions in the interest of

the society.

Over the last few years, there has been a worrying increase in the numbers of young offenders

being reported, where many of them are involved in instances of burglaries, robberies,

shoplifting and even street muggings. In the hostile environment that we live in, it becomes

necessary to nip such problems in the bud, lest the youngsters become full-fledged criminals

when they grow up. Many believe that the children of today‟s generation are very much aware

and intelligent, than the ones 30 years ago, to comprehend the actions around them. Many a

times they aren‟t even remorseful for their actions. Therefore, they should be tried in courts as

adults and punished according to the severity of the offence regardless of them being underage.

In contrast, a lot of people also believe that such treatment of teenage offenders might not be the

best solution. Knowing the reason behind the crime committed is an essential factor in deciding

the punishment to be given. The environment during the upbringing of a child too influences his

mentality to a great extent. Most of the research cases in this matter have indicated that children

who commit crimes, mostly do so because of some trauma they have themselves suffered from in

the past. It is only logical that the judgement of right and wrong of such children becomes

impaired; therefore they should be educated about the same, and not punished. Rehabilitating

them and flushing all aggression from their minds is giving them a deserved chance to live a

better life, as they still have a lot of growing up to do.

To conclude, this being a sensitive and debatable issue, in my opinion, I feel the primary course

of action for underage criminals is to provide them guidance regarding the consequences of their

actions. I don‟t fully agree with not punishing them at all; the extent of the punishment should be

decided by the circumstances and the attitude of the offender, whether he is penitent or not.

31

Youth Crime Sample 2

Juvenile Delinquency

In some countries, a high proportion of criminal acts are committed by teenagers.

Why has this happened?

What can be done to deal with this?


Today, youth crime is rife. Theft, burglary or even murder are now committed by people of

younger and younger ages. The aim of this essay is to investigate the factors responsible for the

increase in juvenile delinquency and put forward a number of ways to appropriately punish

young offenders.

It is observed that extreme behaviours are exhibited by most children from dysfunctional

families. Without the supervision from parents or caregivers, children‟s extreme behaviours such

as aggression, hostility or defiance are given free rein to develop in their later lives. In addition,

there is a direct correlation between the lack of engagement in educational activities and serious

criminal offending in children. Out of boredom, children befriend with antisocial peers and will

gradually copy their behaviours. Media also plays an enormous role in shaping children‟s

criminality. For example, games such as grand theft auto can desensitise younger players to

extreme acts of violence and cruelty, encourage them to commit crimes while giving them the

impression that it is morally acceptable to do so.

Imprisonment is often cited as a way to punish juvenile offenders. However, it is my view that

this approach can produce extremely destructive effects. The youth can potentially be victims of

physical or sexual abuse from older prisoners, as well as can adopt their negative behaviours. I

feel that the better cure for young criminals is rehabilitation. Throughout education and training,

the youth can realise their wrongful actions and be given opportunities to turn over a new leaf

and transform themselves into useful members of society later in life.

There are reasons to explain why today antisocial behaviour among the youth nowadays has

reached a historically unprecedented high and rehabilitation is the answer for this.

Useful words and expressions:

Youth crime is rife: Youth crime is very common.

Juvenile delinquency: act of crime committed by the young

Defiance (n.) behaviour in which you refuse to obey others

32

Aggression (n.) behaviour that is threatening or involves harm

To be given free rein to develop: go uncontrolled.

Desensitise (v.) cause people to experience emotion less strongly than before.

Out of boredom: Because they are bored

To produce extremely destructive effects: have bad results. Wrongful actions.

To turn over a new leaf: To become another person.

33

Technology Sample 1

Mobile Phone

The use of mobile phone is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned in certain places so

mobile phone should be banned like smoking. To what extent do you agree or disagree?


It has been claimed that like smoking, mobile phones should be banned in some places due to

their harmful effects. While I accept that the use of mobile phones is antisocial in some ways, I

believe it has more benefits and therefore should not be prohibited.

On the one hand, I agree that the use of mobile phones can sometimes be antisocial. Firstly, these

devices might disturb people‟s work or study in some cases. For example, the sound from a

mobile phone can interrupt a lecture, which affects the concentration of students. Secondly, the

use of mobile phones also adversely impacts communication between people. Since individuals

currently tend to spend too much time using mobile phones, they seem to have less time to

interact with others.

On the other hand, I disagree that mobile phones should be banned because of some reasons. The

first one is that since they allow people who live far away from each other to speak or send

messages, they help people keep in touch more easily. For instance, students who study abroad

can use mobile phones to make phone calls or even video calls with their family. The second

reason is that mobile phones often provide users with many useful applications such as maps and

weather forecast, which can make people‟s lives become easier. Additionally, using mobile

phones is not as bad as smoking as some people think. While smoking directly affects people‟s

health and leads to health problems, the negative influences of mobile phones are less serious.

In conclusion, while I agree that mobile phones are sometimes antisocial, I believe they should

not be banned.

(271 words)


• harmful: causing damage or injury to sb/sth, especially to a person‟s health or to the

environment ==> the harmful effects of alcohol

• prohibit: to stop sth from being done or used especially by law ==>Soviet citizens were

prohibited from travelling abroad.

• interrupt: to stop sth for a short time ==>The game was interrupted several times by rain.

34

Traditional Culture Sample 1

Culture

Nowadays the differences between countries are becoming less evident because we see the

same TV shows, advertisements, fashion and follow the same brands.

To what extent the advantages of this trend outweigh its disadvantages?


We are now living in a global village where geographical barriers have become insignificant. All

over the world, people wear the same kind of clothes, eat the same foods and watch the same

films. In my opinion, this trend has made life easier for us all.

There are several benefits to following global fashion trends. It makes traveling easier. For

example, now Indians and Americans or Europeans have more or less the same tastes in fashion,

food and music. As a result, young Indian professionals can travel to the US or Europe and still

feel at home there. The biggest advantage of following a global lifestyle is that it eliminates

culture shock when you travel to other countries. It also protects you from discrimination. When

you wear the same kind of clothes or eat the same kind of foods as everyone else, you will not

stand out. This will actually protect you from various forms of discrimination that you might

experience when you are in a foreign country. An Indian woman living in the US will be at a

disadvantage if she insists on wearing only traditional Indian clothes and eating only vegetarian

foods. This will limit the choices she has, but if she is willing to follow the culture of the country

she lives in, life will be easier for her.

The only disadvantage of this trend is the loss of ethnicity. Every nation has its traditional styles

of fashion and clothing. When everyone wears the same kind of clothes, this cultural legacy gets

lost.

To conclude, the benefits of following global trends in lifestyle and fashion are many. It makes

life easier for the globetrotting youngsters. There are, nonetheless, a few disadvantages, but there

is an easy way to get around them. People who are proud of their ethnic fashion and lifestyle can

follow it when they are in their own country.

35


Globalisation has allowed people to adopt a homogeneous culture in terms of entertainment,

fashion and other areas as such. However there are some people who believe such uniformity

isn‟t very beneficial. This essay shall discuss further both the sides of this phenomenon.

Having the same kind of preferences helps people get around the world very easily. If we watch

TV shows or adverts of a certain country we get familiar with a summary of its culture, thereby

making it easier for us to blend in there. The more we get to know about each other, the more can

the differences between countries be eliminated making the world a huge harmonious

community. We are no longer restricted to brands of our own country but are exposed to

international products and services. Following a global fashion trend shall make you feel and act

more naturally with the people anywhere in the world without being too obvious.

The people who do not support such a development are the ones who feel a country‟s own

ethnicity will be lost if the people try to adopt the prevailing global culture a little more than

required. Watching TV shows or movies from a foreign country may influence and alter the

mannerisms of the people of the home country. Some cultures are very rigid when it comes to

clothing and the acceptance of universal fashion trends therefore will not be received well.

Although, I feel these are minor issues in comparison to the host of advantages that we have

regarding this. One‟s own ethnicity can be followed regardless of the TV shows we watch or the

clothes we wear.

To conclude, I agree that the advantages of the phenomenon of having a uniform culture

worldwide outweigh the disadvantages. Every subject has pros and cons, and the cons here can

be ignored easily, especially when such an acceptance makes life easier.

36


Family Structure

In recent years, the family structure and the role of its members are gradually changing.

What kinds of changes can occur? Do you think these changes are positive and negative?

Band 8.5 Model Essay 1:

It is true that these days the family structure has considerably shifted, and the changing roles of

men and women in the family has become increasingly similar. There are several new forms of

family composition, and in my opinion, these developments are not always desirable.

In the past, nuclear families where parents and their offspring living together under one roof used

to be prevalent. However, there is now a huge trend towards single-parent families due to more

marriages ending in divorce, while the increase in cohabiting couple families and stepfamilies is

probably a result of cohabitation and remarriage becoming much more acceptable. In addition,

the number of single-mother families has increased as many mothers want to have children

without getting married. In terms of changing parental roles in a family, there has been a rise in

the number of stay-at-home dads in recent years when it has become normal for women to gain

qualifications and pursue their own career path. This is in sharp contrast to about half a decade

ago when men were breadwinners and women were in charge of household chores in their

families.

In my view, the changes described above could have both positive and negative consequences.

On the one hand, due to the lack of emotional attachment and legal binding, non-traditional

households such as stepfamilies and cohabiting parents are more prone to breaking down.

Consequently, children of these families are more likely to be involved in antisocial behaviors

while their parent may experience feelings of loneliness and worry. On the other hand, the

changes in the roles of members in the family could be seen as progress because women are not

put under pressure to sacrifice their own careers to assume childcare and domestic

responsibilities.

In conclusion, I believe that the changes in the roles of family members and the family structure

are both positive and negative. (308 words, Band 8.5)

IELTS Examiner’s comment:

This is one of the best essays I have seen. It‟s amazing! I don‟t know what to suggest to improve

this apart from minor improvements to the introduction and the conclusion, which is very short

& unclear (positive & negative). All IELTS band scores would be 9 apart from Task Response,

which would be 8.0. Overall – 8.5. Did you write this in 40 mins with no help/guidance?

John Marks

37

Band 8.5 Model Answer 2:

The changes of family structure and family roles have become a major topic of concern in

modem society. Some of the main changes will be identified, before an evaluation on whether

this is a positive or negative trend is made.

A few drastic changes could be observed in families today. The most obvious one is the

decreased size of an average family in society. In Vietnam, for example, a majority of extended

families of three generations or more living under the same roof have been transformed into

nuclear families with only parents and children. In addition, there is also a significant change in

terms of the roles of the father and the mother in a family. The responsibility of males as the sole

breadwinner of the family has now been shared with their partners, and now women have equal

working opportunities compared with their male counterparts. Accordingly, household duties are

also shared equally between the two sexes.

I contend that this new family structure is without doubt beneficial for all families. As regards

the smaller family size, each family member could benefit from an increased sense of freedom.

For instance, parents have more time for themselves now, compared with the situation in the past

when they had to bear the responsibility of taking care of both grandparents and children. With

respect to the change in family roles, women may reap the benefit of having their own career and

thus financial freedom. Men also gain from this change since they have been freed from the

financial pressure of being the only source of income in the family.

To conclude, the most apparent changes in today‟s families include a decreased family size and a

shared financial and household responsibility of men and women. All the existing data has

provided a concrete foundation that these changes are beneficial for all members of the family.

38

Model Essay 3

It is true that there have been significant changes in not only the family structure but also family

roles. In my opinion, these changes should be regarded as a positive tendency.

To begin with, the structure of a family is relatively different from that of some decades ago. In

the past, it was likely that extended families became prevalent among societies when many

generations including children, parents and grandparents lived in the same roof. In contrast, these

days are witnessing the domination of nuclear families which have only parents and their

offspring. Regarding parental roles, in earlier periods, men and women were supposed to be

breadwinners and homemakers respectively as fathers tended to earn a living while mothers were

supposed to stay at home to fulfill household duties as well as looking after children. However,

both men and women currently go to work to support the whole family, whereas household tasks

are often divided.

I am of the opinion that these changes would have beneficial effects on family life. First of all, if

fewer generations reside together, people seem to have more freedom and privacy to do anything

they have interest in without disturbing other members. For instance, in extended families

juveniles adoring pop music might have to stop listening to it because their grandparents could

find it annoying and noisy. Furthermore, pursuing their own careers can allow women to become

financially independent from men and this also provides families with another income to have a

higher standard of living. Another benefit when husbands assist their wives with household

chores is that women would ease the burden of housework and have more time for themselves

which can be spent on recreational activities.

In conclusion, I hold the view that several changes in family pattern and the role of member such

as the fact that extended families are gradually replaced by nuclear ones and the fair division of

household duties is a positive development.

39

IELTS Examiner’s Comment:

Criteria Grade & Assessment

Task Achievement 7.5

– 323 words

– addresses all parts of the task

– presents a clear position throughout the response

– presents, extends and supports main ideas

Coherent & Cohesion 8

– logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

– uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately

– presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

Lexical Resources 7.5

– uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

– attempts to use less common vocabulary

– makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

Grammar Range & Accuracy 8

– uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms

– produces frequent error-free sentences

Overall 7.5

40


Customs & Traditions

People should follow the customs and traditions when people start to live in a new country.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Band 9.0 Model Answer

Many people argue that foreigners should adapt to the local customs and traditions when they

come to reside in a new country. I completely agree with this view. c led

Newcomers will certainly face difficulties if they do not conform to the norms of social

behaviour in the host country. Firstly, it will become almost impossible for them to blend into

their new environment. For example, an entrepreneur who comes to live in a new country and

starts up a business must be aware of the business practices of that country. There are bound to

be many pitfalls, not only legal ones but also simply in terms of winning and keeping customers.

Secondly, recent immigrants might fall foul of the law if they do not respect the behaviour and

customs of locals. In Singapore, for instance, residents will consider newcomers dirty and ill-

mannered if they litter the street or spit gum in public places.

There are also many benefits for foreigners when they do adopt the customs and traditions of

their new country of residence. One advantage is that local people will be more welcoming when

they feel that the newcomers are showing respect for the local way of life. The establishment of

closer links with the host community might lead to greater integration and mutual understanding.

Another benefit is the richness of the experience which newcomers will gain from enjoying

aspects of local customs and traditions, enabling them to participate in community life and avoid

social isolation. During festivals and national holidays, especially, they will feel like they

„belong‟ in their new country.

In conclusion, I would argue that it is essential for new residents to follow the traditions and

habits of locals in the host community in order to integrate fully into society.

41


Foreign Movies and TV Programmes

Some people think that it is good for a country’s culture to import foreign movies and TV

programmes. Others think that it is better to produce these locally.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


People have different views about whether it is better for a country to purchase foreign movies or

to create domestic ones. While importing movies from other countries can have some advantages,

I would argue that producing local movies is a much better option.

On the one hand, there are some clear benefits of buying movies from other countries. Firstly,

when a country imports movies that are produced overseas, it can help its people learn about

other cultures in a much easier and more effective way. This would help its citizens to be more

knowledgeable. Secondly, individuals can learn the good things of other more civilised societies

and alter the way they behave. For example, the habit of queuing is a nice thing in many Western

countries, and people from Vietnam can learn and copy this action when watching foreign

movies.

On the other hand, I believe it is better for countries to produce movies domestically because of

some reasons. The first one is that movies made by local people would help to preserve the

traditions and customs of their own cultures. For instance, many Vietnamese TV programmes

remind young generations of how people celebrate Lunar New Year, which is the most important

public holiday in some Asian countries. If young people only watch foreign movies, the

traditional values might be gradually forgotten. Another reason is that the film industry often

create jobs such as actors, directors or cameramen. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in

producing movies in order to provide more employment opportunities for local people.

In conclusion, while purchasing foreign movies is beneficial for a nation‟s culture to some extent,

it seems to me that making local ones is a much better choice.

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BAND 8.0 MODEL ESSAY 2

For the past decades, the importance of a country developing its own motion picture expertise

versus importing foreign entertainment programs has been the center of attention in the

entertainment industry. I believe that having the best of both worlds would work most effectively.

There are certain grounds supporting the view of featuring foreign films and TV shows. Firstly,

globalization supports the widespread of cultural products that integrate within themselves the

essence of the nation from which they originates. Viewers, therefore, while enjoying the

entertaining element of these programs can simultaneously learn more about the world and its

various cultures. For instance, an Asian viewer can be amazed by the individualism conveyed in

western blockbuster movies while an American can explore the significance of collective eastern

values from a Chinese or Korean drama. Furthermore, the international trade of these items has

not only aided the development of globalized culture but also broadened people‟s understanding

of the diverse world around them. It is not deemed daring to say that without cultural exchange

through TV channels, feeling and learning about other cultures would turn less visually

impressive.

On the other hand, it is justifiable, though maybe considered ethnocentric, that domestic

entertainment products retain an equally indispensable role in a country‟s film segments. The

most obvious reason is that the act of a country developing its own movies and broadcasting

industry is of necessity to preserve its culture. Through local films and TV shows, children and

adolescents develop their cognition of local customs and traditional values and have a tendency

to practice them. Another endorsing reason is that domestic films and shows are irreplaceable

products that bring people true feelings and complete understanding of contexts and clichés used.

Since people can more easily relate themselves to others who speak their language and whose

behavior they could totally understand, viewers can reflect themselves and their society in a

lively way through local TV programs.

In conclusion, I believe it is crucial for a country to find a balanced coexistence of both ways, not

only advancing towards globalization but also preserving one‟s unique film and TV industry.

43


Building Renovation

Some people think that governments must insist on preserving traditional appearance of

old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment.

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


Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation‟s heritage. In the process of

restoring them, some people believe that the authorities should not compensate on any changes

done in their original appearance, and that the buildings should be restored as they were. This

essay shall advocate a practical approach to this scenario.

Restoration is said as the process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a

property as it appeared at a particular period of time by reconstruction of missing features from

the restoration period. All around the world, there are many active redevelopment projects

undertaken by the government to preserve the sanctity of these ancient treasures. However, it is

not reasonably possible to restore each and every detail of these buildings as it was.

Primarily, the construction of these century-old buildings begins to wear in time. In such cases,

some parts of the buildings might not be in a recoverable condition. Here, the architects need to

reconstruct that particular part to give a complete look to the puzzle of these primeval structures.

Therefore, it is unaccommodating for the government to demand accurate traditional appearance

of the buildings. Sometimes, a few relevant contemporary touches need to be added to make the

older buildings appeasing enough.

In closing we can safely say the government should not be insistent on minute preservation of

traditional appearance of old buildings. Minor modifications can definitely be made to adapt

existing buildings to compatible new uses. This not only makes good economic sense, but

preserves our legacy also.

44

Travel & Tourism Sample 1

Tourism

Many people believe that international tourism is a bad thing for their countries.

What are the reasons? Solutions to change negative attitudes?

Band 8.5 Sample 1:

There are several reasons why many people have a negative attitude towards international

tourism. However, this can be handled by adopting possible solutions, as will now be discussed.

Firstly, the influx of foreign travelers is often associated with an increase in the level of

environmental pollution. Many tourists throw rubbish into the surroundings irresponsibly, which

contributes to air, water and soil contamination. In addition, there might be a growing demand

for transport, decreasing the air quality at the tourist destination.

Secondly, international tourism increases the odds of spreading infectious diseases into the local

community. Viruses such as Ebola and H5N1 can become a threat to the locals if an infected

traveler visits their country. In Vietnam, for example, many people died after a visitor from Hong

Kong carried the H5N1 virus to the country in 2003. This example makes it clear why many

people are still against the development of international tourism.

However, there are a range of options that can be taken to improve the situation. One measure

would be that the government should continue campaigns to raise the awareness of tourists when

they pay a visit to a new land. Travellers should be encouraged to put waste into the right place

or to use public transport if possible. Another remedy is that there should be medical checks at

airports and borders. This is to guarantee that infected visitors should be quarantined to halt the

spread of the disease.

In conclusion, negative feelings about global tourism still are common in society. However, this

can be resolved by taking the above suggestions.

Useful expressions:

• The influx of smb/smth: the fact of a lot of people, money or things arriving somewhere

==>a massive/sudden influx of visitors.

• To be associated with smth: having a connection between people or things in your mind

==>I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood.

• The odds of something: the degree to which something is likely to happen

==>The odds are that (= it is likely that) she‟ll win.

• To halt something: to stop; to make somebody/something stop

==>We are failing to halt the destruction of the rainforest.

45


Advances made in air travel have shrunk the world. With these, today, people from all walks

of life can travel abroad; however, the rise of international tourism is greeted with dismay by

many. In this essay, I will present the reasons why some local people harbour unwelcoming

attitudes towards foreign tourists and put forward some solutions to this issue.

International tourists are now criticised mainly due to their contribution to the environmental

degradation. In many countries, many famous tourist destinations are now bearing the scars of

vandalism committed by travellers arriving from outside. Other places of interest are also

gradually being turned into which are comparable to garbage dumps, despite all attempts to

reduce the amount of waste by local community. In addition to this, many foreigners travel on a

shoestring. In order to economise, many are willing to sleep on the streets in their tents, which

mars the cityscape.

What local authorities can firstly do to change the behaviours of foreign tourists is through

education. While advertising the beauty of an area, the media should also strive to raise the

awareness of prospective travellers about protecting it. The other method is to pass stricter

regulations regarding littering particularly in popular tourist places. The high effectiveness of

fining litterbugs is clearly demonstrated in the example of Singapore, where one can no longer

find trash in public places.

To summarise, the inhospitable feeling that the local people have for international tourists can

be explained by many ways. I feel that this issue can hardly be solved by a single wave of a

magic wand – it takes a great deal of efforts from both the locals and the foreigners.

Useful expressions:

To shrink the world: To make the world become smaller

People from all walks of life: people of different backgrounds

To be greeted with dismay: to be unwelcomed

To harbour unwelcoming attitudes towards: To oppose to

To bear the scars of vandalism: to be vandalised.

Travel on a shoestring: Travel with very small amount of money.

To mar the cityscape: make the city look ugly

Litterbug: people who throw rubbish in public places.

Litter (v.) throw rubbish.

The inhospitable feeling: bad feeling

This issue can hardly be solved by a single wave of a magic wand : this issue is not easy

to be dealt with.

46


Travel

Sample 01:

As technology has developed, people can now travel to remote natural areas. While this trend is

beneficial to some extent, I would argue that its disadvantages are more significant.

On the one hand, visiting isolated natural places has some benefits. Firstly, this is a newer and

more interesting type of travelling. Since going to other cities or countries has been too common

for most people, it might be more exciting for them to explore new places such as the South Pole

or the Amazon rainforest. This gives them valuable experiences and unforgettable memories.

Secondly, when visiting remote areas, people, especially scientists, might acquire more

knowledge about the natural habitat. For example, when coming to the North Pole, scientists can

learn about the life of polar bears which live far away from humans.

On the other hand, I believe this development has far more drawbacks. The first one is that

travelling to remote natural areas can be risky if the travellers are not sufficiently prepared. For

instance, the temperature at the South Pole is usually very low, which adversely affects people‟s

health. Travelling to forests can also be dangerous as people have to face the risk of being

attacked by animals. Also, since visiting isolated places often requires a large amount of

investment in researching and ensuring the safety of travellers, the costs of travelling tend to be

high. Therefore, it seems like only scientists and rich people can afford this activity, so this

development is likely to benefit only a small group of individuals.

In conclusion, I believe the disadvantages of people being able to travel to remote areas outweigh

its advantages.

(272 words)


• isolated: far away from any others ==>isolated rural areas

• common: happening often, existing in large numbers or in many places ==>Jackson is a

common English name.

• adverse: negative and unpleasant==> Lack of money will have an adverse effect on our

research program.

• ensure: to make sure that something happens or is definite ==>The book ensured his success.

47

Sample 02:

It is true that humans can now set foot in wild regions far away from civilisation. While I accept

that this development can have certain benefits for the human race, I believe that it is likely to

have a harmful impact on nature.

On the one hand, undertaking expeditions to the wilderness can be valuable in terms of both

science and recreation. There are a considerable number of undiscovered secrets that can be

tremendously useful for researchers to conduct their studies. For instance, environmental

scientists can analyse the data about the thickness of ice layers over millions of years in both

hemispheres to predict the possible changes in global temperatures. Such findings are crucial for

the governments to develop appropriate plans to alleviate global warming. Furthermore, the

untouched beauty of these areas is usually appealing to travellers, providing people with an

attractive option of holiday destination or excursion.

However, I would argue that these positive aspects are outweighed by the drawbacks. When

people are given full and easy access to the distant and unpopulated areas, there are likely to be

more moving there to reside or start their business. It has been shown that substantial damage has

been done to nature such as massive deforestation or water contamination due to humans‟ lack of

environmental awareness. If there is inadequate protection of the environment from this type of

action, wild regions in the world will no longer exist, unspeakably affecting not only the overall

ecology but also the lives of other people.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the potential dangers of travelling to wild environments are

more significant than the possible benefits for the mentioned reasons.

Useful Expressions:

• Appealing (adj): attractive or interesting ==>Overseas students who are offered an appealing

salary and position in a foreign company are usually unable to resist the offer and choose to

remain in the country instead of returning to their native land.

• Distant (adj): far away ==>The application of technology in the form of electric household

appliances has facilitate the enjoyment of people‟s life to a great extent..

• Unpopulated (adj): having no inhabitants

• Reside (v): to live, have your home, or stay in a place ==>The huge waves of immigrants from

poorer countries flocking to wealthier nations can threaten to take the jobs of those who have

resided in their countries for a long time by accepting to work for a much lower pay.

48

• Substantial (adj): large in size, value or importance ==>By respecting the substantial

differences between the older and the younger generations, the mutual understanding between

them can be greatly enhanced.

• Massive deforestation (noun phrase): the destruction of forests by people on a large scale

==>Massive deforestation is largely attributable to massive deforestation because there are not

enough trees to help to hold the flood water.

• Contamination (n): the action of making something less pure or poisonous. ==>In many rural

villages in China and Vietnam, the supply of underground water which has been in use for

hundreds of years is now incapable of meeting the growing demand of the expanding population,

threatening the health of the people with using water which has not been tested for contamination.

• Environmental awareness (noun phrase): the understanding that the environment needs to be

protected (ý thức bảo vệ môi trường). Ví dụ: The first step to environmental protection is

concerned with raising the environmental awareness of individuals.

• Ecology (n): the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, etc ==>Oil spills cause

terrible damage to the fragile ecology of the sea.

49


Museums & Historical Sites

Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local people.

Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit these places?


Tourists are generally drawn to museums and historical locations when visiting new countries.

However, records have shown local people‟s low attendance at these attractions. Some

explanations will be put forward before solutions can be drawn to tackle this problem.

There are several reasons as to why tourists, instead of the local people, come to museums and

historical places. First, these locations can provide visitors with a comprehensive overview of the

traditions in the particular locality they are situated. As a result, such destinations are generally

more appealing to the newcomers than to the locals, those without the need to familiarise

themselves with the traditional values of the region. Moreover, because the layout of museums

and historical houses is likely to remain unchanged through years, they can be visually

unattractive to the local inhabitants, who may have been to these sites for at least once in their

younger years.

Several measures can be prompted to promote locals‟ attendance rate at buildings for historic

relics and museums. The main solution is to change the public‟s perception of such places as

sites for only monotonous activities. Should civic events including weddings, anniversaries and

concerts be allowed to be held in these locations, they would attract substantial public attention

to historical values. Another resolution is that historians and preservationists should be featured

more frequently on the media, with their articles on the tremendous worth of museums and

historical remains.

To conclude, historical areas and museums can be uninteresting for local citizens because they

can be too familiar with the culture that these places depict. To better this, there should be more

media coverage on historical assets, and also more open-door policies to use such locations as

spots for more public-oriented activities.

50


In terms of local people‟s attendance, museums and historical places have always paled in

comparison with other recreational centres. This essay will present some reasons why this has

occurred and put forward some solutions to resurrect the interest of local people in visiting these

places.

The small and dwindling number of local visitors to museums can firstly be attributable to the

low frequency with which activities are held. In other words, the renewals of existing exhibits or

the organization of new programs and events are few and far between. For this reason, little

interest is aroused in those who had once been to the museum or places of historical significance.

Furthermore, museums and historical sites do not come cheap. In fact, to get admission to these

places, visitors are often required to pay a substantial amount of money, which can be worth a

day‟s salary.

In order to drum up more interest of local people in coming to museums, a number of ways can

be employed. What can be done first of all is to organise activities which incorporate art

performances with appropriate content. This not only encourages the attendance of local people

but also represents a great opportunity to educate them about the history of their places of origin.

In addition, the authorities can also lower the admission fee or offer discounts to local inhabitants.

To conclude, many reasons can be given as to why local people lose their enthusiasm for

museums and places of historical importance. However, the revival of these places is within our

grasp should proper actions be taken.

Useful expressions:

To pale (v.) seem to be less attractive.

Resurrect the interest: Make people interested again.

Dwindling (adj.) decreasing

To be attributable to: be caused by

The low frequency with which activities are held: very few activities are held.

A substantial amount of money: a lot of money

To arouse interest: cause people to have interest.

To drum up more interest: Make people interested.

Incorporate (v.) include

Lose their enthusiasm: become less interested.

To be within one’s grasp: Can be done.

51

Society Sample 1

Social Values

A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material

possessions. Old-fashioned values, such as honour, kindness and trust, no longer seem

important.

Given the power and influence of the super-rich, it might seem as if social status and material

possessions are the new symbols of personal worth, but in everyday life I do not think this is true.

It is apparent that most celebrities today are admired or envied solely for their material wealth or

position in various social hierarchies. Many of these people are known to turn their backs on

friends, cheat on their spouses or spend their evenings over-indulging in alcohol and/or drugs.

Things like owning a mansion, driving an expensive car and getting into A-list parties are exalted

above old-fashioned values. Ultimately, though, it is the many readers of gossip magazines and

celebrity blogs who reinforce these ideas.

Nevertheless, I do believe that in their day-to-day lives most people still believe in values such as

honour, kindness and trust. In some way most of us want to form loving families, raise our

children to be good citizens, stand up for the downtrodden and protect our communities from

harm. We still form friendships, romances and business partnerships based on old-fashioned

criteria. When our trust is abused or we are unfairly treated, we see that as a major violation of

our relationship and we judge the wrongdoer accordingly.

In conclusion, I believe there is some truth to the notion that status and possessions have

superseded old-fashioned values as a measure of a person‟s worth. Looking beyond the tabloids,

however, it is apparent that most ordinary people have still preserved an old-fashioned

conscience.

52

Society Sample 2

Job Competition

Nowadays, more and more older people who need employment compete with the younger

people for the same jobs. What problems this causes? What are solutions?


It is true that competition is a significant attitude in a workplace which is more prevalence

between young and old employees. There are numerous reasons regarding this issue and various

measures can be taken by governments to improve this situation.

The first predictable consequence is the abundance of mature aged employees. Even though,

there is no disputing the fact that aging workforce is highly experienced, they seem to be less

productive due to their health deterioration. This would negatively influence their job

performance as a result. The other outcome is the increasing rate of unemployment among junior

workers which is often reported to be the major cause of teenage crimes. Because of joblessness,

youngsters often lack money and thus they may misbehave such as spoiling, killing, etc to live

from day to day. Consequently , not only does our society indirectly incite crime in youths, but

we also do not effectively exploit young workers who seem to be non-experienced but dedicated

to work.

To mitigate these problems, I think, companies would soon implement early retirement incentive

programs for devoted elderly laborers. Special healthcare and other social welfare payments

should be given to ensure that they live healthily in the rest of their life. Besides, employers

should also create more job opportunities for young employees. Take, for example, fast-track

scheme, a system for rapid training and job promotion of talented young staff. By this way, they

can develop their potential to the fullest and make significant contributions to the company they

are working for.

In conclusion, young and old workers play an equally important role in each company‟s growth.

Therefore, it is necessary for managers to lead multi-generational workforce by training activities

as well as staff incentive schemes.

53

Society Sample 3

People & Community

Some people prefer to directly help or support people who need it in the local community,

however, others prefer to give money to the national or international charities.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Today poverty is still on full display anywhere in the world, even from the sparkling and vibrant

streets of Los Angeles, or to the less glamorous district of Mumbai city. In the fight against

poverty, help is at hand. However, a bone of contention remains whether people should directly

support the underprivileged or give their donations to charities. This essay will look at this issue

from both perspectives.

There are clearly justifications for why some funders would rather help the poor by themselves.

First of all, help is given instantly as there is no paperwork, no collection, no delivery involved.

It would also mean that no money is lost into the pockets of corrupt government officials.

Second of all, it has been found that a considerable number of recipients of aid programs spend

money on children‟s education or healthcare, rather than alcohol or cigarettes. Therefore,

development can be easily promoted.

However, the idea of giving cash directly to the poor is also treated with skepticism by many

people who otherwise suggest that money or any other type of donation should be given to

charity organisations. Their main argument is that for the people whose lives have always been

devoid of material possessions or money, knowing how to manage the financial aids is out of the

question. There are many cases that poor people use the money to start businesses; however,

bankruptcy is imminent due to their lack of knowledge regarding financial management. For this

reason, charities, which can distribute the funds in a more effective way, prove their prominent

roles in improving living standards of the impoverished.

To conclude, I am inclined to think that giving money to charities is a better way to end poverty

as it deals with deeper causes of the issue in the long run.

Useful expressions:

Poverty is still on full display: Poverty happens everywhere.

The sparkling and vibrant streets of Los Angeles: dynamic Los Angeles

A bone of contention: something that causes dispute.

To be treated with skepticism: to be viewed with suspect.

To be devoid of material possessions: have little material belongings.

54

Recipient (n.) the person who receives.

Their lack of knowledge regarding financial management: they do not have enough

knowledge about managing their money.

Bankruptcy is imminent: is highly probable

In the long run: in the long term.

55

Society Sample 4

Social Values

People in the community can buy cheaper products nowadays. Do advantages outweigh

disadvantages?

Band 8.0 Model Answer:

The development of technology combined with living in the city gives people the chance to

purchase products at cheaper prices. While I agree that this opportunity is advantageous to some

extent, I am seriously concerned that the drawbacks it brings can be detrimental to the living

society.

It is understandable that being able to buy cheaper product is substantially beneficial. Saving

money is probably the first and foremost merit of this trend. Instead of spending a significant

amount of monthly expenditure on clothes or basic necessities as they used to do in the previous

years, consumers can now spare a larger proportion of their budget on important needs including

better education and nutrition. In addition, the availability of low-priced products grants

consumers more spending choices and boost overall consumption. Since products become more

affordable and accessible, even low-income people now can purchase a certain range of

consumer goods to satisfy their different needs. Thanks to this, people from all walks of life can

enjoy sufficient living without paying much.

However, I strongly believe that purchasing cheaper goods has its downsides which seem

overshadow the benefits. Firstly, health threats to consumers and workers are two major

problems of this trend. To save costs, manufactures may accept the usage of unsafe cheap

chemicals and low-quality ingredients which undoubtedly affect customers‟ health. Moreover,

mass production is also associated with worker exploitation and international outsourcing

systems that render poor countries labour-intensive. Secondly, cost-effectiveness of this practice

is not guaranteed since products of lower prices usually come with short shelf life and low

quality. Therefore, in certain cases, customers may not save money but also have to spend more

than they should have to fix or to purchase new products.

In conclusion, people‟s access to cheaper products has its own good sides. However, the

shortcomings are more remarkable that they should be taken into serious consideration.

56

Analysing the essay questions and understanding the rubric

• Familiarize yourself with the basic structure of the essay question and the rubric.

• The essay question usually contains a statement which describes a general situation followed

by specific points to write about.

• The general statement can present a problem, e.g. Stress in modern life is increasing. This may

then be followed by questions like What do you think are the main causes of this? What possible

solutions can you suggest? Your answer should then be organized around the main causes and

then the suggested solutions. In each you case you need to give reasons and support with

examples.

• Remember that you also need to give your opinion.

• The organization of the question shows you the organization of your essay. Do not try to

contradict it or to be overly clever.

• Try to analyse questions by concentrating first on the organizing or words [causes, effects,

solutions, etc] that are contained in the question.

• Make lists of the common words used.

• If you are asked to give your opinion about a point of view, the common instructions used are:

To what extent do you agree [or disagree]? How far do you agree [or disagree]? What is your

opinion? Note that these may be combined with questions about causes etc.

• Note that when you are asked just “To what extent do you agree?” It means that you can

disagree!

57

How to write the introduction

• Keep the introduction short.

• Write no more than two or three sentences – about 30 words.

• Connect your introduction and title. Write a general statement relating to the topic.

Then write a sentence which contains the parts of the questions you are asked about: … factors

contributing to... etc.

• Where you can, use synonyms to rephrase the question.

• Remember that quality is better than quantity. Do not panic if other people are writing more

than you.

How to write a supporting paragraph

• Write in stages.

• To connect the paragraph to the introduction, write a statement with a focus word, e.g. The

main cause/factor is … Alternatively, you can just state the cause or begin to explain the

situation.

• As a rough guide, write about 75/80 words for each paragraph – about 7/8 lines if you write

10 words per line.

• Mark this on the answer sheet and write towards this mark. Repeat this for the subsequent

paragraphs.

http://ieltsmaterial.com/writing

http://ieltsmaterial.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3.jpg

58

How to organize a supporting paragraph

• Have an aim of how much you want to write for each paragraph.

• For 75/80 words, aim to write about four to seven sentences of varying length.

• Make sure each paragraph is connected with the previous one, as you are marked according to

how you organize each paragraph.

• You only need to use a limited range of sentence/clause types to write effectively. Here is a list

of the most common types of sentences and clauses you can use to guide you as you write:

• These types of sentences/clauses fit together in common combinations. For example, what

would you write after a measure sentence? You could write a result or a reason sentence.

• Think about how you can combine two or more within sentences and as separate sentences.

Don‟t think about the grammar or vocabulary. Think about an idea and then what functions you

would need to explain and support it.

• As you write a paragraph, it will tend to move from general to specific.

59

How to speed up your writing and make it more flexible

• Start your paragraph with a general statement and then support and explain it.

• Make sure that you do not write a series of general statements.

• When you start to write, develop your main idea by asking yourself questions to guide you. Use

the list of functions above. For example:

– What is my focus statement? The main measure is …

– What do I mean by this? By this I mean ..

– What is the result of this? This will…

– Can I give a specific result? First of all, it will…

– Can I give a general example? For example at the moment, …

– Can I give a specific example? However, … could. .

How you combine them is up to you, as long as they make sense.

• Practise combining the functions in different ways.

• Widen the range of sentence types that you use. For example, think of sentences in pairs. Then

think what would come after the second function in the pair and so on. Practise this until it

becomes a fluid and automatic technique.

• The more organized you are in your writing, the more fluent and flexible you will be. So make

sure you know and can use a wide range of connections and functions.

• The more organized you are, the fewer mistakes you will make. If you do not have to think

about the organization of a question in the exam, you will be able to concentrate on avoiding

repetition and expressing your ideas.

• Mark out the end of each paragraph before you write an essay and aim for that point. It helps

you to focus your ideas and stops you from rambling.

• Revise efficiently. Take a blank sheet and then write down everything you know about a

specific aspect of Writing Task 2: what you know about introductions; what common sentence

functions you use; what common connecting words and phrases you know for but, and, so, etc.

This will show you what you know and what you don‟t know. It will

help you organize your thoughts and increase your confidence and hence your speed.

• Above all know yourself, your strengths and your limitations and your common mistakes. Then

push your limitations and correct your mistakes.


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Common mini sequences of functions

• As you become more confident you can build these sequences and as you write and learn to

combine in whatever way suits you.

measure/result/reason; general example; specific example

condition (if/unless); result; real example

problem; cause; solution; reason; general and specific example

opinion; explanation; reason; general example; specific example; my opinion

• Try and think about these sequences without writing them down. Try to combine

and recombine.

• Developing your flexibility helps develop the fluency in connecting text and prevents over-

generalizing.

• The following checklists are only guidelines and can be adapted in many different ways. You

can combine information in endless different ways.

• You can take parts from one checklist and add them to another.

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How to express your opinion

• There are many ways to express your opinion. If you find it difficult, use the frame below to

check and guide.

• Practise writing your own statements of opinion. Then practise supporting them. Use reasons,

results, explanation, contrast, effect, condition, etc.

• Each time you write a sentence, qualify what you have said.



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How to link your sentences

• Below are common words and phrases you know, but which you often forget to use when linking your

writing. Check how they are used.

• Match the expressions below with the function checklist.

• Before you write and before the exam, read through the expressions again.

• Avoid overusing connecting words, especially too many addition words.

Addition

– Adverbs: moreover, what is more, furthermore, further, in addition.(to that), additionally, likewise,

similarly, besides, equally, as well as, also, on top of that

– Conjunctions: and, which/that/whose, etc. for explanation/adding additional information

Comparison

– Use conjunctions, like: while/whilst/whereas/but

– Use linkers: however/in contrast/ by comparison/ meanwhile/ on the other hand

– Focus on one thing:

• As regards/with regard to/regarding/in the case of/as for (Noun), Subject + Verb..

• When it comes to……., it/they…….

Condition

– Conjunctions: if, unless, whether, on condition that, provided that supposing, as/so

long as, otherwise

Examples

– Adverbs: for example, for instance, such as, as, like

– Expressions: take … for example, a (very) good example/the best example, in many

countries/every year/now/in the past, etc.

Reason/Cause

– Conjunctions: because, as, since, for

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– -ing (present)… knowing I‟d be late,…

– -ed (past)… warned about the problem …

Concession and contrast

– Adverbs: however, nevertheless, though, even so, but, (and) yet

– Conjunctions: although, even though, though, while

– Prepositions: despite/in spite of (the fact that)

Result

– Adverbs: as a result, as a consequence, consequently, accordingly, therefore, so, on that account, for

that reason

– Conjunctions: and, so, so that, so + adjective that

– Other forms: -ing, which … this will…

Manner

– Conjunctions: as, as if

Time

– Conjunctions: as, as soon as, after, before, since, until when, whenever

Purpose

– Adverbs: so

– Conjunctions: so, so that, to, in order (not) to, in order that, so as (not) to

Making generalizations

– Adverbs: Generally speaking, overall, on the whole, in general, by and large

Conclusion

– Adverbs: hence, thus, therefore, consequently

– Explanation: by this I mean, which, this

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Checking your writing efficiently

• Read this section before and after you write and keep it in mind.

• Leave yourself 3-5 minutes to check your writing.

• Be aware of the mistakes you usually make and look out for these. It can make a difference of a

score band!

• As it is difficult to check for all mistakes at one time, check for one type of mistake at a time.

• Check your spelling first. Scan the text backwards rather than forwards. Alternatively scan at

random, jumping from one paragraph to another. You will see mistakes quicker as you are not

engaging with meaning, but looking at word pictures. You may not spot all the mistakes, but you

will get quite a few.

• Scan quickly the beginning of each sentence and the beginning of each paragraph. Check if the

linking words, the reference words or synonyms you use are correct.

• Check the verbs – tense? singular/plural agreement? correct form of the verb?

• Check that your connecting linking words are correct and that you have not repeated any of

them.

• If you tend to make other mistakes, like misusing the articles, study them and look for them in

particular.

• Practice so that you can do these all at the same time while going through the text from the

beginning.

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Some people believe that a crime is a result of social problems and poverty, others

think that crime is a result of bad person’s nature. Discuss both views and give your

opinion

BAND 9.0 SAMPLE ANSWER

Many people consider that innate characteristics are responsible for the fact that some people

choose to turn to a career of crime. However, I would argue that crime is a consequence of

social issues and poverty.

(State the point of view 1)There is a belief that a person‟s nature determines whether or not they

become a criminal. (Explain) Firstly, they argue that an individual who is cruel turns to crime

more easily than a kind person. (Specific Example) For instance, a child bullying other boys or

girls at school may turn into a violent criminal in the future. (Explain) Secondly, bad

characteristics such as laziness or selfishness could also breed future offenders, who seek to

acquire easy money without working for it. (Specific Example) A number of youngsters choose

to steal from others, instead of working hard to make an honest living. These are strong reasons

for thinking that those who have an inborn bad nature are more likely to break the law.

(State the point of view 2) Nevertheless, it seems to me that social issues and poverty are the

main causes behind crime. (Explain) There are many problems in society which might lead to an

increase in the crime rate. (Specific Example) For example, unemployment pushes people into

resorting to crime because they simply cannot find a job. (Result) As a consequence, the number

of offenders has climbed in many countries over recent decades. (Reason) Another reason is that,

more broadly, poverty in general leads to a rise in crime. (Condition) If people do not have

enough money to make ends meet, they will be tempted to pursue illegal activities just to support

themselves and their families.

In conclusion, while a number of people think that a person's nature is the primary cause of

crimes, I would argue that they are the results of social issues and poverty.

how to get a band 8.0 in ielts writing task 2 - pdf4pro

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