TOPIC FOR IELTS THE MEDIA 1.

New editors decide what to broadcast on television

and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decis
ions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was re
ported? Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 1) 2. The mass media, including television, ra
dio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping people’s ideas. To what extent
do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Model tests for the IELTS) 3. Te
levision is dangerous because it has destroyed the family living and communicati
on. Some people said that it absorb people’s time too much that they have no time
to talk to each other. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing)
4. Some people said the age of books is past. The information will be presented
by video, computers, televisions, films. Others think the books and the written
words will be necessary for spread information and complete education. Discuss.
(China writing) 5. Television has had a significant influence on the culture of
many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or n
egatively affected the culture development of your society? 6. We can get knowle
dge from news, but some people think we can’t trust the journalist. Discuss, what
do you think is the important qualities that a journalist should have? (China wr
iting) EDUCATION 1. In many countries schools have severe problems with student
behavior. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you sugge
st? (Cambridge IELTS 4) 2. Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropp
ed from the school curriculum for subjects such as Information Technology. Many
people children suffer as a result of these changes. To what extent would you su
pport or reject the idea of moving these subjects from school curriculum? (IELTS
Practice tests with answers) 3. Because of the pressure of new subjects such as
business studies, many schools have dropped sport or physical education (PE) fr
om the curriculum. How important is sport or PE in a young person’s education? (Ie
lts on Track) 4. Studying the English language in an English-speaking country is
the best but not the only way to learn the language. Do you agree with this sta
tement? (Model tests for the IELTS) 5. The idea of going overseas for university
study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some adva
ntages, it is probably better to stay at home because of the difficulties a stud
ent inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To what ex
tent do you agree or disagree? (IELTS to success) 6. In order to learn a new lan
guage well, you should also get to know the culture and the lifestyle. To what e
xtent do you agree with this idea? (August 22nd, 2006) 7. Only formal examinatio
ns, written or practical, can give a clear picture of students’ true knowledge and
ability at university level. Continuous assessment like course word and project
are poor measures of student ability. In what extent do you agree or disagree?
(Academic writing practice) 8. Academic achievement at school or university is t
he only true measure of a person’s intelligence. To what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (Ielts Foundation) 9. Some people think that university should not provi
de theoretical knowledge, but to give practical training benefit to society. In
what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 10. Some people say that u
niversities should be concerned with educating people so that they will have wid
e general knowledge and be able to consider important matters from an informed v
iewpoint. Other people say that universities should simply train students to do
the jobs required by society and not concern themselves with broader issues. Dis
cuss. (Insearch prepare for Ielts) 11. The wealth of a nation is said to depend
on the health of its citizens. Yet, in the modern knowledge-based economies of t
he world, education is more and more being seed as the main force in the develop
ment of all countries. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Academic writin
g practice) 12. Education is the single most important factor in the development
of a developing country. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Passport to
Ielts) 13. Too much emphasis is placed on testing these days. The need to prepar
e for tests and examinations is a restriction on teachers and also exerts unnece
ssary pressure on young learners. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Focu
s on Ielts) 14. Most education systems rely on examinations to encourage childre
n to study, but as a result, children suffer from too much stress and they never
learn to be creative. Therefore, examinations should be abolished. To what exte
nt do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing) 15. All educational facilities shou
ld be funded by the government. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Passpo
rt to Ielts) 16. Who should be responsible for children’s education: the school or
parents? Give your opinion and reasons. (Model tests for the IELTS) 17. Firm di
scipline is a necessary part of teaching children. To what extent do you agree o
r disagree? (Passport to Ielts) 18. Many parents use punishment to teach the dif
ferent between right and wrong to kids. Many think punishment is necessary to he
ld children learn the distinction between right and wrong. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? (China writing) 19. Too much education is dangerous. If peop
le receive more education than they need to function in their job, it only breed
s dissatisfaction. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing
module) 20. Parents and family background have more influence than teachers of
a young person’s learning and academic achievement. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? (Ielts Foundation) 21. To be successful in education, it is more impo
rtant to be a good student than to have good teachers. To what extent do you agr
ee or disagree? (Essay Writing) 22. Most people think that teachers should teach
students how to judge right and wrong and how to behave well. Some feel that pe
ople should just teach students academic subject. Discuss. (China writing) 23. S
ome people think that there are benefits in going to private secondary schools.
Others feel that private secondary school can have negative effect on the societ
y as a
whole. What is your opinion? Justify and give examples according to your knowled
ge or experience. (September 6th, 2006) (China writing) 24. Education is a lifel
ong task. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (September 12th, 2002) 25. Go
vernment should spend more money on education than on recreation and sport. In w
hat extent do you agree or disagree? (March 7th, 2003) 26. As reading is importa
nt for good education, we should encourage children to read whatever appeals to
them. Discuss. (China writing) 27. University graduates receive higher salaries
than those who have a lower education. Therefore, some people say such students
should pay for all their tuition fees. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
(China writing) 28. Is education losing its value? (China writing) 29. Some peop
le think educate children of different abilities together will benefit them. Oth
ers think intelligent children should be taught separately and give special cour
ses. Discuss. (China writing) 30. Some people believe that students who want to
go to university after graduation from high school should have about one year’s ti
me to get a job to obtain work experience or have a travel to enlarge their visi
on. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 31. People who have
original ideas are of much greater value to society than those who are simply a
ble to copy the ideas of others well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (
Insight into Ielts) 32. Should there be a minimum school leaving age, or should
students and their parents be free to decide when they leave school? 33. Some sa
y that it is good for children to stay away from their families and go to boardi
ng school. Others say that children had better live with their families and atte
nd a day school. Discuss. WORK AND JOBS 1. The idea of having a single career is
becoming an old fashioned one. The new fashion will be to have several careers
or ways of learning money and further education will be something that continues
throughout life. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 1) 2
. In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people
regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work expe
rience, important for learning and taking responsibilities. Discuss. (Cambridge
IELTS 3) 3. It has been claimed that workers over 50 are not responsive to rapid
ly changing ideas in the modern workplace and that for this reason younger worke
rs are to be preferred. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (IELTS Practice
tests with answers) 4. In some countries the average worker is obliged to retir
e at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Mea
nwhile, we see some politicians enjoying power well into their eighties. Clearly
, there is little agreement on an appropriate retirement age. Until what age do
you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? (Model tests
for the IELTS) 5. People today move to new cities or new countries more than ev
er before and experience many challenges. What strategies are there to meet thes
e challenges? (Ielts on
Track) 6. Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed per
son a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They b
elieve this is the best way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemp
loyment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Focus on Ielts) 7. As there i
s increasing unemployment in the world, while at the same time those who have jo
bs are working harder and harder, it would be better to have a four-day working
week for everyone, and so to create more jobs. In what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (Essay Writing) 8. Some people prefer to stay in the same job for the sa
me company, but others prefer to change jobs frequently. Discuss. (China writing
) 9. Some employers reward members of staff for their exceptional contribution t
o the company by giving them extra money. This practice can act as an incentive
for some but may also have a negative impact on others. To what extent is this s
tyle of management effective? Are there better ways of encouraging employees to
work hard?(Ielts practice plus) MONEY AND FINANCE 1. Many people judge success s
olely by money and material possessions. However, success can be achieved or mea
sured in other ways. Discuss. (Ielts Foundation) 2. “Money can not buy happiness” it
is often claimed. But with money you can buy most of the things that are necess
ary for happiness: good food, accommodation, entertainment, travel, quality heal
th care… No wonder most people want to make as much money as possible. To what ext
ent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing) POLITICS 1. A country’s first duty t
o its citizens is to protect them. Therefore, it is logical that defense should
take up a significant proportion of the national budget. In what extent do you a
gree or disagree? (Reading and Writing module) 2. Overpopulation of urban areas
has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways
that governments and individuals tackle these problems. (Ielts Foundation) 3. Fu
ture plans which is to design prisons for learning and working, with bigger cell
s containing computers that will enable study and communication, have been criti
cized for trying to turn prisons into “holiday camps” and “wasting taxpayers’ money”. To w
hat extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts Foundation) 4. A government’s role is
only to provide defense capability and urban infrastructure (road, water supplie
s…). All other services (education, health, social security) should be provided by
private groups or individuals in the community. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? (Insearch prepare for Ielts) THE ENVIRONMENT 1. The world is consuming
natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important t
hat products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constan
tly buying more up to date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree
with this statement? (Model tests for the IELTS)
2. One day the world’s oil and gas reserves will run out. The search for alternati
ve energy sources like wind power, solar power, burning waste and water power ar
e causing as much environmental damage as the oil and nuclear power sources they
are intended to replace. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Academic wri
ting practice) 3. At present we rely on oil for most our energy needs. However,
oil is a fossil fuel and causes air pollution, and it will eventually run out. N
uclear energy is the only practical and clean source of energy for the world. In
what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing) 4. Trees are essential fo
r the existence of the human race as they provide the oxygen that we need to sur
vive. Yet, daily all around the globe, large areas of woodland are being destroy
ed. Many people feel that they as individuals can do nothing and that only gover
nments and large companies can halt the destruction. To what extent do you agree
with this? (Academic writing practice) 5. Climate change is now an accepted thr
eat to our planet, but there is not enough political action to control excessive
consumerism and pollution. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts on T
rack) 6. The environment is one of the most important issues in the world today,
but governments are not doing enough about it. To what extent do you agree or d
isagree? (Essay Writing) 7. Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequen
ce of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. To what extent do you ag
ree or disagree? (Passport to Ielts) 8. Most pollution, especially air and water
pollution, is caused by industry. If we want to protect the environment, we sho
uld make factories and other forms of industry pay of all the pollution that the
y cause. That is the only way to make sure that the owners will make a serious e
ffort to reduce the pollution that they cause. To what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (Essay Writing) 9. Nowadays, environmental problems are too big to be ma
naged by individual person or individual country. In other words, it is an inter
national problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (October 4th, 2003) 1
0. Waste disposal presents increasing problems, especially in urban areas. Cause
, effect, solution (China writing) 11. The best way to solve the world’s environme
ntal problems is to increase the cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (China writing) HEALTH CARE 1. “Prevention is better than cure”. Out of a co
untry’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spe
nding on health education and preventative measures. To what extent do you agree
or disagree with this statement? (Cambridge IELTS 2) 2. A number of different m
edical traditions are now widely known and used: Western medicine (using drugs a
nd surgery), herbal medicine (using needles at certain points of the body), homo
eopathy (using minute doses of poisons), and so on. How important is the patient’s
mental attitude towards his/her treatment in determining the effectiveness of t
he treatment? (Model tests for the IELTS) (China writing) 3. Most developed coun
tries spend a large proportion of their heath budgets on expensive medical techn
ology and procedures. This money should be spent instead on health
education to keep people well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts o
n Track) 4. The quality of health care a person receives should not depend on th
e size of their bank balance. The government is responsible for providing a high
level of heath care for all its citizens. To what extent do you agree or disagr
ee? (Reading and Writing module) 5. Some people claim that using tobacco has bro
ught several social problems and smocking should be banned. To what extent do yo
u agree or disagree? (China writing) 6. Should citizen take out private health i
nsurance? 7. Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of
medicine. However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may
be dangerous. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts Foundation) 8. Wha
t are the possible effects of living long on an individual and on the whole soci
ety? (July 5th, 2006) TRAVELLING AND TOURISM 1. Tourism is a modern form of colo
nialism. It distorts local economies, causes environment damage and ruins the pl
aces it exploits. To what extent do you agree? (IELTS Practice tests with answer
s) 2. Most of the world’s poor live in countries where tourism is a growing indust
ry. The issue is that tourism does not benefit the poorest. How can the income g
enerated by tourism benefit the poor? And how can we ensure that tourism does no
t destroy traditional cultures and ways of life? Discuss. (Focus on Ielts) 3. Ac
cording to those in the travel business, the nature of the average holiday is ch
anging. Rather than seeking a relaxing break in a far away place, people now wan
t excitement on their holidays and are keen to participate in unusual and challe
nging activities. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Insight into Ielts)
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE 1. The increasing role of English in the world today means
that the learning of other languages is being neglected. This will have serious
results for the continued use of these languages, and of their cultures. In what
extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing) 2. Young people are said to ha
ve lost many of the traditional values of the older generation. This does not ma
tter, because the old values have no relevance in the modern world. We need to d
evelop a whole new set of values. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essa
y Writing) 3. Multicultural society brings more benefits to the country than dra
wbacks. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (September 3rd, 2006) 4. Over t
he past fifty years, young people began to gain status and power lost by old peo
ple. What is the cause and is it a good development or bad? (China writing) 5. S
ome people think visitors to other countries should imitate local custom and beh
aviors. Others think the host country should welcome cultural diversity. Discuss
. (China writing) 6. The culture of different countries are becoming similar so
there is no point for people to go traveling abroad for they could have same exp
erience at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 7. Wil
l the popularity of English and tourism harm the minorities and minor language?
Discuss (China writing) 8. Some people think that it is more important to have o
ne language to be adapted as the
official international language. Others say that this will lead to the loss of c
ulture and identity of their country. Discuss. CRIME AND LAWS 1. Without capital
punishment (the death penalty) our lives are less secure and crimes of violent
increase. Capital punishment is essential to control violence in society. To wha
t extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 2) 2. Tobacco and alcohol ar
e drugs that cause addition and health problems. Should they be made illegal? Or
should all drugs be legalized? (Essay Writing) 3. Should criminals be sent to p
rison or should they do something else as a punishment? (China writing) 4. Recen
t statistics show that the crimes by the young people in the major city of the w
orld are increasing. Cause, effects, solutions. (China writing) 5. Young women c
rime has become more and more prevalent in recent years. Causes, effects and sol
utions. (China writing) 6. Crime is nearly always related to the environment in
which it occurs. For this reason, international laws and international law court
s are unrealistic and will not succeed in reducing crime levels in different cou
ntries. Discuss. (Insight into Ielts) 7. Under British and Australian laws a jur
y in a criminal case has no access to information about the defendant’s past crimi
nal record. This protects the person who is being accused of the crime. Some law
yers have suggested that this practice should be changed and that a jury should
be given all the past facts before they reach their decision about the case. In
what extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts practice plus) 8. The use of CCTV (
close circuit television) cameras in streets, stations, shops and other public p
laces has increased rapidly in recent years. Although we are told that these cam
eras help in the fight against crime, some people are opposed to their use. They
believe that everyone has a right to privacy. (serve more as an invasion of our
privacy than as a protection of our safety). To what extent do you agree or dis
agree? (Focus on Ielts) (Model tests for the IELTS) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Wh
en a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life di
e out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree o
r disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 3) 2. Technology can bring many benefits, but it ca
n also cause social and environmental problems. In relation to new technology, t
he primary duty of governments should be to focus on potential problems, rather
than benefits. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Mod
el tests for the IELTS) 3. “Telecommuting” refers to workers doing their jobs from h
ome for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer tec
hnology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common
for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be
affected by the growth of telecommuting? (IELTS to success) 4. In the future, w
e will have more and more leisure time as machines replace many of the tasks we
do at home and work. Discuss the benefits this will bring and also the problem i
t will cause. (Academic writing practice) 5. The Internet is becoming more centr
al to our lives, as it provides more information,
acts as interactive entertainment, and as a means of voting… These functions have
obvious benefits, but there are dangers involved in the control the Internet is
exerting over our lives. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Academic writ
ing practice) 6. High technology is now being harnessed to help the elderly by p
roviding monitoring, tracking and, perhaps, one day robots as companions. Whilst
there are obvious benefits for the elderly in these developments, some people a
re uneasy about the social consequences. In what extent to you agree or disagree
? (Academic writing practice) 7. We live today in an electronic information age.
It is easier to be connected by technology yet many people seem no closer to fe
eling happy in their lives. In what extent do you agree or disagree. (Ielts on T
rack) 8. Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the la
st 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we d
ie. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion? (Focus on Ielts) 9. According to a recent study, th
e more time people use the Internet, the less time they spend with real human be
ings. Should we worry about the effect this is having on social interaction or s
hould we see the Internet as a way of opening up new communication possibilities
worldwide? Discuss. (Focus on Ielts) 10. The internet will bring about a new fr
eedom of information and so narrow the technology gap between developed and deve
loping countries. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing
module) 11. In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the
field of IT, for example the www and communication by e-mail. However, future d
evelopments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive. To wha
t extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts Foundation) 12. We live in a technolog
ical age. However, technology can not solve all the world’s problems. Therefore so
me people argue that we need to place less emphasis on technological solutions a
nd more on other values. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing
) 13. The Internet has provided great benefits, but at the same time it has also
created new problems and inequalities. Is it possible to control some of these
problems? (Essay Writing) 14. Modern technology has increased our material wealt
h, but not our happiness. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writin
g) 15. Soon, people who can not work with computers will be disadvantaged. In wh
at extent do you agree or disagree? (June 1st,2002) 16. Technology has fascinate
d our life so much and given us a lot of freedom. Some people however believe th
at it has caused more problems for us. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
(March 9th, 2003) 17. Computers do not help children to learn more effectively.
On the contrary, their usage has a negative effect on both the physical and ment
al development of young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China
writing) 18. The computers are widely used in education, and some people think t
eacher are not play important role in the classroom. In what extent do you agree
or disagree? (China writing) 19. Are computers an essential feature of modern e
ducation? What subjects can be better
taught using computers? Are there aspects of a good education that can not be ta
ught using computers? (China writing) 20. Modern technology has influenced peopl
e’s entertainment and made people less creative. To what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (China writing) 21. Some people think scientists contribute the society
more. Others believe other subjects contribute more such as language and busines
s. Discuss. (China writing) 22. Modern technologies such as fertilizers and mach
inery have feed our world. Some people claim such technology can provide us chea
p food and also have some negative effects. Discuss. (China writing) 23. Intelli
gent machines such as robots are widely applied to take the place of human being
s. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages. (China writing) 24. The development
of science and technology benefit our life. However, scientists can not find ef
fective solutions to the problems the created. To what extent do you agree or di
sagree? (China writing) 25. Earlier technological development brought to more be
nefits and changed the life of ordinary people than the recent technological dev
elopments ever will. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) FO
OD AND DIET 1. A balanced diet or eating balanced meals is the key to a healthy
life. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) CHILDREN AND THE
FAMILY 1. Should old man live with young people together or should they live in
the clubs for the elder? Discuss. (China writing) 2. Modern lifestyles mean that
many parents have little time for their children. Many children do not get as m
uch attention from their parents as children did in the past. To what extent do
you agree or disagree? (China writing) 3. Many modern children spend a great dea
l of time sitting in front of a television or computer screen. This is extremely
harmful to their development. Therefore, parents should strictly limit the time
that children spend in this way. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essa
y Writing) 4. It is often argued that children must be protected from unsuitable
material on TV and the Internet by government censorship. Others say that it is
the parents’ responsibility to control what their children do and watch. To what
extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay Writing) 5. Should a child is brought up
in a village or a city? TRANSPORTATION 1. The burning oil for transport, especi
ally in private cars, is wasteful and environmentally irresponsible. Taxation on
petrol and diesel fuel should be increased to very high levels to discourage th
e use of private cars. To what extent would you support or reject this idea? (IE
LTS Practice tests with answers) 2. Young drivers are careless and overconfident
, and too many are killed in accidents. To eliminate this problem, we could teac
h children the skills of safe driving while they are at school. To what extent d
o you agree or disagree with this statement? (IELTS Practice tests with answers)
3. The rising level of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world’s c
ities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private car
s in use. In order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, att
empts must be made to encourage people to use their cars less and public transpo
rt more. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport. (IELTS
to success) 4. Governments should not be expected to take sole responsibility fo
r reducing the number of road accidents, individuals should share this responsib
ility. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Passport to Ielts) 5. If countr
ies are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars ver
y heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel. In what e
xtent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing module) 6. There are an exc
essive number of cars on our roads today and this leads to many problems. Indivi
duals and governments should ensure that public transport plays a more important
role in modern life in order to tackle these problems. To what extent do you ag
ree or disagree? (Ielts Foundation) 7. In every city the car is killing the road
. Cars cause death and injury and air pollution, and they make life difficult an
d dangerous for others. It is time to reduce the number of cars in our cities an
d to encourage other means of transport. In what extent do you agree or disagree
? (Essay Writing) 8. The only way to improve the safety on the roads is to give
much stricter punishments for driving offences. In what extent do you agree or d
isagree? (China writing) 9. The private motor vehicle has greatly improved indiv
idual freedom of movement. Moreover, the automobile has become a status symbol.
Yet the use of private motor vehicles has contributed to some of today’s most seri
ous problems. How can the use of private motor vehicles be reduced? (China writi
ng) 10. There are more and more vehicles in the city, which is very dangerous fo
r cyclists and pedestrians. Besides, many gardens have to make way to highways o
r expressways. How can we make everyone satisfied? (China writing) 11. The priva
te motor vehicle has greatly improved individuals freedom of movement. Moreover,
the automobile has become a status of symbol. Yet the use of private motor vehi
cles has contributed to some of today’s most serious problems. How can the use of
private motor vehicles be reduced? (Insearch prepare for Ielts) THE ARTS, MUSIC
AND ENTERTAINMENT 1. There are many different types of music in the world today.
Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than
the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays? Discuss. (Cambridge
IELTS 1) 2. Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their
own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There
should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agr
ee or disagree?(Cambridge IELTS 4) 3. The government spends about $220 million a
year supporting museums and galleries in the UK and a similar amount subsidizin
g the visual and performing arts. This is a huge sum to spend on minority intere
sts, and the money would be better spent on more important things. It should be
up to the people who enjoy cultural attractions to pay for them. To what extent
do you agree or disagree? (Focus on Ielts)
4. Some people say the government should not put money in the Arts, such as musi
c, opera and paintings, but instead should spend money on construction of public
facilities. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 5. The gov
ernment should control the amount of violence in films and on television in orde
r to decrease the violent crimes in society. In what extent do you agree or disa
gree? (China writing) 6. Some people think that strong tradition can civilize a
country and the government should subsidize musicians, artists, actors and drama
companies. In what extent do you agree or disagree? What should the government
do? (China writing) 7. People doing different kinds of work enjoy different amou
nt of holiday time. Should people have the same amount of leisure time? Discuss.
(China writing) 8. To be labeled a “Work of Art”, a painting, sculpture or other ar
t form should display certain qualities that are unique. However, over the past
century there has been a decline in the quality of prize-winning artwork and it
is now possible for quite ordinary pieces of art to be labeled “masterpieces” whilst
true works of art pass unnoticed. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Iel
ts practice plus) 9. Pop music vs classic? 10. Do young people today make good u
se of their leisure time? Or do they spend too much time watching television and
playing video games, instead of taking part in more productive activities? Disc
uss. (Focus on Ielts) TOWN AND COUNTRY 1. In the course of urban development, we
often find ourselves confronted with the old building problem. Some people thin
k we should pull down the old houses and buildings in the way. However, others a
rgue that it is a very rash decision to tear them down without full consideratio
n, and we have to preserve our old, historic buildings. Discuss. (China writing)
2. The gap of living in cities and the country side is larger and larger. Cause
s, effects and solutions. (China writing) GLOBALIZATION 1. Should wealthy nation
s be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such thing
s as food and education? Or is it the responsibilities of the governments of poo
rer nations to look after their citizens themselves? (Cambridge IELTS 2. Improve
ment in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer
nations. However, the government of richer nations should take more responsibili
ty for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 3) 3. The international community should reduce or el
iminate the debts of the world’s poorest countries. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) 4. Every country needs to remembe
r its past. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (IELTS
Practice tests with answers) 5. More and more qualified people are moving from p
oor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, co
mputing and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of su
ch people, rich countries are stealing
from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement
of workers around the world. Give your opinion. (Academic writing practice) 6. A
s most foreign aid often benefits the donor more than the receiver, developing c
ountries should refuse to repay their debts. In what extent do you agree or disa
gree? (Reading and Writing module) 7. Many people think that countries should ha
ve a moral obligation to help each other, while other argue that the aid money i
s misspend by the government that receive it, so the international aid should no
t give to the poor countries in the world. Discuss. (China writing) 8. Most coun
tries spend a large amount of money in weapons to defend themselves though they
are not at war. They should spend money to help the citizens in poor and disadva
ntaged countries. Discuss. (China writing) MEN AND WOMEN 1. Fatherhood ought to
be emphasized as much as motherhood. The idea that women are solely responsible
for deciding whether or not to have babies leads on to the idea that they are al
so responsible for bringing the children up. To what extent do you agree or disa
gree? (Cambridge IELTS 2) 2. The position of women in society has changed marked
ly in the last twenty years. Many of the problems young people now experience, s
uch as juvenile delinquency, arise from the fact that many married women now wor
k and not at home to care for their children. To what extent do you agree or dis
agree? (Cambridge IELTS 2) 3. Many people believe that women make better parents
than men and this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most
societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. Write
an essay expressing your point of view. (IELTS to success) 4. Woman should give
up their jobs and go back to their traditional role of home-maker in order to re
duce world unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and W
riting module) 5. One solution to decline in moral values in today’s world would b
e for men and women to return to their traditional roles. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing module) 6. Women will pay an increasingl
y important role in the workplace of the future. In what extent do you agree or
disagree? (Reading and Writing module) 7. Most high level jobs are done by men.
Should the government encourage a certain % of these jobs to be reserved for wom
en? (China writing) (also in equal % in universities’ major) 8. More and more wome
n go out to work. The government should subsidize them and provide free staff an
d facilities to care for their children. To what extent do you agree or disagree
? (China writing) 9. Some people argue that there are no fundamental differences
between the way men and women approach academic study. Others insist that there
are big differences such as organization, attitude and ambition, and that these
differences inevitably have an impact on student life. Discuss. (Insight into I
elts)
SPORTS 1. Popular events like the football World Cup and other international spo
rting occasions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing pat
riotic emotion in a safe way. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridg
e IELTS 3) 2. Sports which depend on violence for their entertainment, such as b
oxing and wrestling, have no place in a civilized society and should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) 3.
Professional sports involve large sums of money and receives enormous media cove
rage. Meanwhile serious culture, including music, art and theatre, is badly negl
ected. This is making our society shallower. In what extent do you agree or disa
gree? (Essay Writing) 4. International sports competitions are the best way to p
revent conflict. National feelings can be expressed in friendly competition, rat
her than fighting and sports heroes are better role models than fighters. The la
rge sums of money spent on international sports competition such as the Olympic
Games are therefore justified. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Essay W
riting) 5. In some countries, sports and entertainment people earn higher salari
es than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this h
appens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? (China writing)
6. Some people think that the Olympic Games will not play a role in 21st century
. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 7. Sports encourage c
ompetition rather than cooperation. Therefore, sports should not be encouraged a
t school. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 8. Is it fair
that sports professionals earn a great deal more money than people in other imp
ortant profession? Discuss. (China writing) 9. In the past, sporting champions u
sed to be motivated primarily by the desire to win a match or to break world rec
ords. These days, they are more likely to be motivated by prize money and the op
portunity to be famous. What message does this send to young people and how does
this attitude to sport affect the sports themselves?(Ielts practice plus) ANIMA
LS 1. Many people keep dogs and cats as companions. Discuss the advantages and d
isadvantages of pet ownership for the animals involved and for the community as
a whole. (Ielts on Track) 2. Animals should not be used for the benefit of human
beings, unless there is evidence that the animals do not suffer in any way. To
what extent do you agree or disagree? (Passport to Ielts) 3. As public safety is
one of the highest importances, it is often necessary to test new products on a
nimals. It is better for a few animals to suffer than for human life to be place
d at risk by untested products. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (Readin
g and Writing module) 4. Zoos are sometimes sees as necessary but poor alternati
ve to a natural environment. It is necessary to keep animals in zoos. In what ex
tent do you agree or disagree? (China
writing) 5. Wild animals have no place in the 21st century. Some people think th
at preventing these wild animals from dying out is a waste of resource. In what
extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 6. Some people think killing an
imals for food is cruel and unnecessary. Others think that it is essential for d
aily diet. In what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) 7. Some peop
le regard animals as the source of food or clothes. Other thinks that they shoul
d be treated like pets. Discuss. (China writing) NATURAL DISASTER AND HUMANITARI
AN ORGANIZATION 1. Too much attention is given to headline-grabbing disasters li
ke earthquakes and floods. Government should concentrate their resources on educ
ating people about the risk they face nearer to home, which can cost far more li
ves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion. (Focus on Ielts)
ADVERTISING 1. Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacce
ptable in today’s society. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Ielts Foundat
ion) 2. We are surrounding by advertising. Some people think that this is good,
because it gives us a choice as consumers. But others argue that it makes people
selfish and greedy for more and more goods. Do you think that there should be l
ess advertising? (Essay Writing) 3. Advertisements are getting their way into pe
ople’s lives. Discuss the effects of advertisements of people. Should all ads be b
anned? (China writing) UN-CATALOGED 1. Some people say that tell the truth is no
t always essential. It’s necessary to tell lies sometimes. To what extent do you a
gree or disagree? (China writing) 2. Happiness is considered important to people
. Why are the definitions of happiness different? What are the factors in achiev
ing happiness? (China writing) 3. It is said that people’s life now is becoming mo
re and more stressful. Causes, effects and solutions. (China writing) 4. In achi
eving personal happiness, our relationships with other people (family, friends,
and colleagues) are more important than anything else. Issues such as work and w
ealth take second place. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Insight into
Ielts) 5. In some countries, marriages are arranged by the parents but in other
cases. Discuss. (Insight into Ielts) 6. “Failure is proof that the desire wasn’t str
ong enough.” To what extent do you agree or disagree?(Ielts practice plus) 7. Rese
arch indicates that the characteristics we were born with have much more influen
ce on o ur personality and development than experiences we had in our life. In w
hat extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing)