How To Get A Band 8.0 in IELTS Writing Task 2 - Tips, Strategies and Band 9.0 Sample

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
18
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)
19
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.
20
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)
21
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.
22
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.
23
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.
24
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)
25
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.
26
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
27
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.
28
• 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.
29
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.
30
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
31
 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.
32
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.
33
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.
34
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.
35
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
36
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.
37
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.
38
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
39
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.
40
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.
42
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.
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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.
44
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.
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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.
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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.
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• 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 (ýthức bảo vệ môi trường). Vídụ: 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
53
 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.
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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.
55
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!
56
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.
57
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.
58
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.
59
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.
60
61
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.
62
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
63
– -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
64
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.
65
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.
66

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How to Get a Band 8.0 in IELTS Writing Task 2 – Tips, Strategies and Band 9.

Supporting body paragraphs:

The most common IELTS essay topics are:

 To enter the mainstream of...: become popular

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

Band 8.0 Sample Essay

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

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

 on the verge of extinction: nearly extinct

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

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

Band 8.0 Model Essay:

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

Band 9.0 Sample Essay:

Humanitarian education teaches various social topics from a humanitarian perspective.

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

Band 8.0 Model Essay

Band 8.5 Sample Essay:

Band 8.0 Model Answer:

Useful words and expressions:

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

Band 8.5 Model Essay

Band 9.0 Model Essay 1

What are the reasons for this?

Band 8.5 Model Essay

Band 8.0 Model Essay 1

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

Band 8.5 Sample Essay 1:

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

Useful Vocabulary & Expressions:

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

Band 8.5 Model Answer

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

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

Band 8.0 Sample Essay

Useful words and expressions:

Band 9.0 Model Essay:

Useful Vocabulary & Expressions:

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

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

Band 8.0 Model Essay 1

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

negative? Band 8.5 Model Essay 1:

IELTS Examiner’s comment:

Criteria Grade & Assessment

Task Achievement 7.5

– 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

Grammar Range & Accuracy 8

– uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms