IELTS 3

WRITING TASK 2 (cont.)

Instructor: Ms Xuân Vương
 I. INTRODUCTION: (2-3 sentences)
1. Introduce the topic (summary/background/situation)
2. Respond to the question and make your position clear
II. BODY: (2 paragraphs – 5 sentences/1 paragraph)
[ NO PERSONAL OPINIONS (avoid “I”) ]
Paragraph 1: REASON 1 (Firstly à Secondly à Finally)
1. Topic sentence
2. First reason

ESSAY 3. Example
4. Second reason

STRUCTURE 5. Third reason

Paragraph 2: REASON 2 (Idea à Explanation à Examples)
1. Topic sentence
2. Explain why
3. Explain in more detail
4. Example
5. Explanation
III. CONCLUSION: (2-3 sentences)
1. Restate/ Paraphrase the introduction
2. Give personal opinions if required
 PARAGRAPH METHODS

1. TOPIC SENTENCE 1. TOPIC SENTENCE

2. FIRSTLY, 2. FIRSTLY,
3. SECONDLY, 3. SECONDLY,
4. FINALLY, 4. FINALLY,
5. AS A RESULT, 5. FOR EXAMPLE,
Note: The example can be used for
either the first, second or third idea.
TYPES OF ESSAY
QUESTIONS IN
IELTS TASK 2
TYPES OF ESSAY QUESTIONS
TYPES OF ESSAY QUESTIONS
ANALYZING THE QUESTIONS
PRACTICE:
What kind of essay should you write for each topic?
1. Nowadays families are not as close as they used to be. What do you think are
the causes of this? What can be done to make families closer?
2. It is more important to have a good family than to have friends. Family can
always compensate for absence of friendship. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
3. More and more couples are deciding to be "child-free", to have no children, in
other words. Some people claim that those couples reach this conclusion
through entirely selfish reasons while others think that they came to this
decision through noble motives, such as concern about overpopulation and
desire for independence. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
PRACTICE:
What kind of essay should you write for each topic?
4. Big salary is much more important than job satisfaction. Do you agree or
disagree?
5. Some people hesitate between getting a job and starting their own business.
While the idea of not having a boss and working on one's own schedule may
sound tempting, financial risks and stress sometimes outweigh these
advantages. In your opinion what are the pros and cons of working in a
company?
6. Some people believe that violence on television and in computer games has a
damaging effect on society. Others deny that these have any significant
influence on people's behaviour. What is your opinion?
PRACTICE:
What kind of essay should you write for each topic?
7. Technology provides us a lot of means to communicate. But now that people
have the ability to talk to each other in a wider variety of methods, our
communication and social abilities have taken a step back. Why does
technological advance hurt nontechnical communication? How can we solve
this problem?
8. A lot of people have become dependent on technology as it plays a big role in
our daily lives. Describe the positive and negative impacts of technology on
our lives and give your opinion.
9. Music plays a vital role in our society. How much has music influenced the way
we think today? What do you think is key role of music in nowadays world?
DISCUSSION
ESSAYS
ESSAY STRUCTURE
- Rewrite the task question
Introduction
- Say there are both advantages and disadvantages

Body para 1 - Advantages (about 2-3 ideas) / Viewpoint 1

Body para 2 - Disadvantages (about 2-3 ideas) / Viewpoint 2

Conclusion - Summarize the ideas

SAMPLE QUESTIONS
— Discuss both views.
— Discuss the benefits and drawbacks.
— Explain the positives and negatives of this development.
— What are the advantages and disadvantages?

— Example:
In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a
year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided
to do this.
MODEL WRITING
Before embarking on college many young people are advised that a year working or travelling may be a
good option. This essay will suggest that saving money is the biggest advantage of this and a reduced
motivation to study is the primary disadvantage.
Third level education is very expensive and lots of students decide to work for 12 months and save up
money before they begin their studies. This allows them to pay for their living costs, tuition fees and
accommodation and focus on their studies, rather than struggle financially or have to get a part time
job on top of their academic work. The Times recently reported that the average student at a UK
university requires over $12,000 per annum just to survive and many drop out because they cannot
afford to stay.
Despite these advantages, many students often get used to working or travelling and don’t want to
return to a life of study after a year off. This short-term view can cause some to bypass university
altogether and go straight into a job that is beneath their capabilities or may not offer the same
prospects their future career might have done. For instance, a recent survey by the British Government
found that 26% of students who take a gap-year never enter tertiary education.
In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows people to gather up savings,
however, they should also be careful that it does not lead to disillusionment with education altogether.
DISCUSSION-OPINION
ESSAYS
ESSAY STRUCTURE
- Rewrite the task question
Introduction - Say there are both advantages and disadvantages
- Say the advantages/ disadvantages are greater (optional)

Body para 1 - Advantages (about 2-3 ideas)

Body para 2 - Disadvantages (about 2-3 ideas)

- Summarize the ideas

Conclusion
- Say the advantages/ disadvantages are greater (compulsory)
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
— Discuss both views and give your opinions.
— Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

— Example:
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning
a foreign language at primary schools rather than secondary
school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
MODEL WRITING
Some authorities think that it is more favorable for pupils to begin studying languages at primary
school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of this outweigh the
drawbacks.
The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases the likelihood they
will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far more years to perfect their skills
and it will seem perfectly normal to speak bilingually. For example, in countries such as Holland and
Norway where English is taught from a very young age, more than 95% of adults speak it at an
advanced level. Learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In other
words it benefits the overall development of a child’s brain. A recent survey by Cambridge University
found that children who studied a new language before the age of 5 were significantly more likely to
score higher in Mathematics and Science.
Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their mother tongue
and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to support this view and children from
bilingual families do just as well in both languages. My own son was brought up speaking both
Vietnamese and English and outperforms most of his classmates in both.
In conclusion, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and improved brain
function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs uptake of native languages. The earlier
PROBLEM-SOLUTION / CAUSE-EFFECT
ESSAYS
ESSAY STRUCTURE
- Rewrite the task question
Introduction - Say there are causes & solutions/ problems & solutions/
causes & effects

Body para 1 - Problems / Causes

Body para 2 - Solutions / Effects

- Summarize the ideas

Conclusion
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
— What are the problems and possible solutions?
— What are the causes and effects of the issue?

— Example:
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and
consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist
before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet
and what solutions can you suggest?
MODEL WRITING
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to the way that
people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are
solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous
sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and
claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative
impact for the children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking.
These days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked,
resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate
legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as
requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play.
They need to closely monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can
now be done through various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security
systems to make fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current
systems for weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s lives, but not
without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals, governments and businesses, it can
be made a safe place for everyone.
TRANSITION SIGNALS
 USEFUL LANGUAGE:
SHOWING AGREEMENT / DISAGREEMENT
AGREEING DISAGREEING
• I am in complete agreement with… • I am in total disagreement with…
• The findings support those of… • I completely disagree with…
• By a large, I accept … • It is unable to accept…
• I (completely / entirely / really / totally • … (subject) is unconvincing…
/ absolutely / honestly / truly) agree • There is no way I could agree with….
with…
• I find it very difficult to accept that…
• It is (completely / absolutely /
undeniably) true that…
• I’d go along with that view to a point…
 • It is often said that … / Many people claim that …
• In this day and age, … / Nowadays, … / These days, …
• We live in an age when many of us are …
• … is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion …
Opening • … is often discussed yet rarely understood …
• It goes without saying that … is one of the most important issues facing us
today.
• The following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument.

• Firstly, let us take a look at … / To start with, …/ First of all, it is worth

considering …
Introducing • Secondly, …/ Thirdly, …/ Lastly, …/ Finally, …/ Last but not least, …
points • Furthermore, …/ In addition, …/ What is more, …/ On top of that, …
• Another point worth noting is …/ Another factor to consider is …
 • When it comes to + noun/gerund …
• In terms of + noun/gerund …
• With respect to + noun/gerund …
Presenting ideas • Not only … but also …
& Giving • According to experts, …
examples • Research has found that …
• There are those who argue that …
• For instance … / For example .../such as …

• As a result, …/ As a result of …
• … has led to …/ … has resulted in
Expressing • Consequently, …/ Therefore, …
results & reasons • On account of … / Due to …
• One reason behind this is …

• Although/ Even though + subject + verb, …

• Despite/ In spite of + noun/gerund, …
Contrasting • Despite the fact that + subject + verb, …
• On the one hand, … On the other hand, …
• However, …/ Nevertheless, …/ Even so, …
 • As far as I’m concerned, …
• From my point of view, …
Giving • In my opinion, …
opinion • Personally speaking, …
• My own view on the matter is …

• To sum up, …/ In conclusion, …

• All things considered, …
• Taking everything into consideration, …
• Weighing up both sides of the argument, …
• The advantages of … outweigh the disadvantages …
Concluding • For the reasons mentioned above, I believe that...
• In conclusion, there are convincing arguments both for and against..., but I
believe that...
• In conclusion, I would argue that the benefits of... outweigh the drawbacks.
• In conclusion, it is clear that there are various reasons for..., and steps need
to be taken to tackle this problem.