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IELTS Opinion Essay Question

The growing number of overweight  people is putting a strain on the health
care system in an effort to deal with the health issues involved. Some
people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce
more physical education lessons in the school curriculum. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
IELTS Agree Disagree Model Essay
Owing to the problems which a growing population of overweight people cause for
the health care system, some people think that the key to solving these issues is to
have more sport and exercise in schools. In my opinion, I completely agree that this
is the best way to tackle the issue of deteriorating public health in relation to
weight.

Firstly, dealing with the issues surrounding obesity and weight problems is best
solved by taking a long term approach and introducing more sport and exercise in
schools.  This method  will ensure that the next generation will  be healthier and
will not have such  health problems. At the moment, the average child in the West
does sport possibly twice a week, which is not enough to counteract their otherwise
sedentary lifestyle. However, by incorporating more sports classes into the
curriculum as well as encouraging extracurricular sports activities, they will
undoubtedly become fitter and more active.

Another point to consider is that having more sports lessons for children in schools
will probably result in children developing an interest in exercise which might
filter through to other members of their family  and have a longer lasting effect.  In
other words,  parents with sporty children are more likely to get involved  in
sport  as a way of encouraging their children.  By both parents and children being
involved, it will ensure that children grow up to incorporate sport into their daily
lives.  This is certainly a natural and lasting way to improve public health.

In conclusion, to deal with an increasing population of unfit, overweight people,

changing the lifestyle of the coming generation by introducing sport in schools is
the easiest and most effective method to use.
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Below is an IELTS advantage / disadvantage model essay about having one language in
the world. The essay is estimated at band score 9.

The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent

language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only
language to be spoken globally.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Model Essay

It is thought by some people that English, which is now the most widely spoken
language in the world, may one day predominate over all other languages and result in
their eventual disappearance. Having one language would certainly aid understanding
and economic growth but there will also be some drawbacks.

One evident benefit to having one global language is that it would enable greater
understanding between countries. In other words, if everyone spoke one language,
there would be complete understanding between not only countries but all people
throughout the world which would promote learning, the flow of information and
ideas. Another reason that one language would be advantageous is that it would help
economic growth. With all people speaking the same language, there will be less
barriers and therefore trade would flourish between countries, resulting in a healthier
world economy.

On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to having only one global language.
Firstly, it would mean that all other languages would eventually disappear and, along
with them, their cultures. The diversity of cultures is one of the joys this world has to
offer. Each culture is unique with its own way of life and own perspectives of the world
which would all be lost if there were only one language.  Secondly, it would result in
the collapse of tourism because there would be no reason to travel for pleasure and
interest if all countries had the same language and similar cultures. This would
devastate many countries economically that rely on tourism as a source of income.

In conclusion, while there are plus points to having one global language, too much
would be lost as a result. Maintaining local languages and cultures should be prioritised
to ensure a rich world heritage for future generations.
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Comments: This sample answer addresses the task fully and provides relevant, well
extended ideas. All aspects of cohesion is well managed. Vocabulary is flexible and
there is a good range of complex sentence structures.

The model answer below is for an IELTS cause and solution essay  in writing task 2 on
the topic of crime and punishment.

Many offenders commit more crimes after serving the first punishment. Why is this
happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?

A large number of criminals who serve their first prison sentence, leave prison only to
reoffend. This is mainly because of the lack of rehabilitation and difficulty finding
regular employment once released. There are a number of solutions which should be
implemented to deal with criminals who reoffend.

Firstly, the reason for most first-time offenders committing crimes again, once they have
been released from prison, is due to the lack of rehabilitation whilst in prison. In other
words, offenders are not given a chance to retrain and learn new skills for their future
or develop a deeper understanding of correct moral behaviour and instead mix with
other criminals, which only strengthens their criminal intentions. Secondly, repeat
offending is also owing to the difficulty in finding employment after being released. As
a result, many of them struggle financially which leads them back to crime, regardless
of the consequences.

There are two effective solutions to the problem of repeat offenders. One way to tackle
this is to ensure that all criminals entering prison are given the chance to retrain with
useful skills which will hopefully ensure them a job after they have served their
sentence. By doing this, it will help them reintegrate back into society and give them
some means of supporting themselves financially. Another method of dealing with
criminals who reoffend is to have more supervision and checks in place when they are
back in society. This solution would hopefully prevent them from taking any chances
and deter them from reoffending because they are being so closely watched.

In conclusion, having training in prison and also close observation when first time
offenders are released are effective in dealing with the issue. If governments
implemented these solutions, crime figures would soon drop.

Comments
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This essay address the task completely. Both causes and solutions are given and
developed with relevant ideas. Linking is used not only effectively but also flexibly.
Paragraphing is also used effectively to help the reader. There is a range of sentence
structures and also tenses used. Vocabulary is also flexible with a good range of less
common words. Essay Length: 290 words

This is an estimated band score 9 model for an IELTS writing task 2 direct questions
essay. This model essay shows you how to answer each question directly and how to
organise the answers into paragraphs.

Some people think that money is one of the most essential factors in promoting
happiness.

Do you think people can be happy without much money?

What other factors contribute towards happiness?

Money is considered by many people to be one of the most important contributing

factors towards happiness. In my opinion, it is possible for people to be happy even if
they have little money and other aspects of life can play a more vital role in creating
happiness.

Although having money brings happiness to a lot of people, it does not necessarily
follow that people without money are, therefore, unhappy. Take for example the
comparison between developing and developed countries, most Westerners would
agree that people in developing countries are happier, enjoy stronger family
connections and take more pleasure in the simplicities of life to a greater extent than
those in developed countries.

One way that people can gain happiness is through their work. For instance, a doctor
doing volunteer work in underdeveloped countries may have very little money but the
reward of helping people and doing the job they are good at, brings happiness in itself.
In other words, happiness can be found by using skills that people are trained for and
through job satisfaction.

Finally, another factor influencing happiness is having supportive and loving people in
one’s life.  While money may bring the opportunities to enjoy pleasures, few people
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would enjoy them on their own. Being surrounded by a loving and caring family is
considered by most people to be more valuable than any amount of money.

In conclusion, money is not essential for happiness, which can be found through job
satisfaction as well as family. If more people strived in life towards true happiness
rather than money, the world would be a better place.

Comments: Your task is to give an answer to both questions and no more. Each
question may have one or two main points to answer it. Your essay should never have
more than 3 body paragraphs. You can see that in this IELTS model essay, the first body
paragraph is answering the first question and the second question is answered with two
main points in two different body paragraphs. Words = 275 (an appropriate length for
writing task 2)

The IELTS writing task 2 sample answer below has examiner comments and is band
score 9. The topic of social media is common and this IELTS essay question was
reported in the IELTS test. Check the model essay and then read the comments.

Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have had a huge
negative impact on both individuals and society.

To what extent do you agree?

Social networking sites, for instance Facebook, are thought by some to have had a
detrimental effect on individual people as well as society and local communities.
However, in my opinion, while I believe that such sites are mainly beneficial to the
individual, I agree that they have had a damaging effect on local communities.

With regards to individuals, the impact that online social media has had on each
individual person has clear advantages. Firstly, people from different countries are
brought together through such sites as Facebook whereas before the development of
technology and social networking sites, people rarely had the chance to meet or
communicate with anyone outside of their immediate circle or community. Secondly,
Facebook also has social groups which offer individuals a chance to meet and
participate in discussions with people who share common interests.

On the other hand, the effect that Facebook and other social networking sites have had
on societies and local communities can only be seen as negative. Rather than individual
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people taking part in their local community, they are instead choosing to take more
interest in people online. Consequently, the people within local communities are no
longer forming close or supportive relationships. Furthermore, society as a whole is
becoming increasingly disjointed and fragmented as people spend more time online
with people they have never met face to face and who they are unlikely to ever meet in
the future.

To conclude, although social networking sites have brought individuals closer together,
they have not had the same effect on society or local communities. Local communities
should do more to try and involve local people in local activities  in order to promote
the future of community life.

Comments: This essay shows you the organisation of ideas into paragraphs and also
how a clear answer is given in the thesis statement in the introduction and then
supported and explained in full throughout the essay. You will also see paraphrasing
for advantage / disadvantage language which can be useful for you in other essays.
Furthermore, the word length of this essay is typical for anyone aiming for band score
6, 7 or above. Words 280

This IELTS discussion essay sample answer is estimated at band 9. See comments below
the essay for advice and tips.

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good
job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft
skills is more important.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

It is considered by some that being a university graduate is the key to securing a good
job while there are others who think that it is better to have experience and soft skills. In
my opinion, I believe that having university education is essential for academic jobs
while soft skills and experience are more useful in business.

On the one hand, many think it is easier for most people to find a good job if they are
university graduates with a good degree. In other words, having tertiary education puts
people one step ahead of others who do not and this can be the deciding factor in
getting a good job. The competition to get in to universities and the increasing number
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of graduates show just how significant this level of education is for people’s future
work opportunities.

On the other hand, having work experience and soft skills, such as leadership skills and
other interpersonal skills, can also throw the balance in favour of the applicant,
according to some. For many positions there are an overwhelming number of
applicants and, therefore, it is often thought that having relevant experience in that line
of work or having acquired useful soft skills that can be valuable to a company, can put
one ahead of the game when applying for a position.

Finally, in my opinion, whether needing high level education or skills and experience,
depends on the position being applied for. Take for example law, medicine or teaching,
it is impossible to be considered for a position without the required educational
background. In contrast, in business, it would be more important for a candidate to
have soft skills and experience in that line of business so they can step into a position
without further training and be of immediate benefit to the company.

In conclusion, getting a good job requires a relevant background either in experience or

education depending on the type of work and field. People should make sure they
attain the necessary skills or degrees before applying for a job in order to be sure of
success.

Comments: This is a a band score 9  essay. It has over 300 words but all sentences are
relevant, focused and well written. Band score 8.5 and 9 students can attempt long
essays successfully but students from band 8 to band 6, should aim for around 270 to
290 words. Both sides are clearly discussed and the opinion is also clearly given.
Linking devices are well used.

An IELTS model essay for positive or negative development questions. It is common in

IELTS writing task 2 to be asked to choose either something is a positive or negative
development or trend. Your task is to answer the question in the introduction and
explain your answer in the body paragraphs.

IELTS Postive &Essay Question

Nowadays, more people are choosing to socialise online rather than face to
face. Is this a positive or negative development?
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IELTS Model Essay: Positive or Negative Development?

An increasing number of people meet and talk to their friends online instead of in
person. In my opinion, this is a negative development which can lead to isolation,
potentially harmful situations and also problems later on in life.

One serious problem that can arise from people socialising online is that it can lead to
isolation. Before the internet, people would frequently go out to meet friends, for
example in cafes, bars or restaurants, whereas now people prefer to stay at home alone,
chatting online. As a result, people are starting to spend the majority of their time alone
at home in their room without meeting others. Isolation of this kind is not healthy and
can sometimes lead to depression and other issues.

Another issue is that meeting people online can be risky. In other words, people can
assume fake identities online as well as hide their true characteristics. This is
particularly concerning for teenagers who are impressionable and can easily be led into
dangerous situations. Furthermore, as this interaction is online, parents have no way of
monitoring it and protecting their children.

Finally, socialising online can end in difficulties years later as conversations and shared
photos that had been forgotten reappear. This situation is currently critical for many
people, again especially for teenagers who do not think carefully before posting online.
That is to say, information which is put online can remain there forever and while
people may share intimate communications with close friends, these words can then
resurface later on leading to much embarrassment.

In conclusion, although it has become more popular for people to socialise through the
internet, it has brought about too many problems for this to be considered a positive
trend.

Examiner’s Comments: This essay provides a clear answer to the essay question. The
position is clearly presented in the introduction and also explained and supported
throughout the essay. Linking devices are well used and ideas are organised logically.
Language is flexible and accurate. This would reach band 9.
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Below are three IELTS model essays for IELTS essay questions that students have
reported this month in their test. You can find the full list of 20 essay questions on this
page: IELTS Essay Questions Sept 2017.  I did say that I would write only one model
essay but, due to student demand, I have choose the three most popular essay
questions.

Paragraphs: The model essays below all have two body paragraphs. Please note it is
also possible to have three body paragraphs in IELTS writing task 2 – your choice
depends on your ideas.

IELTS Essay Model Q#1

Nowadays young people lack an understanding of how to manage their finances after
they finish high school. Explain why they do not know how to manage money and
how this can be changed.

Below is an IELTS cause / solution model essay.

Many young people are leaving school without a basic and vital understanding of how
personal finances ought to be managed in the adult world. This lack of knowledge is
due to a lack of life experience and limited education which can be solved in two simple
ways.

One main reason why so many young people are unable to manage their own finances
upon finishing high school is that they have been living alone with their parents for
free. As a result, they have never needed to earn a salary or save their money in order to
pay bills. Another cause is that schools do not factor personal financial management
into their curriculum. Schools focus instead on classic subjects, such as maths,
geography, history and languages, which means important life skills are not being
taught. Both teachers and parents are failing to prepare young people for the real world.

There are two options for solving young people’s inability to manage personal finances.
Firstly, parents should spend time with their children teaching them how money is
earned, budgeted and used for either savings or expenses. One simple step could be for
parents to start by teaching young children how to manage their pocket money and, as
their child grows up, expand into more serious household expenses. Secondly, schools
should incorporate life skills into their curriculum for final year students. In this way,
children will be able to learn in a supportive environment how their finances need to
budgeted and managed to avoid debt problems later in life.
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In conclusion, young people lack financial management skills due to the negligence of
parents and schools, which can only be solved if both take more responsibility for
equipping school leavers with the right skills.

IELTS Essay Model Q#4

Advertising discourages us from being different and individuals eventually look the
same. To what extent do you agree or disagree.

Below is a partial agreement (a balanced view) model opinion essay.

It is sometimes thought that advertisements result in people becoming increasingly

similar and that they discourage individuality. In my opinion, advertising certainly
does promote conformity amongst certain people but most people will always make
their own individual choices which will make them appear different.

The role of advertising is to promote products in a way that encourages people to buy
them and this in turn means that people inevitably end up buying the same things and
appearing the same. This is particularly true of the fashion industry which tells
followers of fashion what colours to wear in which seasons, what styles of clothes they
should wear and even the length of their hair. The adverts put pressure on young
people to look fashionable by following looks which have been planned by the fashion
industry. As a result, those who are easily influenced by fashion trends will tend to
appear more similar and with less individuality in an attempt to be considered
fashionable.

However, the wish to appear fashionable and follow fashion trends with strict
conformity only applies to a certain group of young “trendy” people. For others, the
fashion trends are interesting but not something that should be followed religiously.
For instances, while some of them may choose to follow the fashionable colour that
season, they may prefer a different hair style which is more suited to their own face
shape or character. Consequently, although some aspects of their dress may be similar,
the majority of what they wear and how they wear it is different and shows their
individual character.

In conclusion, although fashion victims follow trends and may appear similar, they are
in the minority as most people prefer to select what they wear and how they look for
themselves.
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IELTS Essay Model Q#9

Some people believe that development of business results in a loss of cultural ties
between countries. Other people contradict this belief. Give your opinion.

Below is a one sided model opinion essay.

The development of business, according to some, has had a negative impact on cultural
ties between countries. I do not agree with this as international business can often
encourage cultural ties and does not impact on existing ones.

Firstly, international business has resulted in new relationships between countries that
previously had little contact. Consequently products from countries all around the
world become available to the everyday person which raises their awareness of these
countries. As awareness between countries grows, so too does cultural respect and
interest. For this reason, there are more people travelling abroad today to experience
new cultures than ever before. One good example of this is the long lasting cultural
interest between China and Europe which was initially brought about by the silk trade.

Another point to consider is that cultural ties that already exist between countries are
not necessarily disturbed by business. Most cultural ties have actually been established
due to the development of transportation which has enabled people to travel further
distances from their homes. For decades, if not centuries, the British were known to
travel to France and even as far as Egypt to enjoy warmer climates as well as to
appreciate their culture. Regardless of business or business problems which came later,
these cultural ties continue to exist today. In other words, although business may throw
a spanner in the works with regards to international relationships from time to time, it
cannot undo the deep cultural connections between these countries that have evolved
and been enjoyed over time.

To conclude, business mostly certainly does not cause a loss of cultural ties between
countries and can, in fact, be the root of establishing new ones.