Object to discuss:

Many people believe that increasing levels of violence on television and in films is having a
direct result on levels of violence in society. Others claim that violence in society is the result of
more fundamental social problems such as unemployment.
How much do you think society is affected by violence in the media?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
An essay example:
There are different views on the causes of violence in the world today. Some argue that it is
connected to people's exposure to violent scenes on television and in films, whilst others point to
wider problems in society such as unemployment, poor housing and education as the root of anti-
social behaviour. It is my belief that violence in the media plays a significant role in encouraging
violent behaviour.

A first point is that as levels of violence in the media increase, so does young people's exposure
to it. Even films aimed at children often contain violence and despite the difficulty of proving
whether this directly affects society, it is hard not to be concerned. After all, children learn
through modelling adult behaviour, so if the models they choose are violent then it is highly
likely that they may be violent themselves.

Furthermore, the way violence is portrayed in the media is often stylized resulting in violence
being seen as attractive. People who are easily impressed may then behave violently themselves.
Although research has shown that aggressive behaviour is actually often the result of having
aggressive parents, I still believe that the unrealistic way violence is shown in the media must
have a negative result on society.

Finally, the media has become increasingly globalized which means that violence in programmes
or films can be viewed all over the world. I would argue that the increasing quantity and level of
violence seen around the world must be a negative force in society.

In conclusion, although it is difficult to prove beyond a doubt the effect of violence in the media
on society, I believe that the result on the young, the unrealistic way it is shown and the global
nature of media communications all have a significant and negative impact on society.

(300 words)
Object to discuss:
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following ways of learning a foreign
language.
State which you consider to be the most effective.
studying on your own
taking lessons with a private tutor
taking lessons as part of a class
taking lessons online
going to live in a country where the language is spoken
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
An essay example:
The question of how to learn a foreign language has become increasingly important in recent
years as business has become more international. Although there are a number of effective ways,
l am convinced that living in a country where that language is spoken is the most efficient way of
learning.
Traditionally, people have learned languages as part of a large group in a classroom. This has the
advantage of providing many opportunities to practise what you learn with a number of different
people. In addition, the fees for this form of education are usually reasonable, since a large
number of people are taught at once. However, the size of the group means that more demands
are placed on the teacher's time. Students may not get the individual attention they require to
improve.
The amount of individual attention you receive is certainly an advantage of working with a
private tutor. Also, the student can work at a pace which is comfortable for them. On the other
hand, working with a private tutor can lack the social element, which is crucial in learning to
communicate well in a foreign language. It can also prove to be beyond the means of many
people.
By far the most natural way to acquire a language is to go where it is spoken. Not only is every
social interaction a chance to practise, but you are also exposed to the real, living language. As
well as that, you are able to acquire a natural accent by imitating the people around you. This is
not to say, of course, that there are not drawbacks. Many people suffer from culture shock away
from home, and it can be very difficult to integrate into a foreign culture.
In conclusion, I would argue that the advantages of going to another country to learn far
outweigh the disadvantages, making it the best option.
(312 words)
Should the international community do more to tackle the threat of global warming?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Exam Tip
Task 2 in the IELTS exam asks a question about a social topic such as the environment,
education or the media. You must answer this question by giving your opinions, along with
reasons and examples, in an essay. You must write at least 250 words and you should spend
about 40 minutes writing the essay.
It is important to use a standard essay structure consisting of separate paragraphs: an introduction
(one paragraph), followed by the main body of the essay (two or three paragraphs), and then a
conclusion (one paragraph).
The introduction to a Task 2 essay can describe the topic of the essay, give background
information to it and list various opinions about it. You should also briefly state your own view,
which you then go on to explain and support in the main body of the essay.
An essay example:
Global warming has long been recognized as a serious problem by most climate scientists.
Governments around the world have begun to take the necessary measures to address it.
However, as our understanding of the scale and nature of the problem is still developing, efforts
to tackle global warming need to be reassessed from time to time.
Recent evidence suggests that some risk factors associated with climate change may have been
overstated. Sea levels are now expected to rise by approximately one metre, not two metres, as
previously thought. This is because some glaciers and ice sheets appear to be contracting, the
Arctic, for example, while others, such as the Antarctic, appear to be expanding. Also, it is now
thought that the Gulf Stream is unlikely to vanish. It may, therefore, be possible to scale back
plans for flood defences in coastal areas.
However, there is also evidence that some of the consequences of climate change may have been
understated. Tropical forests are now believed to be more vulnerable to drought. Hurricanes and
typhoons may become more severe. Greater efforts should therefore be made to protect
vulnerable populations, especially in tropical areas. Buildings in storm-prone areas may also
need to be re-designed to withstand high winds.
These recommendations, however, address the symptoms of global warming, not the root cause:
the generation of greenhouse gases. Whatever the precise scale and nature of the consequences
of global warming, they are all undesirable. Clearly, more needs to be done to reduce the burning
of fossil fuels. Stricter emissions targets should be set and use of alternative sources of energy
encouraged. It would be profoundly irresponsible to do nothing about the causes of global
warming.
(280 words)
Understanding ‘to what extent’ questions
Some questions, such as ‘How is hygiene ensured in the production of cheese?’
and ‘What were the causes of the Great Depression?’ can be answered with a
series of facts. Other questions, such as ‘To what extent has the diet of
Melanesians changed over the past 20 years?’ and ‘How far does a knowledge
of statistics contribute to success in tertiary study?’ require an answer
expressed in terms of degree: for example, ‘The diet of Melanesians has
changed to a great extent/very significantly/ minimally/not at all/etc.’

Questions requiring an answer expressed in terms of degree cannot be

answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. In order to answer them, it is useful to ‘translate’
them into questions which can be given a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. This will help
in the next stage of writing: preparing a plan.

EXAMPLE:

To what degree is a knowledge of statistics useful in tertiary study? = Is a knowledge of statistics

useful in tertiary study?
To what extent has the diet of Melanesians changed over the past 20 years? = Has the diet of
Melanesians Changed over the past 20 years?
To what extent is environmental damage irreversible? = Is environmental damage irreversible?
How necessary is media censorship in a modern society? = Is media censorship necessary in a
modern society?
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Genetic engineering is a dangerous trend. It should be limited.

To what extent do you agree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample answer
Over the last few decades, remarkable advances have been made in the field of genetic
engineering. Consequently, scientists now have the ability to manipulate genes for a range of
purposes, from making improvements in agriculture to experimentation with human genes. The
question, however, is whether there should be any limitations on this development. Is this essay,
I shall examine both sides of the argument.

Firstly it is clear that genetic engineering has brought about certain benefits in terms of crop
production. Now plants, for example, can produce more fruit more quickly. This achievement
mean that greater harvests are guaranteed, so that more people can be fed. As for the impact of
genetic engineering on healthcare, advocates claim it could be used to cure a range of health-
related problems, such as cystic fibrosis and Alzheimer's. Children and adults with these diseases
endure terrible suffering, yet with gene therapy, there is a possibility of a better quality of life.

Despite these advantages, there are some aspects of genetic engineering which require ongoing
consideration. Critics claim that genetically modified plants have little nutritional value and that
they will lead to the eradication of weeds, which many insect species depend on. In the case of
gene therapy, it is still uncertain how the alteration of one gene, even though it may be faulty,
could affect the functions of the human body in the long term.

In my opinion, the benefits of genetic engineering can outweigh the drawbacks, provided
governments and scientists consider the consequences carefully, and put people before profit.

(256 words)
 Writing the Essay - Useful Language
Giving your opinions / expressing attitude

- In my view/opinion, …
- From my point of view, (Personally.) I tend to think/believe/feel that …
- I would argue that / I tend to think that …
- I am not sure I agree with/that …
- I tend not to believe that As far as I'm concerned, Arguably / As a matter of fact / Interestingly /
Clearly / To a certain extent, …

Introducing arguments

- The main argument in favour of / against …

- It is (certainly) true that …
- It is (generally) believed/felt that …
- The general view is / has been that …
- Experts/Professionals would argue/say that …

Presenting reasons/examples

- One of the main reasons why …

- The main reason why …
- There are a number of reasons why/for …
- For this reason, …

Presenting a counter argument

- Having said that / made this point / these points, …

- Despite / In spite of this, …

Expressing purpose
- with the aim of / in order to / so as to

Emphasising

- What we/people/governments need to / should do is …

- All that X needs to / should do is …
- It is X that …

Drawing a conclusion

- Overall, … / All in all, …

- Ultimately, … / In the end, …

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In the past, shopping was a routine domestic task. Many people nowadays regard it as a
hobby.

To what extent do you think this is a positive trend?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample answer
Going shopping used to be a chore, but recently it has become a leisure activity or a pleasant
outing. To my mind, it is debatable whether this can be regarded as a wholly positive
development.
For earlier generations, buying food or consumer products involved visiting several shops, each
with the same limited range on offer. Customers had less money and credit was not widely
available. By contrast, shoppers nowadays can find almost anything in the supermarket or
shopping mall. The comfortable environment, the variety of goods and attractions such as cafés
and cinemas make spending money enjoyable.

Nowadays, with many parents working full-time, families have little time together. In my
experience, it is normal to see families in the local shopping mall at weekends. Undoubtedly, one
of the benefits of this is that they are together as a family. Nevertheless, this is not ideal,
especially if it leaves no time for other activities, such as sport.

Another negative result of this change in attitudes is the effect it has on young people all over the
world, who spend time in shopping malls. The reasons for this are the influence of advertising
and the availability of credit cards. On the one hand, they are with friends in a safe environment,
but on the other, it can tempt them to buy things they do not really need and may cause them to
get into debt. Moreover, it would be better for their health if they met friends to go swimming.

In conclusion I would like to suggest that although shopping now is less tedious, this is not
necessarily a positive trend. It may be good for the retailers, but not for consumers if it replaces
other, healthier activities.

(286 words)
 Writing the Essay - The Introduction
In many ways, your conclusion and introduction are very similar in that they both state your
opinion. The introduction is probably the shortest section of a Task 2 essay.

It might contain:

- a restatement of the question

- your opinion
- what and how you are going to discuss the question

When you write your introduction DO NOT:

- copy the question word for word

- give a lot of background information

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

A government’s role is only to provide defence capability and urban infrastructure (roads,
water supplies, etc.). All other services (education, health, social security) should be
provided by private groups or individuals in the community.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Sample answer
Governments can only provide a limited range of services for citizens. Certain types of services,
however, must be provided by governments, whereas both governments and private groups or
individuals can share the responsibility to provide other services.

A government must provide those services which are essential to a country. These include
defence capabilities and-social security. Private enterprise and the profit motive should not form
part of these essential services. On the other hand, some services could be provided by either
governments or private groups or both. Education and health care are examples of such services.
A government must provide at least a basic level of education and health care so all citizens can
have access to them. Private enterprise, though, could also provide services in these areas for
those who wish to pay for them.

Urban infrastructure is another area where governments and private groups or individuals can
share responsibility. Governments must build and maintain a system of roads, but toll roads can
be built and road maintenance carried out by private contractors. Similarly, other infrastructure,
such as water or electricity supply, can be operated by private companies.

To sum up, there are some services, such as defence and social security, which must be provided
by government. Other services, for example water supply or education, could be provided by
both government and private enterprise. Consequently, it is not true to say that a government’s
role is only to provide some services while others should be provided by the private sector. In
fact, both government and private groups can share in the provision of most services.

(265 words)