IELTS Writing Task 2 Pegah Parnian
IELTS Writing Task 2 Pegah Parnian
IELTS Writing Task 2 Pegah Parnian
09113710486
Pegah Parnian
IELTS Writing Task II
Topic Analysis
Today more people are travelling than ever before.
Why is this the case?
What are the benefits of travelling for the traveller?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
In some countries, the average weight of people is increasing and their level of health and
fitness is decreasing.
What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to
solve them?
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at
primary school rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of
sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on public health and that
other measures are required.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same
products anywhere in the world.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only
way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.
To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?
Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their
hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this
information may be relevant and useful others disagree.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much
time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skill.
Do you agree or disagree?
Essay Types
• OPINION ESSAY:
• ADVANTAGE/DISADVANTAGE ESSAY:
• DISCUSSION ESSAY:
Mind Map
A mind map is a tool that helps you think, collect knowledge, create and
organize ideas.
Common Orders
Essay Structure
1. Introduction
2. Body 1
3. Body 2
4. Body 3
5. Conclusion
It seems that the clothes a person chooses to wear can greatly define his or her personality
traits and value system in most situations.
People's clothes can communicate information about their characteristics. A person who is a health
aficionado and a proponent of physical activity generally prefers casual sporty style as it brings
more simplicity and comfort while in action. Another case in point refers to those who dress only in
designer apparel and exclusive brands. They seem to do so to grab others’ attention and get more
respect by projecting themselves as wealthy. Therefore, people's attire could display their tastes,
habits or tendencies.
In addition to people's characteristics, their customs and beliefs are possible to be revealed as
different nations tend to adopt certain dressing styles based on their traditions and value systems.
By way of illustration, showing skin is not acceptable in religious groups, as a result, you do not
normally see women wearing low-cut dresses in such communities. This means that the way people
dress could also represent their cultural orientation.
However, there are conditions in which clothing does not necessarily signifies personality and culture.
Take somebody who is restricted to a certain dress code, even against his or her will. Such a person
does not have the freedom to project his or her true self-image. Consequently, what this person
wears does not probably exude their character or culture.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that clothes people wear sends powerful signals to their
environment about their personality and cultural tendencies, provided that they have the freedom
to decide what to wear. (268 words)
According to some an excessive amount of time is spent on theory throughout the educational
stages, while there is a lack of attention to practice. I share their concern about the need for
more empirical knowledge.
On the one hand, the existing education system mainly focuses on the students’ acquiring deep
knowledge of a topic, while a large number of skill-based subjects such as biology are taught
without any lab experiments. As there is little connection to the real world, the acquired
knowledge is generally forgotten fast. Take primary school children, who have to sit behind
desks listening to their teachers rather than learning through practice and game as the best
ways which actively engage them.
On the other hand, most fresh graduates seem to fail to meet employers' expectations when
applying for a job, as they are not able to turn all that theoretical knowledge into reality. As a
result, organizations usually have to offer apprenticeships to expose job applicants to the
working environment.
Some may argue that education must be built on the foundation of theoretical knowledge in
order to enrich students’ general thinking skills and logical reasoning. Being understandable,
however, if the theory is combined with enough hand-on experience, many of those written
impalpable facts can make better senses.
In conclusion, even though a theory-based curriculum can help with developing a mental
framework of effective thinking, I am of the opinion that it is of great importance to combine
theory and practice to provide learners with more meaningful knowledge and better-qualified job
applicants.
(265 words)
Written by Pegah Parnian
Common Orders
Essay Structure
1. Introduction
2. Body 1
3. Body 2
4. Conclusion
Globalization has made it possible for the modern man to have access to the same products used in
other parts of the world. This new phenomenon translates into a more homogenous world with
both positive and negative aspects.
On the positive side, this process can make the world more united. The equipment, device, or
whatever a person spends everyday life on can play an important role in forming his or her lifestyle.
People's style of living, on a larger scale, shapes nations’ culture, and as a result of global similarity
in lifestyles, different cultures intermingle with each other more easily, the effect which can lead
to more open and tolerant humankind, who do not consider other countries as aliens anymore. In
addition, from an economic point of view, this sameness can be highly influential in developing
countries. The demand for different products in such nations usually encourages multinational
companies to invest in those destination countries to manufacture, namely a smart television
rather than exporting the same products. This is a trend which can bring about a considerable
reduction in unemployment and poverty, as two of the main problems in most underdeveloped
countries.
However, on the negative side, there is a risk of less dominant cultures’ being marginalized. As
most of such products are created by the Western world, it is likely that their cultural value is
imposed on other regions. Consider how enormously traditional cuisines have been overshadowed by
fast-food companies like McDonald's, which has franchised nearly 40,000 restaurants worldwide.
Furthermore, the effect this process has had on employment in developed countries is not
something to be neglected. Many laborers in such countries have experienced job loss due to the
fact that businesses have been attracted by low-wage countries such as China for the purpose of
making more profits.
In conclusion, the effects of global similarity, which is one of the important aspects of
globalization, can be both useful and harmful on culture and economy.
(325 words)
Common Order
Essay Structure
Introduction
Body 1
Body 2
Conclusion
There has long been a ubiquitous debate about nature versus nurture. Whether greatness, in
different fields, is the fruit of talent or skill acquisition is a topic discussed in this essay.
According to the advocates of nurture, exposure to the right environment is the key to acquire
different skills. Based on this viewpoint, talent is a useless seed unless it is nourished and guided
in the right direction. Consider the world-renowned football player, Lionel Messi, who has been
under professional supervision since childhood. In addition to suitable training, consistent
monitored practice has much impact on making incremental progress. Brilliant composer, Sonia
Belousova has dedicated years to hard work under the instructions of great composers such as
Metallidi. This means that great achievements can be obtained through training and practice.
On the other hand, as only a few reach maximum potential, it seems that innate gift is
something that not everyone is born with. Being gifted, a child usually demonstrates immediate
great skills with minimal practice and training. Arat, a five-year-old football player, is showing
the level of proficiency which is normally common among top-notch professionals. Moreover, to
excel in any activity, genetic component proves essential. Today, there are music and sports
schools all around the world with the aim of training millions of enthusiastic pupils, among whom
few show an aptitude for being a prodigy. Therefore, it is not illogical to claim what turns a good
musician or athlete into a champion is talent.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that talent is a gift which is wired in before being born and
that guidance plays a key role in acquiring different skills. However, excellence seems to be highly
dependent on biology and genetics.
(285 words)
Written by Pegah Parnian
Common Orders
Essay Structure
Introduction
Body 1
Body 2
Conclusion
As a visitor to a museum, you may need to pay an admission fee before getting into a large
number of museums. I approve of museum admission charge, as its benefits are beyond the
drawbacks.
Charging an entry fee brings great benefits. Firstly, it can be used as a great source of revenue.
Museums have a series of high costs to cover, such as staff salary, conservation and
maintenance, most of which are not sufficiently funded by the government. As a result,
admission fee can help with covering such expenses. Moreover, the audiences may not take this
valuable source of history and culture for granted, assuming that they are charged. Consider
National Museum in our city, which is usually teemed with people who need to wait in queues to
buy tickets. This process probably makes the visitor feel like investing in something, and by
doing so feel a thrill of finally being in that cultural center. All this could lead to audiences’
appreciating and valuing the museum more.
However, this seems to have its downside too. A major drawback of museums’ not being free is
that the national cultural heritage might not be suitably promoted. When tourists to one
country do not have free access to a museum, they probably choose other leisure activities to
spend money on. In addition, not having free access to attend a museum can be a barrier to
many low-income researchers and students who may not be able to afford frequent visits to
make use of this valuable source of education and information. Interestingly, National Museum in
our city tries to minimize such drawbacks by exhibiting some Collections Online and using price
discrimination.
In conclusion, in spite of the fact that admission charge can decrease the physical attendance,
from my point of view, the benefits are greater to both the museum and the visitor. (309
words)
Written by Pegah Parnian
At the moment, some countries are confronted with a significant proportion of the youth population
in comparison with older generations. Although there is some truth in the argument that youth
population bulge has its benefits, there are some major drawbacks.
One of the main disadvantages is that middle-aged and senior citizens in such countries, which are
mostly under-developed, can experience excessive pressure. In other words, the rise in the
proportion of youth means a growing working population. Right now, unemployment is the challenge
many developing countries, such as Iran is facing, which means financial dependency on parents until
this person gets a decent job that can cover his expenses. Furthermore, youth bulge can result in
higher risks of violence and social unrest. By spending the prime of their lives waiting for work and
as a consequence, affordable housing and marriage, this cohort could end up with a lack of self-
esteem and no hope for social advancements. Most Middle Eastern countries, which have larger
labor pools, are dealing with more poverty and as a result corruption.
However, with investment and planning, the labor pool can bring growth and prosperity to their
country. If they are educated well, prepared for the labor market, and provided with enough job
opportunities, the nation may benefit from a more productive, agile, flexible, and eager group of
workers, who can be a significant economic resource. Moreover, the younger a society is, the lower
the costs of the aging population will be. High youth population translates into fewer pension
requirements and fewer healthcare facilities as youth are less prone to illnesses and ailments.
In conclusion, in spite of the fact that young society has its advantages, the disadvantages seem
to be greater, particularly because its benefits are not easily accessible.
(293 Words)
Common Orders
Essay Structure
1. Introduction
2. Body 1
3. Body 2
4. Conclusion
A large number of working people lead a sedentary lifestyle, which is one of the main risk factors of
different health issues. In this essay, two of the main reasons behind working people’s being
physically inactive are discussed and some suggestions to ameliorate the negative effects are
offered.
One of the key factors, why there is usually a lack of physical activity in working people's lives is
their busy schedule. After a hectic day, they usually need to deal with other responsibilities. A
mother who has put in most of her energy for the day into the office has to do the house chores
such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children, all of which are both physically and mentally
taxing. As a result, the best she can do is to complete the tasks and restore the remaining energy
for the next day. Another underlying cause is that such people tend to easily get demotivated by
not achieving the satisfactory results they expect from their normally insufficient workout, as
weekends are probably the only time they have to spare to do some physical activity. Even though
the same working mom makes an effort to fit some exercise into her busy routine, her tendency to
quit seems to be strong.
However, being physically inactive is an issue to be addressed as it can lead to serious health
conditions. One possible solution would be to increase the amount of daily physical activity by taking
up the stairs instead of the elevator at work, having exercising equipment such as exercise bikes
at home, or taking a walk around a neighborhood. By gradually adding them to the routine, people
start enjoying and looking forward to doing even more exercises. In addition, the main prescription
for not quitting regular workout is to try to stay motivated, due to the fact that even a little
exercise is better than nothing. By exploring different forms to find the workout that fits one's
personality, there should be lower chances of quitting easily.
In conclusion, the biggest obstacles to working people's being physically active are being too busy
and getting demotivated, and the possible solutions seem to be keeping physically active and not
losing motivation.
Common Orders
Question 1
Question 2
Essay Structure
Introduction
Body 1
Body 2
Conclusion
Applying punishment to teach children how to behave has long been a highly controversial issue. I
readily concur that, in order for the children to learn right from wrong, they need to be disciplined
instead of punished.
Punishment is not a logical way to teach children righteousness. Having been punished by parents
or teachers, the child comes to the conclusion that one can force others to do according to his will
if he is in power. In other words, it would be acceptable to hurt others for what you want. This
can easily result in aggression and anti-social behavior, such as bullying, in the child. Moreover,
there is a matter of negative psychological impacts of punishing the child who may not even have
the capability to realize why he is being punished. A child who is slapped in the face for taking
something without permission, experiences not only the physical pain brought to him by a person
who is supposed to be a caregiver, but also anxiety due to losing trust in his parents’ reactions
being predictable.
Rather than being punished, children need to be disciplined in order to learn to manage their
behavior, both at home and school. One of the most efficient methods is giving them positive
reinforcement. For instance, instead of using time-outs to make a messy child more organized,
parents can focus on the time he picks up a toy, and praise it to encourage their child's good
behavior. Another method could be informing children about the negative consequences of
misbehaving. A student who tends to damage school property by drawing graffiti can be put in
detention and stay longer at the end of the school day to remove what he has daubed. This can
help him find out about the trouble he puts others in by his wrongdoing.
In conclusion, I disagree with punishing children to teach them how to do better either at home
or school and believe that children need to be disciplined not punished in order to enable them to
distinguish appropriate behavior from the inappropriate one.(349 words)
Written by Pegah Parnian
INTRODUCTION
Some parents buy their children a large number of toys to play with.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for the child of having a large number of toys?
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Many museums charge for admission while others are free.
Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
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Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary
school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
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Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business, and the academic
world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people's lives. Others think that adult life brings more
happiness, in spite of greater responsibilities.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
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Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on young children.
Do you agree or disagree?
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IELTS it with me!
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09113710486
Pegah Parnian
IELTS Writing Task II
advantage
The great advantage of … is that …
One of the big advantages of … is that …
… have the advantage of …
The university has the advantage of being one of the oldest and best respected in the
country.
This gives … a distinct advantage over …. (=an obvious advantage compared to)
The advantages outweigh its disadvantages.
the beauty of …. is that: emphasize the very good or useful features of sth
The beauty of the design is that it is so simple.
Examples:
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Positives of Zoos
Positives of Advertising
Disadvantage
The main/major/serious disadvantage of …
Examples:
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Agreement
Agree
Many people agreed with his views about the war.
Most experts agree that dieting needs to be accompanied by regular exercise.
Share somebody's view / concern: to have the same opinion, concern as someone else
I share her concerns about the lack of women in high academic positions.
A lot of people share his view that tourism will have a negative impact on the island.
Be of the same opinion : if people are of the same opinion, they agree with each other
All three specialists were of the same opinion about the cause of her illness.
Professor Dawkins is of the same opinion as Dr. Jones.
Disagreement
disagree
I strongly disagree with his views on immigration.
take issue with (formal) strongly disagree with what someone has said
I feel that I must take issue with the article's conclusion.
Some people have taken issue with Conrad's description of the Congo in his novel.
Dispute to say that you think that something is not correct or not true
Researchers have disputed her claims.
No one disputes that the problem exists.
Few would dispute that travel broadens the mind.
(noun) long-running dispute between the two countries
Differ
Opinions differ about the proper relationship between the mass media and society.( people have
different opinions)
Disagreement
She found herself in disagreement with her colleagues on the issue. (=she found that she disagreed with
them about it)
Controversy serious disagreement, especially with people expressing strongly opposing views in newspapers, in
books, on television etc
There has been a lot of controversy over abortion in the US.
There is some controversy among biologists about whether this is actually true.
Contentious (formal) used to describe statements and situations that cause a lot of disagreement and argument
Water has been a contentious issue between Turkey and its neighbours for years.
Controversial causing a lot of disagreement, because many people have strong opinions about the subject being
discussed
The use of genetic tests is a highly controversial issue.
Tourism can have a negative effect on the natural environment and local people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The building of facilities and infrastructure can destroy the habitat of wild animals.
• Beautiful beaches are spoilt by the building of hotels.
• Tourism creates pollution and waste.
• It puts pressure on local resources.
• Local traditions and cultures may be endangered.
• A rise in the cost of living affects local people.
• The price of goods, services and housing may increase significantly.
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Some people believe that governments should not invest a lot on tourism as there are other important
things to deal with.
Do you agree or disagree?
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although
• We decided to take rooms in Longwood House, although we knew we could not really afford
the rent.
• Although lack of sleep causes some problems, it has a relatively small effect on performance at
work.
however / nevertheless
*However and nevertheless are usually used when referring back to the previous sentence
• Their economy was incredibly successful in the 1980s. Since then, however, there has been a
big rise in unemployment.
• The town is a long way from the nearest big city. However, there is a good bus service.
• A series of studies 20 years ago suggested that there was a link between watching violent films
and violent behaviour. Nevertheless, the results remain highly controversial.
• It was very hard digging in the dry ground, but the work was satisfying nevertheless.
whereas / while used when making comparisons and saying that sth is true of one person, thing, or
situation, but it is different for another.
* Whereas and while are used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence.
• Taxes make up 62% of the price of a litre of petrol in France, whereas in Britain, the tax is 75%.
• Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while others may not visit a doctor for
several years.
by contrast used when making comparisons and saying that a person, thing, or situation is very different
from the one you have just mentioned.
*By contrast is used when referring back to the previous sentence
• The surface temperature on Venus is higher than the boiling point of water. Mars, by contrast, is
very cold.
• A report by the FBI shows that 26% of female murder victims in 1995 were killed by their
husbands or boyfriends. By contrast, only 3% of male victims were killed by their wives or
girlfriends.
yet used when introducing a fact that seems surprising after what you have just said
• Last summer there was a drought, yet some people were still watering their gardens every day.
• We all know that fibre is important for good health. And yet all the natural fibre is removed from
many foods such as white bread and sugar.
even so used when saying that something is true, in spite of a fact that you have just mentioned
• The economy continues to do well, but even so, many analysts are predicting a slowdown in the
near future.
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Giving Reasons
because
the reason (for this) is (especially when the explanation is quite long)
These printers quickly achieved a market share of over 60%. The reason for this is that the technology they use is much simpler
— and therefore cheaper — and running costs are lower.
why
There are many reasons why people are having fewer children.
Girls mature earlier than boys. This may explain why they perform better at school.
in order to
Many criminals steal in order to get money to buy drugs.
for Because of a particular reason
The names cannot be published for legal reasons.
The data will be used for research purposes.
as a result of
Sea levels are rising as a result of global warming.
As a result of his work, illnesses such as tuberculosis can now be treated.
due to / owing to
She resigned due to ill health.
The number of songbirds has declined. This is partly due to modern farming methods.
Owing to the lack of public interest, the programme was abandoned.
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contribute to: if sth contributes to a situation, it is one of the things that cause that situation to
happen or become worse, but it is not one of the main causes
Methane gas is known to contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among nonsmokers.
Effect
Aftereffects [plural] bad effects that continue for a long time after the thing that caused them
The country is still suffering from the aftereffects of war.
repercussions [plural] the bad effects that happen later as a result of an event, which continue for
a long time afterwards
It was a major economic crisis with serious social and political repercussions.
implications [plural] the possible effects that sth is likely to have in the future
Some people believe that the increase in air travel will have serious implications for the climate.
Problems
Complication an additional problem that makes a bad or difficult situation even harder to deal with
The surgeons knew it would be a difficult operation. A further complication was that the patient
was in her 60s.
Obstacle a difficult problem that stops sb/sth making progress
The lack of child care is an enormous obstacle to women's participation in the work force.
Solution
answer:
There are no easy answers to this problem.
cure a way of completely getting rid of a problem, especially one that affects many people in
society
The only cure for unemployment is to make it easier for companies to invest and create new jobs.
A quick fix
There is no quick fix to defeat terrorism.
Traffic
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Session One
What am I taking home
with me?
Session Two
What am I taking home with me?
Session Three
What am I taking home with me?
Session Four
What am I taking home with me?
Session Five
What am I taking home with me?
Session Six
What am I taking home with me?
Session Seven
What am I taking home with me?
Session Eight
What am I taking home with me?
Session Nine
What am I taking home with me?
Session Ten
What am I taking home with me?
Session Eleven
What am I taking home with me?
Session Twelve
What am I taking home with me?