Outline

IELTS BAR AND LINE GRAPH

IELTS Line Graph: 4 Main Complex Sentence Structures

IELTS TABLE

IELTS PROCESS DIAGRAM

IELTS MAP

Paraphrasing Statistics
Paraphrasing percentages
Approximation and proportion

COMMON MISTAKES
For graph

Practice (Cambridge IELTS 16)

Test 2 Writing Task 1
Test 3 Writing Task 1
Test 4 Writing Task 1

Causes And Solutions Essay

Agree or Disagree Essay

How to fully address all parts of the question / IELTS task 2 to what extent do you agree or
disagree

Discuss Both View Essay

How and where to give your opinion in discuss both views (IELTS writing task 2)
5 tips for finishing your essay in less than 40 mins - IELTS 17 writing task 2 discuss both
views
5 tips to finish essay Faster

Advantages Outweigh Disadvantages Essay

How to answer the question *do advantages OUTWEIGH disadvantages*//ielts writing task 2
IELTS 17 writing task 2 - do the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages

Mixed Questions Essays

How to *fully develop* body paragraphs - ielts 17 writing task 2 double questions/two-part
questions

Unfamiliar topic Essay

How to deal with an unfamiliar topic - IELTS 17 writing task 2 - a positive or negative
development

Vocabs / Words
Task 1 tips and tricks
Map
Process Diagram
Life Cycle
Manufacturing Cycle
Mixed Charts
Line Charts
Pie Charts
Bar Charts

Speaking
Vocabs

IELTS BAR AND LINE GRAPH

● It is not uncommon to get two graphs to describe at the same time in the IELTS test.
● It can look a bit scary at first.
● However, when you look more closely, you’ll see it is probably no more difficult than
having one graph.

(You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.)

The line graph shows visits to and from the UK from 1979 to 1999, and the bar graph
shows the most popular countries visited by UK residents in 1999.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
Introduction
● When you state what the graph shows, mention both of them. Here is a sample first
sentence of the introduction.
● The line graph illustrates the number of visitors in millions from the UK who went
abroad and those that came to the UK between 1979 and 1999, while the bar chart
shows which countries were the most popular for UK residents to visit in 1999.
● Remember to write this in your own words and not to copy from the question.
● Next you need to mention the key points from the graph. When you do this, mention the
most interesting things from each:
● Overall, it can be seen that visits to and from the UK increased, and that France
was the most popular country to go to.

BODY:
● To begin, the number of visits abroad by UK residents was higher than for those
that came to the UK, and this remained so throughout the period. The figures
started at a similar amount, around 10 million, but visits abroad increased
significantly to over 50 millions, whereas the number of overseas residents rose
steadily to reach just under 30 million.
● By far the most popular countries to visit in 1999 were France at approximately 11
millions visitors, followed by Spain at 9 millions. The USA, Greece, and Turkey
were far less popular at around 4, 3 and 2 million visitors respectively.
 1. As you can see, the first paragraph discusses the line graph, and the second the bar
chart.
2. You will not usually need to mix up the descriptions. This will only make things
complicated and difficult to follow. Writing about the first one and then the second one is
ok.

IETLS Line Graph Vocabulary

IELTS Line Graph Verbs and nouns

Upward trend
● Rise / a rise
● Increase / an increase
● Climb / a climb
● Grow / a growth
● Go up

Downward trend
● Decrease / a decrease
● Drop / a drop
● Fall / a fall
● Decline / a decline

Other vocabularies
● Fluctuate / a fluctuation
● Dip / a dip
● Remain steady
● Remain stable
● Remain unchanged
● Level off
● Peak at
● Reach a peak of
● Hit a high of
● Hit a low of
● Bottom out
● Plateau

Line Graph Adverbs & Adjectives

Adverbs: steadily, gradually, sharply, rapidly, steeply, slightly, dramatically, significantly,
considerably
Adjectives: steady, gradual, sharp, rapid, steep, slight, dramatic, significant, considerable

Time Expressions
IELTS graphs show change over a period of time. Below are some expressions to help you
describe the passing of time without too much repetition.
Time phrases:
● Over the next three days
● Three days later
● In the following three days
● The next three days show
● Over the period
● from .. to… / between… and …
● The last year
● The final year
● The first year
● At the beginning of the period
● At the end of the period

IELTS Line Graph: 4 Main Complex Sentence Structures

The number of people becoming vegetarian increased steadily, from about 75 to 200 between
2004 and 2007.

● Between 2004 and 2007, the number of people becoming vegetarian increased steadily
from about 75 to 200.
● There was a steady increase in the number of people becoming vegetarian from about
75 to 200 between 2004 and 200.
● The number of people becoming vegetarian experienced a steady increase from about
75 to 200 between 2004 and 2007.
Overall, the island’s total visitor count rose steadily almost every year over the seven years
period. Starting in 2016, more visitors stayed on cruise ships than on the island; before that, the
reverse was true.

The number of arrivals on the island went up gradually from 1 million in 2010 to roughly 2.75
million in 2015. It then stayed at this level in 2016 until it rocketed to around 3.5 million in 2017.

The volume of visitors staying on the island stood at about 0.75 million in 2010 and 2011. It then
increased consistently before reaching a plateau of 1.5 million, which lasted from 2013 to 2017,
except for a small dip in 2016.

There were far fewer tourists staying on cruise ships in 2010, at around 0.25 million. After some
fluctuation over the following two years, the number started climbing steadily, overtaking the
number of those staying on the island in 2016 and reaching 2 million in 2017.
IELTS TABLE
● Select the main data, no need to describe all data.
● There is no comparison with other table but within the same table.

(You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.)

The table shows the Proportions of Pupils Attending Four Secondary School Types
Between 2000 and 2009.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

The Proportions of Pupils Attending Four Secondary School Types between 2000 and 2009.

Model Answer
The table illustrates the percentage of school children attending four different types of
secondary schools from 2000 to 2009. It is evident that the specialist, grammar, and
voluntary-controlled schools experienced declines in the number of pupils, whereas the
community schools became the most important providers of secondary school education during
the same period.
To begin, the proportion in voluntary-controlled schools fell from just over half to only 20% or
one-fifth from 2000 to 2009. Similarly, the relative number of children in grammar schools – just
under one quarter – dropped by half in the same period. As for the specialist schools, the
relatively small percentage of pupils attending this type of school (12%) also fell, although not
significantly.
However, while the other three types of schools declined in importance, the opposite was true in
the case of community schools. In fact, while only a small minority of 12% were educated in
these schools in 2000, this figure increased to well over half of all pupils during the following
nine years.
IELTS PROCESS DIAGRAM
● It is less common in the writing test, but sometimes you will get an IELTS process
diagram to describe.
● This is different than other writing task 1 because this doesn’t show change over time or
some data numbers like in charts.
● This should follow the same format as other:
○ Introduce the diagram (Paraphrase) - if possible count the stages and you could
also mention first and last stage.
○ Give an overview of the main points
○ Give the detail

The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks for the building
industry.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

Introduce the diagram

 ● You can begin by paraphrasing the rubric:
● The diagram explains the way in which bricks are made for the building industry.
● As you can see, this has been taken from the question, but it has not been copied.
● You need to write it in your own words.
● Overall, there is a total of 10 stages starting with digging of clay and ending with
delivery of bricks.
● This is an overview statement that mentions the number of stages in the process and a
description of starting and ending stage.

Tips:
● Simple present tense
● Passive voice
○ E.g: The bricks are put in a drying oven.
○ The bricks are cooled.
● Use time connectors
○ Examples
then, next, eventually, afterward, before, after, following, firstly, secondly, thirdly,
last, shortly, to begin, following this, and, finally, in the subsequent stage

Giving the detail

● A process is a series of events, one taking place after the other.
● Therefore, to connect your stages, you should use ‘time connectors’.
● Here is the rest of the answer with the time connectors highlighted (notice that you
simply go from the beginning to the end of the process):
● To begin, the clay used to make the bricks is dug up from the ground by a large
digger. This clay is then placed onto a metal grid, which is used to break up the
clay into smaller pieces. A roller assists in this process.
● Following this, sand and water are added to the clay, and this mixture is turned
into bricks by either placing it into a mold or using a wire cutter. Next, these bricks
are placed in an oven to dry for 24 - 48 hours.
● In the subsequent stage, the bricks go through a heating and cooling process.
They are heated in a kiln at a moderate and then a high temperature (ranging from
200c to 1300c), followed by a cooling process in a chamber for 2 - 3 days. Finally,
the bricks are packed and delivered to their destinations.
● These connectors are the same you would use to write a graph over time when you
explain a series of changes.
Assignment
The graph shows Undergroound Station passenger numbers in London.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
● You should write at least 150 words.
● You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
IELTS MAP
1. Categorise
a. See the changes in the map.
b. Start from top right of the map.

2. Position
a. Directions (North, South, East, West)
b. Use words like: in front of, opposite

3. Changes
a. Sentences like:
i. A villages was constructed.
ii. A shop was extended.
iii. This feature remained the same.

● Give introduction - paraphrase the topic

● Overview statement (Prominent Change)

Position words
North, east, west, south, opposite, in front of, above, below, in between, at the center, beside,
next to…

Change words
Was built, was constructed, put in place, introduced, extend, expand, remove, is no longer
there…

Similarity words
Remains same, is still there, still stands, has not been moved, have not changed, still exists,
has not been developed, has not been demolished…

Note:
Before map - 1986, After map - Present : You have to use both past and present tense.
Before map - 1986, After map - 2010 : You have to use past tense for both.

The two maps below show the changes in town of Denham from 1986 to the present day.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.
The two maps illustrated the main changes which have taken place in the town of Denham from
1986 to the present. Overall, the town has most notably shown an increase in housing
development, which indicated a higher population and a move away from agriculture and
farming.
One change that stands out is that there has been a significant redevelopment over the whole
period of what was once farmland. Housing now dominated the area to the east of the river
stoke. In 1986, there were shops and just a handful of residential properties. Now, there are no
shops nor farmland left, although the post office is still there. The bridge over the river stoke still
stands as it did in 1986. Another noticeable change is that there have been more roads built
around the housing complex. Additionally, the gardens, that were a feature in 1986, have been
removed and replaced by houses and a retirement home. The primary school still stands and
has been extended in the decades since. The footpath to the river that was running north of the
gardens in 1986 is no longer there.

Paraphrasing Statistics

Paraphrasing percentages
● Four-fifths - 80%
● Three quarters - 75%
● Seven out of ten - 70%
● Just over half - 53%
 ● Two-fifths - 40%
● Just over a third - 35%
● Just under a third - 30%
● One quarter - 25%
● A fifth - 20%
● Less than a fifth - 15%
● One in ten - 10% (this is used for people or objects)
● From two fifths to less than a fifth - from 40% to 15% (for trends graph)
● Halved (verb) - dropped by half

Approximation and proportion

● Just over a fifth - around 22%
● Just under a fifth - around 18%
● Slightly less than a quarter - 23%
● More than two fifths - around 42%
● Approximately half - 48%
● Around a fifth - 19%
● A large number of - around 70%
● A large proportion of - around 70%
● A significant proportion of - around 80%
● A small minority of - around 5 to 10%
● A small number/amount of - 5 to 10%
● An insignificant amount of - around 2%

COMMON MISTAKES

For graph
Note: Use passive voice.

Incorrect: Tourists increased by 25% in 2020.

Correct: The number of tourists increased by 25% in 2020.

Its not the tourists (height, weight) that was increased, but its the number of tourists that was
increased.
Incorrect: From 1975 to 2000, hamburgers increased dramatically from 10 to 100 times per
year. At the same time, fish and chips fell significantly to just under 40.
Correct: From 1975 to 2000, the number of times hamburgers were eaten increased
dramatically from 10 to 100 times per year. At the same time, the number of times fish and chips
were eaten fell significantly to just under 40.

It's not the hamburgers that increased but the number of times eaten was increased.

Incorrect: The number of visitors were decreased.

Correct: The number of visitors decreased.

Example of active and passive voice sentence

Active voice: He cleaned the room.
Passive voice: The room has been cleaned by him.

● If data for 2010-2035 is given, we use

● 2010-2021 -> past tense
● 2023 onwards -> is projected to, is estimated to, is predicted… use words like would,
could ...

Practice (Cambridge IELTS 16)

Test 2 Writing Task 1

The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

❌
Mistakes:

✅
The process begins with… and ends with…

❌
State all the main stages
Man-made process (obviously it's a man-made process)

Answer:

The diagram displays how sugar is manufactured from sugar cane.

Overall, it is a linear process consisting of four main stages: farming, crushing, separating, and
drying.

The first step is to grow sugar cane and it takes about 12 to 18 months for it to mature. After it
has fully grown, it is harvested either manually or mechanically. The manual method involves
farmers removing the leaves first and then chopping the canes, while the mechanized method
uses machines to cut the canes directly.
The harvested canes are then crushed in a mill to extract the juice, which is later on purified
using a limestone filter. Next, the purified juice is heated/boiled in an evaporator to remove
water, which concentrates it into a syrup. The syrup is then poured into a centrifuge where it is
spun at high speed to separate the sugar crystals. Finally, the crystals are dried and cooled and
the end product is sugar.

Note: If we explain every sentence like this simple: “The purified juice is heated in an evaporator
and becomes a syrup” we may not reach the word count. We can make the sentences longer by
adding the purpose of the step.

❌ the water: Not all the water in the syrup is removed. The syrup still contains some water.
✅the juice: The idea is the juice that is in the canes. All the juice in the canes is supposed to be
extracted. Even if all the juice is not extracted, it is still the intention to extract it all. So, “the
juice” is better.

Tips:
1. Two common mistakes
● Only state the first and last stages.
● Call a manufacturing process a man-made process.
2. How to group information into Detail paragraphs
● The first three steps took place in field (first paragraph) and the remaining
process took place in factory (second paragraph).
3. How to show purpose
● To
● Which
● So that

Test 3 Writing Task 1

The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment
next year.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Here is no compass direction. So, we have to describe the map from the person's point of view
walking around the airport (when there is no arrow).

Answer:

The plans show Southwest Airport now and next year, after redevelopment.

Overall, the airport will be expanded to provide more gates and the addition of other new
facilities will offer more convenience for both departing and arriving passengers.

The departures entrance is on the left as one faces the building. Upon entering, passport control
and security can be seen straight ahead. After redevelopment, a bag drop area will be added in
the departures hall, before one goes through passport control. Although the check-in counters
will be relocated to make room for the new bag-drop area, they will still be right before passport
control. The cafe, on the other hand, will be moved close to the entrances.

Once through security, passengers will see some shops, which the airport currently doesn’t
have. Ahead is the concourse. At the moment, there are 8 gates and passengers may use a
moving walkway to get to their boarding gate. Going forward, the airport will have a much longer
concourse with 18 gates so the walkway will be replaced by a sky train.

Moving on to the arrivals hall, at present passport control and customs are the only services in
the hall. Beginning next year, however, there will be a cafe, ATM machines and car hire arriving
passengers can use after clearing customs.

Green highlight shows linking words used to transition from one part of the airport to another
part.

Test 4 Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagram below shows the process for recycling plastic bottles.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

This is a cyclic process. So, don’t make a mistake of writing process begins with and ends with.

Introduction:
The diagram illustrates how plastic bottles are recycled.
Overview:
- Describe a complete cycle
- Report the main steps

Overall, the recycling of plastic bottles is a cyclical process that consists of use, collection,
sorting, crushing, cleaning, pelletizing, making new plastic products, and reuse.

Make sure to write use and reuse to complete the cycle.

Details Paragraph 1

Grouping paragraphs idea:

Paragraph 1: First 5 step
Paragraph 2: Last 4 steps because last 4 steps are all about using plastic pellets to make plastic
products.

After plastic bottles are used, they are discarded in recycling bins, waiting for trucks to transport
them to a recycling plant. Once there, they are sorted and those that can be reused are
compressed into blocks. The blocks are then broken down/ ground up by a crushing machine
into small pieces, which are subsequently cleaned to remove any residue.

Details Paragraph 2

Show Purpose:
1. To do
2. Where
3. So that

The small clean pieces produced in the last stage are then poured into a machine where they
are turned into pellets. The machine also heats and melts the pellets, which creates plastic raw
material. Finally, the raw material is made into different plastic products, including pens, bottles,
and reusable shopping bags. After these products are used, they go through the recycling
process all over again.

Above, red highlighted expressions indicates the word to form a complete cycle and green
highlighted expressions are words used to show purpose.
Causes And Solutions Essay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about
the history of the house or building they live in.

What are the reasons for this?

How can people research this?

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

Write at least 250 words.

This is a cause-and-solution type of essay.

Reason = cause
Research = solution

● Introduction

● Body Paragraph: How many causes?

○ 2 causes since there are reasons which is plural.
○ Don't explain 2 causes in one paragraph. Remember each paragraph has one
main topic!

● Body Paragraph: How many solutions?

○ You can write 1 or 2 solutions since there is “How can people research this?”.
Research is singular

● Conclusion

Don’t write more than the required paragraphs. Write only more paragraphs if required by the
question.
If
 ● Causes - 2 causes
● Cause - 1 cause
● Solutions - 2 solutions
● Solution - 1 solution

So, the paragraph becomes:

● Introduction
○ Paraphrase + Briefly state what the cause(s) and solution(s) are
● Body paragraph 1 - reason 1
○ curious
● Body paragraph 2- reason 2
○ Find a sense of connection
● Body paragraph 3 - one solution
○ Ask old people
● Conclusion
○ Briefly state what the cause(s) and solution(s) are

Introduction:
In some countries, there is a growing interest among people in tracing the history of their
homes. I think they research this for many reasons, perhaps out of interest, or to find a sense of
connection. For help with finding answers, they should turn to the seniors in their
neighborhoods.

Body paragraph 1: (reason 1)

Some people delve into the stories of their homes simply because they are curious. Many
historical buildings have been torn down, which makes those that remain uncommon treasures
in the city. As a result, it is likely that residents in the surviving buildings cannot help finding out
more about them, such as when they were built and why they look the way they do.

Body paragraph 2: (reason 2)

There are also people who do research to find a sense of connection. With concrete residential
buildings everywhere, neighborhoods nowadays look very alike and, therefore, it is hard for
people to feel something special about where they live. However, by learning about the
buildings that once stood there and the people who lived in them, for example, a sense of
connection and involvement may be fostered.

Body paragraph 3: (1 solution)

The best way for people to explore, I believe, is to ask the elderly in their neighborhood. Many
seniors have lived in the same neighborhood all their lives. They have seen it change around
them. They have witnessed people coming and going. Talking to them can definitely help one
uncover some intriguing stories about the place where one lives.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, curiosity and a desire to seek a connection are two possible reasons why people
investigate the history of their homes. To find answers, they should ask the old people in their
neighborhood for help.

Agree or Disagree Essay

Cambridge IELTS 15 Test 2 Writing Task 2

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to
read everything they want online without paying.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction:
1. Rephrase the question statement
a. Synonyms
b. Changing the sentence structure by using different words to start your sentence

2. State your opinion

In the future there will be nobody purchasing physical newspapers or books because everything
they want to read will be available on the internet for free. Although I agree that print
newspapers or books will not be in demand in the future, I disagree with the given reason for it.

Body Paragraph 1
1. First reason why you disagree
2. Explanation
3. Example
a. Give details to support your explanation:
i. You can give examples of the explanation which are too vague. In the
below example, they are revenue and support their entire operation.

Obviously, not all digital books and newspapers will be free of charge in the future. This is
because for many organizations their revenue from electronic publications supports their entire
operation. For instance, the New York Times charges a 1 dollar monthly subscription fee for
their digital articles. This charge allows them to pay their employees and other operating costs. I
believe this practice will continue in the future because otherwise, they will go bankrupt.
Body Paragraph 2
1. Second reason why you disagree
2. Explanation
3. Example
a. Give details

The real reason why people will stop buying paper books and newspapers, I think, is that they
can get electronic editions in a matter of seconds. After a new title is published, one has to go to
a bookstore to buy the print version or wait for it to be delivered. The electronic version, in
comparison, can be readily available to read in just seconds. For example, to purchase a Kindle
book, a person just needs to go to Amazon.com and click some buttons. The book will appear in
their Kindle reader right away.

Conclusion
● State your opinion again

In conclusion, while I believe nobody will buy print publications in the future, I do not think this is
because they will be able to read every piece of digital content they want free of cost for the
above two reasons mentioned.

How to fully address all parts of the question / IELTS

task 2 to what extent do you agree or disagree

Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement?

1. Use “completely” or “totally” to respond to “to what extent”.

2. Fully understand the question.
(Respond in a way that demonstrates that we understand that there are different types of
railways and roads. We’re just using a few examples, such as subways and high-speed
rail networks, to explain why railways are more important than roads.)
3. Do not ignore the thing you disagree with.
(Compare the thing you agree with, with the thing you disagree with.)

Body paragraph 1 - Encourage green travel

Funding railways encourages green travel. Improving roads may result in an increase in car
use. However, if governments build more subway or tram lines to make it easier for people to
take them to get around, more people will choose them rather than private cars as their primary
means of travel. This is good for the environment because subway and tram-trains have a much
larger capacity and therefore much lower per-capita carbon emissions than private vehicles.

Body paragraph 2 - Economic Activity

Railway networks are crucial for economic activity. This is because, with these networks
connecting different cities and even countries, goods can be shipped fast and cost-effectively.
Take, for example, the China-Europe Railway Express, which moves cargo containers from
China to London in only 18 to 19 days. This is roughly half the transit time of an ocean
container, and the cost is around ten times cheaper than making use of air freight. This means
that goods can be delivered in time with relatively low costs from source to consumption for
Black Fridays or for any other promotional activities that take place in the UK. Although road
transport is also cost-effective, it cannot provide the speed that railway transport does.

Introduction
● Paraphrase
● Give your opinion
● State two main ideas

It is argued that governments should invest money in railways instead of roads. I completely
agree with this point of view because railways are more environmentally friendly and also play a
key role in economic activity.

Conclusion
● Restate your opinion
● Restate the 2 main ideas

In conclusion, government spending should be on railways rather than roads. For one thing,
better railway services encourage eco-friendly travel, and, for another, they play a big part in
economic activity.
Discuss Both View Essay

How and where to give your opinion in discuss both views (IELTS
writing task 2)
● Introduction: Your opinion

● Body Paragraph 1: Discuss other people’s opinion + Your opinion

● Body Paragraph 2: Discuss other people’s opinion + Your opinion

● Conclusion: Your opinion

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change.
Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.

● Introduction
● Body Paragraph 1 - the side we disagree with
● Body Paragraph 2 - the side we agree with
● Conclusion

Body Paragraph 1
● The side we disagree with: why some people like to stay the same
● Topic sentence: main idea - risks
● Explanation
● Example
● Say we disagree and explain why we disagree: what flaw other people’s opinion has

People who resist change may be too afraid of the risks involved. When a person makes a
change, things may not turn out the way they thought they would. As a result, they may even
lose what they had. Take, for example, those who choose to stay in a low-paying job they hate.
They may fear that if they resign, they may be unable to find a new job, thus losing the stability
their old one provides. However, I do not think maintaining the status quo can help them avoid
risks. Sooner or later, they will lose their low-level jobs to automation. In fact, as the billionaire
entrepreneur Peter Thiel said, “in a world that’s changing so quickly, the biggest risk you can
take is not taking any risk.”

Red highlight = abstract explanation (not so clear)

Green highlight = concrete example (clear)
You can also give example without explanation = “Example-led” paragraph which is easy to give
details.

Body Paragraph 2
● The side we agree with: why change is always good
● Topic sentence: main idea - long run
● Explanation
● Example
● Say we agree and explain why we disagree

Others, on the other hand, argue that change is always a good thing because it is the only way
to succeed in the long run. If super-successful people and organizations are examined, it will be
found that they all have one thing in common: They keep trying new things. They are willing to
experiment and fail a lot in order to innovate. This may have downsides in the short term but
allows them to remain relevant and competitive over longer periods of time. I agree with this
argument because, as discussed above, if a person is stagnant for the sake of short-term
comfort, they will be guaranteed to fail in the longer term.

Introduction
● Introduce the general topic
● Give your opinion and state the two main ideas

There are competing views on whether to make changes in life. Although change always
involves risks, I still think that it is always good to make changes because, in the long run,
people will gain more from the changes they made than they lose.

Conclusion
● State again your opinion and the two main ideas

In conclusion, although a shift in direction comes with risks, in the long run, people will benefit
from the shift they made. Therefore, I believe change is always a good thing when thinking
long-term.

5 tips for finishing your essay in less than 40 mins - IELTS 17

writing task 2 discuss both views

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be
required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they
 should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and
give your own opinion.

1. Plan Body Paragraphs

5 mins planning
30 mins writing
2-3 mins checking

Planning is more important when writing discuss both views essay.

For example:
Let’s disagree with the second sentence.

Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence: career fulfillment

Explanation: Some work is accessible only in certain countries
Example: technology / US
Why we disagree: so hard!!

To explain disagree, it’s so hard, but we are just planning. So, let's try to disagree with the first
sentence.

Body Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence: Prevent brain drain

Explanation: without the policy -> move to another country that pays better
Why we disagree: Stifle creativity

Body Paragraph 2

Topic sentence: career fulfillment

Explanation: Some work is accessible only in certain countries
Example: technology / US
Why we agree: Reach full potential

Requiring skilled workers to stay in the country that trained them helps to avoid brain drain.
Without this policy, many of them may move to another country that pays better and offers a
higher standard of living. If a country loses the bright minds that innovate and build companies,
its economy will suffer. However, I do not think that the policy in question is an ideal way to
prevent brain drain because forcing a worker to stay in a place where they do not want to be
can stifle their creativity and productivity.
Those on the other side of the argument say that highly trained people must be allowed to work
wherever they wish, a practice that enables them to find fulfillment in their careers. There are
lines of work a person can do only in certain regions. For example, if engineers who trained in
developing country want to work with world’s latest technology, their best choice is to go to the
US and work for tech giants like Amazon and SpaceX. And only when a person is doing what
they want can they find fulfillment in work. Since fulfilled workers are more likely to reach their
full potential, I agree that the educated should have the freedom to choose where they want to
work.

Introduction

Paraphrase + Your opinion + state 2 main ideas

Background + Your opinion + The main idea of the side you agree with

There have been competing views on whether highly qualified people should work in the country
where they were trained. In my opinion, they should be free to work wherever they want in order
to achieve maximum career fulfillment.

Conclusion
Restate your opinion and 2 main ideas

In conclusion, while requiring skilled professionals to work in the country where they trained can
prevent the loss of talent, I believe it is best to grant them freedom of movement because they
are more likely to reach their full potential when they feel fulfilled by their work.

5 tips to finish essay Faster

1. Plan body paragraphs in your head rather than on paper

2. Write the two body paragraphs first
3. Don’t be afraid of using original wording
a. Change word forms (e.g. did their training -> where they trained, where they were
trained)
i. Saves time
ii. accurate
4. Be flexible
5. Don’t be afraid of repetition -> creates a sense of coherence and gives us our
experience of flow

➢ Have a clear viewpoint throughout the entire essay

➢ Each paragraph should have only one main idea
Advantages Outweigh Disadvantages Essay

How to answer the question *do advantages OUTWEIGH

disadvantages*//ielts writing task 2
IELTS 16

In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling
inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?

Outweigh means “does the sum of the advantages carry greater weight / greate importance /
greater significance than the sum of the disadvantages?

It’s correct to write only one advantage and one disadvantage for the above question.
(recommended)

You can also write more than one advantages and more than one disadvantages but it's highly
recommended to write only one advantage and only one disadvantage because

Every paragraph should have one main topic!!

You should develop one main topic fully in one paragraph.

Opinion: Advantages outweigh disadvantages

Body paragraph 1

(Pick one of the disadvantages)

● Topic sentence: Employment losses
● Explanation: Explain how the driverless car invites employment losses.
● Example(s): Truckers, bus drivers, and delivery couriers
● Why this is unimportant: Offer a solution

One downside of self-driving cars might be that they could lead to large employment losses.
Nowadays, in many countries, a great number of people are making a living by driving, be they
truckers, bus drivers, or delivery couriers. Imagine all these people are made redundant by
autonomous cars. That would raise the unemployment rates in these countries significantly.
However, I think this can be avoided if drivers reskill to get themselves a job in a new sector.

Green highlight = why is this unimportant?

Red highlight = offer a solution

Body paragraph 2

(Pick one advantage)

● Topic sentence: Help businesses cut costs

● Explanation: explain how driverless cars can help businesses cut costs

● Examples(s): give example to the above explanation

● Why this is a great advantage:

Find the bigger picture: society/country/world
(What benefits can a reduced operating expense bring to society?)

On the positive side, driverless cars could help businesses reduce operating expenses. This is
because, with these cars, they would not need to hire drivers to deliver the products or services
to their customers. For instance, the American logistics company UPS currently has hundreds of
thousands of truck drivers and pays them an average of 60,000 dollars per year, which adds up
to tens of billions of dollars annually. Replacing these drivers with autonomous cars would mean
that these huge salary payments could be eliminated. I think this could create a great advantage
for society as a whole because companies could devote the money they save on labor to other
aspects of their business, which could mean cheaper, better goods for consumers.

Green highlight = Why is this important?

Red highlight = Find the bigger picture

In the first paragraph's last sentence we offer a solution to overcome the disadvantage and in
the second paragraph's last sentence we explained why the advantage of businesses cutting
costs is so important.

Introduction

● Paraphrase
● Opinion + Main idea(s)

In the future, all vehicles will be autonomous. Passengers will be the only people inside them. I
believe businesses could cut costs by using driverless cars, and this advantage far outweighs
any potential disadvantages.
Conclusion
● Opinion + main ideas

In conclusion, although self-driving vehicles would result in many job losses, I believe this
downside is greatly outweighed by the upside that these vehicles could help businesses save
operating costs.

Green highlight = two main ideas

Yellow highlight = opinion

IELTS 17 writing task 2 - do the advantages of taking risks

outweigh the disadvantages

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their
personal lives.

Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?

Opinion: Advantages outweigh disadvantages

Body paragraph 1: a disadvantage

1. Topic sentence: hurt people short term

2. Reasons: you don’t have to give reasons. You can directly give examples (example-led
paragraph)

3. Examples

4. Explain why the disadvantage is not important

Marking a risky move may hurt a person short term. Take, for example, adults who are
psychologically controlled by their parents because they still receive financial support from
them. If they stop relying on their parents so that they can be free to go after their dreams, they
may face the short-term downside of losing the comfort their parents’ money provides. The
same can be true of making a career change that involves a big pay cut. However, I do not think
that a short-term sacrifice should be seen as a major disadvantage in life because it may pay off
greatly in the long run.
Green highlight = explaining the disadvantage
Red highlight = explaining why this disadvantage is insignificant

Body paragraph 2: an advantage

1. Topic sentence: new opportunities

2. Reasons: you don’t have to give reasons. You can directly give examples (example-led
paragraph)

3. Examples

4. Explain why the advantage is soimportant

Can we use this method of directly giving an example after a topic sentence to answer other
types of questions? Yes.

But mainly use for:

● Advantages outweigh disadvantages
● Discuss both views

It's easy to reach word count in the above method essays but if we implement the method with
“agree or disagree” we may not reach the word count.

On the positive side, risks bring opportunities. For instance, if Priscilla Chan’s grandparents
hadn’t been courageous enough to move to the US from Vietnam, Chan wouldn’t have had the
opportunity to study at Harvard, let alone meet and marry Mark Zuckerberg. If Mark Zuckerberg
hadn’t dropped out of Harvard to focus on building Facebook, it could have probably been
another platform, rather than Facebook, that became the world’s biggest social media giant. I
think opportunities like these are extremely important because they can be life-changing.

Introduction
● Paraphrase
● Opinion + 2 main reasons

It is important to make some risky moves in career as well as in private life. Although this may
harm a person in the short term, it allows them to create new opportunities and I believe that
this advantage far outweighs any potential disadvantages.

Conclusion
● Restate opinion + 2 main ideas
In conclusion, although taking risks may harm people in the short term, I believe this downside
is greatly outweighed by the upside that the risks they take can create life-changing
opportunities for them.

Red highlight = ideas

Green highlight = opinion

Mixed Questions Essays

(Double Questions / Two-Part Questions)

How to *fully develop* body paragraphs - ielts 17 writing task 2

double questions/two-part questions

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

1. Introduction
2. Body paragraph 1 - Question 1 - One Reason
3. Body paragraph 2 - Question 2
4. Conclusion

Why is this the case? - Give one reason. If want to give two, then separate each reason in their
own paragraph.

Body Paragraph 1

1. Topic Sentence: One main topic (social media algorithms)

2. Explanations: One point that has good progression / develop one explanation rather than
listing several explanations

Collect data -> Analyze data -> Personalized postings

Social media algorithms are extremely good at providing people with content that will hold their
attention. They track user behavior like search history and engagement and use machine
learning to analyze the data gathered. In this approach, they can offer users an endless stream
of postings optimized to keep their interest. Since children tend to lack self-control, they may be
unable to resist those personalized posts and wind up wasting too much time on their phones.

Body Paragraph 2
One main topic

1. Topic Sentence - Take either Positive or Negative

Negative because it can harm mental health

2. Explanation - Build Progression

3. Example - Make Explanations more specific

Unfortunately, hours of phone time every day can harm children’s mental health. Perfectly
filtered pictures and stages videos on social media create an unrealistic world for children
scrolling through their feeds. Consuming too much content like this may make them unhappy
with who they are. Consider the body image issues that Instagram has caused in teenage girls.
After seeing post after post of fitness influencers who appear to have perfect lives and bodies,
come adolescent girls may find it very difficult to refrain from comparing themselves to those
influencers. It is not surprising that so many start worrying about their physical attractiveness.

Introduction

● Paraphrase
● Give our opinion by briefly answer the two questions

Children and teenagers use their phone for hours each day. This, in my opinion, results from
social media platforms’ exceptional ability to keep users’ attention. It should be viewed as a
negative development because it can be harmful to children’s mental health.

Conclusion

● State our opinion again by briefly answering the two questions again

In conclusion, some children spend a large amount of time on their phones everyday because
social media constantly presents them with content designed to keep their attention. Sadly, this
may take a toll on their mental health.

Take a toll on smth = have a bad effect

Key Takeaways

One topic in each paragraph:

-> one reason
 -> create a progression in explanations -> one sentence leads logically to the next

Unfamiliar topic Essay

How to deal with an unfamiliar topic - IELTS 17 writing task 2 - a

positive or negative development

Nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative
medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Unfamiliar topic? -> Identify all the keywords

Above question keywords

● Alternative medicines = Herbal Remedies
● Treatments = acupuncture, aromatherapy
● Visiting their usual doctor = conventional treatments

Compare and contrast conventional treatments with their alternatives.

Positive or negative development is similar to Agree or disagree essay. Stick to only one side.

Opinion: negative development

Body paragraph 1

Main topic:

Many alternatives are not strictly regulated. In most countries, alternative medicines are not
classified as drugs and are, therefore, not subject to the same regulations in terms of efficacy or
marketing claims. This can be seen in herbal remedies which falsely claim to have special
ingredients that affect effectiveness when there is no evidence of this. The same can be said for
alternative therapies. Many of these therapies are not conducted by registered practitioners who
are permitted to work by a regulatory board. As a result, there is nothing to stop unethical or,
even, unsafe practices from taking place.
Body paragraph 2

Non-conventional medical treatments would not be as useful in emergency situations. They take
time to work, whereas conventional treatments are developed to take effect fast. If people with
conditions or symptoms that need to be relieved right away opt for alternative therapies, they
might miss the window of opportunity to cure their diseases. Consider patients who require
tumor removal as soon as possible. If they delay surgery in the hopes that a non-mainstream
treatment would work, the tumor might grow and spread to other parts of their bodies.

Red highlight = see how we contrast the two main ideas

Introduction

● Paraphrase
● Your opinion
● 2 main topics

More and more people with health issues are now choosing alternative medicines and therapies
over conventional treatment recommended by their practitioners. I believe this is a negative
development because many alternatives are not held to the same standards as mainstream
treatments and are often less useful in emergencies.

Conclusion

● State again your opinion

● State again the 2 main topics

In conclusion, the increased use of alternative medicines and therapies should be viewed as a
negative development due to a lack of regulation and their ineffectiveness in emergency
situations.

Key Takeaways

1. Identify all the keywords

-> answer all parts of the question
-> have enough things to write about

2. Don’t introduce a new idea -> each body paragraph has only one main topic
Vocabs / Words
Discuss both views essays
● There have been conflicting views on whether
● There have been competing views on whether
● I believe
● In my opinion
● For example
● However
● Those on the other side of the argument say that
● I agree with this argument
● In conclusion
● Additionally
● On the one hand
● On the other hand

Advantages outweigh disadvantages essays

● It is my opinion
● For example / Consider
● Additionally
● Despite these facts
● In conclusion
● That said
● I believe
● Although
● However
● This can lead to
● In conclusion

Double Question Essays

● Some people argue
● Perhaps this is because
● Although
● In conclusion, although
● I believe
● This, in my opinion
● It should be viewed as

Causes and solutions Essays

● I believe
 ● I think
● For example
● However
● In conclusion

Problems and solutions essays

● I think
● Fortunately
● Unfortunately
● For example
● For instance
● In conclusion

Agree Disagree essays

● Firstly
● To begin with
● In addition

Task 1 tips and tricks

Map
➢ Overview: general rather than specific
➢ Don’t describe the first map in great detail
➢ Try to describe a thing only once if possible
➢ Where clause
➢ North from the roundabout = northbound road
➢ Tenses for future development:
○ is/are to: The factories are to be removed
○ Be planned to: The factories are planned to be removed.
○ There are plans to: There are plans to remove the factory.
➢ If there is no compass, give direction from person’s point of view.
➢ While paraphrasing, focus on changing grammar not individual words.
➢ Comparing present map from past
○ Have now been replaced
○ There were once
○ Used to be
○ Formerly stood
Process Diagram
➢ Grouping information: Group information by something in common like:
○ 1st paragraph: First three steps takes place in field
○ 2nd paragraph: Remaining steps takes place in factory
➢ Linear or cyclical process not man-made process

Life Cycle
➢ Overview: Dont write its a natural process and starts with egg and ends in adult stage.
Instead write life span and all the stages
➢ Start with “The lifecycle begins when …” and end with “... and the entire journey is
repeated all over again.”
➢ Useful verbs:
○ Emerge: Alevins emerge from the eggs.
○ Mature / develop / grow: The fry mature into the smolts.
○ Considered: They are considered smolts.

Manufacturing Cycle
➢ Overview
○ If its a cyclical process, don’t make a mistake saying the process begins with and
ends with because cyclical process never ends.
○ Instead describe a complete cycle.
○ Report the main steps

➢ Complete the cyclical process. For example: in case of plastic products, there should be
use as first step and reuse as last step of overview sentence.
➢ If you have trouble reaching a 150 words, you can add more information by showing
purpose of certain step by using words like:
○ To
○ Where
○ So that

Mixed Charts
➢ Vocabs for table
○ Which rose
○ With an increase
○ Saw the largest growth
○ X more than the previous year
 ➢ Vocabs for piechart
○ Remained unchanged/ the same
○ Almost doubled
○ Proportion decreased

Line Charts
➢ Overview
○ General trends
○ Biggest category
○ Biggest increase
➢ Explain each line separately to avoid confusion and reduce word count
➢ If you have two lines, keep the detail paragraph 1 simple by explaining line 1’s trends
only and in detail paragraph 2 explain trend and do comparison with line 1.
➢ In a line graph, numbers at the beginning and numbers at the end of the line are
important and number in between are less important
➢ How to make relevant and clear comparisons
○ Dont make assumptions
○ Don’t make too many comparisons
➢ 3 common mistakes when describing an IELTS task 1 line graph
1. No comparisons
● Which line had bigger figures?
2. Not using a variety of linking words
● Then / until / before / except for / after
3. Describe every single trend
● Group similar trends together.

Pie Charts
➢ Overview
○ Most important features i.e. bigger slices for pie chart
➢ If there are 3 pie charts, group two pie charts explanation in the same paragraph based
on their similarity but this doesn’t mean mixing explanations. Handle the first chart and
make a comparison while explaining the second chart. For the third chart, make a
comparison with both the first and second charts.
➢ Similarity words: also, like
➢ Difference words: however, compared with, unlike, although
➢ Future projection words: anticipated, expected, forecast, estimated, predicted, projected
➢ Biggest categories:
○ Use the comparatives. E.g. is higher at
○ Use the superlatives. E.g. is highest at, is consumed the least
○ Account for the largest proportion
○ Greatest source
Bar Charts
➢ Don’t repeat every single piece of data. Identify important data like the biggest or
smallest
➢ Make broader comments. Write one sentence that covers all the numbers and only give
detailed description of important data.
➢ You need to establish the context in Introduction. Having established it, you don’t need to
repeat it in rest paragraphs.
➢ How to paraphrase introduction?
○ Don't change individual words. Instead, break the sentences down into chunks
and paraphrase the chunks
➢ Group less important data together and put them in a range
➢ How to group data?
○ Are there any differences?
○ What do they have in common?
➢ Use “by + category name” to paraphrase
➢ For overview: trends vs biggest numbers.. Which is more important?

Table
➢ Group categories together if they share similarities
➢ Two things both are the biggest
➢ Report less important data less precisely
○ Give a rough number
○ Give a range

Speaking

Vocabs
1. Really
2. Probably
3. But also,
4. Needless to say
5. Therefore
6. Of course
7. In fact
8. Besides
9. Recently

Speaking about a place?

● Describe the
○ appearance
○ Location
○ People
○ Activities
○ experiences