Line graph

Cambridge IELTS book 5 (page 29).

The line graph compares the percentage of people aged 65 or
The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged more in three countries over a period of 100 years.
65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.
It is clear that the proportion of elderly people increases in
each country between 1940 and 2040. Japan is expected to
see the most dramatic changes in its elderly population.

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over,

compared to about 7% of Swedish people and 5% of Japanese
people. The proportions of elderly people in the USA and
Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years, reaching just
under 15% in 1990. By contrast, the figures for Japan
remained below 5% until the early 2000s.

Looking into the future, a sudden increase in the percentage

of elderly people is predicted for Japan, with a jump of over
15% in just 10 years from 2030 to 2040. By 2040, it is thought
that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years
old or more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be
slightly lower, at about 25% and 23% respectively.

(178 words, band 9)

The essay below is 151 words long. I've tried to make it as simple
as possible, but it's still good enough to get a band 9. The line graph compares the percentage of people in three
countries who used the Internet between 1999 and 2009.

It is clear that the proportion of the population who used the

Internet increased in each country over the period shown.
Overall, a much larger percentage of Canadians and Americans
had access to the Internet in comparison with Mexicans, and
Canada experienced the fastest growth in Internet usage.

In 1999, the proportion of people using the Internet in the USA

was about 20%. The figures for Canada and Mexico were lower,
at about 10% and 5% respectively. In 2005, Internet usage in
both the USA and Canada rose to around 70% of the population,
while the figure for Mexico reached just over 25%.

By 2009, the percentage of Internet users was highest in Canada.

Almost 100% of Canadians used the Internet, compared to
about 80% of Americans and only 40% of Mexicans.
The graph below shows the average number of UK commuters
travelling each day by car, bus or train between 1970 and 2030. The line graph compares figures for daily travel by workers in the UK
using three different forms of transport over a period of 60 years.

It is clear that the car is by far the most popular means of transport
for UK commuters throughout the period shown. Also, while the
numbers of people who use the car and train increase gradually, the
number of bus users falls steadily.

In 1970, around 5 million UK commuters travelled by car on a daily

basis, while the bus and train were used by about 4 million and 2
million people respectively. In the year 2000, the number of those
driving to work rose to 7 million and the number of commuting rail
passengers reached 3 million. However, there was a small drop of
approximately 0.5 million in the number of bus users.

By 2030, the number of people who commute by car is expected to

reach almost 9 million, and the number of train users is also predicted
to rise, to nearly 5 million. By contrast, buses are predicted to
become a less popular choice, with only 3 million daily users.
The graph below shows the amounts of waste produced The line graph compares three companies in terms of their
by three companies over a period of 15 years. waste output between the years 2000 and 2015.

It is clear that there were significant changes in the amounts of

waste produced by all three companies shown on the graph.
While companies A and B saw waste output fall over the 15-year
period, the amount of waste produced by company C increased
considerably.

In 2000, company A produced 12 tonnes of waste, while

companies B and C produced around 8 tonnes and 4 tonnes of
waste material respectively. Over the following 5 years, the
waste output of companies B and C rose by around 2 tonnes,
but the figure for company A fell by approximately 1 tonne.

From 2005 to 2015, company A cut waste production by roughly

3 tonnes, and company B reduced its waste by around 7 tonnes.
By contrast, company C saw an increase in waste production of
approximately 4 tonnes over the same 10-year period. By 2015,
company C’s waste output had risen to 10 tonnes, while the
respective amounts of waste from companies A and B had
dropped to 8 tonnes and only 3 tonnes.

(192 words, band 9)

The graph below shows the average daily spend of three categories The line graph compares three types of traveller to New
of international visitor to New Zealand from 1997 to 2017. Zealand between 1997 and 2017 in terms of their average daily
expenditure.

It is noticeable that spending by these international visitors was

at its highest between the years 2000 and 2003. Overall,
business travellers spent the most per day, while people visiting
friends or relatives spent the least.

In 1997, business visitors to New Zealand spent an average of

almost $260 per day, while holidaymakers spent around $190
and people visiting friends or relatives spent less than $120.
Over the following five years, spending by all three types of
traveller increased dramatically, to peaks of around $330, $270
and $220. However, visitor spending suddenly fell again
between 2003 and 2005.

From 2005 to 2015, the daily expenditure of business travellers

and tourists fluctuated around the $200 mark, whereas people
visiting relations or friends spent roughly 60 to 80 dollars less
per day. By 2017, daily spending had risen to approximately
$250, $210 and $140 respectively for vacationers, business
people and those visiting loved ones.
(174 words)
The graph below shows changes in global food and oil prices
The line graph compares the average price of a barrel of oil with the
between 2000 and 2011.
food price index over a period of 11 years.

It is clear that average global prices of both oil and food rose
considerably between 2000 and 2011. Furthermore, the trends for
both commodities were very similar, and so a strong correlation
(93.6%) is suggested.

In the year 2000, the average global oil price was close to $25 per
barrel, and the food price index stood at just under 90 points. Over
the following four years both prices remained relatively stable,
before rising steadily between 2004 and 2007. By 2007, the average
oil price had more than doubled, to nearly $60 per barrel, and food
prices had risen by around 50 points.

A dramatic increase in both commodity prices was seen from 2007

to 2008, with oil prices reaching a peak of approximately $130 per
barrel and the food price index rising to 220 points. However, by the
beginning of 2009 the price of oil had dropped by roughly $90, and
the food price index was down by about 80 points. Finally, in 2011,
the average oil price rose once again, to nearly $100 per barrel,
while the food price index reached its peak, at almost 240 points.
The first chart below gives information about the money spent by
The line graphs show the average monthly amount that
British parents on their children’s sports between 2008 and 2014.
parents in Britain spent on their children’s sporting activities
The second chart shows the number of children who participated
and the number of British children who took part in three
in three sports in Britain over the same time period.
different sports from 2008 to 2014.

It is clear that parents spent more money each year on their

children’s participation in sports over the six-year period. In
terms of the number of children taking part, football was
significantly more popular than athletics and swimming.

In 2008, British parents spent an average of around £20 per

month on their children’s sporting activities. Parents’ spending
on children’s sports increased gradually over the following six
years, and by 2014 the average monthly amount had risen to
just over £30.

Looking at participation numbers, in 2008 approximately 8

million British children played football, while only 2 million
children were enrolled in swimming clubs and less than 1
million practised athletics. The figures for football
participation remained relatively stable over the following 6
years. By contrast, participation in swimming almost doubled,
to nearly 4 million children, and there was a near fivefold
increase in the number of children doing athletics.

(185 words, band 9)

 The line graph shows changes in the per capita consumption
The graph below shows trends in US meat and poultry consumption. of beef, pork, broilers and turkey in the United States between
1955 and 2012.

It is noticeable that beef was by far the most popular of the

four types of meat for the majority of the 57-year period.
However, a considerable rise can be seen in the consumption
of broilers, with figures eventually surpassing those for beef.

Between 1955 and 1976, US beef consumption rose from

around 60 to a peak of 90 pounds per person per year. During
the same period, consumption of broilers also rose, to nearly
30 pounds per person, while the figures for pork fluctuated
between 50 and 40 pounds per person. Turkey was by far the
least popular meat, with figures below 10 pounds per capita
each year.

By 2012, the amount of beef consumed by the average

American had plummeted to around 50 pounds, but the
consumption of broilers had doubled since the 1970s, to
approximately 55 pounds per capita. By contrast, there were
no significant changes in the trends for pork and turkey
consumption over the period as a whole.
The graph below shows US consumers' average annual expenditures
on cell phone and residential phone services between 2001 and 2010. The line graph compares average yearly spending by Americans
on mobile and landline phone services from 2001 to 2010.

It is clear that spending on landline phones fell steadily over the

10-year period, while mobile phone expenditure rose quickly.
The year 2006 marks the point at which expenditure on mobile
services overtook that for residential phone services.

In 2001, US consumers spent an average of nearly $700 on

residential phone services, compared to only around $200 on
cell phone services. Over the following five years, average yearly
spending on landlines dropped by nearly $200. By contrast,
expenditure on mobiles rose by approximately $300.

In the year 2006, the average American paid out the same
amount of money on both types of phone service, spending just
over $500 on each. By 2010, expenditure on mobile phones had
reached around $750, while the figure for spending on
residential services had fallen to just over half this amount.

(162 words, band 9)

The graph below gives information about car ownership The graph shows changes in the number of cars ______
in Britain from 1971 to 2007. household in Great Britain ______ a period of 36 years.

Overall, car ownership in Britain increased ______ 1971 and 2007.

In particular, the percentage of households with two cars rose,
while the figure for households ______ a car fell.

In 1971, ______ half of all British households did not have regular
use of a car. Around 44% of households had one car, but only
about 7% had two cars. It was uncommon for families to own
three or more cars, ______ around 2% of households falling into
this category.

The one-car household was the most common type from the late
1970’s ______, although there was little change in the ______ for
this category. The biggest change was seen in the proportion of
households without a car, which fell steadily over the 36-year
period ______ around 25% in 2007. In contrast, the proportion of
two-car families rose steadily, reaching about 26% in 2007, and
the proportion of households with more than two cars rose
______ around 5%.

Fill the gaps in the essay with the following words:

per, over, between, without, almost, with, onwards, figures, to, by
The graph below shows UK acid rain emissions, measured in millions of tonnes, The line graph compares four sectors in ______ of the amount of
from four different sectors between 1990 and 2007. acid rain emissions that they produced over a period of 17 years
in the UK.

It is clear that the total amount of acid rain emissions in the UK

______ ______ between 1990 and 2007. The most ______
decrease was seen in the electricity, gas and water supply sector.

In 1990, around 3.3 million tonnes of acid rain emissions came

from the electricity, gas and water sector. The transport and
communication sector was ______ for about 0.7 million tonnes
of emissions, while the domestic sector ______ around 0.6
million tonnes. Just over 2 million tonnes of acid rain gases came
from other industries.

Emissions from electricity, gas and water supply fell dramatically

to only 0.5 million tonnes in 2007, a ______ of almost 3 million
tonnes. While acid rain gases from the domestic sector and other
industries fell gradually, the transport sector ______ a small
increase in emissions, ______ a peak of 1 million tonnes in 2005.

Fill the gaps using these words:

terms, fell, considerably, dramatic, responsible, produced, drop,
saw, reaching
Bar chart
 The bar chart compares the number of incidents and injuries for every
100 million passenger miles travelled on five different types of public
transport in 2002.
The chart below shows numbers of incidents and injuries per 100 million
passenger miles travelled (PMT) by transportation type in 2002.
It is clear that the most incidents and injuries took place on demand-
response vehicles. By contrast, commuter rail services recorded by far
the lowest figures.

A total of 225 incidents and 173 injuries, per 100 million passenger
miles travelled, took place on demand-response transport services.
These figures were nearly three times as high as those for the second
highest category, bus services. There were 76 incidents and 66 people
were injured on buses.

Rail services experienced fewer problems. The number of incidents on

light rail trains equalled the figure recorded for buses, but there were
significantly fewer injuries, at only 39. Heavy rail services saw lower
numbers of such events than light rail services, but commuter rail
passengers were even less likely to experience problems. In fact, only
20 incidents and 17 injuries occurred on commuter trains.

(165 words, band 9)

Note:
Don't worry about the repetition of "incidents and injuries" in this
essay. There are no perfect synonyms for these words, although I
managed to use "problems" and "such events" later in the essay. The
most important thing is to describe the data clearly and make some
The bar chart below shows the percentage of Australian men and (Cambridge IELTS 12)
women in different age groups who did regular physical activity in The chart compares the proportions of Australian males and
2010. females in six age categories who were physically active on a
regular basis in the year 2010.

Roughly speaking, close to half of Australian adults did some

kind of routine physical activity in 2010. Middle aged females
were the most physically active, proportionally, while males
aged 35 to 44 did the least physical activity.

In the youngest age category (15 to 24), almost 53% of

Australian men but only 47.7% of women did regular physical
activity in 2010. However, between the ages of 25 and 44, men
were much less active on average than women. In fact, in the 35
to 44 age group, a mere 39.5% of males did some form of
regular exercise, compared to 52.5% of females.

Between the ages of 45 and 64, the figure for male physical
activity rose to around 45%, while the proportion of active
females remained around 8% higher, at 53%. Finally, the
percentages of Australian women and men aged 65 and over
who exercised regularly were almost identical, at approximately
47%.
(179 words, band 9)
The chart below shows the total number of minutes (in
billions) of telephone calls in the UK, divided into three
categories, from 1995-2002.
The bar chart compares the amount of time spent by people in the
UK on three different types of phone call between 1995 and 2002.

It is clear that calls made via local, fixed lines were the most popular
type, in terms of overall usage, throughout the period shown. The
lowest figures on the chart are for mobile calls, but this category also
saw the most dramatic increase in user minutes.

In 1995, people in the UK used fixed lines for a total of just over 70
billion minutes for local calls, and about half of that amount of time
for national or international calls. By contrast, mobile phones were
only used for around 4 billion minutes. Over the following four years,
the figures for all three types of phone call increased steadily.

By 1999, the amount of time spent on local calls using landlines had
reached a peak at 90 billion minutes. Subsequently, the figure for
this category fell, but the rise in the other two types of phone call
continued. In 2002, the number of minutes of national /
international landline calls passed 60 billion, while the figure for
mobiles rose to around 45 billion minutes.

(197 words, band 9)

The chart below shows information about changes in
average house prices in five different cities between 1990
and 2002 compared with the average house prices in 1989.
The bar chart compares the cost of an average house in five
major cities over a period of 13 years from 1989.

We can see that house prices fell overall between 1990 and
1995, but most of the cities saw rising prices between 1996
and 2002. London experienced by far the greatest changes in
house prices over the 13-year period.

Over the 5 years after 1989, the cost of average homes in

Tokyo and London dropped by around 7%, while New York
house prices went down by 5%. By contrast, prices rose by
approximately 2% in both Madrid and Frankfurt.

Between 1996 and 2002, London house prices jumped to

around 12% above the 1989 average. Homebuyers in New
York also had to pay significantly more, with prices rising to
5% above the 1989 average, but homes in Tokyo remained
cheaper than they were in 1989. The cost of an average
home in Madrid rose by a further 2%, while prices in
Frankfurt remained stable.

(165 words)
 The bar chart compares the time spent by 10 to 15-year-olds in the UK
The chart below shows the amount of time that 10 to 15-year-olds on two activities, namely chatting online and playing computer games.
spend chatting on the Internet and playing on games consoles on an
average school day in the UK. Overall, we can see that playing computer games is marginally more
popular than chatting on the Internet. However, completely different
trends can be seen if we look at the specific figures for boys and girls.

Boys aged between 10 and 15 clearly favour playing on games

consoles over chatting online. According to the chart, while 85% of
boys play computer games every day, only 55% chat online daily.
Furthermore, the majority of boys play on their consoles for more than
one hour each day, and 10% do this activity for four hours or more.

By contrast, girls prefer chatting online. Close to 70% of 10 to 15-year-

old girls engage in online conversation each day, compared to about
50% of this cohort who play computer games. Of the girls who do play
on consoles, most of them play for less than an hour, whereas most
girls who chat online do so for more than one hour, and nearly 10%
chat for four hours or more.

Note:
I decided to write about boys in one paragraph and girls in the other.
However, it would also be fine to write paragraphs about chatting on
the Internet and playing on consoles.
 The bar chart compares the number of visits made by people in six age
The chart below shows figures for attendances at hospital categories to hospital emergency wards in Northern Ireland in the
emergency care departments in Northern Ireland by age group in December of 2016 and 2017.
December 2016 and December 2017.

Attendances at emergency care departments per 1000-population It is clear that elderly people and the youngest children were the most
frequent visitors to A&E (accident and emergency) departments. Also,
there was a slight increase in the rate of emergency care attendances
among all six age groups from December 2016 to December 2017.

Looking first at the older age groups, roughly 65 people, per 1000
population, aged 75 and over attended A&E wards in December 2016,
and this rose to almost 70 attendances per 1000-population one year
later. Interestingly, those aged 65 to 74 were less than half as likely to
require emergency treatment, with around 30 attendances per 1000-
population in both months.

At the other end of the age scale, the figures for A&E visits by under-5s
rose marginally from around 50 to approximately 52 per 1000-
population over the one-year period. Children aged 5 to 15 made the
fewest visits, at just over 20 per 1000-population in both months.
Finally, there was almost no difference in the figures for emergency
care attendances among people aged 16 to 44, 45 to 64 and 65 to 74.
(217 words, band 9)
 The bar chart shows the percentage of waste that is recycled, put into landfill
The chart below compares levels of recycling, as well as some less or incinerated in various EU countries.
environmentally friendly forms of waste management, in fifteen
European countries.
If we look at the fifteen EU countries as a whole, it is clear that more waste
goes to landfill sites than to any other refuse management facility. In fact,
while around half of the countries put the majority of their waste into landfill
sites, only two countries recycle at least 50% of the waste that they produce.

Austria and Belgium are the most environmentally friendly of the fifteen
countries, recycling around 60% and 50% of their waste respectively. Germany,
Sweden and Belgium also appear to have effective recycling programmes,
resulting in roughly 40% of waste being processed in this way in each country.

Other EU countries recycle far less. Greece, Ireland and the UK, for example,
only recycle around 10% of refuse, and put between 80 and 90 per cent of
their waste into landfill. Finally, while most non-recycled waste in the EU area
goes to landfill, four countries, namely Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands
and Denmark, incinerate more waste than they bury.
(184 words, band 9)
 The two charts compare the populations of France and India in
terms of age distribution by gender in the year 1984.

It is clear that the population of India was younger than that of

The charts below compare the age structure of the
France in 1984, with a noticeably larger proportion of people aged
populations of France and India in 1984.
under 20. France, on the other hand, had a significantly larger
percentage of elderly inhabitants.

In India, close to 14% of people were aged 5 or under, and each

five-year age bracket above this contained an increasingly smaller
proportion of the population. France’s population, by contrast, was
more evenly distributed across the age ranges, with similar figures
(around 7% to 8% of all people) for each five-year cohort between
the ages of 0 and 40. Somewhere between 10% and 15% of all
French people were aged 70 or older, but the equivalent figure for
India was only 2%.

Looking more closely at gender, there was a noticeably higher

proportion of French women than men in every cohort from age
50 upwards. For example, almost 3% of French 70- to 75-year-olds
were women, while just under 2% were men. No significant gender
differences can be seen on the Indian population chart.

(199 words, band 9)

Note:
Can you see how I grouped the information in paragraphs 3 and 4?
 The bar chart compares the turnover in dollars from sales of
The bar graph shows the global sales (in billions of dollars) of different
video games for four different platforms, namely mobile
types of digital games between 2000 and 2006.
phones, online, consoles and handheld devices, from 2000 to
2006.

It is clear that sales of games for three out of the four platforms
rose each year, leading to a significant rise in total global
turnover over the 7-year period. Sales figures for handheld
games were at least twice as high as those for any other
platform in almost every year.

In 2000, worldwide sales of handheld games stood at around

$11 billion, while console games earned just under $6 billion.
No figures are given for mobile or online games in that year.
Over the next 3 years, sales of handheld video games rose by
about $4 billion, but the figure for consoles decreased by $2
billion. Mobile phone and online games started to become
popular, with sales reaching around $3 billion in 2003.

In 2006, sales of handheld, online and mobile games reached

peaks of 17, 9 and 7 billion dollars respectively. By contrast,
turnover from console games dropped to its lowest point, at
around $2.5 billion.
The bar chart shows the number of hot dogs and buns eaten in 15
minutes by the winners of ‘Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest’ in
Brooklyn, USA between 1980 and 2010.

It is noticeable that the number of hot dogs and buns eaten by

winners of the contest increased dramatically over the period shown.
The majority of winners were American or Japanese, and only one
woman had ever won the contest.

Americans dominated the contest from 1980 to 1996, and the winning
number of hot dogs and buns consumed rose from only 8 to around
21 during that time. 1983 and 1984 were notable exceptions to the
trend for American winners. In 1983 a Mexican won the contest after
eating 19.5 hot dogs, almost double the amount that any previous
winner had eaten, and 1984 saw the only female winner, Birgit Felden
from Germany.

A Japanese contestant, Takeru Kobayashi, reigned as hot dog eating

champion for six years from 2001 to 2006. Kobayashi’s winning totals
of around 50 hot dogs were roughly double the amount that any
previous winner had managed. However, the current champion,
American Joey Chestnut, took hot dog eating to new heights in 2009
when he consumed an incredible 68 hot dogs and buns in the allotted
15 minutes.
 The bar chart compares twelve countries in terms of the overall
number of medals that they have won at the Olympic Games.
The chart below shows the total number of Olympic medals won by
twelve different countries. It is clear that the USA is by far the most successful Olympic
medal winning nation. It is also noticeable that the figures for
gold, silver and bronze medals won by any particular country
tend to be fairly similar.

The USA has won a total of around 2,300 Olympic medals,

including approximately 900 gold medals, 750 silver and 650
bronze. In second place on the all-time medals chart is the Soviet
Union, with just over 1,000 medals. Again, the number of gold
medals won by this country is slightly higher than the number of
silver or bronze medals.

Only four other countries - the UK, France, Germany and Italy -
have won more than 500 Olympic medals, all with similar
proportions of each medal colour. Apart from the USA and the
Soviet Union, China is the only other country with a noticeably
higher proportion of gold medals (about 200) compared to silver
and bronze (about 100 each).

(178 words, band 9)

The bar charts compare students of different ages in terms
of why they are studying and whether they are supported
by an employer.

It is clear that the proportion of students who study for

career purposes is far higher among the younger age
groups, while the oldest students are more likely to study
for interest. Employer support is more commonly given to
younger students.

Around 80% of students aged under 26 study to further

their careers, whereas only 10% study purely out of
interest. The gap between these two proportions narrows
as students get older, and the figures for those in their
forties are the same, at about 40%. Students aged over 49
overwhelmingly study for interest (70%) rather than for
professional reasons (less than 20%).

Just over 60% of students aged under 26 are supported by

their employers. By contrast, the 30-39 age group is the
most self-sufficient, with only 30% being given time off
and help with fees. The figures rise slightly for students in
their forties and for those aged 50 or more.

(178 words, band 9)

The first bar chart shows changes in the number of marriages and
divorces in the USA,and the second chart shows figures for the marital
status of American adults in 1970 and 2000.

[Simple introduction: Paraphrase the question. Use “the first chart... the
second chart”]

It is clear that there was a fall in the number of marriages in the USA
between 1970 and 2000. The majority of adult Americans were married
in both years, but the proportion of single adults was higher in 2000.

[Summary: Describe one main point abouteach chart (2 sentences)]

In 1970, there were 2.5 million marriages in the USA and 1 million
divorces. The marriage rate remained stable in 1980, but fell to 2 million
by the year 2000. In contrast, the divorce rate peaked in 1980, at nearly
1.5 million divorces, before falling back to 1 million at the end of the
period.

[First chart: Compare marriage and divorce rates. Mention 1970, 2000
and anything interesting in between (Imentioned 1980)]

Around 70% of American adults were married in 1970, but this figure
dropped to just under 60% by 2000. At the same time, the proportion of
unmarried people and divorcees rose by about 10% in total. The
proportion of widowed Americans was slightly lower in 2000.

[Second chart: Start by comparing the highest figures (married). I

grouped ‘never married’ and ‘ divorced’ together. Mention less
The bar chart below shows money spent on consumer
goods in different countries.

The bar chart compares consumer spending on six different items in

Germany, Italy, France and Britain.

It is clear that British people spent significantly more money than people
in the other three countries on all six goods. Of the six items, consumers
spent the most money on photographic film.

People in Britain spent just over £170,000 on photographic film, which is

the highest figure shown on the chart. By contrast, Germans were the
lowest overall spenders, with roughly the same figures (just under
£150,000) for each of the six products.

The figures for spending on toys were the same in both France and Italy, at
nearly £160,000. However, while French people spent more than Italians
on photographic film and CDs, Italians paid out more for personal stereos,
tennis racquets and perfumes. The amount spent by French people on
tennis racquets, around £145,000, is the lowest figure shown on the chart.

Note:
- I tried to keep the essay short (154 words) by selecting carefully.
- It's difficult to change spend, but I used spending, spenders and paid out.
The charts below show the levels of participation in education and
science in developing and industrialised countries in 1980 and 1990.
The three bar charts show average years of schooling, numbers
of scientists and technicians, and research and development
spending in developing and developed countries. Figures are
given for 1980 and 1990.

It is clear from the charts that the figures for developed

countries are much higher than those for developing nations.
Also, the charts show an overall increase in participation in
education and science from 1980 to 1990.

People in developing nations attended school for an average of

around 3 years, with only a slight increase in years of schooling
from 1980 to 1990. On the other hand, the figure for
industrialised countries rose from nearly 9 years of schooling in
1980 to nearly 11 years in 1990.

From 1980 to 1990, the number of scientists and technicians in

industrialised countries almost doubled to about 70 per 1000
people. Spending on research and development also saw rapid
growth in these countries, reaching $350 billion in 1990. By
contrast, the number of science workers in developing countries
remained below 20 per 1000 people, and research spending fell
from about $50 billion to only $25 billion.

(187 words)
Pie chart
The chart below shows the results of a survey of people who visited The pie chart compares figures for visitors to four categories of
four types of tourist attraction in Britain in the year 1999. tourist attraction and to five different theme parks in Britain in
1999.

It is clear that theme parks and museums / galleries were the two
most popular types of tourist attraction in that year. Blackpool
Pleasure Beach received by far the highest proportion of visitors in
the theme park sector.

Looking at the information in more detail, we can see that 38% of

the surveyed visitors went to a theme park, and 37% of them went
to a museum or gallery. By contrast, historic houses and
monuments were visited by only 16% of the sample, while wildlife
parks and zoos were the least popular of the four types of tourist
attraction, with only 9% of visitors.

In the theme park sector, almost half of the people surveyed (47%)
had been to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Alton Towers was the
second most popular amusement park, with 17% of the sample,
followed by Pleasureland in Southport, with 16%. Finally,
Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor had each
welcomed 10% of the surveyed visitors.

(181 words, band 9)

The charts below show the results of a questionnaire that asked
visitors to the Parkway Hotel how they rated the hotel's The pie charts compare visitors’ responses to a survey about
customer service. The same questionnaire was given to 100 customer service at the Parkway Hotel in 2005 and in 2010.
guests in the years 2005 and 2010.
It is clear that overall customer satisfaction increased considerably
from 2005 to 2010. While most hotel guests rated customer
service as satisfactory or poor in 2005, a clear majority described
the hotel’s service as good or excellent in 2010.

Looking at the positive responses first, in 2005 only 5% of the

hotel’s visitors rated its customer service as excellent, but this
figure rose to 28% in 2010. Furthermore, while only 14% of guests
described customer service in the hotel as good in 2005, almost
three times as many people gave this rating five years later.

With regard to negative feedback, the proportion of guests who

considered the hotel’s customer service to be poor fell from 21%
in 2005 to only 12% in 2010. Similarly, the proportion of people
who thought customer service was very poor dropped from 15%
to only 4% over the 5-year period. Finally, a fall in the number of
‘satisfactory’ ratings in 2010 reflects the fact that more people
gave positive responses to the survey in that year.

(193 words, band 9)

Fill the gaps with these words:
make, up, higher, relative, amount, constitutes, one, fifth,
figure, drops

The pie charts compare the proportion of carbohydrates,

protein and fat in three different diets, namely an average
diet, a healthy diet, and a healthy diet for sport.

It is noticeable that sportspeople require a diet comprising a

significantly higher proportion of carbohydrates than an
average diet or a healthy diet. The average diet contains the
lowest percentage of carbohydrates but the highest
proportion of protein.

Carbohydrates ______ ______ 60% of the healthy diet for

sport. This is 10% ______ than the proportion of
carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet, and 20% more than
the proportion in an average diet. On the other hand, people
who eat an average diet consume a greater ______ ______ of
protein (40%) than those who eat a healthy diet (30%) and
sportspeople (25%).

The third compound shown in the charts is fat. Fat ______

exactly ______ ______ of both the average diet and the
healthy diet, but the ______ ______ to only 15% for the
healthy sports diet.
 The pie charts give information about the water used for
The pie charts below compare water usage in San Diego, residential, industrial and agricultural purposes in San Diego
California and the rest of the world. County, California, and the world as a whole.

It is noticeable that more water is consumed by homes than by

industry or agriculture in the two American regions. By contrast,
agriculture accounts for the vast majority of water used
worldwide.

In San Diego County and California State, residential water

consumption accounts for 60% and 39% of total water usage.
By contrast, a mere 8% of the water used globally goes to homes.
The opposite trend can be seen when we look at water
consumption for agriculture. This accounts for a massive 69% of
global water use, but only 17% and 28% of water usage in San
Diego and California respectively.

Such dramatic differences are not seen when we compare the

figures for industrial water use. The same proportion of water
(23%) is used by industry in San Diego and worldwide, while the
figure for California is 10% higher, at 33%.

(168 words, band 9)

The pie charts below show how dangerous waste products
are dealt with in three countries.
The charts compare Korea, Sweden and the UK in terms of the
methods used in each country to dispose of harmful waste.

It is clear that in both the UK and Sweden, the majority of

dangerous waste products are buried underground. By contrast,
most hazardous materials in the Republic of Korea are recycled.

Looking at the information in more detail, we can see that 82%

of the UK’s dangerous waste is put into landfill sites. This
disposal technique is used for 55% of the harmful waste in
Sweden and only 22% of similar waste in Korea. The latter
country recycles 69% of hazardous materials, which is far more
than the other two nations.

While 25% of Sweden's dangerous waste is recycled, the UK

does not recycle at all. Instead, it dumps waste at sea or treats it
chemically. These two methods are not employed in Korea or
Sweden, which favour incineration for 9% and 20% of dangerous
waste respectively.

(159 words, band 9)

The pie charts compare the expenditure of a school in the UK in three
different years over a 20-year period.

It is clear that teachers’ salaries made up the largest proportion of the

school’s spending in all three years (1981, 1991 and 2001). By contrast,
insurance was the smallest cost in each year.

In 1981, 40% of the school’s budget went on teachers’ salaries. This

figure rose to 50% in 1991, but fell again by 5% in 2001. The
proportion of spending on other workers’ wages fell steadily over the
20-year period, from 28% of the budget in 1981 to only 15% in 2001.

Expenditure on insurance stood at only 2% of the total in 1981, but

reached 8% in 2001. Finally, the percentages for resources and
furniture/equipment fluctuated. The figure for resources was highest
in 1991, at 20%, and the proportion of spending on furniture and
equipment reached its peak in 2001, at 23%.

(158 words, band 9)

The pie charts compare the proportions of people falling into
three distinct age groups inYemen and Italy in two different years.

It is clear that Italy had the older population in the year 2000, and
that the same ispredicted for the year 2050. The populations of
both countries are expected to age over the fifty-year period.

In the year 2000, just over half of the population of Yemen was
aged 14 or under, while most Italians (61.6%) fell into the 15 to 59
age group, and only 14.3% were children under 15 years of age.
People aged 60 or over accounted for almost a quarter of the
Italian population, but only 3.6% of the inhabitants of Yemen.

By 2050, the proportion of children under 15 is predicted to drop

in both countries, most noticeably in Yemen where the figure is
expected to fall by 13.1%. On the other hand, the figures for
elderly people are expected to rise, by 2.1% in Yemen and a
massive 18.2% in Italy. Finally, it is anticipated that the 15 to 59
age group will grow by around 10% in Yemen, but shrink by
around 15% in Italy.
Cambridge IELTS book 7, page 101:

The pie charts compare the amount of electricity produced using five
different sources of fuel in two countries over two separate years.

Total electricity production increased dramatically from 1980 to 2000

in both Australia and France. While the totals for both countries were
similar, there were big differences in the fuel sources used.

Coal was used to produce 50 of the total 100 units of electricity in

Australia in 1980, rising to 130 out of 170 units in 2000. By contrast,
nuclear power became the most important fuel source in France in
2000, producing almost 75% of the country’s electricity.

Australia depended on hydro power for just under 25% of its

electricity in both years, but the amount of electricity produced using
this type of power fell from 5 to only 2 units in France. Oil, on the
other hand, remained a relatively important fuel source in France,
but its use declined in Australia. Both countries relied on natural gas
for electricity production significantly more in 1980 than in 2000.

(170 words)
Table
 The table shows data about the underground rail networks in six
The table below gives information about the underground railway
major cities.
systems in six cities.
The table compares the six networks in terms of their age, size
and the number of people who use them each year. It is clear
that the three oldest underground systems are larger and serve
significantly more passengers than the newer systems.

The London underground is the oldest system, having opened in

1863. It is also the largest system, with 394 kilometres of route.
The second largest system, in Paris, is only about half the size of
the London underground, with 199 kilometres of route.
However, it serves more people per year. While only third in
terms of size, the Tokyo system is easily the most used, with
1927 million passengers per year.

Of the three newer networks, the Washington DC underground

is the most extensive, with 126 kilometres of route, compared to
only 11 kilometres and 28 kilometres for the Kyoto and Los
Angeles systems. The Los Angeles network is the newest, having
opened in 2001, while the Kyoto network is the smallest and
serves only 45 million passengers per year.

(185 words)
 The table gives information about poverty rates among
six types of household in Australia in the year 1999.
The table below shows the proportion of different categories of
families living in poverty in Australia in 1999. It is noticeable that levels of poverty were higher for
single people than for couples, and people with children
were more likely to be poor than those without. Poverty
rates were considerably lower among elderly people.

Overall, 11% of Australians, or 1,837,000 people, were

living in poverty in 1999. Aged people were the least
likely to be poor, with poverty levels of 6% and 4% for
single aged people and aged couples respectively.

Just over one fifth of single parents were living in poverty,

whereas only 12% of parents living with a partner were
classed as poor. The same pattern can be seen for people
with no children: while 19% of single people in this group
were living below the poverty line, the figure for couples
was much lower, at only 7%.

(150 words, band 9)

 The table shows percentages of consumer expenditure for three
The table below gives information on consumer spending on categories of products and services in five countries in 2002.
different items in five different countries in 2002.
It is clear that the largest proportion of consumer spending in each
Percentage of national consumer expenditure by category - 2002 country went on food, drinks and tobacco. On the other hand, the
leisure/education category has the lowest percentages in the table.

Out of the five countries, consumer spending on food, drinks and

tobacco was noticeably higher in Turkey, at 32.14%, and Ireland, at
nearly 29%. The proportion of spending on leisure and education was
also highest in Turkey, at 4.35%, while expenditure on clothing and
footwear was significantly higher in Italy, at 9%, than in any of the
other countries.

It can be seen that Sweden had the lowest percentages of national

consumer expenditure for food/drinks/tobacco and for clothing/
footwear, at nearly 16% and just over 5% respectively. Spain had
slightly higher figures for these categories, but the lowest figure for
leisure/education, at only 1.98%.

Note:
- Which information did I choose to include in my 'summary'
paragraph?
- Why did I use past and present tenses in paragraph 2?
- How did I group the information for paragraphs 3 and 4?
The table below gives information about the problems The table compares two primary schools in terms of the
faced by children in two primary schools in 2005 and 2015. proportions of their pupils who experienced seven different
educational problems in the years 2005 and 2015.

It is noticeable that school A had higher proportions of children

with all seven educational difficulties in both years. However,
while school A managed to reduce the incidence of most of the
problems between 2005 and 2015, school B saw an overall rise in
the percentage of children who were struggling.

In 2005, 42% of school A’s pupils found it difficult to follow

instructions, whereas only 6% of pupils in school B experienced
this problem. Similarly, between 30 and 40 per cent of children
attending school A had problems in the areas of spelling, listening,
verbal expression and concentration in lessons, while the
equivalent figures for school B stood at between 5 and 15 per
cent.

In 2015, the difference between the two schools was less

pronounced. Notably, the proportion of children who struggled to
follow instructions fell by 24% in school A, and this school also saw
falls of 22%, 15%, 14% and 5% in the figures for children who had
problems with concentration, listening, verbal expression and
spelling. In school B, however, the proportion of children who
struggled with spelling and following instructions doubled, to 10%
and 12% respectively, and there was almost no change in the
incidence of listening, verbal or concentration problems.
 The table compares the percentages of people using different
functions of their mobile phones between 2006 and 2010.

The table shows the percentages of mobile phone owners using various
Throughout the period shown, the main reason why people
mobile phone features.
used their mobile phones was to make calls. However, there
was a marked increase in the popularity of other mobile
phone features, particularly the Internet search feature.

In 2006, 100% of mobile phone owners used their phones to

make calls, while the next most popular functions were text
messaging (73%) and taking photos (66%). By contrast, less
than 20% of owners played games or music on their phones,
and there were no figures for users doing Internet searches or
recording video.

Over the following 4 years, there was relatively little change

in the figures for the top three mobile phone features.
However, the percentage of people using their phones to
access the Internet jumped to 41% in 2008 and then to 73%
in 2010. There was also a significant rise in the use of mobiles
to play games and to record video, with figures reaching 41%
and 35% respectively in 2010.

Note:
The above essay isn't perfect, but it's still good enough for a
band 9. You are not expected to write a masterpiece in only
The table below shows the amount of waste production (in millions of tonnes) The chart compares the amounts of waste that were
in six different countries over a twenty-year period. produced in six countries in the years 1980, 1990 and 2000.

In each of these years, the US produced more waste than

Ireland, Japan, Korea, Poland and Portugal combined. It is also
noticeable that Korea was the only country that managed to
reduce its waste output by the year 2000.

Between 1980 and 2000, waste production in the US rose

from 131 to 192 million tonnes, and rising trends were also
seen in Japan, Poland and Portugal. Japan’s waste output
increased from 28 to 53 million tonnes, while Poland and
Portugal saw waste totals increase from 4 to 6.6 and from 2 to
5 million tonnes respectively.

The trends for Ireland and Korea were noticeably different

from those described above. In Ireland, waste production
increased more than eightfold, from only 0.6 million tonnes in
1980 to 5 million tonnes in 2000. Korea, by contrast, cut its
waste output by 12 million tonnes between 1990 and 2000.
 The table compares the average ______ of time per day
The chart below shows average hours and minutes spent by that men and women in the UK spend ______ different
UK males and females on different daily activities. activities.

It is clear that people in the UK spend more time ______

than doing any other daily activity. Also, there are
significant differences between the time ______ by men
and women on employment/study and housework.

On average, men and women in the UK ______ for about

8 hours per day. Leisure ______ ______ the second
largest proportion of their time. Men spend 5 hours and
25 minutes doing various leisure activities, such as
watching TV or doing sport, ______ women have 4 hours
and 53 minutes of leisure time.

It is noticeable that men work or study for an average of

79 minutes more than women every day. By contrast,
women spend 79 minutes more than men doing
housework, and they spend ______ ______ as much time
looking after children.

Fill the gaps using these words:

amount, doing, sleeping, spent, sleep, takes, up, while,
over, twice
The charts below show the proportions of British students at The tables compare the percentages of British university students
one university in England who were able to speak other who spoke different languages in addition to English in two
languages in addition to English, in 2000 and 2010. separate years.

It is noticeable that in both years, 2000 and 2010, the majority of

British students at the university in question were able to speak at
least one other language. We can also see an increase in the
proportion of second and third language speakers over the 10-
year period.

In the year 2000, 80% of the students were able to speak one or
two foreign languages, and 20% only spoke English. Ten years
later, there was a rise of 5% in the proportion of those who spoke
a second language. There was also an increase, from 10% to 15%,
in the proportion of students who were able to speak two foreign
languages.

Looking at the specific second languages spoken, in 2000, 30% of

the students were able to speak Spanish, 15% spoke French, and
10% spoke German. By 2010, the proportion of Spanish speakers
had risen to 35%, there were 5% fewer French speakers, and the
figure for German speakers remained at one in ten. Finally, we can
see that the percentage of speakers of other second languages,
apart from Spanish, French and German, rose from 15% to 20%
over the period shown.
 The tables show the amount of money spent on Fairtrade coffee and
The tables below give information about sales of Fairtrade*-labelled bananas in two separate years in the UK, Switzerland, Denmark,
coffee and bananas in 1999 and 2004 in five European countries. Belgium and Sweden.

It is clear that sales of Fairtrade coffee rose in all five European

countries from 1999 to 2004, but sales of Fairtrade bananas only went
up in three out of the five countries. Overall, the UK saw by far the
highest levels of spending on the two products.

In 1999, Switzerland had the highest sales of Fairtrade coffee, at €3

million, while revenue from Fairtrade bananas was highest in the UK, at
€15 million. By 2004, however, sales of Fairtrade coffee in the UK had
risen to €20 million, and this was over three times higher than
Switzerland’s sales figure for Fairtrade coffee in that year. The year 2004
also saw dramatic increases in the money spent on Fairtrade bananas in
the UK and Switzerland, with revenues rising by €32 million and €4.5
million respectively.

Sales of the two Fairtrade products were far lower in Denmark, Belgium
and Sweden. Small increases in sales of Fairtrade coffee can be seen,
but revenue remained at €2 million or below in all three countries in
both years. Finally, it is noticeable that the money spent on Fairtrade
bananas actually fell in Belgium and Sweden.

Note:
This report is a bit longer (216 words) than necessary, but I think it's a
useful model answer in terms of its structure and the language used.
The table below shows changes in the numbers of residents cycling The table compares the numbers of people who cycled to work in
to work in different areas of the UK between 2001 and 2011. twelve areas of the UK in the years 2001 and 2011.

Overall, the number of UK commuters who travelled to work by

bicycle rose considerably over the 10-year period. Inner London
had by far the highest number of cycling commuters in both years.

In 2001, well over 43 thousand residents of inner London

commuted by bicycle, and this figure rose to more than 106
thousand in 2011, an increase of 144%. By contrast, although
outer London had the second highest number of cycling
commuters in each year, the percentage change, at only 45%, was
the lowest of the twelve areas shown in the table.

Brighton and Hove saw the second biggest increase (109%) in the
number of residents cycling to work, but Bristol was the UK’s
second city in terms of total numbers of cycling commuters, with
8,108 in 2001 and 15,768 in 2011. Figures for the other eight areas
were below the 10 thousand mark in both years.

(172 words, band 9)

2 different charts
The climograph below shows average monthly temperatures The chart compares average figures for temperature and precipitation
and rainfall in the city of Kolkata. over the course of a calendar year in Kolkata.

It is noticeable that monthly figures for precipitation in Kolkata vary

considerably, whereas monthly temperatures remain relatively stable.
Rainfall is highest from July to August, while temperatures are highest
in April and May.

Between the months of January and May, average temperatures in

Kolkata rise from their lowest point at around 20°C to a peak of just
over 30°C. Average rainfall in the city also rises over the same period,
from approximately 20mm of rain in January to 100mm in May.

While temperatures stay roughly the same for the next four months,
the amount of rainfall more than doubles between May and June.
Figures for precipitation remain above 250mm from June to
September, peaking at around 330mm in July. The final three months
of the year see a dramatic fall in precipitation, to a low of about
10mm in December, and a steady drop in temperatures back to the
January average.

(173 words, band 9)

The charts below show reasons for travel and the main
issues for the travelling public in the US in 2009. The bar chart and pie chart give information about why US residents
travelled and what travel problems they experienced in the year 2009.

It is clear that the principal reason why Americans travelled in 2009

was to commute to and from work. In the same year, the primary
concern of Americans, with regard to the trips they made, was the
cost of travelling.

Looking more closely at the bar chart, we can see that 49% of the
trips made by Americans in 2009 were for the purpose of commuting.
By contrast, only 6% of trips were visits to friends or relatives, and one
in ten trips were for social or recreation reasons. Shopping was cited
as the reason for 16% of all travel, while unspecific ‘personal reasons’
accounted for the remaining 19%.

According to the pie chart, price was the key consideration for 36% of
American travellers. Almost one in five people cited safety as their
foremost travel concern, while aggressive driving and highway
congestion were the main issues for 17% and 14% of the travelling
public. Finally, a total of 14% of those surveyed thought that access to
public transport or space for pedestrians were the most important
travel issues.
(201 words, band 9)
The bar chart below shows the proportions of English men and women of
different ages who were living alone in 2011. The pie chart compares the The two charts give information about single-occupant households in
numbers of bedrooms in these one-person households. England in the year 2011. The bar chart compares figures for occupants' age
and gender, and the pie chart shows data about the number of bedrooms in
Living alone in England by age and gender, 2011 these homes.

Overall, females made up a higher proportion of people living alone than

males, and this difference is particularly noticeable in the older age
categories. We can also see that the most common number of bedrooms in
a single-occupant home was two.

A significant majority of the people aged 65 or over who were living alone in
England in 2011 were female. Women made up around 72% of single
occupants aged 75 to 84, and 76% of those aged 85 or over. By contrast,
among younger adults the figures for males were higher. For example, in the
35-49 age category, men accounted for nearly 65% of people living alone.
Number of bedrooms in one-person households (England, 2011)
In the same year, 35.4% of one-person households in England had two
bedrooms, while one-bedroom and three-bedroom homes accounted for
28% and 29.8% of the total. Under 7% of single-occupant homes had four or
more bedrooms.

(189 words, band 9)

Tip:
Notice that I was forced to leave out some of the information from the bar
chart. This is normal when you only have 20 minutes; examiners expect you
to select some key figures, not to try to include everything.
The graph and table below give information about water use worldwide
The charts compare the amount of water used for agriculture,
and water consumption in two different countries.
industry and homes around the world, and water use in Brazil and the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is clear that global water needs rose significantly between 1900 and
2000, and that agriculture accounted for the largest proportion of
water used. We can also see that water consumption was
considerably higher in Brazil than in the Congo.

In 1900, around 500km³ of water was used by the agriculture sector

worldwide. The figures for industrial and domestic water
consumption stood at around one fifth of that amount. By 2000,
global water use for agriculture had increased to around 3000km³,
industrial water use had risen to just under half that amount, and
domestic consumption had reached approximately 500km³.

In the year 2000, the populations of Brazil and the Congo were 176
million and 5.2 million respectively. Water consumption per person in
Brazil, at 359m³, was much higher than that in the Congo, at only
8m³, and this could be explained by the fact that Brazil had 265 times
more irrigated land.

(184 words, band 9)

The chart below shows long-term international migration in UK.
The chart gives information about UK immigration,
emigration and net migration between 1999 and 2008.

Both immigration and emigration rates rose over the period

shown, but the figures for immigration were significantly
higher. Net migration peaked in 2004 and 2007.

In 1999, over 450,000 people came to live in the UK, while

the number of people who emigrated stood at just under
300,000. The figure for net migration was around 160,000,
and it remained at a similar level until 2003. From 1999 to
2004, the immigration rate rose by nearly 150,000 people,
but there was a much smaller rise in emigration. Net
migration peaked at almost 250,000 people in 2004.

After 2004, the rate of immigration remained high, but the

number of people emigrating fluctuated. Emigration fell
suddenly in 2007, before peaking at about 420,000 people in
2008. As a result, the net migration figure rose to around
240,000 in 2007, but fell back to around 160,000 in 2008.
 Comparison diagram
(a diagram or map that compares things)
(Cambridge IELTS 13)

The maps illustrate some changes that were made to a city hospital's
transport infrastructure between the years 2007 and 2010.

It is noticeable that three main modifications were made to the

hospital’s vehicle access. These involved the building of a new bus
station, new roundabouts and new parking facilities.

Looking at the changes in more detail, we can see that in 2007 there
were three bus stops on either side of Hospital Road. These were no
longer present in 2010, and instead we see the addition of a bus
station on the west side of Hospital Road. This bus station is accessed
via two new roundabouts; the first roundabout is at the intersection
of City Road and Hospital Road, while the second is at the other end
of Hospital Road, at the junction with the hospital ring road.

The two maps also show that changes were made to public and staff
parking areas. In 2007, staff and visitors used the same car park,
which was situated to the east of Hospital Road and accessed via the
ring road. However, by 2010 this original car park had become a
designated area for staff parking only. A new car park, located on the
east side of the ring road, provided parking for members of the
public.
The maps below show the centre of a small town
called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.
The diagrams illustrate some proposed changes to the central area
of the town of Islip.

It is clear that the principal change to the town will be the

construction of a ring road around the centre. Various other
developments with regard to shops and housing will accompany
the building of this road.

Looking at the map of Islip as it is now, we can see that a main

road runs through its centre from east to west. The second map
shows the planned pedestrianisation of this road. Traffic will be
diverted on to a dual carriageway that will form a ring around the
town centre.

Currently there is a row of shops along either side of the main

road. However, it appears that the shops along the north side of
the new pedestrian street will be demolished to make way for a
bus station, shopping centre, car park and new housing area. The
shops along the south side of the street will remain, but it seems
that the town’s park will be reduced in size so that more new
houses can be built within the ring road.

(187 words, band 9)

the two maps below show an island, before and after the construction
of some tourist facilities. The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which
has been developed for tourism.

It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the

introduction of tourism, and six new features can be seen in
the second diagram. The main developments are that the
island is accessible and visitors have somewhere to stay.

Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that small huts
have been built to accommodate visitors to the island. The
other physical structures that have been added are a reception
building, in the middle of the island, and a restaurant to the
north of the reception. Before these developments, the island
was completely bare apart from a few trees.

As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on

the island include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a
short road linking the pier with the reception and restaurant,
and footpaths connect the huts. Finally, there is a designated
swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western tip of
the island.

(175 words, band 9)

The diagrams below show the site of a school in 2004
and the plan for changes to the school site in 2024.

The two pictures compare the layout of a school as it was in

the year 2004 with a proposed site design for the year 2024.

It is clear that the main change for 2024 involves the addition
of a new school building. The school will then be able to
accommodate a considerably larger number of students.

In 2004, there were 600 pupils attending the school, and the
two school buildings were separated by a path running from
the main entrance to the sports field. By 2024, it is expected
that there will be 1000 pupils, and a third building will have
been constructed. Furthermore, the plan is to join the two
original buildings together, creating a shorter path that links
the buildings only.

As the third building and a second car park will be built on the
site of the original sports field, a new, smaller sports field will
need to be laid. A new road will also be built from the main
entrance to the second car park. Finally, no changes will be
made to the main entrance and original car park.

(183 words, band 9)

The diagrams below are existing and proposed floor plans for the redevelopment
of an art gallery.

The first picture shows the layout of an art gallery, and the
second shows some proposed changes to the gallery space.

It is clear that significant changes will be made in terms of the

use of floor space in the gallery. There will be a completely new
entrance and more space for exhibitions.

At present, visitors enter the gallery through doors which lead

into a lobby. However, the plan is to move the entrance to the
Parkinson Court side of the building, and visitors will walk
straight into the exhibition area. In place of the lobby and office
areas, which are shown on the existing plan, the new gallery
plan shows an education area and a small storage area.

The permanent exhibition space in the redeveloped gallery will

be about twice as large as it is now because it will occupy the
area that is now used for temporary exhibitions. There will also
be a new room for special exhibitions. This room is shown in red
on the existing plan and is not currently part of the gallery.

(178 words, band 9)

 Process diagram
(a diagram or map that shows steps in a things)
 The flow chart shows how waste paper is recycled. It is clear that
there are six distinct stages in this process, from the initial collection
The chart below shows the process of waste paper recycling. of waste paper to the eventual production of usable paper.

At the first stage in the paper recycling process, waste paper is

collected either from paper banks, where members of the public
leave their used paper, or directly from businesses. This paper is then
sorted by hand and separated according to its grade, with any paper
that is not suitable for recycling being removed. Next, the graded
paper is transported to a paper mill.

Stages four and five of the process both involve cleaning. The paper is
cleaned and pulped, and foreign objects such as staples are taken
out. Following this, all remnants of ink and glue are removed from
the paper at the de-inking stage. Finally, the pulp can be processed in
a paper making machine, which makes the end product: usable
paper.

(160 words, band 9)

Note: I joined the introduction and overview together because they

were both short. Try to analyse the essay - why is it worth band 9?
The diagrams below show some principles of house design for
cool and for warm climates. The diagrams show how house designs differ according
to climate.

The most noticeable difference between houses

designed for cool and warm climates is in the shape of
the roof. The designs also differ with regard to the
windows and the use of insulation.

We can see that the cool climate house has a high-

angled roof, which allows sunlight to enter through the
window. By contrast, the roof of the warm climate house
has a peak in the middle and roof overhangs to shade
the windows. Insulation and thermal building materials
are used in cool climates to reduce heat loss, whereas
insulation and reflective materials are used to keep the
heat out in warm climates.

Finally, the cool climate house has one window which

faces the direction of the sun, while the warm climate
house has windows on two sides which are shaded from
the sun. By opening the two windows at night, the house
designed for warm climates can be ventilated.

(162 words, band 9)

The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the
cement-making process, and how cement is used to produce
concrete for building purposes. (Cambridge IELTS 8)

The first diagram illustrates the process of cement manufacture, and

the second diagram shows the materials that go into the production
of concrete.

It is clear that there are five stages in the production of cement,

beginning with the input of raw materials and ending with bags of the
finished product. To produce concrete, four different materials are
mixed together.

At the first stage in the production of cement, limestone and clay are
crushed to form a powder. This powder is then mixed before it passes
into a rotating heater. After heating, the resulting mixture is ground,
and cement is produced. Finally, the cement is packaged in large
bags.

Cement is one of the four raw materials that are used in the
production of concrete, along with gravel, sand and water. To be
exact, concrete consists of 50% gravel, 25% sand, 15% cement and
10% water. All four materials are blended together in a rotating
machine called a concrete mixer.
(160 words, band 9)
The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement
of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The picture illustrates the way in which water passes from
ocean to air to land during the natural process known as the
water cycle.

Three main stages are shown on the diagram. Ocean water

evaporates, falls as rain, and eventually runs back into the
oceans again.

Beginning at the evaporation stage, we can see that 80% of

water vapour in the air comes from the oceans. Heat from
the sun causes water to evaporate, and water vapour
condenses to form clouds. At the second stage, labelled
‘precipitation’ on the diagram, water falls as rain or snow.

At the third stage in the cycle, rainwater may take various

paths. Some of it may fall into lakes or return to the oceans
via ‘surface runoff’. Otherwise, rainwater may filter through
the ground, reaching the impervious layer of the earth. Salt
water intrusion is shown to take place just before
groundwater passes into the oceans to complete the cycle.

(156 words, band 9)

 The diagrams compare two different methods of
defence for homes which are at risk of being flooded.

The key difference between the diagrams is that they

The diagrams below show how houses can be protected in areas which are prone to flooding. show flood protection with and without a stopbank.
In either case, the at-risk home is raised on stilts
above ground level.

The first diagram shows how a stopbank acts as a

flood barrier to stop river water from flooding
homes. The stopbank is a small mound of land next
to the river that is higher than the 100-year flood
level, and prevents the river from bursting its banks.
Nearby houses can be built on stilts to prevent
flooding from rainwater, and a floodgate beneath the
stopbank can be opened to allow this ‘ponding’ to
drain off into the river.

When there is no stopbank, as shown in the second

diagram, there will be nothing to stop the river from
flooding. In this case, the solution is to put buildings
on stilts. The height of the stilts is measured so that
the floor of the house is 300mm above the 100-year
flood level. This measurement is called the
‘freeboard’.
 The picture illustrates the process of producing electricity in a
home using solar panels.
The diagram below shows how solar panels can be used to provide
electricity for domestic use.
It is clear that there are five distinct stages in this process,
beginning with the capture of energy from sunlight. The final two
steps show how domestic electricity is connected to the external
power supply.

At the first stage in the process, solar panels on the roof of a

normal house take energy from the sun and convert it into DC
current. Next, this current is passed to an inverter, which changes
it to AC current and regulates the supply of electricity. At stage
three, electricity is supplied to the home from an electrical panel.

At the fourth step shown on the diagram, a utility meter in the

home is responsible for sending any extra electric power outside
the house into the grid. Finally, if the solar panels do not provide
enough energy for the household, electricity will flow from the
utility grid into the home through the meter.

Note:
I've underlined examples of the two language features that make
process diagram descriptions special: 'steps' language, and passive
verbs.
The diagram below shows how the Australian Bureau of Meteorology
collects up-to-the-minute information on the weather in order to
produce reliable forecasts.

The figure illustrates the process used by the Australian Bureau of

Meteorology to forecast the weather.

There are four stages in the process, beginning with the collection of
information about the weather. This information is then analysed,
prepared for presentation, and finally broadcast to the public.

Looking at the first and second stages of the process, there are three
ways of collecting weather data and three ways of analysing it.
Firstly, incoming information can be received by satellite and
presented for analysis as a satellite photo. The same data can also be
passed to a radar station and presented on a radar screen or
synoptic chart. Secondly, incoming information may be collected
directly by radar and analysed on a radar screen or synoptic chart.
Finally, drifting buoys also receive data which can be shown on a
synoptic chart.

At the third stage of the process, the weather broadcast is prepared

on computers. Finally, it is delivered to the public on television, on
the radio, or as a recorded telephone announcement.
The diagram below shows how coffee is produced and prepared
for sale in supermarkets and shops.
The picture illustrates the process of coffee manufacture and
preparation for sale on the market.

It is clear that there are 11 stages in the production of coffee. The

process begins with the picking of coffee beans, and ends at the
packing stage.

Looking at the coffee production process in detail, coffee beans must

first be picked in the fields. These beans are then dried, roasted, and
cooled before being put in a grinding machine, which turns the beans
into coffee granules.

At the sixth stage in the process, the ground coffee is mixed with hot
water, and the resulting mixture is strained. Next, the mixture is
frozen and then passed once again through the grinder. After that,
the ground, frozen liquid is dried in a vacuum so that the water
evaporates, leaving the coffee granules. Finally, these granules are
packed into coffee jars for delivery to shops.

- First say how many stages there are in the whole process.
- Then say how/where the process begins and ends.

- Passives: must be picked; are dried, roasted and cooled; is mixed...

- Sequencing: then; and; at the sixth stage; next; after that; finally...
Life circle
The diagrams illustrate the stages in the life of a silkworm and the
process of producing silk cloth.

There are four main stages in the life cycle of the silkworm, from
eggs to adult moth. The process of silk cloth production involves
six steps, from silkworm cocoon to silk material.

At the first stage in the life cycle of a silkworm, the moth lays its
eggs. Around ten days later, silkworm larvae hatch from the eggs;
these larvae feed on mulberry leaves. Then, after four to six weeks,
the larvae become covered in silk thread, and it takes between
three and eight days for a full cocoon to be produced.

For silk cloth production, a cocoon is first selected and then boiled
in water. After boiling, the silk thread that makes up the cocoon is
unwound, and then several strands of thread are twisted together.
At the fifth and sixth stages in the process, the thread can either be
dyed and then woven into silk fabric, or it can be woven first and
then dyed subsequently.

(176 words, band 9)

The diagram below shows the life cycle of a
salmon, from egg to adult fish. The diagram illustrates the stages in the life of the salmon, from
birth to maturity.

It is clear that there are six* main stages as the salmon develops
from egg to mature adult. We can also see that salmon spend
time in three distinct locations during the cycle, moving from
river to estuary to ocean and then back upstream.

Salmon begin their lives in rivers where the adult fish lay and
incubate their eggs. After emerging from eggs, the young
salmon spend the next stage of their lives being reared in
freshwater areas. Then, at some point in their development, the
fish swim downstream to river estuaries where rearing
continues.

Following the estuary rearing period, the maturing salmon

migrate to the ocean, where they eventually become fully
grown adults. Finally, the adult fish travel back upstream to
spawning areas of rivers; here they reproduce and lay their
eggs, and the life cycle begins anew.

(154 words, band 9)

* I wrote "six" main stages because these are the stages that I
describe in paragraphs 3 and 4.
The diagram shows the life cycle of the honey bee. Two things to consider are:

how to summarise the diagram before describing the stages in detail

whether to use active or passive verb forms

The diagram illustrates the various stages in the life of a

honey bee. We can see that the complete life cycle lasts
between 34 and 36 days. It is also noticeable that there
are five main stages in the development of the honey
bee, from egg to mature adult insect.

The life cycle of the honey bee begins when the female
adult lays an egg; the female typically lays one or two
eggs every 3 days. Between 9 and 10 days later, each egg
hatches and the immature insect, or nymph, appears.

During the third stage of the life cycle, the nymph grows
in size and sheds its skin three times. This moulting first
takes place 5 days after the egg hatches, then 7 days
later, and again another 9 days later. After a total of 30
to 31 days from the start of the cycle, the young adult
honey bee emerges from its final moulting stage, and in
the space of only 4 days it reaches full maturity.
nymph = immature form of an insect
moult = shed or lose old feathers, hair or skin to allow for new growth (169 words, band 9)
Map
The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S)
is planned for the town. The map shows two possible sites for the
supermarket.
The map shows two potential locations (S1 and S2) for a
new supermarket in a town called Garlsdon.

The main difference between the two sites is that S1 is

outside the town, whereas S2 is in the town centre. The
sites can also be compared in terms of access by road or
rail, and their positions relative to three smaller towns.

Looking at the information in more detail, S1 is in the

countryside to the north west of Garlsdon, but it is close
to the residential area of the town. S2 is also close to the
housing area, which surrounds the town centre.

There are main roads from Hindon, Bransdon and

Cransdon to Garlsdon town centre, but this is a no traffic
zone, so there would be no access to S2 by car. By
contrast, S1 lies on the main road to Hindon, but it would
be more difficult to reach from Bransdon and Cransdon.
Both supermarket sites are close to the railway that runs
through Garlsdon from Hindon to Cransdon.
 The map shows the growth of a village called Chorleywood
The map shows the village of Chorleywood showing
between 1868 and 1994.
development between 1868 and 1994.
It is clear that the village grew as the transport infrastructure
was improved. Four periods of development are shown on the
map, and each of the populated areas is near to the main roads,
the railway or the motorway.

From 1868 to 1883, Chorleywood covered a small area next to

one of the main roads. Chorleywood Park and Golf Course is
now located next to this original village area. The village grew
along the main road to the south between 1883 and 1922, and
in 1909 a railway line was built crossing this area from west to
east. Chorleywood station is in this part of the village.

The expansion of Chorleywood continued to the east and west

alongside the railway line until 1970. At that time, a motorway
was built to the east of the village, and from 1970 to 1994,
further development of the village took place around motorway
intersections with the railway and one of the main roads.

Don't just read this essay once. Spend some time analysing it:

In what order did I describe the information shown on the map?

What information did I choose for paragraphs 3 and 4?
What good vocabulary does the essay contain?
Writing Task
2
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.

Here's one of the main body paragraphs:

There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant
changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person
encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for
instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new
knowledge, or add to their skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break
with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable.
Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be
good for our physical and mental health.
Popular hobbies and interests change over time and are more a
Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.
reflection of trends and fashions than an indication of what
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
individuals really want to do in their spare time.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is often said that modern life presents us with an overwhelming number
Some leisure activities become fashionable for a short time and then of choices. I completely agree with this, and I believe that the Internet and
disappear when a new trend comes along, whereas others seem to be globalisation are the two major factors involved.
perennially popular. I can therefore only partly agree with the assertion
that hobbies reflect changing fashions rather than our true interests. It is undeniable that the Internet has led to a dramatic expansion in the
number of choices that are available to us. The number of online media
On the one hand, it is true that many hobbies are simply passing trends. options, for instance, is now almost endless. There are countless websites
Children and teenagers, in particular, are attracted to whatever activity offering entertainment, news, videos, on-demand TV and music streaming,
is currently popular among their peers. My 10-year-old niece, for many of which are free. I would argue that this abundance of media leads
example, seems to have a new interest every month, as she joins in to confusion on the part of the average user, as we have to make so many
with the latest craze that sweeps through her primary school. Over the decisions about the content that we consume. A personal example of this
last year or so, she has been obsessed with Rubik’s cubes, fidget trend would be the fact that I had a choice of just four TV channels when I
spinners, squidgies and slime. In a similar way, there have been several was a child, whereas I now have access to thousands of films and series
different fitness trends for adults over recent years, from jogging to through services like Netflix.
yoga to circuit training, and I doubt whether the majority of
participants continued to enjoy those activities in the long term. Alongside the influence of the Internet, globalisation is making the world
smaller and compounding this problem of too much choice. Cheap
On the other hand, many people spend their free time doing popular international flights have made overseas travel possible for millions of
activities that are far from trendy. One good example would be the people, but this also means that we are faced with a world of options when
game chess. Children and adults who enjoy playing chess are certainly deciding where to go on holiday or even where to live. We no longer have
not following a new fashion or wasting their time on something that the limited but simple travel choices of our grandparents’ generation. The
they do not truly like. On the contrary, they are passionate about a same is true if we look at the increasing tendency for young people to study
game that has existed for hundreds of years, and they find it inherently abroad. While the opportunity for overseas study seems appealing, many
fascinating and absorbing. I would say the same about many other students are confused about where to go and which path to take.
hobbies, from reading to swimming.
In conclusion, we are faced with a huge number of options in most areas of
In conclusion, while some people are attracted to the latest fashionable life nowadays, and this is often more bewildering than beneficial.
hobby, others choose their pastimes for more genuine reasons.
(293 words)
 Caring for children is probably the most important job in any society. Because of
Some people believe that it is more important to teach children the literature and
this, all mothers and fathers should be required to take a course that prepares
history of their own country, rather than the literature and history of other countries.
them to be good parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

People have different views about the teaching of national versus global literature and It is true that parents shoulder a huge responsibility and that raising children is
history in schools. Personally, I support the idea that children should study first and by no means an easy task. However, I completely disagree with the idea that we
foremost the great books and historical events of their own countries. should therefore force all mothers and fathers to attend parenting courses.

There are several reasons why I believe that schools should focus on teaching national In my opinion, the idea that all future parents should take a parenthood
literature and history. Firstly, children enjoy learning about where they live, and by preparation course is completely impractical. Many prospective parents have
studying the ideas, culture and history of their own countries they begin to develop a jobs and busy schedules, and they may not be willing or able to attend regular
sense of identity. At the same time, this approach is appealing to parents, who studied parenting classes. This raises the question of whether those who missed the
the same books and historical events and can therefore help their children with school classes, or perhaps refused to attend, would be punished. I believe that it
work. English children, for example, read Shakespeare and learn about the Battle of would be wrong to do this, and it would therefore be impossible to enforce the
Hastings just as their parents did, and there is educational continuity across the idea of compulsory training for parents. Besides, even if parents could be forced
generations. Finally, an emphasis on national literature and history gives educators a to attend, I doubt that people would agree on what good parenting entails, and
narrower teaching scope, making curriculum design an easier task. so it would be difficult to create a parenting course to suit everyone.

By contrast, the study of global events and foreign novels could cause unnecessary As well as being impractical, I would argue that training courses for parents are
difficulty and confusion for school pupils. For example, I do not see the point in unnecessary. Mothers and fathers have been raising children without any
presenting Russian or Chinese history to a British child who has not yet studied the formal help or official interference for thousands of years. Parenting skills are
history of his or her own country in detail. Surely the child would be more able to learnt from family members, friends, neighbours and the surrounding culture.
comprehend historical events that took place in London than those that happened in Perhaps more importantly, adults learn to be good parents by instinct, by trial
Moscow or Beijing. Similarly, any exposure to international literature is likely to require and error, and by getting to know their own children; for example, a good
the teaching of a foreign language or the use of translations. Young people at primary parent will try different strategies when faced with a badly-behaved child, and
or secondary school age are simply not ready for such complications. will gradually develop an understanding of what works to correct the behaviour.
None of this requires the intervention of a taught course.
In conclusion, I would argue that it is undesirable for schools to cover aspects of foreign
history and literature; they should ground their pupils in the local culture instead. In conclusion, while compulsory parenting lessons might seem like a good idea,
I believe that such a scheme would be unworkable and largely pointless.
(297 words, band 9)
(289 words, band 9)
Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of
dress, because what matters is the quality of their work. advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the modern workplace, dress codes are changing as employers focus more on results It is true that we are increasingly surrounded by advertising by companies
than on the rules that employees must follow. While I agree that the way people dress that want to sell us their products. To some extent I agree that advertising
should be seen as irrelevant in many work contexts, I believe that dress codes still exist has an impact on sales, but I would also argue that we do need most of the
for good reason in certain professions. goods that we buy.

On the one hand, many employers have stopped telling their staff how to dress, and I Advertisements can certainly tempt people to buy products that they might
see this as a positive trend. Some of the most successful companies in the world, not otherwise want. A good example could be the mobile phone. Every
including technology giants like Google and Facebook, are famous for the relaxed office year people can be seen queuing to buy the latest models, even when they
environments that they try to create. Employees are encouraged to dress casually, and already have a perfectly good phone that does not need replacing. Perhaps
even the company executives and leaders are rarely seen wearing anything other than it is the influence of marketing that leads us to make these kinds of
T-shirts and jeans. However, while managers and programmers are free to dress how decisions; we want to stay up to date with the latest fashions or own the
they like, they are expected to produce work of outstanding quality. It is clear from the newest high-status device. The high sales of the iPhone seem to support
performance and global dominance of such companies that strict dress codes are this idea.
completely unnecessary in the technology sector.
On the other hand, I believe that most people do not buy products because
However, I would also argue that rules regarding employees' clothing are still relevant of the advertising alone. There are other good reasons why we make these
in other work situations. We expect certain professionals, such as nurses, police choices, and there must be some kind of need before a person makes a
officers and airline pilots, to wear uniforms. These uniforms may have a practical or purchase. New versions of products almost always have improved features
safety function, but perhaps more importantly they identify the person’s position or that buyers may want. A new car, for example, may have greatly improved
role in society. Similarly, a lawyer, politician or school principal may choose to wear safety features, or it may be more economical to run, or it may pollute less.
formal clothing in order to portray an image of authority, trustworthiness and A new phone may allow the user to communicate more quickly or
diligence. I believe that most of us prefer to see these professionals in smart, formal effectively, thus enhancing their quality of life.
attire, even if it is not strictly necessary.
In conclusion, while advertising obviously influences our buying behaviour,
In conclusion, I support the trend towards relaxed dress codes for workers, but I do not I do not agree that people make decisions that go against their real needs.
see it as applicable to all occupations or sectors of the economy.
(261 words, not perfect)
(298 words, band 9)
Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people
festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these
themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of
festivals, and that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While I It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem
agree that enjoyment seems to be the priority during festival times, I do not incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional
agree that people have forgotten what these festivals mean. ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still useful and should not be
forgotten.
On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become
times for celebration. In the UK, Christmas is a good example of a festival On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are
period when people are most concerned with shopping, giving and receiving becoming less relevant for younger people. In the past, for example, people were
presents, decorating their homes and enjoying traditional meals with their advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life, but today’s workers
families. Most people look forward to Christmas as a holiday period, rather expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time, the
than a time to practise religion. Similar behaviour can be seen during non- ‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own
religious festivals, such as Bonfire Night. People associate this occasion with choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between
making fires, watching firework displays, and perhaps going to large events in the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional
local parks; in other words, enjoyment is people’s primary goal. roles of men and women, as breadwinners and housewives, are no longer accepted
as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.
However, I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning of such festivals
has been forgotten. In UK primary schools, children learn in detail about the On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to
religious reasons for celebrating Christmas, Easter and a variety of festivals in the modern world. For example, older generations attach great importance to
other religions. For example, in late December, children sing Christmas songs working hard, doing one’s best, and taking pride in one’s work, and these
which have a religious content, and they may even perform nativity plays behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today’s competitive job
telling the story of Jesus’ birth. Families also play a role in passing knowledge of market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness
religious festivals’ deeper significance on to the next generation. The same is and good manners. In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into
true for festivals that have a historical background, such as Bonfire Night or contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important
Halloween, in the sense that people generally learn the stories behind these than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would
occasions at an early age. lead happier lives if they had a more ‘old-fashioned’ sense of community and
neighbourliness.
In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during
festivals, I believe that they are still aware of the reasons for these In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful
celebrations. in today’s world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.

(299 words, band 9)

It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops.
Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should
Technology and traditional cultures are incompatible.
be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Some people believe that technological developments lead to the loss of In recent years, extreme sports have become increasingly popular, and some
traditional cultures. I partly agree with this assertion; while it may be true in people argue that governments should prohibit them. I completely disagree with
the case of some societies, others seem to be unaffected by technology and the idea that these sports are too dangerous, and I therefore believe that they
the modern world. should not be banned.

On the one hand, the advances in technology that have driven industrialisation In my opinion, so-called extreme sports are not as dangerous as many people
in developed countries have certainly contributed to the disappearance of think. All sports involve some element of risk, and there should always be clear
traditional ways of life. For example, in pre-industrial Britain, generations of regulations and safety procedures to reduce the possibility of accidents. People
families grew up in the same small village communities. These communities who take part in extreme sports are usually required to undergo appropriate
had a strong sense of identity, due to their shared customs and beliefs. training so that the dangers are minimised. For example, anyone who wants to try
However, developments in transport, communications and manufacturing led skydiving will need to sign up for lessons with a registered club, and beginners are
to the dispersal of families and village communities as people moved to the not allowed to dive solo; they must be accompanied by an experienced
cities in search of work. Nowadays most British villages are inhabited by professional. Finally, the protective equipment and technology used in sports
commuters, many of whom do not know their closest neighbours. from motor racing to mountain climbing is constantly improving safety.

On the other hand, in some parts of the world traditional cultures still thrive. While I support regulations and safety measures, I believe that it would be wrong,
There are tribes in the Amazon Rainforest, for example, that have been and almost impossible, to ban extreme sports. In the first place, we should all be
completely untouched by the technological developments of the developed free to decide how we spend our leisure time; as long as we understand the risks,
world. These tribal communities continue to hunt and gather food from the I do not believe that politicians should stop us from enjoying ourselves. However,
forest, and traditional skills are passed on to children by parents and elders. an even stronger argument against such a ban would be the difficulty of enforcing
Other traditional cultures, such as farming communities in parts of Africa, are it. Many of the most risky sports, like base jumping or big wave surfing, are
embracing communications technologies. Mobile phones give farmers access practised far away from the reach of any authorities. I cannot imagine the police
to information, from weather predictions to market prices, which helps them being called to stop people from parachuting off a mountain face or surfing on an
to prosper and therefore supports their culture. isolated beach.

In conclusion, many traditional ways of life have been lost as a result of In conclusion, I would argue that people should be free to enjoy extreme sports as
advances in technology, but other traditional communities have survived and long as they understand the risks and take the appropriate precautions.
even flourished.

(266 words, band 9)

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is
Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to
often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the
find a way to live with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal, productive members of society. Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth, but some people argue
I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to that we need to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this
teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage them from opinion, because I believe that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce
breaking the law. the human impact on the Earth's climate.

In my opinion, teenagers are more likely to accept advice from someone who There are various measures that governments and individuals could take to
can speak from experience. Reformed offenders can tell young people about prevent, or at least mitigate, climate change. Governments could introduce laws
how they became involved in crime, the dangers of a criminal lifestyle, and to limit the carbon dioxide emissions that lead to global warming. They could
what life in prison is really like. They can also dispel any ideas that teenagers impose “green taxes” on drivers, airline companies and other polluters, and they
may have about criminals leading glamorous lives. While adolescents are often could invest in renewable energy production from solar, wind or water power. As
indifferent to the guidance given by older people, I imagine that most of them individuals, we should also try to limit our contribution to climate change, by
would be extremely keen to hear the stories of an ex-offender. The vivid and becoming more energy efficient, by flying less, and by using bicycles and public
perhaps shocking nature of these stories is likely to have a powerful impact. transport. Furthermore, the public can affect the actions of governments by
voting for politicians who propose to tackle climate change, rather than for those
The alternatives to using reformed criminals to educate teenagers about crime who would prefer to ignore it.
would be much less effective. One option would be for police officers to visit
schools and talk to young people. This could be useful in terms of informing If instead of taking the above measures we simply try to live with climate change,
teens about what happens to lawbreakers when they are caught, but young I believe that the consequences will be disastrous. To give just one example, I am
people are often reluctant to take advice from figures of authority. A second not optimistic that we would be able to cope with even a small rise in sea levels.
option would be for school teachers to speak to their students about crime, but Millions of people would be displaced by flooding, particularly in countries that do
I doubt that students would see teachers as credible sources of information not have the means to safeguard low-lying areas. These people would lose their
about this topic. Finally, educational films might be informative, but there homes and their jobs, and they would be forced to migrate to nearby cities or
would be no opportunity for young people to interact and ask questions. perhaps to other countries. The potential for human suffering would be huge, and
it is likely that we would see outbreaks of disease and famine, as well as increased
In conclusion, I fully support the view that people who have turned their lives homelessness and poverty.
around after serving a prison sentence could help to deter teenagers from
committing crimes. In conclusion, it is clear to me that we must address the problem of climate
(287 words, band 9) change, and I disagree with those who argue that we can find ways to live with it.

(322 words, band 9)

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities.
waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people argue that it is pointless to spend money on the protection of Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly
wild animals because we humans have no need for them. I completely common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I
disagree with this point of view. completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than
simply make money.
In my opinion, it is absurd to argue that wild animals have no place in the 21st
century. I do not believe that planet Earth exists only for the benefit of On the one hand, I accept that businesses must make money in order to survive
humans, and there is nothing special about this particular century that means in a competitive world. It seems logical that the priority of any company should
that we suddenly have the right to allow or encourage the extinction of any be to cover its running costs, such as employees’ wages and payments for
species. Furthermore, there is no compelling reason why we should let animals buildings and utilities. On top of these costs, companies also need to invest in
die out. We do not need to exploit or destroy every last square metre of land improvements and innovations if they wish to remain successful. If a company is
in order to feed or accommodate the world’s population. There is plenty of unable to pay its bills or meet the changing needs of customers, any concerns
room for us to exist side by side with wild animals, and this should be our aim. about social responsibilities become irrelevant. In other words, a company can
only make a positive contribution to society if it is in good financial health.
I also disagree with the idea that protecting animals is a waste of resources. It
is usually the protection of natural habitats that ensures the survival of wild On the other hand, companies should not be run with the sole aim of maximising
animals, and most scientists agree that these habitats are also crucial for profit; they have a wider role to play in society. One social obligation that owners
human survival. For example, rainforests produce oxygen, absorb carbon and managers have is to treat their employees well, rather than exploiting them.
dioxide and stabilise the Earth’s climate. If we destroyed these areas, the costs For example, they could pay a “living wage” to ensure that workers have a good
of managing the resulting changes to our planet would far outweigh the costs quality of life. I also like the idea that businesses could use a proportion of their
of conservation. By protecting wild animals and their habitats, we maintain the profits to support local charities, environmental projects or education initiatives.
natural balance of all life on Earth. Finally, instead of trying to minimise their tax payments by using accounting
loopholes, I believe that company bosses should be happy to contribute to
In conclusion, we have no right to decide whether or not wild animals should society through the tax system.
exist, and I believe that we should do everything we can to protect them.
In conclusion, I believe that companies should place as much importance on their
(269 words, band 9) social responsibilities as they do on their financial objectives.

(285 words, band 9)

Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration.
for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Many people choose their jobs based on the size of the salary offered.
It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather Personally, I disagree with the idea that money is the key consideration when
than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad deciding on a career, because I believe that other factors are equally important.
example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role
models. On the one hand, I agree that money is necessary in order for people to meet
their basic needs. For example, we all need money to pay for housing, food,
On the one hand, many people do achieve fame without really working for it. bills, health care, and education. Most people consider it a priority to at least
They may have inherited money from parents, married a famous or wealthy earn a salary that allows them to cover these needs and have a reasonable
person, or they may have appeared in gossip magazines or on a reality TV quality of life. If people chose their jobs based on enjoyment or other non-
programme. A good example would be Paris Hilton, who is rich and famous for financial factors, they might find it difficult to support themselves. Artists and
the wrong reasons. She spends her time attending parties and nightclubs, and musicians, for instance, are known for choosing a career path that they love, but
her behaviour promotes the idea that appearance, glamour and media profile that does not always provide them with enough money to live comfortably and
are more important than hard work and good character. The message to young raise a family.
people is that success can be achieved easily, and that school work is not
necessary. Nevertheless, I believe that other considerations are just as important as what
we earn in our jobs. Firstly, personal relationships and the atmosphere in a
On the other hand, there are at least as many celebrities whose workplace are extremely important when choosing a job. Having a good
accomplishments make them excellent role models for young people. Actors, manager or friendly colleagues, for example, can make a huge difference to
musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked workers’ levels of happiness and general quality of life. Secondly, many people’s
hard and applied themselves to develop real skills and abilities. They feelings of job satisfaction come from their professional achievements, the skills
demonstrate great effort, determination and ambition, which is required for they learn, and the position they reach, rather than the money they earn.
someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is Finally, some people choose a career because they want to help others and
the actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, who has become world famous contribute something positive to society.
through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self-made celebrity can
inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance. In conclusion, while salaries certainly affect people’s choice of profession, I do
not believe that money outweighs all other motivators.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the influence of celebrities on young people
can be positive as well as negative. (275 words, band 9)
(band 9)
Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in
attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes argued that tourists from overseas should be charged more In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational
than local residents to visit important sites and monuments. I completely opportunities. However, I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal
disagree with this idea. proportions of each gender in every university subject.

The argument in favour of higher prices for foreign tourists would be that Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply
cultural or historical attractions often depend on state subsidies to keep them unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the
going, which means that the resident population already pays money to these institution receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of
sites through the tax system. However, I believe this to be a very shortsighted males and females, it would need enough applicants of each gender. In reality,
view. Foreign tourists contribute to the economy of the host country with the many courses are more popular with one gender than the other, and it would
money they spend on a wide range of goods and services, including food, not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend
souvenirs, accommodation and travel. The governments and inhabitants of to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult to fill these courses if
every country should be happy to subsidise important tourist sites and fifty per cent of the places needed to go to males.
encourage people from the rest of the world to visit them.
Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would
If travellers realised that they would have to pay more to visit historical and be unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should
cultural attractions in a particular nation, they would perhaps decide not to go continue to select the best candidates for each course according to their
to that country on holiday. To take the UK as an example, the tourism industry qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same opportunities,
and many related jobs rely on visitors coming to the country to see places like and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve
Windsor Castle or Saint Paul’s Cathedral. These two sites charge the same good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a
price regardless of nationality, and this helps to promote the nation’s cultural course, it is surely wrong to reject her in favour of a male student with lower
heritage. If overseas tourists stopped coming due to higher prices, there would grades or fewer qualifications.
be a risk of insufficient funding for the maintenance of these important
buildings. In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and
it would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure
In conclusion, I believe that every effort should be made to attract tourists based on gender.
from overseas, and it would be counterproductive to make them pay more
than local residents. (265 words, band 9)
(269 words, band 9)
Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that
work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.
would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole. To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their
Do you agree or disagree? waste?

Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be It is true that we do not recycle enough of our household waste. Although I accept
beneficial for both the individual and society as a whole. However, I do not that new legislation to force people to recycle could help this situation, I do not
agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do unpaid work. agree that a recycling law is the only measure that governments should take.

Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, In my view, a new recycling law would be just one possible way to tackle the waste
without being given the added responsibility of working in their spare problem. Governments could make it a legal obligation for householders to
time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and teachers expect separate all waste into different bins. There could be punishments for people who
their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending fail to adhere to this law, ranging from a small fine to community service, or even
lessons every day. When young people do have some free time, we should perhaps prison sentences for repeat offenders. These measures would act as a
encourage them to enjoy it with their friends or to spend it doing sports deterrent and encourage people to obey the recycling law. As a result, the improved
and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of them behaviour of homeowners could lead to a clean, waste-free environment for
when they finish their studies. everyone.

At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from However, I believe that governments should do more than simply introduce a
obliging young people to do unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes recycling law. It might be more effective if politicians put education, rather than
against the values of a free and fair society to force a group of people to do punishment, at the centre of a recycling campaign. For example, children could be
something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment taught about recycling in schools, and homeowners could be informed about the
amongst young people, who would feel that they were being used, and environmental impact of household waste. Another tactic that governments could
parents, who would not want to be told how to raise their children. use would be to create stricter regulations for the companies that produce the
Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system. packaging for household products. Finally, money could also be spent to improve
recycling facilities and systems, so that waste is processed more effectively,
In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but regardless of whether or not people separate it correctly in the home.
in my opinion we should not make this compulsory.
In conclusion, perhaps we do need to make recycling a legal requirement, but this
(250 words, band 9) would certainly not be the only way to encourage people to dispose of their waste
more responsibly.
(279 words, band 9)
Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable. We cannot help everyone in the world that needs help, so we should only be
To what extent do you agree or disagree? concerned with our own communities and countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others present more of a challenge.
Personally, I believe that both types of hobby can be fun, and I therefore Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as
disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be there are problems in our own society. I disagree with this view because I believe
enjoyable. that we should try to help as many people as possible.

On the one hand, many people enjoy easy hobbies. One example of an activity On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow
that is easy for most people is swimming. This hobby requires very little citizens. In most communities there are people who are impoverished or
equipment, it is simple to learn, and it is inexpensive. I remember learning to disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people, for example, in
swim at my local swimming pool when I was a child, and it never felt like a even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are concerned about this problem,
demanding or challenging experience. Another hobby that I find easy and fun there are usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these
is photography. In my opinion, anyone can take interesting pictures without people. In the UK, people can help in a variety of ways, from donating clothing to
knowing too much about the technicalities of operating a camera. Despite serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our doorstep, and
being straightforward, taking photos is a satisfying activity. there are obvious ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we
should prioritise local charity.
On the other hand, difficult hobbies can sometimes be more exciting. If an
activity is more challenging, we might feel a greater sense of satisfaction when At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live
we manage to do it successfully. For example, film editing is a hobby that beyond our national borders. In some countries the problems that people face are
requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. In my case, it took me much more serious than those in our own communities, and it is often even easier
around two years before I became competent at this activity, but now I enjoy it to help. For example, when children are dying from curable diseases in African
much more than I did when I started. I believe that many hobbies give us more countries, governments and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by
pleasure when we reach a higher level of performance because the results are paying for vaccines that already exist. A small donation to an international charity
better and the feeling of achievement is greater. might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.

In conclusion, simple hobbies can be fun and relaxing, but difficult hobbies can In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national
be equally pleasurable for different reasons. boundaries should not stop us from helping those who are in need.

Note: (280 words, band 9)

Notice that we used examples as the basis of both main paragraphs.
Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will Some people believe that school children should not be given homework
have a positive impact on our lives in the near future. Others, by contrast, are by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important
worried that we are not prepared for a world in which computers are more role in the education of children.
intelligent than humans. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion. Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

People seem to be either excited or worried about the future impact of artificial
People’s opinions differ as to whether or not school children should be given
intelligence. Personally I can understand the two opposing points of view; I am
homework. While there are some strong arguments against the setting of
both fascinated by developments in artificial intelligence and apprehensive about
homework, I still believe that it is a necessary aspect of education.
its possible negative effects.
There are several reasons why people might argue that homework is an
On the one hand, the increasing intelligence of technology should bring some
unnecessary burden on children. Firstly, there is evidence to support the idea
obvious benefits. Machines are clearly able to do many jobs better than humans
that homework does nothing to improve educational outcomes. Countries
can, especially in areas that require high levels of accuracy or calculations using
such as Finland, where school children are not given homework, regularly top
large amounts of data. For example, robots are being developed that can carry out
international educational league tables and outperform nations where
surgical procedures with greater precision than a human doctor, and we already
setting homework is the norm. Secondly, many parents would agree that the
have cars that use sensors and cameras to drive themselves. Such technologies can
school day is already long enough, and leaves their children too tired to do
improve safety by reducing the likelihood of human errors. It is easy to imagine
further study when they return home. Finally, it is recognised that play time
how these developments, and many others, will steadily improve our quality of
is just as beneficial as study time from the perspective of brain development.
life.
In spite of the above arguments, I support the view that homework has an
On the other hand, I share the concerns of people who believe that artificial
important role to play in the schooling of children. The main benefit of
intelligence may harm us if we are not careful. In the short term, it is likely that we
homework is that it encourages independent learning and problem solving,
will see a rise in unemployment as workers in various industries are replaced by
as children are challenged to work through tasks alone and at their own
machines or software programs. For example, self-driving vehicles are expected to
pace. In doing so, students must apply the knowledge that they have learnt
cause redundancies in driving jobs, such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and bus
in the classroom. For example, by doing mathematics exercises at home,
drivers. In the medium term, if intelligent technologies gradually take jobs away
students consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught by their
from humans, we may find that people become deskilled and lose their sense of
teacher at school. In my view, it is important for children to develop an
purpose in life. A longer term fear is that computers become so intelligent that
independent study habit because this prepares them to work alone as adults.
they begin to make decisions without human oversight and without regard for our
well-being.
In conclusion, homework certainly has its drawbacks, but I believe that the
benefits outweigh them in the long term.
In conclusion, while intelligent machines will no doubt improve our lives in many
ways, the potential risks of such technologies should not be ignored.
(270 words, band 9)
(295 words, band 9)
In many countries, a small number of people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that governments should give financial support to
Some people believe that this is good for the country, but others think creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative
that governments should not allow salaries above a certain level. artists should be funded by alternative sources.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about whether governments should introduce a People have different views about the funding of creative artists. While some
maximum wage. While in some ways it may seem reasonable to allow people people disagree with the idea of government support for artists, I believe that
to earn as much as companies are willing to pay, I personally believe that money for art projects should come from both governments and other sources.
employee remuneration should be capped at a certain level.
Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are
There are various reasons why it might be considered beneficial to allow many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centres. In
people to be paid extremely high salaries. If companies offer excellent pay Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the
packages, they can attract the most talented people in their fields to work for docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks
them. For example, technology companies like Google are able to employ the represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the
best programmers because of the huge sums that they are willing to pay. city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists.
Furthermore, these well-paid employees are likely to be highly motivated to Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind
work hard and therefore drive their businesses successfully. In theory, this of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting
should result in a thriving economy and increased tax revenues, which means and attractive.
that paying high salaries benefits everyone.
On the other hand, I can understand the view taken by many people that artists
However, I agree with those who argue that there should be a maximum should not expect the state to fund their work. Most musicians and the majority
wage. By introducing a limit on earnings, the pay-gap between bosses and of painters make a living by performing or selling their artistic creations to fans
employees can be reduced. Currently, the difference between normal and top or collectors; they would not expect to receive any help from their governments.
salaries is huge, and this can demotivate workers who feel that the situation is Industry sponsorships can be another useful source of revenue for creative
unfair. With lower executive salaries, it might become feasible to introduce artists. For example, media companies like the mobile giant Apple are often
higher minimum wages, and everybody would be better off. One possible willing to pay huge fees to inspirational designers who work on their advertising
consequence of greater equality could be that poverty and crime rates fall campaigns, product packaging, and even the appearance of their electronic
because the general population will experience an improved standard of living. devices. Finally, some artists may be lucky enough to receive donations from
wealthy individuals.
In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be better, on balance, for
governments to set a limit on the wages of the highest earners in society. In conclusion, there are good reasons why artists should rely on alternative
sources of financial support, but in my opinion government help is sometimes
(274 words, band 9) necessary.
Many governments think that economic progress is their most important Some people think that strict punishments for driving offences are the key
goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are to reducing traffic accidents. Others, however, believe that other
equally important for a country. measures would be more effective in improving road safety.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about how governments should measure their People have differing views with regard to the question of how to make our
countries’ progress. While economic progress is of course essential, I agree roads safer. In my view, both punishments and a range of other measures can
with those who believe that other measures of progress are just as important. be used together to promote better driving habits.

There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental On the one hand, strict punishments can certainly help to encourage people to
goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high drive more safely. Penalties for dangerous drivers can act as a deterrent,
level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic meaning that people avoid repeating the same offence. There are various types
progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on of driving penalty, such as small fines, licence suspension, driver awareness
infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher courses, and even prison sentences. The aim of these punishments is to show
revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system dangerous drivers that their actions have negative consequences. As a result,
and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country’s standing on we would hope that drivers become more disciplined and alert, and that they
the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power. follow the rules more carefully.

However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as On the other hand, I believe that safe driving can be promoted in several
significant as the economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should different ways that do not punish drivers. Firstly, it is vitally important to
consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy educate people properly before they start to drive, and this could be done in
itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is often seen as a schools or even as part of an extended or more difficult driving test. Secondly,
reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. more attention could be paid to safe road design. For example, signs can be
Perhaps another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern used to warn people, speed bumps and road bends can be added to calm
country should be how well that country protects the natural environment, traffic, and speed cameras can help to deter people from driving too quickly.
and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability. Alternatively, Finally, governments or local councils could reduce road accidents by investing
the success of a nation could be measured by looking at the health, well-being in better public transport, which would mean that fewer people would need to
and happiness of its residents. travel by car.

In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country’s success, In conclusion, while punishments can help to prevent bad driving, I believe that
but social, environmental and health criteria are equally significant. other road safety measures should also be introduced.

(262 words, band 9) (269 words, band 9)

 Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route
Some people think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job
people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. straight after school.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or
People have different views about the role and function of museums. In my continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight
opinion, museums can and should be both entertaining and educational. after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

On the one hand, it can be argued that the main role of a museum is to entertain. The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons.
Museums are tourist attractions, and their aim is to exhibit a collection of Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this
interesting objects that many people will want to see. The average visitor may way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own
become bored if he or she has to read or listen to too much educational content, house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find
so museums often put more of an emphasis on enjoyment rather than learning. work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will
This type of museum is designed to be visually spectacular, and may have have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their
interactive activities or even games as part of its exhibitions. chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, some people argue that museums should focus on education. On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue
The aim of any exhibition should be to teach visitors something that they did not their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions.
previously know. Usually this means that the history behind the museum’s exhibits For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without
needs to be explained, and this can be done in various ways. Some museums having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to
employ professional guides to talk to their visitors, while other museums offer more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than
headsets so that visitors can listen to detailed commentary about the exhibition. In those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming
this way, museums can play an important role in teaching people about history, increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for
culture, science and many other aspects of life. one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a
university or college will not be able to compete.
In conclusion, it seems to me that a good museum should be able to offer an
interesting, enjoyable and educational experience so that people can have fun and For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely
learn something at the same time. to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school
level.
(253 words, band 9)
(271 words, band 9)
Some people think that all university students should study whatever Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines
they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these
subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals
and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. to suffer, while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to
humanity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
People have different views about how much choice students should have with
regard to what they can study at university. While some argue that it would be
It is true that medicines and other products are routinely tested on animals before
better for students to be forced into certain key subject areas, I believe that
they are cleared for human use. While I tend towards the viewpoint that animal
everyone should be able to study the course of their choice.
testing is morally wrong, I would have to support a limited amount of animal
experimentation for the development of medicines.
There are various reasons why people believe that universities should only
offer subjects that will be useful in the future. They may assert that university
On the one hand, there are clear ethical arguments against animal
courses like medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely
experimentation. To use a common example of this practice, laboratory mice may
to be beneficial than certain art degrees. From a personal perspective, it can be
be given an illness so that the effectiveness of a new drug can be measured.
argued that these courses provide more job opportunities, career progression,
Opponents of such research argue that humans have no right to subject animals
better salaries, and therefore an improved quality of life for students who take
to this kind of trauma, and that the lives of all creatures should be respected. They
them. On the societal level, by forcing people to choose particular university
believe that the benefits to humans do not justify the suffering caused, and that
subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the
scientists should use alternative methods of research.
economy are covered. Finally, a focus on technology in higher education could
lead to new inventions, economic growth, and greater future prosperity.
On the other hand, reliable alternatives to animal experimentation may not
always be available. Supporters of the use of animals in medical research believe
In spite of these arguments, I believe that university students should be free to
that a certain amount of suffering on the part of mice or rats can be justified if
choose their preferred areas of study. In my opinion, society will benefit more if
human lives are saved. They argue that opponents of such research might feel
our students are passionate about what they are learning. Besides, nobody can
differently if a member of their own families needed a medical treatment that had
really predict which areas of knowledge will be most useful to society in the
been developed through the use of animal experimentation. Personally, I agree
future, and it may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills
with the banning of animal testing for non-medical products, but I feel that it may
above practical or technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need
be a necessary evil where new drugs and medical procedures are concerned.
more students of art, history and philosophy than of science or technology.
In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be wrong to ban testing on animals for
In conclusion, although it might seem sensible for universities to focus only on
vital medical research until equally effective alternatives have been developed.
the most useful subjects, I personally prefer the current system in which people
have the right to study whatever they like.
(270 words, band 9)
(297 words, band 9)
Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by
to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should
straight after school. spend public money on saving these languages, while others believe that
Discuss both views and give your opinion. would be a waste of money. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

It is true that some minority languages may disappear in the near future. Although
Here's my full introduction and conclusion, as well as some ideas for the main it can be argued that governments could save money by allowing this to happen, I
body paragraphs: believe that these languages should be protected and preserved.

Introduction There are several reasons why saving minority languages could be seen as a waste
When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or of money. Firstly, if a language is only spoken by a small number of people,
continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight expensive education programmes will be needed to make sure that more people
after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university. learn it, and the state will have to pay for facilities, teachers and marketing. This
money might be better spent on other public services. Secondly, it would be much
Paragraph 1: benefits of getting a job cheaper and more efficient for countries to have just one language. Governments
The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. could cut all kinds of costs related to communicating with each minority group.
(IDEAS: start earning money, become independent, gain experience, learn skills,
get promotions, settle down earlier, afford a house, have a family) Despite the above arguments, I believe that governments should try to preserve
languages that are less widely spoken. A language is much more than simply a
Paragraph 2: benefits of higher education (my opinion) means of communication; it has a vital connection with the cultural identity of the
On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their people who speak it. If a language disappears, a whole way of life will disappear
studies. with it, and we will lose the rich cultural diversity that makes societies more
(IDEAS: some jobs require academic qualifications, better job opportunities, higher interesting. By spending money to protect minority languages, governments can
salaries, the job market is very competitive, gain knowledge, become a useful also preserve traditions, customs and behaviours that are part of a country’s
member of society) history.

Conclusion In conclusion, it may save money in the short term if we allow minority languages
For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to to disappear, but in the long term this would have an extremely negative impact
be successful in their lives if they continue their studies beyond school level. on our cultural heritage.

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In many countries today, people in cities either live alone or in small
Some universities now offer their courses on the Internet so that people can
family units, rather than in large, extended family groups.
study online. Is this a positive or negative development?
Is this a positive or negative trend?
It is true that cities are seeing a rise in smaller families and one-person
households, while the extended family is becoming a rarity. In my opinion, this It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of university
is a negative development. education. Although there are some drawbacks of Internet-based learning, I
would argue that there are far more benefits.
As families become smaller, the traditional family support network is
disappearing, and this can have a negative impact on children as they grow up. The main drawback of the trend towards online university courses is that there is
In a nuclear family or single-parent household, childcare becomes an expensive less direct interaction. Students may not have the opportunity to engage face-to-
and stressful part of daily life. Without the help of grandparents or aunts and face with their teachers, and will instead have to rely on written forms of
uncles, busy parents must rely on babysitters, nannies and after-school clubs to communication. Similarly, students who study online do not come into direct
take care of younger children, while older children may be left alone after contact with each other, and this could have a negative impact on peer support,
school and during holidays. The absence of adult family members can mean discussion and exchange of ideas. For example, whereas students on traditional
that friends, television and the Internet become the primary influences on courses can attend seminars and even discuss their subjects over coffee after
children’s behaviour. It is no surprise that the decline of the extended family lessons, online learners are restricted to chatting through website forum areas.
has been linked to a rise in psychological and behavioural problems amongst These learners may also lack the motivation and element of competition that
young people. face-to-face group work brings.

The trend towards people living alone is perhaps even more damaging because Despite the negatives mentioned above, I believe that online university courses
of the psychological effects of reduced human interaction. Individuals who live are a positive development for various reasons. Firstly, they allow learners to
on their own have nobody to talk to in person, so they cannot share problems study in a flexible way, meaning that they can work whenever and wherever is
or discuss the highs and lows of daily life. They forgo the constant stimulation convenient, and they can cover the material at their own pace. Secondly, the cost
and hustle and bustle of a large family, and are left to their own devices for of a university education can be greatly reduced, while revenues for institutions
extended periods of time. The lack of human contact in the home is necessarily may increase as more students can be taught. Finally, online learning offers open
replaced by passive distractions, such as television, video games, online chat access to anybody who is willing to study, regardless of age, location, ability and
rooms or Internet surfing. This type of existence is associated with boredom, background. For example, my uncle, who is 65 years old, has recently enrolled on
loneliness, and feelings of isolation or even alienation, all of which are factors an online MBA course in a different country, which would have been impossible in
that are known to increase the risk of mental illness. the days before Internet-based education.

In conclusion, I believe that individuals thrive when they are part of larger In conclusion, while I recognise the possible disadvantages of online learning, I
family groups, and so it is worrying that many people are choosing to live alone consider it to be a positive development overall.
or in such small family units.
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed
These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while
because of technology.
mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it
In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people
is a positive or a negative development?
make? Has this been a positive or negative development?

It is true that men are increasingly likely to take on the role of househusband,
It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication while more women than ever are the breadwinners in their families. There could
between people. Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in be several reasons for this, and I consider it to be a very positive trend.
my opinion there are both positive and negative effects.
In recent years, parents have had to adapt to various changes in our societies.
Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social Equal rights movements have made great progress, and it has become normal
life. Firstly, telephones and the Internet allow business people in different for women to gain qualifications and pursue a career. It has also become socially
countries to interact without ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like acceptable for men to stay at home and look after their children. At the same
Skype create new possibilities for relationships between students and teachers. time, the rising cost of living has meant that both marriage partners usually need
For example, a student can now take video lessons with a teacher in a different to work and save money before starting a family. Therefore, when couples have
city or country. Finally, many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make children, they may decide who works and who stays at home depending on the
new friends and find people who share common interests, and they interact personal preference of each partner, or based on which partner earns the most
through their computers rather than face to face. money.

On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation In my view, the changes described above should be seen as progress. We should
between people in different countries was much more difficult when be happy to live in a society in which men and women have equal opportunities,
communication was limited to written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, and in which women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their careers.
interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-to-face Equally, it seems only fair that men should be free to leave their jobs in order to
meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or assume childcare responsibilities if this is what they wish to do. Couples should
social contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication be left to make their own decisions about which parental role each partner
technologies can also have the result of isolating people and discouraging real takes, according to their particular circumstances and needs.
interaction. For example, many young people choose to make friends online
rather than mixing with their peers in the real world, and these ‘virtual’ In conclusion, the changing roles of men and women in the family are a result of
relationships are a poor substitute for real friendships. wider changes in society, and I believe that these developments are desirable.

In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication between (274 words, band 9)
people, but not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.

(257 words, band 9)

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in
educational tool. Others, however, believe that video games are having an order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict
adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the our individual freedom.
drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits? Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?

Many people, and children in particular, enjoy playing computer games. While It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in
I accept that these games can sometimes have a positive effect on the user, I recent years. While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy,
believe that they are more likely to have a harmful impact. I believe that the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks.

On the one hand, video games can be both entertaining and educational. There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video
Users, or gamers, are transported into virtual worlds which are often more cameras in public places. The first objection is that these cameras invade our
exciting and engaging than real-life pastimes. From an educational perspective, privacy, in the sense that we are constantly being watched by the authorities or
these games encourage imagination and creativity, as well as concentration, by private security firms. Many people find this intrusive and feel that the
logical thinking and problem solving, all of which are useful skills outside the recording of their movements is a form of state control that curtails their
gaming context. Furthermore, it has been shown that computer simulation individual freedom. The second argument against the proliferation of CCTV
games can improve users’ motor skills and help to prepare them for real-world cameras is that they are being used as an alternative to police officers patrolling
tasks, such as flying a plane. the streets. If this is indeed happening, then it is unlikely that members of the
public will feel safer.
However, I would argue that these benefits are outweighed by the drawbacks.
Gaming can be highly addictive because users are constantly given scores, new In spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, I believe that the use of video
targets and frequent rewards to keep them playing. Many children now spend cameras to monitor public areas is a positive measure. The key objective of video
hours each day trying to progress through the levels of a game or to get a surveillance is to deter criminals and to prevent crime. For example, petty
higher score than their friends. This type of addiction can have effects ranging criminals like shoplifters and pickpockets are less likely to operate in parts of
from lack of sleep to problems at school, when homework is sacrificed for a cities where they know that they are being watched. At the same time, when
few more hours on the computer or console. The rise in obesity in recent years crimes are committed, the police can use video evidence to catch and prosecute
has also been linked in part to the sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise that offenders. Therefore, in my view, video cameras offer valuable support to police
often accompany gaming addiction. officers, and they make cities safer for inhabitants, workers and visitors alike.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the potential dangers of video games are In conclusion, it seems to me that we gain more than we lose from the enhanced
more significant than the possible benefits. security that CCTV cameras bring to our cities.

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In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays
than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

In recent years it has become far more normal for people to live alone,
particularly in large cities in the developed world. In my opinion, this trend could
have both positive and negative consequences in equal measure.

The rise in one-person households can be seen as positive for both personal and
broader economic reasons. On an individual level, people who choose to live
alone may become more independent and self-reliant than those who live with
family members. A young adult who lives alone, for example, will need to learn
to cook, clean, pay bills and manage his or her budget, all of which are valuable
life skills; an increase in the number of such individuals can certainly be seen as a
positive development. From an economic perspective, the trend towards living
alone will result in greater demand for housing. This is likely to benefit the
construction industry, estate agents and a whole host of other companies that
rely on homeowners to buy their products or services.

However, the personal and economic arguments given above can be considered
from the opposite angle. Firstly, rather than the positive feeling of increased
independence, people who live alone may experience feelings of loneliness,
isolation and worry. They miss out on the emotional support and daily
conversation that family or flatmates can provide, and they must bear the
weight of all household bills and responsibilities; in this sense, perhaps the trend
towards living alone is a negative one. Secondly, from the financial point of view,
a rise in demand for housing is likely to push up property prices and rents. While
this may benefit some businesses, the general population, including those who
live alone, will be faced with rising living costs.

In conclusion, the increase in one-person households will have both beneficial

and detrimental effects on individuals and on the economy.

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 In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between
equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can
There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need
achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal
music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the
achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according
international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?
to their individual merits.
What is your view of the relationship between equality and personal success?
In my opinion, an egalitarian society is one in which everyone has the same rights and
It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world.
the same opportunities. I completely agree that people can achieve more in this kind
Music is a vital part of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would
of society.
argue that traditional music is more important than modern, international
music.
Education is an important factor with regard to personal success in life. I believe that
all children should have access to free schooling, and higher education should be
Music is something that accompanies all of us throughout our lives. As children,
either free or affordable for all those who chose to pursue a university degree. In a
we are taught songs by our parents and teachers as a means of learning
society without free schooling or affordable higher education, only children and
language, or simply as a form of enjoyment. Children delight in singing with
young adults from wealthier families would have access to the best learning
others, and it would appear that the act of singing in a group creates a
opportunities, and they would therefore be better prepared for the job market. This
connection between participants, regardless of their age. Later in life, people’s
kind of inequality would ensure the success of some but harm the prospects of
musical preferences develop, and we come to see our favourite songs as part of
others.
our life stories. Music both expresses and arouses emotions in a way that words
alone cannot. In short, it is difficult to imagine life without it.
I would argue that equal rights and opportunities are not in conflict with people’s
freedom to succeed or fail. In other words, equality does not mean that people lose
In my opinion, traditional music should be valued over the international music
their motivation to succeed, or that they are not allowed to fail. On the contrary, I
that has become so popular. International pop music is often catchy and fun, but
believe that most people would feel more motivated to work hard and reach their
it is essentially a commercial product that is marketed and sold by business
potential if they thought that they lived in a fair society. Those who did not make the
people. Traditional music, by contrast, expresses the culture, customs and
same effort would know that they had wasted their opportunity. Inequality, on the
history of a country. Traditional styles, such as ...(example)..., connect us to the
other hand, would be more likely to demotivate people because they would know
past and form part of our cultural identity. It would be a real pity if pop music
that the odds of success were stacked in favour of those from privileged backgrounds.
became so predominant that these national styles disappeared.
In conclusion, it seems to me that there is a positive relationship between equality
In conclusion, music is a necessary part of human existence, and I believe that
and personal success.
traditional music should be given more importance than international music.
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Note:
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it seems strange to me to imply that "egalitarian/equality" is the opposite of "free to
succeed or fail". Anyway, I hope you still find the essay useful.
More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but
city life can be extremely difficult. Explain some of the difficulties of living Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment.
in a city. How can governments make urban life better for everyone? What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual
people do?
Cities are often seen as places of opportunity, but there are also some major
drawbacks of living in a large metropolis. In my opinion, governments could Humans are responsible for a variety of environmental problems, but we can also
do much more to improve city life for the average inhabitant. take steps to reduce the damage that we are causing to the planet. This essay will
discuss environmental problems and the measures that governments and
The main problem for anyone who hopes to migrate to a large city is that the individuals can take to address these problems.
cost of living is likely to be much higher than it is in a small town or village.
Inhabitants of cities have to pay higher prices for housing, transport, and Two of the biggest threats to the environment are air pollution and waste. Gas
even food. Another issue is that urban areas tend to suffer from social emissions from factories and exhaust fumes from vehicles lead to global warming,
problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with rural which may have a devastating effect on the planet in the future. As the human
areas. Furthermore, the air quality in cities is often poor, due to pollution population increases, we are also producing ever greater quantities of waste, which
from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usually contaminates the earth and pollutes rivers and oceans.
overcrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful.
Governments could certainly make more effort to reduce air pollution. They could
However, there are various steps that governments could take to tackle these introduce laws to limit emissions from factories or to force companies to use
problems. Firstly, they could invest money in the building of affordable or renewable energy from solar, wind or water power. They could also impose ‘green
social housing to reduce the cost of living. Secondly, politicians have the taxes’ on drivers and airline companies. In this way, people would be encouraged to
power to ban vehicles from city centres and promote the use of cleaner use public transport and to take fewer flights abroad, therefore reducing emissions.
public transport, which would help to reduce both air pollution and traffic
congestion. In London, for example, the introduction of a congestion charge Individuals should also take responsibility for the impact they have on the
for drivers has helped to curb the traffic problem. A third option would be to environment. They can take public transport rather than driving, choose products
develop provincial towns and rural areas, by moving industry and jobs to with less packaging, and recycle as much as possible. Most supermarkets now
those regions, in order to reduce the pressure on major cities. provide reusable bags for shoppers as well as ‘banks’ for recycling glass, plastic and
paper in their car parks. By reusing and recycling, we can help to reduce waste.
In conclusion, governments could certainly implement a range of measures to
enhance the quality of life for all city residents. In conclusion, both national governments and individuals must play their part in
looking after the environment.
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In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their children to do
will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children?
be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations. What consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

It is true that people in industrialised nations can expect to live longer than ever
before. Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In
trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems. my opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative
long-term consequences.
As people live longer and the populations of developed countries grow older,
several related problems can be anticipated. The main issue is that there will If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain
obviously be more people of retirement age who will be eligible to receive a amount of discipline is necessary. Having worked with children myself, I have learnt
pension. The proportion of younger, working adults will be smaller, and that clear expectations and boundaries are necessary, and it is important to be able to
governments will therefore receive less money in taxes in relation to the size of say ‘no’ to children when they misbehave or try to push against these boundaries.
the population. In other words, an ageing population will mean a greater tax This is the only way to help young people to regulate their desires and develop self-
burden for working adults. Further pressures will include a rise in the demand control. In my view, parents who do the opposite and constantly give in to their
for healthcare, and the fact young adults will increasingly have to look after children’s demands, are actually doing more harm than good. They are failing their
their elderly relatives. children rather than being kind to them.

There are several actions that governments could take to solve the problems The children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several
described above. Firstly, a simple solution would be to increase the retirement negative personality traits. The first and most obvious danger is that these children
age for working adults, perhaps from 65 to 70. Nowadays, people of this age will become self-centred adults who show little consideration for the feelings or
tend to be healthy enough to continue a productive working life. A second needs of others. One consequence of such an attitude could be that these adults are
measure would be for governments to encourage immigration in order to unable to work successfully in teams with other colleagues. A second negative trait in
increase the number of working adults who pay taxes. Finally, money from such people could be impulsiveness. A person who has never lived with any
national budgets will need to be taken from other areas and spent on vital boundaries is likely to lack the patience to carefully consider options before making
healthcare, accommodation and transport facilities for the rising numbers of decisions. This may lead, for example, to compulsive shopping, unwise financial
older citizens. decisions, or even criminal activity.

In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect
certain to arise as the populations of countries grow older. for others, and I do not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this
objective.
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Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Happiness is considered very important in life.
Why could this be? Why is it difficult to define?
Should governments give more financial support to local film industries? What factors are important in achieving happiness?
It is true that foreign films are more popular in many countries than domestically
produced films. There could be several reasons why this is the case, and I believe It is no doubt true that the majority of people would like to be happy in their
that governments should promote local film-making by subsidising the industry. lives. While the personal nature of happiness makes it difficult to describe, there
do seem to be some common needs that we all share with regard to
There are various reasons why many people find foreign films more enjoyable experiencing or achieving happiness.
than the films produced in their own countries. Firstly, the established film
industries in certain countries have huge budgets for action, special effects and Happiness is difficult to define because it means something different to each
to shoot scenes in spectacular locations. Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Avatar’ or individual person. Nobody can fully understand or experience another person’s
the James Bond films are examples of such productions, and their global appeal feelings, and we all have our own particular passions from which we take
is undeniable. Another reason why these big-budget films are so successful is pleasure. Some people, for example, derive a sense of satisfaction from earning
that they often star the most famous actors and actresses, and they are made by money or achieving success, whereas for others, health and family are much
the most accomplished producers and directors. The poor quality, low-budget more important. At the same time, a range of other feelings, from excitement to
filmmaking in many countries suffers in comparison. peacefulness, may be associated with the idea of happiness, and the same
person may therefore feel happy in a variety of different ways.
In my view, governments should support local film industries financially. In every
country, there may be talented amateur film-makers who just need to be given Although it seems almost impossible to give a precise definition of happiness,
the opportunity to prove themselves. To compete with big-budget productions most people would agree that there are some basic preconditions to achieving
from overseas, these people need money to pay for film crews, actors and a host it. Firstly, it is hard for a person to be happy if he or she does not have a safe
of other costs related to producing high-quality films. If governments did help place to live and enough food to eat. Our basic survival needs must surely be
with these costs, they would see an increase in employment in the film industry, met before we can lead a pleasant life. Secondly, the greatest joy in life is usually
income from film sales, and perhaps even a rise in tourist numbers. New found in shared experiences with family and friends, and it is rare to find a
Zealand, for example, has seen an increase in tourism related to the 'Lord of the person who is content to live in complete isolation. Other key factors could be
Rings' films, which were partly funded by government subsidies. individual freedom and a sense of purpose in life.

In conclusion, I believe that increased financial support could help to raise the In conclusion, happiness is difficult to define because it is particular to each
quality of locally made films and allow them to compete with the foreign individual, but I believe that our basic needs for shelter, food and company need
productions that currently dominate the market. to be fulfilled before we can experience it.
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