IELTS Essay

Sample Questions
 1. Opinion Essays

We live in a world of technology these days. While the internet brings with it clear
advantages, the problems in terms of control and security of information outweighs the
advantages. To what extent do you agree?

“Prevention is better than cure”. Researching and treating diseases is too costly so it would
be better to invest in preventative measures. To what extent do you agree?

With the increased global demand in oil and gas, undiscovered areas of the world should
be opened up to access more resource. To what extent do you agree?

Scientist and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than
musicians and artists. To what extent do you agree?

In many countries today, parents are able to choose to send their children to single-sex
schools or co-educational schools. Some people think that children going to single-sex
schools have disadvantages later in life. To what extent do you agree?

Some people think that success is the best measure for intelligence, while others think that
intelligence can be measured in other ways. What is your opinion?

Some people believe that men and women are equal and so women should be able to do
any job they want. Others feel that men and women are not equal and therefore there are
certain jobs which are not suitable for women. What is your opinion?

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species
while others think it is a waste of valuable money. What is your opinion?
 Model answer:

Opinion essay, band 9

Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have had a huge
negative impact on both individuals and society. To what extent do you agree?

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

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

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

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

Many believe living in big cities comes with more advantages than residing in the
countryside. Do you agree or disagree with this?

The shopping habits of people depend more on their age group than on any other factors.
Do you agree or disagree with this?

More and more children and minors are becoming overweight in developed nations. This is
a major problem for most wealthy countries. Explain the causes and impacts of this issue.

The internet is a great invention that brings a host of advantages to the world population.
However, there are several issues in terms of security and control of personal data. Do you
agree or disagree with this?

Advertising prevents originality in people and makes them look the same and do the same.
Do you agree or disagree with this?

Parents today often tend to organise extra classes on weekends or even after school. Do
you believe this is at all useful? Or, do you think the education provided in school is
sufficient?

Some people believe that capital punishment should be done away with. Do you agree or
disagree with this?

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while
others believe it is better to deal with them nationally. Discuss both sides and give
opinions.

Some people think that exercise is the key to health while others feel that having a
balanced diet is more important. Discuss both sides and give opinions.

Some people think that the internet has brought people closer together while others think
that people and communities are becoming more isolated. Discuss both sides and give
opinions.
 Model answer:

Discussion essay, band 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The massive movement of people from agricultural areas to cities in search of employment
can lead to serious problems in both places. What are the problems, and how can these be
solved?

In many developing countries there is a problem with declining quality of air and water
from both industry and construction. What measures could be taken to prevent this?

With the development of social media, more and more youngsters are being allowed
unsupervised access to the internet in order to meet and chat with friends which can lead
to potentially dangerous situations. What solutions can you suggest to deal with this
problem?

Overpopulation in many major urban centers around the world is a major problem. What
are the causes of this? How can this problem be solved?

More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the
endangered list. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve this problem?

Many small, local shops are closing as they are unable to complete with large supermarkets
in the area. How does this effect local communities? How could this situation be improved?

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own
poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What
solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?
 Model answer:

Solution essay, band 9

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

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

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

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

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

International tourism has greatly benefited many places. However, there have been major
concerns about its impact on the local environment and inhabitants. Do the negative
impacts of international tourism outweigh the benefits?

Some countries have recently passed laws to restrict the daily working hours of employees.
Explain whether this will have a positive or negative impact.

More and more people today are visiting extreme places such as Antarctica or the Sahara
desert. What are the advantages or disadvantages of such travels?

Social media is gradually replacing in-person face-to-face contact with many people
worldwide. Do the benefits of social media outweigh the disadvantages?

Some countries allow old people to work at any age they want. Do the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages?

New technologies have changed the way children spend their free time. Do you think the
advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to
university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Some people believe that it would be better for large companies and industry to move to
regional areas outside large urban centers. Do you think the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages?

With the rise of e-books comes the decline in paper books. Some people see this as a good
step forward while others do not. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this
trend?

There seems to be an increasing trend towards assessing students through exams rather
than continual assessment. What are the advantages and disadvantages of exams as a
form of assessment?
 Model answer:

Advantage or disadvantage essay, band 9

The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent

language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only
language to be spoken globally. What are the advantages and disadvantages to
having one language in the world?

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

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

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

In conclusion, while there are plus points to having one global language, too much would be
lost as a result. Maintaining local languages and cultures should be prioritised to ensure a rich
world heritage for future generations.
 5. Direct Question Essays

Shopping used to be a routine domestic task in the past. However, today, it has become
more of a hobby. Is this a positive trend?

News play an important part of most people’s lives. Why is news so important to people?
Why is so much news dedicated to bad news? Should the news focus on good news
instead?

Most people agree that money cannot buy happiness. Why is happiness difficult to define?
How can people achieve happiness?

Success is often measured by wealth and material belongings. Do you think that wealth is
the best measure of success? What makes a successful person?

The internet is a great course of information and has opened up opportunities for people to
learn all over the world. Is all information reliable on the internet? What could be done to
control information online?

Art and music are considered some of the fundamental elements of all societies. Do you
think art and music still have a place in today’s modern world of technology? Should
children spend more time learning art and music at school?

It is often said “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. Do you think people should adapt
and accept the culture of the country they are visiting. Do you think it is possible to learn a
culture without learning the language?
 Model answer:

Direct question essay, band 9

Some people think that money is one of the most essential factors in promoting
happiness. Do you think people can be happy without much money?
What other factors contribute towards happiness?

Money is considered by many people to be one of the most important contributing factors
towards happiness. In my opinion, it is possible for people to be happy even if they have little
money and other aspects of life can play a more vital role in creating happiness.

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

One way that people can gain happiness is through their work. For instance, a doctor doing
volunteer work in underdeveloped countries may have very little money but the reward of
helping people and doing the job they are good at, brings happiness in itself. In other words,
happiness can be found by using skills that people are trained for and through job satisfaction.
Finally, another factor influencing happiness is having supportive and loving people in one's
life. While money may bring the opportunities to enjoy pleasures, few people would enjoy them
on their own. Being surrounded by a loving and caring family is considered by most people to
be more valuable than any amount of money.

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