1.

Women and the family

Essay questions

The family

1. The education a child receives at home from having parents who are positive role models
is more important than the academic education a child receives at school. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
2. Some people believe in the traditional idea that the woman’s place is in the home, while
others say that idea is outdated and that women should play an increasingly important
role in the workplace of the future. What is your opinion?

3. In many countries there has been an increase in social problems involving teenagers in
recent years. Many people believe that this is due to modern lifestyles because parents
spend more and more time at work and have less time to supervise their children. To
what extent do you believe this is true? (sample essay to download)

4. People are now living longer than ever before and many old people are unable to look
after themselves. Some people believe that it is the responsibility of families to look after
the elderly, while others say governments should provide retirement homes for them
where they can be looked after properly. Discuss.

Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children. Many children do
not get as much attention from their parents as children did in the past. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? (China writing) See my sample essay for useful vocabulary.

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2. Sport and leisure

Essay questions

1. Some people believe that the government should ban dangerous sporting activities while
others think that people have the freedom do whatever sports they choose. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion Lesson on academic vocabulary including a download
of the essay
2. It is commonly thought that it is healthy for adults to maintain an outside interest in order
to relax or stay fit. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of 3 of the following
sports and pastimes:

3. *tennis *walking *visiting museums *reading *joining a club *going to a gym

4. Many people want their country to host an international sporting event. Others believe
that international sporting events bring more problems than benefits. Discuss both views
and include your opinion, supported by examples.
 5. Some people believe that competitive sports have a positive effect on children’s
education, while others believe there is no place for such sports in schools. Discuss both
points of view and give your own opinion.

6. In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money
than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in
some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? (China writing)

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3. Employment and money essay questions

Vocabulary, ideas and exercises for employment essays

For help in writing these essays and to find ideas for them, visit my employment vocabulary and
exercises page

Essay questions

1. Some people think that teenagers should do unpaid work to help society because this will
help them to be better individuals and also improve the society as a whole. To what
extent do you agree or disagree with this proposal? – lesson on how to write a balanced
essay using a 5 paragraph essay structure
2. Nowadays many jobs are more stressful and the working day is longer. What are the
reasons for this? What can employers do to help employees? - model essay with lesson
and exercises to help you write the essay

3. Some people think that only staff who worked in a company for a long time should be
promoted to a higher position. What’s your opinion? Lesson on coherence and writing
better paragraphs including a download of the essay

4. In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money
than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in
some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? sample essay with exercises and
download

5. Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed nations today.
What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of reducing the working week to thirty five
hours? sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download

6. Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile
phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best
way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do
you agree or disagree? (Focus on IELTS)
 7. In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard
this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important
for learning and taking responsibilities. Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 3)

8. Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue,
leads to a more satisfying working life.
To what extent do you agree with this view? What other things can people do in order to
have a satisfying working life?

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4. Media and advertising

Essay questions

1. Newspapers and books are outdated. Why do some people believe this? What is your
opinion? (sample essay with exercises and download)
2. Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing
companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced by advertisements?
What measures can be taken to protect them? 

3. News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers.
What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news?
Would it be better if more good news was reported? Discuss. (Cambridge IELTS 1)

4. Some people believe that the media, such as the press, TV and Internet should be more
strictly controlled. Others feel that controls should be loosened to give people freer
access to information.To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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5. Travel and transport

Essay questions

1. In cities and towns all over the world the high volume of traffic is a problem. What are
the causes of this and what actions can be taken to solve this problem? : lesson with
model IELTS essay and advice on essay structure, choice of vocabulary and finding ideas
for the essay.
2. It is said that travel broadens the mind. What can we learn by travelling to other
countries? Should we first explore our own countries? Discuss.
 3. In many countries tourism is a major part of the economy, but it also causes
environmental damage and ruins the places it exploits. It is argued that tourists should
pay an additional tax to compensate for this damage. Do you agree?

4. In the modern world car ownership is regarded as a right. However, some argue that
governments should try to reduce the number of cars on the road by improving public
transport, as the growing number of cars on the road causes traffic congestion and
pollution. Discuss

5. Young drivers are careless and overconfident, and too many are killed in accidents. To
eliminate this problem, we could teach children the skills of safe driving while they are at
school. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (IELTS Practice
tests with answers)

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6. Science and technology

Essay questions

1. Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what
extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural
development of your society? (see my sample essay)
2. When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It
is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
(Cambridge IELTS 3)

3. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computer technology. It is used in business,

crime detection and even to fly planes. What will it be used for in future? Is this
dependence on technology a good thing or should we be suspicious of its benefits?

4. “Telecommuting” refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and
communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing
in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming
decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
(IELTS to Success)

5. In the future, we will have more and more leisure time as machines replace many of the
tasks we do at home and work. Discuss the benefits this will bring and also the problem it
will cause. (Academic writing practice)

6. We live today in an electronic information age. It is easier to be connected by technology

yet many people seem no closer to feeling happy in their lives. In what extent do you
agree or disagree. (IELTS on Track)

7. Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have
transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time
 to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (Focus
on IELTS)

8. Space exploration requires vast sums of money. Is the amount of money spent on space
research justifiable? Could the money be better spent? (see my sample essay)

9. The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and
clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Do you
agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. (see my sample essay with
commentary)

10. Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people
together. To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to
communicate with one another?

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7. Education
1. Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school curriculum
for subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children suffer as a result
of these changes. To what extent would you support or reject the idea of moving
these subjects from school curriculum? (IELTS Practice tests with answers) sample
essay with vocabulary exercise and download
2. Everyone should stay in school until the age of 18. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download
3. In the past lectures were the traditional method of  teaching large numbers of
students. Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach? Sample essay with
detailed vocabulary help and advice on structuring the essay for coherence.
4. Some people believe that exams are an inappropriate way of measuring students’
performance and should be replaced by continuous assessment. Do you agree or
disagree with this view? Sample essay with detailed advice on improving your
paragraph structure
5. Some people argue that universities should provide students with more practical
training for their future career. Should university education be more vocational or
academic. Discuss
6. In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour. What do you
think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest? (Cambridge IELTS 4)
7. Many universities charge higher fees for foreign students. Why do they do this? Do
you believe that it is fair?
8. Most university graduates earn more money than less well educated people. Some
people argue that this means they should pay the full cost of their education. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
9. Nothing is more important to a country’s future than education. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?

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8. Government
Business and finance

1. It some countries people pay different rates of tax depending on their salary, in other
countries everyone pays the same rate. Which do you believe is the best system?

2. Many people judge success solely by money and material possessions. However, success
can be achieved or measured in other ways. Discuss. (IELTS Foundation)

Politics

3. A government has various duties to its citizens, but limited resources. Should defence
spending take up a significant proportion of the national budget? Discuss.
4. One of the most pressing problems facing the world today is overpopulation. What
policies do you believe governments should adopt to address the causes and effects of
this problem? (sample essay with lesson on how to understand the question and write the
introduction)

5. Future plans which is to design prisons for learning and working, with bigger cells
containing computers that will enable study and communication, have been criticized for
trying to turn prisons into “holiday camps” and “wasting taxpayers’ money”. To what
extent do you agree or disagree? (IELTS Foundation)

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9. Globalisation
Essay questions

1. Today’s food travels thousands of miles before it reaches customers.  Why is this?  Is this
a positive or negative trend? Lesson on academic language with a download of the essay
and an exercise to help you write it yourself.
2. One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees.
The developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by taking in more
refugees. To what extent do you agree with this opinion? sample essay with advice to
download

3. If poorer nations are to develop they will need to invest in health and education. They
often do not have the resources to achieve this, so is it the duty of richer nations to
provide assistance in these areas? Explain your answer with reasons and examples.
 4. More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies
in specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine. Some people believe that
by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are stealing from poor
countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers around the
world. Give your opinion. (Academic writing practice)

5. Differences between countries become less evident each year. Nowadays, all over the
world people share the same fashions, advertising, brands, eating habits and TV channels.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

6. Most countries spend a large amount of money in weapons to defend themselves though
they are not at war. They should spend money to help the citizens in poor and
disadvantaged countries. Discuss. (China writing)

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10. Environment and housing

Essay questions

1. The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? (China writing) sample essay with vocabulary
exercises and download
2. Some people prefer to live in a house, while others think that there are more advantages
living in an apartment. sample essay with vocabulary exercises and download

3. In recent years, farming practice has changed to include methods such as factory farming and the use of technology to
improve crops. Some people believe these developments are necessary, while others regard them as dangerous and
advocate a return to more traditional farming methods. Discuss both points of view and give your own opinion. Sample
essay to download with advice on how to structure the essay.
4. In many countries there is a shortage of housing due to a growing population. Some people argue that new towns should
be built in the countryside, others argue for the regeneration of cities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the
building new towns in the countryside?
5. The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it
is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from
constantly buying more up to date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree
with this statement?

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11. Health
Essay questions
 1. Recent research shows that the consumption of junk food is a major factor in poor diet
and this is detrimental to health. Some people believe that better health education is the
answer to this problem but others disagree. What is your opinion? – sample essay and
tutorial
2. “Prevention is better than cure”. Out of a country’s health budget, a large proportion
should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative
measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Cambridge
IELTS 2)

3. Most developed countries spend a large proportion of their heath budgets on expensive
medical technology and procedures. This money should be spent instead on health
education to keep people well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (IELTS on
Track)

4. The quality of health care a person receives should not depend on the size of their bank
balance. The government is responsible for providing a high level of heath care for all its
citizens. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (Reading and Writing module)

5. Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at
best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous. To what extent
do you agree or disagree? (IELTS Foundation)

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12. Language and culture

Sample essay questions

Language and Culture

1. Many historic buildings are being destroyed or replaced. What are the reasons for this?
What should be done to preserve these buildings?  ( complete lesson with essay to
download, help with essay vocabulary and 3 exercises to show you how to write the
essay)
2. Should museums and art galleries be free of charge for the general public, or should a
charge, even a voluntary charge, be levied for admittance? Discuss this issue, and give
your opinion. (see my sample essay)

3. Several languages die every year and English is becoming used more and more as a
world language. Many people feel this is a positive trend and that a world with fewer
languages promotes harmony and understanding between people. Analyze both sides of
this argument and provide your opinion. based on a recent exam question

13. Arts, music and entertainment

 1. Advances in science and technology have made great changes to lives of ordinary
people, but artists such as musicians, painters and writers are still highly valued.
What can the arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot? (Sample
essay with lesson on how to understand the question and help with structuring the
essay)
2. In recent years, people watch more  movies from overseas? What are the reasons
for this? Should the government give financial support to local cinema to produce
local films? (lesson with sample essay and help with vocabulary and ideas and
how to structure the essay)

3. Music is one of the most important art forms. What is it’s significance in the
world today? Do you believe that more modern forms of music have superseded
the more traditional forms of music?

4. One of the functions of art is to challenge the establishment. There should

therefore be no restrictions in the form of censorship on artists. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?

5. It is more important for the government to invest in projects that benefit the whole
community such as welfare programmes and infrastructure improvements than for
it to subsidise activities and institutions for the arts such as museums and art
galleries as these will only benefit a minority. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

6. Some people argue that the amount of violence shown in films and on television
has led to an increase in violent crimes in society. Do you agree with this
argument? Should the government control what is shown on television and in the
cinema?

7. Some people say that young people today do not make good use of their leisure
time and that they spend too much time inside watching television and playing
video games and that they should rather spend more time outside engaging in
physical activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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14. Crime and law

Essay questions

1. Without capital punishment (the death penalty) our lives are less secure and crimes of
violent increase. Capital punishment is essential to control violence in society. To what
extent do you agree or disagree? (Cambridge IELTS 2)
2. Tobacco and alcohol are drugs that cause addition and health problems. Should they be
made illegal? Or should all drugs be legalized? (Essay Writing)
 3. Crime is nearly always related to the environment in which it occurs. For this reason,
international laws and international law courts are unrealistic and will not succeed in
reducing crime levels in different countries. Discuss. (Insight into IELTS)

4. The only way to cut the crime rate is build more prisons and make prison sentences
longer. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

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Differences between countries become less evident each year. Nowadays, all over the world
people share the same fashions, advertising, brands, eating habits and TV channels. Do the
advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this?

It is undoubtedly the case that the world today has become a global village. One of the effects of
this is that increasingly people in all corners of the world are exposed to similar services and
products and adopt similar habits. My view is that this is largely a beneficial process and in this
essay I will explain why.

The first point to make is that there are some downsides to this process of cultural globalisation,
but these are relatively minor. The most significant of these disadvantages is that it can weaken
national culture and traditions. For example, if people watch films and television programmes
produced in the United States, sometimes they adopt aspects of the lifestyle of the American
characters they see on television. Typically, however, this only affects minor details such as
clothing and does not seriously threaten national identity.

When we turn to the other side of the argument, there are two major points to make in favour of
this process. The first of these is that the more we share habits, products and services, the better
we understand each other and this reduces prejudice against other nations. The other point relates
to modernity. It is a sign of progress in a society that people no longer are restricted to brands
and advertisements from their own society but are able to access more international goods. If, for
example, there were unable to drink Coca Cola or wear Nike, then that would mean their society
was not part of the international community.

In conclusion, I understand the point of view of people who worry about cultural globalisation
because it is a threat to national traditions. However, this is outweighed by its positive impact on
international understanding and the fact that it represents progress within a society.

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One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees. The
developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by taking in more refugees. To
what extent do you agree with this opinion?
There is little doubt that the issue of refugees is a global problem. While it most immediately
affects developing nations, there is a strong argument that industrialised countries should help by
allowing higher levels of immigration. This is certainly not an easy issue though, because
historically  immigration has caused as many problems as it solves.

The principal reason why developed nations should help is that we now live in a global village
and it is no longer possible to ignore what happens on the other side of the world. This is partly a
moral issue and partly because it is in the economic self-interest of industrialised nations to
ensure that developing nations continue to progress. A practical way of achieving this would be
to accept more immigration, particularly when it is caused by natural disasters or civil war.

I would argue, however, that this is not an open and shut case, as there is a negative side to mass
immigration. The multi-cultural experiments in Europe have not always succeeded and
immigrants have often suffered badly from racism and other prejudices. On a practical level,
refugees are sometimes better off receiving aid in their native land than begging on the streets in
a country where they cannot speak the language. Many so-called economic migrants end up
returning to the country of their birth.

My personal conclusion is that developed nations should agree to take in more refugees, but only
in restricted numbers and in extreme cases. I also believe that there needs to be a global effort to
provide aid to solve the problems that cause emigration. Prevention is as they say better than
cure.

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Some people believe that exams are an inappropriate way of measuring students’
performance and should be replaced by continuous assessment. Do you agree or disagree
with this view?

There is some dispute whether the best method of assessing students is to use examinations or
some form of continuous assessment. This is a complex issue and my belief is that there is
probably no one method that applies to all educational systems.

There are three major arguments in favour of retaining exams. One is that they provide a clear
and objective measure of what students have learned, whereas any form of continuous
assessment is probably going to be far more subjective. An additional point is that testing tends
to be an excellent way of motivating learners to study harder and to reward the students who do
best. Likewise, examinations test the ability of students to work under pressure, and this is a vital
life skill for their later careers.

On the other hand, there are still occasions when it can be better to relieve the students of exam
pressure and to measure their abilities through continuous assessment. This is particularly the
case in lower age groups where young children can be affected negatively by stress and under-
perform in exams. It can also be argued that continuous assessment is a more effective way of
testing some subjects such as design and technology, which are more creative and less academic.
A further point is that often continuous assessment can allow teachers to reward students who
work hard, but who may be less able and not do well in more formal testing.
In conclusion, while continuous assessment may be fairer in some contexts, there are still times
when traditional exams may be more appropriate. A possible compromise would be to use both
forms of testing together, allowing teachers to reward both ability and hard work.

(280 words)

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In the past lectures were the traditional method of teaching large numbers of students.
Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of this new approach?

As we move into the twenty-first century, technology is affecting many different areas of life and
education is no exception. Indeed, in some institutions traditional forms of education have been
revolutionised by new technology to the extent that the lecture is no longer the main method of
delivery. While there are a variety of benefits to this new approach, there are also
significant drawbacks.

Perhaps the greatest bonus of the introduction of technology is the flexibility it offers. This is
evident in two different ways. Firstly, it is now no longer essential for students to be present
in the lecture theatre for their courses. This means that part-time courses for adults who are in
employment and distance learning courses for people in other countries are now much more
practical. Another area of flexibility is of course that the lecturer and tutor are able to
use Moodles, interactive whiteboards and other tools to deliver their courses in a more
stimulating way to large numbers of students.

Not everything, however, about the introduction of this new technology into education is
positive. One major problem is that not all students are comfortable with using technology, even
if they are part of the digital native generation. This is a serious issue as they may suffer from
their lack of technological skills. Another related issue is that education is a human activity and it
works best with as much human interaction as possible. Impersonal technology cannot replace
the human contact found in traditional face-to-face tutorials and seminars.

As we have seen, there are major benefits to the introduction of technology into education, not
least because it enables modern forms of education such as distance learning courses. This is
balanced, however, by the fact that it can be too impersonal for some and disadvantages
others for their lack of technological skills.

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Everyone should stay in school until the age of eighteen. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

It is often said that if you want to succeed in life, you need a proper education. While there may
be arguments for making school compulsory until the age of 18 , I disagree that this should apply
to everyone.

Perhaps the strongest reason for not leaving school early is that it prepares you for your working
career. If you leave school early with only a basic education, you are unlikely to be able to find
any skilled work. Indeed, the education you receive between the ages of 16 and 18 is crucial for
anyone who does not want a lifetime of unskilled work in a factory.

Another compelling reason for remaining in school until 18 is that school provides moral and
social education too. This is particularly important for  people between 16 and 18 who have
many temptations and benefit from the organised framework that school provides. Young people
who stay in school until the age of 18 tend to be more responsible and help build a stronger
society.

There are, however, equally strong arguments against making school compulsory until the age of
18. One such argument is that not everyone is academic and that some people benefit more from
vocational training. For instance, someone who wants to become a car mechanic may find better
training and more satisfaction in an apprentice scheme. Another related argument is that, in
today’s world, young people are maturing ever more quickly and are able to make their own life
decisions by the age of 16.

To my mind, everyone should be encouraged to stay in school until 18 both for social and career
reasons. However, I believe it would be a mistake to make this compulsory bearing in mind that
different people have different needs and abilities and the possibilities of other forms of
vocational training.

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Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school curriculum for
subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children suffer as a result of these
changes. To what extent would you support or reject the idea of moving these subjects from
school curriculum?

In recent times there has been much debate about which subjects should be included on the
school curriculum. One particular issue is whether the introduction of more modern subjects
such as IT for more traditional subjects such as art and music disadvantages the pupils. I believe
that this is a difficult question and different solutions need to be found for primary and secondary
schools.

There is one major argument in favour of replacing art, music and sport on the curriculum with
subjects like IT. This is that the purpose of school is to prepare children for their working life
after school, so the subjects on the curriculum should be relevant to their potential careers. From
this point of view, IT is much relevant to schoolchildren as they need to be computer literate if
they want to survive in the workplace. For example, it is easy to see that word processing and
programming skills will impress employers more than the ability to run fast or draw well.

There are also, however, strong arguments for retaining the more traditional subjects as part of
the curriculum. One significant counter-argument is that the purpose of education is not just to
prepare children for later careers, but also to develop their all round “culture”. It is important that
children leave school with some knowledge of art, music and sport as all these are all help
develop aspects of young people’s personalities.

My own personal point of view is that there is merit in both sides of the debate and that all
children should study some IT, art music and sport at least at primary school. At secondary
school, however, children should be offered a choice between these subjects so that they can
continue to study them if they wish.

Read more: IELTS curriculum essay | http://www.dcielts.com/ielts-essays/sample-essay-school-

curriculum/#ixzz3oQqXJwfB
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school curriculum for
subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children suffer as a result of these
changes. To what extent would you support or reject the idea of moving these subjects from
school curriculum?

In recent times there has been much debate about which subjects should be included on the
school curriculum. One particular issue is whether the introduction of more modern subjects
such as IT for more traditional subjects such as art and music disadvantages the pupils. I believe
that this is a difficult question and different solutions need to be found for primary and secondary
schools.

There is one major argument in favour of replacing art, music and sport on the curriculum with
subjects like IT. This is that the purpose of school is to prepare children for their working life
after school, so the subjects on the curriculum should be relevant to their potential careers. From
this point of view, IT is much relevant to schoolchildren as they need to be computer literate if
they want to survive in the workplace. For example, it is easy to see that word processing and
programming skills will impress employers more than the ability to run fast or draw well.

There are also, however, strong arguments for retaining the more traditional subjects as part of
the curriculum. One significant counter-argument is that the purpose of education is not just to
prepare children for later careers, but also to develop their all round “culture”. It is important that
children leave school with some knowledge of art, music and sport as all these are all help
develop aspects of young people’s personalities.

My own personal point of view is that there is merit in both sides of the debate and that all
children should study some IT, art music and sport at least at primary school. At secondary
school, however, children should be offered a choice between these subjects so that they can
continue to study them if they wish.

Read more: IELTS curriculum essay | http://www.dcielts.com/ielts-essays/sample-essay-school-

curriculum/#ixzz3oQqXJwfB
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives