Writing Section – Task 2

How to Write an IELTS Essay

On this page you will find some guidance on how you should write an IELTS essay.
This is just one essay, so it is important to analyze model answers for other IELTS essays because there are
different essay types, and these will require different ways to answer them.

However, as you will see from the guidance on this page, they can all follow the same basic structure.

How do I Write an IELTS Essay?

In order to answer this, let’s first look at a sample question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT),
for example the World Wide Web and communication by email. However, future developments in IT
are likely to have more negative effects than positive.

To what extent do you agree with this view?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

An IELTS essay is structured like any other essay; you just need to make it shorter. There are three key elements:

1. Introduction
2. Body Paragraphs
3. Conclusion

We will look at each of these in turn, using the essay question above as an example.

1) Introduction
You should keep your introduction for the IELTS essay short. Remember you only have 40 minutes to write the
essay, and some of this time needs to be spent planning. Therefore, you need to be able to write your introduction
fairly quickly so you can start writing your body paragraphs.

You should do just two things:

 State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)
 Say what you are going to write about

Here is an example introduction for the above essay question about IT:

The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many
advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, it
can be argued that future IT developments may produce more negative effects than positive ones.
As you can see, the first sentence makes sure it refers to the topic (IT) and uses facts about IT taken from the
question. Note that these are paraphrased - you must not copy from the rubric!

The second part then clearly sets out what the essay will be about and confirms the writers opinion (some
questions may not ask for your opinion, but this one does).

2) Body Paragraphs
For an IELTS essay, you should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.

For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, followed by supporting sentences.
Let’s look at the first paragraph for the essay about IT. The essay is about the benefits and drawbacks of IT, so
these will need to be discussed in separate paragraphs.

Here is the first body paragraph:

To begin with, these developments have brought many benefits to our lives. Email has made communication,
especially abroad, much simpler and faster, resulting in numerous benefits for education, commerce and
business. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now
available to us. It is evident that this has made life far easier and more convenient for large numbers of people.

The first sentence in bold (the topic sentence) tells us what the paragraph is about, and there are two supporting
ideas, which are underlined.
Most of the essay will focus on the negative aspects of IT, as the writer says there are more negative effects in the
introduction. So the next two paragraphs are about these.

The topic sentence in the next paragraph therefore tells us we are changing the focus to the negative points:

Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, several people feel
that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of communication such as letter writing,
telephone and face-to-face conversation. Moreover, with the ever increasing use of information technology these
negative elements are likely to increase in the future.

The final body paragraph gives the last negative effect:

In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and control. This has led
to various concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and viruses. This kind of problem might
even deteriorate in the future at least until more regulated systems are set up.

3) Conclusion
The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:

 Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)
 Give some thoughts about the future

Here is an example:

In conclusion, developments in IT have brought countless benefits, yet I believe developments relating to new
technology in the future are likely to produce countless negative effects that needs to be addressed very carefully.

Comments
The IELTS essay introduction talks in general about the increasing use of IT, thus introducing the topic well. The
thesis then clearly sets out the writers opinion.
The following paragraph mentions the present benefits of these developments, but the opening sentence in the
third paragraph is a qualifying statement (Nevertheless, not all the effects...), so the writer can now focus on the
negative elements.

The fourth paragraph provides two other negative examples (lack of regulation, viruses). Both paragraphs
suggest that these problems will continue in the future.

The essay concludes with a clear opinion that agrees with the statement.

Overall, it is a well-balanced text that mentions the present situation (...this has made life...) but importantly, also
refers to the future of IT (...likely to increase..., might deteriorate...).

Lesson 1: Identifying the topic & task

Identify the Topic
In the writing for task 2, one of the first things you need to do is identify the topic of the essay.

If you write about the wrong topic or go off topic when you write your answer, this is likely to substantially
reduce your band score.

How do I identify the topic?

Remember, in IELTS writing, you are usually presented with some issue or problem that is currently affecting
society and you need to discuss it.

So you need to read the question carefully and identify what the issue is. You will normally only be looking for
one or two key words.

Have a look at the following question. What is the issue?

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions.

You should have identified teenage crime as the topic.

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
What if I identified ‘crime’ as the topic?

Your essay would be wrong if you wrote about crime generally. When you have a topic, it may require you to talk
about a particular area, group of people or place.

In this case, the question specifically wants you to address the issue of TEENAGE crime.

When you identify the topic, always look carefully to see if it is being narrowed down to a particular area that you
need to focus on.

Identify the Task

Once you have identified the topic for your essay, you need to identify the task.
The ‘task’ is the part of the question that tells you what you have to do to answer it.

This is one of the most important things you will have to do when you analyze the essay question because 25% of
your grade for the essay is based on ‘Task Response’ - how you have responded to the task.

How do I identify the task?

In order to grade your task response, the examiner will be looking to see if you have answered the question. If
you have only partially answered the question, this will decrease your grade for this criteria.

Let’s look at the same essay question we looked at in lesson 1 when you identified the topic:

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions.

In the previous lesson, we identified the topic for this question as ‘teenage crime’.

The task - or ‘what you have to do’ - is usually at the end of the prompt. As you can see, you are being told to
‘Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions’.

It’s very common in task 2 IELTS essay questions to get asked to do two things, and this question is a good
example of this:

1. Why teenage crime has increased

2. Ways to solve this problem

You MUST discuss both those things to ensure you have fully answered the question and you must write roughly
equal amounts about each part.

Doing any of the following things will reduce your score for task response, and hence may reduce your overall
score:

1. Only writing about reasons or only solutions

2. Writing most of your essay about reasons and only a small part on solutions (or visa versa)
3. Writing about the reasons and solutions for crime in general, and not referring to teenage crime (the topic)
4. Writing about neither reasons nor solutions

This is why it is so important to spend some time at the beginning making sure you identify the task so that you
know what you have to write about.

A Common Mistake

It is a common mistake for students to rush at the beginning to start writing as they are worried about not
finishing, and then write about the wrong thing.

For example, when you have finished identifying the task, you will brainstorm your ideas. You may come up with
reasons for an increase in crime such as ‘lack of parental supervision’ and ‘boredom’.

However, I have seen students come up with problems of teenage crime, such as ‘more young people being put
in prison' and ‘stress for their parents'.
This particular task asks you to write about ‘reasons’, not ‘problems’ (though being asked to write about
'problems and solutions' is common).

So if you do this you will not be answering the question. This comes from rushing and not taking enough time to
identify the task properly.

Other Question Types

The previous question was fairly easy, so to identify the task was hopefully not too difficult. Some questions,
though, will take more thought in order to identify what you need to write about.

Here is another example:

Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour. Therefore, working
hours should be reduced.
To what extent do you agree?

Again, look to the end of the prompt to identify the task.

You have to say if you agree or disagree with working hours being reduced, or, in other words, automation
(machines) taking over from some human’s duties.

You must also say how much you agree or disagree ("to what extent").
Let’s assume you want to look at both sides of the issue. You therefore need to discuss the reasons why you
agree, and the reasons why you disagree. Or put another way:

1. The advantages of reducing working hours

2. The disadvantages of reducing working hours

And of course in the introduction or conclusion you need to make it clear what your opinion is.

If you do all of these things then you will have answered all parts of the prompt. If you find more reasons to agree
than disagree, then you can write more about this side of the argument, or visa versa.

Lesson 2: Brainstorming and Planning

Brainstorming

Once you have analyzed the question in the IELTS test you need to brainstorm some ideas to include in your
answer.

Let’s look at the same question we looked at in the first two lessons:

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions.

Brainstorming is an important part of the planning process. In order to get a good score it will not be enough just
to put a list of ideas - you need to extend and explain those ideas.
If you look at the IELTS prompt, it says this:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
So you need to support your ideas using reasons and examples.

Developing Focus Questions

For this question, you need to write about reasons for the increase in teenage crime and solutions.

In order to make sure you fully answer the question it is a good ideas to develop some focus questions i.e.
questions that will help you focus on what you need to write.

These are possible focus questions for this essay question:

Focus question 1: Why has teenage crime increased?

Focus question 2: What can be done about it?
You then need to brainstorm answers to these questions:

Why has teenage crime increased?

 Breakdown in the nuclear family
 Lack of things to do

What can be done about it?

 Government - Provide better support for families & stricter punishments
 Individuals – take responsibility

[Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a pair of adults and their children, as
opposed to single-parent families].

Extending and Supporting your Ideas

However, you now need to think about how your are going to extend and support those ideas you have
brainstormed. In other words, you need to ask yourself further questions about each of your ideas. For example:

 Why has there been a breakdown in the nuclear family?

 What is the effect of this?
 What is a good example of it?

Answering questions like these will make sure you have fully supported and explained all your points.

For example:

Why has there been a breakdown in the nuclear family?

 high divorce rates

What is the effect of this?

 no male role model; boys go astray & may commit crime

Planning
When you have extended your main ideas, this then provides the basis for your plan.

Here is an example of the brainstormed ideas with further support, which has now become the plan for the essay:
Essay Plan
Why has teenage crime increased?

1) Breakdown in the nuclear family

 high divorce rates = no father as ‘role model’
 boys go astray, drugs & crime

2) Lack of things to do
 e.g. TV has shown nothing to do
 children see crime as entertainment

What can be done about it?

1) Govt - Provide better support for families

 e.g. more youth centres
 guidance and activities, sport

2) Parents – take responsibility

 provide loving environment, relative as role model
The essay can now be written. Here is an example essay written from the plan, with the main supporting ideas
highlighted in bold:

Over the last decade there has been a massive rise in the level of crime committed by teenagers in a numbers of
countries. It is important to establish why this has happened and to look at ways to solve the problem.

One reason is the break down in the nuclear family. The high divorce rates have meant scores of children have
been brought up in one-parent families with no father to act as a role model which is detrimental to their
development. This is particularly important for boys, who without this guidance are easily led astray by bad
influences such as drugs and crime. Another factor is the lack of things to do for the young. For example, in the
UK, various television programs about this issue have shown that teenagers hang around in the evenings with
little to do. When this happens, the boredom means they may find there own entertainment, which is often crime.

There are, however, ways to tackle these problems. Firstly, the government should provide more support for
families. They could, for instance, invest more into building and staffing youth centers which would provide
guidance through the youth workers and also enable teenagers to focus their attention on sport and other
activities. Parents should also be encouraged to take more responsibility for their children. Ultimately, the onus
is on them to ensure their children are brought up in a loving environment which would make them less likely to
turn to crime. They could, for example, find a male relative to act as a role model.

In conclusion, it is clear that there are various reasons for this rise in crime, but solutions are available. If we
begin to tackle the issue now, we may be able to prevent the situation declining further.

Words 294

A common mistake is to have lots of ideas that are not explained properly.

However, you can see that as a result of brainstorming some key ideas and making sure you have explained each
of them, you have a fully supported and well organized essay.
Lesson 3: Essay Writing Coherence
How do I Improve my Writing Coherence?

As part of the IELTS grading, you are marked on the coherency of your work.

Your work is coherent if it is easy to read and follow your ideas. 

One way to improve the coherency of your writing is to use transition words to guide the reader through what
you are saying.

Here is an example of them in use in an essay:

Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs.  Others believe
there are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university.  While some people are of the
opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to improve job prospects, others think that society and
the individual benefit in much broader ways.

It is certainly true that one of the main aims of university is to secure a better job.  To begin, the majority of
people want to improve their future career prospects.  Attending university is one of the best ways to do this as it
increases your marketable skills and your attractiveness to potential employers.  For example, in Europe, further
education is very expensive for many people, so most would not consider it if it would not provide them with a
more secure future and a higher standard of living.  Also, universities have their reputation to consider.  They
definitely want to ensure that their students are likely to receive the best jobs as this may affect future funding and
university applications. 

However, there are other benefits for individuals and society.  Firstly, the independence of living away from
home is a benefit because it helps the students develop better social skills and improve as a person.  Many
students, for instance, will have to leave their families, live in halls of residence and meet new friends.  As a
result, their maturity and confidence will grow enabling them to live more fulfilling lives.  Moreover, society
may gain from the contribution that the graduates can make to the economy.  We are living in a very competitive
world, so countries, especially developing countries, need educated people in order to compete and prosper.

To conclude, I believe that although a main aim of university education is to obtain the best job, there are clearly
further benefits.  If we continue to promote and encourage university attendance, it might lead to a better future
for everyone.

How to use the words in sentences

As you now know, transition words are used to guide a reader through your writing and to make it more coherent.
The better your writing coherence, the easier it will be to follow your arguments in your essay. 

One important point though before we go on. If you over use transitions they can make your writing look
slightly mechanical as very good writers will need to use them less as they will have the ability to cleverly guide
someone through their writing without them.
It is quite a high level skill though. So it really depends on your ability. If you are at a lower level of writing, you
should make more use of them as they will make it easy for the examiner to follow your ideas.

If you have more sophistication in your writing, you may not want to use them too much or it could affect your
style.

If you are unsure, it probably means you need to be using them! We'll now go on to look further at how some of
them are used.

Most of these transition words are used in the same way in sentences and are followed by a subject and verb.

1) Full-stop, capital letter, comma

There are many ways to improve congestion.  For example, some cities in The Netherlands have pedestrian only
city centers.

Many countries have now reduced their CO2 emissions.  As a result, there is now less pollution.

OR

2) Semi-colon, small letter, comma

There are many ways to improve congestion; for example, some cities in The Netherlands have pedestrian only
city centers.

Many countries have now reduced their CO2 emissions; as a result, there is now less pollution.

Varying Position and Use of Transition Words

However, you do not want to use these words too ‘mechanically’ so you should vary their position, and don’t
repeat the same word too often. You can vary the position with the following transitions:

1) Giving Examples

You can vary your use of ‘for example’ and ‘for instance’ by moving them to after the first phrase of the
sentence or to after the subject or verb.

There are many ways to improve congestion.  Some cities in The Netherlands, for instance, have pedestrian only
city centers.

There are many ways to improve congestion.  Some cities in The Netherlands have, for instance, pedestrian only
city centers.

2) Giving a Contrast or Result

Similarly, you can place contrast or result transitions further down the sentence:

Tokyo now has a Sky Train.  Traffic problems, as a result/therefore/as a consequence, have decreased
significantly.

These can also be joined to the previous sentence with the conjunction 'and’:
Tokyo now has a Sky Train, and, as a result/therefore/as a consequence, traffic problems have decreased
significantly.

Note: you cannot join it to another sentence without ’and’:

Tokyo now has a Sky Train, as a result, traffic problems  have decreased significantly.  - this is incorrect.

3) Listing Points

These can also be varied.  For example:

Firstly, an advantage of a new public transport system is that it will reduce traffic congestion.

Again, to improve your writing, you should vary the way you use these.  They can be changed so they are no
longer a transition but become part of the subject:

The first advantage of a new public transport system is that it will reduce traffic congestion.

This lesson has shown how you can use transitions to improve your writing coherence.

Make sure you find out more about these transitions so you know how to use them correctly, then practice using
them in your writing.

Lesson 4: IELTS Band 7 Writing

A question asked many times is how to score IELTS band 7 writing.

If you need a band 7 and you are not getting it, it is almost impossible to tell you why without seeing samples of
your writing.

So the aim of this lesson is to look more generally at what is required to get a band 7 in the writing test. If you
want to know specifically where you are going wrong, then you will need to discuss your work with an
experienced IELTS instructor.

The frustration is normally for those who are stuck at a band 6 or 6.5 but just don't seem to be able to get that 7!

It can be quite a jump to go from a 6.5 to a 7, so this lesson will explain what is required for an IELTS band 7.

We'll focus on essay writing rather than task 1, but the criteria and principals are more or less the same. There is
some clarification of some of the differences between the marking of task 1 and 2 at the end.

The Marking Criteria

To explain this, we'll begin by looking at the IELTS band descriptors for a band 7.

This is not a secret. This information is taken from the IELTS public band descriptors and is freely available from
a test centre or you will find it if you search on the internet.
You are given a band score for each of the criteria, and the ones in this table in the descriptors column are those
that are specifically needed for an IELTS band 7.

Criteria IELTS Band 7 Descriptors

 Addresses all parts of the task

 Presents a clear position throughout the response
Task Achievement  Presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to over-
generalize and/or supporting ideas may lack focus

 Logically organizes information and ideas; there is a clear progression throughout

Coherence &  Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some
Cohesion under-/over-use
 Presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

 Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision

Lexical Resource  Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
 May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling, and/or word formation

Grammatical  Uses a variety of complex structures

Range and  Produces frequent error-free sentences
Accuracy  Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

When you are graded, you will be given a score for each of these, and this will then be averaged.

So if you are getting a 6.5, that means you must not be meeting the standard required as shown in the table for one
or two of them.

For example:

 Task achievement = 7
 Coherence and Cohesion = 7
 Lexical Resource = 7
 Grammatical Range and Accuracy = 6
 Overall writing band = 6.5

As previously stated above, you'd have to show some of your writing to an experienced IELTS teacher to get
some advice on which ones you are not achieving in and to find out if it is always the same criteria.

If you find out, you can then work on this to improve your score.

We'll now just have a look at each of them in a bit more detail to highlight some common areas where you may
possibly be going wrong.

Task Achievement

Very basically, this is an assessment of whether you have fully answered the question and provided good
support for your ideas.

To address all parts of the task, you must respond to everything that is asked in the question.
To take an example, look at this question:

Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, believe
there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The task is to discuss both the opinions and to give your opinion. So, for example, if you only wrote about one of
the opinions or did not give your opinion, you will not have addressed all parts of the question so you can't get an
IELTS band 7 for task achievement.

Or if you only wrote a small amount on one of the opinions, this may not be seen as fully answering the question
either.

There is a lesson here that explains the importance of identifying the task to make sure you fully answer all parts
of the question.

You must also have a clear position throughout. So if your opinion is not clear and you seem to change it during
the essay, then this could be a problem for achieving an IELTS band 7 in this criteria.

You also need to fully extend and support your ideas. So it is not enough just to put lots of ideas down - fewer
ideas are better that are explained properly with reasons and examples.

Look at some model essays to see how a clear position is presented throughout and how only a few ideas are
presented but they are fully explained and supported.

Coherence and Cohesion

Very basically, this is how you organize and present your ideas, and how easy your work is to read.

So you will need to know how to organize an essay properly in terms of paragraphing and having ideas that
logically and clearly go from one to the next to get an IELTS band 7.

Another key point here is that you have to have a clear central topic within each paragraph.

To take a simple example, if you are writing about the advantages and disadvantages of something, then you may
want to have one paragraph about each. Each paragraph will then have a clear central topic - either advantages or
disadvantages.

If you mix them up, this may not be clear.

Again, look at some of the model essays to see how each body paragraph clearly has one central topic.

You also need a mix of cohesive devices. These are the things that join and link your ideas, sentences and
paragraphs. For example, transitions such as 'however', 'firstly', 'moreover', and other general linking words
within sentences such as 'and' and 'because'.

You will need a variety and mix of these for an IELTS band 7, and you'll need to be able to use them effectively
with some flexibility rather than mechanically.
Lexical Resource

Your lexis is basically your vocabulary, and as it says in the descriptors, you'll need to show that you know some
less common words and be able to use them precisely.

Its in the accuracy that is needed for your vocabulary that problems can often occur with regards to getting an
IELTS band 7.

As you can see, you can only make occasional errors in your word choice, word formation and spelling. This
means the majority need to be correct!

This is obviously no easy achievement and so you'll need to be a fairly skilled writer to be making only
occasional errors with your lexis.

Using lots of new words that you don't know how to use properly could make your writing worse, so be careful!
Only use words you know how to use properly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

As will be clear from the title, this one is assessing your level of grammar.

You will need to show you can use a wide range of sentence structures and have a high level of accuracy.

Just having a few complex sentences with words such as 'because', 'if' and 'although' may not be enough. You'll
need to have an awareness of some more complex structures.

Again, like the lexis, this can often be where students struggle to get an IELTS band 7. You need to have frequent
error-free sentences.

In other words, the majority of your sentences can't have grammar errors. This is not easy, so like with the lexis,
you will need to be a fairly skilled writer.

Some final tips...

This lesson then has shown you how to get an IELTS band 7 in your writing, or what is required.

Unfortunately there is no magic bullet that is suddenly going to move you up a band. But there may be things you
can improve on that will help if you think you are making errors in what what is needed in the criteria.

For example, are you always spending some time at the beginning analyzing the question carefully to make sure
you are answering all parts of it and writing a plan / outline?

If not, you may be making errors by not fully answering the question or by not organizing your essay or ideas
well.

Most of my students that I check are failing to get the majority of the sentences error-free or the majority of the
lexis correct. So this may well be where you are falling down if you are getting a 6.5.

In this case you'll need to work on improving your grammar and checking your work very carefully for
mistakes. If you have a writing teacher obviously this will help as they can check your work.
But again, planning first can help with this because if you plan then you will be able to write quicker. You will
then have more time to be more careful and more time to check your grammar and lexis whilst you write and at
the end.

Lesson 5: IELTS Essay Conclusion

For an IELTS essay conclusion, many students write too much.

It is only a short essay, so the conclusion does not need to be too long.

You should also have a formula for writing the conclusion quickly so you can focus your time on developing your
ideas and supporting them in your body paragraphs.

You should do three things in your conclusion:

1. Use a concluding phrase

2. Restate the thesis statement in different words
3. Give some personal opinions, hopes, fears, or recommendations about the future

Take a look at this essay question and introduction.

Question:

Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is increasingly seen as
an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. Blood sports should be banned.

To what extent to you agree or disagree?

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

Despite the fact that killing animals for sport is popular in modern society, it remains a contentious issue.
(thesis) It is widely believed that blood sports are cruel and uncivilized and so should be banned as soon as
possible.

In order to write the first sentence of the IELTS essay conclusion, you can paraphrase your thesis statement -
remember to use a phrase to make it clear it is a conclusion:

To conclude, it is clear that blood sports must be prohibited as no civilized society should allow the pain
and suffering of animals simply for fun.

For your final sentence, you can give some personal opinions, hopes, fears, or recommendations about the future.

It is hoped that governments around the world discuss this issue with haste and forbid this inhumane type of
sport as soon as possible.

This then, is the full IELTS essay conclusion:

To conclude, it is clear that blood sports must be prohibited as no civilized society should allow the pain
and suffering of animals simply for fun. It is hoped that governments around the world discuss this issue with
haste and forbid this inhumane type of sport as soon as possible.
Further IELTS Essay Conclusion Examples

Question:

Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there
are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Introduction:

These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university.  While some people are of the
opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to improve job prospects, others think that society and
the individual benefit in much broader ways.

Conclusion:

All in all, I believe that although a main aim of university education is to get the best job, there are clearly further
benefits.  If we continue to promote and encourage university attendance, it will lead to a better future for
individuals and society.

Lesson 6: Transitional Phrases for Essays

This lesson shows you transitional phrases for essays in order to help you present other people’s arguments in
your IELTS writing essays for part 2.

This is when you want to make it clear those arguments are NOT your own.

This lesson is aimed more at those who are wanting a band 7 or higher as this page will show you a more
sophisticated way of presenting arguments.

When you write an argumentative essay, it is likely that you will want to present two sides of an argument.

Take a look at this paragraph from an essay (which was recently posted as a model essay on this site) which is in
answer to this question:

University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The person is presenting the side of the argument about why education should not be free:

Firstly, students should be charged because education is becoming more expensive to fund as universities grow in
size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and ensure the quality of the teaching.  In
addition, students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some
of the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending university are from the middle classes.  Last
but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry,
so making university more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.

_______________________________________________
The paragraph is fine but it does look like the opinions being presented are the writers.

What if you want to make it clear that they are not your opinions, but those of someone else because you intend
to disagree with it in your next paragraph or because you don't want to make it clear which side of the argument
you agree with until the end?

The paragraph has now got some transitional phrases for essays in bold that make it clear that they are not your
arguments, but another person's:

_______________________________________________

One argument put forward in favor of charging students is that education is becoming more expensive to fund as
universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and ensure the quality of
the teaching.  In addition, it is argued that most students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so
it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending
university are from the middle classes.  Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do
manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to take
up these jobs.

_______________________________________________

The last point “Last but not least, in many countries…” has not been changed, but this would be overdoing it. It is
clear by this point that all the arguments the writer is presenting are other people’s.

In your next paragraph, you may then want to present your arguments. So you may begin your paragraph with
something like:

However, I do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. Firstly,...

Alternatively, you may want to present another paragraph with other people's ideas, that shows the opposite side
of the argument. So your second paragraph may begin:

However, some people oppose these views. Firstly, they claim that...

And then you would let the reader know in your conclusion your position on the matter.

Here are some examples of transitional phrases for essays that can be used:

 It has been argued that…

 Some people claim / argue / believe / think that…
 An argument commonly put forward is that…
 Those that support (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
 Proponents of (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
 These arguments have been criticized for several reasons...

These are just some examples. There will be some other ways.

I suggested these as band 7 and above as it is a more difficult skill to place them in your essay.

They can't just be stuck in front of an idea and used like a transition such as "Firstly,..." in the hope of getting a
band 7!
They create a certain register or tone that you are writing with so you need to make sure the rest of your essay fits
with this style.

This essay follows the pattern of presenting the first body paragraph as someone elses opinions, and the second
body paragraph as your own.

Animal Rights Essay - Model Answer

Some people believe that animals should be treated in the same way humans are and have similar rights,
whereas others think that it is more important to use them as we desire for food and medical research.

With regard to the exploitation of animals, people believe it is acceptable for several reasons. Firstly, they
think that humans are the most important beings on the planet, and everything must be done to ensure human
survival. If this means experimenting on animals so that we can fight and find cures for diseases, then this takes
priority over animal suffering. Furthermore, it is believed by some that animals do not feel pain or loss as
humans do, so if we have to kill animals for food or other uses, then this is morally acceptable.

However, the majority of people do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. To begin, it has been
shown on numerous occasions by secret filming in laboratories via animal rights groups that animals feel as
much pain as humans do, and they suffer when they are kept in cages for long periods. In addition, a substantial
amount of animal research is done for cosmetics, not to find cures for diseases, consequently this is unnecessary.
Finally, it has also been proven that humans can obtain all the nutrients and vitamins that they need from green
vegetables and fruit. Therefore, again, having to kill animals for food is not an adequate argument.

To sum up, although some people argue killing animals for research and food is ethical, I would argue there is
sufficient evidence to demonstrate that this is not the case, and, thus, steps must be taken to improve the
rights of animals.
Lesson 9: Good Paragraph Writing
This lesson will give you the basic tips on paragraph writing.

You should follow the same structure that you would for writing any paragraph when you write an IELTS
paragraph, though it may be shorter because of the limited time that you have.

This limited time and space means that you have to get your ideas across as clearly and succinctly as possible.

If you have planned well before you write, then you should be well on your way to being able to write your
paragraphs quickly and clearly.

The following has all the components of a good paragraph. 

Read it through and identify why this is.

Studying Abroad

            Studying abroad has two main benefits.  Firstly, people who study abroad can get a better
job when they return to their home country.  This is because their qualifications and experience
mean that they tend to get jobs that are higher paid, and they can also gain promotion quickly. 
Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence students can gain. For example,
students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different
cultures.  As a consequence, they will become more confident in their life and in their
relationships with others.  All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience.

The Three Parts to Good Paragraph Writing

The 'text book' structure for a paragraph is as follows:

 Topic sentence
 Supporting sentences
 Concluding sentence

1. Topic Sentence

The topic sentence states what the paragraph will be about.  It gives the topic of the paragraph, and it also
restricts the topic to one or two main ideas which can be explained fully in the space of one paragraph.  The
controlling idea is the specific area that the topic is limited to:

topic                   controlling idea

Studying abroad has two main benefits

2. Supporting Sentences

Supporting sentences explain and develop the topic sentence.  Specifically, they discuss the topic sentence by
explaining the main ideas and discussing those more fully using reasons, examples, facts, results, statistics, or
anything else that proves your ideas are true. 

The supporting sentences that explain the benefits of studying abroad are:

People get a better job when they return home (1st supporting idea)

 Better qualifications & experience mean better pay and promotion (reason)
 Now has a high standard of living (result)

 Students gain independence (2nd supporting idea)

 Students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures.
(example)
 Students will become more confident in their life and relationships (result)

3. Concluding Sentence (Optional)

A concluding sentence can be used to signal the end of the paragraph. It tells the reader the important points to
remember.  It is often a paraphrase of the topic sentence.

All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience.

Concluding sentences are optional and paragraphs often do not have them.  You won't get marked down if you do
not have a concluding sentence in IELTS, but it is a good way to add coherence to your paragraph.

Unity and Coherence

For good paragraph writing, there must also be unity and coherence.  The examiner will assess your IELTS
paragraphs on their unity and coherence, which is clearly shown in the IELTS public band descriptors under
"Coherence and Cohesion" for what is required for a band 7:

 logically organizes information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

 uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately
 presents a clear central topic within each paragraph

1. Unity

Unity means that you discuss only one main (central) topic area in a paragraph.  The area that you are going to
cover is usually introduced in the topic sentence, and your supporting sentences should only be used to develop
that. 

For the topic sentence above, you could discuss only two benefits of studying abroad.  You could not discuss
three benefits, or start discussing the disadvantages of studying abroad.  If you did, your paragraph would not
have unity.

Even if there is no specific topic sentence (more advanced writers do not always have an obvious topic sentence),
the paragraph should still have one central topic area so it retains unity.
2. Coherence

Another element of good paragraph writing is coherency. This means your paragraph is easy to understand and
read because

(a) The supporting sentences are arranged in a logical order and 

(b) The ideas are joined by appropriate transition signals.

(a) Logical Order

For example, in the paragraph about studying abroad, there are two main ideas: People who study abroad can get
a better job, and they will become more independent.   Each of these ideas is discussed, one after the other, with
examples, reasons and results to support them.  This is logical order.

(b) Transition Signals

Furthermore, the relationship between the ideas is clearly shown by using appropriate transition words and
phrases such as first of all, for instance, the result of this, another advantage,  as a consequence, all in all.    
Using such words and phrases will guide the reader through your paragraph, making it coherent and, therefore,
easy to understand.
Sample Task 2 IELTS Writing Questions
On this page you will find examples of IELTS writing questions given in the IELTS exam for Task 2.

The essay questions have been divided into common IELTS writing topics.

This way you can easily see and understand the kind of areas of knowledge you will need to know about in order
to help you do well in the test.

Some of the IELTS writing questions could of course be in more than one topic area.

Animals

Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is increasingly seen as an
uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned.

Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.

Culture

As only a small percentage of people have an interest in the Arts, government funding for this is a waste of
money. Spending this money on health and education would be far more beneficial to society.

To what extent do you agree?

______________________________

It is inevitable that as technology advances, traditional cultures will be lost. It seems that we cannot have these
two things together.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

______________________________
There are many types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country
more important and should it be preserved or is international music that is heard everywhere nowadays more
useful to a society?
Education

Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for everyone irrespective of personal
wealth.

Do you agree or disagree?

______________________________
Some people think that children's free time must include educational activities otherwise they will waste their
time.

What is your opinion?

______________________________

Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student's performance. Continual assessment such as
course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to do this.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Environment

Developed countries have created many environmental problems in the World, particularly in their contribution to
global warming.

What can be done to reduce the dangers of global warming?

______________________________

In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to
improve public transportation.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?

______________________________

Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.

What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and individuals take to tackle the
issue?

______________________________

Logging of the rain forests is a serious problem and it may lead to the extinction of animal life and human life.

Discuss.

Health

The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years.
Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend.

______________________________

Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life.

To what extent do you agree?

______________________________

Many of the medical problems that people are experiencing in today's world are due to the fact that we have a
very sedentary lifestyle.

To what extent to you agree?

______________________________

Stress is now a major problem in many countries around the world.

What are some of the factors in modern society that cause this stress, and how can we reduce it?

______________________________

Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those who are nearby. Therefore, smoking should be banned in
public places.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

______________________________

Media

Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame
an invasion into their private lives?

______________________________

These days, we are seeing an increasing amount of violence on television, and this is having a negative impact on
children's behavior.

Do you agree or disagree?

Society

Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this.

Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects it may have on society.

______________________________

Smokers have rights too, so they should be allowed to smoke in public places.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

______________________________

Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world.

What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions.

______________________________

There is an increasing trend around the world to have a small family rather than a large family.

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a small family rather than a large family?

Technology

People use computers when they work or go banking, but some argue that it will make people isolated and
decrease their social skills.

To what extent do you agree with this viewpoint?

______________________________

Some people think that computers are more of a hindrance than a help in today's society. Others believe that they
are such indispensable tools that they would not be able to live or work without them.

Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.

______________________________

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer
games.

What are the negative and positive impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad
effects?

______________________________

Do you think that modern technology, such as the internet and computers will ever replace the book or the written
word as the main source of information?

Science

Genetic engineering is an important issue in modern society. Some people think that it will improve people's lives
in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life on earth.

Discuss both opinions and give your opinion?

Model Essays
I. This IELTS sample essay tackles the subject of alternative medicine.

When you are asked whether you agree (or disagree), you can look at both sides of the argument if you want.

This shows that you have good academic skills as you are able to see both sides of the issue. It can also
sometimes be a good idea to look at both sides of the argument because it may be easier for you to brainstorm
ideas. If you just look at one side, you may run out of ideas. If you look at both, then there are more ideas to
discuss.

In this IELTS sample essay, the writer disagrees overall with the opinion presented - that alternative medicine is
ineffective and possibly dangerous.

However, in the first body paragraph the writer discusses what those who agree with this opinion think.

In the second body paragraph the writer then gives the reasons why he/she disagrees.

In other words:

Body 1 = the disadvantages of alternative medicine

Body 2 = the advantages of alternative medicine

It is then a good balanced conclusion as the writer states that they are best used together.

Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

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 with this statement?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Sample Essay Model Answer

Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many
people all over the world. I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel that both alternative and conventional
medicine can be useful.

There are several reasons why the conventional medical community is often dismissive of alternatives. Firstly,
there has been little scientific research into such medicine, so there is a scarcity of evidence to support the claims
of their supporters. Furthermore, people often try such treatment because of recommendations from friends, and
therefore come to the therapist with a very positive attitude, which may be part of the reason for the cure.
Moreover, these therapies are usually only useful for long-term, chronic conditions. Acute medical problems,
such as accidental injury, often require more conventional methods.
On the other hand, there remain strong arguments for the use of alternatives. Despite the lack of scientific proof,
there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that these therapies work. In addition, far from being dangerous,
they often have few or no side effects, so the worst outcome would be no change. One of the strongest arguments
for the effectiveness of alternative therapies in the West is that, whilst conventional medicine is available without
charge, many people are prepared to pay considerable sums for alternatives. If they were totally unhelpful, it
would be surprising if this continued.

I strongly believe that conventional medicine and alternative therapies can and should coexist. They have
different strengths, and can both be used effectively to target particular medical problems. The best situation
would be for alternative therapies to be used to support and complement conventional medicine.

(280 words)

Comments

The writer in this IELTS sample essay introduces the topic in the introductory paragraph (Alternative
medicine...) and puts forward a clear view on the issue (I am unconvinced...and feel...).

The essay has a well-balanced argument looking at both sides of the issue. The first body paragraph expresses
some doubt about alternative therapies (...little scientific research.. .only useful for long term...), but in the
second body paragraph the writer takes a different view (On the other hand...) and examines the benefits (...few
side effects).

The writer's concluding paragraph offers a strong opinion (I strongly believe...) and sums up the fact that both
types of treatment are valid today.

There is also a good range of grammatical structures (If they were totally unhelpful, it would be...), and
connectors (despite the fact, in addition, finally).
II. A second model essay for IELTS is presented here. This one tackles the subject
of advertising.

As with model essay 1, this essay is an agree / disagree essay.

In these types of essays, you are presented with one opinion:

Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society.

So your options are then:

1. Agree 100%
2. Disagree 100%
3. Partly agree

In the answer below, the writer agrees 100% with the opinion.

As you can see, the writers opinion is made clear in the thesis statement (the last sentence of the introduction).

All the body paragraphs then explain why the writer disagrees. In other words, it discusses the negative aspects
of advertising.

Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society.
 To what extent do you agree with this view?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Essay for IELTS Model Answer

The world that we live in today is dominated by advertising. Adverts are on television, on the World Wide Web,
in the street and even on our mobile phones. However, many of the strategies used to sell a product or service can
be considered immoral or unacceptable.

To begin with, the fact that we cannot escape from advertising is a significant cause for complaint. Constant
images and signs wherever we look can be very intrusive and irritating at times. Take for example advertising on
the mobile phone. With the latest technology mobile companies are now able to send advertising messages via
SMS to consumer’s phones whenever they choose. Although we expect adverts in numerous situations, it now
seems that there are very few places we can actually avoid them.

A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical is the way that it encourages people to buy
products they may not need or cannot afford. Children and young people in particular are influenced by adverts
showing the latest toys, clothing or music and this can put enormous pressure on the parents to buy these
products.
In addition, the advertising of tobacco products and alcohol has long been a controversial issue, but cigarette
adverts have only recently been banned in many countries. It is quite possible that alcohol adverts encourage
excessive consumption and underage drinking, yet restrictions have not been placed on this type of advertising in
the same way as smoking.

It is certainly true to say that advertising is an everyday feature of our lives. Therefore, people are constantly
being encouraged to buy products or services that might be too expensive, unnecessary or even unhealthy. In
conclusion, many aspects of advertising do appear to be morally wrong and are not acceptable in today's society.

(296 words)

Comments

This essay for IELTS is well organized as there are five clear paragraphs, each containing ideas that are
relevant, well expressed, and related to the topic.

Focusing on the language and structures in particular, the essay starts with an appropriate introductory
sentence. Linking words are used accurately (However, In addition, Therefore).

Phrases that signal opinions are evident (A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical. ..)
backed up by reasons (...encourages people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford) and examples
(Children and young people in particular, are influenced by adverts).

In general, many other useful phrases are used, indicating a good control of language (It is quite possible...
Many people consider. .. It is certainly true to say.. .).
III. This writing sample is about the topic of taxing car drivers in order to reduce
traffic problems.

You are asked to discuss the advantages and disavantages of introducing such a policy to tackle the issue.

This question is very clear, and it does not specifically ask you for an opinion. You just need to look at both sides
of the issue.

The logical way to answer it would be to discuss each side in a different paragraph.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to
improve public transportation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample IELTS Writing - Model Answer
Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose
heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport better. This essay will discuss the benefits
and drawbacks of such a measure.

One of the first benefits of such a measure is that the heavy taxes would discourage car owners from using their
cars because it would become very expensive to drive. This would mean that they would begin to make use of
public transport instead, thus reducing traffic problems and pollution as well. Another benefit would be that much
more use would be made of public transport if it was improved. It is often the case that public transport in cities is
very poor. For example, we often see old buses and trains that people would rather not use. High taxes would
generate enough money to make the necessary changes.

Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to such a solution. First and foremost, this would be a heavy burden on the car
drivers. At present, taxes are already high for a lot of people, and so further taxes would only mean less money at
the end of the month for most people who may have no choice but to drive every day. In addition, this type of tax
would likely be set at a fixed amount. This would mean that it would hit those with less money harder, whilst the
rich could likely afford it. It is therefore not a fair tax.

To conclude, this solution is worth considering to improve the current situation, but there are advantages and
disadvantages of introducing such a policy.

(277 words)

Comments
The topic is clearly stated in the general statement of the introduction, and the thesis tells the reader that
advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.
It is organized well, with the advantages of such a solution in the first body paragraph and the disadvantages in
the next.
Each paragraph has two ideas and they are well signaled and supported.
There are some good uses of tenses to show the writer is discussing the unreal future i.e. something that has not
happened (would discourage car owners..., would be a heavy burden...,).

IV. This model essay is about overpopulation in cities.

You specifically have to talk about the problems of overpopulation, and suggest some solutions to this problem.

 Note that this question specifically asks you what governments and individuals can do. You MUST,
therefore, write about what both of these can do in order to fully answer the question.
 Note as well that you must talk about serious problems.

The easiest way to organize a problems and solutions essay is as follows:

Body 1: Problems
Body 2: Solutions

In this essay, a separate paragraph has been written about government and individual solutions, so it is organized
as follows:

Body 1: Problems
Body 2: Solutions - Government
Body 3: Solutions - Individuals
 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.

Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these
problems.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer
Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban
areas, and both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems.

Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding and poor quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp
housing could cause significant health problems, resulting in illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Another
serious consequence of overcrowding is a rising crime rate as poor living conditions may lead young people in
particular to take desperate measures and turn to crime or drugs.

In terms of solutions, I believe the government should be largely responsible. Firstly, it is vital that the state
provides essential housing and healthcare for all its citizens. Secondly, setting up community projects to help
foster more community spirit and help keep young people off the street is a good idea. For example, youth clubs
or evening classes for teenagers would keep them occupied. Finally, more effective policing of inner city areas
would also be beneficial.

Naturally, individuals should also act responsibly to address these problems, and the motivation to do this would
hopefully arise if the measures described above are put into place by the government. This is because it will
encourage people to have more pride in their own community and improve the situation.

Therefore, it is clear that the problems caused by overpopulation in urban areas are very serious. Yet if
governments and individuals share a collective responsibility, then it may well become possible to offer some
solutions. (254 words)

V. Animal Rights Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and that they should have
the same rights as humans, while others argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various
needs, including uses for food and research.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

You are given two opposing opinions to discuss.

This is the first opinion:

Animals should not be exploited by people and they should have the same rights as humans.

This is the second opinion:

Humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and research.

In this type of essay, you must look at both sides. In other words you need to discuss the arguments FOR animal
rights and AGAINST.

You must also ensure you give YOUR opinion.

One way to organize an essay like this is to consider both opinions, then give your opinion in a final paragraph
(see model essay 4) or dedicate a whole final paragraph to your opinion (see model essay 5).

Another way to write an essay like this is to also make one of the 'for' or 'against' opinions your opinion as well.

Look at the model animal rights essay. The second body paragraph discusses the first opinion, but the topic
sentence makes it clear that this paragraph is also representing the writers opinion as well:

However, I do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny.

This now means that in two body paragraphs you have covered all three parts of the question from the animal
rights essay:

1. First opinion
2. Second opinion
3. Your opinion

The advantage of doing it this way rather than having a separate paragraph is that you do not need to come up
with new ideas for a new paragraph.

If you have a separate paragraph with your opinion you may find you cannot think of any new ideas or you may
end up repeating the same things as in your previous paragraphs.

Animal Rights Essay - Model Answer

Some people believe that animals should be treated in the same way humans are and have similar rights, whereas
others think that it is more important to use them as we desire for food and medical research. This essay will
discuss both points of view.

With regard to the exploitation of animals, people believe it is acceptable for several reasons. Firstly, they think
that humans are the most important beings on the planet, and everything must be done to ensure human survival.
If this means experimenting on animals so that we can fight and find cures for diseases, then this takes priority
over animal suffering. Furthermore, it is believed by some that animals do not feel pain or loss as humans do, so
if we have to kill animals for food or other uses, then this is morally acceptable.

However, I do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. To begin, it has been shown on numerous
occasions by secret filming in laboratories via animal rights groups that animals feel as much pain as humans do,
and they suffer when they are kept in cages for long periods. In addition, a substantial amount of animal research
is done for cosmetics, not to find cures for diseases, so this is unnecessary. Finally, it has also been proven that
humans can get all the nutrients and vitamins that they need from green vegetables and fruit. Therefore, again,
having to kill animals for food is not an adequate argument.

To sum up, although some people argue killing animals for research and food is ethical, I would argue there is
sufficient evidence to demonstrate that this is not the case, and, therefore, steps must be taken to improve the
rights of animals.

(Words 290)

VI. This IELTS writing example is on the topic of university education.

In this essay, two opposing opinions need to be discussed.

This is the first opinion:

The aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs.

This is the second opinion:

There are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society.
As the prompt suggests, you MUST talk about both sides of the issue and include your opinion.

Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there
are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Writing Example - Model Answer

These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university. While some people are of the
opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to improve job prospects, others think that society and
the individual benefit in much broader ways.

It is certainly true that one of the main aims of university is to secure a better job. The majority of people want to
improve their future career prospects and attending university is one of the best ways to do this as it increases a
person’s marketable skills and attractiveness to potential employers. In addition, further education is very
expensive for many people, so most would not consider it if it would not provide them with a more secure future
and a higher standard of living. Thus job prospects are very important.

However, there are other benefits for individuals and society. Firstly, the independence of living away from home
is a benefit because it helps the students develop better social skills and improve as a person. A case in point is
that many students will have to leave their families, live in halls of residence and meet new friends. As a result,
their maturity and confidence will grow enabling them to live more fulfilling lives. Secondly, society will gain
from the contribution that the graduates can make to the economy. We are living in a very competitive world, so
countries need educated people in order to compete and prosper.

Therefore, I believe that although a main aim of university education is to get the best job, there are clearly
further benefits. If we continue to promote and encourage university attendance, it will lead to a better future for
individuals and society.

(279 words)

Comments

The writer in this IELTS writing example has a clear thesis in the second sentence of the introduction,
establishing that two sides of this issue will be discussed (While some people are of the opinion...others think
that...).

Looking at the structure, the topic sentences make it clear when the first opinion is being discussed (It is certainly
true that one of the main aims of university is to secure a better job.) and when the writer is moving onto the
next opinion (However, there are other benefits for individuals and society.).
Connectors (To begin... Also... Firstly... Secondly) are used well to introduce each new supporting idea. Further
connectors (For example...A case in point is that...As a result...) are used to expand on these ideas.

Finally, the writer has demonstrated that they are able to use complex sentence structures (While...that...in order
to...as...), and has discussed both views and combined this with his/her opinion, thus ensuring the question has
been answered.

VII. This sample IELTS writing is on the subject of youth crime.

In this essay, you are presented with an issue and asked to discuss the 'reasons' why it is occuring and suggest
'solutions'
Crime is a topic that sometimes arises in IELTS essays and in speaking questions. Be careful to identify what
kind of crime is being referred to - this is specifically youth crime.

You need to give some reasons that it is happening and then give some solutions.

Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world.
What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample IELTS Writing - Model Answer

Over the last few decades, many cities around the world have seen alarming increases in the levels of youth
crime. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and provide some possible solutions.

The first reason is connected with the family. In order for a child to grow up in a balanced way, it is very
important that he or she is nurtured well by his or her parents. However, these days, it is often the case that
children are neglected. This may be because of the fact that many parents in cities now both have to work so are
often not around to give a child support when needed. Another factor is the increasing levels of poverty around
the world. We have seen with globalization the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and this inevitably means
that those who are poorer will have to resort to illegal means to get what others have. Of course, this will include
the children in the poorer families.

However, there are ways to tackle such problems. Firstly, one of the ways to combat the problem is to have
stricter punishments. Although, as discussed above, it can be outside factors that lead to crime, it is still important
to have severe punishments to deter teenagers from crime. All too often, because they are young, the courts are
too lenient. Parents also have to take more responsibility for their children’s actions. They too should be punished
if their children commit crime.

To sum up, several factors have led to increases in youth crime, but measures are available to tackle this problem.
(267 words)

Comments
The topic is clearly stated in the general statement of the introduction, and the thesis tells the reader that reasons
and solutions will be discussed.
I
t is organized well, with reasons for youth crime discussed in the first body paragraph and solutions in the next.
Each paragraph has two ideas and they are clearly signaled and well supported.

There are some good complex structures (In order for…, often the case that…, means that…,) and some good
examples of topic related vocabulary (nurtured…, neglected…, illegal…, severe punishments…, deter…,
commit crime…).
VIII. IELTS essays can be on a variety of topics, and this writing sample is about
reducing crime.

There are two opinions in this essay, and you must discuss each one and your opinion must also be given. In this
example, a separate body paragraph discusses the writers opinion.

Question:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however,
believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

You should write at least 250 words.

IELTS Essays - Model Answer

Crime is a serious and growing problem in most societies. Although many people believe that the best way to
tackle this is to place people in prison for longer periods, others are of the opinion that other measures will be
more effective.

There are benefits of giving offenders longer prison sentences. Firstly, spending a long time in prison provides an
opportunity for the prison services to rehabilitate a prisoner. For example, someone who has committed a serious
offence such as assault will need a long time in prison in order to be sure they can be re-educated not to re-offend.
In addition to this, longer prison sentences will act as a deterrent for someone who is thinking of committing a
crime.

However, some people argue that leaving people in prison for a long time means that they will mix with other
criminals and so their character will not improve. One alternative is community service. This gives an offender
the opportunity to give something positive back to society, and so it may improve their character. Also, the
government could focus its resources on the causes of crime, which would lead to less crime in the future.
In my opinion, it is important to look at alternative methods. Many countries have lengthy prison sentences, but
crime has continued to increase throughout the world, so it is clear that this is not completely effective. That said,
long prison sentences should remain for those who commit serious crimes such as assault or murder, as justice for
the victim and their family should take priority.

To conclude, there are good arguments for and against long sentences, so governments must continue to research
the various methods of crime reduction to ensure effective policies are in place.

(290 words)

Comments

The writer of this essay has produced a well balanced and coherent piece of writing.
They clearly answer the question. The first body paragraph is dedicated to discussing the merits of long
sentences, and the second body looks at alternative methods. Finally, the writer provides their own opinion on the
issue.
Very important for IELTS essays, each paragraph has a clear central topic which is expanded upon in the
supporting sentences.

Regarding grammar, the writer has successfully demonstrated their ability to use a mix of sentence structures,
including a variety of complex sentences (although... someone who... in order to... means that... which would...).

Ideas are coherently presented by using transition words (Firstly,... For example,... In addition to this,...
However, .... In my opinion,... To conclude,...)..

It is important in IELTS essays to have good topic related vocabulary in order to achieve a higher score, and this
is evident in this piece of work (re-offend... rehabilitate... re-educated... deterrent... committing a crime...)..

Also of importance with regards to vocabulary is to vary your word choices and not to repeat the same word. This
can be done by using synonyms, as the writer has done with the word alternative 'ways', using variations of this
(methods... measures...).