Common IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics (List)

Below is a list of the most common IELTS essay topics for Task 2

questions. Click the topic to get a sample essay, vocabulary list, and
a Ted Talk video (to help learn the vocabulary in context). You can
also find an indepth tutorial about IELTS vocabulary and lexical
resource here.

Sport
Employment
Law
Health
Technology
Politics
Education
Language and culture
Crime
Environment

IELTS Essay Topics, Answers and Ideas

TECHNOLOGY

Some people think that robots are important for human’s future
development. Others think that robots have negative effects on
society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IDEAS: Definitely important, true, big advances, productivity,

intelligence, machine learning, artificial intelligence, etc

Can have negative effects –

Unemployment – automation – loss of jobs – safe nets need to be in
place – welfare system etc
Even death of citizens – Tesla accident autonomous driving –

Conc: there are too many advantages to ignore, we cannot forego

these advances however more precaution and govt. Legislation could
be wise.

SOCIETY

Some people think that new houses should be built in the same style
as older houses in the local area. Others disagree and say that local
authorities should allow people to build houses in the styles of their
own choice. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Yes, should be in the same style, keeps property values higher,

uniformity, conformity, and cohesion –

EG certain villages in prosperous parts of England such as Cheshire,

The Cotswolds, and Howarth have extreme rules because the areas
have immense cultural heritage. To place a modern MacDonald’s style
restaurant in one of these areas would be tantamount to architectural
vandalism.

-Great idea! Innovates an area, introduces new flavours, styles and

ideas into stale and old areas. Your house can reflect your personality.
You can make it more environmentally friendly. You can install
technical innovations. Solar panels, or even solar cells in roof tiles,
available from Elon Musk’s company.

Conc: both are viable and fair, the caveat is that the law should be
clear from the beginning and be permanent – changing it would be
extremely unfair.

SPORTS
Some people spend a lot of money attending cultural or sports events.
Is it a good or a bad thing? Give your opinion and examples from your
own experience.

INTRO

BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Definitely a good development, gives something for people
to aspire to. It also most likely begets higher revenues for
the performers and promoters, which should ultimately lead to a even
more events. This undoubtedly leads to greater monetary and cultural
wealth for a society. Take for example the English Premier League
(EPL), this entertainment spectacle has brought considerable
wealth into cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and London. Higher
ticket prices lead to better wages for football stars, which lead to more
quality players wanting to play in the EPL, leading to a considerable
increase in high net-worth individuals residing in these cities. There
has undoubtedly been a positive self-fulfilling cycle of improvement
and quality, fuelled by increasing prices. Furthermore high prices will
most likely mean higher tax revenues for the government, this is
definitely beneficial for society.

P2 – Same, but apply to a cultural event – ballet – opera???

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Education

Do you think it is better for students to work before their university

study? Why?  Use reasons and specific examples to support your
choice.

MY ANSWER: YES! – One position, easier to write, easier to read. 

PARAGRAPH 1
Practical experience, contacts, on the job skills. EG: Studies from the
UK Government show graduates with work experience are twice as
likely to find employment…..

PARAGRAPH 2
Better preparation, chance to improve social skills, close the gap
between academia and private sector, helps student decide on future
before committing long term, EG 1/6 students will change their higher
education course while at uni….

Many people believe that it’s better to learn something in a group

rather than individually. Do you agree or disagree?

Paragraph 1
Agree – learning in group has many advantages
Elements of teamwork can be adopted
Group can utilize each person’s skill expertise

Paragraph 2
Disagree – Individualism is better
Self reliant, own the result, not dependant on others
More mature way, more responsible
No laggards
For the full podcast, click here

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Education (child)

Some people believe that children should do organised activities in

their free time while others believe that children should be free to do
what they want to do in their free time. Which viewpoint do you agree
with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

MY ANSWER: CHILDREN FREE TO CHOOSE

PARAGRAPH 1 -In favour of letting them choose.
-benefits letting the mind wonder, children can express themselves,
find themselves, do what they prefer and excel… etc etc
-EG Recent studies show 12% of school students dislike physical
education, therefore if sports were chosen it would be unfair to this
minority.

PARAGRAPH 2 -Reasons against “organised activities”

Organising activities is:
-costly for the school
-need time to plan
-possible ‘equipment’ to purchase
-furthermore studies show that the brain operates better after a
distraction from a structured task such as studying.

Some people think that schools should select students

according to their academic abilities. Others believe that it is
better to have students with different abilities study together.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– should select students on their academic ability – GOOD IDEA

BECAUSE
– Same speed for the whole class…
– Can go as fast as possible …
– Selecting on their academic ability is clearly a much fairer option.
For example IF a student has behaved badly the entire year,
and subsequently got lower grades, why should that student be
placed in a class with hard working dedicated students.
– FURTHERMORE Studies show that schools who make classes
based on ability have much statistically higher levels of student
satisfaction.

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– different abilities studying together – BAD IDEA because

– Terrible idea. Language learning, different ability some students are
bored, others are severely challenged and can give up.
– For example a report into a traditional classroom language
environment showed…
– Much better to choose specialist online courses, where the student
works at their own speed.

Conclusion

– Selecting students based on ability not improve class effectiveness,

student happiness, but also increases engagement. Therefore…. It is
predicted….

For the full podcast, click here

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Globalisation

Many people say that globalisation and the growing number of

multinational companies have a negative effect on the environment.
Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer. To what extent do you agree or
disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
position.

PARAGRAPH 1 -DEFINITELY DAMAGING THE ENVIRONMENT

-Increased interaction between countries
-Increase in goods and services traded -this means more production,
therefore more resources. EG China ‘workshop of the world’ – many
places air pollution masks needed.PARAGRAPH 2
-MULTINATIONALS / PROBS WITH GLOBALISATION
-YES increase pollution – (this decision taken for simplicity)
-Globalisation requires global solutions -these can have drastic
consequences if accidents happen
-EG BP Gulf of Mexico, oil spill, destroyed the local ecosystem…

Scientists believe that in order to protect the environment, people

must use less energy in their daily lives. However, most people have
not changed the way they live. Why do you think many people have
not taken individual action? What could be done to encourage them to
take action?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

Not taken individual action because:

– Danger not immediately or directly facing them
– Tragedy of the commons
– Collective problem – easier to shirk responsibility

Ideas for body paragraph 2

What could be done to encourage them to take action?

– Media campaigns by the government
– Tax or financial incentives EG In Tokyo ……

Some believe that is the responsibility of people to take care of the

environment. Others say it is the government that should take care of
the environment. Discuss both views and state your opinion.

Paragraph 1
People should take care of the environment because:
We are the consumers, we vote with our wallets,
Throw away culture become considerably too prevalent – consumers
are causing horrendous damage (pacific garbage patch)

Paragraph 2
Government should take care of the environment because:
They have the power to legislate
Can impose fines and taxes on polluters
Supposed to be guardians of the country, which means collectively
they are guardians of the earth… but not true in reality
Conclusion
Both should be doing more!
For the full podcast, click here

Some people say that protecting the environment is the

government’s responsibility. Others believe that every individual
should be responsible for it. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion.

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Yes: Government’s responsibility
– Policies govt could do, then country specific example

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– Yes individual responsibility also
– Action individuals could take + examples. 

Conclusion
– MY OPINION: Such a mess, such a disastrous state, such a shame,
so much so that all parties need to step up and take responsibility for
the state of affairs we have landed ourselves in.

For the full podcast, click here

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Travel and Transport

In many countries small shops and town centers are going out of
business, because people tend to drive to the large out-of-town stores.
This results in an increase in car use, and it also means that people
without cars have limited access to out-of-town stores. Do you think
advantages of such development outweigh its disadvantages?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

The advantages of out of town shopping centres are very limited…
– Slightly cheaper prices – but huge new developments contribute to
urban sprawl of cities… This reduces investment in city centres …
which are more much more than just places for shopping EG Vienna
regularly has art exhibitions in the city centre…

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– For example: those without transport are disenfranchised

– Traffic on the roads
– ALSO (MAIN POINT) -Some might argue they create jobs .. but
really it is probably just shifting employment from one area to the
other…

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Employment

Parents want to achieve balance between family and career but only a
few manage to achieve it.
What do you think is the reason?
Discuss possible solutions and provide examples.

PARAGRAPH 1 – The reason for imbalance

-Reason is work life balance, increased competition in the workplace,
changes in society, increase in the amount of working mothers puts
strain on the family, EG Studies in the US show that families with two
full-time parents are more likely to separate. -therefore this shows that
finding the balance is incredibly difficult.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Possible Solutions?

-Regulations from government, increasing maternity leave, more
flexible working practices, reduced working week, EG France had a 35
hour working week…

Some people believe that employees should stay in the same job
for the rest of their lives. Others think they should switch jobs at
least once during their career. To what extent do you agree /
disagree?

Click here for the Band 6.5 – 7 essay graded by an EX-IELTS

examiner (from our team of essay correctors!).

IELTS Essay Topics, Answer and Ideas: Gender issues

Nowadays both men and women spend a lot of money on beauty

care. This was not so in the past.
What may be the root cause of this behaviour?
Discuss the reasons and possible results.

IELTS Writing Essay Structure:

INTRO

PARAGRAPH 1 -Marketing.
Beauty market for women is worth millions, consumer goods
companies see similar potential for the male market.
Therefore developing new ranges, e.g. Loreal for Men Expert.
Therefore main reason is the potential opportunity.

PARAGRAPH 2 -Results?
-Difficult to say the results because it is still early, however general
trend is in this direction,
–Deodorant was considered unnecessary before the 1950s.
-Market will probably grow and it will be completely normal in the
future.

CONCLUSION

Some people think that men are naturally more competitive than
women. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Paragraph 1
Agree – Men are more competitive
Look at sporting fans, globally most are male
A lot of sports historically only men participate: F1, Boxing, MMA, etc.
Psychological drivers of men include: dominance, control

Paragraph 2
Agree – Men are more competitive
Although it is difficult to say without sounding sexist
Is it nature or nurture – difficult to say
For the full podcast, click here

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Education (Student Reward)

Students perform better in school when they are rewarded rather than
punished.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Essay Structure:

INTRO: Paraphrase question and state your side / argument.

IDEA / PARAGRAPH 1: they perform better in schools -definitely

better
Types of reward – certificate, recognition, positive reinforcement,
Studies show children are sensitive and easily influenced when
younger, therefore positive environment probably better…

IDEA  / PARAGRAPH 2: they perform better when punished – works

but too harsh for childhood
Possibly does work, but it’s old fashioned, potentially dangerous –
could discourage a student for life
CONCLUSION
Positive better and more more modern.

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Employment (Skills)

In today’s very competitive world, a worker has to possess multiple

skills to succeed.
Among the skills that a worker should possess, which skill do you
think is more important, social skills or good qualifications?
Explain the reasons and provide specific examples to support your
answer.

IELTS Writing Essay Structure:

INTRO: Paraphrase question and state your side / argument.

PARAGRAPH IDEA 1:
Social skills more important – no man is an island – idiomatic
expression correctly used i.e in context
We need people around us –
Lacking social skills could seriously disrupt, demotivate and damage a
team. – big list of great vocab for Lexical Resource score there.

PARAGRAPH IDEA 2:
Good qualifications, certificates very useful, extremely useful in certain
fields such as medical, but in general, less technical areas, social
skills triumph – less common vocabulary “triumph”

CONCLUSION
Consider both, but give more weight to sociability.

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Employment (Business)

Do you think businesses should hire employees who will spend their
entire lives working for the company?
Explain why do you agree or disagree.
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

IELTS Writing Essay Structure:

INTRO: Paraphrase question and state your side / argument.

PARAGRAPH IDEA 1:
Very bad idea to have life time permanence- almost zero incentive to
improve,
Not fair to employee because the company may pledge allegiance to
the company but then the company relocates to Asia. Horrible.

PARAGRAPH IDEA 2:
The employee may become a burden for the company. Employee may
become a cost that damages the company, lots of companies suffer
because contractual arrangements made in boom times.
British Airways is a perfect example of expensive pension contracts
made, only for the entire industry to change and render the contracts a
massive headache.

CONCLUSION
Freedom should be given for employees to “cherry pick” their career
destiny.
Cherry Pick your Best Ideas

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Gender issues (Career)

Some people think women should be given equal chances to work

and excel in their careers.
Others believe that a woman’s role should be limited to taking care of
the house and children.
Which opinion do you agree with and why? Include specific details
and examples to support your choice

PARAGRAPH IDEA 1:
Women should of course be given equal rights to perform to the best
of their ability (good collocation) in the market place
Generous provisions and allowances should be made into law to
encourage this behaviour and allow females to also fairly take time out
from the career ladder to pursue a family.

PARAGRAPH IDEA 2:  another good reason why I think the first point:
Making legal structures to facilitate this transition would not only help
to improve the worker’s happiness and wellbeing but also improve the
health of society as a whole.
Japan has a rather bleak future due to the low fertility rate, perhaps
this kind of future could be avoided with more generous legislation.

Conclusion
Definitely should pursue a career and definitely fulfil the traditional
family role also. Government should help make both objectives
possible.

IELTS Essay Topics and Answer: Technology

Do you think that technological advancement has brought more harm

than good?
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

What technologies did you use to help you in your studies? Describe
how it has helped you. Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.

With the latest technological advancements, dating is now possible

online. Would you recommend online dating for your single friends?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of online dating? Site
some examples to support your answer.

In the developed world, technological progress is increasing. What

problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some
measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of radical
technological advancements.

At the present time, artificial intelligence of some technologies is

advancing rapidly, especially in the driving sector. Do the advantages
of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

Films and computer games which contain violence are very popular.
Some people believe they have a negative effect on society and so
should be banned. Other people, however, say they are just harmless
and help people to relax. Discuss both these points of view and give
your own opinion.

Ideas for body paragraph 1

Some people believe they have a negative effect on society and so
should be banned.
– No strong scientific study
– Present globally but clearly only the US has issues regarding gun
violence.
– Banning usually has the direct opposite of its intentions

Ideas for body paragraph 2

…harmless and help people to relax.

– Playing with toy guns never seemed to be a problem, these are a
modern interpretation of toy guns
– With every new development of a generation the older generation is
usually worried… EG This happened with the Beatles, with heavy
metal and Us hip hop..

These days, mobile phones and the internet are very important to the
ways in which people relate to one another socially. Do the
advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Paragraph 1
It is more advantageous to relate socially to others via the phone
Possible to give more frequent contact and support
Possible to find others similar to you, useful for those with obscure or
specialist interests

Paragraph 2
Disadvantages
Cyber bullying is becoming a realty
Teenagers becoming addicted to phones, even labeled screenagers
Phenomenon called instagram realty which shows the real life pictures
without the filters… .
For the full podcast, click here

Some people are fond of buying new gadgets, phones, or

laptops. Is this a good or bad thing? Discuss your opinion.
I can write it’s an entirely bad thing, or I can write it’s an entirely good
thing. 

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Good: New tech, drive innovation, tech development, job creation
etc.
– Example: new investment in tech to stay competitive – Sony –
manufactures new chip plant in Korea for PlayStation 5. 

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– Bad: Consumerism, waste, unnecessary, planned obsolescence
– Example: Research showed searches for the phrase “slow iPhone”
peaked a few weeks before the launch of new iPhone models. This is
an extremely worrying development because people might be
manipulated into buying new gadgets, and finding an
exaggerated happiness in their new products. 

Conclusion
– Pros and cons: I think in the past it was fantastic, nowadays with the
environment in such a dire state consumerism needs to be upgraded
somehow.

For the full podcast, click here

Some parents think it is good to have mobile phones for their

children, others disagree with it. Discuss both sides and give
your opinion.

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Agree: Good idea because can stay in contact with parents, safer,
can be used for making better enriching a child’s life.
– Example: algebra app, language learning app, … recent studies
showed students learned 26% faster when using IELTS Podcast
Android app.
Ideas for body paragraph 2

– Phones are bad: Undoubtedly bad detrimental. Teenagers are

quickly swiftly becoming screenagers, missing out on physical
interactions and games.
– Social media has a negative impact on confidence and contributes
to cyber-bullying… and other trends such as Body Dysmorphic
Disorder (BDD). For example ….

For the full podcast, click here

Topic and Answer: Health

Many doctors say that people in today’s world do not do enough

physical exercise. What do you think are the causes of this?
What solutions are there to this problem?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

Cause of not doing enough physical exercise

– Joke: no natural predators nowadays, nature would have solved this
problem,… in the past wild animals would have eliminated those out
of shape…. JOKE
– Sedentary lifestyle in the office
– Lack of time for sport in a lot of modern lifestyles (40h / week +
commuting etc)

What solutions are there to this problem?

– Media campaigns by the government
– Tax or financial incentives EG In Tokyo ……

Topic and Answer: Society

Weddings are more expensive in many countries nowadays when
compared to the past. What is the reason behind this? Is this a
positive or a negative development?

Paragraph 1
Reason behind this is probably social media
Vapid attempts at self promotion and
“keeping up with the joneses”.
Now it can be really publicised Ideas here need to be organised a little
before starting the essay.

Paragraph 2
Definitely a negative development
Although it’s a memorable day and should be cherished – fact is, large
amounts of cash are being spent,
Most families have a considerable financial mountain ahead – babies,
mortgage, etc
For the full podcast, click here

Nowadays consumer goods have become the most important

part of people’s lives. Do the advantages of this outweigh the
disadvantages?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Advantage: Understandable – a car – can be the most important if
you need it for work, family etc Advantages are mobility, freedom,
independence…  

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– Disadvantage: When you fawn over a new product, it has been said
the product owns you rather than you owning the product.
– Example: expensive phone, you are constantly worried about the
screen smashing, or leaving it on a table, or in a taxi — the worry
associated can be stressful. 
Conclusion
– Although it is understandable they are vital components of modern
life, it must not be forgotten, that our lives are so much more
than consumer durables.

For the full podcast, click here

Some people believe that if people are allowed to work after the
age of 60, it will cause some problems. Do you agree or
disagree?

Ideas for body paragraph 1

– Yes: lots of problems,
– Sight, attention, technology gap, especially machinery… blue collar
work..
– In some countries senior citizens are required by law to retake their
driving exam….

Ideas for body paragraph 2

– Disagree: The elderly can be better qualified at the job, more life
experience, more insight, more wisdom..
– Pension burden if not allowed to work after 60.
– Example: most western countries have a serious demographic
deficit of an ageing workforce. A country simply cannot prosper if all
its wealth goes towards a pension.

Conclusion

– For some sectors it should be illegal or at least the worker should be

medically tested, but for other jobs, especially white collar work, it
should be ok.
WRITING TASK 2 COMMON TOPICS
The list below shows you the common topics that are seen
every year. 

Environment

 Government legislation
 Environmental problems
 Climate Change
 Animals

Health

 Obesity
 Hospitals
 The elderly
 Funding
 Poor countries vs rich countries
 Health education
 Exercise

Education

 The rise of technology

 Subjects/curriculum changes
 Uniforms
 The role of teachers
 Discipline
 Funding
 Rules

Government

 Change to laws
 Rules that aff ect groups of individuals
 International laws
 Benefi ts to individuals and society
 Funding
Society

 Poverty
 Overpopulation
 Homelessness
 Modern lifestyles
 Funding
 Public services

Crime

 Youth crime
 Punishment
 Repeat off enders
 Major vs minor crimes
 Prisons

Technology

 The role of technology in our lives/in society

 The internet
 Social media
 Children online / safety measures
 Hacking/data protection

Economics

 World spending
 Cash vs credit cards
 Economic progress and success

Communication

 Technology
 Family
 Social media
 Types of personalities
 Characters in society

Work
  Women in the workplace
 The role of the employee
 Employer vs employee issues
 Types of jobs
 Salary
 Equality

Family and Children

 Family roles
 Family size
 Role models
 Discipline (parents to children)
 Education

Transport

 Diff erent forms of transport

 Comparisons
 Problems
 Environmental issues

Travel

 Culture diff erences

 Travelling benefi ts/drawbacks
 Meeting people
 Forms of travel

There are many other topics that you can also prepare for,

including art, business, marketing, sport, reading, language
and food/diet.

TOP TIPS FOR PREPARATION

TIP >> When you are preparing for your IELTS writing task 2
test, practice answering questions on topics that you fi nd
diffi cult, as this is really good practice. 
TIP >> Learn vocabulary associated with the topic. Make
word lists and learn the meanings of those words.  

TIP >> Read around the topic, take a look at news websites

or journals and read about these topics. What is happening in
the news? Can the news stories give you ideas for examples
that you can use in your essay? 

TIP >> Listen to TED Talks, podcasts, the news or

documentaries related to the common topics and develop
ideas, vocabulary and your opinions. 

TIP >> Practice talking about these topics with a friend. Ask

them their opinion about something you have seen in the
news and give them your opinion, discuss the latest news
and events related to the common topics.

21 Essay Topics for IELTS Writing Task 2

There are quite a number of topics that come up in IELTS Writing task
2. While it may not be feasible to get familiarised with all of them, we
can surely practice with the ones that are common. Here we have
prioritised the most common topics that come in IELTS Writing Task
2:

1. Health: Exercise, Dealing with epidemics, Modern treatment

2. Environment: Endangered species and their protection,
Environmental issues, Role of people and the government in
preserving environment etc.
3. Education: Importance of discipline in school, Role of Teachers,
Educational aids to underprivileged countries etc.
4. Crime: Types of Punishments, Criminal rehab, Psychology of a
Criminal etc.
5. Globalisation: International Marketing, 
6. Public Transport: Necessity of public transport, Maintenance of
Public Transport
7. Food: Healthy diet, Fast food and obesity
 8. Society: Problem of Poverty, Overpopulation
9. Technology: Social Media, Hacking, etc
10. Government Spending: Is the Government spending
enough on roads?, Should hospitals have more funding?
11.Art: Learning art in school, Censoring Artworks, Importance of
Funding etc.
12. Business and Money: Small businesses, Multinational
companies and their implications, Management and
Leadership etc.
13. Family and Children: Joint family Vs Nuclear family,
Modern parenting etc
14. Media and Advertising: Necessity of advertising, Media
coverage of a particular incident etc.
15. Personality and Communication: Types of
communications, Development of character etc.
16. Language: Travel language, Learning different languages,
Relation between Language and Culture etc.
17. Reading: Books and Education, Reading for Children,
Books Vs e-books.
18. Economics: Global economy, Cash Vs going Cashless,
Internet Banking.
19. Tourism: Tourism as an Industry, Travel and Culture etc.
20. Work: Work ethics, Gender issues and jobs, part time
work etc.
21. Transport: Modern transportations and their limitations,
Forms of transport etc.

These are just broad topics and each topic can have several subtopics.
While you are practicing writing essays, these are what you would
need:

Health

1. Prevention of health problems and illness is more important

than treatment and medicine. Government funding should
reflect this. To what extent do you agree?
2. The number of people who are at risk of serious health problems
due to being overweight is increasing. What is the reason of the
 growth in over- weight people in the society? How can this
problem be solved?
3. Healthcare should not be provided for free regardless of a
person’s income. The health of a person is in their own hands
and they should, therefore, be held accountable for that. Do you
agree with this opinion?

Environment

1. With deforestation, urban development and illegal hunting,

many animal species are becoming endangered and some are
even facing extinction. Do you think it is important to protect
animals? What can be done to deal with this problem?

1. Many people think it is very important to protect the

environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why do
you think this is the case? What actions should individuals take
to protect the environment?

1. Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the

environment. What can governments do to address these
problems? What can individual people do?

Education

1. Only formal examinations, written or practical, can give a clear

picture of students’ true knowledge and ability at university level.
Continuous assessment like course work and projects are poor
measures of student ability. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

1. In many countries, schools have severe problems with student

behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What
solutions can you suggest?

1. Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to
complete a course of university education. Others claim that it is
better to start work after school and gain experience in the world
of work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion
Tourism

1. 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?

1. Some people think the advantages of international tourism

outweigh its disadvantages. To what extent do you agree?

1. It is said that travel broadens the mind. What can we learn by

travelling to other countries? Should we first explore our own
countries?

Things to Remember

Before you start writing the essay it is important that you know the
following information:

 You should make sure that you complete the task carefully and
provide a full and relevant response.
 You should organise your ideas clearly and make sure to support
their argument with relevant examples (including from your own
experience where relevant) or evidence. 
 For this task, you need to be able to communicate more abstract
and complex ideas and use a range of vocabulary and
grammatical structures. 
 Task 2 contributes twice as much to the final Writing band score
as Task 1. Therefore, those who fail to attempt to answer this task
will greatly reduce their chance of achieving a good score.
 Here you are asked to write at least 250 words and will be
penalised if the answer is too short. 
 You should spend no more than 40 minutes on this task.
 Remember that you will be penalised for irrelevance if the
response is off-topic or is not written as full, connected text (e.g.
using bullet points in any part of the response, or note form,
etc.). 
 Keep an eye out for plagiarism. You will be heavily penalised if
you are found copying from another source.