Writing Task - 1 (General)

1. You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.
Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter:

• Say what the problem is.
• Describe the accommodation you thought you were getting.
• Ask the provider to solve the problem.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer

Dear Mr Watterson,

My name is Andrew Fish, and I am taking an eight-week intensive English course at Oxford House College. My company is paying for my tuition, and I am using my summer vacation to study. It is expected I will pass an English Proficiency Test as a result, and be transferred abroad. Therefore, it is rather important to me that I am able to study in the best environment.

I am staying in Phoenix Hostel on campus. While my room is pleasant and the facilities are very good, the hostel is extremely noisy. When I organised my accommodation, I was assured I would be staying only with post-graduate or intensive-course students. However, most of the people in this hostel are doing summer-school courses due to academic failure, and they are all under 22. It seems to me they are enjoying one long party: certainly no one observes light out or turns down music despite being asked to.

I wonder if I may be moved to a hostel which is more conducive to serious study, or I may use the remainder of my accommodation fee to go towards payment for a hotel.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Andrew Fish

(204 words)

2. You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City Museum shop during the holidays.
You decide to apply for the job. Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your letter:

• introduce yourself
• explain what experience and special skills you have
• explain why you are interested in the job

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing to apply for the holiday job which you advertised recently in the newspaper. I am a twenty-one-year-old student and I speak English quite well. At present I am in my second year studying History at Lincoln College and I am very keen to have a holiday job this summer. I am extremely good at adding up, so I think I would be an asset to your shop.

My term finishes on 5th July and I am free until 20th September. Last year I worked in a restaurant serving tourists from all over the world and I enjoyed it very much. I would like to have the opportunity to meet people and practise my English again.

I enjoy going to museums and am particularly keen on history. Last year I went to an exhibition of Ancient Greek objects which was held in London. I have often been in your museum and am familiar with the items you have. I do hope you will be interested in my application.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Dimitris Boudramis

(186 words)

3. You are looking for a part-time job at a football club.
Write a letter to the manager of the football club. In your letter:

• introduce yourself
• explain what experience and special skills you have
• tell him/her when you think you could start

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Test Tip

Remember in the IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training) you are assessed on:

- Task Achievement (how well you answer the question)
- Coherence and Cohesion (the layout, and ordering and linking of ideas in your letter)
- Lexical Resource (use of appropriate vocabulary)
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (the accuracy and range of the grammar you use)

Model answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a 21-year-old student and I am studying Sports Coaching Science at St Mary's University. I have been studying there for the past three years. I am writing to ask if there are any part-time job vacancies at your football club.

I really enjoy sport, and my areas of particular interest and experience are Football, Rugby and Cricket. I have had some experience of coaching for these sports over the past three years that I have been at the University. Last year, I worked in the holidays at a football club in my own country. I will be able to provide references from this summer job and also from my teachers at the university.

I would prefer to work in the evenings and at the weekends, as I have classes during the daytime, and I can start from the beginning of November.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Lawerence

(160 words)

4. You saw an advertisement for a tennis course in England but you have one or two problems and can’t stay the whole course.

Write a letter to the course director. In your letter:

• explain your interest in the course
• describe your problems
• find out if a refund is possible

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Test Tip

If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, begin with Dear Sir or Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Madam and end your letter with Yours faithfully, followed by your full name.

Model answer

Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m writing ........ response to your advertisement on your website ........ a tennis course in Bath, England.

I have always wanted ........ play tennis so I’m very interested ........ joining the course; however, I do not have my own racquets and don’t wish ........ buy racquets at this time. Is it possible ........ me to hire racquets and balls ........ the duration ........ the course? Also I have poor eyesight and have to wear glasses all the time. I would like to know if your course is suitable ........ someone like me.

I’m afraid that I have to be back ........ Malaysia ........ 31st December so I am unable to stay ........ England for the whole three weeks. Is it possible for me ........ get a partial refund if I want ........ leave one week before the end ........ the course?

I’m looking forward ........ hearing ........ you.

Yours faithfully,

Philip Wong

(156 words)

5. You are due to move into a rented apartment next month but you will not be able to because you have some problems.

Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:

• explain your situation
• describe your problems
• tell him/her when you think you can move in

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Exam Tip

Make sure that you address all the points in the question. Organise your ideas before you start to write and when you have finished, check your spelling and the number of words you have used.

Model answer

Dear Miss Berry,

As you know, I have rented 41 George Roche Road from you for six months from 15th August. However, I am afraid I will no longer be able to move in on that date, as my plans have had to change because of illness.

During the summer vacation, I was working in a company as a Project Manager. Towards the end of my shift, I slipped and fell on a wet floor and broke my wrist. Luckily, it was a clean break and didn't require surgery. However, it is my right wrist, and so I am unable to write for the time being.

At present, I am at home in Kuala Lumpur until the plaster can be taken off – I think this should be in the last week of September. I will then return to my course in Canterbury and take up residence at 41 George Roche Road.

I hope this will not cause you any difficulties.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Yu

(164 words)

Vocabulary Tip

The word staff refers to all the people working for an organisation. To talk about one person, you need to say member of staff or employee: I recently had a problem with a member of staff in your company (or an employee in your company or one of your staff). NOT I recently had a problem with a staff in your company

Prepositions

6. The sample letter contains 14 gaps. Complete it by putting a preposition in each space.

Dear Mr. Peter,

Thank you for your letter of 20 September. I was very saddened .......... your account of what happened in our hotel last month, and I am writing to express my apologies .......... this. I can understand that you were shocked .......... the way the receptionist behaved. There can be no excuse .......... such behaviour and I fully understand why you felt you needed to complain .......... the situation. I can provide no explanation .......... the way the employee spoke to you.

As a member of Darius Hotels Group, we have a reputation .......... being perfect .......... looking after our customers, and I am very sorry that your experience .......... our service did not confirm this. I intend to deal .......... staff member appropriately and I will ensure that he does not repeat this behaviour .......... sending him on a retraining course next week. I would like to assure you that the behaviour you encountered is not typical .......... our staff.

As the guest service manager, I am responsible .......... all of our employees so please accept my apologies again and this voucher worth $100 to spend in any .......... our hotels.

Yours sincerely,

John Norman
Guest Service Manager

7. Marina has just started a new course at college and her tutor has asked her to write him a letter telling him something about herself. She has made ten mistakes in verb tenses in her letter. Find and correct them.

Dear Tutor,

I am coming to Brighton College from Singapore, where I was a student for ten years. I did already take examinations in Singapore in English, Biology, Computer and Maths. My highest score is for Computer: I got grade A.

When I was a student in Singapore I also have a part-time job in a shop. My uncle owns a supermarket and so I helped him in the evenings. I used to worked there four nights a week and I think this was very good experience for me.

At the weekends, I usually played volleyball with friends or, if the weather's bad, we have been to the theatre, which is very popular in Singapore. Because of my part-time job, I also did spend a lot of time studying at the weekend.

I didn’t go to many other places. My father took me to Thailand once. Three weeks after we had returned he also went to Malaysia and took the whole family.

This is a brief description of my background.

Best wishes,

Marina

8. You are a student at an English language school in Brighton and are living in private accommodation with other flat mates. You have not had hot water or heating for some time. The landlord’s workmen have tried to fix the problem but without success.

Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:

• state your reason for writing
• describe the problems and explain how you feel
• propose a solution and risk the landlord to take action

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Grammar Tip

Note that the phrasal verb to look forward is always followed by to + ing: I am looking forward to seeing you soon. In formal letters we use the simple present tense rather than the present continuous: We look forward to hearing from you.

Model answer

Dear Mr. Jones,

I am one of the tenants at your property in Upper Lewes Road, and am writing to complain about the fact that we do not have any hot water or heating in our house.

As you know, we have been living in this house since September and have always paid our rent on time. However, we have had no hot water for last two weeks. This is making our lives very difficult, especially as it is now the middle of winter. Last week you said you would send a workman to our house within 3 days, but no one came. After calling many times, the workman eventually arrived at the house 5 days later. Unfortunately, he said he could not fix the problem because the boiler was too old! We are now extremely unhappy about this solution.

We are prepared to continue to rent your house but please arrange for emergency repairs to be made. We also request a 40% discount on our rent for the period we have been without any hot water or heating.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Shannon Brown

(188 words)

9. You are going on a short course to a training college abroad. It is a college that you have not been to before.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer. In your letter

• give details of your course and your arrival/departure date
• explain your accommodation needs
• ask for information about getting to and from the college

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Exam Tip

Be careful with the spelling of the following words: graceful, sincerely, faithfully. Register is important when writing a letter. Make sure the language you use is not too informal if the letter is a very formal one, or too formal if the letter is to someone you know well.

Model answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inform you that I will be attending the Advanced Life Insurance course, being held from Tuesday 24th April until 27rd April, at the University of Hartford.

I will be arriving on the afternoon of Monday 23th and will be leaving on the morning of Saturday the 28th of April, so I will require a single room for this time. I would prefer my own bathroom, if this is possible, but do not mind sharing if I have to; however, as I am wheelchair bound, the room will have to be disability friendly. Could you please tell me how much this will cost and how I should make a payment? Do you accept VISA?

As I do not know the area, I would also be grateful if you could provide some information about getting to and from the University. Will I need to take public transport from the station or is there a University bus service? Any information on what to see and do in the area would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your assistance.
Alex Jones

(184 words)

10. You are looking for a part-time job.

Write a letter to an employment agency. In your letter

• introduce yourself
• explain what sort of job you would like
• and say what experience and skills you have

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Writing Tip

1) Read the question carefully to make sure you have fully understood the function of the letter, i.e. the reason for writing it.
2) Look at the three points and think of something to write about each of them.
3) Write a plan along the lines of the notes you wrote earlier.
4) Expand your plan into a full answer.
5) Leave time at the end to check your answer for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Model answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a German national from Heidelberg and at present I am studying for a Master’s degree in Commercial Law here, at the University of Bielefeld, where I have been for the last two months.

I am looking for a part-time job and I wonder if you can help me. Probably, I would like an office job, perhaps working as a secretary, office administrator or typist. I can only work during the afternoons and at weekends as my university studies occupy most of the day. I would be ready to start immediately.

I am a competent typist and I am computer-literate. In addition, I speak Polish and German fluently and I have been learning English for the past three years. While I studied for my degree, I worked as a part-time office manager for an import-export firm in Heidelberg. In recent years, I have also had temporary summer jobs as a hotel receptionist in Mannheim, Germany.

I am looking forward to hearing from you,

Yours faithfully,
Heinrich Bukowski

(170 words)

IELTS Books

Cambridge IELTS 10 Student's Book with Answers

Cambridge IELTS 10 provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material prepared by Cambridge English Language Assessment. It contains four complete tests for Academic module candidates, plus extra Reading and Writing modules for General Training module candidates. An introduction to these different modules is included in each book, together with with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge English Language Assessment. A comprehensive section of answers and tapescripts makes the material ideal for students working partly or entirely on their own.

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Cambridge Grammar for IELTS Student's Book with Answers and Audio CD

Cambridge Grammar for IELTS provides complete coverage of the grammar needed for the IELTS test, and develops listening skills at the same time. It includes a wide range of IELTS tasks from the Academic and General Training Reading, Writing and Listening modules, and contains helpful grammar explanations and a grammar glossary. A Student's Book 'without answers' is also available.

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Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced Band 6.5+ with Answers and Audio CD

The book covers all the vocabulary needed by students aiming for band 6.5 and above in the IELTS tests and provides students with practice of exam tasks from each paper. Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS Advanced focuses on moving students to 6.5 and beyond by working on vocabulary-building strategies necessary for success at advanced levels. It includes useful tips on how to approach IELTS exam tasks and covers especially tricky areas such as paraphrase and collocation. It is informed by the Cambridge English Corpus to ensure that the vocabulary is presented in genuine contexts and includes real learner errors. The Audio CD contains the listening and pronunciation exercises from each unit. The material is suitable for self-study or homework tasks, and may also be used in class with the teacher

Reading Tests

Academic Reading Passage 01

High-tech crime-fighting tools

A
Crime-fighting technology is getting more sophisticated and rightly so. The police need to be equipped for the 21st century. In Britain we’ve already got the world's biggest DNA database. By next year the state will have access to the genetic data of 4.25m people: one British-based person in 14. Hundreds of thousands of those on the database will never have been charged with a crime.

B
Britain is also reported to have more than £4 million CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras. There is a continuing debate about the effectiveness of CCTV. Some evidence suggests that it is helpful in reducing shoplifting and car crime. It has also been used to successfully identify terrorists and murderers. However, many claim that better lighting is just as effective to prevent crime and that cameras could displace crime. An internal police report said that only one crime was solved for every 1,000 cameras in London in 2007. In short, there is conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of cameras, so it is likely that the debate will continue.

C
Professor Mike Press, who has spent the past decade studying how design can contribute to crime reduction, said that, in order for CCTV to have any effect, it must be used in a targeted way. For example, a scheme in Manchester records every licence plate at the entrance of a shopping complex and alerts police when one is found to belong to an untaxed or stolen car. This is an effective example of monitoring, he said. Most schemes that simply record city centres continually — often not being watched - do not produce results. CCTV can also have the opposite effect of that intended, by giving citizens a false sense of security and encouraging them to be careless with property and personal safety. Professor Press said: All the evidence suggests that CCTV alone makes no positive impact on crime reduction and prevention at all The weight of evidence would suggest the investment is more or less a waste of money unless you have lots of other things in place.’ He believes that much of the increase is driven by the marketing efforts of security companies who promote the crime-reducing benefits of their products. He described it as a lazy approach to crime prevention’ and said that authorities should instead be focusing on how to alter the environment to reduce crime.

D
But in reality, this is not what is happening. Instead, police are considering using more technology. Police forces have recently begun experimenting with cameras in their helmets. The footage will be stored on police computers, along with the footage from thousands of CCTV cameras and millions of pictures from numberplate recognition cameras used increasingly to check up on motorists.

E
And now another type of technology is being introduced. It's called the Microdrone and it’s a toy-sized remote-control craft that hovers above streets or crowds to film what’s going on beneath. The Microdrone has already been used to monitor rock festivals, but its supplier has also been in discussions to supply it to the Metropolitan Police, and Soca, the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The drones are small enough to be unnoticed by people on the ground when they are flying at 350ft. They contain high-resolution video surveillance equipment and an infrared night vision capability, so even in darkness they give their operators a bird’s-eye view of locations while remaining virtually undetectable.

F
The worrying thing is, who will get access to this technology? Merseyside police are already employing two of the devices as part of a pilot scheme to watch football crowds and city parks looking for antisocial behaviour. It is not just about crime detection: West Midlands fire brigade is about to lease a drone, for example, to get a better view of fire and flood scenes and aid rescue attempts; the Environment Agency is considering their use for monitoring of illegal fly tipping and oil spills. The company that makes the drone says it has no plans to license the equipment to individuals or private companies, which hopefully will prevent private security firms from getting their hands on them. But what about local authorities? In theory, this technology could be used against motorists. And where will the surveillance society end? Already there are plans to introduce smart water’ containing a unique DNA code identifier that when sprayed on a suspect will cling to their clothes and skin and allow officers to identify them later. As long as high-tech tools are being used in the fight against crime and terrorism, fine. But if it’s another weapon to be used to invade our privacy then we don’t want it.

Glossary:
drone: a remote-controlled pilotless aircraft
350ft: about 107 meters
bird's eye view: a view from above
fly-tipping: illegally dumping waste (British English)

Questions 1-5

The Reading Passage has six paragraphs A–F.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

List of Phrases
i The Spy in the sky	vi Lack of conclusive evidence
ii The spread of technology	vii Cars and cameras
iii The limitations of cameras	viii Advantages and disadvantages
iv The cost of cameras	ix A natural progression
v Robots solving serious crimes	x A feeling of safety

Example) Paragraph A  ix

1) Paragraph B 

2) Paragraph C 

3) Paragraph D 

4) Paragraph E 

5) Paragraph F 

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Questions 6-8

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

6)	Britain has already got
	A    four million CCTV cameras.
	B    more data about DNA than any other country.
	C    the most sophisticated crime-fighting technology.
	D    access to the genetic data of one in fourteen people living in Britain.

7)	Professor Press
	A    works at the University of Manchester.
	B    studies car-related crime.
	C    is concerned about the negative impact of the use of CCTV.
	D    feels that some marketing departments lie about the crime-reducing benefits of CCTV.

8)	The Microdrone is
	A    a type of toy in the shape of a plane.
	B    being used by the Metropolitan Police.
	C    being used by the government.
	D    able to film in the dark.

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Questions 9 and 10

Answer the questions below with words taken from the Reading Passage.

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

9) Give examples of 2 events where technology is used to watch crowds. 

10) According to the passage, who do we not want to use the Microdrone? 

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Questions 11-13

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the Reading Passage? Write:

YES	if the statement agrees with the views of the writer.
NO	if the statement contradicts what the writer thinks.
NOT GIVEN	if it is impossible to know what the writer's point of view is.

11) The British authorities use too much technology to monitor their citizens. 

12) Microdrone is currently not used to check drivers. 

13) Technology should not be used to check on people's private affairs. 

Speaking Part 2 & 3

Beautiful places

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country. You should say: where it is how to get there what there is to do when you are there and explain why you recommend this place.

Part 3

Attitudes to tourism

• Why do you think people like to travel to different places in their free time?
• How do you see tourism changing in your country in the future?

Conserving the countryside

• Why is it important to protect the countryside?
• In what ways is the countryside in danger in your country?

Historic buildings and monuments

• Why are historic buildings and monuments important to a city?
• Is it better to keep old buildings, or build new modern ones?

Family

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe the person in your family who you most admire. You should say: what their relationship is to you what they have done in their life what they do now and explain why you admire them so much.

Part 3

Attitudes to family

• In what ways have families in your country changed in recent years?
• Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?

Family or friends

• Which are more important to you: your family or your friends?
• What conflicts can arise between a person's family and a person's friends?

Family responsibilities

• What responsibilities do parents have towards their children?
• What responsibilities do children have towards their parents?

Shopping

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favorite shop. You should say: where it is what things it sells what sort of people are its customers and explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3

Things to buy

• What typical things can visitors to your country buy?
• What things do young people like to buy in your country?

Money

• Is it a good idea to save money? Why (not)?
• Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?

Shopping

• What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers?
• Do you think that in the future people will do most of their shopping using the Internet? Why?/ Why not?

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an open-air or street market which you enjoyed visiting. You should say: where the market is what the market sells how big the market is and explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.

Part 3

Shopping at markets

• Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
• Do you think markets are more suitable places for selling certain types of things? Which ones? Why do you think this is?
• Do you think young people feel the same about shopping at markets as older people? Why is that?

Shopping in general

• What do you think are the advantages of buying things from shops rather than markets?
• How does advertising influence what people choose to buy? Is this true for everyone?
• Do you think that any recent changes in the way people live have affected general shopping habits? Why is this?

Eating and food

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal. You should say: what the occasion was who was at the meal what you ate and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Part 3

Attitudes to food

• What do you think a healthy diet consists of?
• Which do people in your country prefer: traditional food or fast food such as hamburgers or pizzas?

Learning about food

• Do you think children should be taught about healthy diets and cooking at school? Why (not)?
• At what age do you think children should be taught to cook?

Food aid

• What can be done to prevent poor people in the world going hungry?
• Should rich countries help poor countries with more than just food?

Travelling

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IELTS Tip

Travel is a verb: I enjoyed my travel trip very much. It is only used as a noun in a general sense, e.g. travel broadens the mind.

Trip refers to both a journey: the trip there was fine; or a short stay: a business trip; or a holiday: I’m going away on a trip.

Journey only refers to getting from one place to another: the journey there was very uncomfortable.

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a memorable journey you have made. You should say: where you were going how you were travelling why you were making the journey and explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3

Travelling and learning

• What do people learn from travelling?
• Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?

Tourism and culture

• How has tourism changed the way people in your country live?
• How should tourists behave when they visit your country?

Ways of travelling

• What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about your country?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by plane?

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a journey that you remember well. You should say: where you went how you travelled why you went on the journey and explain why you remember this journey well.

Part 3

Reasons for daily travel

• Why do people need to travel every day?
• What problems can people have when they are on their journey, for example to work or school? Why is this?
• Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Benefits of international travel

• What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
• Can travel make a positive difference to the economy of a country? How?
• Do you think a society can benefit if its members have experience of travelling to other countries? In what ways?

School

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a school which you went to. You should say: when you went there how many people studied there how long you spent there and explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3

Attitudes to education

• How has education changed in your country in the last ten years?
• Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?

The focus of education

• How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life?
• Do you think schools should teach subjects like art, music and dancing? Why (not)?

Education and technology

• How important is it for schools to have computers for their students?
• Is the Internet a valuable educational tool?

Adventure

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting experience in your life. You should say: when the experience took place where the experience took place what happened exactly and explain why the experience was so exciting.

Part 3

Safety and danger

• In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more dangerous?
• Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?

Taking risks

• What risks should people try to avoid?
• Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?

Adventure

• How important is it to have adventure in our lives?
• What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?

Newspapers

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy reading. You should say: what kind of newspaper or magazine it is, e.g. fashion how often you buy it what articles and information it contains and explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3

Attitudes to newspapers

• In what ways are newspapers better for learning about the news than listening to the radio or watching television?
• Do you think newspapers should be completely free to say whatever they want?

Tastes in reading

• What do people enjoy reading in your country?
• Do you think it is important for people to read a lot? Why (not)?

Public and private lives

• What sort of stories do newspapers and magazines publish about well-known or famous people in your country?
• Do you think the media should be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of public figures?

Sport

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Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have witnessed. You should say: what the competition or sporting event was when and where it took place who won and explain why it was exciting.

Part 3

Sport & Health

• What do you do to keep fit?
• Are you good at sport?
• What sports do you play?
• What is the most popular sport in your country?
• What are the best ways to keep fit?
• Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun?
• What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?
• Do you think people in your country are less healthy than they used to be?
• How can we encourage young people to stay healthy?
• Should governments intervene to force people to be healthier?

Speaking Part - 1

About you

---

• What is your (full) name?
• Can I have your name please?
• Could you tell me your full name please?
• What shall I call you?
• How can I address you?
• Does your name have any special meaning?
• Is your name important to you?
• Do Korean people like changing their name? Why?
• Have you ever changed your name? Why or why not?
• Why do so many people change their name?
• Do you work or study?

Study

---

• What are you studying?
• What’s your major?
• Why did you choose that subject?
• What do you find most interesting about your course?
• What is your favorite subject?
• What do you dislike about your study?
• What do you hope to do after your graduation?
• What are your ambitions for the future?
• Do you hope to gain any qualifications?
• What are the advantages of studying instead of working?

Work

---

• Can you describe your job to me?
• What do you do for a living?
• How long have you been doing it?
• Can you describe one of your typical working days?
• What’s your daily routine on a working day?
• Why did you choose to do that job?
• What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?
• What do you think is the attraction of your work?
• What is your ideal job?
• Do you want to change your current job? Why or why not?
• Are you willing to keep your job permanently?
• What are your plans for the future?

Your town

---

• Can you describe your town or village to me?
• Tell me something about your hometown.
• Where are you from?
• Where is your hometown?
• Where do you come from?
• What is the name of the street you live on?
• What kind of street do you live on?
• What do you like about your town?
• What is the weather like in your town?
• What building is considered famous in your town?
• What jobs do people in your town do?
• How has your town changed over the last twenty years?
• What changes have taken place in your city in recent years?
• Do you think it is better to live in the center of town or outside in the country? Why?

Free time

---

• What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
• How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
• Why do you like doing these activities?
• How did you start doing this activity at first?
• Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?
• How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

Holidays

---

• What do you do when you have a holiday?
• Who do you usually spend holiday with?
• Where do you like to spend your holidays? Why?
• Can you describe a typical day in your holidays?
• Why are holidays and important to you?
• If you could take a holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
• What do people usually do during holidays and in your town?

Places to go in your free time

---

• What do people do in your town in their free time?
• Where can they go out for entertainment, or to enjoy themselves?
• Which do you prefer: eating in restaurants or eating at home?
• Which are the best places to eat out?

Transport

---

• How did you come here today?
• What is public transport like in your town?
• How do you think it could be improved?
• Do you think people should use public transport more? Why (not)?

Shopping

---

• How much time do you spend shopping every week?
• Do you enjoy going shopping? Why (not)?
• What is your favourite shop and why do you like it?
• What problems are there with shopping in your area?

Your neighbourhood

---

• Can you describe the house where you live to me?
• What is there to do in the area where you live?
• What do you like about the area where you live?
• How do you think it could be improved?
• Do you think it is better to live in the centre of town or outside in the country? Why?

Reading

---

• Do you enjoy reading? Why?
• What sort of things do you read?
• Tell me something about your favourite book.
• What are the advantages of reading instead of watching television or going to the cinema?

Sports and games

---

• What sports are most popular in your country?
• What sports and games did you most enjoy playing
• when you were a child?
• Do people take as much exercise as in the past?
• Why is exercise good for you?

Writing Task - 1 (Academic)

1. The table below shows the number of students living in the UK gaining English language teacher training qualifications in 2007/8 and 2008/9, and the proportion of male qualifiers.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Qualifications for English Language Teachers obtained 2007/8 and 2008/9, UK
		Total	Female	Male	% Male
2007/8	Total	32,930	23,842	8,165	24.7%
	TEFL	25,446	18,460	6,870	26.9%
	Cambridge UCLES CELTA & other degrees	7,484	5,382	1,295	17.3%
2008/9	Total	32,945	24,324	7,511	22.7%
	TEFL	24,917	18,446	6,545	26.2%
	Cambridge UCLES CELTA & other degrees	8,028	5,878	966	12.1%

Model answer

This report summarises information on the total number of students in the United Kingdom who gained qualifications for English Language Teachers in two academic years, 2007/8 and 2008/9, with specific focus on the number of male qualifiers.

In both years, the total numbers of students remained the same, but there was a great difference between the numbers of male and female students who qualified. In 2007/8, out of a total of 32,930 students, only 24.7% were male. The percentage of males who qualified in 2008/9 was even lower. Out of a total of 32,945 students, only 22.7% of them were male. This is a drop of 2%.

There was also a large difference in the qualifications that students studied for. Most students qualified with a TEFL certificate; this was true for male students. The number of students who qualified with the TEFL was roughly three times the number who qualified with a Cambridge UCLES CELTA or other degrees, although the total number of students qualifying with the TEFL dropped slightly, from 25,446 in 2007/8 to 24,917 a year later. There was a drop of 0.7% in the number of male students who gained this qualification.

In general it can be seen that the number of males qualifying as English language teachers is vastly outnumbered by females and that the proportion of male qualifiers is gradually dropping.

(226 words)

2. The pie charts below show the average household expenditures in Japan and Malaysia in the year 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Average Household Expenditures by Major Category

Read the following model answer. Complete the answer by filling the gaps with a word from the box below.

main	but	than	higher
smallest	in contrast	compared with	lower
higher	overall	indicates	while

Model answer

The pie charts show the proportion of money spent on various household expenses in Malaysia and Japan in 2010.

We can see that in Malaysia the greatest proportion of expenditure (34%) was on housing, .......... in Japan housing accounted for just 21% of the total. .........., in Japan the greatest single expense was other goods and services at 29%, .......... 26% in Malaysia. Food came in second place in Japan, at 24%, while in Malaysia the actual proportion was .......... (27%). In Japan another major expense was transport, at 20%, but this was much .......... In Malaysia (10%). In both countries the .......... percentage of expenditure was on health care.

.........., the data .......... that in both cases food, housing and other goods and services were the .......... expenses, .......... that in Japan, transport and other goods and services took up a .......... proportion of total expenditure .......... in Malaysia.

3. The bar chart below shows the percentage of students who passed their high school competency exams, by subject and gender, during the period 2010-2011.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Students passing high school competency exams, by subject and gender, 2010-2011

*includes French, German and Spanish

Look at the graph and complete the following model answer by writing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS in each space.

Model answer

The graph shows the percentages of boys and girls who were successful in their high school competency exams in the period from 2010 to 2011, by subject.

Overall, students of both sexes .......... best in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages, .......... French, German and Spanish. Results for boys and girls were roughly .......... in Computer Science and Mathematics. In other subjects, .........., there were some significant ...........

Girls achieved by far their .......... in Computer Science, with a pass rate of .........., which was .......... than the boys. The difference was even .......... in Chemistry, where .......... more girls passed. .......... subject where boys’ results were better than girls was .......... where they achieved a pass rate of .........., which was 10% higher than .......... for girls.

In general, .......... that during the period in question girls performed better in most subjects in the competency exams than boys.

4. The table below shows the worldwide market share of the notebook computer market for manufacturers in the years 2006 and 2007.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Company	2006 % Market Share	2007 % Market Share
HP	31.4	34
Dell	16.6	20.2
Acer	11.6	10.7
Toshiba	6.2	7.3
Lenovo	6.6	6.2
Fujitsu-Siemens	4.8	2.3
Others	22.8	19.3
Total	100	100

The table gives information on the market share of notebook computer manufacturers for two consecutive years, 2006 and 2007.

In both years, HP was clearly the market leader, selling 31.4% of all notebook computers in 2006, and slightly more (34%) in 2007. This is a greater market share than its two closest competitors, Dell and Acer, added together.

Dell increased its market share from 16.6% in 2006 to 20.2% in 2007. In contrast, Acer saw its share of the market decline slightly from 11.6% to 10.7%.

The other companies listed each had a much smaller share of the market. Toshiba’s share increased from 6.2% in 2006 to 7.3% in 2007, whereas Lenovo’s decreased slightly from 6.6% to 6.2%. Fujitsu-Siemens’ share more than halved from 2006 to 2007: from 4.8% of the market to only 2.3%.

Other notebook computer manufacturers accounted for 22.8% of the market in 2006 – more than all the companies mentioned except HP. However, in 2007 the other companies only made 19.3% of notebook computer sales – less than both HP and Dell.

(174 words)

5. The graph below shows the number of books read by men and women at Burnaby Public Library from 2011 to 2014.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer

The graph gives information about Burnaby Public Library between 2011 and 2014. It shows how many library books people read over this four-year period.

As can be seen from the graph, there were different trends for men and women. The number of books read by men increased steadily between 2011 and 2012, from about 3000 to 4000. After that, the number rose dramatically to 14000 books in 2014. This was the highest figure in the period.

Women started off reading more books than men, but their numbers followed a different pattern. Between 2011 and 2012, there was an increase of 3000 from 5000 books to 8000 books, and then a gradual rise to 10000 books in 2013. However, in 2014, their numbers fell back to 8000 again.

Overall, there was a strong upward trend in the number of books read by men. Although women read more books than men in 2011, their reading fell to below the level of men in 2014.

(162 words)

6. The line graph below shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited four different attractions in Brighton.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer

The line graph shows the percentage of tourists to England who visited certain Brighton attractions between 1980 and 2010. We can see that in 1980 and in 2010 the favourite attractions were the pavilion and the festival. In 1980 the least popular attraction was the pier but in 2010 this changed and the art gallery was the least popular.

During the 1980s and 1990s there was a sharp increase in visitors to the pavilion from 28% to 48% and then the percentage gradually went down to 31% in 2010. The trend for the art gallery was similar to the pavilion. Visitors increased rapidly from 22% to 37% from 1980 to 1985 then gradually decreased to less than 10% over the next twenty-five years. The number of tourists who visited the Brighton Festival fluctuated slightly but in general remained steady at about 25%. Visitors to the pier also fluctuated from 1980 to 2000 then rose significantly from 12% to 22% between 2000 and 2010.

(163 words)

7. The two pie charts below show some employment patterns in Great Britain in 1992.
 Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Employees and self-employed: by sex and occupation, 1992

Model answer

The charts provide information on the proportion of males and females in employment in 6 broad categories, divided into manual and non-manual occupations. In general, a greater percentage of women work in non-manual occupations than work in manual occupations, and the reverse is true for men.

In the non-manual occupations, while a greater percentage of working women than men are found in clerical-type positions, there is a smaller percentage of women than men employed in managerial and professional positions. The percentage of women employed in other non-manual occupations is slightly larger than the percentage of men in these occupations.

In manual employment, the biggest difference between the two sexes is in the employment of craft workers, where males make up 24% of the workforce and females just 3%. Furthermore, the percentage of women working as general working as general labourers is very small, only 1%. There is not a great deal of difference between the percentage of men doing other forms of manual work (26%) and women in other manual work (27%).

In summary, the two charts clearly show that women do not have the same access as men to certain types of employment.

(194 words)

8. The diagram below shows the production of electricity using a system called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Write at least 150 words.

How Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) works
Source: Daily Telegraph - 8th Jan 2008

Model answer

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a system that converts heat energy into the electric power using the temperature difference between surface seawater, which can be up to 29 degrees Celsius, and deep seawater, which is only 5 degrees Celsius.

The main components of the system are an evacuated evaporation chamber, a turbine and a condensing chamber. The solar energy of the sun heats up the surface water and this warm water is introduced into the evacuated evaporation chamber, where it boils. As it boils, salt is deposited and water vapour is generated. This vapour then drives a turbine to generate electricity. After it powers the turbine, the water vapour enters the condensing chamber, which is cooled by the water from the depths of the ocean. The water vapour is condensed in this chamber, producing drinking water. Meanwhile, waste salt water is discharged into the ocean and the process can be repeated.

(152 words)

Writing Task - 2

1. Some people think that there are things individuals can do to help prevent global climate change. Others believe that action by individuals is useless and irrelevant and that it is only governments and large businesses which can make a difference.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Climate change is a phenomenon affecting all people in all walks of life, from individual citizens to whole countries and huge multinational companies. The question of what we can do to prevent global climate change and whether individual action is effective or not is a hotly debated issue.

There are those who say that the majority of the damages is wrought by big businesses. By imposing restrictions on emissions and by strictly monitoring waste disposal from factories, plants and businesses, governments would go a long way towards preventing climate change. It is thought that governments around the world should come up with solutions to help prevent imminent environment disaster. Proponents of this view claim that individual action is irrelevant in the face of massive, wide-scale prevention policies set and controlled by governments.

On the other hand, there are a growing number of people who believe that individual action combined with governmental and business action will do a lot more to prevent climate change than if individual citizens were not involved. In a world of six billion people, if everyone thought about the number of water they use, how they dispose of their rubbish, whether or not something needs to be thrown away or if they can, in fact, re-use certain items then we would be giving the problem of climate change and its prevention a massive boost.

Taking both points into consideration, I firmly believe that individual citizens cannot sit back and say it is someone else’s responsibility to protect the environments; we must all play our part-individual citizens, governments and big businesses alike.

(264 words)

2. Many people believe that media coverage of celebrities is having a negative effect on children.

To what extent do you agree?

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

In the past, news about famous people may have been confined to gossip columns in newspapers; these days it is not uncommon for celebrities to feature as front page news. There is evidence that the public feels there is too much news coverage of famous people. Not surprisingly, there is concern about how this might be affecting people, and in particular children.

One of the possible negative consequences of the 'cult of celebrity' is the tendency to confuse fame and notoriety. Celebrity scandals are just as likely to receive publicity as celebrity achievements. Indeed, some famous people have received more attention for their misuse of drugs and alcohol than for their successes on the stage or in sports. Children who crave attention may come to see misbehaviour as normal.

The emphasis on individuals in the public eye may also be at the expense of serious news coverage. Next to the superficial excitement of celebrity gossip, news about serious events and issues that have a more profound effect on people's lives may seem uninteresting. Children may be forming a very distorted picture of how the world works.

The negative influence of celebrities on children can also be seen in children's career aspirations. These days, young people are much more likely to see themselves as potential sports stars or entertainers. The prevalence of these figures in the mass media may convey the impression that such positions are plentiful. Children may be developing unrealistic expectations that they too will become rich and famous.

In summary, the 'cult of celebrity' may be affecting children in a number of undesirable ways. It is important that children be taught to critically evaluate what they see in the media so that they can form a more realistic view of society, acceptable behaviour, and indeed themselves.

(298 words)

3. Many high-level positions in companies are filled by men even though the workforce in many developed countries is more than 50 per cent female. Companies should be required to allocate a certain percentage of these positions to women.

To what extent do you agree?

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

In many countries these days, females make up over 50 per cent of the workforce, and increasingly highly skilled women are taking managerial positions. However, it is still a fact that high positions such as CEO posts are still dominated by men. Although this is not desirable, I do not personally believe that imposed quotas are the solution.

Firstly, I believe companies have a right to choose the best person for the job, whatever their gender, in order to contribute to the success of the business. Forcing companies to hire, promote and appoint women could negatively affect business in the short term and even the long term.

Secondly, to my mind the solution to this problem should be solved outside the workplace. Girls need to be encouraged to take more male-dominated subjects at school and later at university, and to aspire to do well in their careers. Girls and boys also need to be taught equality from an early age. This education can take place in schools and career programmes and in the home.

To those who argue that quotas are a good way to initiate this change, I would like to point out that artificially imposing rules has not always had the desired effect. When governments required males and females to receive the same pay for the same jobs, employers simply changed job titles to ensure that women were still paid less than men. It is my belief that employers will simply try to find loopholes to get around any such law.

In summary, I do not believe that forcing companies to allocate jobs to women is the best way to address the imbalance. Rather, it is a question of education and of changing mindsets so that those who deserve to be at the top will earn it and be appropriately appointed.

(303 words)

4. As the number of private cars has increased, so too has the level of pollution in many cities. What can be done to tackle this increasingly common problem?

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

As the number of private cars has increased, so has the level of pollution. Overreliance on cars at the expense of public transport has made this problem even worse, causing many concerned citizens to look for a solution to the problem.

One potential solution to this problem is to discourage the use of private cars by raising taxes. If the cost of petrol was increased, then many people would consider using alternative forms of transport or even walking. Admittedly, there would be a number of complaints from car drivers, but these would not be of much importance when balanced against the environmental benefits.

Another solution could be to look at more specific causes of the problem. Modern cars are fitted with cleaner burning engines and catalytic converters. Accordingly, they do not cause as much of an environmental hazard as some older cars. In Japan, for example, cars are heavily taxed once they have been on the road for three years or more, encouraging people to buy new cars which pollute less. By heavily taxing older vehicles from the road, some of the worst-polluting vehicles would be taken off the road. However, this would not really be fair to those who cannot afford a new car with such regularity.

An improvement in the quality and efficiency of public transport would also encourage people to use their cars less. In London, for example, a system has been operating for some time in which people are allocated days of the week when they can use their cars. On days that they are not allowed to drive, public transport is taken.

Although these are potential solutions to the problem, none of them are perfect. Only by a concerted effort by both the government and the public can this situation truly be resolved.

(298 words)

5. Some people think that professional athletes make good role models for young people, while others believe they don’t.

Discuss both these points of views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

People everywhere like watching sports. Many top athletes are admired throughout their countries, and some even have fans all around the world. Young people especially, view many athletes as role models and want to emulate the way these stars dress, act and live their lives. While some athletes aren't deserving of their "role model" status, others act like role models and responsible community citizens.

Top athletes get the attention of young people. Most children and teenagers like to follow professional sports. For many of them, star athletes represent heroes, and children want to be like their heroes. This means they will want to play sports, which is good for their health. Playing sports also teaches valuable life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, goal setting, and the realities of dealing with success and failure. Professional athletes demonstrate the importance of working hard to achieve a goal, or practicing regularly to become good at something. This is a good example for children to follow.

However, professional athletes are not always good role models. For one thing, when young athletes reach a level of fame, it comes with media attention, large financial benefits and social attention. This can lead children to believe that money and fame are an important part of sports. Children might focus more on these aspects than on the fun of the game or on the challenge of learning how to play well. Then there are those athletes who behave badly. For example, some cheat to win their games or take drugs to improve their performance. This kind of behaviour sends the wrong message to children.

Athletes are people who are held at a lofty place in the society owing to their popularity and wealth. These attributes are what makes people want to look up to them and model various facets of their lives along those of the athletes. We can thus be led to conclude that professional athletes can be very good role models for children, as long as they focus on the positive aspects of playing sports.

6. Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

In the last decade, there has been considerable debate over the role of free speech in a free society. Some object to absolute freedom of speech. Others advocate free speech, arguing that the freedom of speech is the single most important political right of citizens in a civilized society. Whilst I believe that there are strong arguments on both sides, I would suggest that freedom of speech should be protected in all but extreme circumstances.

The freedom of speech is important at all levels in a society. Yet it is most important for the governments. A government which does not know what the people feel and think is in a dangerous position. This is how the communist regimes of Eastern Europe were toppled in the 1980s. The same is happening again in other regions of the world today. The governments that muzzle free speech run a risk of pushing their people to behave destructively or to rebel.

Furthermore, without free speech no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice and oppression is possible. Without free speech elections would have no meaning at all. Policies of contestants become known to the public and become responsive to public opinion only by virtue of free speech. Between elections the freely expressed opinions of citizens help restrain oppressive rule. Without this freedom it is futile to expect political freedom or consequently economic freedom.

In conclusion, I believe that the importance of free speech as a basic and valuable characteristic of a free society cannot be underestimated. It may be challenging for society to allow differences of opinion out into the open; however, the consequences of restricting free speech are likely to be more damaging in the longer term.

(285 words)

7. Some people think women should be allowed to join the army, the navy and the air force just like men.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Test Tip

At the end of any type of essay in the IELTS exam, you need to write a short conclusion. The important thing to remember is that there are no right or wrong conclusions, and the examiner will not make any judgments about your opinions, so write freely and clearly

Model answer

Whether women should be allowed to serve in the military has triggered spirited debate. Some assert that women should be allowed to defend their country in the same capacity as their male peers. Personally, I agree with their assertion for two reasons.

History has shown that women are fully capable of performing well in the military. Historically, there were a host of valiant women soldiers whose achievements really put their male counterparts to shame. One need only look at the classic examples of Joan of Arc and Mulan to see how exceptionally women could perform on the battlefield. In my observation, their determination, courage and dignity, to this day, are still being admired by male soldiers and civilians alike throughout the world.

Moreover, from an enlightened standpoint, female patriots should be granted the right to go to the front line when their motherland is involved in a war. Admittedly, gender inequality was a highly controversial issue in the twentieth century. However, now twelve years into the new millennium, women can learn and teach, work and supervise, vote and voted in most countries just like men. In light of this sweeping progress in gender equality, there is no sense in denying them the right to defend their home country when a war breaks out.

In sum, keeping military services out of bounds of women in the information age is unwarranted. I have been convinced that it is in the best interest of a nation if women are also granted equal rights in this particular arena.

(254 words)

8. Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of them in private situations.

Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people?

Give reasons for your answer.

Write at least 250 words.

Writing Tip

Structuring an essay is an important part of writing for IELTS. For a Task 2 essay, use a standard essay structure consisting of separate paragraphs: an introduction (one paragraph), followed by the main body of the essay (two or three paragraphs), then a conclusion (one paragraph).

There are various connectors that are typically used for conclusions. The first one on the list is the most unimaginative, and it is better to think of a more interesting one if you can.

In conclusion, finally, therefore, consequently, clearly, it is clear, on the whole, in other words, generally speaking

You cannot score above Band 5 if you do not use any paragraph. You cannot score above Band 6 if your paragraphs do not have a clear central topic.

Model answer

Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to be entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous people in magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include stories like these which are neither informative nor useful.

In my opinion, this type of gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several reasons. Firstly, for example, the fact that Princess Diana is going out with a sportsman is not important news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about Princess Diana it should be about her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition, journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumours. One should be able to rely on newspapers for the actual truth.

Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. But I feel it is more acceptable for them to contain some features about famous personalities. In addition to being popular reading, these stories often benefit the stars by giving free publicity to them, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe that magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract people to buy the magazine. Sensational stories, such as these, cause great unhappiness to the people concerned.

In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some articles on people's private lives.

(268 words)

9. Some people feel that certain workers like nurses, doctors and teachers are undervalued and should be paid more, especially when other people like film actors or company bosses are paid huge sums of money that are out of proportion to the importance of the work that they do.

-How far do you agree?
-What criteria should be used to decide how much people are paid?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Tips

1) It is essential that you plan your essay before actually beginning to write your answer. Some students may want to begin writing immediately as they are afraid that they will run out of time. This will not allow them to produce a well-organised essay.

2) There is more weight to Task 2 when calculating your overall writing score, so time management is important.

3) You should introduce the issue in your introduction, but avoid copying directly from the prompt. Rather, you should paraphrase the question using your own words.

4) If you write less than 250 words for Task 2, you will be penalized in the Task Response criteria.

Model answer

Nobody can deny that there are certain professionals like nurses, doctors and teachers who are essential to the fabric of society, and who should therefore be rewarded accordingly. However, this is seldom the case. When we look at the salaries and fees commanded by certain film stars and actresses and people who run large companies, this does not seem fair.

First of all, not all film stars earn huge sums of money. In fact, at any one time in the UK, for example, roughly 80 per cent of actors are out of work and on top of that the number who are paid so-called ‘telephone number fees’ is even smaller. One must also remember that the career of many actors is very short and that therefore the money they earn has to be spread over many years. The same applies to company bosses.

Stating a set of criteria as to how much people should be paid is not easy. The idea of performance-related pay is very much in vogue at the moment. Rewarding people according to qualifications has long been used as a yardstick for paying people, but it is not a consistently good measure. Another is years of relevant experience, but there are many cases where a younger person can perform a task better than someone with lots of experience.

Whatever criteria are used to assess salaries, an on-going cycle will develop. This will create pressure in other areas. This considered, generally I feel that certain key professionals should have their salaries assessed by independent review bodies on an on-going basis so that they do not fall behind.

(269 words)



10. Some people consider computers to be more of a hindrance than a help. Others believe that they have greatly increased human potential.

How could computers be considered a hindrance?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer

Look at the words or phrases in capitals. Correct your version where necessary.

It is easy to understand why some people THINK computers are more of a hindrance than a help. THINGS LIKE GETTING MY MONEY BACK FROM BANK or changing a ticket ARE EASY WITHOUT USING COMPUTER, yet once one is involved, the process can become time-consuming, complex and prone to errors. IN ALL THE OFFICES I'VE SEEN, it can sometimes seem that for every hour saved by computers, at least set of problems caused by THE COMPUTERS BREAKING DOWN. THIS WASTES A LOT OF TIME.

ALSO, over-enthusiastic use of computers in the home has the potential to divert large amounts of free time away from THINGS LIKE socialising, tasking exercise or having dinner with your family. Spending a lot of leisure time looking at a computer monitor screen HINDERS achieving other goals in life, LIKE being healthy and socially integrated.

However, it would be simplistic to SAY that computers ARE BAD. THEY HAVE CAUSED ENORMOUS IMPROVEMENTS in communications, medicine, design, education and LOTS OF OTHER THINGS. THESE DAYS, virtually EVERYTHING WE KNOW is as far away as the nearest internet point. Computers have brought about a profound change in the way most people in RICH COUNTRIES live. (Although it should not be forgotten that the majority of the inhabitants of this planet have never EVEN USED A COMPUTER ONCE.)

THERE ARE DEFINITELY MORE GOOD THINGS THAN BAD THINGS ABOUT COMPUTERS. The question is not DO computers help or hinder, but DO WE always use THEM in a sensible and responsible way?