ielts essay writing task 2 band 9

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

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

Write at least 250 words.

Arts and Entertainment , Culture and Traditions , Task 2 essay , Writing samples , Writing topics

The writing sample displayed here is the work of IELTS candidates and has been assessed by our team for guidance and practice purposes. These scores are not official IELTS scores.

Candidate’s Response:

It is undeniable that recreational activities are on a continuous change. While I accept that social trends play a key role in people’s favourite leisure activities, I believe that we ultimately choose the entertainments that is to our tastes.

Due to technological development, the number of entertaining activities is continuously increasing, and this undoubtedly affects popular hobbies in all human societies over time. Cheap international flights, for instance, have made overseas travel possible for millions of people, and consequently, International trip has become a global trend. Today, many people prefer to travel abroad rather than take a domestic trip, while some of them do not even notice the reason that they travel for. This group of people often decide to travel abroad because they are unconsciously affected by hundreds of advertisements of traveling companies that they watch every day. A personal example of this would be when I traveled to Dubai in 2017, and at the end of my trip I realized that Dubai was not even close to the city that I had seen in the advertisements.

Alongside all new entertainments, there are countless old yet popular hobbies, such as going to the beach or gardening. As far as I am concerned, no matter whether you are elderly or young, adult or adolescent, you would definitely enjoy surfing, paddle boarding or only lying on the warm sands of the beach, while sunshine caresses your skin and a cool breeze strokes your cheeks. The same is true if we look at gardening. Gardening has always been amongst the most favourite hobbies for elderly members of almost every modern human societies. These all-time popular hobbies show us that we are free to choose what we really want to do in our spare time, regardless of the abundance of newly-invented hobbies.

In conclusion, I believe that while social trends have a profound impact on people’s interests towards entertainment, we finally opt to do the kinds of hobbies that we really enjoy.

Presented By: Shahab Hosseinzadeh

November 11, 2023

Assessor’s Comment

Kasra sharifan, ielts writing band descriptor:, the ielts assessor.

Co-founder and CFO

British Council certi f ied English teacher, IDP-trained IELTS instructor , content writer, editor-in-chief, co-founder, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at IELTS Juice Online Academy.

A very good sample

Read similar samples

IELTS Writing Task 2 essay sample 3210 – Band 6.5

Economy and Business , Policies and Government , Society and Community , Task 2 essay , Writing samples

In recent years, many small local shops have closed because customers travel to large shopping centers or malls to do their shopping.

Is this a positive or a negative development?

IELTS Writing Task 2 essay sample 3203 – Band 6.5

Health and Well-being , Sports and Leisure , Task 2 essay , Writing samples , Writing topics

A healthy person is often described as someone who has a good diet, gets lots of exercise, and avoids stress.

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

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IELTS Essays – Band 9

IELTS Writing – Band 9 IELTS Sample Essays

IELTS Essay Samples of Band 9

• 27 Comments
• IELTS Essays - Band 9 , IELTS Writing Samples

Last updated: May 3, 2023

Here you can find IELTS Essay samples of Band 9, written by a native English speaker and a former IELTS examiner. Robert Nicholson is the co-author of ‘High Scorer’s Choice’ IELTS Practice Tests book series, created in collaboration with Simone Braverman, the founder of this website. New essays are being added weekly.

Click on one of the topics below to jump to essays on that topic.

Crime and Punishment Education Environment Family and Children Global Issues Government and Laws Health Housing and Town Planning Language Media and Advertising Science Society and Social Matters Sport and Exercise Tourism Work

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Crime and Punishment

Former prisoners commit crimes after release (reasons and solutions) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Education

Schools should teach their students how to survive financially in the world today (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1 Some people believe that teaching music in schools is vital, while others think it is unnecessary (opinion) – Sample essay 2 Teachers should be required to conform to a dress code (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3 Many people nowadays travel abroad for their university education (discuss) – Sample essay 4 Some schools insist that students have laptops in class (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 5 Should governments or teachers be responsible for what is to be taught in schools (opinion)? – Sample essay 6 Do schools still need to teach handwriting and mental mathematics skills (opinion)? – Sample essay 7 Should boys and girls be educated separately (opinion)? – Sample essay 8 Should school children be given homework (opinion)? – Sample essay 9 Schoolchildren today take part in short work experience sessions instead of school (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 10 Artificial Intelligence will take over the role of teachers (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 11

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Environment

Wildlife population around the world has decreased by around 50 per cent, what can we do to protect wildlife? – Sample essay 1 Increases in fuel prices are the only way to reduce world consumption of fuel (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2 Ending the world’s reliance on fossil fuels will be a positive development (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Family and Children

Some parents think that children must do house chores (opinion) – Sample essay 1 Is using physical force to discipline children acceptable (opinion)? – Sample essay 2 Women, not men, should stay at home to care for children (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Global Issues

Some people believe that the world’s increase in population is unsustainable, while others think it is necessary and beneficial (opinion) – Sample essay 1 The world today is a safer place and governments should stop spending large amounts of money on their armed forces (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2 With the scale of globalisation today, it would be best to have a single world currency (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 3 There is a moral necessity today for the richer countries of the world to help the poorer countries develop (agree/disagree) Sample essay 4

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Government and Laws

Should the government put a tax on fast food to reduce obesity (opinion)? – Sample essay 1 Some people believe that the problem of illegal drugs can be solved by legalising all drugs (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2 Unemployment payments encourage people not to seek work (opinion) – Sample essay 3 Individuals should be responsible for funding their own retirement (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4 Households should have a government-imposed limit on the amount of rubbish they produce (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 5

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Health

Some say that people should diet and exercise to lose weight, while others think they should eat better and change their lifestyle (opinion) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Housing and Town Planning

Today’s governments struggle to create enough housing for increasing populations while protecting the environment (opinion) – Sample essay 2 In some countries private cars are now banned from city centres (advantages/disadvantages) – Sample essay 3 Is banning cars from city centres a positive or negative development? – Sample essay 4 The advantages and disadvantages of high-rise apartment living – Sample essay 5 Some people like to own their home while others prefer to rent it (discuss) – Sample essay 6

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Language

Is learning a foreign language essential or a waste of time (opinion)? – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Media and Advertising

The number of advertisements for charities is increasing, what is causing this? – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Science

Breakthroughs in medical science are the most significant advances over the last two centuries (opinion) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Society and Social Matters

Some people believe that everyone has a right to access to the Internet and governments should provide it free (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 1 Should copyright materials such as music, films and books be freely available on the Internet (opinion)? – Sample essay 2 Can the society cope with the larger number of elderly people and how? – Sample essay 3 Athletes and entertainers’ enormous salaries reflect our dependence on entertainment (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4 Is it acceptable that enormous sums are paid for pieces of art when many people around the world live in poverty? – Sample essay 5 Everybody should pay a small amount from their income to help people in poverty (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 6 Only people over 18 years old should be allowed to use social media (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 7 Libraries are not a necessity anymore because of the digital resources available today (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 8 Is fashion a significant part of society, or a waste of time and money (opinion) – Sample essay 9 Traffic on roads has become a problem in nearly every country in the world (solutions) – Sample essay 10

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Sport and Exercise

Some people think that sport in schools is a waste of time and resources, while others believe it is a vital part of education (opinion) – Sample essay 1

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Tourism

Should governments impose extra taxes to restrict tourism in order to reduce pollution? – Sample essay 1 In some cities the numbers of tourists seem overwhelming, why is this happening? – Sample essay 2

IELTS Model Essays on the Topic of Work

What is the best motivation for workers – salary, job satisfaction or helping others? – Sample essay 1 Having a salaried job is better than being self-employed (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 2 Is studying at university better than getting a job straight after school (opinion)? – Sample essay 3 People today find their lives more and more dominated by their jobs (agree/disagree) – Sample essay 4

IELTS essay, topic: Traffic on roads has become a problem in nearly every country in the world (solutions)

• IELTS Essays - Band 9

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 3 General Training book, Practice Test 13

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Traffic on roads has become a problem in nearly every country in the world. What can be done to reduce the amount of traffic at a society level? What could individuals do to help?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Band 9 Essay

In nearly every city around the world, the volume of traffic on roads has become a significant problem. Society’s dependence on the car has led to nearly all families owning at least one car and often two. Changing this situation will not be easy, but a series of social reforms and education could allow the numbers of cars on today’s roads to be reduced.

To decrease traffic, multiple social reforms could be imposed. First of all, fuel prices could be raised, while simultaneously public transportation improved. The aim would be to make more people rely on public transportation. Another method to decrease traffic in cities would be to decrease the number of parking slots in the city and increase the cost for these. This method also aims at encouraging the usage of public transportation, as it would make public transport more appealing than parking. Yet another social reform could be to give tax breaks, if proven, that the person is using public transport on a regular basis.

In addition to social reforms, each individual would need to be educated to increase awareness of the environment. This could be achieved through addressing the matter using multiple media. Within this campaign, the environmental as well as the individual benefits of decreasing the usage of cars would have to be highlighted. As a result, the likelihood of voluntary cooperation would increase, because people would become motivated to reduce their reliance on cars.

In conclusion, only when individuals become aware can social reforms function properly. Success would mean more people using public transport and fewer people using cars. When this goal is achieved, stress on the environment will be decreased.

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Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2: Achieve a Band 9

These words and phrases work for both the Academic and General Training IELTS exams!

IELTS Writing Task 2 Vocabulary: Band 9 Factors

Before we dive into vocabulary, let’s take a quick look at what, exactly, IETLS Writing Task 2 is evaluating. As the IELTS rubric shows, you’re evaluated on four different areas:

• Task response (25%)
• Coherence and cohesion (25%)
• Lexical resource (25%)
• Grammatical range and accuracy (25%)

Lexical resource measures your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary without errors and in proper context in your written responses. In other words, vocabulary alone isn’t enough to get you a band 9 score. However, using a variety of words that are appropriate for band 9 can add to your lexical resource score, raising it overall.

That, however, comes with a few caveats. First of all, you must use the terms correctly . There’s zero benefits to using complex terms incorrectly—you won’t get extra credit for including them.

Second of all, you need to use a variety of words and phrases . If you can (correctly) use the term “Conversely,” that’s awesome—unless you use it five times in a single essay. In that case, it’s likely to hurt your score more than it helps.

Keeping that in mind, let’s dive into some advanced vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2!

Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2: From Band 5 to Band 9

Again, keep in mind that the IELTS Writing Task 2 vocabulary band 9 terms I’m using here aren’t a guarantee of scoring in band 9. They are, however, advanced phrases that you can use to present more complex ideas. For each one, take a look at the example using it to see what it looks like in practice!

Ready? Here are some examples of advanced vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2 in different categories.

Examples of Introductions and Openings Vocabulary

Examples of stating an opinion vocabulary, examples of transition vocabulary, examples of “giving an example” vocabulary, examples of concluding vocabulary and phrases, more ielts writing task 2 advanced vocabulary resources.

Remember, the best way to get an IELTS Writing Task 2 band 9 is to work on improving all aspects of your writing. So what are your next steps in learning to incorporate advanced vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2? Check out the following resources to boost your score!

• Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing Rubric
• The Best IELTS Task 2 Writing Template
• Top Tips to Score 8+ in IELTS Writing Task 2

Eliot Friesen-Meyers is the Senior Curriculum Manager for Magoosh IELTS and TOEFL. He attended Goshen College (B.A.), New York University (M.A.), and Harvard University (M.T.S.), gaining experience and skills in curriculum development, ESOL instruction, online teaching and learning, and IELTS and TOEFL test prep education. Eliot’s teaching career started with Literacy Americorps in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later, taught ESL programs at Northeastern University, University of California-Irvine, and Harold Washington College. Eliot was also a speaker at the 2019 TESOL International Conference . With over 10 years of experience, he understands the challenges students face and loves helping them overcome those challenges. Come join Eliot on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram . Recent blog posts Complete Guide to IELTS Writing Task 1 Complete Guide to IELTS Writing Task 2

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Unlock Band 9 In Writing Task 2: 15 Model Essays & Pro Tips From Cambridge IELTS Consultants

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Maximize your chance of getting a high band on the IELTS Writing Test with this book! This book includes Band 9 model essays, full explanations of different essay types, practice tasks, and a summary of the 10 most common mistakes made in the IELTS Writing Exam. Improve your English and ace the IELTS exam with our helpful advice!

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IELTS Podcast

Pass IELTS with expert help.

An ex-examiner reviews a Band 9 Task 2 Essay

October 6, 2022 By Ben Worthington

Listen to the audio version here

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In this tutorial Robert, an ex-IELTS examiner reviews a band 9 task 2 essay .

You will learn:

What the examiner is looking out for 

The criteria used to award band 9 in ielts writing task 2.

• A paragraph-by-paragraph review of the sample band 9 essay
• What you need to do to reach band 9 level

Read the question below: 

Some people believe that professionals such as doctors and engineers should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

This is a classic “discuss both views” essay, ideally suited to a 4-paragraph answer: 

• Introduction, where we paraphrase the task and state our point of view. 
• Two paragraphs, each devoted to the two sides of the argument
• Finally, a conclusion. 

The best and fairest way to grade an IELTS essay is to read it at least twice. The first time to obtain a good overall impression of all four categories namely:

• Task Response
• Cohesion and Coherence
• Lexical Resource 
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA)

The second time in detail while noting and grading each part using the writing test descriptors. 

Working in reverse, let’s start with GRA. A Band 9 in GRA states that sentences are essentially error-free, and structured in suitable mixes of the complex and less complex. Verb tenses should be used appropriately and some good examples of, say, conditionals, modal verbs and passives. 

Lexical range shows that the writer has a wide and deep vocabulary with proficient use of collocations and the use of some idiomatic phrases. 

A Band 9 in cohesion and coherence is when linking words like although and however are used appropriately but never overused.

Task response is measured by the number of ideas and how they are put together. In paragraphs 2 and 3, points are made and supported. 

A paragraph-by-paragraph review of Band 9 Task 2 essay

Let’s take this essay example paragraph by paragraph, adding comments with regard to each category, and looking at strong points that are worth mentioning.

Paragraph 1:

Should domestically trained specialists in areas such as medicine and engineering be obliged to pursue their careers in their homeland or should they be given the choice of working abroad? In this essay, I shall discuss both sides of this controversial issue before going on to state why I tend to agree with the need for them to remain in their countries at least in the short-term. 

A very strong opening paragraph, paraphrasing the task and then outlining the writer’s views. What makes it a Band 9? Well, the use of the question form in the first sentence is impressive instead of the more common IELTS essay opening of writing a statement. There is also a clear point of view. Vocabulary and cohesion are very well-handled through synonyms: trained specialists for professionals; homeland for their countries; this controversial issue for the two opposing views, to mention just the more obvious features. Both sentences are complex and contain what many consider to be more advanced structures: passives should be obliged to; use of the gerund after the preposition, before going on.

Paragraph 2:

Those in favour of making graduates from these highly skilled professions stay and work in the country where they studied, often stress that the cost of higher education in many countries is subsidised by taxpayers and that thanks to government funding, talented students from any background will be able to realise their potential. The argument, therefore, is that these alumni owe a debt of gratitude to the society that helped them. Furthermore, in many developing countries, the need to maximize all available resources, including the human variety, is of the utmost importance. These countries cannot afford to lose such valuable talent, especially after investing in it.

For Task Response, the number of inter-related, logical points makes all the difference between a Band 6 or 7 and a 9. Here we see how government funding through taxpayers’ contributions is connected to creating opportunities for all and that, in consequence, those benefitted by this should pay that back through work after graduating especially in developing countries that need to use as much local talent as they have available. The grammatical structures, including the use of modality (cannot, will be able to) cohesive devices connecting the points made (therefore, furthermore) along with precise vocabulary (subsidised by, government funding, realise their potential, owe a debt of gratitude, maximise all available resources) showing native-like command of collocation, all make this paragraph a Band 9.

Paragraph 3:

However, there are many who believe that it must be left to the individual to choose whether to stay or re-locate in another country. After devoting years of their lives to study while perhaps neglecting personal relationships and running up considerable debt, seeking opportunities elsewhere to enjoy a better lifestyle and earn a higher salary as well as the chance to further their academic and professional careers, should not be denied. Besides, if there are no restrictions on people from other walks of life, such as those in business or even the arts such as music, dance and acting, from migrating, then why should doctors and engineers be prevented?

Similar arguments as with Paragraph 2 in terms of how the viewpoint is put together through sophisticated vocabulary including idiomatic phrases (people from other walks of life), complex sentence and inobtrusive cohesion (however, besides, then). Sentence complexity and grammatical structures again stand out with modal verbs in the passive form (must be left, should not be denied) and a conditional sentence (if there are no restrictions …). 

Paragraph 4

There seem to be valid reasons on both sides of the argument and ideally, everyone should be free to decide where they wish to live and work. However, I believe that particularly in the case of developing countries, professionals in key areas most closely related to development, such as health, engineering and education, must make some kind of contribution even if that might be limited to, say, a minimum of three years’ service to the state upon graduating. 360

The essay concludes by repeating the point of view in more detail through a final complex sentence that again contains fine examples of collocations (valid reasons, key areas, make some kind of contribution). 

What you need to do to reach Band 9 Level

If you look through the Band descriptors for each of the 4 parts the examiner is checking, then it does meet all the criteria to score a maximum 9. In order to reach band 9 level in your writing, you must first understand the criteria and ensure your answer meets all the criteria adequately.

Click here for more Sample Band 9 Essays

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As the founder of IELTSPodcast, Ben started his journey as an English educator in 2006. Ben and his team of teachers provide students with expert advice, twice a week to cover the writing, reading, listening and speaking sections of the IELTS exam.

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Get IELTS Band 9 Academic Task 2 Writing (pdf Ebook) by Cambridge IELTS Consultants

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• 1.4 Buy from Amazon 

Are you taking the IELTS exam? Are you worried about the writing test – especially the Task 2 essays?  Are you not sure which of the many IELTS writing task 2 books you should buy? Do you know about the different Task types, and how to answer them? Are you here looking for the best essay book for IELTS?

We are here to help!

This IELTS essay book gives you 15 perfect model essays for the Task 2 Academic Writing Test. Each essay has a task, an essay, and comments from the examiner explaining why it would get a Band 9. This book also has a full explanation of the different types of essays you may get in the exam, and practice tasks for you. We also provide a summary of the 10 most common mistakes that people make in the IELTS writing exam. This may surprise you! By following the advice in this book, you can maximise your chance of getting a high band in IELTS writing, even if your English is not perfect. This is truly one of the best IELTS essay writing books on the market!

About the Authors :

Cambridge IELTS Consultants are a team of IELTS trainers and past examiners based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. They have many years experience of preparing students for IELTS at University level, marking the essays and developing course books to guide candidates through the Cambridge IELTS process. They really are the experts!

Introduction from the Authors

For many people, the most difficult part of the IELTS Academic exam is the Task 2 essay in the writing test. This is because few people understand the different types of Task 2 essay, and few people take the time to read examples of high quality Task 2 essays before they take the exam. We are here to help! In this book we show you how to analyze the Task 2 question, and we explain the different types of essay you may be asked to write. Most importantly, this book provides you with fifteen examples of Task 2 essays, all written to Band 9 standard. Each essay also has examiner’s comments, which explain why the writing is Band 9 level. At the end of the book, there are a number of practice tasks for you to use. You should analyze the tasks and decide on which type they are Then try to write your own essay in forty minutes, as you would in the exam. There is a key to the practice tasks, and also a summary of the ten most common mistakes in IELTS academic writing. Make sure you avoid these mistakes!

If you need a dictionary while reading this book, we recommend the free Cambridge Dictionaries Online from Cambridge University Press.

Don’t just trust to luck in your IELTS exam – the key is expert advice!

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User’s Review

For the first time I know how to structure my writing in the first part of Ielts writing test. Very practical very useful. Though I encountered a different type in my later Ielts exam, I still used the methods in this book, which helped me save time and improve my confidence in writing test.

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Also check :

• Tips to write introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2
• Tips to write great writing essay
• IELTS Sample essays
• IELTS Writing task 2 Tips
• IELTS Writing tips
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• Band 9 essays
• Advantage and Disadvantage Essays
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors

Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

Eplore other Writing Task 2 Articles

Courtney Miller

Post your Comments

27 comments.

Reynold Anthony O Connor

Posted on May 24, 2020

Pls mail me the copy of the above mentioned book

Posted on Mar 4, 2020

I can’t download your Task 2 writing essays ebook. please mail it to me. [email protected]

Nasrat Maiwand Noormal

Posted on Jun 25, 2019

please send me the book [email protected]

Posted on Feb 26, 2019

Hi！May I ask you to do me a favor and send me a copy please? The Email address is [email protected] Thank you!

eogbameyselby

Posted on Feb 14, 2019

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Rishi Pareek

Posted on Jan 22, 2019

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Posted on Oct 23, 2018

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saifulislamjkkniu

Posted on Oct 9, 2018

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Posted on Sep 19, 2018

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Posted on Jul 13, 2018

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syed taqiuddin

Posted on Jul 1, 2018

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IELTS Material

Posted on Dec 21, 2018

I have updated all, you can easy to download 🙂

i need this book can u send it on my mail

Posted on May 30, 2018

[email protected]

Alfred Paul

Posted on Apr 4, 2018

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Posted on Mar 20, 2018

I would like to get a copy of the file, please. There are missing pages on the available one. Thank you. [email protected]

Posted on Feb 4, 2018

hi i cant download the Ielts books i need 1-12.pls sent them to my email. preparing for the English test in March. thanks

shiny charles

Posted on Feb 3, 2018

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IELTS Writing Task 2: ✍️ Everything You Need to Know

When helping students prepare for the IELTS test, one of the biggest fears is how to do well in IELTS Writing Task 2. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the second part of the writing test, where you are presented with a point of view, argument or problem and asked to write an essay in response. Your essay should be in a formal style, at least 250 words in length and you should aim to complete it in under 40 minutes. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Everything You Need to Know

In this video, I’ll outline exactly what you must do to create an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to IELTS or if you’ve failed the exam before – I’ve broken everything down into a simple 3-step process that anyone can use to improve their scores! Watch the video above to find out what they are.

5 Steps to a Band 7 in IELTS Writing Task 2

1. Understand the question.

You must understand the question before you attempt to answer it. This way, you’ll know exactly what the examiner is looking for. One of the biggest mistakes students make is not answering the question fully, which stops them from getting a score higher than a Band 5.

To analyse the question , you must first identify the question type, then identify the keywords in the question and finally identify the instructions words. This will help you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to do with the question.

2. Plan your answer.

The students who get the highest marks in Writing Task 2 always plan their answers for up to 10 minutes. Planning helps you organise your ideas and structure your essay before you write it, saving you time and helping you produce a clear and coherent essay.

3. Write an introduction.

The introduction should answer the question directly. This tells the examiner that you know what you are doing straight away and helps you write your main body paragraphs.

4. Write the main body paragraphs.

This is where you give the examiner more detail . You do this by stating your main points and supporting these with explanations and relevant examples.

5. Write a conclusion.

In your conclusion , you should provide a summary of what you already said in the rest of your essay.

4 Ways to Improve your Score in IELTS Writing Task 2

Many people know they need to improve their writing skills but don’t know how to do it. Here are 4 ways you can boost your score in Writing Task 2:

1. Understand the exam.

You must first understand what IELTS Writing Task 2 is, what you are expected to do and how to give the examiners what they want. This is the first stage and one that is often overlooked.

There are many online resources, often with conflicting and poor-quality information, so finding a reliable source of information is key.

2. Identify your weak areas.

If your car breaks down, you would try and identify which part caused the problem. If you get sick, your doctor will run tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same. We must first identify WHY you are not getting the score you need before we can help you improve.

However, be very careful! You wouldn’t ask the average man on the street for medical advice, so make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has the expertise to help you with this.

3. Fix the problems.

Now that we know what the problems are, we must fix them.

If your grammar needs work, fix those issues. If your vocabulary is lacking, work on fixing this issue.

Just as a good doctor can help you fix a medical problem, a good IELTS teacher can help you fix your specific issues.

4. Practice and get feedback.

Practice alone will not help you. It is an essential part of your preparation, but you must also get feedback on your work if you are really going to improve.

You wouldn’t try to teach yourself how to drive without an instructor, would you?

Find someone who will give you accurate and helpful feedback on your work. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to the last stage.

Now that you have understood what you need to do, identified the exact areas you need to work on, improved those areas, and received feedback on your work, you are now ready to get the IELTS Writing Task 2 score you deserve.

Writing Task 2 Structures 

I want to warn you about structures because they are not a magic wand that will help you automatically get a higher score. They WILL help you, but please realise that they are just a small part of your overall score.

These structures provide a sentence-by-sentence template for all the main Task 2 question types, making your job much easier on exam day.

• Task 2 Essay Structures

Essential Writing Task 2 Skills 

No matter how good your English is, you must still learn IELTS writing skills before taking the Writing Task 2 test. These helpful guides will take you through each of these skills step-by-step:

• How to Plan an Essay

Making a good plan actually saves you time when you write your essay. This guide will show you how to plan and write a clear essay every time.

• How to Think of Relevant Ideas

This guide provides 5 different methods to help you quickly think of relevant ideas that are directly linked to the question.

• How to Write a Complex Sentence

Complex sentences help you boost your score for grammar. They are actually very simple to write and are not complex at all.

• How to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is one of the essential IELTS skills for all parts of the IELTS test. You should paraphrase the question in the very first sentence of your essay to help boost your vocabulary score in Writing Task 2.

• How to Write a Supporting Paragraph

Supporting paragraphs are the main body paragraphs and are the meat in the sandwich. This is where you provide the detail the examiner is looking for in the form of explanations and examples.

• How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement tells the examiner your opinion. Many IELTS Writing Task 2 questions specifically ask for your opinion, and if you don’t write it clearly, you have not answered the question properly. This article shows you how, where and when to give your opinion.

How many words should I write?

Around 250 words? Exactly 250 words or over 250 words? How many words over? How do I know how many words I have? Will I lose marks if I write too many words? This article answers all those questions.

• How to Understand and Analyse Any Question

A critical part of answering any question. This article shows you how to break down any Task 2 question and identify the keywords, micro-keywords and instruction words to help you answer the question effectively.

• How to Write a Great Introduction

The introduction is the first thing the examiner reads; therefore, we must give them a good first impression. I share a very specific sentence-by-sentence structure in this article to help you write introductions quickly and effectively.

• Task 2 Marking Criteria 

Do you know how Task 2 is marked? What is the difference between a Band 5 and a Band 8 answer? This article breaks down the marking criteria and explains it in simple language so you can give the IELTS examiners exactly what they want.

• How to Write a Conclusion

A good conclusion should be a summary of your main points. The conclusion is the last thing the examiner reads, and if you can write a good one, you will leave them with a very good impression.

• Using Examples

Each of your supporting paragraphs should have a specific example that supports and illustrates your main point. This is an essential skill to learn if you want to get one of the higher band scores.

• Cohesive Devices

Cohesive devices (sometimes called linking words) are one of the most misunderstood and misused elements of writing. Therefore, you must learn how to use them and when to use them.

• The Danger of Synonyms

While synonyms are very important, they can also really reduce your mark if used incorrectly.

• Paragraphing and Editing

This article will show you how to make your writing as clear and as easy to read as possible. It will also advise you on whether to use a pen or pencil.

• IELTS Writing Task 2: 8 Steps to Success

Read this blog now to access our 61-page Task 2 strategy.

• IELTS Writing Tips

I have compiled these tips after years of teaching IELTS, and all of them have been approved by IELTS examiners.

• Coherence and Cohesion

This is a video lesson that shows you in practical terms how to improve your coherence and cohesion score.

Writing Task 2 Common Topics 

Knowing the common topics can help you prepare for the test more efficiently. Here are the 10 most common topics over the last few years. Studying hard is great, but don’t forget to study smart.

The article below will show you the top 10 most common IELTS topics.

• Most Common Task 2 Topics 

Full IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Lessons 

Here are some lessons that I have used when teaching students about IELTS Writing Task 2. I have changed them so that you can easily learn from home. They are very long but contain all the necessary information combined with the skills above.

• Agree or Disagree (Opinion) Lesson

In this lesson, we look at how to tackle an ‘agree or disagree’ question. Many people worry about whether to take one side of the other or discuss both sides. Additionally, people also worry about how to deal with ‘To what extent’ question types. We allay all of these fears in this lesson.

• Discussion Essay Lesson

‘Discuss both views’ questions often confuse people because you are asked to do many things in one essay. As such, it is very important to remember that the question asks you to discuss BOTH views AND give YOUR opinion.

• Problem and Solution Essay Lesson

These questions are much easier than you think. You probably discuss problems and solutions in your day-to-day life all the time. Keep it simple.

• Advantages and Disadvantages Lesson 

There are a couple of different types of advantages and disadvantages questions. This lesson will show you how to answer them.

• Writing Task 2 Exercise with Video

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, it is important to practice to improve.

• From Band 6.5 to 8 Demo Lesson

This is my most comprehensive free lesson on IELTS Writing Task 2. We show you how we took one VIP student from Band 6.5 to an amazing 8.

Sample Answers

You must have some good examples to compare your writing and see if you are on the right track. Click the link below for lots of sample answers and over 100 questions.

Task 2 Sample Answers

• Agree or Disagree Sample Essays
• Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
• Latest Real Task 2 Questions
• Official Sample Test Questions
• Cambridge Sample Questions
• Free Practice Test
• How To Use Task 2 Samples
• Recent Confusing Questions
• IELTS Writing Practice Guide

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essential Information

• You must write an essay in response to a question.
• You must write 250 words or more.
• Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your total mark on the Writing test.
• You should spend around 40 minutes on this part of the test.
• General Training and Academic are essentially the same for Task 2. However, they are different for Task 1.
• There are certain types of questions that you will be asked, for example, opinion, discussion etc. See below for more detail on these.
• Task Achievement (25%)
• Coherence and Cohesion (25%)
• Lexical Resource (25%)
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%)

Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar is one of the four things you will be marked on in the Writing Task 2 test. Finding out what your common grammar mistakes are and then fixing them is a very powerful way to boost your score in this area. Here are some common grammar mistakes I have found after making hundreds of tests.

• Top 10 Grammar Mistakes

For most IELTS students, the problem is not grammar in general. In fact, it is usually just 1-2 problem areas. Therefore, when you fix these main weaknesses, you’ll be able to improve your grammar and your writing score dramatically.

• Using Personal Pronouns

Hint- They aren’t as big of a deal as you think.

See the interactive tool below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about IELTS Writing Task 2: 

IELTS Writing Task 2 FAQs

How can i improve my writing.

You will find all the resources you need on our Writing Task 2 page. Click the link below:

Writing Task 2

We also have two Task 2 courses for those that need to improve their Task 2 skills and strategy. They are both based online and completely free of charge. Learn more about them below:

Task 2 5 Day Challenge

Task 2 Essay Builder

If you need serious help or personalised feedback, you should check out our VIP Course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name here:

How can I get a Band 7, 8 or 9?

The answer to this question is different for every individual IELTS student, as it depends on a number of factors, including your work ethic, English skills and exam strategy. You'll find a guide to answering this question in this article

If you need serious help with improving your IELTS scores, you should check out our online writing course. There is a waiting list, but you can add your name by clicking the link below:

Can you correct my writing?

Please click the link below and it will give you all the information you need about our writing correction service:

Writing Correction Service

Do you have any sample answers?

Yes, you will find them at the link below:

Will using 'high level' or 'academic' words help me improve my score?

Probably not.

Read my recent article about IELTS vocabulary here:

5 Things You Need to Know about IELTS Vocabulary

Can I use idioms?

No, you should not write idioms for Task 2.

Can I use personal pronouns?

You should avoid using personal pronouns, but it is fine to use them when giving your personal opinion.

Do you write a conclusion for Task 2?

Yes, it is very difficult to get a good score in Task 2 if you haven't finished your essay with a conclusion. You will find an in-depth lesson on conclusions here:

How to Write an Effective Task 2 Conclusion

How many paragraphs should I write?

Most IELTS task 2 essays follow the same basic four paragraph structure:

• Introduction
• Supporting Paragraph 1
• Supporting Paragraph 2

However, you can find more comprehensive help with structuring your Task 2 essays here:

5 Day Challenge

Do I need to plan my essay?

I would highly recommend planning your essay. A good plan acts like a map that guides you through the essay, ensuring that you give the examiner exactly what they need to award you the score you need. You can find help with planning your essays here: How to Plan an IELTS Essay

You must write at least 250 words in Writing Task 2.

I would suggest that you aim to write around 270-280 words in total. Aiming for 20-30 words more than the required amount makes you more likely to reach the word limit without setting an unrealistic goal.

Will I lose marks if I don't write enough words?

Yes, if you don't write the required number of words, you will lose marks in 'Task Achievement' for not answering the question fully. Read more here .

Can I use contractions?

No, should not use contractions when you are writing an academic essay.

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IELTS Writing Samples Band 9

More and more people no longer read newspapers or watch tv programs to get news. they get news about the world through the internet. is this a positive or negative development, nowadays most people are not as fit and active, as they were in the past. what are the main causes of this situation suggest some possible solutions, nowadays most people are not as fit and active, as they were in the past. what are the main causes of this situation suggest some possible solutions., some people say that e books and modern technology will totally replace traditional newspapers and magazines. to what extent do you agree or disagree., many offenders commit more crimes after they serve the first punishment. what does this happen, and what measures can be taken to solve this problem, in some countries, celebrities complain about the way the media publicize their private lives. some people say that they should accept it as part of their fame. do you agree, currently, many people fail to balance the work with the other parts of lives. what are the reasons and how to solve it, some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy for them. discuss both these views and give your own opinion, some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. to what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement, many people think that the government should spend more money on providing faster and cheaper means of public transport.some others think that there are important factors to take in consideration like (fuel,cost and environment) discuss both views and give your opinion, some people think that too much money has been spent looking after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead. to what extent do you agree or disagree, vaccinating children against preventable diseases is not only unnecessary but also dangerous. to what extent do you agree or disagree, many people believe that teachers and students in the classroom will no longer exist by the year 2050. to what extent do you agree or disagree, some feel that it is impossible for a country to be economically progressive and environmentally friendly at the same time. others disagree with this view. discuss both views and give your opinion., wa aa te some people think that with combined effort on part of the government and society crime can be completely eradicated while others argue that this is completely hypothetical and that crime has always been present in societies even in ancient times. which do you agree with use specific reasons and examples to support your answer., it has been said, "not all learning takes place in the classroom." compare and contrast knowledge gained from personal experience with knowledge gained from classroom instruction. in your opinion, which source is more important why, some people think cities are the best place to live in . others prefer to live in countryside. discuss both views and give your opinion, some people think cities are the best place to live. others prefer to live in the countryside. discuss both views and give your opinion., nowadays an increasing number of people change their careers during their work life period. what are the reasons behind this trend is it a generally positive or negative development.

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