ielts essay sample pdf

50+ IELTS Essay Samples for 8 Bands with PDF

Learn how IELTS helps improve English language skills & why language skills are important for success. Read our IELTS Essay Samples today!

In modern education, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) helps check how well you speak and understand English. It’s important because English is a global language. IELTS tests your language skills, which are needed for school and work. This essay looks at different “IELTS Essay Samples” to show why language skills matter. You can learn how to use English well for success in your studies and job.

Table of Contents

Important Tips to Write IELTS Essay

• Understand the Question : Grasp the topic and requirements.
• Plan Your Ideas : Organize your thoughts before writing.
• Clear Introduction : Start with a brief, focused introduction.
• Use Examples : Support your points with specific examples.
• Stay Focused : Stick to the topic and main argument.
• Structured Paragraphs : Divide your essay into clear paragraphs.
• Formal Language : Write in a formal, academic style.
• Vocabulary and Grammar : Use varied vocabulary and correct grammar.
• Transition Words : Connect ideas using transitional phrases.
• Balanced Argument : Present both sides if required, then express your view.
• Summarize in Conclusion : Recap main points in your conclusion.
• Stay within Word Limit : Follow the recommended word count.
• Proofread : Check for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Time Management : Allocate time for planning, writing, and editing.
• Practice : Regularly write essays to improve your skills.

Types of IELTS Essays

• Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)
• Discussion Essay (Advantages/Disadvantages)
• Problem-Solution Essay
• Advantages and Disadvantages Essay
• Direct Question Essay
• Two-Part Question Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• Process Essay
• Comparison Essay
• Pie Chart/Bar Graph/Line Graph/Map Essay
• Mixed Graph Essay
• Double Question Essay
• Opinion and Discussion Essay

To improve your understanding of writing IELTS essays, consider reading the IELTS Essay Samples below for a band score of 8.

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35 Sample Band 9 IELTS Essays

Take a look at these 35 sample Band 9 IELTS essays for writing task 2 of the IELTS exam . Task 2 can cover a wide range of essay topics for the IELTS writing task section of the test, so preparation is key. Use the following samples when preparing your IELTS essays to see how close you are to a band 9!

These IELTS band 9 essay samples will help you highlight your mistakes and improve your writing band 9 level.

See the below IELTS essay writing sample questions and answers to practice for your IELTS writing task 2 .

You will find the IELTS essay questions and answers categorised by the following essay types.

• Do you agree/disagree
• Discuss both views and give your opinion
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages
• Discuss the problems and possible solutions
• Is this a positive or a negative development

For a FREE ebook of our top 10 IELTS Band 9 essay samples in PDF, click here!

1. agree or disagree .

• Some people believe that technology has made man more social. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• Some people think that a person improves their intellectual skills more when doing group activities. To what extent do you agree? Use specific details and examples to explain your view.
• In some countries, the number of shootings increase because many people have guns at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
• Some people believe that international sporting events are the ideal opportunity to show the world the qualities of the hosting nation. Others believe that these events are mainly a large unjustifiable expense. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Crime is a big problem in the world; many believe that nothing can be done to prevent it. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.
• Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.
• Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations. However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer nations in such areas. To what extent do you agree?
• Advances in health and biology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
• The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constantly buying more up-to-date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise, they are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your experience.
• Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art, which helps to improve the quality of people’s lives. However, governments should spend money on other things rather than art. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

2. Discuss both views and give your point of view?

• NEW SEPTEMBER 2022: 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 these views and give your own opinion.
• Nowadays most green energy is becoming evermore prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Some argue they greatly reduce costs and are better for the environment, others believe they are a serious threat to energy security. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people are of the opinion that children should be rewarded for good behaviour. Others think they should be punished for bad behaviour. Discuss both views and give your personal opinion and reasons.
• Some people think that keeping pets is good for children while others think it is dangerous and unhealthy. Which opinion do you agree with? Discuss both options and give examples .
• Some people think that secondary school children should study international news as one of the school subjects. Other people think that it is a waste of valuable school time. What do you think? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Some products can be made quickly by a machine. Other items take a long time to be made by hand. As a buyer, which do you prefer and why? Give specific details and examples in your answer.
• Some people think women should be given equal chances to work and excel in their careers. Others believe that a woman’s role should be limited to taking care of the house and children. Which opinion do you agree with and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.
• Most schools are planning to replace sports and exercise classes with more academic sessions. How will this change affect children’s lives in your view?
• Some people think that schools have to be more entertaining, while others think that their sole purpose is to educate. Which do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
• Some people think that it is acceptable to use animals in medical research for the benefit of human beings, while other people argue that it is wrong.
• Should humans adapt to technology or should technology be adapted to us? Is technology making us intellectually weaker or more intelligent?
• Do copyright laws limit creativity or reward it? Would society function better without such rules and regulations?
• Should education and healthcare be free of charge and funded by the government, or should it be the responsibility of the people to pay for these services? Discuss the above and give your opinion using examples.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages

• Is it good for children to start using computers from an early age and spend long hours on them? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Some people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to study at university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

4. Two questions, for example: Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?

• These days some people spend a lot of money on tickets to go to sporting or events. Do you think this is a positive or negative development ?
• Some people like to travel outside their country. Others would rather travel to tourist spots in their own country first, before travelling abroad. Which do you prefer to do and why? Include specific details and examples to support your choice.
• Women can do everything that men can and they even do it better. They also can do many things that men cannot. But it is a fact that their work is not appreciated as much as men’s, although they have to sacrifice a lot for their family and career… It is said: “A woman’s place is in the home.” What do you think?

5. Discuss the problems and possible solutions OR discuss the causes and what problems it causes?

• People are using a lot of online language translation apps. Do the benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages?
• Obesity is a serious problem in many countries, especially in rich countries. Discuss ways to solve the problem. Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
• Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing.  Discuss the causes and solutions.
• Research shows that global warming is caused by human activity. What are the possible effects of climate change and what can governments and individuals do to reduce these?
• In many countries, recently young single people have been living far from their parents, from the time they began studies or work and until they married. Do you think there are more advantages or disadvantages to this trend?
• Traditional schooling is out of date, boring and stifles a child’s natural talents, various professionals have pushed for an education revolution. Are there alternatives in the education system? Is traditional education doing more harm than good?

Take a look at some of our writing tasks to help you prepare for your IELTS exam , and if you need more help, we have a course that is guaranteed to help you pass IELTS. Practicing IELTS writing task 2 essays is very important for your exam preparation.

Video: IELTS Band 9 Writing Sample – Body Paragraphs

Click here for a FREE ebook of our top 10 IELTS Band 9 samples for writing task 2 in PDF,

For more preparation, take a look at our latest tutorials:.

• Band 9 Model Essay and Vocabulary-Cryptocurrency
• Sample task 2 questions
• Sample Band 9 Essay: Children and Education
• Sample Answers: discuss the advantages and disadvantages
• How to get ideas for task 2
• Full guide to academic collocations
• How to write a agree/disagree essay
• IELTS Writing Task 2: advantages and disadvantages questions

For a FREE ebook of our top 10 sample essays, click here!

Enhance Your Essays with Our Efficient Online IELTS Essay Checker

Practicing for IELTS Writing Task 2? You’re in the right place. But after you practice, how can you know if your essay is good? We have a tool to help! It’s called the online IELTS essay checker .

You can find it here . This tool is very easy to use. You write your essay, and our tool checks it. It tells you what mistakes you made and how to fix them. This means you can learn and get better faster. The best part? You save money.

Many students pay a lot for IELTS classes or teachers to check their essays. But our online IELTS essay checker is cheaper and works fast. You don’t have to wait! So, after you read the sample essays on this page, use our online IELTS essay checker .

It can help you see where you can do better. And it’s a good way to get ready for the IELTS exam without spending a lot of money. So, if you want to write better essays and save money, try our online IELTS essay checker .

We made it for students like you. We hope it helps you get the score you want.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to score band 9 in ielts writing.

You can score band 9 in IELTS writing by following these steps:

• Make sure you understand the question and answer what is being asked.
• Plan out your essay before you start writing
• Write your essay, review it and then “rewrite” it .
• Get feedback on your essays and find out where you may be losing points.
• Improve your language skills.

Read this post for more tips.

How do you write a 9 band essay?

Practice each essay type and be clear about the criteria for a perfect score. Basically, you need clear formal paragraphing, an essay that ‘flows’ logically and stays focused on the question, which is answered fully with high-level vocabulary and near-perfect grammar.

How can I get 9 in IELTS writing?

Look at model answers and memorize phrases that work for most essays – ‘In the modern world’ is a great way to start. A focus on global issues and international examples rounds out your answer and practice timed essays before the test.

Can you get 10 in IELTS?

No, the top band score is a 9. Be realistic though, some of the best universities in the world require a band 7 or 7.5 for their most challenging courses so a perfect score isn’t necessary in most situations.

IELTS essay templates pdf

Learn structures for different types of essays.

There is a limited range of types of questions that get asked in your IELTS test and you should learn how to write and structure each of these different types of essays. This is because it will save you time in your real test and allow you to have a better quality essay.

Templates for common types of IELTS essays

After you have established the structures for different types of essays you can work on templates for each of the structures. The advantage of using templates is that it can help you to speed up the writing of your essay; and also help you to increase your score as you have a lower proportion of errors, and also increase your score for vocabulary and grammar because the template has high-level vocabulary and grammar embedded in it. Note that the examiner will not consider this memorised language because this is structural language that is essential to writing an essay. memorised language would be something you have memorised relating to a specific topic that you have memorised from an article or published online essay.

Template for opinion essay

The template below has been used to write the second version of the essay.

Introduction There is currently a contentious argument over whether XYZ [XYZ is the topic] I totally agree/disagree with this opinion because

[reason 1 + reason 2]

Paragraph 2 The main reason why I believe/don’t believe XYZ is because… [reason 1]

Paragraph 3 Another reason why I support/don’t support the notion that XYZ is due to the fact that… [reason 2]

Conclusion In conclusion, I completely agree/disagree that XYZ because [rephrase reason 1] and [rephrase reason 2].

Given this situation, it seems that [give a final recommendation or opinion]

Model opinion essay

There is currently a contentious argument over whether family life is being harmed by the high-speed and pressure of contemporary lifestyles. I totally agree with this opinion because the fast pace leads to less time for families to be together, and stress leads to arguments among family members.

The main reason why I believe family life is being compromised is because families have less time to be with each other. This is due to family members being busier at work and with their social lives. As well as this, people have many things they have to do these days such as checking e-mail, updating their online social status and so less time is left for family life. To illustrate, I spend about two hours online every night attending to daily correspondence before chatting with my family members, whereas ten years ago I would spend time with my family as soon as I walked in the door.

Another reason why I support the notion that families are being impacted negatively is that the pressure of life these days means that even when families do get together arguments are more likely. This is because everyone feels tired and they are more likely to get irritated and to react to their heightened emotional levels.

In conclusion, I completely agree that the rapid pace and stressful nature of contemporary lifestyles are having negative consequences on family relationships. This is because family members have less time, and when they are together they feel less relaxed. Given this situation, it seems that family members should try to be more supportive to one another and also parents need to set aside regular times for families to relax together.        [281 words]

Template for a both sides and opinion essay

The template below contains about 130 words. The advantage of this template is that it can be used for any type of both sides and opinion essay. Memorising and using this template can help you to speed up the writing of your essay [you have less language to think of], and also help you to increase your score as you have a lower proportion of errors, and also increase your score for vocabulary and grammar because the template has high-level vocabulary and grammar embedded in it.

INTRODUCTION A highly controversial issue today relates to whether to have… [issue]… or not. In this essay, I am going to examine this question from both points of view and then explain why I believe….

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 There are people who argue that the benefits of ……………. considerably outweigh its disadvantages. The main reason for believing this is that …………………. It is also possible to say that ……. One good illustration of this is ………….

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 On the other hand, others believe that….. It is often argued that ……….. People often have this opinion because …………… A second point is that ………..A particularly good example here is…………..

CONCLUSION In conclusion, I believe both arguments have their merits. On balance, however, I feel that… This is because….

Model essay for a both sides and opinion essay

A highly controversial issue today relates to whether to have capital punishment or not. In this essay, I am going to examine this question from both points of view and then explain why I believe the arguments for capital punishment are stronger.

There are people who argue that the benefits of killing violent criminals considerably outweigh its disadvantages. The main reason for believing this is that the fear of execution acts as a deterrent to commit serious crimes such as rape and murder. It is also possible to say that the execution of a criminal may bring relief to the suffering victims. One good illustration of this is when Saddam Hussein was executed. Many of the victims who were persecuted under his rule expressed joy and relief when he was finally captured and killed.

On the other hand, others believe that the death penalty is not morally just. It is often argued that sentencing criminals to death is just committing another murder. People often have this opinion because they think that it is immoral to take another person’s life, no matter what the reason is. A second point is that many religions are opposed to any form of murder. A particularly good example here is from the Bible or Quran, which lists killing another person as one of the most severe sins

In conclusion, I believe both arguments have their merits. On balance, however, I feel that capital punishment is justified. This is because in cases of extreme crime and that deterring crime is more important than taking the moral high ground.       [261 words]

Template for a two-question essay

It is difficult to build a standardised template for our two-question essay because a wide variety of questions can be asked. First, a general template will be given and then a more specific template will be given for a typical problem and solution essay.

General template Introduction Rephrase the topic this essay discusses…[Question one] + [question two]

Body Question one [try to write two main points to respond to this question] Question two [try to write two main points to respond to this question]

Conclusion In conclusion, [summarise the two main points about question one] [summarise the two main points about question two]

Template for the problem and solution essay that follows with gaps for the topic Note that this is the original form of a two question essay that gets asked and it is essentially the same as the essay above and follows the same format. The question type is quite commonplace and you can use the template below for any essay of this type.

……………. is becoming increasingly serious in many nations. Although ……………. Threaten[s] many societies, its /their effects can also be combated successfully. This essay looks at some of the problems caused by ……………. on society, and suggests some solutions to the problems.

……………. causes multiple problems. The ……………. effects are very obvious. For example, ……………. In some cases, such as ……………. even leads to (death). The second effect is ……………. People who ……………. become …………….

However, the menace of ……………. can be fought. Education is the main way to tackle this issue. People need to be aware of the effects so that they can avoid this problem. In addition, the government could also …………….. This is a good approach because …………….

In conclusion, ……………. is a serious issue because it causes harmful effects on people’s health and people who are ……………. The best approaches to deal with it are to educate people about its damaging effects, and also for the government to …………….. Although the problem is unlikely to be entirely eliminated in the short term there are concrete steps to reduce the effects it is having on the current society. [about 175 words]

Model essay:

Drug abuse is becoming increasingly serious in many nations. Although drugs threaten many societies, their effects can also be combated successfully. This essay looks at some of the problems caused by drug use on society, and suggests some solutions to the problems.

Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and communities. The medical effects are very obvious. For example, addicts abuse their bodies and neglect their health, and so eventually require expensive treatment or hospitalization. In some cases, such as Marilyn Monroe, a drug overdose even leads to death. The second effect is crime. People who take drugs become crazy and irrational and often cause harm and danger to themselves and others.

However, the menace of drugs can be fought. Education is the main way to tackle this issue. People need to be aware of the effects so that they can avoid this problem. In addition, the government could also use infomercials to educate their citizens. This is a good approach because they can alert all citizens about the negative aspects of using drugs.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a serious issue because it causes harmful effects on people’s health and people who are high often commit crimes. The best approaches to deal with it are to educate people about its damaging effects, and also for the government to ensure all people are aware of the consequences through public service advertising. Although the problem is unlikely to be entirely eliminated in the short term these are concrete steps to reduce the effects it is having on the current society.

[260 words]

About Mike I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.

I have written IELTS books and this enables me to be an effective tutor. This is because I understand the main problems that students have taking the test and also the ways to overcome them.

Maybe you would like me to teach you the necessary skills and strategies to pass your test.

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IELTS Writing Samples: 100 Practice Questions

Below you’ll find more than 100 IELTS Writing sample questions updated for 2019. Each of these essay questions has been taken from a real IELTS past paper and will give you an idea of what to expect on your exam day.

These sample questions can be separated into five main Task 2 question types:

• Opinion 
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Problem/Cause and Solution
• Two-part questions

They are also divided amongst 13 of the most common IELTS essay topics that have appeared regularly over the last few years. IELTS is always changing, but these common topics can help you prepare more effectively if you improve your ability to use the vocabulary related to them.

These sample IELTS questions are all for Writing Task 2. For Task 1 questions, follow this link.

Feel free to print out these IELTS Writing samples and use them when you prepare for IELTS at home!

Or better yet, why not answer one of them in the comments below and gain feedback from your peers?

If you need feedback on your essays from an IELTS teacher, you can read about my essay correction service here .

Criminal Justice

Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that capital punishment should never be used. Others, however, argue that it should be allowed for the most serious crimes.

Some people believe the purpose of prison is to punish, while others would argue that rehabilitation is its primary role.

Some people feel unsafe when they are in public and at home.

What are the possible causes of this and what are some possible solutions?

Some people say that excessive noise should be a criminal offence, while others say they should be free to make noise without limitation.

Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on public health and that other measures are required.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

In some countries levels of health and fitness are decreasing and average weights are increasing.

What do you think are the causes of these problems and what are some possible solutions?

Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any other experiences we may have in our life.

Which do you consider to be the major influence?

Schools should do more to teach students about their health and wellbeing.

Do you agree or disagree?

More and more schools allow fast-food restaurants to sell their products to their students.

Is it a positive or negative development?

University students must pay all tuition fees, because it benefits mostly them individually, rather than the society as a whole.

Do you agree or disagree?

Some say that music, art and drama are as important as other school subjects, especially at the primary level.

Some people believe that studying history is very important and we must study the past to understand the present. Others say that it is useless and should not be studied at all.

Some teachers tend to reward students who achieve high academic results. Others, however, support and reward students that show the most improvement.

Giving lectures in halls to large numbers of people is an outdated method of teaching. With the technology available today, there is no justification for it and everything should be done online.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In most universities students focus on specialised subjects, however, some people believe that universities should encourage students to study a wider variety of subjects.

It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician.

Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.

What, in your opinion, should be the main function of a university?

Some parents think that childcare centres provide the best services for children of pre-school age. Other working parents think that family members such as grandparents will be better carers for their kids.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Governments should spend more money on education than on recreation and sports.

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children).

Some people think that it is better to educate girls and boys in separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending mixed schools.

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Some people believe that children are given too much free time. They feel that this time should be used to do more academic work.

How do you think children should spend their free time?

In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour.

What do you think are the causes of this?

What solutions can you suggest?

University students should pay in full for their own education instead of the society funding their studies. The reason is that individuals tend to benefit after graduation more than society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.

Some people believe that students should be allowed to evaluate and criticise their teachers to improve the quality of education. Others think this is disrespectful to teachers.

Discuss both views, give your opinion and include relevant examples.

Youth Crime

Nowadays many young people deliberately damage public places.

What are the causes and solutions?

Some people believe that a person’s criminal record should be removed when they reach the age of 18.

More and more young people are using drugs and alcohol and as a result, breaking the law.

What are the causes of this problem?

What are some possible solutions?

Children should never be put in prison with adults no matter how serious their crime.

Being a celebrity – such as a movie star or professional athlete – brings problems as well as benefits.

Do you think that being a celebrity has more benefits or drawbacks?

Some people feel that entertainers (e.g. film stars, pop musicians or sports stars) are paid too much money.

Which other types of job should be highly paid?

Successful sports professionals can earn much more money than people in other important jobs. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.

Environment

There is a growing demand for fresh water nowadays and this is becoming a global problem.

Many people think that too much attention and resources are given to the protection of wild animals and birds.

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.

What other measures do you think might be effective?

Nowadays we are producing more and more waste.

What are the causes of this?

What can be done to help reduce the amount of waste we produce?

Many people believe that companies and individuals should pay to clean up the environment in proportion to the amount of pollution they have produced.

Global warming is the biggest threat we face today.

Children today are too dependent on computers and electronic entertainment. It would be better to encourage them to spend more time outside playing sports and games.

Some people say that public libraries are an important public resource and should be free. Others say that they are just a waste of public money.

Some people think that excessive use of smartphones badly affects teenagers’ literacy skills.

The internet contains a lot of information that can help people, however, sometimes the information is inaccurate or wrong.

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.

In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make?

Has this become a positive or negative development?

Computers have made the world a better place to live in.

Some people believe that the use of mobile phones in public is as annoying as smoking and should be banned.

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

Nowadays more and more people have to compete with young people for the same jobs.

What problems does this cause?

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses.

Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender?

As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing.

What factors contribute to job satisfaction?

How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?

Some people think that people in senior positions alone should make decisions in a business, while others think that employees should be involved in the decision-making process too.

Nowadays many people work part- or full-time from home. Some people say that working from home has many benefits while others disagree.

For some people a high salary is the most important criterion when choosing a new job while others are satisfied if the job contributes to society.

Globalisation

In many places, traditional food has been replaced by international fast food. This has adverse effects on individuals and society.

More and more people are visiting historic sites and sometimes tourists damage these ancient sites. The number of people visiting these places should be strictly limited.

Shopping has developed from a necessary activity to a kind of entertainment.

Many small businesses are being forced to close because they are unable to compete with multinational corporations.

What problems does this cause and how can those problems be solved?

Multinational companies are becoming increasingly common in developing countries.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Government Spending

People prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced ones.

Why do you think this happens? Should the government support local filmmakers financially?

Some people think that governments should invest more in public services instead of wasting money on arts such as music and paintings.

Some people believe that the government should pay for and offer to house people who lost their homes or cannot afford them.

Some people think that the government should fund music, dance and art lessons for children. Others think that they should be funded by private businesses or by children’s families.

Many people think that the government should spend money to explore outer space, while others think that it’s a waste of public money.

Some people think that mothers should spend most of their time raising their family, and therefore the government should support them financially.

Development

In some countries, the numbers of children aged 15 and younger are increasing dramatically.

What are the current and future effects of an ever-increasing population?

A recent study showed that people in developed countries are not as happy as they were before development.

What are the causes of this and what are some possible solutions?

Sometimes celebrities get invited to international aid events.

Do you think that such events deviate from their main purpose by inviting famous people?

Some people believe that richer countries should give poorer countries more financial assistance.

Some people believe that no aid should be given to developing countries that have poor human rights records.

Public Transport

Some people think that a car is the best way to travel in cities while others believe a bicycle is a better way to commute.

Many cities have serious problems with traffic congestion.

What are the causes of these problems and what are some possible solutions?

Growing numbers of cities are making their centres pedestrian-only zones.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Some people believe that the best way to reduce traffic congestion is to increase the price of petrol.

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that it is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world.

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

It is becoming increasingly popular for people to travel to tourist destinations during public holidays.

What solutions are there to these problems?

Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.

Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences.

At present, the media affects people’s lives significantly.

What impact does this have on society? Is it a negative or positive development?

Young people say that travelling to different countries benefits them and society.

Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.

These days, more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work.

What are the main reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

IELTS Writing Sample Essays

Now that you know what kind of essay questions to expect, feel free to browse my collection of IELTS Writing Sample Essays here: Band 7+ IELTS Writing Sample Essays

However, it’s important that you use them wisely. Simply reading through them won’t improve your skills or your score. When using IELTS Writing sample essays, I always recommend following my ___ step strategy:

• Start off by reading the question – NOT the answer.
• Attempt to answer the question under exam conditions.
• Compare your letter with the sample answer.
• Improve your original answer by using some of the elements you noticed in the sample letter. Eg. how did the writer use structure, vocabulary and grammar?

If you do try this strategy, make sure to leave a comment letting me know what you thought of it. Or better yet, leave your response in the comments below!

What I Learned Correcting 10,000 IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays

Over the years, I have corrected more than 10,000 IELTS Task 2 essays.

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For detailed help with improving your essay-writing skills, you should sign up to our IELTS Fundamentals Course. It’s completely free of charge and will give you exclusive access to:

• Never-seen-before IELTS videos;
• Practice questions for each section of the test;
• Answer sheets to help you identify your mistakes.

Learn more about it and sign up here: IELTS Fundamentals.

As always, please reach out in the comments below or via email if you need anything: [email protected]

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I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.

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This checklist will show you some of the most important things you should look out for when proofreading your essay. Once you internalise this process, it should become much easier.

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IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples

These are IELTS band 8 essay samples that have been given grades (of 8 or 8.5) and basic comments on the score for each criteria by an experienced IELTS instructor. 

View other samples:

• Band 8 Samples
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Topic: Health & Diet (Band 8)

Some people believe that it is the responsibility of individuals to take care of their own health and diet. Others however believe that governments should make sure that their citizens have a healthy diet.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Nowadays an increasing number of people are becoming concerned about their health and the quality of their diet. There are two diametrically opposed opinions on the matter. Some people believe that each and every individual is responsible for their own health while others state that it is the government that must ensure that the citizens have healthy eating habits.

Personally, I believe that people bear full responsibility for their diets for a number of reasons. First, nowadays there is a vast variety of products that everyone can choose from, ensuring a balanced diet consisting of different types of products with sufficient vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Everyone can balance their diets according to these factors and also based on their taste preferences.  For example vegetarians will prefer beans rich in protein while omnivorous eaters might opt for meat instead. Secondly, while governments cannot considerably vary in their healthy eating programs usually adhering to 'one size fits all' approach, individuals know exactly what they need in order to keep fit and healthy both generally speaking and in terms of food. We take tailored approach as we know exactly what we need to succeed in life, be strong and healthy.

However, others argue that the government is fully responsible for the kind of food its population consume because they make decisions regarding the quality of food their country produce and import as well as prices. For instance, in many developing countries people rarely have access to high quality food, thus being forced to choose something cheap like fast food. Moreover, the government can introduce legislation as regards to what kind of food can be promoted, seen for example in many European countries where the advertising of fast food, alcohol and cigarettes is prohibited. These measure, it is argued, can affect the way we eat and control the diets of the whole population. 

In conclusion, while the governments may play a role in the choice of food of its citizens, it is still the responsibility of every individual whether to eat healthy diet or not due to many reasons being that a variety of methods to balance their diets or their finances. After all our life is in our hands!

Task Response: 8

The question is answered and ideas are well-supported. Both parts of the question are fully addressed. Some parts are not given quite enough explanation and the logic appears faulty. For  instance, the statement that developing countries depend on fast food.  The essay should also not end with an informal comment such as "After all our life is in our hands!"

Coherence & Cohesion: 8

This IELTS band 8 essay sample is well-organised with a mix of transition signals and some good use of referencing and substitution. However, there are slightly too many transitions in initial position to get a 9 e.g. first, for example, secondly. These need to be more sophisticated. There is a danger with this that it could be awarded a band 7.

Lexical Resource: 8

There is a good mix of relevant topic related vocabulary of a high level, an excellent awareness of collocation, and plenty of evidence of less common vocabulary. However, there are some errors which would prevent a 9 e.g. "...cannot considerably vary in...".

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 8

The writer has a very good grasp of grammar with a good mix of complex sentence and forms, with a very high level of accuracy. However, a few errors persist that prevent a 9 e.g. a missing article in "We take tailored approach" and "whether to eat healthy diet..." and a missing plural 's' in "These measure...".

Topic: Professionals Working Abroad (Band 8)

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. 

What problems does this cause? 

What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?

Nowadays more and more professionals that play a key role in the social stability and development, including in the spheres of education and medicine prefer to find a job in more developed countries that provide more opportunities. Evidently, it creates a deficiency and lack of professional help in the above-mentioned spheres. This essay will address the problems such situation causes and conceivable solutions to redress it.

The most serious problem associated with the drain of the experts in vital areas of life is the consequent shortage of specialists and hence, lack of professional help for citizens of poor countries that can lead to deterioration of the conditions of life. It goes without saying that it is the work of these specialists that is absolutely essential for the survival of people. For example, if professional, qualified doctors leave their poorer countries in search of a better life it leads to a deterioration in the medical help available and in some cases even considerable life losses and decrease of life expectancy. Therefore, local communities and the whole society are seriously affected by such changes in the labour market.

To redress the balance in such a situation there must be serious measures taken by the government. Considerable funds are to be invested in these spheres to contribute to the improvement of work conditions and salaries of different professionals. For example, governments might stimulate young professionals by paying them additional bonuses for working in public hospitals and schools or fund their education. This, in turn, will create better chances to retain stuff and boost the morale of experts, who might choose to stay in their countries in order to contribute to its growth and development.

To conclude, it is apparent that a great number of specialists, especially young ones, opt for working in more developed countries and this trend is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. However, governments can try to solve this problem by allocating more funds and invest more in the enhancement of working conditions for specialists.  Were they to  turn a blind eye to the current situation, it would have a pernicious effect on their countries.

B oth problems and solutions are addressed in the essay, and ideas are extended and supported. The ideas though in each body paragraph could have been explained more succinctly, providing the opportunity to add further supporting ideas, rather than the just one that appear in each body paragraph. Reducing the length of the introduction and conclusion would help to achieve this. 

Generally coherence and cohesion is very good in this IELTS band 8 essay sample but there could be more variety and more sophisticated cohesive devices used i.e. 'for example' is used twice. 

An excellent range of vocabulary, mostly used correctly and appropriately However, a few minor errors persist, such as  using 'stuff' instead of 'staff'.

The IELTS band 8 essay sample overall has very good grammar, but there are still a few grammatical errors or the wrong choices. For example,  "Considerable funds are to be invested" should be "Considerable funds should be invested" and there are also some errors with punctuation, such as missing commas.

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