sample Ielts

WRITING SKILLS

Addition

 in addition
In addition, I would like to point out that my neighbor is disturbing me late at night.

 and similarly
Your life will change forever and similarly, your whole family will feel the change.

 likewise
Some people have little time for a hobby, and have likewise little will to get one.

 as well as
Beauty, as well as smarts, is a remarkable quality

 besides
We aren’t friends. Besides, I don’t feel it’s my place to set him straight.

 furthermore
Computers are getting faster and faster these days; furthermore, their cost is getting lower and lower.

 also
 moreover
I’ve been wanting a change for a long time, moreover, I feel I deserve one.

 and then too
 not only … but also
Not only this product is good for your hair, but also it may soften your skin
Sequence

 first(ly) initially
Initially, you would start putting a plan together.

 second(ly)
 to begin with
To begin with, you will need to commit a portion of your time to studying.

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 then
 next
 earlier/later
Later on there comes a stage when your skills are put to a test.

 after this/that
 following this/that
Consequence

 as a result
I studied well and as a result, I got a high score.

 thus
 so
 therefore
I was younger and therefore less experienced.

 consequently
 it follows that
 thereby
I upset my friend, thereby causing her pain.

 eventually
 then in that case
 admittedly
Admittedly, he is the smartest person I know.
Contrast

 however
The book is expensive, however it is worth it.

 on the other hand
She says she feels fine, but on the other hand, her face is pale and she doesn’t look healthy.

 despite
 in spite of
In spite of the difficulties, the task was completed.

 though
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He still insists, though he knows that won’t do any good.

 although
 but
 on the contrary
The music didn’t lift her spirit, on contrary, it made her feel weak and vulnerable again.

 otherwise
 yet instead of
He felt unwelcome, yet instead of leaving, he stayed.

 rather
Eggs for breakfast is not a good idea, I would rather have some toast.

 whereas
He was her true love, whereas for him she was just another girlfriend.

 nonetheless
While they didn’t trust each other, nonetheless they worked together for many years.

 even though
 compared with
 in contrast
 alternativel
Certainty

 obviously
I was very disappointed, obviously because my expectations were too high.

 certainly
I will certainly let her know your opinion.

 plainly
You are plainly wrong

 of course
 undoubtedly
She is undoubtedly very beautiful
Condition

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 if
 unless
I won’t be able to participate, unless we schedule the meeting in the morning.

 whether
Whether you like it or not, this is the truth.

 provided that
I can guarantee a good result, provided that you study.

 so that
I can send you the documents so that you would have proof.

 depending on
We can have a picnic this weekend, depending on the weather.
Summary







in conclusion in summary lastly finally to sum up

To sum up, I strongly support the efforts of our society to help the environment.

 to conclude
 to recapitulate
 in short
Time

 for instance
There are many schools in many countries where you could study, for instance the schools in London or Birmingham.

 one example
One example of how to get better at cooking would be to start reading recipes.

 for example
 just as
I wanted to be home already just as much as a thirsty man in the desert wanted water.

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 in particular
I am referring to my exams, in particular, IELTS and TOEFL.

 such as
 namely
My friends, namely Andy and Cindy, have told me about this new exhibition in the city.

 to illustrate
Reason

 since
Since you asked, I’d like to tell you my story

 because (of)
 due to
Due to the teacher’s illness this lecture is canceled.






owing to the reason why in other words leads to

This assumption leads us to believe that …

 cause
The cause of this unfortunate accident was…
Time

 before
 since
Since 2005 I have been working in …

 as
 until
Until now I wasn’t able to find anything like it.

 meanwhile
Meanwhile, I would like to ask you to be patient.

 at the moment
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At the moment I am experiencing financial difficulties.

 when
 whenever
Whenever I call him, he appears to be very busy.

 as soon as
 just as

AGREEMENT: also, plus, in addition, further, furthermore, moreover, additionally, to add to that, next, in accordance with, accordingly, in agreement, finally, for instance, for example, in exemplification, exemplifying that, in fact, factually speaking, in terms of, and so forth, looking at the nexus between, in coordination with, along those lines, collectively speaking, generally speaking, indeed, undoubtedly, obviously, to be sure.
CONTRAST: however, contrastingly, in contrast, on the contrary, on the other hand, To put it into perspective, from a different angle, nonetheless, nevertheless, but, yet, a catch to this is, sadly enough, as a hindrance, looking at the holdups, oddly enough, instead, in direct opposition, still, and rather.

RESULT: as a result, as a consequence, consequently, thus, therefore, hence, thereby, resulting in, ultimately, in the end, finally, in the overall analysis, in hindsight, in retrospect, retrospectively, vicariously, the long term effect, as a short term result, significantly, as a major effect, effectively, heretofore, hereafter, thereafter, in short, generally, over all, concluding.

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SAMPLE ESSAYS

1. Popular events like the football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way.
Every four years, the whole world stops to watch international sporting events such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup in which athletes show their best performance to make their country proud of them.
These sporting occasions have proved to be helpful in easing international tensions in difficult times when powerful leaders were trying to control the world’s economy and other governments were fighting over land.
The Olympic Games are one of the best examples which prove how sporting events can bring nations together, at least temporarily. From ancient History, when Greeks and Romans would interrupt battles to participate in the games, to the more recent international disputes, when athletes from Palestine and Israel would forget their differences, compete pacifically and even embrace each other after an event. Moreover, these popular events have called the world’s attention to the terrible consequences of wars; thus some leaders have tried to accept agreements to end their dispute and live peacefully.
Similarly, international sporting events show benefits in some developing countries which live in a daily internal civil war. For example, Brazil has a high rate of unemployment, lack of education, hunger, crime, poverty and corruption which leads to an immense embarrassment of being Brazilian and a low self-esteem.
However, when the Football World Cup starts, the Brazilian squad, which is considered the best team in the world, provokes an amazing feeling of pride in their country. Most people seem to forget all their problems and even the criminal activity decreases. They paint roads with the national colors, use wear the Brazilian team shirt and buy national flags. Moreover, the competition brings families and neighbors together and even rival gangs watch the games and celebrate peacefully.
In conclusion, popular sporting events play an important role in decreasing international tensions and liberating patriotic feelings as History has shown.
This is a great essay, the ideas, language, structure of paragraphs and sentences, grammar show high level of English. In my opinion it is Band 8. Keep up the good work.

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2. As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.
There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not yet become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my opinion; what can be expected, is a change of the teachers’ role but not their disappearance from the classroom.
Nobody can argue that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a kid. This, accompanied with the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually conduce to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level; the availability of digital books, simulator and other academic materials, provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that otherwise would not be at hand.
But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is usually embedded in the academic digital material, the need of human interaction in the learning process will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a human being to be able to determine what the specifics needs of each individual are. The expertise of a teacher in how to explain and adapt complex concepts to different individuals can hardly be mimicked by a computer, no matter how sophisticated its software is.
As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware of their role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts. They have to be open - minded to the changes that are taking places, keep updated and serve as a problem solvers in the learning process, thus allowing students to discover the fact for themselves.
To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will play an important role in the classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will be no replacement for the human interaction, but in the way how this interaction takes place.
Excellent essay! Are you a native English speaker? Well done. The only problem: too long, 365 words instead of 250-265 maximum.

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3. Even though globalization affects the world’s economies in a positive way, its negative side should not be forgotten. Discuss.
In the present age, globalization is playing an increasingly important role in our lives. But in the meantime whether it is a blessing or a curse has sparked a heated debate. Some people argue that globalization has a fundamentally beneficial influence on our lives, while many others contend that it has a detrimental effect as well.
A convincing argument can be made about globalization not only playing a pivotal role in the development of technology and economy, but also promoting the cultural exchange between different countries.
To start with, it is the globalization that impelled many corporate to become an international group, thereby making a contribution to the local technology and employment. Specifically, when a multinational group establish a factory in a developing country, the new equipment, the new management skills and the job vacancies are all in the best interest of the local society. Moreover, people worldwide can get to know each other better through globalization. It is easy to see that more and more Hollywood blockbusters show cultures different from American, some recent examples are ‘Kungfu Panda’ and ‘The Mummy’.
Admittedly, profit - driven globalization has severely affected young people. Today, in the metropolises in different countries, it is very common to see teenagers wearing NIKE T-shirts and Adidas footwear, playing
Hip-Hop music on Apple iPods and eating at KFC. The culture that took a thousand years to form just seems similar in these cities; it is looks like you can only distinguish them by their language. Meanwhile, in some developing countries, sweat workshops are always a concerning issue. For instance, reports show that some teenagers employed by NIKE’s contractors work in smelly factories over 14 hours a day, but are only paid fifty cents per hour.
In summary, I would concede that globalization does come with some adverse effects. Despite that fact, benefits created by it far outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, I am convinced that we should further promote globalization and meanwhile the local government should take measures to combat culture assimilation and sweat workshops.
This essay is extremely long (338 words instead of the advised 250-265). It has a sound structure, your position is clearly expressed, the information is well-organized, and structure-wise the sentences are fine.
The vocabulary is impressive and there only were a few grammatical errors (see comments underlined in blue). Overall, looks like a band 7.5 + essay.

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4. In some countries children have very strict rules of behavior, in other countries they are allowed to do almost anything they want. To what extent should children have to follow rules?
The extent to which children have to follow rules is in itself a very complex issue, since children across the world grow up in very different cultures. In India for example, the level of morality is very high and children are to be very submissive to their parents as well as other adults around them. This, however, is not the case for the Western countries of the world where children follow the motto “Thou shalt do what thou wilt” as promoted by celebrities and rock stars. I believe that following strict rules has both advantages as well as serious drawbacks as discussed below.
Firstly, strict rules of behavior create responsible and respectful children who in turn mature into respectful adults. This forms a stable society which is virtually free from vices such as prostitution and drug abuse. Secondly, if children do not follow strict rules of behavior, they will get out of hand and become workshy and indolent. This will then create a burden on society since the government has to find ways to cater for these social ills.
However, forcing children to follow strict rules of behavior does not always yield positive results as discussed above, most of the time it backfires and works against society. For example, teenagers are more likely to do the opposite of what they are told to do simply because they want to be independent. Children should also have rights to exercise their free will and develop their own pattern of behaviors. Strict rules simply destroy the individuality of children if they are imposed on them.
At the end of the day, it is clear that children should be guided by rules, but these rules should not be imposed on them because as human beings, they need to have room to develop their own traits of character and adopt a behavioral pattern of their own.
This essay is too long (309 words instead of advised 250-265). Otherwise this work is a very good one; it covers the task, your position is clear, the ideas are well-organized, expressed, explained and supported.
The sentences show a wide range of language structures, cohesive devices and the grammar is fine.
Overall, looks like a band 7.5 or higher essay.

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5. Even though globalization affects the world’s economies in a very positive way, its negative side should not be forgotten. Discuss.
Globalization is such a commonly used term in the twentieth century. It simply means that the world has become integrated economically, socially, politically and culturally through the advances of technology, transportation and communication. It is undeniable to say that globalization has resulted in both positive and negative effects which must be addressed accordingly.
To begin with, globalization has contributed to the world’s economies in many beneficial ways. The advances in science and technology have allowed businesses to easily cross over territorial boundary lines.
Consequently, companies tend to become more productive, competitive thereby raising quality of goods, services and the world’s living standard.
Secondly, several companies from the more developed countries have already ventured to establish foreign operations or branches to take advantage of the low cost of labor in the poorer countries. This kind of business activity will provide more influx of cash or investment funds into the less developed countries.
However, one cannot deny the negative effects which have derived from globalization. One crucial social aspect is the risk and danger of epidemic diseases which can easily be spread as the mode transportation is easier and faster in today’s advance society. This is evidenced in the recent bird’s flu disease which has infected most Asian countries over a short time frame.
As large corporations invest or take over many off-shore businesses, a modern form of colonization will also evolve which may pose certain power pressure on the local governments of the less developed countries.
Unemployment rates in the more developed regions like Europe may also escalate as corporations choose to outsource cheaper work force from Asian countries.
In conclusion, I like to reiterate that globalization is inevitable and we must urge individuals, companies and governments to use a more balanced approach by taking appropriate steps to deal with matters relating to the financial or economical gains versus the social, political or ecological concerns of the world.
This essay is too long, 318 words instead of 250-265. Otherwise (except for some minor grammatical errors) it is a very nice work. It covers the task, has the right structure, the paragraphs are coherent and logically connected by elegantly used linking words, the structure of sentences is fine and so is your vocabulary. Looks like a Band 7.5 or higher essay.

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6. Financial education should be mandatory component of the school program. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is an obvious fact that financial aspects are a major part of daily life, as an adult and even as a young individual. Each and every one of us has to make financial decisions concerning recreation, health, education and more. The question is whether to start with financial education as part of school program or postpone it for a later stage in life.
To begin with, being able to understand the value of money, the way the economic system works and interpret financial news and its implications is a virtue. Without this virtue, an individual, and even a young one, might suffer, to some extent. For example, a child who does not understand the concept of money might find it more difficult to except choosing only one present out of more possible ones.
In addition, many adults are lacking financial analysis capabilities. Quite often, the reason can be a shaky basis or insecurity when it comes to financial terms and concepts. Starting from an early age, building a strong background, can very likely prevent such a situation.
However, financial education necessarily involves quantifying and setting prices and value for services and goods. It can be easily turn young people into cynical and cold-hearted human beings. Furthermore, a tendency to self-concentration and egoism might rise when one start measuring everything from a profit making perspective. In conclusion, financial education has both pros and cons. In my opinion, the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages, making financial education an advisable component of school program. The disadvantages should be thought of as a certain price that young people have to pay due to the characteristics of the world that we live in.
This is a wonderful essay. It covers the task, is correctly structured, the paragraphs are logically connected, the structure of sentences shows excellent command of English. The vocabulary is fine and both spelling and grammar are very good. See comments underlined in blue for some minor corrections.
Overall, looks like a Band 7.5 - 8 essay.

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7. As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.
There have been immense advances in technology in most aspects of people’s lives, especially in the field of education. Nowadays, an increasing number of students rely on computers for research and to produce a perfect paper for school purposes. Others have decided to leave the original way of learning to get knowledge through online schools. These changes in the learning process have brought a special concern regarding the possible decrease of importance of teachers in the classroom.
Some people believe the role of teachers started to fade because computers have been helping some students to progress in their studies quicker than when compared with an original classroom. For example, in the same classroom, students have different intellectual capacities, thus some would be tied to a slow advance in their studies because of others’ incapacity of understanding. In this way, pupils could progress in their acquisition of knowledge at their own pace using computers instead of learning from teachers.
However, the presence of a teacher is essential for students because the human contact influences them in positive ways. Firstly, students realize that they are not dealing with a machine but with a human being who deserves attention and respect. They also learn the importance of studying in group and respect other students, which helps them to improve their social skills.
Moreover, teachers are required in the learning process because they acknowledge some student’s deficiencies and help them to solve their problems by repeating the same explanation, giving extra exercises or even suggesting a private tutor. Hence, students can have a bigger chance not to fail in a subject.
In conclusion, the role for teachers in the learning process is still very important and it will continue to be in the future because no machine can replace the human interaction and its consequences.
This is a great essay. Looks like Band 8 to me. No improvements are necessary, Keep up the good job!

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8. 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.
Today’s world has been divided into developing and industrialised countries which the main difference between them is the amount of money that governments apply in important sectors such as education, health and commerce. Most of the poorer nations are buried in debts as a result of their unbalanced finances which are reflected in a failed health care, an unstructured education system and a weak international trade. This vicious cycle will continue indefinitely unless wealthier nations show interest in minimizing the worldwide economic differences, as well as taking more responsibility for assisting unfortunate countries.
Most of the African countries live in sub-human conditions because of the extreme poverty, upheaval, hunger, disease, unemployment, lack of education and both inexperienced and corrupt administrations. The devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic in those countries could improve if the infected populations receive free drugs to control the disease, have access to health professionals and get information on how to prevent its spread. But this can only be achieved through international help programs in which leaders of the world’s richest countries donate medicine and also send doctors and nurses to treat and educate those in need.
Moreover, most of the poor countries rely on selling agricultural products and raw material to rich nations and buying industrialized products from them resulting in a huge financial deficit. Consequently, they borrow a significant amount of money from the World Bank to try to improve their broken economies, but sometimes the money disappears with no significant changes and they cannot even pay the interest to the bank.
Regarding this issue, last year the G8, which is comprised of leaders of the eight richest nations, decided to forgive billions of dollars worth of debt owed by the world’s poorest nations. In addition, they developed adequate loan programs to financially assist those countries.
In conclusion, leaders of the industrialised countries play an indispensable role in assisting developing nations deal with essential areas such as health, education and trade. Also, their aid is the key to break the vicious cycle, which results in poverty and death.
This is an amazing essay, looks like Band 8 to me, nothing to improve here.

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9. Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on children. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Essay 1 – High Score – Band 8-9
In today's modern world, computers are an essential part of everyday life. Around the globe, children often use computers from a very young age. Although it is important for children to participate in various wellbalanced activities, in my opinion, children who use the computer daily are actually developing a critical skill for future success. The bases for my views are personal, academic, and professional.
From a personal point of view, computers are an invaluable resource to help young people explore the world around them. For example, children who use Internet to satisfy their curiosity about diverse topics are already becoming independent learners. No child with a computer is ever bored! By starting early in their lives, children feel totally at ease around computers; they are also able to take advantage of the wide range of services computers provide.
From an academic viewpoint, children have no choice but to master this technological invention. For instance, when I was in university, students brought their laptops to class to take notes, do research and exchange information. They wrote assignments, created presentations and developed databases. Children who build early confidence and experience in these abilities are at a distinct advantage over those who have not.
From a professional perspective, the computer has found a permanent place in the workplace. Today, employers still pay to provide computer training to their employees. Tomorrow, corporations will expect prospective job applicants to already possess these critical job skills. Consequently, parents who encourage their child to use the computer for a reasonable period of time daily are in fact investing in the child's future career.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the computer as a technological tool is here to stay. The sooner children become computer-literate, the better for many aspects of their future lives.

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10. Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
The world of sports is a multimillion dollar industry. Around the globe, people flock to sporting events or watch their favourite teams faithfully each week on television. As a result, professional sports athletes receive huge salaries – well above, for example, those of doctors, lawyers, teachers or social workers. There is some debate about whether such outrageously high salaries are justified.
On one hand, sport is viewed as a professional career, in which the top players should rightly earn high salaries. Athletes train rigorously from an early age to become peak performers in their field. They face tremendous pressure in each and every game, match or competition. Their personal lives are compromised and they lose all privacy. At the same time, their strong achievements bring honour and attention, not only to themselves, but also to their teams, schools, cities or countries.
On the other hand, various professions contribute to making our world run smoothly. Doctors put in at least ten years of grueling study and internship; their work saves lives. Teachers educate and inspire young people to be responsible citizens: their efforts produce the citizens of tomorrow. Social workers rescue individuals facing physical, mental and psychological challenges: their intervention creates safer societies.
Yet, professionals in the fields above usually struggle to get by, despite their meaningful and critical contribution to the world.
In my view, paying enormous salaries to sportspeople is unnecessary. We need to reconsider our social priorities and eliminate the great disparity in income received by diverse professionals. By doing so, we can build societies in which each one feels valued, appreciated and appropriately compensated for their own vocation or specialization.

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11. In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Taking a “gap year” off between high school and university has become a popular option among many young people. This time off provides a break after many years of formal study. Some students use this time to travel around the world, others volunteer and still others begin working. The idea behind each of these activities is to do something hands-on and refreshing, which enables young people to learn more about themselves and their place in the world around them.
The benefits of taking a year off are plentiful. On a personal level, students who travel away from home develop their independence and self-confidence. On a cultural level, they learn about viewpoints, traditions and perspectives different from their own. Professionally, students get a taste of diverse workplaces, which might inspire a possible career interest. Intellectually, they examine their own beliefs and ideas in relation to those of others in a new environment. All these advantages combine to make a strong case for taking the one-year break.
Nevertheless, there are also dangers involved in taking such a long break. Academically, the main drawback is that students can get sidetracked from their studies. A year is a long time and students could lose the good study habits and sense of discipline they had when they were in a formal academic structure. If they begin working, they could also be deluded into thinking that they’re making a lot of money. They could lose the benefit of college or university education and the chance to earn a higher income all their lives.
In conclusion, whether to take a year-long break or not is an individual decision. Each young person should consider his or her motivations carefully and decide on what’s most desirable. Time is a precious resource and people of all ages, including young people, should treat it with respect.

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12. Universities should accept equal numbers of men and women in every subject. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Gender issues have been increasing in importance through the centuries. In almost every sphere of human activity, there has been a movement towards greater equality between men and women. Although I agree that universities should open their doors to all students alike, in my view, they need not set a fixed limit on the number of men and women they accept in each subject. The bases for my views are psychological and personal.
Psychologically speaking, men and women are simply different, though they have the same potential for greatness. For example, women tend to be more intuitive, sensitive to others and caring. This means they may feel drawn, on the basis of their personalities, to certain kinds of professions such as teaching, nursing, or psychology, even if all fields are open to them. In such a context, it is best for universities to choose the best applicants, regardless of gender.
Personally, students need to discover their true calling. This is an individual matter and is not influenced by the universities reserving seats for men or women. For example, if the majority of women shy away from math or engineering, perhaps it has to do with their upbringing, which has influenced their interests. The universities will not be able to reverse this trend, though they should always look out for the most qualified candidates. In conclusion, equality cannot be forced upon people – not in the area of education, employment or family life. Equality is about having choices and those who prove themselves capable will qualify for university, regardless of gender. It is only right that universities reflect and respect these free and natural choices being exercised by their students.

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13. The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In a world of increasing environmental awareness improved public transport represents the way of the future. Although people do enjoy the convenience and privacy of traveling in their own private vehicles, in my opinion they may choose public transport if it fulfills certain conditions. These conditions fall into three broad categories: attitudinal, financial and logistical.
From an attitudinal perspective, people must first be convinced of the benefits of public transportation.
An educational or public relations campaign must be launched to sensitize those who might have disregarded this possibility before. People should be familiarized with the environmental, social and personal benefits for present and future generations. This is one step.
From a financial perspective, public transportation must be a clear and viable benefit to consumers. In other words, it must be more affordable than driving to work every day. For example, if people know that by using bus and subway, they can save enough money to take a free holiday each year, many more individuals would be persuaded to travel in this way. This is another critical step.
From a logistical perspective, public transportation should be convenient for commuters. City planners and transport officials must ensure that frequent and reliable public transportation is available for each citizen.
For people to make the habit of traveling by bus or subway, they must know that they will be able to get to various places on time. Transport vehicles must be well maintained, subway and bus drivers should be customer-oriented and service must be punctual and efficient. This is an additional important step.
In conclusion, through a multi-pronged approach, it is possible to increase the use of public transportation. City officials and politicians can lead the way by utilizing these forms of transport themselves and bringing about change through personal example. Then, more citizens will follow suit and we may all hope to live in a cleaner, less polluted environment.

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14. Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have a greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. Write an essay expressing your point of view. Give reasons for your answer. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
A child is born to two parents – a man and a woman. Both sexes play a crucial role in raising the child.
Although fathers can make excellent parents, in my opinion, mothers are in reality better parents based on their natural intuition and compassionate tendencies.
Firstly, for a wide variety of socio-cultural reasons, women tend to have more intuitive intelligence than men. It is this intuition that enables the mother to know when her child needs her. In addition, women often know how to read non-verbal signals in human behaviour, which can alert them to issues and problems in the child’s life. All of these “perceptive skills” play a major role in making the mother a close, responsible and responsive parent.
Secondly, most mothers share a inimitable bond with their children. Perhaps this bond arises during the nine months of pregnancy; perhaps it is reinforced through the act of breastfeeding. Whatever the cause, there often appears to be a lifelong silver chord or psychic connection between mother and child. As a result, the mother is able to evaluate the child’s actions from the viewpoint of his/her intentions, and not just results. This empathy is priceless and cannot easily be replicated. Although fathers may form deep loving bonds with their children, they may not be able to match the depth of closeness shared by mother and child.
In conclusion, although both parents are certainly capable of caring for the child, the mother often makes a better parent. Anyone who has experienced the unconditional acceptance of a mother’s love can bear witness to this reality.

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15. What factors are related to academic success in high school students?
High school is a critical time in the life of young people. On the one hand, teenagers are eager to enjoy their freedom and independence. On the other hand, they must be disciplined enough to keep their priorities straight. In my opinion, three social institutions impact high school students the most at this vulnerable time – the family, peer group and school.
Firstly, the family plays the central role by providing the backdrop in a young person’s life. A positive family environment provides love, support and encouragement for the student to do his/her best.
Simultaneously, the family aims to instill discipline and ambition in the child. The influence and expectations of family members remain paramount at this time and throughout a young person's life.
Secondly, as a child turns into a teenager, the peer group begins to play an increasingly important role in his/her life. The friendships one develops at this highly sensitive stage can affect ones attitude to studies, authority, society and the world. In the right company, young people can get involved in positive activities that support their academic performance. With the wrong crowd, teenagers could develop a host of unhealthy and dangerous habits which impact not only their grades but all aspects of their lives.
Lastly, the school itself is a deciding factor in the student's academic success. A variety of elements determine how the students feel about school: the teachers, the staff, the facilities, the subjects, the text books, the method of instruction and more. All of these have a significant impact on the young person’s motivation to excel. In conclusion, high school success is the product of various influences. We are all fortunate that, aside from a few unfortunate exceptions, the majority of students worldwide aspire to do well and grow up to become active and healthy participants in the world around them.

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16. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss.
According to a famous saying, “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” Indeed, the ability to speak several languages is considered one of the hallmarks of a cultured person. From this perspective, foreign language instruction should begin as early as possible in order to achieve near-native fluency. The reasons behind this approach are intellectual, social and professional.
Intellectually, learning a foreign language at a young age enables children to develop their brain. At this age, children’s minds are like sponges and their capacities are limitless. They have less inhibition or biases against learning different subjects. They can learn one, two or three languages without confusion; it would only serve to expand their minds. Therefore, it is ideal to start teaching a foreign language in kindergarten.
Socially, learning a foreign language enables the young child to enter a wider cultural world. By learning to speak, think and understand a different language, the child develops greater cross-cultural awareness. This critical ability enables the child to make friends with, identify with and empathize with others who speak the additional language.
Professionally, by learning a foreign language in kindergarten, the child expands his/her future career horizons. In today’s increasingly globalized world, bilingual and multilingual individuals are in high demand.
The child who achieves this fluency naturally and easily at a young age already has an edge over others in the job market.
In summary, numerous benefits flow from teaching a foreign language from kindergarten. The child will most likely grow up to thank those who made such a learning experience possible.

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17. Band 9 sample IELTS writing on parents’ support etc.
While many individuals complain that they are not sufficiently clever to succeed in life, I firmly believe that personality and development are decided more by education and training after birth than any given gene.
To begin with, environment is a determining factor of one’s personality. One may think that personality is already shaped once a baby is born, but in fact there are many contributing factors. The baby, for instance, would most likely be pessimistic if he or she lived in a poor family, where the baby always received punishment from his parents. His view of life would be very different from another individual who lived happily in a perfectly nurturing family with encouragement and psychological support from his parents.
Further, education after birth plays a significant role in one’s development. Education, which helps children develop their thinking and accumulate their knowledge, is a deciding factor of one’s success. For example, a high-school level person commonly may not to the extent of a person who has received an university education. This is not only because of the greater breadth of knowledge acquired, but also due to a more critical and focused way of thinking that is imparted and refined during ones senior education. A wolf child, to offer another instance, due to a deficiency of education by contact with human beings, could hardly live in our society or self-develop.
Admittedly, nature, decided by the genes given by one’s parents, also affects one’s personality and development. One can clearly find differences among younger kids in their learning ability, which could prove the importance of genes in this regard. However, when compared with other factors after birth, the role genes play in one’s personality and development may not be particularly significant. Not all genius will inevitably be successful, and similarly not all great men are genius in their childhood. Therefore, I hold that environment and education after birth weigh heavier than nature in regard to one’s personality and development.

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18. Band 9 sample IELTS writing on compete or coorporative.
Competition and cooperation play a large role in the advancement of society, both in business and nonbusiness areas. Competition forces people to improve their products or services, and hence benefits the recipients of these products or services. Cooperation, however, plays an even more important role in development of individuals and the society as a whole, because it drastically increases the scale of these improvements. Working in groups and teams far increases the productivity of individuals. Thus, I firmly believe children should be taught to cooperate rather than to compete.
First of all, cooperation is an important skill in the future life of all children. They will need to live with other people throughout their life, since they will not study alone, work alone, nor spend their leisure time alone. If they do not know how to cooperate with their classmates, their colleagues, and other family members, then they will lose the chance to live happily. Thus, cooperation skills should be taught before they grow up to face serious problems living with others.
Furthermore, cooperation is a significant contributing factor to the development of society. While competition generally ends in a win-lose result, cooperation advocates that one plus one is larger than two, three or even a larger number. For example, the competition of two business firms would ultimately lead to the result that one becomes stronger and the other fails and goes out of business. However, if they cooperate with each other successfully, they may group together to form an enterprise larger than the mere sum of the two. The more successful cooperation there is, the better the society develops. Thus, cooperation should be taught to children, because eventually they will be the executives of important corporations.
Admittedly, competition also plays a significant role in many areas. Stressed by the competition, individuals and organizations have to struggle to survive, and so they are forced to make improvements and develop. However, in comparison, cooperation is more effective in helping individuals and societies to develop, because it benefits not only individuals, but also society as a whole. The reality is that children should be taught both, but if forced to choose only one, parents should undoubtedly teach their kids to cooperate rather than to compete. 24

19. Should parents be obliged to immunise their children against common childhood diseases? Or do individuals have the right to choose not to immunise their children?
The issue of whether we should force parents to immunise their children against common diseases is, in my opinion, a social rather than a medical question. Since we are free to choose what we expose our bodies to in the way of food, drink, or religion for that matter, why should the question of medical “treatment” be any different? Medical researchers and governments are primarily interested in overall statistics and trends and in money-saving schemes which fail to take into consideration the individual's concerns and rights. While immunisation against diseases such astetanus and whooping cough may be effective, little information is released about the harmful effects of vaccinations which can sometimes result in stunted growth or even death.
The body is designed to resist disease and to create its own natural immunity through contact with that disease. So when children are given artificial immunity,we create a vulnerable society which is entirely dependent on immunisation. In the event that mass immunisation programmes were to cease, the society as a whole would be more at risk than ever before.
In addition there is the issue of the rights of the individual. As members of a society, why should we be obliged to subject our children to this potentially harmful practice? Some people may also be against immunisation on religious grounds and their needs must also be considered.
For these reasons I feel strongly that immunisation programmes should not be obligatory and that the individual should have the right to choose whether or not to participate.

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20. Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should spend public money on saving these languages, while others believe that would be a waste of money. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. It is true that some minority languages may disappear in the near future. Although it can be argued that governments could save money by allowing this to happen, I believe that these languages should be protected and preserved.
There are several reasons why saving minority languages could be seen as a waste of money. Firstly, if a language is only spoken by a small number of people, expensive education programs will be needed to make sure that more people learn it, and the state will have to pay for facilities, teachers and marketing. This money might be better spent on other public services. Secondly, it would be much cheaper and more efficient for countries to have just one language. Governments could cut all kinds of costs related to communicating with each minority group.
Despite the above arguments, I believe that governments should try to preserve languages that are less widely spoken. A language is much more than simply a means of communication; it has a vital connection with the cultural identity of the people who speak it. If a language disappears, a whole way of life will disappear with it, and we will lose the rich cultural diversity that makes societies more interesting. By spending money to protect minority languages, governments can also preserve traditions, customs and behaviours that are part of a country’s history.
In conclusion, it may save money in the short term if we allow minority languages to disappear, but in the long term this would have an extremely negative impact on our cultural heritage.

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21. Band 9 sample IELTS writing on violence in movies and society. Topic: The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease violent crimes in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It has been suggested that the government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease the rate of violent crimes in society. It would certainly be easy to garner support for such a move, but solely adapting such a policy will do little to effect social change.
The question has often been raised as to what extent media violence actually influences behavior. One can readily recount incidences of a child or young person viewing some violent behavior in a movie or on television and then trying to reproduce that situation in real life. It is hard to estimate the amount of violence which can be traced back to television shows or movies but the existence of such incidences is undeniable.
Logically, removing this violent content should directly reduce the incidence of such violence but this relationship between violent media content and violent behavior is not so simple.
While much has been recorded of young people imitating media violence, little has been directed to the influence of sad violence on those who are able to differentiate the imaginary situations in movies and on television from reality. If one were to find no similar relationship it could be immediately surmised that the most direct solution is increased supervision of young people, and not themodification of media content. The degree to which people are influenced by what they see in the media depends directly on how responsibly they are educated about the relationship of fiction and reality.
Watching comedies does not transform one into a comedian, and watching violent movies does not directly make one violent. Rather than taking crude half measures to repair complex social problems, more focus must be placed on the nature of interpersonal relationships, social responsibility and personal accountability. 27

22. Band 9 sample IELTS writing on university education and jobs.
There is no doubt that helping students find a job is one of the primary functions of university education, but universities do exist for other purposes such as improving students’ analytical skills and raising students’ moral standards.
A university education can be seen as a process of improving students’ analytical thinking. The variety of courses offered at university inspires students in various ways, therefore improving their analytical ability.
For example, science courses such as math and biology help students develop a rational way of thinking whereas arts courses such as literature have to let students ponder over issues from a logical, multi-dimensional perspective; and courses in social sciences force students to recognize the ideas that have been traditionally assumed to be acceptable and unproblematic. With the development of these types of analytical thinking, graduates can face future challenges with more confidence and enthusiasm.
Also, university education is expected to improve students’ moral standards. This is rooted in universities’ belief that students’ awareness of responsibility towards their community and their country is of high importance. In this ever-degenerating society and civilization, students are encouraged to actively participate in improving the local community. A university that provides care and facilities for physically disadvantaged students may inspire the graduates to better handle situations in the future where they may have to interact with the disabled community. A successful university education is supposed to produce morally sound graduates, therefore increasing their employability.
In conclusion, university education not only helps students locate a decent job but will also develop other qualities such as enhancing their analytical skills and cultivating their hunger and spirit for life.

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23. Band 8 sample IELTS writing on guns. Topic: Unlike other countries, police in UK does not carry guns. Some think it leaves citizen unprotected. Others think it reduces the overall violence in UK society. Discuss.
This should be a familiar scene in a Hollywood detective movie: an American police officer, armed with a pistol in case of a sudden strike from a misty corner, patrols a dark alley in search of the criminal element. In the meantime, his UK counterparts has to do the same job with merely a short baton in hand. He is like a fearless knight fighting for honour against enemies armed with guns with only his lance. Naturally, the ending will always be unfavourable to him. Or the ending will always not be to the delight of the spectators. Police, as protectors of his people, should do what they can, and use whatever means they can, to keep people out of harm’s way. But in the UK, police are on duty without carying a gun, which is a very bad idea. They are handicapping themselves.
Generally speaking, gun is recognized as a emblem of power and justice of police. It is clear that a police with gun on is able to prevent those potential criminal activities. For instance, a pistol on the belt works effectively to stop crimes range from those robbery, theft, and rape and it can also force the criminals to be arrested. Furthermore, gun serves for a reliable friend while the police crashs into a emergent situation like gun fighting or commotion. Guns are not expected to be employed to finish off the chaos but to help the police survive before the reinforcement comes.
Meanwhile, the violence rate is rising in UK due to the global terrorism. Unlike the ordinary gangster and robbers who is armed daggers and knives, a large number of international terrorists are equipped with semi-auto rifles and massive destruction weapons. Proper measures must be taken to limit the uneven contrast of power and the great efforts should be made to protect civilians from the harm of terrorist attack. However, there is an old saying “combat poison with poison”, say, an overall upgrading of UK police equipments couldn’t be better to meet the needs. It is all necessary that every police carries a pistol while they are on duty, that would be the practicable way to ensure the public security in Briton.
As a consequence, having carry guns by police will evidently benefit people in UK, and of which will lead to a more steady and harmonic society. If there must be a controversy, it would go to whether the government should place a curb upon the possible abuse of gun.

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24. Band 9 sample IELTS writing on money and success.
The notion of success holds different meanings for different people and groups. Such meanings have changed and evolved over time. Actually, many propose that possessing an abundance of money implies success. However, this view is rendered obsolete in the minds of those individuals who hold that one’s success cannot be measured strictly by money.
Material possession has been traditionally accepted as the measurement of one’s success or social status.
When we initially refer to someone, we routinely mention how much money he owns and thereby believe this individual to be quite successful if he is wealthy. In addition to this perpetuated concept, owning a lot of money is typically related to one’s work ability and thus some people may simply consider money as a prime measurement of one’s success.
However, this view has changed recently since many people have come to recognize that money in many cases cannot bring about happiness, health and success. A more precise, contemporaneous definition of success means doing the things one perceives are valuable to themselves and beneficial for others. The winner of the Nobel Prize for peace may think he is has achieved success although he is rewarded little financial benefit. A person who loves animals and makes an effort to save animals that are on a path of extinction may think he has gained success although he may have expended all of his money on his career.
Another individual may define success as being able to make artistic masterpieces that can be accepted by public. As a composer, success is having his work praised by adoring fans and who help cause the work to be bought the world over. Similarly, holding an exhibition in a famous art gallery may connote success for a painter. People adhere to various concepts defining success. Money surely cannot be the only measurement of success. Acquiring true happiness in life and attaining success means having the freedom and capability of doing that which you enjoy and believing it to be valuable.

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25. Band 8 sample IELTS writing: stricter punishment and road safety.
Recent years have witnessed a worsening trend in road safety. According to statistics from the local authority, the number of traffic accidents in 2004 was 20% greater than that of the previous year. The issue is gaining more and more concern of the public, some of whom propose that stricter punishment on traffic offenders should be the only way to ensure road safety. As far as I am concerned, I hold that punishment should not be only solution to the problem.
There is certainly no denying that stricter penalties may to some extent bring down the number of accidents on motorways as a deterrent to driving offenses. Besides, the government may enjoy a greater revenue from severer fines, which can in turn be used to improve road conditions.
However, we shall never overlook the other side of the coin: punishment has its downsides. Fines, as the most common penalty for driving violations, tend to instill in people the misconception that money can pay off their guilt and resolve the problem. As a result, we can see many cases where the traffic offender commits the same or another mistake even after having been fined a lot. In spite of heavier punishment, road safety cannot be enhanced unless drivers are equipped with sufficient driving skills and knowledge. Recently there have emerged many irresponsible driving schools that have produced a host of unqualified drivers, contributing to more traffic offences. Thus tight control on driving schools and the driving testing system is needed as well to improve road safety. Furthermore, advertisements and campaigns concerned should be launched to raise the public awareness. When people are fully aware of the importance of abiding by traffic rules, accidents may hopefully be eliminated.
From the above discussion, it is clear that only stricter punishment is not enough to enhance road safety.
Instead, it should go hand in hand with closer control on driving schools and the testing system as well as higher public awareness.

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26. There are many different types of music in the world today, Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?
The day the world was created, music was born. Nature has wonderful rhythms and sound which cannot be matched to anything in this world. The sound of recurring waves of the sea, the flow of the river, voice of the cuckoo all have been a great influence on mankind. Music has grown into human beings over years, shaped by various improvements, used to depict the mood of the person who plays it.
International music has under grown a massive reach in the last decade due to better globalization, communication and shrinking of the world. However there have been developments in traditional music which are more influenced by the culture and tradition of a country. The reach of music across borders has created a healthy environment and has provided opportunities for creativity by combining international music and traditional music.
Earlier in the 1980’s people heard romantic, soft, western music which has dramatically changed to rock music now. Hip hop music which were very popular earlier have transcended and although people love to hear them they have been out fashioned in today’s music world.
Traditional music of a country is unique for every country and it has its roots too. They depict the culture, tradition of the society. For example, in India, every occasion has a music relevant to the mood. The classical music ‘ragas’ have specific collection of notes which when sung during particular time of a day gives peace of mind to body and soul. Not to deny the fact that the traditional music have undergone changes too.
There have been adaptations made from the international music. The instruments used have been very different and more advanced keeping in pace with technological advancements. Although they have been changes, the basic structure of the traditional music remains unique and unchanged.
Research shows that music can heal and cure diseases. They can soothe ones feelings and relaxes our mind. Every individual has a sense of taste for music, which is very unique. Some like jazz, rock some classical and some hip hop. Whatever it is music has been one of the major part time experiences for human beings.
Music keeps everyone rejuvenated throughout his life, which proves its necessity.
Traditional music and international music are two different things altogether. It is very important for both of them to exist, more for the former, because it gives the sense of the tradition, culture and is more than just an art. In this ever-changing world it becomes imperative that our future generations get to know about the traditional music which is more native of the country. Hence I feel traditional music is more important than international music.

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SAMPLE REPORTS

Band 9 Task 1

The graph shows changes in the gap between US energy consumption and production since 1950. It also estimates trends up to 2025. Between 1950 and 1970 both production and consumption increased from just over
30 units to about 65, and although consumption was consistently higher, the difference was marginal during this period. However, production grew only gradually over the next 30 years to reach 70 units in 2000. In contrast, growth in consumption was steeper and more fluctuating, reaching 95 units by 2000. Energy imports needed to bridge this gap therefore increased from very little in 1970 to a substantial 25 units in 2000.
Projections up to 2025 indicate that this trend is likely to continue, with the gap between production and consumption widening. By 2025 it is expected that consumption will reach 140 units, while production will reach only 90, so more than 30% of energy consumed (50 units) will have to be imported. Overall, the graph indicated that energy production in the US is not keeping up with consumption, so imports will continue to increase. The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

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The picture illustrates the way in which water passes from ocean to air to land during the natural process known as the water cycle.
Three main stages are shown on the diagram. Ocean water evaporates, falls as rain, and eventually runs back into the oceans again.
Beginning at the evaporation stage, we can see that 80% of water vapour in the air comes from the oceans. Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate, and water vapour condenses to form clouds. At the second stage, labelled ‘precipitation’ on the diagram, water falls as rain or snow.
At the third stage in the cycle, rainwater may take various paths. Some of it may fall into lakes or return to the oceans via ‘surface runoff’. Otherwise, rainwater may filter through the ground, reaching the impervious layer of the earth. Salt water intrusion is shown to take place just before groundwater passes into the oceans to complete the cycle.

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Graph Sample 1

The graph exhibits people using new music places on the internet in fifteen days period of time namely personal choice and trendy pop music. The overall trend shows fluctuation with slight increased towards the end of the period.
Staring with Music Choices websites; 40,000people went on this new site on the first day. Half of them backed out the next day. In contrast to this pop parade net sites were visited by 120,000 music lovers on the day one which decreased slightly on the next day there after regaining the same fame on 3rd day.
After 3rd day the enthusiasm for both music lines on the internet dropped slowly- reaching maximum fall of 40,000 on the 7th day. Whereas Music Choice gained popularity, slightly improving to get the original strength of 30,000 viewers on the screen, but was getting still less visitors then their opponent Pop group i.e.
40,000 on day 7.
In the beginning of the next week both gained remarkable recovery after few fluctuations for 8 thand
9th day having 40,000 and 50,000 visitors respectively, reaching to their peaks of one and half thousand new visitors for Pop Parade on the 11th day showing the contrast of very few people visiting music capital choice for
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the same day. Thereafter, Music Choice gained popularity on the 12 day for having more than 120,000 new visitors on web.
In the end of the period Pop sites were visited by maximum viewers of 180,000 where as sides located to
Music Choice were nor explored by more than 80,000 explorers on he last day of the report.

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Graph Sample 2

The bar chart indicates a survey on two different age groups on the factors contributing to make their environment pleasant for working.
These factors are divided in to internal and external factors. The internal factors are the team spirit, competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction. The external factors are chance for personal development, job security, promotional prospects and money.
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On the internal factors above 50 % in both age groups agreed that team spirit, competent boss and job satisfaction are essential to make their environment pleasant. Whereas on the external factors, there are contrasting results. On the chance of personal development and promotional aspects, 80% to 90% of the younger groups were in favor while only less than 50% of the older group thought so. A similar pattern is also noted on job security. With regards to money, 69% to 70% on both age groups said it is essential.
In conclusion, the internal factors have similar responses from the two age groups while they had dissimilar responses on the external factors.

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Graph Sample 3

The data exhibits the conclusion of study of the average number of cars passing on three different roads between 1993 and 2002. In general the trend was upward over the period.
The most striking feature is that there was a dramatic increase in the number of cars passed on the Long
Lane from 1993 to 2001, during which the number increased from 400 cars in 1993 to 1400 cars in 2001.
However, the number was stable during the following year at 1400 cars.
The evidence reveals that the number of cars on Harper Lane rose between 1993 and 1998. One year before the introduction of the methods to slow down traffic, the number declined with slight fluctuation.
The facts show that the average number of cars passed on Great York Way increased significantly from
1993 to 1999, the same year in which methods to slow down traffic was introduced. There were 600 cars in
1993 and 911 cars in 1999. However there was a slight reduction in the number of cars during the following years. To sum up the introduction of traffic calming had a non significant impact on the cars passing on roads
Long Lane and Great York Way. In comparison there was a slight effect on the cars passing on Harper Lane.

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After describing the main features or general trends shown on a graph or chart, we need to describe specific details. It's important to include some numbers and make some comparisons.

Whenever a chart shows years, I describe the details starting with the first year and the highest figure(s). Here's an example paragraph about the year 2006:
In 2006, 100% of mobile phone owners used their phones to make calls, while the next most popular uses of mobiles were for text messaging (73%) and taking photos (66%). By contrast, less than a fifth of owners played games or music on their phones, and there were no figures for users doing Internet searches or recording video.
After this, I would write a final paragraph containing a few key numbers for the other two years (2008 and 2010). I'll show you my full essay next week.

The table compares the percentages of people using different functions of their mobile phones between 2006 and 2010.

Throughout the period shown, the main reason why people used their mobile phones was to make calls. However, there was a marked increase in the popularity of other mobile phone features, particularly the Internet search feature.
In 2006, 100% of mobile phone owners used their phones to make calls, while the next most popular functions were text messaging (73%) and taking photos (66%). By contrast, less than 20% of owners played games or music on their phones, and there were no figures for users doing Internet searches or recording video.
Over the following 4 years, there was relatively little change in the figures for the top three mobile phone features. However, the percentage of people using their phones to access the Internet jumped to 41% in 2008 and then to 73% in 2010. There was also a significant rise in the use of mobiles to play games and to record video, with figures reaching 41% and 35% respectively in 2010.
Note:
The above essay isn't perfect, but it's still good enough for a band 9. You are not expected to write a masterpiece in only 20 minutes.

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You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the amount of money per week spent on fast foods in
Britain. The graph shows trends in consumption of fast foods. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

The graph shows the changes in the demand for hamburgers, fish& chips and pizza from
1970 to 1990.
It is immediately apparent that in 1970 the most popular food was pizza. The demand for pizza started from 300 grams followed by a spectacular fall of 200 grams in 1985.

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The striking feature of the graph is the demand for fish & chips. In 1970, fish & chips were the second favourite food among people, and from 1980 on the total demand surged to a high of 500 grams from 99 in 1970.
Furthermore, hamburgers were the least popular food in 1970 with the total demand of
15 grams, which increased gradually till 1985. The total demand for hamburgers skyrocketed to 299 grams in 1990.
In conclusion, there was a subsential increase in the demand for hamburgers and sea food, whereas there was a significant fall in the popularity of pizza.
Teacher’s summary: All the requirements of the task were covered fairly well.
The key features were identified, emphasized and illustrated in a suitable and logical way. The ideas are presented in a logical order. All aspects of cohesion are taken care of well. The paragraphing is handled suitably and appropriately.
The range of vocabulary allows the writer to communicate the exact meanings.
Some sophisticated words/expressions are used in a clever way. A wide range of grammatical structures are used. Overall, this report seems worthy of IELTS
Band 8.

The bar chart illustrates the expenditure on three different types of fast food such as hamburgers, fish and chips and pizza in people in different level of income.
From the chart, it is clear that in a high-income group, 40 pence is spent on hamburgers a week, which is the largest among the expenditures on all the three types of fast food.
This expenditure is also the greatest one in the average income group, but the amount of money spent is only about 33 pence a week, much less than that in the high-income group. As for the low-income group, the largest expenditure is on fish and chips, about
18 pence a week.
The line graph compares the trends of the amount of three type of fast food consumed between 1970 and 1990. It is clear that the amount of hamburgers and fish and chips consumed showed an increasing trend, while pizza consumed gradually decreased from
300g in 1970 to 700g in 1985, before it grew to about 240g in 1990. The consumption of fish and chips overtook that of pizza and hamburgers in 1982 and 1988 respectively.
This report covers the requirements of the task. The main trends and features were presented but should be developed better. The candidate has arranged ideas coherently, though the data is reported in a repetitive way. The range of vocabulary is adequate. There are a few errors in grammar and word choice, and one instance of inaccurate data (mouse over the underlined words shows corrections). Overall, this task response meets the expectations and seems good enough to achieve Band 7.

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You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows information about average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with average house prices in 1989.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

The graph illustrates the figures of average house prices in the five different cities during the period from 1990 to 2002, in comparison with the data in 1989. Overall, there was an upward trend in the percentage of change of house prices during the period shown in almost all of the cities except for Frankfurt.
As can be clearly seen, there was a considerable fall by approximately 5% in the proportion change of estate prices in New York between 1990 and 1995. Likewise, Tokyo and London, which had the same figures, witnessed a dramatic decrease by about 7% over the same period. However, the figures for Madrid and Frankfurt were around 2% and 3%, respectively.
During the latter period from 1996 to 2002, the figure for London was the highest with more than 10% in the percentage of change of house prices. During the same period, the rates at which the house prices increased were about 5% in New York and 4% in
Madrid. This rate in Frankfurt was 2%, lower than than in the first 5-year period. Finally, the percentage change in Tokyo fell by around 5% between 1996 and 2002.
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All the requirements of the task were covered fairly well. The key features were identified, emphasized and illustrated in a suitable and logical way. The ideas are presented in a logical order. All aspects of cohesion are taken care of well. The paragraphing is handled suitably and appropriately. The range of vocabulary allows the writer to communicate the exact meanings. Some sophisticated words/expressions are used in a clever way, with only occasional errors in word choice/expression choice. A wide range of grammatical structures are used. Most sentences are free of errors. Inappropriate use of grammar is very infrequent. Overall this report seems worthy of IELTS Band 8.
The chart provides a break down about the average variation inhouse prices in five various cities from 1990 to 2002 along with a comparison with house price in 1989.
Overall, it is clear that the average house price increased substantially over the given period compared with the prices in 1989.
As can be seen, between 1990 and 1995, the average house prices in Tokyo and
London indicated a sharp dip by approximately 7% in both cities. They were followed by
New York with a 5% decline. In contrast, the average house price showed a slight increase of 2% and 2.5% in Frankfurt and Madrid respectively.
On the contrary, during the period of 1996 to 2002, London with 12% demonstrated a sharp growth in housing prices. It was followed by New York and Madrid with 5% and
4% respectively along with a small increase of around 2% in Frankfurt. Similarly, Tokyo showed a rise of about 2% but it was still 5% lower than the average house price in
1989.
A reasonable outline of main trends, differences or states was given. The key features were presented and emphasized, but some aspects were left out of the description. There is a logical organisation of information; it is evident that the writer progresses from one idea to another. The linking words and phrases are used, however at times they are inappropriate or forced (not natural). The range of vocabulary is wide enough for the writer to show some flexibility and accuracy of expression, however repetition of the same word can clearly be seen throughout this report. There are incidental errors in word choice, spelling and word formation. Overall the control of grammar and punctuation is good, with only a few errors made. This report seems worthy of Band 7.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the results of a survey to find out what members of a city sports club think about the club’s activities, facilities, and opening hours.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make any comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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The table illustrates the preference levels of male and female members of a sport club about their activities, facilities and opening hours. It is clear that the greater proportion of male members is contented about the club’s activities (91%) whereas this figure is true only for 70% of female members.
Moreover, more than 85% of both male and female are happy about the facilities and
63% of male members and 64% female members are extremely satisfied in this regard.
In fact, only 14% of female members and 10% of male members are negative about this. In addition, opening hours are in the best interest of women as 97% of them are positive about it. In contrast, more than one third of men have expressed their dissatisfaction in this regard.
In conclusion, it is clear that male and female members hold different opinion about the activities and facilities and opening hours of the club.
A reasonable outline of main trends, differences or states was given. The key features were presented and emphasized, but some aspects were left out of the description. There is a logical organisation of information; it is evident that the writer progresses from one idea to another. The use of linking words and phrases is suitable. The range of vocabulary is wide enough for the writer to show some flexibility and accuracy of expression, but still some words are repeated over and over again. There are incidental errors in word choice, spelling and word formation, however error-free sentences are common.
Overall this report seems worthy of Band 7.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the consumption of fish and different kinds of meat in a
European country between 1979 and 2004.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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The graph illustrates the quantities of fish and different kinds of meats consumed in a
European country between the time periodof 1979 and 2004. Over this span of 25 years, the consumption of beef, lamb and fish have all decreased while the consumption of chicken has dramatically risen.
The biggest consumption in 1979 was beef (about 220 grams per person was consumed every week) while the lowest consumption in 1979 was fish (around 60 gram per week was consumed by a person). The amount of fish which was eaten has remained almost constant at about 50 grams from 1979 and 2004. The trends of beef and lamb consumption were similar, with decreases in amount in between the years. While beef consumption had declined from over 200 grams per person per week to around 100 grams during 25 years, lamb’s was starting 150 grams to approximately 50 grams at the same period.
In contrast, chicken consumption had grown up gradually to year of 194, reaching a peak at 250grams per person every week inbetween 1994 and 2004.
This report covers the requirements of the task. The main trends and features were sufficiently developed. The candidate has arranged ideas coherently, though at times they report data in a repetitive way. The range of vocabulary is adequate. There are a few errors in grammar and word choice (mouse over the
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underlined words shows suggestions for improvement). Overall, this task response meets the expectations and seems good enough to achieve Band 7.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below compares the changes in the birth rates of China and the USA between 1920 and 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

The graph demonstrated some striking similarities between the Chinese and the US birth rates from 1920 to 2000. Both countries experienced considerable fluctuations in the similar period withsome lows during the 1940s and some highs during the 1930s.
The birth rates in China rose from 10% in 1920 to 15% in 1935. Later, the figure plunged to a low of 5% in the 1940s and was followed by an exponential growth to the peak of 20% in 1950. Next, the fertility rate dropped sharply to 8% in the following five years. Finally, the figure declined gradually to 3% during the latter half of the century.
Meanwhile, the US had similar birth rate of 12% to that of China in 1920. The figure fluctuated in between 12% and 14% during 1920s and 1930s until it hit a low of 4% in
1945. Five years later, the birth rate reached a peak at 15% in 1950 but it made a steady fall to the final figure of around 7% in 2000.
This report covers the requirements of the task. The main trends / features were sufficiently developed. The candidate has arranged ideas coherently, though the use of linking words can be improved. The range of vocabulary is adequate. There are a few errors in grammar and word choice, and one instance of inaccurate data. Overall, the task response meets the expectations and seems good enough to achieve Band 7.
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You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the proportion of different categories of families living in poverty in Australia in 1999.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

The table shows a breakdown of different types of families who were living in poverty in
Australia in 1999.
It is noticeable that 11% of people were living in poverty. However, this figure was considerably high among the sole parents and single people who did not have children and thosepercentages were 21% and 19% respectively. Moreover, this proportion was significantly prominent among the couples who had children compared with the family structures consisted withcouples who did not have children. In fact, the proportion of couples with children living in poverty was 5% more than that in the family types consisted only with couples. In contrast, this trend favoured aged people.
However, this figure was slightly more (2%) among the single aged people than that in the family category of aged couples.
In conclusion, it is clear that the proportion of people living in poverty varied according to their family structures.
This report covers the requirements of the task. The main trends / features were mentioned, but could have been developed more fully. The candidate has arranged ideas coherently. The range of vocabulary is sufficient, even though it lacks flexibility to some extent. There are a few grammatical mistakes in the report. Overall, the task response meets the expectations and seems good enough to achieve Band 7.
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You are advised to spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task.
The following pie charts show the results of a survey into the most popular leisure activities in the United States of America in 1999 and 2009.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.

The graphs reveal information about the most common leisure activities which the American engaged in between 1999 and 2009. Overall, the largest percentage of people living in the US enjoyed walking.

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As can be seen clearly, the figures for soccer, camping and walking increased slightly by 1%-2% to 18%, 9% and 31% respectively during the ten-year period. On the other hand, there was a nearly doubling in the proportions of people joining in yoga (5 to 10
% ) and swimming ( 9 to 18% ) __ over the same period.
By contrast, the period shown witnessed a significant decrease in the percentages of
American people participating in the remaining activities. To be more specific, the figure for jogging nearly halved from 7% to 3%. What is more, there was a dramatic fall in the proportion of aerobics players from 13% to 4% from 1999 to 2009 . Finally, when it comes to bicycling, the figure for this activity dropped from 14% to 7%.
The candidate has interpreted the pie charts fairly well. This report is easy to read. The main features are compared and contrasted well with relevant figures. There are some minor inaccuracies, but they do not interfere with the reading of the report. Overall, the task response is good. Suggested improvements: pay a little more attention to the grammatical range and accuracy. Overall, this report seems worthy of Band 7

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You are advised to spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the annual water usage (in millions of cubic meters) by industries in Somecountry. Write a report for a university tutor describing the information shown.
You should write at least 150 words.

The bargraph describes the water usage for every year in Somecountry in millions of cubic meters.
The water usage are shown by two trends , ground water and public supply. Fuel and textiles are the ones that use the least water, 10 of public supply and 70 and 80 of ground water. Machinery are just the opposite of these two and has 10 of ground water and 100 of public supply.
Food/drinks, metal, paper and chemicals are all over 100 of ground water where chemicals peaks at dramaticlly 430. The highest figure of water usage of public supply also belongs to chemicals (240). Next on the list is food/drinks with 190, the others are under 100.
Overall, the chemical industry uses a lot more water than the rest of the industries in terms of both ground water and public supplies, and in general, most industries use ground water by far more than public supply.
This is a good report, the trends are correctly noticed. Suggested improvements: use units in addition to numbers (10 of what? Millions of cubic meters). Use more connective words to smoothly move from one paragraph to another. Pay attention to grammar, see comments.

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You are advised to spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below gives information on wages of Somecountry over a ten-year period. Write a report for a university tutor describing the information shown.
You should write at least 150 words.

The linegraph describes the growth of wages in Somecountry from the year 1993 to
2003.
The growth started at two percent in 1993, but it didn’t stay there very long before it rapidly doubled in 1994. Further on, the percentages declines to three percent in 1995, stayed steady for year, before starting to rise slowly and ending up just under four percent in 1997. 1998 was the best year where the wages peaked at six percent.
However, after 1998 the wages declined nearly every year. Only a year after , the percentage dropped to well under three percent, and stayed there on roughly three percent till 2000. In 2002 the wages reached the lowest point of just one percent growth. Luckily the growth rose in 2003 at junst under two percent.
Overall, the growth rate in wages in Somecountry has shown striking changes through the ten years.
This is a good report. It covers the task, is divided correctly into paragraphs and the vocabulary is suitable. Its problems are that it has fewer than 150 words (146) and there are some grammatical errors. Assuming the corrections were made, this looks like a Band 7 report.

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You are advised to spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task.
The table below describes percentages of home schooled students in
SomeCountry in 1999-2004. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown.
You should write at least 150 words.

This table shows homeschooled students in Somecountry in year 1999-2004 in percenages.
The main trend is that all grades including kindergarten is growingfor every year.
Kindergarten started highest at 2.4 and ended highest at 2.9 percent with a constant increase. But grades 1-2 and grades 5-6 shows a little different trend, both starts at 1,5 percent in 1999 and declines a little bit in 2000. Both of them increased slowly in 2002 and both it holds that course to 2004 where grades 1-2 ends at 2,1 percent and grades
5-6 ends at 2.6 percent.
Grades 3-4 has a slow but steady growth througt all six years. Itstarts at 1.6 percent in
1999 and increases 0.1 every year except in 2003 when it peaks up 0.2 percent. Grades
7-8 starts at 1.6 percent and stays there for three years until they rapidly rose up to 2.2 and peaked at 2.5 in 2004.
Overall, all grades including kindergarten has had a rise at rouglyminimum 1 percent or more in 6 years.
This is a good report; here is how you can make it better: the coherence needs improvement, meaning the logical connection between sentences inside a paragraph and between paragraphs. Use more connective words (Furthermore,
However, etc).
The grouping you’ve done is fine, but try to use more variations describing those statistics: use words such as numbers, figures, percentages, etc. The grammar and the spelling need some extra attention.Overall, this report seems worthy of Band 7

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