EdMIUMThe IELTS writing test is a 60-minute duration module where candidates are required to write two tasks. The IELTS paper pattern in writing is designed to assess how well you write a response, appropriately structure your ideas and use a range of vocabulary and proper grammar. IELTS Writing topics cover a wide range of subjects organized under common topic and essay types. IELTS writing topics often use similar questions for their essays but change the wording of the essay questions.
Academic
Academic writing has two tasks. You are required to spend 20 minutes writing approximately 150 words to complete task 1 and 40 minutes to write 250 words for Task 2.
IELTS Writing topics-Task 1- You are required to describe the given graph, table, chart or diagram or summarize and explain the data and the stages of a process on how something works or describe an object or event.
Task 2- In the IELTS Writing task 2 topics will be given to write an essay in the form of an argument or respond from a point of view in a formal style.
General
The IELTS General Test format writing has two tasks. You are required to spend 20 minutes writing approximately 150 words to complete task 1 and 40 minutes to write 250 words for Task 2.
Task1- You are required to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation based on the given situation. The letter can be semi-formal, formal or maybe personal in style.
Task2-In the IELTS writing task 2 topics will be given to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or a problem. This essay may be personal in style.
IELTS Writing samples are given below in this article for a detailed understanding of IELTS Writing. You will be given instructions on how to score well in the IELTS writing tasks along with the IELTS essay samples. The IELTS writing samples are different for both Academic and general tests. The IELTS writing sample with answers are given below for your reference.
In this article, let us look at:
- List of Writing Samples
- IELTS Writing task 2 samples with answers
- IELTS Writing task Samples- Academic
- IELTS General writing Samples
- IELTS Writing Task Sample Questions- General
1. List of Writing Samples
Here is the list of IELTS writing samples and the IELTS writing test samples for both academic and General
IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample- Academic
The IELTS writing task 1 sample with answers are given below:
Task: The chart and graph below give information about participants who have entered the Olympics since it began. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Answer:
The two charts give information about the gender and number of athletes who have entered the Games since they started. The bar chart illustrates the number of men and women entering the Games, whereas the line graph shows the number of participants.
It is evident from the bar chart that, until 2012, there were always significantly more men entering the Games than women. In 1924 and 1952, there were hardly any women entering the Games, yet in 1952 there were over 4,000 male participants. In 2012, however, the number of female athletes rose significantly to nearly 5,000, only approximately 1,000 lower than male participants.
The line graph shows a similar trend, with the number of participants increasing throughout the century. The most significant increase occurred between 1984 and 2012, when the number of athletes rose from just over 6,000 to over 10,000 in 2012.
To summarize therefore, since 1924 the number of athletes entering the Olympic Games, has increased dramatically. This is particularly the case for women, who are now represented in nearly the same numbers as male participants.
Task: The bar charts below give information on road transport in a number of European countries. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Sample Answer:
The bar charts give information about methods of travel and commuting times for six European countries, as well as the average figure for the European Union. From the information, we can see that car use is highest in Denmark at about 12,500 kilometers per person a year, and lowest in Spain and Germany.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Danish also make far greater use of alternative transport than people in other countries, traveling over 3,000 kilometers a year by bus, tram, metro or bike, which is more than double the EU average. By comparison, the British and French travel less than a third of that distance by public transport.
When it comes to commuting times, British drivers spend about 47 minutes each day travelling to work, which is more than any other country. In Denmark and Italy, on the other hand, where many more people use public transport, commuting times are significantly lower.
2. IELTS Writing task 2 samples with answers
Students are becoming more and more reliant on the Internet. While the Internet is convenient, it has many negative effects and its use for educational purposes should be restricted. How far do you agree with this statement?
Nowadays, the Internet is used widely in education around the world. Some people say it is beneficial for teaching and learning because there is so much information available. However, others claim that the Internet is bad for students’ research skills and believe that its use should be restricted. I believe that use of the Internet should be limited in some ways, but it is still a valuable educational tool.
Firstly, the Internet is essential for many people today. It is widely used in the workplace and people’s everyday lives, both for finding information, for personal finance, for keeping in touch with friends and family, for social networking and so on. Therefore, school students should learn how to use it correctly. In addition, students also need it for research in school and university subjects. Nowadays the most up-to-date information can be found on the Internet, rather than in books which can become out of date very quickly. Using the Internet is a convenient way of finding out information and developing independent research skills.
However, the Internet has some negative aspects. For example, not all websites are reliable or contain accurate information. Students need to learn how to evaluate and check the material they find on the Internet. Also, many students simply copy large amounts of material, such as essays from the Internet. Some students then pretend that this material is their own work, which is illegal. If students simply copy information or material from the Internet without understanding or analyzing it, they will not learn it fully. Teachers need to teach students how to research and use information from the Internet properly.
In conclusion, schools and universities should teach students how to use the Internet by teaching them good research skills. If students know how to use the Internet effectively, they are likely to become better students and have better employment opportunities in the future.
Task 2
The education you receive from your family is more important than the education you receive from school. To what extent do you agree with this statement and why?
Education comes from many places, not just formal schooling. People learn from their family, their friends, the television and personal experience among many other ways. Although these avenues of learning are certainly important, I believe that education within schools is much more important, as it lays the foundations for future achievement and wider success as I shall show.
Firstly, formal qualifications which are earned at school are often the entry points to certain careers and jobs. In order to be a lawyer or doctor, you need to do well at school so you can go on to study for professional qualifications. Additionally, many jobs ask for basic qualifications in maths and English when you apply. Without these qualifications, an individual could become limited in what they can do with their professional lives.
In addition to this, school also prepares you for relationships outside your family, which is an important aspect of life. School is a good socialization tool because a student needs to deal with relationships on many different levels, for example with teachers and school friends, and they also need to deal with threats to happiness such as bullying or workloads.
Families are important as often children gain their moral outlook and aspiration goals from their parents. However, children can succeed without a favorable family setting to a certain extent. It is doubtful whether they could succeed without schooling.
In conclusion, although there are many beneficial forms of education, I believe schooling is more important than education within the family. This is because formal education gives you qualifications and socialization that the family cannot offer.
3. IELTS Writing task Samples- Academic
Task 1
The graph gives information about male and female gym membership between 1980 and 2010. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The line graph shows male and female gym membership over a thirty-year period. The vertical axis represents the number of members in units of 1,000. The horizontal axis represents the period from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, the graph indicates that there were greater fluctuations in gym membership among men than among women. The number of male members started the period at just over two thousand and reached highs of four thousand in 1985 and five thousand around 2005. The lowest rates were between 1993 and 1997 and more recently in 2010 when the rate dipped as low as one thousand.
Female gym membership began lower at one thousand, doubled by 1984, and then fluctuated between two and three thousand for the remainder of the period. When male rates were at their lowest, female rates were higher. This was particularly true between 1993 and 1997 when over three thousand women held gym membership.
In brief, there were marked differences in rates of male and female gym memberships in the period covered.
Task 2
New technologies and ways of buying and selling are transforming the lives of consumers. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
New technologies, and in particular the Internet, are undoubtedly having a major impact on the way goods and services are bought and sold. In many countries, buying products online has become a mainstream activity. Now in the UK, for example, roughly 12 per cent of all retail trade is conducted on line. While some maintain that the actual impact of the Internet on shopping is negligible, I would argue that it is in fact quite significant for two main reasons.
The first main reason is that the development of online shopping has meant that the market for goods available to the individual has grown exponentially. It is possible to buy virtually anything from what has effectively become a world-wide retail market: exotic foods, art works, rare books, adventure holidays; the list is endless. Products that were once only available to those who lived in large cosmopolitan cities with a wide variety of shops can now are bought by those living in small towns with few local amenities.
Another significant reason is that the buyer can have more control over the process. Price comparison websites make it easier to find bargains. Shopping can be done at any time of the day or night. And shoppers can browse for as long as they like without pressure from sales assistants. This means that shoppers can potentially become more astute and knowledgeable about the products. They are buying. Because of the greater competition involved in trading within a large market, sellers may have to improve the quality of their products.
In short, experience suggests that online shopping has shifted the balance of power in favor of the consumer. Consumers not only have wider access to goods but also have greater access to information and more control over how they shop.
4. IELTS General writing Samples
Here are the IELTS writing test samples with answers- General, which help you in gaining a better understanding of the tasks and score high.
IELTS General writing task 1 Samples
The IELTS letter writing samples are given below go through them and work on it.
You are planning to go and study English at a school overseas. You would like some information about their courses.
Task:
Write a letter to the school. In your letter
· ask about the school
· say what kind of accommodation you want
· Mention any special requests you have (for example diet).
Answer:
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Renata Pereira from Sao Paolo in Brazil. I have recently registered as a student at your college to follow a four-week course in Advanced Computer Programming starting at the end of November this year.
I am writing to you to try to decide on my accommodation while I’m in Manchester. Ideally, I would like to stay with a host family because I think that this will also help me to improve my English. If possible, I would like to stay very close to the College so I don’t heed to spend a lot of time travelling. Last year, I studied on a Business English course in San Diego, USA and stayed with a host family and really enjoyed it very much. I am hoping for the same experience in Manchester.
I’d really appreciate it if you could send me any information you have regarding the different accumulation options (particularly host families). In particular, I’d like to know where the accommodation is and how much it costs.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Renata Pereira
Task:
You work for a company. You have seen some information online about a training course that would be useful for your work.
Write a letter to your manager. In your letter
· give details of the course
· say how the course would be useful
· Explain how the company could help you do this course.
Answer:
Dear Martin
I have recently become aware of a course called Social Media Marketing Essentials and I am writing to ask for your support in taking this course. It is a five-day intensive program being offered by the Business Leadership Association and it starts on Monday 15 February. I believe the course would be of great benefit to our company as we have been recently considering how to build up our social media presence and attract more customers online. After reading reviews by former participants, I think this Social Media course will help me professionally in my capacity as Communications Manager and make a real difference to our company.
For these reasons, I am requesting paid leave from 15-20 February to attend the course. It would be helpful if other team members did not take leave at this time; so far nobody else has applied. I believe this will not be a particularly busy time at work, but I am prepared to spend some time working on those evenings if needed.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best wishes
Neil MacFarlane
IELTS General Writing Task 2 Samples
Task:
Some people believe that a person’s culture is defined by their country of origin, while others believe that has only a minor influence.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
If we define culture as shared beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours, it stands to reason then that a person’s country of origin impacts their culture. The question is to what degree. Is nationality the defining influence or is it just one of many factors in play? Personally speaking, I would say both arguments have validity, but I would lean towards the latter.
It is easy to understand the ‘defining influence’ argument. If someone is born and raised in a place, they will be heavily influenced by it. Psychologists refer to this as the ‘nurture argument’ – you are a product of your environment. For example, if your country’s cuisine uses certain ingredients, your palate gets accustomed to those ingredients, but may struggle with other less familiar flavours. If your country has a traditional style of music, say, reggae or rock, all citizens will be exposed to it and, as a result, are more likely to enjoy it.
On the other side of the argument we need to consider the effects of globalization. Most people have daily access and exposure to other cultures. The evidence is all around us- restaurants, films and foreign businesses are ubiquitous. One of the benefits of globalization is that it offers us a selection of cultural possibilities to choose from. It is unlikely that you will find any citizen of a certain country who does not have likes or preferences that come from outside of their country of origin. In addition, more and more people work, study or travel extensively away from their home country. Inevitably, these people will be subject to new influences.
My own view is that while we are influenced by our nationality, in this globalised world, one’s country of origin is only one aspect of our collective culture. We all adopt elements from other cultures on a daily basis, unconsciously or according to our preferences and experiences. To my mind, this is what makes the world such an interesting place.
Task:
Many people believe that zoos have no purpose in today’s world and should be closed. What problems do zoos bring? What are the alternatives to zoos if they are closed?
Answer:
The presence of zoos in our cities and towns has been questioned a lot recently, and opinions differ about whether they provide benefits to people and animals, or whether they should be closed.
Initially, we need to think about the negative issues with zoos. Many people believe it is wrong to take animals out of their natural environment and put them into cages. They believe that this is cruel and is only done to attract visitors and make money. In addition, many people feel that we should not interfere with nature, and if possible, animals should be allowed to stay in their own environment.
In terms of alternatives, there are a few options that we have. Wildlife parks are becoming more popular in today’s world. These provide more space for animals to wander around and they provide a habitat which is more similar to animals’ natural homes. A more permanent solution which would enable us all to see animals in the wild would be for airlines to reduce their ticket prices. If air travel were cheaper, then we would all be able to see wild animals in their natural habitat and there would be no need for zoos in our cities. We should also promote channels on TV such as National Geographic. Here, people can see wildlife as it should be seen.
As we can see, zoos are not the only way for humans to see and learn about wild animals. If there were no zoos, it would still be possible for scientists and ordinary people to preserve and experience nature.
5. IELTS Writing Task Sample Questions- General
Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that capital punishment should never be used. Others, however, argue that it should be allowed for the most serious crimes.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on public health and that other measures are required.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any other experiences we may have in our life.
Which do you consider to be the major influence?
Schools should do more to teach students about their health and wellbeing.
Do you agree or disagree?
University students must pay all tuition fees, because it benefits mostly them individually, rather than the society as a whole.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some say that music, art and drama are as important as other school subjects, especially at the primary level.
Do you agree or disagree?
University students should pay in full for their own education instead of the society funding their studies. The reason is that individuals tend to benefit after graduation more than society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion.
Some people believe that students should be allowed to evaluate and criticize their teachers to improve the quality of education. Others think this is disrespectful to teachers.
Discuss both views, give your opinion and include relevant examples.
Being a celebrity – such as a movie star or professional athlete – brings problems as well as benefits.
Do you think that being a celebrity has more benefits or drawbacks?
There is a growing demand for fresh water nowadays and this is becoming a global problem.
What are the causes and solutions?
Many people think that too much attention and resources are given to the protection of wild animals and birds.
Do you agree or disagree?
Practicing these questions and other study materials online will enhance your writing skills along with grammar and vocabulary. Practice well to score well!
