IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024
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You can now download the 2017 questions for writing task 2 as a pdf file. Please don’t forget that these essays questions have been reported by students and are written as accurate as they can remember. Make sure you prepare ideas for all topics. Questions might change but topics can be repeated.
Follow this link and you will find the download at the bottom of the page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Qs 2017
Good luck to you all !!
Liz
Here are a list of IELTS writing task 2 questions for 2017 so far this year. The questions have been reported in the IELTS writing task 2 test by students. If your test is in February, prepare ideas for these topics as topics can be repeated but the questions will be changed.
You can download a pdf copy of the essay questions at the bottom of this page. Read the essay questions carefully before downloading.
At the bottom of the page, you will find links for:
The questions below are divided into different essay types for IELTS writing task 2. All essay questions are from this year unless stated otherwise.
Opinion Essay 2017
Schools are spending more time teaching traditional subjects such as history. Some people think they should rather spend more time in teaching skills that can help students find a job. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is necessary for parents to attend parenting training course to bring their children up. Do you agree or disagree?
Some people say International sports events help in world peace. Do you agree or disagree?
Young people spend their free time in shopping malls. This has negative effects on young people and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Discussion Essay Questions 2017
Some people say it is OK to use animals for our benefit, others say it is not good to exploit them. Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.
Some people think Governments should take measures regarding the healthy lifestyle of individuals. Others think it must be managed by individuals. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Most countries allow 18 year olds to start driving a car. Some say it is good to allow it at this age, while others think that the age to start driving should be at least 25. Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
Some people think that the best way to reduce crimes is to apply longer prison sentences, other people think that there are better methods of doing so. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Questions 2017
Today, more and more students are deciding to move to a different country for higher studies. Do you think that the benefits of this outweigh the problems?
Consumer goods have become the most important part of people’s lives. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Many people go abroad for higher studies.Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
In some countries, a foreign language is taught at primary schools. Do the advantages of learning a new language outweigh the disadvantages?
The advantages provided by English as a ‘global language’ will continue to outweigh the disadvantages. To what extent do you agree with the statement?
Direct Questions 2017
100 years ago people thought that the human race was steadily making progress in all areas of life. Nowadays, there is less certainty that it is so. In what areas do you think the most important progress has been made so far? In what areas are more things needed to be done?
In some schools and universities, girls tend to choose arts subjects (e.g. literature), and boys tend to choose science subjects (e.g. physics). Why do you think this is so? Should this tendency be changed?
Some universities offers online courses for students. Do you think this is a positive or negative development for students?
Children in some parts of the world have less responsibility compared to children in the past. Some people think this as a positive change, however others think of it as as negative change. What do you think? (from Dec 2016)
Cause / Problem / Solution Essays 2017
The gap between rich and poor is growing. What problems does this create? What can be done to tackle them?
More and more people prefer to read ebooks rather than paper books. What are the reasons for this? What problems can this cause for libraries?
See my 100 IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Questions divided into common topics – essential preparation!!!
PDF Download of the above essay questions: IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions 2017
IELTS Speaking Topics 2017
Click on the following link to see Recent Topics in IELTS Speaking 2017
Follow All Recent IELTS Topics for LRW & S
Click on the following link to see All Recent IELTS Questions in 2017 reported by IELTS students
Model Essays and Tips for Writing Task 2
Click on the following link to see Model Essays, Tips and Free Video Lessons for IELTS Writing Task 2
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Should you use formal or informal vocabulary in your IELTS writing and speaking?
For example, in IELTS writing task 2 and speaking, should you use…
IELTS Writing Task 2
You should always use formal vocabulary in your IELTS essay. This means you can’t use “kids” or “teens”, you must use “children” or “teenagers”. If you use informal vocabulary, you will be marked down.
IELTS Speaking
Your IELTS speaking test is informal. All parts are informal. Part 1 is based on short answers questions, part 2 is a talk and part 3 is a discussion. It is all informal, friendly and chatty.
This means you use all kinds of language in your speaking test. You can use children and kids. You can use teens and teenagers.
Paraphrases
General Training Writing Task 1
In the General Training test, there are two main types of essays: formal and informal. In an informal letters, which means a letter to a friend or someone you know well (not a boss), you can use informal vocabulary, such as kids and teens. See this page for more tips about GT writing task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips & Model Essays
See this page for IELTS Writing Task 2 Main Page
IELTS Speaking Tips & Model Answers
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IELTS Vocabulary
See this page to learn useful IELTS vocabulary
IELTS Band Scores
Learn about IELTS band scores in listening, reading, writing and speaking
All IELTS Information & Tips
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A lot of students have a problem knowing what type of vocabulary to use in their IELTS test. Below are two examples:
Which words to use?
kids or children?
teens or teenagers?
Answer
You can find the answer to this here: Answer to Kids or Children
Many students ask me if it’s ok to use the passive voice to give your own opinion in an IELTS essay.
For example:
Is it possible to use “it is believed …” or “it is thought …” instead of “in my opinion” or “I believe”
This lesson will
Which should we use and when?
We use passive voice in the following situations and ways:
From the above information, we can see that the passive voice “it is thought” does not refer to you. It refers to other people who are not specified, for example “It is thought by some people that ….” is NOT your opinion.
You use the passive voice in IELTS writing task 2 to write about other people’s opinions. For example, “It is believed by some that children should focus on sciences at school, while it is believed by others that children should spend time focusing on the arts.” Two opposite views belonging to other people – not you.
This means you could use the passive voice in a Discussion Essay or in your Background Statement when you introduce other people’s views before you give your own in the Thesis Statement.
When the IELTS writing task 2 instructions ask for your opinion, you must state your opinion clearly. This means it will be an active sentence. You will need to state:
I think / I believe / In my opinion
If you use “it is believed”, this is not your opinion. It belongs to other people. The examiner give you a lower score because you didn’t give your opinion. You can’t use “it is believed” to express your own view. It is grammatically incorrect in English and it is a big mistake in IELTS writing task 2.
Watch this video lessons to help tips about expressing your opinion in IELTS writing task 2.
[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/SpAIW4p8wkw”]Click the following link to see model essays for IELTS writing task 2 and more tips: IELTS Writing Task 2 Main Page
See a Model Opinion Essay (Agree/ Disagree)
See a Model Discussion Essay
For tips and practice in other parts of the IELTS test, follow the links below:
Develop your IELTS skills with tips, lessons, free videos and more.
I have a lot of students asking me about using the passive voice in IELTS writing, particularly in writing task 2. They want to know if it is possible to use the passive form to express your own opinion.
For example:
Is it possible to use “it is believed that…” or “it is thought that …” instead of “in my opinion”.
Do you think this is possible?
Post your answers in the comments box below.
Answers
The answer is now available on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/using-the-passive-voice-for-giving-opinion-in-writing-task-2/
The January 2017 model answer for the IELTS speaking part 2 topic below was produced by an ex-IELTS examiner. It shows how you can extend your ideas to showcase your English for a high band score. The topic was reported in the IELTS test by students this month.
If you want to see more topics that are currently bring used in IELTS speaking, please click on this link: Speaking Topics Currently Used 2017 . If you want more help with other parts of the IELTS test (listening, reading and writing), please click on the link at the bottom of the page.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Jan 2017
An occasion you received a good service from a company or shop
You should say:
Model Answer for January 2017
I’d like to tell you about a recent purchase I made and the service I received which I thought was outstanding.
I bought a necklace from a small online shop that I found whilst surfing the net. It wasn’t a shop that I had bought things from before so I was slightly apprehensive about it. The shop didn’t have a wide range of gold jewellery but what it had was unique in style without doubt.
So, about three weeks ago, I selected a gold necklace to buy from this shop and within just three days it arrived through the post. The delivery came beautifully wrapped in fine Japanese style wrapping paper along with a gift voucher for a discount on my next order. I was truly impressed with the care that had been taken in wrapping it and the personal note that also came with it. But what impressed me the most was the free gift that arrived as well. I wasn’t expecting that at all. Along with my necklace was a matching bracelet which was also exquisitely made.
I remember the day it all arrived because my best friend was visiting me at the time. When I opened the parcel, we were amazed at both items of jewellery. My friend immediately went online and put in an order of her own. So, I suppose it goes to show that good customer service has its own rewards.
It’s hard to describe how I felt. Of course, as I said, I was amazed but it was more than that. Life can be tough sometimes and when you get such a lovely, unexpected present, it makes you feel as though anything is possible in the world. I’m pretty sure that small shop will do very well in the future. I know I will certainly order from that shop again.
Comments:
Fluency: a full talk, delivered without unnatural pauses and without effort.
Grammar: past simple, past perfect, past prefect passive, past continuous, present simple, future form, frequent complex sentences. Error free
Vocabulary: flexible, an awareness of collocations and with a strong range of words: slightly apprehensive, unique in style, beautifully wrapped, Japanese style wrapping paper, matching bracelet, exquisitely made, put in an order, it goes to show, good customer service, its own rewards
Tips for Speaking Part 2
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Learn useful vocabulary for shoes topic in IELTS Speaking Part 1 and improve your pronunciation. This topic is currently being used in the speaking test January 2017. This lesson provides vocabulary and audio to improve your pronunciation to talk about shoes. Try to use these words in your answers in your test.
Listening and Vocabulary Practice
Can you label the missing shoes in the picture below? Pay attention to plural or singular nouns. Some answers will be plurals and some will be singular.
Note:
Listen to the recording below. Write down the missing words you hear.
Answers
Click below to reveal the answers to the missing words:
Answers
More Vocabulary with Pronunciation
Learn more useful language for shoes. Listen to the recording below and practice your pronunciation.
Listen to the audio for the above vocabulary:
More IELTS Vocabulary and Tips
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Questions and Model Answers for Shoes: Speaking Part 1
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Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your teacher and the author of this website. I am an experienced, qualified English teacher specialising in IELTS test preparation since 2008. Please enjoy the 300 plus pages of free lessons, tips, model answers, topics etc.
