IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2025
Hi, I'm Liz. Welcome! Enjoy your IELTS journey to success!
Hi guys,
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
See below for IELTS tips in all sections of the IELTS test.
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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
See this page for IELTS Speaking Main Page
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
See the main pages below and click on the link you need:
Develop your IELTS skills with tips, model answers, lessons, free videos and more.
Many students ask me if it’s ok to use the passive voice to give your own opinion in an IELTS essay. And some people think that they will get a higher band score if they use a passive voice in their essay. But is this true?
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:
Actually, the passive voice does not give you a higher score. No particular tense of grammar feature gives you a higher score. There are no special tenses. Each tense and each grammar feature is value simply because it shows the examiner a broader range of grammar. You should only use the passive voice when it is suitable to do so.
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. It’s an old video, but still completely relevant today.
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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/
Happy New Year to those of you who celebrate New Year on January 1st. Here is an IELTS essay question relating to festivals and celebrations.
Most traditional festivals and celebrations are losing their meaning as they become more commercial with the emphasis on buying presents and spending money on parties. Some people think that traditional festivals are a waste of time and money.
To what extent do you agree?
Always spend time thinking about the essay title and planning your answer. You should spend a minimum of 5 minutes thinking, analysing and planning before you start writing your essay. Here are some questions to help you consider the above essay.
Questions for Analysis
1. How do most people celebrate traditional festivals?
2. Do most people who spend money not recognise the meaning behind the festival?
3. Is it possible to spend lots of money on celebrations and still recognise their meaning?
4. Are people more interested in the traditional meaning of festivals or on having a good time celebrating?
5. How important are traditional festivals in keeping a culture alive?
6. What would happen if we get rid of all traditional festivals?
7. Do you think the money spent on festivals could be better used?
Now plan how you will use your ideas to answer the question given in the IELTS essay question. After you have decided your plan, check the ideas below. Remember that there is no right or wrong in IELTS. These ideas offer one possible options for the content of body paragraphs.
Body Paragraph Content
Below is an example of body paragraph content for a partial agree essay ( a balanced view).
Happy 2018 🙂
Liz
Art is a common topic to get in IELTS writing task 2. Below is a sample essay question with ideas.
While some people think that art if an important subject for children to study, others think it is a waste of time.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Ideas
Art is Useful
Art is A Waste of Time
Opinion
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Many students have been asking me about cursive handwriting and the best style of handwriting to use in the IELTS test. So, I want to explain to you what the examiner is looking for in your essay and how your handwriting will affect your score.
Can you use cursive script in IELTS writing?
Yes, you can use any style of handwriting you want. It is completely your choice.
Is it better to use cursive writing?
It is neither better nor worse. It makes no difference to your score.
HOWEVER, if your writing is difficult to read, you might lose points. If the examiner can’t read it, he or she won’t be able to give you a high score. Your writing MUST be clear and easy to read at all times!!
More Hand Writing Tips:
See the following link for Tips on Using Pen or Pencil. If you want to learn about practicing your hand writing on the answer sheet for IELTS writing, see this link: Official IELTS Writing Task 2 Paper & Tips.
Should you indent your paragraphs? See this page to learn about indenting or leaving an empty line between paragraphs:
You can find more tips and model essays for writing task 2 on the Main Writing Task 2 Page.
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.