IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024
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Learn useful ideas to talk about the advantages or single-sex and mixed sex schools. This topic can appear in IELTS writing task 2:
Some people think that children perform better in a single-sex school compared to a mixed school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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“advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” is a common IELTS essay question in writing task 2 which many people struggle with. Below is an sample essay question to practice this type of essay and also some tips to help you.
Take a look at the two essays below:
Essay 1
In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
The essay question asks a direct question to you which is a question of choice. Whenever you are asked for choose something, you know it requires an opinion. This type of advantage disadvantage essay is very different to the normal advantage essay:
Essay 2
The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken globally.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?
As you see, Essay 2 only asks you to present the advantages and the disadvantages rather than choose between them. This is the most typical type of essay question and you can find tips about it on this page: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ESSAY.
So, Essay 1 is the advantages outweigh disadvantages essay type and it is different. Read below to learn tips for tackling it.
To answer this type of IELTS essay question you must:
Be Careful
In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
An increasing number of people are using e-books as a reading tool, such as a kindle, instead of traditional paper books. I believe there are significant benefits to using e-books over paper books with only a few minor drawbacks.
E-books have enormous advantages over the paper book mainly because of the vast number of books that an e-book device, namely a kindle, can contain. Kindles are able to contain thousands of books which you can categorise and organise on a device that is lighter than a tablet. For people who are travelling or those who want easy access to multiple books, these devices are perfect. Furthermore, e-books can be purchased with the click of a button giving instant access to the book without having to wait for delivery.
On the other hand, there is a downside to choosing an e-book over a paper book. The main issue is that it can be hard to find books on specialist subjects in electronic form. Many specialist and old books are only available as a paper book and can only be found in libraries. Another point to consider is that e-books are yet another device which people are glued to and that does have an impact on eye sight and health in general. It has long been known that people spend too much time on their devices and therefore reading a paper book might actually be preferable from time to time.
In conclusion, I think e-books have brought numerous gains to people’s lives through accessibility and convenience that truly benefit people’s lives, but there are disadvantages that should not be ignored.
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Below are some ideas for the advantages and disadvantages which tourism brings to a community. These ideas can be used both for speaking part 3 and also writing task 2 in IELTS.
Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in international tourism. Some people think that tourism is beneficial for local communities and should be encouraged.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Don’t forget we are looking at the effects of tourism as an industry rather than a tourist as a person. Don’t confuse the two.
Below are some ideas for the following IELTS writing task 2 essay question.
Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What other measures do you think might be effective?
There are two questions to answer:
Increasing the price of petrol:
Other ways to solve traffic and pollution problems:
This lesson will show you how to write a clearer thesis statement for a specific question essay. This is the introduction paragraph and is applicable to both the GT and academic paper.
Many people think that job satisfaction is important in work.
Do you think young people these days should be sure of getting job satisfaction before taking a new job or should they put salary first?
What can we see from this essay question?
Here’s a student’s thesis statement for their introduction. How would you improve the thesis statement? Try to write this thesis statement again before you look at the models.
“While work satisfaction should be a motive for a successful employee, I do not think that salary must be a priority.”
Model Thesis Statement
Here are two possible ways that the above thesis statement could be better written to make the answer clearer for the reader.
1. In my opinion, I think that work satisfaction should be the main motive for choosing a job rather than salary.
2. In my opinion, it is better for people to put satisfaction at work as a priority for choosing a job instead of aiming for a competitive salary.
Below is a model introduction with both a background and thesis statement. This offers yet another way to write the thesis statement:
People have different views as to whether job satisfaction or money is more important for a young person when choosing a new job. In my opinion, job satisfaction rather than a competitive salary should be the deciding factor and should be prioritised when accepting a new job.
This practice exercise is about improving sentences for a higher score in IELTS writing task 2. See the essay question below.
There is a significant gap between rich and poor countries. Some people think that richer countries should be responsible for supporting poorer countries while others think it is the responsibility of the poorer countries. What is your opinion?
Below are some sentences from a student’s essay on the above topic. Read through the sentences and try to improve them yourself before you check the model answers. In other words, write the sentences again to make them accurate and also a better score.
1. Firstly, it is obvious that this is their job. Poorer countries should not wait for any organisation abroad or other governments to deal with this.
2. Secondly, depending too much on rich countries may make them weaker. For example, they will lose a part of their power if they agree to allow developed nations to help them with critical issues.
3. Regarding to responsibility of wealthy countries. They should support poorer countries because there are millions of people in poorer nations need their help. Many people in Africa, especially women and children die everyday because of lack of food, medical treatments.
4. However, rich countries should not be forces to help poorer ones. It should be a choice not a responsibility.
ANSWERS
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Answer.
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Below is a recently reported essay question with some useful ideas. This essay question appeared in 2015 and again in 2020. Read through the ideas and learn any new vocabulary.
Some people think that it is important to teach children the skill of handwriting.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reasons in Support of Children Learning Handwriting Skills
Other Ideas
Feel free to post more ideas if you have them.
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In IELTS writing task 2, you will need to use a range of linking words to connect your sentences and to make your essay coherent. If you are aiming for band score 6 and above, it is important to show the examiner that you can use a good range of linkers. This lesson is aimed at intermediate to upper intermediate levels.
Below are some sentences which relate to the topic of work. Fill in the gaps to complete the sentences by choosing the appropriate linking word. Please note that you will need to consider the grammatical structure of each sentence to choose the correct linking word.
1. It is generally agreed that professional people doing shift work, …………………. (like / such as / take for example) nurses, doctors and police, should be given compensation for unsociable hours in the form of better benefits and higher pay.
2. Working overtime has its compensations ……………… ( therefore / but / although) can have a detrimental effect on the family.
3. ……………..(However / Although / But) women have equal employment rights to men, there still exists a glass ceiling, in many countries, which can prevent them from reaching the upper levels of a company.
4. Juvenile delinquency, which is a growing issue in many countries, should be addressed by both schools and parents ……………………( consequently / so as to / so ) get to the root of the problem.
5. Technology has had a great impact on the way people work …………..(but / and / consequently) will no doubt continue to do so in the future.
Answers
IELTS Teachers and students can download this lesson for free on pdf file: linking-words-practice
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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.