Below are two IELTS essay questions with model answers that were reported in IELTS writing task 2. Both model essays show an essay structure with three body paragraphs. While having three body paragraphs is definitely fine for an IELTS essay, having two is more common as you can see in my other model essays link given below. 

Model IELTS Essays 

IELTS Essay Question 1: Some people consider price as the most important thing to think about when buying a product (such as cell phone) or a service (e.g. medical treatment). Do you agree or disagree?

It is thought by some people that the price of a product or service is essential to consider before deciding to purchase something. While I agree that price does play a role in many purchase choices, there are other factors that can influence a person. 

Firstly, when deciding whether or not to buy something, people will invariably consider if they can afford it. Taking the example of cell phones, these items vary greatly in price from under £100 to well over £1,000, which is a considerable price hike for a functional item. In this case, people on moderate or low incomes are unlikely to choose a more expensive product if a cheaper one can perform the role perfectly so as to avoid going into personal debt.

However, price becomes less important for items or services that offer excellent quality. For instance, some high-end phones offer better performance, larger RAM and their cameras take top quality pictures with a variety of editing options. These features could be worth the high price for some people if it impacts their work or if their income is high enough that price is not a factor they need to consider.

Finally, if an item or service is vital to someone’s life, price rarely factors into the decision. To illustrate, in the case of a life threatening condition, people are usually willing to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds if the treatment offers them hope of a cure. This is particularly so when there are long waiting lists for treatments making time a major factor or when certain treatments are not readily available to the public thus requiring costly private treatment.

In conclusion, price is important when making a common purchase for people on limited incomes needing to budget, but it plays less of a role for high quality products and vital services. 

• Words 302
• You do not need to write the word count at the end of your essay.  I am stating it here for your benefit.
• Most essays will be between 270 and 290 words, rarely going over 300 and never going over 310.
• This is an IELTS Agree Disagree Essay otherwise known as an IELTS Opinion Essay. 

IELTS Essay Question 2: In many cities, many people are living in large apartment blocks. Does this accommodation have more advantages or disadvantages.

An increasing number of people are choosing to live in high rise apartment blocks. In my opinion, although these blocks of flats are often cheaper, they offer cramped living space and can present serious fire risks.

One obvious advantage to living in a multi-story apartment block is that it offers people affordable accommodation in urban areas. With the growth of urban populations, land is becoming increasingly expensive and, as a result, many people are no longer able to afford their own house. Large apartment blocks require a small area of land but can provide a lot of flats which enable people on low incomes to continue living near city centers and near their jobs.

However, high rise apartment blocks usually offer small apartments with no outdoor areas. For families, this can be a problem as each individual member of the family has little personal space which can result in a build up of tension as relationships can become strained. Another problem is that such restricted living quarters offer no space for exercise which is a vital requirement for healthy living.

Finally, one of the worst problems of living in a high rise block of flats is the fire risk that it presents. If a fire should break out in one of the flats, the number of floors in the building means that people can become easily trapped on the top floors, unable to escape the fire. This was unfortunately illustrated by the Grenfell Tower block fire that claimed  71 lives in London in 2017. The speed with which the fire spread through the 24 floors, made it impossible for everyone to escape.

In conclusion, while large blocks of flats may be a cheaper living option, they are lower quality accommodation with serious fire risks.

Words 297

………………………………….

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU:

Click to open:

• Practice Lesson: Improving sentences for Writing Task 2
• Linking Words for Writing Task 2
• Paraphrasing Practice for Writing task 2
• ALL FREE MODEL ESSAYS, TIPS AND LESSONS FOR WRITING TASK 2

FREE SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe to get new lessons & tips by email.

Email Address

Subscribe

.

IELTS Writing. Is it ok to delete words in IELTS writing? Read recommendations about this below.

Many students ask me:

1. Is it ok to delete words and make corectons corrections to your writing?
2. Can I write news words above using the “∨” sign to insert the new word?
3. If your writing is messy, will you get a lower score?

Answers

Deleting Words

It is completely fine to delete words in your IELTS writing. Is it natural that might want to change a word when you proof read your writing or when you have made a mistake. Many students put a line through the word they want to delete – make sure it is a strong thick line so it is easy to see. You want the examiner to be able to see clearly that the word has been deleted.

Adding Words using “∧”

It is fine to add new words into your sentences. However, make sure it is easy to read. You should not need to do this often if you plan your essay properly. You should not start writing your essay until you have a very clear plan with all ideas and supporting points planned.

Messy Writing

If the examiner can’t read your writing, then the words or sentences that can’t be read will not be counted. This means it could have a serious impact on your score. So, make sure your deleted words are clear, new words are easy to read and that your handwriting is legible. It might help to practise handwriting your essays before the test.

All the best

Liz

Answers to improving sentences.

Below you will find different ways sentences could be improved to get a higher band score in IELTS writing task 2.

International charities have large funds. Local charities have small funds.

1. International charities have large funds, while local charities have small funds.
2. Larger funds are available to international charities compared to local charities which have relatively smaller funds.

Some natural disasters affect thousands of people. These situations require the aid of international charities.

1. Some natural disasters affect thousands of people and, therefore, require the aid of international charities.
2. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, can have disastrous consequences for thousands of people and for this reason the amount of aid required can only be provided by international charitable organisations.

Local charities know the needs of local people. Local charities can support both individuals and small groups.

1. As local charities know the needs of local people, they are able to support both individuals and small groups.
2. Local charities are able to support both individuals and small groups because they understand the needs of local people.

Local charities do not have big financial resources. They are still vital to the welfare of people within local communities.

1. Even though local charities do not have big financial resources, they are still vital to the welfare of people within local communities.
2. Despite local charities having limited funding and resources, they still play a vital role in providing support and caring for the welfare of people within local communities.

All charities need donations. International charities can draw donations from many wealthy countries. International charities have the money needed to promote their organisation. Local charities are less known but still require donations. Local charities must rely mainly on fund raising events.

1. It is clear that all charities need donations in order to do their work effectively and offer aid when needed. International charities are able to draw donations from many wealthy countries through their capacity to promote their cause on a global scale. This is not the case with local charities who are not as well known and rely on receiving money through fund raising in local communities.
2. It is clear that all charities need donations in order to do their work effectively and offer aid when needed. While international charities are able to draw donations from many wealthy countries through their capacity to promote their cause on a global scale, local charities are not as well known and rely on receiving money through fund raising in local communities. (This last sentence is very long. Do not try this unless you are excellent in English)

Let me know if this lesson was useful to you. 

Thanks

Liz

Below are some sentences about the topic of international aid organisation.

How can you improve the sentences below?

Write them again by linking sentences together. You can also alter words and change the order of information if you need to. Question 5 does not need to be written as one sentence, it might be written as two or three.

1. International charities have large funds. Local charities have small funds.
2. Some natural disasters affect thousands of people. These situations require the aid of international charities.
3. Local charities know the needs of local people. Local charities can support both individuals and small groups.
4. Local charities do not have big financial resources. They are still vital to the welfare of people within local communities.
5. All charities need donations. International charities can draw donations from many wealthy countries. International charities have the money needed to promote their organisation. Local charities are less known but still require donations. Local charities must rely mainly on fund raising events.

Answers

the answers and model sentences are now available to view.

Click here: Answers to improving sentences

Hi guys,

Lets take a look at the questions below. The growth of e-books is a popular topic in both IELTS writing task 2 and speaking. You can find more questions about reading and books on this page: IELTS Essay Questions Reading and you can find over 100 essay questions to practise on this page: 100 IELTS Essay Questions

Questions:

1. What problems can e-books cause for libraries?
2. Will libraries one day cease to exist?

Answers

Share your answers below.

All the best

Liz

IELTS writing task 2 questions reported in December 2017. This list below contains questions that students have reported in their IELTS test. It is possible for questions or topics to be repeated. However, you should also prepare ideas for all common topics.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Questions December

A list of IELTS writing task 2 questions used so far in IELTS in December. I will continue to add more writing task 2 questions when students post them.

1. Some people think that paying taxes is a big enough contribution to society, while others think people have more responsibilities as member of society than only paying taxes. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
2. In the past people liked to store knowledge in books. However, in the present, we prefer to store knowledge on the internet. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
3. Some people say success in a person’s life as an adult is the result of the way he was brought up by his parents. Do you agree or disagree?
4.  Some people say that travelling abroad is the only way to really learn about another country. However, other people say that it is not necessary to travel  as we can find enough information about other countries on the TV or through the internet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
5. Developments in technology make our life complex, and we should try to simplify our life and stay away from these developments. To what extent do you agree?
6. Many people believe that international tourism is a bad thing for their country. What are the reasons for this?
   What can be done to change this negative attitude towards international tourism?
7. The use of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, is replacing face-to-face contact with many people. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
8. Shopping online has increased recently. What are the effects of this trend on the environment and what type of jobs does it create.
9.  Some people think that charity organisations should give aid to those who need urgent help wherever they live, while others say that these organisations should serve only in their country. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
10. Competitiveness is a skill that is required in modern society in order to succeed. How does competitiveness affect the individual? Is it a positive or negative quality?
11. Despite education being readily accessible, there are still adults who do not know how to read or write. What are the effects of this on those adults? What can the government do to prevent this happening?
12. Some people believe that in secondary school (high school) student should study academic subjects like history and physics. However, others believe that in secondary school students should study practical subjects like car mechanics or cookery. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
13. Wild animals and birds have started living in towns and cities. Some people propose to kill them, while others want to protect them. Give your opinion on both views.
14. By paying more to employees based on their performance levels, you can keep their motivation high. Do you agree this is the best way to encourage employees?

IELTS Writing Task 2

Useful links for IELTS writing task 2 preparation:

Common Essay Questions: All students must prepare ideas for common topics. 

Tips, Videos & Model Essays: Get lots of free tips for writing task 2.

Below is an IELTS model answer for the IELTS problem solution essay in writing task 2. There are five types of essays in IELTS writing task 2 and the “solution” type essay is a common one. However, make sure you follow the instructions. You need to know the difference between “what are the causes?” and “what problems does this cause?”.  The first requires causes and the second requires problems.

Problem Solution Essay Instructions

The instructions for problem solution questions are often paraphrased in different ways. Below you can see a few examples:

1. What are the problems to this and how can it be solved?
2. What problems are caused by this? What solutions would you recommend?
3. What problems arise from this situation? What measures can be taken to deal with it?
4. What problems does this cause? What can be done to deal with this situation?

You can find some essay questions for solution essays and problem solution essays on this page: Solution Essay Questions and you can find over 100 essay questions to practice: 100 Essay Questions for IELTS

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Question

An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What can be done to deal with this situation?

Model IELTS Essay: Problems and Solutions

More and more professionals from developing or underdeveloped countries are choosing to live and work in richer countries. As a result, poorer countries will struggle to develop but this can be tackled by offering more incentives to stay and better living conditions.

The main problem faced by poorer countries due to the brain-drain, in fields such as medicine and education, is that they will struggle to develop and find it difficult to improve their economy as well as living conditions. One of the main ways that a developing country can better themselves is through the skills and dedication of their professionals which is negated when they choose to take their skills to benefit another country. Consequently, less developed countries will not be able to offer their citizens high levels of education or health care, and this in turn will hinder their ability to compete on a global scale, to entice investors and ultimately to stop the poverty cycle.

One effective solution to deal with professionals leaving their country is for their government to encourage them to stay by offering better work conditions. This can be done by increasing wages and investing in state-of-the-art equipment and training to tempt doctors and teachers to continue working there. Another possible answer is for  poorer countries to offer better standards of living, more tolerance and a positive future as a way to entice their professionals back to their own country after they have completed their training abroad. However, these solutions are financially demanding which means poorer governments may have to look to developed countries for aid in order to implement these changes.

In conclusion, poorer countries are unable to develop due to the brain-drain which can only be tackled by enticing professionals to remain in their country of origin through better conditions.