Below is a list of predicted IELTS essay topics for Writing Task 2 based on topics that have appeared recently, current world events and common topics that frequently appear in IELTS essays. Both GT and Academic IELTS candidates should prepare all topics from this list.
On this page, you will find:
- Tips for Preparing Essays
- Essay Topics 2021 List
- Message from Liz
IELTS Essay Topics – Preparing Ideas
- Be aware of the range of possible topics and prepare them all. Be aware of current world issues – IELTS likes to stay up-to-date.
- Prepare strong main ideas for all topics. Main ideas should be ones you can easily explain and develop.
- Prepare supporting points. These make up the supporting sentences in your body paragraphs. The examiner will mark these carefully.
- Practice planning paragraphing and links. See these pages: paragraphing and Linking Words for Essays
- Getting ideas for topics
- Source ideas in model essays online by google topics. You can find some model essays and free tips on this site. Click here: Free Model Essays etc
- IDEAS E-BOOK. I wrote an e-book covering 150 essay topics with ideas and vocabulary. Get that if you need the help. Visit my store: Liz’s Ideas E-book
- Target 7 and above. If you need more help reaching your goal for IELTS writing, I have Advanced Writing Task 2 Lessons in my online store: Liz’s Store.
IELTS Essay Topics for 2021
Below is a list of predicted IELTS writing task 2 topics for 2021. The predictions are based on recurring essay topics, recent topics and world events which are all important in IELTS essay questions. The topics are not written as full IELTS essay questions, they are written as topics without the instructions. GT and Academic candidates should prepare all topics – even if you don’t get them in Writing Task 2, you might get them in Speaking Part 3. I’ve highlighted interesting essay topics for 2021 that are based on recent world issues that you might struggle with if you don’t prepare for them. Also note, topics change with each test, on one test day there can be a number of essay questions used, and essay topics are often recycled.
- Art and the Arts
- importance of the arts for society
- supporting the arts – government funding
- theatre and live events
- freedom of speech and freedom of expression
- children learning art
- museums and galleries – importance
- Business and Consumerism
- local business vs international businesses
- supporting local businesses – buying local produce
- business skills – important skills / learning skills
- family run businesses
- buying goods or saving money
- the power of advertising in business
- shopping online
- businesses supporting local communities
- Communication
- how online communication has changed our lives
- are people becoming more isolated because of only meeting online
- face to face or online communication
- pros and cons of meeting people online
- has the internet brought people closer or not
- Crime & Punishment
- how to stop criminals re-offending
- fixed punishment for one crime or not
- children – should parents be punished for their children’s crime
- prison or rehabilitation
- Culture
- foreign cultures – learning through language, learning by travel, adapting to another culture
- music – importance of music, international music
- fashion – following trends and spending money
- films – should historical films be accurate, learning about culture from films, foreign films, subtitles
- how online media has changed local cultures
- Environment
- global warming
- solving pollution – internationally or domestically
- major problems and solutions
- importance of nature for our well being
- responsibility for problems – government or individual
- urban nature
- protecting wild species / endangered species – funding, reasons,
- why people don’t change their life styles to help environmental problems
- air / noise pollution in cities
- Education
- putting children into groups based on age or ability
- importance of children reading books (types of books)
- science or art / sciences or music
- how children learn
- schools providing meals for children
- making lessons more interesting
- importance of science / history / technology in schools
- disadvantages for children from poorer backgrounds
- how to improve education in rural areas
- what age to learn a foreign language
- exams or on-going assessment / project work
- university education – costs, funding, courses
- home schooling / studying from home
- online education
- extra curricular activities
- Family
- single parent families
- importance of family for old people
- roles of grandparents
- supporting vulnerable members of the family: elderly, sick
- peer pressure for children
- children growing up in city or countryside
- children with both parents working
- Food
- childhood obesity – reasons, solutions
- healthy diet
- vegetarianism
- junk food – problems, solutions
- snacking
- Health
- funding – prevention or cure
- taking care of sick people – government or family
- funding – health care or other society problems
- good health – exercise or diet
- free health care for everyone
- cosmetic surgery – reasons, value
- mental health – stress, positive mindset, meditation
- Housing
- lack of housing – building in cities or rural areas
- using space in cities for housing or parks
- funding affordable housing or other problems in society
- living in flats – pros and cons
- Leisure & Free Time
- importance of hobbies / free time
- leisure time – importance, activities,
- spending time with family and friends
- People
- leadership – innate or learned
- talent – innate or learned
- ambition – pros and cons
- important character traits
- famous world leaders – skills and traits
- Society
- family, society or government – taking care of the elderly
- the generation gap
- city living – positive or negative
- people moving to cities – reasons, problems, solution
- spending money on weddings – pros and cons
- respecting older people
- traditions – food, clothing, festivals
- protecting old buildings
- isolation among people in society
- supporting vulnerable people in society – government or community
- roles models in society for children
- ideal society
- online media stars
- reality TV stars
- importance of charities and charity work
- importance of green spaces and urban environment
- Space
- exploration – funding, importance
- communicating with other planets
- space travel for common people
- Sport
- international sporting event – importance
- business sponsoring sporting events – pros and cons
- exercising and health
- children and sport – importance, who is responsible
- indoor sports
- Technology
- smart phones – pros and cons, functions, limitations
- the internet – pros and cons
- online security (also for children)
- the future of the internet
- e-books – pros and cons, libraries
- children spending too much time online
- Tourism & Travel
- plane travel vs train travel
- cars in city centres – pros and cons
- using bicycles rather than cars
- walking – pros and cons
- pros and cons of tourism for rural communities
- tourism and economy
- Work
- working mothers
- doing volunteer work / charity work
- work / life balance
- working long hours – pros and cons
- experience or education or skills
- four day working week
- importance of promotion, salary, job satisfaction
- working online – pros and cons
- earning large salaries – films stars, sports people doctors etc
- World Issues
- richer countries should help poorer countries
- types of international aid
- increasing number of old people
- gap between rich and poor countries
- violence on TV
- tackling world issues domestically or internationally
- news online – reliability of news, sources of news, fake news
- globalisation
- work
- people becoming similar
- loss of culture (protecting traditions)
- loss of local language (protecting language)
- one language
Sharing your IELTS Writing Task 2 Experience
- Did you get an essay topic you hadn’t prepared for?
- What preparation tips do you have for others?
- How did you manage your time in your writing test?
- What score did you get in your writing test?
- Sharing is caring 🙂
Message from Liz
2021 is our chance to start fresh, to move forward and to build a strong future. Forget your difficult experiences and be proactive about your future. Each positive step forward takes you towards your goal and towards success.
Be focused and strategic in your preparation for IELTS. You can find lots and lots of free lessons, tips, topics, model answers on this website – go to the HOME page to access it all.
I wish you all lots of luck !!
All the best, Liz 🙂
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