IELTS Task2 Lessons

Lesson 1: Identify the Topic

In the writing for task 2, one of the first things you need to do is identify the topic of the essay.

If you write about the wrong topic or go off topic when you write your answer, this is likely to
substantially reduce your band score.

How do I identify the topic?
Remember, in IELTS writing, you are usually presented with some issue or problem that is
currently affecting society and you need to discuss it.
So you need to read the question carefully and identify what the issue is. You will normally only
be looking for one or two key words.
Have a look at the following question. What is the issue?
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in

many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest

solutions.
You should have identified teenage crime as the topic.
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
What if I identified ‘crime’ as the topic?
Your essay would be wrong if you wrote about crime generally. When you have a topic, it may
require you to talk about a particular area, group of people or place.
In this case, the question specifically wants you to address the issue of TEENAGE crime.
When you identify the topic, always look carefully to see if it is being narrowed down to a
particular area that you need to focus on.
Identify the Topic - Practice
Have a look at the following essay questions and choose the best answer to identify the topic.
Remember, this is not a full analysis of the question - you are just looking for the broad topic
area.
Sometimes more than one answer may be possible. In this case, when you identify the topic,
choose the most precise.
1. 'Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each
week and communicating with their office using computer technology.
Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for
most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be
affected by the growth of telecommuting?
-Working from home
-Telecommuting
-Computer technology
2. To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?

-Animal research
-Animals
-Scientific research
3. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in

businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will
they be used for in the future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or
should we be more suspicious of their benefits?
-The benefits of computers
-Computers in businesses, hospitals, crime detection, and flying.
-Computer dependency
4. In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in
the past 10 years?
-Information technology and work
-Information technology
-Working practices
5. Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society
develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless
animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned. Discuss the main
arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.
-Animal cruelty
-Blood sports
-Blood sports and uncivilized activity
6. A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people
and that they should have the same rights as humans, while others argue that
humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for
food and research. Discuss the arguments in favour of both these positions and
state your own position on the issue.
-Satisfying human needs
-Animals and humans
-Animal rights
7. Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to
death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
-The Earth
-Deforestation
-Death of the world
8. The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many
people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay
home because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and
studying in a different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree this
statement?
-Studying abroad
-Studying
-Living in a different culture
9. Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural
environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals
in zoos.
-Natural environments
-Alternatives to zoos
-Keeping animals in zoos
10. Many countries are currently witnessing an increase in criminal activity among
young people. Discuss reasons for this phenomenon and suggest ways to deal
with the problem.
-Youth crime
-Criminal activity
-Increases in crime
Lesson 2: Identify the Task
Once you have identified the topic for your essay, you need to identify the task.
The ‘task’ is the part of the question that tells you what you have to do to answer it.
This is one of the most important things you will have to do when you analyze the essay
question because 25% of your grade for the essay is based on ‘Task Response’ - how you have
responded to the task.
How do I identify the task?

In order to grade your task response, the examiner will be looking to see if you have answered
the question.
If you have only partially answered the question, this will decrease your grade for this criteria.
Let’s look at the same essay question we looked at in lesson 1 when you identified the topic:
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many
countries.

solutions.
In the previous lesson, we identified the topic for this question as ‘teenage crime’.
The task - or ‘what you have to do’ - is usually at the end of the prompt. As you can see, you are
being told to ‘Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions’.
It’s very common in task 2 IELTS essay questions to get asked to do two things, and this
question is a good example of this:
1. Why teenage crime has increased
2. Ways to solve this problem
You MUST discuss both those things to ensure you have fully answered the question and you
must write roughly equal amounts about each part.
Doing any of the following things will reduce your score for task response, and hence may
reduce your overall score:
1. Only writing about reasons or only solutions
2. Writing most of your essay about reasons and only a small part on solutions (or visa
versa)
3. Writing about the reasons and solutions for crime in general, and not referring to
teenage crime (the topic)
4. Writing about neither reasons nor solutions
This is why it is so important to spend some time at the beginning making sure you identify the
task so that you know what you have to write about.
A Common Mistake
It is a common mistake for students to rush at the beginning to start writing as they are worried
about not finishing, and then write about the wrong thing.
For example, when you have finished identifying the task, you will brainstorm your ideas. You
may come up with reasons for an increase in crime such as ‘lack of parental supervision’ and
‘boredom’.
However, I have seen students come up with problems of teenage crime, such as ‘more young
people being put in prison' and ‘stress for their parents'.
This particular task asks you to write about ‘reasons’, not ‘problems’ (though being asked to
write about 'problems and solutions' is common).
So if you do this you will not be answering the question. This comes from rushing and not taking
enough time to identify the task properly.
Other Question Types

The previous question was fairly easy, so to identify the task was hopefully not too difficult.
Some questions, though, will take more thought in order to identify what you need to write
about.
Here is another example:

Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour.
Therefore, working hours should be reduced.
To what extent do you agree?
Again, look to the end of the prompt to identify the task.
You have to say if you agree or disagree with working hours being reduced, or, in other words,
automation (machines) taking over from some human’s duties.
You must also say how much you agree or disagree ("to what extent").
Let’s assume you want to look at both sides of the issue. You therefore need to discuss the
reasons why you agree, and the reasons why you disagree. Or put another way:
1. The advantages of reducing working hours
2. The disadvantages of reducing working hours
And of course in the introduction or conclusion you need to make it clear what your opinion is.
If you do all of these things then you will have answered all parts of the prompt. If you find
more reasons to agree than disagree, then you can write more about this side of the argument,
or vice versa.
Identify the Task – Practice
Now you can have a practice identifying the task for some IELTS essay questions.
Pick the one that you think best describes what you would write about in order to fully answer
all parts of the question.
1. The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be
attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to
reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage
people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to
encourage the use of public transport.
-Why people have been using cars more and public transport less
-How to get people to use public transport more
-The causes of increasing congestion and air pollution.
2. Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer to a
prospective student?
(a) A discussion of the benefits versus the challenges of studying abroad (b) Strategies to
cope with studying abroad
(a) The benefits of study abroad
(a) The benefits of study abroad (b) the difficulties of studying abroad
3. Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today,
however, growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem. What are the
causes of the increased demand and what measure could governments and individuals
take to respond to this problem?
(a) The problems with using too much water (b) Government solutions (c) Individual
solutions
How (a) Governments and (b) Individuals can solve water shortage problems.
(a) Reasons for increased demand for water (b) Government solutions (c) Individual
solutions
4. As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are
produced in other countries and transported long distances. Do the benefits of the trend
outweigh the drawback?
(a) The benefits of this (b) The disadvantages of this (c) Your opinion on whether it is
more beneficial or not
(a) The benefits of this (b) Your opinion on whether is is more beneficial or not
(a) The disadvantages of this (b) Your opinion on whether it is more beneficial or not
5. Some people feel that animals should have the same rights as humans, but others think
they are not as equal or intelligent as us so should not have the same rights. Discuss both
opinions and give your opinion.
(a) The arguments for giving animals rights (b) The arguments against this
(a) Arguments for having animal rights (b) The arguments against this (c) Your opinion
(a) The reasons why animals are not as equal or intelligent as humans
6. Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at
best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous. To what extent
do you agree with this statement?
(a) How alternative medicine differs from Conventional medicine
(a) The dangers of alternative medicine
(a) The benefits of alternative medicine (b) The drawbacks of alternative medicine (c)
Your opinion
7. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two
serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these
problems.
(a) Problems of overpopulation in urban areas (b) Government solutions (c) Individual
solutions
(a) The problems of overpopulation (b) The solutions
(a) How governments can tackle urban overpopulation (b) How individuals can tackle
urban overpopulation.
8. Computers should never have been invented. To what extent do you agree or disagree
with this statement?
(a) The reasons why computers were invented (b) The benefits of computers (c) Your
opinion.
(a) The problems with computers (b) Solutions to these problems.
(a) The benefits of computers (b) The drawbacks of computers (c) Your opinion
9. Unemployment has become an increasing problem in the recent past. What factors
contribute to an increase in unemployment and what steps can be taken to solve the
problem?
(a) The causes of increasing unemployment (b) How to solve this problem
(a) The problems with increasing unemployment (b) How to solve this problem.
(a) The reasons why unemployment is increasing.
10. Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while others
think that this should be illegal. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
(a) The advantages of allowing children to do paid work (b) Your opinion.
(a) The advantages of allowing children to do paid work (b) The disadvantages this (c)
Your opinion.
(a) The problems of allowing children to do paid work (b) The benefits of allowing them
to do paid work.
Lesson 3: Brainstorming and Planning
Once you have analysed the question in the IELTS test you need to brainstorm some ideas to
include in your answer.
Let’s look at the same question we looked at in the first two lessons:
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many
countries.

solutions.
Brainstorming is an important part of the planning process.
In order to get a good score it will not be enough just to put a list of ideas - you need to extend
and explain those ideas.
If you look at the IELTS prompt, it says this:

"Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or
knowledge".
So you need to support your ideas using reasons and examples.
Developing Focus Questions

For this question, you need to write about reasons for the increase in teenage crime and
solutions.
In order to make sure you fully answer the question it is a good ideas to develop some focus
questions i.e. questions that will help you focus on what you need to write.
These are possible focus questions for this essay question:

Focus question 1: Why has teenage crime increased?
Focus question 2: What can be done about it?
You then need to brainstorm answers to these questions:

Why has teenage crime increased?
 Breakdown in the nuclear family
 Lack of things to do
What can be done about it?

 Government - Provide better support for families & stricter punishments
 Individuals – take responsibility
[Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a pair of adults and their
children, as opposed to single-parent families].
Extending and Supporting your Ideas
However, you now need to think about how you are going to extend and support those ideas
you have brainstormed. In other words, you need to ask yourself further questions about each
of your ideas. For example:
Why has there been a breakdown in the nuclear family?

What is the effect of this?
What is a good example of it?
Answering questions like these will make sure you have fully supported and explained all your
points.
For example:
Why has there been a breakdown in the nuclear family?
- high divorce rates
What is the effect of this?
- no male role model; boys go astray & may commit crime
Planning
When you have extended your main ideas, this then provides the basis for your plan.
Here is an example of the brainstormed ideas with further support, which has now become the
plan for the essay:
Essay Plan
Why has teenage crime increased?
1) Breakdown in the nuclear family
- high divorce rates = no father as ‘role model’
– boys go astray, drugs & crime
2) Lack of things to do
- e.g. TV has shown nothing to do
– children see crime as entertainment

What can be done about it?
1) Govt - Provide better support for families
- e.g. more youth centres
– guidance and activities, sport
2) Parents – take responsibility
- provide loving environment, relative as role model
The essay can now be written. Here is an example essay written from the plan, with the main
supporting ideas highlighted in bold:
Sample Essay
Over the last decade there has been a massive rise in the level of crime committed by teenagers
in a numbers of countries. It is important to establish why this has happened and to look at
ways to solve the problem.
One reason is the break down in the nuclear family. The high divorce rates have meant
many children have been brought up in one-parent families with no father to act as a role model
which is detrimental to their development. This is particularly important for boys, who without
this guidance are easily led astray by bad influences such as drugs and crime. Another factor is
the lack of things to do for the young. For example, in the UK, many television programs about
this issue have shown that teenagers hang around in the evenings with little to do. When this
happens, the boredom means they will find there own entertainment, which is often crime.
There are, however, ways to tackle these problems. Firstly, the government should
provide more support for families. They could, for instance, invest more into building and
staffing youth centers which would provide guidance through the youth workers and also enable
teenagers to focus their attention on sport and other activities. Parents should also be
encouraged to take more responsibility for their children. Ultimately, the onus is on them to
ensure their children are brought up in a loving environment which would make them less likely
to turn to crime. They could, for example, find a male relative to act as a role model.
Therefore, it is clear that there are various reasons for this rise in crime, but solutions are
available. If we begin to tackle the issue now, we may be able to prevent the situation declining
further. Words 294
A common mistake is to have lots of ideas that are not explained properly.
However, you can see that as a result of brainstorming some key ideas and making sure you
have explained each of them, you have a fully supported and well organized essay.
Lesson 4: Essay Writing Coherence
Your writing coherence is important because you are marked on this as part of the IELTS
grading.
Your work is coherent if it is easy to read and follow your ideas.

One way to improve the coherency of your writing is to use transition words to guide the
reader through what you are saying.
Here are examples of common transition words that will improve your writing coherence, and
their meanings:
COMMON TRANSITION WORDS
Listing Points to Show New Ideas: Showing an Example:
Firstly, For example,

First of all, For instance,
To begin, To illustrate,
Secondly, A case in point,
Finally,
Furthermore,
In addition,
Also,
Moreover,
Showing Contrast: Showing a Result:
However, Therefore,
On the other hand, As a result,
In contrast, Consequently,
Thus,
Showing time: (commonly in essay To introduce concluding comments:
introductions)
To conclude,
These days, In conclusion,
Nowadays, In brief,
At present, All in all,
Here is an example of them in use in an essay:
Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better
jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university education for both
individuals and society.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university. While some
people are of the opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to improve job
prospects, others think that society and the individual benefit in much broader ways.
It is certainly true that one of the main aims of university is to secure a better job. To begin, the
majority of people want to improve their future career prospects. Attending university is one
of the best ways to do this as it increases your marketable skills and your attractiveness to
potential employers. For example, in Europe, further education is very expensive for many
people, so most would not consider it if it would not provide them with a more secure future
and a higher standard of living. Also, universities have their reputation to consider. They
definitely want to ensure that their students are going to get the best jobs as this will affect
future funding and university applications.
However, there are other benefits for individuals and society. Firstly, the independence of
living away from home is a benefit because it helps the students develop better social skills and
improve as a person. Many students, for instance, will have to leave their families, live in halls
of residence and meet new friends. As a result, their maturity and confidence will grow
enabling them to live more fulfilling lives. Secondly, society will gain from the contribution that
the graduates can make to the economy. We are living in a very competitive world, so
countries, especially developing countries, need educated people in order to compete and
prosper.
To conclude, I believe that although a main aim of university education is to get the best job,
there are clearly further benefits. If we continue to promote and encourage university
attendance, it will lead to a better future for everyone.
How to use the words in sentences
As you now know, transition words are used to guide a reader through your writing and to
make it more coherent. The better your writing coherence, the easier it will be to follow your
arguments in your essay.
One important point though before we go on. If you over use transitions they can make your
writing look slightly mechanical as very good writers will need to use them less as they will have
the ability to cleverly guide someone through their writing without them.
It is quite a high level skill though. So it really depends on your ability. If you are at a lower level
of writing, you should make more use of them as they will make it easy for the examiner to
follow your ideas.
If you have more sophistication in your writing, you may not want to use them too much or it
could affect your style.
If you are unsure, it probably means you need to be using them! We'll now go on to look
further at how some of them are used.
Most of these transition words are used in the same way in sentences and are followed by a
subject and verb.
1) Full-stop, capital letter, comma

There are many ways to improve congestion. For example, some cities in The Netherlands have
pedestrian only city centres.
Many countries have now reduced their CO2 emissions. As a result, there is now less pollution.
OR
2) Semi-colon, small letter, comma

There are many ways to improve congestion; for example, some cities in The Netherlands have
Many countries have now reduced their CO2 emissions; as a result, there is now less pollution.
Varying Position and Use of Transition Words
However, you do not want to use these words too ‘mechanically’ so you should vary their
position, and don’t repeat the same word too often. You can vary the position with the
following transitions:
1) Giving Examples
You can vary your use of ‘for example’ and ‘for instance’ by moving them to after the first
phrase of the sentence or to after the subject or verb.
There are many ways to improve congestion. Some cities in The Netherlands, for instance, have
There are many ways to improve congestion. Some cities in The Netherlands have, for instance,
2) Giving a Contrast or Result

Similarly, you can place contrast or result transitions further down the sentence:
Tokyo now has a Sky Train. Traffic problems, as a result/therefore/as a consequence, have
decreased significantly.
These can also be joined to the previous sentence with the conjunction 'and’:
Tokyo now has a Sky Train, and, as a result/therefore/as a consequence, traffic problems have
decreased significantly.
Note: you cannot join it to another sentence without ’and’:
Tokyo now has a Sky Train, as a result, traffic problems have decreased significantly. - this is
incorrect.
3) Listing Points
These can also be varied. For example:

Firstly, an advantage of a new public transport system is that it will reduce traffic congestion.
Again, to improve your writing, you should vary the way you use these. They can be changed so
they are no longer a transition but become part of the subject:
The first advantage of a new public transport system is that it will reduce traffic congestion.
This lesson has shown how you can use transitions to improve your writing coherence.
Make sure you find out more about these transitions so you know how to use them correctly,
then practice using them in your writing.
Lesson 5: Writing an IELTS Essay Introduction
Writing the Introduction
In the writing for task 2, you must write an IELTS essay introduction, but you only have 40
minutes.
In this time you need to analyze the question, brainstorm ideas to write about, formulate an
essay plan, and then write your response.
Even for a native writer of English, this is a lot to do in 40 minutes!
So you need to use your time carefully. You need a good IELTS essay introduction, but one
thing you do not want to do is spend too long writing it so that you end up rushing your
paragraphs.
Your paragraphs are the most important thing as they contain all your supporting arguments
and demonstrate how good you are at organizing your ideas.
You therefore need a method to write your IELTS essay introduction fairly quickly. When you
write an introduction, you should make sure you do two things:
1. Write a sentence introducing the topic and giving some background facts about it
2. Tell the reader what you are going to be writing about
How you do this will vary depending on the question, but here is an example:
____________________________________________
Example 1:
Question:
Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is
increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed.
Blood sports should be banned.
To what extent to you agree or disagree?
Sample IELTS essay introduction:
Despite the fact that killing animals for sport is popular in modern society, it remains a
contentious issue. I believe that blood sports are cruel and uncivilized and so should be banned
as soon as possible.
As you can see, the first sentence consists of the topic plus some background facts on the topic
which have been taken from the rubric.
The second sentence then gives the writers opinion and tells us that in the essay the writer will
be arguing the reasons why it is cruel.
The topic does not have to be in the first sentence, but it should be made clear somewhere in
the introduction. You must always have a thesis.
Paraphrasing
Another important point - don't copy from the question! You must paraphrase (put it in your
own words). To do this you can use synonyms and move the order of the sentence around.
Using some of the same words is acceptable, but don't copy whole phrases.
You can see how the question above has been paraphrased. All the information is from the
question, but it has been written in a different way and has not been copied.
Further Examples
Example 2:
Question:
Science and technology have helped the world make many advances. The Arts, such as
painting, theatre and dance, to name just three examples, however, are also valuable.
What things do the Arts provide to the world that Science and Technology do not?
Societies have developed rapidly over time due to the many advances in science and technology.
However, the arts are also very important and provide our world with many things that science
and technology cannot.
Example 3:
Question:
According to a recent study, the more time people use the Internet, the less time they spend
with real human beings. Some people say that instead of seeing the Internet as a way of
opening up new communication possibilities worldwide, we should be concerned about the
effect this is having on social interaction.
How far do you agree with this opinion?
A recent study has shown that as people use the Internet more, they are spending less time with
human beings. I believe that although this has increased the communication around the world
in positive ways, it has also led to negative effects on the day-to-day social interaction of human
beings.
Example 4:
Question:
Unemployment has become an increasing problem in the recent past.
What factors contribute to an increase in unemployment and what steps can be taken to
solve the problem?
Over recent years, the level of unemployment has been increasing at an alarming rate in many
countries around the world. This essay will discuss the reasons for this increase and consider
what practical solutions are available.
Example 5:
Question:
Some people think children in secondary school should study international news as part of the
curriculum. Others think that this would be a waste of time as there are already too many
subjects for children to concentrate on.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
While some people are of the opinion that it would be useful to include international news as a
subject in the school curriculum, others believe that this is a waste of students time because
they are already overloaded with subjects to study. This essay will examine both sides of the
issue.
Lesson 6: Writing a Thesis Statement
In this lesson we will look at what thesis statements are, and how you can vary the way you
write it according to the question.
They are a crucial part of writing an introduction.
What is a thesis statement?
Very basically, it tells the person reading your essay what will be in it. It may also give your
opinion if the question asks you for this.
It is the last sentence of your introduction.
Don't get it mixed up with the topic of your essay - this is usually at the beginning of your
introduction.
How do I write a thesis statement?
In order to make it effective, you must have first identified the task of the essay. If you are
unsure about this, check out this lesson on identifying the task.
The task is what you have to do, and is usually at the end of the rubric. For example, look at
this IELTS essay question:
As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are produced in
other countries and transported long distances.
Do the benefits of this trend *outweigh the drawbacks?
What you have to do (the task) is explain whether you think, overall, an increase in the
production of goods in other countries and their subsequent transportation over long distances
is more advantageous or disadvantageous.
So your essay is obviously going to be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this
issue, and this is what needs to be made clear in your thesis statement.
It is also an opinion essay as it is asking you to make a decision on whether you think there are
more advantages or disadvantages. So you need to make this clear as well.
Here is an example introduction, with the thesis in bold:
Due to the increase in global trade, many of the goods that we consume every day are made in
a different country and then transported over a long distance in order to reach us. In my
opinion, this trend has more disadvantages than advantages.
You would then go on to write about the advantages and disadvantages of global trade
(focusing more on the disadvantages as you think there are more of these).
*Just a quick note on the word 'outweigh'. This word often confuses students and they end up
writing a thesis statement opinion that contradicts what they write in the essay.
The simple answer - don't use the word! It is just asking you if there are more advantages than
disadvantages. So just state what you think in the thesis without using the word, as in the
example.
How does the thesis statement change with different types of question?
We will now look at how thesis statements can vary with different question types. However,
you should not try to learn set phrases or sentences to fit certain essays.
There are some broad types of essay question that are common to see, but they can all vary
slightly.
The golden rule is to always read the question very carefully (never rush this as you may not
fully answer the question) and work out what you have to do.
Your thesis statement will then follow on from this, depending on what you have decided you
need to write about in order to answer the question.
So below are some suggestions of what you could do for certain common kinds of essay
question, but this is not to say these are right and other ways are wrong. There are numerous
ways to write good thesis statements and these are just possibilities.
1) Writing about Two Opinions
Some questions ask you specifically to discuss two opinions and to give your opinion.
Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while others think
that this should be illegal.
Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
There are various ways you could choose to write an introduction and thesis for this.
Example 1
You could begin by paraphrasing the two opinions, then stating in the thesis what you will do:
Some people believe that it is acceptable for young children to undertake jobs that they are paid
for, whereas others believe that this is wrong and should be illegal. This essay will discuss both
sides of the issue.
This is quite simplistic but it makes it very clear what you are going to do.
You will obviously need to give your opinion as well in the essay, but stating this in the thesis
("This essay will discuss both sides of the issue and then give my opinion") sounds awkward so
it is better without it.
Example 2
Another possible way to do it is by having a sentence to introduce the topic first, and then
paraphrasing the two opinions to make them your thesis:
At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work. Whilst some
people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice, others believe that this is
completely wrong and should be made illegal.
This is fine as your thesis will match with your essay - you go on to discuss the first opinion and
then the second one.
Example 3
Or of course you could modify this slightly to include your opinion:
At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work. Whilst some
people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice, I believe that this is
completely wrong and should be made illegal.
As long as you go on to discuss both sides of the argument, this is fine.
2) Agreeing or Disagreeing
Another type of question is when you are asked to agree or disagree with one opinion.
Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best
these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
For this type of question, you need to state what your opinion is in the thesis statement.
Although you could feasibly do this in the conclusion, I think it is better to do it first so it is clear
to someone reading the essay what your opinion is upfront. It is not wrong though to put it in
the conclusion - this is your choice.
Your thesis statement here will depend on whether you agree, disagree, or partly agree. Here
are some examples of each:
A thesis statement that agrees with the opinion:
Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is
still used by many people all over the world. However, I strongly believe that this form of
medicine does not work and is possibly a danger to those using it.
A thesis statement that disagrees with the opinion:
still used by many people all over the world. I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel
that both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful.
A thesis statement that partly agrees with the opinion:
still used by many people all over the world. I agree that for certain conditions this type of
medicine is ineffective and could even be dangerous, but for some illnesses it is a good
alternative choice.
These examples illustrate why it is important to ananlyze the question carefully and brainstorm
your ideas first so you have a clear idea of what you will be writing and what your opinion is.
3) Other Essays
Some other essays may not ask you for your opinion specifically, but may ask you to discuss, for
example, problems and solutions, causes and effects, advantages and disadvantages.
If you are asked to do this, then you should just clearly state that you will be discussing these
two things in your essay. Here are some examples:
Problems and solutions:

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.
Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle
these problems.
Sample thesis in bold:

Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing
populations in urban areas. Both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to
overcome these problems.
Causes and Effects:

The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the
last ten years.
Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend.

Over the last ten years, Western societies have seen close to a 20% rise in the number of
children who are overweight. This essay will discuss some reasons why this has occurred and
examine the consequences of this worrying trend.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use
the money to improve public transportation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?

Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this
problem is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport
better. This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure.
This lesson has provided you with some broad guidance on writing a thesis statement for
different types of essay.
It is important to stress again though that questions can vary so you must always analyze if
carefully and identify exactly what you need to do and what should therefore be in your thesis
statement.
Remember, a thesis statement is just telling the reader what the focus of your essay is and
giving your opinion if necessary.
Lesson 7: IELTS Band 7 Writing
A question asked many times is how to score IELTS band 7 writing.

If you need a band 7 and you are not getting it, it is almost impossible to tell you why without
seeing samples of your writing.
So the aim of this lesson is to look more generally at what is required to get a band 7 in the
writing test. If you want to know specifically where you are going wrong, then you will need to
discuss your work with an experienced IELTS instructor.
The frustration is normally for those who are stuck at a band 6 or 6.5 but just don't seem to be
able to get that 7!
It can be quite a jump to go from a 6.5 to a 7, so this lesson will explain what is required for an
IELTS band 7.
We'll focus on essay writing rather than task 1, but the criteria and principals are more or less
the same. There is some clarification of some of the differences between the marking of task 1
and 2 at the end.
The Marking Criteria

To explain this, we'll begin by looking at the IELTS band descriptors for a band 7.
This is not a secret. This information is taken from the IELTS public band descriptors and is
freely available from a test centre or you will find it if you search on the internet.
You are given a band score for each of the criteria, and the ones in this table in the descriptors
column are those that are specifically needed for an IELTS band 7.
Criteria IELTS Band 7 Descriptors

 Addresses all parts of the task
 Presents a clear position throughout the response
 Presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there
Task Achievement
may be a tendency to over-generalize and/or
supporting ideas may lack focus
 Logically organizes information and ideas; there is a

clear progression throughout
 Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately
Coherence & Cohesion
although there may be some under-/over-use
 Presents a clear central topic within each paragraph
 Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some

Lexical Resource flexibility and precision
 Uses less common lexical items with some awareness
of style and collocation
 May produce occasional errors in word choice,
spelling, and/or word formation
 Uses a variety of complex structures

 Produces frequent error-free sentences
Grammatical Range and
 Has good control of grammar and punctuation but
Accuracy
may make a few errors
When you are graded, you will be given a score for each of these, and this will then be
averaged.
So if you are getting a 6.5, that means you must not be meeting the standard required as shown
in the table for one or two of them.
For example:
Task achievement = 7
Coherence and Cohesion = 7
Lexical Resource = 7
Grammatical Range and Accuracy = 6
Overall writing band = 6.5
As previously stated above, you'd have to show some of your writing to an experienced IELTS
teacher to get some advice on which ones you are not achieving in and to find out if it is always
the same criteria.
If you find out, you can then work on this to improve your score.
We'll now just have a look at each of them in a bit more detail to highlight some common areas
where you may possibly be going wrong.
Task Achievement
Very basically, this is an assessment of whether you have fully answered the question and
provided good support for your ideas.
To address all parts of the task, you must respond to everything that is asked in the question.
To take an example, look at this question:
Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences.
Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime.
The task is to discuss both the opinions and to give your opinion. So, for example, if you only
wrote about one of the opinions or did not give your opinion, you will not have addressed all
parts of the question so you can't get an IELTS band 7 for task achievement.
Or if you only wrote a small amount on one of the opinions, this may not be seen as fully
answering the question either.
There is a lesson here that explains the importance of identifying the task to make sure you
fully answer all parts of the question.
You must also have a clear position throughout. So if your opinion is not clear and you seem to
change it during the essay, then this could be a problem for achieving an IELTS band 7 in this
criteria.
You also need to fully extend and support your ideas. So it is not enough just to put lots of
ideas down - fewer ideas are better that are explained properly with reasons and examples.
Coherence and Cohesion
Very basically, this is how you organize and present your ideas, and how easy your work is to
read.
So you will need to know how to organize an essay properly in terms of paragraphing and
having ideas that logically and clearly go from one to the next to get an IELTS band 7.
Another key point here is that you have to have a clear central topic within each paragraph.
To take a simple example, if you are writing about the advantages and disadvantages of
something, then you may want to have one paragraph about each. Each paragraph will then
have a clear central topic - either advantages or disadvantages.
If you mix them up, this may not be clear.
You also need a mix of cohesive devices. These are the things that join and link your ideas,
sentences and paragraphs. For example, transitions such as 'however', 'firstly', 'moreover', and
other general linking words within sentences such as 'and' and 'because'.
You will need a variety and mix of these for an IELTS band 7, and you'll need to be able to use
them effectively with some flexibility rather than mechanically.
Lexical Resource
Your lexis is basically your vocabulary, and as it says in the descriptors, you'll need to show that
you know some less common words and be able to use them precisely.
It’s in the accuracy that is needed for your vocabulary that problems can often occur with
regards to getting an IELTS band 7.
As you can see, you can only make occasional errors in your word choice, word formation and
spelling. This means the majority need to be correct!
This is obviously no easy achievement and so you'll need to be a fairly skilled writer to be
making only occasional errors with your lexis.
Using lots of new words that you don't know how to use properly could make your writing
worse, so be careful! Only use words you know how to use properly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
As will be clear from the title, this one is assessing your level of grammar.
You will need to show you can use a wide range of sentence structures and have a high level of
accuracy.
Just having a few complex sentences with words such as 'because', 'if' and 'although' may not
be enough. You'll need to have an awareness of some more complex structures.
Again, like the lexis, this can often be where students struggle to get an IELTS band 7. You need
to have frequent error-free sentences.
In other words, the majority of your sentences can't have grammar errors. This is not easy, so
like with the lexis, you will need to be a fairly skilled writer.
Task 1
The last three criteria are more or less the same for task 1. The differences are in the task
achievement as obviously you are being given a different task.
This is what the public descriptors have for task 1 (academic):
 Covers the requirements of the task

 Presents a clear overview of trends, differences or stages
 Clearly presents and highlights key features/bullet points but could be more fully
extended
The first point is obviously stating that you must do what you were asked in the question.
The second point means that at some stage in your writing you must clearly give an overview of
the main things that are occurring in the graph or diagram.
Finally, to achieve in the last point you must be able to show that you can notice and write
about the important things that are happening in the graph, and make comparisons between
the data.
Again, the lesson above will help you with this.
Some final tips...
This lesson then has shown you how to get an IELTS band 7 in your writing, or what is required.
Unfortunately there is no magic bullet that is suddenly going to move you up a band. But there
may be things you can improve on that will help if you think you are making errors in what is
needed in the criteria.
For example, are you always spending some time at the beginning analyzing the question
carefully to make sure you are answering all parts of it and writing a plan / outline?
If not, you may be making errors by not fully answering the question or by not organizing your
essay or ideas well.
Most of my students that I check are failing to get the majority of the sentences error-free or
the majority of the lexis correct. So this may well be where you are falling down if you are
getting a 6.5.
In this case you'll need to work on improving your grammar and checking your work very
carefully for mistakes. If you have a writing teacher obviously this will help as they can check
your work.
But again, planning first can help with this because if you plan then you will be able to write
quicker. You will then have more time to be more careful and more time to check your
grammar and lexis whilst you write and at the end.
Lesson 8: Pronouns & Coherency
In Writing Task 2 Lesson 4, we looked at improving your coherency with transition words.
Another way to improve your coherency is with pronouns. You should make use of these so
that you do not keep repeating nouns or ideas.
You can use personal pronouns:
I, you, he, she, it, we, they, one, them
Batteries are not bio-degradable, so people should not dispose of them in normal household
waste.
Or demonstrative pronouns:
this, that, these, those
People dispose of batteries in their normal household waste. This causes environmental
damage.
Pronouns refer back to a noun or noun phrase that you have mentioned before. Always make
sure it is clear which noun it refers back to. It will usually be the last one you mentioned.
If another noun comes in between the noun you are referring to and the pronoun it may get
confusing.
Have a look at how they are used in this essay taken from the 'model essay' pages.
The word in red is the pronoun, and the word in brackets in green is the word or idea / phrase it
refers to.
Animal Rights Essay
Some people believe that animals should be treated in the same way
humans are and have similar rights, whereas others think that it is more
important to use them (animals) as we desire for food and medical
research. This essay will discuss both points of view.
With regard to the exploitation of animals, people believe it is acceptable

for several reasons. Firstly, they (people) think that humans are the most
important beings on the planet, and everything must be done to ensure
human survival. If this (ensuring human survival) means experimenting on
animals so that we (humans) can fight and find cures for diseases, then
this (experimenting on animals) takes priority over animal suffering.
Furthermore, it is believed by some that animals do not feel pain or loss as
humans do, so if we (humans) have to kill animals for food or other uses,
then this (killing animals for food or other uses) is morally acceptable.
However, I do not believe these arguments (the previous arguments -

though this is made clear by the noun repeated after it in this case) stand
up to scrutiny. To begin, it has been shown on numerous occasions by
secret filming in laboratories via animal rights groups that animals feel as
much pain as humans do, and they (animals) suffer when they (animals)
are kept in cages for long periods. In addition, a substantial amount of
animal research is done for cosmetics, not to find cures for diseases, so
this (animal research for cosmetics) is unnecessary. Finally, it has also
been proven that humans can get all the nutrients and vitamins that they
(humans) need from green vegetables and fruit. Therefore, again, having
to kill animals for food is not an adequate argument.
To sum up, although some people argue killing animals for research and
food is ethical, I would argue there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate
that this (the arguments that killing animals for research and food is
ethical) is not the case, and, therefore, steps must be taken to improve the
rights of animals.
Repeating the noun again
You will have noticed that two words were in blue. This is just to highlight an important point.
You should not just mention the noun once at the beginning of the essay, and then not again.
Get a balance of nouns and their pronouns, not too much of one or the other.
Have a look at the essay and you'll see that sometimes the noun is used and sometimes the
pronoun.
And you should always mention the noun again when it is a new paragraph or a new point you
are making.
As you can see with the words highlighted in blue - nouns should be used here as they
represent a new paragraph and new points. If you used pronouns it may not be clear which
noun you are referring to.
Pronouns and Coherency Practice
Now practice with the paragraph below - choose the correct pronoun.
Preserving certain old buildings is important for several reasons. Firstly, __ structures provide
an insight into the history of our countries, showing us how people many centuries ago lived
their lives. Without __, __ could only learn by books, and it would undoubtedly be sad if __
became the only way to see __. Many of __ buildings are also very beautiful. Take for example
the many religious buildings such as churches and temples that __ see around the world. Not
only __, but on a more practical level, many of __ buildings provide important income to a
country as many tourists visit __.
Lesson 9: IELTS Essay Conclusion
For an IELTS essay conclusion, many students write too much.
It is only a short essay, so the conclusion does not need to be too long.
You should also have a formula for writing the conclusion quickly so you can focus your time on
developing your ideas and supporting them in your body paragraphs.
You should do three things in your conclusion:
1. Use a concluding phrase

2. Restate the thesis statement in different words
3. Give some personal opinions, hopes, fears, or recommendations about the future
Take a look at this essay question and introduction. The thesis statement is in red:
Question:
Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is
increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed.
Blood sports should be banned.
To what extent to you agree or disagree?
Despite the fact that killing animals for sport is popular in modern society, it remains a
contentious issue. (thesis) I believe that blood sports are cruel and uncivilized and so should be
banned as soon as possible.
In order to write the first sentence of the IELTS essay conclusion, you can paraphrase your
thesis statement - remember to use a phrase to make it clear it is a conclusion:
To conclude, it is clear that blood sports must be prohibited as no civilized society should
allow the pain and suffering of animals simply for fun.
For your final sentence, you can give some personal opinions, hopes, fears, or
recommendations about the future.
I hope that governments around the world discuss this issue with haste and forbid this
inhumane type of sport as soon as possible.
This then, is the full IELTS essay conclusion:
To conclude, it is clear that blood sports must be prohibited as no civilized society should
allow the pain and suffering of animals simply for fun. I hope that governments around the
world discuss this issue with haste and forbid this inhumane type of sport as soon as possible.
Further IELTS Essay Conclusion Examples
Question:
Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best
these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Introduction:
still used by many people all over the world. I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel that
both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful.
Conclusion:
To sum up, I strongly believe that conventional medicine and alternative therapies can and
should coexist. They have different strengths, and can both be used effectively to target
particular medical problems. The best situation would be for alternative therapies to be used to
support and complement conventional medicine.
_________________________________________________
Question:
Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs.
Others believe there are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and
society.
Introduction:
These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university. While some
people are of the opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to improve job
prospects, others think that society and the individual benefit in much broader ways.
Conclusion:
All in all, I believe that although a main aim of university education is to get the best job, there
are clearly further benefits. If we continue to promote and encourage university attendance, it
will lead to a better future for individuals and society.
_________________________________________________
Question:
Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.
What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and individuals
take to tackle the issue?
Introduction:
Probably the most worrying threat to our planet at the present time is global warming. This
essay will examine the reasons why global warming is occurring and discuss some possible
solutions.
Conclusion:
To conclude, although global warming is a serious issue, there are steps that governments and
individuals can take to reduce its effects. If we are to save our planet, it is important that this is
treated as a priority for all concerned.
Lesson 10: Transitional Phrases for Essays
This lesson shows you transitional phrases for essays in order to help you present other
people’s arguments in your IELTS writing essays for part 2.
This is when you want to make it clear those arguments are NOT your own.
This lesson is aimed more at those who want a band 7 or higher as this page will show you a
more sophisticated way of presenting arguments.
When you write an argumentative essay, it is likely that you will want to present two sides of an
argument.
Take a look at this paragraph from an essay (which was recently posted as a model essay on this
site) which is in answer to this question:
University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The person is presenting the side of the argument about why education should not be free:
Firstly, students should be charged because education is becoming more expensive to fund as
universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain standards and
ensure the quality of the teaching. In addition, students benefit from university in terms of
higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given that the
majority of students attending university are from the middle classes. Last but not least, in
many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and
carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.
The paragraph is fine but it does look like the opinions being presented are the writers.
What if you want to make it clear that they are not your opinions, but those of someone else
because you intend to disagree with it in your next paragraph or because you don't want to
make it clear which side of the argument you agree with until the end?
The paragraph has now got some transitional phrases for essays in red / bold that make it clear
that they are not your arguments, but another person's:
One argument put forward in favour of charging students is that education is becoming more
expensive to fund as universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain
standards and ensure the quality of the teaching. In addition, it is argued that most students
benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs, so it is fair that they pay for at least some of
the cost, especially given that the majority of students attending university are from the middle
classes. Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of people to do manual jobs
such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university more expensive may encourage people to
take up these jobs.
The last point “Last but not least, in many countries…” has not been changed, but this would be
overdoing it. It is clear by this point that all the arguments the writer is presenting are other
people’s.
In your next paragraph, you may then want to present your arguments. So you may begin your
paragraph with something like:
However, I do not believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. Firstly,...
Alternatively, you may want to present another paragraph with other people's ideas, that
shows the opposite side of the argument. So your second paragraph may begin:
However, some people oppose these views. Firstly, they claim that...
And then you would let the reader know in your conclusion your position on the matter.
Here are some examples of transitional phrases for essays that can be used:
It has been argued that…
Some people claim / argue / believe / think that…
An argument commonly put forward is that…
Those that support (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
Proponents of (topic) argue / believe / claim that…
These arguments have been critisized for several reasons...
These are just some examples. There will be some other ways.
I suggested these as band 7 and above as it is a more difficult skill to place them in your essay.
They can't just be stuck in front of an idea and used like a transition such as "Firstly,..." in the
hope of getting a band 7!
They create a certain register or tone that you are writing with so you need to make sure the
rest of your essay fits with this style.
Lesson 11: Good Paragraph Writing
This lesson will give you the basic tips on paragraph writing.
You should follow the same structure that you would for writing any paragraph when you write
an IELTS paragraph, though it may be shorter because of the limited time that you have.
This limited time and space means that you have to get your ideas across as clearly and
succinctly as possible.
If you have planned well before you write, then you should be well on your way to being able to
write your paragraphs quickly and clearly.
The following has all the components of a good paragraph.
Read it through and identify why this is.
Studying Abroad
Studying abroad has two main benefits. Firstly, people who study
abroad can get a better job when they return to their home country. This is
because their qualifications and experience mean that they tend to get jobs
that are higher paid, and they can also gain promotion quickly. Another
advantage of studying abroad is the independence students can gain. For
example, students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and
meeting new people from different cultures. As a consequence, they will
become more confident in their life and in their relationships with others. All
in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience.
The Three Parts to Good Paragraph Writing
The 'text book' structure for a paragraph is as follows:
 Topic sentence
 Supporting sentences
 Concluding sentence
1. Topic Sentence
The topic sentence states what the paragraph will be about. It gives the topic of the paragraph,
and it also restricts the topic to one or two main ideas which can be explained fully in the space
of one paragraph. The controlling idea is the specific area that the topic is limited to:
topic controlling idea

Studying abroad has two main benefits
2. Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences explain and develop the topic sentence. Specifically, they discuss the
topic sentence by explaining the main ideas and discussing those more fully using reasons,
examples, facts, results, statistics, or anything else that proves your ideas are true.
The supporting sentences that explain the benefits of studying abroad are:
People get a better job when they return home (1st supporting idea)
 Better qualifications & experience mean better pay and promotion (reason)
 Now has a high standard of living (result)
Students gain independence (2nd supporting idea)
 Students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new
people from different cultures.(example)
 Students will become more confident in their life and relationships (result)
3. Concluding Sentence (Optional)
A concluding sentence can be used to signal the end of the paragraph. It tells the reader the
important points to remember. It is often a paraphrase of the topic sentence.
All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience.
Concluding sentences are optional and paragraphs often do not have them. You won't get
marked down if you do not have a concluding sentence in IELTS, but it is a good way to add
coherence to your paragraph.
Unity and Coherence
For good paragraph writing, there must also be unity and coherence. The examiner will assess
your IELTS paragraphs on their unity and coherence, which is clearly shown in the IELTS public
band descriptors under "Coherence and Cohesion" for what is required for a band 7:
 logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout
 uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately
 presents a clear central topic within each paragraph
1. Unity
Unity means that you discuss only one main (central) topic area in a paragraph. The area that
you are going to cover is usually introduced in the topic sentence, and your supporting
sentences should only be used to develop that.
For the topic sentence above, you could discuss only two benefits of studying abroad. You
could not discuss three benefits, or start discussing the disadvantages of studying abroad. If
you did, your paragraph would not have unity.
Even if there is no specific topic sentence (more advanced writers do not always have an
obvious topic sentence), the paragraph should still have one central topic area so it retains
unity.
2. Coherence
Another element of good paragraph writing is coherency. This means your paragraph is easy to
understand and read because
(a) The supporting sentences are arranged in a logical order and

(b) The ideas are joined by appropriate transition signals.
(a) Logical Order
For example, in the paragraph about studying abroad, there are two main ideas: People who
study abroad can get a better job, and they will become more independent. Each of these
ideas is discussed, one after the other, with examples, reasons and results to support
them. This is logical order.
(b) Transition Signals
Furthermore, the relationship between the ideas is clearly shown by using appropriate
transition words and phrases such as first of all, for instance, the result of this, another
advantage, as a consequence, all in all. Using such words and phrases will guide the reader
through your paragraph, making it coherent and, therefore, easy to understand.
Lesson 12: IELTS Problem Solution Essays
Sometimes in the IELTS task 2 you will be given a problem solution essay.
In this type of essay you need to discuss the problems with regards to a particular topic and
then suggest possible solutions to these problems.
One of the first things you want to make sure that you are able to do is identify one of these
questions when it arises. Here are some examples of this type of question:
Problem Solution Essay Questions:
_______________________________________________
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.
Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle
these problems.
_______________________________________________
Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play
computer games.
What are the negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad
effects?
_______________________________________________
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also
created problems that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you
suggest?
_______________________________________________
In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing.
What problems will this cause for individuals and society?
Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.
_______________________________________________
An important note. Some essays ask for reasons and solutions, not problems and solutions.
Writing about a reason (or cause) is not the same as writing about a problem.
Problem Solution Example Essay
In order to understand these types of problem solution essays further and how to organize your
writing, we'll look at a problem solution example essay:
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and

consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and
what solutions can you suggest?
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes
to the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen
as a result of this, there are solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially
dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can
register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts
and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another major
problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news stories
about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive
information falling into the hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that
adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing
dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a
site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children
and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various computer
programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and
hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for
weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s
lives, but not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals,
governments and businesses, it can be made a safe place for everyone.
(285 words)
Writing about Problems
From the problem solution essay, look at the problems paragraph, and answer the following
questions (then click on the link below to see the answers):
1. How many problems are discussed?

2. What are they?
3. What expressions are used to introduce the problems?
4. How are the problems illustrated further?
5. What results are discussed for each problem?
Your answers to these questions should tell you a lot about how to plan and organize a problem
paragraph.
You only need two or three problems as remember you do not have much time and you need
to explain the problems.
When you brainstorm your ideas for problem solution essays, think about (a) what the problem
is (b) how you will explain it (c) and what the effect is. Your paragraph will then follow this
pattern.
Here is an example of the brainstorming for this paragraph:
Problem 1: children can access potentially dangerous sites
Explanation / Example: Pornography sites
Result: Affects thought & development - negative for children & society
Problem 2: growth of online fraud and hacking
Explanation / Example: Evident from the constant news stories
Result: Criminals get sensitive information
Here they are illustrated in the paragraph, with the introductory expressions underlined:
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially
dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they
can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is no doubt that this affects their
thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the children and for society. Another
major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are constant news
stories about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive
information falling into the hands of criminals.
Writing about Solutions
Answer the following questions about the solutions paragraph:
1. How many solutions are given?

2. What are they?
3. What three different groups of people does the writer say are responsible for these
solutions?
4. How would the solutions be implemented?
5. What three modal verb structures are used to make the suggestions?
Your answers to these questions provide you with some key tips on writing a solutions
paragraph. Some of these points are now explained further.
a) The people involved
When you come to brainstorm your solutions, think of the key 'actors' who are involved. It is
usually governments and individuals in some way or another.
There may be another group specifically related to the topic. For example, in this case it is
companies and parents. If you are discussing crime it could be the police. If it is violence on TV
it could be TV and film producers.
You can then brainstorm your ideas under each 'group' and organize them in the same way.
b) Developing your solutions
Also, try to make sure your solutions are not too simplistic. It's all too easy to make sweeping
generalizations about what people can do. For example, look at this idea:
The government should introduce stricter laws.
It is common to see such statements in IELTS problem solution essays with no further
explanation. Give more detail about how or why this would work. For example:
Governments should ensure that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent
young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming
that you are an adult to view a site.
Some specific detail has now been given on how this solution could work.
b) Modal Verbs
Modal verbs can be used to make suggestions in problem solution essays. These are usually
found in solutions paragraphs.
Here again is a plan for the problem solution essay for the solutions paragraph:
Solution 1: Governments
Idea: Adequate legislation and controls for young people
How: More complex website access criteria
Solution 2: Parents
Idea: Monitor children and restrict access
How: Use a computer program
Solution 3: Companies
Idea: Improve IT security systems
How: Review current systems in place
Here is the paragraph again. Note how it follows the plan and the clear topic sentence that tells
the reader the essay is moving on to discuss solutions (modals verbs are underlined):
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure
that adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from
accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult
to view a site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of
their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various
computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make
fraud and hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current
systems for weaknesses.
Lesson 13: IELTS Opinion Essays
IELTS opinion essays are very common in the exam.
It can be a bit confusing, especially if you are new to IELTS, to work out the different types of
essay.
Some people talk about 'argumentative essays', 'thesis-led essays', 'discussion essays', which
can get quite confusing and it is usually not necessary to know this.
The important thing is to analyze each question as you see it and answer it.
The aim of this lesson is to give you a brief overview of the common types of essay that ask for
your opinion.
Of course not everything will fit this pattern as there are a variety of ways a question can be
worded, but the types below are common ways to be asked about your opinion in the test.
Task 2 IELTS Opinion Essays can broadly be put into three types:
______________________________________________________
1. Discuss ONE opinion
Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour. (opinion)
Therefore, working hours should be reduced.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
With these essays you are normally given ONE opinion, and then asked specifically if you agree
or disagree with it, or to what extent you agree or disagree. You must make it clear whether
you agree, disagree or partly agree and give your reasons why.
______________________________________________________
2. Discuss TWO OPPOSING opinions
(opinion one) A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people
and that they should have the same rights as humans, (opposing opinion) while others argue
that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and
research.
With these essays you have TWO opinions that oppose each other. You have to discuss BOTH of
them and also give your opinion. Your essay will get a lower mark for 'task response' if you
don’t discuss both of the opinions or you don’t make your opinion clear.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages
The number of old people around the world is increasing dramatically.
Could this have more positive or negative effects on society? or…
Do the advantages of the trend outweigh the disadvantages? or…
Is this a positive development?
In these questions you are given a fact or facts and then you have to look at the positive and
negative sides of this. They are all asking for your opinion so you must state this. In the first two
you will need to look at both sides as the question is clearly implying there are both positive
and negative impacts.
Don't mix this up with a basic advantage and disadvantage essay like this:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Although your organization, ideas and body paragraphs may be similar, this one is not asking
for your opinion so you don't need to give it. It is simply asking you to present both sides of the
issue.
Lesson 14: IELTS Music Essay
In this lesson we’ll look at an IELTS music essay in order to explain how to approach a more
complex IELTS task 2 question.
Many questions have a clear task.
For example, the task may clearly state that you need to agree or disagree, offer solutions to a
problem, or given the reasons why a problem exists.
Some though may have more general questions.
Take a look at this example:
There are many types of music in the world today. Why do we

need music? Is the traditional music of a country more
important and should it be preserved or is international music
that is heard everywhere nowadays more useful to a society?
This is quite complex - the IELTS music essay question is long and ‘music’ is quite an abstract
topic.
Understanding the Question
When you get a more complex IELTS task 2 question like this you should make sure you
underline important words and carefully break it down into its different parts.
This will make sure that you do not miss something when you answer the question.
When you have done this, you should hopefully end up with something like this:
 Why do we need music?

 Why is traditional music important?
 Should it be preserved?
 Why is international music important?
 Which is the most important?
You need to discuss all these things as they are all within the IELTS music essay question. If you
address all of these points then you will be fully answering the question.
These kinds of question are usually asking your opinion in some way, and this question is no
exception.
All of the points listed are asking for your opinion, but most importantly you MUST make it
clear which type of music, traditional or international, you think is more important / useful (if
indeed you do think one is more important than the other - you may think they are equally
important).
Planning and Organizing your Answer
You can use these questions to brainstorm and plan your answer.
With a question like this there is no ‘fixed’ way to organize it. There could be many different
ways. But you must ensure that, as always, it is logical and covers everything.
One clear way would be to discuss why we need music first, then go on to discuss/compare the
relative importance of traditional and international music, ensuring that you finish by stating
your opinion (or restating your opinion if you already gave it in your introduction).
Now, take a look at the IELTS music essay model answer.
____________________________________
IELTS Music Essay Model Answer
There are many types of music in the world today. Why do we

need music? Is the traditional music of a country more
important and should it be preserved or is international music
that is heard everywhere nowadays more useful to a society?
Music exists in some form or another in every culture around the world and it provides
enjoyment to millions of people. However, some people are concerned that traditional music is
being lost because of the popularity of international music.
Without a doubt, music is a necessity. Firstly, music is important as it provides enjoyment and
pleasure in daily life. People listen to music to relax at home, to relieve the boredom of long
journeys, and to dance to in the evening at clubs. Not only this, music is also an expression of
culture, often being an important part of religious ceremonies such as weddings and funerals or
yearly festivals. It is also now important in educational development, as children learn to play
music at school.
In considering which kind of music is the most important, international music is certainly useful
to society as it can be argued that it helps us to understand and relate to other people, cultures
and countries as we all listen to the same songs. This has occurred as globalization means
Western music is heard around the world. However, it is critical that this is not at the expense
of traditional music. It should be a priority to preserve this as it teaches people about their
history, and helps societies remember and retain their national and cultural identity.
To conclude, I would argue that one type of music is not more important or useful than
another. Traditional music is important and should be preserved as it is part of a country’s
cultural identity, but both are needed as they provide enjoyment to people in different ways.
(270 words)
Comments
As you can see, the IELTS music essay answer is 270 words.
There is a lot more you could have written about this topic and I could have made the answer
longer, but this is to show you that you can address quite a few points in a short space.
If you are a good writer and you can write more than that is fine, but most people cannot write
much more if they have to brainstorm, plan and check their grammar as well as write the
answer.
The question has quite a few points to discuss and they are all within the essay.
Personal Pronouns in Essays for IELTS
Whether to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS is a question that often comes up often
with students studying for the test.
Personal pronouns are words such as "I", "you", "we" and "they".
Some people believe that these words should not be used in IELTS essays because IELTS essays
are 'academic' and it is not usually advised to use such personal words in academic writing.
This is true, but IELTS is not the same as writing an essay at university or writing a research
article for a journal.
When you write an essay at university, you will have books and journals that you will refer to
and you will need to use citations and references.
In an IELTS essays you don't have any of these sources - you only have your own experience
(and 40 minutes!).
And as the rubric states in every question, you are expected to make use of this experience and
knowledge:
"Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own experience or knowledge".
It would not be written in this way if you were forbidden to use personal pronouns in essays for
IELTS.
So you may wish to give an example from your own country or even your own personal
experience if it is relevant.
Also, some of the tasks asking for your opinion are personal:
"To what extent do you agree or disagree?"
"Discuss both opinions and give your opinion".
So although an IELTS essay does need to be in an academic style, it is not quite the same as
your average piece of academic writing and it can be more personal with the use of personal
pronouns.
____________________________________________________
Where can I use personal pronouns in essays and how often?
So it is ok to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS, but you should not overdo it. If you start
using them all the way through, your essay will be in danger of losing its academic style.
But using them a few times when needed is not a problem. For example, you may want to use
them in the thesis statement in the introduction to give your opinion:
"In my opinion, students should not have to wear school uniforms".
"I do not believe that students should wear school uniforms".
"I agree that wearing school uniforms is necessary for the following reasons".
Another advantage of using personal pronouns in essays for IELTS is that it makes your opinion
very clear.
The examiner will expect to be able to clearly see what your opinion is (in opinion essays).
There is a possibility that if you use impersonal language the examiner will not realise it as your
opinion.
This is not to say you have to use personal pronouns as you certainly don't, but if you are a
lower level writer it makes it very clear what your opinion is so there are no misunderstandings.
Look at this example conclusion - it is very clear what the writer’s position is and there will be
no misunderstanding:
On balance, I would argue that although it is not realistic to remove all
opportunities for privately funded research, governments should have the main
responsibility for the monitoring and controlling of this. Strong checks and
balances need to be in place to ensure future research is ethical and
productive.
____________________________________________________
What about in body paragraphs?
Again, as explained above, you may wish to use personal pronouns in essays as you are told you
can give examples from your own experience and you are asked for your opinion. A few times is
ok, but don't use them too much as your essay may start to look too informal.
Take a look at this example essay where personal pronouns have been used effectively and
they do not detract from the style of the essay or the answer:
Many old buildings protected by law are part of a nation’s history. Some
people think they should be knocked down and replaced by news ones.
How important is it to maintain old buildings?
Should history stand in the way of progress?

Most nations around the world have at least some, or possibly many, old
buildings such as temples, churches and houses in their cities, villages and
surrounding areas which have historical significance. In my opinion, it is very
important to maintain these, but this does not mean progress should stop.
Preserving certain old buildings is important for several reasons. Firstly, these
structures provide an insight into the history of our countries, showing how
people many centuries ago lived their lives. Without them, we could only learn
by books, and it would undoubtedly be sad if this were the only way to see
them. Many of these buildings are also very beautiful. Take for example the
many religious buildings such as churches and temples that can be seen
around the world. Not only this, but on a more practical level, many of these
buildings provide important income to a country as many tourists visit them in
great numbers.
However, this certainly does not mean that modernization should be
discouraged. I believe that old buildings can be protected in tandem with
progress. For example, in many circumstances we see old historic buildings
being renovated whilst maintaining their original character, and being used for
modern purposes. Also, in no way does history hinder progress, and in fact it is
the opposite. By studying and learning about our history, a greater
understanding is gained about the world we live in, and this helps to build a
better future.
To conclude, in my view it is very important to protect and preserve old

buildings as we can learn about our history as can others from other countries.
Such knowledge can also help us to understand how to modernize our
countries in the best way.
You will likely not use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS to this extent as this question is
particularly suitable for it more than some others, but it shows you that it is not necessarily a
problem.
This is a good essay and it would not lose marks because of the use of personal pronouns.
____________________________________________________
So to sum up, it is ok to use personal pronouns in essays for IELTS, but don't overuse them as
it may start sounding too informal.
Certainly make use of them in opinion essays in your introduction and / or conclusion as this
will make your opinion very clear.
You are less likely to use them in your body paragraphs, but it is not wrong to do so.
As you saw in the essay above, using personal pronouns did not detract from the style of the
essay. You may also have a particularly good example from your experience that means you
need to use a personal pronoun.

IELTS Task2 Lessons

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Lesson 1: Identify the Topic

How do I identify the topic?

Have a look at the following question. What is the issue?

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in

Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest

You should have identified teenage crime as the topic.

What if I identified ‘crime’ as the topic?

2. To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?

3. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in

How do I identify the task?

Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest

Other Question Types

Here is another example:

To what extent do you agree?

Again, look to the end of the prompt to identify the task.

Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest

Brainstorming is an important part of the planning process.

If you look at the IELTS prompt, it says this:

So you need to support your ideas using reasons and examples.

Developing Focus Questions

These are possible focus questions for this essay question:

You then need to brainstorm answers to these questions:

What can be done about it?

Why has there been a breakdown in the nuclear family?

Why has teenage crime increased?

1) Breakdown in the nuclear family

- high divorce rates = no father as ‘role model’

– boys go astray, drugs & crime

- e.g. TV has shown nothing to do

– children see crime as entertainment

1) Govt - Provide better support for families

- e.g. more youth centres

– guidance and activities, sport

2) Parents – take responsibility

- provide loving environment, relative as role model

Your work is coherent if it is easy to read and follow your ideas.

COMMON TRANSITION WORDS

Listing Points to Show New Ideas: Showing an Example:

Firstly, For example,

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

How to use the words in sentences

1) Full-stop, capital letter, comma

2) Semi-colon, small letter, comma

Varying Position and Use of Transition Words

2) Giving a Contrast or Result

These can also be varied. For example:

Writing the Introduction

Even for a native writer of English, this is a lot to do in 40 minutes!

2. Tell the reader what you are going to be writing about

To what extent to you agree or disagree?

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

How far do you agree with this opinion?

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Sample IELTS essay introduction:

They are a crucial part of writing an introduction.

What is a thesis statement?