ielts essays from examiners 2022

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IELTS Sample Essays

Here you will find IELTS Sample Essays for a variety of common topics that appear in the writing exam.

The model answers all have tips and strategies for how you may approach the question and comments on the sample answer.

You can also view sample essays with band scores on this page. 

Looking at IELTS essay topics with answers is a great way to help you to prepare for the test. 

These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered. 

Specifically these are:

• Agree / Disagree
• Discuss Two Opinions
• Problems and Solutions
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Other Types

Agree / Disagree Type Questions

In these types of question you are given one opinion and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion:

• Advertising
• Alternative Medicine
• Spending on the Arts
• Human Cloning
• Social Interaction & the Internet
• Airline Tax
• Free University Education
• Scientific Research
• Banning Smoking
• Employing Older People
• Vegetarianism
• Paying Taxes  
• Examinations or Formal Assessment 
• Multinational Organisations and Culture
• Internet vs Newspapers
• Technology Development  
• Dying of Languages
• Animal Extinction
• Truth in Relationships
• Role of Schools
• Return of Historical Artefacts

Discuss Two Opinions Type Questions

In this essay question type you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view:

• University Education
• Reducing Crime
• Animal Rights
• Child Development
• Diet & Health
• Donating Money to Charity
• Closing Zoos   
• Becoming Independent  
• Formal and Informal Education  
• Influence of Scientists and Politicians
• Sources for Stories
• Searching for Extraterrestrial Life

Cause Type Questions

There are a variety of 'cause type' essay questions. In these you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development:

Causes & Effects:

• Child Obesity
• Skin Whitening Creams
• Family Size
• Having Children Later in Life
• Time Away from Family

Causes and Solutions:

• Youth Crime
• Global Warming
• Paying Attention in Class
• International Travel & Prejudice 
• Museums & Historical Places
• Disappearance of Traditions
• Communication Between Generations

Causes, Pros & Cons:

• Family Closeness
• Living Alone
• Rural to Urban Migration

Problems & Solutions Type Questions

In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:

• Overpopulation
• Competing for Jobs  
• Professionals Immigrating

Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions

In these type of questions you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Is it a positive or negative development? ): 

• Traffic Problems
• Food Additives
• Computer Games
• Age Discrimination at Work  
• Children using Tablets and Computers  
• Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication  
• Working from Home 
• Eating Locally grown  Produce  
• Oil and Gas Essay  
• Peer Pressure on Young People
• Online Fraud
• Decreasing House Sizes

'Hybrid' Types of Essay Question

There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. I've called these 'hybrid', as they are of mixed character, are composed of different elements from other types of essay, or are perhaps just worded differently. 

• Protecting Old Buildings
• Animal Testing
• Fear of Crime
• Communication Technology
• Influence of Children's Friends  

Sample Essays with Band Scores

You can also view some sample essays that have been written by candidates practising for the test and have band scores and comments by an experienced ex-IELTS Examiner based on the IELTS marking criteria. 

• IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 7 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 5 Essay Samples
• IELTS Band 4 Essay Samples

Student Sample Essays

For more IELTS essay topics with answers you can also view essays that have been written by students. Some have feedback from other students or IELTS teachers:

• Student Model Essays  (with comments by other students)
• Student Model Essays (with comments by IELTS buddy)

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IELTS Essay Questions 2022

Can you hear the trumpets playing? Yes, back by popular demand, today Nick and I break down the first IELTS essay questions 2022. As always, we will choose 6 essay topics that have been reported from recent exams that we think are difficult, and offer you our arguments and tips for organisation.

You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson if you actively take part.

So why not scroll down now and attempt to brainstorm ideas for each question BEFORE you listen, so that you compare your ideas to ours?

Remember, the questions we will cover today are just a small fraction of those featured in this blog post , which I update every month to include the 50 most recent IELTS essay questions 2022, so click if you want to find out what other topics are currently in use.

Below, you can find a summary of the episode, which includes all of the links to useful materials and the times of each part of the discussion (so you can go directly to the part you want to listen to)   🚀

• Subscribe to My IELTS Classroom podcast on Apple podcasts   here 
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• Become a Patreon to gain access to extra BONUS episodes here

You can also watch this episode on our new YouTube channel!

Podcast  Summary : IELTS Essay Questions 2022

We are going to spend the rest of the episode looking at these 6 essay questions to explain what makes each one so tricky, and how you should approach them to ensure that you address the task properly. However, I strongly recommend that you spend 5 minutes planning each question before you listen to the rest of the episode.

• Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities. Others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Governments should give a basic income every to citizen, whether they are employed or not, so that they have enough money to live on. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Studies have shown that many criminals have a lack of education. Therefore, some believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate prisoners so that they can find work after they are released. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• More and more people say that they do not feel safe when they leave home.  Why is this? What could be done to address this issue?
• Information technology is changing many aspects of our lives and now dominates our home, leisure, and work activities. Do the benefits of information technology outweigh the disadvantages?

Want to know how the examiner will apply the band descriptors when marking your IELTS essay?

Th en download a copy of our FREE e-book, which explains how each of the four marking criteria is applied and includes the most common errors made by test-takers. Just click here for your copy.

There is A LOT of very good advice in the episode, including

• why one of the views in a discuss both sides essay may be more difficult to generate ideas for than the other side
• what to do if you don’t know about a particular topic
• a new way to tackle compare questions

Hopefully once you finish the episode,  you will have a much better understanding of how to interpret questions correctly and how to make sure that you find ideas that 100% address them.

If you still have problems generating ideas, then maybe go and listen to the episode we recorded recently that takes you step by step through how you can use the Internet to find good ideas for topics you find difficult. In it, we take the example of “architecture” and show you how to use Google to find lots of great ideas and lexis.

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ESSAYS PAST QUESTIONS MODEL ANSWERS

Past IELTS writing questions as well as model answers and vocabulary written by IELTS examiners to help you learn how to structure and write your own essays to pass your test.

Click on questions below for model answers: ARTS AND MEDIA Some people feel that entertainers such as film stars, pop musicians or sports stars are paid too much money. Do you agree or disagree? Which other types of job should be highly paid?

Some museums and art galleries charge admission fees, while others have free entry. Do you think the advantages of free admission outweigh the disadvantages?

CRIME AND LAW Some people feel that the design of newly constructed buildings in big cities should be controlled by governments. Others believe those who finance the construction of a building should be free to design it as they see fit. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Some people think that there should be strict laws to control the amount of noise a person makes because of the disturbance it causes to people. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

CULTURE A country becomes more interesting and develops more quickly when its population includes a mixture of nationalities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It’s generally believed that success in fields such as art and sport can only be achieved if a person has natural talent. However, it’s sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or artist. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

ECONOMY Some people think that we live in a society where money and possessions are given too much importance. Others believe that this is improving our lives. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Rich countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. Therefore, developed countries should give other types of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

EDUCATION Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

ENVIRONMENT Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish. Why do you think this is happening? What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?

There is growing evidence that man-made activities are making global temperatures higher. What are the causes of temperatures rising? How should we deal with this problem?

ETHICAL ISSUES Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Teenagers who commit serious crimes, such as burglary or murder, should be treated in the same way as adults who commit crimes. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion?

HEALTH Many people say that cooking and eating at home is better for the individual and the family than eating out in restaurants. Do you agree or disagree?

In some countries, the average weight of children is increasing and their level of health and fitness is decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?

TECHNOLOGY 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? What are the best ways to solve them?

Some people believe that time spent on television and computer games can be valuable for children. Others believe this has negative effects on a child. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

TRAVEL AND LANGUAGES Many people believe children should begin learning a foreign language in primary school instead of secondary school. Do you think the advantages of learning a foreign language in primary school outweigh the disadvantages?

Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Recent questions in 2018 In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

Some people think that parents have a great influence on their children. Others believe that the media is a bigger influence. Discuss both views and give your own opinion

Many people believe cities should not try to preserve its old, historic buildings and instead, they should destroy them and replace them with modern buildings. To what extent do you agree?

Past IELTS Essay Questions without answers Some people think that the education system should prepare students for employment, while others believe it has other functions. Discuss both sides and then give your own opinion.

Some people believe that sports people and entertainers are paid too much money. What is your opinion?

The range of technology available for individuals will increase the gap between the rich and poor. Others think it is having an opposite effect. What is your opinion?

Some people think that elderly people should be forced to retire at a certain age, such as 65. Others say that people should be allowed to work for as long as they are able and want to. Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion.

Nowadays, people in some countries can choose to live and work anywhere they want, because of the improvement of the communication technology and transport. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and then give your own opinion.

In some countries the elderly are put into nursing homes rather than being taken care of by their family. Do you see this as a positive or a negative development?

In some countries students who do not behave are asked to leave the school permanently. In other countries they can return to their school after a suspension period.

Discuss both options and give your opinion.

Today more and more young children have electronic gadgets such as computers and mobile phones. Some people say that this is a positive development. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that environmental problems are too big for individuals to deal with, and that action is needed from the government while others think that individuals should take some action. Discuss both sides of the argument and then give your opinion.

Some people believe that the fast pace and stress of modern life is having a negative effect on families. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people think music plays an important role in society. Others think it is it is simply a form of entertainment. Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion

Some people believe that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of every citizen who is disadvantaged. What is your opinion?

Nowadays people live in a society where consumer goods are relatively cheaper to buy. Do you think the advantages far outweigh its disadvantages?

When visiting foreign countries, visitors should take full advantage of learning the culture and traditions of that country. Why are some people not interested in learning about the culture and traditions of a country? What are some ways to learn about the culture and traditions of the country?

Some people claim that students should focus on the subjects that they are interested or in best at, while others believe that should learn all school subjects. Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

Oil and coal are the main sources of energy in many countries. However, in some countries the use of renewable sources of energy, such as solar or wind energy are encouraged. Is it a positive or negative development?

As cities get bigger, many people do not know their neighbours and the sense of community is being lost What problems does this cause? What are some potential solutions?

Some think that in the 21st. Lots of changes will occur that will improve our society. Do you agree or disagree? What kind of changes will be occur?

Obesity is an increasing problem in today’s society. Some people say that the government should put our tax on fast foods in order to solve this problem. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and then give your own opinion.

Some people argue that teachers should make the choice about the subjects and lesson contents for their classes. Others think this should be decided by the government.. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In countries all over the world the volume of road traffic is increasing at are faster rate than new roads can be built.

What are the causes of this problem? What are some potential solutions?

Some people think that young people should go to university, while other people say that they should skip university and go straight to work. To what extent do you agree?

People in the past would always repair damaged products. However, nowadays, people like to throw out and purchase new products. What are the reasons for this? What problems might this cause?

Many people these days believe that young people should travel abroad for a year after finishing high school. But others think, it is a waste of time and money What is your opinion?

In some countries, some school leavers choose to work or travel for a year between finishing secondary school and attending university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and then give your opinion.

Some people believe cities should try to preserve its old, historical building, but others think we should destroy them and replace them with modern buildings.

Discuss both points of view on this issue and then give your own opinion.

Some people think advertising is discouraging us from being different individuals and makes everyone to be the same.

To what extent do you agree or disagree.

Human activities in many countries have negative effects on plant and animal species.

What do you think are the negative effects?

What are some potential solutions ?

Some people think that the education system should prepare students for employment, while others believe it has other functions.

Discuss both sides of the argument and then give your own opinion.

In some countries the elderly are put into nursing homes rather than being taken care of by their family.

Do you see this as a positive or a negative development?

Today more and more young children have electronic gadgets such as computers and mobile phones. Some people say that this is a positive development.

Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that the fast pace and stress of modern life is having a negative effect on families.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In countries all over the world the volume of road traffic is increasing at a faster rate than new roads can be built.

People in the past would always repair damaged products. However, nowadays, people like to throw out and purchase new products.

What are the reasons for this? What problems might this cause?

In some countries, some school leavers choose to work or travel for a year between finishing secondary school and attending university.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and then give your opinion about it. eBook for Essays Complete writing eBook Get your writing corrected Join my website to receive updates Essay writing on my website

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About Mike I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.

I have written IELTS books and this enables me to be an effective tutor. This is because I understand the main problems that students have taking the test and also the ways to overcome them.

Maybe you would like me to teach you the necessary skills and strategies to pass your test.

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia and they jointly manage the IELTS test. This website is for test preparation only and has nothing to do with the administration of IELTS tests This website is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

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IELTS Band 9 Essays

Do you know the difference between an IELTS Band 6 essay and an IELTS Band 9 essay for Writing Task 2?

Most IELTS students don’t, and this is what prevents them from getting the scores they need.

What does an IELTS Band 9 Essay look like?

An IELTS Band 9 Essay is one that shows the examiner that you are an expert user of English.  The official IELTS scale describes an expert user in the following way:

“The test taker has fully operational command of the language. Their use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and shows complete understanding.”

In writing, this means you need to achieve a band 9 in each of the four IELTS marking criteria:

Task response

• Coherence and cohesion

Lexical resource

Grammatical range and accuracy.

Here is a description of the marking criteria for an IELTS Band 9 Essay for Writing Task 2:

That’s quite complex, so I’ve simplified it for you:

• Answer all parts of the question
• Present relevant ideas
• Fully explain these ideas
• Support ideas with relevant, specific examples

Coherence and Cohesion

• Organise your ideas in logical paragraphs
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Use cohesive devices (also known as ‘linking words’) accurately
• Don’t use too many or too few cohesive devices
• Vary your cohesive devices by using synonyms
• Try to vary your vocabulary, using accurate synonyms
• Use less common topic-specific words that accurately convey meaning
• Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
• Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
• Use a variety of appropriate structures
• Check your writing for errors

If you want to know more about the marking criteria for other bands, you can download the full Writing Task 2 band descriptors here.

Watch my video below for the biggest differences between an IELTS Band 6 Essay and an IELTS Band 9 Essay.

Opinion essay  

Band 9 essay sample  .

To see a lesson on the question above, click here .

Discussion essay  

Band 9 essay sample .

Problems and solutions essay  

Advantages and disadvantages essay  

There are two types of advantages and disadvantages questions:

• Type 1 – Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Type 2 – Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

For more information about these two types of questions, have a look at our page here .

Band 9 Essay Sample (Type 1) 

Band 9 Essay Sample 1 (Type 2) 

To see a lesson on both of the questions above, click here .

Double Question essay  

Band 9 essay sample.

What about Task 1?  What does a Band 9 Task 1 answer look like for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?

Just like for Task 2, a Band 9 Task 1 answer needs to show the examiner that the test taker is an expert user of English who can respond fully to all of the marking criteria.  

For more information about how to write a Band 9 Task 1 answer, have a look at our page for Writing Task 1 . 

If you’d like to see the marking criteria for IELTS Task 1, you can download a full description here .

For more about the difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General, check out our page about IELTS preparation here or this page on the official IELTS website .

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If you need my help with your IELTS preparation, you can send me an email using the contact us page.

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Latest IELTS Exam Essays 2022

Essay Topic

If children behave badly their parents should take responsibility and also be punished?do you agree or disagree?

Sample Answer

In this contemporary era, some people think that if kids’ behaviour is not good, then their parents should be held responsible and punished. While I argue to some extent that parents are responsible, I am not in solidarity with the view of punishing the parents for children’s misdeeds.

To commence with, the main reason why parents are responsible is that they do not focus on children’s moral education. To explain it, parents should teach their offspring about moral values for their child’s betterment. Also, parents should not be disrespectful and abusive to their children, as it significantly impacts individuals’ mindsets. For instance, there was a survey on “Times Now News Channel” parents who care about their kids and teach them moral values, their children behave well with others. As a result, parents must give their children moral and better life lessons because it is beneficial for them in the long term.

On the contrary, parents are not always responsible for the upbringing of their children. To explain, parents do not know about their children, what they do at school and outside their homes. Also, they need to get information about their children’s friend circle. For example, parents are usually busy with their work. They do not know what their child is doing when they are with their friends. Hence, punishing them is an imprudent approach.

In conclusion, although I agree to some extent that parents are responsible, parents are the best decision-makers for their offspring; therefore, the blame should not go to them constantly because they are not with all the time with their children.

People should keep all the money they earn and should not pay taxes to the state. Do you agree or disagree?

23 July 2022, IELTS Exam, Writing Task 2, Evening Slot, INDIA

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June 2022, IELTS Exam, Writing Task 2

Essay topic : (Reported on 23rd April)

Some people say that art subjects such as music, drama and creative writing are an essential part of education, and every school should include them in its syllabus.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your opinion and examples from your own experience.

Model Answer

A few people assert that art subjects such as music, drama, and creative writing are an essential part of education, and every school should include them in its syllabus. I agree with this statement. Art helps in the growth of the creative faculties of the brain, like the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Moreover, art helps children to destress after long hours of study.

Art subjects such as music, drama and creative writing are essential part of education. Many neurological studies were conducted on children to learn about the benefits of art education. Many scientists found that learning to play a new instrument helps the brain’s fostering, and the synapses of neurons get strengthened. Creative writing causes the parietal-temporal region of the brain to get activated, thus strengthening the frontal cortex. For example, many studies have depicted that students or children who participate in various creative subjects have more problem-solving capabilities than their counterparts. They try to solve problems with an optimistic viewpoint, and these children become more confident than others.

Moreover, art helps children to destress. Hours of analytical learning in schools like mathematics, science and social studies can cause tiredness of the brain. Children feel joyful, contented and happy while learning to play a new instrument or act in a drama or paint or write something creatively. The children feel relaxed and at ease while doing something from the art subject. A recent study has revealed that art decreases cortisol, a stress hormone in students. For example, those schools that have embedded art subjects in their syllabus have seen more productivity in their students. Students of such schools participate more actively in class and are more attentive. They even perform well while answering the questions of the teachers.

So, it is not wrong to say that art subjects such as creative writing, music and drama should be an integral part of the school curriculum.

Essay topic : (Reported on 21st April)

Some people say that dangerous sports should be banned since they are deadly and life-threatening.

Do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint?

A few individuals opine that dangerous physical activities such as sky diving and skiing are risky, and higher authorities must proscribe them. Even though violent sports help people keep fit, I completely agree that they should be prohibited because it has increased the death rate and is for mere thrill-seekers.

One of the primary reasons some people assert that individuals must refrain from participating in adrenaline-raising sports is the increased death toll for its partakers. When athletes take part in training sessions or competitions, they undergo rigorous exercises in an unfriendly environment, which may lead to serious health issues such as broken bones or muscular dystrophy. During treatment, most sports stars may become disabled for life or death. For example, according to National Geographic statistics, in 2017, in the US, more than 150 skiers were buried in avalanches, although most of them were highly skilled. Thus, adventurous sports cause the death of many enthusiasts who venture into them.

Furthermore, people who are involved in dangerous sports are mere thrill-seekers. In other words, professionals tend to exhibit exquisite talents and unique movements to thrill their audience and gain cheap popularity at the expense of their safety. As a result, sports stars get unmatched excitement for themselves from their performances, which are meaningless to society. For instance, a skydiver, James Owen, confessed in an interview with a national geographic reporter that he went into skydiving because of the profound feeling of excitement that he derives from it.

In conclusion, although partakers of extreme sports are keen on continuing, I am in solidarity with the view that there should be a ban on them because of the physical risk involved and the increased incidence of mortality.

IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2024

• Test Information FAQ
• Band Scores
• IELTS Candidate Success Tips
• Computer IELTS: Pros & Cons
• How to Prepare
• Useful Links & Resources
• Recommended Books
• Speaking Part 1 Topics
• Speaking Part 2 Topics
• Speaking Part 3 Topics
• 100 Essay Questions
• On The Day Tips
• Top Results
• Advanced IELTS

100 IELTS Essay Questions

Below are practice IELTS essay questions and topics for writing task 2. The 100 essay questions have been used many times over the years. The questions are organised under common topics and essay types. IELTS often use the similar topics for their essays but change the wording of the essay question.

In order to prepare well for writing task 2, you should prepare ideas for common topics and then practise applying them to the tasks given (to the essay questions). Also see model essays and tips  for writing task 2.

Below you will find:

• Essay Questions By Topic
• Essay Questions by Essay Type (for example Opinion, Discussion etc)

Please also note that my new Grammar E-book is now available in my store along with my Ideas for Essay Topics E-book and Advanced Writing Lessons. To visit store, click here: IELTS LIZ STORE

1) Common IELTS Essay Questions

IELTS practice essay questions divided by topic. These topics have been reported by IELTS students in their tests. Essay questions have been recreated as accurately as possible.

• Art   (5 essay questions)
• Business & Money   (17 essay questions)
• Communication & Personality   (20 essay questions)
• Crime & Punishment   (12 essay questions)
• Education   (17 essay questions)
• Environment   (12 essay questions)
• Family & Children   (8 essay questions)
• Food & Diet (13 essay questions)
• Government (6 essay questions)
• Health   (9 essay questions)
• Housing, Buildings & Urban Planning (8 essay questions)
• Language (6 essay questions)
• Leisure (1 essay question)
• Media & Advertising   (12 essay questions)
• Reading  (5 essay questions)
• Society   (10 essay questions)
• Space Exploration (3 questions)
• Sport & Exercise   (6 essay questions)
• Technology  (6 essay questions)
• Tourism and Travel   (11 essay questions)
• Transport  (7 essay questions)
• Work (17 essay questions)

2) IELTS Essay Questions by Essay Type 

There are 5 main types of essay questions in IELTS writing task 2 (opinion essays, discussion essay, advantage/disadvantage essays, solution essay and direct question essays). Click on the links below to see some sample essay questions for you to practice with at home.

• Opinion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Discussion Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Solution Essay Model Answer with Useful Tips
• Direct Questions Model Essay 
• Adv/Disadv Model Essay with Useful Tips

3) Recent Essay Topics

You can also track recent essay topics on this page: IELTS ESSAY TOPICS 2024

Note: you must also prepare all other topics on the page above because questions are recycled each year.

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Test yourself with linking words, ielts speaking part 2 cue card topics – 2024, new reading exercise for you (july 2024), ielts gt writing task 1 letter: using the prompts for a high score, ielts writing task 1: multiple charts, graphs and tables.

Click Below to Learn:

• IELTS Test Information
• Writing Task 1
• Writing Task 2

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IELTS Podcast

Pass IELTS with expert help.

An ex-examiner reviews an IELTS Task 1 Informal letter

October 24, 2022 By Ben Worthington

Listen to the audio version here

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In this tutorial, ex-examiner Robert reviews an informal letter in IELTS General Task 1 .

Here’s what you will learn:

4 things you must do after reading your Task 1 Question

Paragraph-by-paragraph review of the task 1 letter, how an ielts examiner would grade this letter.

• How many words should you write in IELTS Task 1 Letter

How to use contractions correctly in IELTS Task 1

Sample ielts task 1 question.

When you look at IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 questions, the first thing you notice is how clear the instructions are. They describe a situation and tell you what direction your letter must take. 

Your friend works as a fitness instructor in a gym. You would like to receive his/her advice.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter you should:

– describe your exercise programme

– explain what your goals are

– ask for advice on how you can improve your fitness

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.

The three bullet points clearly tell you what to include. They ask you to describe, explain and seek advice and we also have a clear idea of how formal your letter should be. This example is informal. Others might be formal or semi-formal. 

The level of formality influences the way we write in every way: the grammar, the vocabulary, the greeting and the ending. 

• Remember that each paragraph must have a definite purpose. 
• Think about the connection between these purposes and the three bullet points that you have to write about in the letter
• Make sure your letter has a good opening and ending. 
• Think about the vocabulary and maybe the grammar too. This is a letter to a friend asking for advice. Ask yourself which words, expressions and grammar show that this is written in an informal style

Paragraph 1 

Dear Mark, 

How are you? I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch but things here have been busy. 

Paragraph 1 opens with a classic greeting and a sentence that links the writer to the recipient. 

Paragraph 2

I guess you’re working hard as usual in the gym. In fact, that’s partly why I’m writing. With this new job, I’ve become so lazy. I’m hardly doing any exercise at all apart from walking to work sometimes and doing some stretching exercises and work with weights at home. Well, on Sundays I go jogging in the park but that’s about it! 

Paragraph 2 outlines the reasons why he is writing. He introduces the topic of exercise routines and describes what he is currently doing to keep fit. 

Paragraph 3

Actually, what worries me is that everyone in the company takes part in an annual half-marathon event for charity but, honestly, I really need to get into shape for it. Luckily, it’s next spring so I have a few months to prepare. 

Paragraph 3 explains the real motive for his desire to get into shape. 

Paragraph 4

 I’d really appreciate your thoughts on what to do. If I joined the local gym and started a serious workout programme, would that be the best idea? I know I need to strengthen my leg muscles so I could buy a running machine. And do you think riding a bike is a good idea?

Paragraph 4 asks for specific advice from his friend on what to do. 

Paragraph 5

I can’t wait to hear your advice and don’t forget that open invitation to come for the weekend. It would be great to see you.

Take care, 

This short paragraph 5 concludes with a typical personal touch we usually see in informal letters and is followed by a friendly ending. 

Let’s think about the person who will grade your IELTS writing essays. It’s always a good idea to think of what the IELTS examiner is looking for. 

The four areas the examiner looks at are 

Task Achievement

Coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy.

To get a high Band score, at least a Band 7 but hopefully an 8 or 9, you must answer all parts of the question and your ideas, the details and examples if you like, must be relevant to the task instructions. As we have seen, our letter covers all parts of the question and that means a very high grade in Task Achievement. 

The paragraphs as well as the sentences within them are also well-organised and well-connected. When we talk about coherence and cohesion, many of us concentrate on the “cohesion” rather than the “coherence”. We pay more attention to those “cohesive devices”, and those “connecting” words such as but, besides, therefore and so many others. Yes, there are some examples of these in the letter. 

Look at Paragraph 3:

the company takes part in an annual half-marathon event for charity but, honestly, I really need to get into shape for it. Luckily, it’s next so I have a few months to prepare.

What an examiner is interested in is not only cohesion of that type but the way everything connects in a logical way. Notice how the beginning of Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 all “connect”, are linked to, the information at the end of the previous paragraph. 

Paragraph 2, for example, begins with I guess you’re working hard as usual in the gym. , which refers to the writer’s life being “busy” at the end of Paragraph 1. 

Another example? Well, how about when the next paragraph, the third, starts off with “ Actually, what worries me is ….” where “Actually” is used to put the information in the previous paragraph into a kind of perspective. It’s saying something like, “Well, what I’ve told you so far is true BUT now I’m going to tell you the real reason why I’m writing.”

Look at the other two paragraphs, 4 and 5. I’d really appreciate your thoughts on what to do.  I can’t wait to hear your advice , they begin; the first links to the fitness goals of the writer, the second to the request she made for advice. 

That is what coherence is really all about. Everything fits perfectly together. 

A high Band score, say at least 8, will be given to an essay that includes a wide range of grammatical structures which are sufficiently complex where necessary. There will always be a small margin of error. Very few IELTS essays are completely error-free but as long as you can produce a good number of error-free sentences, then expect a high Band score. 

In our letter, verb tenses are handled well. The use of the present perfect to refer to events happening from the last time the writer saw the recipient until now (I’ve haven’t been in touch; things here have been busy) , the use of the simple present tense and present continuous to describe current exercise routines (I’m doing, I go, ) to take two examples. Modal verbs (should, can’t etc) are all accurately used. There’s a good mix of the complex with shorter, simple sentences, which I think is fine, especially in a personal letter to a friend. There’s also a conditional sentence:  If I joined the local gym and started a serious workout programme, would that be the best idea?, a grammatical feature an examiner will always look for. 

This covers how wide your vocabulary is and how deep. Depth of vocabulary suggests we know a lot about many different topics but we cannot always know about the subject, even in Task 1. 

Here I tried to use simple vocabulary that most of us would probably be familiar with no reference at all to special fitness programs. You don’t really need specialised knowledge to mention weights, jogging, stretching exercises, running machine, workout programme .  It’s not as if the writer is an expert fitness fanatic who mentions “cardiovascular training” every 10 seconds!  Remember that the examiner is interested in how you use English to good effect, not your insider knowledge on any particular topic.

A contraction is a unique type of word that combines two or more other words in a shortened form, usually with an apostrophe. For example, ”that’s” instead of “that is” or “haven’t” instead of “have not”

Looking back over the letter again, notice how many contractions there are. If you want to know how many, there are 11 of them. Since it is a personal, informal letter contractions are perfectly acceptable. However, please be very careful here. If your letter is formal, do not include contractions.

How many words you  should write in IELTS Task 1 Letter

A good length. I always think we need to go over the 150 minimum and try to write at least 200 words. In fact, a “short” letter may not develop all the bullet points and therefore not score so well on Task Achievement. So, when you are preparing for Task 1, yes, count your words, but more than that, double-check that you have followed the instructions and covered all the bullet points.

Join many other students who have achieved IELTS success with our online IELTS course .

You can download or listen to the full tutorial here:

| Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify

About Ben Worthington

As the founder of IELTSPodcast, Ben started his journey as an English educator in 2006. Ben and his team of teachers provide students with expert advice, twice a week to cover the writing, reading, listening and speaking sections of the IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essays From Examiners 2020

IELTS Essays From Examiners 2020 is one of the best IELTS essays samples. That is written by the IELTS examiners. It is the best essay book for IELTS preparation .

Studying an IELTS sample is an indispensable need for the students who take this test. The sample post-school is now quite large with many books and sample articles online.

That’s the case, but the IELTS learner can’t help but be confused by the reliability and standards of the language of all the articles on the web, all of them consider themselves “standard” or “band 8+”.

IELTS Essays From Examiners 2020 PDF

In order to provide IELTS learners with the most standard samples from the best sources, the team “Writing IELTS Writing 9.0+” has released the document “Essay From Examiners – A collection of A collection of 91 authentic IELTS Task 2 Essays ”. The book is a collection of sample articles that come from sources main:

• HowtodoIELTS.com (Ex-examiners).
• Cambridge IELTS.
• Ms. Pauline Cullen.
•  Sample work from the Macmillan publisher’s book (Ready for IELTS 2nd Edition, Improve your Skills Writing for IELTS).
•  Mindset for IELTS.

Hopefully, this book will help you a bit on the road to a band score high on the IELTS Writing exam.

Final Note:

This was our IELTS Essays book for today. I really hope that you are going to get the best out of it. You can get the IELTS Essays From Examiners 2020 book from the links below. I wish you all the best guys. Good Luck!