simon band 9 essay

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IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Friends and opinions’ essay

Aug 12, 2024 | 4 Comments

Here’s my full band 9 essay for the ‘friends and opinions’ task.

IELTS Writing: Private healthcare essay

Jun 24, 2024 | 22 Comments

Do the advantages of private healthcare outweigh the disadvantages? Read my band 9 model answer.

IELTS Writing: Driverless vehicles essay

May 27, 2024 | 9 Comments

Here’s my full essay for the ‘driverless vehicles’ topic. Can you list the ‘less common’ vocabulary that it contains?

IELTS Writing Task 2: A ‘balanced opinion’ essay

Apr 8, 2024 | 13 Comments

What is the difference between a ‘balanced opinion’ essay and a ‘discussion’ essay? If you’re not sure, this lesson should help.

IELTS Writing Task 2: A ‘strongly disagree’ essay

Mar 18, 2024 | 4 Comments

Here’s a good example of a “completely disagree” essay at band 9 level.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Old people’s health’ essay

Feb 19, 2024 | 2 Comments

You can now read my model answer for the ‘old people’s health’ task. Have a look at the useful vocabulary list too.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Choices’ essay

Jan 1, 2024 | 14 Comments

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘New products’ essay

Dec 4, 2023 | 12 Comments

Read my band 9 essay about the advertising of new products, and see if you can list the ‘less common’ vocabulary that it contains.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Balanced opinion essay (cultural differences)

Oct 23, 2023 | 8 Comments

Should we adapt to the cultures of other countries that we visit? Here’s my band 9 answer and a quick homework task.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (professionals)

Sep 11, 2023 | 12 Comments

Here’s my band 9 essay on the topic of whether professionals should be allowed to work abroad. There’s also a quick homework task.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay (independence)

Jul 31, 2023 | 9 Comments

Here’s another band 9 ‘discussion’ essay, with a quick study task below it.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Discussion essay

Jul 24, 2023 | 6 Comments

Here’s a model essay for a ‘discuss both views’ task. Can you finish it by adding an example to paragraph 3?

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Supporting old people’ essay

Jul 17, 2023 | 11 Comments

Should family members be legally responsible for supporting their elderly relatives? Here’s my full band 9 answer.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Roads vs railways’ essay

May 29, 2023 | 2 Comments

Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

IELTS Writing Task 2: ‘Ex-prisoners’ essay

Apr 24, 2023 | 14 Comments

In this lesson I ask you to read a band 9 essay and tell me two things: Why does it deserve a band 9, and which ‘method’ did I use?

Agree or disagree: Will computers replace teachers?

Apr 17, 2023 | 21 Comments

The model essay in today’s lesson contains exactly 250 words, but it’s still good enough for a band 9!

Agree or disagree essay: Words vs pictures

Mar 13, 2023 | 16 Comments

Here’s my full essay for the ‘words vs pictures’ topic. Can you list the ‘less common’ vocabulary that it contains?

Advantages / disadvantages essay: Global Tourism

Jan 30, 2023 | 17 Comments

Here’s my full essay on the advantages and disadvantages of international tourism. Can you list the ‘less common’ vocabulary that it contains?

Advantages / disadvantages essay: Video surveillance

Dec 12, 2022 | 7 Comments

I haven’t shared an ‘advantages / disadvantages’ essay here on the member site yet, so here’s a good one.

Model essay: Hot and cold climates

Dec 5, 2022 | 8 Comments

Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘hot and cold climates’ task, plus my essay plan and a list of useful vocabulary.

Model essay: Free nursing courses

Oct 3, 2022 | 8 Comments

Note: The quality of vocabulary in this essay is particularly high – above band 9.

Positive or negative: Countries becoming similar

Aug 29, 2022 | 8 Comments

This lesson contains an essay that I wrote with a group of students. Can you fill the gaps to add your own examples?

Model essay: Music and arts

Aug 22, 2022 | 13 Comments

Model essay: Foreign language problems

Aug 8, 2022 | 16 Comments

Here’s another band 9 sample answer with essay plan and a quick vocabulary exercise.

Full essay: Traffic congestion

Aug 1, 2022 | 16 Comments

Here’s another band 9 sample answer with my essay plan and a quick vocabulary exercise.

Full essay: Best time to be alive

Jul 25, 2022 | 10 Comments

Here’s my band 9 sample answer for the ‘best time to be alive’ question, plus a quick vocabulary exercise.

Two-part essay: Self-employment

May 16, 2022 | 11 Comments

Here’s my band 9 sample answer for the self-employment question that we’ve been working on. Make a list of the best phrases and collocations that I used.

Writing task 2: model ‘problem and solution’ essay

Apr 18, 2022 | 0 Comments

Here’s another band 9 sample answer with my essay plan and a list of band 7-9 vocabulary.

Writing task 2: ‘owning or renting’ essay

Mar 28, 2022 | 3 Comments

Here’s another band 9 sample answer with my essay plan and a quick study task.

Full essay: Learning a musical instrument

Mar 7, 2022 | 16 Comments

Here’s my full essay for the question about learning a musical instrument.

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IELTS Band 9 sample essay

Band 9 Sample answers are useful as study guides for IELTS preparation for the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay – especially for a band 9 IELTS essay. Having access to previously completed work that you can have confidence in will show you what you are missing!

Take a look at these sample task 2 essay questions to help you prepare for your exam.

Use the following IELTS sample essay and its explanations to see how close you are to a band 9 in your IELTS writing essay!

Evaluation Criteria

Get your IELTS essay evaluated online (free)

Examples of Band 9 Essays

IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay Sample Question and Answer(1)

Why is this IELTS Essay a Band 9?

5 Tips for a Band 9 IELTS Essay

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Question and Answer(2)

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Question and Answer (3)

Useful Definitions of Advanced Vocabulary Used

Video: Band 9 EX-IELTS Examiner Essay Review

Sample 19 IELTS Essays and 240 Task 2 Essay Questions Ebook

Video: Useful IELTS Essay Writing Tip

Audio Resources

Additional IELTS Resources

IELTS essay task 2: evaluation criteria

IELTS writing tests are evaluated across 4 areas when your band score is calculated:

• Task achievement  – To what extent does the examinee address all parts of the task with a fully developed position, inclusive of fully extended and well supported ideas?
• Coherence and cohesion  – Does the candidate logically organise the information and ideas? Is the entire essay cohesive with a logical progression of ideas?
• Lexical resource  – To what extent does the examinee use a wide range of vocabulary with accuracy? Do they demonstrate sophistication regarding the use of lexical items?
• Grammatical range and accuracy  – Does the examinee use a range of grammatical structures accurately? Examples of these can be the use of complex sentences with sophisticated clauses instead of simple sentences with a repetitive structure:

Example : Students cannot use phones. They affect development > students are not allowed to use mobile phones in class due to possible distractions.

The British Council (the administrator of the IELTS) outlines 9 different bands of performance for each of the above dimensions here. Your scores in each of these dimensions are averaged to determine your overall band for your essay.

Let's take a look at an example essay that scored as band 9 and then we'll dig into each of these four areas to see why it received that score. It's very important to understand what the IELTS examiner is looking for.

These four criteria are used in our new online essay checker that gives you an estimated band score (free).

IELTS essay sample question (1)

Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

IELTS sample essay answer (1)

Parents throughout the world place spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for school where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would be far more beneficial. I am a strong advocate of this approach, and the benefits of it will be covered in this essay.

A fundamental reason for this is that there is no biological age for reading, and pushing infants to acquire this skill before they are ready could have repercussions. For example, in the UK, many boys are reluctant readers, possibly because of being forced to read, and this turned them off reading. By focusing on other activities and developing other skills such as creativity and imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this skill rapidly.

In addition, the importance of encouraging creativity and developing a child's imagination must be acknowledged. Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills, for example, they are more likely to learn vocabulary through context rather than learning it from a book.

Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and gain self-confidence. There is no scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child's development, moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early years' education focuses on playing.

Reading is only encouraged if a child shows an interest in developing this skill. This self-directed approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling behind their foreign counterparts. In fact, Finland was ranked the sixth-best in the world in terms of reading.

Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I strongly recommend incorporating bedtime stories into a child's daily routine. However, reading as a regular daytime activity should be swapped for something which allows the child to develop other skills.

Why is this essay a band 9?

Task achievement.

According to the IELTS Writing Band Descriptors, an essay is Band 9 for Task Achievement if it:

• Fully addresses  all parts of the task
• Presents a  fully developed  position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas.

In order to score well on Task Achievement, the most important thing is  to make sure you respond to what is being asked of you . Is the prompt asking for an opinion, a discussion of a problem, a solution to a problem, or some combination of these? If you provide an opinion and not a solution when you're being asked for a solution, you're not going to score well in this area. Read the question carefully!

The prompt for this essay asks:  “To what extent do you agree [with the previous statement]? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.”  It wants an opinion – with support!

This essay addresses all parts of this task. The opinion is included in the introduction to make the writer's position clear, and then the following paragraphs support the writer's position with examples and justifications. Overall, the response is full and relevant and each of the points is detailed and connected to the thesis.

Coherence and cohesion

Think of this as “How well does the essay flow? Is it easy to follow and does it all tie together?” The exact characteristics for a Band 9 C&C score are that an essay:

• Uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention
• Skilfully manages paragraphing

Note the specific wording “it attracts no attention.” The goal here is for things to sound natural and not forced. How do you connect your ideas (ensure cohesion) without it sounding forced? I think there are 2 possible ways:

• Explain your ideas in a logical order so that you don't need many linking words . This is probably what you do when writing in your own language.
• Use easy linking words like and, but, also, firstly, secondly, finally, for example. These are so common that they attract almost no attention.

This IELTS Sample essay does a good job of this – you'll notice that each paragraph naturally (logically) follows the one prior, providing additional support for the original opinion, and some simple linking words –  in addition, furthermore  (both paragraph 2) and  moreover  (paragraph 3) – are used throughout. These are all good discourse markers that show what is coming next adds to the argument and are slightly more sophisticated than firstly, secondly, and thirdly but don't come across as being forced.

The other aspect to scoring high in C&C is ensuring an essay is well-structured. What do I mean by that? A well-structured essay has a good introduction, body paragraphs that are easy to follow and connect with one another, and a good conclusion. Each body paragraph should also have its own topic sentence and support and then smoothly transition to the next paragraph.

Our sample IELTS essay has a “simple but good” introduction in which it shows that the examinee has knowledge of the topic and clearly states the writer's position to set up the rest of the essay. The paragraphs all have topic sentences, which are then supported by examples, and are easy to follow. The main body and conclusion relate back to the thesis in the introduction.

A note on conclusions…  there are two schools of thought when it comes to how to conclude an IELTS essay. One is to conclude with one simple sentence so that you spend more time perfecting your main body paragraphs. The other is to wrap up with two sentences, once which includes a small prediction (ie, how you think things might turn out) as a way to show the examiner that you know how to correctly use another tense (which will help boost your GR&A score – more on that in a minute). Either is fine, just don't forget your conclusion!

Taking time to plan out and organise your response  before  you start writing is an extremely important step in scoring well in Coherence and Cohesion for your IELTS essay – make sure you do so to ensure your essay is well structured and reads cohesively when you're done!

Lexical resource

Scoring well in the  Lexical Resource  dimension is all about (correctly) showing off your vocabulary. The description for a Band 9 here is:

• Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features, rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips'

Collocations,  topic-specific  vocabulary  and  phrasal  verbs  are the name of the game here. To score well, an examinee needs to show that they have a wide-ranging vocabulary and they know how to use it.

Our sample essay does a solid job of showing off a  range of vocabulary  – you'll notice that while the essay frequently refers to children, the writer employs different vocabulary ( infants, youngsters, offspring, counterparts ) to do so.

Note : it is highly likely that you will need to refer to people/children in your IELTS Writing task 2 , so make sure that you have lots of different words to use to refer to them.

IELTS examiners do not like to see the words  “people,” “children”  over and over again! The same goes for the word “ important ” – make sure you have plenty of alternative phrases ( essential  and  vital  are both used in our sample essay).

Other examples of a  wide-ranging vocabulary  in our essay include using  rapidly  in place of  quickly ,  mature  instead of develop,  repercussions  to indicate a negative result, and  acquire  in place of learn.

Our sample essay also does a good job of using  collocations  – some examples include  “fundamental reason,” “reluctant readers” “social and cognitive skills,” “learn vocabulary through context,”  and  “strongly recommend.”

The correct use of  phrasal  verbs  also demonstrates one's grasp of English – because of the semantics involved, they are sometimes one of the most difficult things for English language learners to master. Our essay writer correctly uses a few of these including “ turned them off”  and  “falling behind .”

One note here: students preparing for the IELTS  often ask if they should use  idioms  (like “you're barking up the wrong tree”) in their essays to further demonstrate their grasp of the language. In my opinion, no, you shouldn't. Idioms are informal by nature and not appropriate for a written essay of this type. Stick with demonstrating your range of vocabulary and your ability to use phrasal  verbs  correctly!

Grammatical range and accuracy

The final scoring dimension is related to grammar and grammatical structures – do you know them and can you correctly use them?

The Band 9 description for grammatical range and accuracy :

• Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as slips

Note that there is nothing in the scoring criteria about including specific tenses or sentence constructions. Your main objective should be to reduce the number of mistakes that you make. An essay that contains no mistakes is likely to get a 9 for grammar, regardless of the types of sentence that it may or may not contain.

If there is a nice mix of long and short sentences in your IELTS essays, you'll meet the grammar requirements. Remember, as soon as you write a “long” sentence you are naturally going to use connectives (linking words), which will make the sentence ‘compound' or ‘complex'. So, don't think too much about the grammar – just aim to reduce the number of mistakes that you make, and try to include a few longer sentences.

Some examples from the sample essay that illustrate the writer's grammatical range and help it easily score as a band 9 include:

• appropriate uses of modal verbs in the passive voice:  “are further developed,” “will be covered,” “must be acknowledged,” “should be swapped.”
• “ to focus on ” is correctly followed by an -ing form
• However  is used correctly with a semicolon before it and a comma after
• “ because of ,” “rather than,” and are correctly followed by -ing verbs

5 Tips for an IELTS writing task 2 band 9 essay

1. answer what is being asked.

Make sure you read the prompt carefully and answer the essay questions you’re being asked. I can’t emphasise this enough. In order to score well on Task Achievement, you need to appropriately and fully address the task.

2. Plan your work, work your plan.

Plan out your essay before you start writing. What are your main points? What order are you going to make them in? How do they link together? Having a well organised essay is key scoring high marks for Coherence and Cohesion. Many IELTS test-takers will spend up to 10 minutes planning out their essay before they start writing. A few points to keep in mind:

• Your essay should have 4-5 paragraphs in total and at least 250 words
• Plan your supporting points so that they don’t go off-topic

3. Write, review, re-write

Write your essay, review it and then “rewrite” it. Don’t focus on getting things perfect upfront – you don’t want to waste 15 minutes trying to come up with the perfect synonym for something and then not have enough time to finish your full essay! Write your essay first (an unwritten essay won’t score well at all!) and then go back through it to see how you can improve it. Some essay questions to ask yourself at this stage:

• Are there places where you can swap out stronger words for weaker ones in order to improve your Lexical Resource score?
• Are there places where you can phrase things differently in order to illustrate your Grammatical Range?

4. Where are you falling?

To pass with a Band 9 the reality is you need two sets of skills:

• Exam skills
• Language skills

What are exam skills?

Can you plan an effective essay? Quickly? Ideally between 3-5 minutes.

Can you think of enough ideas and examples to put in the essay plan?

Firstly you need to discover which of these skills you need. To do this you get feedback, either from an online IELTS essay checker or for more detailed feedback you can use our IELTS essay correction service .

The main goal is to find out which part of the essay writing process is costing you the most amount of time, points or stress.

Personally, the easiest and fastest way to get these skills is to do an online course specialised in training students with these skills. Here is a good course for that.

5. Better language skills?

A lot of students fail the  IELTS exam or end up with a band in their IELTS writing test that does not meet their requirements. Also, a significant number of students look to Google to search for “IELTS Writing tips” or “Task two tips”. These tips might be helpful but sometimes the real problem might just be in their general language or writing skills.

Writing error-free perfect sentences is probably much more challenging than students think, especially under exam conditions i.e in 40 minutes with immense pressure to pass. These can result in often mixed outcomes with both positive or negative development occurring at one and the same time.

One of the most important ways to improve language skills is to receive feedback. This can be by asking someone to review written work and will expose the positive or negative development mentioned earlier. This is very common and not something that is a negative issue overall.

Have a look at our essay correction service that will review your essays for you and help you improve and pass the IELTS test.

Here is a checklist of what is needed for reaching Band 9, it includes what the examiner wants to see, and what to do to write at a Band 9 level.

Sample IELTS writing task 2 question (2)

Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing. Discuss the causes and solutions.

IELTS writing task 2: essay sample answer (2)

The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of industrialisation to the present day has brought opportunity and prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life. With an increasing city population, the complexity of the challenges also increases for the globe as well as the local community. Therefore, the causes and effects of these on the current generation, as well as possible solutions are outlined below.

The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically the prosperity endowed on such metropolitan centres. Their growth is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer, which in turn increases their attractiveness, essentially they are trapped in a positive self-reinforcing cycle. While such developments have a positive impact on immediate economic objectives, it perpetuates behaviours that can have a negative impact in the long term.

However, this eventually leads to a decrease in the quality of life as the city can experience overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased vulnerability to terrorist attacks. For example, the density of London makes it a more efficient place to attack, when compared to a smaller city such as Bradford.

Therefore, due to continuous growth and prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less well off, often experience a lower standard of living. Even greater than this, are the relevant examples of natural disasters such as recent fires in Australia, which brought about unprecedented weather patterns resulting in the destruction of wild and rare animals. These effects are far from uniform, as they affect different countries in ways unseen by previous generations.

Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport would ease traffic congestion, as would bike lanes. In theory, this would reduce air pollution, and possibly improve the well-being of the population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to work. While these solutions are local, if adopted globally, would affect individuals and many countries alike. A collective effort is needed to use social networks and other media to highlight the negative effect of urbanisation as well as the negative sides of the wider ramifications on the population.

To conclude, while it could be argued that urbanisation advantages outweigh the disadvantages, a wealthy city attracts a large population inflow, which then causes pressure on existing infrastructure and security. Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks, such as social networks being used to raise awareness of such negative impacts on many countries, nevertheless an indefinite solution has yet to be found.

Sample IELTS writing task 2 question (3)

Social media marketing can influence what consumers buy. Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree?

IELTS writing task 2: essay sample answer (3)

Since the introduction of social media applications in the early 2000's the world has become a much smaller place. Social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become information sources for a majority of the global market.

As such, it could be argued that marketing, which happens to be a source of information accessible on these platforms can influence the consumers who use them. This notion is further aided by the rise in online retail stores that conduct the bulk of their transactions online. This makes it easier for the consumer to purchase from anywhere in the world.

As a consumer on social media, you are constantly bombarded with advertisements of various products that are specifically designed to catch your attention. This means that most of the adverts on your news feeds aren't random and will almost always feature something you have previously searched online or something currently popular or trending. Given the fact that most social media users are young consumers who are influenced by current trends and happenings, these adverts will almost always catch their eye.

The habit of sharing, retweeting and liking also ensure that these adverts get around, quite fast. As such, when an advert does reach your news feed you have already probably seen it on your friend's news feed. The truth is, adverts are a form of information and with the age of the internet, information spreads faster than a wildfire.

Therefore, it only makes sense that in the era and age of technology, globalization and the need to be trendy, social media marketing can influence what consumers buy.

Useful definitions of advanced vocabulary used

Paradoxically

Equivalent sentences

“For example, it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential attacks, and therefore greatly increased the security of its citizens.” Could also be said as:

“Statistics show that CCTV used in London has scuppered many a terrorist plot, massively contributing to the security of its citizens.”

More Equivalent sentences Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks, nevertheless an indefinite solution has yet to be found.

Could also be said as:

A myriad of partial fixes exist for these issues, yet a permanent solution is still out of reach.

There are many methods employed to quell this flow of people, but still a reliable solution has not been discovered.

IELTS writing task 2: vocabulary booster

The highlighted sections in the following paragraph represent key phrases or words relating to this topic. Study this paragraph to expand your vocabulary knowledge on this topic:

The modern urban environment varies considerably depending on both the city that produces it and the individual who perceives it; Each experiencing a unique blend of at least some economic success, varying degrees of localised or wider deprivation and periods of growth and decline. Environmental factors permitting, a city will provide well for its citizens as long as it can properly manage the execution of social policy.

Globalisation presents many challenges for those responsible for the policy as large inflows of people are to be expected in a place of success and therefore opportunity; The ensuing mixing of cultures has far-reaching social consequences that can affect how the city is both presented and perceived.

Considerably Con·sid·er·a·ble (kən-sĭd′ər-ə-bəl) adj. 1. Large in amount, extent, or degree: a writer of considerable influence. 2. Worthy of consideration; significant: The economy was a considerable issue in the campaign.

Perceive Per·ceive (pər-sēv′) tr.v. per·ceived, per·ceiv·ing, per·ceives 1a. To become aware of (something) directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing: We could perceive three figures in the fog. 1b. To cause or allow the mind to become aware of (a stimulus): The ear perceives sounds. 2. To achieve understanding of; apprehend: Einstein perceived that energy and matter are equivalent . 3. To regard or consider; deem: an old technology that is still perceived as useful; a politician who is perceived to be untrustworthy.

Deprivation Dep·ri·va·tion (dĕp′rə-vā′shən) n. 1. The/an act or an instance of depriving; Loss . 2. The state of being deprived: social deprivation; a cycle of deprivation and violence.

“The town’s generally miserable appearance led her to perceive it as a place of considerable deprivation.”

IELTS writing task 2: further reading

There are many more writing samples for you to explore.

The BBC has great pages on discursive writing and general writing , also, this video is good for learning how to give examples.

You can even read a sample Harvard essay aimed at preparing students for academic writing.

Remember! Select a text that is appropriate for your level. Choosing the wrong text can result in a loss of confidence and feeling bad never helped anyone to learn anything quickly!

Video: Band 9 ex-IELTS examiner essay review

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Video: ielts writing task 2-extremely useful sentences.

Optimize Your Writing: Try Our Online IELTS Essay Checker

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The good news is that our tool can help you save money. Some students pay a lot for classes or books to learn how to write better. But our tool is not expensive. And it gives you fast help.

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To sum it up, our online IELTS essay checker is here to help you. It's easy to use and not costly. We want you to do your best in the IELTS without spending too much money. Good luck with your writing!

Additional IELTS writing task 2 resources

• The University of Manchester Academic Phrasebook provides guidelines and examples of how to introduce essay topics, discuss findings and write conclusions
• The University of Birmingham Guide to Academic Writing provides tips on paraphrasing, in addition to how to plan, structure and write an essay
• Use these useful sentences for IELTS Writing Task 2 .
• This page is good for sample essay topics and answers, also for Task Two.

IELTS writing essay task 2 Sample Band 8 The writing part of your IELTS exam is a great place to score some extra points, especially if you are looking to score within band 8. Here is a task 2 writing sample to help you do just that.

Vocabulary for IELTS Vocabulary is probably the most important part of preparing successfully for IELTS. It is used for both the speaking and writing part of the exam. Click here to view some essential vocabulary.

General essay topics The IELTS exam has a number of general essay topics that span a number of disciplines ad subject matters. To have an idea of what to expect check out our list of general essay topics.

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TỔNG HỢP BÀI ESSAY MẪU WRITING TASK 2 BAND 9.0 CỦA THẦY SIMON

Dưới đây là 18 bài essays mẫu của thầy Simon cho Task 2 do IELTS Thư Đặng tổng hợp. Các bạn nên đọc và phân tích kỹ từng bài viết này để học được cách viết sao cho đơn giản, mạch lạc và kiếm được điểm cao nhất.

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1. Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others present more of a challenge. Personally, I believe that both types of hobby can be fun, and I therefore disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be enjoyable.

On the one hand, many people enjoy easy hobbies. One example of an activity that is easy for most people is swimming. This hobby requires very little equipment, it is simple to learn, and it is inexpensive. I remember learning to swim at my local swimming pool when I was a child, and it never felt like a demanding or challenging experience. Another hobby that I find easy and fun is photography. In my opinion, anyone can take interesting pictures without knowing too much about the technicalities of operating a camera. Despite being straightforward, taking photos is a satisfying activity.

On the other hand, difficult hobbies can sometimes be more exciting. If an activity is more challenging, we might feel a greater sense of satisfaction when we manage to do it successfully. For example, film editing is a hobby that requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. In my case, it took me around two years before I became competent at this activity, but now I enjoy it much more than I did when I started. I believe that many hobbies give us more pleasure when we reach a higher level of performance because the results are better and the feeling of achievement is greater.

In conclusion, simple hobbies can be fun and relaxing, but difficult hobbies can be equally pleasurable for different reasons.

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

In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However, I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject.

Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult to fill these courses if fifty percent of the places needed to go to males.

Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a course, it would be wrong to reject her in favor of a male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications.

In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender.

3. Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is sometimes argued that tourists from overseas should be charged more than local residents to visit important sites and monuments. I completely disagree with this idea.

The argument in favor of higher prices for foreign tourists would be that cultural or historical attractions often depend on state subsidies to keep them going, which means that the resident population already pays money to these sites through the tax system. However, I believe this to be a very shortsighted view. Foreign tourists contribute to the economy of the host country with the money they spend on a wide range of goods and services, including food, souvenirs, accommodation and travel. The governments and inhabitants of every country should be happy to subsidise important tourist sites and encourage people from the rest of the world to visit them.

If travellers realised that they would have to pay more to visit historical and cultural attractions in a particular nation, they would perhaps decide not to go to that country on holiday. To take the UK as an example, the tourism industry and many related jobs rely on visitors coming to the country to see places like Windsor Castle or Saint Paul’s Cathedral. These two sites charge the same price regardless of nationality, and this helps to promote the nation’s cultural heritage. If overseas tourists stopped coming due to higher prices, there would be a risk of insufficient funding for the maintenance of these important buildings.

In conclusion, I believe that every effort should be made to attract tourists from overseas, and it would be counterproductive to make them pay more than local residents.

4. We cannot help everyone in the world that needs help, so we should only be concerned with our own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are problems in our own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to help as many people as possible.

On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbors and fellow citizens. In most communities there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people, for example, in even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are concerned about this problem, there are usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these people. In the UK, people can help in a variety of ways, from donating clothing to serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our doorstep, and there are obvious ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise local charity.

At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national borders. In some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our own communities, and it is often even easier to help. For example, when children are dying from curable diseases in African countries, governments and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A small donation to an international charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.

In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national boundaries should not stop us from helping those who are in need.

5. Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue, leads to a more satisfying working life. To what extent do you agree with this view? What other things can people do in order to have a satisfying working life?

It is true that some people know from an early age what career they want to pursue, and they are happy to spend the rest of their lives in the same profession. While I accept that this may suit many people, I believe that others enjoy changing careers or seeking job satisfaction in different ways.

On the one hand, having a defined career path can certainly lead to a satisfying working life. Many people decide as young children what they want to do as adults, and it gives them a great sense of satisfaction to work towards their goals and gradually achieve them. For example, many children dream of becoming doctors, but to realize this ambition they need to gain the relevant qualifications and undertake years of training. In my experience, very few people who have qualified as doctors choose to change career because they find their work so rewarding, and because they have invested so much time and effort to reach

their goal.

On the other hand, people find happiness in their working lives in different ways. Firstly, not everyone dreams of doing a particular job, and it can be equally rewarding to try a variety of professions; starting out on a completely new career path can be a reinvigorating experience. Secondly, some people see their jobs as simply a means of earning money, and they are happy if their salary is high enough to allow them to enjoy life outside work. Finally, job satisfaction is often the result of working conditions, rather than the career itself. For example, a positive working atmosphere, enthusiastic colleagues, and an inspirational boss can make working life much more satisfying, regardless of the profession.

In conclusion, it can certainly be satisfying to pursue a particular career for the whole of one’s life, but this is by no means the only route to fulfillment.

6. Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?

Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be beneficial for both the individual and society as a whole. However, I do not agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do unpaid work.

Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, without being given the added responsibility of working in their spare time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and teachers expect their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending lessons every day. When young people do have some free time, we should encourage them to enjoy it with their friends or to spend it doing sports and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of them when they finish their studies.

At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from obliging young people to do unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes against the values of a free and fair society to force a group of people to do something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment amongst young people, who would feel that they were being used, and parents, who would not want to be told how to raise their children. Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system.

In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but in my opinion we should not make this compulsory.

7. Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer, while others are in favor of them because of their benefits to humanity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is true that medicines and other products are routinely tested on animals before they are cleared for human use. While I tend towards the viewpoint that animal testing is morally wrong, I would have to support a limited amount of animal experimentation for the development of medicines.

On the one hand, there are clear ethical arguments against animal experimentation. To use a common example of this practice, laboratory mice may be given an illness so that the effectiveness of a new drug can be measured. Opponents of such research argue that humans have no right to subject animals to this kind of trauma, and that the lives of all creatures should be respected. They believe that the benefits to humans do not justify the suffering caused, and that scientists should use alternative methods of research.

On the other hand, reliable alternatives to animal experimentation may not always be available. Supporters of the use of animals in medical research believe that a certain amount of suffering on the part of mice or rats can be justified if human lives are saved. They argue that opponents of such research might feel differently if a member of their own families needed a medical treatment that had been developed through the use of animal experimentation. Personally, I agree with the banning of animal testing for non-medical products, but I feel that it may be a necessary evil where new drugs and medical procedures are concerned.

In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be wrong to ban testing on animals for vital medical research until equally effective alternatives have been developed.

8. Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about the funding of creative artists. While some people disagree with the idea of government support for artists, I believe that money for art projects should come from both governments and other sources.

Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centers. In Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.

On the other hand, I can understand the arguments against government funding for art. The main reason for this view is that governments have more important concerns. For example, state budgets need to be spent on education, health care, infrastructure and security, among other areas. These public services are v ital for a country to function properly, whereas the work of creative artists, even in public places, is a luxury. Another reason for this opinion is that artists do a job like any other professional, and they should therefore earn their own money by selling their work.

In conclusion, there are good reasons why artists should rely on alternative sources of financial support, but in my opinion government help is sometimes necessary.

9. Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should spend public money on saving these languages, while others believe that would be a waste of money. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

It is true that some minority languages may disappear in the near future. Although it can be argued that governments could save money by allowing this to happen, I believe that these languages should be protected and preserved.

There are several reasons why saving minority languages could be seen as a waste of money. Firstly, if a language is only spoken by a small number of people, expensive education programs will be needed to make sure that more people learn it, and the state will have to pay for facilities, teachers and marketing. This money might be better spent on other public services. Secondly, it would be much cheaper and more efficient for countries to have just one language. Governments could cut all kinds of costs related to communicating with each minority group.

In conclusion, it may save money in the short term if we allow minority languages to disappear, but in the long term this would have an extremely negative impact on our cultural heritage.

10. Some people think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people, while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. Discuss both views and give you own opinion.

People have different views about the role and function of museums. In my opinion, museums can and should be both entertaining and educational.

On the one hand, it can be argued that the main role of a museum is to entertain. Museums are tourist attractions, and their aim is to exhibit a collection of interesting objects that many people will want to see. The average visitor may become bored if he or she has to read or listen to too much educational content, so museums often put more of an emphasis on enjoyment rather than learning. This type of museum is designed to be visually spectacular , and may have interactive activities or even games as part of its exhibitions.

On the other hand, some people argue that museums should focus on education. The aim of any exhibition should be to teach visitors something that they did not previously know. Usually this means that the history behind the museum’s exhibits needs to be explained, and this can be done in various ways. Some museums employ professional guides to talk to their visitors, while other museums offer headsets so that visitors can listen to detailed commentary about the exhibition. In this way, museums can play an important role in teaching people about history, culture, science and many other aspects of life.

In conclusion, it seems to me that a good museum should be able to offer an interesting, enjoyable and educational experience so that people can have fun and learn something at the same time.

11. There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?

It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital part of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is more important than modern, international music.

Music is something that accompanies all of us throughout our lives. As children, we are taught songs by our parents and teachers as a means of learning language, or simply as a form of enjoyment. Children delight in singing with others, and it would appear that the act of singing in a group creates a connection between participants, regardless of their age. Later in life, people’s musical preferences develop, and we come to see our favorite songs as part of our life stories. Music both expresses and arouses emotions in a way that words alone cannot. In short, it is difficult to imagine life without it.

In my opinion, traditional music should be valued over the international music that has become so popular. International pop music is often catchy and fun, but it is essentially a commercial product that is marketed and sold by business people. Traditional music, by contrast, expresses the culture, customs and history of a country. Traditional styles, such as ..., connect us to the past and form part of our cultural identity. It would be a real pity if pop music became so predominant that these national styles disappeared.

In conclusion, music is a necessary part of human existence, and I believe that traditional music should be given more importance than international music.

12. Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.

For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.

13. Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?

It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people. Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both positive and negative effects.

Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly, telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can now take video lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally, many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and find people who share common interests, and they interact through their computers rather than face to face.

On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between people in different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or social contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication technologies can also have the result of isolating people and discouraging real interaction. For example, many young people choose to make friends online rather than mixing with their peers in the real world, and these virtual relationships are a poor substitute for real friendships.

In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionized communication between people, but not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.

14. Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Many people, and children in particular, enjoy playing computer games. While I accept that these games can sometimes have a positive effect on the user, I believe that they are more likely to have a harmful impact.

On the one hand, video games can be both entertaining and educational. Users, or gamers, are transported into virtual worlds which are often more exciting and engaging than real-life pastimes. From an educational perspective, these games encourage imagination and creativity, as well as concentration, logical thinking and problem solving, all of which are useful skills outside the gaming context. Furthermore, it has been shown that computer simulation games can improve users’ motor skills and help to prepare them for real-world tasks, such as flying a plane.

However, I would argue that these benefits are outweighed by the drawbacks. Gaming can be highly addictive because users are constantly given scores, new targets and frequent rewards to keep them playing. Many children now spend hours each day trying to progress through the levels of a game or to get a higher score than their friends. This type of addiction can have effects ranging from lack of sleep to problems at school, when homework is sacrificed for a few more hours on the computer or console. The rise in obesity in recent years has also been linked in part to the sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise that often accompany gaming addiction.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the potential dangers of video games are more significant than the possible benefits.

15. 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.

It is true that people in industrialized nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems.

As people live longer and the populations of developed countries grow older, several related problems can be anticipated. The main issue is that there will obviously be more people of retirement age who will be eligible to receive a pension. The proportion of younger, working adults will be smaller, and governments will therefore receive less money in taxes in relation to the size of the population. In other words, an ageing population will mean a greater tax burden for working adults. Further pressures will include a rise in the demand for health care, and the fact young adults will increasingly have to look after their elderly relatives.

There are several actions that governments could take to solve the problems described above. Firstly, a simple solution would be to increase the retirement age for working adults, perhaps from 65 to 70. Nowadays, people of this age tend to be healthy enough to continue a productive working life. A second measure would be for governments to encourage immigration in order to increase the number of working adults who pay taxes. Finally, money from national budgets will need to be taken from other areas and spent on vital health care, accommodation and transport facilities for the rising numbers of older citizens.

In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are certain to arise as the populations of countries grow older.

16. Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual people do?

Humans are responsible for a variety of environmental problems, but we can also take steps to reduce the damage that we are causing to the planet. This essay will discuss environmental problems and the measures that governments and individuals can take to address these problems.

Two of the biggest threats to the environment are air pollution and waste. Gas emissions from factories and exhaust fumes from vehicles lead to global warming, which may have a devastating effect on the planet in the future. As the human population increases, we are also producing ever greater quantities of waste, which contaminates the earth and pollutes rivers and oceans.

Governments could certainly make more effort to reduce air pollution. They could introduce laws to limit emissions from factories or to force companies to use renewable energy from solar, wind or water power. They could also impose ‘green taxes’ on drivers and airline companies. In this way, people would be encouraged to use public transport and to take fewer flights abroad, therefore reducing emissions.

Individuals should also take responsibility for the impact they have on the environment. They can take public transport rather than driving, choose products with less packaging, and recycle as much as possible. Most supermarkets now provide reusable bags for shoppers as well as ‘banks’ for recycling glass, plastic and paper in their car parks. By reusing and recycling, we can help to reduce waste.

In conclusion, both national governments and individuals must play their part in looking after the environment.

17. Economic progress is often used to measure a country's success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country’s success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?

The relative success of different countries is usually defined in economic terms. There are several other factors, apart from the economy, that could be used to assess a country, and in my opinion education is the most important of all.

Standards of education, health and individual human rights should certainly be considered when measuring a country’s status. A good education system is vital for the development of any nation, with schools, colleges and universities bearing the responsibility for the quality of future generations of workers. Health care provision is also an indicator of the standard of living within a country, and this can be measured by looking at average life expectancy rates or availability of medical services. Finally, human rights and levels of equality could be taken into account. For example, a country in which women do not have the same opportunities as men might be considered less successful than a country with better gender equality.

In my view, a country’s education system should be seen as the most important indicator of its success and level of development. This is because educ action has a considerable effect on the other two factors mentioned above. It affects people’s health in the sense that doctors and nurses need to be trained, and scientists need to be educated to the highest levels before they can carry out medical research. It also affects the economy in the sense that a well-educated workforce will allow a variety of companies and industries to flourish, leading to trade with other countries, and increased wealth.

In conclusion, nations can be assessed and compared in a variety of ways, but I would argue that the standard of a country's education system is the best measure of its success.

18. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to their individual merits. What is your view of the relationship between equality and personal success?

In my opinion, an egalitarian society is one in which everyone has the same rights and the same opportunities. I completely agree that people can achieve more in this kind of society.

Education is an important factor with regard to personal success in life. I believe that all children should have access to free schooling, and higher education should be either free or affordable for all those who chose to pursue a university degree. In a society without free schooling or affordable higher education, only children and young adults from wealthier families would have access to the best learning opportunities, and they would therefore be better prepared for the job market. This kind of inequality would ensure the success of some but harm the prospects of others.

I would argue that equal rights and opportunities are not in conflict with people’s freedom to succeed or fail. In other words, equality does not mean that people lose their motivation to succeed, or that they are not allowed to fail. On the contrary, I believe that most people would feel more motivated to work hard and reach their potential if they thought that they lived in a fair society. Those who did not make the same effort would know that they had wasted their opportunity. Inequality, on the other hand, would be more likely to demotivate people because they would know that the odds of success were stacked in favor of those from privileged backgrounds.

In conclusion, it seems to me that there is a positive relationship between equality and personal success.

Trên đây là 18 bài luận mẫu dành cho phần Writing Task 2 Band 9.0 do thầy Simon viết dành cho các bạn tham khảo và ôn luyện. Hy vọng bài viết này sẽ mang lại một nguồn kiến thức dồi dào cho bạn, đồng thời qua đây bạn có thể đúc rút được từ những bài viết của thầy những kinh nghiệm quý báu, những cấu trúc hay và cách diễn đạt để áp dụng vào các bài viết của mình.

 IELTS - Thư Đặng Tổng hợp!

IELTS THƯ ĐẶNG

by Mohsen Keshmiri

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample, Band 9, Written by Simon Corcoran, Modified by Mohsen Keshmiri

In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict our individual freedom. Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?

It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent years. While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe that the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks.

There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video cameras in public places. The first objection is that these cameras invade our privacy, in the sense that we are constantly being watched by the authorities or by private security firms. Many people find this intrusive and feel that the recording of their movements is a form of state control that curtails their individual freedom. The second argument against the proliferation of CCTV cameras is that they are being used as an alternative to police officers patrolling the streets. If this is indeed happening, then it is unlikely that members of the public will feel safer.

In spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, I believe that the use of video cameras to monitor public areas is a positive measure overall. The key objective of video surveillance is to deter criminals and to prevent crime being committed by perpetrators. For example, petty criminals like shoplifters and pickpockets are less likely to operate in parts of cities where they know that they are under close surveillance. At the same time, when illegal acts of crime are committed, the police can make use of video evidence to catch and prosecute offenders. Therefore, in my view, video cameras offer valuable support to police officers, and they make cities safer for inhabitants, workers and visitors alike.

In conclusion, it seems to me that we gain more than we lose from the enhanced security that CCTV cameras bring to our cities. This is provided that the use of such surveillance devices remains only for arresting potential criminals putting our society at large in danger.

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IELTS Writing Samples Band 9

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. to what extent do you agree or disagree, aircraft have been increasingly used to transport fruit and vegetables to some countries where such plants hardly grow or are out of season. some people consider it a good idea, but some people oppose itdiscuss both views and give your opinion., some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. which do you prefer use specific reasons and examples to support your answer., first impressions are important. some people think that doing well in interviews is the key to securing a good job. to what extent do you agree, in many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing. do you think this is a positive or a negative development give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience., the current trend in education is to move away from traditional exams and instead have continuous assessment over the school year what did you think of this trend , some people believe that technology has made man more social. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion, some people believe that modern technology is increasing the gap between rich and poor, while others disagree and say that it is helping reduce the gap. discuss both views and give your own opinion., the crime rate nowadays is decreasing compared to the past due to advanced technology which can prevent and solve the crime. do you agree or disagree, some people say that parents have the most important role in a child development. however, others argue that other things like television or friends have the most significant influence. discuss both views and give your opinion., it is widely believed that children of different levels of intelligence should be taught together, while others think that more intelligent children should be taught separately. discuss and present your opinion., the best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel. do you agree or disagree with this view, some people think that schools are too competitive and that this has a negative impact on children. others believe the competitive environment encourages children to achieve., it is common aspiration among many young people to run their own business, rather than work for an employer. do you think the advantages of working for yourself outweigh the drawbacks, the world is experiencing a dramatic increase in population. this is causing problems not only for poor, undeveloped countries, but also for industrialized and developing nations. describe some of the problems that overpopulation causes, and suggestion least one possible solution., write about the following topic: research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life. which do you consider to be the major influence give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. write at least 250 words., some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. which do you prefer, what discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country, a person should never make an important decision alone. do you agree or disagree with this following statement, some children spend hours every day on their smartphones. why is this the case do you think this is a positive or a negative development.

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How I got IELTS Band Score 9 Overall

Overall IELTS 9: A student’s Tips

Learn how Gokul, an IELTS student, got overall band score 9 in IELTS this year. He shares his useful tips and experience with you in order to help and inspire you to achieve your best in your IELTS test.

IELTS Test Results: Band 9

Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• Overall Band Score 9
• Listening: 9

Gokul’s Tips for IELTS Overall Band Score 9

This was my first ever IELTS attempt. I never thought that I’d be required specifically to do IELTS, since my studies have only ever been in English. Even the university that I’d applied for my Masters seemed happy enough to accept me without an IELTS requirement. However, I was told by my destination country’s embassy that they can only issue a visa given that I show an IELTS grade of 7 overall or above.

I had barely 10 days to prepare and do the test, since the results would take roughly 2 weeks to be released.

I’m listing some of the things that I followed, and I hope that you find it useful in your own preparation.

IELTS Listening Band Score 9 Tips

I’d say that the listening test is all about practice. I did about 8 practice tests, and as I was doing them I was able to see that I was getting better at picking up the points needed for the answer the more I practiced.

In my own test, I had a woman who spoke in a Scottish accent, and I’d say that this is one of the accents that people outside of the UK seldom come across. This is why it’s imperative that you try out some practice tests by yourselves. This would enable you to get used to the formats as well as the intonation and accents used by the people that you hear in the recording. Liz has a number of excellent practice less0ns on the blog at the IELTS Listening  page.

You might sometimes find that you’ve missed the answer to a given question. If this happens – don’t worry! Panicking will only reduce your concentration and might cause you to lose more answers.

I also also recommend writing the answers in capital letters so that the examiner would find it easier to read what you’ve written.

Finally, make good use of the extra 10 minutes that you’re allowed at the end of the test ( update – 10 mins for the paper based test only – the computer test has only 2 mins checking time ). This can be used for filling out any answers that you may have missed.

IELTS Reading Band Score 9 Tips

I found the reading exam the easiest of the lot. You can read the passages at your own pace as opposed to following a pre-set sequence of events as in the listening test. I finished the test in about 40 minutes and had time to go through my answers again to check them for errors.

While there are some that say reading the entire passage is not worth it, I would still suggest that you at least skim the passages to get the gist of the content before you start. I recommend this in particular to people whose reading speed is high. This way, when you encounter a question, you’d have an inkling of where in the passage you saw the answer point.

Another point that I can’t stress enough is that you should never overthink the question. This was my biggest problem in the reading practice tests. Over-analysing the statement will often lead to incorrect answers. For YES/NO/NOT GIVEN type questions, if the passage  explicitly  agrees with the statement, say YES, and if it  explicitly  contradicts the statement, say NO. In all other cases, say NOT GIVEN.

Again, Liz has a set of excellent tips as well as practice questions in the  IELTS Reading  page.

IELTS Writing Band Score 8 Tips

My writing test for Task 1 involved a bar chart which compared bottled water vs. soda consumption in some western countries, while for task 2 I had the following:

Most countries want to improve the standard of living through economic development, however others think social values are lost as a result. Do you think the advantages of economic development outweigh the disadvantages?

I followed Liz’s tips on  writing task 1 /  writing task 2  to the letter and found that having a strategy helped me immensely. If you’re just starting out answering the tasks without a plan, it would likely end up costing you more time. As Liz rightly states, time management is vitally important in the writing test. I’d also recommend that you go through the answers you’ve written as well, which will help spot any errors that you may have made. A quick once-over may help you save points that you’d have lost if you’d misspelled any word.

IELTS Speaking Band Score 9 Tips

My speaking test went very well, and I almost felt as if I’d had a pleasant chat with the examiner as opposed to being graded.

My speaking part 1 was mostly about work/life balance (probably because I’d said that I was working full-time).

Then, for part 2, I was asked to speak about an important historical event and how it had helped shape the present. I picked the Assassination of Julius Caesar and it went without a hitch.

Part 3 then followed up on history and why it’s important to learn it.

For part 2, I made some short notes on the notepad given to me, which helped me marshal my thoughts before the talk itself. You can also structure your own flow which would enable you to showcase your language skills without being held up by lack of content. This is important because pauses due to language limitations will negatively impact your score.

It’s also worth noting that what’s being tested is your language level and not the content you’re presenting. Hence, if you don’t have an answer, you can say no and take it as an opportunity to display your proficiency. For instance, I was asked whether I had any pets, and I said something along the lines of “No, I’ve never really had the chance, but my neighbour has a beautiful Labrador that I enjoy playing with..” and so on.

Be clear and confident, and you’d do fine.

Closing thoughts from Gokul

Lastly, though you’re probably here to prepare for your exams, I’d urge you to develop an interest in the English Language in general. Not only would you find that it provides you with new opportunities, it would also help you enjoy some of the finest literature ever produced.

Liz – I can’t thank you enough for your collection of resources and materials for prospective test-takers. They were invaluable to me, and doubtless to countless others as well. Keep up the good work.

Message from Liz: Thanks for sharing your tips and your experience, Gokul. You’ve done amazingly well and clearly understand IELTS. I hope this will inspire students to learn more about their test before taking it. You’re tips are great for each part of the IELTS test and I highly recommend people to learn from what you’ve shared.

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Hi Elizabeth Hope you are in your good health. I wanted to ask you a question regarding to IELTS speaking, Actually i am giving ielts exams infact any kind o exam after almost more than 10 years, I am not in touch with books. So if in ielts exam , examiner ask me questions regarding to books then what should i say ? Does the examiner wants the exact answer of his question or it is a speaking test we will evaluate on speaking, not a ocntent ?

If you don’t read books, you don’t read books. You aren’t being asked to lie. You are being asked a normal question which you can answer in a normal way. If you don’t read books, do you read anything else? For example, do you read articles online? If so, you can explain that and talk about articles you read online. Just be natural, open and chatty in your test. They are not testing your general knowledge and don’t expect you to lie. If you get the topic of books in part 1, the examiner won’t change the questions. You can still answer the question “what books did you read as a child” and “do you think reading books is important?”. For the question, “What kind of books do you read most?”, you can just be honest. In part 2, you have a chance to structure and create your own talk based on the main topic which is reading. But hopefully your English is still strong enough that even though you don’t read books, you still know some vocabulary: novels, fiction, non-fiction, storyline, fairy tales etc. Just because you don’t do something or don’t like something does mean you can’t talk about it or around it in some way.

Thanks for your sharing best experience and suggestions. I’ll have a question for you after reading all of your recommendations. How many hours can be achieved IELTS 9.0 band score ?

I hope you’ll answer my question later.

A band 9 isn’t about a number of hours. You will need excellent English and an excellent understand of IELTS with the relevant exam skills. The first step is of course to ensure the right level of English. You will never get band 9 if your level of English is only around band 7 no matter how many hours you study IELTS exam skills.

Hey Liz! I found your website very useful for practice. I’ve scored a band score of 9 (9,9,8,9)! Thanks again, Cheers!

That’s fantastic!! Very well done indeed. And thanks for sharing your results – it’s a real inspiration for other 🙂

🙃Hi Liz…I thank you so much for giving such precious 🤩information and knowledge for IELTS…Recently I got my Ielts score which was rated 9.0😻 because of your works and the explanation of my teacher(he even calls you auntie as a joke🤭)…but all in all it was a great experience for me to turn into English world🤗 and it will stay with me for the rest of my life…❣

Brilliant! Very well done 🙂

The score is quite encouraging, and indeed has brought the good work Liz is doing to further limelight. Liz I am your fan. I equally want to get band 9 over all. I intend to take the test by December 2021.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you 🙂

I also want to get 9 band overall , please wish me luck .

Wishing you lots of luck!!

Thank you Liz! I scored 7.5 overall, 9 in my listening, 7 in reading and writing then 7.5 in speaking. God bless for the tutorials. 😎☺️

Great to see your results!! Very well done 🙂

Inspired by Gokul story and imbues confidence in me too that its doable. Thanks for sharing.

Hello, Liz! Was this article written by Gokul himself? If yes, then I am amazed by the command of English he has. How can I achieve the same? I think I am B2 and when I am looking at people like Gokul, with their English proficiency, it seems unattainable for me:( Is there a written manual how to get from B2 to C2? Achieving proficiency in English is my dream now.

I didn’t write it. It’s all from Gokul 🙂 One of the key ways to improve English is to immerse yourself in the language – think it, speak it, read it, write it, listen to it, sing it and … eventually dream in it 🙂

oh,yes I completely agree

Thanks for sharing, Gokul. Your story was the push I needed. I’d started with the IELTS Prep app before I came across your story which led me to ieltsliz.com Liz, you’re an excellent Teacher. Your calmness and gentle passion for what you do makes you very attractive. Glad I “met” you. I eventually prepared for IELTS using the lessons and exercises on your website and voilà! It’s a band score of 7! My very first and only attempt! Yayyy! Thanks so much, Liz. Loving you from Nigeria! 🇳🇬 God bless you!

Brilliant news! I love hearing success stories 🙂 Very well done 🙂 Stay safe!

Hi Lizz! How can I get your all materials for a good practice? How can I take part in your classes either?

Just go to the RED BAR at the top of the website and click on the part of the test you want to study.

Thank you liz for this amazing effort, by showing up positive cases and help us in making us understand that we can also do the same, if given a right platform to learn.

Good score. Hoping to get 8 band score in my upcoming IELTS Exam.

Hi Liz, I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful lessons. They thoroughly helped when i totally lost and was looking for materials online. I achieved a band score of overall 8. I can attribute this score entirely to your lessons and tips. Thanks for helping students across the globe with your detailed tutorials.

Well done 🙂 You’re welcome 🙂

It’s really wonderful score.

Wooow, amazing score. I was just thinking that since it is the top score, it is unreachable. Gokul just proved the contrary, woooow, so I can do it too, thanks a lot for sharing. Liz, thanks for this website, I just discovered it, I will like to go in for a Band 9 score for my IELTS, I’m in Cameroon, soyou can imagine that my English language is far from the best. Please is there any advice on how to go about it, to accomplish such a feat? Thanks in advance.

You will 100% understanding of the IELTS test. This means you must know how the examiner marks your writing and speaking, how to showcase your language skills correctly, techniques, strategies etc. If there is anything you are unsure of, you will need to find out before your test. This page will help: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/ . Band 8 and 9 are all about a good range of English but also lack of errors. So, think about that carefully.

I am not able to find out the correct answer to this question, which was asked in bc speaking last week to one of my known.

What is pop music ?

Can you help me with the same, please ?

Look in a dictionary or google it.

I checked in dictionary and surfed through google too. I did not got a satisfactory answer. So, if you can help me with any means?

pop music = popular music, such as ABBA or Madonna or The Beetles.

Thanks alot liz .☺

Hi Mrs Liz,i just wish to ask how to write augmentative eassay.For example,when writing augmentative eassay!is it advisable to argue “for” and “against ” at paragraph 2 and 3. After the introduction. Thanks

An argument essay is actually an opinion essay (agree/disagree). Your task is a to present your opinion in full and explain your opinion fully – nothing more.

Wondrous achievement Gokul…felicitation on your great and faboulas score…I want to take ielts test but now I have to practice please help me .. my email [email protected]

I completed my exams today. I found your website was very helpful as I was absolutely fine with the examination. To share with others, In speaking exam, part 1 was with general questions about my hometown and dreams. Part 2 was about a swimming pool which I liked the most. I was asked questions related to leisure time and how youngsters finding to spend their leisure time in speaking – Part 3.

I did my listening test very well as it was not so complicated as I expected. My worry is all about reading exam which was really wage. Identifying the paragraph came in both section 1 & 4. Found difficult in time management.

Task 1 – writing test: The question was to write a letter to restaurant manager who is working at a restaurant which is next to your home stating that you have a plan to do some repair work at home. 1. You should say about the problem 2. How the work would be a disturbance for restaurant 3. What suggestion you can give to the manager

Task 2 : Some people say people having more money get more problems than people having enough money. Do you agree or disagree?

I really want to thank you so much for your advice and tips which definitely helped me to a great extent. Hope to get good band score.

Thanks a lot once again

Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’m really glad my tips and lessons were helpful to you. Fingers crossed you do well 🙂

It’s a proud moment for me to share my IELTS score. My overall score is 8 I got 7.5 each in Listening and Reading. I got 8 each in Speaking and Writing.

This score really took my heart somewhere. I really felt so proud and my heartfelt thanks to you and the way you guided me. Though I had very less time to prepare, I found your blog was completely helpful and you truly made my dream come true. Yes!! I got job offer in Canada and soon I would wobble across the globe.

I wish to follow your blog regularly to improve my standards.

Thanks a lot Liz!

Really great news!! You should be very proud of getting band 8 in writing and speaking 🙂 Well done 🙂 Good luck in Canada 🙂

Thanks a lot!!! 😃

Hello Gayathri , this was really helpful, however , i have an issue understanding the second Question , it seems a bit unclear to me.. Could you kindly be of help to explain better Please? … I might find myself with such a question and if i do, i might have absolutely No idea in answering it…

If it is possible via this platform, an email will be great as well .. My mail is [email protected]

Thanks for your understanding and your response.

That was an inspiring piece, Gokul. It has translated into a great confidence for me. Thank you.

Hello Mam I tried most of the time to contact with u for my ielts exam and I always followed ur instruction about ielts test and now I have score 6.5 which is really tough for me to attain but ur guidelines I got it. Than a lot Mam

It is really an inspiring IELTS score.

Wonderful fabulous excellent remarkable brilliant performance Gokul!!!!!!!! Thanks for the very informative tips. All the best for your future endeavours Indeed English loves you back when you start loving it. Faithful enough to give you a band score of 9

Excellent work, thanks for sharing your insights about IELTS.

I studied in Kannada medium my dream is to get score of 7 each after gokul experience I’m inspired let me try

Wooowwww…..Congratulations Gokul… God I just request for Band 8 of Gokul ‘s score in my sitting. Amen

I got the same writing task 2 in Bangladesh April 16,2017

Yet another genus on the loose. Congratulations dear, you did it, I tap from your achievement. Very useful tips.

Gokul! Congratulations. You have an amazing result.

Well done! Congrats ! I’ve never seen such a amazing score before.

Amazing Gokul. Thanks for sharing your exploits to us all. I personally find them quite useful and I hope to get something close to that… My exam is next month (9th of September) and my weakest point making the practice tests with a former IELTS examiner is reading so far…

Fantastic,Gokul! I hope and pray that others and I will do the same on our exams. Congrats

Well done Gokul. Proud to be a Sri Lankan 👍. I’m also planning to do lelts academic exam. Can you help me. My email address is [email protected]

It’s only a dream for me. I’m struggling an overall 6.5 with no less than 6 of each.

Congratulation Gokkul ! I’d like to thank you for sharing your fabulous journey in IELTS . I was shocked when you said that the Ielts reading exam is the easiest , it’s the hardest part for me because I’ve never managed to answer 40 questions in 60 minutes . Liz, I really appreciate your amazing work and support .

Excellent…

That’s an impeccable result, am happy for you

Excellent… u inspired everyone tq Ur imazing man!

What an inspiring message I really tap into luck and hope to achieve it. My exam is on the 30th Sept. Am still having hard time to pick how many questions I will answer in my writing and reading please liz help.

Hi Liz! I got my ielts result today. Scored : L 7.5 R 8.5 S 7 W 6.5 Overall 7.5 But I needed 7 in each module. Plz suggest me should i opt for revaluation? What’s the probability of getting a high band score?

It is possible to consider remarking if you wrote over the word count in both task 1 and task 2. Also if you wrote a clear overview for task 1 and a conclusion for task 2. I have know a student get an increase even when there were two bands different between writing and R or L. It’s not common but it is possible.

What if the bands reduce after revaluation?

That is something you must consider before going for remarking.

Very inspired by brother Gokul.Now i can feel the motive,im geared to aim for the moon on my 26th of August Academic exam.Thank you Liz.

Gokul. You be the Baddest. Wish you the best in your Master program. Cheers…

Excellent man! Your comments really inspired me to believe I can make it.

Hats off to you. my exams is on 18th(S) and 19th(others). Hoping for the best

What a nice and touph band score he got! Good luck

Great.. amazing score

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Paul Simon & Co.: From ‘Graceland’ to Gorky Park

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After Paul Simon finished his first-ever concert in the Soviet Union, a young Soviet painter managed to get a gift and a fan letter delivered to the performer backstage.

The note, written in English and taped to the back of an impressionistic landscape painting, welcomed Simon to the Soviet Union.

“My friends and I know well your music for 70 years,” the painter wrote.

“Well, he may have gotten carried away with the 70 years part,” Simon, 47, said with a laugh Sunday. “But it’s still a nice gesture.”

The gift is a sign of how well Simon thinks his rhythmic South African-style music has been received here.

Simon’s “Graceland” performance Saturday night in an open-air auditorium in Gorky Park on the banks of the Moscow River drew many in the audience of about 5,000 to their feet.

Most remained standing throughout the entire two-hour performance, including dozens who crowded around the stage during the concert.

Simon, wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt, greeted the crowd in Russian.

“We’re glad to be in Moscow,” he said.

The musicians included the 10-man Zulu choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo and two South African exiles: singer Miriam Makeba and trumpeter Hugh Masekela.

It was a rare performance by black South African musicians in the Soviet Union, which does not have diplomatic relations with South Africa.

The show is based on Simon’s Grammy Award-winning record “Graceland,” a fusion of American pop and black South African music. The concert included “Free Nelson Mandela” and other songs of black national liberation, some sung in the Zulu language. Simon also sang the old Simon & Garfunkel hit “The Sounds of Silence.”

“Everybody was pumped up for the show. And I felt instinctually that in terms of audience reaction, it was an exceptional concert,” Simon said in his suite in the Rossiya Hotel overlooking Red Square.

Twenty years ago, Simon and then-partner Art Garfunkel were known here mainly through underground sales of secondhand albums or bootlegged recordings.

But under Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the recordings of Simon and scores of other pop musicians have increasingly become available.

Simon said nevertheless he sensed that many people in the Soviet Union knew of Simon & Garfunkel, not Simon as a solo performer, and for that reason he had not been sure how “Graceland” would be received.

But before the concert was over, Simon even got a smile from one of the stony-faced militiamen standing backstage to block entrance to the area, he said.

“They never left their posts and they did not watch the concert,” Simon said of the militiamen. “But near the end, when I approached one to see if I was pronouncing ‘good night’ correctly in Russian, I got a big smile.”

Contact with average Soviet citizens has not been easy during his visit to the Soviet Union, which began with two days of sightseeing in Leningrad.

Many in the audience at Saturday night’s performance were foreigners and after the show Simon went to a party in the courtyard of a building where foreigners live.

But Simon said he had some impressions about the country, including the sense that younger Soviets were more open and hopeful, while the older generation appeared distrustful. He also noted many people appeared to be poor.

“I’d like to come back to the Soviet Union again, but not to the cities,” he said. “I’d like to see the countryside, the little towns, the ocean.”

Simon said the band was losing money on its two Moscow performances, primarily because the musicians are paid in rubles, which cannot be taken out of the Soviet Union, and there is little in the country to buy with the money.

But he said the difference is being made up on the rest of the tour, which began in Brussels on June 15 and is to conclude July 9 in Barcelona, Spain.

“Besides, this tour was really not about money,” he said. “It was about bringing our music to Russia. Falling in love with someone’s music leads to greater identification and sympathy for the people playing that music.”

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