Read the IELTS advertising essay

Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from

competing companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced
by advertisements? What measures can be taken to protect them?
In todays material world, we are inundated with various forms of advertising. In my view,
this can be dangerous as it encourages us to spend without thinking and young people,
in particular, need some protection from it.
The first point to make is that advertising does make us spend money we do not need to.
There are nowadays so many different ways companies promote their products and
services, ranging from television commercials to simple flyers that we cannot escape it.
If, for example, you watch a football match on television, you will see the logos of the
tournament sponsors. Likewise, if you watch the latest blockbuster movie, very
probably you will see a product placed in the film by some advertising agency. The
volume of this advertising means that we, as consumers, tend to be profoundly
influenced by it and buy without thinking.
It is not easy to decide how to regulate advertising. Clearly, governments ought to
restrict advertisements for harmful products such as alcohol and tobacco. They do not
have the power, however, to control other forms of advertising. This means we need to
use our common sense when we go to the shops, and ask ourselves whether we really
need to make that purchase. Parents should, however, ensure that young people are
protected from too much exposure to advertising. This can mean simply explaining that it
is not in fact necessary to buy the newest Xbox, or simply turning the television off.
My conclusion is that while we cannot escape advertising or its effects in the modern
world, children should be encouraged not to pay too much attention to it.

Read the international sporting events essay

Many people want their country to host an international sporting event. Others
believe that international sporting events bring more problems than benefits.
Discuss both views and state your opinion.
There is frequently great competition to host international sporting events. Not everyone,
however, believes that the price involved in hosting such events is worthwhile. For me,
this is an understandable point of view and perhaps not every country should try and
stage international sporting events.
The major argument against hosting international sporting events is financial. Typically, it
can cost several million pounds to build the arenas and modernise the infrastructure so
that it can cater for the athletes and the spectators. This money, it is argued, would be
better spent on welfare and education programmes that provide direct support for the

population. Indeed, some governments have incurred so much debt through hosting the
Olympic Games that they have had to reduce spending on other social programmes.
While there is some merit in that argument, hosting sporting events does also bring
significant benefits. First among these is the honour and prestige it brings to the host
country because that country will be the centre of the sporting world for the duration of
the event. For many people this is beyond any price. More than that, if the authorities
plan carefully, they can use the occasion of the sporting event to help finance public
works that benefit the whole population in the long term. For example, the village for the
athletes can be transformed into public housing and the various stadia can be used to
build a sporting legacy for future generations.
My own view is that it is an honour for a country to host a major sporting event. However,
if a government wishes to bid for an international event to be staged in its country, it
should ensure it has sufficient funds to maintain spending on other projects.

Read the exams and continuous assessment essay

Some people believe that exams are an inappropriate way of measuring
students performance and should be replaced by continuous assessment. Do
you agree or disagree with this view?

There is some dispute whether the best method of assessing students is to use
examinations or some form of continuous assessment. This is a complex issue and
my belief is that there is probably no one method that applies to all educational
systems.
There are three major arguments in favour of retaining exams. One is that they
provide a clear and objective measure of what students have learned, whereas any
form of continuous assessment is probably going to be far more subjective. An
additional point is that testing tends to be an excellent way of motivating learners to
study harder and to reward the students who do best. Likewise, examinations test
the ability of students to work under pressure, and this is a vital life skill for their
later careers.
On the other hand, there are still occasions when it can be better to relieve the
students of exam pressure and to measure their abilities through continuous
assessment. This is particularly the case in lower age groups where young
children can be affected negatively by stress and under-perform in exams. It can
also be argued that continuous assessment is a more effective way of testing some
subjects such as design and technology, which are more creative and less academic.

A further point is that often continuous assessment can allow teachers to reward
students who work hard, but who may be less able and not do well in more formal
testing.
In conclusion, while continuous assessment may be fairer in some contexts, there
are still times when traditional exams may be more appropriate.
A possible compromise would be to use both forms of testing together, allowing
teachers to reward both ability and hard work.
We are becoming increasingly dependent on computer technology. It is used in
business, crime detection and even to fly planes. What will it be used for in
future? Is this dependence on technology a good thing or should we be
suspicious of its benefits?
As we move into the twenty-first century, it is clear to see that we have become more
and more dependent on computers and information technology. This technology now
reaches into almost every area of our lives and it is easy to predict that this phenomenon
is only going to grow. My personal belief is that this presents a variety of dangers.
It is highly likely that in the future there will be comparatively few aspects of our lives
that will not be influenced by computer technology. The probability is that it
will control more and more forms of communication, transforming fields such as
education and business when video-conferencing platforms become more stable. It
might even affect romance with more people forming relationships online.
While there may be benefits to this technological revolution, there are also a number of
potential dangers. Perhaps the most serious of these would be that if people rely on
computers too much for communication, they could in fact begin to communicate less
well. For example, if every member of a family had their own computer screen and smart
phone, they might speak less and less often to one another and simply look at a
screen. This would be serious because our ability to communicate is an essential part of
our humanity.
My conclusion is that the growth of computer technology is inevitable, but that this may
not be entirely positive. Just one area in which it is possible to foresee dangers is
communication, and if we are going to ensure that computers do not become a
negative influence, we need to think carefully how we use them.

The youth crime essay

In recent years, there has been a considerable rise in crimes committed by
young people in cities.
What has caused this? What solutions can you suggest?

The rise of crime among young people is an urgent problem in many cities that needs to
be addressed. However, in order to find a solution, it is first of all necessary to
understand what has led to this happening. In this essay, I first of all examine
the reasons for the rise in youth crime, then I suggest how this problem may be resolved.
Perhaps the principal cause of this rise in youth crime is the increased use of drugs and
alcohol among young people. Many cities suffer from the phenomenon of binge drinking
by teenagers who lose control under the influence of alcohol and commit crimes. For
instance, it is a common sight on the streets of Britain to see fights breaking out outside
pubs and clubs. Similarly, there is a clear connection between drug abuse among the
young and crime. It is still unfortunately the case that young people frequently see drugs
as cool and become addicted. It is a common occurrence for these addicts to resort to
petty theft in order to pay for their habit.
There are a variety of potential ways of combatting this problem. One possibility that is
sometimes suggested is a much stricter system of penalties and punishments to deter
young people from a life of crime. That might work, but it would also be sensible
to improve the system of education so that young people were better informed about the
dangers of drugs and alcohol. This should have the effect of dealing with the issues that
cause youth crime in the first place.
In conclusion, alcohol and drug abuse are among the primary reasons for the rise in
young offenders and if the authorities wish to tackle youth crime, one approach would be
to educate the young more effectively.

Read the IELTS globalisation essay

Differences between countries become less evident each year. Nowadays, all
over the world people share the same fashions, advertising, brands, eating
habits and TV channels. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of
this?
It is undoubtedly the case that the world today has become a global village. One of the
effects of this is that increasingly people in all corners of the world are exposed to similar
services and products and adopt similar habits. My view is that this is largely a beneficial
process and in this essay I will explain why.
The first point to make is that there are some downsides to this process of cultural
globalisation, but these are relatively minor. The most significant of these disadvantages
is that it can weaken national culture and traditions. For example, if people watch films
and television programmes produced in the United States, sometimes they adopt aspects
of the lifestyle of the American characters they see on television. Typically, however, this
only affects minor details such as clothing and does not seriously threaten national
identity.

When we turn to the other side of the argument, there are two major points to make in
favour of this process. The first of these is that the more we share habits, products and
services, the better we understand each other and this reduces prejudice against other
nations. The other point relates to modernity. It is a sign of progress in a society that
people no longer are restricted to brands and advertisements from their own society but
are able to access more international goods. If, for example, there were unable to drink
Coca Cola or wear Nike, then that would mean their society was not part of the
international community.
In conclusion, I understand the point of view of people who worry about cultural
globalisation because it is a threat to national traditions. However, this is outweighed by
its positive impact on international understanding and the fact that it represents progress
within a society.

Read the IELTS traffic essay

In cities and towns all over the world the high volume of traffic is a problem.
What are the causes of this and what actions can be taken to solve this
problem?
It is undoubtedly the case that urban areas around the world increasingly suffer
from congestion. In this essay, I examine the reasons for this trend and suggest
some practical policies the authorities could implement to reduce the level of traffic in
our cities.
The first step is to understand why traffic has increased in towns and cities. Broadly
speaking, there are three main reasons for this. One is that cars have become more
affordable for the average consumer and they are no longer a luxury item, but something
that most families expect to own. A second reason is that public transport has become
increasingly unreliable in

recent

years,

not

least

because

many bus

and

train

services have been reduced because of the difficulty in funding them. The third reason is
that society has in general become more mobile and this means more people are
prepared to commute to work by car than they were before.
There is almost certainly no one solution to this problem given the complexity of
its causes. However, one option has to be to improve the reliability of public transport to
encourage people to take the bus or the train rather than get in the car. It would also be
possible to discourage people from driving to work by introducing special tariffs for using
the roads, especially during peak periods. A successful example of this is the congestion
charge scheme in London which has certainly reduced the level of trafficin inner-city
areas.
In conclusion, there are a variety of different factors that have led to rising levels of
traffic in urban areas. While it may not be possible to find a complete solution,

any action should probably involve encouraging greater use of public transport and
making it more expensive for the motorist to drive in urban areas.

Read the IELTS factory farms essay

In recent years, farming practice has changed to include methods such as
factory farming and the use of technology to improve crops. Some people
believe these developments are necessary, while others regard them as
dangerous and advocate a return to more traditional farming methods. Discuss
both points of view and give your own opinion.

There is some controversy about how farming has been revolutionised in the past
decades. While it is possible to claim that the net effect of these changes has been
for the benefit of mankind, my view is that the disadvantages outweigh the
advantages. In this essay, I shall explain my point of view by analysing both sides of
the argument.
There are several reasons why these innovations in agriculture can be said to
positive. One is that the worlds population has exploded within the past century and
that traditional methods of agriculture could not provide sufficient food for everyone.
It can also be argued that we need more efficient methods of farming because many
countries in Asia and Africa suffer regular famine and droughts and the people would
starve if it was not for genetically modified crops that are drought resistant. It should
also not be forgotten that the quality of life of farmers has been improved by these
advances which are less labour intensive.
Those who argue for a return to smaller scale and more organic farming base their
arguments on the impact of agriculture on health and the environment. Firstly, it is
claimed that a variety of diseases such as BSE, swine flu and bird flu were caused by
conditions in factory farms and that organic food is much healthier. Then, there are
concerns about the lack of research into how genetically modified crops might affect
the ecosystem for the worse.
While there are strong arguments on both sides of the case, my personal belief is
that the long-term dangers of these developments mean that we should be
extremely cautious. I suggest that there should be more investment in traditional
farming methods to make them more efficient and that there should be stronger
legislation to ensure that both factory farms and GM crops are safe.

One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of
refugees. The developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by
taking in more refugees. To what extent do you agree with this opinion?
There is little doubt that the issue of refugees is a global problem. While it most
immediately affects developing nations, there is a strong argument that industrialised
countries should help by allowing higher levels of immigration. This is certainly not an
easy issue though, because historically immigration has caused as many problems as it
solves.
The principal reason why developed nations should help is that we now live in a global
village and it is no longer possible to ignore what happens on the other side of the world.
This is partly a moral issue and partly because it is in the economic self-interest of
industrialised nations to ensure that developing nations continue to progress. A practical
way of achieving this would be to accept more immigration, particularly when it is caused
by natural disasters or civil war.
I would argue, however, that this is not an open and shut case, as there is a negative
side to mass immigration. The multi-cultural experiments in Europe have not always
succeeded and immigrants have often suffered badly from racism and other prejudices.
On a practical level, refugees are sometimes better off receiving aid in their native land
than begging on the streets in a country where they cannot speak the language. Many
so-called economic migrants end up returning to the country of their birth.
My personal conclusion is that developed nations should agree to take in more refugees,
but only in restricted numbers and in extreme cases. I also believe that there needs to be
a global effort to provide aid to solve the problems that cause emigration. Prevention is
as they say better than cure.

Read the IELTS newspaper and books essay

Newspapers and books are outdated. Why do some people believe
this? What is your opinion?
As we move into the twenty- first century an increasing number of people are relying on
new forms of technology. A possible consequence of this is that traditional media such as
books and newspapers are not just less popular but are considered by some to be
outdated. Personally, I disagree with this point of view.
The principal reason why some people take this view is fairly clear in the case of
newspapers. It is generally much easier and quicker to discover what is happening in the
world from the internet or the television than from a newspaper. If you use Google or

another search engine or simply switch on the television, you can instantly get the latest
news bulletin. A newspaper, by contrast, is out of date the moment it is published
because it contains yesterdays news.
It is perhaps less obvious why books are said to be out of fashion. One possibility is that
fewer people choose to read for pleasure nowadays because they prefer the instant
gratification and thrills of modern technology. There is less effort involved in enjoying a
3D movie or playing a computer game than in turning the pages of a book.
My own view and conclusion is that books and newspapers will never go completely out
of fashion or become redundant. The reason for this is that they serve basic human
needs. I believe that people will always want to read about the news and escape into the
imaginary worlds of great novels. However, books and newspapers may need to change
to meet the new demands of twenty-first century consumers. We can already see this
happening with the arrival of the audio-book and the various free newspaper internet
sites. (292 words)

Read the IELTS fuel and the environment essay

The best way to solve the worlds environmental problems is to increase the
cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Most people would accept that one of the highest priorities today is to find a solution to
the various environmental problems facing mankind. It has been suggested that best way
to achieve this is for governments to raise the price of fuel. I am, however, not sure that
this is necessarily the case.
One reason why this approach may not work is that there is not just one environmental
problem the world faces today. If governments did make fuel more expensive, it might
well help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we produce and so slow down the rate of
global warming and air pollution. However, it would not help with other major problems
such as intensive farming, overpopulation, the hole in the ozone layer or water pollution.
For these problems we need to find other solutions.
A second reason why this policy may not be the most appropriate is that it places the
emphasis on governmental policy and not individual responsibility. Ultimately, most
environmental problems are the result of the way we as individuals live our lives. If we
wish to find a long-term and lasting solution to them, we need to learn to live in a way
that it is greener or kinder to the environment. What governments need to do to make
this happen is to ensure there is a global programme to educate people of all ages about
the environmental consequences to their actions.

In summary, I believe that increasing the level of taxation on fuel is at best a short-term
solution to only one environmental problem. If we wish to provide a home for our
childrens children, education is likely to be the key to making this happen. (283 words)

Read the IELTS salaries essay

In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more
money than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think
this happens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad?

It is undoubtedly true that there is often a major imbalance between the salaries of
the professional classes and celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment.
At first sight, this seems unjust, but on closer analysis it is easy to understand why it
happens and see that it is almost inevitable.
It does often seem wrong that certain people should earn so much money when their
only talent is to entertain. While giving pleasure is important, people in the medical
and educational professions have far more important roles in society. For example, a
surgeon can save your life in the operating theatre and a teacher can prepare you for
your career. Indeed, because both doctors and teachers are so vital to any society, it
would seem only right that they receive the largest financial rewards.
When, however, we look to see who earns the most, we discover that it is typically
sports and entertainment personalities. There are a variety of reasons why this
should be. Firstly, we live in the age of mass media: these people earn so much
because they are national or even global stars and get rewarded through
endorsements and other sources of income. Secondly, these stars are unique in a
way doctors and teachers are not, often they can do what no one else can. Finally,
sometimes these stars may have short careers in comparison with other professions.
For instance, while doctors can work until they are 65, footballers normally retire in
their early 30s.
I personally believe that in the ideal world someones income would relate to their
value to society. However, in the modern world, it is almost unavoidable the famous
will have the highest incomes because of their media exposure.

Read the IELTS unemployment essay

Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed nations
today. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of reducing the working
week to thirty five hours?

It is unquestionable that rising unemployment is one of the most pressing issues in the
industrial world. One solution that has been put forward is to cut the working week to a
maximum of 35 hours. However, in my view this solution is rather controversial and other
solutions need to be found.
It is fairly easy to understand the reasons why this proposal has been made. The
reasoning is that if workers are not allowed to work for more than 35 hours weekly, then
employers will be forced to engage more staff. There would be at least two advantages
to this. Not only would unemployment be reduced, but the working conditions of
employees on very long shifts would also be significantly improved. For example, a
factory employing 300 manual workers doing 10 hours a day might employ 450 workers.
There is also, however, a strong argument not to implement this proposal. This argument
is based on economic competitiveness. If a company was forced to employ more workers
to produce the same amount of goods, then its wage bill would rise and its products
might become more expensive and less competitive compared to companies with longer
working weeks. In this case, it is possible that the company either might become
insolvent or it would have to make some employees redundant. As a result, the intended
benefit to the personnel would not happen.
In summary, we can see that this is clearly a complex issue as there are significant
advantages and disadvantages to the proposal. My own personal view is that it would be
better not to introduce the shortened working week because it works only in theory and
not in practice.

The sample essay

Should museums and art galleries be free of charge for the general public, or
should a charge, even a voluntary charge, be levied for admittance? Discuss
this issue, and give your opinion.
One very complex issue in todays world is the funding of museums and art galleries.
While there is an argument that they should be free to the general public and funded by
governments, I also believe that there is also a case for saying that they should charge
an entrance fee like other attractions.
Those who argue that museums should be free typically make one of two arguments. The
first argument is that institutions like museums are a public service and therefore there
should be free access to the man in the street. If for example there was a charge only the
wealthy could afford to enjoy works of art. The second, and related, argument is that if
they did levy a charge fewer people would go to museums. This would be serious as they
are educational institutions and standards would fall.
In contrast, there is only one major argument on the other side of the debate. This is that
both museums and art galleries need to charge an entrance fee if they are to survive in

the modern world. Governments do not have sufficient funds to subsidise all such
institutions and there are other priorities for public money. Therefore these galleries and
museums need to charge their customers not only to survive but to update their
exhibitions and make new purchases. By way of illustration, the Tate Modern in London
could not have been founded without revenue from admissions.
My personal position is that there is no clear answer to this question as there are such
strong arguments on both sides. Perhaps it is possible for some museums and galleries to
charge fees and for others not to. It will depend on the situation of the individual
museum or gallery.

Read the IELTS television essay

Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To
what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected
the cultural development of your society?
It is unarguable that television has had a considerable impact and changed the world in
which we live. However, there is debate whether that change has been for the better or
the worse, when we consider cultural development. While there are certainly strong
feelings on both sides of the argument in western Europe, my own view is that television
has had a largely positive influence on our society.
There are, however, several reasons why it can be argued that television has a negative
effect on cultural development. Perhaps the principle argument is the lowbrow nature of
many programmes, particularly sitcoms and soap operas. People who watch these
programmes do not learn anything, they are simply entertained. The other major
argument is that because people watch so much television, they no longer take part in
more traditional forms of cultural entertainment. An example here is how traditional
dancing and music is becoming much less popular because people are staying at home
to watch the television.
On the other hand, there are a variety of ways in which cultural development has been
assisted by television. Here the major argument is that television has allowed the whole
of society access to cultural entertainment. For example, in the nineteenth century only a
small proportion of people could go to the ballet or the theatre. However, it is now
possible for everyone to enjoy these on television. A second positive effect is that on
television we can learn more about other cultures and societies because there are so
many interesting documentaries about other countries.
My personal conclusion is that television is a largely positive influence. However, it is
important that we do not watch it too much and that we watch the right sort of
programme. If we watch the wrong sort of programme and watch too much television, we
may become couch potatoes.

Read the IELTS curriculum essay

Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school
curriculum for subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children
suffer as a result of these changes. To what extent would you support or reject
the idea of moving these subjects from school curriculum?
In recent times there has much debate about which subjects should be included on the
school curriculum. One particular issue is whether the introduction of more modern
subjects such as IT for more traditional subjects such as art and music disadvantages the
pupils. I believe that this is a difficult question and different solutions need to be found
for primary and secondary schools.
There is one major argument in favour of replacing art, music and sport on the
curriculum with subjects like IT. This is that the purpose of school is to prepare children
for their working life after school, so the subjects on the curriculum should be relevant to
their potential careers. From this point of view, IT is much relevant to schoolchildren as
they need to be computer literate if they want to survive in the workplace. For example,
it is easy to see that word processing and programming skills will impress employers
more than the ability to run fast or draw well.
There are also, however, strong arguments for retaining the more traditional subjects as
part of the curriculum. One significant counter-argument is that the purpose of education
is not just to prepare children for later careers, but also to develop their all round
culture. It is important that children leave school with some knowledge of art, music
and sport as all these are all help develop aspects of young peoples personalities.
My own personal point of view is that there is merit in both sides of the debate and that
all children should study some IT, art music and sport at least at primary school. At
secondary school, however, children should be offered a choice between these subjects
so that they can continue to study them if they wish.

Read the IELTS overpopulation essay

One of the most pressing problems facing the world today is overpopulation.
What policies do you believe governments should adopt to address the causes
and effects of this problem?

There is no doubt that the massive increase in the worlds population in the last 100
years has created a crisis. In order to find a solution to this crisis, politicians need to
deal with not only the immediate problems, but also the long-term causes if they
want to rescue humanity. Finding the right policies is not an easy task as it is a
complex problem.

The first step is to recognise what the consequences of overpopulation are. Only by
doing this can we find an appropriate solution. Perhaps its most important effect is
the increased rate at which we are consuming the Earths resources such as oil. To
combat this, governments need to do more research on alternative and renewable
energy supplies so that we do not use up all the oil reserves. Another negative effect
of overpopulation is how some countries suffer from a lack of basic necessities such
as food. Here, an answer could be greater international co-operation so that
countries with a food surplus donate what they do not need to the less fortunate
countries.
It is not quite so easy to decide how governments should deal with the causes of
overpopulation. The Chinese have adopted legislation that requires parents to pay a
special tax if they have more than one child. I doubt, however, whether this solution
is realistic in other countries. Another option would be to improve levels of sex
education

by

explaining

the

difficulties

caused

by

having

too

many

children.Promoting contraception though may be problematic in many regions on

cultural and religious grounds.
In conclusion, while it may be possible to find ways to address some of the
consequences of overpopulation by international co-operation, it is harder to find
policies to deal with its causes. It might be that the only way forward is for different
countries to adopt policies that work within their particular culture.

Read the IELTS houses and apartments essay

Some people prefer to live in a house, while others think that there are more
advantages living in an apartment.
Are there more advantages than disadvantages to living in a house rather than
in an apartment?
Many people nowadays face a difficult decision when they buy their own home. The
question is whether they should buy a house or an apartment. There would seem to be
clear benefits and drawbacks to both options.
Perhaps the major advantage of living in a house is the issue of privacy. Typically, there is
more opportunity for peace and quiet, if you live in a house. This is particularly the case
if it is a detached house. Other significant advantages are that houses are generally more
spacious and on the whole have gardens. This is especially important if there is a family
so that the children can have a safe environment to play in. If, however, you live in a
tower block, then the children may have to play outside on the pavement.

There are, of course, negative aspects to living in houses. The greatest of these is that
they tend to be more expensive to purchase and to maintain. Indeed, a large majority of
people choose to live in apartments because they cannot afford the mortgage to buy a
house. Another possible problem is that there are fewer houses in cities than the
countryside. So if you like urban life, it may be preferable to live in an apartment. A
second reason to avoid living in a house is that there is a greater sense of community to
life in an apartment.
My conclusion would be that this is a well-balanced issue. There are probably an equal
number of pros and cons to making either choice. Ultimately, whether you decide to live
in a cottage in the countryside or a duplex in the city depends on your own personality,
family and financial circumstances.
(285 words)
One of the most pressing problems facing the world today is overpopulation.
What policies do you believe governments should adopt to address the causes
and effects of this problem?
There is no doubt that the massive increase in the worlds population in the last 100
years has created a crisis. In order to find a solution to this crisis, politicians need to deal
with not only the immediate problems, but also the long-term causes if they want to
rescue humanity. Finding the right policies is not an easy task as it is a complex problem.
The first step is to recognise what the consequences of overpopulation are. Only by doing
this can we find an appropriate solution. Perhaps its most important effect is the
increased rate at which we are consuming the Earths resources such as oil. To combat
this, governments need to do more research on alternative and renewable energy
supplies so that we do not use up all the oil reserves. Another negative effect of
overpopulation is how some countries suffer from a lack of basic necessities such as
food. Here, an answer could be greater international co-operation so that countries with a
food surplus donate what they do not need to the less fortunate countries.
It is not quite so easy to decide how governments should deal with the causes of
overpopulation. The Chinese have adopted legislation that requires parents to pay a
special tax if they have more than one child. I doubt, however, whether this solution is
realistic in other countries. Another option would be to improve levels of sex education by
explaining the difficulties caused by having too many children.Promoting contraception
though may be problematic in many regions on cultural and religious grounds.
In conclusion, while it may be possible to find ways to address some of the consequences
of overpopulation by international co-operation, it is harder to find policies to deal with its
causes. It might be that the only way forward is for different countries to adopt policies
that work within their particular culture.

In the past lectures were the traditional method of teaching large numbers of
students. Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach
students. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach?
As we move into the twenty-first century, technology is affecting many different areas of
life and education is no exception. Indeed, in some institutions traditional forms of
education have been revolutionised by new technology to the extent that the lecture is
no longer the main method of delivery. While there are a variety of benefits to this new
approach, there are also significant drawbacks.
Perhaps the greatest bonus of the introduction of technology is the flexibility it offers.
This is evident in two different ways. Firstly, it is now no longer essential for students to
be present in the lecture theatre for their courses. This means that part-time courses for
adults who are in employment and distance learning courses for people in other
countries are now much more practical. Another area of flexibility is of course that the
lecturer and tutor are able to use Moodles, interactive whiteboards and other tools to
deliver their courses in a more stimulating way to large numbers of students.
Not everything, however, about the introduction of this new technology into education is
positive. One major problem is that not all students are comfortable with using
technology, even if they are part of the digital native generation. This is a serious
issue as they may suffer from their lack of technological skills. Another related issue is
that education is a human activity and it works best with as much human interaction as
possible. Impersonal technology cannot replace the human contact found in
traditional face-to-face tutorials and seminars.
As we have seen, there are major benefits to the introduction of technology into
education, not least because it enables modern forms of education such as distance
learning courses. This is balanced, however, by the fact that it can be too impersonal for
some and disadvantages others for their lack of technological skills.

Read the IELTS food transportation essay

Todays food travels thousands of miles before it reaches customers. Is this a
positive or negative trend?
In the modern world, we frequently no longer rely on food that has been grown locally,
but we have become accustomed to buying produce from all over the world. While this
trend has some clear benefits to consumers, I would argue that overall transporting food
over long distances is a negative.
The strongest argument against importing food is environmental. Studies have shown
that transport and the use of fossil fuels is one of the leading causes of global warming
and climate change. This means that if we want to lead a greener lifestyle, we should be
trying to minimise transport and this includes the unnecessary transport of foodstuffs.

Another point that needs to be considered is the impact of transporting food on local
farmers and traditional ways of life. Again, there is good research to show that farmers
and smallholders are unable to compete in price with the supermarkets that import
cheap, and often low-quality, produce from abroad. This is not just a problem for local
farmers who are likely to go out of business, it also has an impact on weakening
traditional communities that rely on those farms for employment and trade.
A further consideration is that food that has travelled across the world is considerably
less healthy than locally grown, fresh produce. The simple point is that the further food
travels before it reaches the consumer, the less fresh it will be and any nutritionist will
confirm that fresh food is fuller of vitamins. Therefore, it would be preferable if
supermarkets and other stores did not transport food from other countries.
In conclusion, I believe that the trend for transporting food over long distances is
undesirable because it is environmentally unfriendly, threatens local communities and
results in less healthy options for the consumer.
(294 words)
In many countries there has been an increase in social problems involving
teenagers in recent years. Many people believe that this is due to modern
lifestyles because parents spend more and more time at work and have less
time to supervise their children. To what extent do you believe this is true?
There is no question that standards of behaviour have fallen among teenagers. The
popular belief is that the principle cause is that parents are unable to supervise their
children because they are away at work. I only partially agree with this viewpoint as there
are other important factors too.
It is undeniable that parents should bear some responsibility for the actions of their
teenaged children. This is particularly true when they are absent from the home and not
in a position to control their children. The argument is that if they were at home, then
they would be able to make certain that their children did not join gangs and spent their
time on socially acceptable activities.
However, it can also be said that working parents are in fact setting a good example to
their children. Indeed, it is very often the case that teenagers who come from
hardworking families spend their time on schoolwork and conduct themselves well. In
fact, the teenagers who do create social problems by, for example, getting drunk or
painting graffitti come from homes where parents are unemployed.
Other factors that lead to teenagers getting into trouble relate to the educational
system. This is due to the fact that many teenagers leave school aged 16 and do not
find work because of lack of qualifications. As a result, they spend time on the street with

nothing productive to do. Likewise, social problems with teenagers can be the
consequence of poor discipline at school with teachers failing to control their classes.
In conclusion, it is possible to say that this sort of problem is only sometimes the result
of parents not supervising their children. It is equally possible to say that discipline in
schools is at fault.
he threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides
cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the
disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.
One question that has caused a great deal of controversy over the years is nuclear
technology. Although it offers a number of advantages in world peace and green power, it
is also a dangerous technology, I believe that it is also a dangerous technology.
The opponents of nuclear power generally base their arguments on the danger it
represents to the world. There are two main dangers: the risk of nuclear warfare and the
nuclear disasters. The danger of nuclear war is obvious and if one thinks about
Chernobyl, it is easy to understand why people are worried about nuclear power, as it
can cause major suffering.
There are, however, good reasons for believing that nuclear technology is generally
advantageous. The first of these is that there has not been a major world conflict since
the invention of nuclear weapons. While there have been wars, they have not been on
the same scale as the Second World War. It is possible to say that the world is a safer
place because of nuclear weapons.
The other most significant benefit relates to the environment. Perhaps the greatest
danger facing our world today is a combination of global warming and the greenhouse
effect. This danger is caused partly by burning fossil fuels which leads to our polluted
atmosphere. Nuclear power, however, is a much greener alternative which does not have
such negative effects. Furthermore, in the last 50 years there have not been too many
nuclear disasters and many experts claim that it is in fact a safe technology.
In conclusion I would say that nuclear technology is better than the current alternatives.
However, I also believe we should keep looking for ways to make it safer.
Everyone should stay in school until the age of eighteen. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
It is often said that if you want to succeed in life, you need a proper education. While
there may be arguments for making school compulsory until the age of 18 , I disagree
that this should apply to everyone.

Perhaps the strongest reason for not leaving school early is that it prepares you for your
working career. If you leave school early with only a basic education, you are unlikely to
be able to find any skilled work. Indeed, the education you receive between the ages of
16 and 18 is crucial for anyone who does not want a lifetime of unskilled work in a
factory.
Another compelling reason for remaining in school until 18 is that school provides moral
and social education too. This is particularly important for people between 16 and 18
who have many temptations and benefit from the organised framework that school
provides. Young people who stay in school until the age of 18 tend to be more
responsible and help build a stronger society.
There are, however, equally strong arguments against making school compulsory until
the age of 18. One such argument is that not everyone is academic and that some
people benefit more from vocational training. For instance, someone who wants to
become a car mechanic may find better training and more satisfaction in an apprentice
scheme. Another related argument is that, in todays world, young people are maturing
ever more quickly and are able to make their own life decisions by the age of 16.
To my mind, everyone should be encouraged to stay in school until 18 both for social and
career reasons. However, I believe it would be a mistake to make this compulsory
bearing in mind that different people have different needs and abilities and the
possibilities of other forms of vocational training.