IELTS Aid (Practice Essays)

In the last part, the examiner will ask you for more in-depth questions about your topic in part 2. It is important that you know how to ask for clarification since the questions can be quite challenging to answer. Below are some helpful expressions: ·         Do you mean….? ·         Are you asking…? ·         Could you please explain what the question means? ·         Sorry, can I just clarify what you mean? ·         If I understand you correctly, you’re asking…? Remember, asking questions to the examiner is only possible in parts 1 and 3. Don’t worry about your score when asking for repetition. You are assessed according to 4 criteria - fluency and coherence, lexical resources, grammatical range and accuracy and pronunciation, understanding, and comprehension of the question are not included. These...

B eginning your response I’m going to talk about … I’d like to tell you about … I’ve decided to speak about … Indicating a time in the past I think it was when I was around (age) years old. When I was a (school) student, … In my (school) days, … Omitting some details Briefly, … I won’t go into detail here but … There’s no time to explain fully here but … Avoiding hesitation What else can I say? What else is there to say? I suppose I should also mention that… Signaling the next part of the question As for … When it comes to … Moving on to … Giving reasons The reason I … … for two/several reasons. There are two/several reasons I’ve chosen to talk about … Adding your own impression It was the most memorable/remarkable (repeat question topic) of my life. For me, it was a truly memorable/remarkable (repeat question topic). I’ll never forget (it/him/her) as long as I live. Concluding your respons...

Please note that in the first part of the test, roughly 12 questions will be asked (3 topics). The topics are quite general so you do not need to explain your responses in too much detail.  As you can see, most of the questions in this test concentrate on the topic "Hotels and hospitality". We highly recommend assessing your own range of vocabulary about this topic by doing vocabulary review exercises such as listing all the words you know that belong to the scope of this topic. Try doing this with a time limit (2 minutes).  First, prepare a piece of paper and divide it into 4 sections. Make a table. Write "nouns", "verbs", "adjectives" and "idioms" as your headers. In two minutes, write down all the nouns, verbs, adjectives, and idioms you know about hotels and hospitality. DO NOT REFER TO YOUR DICTIONARY even if you're unsure of the spelling. This is your learning phase. Next, for another two minutes, list all the possible Synonym...

Sample essay: Adults spend most of their time at work. From this, preferences as to how long a person must stay in a company have been debated. On the one hand, there are those who opt to work in one company all their lives. On the other, some think that offering their services to various companies is more beneficial. The content of this essay will focus on discussing these two viewpoints and the opinion of the writer. Being loyal to an organization has some advantages. Perhaps the biggest one is the assurance of stability. Having to work in one company for a long time offers the employee a steady means of financial support. Another merit to be considered is professional growth. An employee may start small in the beginning but after a few years of work, the employee can gain skills and experiences necessary to advance professionally. In addition, many companies provide workshops and training to deserving workers. However, staying in one workplace has a demerit such as stagnation. T...

Sample report:   The visual information exhibits the production process of instant noodles. Overall, there are eight steps to complete the procedure from mixing to sealing. The process begins with transferring flour from the storage silos to a mixer. Other ingredients such as water and oil are added to the flour and the mixer to form a dough. Next, the dough is flattened by rollers to make dough sheets. After this, the dough sheets are cut into dough strips before shaping them to noodle discs. In the next stage, the noodle discs are cooked by flash frying them into oil before leaving them to dry. After the drying stage, the dried noodle discs are then packaged into cups along with some vegetables and spices. For the last stage, labels are glued to the cups which are immediately sealed tightly to keep the freshness of the contents. The cup noodles are now ready to be shipped out in different areas. (156 words) Understanding IELTS: Writing

Many people from different countries have different views on possessing their own homes. Some prefer to invest in their own house more than renting one. This essay explains the possible reasons for this choice and the implications of this. A house is an investment. In the Philippines, many people dream of possessing a house of their own. This is because it is emphasized in the community that it is a symbol of success. Buying a property is expensive and requires dedication and hard work. People believe that being able to have a place where one can retire and keep their families safe and secure is the ultimate goal. In addition, having a place where you can exercise freedom, physically and financially, is an attractive idea for a lot of people. When renting, there is a threat of being kicked out if a person fails to pay their monthly dues. When this happens, families are forced to temporarily or permanently stay in desolate places or roadsides, therefore, making dreaming of having your...

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcMkmEzUE18 (Saving languages) A life with limited choices seems attractive to some people because it reduces confusion. This way of thinking is also believed by many when it comes to languages. As more and more people learn another language, several languages are on the verge of extinction. This essay will discuss the writer’s opinion on why it is certainly wrong to think that having fewer languages can make life less complicated. The idea of globalization has made learning languages popular in these modern times. For now, English has dominated the academics and business world making it the most ideal language to learn and speak. In ad...

Watch the video inspiration for this essay here:  Can extreme poverty ever be eradicated - The Economist Task topic: Every country has poor people and every country has different ways of dealing with the poor. What are some of the reasons for poverty? What can we do to help the poor? Write at least 250 words.   Poverty is experienced by all countries in the world. Interestingly, there are various unique measures done to eradicate this problem in each country. This essay will look into the common causes of poverty and the ways in which we can assist those who suffer from this. Population growth in many nations can be considered as both an advantage and a disadvantage. It is beneficial only when a country, with its millions of able-bodied workforce, can turnaround a problem as big as poverty and hunger. For example, in the recent decade, China used its resources such as land and human power to create a giant manufacturing industry. As more and more companies decide ...

In spite of many advances women have made in education and employment, they continue to be at a disadvantage when it comes to pay and promotion. In your view, what should be done to promote equality of opportunity for men and women in the workplace? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words. Video links for inspiration:  Why are women paid less than men - The Economist and  Pay gaps and life hacks   Sample essay: Women’s rights have come a long way. However, women still are victims of inequality in the workplace despite their educational and career achievements. Although this issue proves to be challenging and maybe even impossible to solve, two suggestions on how both genders can attain equal work opportunities will be presented in this essay. One possible solution to this problem is salary transparency. This means companies must make information regarding how much their emplo...

This essay sample was derived from the TEDed video with the same title. Watch the video here:  Should we eat bugs? Should we eat bugs?   Food is the most basic human needs. As the rate of global population inflates without ceasing, food production cannot seem to catch up. To address this dilemma, many experts push the idea of eating insects as part of our daily diet. This essay will point out the positive effects of including these minute creatures in our everyday food plan and the perspective of the writer regarding this option.   Long ago when farming and agriculture were new concepts for ancient people, foraging for insects and hunting were their main means to source food. These, although uncommon in many countries, are still practiced in a few areas around the globe. Tropical countries are particularly well-known for continuing the tradition of eating bugs for myriads of reasons. Other than being an unusual and exotic experience, insect-eating is healthy. Stud...

This sample essay is derived from the BBC REEL video entitled "Why boredom is good for you". Watch this video first before reading the sample: BBC REEL Why boredom is good for you Sample Essay: In our fast-paced world where people can do almost virtually everything, boredom seems like an experience that is always taken negatively. Little do most people know that having nothing to do at one point in a day has many advantages. This essay will mainly explain two points on how dull times essentially helps us in a lot of ways. The principal benefit of boredom is that it helps the brain rewire and recharge. Sometimes stress can affect the way we process information in our heads and this results in more stress. Having the time to pause and do nothing clears the thought processes in the brain. Since our brain is also an organ, it needs rest to function well again. Therefore, keeping ourselves busy doing nothing for a short period of time can give our minds ample time to refresh...

Vocabulary and spelling: The words in this mini-test were derived from the videos we featured this week. Check if you can remember them.  Identify and spell the word defined: 1.      _______________ = to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time. 2.      ________________= the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work. 3.      ________________= affecting someone in a way that annoys them and makes them feel uncomfortable. 4.      ________________= treating a person or a particular group of people differently because of their skin color, gender, etc. 5.      ________________= causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time. 6.      ________________= a person who buys goods or services for their own use. 7.      ________________= to sort and collect r...

The essay below is a response to the news aired on BBC.   Watch the news here Working from home has been around for quite some time now; however, the global crisis has made this work set-up more popular. Many employees are forced to do their work at home to avoid the spread of the coronavirus while keeping the company going. With this, managers need to find a way to monitor their workers’ productivity through surveillance software. Unfortunately, this solution posed more issues related to privacy. This essay will focus on the writer’s view on the use of monitoring software. For companies, the idea of checking their workers is merely a way for them to guarantee that they efficiently use their time. These computer programs track everything that employees do on their personal computers from typing documents, sending private and business messages, recording teleconferences, and even viewing the individual’s social network. It gathers too much personal data that it becomes too in...

Weekend Quiz Spelling: A.      Which is correct? ·         Address ·         Adress B.      Which is correct? ·         Occured ·         Occurred C.       Which is correct? ·         Government ·         Goverment D.      Which is correct? ·         Influential ·         Influencial E.       Which is correct? ·         Acheive ·         Achieve F.       Which is correct? ·         Knowledgeable ·        ...

Some students work while studying. This often results in lacking time for education and constantly feeling under pressure. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?   Sample essay: It is universally accepted that obtaining a college degree is the first step for a better life. This is the reason why many undergraduates, despite having some struggles, choose to work part-time while attending school. This essay will enumerate some of the reasons for this trend and some suggestions on how to fix these. Education comes with a price and to receive the best quality education, students must pay a hefty amount to schools. Unfortunately, only a few people can afford this. As a result, many learners opt to look for a job to support their educational needs. However, sometimes work can be demanding both physically and mentally. Another reason for this trend is independence. Many young people nowadays want to live independently as a choice. These individua...

My Sample: Television shows and computer games that show violence are thought to have negative influences on many viewers’ behavior while the opposite opinion is believed by others. They say that there are other elements that can affect a person’s actions. This essay will explain the author's perspectives on how both these points are correct. According to many studies, there is a connection between what a person watches and how he acts. This reaction can be compared to how food affects our mood. Television shows and digital games can directly stimulate the brain by producing certain chemicals that alter the mood of an individual watching a violent show or playing an aggressive game. Since science backs up the idea that these kinds of entertainments can impact our behavior, there is no question that this is true and highly agreeable. Try enjoyable, flexible teaching CPD courses from FutureLearn. Start learning for free. Although there is definite evidence for its influen...

Sample: One major problem our world is experiencing is unemployment. As time passes by, more and more people find it hard to get jobs worthy to sustain a living. This essay will present the possible causes of the high unemployment rate as well as the probable solutions to this issue. Population. This is the biggest contributing factor to joblessness. The total number of humans has increased tenfold since the era of industrialization. Although population growth means our lifestyle and medical technology is better, we cannot deny the fact that it also results in a lack of work opportunities. More people means more competition. Another reason for unemployment is the fact that there are fewer businesses and work opportunities available. It is a common idea that it is easier to find jobs in urban cities. This prompts people from rural places to move to cities to try their lucks in applying for work there. However, not everyone can be blessed to find a job and they end up being stuck in ...

Sample: A nation’s government allocates budget to different sectors for valuable economic projects. One such sector is space exploration. However, is it necessary to spend billions of money on this or should governments use the money in more meaningful plans? This essay will feature the viewpoints of the writer regarding this matter. The study of space and what lies beyond it has always been one of the most interesting sciences. Many developed countries race their way to the top to unlock mysteries and to discover new things outside our planet. The thrill of exploring the unknown has been the primary reason why humans still take the risk of voyaging the stars. Scientists and even hobbyists believe that studying astronomy can greatly help us not only in understanding the different weather patterns but also finding solutions to problems such as global warming and others. Despite its almost immeasurable cost, more and more countries join the bandwagon by creating their own space agenc...