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IELTS Writing Task 2: 'band 7 vocabulary'

I sometimes use the term 'band 7 vocabulary' and several people have asked me to explain what I mean by this. Here goes:

1. First, when I say 'band 7 vocabulary', I'm talking about vocabulary that could help you to get a band 7 or higher.
2. There is no list of band 7 vocabulary that you can use in any essay.
3. 'Band 7 vocabulary' refers to words and phrases that relate to the question topic. For example, a phrase like "delay the development of a child's first language" would be band 7 vocabulary, but a linking word like "moreover" would not.
4. Examiners are looking for 'less common' vocabulary. They wouldn't expect many students to write "delay the development of a child's first language", so this phrase would impress them.
5. Remember that we are not looking for 'big' words that are difficult to understand. We are looking for groups of words used naturally and accurately together. The phrase "delay the development of a child's first language" is easy to understand, but not many students would think to use it.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'language learning' topic

My students and I worked on this question from Cambridge IELTS 9:

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Here's our plan for a 4-paragraph essay:

1. Introduction: Topic = best age to learn a foreign language. Our opinion = better to learn at primary school age.
2. Disadvantages of learning languages at primary age: other subjects are more important at that age (maths, mother tongue language, science), learning a new language is confusing and wastes time, could delay development of child's first language.
3. Advantages of learning languages at primary age: young children learn faster, they are less self-conscious or shy, they pick up the pronunciation better, they enjoy copying and learning through games, nowadays languages are just as important as maths etc.
4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer.

The plan took us 10 minutes to write. With a plan like this, it should be easy to write a good essay in 30 minutes.

IELTS Writing Task 2: when to give your opinion

Do the following questions ask for your opinion or not?

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
3. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
5. Is this a positive or negative development?
6. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

Answers:
- Numbers 2 and 6 are discussion questions. Discuss both sides of the issue, but don't give an opinion about which side you agree with.
- Numbers 1 and 5 are opinion questions. Give your opinion and support it. If you have a strong opinion, you don't need to mention the other side of the argument.
- Numbers 3 and 4 can be called discussion + opinion questions. Discuss both sides and make your opinion clear too.

IELTS Writing Task 2: quick conclusions

The easiest way to write a short, effective conclusion is to paraphrase what you wrote in your introduction. Let's try this with the introduction I wrote last week.

Introduction
It is true that the top sports people earn incredibly high salaries. Although reasons can be given to justify this, I personally believe that sports stars should be paid much less.

Conclusion (loosely paraphrasing the introduction)
In conclusion, I do not accept the argument that sports professionals deserve to be paid so much more than people who do other important jobs.

Note:
Notice that I wrote "loosely paraphrasing" (I paraphrased the overall idea, rather than word for word).

IELTS Writing Task 2: ideas and planning

Here's a question that my students and I looked at recently:

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

We spent 10 minutes planning, then we wrote half of the essay together:

It is true that the top sports people earn incredibly high salaries. Although reasons can be given to justify this, I personally believe that sports stars should be paid much less.

There are several reasons why some people support high incomes in sport. Firstly, people who reach the highest levels in any sport must be uniquely talented. For example, it is rare to find someone with the football skills of Messi or Ronaldo, and it can be argued that these players deserve salaries that reflect their abilities. Secondly, even the most talented sports professionals must undergo many years of training to develop the skills and fitness required, and this takes great commitment, dedication and passion. Finally, sports salaries are only high because audiences and fans are willing to pay to watch their favourite stars.

Note:
The main reason why these two paragraphs are good is that we planned them carefully. We spent time thinking about the question, making notes, and organising our ideas in a logical way.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'marriages' topic

Here's the question that we started to look at last week:

Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative development?

After writing the introduction, we need to write a paragraph about the first question (why is this the case?). Here's something I wrote with my students:

Marriages have become bigger and more expensive for three main reasons. Firstly, people in developed countries are wealthier than their ancestors were in the past. They therefore have more money to spend on weddings, which are seen as one of life’s most important and unforgettable occasions. Secondly, in today’s globalized world, people see photos of celebrity weddings and want to copy them. For example, when Prince William got married here in England, the ceremony was shown on television and many people were influenced by what they saw. Finally, the wedding industry has grown, and many companies have an interest in selling products and services to us, using persuasive marketing techniques.

Task:
Analyse the paragraph: Does it answer the question, how is it structured, and what "less common" vocabulary is used?

IELTS Writing Task 2: succinct introductions

The introduction technique that I recommend involves writing just 2 sentences: one to introduce the topic, and one to answer the question. Let’s look at this technique in more detail using the following question:

Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative development?

First, we can introduce the topic by paraphrasing the question statement:

It is true that weddings have become more costly and extravagant in recent years.

Second, I need a short, simple answer to both parts of the question:

There are several reasons for this, and in my view it is a negative trend.

If I put the two sentences together, I have a really succinct* introduction:

It is true that weddings have become more costly and extravagant in recent years. There are several reasons for this, and in my view it is a negative trend.

*(succinct: clear, precise expression in few words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: longer introductions?

Recently a few people have asked me whether writing a longer introduction could be the way to improve their task 2 scores. My answer is no! A longer introduction is more likely to harm your score, not help it. The more time you spend on your introduction, the less time you have to write good main body paragraphs. The main body is the key to a high score!

So, how can we improve our main body paragraphs? I think there are 3 easy steps you can take:

1. Spend more time planning and writing the main paragraphs.
2. Spend less time on the introduction and conclusion.
3. Prepare ideas for common topics before you take the exam.

IELTS Writing Task 2: firstly, secondly, finally

The paragraph I wrote for last week's lesson (repeated below) is structured in the following way:

1. Topic sentence
2. Firstly
3. Example
4. Secondly
5. Finally

I think this is a good way to organise a paragraph. However, it's best not to use the same structure twice in one essay. Compare the two paragraphs below. How did I structure the second one to avoid repeating "Firstly, Secondly, Finally"?

First main paragraph
There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to his or her skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable. Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health.

Second main paragraph
On the other hand, it is understandable why people might avoid change. Whenever people are forced to change their lifestyles, jobs or even to move house, they are likely to experience stress and worry as they try to adapt to the new situation. By contrast, we feel comfortable and confident when we stay with what we know. The decision to persist with a course of action or stick to one chosen path often leads to greater success in life. For example, by staying in the same job for many years, a person can become an expert in his or her field, which will lead to better opportunities for promotions and career progression.

IELTS Writing Task 2: band 9 paragraph

My students and I prepared an essay about the following question:

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Here's one of the main body paragraphs:

There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to their skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable. Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health.

Task:
Analyse this paragraph carefully. What can you learn from it in terms of structure, ideas, vocabulary and grammar?

IELTS Writing Task 2: opinion, not discussion

If the question asks whether you agree or disagree, it is asking for your opinion. You should express your opinion in the introduction, and support it in the rest of the essay.

Don’t structure an “opinion” essay like this:

1. Introduction
2. Paragraph supporting the opposite opinion
3. Paragraph supporting my opinion
4. Conclusion

The problem with this essay structure is that paragraph 2 is not consistent with my opinion. This is a “discussion” essay structure!

Think of it this way: your task when you answer an “agree or disagree” question is to persuade the reader that your view is right. Each paragraph should defend your opinion.

Note:
You can write about both sides of the argument if you say that you "partly agree". Go to this lesson to see some suggestions for essay structures.

IELTS Writing Task 2: agree or disagree?

When the question asks whether you agree or disagree, you can either express a strong opinion (completely agree or disagree) or you can express a balanced opinion (partly agree, or agree to a certain extent).

Let's look at two ways to answer the following question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

1) Introduction for a strong opinion
Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I support the view that job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment are much more important than money.

2) Introduction for a balanced opinion
Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I believe that both criteria should be given equal consideration.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'money' topic

Following on from yesterday's video, let's look at a writing task 2 question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Don't attempt this question without spending some time planning first:

• Decide on your overall point of view: agree or disagree (or maybe 'partly agree').
• Plan your 4-paragraph essay structure: what will each paragraph be about?
• Note some ideas for each main paragraph: think about how you will explain your ideas in detail, and what real-life examples you could use.

IELTS Writing Task 2: make your own questions

A useful way to practise is to write your own questions. By doing this, you can cover a range of topics without needing to search for questions in books or on the Internet. You can also keep the questions clear and simple.

Let's write 3 questions about 'population growth' (yesterday's listening topic):

Discussion question
The populations of many countries are increasing rapidly. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.

Opinion question
Many people believe that it is time to limit population growth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Problem and solution
The populations of many countries are increasing rapidly. Explain what problems this trend may cause, and suggest some possible solutions.

IELTS Writing Task 2: two common mistakes

Here are two mistakes that students often make:

• Using "although" wrongly
• Always putting a comma after "that"

Look at these incorrect sentences:

1. Although, tourism has many benefits, but it also has some drawbacks.
2. Many people believe that, parents should be strict.

Now look at the correct sentences:

1. Although tourism has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks.
2. Many people believe that parents should be strict.

IELTS Writing Task 2: ways to prepare

Many students only do one thing to prepare for writing task 2: they write lots of full essays. Although it's obviously important to practise writing full essays, there are other things that I think you should be doing.

Here are some study ideas for writing task 2:

1) Break the task into parts
Instead of writing a full essay today, why not try writing 5 different introductions using my 2-sentence technique? Or challenge yourself to write 3 different main-body paragraphs about "advantages" (e.g. advantages of mobile phones, homeschooling and immigration) - use this lesson to help you. Or write 5 different conclusions - just one sentence each, summarising your response to 5 different questions.

2) Do some research
Instead of worrying about one particular question, try to find 10 recent exam questions (maybe using this page). Write the questions on a piece of paper, decide what the general topic is for each one (e.g. advertising, prisons, life expectancy) and do some research about those topics. Don't worry about the exact question, just try to "collect" good ideas and vocabulary for the overall topic. A quick search on Google or Wikipedia should give you what you need.

3) What do you believe?
A big problem for some students is that they don't have well-formed opinions. They're not sure what to write about topics like homeschooling, immigration or gun control. The good news is that there is no 'correct' opinion - the examiner is only looking at how well you express your opinions in English. So, after doing some research (see point 2 above), make sure you have an opinion of your own.

IELTS Writing Task 2: problem/solution essay

Here's my full essay for the question we've been working on.

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 industrialised 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 healthcare, 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 healthcare, 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.

(265 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: from plan to paragraph

Let's try writing a full paragraph using the essay plan from this lesson. The topic of this paragraph is "the problems caused by increasing life expectancy". Here's the plan I wrote:

Problems
- an increase in the number of retired people who will receive a pension
- a smaller proportion of young adults = smaller working populations
- a greater tax burden on working adults
- demand for healthcare will rise
- young adults will have to look after elderly relatives

Here's my paragraph using the ideas above:

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 healthcare, and the fact young adults will increasingly have to look after their elderly relatives.

Note: It would be easy to write more by adding an example (such as healthcare costs like more hospital beds and medical staff), but I've already written 106 words, which is enough for one main paragraph.

IELTS Writing Task 2: introduction and conclusion

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.

You don't need to mention any specific problems or solutions in your introduction and conclusion. These paragraphs can be short, easy and general. Remember that the main paragraphs are much more important in terms of your score.

Example introduction
It is true that people in industrialised 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.

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

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'ageing population' topic

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.

Some advice:

- Write 4 paragraphs: introduction, problems, solutions, conclusion.
- You don't need to separate ideas about individuals and ideas about society. Just mention something about both in your paragraphs.

Some ideas:

Problems
- an increase in the number of retired people who will receive a pension
- a smaller proportion of young adults = smaller working populations
- a greater tax burden on working adults
- demand for healthcare will rise
- young adults will have to look after elderly relatives

Solutions
- people may have to retire later; the state pension age will rise
- medical advances and health programmes might allow elderly people to stay healthy and work for longer
- people should be encouraged to have more children
- governments could encourage immigration (in order to increase the number of younger adults)

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'capital punishment' topic

Here are some ideas from my ebook about the topic of capital punishment. Remember that you won't be able to write a good essay unless you have good ideas. Also, you should always try to prepare both sides of the argument.

Arguments for capital punishment:

• Supporters say that capital punishment deters crime.
• Fear of the death penalty stops people from committing offences.
• The death penalty shows that crime is not tolerated.
• It is a form of revenge.
• The cost of imprisonment is avoided.
• The offender cannot pose a threat to others.

Arguments against capital punishment:

• Innocent people could be wrongly convicted and executed.
• Crime rates are not necessarily reduced.
• Many criminals do not think they will be caught.
• Capital punishment is not a good deterrent.
• Executing prisoners creates a violent culture and encourages revenge.
• We have no right to take another human life.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'petrol price' introduction

The following question comes from Cambridge IELTS book 8.

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What other measures do you think might be effective?

My students wrote the introduction below. Notice that it addresses all parts of the question so that the examiner knows exactly what our position is.

Traffic and pollution are growing problems in today’s society. Personally, I disagree with the idea that higher petrol prices could solve these problems, and I believe that various other measures would be more constructive.

PS. Don't waste time writing a longer introduction than this. The main body paragraphs are much more important!

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'video games' essay

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.

(258 words, band 9)

IELTS Writing Task 2: video games

Here's a question about the 'video games' topic we looked at last week:

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?

Personally, I'd answer this question in the same way as I'd answer a 'discuss both views and give your opinion' question. I'd write 4 paragraphs:

1. Introduce the topic, both sides of the argument, and my view.
2. Explain the benefits of video games.
3. Explain the drawbacks.
4. Summarise / repeat my overall opinion.

Students shared some good ideas in the comments area here (especially some of the comments near the bottom). You could also adapt the ideas in my ebook chapter about the positives and negatives of television. I'll share my full essay next week.

IELTS Writing Task 2: video games

Yesterday's listening exercise was about the topic of video games. This could also be an IELTS writing topic, so let's think about how we could prepare for it.

Think about the following points:

1) Which type of question do you think is more likely for the 'video games' topic: discussion, agree/disagree or problem/solution?
2) Can we use any of the ideas, opinions or vocabulary from yesterday's lesson?
3) What other ideas or arguments could we add?

Task: try writing your own exam question for this topic. We'll look at a real question next week.

IELTS Writing Task 2: parents or schools?

One of the questions in Cambridge IELTS book 8 asks who should be responsible for making children into good citizens: parents or schools?

Here's a paragraph I wrote about this topic:

Parents play a huge ______ in their children’s lives, and shoulder more of the ______ for their upbringing than school teachers do. Before starting school, infants spend the first four or five years of their lives with their mothers and fathers. During those ______ years, parents teach their children vital skills and habits, such as the ability to speak, eat and behave. Parents are the major role ______ for young people, who copy the behaviour that they see on a daily ______ at home, and it would be wrong to expect schools to ______ a greater influence than the family.

Task:
Can you guess what words I used in the spaces?

IELTS Writing Task 2: are you stuck?

Students often tell me that they are stuck on the same writing score. For example, they keep getting 6.5 in every test they take. If you are stuck in a rut like this, perhaps the most effective way to get out of it is to give more importance to your essay plan.

I tell my students to spend around 3 minutes making notes for each main body paragraph. So, for the housing topic we've been looking at recently, we would spend 3 minutes thinking about why we shouldn't build more houses in cities, and 3 more minutes thinking about the benefits of developing new towns.

The act of planning helps you to separate the task of idea generation from the task of writing. It's extremely difficult to do both of these things at the same time.

IELTS Writing Task 2: introduction technique

As I've said before, task 2 introductions should be short and direct. You only need to write two sentences in order to do two things:

1. Introduce the topic.
2. Respond to the question, making your position clear.

Take this question from last week's lesson:

More houses are needed in many countries to cope with increasing populations. Would it be better to build houses in existing towns and cities, or to develop new towns in rural areas?

Here's my 2-sentence introduction:

It is true that the populations of many countries are growing, and that new housing is therefore needed. In my opinion, it would be better to increase the provision of housing by creating new towns, rather than by further developing existing towns and cities.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'housing' topic

Several people have asked me to help with the following question:

More houses are needed in many countries to cope with increasing populations. Would it be better to build houses in existing towns and cities, or to develop new towns in rural areas?

The first thing that I would do is think about my 4-paragraph structure. This means that we need 2 main body paragraphs (2 main ideas). Don't worry about putting your real opinion; just try to think of the easiest opinion for a 4-paragraph essay.

Here's one way that we could structure the essay:

1. Introduction: give your opinion e.g. it's better to develop new towns
2. Paragraph: explain why we shouldn't build more houses in cities
3. Paragraph: explain the benefits of building new towns
4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise your opinion

IELTS Writing Task 2: use what you learn

When you learn a new word, collocation or phrase, it's a good idea to try using it in different contexts. For example, the collocations in last week's lesson came from an essay about music, but maybe we can use them for other topics.

As an example, I'll choose the topic of education, and I'll write a couple of sentences around some of the collocations (underlined) from last week:

In primary schools, more importance should be given to creativity and problem solving, and these skills should be valued over memorisation and rote learning. Creativity can be fostered by exposing children to a rich variety of media, and by encouraging them to express their emotions.

IELTS Writing Task 2: collocations

Collocations are groups of words that are often found together. Native speakers have a large repertoire of these word groups, and can use them without thinking. Language learners need to build their own repertoire of collocations through reading and listening, and by noticing word groups that commonly occur.

Here are some collocations from the essay I wrote last week:

• a rich variety
• a vital part, a necessary part
• a range of reasons
• musical preferences
• life stories
• express emotions, arouse emotions
• a commercial product
• cultural identity
• human existence
• give importance

These are just some of the most obvious collocations in the essay. We could also add grammatical collocations like 'a means of' and 'valued over'. To read more about collocations, click here and here.