IELTS Writing Task 2: governments

A lot of IELTS Writing questions ask you to give opinions about what governments should do in relation to an issue. Governments can have an influence on almost everything: environment, crime, television, advertising, work etc.

As part of your IELTS preparation, you should think about what governments can do in relation to IELTS topics. Here are some ideas from my ebook:

• Governments provide public services like healthcare and education.
• They introduce new laws.
• They raise money by taxing working people.
• They can spend money on campaigns to educate people.
• They can raise people's awareness of issues.
• They can create new jobs.
• They can provide resources for schools, hospitals etc.
• They can support people who are living in poverty or unable to work.

So, if the question asks you to suggest what governments should do to reduce obesity, you could write this:

"In my opinion, governments should spend money on campaigns to educate people about the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet. Perhaps they should also introduce new laws to ban the advertising of junk food to children."

Think about some other IELTS topics. What do you think governments should do?

Comments

[Johnny]

They can place fewer restrictions on scientific research,art and the freedom of expression.

They can take more effective measures to eliminate the gap between poor and rich.

They can revise the laws to keep pace with the times.

They can import advanced technologies and cultures to make their people live a better life, and export their own things to share with other people all around the world.

The government can serves as a bridge for the communication between people of different nationalities.

[ahmedtawfik13@yahoo.com]

1-encourage and support small individual's projects.
2-provide more vacant work places.
3-enhance banks to loan people money for good things such as farming,getting a house .
thanks

[Simon]

Great ideas Johnny and Ahmed. Thanks!

[Joshua]

Hi Simon,

When we discuss the two sides of a topic, can we use upsides/downsides to replace advantages/disadvantages or positives/negatives or benefits/drawbacks? cause I don't know whether the two words are properly to be used in an essay and the others are being used too much.Thanks.

Joshua

[Simon]

Hi Joshua,

I probably wouldn't use 'upsides/downsides' in a written essay.

Don't worry about words being used too much by other students. You are not expected to be a completely original writer - just write clear, well-organised paragraphs and focus on "topic-related vocabulary" rather than worrying about words like "advantage".

[Simon]

Hi Joshua,

I probably wouldn't use 'upsides/downsides' in a written essay.

Don't worry about words being used too much by other students. You are not expected to be a completely original writer - just write clear, well-organised paragraphs and focus on "topic-related vocabulary" rather than worrying about words like "advantage".

[sen]

hello simon, thanks a lot to your great job
if the question in the writing 2 is ''your opinion'', is that necessary to insert ''I or ME'' frequently in our answer?

[Simon]

Hi Sen,

You don't need to use "I" and "me" too frequently, but writing "I believe" or "In my opinion" makes it clear what your opinion is.

[yuki]

Hi Simon, I wonder whether I have to take a particular standpoint or not because my teacher said that we should look on both sides. Therefore, I find it quite hard choosing a appropriate way of writing.
For example, this is one of his model essays :
"It is widely believed that there should be no government restrictions on artists so that they are free to express themselves through their work. In my opinion, although artists certainly need as much as possible for creativity, without some restrictions artists may produce art that has a negative effect on society or people's behavior".
What do you think about it?
I'm very anxious because my exam is just around the corner.
Thanks very much for helpful website. Everyday I learn a lot from you:D

[Simon]

Hi Yuki,

I think your teacher's suggestion is very good. If you want to discuss both sides for an "agree or disagree" question, your introduction must establish the idea that you are going to consider both sides. Your teacher does this perfectly by using the word "although" to introduce both views in one sentence in his introduction.

The other option is to have a strong view and support it without looking at the other side.

It all depends on the question. Sometimes you might find it easier to discuss both views, while other times you might find it easier to support one point of view.

Hope this helps

[yuki]

Thanks it really helps me :D
And for topic " some people tax is enough to contribute to society. Others think much more needed to be done. what is your opinion", which approach do you think more reasonable?
Thanks and sorry for too many questions :P

[Simon]

Hi Yuki,

I don't think this is a full question - it's not clear enough. I'm not sure where you got the question from, but maybe a student didn't remember the full question properly.

[Lei]

Hi Simon,

Sorry to bother you again.

I have no idea on how to use 'make','render' and 'serve to' correctly.

[Simon]

Hi Lei,

'Make' has so many uses that I can't explain them all here. For this kind of vocabulary question, you really need to do some research:

- First, look up the words in a good dictionary. A good dictionary will show you the meaning AND several examples of usage.
- Second, search for the word or phrase on Google to see real examples of how it is used on websites, in news articles etc.

You can only really understand how to use a word or phrase when you have seen it used in several different contexts.

[Lei]

Thank you for your suggestion. I really need to google it first.

[murali603]

Govt should offer cash less health service to citizen's who are under poverty line.

They should introduce new scheme's which may decrease the number of people under poverty.