IELTS Writing Task 2: 'agree or disagree' essay samples

Here are links to four of my essays, each of which demonstrates one of the four "systems" that I recommended in last week's lesson.

1. Click here to see a strong answer with two supporting ideas.

2. Click here to see a strong answer in which I refute the opposite view.

3. Click here to see a balanced answer.

4. Click here to see an "almost balanced" answer, favouring one side.

Remember:
All four systems are equally good. I don't really have a favourite one - it all depends on the question and the ideas that I have. However, if you prefer to choose one or two of these systems and just practise it / them, that's fine!

Comments

[L]

Thank you Simon.

I followed your lessons for more than 6 months and I have the test in 3 days. Hopefully, I will get good scores.

[faeze]

Dear Simon
please give an example for cause and solution essay.

Thanks

[Ryan]

Dear Simon,
I wonder is there any different between the two questions "To what extend do you agree or disgree?" and "Do you agree or disagree?"
Could you help me solve this confusion ?

Thank you.

[Nam Anh]

Thanks, Teacher Simon! I also love the idea that "using which system depends on the question and the ideas I have". In this way, I don't feel forced into a particular structure. It's easier to write with my train of thoughts at that time, rather than forcing myself to brainstorm ideas to fit a particular structure.

[Junaid]

Dear Simon,

Your lessons are worth reading and very helpful. They will definitely benefit me in future. I am planning to take IELTS in August, any one wants to join speaking. My skype is 'junaidkahn'. Please PM me
Thanks

[Macgrady]

Hello Everyone,
I looked back to the second articles and have a question,could any one tell me why there is a for in the sentence below?

One option would be "for" police officers to visit schools and talk to young people.

thx a lot

[Antipova]

@Macgrady The "for" is there as the subject of the infinitive,"police officers", is not the subject of the sentence as a whole.
see
http://www.grammaring.com/the-subject-of-the-infinitive

[Achilles]

Hello Simon,

Which one is correct: smoother or more smooth? I couldn't find a good explanation on the internet.

[Macgrady]

@Antipova

I still don't get it.
can I use "that" to replace "for" here?

[Nam Anh]

Macgrady,

As far as I know, it is correct to use this structure:
One option would be (for somebody) to do something.
I notice that Teacher Simon often use this structure to suggest a solution/ measure in Writing Task 2 essay.
However, I don't know if it is correct to use the structure: One option would be that Somebody do (does) something. I haven't seen Teacher Simon use it before.

Achilles
Smoother is correct. You can see it here:
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/smooth_1?q=Smooth

[sjm]

Macgrady

Prepositions are very hard to understand in English and they are used in many situations and in many ways. In this case, it's just a fixed structure: for + person + infinitive. You could replace it with 'that' but the structure of the sentence would change and the 'to' would be removed. It's not as natural as using 'for'.

Ryan

They are exactly the same.

Achilles

'Smooth' is a one syllable adjective, so it is more common just to add 'er' and write 'smoother'.

[Nam Anh]

Dear Teacher Sjm,
Since you are here, could you please explaining this sentence to me? I do not understand what it means. Thank you very much!
"On the societal level, by forcing people to choose particular university subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered."
I have seen it in a Task 2 essay written by Teacher Simon, but I do not understand what he means by that.

[Simon]

Hi Anh,

It basically means:

Thinking about society as a whole, if we force people to choose certain subjects, we can make sure that we have workers for any jobs that are currently important.

For example, if we need more engineers, we can make sure that universities produce them.

[Simon]

Thanks for your continued help sjm.

[Nam Anh]

Thank you very much Teacher Simon! I really did my best in my speaking test this afternoon. I had nothing to regret! I will inform you my results about 2 weeks later:")

[Nam Anh]

I prayed and I kept repeating your words and your advice in my head before the test. I kept imagining how I would answer in Part 1,2,3, what would be the prirority in each part, how I would deal with if I was stuck, and I was completely confident and ready to show my best! Thank you, Teacher Simon!

[Yuki]

Dear Simon,
thank you for your answers. But I'd really grateful if you could tell me how would you assess this essay.

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2016/05/ielts-writing-task-2-business-responsibilities-essay.html

It says "completely agree" in the intro and doesn't use a "while" sentence, but it still seems to me like one of "Almost balanced opinion" essays. The body paragraphs are definitely "2. Main paragraph: explain why you accept one side of the argument" and "3. Main paragraph: but explain why you still favour the opposite view".

In a nutshell, this essay looks like a strong opinion at first glance, but actually, it is "almost" a balanced opinion.

Look forward from you at your earliest convenience.

[Achu]

Thanks Simon
Now it is clear for me... hope I could do the best in my writing module
Thanks a lot Sir

[Puta]

Dear Simon,
I have a question that I am really wonder. Is it okay to use some words like "innermost", "nuance", "unto", "connote", "encompass", etc. in writing task two? As I looked them up in Macmillan Dictionary and I found out that they are not used (they don't have any "stars").
Please give me your advices.
I look forward to hearing from you.

[Mithiin]

Hi Simon,
I was able to provide a very good conclusion to my task 2, however I forgot to put the linking phrase "In conclusion" at the start of the conclusion. Will my score be affected because of this?

[Ahmed Abbas]

Dear Simon
our task 2 writing topic @ 30/04/2017 was:
computer can now translate any other language quickly and accurately , that made learning other language is a waste of time
to what extent do you agree or disagree
could you please make a topic for this task so we will share ideas
thank you

[Hoda Masoudian]

Is it correct all writings are scanned and corrected in Canada or Australia?

[Sergio]

Hi Simon,

Could you please, give me a feedback regarding this essay below? what band do you think I could score?

Regards,

Sergio

Developed countries have created many environmental problems in the world, particularly in their contribution to global warming.

What can be done to reduce the danger of global warming?

It is true that first-world countries have played a detrimental role in the increase of global temperature. In my opinion, authorities should put together more restrictive policies to companies and implement a selective rubbish collection as a form of prevention against the rising temperatures.
Industries are the main source of pollution, especially in industrialised countries. Therefore, governments should consider applying high penalty rates to companies that do not comply with the minimum standard set by international organisations, in order to keep greenhouse gases at acceptable levels. However, a good example is Narigudo City in Japan, which was responsible for more than 62 percent of the Co2 found in the air in 2003. Research has indicated that the numbers drastically dropped down to 7 percent ten years after the Carbon tax law came into effect said Mr Takanoku, the local city council mayor proving the method’s efficiency.
Governments should also provide an efficient selective rubbish collection by placing recycling bins throughout the city, especially those places with a high concentration of people such as around stadium, public parks and train stations. Bins should also contain interactive signs and instructions on it to help educate and make people aware of the potential harm their rubbish could cause to the environment. In addition to that, such measure has also proven its efficiency as it separates the non-organic garbage like plastic bottles and cans, from the organic ones such as food scraps, rather than mixing it together and putting into those ordinary rubbish trucks still used in most cities.
In conclusion, there are many things that developed nations could do to solve environmental issues but in my opinion, the two above-mentioned such as selective garbage collection and the carbon tax policy are the most appropriate in this case.

[Paola Rodriguez]

Hello Simon,

I took the IELTS test on the 29/04/2017 in Australia. Writing task two was challenging as I didn't know how to address the task. I would like to have some ideas on how to solve it as I couldn't fit it in any of the 4 categories of essays.

Some people prefer renting than buying a home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting your home?

Kind regards,

Paola Rodriguez

[Morand]

Hi Simon,

Could you please give me a feedback regarding this essay below? what band do you think I could score? It will be veryyyy helpful!

Best Regards,
Morand

Question) Despite a variety of sport facilities and gyms, people are less fit nowadays than ever before.What do you think are the main causes of this problem? What solutions can you suggest?
Nowadays, sport facilities like gym are everywhere, people can have more chances to keep fit. However, it is undoubtedly that obesity is becoming serious than before. In this essay, i will explain the causes of the problem, and giving suggestions.
With the advent of the technology, people start to become more convenient, but more lazy. Living in the computer age, it is so simple to do anything that you want.For example, we can go to somewhere very easy, find someone that you want, or even have a quick meal. It seems help us a lot, but instead it makes us become dependence on it. When people start to rely on those gadgets, they will start to become lazy and don’t want to do anything. For instance, no willing to walk, move or go outside. Which may makes people have less exercise, and stay in the house all day, become overweight eventually.

To solve the problem, government should get involved on it. For example, they can encourage people to do more exercise and becoming healthy, by reducing their tax. So it can increase their motivation to work out. Moreover, government should co-operate with the companies, give the workers a balanced work-life, so they can have more time to do sport , becoming healthy and strong, instead of sitting in the office all the time.

In a nutshell, being fit is not a problem but obesity. Therefore, as long as the government provide enough assistance to the people, it is not hard to see a healthy and good looking society.

(260 words)

[Thuy Hoang]

Hi Simon,

Could you please explain the main differences between "balanced answer" and "almost balanced answer" as they seems to have the same structure (Body 1: against, Body 2: for)?

Besides, can you please advise if it is ok to have a structure like Body 1 for and Body 2 against for "balanced answer" or "almost balanced answer" in Opinion question and in Discussion question?

Thank you.

Thuy Hoang