60 IELTS Writing Task 2 sample essays (band 8)

Agree/Disagree

• Some people believe that university education should be free for all students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Governments should spend more money on protecting the environment than on other public services. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• The best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Public money should be spent on museums and galleries rather than on sports facilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Preventing illness through public health campaigns is a better use of government money than treating people who are already sick. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• With so much information available online, schools will soon become unnecessary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Reducing the number of non-essential flights would do more to protect the environment than limiting the use of private cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Newspapers and television should report more positive news stories. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Advances in technology will make it much easier to prevent and solve crimes in the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Once a country becomes wealthy, further economic growth does little to make its people happier. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Art and music should be compulsory subjects for all secondary school students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Students should be allowed to use AI writing tools when completing their homework and coursework. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Governments should introduce a four-day working week for all employees without any reduction in pay. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Clothing companies should be made to pay for the collection and recycling of the garments they sell. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In the future, most medical consultations will take place by video call rather than face to face. To what extent do you agree or disagree that this is a good thing?
• Old buildings in city centres should be preserved, even if this means less space is available for new housing. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Social media companies should be held legally responsible for false information that is posted on their platforms. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Online crimes such as hacking and identity theft should be punished as severely as physical crimes like burglary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Cinemas and television channels should be required to show a minimum proportion of films and programmes made in their own country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In the future, cash should be completely replaced by digital payment methods such as cards and mobile wallets. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Discussion

• Some people think that technology has made our lives more complicated, while others believe it has made life easier. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe advertising aimed at children should be banned, while others think it is acceptable. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some believe that individuals should be free to use natural resources such as water as they wish, while others think governments should strictly limit their use. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some say the main purpose of education is to make individuals useful to society, while others believe it should help people achieve their personal goals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people think it is the government's duty to make sure citizens eat healthily, while others say it is a personal responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Some people believe children should begin formal lessons in reading and arithmetic at the age of four or five, while others think they should not start until six or seven and should spend their early years playing. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think artificial intelligence will create more jobs than it destroys, while others fear it will lead to widespread unemployment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some argue that nuclear power is essential if countries are to meet their climate targets, while others believe all investment should go into renewable energy such as solar and wind. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think that mental health should be taught as a separate subject at school, while others believe it is better dealt with by families and health professionals. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people believe growing cities should expand outwards by building new suburbs on surrounding land, while others think they should build upwards on land that is already developed. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some people think all teenagers should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time, while others believe this should be left to personal choice. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
• Some believe that tourists should pay an entry fee to visit popular cities and natural sites, while others argue that this makes travel unfair for people on lower incomes. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Problem–Solution

• Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem in many large cities. What are the causes of this problem, and what measures could be taken to solve it?
• Obesity rates among children are rising in many countries. Why is this happening, and what can parents and schools do about it?
• Many people who leave prison go on to commit further crimes. Why does this happen, and how can the problem be reduced?
• Young people today spend less time with older generations than they did in the past. What are the reasons for this, and how can the situation be improved?
• Youth unemployment is a growing problem in many countries. What problems does it cause, and what measures should be taken to reduce it?
• Many young people now get most of their news from short videos on social media. What problems can this cause, and what can be done to address them?
• A growing number of employees say they feel exhausted and burnt out by their jobs. What are the causes of this problem, and what can be done to solve it?
• Birth rates are falling in many countries as couples choose to have fewer children or none at all. What problems does this cause, and what measures could be taken to deal with them?
• Large amounts of food are thrown away every day by households, restaurants and supermarkets. Why does this happen, and what can be done to reduce food waste?
• Online scams that target older people are becoming increasingly common. Why is this happening, and what can be done to protect them?

Advantages–Disadvantages

• More and more people are choosing to work from home rather than in an office. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
• Cities around the world are starting to look more and more alike. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
• An increasing number of students choose to complete their degrees in another country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Positive/Negative

• In many families, grandparents now play a smaller role in raising children than in the past. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Being highly competitive is seen as essential for success at work today. Is this a positive or negative trend for individuals and society?
• In some countries, more fathers are staying at home to look after their children while mothers go out to work. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Many people now share personal information online in order to shop, bank and socialise. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Celebrities have a growing influence on the attitudes and behaviour of young people. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Many people now rely on navigation apps to find their way and no longer learn routes or read maps themselves. Is this a positive or negative development?
• An increasing number of people earn their living by doing short-term jobs found through online platforms, rather than working for a permanent employer. Is this a positive or negative development?
• In many countries, a large number of secondary school students attend private tutoring classes in the evenings and at weekends. Is this a positive or negative development?
• Thanks to global streaming services, people in many different countries now watch the same films and television series. Is this a positive or negative development?

Two-part question

• Traditional clothing is being replaced by international fashion in many countries. Why is this happening? Is it a positive or negative trend?
• In many countries, more young adults are living with their parents until their late twenties or even thirties. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
• Many people today sleep fewer hours than people did in the past. Why is this the case, and what effects does it have on individuals and society?
• Fewer university students are choosing to study subjects such as history, literature and philosophy. Why is this happening? Does it matter for society?
• In many countries, young people are leaving small towns and villages to live in big cities. What are the reasons for this, and what could be done to make rural areas more attractive to them?
• More and more people are paying for online news subscriptions, even though plenty of news is available for free. Why do people choose to pay for news? Should quality news be free for everyone?

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