WRITING
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the proportion of different categories offamilies
living in poverty in Australia in 1999.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,
and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Family type Proportion of people from each
household type living in poverty
single aged person 6% (54,000)
aged couple 4% (48,000)
single, no children 19% (359,000)
couple, no children 7% (211,000)
sole parent 21% (232,000)
couple with children 12% (933,000)
all households 11% (1,837,000)
31
Model and Sample Answers for Writing
Tasks
TEST 1, WRITING TASK 1
MODEL ANSWER
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a, very good answer. However, please
note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.
The table gives a breakdown of the different types of family who were living in
poverty in Australia in 1999.
On average, 11% of all households, comprising almost two million people, were in
this position. However, those consisting of only one parent or a single adult had
almost double this proportion of poor people, with 21 % and 19% respectively.
Couples generally tended to be better off, with lower poverty levels for couples
without children (7%) than those with children 02%). It is noticeable that for both /
types of household with children, a higher than average proportion were living in
poverty at this time.
·'
Older people were generally less likely to be poor, though once again the trend
favoured elderly c9uples (only 4%) rather than single elderly people (6%).
Overall the table suggests that households of single adults an.d those with children '
were more likely to be living in poverty than those consisting of couples.
162
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as
media for communicating information. State which you consider to be the
most effective.
• comics
• books
• radio
• television
• film
• theatre
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
32
Outline for an IELTS Advantages/Disadvantages Essay
Introduction
Paraphrase the question
State the outline
Main Body Paragraph 1
Present the advantages/positives
Expand the idea with an example.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Present the Disadvantages/Negatives
Expand the idea with an example.
Conclusion
Summarise your opinion if asked and the key features
Band 8 Sample Answer For Writing Task 2
Undoubtedly, in today’s world, we have many technologies for communication and
information, such as books, radio, and films. I believe that despite their numerous benefits, these
also have a few disadvantages. Hence, this essay will elaborate about both the sides with
examples.
Talking about books, they are the traditional method of sharing information, are still widely
used in schools. They are affordable and a convenient way for students to focus on their studies.
For instance, even with internet assistance, students often prefer visiting the library and reading
books because they provide reliable information and a mix of knowledge. Radio is favoured by
both the older and younger generations. It’s a helpful companion when we lack internet access,
reviving old memories. On the other hand, the younger generation leans more towards audio-
visual devices like television and films due to their engaging features.
However, the production of printed materials isn’t environmentally friendly, as it involves
cutting down trees which is very harmful to the environment. Additionally, proper storage is
crucial, as exposure to moisture or rain can damage the quality of books. While films offer
colourful views and aid learning for those who dislike reading, they sometimes contain explicit
content that can negatively impact society, contributing to an increase in crime rates like rape and
murder.
In conclusion, despite the widespread availability of technology for information, its volatile
nature raises concerns about complete trust. In my opinion, books remain a source of trustworthy
information, connecting us to traditional and cultural values missing on the internet.
. WRI.TJNG
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the demandfor electricity in England during
typical days in winter and summer. The pie chart shows how electricity is
used in an average English home.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,
and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Typical daily demand for electricity
O hrs 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
What the electricity is used for:
G) 52.5% Heating rooms, heating water
17.5% Ovens, kettles, washing machines
15% Lighting, TV, radio
15% Vacuum cleaners, food mixers, electric tools
54
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Happiness is considered very important.in life.
Why is it difficult to define?
What factors are important in achieving happiness?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
55
TEST 2, WRITING TASK 2
MODEL ANSWER
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer. However, please
note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.
Happiness is very difficult to define, because it means so many different things to
different people. While some people link happiness to wealth and material success,
others think it lies in emotions and loving personal relationships. Yet others think that
spiritual paths, rather than either the material world or relationships with people, are
the only way to true happiness.
Because people interpret happiness fo,r themselves in so many different ways, it is
difficult to give any definition that is true for everyone. However, if there are different
kinds of happiness for different individuals then the first step in achieving it would be
to have a degree of self-knowledge. A person needs to know who he or she is before
being able to know what it is that makes him or her happy.
Of course, factors such as loving relationships, good health, the skills to earn a living
. and a peaceful environment all contribute to our happiness too. But this does not
mean that people without these conditions cannot be happy.
Overall, I think an ability to keep clear perspectives in life is a more essential factor in
achieving happiness. By that I mean an ability to have a clear sense of what ,s
important in our lives (the welfare of our families, the quality of our relationships,
making other people happy, etc.) and what is not (a problem at work, getting
annoyed about trivial things, etc.).
Like self-awareness, this is also very difficult to achieve, but I think these are the two
factors that may be the most important for achieving happiness.
165
- WRITING
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The chart below shows the different levels of post-school qualifications in
Australia and the proportion of men and women who held them in 1999.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,
and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Post-school qualifications in Australia according to gender 1999
Skilled vocational
-- -___,.--.,,-___,.----------:-=-:--:='"7"':::;-:-;�-.
diploma r-
Undergraduate -,
diplomat-,-,-,----,,-,,-------
Bachelor's �
----------,- --,-,
degree 1-,-
Master's
■ Female
degree □ Males
l======;=========;===;:::===�--..,.------r---r----,
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
78
TEST 3, WRITING TASK 1
MODEL ANSWER
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer. However, please
note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.
The chart gives information about post-school qualifications in terms of the different
levels of further education reached by men and women in Australia in 1999.
We can see immediately that there were substantial differences in the proportion of
men and women at different levels. The biggest gender difference is at the lowest
post-school level, where 90% of those who held a skilled vocational diploma were
men, compared with only 10% of women. By contrast, more women held
undergraduate diplomas (70%) and marginally more women reached degree level
(55%).
At the higher levels of education, men with postgraduate diplomas clearly
outnumbered their female counterparts (70% and 30%, respectively), and also
constituted 60% of Master's graduates.
Thus we can see that more men than women hold qualifications at the lower and
higher levels of education, while more women reach undergraduate diploma level
than men. The gender difference is smallest at the level of Bachelor's degree,
however.
166
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express their own
ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There
should be no government restrictions on what they do.
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.
Write at least 250 words.
79
.WRITING
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below give information about travel to andfrom the UK, and
about the nwst popular countries for UK residents to visit.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features,
and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Visits to and from the UK
60
visits abroad by
UK residents
visits to the UK by
overseas residents
+---------.,,."'----------
(/)
C
� 30
.E 20 L----=�c:_::_����§§�=======
0 +------,.---------,--__...:..---,------,
1979 1984 1989 1994 1999
Most popular countries visited by UK residents 1999
Turkey
Greece
USA
Spain
France
0 5 10 15
millions of UK visitors
100
WRITING TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In many countries schools ha,e se,ere problems with student beha,iour.
What do you think are the c1U1Ses of this!
What solutions can you suggest!
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
101
TEST 4, WRITING TASK 2
MODEL ANSWER
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer. However, please
note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.
Poor student behaviour seems to be an increasingly widespread problem and I think
that modern lifestyles are probably responsible for this.
In many countries, the birth rate is decreasing so that families are smaller with fewer
children. These children are often spoilt, not in terms of love and attention because
working parents do not have the time for this, but in more material ways. They are
allowed to have whatever they want, regardless of price, and to behave as they
please. This means that the children grow up without consideration for others and
without_ any understanding of where their standard of living comes from.
When they get to school age they have not learnt any self control or discipline. They
have less respect for their teachers and refuse to obey school rules in the way that
their parents did.
Teachers continually complain about this problem and measures should be taken to
combat the situation. But I think the solution to the problem lies with the families, who
need to be more aware of the future consequences of spoiling their children. If they
could raise them to be considerate of others and to be social, respons:01e
individuals, the whole community would benefit.
Perhaps parenting classes are needed to help them to do this, and high quality
nursery schools could be established that would support families more in terms of
raising the next generation. The government should fund this kind of parental
support, because this is no longer a problem for individual families, but for society as
a whole.
169
