IELTS Writing Task 2

 1. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have a negative impact on young people and their ability to form personal relationships. Others believe that these sites bring people together in a beneficial way.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

2. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people believe that Art gives our lives meaning and purpose. Others believe that it is merely a distraction from real life.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

3. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people feel that the legal age at which people can marry should be at least 21.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

4. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Information technology enables many people to do their work outside their workplace (e.g. at home, when travelling, etc.).

Do the benefits of this mobility outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

5. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many countries are experiencing serious problems with their environment, with pollution of their land, water and air.

What are these problems and how might they be reduced?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

1. 

New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people throughout the world. Many believe that this is harmful and prevents us from forming meaningful friendships with others, while some people argue that using social media improves our ability to build new relationships. In my opinion, the negative impact is greater than the benefits, as I will explain.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and meet with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or, increasingly, online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them online. You can learn more about them and see them at both their best and their worst; therefore, your relationship is based on more than short text communication.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Nevertheless, these websites often lead young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bullied because of how they look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if they are not careful and they never really know who they are connecting with.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and keep in touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make real friends in the real world. I personally believe that these are the relationships that last a lifetime.

(256 words)

2. 

In today's modern world, there is probably greater access to Art than ever before. Nevertheless, the function of Art remains an area of debate with some believing that it provides meaning and purpose to our lives, whilst others feel that it is only a momentary escape from more important issues. My own belief is that Art is fundamental to what makes us human.

A first point to consider is that the expression of our lives through Art is one of the few things that separates humans from animals. Man is the only creature who attempts to reflect his own life through Art forms such as painting. Furthermore, the fact that Art is often taken to mean the work of geniuses such as Picasso does not necessarily mean that Art is only a characteristic of modern man. Ancient cave paintings show that even in primitive times, the expression of the world around was important to humans. In my opinion this is a strong argument for showing how vital Art is to Man.

Some people believe that Art is just a brief distraction from normality. However, one of the major uses of Art is to lift people's spirits. The songs of slaves provide an example of how music can help people cope with pain. Similarly, paintings and sculptures are often used to remember historical events, keeping them alive in the culture. I believe this reflects a fundamental need to express our existence through Art.

To summarize, Art is something which has been a part of human history for thousands of years and helps people survive difficult times and express their existence. Thus, it is my view that Art is much more than just entertainment: it is one of the defining characteristics of being human.

(292 words)

3.

It is widely agreed that a happy and stable relationship in marriage is the bedrock of any community, with a greater likelihood of responsible partners, and if children result, harmonious family. Because of this, it is important to support the institution of marriage in every way possible. One important question in relation to this is: at what age should couples be allowed to marry?

There are a number of reasons for making the minimum age for matrimony as late as possible. Many would argue that people in their 20s are able to make such more rational decisions than teenagers can. Older people might have seen enough of the world to know that the feelings that they hold for someone at a given moment may not last. They will realise that superficial characteristics like physical beauty and sporting prowess may not be the only ones to bring happiness in a relationship. Older couples are likely to give more consideration to issues such as income and job prospects, but also to less obvious but important personality traits such as tolerance, kindness or moral strength.

However, other people contend that it is unrealistic to make couples wait until their 20s before marrying. They suggest that as soon as the boy and the girl reached puberty they should be allowed to marry. To prevent they doing so would result in resentment between the generations, frustration and an increase in the number of unsupported pregnancies. If married teenagers are given enough help to support, they can have children when they are young and healthy enough to enjoy them.

Considering both this sets of arguments, I feel that 21 is probably too old but that 18 should be made the legal minimum at which couples can marry.

(291 words)

4. 

Mobile technology has become an integral part of our lives, and the existence of mobile phones, laptops and iPads has altered the way many people work. While there are distinct advantages to this, it is important to guard against over use and possible detrimental effects on health and relationships.

One of the biggest benefits of mobile technology is that people no longer have to work in an office. In fact, many businesses now permit their staff to work from home on some days of the week. This Is particularly helpful for busy parents; it can reduce stress levels and help people manage their daily lives better.

Another benefit for many people and businesses is that work can continue outside the office. Phone calls can be made almost anywhere and documents can be read or written on public transport or in cafes. This is extremely beneficial for people who have long trips to work.

Despite the advantages mentioned above, care must be taken to ensure that the convenience of ‘teleworking’ does not lead to more hours on the lob and less time spent doing exercise or being with friends and family. No one would deny that it is wonderful to be able to work from home, but a person who spends too much time on their computer may find that their health suffers in the long run.

On the whole, most people profit from the use of mobile technology, and there are obvious advantages to its use. However, we need to keep an eye on how much we rely on this resource, otherwise the disadvantages will be greater for everyone.

(269 words)

5. 

Almost every country in the world has problems with the environment, affecting its land, air or water. I believe the main problems on land are caused by building too many houses, using up land for depositing rubbish and also the destruction of trees, which leads to soil erosion.

Perhaps the most helpful thing we can do to tackle these difficulties is to try to persuade governments to stop building on certain areas so that there will be room for more trees. We should also try to use more 'biodegradable' materials so that they decay naturally and do not stay in the ground for thousands of years. We should also aim to plant more trees which will prevent soil erosion.

The ways in which air is affected are as follows. Firstly, by burning so many fossil fuels we pump large amounts of toxic gases into the atmosphere which leads to harmful climate change and the destruction of the protective ozone layer. I believe the best way to reduce these problems is by changing our transport policies: we should use more public transport or at least try to use more efficient fuels in cars.

The main effects of pollution and other environmental problems on water are the melting of the ice-caps because of global warming which leads to flooding. There is also contamination of rivers by harmful chemicals. These can be dealt with if global warming is reduced and also by such measures as taxing industries which repeatedly pollute our waterways. It is crucial that these measures are taken in order to ensure a healthy future for our planet.

(266 words)