opinion essay jobs

Reducing the Working Week

by Hayder Ahmed (Leeds, UK)

The length of the working week does not reflect modern lifestyle needs. It should be substantially reduced to give people more leisure time and time with their families. How far do you agree with this statement? Day by day, the life is becoming more complex and very difficult and people work for long time in every day. It is agreed that the number of working day in a weak should be reduced to give workers more free time with their families. Analysing both difficulty and complexity of life nowadays as well as people work hard for long time will show this. Firstly, today, the life is complex and people spend a long time working very hard without a rest time. For instance, people work from the beginning of morning to the end of evening very hard. When they back to their home, they might be tired and stressful. Therefore, people can not find a free time to talk and discuss with their families and spend enjoyable time with them. Thus, this makes it clear why people need for more free time every week. Secondly, as people work hardly for a long time during a working day, they might be stress and their health could be not good. For example, when workers do their job, they will be standing all the time and sometime doing hard without a rest time. Thus, their body could be very tired and in a bad condition and this routine continues every day. From this, it becomes quiet evident that why decreasing the number of working day is important for people health. In summary, people are working very hard for long time. Therefore, their health condition could be bad and they do not spend more time with their families. Thus, it is clear why the idea of increasing the number of working day can not be supported. After analysing this subject, it is predicted that the drawbacks of working a long time without rest more than benefits. (295 words) ***** I'd appreciate some feedback for my essay on work and careers.

Working Part-time while at High School

Some high (secondary) school students work part-time while some do not, instead just focusing on their studies. What are the advantages and disadvantages of part-time jobs for high school students? Many high school students take up jobs in their free time. Some parents discourage their teenagers from working while studying. Both these cases have good and bad points. The students who take up part-time jobs become responsible. A job brings them income by which they get spending power. For example, a teen who works can use his money to buy his own text-books, pay for his lunch at the canteen, and also purchase personal things for himself. This reduces the burden on their parents especially in low-income families. These high school kids learn to spend wisely and hence tend to practice the art of saving for a future need. There are also drawbacks of getting themselves employment. They can get distracted from their studies. This can happen because a student may want to put in more hours of work in order to earn more cash. As a result, he will spend more time working and less time focusing on his educational side. Another downside is that with money power in his hands, he could easily fall prey to bad habits like gambling, drugs and smoking. This can lead to destruction of his academics and ultimately destroy his future career. Different homes are different when it comes to their financial state. Hence, low income groups might prefer if their children make a small earning to support themselves. However, high society people may not be in favor that their offspring gets employed as they feel it is below their status and , besides they can fund their teens.

Not Paying Taxes Essay

Some people believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn, and should not have to pay tax to the state. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Every citizen have to pay a amount of their income. Countries implement changeable income taxes that generally depends on people`s rich rate. You will be seen end of the this Essay, how we are returning paid taxes by government. We use money every moment of our life for buying necessary things such an food, drinks and other costs to survive our life. And this provided product to us is controlling by government. There are massive official that they are working to supply our needs behind of this process. Those officials earn money from our taxes. On the other hand, governments have very large of responsibilities on own citizens such a security, relationship with other countries that is for giving right when they left their country, service that is for every sector to survive their life. To sup up, we have to pay taxes for this a lot of wheel can work. It is obligated rule for all citizens. Likely there are strict rules that someone reduce to pay income taxes , government do punish by fine or imprisonment .

IELTS Essay: Motivation to Stay in the Workforce

by storm (Bangladesh)

There are several factors that motivate people to stay in the workforce, and money is the most important. To what extent do you agree or disagree? There are lots of factor that impel peoples stay in the workforce where salary is the main reason for it. Well, I disagree with this point and I believe and think that job satisfaction is much more important than money this essay will explain why is that. First of all, I believe that job satisfaction can give a person fulfillness whereas money can not guarantee that. Even if a person gets highly payment for his job however it does not bring happiness for him. He feels stressed and compromise his consciousness for his job. That person will be in depression and end up leaving that job sooner or later cause it does not bring any enthusiasm towards the job, he is doing it just to sake for the salary. Secondly, when you have freedom and like what you do it keeps you motivated and leads you to career growth. Its is said that those love their job they can easily excel in their field or work than who puts salary in their job first. For example, I love what I do for living which gives me urge to do more and more but the salary is not as it expected but there are lots opportunities and facilities which helps me do my task easily. On the other hand, my friends work for a company where she gets highly pay for her job but she is not happy what she does in the end. She is doing the job because of the money. She stays depressed most of the time because of the job and she think about leaving it. In conclusion, I strongly believe job satisfaction is more important and essential than money. Job satisfaction gives better career growth and happiness.

IELTS Essay: Professionals Moving Abroad to Work

by Kaan (Ankara)

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion. Some people opine that experts such as doctors and engineers, must be limited to work in the country where they did their training. On the other hand, others think that they should be free to work in another country if they wish. However, I strongly believe that professionals should be free to work abroad. First, in my opinion, they cannot make a restriction on working conditions, it is not fair and it is against human rights. Because governments may not support doctors and engineers, if governments do not wish to. In this type of situation, people do not have many opportunities, and they may want to work in another country. On the other hand, maybe there is an economic crisis, and they can be affected by inflation. For instance in my country majority of engineers and doctors travel to other countries to work and also live because of inflation, unemployment and the hardship of earning good salaries. Another reason is bad working conditions. The value which has given to humans is less than another countries. Some people think the burden of high responsibilities causes stress in our country. People are bored with these types of issues. As a result, I believe that important people such as engineers and doctors should be free to work and live in another country if they wish because of economic problems, awful working conditions, low salaries, much stress and unemployment.

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.  

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.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

• Not stating an opinion.
• Giving arguments for both views.
• Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons

2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
• Explanation – explain this idea
• Example – give an example  or expand the idea

3)  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
• Example – give an example or expand the idea

4)  Conclusion

• Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1  decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?  

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2  Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

• Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
• Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
• High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
• Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
• 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
• Money doesn’t bring happiness
• Better quality of life
• Sense of fulfilment
• Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrased question

2)  Thesis statement

3)  outline statement.

An introduction should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

     Question:  A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

                       Do you agree or disagree?  

Paraphrased question:  

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

    Thesis statement:  

    This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:  

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2  – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:  

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence: 

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the  explanation sentence  to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

    Question:

   A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

   Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and  model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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IELTS Discussion Essay Model Answer with Techniques & Tips

This IELTS Discussion Essay Model Essay Answer Band 9 with some techniques and tips.  The Discussion Essay is a common essay type and requires you to discuss two sides of a given issue. This essay type is for both Academic and GT IELTS Writing Task 2.

TECHNIQUES & TIPS FOR IELTS DISCUSSION ESSAY

Discussion Essays are probably the easiest to write of all IELTS essays so be glad if you get one in your test.

• There will be two sides of the same thing, such as homework is good for children / homework is bad for children.
• There will be two different options, such as the government should focus on building housing or on parks. These are two different things and you must address both.
• Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
• Note: the discussion is not more important than the opinion. All parts of the instructions are important to fulfil.
• each side is about why other people support that side
• you don’t get a higher band score because you have more ideas.
• you get a higher band score because your ideas are relevant and well-developed.
• so, decide which ideas to use. You will usually have about two reasons to explain for each side of the discussion.
• Do you agree with one of the sides?
• Do you have your own balanced view which is a specific view that doesn’t fully agree and doesn’t fully disagree?
• You can’t change your opinion half way through your essay so make sure you have decided it before you start writing.
• Background statement = a paraphrase of the essay question. The biggest mistake is incorrect paraphrasing that changes the meaning of the essay question given.
• Thesis statement = presents your position clearly.
• Always have a topic sentence. This shows the examiner which side of the discussion you are about to tackle.
• Making the content and aim of your body paragraphs clear is essential to a high score.
• Topic sentences should help the essay flow clearly and help the examiner locate information easily.
• Not all body paragraphs require examples. If you can’t think of an example don’t worry. Just explain the main point as well as you can.
• Supporting points are basically points that explain the main idea. Imagine someone asking you again and again “What do you mean?” – “Explain yourself”. Good supporting points make the main idea clear.
• Don’t overcomplicate your ideas. Ideas should be clear and relevant, but language should have more complexity for a high score.
• Your opinion should also be restate in the body paragraphs. 
• Summarise all the main ideas you’ve given.
• This should be the shortest paragraph, usually one or two sentences.
• Never introduce a new main point in the conclusion.
• Always start the conclusion with the right linking word. Click here: Video: Linking Words for Conclusions . It’s an old video but still relevant today.
• Use language of discussions, see this video: Discussion Essay Language

IELTS DISCUSSION ESSAY MODEL ANSWER

Discussion Essay Question

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Discussion Essay Model Answer

Please note that this essay is over 300 words. Longer doesn’t mean better. It is rare for an essay to go over 300 words or 310 words at most. Most IELTS essays are between 270 and 290 words, even for a band 9. However, 300 words, more or less, is possible as long as each sentence is highly focused and relevant. This Discussion Essay is an example of one such essay. 

It is considered by some that being a university graduate is the key to securing a good job, while there are others who think that it is better to have experience and soft skills. In my opinion, I believe that having university education is essential for academic jobs, while soft skills and experience are more useful in business.

On the one hand, many people think finding a good job is easier if they have a graduate degree because having tertiary education puts people one step ahead of others. For many employers, this can be the deciding factor between job applicants. Furthermore, a certain level of university education is required for particular jobs, such as being a doctor or teacher. For this reason, I believe that in the case of jobs that require academic knowledge, having a tertiary education is the key to success.

On the other hand, having work experience and soft skills, such as leadership skills and other interpersonal skills, can also throw the balance in favour of the job applicant. For someone who is applying for management positions having experience of how to manage a team as well as strong interpersonal skills to support and direct staff, experience and soft skills are critical. Business is also an area of work where experience puts a person ahead of the competition in a way that university education could not. For this reason I also believe that such skills do have a relevant place in the workplace.

In conclusion, getting a good job requires a relevant background either in experience or education depending on the type of work and field. Some positions require an academic background, whilst others benefit more from experience and skills.

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thank you for your great lessons. I have a question , in discussion essays in the paragraph for the idea with which we don’t agree, is it wrong if we just say that we disagree with this view and give reasons for it? or should we present supporting ideas for both views and then say which one we agree withy ?

A discussion essay is writing about why people have opinion X and why people have opinion Y. It also has your opinion in it so that the examiner can see which side you agree with or whether you have a more specific view point. If you agree with one side, say this in the introduction, the relevant body paragraph and conclusion. If you have a specific view point that doesn’t agree with either side, you will need a whole body paragraph to explain it. See my advanced lessons for detailed training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Could you please answer my question? I thought that in a discussion essay, the candidate should choose one side, but in this case, you support each side. Is this considered a partially agree approach?

There are no such rules that state you must choose one side as your opinion. You are being asked for your opinion – it’s yours and yours alone. IELTS doesn’t dictate that your opinion must be one of the sides given. Your opinion can be whatever you like as long as it addresses the issues fully. If one side states – after school lessons are good for children, but the other side states – after school classes are bad for children, your view is whatever you want it to be. You are not forced to agree with one side. For example, in the UK children who get after school classes benefit a lot from them because they last only one hour or two at most, but in South Korea after school classes can run from 5pm to almost 11pm which can be damaging to a child’s mental and physical health. So, you see, my view definitely wouldn’t agree fully with one side only.

For a balanced view, you don’t agree with both sides or support both sides entirely. Your opinion must be specific. You can’t sit on the fence and be impartial (neutral). For your own specific view which neither agrees fully nor disagrees fully, you must have a separate body paragraph to explain it. This isn’t required if you agree with one of the sides because that would be repetitive. Please see my advanced lessons if you are stuck with this. All my advanced lessons and e-books are found in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

There are a lot of teachers online and in schools who like to give people black and white rules for IELTS. Such rules don’t exist. Teachers give these rules to help people avoid errors and are easy rules to follow. This is fine for low level candidates. But my website is aimed at people who want a high score and for that, you must be flexible in your approach and understand the test more clearly.

It is often believed that the completion of tertiary education is the most effective way to secure a good job, others also think that the focus should be on gaining experience and developing soft skills. In my opinion, getting experience will be more beneficial for an individual as it will greatly add value and help develop one skill.

On the one hand, some people think that the requirements for most employers and job institutions in getting a good job is having a university qualification and therefore completing a tertiary institution will help graduates meet this kind of requirements. This will make the probability of being employed very high compared to someone who have such no qualification. Furthermore, having a university certificate means the individual has some level of knowledge which is needed and relevant in the job market which most employers are looking for and ready to employ into their organization.

On the other hand, others also argue that it will be better if the emphasis is on getting experience and developing soft skills which I agree. Through experience one adds value to his or herself which is an essential skill in developing oneself in the job market. Moreover, gaining experience can help people to be independent by becoming self employed. Through experience the necessary skills and knowledge will be acquired for the establishment of oneself which will also help tackle issues of unemployment in a nation. Another point is that having experience in a particular field increases one chances of getting selected in the job market as most employers prefer people with some sought of experience compared to those who have none.

In conclusion, while people may vary in their opinions, I think that having an experience will be of great value or benefit for an individual in the job market.

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is it advisable to include a question in the introduction of an essay? I’ve read that having a question can potentially lead to a higher score. For example, starting with a question like, “What is the best way to get a good job? While some think…” as the opening sentence of the introduction. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this approach.

Another thing: I remember you advising to take a clear position and not sit on the fence. Does this advice apply only to opinion essays? Thanks!

Two good questions. You should never write a question in your IELTS essay, no matter which paragraph. Each and every sentence is a valid point to present an answer, an idea, support an idea or summarise ideas. At no time, do you write a question. All sentences have a function in an IELTS essay. They are designed to be short, highly focused with each sentence critical to the essay. Writing a question will definitely not help your score and would lower it instead.

The Opinion Essay is not the only essay that requires your opinion. If the task is “Is this a positive or negative trend?”, it requires your opinion / your choice. All essays that require your opinion must show your clear position that is not in the middle without any relevant opinion – you can’t turn them into discussion essays. This problem of people not giving a clear position because they want to sit on the fence is mostly seen in Opinion Essays and it does lower your score for Task Response.

If you go back to this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ , you’ll find a link in the Tips Section 3 about When & How to give your opinion.

It is often argued that being graduate from the university is the key security to get a job while the development in the soft skills and the experience in the life is the best way to get a convenient job. In my opinion, focusing on university education is the suitable way to obtain a job after finishing the studies but enhancing soft skills play a vital role to promote in a job in the business field. Many people think that the academic education is the easier way to find a job because it put the graduates in the first step in the job hierarchy. After graduation, the first question in job application is about the academic study. For example, if someone has a high grade in his university studies, he will obtain an easier job compared to other. Furthermore, the graduation from the university with high grade will help the student to find an academic job in the universities especially in the scientific research field. On the other hand, the development in the soft skills and experience is the most important aspect to enhance the first job after graduation. After some years in the work, the soft skills like leadership and management is the way in which job owners prefer between the applicants for the high job in the hierarchy. For example, to be manager in the field business, the soft skulls come the first to choose the manager in any business foundation even if he doesn’t have a high grade in his academic study. In conclusion, graduation from the university help people to get a job but obtaining a high class job depends on the performance in the years of experience and the development in the soft skills.

Hello Liz , is this background paraphrasing correct? Some people believe that the best way to find employment is by finishing university education, while others consider experience and soft skills development are much important. I know sometimes I overrate, exaggerate when writing but I’m trying to learn as much and as fast as I can because my exam is in less than two weeks and I haven’t practiced much as all happened suddenly and my english level is around b2 so I’m a bit scared. This is also a reason why I’m commenting constantly hoping to get some help from you. A big love 🤍🕊️

I understand your position. Yes, you’ve got the right technique for a background statement. You’ve paraphrased the topic perfectly without changing the meaning which is essential to tie together the whole essay.

Thank you, I really appreciate it 🤍

Nowadays, education plays crucial role in everyone’s life . It is considered by someone that higher eduction plays part and parcel role for getting excellent job . While , certain section of societies have contransting views claiming that experience and skills are more important than university . . I think that although by having university education good job is likely to be gotten , it cannot give nelson’s eyes to skills and experience. Thus , in upcoming paragraphs i will discuss both views.

Firstly , education is considered to be lucrative for everyone because without having higher eduction people can’t get their desire jobs ,one particularly good example of this is for become a doctor or teacher university play vital role because without having knowledge about these field noone can become a tutor or health inspector . Futher and even more importantly that although due to higher competitions in job sector for getting excellent job , still educated and wealthy people can open their hospitals and schools for good earning .In other words , they could make more money by using their educational skills . Thus , for getting higher jobs positions education is important .

In other side , by having experience and interpersonal skills or leadership skills people can achieve excellent job . For instance , there are many jobs where skills are more prominent than education as for running restaurant management and leadership skills are necessary ratherthan education because if people have good manag skills thus they will able to coordinate with team members as well as good restaurants growth. Moreover , there are numerous jobs which are depend on experience such as for car repairing , painting , contraction etc . experience is required . Thus , experience is also same crucial as eduction .

By way of conclusion, although chances of getting desire job is likely to increase by having education , role of experience can not be negligible.

Hi Liz need your guidance.. today was my IELTS exam and in writing portion I wrote 4 paragraph and forget to leave line spacing.. but I wrote arrow sign before starting my next paragraph.. will it affect my score??

I’ve never actually heard of someone using an arrow sign to indicate a paragraph in an IELTS essay. When I advise people to leave an empty line between paragraphs, it because this is how we write these days and it also makes the paragraphs 100% clear and easy to see. The examiner needs to see paragraphs to give you a score for paragraphing. So, leaving an empty line ensures there is no confusion. However, it isn’t a rule to leave an empty line. It is possible to indent the first word instead. The reason I don’t recommend this is because it is often not obvious or clear to the reader that the word in indented. So, to avoid unclear paragraphing leaving an empty line is much better. Regarding your choice of using arrows, if the examiner realises that you are indicating paragraphs, it will be ok. But I don’t know whether this will be the case because I’ve never heard of someone doing it in an IELTS essay. My recommendation is to talk it over with your test centre and see what they say. Having clear well organised paragraphs is part of the marking criterion of Coherence & Cohesion, which counts for 25% of your marks. Not having paragraphs at all would lower your score in that marking criterion, but would not impact any other part of the marking for writing task 1. Hopefully, the examiner will understand your arrows and you will be fine.

Hi liz, your lessons helped me a lot when I was applying to study abroad. Now, Im in my dream country and after 2 yrs here I am again to learn from you. Thank you so much for all the lessons you provide, I pray for your better health and happiness.

It was lovely to read your message and hear how well you are doing. I wish you all the best with your future life in your dream country 🙂

Hello Ms Liz, I hope this finds you well. Thank you so much for the plethora of knowledge that you have provided for everyone. I have a question concerning discussion essays and IELTS essays in general. Can I write, “This essay will discuss both points of view and argue in favour of the first one.” as a thesis statement. I’ve seen a lot of people say that using this kind if thesis statement is okay, but others say it’s weak when we say, “This essay will …”. I’d really appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.

When you are asked to give an opinion, it is your opinion that is required. This isn’t about what the essay will do. It is about what you think and that means using language such as “I believe” or “In my opinion” or “I agree that”

Dear Madam with reference back to the advanced lesson on the opinion essay, I’m just wondering how to write a good one when IELTS opinion essay is followed by a direct question. (Test 3, Book # 8, IELTS Cambridge Series) Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?

Each question will be answered in one body paragraph. So, one body paragraph will be your opinion and one will be solutions (but stick to no more than 2 solutions because otherwise it might read like a list).

Many thanks for your guidance.

Thanks for your reply.

Ma’am we don’t see you anymore on YouTube channel. Is everything alright? Your videos are very beneficial for all IELTS students and we want more from you. Thank You!

Thanks for your message. I’ve been battling a serious illness for many years. You can read my story here: https://ieltsliz.com/determination-my-story/ . This year is the first year where my health feels more stable. If my health continues to improve, I might make a couple of videos this year. But it will depend on my health. I’m glad there are people out in the world who still want my lessons 🙂

I only now found your website and just saw this very recent comment from you. I’m so sorry to hear this, but I’m glad that this year brought some health improvement and I wish you that this will continue to go on like that. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Sending you positive vibes and some healing energy.

Thanks. I really appreciate your support

Hello Liz! Greetings from India, I hope you are doing well. Will you once come live on your youtube channel? So that your followers and well-wishers can see you. Thanks in advance mam.

Thanks for your message. It made me smile. I am currently planning a video but it is taking a lot of time because I can only do very small amounts of work each week due to illness. However, if you can be patient a bit longer, I hope to have a video ready in a few weeks or a couple of months.

Hi Liz, so sorry about your health, I hope you are fast recovering. Your lectures have been very helpful

Increasing the price of petrol is often suggested as an effective way to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. While this approach may have some impact, I believe it is not the best solution and may have undesirable consequences. In my opinion, a more comprehensive approach, including improved public transport and alternative energy solutions, is a far more effective way to tackle these problems.

Raising petrol prices would likely discourage some people from using their cars, reducing traffic to a certain extent. With higher fuel costs, individuals may switch to public transportation, carpooling, or even walking and cycling for shorter trips. This reduction in car use could lead to lower emissions and fewer traffic jams, which might improve air quality and ease congestion.

However, increasing petrol prices could also have negative consequences. It would disproportionately affect low-income individuals who rely on their cars for daily commuting and do not have access to reliable public transport. Additionally, higher fuel prices could lead to increased costs for goods and services, as transportation costs for businesses would rise. This could result in inflation, putting further financial pressure on consumers.

In my opinion, a more sustainable and equitable solution would involve investing in and promoting public transport. Expanding bus and rail networks, making them more affordable and efficient, would provide an attractive alternative to car use. Additionally, encouraging the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources could address pollution without burdening low-income families. These measures, along with stricter emissions regulations, would have a more lasting impact on traffic and pollution than simply raising fuel prices.

In conclusion, while increasing petrol prices could offer some benefits, I believe it is not the most effective or fair solution. A combination of improved public transportation, alternative energy, and stricter environmental policies would be more successful in addressing both traffic and pollution issues.

please add more samples of each and type of essays . One sample isn’t enough okay . I will wait for your response

There are plenty of sample essays on the main writing task 2 page – just use the red menu bar at the top of the website to access the different sections of this website.

Hi Liz, I hope you’re doing well. I have a question regarding your e-book, does it provide model answers or only ideas and vocabulary?

The Ideas for Essay Topics is for ideas. It’s about gaining ideas for cover 150 common essay topics so that you don’t waste time trying to think of ideas in the test. The ideas can also be used in speaking part 3. The ideas are presented as vocabulary exercises to help you remember the ideas and learn vocabulary. For model essays, you can find some free ones in the main writing task 2 section of this website.

Hi Liz, Hope you are doing well. Kindly check my response (introduction paragraph) to a discussion essay on the topic:

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Response: It is considered by some people that advertisements for various goods persuade the public to purchase them while others believe that advertising does not grab any attention now as it has become a common practice. In my opinion, advertising is a useful tool to make people buy goods but making this a usual activity is not attracting the public much.

Your reply will be appreciated, Thank you.

You have the right techniques and content. The task now is to produce an essay which explains precisely what you mean with each point.

*I tried to improve my previous lengthy version* word count: 284 Whilst it is often believed by many that completing a tertiary education is essential in securing a well-paid job, I strongly believe that a robust job experience and interpersonal skills offer superior potential for success.

On the one hand, academic credentials are necessary for applying high paying jobs. Many employers often mandate university diplomas and degrees as a prerequisite for applying jobs. Therefore, individuals without them are forced to opt for more labour oriented jobs, with lower income and no potential for future advancement. Additionally, the likelihood of poverty rises significantly from the the lack of a steady stream of income. Almost 90% of the blue collar labourers in the US, for example, are either secondary or primary school dropouts. Their monthly average earnings of $2000 is unfortunately insufficient for many to lead a comfortable life.

On the other hand, some contend that work experience and acquired skills are far more beneficial. Instead of going to a university, people who enter into a workforce from a young age have better social skills and problem solving abilities. These workers learn how to handle arguments and criticism from colleagues and customers, which are invaluable skills in running businesses. Furthermore, workplaces allow the employees to learn decision making lessons from seniors to promote self-independence. These contribute to the overall success of an individual in handling various businesses ventures. For instance, many university dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs have built the wealthiest technological companies of the twenty-first century after working at other companies for decades.

In conclusion, although some might argue that university graduates can apply for more comfortable jobs, in my view, people learn invaluable lessons on managing businesses by solely working for a longer time.

Some people believe that teenagers should be required to do unpaid community work in their free time. This can benefit teenagers and the community as well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? It is an undeniable fact the students are the building blocks of the nation and they should be motivated to do some voluntary tasks which will be fruitful not only for them but also for the society. However, I strongly agree with the given notion and views will be discussed along with the relevant examples in the subsequent paragraphs. To initiate with, there are multifarious reasons that clarify the fcat of how trend can have positive outcomes. First and foremost, youth can teach the value of eductaion to the parents of those children who do not let them study and force them to work. Further, they can teach them free and encourage them to study. For example, people who belong to slum areas mostly drag their offsprings in the labour work like them. Hence, it is apparent how this can bring positive changes. In addition to this, Youngters can easily vanish some problems from the society as they are physically and mentally strong enough. They can be the part of some NGOs which help the needy. They can provide them knowledge of right and wrong so that they can stop doing such things on loop. To cite an example, crimes namely child labour, Female feticide are mostly commited by the uneducated one. So , youth can curb such issues to make their society crime free. On the other hand, there are number of individuals who refute the above mentioned notion and believe that this has many deterimental effects on both scoiety and youth. Firstly, they opine that this can not tell them the value of money and also break their confidence of working in the multinational companies. More so, they can be influenced by the comapny they will be the part of. To exemplify, many NGOs faced major consequences for the sake of changing or helping the society. To conclude, there is no denying fact that every decison of life has both positive or negative outcome. However, I strongly assert that this above mentioned notion has more positive points than its negatives. So, youth must be the part of some social works in their free time.

It is believed by some that university education is essential to acquire a good job whereas other thinks that soft skills and relevant experience in that field adds more value. In my opinion, University degree is necessary for academic jobs such as Teacher or Doctor and soft skill and experience is important for business. On the one hand, tertiary education is required to apply for a job in the field of science, research, education, medicine, administrative services. Without a college degree, one can’t do justice to his role as his work will be highly dependent on the education he has received. If we see the large no of students applying for college degree worldwide, is significant which highlight the role of university degree for success in academic jobs. On the other hand, soft skills and experience is highly in demand for business. For instance, if someone has skills and experience for craft, carpenter, mechanic, electrician etc. he can easily apply for these jobs without having a college degree. Also, people working as salesman or cashier in shops like Walmart, Costco may not need higher degree and experience will be sufficient to get the job. This is justified as college education has not practical implementation in these types of job. In conclusion, Students should aim to complete the college degree and acquire experience which will enable them to get high skilled jobs job very easily, however everyone can’t complete the college for any reason, they can train themselves in soft skills of their choice and gain some experience to apply for less skilled jobs.

Please as a beginning linker for my paragraphs… In place of “on the one hand” can I start the first body paragraph with “to begin with” then the second with “however”. Or can I maintain “on the one hand” for the first paragraph then “however” for the second

Your method of linking will always depend on your main points. One linking device is not a higher band score than another. As long as they are used appropriately, they are all good.

Some people thought that the best way for finding a good job is to have a higher education whereas others thought that the best way is to have experience and soft skills. I believe that completing university education is essential for academic positions while experience and soft skills are good for non academic ones.

Academic jobs need qualified people in terms of higher education. People who complete university education dig deeply in their field, thus, they become know the roots of their field and they can deliver the information in a good way. For instance, when teachers in schools and lecturers in universities apply for a job, they are selected depending on their education. Lecturers are chosen if they have a doctorate degree in addition to some research and teachers who have master’s degrees are more qualified to teaching in schools than those with the bachelor’s degrees. Thus, the competition between applicants in the academic jobs depends on their higher education.

On the other hand, non academic jobs like business, don’t require higher education in their fields. Non academic people tend to have more experience and soft skills related to their field rather than taking a master’s or a doctorate degree. This is due to the nature of their job since it just needs knowledge in the basics and then adding the skills to it. For example, people who study the bachelor’s degree in business can improve themselves by attending conferences and have a training in their field. Such experience is going to help them in finding a good job. As time goes on, they will become experts in their field although they don’t have a higher degree. Thus, non academic positions look for the experience and the soft skills of applicants regardless of their university education.

To conclude, the best way to get a good job depends on the nature of the job. If the job is academic, then higher education is a must to find a suitable job because having higher degrees are reflected when people do their job in an interesting way. While if the job is non academic, then experience and soft skills are more important than higher education because people can learn their jobs while they doing them. In general, having both higher education and experience in your field makes you very qualified person and you can find the best job.

Hello, Liz! Thank you for everythng you ae doing! I have a question regarding the essay! Is it ok to say “in my opinion, I believe…”. Is it not redundancy here? You don’t believe “in your opinion”, do you?

You can use it the way I’ve stated or just use simply “In my opinion” or “I believe that”. You can choose just one definitely.

Hi Liz It is a discussion essay, is it okay to write “in my opinion” in thesis statement of such type of essay where opinion is not required in question? Also is it okay to us “I” and “my” in introduction paragraph? I m confused.

This is a discussion essay which asks for your opinion: Discuss both sides and give your opinion. You should introduce all in the introduction and that means using I or my.

It is considered by some that best way to get a job can be done by completing tertiary education , while there are others who think that it is better to have job experience and improving soft skills plays more important. I consider that having university education and having soft skills both plays very important role in getting job.

On the one hand , having a bachelor degree is the crucial in order to get a job. In other words, most employers only choose the candidates who have a higher education because most jobs are required academic studies which only can be learnt in university and it is impossible to do that job without studying in undergraduate such as : medicine , law , engineering . Furthermore, students learn how to compete with their peers in university which makes them more competitive and deal with harsh conditions. For example, many project has to be done in specific date and students has to complete their homework before the deadline.

On the other hand , working in business require candidates to have some specific skills and experience in order to work rather than just a degree because there are so many candidates who has a university degree apply to position and having necessary experience and soft skills put one steps ahead than others. Another reason is that , nowadays, business model always change and requires employees to have experience or soft skills such as leadership , teamwork which can not be learnt in university. So , having these skills are crucial to get a job. Finally, I believe that having university degree and having experience are both crucial for getting a job . Take for example medicine, law. Employees can not handle the job requirement without having either necessary degree and softs skills . In conclusion, having degree or experience and soft skills are very important to get a job nowadays. I believe employee has to fulfill these requirements before applying to job.

Nowadays landing a dream job is like some achievement in life. For getting a good job it is necessary to have a good experience related to the studies and also soft skills plays a vital role in landing in a good job. Let us discuss this in detail in this essay. Firstly, in today’s competitive world education is the key to success to proceed way forward in our life for getting a good job with decent pay. To achieve an education from the university is not only the key factor but also other factors such as getting a good practical experience while studying and also it is important to develop individual soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, Leadership, and adaptability. Companies are highly in need of people with good technical skills as well as mentioned soft skills so that they can get the job done with good quality. So it is very indeed to develop the soft skills along with university education so the students can tune themselves to land into their dream job. Along with the education, students should have practical knowledge such as applying the theory in labs, and in real life so that creativity and innovation will come up which makes them epic among other students so that chances of getting a job is high when compared to other people. In an organization, it is vital to have good communication and leadership skills to execute the project in a successful manner, and also this will make them successful in their career and to achieve good heights in their job. In a conclusion, I would like to add that both education and practical experience along with soft skills make an individual as successful in their life by getting a good job with a good salary.

Many believe that the key to getting a great job is completing your tertiary education. However, others assume that it is more advantageous to get your hands dirty by doing real jobs that will make them learn real-world challenges, and will also upgrade their skill sets over time. I believe that finishing academics first, will lead grab the desired job.

Most insist that colleges play a paramount role in shaping students’ futures. Every student has dreamt of a job and certainly, some require specialized or specific certifications, it is mandatory to attend universities. For example, Dream jobs like Doctors, Engineers, or Scientists. Moreover, in colleges students will get hands-on experience under the supervision of their tutors.

Conversely, some assume that it is more advantageous to get hands dirty while working and gaining knowledge. Some jobs like marketing do not require any professional degree because in colleges you gain theoretical knowledge rather practical. A recent study shows that majority of successful people in the field of marketing and sales never attended universities. For instance, Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs never went to college but, still, he brought a whole new dimension in the field of mobiles and laptops.

Consequently, I do agree that certificates or degrees are not the only paths to success, but it is not like everyone is Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, it is just like they were lucky enough to get opportunities which they were able to capitalize. Therefore I believe it is necessary to complete your education rather than directly go to the real world.

In conclusion, it is not like, to be successful a person has to be graduate, Nither not. But I believe that seeing the real-world scenarios, One should first complete their education and then explore jobs.

It is widely believed that having an academic degree is dramatically valuable in setting up a good career path, while some consider experience and soft skills are more significant. In my perspective, I suppose that either knowledge or experience and skills are essential factors which determine whether a potential applicant can be hired for a great job.

On the one hand, taking tertiary education has been the most classical method to prepare for entering the labor market. It can be seen that since the first university was established, there have been numerous students taking part in this academic institution in order to access a huge range of knowledge. Moreover, college life is considered one of the most crucial times in developing one’s characteristics and mindset. The only downside of university, however, is the opportunity costs that force students to waste several chances to get involved in other activities such as making money or traveling.

On the other hand, being well-qualified for the experiences and skills collected is not only remarkable but also puts the applicant one step ahead of others. Furthermore, if these acts, such as volunteering for a charity or learning leadership skills, are certified by a legit organization, it will be a huge step towards the success of getting a job. For example, nowadays, HR professionals from top-ranking companies have preferred the number of working experiences and related skills rather than just focus on the academic performance when filtering the resumes.

Finally, I strongly believe that the requirements of any job not only ask for these qualifications but also depend on the working conditions and the position that we aim for. For instance, a doctor or lawyer must have appropriate levels of knowledge in specific fields while a businessman needs more practical challenges.

In conclusion, preparing for a career is definitely an inevitable mission for everyone. To climb that career ladder, job-seekers should attempt both qualifications including the GPA and certifications for participating in other activities or acquiring any soft skill. Although it may vary in different companies and fields, illustrating an outstanding and comprehensive background can be significantly advantageous in impressing the recruiters.

Some of the people believe that University educations plays an essential role for attaining a good job, whereas others anticipate that soft skills and experience are they key factors for find a Job. In my opinion, education and experience together makes a person successful for earning perspective. It is considered by many people to University degree helps them to find work easily. In other words, the competition for enrolling students in institution each year illustrates that university degree helps one to get an easy Job such as doctors, engineers and lawyers. Therefore, many people first part to consider their higher studies after their High school according their desire and Job market. On the other hand, many people had a mind set to make their child in soft skills or get them engage in low Jobs in order to achieve experience. They believe that experience will make them familiar with Market strategy and soft skills will raise their demand in the Job opportunity. In addition, various industries the experiences are listed as mandate requirement for recruitment such as business & sales job offers. However, few cases are due to their financial conditions which opt the education and select job for their family survival. In my opinion, the leading indicators to be successful in earnings one shall possess higher education studies as well experiences. Although, the initial days will be on less wages but with passage of time they will be considered as pioneer of relevant field. For example, the doctor as expert surgeon when he posses hands of experience. To sum up all, it is mandatory one shall achieve higher education and get some experience in order to develop the required skills for performing. For a successful future, it is combination of both necessities University degree and relevant experiences.

It is considred by some that the best approach to obtain a decent job is through completion of university education, while there are others who thick that achieving the required experience and building up soft skills is more essential. This essay will briefly discuss both views and will draw my personal opinion.

On the one hand, many think that completing graduate and post-graduate studies will help them to obtain the most needed jobs. In their opinion, getting bachelor degree and even master degree will enable them to work in a more professional and academic jobs. In other words, without these degrees, it will be impossible for to be hired professional positions since nowadays there is a high competition to acquire these positions. For example, many jobs require completion of graduate studies including law, medicine, engineering and sciences.

On the other hand, many believe that it is more crucial to develop and enhance the person’s soft skills in addition to build up a good work experience. These people after graduation from high school will start immediately looking for jobs in order to accelerate their work experience and to acquire soft skills such as cummunications, interpersonal and leaderships skills. Moreover, they can work in different fields and expand their knowledge in many areas to meet certain jobs requirements such as multi field consultations, employment supervisions and management.

In conclusion, after a carefull analysis of both sides, the choice whether to continue college studies or to achieve experiences and soft skills is dependent on the person’s targeted job. In my opinion, continuation of graduate studies is necessary and it will open more opportunities in the future.

Some people believe that a university degree is the most effective way to attain a decent job. In contrast, other people argue that work fields need more experience and soft skills than educational background. In my perspective, university graduates fit the academic career whereas soft skills are more needed in technical jobs. University is the best place for people to develop their way of thinking. In college, students are taught to think scientifically. In order to attain this skill, students need to complete their studies by completing various tasks, such as daily assignments, group work, and final papers. Most of the subjects that are taught in university are theoretical. As a final result, university graduates are expected to not only mastering a particular knowledge but also a critical way of thinking. That is why university education is suitable for those who seek careers that require strong academic backgrounds, such as doctor, lawyer, judge, and teacher. On the other hand, some professions require experience and soft skills more rather than merely an educational background. Experience is needed especially in the work fields that produce utilized products such as business, manufacture, and software industry. In these industries, the works need people who technically master how to produce the product. Therefore, experienced ones with soft skills are more needed in this field. I believe that both educational background and experience with soft skills matter in terms of building our careers. Educational background can build our mindset to be critical and creative. On the other hand, experience and soft skills can support our hard skills to make ourselves more qualified. The thing that we should consider is which one we should emphasize more, which depends on the career path we wish to pursue. In summary, we should decide first what career we would like to seek, therefore we can decide what kind of educational background and other qualifications requirement we should attain.

Your website is very helpful in preparing for the IELTS writing section, and I really appreciate it. also, there is confusion, that it was told to me by my IELTS trainer and in few youtube videos that whenever we give an example to support the essay we shouldn’t be writing “for example” but here you’ve used that form so is it okay to do so because that’s how I prefer to write.

Of course it’s fine to use “For example”. It is 100% appropriate and suitable for essay writing. However, a good score for Coherence and Cohesion requires that you show flexibility and range – this means don’t repeat the same linking words unless there is no choice. There are many such linking words you can use as a paraphrase: such as, for instance, namely and so on. One linking word is not a higher score that the other. They are all suitable. Here is a link of linking words: https://ieltsliz.com/linking-words-for-writing/ and a link to my main writing task 2 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Some people consider having university degrees as the key to employment whereas others think building and developing soft skills and experience is an effective way to get a job. In my opinion, having both degree certificates and relevant skills is essential for getting the targeted position due to the growing competition. On the one hand, Most people strive for earning university credentials to get hired to the workplace of their choice. They consider so because some jobs typically require candidates to have qualifications related to the job position as employers may consider this as an essential tool to gauge applicant’s knowledge about their areas of work. Job postings, for example, doctors, teachers, professors, engineers, etc. require a certain level of knowledge about the concerned field which can only be reflected from the qualification of the job applicant. On the other hand, some people start working for building soft skills and experience rather than joining colleges and universities to crack their target job. Employers of some areas such as business, technical, IT basically look for candidates having relevant experience and soft skills rather than degree certificates for the post they want to hire ensuring low cost of hiring and quick adaptation of the new employees to their workplace. Thus, in response to such hiring trends, candidates get to indulge in training for soft skills development to reserve their position in a job market from their early stage of learning. However, both graduate degree certificates and essential skills are important factors in the competitive job market. Due to the growing number of university graduates and limited job positions, employers nowadays look for the best candidate who can competitively give a good return to the company after getting hired. For this reason, people work for earning both qualifications and skills to assure their future career. To give an example, the employer is more interested to hire a university graduate scholar with the computer, analytical, and organizing skills than the one having either of them. To recapitulate, both qualification and experience are equally crucial in getting a job depending upon the nature of the job people are looking for. Thus candidates should make sure about the emphasizing factor of getting hired before applying for employment. However, Earning both university degrees and relevant soft skills and experience is the best method to secure the demanded job position.

Your website is very helpful and I love all the lessons you provide. I have a question. In a discussion essay where do we need to keep the sequence in which the opinion is presented in the question. E.g. If I agree with the second opinion should my first body paragraph have the second opinion (and I restate that I agree with it) or should I follow the sequence as the question.

Also, can I use “you” in my essay e.g. “On the one hand, some people think that if a friend differs from some of your actions, he acts as a deterrent to the deeds that might turn out bad and I agree with that”

Is it correct?

The body paragraphs present the two sides in the order that you have written them in your introduction. Keep a logical order at all times so that the reader knows what is coming next. The pronoun “you” is rarely used because we mainly refer to the third person in formal essays. Your example is not written in a way that I can understand. Unfortunately, the meaning is not clear and I can’t help you with it. If you post a clear example, I’ll be able to help.

Please expert in the house help me vet this

Nowadays, people who move from one country to another for work. Some people think children of these families suffer because of this, while others think it is helpful to them.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

It is recently believed by certain individuals that children whose families travel across the globe due to their nature of job suffer a lot while others think these children enjoy the benefits. In my opinion, such happening has both negative and positive impacts on them, however, it depends on whether the parents travel with their kids or not.

On the one hand, children whose parents move around nation to nation leaving them behind due to their job may be led into waywardness. In other words, the absence of proper guidance would result them into committing crimes and behaviors that are nonchalant. Consequently, they may get into troubles that would affect their entire lives such as being jailed or rusticated from school. Another point is that such kids would lack companionship because the primary people to display love to them are absent. For instance, a female child who is raped would want to discuss the matter with her mother but if she is unavailable, the kid would return to her shell and fight it alone. Thus, resulting to depression and suicidal because of absence of love and care.

On the other hand, exploring other traditions and cultures can also be beneficial to kids that travel with their families. This means that, they would have wide knowledge of what the cultural beliefs are in the other countries which will help them to network globally when they become adults. For example, kids expose to other traditions and beliefs does not usually experience cultural shock and therefore would be able to represent their nation at any point. Another plus side is that it will keep the family bond solid which means that children will not be far from their parents and other siblings.

Finally, in my opinion, whether children are affected negatively or positively when their families travel around the world depends on if they embark on the journey together. Take for example, kids that are around their families every time will not engage in actions that can affect their lives because they would be cautioned. In contrast, those that are far from their relatives can be easily controlled by peer pressure.

In conclusion, the plus side and downsides depend solely on families embarking on these journeys with their children.

Liz, I simply love your site. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome 🙂

Hello thank so much now I am using your books and they really help me😊✌️

Hello Liz, you mentioned before that one shouldn’t be impartial in an opinion essay and that you should agree or disagree but not something in between. i am sensing that this isn’t the case here in the model essay. it simply didn’t take one side.

if you feel it did, would it be possible that you give an example to a “wrong impartial” opinion to this essay topic? Thank you

I think you are confusing the term “impartial”. Being impartial means you are sitting on the fence. This means you are turning an opinion essay into a discussion essay with no clear opinion of what you really think – it’s just 50/50. An opinion essay requires a clear opinion or you will get a low score. This might be a one-sided opinion or it might be a partial agreement/disagreement or a specific opinion. Please see my advanced lessons to learn about this. It is available to purchase in my online store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . It takes me 1 hour to explain this essay in full in that advanced lesson.

Hi Mam! i hope you are doing good. I want to appreciate your effort for playing a positive role in helping to educate people free of cost in today’s era of materialism. thank you for all the tips and tricks to score high in ielts. Stay blessed. Reagrds

You’re very welcome. Happy 2021 !!

Dear Liz, Thank you for all your free classes and materials. Your grammar book helped me a lot.

I just had my LRW exam today and these were my questions for Task 1 and 2 Your post is not delivered yet ( forgot the exact wordings. Write a letter to the post office manager. State your details Describe the documents Say what you want them to do

Task 2 People argue that spending a lot of money on marriage parties, birthday parties, and other celebrations is a waste of money. Others, however, believe that these celebrations are important for individuals and society. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Thanks again Take care

Glad the Grammar E-book is useful. Good luck with your results !!

Dear Liz, I found your site by chance and it is amazing. Coud you look at my discussion essay and give ypur opinion please? Many thanks in advance!!!!!!!!

It is considered by some people that traditional shopping is the only way for making purchasing properly while there are others who prefer online shopping. In my opinion, it depends on many factors and premises. On the one hand, online shopping is more effortless. With just a click of a mouse or a tap on a screen, people can buy within seconds. Online shopping has become popular due to its convenience, accessibility and speed. With the continued success of e-commerce, many now question the existence of traditional stores. It is so great that you can shop anytime and anywhere. For example, you can easily visit the website, find the product you want to buy and wait for the product being delivered to you. If you need time to reconsider about the products, all you have to do is put the product in the virtual shopping bag or on the virtual wish list. On the other hand, only traditional shopping allows to touch, try and “smell” your purchase and understand whether you need this one or may be it is just an impulse. Besides, only real shopping gives the possibility to assess the quality and features of goods, while online shopping can be misleading in respect of authenticity of products to reality. One more problem of online shopping is the safety of online payments, which also might be an advantage in favor if traditional shopping since the payments are being controlled. In conclusion, both kinds of shopping have merits and shortages. The benefits of both shopping online and shopping in real stores are countless. However, it is true that sometimes merits could become shortages and vice versa, depending on the different perspectives that people hold.

Some people think doing the university education is the best way to get a good jobs. However, some other people believes that experience and improving the soft skill is more important than education for getting a better job. in today’s labor market both are important, in my opinion education is playing more important role at first to get the better job and carrier development. Education is an ability how to find jobs, learn to earn, as much you learn that much you earn, what a democracy, human can learn as much he or she wish to, this new technology make is very easy to access to the books, journal and all the social media, education is a great advantage teach you how to work, clarifies your favorite carrier path, it guide you how to grow and further develop your future and enjoy your favorite field of interest and so no….. Education and the experience is an interchangeable, whiles experience is to develop future what you have learn in the university, wider your understanding of knowledge, and deep dive on your carrier field, researches, inventions an innovations and so no, to grow to the highest level of the economy and knowledge in the world, in addition soft skill is import as others, but education is the first priority, gives you an opportunity make to you understand well the skills and knowledge. In conclusion, both educations and the experience is an opportunity to find the best job. without proper education cannot find the best jobs and without experience cannot grow and wider the knowledge. however, if we look to the history we have some scholars the touched the ceiling without school educations, now we study their principles in the schools, thy were hard worker and talents.

Thanks for the good work Liz, we are praying for you to get get back to your feet asap.

Ahead of the game sounds like an idiom, isn’t it?

Yes, “ahead of the game” in an idiom. Some idioms are suitable for writing task 2, but only a few. The idiomatic language that is safe to aim for are phrasal verbs that are clearly not informal.

Question: In some countries owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might that be the case? DO you think this is a positive or negative situation?

Answer: Buying your own apartment now becomes more familiar in certain countries than renting an apartment. However, I assume that this trend has positive aspects and it also has several benefits.

One of the lucrative benefits is that people would become owners of permanent accommodation by buying a home. Besides, it can be possible to get huge facilities for instance saving money. People have to pay relatively less money when they will have their own apartment. In addition, it is easy to furnish them according to their own ways as well as their own apartment is secure rather than renting. Because you will have no worries about moving to another renting house when you have your own apartment.

Another issue is there are several countries such as in Finland renting a house is much more costly. Every month people have to pay 800-900 euros per month if they want to rent a private family apartment. I think this is too much to afford. On the other hand, if I have my own apartment, at the same time I can save the rest of the money. In this case owning a home is much better and flexible than renting.

Finally, I would say owning an apartment has other benefits. For example, people can get a spacious living room with a beautiful veranda which provides huge daylight. Moreover, most of the private apartments have 2 bedrooms where rooms are larger than rented houses. It is possible to set up any furniture in the way that people want. Living in an apartment is much more relaxing, comfortable and cosy.

In conclusion, although people have different views about this issue, my opinion supports the positive side of owning an apartment rather than renting.

Governments give a lot of support to artists, even though some people think it is a waste of money that could have been used elsewhere.Discuss both views and give your opinion? An artist receives too much assistance from local government while some argued that money should be utilized on other neccessary matters rather than wasting on artists . I agree with this statement that government should take notice of important tasks on priority basis for a developed nation . On the one side , artists performs national representation at international level for earning name and fame in field through competition .As we know that not a single task is easy to master whether it is a game or dance, all this demands enthusiasm and dedication towards goal which is impossible for everyone to achieve . Therefore, this is not a big deal if a government is sending funds or prizes to artist because without money capability is nothing in today’s world . On the other side, for a developing nation such as India , discoveries in each and every field has been essential for the growth of a nation .Government should assist scientists for inventing treatment for death causing diseases such as cancer and free of cost treatment for every citizen so that nobody can die because of lack of money.In addition , free education to poor children must be provided so that they could stand on their feet one day . In conclusion, although artists represents a nation but fulfilling basic amenities of citizens in relation of food , education and health has been prioritized by the governments. Please review my essay mam

If the essay requirement says we need to discuss both sides and give our opinions (like this model essay), can I say that I prefer one option over another? Because in this model essay, the author suggests that both opinions are good and there is no preference. I’m just wondering if we would be marked on this.

Thank you so much

When you give your own opinion, you can choose any opinion you want – either one sided or balanced (partial/specific agreement) approach.

Hi Liz, I have been posting many essays to get your feedback …Can you please give me your feedback. thanks a lot. 🙂

To being with, many people think that the university education is important to get a decent job. Firstly, at universities, students learn and graduate in a desired specialization which is important to land up in a good job in that area. For example, if someone graduates as Chartered Accountant from a University, then they can get a good job in the Financial sector. Secondly, proponents of this theory believe that academics are important to carry out certain types of jobs which on the other hand cannot be done alone with gaining experience. For instance, doctors cannot perform surgeries without learning basic anatomy of the body which they learn though academics at Universities. Also, many universities offer internships programs in various companies which help the students to gain extra practical knowledge. This improves their chances to get a good job once they get graduated.

On the other hand, others believe that jobs can be a carried out by acquiring experience and soft skills. However, this holds applicable and true in certain types of jobs only. For example, jobs like housekeeping and driving, only relevant experience and some soft skills are required. Also, they believe that more experience they gain, more efficiently they can carry out their jobs and in-turn they can be more productive.

Hence, in conclusion, I believe that University education provides theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on practice through internships which tents to get a better job. I also agree that gaining experience and soft skills are equally important for getting a job in certain professions.

Sorry I do not offer this service. Please read the HOME page to learn more about how to use my site 🙂

Hi liz, My question is, can we write information that is completely made up to support our ideas? For example, “A recent study done by University of Melbourne shows that men who eat at least 10 grams chocolate a day can run faster than those who do not eat it.”

Why would you choose to do that? It won’t help your score. You never need to state the source of information and you don’t need to present numbers in your task 2 essay. Just explain your idea in your own language.

Dear mam, In opinion essay , when we give separate opinion on one side . Can we go both side in conclusion or should we have the same position in conclusion and opinion ? I am totally confuse in it. Please guide me. Thank you.

Please get my Advanced Lessons which will give you all your answers and lots of details: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/

Also, I tend to have occasional long sentences, is it ok to use a semi-colon? Or do we just stick to comma and full stop for this test?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Just stick to commas and full stops. To add information using clauses which are considered complex grammar features.

Thank you for the amazing model answers you provide, your website is really helpful! I finished watching your advanced video on the discussion essays and I have a question regarding writing them, since I want to follow your structure.

If I agree with one side of the argument, I understand from your video that I should state my opinion in the introduction, right? Because a teacher told me that I shouldn’t write my opinion in the introduction (even if the question says give your opinion) but should instead explain it throughout the BP of the essays and the conclusion. So I want to make sure, it is okay if I paraphrase the question (people’s arguments) in a statement then express my opinion in the next statement “In my opinion, I believe that….” and agree with either side?

Also coming to the BPs, I was told by that teacher that if I explain reasons for people’s arguments in BP1 and BP2 (even though I added “I agree” in the BP that I agree with) it will affect my CC and TR. They said that I should explain that I do not agree with one BP and giving reasons for the opinion of people that I don’t agree with would mess up my TR & CC. Is this true? In your video, you explained that it’s okay to explain reasons for both sides then simply add I agree in the BP you agree with. So I’m a little lost here, I wish you can tell me what is right in this point.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate all your efforts.

Has your teacher completed the IELTS examiner training course? Possibly not. It is 100% fine to put your opinion in the introduction – you are introducing your opinion. It is also 100% ok to state you agree with whichever body paragraph you agree with – in that paragraph you will state that you and other people agree (or disagree) and then give reasons. You only need a separate body paragraph when your opinion does not agree fully with either side (a specific opinion/partial agreement). Is your teacher telling you IELTS rules? No. Your teacher is giving you advice based on their own opinion of IELTS. Always differentiate between rules and advice when it comes to IELTS. Always ask your teacher if they are giving you fixed rules for IELTS or just their own personal advice. There is a lot of conflicting information about IELTS because of exactly that problem.

Hi Liz thank you for your imformative website. I ‘ve got a question. Is the hook and general statement the same? Thank you

In the following link you will find a video lesson about writing an introduction. That lesson will explain about the hook and background statement: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

Hi Liz, I had Ielts computer based based exam today, in the writing 2 task I had written nearly about 270 words, but in conclusion part when I was writing my last sentences, time is up and the computer shuted down. I could not finish my last senteces and there was some unsense words. Is it a huge problem or not? Also, thank you sharing your information with us.

The most important thing is that you wrote a conclusion, even if you didn’t finish it. Having a conclusion is crucial. An incomplete conclusion will not affect things as much as an absent conclusion. Don’t worry too much about it.

I am planning to start this essay with “Few people believe that…..” can we paraphrase “some” with “few”

The meaning of “few” is “not many”. It means a small number. “Few people” = a small number of people. This is not the same as “some”.

thank you liz

Hi Liz, Many thanks to you for the service!

My question is, if I start with one tense form, should I follow the same tense throughout the essay? Or can I use different tenses in the essay?

Thanks in advance!

It isn’t possible to use one tense all the way through. You might need to use a perfect tense or a passive or a conditional statement. The tense will depend on what you want to say. It isn’t something you can decide beforehand. See my model essays and review how many different tenses are used: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

For Discussion Essays: Some books like IELTS Preparation & Practice, Reading & Writing Academic published by Oxfird suggest writing a 4 paragraph essay: intro+ first group+second group+conclusion(which restates the writes opinion). However you suggest a separate paragraph for the writer’s opinion(4th body paragraph). Does that mean that their style is wrong or could lead to a lower score?

It means that there are other options. There is no rule stating you must have 4 paragraphs in total. It is fine to have 5. You can get band 9 with either 4 or 5.

Hello liz, i have read in many books that the opinion discussive essay, the opinion is only given in the conclusion unlike the opinion personal view point( the agree or disagree type). The books write, this essay will discuss both sides and give a concluding view and rather give the opinion in the conclusion. Can you please clarify that for me, thank you

Unfortunately, I am not able to control what is written in other books. The instructions from IELTS do NOT state to “discuss both sides and conclude your opinion”.

Hullo Liz, Firstly I would like to thank you to help all of us selflessly…thanx to u. Today I gave my ielts in essay it was a discussion essay wherein I wrote my opinion in introduction as u say then main body paras Discussing both the sides but then I gave the conclusion n did not elaborate on my opinion… Will I lose marks? Plz tell…really worried. Thanx

I don’t understand. You said you gave your opinion in the introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. At what point do you feel that you didn’t explain it?

Everybody told me that examples are not cardinal for essay but in some great ielts experts point of view like you mam and jay sir shows examples are vital. Through this students get more brand. Mam help me to solve my query.

Please mam help me my ielts exam on 17 August .

Please mam🙁🙁

I have never said examples are vital or 100% essential to an IELTS essay. I’m not sure what you are referring to. Examples are one way to support and illustrate a main point – you choose whether to illustrate that way or not. I suggest you review my model essays.

Hi Liz, From my observation of the given example, I understood that , in the conclusion especially for discussion essays, we have to give a brief of our view on the topic and we should not include anything from the other paragraphs. Is my understanding correct?

Your reply here would be much appreciated.

There is no such rule in IELTS. Your conclusion is a summary of the main points.

in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups. first, some people have a say that passing from University provide best to way to grab a good profession while other opinion that it is a bad to acquire proficiency and soft skills the following paragraphs would shed the light on both the approaches before making notes To commence with the first notion, there are Myriad things to be shared in its favour, first and foremost, it is undeniable education is essential part of one’s life. the majority of individuals believe that getting a degree from University Open the doors of word class opportunities and student can obtain a fine occupation for their future. In the other words, tertiary education help the students to understand the various concept which is related to their career which they have chosen by them. with the help of education they enhence their creativity on particular subject which is significant for future work opportunities

shifting towards the second school of thought, having experience of work and soft skills such as communication skills leadership skills and other interpersonal skills act as a boon for people to access a great livelihood. if individuals have a great proficiency in their skill which helps in getting a job as we all know more than half of companies prefer those employees who have a great experience in their work instead of University credentials. for instance if someone want to get a job in insurance company then they must be have a good communication skills for this job

Sorry, I don’t offer marking or comments on writing. However, I will say avoid learning phrases that you think will impress the examiner such as “in the salad days of millenium, the society polarised into two groups”. Such phrases damage your score. This is not creative writing. In a test, each sentence must be created by you in the test room. Also don’t use hook, it isn’t needed for IELTS essays and is a complete waste of time. Go to the main section for writing task 2 on this site and learn how to write an introduction for IELTS = click on the RED BAR at the top of the site. Or get my paid Advanced Lessons to learn more.

Hi Liz, Thank you so very much for your helpful blogs. I am following only you for my IELTS GT preparation. I have one doubt, I am aiming to score 7.5 or 8 band in writing. Is it fine if I write approx 300 words of essay? Definitely related to demand of question. I always try to write around 270-280 words but I feel that there is still something missing which I should add on to make it more accurate. Kindly suggest.

If you are adding words to your introduction or conclusion, it won’t help your score. If you are adding more to your body paragraphs, think carefully if it is actually 100% vital. More words open you to the possibility of more errors or a less focused essay.

It is considered by some people that finishing university education is the most effective way to get a decent job, however, have experience and developing soft skills are the keys for finding good jobs still thought by many people. In my opinion, although experience and developing soft skills are important for finding good jobs, I believe the completing university courses can improve the person’s knowledge and other skills in a very effective way as well as the best way for people to prepare their careers.

Attending the university courses can let people gain knowledge effectively, most universities offer high-quality courses both online and offline, students can achieve professional theory knowledge from different aspects through interaction with their professors, once they have questions they can get feedback and answers quickly. On the other hand, universities offer many practical classes which allow students gain experience, students also have plenty opportunities to discuss in their groups and cooperate with other students from other majors which also cultivate their social skills. Both knowledge and practical skills, as well as social skills, are very essential for finding a good job.

There is no doubt that work experience and developing soft skills or social skills are vital for finding jobs, the companies are more likely to employ the person who has job experience which people usually can find on job recruitments’ qualifications. When people find a job, he/she should be a good work player who is not only professional about her/his area but also should know how to communicate with others as well as cooperate with others. A report says that persons who have strong communication skills are much more welcomed in a work environment.

In conclusion, although both experience and developing soft skills are vital factors for finding jobs, I still believe that attending the universities is the best way for people who prepare their careers because people can gain experience and social skills in the campus as well.

hello ! thanks for your tips . And i have a question , is it okay to write ” in this following essay i will shed light on both views and state my own position” in last sentence ?

Never memorise a sentence to put in your essay. Each sentence should be entirely created by yourself in the test. If the instructions say “discuss both sides and give your opinion”, you do not need to repeat those instructions. The examiner knows what you are going to do – what the examiner doesn’t know is what ideas you will use. Use my model essays to guide you or get my Advanced lessons to learn in depth.

I just watched your advanced task 2 lesson and have couple questions on it. For the discussion essay, the balanced opinion seems more profound than one-sided opinion. Will I get lower band score if I choose to write one-sided opinion? Or will I get higher band if I choose to write balanced opinion. And can I choose one-sided opinion in any topics?

Thank you! 🙂

The balanced opinion essay means the discussion essay with specific opinion. Sorry for that. 🙂

I taught both options so that you would have a choice. The choice will depend on the question and the ideas you have for it. Sometimes a one-sided approach isn’t always the easiest option. No, you don’t get a higher or lower score for one or the other. Your score is not based on your choice of one-sided or specific view point. It is based on how relevant your ideas are and if you addressed the task with a clear opinion.

Thank you very much Liz!!!!:)

I am writing to seek your help with double views and opinion statement essay type.

Here is the question prompt I am practicing: Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we rarely do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with?

Here is the introductory paragraph I have written with my opinion: Aggressive product promotions are considered to be one of the efficient ways of attracting new customers. While some people believe that advertisements allures the buyers and instigates them to purchase the unnecessary items, the others consider it to be an effective method of promoting awareness about the latest trends – I second this thought.

Please guide, is it write way of supporting an argument in a formal way? If not, please suggest how can I improve.

Thanks Jasmeet Kaur

Paraphrase the statement given and then present your opinion. Two separate statements. Try writing that and post it. See this page if you don’t understand: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2-how-to-write-an-introduction/

I’m struggling to reach a higher bandscore than 6.0 in writing. Therefore I bought your advanced writing lessons to spot some of my possible mistakes. Beside the fact that I have problems to structure my thoughts quickly, I’m sometimes confused by the question itself. After watching your lessons, I have tried to answer some essay questions and I came across with some I don’t know how I should organise them.

Firstly, for example, the discussion essay about the death penalty on your website. This question only mentions that I have to discuss both side. So, I’m not sure if I have to write a balanced view or can I also write a one-sided view? Moreover, I think I should not give my opinion, however, a one-sided view seems to reflect my personal point of view. How would you organise your essay?

Secondly, I’m really confused with the question “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” You said, it doesen’t matter whether there is a “do you think” include or not, because I have to make a choice which side outweigh the other…admittedly there are many official Model answer from IELTS books, which don’t give an opinion in terms of this question. Are there any differents I didn’t recognise?

I would be really grateful if you could help me.

Kind regards, Wiebke

In my Advanced lesson for the Discussion Essay there is a model essay for a Discussion without an opinion. Please take a look at it. Any question that is asking you to choose options will require an opinion – there are many ways to voice an opinion.

Dear Liz. Your advanced lessons are so helpful and clear.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same regarding the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS which contains 8 full practice tests with sample answers for writing. I have to say that the sample answers for task 1 are very good but the ones for task 2 are so confusing. For instance, a discussion essay was turned into advantage disadvantage one.. the opinion is not mentioned in the introduction or in the BP, it is given in the conclusion… I wish I can send you a picture of it so you can mark it.

Another issue that confuses me; can we use questions in the essay? In one example of adv. Outweigh Disadv. they ended up the introduction with a question: is this a development we should welcome? The opinion is also put in the conclusion only… Thanks in advance

IT is not the task of IELTS to make their test easy. That is the task of teachers and ex-examiners. We provide the easy to follow models, not IELTS. About your second query, you should present supporting points which are statements, not questions. There isn’t enough length in the essay to start creating questions which will then need addressing further. Just stick with statements.

Hi liz In the introduction can I write “in this essay I will deliberately discuss the both views and formulate my opinion at the end of the essay ” instead answering directly in the introduction

Do not memorise sentences or phrases. You can learn words and linking devices. All sentences and phrases should be created by yourself. See my model essays.

then what do you recommend? and how do they examine grammar?

Grammar is marked by using a range of tenses that are suitable and appropriate to the essay and the subject. You can’t push a future prefect into your essay because you think it will give you a higher score. All tenses must be used correctly. The examiner will also pay attention to sentence structures, so you need to pay attention to not being too repetitive. Furthermore, the examiner will look at the density of grammar errors, for example band 5 = frequent errors, band 6 = some errors, band 7 = few errors. So, you can see your aim is to produce a range of suitable grammar and also reduce the errors you make. At all times, you only use the grammar you are familiar with to reduce errors. I am currently putting together a grammar e-book which will explain all this in great detail.

How can I buy your grammar book?

It won’t be available to buy for a few months. It is 90% complete, but it will take me a few months to edit it and get it ready for people to buy.

Hi Liz, thank you a lot for your useful advice and if it is possible, please give feedback, this is my first essay.

Instruction is simply to discuss not to give opinion.

In last decades, with the impact of growing globalization, it is noticed significant positive affects in the economy of the world, whereas this globe challenges brings some negative aspects with itself. Regarding the advantages of the globalization, a number of leading companies of the world gain more profits, while some affected countries are forced to lose their cultural values.

On the one hand, there is a competition between huge international companies over the world. They compete to produce products in better quality and lower prices. As a result, this overseas rivalry helps to boost world economy, at the same time, people all over the world take advantages in connection with buying more qualitative and less expenses products. For instance, it is obviously seems that the products which are manufactured by Samsung, Apple, Huawei and some other main companies have wide functions and simultaneously they are sold in lower prices.

On the other hand, there are some affected countries that people who live in these countries are obliged to get used to customs and traditions of the hegemon countries. In this manner, impacted society uses international languages, listens to singers who are famous all over the world and eats meals which are popular overseas and so on. To illustrate, McDonalds, KFC, Mado serve to people in more than half of the world countries, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Rihanna are listened by at least one of three people and English, German, Russian languages have been more important than their native languages.

In conclusion, the monosemous acceptance of globalization is not proper approach. When this term is talked over, both sides should be taken into account.

Mam, why your advanced writing task 2 lessons have only 1) opinion, 2) discussion and 3) adv/disadvantages type essays lessons? What about a) problems/solutions, b) two-part (direct question) and c) positive/negative development type essays? Kindly reply, because I want to learn structure of each type of IELTS (GT) essay. Thank you.

Because I became too sick to make more videos.

First of all, thank you for your prompt reply, Hope you are doing well now. I will pray for your health and speedy recovery. Can I expect video lessons on those missing type essays in near future? Or do you think it is sufficient enough to just go through your sample essays on those type of essays to get an idea of written structure?

The three Advanced lessons available teach you enough skills to be able to apply the same logical. However, you will need to review model essays and other tips. Did you see my free writing task 2 lessons? See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . Yesterday I put up a lesson about a mixed task essay with tips: https://ieltsliz.com/model-essay-for-tv-weight-problems/ . Just take a look around my site. It is unlikely I will make a new video soon. I’m still too sick for videos. But I post regular lessons on my site and am working on e-books “Ideas for IELTS Essays” and “Grammar for Writing Task 2”.

Yes, I already read the tips mentioned in the first link and just went through the second link now, both were so helpful. You are an indeed a blessing for students who are struggling with their IELTS score. Thank you for your help and tips. I am desperately waiting for your e-books. Best wishes and prayers for your health.

Thanks. I do plan to get back to making videos, but not until my health is completely recovered which might take a long time. As soon as I can, I’ll be making Advanced lessons for every single part of the IELTS test.

Hopefully you’ll be able to make more videos for your students very soon. Lot of respect and prayers for you mam. One of your students from other part of the world 🙂

Pleaaaase shed some light on the following: in the introduction of Task 2, what is the best waybto phrase that the X will be discussed in the essay. Do you say ‘This essay will discuss/This essay disagrees” or do you make use of pronouns such as ‘I’ “I agree that/ I will discuss X” . So confused as someone (online tutors) would say one thing, someone something different again. So now I don’t know which would be acceptable by an IELTS examiner.

You don’t need to use it at all. It is not required for IELTS. As you see, none of my model essays use that kind of sentence.

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Opinion Essay Topics - Choose the Best

Want to flex your writing muscles and share your thoughts on the world? Look no further than the opinion essay! This powerful tool lets you get insights into a topic, analyze its complexities, and ultimately persuade the reader to see things your way. 

But before you produce brilliant arguments, the first hurdle is choosing a compelling theme. This guide will equip you with different opinion writing prompts, sparking your creativity and propelling you towards a thought-provoking composition. For students looking for an instant fix, our argumentative essay writing services are available around the clock.

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Let our writers refine your topic or even create a 100% new essay today!

The List of Opinion Essay Topics

An opinion essay is a platform for you to share your beliefs on a specific topic. You'll clearly state your position and convince the reader why it's valid. Don’t forget to back up your arguments with evidence like facts, statistics, or personal anecdotes to make a strong case.

Best Opinion Essay Topics for 2024

• Standardized Testing vs. Practical Skills: Which Should Schools Prioritize?
• Boon or Bane? The Impact of Social Media on Society in 2024.
• The Four-Day Workweek: A Productivity Booster or Recipe for Chaos?
• College Education in 2024: Is the High Cost Still Worth the Investment?
• Striking a Balance: Privacy vs. Security in the Digital Age.
• Friend or Foe? The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Humanity.
• Should We Aim for the Stars? Space Exploration as a Top Global Priority.
• The Rise of Remote Work: A Boon for Flexibility or a Blow to Collaboration?
• Bridging Cultures: Travel and Exchange in a Globalized World.
• Beyond Electric Cars: The Future of Sustainable Transportation.
• Vaccination for Athletes: Protecting Public Health or Individual Rights?
• The Ethics of Gene Editing: A Powerful Tool with Uncertain Consequences.
• Fast Fashion's Dark Side: Convenience or Environmental Disaster?
• Shaping Society: The Influence of Social Media Influencers.
• Protecting Our Planet's Treasures: Endangered Species Conservation in 2024.
• Online Learning vs. Traditional Classrooms: Can Virtual Education Deliver?
• Quiet Quitting: Employee Disengagement or a Healthy Work-Life Balance?
• The Metaverse: Utopian Dream or Dystopian Nightmare?
• Citizen Journalism: Holding Institutions Accountable in the Digital Age.
• Financial Literacy in the Digital Age: Equipping Ourselves for Success.

Opinion Writing Prompts 1st Grade

• Recess: Sunshine and Swings or More Learning Time?
• Playground Pals: One Best Friend or Lots of Playmates?
• Lunchbox Surprise: Yummy Sandwiches or Delicious Dips?
• Nap Time: Snooze Away or More Play Time?
• Art Attack: Crayons Rule or Markers are the Best?
• Story Time: Funny Books or Fairytale Fun?
• Show and Tell: Your Favorite Toy or a Special Snack?
• Rainy Day Activities: Puzzles and Games or Reading Adventures?
• Gym Class: Jumping and Climbing or Ball Games All the Way?
• Music Time: Singing Along or Learning Instruments?
• Pets in Class: Cuddly Critters or Classroom Chaos?
• School Bus vs. Walking to School: Fun Ride or Fresh Air Fun?
• Backpack Buddies: Lighter Load or All Your Treasures?
• Playground Rules: More Freedom or Keeping Everyone Safe?
• School Supplies: Fancy Pencils or Plain Ones Work Just Fine?
• Field Trip Fun: A Visit to the Zoo or Exploring a Museum?
• Classroom Celebrations: Birthday Parties or Special Events?
• After-School Activities: Playing Outside or Creative Classes?
• School Shows: Dancing and Singing or Acting Out a Story?
• Pajama Day or Dress Up Day: Which is More Fun?

Opinion Writing Prompts 2nd Grade

• Standardized Testing: A Necessary Benchmark or Pressure Cooker for Students?
• Social Media Detox: A Break for Mental Well-being or Missing Out on Connection?
• School Uniforms: Promoting Equality or Stifling Individuality?
• Climate Change Action: Individual Responsibility or Collective Effort?
• Renewable Energy: The Answer to Our Energy Needs or Just a Dream?
• Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Powerful Tool or a Threat to Traditional Learning?
• E-Sports: A Legitimate Competitive Sport or Just a Video Game Obsession?
• Space Exploration: A Luxurious Pursuit or a Necessary Investment in Humanity's Future?
• The Gig Economy: Flexibility and Freedom or Job Insecurity and a Lack of Benefits?
• Online Privacy: Striking a Balance Between Convenience and Personal Data Protection
• Teenagers and Social Activism: A Force for Change or Naive Idealism?
• Should College be Free? Examining the Costs and Benefits of Higher Education
• The Rise of Streaming Services: The End of Traditional Television or a New Era of Entertainment?
• Sleep for Teenagers: Early Bedtimes or Sacrificing Sleep for Extra Activities?
• The Four-Day Workweek: A Recipe for Productivity or a Shortcut to Laziness?
• The Future of Transportation: Self-Driving Cars or Sustainable Public Transportation Systems?
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): A Threat to Nature's Balance or a Solution to World Hunger?
• The Influence of Social Media Influencers: Positive Role Models or Promoters of Unrealistic Standards?
• The Value of Volunteering: Making a Difference or Just Checking a Box?
• Virtual Reality: An Immersive Learning Tool or a Gateway to Escapism?

Opinion Writing Prompts 3rd Grade

• Milk Mustache Mania: White Milk or Chocolate Milk for the Win?
• Math Manipulatives: Counting with Colorful Blocks or Working with Numbers on Your Own?
• Classroom Decorations: Bright and Cheery or Cool and Calming?
• Lunchtime Choices: Leftovers from Home or Hot Lunch Mystery?
• Playground Equipment: The Thrill of the Seesaw or Building Castles in the Sandbox?
• Book Reports: Creating a Bookmark or Writing a Mini-Review?
• Field Trip Frenzy: Exploring a Farm or Visiting a Children's Museum?
• Show and Tell Treasures: Your Favorite Stuffed Animal or a Special Family Keepsake?
• Art Attack: Messy Finger Painting or Neat and Detailed Pictures?
• Music Time: Learning New Songs or Playing Instruments Together?
• Rainy Day Activities: Building with Building Blocks or Reading Cozy Books Under a Blanket?
• Gym Class: The Fun of Teamwork Games or Free Play on the Equipment?
• School Supplies: Fancy Glittery Pens or Reliable Old Pencils?
• Extracurricular Activities: Learning a New Language or Joining the Coding Club?
• School Breaks: Snowy Day Adventures or Sunny Spring Break Fun?
• Classroom Jobs: Cleaning the Whiteboard or Watering the Classroom Plants?
• Class Presentations: Sharing a Fun Fact Presentation or Acting Out a Historical Event?
• School Lunch: Choosing Nutritious Fruits and Veggies or Bringing a Sweet Dessert?
• Movie Night at School: A Classic Kids' Movie or a Nature Documentary?
• Library Time: Borrowing a Mystery Book or Choosing a Funny Comic Strip?

Opinion Writing Prompts 4th Grade

• Should Recess Be Longer Than Math Class?
• Is Pizza The Best Birthday Party Food?
• Pencils Or Pens: Which Are Better For Schoolwork?
• Weekend Homework: Helpful Or A Waste Of Time?
• Should Schools Have Uniforms?
• Field Trips: The Best Part Of School Or Just A Break?
• More Recess Games Or More Free Time At Recess?
• Are Tests The Best Way To Show What You Know?
• Should Kids Get To Choose Their Own Classroom Seats?
• Bikes Or Scooters: The Coolest Way To Get Around?
• Is Technology Making Homework Easier Or Harder?
• Should Classrooms Have More Decorations Or Be Kept Plain?
• More Group Projects Or More Individual Work In School?
• Is Learning A New Language A Waste Of Time?
• Should Schools Have Vending Machines With Healthy Snacks?
• Should There Be More Recess For Younger Grades?
• Is Reading For Fun More Important Than Reading Textbooks?
• Should Schools Focus On Learning New Things Or Practicing Old Skills?
• Are Museums Boring Or Exciting Places To Visit?
• Is Having A Best Friend Overrated?

Opinion Essay Topics for Students

• Homework Deadline Dilemma: Should Schools Set Stricter Deadlines?
• The Great Debate: Textbooks or Tablets in the Classroom?
• Unplugging for Success: Should Schools Ban Phones During the Day?
• Standardizing Learning: Are Standardized Tests a Fair Measure of Student Ability?
• The Power of Choice: Should Students Have More Control Over Their Coursework?
• The Art of Learning: Should Arts Education Be Mandatory in Schools?
• The Value of Sleep: Should Schools Start Later to Allow for More Sleep?
• The Power of Play: Is Recess Essential for Student Learning?
• Classroom Classics: Should Traditional Teaching Methods Make a Comeback?
• The Global Classroom: Should Schools Offer More International Exchange Programs?
• Learning Through Service: Should Community Service Be a Graduation Requirement?
• The Great Cafeteria Conundrum: Should Schools Offer More Healthy Food Options?
• Dress for Success (or Comfort?): Should Schools Have Dress Codes?
• Mentorship: Should Schools Implement Mentorship Programs?
• Beyond the Classroom Walls: Should Schools Offer More After-School Activities?
• The Great Debate: Should Students Be Allowed to Use Calculators in Math Class?
• The Power of Playful Learning: Should Schools Incorporate More Games into the Curriculum?
• The Value of Failure: Should Schools Encourage Students to Embrace Mistakes?
• The Homework Dilemma: Should Schools Assign Less Homework?
• The Power of Choice: Should Students Be Able to Choose Their Electives?

Good Opinion Essay Topics

• School Uniforms: Boon Or Bane?
• Should Homework Be Abolished?
• The Four-Day Workweek: A Recipe For Success?
• Fast Fashion: Friend Or Foe Of The Environment?
• Travel Broadens The Mind: Agree Or Disagree?
• Should Art Be Mandatory In Schools?
• Technology In The Classroom: A Helpful Distraction?
• Learning A Second Language: Essential Or Extra?
• Gap Year: Time For Exploration Or Time-Wasting?
• Volunteer Work: Building Character Or Resume Padding?
• Social Media: Connecting Or Isolating?
• Reality TV: Entertainment Or Empty Calories?
• Online Learning: A Viable Alternative To Traditional Classrooms?
• The Importance Of Sleep In A Busy World.
• Should Professional Athletes Be Paid More Than Teachers?
• The Legalization Of Recreational Marijuana: A Positive Step?
• Universal Basic Income: A Solution To Poverty?
• Living In A Big City Vs. A Small Town: What's Your Pick?
• The Benefits Of Taking A Break From Technology.
• Preserving Historical Landmarks: A Necessity Or A Waste Of Resources?

Easy Opinion Essay Topics

• Recycling of Plastic: Zero or Hero?
• Zoos: Ethical Entertainment or Animal Captivity?
• Single-use Plastics: A Ban or Better Solutions?
• Standardized Testing: Does it Measure Up?
• Space Exploration: A Luxury or Investment in the Future?
• News Bias: Does it Cloud Our Judgment?
• Public Transportation: A Green Dream or Logistical Nightmare?
• The Sharing Economy: Boon or Bubble?
• Should College Be Free?
• Online Shopping: Convenience or Killer of Main Street?
• All-nighters for Studying: Effective or Destructive?
• Curfews for Teenagers: Wise Restriction or Unnecessary Control?
• The Rise of Citizen Journalism: Trustworthy Source or Wild West of Information?
• Robots in the Workplace: Job Creators or Job Takers?
• Video Games: Mindless Entertainment or Educational Tool?
• Dress Codes at Work: Empowering or Encroaching?
• Energy Drinks: A Pick-Me-Up or Health Hazard?
• Pet Ownership: Responsibility or Indulgence?
• Beauty Standards on Social Media: A Realistic Goal or Unhealthy Pressure?
• Cash vs. Cashless: A Digital Divide or Progress?

Public Opinion Essay Topics

• Government Funding for the Arts: Necessary Investment or Frivolous Spending?
• Public Shaming on Social Media: Effective Deterrent or Mob Mentality?
• Gun Control: A Path to Safety or Infringement on Rights?
• Nationalized Healthcare: A Universal Right or Recipe for Bureaucracy?
• Term Limits for Politicians: Preventing Stagnation or Weakening Experience?
• The Rise of Social Media Influencers: Role Models or Misguided Celebrities?
• Renewable Energy Sources: The Key to Sustainability or Overhyped Solution?
• Privatization of Public Services: Efficiency Boost or Public Disadvantage?
• Foreign Aid: Helping Struggling Nations or Enabling Dependence?
• Surveillance for Public Safety: A Necessary Evil or Threat to Privacy?
• Standardized Beauty Contests: Celebrating Diversity or Promoting Stereotypes?
• College Athletes and Compensation: Amateurs or Professionals Deserving Pay?
• The Gig Economy: Flexibility and Freedom or Job Insecurity and Exploitation?
• The Death Penalty: Justice Served or Flawed System?
• Hate Speech Laws: Protecting Vulnerable Groups or Stifling Free Speech?
• Climate Change Activism: Necessary Disruption or Public Nuisance?
• Universal Basic Income: A Hand Up or Disincentive to Work?
• Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Compassionate Choice or Slippery Slope?
• Tax Breaks for the Wealthy: Trickle-Down Economics or Unfair Advantage?
• Online Censorship: Protecting Morality or Stifling Political Expression?

Environment Opinion Writing Prompts

• Paper or Plastic? Picking the Eco-Friendly Option.
• Can Technology Solve Our Environmental Problems?
• Meatless Mondays: A Fad or Sustainable Future?
• Bottled Water: Convenience or Environmental Culprit?
• Reforestation Efforts: Planting a Greener Tomorrow?
• Ecotourism: Friend or Foe to Fragile Ecosystems?
• Light Pollution: Dimming the Stars, Harming Wildlife.
• Should National Parks Have Limited Access?
• Disposable Culture: Convenience or Catastrophe?
• From Fast Fashion to Sustainable Style.
• Composting: Turning Kitchen Scraps into Gold.
• Banning Single-Use Plastics: A Step in the Right Direction?
• Public Transportation: The Key to a Greener Commute?
• Can We Have Clean Energy Without Sacrificing Jobs?
• Individual Action vs. Systemic Change: What Matters More?
• The Rise of Veganism: A Dietary Shift for the Planet?
• Sustainable Packaging: Can We Innovate Our Way Out of Waste?
• Rewilding Deserted Lands: Restoring Balance for Nature.
• Ocean Acidification: A Silent Threat to Marine Life.
• Can We Hold Corporations Accountable for Environmental Damage?

Nursing Opinion Essay Topics

• Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: Balancing Quality Care with Staffing Shortages.
• Standardized Language in Nursing Communication.
• Telehealth: A Valuable Tool or Threat to Traditional Patient Interaction?
• Advocacy in Nursing: Motivating Patients to Make Informed Decisions.
• The Ethical Dilemmas of End-of-Life Care.
• Nurse Burnout: Strategies for Promoting Wellbeing in a Demanding Field.
• Art Therapy: Integrating Creativity into Patient Care.
• Cultural Competency in Nursing: Providing Care that Respects Diversity.
• The Rise of Specialization in Nursing: Pros and Cons for Patient Care.
• The Future of Nursing Education: Preparing for a Changing Healthcare Landscape.
• The Role of Nurses in Public Health Education and Disease Prevention.
• Mental Health Nursing: Addressing the Growing Need for Specialized Care.
• Nurses as Leaders: Taking the Initiative in Improving Healthcare Systems.
• Collaboration Between Nurses and Physicians.
• Technology in Nursing: Automation or Human Connection?
• The Role of Nurses in Pain Management: A Balancing Act.
• Ethical Considerations of Social Media Use in the Nursing Profession.
• Nurse Residency Programs: Providing New Graduates with the Support They Need.
• The Global Shortage of Nurses: Strategies for Addressing a Worldwide Issue.
• Work-Life Balance for Nurses: Maintaining Personal Wellbeing While Providing Care.

Education Opinion Essay Topics

• Play-Based Learning: Essential for Early Childhood or Time Waster?
• Standardizing Curriculums: One Size Fits All or Stifling Innovation?
• The Value of Vocational Training: A Path to Success or Underrated Option?
• Student Loan Debt: Crippling Burden or Investment in the Future?
• The Role of Standardized Testing: Measuring Progress or Hindering Learning?
• The Merits of Single-Sex Education: Fostering Focus or Limiting Opportunities?
• Financial Literacy in Schools: Equipping Students for Life.
• Blended Learning: Combining the Best of Both Worlds or Dilution of Quality?
• The Value of a Gap Year: Time for Personal Growth or Delaying the Inevitable?
• The Pressure to Achieve: Fostering Excellence or Breeding Anxiety?
• Should Grades Be Abolished? Rethinking Student Evaluation.
• The Rise of Online Learning: A Flexible Future or Threat to Traditional Education?
• Art & Music Education: Enriching Lives or Frivolous Extras?
• Should Schools Focus on STEM Subjects? Balancing Skills for the Future.
• Teacher Training: Investing in Quality Educators.
• The Debate Over Charter Schools: Fostering Innovation or Exacerbating Inequality?
• Uniforms in Schools: Promoting Equality or Stifling Individuality?
• The Role of Technology in the Classroom: Boon or Distraction?
• Reducing Class Sizes: A Recipe for Improved Learning or Budgetary Strain?
• Social-Emotional Learning: Equipping Students for Life Beyond Academics.

Literature Topics for an Opinion Essay

• Censorship in Literature: Protecting Morality or Stifling Creativity?
• Classics in a Modern World: Timeless Treasures or Outdated Relics?
• Should Literature Be "Realistic" or Embrace Fantasy?
• The Value of Unreliable Narrators: Adding Depth or Deceiving Readers?
• Happy Endings: A Requirement for a Satisfying Story or Overused Cliché?
• The Role of Technology in Literature: Friend or Foe to Traditional Storytelling?
• The Moral Compass of Literature: Should Stories Teach Lessons?
• Adaptations: Capturing the Magic or Missing the Mark?
• The Power of Poetry: A Lost Art or Enduring Form?
• Are Cliffhangers a Cheap Trick or an Effective Storytelling Device?
• The Value of Diverse Voices in Literature: Expanding Horizons or Catering to Trends?
• The Importance of Setting in Literature: Creating Atmosphere or Just Backdrop?
• Should Authors Reveal Their Endings? The Mystery of Authorial Intent.
• First-Person vs. Third-Person Narration: Intimacy or Objectivity?
• Open Endings: Sparking Imagination or Leaving Readers Frustrated?
• Humor in Literature: A Tool for Lightheartedness or Social Commentary?
• Science Fiction: Predicting the Future or Escapist Fantasy?
• The Allure of Dystopian Literature: A Warning or a Downer?
• The Value of Retellings: Fresh Takes on Familiar Tales or Unnecessary Repetition?
• Ambiguity in Literature: Room for Interpretation or Lack of Clarity?

Psychology Opinion Essay Topics

• Social Media: Building Connections or Feeding Insecurities?
• Multitasking: Myth of Productivity or Recipe for Mistakes?
• Sleep Deprivation: A Badge of Honor or Road to Ruin?
• Positive Thinking: Overhyped Solution or Effective Strategy?
• Introverts vs. Extroverts: A Spectrum, Not a Duality.
• The Rise of Tiger Parenting: Pushing Children to Succeed or Stifling Potential?
• Power Naps: A Quick Fix for Energy or Disruption to Sleep Cycles?
• Video Games: A Waste of Time or Cognitive Training Ground?
• The Placebo Effect: Mind Over Matter or All in the Head?
• Lie Detection: Can We Truly Know When Someone's Lying?
• The Bystander Effect: Why Do People Stand By in Emergencies?
• Social Media Detox: A Necessary Escape or Overreaction?
• The Healing Power of Laughter: Fact or Fiction?
• Can We Learn to Be Happy? The Pursuit of Happiness in Psychology.
• Daydreaming: A Sign of Boredom or Spark of Creativity?
• The Impact of Music on Mood and Motivation.
• The Science of First Impressions: Lasting Impact or Superficial Judgment?
• The Power of Forgiveness: Letting Go for Your Own Wellbeing.
• Can Technology Help Us Overcome Phobias?
• The Nature vs. Nurture Debate: A Complex Interplay.

How to Select an Opinion Essay Topic

The right topic for your opinion essay sets the stage for your argument and ensures you have a clear focus. Here's a breakdown of key factors to consider when selecting your topic:

If you want more tips on how to write an opinion essay , please visit this guide.

With a well-chosen topic, your opinion essay has the potential to not only express your views but also spark conversation and even influence change. Remember, a captivating topic is the foundation for a first-class essay, so take your time, explore your interests, and don't be afraid to tackle a subject you feel passionate about! If you need help, hire a cheap essay writer on our website in just a few clicks.

 Don’t Want to Bother with Opinion Essays?

Free time is too important to waste on lesser essays. Use our service instead!

What Is An Example In Opinion Writing?

What is a good topic to write an opinion essay on, how do i choose an opinion topic.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• An opinion essay. (2024, June 1). LearnEnglish. https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b2-writing/opinion-essay
• Harrison, S. (2023, August 2). How to Write an Opinion Based Essay - UCT English Language Centre. UCT English Language Centre. https://uctlanguagecentre.com/blog/exam-focus/writing-opinion-based-essays
• Opinion Essays - The Boston Globe. (n.d.). BostonGlobe.com. https://www.bostonglobe.com/tag/opinion-essays/

Should Students Have Part-Time Jobs? Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Advantages of part-time jobs for students, disadvantages of part-time jobs for students, works cited.

The supreme desire of every parent to take their children to school is for them to get the best education and excel at their studies. Despite this fact, there comes a point in time when the student needs to supplement the income from their parents or rather source funds to even cater for their education (Sloman, 652).

As a result, most students end up engaging in part-time jobs. It can be due to the necessity or desire to have some extra money to spend. The decision to engage in part-time jobs is entirely the student’s choice. Some get support from their parents, tutors, and friends, while others don’t.

But should students have part-time jobs? This essay tries to answer this question.

Before any decision to engage in part-time jobs is reached, three things have to be critically considered. These are the students themselves, their financial situation, and, finally, the type of work. The listed factors will allow a person to make decisions that they will not live to regret.

Therefore, this part-time job essay is an in-depth analysis of the advantages of students having jobs and a little discussion on the disadvantages.

Part-time jobs are of great essentiality since students are able to earn while at the same time studying. Most part-time jobs require that one works for about three to four hours a day, something that is manageable by almost every student, given the fact that lessons don’t take the entire day. Some of the benefits associated with part-time jobs for students include the following;

Relief of financial burden

Students who engage in part-time jobs get paid for the services offered; hence the earnings obtained can be used to partly relieve the students’ financial burden they could have.

This is because the cost of education has in the recent past sky-rated, making students from poor families not able to afford yet the banking systems have also failed to loan such students; therefore, engaging in part-time jobs makes such students meet their education expenses (Somoski 1). In addition, part-time jobs give students pocket money that they can spend on their own without nagging their parents with money.

Promotion of education

Students who undertake part-time jobs are able to upgrade their studies, making them understand whatever they learn in school even better. For instance, an accounting student who gets a part-time job in an accounting firm will be able to experience the theory learned in school practically hence having a better understanding of the course. The same applies to medicine, engineering, law, and biology students, among others (Pickett 1).

Accumulation of work experience

Engaging in part-time jobs enables the students to gain experience in their field of work hence boosting their resumes. This is important when it comes to job hunting after completion of studies.

Research has shown that students that have undertaken part-time jobs and gained relevant experience have the upper hand when it comes to getting jobs, unlike those that are just fresh from school. On the other hand, working part-time for recognized organizations increases one’s chances of landing a better job.

Time Management Skills

Having a part-time job helps students to acquire time management skills in the sense that they treasure every time they get and use it efficiently. This happens because their study time is now preoccupied with the job, thus having to restructure their schedule to fit in the study time, work time, leisure time, etc.

Learn the value of money

Most parents have complained that their children who are students do not know the value of money until they get jobs. Therefore, students who take part in part-time jobs while in school are in a position to understand the value of money, thus using it well in the future (Pickett 1). For instance, they are now able to refrain from impulse buying and resulting in smart shopping hence making their money last longer than before. This, as a result, makes them responsible adults even in the future.

Other benefits associated with part-time jobs are that the students get new ideas while in the workplace (Somoski 1). This happens mostly for challenging courses that need great minds, such as web design, whereby the students learn new technologies as soon as they are generated. Last but not least is the improvement in communication skills since the student interacts with different people at the workplace.

As mentioned above, the decision to engage in part-time jobs is wholly dependent on the student. This is because there are disadvantages that come in handy with a student engaging in part-time jobs.

Among them is the effect it has on students’ performance, given the less time allocated for study (Anti Essays 1). Other students may be overwhelmed by their greed for money and end up forgoing their studies to indulge in full-time jobs hence affecting their education.

In a nutshell, it can be concluded that the pros of part-time jobs for students outweigh the cons. From the discussion above, the benefits that a student gets on deciding to engage in part-time jobs are endless. The good thing is that the disadvantages attached to part-time jobs for students are manageable depending on the mind and focus of the students in their education and life.

Anti Essays. Benefits of Part-Time Jobs . 2011. Web.

Pickett, Theresa. What are the Benefits of Part-Time Jobs for Students? 1999-2011. Web.

Sloman, John. Economics . 2004- Penguin.

Somoski, Nick. Should students work part-time during the school year ? 2010-2011. Web.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic: Work and Career

Updated On Mar 14, 2024

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Sample essay, band 9 sample essay.

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The Essay Writing section of the IELTS Writing Module can be a difficult task for many IELTS Aspirants. Thus, it is vital that you polish your essay writing skills before attempting the IELTS.

Below is a sample IELTS Essay for the IELTS Essay topic:

Some people think that work is the most important thing in people’s life. Without the success of a career, life becomes meaningless. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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While it is argued that a distinguished career is regarded as the most pivotal thing in a person’s life, I firmly believe that there are other factors which can make people’s lives  meaningful.

On the one hand, it cannot be denied that working plays a vital role in one’s life. According to an annual survey carried out in the UK, a person spends about 25 or 30 years on their occupation, hence working time accounts for nearly one-third of a person’s life. So if people obtain a worthwhile job that blooms , their lifetime is likely to be filled with human well-being . Additionally, the state of being stuck in an unsuccessful career might have a destructive influence on people’s spirits. Those with turbulent career or experience of job dissatisfaction could suffer from chronic stress and discouragement, which affects   their mental and physical health adversely, as well as making them have a negative outlook on their lives.

On the other hand, I contend that there are more desirable goals rather than a successful career to attain in our life. A vast majority of people perceive  a meaningful life as helping others living in poor and underprivileged conditions . They spend most of their lifetime devoting to charity work. Furthermore, there are other people who do not enter the workforce but seem satisfied with their lives. In some Asian countries such as Japan, dual-income families are not as common as that in Western nations. Take Japan as a telling example;  men are often the breadwinners while women stay at home, take over the responsibilities related to household chores and childcare, which make them feel content as a well-established tradition .

In conclusion, while undoubtedly people can benefit enormously from a glittering career , there are still a lot of significant factors which might enable them to lead a happy life. 

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In an extremely competitive and contending world that we are residents of, especially in the terms of success and growth, it is obvious for people considering a successful career to be a synonym of a fulfilled life. However, I find myself in contrariety to the very statement as one dynamic of life can’t define the wholesome purpose of it. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I shall be reflecting on the same.

Often people are found assuming materialistic things and subsets of life to be the only purpose of it, which is an extremely erroneous and flawed notion. An enriching job and the associated nuances of it for that matter is just one factor of a sound lifestyle that can’t compensate and rule out the other aspects and aspirations of one’s life. Social well being, physical fitness, emotional stability are a few of the broader categories of a conventionally presumed healthy lifestyle, and in such a scenario, catapulting one’s whole life in hounding up the capitals, as is evidently observed, corrodes one’s life, which gets culminated into realisation in the later stage of one’s life.

People involved in altruism and philanthropy often consider themselves to be substantially content and satiated with their life. Also, the anchorites and sages who neglect the extrinsic opulence of their life and inclined more towards the philosophical sea apparently enthral themselves, as they often alleged, in the true gist of life. Moreover, the wealthy households or individuals, successful in their career are often ostensibly pronounced to be thoroughly accomplished in all walks of life that might be true in some cases, are not necessarily happy in the core of their personal well being. Suicides, depression, anxiety, etc. are some of the evidential nemeses of dissatisfaction that one might be going through.

Although, good career, sound wealth, career aspirations and growth are important, encompassing life around a mono-subset is shallow lectured and a failed ideology and a snag for one’s wholesome journey.

Conclusively, ordaining one’s life unsuccessful and ignominious just by the definition of career curve is utterly wrong and unpragmatic.

• Lifetime (noun) the period of time when someone is alive
• Distinguished career (phrase) successful career
• Carry out (phrasal verb) conduct
• Account for (phrasal verb)   supply or make up a specified amount or proportion of
• Human Well-being (phrase) is understood as a a state of health, happiness and/or prosperity
• A dual – income family  (phrase)  a family that gets money from two separate incomes
• Take something/someone as a telling example (phrase) Consider something/someone as a strong, important example

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• Academic practice
• General practice
• Task 1 Academic
• Task 1 General
• Task 2 (essay)

Jobs and Employment essay questions for IELTS

Here you can find common IELTS essay questions for "Employment and Business" topic.

Some people say that teenagers should work part-time and earn money. This way they will learn basic lessons about work and become more disciplined. Others argue that teenagers shouldn't sacrifice their rest and after-school activities to work.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Many people think that to become a successful specialist it's better to choose a career early in life and never change it later.

To what extent do you agree with this view?

Support your opinion with relevant examples.

What do you think are the main causes of unemployment?

What solutions can you suggest?

A lot of people spend a major part of their adult life at work, so job satisfaction is very important for individual happiness.

What are the main factors that contribute to job satisfaction?

What are the possible solutions for people who are unsatisfied with their jobs?

Big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?

Provide relevant examples if necessary.

Some people hesitate between getting a job and starting their own business. While the idea of not having a boss and working on one's own schedule may sound tempting, financial risks and stress sometimes outweigh these advantages.

In your opinion what are the pros and cons of working in a company?

Famous sportsmen often earn a lot more money than people in other professions. Although sport is important in our lives, everyone should be equal and such big incomes of sport professionals are unjustified.

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April 20, 2011

Ielts writing task 2: sample discussion essay.

Here's an example of how I write a 4-paragraph essay for "discuss and give your opinion" questions. Notice that I give my opinion in 3 places (introduction, paragraph 3, conclusion).

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are some benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.

For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.

(271 words, band 9)

Hi Simon! I've had a look at your essay. It's completely perfect! and it is very easy to follow. I wasn't wondering about this essay deserving a band 9!

In contrast, city life has several drawbacks. = city life has not all been without its drawbacks.

Do you think the second phrase is a good way to say?

Posted by: Pete01 | April 20, 2011 at 09:59

hi simon, its a wonderful essay !can u please advice how can i improve my writing skills on everyday basis? before taking the exam,approximately how many essays should i practice to reach the goal of band 7....i am writing new words every day in a note book and try to use them . thanks a tons for this wonderful site from which i am getting inspiration to pursue my dreams...

Posted by: ana | April 20, 2011 at 11:37

Hello Simon,

When they finish school,teenagers face the dilemma of either to get a job or continue their education.Weather or not to go to university or collage straight after finishing school in order to have a better career is a matter of debate.The pros and cons of both arguments will be discussed below.

Can I write my first para this way or does it affect the band score? In most of the argument/giving opinion,I've used 'pros and cons style'. I've never used I,for giving a direct opinion like you did 'I would argue' I usually give my opinion at conclusion.I wonder,maybe that's one of the big reason why I get less band. Please let me know does it really affect my marks or suggest me how should I IMPROVE on this matter.

I would really appreciate the support from you.

Posted by: Maya | April 20, 2011 at 19:05

Dear Simon,

I don't know what is formal writing and what is not-

eg. Every individual has to do recycling but then the government should encourage them.

is this sentence formal enough to write in the academic writing test?

is "but then" too informal? and how does those spoken language affect the mark??

I posted this question here because I couldn't figure out where to post. :)

thank you so much Simon-

Posted by: Munie | April 20, 2011 at 22:49

Hi,Simon This is a fantastic essay! I did follow your way of writing and I got a band 7 for my writing recently! I am very happy, thank you for your help that is great!

Posted by: Sunny | April 21, 2011 at 03:32

Hi Simon.can you give me advice for this topic:

Some people think that international sports events create problems for the hosting country and they are a waste of time and money. Do you agree or disagree with this view?

my introduce: it is true that the hosting country has several problem when organizing international sports events. However, i definitely disagree with the idea that the hosting country is waste of time and money.

and then i will write 2 paragraphs about the benefits of hosting international sports events.

do you think that 2 paragraphs i want to write is suitable with my introduction.

Posted by: cao | April 21, 2011 at 09:46

Where can I find the format for such a good essay?( band 9) aside from vocabulary and grammar?

Posted by: Rey | April 21, 2011 at 11:52

Can we say "heiratage and tradition will be destroyed" and also what can we say instead of "people suffer"?

Thank you. Alice

Posted by: alice | April 21, 2011 at 15:43

Thanks Pete,

You're sentence is nearly correct. You could write "City life is not without its drawbacks."

It might be a good idea to write an essay every day (spending a few hours to make it perfect), then test yourself at the end of the week (spending 40 minutes only).

It's also a good idea to find a teacher who can check your work.

Good luck, and keep using your notebook!

Your introduction is ok, but you might get a higher score if you use my technique. Examiners give a higher score when "the position (opinion/response) is clear THROUGHOUT the essay".

Words like "but", "then", "and" are neutral (used all the time - formal and informal). Don't worry too much about formal/informal - if you haven't lived with native English speakers, you probably don't use much informal language. The language you learn in most English lessons is formal enough for IELTS. Just avoid contracted forms (e.g. don't, haven't) in your writing test.

Great news Sunny! Well done.

Your 2 paragraphs would definitely be suitable with the introduction you have written.

I send some 'essay templates' as extra materials when people buy the ebook. They might be what you are looking for.

Posted by: Simon | April 21, 2011 at 15:57

Yes, but be careful with the spelling of heritage.

It depends how you are using "people suffer" - it can be used in different ways.

Posted by: Simon | April 21, 2011 at 16:29

Thank you so much Simon,

I want to use "people suffer" in a sentence like "people will suffer from pollution of the environment" Can we say like that?

Posted by: alice | April 21, 2011 at 16:41

Your sentence seems a bit strange. It would be more normal to use 'suffer' like this:

"People suffer from respiratory problems due to air pollution."

'Suffer' is usually used when someone has an illness of some kind.

Posted by: Simon | April 21, 2011 at 17:17

Thank you, Simon. I now understand what you mean.

Posted by: alice | April 21, 2011 at 18:20

Thank you so much Simon.

Posted by: Maya | April 21, 2011 at 18:43

Thanks Simon-

you are a legend.

Posted by: Munie | April 21, 2011 at 23:56

Hi, Simon, could you give me some ideas on the following topic? Some people think museums should be enjoyable places to attract and entertain people. But others think the purpose of museums is to educate, not to entertain. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Posted by: adverb | April 22, 2011 at 13:25

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion. In our modern world, there are controversial debates between people. The argument is what is more advantageous to acquire a job with or without a scientific degree. Job satisfaction and good working conditions could not be achieved if the candidate does not hold a scientific degree. The reason is that well paid salaries and flexible working hours are essential in job contentment. For example, .An architecture engineer ,who has a degree in architecture engineering, could estimate the amount of bricks and cement needed to build a compartment in a building according to the building measures. therefore , this engineer would be praised and awarded by these companies because his skills help the company in saving money and time.

Every student has his own pace in understanding maths , literacy and science in schools; some of these teenagers could not continue to study in university . If the teenagers find a vocational job after they finished schools , parents should encourage them to continue with this job especially if these teenagers want to. The reason is that there is no guarantee jobs even if you have an academical degree so far.

It is illogical to ask the students to go for vocational or low paid jobs if they do not want to do so, but if there are exceptional circumstances , which prevent the child to proceed according to low budget families and his level in high school us irrelevant to go further, it is advisable to work.

To conclude, parents should give the opportunity to highly motivated teenagers to go either to further education or to work after finishing school.

Posted by: sulaiman | April 23, 2011 at 08:58

Thanks Alice, Maya and Munie.

I'll try to cover that topic in a lesson soon.

Thanks for sharing Sulaiman.

I'm sorry I can't give feedback on your essay, but I'm sure other students will appreciate it.

Posted by: Simon | April 23, 2011 at 12:07

Hi Simon, i can write like this:

Young people will have the chance to go through a series of working environment, condition,and constrained pressure hoop.

This is true or false?

Thank you very much.

Posted by: Nguyen | April 24, 2011 at 04:11

I'm afraid your sentence is a bit confusing - it seems like you have translated wrongly because "constrained pressure hoop" seems strange to me.

Posted by: Simon | April 24, 2011 at 21:53

The essay shown above was absolutely great. I guess no revisions are needed for this. Keep up the good wok.

Posted by: TheIELTSSolution | April 26, 2011 at 06:51

No problem.

Posted by: Simon | April 26, 2011 at 17:37

Hi Simon, I bought your ebook few days ago. I know how to use it but I am afraid that if I write exactly your ideas and just add some linking words to complete my essay, is it plagiarism? Do I need to paraphrase your ideas?

could you give me some help?

Posted by: Ngan | April 27, 2011 at 08:10

Don't worry, my ideas are not "original" - they are just normal things that any native speaker might say. You will not be punished for using the ideas in the ebook.

Posted by: Simon | April 27, 2011 at 15:27

I use structure: Go through a hoop

For ex: the heavily indepted poor country have to go through a series of economic and administrative hoops designed by international creditors to establish their fitness for debt write-offs.

Maybe i have wrongly applied this above structure , right? Thank teacher Simon so much.

Posted by: Nguyen | April 27, 2011 at 16:52

We talk about "jumping through hoops" to mean "perform a series of difficult tasks" (so you've got the right idea), but I don't think you'll be able to use it in most IELTS essay contexts.

Posted by: Simon | April 28, 2011 at 13:24

Thanks my teacher so much

Posted by: nguyen | April 28, 2011 at 17:29

hi simon, is it ok if i start like this: "Getting a job or pursuing higher education after school is many people’s concerns. I believe that it depends on what job they want to do in the future." in this type of question, do we have to support for one site only or we can have a different idea about the option? which is easier to write? thank you very much for your useful blog. I have learned a lot from it.

Posted by: lpThao | May 11, 2011 at 05:48

It's ok to say that "it depends..." - you don't have to choose one side to agree with. However, I find it easier and clearer to choose one side.

Also, "is many people’s concerns" is not correct. Try to find a different way to say that.

I'm glad you like the blog!

Posted by: Simon | May 11, 2011 at 16:19

Hi simon,your essay was really brilliant

Posted by: md zillur rahman | October 19, 2011 at 20:20

hi simon,i found your essay easy enough it should be more high level.

Posted by: roohidanish | November 12, 2011 at 16:00

Hi Roohidanish,

Students often have the wrong idea about what "high level" means. You might find my essay easy to read (because it is well written), but that doesn't mean that it was easy to write!

Posted by: Simon | November 14, 2011 at 11:09

hi simon, can you help me to give some ideas about "Outline the skills required for an international student (who is not a native speaker of English) to be successful on a degree level programme.what strategies can he uses to ensure that he has the skills required and are fully prepared for the challenge? thanks Sha

Posted by: sha | January 17, 2012 at 16:49

I guess you need: to have a sufficient level of English to understand lectures and articles, to be hard-working, to know how to find resources like articles and books (online and in a library) etc.

To prepare, students should look at the degree programme to know what to expect and what the course modules are, and maybe buy and read some of the key textbooks before the degree starts.

Posted by: Simon | January 17, 2012 at 17:24

hi , i saw that u have used personal language such as "I" , so is that ok to use personal language in academic essay?

Posted by: visal | March 16, 2012 at 04:26

Hi, Sir! I plan to take up my IELTS academic exam this June 9 but i have difficulties in writing, both task 1 and task 2..Would you please help me how to start my writing and how can I identify the overall trend using words that will attract the examiner? Please give me tips on how to write my essays within the allotted time frame. I badly need it. i couldn't enroll in the testing center, I am financially short. Please, please help me... Thanks in advance. God speed! I want to know more.

Posted by: ANNE | April 26, 2012 at 09:46

hi simon,good day! I amtaking my IELTS academic exam this coming may 26,2012 at cebu city....but i still have some difficulties in my writing,both task 1 and task 2 and my speaking test.can i ask for more sample answers please? thanks thanks!

Posted by: ana may g. ambos | May 14, 2012 at 01:52

hi i'm trying to write an essay on a topic that is needed to be explained..does explain the same with discussion essay

Posted by: Leata | September 05, 2012 at 13:01

Wow great content in this article just what i am searching for thanks for sharing it to the public.

Posted by: claudia | October 11, 2012 at 08:08

it is very beautiful and easy un derstanding essay.iam trying to follow this style.so piz give tips for good writng.

Posted by: ancy | October 23, 2012 at 14:53

I have red your sample essay and i got little bit confidence to write essay but here i just want to tell one thing like i am appearing for IELTS general training after one month . However i am IT professional and every day i use to write mails but still i did not have that much confidence to clear the IELTS exam because my school back ground was Hindi medium and i struggled alot on English. Specially i am facing problem with reading and writing . Actually i can write but i am unable to frame my sentences in required topic format also unable to use effective vocabulary . So please help me by seeing this text how good i am in Writing. Thanks Abhishek

Posted by: Abhishek Srivastava | October 30, 2012 at 11:45

Hy Simon Its a wonderful essay i have ever read. So how can I improve my essay writings. Plz give me some tips to write am essay for band 8.

Posted by: ranish | November 29, 2012 at 02:27

Hi Simon i need to now which kind of essay are appearing in the task 2 ielts also how to write them ? what i mean is the order and were can i set my opinion, please rewrite to me as soon as possible.

Posted by: Hrsh | February 27, 2013 at 02:23

Is it necessary for you to refute the arguments in your second paragraph - the opposite argument you don't agree with? Is it OK to just leave it there or do we need to show why it's wrong and why you dsiagree with - i.e. refute it?

Or would it be good enough to just list your own opinion and arguments in the third paragraph and that's it? Thanks.

Posted by: IELTS Singapore | April 30, 2013 at 12:41

I can't understand why it use "to getting" rather than "to get".Is there anyone who can explain it for me.Thanks

Posted by: Ethan | May 11, 2013 at 11:39

I have developed an Android app for IELTS preparation. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ieltstipsAs a candidate preparing for the exam, I would like your inputs on how to improve this application.What other sections if added to a IELTS preparation mobile app would you like to see.

Regards Sandeep

Posted by: sandeep | May 30, 2013 at 15:05

Hi simon, i would like yo asked if you offer a tutorial lesson for writing task via online. I am bit confused on how to make a start or rather what is the best structure of writing for me to get band score 7. Hope you can help me.. Thnx and more power..

Posted by: Sid | July 05, 2013 at 13:57

I am taking IELTS exam on 3 August at UK. Can any one provide me the template for Academic writing part.

Thank You !

Posted by: kartz | July 28, 2013 at 18:36

hello Simon! I'm studying English for Academic Purpose's and would really like you to forward me a "Discussion Essay" in the block method worth of (600-800) words of length. I would like to get myself familiarize with essay writing.

Posted by: Vilomena Tagiteci | August 06, 2013 at 03:43

I appeared in my ielts test this weekend. Unfortunately I fall little short in time of essay writing and missed to conclude it properly due to time constraint. However I wrote one line in conclusion.

Would I be loosing marks fir this specific thing? Thanks,

Posted by: Manoj Srivastava | January 19, 2014 at 14:39

Really helpful essay for non native speakers.

Posted by: Deman | April 27, 2014 at 07:49

In today’s society,youngsters occupy the majority proportion of population in the country. According to the population statistic report,no matter how serious ageing of the population is ,the proportion of young people still make up more than 60%. Thereby,the youngers contribute to society are more crucial than the elders. Once a large number of youngers are unsatisfied with the current situation,which may influence the prosperity of society. At present, from my own perspective,government should solve the three following problems,after that synchronous between the young peoples and society will be better and phenomenon of crime rate will cut down.

First of all, the lack of job opportunities makes more youths have no chance to be employed. Without the help of government, the young peoples always are difficult to find an ideal job that appear the hot phenomenon what numerous youngers choose to stay at home using their parents’ pensions.It has arouse people’s attention from every part of society. Government should take a firm action deal with the work opportunity when they feel this project is worth doing ,because it contributes to the society or the economy as a whole. Therefore,more concessional loan will be invested by the government.

In the next place, houses may be the second big problem for the young peoples. In recent years,the price of houses become higher and hingher,youngers have no enough money to buy a house to live. Even worse,if they don’t work in their hometown,they had to rent a small second-house which only accommodate one person lived in. Sometimes people have no energy on working because of they are busy seeking for a accommodation,this is seriousely impact the work efficiency. To solve this problem, corporations and government play an vital role. When many companies are lack of money to offer workers’ dormitories,government should give a hand, giving workers more preferntial policy of buying a house or renting a dormitory.

Last but not the least, youngers’ living conception should be changed. Everyday,we can see a lot of youth spend much money on holding various parties,for instant, grand birthday parties,homecoming parties and other different gatherings. It may waste their money and even social resources. Furthermore,excepting money,many youths also think highly of fame,on the other hand,fortune and fame have resulted in more and more youngers selfish,as a result, less the young people are willing to contribute themselves. So government should increase ideological education especially individual sense of worth education. Letting more youngers realise fulfillng yourselves is more important than the wealth and fortune.

In general speaking,the young peole need government’s support,many aspects have certified that youngers dominate social development speed,if all the youngers’ problems have been resolved, society will become more harmonious.

Posted by: janmar | July 30, 2014 at 03:24

Hi.. Your essay is excellent. Can u give me some more writing tips. My exam is on 16th Aug

Posted by: Rimika | August 11, 2014 at 15:29

Is it ok to include examples in discussion essays (Academic).

Question normally asks to discuss both views and include your own opinion.

Posted by: Khan | May 01, 2015 at 08:37

Hi Simon ^^ I am wondering if my introduction is Ok or not? Getting a job straightaway after school or going to university is a bone of contention nowadays. It is believed that receiving a tertiary education is the best guarantee of a successful career while many people has an opposite side. Both sides has own merits for some time,I would argue that going to work right is a better choice. by the way, I love your website very much :)

Posted by: Chilinh | June 03, 2015 at 03:46

and I have one question that is it necessary to write what are you going to do in the introduction like 'this essay will discuss both views....'? Thanks a lot.

Posted by: Chilinh | June 03, 2015 at 04:28

Posted by: ayesha | June 03, 2015 at 11:44

Hi Simon, I bumped into a question that is it ok to take personal experiences as the example to use in writing task 2?

Posted by: Leungkit | June 05, 2015 at 07:43

it's great. When I saw your essay's band, I was astonished. Can you help me how I can get 8 or 9 point. Thank you

Posted by: Saodat | June 13, 2015 at 10:44

Hi, Simon. In the second paragraph, you said " young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies..." Here continue should be continuing, isn't it?

Posted by: lotp | August 02, 2015 at 13:11

Both 'continue' and 'continuing' could be used. I used 'continue' because of the words 'decide to' (earlier in the sentence).

"decide to find... rather than (decide to) continue)"

Posted by: Simon | August 03, 2015 at 05:45

hi sir Can i start an essay like this whether the movement of qualified personnels from poor country to affluent country is an issue that demands serious thought.some people believes it is a form of stealing from poor country.in my opinion i firmly believe that moving to rich country for better opportunity is an acceptable idea.

Posted by: Reshma Baby | September 19, 2015 at 21:19

Thank you for your great blog, it has helped me a lot!

I was wondering if we could write the disadvantages of getting a job straight after school in body 1 and write the advantages of studying at a university in body 2? Or is it better to discuss both "positive sides" of each idea for discussive essay? I thought it might be difficult to convince readers that my point is stronger than another side if we write both positive sides. Thanks!

Posted by: Aya | May 08, 2016 at 18:17

There is always an argument over whether a university degree is necessary for a successful career or not. A university degree is of great help to the future career development, but it is not the only way to achieve career success.

It is understandable why people suspect the value of attending university or college. There are lots of real examples that people succeeded without a degree. For example, bill gates who quitted from Harvard but founded most great company of entire human history. Kobe, the most famous basketball player on this planet, joined NBA straight after graduating from high school. People are inspired by their success, and dreaming of being same people as them. Lots of youngsters want to repeat Bill's successful story, drop out of university and build their own company, but most of them end with a failure. However, nobody can tell the secret of their success, but these success stories are really existing and will continue in the future. And speaking of the function of university or college, it is obvious that students gain the knowledge and skills which is required in the future. Also, university or college degree is a sort of personal identity, especially for those universities or colleges with famous reputation, which will benefit you for the whole life. And based on an online survey, employees with degrees earn more money than those without degrees, which demonstrates how the degree help one person with his or her career. In my opinion, joining the university or college is a better choice for most of people in most of situations. As the benefits mentioned above, university or college degree can provide advantages for the career competition. As there are exclusives, no one can guarantee attending university or college is the only key to career success. Instead, it depends on the specific situation, for example, bolt was born to be a runner, so his success had nothing to do with a degree. However, for ordinary people, a degree can be one of the most important factor which determines the future.

Posted by: Jackie | July 15, 2016 at 06:31

Hi Mr Simon, I am an Iranian student for Ielts. I need someone to practice speaking skills.

Posted by: Afrooz | October 09, 2016 at 07:33

People hold different views about the role of university or college education toward the success of their career paths. While there are several benefits to start working straight after high school, I would argue that young people should continue studying for higher degrees. The option to work straight after school is associated with many reasons. People are becoming independent. They could earn money and pay for cost living themselves. Considerably, more young people have been starting up their business, and some of them have been successful. In term of career, working environment provides greater opportunites for people to gain real experiences and learn practical skills, which are essential for their career progress in the future. Moreover, the decision whether to study in university or not depends on academic ability of each individual. People who are less likely to study could save money and time by working after school. On the other hand, I believe it is more beneficial for people to continue their studies in university or college. Firstly, universities or colleges offer courses which supply fundamental theories about future jobs by lectures who are experts in their fields. Nowadays, many prestigious universities or colleges have adopted state of the art teaching methods, which creates environment for students to maximize their abilities to solve the problems in real case studies. By this way, students would improve soft skills such as negotiation, management or communication…, which help them enhance competitive advantage in job market. Secondly, academic qualifications are strictly required in many professions. Forexample, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without any relevant degrees. In conclusion, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their career path if they continue studying for higher qualifications.

292 words. I just steal a few ideas from your sample essay.

Posted by: ALEX | February 11, 2017 at 15:24

Thank you iron for all your tips on Writing task 2.

I decided to share this guide as I believe it will help us score better in the writing task 2.

Each Body paragraph of your essay should have:

A topic sentence...reintroduce your own opinion Detailed explanation (two sentence) An example (from your experience/information you know) Solution (to a problem) Alternative Result (outcome of your example)

Good Success!

Posted by: Jadeh | May 11, 2017 at 14:14

Thank you Simon for all your tips on Writing task 2.

You don't need to use all. You can use it based on your Wt2 question type.

Posted by: Jadeh | May 11, 2017 at 14:16

Hi can someone please rate my essay, thank you 2) Is an education a requirement for a successful career? Explain the topic and either agree or disagree with the statement, offering support for your position.

Education is an important variable to a successful career. It helps you be knowledgeable in the career you’re interested in pursuing. It allows you to connect with people in your field of study and have someone with you every step of the way. This makes it easier to be successful.

Being knowledgeable in the area of your studies helps you be ready for any kind of competition. If a dancer doesn’t learn or practice dancing, they won’t be any good. Learning new moves and choreographies allows a dancer to be better at what they do and helps them be prepare for anything that comes their way. When you’re educated in a certain area you become ready for any kind of competition.

Education allows you to have a helping hand every step of the way. It connects you with professors and people in your field that can help you when you’re struggling. Having helping hand it’s so important, like your parents for example. They were there for us when we were learning how to walk. Once we learned how to walk on our own we didn’t need them anymore. Same with professors, they preparing us for the real world and once we become knowledgeable in our career we won’t need them anymore.

They’re is a lot of power that comes with knowledge and education. I see education as a valuable gift that we should take advantage of. Even though some may argue that putting yourself out there and working your way to the top is a more reassuring way to be successful. I believe that you shouldn't start at the bottom when you can get the education to go straight to the top and be just as successful.

Posted by: Mariela Barrera | January 07, 2018 at 19:01

The comments to this entry are closed.

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IELTS Sample Essay 17 – Permanent Jobs for Young People

In many countries, young people are finding it harder and harder to find permanent jobs. Why is this? What can be done to improve this situation?

In recent years, there has been an astronomical upsurge in the number of companies offering secondment opportunities to young people instead of permanent jobs, giving rise to a wide range of problems in people’s life. There are a variety of factors that account for this. In IELTS sample essays , it will present an overview of these factors and suggest potential solutions.

To begin with, permanent jobs offer a colossal amount of risk to companies. One of the primary reasons to hire casual manpower is, that they are contracted by a third party agency and a firm bears a lower burden of managing people. Moreover, companies will always hire diligent workers and outperformers who work collectively towards their assigned duties. It becomes easier for companies to discontinue services of incompetent workers, as they are not under any obligation with the employee. By offering a higher salary to temporary staff, the companies do not have to worry about granting any (earned, sick) leaves and in return employees will commit more number of work hours in order to avoid the risk of getting underpaid.

However, apropos of the statement, there are some pertinent solutions in accord with permanent jobs. In this highly competitive job market, companies should scrutinize their employment process to appoint the right candidate matching the job description.  Furthermore, by removing the channel of recruitment agencies, the companies will save enormous time and money, which can be invested in the upliftment of the firm. Ultimately, this process will offer a peace of mind to everyone.

In view of the arguments outlined above, one can conclude that the role a company plays in the employment process is instrumental. Because not only do permanent jobs offer a direction to young learners. But also helps them work collectively towards the organizational goals.

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Acclamation for an Indian leadership that still endures Premium

The malaysian prime minister’s speech in india, with its references to vivekananda, the mahatma, tagore and nehru, is a pointer to how the world still holds them in high esteem.

Updated - September 20, 2024 12:10 pm IST

‘Nehru’s ideal of an inclusive, modern society animated by the scientific spirit was a beacon light for many newly decolonised countries as it should be to India today’ | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Archives

During his state visit to India last month (August 19-21, 2024), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivered a lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs on August 20. Its subject was “Towards a Rising Global South: Leveraging on Malaysia-India Ties ”. Mr. Anwar dwelt on his vision of the Global South — its unity amidst “all our diversity, differences and discretions”. More importantly, he said that the rise of the Global South is not “meant to exclude the Global North” but to “work together as equals within our complex strategic contexts”.

High praise

He praised India’s role in imparting energy to the evolution of the positions of the Global South which, he said, were in keeping with the principle of cooperating with the Global North. As he put it, “And to me, India has welcomed this reality with grace, fore-vision, and most importantly, a plan. India’s excellent G20 Chairmanship last year and the inaugural Voice of Global South Summits made it amply clear that India is prepared to shape the Global South agenda with its partners, hand in hand”.

This high praise came from a leader whose scholarship and intellectualism, is acknowledged worldwide. This is a scholarship and intellectualism that has been honed through years of political experience, suffering and study, which has seen Mr. Anwar’s evolution from Islamism to a commitment to inclusivism. This would have been music to the ears of the Narendra Modi government but not so his references to India’s leadership that emerged from the freedom movement and the leader who gave shape to the Republic in its formative years — Jawaharlal Nehru. Mr. Anwar’s words about Nehru illustrate that despite all the efforts of the Sangh Parivar, Nehru’s reputation abroad has not been tarnished. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh have left no stone unturned in going after Nehru. Indeed, he is held responsible for almost all of the current national ills. But what Mr. Anwar says on Nehru is indicative of how large numbers globally continue to view him.

Mr. Anwar recalled Nehru’s association with Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and thereafter spoke evocatively about Nehru. It is only if his words are quoted fully that their meaning comes through. He said, “Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour?” As we all know, that is the question that Pandit Nehru posed in his ‘A Tryst With Destiny’ speech, and so succinctly answered: “To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India; to fight and end poverty and ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, and to create social, economic and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman”.

Mr. Anwar thereafter said, “In a world fraught with challenges and uncertainties, it is the unwavering commitment to these principles that will guide us towards a brighter, more just tomorrow. The legacy of the founding fathers is not merely a testament to their time, but a timeless beacon, urging us to dream, to strive, and to forge ahead with undaunted courage and unshakeable resolve”.

Understanding Nehru, the visionary

Nehru set the foundation for ‘Indo-Soviet friendship’ but never let it cloud his judgement

Nehru talked of panchayats as if they were bureaucracies, imagining them as elected civil servants rather than political leaders

Nehru’s socialism was evolutionary, inclusive, and not based on class

Nehru worried that elections always brought out the worst in people

Nehru did not set the natural, experimental and exact sciences in opposition to human sciences

Nehru: In the spirit of revolution

Still relevant

Significantly, Mr. Anwar began his address by quoting Swami Vivekananda on the ‘march’ of ideas from this land accompanied by words which had “blessings” behind them and “peace” before them. Remarkably, he noted that Vivekananda was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna — perhaps no other foreign leader has done so. Pleading for multiculturism and inclusivity, Mr. Anwar recalled what Gandhiji had said, “‘Hate the sin and not the sinner’ is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practi[s]ed, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world.” And, he concluded his address by quoting Tagore whose words he said “echo through the corridors of time, urging us to embrace not the comforts of safety, but the unyielding courage to confront adversity head long: “Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them”.

Mr. Anwar’s reference to Swami Vivekananda, Gandhiji, Tagore and Nehru point to the agonising difficulty of the Sangh Parivar. While it has denigrated Nehru and sought to co-opt some great personalities of the freedom movement and the Indian Renaissance, its own venerated ideologues and leaders are respected in many quarters in India but they continue to be known only in niche circles abroad.

Book excerpt | Nehru’s First Recruits : When Khrushchev came calling

Right-wing ideologues may assert that this is because they belonged to indigenous cultural traditions which were ignored by the colonialists and that that tendency continues. The fact is that the timeless message of spiritual unity of Vivekananda, the universalism of Tagore and Gandhiji’s emphasis on non-violence also derived from indigenous Indian traditions but eschewed muscular exclusivism. And, Nehru’s ideal of an inclusive, modern society animated by the scientific spirit was a beacon light for many newly decolonised countries as it should be to India today.

The broad view

India’s present policies to ensure that the power of digital technologies are harnessed for popular welfare are gaining the positive attention of the Global South. These are practical measures which have great importance in the lives of the impoverished everywhere and are important for governance. They evoke foreign admiration but in the realm of political and social philosophies, the ideologues of the Parivar do not inspire as do Gandhiji and Nehru and others who Mr. Anwar mentioned. And, this can hardly be attributed to the conspiracies of left liberals.

Vivek Katju is a retired Indian Foreign Service officer

Published - September 20, 2024 12:08 am IST

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Malaysia / India / diplomacy / history / politics / Bharatiya Janata Party / G-20 New Delhi 2023 / international relations / Prime Minister Narendra Modi / government / technology (general) / welfare

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Guest Essay

The Political Cost to Kamala Harris of Not Answering Direct Questions

By Todd S. Purdum

Mr. Purdum is a former White House correspondent and Los Angeles bureau chief for The Times.

When Kamala Harris sat down for just the second major television interview of her campaign last week with the Philadelphia ABC affiliate, the anchor asked her to outline “one or two specific things” she would do to fulfill her pledge of “bringing down prices and making life more affordable for people.” She responded by recalling how she was “a middle-class kid” who grew up in a community of construction workers, nurses and teachers who were “very proud of their lawn.” She recounted her mother’s saving to buy her family’s first house. She paid tribute to a neighbor who became a surrogate parent. She praised the “beautiful character” of the American people.

Only then, after nearly two minutes, did Ms. Harris outline her plan for a $50,000 tax credit for start-up small businesses; private-sector tax breaks to spark construction of three million housing units over four years; and $25,000 in federal down payment assistance for first-time home buyers.

It’s a shibboleth of modern political strategy that candidates should answer the questions they want to, not the ones that are asked, and Ms. Harris faces a unique challenge in this truncated presidential race of introducing herself to an electorate that in many ways still barely knows her. So she might be forgiven for leading with a blizzard of atmospheric biographical detail that makes some voters feel they can’t trust her to answer a direct question.

But in a campaign in which Donald Trump fills our days with arrant nonsense and dominates the national discussion (and polls show a tight race where Ms. Harris is running behind Joe Biden’s level of support in 2020 with some groups), the vice president can’t afford to stick only to rehearsed answers and stump speeches that might not persuade voters or shape what America is talking about.

Writing about politicians for decades has convinced me that direct, succinct answers and explanations from Ms. Harris would go a long way — perhaps longer than she realizes — toward persuading voters that they know enough about her and her plans, which polling surveys now suggest they don’t (yet badly want to). Being known as a straight shooter would also help persuade restive political elites, pundits and journalists that Ms. Harris is grappling with such scrutiny, and I think she’s apt to be rewarded in the end for it.

To be sure, there may be times when Ms. Harris’s best strategy is to stay out of Mr. Trump’s way. But his recent cats-and-dogs attacks on immigrants, and even his angry accusations that Democrats are to blame for the two attempts on his own life, are once again letting Mr. Trump dominate the news cycle after Ms. Harris’s extraordinary convention-to-debate liftoff. And as unhinged as they are, Mr. Trump’s outbursts raise issues of salience and vulnerabilities for Ms. Harris. Perverse as it seems, history has shown that whenever Mr. Trump is the subject of a sentence, he somehow usually manages to benefit.

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