In I explained my idea of the 'essay skeleton' - the basic structure of an IELTS essay, which consists of the introduction, a topic sentence for each main paragraph, and the conclusion.

Here's a possible essay skeleton for the question that we started looking at last week:
..........

Introduction
Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth, but some people argue that we need to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this opinion, because I believe that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce the human impact on the Earth's climate.

Paragraph 2 topic sentence
There are various measures that governments and individuals could take to prevent, or at least mitigate, climate change.

Paragraph 3 topic sentence
If instead of taking the above measures we simply try to live with climate change, I believe that the consequences will be disastrous.

Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear to me that we must address the problem of climate change, and I disagree with those who argue that we can find ways to live with it.
..........

Can you see how the 'skeleton' communicates my overall answer very clearly? The only thing missing is the detail in paragraphs 2 and 3.

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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Let's continue to look at the 'climate change' question below.

Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to find a way to live with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction:
Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth, but some people argue that we need to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this opinion, because I believe that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce the human impact on the Earth's climate.

Planning:
Here's a 4-paragraph essay plan using the opinion that I expressed above.

1. Introduction: completely disagree

2. Main paragraph: things that we can do to prevent climate change

3. Main paragraph: the problems of trying to live with climate change

4. Conclusion: repeat that we should try to prevent climate change now

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Wednesday, August 03, 2016

How would you answer the question below? Would you completely agree, completely disagree, or try to write a balanced answer?

Before you decide which view to take, brainstorm some ideas. Then think about your 4-paragraph essay structure and what points you would include in each paragraph.

Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to find a way to live with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Here are some good words and phrases from last week's . This vocabulary is what really lifts the essay to band 9.

· measure (verb) progress

· measures (noun) of progress

· just as important, equally significant

· a fundamental goal

· a healthy economy

· job creation, a high level of employment, better salaries

· money is available

· spend on infrastructure

· higher revenues

· invest in the transport network

· a country's standing on the global stage

· political influence, trading power

· social justice, human rights

· the treatment of minority groups

· seen as a reflection of

· moral standards

· another key consideration

· judging the progress

· moving towards environmental sustainability

· health, well-being and happiness

· a key marker of

· social, environmental and health criteria

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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Here's the full essay that I wrote with my students for the question below.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about how governments should measure their countries' progress. While economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those who believe that other measures of progress are just as important.

There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country's standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.

However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as significant as the economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is often seen as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern country should be how well that country protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability. Alternatively, the success of a nation could be measured by looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents.

In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country's success, but social, environmental and health criteria are equally significant.

(262 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Here's a useful question that someone asked me: How should we approach a question that contains two different subjects?

Take this question for example:

Some people believe that governments should pay for healthcare and education, but others disagree with this opinion. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

What do you think? Should we write separate paragraphs about healthcare and education? Or can we put these two subjects together in each paragraph? Can you suggest an outline for a good essay structure for this task?

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Wednesday, July 06, 2016

Let's have a look at one of the questions from Cambridge IELTS 11.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Here's the first half of my sample answer. Can you fill the gaps?

People have different views _____ how governments should measure their countries' progress. _____ economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those _____ believe that other measures of progress are just as important.

There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen _____ a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results _____ job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend _____ infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest _____ the country's transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country's standing _____ the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.

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Sunday, July 03, 2016

In Wednesday's I asked you to write a "Finally" sentence to finish a paragraph. My own preference for the final idea would be to write about the strength of a country globally. Some of you chose this idea too, so well done!

Here's why I would choose this point:

My first point was about jobs for individual people. My second point was aboutnational issues. So it would be great in terms of coherence to move on to a point about something international.

So, here's my "Finally" sentence:

Finally, a strong economy can help a country's standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

The paragraph below needs a "finally" sentence. Can you suggest one?

Paragraph topic: why economic progress is an important goal for governments.

There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally,...

Writing Task 2 : improving a paragraph The paragraph below is very good already, but we can make some simple improvements. Paragraph about the topic: "Some people think that more money should be spent to promote the use of bicycles in cities". There are several reasons why people believe more money should be allocated to encourage the use of bicycles, especially for the centres of major cities. They argue that this is an environmental friendly transport, and it is likely to reduce traffic congestion on busy roads. Motorised vehicles produce a whole host of toxic gases which will pollute the atmosphere, and unlike bicycles, they take up significant space on public roads. From a health perspective, it can also be argued that riding bicycles regularly not only beneficial to cyclists' health as it is a good cardiovascular exercise, but also a form of leisure which provides a sense of relaxation.

Tips to improve the above paragraph:

- The topic sentence states that there are 'several reasons'. Several reasons are then given, but not in the most coherent way.

Let's state the 3 reasons (environment, congestion, health) one by one, and add simple linking words (e.g. firstly, secondly finally). The reasons will then be much clearer to the reader.

- Let's write the usual 5 sentences instead of 4

. - Use 'environmentally' instead of 'environmental'.

- In the final sentence, the "not only... but also" phrase is not used correctly.

Improved paragraph: There are several reasons why people believe that more money should be allocated to encourage the use of bicycles in cities. Firstly, they argue that bicycles are an environmentally friendly form of transport. Whereas motorised vehicles pollute the atmosphere with a whole host of toxic gases, bicycles produce no emissions whatsoever. Secondly, bicycles take up far less space on public roads, and traffic congestion would therefore be significantly reduced if more people used them. Finally, from a health perspective, it can be argued that riding a bicycle regularly is not only good cardiovascular exercise for the cyclist, but also a form of leisure that alleviates stress and helps people to relax.

Some students (and teachers) think that it's a good idea to write a long introduction. I disagree, and I recommend that you keep the introduction short. Let's compare some examples.

My short introduction:
People have different views about how best to improve transportation in cities. While better provision for cyclists would be a positive measure, I would argue that further investment in public transport should be the priority in most cities.

A long introduction written by a student:
Nowadays, there is a large debate around the ideal transportation means that should be promoted by governments. Some believe that means like bicycles should be supported, while others feel that spending should be directed toward public transportations. I think that both means have to be subsidized because each has advantages and potential disadvantages. In this essay, I shall discuss and analyze both views.

Analysis:
The long introduction above is a little repetitive, but otherwise it's fine. The main problem is the extra time that you waste if you write four sentences instead of two. This is time that could be spent on the main body paragraphs, which are the key to a high score. A long introduction won't help your score at all, but longer and better main body paragraphs will.

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Wednesday, June 08, 2016

In last week's I asked you to think about where you would put your opinion in an essay about the question below.

Some people think that more money should be spent to promote the use of bicycles in cities. Others, however, believe that cities should focus on investing in public transport systems.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Let's start with the introduction and conclusion. My general 'rule' for these paragraphs is that they should cover everything that the question asks you to cover. This means that your opinion should be clear in both. Here are my examples:

Introduction:
People have different views about how best to improve transportation in cities. While better provision for cyclists would be a positive measure, I would arguethat further investment in public transport should be the priority in most cities.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, although I hope that cities will become more bicycle-friendly in the future, I believe that more money should be spent on public transport infrastructure than on the promotion of cycling.

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Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Look at the following question, which asks you to discuss and give an opinion:

Some people think that more money should be spent to promote the use of bicycles in cities. Others, however, believe that cities should focus on investing in public transport systems.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Before you begin planning or writing, let me ask you two things:

1) How many paragraphs would you write?
2) In which paragraphs would you include your own opinion?

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Many people are confused by the idea that they are doing the IELTS academicwriting test. They think this means that they need to use "academic" words, or that IELTS writing is similar to university academic writing.

All of this is wrong. Here's why:

· Examiners are not looking for "academic" words. There is nothing in the scoring criteria that tells examiners to do this. Instead, examiners are told to look for a wide range of vocabulary, , and some .

· IELTS writing (especially task 2) is more like a high school writing task, rather than a university assignment. In a university assignment, for example, you will never see the question "do you agree or disagree?". At university you are expected to use research as the basis of your writing, but in the IELTS test you only have your own ideas and opinions. You are even told that you can use examples from your own personal experience in IELTS writing task 2. This isn't very "academic"!

So, it's best to ignore the word "academic". Ignore any advice that relates to university academic writing; IELTS writing has its own 'rules' and requirements, and I do my best to explain these here on the blog.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

A student on Facebook asked me about the following phrases:

· The concerns surrounding the problem of _____ have considerably escalated increasing awareness of the general public towards the issue.

· Notwithstanding the fact that attempts have been undertaken to tackle this nuisance, there is still a lot to be done to exterminate the problem.

· The most effective way in dealing with this situation is, first of all, through turning urgent attention to the underlying causes of the problem.

I don't like phrases like these, and I never teach them to my students. But why? Do you know why these phrases wouldn't impress an examiner?

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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A few people were confused by the that I shared last week, because I gave a strong opinion (completely agree) and then wrote about both sides of the issue. Can you see why I was able to do this?

Here's the reason: the question contains the phrase "as well as". It wasn't asking me to give an opinion about whether companies should make money or have social responsibilities; it was asking whether I agree that companies should make money and have social responsibilities. I agreed that companies should do both.

Always read the question carefully. Sometimes it's possible to have a strong opinion and still write about both sides. to see another example.

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Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Here's my full essay for the question below.

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than simply make money.

On the one hand, I accept that businesses must make money in order to survive in a competitive world. It seems logical that the priority of any company should be to cover its running costs, such as employees' wages and payments for buildings and utilities. On top of these costs, companies also need to invest in improvements and innovations if they wish to remain successful. If a company is unable to pay its bills or meet the changing needs of customers, any concerns about social responsibilities become irrelevant. In other words, a company can only make a positive contribution to society if it is in good financial health.

On the other hand, companies should not be run with the sole aim of maximising profit; they have a wider role to play in society. One social obligation that owners and managers have is to treat their employees well, rather than exploiting them. For example, they could pay a "living wage" to ensure that workers have a good quality of life. I also like the idea that businesses could use a proportion of their profits to support local charities, environmental projects or education initiatives. Finally, instead of trying to minimise their tax payments by using accounting loopholes, I believe that company bosses should be happy to contribute to society through the tax system.

In conclusion, I believe that companies should place as much importance on their social responsibilities as they do on their financial objectives.

(285 words, band 9)

It's nice to finish your essay with a conclusion, but I'd say that the conclusion is the least important part of your essay. Don't worry too much if you don't have time to write one; your main body paragraphs are much more important.

I advise people to write short, fast conclusions. Just paraphrase the overall answer that you gave in your introduction. For example:

My introduction from last week's lesson:
Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than simply make money.

My short, fast conclusion:
In conclusion, I believe that companies should place as much importance on their social responsibilities as they do on their financial objectives.

Note:
Can you find examples of paraphrasing in the introduction and conclusion above?

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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Many IELTS candidates waste time writing long introductions, because they believe that the introduction is the key to a high score.

This approach is wrong. The main body paragraphs are the key to a high score, so it's best to keep your introduction short. Just introduce the topic and give an overall answer to the question. For example:

Question:
As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2-sentence introduction:
Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than simply make money.

Tip:
Try searching online for "corporate social responsibility" to see what people are saying about this issue.

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Wednesday, April 06, 2016

In last week's lesson I asked you to think about the easiest way to answer this question:

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

For me, the easiest way would be to completely agree. Here's a quick plan for a 4-paragraph answer:

1. Introduction: introduce the topic and completely agree

2. Main paragraph: explain why you agree that businesses need to make money, and what would happen if they didn't (perhaps mention that many social responsibilities depend on money)

3. Main paragraph: explain why you agree that businesses also have social responsibilities (give examples)

4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise your answer

A few people shared more detailed plans in the comments below last week's. Have a look at their ideas regarding the 'social responsibilities' of businesses.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Look at the following exam question that a student sent me:

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When deciding whether to agree, disagree or partly agree, I suggest that you think about your two main body paragraphs. What would you like to include in your two main paragraphs, and which opinion allows you to do this?

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Did you note down these good phrases from Wednesday's ?

· it is an abstract concept with no definite meaning

· it can mean or represent

· depending on a person's age, culture or background

· a feeling of pleasure in a particular moment

· a state of mind

· adults equate happiness with...

· health, security, financial stability or success

· we seek contentment

· in our own individual ways

If you want to write at a band 7-9 level, vocabulary is the key!

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

I asked my students to plan some ideas for the 'happiness' question that you can see in (the students hadn't seen my full essay). We then wrote a band 9 paragraph together (see below).

Paragraph answering the question 'why is happiness difficult to define?':

Happiness is almost impossible to explain because it is an abstract concept with no definite meaning. It can mean or represent something completely different depending on a person's age, culture or background. For some people, happiness is a feeling of pleasure in a particular moment, whereas for others, it is a state of mind. Children, for example, are happiest when playing, laughing and having fun, while adults usually equate happiness with health, security, financial stability or success. In other words, we all have different views or requirements, and so we seek contentment in our own individual ways.

But what makes this a 'band 9' paragraph?
Can you analyse it in terms of the ?

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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

If the question asks whether you agree or disagree, it is asking for your opinion. You should express your opinion in the introduction, and support it in the rest of the essay.

Don't structure an "opinion" essay like this:

1. Introduction

2. Paragraph supporting the opposite opinion

3. Paragraph supporting my opinion

4. Conclusion

The problem with this essay structure is that paragraph 2 is not consistent with my opinion. This is a "discussion" essay structure!

Think of it this way: your task when you answer an "agree or disagree" question is to persuade the reader that your view is right. Each paragraph should defendyour opinion.

Note:
You can write about both sides of the argument if you say that you "partly agree". Go to to see some suggestions for essay structures.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

When writing a main body paragraph, I usually recommend that you start with a topic sentence. To see a good example, look at paragraph 3 in . Here's the topic sentence again:

However, there are various steps that governments could take to tackle these problems.

But did you notice that I missed the topic sentence in paragraph 2 of the essay? Can you suggest a short, simple topic sentence that we could add to the start of this paragraph?

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Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Here's my full sample essay for question below.

More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but city life can be extremely difficult. Explain some of the difficulties of living in a city. How can governments make urban life better for everyone?

Cities are often seen as places of opportunity, but there are also some major drawbacks of living in a large metropolis. In my opinion, governments could do much more to improve city life for the average inhabitant.

The main problem for anyone who hopes to migrate to a large city is that the cost of living is likely to be much higher than it is in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to pay higher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Another issue is that urban areas tend to suffer from social problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with rural areas. Furthermore, the air quality in cities is often poor, due to pollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usually overcrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful.

However, there are various steps that governments could take to tackle these problems. Firstly, they could invest money in the building of affordable or social housing to reduce the cost of living. Secondly, politicians have the power to ban vehicles from city centres and promote the use of cleaner public transport, which would help to reduce both air pollution and traffic congestion. In London, for example, the introduction of a congestion charge for drivers has helped to curb the traffic problem. A third option would be to develop provincial towns and rural areas, by moving industry and jobs to those regions, in order to reduce the pressure on major cities.

In conclusion, governments could certainly implement a range of measures to enhance the quality of life for all city residents.

(273 words, band 9)

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Saturday, February 27, 2016

I recently read a student's essay that contained the following sentences:

1. As a matter of fact, it is no clandestine issue to anybody that sport has indisputable impacts on overall health of people.

2. The proponents of this view perceive that investment in enhancing the number of health-related facilities is not alone a cure-all for protecting and maintaining healthy atmosphere.

3. To revolutionize public health, alternative effective measures are entailed.

I told the student that I thought she was trying too hard to be 'difficult'. Which words or phrases in each sentence do you think I suggested changing?

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Let's look at an essay plan and an introduction for the question below.

More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but city life can be extremely difficult. Explain some of the difficulties of living in a city. How can governments make urban life better for everyone?

Essay structure and ideas:

1. Introduction: introduce the topic, then give a general answer

2. Difficulties: cost of living, unemployment, stress, traffic congestion, pollution

3. Solutions: social housing, reduce migration by improving small towns and the rural economy, improve public transport, fewer cars

4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise

Introduction:

Cities are often seen as places of opportunity, but there are also some major drawbacks of living in a large metropolis. In my opinion, governments could do much more to improve city life for the average inhabitant.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Someone pointed out that I haven't done a lesson about a "problem and solution" question for a long time. I shared the question below several years ago (), but I didn't write the full essay.

More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but city life can be extremely difficult. Explain some of the difficulties of living in a city. How can governments make urban life better for everyone?

· Can you see why we call this a "problem and solution" question?

· Which words are used instead of "problem" and "solution"?

· How can we write a 2-sentence introduction for this question?

· What ideas do you have for the main paragraphs?

Feel free to share your ideas, and I'll start my essay in next Wednesday's lesson.

Writing a "one idea" paragraph I often use a "firstly, secondly, finally" structure in my main body paragraphs. However, this is only possible when we have 3 ideas (e.g. 3 reasons, 3 advantages etc.). If we only have one idea, we need to explain it in much more detail. As usual, I try to write 5 sentences: - I start with a topic sentence - then explain in detail - I sometimes use phrases like "In fact" or "In other words" to begin sentences that explain my idea in more depth or in a different way - Sometimes I give an example - or an alternative (explain the opposite of my idea, using a sentence beginning with "if") - or a result (as a result of this idea,...) - this could be a 'concluding' sentence Let's use the question below as an example As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Here's my 4-paragraph essay plan: 1. Introduction: introduce the topic and completely agree 2. Main paragraph: explain why you agree that businesses need to make money, and what would happen if they didn't (perhaps mention that many social responsibilities depend on money) 3. Main paragraph: explain why you agree that businesses also have social responsibilities (give examples) 4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise your answer Here's paragraph 2: On the one hand, I accept that businesses must make money in order to survive in a competitive world. It seems logical that the priority of any company should be to cover its running costs, such as employees' wages and payments for buildings and utilities. On top of these costs, companies also need to invest in improvements and innovations if they wish to remain successful. If a company is unable to pay its bills or meet the changing needs of customers, any concerns about social responsibilities become irrelevant. In other words, a company can only make a positive contribution to society if it is in good financial health.

ielts-simon.com

Let's analyse the 5 sentences in this paragraph:

1) It starts with a topic sentence: On the one hand, I accept that businesses must make money in order to survive in a competitive world.

2) I then explain why businesses need money to survive: It seems logical that the priority of any company should be to cover its running costs, such as employees' wages and payments for buildings and utilities.

3) I then give another reason why businesses need money: On top of these costs, companies also need to invest in improvements and innovations if they wish to remain successful.

4) I explain an alternative (what happens if businesses don't make money?): If a company is unable to pay its bills or meet the changing needs of customers, any concerns about social responsibilities become irrelevant. 5) I finish with a concluding sentence. I restate the idea above with a more direct reference to the question: In other words, a company can only make a positive contribution to society if it is in good financial health.

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'disagree' essay with both sides

Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news. Do you agree or disagree? Essay plan: After brainstorming ideas, we numbered them 1 to 5 (in red) for the 5 sentences that we wanted to write for each paragraph. 1) Introduction: topic - will newspapers continue to be main source of news? answer - disagree, because Internet will be equally important 2) Main paragraph about 1 newspapers continuing to be important - 2 traditional, always popular - 2 not everyone has access or wants to use Internet, 3 e.g. old people, rural areas, developing countries - 4 quality of news - editing, professional journalists, trust - Internet isn't always reliable, newspapers are worth paying for - 5 hard copy - experience of reading a paper 3) Main paragraph about 1 Internet becoming equally important - 2 faster access, gadgets, phones, wherever you are, younger generations, easy, most people have skills, cheaper - 5 less damaging to environment - 3 sharing news with friends, search for particular news, discuss with other readers, give your views, join in, anyone can contribute, variety of platforms for news 4 e.g. blogs, posts on social news, Twitter, videos 4) Conclusion: repeat / summarise the overall answer Note: Compare the above plan with the full essay on the next page. Notice how we used the numbered ideas (1 to 5) to write 5 sentences for each paragraph. ielts-simon.com Full essay: The Internet is beginning to rival newspapers as the best place to find information about what is happening in the world. I believe that this trend will continue, and the Internet will soon be just as important as the traditional press. On the one hand, I believe that newspapers will continue to be a vital source of information, even in the Internet age. Firstly, newspapers are the most traditional means of communicating the news, and not everyone wants to or is able to use the Internet instead. For example, old people or those in rural areas might not have the ability or opportunity to get online, while many of us simply prefer newspapers even if we do have Internet access. Secondly, newspapers can be trusted as reliable sources of news because they employ professional journalists and editors. Finally, many people like the experience of holding and reading a paper rather than looking at a computer screen. However, the Internet is likely to become just as popular as newspapers for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that it allows us much faster access to news in real time and wherever we are, on different gadgets and mobile devices. Another key benefit of online news compared to newspapers is the ability to share articles, discuss them with other people, give our views, and even contribute with our own updates on social media. For example, there has been an explosion in the use of platforms like Twitter and YouTube where anyone can share their news and views. A final point is that this source of news is less damaging to the environment. In conclusion, I disagree with the view that newspapers will continue to be the main source of news, because I believe that the Internet will soon be equally important. (300 words, band 9)

In last week's I explained that we sometimes need to 'disagree' if we want to write a balanced answer. I'll demonstrate how this works below.

Question:
Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news. Do you agree or disagree?

My introduction:
The Internet is beginning to rival newspapers as the best place to find information about what is happening in the world. I believe that this trend will continue, and the Internet will soon be just as important as the traditional press.

My conclusion:
In conclusion, I disagree with the view that newspapers will continue to be the main source of news, because I believe that the Internet will soon be equally important.

Note:
Remember that I'm disagreeing with the word "most". By arguing that the Internet will become equally important, I can write about both newspapers and the Internet as sources of news.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Read the question below. Do you think it's possible to partly agree? Is it possible to write a balanced answer?

Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news. Do you agree or disagree?

Be careful with this type of question. Here's why:

Because of the word "most", I don't think we can 'partly agree'. Either we believe that newspapers will remain the most popular source of information (agree), or we believe that they won't (disagree). This probably explains why the question doesn't say "to what extent do you agree or disagree?".

However, there is a way to write a balanced answer: we need to disagree. We can say that we disagree that newspapers will remain the most important source of news, because we believe that the Internet will become equally important. This answer allows us to write one main paragraph about each source of news.

Task:
Try writing a 'disagree' introduction in the way that I've suggested above.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

On a recent course, my students and I looked at the following question:

Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

One problem that I often see with this kind of question is that students / candidates fail to mention even one real example in their essays. Surely we should mention at least one product for this topic, but many people don't; they simply write in general about global brands.

Task:
Fill the gaps below with three real examples.

It is easier than ever for travellers to go abroad and find recognisable products by the brands that they use at home. For example, shops like _____, _____ and _____ can be found on the high streets of most major cities, and tourists are guaranteed the same quality and standard of product wherever they are.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Last week I asked you to think about the question below. I asked what your real opinion would be, and whether a different opinion might be easier to write about.

Sports programmes are hugely popular on television nowadays. But some people argue that these programmes are to blame for the poor health of many young people who prefer to watch rather than partake in physical activity. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Real opinion
Personally, my real opinion is that I completely disagree. I don't think that sports programmes are responsible for any health problems.

Easiest opinion
However, it might be easier to say that we "agree to a certain extent" (partly agree). This would allow us to argue that too much sport on TV may be partly to blame, but that other factors may be equally or even more important.

Tip:
In your exam, I recommend noting down some ideas before you decide what your opinion is. Look at your ideas, and see whether they suggest a one-sided answer or a balanced answer.

Task:
Try writing two different introduction paragraphs - one for my real opinion, and one for the easier opinion above.

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Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Your real opinion isn't always the best opinion to give when answering an IELTS question. I tell my students to brainstorm ideas before they decide which opinion to give. You might find that there are more (or better) arguments for a view that you wouldn't agree with in the 'real world'.

Take this question for example:

Sports programmes are hugely popular on television nowadays. But some people argue that these programmes are to blame for the poor health of many young people who prefer to watch rather than partake in physical activity. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Try planning some ideas, and think about the following questions:

- What is your real opinion about the topic above?
- Is your opinion easy to write about, or would it be easier to choose a different answer?

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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

People often worry about using words from the question in their essays.

While it's important to show that you can paraphrase the question and explain your ideas in a variety of ways, I believe that you should use words from the question somewhere in your essays. But why? Here are 3 reasons:

1. The first reason is easy: some words/phrases are difficult to paraphrase. For example, in my about 'living alone' I found it difficult to avoid using the phrase 'live alone'. Almost every sentence refers to this topic, and nobody expects you to find ten or more different synonyms.

2. The second reason is more interesting: repeating certain key words or phrases helps to hold your essay together. The reader cannot miss the connection between ideas (whereas he/she might miss the connection if you use too many synonyms). Politicians often use this technique in their speeches e.g. Barack Obama's famous "Yes we can" speech.

3. The third reason is equally important: repeating words from the question helps to keep you "on topic". Refer to the question to show the examiner that you are answering it. This can help your 'task response' score.

Idea:
Take one of my sample essays, or a sample essay from an IELTS book. Underline key words in the question, then highlight those words in the essay. If the writer used words from the question, it was probably for one of the 3 reasons above. A good essay is likely to have a nice balance between words that are taken from the question and the use of synonyms or paraphrasing.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Did you analyse last week's carefully? Here's an example of how an examiner would analyse it:

Task repsonse

· The essay fully addresses the task; it is "on topic" at all times, and it definitely answers the question.

· The position (opinion / overall answer) is clear throughout the essay. It is presented in the introduction, and then supported in the rest of the essay (with no surprises in the conclusion!).

· Lots of detail is given. Ideas are "fully extended" (explained in depth) and well supported.

Coherence and cohesion

· Ideas are presented in a logical and organised way.

· There is definitely a good "flow" to the essay, so that the argument builds and develops. Paragraphing is well managed, and each paragraph is well constructed.

· Cohesive devices (linking) are used in an effective but subtle way - they help with the development of ideas, but do not overshadow those ideas.

Lexical resource (vocabulary)

· A wide range of vocabulary is used.

· Vocabulary is used appropriately, skillfully and naturally in the development of ideas.

· There are several examples of "less common" items of vocabulary, all of which are used appropriately.

Grammatical range and accuracy

· A wide range of structures is used.

· There are no mistakes!

Task:
Can you add to this analysis by listing the linking words and the good vocabulary from the essay?

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Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Here's my full essay for the 'positive or negative development' question that we've been looking at over the last few weeks.

In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

In recent years it has become far more normal for people to live alone, particularly in large cities in the developed world. In my opinion, this trend could have both positive and negative consequences in equal measure.

The rise in one-person households can be seen as positive for both personal and broader economic reasons. On an individual level, people who choose to live alone may become more independent and self-reliant than those who live with family members. A young adult who lives alone, for example, will need to learn to cook, clean, pay bills and manage his or her budget, all of which are valuable life skills; an increase in the number of such individuals can certainly be seen as a positive development. From an economic perspective, the trend towards living alone will result in greater demand for housing. This is likely to benefit the construction industry, estate agents and a whole host of other companies that rely on homeowners to buy their products or services.

However, the personal and economic arguments given above can be considered from the opposite angle. Firstly, rather than the positive feeling of increased independence, people who live alone may experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and worry. They miss out on the emotional support and daily conversation that family or flatmates can provide, and they must bear the weight of all household bills and responsibilities; in this sense, perhaps the trend towards living alone is a negative one. Secondly, from the financial point of view, a rise in demand for housing is likely to push up property prices and rents. While this may benefit some businesses, the general population, including those who live alone, will be faced with rising living costs.

In conclusion, the increase in one-person households will have both beneficial and detrimental effects on individuals and on the economy.

(band 9)

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Wednesday, December 02, 2015

A good way to organise your ideas is by thinking about the topic from different perspectives or points of view. to see another lesson about this.

I used the 'perspectives' technique to write a paragraph about the positives of more people living alone (see ).

Here's my paragraph with the perspectives highlighted:

The rise in one-person households can be seen as positive for both personal and broader economic reasons. On an individual level, people who choose to live alone may become more independent and self-reliant than those who live with family members. A young adult who lives alone, for example, will need to learn to cook, clean, pay bills and manage his or her budget, all of which are valuable life skills. From an economic perspective, the trend towards living alone will result in greater demand for housing. This is likely to benefit the construction industry, estate agents and a whole host of other companies that rely on homeowners to buy their products or services.

Task:
Try writing about the negatives of the same trend, from two or three different perspectives.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

If we want to write a balanced answer for the question below, it's important to make our balanced view very clear in the introduction.

Here's the question again:

In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Here's my 'balanced opinion' introduction:

In recent years it has become far more normal for people to live alone, particularly in large cities in the developed world. In my opinion, this trend is having both positive and negative consequences in equal measure.

Note:
Notice that I wrote two sentences as usual. The first sentence introduces the topic by paraphrasing the question statement, and the second sentence makes my opinion very clear.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Questions that ask "Is this a positive or negative development?" seem to be quite common in the IELTS test these days. For example, here's a recent question that several people told me about:

In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Here's my advice:

· This type of question is asking for your opinion, so don't write about the views of other people.

· Three different answers are possible: (1) You think it is a positive development. (2) You think it is a negative development. (3) You believe that there are some positives and some negatives.

· As usual, make your opinion clear in the introduction, support it with good ideas in the main body, and repeat / summarise it in the conclusion.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Depending on what scores my students are aiming for, I give different advice.

If you are aiming for band 5, 5.5 or 6:

You can reach band 6 with fairly 'easy' language if your essay structure is good, your ideas are relevant to the question topic, and you write at least 250 words. Look through the writing task 2 lessons on this website to learn how to write introductions, main paragraphs and conclusions, and work on writing short, simple sentences to express your ideas.

When people get band 5 or below, it is often because they don't finish their essays, they go off-topic, they have no idea about good essay structure, or they try to use 'difficult' language and therefore make lots of mistakes. For bands 5 to 6, keep your essays simple and clear.

If you are aiming for band 7 or higher:

First, you need to do everything that I mentioned above: you need relevant ideas, a good essay structure, and you must write at least 250 words.

But to reach the higher scores, your essays need more 'depth'. You need to explain your ideas in more detail, using a wider range of vocabulary. At this level,, and memorised linking phrases won't help either. Your focus should be on .

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Wednesday, November 04, 2015

One of the main messages that I try to communicate in my lessons is that 'difficult' words and grammar are not the secret to a high score. You don't need to be Shakespeare to get band 7, 8 or 9!

In fact, 'difficult' language often has a negative effect on people's scores. Instead of impressing the examiner, the 'difficult' language may be unnatural, inappropriate, or just incorrect.

Look at these examples from Sunday's . I've underlined the words that I think the students hoped would impress the examiner.

1. If schools administered with any teachers, disorder and lawlessnesswould arise.

2. If uncensored commercials had been banned, the crime rate would beseized from rising.

All of the underlined 'difficult' words are either used wrongly or they seem strange in these contexts. It would be better to write the following versions:

1. If schools were run without teachers, the behaviour of pupils would be much worse.

2. If violent commercials were banned, the crime rate would fall.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

When discussing different views, giving your opinion or suggesting solutions to a problem, you might want to say what would or wouldn't happen in a certain situation. In other words, you are imagining something, and you'll need to write a conditional sentence.

Use the 2nd conditional for imagining: If + past + would

Example: If I had enough money, I would go on holiday.

Here's an example from the that I wrote last week:

It may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need more students of art, history and philosophy than of science or technology.

Quick exercise - write sentences to imagine the following situations:

1. Imagine a ban on advertising.

2. Imagine a tax on unhealthy junk food.

3. Imagine schools with no teachers (computers doing the teaching).

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Today I'm sharing my full essay for the question below.

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about how much choice students should have with regard to what they can study at university. While some argue that it would be better for students to be forced into certain key subject areas, I believe that everyone should be able to study the course of their choice.

There are various reasons why people believe that universities should only offer subjects that will be useful in the future. They may assert that university courses like medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely to be beneficial than certain art degrees. From a personal perspective, it can be argued that these courses provide more job opportunities, career progression, better salaries, and therefore an improved quality of life for students who take them. On the societal level, by forcing people to choose particular university subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered. Finally, a focus on technology in higher education could lead to new inventions, economic growth, and greater future prosperity.

In spite of these arguments, I believe that university students should be free to choose their preferred areas of study. In my opinion, society will benefit more if our students are passionate about what they are learning. Besides, nobody can really predict which areas of knowledge will be most useful to society in the future, and it may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need more students of art, history and philosophy than of science or technology.

In conclusion, although it might seem sensible for universities to focus only on the most useful subjects, I personally prefer the current system in which people have the right to study whatever they like.

(297 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Here's the question we looked at in last week's lesson:

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

And here's my plan for the second view (one paragraph only):

1. Topic sentence - only study useful subjects, various reasons

2. Give examples of subjects that are more useful than others

3. Personal reasons - job opportunities, career progression, high salary

4. Societal reasons - cover gaps in knowledge / skills in the economy

5. Future reason - new inventions lead to growth and future prosperity

Now here's the paragraph that I wrote with my students, using this plan:

(1) There are various reasons why people may believe that universities should only offer subjects that will be useful in the future. (2) It is true that university courses like medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely to be beneficial than certain art degrees. (3) From a personal perspective, these courses can provide more job opportunities, career progression, better salaries, and therefore an improved quality of life for students who take them. (4) On the societal level, by forcing people to choose the most useful university subjects, governments can ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered. (5) Finally, a focus on technology in higher education could lead to new inventions, economic growth, and greater future prosperity.

Note:
To write this 'band 9' paragraph, we simply turned the 5 points in the plan into 5 full sentences.

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Wednesday, October 07, 2015

My students and I looked at the following question from Cambridge IELTS 10.

Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Here's our 5-sentence plan for the second view given in the question:

1. Topic sentence - only study useful subjects, various reasons

2. Give examples of subjects that are more useful than others

3. Personal reasons - job opportunities, career progression, high salary

4. Societal reasons - cover gaps in knowledge / skills in the economy

5. Future reason - new inventions lead to growth and future prosperity

With a good plan like this, it should be easy to write a good paragraph. Just try writing one full sentence for each of these five ideas.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Most students learn simple linking words (firstly, secondly, furthermore etc.). But did you know that there are other, more sophisticated ways to link your ideas? Here are some of them:

· Use this or these to refer to the idea in the previous sentence.

· Use pronouns like it and they to refer to nouns you have already used.

· Repeat a key word throughout the paragraph.

· Repeat a key idea in different ways.

· Develop an idea from 'general' to 'specific'.

You might not notice this type of linking because it seems so natural. to see a paragraph that demonstrates the 5 techniques described above.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Whenever people ask me for one quick tip for writing task 2, I tell them to focus on 'real content' rather than grammar, linking or structure.

I'm not saying that grammar, linking and structure aren't important, but the big difference between people who get less than band 7 and people who get band 7 or higher is content.

'Real content' means ideas that are related to the question topic. And it means that a range of good vocabulary has been used to express those ideas.

Here are the 'real content' ideas from the I wrote last week:

· productive members of society

· discourage them from breaking the law

· accept advice from someone who can speak from experience

· reformed offenders

· dispel any ideas

· leading glamorous lives

· adolescents are often indifferent to the guidance given by...

· the vivid and perhaps shocking nature of these stories

· have a powerful impact

· informing teens about what happens to lawbreakers

· reluctant to take advice from figures of authority

· credible sources of information

· opportunity for young people to interact

· turned their lives around

· serving a prison sentence

· deter teenagers from committing crimes

Hopefully it's clear that this vocabulary is more impressive than linking words like 'moreover'!

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Here's my full essay for the "ex-prisoner" topic that we've been looking at over the last few weeks. Notice that I give only one opinion, and I support it in each paragraph.

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal, productive members of society. I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage them from breaking the law.

In my opinion, teenagers are more likely to accept advice from someone who can speak from experience. Reformed offenders can tell young people about how they became involved in crime, the dangers of a criminal lifestyle, and what life in prison is really like. They can also dispel any ideas that teenagers may have about criminals leading glamorous lives. While adolescents are often indifferent to the guidance given by older people, I imagine that most of them would be extremely keen to hear the stories of an ex-offender. The vivid and perhaps shocking nature of these stories is likely to have a powerful impact.

The alternatives to using reformed criminals to educate teenagers about crime would be much less effective. One option would be for police officers to visit schools and talk to young people. This could be useful in terms of informing teens about what happens to lawbreakers when they are caught, but young people are often reluctant to take advice from figures of authority. A second option would be for school teachers to speak to their students about crime, but I doubt that students would see teachers as credible sources of information about this topic. Finally, educational films might be informative, but there would be no opportunity for young people to interact and ask questions.

In conclusion, I fully support the view that people who have turned their lives around after serving a prison sentence could help to deter teenagers from committing crimes.

(287 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Examiners don't want to be surprised by new ideas or opinions in your conclusion; they just want to read a summary of your overall answer to the question. The easiest way to do this is by paraphrasing what you wrote in your introduction. For example:

Introduction
It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal, productive members of society. I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage young people from breaking the law.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I fully support the view that people who have turned their lives around after serving a prison sentence could be used to deter teenagers from committing crimes.

Examples of paraphrasing:

· I completely agree with the idea that = I fully support the view that

· become normal members of society = turned their lives around

· ex-prisoners = after serving a prison sentence

· discourage young people = deter teenagers

· breaking the law = committing crimes

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Wednesday, September 02, 2015

If we're going to write an essay following our , we need to start with an introduction that makes our view very clear.

Here's the question again:

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

And here's a 'strong opinion' introduction:

It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal, productive members of society. I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage young people from breaking the law.

Note: Can you see the examples of paraphrasing that I used?

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here's a possible plan for a one-sided answer:

1. Introduction: Completely agree with the idea.

2. First reason: Ex-prisoners have real experiences that they can tell the teenagers about. Young people will believe them, and will be shocked by the reality of their stories. Give an example.

3. Second reason: The alternatives are teachers or police officers talking to young people, or the use of educational films. These methods have a lesser impact - young people often ignore authority figures.

4. Conclusion: Repeat / summarise your opinion.

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Sunday, August 23, 2015

In yesterday's lesson, I asked whether you think it's possible to give a balanced answer (including both views) for questions with 'strong' words. For example:

The best way to improve road safety is by introducing stricter punishments for bad drivers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

After reading the comments below the lesson, I've chosen my favourite:

"I think one can disagree with the statement in order to mention the other side of the argument - that is, other means are also necessary to ensure road safety."
(comment by 'tm')

Thanks 'tm' - that's the answer I was looking for! Sometimes you need todisagree in order to be able to discuss both sides e.g. "I disagree with the idea that punishments are the best way to improve road safety; several other measures can be equally effective."

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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Here's a useful question that someone asked me this week:

Is it possible to give a balanced (partly agree) answer if the question contains a strong word like best, most, all or only?

This is the question that the student gave as an example:

The best way to improve road safety is by introducing stricter punishments for bad drivers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Can you see the problem with the word 'best'? Either something is the best or it isn't - we can agree or disagree, but there's no middle point. So, is there a way to give a balanced answer or to talk about both sides of the argument? What do you think? I'll tell you what I think tomorrow.

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Here's a recent exam question that a few people told me about:

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Let's try writing a 'strong opinion' answer for this question. In other words, we're going to completely agree or completely disagree. We're not going to write about both points of view.

Can you suggest a 4-paragraph plan for a 'strong opinion' answer?

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Someone asked me a useful question: Is there any specific study order that you recommend? So here's what I think:

1. Essay structure and paragraphs

The first thing to do is find an essay structure that works for you. You probably know that I prefer to write 4 paragraphs, and maybe you've seen how I write 2-sentence introductions, 5-sentence main paragraphs and 1-sentence conclusions. Try this: take some essays that you have already written, and rewrite them so that they all have the same number of paragraphs and sentences.

2. Question types

You need to see examples of the , and make sure you know how to answer each type using your preferred essay structure.

3. Planning, and isolated paragraph practice

Take several different questions, and practise ideas. Then spend some time focusing only on introductions e.g. write an introduction for five different questions. Then do the same with conclusions. Then try writing different types of main paragraph e.g. an 'advantages' paragraph, an 'opinion' paragraph, a 'problem' paragraph etc.

4. Topic ideas

When you are confident that you know how to write an essay, it's time to start working through as many as possible. Even if you don't write a full essay for each topic, you should at least plan some ideas and opinions.

5. Mistakes, corrections and improvements

Try to find someone who can check your writing, highlight and explain your mistakes, and show you how to improve your essays.

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Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Here's my full essay for the following question.

The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still useful and should not be forgotten.

On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are becoming less relevant for younger people. In the past, for example, people were advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life, but today's workers expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time, the 'rules' around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional roles of men and women, as breadwinners and housewives, are no longer accepted as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.

On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For example, older generations attach great importance to working hard, doing one's best, and taking pride in one's work, and these behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today's competitive job market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would lead happier lives if they had a more 'old-fashioned' sense of community and neighbourliness.

In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful in today's world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.

(299 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Here's another example of how I use a plan to write a 5-sentence paragraph. The plan and paragraph relate to the question in . I'll share my full essay next week.

Plan for a paragraph about traditional ideas which are still useful:

Work - work hard, do your best, take pride in your work
Behaviour - politeness, good manners, respect for others
Community - help others, be a good neighbour, look after local area

Full paragraph using the ideas above (topic sentence and 3 points):

In my opinion, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For example, older generations attached great importance to working hard, doing one's best, and taking pride in one's work, and these behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today's competitive job market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would lead happier lives if they had a more 'old-fashioned' sense of community and neighbourliness.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

If you want to write about both sides of the argument for an "agree or disagree" question, you need to make it clear in your introduction that you "partly agree". For example:

Question
The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Introduction
It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still relevant and should not be forgotten.

Tip:
Notice that I often start my introductions with "It is true that", and I use a sentence to give both views in the same sentence.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

If you don't spend some time planning your ideas, it's likely that you'll run out of things to write, or you'll go off-topic. When planning, keep checking the question to make sure that your ideas are relevant.

Read the question below, and then look at my example plan.

The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

4-paragraph plan:

1. Introduce the topic of 'traditional ideas and modern life', then partly agree: some ideas are outdated, but others are still helpful

2. Paragraph about ideas which are not so helpful nowadays:
Work - having a career for life is no longer normal
Relationships - 'rules' about who and when to marry are changing
Gender roles - traditional fixed roles of men and women have changed

3. Paragraph about traditional ideas which we shouldn't forget:
Work - work hard, do your best, take pride in your work
Behaviour - politeness, good manners, respect for others
Community - help others, be a good neighbour, look after local area

4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise the answer

Here's a recent exam question that someone sent me:

The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Try making some notes on the following questions:

1. What arguments and examples could you use to agree?

2. What arguments and examples could be used to disagree?

3. Which answer would you find easier: agree, disagree or partly agree?

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Wednesday, July 01, 2015

I often receive questions from students like this one:

"Hi Simon. I used your 4-paragraph structure with short introduction and conclusion, but I only got band 6.5. I need a band 7, so should I try a different structure?"

Can you see what is wrong with this question? The student is assuming that essay structure is the secret to a high score. But remember: even a great essay structure is nothing without good content (ideas, vocabulary, correct grammar). If you're stuck on band 6 or 6.5, you probably need to improve the content, not the structure.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Here's my full essay for the question that we've been working on recently.

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be?
Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

It is true that foreign films are more popular in many countries than domestically produced films. There could be several reasons why this is the case, and I believe that governments should promote local film-making by subsidising the industry.

There are various reasons why many people find foreign films more enjoyable than the films produced in their own countries. Firstly, the established film industries in certain countries have huge budgets for action, special effects and to shoot scenes in spectacular locations. Hollywood blockbusters like 'Avatar' or the James Bond films are examples of such productions, and their global appeal is undeniable. Another reason why these big-budget films are so successful is that they often star the most famous actors and actresses, and they are made by the most accomplished producers and directors. The poor quality, low-budget filmmaking in many countries suffers in comparison.

In my view, governments should support local film industries financially. In every country, there may be talented amateur film-makers who just need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves. To compete with big-budget productions from overseas, these people need money to pay for film crews, actors and a host of other costs related to producing high-quality films. If governments did help with these costs, they would see an increase in employment in the film industry, income from film sales, and perhaps even a rise in tourist numbers. New Zealand, for example, has seen an increase in tourism related to the 'Lord of the Rings' films, which were partly funded by government subsidies.

In conclusion, I believe that increased financial support could help to raise the quality of locally made films and allow them to compete with the foreign productions that currently dominate the market.

(294 words, band 9)

Note:
I'm not really sure whether the New Zealand example is true, but it's fine to invent this kind of thing in the test!

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

If you have a 5-idea plan, it should be relatively easy to write a paragraph. Just make each point in your plan into a sentence. For example:

5-idea plan for "why people prefer foreign films"

1. Topic sentence - several reasons

2. First reason - budgets for action, special effects, spectacular locations

3. Example - Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar or James Bond films

4. Second reason - the most famous actors, actresses and directors

5. Final reason - poor quality local filmmaking in many countries

Full paragraph with 5-sentences (one for each idea)

There are several reasons why many people find foreign films more enjoyable than the films produced in their own countries. Firstly, the established film industries in certain countries have huge budgets for action, special effects and to shoot scenes in spectacular locations. Hollywood blockbusters like 'Avatar' or the James Bond films are examples of such productions, and their global appeal is undeniable. Another reason why these big-budget films are so successful is that they often star the most famous actors and actresses, and they are made by the most accomplished producers and directors. The poor quality, low-budget filmmaking in many countries suffers in comparison.

(106 words)

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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Over the last few weeks I've been using this question:

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be?
Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

Here's my plan for the two main body paragraphs, each with 5 sentences:

First main paragraph: Why could this be?

1. Topic sentence - several reasons

2. First reason - budgets for action, special effects, spectacular locations

3. Example - Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar or James Bond films

4. Second reason - the most famous actors, actresses and directors

5. Final reason - poor quality local filmmaking in many countries

Second main paragraph: Should governments give financial support?

1. Topic sentence - governments should support local film industries

2. Explain why - talented local film-makers need opportunities

3. Explain more - they need money to pay film crews, actors etc.

4. Explain consequences - would lead to employment, income, tourism

5. Example - invent an example about your country!

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Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Here's the introduction that I wrote for last week's lesson:

It is true that foreign films are more popular in many countries than domestically produced films. There could be several reasons why this is the case, and I believe that governments should promote local film-making by subsidising the industry.

Now, here's my conclusion:

In conclusion, I believe that increased financial support could help to raise the quality of locally made films and allow them to compete with the foreign productions that currently dominate the market.

Note:
- I wrote my conclusion by paraphrasing the introduction.
- In my conclusion, I changed the order of the two parts, mentioning the financial support first and the popularity of foreign films second.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

To write an introduction for the question below, we just need two sentences: one sentence to introduce the topic, and one sentence to give a quick answer to both parts of the question.

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be?
Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

It is true that foreign films are more popular in many countries than domestically produced films. There could be several reasons why this is the case, and I believe that governments should promote local film-making by subsidising the industry.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Here's a recent exam question (thanks to Mohammed Nasser for sharing it).

Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be?
Should governments give more financial support to local film industries?

I call this type of question a "two-part question". The best thing about two-part questions is that it's so easy to plan your 4-paragraph essay structure:

1. Introduction: topic + general answer to both questions

2. Answer the first question

3. Answer the second question

4. Conclusion: paraphrase the answer you gave in the introduction

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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The following question asks for your opinion. You can either have a strong opinion or a more balanced opinion, but you should definitely make your opinion clear in your introduction.

Governments should not have to provide care or financial support for elderly people because it is the responsibility of each person to prepare for retirement and support him or herself.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Introduction (strong opinion):
People have different views about whether or not governments should help senior citizens. I completely disagree with the idea that elderly people should receive no support from the state.

Introduction (more balanced opinion):
People have different views about whether or not governments should help senior citizens. Although I accept that we all have a responsibility to save money for retirement, I disagree with the idea that elderly people should receive no support from the state.

Note:
After the first introduction, I'd advise you to write 2 paragraphs that both explain why you disagree. The second introduction allows you to discuss both sides (which might be easier).

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Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Here's the full essay that I wrote with my students for the question below.

Some people think that strict punishments for driving offences are the key to reducing traffic accidents. Others, however, believe that other measures would be more effective in improving road safety. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

People have differing views with regard to the question of how to make our roads safer. In my view, both punishments and a range of other measures can be used together to promote better driving habits.

On the one hand, strict punishments can certainly help to encourage people to drive more safely. Penalties for dangerous drivers can act as a deterrent, meaning that people avoid repeating the same offence. There are various types of driving penalty, such as small fines, licence suspension, driver awareness courses, and even prison sentences. The aim of these punishments is to show dangerous drivers that their actions have negative consequences. As a result, we would hope that drivers become more disciplined and alert, and that they follow the rules more carefully.

On the other hand, I believe that safe driving can be promoted in several different ways that do not punish drivers. Firstly, it is vitally important to educate people properly before they start to drive, and this could be done in schools or even as part of an extended or more difficult driving test. Secondly, more attention could be paid to safe road design. For example, signs can be used to warn people, speed bumps and road bends can be added to calm traffic, and speed cameras can help to deter people from driving too quickly. Finally, governments or local councils could reduce road accidents by investing in better public transport, which would mean that fewer people would need to travel by car.

In conclusion, while punishments can help to prevent bad driving, I believe that other road safety measures should also be introduced.

(269 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

You might already know that I like using the word in my introductions. It's also possible to write a 'while sentence' for the conclusion.

Take this question for example:

Some people think that strict punishments for driving offences are the key to reducing traffic accidents. Others, however, believe that other measures would be more effective in improving road safety. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. (Official IELTS Practice Materials 2)

Here's an example of a 'while' conclusion:

In conclusion, while punishments can help to prevent bad driving, I believe that other road safety measures should also be introduced.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

I've written before about students' of the word 'Moreover' and why I would it. But for some reason, many people still believe that 'Moreover' will help them to get a high score.

Here's a trick that I sometimes use to demonstrate to my students that 'Moreover' isn't the key to a high score: Teach me the word for 'Moreover' in your language. If a beginner like me can learn it, it can't be such a difficult word!

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Here's another 'firstly, secondly, finally' paragraph that I wrote with my students. As usual, it contains three main ideas, and five sentences in total.

Ways to improve road safety (apart from using punishments):

I believe that safe driving can be promoted in several different ways that do not punish drivers. Firstly, it is vitally important to educate people properly before they start to drive, and this could be done in schools or even as part of an extended or more difficult driving test. Secondly, more attention could be paid to safe road design. For example, signs can be used to warn people, speed bumps and road bends can be added to calm traffic, and speed cameras can help to deter people from driving too quickly. Finally, governments or local councils could reduce road accidents by investing in better public transport, which would mean that fewer people needed to travel by car.

Note: This would be a 'band 9' paragraph. Does that surprise you? Can you explain why it deserves such a high score?

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Wednesday, April 08, 2015

People sometimes ask me whether writing a longer introduction could be the way to improve their task 2 scores. My answer is no! A longer introduction is more likely to harm your score, not help it. The more time you spend on your introduction, the less time you have to write good main body paragraphs. The main body is the key to a high score!

So, how can we improve our main body paragraphs? I think there are 3 easy steps you can take:

1. Spend more time the main paragraphs.

2. Spend less time on the introduction and conclusion.

3. Prepare ideas for before you take the exam.

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Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Is there a difference between the two questions below? How would you approach answering each one?

Question 1
With the availability of information on the Internet, public libraries are no longer necessary. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Question 2
Some people consider public libraries to be unnecessary due to the availability of information on the Internet. Others, however, believe that libraries can still play an important role in society. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Did you write down the good vocabulary from the that I shared on Wednesday? Here are the 'band 7-9' words, collocations and phrases that I used:

· are increasingly likely to

· take on the role of househusband

· breadwinners

· equal rights movements

· made great progress

· gain qualifications

· pursue a career

· become socially acceptable

· the rising cost of living

· marriage partners

· starting a family

· personal preference

· should be seen as progress

· equal opportunities

· put under pressure

· sacrifice their careers

· assume childcare responsibilities

· parental role

· their particular circumstances and needs

· wider changes in society

· these developments are desirable

Try writing your own full sentences using each vocabulary item above.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

It is true that men are increasingly likely to take on the role of househusband, while more women than ever are the breadwinners in their families. There could be several reasons for this, and I consider it to be a very positive trend.

In recent years, parents have had to adapt to various changes in our societies. Equal rights movements have made great progress, and it has become normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue a career. It has also become socially acceptable for men to stay at home and look after their children. At the same time, the rising cost of living has meant that both marriage partners usually need to work and save money before starting a family. Therefore, when couples have children, they may decide who works and who stays at home depending on the personal preference of each partner, or based on which partner earns the most money.

In my view, the changes described above should be seen as progress. We should be happy to live in a society in which men and women have equal opportunities, and in which women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their careers. Equally, it seems only fair that men should be free to leave their jobs in order to assume childcare responsibilities if this is what they wish to do. Couples should be left to make their own decisions about which parental role each partner takes, according to their particular circumstances and needs.

In conclusion, the changing roles of men and women in the family are a result of wider changes in society, and I believe that these developments are desirable.

(274 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The following sentences come from comments below last week's . Can you correct the mistakes or rewrite and improve each sentence?

1. Women play an increasingly important role than ever in raising the family.

2. Firstly, female nowadays are highly educated than ever before.

3. With the changing trend of lifestyle, parenting is amongst the one that has significantly rehabilitated.

4. I personally believe that it is far beneficial to family and society in number of aspects.

5. Do you really think that sitting at home husband is looking after children, cooking and cleaning rooms, while his wife is at work?

I'll put my suggestions in the 'comments' area tomorrow, and I'll write my full essay about this topic for next week.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Let's try writing an essay '' for one of the questions in last week's lesson. Here's the question again:

These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

Here's my sample essay skeleton. Try writing your own!

Introduction
It is true that men are increasingly likely to take on the role of househusband, while more women than ever are the breadwinners in their families. There could be several reasons for this, and I consider it to be a very positive trend.

Main body 1, topic sentence
In recent years, parents have had to adapt to various changes in our societies.

Main body 2, topic sentence
In my view, the changes described above should be seen as progress.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the changing roles of men and women in the family are a result of wider changes in society, and I believe that these developments are desirable.

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Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Here are some questions related to the topic of 'family and children'. This is a very common topic area, so it would be a good idea to prepare ideas for it.

1) These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

2) Some people believe that children should be allowed to stay at home and play until they are six or seven years old. Others believe that it is important for young children to go to school as soon as possible. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

3) Some people think that mothers should spend most of their time raising their children, and therefore the government should support them financially. Do you agree or disagree?

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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

If you look at the official band descriptors for writing task 2, you'll find this phrase in the band 9 description for 'coherence and cohesion':

"uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention"

So how do you connect your ideas (cohesion) without attracting too much attention? I think there are 2 possible ways:

1. Explain your ideas in a logical order so that you don't need many linking words. This is probably what you do when writing in your own language.

2. Use easy linking words like and, but, also, firstly, secondly, finally, for example. These are so common that they attract almost no attention.

If you read the essay in , you'll notice that I don't "show off" with long linking phrases. The linking is subtle, and the focus is on answering the question with good ideas.

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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

It surprises some people when I tell them that they only need to write 13 sentences for writing task 2:

· Introduction: 2 sentences

· First main body paragraph: 5 sentences

· Second main body paragraph: 5 sentences

· Conclusion: 1 sentence

If you look through my lessons here on the blog, you'll see that I usually manage to write 250 words or more in this way. I think it seems a lot less scary if you think that your task is to write just 13 sentences!

Please note: It is not a 'rule' that you must write 13 sentences. This is just my approach or method.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Last week I showed you the of an essay. Now let's look at what was missing: the detailed explanation of ideas in the main body paragraphs. I'm tempted to refer to this as the 'muscle' on top of the skeleton's bones!

Here's an example of a full paragraph:

(1) On the other hand, school teachers may contribute almost as much as parents to the development of a child. (2) Teachers educate large groups of children together, which means that they must train pupils to work with their peers and respect other members of the class. (3) Pupils also learn to behave sensibly in lessons, regardless of the distractions around them, and to follow instructions given to them by teaching staff. (4) These behavioural skills will be crucial in later life. (5) In the workplace, for example, adults are expected to work in teams, listen to each other, and follow the instructions of a manager or company director.

Notice how I "build" the paragraph using 5 sentences:

1. Topic sentence introducing the main idea - the role of teachers in children's development.

2. One aspect of this role - training children to work with others.

3. Another aspect of this role - children learn to behave and follow instructions.

4. Why the two points above are important - for later life.

5. Examples - work in teams, follow a manager's instructions.

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Wednesday, February 04, 2015

For me, the skeleton (or framework or basic structure) of a task 2 essay is:

- the introduction
- topic sentences for main paragraphs
- and the conclusion

Look at this essay 'skeleton' for example:

..........

People have different views about whether parents or schools should bear the responsibility for helping children to become good citizens. In my view, this responsibility should be shared.

On the one hand, parents certainly have a vital role to play in the upbringing of their children.

On the other hand, school teachers may contribute almost as much as parents to the development of a child.

In conclusion, both parents and schools should work together to ensure that young people become polite and productive members of society.

..........

Can you see how the 'skeleton' communicates my overall answer very clearly? The only thing missing is the detail in paragraphs 2 and 3.

Have a look at an essay that you have written. How clearly does the skeleton communicate your message?

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

For many of the students I've taught, a breakthrough (or big improvement) came when they found the confidence to write in a more 'simple' way.

When you stop worrying about whether you need to include passives, conditionals or 'difficult academic words' in your essays, you are free to focus on answering the question and explaining your ideas coherently. It takes confidence to change your approach and to believe that the 'simple' way will work.

Note: Remember that 'simple' is not the same thing as 'easy'!

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Did you note down the following 'band 7-9' phrases from my ? I've left some gaps to encourage you to look a bit harder!

· it is absurd to argue that...

· exists only for the benefit of humans

· allow or encourage the ______ of any species

· there is no ______ reason why...

· let animals die out (die out = become extinct)

· exploit or destroy every last square metre of land

· feed or accommodate the world's population

· exist side by ______ with wild animals

· protection of natural ______

· ensures the survival of wild animals

· crucial for human survival

· rainforests produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide

· and ______ the Earth's climate

· maintain the natural ______ of all life on Earth

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Memorised phrases for any essay, original or difficult words, complex grammatical structures, a long introduction with background and thesis statement: these are NOT the keys to a high score!

If you want to get the highest score possible with your current level of English:

· Focus on answering the question well. This means that you need good ideas (which is why planning is important). Explain your ideas in detail in the main body paragraphs.

· Work on rather than 'any essay vocabulary'.

· Forget about 'complex structures' and 'difficult words'. When you try too hard to make your writing look difficult, it usually just seems strange or wrong.

· Keep your essay structure simple: a short introduction and conclusion, and two well-developed main body paragraphs.

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Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people argue that it is pointless to spend money on the protection of wild animals because we humans have no need for them. I completely disagree with this point of view.

In my opinion, it is absurd to argue that wild animals have no place in the 21st century. I do not believe that planet Earth exists only for the benefit of humans, and there is nothing special about this particular century that means that we suddenly have the right to allow or encourage the extinction of any species. Furthermore, there is no compelling reason why we should let animals die out. We do not need to exploit or destroy every last square metre of land in order to feed or accommodate the world's population. There is plenty of room for us to exist side by side with wild animals, and this should be our aim.

I also disagree with the idea that protecting animals is a waste of resources. It is usually the protection of natural habitats that ensures the survival of wild animals, and most scientists agree that these habitats are also crucial for human survival. For example, rainforests produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and stabilise the Earth's climate. If we destroyed these areas, the costs of managing the resulting changes to our planet would far outweigh the costs of conservation. By protecting wild animals and their habitats, we maintain the natural balance of all life on Earth.

In conclusion, we have no right to decide whether or not wild animals should exist, and I believe that we should do everything we can to protect them.

(269 words, band 9)

Note:
I've highlighted my main paragraph 'topic sentences' in blue. Can you see how each topic sentence relates to one part of the question?

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Introduction (topic + general answer)
Some people argue that it is pointless to spend money on the protection of wild animals because we humans have no need for them. I completely disagree with this point of view.

Conclusion (paraphrase the answer)
In conclusion, we have no right to decide whether or not wild animals should exist, and I believe that we should do everything we can to protect them.

Remember:
The introduction and conclusion should be short, quick and direct. If you want a high score, spend your time on the main body.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Several people have asked me to work through the question below (which I mentioned in a last month).

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The first step is to decide whether we agree, disagree or partly agree. My preference would be to 'completely disagree'. I don't think we can partly agree in this case (either we value and protect animals or we don't).

Next, we need a 4-paragraph plan:

1. Introduce the topic (rights and protection of wild animals), then answer the question (completely disagree)

2. First reason why we disagree e.g. our duty to protect animals, their rights and place in the world

3. Second reason why we disagree e.g. the resources we should use to protect animals, and why this is not a waste

4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer

Now comes the important part: ideas. Can you think of some good ideas for paragraphs 2 and 3?

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

My latest video lesson is now available at the bottom of .

In this lesson, I show you how I would answer four different 'agree or disagree' questions, either by agreeing, by disagreeing, or by partly agreeing.

Here's some advice for people who are still confused about "agree or disagree" questions:

If you completely agree or completely disagree:

· Make your opinion clear in the introduction and conclusion.

· Explain one reason for your opinion in paragraph 2 and another in paragraph 3. Imagine that you are persuading the examiner that your opinion is right.

· Don't write a paragraph about what 'other people' think. If you do that, you are in danger of writing a "discuss both views" essay. If you mention the opposite argument, make sure that you refute it (explain why you think it's wrong), like I did in paragraph 2 of .

If you partly agree:

· Make it clear in the introduction and conclusion that you have a balanced view i.e. that you accept both sides of the argument to some extent, like I did in last week's .

· Write one paragraph about each side of the argument. But do this fromyour point of view e.g. On the one hand, I accept that... / On the other hand, I also believe that...

· Don't write a discussion essay e.g. some people believe / other people argue...

PS. This week's (free) video lesson will also help with this "agree, disagree or partly agree" problem. It will be ready tomorrow.

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Friday, December 05, 2014

This week's video lesson is now available . In the video, I go through the steps of planning and writing an essay for the following '2-part question':

News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported?

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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

In I suggested writing a balanced opinion (partly agree) essay for the question below.

In the last century, the first man to walk on the moon said it was "a giant leap for mankind". However, some people think it has made little difference to our daily lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

You can see my 4-paragraph plan in the lesson, but a student asked me to explain exactly how we can 'partly agree'. So here's my sample introduction:

It is often argued that the act of sending a man to the moon has been of no benefit to normal people. While I agree that this is true in practical terms, I believe that the psychological impact of this great achievement should not be underestimated.

Note:
Can you see how I create a balanced answer by using a 'while' sentence to contrast the 'practical' and 'psychological' impacts of the moon landing?

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Thursday, November 27, 2014

My latest video lesson is now available . This time, I demonstrate how to write a full 'problem and solution' essay at band 9 level.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Here's an essay introduction that my students and I wrote:

It is true that many high school leavers decide to take a gap year before starting university. While there are several benefits for students who do this, there are also some possible drawbacks.

Task:
Try writing a one-sentence conclusion for the same essay.
Start with "In conclusion", and then paraphrase the introduction above.

(A 'gap year' is a year of work or travel between high school and university)

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

My latest video lesson is now available . In the lesson, I show you how my students and I wrote a full essay for the question below.

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

(Cambridge IELTS 5, test 3)

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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

If you're using my 4-paragraph essay approach, your essays only need to contain two main ideas - one for each main body paragraph.

But there is a difference between the main idea and the supporting points. For example, the main idea could be "there are several advantages", and each advantage is a supporting point. Start a new paragraph for each main idea, but not for each supporting point.

Express your main idea for each paragraph in a 'topic sentence' at the beginning of the paragraph. Then explain that idea with either one, two or three supporting points.

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Friday, November 14, 2014

My next video lesson is now available . If you watch the video, you'll see how my students and I wrote a band 9 essay for an 'agree or disagree' question.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

In I gave you two exam questions and asked you to think about which part of each question you should answer.

I hope you realised that we need to write about both parts (the green and blue parts). Let's look again at the questions:

1. Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. International travel is cheaper than ever before, and more countries have opened their doors to tourists. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Question 1 contains two opinions: "wild animals have no place in the 21st century" and "protecting them is a waste of resources". These two opinions are connected, and we need to address both of them in our answer. A good way to do this might be to disagree completely, and to write one main body paragraph for each opinion (explaining why you disagree).

Question 2 contains two facts: "international travel is cheaper than ever before" and "more countries have opened their doors to tourists". The 'trend' in the question refers to both of these facts, and we need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both aspects of this trend.

Note:
Some questions do contain a 'background' statement that you can quickly accept in your introduction (e.g. ). If you're unsure, just answer all parts of the question.

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Wednesday, November 05, 2014

My latest video lesson is now available (at the bottom of the page).

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The question below contains 2 ideas or statements, highlighted in blue and green.

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A student, Raymond, asked which part of this question we should answer. Should we agree or disagree with just the blue part, just the green part, or both parts?

Here's another example:

International travel is cheaper than ever before, and more countries have opened their doors to tourists. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

For this question, Raymond asks whether we need to discuss the pros and cons of travel being cheaper, or whether we should just focus on the green part. What do you think?

Note: You can find my answer and explanation in .

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

My latest video lesson, about conclusions for writing task 2, is now available (at the bottom of the page). This one is free.

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If you're writing an IELTS essay at home, try doing some Internet research first.

For example, I did a Google search for "benefits of CCTV" (for ), and I found lots of great ideas and vocabulary. to download the best article that I found. Underline the good vocabulary, then choose 3 benefits and try to write a "firstly, secondly, finally" paragraph.

PS. My next video lesson will be ready later today. This one will be free.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Here's my introduction for the question in :

It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent years. While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe that there are more benefits than drawbacks.

If you watched lesson 2 in my , you will notice that I used the same techniques when writing the introduction above:

- 2 sentences
- introduce the topic, then answer the question
- accept what the question is saying: "It is true that..."
- compare the two views in a 'while' sentence

PS. There will be a new video lesson later today.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The second video lesson for writing task 2 is now available . It costs $8 USD to access this one; I hope people see this as a reasonable price.

In the lesson, I demonstrate how to write introductions for the four types of task 2 question. There's also an accompanying worksheet with a focus on vocabulary.

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Here's a question about the same topic as yesterday's listening lesson:

In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased in order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures restrict our individual freedom.
Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?

This is my suggestion for an essay outline:

1. Introduce the topic, and say that the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks.

2. Explain the drawbacks of CCTV (see yesterday's ideas).

3. Explain the security benefits.

4. Conclude by repeating / summarising your opinion.

PS. The next lesson in my video course should be ready later today.

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Wednesday, October 08, 2014

My first video lesson for writing task 2 is now available .

In this lesson, I give a basic overview of the requirements of the task, the scoring system, and how I break essay writing into smaller parts to make it easier. There are some useful tips in there, and you could also use the lesson as listening practice!

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Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Here are the 5 ideas from last week, about the negatives of credit cards:

1. encourage spending money that people don't have
2. leads to excess shopping, consumer culture
3. more credit cards, debt becomes out of control
4. bankrupt, in court, lose home
5. sometimes fines or even prison

Now here's a 5-sentence paragraph using these ideas:

The main drawback of credit cards is that they encourage people to spend money that they do not have. This has led to the consumer culture and addiction to shopping that we now see in society. When credit card users are unable to pay off their debts, they often resort to signing up for multiple cards, and the debt becomes increasingly overwhelming. Many people in this situation find themselves in court, bankrupt, and without a home as a final consequence of credit card dependence. In the worst cases, they may even face prison sentences.

Note:
Notice that I made one or two changes (e.g. 'overwhelming' instead of 'out of control'), but that I mostly followed the plan, writing one sentence for each idea. Practise doing this yourself.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Last week, my students and I (here in Manchester) looked at a question about the positives and negatives of credit cards. You can see the full question .

Here's our plan for a paragraph about the negatives of credit cards:

1. encourage spending money that people don't have

2. leads to excess shopping, consumer culture

3. more credit cards, debt becomes out of control

4. bankrupt, in court, lose home

5. sometimes fines or even prison

We wrote a 5-sentence paragraph using these 5 ideas. I'll show you our paragraph next week, but can you use the same ideas to write your own?

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Here's my full essay for the question below.

Happiness is considered very important in life.
Why is it difficult to define?
What factors are important in achieving happiness?

It is no doubt true that the majority of people would like to be happy in their lives. While the personal nature of happiness makes it difficult to describe, there do seem to be some common needs that we all share with regard to experiencing or achieving happiness.

Happiness is difficult to define because it means something different to each individual person. Nobody can fully understand or experience another person's feelings, and we all have our own particular passions from which we take pleasure. Some people, for example, derive a sense of satisfaction from earning money or achieving success, whereas for others, health and family are much more important. At the same time, a range of other feelings, from excitement to peacefulness, may be associated with the idea of happiness, and the same person may therefore feel happy in a variety of different ways.

Although it seems almost impossible to give a precise definition of happiness, most people would agree that there are some basic preconditions to achieving it. Firstly, it is hard for a person to be happy if he or she does not have a safe place to live and enough food to eat. Our basic survival needs must surely be met before we can lead a pleasant life. Secondly, the greatest joy in life is usually found in shared experiences with family and friends, and it is rare to find a person who is content to live in complete isolation. Other key factors could be individual freedom and a sense of purpose in life.

In conclusion, happiness is difficult to define because it is particular to each individual, but I believe that our basic needs for shelter, food and company need to be fulfilled before we can experience it.

(292 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Last week I wrote the introduction for a two-part question about happiness. After the introduction, we need to write a main paragraph about each of the two questions. Here's the first one for example:

Why is happiness difficult to define?

Happiness is difficult to define because it means something different to each individual person. Nobody can fully understand or experience another person's feelings, and we all have our own particular passions from which we take pleasure. Some people, for example, derive a sense of satisfaction from earning money or achieving success, whereas for others, health and family are much more important. At the same time, a range of other feelings, from excitement to peacefulness, may be associated with the idea of happiness, and the same person may therefore feel happy in a variety of different ways.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2014

The 'happiness' question below is what I call a "two-part question".

Happiness is considered very important in life.
Why is it difficult to define?
What factors are important in achieving happiness?

Use the following 4-paragraph essay structure for this kind of question:

1. Introduce the topic and give an overall answer to both questions
2. Answer the first question
3. Answer the second question
4. Conclude by summarising both answers

Let's start with a 2-sentence introduction:

It is no doubt true that the majority of people would like to be happy in their lives. While the personal nature of happiness makes it difficult to describe, there do seem to be some common needs that we all share with regard to experiencing or achieving happiness.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Many students find the following question difficult (Cambridge IELTS 4, page 55):

Happiness is considered very important in life.
Why is it difficult to define?
What factors are important in achieving happiness?

Here are some ideas from my ebook.

· Happiness means different things to different people.

· It can be described as a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment.

· People enjoy spending time with family and friends.

· Hobbies, sports and games can be a source of fun and enjoyment.

· Some people see money as a source of happiness.

· Other people define happiness as something deeper.

· They need to feel that they are doing something useful with their lives.

· Some people get a sense of achievement from their work.

· Others find happiness in bringing up their children.

I'll show you how I would write an essay for this question next week.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

In last week's I asked whether you could see the problem with an essay outline. The problem was the use of "many people" in paragraph 2.

If the question asks whether YOU agree or disagree, don't write a paragraph about what other people think. The whole essay should be about YOUR views.

Click to see how I wrote a 'balanced opinion' essay. Notice that the opinions expressed are all my own; I don't mention what other people think.

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Imagine that the question asks "to what extent do you agree or disagree?". Can you see the problem in the type of essay outlined below?

.....

Paragraph 1
Introduce the topic, then answer that you completely disagree

Paragraph 2
Give the other side of the argument e.g. "On the one hand, many people believe..."

Paragraph 3
Give your side of the argument e.g. "On the other hand, in my opinion..."

Paragraph 4
Summarise the reasons why you disagree

.....

Many students make the mistake of writing their "agree / disagree" essays in this way. Can you see what's wrong and where the problem is?

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Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Let's go back to the question we were looking at a couple of weeks ago:

In some parts of the world it is becoming popular to research the history of one's own family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?

Here's the plan I wrote for the first main body paragraph:

· Paragraph 2: Why might people want to research family history?

· various different reasons

· to know more about themselves and their roots, where they come from, whether their ancestors had similar personality traits

· because the Internet makes it easier to do this research, we hear about others who have done it, there are advertisements to encourage us

· out of curiosity e.g. we might secretly hope that we have a famous or wealthy ancestor

Here's a full paragraph using the ideas above:

There are various reasons why people might decide to trace their family histories. One explanation may be that they would like to know more about themselves, in terms of their roots, where they come from, or whether their ancestors had similar personality traits. Another factor could be that it has become so much easier to carry out genealogical research using the Internet. We hear about people who have studied their family trees, and there are even advertisements to encourage us to use genealogy websites. Finally, it may be that people are simply curious to find out whether they have any famous or wealthy ancestors.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Today I'm attaching a document about the 'family history' question in last week's lesson. Open and download it to see some tips and my full essay plan.

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Here's a recent exam question that was given to me by one of my students:

In some parts of the world it is becoming popular to research the history of one's own family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?

Try planning some ideas. I'll share mine next week.

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Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Try this exercise using the in last week's lesson:

1. Read the essay and make sure you understand it.

2. Read it again slowly, and make notes on a separate piece of paper. Just write the main idea or key words from each sentence (there are only 13 sentences in the whole essay).

3. Hide my essay, and try to rewrite it using only your notes. Don't try to memorise the essay exactly as I wrote it; the aim is to see if you can write a similar essay using the same key ideas.

4. Compare your essay with mine. Did you write the same number of sentences? Did you include the same key vocabulary? Did you use the vocabulary correctly? Does your essay 'flow' as well as mine does?

You can learn a lot by doing this exercise. Apparently, this is how worked on his writing skills! He describes the technique in chapter 2, paragraph 6 of his autobiography, which you can read .

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Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Here's an essay that I wrote with my students using the ideas and the advice about organisation in last week's .

Families who send their children to private schools should not be required to pay taxes that support the state education system.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people believe that parents of children who attend private schools should not need to contribute to state schools through taxes. Personally, I completely disagree with this view.

For a variety of reasons, it would be wrong to reduce taxes for families who pay for private education. Firstly, it would be difficult to calculate the correct amount of tax reduction for these families, and staff would be required to manage this complex process. Secondly, we all pay a certain amount of tax for public services that we may not use. For example, most people are fortunate enough not to have to call the police or fire brigade at any time in their lives, but they would not expect a tax reduction for this. Finally, if wealthy families were given a tax discount for sending their children to private schools, we might have a situation where poorer people pay higher taxes than the rich.

In my opinion, we should all be happy to pay our share of the money that supports public schools. It is beneficial for all members of society to have a high quality education system with equal opportunities for all young people. This will result in a well-educated workforce, and in turn a more productive and prosperous nation. Parents of children in private schools may also see the advantages of this in their own lives. For example, a company owner will need well qualified and competent staff, and a well-funded education system can provide such employees.

In conclusion, I do not believe that any financial concessions should be made for people who choose private education.

(269 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

I asked my students to brainstorm ideas for the question below.

Families who send their children to private schools should not be required to pay taxes that support the state education system.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Here are their ideas for a 'completely disagree' answer:

· difficult to calculate the tax reduction

· more government staff would be required for this process

· we all pay for public services that we may not need e.g. police

· poorer people would pay more tax than wealthy people

· state schools benefit the whole of society

· high quality state education leads to equal opportunities for all

· a well-educated workforce is the key to a prosperous nation

· companies need educated staff

· we should all be happy to contribute to public services

After brainstorming, we need to organise these ideas so that we have two paragraphs. There seem to be two main themes in the ideas above:

1. Reasons why we think the idea would not work, or would be unfair.

2. Reasons why everyone should pay taxes that support state education.

Next week I'll show you how we used these ideas to write a full essay.

If the question asks whether you agree or disagree, you need to make your opinion very clear. You can either have a strong opinion or a balanced opinion. Let's try writing a 'strong opinion' answer for the following question:

Families who send their children to private schools should not be required to pay taxes that support the state education system.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

When you have a strong opinion, you don't need to mention the opposite view.
Here's my plan for a 4-paragraph essay:

Introduction: 1 sentence to introduce the topic, 1 sentence to make your opinion clear (e.g. I completely disagree...)Main paragraph: support your opinion with a reasonMain paragraph: support your opinion with another reasonConclusion: repeat/summarise your opinion

I'll continue with this topic next week.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

If you haven't seen my advice about timing before, here's a reminder.

You have 40 minutes for writing task 2, and I suggest that you:

Spend the first 10 minutes planning your essay structure and brainstorming ideas for the two main body paragraphs.Spend 5 minutes writing your 2-sentence introduction.Spend 20 minutes on the main body (10 minutes for each paragraph).Spend the last 5 minutes writing your conclusion and checking everything.

Have a look through the lessons here on the site if you want to read about any of this advice in more detail.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2014

I tell my students to write very short, simple conclusions for writing task 2. If you want a high score, you need to spend as much time as possible on the main body paragraphs, so it's important to be able to write your conclusion very quickly at the end of the test.

Here's my short, simple conclusion for last week's :

In conclusion, it seems to me that the influence of celebrities on young people can be positive as well as negative.

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Saturday, May 31, 2014

When writing a conclusion for task 2, I always start with the words "In conclusion". There's no reason why you should learn any alternatives.

Here are some phrases that I would not use:

All things consideredTo sum upIn summaryTo summarizeIn shortIn a nutshellTo put it in a nutshell

Note:
Phrases 1 to 5 are acceptable, but I still wouldn't use them myself.
Don't use any phrase containing the word "nutshell". 6 and 7 are not appropriate for an academic essay.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

In the essay below, the conclusion is missing. Can you suggest one? Remember to keep it short and simple. Don't add any new information; just repeat or summarise your answer.

Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role models.

On the one hand, many people do achieve fame without really working for it. They may have inherited money from parents, married a famous or wealthy person, or they may have appeared in gossip magazines or on a reality TV programme. A good example would be Paris Hilton, who is rich and famous for the wrong reasons. She spends her time attending parties and nightclubs, and her behaviour promotes the idea that appearance, glamour and media profile are more important than hard work and good character. The message to young people is that success can be achieved easily, and that school work is not necessary.

On the other hand, there are at least as many celebrities whose accomplishments make them excellent role models for young people. Actors, musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked hard and applied themselves to develop real skills and abilities. They demonstrate great effort, determination and ambition, which is required for someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is the actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, who has become world famous through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self-made celebrity can inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance.

(Add your own conclusion)

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Here's a paragraph that I wrote with my students as part of an essay about . Who would you use as your 'real example' to fill the gap near the end of the paragraph?

On the other hand, there are at least as many celebrities whose accomplishments make them excellent role models for young people. Actors, musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked hard and applied themselves to develop real skills and abilities. They demonstrate great effort, determination and ambition, which is required for someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is ______, who has become world famous through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self-made celebrity can inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

If you want to write a balanced answer for an "agree or disagree" question, it's important to get the introduction right. Let's use last week's question as an example:

Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Here's my introduction. Notice that I use a "while" sentence to express my balanced opinion.

It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role models.

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Wednesday, May 07, 2014

A 'role model' is a person who acts as an example to others. The following is a recent IELTS exam question about this topic.

Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Here are some tips to help you plan your answer:

Start by considering some real examples. Think about the celebrities you know - are they famous for their glamour and wealth, or for their achievements?It's usually easier to write about both sides. Think about whether it's possible to 'partly agree', or to have a strong opinion but still mention the other view.Plan for a 4-paragraph essay. Decide what your view is, then focus on the main body paragraphs - what will be the central idea in each one?

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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people choose their jobs based on the size of the salary offered. Personally, I disagree with the idea that money is the key consideration when deciding on a career, because I believe that other factors are equally important.

On the one hand, I agree that money is necessary in order for people to meet their basic needs. For example, we all need money to pay for housing, food, bills, health care, and education. Most people consider it a priority to at least earn a salary that allows them to cover these needs and have a reasonable quality of life. If people chose their jobs based on enjoyment or other non-financial factors, they might find it difficult to support themselves. Artists and musicians, for instance, are known for choosing a career path that they love, but that does not always provide them with enough money to live comfortably and raise a family.

Nevertheless, I believe that other considerations are just as important as what we earn in our jobs. Firstly, personal relationships and the atmosphere in a workplace are extremely important when choosing a job. Having a good manager or friendly colleagues, for example, can make a huge difference to workers' levels of happiness and general quality of life. Secondly, many people's feelings of job satisfaction come from their professional achievements, the skills they learn, and the position they reach, rather than the money they earn. Finally, some people choose a career because they want to help others and contribute something positive to society.

In conclusion, while salaries certainly affect people's choice of profession, I do not believe that money outweighs all other motivators.

(275 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

When writing a main body paragraph for task 2, I recommend aiming for five sentences.

Read the following 5-sentence paragraph. The essay question was: When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration. Do you agree or disagree?

On the one hand, I agree that money is necessary in order for people to meet their basic needs. For example, we all need money to pay for housing, food, bills, health care, and education. Most people consider it a priority to at least earn a salary that allows them to cover these needs and have a reasonable quality of life. If people chose their jobs based on enjoyment or other non-financial factors, they might find it difficult to support themselves. Artists and musicians, for instance, are known for choosing a career path that they love, but that does not always provide them with enough money to live comfortably and raise a family.

Tasks:

Analyse the 5 sentences in the paragraph. What does each one do?Try writing your own 5-sentence paragraph about the following opinion: "When choosing a job, other factors are just as important as money."

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Sometimes, the best way to think of ideas for an essay is to start with an example. One good example can give you enough ideas for a full paragraph.

Look at the following question:

Should governments make decisions about people's lifestyle, or should people make their own decisions?

This question seems difficult, but if you take "smoking" as an example of a lifestyle choice, it becomes a lot easier. Here's my paragraph:

In some cases, governments can help people to make better lifestyle choices. In the UK, for example, smoking is now banned in all workplaces, and it is even prohibited for people to smoke in restaurants, bars and pubs. As a result, many people who used to smoke socially have now given up. At the same time, the government has ensured that cigarette prices keep going up, and there have been several campaigns to highlight the health risks of smoking. These measures have also helped to reduce the number of smokers in this country.

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Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Sometimes it's possible to have a strong opinion but still write about both sides of the argument. Take this question for example:

'Teleworking', or the use of telecommunications to allow people to work from home, should be adopted by all employers in order to improve the quality of life of their staff.
 To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Here's my introduction:

The current trend towards teleworking is a positive one in many respects. However, I strongly disagree with the idea that it should be introduced in all work contexts.

Can you see how this introduction allows me to write about both the positives and negatives of teleworking, even though I expressed a strong opinion? Which word in the question allowed me to do this?

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Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Whatever your real opinion is, it's important to be able to see both sides of the argument when preparing IELTS writing topics.

For example, in the speaker talked about the advantages of teleworking. To complete our preparation of this topic, let's think about the possible disadvantages of teleworking. Feel free to share your ideas in the "comments" below this lesson, and we'll look at a possible question next week.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Some people think that in the modern world we are more dependent on each other, while others think that people have become more independent.
 Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about whether we are more or less dependent on others nowadays. In my view, modern life forces us to be more independent than people were in the past.

There are two main reasons why it could be argued that we are more dependent on each other now. Firstly, life is more complex and difficult, especially because the cost of living has increased so dramatically. For example, young adults tend to rely on their parents for help when buying a house. Property prices are higher than ever, and without help it would be impossible for many people to pay a deposit and a mortgage. Secondly, people seem to be more ambitious nowadays, and they want a better quality of life for their families. This means that both parents usually need to work full-time, and they depend on support from grandparents and babysitters for child care.

However, I would agree with those who believe that people are more independent these days. In most countries, families are becoming smaller and more dispersed, which means that people cannot count on relatives as much as they used to. We also have more freedom to travel and live far away from our home towns. For example, many students choose to study abroad instead of going to their local university, and this experience makes them more independent as they learn to live alone. Another factor in this growing independence is technology, which allows us to work alone and from any part of the world.

In conclusion, while there are some reasons to believe that people now depend on each other more, my own view is that we are more independent than ever.

Note:
As usual, try to analyse this essay in terms of task response (does it fully answer the question?), organisation, 'band 7-9' vocabulary, and grammar.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

It's fine to write a really short conclusion for IELTS writing task 2. You don't need to say anything new; just paraphrase what you wrote in your introduction or summarise your overall answer to the question. For example, read question and my introduction, then read my short conclusion below.

In conclusion, I disagree with the idea that early technologies had more of an effect on ordinary people than recent ones.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

If you want to mention both sides of the argument for an "agree or disagree" question, try including a 'while' sentence in your introduction.

Here's the 'while' sentence formula:
"While I accept argument A, I favour argument B"

Here's an example question:

Early technological developments helped ordinary people and changed their lives more than recent developments. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Here's my introduction:

Technological progress has taken place throughout the course of human history. While early technologies certainly changed the lives of normal people, I believe that recent breakthroughs have had an even greater impact.

Note:
The 'while' sentence makes it clear that I favour one side of the argument, but it allows me to mention both sides in the main body of my essay.

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Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Here's another example of a "firstly, secondly, finally" paragraph that I wrote with my students:

Three main factors are affecting health in modern societies. One problem is the lack of awareness among many people of the negative consequences of an unhealthy diet. This is made worse by the prevalence of fast food and processed food, which are full of fat, salt and sugar. Another key factor is the changing trend in lifestyles. For example, children's hobbies now involve much less outdoor activity, and adults are less active as jobs have shifted towards sedentary office work instead of manual labour. In addition to this, time-saving technologies, such as cars, elevators, dishwashers and washing machines, have made people lazier.

Analyse the paragraph by answering the following questions.

What is the main topic of the paragraph?Which phrases are used instead of "firstly, secondly, finally"?What examples of 'band 7-9' vocabulary can you find?

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

In I showed you a band 9 paragraph using a "firstly, secondly, finally" structure. I also asked you to think of some alternative words or phrases that we could use instead of "firstly, secondly, finally".

to see some other ways to link 3 ideas in the same paragraph.

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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Here's this week's video lesson:

One thing to think about:
It's best not to use "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" twice in one essay. If we wanted to write a second main paragraph with three ideas, what could we used instead of "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" to organise them?

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

My colleague, Peter, wrote an essay about last week's question - to read the full essay, look for the comment by Peter Walton below the lesson.

For today, I want to focus on the introduction that Peter wrote:

It is all too easy to obtain a credit card and then to run up debts which are difficult to repay. In my opinion, the disadvantages of credit cards far outweigh the advantages.

It might seem easy, but for me this is the perfect introduction: it's short, clear, and it answers the question directly.

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Saturday, February 08, 2014

A student asked me the following useful question:

I am confused about the question "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?". Is this an opinion question or discussion + opinion question?

Here's my answer:

Strictly speaking, "Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" is asking for your opinion (do you think there are more advantages or disadvantages?). Technically, you could give a one-sided "opinion" answer e.g. you could argue that there are many advantages and almost no disadvantages.

However, I think the examiner would expect and prefer to see a balanced discussion of both sides as well as your opinion. Therefore, I think it's best (and easiest) to write a discussion + opinion essay.

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Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Several people have asked me for help with the question below.

Nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card. However, some people experience problems when they are not be able to pay their debts back. In your opinion, do the advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvantages?

You might be surprised to see a question about credit cards, but I don't think it's as bad as it seems. Let's summarise the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:
A credit card gives you access to money and the facility to pay it back later, like a loan. This could be useful for emergencies or something expensive, like a holiday. Credit cards are a safe way to pay. Easy access to money means that people spend, and this benefits the economy.

Disadvantages:
Credit cards encourage people to spend money they do not have. Debts can build up and leave people in real financial difficulties. When people cannot pay their debts back, everyone suffers: those in debt may lose their homes, the banks lose money, and the whole economy suffers.

Task: Try using these ideas to write full paragraphs.

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Saturday, February 01, 2014

Here's my latest video lesson about writing introductions for tasks 1 and 2.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A few days ago, I looked at the question in with my students here in Manchester. The phrase 'consumer society' is a negative one because it suggests that our lives revolve around money and possessions.

Here's part of an essay that my students helped me to write:

It is true that many people criticize modern society because it seems to be too materialistic. I agree with this to some extent, but I do not think it is the case that everyone is a victim of consumer culture.

On the one hand, many people do seem to focus too much on money and possessions. Wherever we go, we are bombarded with advertising to sell us products and services, many of which we do not need. For example, people may be persuaded to purchase the latest model of iPhone, when their old phone is still perfectly functional. This could be seen as a demonstration that we are obsessive consumers; we buy things based on fashion and branding, and shopping has become a hobby or even an addiction.

Task:
Which phrases in the paragraphs would you highlight as 'band 7-9 vocabulary'?

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Last week I made a video lesson to show you how I would do an essay plan. Today I want to show you how I turned part of that plan into a full paragraph.

Paragraph topic: The most important element of a perfect society.Planned ideas: Safety = No crime, trust our neighbours, feel part of a community, able to leave doors unlocked. Trust institutions (police, government), feel protected by the law. Safety is the most basic freedom.

Here's my paragraph using the ideas above:

If I had to choose the one, most desirable element of an ideal society, it would have to be safety. A safe society would be one in which crime did not exist, and in which all citizens trusted their neighbours, felt part of a community, and were even able to leave their doors unlocked without fear. A broader definition of safety could also include belief in the integrity of state institutions, such asgovernments or police forces, and confidence that we are all protected by fair laws. In this sense, safety could be described as the most basic freedom and the starting point for the creation of a perfect society.

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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Here's my video lesson about essay planning:

You can also watch the lesson on Vimeo by clicking .

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Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Here's an interesting recent exam question that someone sent me:

Throughout history, people have dreamed of living in a perfect society. However, there is still no agreement about what a perfect society would be like. What, in your opinion, would be the most important element of a perfect society? What can people do to help create an ideal society?

Before we write anything, we'll need some good ideas. If you have any ideas, please share them in the 'comments' below this lesson, and I'll try to use them in next week's lesson.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

It is sometimes argued that tourists from overseas should be charged more than local residents to visit important sites and monuments. I completely disagree with this idea.

The argument in favour of higher prices for foreign tourists would be that cultural or historical attractions often depend on state subsidies to keep them going, which means that the resident population already pays money to these sites through the tax system. However, I believe this to be a very shortsighted view. Foreign tourists contribute to the economy of the host country with the money they spend on a wide range of goods and services, including food, souvenirs, accommodation and travel. The governments and inhabitants of every country should be happy to subsidise important tourist sites and encourage people from the rest of the world to visit them.

If travellers realised that they would have to pay more to visit historical and cultural attractions in a particular nation, they would perhaps decide not to go to that country on holiday. To take the UK as an example, the tourism industry and many related jobs rely on visitors coming to the country to see places like Windsor Castle or Saint Paul's Cathedral. These two sites charge the same price regardless of nationality, and this helps to promote the nation's cultural heritage. If overseas tourists stopped coming due to higher prices, there would be a risk of insufficient funding for the maintenance of these important buildings.

In conclusion, I believe that every effort should be made to attract tourists from overseas, and it would be counterproductive to make them pay more than local residents.

(269 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Last week I said that we needed a 'strong opinion' answer to the question above. Here's my suggested outline for a 4-paragraph essay:

Introduction: make your opinion clear (e.g. I completely disagree)First reason why you disagreeSecond reason why you disagreeConclusion: repeat / summarise your opinion

Note: It is possible to mention the opposite view in one of the main paragraphs, but you should make it very clear that you disagree with it. Here's an example:

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

In I wrote an introduction for a 'balanced opinion' answer. Today we're going to look at a question which I think requires a 'strong opinion' answer:

Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

I think it would become confusing if you tried to explain a balanced view for this question. The choice of opinion is simple: either foreign visitors should pay more, or they shouldn't.

I'll show you how I would write an essay for this question next week. For the moment, just compare the question above with the question . Make sure you understand why I'm suggesting a strong answer for one and a balanced answer for the other.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Today I'm attaching a model essay for the 'economic success' question that we were looking at a few weeks ago. The question is what I call a "2-part question", and I simply wrote one main paragraph about each of the two parts.

  Alternatives for "Firstly, Secondly, Finally"City life has several drawbacks. Firstly, the cost of living in a city is usually muchhigher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to pay higher pricesfor housing, transport, and even food. Secondly, urban areas tend to suffer fromsocial problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with ruralareas. Finally, the air quality in cities is often poor, due to pollution from traffic, andthe streets and public transport systems are usually overcrowded. As a result, citylife can be unhealthy and stressful.City life has several drawbacks. One problem is that the cost of living in a city isusually much higher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to payhigher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Urban areas also tend to sufferfrom social problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with ruralareas. Other drawbacks are that the air quality in cities is often poor, due topollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usuallyovercrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful.City life has several drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that the cost of living in acity is usually much higher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities haveto pay higher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Another issue is thaturban areas tend to suffer from social problems such as high crime and povertyrates in comparison with rural areas. Also, the air quality in cities is often poor, dueto pollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usuallyovercrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful. 

Alternatives for "Firstly, Secondly, Finally"City life has several drawbacks. Firstly, the cost of living in a city is usually muchhigher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to pay higher pricesfor housing, transport, and even food. Secondly, urban areas tend to suffer fromsocial problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with ruralareas. Finally, the air quality in cities is often poor, due to pollution from traffic, andthe streets and public transport systems are usually overcrowded. As a result, citylife can be unhealthy and stressful.City life has several drawbacks. One problem is that the cost of living in a city isusually much higher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities have to payhigher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Urban areas also tend to sufferfrom social problems such as high crime and poverty rates in comparison with ruralareas. Other drawbacks are that the air quality in cities is often poor, due topollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usuallyovercrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful.City life has several drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that the cost of living in acity is usually much higher than in a small town or village. Inhabitants of cities haveto pay higher prices for housing, transport, and even food. Another issue is thaturban areas tend to suffer from social problems such as high crime and povertyrates in comparison with rural areas. Also, the air quality in cities is often poor, dueto pollution from traffic, and the streets and public transport systems are usuallyovercrowded. As a result, city life can be unhealthy and stressful. 

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'family history' topicIn some parts of the world it is becoming popular to research the history of one'sown family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negativedevelopment?Note:I would call this a "2-part question". The task is NOT to write an essay about the positivesand negatives of researching family history. The task is to explain why people do it, andthen give your opinion as to whether it is a positive OR negative thing to do.Tip:Why not do some research on the Internet around the topic of "family history"? Try to findsome good words and phrases that English speakers use when writing about this topice.g. family tree, ancestors, genealogy, tracing family history, a person's roots etc.Essay Plan - 10 minutesParagraph 1: Just write 2 sentences- introduce the topic- give an overall answer to both questionsParagraph 2: Why might people want to research family history?- various different reasons- to know more about themselves and their roots, where they come from, whether theirancestors had similar personality traits- because the Internet makes it easier to do this research, we hear about others who havedone it, there are even advertisements to encourage us- out of curiosity e.g. we might secretly hope that we have a famous or wealthy ancestorParagraph 3: Is it positive or negative?- positive in my view- a fascinating hobby, a nice way to spend free time, a good talking point with family andfriends e.g. if we discover a particularly interesting ancestor- a good way to teach children about history, how earlier generations lived- we may even find "long-lost" family members, distant relatives that we might have thechance to meetParagraph 4:- conclude by repeating (paraphrasing) the overall answer to both questions 

IELTS Writing Task 2: add your own conclusion

In the essay below, the conclusion is missing. Can you suggest one? Remember to keep it short and simple. Don't add any new information; just repeat or summarise your answer.

Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role models.

On the one hand, many people do achieve fame without really working for it. They may have inherited money from parents, married a famous or wealthy person, or they may have appeared in gossip magazines or on a reality TV programme. A good example would be Paris Hilton, who is rich and famous for the wrong reasons. She spends her time attending parties and nightclubs, and her behaviour promotes the idea that appearance, glamour and media profile are more important than hard work and good character. The message to young people is that success can be achieved easily, and that school work is not necessary.

On the other hand, there are at least as many celebrities whose accomplishments make them excellent role models for young people. Actors, musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked hard and applied themselves to develop real skills and abilities. They demonstrate great effort, determination and ambition, which is required for someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is the actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, who has become world famous through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self-made celebrity can inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance.

(Add your own conclusion)

IELTS Writing Task 2: idea, explain, example

A good way to write main body paragraphs is this:

Start with an idea; Explain it in detail; Give an example

Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:

A sense of competition is necessary for success in life, and should therefore be encouraged. Competition motivates children to get good grades at school or become better at sports, while adults compete to climb the career ladder. In a job interview, for example, candidates compete to show that they are the most qualified, hard-working and competent person for the post.

Note:

What's the topic of the paragraph above? What do you think the question was?

IELTS Writing Task 2: idea, example, explain

The "idea, explain, example" format is a good way to organise your main paragraphs. Start with the main idea of the paragraph, explain it in more detail, then give an example.

A variation on this format is "idea, example, explain". Here's a paragraph that I wrote with my students about :

Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centres. In Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.

Task: Analyse the paragraph. What role does each sentence play?

IELTS Writing Task 2: firstly, secondly, finally

The paragraph I wrote for (repeated below) is structured in the following way:

1. Topic sentence
2. Firstly
3. Example
4. Secondly
5. Finally

I think this is a good way to organise a paragraph. However, it's best not to use the same structure twice in one essay. Compare the two paragraphs below. How did I structure the second one to avoid repeating "Firstly, Secondly, Finally"?

First main paragraph
There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to his or her skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable.Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health.

Second main paragraph

On the other hand, it is understandable why people might avoid change. Whenever people are forced to change their lifestyles, jobs or even to move house, they are likely to experience stress and worry as they try to adapt to the new situation. By contrast, we feel comfortable and confident when we stay with what we know. The decision to persist with a course of action or stick to one chosen path often leads to greater success in life. For example, by staying in the same job for many years, a person can become an expert in his or her field, which will lead to better opportunities for promotions and career progression.

IELTS Writing Task 2: firstly, secondly, finally

A few people have asked me whether using "firstly, secondly, finally" to organise a paragraph is too easy.

My answer is that using easy organising language like "firstly, secondly, finally" allows you to focus on the real content of what you are writing - topic vocabulary, collocations, examples. This is what the examiner wants to see. You can get a band 9 using "firstly, secondly, finally" if the ideas between these linking words are good.

Some simple alternatives to "firstly, secondly, finally" could be:

The main reason why I believe... is... / Another argument is... / Also,...One problem is that... / Furthermore,... / Another drawback is that...From a business perspective,... / In terms of education,... / From a social point of view,... (this could work for the paragraph in )IELTS Advice: the "four-hour essay"

One of my students was worried that it took her 4 hours to write a band 7 essay for homework.

In my opinion, spending 4 hours to write an essay is a good idea. This kind of hard work leads to great results! The important thing is to be able to write your first band 7 essay. At first it might take you 4 hours, but you will get faster with practice.

PS. The student I mentioned got a band 7 in her exam about 6 weeks later!

IELTS Advice: the "four-hour essay"

One of my students was worried that it took her 4 hours to write a band 7 essay for homework.

In my opinion, spending 4 hours to write an essay is a good idea. This kind of hard work leads to great results! The important thing is to be able to write your first band 7 essay. At first it might take you 4 hours, but you will get faster with practice.

PS. The student I mentioned got a band 7 in her exam about 6 weeks later!

People often ask me how to give a balanced answer for "agree or disagree" questions. Take this question for example:

Many people say that we now live in 'consumer societies' where money and possessions are given too much importance. 
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A clear introduction is vital when giving a balanced answer:

It is sometimes argued that we live in a materialistic world and that we value money too highly. In my opinion, some people are extremely money oriented, but many of us place more importance on other values.

The big mistake that students make when trying to give a balanced answer is that they write about what "some people" and "other people" think. This question asks for your views, not the views of other people. Notice how my introduction makes it clear that the essay is about my own views.

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Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Let's plan and then write one main paragraph for the question below.

Economic progress is often used to measure a country's success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country's success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?

Here's a plan I wrote with my students:

Paragraph about other factors:
1) Education for development of the country, providing future workforce. 2) Good health system, living standards, life expectancy. 3) Personal freedom / rights / equality e.g. equal opportunities for both genders.

Here's our full paragraph using the plan above:

Standards of education, health and individual human rights should certainly be considered when measuring a country's status. A good education system is vital for the development of any nation, with schools, colleges and universities bearing the responsibility for the quality of future generations of workers. Healthcare provision is also an indicator of the standard of living within a country, and this can be measured by looking at average life expectancy rates or availability of medical services. Finally, human rights and levels of equality could be taken into account. For example, a country in which women do not have the same opportunities as men might be considered less successful than a country with better gender equality.

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Economic progress is often used to measure a country's success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country's success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?

Introduction: Introduce the topic and give a general answer to both questions.

The relative success of different countries is usually defined in economic terms. There are several other factors, apart from the economy, that could be used to assess a country, and in my opinion education is the most important of all.

Conclusion: Repeat / summarise your answer.

In conclusion, nations can be assessed and compared in a variety of ways, but I would argue that the standard of a country's education system is the best indicator of its success.

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Here's a simplified version of the marking system for IELTS writing:

Note:
I tell my students that the fastest way to improve their scores is by focusing on 'task response' and 'lexical resource'. You do this by explaining your ideas / views in more detail.

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Let's start working on the question about economic progress from last week's. The first thing to do is plan your structure and think of some ideas:

Introduce the topic of measuring a country's success. Then answer that several factors can be considered, and education is the most important (this was the opinion of my students).Other factors: 1) Education for development of the country, jobs, people will be more civilized, fewer social problems, less crime e.g. Scandinavian countries. 2) Personal freedom / rights e.g. religion, free speech, political views, gender, race, privacy. 3) Health i.e. good health system, living standards, life expectancy e.g. Japan.Education is the main factor: education has an effect on all other factors. It affects health - there will be more doctors, more research, medical discoveries; educated people tend to be healthier. It also affects the economy - better work force, more creation of jobs, companies. Prestigious schools and universities attract people from other countries.Conclude by summarising these ideas.

Next week we'll look at the introduction and conclusion.

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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Here's a recent exam question on a topic related to :

Economic progress is often used to measure a country's success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country's success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?

This is what I call a "2 part question". Here's my 4-paragraph essay structure:

Introduce the topic and give a general answer to both questions.Describe two or three other factors.Say which factor you think is more important.Conclude by repeating / summarising your views.

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Wednesday, October 09, 2013

The following sentences do not contain grammar mistakes, but they are still "wrong" in some way. Can you spot the problems and suggest changes?

We live in a rapidly changing globalized world, and whether the teenage years are the happiest of our lives is a hotly debated issue.In my view, I am of the opinion that teachers, rather than politicians, should choose what pupils learn at school.The demerits can be succinctly summarized thusly: children of wealthy parents may not learn the importance hard work.

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Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Many people ask me about the difference between an 'argument' (opinion) essay and a 'discussion' essay. Here's an easy way to think about the difference:

When you argue, you are trying to persuade the other person to agree with your point of view. You might even get angry!When you discuss, you consider different points of view, and nobody gets angry.

The question should make it very clear what it wants you to do. If it asks you to "discuss", you should write about both sides or two views.

If the question asks whether you "agree or disagree", it's asking for your view. For this type of question, give your opinion in the introduction and support it in the rest of the essay. Develop an argument that persuades the reader to agree with you. Note: you can have a strong view or a balanced view - it's your choice.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Children who are brought up in families that do not have large amounts of money are better prepared to deal with the problems of adult life than children brought up by wealthy parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Here are two quick tasks related to the question above.

1) Vocabulary: fill the gaps in the following paragraph:

On the one hand, I agree that some children from less wealthy _____ might be in a better position to _____ adult life. Children whose parents have less money learn to fight, struggle and solve problems on a daily _____. They are forced to rely on _____ because they have less financial help from parents and cannot get what they want as soon as they want it. For example, poorer children may have to wait until a birthday to receive a toy or game that they have asked for, and this encourages them to learn patience. These children will also learn the importance of managing money and the value of hard _____, which will be vital _____ in later life.

2) Opinions: think of some ideas to support the opposite point of view.

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The subjects that children are taught in schools are decided by central authorities. Some people say that teachers, not politicians, should be responsible for this task. To what extent you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Here's my plan for a 'disagree' essay:

Note: I don't think you need to plan your conclusion.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

If you're preparing for writing task 2, here are some recent questions that you could work on.

Opinion question
The subjects that children are taught in schools are decided by central authorities. Some people say that teachers, not politicians, should be responsible for this task. To what extent you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Discussion question
Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest of our lives, while others believe that adult life brings more happiness. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

2-part question
News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported?

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Last week I asked you to try rewriting the third paragraph in . The paragraph below is an edited compilation of students' ideas. I think it's good enough for a band 9.

On the other hand, I can understand the view taken by many people that artists should not expect the state to fund their work. Most musicians and the majority of painters make a living by performing or selling their artistic creations to fans or collectors; they would not expect to receive any help from their governments. Industry sponsorships can be another useful source of revenue for creative artists. For example, media companies like the mobile giant Apple are often willing to pay huge fees to inspirational designers who work on their advertising campaigns, product packaging, and even the appearance of their electronic devices. Finally, some artists may be lucky enough to receive donations from wealthy individuals.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Last week I showed you an essay that I had written with my students. I later noticed that the third paragraph didn't fully answer the question.

If you make a mistake like this, or any other type of mistake (grammar, vocabulary etc.), you need to rewrite and improve what you wrote.

Task:
Try to rewrite the third paragraph (beginning "On the other hand") in . Make sure you write more than I did about 'alternative sources of money for artists'. I'll choose my favourite paragraph for next week's lesson.

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Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Here's a full essay that I wrote with my students about the topic below.

Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

People have different views about the funding of creative artists. While some people disagree with the idea of government support for artists, I believe that money for art projects should come from both governments and other sources.

Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centres. In Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.

On the other hand, I can understand the arguments against government funding for art. The main reason for this view is that governments have more important concerns. For example, state budgets need to be spent on education, healthcare, infrastructure and security, among other areas. These public services are vital for a country to function properly, whereas the work of creative artists, even in public places, is a luxury. Another reason for this opinion is that artists do a job like any other professional, and they should therefore earn their own money by selling their work.

In conclusion, there are good reasons why artists should rely on alternative sources of financial support, but in my opinion government help is sometimes necessary.

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

I always tell my students to choose a method and stick to it. For main paragraphs, I teach them two easy ways to organise their ideas:

Idea, explain, example: If you have one main idea, this easy format will help you to build a good paragraph. Click and to see how I use this method.Firstly, secondly, finally: If you have two or three ideas, just use this format. Miss the "finally" if you only have two ideas, and remember that you can use alternative words for the same structure (e.g. The main reason, another reason, also, furthermore). Click and .

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The "idea, explain, example" format is a good way to organise your main paragraphs. Start with the main idea of the paragraph, explain it in more detail, then give an example.

A variation on this format is "idea, example, explain". Here's a paragraph that I wrote with my students about :

Some art projects definitely require help from the state. In the UK, there are many works of art in public spaces, such as streets or squares in city centres. In Liverpool, for example, there are several new statues and sculptures in the docks area of the city, which has been redeveloped recently. These artworks represent culture, heritage and history. They serve to educate people about the city, and act as landmarks or talking points for visitors and tourists. Governments and local councils should pay creative artists to produce this kind of art, because without their funding our cities would be much less interesting and attractive.

Task: Analyse the paragraph. What role does each sentence play?

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Compare the following questions. Both ask you about the same topic, but the requirements of each question are different. Think about how you would organise your answer for each one.

Discussion question
Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Opinion question
Some people believe that governments should stop spending money on the arts. Instead, they should use this money to improve vital services such as schools and hospitals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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Wednesday, July 03, 2013

A student asked me for some tips about how to write task 2 essays faster. Here's my advice:

The first step is to write better, not faster. If you can't get the score you need when it takes you 2 hours to write an essay, you won't be able to write a good essay in 40 minutes. to read about a student who started slowly and got faster with practice.The next step is to break the 40 minutes into smaller parts. For example, you could practise writing introductions in only 5 minutes. Don't work on full essays yet; just practise the parts according to my advice in .Separate the 'thinking' from the 'writing'. I do all my thinking (planning or brainstorming) in the first 10 minutes. When I'm happy with my essay plan, I start writing. I try to stick to my plan so that I can focus on writing rather than more thinking.Finally, remember that improvements happen gradually. You have to be prepared to do the hard work: practising lots of essays and parts of essays, preparing ideas and opinions for topics, building your vocabulary , and learning from mistakes. Do the work and you'll get better and faster!

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Saturday, June 29, 2013

The I wrote on Wednesday was full of good words and phrases. Can you remember the missing words in the phrases below?

1. medicines are ______ tested on animals
2. cleared for ______ use
3. a limited ______ of animal experimentation
4. clear ______ arguments
5. a common ______ of this practice
6. the ______ of a drug can be measured
7. subject animals to ______
8. all creatures should be ______
9. the benefits do not ______ the suffering
10. alternative ______ of research
11. suffering on the ______ of mice and rats
12. may be a necessary ______

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer, while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to humanity.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

It is true that medicines and other products are routinely tested on animals before they are cleared for human use. While I tend towards the viewpoint that animal testing is morally wrong, I would have to support a limited amount of animal experimentation for the development of medicines.

On the one hand, there are clear ethical arguments against animal experimentation. To use a common example of this practice, laboratory mice may be given an illness so that the effectiveness of a new drug can be measured. Opponents of such research argue that humans have no right to subject animals to this kind of trauma, and that the lives of all creatures should be respected. They believe that the benefits to humans do not justify the suffering caused, and that scientists should use alternative methods of research.

On the other hand, reliable alternatives to animal experimentation may not always be available. Supporters of the use of animals in medical research believe that a certain amount of suffering on the part of mice or rats can be justified if human lives are saved. They argue that opponents of such research might feel differently if a member of their own families needed a medical treatment that had been developed through the use of animal experimentation. Personally, I agree with the banning of animal testing for non-medical products, but I feel that it may be a necessary evil where new drugs and medical procedures are concerned.

In conclusion, it seems to me that it would be wrong to ban testing on animals for vital medical research until equally effective alternatives have been developed.

(270 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Students shared some good essays about the topic that we looked at last week. Can you improve the sentences below?

This essay examines both sides of views.The first reason, the lives of animals should be respected.Most people think animal testing is necessary but others are upset of these activities.On other hand for those who are opposed this type of research would stand on ethical issues.Thanks to the researches on mice, scientists have known how to treat diseases.To sum up, it is highly true that we rely on animals' research to help us to develop medicines.

I'll share my full essay next week.

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Last week I asked you to share your "discuss both views" questions. I've chosen a question shared by JK:

Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer, while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to humanity.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Here are the steps I would take to answer this question:

First we need ideas. I would start by writing down some arguments for and against animal testing. I covered this topic in my (chapter 2), so I already have some good ideas in my head.Next we can decide on our own view. Looking at the ideas you wrote down, you need to make a decision. A good 'middle point' might be that animal experiments should only be used for the most important medical research.Now we need to organise our ideas. Always stick to the 4-paragraph structure; you don't need an extra paragraph for your own view because you agree with elements of the two views stated in the question.Finally we're ready to write the essay. Keep your introduction and conclusion short. Spend most of your time on the main body paragraphs.

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Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Task 2 questions often ask you to Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Here's how I structure a 4-paragraph essay for this kind of question:

1. Introduction (2 sentences):

First introduce the topic. I often begin with the phrase "People have different views about...".In the second sentence, mention both views and your own opinion. I often use the word "although" in this sentence e.g. Although there are good arguments in favour of..., I personally believe that...

2. The first view
3. The second view (I make it clear that I agree with this view)
4. Conclusion: summarise both views and your own opinion

Please share any 'discuss both views' questions that you find difficult in the comments area below. I'll choose one question to look at next week.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

In I explained what I mean by 'band 7 vocabulary'. Read the lesson again, then study the paragraph below.

Which words or phrases in the following paragraph might be considered 'band 7 or higher'?

It is true that there are some disadvantages to learning a foreign language at primary school age. The main problem is that young children need to study other subjects which can be considered as more important than a second language. The core subjects in most primary schools are the mother tongue language, mathematics and science, and it can be argued that lessons in a new language take valuable study time away from these key disciplines, as well as causing confusion in the young learners. In particular, some people might worry that lessons in the new language could delay the development of a child's first language.

Note:
The paragraph above would be part of my answer to .

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I sometimes use the term 'band 7 vocabulary' and several people have asked me to explain what I mean by this. Here goes:

First, when I say 'band 7 vocabulary', I'm talking about vocabulary that could help you to get a band 7 or higher.There is no list of band 7 vocabulary that you can use in any essay.'Band 7 vocabulary' refers to words and phrases that relate to the question topic. For example, a phrase like "delay the development of a child's first language" would be band 7 vocabulary, but a linking word like "moreover" would not.Examiners are looking for 'less common' vocabulary. They wouldn't expect many students to write "delay the development of a child's first language", so this phrase would impress them.Remember that we are not looking for 'big' words that are difficult to understand. We are looking for groups of words used naturally and accurately together. The phrase "delay the development of a child's first language" is easy to understand, but not many students would think to use it.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

My students and I worked on this question from Cambridge IELTS 9:

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Here's our plan for a 4-paragraph essay:

Introduction: Topic = best age to learn a foreign language. Our opinion = better to learn at primary school age.Disadvantages of learning languages at primary age: other subjects are more important at that age (maths, mother tongue language, science), learning a new language is confusing and wastes time, could delay development of child's first language.Advantages of learning languages at primary age: young children learn faster, they are less self-conscious or shy, they pick up the pronunciation better, they enjoy copying and learning through games, nowadays languages are just as important as maths etc.Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer.

The plan took us 10 minutes to write. With a plan like this, it should be easy to write a good essay in 30 minutes.

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Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Do the following questions ask for your opinion or not?

To what extent do you agree or disagree?Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.Discuss both views and give your opinion.Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?Is this a positive or negative development?What are the benefits and drawbacks?

Answers:
- Numbers 2 and 6 are discussion questions. Discuss both sides of the issue, but don't give an opinion about which side you agree with.
- Numbers 1 and 5 are opinion questions. Give your opinion and support it. If you have a strong opinion, you don't need to mention the other side of the argument.
- Numbers 3 and 4 can be called discussion + opinion questions. Discuss both sides and make your opinion clear too.

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Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The easiest way to write a short, effective conclusion is to paraphrase what you wrote in your introduction. Let's try this with the introduction I wrote last week.

Introduction
It is true that the top sports people earn incredibly high salaries. Although reasons can be given to justify this, I personally believe that sports stars should be paid much less.

Conclusion (loosely paraphrasing the introduction)
In conclusion, I do not accept the argument that sports professionals deserve to be paid so much more than people who do other important jobs.

Note:
Notice that I wrote "loosely paraphrasing" (I paraphrased the overall idea, rather than word for word).

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Here's a question that my students and I looked at recently:

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

We spent 10 minutes planning, then we wrote half of the essay together:

It is true that the top sports people earn incredibly high salaries. Although reasons can be given to justify this, I personally believe that sports stars should be paid much less.

There are several reasons why some people support high incomes in sport. Firstly, people who reach the highest levels in any sport must be uniquely talented. For example, it is rare to find someone with the football skills of Messi or Ronaldo, and it can be argued that these players deserve salaries that reflect their abilities. Secondly, even the most talented sports professionals must undergo many years of training to develop the skills and fitness required, and this takes great commitment, dedication and passion. Finally, sports salaries are only high because audiences and fans are willing to pay to watch their favourite stars.

Note:
The main reason why these two paragraphs are good is that we planned them carefully. We spent time thinking about the question, making notes, and organising our ideas in a logical way.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Here's the question that we started to look at last week:

Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative development?

After writing the , we need to write a paragraph about the first question (why is this the case?). Here's something I wrote with my students:

Marriages have become bigger and more expensive for three main reasons. Firstly, people in developed countries are wealthier than their ancestors were in the past. They therefore have more money to spend on weddings, which are seen as one of life's most important and unforgettable occasions. Secondly, in today's globalized world, people see photos of celebrity weddings and want to copy them. For example, when Prince William got married here in England, the ceremony was shown on television and many people were influenced by what they saw. Finally, the wedding industry has grown, and many companies have an interest in selling products and services to us, using persuasive marketing techniques.

Task:
Analyse the paragraph: Does it answer the question, how is it structured, and what "less common" vocabulary is used?

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The introduction technique that I recommend involves writing just 2 sentences: one to introduce the topic, and one to answer the question. Let's look at this technique in more detail using the following question:

Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative development?

First, we can introduce the topic by paraphrasing the question statement:

It is true that weddings have become more costly and extravagant in recent years.

Second, I need a short, simple answer to both parts of the question:

There are several reasons for this, and in my view it is a negative trend.

If I put the two sentences together, I have a really succinct* introduction:

It is true that weddings have become more costly and extravagant in recent years. There are several reasons for this, and in my view it is a negative trend.

*(succinct: clear, precise expression in few words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: how to use your 40 minutes

You have 40 minutes for task 2, so try organising your time in the following way. Please note that these are suggestions, not rules.

First 10 minutes
Read the question and make sure you understand what it is asking you to do. Write a plan for a 4-paragraph essay (introduction, 2 main paragraphs, conclusion) and spend most of the 10 minutes thinking of ideas for the 2 main paragraphs.

5 minutes
Write your introduction: 2 sentences are enough.

20 minutes
Spend 10 minutes on each of your main body paragraphs. These are they most important part of your essay, and the key to a high score.

Last 5 minutes
Write a quick conclusion then check your work.

  CCTV BenefitsThere are many benefits of using a CCTV security system. Some are obvious, others lessso. In our experience our clients report a number of immediate and tangible benefits afterhaving a CCTV system installed.The most common benefits that get reported to us are:Increased deterrent – CCTV systems are a great deterrent to potential thieves. Oncethey realise that your home or business is protected by a closed circuit television systemthey invariably choose to go somewhere else.Safer working environment – CCTV helps to ensure adherence to health and safetypolicies and can be invaluable in staff training.Reduced retail theft – shop lifters deliberately target businesses with poor security andwill think twice if there is an increased risk they may be caught on camera.Increased detection – the prosecution rates for businesses / home owners using CCTV ismany times higher than that for those without CCTV. If you are unfortunate enough to be avictim of crime at least there will be a strong chance of detection and conviction.Eliminate fraudulent insurance claims – in an increasingly litigious society is has neverbeen more important to protect your business against claims that are not legitimate. CCTVcan eliminate this and reduce your premiums.Remote monitoring – keep an eye on your home or business when you aren't there. Allour CCTV systems can be viewed and controlled remotely over the internet (via aniPhone, laptop etc). In addition to this, AIS can provide an independent 24/7 monitoringservice.Reduced fear of crime – knowing you are well protected gives a feeling of security thatshould not be underestimated (ask anyone who has been burgled how they feltimmediately after it occurred).Receive warnings in advance – AIS CCTV systems can alert you of any suspiciousactivity (via text or email), enabling you to view what's happening and if necessary notifythe police BEFORE a crime has been committed.Increased professionalism – CCTV is an excellent staff training tool.Staff protection – CCTV is perfect for preventing assaults and false claims of misconduct(ideal for schools, hospitals etc).Source: http://www.security-camera-systems.co.uk/benefits-of-cctv.html 

The paragraph I wrote for (repeated below) is structured in the following way:

1. Topic sentence
2. Firstly
3. Example
4. Secondly
5. Finally

I think this is a good way to organise a paragraph. However, it's best not to use the same structure twice in one essay. Compare the two paragraphs below. How did I structure the second one to avoid repeating "Firstly, Secondly, Finally"?

First main paragraph
There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to his or her skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable.Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health.

Second main paragraph
On the other hand, it is understandable why people might avoid change. Whenever people are forced to change their lifestyles, jobs or even to move house, they are likely to experience stress and worry as they try to adapt to the new situation. By contrast, we feel comfortable and confident when we stay with what we know. The decision to persist with a course of action or stick to one chosen path often leads to greater success in life. For example, by staying in the same job for many years, a person can become an expert in his or her field, which will lead to better opportunities for promotions and career progression.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

My students and I prepared an essay about the following question:

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Here's one of the main body paragraphs:

There are good reasons why some people feel the need to make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly, any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new knowledge, or add to their skill set. Secondly, a change can represent a break with the past and an old routine which has become boring and predictable. Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health.

Task:
Analyse this paragraph carefully. What can you learn from it in terms of structure, ideas, vocabulary and grammar?

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Wednesday, March 06, 2013

When the question asks whether you agree or disagree, you can either express a strong opinion (completely agree or disagree) or you can express a balanced opinion (partly agree, or agree to a certain extent).

Let's look at two ways to answer the following question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

1) Introduction for a strong opinion
Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I support the view that job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment are much more important than money.

2) Introduction for a balanced opinion
Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I believe that both criteria should be given equal consideration.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Following on from yesterday's video, let's look at a writing task 2 question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Don't attempt this question without spending some time planning first:

Decide on your overall point of view: agree or disagree (or maybe 'partly agree').Plan your 4-paragraph essay structure: what will each paragraph be about?Note some ideas for each main paragraph: think about how you will explain your ideas in detail, and what real-life examples you could use.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A useful way to practise is to write your own questions. By doing this, you can cover a range of topics without needing to search for questions in books or on the Internet. You can also keep the questions clear and simple.

Let's write 3 questions about 'population growth' (yesterday's listening topic):

Discussion question
The populations of many countries are increasing rapidly. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this trend.

Opinion question
Many people believe that it is time to limit population growth. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Problem and solution
The populations of many countries are increasing rapidly. Explain what problems this trend may cause, and suggest some possible solutions.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Here are two mistakes that students often make:

Using "although" wronglyAlways putting a comma after "that"

Look at these incorrect sentences:

Although, tourism has many benefits, but it also has some drawbacks.Many people believe that, parents should be strict.

Now look at the correct sentences:

Although tourism has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks.Many people believe that parents should be strict.

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Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Many students only do one thing to prepare for writing task 2: they write lots of full essays. Although it's obviously important to practise writing full essays, there are other things that I think you should be doing.

Here are some study ideas for writing task 2:

1) Break the task into parts
Instead of writing a full essay today, why not try writing 5 different introductions using my ? Or challenge yourself to write 3 different main-body paragraphs about "advantages" (e.g. advantages of mobile phones, homeschooling and immigration) - use to help you. Or write 5 different conclusions - just one sentence each, summarising your response to 5 different questions.

2) Do some research
Instead of worrying about one particular question, try to find 10 recent exam questions (maybe using ). Write the questions on a piece of paper, decide what the general topic is for each one (e.g. advertising, prisons, life expectancy) and do some research about those topics. Don't worry about the exact question, just try to "collect" good ideas and vocabulary for the overall topic. A quick search on Google or Wikipedia should give you what you need.

3) What do you believe?
A big problem for some students is that they don't have well-formed opinions. They're not sure what to write about topics like homeschooling, immigration or gun control. The good news is that there is no 'correct' opinion - the examiner is only looking at how well you express your opinions in English. So, after doing some research (see point 2 above), make sure you have an opinion of your own.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Here's my full essay for the question we've been working on.

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

It is true that people in industrialised nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems.

As people live longer and the populations of developed countries grow older, several related problems can be anticipated. The main issue is that there will obviously be more people of retirement age who will be eligible to receive a pension. The proportion of younger, working adults will be smaller, and governments will therefore receive less money in taxes in relation to the size of the population. In other words, an ageing population will mean a greater tax burden for working adults. Further pressures will include a rise in the demand for healthcare, and the fact young adults will increasingly have to look after their elderly relatives.

There are several actions that governments could take to solve the problems described above. Firstly, a simple solution would be to increase the retirement age for working adults, perhaps from 65 to 70. Nowadays, people of this age tend to be healthy enough to continue a productive working life. A second measure would be for governments to encourage immigration in order to increase the number of working adults who pay taxes. Finally, money from national budgets will need to be taken from other areas and spent on vital healthcare, accommodation and transport facilities for the rising numbers of older citizens.

In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are certain to arise as the populations of countries grow older.

(265 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Let's try writing a full paragraph using the essay plan from . The topic of this paragraph is "the problems caused by increasing life expectancy". Here's the plan I wrote:

Problems
- an increase in the number of retired people who will receive a pension
- a smaller proportion of young adults = smaller working populations
- a greater tax burden on working adults
- demand for healthcare will rise
- young adults will have to look after elderly relatives

Here's my paragraph using the ideas above:

As people live longer and the populations of developed countries grow older, several related problems can be anticipated. The main issue is that there will obviously be more people of retirement age who will be eligible to receive a pension. The proportion of younger, working adults will be smaller, and governments will therefore receive less money in taxes in relation to the size of the population. In other words, an ageing population will mean a greater tax burden for working adults. Further pressures will include a rise in the demand for healthcare, and the fact young adults will increasingly have to look after their elderly relatives.

Note: It would be easy to write more by adding an example (such as healthcare costs like more hospital beds and medical staff), but I've already written 106 words, which is enough for one main paragraph.

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

You don't need to mention any specific problems or solutions in your introduction and conclusion. These paragraphs can be short, easy and general. Remember that the main paragraphs are much more important in terms of your score.

Example introduction
It is true that people in industrialised nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences of this trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems.

Example conclusion
In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are certain to arise as the populations of countries grow older.

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Wednesday, January 09, 2013

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations.

Some advice:

- Write 4 paragraphs: introduction, problems, solutions, conclusion.
- You don't need to separate ideas about individuals and ideas about society. Just mention something about both in your paragraphs.

Some ideas:

Problems
- an increase in the number of retired people who will receive a pension
- a smaller proportion of young adults = smaller working populations
- a greater tax burden on working adults
- demand for healthcare will rise
- young adults will have to look after elderly relatives

Solutions
- people may have to retire later; the state pension age will rise
- medical advances and health programmes might allow elderly people to stay healthy and work for longer
- people should be encouraged to have more children
- governments could encourage immigration (in order to increase the number of younger adults)

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Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Here are some ideas from my about the topic of capital punishment. Remember that you won't be able to write a good essay unless you have good ideas. Also, you should always try to prepare both sides of the argument.

Arguments for capital punishment:

Supporters say that capital punishment deters crime.Fear of the death penalty stops people from committing offences.The death penalty shows that crime is not tolerated.It is a form of revenge.The cost of imprisonment is avoided.The offender cannot pose a threat to others.

Arguments against capital punishment:

Innocent people could be wrongly convicted and executed.Crime rates are not necessarily reduced.Many criminals do not think they will be caught.Capital punishment is not a good deterrent.Executing prisoners creates a violent culture and encourages revenge.We have no right to take another human life.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The following question comes from Cambridge IELTS book 8.

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?

My students wrote the introduction below. Notice that it addresses all parts of the question so that the examiner knows exactly what our position is.

Traffic and pollution are growing problems in today's society. Personally, I disagree with the idea that higher petrol prices could solve these problems, and I believe that various other measures would be more constructive.

PS. Don't waste time writing a longer introduction than this. The main body paragraphs are much more important!

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Many people, and children in particular, enjoy playing computer games. While I accept that these games can sometimes have a positive effect on the user, I believe that they are more likely to have a harmful impact.

On the one hand, video games can be both entertaining and educational. Users, or gamers, are transported into virtual worlds which are often more exciting and engaging than real-life pastimes. From an educational perspective, these games encourage imagination and creativity, as well as concentration, logical thinking and problem solving, all of which are useful skills outside the gaming context. Furthermore, it has been shown that computer simulation games can improve users' motor skills and help to prepare them for real-world tasks, such as flying a plane.

However, I would argue that these benefits are outweighed by the drawbacks. Gaming can be highly addictive because users are constantly given scores, new targets and frequent rewards to keep them playing. Many children now spend hours each day trying to progress through the levels of a game or to get a higher score than their friends. This type of addiction can have effects ranging from lack of sleep to problems at school, when homework is sacrificed for a few more hours on the computer or console. The rise in obesity in recent years has also been linked in part to the sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise that often accompany gaming addiction.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the potential dangers of video games are more significant than the possible benefits.

(258 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Here's a question about the 'video games' topic we looked at last week:

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Personally, I'd answer this question in the same way as I'd answer a 'discuss both views and give your opinion' question. I'd write 4 paragraphs:

Introduce the topic, both sides of the argument, and my view.Explain the benefits of video games.Explain the drawbacks.Summarise / repeat my overall opinion.

Students shared some good ideas in the comments area (especially some of the comments near the bottom). You could also adapt the ideas in my chapter about the positives and negatives of television. I'll share my full essay next week.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Yesterday's listening exercise was about the topic of video games. This could also be an IELTS writing topic, so let's think about how we could prepare for it.

Think about the following points:

1) Which type of question do you think is more likely for the 'video games' topic: discussion, agree/disagree or problem/solution?
2) Can we use any of the ideas, opinions or vocabulary from yesterday's lesson?
3) What other ideas or arguments could we add?

Task: try writing your own exam question for this topic. We'll look at a real question next week.

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

One of the questions in Cambridge IELTS book 8 asks who should be responsible for making children into good citizens: parents or schools?

Here's a paragraph I wrote about this topic:

Parents play a huge ______ in their children's lives, and shoulder more of the ______ for their upbringing than school teachers do. Before starting school, infants spend the first four or five years of their lives with their mothers and fathers. During those ______ years, parents teach their children vital skills and habits, such as the ability to speak, eat and behave. Parents are the major role ______ for young people, who copy the behaviour that they see on a daily ______ at home, and it would be wrong to expect schools to ______ a greater influence than the family.

Task:
Can you guess what words I used in the spaces?

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Students often tell me that they are stuck on the same writing score. For example, they keep getting 6.5 in every test they take. If you are like this, perhaps the most effective way to get out of it is to give more importance to your essay plan.

I tell my students to spend around 3 minutes making notes for each main body paragraph. So, for the we've been looking at recently, we would spend 3 minutes thinking about why we shouldn't build more houses in cities, and 3 more minutes thinking about the benefits of developing new towns.

The act of planning helps you to separate the task of idea generation from the task of writing. It's extremely difficult to do both of these things at the same time.

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Wednesday, November 07, 2012

As I've said before, task 2 introductions should be short and direct. You only need to write two sentences in order to do two things:

Introduce the topic.Respond to the question, making your position clear.

Take this question from last week's lesson:

More houses are needed in many countries to cope with increasing populations. Would it be better to build houses in existing towns and cities, or to develop new towns in rural areas?

Here's my 2-sentence introduction:

It is true that the populations of many countries are growing, and that new housing is therefore needed. In my opinion, it would be better to increase the provision of housing by creating new towns, rather than by further developing existing towns and cities.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Several people have asked me to help with the following question:

More houses are needed in many countries to cope with increasing populations. Would it be better to build houses in existing towns and cities, or to develop new towns in rural areas?

The first thing that I would do is think about my 4-paragraph structure. This means that we need 2 main body paragraphs (2 main ideas). Don't worry about putting your real opinion; just try to think of the easiest opinion for a 4-paragraph essay.

Here's one way that we could structure the essay:

Introduction: give your opinion e.g. it's better to develop new townsParagraph: explain why we shouldn't build more houses in citiesParagraph: explain the benefits of building new townsConclusion: repeat / summarise your opinion

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

When you learn a new word, collocation or phrase, it's a good idea to try using it in different contexts. For example, the in last week's lesson came from an essay about music, but maybe we can use them for other topics.

As an example, I'll choose the topic of education, and I'll write a couple of sentences around some of the collocations (underlined) from last week:

In primary schools, more importance should be given to creativity and problem solving, and these skills should be valued over memorisation and rote learning. Creativity can be fostered by exposing children to a rich variety of media, and by encouraging them to express their emotions.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Collocations are groups of words that are often found together. Native speakers have a large repertoire of these word groups, and can use them without thinking. Language learners need to build their own repertoire of collocations through reading and listening, and by noticing word groups that commonly occur.

Here are some collocations from the I wrote last week:

a rich varietya vital part, a necessary parta range of reasonsmusical preferenceslife storiesexpress emotions, arouse emotionsa commercial productcultural identityhuman existencegive importance

These are just some of the most obvious collocations in the essay. We could also add grammatical collocations like 'a means of' and 'valued over'. To read more about collocations, click and .

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?

It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital part of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is more important than modern, international music.

Music is something that accompanies all of us throughout our lives. As children, we are taught songs by our parents and teachers as a means of learning language, or simply as a form of enjoyment. Children delight in singing with others, and it would appear that the act of singing in a group creates a connection between participants, regardless of their age. Later in life, people's musical preferences develop, and we come to see our favourite songs as part of our life stories. Music both expresses and arouses emotions in a way that words alone cannot. In short, it is difficult to imagine life without it.

In my opinion, traditional music should be valued over the international music that has become so popular. International pop music is often catchy and fun, but it is essentially a commercial product that is marketed and sold by business people. Traditional music, by contrast, expresses the culture, customs and history of a country. Traditional styles, such as ...(example)..., connect us to the past and form part of our cultural identity. It would be a real pity if pop music became so predominant that these national styles disappeared.

In conclusion, music is a necessary part of human existence, and I believe that traditional music should be given more importance than international music.

(261 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Several people tried writing about the in last week's lesson. Try to correct the mistakes that they made in the sentences below. I'll share my full essay next week.

We have different types of music all over the world, we need music for various reasons.The first I think we need music almost for enjoyment.People listening to a variety of music is due to a number of reasons.It is clear cut evidence why we need for music.Traditional music of a country has more weight that the famous international music.At a glance, we need music for enjoyment.The people is more happier listening all kind the rhythms and sounds than without it.It helps to make relaxed from any sort of strain.If the international music would replace it then the whole historical experience of a country will die.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Arnie shared this question about music:

There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?

Here's a quick plan to show you how I would approach this question:

Introduction: Paraphrase the idea that many types of music are found around the world, then briefly answer both parts of the question.Paragraph answering the first question: Explain why we need music e.g. for enjoyment, to express ideas and emotions. Give an example from your experience, and/or explain what life would be like without music.Paragraph answering the second question: It might be easier to argue that traditional music is more important e.g. because it expresses cultural identity, customs, history. Give an example from your country, and/or explain how you would feel if traditional music disappeared.Conclusion: Repeat / summarise your views.

I'll continue with this question next week.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

In , I explained why you shouldn't save your opinion for a 'surprise conclusion'. Look at the following introduction and conclusion for an essay about whether it is better for students to work alone or in a group:

Introduction
People have different views about the most effective way for students to work. While there are some advantages to studying alone, I personally believe that group work is usually more productive.

Conclusion
In conclusion, both individual and group study can be useful under different circumstances, but I generally prefer to work with others as part of a team.

Notice that my 'position' is clear in the introduction, so the conclusion simply repeats my view in a different way.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The examiners' band descriptor sheet states that a band 7 essay "presents a clear position throughout the response".

A "clear position" means that your opinion must be clear (if the question asks for it), and "throughout the response" means from the beginning to the end of your essay.

For this reason, it's a bad idea to save your opinion for the conclusion. We don't like 'surprise conclusions' in English academic writing. Instead, you should state your position in the introduction, support it in your main paragraphs, and repeat or summarise it in the conclusion.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

A student sent me the following question:

The role of prisons should be to punish criminals who have committed serious crimes. Training courses and education offered to prisoners are a waste of taxpayer's money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The student who sent me this question noticed that it contains two sub-topics:

Should the role of prisons be to punish serious criminals, not petty criminals (less serious criminals)?Are training courses and education a waste of money?

Apparently there is a model essay for this question which only addresses the second sub-topic. I think that would be a mistake; you should try to answer all parts of the question.

In this case, the two sub-topics help you because they tell you what you should write about in your two main body paragraphs. Always study the question carefully, and make sure you know exactly what it is asking you to do!

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

If you are struggling to improve your score for writing task 2, the solution might be to spend more time planning before you start writing.

I asked the students on my most recent to spend 10 minutes planning a question about whether the only purpose of prisons is to punish people. Here are the ideas that my students had:

Paragraph 2: prisons do punish offenders
Punishment makes offenders think, reflect, feel sorry, understand the consequences (that we have choices about the actions we take), suffering, revenge / justice for victims, debt to society, taking away freedom and privileges, miss family, deter people from committing crimes in future - fear of prison

Paragraph 3: other purposes of prisons
Reflection time, rehabilitation - help the prisoner to prepare for normal life: new skills, education, courses, qualifications, treatment - reform, reeducate, find employment, re-enter society - address the root causes of crime

With a plan like this, you should find it easier to write a great essay.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

You have 40 minutes for task 2, so try organising your time in the following way. Please note that these are suggestions, not rules.

First 10 minutes
Read the question and make sure you understand what it is asking you to do. Write a plan for a 4-paragraph essay (introduction, 2 main paragraphs, conclusion) and spend most of the 10 minutes thinking of ideas for the 2 main paragraphs.

5 minutes
Write your introduction: 2 sentences are enough.

20 minutes
Spend 10 minutes on each of your main body paragraphs. These are they most important part of your essay, and the key to a high score.

Last 5 minutes
Write a quick conclusion then check your work.

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Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Albert sent me this recent exam question:

In many countries nowadays, young single people no longer stay with their parents until they are married, but leave to study or work somewhere else.
Do you think this trend has more advantages or disadvantages?

Here are some tips to help with this kind of question:

Notice that the question includes the words "do you think". This tells you that you need to give your own opinion, as well as discussing both the advantages and disadvantages. Put your opinion in the introduction and conclusion, and don't be afraid to use the word "I" (e.g. I believe) to make it clear what you think.You won't be able to write a good essay if you don't plan your ideas first. Spend 2-3 minutes noting down ideas for the advantages of leaving home before marriage, then 2-3 minutes writing notes for the disadvantages. Then decide what your opinion is, according to whether you have more advantages or disadvantages.If you can't think of any ideas, start by thinking of some examples e.g. Did you or any of your friends leave home before getting married? Do you know anyone who lived with their parents until they got married? What were the reasons and benefits or drawbacks of each decision?https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations.htm
https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations-advanced.htm

Last week we looked at a 'problem and solution' introduction. Today I'll use the same technique (2 sentences: topic + basic answer) to write a 'discussion and opinion' introduction.

Here's a question (from Cambridge IELTS 6):

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Here's my 2-sentence introduction:

It is true that sports stars often earn huge salaries. While there are some good reasons why this is the case, I personally believe that it is wrong for these people to be paid more than other professionals.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

My advice for task 2 introductions is to write them very quickly. Just write 2 sentences: one to introduce the topic, and one to give a basic answer. Let's look at how to do this for a "problem and solution" question:

The number of plants and animals is declining. Describe some reasons for this problem and suggest some solutions.

Here's my introduction:

It is undeniable that wildlife habitats are being destroyed and whole species of plants and animals are disappearing. There are several causes of this alarming trend, but measures could certainly be taken to tackle the problem.

Note:
In the second sentence you don't need to give any causes or solutions; save your ideas for the main paragraphs.

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

My students and I followed the advice in to write a paragraph for the topic below.

The number of plants and animals is declining. Describe the problem and suggest some solutions.

Ideas for describing the problem:

over-farming, land needed for crops and animalscutting down trees destroys natural habitats, animals become extinctindustrial waste in rivers, seachemicals kill fish and plants, interrupt natural cycles / food chain

It seemed that we had 2 main ideas, so we wrote a 2-idea paragraph:

There are two main reasons why plants and animals are disappearing. Firstly, in many parts of the world trees are being cut down to make way for farmland on which to grow crops and keep animals. The result of this is that natural habitats are being destroyed, and in some cases whole species of animals are becoming extinct. Secondly, human activity is also responsible for the destruction of aquatic life as domestic and industrial waste is pumped into rivers and seas. This chemical waste kills plants and fish, interrupting natural cycles and having a devastating effect on food chains.

(99 words)

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I always tell my students to plan ideas for their main body paragraphs. Let's look at how to put some ideas together to make a paragraph. Here's the question:

The main reason people go to work is to earn money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Ideas for one main paragraph:

agree that money is the main reason people workpeople look at salary first, they rarely take a salary cutneed to live, pay bills, food etc.look after our families, save for the futureotherwise, most people would probably choose not to work

Full paragraph using the ideas above:

I agree that the majority of people work in order to earn money. Before taking any other factors into account, it is normal to first consider the salary that a particular post offers, and it is rare to hear of a person who happily takes a cut in pay when beginning a new job. We all need money to pay for our basic necessities, such as accommodation, bills and food. Many adults also have families who depend on the wages they earn, and at the same time they are conscious of the need to save for the future. If we no longer needed money, I doubt most of us would choose to continue in our jobs.

(116 words)

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Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Before you start writing your task 2 essay, you need to do two things:

Plan your overall essay structure (ideally 4 paragraphs)Spend some time thinking of ideas for the main body paragraphs

Here are two recent exam questions that you could try writing a plan for:

The main reason people go to work is to earn money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people prefer to rent a house rather than buying one. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of renting.

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole.
Do you agree or disagree?

Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be beneficial for both the individual and society as a whole. However, I do not agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do unpaid work.

Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, without being given the added responsibility of working in their spare time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and teachers expect their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending lessons every day. When young people do have some free time, we should encourage them to enjoy it with their friends or to spend it doing sports and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of them when they finish their studies.

At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from obliging young people to do unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes against the values of a free and fair society to force a group of people to do something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment amongst young people, who would feel that they were being used, and parents, who would not want to be told how to raise their children. Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system.

In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but in my opinion we should not make this compulsory.

(250 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

When you completely agree or completely disagree with the question statement, you don't need to write about the other side of the argument. Just state your opinion and give reasons. Today I'll show you how to write a 'disagree' essay for this question:

Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole.
Do you agree or disagree?

Here's my 4-paragraph plan:

Introduction: introduce the topic of unpaid work for teenagers, and make it clear that you completely disagree with the idea of requiring (forcing) young people to do this.First reason: explain why this idea would not benefit teenagers e.g. they are already busy with school work, they should be allowed to enjoy being young, they have many years of work ahead of them when they finish their studies.Second reason: explain why this idea would not benefit society e.g. forcing young people to work goes against the values of a free society, the current system of volunteering is better, this idea would be impossible to enforce.Conclusion: repeat your opinion that requiring teenagers to work benefits neither the teenagers nor society as a whole.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

One of the things that the examiner will check carefully is whether or not you have fully responded to the question. Here's a question that a student sent me:

Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole.
Do you agree or disagree?

The student who sent me this question wrote about the advantages and disadvantages of unpaid work for teenagers, but completely forgot to mention the benefits and/or drawbacks for society as a whole.

If you don't fully answer the question, it's extremely difficult to get a band 7.

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Wednesday, June 06, 2012

My normal advice for task 2 introductions is this: write two sentences - one to introduce the essay topic, and one to give a basic answer to the question. But what should you put in the second sentence (basic answer) if the question doesn't ask for your opinion?

Here are two example questions:

Many people believe that an effective public transport system is a key component of a modern city. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public transport.Crime rates tend to be higher in cities than in smaller towns. Explain some possible reasons for this problem, and suggest some solutions.

Here are two sample introductions:

Officials in many cities are keen to develop efficient public transport systems. While public transport has many benefits, there are also some drawbacks which are worth considering.Cities generally experience higher levels of criminality than towns or villages. There are various reasons for this, but measures could be taken to tackle the problem.

Hopefully you can see that it's quite easy to write an introduction for these types of question. The approach is the same (topic + basic answer) whether the question asks for your opinion or not.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Here are some ideas for last week's topic. The ideas are adapted from the 'genetic engineering' chapter in my .

The range and quality of food that we can buy has changed because of technological and scientific advances. Some people regard this change as an improvement, while others believe that it is harmful.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Positives of advances in food technology:

Farmers can produce crops that grow bigger and faster.Genetically modified crops may be more resistant to disease or insects.This could be important for food production in developing countries.Faster growing cereals, fruit and vegetables will mean more profit.Foods can be modified to look perfect and last longer.They may be more attractive to customers.

Negatives of advances in food technology:

Many people distrust foods that have been modified or processed.They prefer organic foods which are produced without chemicals.Farming without fertilisers or pesticides is more environmentally friendly.There may be risks involved in the genetic engineering of foods.Genetically modified crops might change whole ecosystems.Food chains could be broken if crops are resistant to predators.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

When the question topic is difficult, planning becomes even more important. If you start writing your essay straight away, without preparing some ideas first, you will probably get stuck and start to panic!

Take this recent exam question:

The range and quality of food that we can buy has changed because of technological and scientific advances. Some people regard this change as an improvement, while others believe that it is harmful.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

I think you'll agree that this is a tricky question. My advice would be to spend about 10 minutes planning. Follow these steps before you start writing:

Take a couple of minutes to read and understand the question.Decide what each of your 4 paragraphs should contain.Spend around 6 minutes noting down ideas for the two points of view.

to download an essay plan template that I use with my students.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Can you see the difference between the two questions below?

A) Explain the positives and negatives of this development.
B) Is this a positive or negative development?

and these two questions:

A) What are the advantages and disadvantages?
B) Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

and these two questions:

A) Discuss both views and give your opinion.
B) To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Answer:
The difference is that for all of the (A) questions you must explain both sides of the argument, whereas the (B) questions can be answered by giving both sidesor by supporting only one side, depending on the view that you express in your introduction.

This is still the most common confusion that students ask me about. Make sure you understand the difference between the questions above; if you're still unsure, look through all of my task 2 lessons to see further advice and examples.

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Wednesday, May 09, 2012

In today's lesson I'll try to explain what makes a good paragraph. We'll analyse a paragraph that I wrote with some of my students.

Paragraph about the purpose of prisons:

On the one hand, criminals do need to be punished in some way. A person whocommits a crime must learn that unlawful actions have consequences. Prison sentences punish offenders because they lose their freedom, and are separated from family and friends. In this way, prison acts as a deterrent to make people think carefully before breaking the law. Last year in the UK, many people were given a prison sentence for rioting, and hopefully this punishment will deter them from similar behaviour in future.

Analysis:

The paragraph contains 5 sentences, with a total of 85 words. This is the kind of length I suggest aiming for.The first sentence is short and simple. We often call this type of sentence a 'topic sentence' because it introduces the topic of the paragraph.Sentences 2, 3 and 4 develop the main idea in a logical, step-by-step way: crime has consequences - loss of freedom is the punishment - this stops people from breaking the law.Sentence 5 contains a real example.Remember that good vocabulary is the key to a high score. I've underlined the best words and phrases in the paragraph.

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Wednesday, May 02, 2012

The book I mentioned in Monday's lesson (What are Universities for?) reminded me of this question from Cambridge IELTS 7:

Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.
What, in your opinion, should be the function of a university?

Here are some ideas:

It would probably be easiest to argue that universities should fulfil both roles (providing vocational skills and knowledge for its own sake).We could use examples to help us generate ideas: try to make a list of some vocational degree courses (that provide training for a specific job), and a list of courses that do not lead to a particular job.Write one main paragraph explaining the benefits (to the student and to society in general) of the two types of course.

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I wrote the following essay with some of my students. We tried to keep it clear, concise and well-organised, but it's still good enough for a band 9.

Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others present more of a challenge. Personally, I believe that both types of hobby can be fun, and I therefore disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be enjoyable.

On the one hand, many people enjoy easy hobbies. One example of an activity that is easy for most people is swimming. This hobby requires very little equipment, it is simple to learn, and it is inexpensive. I remember learning to swim at my local swimming pool when I was a child, and it never felt like a demanding or challenging experience. Another hobby that I find easy and fun is photography. In my opinion, anyone can take interesting pictures without knowing too much about the technicalities of operating a camera. Despite being straightforward, taking photos is a satisfying activity.

On the other hand, difficult hobbies can sometimes be more exciting. If an activity is more challenging, we might feel a greater sense of satisfaction when we manage to do it successfully. For example, film editing is a hobby that requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. In my case, it took me around two years before I became competent at this activity, but now I enjoy it much more than I did when I started. I believe that many hobbies give us more pleasure when we reach a higher level of performance because the results are better and the feeling of achievement is greater.

In conclusion, simple hobbies can be fun and relaxing, but difficult hobbies can be equally pleasurable for different reasons.

Note:
Notice that we used examples as the basis of both main paragraphs.

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Did you try planning some ideas for last week's essay question?

Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

When I wrote my list of hobbies, I realised that some were easy and others were difficult. As a result, I'd say that "I partly agree" with the statement.

Here's my 4-paragraph essay plan:

Introduction - write 2 sentences: introduce the topic, and give an overall answer.Main paragraph - about difficult hobbies. My examples: swimming, football, chess. Most sports and games are difficult, but the challenge makes them more enjoyable, especially when you can see that you are improving.Main paragraph - about easy hobbies. My examples: photography, reading, cinema. In my opinion, you do not need to be an expert to enjoy taking photos, reading books, or watching films. I find these activities both easy and enjoyable.Conclusion - repeat / summarise your answer in one sentence.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

If you can't think of any good ideas for an essay, try thinking about some examples first. Plan your essay around the examples. Take this question:

Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Use examples to give you ideas:

Make a list of some hobbies: either your own hobbies, or some typical hobbies that you can easily write about. Label each hobby 'easy' or 'difficult'.Look at your list. Is there a balance between easy and difficult hobbies, or is your list one-sided? The answer to this question will give you your overall opinion.Finally, write down a few reasons why each hobby is easy or difficult. Is there a connection between the difficulty of the hobby and the enjoyment you get from it?

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Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Here are the four types of question from :

OpinionDiscussion + opinionProblem + solution2-part question

Important points to remember:

An 'opinion' question asks for your view, not the views of other people, and you don't have to give both sides of the argument. Just make your opinion clear in the introduction, then explain it in the rest of the essay.A 'discussion' question requires you to write about both sides of the argument, and you should write a similar amount for each view. If the question also asks for your opinion, you don't need an extra paragraph. Just make it clear in the introduction and conclusion which of the two views you agree with.Type 3 is easy. Simply write a paragraph explaining the problem(s) and a paragraph explaining the solution(s). Some questions ask about 'causes' or 'effects': these would be part of the 'problem' paragraph.For type 4, just answer the two questions. Write one paragraph about each.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Here are 4 questions that illustrate the different types of task 2 question. Can you name each type? Can you explain the big difference between the first and the second type?

Some people think that the only purpose of working hard is to earn money. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?Some people believe that punishment is the only purpose of prisons, while others believe that prisons exist for various reasons. Discuss both views and give your opinion.The number of plants and animals is declining. Explain this problem and suggest some solutions.Many people around the world are choosing to move to live in cities. What problems do people experience in big cities? Should governments encourage people to move to smaller towns?

I'll explain the differences in detail next Wednesday, but feel free to discuss your ideas in the "comments" area below.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A good way to start a paragraph is with a short, simple sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. Teachers often call this a 'topic sentence'.

I normally write my topic sentences by thinking about how many points I want to mention in the paragraph:

1. If I only have one point or idea, I usually state it straight away:

In my opinion, junk food is the main cause of childhood obesity.
(then explain this opinion and give examples in the rest of the paragraph)

2. If I have two or three points or ideas, I don't usually mention them directly in the topic sentence:

There are two main causes (or 'several causes') of childhood obesity.
(then explain using "firstly, secondly..." or something similar)

Have a look through the essays that you've written in the past, and compare them with some of mine. Did you begin your main paragraphs with good topic sentences?

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

For 'agree or disagree' essays, do you think you should give both sides of the argument or just one side? The answer is that you can do either.

A) Essay structure for one side of the argument:

Introduction: topic + your opinion (either agree or disagree)First idea to support your opinionSecond idea to support your opinionConclusion: repeat your opinion

B) Essay structure for giving both sides:

Introduction: topic + say that you 'partly agree'On the one hand,...On the other hand,...Conclusion: repeat that you accept elements of both arguments

Remember: it's very important to get the introduction right. This tells the examiner whether you are going to give one side of the argument or both sides.

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Wednesday, March 07, 2012

A few people have asked me whether using "firstly, secondly, finally" to organise a paragraph is too easy.

My answer is that using easy organising language like "firstly, secondly, finally" allows you to focus on the real content of what you are writing - topic vocabulary, collocations, examples. This is what the examiner wants to see. You can get a band 9 using "firstly, secondly, finally" if the ideas between these linking words are good.

Some simple alternatives to "firstly, secondly, finally" could be:

The main reason why I believe... is... / Another argument is... / Also,...One problem is that... / Furthermore,... / Another drawback is that...From a business perspective,... / In terms of education,... / From a social point of view,... (this could work for the paragraph in )

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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Several people have asked me about this question from Cambridge IELTS 8. I wrote the essay below with the help of some of my students. A few simple linking features are highlighted.

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.
In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?

It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people. Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both positive and negative effects.

Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly, telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can now take video lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally, many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and find people who share common interests, and they interact through their computers rather than face to face.

On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between people in different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or social contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication technologies can also have the result of isolating people and discouraging real interaction. For example, many young people choose to make friends online rather than mixing with their peers in the real world, and these 'virtual' relationships are a poor substitute for real friendships.

In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication between people, but not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.

(257 words, band 9)

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A student sent me this recent exam question:

These days people pay more attention to artists (writers, painters and so on) and give less importance to science and technology.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

This seems to me to be a perfect question for a "balanced opinion" answer (i.e. both art and science are given equal importance). However, notice that you need to disagree with the question statement in order to give this balanced response.

Here's my recommended 4-paragraph essay plan:

Introduction: we could accept that artists are popular nowadays, but disagree that science and technology are treated as less important.Main paragraph about the popularity of artists. I'd use examples as the basis for this paragraph. If you don't know any writers or painters, you can talk about actors and musicians.Main paragraph about the importance of science and technology. I'd write about the popularity of mobile phones, computers and tablets. Maybe I'd use Steve Jobs or Bill Gates as examples of people who are famous for the technologies they created.Conclusion: paraphrase the argument that you presented in the introduction.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Many students waste time writing long introductions and conclusions. These two paragraphs should be short and simple; a long, complex introduction or conclusion will not give you a high score.

Just make your introductions and conclusions quick and concise, and spend your time writing really good main body paragraphs.

Here's my introduction and conclusion for the topic of my last two writing lessons:

Introduction
There are various benefits and drawbacks of books, radio and television as ways to convey information. In my view, television is definitely the most effective of these three media.

Conclusion
In conclusion, although books, radio and television each have their advantages and disadvantages, it seems to me that the impact of television is greater.

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Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Here are my 'main body' paragraphs for last week's question. Notice that it's possible to put advantages and disadvantages together in the same paragraph. Also, you need to be careful not to write too much!

Advantages / disadvantages of books:

The main advantage of books is that they are usually considered to be reliable sources of information. People tend to refer to books when they want to research a subject in depth, and for this reason they continue to play an important role in education. On the other hand, books quickly go out of date, and therefore they are not the best medium for communicating news stories.

Advantages / disadvantages of radio:

Radio is a much more effective medium than books for the communication of up-to-date information. We can listen to news broadcasts about events as they happen, and a key benefit of radio is that we can listen to it while doing other activities, such as driving or working. The main drawback of radio, when compared to books or television, is that there is no visual element; we cannot see what the broadcaster is describing.

Advantages / disadvantages of TV, and my opinion:

In my opinion, television is the most effective of these three media because it brings us closer to reality than a book or radio programme ever can. For example, we can watch events as they take place on the other side of the world, or we can see the body language of a politician who is being interviewed. The disadvantages of television are that programmes tend to be short and interrupted by advertisements, meaning that information is presented in limited depth.

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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Several people have asked me about the following question from Cambridge IELTS book 4.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as media for communicating information. State which you consider to be the most effective.

comicsbooksradiotelevisionfilmtheatre

Usually I recommend writing 4 paragraphs, but for this question I think I would write 5 paragraphs:

Introduction: state which 3 media you are going to write about (e.g. books, radio, TV), and say which you think is most effective (e.g. television).Advantages and disadvantages of books.Advantages and disadvantages of radio.Advantages and disadvantages of TV (mention again that you consider this the most effective).Conclusion: summarise and repeat your opinion.

Maybe you can share your ideas about the advantages and disadvantages of these 3 media, and I'll use them to write an essay for next week's lesson.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Today I'm attaching the full essay () that we've been working on for the last 2 weeks. Here are some points to notice:

There is a clear 4-paragraph structure, and the essay is easy to read because the ideas are developed in a logical way.The introduction is short, but it covers everything that the question asks you about.The main paragraphs make up around 70% of the essay. These paragraphs are the key to a high score.The conclusion is very short, and simply summarises what I had already written. Never put any new ideas in the conclusion.I focus on expressing my ideas well, using a range of relevant words and phrases. I'm not thinking about 'complex grammar' or linking phrases.

Note:
I went a bit "over the top" with this essay. It's 310 words long, and more than good enough for band 9. You might not be able to write like this, but hopefully you can learn something from it.

(go over the top: to do something that is more than what is considered normal or suitable)

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Here are my 2 main body paragraphs for . I tried to use an "Idea, Explain, Example" structure for the first paragraph, and a "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" structure for the second.

Main body paragraphs:

On the one hand, having a defined career path can certainly lead to a satisfying working life. Many people decide as young children what they want to do as adults, and it gives them a great sense of satisfaction to work towards their goals and gradually achieve them. For example, many children dream of becoming doctors, but to realise this ambition they need to gain the relevant qualifications and undertake years of training. In my experience, very few people who have qualified as doctors choose to change career because they find their work so rewarding, and because they have invested so much time and effort to reach their goal.

On the other hand, people find happiness in their working lives in different ways. Firstly, not everyone dreams of doing a particular job, and it can be equally rewarding to try a variety of professions; starting out on a completely new career path can be a reinvigorating experience. Secondly, some people see their jobs as simply a means of earning money, and they are happy if their salary is high enough to allow them to enjoy life outside work. Finally, job satisfaction is often the result of working conditions, rather than the career itself. For example, a positive working atmosphere, enthusiastic colleagues, and an inspirational boss can make working life much more satisfying, regardless of the profession.

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue, leads to a more satisfying working life.
To what extent do you agree with this view?
What other things can people do in order to have a satisfying working life?

In today's lesson I just want to look at how to write an introduction for this type of question. My simple rules for task 2 introductions are:

Write 2 sentences: introduce the topic, then give a general answer.Mention everything that the question mentions.Don't save any surprises for the conclusion; give your opinion in the introduction if the question asks for it.

Here's an example introduction:

It is true that some people know from an early age what career they want to pursue, and they are happy to spend the rest of their lives in the same profession. While I accept that this may suit many people, I believe that others enjoy changing careers or seeking job satisfaction in different ways.

I'll look at the main paragraphs next week.

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Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Here is a question that a lot of students ask:

Is it acceptable to use "I" or "my" in IELTS writing?

As an ex-examiner, my advice is that you should use phrases like "I believe" or "in my opinion" when the question asks for your opinion e.g To what extent doyou agree or disagree?

Some teachers tell students not to use "I" in academic essays, but this advice is really for university academic writing, not IELTS.