Some universities now offer their courses on the Internet so that people can study online.

Is this a positive or negative development?

MODEL ANSWER

It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of university education. Although there are some drawbacks of Internet-based learning, I would argue that there are far more benefits.

The main drawback of the trend towards online university courses is that there is less direct interaction. Students may not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with their teachers, and will instead have to rely on written forms of communication. Similarly, students who study online do not come into direct contact with each other, and this could have a negative impact on peer support, discussion and exchange of ideas. For example, whereas students on traditional courses can attend seminars and even discuss their subjects over coffee after lessons, online learners are restricted to chatting through website forum areas. These learners may also lack the motivation and element of competition that face-to-face group work brings.

Despite the negatives mentioned above, I believe that online university courses are a positive development for various reasons. Firstly, they allow learners to study in a flexible way, meaning that they can work whenever and wherever is convenient, and they can cover the material at their own pace. Secondly, the cost of a university education can be greatly reduced, while revenues for institutions may increase as more students can be taught. Finally, online learning offers open access to anybody who is willing to study, regardless of age, location, ability and background. For example, my uncle, who is 65 years old, has recently enrolled on an online MBA course in a different country, which would have been impossible in the days before Internet-based education.

In conclusion, while I recognise the possible disadvantages of online learning, I consider it to be a positive development overall.

PLAN FOR THE ABOVE ANSWER

Introduction: Paraphrase the topic, then mention both sides and give a clear opinion – more benefits

Main paragraph 1

1. Topic: the main drawback is less interaction
2. Explain: no face-to-face contact with teachers
3. Explain further: no contact with other students, so no discussion
4. Example: cannot go for a coffee with classmates after a lesson
5. Result: lack of motivation that group work brings

Main paragraph 2

1. Topic: various positives of online courses
2. First positive: flexible study at students’ own pace
3. Second positive: reduced cost of university education
4. Third positive: for learners of all ages, locations and backgrounds
5. Example: my 65-year-old uncle did an online MBA from home

Conclusion: Repeat / summarise my overall answer

Vocabulary review

Here’s a list of the ‘less common’ collocations and phrases in the essay above:

• a common feature of
• Internet-based learning
• the trend towards
• less direct interaction
• the opportunity to engage face-to-face
• rely on written forms of communication
• come into direct contact with
• peer support
• exchange of ideas
• traditional courses
• attend seminars
• chatting through website forum areas
• lack the motivation
• the element of competition
• study in a flexible way
• whenever and wherever is convenient
• cover the material
• at their own pace
• revenues for institutions
• offers open access
• willing to study
• regardless of age, location, ability and background
• enrolled on an online MBA
• I recognise the possible disadvantages of

Genetic engineering is an important issue in society today. Some people think that it will improve people’s lives in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life on earth.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

MODEL ANSWER

It is true that genetic engineering is a key area of modern scientific research, with broad implications for all human societies. While I accept that this field of technology may have its dangers, I believe that the benefits of genetic engineering outweigh the drawbacks.

The negative implications of genetic engineering are often discussed in terms of two key areas, which are food production and the cloning of humans. Genetically modified crops are already being grown, and people are concerned that they may damage whole ecosystems as foods become resistant to diseases and natural predators. For example, scientists are able to produce a variety of corn that releases a toxin to kill certain insects, but this intervention could lead to the disappearance of birds that feed on those insects. In the human realm, some people imagine a world in which clones are used to fight wars or to provide body part replacements. Perhaps cloning could even be used to bring deceased people back to life, which would certainly be a threat to humanity as we know it.

A more optimistic prediction, and one that I favour, is that humans will find ways to mitigate the risks and use genetic technologies in a responsible way. From the food production perspective, genetic engineering could be the solution to famine in developing countries, if, for instance, crops can be grown more reliably in harsh conditions. From a medical perspective, scientists may use genetic engineering to produce vaccines, to cure diseases, or to correct a genetic defect before a child is born. If properly regulated, even cloning can be done in a way that improves lives. For example, the cloning of individual organs, such as a heart or kidney, could be permitted for transplant purposes.

In conclusion, I am convinced that genetic engineering will have a positive impact on our lives, and that people’s fears will be unwarranted.

THE PLAN FOR THE ABOVE ANSWER

Introduction: Paraphrase the question then answer – the benefits outweigh the drawbacks

Main paragraph 1

1. Topic: two negatives of genetic engineering – food, cloning
2. First negative: genetically modified crops may damage ecosystems
3. Example: corn that is resistant to insects affects birds that eat the insects
4. Second negative: human clones to fight wars or provide body parts
5. Prediction: cloning dead people would be a threat to humanity

Main paragraph 2

1. Topic: an optimistic view of genetic engineering
2. Food: resistant crops as the solution to famine
3. Medical: produce vaccines, cure diseases, correct genetic defects
4. Cloning: could be used to improve lives
5. Example: cloning organs for transplant operations

Conclusion: Repeat / summarise my overall answer

Vocabulary review

Here’s a list of the ‘less common’ collocations and phrases in the essay above:

• modern scientific research
• broad implications for all human societies
• field of technology
• may have its dangers
• negative implications
• the cloning of humans
• genetically modified crops
• damage whole ecosystems
• resistant to natural predators
• releases a toxin
• this intervention
• in the human realm
• body part replacements
• bring deceased people back to life
• a threat to humanity as we know it
• a more optimistic prediction
• mitigate the risks
• use genetic technologies in a responsible way
• famine in developing countries
• crops can be grown in harsh conditions
• produce vaccines
• cure diseases
• correct a genetic defect
• properly regulated
• cloning of organs
• for transplant purposes
• people’s fears will be unwarranted

Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on our lives in the near future. Others, by contrast, are worried that we are not prepared for a world in which computers are more intelligent than humans.

Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

MODEL ANSWER

People seem to be either excited or worried about the future impact of artificial intelligence. Personally, I can understand the two opposing points of view; I am both fascinated by developments in artificial intelligence and apprehensive about its possible negative effects.

On the one hand, the increasing intelligence of technology should bring some obvious benefits. Machines are clearly able to do many jobs better than humans can, especially in areas that require high levels of accuracy or calculations using large amounts of data. For example, robots are being developed that can carry out surgical procedures with greater precision than a human doctor, and we already have cars that use sensors and cameras to drive themselves. Such technologies can improve safety by reducing the likelihood of human errors. It is easy to imagine how these developments, and many others, will steadily improve our quality of life.

On the other hand, I share the concerns of people who believe that artificial intelligence may harm us if we are not careful. In the short term, it is likely that we will see a rise in unemployment as workers in various industries are replaced by machines or software programs. For example, self-driving vehicles are expected to cause redundancies in driving jobs, such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and bus drivers. In the medium term, if intelligent technologies gradually take jobs away from humans, we may find that people become deskilled and lose their sense of purpose in life. A longer-term fear is that computers become so intelligent that they begin to make decisions without human oversight and without regard for our well-being.

In conclusion, while intelligent machines will no doubt improve our lives in many ways, the potential risks of such technologies should not be ignored.

THE PLAN FOR THE ABOVE ANSWER

Introduction: Paraphrase the question then answer – I understand both views

Main paragraph 1

1. Topic: benefits of intelligent technology
2. Machines do many jobs better than humans
3. Examples: precise surgical procedures, cars that drive themselves
4. Result: improve safety by reducing human errors
5. Future prediction: these technologies will improve quality of life

Main paragraph 2

1. Topic: concerns about artificial intelligence
2. Short term: unemployment, workers replaced by machines
3. Example: self-driving vehicles will replace many driving jobs
4. Medium term: people become deskilled, lose their sense of purpose
5. Long term: computers may begin to make their own decisions

Conclusion: Repeat / summarise my overall answer

Vocabulary review

Here’s a list of the ‘less common’ collocations and phrases in the essay above:

• the future impact of
• the two opposing points of view
• fascinated and apprehensive
• require high levels of accuracy
• calculations using large amounts of data
• carry out surgical procedures
• with greater precision than
• use sensors and cameras to drive themselves
• reducing the likelihood of human errors
• steadily improve our quality of life
• I share the concerns
• in the short / medium / long term
• it is likely that
• a rise in unemployement
• workers in various industries are replaced
• self-driving vehicles
• cause redundancies
• become deskilled
• lose their sense of purpose
• human oversight
• without regard for our well-being
• the potential risks should not be ignored

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer has a 4-paragraph structure, quite long, but has good ideas, vocabulary and expressions.

Many people find themselves in situations where they must either accept what life has given them or find a way to move up in the world. In my opinion, although accepting your situation in life may be pragmatic in some cases, it is still better to at least strive to improve your situation as it can usually be bettered to some degree.

On the one hand, the vast majority of people are unable to drastically change their situation and acceptance of this fact will make them feel more satisfied with their lives. The best example of this would be those people living in dire economic conditions. Recent research puts the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of the poorest nations on Earth, both due to a lack of developed infrastructure and internal strife in recent years. For a person living in a small village, ravaged by war or famine, it would be cruel to suggest that they should find a way to improve their lives when it might simply be impossible. Instead, such people may feel they are better off accepting that they cannot make any changes to their situation at the present moment and just focus on their own survival and that of their family. These situations are rare but do exist around the world in various countries, particularly if they are at war or experiencing a severe economic downturn.

On the other hand, few would dispute the fact that in even the most difficult situations people can make their lives better through continued effort. Instances of people who worked hard and became successful abound in both developed and developing nations. Some relevant examples of this are the postwar situations of countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea. All those countries were devastated by war to greater and lesser degrees yet they are all currently economic powerhouses. In Japan, World War 2 left their population depleted of workers, a deep national debt due to reparations and infrastructure reduced to rubble. By not accepting their situation they were able to become leaders in technology through notable companies like Sony, Nokia and Toyota. The efficacy of the individuals who had to work hard to improve their lives is reflected in the overall progress of the country and should serve as an example to all war-torn nations.

To conclude, there are very few situations where it would be advisable to simply accept an unhappy situation because hard work over a long period will pay off to some degree in the vast majority of cases. By having a more positive attitude it is also more likely that your efforts to make a better life will be rewarded, while a more defeatist attitude is likely to reduce your chances to make changes in life.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a band 7 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

The candidate has addressed all parts of the task and shows a clear position throughout the response. Ideas are presented, extended and supported. The response is logically organized and there is a clear progression throughout, with a range of cohesive devices [Based on | For example | However | Hence | Besides that | Regarding that matter | This solution | This means that | In my honest opinion], with only occasional awkwardness or error [ act in both situations according to situations | In a conclusion]. Each paragraph contains a clear, central topic. The range of vocabulary includes some less common items [fate | paranoid] and shows examples of style and collocation [go with the flow | figured out a resolution | problems are solved | my honest opinion]. Occasional errors do not prevent the message from coming through. There is a range of grammatical structures and these are usually accurate, although there are a few errors [some people chooses | might not know what are the consequences | not all bad situations needs to be ignored]. The meaning is still clear, however.

Some people believe that is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that is better to try and improve such situations.

Based on my knowledge, some people choose to accept the fate that they have to undergo the bad situation as they believe that food things might come out of it. Their solution is simply to just go with the flow because they think that they will learn something new along the journey. For example, a student received a grade B for his Physics examination. However, he only needs one more mark to get an A. If a student requires to receive a mark percentage of 70% to get an A, this student got a 69% on his paper. As the teacher looked through the question with the whole class, he notices that the teacher accidentally marked his correct answer to wrong. So, realistically, he should get an A. However, he chooses to leave his grade as a B because he believes that his current grade will be a motivation for him to improve and work harder to get a better grade in the next examination hence, this explains why some people chooses to accept the bad situation.

Besides that, it is also mentioned that others argue that is better to try and improve such situation. I believe the reason they act that way is because they feel a bit paranoid that the situations will become worse if they do not do so. For instance, a person had to undergo a shortage of money. Logically, they will feel a little paranoid that at one point, they might have to experience an empty pocket and had to live in the streets. Regarding that matter, they figured out a solution to improvise such situation by getting an extra or part-time job. This solution will help them to fain extra money to pay their daily expenses such as water and electricity bills. This means that their problems are solved and they are now worry-free.

In my honesty opinion, I strongly suggest that one can choose to act in both situations according to situations. When facing a problem, think of the best solution to solve it. If the situation requires you to simply ignore it, then just do so. There is a no need in figuring out a way to improve those situations as it will take up your time and case stress. However, if the situation requires you take action quickly, by all means do so as you might not know what are consequences if you ignore the problem.

In a conclusion, the main important thing when facing bad situations is to analyze the problem, then only you can react to them.  Not all bad situations need to be ignored and not all needs to be improved. Think wisely to get the best solution for all of your problems.

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

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

MODEL ANSWER

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

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

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

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

In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

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

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a band 6 score. Here’s the examiner’s comment:

Organization is strong, the question is answered and the word requirement is met.  There is good use of complex sentences and vocabulary.  The introduction and conclusion could be a bit stronger and there are some phrasing and agreement issues.  It should be clear what the question is in the introduction and this is only slightly able to be determined.  Overall, the essay may score a Band 6.

When a person reaches 18, which is roughly around the fine finishing his or her high school years, what comes up to the person next is an important major decision-going to university or take a break.  If he or she decides to take a break at the moment, that person will probably need to choose between work or travel.

We live in a color world; it is good to have a change to explore it.  To open our eyes when we are still young can help us to know more about what is going on right now, and to be more aware of the relationship between ourself and the world. What happened during one’s trip to a different place would help he or she applies the experience to a different situation when feeling needed.  If somebody decides to go to work instead of travel, she or he could learn from the work experience, which may be helpful when becoming a full-time worker.

While both going to work and traveling can give a person some information regarding one’s future plan, it’s not always a good idea to do so. Sometimes when people didn’t choose to finish school very soon, they will find it’s harder for them to return to school after doing other things outside the campus. They may have a feeling that they cannot adjust to a formal academic life because they are free for too long. It can cause a problem when nowadays academic achievement is so important for a brighter future.

Whatever people choose to do after their high school years, it’s so important to know what you really want and like.  It’s the best way to have a happy life and love what you choose.

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

In many places around the world, a large number of people believe that huge amounts of money should be spent to construct high-speed railway lines between cities. However, there are others who believe that using this money to upgrade existing public transport systems is a better idea. This essay will look at both sides and then attempt to reach a conclusion.

To begin with, it is clear that fast trains would make traveling between cities much easier. In fact, it can be faster than traveling by plane because you do not have to wait so long at the airport. Moreover, train travel is generally cheaper than traveling by plane, which will allow more people to travel than before. Nevertheless, the cost of constructing a long-distance train system is very high and this money could be used in a more effective way.

This leads to the idea of using the money to improve current public transport. For example, although public transport is seen as environmentally friendly, many old buses produce a lot of smoke, and this could be solved by spending money on electric buses that do not produce harmful emissions. Furthermore, current public transport is what people use every day, so it makes sense to improve this rather than build a new system that might not be used so much.

Overall, a high-speed rail system is a great way to connect a country and even a group of countries. However, if money is an issue, it is better to improve the current system to a high standard before taking on a new plan.

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 of these views and give your own opinion.

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

MODEL ANSWER

There are 2 paragraphs (introduction and main paragraph 1). You can continue writing main paragraph 2 and the conclusion.

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.

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer is very long and does not follow the essay structure we teach, but it has good vocabulary and expressions.

As a result of constant media attention, sports professionals in my country have become stars and celebrities, and those at the top are paid huge salaries. Just like movie stars, they live extravagant lifestyles with huge houses and cars.

Many people find their rewards unfair, especially when comparing these super salaries with those of top surgeons or research scientists or even leading politicians who have the responsibility of governing the country. However, sports salaries are not determined by considering the contribution to society a person makes, or the level of responsibility he or she holds. Instead, they reflect the public popularity of the sport in general and the level of public support that successful stars can generate. So the notion of ‘fairness’ is not the issue.

Those who feel that sports stars’ salaries are justified might argue that the numbers of professionals with real talent are very few, and the money is recognition of the skills and dedication a person needs to be successful. Competition is constant and a player is tested every time they perform in their relatively short career. The pressure from the media is intense, and there is little privacy out of the spotlight. There is a huge number of sports persons compared to those who have become successful and having a huge salary. It takes lots of practice, skills and time to become a sports icon. Again, Sports personality like Sachin Tendulkar, Tiger Woods, Shane Warne inspires the new generation to be attracted to the games they play. So, all of these factors may justify the huge earnings of the sports personality.

The first reason why I think that such high salary is deserved by famous athletes and entertainers because we all need them. Entertainment plays an essential role in our everyday life. We need to relax, watching TV with our favourite TV stars or favourite football players. Entertainment is one of the best ways to eliminate stress and tension and leave all troubles behind. For example, I can not stay home all day long without watching TV. So, basically, I believe that famous athletes and entertainers have such high salaries because we need them. They are like doctors for our minds and souls. Scientists say that people usually spend the same amount of money for their food and entertainment. I think this fact tells a lot.

The second reason for this is that famous athletes have to work hard in order to get good results. I am sure that achievements they make are the result of hard work, persistence and pain. They sometimes risk their lives and health. For example, I am a big fan of L. Amstrong, the most famous cyclist in the world’s history. He faced probably the most challenging difficulty in his life – cancer. He was very young for this disease. Amstrong was in his early twenties when he found out about it. I read a book about his life, and what impressed me were his words after his victory in France. He said: “Cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me “. He defeated the disease only because he believed in himself and did not give up. I think such person deserves to have a high salary and be loved by many people throughout the world.

Personally, I think that the amount of money such sports stars make is more justified than the huge earnings of movie stars, but at the same time, it indicates that our society places more value on the sport than on the essential professions and achievements.

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer is a bit complicated, but it has good vocabulary.

In many countries, it is common for children to be told anything is possible if they set their mind to it. In my opinion, this can lead to great achievements, but for the majority engenders feelings of inadequacy.

Some people benefit from a positive emphasis on effort and achievement. The best examples of this come from the United States where famously every child is encouraged to pursue their dreams, no matter how aspirational and unrealistic. Those who succeed serve as role models and evidence the efficacy of pushing children to try to achieve anything. For example, the number of successful entrepreneurs and artists who have left their mark globally from the U.S.A is staggering and includes figures like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, Warren Buffet, and Will Smith. These people often give encouraging interviews where they reiterate the importance of having passion and determination to achieve transcendent fame.

However, the cases above are exceptions and considering them the rule only hurts the self-esteem of the general populace. When an individual is told they can accomplish anything through sheer determination and they then fail to become rich and successful, they have no one to blame but themselves. The truth about the connection between effort and achievement is more nuanced than the platitude typically supplied to children. There is a complex interplay between talent, effort, and luck required to produce great achievements and all high-achievers are subject to determining factors beyond simply hard work. Teaching children otherwise sets them up for self-doubt, disillusionment, and delusions of grandeur that will weigh on them throughout adulthood. Hard work is an essential ingredient but supposing it guarantees success will only lead to resentment towards oneself and others.

In conclusion, while teaching children that hard work ensures achievement produces great individuals, overall, it breeds insecurity. Parents ought to instead encourage a positive mindset with less lofty expectations.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.5 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

This candidate has presented some ideas on both sides of the topic, though there is room for further development. Ideas are logically organized and there is a clear progression throughout. Cohesive devices, including reference and substitution, are generally well managed [this message | In/From the social point of view | telling this to children | the same situation | To sum up]. The range of vocabulary is wide enough to show some variety, some less common items and collocations [motivating | give up | try hard | make an effort | achieve their objectives | dedication] and there are few spelling errors. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, some of which are accurate [we are saying… that things are not so… easy but they are not impossible | we are teaching… children how life works | if you have done all these things but you still did not achieve your goal, you will be happy anyways because you did your best]. Others contain errors [making him to try hard / making him try hard | is all about working hard / it is all about working hard | we not always achieve / we do not always achieve | another person deserve / another person deserved], but the meaning is still clear.

Is it right to tell children they can achieve anything by trying hard?

In some culture, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. Giving this message to them can produce several effects on each child.

In the social point of view, telling this to children is very important because we are motivating the child not to give up. We are making him to try hard, to make an effort, to read between lines and at the end of that long path achieve their objectives. Telling that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough, we are saying in other words that things are not so simple or easy but they are not impossible, is all about working hard and doing our best.

Sometimes this is not helpful because we not always achieve our dream or goal but it does not mean we did not try hard, it was just because another person deserve it more than us. So, although we try hard, there are other factors playing a role in our path.

In the economic point of view, if our objectives demand a lot of money, we are again in the same situation, although we work hard, it would be difficult to achieve it.

To sum up, we are teaching to children how life works, it demands hard work, effort, dedication, time doing things we don’t like, studying and attitude. And at the end, if you have done all these things but you still did not achieve your goal, you will be happy anyways because you did your best.

Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behaviour. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer follows a good structure and has good vocabulary.

It is noticeable that people tend to travel more frequently these days than they used to in the past. While I agree that travellers should follow the host country’s traditions and cultures, I also think that the host country should welcome cultural differences.

On the one hand, travellers should adapt to the culture of their host country and feel happy with the idea of trying new things. Nowadays, people not only consider travelling as a way to relax but they also think it is a chance for self-improvement and exploring the world. Travelling is a good opportunity to try new things such as traditional cuisine, music and customs, and those who just travel to view landscapes waste a perfect chance to learn something new. For example, people who have visited places like India, Egypt or China have been very excited when they tried the local food or wore the traditional dress. An experience like this broadens people’s horizons and enriches their knowledge.

On the other hand, for many reasons the host country should accept and understand the different backgrounds of tourists. Firstly, for many visitors, it would be difficult to follow the host culture and customs because these usually different than their own, and in some cases they may even be incompatible with their beliefs and morals. For example, Indian or Arabs who go to European countries may find it difficult to get used to the European taste in food because it does not contain as much spices as they have in their food. In addition, if travellers feel they are welcomed in the new country despite the cultural differences, they will feel more comfortable to visit this place again.

In conclusion, I believe that it could be beneficial for travellers to get exposed to different cultures and customs. However, tourist destinations should be opened to the cultural diversity of its newcomers.

Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters (such as food, clothes and entertainment) is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer has a good structure and good ideas.

According to some people, children should be allowed to decide what they should eat, wear or watch, while others opine that if children have the freedom to make their own choices, they will grow up into selfish individuals. In my opinion, children should definitely have the liberty to make their own decisions; however, since they are too young to understand what is good or bad for them, parents should help them make the right decisions.

It is important for a child to learn how to make decisions regarding his lifestyle or future career as decision making is an important skill for success in life. When he is allowed to make his own choices, he will learn to take the responsibility for his actions. This is another skill required for success. Needless to say, a child who takes small decisions right from his childhood can deal with the conflicts and challenges in life more efficiently.

On the contrary, when children have total freedom to make their own choices, they may fail to consider the feelings of others. For example, a child may insist that he should be able to watch cartoon whenever he wants to. He may not consider what other members of the family want to watch on TV. If his parents allow him to have his way all the way, he will definitely grow into a selfish person who does not care for others. It is, therefore, important for parents to set the limits of the freedom their children can have.

In conclusion, I believe that even though children should be allowed to make their own choices, parents should teach them to respect the feelings of others; otherwise, they may end up becoming selfish.

It’s generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for music and sport, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician.

Discuss both ideas by giving your opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

The structure in this answer is confusing at times, but there are good ideas and phrases.

The relative importance of natural talent and training is a frequent quite topic of discussion when people try to explain different levels of ability in, for example, sport, art or music.

Obviously, education systems are based on the belief that all children can effectively be taught to acquire different skill, including those associated with sport, art or music. So from our own school experience, we can find plenty of evidence to support the view that a child can acquire these skills with continued teaching and guided practice.

However, some people believe that innate talent is what differentiates a person who has been trained to play a sport or an instrument, from those who become good players. In other words, there is more to the skill than a learned technique, and this extra talent cannot be taught, no matter how good the teacher or how frequently a child practices.

I personally think that some do have talents that are probably inherited via their genes. Such talents can give individuals a facility for certain skills that allow then to excel, while more hard-working students never manage to reach a comparable level. But, as will all question of nature versus nurture, they are not mutually exclusive. Good musicians or artists and exceptional sports stars have probably succeeded because of both good training and natural talent. Without the natural talent, continuous training would be neither attractive nor productive, and without the training, the child would not learn how to exploit and develop their talent.

In conclusion, I agree that any child can be taught particular skills, but to be really good in areas such as music, art or sport, then some natural talent is required.

Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

MODEL ANSWER

People have different views about whether or not punishments for crimes should be fixed. Although there are some advantages of fixed punishments, I would argue that it is better to  judge each crime individually.

There are some good arguments for having one punishment for each crime. This system ensures that each member of society knows and understands the consequences of committing any crime. It is a fair system, and it leaves people with no doubt that breaking the law is not tolerated. At the same time, it is much easier for judges and lawyers when there is a clear rule dictating how each offender should be sentenced. For example, if someone is found guilty of stealing, the judge will simply follow the rules and apply the appropriate punishment.

Despite the above arguments, I believe that the context of any criminal act should be taken into account when sentencing an offender. This means that the judge should consider the details of each particular case before deciding on the appropriate punishment. For example, a person who steals something from a shop for the first time should not be treated in the same way as a repeat offender who has been caught shoplifting many times before. It would be sensible to give the first-time offender a small punishment, such as a fine, while the repeat offender may be sent to prison.

In conclusion, it seems to me that a mature and humane legal system would be flexible rather than fixed in terms of how decisions about punishments are made.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a band 7.5 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

This is a thoughtful and well-argued response to the task. The candidate examines the opposing views of the topic, and gives a clear opinion that is well developed and supported. To reach the highest band a more clearly-signalled conclusion would be needed. The argument is well organized and linking is well managed throughout. The development of the answer is not help, however by poor control of paragraphing which sometimes confuses the link across different sections. This is a weak feature of the script with limit the overall rating. In contrast, an excellent range of vocabulary is used with a sophisticated level of control and only rare slips. The range of structure is also wide and most sentences are accurate and precise, but there are some errors and omissions. These, however, are only minor and do not affect communication.

Fixing punishments for each type of crime has been a debatable issue. There are many arguments supporting both views, those for and those against fixed punishments.

On the one hand, fixed punishments will have a deterrent effect on society. Individuals knowing that they will be subject to a certain punishment if they are convicted with a given crime, will reconsider committing this act in the first place. This deterring effect also leads to social stability and security, through minimising the number of crimes committed. If people knew they would be able to convince the court or the jury of a reason for having committed the crime they are accused of, penal decisions would be largely arbitrary. This would result into criminals getting away with their crimes and into a high level of injustice caused by the subjective approach of different courts.

On the other hand, taking the circumstances of a crime and its motivation into consideration is a prerequisite for establishing and ensuring justice and equity. A person killing in self-defense cannot be compared to a serial killer, moving from one victim to the next.

In my opinion an intermediary position between both solutions is the perfect way to establish and ensure justice and equity. There have to be fixed punishments for all crimes. However, criminal laws have to provide for a minimum and a maximum for the punishment and the laws also have to foresee certain cases of exemptions. An example for setting minimum and maximum penalties is Competition Law where a person being held liable of a crime under this law will be convicted to pay a fine, according to the harm caused by the violation and the profit gained by the violator through committing the crime for the exemptions, in some countries the law exempts thieves stealing food during a period of famine taking into consideration the distress and hunger. Also, a person killing in self-defense will be exempted from punishment.

Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

* This essay follows a structure similar to the structure we use at TEACH and has good vocabulary and phrases.  

There are those who would argue that advertising has become so pervasive, it hardly has any effect anymore. In my opinion, while people have developed habits to ignore ads, they still achieve their desired effect on the whole.

The main argument against the power of ads is they can be avoided. Online advertising is a good example of this. Users rarely click on or even glance at a website’s combination of pop-up ads, banners, mailing list requests, and auto-playing video ads. These have become so common that consumers have developed the unconscious practice of skipping ads on YouTube, quickly closing pop-ups and scrolling past in-page advertising. Advertisers have tried to counter this by making their marketing less conspicuous, as with ads that resemble real posts on social media sites like Instagram, but their sheer frequency means they can be easily identified and do not stand out.

However, despite the best efforts of users, advertisements are still effective. Most people ignore most ads most of the time. This is something that advertisers expect and build into their marketing budgets. These days marketing is the major source of earnings for the largest companies in the world, including Facebook and Google, because of more sophisticated targeted ads. Savvy marketers can sort through demographics and cross-test content for different audiences until they hone in on the most efficient advertising solutions. They can then replicate these ads and invest more money into the well-performing ones, with the financial justification coming from clicks and sales conversions. Advertising today, in reality, is far more effective than at any point in the past because of the raw data available to target potential consumers and the concrete feedback on successful ads.

In conclusion, despite the best efforts of ordinary citizens to circumvent advertising, technological innovations have given marketers more power than ever before to exert their desired influence over people’s choices.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 7.0 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

This candidate has addressed all parts of the prompt and presents a clear position throughout the response. Main ideas are presented, extended and supported. Ideas and information are presented logically and there is a clear progression throughout the answer. There is a range of cohesive devices (For instance | Nevertheless Hence | A real life example, However, In conclusion | Thus) including reference and substitution [this method this is so these messages). The range of vocabulary is wide enough to show some precise meanings and also shows less common items (prevalent | hypnotize | tactics | brainwash | succumbing] and collocations (significant increase, catch the consumers’ attention, having a good time together, compare and contrast strategies). There are only occasional spelling errors [bandwagen / bandwagon | repetetive / repetitive). There is a variety of complex structures and the writer shows good control over grammar and punctuation.

Advertisement has always been a crucial part in the world of marketing. Throughout the decade, we have seen a significant increase in the amount of advertisements, whether it is on the media like television or widespread through social network platforms. The goal of advertisements is to get consumers to buy a targeted product, and while this method has been proven considerably successful generally, some people view it as too prevalent to catch the consumers’ attention anymore.

Advertisements can act as a strong persuasion device to seemingly hypnotize people into buying goods and services. This is so because of the tactics placed in the messages, such as showing people having a good time together when using a particular product, using bandwagen, showing only the upsides of usage, and applying compare and contrast strategies to show the effects of using the product and make it stand out. Even if people do not know it, these messages are repeated several times and soon it may brainwash people to finally go out and get the product. For instance, if a person is watching television and sees a certain advertisement of a snack many times, the repeated sight of the scrumptious food may result in that person feeling hungry and succumbing to the advertisement at last.

Nevertheless, there is another point of view in which the widespread of advertisements makes it a normal thing. After watching a dozen of advertisements people will see it as a mere everyday routine and cease to pay attention to the message of the advertisement. Some people may even choose to turn off a television channel, for instance, only just to avoid seeing and hearing repetetive advertisements. After a certain frequency, they start to get bored and stop paying attention to ads. Hence, in the end, the main goal of advertisements is not complete since the people whom the messages are sent out to do not receive that message. A real life example can be seen from advertisements in a particular social media platform, Youtube. In the Youtube marketing mechanism, advertisements are place before and in between videos, hoping that the viewers would also be forced to watch the advertisements, too. However, this is not usually the case, since many people would just click “Skip Ad” and continue on.

In conclusion, advertisements can be successful in persuading people to purchase goods and services, or they can be unsuccessful in many ways. They are very commonly seen nowadays, but not all of them fulfill their purpose. Thus, advertisements must be designed and presented in the correct way to result in the highest effectiveness.

Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

In the recent years, the world has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people learning a foreign language. Some people claim that the reason to learn a foreign language is to travel or work in overseas countries. Conversely, others believe that these are not the only reasons why people should learn a foreign language; I agree with this statement.

It is true that people are keen to learn a foreign language in order to travel or work in a foreign country. To be clear, in the last few years, globalization left a huge impact on the economy of all nations and promoted the growth of multinational companies. Therefore, the rise in the number of people working overseas resulted in an increase in the demand for learning a foreign language. In addition, people need to learn a foreign language if they want to travel overseas. For example, if people want to visit a foreign country, they have to learn basic conversations in the local language to communicate with native speakers in daily life.

Nonetheless, traveling or working is not the only reasons why some people learn foreign languages. People need a foreign language for their studies. Many academic programs make learning a foreign language compulsory. When students learn a foreign language, they can understand and appreciate diverse cultures. People learn new languages for job purposes as well. For instance, many professional jobs in the UK and Australia require IELTS or TOEIC certification. Some learn languages because they love it.

In conclusion, the number of people learning a foreign language has increased dramatically. There are several reasons for this. While some of these are work or travel related, others are purely personal or recreational in nature.

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?

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

A GOOD SAMPLE PLAN

1. Introduction: Topic = best age to learn a foreign language. Our opinion = better to learn at primary school age.
2. Disadvantagesof 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.
3. Advantagesof 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.
4. Conclusion: repeat / summarise our answer.

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer does not follow the structure above, but it has good vocabulary, expressions and ideas.

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some educationalists. This policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual schools, with both positive and negative outcomes.

The obvious argument in its favour is that young children pick up languages much more easily than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue, which facilitates learning another language, and unlike adolescents, they are not inhibited by self-consciousness.

The greater flexibility of the primary timetable allows for more frequent, shorter sessions and for a play-centered approach, thus maintaining learners’ enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the language in later life will benefit from this early exposure, while learning other languages subsequently will be easier for them. They may also gain a better understanding of other cultures.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Primary school teachers are generalists, and may not have the necessary language skills themselves. lf specialists have to be brought in to deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished. lf primary language leaching is not standardized, secondary schools could be faced with a great variety of levels in different languages within their intake, resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains. There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become demotivated as soon as they change schools. However, these issues can be addressed strategically within the policy adopted.

Anything which encourages language learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to language learning contributes to this. Young children’s innate abilities should be harnessed to make these benefits more achievable.

Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on public health and that other measures are required. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

Health is a resource of everyday life, not the objective or luxury of living. It depends on various factors, such as body weight management, proper nutrition, avoiding alcohol abuse, abstaining from drug abuse, hygiene and getting the right amount of sleep. Some people think that a good number of sports facilities can ameliorate public health. Since it leans upon several conditions, a combined program is needed to progress public health, in my opinion.

Ensuring sports facilities to citizen is a good idea but inadequate to develop public health. Firstly, the use of sports facilities is limited by time, season and location. Therefore, all people cannot get benefit of them, particularly working people who work from 9 to 5. Moreover, the present lifestyle is very busy and complicated, that means, there is severe paucity of time. So, people cannot dedicate time to sports activities. Consequently, only a small number of people utilize facilities at sport centers to keep fit and the significant mass of people remains out of it. Secondly, having facilities does not ensure always that people will make good use of what is offered to them. In most cases, it depends on individual choice and healthy lifestyle.

On the other hand, public health can be improved by developing all health-related components of lifestyle, for instance, environment, education, habit and so on. Environment is the vital issue in terms of public health. Take water pollution for an example: it causes severe diseases like diarrhea. Likewise, air pollution causes sinusitis. So, to improve public health, we need some effective measures for protecting and maintaining healthy atmosphere. Not only pollution but food habit is also crucial. The habit of junk food causes obesity, for example. Above all, the substantial issue to improve public health is knowledge and awareness of a hygienic lifestyle. People need to be taught about the hazard of an unhealthy lifestyle, just as they need to be appreciated to lead a healthy lifestyle. This can be achieved by aiming at children and teaching them good health ethics so that they can follow it throughout their lives.

In short, I just want to say that no single effort has complete meaning alone. To improve public health, we need a set of programs so that it can cover every aspect of public health and that should include the sports facilities as well.

Some people believe that it is a good idea to share as much information as possible in scientific research, business and the academic world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer has a 4-paragraph structure, discusses both views. It explains the position in a quite complicated way and is a bit long, but it has good vocabulary, expressions and examples.

The question of how much information relevant to various areas of scientific and academic research should be shared is becoming more and more important as the pace of technological innovation quickens and the internet allows for instant collaboration. In my opinion, information is a valuable, potentially dangerous asset and should only be shared freely in particular circumstances.

Advocates of freely sharing information rightly argue that collaboration leads to faster results. This applies to scientists, who can help each other by offering their individual research results, or businesses, which can work together as long as they are not competitors on advertising or product development, as well as academics, who need fresh perspectives to push their work to higher plateaus. Take for example the potential for sharing information in the business world. Google has built their successful advertising business by working together with various companies and sharing information. Google collects a variety of statistics related to users including their location and interests. This information is shared with advertisers who can then better target ads for users. It allows the consumer to see more relevant products and services and the companies advertising to target their audience more efficiently.

While there are decided advantages like the one mentioned above, information is still a valuable asset that individuals and companies should safeguard. In a perfect world, we might expect people to openly share everything they know but the social and economic constructions of our actual world make this a naive proposition. One interesting example of this is from a recent news article about Elon Musk where he explained why his rocket company SpaceX does not apply for patents on any new technology. He reasoned that his main competitors are governments, not private companies. If his company discloses its innovations then domestic and foreign governments can take advantage of the shared technology and potentially disrupt his business. This is just one example of how sharing can prove damaging in a capitalist society.

In conclusion, though sharing might be a valid standpoint in a perfect world, it is not feasible under current global conditions. Instead of looking to increase sharing, governments should do more to support innovative companies and researchers. This will have a larger overall impact.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieve a band 6.0 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

The candidate addresses all parts of the prompt, although there is some misunderstanding of the term shared freely. Ideas relating to this sector mentioned in the prompt are presented, yet there is not much development of these, especially of sharing ideas in the business world. There is a clear overall progression, with the candidate’s own opinion presented at the end, but there are some errors in the use of cohesive devices [working there on out of this | which scientist]. Lexis is mainly appropriate for the task, though there are some errors in word choice [actual | releases] and spelling [govenment | limite | theme | loose]. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with a fair degree of accuracy: errors in grammatical control seldom prevent meaning from coming through.

Sharing information is actual issue in our world where it has a strong influence on people. There are various spheres of our life where information is more or less important for people working there on out of this. For this reason some people consider that it is good to share information while others think in opposite way.

For example, practical all scientists are glad to share information with ordinary people or other scientist. There is no competition in this sphere. Sometimes it is bad for government which scientist share the secret information with international spy but it will not hurt information.

There are some simple rules in academic world which limite informational source between people. If people is interested in theme discussing with you and you are already to keep talking then the person gives you all information what he knows for free. On the other hand, if the person knows much and he knows that you cannot give him actual or new information then he will share information with you just for money. For example, student pay for his learning while two students can corporate and share information with each other. It is obviously that sharing information and business world can follows by releases. There is a large competition and it may take much cost for companies. Companies lose their profit everyday because someone cannot keep silence especially IT companies.

To sum of all above it is necessary to say that there are some spheres in which sharing information is a crime. In my opinion, in many cases and formation can be too important or sharing at all.

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

This essay discusses both views, 4-paragraph structure. It is a bit long, but it has good vocabulary and expressions.

Many are of the opinion that the risks for endangered plants and wildlife are the most severe consequences of our worsening environment while others would argue that other problems are more pressing. While I consider the impact of recurring natural disasters to be important, in my opinion the loss of wildlife is the most serious threat to the environment.

The rise in recent catastrophic natural disasters has been strongly linked to climate change. Many scientists have made the case that incremental rises in temperature, specifically involving the oceans, has increased the frequency and potency of hurricanes, tsunamis, and blizzards. There are countless instances of these from the last two decades but the tsunami affecting mainly Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in 2004 is a particularly striking example. This was the largest natural disaster this century and resulted in thousands of deaths, injuries and billions of dollars in damages, the effects of which set these developing nations back economically for years. People lost their lives, homes, and livelihood in many cases.

The main reason that many people including myself are so focused on plant and animal life is because of the rising number of endangered animals in recent decades. One of the most well-known examples of this is the often cited case of polar bears. Polar bears live mainly in the Arctic and recent melting of the polar ice caps has resulted in reduced ice for polar bears to hunt on. Polar bears have become an endangered species and it is often forecast that by 2100 they will be entirely extinct in the wild. Their extinction will likely have a domino effect on the fragile ecosystems of the arctic and other endangered animals like seals and narwhales. This is just one example of the impact of global warming on animals and plants of our planet. Extinction is irreversible and there is no more lasting impression we can leave than to deplete the world entirely of a species.

In my opinion, the loss of ecological diversity trumps any other environmental concerns. In order to remedy this problem, governments and individuals need to take serious steps to not only invest more in conservation efforts for endangered animals but also work towards long term reforms related to fossil fuels, carbon emissions and the other apparent catalysts for climate change.

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer does not follow our desired structure, but it has good ideas, vocabulary, phrases.

Some people consider that the loss of individual species of plants and animals is the main environmental problem of our time. Attempts to preserve rare or dying species are carried out in zoos or other specialist plant and animal facilities, through breeding programmes, preservation orders and other forms of protection and there was genuine sadness among many when the last surviving white rhino died earlier this year.

Survival of the fittest is nature’s way of ruthlessly allowing weaker specimens to die out, although mankind has also contributed to falling animal numbers through hunting and poaching. However, whether saving individual species should be the main focus of environmental protection is debatable. Climate change and excessive use of plastic are just two other major problems that deserve our attention.

The evidence of climate change is there for us all to see: rising sea levels and associated flooding with the loss of homes at low land levels are becoming more frequent. Many countries and island communities are now calling for urgent action to delay, halt or even reverse the process, although if we believe the experts, reversal is impossible. Habitable areas are gradually shrinking, often for some of the poorest groups of people, but there seems to be little obvious action taking place. If the major contributors to climate change will not support the reduction of greenhouse gases, there is little hope for the future.

Naturalists have also begun to expose the serious problems arising from discarded plastic waste. Birds and animals can die gruesome deaths through being trapped or caught up in plastic bags or ropes, while the long process required for these plastics to decay means that they remain a threat for many years to come. Worse, there is now beginning to be evidence of sea creatures ingesting smaller globules of disintegrating plastic, which harms them and all the other creatures in their particular food chain.

The loss of particular species, both flora and fauna, is cause for regret, but I do not agree that they are the most important environmental problems these days. If climate change and damage from plastic continue, there will be less land and less food for everyone, including plants and animals.

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.

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

MODEL ANSWER

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.

At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

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

You should write at least 250 words.

A GOOD SAMPLE PLAN

This plan is to discuss both disadvantages and advantages and specifies which side outweighs.

1. Planning:Brainstorm advantages and disadvantages of a young population.
2. My view:Looking at the plan, it should be clear whether I have more (or stronger) advantages or disadvantages. Make a decision about what my view is.
3. Introduction:Write 2 sentences – introduce the topic and my view.
4. Paragraph 2:Present the weaker side of the argument.
5. Paragraph 3:Present the stronger side (i.e. the side that ‘outweighs’ the other view).
6. Conclusion:Repeat and summarise my view.

REFERENCE ANSWER

This answer follows a similar structure to the above. It explains the position in a quite complicated way and is a bit long, but it has good vocabulary and expressions.

The average age of the population for many nations around the world has been in decline in recent decades creating a situation where young people have become the world’s largest demographic, particularly in developing nations. Although there are decided drawbacks to this phenomenon related to expertise in the workforce, it is still a positive development because it will lead to booming economies in the coming years.

The most frequently cited drawback to having a predominately young population is the lack of skilled workers in many important industries. A great example of this can be seen in Vietnam, which has one of the youngest populations in the world. Vietnam currently has very few leaders in important areas like engineering and technology. When it came time for Ho Chi Minh city to build a subway system, there were not enough skilled engineers to accomplish the feat. They had to hire a huge number of specialists from Japan and Thailand to ensure the quality of the project. The potential engineers for this project are still in school in Vietnam or studying abroad and it may be another decade before they are ready to design and execute large, complex infrastructure. It is not uncommon for developing countries with young populations to require outside assistance for national projects to the detriment of their own workers.

Despite this drawback, the advantage of a young population is that it brings many future benefits to a country and is a key indicator of future economic prosperity. Japan famously has one of the oldest populations in the world and this has led them into a deep economic recession over the last 20 years as it becomes increasingly apparent that the nation will have to assume responsibilities related to healthcare and a dwindling workforce. Contrast this with the so-called ‘Tiger Economies’ of Southeast Asia that include Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. These countries have some of the youngest populations in the world, which, coupled with a growing middle class and better education, means that they will enjoy upward economic growth for decades to come. The middle class will expand because well-educated graduates will be able to get good jobs and this middle class will become a consumer class that feeds the economy. Overall, this is why having a young population is desirable for any nation.

In conclusion, I fully believe that a younger population indicates a country is going to be successful in the future. The key element for all young populations is education and governments should focus on this in order to fully exploit the benefits of their demographics.

Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are more important than History.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

* This essay follows a structure similar to the structure we use at TEACH and has good vocabulary and phrases, however it is a bit long. 

There are many people who have called into question the importance in today’s world of subjects like history, which do not have an immediately discernible impact on most future careers. While I think that history should still be mandatory, more practical subjects related to technology and the arts are more needed in our evolving world.

The main reason that students should study some history in school is that it provides crucial insights into nations around the world that serve as springboards for later political beliefs. In America, students learn about the American Revolution, the constitution and the founding fathers periodically from elementary to high school. They learn about why the war started (so that the colonies could tax and govern themselves) as well as the great figures from history like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. Some of the principles students learn include the ideas of American exceptionalism, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the responsibility of citizens to vote in a representative democracy. Later in life, most people will lean liberal or conservative but still hold the same basic convictions about individual liberty and responsibility. By knowing the context in which these ideas emerged students can become adults with well-informed political beliefs and it will be more difficult for unscrupulous politicians to make false assertions about the past.

Although history should still be taught, the practical sciences and arts should be prioritised because these are more likely to have an impact on a person’s future career. Very few students will end up with careers in history, as historians or professors, but a large percentage will work in the arts and especially the sciences. For example, in Vietnam the most popular university majors are engineering, finance, and graphic design. If schools emphasize Maths, then this will better prepare them to make calculations in complex engineering projects or when working at a bank or accountancy firm. Even learning how to draw and use colors in art class is more useful for students because of the high demand for graphic designers on websites and advertisements. Countries that devote more of their educational budget towards these practical subjects will give students a head start on a potential future career and increase their chances of having a higher standard of living.

It is clear that in this case a moderate approach is best. School administrators should not remove history from the timetable but, in my opinion, they should devote more time and resources to the teaching of subjects related to technology and the arts. This will become ever more important as the tech industry continues to dominate the future job market.

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.0 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

The writer addresses all parts of the prompt and outlines why the various subjects are all important, supporting these ideas with relevant examples. Although the organization is sometimes confusing, there is a sense of progression and a definite conclusion is reached. Cohesive devices are used effectively [In my opinion | Of course | especially]. Referencing is generally accurate [we wouldn’t know that without them | these things | that hope | that is a reason why], but there is one error [With this | these two things]. The range of vocabulary is quite varied [go along with today’s world | to move forward | daily life | transportation, communication, collaboration etc. | political standing, culture and traditions], though errors occur [every subjects/ subject | normally/ normal human beings | a bright chances/ chance], while a reference to [stuff and things] suggests the writer struggle to find more precise terms. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including different types of subordinate clauses [Some people say that… | … which is science and technology | … people who pushes/push us to | the /they taught us how to] and although errors occur, these do not usually cause misunderstanding or difficulty for the reader. Punctuation is sometimes faulty, particularly omission of full stops.

In my opinion, I think every subjects is important for us. We have to learn everything through our past, present and future. Some people say that History is one of the most important school subjects it’s true but it has to go along with today’s world which is science and Technology. How can we move without our history, the people behind us “The ancient people” is the most powerful people who pushes us to move forward. The taught us how to fire a light, How to find a food, How to lives with other and animals, How to survive and others. Of course we wouldn’t know that without them. Science and Technology are important too. They give us a chance to move forward with them. Without Science and Technology we’re just a normally humans being. We spend our daily life with no useful. Without them we have no light we have no food, we have no comfortable stuff and things. Old people can survived without these things. Humans creates lots of invention to give an unlimited wants of people based on a limited government.

May I gives one example of the development of science and Technology. With this two things it give us a chance to be a member of ASEAN “Association of South East Asia Nation” we can be able to communicate with the other 9 countries with the high technology. it help us to be a TEAMWORK with the 9 other countries to develop our country. help us in terms of transportation, communication, collaboration etc. It can definitely hold on to that hope that in the near future.

Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?

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

CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieve a band 8.0 score. Here is the examiner’s comment:

This is a great example of a Band 8 essay. The test-taker covered both the advantages and the disadvantages of museums charging an admission fee. The ideas are conveyed, extended and supported with relevant examples. The order in which the information is presented makes sense, and there is sufficient use of linking words. The range of vocabulary is impressive. Even though there are some instances of less-than-accurate word choice, most of this essay is error-free. Grammatical errors are also rare here.

Museums are educational places which are beneficial for people in societies. However, these days, people have to pay an entrance fee to enter many museums. Although this phenomenon can lead to negative effects, I believe that there are for more positive effects.

It cannot be denied that price of tickets can bring about detrimental impacts to people, societies, and the museums themselves. From people’s perspective, they are discouraged to visit the museum and not able to access useful information and knowledge freely, particularly the poor because they cannot afford such amount. From societies’ perspective, citizens have fewer opportunities to access vitally significant places to learn history, science, art, and many other essential subjects. From museums’ perspective, they cannot attain one of their objectives to educate people. Moreover, they may have to close down as they lose more of their customers.

Despite aforementioned disadvantages, I am convinced that to charge for admission figures brings about a myriad of advantages. Firstly, museums will have money to operate which covers their business overhead such as personnel cost, equipment, electricity and water bills. Secondly, the museums can generate their own revenue to improve the place effectively to attract people, for example, to update their exhibits and keep the place clean and good-looking. Having visited many museums myself, I have learnt that many museums which sell tickets are better than those that do not charge for tickets in terms of places, information, and management.

In conclusion, although I recognize that the museums ticket sales can cause drawbacks to stakeholders in societies, I believe that museums should not remain free for all so as to be operated and developed most effectively.

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.

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

MODEL ANSWER

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.

Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

A child’s education has never been about learning information and basic skills only. It has always included teaching the next generation how to be good members of society. Therefore, this cannot be the responsibility of the parents alone.

In order to be a good member of any society, the individual must respect and obey the rules of their community and share their values. Educating children to understand the need to obey rules and respect others always begins in the home and is widely thought to be the responsibility of parents. They will certainly be the first to help children learn what is important in life, how they are expected to behave and what role they will play in their world.

However, learning to understand and share the value system of a whole society cannot be achieved just in the home. Once a child goes to school, they are entering a wider community where teachers and peers will have just as much influence as their parents do at home. At school, children will experience working and living with people from a whole variety of backgrounds from the wider society. This experience should teach them how to co-operate with each other and how to contribute to the life of their community.

But to be a valuable member of any community is not like learning a simple skill. It is something that an individual goes on learning throughout life and it is the responsibility of every member of a society to take responsibility for helping the younger generation to become active and able members of that society.

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.

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

 MODEL ANSWER

People have different views about whether children should be taught to be competitive or co-operative. While a spirit of competition can sometimes be useful in life, I believe that the ability to co-operate is more important.

On the one hand, competition can be a great source of motivation for children. When teachers use games or prizes to introduce an element of competitiveness into lessons, it can encourage children to work harder to outdo the other pupils in the class. This kind of healthy rivalry may help to build children’s self-confidence, while pushing them to work independently and progress more quickly. When these children leave school, their confidence and determination will help them in competitive situations such as job interviews. It can be therefore argued that competition should be encouraged in order to prepare children for adult life.

On the other hand, it is perhaps even more important to prepare children for the many aspects of adult life that require co-operation. In the workplace, adults are expected to work in teams, follow instructions given by their superiors, or supervise and support the more junior members of staff. Team collaboration skills are much more useful than a competitive determination to win. This is the attitude that I believe schools should foster in young people. Instead of promoting the idea that people are either winners or losers, teachers could show children that they gain more from working together.

In conclusion, I can understand why people might want to encourage competitiveness in children, but it seems to me that a co-operative attitude is much more desirable in adult life.

 CANDIDATE’S ANSWER

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a band 6 score. Here’s the examiner’s comment:

Although the answer considers the main issues in the question, it deals much more with the aspect of ‘competition’ than it does with ‘co-operation’. Some of the supporting examples are overdeveloped and divert the reader away from the argument. However, the main points are relevant, and the writer’s point of view is generally clear.

The argument has a logical progression and there is some good use of linking expressions, though the use of rhetorical questions to signal topic changes is not very skillful. There are also examples of overusing markers, and of errors in referencing.

The candidate tries to use a range of language, but there are regular errors in word choice and word form, and this occasionally causes problems for the reader. Similarly, a range of structures is attempted, but not always with good control of punctuation or grammar. However, the meaning is generally clear.

Nowadays, purpose of education being changed in Korea. There are some people who think that competition in children should be made, also others believe that children who are taught to co-operate as well as become more useful adults. There are advantages and disadvantages for both of the arguments.

To begin with, what is good if a sense of competition in children is made? They could develop themselves more and more as they learn and study a lot to win from the competing. To prove this, in Korea, it is popular – even common now – to have a tutor who come to student’s house to teach extra pieces of study with paying a lot of money. They learn faster than what they learn at school. Furthermore, during the vacations, students study abroad to learn English for a month instead of revise schoolwork. If they have experiments such as study abroad, it is one of the greatest plus point to go to the famous well-known highschool. Moreover, there are four big school exam and two national examinations to test students’ level of studies. Generally, only the highest 40% can go to the good quality high schools and colleges. Children learn as much as they can, to win the competition to obtain good quality schools.

On the other hand, as they are busy to enter the schools and study individually with their own tutors, there are problems. They become selfish. They become careless and don’t help others alot if it is about studies. There will be no co-operations for them. Then, why are there companies for many people to work in? Each of them are clever, however, there are weak parts and strong parts for each person. To co-operate is to improve this part. People talk and listen to what others thinking of and learn. That could also be a great opportunity to learn instead of learning alone with one teacher.

In conclusion, I strongly agree with that children should be taught to co-operate rather than compete. Nobody is perfect. People learn together, work together to develop each other. Therefore, I want parents and teachers to educate children concentrating on co-operation, not compete and ranking them.

Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life.

Which do you consider to be the major influence?

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

REFERENCE ANSWER

Today the way we consider human psychology and mental development is heavily influenced by the genetic sciences. We now understand the importance of inherited characteristics more than ever before. Yet we are still unable to decide whether an individual’s personality and development are more influenced by genetic factors (nature) or by the environment (nurture).

Research, relating to identical twins, has highlighted how significant inherited characteristics can be for an individual’s life. But whether these characteristics are able to develop within the personality of an individual surely depends on whether the circumstances allow such a development. It seems that the experiences we have in life are so unpredictable and so powerful that they can boost or over-ride other influences, and there seems to be plenty of research findings to confirm this.

My own view is that there is no one major influence in a person’s life. Instead, the traits we inherit from our parents and the situation and experiences that we encounter in life are constantly interacting. It is the interaction of the two that shapes a person’s personality and dictates how that personality develops. If this were not true, we would be able to predict the behavior and character of a person from the moment they were born.

In conclusion, I do not think that either nature or nurture is the major influence on a person, but that both have powerful effects. How these factors interact is still unknown today and they remain largely unpredictable in a person’s life.