IETLS Writing task 2: Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result

Topic:

Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result.

Why do many working people not get enough exercise?

What can be done about this problem?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Topic analysis:

- What type of essay is it? – Problem – Solution Essay

- What is the main issue? - Key words: health

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: working people, little or no exercise, health problems

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: why? (defining the cause of the problems) what can be done? (suggesting solutions)

Answer:

It is common in today’s life that working people face various health problems because they do not exercise enough either during their working day or in their free time. High work pressure and poor work-life balance are to blame for this phenomenon, and actions should be made to prevent this from worsening.

A primary reason for lack of exercise in workers is that they are constantly under high pressure whether it is from their bosses or competing colleagues. Most people have to work hard to accomplish the goals set out for them or try to outperform other members of staff to get a higher chance of promotion. They are willing to trade off their free time and even health to gain a better income or status. As a result, most people are too exhausted when they return home after working overtime and have no motivation to exercise.

In order to cope with this issue, actions should be taken by both the government and the companies. The government can run campaigns to raise awareness of the whole community about the importance of good health and encourage people to exercise. For the companies, they should understand that healthy workers are better assets to the company than stressed and weak ones, and should encourage employees to be more active. For example, many companies have a short activity time when members of staff gather and play some simple games to wind down before returning to work. This not only helps them to relax but also improves their health conditions, resulting in better work performance.

In conclusion, although health issues are prevalent among working people because of high work pressure and the imbalance between work and life, these problems can be solved with actions made by companies and governments.

Comment:

I just read an article about how to distribute time in writing the task 2 essay. You have 40 minutes for the task, and if you jump into writing right away, you may find it hard to get a good essay.

You need to spend the first 10 minutes on outlining what you need to write – just one bullet point for each argument. Then you spend 2-3 minutes for the opening, 20 minutes for the body (5 minutes for each paragraph), and 2-3 minutes for the conclusion. The remaining minutes are for reviewing and correcting any errors that you may have made.

25 minutes can be enough for you to write an essay if you already have a ‘skeleton’ – which is formed at the first 10 minutes.

IELTS Writing task 2: Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems

Topic:

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Write at least 250 words.

Answer:

Many people think that there are serious social and practical problems associating with living in a foreign country where they have speak a different language from their mother tongue. I personally think that although there might be challenges to live in a country with different language, the benefits totally outweighs the drawbacks.

It is a common knowledge that language barrier can cause serious problems to people when they live or work abroad. Not being able to communicate properly with local people can cause inconvenience not only at work but also in daily life. For example, many foreigners find it difficult just to buy groceries in the market because they do not know how to explain the things they look for. Besides, language is a part of the culture and tradition, not mastering the language can discourage people from socializing and make them feel isolated from their surroundings.

Although I understand these arguments, I believe the difficulties of living in a foreign country can bring people more benefits. While many people consider the language barrier an impassable obstacle, the difficulties one faces when interacting with local people can be an encouragement for him to try harder to learn the language and gradually integrate himself into the community. The problem can be solved at its roots just by mastering the language because most people feel more confident when they can express their opinions and needs freely. More importantly, living abroad itself is a great chance for people to expand their vision and knowledge by meeting new people and having new experiences in life.

In conclusion, despite the fact that people may face many social and practical problems when they live abroad, I believe that they can benefit much more from being exposed to a foreign environment.

Comment:

I used to think that there must be a “frame” for any IELTS writing task 2, but after I tried to follow the ones posted by many IELTS websites, I found that although they are quite useful sometimes, there are no fixed way to writing an essay. It would be better to write freely to what you think fit and not limit yourself with the “frame”. Anyway, the suggested structures are just for reference. Just remember to answer the question directly, explain your reasons and give examples.

I have read somewhere that the “safe length” of an essay is about 300 words, which can be divided into about 10-13 sentences. I usually use 2 sentences for the opening, 8-10 sentences for the two paragraphs in the body (each 4-5 sentences) and 1-2 sentences for the conclusion. The number can change from time to time.

There is two weeks to my computer delivered IELTS exam, I am trying hard not to be lazy. My aim is to get LRWS 8877, hope that it will work out this time. Last time I got 7.5 in writing but only 6.5 in speaking, and I am really concerned about my speaking skill.

Wish me luck this time!

IELTS Writing task 2: More and more people wear fashionable clothes

Topic:

More and more people wear fashionable clothes. Why is it? Is this development positive or negative?

Topic analysis:

- What type of essay is it? – Positive or negative

- What is the main issue? - Key words: clothes

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: more and more people, fashionable clothes

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: why, positive or negative – asking reasons and personal opinion

Answer:

It is easy to see that fashionable clothes are becoming more and more popular these days. Although I understand that there are drawbacks of this trend, I believe that there are far more benefits. This essay will discuss firstly, the reasons for this phenomenon, and secondly, explaining my opinion about it.

The main reason for the rise of fashionable garments is that modern and classy outfits help the wearers capture the attention of the public and make them feel confident and special. For some people, especially young people, wearing costly up-to-the-minute clothing even gives them the sense of superiority and uniqueness. Besides, many clothing brands have celebrities wear their products and make them must-haves in the closet of their fans. As a result, trendy clothing is becoming more and more favored.

The downside of increased popularity of fashionable clothing is that it makes people more judging about those who do not follow the trend, whether it is because they choose not to buy or are unable to buy such clothing. People not wearing most recent styles can be regarded as outdated and are sometimes looked down on. Besides, some even buy counterfeit clothing just to make sure they do not lag behind others, which gives way to illegal manufacturers and results in negative effect to the authentic brands.

Although there are drawbacks to the tendency of wearing stylish, up-to-date clothes, I would argue that it has more benefits. The increase in consumption of contemporary garments help to boost the fashion industry and the general economy. Furthermore, people in glamorous outfits definitely beautify the life of the cities. For example, Paris is called the capital of fashion where impressive clothes are easily found on the streets and many tourists come to this city to enjoy the distinct French style of people here.

In conclusion, people nowadays favor fashionable outfits because they want to look up to date and confident. While there are possible disadvantages of the trend to favor fashionable clothing, I consider this to be a positive development overall.

(339 words)

Comment:

This topic is divided into two parts – one asking the reason why people love wearing fashionable clothes, and one asking your opinion about this development. As a result, I have to divide the body of my essay into 3 parts: part 1 discusses the reasons, part 2 talks about the negative sides, and part 3 explains the positive aspects of this trend. As I think that this phenomenon is positive in general, I put the cons before the pros.

I am reading some instruction on writing IELTS essays using a 13-sentence structure. I will try to follow the instruction in future essays to see if there is any improvement to my writing.

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people think that large international sporting events only brings drawbacks, and that it is not worth hosting them

Topic:

Some people think that large international sporting events only brings drawbacks, and that it is not worth hosting them. Do you agree or disagree?

Topic analysis:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree

- What is the main issue? - Key words: sport

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: large international sporting events, drawbacks, not worth hosting

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree – give personal view

Answer:

There are different opinions about the pros and cons of large international sporting events. While some people think that they are not worth hosting because of many drawbacks, I believe the advantages of these events totally outweigh the disadvantages and hosting them is beneficial to both the host country and the people.

Many people are against international sporting events because they consider the costs are too much in comparison with what they receive from them. To host such large events, the host country must invest in infrastructure – stadiums, roads, accommodation and other facilities – while the revenues from tourism and services are uncertain. Greece is an example of a country suffering from great deficit after a spectacular sporting festival: they fell into financial crisis not long after the Olympic Games in 2004 and had to request for financial assistance from the European Union. From the perspective of sport fans, travelling to the host locality, which may be far from their home country, to attend an international sporting event, means that they need to pay not only for tickets, but also transportation, hotel, food and various miscellaneous expenses. Many believe that their money should be used on profitable activities rather than wasted on this kind of entertainment.

Although the above mentioned arguments are understandable, I believe international sporting events bring about more benefits than drawbacks. First, if calculated correctly, the host country can promote the economy with revenues from the event and other activities associating with it while spending the minimum amount of public budget. The United States only invested in basic infrastructure to meet the requirements of the Olympic Games 2002 and they generated multiple times the amount they spent through increased tourism and services. Second, for sport fans, travelling abroad to the event gives them the chance to enjoy the atmosphere of the event, and get know the life and culture of the host community. Besides, they can make friends and set up relationships with people from around the world who share their love for sports. People can never have this experience if they do not come to the host country in person, so spending money on this is totally worthy.

In conclusion, although large international sporting events have some drawbacks, they are still worth hosting because of many benefits that they bring to both the host countries and the people attending the events.

(394 words)

Comment:

This essay is 393 words long, and I know that it is too long for 40 minutes. I am thinking of making a shorter version for it but still keeping all the details inside.

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people think that people who are over 60 years old should not work and retire earlier

Topic:

Some people think that people who are over 60 years old should not work and retire earlier. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree
- What is the main issue? - Key words: people over 60

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: should not work, retire earlier

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view on how much you agree/disagree

Answer:

It is often considered that people should not work after they turn 60. While I understand that it is necessary for elderly people to retire, I believe the age of retirement may vary depending on the circumstances.

People at a certain age should retire, not just for their own benefit, but also for the sake of others. The more aged a person is, the less physically healthy he becomes, and at some point he will not be able to fulfill the tasks assigned, especially heavy duties like in the construction or transportation industry. Besides, old people should leave their positions and make room for younger ones in the employment market, which is full of new graduates every year. Only by this way can the labor force be refreshed and the unemployment rate be reduced.

Although it is necessary for the elderly to retire when the time comes, I think in many professions skills and knowledge increase with age, and it would be a great loss when an experienced worker retires at the age of 60. For example, in education, a professor with over 30 years of research and teaching is undoubtedly a valuable asset to any university or institute, and if his health still allows him to continue working, it is definitely a waste of human resource to let him retire. Besides, many people are enthusiastic to their job and want to continue working even when they get old, and these people should be encouraged to further contribute to the society with their work.

In conclusion, although I agree that people should not work and retire when they get old, I believe the time of retirement can be different based on the conditions and wills of the workers.

Comment:

I have to underline the word ‘how much’ in the topic analysis, because it is the trickiest part in this kind of essay. It is easier to totally agree or disagree with the argument given in the topic, but it is much more difficult to write an essay when you partially agree or disagree. Unfortunately, I find myself only partially agree/disagree most of the time I see such kind of topics.

I divide my essay into two parts: part 1 discusses why I agree with the argument and part 2 explains why I think the argument is not totally right. I try to explain as clearly as possible, but could not extend my answer further than this with only 40 minutes. I would be grateful to receive comments from you to improve my writing skill.

IELTS writing task 2: Some people think that rest and sleep are the best methods to relax while others think that it can be done by involving in some activities like sports

Topic: 

Some people think that rest and sleep are the best methods to relax while others think that it can be done by involving in some activities like sports. Do you agree or disagree and give your view?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree
- What is the main issue? - Key words: methods to relax - this is the general topic for the essay

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: rest and sleep, sports - the essay should discuss these specific aspects of the general topic, do not write about the general topic

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view 

Answer:

Many people choose rest and sleep as their method of relax, while others prefer doing activities like sports to wind down. Although both opinions sound logical, I believe that a balance between the two methods would be best for mental and physical health. 

Resting and sleeping may be the first choice when people feel exhausted, they help to relieve the stress hormones accumulated in their body after a long day of work or study. While a person rests in a cozy quiet place, the brain releases chemicals that makes him feel drowsy and fall into sleep, and the body recovers during this time. It is not strange when one feels full of energy after a good night’s sleep because he has been refueled during the night. However, too much sleep can make people tired and less flexible as the body stays too long in an inactive state.

Involving in activities is another way to get rid of tiredness and stress. Yoga and other moderate sports like jogging can help people relax both physically and mentally and improve their performance. For example, doing some exercise in the short break between two classes would help students to focus better on their following lectures. On the other hand, highly intensive activities would further exhaust a tired person, so physically demanding sports are not recommended if one wants to relax. As a result, I think a balanced combination between resting and exercising is the best way to have a quality relaxation time.

In conclusion, it is up to a person to choose their methods for relaxation, whether it is sleep or sport, but in my opinion, one should balance between these two methods to get the most out of his free time.

(288 words)

Comment:

This essay requires candidates to express their own opinion (please note down the words "Do you agree or disagree"). If you do not put "I, me, my" in the essay, the examiner will think that you do not hit the bull's eye and answer the question correctly and won't give you more than 6.5. Try your best to answer just what the topic requires. Do not write more or less than what you are required to do. You won't earn extra points for writing a long essay with irrelevant matters.

That's what I was told when my friend gave me some tips about the IELTS exam. I am sharing it here with you. If you have any comments about my essay, please leave your words! I hope we can help each other to improve our band score.

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people think that government should take care of disadvantaged people such as unemployed and homeless people

Topic:

Some people think that government should take care of disadvantaged people such as unemployed and homeless people. Do you agree or disagree?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree

- What is the main issue? - Key words: government takes care of people

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: government, disadvantaged people

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view

Answer:

As equality has become a standard for development of a country, the governments are under pressure to take care of disadvantaged people like the unemployed and the homeless. It is agreed that the government should allocate resources to help these vulnerable groups. This essay will discuss the importance of the government in improving the life of the less privileged section of the society.

All people have ups and downs and need help at some point in their lives, and disadvantaged people even need more help because their starting points are usually low – whether in terms of property, education or opportunities. The government is the only institution capable of providing such assistance because no person or organization is willing or has enough resources to cover this large-scale substitution. For instance, the government can give money to every homeless people in the country while no other organization can. Furthermore, when the government assumes the role, the public can be sure that all resources are distributed under strict supervision and management and reach the hands of those in needs.

Another good reason is that when the government takes care of the basic needs of disadvantaged people, the number of crimes dramatically decreased. The unemployed and homeless are the ones who have high chances of committing crimes as they can do anything to earn bread and butter and sometimes to vent their anger about life. When their basic needs are taken care of they will have less reasons to cause problems. However, financial and in-kind assistance is a short-term solution and can cause budget burden on the government, thus providing people with vocational training and employment opportunities could be better measures to solve the problem at its root.

In conclusion, governments should take care of vulnerable social groups to ensure social security and narrow down the gap between the rich and the poor. They can provide one-time financial assistance and create the chances for the vulnerable groups to access training and employment opportunities to ensure they can take care of their own lives.

(339 words)

Comment:

This is a tricky topic, and I have wondered a lot about how to write the essay, and it took me longer than 40 minutes to write the answer above, and the essay is also a bit longer than expected. I don’t know if I receive another tricky topic like this in the exam, I could do it in time or not. I thought tend to be too complicated, and sometimes my mind stuck with difficult answers which cannot be translated into a simple IELTS essay. I think I must practice more to write faster.

IETLS Writing task 2: Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned

Topic:

Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree

- What is the main issue? - Key words: sports

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: dangerous sports, ban

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view

Answer:

Playing sport is an essential part of life, and although most would choose a simple and safe sport for themselves, a large number of people love playing dangerous sports. However, some people argued that dangerous sports should not be allowed. In my opinion, we should carefully go through the pros and cons of these sports before deciding on it.

One reason why many dangerous sports are strongly opposed is that they are a threat to human safety, which is considered the most important matter in all activities. Many serious accidents in sports are reported every year around the world, especially in adventurous games. For example, in Formula One car race, participants always drive at high speed and put themselves at the risk of having their car overturned or hit the stands, causing severe injuries or even death for not only the drivers but also the audience. Because of these unwanted incidents, many have to suffer from permanent disabilities or loss of family members.

On the other hand, dangerous sports are loved by many because they give players the adrenaline rush and the sense of superiority that nothing can replace. Furthermore, many of them are traditional sports that are associated with religion and culture. For instance, bullfighting is one of the most famous symbols of Spain, and many have died participating in this game. However, the idea of banning this game has received massive public outcry because it hurts the sentiments of the countrymen. Thus, it is important to consider the merits and demerits of dangerous games before taking any decision.

In conclusion, I believe it is necessary that all the positive and negative points of dangerous sports be considered when considering banning them.

(283 words)

Comment:

This is the most I can think of when writing about this topic. I know it is quite short comparing to the answer for other topics, but I hope it is just enough, not too long, not too short. My strong point is grammar and vocabulary, and the only thing that I worry about is idea. My mind often goes blank whenever I sit in an exam and I do not know what to write at all, mostly because of my lack in life experience. As a result, I need to accumulate ideas for different topics before the test.

I would love to receive comments or other essays from you. I think I will learn a lot from your essays – especially when it comes to ideas.

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people spend money on tickets for sporting or cultural events

Topic:

Some people spend money on tickets for sporting or cultural events. Is it a good thing or bad thing? Explain your view from your knowledge or own experience?

Topic analysis:

- What type of essay is it? – Positive or negative

- What is the main issue? - Key words: money

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: spend (money) on tickets, sporting or cultural events

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: good or bad – personal opinion from own experience

Answer:

In today’s world, many people are willing to spend large amount of money to buy tickets for sporting or cultural events. While many people think that it is a total waste of money, I personally think that it is worthwhile. This essay will discuss both opinions, followed by a reasoned conclusion.

Many people think that it is not a good idea to spend money on just a sporting or cultural event. Attending these kinds of events can be costly, not only because of the pricey entrance tickets, but also because of the traveling cost sometimes if the events are held away from participants’ locality or place of residence. They prefer saving or investing their money elsewhere, for example, on gold or property.

While this argument sounds logical, I believe people who approve of it are less informed about the bounty of benefits of participating in such events. When people go to a sporting or cultural event, especially those held away from their hometown, they are exposed to the lifestyle and culture of the host communities, which may result in memorable moments in life. In addition, these special events can also be a nice getaway for people to take some time off work and relax. Furthermore, large sporting and cultural events may attract people from different religious and cultural backgrounds and are great opportunities to make new friends and build relationships. As a matter of fact, I am arranging a trip to Brazil to attend the Carnival which will be held in Rio de Janeiro next Easter. It has been proven to be one of the most colorful and fascinating events around the globe. I believe all the money spent on this trip will worth it.

In conclusion, contrary to some people’s thought, spending money on sporting or cultural events is not a waste. In my opinion, it is a good development and should be encouraged.

(313 words)

Comment:

This topic requires candidates to write from their own knowledge or experience, and I put it into the essay. However, I think that the second paragraph of the essay body is a bit too long. Possibly I should balance between it and the paragraph above.

I am trying to read more about task 2 writing – and find that I have a lot to improve – not only in task response, but also in coherence and cohesion, I think these two aspects are my weak points. Besides, sometimes it’s difficult to think of ideas – maybe I should also practice vocabulary for more flexible use.