IELTS Writing Task 2Question type
Discussion essays
Discuss both positions before giving a justified view.
Healthy Lifestyle in Countryside vs Cities
Many people believe that it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle in the countryside. Others believe that there are health benefits to living in cities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Economic Growth, World Poverty, and the Environment
Some say that economic growth is the only way to eliminate world poverty and hunger, while others say that economic growth is destroying the environment and must stop. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Education for Society or Personal Ambitions
Some people say that the purpose of education is to prepare individuals to be useful to society. Others say its purpose is to prepare individuals to achieve personal ambitions. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Job Satisfaction Versus Job Security
Some people argue that job satisfaction is more important than job security, while others believe that they cannot always expect job satisfaction and a permanent job is more important. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Free Choice vs Realistic Careers for Young People
Some people say young people should be completely free to choose their future job, but others think young people must be more realistic in their choice. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Women in Police and Military Forces
Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in a country’s police force or military force, such as the army, while others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
International Sports Events: Unity or Competition
Some people believe that international sports events, such as The Olympics or the Football World Cup, are a good way to bring countries together. Others say that these events create competition, not friendship, between countries. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Theatres and Cinemas in the Digital Age
Some people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Accepting Bad Situations vs Trying to Improve Them
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.
Friends with Similar or Opposing Views
Some people think it's better to choose friends who always have the same opinions as them. Other people believe it's good to have friends who sometimes disagree with 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.
Loss of Species vs Other Environmental Problems
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.
Advertising Power vs Consumer Indifference
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.
Free Public Libraries vs Internet Access
Some people think that the government should provide free public libraries in every town, while others think that this is a waste of money because people can access information on the internet. Discuss both viewpoints and give your own opinion.
Sharing Information in Research and Business
Some people believe that it is good 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.
Photographers Following Famous People Everywhere
Nowadays famous people are photographed by professional photographers everywhere they go. Some people say this is a good thing because the public are interested in their lives. Other people think that photographers are wrong to follow famous people. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
University Students Studying Additional Subjects vs Main Subjects Only
Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Team Sports vs Individual Sports
Some people think that it is more beneficial to take part in sports which are played in teams, like football. While other people think that taking part in individual sports is better, like tennis or swimming. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Choosing University Subjects: Personal Interest vs Useful Fields
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.
Corporate Sponsorship of Sports
Many companies sponsor sports as a way to advertise themselves. Some people think this is good for the world of sports, while others think there are disadvantages of this. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Should Animal Experiments Be Banned
“Nowadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer, while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to humanity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”
Staying with One Organisation vs Changing Jobs
Some people work for the same organisation all their working life. Others think that it is better to work for different organisations. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Global Business and Cultural Contact vs National Identity
Some people say that the increasing business and cultural contact between countries is positive development, while others think that many countries will lose their national identities as a result. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Children Making Their Own Everyday Choices
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.
Entertainment vs Educational Value in Movies
Some people think movies should only be for entertainment. Others think that they should also have educational values. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cycling as Main Transport
Many people believe that using a bicycle as your main form of transport has a lot of advantages whereas others think that it has many disadvantages. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Starting Age for Formal Education
Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age. Some think they should begin at at least 7 years old. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Educating People on Junk Food Health Issues
Scientists agree that people are damaging their health by eating too much junk food. Some people think that the answer to this problem is to educate people. Others think education will not work. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Homeschooling versus Traditional Schooling
School versus Homeschooling Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child's development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion.
Technology and the Gap Between Rich and Poor
Some people believe the range of technology available to individuals today is increasing the gap between poor people and rich people. Others think it is having an opposite effect. Discuss both of these points of view. What is your opinion on that issue?
Trying New Things vs Sticking to Familiar Routines
Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with. Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.
Socialising with Work Colleagues Outside Working Hours
Some people think that it’s a good idea to socialise with work colleagues during evenings and weekends. Other people think it’s important to keep working life completely separate from social life. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Professionals Working Abroad After Training
Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Inborn Talent vs Taught Skills in Sports and Music
It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, 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 these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Are People Today More Dependent or Independent?
Some people think that individuals today are more dependent on each other. Others believe people have become more independent. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
High Salaries of Sports Professionals vs Other Jobs
Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Teaching Children to Be Good Members of Society
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 these views and give your own opinion.
Competition vs Cooperation in Daily Life
Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good thing. Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than competing against each other. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.