IELTS Writing Task 2 — 60 questions with model answers

Some people think that all university students should be required to study subjects outside their main field, such as history or philosophy.

Individuals can do little to reduce pollution, and only governments and large companies can make a real difference.

Many everyday tasks are now handled by machines rather than people, and some believe this makes human skills less valuable.

Employers should be required to offer older workers the same training opportunities they offer younger ones.

Governments should tax foods that are high in sugar and fat in order to improve public health.

Museums and historical sites should be free for everyone to enter.

Offenders should be required to do unpaid work in their communities rather than serve short prison sentences.

News organisations should be legally responsible for the accuracy of everything they publish online.

Children benefit more from spending time with their grandparents than from organised after-school activities.

Professional athletes are paid far more than their contribution to society deserves.

Some people believe that children learn best when lessons are strictly structured by the teacher. Others think children should be free to choose what and how they study.

Some argue that protecting rare animals should be a priority for public spending. Others believe that money is better spent on problems affecting people directly.

Some people think that children should be taught to write computer programs from primary school. Others believe that time would be better spent on reading and writing.

Some people believe a job should be chosen for the salary it pays. Others think it matters more that the work itself is enjoyable.

Some people think that cities should limit the number of cars allowed into the centre. Others believe such restrictions unfairly punish people who have no alternative.

Some believe that healthcare should be funded entirely by the state. Others argue that people who can afford to contribute to their own care should do so.

Some people say that international tourism damages the places it visits. Others argue that it is the main reason many historical sites survive at all.

Some people believe that global companies bring prosperity to developing countries. Others think they mainly serve their own interests.

Some people think advertising aimed at children should be banned completely. Others argue that it is a normal part of a commercial society.

Some people believe that space exploration is a necessary investment in humanity's future. Others regard it as a luxury the world cannot justify.

In many countries people now do most of their shopping online rather than in physical shops.

An increasing number of people work for several employers at once rather than holding a single permanent job.

In many cities, people increasingly live alone rather than with family or housemates.

Universities in many countries now recruit a large proportion of their students from overseas.

A small number of languages, particularly English, are becoming dominant in business and education worldwide.

Traditional meals are increasingly being replaced by international fast food in many countries.

Many people now get their news from social media rather than from newspapers or television.

Fitness and health are now tracked continuously by watches and phones.

Self-driving vehicles are expected to carry passengers on public roads within the next decade.

In many families, both parents now work full time.

Housing in major cities has become unaffordable for many people who work in them.

Enormous quantities of plastic waste end up in the world's oceans every year.

Rates of obesity among children have risen sharply in many countries.

Many students leave university with large debts that take years to repay.

Many employees report being unable to switch off from work outside office hours.

Populations are ageing rapidly in many developed countries.

Personal data is collected by companies on a scale most people do not understand.

Air travel continues to grow despite its environmental cost.

Young people are leaving rural areas in large numbers to live in cities.

Online fraud has increased faster than police forces can respond to it.

Some schools have replaced printed textbooks entirely with tablets and laptops.

A growing number of companies allow employees to work from home permanently.

Many countries encourage their citizens to retire later than in the past.

Some governments have made recycling compulsory for every household.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly used to make decisions about hiring and lending.

Some countries limit the number of visitors allowed at popular natural sites each day.

Large supermarkets have replaced most small local shops in many towns.

Some companies have moved to a four-day working week on full pay.

Some countries require every school student to learn a second language from the age of six.

Several cities have made public transport free for all residents.

Fewer young people in many countries are choosing to train for skilled manual trades such as plumbing or carpentry.

Many students now study a subject at university that they never use in their working lives.

People are aware of climate change but often do not change how they live.

In many countries people are having children later in life than previous generations did.

Many people find it hard to spend even a short time away from their phones.

Fewer adults take regular exercise than their parents' generation did.

In many countries people read fewer books than they did twenty years ago.

More people are choosing to eat less meat than in the past.

Rates of volunteering have fallen in many communities.

Fewer school students choose to study a foreign language than in the past.