IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay #3: Too Many Choices

Some people believe that nowadays we have too many choices.

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

Affording a plethora of choices to consumers has always been deemed a source of pride for the current capitalist economy and its proponents. Critics of this aspect of capitalism argue that, at some point, choices become too many and, hence, inhibit one’s ability to make decisions. I completely agree with that assessment and believe that people in this day and age are presented with too many choices, which are, more often than not, a negative consequence of living in a post-industrial economy.

Firstly, many choices are not real or consequential in our lives. For instance, when walking down the cereal aisle at the grocery store, one cannot help but think that the wide variety of cereal is not variety in fact. Rather, it is the same processed wheat or corn that is flavoured, coloured, or packaged in different ways without any significant change to quality in most cases. Having a smaller range of cereal to choose from seems to be a reasonable expectation in this regard. 

The head-spinning number of choices with minimal differences can also be a source of anxiety for a potential customer. A person interested in buying a car has to do weeks of research and test drives, at the end of which they cannot be absolutely certain about their choice. There are simply too many factors to consider, and they can easily overwhelm a buyer, who does not possess technical knowledge. All an average customer needs is a car with a reasonable number of features and a good level of safety to get them from point A to point B, and most cars can easily render that service.

Some may argue that the existence of too many choices is a desirable phenomenon as it manifests the freedom of choice and the emphasis on individuality; however, I believe that making choices is not the only avenue for expressing individuality; rather, being able to make much more significant decisions in life or being free from government surveillance can be a more marked expression of individuality.

In sum, I believe that the time and mental energy that is devoted to making these inconsequential choices are not really worth it. As human beings, we only get one chance at life, and it would be a shame to waste our valuable time fretting over which product to choose from and unending array of options.

(393 words)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay #2: Social Media

Nowadays, more people are choosing to socialize online rather than face to face.

Is this a positive or negative development?

Social media is an emergent mode of communication that has coloured the lives of numerous people all over the world. In my view, using social media includes many benefits benefits such as connectivity with friends and family as well as facilitating online business; nonetheless, excessive reliance on social media can lead to isolation, anxiety, and other psychological ailments.

Perhaps the ability to connect with family and friends is the most significant benefit of social media, though businesses are utilizing them increasingly. Users are able to create profiles with ease and almost always for free, which will enable them to share their ideas with their social circle and also participate in voice and video chats. In addition, some businesses use social media to connect with their customers and elicit their opinion about products and services. These platforms are thus also very effective in promoting new products to a larger audience.

Despite the numerous benefits, there are a few threats that social media poses to users. There is a significant surge in the number of people who suffer from social isolation because they allow social media to replace their face-to-face interactions. For instance, in Japan, there is a concerning phenomenon of adults in the 20s and even 30s, who never leave their house and are glued to their screens. Furthermore, the algorithms that are used by companies such as Facebook and Instagram are designed in order to keep users scrolling and this leads to extreme anxiety among people who are addicted to checking their notifications every few minutes.

Thus, although socializing online may cause some psychological harm, it has many uses, such as facilitating communication and keeping people informed, especially during the current pandemic, which has forced us all to spend a lot of time at home.

(297 words)

IELTS Writing Task 1 Essay #8: Line Graph about Internet Access in British Homes

Sample Answer

The present line graph provides the percentage of homes without internet access from 2008 to 2014, due to five main reasons.

Overall, lack of interest and skills, which were reported as the two most significant reasons, experienced a rising trend throughout the period. The other three factors, however, remained largely unchanged, almost returning to their initial values by the end of the period.

The more significant factors, lack of interest and skills both exhibited upward trends. In 2008, for instance, about 32% of homes found the internet not useful or interesting enough, a figure which rose at different rates to a peak of 60% in 2013. After this dramatic rise, the figures dropped steadily to about 52% in 2014. Lack of skills, on the other hand, experienced a similar rise between 2008 and 2010 (from about 14% to about 22%) yet remained unchanged until 2012, at which point it dropped to 20%, followed by a soaring of more than 10% and finishing at about 32%.

On the other hand, high equipment and access costs accounted for about 15% and 11% respectively, with different patterns until 2012, at which point they met at about 15% and remained mostly correlated for the rest of the period and by 2014, both declined to 12%.

Privacy and security were not reported as significant concerns. The corresponding figure for them exhibited imperceptible change, hitting a low of almost zero in 2013, after which concerns grew by about six percent by 2014.

Word Count: 247

IELTS Writing Task 1 Essay #7: Artificial Lagoon

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Sample Essay

The present diagram depicts the various stages involved in electricity generation using tidal power in an artificial lagoon. The water required to accomplish the process is supplied from the sea.

Overall, the process involves two main stages, during the second of which electricity is generated. In the first stage, water fills the lagoon, so that it can pass through the turbine in the second stage while exiting the structure.

In the high tide stage, water flows into the lagoon from the sea and through the open inflow gate. The water level rises to the high water mark in a twelve-hour process, during which time the outflow gate is closed, meaning no electricity is yet generated.

In the low tide stage, and once the water level has reached a maximum, the inflow gate is closed, and the outflow gate is opened instead. As water exits the lagoon, it passes through a turbine that is placed at the mouth of the outflow gate and generates electricity. Like the previous one, this stage, too, takes 12 hours.

The estuary levels correspond to the water level in the lagoon; that is, they are high during the first stage and low during the second.

Word Count: 198

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #6: Hawaiian Island Chain

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Sample Essay

The present diagram documents the volcanic eruption process through which the Hawaiian island chain in the Pacific Ocean has been created. The major islands in the chain are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Kolokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii, the oldest of which was formed 80 million years ago.

Overall, the diagram indicates that each island is formed by several deep-see volcanic eruptions, which create mountain-like bulges in the pacific plate, causing the island to rise above the water surface. In addition, the imperceptible movement of the Pacific plate allows each set of eruptions to add a new island to the chain. A small map of the major islands in the chain is also included.

The volcanic eruption originates 2883 km below surface. During the eruption, as ‘hot spot’ spume remains trapped under the solid dense rock, magma spume pierces both the solid dense rock and the Pacific plate and shapes an island through repeated eruptions.

Meanwhile, the Pacific tectonic plate, on which the islands are located, shifts westward at a very slow speed of 7 to 9 cm per year. Over millions of years, this allows for the creation of several islands, collectively known as the Hawaiian island chain, with Hawaii as the largest island.

Word Count: 204

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #5: Coffee and Banana Sales

Sample Essay

The tables show how fairtrade coffee and banana sales changed in five countries in 2004 compared to 1999. The Units are measured in millions of euros.

Overall, coffee sales rose in all countries, among which the most dramatic increase was observed in the UK. While banana sales rose in all but two countries, namely Belgium and Sweden, the UK experienced the highest revenue in both years as well as the most significant increase in sales. Among the countries in question, Belgium and Sweden had the lowest market share for coffee, whereas the lowest figures were shared by Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium for banana sales.

As for coffee sales, except for the UK, the four countries experienced slight increases in sales. For instance, Switzerland doubled its sales from three to six million euros, while sales grew in both Denmark and Sweden by 200,000 euros. The UK, however, took the lead with a dazzling rise in revenue by more than 18 million euros.

Similarly, banana sales more than doubled in the UK, Switzerland, and Denmark between ’99 and ’04; however, in Belgium and Sweden, there was a slight drop in revenue. The UK had the highest banana sales in both years, as they increased over threefold, from 15 to 47 million euros. Originally, Swiss sales were almost twice as high as those of Denmark (1 and 0.6 m, respectively), and both surged, reaching 5.5 and 4 m respectively. Meanwhile, there was little difference between the figures for Sweden and Belgium (2 and 1.8 m, respectively), both of which nearly halved to reach about one million in 2004.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #1: Process Diagram, Electricity from Household Compost

 

 

The present process diagram depicts the seven stages involved in an innovative electricity generation method, using methane fermented from household compost.

Overall, the process involves two stages, namely methane production and electricity generation. Methane is first captured, stored, and compressed; it is then burned to produce electricity. In this way, a home can meet a portion of its power needs in an environmentally friendly way and without paying for electricity from the grid.

In the first stage, capturing methane is accomplished by placing a steel tank in the ground and filling it up to 75% with compost, which includes leaves, food, and scraps. After water is added, the fermented methane from the mixture is captured and transferred to a storage via several pipes. Next, the gas is compressed, and then it is transferred to the electricity generation phase through a long pipe.

In the second stage, the gas is burned in the combustion engine, which releases mechanical energy. Next, the mechanical energy is transformed into electrical energy in a generator and transferred to a large battery, where it is stored. Finally, the electricity, which was being stored, is connected to the home’s electrical system.

(194 words)

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #2: Bar Chart

Free IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Academic Essay

The present bar chart illustrates how many times children commuted to school in 1990 and also in 2010; the figures are presented in millions.

Overall, the chart shows that, by 2010, children had switched from walking, cycling, and taking to bus to being driven to school in personal vehicles. While car use in 1990 was the least popular mode of travel, by 2010 getting a ride to school was by far the principal way of getting to school, which indicates the most dramatic change among the five categories. In addition, all other modes of transport underwent a marked decrease with walking experiencing the largest decline and cycling as the most shunned way of commuting in 2010.

As for modes of transportation that involved a vehicle, the chart shows that car use skyrocketed from just about four million trips to about 11 million, as the combination of walking and taking the bus dropped from just under 6 million trips to roughly 3 million. Taking the bus also experienced some decline, standing at seven million in 1990, yet falling to 5 million in 2010.

On the other hand, walking and cycling–modes of travel that did not involve motorized vehicles–followed the same declining trend, which walking dropping dramatically from over 12 million trips to six million. Furthermore, cycling, which had stood at six million trips in 1990, dropped to the lowest among all categories in 2010: a mere two million.

 word count: 239

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #3: Bar Chart, Someland’s Main Exports

Someland’s Main Exports

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Free IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay

The given bar chart compares the sales of Someland’s three main exports: International Tourism, Dairy, and Meat Products in 2005 and 2015 as well as projected production for 2025. The units are measured in billions of dollars USD.

Overall, each product showed a distinct trend in exports, and in each year, a different product enjoyed the highest sales. Meat product sales has exhibited a falling trend, for instance, while international tourism has been increasing, and both products are projected to continue their respective trends. On the other hand, Someland has managed to significantly boost Dairy export, yet projections indicate a slight decrease in 2025. In addition, in 2005 and 2015, international tourism and dairy products had the highest amounts of exports. In 2025, the former is projected to be the largest export among the three.

Among the three products, Dairy exports and International Tourism stayed above $4 billion throughout the period. In 2005, International Tourism (about $6 billion) surpassed Dairy (about $5 billion); however, despite the growth in the exports of both products in 2015, the sales of Dairy products exceeded international tourism by roughly more than a billion to become Someland’s main export, at just below $8 billion, as compared to roughly $7 billion for the former. Surprisingly, in 2025, the amount for international tourism is projected to gain its place back as the principle export, with just below $8 billion, while the figures for dairy products will be dropping to between $7 and $8 billion USD.

On the other hand, meat products generated a lower revenue of $4 billion in 2005 for Someland, which was the highest. From then on, the exports shrank in a steady downward trend to reach about $3.5 billion in 2015. The country’s meat exports are expected to follow this trend by 2025 and decline further to about $3 billion dollars, which is the lowest projection for that year among the three products.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample Essay #4: Line Graph

Free Sample Essay

The present graph provides information about the changes in the expenditure of four countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Austria) over a ten-year period, starting in 1995 and ending in 2005. The units are measured in million dollars USD.

            Overall, all four countries witnessed an upward trend with Germany as the highest spender throughout the period, followed by France. In addition, Austria had the most dramatic increase among the four countries, which allowed them to overtake Italy in 2003 and take the third place behind the French.

             From among the four nations, France and Austria experienced no decline in their spending. Book purchases in Austria started at $30 million in 1995, had a steady increase to $40 million by 1999, and leveled off from then on, until 2001. Austrian book purchases then saw a soaring of about $30 million and reached just above 70 in 2005. France, on the other hand, started at above $50 million and increased its spending steadily to about $75 million by the end.

            In contrast, Germany and Italy had some decline in their spending. The former started at $80 million and went up to $90 but dropped back to $85 by 2003. From then on, it surpassed its previous high point and reached $95 million by the end of the period. Italy saw its decline between 1997 and 1999 (from about $55 to $50 million) but had a very steady increase to just above $60 million by the end. 

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay #1: Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is an important issue in society today. It will improve people’s lives in many ways and research in this field should continue.

To what extent do you agree?

Sample Answer

Advancements in biotechnology have changed our way of life for the better. However, some emerging fields pose significant challenges to the environment and humans. For instance, genetic engineering is one area where a lot of new developments have taken place. I believe this field may put us all in danger and should be avoided due to its health, environmental, and social impact.

Manipulating the genum of humans and other species can disturb the natural balance in the ecosystem. For instance, gene alteration can lead to new diseases that can place a huge burden on our healthcare system. In addition, due to the complexity of the ecosystem, such alterations might have numerous unintended consequences for the ecosystem, leading to the extinction or distortion in some species.

Genetic engineering can be weaponized and used in wars between nations, which might lead to an existential threat against humanity. For instance, some armies might engage in the development of viruses and bacteria that can be used in dirty bombs to wipe out entire communities during a war. This aspect also puts the entire human race in danger of extinction, as the subsequent complications after these wars are never contemplated adequately. Imagine the health and psychological ailments that a community might have to deal with for, perhaps, decades after a war, where such weapons are used.

In conclusion, based on its adverse environmental and health effects and the danger of misuse by bad actors, genetic engineering should be extremely restricted or completely banned. After all, as a technological trend, this field should always serve humanity, not put it in existential danger.

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