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IELTS practice General Training Writing test - Task 2
This is the second section of your IELTS General Training Writing test. You should spend about 40 minutes on it.
Write about the following topic:
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. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
You have now reached the end of your Writing test; download the answers and see how well you have done.
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IELTS General Training test
Test takers listen to four recorded texts and answer the accompanying questions.
A variety of question types are used in order to test a wide range of listening skills. These include the ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, the ability to understand the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the ability to understand the purpose of an utterance and the ability to follow the development of ideas.
A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used. Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen to the recording. Each recording is heard only once.
- Section 1 : A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context, e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency.
- Section 2 : A monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
- Section 3 : A conversation set in an educational or training context between two main speakers, e.g. two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor.
- Section 4 : A monologue set in an educational or training context.
The General Training Reading test contains five or six texts.
Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers.
Section 1 – everyday life
Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 – work-related issues
Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
Section 3 – general interest
Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest. A variety of question types are used in order to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, understanding inferences and implied meaning, and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.
Writing tasks in the General Training test consist of two tasks that are based on topics of general interest.
In Task 1 , test takers are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter (of at least 150 words) requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
In Task 2 , test takers are asked to write an essay (of at least 250 words) in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
The Speaking component assesses test takers’ use of spoken English, and is delivered in such a way that it does not allow people to rehearse set responses beforehand. Every test is recorded.
- Part 1 : Test takers answer general questions about themselves and a range of familiar topics, such as their home, family, work, studies and interests (4-5 minutes).
- Part 2 : Test takers are given a card which asks them to talk about a particular topic. They will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner may then ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test (3-4 minutes).
- Part 3 : Test takers are asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions give the test taker the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues (4-5 minutes).
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IELTS Sample Essays
Here you will find IELTS Sample Essays for a variety of common topics that appear in the writing exam.
The model answers all have tips and strategies for how you may approach the question and comments on the sample answer.
You can also view sample essays with band scores on this page.
Looking at IELTS essay topics with answers is a great way to help you to prepare for the test.
These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered.
Specifically these are:
- Agree / Disagree
- Discuss Two Opinions
- Problems and Solutions
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Other Types
Agree / Disagree Type Questions
In these types of question you are given one opinion and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion:
- Advertising
- Alternative Medicine
- Spending on the Arts
- Human Cloning
- Social Interaction & the Internet
- Airline Tax
- Free University Education
- Scientific Research
- Banning Smoking
- Employing Older People
- Vegetarianism
- Paying Taxes
- Examinations or Formal Assessment
- Multinational Organisations and Culture
- Internet vs Newspapers
- Technology Development
- Dying of Languages
Discuss Two Opinions Type Questions
In this essay question type you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view:
- University Education
- Reducing Crime
- Animal Rights
- Child Development
- Diet & Health
- Donating Money to Charity
- Closing Zoos
- Becoming Independent
- Formal and Informal Education
- Influence of Scientists and Politicians
- Sources for Stories
- Searching for Extraterrestrial Life
Cause Type Questions
There are a variety of 'cause type' essay questions. In these you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to whether it is a positive or negative development:
Causes & Effects:
- Child Obesity
- Skin Whitening Creams
- Family Size
- Having Children Later in Life
- Time Away from Family
Causes and Solutions:
- Youth Crime
- Global Warming
- Paying Attention in Class
- International Travel & Prejudice
- Museums & Historical Places
- Disappearance of Traditions
Causes, Pros & Cons:
- Family Closeness
- Living Alone
- Rural to Urban Migration
Problems & Solutions Type Questions
In these type of questions, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be to solve these problems:
- Overpopulation
- Competing for Jobs
- Professionals Immigrating
Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions
In these type of questions you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? ):
- Traffic Problems
- Food Additives
- Computer Games
- Age Discrimination at Work
- Children using Tablets and Computers
- Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication
- Working from Home
- Eating Locally grown Produce
- Oil and Gas Essay
Other Types of Question
There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. You can view some IELTS sample essays for these here:
- Protecting Old Buildings
- Animal Testing
- Fear of Crime
- Communication Technology
- Influence of Children's Friends
Sample Essays with Band Scores
You can also view some sample essays that have band scores and comments based on the IELTS marking criteria.
- IELTS Band 8 Essay Samples
- IELTS Band 7 Essay Samples
- IELTS Band 6 Essay Samples
- IELTS Band 5 Essay Samples
- IELTS Band 4 Essay Samples
Student Sample Essays
For more IELTS essay topics with answers you can also view essays that have been written by students in the Essay Feedback Forum:
- Student Model Essays
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Task 1. A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter. give contact details for when you are away. give instructions about how to care for your pet. describe other household duties. Write at least 150 words.
Free online IELTS General Training Writing practice test - paper IELTS practice General Training Writing test - Task 2 This is the second section of your IELTS General Training Writing test. You should spend about 40 minutes on it. Write about the following topic: Task 2
IELTS General Training test Listening 30 minutes 4 sections 40 items Reading 60 minutes 3 sections 40 items Writing 60 minutes 2 tasks Speaking 11-14 minutes 3 parts Test takers listen to four recorded texts and answer the accompanying questions. A variety of question types are used in order to test a wide range of listening skills.
The IELTS speaking test for General Training is exactly the same as for the Academic module. The test is with an examiner and there are three parts: Part 1: questions on familiar topic areas such as work, study, hobbies, holidays Part 2: a two minute talk on a familiar topic Part 3: Two-way discussion on a more complex topic
These IELTS sample essays have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered. Specifically these are: Agree / Disagree Discuss Two Opinions Causes Problems and Solutions Advantages and Disadvantages Other Types
This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of urban infrastructure from the general training exam. Be sure to sign up for my full IELTS EBooks here to support my efforts to keep writing these essays for students: Patreon Ebooks. Or check out my full online video courses. Dave. IELTS General Training Essay: Urban Infrastructure