IELTS Writing Task 1 Sample (Maps): The plans show the room layouts for training session for up ten people and more than ten people

The picture illustrates the plans for training sessions with layouts designed for scenarios with fewer or more than 10 people.

The main difference between the two plans is an additional white board and an extra place for morning tea when the number of attendees exceeds 10.

In the case of 10 or fewer people participating in the training session, the presenter’s chair is placed on the left of the white board. The morning tea area is just behind the tables, which are arranged in a “U” shape for people to sit around them.

The plan B is used when there are more than 10 people joining the training session. The morning tea area is in the top left corner of the room while the two white boards are placed behind the chair of the presenter. The tables are separated from each other, allowing more seats available for people on the two sides of each table.

(155 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample: In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today's world?

In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career. Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today's world?
Designing the school curriculum is of paramount importance in any education system. The dilemma is whether to teach secondary pupils a wide range of subjects or to focus on a small number of practical courses that lend themselves to the future career of students. In this essay, I will first analyze the benefits of each education system and then argue for the first one.

There is no doubt that providing secondary students with a limited number of hands-on subjects is beneficial to their career paths in the future. Children will definitely have more time to focus on study, putting aside the exam pressure of subjects that are irrelevant to their jobs. This helps them gain an in-depth knowledge of their chosen career before entering the workforce. For example, children who have specialised in IT skills and physics at secondary school will have a head start on other children when applying for jobs in engineering.

On the other hand, an education system in which children are taught a range of subjects gains my support due to several reasons. At its simplest, secondary students are merely too young to define correctly their jobs for life, meaning that teaching them a small number of practical subjects should be delayed until later on. Another reason is that children can learn knowledge of different courses, which may help to grow their passion for a particular field. If we educated children only in narrow specialisms in secondary schools, there would be no artists, philosophers or historians of the next generation.

In conclusion, posterity will judge which system is superior to the other. However, it seems to me that giving secondary schoolchildren a chance to learn a wide range of subjects is a more desirable solution in contemporary society.

(292 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample: Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students are encouraged to make comments or even criticism on their teachers. Others think it will lead to loss of respect and discipline in the classroom. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students are encouraged to make comments or even criticism on their teachers. Others think it will lead to loss of respect and discipline in the classroom. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Finding ways to improve educational quality is often one of the top priorities in every education system. In some cultures, high school students are encouraged to give their opinions about teachers, but I believe that this can also give rise to lack of respect and discipline in the classroom.

On the one hand, it is true that feedback from learners may contribute to an improvement in educational quality. In many cases, the level of comprehension of students relies very much not on the content of the lesson but on the way teachers conduct it. If, for example, the class is slow, it will be ineffective for teachers to teach too fast so that most students fail to retain the information. Without the comments of students, it would be difficult to know whether the speed of the lesson is appropriate for the class, which may eventually impair the quality of the lesson.

However, there are several drawbacks of allowing students to make comments and criticism on their teachers. Firstly, teachers can be vulnerable to the negative words of students. Many will feel that their efforts in delivering the lesson deserve praise rather than criticism or any form of feedback. This idea is commonly shared by teachers in the education systems of many Asian countries. Secondly, the classroom may be in chaos due to massive numbers of comments. Opinions vary from students to students, and it would be impractical for teachers to work out a way of teaching that can satisfy all students.

In conclusion, it seems to me that encouraging high school students to comment about their teachers does not necessarily mean an improvement in education quality.

(277 words - written by ielts.vinh@gmail.com)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Nowadays, many families have both parents working. Some working parents believe other family members like grandparents can take care of their children, while others think childcare centres provide the best care. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Nowadays, many families have both parents working. Some working parents believe other family members like grandparents can take care of their children, while others think childcare centres provide the best care. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Pressure of modern life means that a family often requires two incomes rather than one like before. In many cases, parents rely on the help of other family members to care for their children, but this is sometimes not the best option, as will now be discussed.

There are those who argue that babysitting can be done by relatives. For example, grandparents just need to keep an eye on their grandchildren while children in a childcare centre are often grouped together. In an average class, there might be up to 15 students or more under the supervision of two to three caretakers. Children are often playful, and just a second of neglect can lead to fatal consequences. Keeping children at home may therefore provide a safer environment for children to grow up.

On the other hand, I side with those who believe that sending children to nursery school is a more desirable solution when both parents go out to work. The growth of a child depends primarily on how they are educated. The staff members of a childcare organisation are often trained professionally to do their jobs, and they should know how to raise children healthily at each stage of development. In addition, attending a class at an early age is also a chance for children to develop social skills. Children can learn to obey rules, cooperate with other peers and thus may progress faster than those raised at home.

In conclusion, although there are arguments in favour of keeping children at home, I believe that children should be sent to childcare centres for better care.

(266 words – by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are given in the protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree or disagree about this opinion?

Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are given in the protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree or disagree about this opinion?


The protection of wildlife has become a frequent subject of debate with strong arguments for and against. Personally, I believe that humans are paying too much attention and allocating too many resources to this issue, as will now be explained.


Firstly, if we allow any species to disappear, this is actually not a disaster. Some people may argue that the biology will be seriously affected if birds and wild animals are on the verge of extinction, but this is an exaggeration. Fossil evidence suggests that the mass disappearance of the dinosaur did not cause any harm to other species on the Earth but merely triggered the emergence of others such as the mammal. Therefore, we should not devote too much attention to the protection of wildlife.

Secondly, public money is limited. This means that the national budget should be allocated to more urgent issues rather than expending too much in the conservation of wild animals and birds. For example, more resources should be diverted to medical research to find out remedies for fatal diseases such as HIV and cancer, which may help to save thousands of lives in society.

Finally, the government can simply protect wildlife by continuing campaigns to raise public awareness of the protection of wildlife habitats, or impose stricter punishments on activities that may harm wild animals. Any individual who hunts wildlife for food or for pleasure should be given a heavy fine, and this may discourage them from threatening the life of wild animals.

In conclusion, while I do not refute the argument for the conservation of wildlife, I believe that it should attract less attention and fewer resources from the public.

(276 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS)

IELTS Writing Task 2: The use of mobile phone is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned in certain places so mobile phone should be banned like smoking. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The use of mobile phone is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned in certain places so mobile phone should be banned like smoking. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is true that the use of mobile phones is sometimes disruptive to many people. However, it should not be banned in public places as in the case of smoking.

I agree that mobile phones can be as antisocial as smoking. Many people do not care about others when they are in public areas. For example, I often see passengers talking loudly via their phones on buses and trains while a number of individuals are reading books or simply having a short rest. I believe that these ‘noisy’ people create the same unpleasant feeling as smokers do to those who are around.

Nevertheless, it would be too strict to prohibit mobile phones in some places. Firstly, the length of a conversation is not often too long, meaning that it causes little disturbance to other people. Secondly, a ban on the use of mobile phones, even in some designated areas, merely hinders the convenience of the users. Many people depend on cell phones to work, and they may find it difficult to finish job tasks without phone calls.

Instead of restricting the use of mobile phones, the government should find ways to raise public awareness of using these portable devices in public places. For instance, posters or warnings ought to be displayed on buses, trains or stations to make sure that mobile phone users are aware of other people when making or receiving a phone call.

In conclusion, I believe that the government should consider other alternatives rather than imposing a ban on the use of mobile phones in public places.

(260 words – by ielts.vinh@gmail.com) 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local people. Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit these places?

Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local people. Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit these places?

There are a number of factors that explain why many museums and historical sites fail to attract the attention of the locals. However, this issue can be resolved by adopting a number of solutions, as will now be discussed.

Perhaps the primary reason is that local inhabitants often do not have interest in visiting these places as they tend not to be attracted by places and objects that are familiar to their cultural backgrounds. For example, many museums in Ho Chi Minh City welcome thousands of travelers from Hanoi annually, in contrast to the number of local residents who visit the museums and historical sites here in my home city of Hanoi.

Another reason stems from historical attractions themselves. They are often poorly conserved due to a low budget for operation while the authority does not make an attempt to improve the situation. Take the Air Defense museum in Hanoi as an example. For years, there has been no change for the better, at least visually, to attract the locals, and this is the reason why most of its visitors are tourists.

However, a range of available options can be taken to tackle the problem. The simplest one is that the authority should continue campaigns aiming at encouraging local people to visit these attractions. They could also consider rearranging and redecorating historical places to make them more interesting and attractive for all visitors. To achieve this, the government ought to allocate more public money to the conservation of these places.

In conclusion, various measures need to be taken to gain back local residents’ interest in museums and historical sites.

(269 words – written by ielts.vinh@gmail.com) 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later. Some people think that having these people to give a talk to school students is the best way to tell them about dangers of committing a crime. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later. Some people think that having these people to give a talk to school students is the best way to tell them about dangers of committing a crime. Do you agree or disagree?

Crime education is of paramount importance in any country, but the way it can be conducted is often a subject of debate in society. While I agree that asking those who are released from prison to have a talk to school students is a good education method, I also believe that there are better alternatives to the problem, as will now be discussed.

On the one hand, I agree that students may be aware of the consequences of engaging in criminal activities when attending a talk given by ex-prisoners. Their life stories are often vivid and persuasive, and this can attract the attention of school students easily. These ex- criminals are real examples that people have to pay for their unlawful activities, which can raise awareness about law-abiding citizens among young people. The success of a series of educational programs on Vietnamese Television channels about the price that offenders have to pay proves that the narrative forms of crime education can work. It is hoped that a speech of used-to-be wrongdoers is promoted at all school levels in future.

However, I believe that a combination of different education methods would produce a more desirable result compared to a former prisoner holding a talk. Primarily, parents should act as pioneers to educate children at an early age about social evils and how to avoid them. It has long been acknowledged that the home environment has a profound effect on the development of a child, and a significant percentage of juvenile crime stems from insufficient education criminals receive in their childhood. Teachers at schools also play an important role in raising the awareness of students about crime. Moral lessons ought not to be neglected in the classroom, and a positive education environment should be promoted, contributing to crime prevention.

In conclusion, it is my opinion that a talk given by ex-offenders, albeit effective, is not the best education method for crime education.

(319 words – by ielts.vinh@gmail.com) 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people think that schools should reward students who show the best academic results, while others believe that it is more important to reward students who show improvements. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that schools should reward students who show the best academic results, while others believe that it is more important to reward students who show improvements. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Giving encouragement is a necessary practice in every education system. In some countries, a form of awards is often given to those who achieve the highest level of academic attainment, but this is not the most desirable solution, as will now be discussed.

There are those who argue that students with the best academic results should be rewarded. The core of this argument is that this may encourage students to study hard for the best grade, and that those who excel at academic performances should be praised for their efforts. However, only some students who are very smart can be able to come top in formal exams while normal students may think that they are incapable of competing with more intelligent students at all. Therefore, slow students might feel reluctant to bury themselves in study to achieve higher scores.

However, I side with those who believe that schools should reward those who endeavour to study and make great improvements in the educational environment. For example, when I was a child, I often received a small gift from my parents once I scored higher than I did in the previous exam. I still remember that this did make significant contributions to my study and helped me to progress fast in the classroom. Thus, it is suggested that schools take the same action to encourage students to learn. For instance, teachers can simply pay a compliment as the recognition of the efforts that students make during the semester.

In conclusion, it seems to me that schools should reward those who make academic improvements rather than those who score highest in the exam.

(270 words – written by ielts.vinh@gmail.com) 

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease, governments should make efforts in reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Some people think that in order to prevent illness and disease, governments should make efforts in reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The prevention of illness and disease is a challenging problem for any community. Although many people may be skeptical about the effectiveness of an investment in improving the environment and providing more housing for the public, I believe that it is a good solution to the issue, as will now be discussed.

On the one hand, ameliorating environmental contamination can hinder the spread of disease and illness. Today, people’s health is deteriorating due to the adverse effects of poor air quality, making us more vulnerable to viruses and health problems. A number of urban citizens suffer from lung cancer and throat cancer due to the dangerous level of exhaust emissions from traffic and industrial activities in many big cities such as Beijing and Hanoi. Therefore, improving the environment should be treated as the top priority among other concerns of the government. For example, an outright ban on the use of private vehicles can decrease the amount of harmful fumes released into the atmosphere, contributing to the clean-up of the environment.

On the other hand, the provision of more accommodation for the public is also a highly effective measure to reduce health risks. Many people are still homeless in society while many others have to live in slums under poor living conditions with poor access to medical services when they are sick. This triggers the rise of endemic diseases such as malaria in society, putting the life of other citizens in jeopardy. By providing more social apartments of affordable prices and incentives for the poor, the government would not only mitigate the dearth of housing but also prevent disease and illness effectively at an early stage.

In conclusion, it is my belief that environmental pollution and lack of housing are root causes of the proliferation of illnesses and diseases in society, requiring the government to take actions to tackle the problem.

(310 words – written by Thay Vinh IELTS) 

IELTS Writing task 2: Too much emphasis is placed on going university for academic education. People should be encouraged to do vocational training, because there is a lack of qualified tradespeople such as electricians or plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TOPIC:
Too much emphasis is placed on going university for academic education. People should be encouraged to do vocational training, because there is a lack of qualified tradespeople such as electricians or plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

ANSWER:

It goes without saying that society always needs a skilled workforce to function. Employees of different professions contribute different to the thriving of the community, and therefore I disagree with the statement that vocational courses should be given anymore weight than before.

There is no doubt that many people consider taking tertiary education instead of a vocational training program to prepare for their future. It is universally accepted that knowledge and qualifications gained from university can help one to have a head start over other candidates when it come to job hunting. In Vietnam, for instance, a majority of high school graduates are content to spend fours to five years more studying at a university with the hope for a bright career ahead. This results in a lack of skilled manual workers such as plumber and electricians in society.

However, if we encourage more people to become blue-collar workers, then there will be a shortage a while-collar workers who may otherwise create more wealth for society. For example, few engineers would mean lower productivity; a dearth of scientists may inhibit scientific discoveries which can provide us with a better life in the future. In contrast, those doing blue-collar jobs may face redundancy when too many applicants complete for the same position. An unbalanced workforce might, therefore, hold society back from development in the long term.

In conclusion, the workforce will adjust itself to carter for the need of the community. If there are too many engineer than necessary, some will take vocational courses to become tradespeople to avoid unemployment.

(260 words, written by Thay Vinh IELTS)