IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Outline

Opening:

- Paraphrase: video games have adverse effect -> video games detrimental to people's development

- Despite threats are real -> there are benefits

Body:

Playing video games has many drawbacks

- look at screen longer => reduced eyesight

   -> many game players wear glasses

- playing too much video games => addiction

   -> less time for studying

- video games promote aggression

   -> contents filled with violence and nudity

Cannot eliminate video games altogether

- many games are designed for education

   -> children develop thinking skill by solving puzzles on games

- animations on games improve creativity

   -> teachers are using games to make lessons more fun

Conclusion:

- Video games have drawbacks, but can be turned into an educational tool

Video games are often portrayed on the media as being detrimental to personal development, especially that of a child. However, while the threats they pose are definite, I believe video games offer a number of benefits if they are consumed responsibly.

On the one hand, the drawbacks of video games are manifold. Studies have proven that prolonged exposure to a digital screen, which is an indispensible component of any gaming consoles, could lead to reduced eyesight. It is quite common to attend a video game convention and spot flocks of prescription-glasses-wearing game enthusiasts. In addition to the negative impacts on health, video games can often lead to addiction. This takes away a large portion of time in one's daily routine, which could have otherwise been spent on studying or working. To add to this, many video games nowadays promote aggression and behavioral disorders, particularly in teenagers and young adults. This is largely because their content is usually overloaded with displays of violence and nudity, neither of which is likely to communicate an image of an exemplary citizen.

Be that as it may, the above disadvantages do not necessarily call for complete elimination of video games. A lot of games these days are actually designed with a keen focus on education. When playing these games, children can develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills by solving quizzes and puzzles. Equipped with fun animations and captivating storytelling, video games also foster people's creativity and appreciation of arts. Teachers around the world have already taken advantage of this characteristic to inject a bit of fun into the classroom and help students to be more excited about learning.

In conclusion, while I don't refute the harms of excessive video game playing, I believe they can be turned into a powerful educational tool if used in moderation.

Word count: 303

Written by IELTS Fighters

Good vocabulary

- manifold: there are many

- indispensible: cannot be without

- to be overloaded with: to have too much of something

- keen focus on: concentrate on

- captivating: attractive

- foster ...: to encourage and help somebody improve a skill/ quality

IELTS Writing Task 2: Leaders and directors in an organization are normally older people. Some people think younger leaders would be better. Do you agree or disagree?

Outline

Opening:

- Paraphrase: leaders are normally older = management comprised of older people

- some think young guns are better -> disagree for reasons below

Body:

Older people are superior for some qualifications

- work in an industry for a long time -> more seasoned

  -> experiences -> decision making

  -> Microsoft's success <- Bill Gates' experiences

- older people have better judgment

  -> life experiences provide people with discernment

Same arguments -> young people should not be leaders

- young people too proud of academic success

  -> not able to realize their lack of experiences

- young people imprudent in making decisions

  -> few young people can make careful considerations

Conclusion:

- Confirm: older people lead better

It is not uncommon in today's world for the management of an organization to be comprised of mostly older people. While some people argue that young guns are better suited to assume these positions, I completely disagree with this thinking, for the reasons provided below.

Older people invariably make superior leaders due to several of their qualifications. First of all, a person who has worked in an industry for a long period of time is naturally more seasoned about that particular industry. Notwithstanding the importance of academic qualifications, when it comes to making managerial decisions, experience always serves as a better guideline. Bill Gates and his tech behemoth perfectly exemplify this principle. While it is irrefutable that Mr. Gates' credentials are impeccable, it is his tried and true experiences in the computer industry to which Microsoft's success should be attributed. Another reason why senior members should be leaders instead of young ones lies in the former's better judgment. Expertise is not the sole parameter that guides a leader's decisions, but it's largely life experiences that provide him with discernment when he is met with options.

It is for the very arguments provided above that the younger generation ought to be spared from top posts in an organization. A number of young people nowadays take too much pride in their academic success. This shortsighted thinking has made them fail to realize that their lack of experiences would do more harm to the organization than good. These young ones are also often quite imprudent in their decision making, which disqualifies them from the job of a leader. Good leadership is often rooted in the ability to make careful considerations, which is a rarity among younger people.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that older people provide infinitely superior leadership to that which younger ones can offer.

Written by IELTS Fighters (303 words)

Good vocabulary

- assume a position: to take on a position

- invariably: always

- seasoned: experienced

- behemoth: a very large company

- impeccable: perfect (degrees/skills)

- discernment: wisdom/ good understanding

- fail to do something: cannot do something

- imprudent: quick to do something without much thinking

- to be rooted in: to come from

- a rarity: a rare thing

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?

Outline (Partly agree)

Opening:

- Paraphrase: protection of wild animals and birds -> mankind is responsible for earth's inhabitants

- However, we are giving more attention and resources than needed

Body:

One hand: Protection of wildlife is important

- loss of one animal -> affects the life of other animals

   -> less fish -> problems for bears

- no protection -> more cruelty and smuggling

   -> health benefit myths -> rising demand for rare animals -> more illegal acts

Other hand: there are other fields that need money

- poverty & hunger > animal extinction

  -> less advertising money -> more support for poor people

- spend more on education & health

  -> people benefit from improved schools and hospitals

Conclusion:

- Paraphrase opening

It is certainly mankind's responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and its inhabitants, especially those that are victims of habitat loss and mass hunting. However, I also think that we're dedicating more attention and resources than needed on this issue.

On the one hand, mankind must not begin to take lightly the protection of wildlife. The food chain dictates that all animals and birds are interdependent, thus the extinction of one will cause serious disturbances to others whose lives it helps sustain. For example, the diminishing number of fish in mountain streams has put tremendous strain regarding food supply on brown bears, which feed primarily on them. Another reason why wildlife conservation support must be perpetuated is that animal cruelty and smuggling would proliferate if this was not the case. Mythical health benefits of animal body parts has given rise to an increasing demand for some rare species such as rhinos or sharks, which in turn supports the aforementioned illegal acts against animals.

However, I do believe a number of other issues are in need of financial support and public attention as well. Poverty rates and world hunger are arguably more immediate threats to mankind than animal extinction. Excessive spending on rhino horn promotional campaigns would be better appropriated to provide food and clothing for people living in austerity. Furthermore, the two areas that should always be prioritized in a country are education and health. People are more likely to benefit directly from improved hospital and school capacity than they would from an additional shelter for endangered animals and birds.

To conclude, although it is irrefutable that the work on animal conservation must be continued, I would argue that there are other issues in more need of support and attention.

Written by IELTS Fighters (292 words)

Good vocabulary

- steward: people who take care of something

- take lightly: to treat something as if it's not a problem

- interdependent: depend on each other

- diminishing number: number that is reducing

- perpetuate: to continue something

- give rise to: lead to

- appropriate (v): to use something in an appropriate way

- prioritize: to make something a priority

- irrefutable: undeniable