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How to Write “Agree or Disagree” Essays for IELTS
Posted by David S. Wills | Jan 15, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 1
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There are various types of essay that you may be asked to write in task 2 of the IELTS writing test, but one of the most common ones is the “agree or disagree” question. This will provide some kind of statement and then ask you whether (or to what extent) you agree or disagree.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about writing an agree or disagree essay .
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What is an “Agree or Disagree” IELTS Question?
There are various kinds of questions in IELTS writing task 2, and one of them is called “agree or disagree” because that is precisely what you are asked to do. The question will normally contain those words although there are slight variations:
- Do you agree or disagree?
- To what extent do you agree or disagree?
This question will follow a statement and your task is to give your reaction to that statement. As long as you can understand the precise nature of the statement, this question is quite to understand.
![words for agree and disagree essay](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/A-Typical-Agree-or-Disagree-Question-1024x576.png)
Note that some people would call this an “opinion essay” but I would disagree with that label. Whilst it is certainly a type of opinion essay, there are other question types that require your opinion, so this is a problematic label. Here’s my guide to opinion essays.
How Should I Answer an “Agree or Disagree” Question?
The important thing about this sort of IELTS question is that you answer the question directly . In other words, you should state whether you agree , disagree , or neither agree nor disagree .
Some people wonder whether it is possible to give a balanced answer and others seem to think that you must always give a balanced answer, but the truth is simple:
You can agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree. Any of these is acceptable.
Just pay attention to the exact wording of the question. If it asks “to what extent…?” then you should clearly state the extent to which you agree/disagree:
- Completely agree
- Partially agree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Partially disagree
- Completely disagree
If it just says “Do you agree or disagree?” then you don’t necessarily need to give the degree and you could just say “I agree” or “I disagree.” However, it is better to provide more explanation and detail.
If you want a more in-depth discussion of the issue of balanced answers, you can read this article .
![words for agree and disagree essay agree or disagree essays](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Agree-or-Disagree_-1.png)
Structuring “Agree or Disagree” Essays
Some kinds of IELTS essay are easy to structure. For example, “ Discuss both views ” and “ Advantages and disadvantages ” questions can easily be answered with a predictable four-paragraph structure. However, “agree or disagree” questions require a little more thought. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to find the right structure.
Generally, I recommend writing four or five paragraphs and preferably just four. As such, here are two possibilities for structuring your “agree or disagree” essay:
Introduction | Introduce the topic State your position ( ) |
Body paragraph #1 | Main argument #1 Support with explanation and example |
Body paragraph #2 | Main argument #2 Support with explanation and example |
Conclusion | Summarise the essay and reaffirm position |
Introduction | Introduce the topic State your position |
Body paragraph #1 | Discuss the first position Mention any weaknesses or counterpoints |
Body paragraph #2 | Discuss the second position Mention any weaknesses or counterpoints |
Conclusion | Summarise the essay and give your position |
As you can tell, the second structure is more complicated and thus there is more scope for mistakes in terms of Task Response or Coherence and Cohesion . However, if you do this right it can provide a more interesting and developed answer.
In any case, the important thing to know is that your structure should be coherent and logical. Your reader should never feel confused. If you make a plan before writing, this will really help you to stay on topic and deliver your views effectively.
Let’s look at an example:
Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
To answer this question, I would firstly decide the extent to which I agree or disagree. I disagree that it is the best use of public money, so I would structure my essay thusly:
Introduce the topic Say it is a good idea but not the best idea | |
Body paragraph #1 | State why is a good idea – help with finding jobs Counterpoint: phones are not ideal Recommendation: computers instead of phones |
Body paragraph #2 | State why it is not a good idea – not realistic People already have phones, so this wouldn’t help much Suggest other methods of investment |
Reiterate main idea: it is a good idea but flawed and therefore not the best idea |
Now let’s look at how I would write that essay:
Sample Band 9 Answer
It has been suggested that governments should give jobless people phones and internet access to alleviate the unemployment problem. This essay will argue that, whilst this may be a good idea, it is certainly not the best way of using public money to solve the problem.
To begin with, it could be seen as a positive step to give unemployed people phones and internet access. This would certainly help improve their lives in a small way and may give them the ability to hunt down job leads. However, it is not a guaranteed method of finding employment. For one thing, phones are severely limited in comparison with computers, which would be far more useful for jobseekers. A computer is more appropriate for writing CVs and scrolling through lists of adverts. As such, perhaps public funds would be better spent on computers rather than phones.
In addition, the idea of just giving unemployed people technology in order to solve their problems seems a little wishful. The fact is that most people have phones and internet access in 2021, suggesting that this is not what prevents them from finding work. Perhaps the money would be better spent on job fairs, counselling, benefits, or even investment in local businesses to spur the hiring process. Indeed, whilst none of these is a perfect solution, they all seem rather more realistic and preferential than buying thousands of phones and internet contracts.
In conclusion, while it may be a good idea to give all jobless people a phone and internet access, it is almost certainly not the best use of public funds in terms of tackling unemployment.
Language for Agreeing and Disagreeing
Once you have figured out the structure for your essay, you need to have the right language to accurately and effectively express your ideas. Most of the grammar and vocabulary you need will be dependent upon the topic , but there are some useful words and phrases to know for all “agree or disagree” essays.
Giving Purpose and Position
In your introduction, you need to clearly state your position vis-à-vis the question. You can also state what you will do in this essay.
Here are some great phrases:
This essay will…
To avoid being overly personal or informal, you can speak as though your essay is writing itself. This might seem a little strange, but it is perfectly normal. It is a great idea to use this for the overview section of your introduction to say “This essay will argue that…” or “This essay will agree with the idea that…”
Alternatively, you can include yourself:
In this essay, I will…
The use of the personal pronoun is a little informal but these questions are directly asking for your opinion and so there is nothing really wrong with it. This is a good way of stating your intentions clearly from the offset.
Just be careful to avoid redundant phrasing here, like “In my opinion, I think that…” It is not necessary to say both “In my opinion” and “I think” because they both express the same basic meaning.
It is also worth making sure that you completely understand how to use the words “agree” and “disagree.” This probably sounds very easy, but many people make mistakes. I have a full article on it here .
One of the biggest mistakes is saying, “I agree to the idea.” Instead, you need to say “I agree with the idea.” The preposition here is a huge difference and completely changes the meaning of “agree.”
![words for agree and disagree essay agree with or agree to?](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Agree-or-Disagree_-2.png)
Language for Structuring your Ideas
You can use some cohesive devices when explaining your ideas but be careful not to over-use them and make sure that each one is used accurately. For example, the phrases “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” are really useful here but many people make mistakes by saying “On one hand” or “One the other hand.”
You can also use words like “Firstly” and “Finally” to order your ideas but remember that having every sentence start with the same sort of word sounds repetitive, so don’t use these too much.
Some other useful phrases are:
The first reason why I think/believe that [summarise view] is…”
In this case, we are directly communicating to the reader that this is the first (and therefore most important) reason to support our opinion. To remove the personal pronoun, simply change to:
The first reason why [summarise view] is…
Here are two examples:
- The first reason why I think that families should take care of their elderly relatives is that it allows more freedom for the individual.
- The first reason why families should take care of their elderly relatives is that it allows more freedom for the individual.
Should You Totally Avoid Personal Pronouns?
![words for agree and disagree essay personal pronouns for agree/disagree essays](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/ted-ielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Agree-or-Disagree_-3.png)
For IELTS, some people say that you should always avoid personal pronouns but other people suggest that they are acceptable. It is true that they are acceptable because some questions directly ask for your opinion and experiences. However, it is also true that an advanced writer can answer these questions without personal pronouns, thereby increasing the level of formality .
Take a look at this question:
Rich countries often give money to poorer countries, but it does not solve poverty. Therefore, developed countries should give other types of help to the poor countries rather than financial aid. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is clearly asking for your personal opinion, so it would be fine to say “I think…” or “I believe…” However, we could definitely answer it in a more detached, formal sense.
To give my opinion, I will say:
this essay will argue that giving money is not simply enough and that more nuanced, long-term solutions are necessary
Later, in the conclusion, I will use similar language to affirm my view:
whilst it may seem reasonable to donate money to poor countries, it would be far better to help them through education
Here is the full essay:
The topic of international aid is incredibly controversial and there are no simple solutions. However, this essay will argue that giving money is not simply enough and that more nuanced, long-term solutions are necessary.
To begin with, it is important to acknowledge that poor countries need some form of aid and that money is better than nothing. Wealthy countries give vast sums of money, but there are numerous problems that emerge. Firstly, this money usually has strings attached, meaning that the poor countries often end up owing favours or debts, which exacerbates their problems. Secondly, poor countries are typically poor because of endemic corruption, and money donated is usually embezzled immediately after receipt. As such, giving money is understandable but problematic, and other forms of aid are thus preferable.
Nowadays, many people realise that it is better to provide poor countries with the means to help themselves. This can be done in various ways, including education. As such, perhaps the best way to help these nations is to provide them with teachers and educational facilities. This can allow them to raise a generation of intelligent, motivated people who will shape the future. It can clearly be seen that the education of women is of particular importance, as this lowers the fertility rate, further stopping other problems that contribute to poverty. Therefore, the education of young women should be made a top priority.
In conclusion, whilst it may seem reasonable to donate money to poor countries, it would be far better to help them through education.
Writing an essay for an IELTS “agree or disagree” question is probably a little more difficult than writing one for other question types. However, it is not much more difficult and if you follow the advice above, you can definitely create a wonderful essay that will get a high score. Just remember to answer the question directly and also to use appropriate language throughout.
About The Author
David S. Wills
David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.
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thanks for such great help.
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IELTS Agree Disagree Essay Sample Answer with Tips
For an IELTS agree disagree essay you can either agree with the statement, disagree with the statement or give your opinion which contains a balanced approach to the issues in the statement. However, this does not mean you can discuss both sides impartially – you must give a clear opinion to get a good score in the criterion of Task Response which is 25% of your marks. Another name for an agree disagree essay is an opinion essay or argumentative essay.
The Agree Disagree Essay is also called the Opinion Essay. They are not different essays. On this website, I usually refer to this essay as the Opinion Essay. However, I am using a different name here just for people who are used to calling it “agree/disagree essay”.
IELTS Agree Disagree Question
Remember, this is also called an Opinion Essay.
The growing number of overweight people is putting a strain on the health care system in an effort to deal with the health issues involved. Some people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education lessons in the school curriculum. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
IELTS Agree Disagree Model Essay
Below is a model answer for the above Opinion Essay = Agree/Disagree Essay.
Owing to the problems which a growing population of overweight people cause for the health care system, it is thought that the key to solving this issue is to have more sport and exercise in schools. I agree that this is one way to tackle the problem, but diet must also be taken into consideration.
Increasing sport or regular exercise in schools is a useful way to tackle weight problems in the long run in the general population. This method will encourage a new generation to develop vital habits which support overall health and also help them maintain a reasonable weight. At the moment, the average child in the West does sport possibly twice a week, which is not enough to counteract their otherwise sedentary lifestyle that comes from many hours each day of sitting at a desk for their lessons. By incorporating more exercise time and possibly extracurricular physical activities, they will undoubtedly become fitter and more active, and continue living that way after leaving schools.
However, targeting physical exercise in school children to reduce the current issue of obesity in the wider population is not effective enough on its own. Firstly, children in schools need to also be educated about what constitutes healthy foods and why in order to ensure a new generation of people who understand clean eating. Secondly, for a more immediately impact, it is important to look at reducing the number of Ultra processed foods (UPF’s) on the market which too many people gravitate towards. For example, the government could impose a tax on UPF’s to increase the price, and also reduce the cost of healthy foods, such as vegetables, to encourage a better diet.
In conclusion, I believe the best approach to tackling weight issues in the population starts with diet and exercise in schools but must also include encouraging a healthier diet through price changes targeting specific foods on the market.
TIPS FOR AGREE/DISAGREE ESSAY (OPINION ESSAY)
- An Agree Disagree Essay is 100% the same as an Opinion Essay – they are two names for the same essay.
- Always analyse the essay question carefully and make sure you identify the key issue or issues in the essay question.
- Plan your main ideas and supporting points before you start writing.
- Introduction
- Topic Sentence
- Supporting points (usually two or three)
- (please note that sometimes it is possible to have three body paragraphs, you’ll find examples for model essays here: ALL MODEL ESSAYS FOR WRITING TASK 2
- Conclusion paragraph
- Make sure your introduction is not too long. Just paraphrase the essay question (background statement) and present your opinion (thesis statement).
- Make sure your opinion is consistent from introduction to conclusion. You can’t change your opinion during your essay.
- Each body paragraph presents a main idea which explains your opinion.
- Your body paragraphs should be equally developed for a high score.
- Supporting points must be relevant to the topic sentence of the paragraph.
- Never miss the conclusion. Keep it short, but make sure you write it! See this video about missing the conclusion: Using the last 5 mins in the writing test
- It is possible to have a partial agreement for the essay above where you think sports lessons are a good solution, but there is another more effective solution that must also be taken into consideration.
- Aim to write between 270 and 290 words. As you can see, my model essay above is over 300 words. However, that shouldn’t be your aim. More words open you up to more criticism.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU When to give your opinion in an IELTS essay Advantage Disadvantage Model Essay Discussion Essay Model Answer OPINION ESSAY PRACTICE QUESTIONS ALL WRITING TASK 2 MODEL ESSAYS AND TIPS
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Hi Liz, what would be the score if it’s written in a real exam?
All model essays on my website are band score 9. The techniques and tips are the same regardless of which band score you are aiming for. The difference in the final score will depend on how good you are at applying those techniques and the level of your English.
Hi Liz, thank you very much for all the tremendous work you’ve been doing! I feel a bit confused re the topic sentence for the first body paragraph as it seems to me extremely similar to the thesis. Do you think we can use the second sentence of this para as a topic sentence instead, saying “Firstly, this method will….etc”. Thank you in advance!
This is a good question. When we write “This method will ….” it is called referencing. It is a language feature that is marked in IELTS Writing, under Coherence & Cohesion (not grammar). In IELTS essays, you count each paragraph as a new entity. You can reference inside the paragraph but not from one paragraph to another. So, we could write “this method” …” in the same paragraph where we have already mentioned the method. We cannot use “it” or “this” at the start of a new body paragraph referring to something in the previous paragraph. The first sentence of a body paragraph is called a Topic Sentence, it contains the main point – it must always be written in full. The examiner should never have to stop reading to go back to a different paragraph to see what you are talking about. IELTS essays are different from other academic essays you might write in school, college or university.
Liz, thank you!
it’s very interesting and looks perfectly logical now.
Hi Liz, thanks for your wonderful website. I’m learning so much.
I want to ask you about the opinion essay. What is the difference between To What Extend Do You Agree and the essay which is Do You Agree? Are they the same or different. I’m confused.
Please advice me.
This is a common concern that people have. An Opinion Essay question might have different instructions. It might be “To what extent do you agree?” or “Do you agree?” or “Do you agree or disagree?” or “What is your opinion?”. Regardless of how the instructions are written, you can use the same approach, the same techniques because it is exactly the same essay task but with paraphrased instructions. You could agree, you could disagree or you could have a partial agreement, which is sometimes called a “balanced view” but does not mean that you convert it into a discussion essay. At no point can you sit on the fence. You are being marked on giving a clear opinion and explaining your opinion.
I watched lots of video of you 3 years ago and now I am preparing my IELTS test.
Please i need clarity in this kind of opinion question. From the available sample, the agreement is always the last sentence in the introduction paragraph. can i start the paragraph with “I agree” and have other parts of the intro coming after it?
Is it possible too to, in restructuring the introduction paragraph to fuse the “I agree” statement and continue with other supposed parts of the introduction ?
Please advise
You’ll find a free video lesson about how to write an introduction for writing task 2 on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/
Dealing with obesity issues has long been a concern, as it poses a significant burden on health care organizations. Some people argue that introducing more physical education lessons in the school curriculum is the best solution. I completely agree with this opinion because it will motivate individuals to become healthier. First and foremost, introducing physical education lessons in the school curriculum will educate students about the detrimental effects of being overweight. Regular physical exercise has been proven to encourage a healthy lifestyle. For instance, schools that incorporate daily physical activities see lower rates of obesity among students. This demonstrates that the more physical exercise students engage in, the higher their potential to maintain a healthy and well-shaped body. Secondly, more physical education lessons will inspire students to engage in sports and develop lifelong healthy habits. From a young age, students will learn that exercise is fundamental to maintaining good health, which will help build a healthier generation in the future. By fostering a culture of physical activity, we can ensure that individuals grow up understanding the importance of fitness and incorporating it into their daily lives. In conclusion, I believe that incorporating more physical education lessons into the school curriculum is an effective way to combat obesity. Such programs would instill healthy habits in young people and raise awareness about the health risks associated with being overweight.
In past 10 years have seen a dramatic increase in the obesity rate .These numbers are rising day by day ,thereby putting stress on medical system to tackle these issues . It is considered by some people that by providing physcially or sports education in schools this problem can be solved . I partially agree with this idea and in this essay i will support my opinion with examples.
Firstly , long- term approach must be introduced by schools . For example, sport or health care syllabus should introduce in school curriculum because by doing this , students will habitual of playing games in ground ratherthan spending their time leisure time on mobile phones. Consequently , this idea will assists people to keep away from sedentary lifestyle. Moreover,by organisisng monthly sport tournaments, obesity rate is likely to be decrease as well as that will help for their good mental growth as well such as, if people will take part in sports that will assist for decrease the weight also they can relief from the pressure of daily other activities . Futher and even more interesting note that these activites will develop positive attitude towards their health and give solutions to control on obesity .
On other hands, medical system is also responsible for tackle this problem because not all students have same ability to play in ground such as , some students are not physcially strong thus they are unable to play games . Thus , health care assits these people to get rid from overweight . Futhermore , students from low – income families could not pay for extra seesions or games activities resultant they have to suffer with obesity and worse mental health . Therefore , health care department is also considerable for find the solutions regarding obesity .
In conclusion , although school plays important role to decrease this problem , role of medical system can not be given nelson ‘s eyes .
It has been noted that there is an increase in the number of people who are overweight, and this increase has a negative impact on the health care system. Physical activity awareness could be incorporated in schools to counter the problem and help reduce the pressure that the health care system faces.
Healthcare systems are created to help in the recovery and maintenance of health in the human population. In over the years, being overweight has been linked to the cause of many illnesses and sometimes the reason why recovery of health is slow or unsuccessful. I believe that exposure to information about physical health is important and influence the population to engage in more physical activity especially if it is introduced in early ages, for example, in schools as a subject.
Developing a hobby through physical education at schooling age will most certainly improve the populations awareness in maintaining a healthy weight and therefore help the health care system to provide efficient services with ease. I fully agree that physical education is a good intervention that should be implemented globally.
Don’t forget you will definitely get a low score if you fail to write a conclusion. It’s essential.
hello, i’ve noticed that you did not mention your opinion in the introduction.
A large number of people who are overweight, causing different difficulties in the health care system. A group of people think that adding more sports and exercise in the school might be helpful in order to mitigate the issue. However, I do partially agree with this and believe that along with the physical education lessons in the school, education about healthy diet and physical activities outside of the school is also essential to tackle the issue. Gaining weight is 80% depending on what we are eating in a day. the knowledge of the carb, protein, and vegetable intake in a meal can be helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle and control weight. As a result, schools can arrange sessions for the students and sometimes for the parents to educate what a balanced meal is. In addition to this, educating about the impact of junk foods on our bodies also how it can damage our different organs can be beneficial for individuals at schools. Another key factor for gaining weight is less activity after school. Usually, after a tiring day at school, most student prefers to stay at home, play video games, or be idle. As a result, they do less physical activities and gain weight. Parents can play an important role in the early childhood of students by encouraging them to do outdoor activities like swimming, skiing, and playing badminton during weekends or after school hours. This will be helpful to keep them active throughout the day/week. In conclusion, adding physical activities to the school curriculum can be a good initiative. However, focusing on educating about a balanced diet and ensuring to do after-school activities can be helpful in handling the issue of being overweight.
Your thesis statement states that you agree exercise in school is needed. Then your body paragraphs completely ignore that point and only talk about food education and after-school activities. You’ll get a low score for ignoring the main part of the task, which is your opinion (fully developed) about exercise in schools. I strongly recommend that you get my advanced lessons to learn precisely how to tackle these essays: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/ . You must learn how to tackle essays for IELTS so that you fulfil the marking criteria. The other issue is grammar. For example, your first sentence: “A large number of people who are overweight” = this is the subject of the sentence. It is a noun phrase. The next word should be a verb, but it isn’t. You ought to write “is causing” which is a present continuous because the problem is happening now. There also shouldn’t be a common between the subject and verb. The more errors you make in grammar and vocabulary, the lower your score. Aim for accuracy in every sentence and with every word. I have a Grammar E-book in my store to help you with your grammar.
As a result of the strain being placed on the healthcare system due to the growing number of overweight people, a number of people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education lessons in the school curriculum of which I strongly disagree. I believe that providing easy accessibility of healthier foods and provision of foods that are lower in calories, as well as reducing the amount of sugars present in packaged foods and beverages would be a more effective method of tackling the problem of a growing number of overweight people in the society.
According to numerous researches conducted in recent times, the major cause of the growing number of overweight people in this generation is poor diet. An increasing number of people rely on fast foods and packaged foods for their main meals during the day and unfortunately, most of these foods are loaded with an outrageous amount of artificial sugars and are very calorie dense leading to a higher number of obese people in the society. Making healthier foods such as vegetables and whole grains more accessible and affordable by slashing their prices and making them available across all mini marts and supermarkets would go a long way in making it easier for people to make healthier food choices without breaking the bank or going to extreme lengths to access these foods.
In addition to this, the government should make it compulsory for packaged food producing companies to reduce the quantity of artificial sugars in the foods they produce. They should be mandated to make their foods as healthy as possible and made to reduce the quantity of calories present in these foods as much as is possible while retaining all the health benefits of such foods. For example, the Coca-cola company recently reduced the sugar content in their drinks while retaining the same taste, this goes to great lengths to prove that this is indeed a possibility.
In conclusion, I reiterate my stance that rather than introducing physical education lessons in the school curriculum which is a more passive approach to such an urgent matter, a more effective method of tackling the growing number of obese people in the society would be promoting accessibility and affordability of healthier food choices as well as mandating packaged food producing companies to reduce the quantity of sugars in foods they produce.
Try to remember your aim is to write an essay of around 270-290 words. Longer is definitely not the goal for IELTS. See this page with model answers and tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/
The increased rate of obesity is creating a problem in the health care system. Some people believe that to help solve the crisis it is imperative to present additional physical activities as part of school curriculum. I highly agree that it will be a crucial start to motivate young individuals in making way towards a healthy living.
Nowadays, most schools have a physical education intended for every student as part of their school curriculum. In addition to the said physical education are numerous kinds of extracurricular activities that some active students participate in. For example, football, basketball and running- all these activities are not graded as it is only an optional activity for students. In spite of the encouragement of many educators for young individuals to get engaged in many sports, there are many students who opt not to be involved at all. As a result, physical education only works if there is a grading system for students to follow. Moreover, students will be more motivated if they are constantly reminded that health education is a competitive subject that they need to pass.
Moreover, physical education that will be implemented at school will be a beginning of the young generations’ choices towards a healthy life. If the students know the importance of being in a good shape has a significant effect on their future, it will be a solid foundation for them to continue their healthy lifestyle even after they graduate from school. Through this they will aim not only to have good grades but for a positive and long lasting effect on their life.
In conclusion, physical education that is introduced as part of school curriculum will be a beginning of building a strong motivation to young individuals in making good and healthy choices throughout their lives.
I have a question: in opinion essays, should we present points in favor and points against, or should all points support our opinion? My issue is that I’ve seen some essays uploaded to these websites that have two paragraphs stating why they hold the opinion they have chosen, while others, like this one, list points in favor and against as if it were a discussion and finally state which one carries more weight. The difference is that in this one, it only states whether one agrees, and in the other, it states whether one agrees or disagrees (social media opinion). Can you explain this? Thank you in advance
I’m not fully sure I understand what you mean. So, I’ll try to guess. All Opinion Essays focus on your opinion only, not the opinion of other people. You can agree, you can partly agree (ie agree to some extent but not totally or have a specific view point) or you can disagree. Whatever your opinion, the whole essay is about it. This essay above agrees with the statement that exercise is the best method and the whole essay explains. The essay about social media asked about the effects on individuals and the community. The writer said it was positive for individuals but negative for communities – that was the opinion, the whole essay tackled that opinion. It is not about being in favour or against, it is about having an opinion, stating it and then explaining it. It is not related to other people’s opinions, only your own. See my advanced lessons for more detailed training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Hi Liz! I hope you’re doing well. It’s so nice to see you back😊. Liz I have a question I am going to write computer based test so in listening part can I write the answers in capital letters. Please let me know I am going to write my exam this week on April 27th
For the computer based test, handwriting is not an issue so you can use upper or lower case, as you wish.
Can I write examples from my own life? like ” For example, my friend was fit because……….”
All IELTS writing task 2 essays, for both the GT test and Academic test, are formal essays. That means you are not writing about friends, family or yourself. But rather your understanding and knowledge of people and the world in general. See all my model essays to learn the tone and types of essays: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/ . For detailed training, get my advanced lessons in my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
It is true that nowadays, the rise in the ratio of obese patients, are putting a significant amount of pressure on health systems to cater for their deteriorating health needs. A good number of people believe that the best way to deal with this endemic is to incorporate health education in school programs. This essay will completely agree to this statement and give relevant examples.
First and foremost, there are various reasons to this statement. However, the most powerful to this, is the ability to increase the life span of the young adults. This means that when adolecents are being educated enough on the risk of overweight, they are likely to change their habits. Most especially, when they are practiced at school level, this is because children learn better when they are with their colleagues. For example, a result to a research conducted in a montessori school revealed that children aged 4-17 consumed a ton of sugary snacks which was filled with unhealthy calories and they never liked fruits and vegetables as well. All of them had unequal body mass index which was detrimental to their health and if had continued they were continously going to be filled with infirmity and weren’t going to live long. The school changed and incorporated health science in their curriculum. In less than a year after evaluation, the children were all living well, loved healthy snacks. which resulted zero hospital visit.
Furthermore, the second benefit to eradicating obesity is incorporating sporty activities in the routine of their students. By so doing, pupils will always burn off excess calories while engaging in their favourite sports. This will also encourage people around them like their parents to get fit when they see the benefits in their kids. It is proven that parents with sporty children ends up finding interest in sports to encourage their children in doing better. In doing this, they are unconsciously living a healthy lifestyle thereby reducing the risk of obesity in the society.
To sum up, the preferred method to eradicate unhealthy weight is by educating children in schools and instilling exercise in their routine.
Just a quick comment. For an opinion essay, you can’t write “this essay will”. This essay question is asking for your opinion – your personal opinion. If you fail to give it, you will lose marks. Also make sure body paragraphs are equally developed and equally supported. See my advanced lessons to learn how to tackle this essay type: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
I was able to score 7.5 for my Academic Writing with the help of your valuable guidance. Thanks a lot for your genuine effort
That’s a great score! Very well done 🙂
Hii mam, please check the essay below and tell me band score of it and also tell where I did mistakes.
I argued that the people who are heavyweight visiting health care systems to reduce the weight,but few people thought that correct way to solve this issue at school about physical education lessons.I completely agree about the problem think that each and every school should introduce about physical education. first of all, nowadays most of the people are visiting to healthcare to reduce the weight because their is no proper exercises.so,to solve this problem at school education has to introduce about physical education lessons although they have to take care about exercise thrice in a week even though keep more activities about exercise. moreover encourage the children to participate in the physical activities while it should introduce from schooling about the physical exercise so their people donot face any issues about their weight.By using medication people can face health issues.Fir example in an army education they thought about physical activities like running, long jumps, overweight lifts so,in this education they maintain a proper weight however people don’t have any health issues. To conclude every educational institution should have about physical exercise and educate them by keeping the lessons on physical activities so we can avoid overweight problems.
Can you please share your feedback on my essay:
Overweight has always been a great challenge in the past few decades. These days patient list is increasing, not because of serious illness or emergency cases, but because of weight gain problems. Lately, people have started believing that to combat this issue; schools must include physical education as extra course. Although, the idea behind the belief is partially correct, but providing students with only these classes will not address the problem completely.
In a World health survey report of 2019, it was recorded that in Finland, there are least number of cases when it comes to health and fitness related sickness. Finland spends heavily on the health awareness programs at schools, and which, in turn, prepares students right from the very beginning, to be conscious about their body. However, this research doesn’t show the full picture, because Finland’s residents are eating only organic food since last 3 decades. Moreover, the deep cultural and traditional norm of Finland is to have only one meal a day, which automatically keeps people fit and fine.
Adding to the above point, school teachings are not the only way to create health awareness. In a research published by Doctor Prakashmurthy, at IIT Roorkee, it was discovered that hormones and stress levels play a crucial role in fat storage. Hence rather than some exercises, people of India opt for Yoga and meditation as tools to combat body problems related to weight gain.
To conclude, I agree that children should be trained about health and fitiness in schools, but it is also vital to teach them discipline about eating food and involve them in other activities, which are related to calmness of body, as these eventually leads to a healthy and fit body and mind.
It is often argued that the increasing number of obese people is putting a strain on the healthcare system. Some masses believe that the best way to tackle this problem is to introduce more physical education in the school curriculum. I completely agree with this opinion and think that it’s the most important thing that every school should do.
First of all, doing physical exercises daily enhances not only your physical health but also your mental health. Introducing physical education in the school curriculum provides daily basis physical training which helps to remove unnecessary fats and also helps to become free from anxiety, tension, and pressure which ultimately benefits both physical and mental health. For instance, students involved in daily basis physical education can be qualified for jobs related to body physics such as Army. Thus it is better to introduce more physical education.
Secondly, physical activity in schools is one of the best ways to eradicate obesity problems. It helps to form the habit in students on involving in physical activity. Even if the student completes their education in school, they have good knowledge of physical education which they can apply for the rest of their life. That’s why it is important to include physical education in every school, curriculum.
To conclude, I strongly believe that involving physical education in the school curriculum is beneficial because it helps to eradicate the obesity problem in a more holistic way.
there is no doubt that, I contemporary era, the majority of individuals are becoming victims of obesity, hence, it is suggested by few masses that involving the vast information regards physical education in school study, can be proved beneficial to tackle with this issue. I completely agree with this statement. Now I will discuss about this statement in my next sections along with explanation. To commence with, there are numerous reasons for increasing weight related issues. the first and the foremost is unawareness of folks towards balance diet. To clarify it, in modern era, human give high priority to fast food instead of home made, however, junk food has plenty of calories, which is responsible to make people fatty, therefore, it is excellent concept to give possible knowledge about physical education in school to children, because in this age they easily can understand and definitely follow in their future life. furthermore, advancement of technology is second cause fir this problem, To elaborate it, it can be seen that in earliest time, human being needed to move out for work, however, in modern time, it yas become straightforward for them to finish their at home, it means the roberts have been taken replace of human labour, for this reason, people have become lazy and do not anything to keep their body fit and health, and if the knowledge about demerits of enhancing weight will be given in younger age, can be fruitful for adolescence in further life. to conclude, after discussing this statement it is clear that everyone has various thinking, but, in my opinion, this notion is better for every person.
Nowadays, increasing number of obese people is putting a strain on the health care system. Some masses believe that the best way to tackle this problem is to introduce more physical activities lessons in the school curriculum. I completely agree that this is the best way to solve this issue.
to begin with, obesity is become a major problem in the society and adding more physical education lesson in school is the best way to solved this problem. for instance, if more physical lessons are introduced in the schools then children get more time to do physical activities like playing football, cricket and many more physical games, this thing not only make them physically fit but also make them more socialize and mentally happy. hence, adding more physical fitness lessons can change the lifestyle of the students and make them fit physically as well as mentally.
Another point to be consider is that introducing more sports lessons for pupils in school may result in creating more interest of children towards sports and also encourage them to take part in different sports event. Moreover, if a child take part in many sports events then he/she can also encourage their parents to do more physical activities. In other words, parents with more sporty child are more likely to involve in sports as a way of increasing interest of their child towards the sports. Thus, by both parents and children involvement in sports can create a good and healthy society.
In conclusion, to deal with unfit population changing the lifestyle of the coming generation by adding more physical activities in school is the easiest and most effective method.
Very good man
Hello Liz, thank you for making your website a great resource for many of us who are studying for the IELTS!
Essay on obesity topic, any inputs or comments would be greatly appreciated:
Reducing weight can be a challenge for many, and figuring out a solution to this health issue is an important task. Being overweight comes with its own related co-morbidies, such as heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and osteoarthritis, just to name a few. Consequently, these health issues invariably put a strain on the healthcare system, through the involvement of multidisciplinary teams needed to manage these conditions as well as the cost of medications needed to treat the symptoms. Having said that, physical education lessons implemented at school is a possible solution. However, I disagree with the view that it is necessarily the ‘best way’ to deal with this problem.
Being overweight is defined as having a body mass index greater than 25 kilograms per meter square. Overweight and obesity are becoming an increasingly prevalent condition across the globe, more specifically in first world countries. This is partly because of the surplus in food available (especially fast food) as well as the sedentary lifestyles afforded by the children.
Physical activity in schools is just one way to combat obesity. Evidence-based research has shown that being overweight is not just caused by a sedentary lifestyle, it is a multimodal condition with several etiologies: genetics, diet and lifestyle. Hence, just focussing on one cause will insufficiently address and tackle the issue at hand. There needs to be enough done on all fronts in order to not only tackle the present issue, but also to take preventative measures for future generations.
Besides physical educations classes, governments can direct funds towards preventative campaigns through educational sessions in both school and through advertisements. Moreover, policy changes need to be implemented, which include -but not necessarily limited to – the following: banning sugary drinks and candies from school canteens, reducing junk food availability and providing healthier options such as salads. Parents should also be educated on the need and importance of reducing screen time – a known risk factor for obesity.
In conclusion, there cannot be one “best way” to deal with a complex issue such as overweight. This has to be tackled in a more holistic way in order to attain more statistically signifiant results and outcomes to have an impact on the healthcare system.
I am so grateful for your tutorials. I followed all your lessons, bought some of your e-books for my personal studies and finally wrote my exams this year. I am happy to say that I had Reading 8.0, Listening 7.5, speaking 7.5 and writing 7.0. Now I have informed all my friends about your wonderful website. God richly bless you Liz.
That’s wonderful. Well done to you 🙂 And thanks for sharing my website with others 🙂
It is considered that the best option to mitigate the stress of the health care system in tackling with the increasing overweight population is to make students take more physical education lessons at school. Although I agree that students having more exercise will help to deal with the issue to some extent, more attention should be put on enhancing the health awareness of people from all walks of life to solve the problem thoroughly.
On the one hand, exercise is definitely the best choice to keep fit compared to other improper methods like medicine therapy, especially for younger groups like students who are more energetic and able to refresh themselves at a relatively high speed after a running race. The obesity rates of students who have engaged in a sports club at school are averagely lower than those who have not. Therefore, increasing the number of lessons related to sports at school will have positive impact on tackling with the issue.
On the other hand, the physical education lessons cannot stop the rising trend of the obesity population outside the school, it is necessary to let people of all ages receive the health education. Children at school contributed a part of the population who are overweight, the rest part consist of people with unbalanced lifestyle and people suffered from diseases which are the primary cause of obesity like diabetes. It is inevitable to improve their awareness of staying healthy to deal with the growing number of overweight people. This can be achieved in many ways, health experts can give lectures on prevention of obesity and nutritionists can provide advice on daily diet, which are available for everyone on smartphones or TVs. A great number of people who are out of shape will benefit from the health education, which is the cornerstone of winning the battle with obesity.
To conclude, thought I agree that more sports lessons at school may contribute a part in solving the obesity issue, it is more important to improve the health awareness of people of all ages and only in this way, can we solve the problem thoroughly.
Could someone please give feedback on my essay.
The health care system is struggling to resolve the health problems caused by a number of more and more overweight people. It is addressed that introducing more physical education lessons in the school curriculum is the most efficient method. I totally agree that applying the new classes is the key for public health improvement. One plausible effect of the method is that people will spend more time outside and less time in bed. In fact, overweight and obesity people who are likely to eat quite much are not very active. Additionally, modern technologies contribute a huge impact on the sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, getting them engaged in such outdoor activities will help to improve their body health in a positive way. In other words, they can do frequent exercise and burn more unnecessary fat. Creating a stronger society bond is another feasible consequence of the teaching application. Attending physical lessons at school, people can find new friends, especially when they work in teams, and enhance the mental health. Achieving which, a chain effect on their existing relationships such as parents, siblings and classmates will blast. Gradually, people will get to know each other more and more. Nationwide competitions can be held on a regular basis, producing TV shows which entertain viewers and reducing stress among workers. Therefore, the health care system is no longer restrained. In conclusion, to tackle overweight problems, I consent that people should be active on both their mind and behaviors by emerging themselves in the school curriculum. This is among the easiest and most effective way that is either good for body development and social connection.
You’ve got some grammatical errors and I suggest contracting contractable words…. so instead of saying obesity people, say “obese.”
Overall, good job!
It is thought that some of the problems that the health care system faces due to the growing populations of overweight people can be solved by introducing sport and exercise lessons in the schools’ curriculum. I completely agree that this is the best solution to overcome such some of the health issues, in addition to increasing the awareness of people about healthy diet.
Firstly, I believe that making sport as a mandatory subject in schools will decrease the problems that face the health care system. When children do some exercises at different times in the day, they will get healthier and more fit in the future. Also, this will be reflected to their parents as they watch them. For instance, when parents take their children to a garden and the children start to practice what did they learn in their school, their parents will notice the elasticity of their children and they will start do like their children. This encourages most of people and increases their awareness about the importance of sport to their health.
Secondly, besides sport, an awareness about a healthy diet should be taken into account. Eating a lot of fats and sugar can cause some health problems regardless that someone does some exercises. For example, the government should put some taxes on fast food and reduce the taxes on the healthy food.This will encourage people to buy healthy food and as it becomes a habit to them and their children and they notice the difference in their weight and in turn their health. Thus, I strongly recommend to increase the awareness of people about their healthy food bedsides doing sport.
To conclude, I believe that sport and healthy diet will make a big difference in the health care system when they are introduced to children at schools. This results in increasing the awareness of the next generation about avoiding health problems and following a healthy lifestyle.
I dont think the second point was relevant. If it is being marked for Response point, adding and explaining how diet is helpful seems off-point. I think answering like that will be good for questions that ask you for more ways and solutions to the problem, rather than this type
Hello Respected Madam Liz 💗 Please help me to sort out the problem with the question type * To what extent do you agree or disagree) please i am having so much trouble in this ..
If you need training, please go to my store where you can find an advanced lessons about this essay: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Obesity has become more common in our society due to the busy lifestyle practiced by individuals. This has caused enormous strain on the health care system, which can be avoided by practicing a healthy lifestyle.
It is important to promote awareness among the general public of the health problems that can occur due to obesity.
Increasing the frequency of physical education alone will not effectively solve the issue. That is one of the several other steps to inculcate a healthy lifestyle among people. Exercises have the potential to eliminate the excess calories present in our bodies. Exposing children to a variety of sports can help to identify their interests and sometimes, it can help to create a habit among them. In such cases, it can be taken as a very effective option to prevent the flooding of the health care system due to obesity. According to available statistics, the probability of such an occurrence is negligible.
More than that, a well-balanced, nutritious and healthy diet should be practiced. Governments should step up measures to reduce the accessibility of fast foods rich in Sodium and Sugar. They also can educate their citizens about the healthy diet options, which can be easily substituted for the fast food.
In conclusion, a healthy lifestyle, involving nutritious food, adequate sleep, rest and exercise, when combined in the right proportion, is the only solution to deal with any of the lifestyle abnormalities which overwhelm the health care system.
Hi Liz, Is it correct to write the thesis statement as: “I completely agree with this statement for two reasons which I will elucidate below.” Here, I am not using words related to the prompt because they will be used again in the topic sentences of both the body paragraphs.
That is a learned phrase. Each sentence should be connected to the topic you are given and created uniquely by yourself in the test. Is the topic about family? Is it about education? Each sentence must connect to the specific issues presented in the essay question. However, please note that all my advice is aimed at people aiming for the higher band scores. If you are needing only band 5 or around that score, it would be fine to use such techniques in your essay.
Wow… Liz you are back ..so happy for you ❤
Liz, hi. When they ask to what extent do you agree can I write my thesis statement I completely disagree. What is the difference between to what extent do you agree or disagree question and to what extent do you agree question.
There is no difference at all. IELTS like to paraphrase instructions – it’s still the same essay.
Very magnificaant👍👍👍
Hi Liz, thank you for the tips here, they are really helpful. What is the difference between these two essay types- ‘To what extent do you agree/disagree’ and ‘Do you agree or disagree’
Do i have to answer that ‘I completely agree’ to ‘To what extent do you agree question’ OR should i just answer ‘ I agree’ ( I mean, do i have to state the extent of my agreement or i should just simply say i agree)
They are 100% the same. IELTS like to paraphrase instructions from time to time.
Thank you for the response.
Thank You Liz.
I started my prep using your site, a week before my IELTS exam and I scored an overall 7.5 using your tips. Thanks for uploading such amazing tips and samples. They really helped me a lot in my exam.
Great to hear that you did well. Good for you !! 🙂
Hi. Pleaseeeee answer me if possible. In body paragraphs of agree/disagree essays, the first body paragraph should be assigned to agreement side and the second paragraph should be assigned to disagreement side? Or both paragraphs could be assigned to agreement or disagreement side? Thanks in advance.
Your whole essay is a presentation of your opinion. It is not a discussion essay. If you are unsure, please get my Advanced Lessons: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Hi, Liz. I’ve seen certain solutions to the writing task 1 and 2 with a heading or title. Is that necessary please?
You definitely do not use headings or titles in any IELTS Writing task.
Hi Liz, I had practiced GT Writing Task 2 recently first time. Please check and tell that how much band score I’ll get if the following question will come. I’ll be thankful to you for this. Q- You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic. Write at least 250 words.
In some countries it is thought advisable that children begin formal education at four years old, while in others they do not have to start school until they are seven or eight.
How far do you agree with either of these views?
Answer- In world, some countries believed that proper education of a child should start at the age of 4. On the other hand, other countries do not want to start the education of child before the age of 7 or 8. In my opinion, children have to start his/her education from the age of 4 so that basic concepts will be clear in coming 3-4 year. Firstly, if we discussed about formal education, it requires a formal schooling with adequate content and materials that create interest and increase knowledge related to the subject in a child. A young child brain is in developing stage up to the age of 5. If any country want to start primary education in formal way, it helps to increase knowledge of the children’s. Additionally, They will catch the new terminologies and content in a different ways e.g., play-way method. Secondly, if a country want to start children’s study from the age of 7-8 in formal school, they have to provide some materials and content before school. In other words, they have to provide them education in play schools and with new techniques e.g., learn and play, visual learning etc. When children join the formal school, an evaluation test needs to be taken to check the knowledge and capability they’ll have. After that, based on the performance, particular actions and classes should be arrange so that they all come at equal level. Lastly, I want to share my view that early education is very important. I would prefer to provide early school from the age of 4 so that kids brainstorming can be done at right time. I am strongly agreed to start education from the age of 3-4 years.
Hello, I just took Ielts indicator test. I really messed up with the writing task 2. What I wrote is off topic. I don’t remember the question clearly. It is about lectures and technology and maybe it means that teaching in the class I wrote about lecture paper and students should find information from internet by their own I didn’t write about teaching in class. Do you think I can get 6. Please, reply my message I really need to know If I can’t get 6 I have to try again on 27. I need all skills at least 6.
For listening, In Sec 4, there are 4 multiple questions so I think questions are not the same. I just wanna share the others.
It is important to understanding the way Writing Task 2 is marked. If your essay is off topic then you might get only band 4 or 5 for Task Response. It will depend on whether some parts of your essay are relevant as to what you get for Task Response. Task Response counts for 25% of your Task 2 marks. The other marking criteria for Task 2 will not be affected. You could get band 4 in TR, but get band 8 in the other three marking criteria. You can do the maths. On top of these considerations, you must also consider that Task 1 counts for about 33% of your final marks for Writing. With all these considerations, your overall score will depend on so many factors. You will need to judge for yourself what score to expect in the three other criteria then calculate your prediction for your score in Task 2. Then you will need to add your prediction for Task 1 on to that as well.
Thank u so much for your reply Tr, Liz. In task 1 they asked for one bar chart and pie chart and I think I did well. And thank you so much for your lessons. These help me a lot I really appreciate all these lessons provided, I really mean it. In speaking part 2, the time you didn’t tell a truth to your friends and in part3 why children lie to parents and why people tell lies and that kinds of questions. (just sharing the other friends ). I can’t use earphones in speaking maybe because I’m under 18 and my father had to sit near me. It is ok to use earphones in listening.
Good luck with your results !! Let me know how you do when they arrive
Yes, teacher, I will. Thank u so much for the lessons. My result will not be good as others but I’m glad to study your lessons.
GOD Bless You Hello Liz very thnx for your help
You’re welcome 🙂
Good afternoon Liz.I should say You are very intelligent and thank you very muuuuuch .Since your tips help improve my writing .Thanks😘
Please Liz I took my ielts today I completely agreed on an opinion in my introduction but ended up discussing on partially agreed in the paragraphs, please how will this affect my score
It will affect your score for Task Achievement which is 25% of your task 2 marks. If you look at this page: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_task_2_writing_band_descriptors.pdf , you’ll see that presenting a clear position throughout is a requirement for band 7. This means that for this marking criterion, you would struggle to hit band 7 if you alter your opinion in the middle or end of your essay. But luckily. it won’t affect your score for the other three marking criteria for task 2. Hopefully other people reading this comment thread will see the importance of fully planning your essay before you start writing your introduction.
Thank you very much Liz for such a kind support. Your’s blog is the best one which i follow the most in my preparation. Specially i recently bought your Essay ideas e-book, which is also very helpful.
Kind Regards
I’m so glad you are enjoying my Ideas for Topics E-book 🙂
Hello, ma’am, I took my IELTS exam on 11th nov. 2020. and i got only 5.5 band(overall).i am struggling with grammar and lack of confidence. please assist me for that.
This year I released a Grammar E-book. However, the level of the e-book is quite high. It will help you, but make sure you don’t overreach yourself. It is important to only produce English within your level rather than trying to impress. The more errors you make, the lower your score. So, use the e-book to improve your accuracy and reduce your errors: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Thank you liz.।।। Making content accessable
I took the test on 12th of Sept 2020. Here is the Writing Task 2 question: The most important priority of any governments is to provide housing. To what extent do you agree or disagree. I hope it helps.
Dear Liz, Your lessons are really very helpful and easy to understand.Thanks for the useful instructions:) Could you please help in assessing the below essay?
Looking at the eating habits and sedentary lifestyle of people, obesity problem has grown over the years which in turn is increasing pressure on the healthcare systems. In my view, introducing physical exercise lessons alone in the school cannot solve this problem. In addition to this, proper eating habits should be followed by people.
Firstly, there is no doubt that physical education can help people maintain their weight and thereby reduce the health problems arising due to overweight. Making students aware of the importance of body stretching on a regular basis is the initial step towards solving this problem .Students can learn a lot about the body structure , its functioning and the ways to keep the body fit through exercises. When the students understand the value of physical exercise, they can pass on this information to their families as well. This is the kind of transformation which is possible only by involvement of not only students but also elders .
Secondly, doing exercise alone cannot be a solution to this problem. There are many more factors such as eating habits (junk food) and sleep cycle , which are responsible to this overweight issue.So , along with the physical fitness, people should start working on their eating patterns and the type of food they eat. Taking an average amount of sleep is also required for healthy lifestyle.This can be achieved by introducing healthy-lifestyle specific lessons in the school curriculum and make children implement the healthy eating habits in their life.
In conclusion, adding more physical fitness lessons at the school level will greatly help in improving the health of people. However, eating habits should also be in control to keep oneself fit and active.
Thank you very much for the free lessons. Can I partially agree in agree and disagree essay even when I’m not asked: ”to what extent do you agree”?
Yes, you can.
But, I was told never to have a clear opinion in agree and disagree question. It’s not only in situations of “to what extent” that we can decide our grace.
Do you agree? Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree? To what extent do you agree or disagree? What is your opinion? All the above are the same instructions which are used for an Opinion Essay. They are not different instructions. This means the techniques for an Opinion Essay apply to an Opinion Essay regardless of how the instructions are phrased. They are simply paraphrases of the same instructions. If you are confused, please get my Advanced Lessons so you can learn the right way to tackle an IELTS essay: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
My instructor told me my reasoning behind my opinion was not strong enough. For instance, when the topic was about the advantages of having older people in a country, I discussed my views as “Children need older people at home for supervision as most of them have working parents”, whereas, my instructor thinks, I should’ve discussed it in country’s perspective saying ” older people are experienced in their occupations”.
I described my arguments clearly with supportive lines. But he didn’t like the “argument” itself. Is that a problem? Will I get less marks for this?
Both you and your instructor are thinking about two different points, not the same point. Your instructor is talking about how older people have more experience in their work which is beneficial for a country. Your point is that elderly people provide family support to take care of the grandchildren if their parents are working. Both points are relevant, but they are completely different points. You get a high score to organising your clear points into logical paragraphs and explaining what you mean in detail. As long as your point was well explained, it’s fine.
You are really super and your explanatory techniques and exemplification in addition to how simple you discuss and present the material are awesome. you have a high talent or skill in analyzing all the discussed and handled topics. thank you from the depth of my heart as you are helping me alot Haytham Selim Egyptian in UAE
I’m really pleased you are finding my lessons useful. Good luck in your test!!
hey liz, Thank you so much for your free content. I did my IELTS test today and it was quite fair. My task 2 was “employers should give their employees at least 4 weeks holiday per year. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?”
Thank you so much for the wonderful tips and lessons, I have learned so much in my short time of preparing. I would be taking the test for the first time in Aug. I hope I make it.
I do have a question on paraphrasing. Is it OK to paraphrase only the 1st sentence of the question, as I saw this done on a model essay. The 2nd sentence was used as the thesis statement. Please find Sample question below. I would truly appreciate it if you could give a model answer.
“According to a recent study, the more time people use the Internet, the less time they spend with real human beings. Some people say that instead of seeing the Internet as a way of opening up new communication possibilities world wide, we should be concerned about the effect this is having on social interaction. How far do you agree with this opinion? ”
Thank you for your help ☺️
Learn how to write an introduction and see model essays on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/
Hey Liz, It’s Mr. Jasjit singh here and I am working as an IELTS trainer in a company. Here, my concern is to point you out that you have used “sporty children” in the essay’s body para – 2, even though, the word SPORTY is an informal. According to the parameters of marking, the informal language must not be used basically in the essay writing, otherwise there is a penalty. Do you think it is worthy to be used by the candidates?
Kindly share your perspective asap!!
“sporty” is completely fine. However, to use the word “kids” is too informal.
I have a question, please answer me.
In my IELTS writing, while checking things at last minute, I did a foolish mistake and change all the words next to comma “, ” in a capital letter.
i.e “However, This was…..”
So, the question is how many marks did the checker will cut or how many bands of mine are at risk. I am worried sick.
Please reply.
Well, I still don’t understand how I did that mistake. Time was ticking and something pushes me to do it :@ maybe this was because of C.D test. I am.sure if I were writing on a paper it would not happen. But fate :@
Since childhood, we know that after full stop next letter is Capital and not after the comma :@ but…argh
This would just count as one systematic error. It means you make the same mistake over and over again. It will affect your score for Grammar, but it isn’t possible to predict your overall score. Your Grammar score will depend on how many other errors you made and the range of grammar features you used. Good luck with you results! Try not to worry too much.
Hello Liz and thank you for all the info that you give us!! I would like to ask you. In this type of essay can I add examples from my personal experience? or I just say my opinion at the introduction and nowhere else?
The style of all essays should be formal which means you should avoid writing about your family and friends. Instead share your experience of the people in your country or around the world.
Dear Liz, Please, I am confused; agree/disagree is opinion essay? I mean: both are the same? Regards
Yes, they are the same. Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree? What is your opinion? All the above are Opinion Essays.
Should I write the word count at the end of the writing task 2?
No, definitely don’t waste your time with that. The examiner will count the words himself if necessary.
Hi Liz, First of all thanks a lot for your great website and youtube channel. These are treasure troves of information. Millions of thanks to you.
I took the test couple of days ago. Writing part 2 was a bit confusing for me.” some people agree it is the best way to make detailed plan of activities in their free time”. While others disagree. Discuss both the views and give your opinion. I read this question more than 10 times, meanwhile, I was writing the essay. Whether it is asking about ‘ free time activities plan’ or ‘If we are free and utilize that time to make a plan about upcoming activities’. I hope you can solve my confusion.
However, the remaining questions are:
Writing part 1: write a letter to the manager about an accident you met with? Speaking: part1: about me, my residential area, facilities, whether you like living in an apartment or not? did you write with a pen or pencil as a child? what do you think if you get a pen as a gift? How do you think when it is compulsory to write only using a pencil-like this test? speaking part 2: An incident when you were not allowed to take a phone with you. (No more points to explain). speaking part 3: why the phones are restricted in some areas of the hospital? Importance of politeness, Need of rule for using mobile phones.
You haven’t remembered the essay question correctly – there are English language mistakes in it. For this reason, I can only speculate. Most questions like this are about whether you should make plans for free time activities or not. Many people like to plan each and every activity they do in their free time, whereas others prefer to wake up and decide what to do based on how they feel that day or how the weather is etc – they don’t want to schedule or plan.
I am preparing my IELTS exam and I have written the below eassy all myself can I please have your feedback
Since the 18th Century technological advances have replaced people in the workplace. with today’s technology this process is happening at a greater rate. Technology is increasingly responsible for unemployment.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Since Industrial age technological breakthroughs have taken the place of individuals in many companies. Now a day’s Digital process plays a great role in many organizations due to which a lot of people are jobless. I completely agree that machines have taken place of human beings. Firstly, mobilized process has fasten the work and brings out better results than of humans. Organizations doesn’t have to double check the work as its scientifically proven that computers and machines are not liable to make errors or mistakes. Many firms are trying to replace the employees with robots where possible to reduce the number of workers in their company, save money which can be used to do investments, buy shares and make profit. For instance, I work in a water company, where distribution of water is 24hours. there are many departments were large number of employees are working. In the production department, earlier men’s where used to drive the forklift and load the trucks now they have been replaced with robots to do the same job.
Secondly, Using Scientific advancement can lead to organizational growth in very less time. As the employer doesn’t have to go through the hiring process which is time consuming and sometime leads to failure as the wrong person is hired for the job. A good illustration of this is, Accounts department is the most important section in any huge firm if the employees are not provided with computers the calculations may go wrong and in worst case the firm could face loss.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend especially large organization to save their time, efforts and utilize their money in digitalizing their work which will lead them to huge profit.
Number of overweight people and children are increasing from last 10 years. Some people think that to solve these issues, facilities of sports and exercises should be provided in school. I completely agree that this is the best solution to tackle the issue for improving public health in relation to weight.
Firstly, to deal with increase in number of obesity and weight of people, some steps should be taken by schools and colleges. Easy access and more facility in sports should be introduced for children and people. This will ensure fitness among students and people interested to take part can join with no age barrier. This will result in reducing sadentry lifestyle and will encourage all to take part in competition.
Secondly, the sports lesson for children in school would result in children developing interest in exercise which might encourage the old age or parents to get motivated. In other word parents with sporty children will try to involve themselves with sports to make their children happy. If both of them get interested, they will practice daily. This would be the best and natural way to improve health of people.
In conclusion, to deal with reducing laziness and overweight people, changing the lifestyle and access to more facility will change the body shape with less problems.
Hi Liz, Is this an opinion essay and we need to cover both sides? Or just the side that I support. I am confused.
It is generally accepted exercise is good for children and teenagers. Therefore physical education and sports should be made compulsory for all students in all schools. What do you think ?
IT is asking for your opinion. It is an opinion essay. It is the same as “do you agree or disagree?” or “To what extent do you agree?”. You present your opinion of the issue or issues stated and use the body paragraphs to give reasons and explanation for your opinion.
Thank you so much Liz! I got a score that is very useful (lrsw=8,9,8.5,7.5). I was just 0.5 away from 8 in writing to get a perfect score! It was an opinion question. I agreed in part in other to have ideas to get my body paragraphs. Number of words 330 essay and 190 letter (computer-based IELTS is the best if you enjoy typing but hurrible hand written like me). I looked through all your model essays, and I discovered that my issues were mainly articles and punctuations).
Well done with your results 🙂 I’ve put loads of information about articles in my new Grammar E-book as well as a chapter on punctuation. I hope to have the e-book ready at the end of April or beginning of May 🙂
May I ask could I take both sides on the question like “Do you agree or disagree”?
Sorry, I think I just found the answer in the comments… 100% same. Which is strange. I thought agree or disagree should give only one position; and for “to what extent do you agree or disagree” require two positions.
Thanks for the great community!
They are the same instructions, just paraphrased.
Hi Liz, is “the key to solving these issues is” correct? Shouldn’t it be “the key to solve” ? Thank you
“the key to solving” is 100% correct. The word “to” is used as a preposition in this phrase, not as part of the verb.
Hi, Liz! I’ll have an IELTS test next week, but am still confused about agree-disagree essay.
Here’s the question: Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, because what matters is the quality of their work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Is that alright if I say on my introduction as follows: In my opinion, dress codes are significant in a working environment, while employees’ competence should matter as well.
My first body paragraph explains the reason why dress codes are important, and my second body paragraph is about why competence should matter.
I do hope you answer my question. Thank you, Liz! Get well soon.
You’ve got the right approach for a partial agreement. However, you need to address your English. “In my opinion, both dress codes and employee competence should be important to any employer.” Try to aim for accuracy and clear meaning in your written English. Don’t try to write in any particular style – just be clear and direct.
Wish me all the best liz!!… I ve covered all your lessons!!…
Thank you very much Liz. Your lessons were of immense help. I got the band score that I wanted.
That’s great to hear. Well done 🙂
Thanks for all time! We truly appreciate your efforts in making IELTS easier to tackle. However I would like to ask about recent questions reported by student for writing task 2. My exam is on the 13th of this month.
Thanks! Don’t forget to get well soon 🙂
I will post Recent Questions for January 2020 soon.
Hi Liz, Thank you soo much for your help.
Should we quote example only if they asked for it in the question or should we give it for all essay questions?
You give examples when you know of a good example to use that will help support and explain the main idea of the body paragraph.
Hi dr liz u r great soul i ever seen wish u a happy happy new year
Thanks 🙂 Happy New Year 🙂
Hi dear liz,wish u a very happy new year ,stay blessed always. U r the great soul i ever seen. I have a doubt regarding essay. If the question was asked about leadership innate or achieved opinion essay shall i write my balanced view lik this, i agree that this skill must be innate for political leadership i bliv this should be achieved for managerial leadership.is this stand ok for partly agree. Thanks in advance for reply
If you want a quantified response which you by you say it is X in this situation and Y in this, make sure your grammar and language are 100% clear. If you make any mistakes with that statement it could have serious consequences. So, make sure you write it clearly without any errors at all.
Its quite evident that the physical structure of humans are mainly measured in terms of average weight and height. This aspect of human body varies based on several factors. Also there are many speculations anticipated especially with respect to the optimal weight of any person. This requires a lot of monitoring and maintenance efforts to predict the health related outcomes of any individual who is known to be overweighted. I totally agree with some of the initiatives incorporated at the school levels in order to mitigate the above factor. School Managements in recent days have implemented diet related programs with the strong vision of maintaining advisable health care system, particularly for stalwarts who are considered be above the average weight. Furthermore, the students have to be encouraged rigorously to participate in sports, games and other outdoor activities. Now a days, we also find a typical gymnasium court with trained experts dedicated to help students who are weighing above the acceptance level. The above attempts can also be recommended to help students to address their depression levels if they are facing any sort of misbehaviour from their fellow mates. There are many real-time scenarious wherein a kid is illtreated or accused by his or her classmates due to their physical appearances pertaining to overweight. It should also be treated as key responsibilities of teachers especially physical fitness trainers in schools. Overall, these kind of programs will always stand as unique and responsive while addressing many health related issues due to overweight. Irrespective of any barriers pertaining to this, the schools shall give atmost importance to motivate students who are observed to be above the normal weight.
You definitely need to realise that an IELTS essay is an essay formed and structured in a particular way for this test to adhere to the band score requirements. You must first learn how to structure your essay. Look at all the differences between my model and your own essay. If you can’t see the differences, please get my advanced lessons which teachin how to write an IELTS essay step by step: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Really you are a very good trainer.
How are you ? Will you please explain the difference between writing task 2 of academic and general? in your website nothing is mentioned like for academic and general for writing task 2. i am preparing for general. please let me know writing task 2 is same for academic and general or different ?
Go to the RED MENU BAR and select “Test Info”. You’ll see an option for GT IELTS information. Always use the MENU BAR to access what you need.
Hi Liz !thanku so much for your topic they are all very useful. I think I got a high band score for writing task 2 thankuuuuu sooo much dear.
That’s really good to hear !! Very well done 🙂
Hi liz, this is the first time I am commenting! Hope you are well. Please tell me where I can find the model answers of writting task 2 provided in your WT – 2 section !
You can find all model essays, tips etc in the main writing task 2 section of the website. Just click on the RED MENU BAR at the top of the page to open the section of the test you want to learn.
That’s is really great for my IELT practice and I’m just 13 and I’m gonna take it when I’m 13 and a half thanks for the information
Good luck 🙂
hi !!! Can we use ‘A LOT OF’ and ‘SO’ in task 2 ? as someone told me that we cannot use it in writing , reason being these both are INFORMAL. Is it true ?
No, that isn’t true. It’s completely fine to use those words.
Hey there!! Can we use “And” and “But” For the beginning of the sentence in between the body paragraphs to add and contrast information respectively ???
PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH AN EXPLAINED INFORMATION ASAP, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
— Jasjit Singh
No, you can’t. See the linking words page for details: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/
Hi Liz , I sat for my academic test on the 28 of September, 2019. I got an overall score of 7.5. LRWS = 7.5, 8.0,6.0,8.0. For the Speaking questions. Part 1: 1.Tell me your full name please? 2. Do you work or study? 3.How is the weather in your country?. 4.Would you like to live in a place with a different weather from your country? 5. Where do you like to read? 6. Do you like to read in an hot weather or cold weather?. Part 2: Talk about an historical building you visited in your country. Part 3:1. Should the appearance of public buildings be designed ? 2. Do you think people should pay taxes to use public buildings? I can’t remember the other 3 questions she asked. For the reading questions, most of them were Yes, No, and Not given questions. I think I did well because the passages were close to what I studied in school. The listening was easy. I got lost in some places though. Writing Task 1. I was given a table to describe the population of people in Jakarta, Sao Paolo, and Bangkok in 1999 and 2001. There was a column for the projected population in 2001.The numbers were too close. I got confused a bit. Writing task 2: Some people believe that university admissions should only be offered to young people with the highest merits while some believe that admissions should be given to all people without considering their grade. Discuss both views and give your opinion. I didn’t finish my writing to my satisfaction. I think that’s the reason for my low score. Time finished faster than I thought. I just want to say Thank you Liz for everything. I learnt a lot from your lessons. Hopefully,i won’t write this exam again.
Well done with your results and thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Liz, I love all your content. Thank you so much for helping us through IELTS. I just wan to know is there a difference between “Do you agree or disagree” and “to what extend do you agree or disagree ” also are opinion essays same as agree disagree essays ?
They are 100% the same.
Hi Liz, thanks for all your help to prepare for my IELTS exam. I can’t thank you enough. I have a doubt regarding “To what extent do you agree or disagree” question. Can I just see it as Agree or Disagree question and just take one side or do I need to address both the side? This question type is really confusing. Kindly advise me. Thanks again for all your help and you are indeed my God for IELTS 🙂 🙂
Thanks, Karthik
They are 100% the same essay – no difference at all.
I am also confused about “to what extend do u agree or disagree” and “Do u agree or disagree” Is there any diference in their answer plz explain
No, there is no difference at all.
hello madam I’m Nikhil I have a doubt that crushing my mind since 10days, please madam could you solve it.
my Institute tutor said we must follow this pattern for agree or disagree question Introduction paraphrase question thesis statement ( not mentioning agree or disagree)
para1 (agree|) statement ! example
para2 (agree) sate3ment2 example
para3 statement3 example
conclusion now I must discuss my opinion
Above essay can also write in vise verse with disagree madam, I already comment you, but you didn’t give reply madam please help me out from this problem, I would be ecstatic.
There is no such thing as a fixed content for body paragraphs. Of course you should state your opinion in the introduction – give your answer and then explain it in the body paragraphs. Please see my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons if you need training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Hi Liz! Thank you for your lessons. They are all very useful.
I would like to ask your opinion regarding examples in body paragraphs.
To get a high band score for writing task 2, it is necessary to support and develop our main ideas. I found some websites recommend providing examples from surveys, polls, government report, etc to support main ideas. Is example really needed? Are there any other ways to support main ideas without using examples?
If we really want to give an example, does it have to be a real example? Can we fabricate false/unreal example?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you, Liz!
Examples with data from sources are definitely not required. You can explain and illustrate your ideas in any way you want. Giving the source of information is a waste of time in IELTS because a) it is written as a learned phrase which doesn’t help your language score b) the examiner doesn’t mark data in task 2 so it won’t help your score either. You decide how to explain your main ideas. You can see most of my essays don’t have examples with data.
Thanks, Liz! It’s so helpful.
Hi Liz, i want to clear my doubts regarding this essay type. There is an essay question in your website which is about the rapid expansion of supermarkets because of which local shops are closing, and some people believe that this is causing death of local communities.
I disagreed with this argument and wrote that supermarkets provide efficacious results for native communities. In body paragraphs i wrote reasons of my opinion, and i hadn’t mentioned local shops in body paragraphs. I just wrote reasons to support my view that this and this are the advantages which benefit local communities. I want to ask is it okay to not mention local shops because i am supporting my view for supermarkets?
You can’t ignore part of the essay question. The fact presented to you is that supermarkets are expanding and local shows are closing. This is the basis of your essay. The opinion you tackle is “do you think this is the death of local communities?”. So, if you think supermarkets are good for local communities – do you also think it is good that local shops are closing?? You need to address the issue or issues in the question.
But if i also acknowledge that local shops are good for local communities then i might be contradicting my own agreed view point that supermarkets are good for local communities, so it means that i have to say that local shops are not good for local communities?
It would mean you have a partial agreement. You don’t have to agree with one side. Think more carefully about why you think supermarkets are good for local communities and then think about what effect local shops closing will have. Once you’ve brainstormed, analyse your ideas and think of exactly what your view is and how to you will express it. After that, plan supporting points. Hopefully you can now see how important planning is 🙂
Hi Liz… Your website is so helpful for me. Thank you much for that. My confusion is…. In this model esssy, there is no discussion about health system. Should we avoid discussion about it? I used to elaborate about helath system in one paragraph . Am I wrong? Please guide.
An opinion essay is not a discussion essay. This essay does not ask you to discuss the health care system. It is asking your opinion about whether you think the problem that obesity is causing on the health care system can be solved by offering more physical education in schools – do you agree with this solution?? Your whole essay from beginning to end is about your opinion of solutions to the problem.
Hi Liz, thank you for all the tips and essay examples. They really help us to achieve better scores on IELTS. Anyway, I was practicing this essay before reading the example, and I wrote it differently. So I want to know your opinion on how I wrote it.
In the first body paragraph, I wrote that including physical activities such as sports in schools’ curriculums is the best way to introduce children to an active and healthier life, giving the example of how US do this.
However, in the second body paragraph I explained that there are other approaches that should be done to countries witness a really dramatic decrease of healthcare use: lowing the taxes of companies that produce natural and organic food, to make these types of food cheaper to people, and making awareness campaigns about having a healthier diet.
I conclude restating that physical activities in schools are essential to create the habit of being physically active, but it should be combined with an awareness of healthy diet.
So the question is: can I agree and also include other aspects to the subject? Thank you!
Yes, of course. It’s called a partial agreement (or balanced approach). It means that you agree to some extent but not 100%. So, you would explain what you agree with and then add what else needs to be considered. I find this approach to be very useful sometimes because it’s easier to find unique ideas for each body paragraph which results in a more focused essay and also a better range of language. See my Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons if you want more training: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Oh nice! That’s a relief. I don’t agree completely sometimes with the affirmation on the question, so I’ll look the page that you recommended. Thank you very much for the answer!
I love this response.
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IELTS Agree or Disagree Essay
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- Opinion Essays
- Discussion Essays
- Problem Solution Essays
- Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
- Double Question Essays
Example of IETS Opinion essay
- You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
- Write at least 250 words.
- Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
Structure of IELTS Opinion Essay
- Paragraph 1: Introduction
- Paraphrase the Essay Topic
- Thesis Statement
- Paragraph 2: Supporting Paragraph #1
- Topic Sentence
- Support (Example or Experience)
- Explanation
- Paragraph 3: Supporting Paragraph #2
- Paragraph 4: Conclusion
- Restate Thesis/Summarize your ideas
To what extent..
Example vocabulary and phrases: stating your opinion.
- In my opinion I believe that education should be free because it helps move society forward.
- As far as paying for education is concerned, I believe that you should have to pay because it creates competition which helps to develop stronger institutions.
- My impression is that education should require a cost whether it be through tax payer money or private institutions.
- Most institutions require tuition to attend. However. I believe that education should be free because it helps move society forward.
Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Arguing Your Point
- This proves that free education can provide many opportunities for those who cannot afford it.
- According to this, it can be argued that financial aid is a way to support students who cannot afford to pay for education.
Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Adding Adverb
Beginning of the sentence, middle of the sentence.
- Clearly, this is an example of numerous afford a proper education.
- This is definitely true because there are many students who are unable to attend school because they cannot afford it.
- Deciding whether education should be free is absolutely a major challenge to consider.
- The right to receive an education is substantially more important than earning money.
Example Vocabulary and Phrases: Verbs
- I disagree that education should cost students.
- I believe that education should be free.
- I have no doubt that society will benefit with free education.
- I think that education should be free.
- It cannot be denied that education costs money because teachers, faculty, and staff all need to be paid.
- As I see it, education has costs, so someone needs to pay for it.
Before You Start
- Think about how you will plan to write your essay.
- Brainstorm and generate ideas.
Outline structure for IELTS Essay
- ________________________________
Outline structure for IELTS Opinion Essay
- Paragraph I: Introduction
- Paraphrase the Essay Topic - I believe that everyone should have access to free education without limitations.
- Thesis Statement - Education is a valuable resource and it advances society.
- Education is tool that helps us succeed
- Germany - Free education
- Same philosophy - society advances
- Paying for education helps drive competition between institutions, but I believe this restricts social mobility.
- Student cannot afford education
- If every person of society is allowed to move forward, then all of society will benefit.
- In conclusion education is essential to any society
- By restricting access to it because of tuition limits societal advancements, it is important that we eliminate sort of barriers to education, Including costs.
Example Essay
- Thesis Statement - Education is a valuable resource and it advances society. If there are certain barriers to receiving education like costs, many students would lose the opportunity to pursue an education because of this.
- Education is a tool and it advances society and with free universal access to education, there are no limits to what a country and what a society can obtain.
- A perfect example of this Is Germany, where universities are now tuition-free.
- If all countries developed the same philosophy towards education as German. I have no doubt that society will benefit.
- Some may argue that paying for education helps drive competition between institutions and helps to develop stronger schools. However. 1 completely disagree because I believe this restricts social mobility.
- In other words, if a student who would like to pursue a degree In higher education, but cannot afford the high tuition rates then he or she will be unable to further their education.
- On the other hand, If every person of society is allowed to move forward, then all of society will benefit.
- In conclusion education is essential to any society.
Example Essay in color
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IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree/Disagree Sample Essay
![words for agree and disagree essay Person holding 2 thumbs up to represent IELTS agree disagree essay](https://magoosh.com/ielts/files/2021/04/Agree-Disagree-Essay.jpg)
IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to give your opinion on an important social issue. In this particular opinion essay IELTS sample, the question type is called “agree/disagree.” Agree/disagree essays want you to take a position on an issue that is stated. From there, it’s your job to say if you agree or disagree with the initial statement, supporting your own opinion with examples and details. For more details on this and other question types for the second part of the IELTS Writing section, check out our complete guide to the most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions .
Below, we’ll look at a model essay, based on an example question. The question is original to Magoosh, but is patterned closely off of real IELTS questions. The model essay is based on an excellent IELTS Writing template for Task 2 created by Rachel, one of Magoosh’s top IELTS experts. Note that this essay is at band 9, the highest IELTS Writing score you can receive. More information on why this is a band 9 response can be seen below the essay.
Agree/Disagree Sample Essay
First things first! Let’s look at the sample prompt.
Example Agree/Disagree IELTS Writing Task 2 Prompt
It is now possible to order almost any item over the Internet and have it delivered to one’s home. As a result, people are no longer patient or careful in their shopping habits. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
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Write at least 250 words.
Example Response
Online shopping and home delivery causes concerns that consumers may become more hasty and less cautious. However, I do not believe that online shopping has this effect. In fact, I would say that the opposite is true. In this essay, I will discuss the reasons that online shopping actually helps shoppers make smarter choices.
Internet shopping actually makes people more patient while they shop, not less patient. This is because, even with home delivery, online shopping is actually less “instant” than traditional shopping in stores. After all, if someone goes into a store, they can leave minutes later with the items they purchased. However, even the fastest delivery methods for online goods take at least a day. As a result, people are actually more accustomed to longer waits before they receive something they’ve bought.
Not only does online shopping make buyers more patient, it also facilitates careful, informed choices for buyers. This is because there is more competition between different sellers online than there is in a single store. If someone goes to a store in person, they will see a relatively small range of brand names, and they certainly won’t see the offerings of other stores. In contrast, online customers can compare just about every brand of any given product and browse the websites of multiple stores. This gives customers all the information they need to make the best possible purchases.
When shopping on the Web, customers can learn patience because they must wait for their items to be delivered to them, and even more importantly, customers can access all of the information they need to choose the right items. Ultimately, online shopping is truly a positive development, not a negative one.
Word count: 283
Why This Essay is Band 9
This is a very strong essay because it satisfies the level descriptors in the official IELTS Writing Task 2 rubric . Read that official score guide carefully and compare it to this essay, and you’ll see why the example above scored so well. Also, for a more detailed band 9 level score report from Magoosh, see the scorer commentary immediately below.
Scorer Commentary (agree/Disagree IELTS Essay, Band 9)
This score report is patterned after the official level descriptors for IELTS Writing Task 2 . This report also looks a lot like the Magoosh IELTS essay scoring service .
Overall Band Score: 9
CATEGORY | Task Achievement/Response | Coherence and Cohesion | Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range and Accuracy |
---|---|---|---|---|
SCORE | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
What was done well in the essay:
- This essay is above the 250 word minimum. (This is very important for getting full points!)
- The writer does a good job of meeting the task requirements. They take a clear position where they favor online shopping and disagree with the claim that it makes people less careful or patient.
- The paragraphs are well organized. The introduction and conclusion clearly preview the essay and give good final thoughts, respectively. The body paragraphs each have their own well-organized topics. The first body paragraph provides good explanations and examples to show that online shopping doesn’t make people less patient; the second paragraph provides comparable support to the idea that online shopping allows people to be more careful.
- There are some nice key phrases to tie ideas together. Examples include “however,” “in fact,” “actually,” and “not only.”
- Vocabulary and grammar show no serious errors, and a good variety of word choice and structure.
Magoosh’s Other Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays
We have model essays for each of the question types for the second IELTS Writing task. Click the links below to access our other sample essays:
- Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
- Two-Part Question Essay
- Causes/Solutions Essay
- Discussion Essay
Want more sample essays? Magoosh has you covered!
To read out model essays for the other Task 2 IELTS Writing question types, click the links below:
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4 responses to “IELTS Writing Task 2: Agree/Disagree Sample Essay”
How many paragraphs are there in to what extent agree or disagree essay as some says that there are 5 para 2 on which we are agree and one Disagree. What is the best structure to get 7 or above for this essay type. Please let me know as my exam in next month.
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Hi Sheetal!
Some people might write 3, 4 or even 5 paragraphs–there is no strict requirement. It is important to organize your essay well, however, and ensure that your use of paragraphs makes sense for the content of the essay. Additionally, remember that you need to write at least 250 words for a Task 2 essay, and most students who score the highest are closer to the 300-400 mark. So you should aim for that amount of words if you want a 7+ score. I’d recommend taking a look at more sample Task 2 essays to see how they are structured, and that should help! Best of luck on your test. 😀
in the introduction part, writer mentions his/her own opinion, is it correct we write our own idea in the introduction part?
Yes, that is correct because the IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to give your opinion on an important social issue. Additionally, note that this question directly asks “To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.”
I recommend reading over several sample Task 2 essays so that you can get a better idea of what they should include/how they should be written. Additionally, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to IELTS Task 2 .
Happy studying! 😀
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How To Write An Agree Or Disagree Essay?
One of the first things you should do is read the marking criteria to see what the examiners expect. This is really important, as you need to know what they are looking for in the band 7+ boxes.
If you would like to purchase a 31 page PDF download that is easy to read and print out please take a look at the bookshop >
Writing Task 2 Agree/Disagree Essay Structure
TIP >> It is very important that spend a full 40 minutes on this task as the score you get for writing task 2 is two-thirds of your total writing score. You also need to write a minimum of 250 words and use your own ideas.
IT IS A 4-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
This is the introduction to the essay and where you should start off by paraphrasing the question.
This means that you rewrite the question in your own words using synonyms. You can’t just copy the question again or use the same words in the question. Paraphrase and show off your vocabulary knowledge by using synonyms. When practising your essay writing, use an online thesaurus to help you. This is a great tool and can help you to learn many new words.
The third sentence in the introduction should outline for the examiner exactly what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. For example, Firstly this essay will discuss……… Secondly, this essay will discuss…….
There are three sentences you need in the introduction >>
The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up – it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study to support your view.
Expressing your opinion
Sequencing ideas, sample agree/disagree essay, writing task 2 band score 9 criteria.
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- IELTS Academic Writing Task 2: Agree or Disagree Essay – Structure and template
One of the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS of an IELTS essay. “To what extent do you agree or disagree? You can FULLY agree, agree BY HALF, or disagree.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? OR Do you agree or disagree?
For instance: After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Below is an excellent Agreement / Disagree Essay structure.
There are 5 options – choose the one which suits your ideas:
1) IF YOU AGREE (STRONG POSITION)
1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I agree that … (2 SENTENCES!)
2§ The first reason why I agree + Explanation + Example
3§ The second reason why I agree+ Explanation + Example OR result
4§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I agree ... (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)
2) IF YOU AGREE (BALANCED POSITION)
3§ The second reason why I agree + Explanation + Example OR result
4§ On the other hand, + why people disagree? + Explanation + Example
5§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I agree … (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)
3) IF YOU DISAGREE (STRONG POSITION)
1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I disagree that … (2 SENTENCES!!)
2§ The first reason why I disagree + Explanation + Example
3§ The second reason why I disagree + Explanation + Example OR result
5§ Conclusion: sum up the reasons + My Opinion: I disagree (PARAPHRASE THE INTRO) (2 SENTENCES!)
4) IF YOU DISAGREE (BALANCED POSITION)
1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Opinion: I disagree that …(2 SENTENCES!!)
4§ On the other hand, + why people agree? + Explanation + Example
5) IF YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE AT THE SAME TIME
1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Balanced Opinion: I accept that … , but I disagree that…(2 SENTENCES!)
2§: What I agree with +The reason(s) why I agree + Explanation + Example
3§ What I disagree with +The reason(s) why I disagree + Explanation + Example OR result
4§ Conclusion: Sum up + My Opinion: why I agree and disagree (2 -3 SENTENCES!)
Some IELTS examiners may prefer, when after your point of view, you also give the opposite - option 2) and 4). Here you will definitely write 250 words and will satisfy the examiner by stating different positions. Your point in the first and last paragraph should be as clear as a daylight. Choose a structure to suit your ideas and topic + what is easier to write personally for you. All 5 options are good. The best are 2 and 4.
How to master IELTS Writing: Task 1 & Task 2
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IELTS Writing: Agree or Disagree Lesson with Sample Answer
Agree or disagree essays: ielts writing task 2 lesson.
This lesson will teach you how to write ‘agree or disagree’ or ‘opinion’ IELTS task 2 essays that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9.
Agree or disagree question types are among the most common on the IELTS writing paper, so you must learn how to write them properly.
In this post, we will look at:
Deciding Opinion
Idea generation.
- Writing an Effective Introduction
- Writing Supporting Paragraphs
- Writing a Conclusion
We will use a question from an IELTS past paper to help us understand the task.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IELTS-vocabulary.png)
Many students fail to do well in this type of question because they do not have a clear opinion and they do not use an appropriate structure .
The best structure you can use for this type of essay is:
Paragraph 1- Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 1
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence
Sentence 3/4- Example
Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary and reiteration of your opinion.
That’s it! Four paragraphs.
Note : You don’t have to use this structure; other structures can get you a high score. However, this structure has been approved by IELTS examiners to allow you to write a clear and cohesive essay. This structure will allow you to focus on generating your ideas and then writing an effective essay.
In this essay, IELTS examiners want you to give a clear opinion, so you must decide when you read the question. You will also need to do this to write an effective thesis statement.
Let’s look at an example:
In some countries, many people suffer from health problems due to eating too much fast food. It is, therefore, necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
Do you agree or disagree?
With this type of essay, we have two choices:
- We agree with the statement or;
- We disagree with the statement
Some teachers advise you to partly agree and disagree. However, I would NOT recommend this because it often leads to an essay with NO clear focus and a CONFUSING structure.
Therefore, for this agree or disagree essay, you can say either:
- This essay agrees that governments should tax fast food or;
- This essay disagrees that governments should tax fast food
I think I will have more ideas for A, so I’m choosing that one. Always choose the one you feel comfortable writing about – even if you don’t feel that way. You don’t get extra marks for writing about how you feel; you want to give the examiner what they need to score your essay a Band 7+.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IELTS-Writing-Task-1-Graphics-1.png)
Now we have to think of ideas for why governments should tax fast food.
Here are some:
- Cigarettes and alcohol are taxed in the same way
- The money raised could be used to treat people with health problems
- Fast food companies should be punished for selling unhealthy food to people
- Making the food more expensive would stop people from eating it
- The money raised could be used to educate people about healthy eating
We don’t need to use all of these, just two for our supporting paragraphs. I will pick the first and the fourth ones because I know a little about these two and feel confident I can expand on them with explanations and examples. Remember, the examiner wants you to fully support your arguments, not just list many ideas.
Now we have two supporting ideas; we can move on to our introduction.
Introduction
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/write-IELTS-introduction-300x194.jpg)
As previously stated, we will use the following structure:
For a more detailed explanation, please see our post on writing an effective introduction.
To paraphrase the question, we restate it with a different meaning using synonyms. I will also reorder the question. Here is the question again:
In some countries, an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems due to eating too much fast food. It is, therefore, necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
Paraphrased: It is argued that governments should levy a tariff on junk food because the health risks associated with consuming this kind of food are rising.
This is our first sentence.
We now need to write our thesis statement. This is our opinion in one sentence. This essay will agree with the above statement and will, therefore, look like this:
This essay agrees that a higher rate of tax should be paid by fast-food companies.
This is our second sentence.
We now need to write our third and final sentence, which is the outline sentence . This sentence outlines what you will write about in the main body paragraphs.
Firstly, alcohol and tobacco companies already pay higher taxes; secondly, higher taxes could raise prices and lower consumption.
So our full introduction will look like this:
It is argued that governments should levy a tariff on junk food because the number of health risks associated with consuming this kind of food is on the rise. This essay agrees that a higher rate of tax should be paid by fast-food companies. Firstly, alcohol and tobacco companies already pay higher taxes; secondly, higher taxes could raise prices and lower consumption.
We now need to write our supporting paragraphs for our agree or disagree essay:
Supporting Paragraph 1
This paragraph should include:
- Topic Sentence
- Explanation
A topic sentence tells the examiner about the rest of the paragraph. In other words, it is a summary of your first idea. It should look something like this:
Higher excise on liqueur and cigarettes has proven to curb the harm caused by these substances.
We now need to expand on this point a little. A good way of doing this is to assume that the examiner does not know this subject, and you must explain clearly what you mean. Here is what this could look like:
This revenue has been used to treat health problems associated with these products and has proven useful in advertising campaigns warning people about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco abuse. Tax from fast food could be used in the same way.
We should now think of an example to support our point. Think about any recent news stories, studies or adverts. If you can’t think of one, make one up. The examiner won’t check if it is real or not.
The United Kingdom is a prime example, where money from smokers is used to treat lung cancer and heart disease while at the same time, pumped into health campaigns in schools to warn children about the dangers of smoking.
That’s it. Four sentences. The full paragraph should look like this:
Higher excise on liqueur and cigarettes has proven to curb the harm caused by these substances. This revenue has been used to treat health problems associated with these products and has proven useful in advertising campaigns warning people about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco abuse. Tax from fast food could be used in the same way. The United Kingdom is a prime example, where money from smokers is used to treat lung cancer and heart disease.
Supporting Paragraph 2
We now repeat the same formula with our second supporting point- higher taxes will increase prices and reduce consumption.
Our topic sentence:
Increasing taxes would raise prices and lower consumption.
Explaining this further:
Fast food companies would pass on these taxes to consumers in the form of higher prices, leading to people not being able to afford junk food because it is too expensive. Junk food would soon become a luxury item, and it would only be consumed occasionally, which would be less harmful to the general public’s health.
We now support our point with an example:
For instance, the cost of organic food has proven prohibitively expensive for most people, and that is why only a small percentage of the population buys it regularly.
The full paragraph would look like this:
Increasing taxes would raise prices and lower consumption. Fast food companies would pass on these taxes to consumers in the form of higher prices, leading to people not being able to afford junk food because it is too expensive. Junk food would soon become a luxury item, and it would only be consumed occasionally, which would be less harmful to the general public’s health. For instance, the cost of organic food has proven prohibitively expensive for most people, and that is why only a small percentage of the population buys it regularly.
Four sentences.
Conclusion
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IELTS-Conclusions-300x300.jpg)
As stated before, a good conclusion for agree or disagree essays should include:
Sentence 1- Summary of main points
Sentence 2- Your opinion
Don’t write any new ideas in this paragraph.
A good conclusion should restate your thesis statement and your main supporting points.
In conclusion, junk food should be taxed at a higher rate because of the good precedent set by alcohol and tobacco and the fact that the increased cost should reduce the number of fast-food people buy.
Agree or Disagree IELTS Sample Essay
In conclusion, junk food should be taxed at a higher rate because of the good precedent set by alcohol and tobacco and the fact that the increased cost should reduce the amount of fast-food people buy.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltsadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IELTS-PREPARATION.png)
I hope you found this ‘agree or disagree’ essay IELTS lesson useful.
About Christopher Pell
My name is Christopher Pell and I'm the Managing Director of IELTS Advantage.
I started IELTS Advantage as a simple blog to help 16 students in my class. Several years later, I am very humbled that my VIP Course has been able to help thousands of people around the world to score a Band 7+ in their IELTS tests.
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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays
IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.
Here’s what we’ll be covering:
- 3 Common mistakes
- Essay structure
- How to plan
- How to write an introduction
- How to write main body paragraphs
- How to write a conclusion
Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics.
Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.
The Question
The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:
- What is your opinion?
- Do you agree or disagree?
- To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Want to watch and listen to this lesson?
Click on this video.
Here's a question from a past test paper.
A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.
3 Common Mistakes
These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.
- Not stating an opinion.
- Giving arguments for both views.
- Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.
The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.
It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.
Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.
Essay Structure
Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.
1) Introduction
- Paraphrase the question
- Give your opinion
- State two supporting reasons
2) Main body paragraph 1
- Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
- Explanation – explain this idea
- Example – give an example or expand the idea
3) Main body paragraph 2
- Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
- Example – give an example or expand the idea
4) Conclusion
- Summarise opinion and key reasons
This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.
We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.
How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays
# 1 decide on your opinion.
The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.
Here’s the question again:
A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.
Do you agree or disagree?
For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.
# 2 Generate ideas
The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.
Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.
There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the IELTS Essay Planning page.
With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.
Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.
You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.
Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.
Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.
- Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
- Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
- High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
- Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
- 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
- Money doesn’t bring happiness
- Better quality of life
- Sense of fulfilment
- Less stressed – healthier and happier
I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.
Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.
Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.
We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.
# 3 Vocabulary
In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.
For example:
satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being
salary – income, wages, pay, earnings
important – significant, valued, has more meaning
job – work, employment, position
With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.
How To Write an Introduction
A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:
1) Paraphrased question
2) Thesis statement
3) outline statement.
An introduction should:
- Have 2-3 sentences
- Be 40-60 words long
- Take 5 minutes to write
1) Paraphrase the question
Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.
Question: A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.
Do you agree or disagree?
Paraphrased question:
It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.
Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.
In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,
Thesis statement:
This essay totally disagrees with that statement.
That’s all you need to say.
If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:
'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'
Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.
Outl ine statement:
I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.
So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.
Introduction
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysIntroduction1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.7Pda7gtdH0.webp)
This introduction achieves three important functions:
- It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
- It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
- It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.
The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.
Main body paragraph 1 – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health
Main body paragraph 2 – a sense of fulfilment at work
How To Write Main Body Paragraphs
The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:
- Topic sentence
- Explanation
If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.
A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.
You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.
Main Body Paragraph 1
The topic sentence summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.
It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.
If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.
We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.
Main idea 1 – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health
Topic sentence:
Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.
Next, we must write an explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.
Explanation sentence:
This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.
Finally, we add an example to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.
If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.
Example sentence:
This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.
That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysMainBody1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.dDrqbKPmGB.webp)
We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.
Main Body Paragraph 2
Main idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.
First, we write the topic sentence to summarise the main idea.
Topic sentence:
Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.
Now for the explanation sentence to explain this idea.
Explanation sentence:
A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.
Finally, an example to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.
I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.
That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysMainBody2Corrected.jpg.pagespeed.ic.N8mnvHUx65.webp)
Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.
How To Write a Conclusion
Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:
- Summarise the main points
- State your opinion
This can generally be done in a single sentence.
If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.
Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.
The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.
A good conclusion will:
- Neatly end the essay
- Link all your ideas together
- Sum up your argument or opinion
- Answer the question
If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.
You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:
- In conclusion
or
- To conclude
Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.
Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.
To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.
Introduction:
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysIntroduction1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.7Pda7gtdH0.webp)
Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysConclusion.jpg.pagespeed.ic.YNzjJhUENZ.webp)
That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.
Question:
A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.
Do you agree or disagree?
Finished IELTS opinion essay.
![words for agree and disagree essay words for agree and disagree essay](https://www.ieltsjacky.com/images/xOpinionEssaysEssay.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ZbAMnwvxmS.webp)
Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.
5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays
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This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.
Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.
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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.
IELTS Writing Task 2 – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.
The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.
Understanding Task 2 Questions – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.
How To Plan a Task 2 Essay – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.
How To Write a Task 2 Introduction – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid.
How To Write Task 2 Conclusions – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.
Task 2 Marking Criteria – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.
The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:
Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.
Opinion Essays
Discussion Essays
Problem Solution Essays
Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
Double Question Essays
Other Related Pages
IELTS Writing Test – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.
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Agree Disagree Essays in IELTS
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Updated On Oct 13, 2023
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Table of Contents
Ielts writing task 2 agree or disagree essay, tips to write agree disagree essays, ielts agree disagree essay structure, agree disagree essay topics:.
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The agree or disagree essay questions are the most commonly asked in the IELTS examination . They are also called as argumentative essays. In this type of essays, you are asked to give your opinion, whether you agree or disagree on the particular sentence that is given. You are given 40 minutes to complete the 250-word essay. Most of the students find it easy because you only have to agree and disagree with the sentence given. You have to support only one opinion.
There are few tips which will help you to write about IELTS agree disagree essay questions, which are as follows:
- When you get these type of questions, it is advisable to completely agree or completely disagree with it. You have to support only one point of view and not both.
- By doing this, the essay will be more clear and structured and can be easily understood by the examiner.
- You can support the other side of the statement if you want to, but make sure that you do it in a positive way and also say it, only in one or two sentences.
- While writing the essay, make sure that the explanation given doesn’t hurt the feelings of the other person.
- The choice of agreement or disagreement has to be made carefully. You need to choose the side which has more supporting points and which you can illustrate with examples so that the answer that you write is voluminous. Please note that you have to either agree or disagree and cannot do both.
- Also, ensure that the introduction of the topic is not too long. The question should be paraphrased to form the introduction.
- The explanation that you give regarding the topic should match with the introduction and the conclusion given.
- There will be two or three body paragraphs, make sure that each paragraph has a central topic.
- The body paragraphs should include the main features that have to be explained and also your overview and an in-depth explanation of your opinion.
- You have to compulsorily write the conclusion. If you do not have time to complete the essay, make sure you at least write 2 or 3 sentences of conclusion, but the conclusion should be included.
In all the sections of the IELTS examination, structure plays a very important role because it will be easy for the test taker to write the answer. Also, the examiner will find it easy to evaluate the answer. So here is the structure that you can follow while writing an agree/disagree essay:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
How to start an agree disagree essay?
First of all, like any other section, the first sentence must be a paraphrase of the question that is given. In the second sentence, you can state your opinion regarding the topic. In the third sentence, you can write on what you are going to explain in the forthcoming paragraphs.
Paragraph 2: Body paragraph
In the second paragraph, the first sentence should be explaining the central idea. In the second sentence, explain in detail, assuming that the examiner doesn’t know anything about the topic. In the third sentence, you can give examples which support the sentence. In the last sentence, you can give the opposing point of view, but in a positive manner.
Paragraph 3: Body paragraph
The third paragraph is very similar to the second paragraph. The first sentence should explain the central idea. The second sentence, should include supporting details and the third sentence, examples which support the idea.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
In the last paragraph, you have to write a summary of the essay. In the first sentence, you can sum up the body paragraphs and rephrase your opinion.
Sample Checklist for Agree/Disagree essays:
Paraphrasing | |||
Opinion statement | |||
Thesis statement | |||
Central idea | |||
Explanation of the central idea | |||
Illustration with examples | |||
Central idea | |||
Explanation of the central idea | |||
Illustration with examples | |||
Summarizing your opinion |
- Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later. Some people think that inviting these people to talk to school students is the best way to tell them about dangers of committing a crime. Do you agree or disagree?
- The only way to improve road safety is to give much stricter punishments on driving offenses. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- It is generally accepted that exercise is good for children and teenagers. Therefore, physical education and sport should be compulsory for all students in all schools. What do you think?
Take a look at some IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay sample answer
Also check :
- IELTS Writing tips
- IELTS Writing recent actual test
- IELTS Writing Answer sheet
- IELTS map vocabulary
- IELTS Writing Task 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Can agree/disagree essays be called as opinion essays?
Can I partially agree?
Can I skip the conclusion part if I’m running out of time. What weightage does that one liner consist of?
Can I use the word “I” such as ” I agree” or “I disagree”?
What is the structure of Agree/Disagree essays?
Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types
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Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.
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IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay: How to Write, Structure, Tips, Sample Answers
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IELTS General Writing Task 2 presents a challenge for test takers to craft comprehensive essays. One of the most recurring topics in this segment is the agree/disagree essays. Such essays prompt you to articulate your stance on a given topic, demanding concise, clear, and precise expression. Essentially, you aim to present your reasoned opinions with clarity and avoid redundancy or errors in grammar and spelling. For those seeking to delve deeper into the art of crafting impactful agree/disagree essays for IELTS writing task 2, this comprehensive article offers invaluable insights and guidance. Read the article to know more.
This Blog Includes:
Ielts agree/disagree essay structure , how to write an agree/disagree essay for ielts writing task 2 , ielts agree/disagree essay: do’s and don’ts, ielts agree/disagree essay: sample questions with answers .
Mastery of structure is paramount for acing the IELTS agree/disagree essays. A thorough understanding of this format facilitates clear organisation and articulation of your opinions and arguments, leading to a more comprehensive and coherent response. That being said, have a look below to go through the IELTS agree/disagree essay structure.
IELTS writing task 2 frequently features agree/disagree essays. Mastering this format is crucial for success, as these essays offer significant scoring potential. A strong understanding of structure and effective argumentation can pave the way for high band scores. In IELTS Writing Task 2, some essay prompts present a statement and require you to express your level of agreement or disagreement. With that in mind, let’s explore the key elements of crafting a successful agree/disagree essay for this task.
Introduction
This is the most crucial segment of any essay. You must ensure that your introduction is short, crisp and conveys your message. Two sentences are enough here. Whilst writing an agree/disagree essay, always start your introduction by paraphrasing the task question. Once you have paraphrased the task question, you must state your opinion on the topic, i.e., whether you agree or disagree with the given statement. This will let your reader know what you think immediately.
Body Paragraphs
Strong paragraphs play a critical role in structuring, articulating, and ensuring the coherence and comprehension of your agree/disagree essays in IELTS Writing Task 2. Fundamentally, three approaches exist:
- Full Agreement: In the first paragraph, present your compelling arguments supporting the statement. The second paragraph can further reinforce your position with additional justifications.
- Full Disagreement: Dedicate the first paragraph to clearly outline your counter-arguments against the statement. The second paragraph can strengthen your stance by introducing further dissenting points.
- Partial Agreement : The first paragraph should encompass reasons for aligning with certain aspects of the statement. The second paragraph then transitions to explore reasons for disagreeing with other aspects, ultimately presenting a nuanced perspective.
Your conclusion should be crisp and to the point. Brevity can be your ally in this case. One golden rule for writing impactful conclusions is to keep them one to two sentences long. Your conclusion should summarise the entirety of your essay in just a few sentences. Apart from that, you should avoid introducing new information in conclusions. Therefore, it is ideal to not introduce other reasons or topics at the end of your text.
Here is a list of do’s and don’ts that you must keep in mind while writing an IELTS agree/disagree essay.
Here are the best practices for writing an impactful agree/disagree essay in IELTS writing task 2.
- In your introduction, leave no ambiguity concerning your level of agreement or disagreement with the prompt.
- Structure your arguments logically. Organise your supporting points into distinct paragraphs, ensuring a coherent flow of ideas.
- Back up your arguments with relevant examples, statistics, or research findings to bolster your credibility.
- Engage in nuanced analysis. Beyond simply stating your stance, explore potential counter-arguments or exceptions to strengthen your overall position.
- Employ a range of sentence structures to maintain reader engagement and showcase your language skills .
- Maintain strong grammar and vocabulary. Demonstrate proficiency in English language mechanics to avoid detracting from your content.
- Limit yourself to writing only four paragraphs.
- Write a short conclusion.
Here are the things you must avoid whilst writing an agree/disagree essay in IELTS writing.
- Avoid ambiguity in your introduction. Ensure to make them as concise as possible.
- Avoid jumping between points or omitting transitions. Doing so can confuse the reader and weaken your argument.
- Assertions without supporting evidence appear unsupported and undermine your credibility.
- Monotonous writing can bore the reader and limit your ability to showcase language proficiency.
- Grammatical errors or vocabulary mistakes can significantly lower your band score, regardless of the strength of your arguments.
- Avoid including too many different ideas.
Sample IELTS Agree/Disagree Essays: Here are some sample IELTS agree/disagree essays that you can refer to whilst attempting the IELTS Writing Task 2.
Question : When new towns are planned, it is important to build more public parks or sports facilities than shopping centres for people to spend their free time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Ans: The discussion that governments must spend more money on railways rather than roads is a complex one. While railways do have certain advantages, I feel that roads should be given more priority because of several reasons.
Roads serve as the backbone of any nation’s transportation system by helping them interconnect cities, towns, and remote areas to ensure accessibility. On the other hand, railways have limited reach and mostly cater to urban and semi-urban regions. Take India as an example where a significant amount of the population resides in rural areas where roads are vital, for commuting, transporting goods, and accessing essential services like healthcare and education. In addition to this, roads accommodate a range of vehicles ranging from bicycles and cars to buses and trucks. This versatility is not replicated by railways that primarily focus on long-distance travel and bulk transportation of goods. Therefore, roads play a crucial role in both city and inter-city transportation.
Finally, the construction and upkeep of roads typically demand lower costs and shorter timeframes in comparison to the development of railways. This inherent efficiency in road infrastructure allows governments to establish and maintain a more expansive network with the same financial resources. The flexibility and adaptability of road systems contribute to their cost-effectiveness, enabling quicker implementation of projects and more immediate responses to changing transportation needs. This advantage becomes particularly crucial in regions where swift infrastructure development is essential for economic growth and accessibility.
In conclusion, while railways hold importance in a country’s infrastructure and overall development, the advantages and adaptability of roads make them more deserving recipients of government funding. Hence, I respectfully disagree with the notion that governments should prioritise spending on railways over roads.
Question: Governments should spend money on railways rather than roads.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Ans : The discussion that governments must spend more money on railways rather than roads is a complex one. While railways do have certain advantages, I feel that roads should be given more priority because of several reasons.
So that was all about IELTS Agree/Disagree Essays. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.
Ans. You can write a formal letter by including an introduction (Dear Sir/Madam), body paragraphs (1, 2,3 and more), and a signoff (I hope to hear from you, Yours faithfully).
Ans. Test takers can use a range of linkers, adverbial phrases, references, and punctuations to bolster their overall scores in IELTS writing.
Ans. The IELTS General Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) requires individuals to complete the task within 20 minutes.
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Shubham Das has been working as an educational content writer for the past two years and has a background in filmmaking & screenplay/ teleplay writing. He is fascinated by the human psyche, literature and cinema.
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agree disagree essay
Learn how to structure and respond to IELTS writing questions that ask whether you 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 with a topic. This will increase your score for Task Response and Cohesion & Coherence. The following are included in this post:
- video explaining how to write this type of essay
- identifying an agree/disagree question type question
- essay structure
- model answer
- homework activity
Identifying this Type of Question Typical question words include: What is your opinion? Do you agree or disagree? To what extent do you agree or disagree? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
Sample task instructions Many people believe working from home is better than going to an office. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Responding to the Question I suggest that you totally agree or totally disagree. If you wish to understand the logic behind this watch the video above. A plan for the task instructions above is as follows: totally agree reason one saves time reason two leads to higher productivity Structure Paragraph 1: Introduction Paragraph 2: Reason 1 to agree/disagree Paragraph 3: Reason 2 to agree/disagree Paragraph 4: Conclusion
Model Answer Many people prefer working from their house or apartment instead of an office. I totally agree that it is better to work from home because it saves time and increases productivity. The main reason I support working from home is that it leads to saving time. In particular, it eliminates the need for a daily commute to an office, which saves most people many hours per week. For example, due to covid lockdowns, I am now working from home and I save at least ten hours each week that would otherwise be spent travelling. I also save time on dressing and grooming myself for work as I can dress more casually when I work from home unlike when I go to an office and need to put on a suit and tie. Furthermore, working from one’s residence can also lead to higher productivity. This is because it eliminates the distractions that come with working in an office environment like noise, and colleagues interrupting. For instance, since I started working from home, I no longer get distracted by my co-workers chatting or stopping by my desk to ask me unnecessary questions and this enables me to not only get more done but also have higher quality outcomes on my projects. In conclusion, I completely believe that working from home is better. This is because it saves time traveling to and from an office and leads to higher levels of efficiency. Therefore, employers should try to offer their workers this option whenever possible. [the last sentence is for band 8 writers and can be left out] Homework Activity Many people say that cooking and eating at home is better for the individual and the family than eating out in restaurants. Do you agree or disagree?
Get your homework corrected to find out the band score and how to increase it.
6 thoughts on “agree disagree essay”
Hi Mike, which score should I receive from this essay?
Some people feel that individuals who eat and cook at home have more benefits than the ones who prefer to eat at restaurants. I tend to agree because by doing that they can not only improve their quality time with their family, but also acquire healthier eating habits. The main reason I support cooking at home is that it is possible to have a quality time with the loved ones. Nowadays, in a society where everyone is on rush it is hard to find a moment to be with the family. However, if people chose cooking instead of buying ready-made food, they would experience unforgettable moments with their families. For instance, when cooking you can demonstrate your love through food because cook require love, time and desire. Furthermore, home-made food is lead to a healthier diet. A plethora of studies have shown that individuals who cook their own food have a better diet comparing to the ones who don’t do it. This is because restaurants meals have an excessive amount of sodium, satured fat when comparing to home-made food. Moreover, a home cook chose carefully his ingredients before cooking. In conclusion, I completely believe that eating and cooking at home are lead to a better life. This is because it allows quality time with the family and leads to a healthier life. Therefore, individuals should adhere to culinary habits to have a healthy life.
Around a band 6.5 to 7 overall. A few errors of note 1. everyone is on rush = everyone is in a rush 2. because cook require love = because cooking requires love 3. home-made food is lead to a healthier diet = home-made food leads to a healthier diet
An increasing concern for many people around the world cooking and eating at home have more benifits than the other person prefer to eat restaurants.In this eassy i will examine both side of the argument and provide my overall opinion.
Generally speaking, there is a number of reason why people believe that cooking and eating at home. Perhaps the main reason why people are in favour of cook and eat is because by doing that they can not only improve their quality time with their family, but also acquire healthier eating habits.For example, home-made food leads to a healthier diet.
Despite these arguments, there is also a case of the idea that cooking and eating at home better restaurants.A further point in favour against restaurants are that home-made food. In addition, restaurants meals have an expensive amount of sodium, satured fat when comparing to home-made food.
In conclusion, Cooking and eating at home better than restaurants is a topic which raisen strong passion on both sides of the argument. Having considered both sides of the issue, i would argue that cooking and eating at home is better who ones eating out in restaurants.
Thank you for this insights.
You’re welcome!
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About Mike I’m Mike Wattie from Australia. I have been teaching IELTS for over 20 years in Asia and Australia.
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Agree or disagree essay for IELTS writing task 2
Home » IELTS academic task 2 » Agree or disagree essay for IELTS writing task 2
What is an “agree or disagree” essay?
- An “agree or disagree” essay offers a statement and invites you either to agree or disagree with it.
- For this type of task 2 essay, you are expected (1) to state your opinion clearly (2) to address all parts of the statement with which you are agreeing or disagreeing (3) fully to support your opinion with reference to further knowledge or experience
Sample “agree or disagree” questions
Here are some examples of agree or disagree essay questions.
1. “Modern life is increasingly chaotic.” Do you agree or disagree?
2. “The death penalty is barbaric and should not be legal anywhere.” Do you agree or disagree?
3. “Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet and should not be publicly funded.” Do you agree or disagree?
As an illustration, I’m going to discuss the third of these examples.
I’m going to argue that libraries are not irrelevant in the age of the internet, partly because (as a scholar and teacher of English) that’s what I believe.
It is possible to argue a case opposite to your own real opinion, but you are more likely to argue convincingly if you argue for a case in which you yourself believe.
Always read the question carefully!
- Remember our cardinal rule: always read the question carefully. This is a vital point and expanded on in the online IELTS course .
“Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet and should not be publicly funded.” Do you agree or disagree?
Here, it’s essential to note that the view with which you’re being asked to agree or disagree actually consists of two views:
“Libraries are irrelevant in the age of the internet”;
“Libraries should not be publicly funded.”
The two questions are linked, but not identical.
Stating your opinion clearly and decisively
Let’s consider an unclear statement of opinion.
“I suppose libraries are in some ways irrelevant, you can find most things you need on the internet, but after all it is good to have a place to go and study, and many libraries also offer other facilities like cafes etc.”
What is the problem with this way of stating an opinion?
First, the statement of opinion is indecisive, because it is prefaced with “I suppose”.
It is usually a bad idea to preface your statement of opinion with “I suppose”, or “it is my opinion that”, or even “I think that”.
The reader already knows that it is your opinion, because you are stating it!
Every time you are tempted to write “I think that” or “It’s my opinion that”, try simply deleting those words.
The sentence will usually be greatly improved without them.
The other problem with this way of opening your argument is that it is unclear which side you are on.
After the reader has finished reading the opening sentence, it is not fully clear whether the writer agrees or disagrees with the statement offered.
This is not to say that there is no room for subtlety or qualifications to an argument in your essay.
But the main line of your argument needs to be clear because you don’t have much space. Let’s try to find a better opening for the essay.
“Libraries are very far from irrelevant. The experience of reading a printed book is very different from that of reading a text on a screen, and much more is lost than is sometimes supposed when reading electronically.”
This is clear and decisive statement of opinion. A single line of argument is given, followed by a single main supporting reason for it.
Addressing all parts of the question
Let’s move on to the second main criterion, addressing all parts of the question.
Remember that you’re being asked not only whether libraries are irrelevant, but also whether they should receive public funding (vocabulary like this is great for your essay) .
Obviously, these two questions are linked: if libraries were irrelevant, there really would be no point in funding them.
Yet it does not follow that, if relevant, they must be funded. It’s good to demonstrate your awareness that the question has more than one aspect to it.
Here is an example of how you might do this.
“We have seen that libraries are very far from irrelevant. Clearly, this fact does not, by itself, show that they deserve public funding. Nevertheless, a good case can, in fact, be made for public financial support for libraries.”
With this transition between the first and second aspects of the question, you have done a number of things.
You have shown that you have read the question attentively, and have understood that it consists of two distinct parts.
You have also shown that you understand the need to provide support for your opinion on each part of the statement asked about.
Supporting your argument
Finally, let’s move on to the third criterion, the need fully to support your opinion.
Evidently, you are not expected to be an expert on any topic about which you might be asked to give your opinion.
You are not expected, for example, to have precise facts and figures about library use at your fingertips!
But you are being asked to show that you understand the general principle of the need to support opinions with reasons , with evidence of some kind.
Let’s consider what might count as supporting the argument that libraries are not irrelevant in the internet age. You would need to be able to show what it is that libraries provide that a computer screen can’t.
Here, “supporting” your argument might simply mean describing some of the valuable features of reading a book which can’t be reproduced by a computer.
Let’s consider an example of how this might be done.
“Not all the merits of books are replicable on a computer screen. Not only are books one of the simplest technologies ever invented, and therefore extremely easy to use, but they are also physical sites of memory. Many readers remember what they have read in a book by remembering the look, feel and even smell of a book as they have read it.”
Watch this tutorial on how to give examples, then click here to subscribe to the Youtube Channel.
This series of supporting arguments has a number of virtues. It points to a number of different specific ways in which books do things which can’t be done by computers; each of these features of books constitutes an implicit reason for valuing libraries.
It draws on the experiences of readers to support a more abstract general point about libraries.
In this tutorial, we have considered some of the main criteria for success in an “agree or disagree” essay.
We have understood the importance of:
- addressing all aspects of the question;
- stating one’s opinion clearly and decisively
- offering full support for all aspects of one’s opinion.
More resources
Take a look at some more IELTS task 2 essay questions to help you practice for your IELTS exam .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to write agree disagree essay in ielts.
Rephrase the question in the introduction, say whether you agree or disagree and will explain why in the following paragraphs. Then you need 2 body paragraphs with a main reason for your view and supporting arguments in each, and a conclusion which summarizes these main reasons.
Is an opinion essay the same as an Agree Disagree essay?
Yes, generally it is although the question might be phrased differently. You need to say clearly whether you agree or disagree with the statement and give at least two reasons why (that’s the opinion part).
Audio tutorial
You can download or listen to the audio version here:
MP3 Direct Download | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud |Subscribe: Android | RSS
Tutorials and Tips to Prepare for Task 2
- How to Get Ideas for Task 2
- Extremely Useful Sentences for Task 2
- Five Powerful Sentence Structures to use in your IELTS Writing test
- How to use comparisons in Task 2
- Concession Paragraphs for “do I agree/disagree essays”
- How to write an IELTS Essay Conclusion
- IELTS Cohesion and Coherence
- 3 ways to paraphrase for your Task 2 introduction
- Marking Criteria for IELTS Writing
- Topics Sentences for Your Essays
- 7 Ways to Improve your Sentences in Your IELTS Essays
- Grammar for IELTS Writing
- Academic Collocations for Task 2
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
![words for agree and disagree essay IELTS Preparation](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_e11539ea85ff490ebd40346583a9a416~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_150,h_67,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/ec446d_e11539ea85ff490ebd40346583a9a416~mv2.png)
IELTS Writing Task 2 Agree or Disagree: Sample Answer
Watch the video on how to answer the agree or disagree essay type.
Requirements
The task requires you to give your opinion (level of agreement) about a statement.
![words for agree and disagree essay IELTS Writing Agree Disagree](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_d4f626ebd1bd4bf99ad72ce5856b6283~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_362,y_151,w_623,h_326/fill/w_534,h_279,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/IELTS%20Writing%20Task%202%20agree%20disagree.png)
The questions “Do you agree or disagree?” and “To what extent do you agree?” are exactly the same and can be answered in the same way.
When you approach this question, first decide on your position or opinion. There are 2 positions that are advisable to take in order to write a balanced answer. Your position should be stated clearly in your introduction and expanded in your body paragraphs.
A. 100% agree or disagree
B. Equally agree and disagree. 50-50
If you take the position of “partly” or “mostly” agree (disagree) it becomes more difficult to write since you will need to give more reasons for one side than the other and your answer will be unbalanced.
Always chose position A or B
![words for agree and disagree essay IIELTS Writing Essay Structure](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_b890a361c883401681b8e1b1c130ebf5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_60,h_49,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IELTS%20Agree%20Disagree%20Structure%20100%25.png)
Sample Answer: 100% disagree
![words for agree and disagree essay Agree Disagree IELTS Writing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_d4f626ebd1bd4bf99ad72ce5856b6283~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_362,y_151,w_623,h_326/fill/w_53,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IELTS%20Writing%20Task%202%20agree%20disagree.png)
It is claimed by many that the contemporary practice of students interacting with teachers in actual classrooms is forecast to disappear by 2050. I strongly disagree with this statement and this essay will detail the reasons why.
While it is incontrovertible that remote learning has become an increasingly popular and convenient method of learning especially for adults and college students, I believe that this approach is not effective when it comes to children and adolescents. This is because, these groups of pupils lack the concentration levels for distance learning where it is necessary to sit in front of a screen for long periods, usually at home where there are too many distractions. For instance, in my country in 2018, political leaders implemented a pilot scheme of studying remotely with several secondary schools. The result was that 80% of pupils had worse academic results when compared to other institutions that did not employ such a system.
Another drawback is that many courses are not practically suited to digital teaching, especially courses that involve a high degree of hands on practice, supervised by a tutor. Science subjects such as physics and chemistry require students to conduct experiments in a lab setting, which would be impossible with online class. It is simply not realistic to expect students to have access to the necessary equipment and, obviously, there are health and safety issues associated with youngsters conducting hazardous experiments without guidance.
In conclusion, classroom tuition, with tutors and pupils in the same room, will never be completely replaced because remote learning not a suitable approach for youngsters and, what is more, it is impractical for subjects requiring explicit practice.
Sample: Agree or Disagree 1 PDF
![words for agree and disagree essay Essay Structure IELTS Writing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_833c78e9c7bf4f86b6437e35a3533126~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_60,h_51,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IELTS%20Agree%20Disagree%20Structure%2050-50%25.png)
Sample Answer: 50-50 agree/ disagree
![words for agree and disagree essay IELTS Writing Topic Food](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec446d_7d22387b0b4744a1809729e325978dfb~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_198,y_56,w_956,h_517/fill/w_53,h_29,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IELTS%20Writing%20Task%202%20agree%20disagree%20essay.png)
An increased awareness of how a meat free diet can benefit our health and the environment has resulted in the widely held belief that everyone should become vegetarian. I equally agree and disagree with this proposal and this essay will outline the reasons why.
On the one hand, there are several benefits to becoming a vegetarian. Specifically, medical research has proved conclusively that vegetarians are less likely to develop health-related issues such as obesity or cardio-vascular diseases. High cholesterol levels, moreover, can be reduced and controlled by eliminating meat from our diet. Additionally, sourcing food from alternatives to meat can reduce the negative environmental impact of industrial meat farming where huge swathes of natural habitat are lost every year to deforestation.
Meat consumption, however, is considered to be a reliable and essential source of vitamins and minerals that are crucial in maintaining physical health. A vegetarian diet lacks the important nutrients which are vital, for example, when it comes to the healthy development of children. As a result, these deficiencies need to be addressed by a high intake of supplements. One more consideration is that meat production is a billion-dollar industry on which millions of people rely upon for employment and switching to a vegetarian culture would result in the loss of their livelihood.
To conclude, I believe a balance of meat and vegetables in one’s diet is the healthiest option that would have the advantage of safeguarding peoples’ jobs. However, consumption of meat ought to be reduced for health and environmental reasons and alternatives should be considered.
Sample: Agree or Disagree 2. PDF
![words for agree and disagree essay](https://ieltstrainingonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Artboard-194.png)
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IELTS Writing Task 2 – Topic: AGREE – DISAGREE
ielts writing topics 2019
1. As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Answer
Businesses have always sought to make a profit, but it is becoming increasingly common to hear people talk about the social obligations that companies have. I completely agree with the idea that businesses should do more for society than simply make money.
On the one hand, I accept that businesses must make money in order to survive in a competitive world. It seems logical that the priority of any company should be to cover its running costs, such as employees’ wages and payments for buildings and utilities. On top of these costs, companies also need to invest in improvements and innovations if they wish to remain successful. If a company is unable to pay its bills or meet the changing needs of customers, any concerns about social responsibilities become irrelevant. In other words, a company can only make a positive contribution to society if it is in good financial health.
On the other hand, companies should not be run with the sole aim of maximising profit; they have a wider role to play in society. One social obligation that owners and managers have is to treat their employees well, rather than exploiting them. For example, they could pay a “living wage” to ensure that workers have a good quality of life. I also like the idea that businesses could use a proportion of their profits to support local charities, environmental projects or education initiatives. Finally, instead of trying to minimise their tax payments by using accounting loopholes, I believe that company bosses should be happy to contribute to society through the tax system.
In conclusion, I believe that companies should place as much importance on their social responsibilities as they do on their financial objectives.
(285 words, band 9)
2. Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to find a way to live with it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth, but some people argue that we need to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this opinion, because I believe that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce the human impact on the Earth’s climate.
There are various measures that governments and individuals could take to prevent, or at least mitigate, climate change. Governments could introduce laws to limit the carbon dioxide emissions that lead to global warming. They could impose “green taxes” on drivers, airline companies and other polluters, and they could invest in renewable energy production from solar, wind or water power. As individuals, we should also try to limit our contribution to climate change, by becoming more energy efficient, by flying less, and by using bicycles and public transport. Furthermore, the public can affect the actions of governments by voting for politicians who propose to tackle climate change, rather than for those who would prefer to ignore it.
If instead of taking the above measures we simply try to live with climate change, I believe that the consequences will be disastrous. To give just one example, I am not optimistic that we would be able to cope with even a small rise in sea levels. Millions of people would be displaced by flooding, particularly in countries that do not have the means to safeguard low-lying areas. These people would lose their homes and their jobs, and they would be forced to migrate to nearby cities or perhaps to other countries. The potential for human suffering would be huge, and it is likely that we would see outbreaks of disease and famine, as well as increased homelessness and poverty.
In conclusion, it is clear to me that we must address the problem of climate change, and I disagree with those who argue that we can find ways to live with it.
(322 words, band 9)
3. Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals, and that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While I agree that enjoyment seems to be the priority during festival times, I do not agree that people have forgotten what these festivals mean.
On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for celebration. In the UK, Christmas is a good example of a festival period when people are most concerned with shopping, giving and receiving presents, decorating their homes and enjoying traditional meals with their families. Most people look forward to Christmas as a holiday period, rather than a time to practise religion. Similar behaviour can be seen during non-religious festivals, such as Bonfire Night. People associate this occasion with making fires, watching firework displays, and perhaps going to large events in local parks; in other words, enjoyment is people’s primary goal.
However, I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning of such festivals has been forgotten. In UK primary schools, children learn in detail about the religious reasons for celebrating Christmas, Easter and a variety of festivals in other religions. For example, in late December, children sing Christmas songs which have a religious content, and they may even perform nativity plays telling the story of Jesus’ birth. Families also play a role in passing knowledge of religious festivals’ deeper significance on to the next generation. The same is true for festivals that have a historical background, such as Bonfire Night or Halloween, in the sense that people generally learn the stories behind these occasions at an early age.
In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals, I believe that they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations.
(296 words, band 9)
4. The money spent by governments on space programmes would be better spent on vital public services such as schools and hospitals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Governments in some countries spend large amounts of money on space exploration programmes. I completely agree with the idea that these are a waste of money, and that the funds should be allocated to public services.
There are several reasons why space programmes should be abandoned. Firstly, it is extremely expensive to train scientists and other staff involved with space missions, and facilities and equipment also come at a huge cost to the government. Secondly, these programmes do not benefit normal people in our daily lives; they are simply vanity projects for politicians. Finally, many missions to space fail completely, and the smallest technological error can cost astronauts their lives. The Challenger space shuttle disaster showed us that space travel is extremely dangerous, and in my opinion it is not worth the risk.
I believe that the money from space programmes should go to vital public services instead. It is much cheaper to train doctors, teachers, police and other public service workers than it is to train astronauts or the scientists and engineers who work on space exploration projects. Furthermore, public servants do jobs that have a positive impact on every member of society. For example, we all use schools, hospitals and roads, and we all need the security that the police provide. If governments reallocated the money spent on space travel and research, many thousands of people could be lifted out of poverty or given a better quality of life.
In conclusion, my view is that governments should spend money on services that benefit all members of society, and it is wrong to waste resources on projects that do not improve our everyday lives.
(275 words, band 9)
5. Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later, and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal, productive members of society. I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage them from breaking the law.
In my opinion, teenagers are more likely to accept advice from someone who can speak from experience. Reformed offenders can tell young people about how they became involved in crime, the dangers of a criminal lifestyle, and what life in prison is really like. They can also dispel any ideas that teenagers may have about criminals leading glamorous lives. While adolescents are often indifferent to the guidance given by older people, I imagine that most of them would be extremely keen to hear the stories of an ex-offender. The vivid and perhaps shocking nature of these stories is likely to have a powerful impact.
The alternatives to using reformed criminals to educate teenagers about crime would be much less effective. One option would be for police officers to visit schools and talk to young people. This could be useful in terms of informing teens about what happens to lawbreakers when they are caught, but young people are often reluctant to take advice from figures of authority. A second option would be for school teachers to speak to their students about crime, but I doubt that students would see teachers as credible sources of information about this topic. Finally, educational films might be informative, but there would be no opportunity for young people to interact and ask questions.
In conclusion, I fully support the view that people who have turned their lives around after serving a prison sentence could help to deter teenagers from committing crimes.
(287 words, band 9)
6. The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated, I believe that others are still useful and should not be forgotten.
On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are becoming less relevant for younger people. In the past, for example, people were advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life, but today’s workers expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time, the ‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional roles of men and women, as breadwinners and housewives, are no longer accepted as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.
On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For example, older generations attach great importance to working hard, doing one’s best, and taking pride in one’s work, and these behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today’s competitive job market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our globalised world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young people would lead happier lives if they had a more ‘old-fashioned’ sense of community and neighbourliness.
In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful in today’s world, we should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.
(299 words, band 9)
7. Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people argue that it is pointless to spend money on the protection of wild animals because we humans have no need for them. I completely disagree with this point of view.
In my opinion, it is absurd to argue that wild animals have no place in the 21st century. I do not believe that planet Earth exists only for the benefit of humans, and there is nothing special about this particular century that means that we suddenly have the right to allow or encourage the extinction of any species. Furthermore, there is no compelling reason why we should let animals die out. We do not need to exploit or destroy every last square metre of land in order to feed or accommodate the world’s population. There is plenty of room for us to exist side by side with wild animals, and this should be our aim.
I also disagree with the idea that protecting animals is a waste of resources. It is usually the protection of natural habitats that ensures the survival of wild animals, and most scientists agree that these habitats are also crucial for human survival. For example, rainforests produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and stabilise the Earth’s climate. If we destroyed these areas, the costs of managing the resulting changes to our planet would far outweigh the costs of conservation. By protecting wild animals and their habitats, we maintain the natural balance of all life on Earth.
In conclusion, we have no right to decide whether or not wild animals should exist, and I believe that we should do everything we can to protect them.
(269 words, band 9)
8. Families who send their children to private schools should not be required to pay taxes that support the state education system. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some people believe that parents of children who attend private schools should not need to contribute to state schools through taxes. Personally, I completely disagree with this view.
For a variety of reasons, it would be wrong to reduce taxes for families who pay for private education. Firstly, it would be difficult to calculate the correct amount of tax reduction for these families, and staff would be required to manage this complex process. Secondly, we all pay a certain amount of tax for public services that we may not use. For example, most people are fortunate enough not to have to call the police or fire brigade at any time in their lives, but they would not expect a tax reduction for this. Finally, if wealthy families were given a tax discount for sending their children to private schools, we might have a situation where poorer people pay higher taxes than the rich.
In my opinion, we should all be happy to pay our share of the money that supports public schools. It is beneficial for all members of society to have a high quality education system with equal opportunities for all young people. This will result in a well-educated workforce, and in turn a more productive and prosperous nation. Parents of children in private schools may also see the advantages of this in their own lives. For example, a company owner will need well qualified and competent staff, and a well-funded education system can provide such employees.
In conclusion, I do not believe that any financial concessions should be made for people who choose private education.
9. Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role models.
On the one hand, many people do achieve fame without really working for it. They may have inherited money from parents, married a famous or wealthy person, or they may have appeared in gossip magazines or on a reality TV programme. A good example would be Paris Hilton, who is rich and famous for the wrong reasons. She spends her time attending parties and nightclubs, and her behaviour promotes the idea that appearance, glamour and media profile are more important than hard work and good character. The message to young people is that success can be achieved easily, and that school work is not necessary.
On the other hand, there are at least as many celebrities whose accomplishments make them excellent role models for young people. Actors, musicians and sports stars become famous idols because they have worked hard and applied themselves to develop real skills and abilities. They demonstrate great effort, determination and ambition, which is required for someone who wants to be truly successful in their chosen field. An example is the actor and martial artist Jackie Chan, who has become world famous through years of practice and hard work. This kind of self-made celebrity can inspire children to develop their talents through application and perseverance.
In conclusion, although it is hard to argue that there are still people who are famous for their notorious behavior, the majority of celebrities nowadays demonstrate healthy personal images, which the public can learn from.
10. Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
It is sometimes argued that tourists from overseas should be charged more than local residents to visit important sites and monuments. I completely disagree with this idea.
The argument in favour of higher prices for foreign tourists would be that cultural or historical attractions often depend on state subsidies to keep them going, which means that the resident population already pays money to these sites through the tax system. However, I believe this to be a very shortsighted view. Foreign tourists contribute to the economy of the host country with the money they spend on a wide range of goods and services, including food, souvenirs, accommodation and travel. The governments and inhabitants of every country should be happy to subsidise important tourist sites and encourage people from the rest of the world to visit them.
If travellers realised that they would have to pay more to visit historical and cultural attractions in a particular nation, they would perhaps decide not to go to that country on holiday. To take the UK as an example, the tourism industry and many related jobs rely on visitors coming to the country to see places like Windsor Castle or Saint Paul’s Cathedral. These two sites charge the same price regardless of nationality, and this helps to promote the nation’s cultural heritage. If overseas tourists stopped coming due to higher prices, there would be a risk of insufficient funding for the maintenance of these important buildings.
In conclusion, I believe that every effort should be made to attract tourists from overseas, and it would be counterproductive to make them pay more than local residents.
11. When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people choose their jobs based on the size of the salary offered. Personally, I disagree with the idea that money is the key consideration when deciding on a career, because I believe that other factors are equally important.
On the one hand, I agree that money is necessary in order for people to meet their basic needs. For example, we all need money to pay for housing, food, bills, health care, and education. Most people consider it a priority to at least earn a salary that allows them to cover these needs and have a reasonable quality of life. If people chose their jobs based on enjoyment or other non-financial factors, they might find it difficult to support themselves. Artists and musicians, for instance, are known for choosing a career path that they love, but that does not always provide them with enough money to live comfortably and raise a family.
Nevertheless, I believe that other considerations are just as important as what we earn in our jobs. Firstly, personal relationships and the atmosphere in a workplace are extremely important when choosing a job. Having a good manager or friendly colleagues, for example, can make a huge difference to workers’ levels of happiness and general quality of life. Secondly, many people’s feelings of job satisfaction come from their professional achievements, the skills they learn, and the position they reach, rather than the money they earn. Finally, some people choose a career because they want to help others and contribute something positive to society.
In conclusion, while salaries certainly affect people’s choice of profession, I do not believe that money outweighs all other motivators.
12. Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others present more of a challenge. Personally, I believe that both types of hobby can be fun, and I therefore disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be enjoyable.
On the one hand, many people enjoy easy hobbies. One example of an activity that is easy for most people is swimming. This hobby requires very little equipment, it is simple to learn, and it is inexpensive. I remember learning to swim at my local swimming pool when I was a child, and it never felt like a demanding or challenging experience. Another hobby that I find easy and fun is photography. In my opinion, anyone can take interesting pictures without knowing too much about the technicalities of operating a camera. Despite being straightforward, taking photos is a satisfying activity.
On the other hand, difficult hobbies can sometimes be more exciting. If an activity is more challenging, we might feel a greater sense of satisfaction when we manage to do it successfully. For example, film editing is a hobby that requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. In my case, it took me around two years before I became competent at this activity, but now I enjoy it much more than I did when I started. I believe that many hobbies give us more pleasure when we reach a higher level of performance because the results are better and the feeling of achievement is greater.
In conclusion, simple hobbies can be fun and relaxing, but difficult hobbies can be equally pleasurable for different reasons.
(266 words, band 9)
13. Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?
Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be beneficial for both the individual and society as a whole. However, I do not agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do unpaid work.
Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, without being given the added responsibility of working in their spare time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and teachers expect their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending lessons every day. When young people do have some free time, we should encourage them to enjoy it with their friends or to spend it doing sports and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of them when they finish their studies.
At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from obliging young people to do unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes against the values of a free and fair society to force a group of people to do something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment amongst young people, who would feel that they were being used, and parents, who would not want to be told how to raise their children. Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system.
In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but in my opinion we should not make this compulsory.
(250 words, band 9)
14. We cannot help everyone in the world that needs help, so we should only be concerned with our own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some people believe that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are problems in our own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to help as many people as possible.
On the one hand, I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow citizens. In most communities there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people, for example, in even the wealthiest of cities, and for those who are concerned about this problem, there are usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these people. In the UK, people can help in a variety of ways, from donating clothing to serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our doorstep, and there are obvious ways to help, I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise local charity.
At the same time, I believe that we have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national borders. In some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our own communities, and it is often even easier to help. For example, when children are dying from curable diseases in African countries, governments and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A small donation to an international charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area.
In conclusion, it is true that we cannot help everyone, but in my opinion national boundaries should not stop us from helping those who are in need.
(280 words, band 9)
15. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to their individual merits. What is your view of the relationship between equality and personal success?
In my opinion, an egalitarian society is one in which everyone has the same rights and the same opportunities. I completely agree that people can achieve more in this kind of society.
Education is an important factor with regard to personal success in life. I believe that all children should have access to free schooling, and higher education should be either free or affordable for all those who chose to pursue a university degree. In a society without free schooling or affordable higher education, only children and young adults from wealthier families would have access to the best learning opportunities, and they would therefore be better prepared for the job market. This kind of inequality would ensure the success of some but harm the prospects of others.
I would argue that equal rights and opportunities are not in conflict with people’s freedom to succeed or fail. In other words, equality does not mean that people lose their motivation to succeed, or that they are not allowed to fail. On the contrary, I believe that most people would feel more motivated to work hard and reach their potential if they thought that they lived in a fair society. Those who did not make the same effort would know that they had wasted their opportunity. Inequality, on the other hand, would be more likely to demotivate people because they would know that the odds of success were stacked in favour of those from privileged backgrounds.
In conclusion, it seems to me that there is a positive relationship between equality and personal success.
(260 words, band 9)
16. Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However, I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject.
Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult to fill these courses if fifty per cent of the places needed to go to males.
Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a course, it is surely wrong to reject her in favour of a male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications.
In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender.
(265 words, band 9)
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How to organize agree/disagree essays on your IELTS exam
We're going to show you a simple structure for an IELTS agree/disagree essay that will enable examiners to make their way through your writing with ease.
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When you get to the essay writing component of the IELTS exam, the clock is ticking, and the pressure is on. You have about 40 minutes to determine the key question to address, think of your response, come up with relevant examples and then write the essay.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you knew how you were going to organize your ideas before you went into the exam? In this blog, I’m going to show you a formula that can be modified to fit most IELTS tasks and will save you valuable time. Most importantly, it will ensure that the message in your essay is easy to follow (one of the key criteria for higher-level scores).
There really isn’t any mystery about it. Here, I’m going to show you a simple structure for an IELTS agree/disagree essay that will enable examiners to make their way through your writing with ease – as if they have a roadmap to follow.
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Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Today it is a popular belief that students attending high school should volunteer in the community as part of their schooling. I strongly agree with this notion. Volunteer work can provide young people with the experiences they need for paying jobs, and it can also help them see themselves as valuable contributors to society.
When completing compulsory work activities with charitable organizations or community organizations, students gain skills that they can add to their resumes and use in future jobs. Working out in the real world quickly teaches young people the importance of time management, clear communication and teamwork. Employers like McDonald’s restaurants, which provide many young people with their first paying jobs, look for volunteer work on resumes as evidence of having developed some relevant work skills. So, although students are not paid for their time, they are building valuable abilities for future employment.
Perhaps even more importantly, when students volunteer, they are more likely to realize that their actions have a positive impact on the world around them. Often the problems of our world can seem overwhelming, but if students are given the opportunity to help others, even in a small way, they will see that they can make a difference. In schools that have been running these programs, there has been an incredible boost in student morale, and the community has benefitted from the talent and time that young people have contributed to the many programs that need support. It’s true that studying for academics is time-consuming, and students already have a lot to do in a day, but if we teach them how to step up and help others, we create a better future for us all.
In conclusion, it is a great idea to have unpaid community service as part of a high school program because it will help the next generation prepare for employment, and it will build a caring community that is willing and able to make our world a better place. It’s my hope to see this in every school.
Paragraph One - Introduction
Now, let’s look at the underlying structure sentence by sentence.
AGREE/DISAGREE ESSAY - 4-PARAGRAPH FORMULA Paragraph One - Introduction
Sentence 1 : States the premise that the essay will address (you can simply rephrase the words in the task).
Today it is a popular belief that students attending high school should volunteer in the community as part of their schooling.
Sentence 2 : States your opinion on the matter.
I strongly agree with this notion.
Sentence 3 : Briefly outlines what you are going to write in the next two paragraphs to support your opinion.
Volunteer work can provide young people with the experiences they need for paying jobs, and it can also help them see themselves as valuable contributors to society.
Paragraph Two - Body
Sentence 1 (topic sentence): Tells the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing your first point .
When completing compulsory work activities with charitable organizations or community organizations, students gain skills that they can add to their resumes and use in future jobs.
Sentence 2 : Assumes that the reader doesn’t know anything about this topic, and explains your point clearly.
Working out in the real world quickly teaches young people the importance of time management, clear communication and teamwork.
Sentence 3 : Gives a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point.
Employers like McDonald’s restaurants, which provide many young people with their first paying jobs, look for volunteer work on resumes as evidence of having developed some relevant work skills.
Sentence 4 : Concedes to a relevant opposing position but redirects to yours.
So, although students are not paid for their time, they are building valuable abilities for future employment.
Paragraph Three - Body – Repeat the above
Sentence 1 (topic sentence): Tells the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing the second point .
Perhaps even more importantly, when students volunteer, they are more likely to realize that their actions have a positive impact on the world around them.
Often the problems of our world can seem overwhelming, but if students are given the opportunity to help others, even in a small way, they will see that they can make a difference.
Sentence 3 : Gives a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point .
In schools that have been running these programs, there has been an incredible boost in student morale, and the community has benefitted from the talent and time that young people have contributed to the many programs that need support.
It’s true that studying for academics is time-consuming, and students already have a lot to do in a day, but if we teach them how to step up and help others, we create a better future for us all.
Paragraph Four – Conclusion
Sentence 1 : Rephrase your opinion and sum up your two supporting points.
In conclusion, it is a great idea to have unpaid community service as part of a high school program because it will help the next generation prepare for employment, and it will build a caring community that is willing and able to make our world a better place.
Sentence 2 : Make a prediction or a recommendation based on what you have said.
It’s my hope to see this in every school.
What I hope you see from this example is that when you pay attention to how you organize your essay, it’s easier to read. I also want you to realize that it isn’t difficult to accomplish this clarity when you have a reliable structure in mind.
Check back for future blogs that will show you how to modify this formula for other kinds of IELTS essay tasks.
Blank template for you
In the meantime, here is a blank template for you to use when you write your next agree/disagree essay.
AGREE/DISAGREE 4-PARAGRAPH FORMULA
Paragraph One -Introduction
Sentence 1:
___________________________________________________________________________
State the premise that the essay will address (you can simply rephrase the words in the task).
Sentence 2:
State your opinion on the matter.
Sentence 3:
Briefly outline what you are going to write in the next two paragraphs to support your opinion.
Paragraphs Two and Three – the Body of Support
Sentence 1 (topic sentence):
Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing your first point .
Assume that the reader doesn’t know anything about this topic and explain your point clearly.
Give a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point.
Sentence 4:
Concede to a relevant opposing position but redirect to yours.
Paragraph Three – Repeat the above
Sentence 1 (topic sentence)
Tell the reader what this paragraph is about by introducing second point .
Give a real-life or made-up example that illustrates and supports this point .
Rephrase your opinion and sum up your two supporting points.
Make a prediction or a recommendation based on what you have said.
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How to Answer Agree Disagree Question in IELTS Writing Task
The first step to writing a good essay in the IELTS writing task 2 is to identify the type of question. The questions asked in this task can be divided into seven types. They are:
1. agree/disagree
2. discuss two opinions
3. advantages and disadvantages
4. causes (reasons) and solutions
5. cause (reasons) and effects
6. problems and solutions, and
7. compare and contrast
In this article, we will discuss and understand how to write an ‘agree disagree’ type of essay. Let’s first understand what this type of question looks like.
What does the question look like?
In the writing task 2 of the IELTS you might be asked a question like the following:
In some countries the number of people suffering from health problems because of excess consumption of junk food, is increasing. It has therefore become imperative for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
For such a question, you need to be clear about whether you agree or disagree to the given statement. Your opinion should come out clearly with the usage of right kind of words.
Structure of the essay:
The structure of the essay is divided into three parts: Introduction, body and conclusion.
How to write the introduction
Your stance on the statement has to come out in the introduction paragraph itself. Your introduction paragraph has to always start with a paraphrased version of the statement given in the question. This has to be done irrespective of the type of question. The structure of your introduction for the agree/disagree type of questions should be like this
a. statement 1- paraphased statement of the question
b. statement 2- clarify your stance on the statement
c. statement 3 and 4 – support the stance in just two sentences. Remember not to write a lot here as you would need logical points in the body of the essay as well.
Look at these two statements taken from answers written by students:
Introduction:
Sentence 1: The number of people facing health issues due to intake of junk food has increased in some countries.
Sentence 2: Many people think that levying taxes on such consumables will control the consumption rate of such eatables.
Sentence 3 and 4 : This essay agrees with this notion and supports the belief that the government should impose a high tax on these consumables for curbing the issue. It wil do so by bringing out certain arguments and supoorting it with relevant examples adnd data
Let us look at a sample introduction written by two students. Gauge which introduction is better.
Introduction 1: In my opinion, a country and its government is responsible for the well being of its citizens.
Introduction 2: I disagree with this statement but also feel that government and the citizens are both responsible for changing the unhealthy lifestyles.
It is the first statement which makes the writer’s agreement come out clearly. As you can see, it is therfore necessary to use the right kind of words when making a stance.
Now that we have seen how to structure the introduction of the agree/disagree essay let us also understand what to write in its body paragraph.
How to choose content for the main body
In this part of your essay, you need to lay emphasis on your stance. Giving strong arguments supported with examples will make your stance and your essay stronger.
Look at this statement from a sample answer to understand better.
Main body:
Firstly, I believe that the number of people consuming junk food has increased because of its easy and quick availability. In a recent survey, it was revealed that 78% of the poople residing in urban areas opt for junk food because of time constraints.
This is an argument well and clearly structured because it not only makes the disagreement clear but it also validates the same with a strong example.
So, your body paragraph needs to have the following structure.
1. statement 1- emphasize your agree/disagreement with a reason
2. statement 2 and more – give relevant examples
This structure is followed in both the body paragraphs. The body paragraph is followed by the concluding paragraph. So, let’s see how to do that too.
How to conclude?
It is here that your argument needs to be the most clear. Look at the example statement below:
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I would like to say that if the citizens themselves are not vigilant about their health, the government or anyone else will not be able to help or stop them from consuming junk food. it is therefore a person’s own responsibility to consume junk food in a limited quantity.
In this statement, the writer has laid emphasis on the disagreement and has ended by providing a possible solution to the issue at hand. On the basis of this, we can say that the structure of the conclusion can be as follows:
1. statement 1- emphasizing statement on the agreement/disagreement
2. statement 2- a possible solution to the problem or argument
Importance of usage of right vocabulary:
Even though you might have structured your essay the right way, you are likely to get a lower band than expected if your vocabulary is not appropriate. Let us now have a look at the vocabulary for an agree/disagree essay too.
Useful vocabulary for agree disagree questions
A. For stating your point of view
In my opinion.
Example question:
Currently there is a developing trend towards usage of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous.
To what extent do you agree with statement?
Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world. I disagree that it is dangerous, and feel that both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful.
The way I see it…
|
The way I see it , It is more important to consider all factors like the size of the family and the income of the earning members of the family, before deciding what would be an ideal living place for a family.
If you ask me…
|
If you ask me, I would say that the production of vehicles needs to be controlled too. If this is executed along with increasing the cost price of fuel, I believe that it would be more effective than just one of them being executed.
I believe that…
Example question:refer to previous example
I am of the opinion that…
I am of the opinion that, children need as much attention and care as possible.
B. For agreeing
When students do research for their class assignments they use both printed and online sources and both types have distinct advantages and disadvantages. However, I agree that it is better to use printed materials rather than Internet-based resources. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
There is no doubt about it that…
There is no doubt about it that the crime rates especially in the cities and urban areas has increased to almost triple of what it was a few years back.
I accept the fact that…..
I accept the fact that the rate of consumption of tobacco and alcohol has increased. This is owing to the fact that these are so easily available.
Essay exercise:
A. Objective: learning to write the introductary paragraph.
Directions: Write the introduction paragraph for the following questions.
1. A lot of people are are of the belief that the government is responsible for allowing the pollution level to reach at a level that it is now uncontrollable. Do you agree to this view?
2. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. A lot of people do not agree to this and believe that beauty is very important for being accepted ot successful in today’s world. What is your opinion on this?
B. Objective: learning to write the body paragraph
Directions: Write the body paragraph for the following questions
1. Home schooling proves to be a cheaper and better alternative than school and univeristy education. Do you believe so too?
2. The best trips are the ones which are unplanned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
C. Obective : learning to write the conclusion
Directions: Write the concluding paragraph for the following questions.
1. A person needs to have at least two vacations a year in order to be rerfreshed. Do you think a person should take a break from work and routine life once in while?
2. Many people believe that writing with a pencil eliminates the chances of error almost completely whereas some believe that writing with a pen makes one more vigilant and the chanves of error are less. What are your views on the same?
Vocabulary Exercise:
A. Objective: learning to use appropriate phrase to agree/disagree
Directions: Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with a suitable agree/disagree phrase from the options given in the box.
COMMENTS
As such, here are two possibilities for structuring your "agree or disagree" essay: Introduction. Introduce the topic. State your position ( essay outline) Body paragraph #1. Main argument #1. Support with explanation and example. Body paragraph #2. Main argument #2.
Choose your opinion & generate ideas. Agree or disagree question asks you to clearly determine whether you agree or disagree with the statement. Unlike questions that ask you to what extent do you agree or disagree, this question asks you to have a super-clear opinion.After you've decided your opinion, generate 2-3 supporting points for it. For the task above you have two possible options:
TIPS FOR AGREE/DISAGREE ESSAY (OPINION ESSAY) An Agree Disagree Essay is 100% the same as an Opinion Essay - they are two names for the same essay. Always analyse the essay question carefully and make sure you identify the key issue or issues in the essay question. Plan your main ideas and supporting points before you start writing. Essay ...
IELTS Agree or Disagree Essay. For IELTS Writing Task 2 you can receive one of five different essay types. Much of the structure for each type is similar, but there are some differences that you need to pay attention to and learn if you want to succeed on the writing section of the exam.
You partially agree - First paragraph: reasons why you agree. 2nd paragraph: reasons why you disagree. Remember: it's much better to have few well-developed ideas than a lot of poorly developed ones, so when you write the paragraphs make sure to give reasons, examples and details. All these must be relevant to the reason you agree/disagree.
IELTS Writing Task 2 asks you to give your opinion on an important social issue. In this particular opinion essay IELTS sample, the question type is called "agree/disagree.". Agree/disagree essays want you to take a position on an issue that is stated. From there, it's your job to say if you agree or disagree with the initial statement ...
Writing Task 2 Agree/Disagree Essay Structure. The structure that I advise my students to use, will be sure to get you a band score of 7+. You need to practice using this structure, with as many questions as you can, before sitting your IELTS test. This writing task 2 structure has been proven to be successful for my students and when perfected ...
5) IF YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE AT THE SAME TIME. 1§ Introduction: Paraphrase the Task + My Balanced Opinion: I accept that … , but I disagree that… (2 SENTENCES!) 2§: What I agree with +The reason (s) why I agree + Explanation + Example. 3§ What I disagree with +The reason (s) why I disagree + Explanation + Example OR result.
This lesson will teach you how to write 'agree or disagree' or 'opinion' IELTS task 2 essays that could score a Band 7, 8 or 9. Agree or disagree question types are among the most common on the IELTS writing paper, so you must learn how to write them properly. In this post, we will look at: We will use a question from an IELTS past ...
IELTS opinion essays, also known as 'agree or disagree' essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I'm going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step. Here's what we'll be covering: 3 Common mistakes. Essay structure. How to plan. How to write an introduction. How to write main body paragraphs.
Here are links to four of my essays, each of which demonstrates one of the four "systems" that I recommended in last week's lesson. 1. Click here to see a strong answer with two supporting ideas. 2. Click here to see a strong answer in which I refute the opposite view. 3. Click here to see a balanced answer. 4. Click here to see an "almost balanced" answer, favouring one side. Remember: All ...
Paragraph 2 (body 1) Explain and support your first reason why rail is more important. Paragraph 3 (body 2) Explain and support your second reason why rail is more important. Paragraph 4 (conclusion) Re-state your overall opinion (rail is more important) and summarise your main reasons. 2.
The agree or disagree essay questions are the most commonly asked in the IELTS examination. They are also called as argumentative essays. In this type of essays, you are asked to give your opinion, whether you agree or disagree on the particular sentence that is given. You are given 40 minutes to complete the 250-word essay.
How to Write An Agree/Disagree Essay for IELTS Writing Task 2? IELTS writing task 2 frequently features agree/disagree essays. Mastering this format is crucial for success, as these essays offer significant scoring potential. A strong understanding of structure and effective argumentation can pave the way for high band scores.
Guaranteed. In Writing Task 2 of IELTS, an agree or disagree essay is the most common type of essay. Essentially, a debatable opinion will be presented to you, and you have to propound a discourse either supporting or opposing it. There are multiple ways of going about with agree or disagree essay questions.
Structure. Paragraph 1: Introduction. Paragraph 2: Reason 1 to agree/disagree. Paragraph 3: Reason 2 to agree/disagree. Paragraph 4: Conclusion. Model Answer. Many people prefer working from their house or apartment instead of an office. I totally agree that it is better to work from home because it saves time and increases productivity.
An "agree or disagree" essay offers a statement and invites you either to agree or disagree with it. For this type of task 2 essay, you are expected (1) to state your opinion clearly (2) to address all parts of the statement with which you are agreeing or disagreeing (3) fully to support your opinion with reference to further knowledge or ...
by Dave | Understanding Task 2 Writing | 13 Comments. Here I have collected actual IELTS opinion essays (agree or disagree question) from the last several years - enjoy learning about this task type! Enjoy and consider signing up for my Patreon Ebooks here. Dave.
A. 100% agree or disagree. B. Equally agree and disagree. 50-50. If you take the position of "partly" or "mostly" agree (disagree) it becomes more difficult to write since you will need to give more reasons for one side than the other and your answer will be unbalanced. Always chose position A or B. It is claimed by many that the ...
Sample Answer. 15. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to their ...
Sentence 1 : States the premise that the essay will address (you can simply rephrase the words in the task). Today it is a popular belief that students attending high school should volunteer in the community as part of their schooling. Sentence 2 : States your opinion on the matter. I strongly agree with this notion.
1) Introduction. Paraphrase the statement (say the same using different words) State your opinion. Introduce two reasons that support your opinion. 2) Body paragraph 1. Topic sentence: describe your first supporting argument. Explanation: explain. Example: give an example. 3) Body paragraph 2.
This has to be done irrespective of the type of question. The structure of your introduction for the agree/disagree type of questions should be like this. a. statement 1- paraphased statement of the question. b. statement 2- clarify your stance on the statement. c. statement 3 and 4 - support the stance in just two sentences.
Beauchamp: If you listen to Harris's speeches — or Tim Walz's, for that matter — there's one word that they use over and over again, and that word is freedom. And there's good reason ...