HOT Bộ đề IELTS Writing task 2 và đáp án chi tiết cực hay

IELTS WRITING MATERIALS

1.In the future, it seems more difficult to live on the Earth. Some people think
more money should be spent on researching other planet to live, such as
Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Band 9.0 Model Essay
It is true that, if present trends continue, it will become increasingly difficult
to sustain human life on Earth. While I agree that it is vital to tackle this
problem. I believe that expenditure on research for new planets to colonise
should be given a low priority, and resources must be used to find other, more
practical solutions.
There are two major reasons why life on Earth is becoming more and more
unsustainable. One obvious problem is the uncontrolled consumption of
natural resources, which are being depleted as a result. For instance, the
extraction of fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil to satisfy growing energy
demands has serious environmental impacts, and these resources
will eventually run out. Another concern is the rising level of pollution
worldwide, of the land, the oceans and the air that we breathe. In India, for
example, thousands of tons of industrial rubbish have been released illegally
into rivers, killing aquatic life and contaminating drinking water.
However, I would argue that the search for a new planet on which humans
could survive is a waste of valuable resources. Firstly, a vast amount of
funding would be required to finance such space exploration, with no
guarantee of success. This money is needed now to improve health services
globally and to provide better education for all. Secondly, financial
resources should be used to develop advanced technologies that would be
more environmentally- friendly and provide renew able energy. In the field of
transport, to take a simple example, vehicles can now be converted to run on


hydrogen or even waste cooking oil – as McDonald’s have done with their

trucks.
In conclusion, I consider that the search for new planets on which to settle is
a waste of time and resources, and efforts should be concentrated on living
more sustainably here on Earth.

Band 8.0 Model Essay
Advances in technology make the prospect to find the second Earth potentially
viable. While I agree that terrestrial life has become increasingly difficult, I
do not believe that we should invest money in finding a new planet to live.
On the one hand, there is no doubt that life is not as easy as it was in the past.
The main problem is the growing level of environmental pollution that
adversely affects humankind in all parts of the world. The rising consumption
of natural resources such as gas, oil and coal has resulted in an enormous
amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere, which
impairs the air quality and accelerates climate change. The consequences of
this are grave. People in many big cities are suffering respiratory
diseases; more lands are being shrunk due to the rise of sea levels; and there
are frequent heat waves in tropical countries. Apparently, human life is now
put in danger.
On the other hand, I would contend that spending money finding another
home for all creatures on the Earth is not an effective measure. There is little
hope of seeking a planet that has favorable conditions for life while the
expenditure can be extremely huge. In contrast, a much better solution would
be that we should invest in environmental projects and encourage people to
lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. For example, green energy
should be harnessed and made more available to replace our dependence on
fossil fuels, and individuals ought to opt for public transport rather than
driving their vehicles. Such actions can cut exhaust emissions and slow down

the
effects
of
global
earth a more desirable place for us all.

warming,

making

the

In conclusion, although global warming is a global malady, it seems ludicrous
to suggest that people should find another planet to settle down.
2.Some people think that governments must insist on preserving traditional
appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
Band 8.0 Model Essay
Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage.
In the process of restoring them, some people believe that the authorities
should not compensate on any changes done in their original appearance, and
that the buildings should be restored as they were. This essay shall advocate
a practical approach to this scenario.
Restoration is said as the process of accurately depicting the form, features,
and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by
reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. All around the
world, there are many active redevelopment projects undertaken by the
government to preserve the sanctity of these ancient treasures. However, it is
not reasonably possible to restore each and every detail of these buildings as
it was.

Primarily, the construction of these century-old buildings begins to wear in
time. In such cases, some parts of the buildings might not be in a recoverable
condition. Here, the architects need to reconstruct that particular part to give
a complete look to the puzzle of these primeval structures. Therefore, it is
unaccommodating for the government to demand accurate traditional
appearance of the buildings. Sometimes, a few relevant contemporary touches
need to be added to make the older buildings appeasing enough.
In closing we can safely say the government should not be insistent on
minute preservation of traditional appearance of old buildings. Minor
modifications can definitely be made to adapt existing buildings to


compatible new uses. This not only makes good economic sense, but
preserves our legacy also.
3. Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their
life. What are the the reasons? Do advantages of this outweigh
disadvantages?
Band 8.5 Model Essay:
In modern society, there has been a major concern that many couples have
delayed parenthood. Some explanations for this social trend will be put
forward, before an analysis of its impacts on society and family life is given.
A few reasons can be given to justify the trend of giving birth at later stages
of life. First, the labour market is increasingly competitive, and it is a norm
that young parents defer having children to devote the whole time in the first
years of their employment to lay a sound foundation for their future career.
Second, it is believed that children are raised better by older parents. This
seems valid due to the fact that older fathers and mothers are generally
wealthier, more experienced, and more willing to take the responsibility of
bringing up a child.
The trend exerts both advantageous and disadvantageous influence on society

and families. On the one hand, children born to more prosperous and
experienced parents can receive better and more comprehensive education,
and thus contribute more to society when they grow up. In each household,
the parents may also reap the benefits of this trend, as their first working years
are not interrupted by pregnancy and childcare. On the other hand, when an
aged couple decide to give birth, there are serious health risks for the woman
in the prenatal and postnatal period. If any complicated maternal health
problem arises, the life whole family would be turned upside down.
To conclude, the tendency to have children at later ages is caused by a number
of factors, such as the competitiveness of the job market for young adults, and
both the positive and negative impacts of it can be seen in families and
society.
Band 8.0 Model Essay :


Having babies later in life is regarded as a new trend of marriage, especially
in these days when soon becoming adolescent parents might face plenty of
troubles. It is easily seen that financial burden is one of the reasons why many
spouses tend to delay their childbirth because giving birth early forces them
to tighten budget. In this essay, I will lend more other detailed reasons and
effects to this trend.
The fact that pregnancy has been more common in older women stemming
from late –life marriage whose benefits are huge. Tying the knot early, in
some cases, would cause constant quarrels about rights of child-rearing
between young couples due to their immature thoughts on marital values. In
contrast, delayed marriage may secure better conditions for children’s future.
This would help singles have more time to seek a financially stable job and
broaden behavioral experience before deciding to live with someone forever.
Besides, high remarriage rate led by the rise of divorce in recent years partly
contributes to late childbirth. The reason is that the lack of

compatibility forces many couples to end their first love and marry again.
Therefore, they may start having children after age 35.
As mentioned above, the benefits of late childbirth are undeniable, however,
elderly parents, as well as society also face threats that they can foresee.
Indeed, raising kids at old age is more arduous than that at young age, not only
because their health will decline but also because their children are too little
to self-manage. Moreover, having children when reaching over 35 can affect
pregnancy due to aging health . As a result, babies are not healthy enough or
even die premature death.
In conclusion, stable income and settled life make delayed marriage more
appealing. The thing is we need to consider pros and cons of this to decide
what is right for a happy union.
Band 8.5 Model Essay 2:
Many people currently decide not to have babies when they are young and
wait until they get older instead. There are some reasons for this tendency,
and it could have some impacts on family life as well as society.


To begin with, there are several reasons why a number of individuals want to
have children later in their life. Firstly, this choice allows them to have more
time to enjoy life when they are young. For instance, it is easier for a young
couple to travel when they do not have a baby to nurture. Secondly, people
who are at the early stage of their career usually have lower income compared
to when they are older. Therefore, many people decide to start raising a family
after having accumulated enough money to ensure a better life for their
children.
However, this tendency might bring about some negative effects on both
family life and society. The first impact is that having children later will cause
a significant age gap between two generations. This makes it harder for
parents to understand and communicate with their offspring. Additionally, if

people give birth when they are too old, the babies being born might be less
physically healthy. This might adversely affect the quality of the future
workforce if too many people decide to follow this trend.
In conclusion, there are some reasons why many people prefer to have
children later in their life, and this tendency can result in some negative
impacts on both family life and society.
4. Some people say that humanitarian subjects such as philosophy, history
and literature that people study in universities have no value for their future
career. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give
your own opinion and relevant examples.
Band 9.0 Sample Essay:
Humanitarian
education teaches
various
social
topics
from
a humanitarian perspective. However important our academic careers may be
for us, a certain iota of humanity is always expected from us as being the
superior living beings on earth. Whether we need to study specialized subjects
for such a quality to develop in us is a debatable issue.
The people who opine that studying such subjects is a waste of time may
believe so, keeping in mind that many academic curriculum is set and rarely
changes. Therefore, the history, literature or philosophy that is taught is done


from a text-bookish perspective, and does not give in-depth knowledge of the
same. Also, people feel that memorizing dates and facts, sources of the origin
of a language, or brooding on lessons derived from life hardly matter when
we go out in search of work.

On the contrary, humanitarian education particularly relates to offering
assistance to others in an emergency or crisis and is also used to refer to the
skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for individuals and communities to
help themselves. In the hostile environment we are living nowadays, the goal
of humanitarian education of communities increasing their resilience and
individuals and groups becoming confident, able and willing to help
themselves and others when faced with a crisis, is something that can
obviously not be developed on our own.
I believe we need to look beyond the established stereotyping of history,
literature and philosophy as subjects and need to broaden our mentality. Apart
from the much popular career choices that rake in our desired amount of
money, the historians, literary scholars and philosophers too play an important
role in our societies. The teachings and observations of Karl Marx, Aristotle,
Socrates, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and many such other
personalities are still cited today for reference.
Summarizing this essay we can conclude that classifying humanitarian
subjects as having no value for future careers is narrow minded. These
subjects are also as important as any other, when being chosen for a thorough
study so as to make a career out of them.
5. Some people say that when children under 18 are committing a crime
they should be punished, while others believe they should be educated. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own
opinion.
Band 9.0 Model Essay:
Cases of juveniles committing crimes are on the rise lately. While it is
absolutely necessary to punish those guilty of committing crimes, an argument
put forward in this case suggests underage criminals should be made aware


about their actions rather than being punished straightaway. This essay shall

discuss the extent of feasibility of both solutions in the interest of the society.
Over the last few years, there has been a worrying increase in the numbers of
young offenders being reported, where many of them are involved in instances
of burglaries, robberies, shoplifting and even street muggings. In the hostile
environment that we live in, it becomes necessary to nip such problems in the
bud, lest the youngsters become full-fledged criminals when they grow up.
Many believe that the children of today’s generation are very much aware and
intelligent, than the ones 30 years ago, to comprehend the actions around
them. Many a times they aren’t even remorseful for their actions. Therefore,
they should be tried in courts as adults and punished according to the severity
of the offence regardless of them being underage.
In contrast, a lot of people also believe that such treatment of teenage
offenders might not be the best solution. Knowing the reason behind the crime
committed is an essential factor in deciding the punishment to be given. The
environment during the upbringing of a child too influences his mentality to
a great extent. Most of the research cases in this matter have indicated that
children who commit crimes, mostly do so because of some trauma they have
themselves suffered from in the past. It is only logical that the judgement of
right and wrong of such children becomes impaired; therefore they should be
educated about the same, and not punished. Rehabilitating them and flushing
all aggression from their minds is giving them a deserved chance to live a
better life, as they still have a lot of growing up to do.
To conclude, this being a sensitive and debatable issue, in my opinion, I feel
the primary course of action for underage criminals is to provide them
guidance regarding the consequences of their actions. I don’t fully agree with
not punishing them at all; the extent of the punishment should be decided by
the circumstances and the attitude of the offender, whether he is penitent or
not.

6. A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status
and material possessions. Old-fashioned values, such as honour, kindness
and trust, no longer seem important.
Sample Essay from BC:
Given the power and influence of the super-rich, it might seem as if social
status and material possessions are the new symbols of personal worth, but in
everyday life I do not think this is true.
It is apparent that most celebrities today are admired or envied solely for their
material wealth or position in various social hierarchies. Many of these people
are known to turn their backs on friends, cheat on their spouses or spend their
evenings over-indulging in alcohol and/or drugs. Things like owning a
mansion, driving an expensive car and getting into A-list parties are exalted
above old-fashioned values. Ultimately, though, it is the many readers of
gossip magazines and celebrity blogs who reinforce these ideas.
Nevertheless, I do believe that in their day-to-day lives most people still
believe in values such as honour, kindness and trust. In some way most of us
want to form loving families, raise our children to be good citizens, stand up
for the downtrodden and protect our communities from harm. We still form
friendships, romances and business partnerships based on old-fashioned
criteria. When our trust is abused or we are unfairly treated, we see that as a
major violation of our relationship and we judge the wrongdoer accordingly.
In conclusion, I believe there is some truth to the notion that status and
possessions have superseded old-fashioned values as a measure of a person’s
worth. Looking beyond the tabloids, however, it is apparent that most ordinary
people have still preserved an old-fashioned conscience.
7. In some countries, a high proportion of criminal acts are committed by
teenagers. Why has this happened? What can be done to deal with this?
Band 8.0 Model Essay
Today, youth crime is rife. Theft, burglary or even murder are now committed
by people of younger and younger ages. The aim of this essay is to investigate

the factors responsible for the increase in juvenile delinquency and put
forward a number of ways to appropriately punish young offenders.
It is observed that extreme behaviours are exhibited by most children from
dysfunctional families. Without the supervision from parents or caregivers,
children’s extreme behaviours such as aggression, hostility or defiance are
given free rein to develop in their later lives. In addition, there is a direct
correlation between the lack of engagement in educational activities and
serious criminal offending in children. Out of boredom, children befriend with
antisocial peers and will gradually copy their behaviours. Media also plays an
enormous role in shaping children’s criminality. For example, games such as
grand theft auto can desensitise younger players to extreme acts of violence
and cruelty, encourage them to commit crimes while giving them the
impression that it is morally acceptable to do so.
Imprisonment is often cited as a way to punish juvenile offenders. However,
it is my view that this approach can produce extremely destructive effects.
The youth can potentially be victims of physical or sexual abuse from older
prisoners, as well as can adopt their negative behaviours. I feel that the better
cure for young criminals is rehabilitation. Throughout education and training,
the youth can realise their wrongful actions and be given opportunities to turn
over a new leaf and transform themselves into useful members of society later
in life.
There are reasons to explain why today antisocial behaviour among the
youth nowadays has reached a historically unprecedented high and
rehabilitation is the answer for this.
Useful words and expressions:
Youth crime is rife: Youth crime is very common.
Juvenile delinquency: act of crime committed by the young
Defiance (n.) behaviour in which you refuse to obey others

Aggression (n.) behaviour that is threatening or involves harm


To be given free rein to develop: go uncontrolled.
Desensitise (v.) cause people to experience emotion less strongly than before.
Out of boredom: Because they are bored
To produce extremely destructive effects: have bad results.
Wrongful actions.
To turn over a new leaf: To become another person.
Rehabilitation (n.) the act of returning someone to a good condition, normal
life.

8. Traffic and accommodation problems are increasing and government
should encourage businesses to move from cities to rural areas. Do the
advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
In the past, factories were often built in close proximity to city areas as the
lack of transportation forbade people to do otherwise. However, this is not
exactly the case today, when industries and businesses are moving from
municipal and into countryside areas in flocks. This essay will elaborate on
both positive and negative effects of this trend.
On the positive side, firstly, this movement makes perfect environmental
sense. Due to industrial activities, residents of many cities around the world
are still breathing in air and consume water dirty enough to cause numerous
health diseases. Therefore, moving businesses out of the cities will rid human
and other species of pollution. A further advantage of this trend is reducing
the gap between the rich and the poor in a country, as countryside dwellers
can opt to work in factories with higher pay, rather than agricultural work.
This will eventually bring about peace and harmony to society.
On the negative side, doing business in the countryside also represents some
notable drawbacks. To begin with, skilled workers are a rarity in rural areas.

Most of people living in small towns and villages do not receive sufficient
education to undertake intellectual jobs. What is also disadvantageous is based


in regional areas, companies risk distancing themselves further from their
customers, their suppliers and other partners in their business transactions,
which can weaken their profitability.
In conclusion, moving business from cities to rural areas can be a smart
decision. However, there are disadvantages that should be weighed carefully
against the advantages.
Useful words and expressions:
Be in close proximity to: be close to
A flock of: a lot of
To elaborate (v.) to explain further
In flocks: a lot of them.
Rid human and other species of pollution: to make them free of pollution.
To make environmental sense: to be good for the environment
To rid somebody of something: remove that thing from someone.
To undertake: To bear the responsibility of, to carry out
Intellectual jobs (n.) jobs that require mental skills.
Weaken their profitability: make it less profitable
Distance yourself from: to stay away from

9. Many people believe that international tourism is a bad thing for their
countries. What are the reasons? Solutions to change negative attitudes?
Band 8.5 Sample 1:
There are several reasons why many people have a negative attitude towards
international tourism. However, this can be handled by adopting possible
solutions, as will now be discussed.

Firstly, the influx of foreign travelers is often associated with an increase in
the level of environmental pollution. Many tourists throw rubbish into the
surroundings irresponsibly, which contributes to air, water and soil
contamination. In addition, there might be a growing demand for transport,
decreasing the air quality at the tourist destination.
Secondly, international tourism increases the odds of spreading infectious
diseases into the local community. Viruses such as Ebola and H5N1 can
become a threat to the locals if an infected traveler visits their country. In
Vietnam, for example, many people died after a visitor from Hong Kong
carried the H5N1 virus to the country in 2003. This example makes it clear
why many people are still against the development of international tourism.
However, there are a range of options that can be taken to improve the
situation. One measure would be that the government should continue
campaigns to raise the awareness of tourists when they pay a visit to a new
land. Travellers should be encouraged to put waste into the right place or to
use public transport if possible. Another remedy is that there should be
medical checks at airports and borders. This is to guarantee that infected
visitors should be quarantined to halt the spread of the disease.
In conclusion, negative feelings about global tourism still are common in
society. However, this can be resolved by taking the above suggestions.
Band 8.5 Model Essay 2 :
Advances made in air travel have shrunk the world. With these, today, people
from all walks of life can travel abroad; however, the rise of international
tourism is greeted with dismay by many. In this essay, I will present the
reasons why some local people harbour unwelcoming attitudes towards
foreign tourists and put forward some solutions to this issue.
International tourists are now criticised mainly due to their contribution to the
environmental degradation. In many countries, many famous tourist
destinations are now bearing the scars of vandalism committed by travellers

arriving from outside. Other places of interest are also gradually being turned
into which are comparable to garbage dumps, despite all attempts to reduce


the amount of waste by local community. In addition to this, many foreigners
travel on a shoestring. In order to economise, many are willing to sleep on the
streets in their tents, which mars the cityscape.
What local authorities can firstly do to change the behaviours of foreign
tourists is through education. While advertising the beauty of an area, the
media should also strive to raise the awareness of prospective travellers about
protecting it. The other method is to pass stricter regulations regarding
littering particularly in popular tourist places. The high effectiveness of fining
litterbugs is clearly demonstrated in the example of Singapore, where one can
no longer find trash in public places.
To summarise, the inhospitable feeling that the local people have for
international tourists can be explained by many ways. I feel that this issue can
hardly be solved by a single wave of a magic wand – it takes a great deal of
efforts from both the locals and the foreigners.
10. People today do not feel safe either at home or when they are out. What
are the causes? What are the solutions?
Band 8.0 Sample Essay
In modern days, there has been a higher and higher percentage of those who
reported not feeling safe in their communities. What has been disclosed in
recent surveys has highlighted the need to increase safety not only on the
streets but also at home. The goal of this essay is to outline why this has
happened and put forward appropriate solutions.
In countries rich and poor alike, much concern has been raised about safety
issue both on the street and at home, and their concern is justified. In the first
place, individuals has been bombarded with tragic crime reports of murder,
rape or house robbery almost every day. This is a particular issue in

developing countries where people are desperate enough to rely on
committing crimes for food, money or survival. Besides, road fatalities have
been rising on an unprecedented scale, no matter what means of transportation
taken.


This problem can be firstly remedied by increasing the penalty for street
crime. In view of the damaging consequences it can caused to victims, the
several-month prison sentence that is imposed to this kind of criminals is too
lenient and therefore should be made longer. In addition to this, many methods
can be adopted to put the brakes on the death rates on the road. For example,
the government can upgrade the infrastructure and also the road condition.
To conclude, street crime and road accidents can be identified as two most
common reasons why more and more people do not feel safe today. It is hoped
that this issue be resolved before it gets out of hand.
Useful words and expressions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Road fatality: mortal accidents
To remedy something: solve something.
Put the brakes on something: Make it go slowly.
Be bombarded with something: receive a lot of it, often without wanting.
Tragic crime: horrendous crime, something that is shocking,

unacceptable.
Damaging consequences: bad consequences.
On an unprecedented scale: on a scale that no one has ever set.
Get out of hand: to go uncontrollable.

11. It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should
only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
Band 9.0 Model Essay
The role of one government to support citizens of other countries has been a
major topic of concern in today’s society. From my perspective, this practice
is feasible and there are compelling reasons why governments should help
people in the global community rather than only focusing on the citizens of
their own countries.


In this context of globalisation and international integration, the provision
of assistance for peoples of all countries in the world is not an impossible task
anymore. One explanation for this is that modern means of
transport have transformed the way that international assistance could be
given, and now assistance could reach even the most remote places on Earth.
For example, thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in a mountainous
city in Nepal were rescued by US and German military helicopters in 2014.
One further explanation is that thanks to international banking, the
international community could offer a helping hand to any country where the
financial system is on the verge of collapse. An excellent example of this is
that the saving money of millions of taxpayers and pensioners in Greece was
saved by a timely act of the European Commission of injecting a huge
amount of bailout money into Greek banks in 2009.
I strongly believe any government must assume the responsibility of helping

citizens in other countries. This is mainly because assisting inhabitants in
other countries, to some extent, is synonymous to assisting people in the home
country. In 2014, hundreds of US and UK doctors and nurses were sent to
African countries to cope with the outbreak of Ebola, a dreadful plague,
which had killed many thousands by that time. This action prevented the
plague from further spreading to other nations, including the US and the UK
themselves, considering that there was a free movement of people between
countries and there were millions of African migrant workers in the US and
the UK at that time. In addition, the act of supporting people all around the
world may promote a sense of humanity, which is essential to
the sustainable development of the world, because humanity is the
foundation of peace and stability.
To conclude, governments must provide assistance for citizens of other
countries for a clear reason that this feasible act could simultaneously enhance
a global sense of humanity and assure their own nationals of a proper living
environment.
Band 9.0 Model Essay 2


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.
12. People should follow the customs and traditions when people start to live
in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 9.0 Model Answer
Many people argue that foreigners should adapt to the local customs and
traditions when they come to reside in a new country. I completely agree with
this view. c led
Newcomers will certainly face difficulties if they do not conform to the norms
of social behaviour in the host country. Firstly, it will become almost
impossible for them to blend into their new environment. For example, an


entrepreneur who comes to live in a new country and starts up a business must
be aware of the business practices of that country. There are bound to be many
pitfalls, not only legal ones but also simply in terms of winning and keeping
customers. Secondly, recent immigrants might fall foul of the law if they do
not respect the behaviour and customs of locals. In Singapore, for instance,
residents will consider newcomers dirty and ill-mannered if they litter the
street or spit gum in public places.
There are also many benefits for foreigners when they do adopt the customs

and traditions of their new country of residence. One advantage is that local
people will be more welcoming when they feel that the newcomers are
showing respect for the local way of life. The establishment of closer links
with the host community might lead to greater integration and mutual
understanding. Another benefit is the richness of the experience which
newcomers will gain from enjoying aspects of local customs and traditions,
enabling them to participate in community life and avoid social isolation.
During festivals and national holidays, especially, they will feel like they
‘belong’ in their new country.
In conclusion, I would argue that it is essential for new residents to follow the
traditions and habits of locals in the host community in order to integrate fully
into society.
13. Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid
work helping people in the community. Are disadvantages of this
requirement greater than the benefits for the community and individuals?
Band 8.0 Model Essay
Every year when summer comes around, volunteer students in their
conspicuous blue shirts are ubiquitous. They can be spotted in the streets
delivering free food to the less fortunate, at waiting tables in front of the
school gates providing information to students or on the beach collecting trash
under the sizzling weather. However, it still remains a topic of debate whether
these activities are wholly beneficial for students.


On the one side of the argument, there are a number of benefits for students
who are involved in community service. In the technologically-advanced
world, it is a common problem that people show scant concern about others’
affairs. This activities certainly help them gain insight into the lives of the
underprivileged, realise how fortunate they are and therefore inspire in them
higher sense of responsibility with the community. Besides, participating in

volunteer programs is also a very effective way for students to combat stress
and hone various crucial life skills such as communication, teamwork or timemanagement.
Despite the multiple merits of volunteer activities, there are still a lot of raised
eyebrows. Firstly, making unpaid work obligatory to all students without any
exception will certainly cause resentment among themselves or their families.
In addition, students’ studies at school can be sabotaged as they are always
short of time to complete their homework or revise their lessons. The other
more profound consequence that can ensue from constant poor academic
performance is the bleak career prospects that the future hold for them.
To conclude, the importance of community service should be fully realised,
however, it should not be made compulsory for all students.
Useful expressions:
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Show scant concern about…: Pay no interest to…
The underprivileged: Those who don’t have much money, possessions…
The sizzling weather: extremely hot weather.
Inspire in them higher sense of responsibility: to make them become
more responsible.
Hone various crucial life skills: improve those skills.

Multiple merits: a lot of benefits.
There are still a lot of raised eyebrows: There are more things to be
considered.
To be short of time: do not have enough time.
To cause resentment: cause anger, disagreement.
To sabotage (v.) to damage, destroy.
Ensue (v.) happen.


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Bleak career prospects: low chance of getting a good job.

14. Some people prefer to directly help or support people who need it in the
local community, however, others prefer to give money to the national or
international charities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Band 8.5 Model Essay
Today poverty is still on full display anywhere in the world, even from the
sparkling and vibrant streets of Los Angeles, or to the less glamorous district
of Mumbai city. In the fight against poverty, help is at hand. However, a
bone of contention remains whether people should directly support the
underprivileged or give their donations to charities. This essay will look at
this issue from both perspectives.
There are clearly justifications for why some funders would rather help the
poor by themselves. First of all, help is given instantly as there is no
paperwork, no collection, no delivery involved. It would also mean that no
money is lost into the pockets of corrupt government officials. Second of all,
it has been found that a considerable number of recipients of aid programs
spend money on children’s education or healthcare, rather than alcohol or
cigarettes. Therefore, development can be easily promoted.

However, the idea of giving cash directly to the poor is also treated with
skepticism by many people who otherwise suggest that money or any other
type of donation should be given to charity organisations. Their main
argument is that for the people whose lives have always been devoid of
material possessions or money, knowing how to manage the financial aids is
out of the question. There are many cases that poor people use the money to
start businesses; however, bankruptcy is imminent due to their lack of
knowledge regarding financial management. For this reason, charities, which
can distribute the funds in a more effective way, prove their prominent roles
in improving living standards of the impoverished.
To conclude, I am inclined to think that giving money to charities is a better
way to end poverty as it deals with deeper causes of the issue in the long run.


Useful expressions:
Poverty is still on full display: Poverty happens everywhere.
The sparkling and vibrant streets of Los Angeles: dynamic Los Angeles
A bone of contention: something that causes dispute.
To be treated with skepticism: to be viewed with suspect.
To be devoid of material possessions: have little material belongings.
Recipient (n.) the person who receives.
Their lack of knowledge regarding financial management: they do not
have enough knowledge about managing their money.
Bankruptcy is imminent: is highly probable
In the long run: in the long term.

15. Everyone should become vegetarian because they do not need to eat
meat to have a healthy diet. Do you agree or disagree?
Band 8.5 Sample Essay
In the last few decades, vegetarianism has entered the mainstream of many

societies, most notably in western countries. It is suggested by those who
side with vegetarians that meat is not a necessary element in a healthy diet
and that going vegan is the way to go in modern times. Personally, I reckon
that this view has flaws.
In the first place, non-vegetarian diets are considerably higher in total intake
of protein, which is highly beneficial for the body. As scientists show,
protein can not only improve the overall health and fitness but also can
contribute to reinforcing the immune system. As vegetarian diets hardly
meet daily protein requirements, those who follow are generally more
vulnerable to fatigue even when doing physically undemanding tasks or they
can be more susceptible to common diseases such as flu or cold.


In the second place, meat is also a fertile source of many nutrients such as
iron or zinc. It is already recognized that while iron helps in producing
tissues inside the body, zinc is indispensable in helping transporting oxygen
to different parts of the body, thus allowing the proper functioning of all
body organs. Besides, when consuming meat, the body will also be
absorbing numerous kinds of vitamins which strengthen bone structures and
promote the health of the teeth or the eyes.
To conclude, the above-mentioned points have manifestly shown that the
benefits derived from following a wholesome diet overshadow those from
vegetable-only one. Thus, it is not advisable to become vegetarians.
Useful expressions:
To enter the mainstream of…: become popular
This view has flaws: This view can be argued against.
To reinforce the immune system: make the immune system stronger.
To improve overall fitness.
They can be more susceptible to common diseases: they are more likely to
get sick.

Indispensable (adj.) very important.
To be more vulnerable to fatigue: to be more likely to get sick
Be a fertile source of many nutrients: be very nutritious
To strengthen bone structures: make the bones stronger.
Manifestly (adv.) obviously.

16. Studies show that many criminals have a low level of education. For this
reason, people believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate people
in prison so they can get a job when leave prison. Do you agree or disagree?
Band 8.5 Model Answer


Recently, crime has been increasing out of control. Some hold the idea that in
order to deter crimes, criminals should be given proper education while in
prison. Personally, I partly share the same view with this.
It is my belief that nurture, not nature, is responsible for malignant and
antisocial behaviours. That is to say, everybody is born with good
personalities and what turns some into criminals is parental neglect and lack
of education. Many studies have shown that children who are not supervised
by their parents on a regular basis are many times more likely to go off the
rails, commit acts of selfishness or to behave aggressively against others. This
rationalizes why I think a good number of prisoners after being released will
not repeat their offences if they are given education.
In addition, while being in jail, inmates have plenty of time which can be
misspent. For example, some of them spend their time on gambling with their
cellmates or accessing materials with objectionable contents. Thus, giving
them the opportunity to be educated translates to the reduction of time which
can be potentially frittered away or used for malicious purposes.
Nevertheless, there are objections to this perspective. Those who oppose
claim that the potential program of giving education to criminals can cost a

huge amount of money from the Government budget. However, considering
the result it can deliver in the long run as far as societal stability is concerned,
this program is not a waste of taxpayers’ money.
What has been discussed above has effectively corroborated my view that
education can reduce participation in criminal activities and inmates should
receive education while serving time.

Useful expressions:
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To deter crimes: prevent criminal acts.
To have antisocial behaviour: A behaviour that is harmful to society.
Parental neglect: not enough care from parents.
Supervise (v.) control.


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Go off the rails: start behaving in a unacceptable way.

Objectionable (adj.) unpleasant, wrong
Inmate (v.) those who are imprisoned
Societal stability.
To fritter away time: misspend time.
Malicious (adj.) intended to harm others
To translate to: change something into something
To corroborate something: add proof to it.
To serve time: to be put into prison.

17. Some people think that it is good for a country’s culture to import
foreign movies and TV programmes. Others think that it is better to produce
these locally. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 8.0 Model Essay 1
People have different views about whether it is better for a country to
purchase foreign movies or to create domestic ones. While importing movies
from other countries can have some advantages, I would argue that
producing local movies is a much better option.
On the one hand, there are some clear benefits of buying movies from other
countries. Firstly, when a country imports movies that are produced overseas,
it can help its people learn about other cultures in a much easier and more
effective way. This would help its citizens to be more knowledgeable.
Secondly, individuals can learn the good things of other more civilised
societies and alter the way they behave. For example, the habit of queuing is
a nice thing in many Western countries, and people from Vietnam can learn
and copy this action when watching foreign movies.
On the other hand, I believe it is better for countries to produce movies
domestically because of some reasons. The first one is that movies made by
local people would help to preserve the traditions and customs of their own
cultures. For instance, many Vietnamese TV programmes remind young
generations of how people celebrate Lunar New Year, which is the most

important public holiday in some Asian countries. If young people only watch
foreign movies, the traditional values might be gradually forgotten. Another


reason is that the film industry often create jobs such as actors, directors or
cameramen. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in producing movies in order
to provide more employment opportunities for local people.
In conclusion, while purchasing foreign movies is beneficial for a nation’s
culture to some extent, it seems to me that making local ones is a much better
choice.
BAND 8.0 MODEL ESSAY 2
For the past decades, the importance of a country developing its own motion
picture expertise versus importing foreign entertainment programs has been
the center of attention in the entertainment industry. I believe that having the
best of both worlds would work most effectively.
There are certain grounds supporting the view of featuring foreign films and
TV shows. Firstly, globalization supports the widespread of cultural
products that integrate within themselves the essence of the nation from
which they originates. Viewers, therefore, while enjoying the entertaining
element of these programs can simultaneously learn more about the world
and its various cultures. For instance, an Asian viewer can be amazed by the
individualism conveyed in western blockbuster movies while an American
can explore the significance of collective eastern values from a Chinese or
Korean drama. Furthermore, the international trade of these items has not
only aided the development of globalized culture but also broadened
people’s understanding of the diverse world around them. It is not deemed
daring to say that without cultural exchange through TV channels, feeling
and learning about other cultures would turn less visually impressive.
On the other hand, it is justifiable, though maybe considered ethnocentric,
that domestic entertainment products retain an equally indispensable role in

a country’s film segments. The most obvious reason is that the act of a
country developing its own movies and broadcasting industry is of necessity
to preserve its culture. Through local films and TV shows, children and
adolescents develop their cognition of local customs and traditional values
and have a tendency to practice them. Another endorsing reason is that
domestic films and shows are irreplaceable products that bring people true