Liz IELTS IDeas for IELTS

IDEAS FOR IELTS
- IELTS LIZ

Relocating businesses outside cities: Essay Ideas
In some countries, the government is encouraging businesses and industries to
move outside city centers and relocate to regional areas.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Advantages of businesses being outside urban areas
Land prices are cheaper and more available in rural areas which is beneficial to
businesses. Many overheads will be cheaper.
 Workers in regional areas can be hired for a lower salary.
 Industry and business can often produce pollution so locating them away from residential
areas is sensible.
 Raw materials are located in rural areas so it makes sense for many businesses to be
situated nearer their required resources.
 Local communities usually support the arrival of new businesses as they bring jobs. This
local support can be beneficial for businesses.
Disadvantages of relocating businesses
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The infrastructure is sometimes less developed in rural areas which can be a problem for
businesses.
Internet connection may not be reliable and this can adversely affect companies.
Workers in rural areas may be plentiful but they might not be as skilled as those in urban
centers. A lack of skilled, experienced workers can be a problem for some companies.
For many companies, their customers are in city centers so moving away from their

customer base is not beneficial.


Employment Competition Essay Ideas
IELTS Essay Question
Nowadays, more and more younger people need to compete with older people for
the same jobs.
What problems does this cause? What would you suggest as a solution?
This essay question focuses on younger people. The instructions ask for problems and
solution. Always note whether you are asked to give the causes or the problems.
IELTS Essay Ideas
Problems caused by young and old people competing for work
young people will have to compete with older people who have more experience which
might mean some young people fail to find work
 with greater competition for jobs comes more unemployment
 high unemployment in young people can cause unrest in society leading to problems
such as crime
 if old people are not able to compete with young people, they may not be able to get a
job
 without adequate financial means to support themselves, old people may be thrown
into poverty
 with a growing world population of elderly people, this can be a huge financial crisis
Solutions for young people competing for work
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one effective solution could be to provide sufficient social benefits for older people to
allow them to retire without loosing their standard of living
by fixing a clear retirement age over which no one can be employed, it will ensure that
the young do not need to compete against older people for work
have a fixed quota of jobs set aside for people under a certain age and over a certain age
to avoid so much competition
another possible answer is to offer a job share between elderly and young people so that
both groups can gain some form of employment
alternatively, older people could be employed purely to pass on their knowledge and
experience to the young rather than taking their positions at work


Nowadays, more and more older people compete with younger people for the
same jobs.
What are the reasons for this? What would you suggest as a solution?
This essay question focuses on older people. You must provide the causes (reasons) why
older people compete and also solutions for this situation.
Essay Ideas
Reasons why old people compete with young people for work
older people continue being fit for work for longer so wish to continue working
some older people do not have enough money put aside for their pensions so must work
some elderly people do not want such a long tedious retirement and wish to continue
working
 as older people work for longer, there are less jobs available for the younger generation
 increased life expectancy raise the proportions of working elderly people
Solutions :
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The solutions are the same as given above.


Essay Ideas: Should libraries invest in technology or books?
IELTS Essay Question
Libraries should provide more books rather than invest in new technology such as
computers and e-books. To what extent do you agree?
Ideas for this topic:
Libraries should invest in books
Not all books are available on digital format which means some specialised books are still
in paper form.
 Paper books are not easily lost unlike e-books which can be deleted accidentally or
malfunction. Paper books are more reliable.
 Libraries should be responsible for keeping paper books as one day the internet may not
exist. It is a known fact that paper books are the only reliable and safe source of
information.
 Paper books help people focus and concentrate. They are not easily distracted. Reading
online tempts people to search for new books, visit websites, and look up links rather
than focus on the book they are reading.
 Children should be given paper books to read rather than allowing them to read online
which opens them up to uncensored sites.
 Seeing a shelf full of books and topics is inspiring and stimulates the imagination.
Libraries should invest in technology
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Technology, such as e-books, allow the same information to be stored in a fraction of the
space. This is more cost effective than paper books because they need more storage
space.
Computers allow users to locate information more quickly, providing better customer
service.
Looking for and using books online is user friendly. This means people don’t need to
leave their seat in order to find one or more books they want.
Technology is the way forward for all companies and services.
Providing more technology makes more services available as people can access the
internet for more information than that provided solely by the library.


IELTS Essay Ideas: Is History a Waste of Time
Sample IELTS Essay Question
Some people think that studying history is a waste of time while others think that it is
essential to learn. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
IELTS Essay Ideas
Below are ideas for both side of the argument. A useful definition of history is “it is the
study of past events, particularly human affairs.”. It might be the study of a country or of a
person in the past. It might involve a particular event or a general situation at a given time
in the past.
History is a Waste of Time
Most people memorise dates, names and facts when they study history. This information
is not useful in everyday life or for the future.
 If we could actually learn from history, history wouldn’t be full of the same repeated
mistakes. However, the same mistakes are made again and again which makes history
irrelevant to learn for the future.

 History is a subject that is rarely used in people’s lives so it would be better to focus on
science or technology which is more relevant to the future and today’s society.
 Each historical event has different perspectives. For this reason, it makes learning history
a waste of time because events can also be interpreted in a different way which makes
what we learn in history less valuable.
 Many school curriculum have been set and are rarely changed. That curriculum includes
little current history which is the only type of history that helps people understand the
world they currently live in.
History is Important
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History helps young people understand their own culture and how their culture and
country have evolved.
History gives identify and helps unify people. It gives people a sense of roots and
belonging.
History teaches people what their forefathers experienced and suffered in the past in
order to make their country what it is today.
History teaches us about travesties which have occurred in the past, such as the
Holocaust. It is essential for both people in the past, present and future to never forget
such events in order to honour the memory of those lost and to ensure it never happens
again.

History helps us understand change. It records and helps people understand successes
and failures. Through these studies people can learn about change and how others are
affected by it.
It shows patterns of behaviour or events in the past and their outcome which can help us
avoid similar outcomes in the future.


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Learn about the past often gives a glimpse of the future. It shows a path of development
that will continue past the present and into the future.
Valuable information can often be found in history, such as traditional medicines.
Learning about past lifestyles and techniques used by people in the past can hold the
secrets to remedies or cures no longer used.


Housing and Trees in Urban Areas: IELTS Essay Question
Some people think that planting trees in open spaces in cities and towns is more important
than building houses. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reasons for Using City Space for Trees
Trees and green areas create a peaceful living environment which promotes a better
living standard and better mental health.
 Trees produce oxygen which can counteract against heavy pollution in cities and create a
better quality of air.
 Heat in cities can be better controlled by having more trees which filter the sun’s heat
and offer shade. This ultimately lowers the temperature.
 Planting more trees in urban areas brings nature into cities which is beneficial to people
without access to rural areas.
 Noise levels can also be reduced by planting trees which can act as a buffer against

sound.
 Planting more trees can make the living environment more pleasant which is thought to
reduce crime to some extent. Trees encourage people to enjoy their neighbourhood and
be more active in it which deters petty crime.
 Trees offer urban wildlife a better environment to live in and play a part in the ecosystem
of a city.
Reasons for Using City Space for Housing
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Lack of affordable housing can lead to rising crime rates. Thus by having more housing,
there are more opportunities for everyone to get housing.
Without more housing, a city is unable to grow and develop which is essential in a world
with an increasing population.
Housing is also essential for any country which is hoping to develop its economy as
workers must have access to affordable homes.
Shelter is a basic requirement for life.
Urban space is limited and priority should be given to shelter rather than creating
pleasant parks.
Without enough homes, people can become homeless which can leads to alcoholism and
drugs or slums can develop which can be detrimental to any country.


Recent IELTS Essay Question: International Aid

Some people think that famous people’s support towards international aids organisations
draws attention to problems, while others think that celebrities make the problems less
important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Ideas for and against the involvement of famous people’s involvement in aid work:
Support for famous people’s involvement
Famous people draw media attention wherever they go which helps to highlight the aid
organisation and the problem.
 Charities or causes can be made more popular by celebrity involvement.
 Take Princess Diana as an illustration, she championed the problem of land mines and
brought enormous international attention to an otherwise forgotten problem.
 Celebrities are able to bridge the gap between a tragedy that has occurred in a distant
place and bring it into people’s sitting rooms, making the problem seem more real and
less remote.
 Famous people’s words often have more reach and more global identity. They are able to
influence people in different countries and cultures all over the world.
 People are more likely to give donations when they are called to action by their favourite
actor or football star. Fans follow the work of their favourite stars and like to get involved
in whatever they are doing.
 Famous voices calling people to action have more power and influence than someone the
public have never heard of. In other words, a familiar voice is often more trustworthy
and more compelling.
Against famous people’s involvement
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More media attention may be given to the famous person’s involvement than the actual
aid organisation and can draw attention away from the problem itself.
 Celebrity involvement can make the message shallow coming from a famous star who
does not directly work with the charity.
 Using famous people to draw attention to particular global problems helps to promote
world inequality which should be avoided.

 If the famous person’s image is damaged in the media for any particular reason, it could
have repercussions on the charity and the problem. This means the charity becomes
dependent on the famous person maintaining popularity which cannot always be
guaranteed.
 Some people may be put off the aid organisations if they do not like that particular
famous person.
 People may lose interest in a charity if the famous person stops their involvement.
Please note that these ideas must be adapted so that they connect directly with the issues
in the essay question. You should not copy these ideas word for word. Instead you should
take these ideas, write them in your own words and apply them to the specific essay
question.
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Recent Essay Question March 2015 - Car use
Some people say that cars are best to use in cities while others think that bicycles
are better. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Here are some ideas for this essay question.
Cars
Cars are able to transport a number of people rather than only one as well as bulky
items.
 Travelling by car is more time effective.
 Car travel is comfortable which enables the driver to arrive fresh at their destination.
 Travelling by car in a city is often safer because the frame of the vehicle and safety
mechanisms can protect the driver.
 In cold climates, where temperatures drop to near or below freezing in winter, cars are a
better option.
 Cars are able to cover great distances which bring more people into city centers and
boost the local economy.
 Cars are the most sensible option for people with weak health, the elderly or those that

need to conserve their energy for their work.
Bicycles
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This form of transportation is more environmentally friendly as there are no exhaust
fumes to pollute the atmosphere and no fuel is required which would deplete world
resources.
Using bicycles is a healthier way to travel and helps busy people incorporate exercise into
their daily lives.
Cycling is a cheap and sustainable form of transportation.
Travelling by bicycles rarely results in traffic congestion regardless of the amount of
traffic on the roads
Car parks take up much needed space in cities which is avoided by using bicycles.
Bicycles are simple to maintain and cheap to repair.


Essay Ideas about Salaries
In many countries in the world, some people earn extremely high salaries. Some people
think that this good for a country. Others think that the government should not allow
salaries above a certain level. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Why some people earning high salaries is good for a country:
people who are highly skilled and talented should be rewarded with high salaries.

high salaries are an incentive for others to work harder.
high salaries are important to entice people to do dangerous or unpleasant work.
having high salaries is a sign of a country’s wealth.
high salaries is a way for a country to express their gratitude for a person’s experience or
expertise.
 high salaries deter skilled or talented people leaving a country.
Why the government should now allow salaries above a certain level:
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the government should ensure that wealth is evenly distributed throughout a country.
limiting high salaries would bring more equality.
it can be disheartening for some to receive a low salary while others receive a high salary
without much justification.
capping high salaries will prevent the rich from gaining unfair control over certain aspects
of society.
limiting high salaries will mean more funding for public services which will benefit all
people in society.

The Function of Schools Essay Ideas
Some people think that schools are merely turning children into good citizens and workers,

rather than benefiting them as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Schools merely turn children into good citizens or workers:
 schools teach discipline which turns children into effective workers.
 children learn what is right and wrong in school.
 schools instill the cultural values that are shared by society.
 skills that enable children to succeed in the job market can first learned in school.
Schools benefit children as individuals:
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schools help children discover their potential.
children are able to choose the subjects that best suit them.
teachers are trained to help children understand their strengths and improve their
weaknesses.
children can develop confidence as a person either through lessons or extra curricular
activities.
through school education, children are able to develop an understanding about the world
in which they live.


IELTS Essay Ideas: Female Staff in Senior Positions
Most high level positions in companies are filled by men even though the
workforce in many developed countries is more than 50 per cent female.
Companies should be required to allocate a certain percentage of these positions
to women.
To what extent do you agree?
Why companies should give a percentage of senior positions to women

equal rights and opportunities for men and women
it avoids discrimination
it creates a pleasant work environment to have a better balance of the genders in
management and senior levels
 it creates a supportive work environment for other female employees to know that a
certain percentage of management is also female
 women have valuable skills of communication and diplomacy for high level positions
Why companies should not give a percentage of senior positions to women
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it is unrealistic to stipulate a certain percentage of one gender
companies cannot be sure that they will receive suitable female applicants to fill a certain
percentage of senior positions
this forces companies to fulfill percentages even though it may be to their detriment
senior positions should be allocated based on experience, skills and qualifications not
gender


Essay Ideas: Littering in Cities
Ideas for an opinion essay
Littering in cities is an increasing problem which needs to be dealt with. Some
people think that steeper fines is the best way to deal with the problem.
To what extent do you agree?

When you analyse a statement for an opinion essay, it is useful to ask yourself different
questions regarding the topic. Think about the questions below and then decide your
answer.
Questions for Analysis
1. What is littering? Answer
2. Why do people litter?Answer
3. It is already an offence to throw litter in the streets so why do people continue to do
it?Answer
4. Would having a bigger fine stop them?Answer
5. Is having a bigger fine the best way to stop littering? Answer
6. Are there other ways to stop littering? Answer
Now use your ideas and form them into an essay format. That means you should have two
or three main ideas which are divided into two or three body paragraphs. After you have
your essay ideas planned, check the model body paragraphs below. Can you write the
introduction and conclusion for the model essay below?
Model Body Paragraphs
Body Paragraph A: Having bigger fines is certainly one way to tackle the issue of littering.
Increasing the fines will make people take littering more seriously. At present, many people
litter the streets because they do not consider this to be a serious offence and for the
convenience but by imposing a considerable penalty, people will think twice before they
litter.
Body Paragraph B: However, the best way to deal with the problem of littering would be a
long-term solution involving educating the younger generation. Littering is common due to
the fact that many people are not fully aware of the environmental and health impacts that
it has. By raising awareness and building a habit of disposing of waste correctly, this
problem can be eradicated in coming generations.
Body Paragraph C: Finally, another possible solution would be to have more litter bins
available to the public. The reason being that the majority of people littering the streets do
so because there are no bins available to put their waste in and they do not wish to carry
their rubbish with them until they find a bin. By having more bins available, it would not

only be more convenient for people to dispose of their waste properly but it would also act
as a reminder for them to do so.


IELTS Essay Ideas: Banning Mobile Phones
Some people think that the use of mobiles (cell) phones should be banned in
public places such a in libraries and shop and on public transport. To what extent
do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Ideas
Reasons for Banning Mobile Phones in Public Places
 Phones can be intrusive. (uninvited noise to others)
 Phones can disturb others when they are concentrating, for example in a library.
 They are antisocial as people are too busy sending messages to talk to the people in
front of them, for example in a shop when they are being served.
 The signal can cause problems in some public places, such as hospitals, by interfering
with delicate instruments or equipment.
 In some public place, such as libraries, music halls or galleries, phones can annoy and
ruin the experience for others.
Reasons for Not Banning Mobiles Phones in Public Places
 Mobiles do not need to be intrusive as they can easily be turned to silent or vibrate.
 Phones can be useful in case of emergencies, for instance accidents in public places.
 Phones can provide entertainment when travelling on tedious journeys, particularly on
public transport.
 Phones are multi-functional and can be used as recording devices or cameras so
shouldn’t be banned in public.
 They are useful for families overseas to get in touch with each other.
 They provide a safety for youngsters as parents can easily get in touch with them
wherever they are.
Concessions
 mobile phones should be banned in places where they interfere with equipment, interrupt

a service or break rules, such as in a library, but in all other public places they should be
allowed as long as they are used with respect to others


Tourism and The Local Community
Essay Question
Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in international tourism.
Some people think that tourism is beneficial for local communities and should be
encouraged.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advantages of Tourism
1. Tourism brings money and boosts the economy.
2. It offers employment to local people.
3. It offers fresh perspectives on life and culture.
4. Locals usually need to learn English to talk to tourists which can have beneficial long
term effects.
5. To boost tourism, local communities often invest money on improving the infrastructure
which has lasting positive effects.
Disadvantages of Tourism
1. Tourism can create an economic dependency which can be detrimental to the community
if it is not sustainable.
2. Tourism can have a negative impact on the local environment in terms of pollution.
1. noise pollution from tourist entertainment
2. air pollution from increased transportation
3. Tourism can cause friction between locals and tourists, if local culture is not respected.
4. The bulk of the money brought in by tourism rarely finds its way into local hands and
instead lines the pockets of the middle man (the tour operator).


Solving Traffic and Pollution Problems: Essay Ideas

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution
problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What other measures do you think might be effective?
There are two questions to answer:
1. Do you think increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and
pollution problems?
2. What other measures do you think might be effective to solve traffic and pollution
problems?
Increasing the price of petrol:
 if the price is increased, less people will be able to afford it
 if less people can afford petrol, less people will drive cars
 if less people drive cars, there will be less congestion on the roads
 if less people drive, there will be less air pollution
Other ways to solve traffic and pollution problems:
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traffic problems can be solved by improving public transport to encourage more people to
use it rather than to use their own cars
public transport can be improved by having more public transport available, making it
more punctual and reducing the price of tickets to make it more affordable to the
average person
another measure is to have no traffic zones in city centers which will reduce both
congestion and pollution in urban centers.


Recent IELTS Essay: Handwriting Skills for Children

Some people think that it is important to teach children the skill of handwriting.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Reasons in Support of Children Learning Handwriting Skills
handwriting is a basic tool in many subjects, for example doing tests, taking notes and
writing homework.
 poor handwriting skills or illegible writing can have negative effects on school
performance
 learning handwriting is linked to learning to spell, basic reading and grammar
 these are basic and fundamental requirements for any school child
 good handwriting skills should be taught at an early age to form good habits as it is
essential later in life
 in some situations it is better to write by hand rather than type
 there is a link between cognition and writing by hand
 children learn better when they are forced to write something by hand
Other Ideas
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teaching children how to touch-type would be more useful
being proficient in the use of modern technological devices by touch typing is essential
for the future
focusing on handwriting which is less relevant today, is a waste of time for children
 time could be better spent on developing other useful skills and knowledge
handwriting is linked to learning to spell but spell check is a function that all computers
have
 therefore less time should be spent focusing on this
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Fast food restaurants
In some countries, fast food restaurants and companies give money to schools
provided that the schools promote their products to school children.
What do you think is the positive and negative of this in the development of children?
Positive Effects
children benefit from the additional resources and facilities that schools can afford due to
the funding from companies
 children can learn the value of money in order to buy the products being promoted
 learning to manage money is a useful life skill
 children learn to be selective about what they buy
Negative Effects
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promoting companies such as fast food restaurants encourages a poor diet
 poor diets, which include high quantities of salt and sugar, can be harmful to a child’s
health
 this sets children up to be unhealthy adults which can be expensive for the state in
the long run
advertising and promoting to children can be exploitative and unethical
 they are easily influenced
 they are not able to criticise or form their own opinion
 this form of advertising is aimed at the parents through their children
 children are unable to distinguish what is promotional and what is educational

Older people as managers
Directors and managers of organizations are often older people. Some people say
that it is better for younger people to be leaders. To what extend do you agree or
disagree?
This is an opinion essay which means you must give a clear opinion in the introduction and
then support it and explain it in the body paragraphs. Let me give you some ideas for this
topic. If you have more ideas of your own, please post them in the comments box below.
Reasons why young people should be leaders
young people are usually more up-to-date and in touch with the modern world
they are often more dynamic and forward thinking which means they are more open to
new ideas
 young leaders are stronger and healthier than their old counterparts and therefore more
able to cope with the demands of leadership
Reasons why older people should be leaders
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with age comes experience and this is critical for any leader
older people have more authority which is needed to lead and manage others
a sense of responsibility is needed to lead effectively which is found in older people and
often lacking in the young
If you recently did your exam, please post your full essay question in the comments box
below so we can all benefit from it.

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Essay Ideas and Structure: Public Services
Some people think that the government should spend more money on public
service rather than wasting money on the arts. To what extent do you agree.
Public Services: Schools, Health Care, Public Transportation etc
The Arts: Museums, Galleries, Theatre etc
One Side Essay Structure:
Introduction: Direct Answer: I disagree that money should be taken from the arts for
public services. (this approach gives a clear position on one side and therefore the essay
can only give information supporting that side)
Body Paragraph 1: Art is important because all societies need to express their culture
through art
Body Paragraph 2: The arts are often poorly funded and therefore if money were directed
away from the arts for any reason, even for public services, it would likely fail entirely.
Conclusion: restate your opinion and summarise main points.
Balanced Approach Essay Structure
Introduction: Direct Answer: I agree that public services such as health care and
transportation need more funding but not at the cost of the arts which are still very
important. (this approach gives a clear position and allows you to write about both sides.)
Body Paragraph 1: Health care system – give reasons why this needs more funding.
Body Paragraph 2: Public transport – give reasons why this should be improved.
Body Paragraph 3: Explain that the arts are still important and why money should not be
diverted away.
Conclusion – restate your opinion and summarise main points.