Whether you’re taking the Academic Writing paper or the General one, the IELTS Writing task can be a challenge. Which is why preparing with IELTS practice tests is the best way to improve and make sure you get a great score.
In this section you will find several IELTS practice tests for the General Writing Task 2. Feel free to check out our main IELTS practice tests page as well if you wish to train for all the sections of the exam.
Free IELTS Practice Tests: General Training Writing
IELTS Academic Writing – Practice Test #1
IELTS Academic Writing – Practice Test #2
IELTS Academic Writing – Practice Test #3
IELTS General Training Writing Task 2: Free Practice Tests
Take a look at our following practice tests for the IELTS General Writing Task 2 :
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:The government should tax unhealthy food to encourage people to eat more healthily. 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.
Write at least 250 words.
Explanation:
This essay answers the question and so completes the task effectively. It is well structured with no grammatical or spelling errors and uses appropriate linking words to stage the essay e.g “Firstly”, “furthermore”, “in conclusion”.
Model Answer:
The rise of obesity has been a growing problem globally for some time. As societies have developed, so has the availability of fatty, low-nutrition foods and with it an increase in the amount of overweight people in society. A proposed solution to this problem is a tax on junk food which will encourage people to eat more nutritious food. I am in absolute agreement with this idea because people will eat healthier food and it will increase tax revenues in the fight against obesity.
Firstly, a tax will encourage people to eat more healthily. This is because it will increase the price of foods that are less healthy. The main reason why people buy junk food is that it tends to be cheap. If a tax were imposed, this fast food would be as costly as healthier options and people would be more likely to choose healthy food.
Furthermore, the price of junk food does not reflect its true cost. Although, as stated previously, fast food is usually extremely cheap, it often leads to various health conditions which can impact people immensely, especially the poor. Since fast-food outlets like McDonalds and Burger King contribute negatively to people’s long-term health they should be made to cover that cost through taxation.
Lastly, a tax will provide funds that can be redirected to other solutions to make society healthier. If the government taxes foods with low-nutritional content, it means they will gain a substantial amount of revenue which can be directed towards improving health. For instance, there could be an advertising campaign promoting healthier meal options or gyms could be subsidised to make them more affordable.
In conclusion, it is clear that taxing unhealthy snacks would encourage more people to eat healthily. A tax would discourage people from buying junk food and provide revenue which could be used by the government to further encourage a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully, governments will adopt these policies in future.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:Whether in favor or against, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced all families to go into homeschooling mode. Although this may have changed people’s minds in either direction, the pros and cons remain quite the same.
Discuss both sides of homeschooling and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Explanation:
Make sure to organise your essay in paragraphs. In the introduction, state both sides and give a brief opinion. Then, develop your opinion giving reasons for and against and finish with a conclusion. Do not forget to use linking devices such as “firstly”, “secondly”, etc.
Model Answer:
Many people have opposite ideas about home-schooling although some may have changed their minds with the unusual experience of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Personally, I believe that children should be sent to school. I believe that teachers are better prepared for this task. Regular parents, no matter how well-intentioned they may be, are not prepared for such an important job.
Firstly, very few human beings can know everything about every topic. A parent may be well versed in Math or Science. But can he or she teach it in a way that the child will understand? Furthermore, what about the other subjects? If the parent has a good understanding of Math and Sciences but has never had a good grasp of the Humanities how does that help the child? Clearly, it does not help at all.
In my opinion, this should be left to those who have prepared themselves to do this. Teaching goes beyond simply having the knowledge of a given subject. It requires planning, knowing how to reach a child, being empathetic, and patient.
A second aspect to be taken into account is the social aspect of attending or not attending school. Social interaction is very important. Children should be exposed to various types of people from the very start. They will have to deal with other human beings sooner or later in the real world. For this, they need to have the right coping mechanisms in place.
On the other hand, home-schooling has the advantage of being able to control the learning curriculum (although this may be subject to local state laws) and the pace of their child’s learning. Likewise, it is much easier to monitor the quality of their diet. Also, some parents feel the need to protect their child from external problems and situations such as bullies, peer pressure, and in some cases even boredom.
In conclusion, this is a very personal decision. One that only the parents are prepared to make because only they are capable of knowing what is best for their child.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example for young people. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Explanation:
This essay contains and impressive array of vocabulary for the topic along with linking words, adjectives and comparatives. It’s a good idea for candidates to familiarise themselves with some high-level adjectives that can be used to describe people, places and things.
Model Answer:
It is difficult to escape from the constant media focus on celebrity culture nowadays. Photos of celebrities are everywhere. They depict these people caught up in scandals or behaving badly at glamorous parties. Some people have suggested that celebrities now are more famous for how they look and how much they earn rather than for their innate talents. This can be damaging to young people who seek to emulate them. It does seem that celebrities are self-obsessed, attention-seeking and vain people. This filters through to children who believe this is what constitutes success.
It may not come as a surprise to anyone to learn that celebrities care about their appearance. It is not entirely their fault however, as they are increasingly judged solely on their appearance by the media. No magazine or newspaper wants a plain face on their cover or, worse, an old one. Therefore, the wisdom of experience, talent and virtue has been exchanged for a person’s visual appearance. This sends explicit signals to today’s youth that what matters most is how they look, rather than their character or actions because this is how the media judges its celebrities.
Moreover, nowadays you do not need to have any particular talent whatsoever in order to be famous. You only have to be willing to do anything. This has given rise to that curious breed, people who are famous for being famous. The modern-day examples of Kim Kardashian or, in an earlier era, Paris Hilton, show that to be popular and rich these days, you just need to be from a privileged family and be obsessed with how you look. Judging by the hundreds of millions who follow these on social media, it seems our impressionable youth have received this message loud and clear. Fame should be pursued as an end in itself and not by achievements that formerly would have precluded fame.
To sum up, global stars are a truly terrible role models for children. They send the message that appearance and popularity are the only measure of success in life. This can only produce a society that lacks true values but rather idolises the selfish and superficial.
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