Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations: IELTS Writing Test Sample Answer

Bhargavee Sisodia

30 Jul 2024

The most well-known language competency test needed for entry into nations where English is the official language is the IELTS exam. This test guarantees that you can successfully integrate into foreign societies and economies and make positive contributions to them. The IELTS exam is available in two versions: Academic for students and General Training for professionals in the workforce. 

The Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking exams are the four primary components of the International English Language Testing System or IELTS test. Since every test has a different format, it's critical to understand how each should be completed.  

The Academic and General Training versions of the IELTS have different reading and writing sections. Topics covered in the academic exam are appropriate for students planning to enroll in professional or university programs. Topics based on general interest will be included in the General Training test. 

Let's find out how the IELTS writing part differs for the General and Academic tests.

The writing part of the IELTS test is divided into 2 sections for both General and Academic Tests, Task 1 and Task 2. While Task 1 is different for the General and Academic parts, Task 2 is the same in format with only the topics of the essays varying and the writing style being different.

For the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you will have to provide an independent description of the visual information shown in a given graph, table, pie chart, or diagram. The answer should be a minimum of 150 words and you will be given 20 minutes of time.

For the IELTS General Writing Task 1, you will have to write a letter requesting details or providing an explanation of the situation given to you in 20 minutes. The answer should again be at least 150 words.

For task 2, in both the Academic and General Writing test, you are required to have an answer about a certain argument, point of view, or issue. In 40 minutes, you are expected to write an essay of at least 250 words. Now let’s see how the topics and types of answers differ in the Task 2 of the IELTS Academic and General Writing Test.

• IELTS writing Academic Part: The topics in the IELTS writing Academic part are related to education, society, or science with a high level of vocabulary expected in a formal writing tone.
• IELTS writing General Part: The topics of the IELTS writing General Part are related to real-life scenarios, incidents, pastimes, or hobbies. The writing can be informal and the vocabulary can be of intermediate level.

Types of essays in IELTS Writing Task 2

There can be 6 different types of essays for task 2 and you will be given 1 of the 6 types. Let us have a brief idea of the types.

• Opinion: A topic will be given and there will be 2 sides of the argument. You will have to pick a side and give your opinion in support of why you picked that side of the argument.
• Problem/Solution: A statement about a problem will be given and you will need to discuss its cause and effects.
• Discussion: An issue will be given and you will have to discuss both sides of the argument and give your opinion on which side you will choose, if asked.
• Balanced Opinion: Here an argument will be given, and you will have to partly agree to it and partly disagree to it. However, it is important to remember here that you cannot choose both sides. You have to choose which side you agree more with.
• Advantages/Disadvantages: A situation will be given and you will have to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of it. You must remember that you have to give an unbiased answer without mentioning your opinion unless it is explicitly asked in the question to talk about your opinion.
• Double Question or Direct Questions: Here you need to provide accurate examples to back up your answers to a direct question on a single subject. 

Criteria of scoring in the Writing Task 2

There are 4 criteria based on which your band score will depend in writing task 2. You can get a band 0 to 9 with most students scoring between 6 to 9. Let's discuss the 4 criteria. You need to understand the criteria of evaluation on the IELTS writing task 2 in order to prepare how to answer the essays. Let's discuss the 4 criteria of the test.

• Task Achievement: Give a clear overview in the introduction and stick to the topic. Do not go below the word count of 250. If your opinion is not asked, do not write an opinionated essay.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Cohesion means avoiding redundancy or irrelevant information, and coherence means how easy your essay is to understand. While appropriate linking words like However and Moreover are important, you cannot overuse them. You also have to write multiple paragraphs(at least 4), keep them shorter, and connect them well with each other.
• Lexical Resource: Use simple words that are relevant to the context and avoid spelling mistakes. Also, make sure you do not write without thinking because you will not be able to correct yourself.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Take care of sentence formation and tenses. Use simpler sentences and proper punctuation.

Some tips for you for a high IELTS writing band score

• Keep the Sentences Short: While answering the IELTS essay topics, keep the sentences less complex and use connective words to connect 2 sentences whenever necessary.
• Keep the word limit in mind: Never write less than the word count of 250 words however, do not go overboard and write too long of an essay.
• Time your essay well: You will get 40 minutes to finish the essay. Take the first 5 minutes to plan what you will write before you begin with the task.

IELTS writing task 2 topics and sample answers: 

Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and improve such situations.

In this blog, we will discuss this topic which is an opinion-based essay, and see how to frame the answers. We will have separate essays equivalent to band 6, band 7, and band 9 so that you can distinguish the differences between the answers and go through why exactly the essays fall under that particular band.

Structure of Opinion-Based Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Introduction: Rephrase the question and state it clearly. State which side of the argument you agree to.

Body Paragraph 1: Substantiate your opinion with an example.

Body Paragraph 2: Substantiate your opinion with another example.

Body Paragraph 3(optional): You can give the opposite view and why you do not agree with it.

Conclusion: Rephrase the question again and reiterate your opinion.

IELTS writing task 2 topics with answers:

Band 6

Some people think that accepting a difficult circumstance like an unfulfilling employment or a lack of funds is the best course of action. While there are some contend that attempts to alleviate these circumstances are preferable. I agree that we need to try to make our situation favorable for us as it will make our daily life easier.

In the current times, work constitutes a significant part of our life. It is important that we are satisfied with it as it can directly cause an impact on our mental and physical health and this can hinder the other relationships that we have. For example, if we have an unsupportive leadership team at the office who are constantly micro-managing us, it can cause a decline to our confidence and independence. In such cases, it is important to speak up and have a discussion with the concerned individual about our concerns rather than simply accepting the situation.

There can also be situations where we feel that we are not compenseted at par with our job designation or our peers. In such cases, rather than keeping quiet about it, it is essential that we speak for ourselves. If the situation still doesn't come in our favor, we can always try for other jobs based on our talents rather than accepting the shortage of money that is impacting our daily lives.

So even if some people believe it is okay to accept a difficult circumstance like an unsatisfactory job or shortage of funds, while others believe that we have to work on the situation to make it better, I believe that it is always better to keep trying to improve our situations rather than accepting it as fate.

Clarification on the band: 

Here we have highlighted the grammatical errors in blue, which fall under the Grammatical Range and Accuracy mistake of task evaluation.

We have highlighted the spelling mistakes, which falls under Lexical Resources.

We have also highlighted the longer sentences which could have been made shorter and readable and the phrase "rather than" being repeated 4 times making it redundant, which falls under the Coherence and Cohesion part of the evaluation.

Band 7

Some people think it's better to accept a difficult circumstance, such as a poor job or a lack of funds. Some argues that it is preferable to make an effort to ameliorate these circumstances. I completely agree that in order to improve our lives, we must work to alter the circumstances to our advantage.

In the current scenario employment takes up a large portion of our lives. Our lifestyle and mood are also directly influenced by our work. It is crucial that we are content at work as it may negatively affect our physical and mental well-being. For instance, our enthusiasm and freedom may be hindered if we work for an unsupportive leadership team that micromanages us. Instead of just accepting the situation, it is essential to voice our concerns and engage in a conversation with the person causing us problems.

There may also be instances in which we believe our pay is not commensurate in comparison to that of our colleagues. It is crucial that we stand up for ourselves rather than remaining silent. We don't have to accept the lack of money that is negatively affecting our everyday life. If it still doesn't work out we can always try for alternative organizations where our skills is respected.

Some people will still thinks it's acceptable to accept a difficult circumstance such as an unsupportive job or a shortage of money, while others think we should work to improve the situation. I will always maintain that it's more advantageous to keep trying to improve our circumstances than to accept them. 

Clarification on the band: 

Here we have highlighted 2 words after which there should have been a comma. We have highlighted the grammatical errors. This falls under the Grammatical Range and Accuracy. This is not hindering the flow of the communication, however, as a mistake it lessens the perfect score.

Also when compared to band 6, you can see a diverse vocabulary like "ameliorate" and "commensurate," which are not complex and out of context. This falls under a better evaluation of Lexical Resource.

Band 9

There is conflict over how to respond to unpleasant circumstances, such as a discouraging job or facing financial difficulties. While some preach quiet acceptance, others believe in the pursuit of change. I totally agree with the latter viewpoint, which holds that changing our lives requires deliberate efforts to convert adversities into opportunities.

In the modern era, jobs demand a significant amount of our time. Work has a direct impact on our daily routine and temperament. We must be satisfied at work since it might have a detrimental impact on our physical and mental health. For example, enduring the enslavement of a micromanaging leadership team may drain our motivation and diminish our sense of independence. Rather than accepting the circumstance, we must voice our displeasure and begin a discourse with those responsible. 

There may also be times when we consider our compensation to be inadequate in juxtaposition to that of our coworkers. It is critical that we speak up for ourselves rather than keep silent. We do not have to endure the financial difficulties that are interfering with our daily lives as a consequence of insignificant pay. If our efforts to improve the situation fail, researching new employment possibilities where our talents are appreciated and valued becomes a prudent course of action. 

Some individuals will continue to perceive that it is appropriate to tolerate a subpar condition, such as an unsupportive job or financial insecurity, but others believe that we should seek to better the situation. I am perpetually convinced that it is favorable to continue striving to improve our circumstances rather than giving in to passive acceptance. 

Clarification on the band: 

There are no grammatical errors, or redundancy of words, and the sentences are short and crisp with a diverse range of vocabulary showcased.

Conclusion

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