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Opinion
Samples Band 8.5

IELTS Opinion Writing Samples Band 8.5

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In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want on web or phone without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? band9

It is often suggested that printed books and newspapers will vanish because digital content will be available to everyone at no cost. While reading habits are certainly shifting towards screens, I disagree that print will disappear entirely, and I am also sceptical that online content will remain free.
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Some people believe that students should be allowed to use artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, to help with their assignments, while others think this harms real learning. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While some argue that students should be free to use tools such as ChatGPT when preparing their coursework, others believe that these systems do the thinking for them. Although both views have merit, I believe that artificial intelligence belongs in education as a tutor, provided that it is kept out of any assignment that receives a mark.
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Some people think that advertising aimed at children should be banned because it encourages them to want things they do not need. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that commercials for toys, sweets and games should be forbidden on any channel or app that youngsters watch. While I accept that parents also carry responsibility, I largely agree that adverts designed for under-twelves, though not every advert a child might see, should be banned because young minds cannot resist professional persuasion, and the buying habits formed early last a lifetime.
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Some people believe that individuals can do little to protect the environment and that only governments and large companies can make a real difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that one person recycling a bottle changes nothing, and that only ministries and multinational firms have the power to slow pollution and climate change. While I accept that the largest decisions are taken at the top, I largely disagree with this view because individual choices add up to markets, and voters ultimately decide what governments dare to do.
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In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by international fast food. Some people think this is harmful for both families and societies. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often claimed that the spread of burger and pizza chains at the expense of local dishes damages both the family and the wider community. While I accept that fast food offers convenience to busy people, I largely agree with this view because it harms health and erodes the shared meals that hold households and cultures together.
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The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often claimed that the lack of affordable housing in major cities is a problem that governments alone can solve. While I accept that public authorities hold the most powerful tools, I largely disagree with this view, as private builders and ordinary residents also play an essential part.
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Some people think having a university degree is the best way to secure a good job. However, others believe skills and experience are more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

While some argue that a university qualification remains the surest route to a rewarding career, others believe that practical skills and experience matter more to employers. Although both views have merit, I believe that a degree opens the door, yet ability and hands-on practice decide who keeps the job.
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In many parts of the world, people now often throw away broken items and buy new ones, whereas in the past, broken items were repaired and reused. Why do you think this is the case? What problems may this lead to?

A generation ago, a torn shirt or a silent radio was mended and used for years, whereas today most people simply replace such things. This essay will argue that the change stems chiefly from falling prices and deliberate design, and that it creates serious environmental and financial problems.
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Due to the lack of long-term job security in modern companies, young people should pursue self-employment or freelance work instead of traditional jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Since permanent contracts have become rare, some people advise school leavers and graduates to build their own businesses or work independently rather than seek a conventional position. While I accept that working for oneself offers freedom and can be highly rewarding, I largely disagree with presenting it as the better path for most young people because they lack the capital, experience and safety net that it demands.
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International community should focus on discovering new sources of energy rather than trying to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes argued that the world's governments should concentrate on inventing fresh forms of power instead of persuading people to burn less coal, oil and gas. While I accept that new technology will ultimately solve the climate problem, I largely disagree with abandoning efforts to cut consumption because the two approaches reinforce each other and reduction delivers results today, whereas discovery may take decades.
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The only effective way to reduce air pollution in major cities is to make all public transport completely free for citizens. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes suggested that abolishing fares on buses, trams, and trains is the single solution capable of cleaning the air in large urban areas. While I accept that free travel would tempt some motorists to leave their cars at home, I largely disagree with the claim that it is the only answer because pollution has several sources and a zero-fare policy addresses just one of them.
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Some people argue that high taxation discourages individuals from working hard and that citizens should keep all the money they earn. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes claimed that heavy taxes remove the incentive to work and that people ought to retain every dirham they earn. While I accept that excessive rates can weaken ambition, I largely disagree with the idea of abolishing taxation altogether because public services depend on it, and a modern economy cannot function without shared investment.
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Governments should focus their financial spending on public services like healthcare and education rather than investing in space exploration. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that national budgets should be devoted to hospitals and schools instead of being spent on missions beyond the Earth. While I accept that research in orbit has produced valuable discoveries, I largely agree with this view because basic services affect every citizen directly, and the returns from astronomy arrive too slowly for countries still struggling with poverty.
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly developing and will soon replace human workers in most industries, which will benefit the global economy. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is widely predicted that intelligent machines will shortly take over the majority of jobs and that this transformation will enrich the world economy. While I accept that automation raises productivity in certain sectors, I largely disagree with this claim because wholesale replacement of people would destroy purchasing power, and many occupations depend on qualities that software cannot imitate.
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Parents today put too much pressure on their children to succeed academically and career-wise. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is frequently claimed that modern mothers and fathers push their sons and daughters far too hard towards academic honours and prestigious jobs. While I accept that ambition for one's offspring is natural and sometimes helpful, I largely agree with this view, since excessive expectations damage young people's wellbeing and rarely produce the success that families hope for.
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Some people believe that universities should only offer places to students with the highest academic grades. Others think that universities should accept students of all abilities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that higher education should be reserved for applicants with outstanding school results, whereas others maintain that campuses ought to welcome young people of every ability. While I accept that exceptional grades matter for certain demanding courses, I largely disagree with restricting admission to the top performers, since talent develops at different speeds and a mixed intake benefits society as a whole.
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People should be allowed to continue to work as long as the want to, and not be forced to retire at a particular age such as 60 or 65. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experiences.

The question of whether individuals should be required to retire upon reaching a certain age has become increasingly relevant as life expectancy rises and people remain active for longer. I strongly agree that employees should be allowed to continue working for as long as they wish, provided they remain capable of fulfilling their professional responsibilities.
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Some people believe that old buildings should be knocked down and replaced with modern ones, while others think they should be preserved. To what extent do you agree or disagree with demolishing old buildings?

In every growing city, developers argue that crumbling old structures should make way for modern housing and offices, while conservationists insist that they must be saved. While I accept that not every ancient wall deserves protection, I largely disagree with the idea of demolition, because historic architecture gives a place its identity and, once destroyed, can never be recovered.
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Some people believe that schools should teach practical skills such as cooking, managing money and repairing things, rather than academic subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Schools have long debated whether their main task is to fill young minds with knowledge or to prepare young hands for work. While some argue that lessons in cooking, carpentry and finance would serve most pupils better than algebra and poetry, I largely disagree with this view, because academic study builds the thinking that every job eventually demands, and useful life skills are best learned alongside it rather than instead of it.
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Some people believe that news pictures are more effective than words because they show what really happened. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A single photograph of a child on a beach or a city reduced to rubble can move millions of people in a way that no article ever matches. While I accept that images carry an emotional force that text cannot equal, I largely disagree that they are more effective, because a picture shows only a fragment of an event and leaves the viewer to guess at everything that matters most.
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