IELTS Writing Samples Band 9

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Some people believe that studying at a university in a foreign country is better than studying in one's own country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often claimed that a degree earned in London, Toronto or Sydney is worth more than the same qualification taken locally. While I accept that an overseas education is not the right choice for every student or every subject, I largely agree with this view because foreign universities offer resources and languages that local ones rarely match, and the experience of living alone abroad builds skills that no lecture can teach.

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Some people believe that governments should spend money on art, music and theatre, while others think that public money should go only to essential services such as health and education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While some argue that a government should fund orchestras, galleries and theatres, others believe that every public dirham belongs to hospitals and schools until those services are perfect. Although both views have merit, I believe that a small, fixed share of the budget for culture is justified because it strengthens the very services the critics want to protect.

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In many countries, tourism is a major part of the economy. Do the advantages of international tourism for a country outweigh the disadvantages?

It is widely observed that millions of foreign visitors now arrive each year in countries such as Morocco, Spain and Thailand, bringing both money and crowds. While I accept that mass tourism can damage local life and the environment, I believe that its benefits clearly outweigh its drawbacks because it creates jobs where few alternatives exist and funds the protection of the very places tourists come to see.

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In many countries, people are living longer than ever before. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or negative development for society?

It is widely observed that average life expectancy has risen by almost two decades since the middle of the last century. This essay argues that the main reasons are modern medicine and cleaner living conditions, and that, despite the strain on pensions and hospitals, the change is overwhelmingly positive for society.

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More and more students are choosing to study at universities in foreign countries. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

It is increasingly common for school leavers to enrol at a university thousands of kilometres from home rather than in their own city. While I accept that studying abroad brings loneliness and high costs, I believe that its benefits clearly outweigh its drawbacks because it builds independence and opens doors that a local degree cannot.

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Some people think that the best way to motivate employees is to pay them more money, while others believe that other factors are more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While some managers argue that a bigger salary is the surest way to make staff work harder, others believe that respect, flexibility and a chance to grow matter more. Although both views have merit, I believe that money motivates only up to the point where basic needs are met, after which the quality of daily working life becomes decisive.

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Some people believe that social media has had a harmful effect on the way people communicate with each other. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often claimed that platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp have damaged the way human beings talk to one another. While I accept that online contact is shallower than a conversation across a table, I largely disagree with this view because social media keeps relationships alive over distance and gives a voice to people who were previously silent.

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In many countries, the number of young people committing crimes is rising. What are the reasons for this? How can parents and schools help to prevent it?

It is frequently reported that teenagers are responsible for a growing share of theft, vandalism and violence in cities around the world. This essay argues that the main causes are absent supervision at home and a lack of purpose after school, and that parents and teachers can reverse the trend by giving young people both attention and something worthwhile to do.

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In some countries, people are choosing to get medical advice and treatment online instead of visiting a doctor in person. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

It is increasingly common for patients to describe their symptoms to a doctor through a video call or an app rather than visiting a clinic. While I accept that remote consultations carry real risks, I believe that their benefits clearly outweigh their drawbacks because they widen access to care and free hospitals for those who truly need them.

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In many countries, the amount of rubbish produced by households is increasing. Why is this happening? What measures could be taken to reduce it?

It is widely observed that the volume of waste thrown away by ordinary families has grown sharply over the past two decades. This essay argues that the main causes are excessive packaging and a culture of cheap, disposable goods, and that the most effective responses are charging households for what they discard and forcing manufacturers to redesign their products.

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Some people think that secondary school students should study international news as one of their subjects, while others believe that this is a waste of valuable school time. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While some argue that teenagers should spend part of each week studying world events, others believe that lessons on the news steal hours from mathematics, science and languages. Although both views have merit, I believe that a short weekly class on current affairs is a sound investment, provided that it teaches pupils how to judge information rather than what happened.

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Interviews form the basic selecting criteria for most large companies. However, some people think that the interview is not a reliable method of choosing whom to employ and there are other better methods. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often claimed that a face-to-face conversation with a candidate, which remains the main way large firms choose their staff, is a poor guide to how well that person will actually work. While I accept that meeting applicants in person has real value, I largely agree with this view because a short interview rewards confidence rather than competence, and better tools already exist.

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Many people work from home using modern technology today. Some people think that only workers benefit from this, while others believe that employers also benefit. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Thanks to laptops and fast internet, millions of people now do their jobs from home. Some believe that this arrangement helps only the employees, whereas others think that companies gain as well. While I accept that staff enjoy the most visible advantages, I largely disagree with the first view, as businesses save money and keep better workers when they allow remote working.

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As housing is a basic need for people, the government should provide free housing for everyone who cannot afford it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is often argued that governments should give a free home to every citizen who cannot afford one, given that shelter is as basic a need as food. While I accept that nobody should be left homeless, I largely disagree with this view, as the cost would damage other public services, and the gift itself weakens people's motivation to support themselves.

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In order to achieve a successful career, it is necessary for individuals to move away from their home country and family. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is sometimes claimed that nobody can build a truly successful career unless they leave the country of their birth and the relatives who live there. While I accept that a period abroad can accelerate growth in certain fields, I largely disagree with the idea that emigration is essential because opportunities increasingly exist at home, and the support of a family often drives achievement instead of blocking it.

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Some companies have banned employees from checking work emails outside of official working hours to protect their private lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A number of firms now forbid their staff from reading or answering messages once the official working day has ended, in order to safeguard their personal time. While I accept that certain roles require occasional availability in the evening, I largely agree with this policy because constant connection exhausts employees, and a clear boundary ultimately serves the business as well as the individual.

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Many young people choose to live with their parents while studying at university instead of moving to a different city. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

A growing number of undergraduates now remain in the family home throughout their degree instead of relocating to another town. This essay will argue that although staying put can limit a young person's independence and social horizons, its advantages in terms of money, stability and family support clearly outweigh these drawbacks.

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Some people believe that governments should provide free or low-cost housing for people who cannot afford it, while others think housing should be left to the private market. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In most large cities, the price of a modest flat has risen far beyond what an ordinary salary can cover. While some argue that the state should build and provide homes for those who cannot afford them, others believe that housing is a private matter best left to the market. This essay will examine both positions before arguing that public housing is essential for the poorest families, provided it is well designed and does not replace private construction altogether.

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Globalisation means that people around the world increasingly share the same culture, products and entertainment. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

A teenager in Casablanca today may eat the same burger, watch the same series and wear similar trainers to one in Chicago or Seoul. This essay will examine the two main benefits of this growing cultural similarity, easier communication and wider opportunity, before considering two serious drawbacks, the loss of local traditions and the dominance of a few powerful nations.

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Many species of animals and plants are becoming extinct because of human activity. What are the causes of this problem and what solutions can you suggest?

Every year, more species of animals and plants vanish from the planet, and many of them disappear because of human activity. This essay will argue that the main causes are the destruction of natural habitats and illegal hunting, and that the most effective solutions are protected reserves and stronger laws backed by rural people.

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