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Opinion
Samples Band 8

IELTS Opinion Writing Samples Band 8

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Some people think that team sports prepare children for work life but others think individual sports are better. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

It is often argued that team sports such as football and basketball give children the skills they need for their future careers, while others believe that individual sports like swimming or tennis are more beneficial. In my opinion, both types bring valuable lessons, but team sports offer better preparation for working life.
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Some people argue that we should do research into our family history. Others agree with the view that we should focus on the present and future generations. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that researching family history is valuable, while others argue that attention should be directed towards the present and future generations. Although understanding one’s ancestry can be meaningful, I believe that improving the lives of current and future family members is ultimately more important.
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People living in the 21st century have a better quality of life than the previous centuries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people argue that individuals alone should save for retirement and that governments should not be responsible for providing financial support in old age. I partly disagree with this view because personal responsibility is essential, but a complete withdrawal of state support would be unfair and socially damaging.
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Employers should give their staff at least four-weeks’ holiday a year to help employees get better at their jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people argue that employers should provide their workers with at least four weeks of annual leave because this can improve job performance. I strongly agree with this view, as sufficient holiday time protects employees’ health, increases productivity, and creates a more motivated workforce.
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Some young people go to college or university to have a successful career path. Others, however, chose to go straight to work to gain real-life experience after high school. Discuss both views and write your opinion.

After leaving high school, some young people decide to attend college or university because they believe academic qualifications will improve their career prospects. Others prefer to start working immediately in order to gain practical experience. Both routes can lead to success, but I believe higher education is generally more advantageous for careers that require specialised knowledge.
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People who decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it are more likely to have a satisfying working life than those who change jobs frequently. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that those who choose a career early and remain in the same field are more likely to enjoy a satisfying working life than people who change jobs often. I partly agree with this view because long-term commitment can bring expertise and stability, but frequent career changes may also lead to fulfilment if they are purposeful.
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Under British and Australian laws a jury in a criminal case has no access to information about the defendant's past criminal record. This protects the person who is being accused of the crime. Some lawyers have suggested that this practice should be changed and that a jury should be given all the past facts before they reach their decision about the case. Do you agree or disagree?

In criminal trials, juries in Britain and Australia are generally not told about a defendant’s previous convictions, as this may prejudice their judgement. Some lawyers argue that jurors should instead have access to all past facts before deciding a case. I mostly disagree with this proposal because a verdict should be based on evidence relating to the specific crime being tried.
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The best way to provide enough homes for people living in cities is to build tall apartment blocks. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In many rapidly growing cities, housing shortages have become a serious concern, and some people believe that the most effective solution is to construct tall apartment blocks. I largely agree with this view, although I believe high-rise housing should be combined with careful urban planning rather than treated as a complete solution on its own.
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Some people say it is important to protect all wild animals. Others, however, say it is only important to protect some wild animals, not all of them. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Some people argue that every wild animal deserves protection, regardless of its population or economic value. Others believe that limited resources should be directed only towards endangered or particularly important species. While both perspectives have merit, I firmly believe that conserving all wild animals is the most effective way to maintain ecological balance and safeguard the natural world.
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It is the responsibility of individuals to save and provide for their own retirement. Governments have no obligation to provide this benefit. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

Whether retirement should be treated as an individual duty or a government responsibility is a major issue in ageing societies. I partly agree that people should save for later life, but I strongly disagree that governments have no obligation at all. A fair system should combine personal planning with a public safety net, because not everyone has the same chance to build private wealth.
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Many people feel it a waste of money to try to save the endangered animal species, for example the tiger or the blue whale. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.

A large part of the population believes that using money to try to preserve endangered animal species is unnecessary. Critics think that money should be spent on solving global problems such as poverty or pollution. However, I strongly disagree with this perspective, as investing in wildlife preservation is a vital step for maintaining global ecological stability.
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There is a lot of pressure on young people today to succeed academically. As a result, some people believe that non-academic subjects, such as physical education and cookery, should be removed from the school syllabus so that children can concentrate on academic work. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

Youngsters are exposed to lots of pressure in their academic journeys nowadays. Some people believe that education centres should extract non-academic subjects from their programmes to provide a more comfortable study environment for their students. However, I completely disagree that the school syllabus is created only to support high-level and technical education.
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Nowadays, the most important task is the environmental protection of our planet for future generations. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It is often argued that safeguarding the environment for posterity is the single most pressing challenge of the modern era. While I acknowledge that ecological preservation is of paramount importance, I disagree with the notion that it should completely overshadow other critical global imperatives, such as poverty eradication and economic stability.
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Some people believe that people have the right to university education, and government should make it free no matter what their financial background. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people argue that access to university education is a fundamental right and that governments should provide it free of charge to all citizens, regardless of their financial situation. I partly agree with this view because higher education brings sizeable benefits both to individuals and to society. However, I do not believe that completely free university education for everyone is always the most effective or realistic solution.
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Many people finde it hard to balance their work with other parts of their lives. why do you think that is? how can this problem be overcome?

A significant number of individuals struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance due to long and demanding hours. This essay will discuss how setting firm boundaries by only working within official hours and with workplaces offering more flexible arrangements are the most effective solutions.
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Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion.

In today's globalised world, people have unlimited access to music. It is widely believed that music is an incredibly powerful tool to bridge the gap between people from different cultures and generations. I completely agree with this statement, and I will present some reasons as set out below.
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Some people argue that primary schools focus too much on formal learning. To what extent do you agree with this opinion? How important do you think it is for children to play as well as learn in the primary school classroom? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

It is widely argued that primary schools place excessive emphasis on formal instruction at the expense of other developmental activities. While I acknowledge that structured learning is fundamental to academic progress, I firmly believe that incorporating play into the primary classroom is equally crucial for the holistic development of young learners.
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When asked to choose between a life without work and working most of the time, people would always choose not to work. Do you agree or disagree?

Many people dream of having enough financial security to stop working altogether. Consequently, some argue that, if given the choice, everyone would prefer a life free from work rather than spending most of their time working. While this may be true for those who find their jobs stressful or unrewarding, I disagree with the claim that people would *always* choose not to work.
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If a product is good and it meets people's needs, people will buy it. Therefore, advertising is unnecessary and is no more than a form of entertainment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people argue that high-quality products naturally attract customers, making advertising unnecessary and little more than a form of entertainment. While product quality is undoubtedly the foundation of long-term business success, I strongly disagree that advertising has become irrelevant. In my view, advertising remains essential because it informs consumers and promotes competition in the marketplace.
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In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasize that their products are new in some ways. Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Emphasising the unique features in advertisements, businesses nowadays claim that their products and services are exclusive or even the best in order to attract more consumers. In spite of certain drawbacks, I believe it is a positive development to win global competition and raise awareness about products among people.
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