"In many countries, young people are granted certain privileges and responsibilities at the age of sixteen. Clearly parents have a responsibility to both care for and prepare their children as they approach this important milestone. To what degree should parents intervene in the lives of their 14-15 year-old children?" Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Many people go through life doing work that they hate or have no talent for. Why does this happen? What are the consequences of this situation? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Some people think that governments should invest more in public transportation systems to reduce traffic congestions. To what extent do you agree/disagree ?
Today, people in many countries can live and work anywhere they choose, because of improved communication technology and transport. Do the advantages of this development outweight the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your on knowledge or experience
Some cities have days when cars and other forms of transport are banned from the city centre. Only buses, bicycles and taxis are allowed to be in the city centre. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Driving a car is the best mode of transport To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons and examples from your own experience. Write about 250 words.
Cohabitation is believed to bring huge advantages for young people since it enables them to fully understand each other before deciding to get married. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Today, more and more tourusts are visiting where conditions are different, such as the Sahara desert or the Antarctic What are the benefits and disadvantages for tourists who visit such places. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience
Many people believe that social networking sites ike Facebook have had a negative impact on both individuals and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience
Do you think that technological advancement has brought more harm than good? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Modern communications mean that it’s no longer
necessary to write letters.
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.
You should write at least 250 words.
Climate change is a big environmental problem that has become critical in last couple of decades. Some people claim that humans should stop burning fossil fuels and use only alternative energy resource, such as wind and solar power. Others say that oil, gas and coal are essential for many industries, and not using them will lead to economic collapse. What is your opinion? Support your point of view with relevant examples.
# You should spend about 20 minutes on each activity. > The maps below show the centre of a small town calles Islip as it is now, and the plans for its development. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. >
It is very expensive to restore old buildings, and it would be better to spend this money on new houses. To what extent do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Modern communications mean that it’s no longer necessary to write letters.
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.
It is sometimes said that ‘travel broadens the mind’. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? After completing high school, students should take at least a year off to work or travel before they begin studying at a university. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child's development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. Discuss the advantages of both methods and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Although there is a lot of software available today that can translate from one language to another, it is still necessary for people to learn a foreign language. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Many people believe that bicycle is a healthy and environmentally-friendly mode of transport. However, it is no longer the main form of transport. What are the reasons? What could be done to encourage the use of bicycles among the all wider population?
Some people believe that children should be banned from using their phones during the school day. Others believe that children should be allowed to use their phones. 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 believe that children should do organized activities in their free time while others believe that children should be free to do what they want to do in their free time. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
All over the world, the rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. What problems does this cause? How can we overcome the problems of poverty? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
In many countries today the retirement age from work has been raised. Do the advantages of raising the retirement age outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from own knowledge or experience.
General Training Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Some members of your city council want to prohibit cars on several downtown streets. This will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to use the roads freely.
Write a letter to a city council official in your city. In your letter
Explain how you heard about the plan
Provide some possible effects of this plan
Give your opinion about the plan
Write at least 150 words
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Internet will never replace traditional course books in school.How far do you agree with this prediction? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
Scientists and technlogy experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists. To what extent do you agree?
You recently read an article about the benefits of volunteering and community work for high school students. Many people feel that these activities should be included as part of the school curriculum. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this idea? Provide reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
do you agree or disagree that the world was a better place decades ago that it is today? why do you think so? Give specific details and examples to support your answer
Nowadays you can find instructional videos for just about any crime you can think of. What possible effects can this have on individuals and society? Provide specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Some people choose to be vegetarians because they believe it improves their health and has a positive effect on the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that children’s leisure activities must be educational, otherwise, they are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your experience. (Theme 1ta)
Many students find their first week at university challenging. What are some of the difficulties students may face during this time, and what can universities do to help them adjust? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Transporting large amount of food to richer countries from developing world is having an impact on air pollution and climate change. Some people say such imports should therefore be reduced. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion.
Some people think that children should be educated at school about paying taxes and personal budgeting in order to help them better manage their finances when they are older. Others think that parents should teach these things, and that children will understand taxes and how to spend money carefully through life experience in the future. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
The maps below show the present layout of an office building and plans for its future redevelopment. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
It is often argued that it is difficult to get children to read. Why do you think this is? What measures could be taken to encourage children to read more? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
The best way to solve the traffic and transportation problem is to encourage people to live in cities rather than suburbs or countryside. What are the effects of rapid population growth in the city? How can the quality of life city dwellers be maintain?
In many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
the plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today. summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevent.
Do you believe it is right for a country to change its flag after citizens have fought and died under the existing flag? Give reasons for your answer.
Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Is using air transport to export fruit and vegetables to countries where they can not be grown a positive development?
Robot and artificial intelligence are being developed to replace humans in the work place. Why is this happening? Do you think this will have a positive or negative impact on society?
An increasing number of larger shopping areas, malls and department stores are leading to the decline of smaller corner shops.What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping in larger shopping center rather than smaller, more traditional shops? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Many countries spend a lot of money on improved transport for urban areas while neglecting rural transport. What are the problems associated with this? What are some possible solutions?
More and more plastic is polluting cities, countryside and oceans. What are the problems caused by plastic waste? What measures should be taken to solve it? (Ulvi)
Food travels thousands of miles from producer to consumers. Some people think it would be better for the environment and the economy if people only ate local food produced by farmers. To what extent do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevent examples from you own knowledge and experience.
More and more people are relying on their private cars as a major means of transportation. Describe some of the problems over-reliance on cars can cause, and suggest at least one possible solution.
In many countries, international tourism has become an important source of income. However, it also has negative effects. Do the benefits of international tourism outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.