Taking a “gap year” off between high school and university has become a popular option among many young people. This time off provides a break after many years of formal study. Some students use this time to travel around the world, others volunteer and still others begin working. The idea behind each of these activities is to do something hands-on and refreshing, which enables young people to learn more about themselves and their place in the world around them.
The benefits of taking a year off are plentiful. On a personal level, students who travel away from home develop their independence and self-confidence. On a cultural level, they learn about viewpoints, traditions and perspectives different from their own. Professionally, students get a taste of diverse workplaces, which might inspire a possible career interest. Intellectually, they examine their own beliefs and ideas in relation to those of others in a new environment. All these advantages combine to make a strong case for taking the one-year break.
Nevertheless, there are also dangers involved in taking such a long break. Academically, the main drawback is that students can get sidetracked from their studies. A year is a long time and students could lose the good study habits and sense of discipline they had when they were in a formal academic structure. If they begin working, they could also be deluded into thinking that they’re making a lot of money. They could lose the benefit of college or university education and the chance to earn a higher income all their lives.
In conclusion, whether to take a year-long break or not is an individual decision. Each young person should consider his or her motivations carefully and decide on what’s most desirable. Time is a precious resource and people of all ages, including young people, should treat it with respect
IELTS Cambridge Book 18 General Training Writing Practice Test 1 with Sample Answers and Free PDF Download.
IELTS 18 General Training Writing Practice Test 1,
Your English-speaking friend has asked for your help with a college project they are doing about celebrating New Year in different countries.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
Say how important New Year is to people in your country.
Describe how New Year is celebrated in your country.
Explain what you like about New Year celebrations in your country.
Childhood obesity is becoming a problem throughout the developed world. Because of this, some people think that adverts for fast food, sweets and sugary snacks should not be allowed in schools and colleges. 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.
The diagram shows the procedure of university entry for high school graduates. Write a report for a university or college lecture describing the information.
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from home is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you think laws are needed to make peope recycle more of their waste?
Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a school career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your option.
Everybody should be allowed admission to university or college programs regardless of their level of academic ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience?
Your English speaking friend has asked for your help with a college project helshe is doing about celebrating New year in different countries.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
Say how important New year is to people in your country
Describe how New year is celebrated in your country
Explain what you like about New year celebrations in your country
You paid a refundable deposit when you rented an appartment. You left the department in good condition but the landlord won’t return the deposit.
Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:
-Explain why you are writing
-Ask for the return of your deposit
-Inform the landlord of possible legal action.
Some countries have legal ages at which people can drink. Other countries belive not havingg strict laws is a better policy. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Some believe that younger family members should be legally responsible for supporting older family members when they become physically, mentally and financially unable to look after themselves. Do you agree or disagree?
In some countries, it is illegal for company to reject job applicants for their age. Is this a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You have been invited to attend an admissions interview for a prestigious college. Unfortunately, you cannot come at the proposed time due to a previous appointment.
Write a letter to the admissions tutor and explain your position. In your letter:
Introduce yourself and state your interest in the program
Apologize and offer to come at a different time
In some countries, more and more adults are living with their parnets after graduating from college or even after finding a job. Do the advantages of this outweigh disadvantages?
The widespread use of the Internet gives people more freedom at home instead of going to work or college. Do you think its advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Making smoking illegal is the best way to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco. To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?
You live in a room in college which you share with another student. However, there are many problems with this arrangement and you find it very difficult to study. Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In the letter,
• describe the situation
• explain your problems and why it is difficult to study
• say what kind of accommodation you would prefer
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled . They say that the only way to increase recycling is for goverments to make it a legal requirement . to what extent do you think laws are needed to makes People recycling more of their wast ?
You have a friend who lives in a city abroad.
You have decided that you would like to apply to do a course at one of the colleges in the city.
Write a letter to your friend:,
1.Explain what you like to do.
2.Tell him/her what type of work or studies you had completed.
3.Ask for assistance in connecting an appropriate institution
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter:
say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
suggest types of job that would be suitable for him/her
Write at least 150 words.
Governments should offer college and university education free of charge to all students. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.
You live in a room in college which you share with another student. However, there are many problems with this arrangement and you find it very difficult to study/work.
Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In the letter:
describe the situation
explain your problems and why it is difficult to study/work
say what kind of accommodation you would prefer
You have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for night classes.
Write a letter to the community college. In your letter:
say which advertisement you are answering
describe which course(s) you want to teach, and what it/they would be about
explain why you would be a suitable teacher
Universities and colleges are now offering qualifications through distance listening from the internet rather than in the classroom. Do the advantages outweigh disadvantages?
after Completing High School and Before Going to College or university, some students take a year off either to work or travel. What do you think is better – travelling or working. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.
ou recently booked a part-time course at a college. You now need to cancel your booking. Write a letter to the college administrator. In your letter:
say which part-time course you booked
explain why you need to cancel your booking
ask about booking a different course
In many countries the problem of drug-taking is increasing. Governments and the general public are particularly concerned about young people using illegal drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy and heroin. What methods could be used to prevent young people from taking drugs? Is it appropriate to send young drug-users to prison? Give reasons for your answer.
Some people think high school graduates should travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to study at university.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowlegde or experience
People in all modern societies use drugs, but today's youth are experimenting with both legal and ilegal drugs, and at an early age, some sociologists claim that parents and other members of society often set a bad example. Discuss the cause and effects of widespread drug abuse by young people. Make any recommendations you feel are necessary to help fight youth drug abuse.
Some people belive that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In some country, students pay their college or universities fees, while in some others, the government pay for them. Do you think the advantages that the government pays the money outweight the disadvantages?
Only formal examinations, written ro practical, can give clear picture of students true knpwlegde and ability at university level. Continuous assessment like course work and projects are poor measure of student ability. To what extent do you agree or disagree on this view?
Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while others think that it should be illegal. Discuss both points of view and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Although you have never studied computing, you have always been interested ill computers - you buy magazines about them, and youlJave taug/lt yourself many skills 011 your computer at home. You have jllst read about a computer course tlwt really interests you, but it is only for people who have shtdied computing at college or uuiversity.
Write a letter to tlte Enrolment Officer asking if you can enrol, explaining your circumstances and asking if he/she will make a special exception for you.
You should write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin you r letter as follows:
Dear SirIMadam ,
Many people use distance learning program to study at home, but some people think that it cannot bring the benefit as music attending college or university. To what extend do you agree and disagree?
The chart below show what UK graduate and postgraduate students who did not go into full-time work did after leaving college in 2008. Summarise the information by selelcting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relavant.
People attend college or Universities for many different reasons (for example new experience,career preparation,increase knowledge etc). Why do you think people attend colleges or universities?
A local college is having an International day. You want to speak about your country to students from different cultures. Write a letter to your college head.
Talk about the topic you are going to talk about.
Explain why would they be of interest to students
Ask about any arrangements you need to work to give the talk.
You eat at your college cafeteria every lunchtime. However, you think it needs some improvements.
Write a letter to the college magazine in your letter
Explain what you like about the cafeteria
Say what is wrong with it
Suggest how it could be improved
Some people claim that not enough of wastes from homes are recycled. They believe that the only way to increase recycling is for government to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you believe that laws are needed to make people recycle more of their wastes.
The two charts show information about the college graduate and postgraduate students who did not go to full-time jobs and instead they were busy with other activities in 2008
Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that a college or university education should be aviable to all students. Others believe that higher education should be aviable only to good students. Discuss these views. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.
You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter
. say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
. explian why getting a job is good idea for him/her
. suggest types of jobs that would be suitable for him/her
You recently booked a part-time course at a college. You now need to cancel your booking.
Write a letter to the college administrator. In your letter
•say which part-time course you booked
•explain why you need to cancel your booking
•ask about booking a different course
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They ssy that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?
Childhood obesity is becoming a problem throughout the develop world. Because of this, some people think that adverts for fast food, sweets and sugary snacks should not be allowed in schools and college. To what extant do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Some country have legal ages at which people can drink. Other counties believe not have strict laws is a better policy. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion
You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advise about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think she should get a job.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter,
say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
suggest types of job what would be suitable for him/her.
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.