aug 2014 ielts writing predictions (updated aug 12)

June-Aug 2014 Writing Predictions (updated Aug 12)

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Important Note: PLEASE READ FIRST To other teachers and/or website posters: The data here were sourced from IELTS365, IELTS Simon, XDF, ielts51, IELTS Network, and GEDU. I spent a lot of time organizing this, so if youre going to give other people this information, at least tell them you got it from Jimmys IELTS. I dont want to use big ugly watermarks, as itll defeat my original purpose. To students: If you like this document and want to help make it better, please submit your questions after your exam. However, during exams, PLEASE DO NOT spend time memorizing the questions. Focus, because; A. You need to do your best. B. You are not a teacher who is getting $$$ to remember questions and answers. C. If you concentrate during the exams, you will naturally remember more things. Im doing this to help you to find a direction for self-practice. When you practice enough, and hopefully have someone to help you check your writing, you WILL improve your writing skills. This means, you SHOULD NOT rely on the content of this file to help you get lucky. Now thats clear, lets move on to what you came here for Acronyms: APAC = Asia Pacific (China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and etc.) MEI, EU = Middle East, India and European Union (Abu Dhabi, Pakistan, India, UK, and etc.) AM = North America, South America Content: Page 2 Academic Task 1 Page 3 General/Academic Task 2 (long, random list with no particular topic focus, from IELTS365) Page 9 General/Academic Task 2 (short, topic based list; from XDF) Page 12 General Task 1 (random list; from IELTS365) Page 13 General Task 1 (organized question type; from XDF)



Academic Task 1:

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APAC: Asia Pacific, NZ to Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Russia, and etc. MEI/EU: Middle East, India and European Union, and etc. AM: North and South America A recent test B: This test also had bar chart L: This test also had line chart T: This test also had table P: This test also had pie chart F: This test also had future data If you know about the Missing Data, please let me know



Important Note: PLEASE READ FIRST This prediction came from IELTS365. I translated the content and fixed the grammar mistakes. Academic/General Task 2 Level 1 (High Probability) BLUE Words = Recently, a question similar or exactly the same as this was tested, so you may like to skip if you dont have time to prepare it. 1. International tourism has become the biggest industry in the world. Some people think it causes tension between people from different culture. Others think it leads to an understanding between countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 2. In many countries, airplane tickets prices have dropped. Is this a positive or negative situation? Write about your personal experience or knowledge. a. Air travel is cheap these days, allowing ordinary people to travel further. Some people say that airfares should be increased because as increase in plane travel leads to environmental problems. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 3. Some people think that men and women have different qualities. Therefore, certain jobs are suitable for men and some jobs are suitable for women. To what extent do you agree or disagree? a. Many people believe that women should be given an equal role in the military forces or police like men. Others, however, claim that such occupations are not suitable for women. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. b. The workplace nowadays is trying to employ the equal number of females and males. Do you think it is a positive or negative trend? (APAC=May 10) 4. Sometimes people are rejecting a job opportunity due to their age or other circumstances. Is it a negative or a positive approach? Give your opinion and relevant examples. 5. Some people think zoos are cruel and all the zoos should be closed. However, some people think zoos are useful to protect the rare animals. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. a. Some people argue that the purpose of zoos is only to entertain people. What do you think? What are the other purposes of zoos? 6. Unlike other countries, police in UK do not carry guns. Some think it leaves citizen unprotected, other think it reduce the overall violence in the society. Discuss. a. Some people think that a police force carrying guns can create higher level of violence. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (APAC=Jun 7) b. Mobile phones and the Internet are very useful. However, it is rare for old people to use them. In what ways could mobile phones and the Internet be useful to old people? How can old people be encouraged to use this new technology? 7. We can get knowledge from news, but some people think we cannot trust journalists. What do you think? What qualities should a journalist have? 8. Some people argue that teaching children of different abilities together benefits all of them. Others believe that intelligent children should be taught separately and be given special treatment. Discuss both views and your own opinion? 9. Some people believe that unpaid community services should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (e.g. working in a charity, improving the relationship of neighbourhoods or teaching sports to children) To what extent do you agree or disagree? 10. Advertising encourages consumers to buy in quantity rather than in quality. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (AM=Jul 12) 11. Some people believe that a country benefits greatly from a high percentage of young people who go to university, while others argue that it only leads to graduate unemployment. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 12. Detailed description of crimes on newspaper and TV can lead to bad consequences in the



society, so this kind of information should be restricted in the media. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 13. In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by international fast foods. This is having a negative effect on both families and societies. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (APAC=Jul 19) a. Scientists believe junk food has bad impact on our health. Some people think that people should be educated to consume less of it, while others think that it is pointless. What is your opinion? (APAC=Jul 19) 14. The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease violent crimes in the society. To what extent do you agree or disagree? a. The tendency for news reports in the media to focus on problems and emergencies rather than positive developments is harmful to the individual and to society. Do you agree or disagree? (MEI/EU=Jun 21) 15. In todays world, private companies rather than government pay for and carry out most on scientific research. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? 16. Since money for postgraduate research is limited, some people think financial support from the government should be only provided for scientific research rather than the research for less useful subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 17. Lately, more and more work has to be done by machines. Do you think the positive effects of this development outweigh the negative effects on individuals and society? 18. Many people think it is very important to protect environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why does it happen? How to solve this problem? 19. An increase in the production of consumer goods results in the damage to the natural environment. Why is this case? What can we do to resolve this problem? 20. Individual greed and selfishness has been the basis of the modern society. Some people think that we must return to the older and more traditional values of respect for the family and the local community in order to create a better world to live in. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 21. The increase in food production owes much to fertilizers and better machinery, but some people think that it has a negative impact on human health and community. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 22. Some people think the best way of reducing crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, think there are other better ways to reduce crime. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (MEI/EU=Aug 2) 23. University students always focus on one specialist subject, but some people think universities should encourage their students to study a range of subjects in addition to their own subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 24. It becomes more popular to find out the history of one's family. What are the reasons for people to do this and do you think it is a positive or negative development? (MEI/EU=Jul 10) 25. Some people believe that public health should be improved by increasing the number of sports facilities, while others believe that it has little effects other measures should be taken to solve this problem. Discuss both views and give your opinion? 26. Todays sports are turning into businesses, with many companies involved and ever-growing prize money for the sportsperson. Is it a positive or negative development? (APAC=Jul 10) 27. Some people argue that the fittest and strongest individuals and teams can achieve the greatest success in sports. However, other people think the success is much related to the mental attitude. Discuss both views and give your opinion. (APAC=Jul 10, MEI/EU=Jul 26) 28. In many parts of the world, children and teenagers are committing more crimes. Why is this happening? How should they be punished? (APAC=Aug 2, MEI/EU=Aug 2)



29. In the modern world, it is no longer necessary to use animals for food or products, for instance, clothing and medicine. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? a. Some people think it is necessary to use animals to test medicine intended for human use. Others, however, think it is cruel to do that. Discuss both views and give you own opinion. 30. Some animal species such as dinosaurs and the Dodo became extinct because of natural processes. So it is not necessary to try and prevent this from happening. Do you agree or disagree? a. There are many extinct species in the world nowadays. Some people say we should protect them from dying out while others say we should concentrate more on problems of human beings. Discuss both opinions and give your own view. 31. Society is based on rules and laws. It would not function if individuals were free to do whatever they want. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 32. Some people say that to become a good teacher, you should acquire enough training, while others say that teaching capabilities can be developed with experience. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 33. In todays world of advanced science and technology, we still greatly value our artists such as musicians, painters, and writers. What can arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot? 34. In schools and universities, some girls tend to choose art subjects, while boys choose to study science subjects. What are the reasons? Do you think this trend should be changed? 35. Anyone can post information on the Internet. Some people say most of what we read on the Internet is inaccurate. To what extent do you agree or disagree?



Academic/General Task 2 Level 2 (Medium Probability) 1. We are seeing a significant increase in online shopping today. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend? Give your own opinion and relevant examples. 2. It is believed that people who read for pleasure have developed imagination and good language skills than those who prefer to watch TV. Do you agree or disagree? (APAC=May 17) 3. More and more young people hold important positions in the government. Some people think this is not suitable but others think otherwise. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (APAC=Jul 12) 4. Many developing countries are currently expanding their tourist industries Why is this the case? Is it a positive development? 5. In some cultures, the old age is more valued, while in some cultures youth is more valued. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 6. Team activities can teach more skills for life than those activities that are played alone. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 7. In some countries, boarding schools are getting more popular. Is it a positive or negative development? What are the reasons behind it? 8. Many people say that companies and private tour operators should pay the bills for cleaning up pollution, instead of the government. To what extent do you agree or disagree with that? a. Some people think that individuals are not able improve the environment, only government and companies can make a difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (APAC=Jul 26) 9. Some people think the foreign visitors should be charged more than the local visitors when they visit the cultural and historical attractions in another country. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 10. Some people think the main benefit of international cooperation is in protection of the environment, while others think that the main benefit is in the world business. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. a. Solving environmental problems should be responsibility of one international organization instead of state or national governments. Do you agree or disagree? 11. The consumption of the resources on the earth is increasing at an alarming rate and above a dangerous level. What are the causes of this? What can be done to reduce it? (APAC=Jun 28) 12. Tourism brings benefits to a country but it also may have harmful effects. How can a country ensure that tourism benefits its development? 13. Todays children are living under more pressure from the society than children in the past. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (MEI/EU=Jul 12) 14. Professional workers like doctors, nurses and teachers make a greater contribution to society and so should be paid more than sports and entertainment personalities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 15. Some people think we should keep all the money we earn and not pay tax to the state. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 16. Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent do you think it has positively or negatively affected cultural development? 17. The number of people who watch foreign films is much more than those who watch local films. Describe the reasons and if government should provide financial support to the local film industries?



18. More and more people these days work harder and longer hours and have no time for family life and friends. 19. What are the causes in your opinion? How is it affecting family life and the society as a whole? Use relevant examples to support your view. (APAC=May 15) 20. Some people think parents should read or tell stories to their children, others say it is not important and can be replaced by watching TV and movies instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 21. Competition versus cooperation and group work for students. Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages? a. Competitiveness is seen as a positive feature by many modern societies. What impact does it have on an individual? Is it a positive or a negative quality? 22. More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people say that the price increase of fattening foods will solve this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 23. People are eating a variety of foods these days that encourages the flow of food from every corner of the world to a local supermarket. Do you think this is negative or positive development? Why? 24. Most of the schools are planning to replace sports and exercise classes with more academic sessions. What is your opinion on this change? In your view, how will this change affect childrens life? 25. Sports, to a greater extent, help to build peace in world. Do you agree or disagree? Give some examples and include relevant experiences in your response. 26. Nowadays, children play less with others and this has an impact on their development. What are the reasons for this? Does it have a good or a bad effect on children? 27. Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced by advertisements? What measures can be taken to protect them? 28. In many cities, planners have separated schools, homes, shops, and offices into specific areas that are separated by a large distance. Do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages to the citys residents?



Academic/General Task 2 Level 3 (if you have extra time for study)

1. Some people believe that the government spends too much money on developing space exploration technology. There are many others financial needs that the government should address instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 2. There are an increasing number of anti-social behaviours in recent years; People generally believe that the society is to blame. What do you think the causes are and who is responsible for this? 3. Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed because people can see historical objects and works of art by using a computer. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? 4. Air transport is increasingly used to export types of fruits and vegetables to countries where they cannot be grown or are out of season. Some people say it is a good thing, but other people think it cannot be justified. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 5. Some people think about learning a foreign language but cannot use it frequently. What are the difficulties that people face while learning a foreign language? What can be done to overcome them? 6. If a product is of good quality and meets people's needs, people will buy it. Therefore, advertising is unnecessary and is no more than a type of entertainment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (AM=Jul 12) 7. We have entered a throw-away society and fill the environment with rubbish. What are the causes and what are your solutions? 8. People should look after their health as a duty to the society they live in rather than personal benefits. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (APAC=Jul 19)



Important Note: PLEASE READ FIRST This prediction came from XDF. I translated the content and fixed the grammar mistakes. Academic/General Task 2 High Probability

o Society 1. Some believe younger people should hold important positions in the governments. Others believe that it is not proper. Discuss both sides and give your opinion? (APAC=Jul 12) 2. There is an increasing number of juvenile delinquency. Analyse the possible reason that give rise to this phenomenon and offer possible recommendations. 3. There is a trend for people from agricultural areas to go to cities in order to get work. What are the most serious problems in both places? What measures can solve these problems? 4. Some believes that a citizens only responsibility is to be a taxpayer. Others, however, believes that a citizen should also assume other responsibilities. Discuss both views and give your opinion. o Work 1. In many countries, more and more young people are leaving schools and unable to find jobs after graduation. What problems do you think youth unemployment will cause to the individual and the society? And make some suggestions. 2. Some employers think that academic qualifications are more important than life experience and personal qualities when they look for an employee. To what extent do you agree or disagree? o Technology 1. Mobile phones and the Internet are very useful. However, it is rare for the old people to use them. In what ways can mobile phones and the Internet be useful to old people? What could be done to encourage the old people to use mobile phones and the Internet? 2. Studies show that a lot of children, from the age 7 to 11, are spending too much time watching television or playing video games. How do you think this problem will influence children, their families and the society? What measures should be taken to solve this? 3. Some believes that people have benefited from modern communication technology, while others believe that there are no benefits at all. Discuss both views and give your opinion. 4. Some people think that museums are getting less important as people can access information on the Internet. To what extent do you agree or disagree? o Education 1. Some people think children should obey rules and do what the teachers want them to do. Others think controlled children are not prepared for childrens adult life in the future. Discuss both sides and give your opinion? (MEI/EU=Jul 12) 2. Some people suggest that schools should pay more attention to academic subjects because these subjects are useful for their future career. They think that subjects like music and sports are not useful and should be reduced. To what extent do you agree? a. Some people believe that schools should only provide subjects that are beneficial to students' future careers. Other subjects, such as music and sports, are not important. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? 3. University students should pay all the cost of their studies because the education benefits individuals rather than the society as a whole. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 4. Some people believe that teenagers should concentrate on all school subjects. But, others believe that teenagers should focus on the subject that they are best at or that they find the most interest. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.



5. It is better for students to live away from home while studying at university than live at home with parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree? a. Nowadays, sending children to a boarding school is becoming increasingly popular. Why is this case? Do you think it is a positive development? 6. Some people think that computers and the Internet are more important for a child's education than going to school. But others believe that schools and teachers are essential for children to learn effectively. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

o Environment 1. Many people think it is very important to protect the environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why does it happen? How to solve this problem? 2. The best way to solve the environmental problems and resolve energy crisis is to increase the price of fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree? o Advertising 1. If a product is good or it meets people's needs, people will buy it, so advertising is unnecessary and no more than an entertainment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? o Crime 1. Research suggests that majority of criminals who send to prison would commit crimes when set free, what do you think of this case? What can be done to solve this problem? (MEI/EU=Aug 2)



Medium Probability o Technology

There are social, medical, and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What forms do they take? Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits? People can perform everyday tasks, such as shopping and banking as well as business transactions, without meeting other people face-to-face. What are the effects of this on individual and society as a whole?

o Society There is a movement of the people from agricultural areas to go to cities in order to get work, what are the most serious problems in both places. What are the measures of solving these problems? It is generally accepted that families are not as close as they used to be. Give some reasons why this change has happened and suggest how families could be brought closer together. Housing shortage in big cities can cause severe consequences. Some people think that only the government can solve the problems. To what extent do you agree or not agree? Many old buildings are protected by the law because they are part of a nation's history. However, some people think they should be knocked down to make way for new ones. Do you agree or disagree?

o Education In some countries, school leavers are choosing to work or travel for a period of time between finishing school and attending university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

o Environment Development in technology leads to environmental problems, and some people think that the solution to these problems is for everyone to lead a simpler way of life, while others say that technology can solve these problems. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (MEI/EU=Jul 19)

o Transportation and Energy Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because it causes serious pollution and uses up the world fuel resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?



Important Note: PLEASE READ FIRST This prediction came from IELTS365. I translated the content and fixed the grammar mistakes.

General Task 1 (from IELTS365) 1. Write a letter to a moving company that you have used to move your furniture and let them know you have a problem with some of the items. In your letter

- Give the details of your delivery. - Explain what problems you have experienced with the furniture. - Say what you expect the company to do.

2. Write a letter to your company manager saying that you want to leave the company. Please say - What have you learned while working for the company? - Did you enjoy working there? - What are your reasons for leaving?

3. Write a letter to a friend in a foreign country who has invited you to their wedding and say: - Why you cannot attend the wedding? (APAC=Jul 12) - Tell them about the gift you are sending. - Suggest how you can meet after the wedding.

4. Write a complaint letter to the manager of a sports complex about a problem with the staff (non-action of staff in spite of repeated complaints). 5. You have recently bought a toy over the internet. When it was delivered you have found some problems with it. Write a letter to the toy company manager and say

- Give details of the purchase. - Describe the problem. - What do you expect the company to do about it?

6. Write a letter to your friend and invite him/her to a special event that you are organising. Please say - Why do you organize this event? - Why do you think he/she should come? - Suggest accommodation arrangements for him/her.

7. You are living near a public park and the condition of this park is getting worse than before. Write a letter to the park management and say - Why are you interested in this park? - What are the problems you are facing? - What are your suggestions for improvement?

8. You work for an international company. Recently your job has changed and you believe that more training is needed. Write a letter to your manager and say - How has your job changed? - Describe a type of training you will need. - Suggest the arrangements incorporating training and your work.

9. One of your friends is planning to visit your country and asking you for some information. Write a letter to him/her and say (APAC=Jul 19) - when the best period to visit your country is - suggest a plan for the travel - recommend places to visit in your country

10. An international company has opened its new branch in your town. You are interested in working there. Write a letter to the human resources and say: - What position are you interested in? - Why are you interested in this position? - Ask for additional information about the company.



Important Note: PLEASE READ FIRST This prediction came from XDF. I translated the content and fixed the grammar mistakes. General Task 1 (from XDF) Complaints 1. Your neighbour always burns rubbish in the garden, causing environmental problems. Write a letter to the residents committee. You should express your complaint, describe the effect, and suggest how to solve the problem. 2. Several days ago, you bought a CD player at a department store. Today you are surprised to find that it is out of order. Now write a letter to the management of the store and ask them to replace it with a new one. 3. Your neighbour has two dogs and they cause you great trouble every day. Write a letter to the residents committee to complain about it. Asking for Information 4. You learn from a newspaper that there will be an exhibition this Sunday. Write a letter to get more information about it. 5. You decide to hold a picnic at park. Write a letter to the manager of the park to inquire about how to rent the place for your picnic. 6. There is private sports club, and you would like to join it. Now write a letter to ask how you can become a member of the club. Showing Appreciation 7. You stayed in a hospital due to illness and received professional care and treatment. After returning home, write a letter to express your appreciation of the professional service of the doctors and nurses. 8. You took a short training course in New Zealand and stayed at a friends home. Now you have arrived home and you find that you felt your laptop there. Write a letter to thank them for their hospitality and ask him/her to send you the laptop by mail. 9. You were invited by a local friend to have a picnic and you enjoyed a lot. Now write a latter to express you appreciation. Job Seeking 10. A company is recruiting some workers. Write a letter of application. 11. A tourist agency is recruiting a tourist guide. Now write a letter to apply for. 12. There are some vacancies available in a school. Now write a letter to apply for.

aug 2014 ielts writing predictions (updated aug 12)

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