Latest IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays by Topic

Here are the latest IELTS Writing Task 2 essay topics listed by topic. To help you with your practice, there are links to advanced vocabulary relevant to the topic under each subheading. All the topic vocabulary can be found here, with an article on essay planning here.

IELT Writing Task 2 Quiz

Education

Vocabulary and collocations about education that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Universities and colleges are now offering qualifications through distance learning from the internet rather than teachers in the classroom.

Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?


Some people think children have the freedom to make mistakes, while other people believe that adults should prevent children from making mistakes.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.


In some countries, there has been an increase in the number of parents who educate their children themselves at home instead of sending them to school.

Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?


Children who are brought up in families that do not have large amounts of money are better prepared to deal with the problems i of adult life than children brought up by wealthy parents.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?


A number of tertiary courses require students to undertake a period of unpaid work at companies or organisation as part of their programme.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of course requirement?


Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everyday matters is likely to result in a society of individuals who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.



Some people claim many things that children are taught at school are a waste of time. Other people argue that everything taught at school is useful at some time.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.



Some people think that social skills are as important as academic qualifications.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people think that language should be taught in small classes, while other people think the number of students in a language class does not matter.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.



Some people believe that parents have great influence on children’s growth, but others think that influence from the outside plays a more important role.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.



Some people believe that teenagers should concentrate on all school subjects. Others believe that teenagers should focus on the subject that they are best at or that they find the most interesting.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.


In the past, teachers were the main source of information, but today students have a wide source of information, so teachers are no longer important in the modern education.

Do you agree or disagree?



Some people say that art subjects such as painting or drawing should not be made compulsory for high school students.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Technology

Vocabulary and collocations about technology that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Today, advanced science and technology have made great changes to people’s life, but artists such as musicians, painters and writers are still highly valued.

What can arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot?


It will be better to have wide use of driverless cars for individuals and society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?


Some people think that the increasing use of computers and mobile phones for communication has a negative effect on young people’s reading and writing skills.

Do you agree or disagree?


Computers are often argued to be the most important invention of the last hundred years.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?


Universities and colleges are now offering qualifications through distance learning from the Internet rather than teachers in the classroom.

Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?


Online shopping is now replacing shopping in the store.

Do you think it is a positive or negative development?


Nowadays, more and more jobs and tasks which involve hard physical work are done by machines.

Do the positive effects of this trend outweigh the negative effects?


Some people think that with the increasing use of mobile phones and computers, people lose the ability to communicate face to face.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Society

Vocabulary and collocations about society that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

In education and employment, some people work harder than others

Why do some people work harder?

Is it always a good thing to work hard?


Young people are leaving their homes from rural areas to study or work in the cities

What are the reasons?

Do advantages of this development outweigh Its disadvantages?


Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Research Into new types of medicines and treatments are essential for improving health and dealing with disease

Who do you think should fund this research private companies, individuals or government?


Today many people spend less and less time in their homes

What are the reasons and what are the effects of this trend on Individuals and society?


Nowadays some older people choose to live in retirement communities with other people instead of living with their adult children, is it
a positive or negative development?


Government

Vocabulary and collocations about government that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Some people think that younger people are not suitable for important positions in government. Others think that it will be a good idea for younger people to take on these positions.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.


Some people think governments should spend money in looking for life on other planets, while others think that there are many unsolved problems on earth.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


The government should spend money in promoting sports and art in school, rather than sponsoring professional sports and art events in communities.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people say that governments should focus on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems to help people prevent illness and disease.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people think people working in creative arts should be financially supported by government. Others think they should find financial support from other resources.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.


Some people say government should give health care the first priorities, some others believe there are more important priorities to spend the tax payers’ money.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


Media

Vocabulary and collocations about media and advertising that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

More and more people no longer read newspaper or watch TV programs to get news. They get news about the world through the internet.

Is this a positive or negative development?


Some people say that advertising has positive economic effects. Others think it has negative social effects because it will make people feel dissatisfied with who they are and what they have.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Nowadays, there are many television advertisements aimed at children. What are the effects of these advertisements on children?

Should TV advertisements be controlled?


People are surrounded by many kinds of advertising which can influence their life.

Do the positive effects of this trend outweigh negative effects?


Advertising discourages people from being different individuals by making us all want to do the same and look the same.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


News media are important in modern society.

Why are they so important?

Are their influences generally positive or negative?


International

Vocabulary and collocations about economics that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Most of the urgent problems can only be solved with international cooperation.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people believe that rich countries should provide poorer countries with other types of help rather than financial aid.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Developing countries require help offered by international organizations to ensure healthy and sustainable development. Some people think that financial aid is important. Others believe that practical aid and advice is more important.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.


Many countries believe that international tourism has harmful effects.

Why do they think so?

What can be done to change their views?


Some people believe famous people’s support towards international aid organizations draws the attention to problems, while others think celebrities
make the problems less important.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


Crime

Vocabulary and collocations about crime and punishment that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Nowadays some people have anti-social behavior and lack respect to others.

What are the reasons?

What are the solutions?


Some people think that lawbreakers should be sent to prison. However, others think that better talents among those should be made to work.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Some people believe that in order to reduce crimes, prisoners should be given longer prison sentences while some people think there are other alternative ways.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


Culture

Vocabulary and collocations about culture and art that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Some people think that cultural traditions will be destroyed when they are used as money-making machines aimed at tourists, other people believes that it is the only way to save such traditions in the world today.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.


Some people believe that when designing a building, the most important thing to be considered is the function rather than the outward appearance.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


It is not necessary for people to travel to other places to learn about the culture. We can learn as much as from books, films and the Internet.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people believe governments should spend money in saving languages of few speakers from dying out completely. Others think this is a waste of financial resources.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


Some people think that success in life comes from hard work and determination, while others think that there are more important factors such as money and appearance.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


Travel

Vocabulary and collocations about travel that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

In recent years, “responsible tourists” have paid attention to preserving both culture and environment of the places they visit. However, some people say that it is impossible to be a “responsible tourist”.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


In some countries many young people choose to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.


Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists and not local people.

Why is this the case?

What can be done to attract local people?


Environment

Vocabulary and collocations about the environment that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

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?


Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of the improvement in the standard of living.

To what extent do you agree or disagree.


Some people think that instead of preventing climate change, we need to find a way to live with it.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people think that too much attention and too many resources have been given to the protection of wild animals and birds.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to solve. Others, however, believe that these problems cannot be solved if individuals do not take actions.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


With the increasing demand for energy sources of oil and gas, people should look for sources of oil and gas in remote and untouched natural places.

Do the advantages outweigh disadvantages of damaging such areas?


Scientists and tourists can travel to remote natural environments such as the South Pole.

Do you think the advantages outweigh its disadvantages?


Developments in science and technology have caused environmental problems. Some people think that a simpler way of life will protect the environment, while others believe that science and technology can solve environmental problems.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.


Health

Vocabulary and collocations about the health that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Some people think that sport is very important for society. Others, however, argue that it is nothing more than a leisure activity.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.


Some people think everyone should be a vegetarian, because we do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Some people think that shops should not be allowed to sell any food or drink that has scientifically been proved to have bad effects on people’s health.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Today, some food travels thousands of miles from farms to consumers. Some people think that it would be better to our environment and economy if people only eat locally produced food.

To what extent do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?


Research shows that overeating is as harmful as smoking. Therefore, advertising for certain food products should be banned, in the same way as cigarette advertising is banned in many countries.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


The increase in food production owes much to fertilizers and better machinery. Some people think that it has a negative impact on human health and community.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


Work

Vocabulary and collocations about the work that are ideal for IELTS essays are here

Research says more and more business training and business meeting are taking place online.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?


An increasing number of people are changing their careers.

What are the reasons?

Do you think it is positive or negative?


Some people prefer to have temporary jobs, which means they only work a few months in a year and use the rest of the time to do what they want.

What is your opinion?


Countries with a long average working time are more economically successful than those countries which do not have a long working time.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?


There is also more vocabulary available here.