Use these IELTS writing essay questions from recent tests to prepare for your test. You may like to see how to analyze and plan an essay and also to see questions with model answers.

IELTS writing task 2 topics 2019
Some people believe that to reduce the amount of time people spend travelling to work, parks and gardens close to city centres should be replaced with apartment buildings for commuters to live in.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In many countries, weddings are getting bigger and more expensive than in the past.
Is this a positive or negative development?
The media is increasing interest in famous people who have ordinary backgrounds.
Why do you think people are interested in the lives of famous people?
Do you think this is a good thing?
Some people think the Olympics are no longer important in the 21st century.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people say that increasing the price of fattening foods will solve this problem.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Today, many people do not realise how important the natural world is.
Why is this?
How can people learn more about the importance of the natural world?

A lot of social problems can be related to teenagers these days. Some feel that this is because parents are not able to spend enough time to take care of their teenage children. Do you agree or disagree?

Science will soon make people live up to 100 or even 200 years. Some believe this is a good thing while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many companies use advertisements to increase sales. What are the main reasons that make an advertisement effective? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for society?
Many people think that money is important for achieving happiness.
What importance does money have regarding happiness? 

Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activity in many countries for young adults.
Why is this?
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Some people believe that residents are responsible for the place where they live to be clean and tidy. Others believe that the government is responsible.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

These days many children spend a lot of their time playing computer games but little time doing sports.
Why is this?
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Some people believe that it’s not necessary to have internet access to live a full life.
What is your opinion?
Some people think that one of the best ways to solve environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
These days, many people have their own computer and telephone, so it is quite easy for them to do their job at home.
Does working at home have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Some people say that parents should places restrictions on the hours their children spend watching TV and playing computer games, and encourage them to spend this time reading books instead.
Do you agree or disagree?

Some countries are struggling with an increase in the rate of crime. Many people think that having more police on the streets is the only way to reduce these increasing levels of crime.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Questions in 2018
Some psychologists recommend that the best way to overcome the stress related to life is to spend a period of time daily doing absolutely nothing. To what extent do you agree with this?

Some people think it would be a good idea for schools to teach every young person how to be a good parent.

Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
What skills does a person need to be a good parent?

Nowadays we are producing more and more rubbish.
Why do you think this is happening?
What can governments do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced?

Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives.
Which viewpoint do you agree with?

There are many different types of music in the world today.
Why do we need music?
Is the traditional music of a country more important than the International music that is heard everywhere nowadays?

Some people believe that school children should not be given homework by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an important role in the education of children.
Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some employers reward members of staff for their exceptional contribution to the company by giving them extra money. This practice can act as an incentive for some but may also have a negative impact on others.
To what extent is this style of management effective?
Are there better ways of encouraging employees to work hard?

Some say that because many people are living much longer, the age at which people retire from work should be raised considerably.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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.

Some people believe that it is good to share as much information as possible in the business and the academic world. Others believe that some information is too important or too valuable to be shared freely.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

It is now possible for scientists and tourists to travel to remote natural environments, such as the South Pole.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

A rise in the standard of living in a country seems to benefit cities more than rural areas.
What problems might those differences cause?
How can these problems be reduced?

Across the world today, the use of many languages has been declining. Only a few languages have been increasingly used.
Is this a positive or negative development?

As countries develop, their populations tend to live individually or in small family units.
What are the causes of this trend?
what are the effects on society？

As part of education, students should spend a period of time studying and living in a different country to learn language and culture.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Caring for children is important in any society. All parents should be required to take childcare courses.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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?
Economic progress is one way to measure the success of a country.
How can people achieve this goal?

Human beings like to copy each other and this is reflected in the popularity of fashion, clothes, and consumer goods. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Human society has made great technological progress in the last hundred years. Some people think this also has negative effects on our life. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In many countries today, people in big cities prefer to live alone or in small family units rather than large and extended family groups. Is this a positive or negative trend?

In many countries, the quality of life in large cities is becoming worse.
What are the causes of this problem?
What measures do you think should be taken to tackle this problem?

In modern societies, it is possible for people to go shopping, work and communicate via the internet without face-to-face communication.
Is it a positive or negative development?

In some countries, governments pay the money for students’ university fees while in other countries, students pay for themselves.
Do advantages of governments paying for the students outweigh its disadvantages?

In some countries, parents expect their children to spend a long time studying both in and after school and have less free time. What are the positive and negative effects on children and society they live in?

Many parents these days work in other countries, taking their families with them.
Do you think advantages of the development outweigh its disadvantages?

More and more people want to buy famous brands of clothes, cars and other items. What are the reasons? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Not enough students choose science subjects in universities in many countries. What are the reasons and what are the effects to the society?

Nowadays some countries encourage people to buy more and more products, while others believe it has negative effects on the society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree？

Nuclear energy is better than other sources of energy to meet the increasing need. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

People are surrounded by all kinds of advertising. Some people believe that advertising has a negative effect on people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree？

Responsible tourists could preserve both the local culture and environment. Some people think it is impossible to be a responsible tourist.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Scientists advise people to lead a healthy lifestyle, but many people still continue with unhealthy activities.
What are the reasons and what can we do to change the situation？

Some people believe that giving aid to poorer countries has more negative effects than positive effects.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that government money should be spent on important things rather than arts such as painting and music. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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?

Some people think it is important for all children to learn history in school. Others believe that other subjects are more relevant to children’s lives today.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think secondary school students should learn international news as one of their subjects, while others believe that this is a waste of valuable time.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that in this modern world people are getting dependent on each other, while others think the modern world gets people more independent on each other.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that older school children should learn a wide range of subjects to acquire more knowledge, while other people believe they should learn a small number of subjects in details.

Discuss both views and give your opinions\.

Some people think that the government should offer financial support and care to old people, while others think that people should save money for their future life.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people think that work is the most important thing in people’s life. Without the success of career, life will become meaningless.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people think they have the right to use as much fresh water as they want, while others believe governments should strictly control the use of fresh water as it is a limited resource.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people think watching TV is bad for children, while others think that watching TV has more beneficial effects on children. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Some people think young people should be free to choose his or her job, but other people think they should be realistic and think more about their future.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some scientists think it is very soon that computers will be more intelligent than humans. Some people think it is a positive development, while others think it is a negative development.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Space travel has been possible for some time and some people believe that space tourism could be developed in the future.

Do you think it is a positive or negative development

The restoration of old buildings in major cities in the world costs numerous governments’ expenditures. This money should be used in new housing and road development.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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?
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?

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