Common IELTS Essay Topics

Categories

Communication & Personality

With the development of online communication, people will never be alone and will always be able to make new friends.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some people think that intelligence is innate while others think that we can improve our intelligence through learning.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

More and more businesses as well as individuals are choosing to communicate either professionally or socially using technology rather than being face to face.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using technology for communicating ?

Education

The role of education is to prepare children for the modern world. Schools should cut art and music out of the curriculum so that children can focus on useful subjects such as information technology.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Discipline is an ever increasing problem in modern schools. Some people think that discipline should be the responsibility of teachers, while others think that this is the role of parents.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Some people think that teachers should be able to ask disruptive children to leave the class.

Do you think it is the best way to deal with a disruptive child in the classroom ?

What other solutions are there ?

Society

In many countries women no longer feel the need to get married. Some people believe that this is because women are able to earn their own income and therefore do not require the financial security that marriage can bring.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Globalisation has both advantages and disadvantages.

Discuss both and give your opinion ?

 

The population of most cities is growing as people move to cities to find work and new opportunities.

What problems does overpopulation in cities cause ?

How can these problems be solved ?

Environment

It is often said that governments spend too much money on projects to protect wildlife, while there are other problems that are more important.

Do you agree or disagree ?

 

Human activity has had a negative impact on plants and animals around the world. Some people think that this cannot be changed, while others believe actions can be taken to bring about a change.

Discuss both views and give your opinion ?

 

With increasing populations and ever growing urban centers, many countries are losing their natural beauty spots.

What benefits are there to protecting places of natural beauty ?

How can this be solved ?

Business & Money

Companies should provide sports and social facilities for local communities.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

In some countries, a few people earn extremely high salaries. Some people think that this is good for a country, while others believe that the government should control salaries and limit the amount people can earn.

Discuss both views and give your opinion ?

 

An increasing number of people are buying what they need online.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for both individuals and companies to shopping online ?

Work

Doctors, nurses and teachers make a great contribution to society and should be payed more than entertainment and sports celebrities.

Do you agree or disagree ?

 

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important.

What will be the consequences of this ?

 

Finding job satisfaction is considered to be a luxury in many developing countries.

Why do you think that is ?

Do you think job satisfaction is important ?

Media & Advertising

In the last few decades there have been more and more cases of famous people being hounded by the press. Some people think that famous people in the media have no right privacy.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some companies sponsor sports as a way to advertise themselves. Some people think it is good, while others think there are disadvantages to this.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Most people think that the truth should be objective rather than subjective when it comes to the news.

Do you think all news is true ?

What is the function of a newspaper ?

Crime & Punishment

In some societies, the number of crimes committed by teenagers is growing. Some people think that regardless of age, teenagers who commit major crimes should receive adult punishment.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some people think that the government should be responsible for crime prevention, while others believe that it is the responsibility of the individual to protect themselves.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Many criminals commit further crimes as soon as they released from prison.

What do you think are the causes of this ?

What possible solutions can you suggest ?

Food & Diet

With a growing world population one of the most pressing issues is that of feeding such a large number of people. Some people think that GM(genetically modified) foods offer a viable solution to this problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree ?

 

With a fast pace of modern life more and more people are turning towards fast food for their main meals.

Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages ?

 

Many processed foods and ready-made meals contain preservatives and chemicals.

What are the advantages to this ?

Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages ?

Technology

Some people argue that technological inventions, such as mobile phones, are making people socially less interactive.

Do you agree or disagree ?

 

An increasing number of people are now using the internet to meet new people and socialise. Some people think this has brought people closer together while others think people are becoming more isolated.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Modern technology is now very common in most work places.

How do you think this has changed the way we work ?

Do you think there are disadvantages to relying too much on technology ?

Health

The best way to improve health is to exercise daily.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some people think that public health is a the responsibility of the government while others think that people should be responsible for their own health.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

The amount of time spend on sport and exercise should be increased in schools in order to tackle the problem of overweight children.

Do you think this the best way to deal with the problem ?

What other solutions can you suggest ?

Family & Children

Children can learn effectively by watching television. Therefore they should be encouraged to watch television regularly at home and at school.

To what extend do you agree or disagree ?

 

Some people think that the role of parents is to discipline their children and teach them about right and wrong. Other people consider that the main responsibility of parents is to nurture their children and provide them with a safe environment to grow up in.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Most modern families have both parents working and as a result children spend less and less time with their parents.

What is the reason for this ?

What problems can this cause ?

Tourism

Some people think that when a person travels into a different culture they should adapt to the local practices and customs.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some people believe that to protect local culture, tourism should be banned in some areas whereas others think that change is inevitable and banning tourism will have no benefits.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

As a result of tourism and the increasing number of people travelling, there is an growing demand for more flights.

What problems does this have on the environment ?

What measures could be taken to solve the problems ?

Sports & Exercise

Professional athletes are often idolised by young children. Some people think that they, therefore, have a responsibility to be good role models at all times for children.

Do you agree or disagree ?

 

Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned, while others think people should be free to choose.

Discuss both views and give your opinion ?

 

Many countries want to host international sports event, while other countries think that hosting sports events has more problems than benefits.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

Language

Some people think that a person can never understand the culture of a country unless they speak the language.

Do you agree with this opinion ?

 

Scientists predict that all people will choose to talk the same global language in the future.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development ?

 

As computers translate quickly and accurately, learning foreign languages is a waste of time.

To what extend do you agree or disagree ?

Transport

A poor infrastructure hinders under-developed countries from progressing and modernising. Some people think that this should be the first problem tackled by foreign aid.

To what extent do you agree with this opinion ?

 

Some people think an international car-free day is an effective way to reduce air pollution. Others think there are more effective ways do to this.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

One way to solve the problem of congestion on the roads is to increase the tax on private vehicles.

How could this alleviate congestion ?

What other measures can you suggest to deal with congestion in cities ?

Government

Some people think that only the government can make significant changes in society, while others think that individuals can have a lot of influence.

What is your opinion ?

 

Some people think that the government is responsible for the rise in obesity in children, while others think it is the fault of the parents.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

 

A government has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure their safety. Therefore, some people think that the government should increase spending on defense but spend less on social benefits.

To what extent do you agree ?

Some people think that it is the responsibility of the government to counter global warming while other think that individuals should also be responsible.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Leisure

Having more money and less free time is better than earning less money and having more free time.

Discuss both views and state your opinion ?

 

Shopping is the favorite pastime for most of the young people.

Why do you think is that ?

Do you think they should be encouraged to do some other useful activities ?

Art

Artists need a certain amount of freedom to develop their creativity. Some people think that artists should have total freedom to express any thoughts and ideas.

To what extent do you agree or disagree ?

 

Some people think that art is an essential subject for children at school while others think it is a waste of time.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Art is considered an essential part of all cultures throughout the world. However, these days fewer and fewer people appreciate art and turn their focus to science, technology and business.

Why do you think that is ?

What could be done to encourage more people to take interest in the arts ?

Housing

Planting trees is very important for the environment. Some people says trees should be planted in the vacant areas of cities and towns, while other says housing facilities should be build instead.

Do you agree or disagree ?

 

In some countries, most people prefer to rent their homes rather than buying them.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home ?

 

Nowadays, a lot of buildings, such as offices and schools, are now being built with an open plan design.

Why is that ?

Do you see this as a positive or negative development ?

Reading

Some people think books are losing importance as a source of information and entertainment.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some people think that e-books are the death of paper books while others think that paper books will never disappear.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?

 

Children who start reading earlier in life, perform better later on in their school studies.

How important are early reading skills in a child’s academic performance ?

What other preschool factors influence a child’s later academic achievements ?

Space Exploration

The government is spending a lot of money to discover life on other planets. Some people think that government is wasting money and should spend more money addressing the problems of public.

To what extent do you agree ?

 

Some scientists think that there are intelligent life forms on other planets and messages should be sent to contact them. Other scientists think it is a bad idea and would be dangerous.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion ?

 

Some people think that space exploration is a waste of resources while others think that it is essential for mankind to continue to explore the universe in which we live.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion ?