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Simone Braverman

Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and the author of several renowned IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005, Simone has been committed to making IELTS preparation accessible and effective through her books and online resources. Her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.

IELTS essay, topic: Only people over 18 years old should be allowed to use social media (agree/disagree)

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 4 General Training book, Practice Test 20

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Social media has become a real problem for some young people today, and governments should create laws that allow only people over 18 years of age to have accounts.

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

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Band 9 Essay

Social media today is extremely significant to a majority of the population, especially the younger generation. Many teenagers find it exceptionally convenient and necessary for communication and entertainment. However, not everyone is able to use social media responsibly, which gave rise to the idea of making it accessible to only those older than eighteen years of age.

Though there are negatives, such as cyber-bullying, or being too distracted by these modern media, there are issues surrounding most things in life. It is a choice to go onto a social media website, and many younger people are capable of managing accounts without any difficulties. It is not the government’s responsibility to monitor under eighteen-year olds; that is for the parents.

Statistics show that over eighty per cent of teens use a form of online social media. It allows them to chat online, easily stay in contact with friends and family across the world, and see updates on others’ lives (through text, photos or videos). Social media is a way to express thoughts or ideas and to stay in contact with the rest of the world.

To not permit one of the largest Internet-using demographics to use social media because a few people have problems with it is an irrational and an unfair restriction. Not only would profit be lost with fewer users, but controlling who creates accounts and monitoring proof of age would be difficult as well. I believe that laws should not make social media inaccessible to young people under eighteen; this would be unnecessary and absurd.

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays

Two recent IELTS success stories – and the reasons for their high scores

As many of you know, we have a tradition of asking the winners of IELTS Results Competition what helped them score so well. Why do we do that? So that everyone could benefit from their experience – if it worked for them, it might work for you!

Today we are delighted to share what we found out from the two recent winners:

Satinder Singh, Band 8.5 in General Training IELTS

Band 8.5 in IELTSSatinder lives in India. He got IELTS Band 8.5 with an amazing 9 in the Listening test, and won in our IELTS Results Competition in May.

In his winner’s interview Satinder said,

“I am really overwhelmed by accepting your appreciation certificate, and I am happy to share my experience with other IELTS aspirants as well. I would like to share the following points:

  • Thorough understanding of public bands descriptors is a must to score well in speaking and writing.
  • Those who aspire to get more than Band 7 in the writing module will need to write each sentence with a purpose. Writing just for the sake of filling paper will not fetch the desired score.
  • Getting Band 7 in Speaking is easy, if there are minimal gaps in communication or hindrance to your speech, but to score higher than that, the intonation of your voice plays a vital role. Work on your tone and pronunciation.
  • To get Band 9 in Listening, students have to use their spare time during the test between the sections to read the upcoming questions for the next section. This will give you an edge over others – but make sure to read the upcoming questions with great concentration.
  • Reading results are truly an outcome of practice.

Kundai Nhongo, Band 7.5 in Academic IELTS.

Band 7.5 in IELTSKundai lives in Zimbabwe. She got Band 7.5 in IELTS, it was her first attempt and she had less than 3 weeks to prepare. Kundai was aiming at Band 8, and she got pretty close! As they say, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”.

Kundai credits her success to the book ‘Target Band 7’ that she used during her exam preparation. She said,

“When I opened the book ‘Target Band 7‘, and read through the first few pages, my confidence was boosted 135%, I tell you. Then the practice exercises were just but excellent, captivating, demanding – but very, very rewarding. I am so happy, I am now working on my registration with Social Work England, and I know that in no time, I will be in the UK.

Your book, your advice, your tips, the skills, your encouragement… Your words… I do not have adequate words to express how grateful I am.

All the tips in ‘Target Band 7’ are soo practical and so true.

Thank you so much. I am telling all my friends about ‘Target Band 7’.”