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Free IELTS General Training Writing Test 2

This page is for you to try doing a complete IELTS writing test. For the best practice, we strongly recommend that you keep to the requirements laid out in the IELTS test.

Getting the result you need in the IELTS writing test requires a lot of practice, as well as understanding the common pitfalls and mistakes many candidates make. By working through the material on this site, you’ll be fully prepared with no surprises on test day!

NOTE: model answers to both tasks can be found at the bottom of the page.

  • Timing – 1 hour in total, 20 minutes for Writing Task 1 and 40 minutes for Writing Task 2
  • Handwriting – many test centres only allow writing in pencil, so practice using a pencil and paper. You’ll be surprised how much your hand can ache after writing for an hour when most people are used to typing!
  • No resources – don’t use a dictionary or any other aid, even if you don’t understand the question. You need to develop the ability to write without any external support.
  • No breaks – it’s essential to practice Writing Task 1 and Task 2 within 60 minutes without taking a break, as this will best simulate the IELTS test.

    • IELTS General Training Writing Test #2

    Writing Task 1

    You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

    You have seen an advertisement looking for volunteers to teach English overseas. Write to the recruitment office. In your letter

    • Tell them where you saw the advertisement
    • Explain why you would like to go
    • Describe the skills that you have that you think would help

    You do NOT need to write any addresses.

    Begin your letter as follows:

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    Write at least 150 words.

    Writing Task 2

    You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

    Write about the following topic:

    Teenagers are spending an increasing amount of time on the Internet, and this is having a negative effect on their social skills.

    Do you agree or disagree?

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

    Write at least 250 words.

    Click here to read a model answer to both writing tasks

    Note: The model answers below would be awarded the highest band for any marking criteria. However, they are not the only way the question could have been answered.

    Writing Task 1 IELTS model answer:

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I am writing with regards the voluntary position advertised recently in The Herald newspaper, looking for people able and willing to teach overseas.

    I have recently graduated from university and am looking for rewarding and fulfilling temporary work before I apply for positions related to my studies, and I think the vacancy you have would be ideal for me.
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    I feel that I would be able to contribute to the position as I have some teaching experience already and I am a native English speaker. I have also worked with various different levels and abilities of student so would have no difficulty adapting to the requirements of the job.

    I would be very interested in putting my name forward, and would like some additional information regarding the role, specifically the exact dates and any additional costs that I may need to pay.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Yours faithfully,

    J. Massey

    (156 words)

    Writing Task 2 IELTS model answer:

    It is not uncommon these days for younger people to spend an hour or more a day online, and although this does detract from time spent taking to family members, it is not necessarily affecting their social development as will now be discussed.

    The primary reason to disagree with the statement is that a considerable amount of time that youngsters are on the internet is actually spent on social networking sites such as Facebook. As these sites are specifically designed for social purposes, the argument that social skills are declining would appear to be invalid. It is only when the time online is spent playing single player games or generally surfing for entertainment without interacting with others online that this could be considered unsociable.

    In addition, an increasing dependence on the internet for a broad range of tasks from completing homework and studies to checking bank balances and searching for employment means that being online is often simply an alternative manner of working or completing necessary chores, and should not be considered related to social skills at all.

    Admittedly, if too much time is spent online playing games or looking at websites, then there is the potential for surfers to become less able to interact with people directly. However, this can be negated by ensuring that time online is limited to a reasonable amount, and can even be controlled by using technology that actively records the amount of time online.

    To sum up, it is not that the internet is causing us to become less sociable, it is simply that the nature of social interaction is changing.

    (267 words)

    Feeling ready for another test? Go here to practice some more.

    This test originally appeared on https://ieltsforfree.com/free-ielts-practice-tests/